May 05, 2005
SNP countdown poster 0
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May 04, 2005
SNP countdown poster 1
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May 03, 2005
SNP countdown poster 2
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May 02, 2005
SNP countdown poster 3
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May 01, 2005
SNP countdown poster 4
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April 30, 2005
SNP countdown poster 5
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April 29, 2005
SNP countdown poster 6
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April 28, 2005
SNP countdown poster 7
Peter Murrell of The SNP is publishing a daily countdown poster for the last week of the campaign. This is today’s poster.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 10:27 AM | TrackBack
April 26, 2005
SNP trucking
Following Backing Blair’s successful poster trucking, the SNP are hoping to put five poster vans on the road round Scotland for the last week of the campaign. It’s a great way of getting a simple message across.
The email from Peter Murrell, Chief Executive of the SNP, explains that the vans will cost 10,000 pounds. The party have 2,500 email addresses (for 10,000 + members), so they are hoping each person will give 4 pounds or more to the camapign.
I wonder many Scots now have email? My impression is that it is higher than 25 per cent. It certainly is higher in my area. Maybe the SNP need to gather more addresses for occasions like this?
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:21 AM | TrackBack
April 21, 2005
SNP newsfeed restored
The SNP newsfeed is available again. The XML URL is:
http://www.snp.org/html/snpnews.xml
Posted by Simon Holledge at 11:11 PM | TrackBack
April 16, 2005
SNP manifesto
The SNP manifesto was published yesterday. It’s beautifully designed and produced. More on the content later.
I advise anybody who is interested to buy a copy (GBP 5) or get the pdf.
Unfortunately the professionalism with which the SNP handle print still hasn’t carried over into the digital world, even if the website is attractively designed.
The ‘preview’ of the manifesto comes out like a modernist poem with different texts laid on top of each other. (I’ve tried it in three or four browsers and it’s the same in all of them.)
The SNP newsfeed has also been down since March 25. The 30-odd links in this blog to SNP news releases from October to March no longer work, and of course we have no newsfeed access to new documents.
Considering we are in the middle of general election, this is disappointing.
www.snp.org/snpnews/2005/snppressrelease.2005-04-15.0793735679
news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=402932005
Posted by Simon Holledge at 02:24 PM | TrackBack
March 20, 2005
Offlisting MP/MSP websites
When I started this blog I gave considerable space on my ‘blogroll’ (the list of links in the right-hand column) to the websites of SNP MSPs and MPs. Unfortunately I now need the links for more active sites, especially blogs, so I am moving my original list to this entry (see below), with the exception of Ian Hudghton MEP’s website which has some excellent video material and stays in the list.
Ewing, Annabelle MP
Ewing, Fergus MSP
Fabiani, Linda MSP
Grahame, Christine MSP
Hyslop, Fiona MSP
Lochhead, Richard MSP
Macaskill, Kenny MSP
Morgan, Alasdair MSP
Robertson, Angus MP
Robison, Shona MSP
Sturgeon, Nicola MSP
Weir, Mike MP
White, Sandra MSP
Wishart, Peter MP
Posted by Simon Holledge at 09:03 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 19, 2005
SNP newsfeed restored
The SNP newsfeed is working again.
The feed is http://www.snp.org/html/snpnews.php
Posted by Simon Holledge at 09:06 PM | TrackBack
March 17, 2005
List of SNP candidates
Niniane Mackenzie (one of the main contributors to the excellent Alba site) has kindly provided me with a list of SNP candidates for the coming general election. The first list is by constituency, and the second by the names of the candidates in alphabetical order.
UPDATE
I am much obliged to Ian McCann of SNP HQ and Stuart Dickson of the Independent blog for additional information.
