Comments on: Glasgow South

By: A Cairns

A Cairns — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 13:07:07 +0000

Scottish Labour has elected Johann Lamont as Leader, a pretty disastrous choice although I haven’t checked the voting in exact detail yet.

By: A Cairns

A Cairns — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 21:19:37 +0000

DA’s model also predicts East Dunbartonshire being broken up so I’d take their central Scotland projections with a pinch of salt.

In other news, it also seems Ken MacIntosh and Johann Lamont are standing for the Labour leadership.

Lamont would be a terrible idea though IMO.

By: Dalek

Dalek — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 20:16:57 +0000

Democrat Audit project Glasgow South and Renfrewshire East being merged (obviously with the excess bing absorbed by other seats).

So going for Holyrood in 2016 may avoid him going head to head for the respective Labour nomination in 2015.

By: Joseph Brayson

Joseph Brayson — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:14:06 +0000

Tom Harris has indeed put his name forward to be the next leader of the Scottish Labour party. However, if elected he has made it clear that he will retire as an MP at the next election and become a MSP by the 2016 Scottish Parliamentary elections.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:28:32 +0000

Yes, it sounds more like a move to stimulate a debate within the party and forcing other potential contenders (McIntosh, Baillie) to make their mind up

By: A Cairns

A Cairns — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:23:09 +0000

Such a move clearly has pros and cons.
I suppose the thinking is that it could muddy the waters between Westminster and Holyrood which may or may not work.

He’s quite a provocative character so I suppose his candidacy might scare others into action.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:17:45 +0000

“To be sure of winning it would have to be in one of the safe seats in and around Glasgow.”

Labour is left with just 3 constituencies in Glasgow at Holyrood level

Glasgow Provan (Michael Martin’s son as MSP) 10.8% majority (their second safest constituency)

Rutherglen (James Kelly MSP) 6.6% maj. The new constituency is enterely based on South Lanarkshire territory IIRC.

Glasgow Maryhill & Springburn (Patricia Fergusson MSP) 6.3% maj

Glasgow Pollock (Johann Lamont MSP; SLAB Deputy Leader) 2.7% maj

The constituency with the biggest Lab majority is Coatbridge & Chryston (held by a left wing woman whose main priority may not be Tom Harris) with a 11.8% majority. The spectacular SNP performance last May produced a political map where the top 6 of Labour biggest majorities include Eastwood and Dumfries while Glasgow Anniesland, Paisley and Kirkcaldy aren’t even Labour held.

“There’s no way he would get away with some kind of pantomime horse arrangement, staying outside Holyrood and appointing a Scottish parliamentary leader. Salmond and the SNP would eat him for breakfast and spit him out”

That’s exactly what Salmond did in 2007 though

By: Joe James B

Joe James B — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:16:37 +0000

Not sure Tom Harris would be earily spat out.
He’s quite a robust character, and calls a spade a shovel.

By: H.Hemmelig

H.Hemmelig — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:13:55 +0000

He would have to force a by-election and become an MSP. To be sure of winning it would have to be in one of the safe seats in and around Glasgow.

There’s no way he would get away with some kind of pantomime horse arrangement, staying outside Holyrood and appointing a Scottish parliamentary leader. Salmond and the SNP would eat him for breakfast and spit him out.

I am far from convinced Tom Harris will stand, or win. Murphy and Alexander – absolutely no chance. They are too ambitious on the UK stage.

By: Joseph Brayson

Joseph Brayson — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:53:32 +0000

There are rumours Tom Harris is interested in becoming the Scottish Labour leader. Not a bad idea, apart from the fact that he isn’t a MSP. Therefore if he is leader would he (a) Persuade a fellow MSP to stand down and for him to stand in a by-election, as he would not be able to enter through the party list system or (b) Become leader anyway, but then appoint a MSP to be the Parliamentary leader with Tom Harris in a co-ordination role. BTW this applies to Jim Murphy, Douglas Alexander or any other MP looking for the role.