THE 3RD EARTHQUAKE

Well did the earth move for you on Thursday night?

The promised earthquake arrived, the third in a month for yours truly, and no doubt the tremors will be felt all the way to London looking for a spine on the Labour Benches to crawl up.

A full 24 hour day spent in Glasgow East was enjoyable, and there many little signals that the victory was on. Having spent most of the morning at Wellshot Primary, many voters were saying this was their first SNP vote. The abandonment of polling stations by New Labour in mid evening was another signal. In saying that, I have never seen the level of anger voters had for New labour that i witnessed at most polling stations I visited in the afternoon and early evening.

The atmosphere at the count was incredible. The Labour faces said it all.

Margaret Curran's speech where she said and I quote "Inequality in the greatest gift of humankind, and New Labour will continue to champion its cause" typified a gaffe-prone campaign, as did the fact that Labour lost votes in the recount. It was the final nail. As someone posted in the Herald Forum, John Lewis staff breathed a collective sigh of relief that they narrowly avoided an awkward customer.

I am delighted for John Mason, a thoroughly decent man, who will work hard for Glasgow East, as he has proved in Glasgow City Council, and work with others to ensure that they get the best. As others said at the count, the voters love him. He will repay the East End their trust.

It is my belief that Glasgow East is a landmark by-election, and New Labour are heading into the wilderness. Like the Tories in the 1990's, it will take a generation for New labour to gain the trust of the electorate.

The voters of Glasgow East know that there is a perfectly acceptable social democratic alternative, that they are comfortable with, as they are on the Constitutional question. The number of those identifying themselves as Labour who would support Independence in a referendum was breathtaking. I am surprised that the so-called experts haven't taken into consideration the fact that the glass ceiling was removed forever in May last year.

For the SNP every vote is now up for grabs, and the challenge is to go out, work hard, and pile on the votes for Europe, Westminster and the Holyrood elections. There are no safe havens for New labour in Scotland.

Our campaign in Glasgow South West is well underway, and whilst like Glasgow East we face a considerable task, it is one which we can win. That will be the another earthquake......

BELIEVE.........

Today is the Glasgow East by-election.

Today is about believing.

New labour has led the most negative by-election campaign in modern electoral history. Not once have they articulated a position they believe in. Not once have they articulated a positive message. Their candidate has even lied about where she lives. They cannot be trusted anymore than the Government they claim to support. Glasgow East has laboured for far too long.

In contrast the SNP have run a positive upbeat campaign. A campaign of vision, of hope, and a sensible programme people can believe in.

Today is about believing.


Only 1 party believes in people. The people should only believe in 1 party.

Believe.......

if you live in Glasgow East,

Today, VOTE SNP.............

A TALE OF TWO CAMPAIGNS....

Since coming back from holiday on Thursday morning, I have been fully into the breach in the Glasgow East By-election, and like others I am noticing the huge difference in campaigning between New Labour and the SNP.

It is indeed a tale of 2 campaigns. As I predicted when Margaret Curran became the candidate, New Labour have led the most negative campaign in living memory. It is however, one that is becoming more risible by the day. To suggest that the quiet spoken, mild mannered SNP candidate is a dangerous extremist is the most ludicrous piece of political spin even by their lowly standards. Scaring pensioners over free bus passes badly backfired, as it appears from voters I have spoken to, as has Labours leaflet in black and yellow, with John Mason's face. Most people believe that the leaflet is one of ours. Throw a lie about where the labour Candidate lives, a supposed endorsement of a 93 year old, who is actually almost 30 years younger, and you have a recipe for disaster.

In addition, to react with horror, to John's remarks that many people don't see the difference between a Tory and Labour Government is ultimately true, and one which has resonated on the doorsteps.

Today's Sunday Times article on the New Labour campaign is just the tip of the iceberg. It is has been simply barking.

Meanwhile, the SNP campaign has been a joy to be a part of. A ruthless voter id strategy appears to be paying dividends, not just for this campaign but for the future. Today I was out for the second time this week in Craigend and on the evidence of knocking in supporters letters, the canvassing has been remarkably consistent. Indeed, today we identified an 86 year old woman who was voting SNP for the first time. It is these stories which fill all SNP activists with hope for Thursday.

Hope is the watchword. The SNP is offering hope in this election. Hope and vision on its record in the Scottish Government where people are seeing tangible benefits to assist the people of Scotland in a time of economic difficulty, and ever rising fuel and food prices. Hope that Scotland can be a better place to live.

More and more SNP activists come back with smiles on their faces, with good stories to tell, and new voters switching to the SNP for the first time being identified.

Justice would decree, that hope will defeat fear, and that the dog whistle approach to politics can be beaten forever. A victory for Social Democracy.

The stakes are very high indeed in Glasgow East. I am looking forward to playing my part in the last four days.

THE FIRST TREMOR .....

Having predicted a tremor, even I didnt realise that one would occur, whilst on holiday in Rhodes! This of course is the first tremor, with the next one due very soon.

I am flying back tonight, and will be helping the SNP in the final push to secure Glasgow East. Perhaps in the final week, New Labour will get through a day without screwing up!