Aberdeen North: Kevin Stewart
Aberdeen South: Maureen Watt
Airdrie & Shotts: Malcolm Balfour
Angus: Mike Weir MP
Argyll & Bute; Isobel Strong
Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock: Charles Brodie
Banff & Buchan: Alex Salmond MP
Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk: Aileen Orr
Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross: Karen Shirron
Central Ayrshire: Jahangir Hanif
Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill: Duncan Ross
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth & Kirkintilloch East: Jamie Hepburn
Dumfries & Galloway: Douglas Henderson
Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale: Andrew Wood
Dundee East: Stewart Hosie
Dundee West: Cllr Joe FitzPatrick
Dunfermline & West Fife: Douglas Chapman
East Dunbartonshire: Chris Sagan
East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow: Douglas Edwards
East Lothian: Paul McLennan
East Renfrewshire: Osama Bhutta
Edinburgh East: Stefan Tymkewycz
Edinburgh North & Leith: David Hutchison
Edinburgh South: Graham Sutherland
Edinburgh South West: Nick Elliott-Cannon
Edinburgh West: Sheena Cleland
Falkirk: Laura Love
Fife North East: Rod Campbell
Glasgow Central: Bill Kidd
Glasgow East: Lachlan McNeill
Glasgow North: Kenny McLean
Glasgow North East: John McLaughlin
Glasgow North West: Graeme Hendry
Glasgow South: Finlay MacLean
Glasgow South West: James Dornan
Glenrothes: John Beare
Gordon: Joanna Strathdee
Inverclyde: Stewart McMillan
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey: Dave Thompson
Kilmarnock & Loudoun: Danny Coffey
Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath: Bath, Alan
Lanark & Hamilton East: John Wilson
Linlithgow & East Falkirk: Gordon Guthrie
Livingston: Angela Constance
Midlothian: Colin Beattie
Moray: Angus Robertson MP
Motherwell & Wishaw: Ian McQuarrie
Na h-Eileanan An Iar (Western Isles): Angus McNeil
North Ayrshire & Arran: Tony Gurney
Ochil & South Perthshire: Annabelle Ewing MP
Orkney & Shetland: John Mowat
Paisley & Renfrewshire North: Dr Bill Wilson
Paisley & Renfrewshire South: Andrew Doig
Perth & North Perthshire: Pete Wishart MP
Ross, Skye & Lochaber: Mhairi Will
Rutherglen & Hamilton West: Margaret Park
Stirling: Frances McGlinchey
West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine: Caroline Little
West Dunbartonshire: Tom Chalmers
Balfour, Malcolm (Airdrie & Shotts)
Bath, Alan (Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath)
Beare, John (Glenrothes)
Beattie, Colin (Midlothian)
Bhutta, Osama (East Renfrewshire)
Brodie, Charles (Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock)
Campbell, Rod (Fife North East)
Chalmers, Tom (West Dunbartonshire)
Chapman, Douglas: Dunfermline & West Fife
Cleland, Sheena (Edinburgh West)
Coffey, Danny (Kilmarnock & Loudoun)
Constance, Angela (Livingston)
Doig, Andrew (Paisley & Renfrewshire South)
Dornan, James (Glasgow South West)
Edwards, Douglas (East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
Elliott-Cannon, Nick (Edinburgh South West)
Ewing, Annabelle MP (Ochil & South Perthshire)
FitzPatrick, Joe Cllr (Dundee West)
Gurney, Tony (North Ayrshire & Arran)
Guthrie, Gordon (Linlithgow & East Falkirk)
Hanif, Jahangir (Central Ayrshire)
Henderson, Douglas (Dumfries & Galloway)
Hendry, Graeme (Glasgow North West)
Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth & Kirkintilloch East)
Hosie, Stewart (Dundee East)
Hutchison, David (Edinburgh North & Leith)
Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Central)
Little, Caroline (West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine)
Love, Laura (Falkirk)
MacLean, Finlay (Glasgow South)
McGlinchey, Frances (Stirling)
McLaughlin, John (Glasgow North East)
McLean, Kenny (Glasgow North)
McLennan, Paul (East Lothian)
McMillan, Stewart (Inverclyde)
McNeil, Angus (Na h-Eileanan An Iar/Western Isles)
McNeill, Lachlan (Glasgow East)
McQuarrie, Ian (Motherwell & Wishaw)
Mowat, John (Orkney & Shetland)
Orr Aileen (Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk)
Park, Margaret (Rutherglen & Hamilton West)
Robertson, Angus MP (Moray)
Ross, Duncan (Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill)
Sagan, Chris (East Dunbartonshire)
Salmond, Alex MP (Banff & Buchan)
Shirron, Karen (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross)
Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen North)
Strathdee, Joanna (Gordon)
Strong, Isobel (Argyll & Bute)
Sutherland, Graham (Edinburgh South)
Thompson, Dave (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey)
Tymkewycz, Stefan (Edinburgh East)
Watt, Maureen (Aberdeen South)
Weir, Mike MP (Angus)
Will, Mhairi (Ross, Skye & Lochaber)
Wilson, Dr Bill (Paisley & Renfrewshire North)
Wilson, John (Lanark & Hamilton East)
Wishart, Pete MP (Perth & North Perthshire)
Wood, Andrew (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale)
Posted by Simon Holledge at 05:22 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
March 14, 2005
SNP website links down
The SNP website has been redesigned, not a huge makeover but it looks fine, a bit lighter in the general look, with a white background.
Unfortunately all the links to past news releases have now been broken! I have been through all the February and March links and none of them work, so presumably all the earlier ones are cut as well!
It should be easy to maintain old links while introducing a new system. It’s puzzling why this wasn’t done here.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 01:44 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
January 25, 2005
Election launch
Today Alex Salmond launched the SNP election campaign, with an impressive flourish: ” … when the SNP makes progress, Scotland makes progress … when the SNP wins Scotland wins.”
SNP HQ explain: “The SNP campaign themes will centre on their proposal for a non-means-tested “Citizen’s Pension” of £110 for singles and £168 for couples, saving merger-listed Scottish regiments and creating a Norwegian-style “oil windfall fund” from North Sea revenues to finance public investment.
The themes also include opposition to any new nuclear power stations or successors to the Trident nuclear submarines, attacking “unfair” proposals for heavy grid charges for renewable energy plants in the north of Scotland and an opposition to identity cards.”
But why is everyone so certain that the election will be on May 5?
www.snp.org/index_hires.php?pageName=news/newsdetail.php?newsID=2780
news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=324&id=95482005
Posted by Simon Holledge at 03:36 PM | TrackBack
January 20, 2005
Press Officer!
Last night I attended the annual general meeting of my local Doune, Callander and District Branch of the SNP held in the Callander Kirk Hall, just across the river from where I live. This was my first local meeting.
The business was conducted in a friendly manner, and with admirable despatch, by the local Convener Andrew Sharp and Bruce Crawford MSP. I eventually emerged - to my great surprise - as the new Press Officer! I am not sure what my duties are exactly - perhaps getting notices into the local newspapers?
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:00 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 18, 2004
Salmond wrongfooted
Alex Salmond is a fine leader, who has made a strong, forthright stand against the Iraq War, which is much to his credit. So I was disappointed to see him publicly wrongfooted by the Labour Party over expenses.
At the time of the SNP leadership election, Salmond was criticized - in my view unrealistically - for proposing to lead the party from Westminster. It seems he is now trying to fulfill his promises to Scotland but shuttling continuously between London and Edinburgh. His Westminster allowances were not designed for that purpose, hence the problems.
But is really necessary to do all that travelling? Surely the SNP can set up video-conferencing? All you need is a couple of large displays (the larger the better), two cameras, two computers and a broadband connection. You can use the screen to display split-screen video as well as documents, so you can have a discussion with two or three colleagues while working (for example) on a press statement.
Do SNP HQ know about video-conferencing?
news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=324&id=1271232004
Posted by Simon Holledge at 03:20 PM | TrackBack
October 29, 2004
SNP ink cartridge appeal
SNP Party Fundraiser Jim Henderson is asking members to help the SNP, and the environment, by recycling old ink cartridges!
He writes: “What do you do with your ink cartridge once it runs out? If the answer is you put it in the bin, than why not think about helping the environment and at the same time help the SNP raise some money by recycling your cartridges.
All you need do the next time your run out of ink is post off your old cartridge to Headquarters. We will get it uplifted (as part of a bulk lot) and in return the Party will receive payment.”