A POSTCARD FROM RHODES

A very smashing holiday here in Pefkos, in what Christina McKelvie and John Mason call a unique pairing system!, but my mind still keeps wandering back what is happening in Glasgow East which i have been following via the media. Top marks for spin go to Ritchie Venton who suggested that the SSP candidate might struggle for votes, having the same surname as the New Labour one!

One thing is for sure, is that the entire British establishment is roaring on New Labour to hold on, which will result in the old order being maintained.

Its the same old negative attacks from Margaret Curran, which i predicted, and I cant help feel that should she win, the Labour Party in Scotland will have learned nothing, and will carry on regardless.

Their contempt for the electorate is unforgivable. Not only do we have a candidate who takes the local populace for a mug, by saying she has lived in the East End all her life, she doesnt, she cannot explain what her position would be on an Indepependence referendum. Interestingly, before I left, the high number of Labour supporters, who were largely undecided, were massively in favour of Independence in a Referenedum. To ask an Interviewer whether he thought she would win the by-election smacks of supreme arrogance that deserves to be punished at the ballot box.

I will be back for the run in on Thursday, for what will be a big week for Scottish Politics, the SNP must stick to the positives of its record in the Scottish Government. Before I went away on holiday, I spent some time with Trade union Legend, Jimmy Reid. Jimmy stated then that the only credible socialist in the field was John Mason, quite right too.

The tremor is coming.......

CARRY ON CANDIDATE - TAKE 7!

The only sensible conclusion to reach after the weekends extraordinary events within the confines of the British Labour Party - Scotland Region, is that they have truly and utterly lost whatever is left of their senses.

We are now being asked to believe that Margaret Curran is the true choice of Labour for the Glasgow East By-election. After trying to smear John Mason, as the "4th choice" candidate, a charge that is completely untrue, and of the evidence of the doors I've been to in Glasgow East is a very popular local councillor, who as the candidate is day by day taking votes from Labour based on his record, we now have 7th choice Curran.

First we had George Ryan - gone, and the speculation is becoming ugly on why
Second Irene Graham who was obviously only there to make up the numbers
Third Doug Maughan - see above
Fourth Self confessed New Labour Sith Lord Steven Purcell - who would have been barking to accept, indeed as I said to an SNP activist on Saturday, try and give me one reason why he should put his name forward
Fifth Lesley Quinn, again why?
Sixth the accident prone Frank McAveety
and now

Margaret Curran.

The spinmeisters at BLP Scottish Region HQ must be regretting issuing that 4th choice spin message. A classic example as to why you should think before speaking.

If it is indeed Ms Curran, who will be the candidate, and I for one will not be surprised if someone else emerges, it confirms that New Labour will run a brutal, negative campaign, a la the Daily Record, with the most obscene scare stories imaginable. Having been caught out once already with scaring Pensioners witless on the free bus pass issue, only to see that disappear up in smoke, don't be surprised if the have nothing positive to say. Why should they? Attacking low paid workers with a 10p tax rise, arguing that Private Equity Holders should continue to rip off the tax payer by supporting PPP/PFI, arguing that there should be more efficiency savings not less, and having a record in the East end of Glasgow that is nothing short of lamentable will not I suspect appear anywhere on Labour literature!

The selection process already looks like a scene from a carry on film, however, New Labour will now get dirty, because they have no positive vision for the electorate.

The SNP Government has quite rightly tried to help people during difficult economic times, and I for one believe that the move to free prescriptions will bring a lasting legacy to the East end of Glasgow and beyond. On the 60th anniversary of the NHS, we would do well to remember that.

Finally, lets see how Ms Curran descends into hypocrisy in this campaign. I for one will be going on a pre-booked holiday on Wednesday, for a week, before coming back to help with the final push to oust the dark side, and I have a bet with my good lady, a bottle of champers, over who wins the by election, and the good lady is safe with the knowledge that I will share it anyway!

A bottle of champers to the avid reader, who can produce a quote of Curran attacking the FM on two mandates.........................

POSITIVE FORCES OUT EAST.....

I have over the last week been assisting in the Glasgow East by-election, and whilst it is always foolish to make predictions in these circumstances, the positive energy from all SNP activists is contagious.

This is of course in contrast to NEW LABOUR who have started the campaign in an extremely negative fashion, issuing scare stories that have to be read to be believed, with the only thing missing being the suggestion that the Nasty Nats wish to kill the first born. The SNP are rightly exposing their nonsense, especially on free buses for Pensioners, as the SNP are actually extending free buses to War veterans. In addition, the SNP are fighting this by-election on a positive message, and a proud record in Government which on the evidence of my experience is resonating on the doorsteps.

Having spent some time with John Swinney last night, a very enjoyable experience, Labour voters are extremely angry with Labour, and are genuinely undecided. The good news of course, is that I can exclusively reveal that a Mr.John McLean has confirmed that he will be voting SNP!

With the BREAKING NEWS that George Ryan the likely contender for New Labour was posted missing at their selection tonight, it is a delicious irony that their smears over Councillor John Mason being the "4th choice" candidate have backfired so spectacularly, given that the other 2 candidates can only presumably have attended to make up the numbers.

So a flying start for the SNP, with hundreds of activists expected to arrive tomorrow, whilst New Labour stutter at the starting line. Sounds all so familiar..........