HQ address is 107 McDonald Road, Edinburgh, EH7 4NW, tel. 0131 525 8904
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:47 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 25, 2004
Excellent response to Salmond speech
Alex Salmon’s conference speech was very well received by the media.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3685470.stm
news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1122322004
thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1122592004
news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1122192004
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3689994.stm
The whole text is on the SNP website.
www.snp.org/html/news/printerfriendly.php?newsID=2455
Posted by Simon Holledge at 08:21 PM
September 24, 2004
Personal message to Sandra White MSP
Edinburgh
24 September 2004
Dear Sandra,
I understand that you voted against the SNP conference motion for a public smoking ban. According to the BBC, you said “the party of independence should not be restricting personal freedoms”. Did they report you accurately? They say you are a smoker.
Actually, this looks pretty bad. An SNP MSP - who should be a community role model - in denial over smoking! Oh dear!
My understanding is that the SNP support personal freedoms that do not harm other people. They don’t support those that are harmful, such as possessing guns, drunk driving, polluting, crime etc. Isn’t that right?
Sandra, let’s think about this . . . if you come into a restaurant just after me, sit down at the next table and lite up, I am going to be forced to share your smoke. This is a form of physical assault. It may be slow and insidious, rather than blatant and aggressive, but it is still a form of assault.
You are a community figure. Doesn’t that mean you try to exemplify positive social values and deplore anti-social behaviour?
Maybe you’d like to think about this? Perhaps write back?
Looking forward to hearing from you!
All the best,
Simon
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3686798.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 07:00 PM
BBC fails to stream Salmond speech
I was looking forward to hearing Alex Salmond’s speech - apparently a fine one - but the BBC failed to stream it. According to their website they were going to broadcast from the conference from 1415 to 16.15, but they never set it up.
And the moral for the SNP is? Never trust the BBC! Mark you, I am not accusing them of sabotage. There are technical faults on their website every day!
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3685470.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 06:41 PM
September 23, 2004
Salmond keeps his promise
Alex Salmond has kept his leadership campaign promise to sign up the 10,000th party member. Bushra Bashir, a 21-year-old student from Strathbungo joined the SNP during the conference.
www.snp.org/html/news/printerfriendly.php?newsID=2451
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3682354.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 11:49 PM
September 22, 2004
Invited to the SNP Conference/not
The SNP Conference opened today and the Skakagrall was not invited. Well . . . I received an email invitation from Peter Murrell, the Chief Executive but that was evidently as an SNP member not as a blogger: a bit disappointing. Were any asked? This is the only regular SNP blog being published so it seems unlikely.
To be realistic, it’s highly unlikely that the Eden Court Theatre in Inverness would have either internet access or WiFi, but it’s something to think about for the future.
The Democrats asked 35 bloggers to Boston, the Republicans invited about 20 to New York. The Liberal Democrats in Bournemouth have a group of bloggers in attendance. The Labour conference will probably attract a good number, especially as WiFi coverage is apparently good in Brighton.
There is some information on Voxpolitics:
www.voxpolitics.com/weblog/archives/000479.html#000479
Posted by Simon Holledge at 11:14 PM | Comments (2)
September 13, 2004
SNP deputy shadows announced
The SNP announced their list of deputy ‘spokespeople’ today.
Ironically, Christine Grahame, who said she wanted to abolish the shadow cabinet in favour of a more egalitarian system, was the only member of the shadow cabinet to be been rewarded with two deputies.
www.snp.org/html/news/printerfriendly.php?newsID=2418
SNP Deputy Spokespeople
Deputy Whip: Bruce McFee MSP (Deputy to Tricia Marwick MSP)
Public Health: Stewart Maxwell MSP (Deputy to Shona Robison MSP)
Children & Early Education: Adam Ingram MSP (Deputy to Fiona Hyslop MSP)
Drugs Policy & Prisons: Stewart Stevenson MSP (Deputy to Kenny MacAskill MSP)
Land Reform: Rob Gibson MSP (Deputy to Richard Lochhead MSP)
Housing & Voluntary Sector: Linda Fabiani MSP (Deputy to Christine Grahame MSP)
Equal Opportunities: Sandra White MSP (Deputy to Christine Grahame MSP)
Tourism: Brian Adam MSP (Deputy to Fergus Ewing MSP)
Foreign Affairs: Alyn Smith MEP (Deputy to Angus Robertson MSP)
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:46 PM
September 12, 2004
New SNP shadow cabinet announced
Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon announced the new SNP shadow cabinet today. The full list of appointments is below. Leaving aside personalities, here are some comments on the way the jobs have been structured.
Justice and social justice are two separate briefs. This is an interesting idea, but how will it work in practice? The environment, rural affairs, energy and fisheries are all combined, as are transport, tourism and telecommunications. Does that make sense? Are there conflicts of interest here - between, for example, the environment and fisheries? Would it make more sense to have the environment (and energy), distinguished from infrastructure (telecommunications and transport), and rural affairs (including fisheries and tourism).
Culture and sport are combined. Why? Because the Labour Party philistines combine them? Culture would be better linked with education, and sport with enterprise. Better still, culture could have its own representative, given that cultural development (in a broad sense) is likely to be a pre-condition for independence.
Who gets the internet? That isn’t clear. Perhaps it goes with telecommunications?
www.snp.org/html/news/printerfriendly.php?newsID=2417
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3649496.stm
news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=324&id=1072772004
Party Leader and Westminster Group Leader: Alex Salmond MP
Depute Leader and Scottish Parliament Group Leader: Nicola Sturgeon MSP
Business Manager/Chief Whip:Tricia Marwick MSP
Party Business Convener (Subject To Approval By SNP National Council): Bruce Crawford MSP
Health and Community Care: Shona Robison MSP
Education and Lifelong Learning: Fiona Hyslop MSP
Justice: Kenny Macaskill MSP
Environment, Rural Affairs, Energy and Fisheries: Richard Lochhead MSP
Social Justice: Christine Grahame MSP
Transport, Tourism and Telecommunications: Fergus Ewing MSP
Enterprise and Economy: Jim Mather MSP
Culture and Sport: Michael Matheson MSP
Finance: Alasdair Morgan MSP
Work and Pensions: Mike Weir MP
Defence and International Affairs: Angus Robertson MP
European Union: Ian Hudghton MEP
Local Government: Cllr David Alexander (Leader, Falkirk Council)
SNP nominations for committee convenerships:
Health Committee: Roseanna Cunningham MSP
Enterprise Committee: Alex Neil MSP
European Committee: John Swinney MSP
Standards Committee: Brian Adam MSP
Member On SPCB: Andrew Welsh MSP
Posted by Simon Holledge at 04:04 PM
September 03, 2004
Salmond/Sturgeon elected
Congratulations to Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon on a decisive election victory. I hope this marks the beginning of better times for the SNP, a period of renewed energy and determination, and a new and productive involvement in all aspects of Scottish political life.
Votes for leader: Alex Salmond 4,952, Roseanna Cunningham 953, Mike Russell 631
Votes for deputy leader: Nicola Sturgeon 3,521, Fergus Ewing 1,605, Christine Grahame 1,410
An appreciation also of John Swinney, a fine but unlucky leader. Newspapers and television would have us believe that the right policies bring immediate electoral success, that failure implies poor choices. This is not so. The SNP have to develop the best policies, popular or unpopular - as John Swinney did - and patiently await their chances.
On a different note, Mark Hirst of Abernethy (I trust I have permission to quote him) commented on the BBC News site:
“The SNP likes its fish. The two were mermaid for each other and it looks like the membership has swallowed the bait, hook, line and sinker. Saying that, the SNP has a track record of electing a haddock as leader. I don’t want to sound like an old crab here but let’s hope this doesn’t mark the fin for independence or we’ll all be in the drink.”
And that’s the last fish joke that will appear on this blog!
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:07 PM | Comments (1)
September 01, 2004
Voter turnout 79.4 percent
Despite speculation in the Scotsman that the SNO leadership election turnout would not be high (see link to the latest story below right), the Salmond/Sturgeon campaign announced this morning that 79.4 percent of members had voted. This is impressive, given an August election and the less than total reliability of the British postal system!
Posted by Simon Holledge at 11:55 AM
August 31, 2004
Russell manifesto
Design: The Salmond/Sturgeon document is well set out, the Cunningham tract is easy to scan in straightforward unjustified type, but Mike Russell's manifesto is a pain to read. It is set in narrow justified columns (vertical 'rivers' of space flowing between the words) in Times New Roman (an ugly, spiky typeface only suited to rough newsprint) on a heavily tinted blue-purple background. Was the designer a Liberal Democrat or something?
Content: If Salmond/Sturgeon are pragmatists, and Cunningham a fundamentalist, Russell is an evangelist. His good news is that Scotland has a lot of unnecessary problems which can be solved relatively easily, and in the short term. (He is probably half right here.) He writes about 'systematic changes to culture, structures and processes of public agencies and political parties.' This is a major project!
The manifesto is entitled 'A Fresh Start on the Road to Independence', subtitled 'new hope, new ideas, new teamwork, new inclusiveness, new strategies'. There are appropriately five key points: I. 'Renewing the party': he will quadruple SNP membership by the time of the 2005 Westminster election, II. 'Taking new directions': he will re-examine key elements of SNP policy such as NATO (possibly joining instead of leaving) and the EU (a referendum on continued membership?), III. 'Encouraging participation': he will liberate, deliberate with, and empower the SNP while introducing radical measures including (happily) 'electronic participation', IV. 'Stressing enterprise and opportunity': he will initiate fresh approaches to business, infrastructure, taxation, health, education etc. (This is the most substantial section, where a lot of interesting ideas are floated.) Lastly V. 'Winning elections and winning independence'.
Overall there is something rather American about the grand aspirations, and the appeal to inspirational leadership. Implicitly the Russell plan requires persuasive, charismatic leadership to kick start the enthusiasm required to energize Scotland. Does Mike Russell have that charisma?
The manifesto is at:
www.mikerussellsnp.net/index.php?page=manifesto
Voting is now closed. Results on Friday, 3 September.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 06:24 PM
August 28, 2004
Cunningham manifesto
Roseanna Cunningham is not an enthusiastic blogger (she has only contributed seven times to her 'campaign blog' roseanna2004.blogspot.com/ since 2 July), so the only online guide to her thinking is the manifesto itself. This is an interesting and well-written, if rather inward-looking, document. It has less concrete detail on most issues than Salmond/Sturgeon, except possibly the environment, which she links with transport and land reform.
Entitled 'A Vision and Strategy for Independence', it actually gives us neither. The word independence occurs 28 times, but crucially there is no explanation by Cunningham about how she conceptualizes it in an increasingly interdependent world, influenced by global economic interests, that is moving away from a system of autonomous nation states. She also gives us no information about the processes of achieving independence, though these surely involve a lot more than just winning a Scottish parliamentary election.
She is notably sceptical on Europe:
"The European Union has changed substantially from the organisation joined by the UK in 1975. Our consideration of the potential future for Scotland as an independent member of that Union must be kept under constant scrutiny. The real test must always be: is it in the interests of Scotland or is it not? The key questions may lie in whether Britain enters into deals with Europe grossly harmful to Scotland prior to independence. In that case, I am certain a future free Scotland could not avoid revisiting the issues."
This would be fine if it were balanced by a paragraph explaining the opportunities that Scotland would enjoy in Europe - bit it isn't!
The manifesto is at:
www.roseannacunningham.net/
Posted by Simon Holledge at 04:06 PM
August 27, 2004
Salmond/Sturgeon Manifesto
"This manifesto is a clear indication of the kind of Party we wish to lead and the Scotland we seek to build".
Fair enough. This is an impressive document which covers many important aspects of policy. On the positive side, there is an unambiguous emphasis on a social democratic ethos ('the common weal'), and some recognition that Scottish institutions like a Scottish Broadcasting Corporation will have to be created to sustain a confident, focused Scottish identity that is no longer bedazzled by London.
Some criticisms:
1. The internet is not mentioned once in the manifesto, not even in relation to infrastructure development. Of all possible major infrastructure projects, making broadband available throughout the whole of Scotland would be the cheapest and have the most impact. Fast trains may improve productivity, discourage car use etc. but they won't change the way people think. The internet will do that.
2. Item 24: "Offer more support for Scottish artists, writer, and musicians to ensure that our identity thrives in the modern world." This hardly amounts to a policy. Of all the political parties in Scotland, the SNP has the most to gain from a flourishing arts scene, and the most to lose by imitating the philistinism of the Labour Party. The party should be considering what kind of political support is necessary to create advantageous conditions for the arts.
3. The environment is mentioned a few times, e.g. "high environmental standards are both necessary and easier to facilitate in a prosperous economy" etc., but there is no clearly-stated overall environmental policy embracing the land, transport, energy, tourism etc. Is the SNP going to leave the environment to the Greens? If so why?
The manifesto is at:
www.salmond-sturgeon.com/
Posted by Simon Holledge at 01:52 AM
August 23, 2004
One vote for Alex Salmond and one vote for Nicola Sturgeon
I have voted for Alex Salmond. I never seriously considered voting for anyone else, but it was interesting to read the candidates' leaflets enclosed with the voting forms.
Take opening sentences for example:
"I am not just campaigning to be SNP Leader. I am launching my candidacy to be First Minister of Scotland." Alex Salmond
Admirably direct and focused.
"Like every one of you, I am not prepared to accept second best for Scotland. Equally, I am not prepared to accept it for our party." Mike Russell
I don't 'get' Mike Russell. He writes about change, determination, opportunity, fresh starts, enthusiasm, re-energizing, courage, passion, and many other positive things, but I still don't understand what the message is. (I promise to read his manifesto later!)
"Independence is about more than choreographing the Independence Day ceremony." Roseanna Cunningham.
Cunningham evidently believes that independence is a pre-condition for any significant social or economic progress. This is not my opinion, and I don't think it is an opinion that people in Scotland want to hear.
The leader and the deputy should work in harmony and so I am also voting for Nicola Sturgeon. No doubt she will be very effective. I would also be perfectly happy with Fergus Ewing based on what I have read in his leaflet and website. His views on inclusion, balance and breadth are exemplary.
Christine Grahame's leaflet is better designed and printed than those of her colleagues, and she has found a photographer than makes her look both chic and gritty at the same time. (Thatcher with better hair?) Of her ten bulleted points, seven relate to internal party organization. This is not inspiring, for me anyway, and I wonder whether her idea of abolishing the shadow cabinet would work. (No doubt one day she will make a great minister of health.)
Posted by Simon Holledge at 11:40 AM
August 16, 2004
Leader/deputy: teams/unteams
I wonder whether the posts of leader and deputy leader should both be electable. The present situation seems confused. . . . If I have got it right, Salmond and Sturgeon are officially a team, Cunningham and Grahame are unofficially a team, and Russell and Ewing are unattached. Salmond and Ewing (and perhaps Sturgeon) are happy to work with anybody, but Grahame (standing for deputy) is only willing to offer limited cooperation (conferring but not deferring) to either Salmond or Russell.
Surely a united leadership is necessary for the SNP to inspire confidence? (Despite which Alex Neil is backing Salmond/Grahame! news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3553636.stm )
Perhaps the deputy leader should be appointed by the leader (as in most other political parties), or at least be elected after the leader and not at the same time?
Posted by Simon Holledge at 01:58 PM
Thinking the unthinkable
Roseanna Cunningham: "It is unthinkable that Scotland's party . . . could choose our leader from outwith the Scottish Parliament, a move that would reinforce the argument that our parliament is not important."
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3565546.stm
Two of the three candidates for leader of the SNP are not members of the Scottish Parliament, so clearly the unthinkable has already been thought. Party rules obviously do not bar non-Holyrooders from standing for the job. Alex Salmond is a member of the Westminster Parliament. Mike Russell is a member of neither.
I believe it is acceptable/workable to have the leader in Westminster, with the deputy at Holyrood. Both parliaments still have jurisdiction over Scotland and both have SNP representation. It would be different if Holyrood were fully empowered, but it isn't - and the next election to be fought is Westminster, not Holyrood.
The main job of the party leader is to inspire the general public rather than his or her colleagues, or to put it more simply - to get the vote! Isn't that what matters?
Posted by Simon Holledge at 01:48 PM