Election diary: Ian Rankin declares his support for Greens

Published on Sunday 1 May 2011 19:17

ONE of Scotland's leading authors has declared his support for the Greens in the Holyrood elections, in a major boost to the party in the final days of the campaign.

Ian Rankin, who lives in Edinburgh, has announced that he will be using his vote on the party list section of the ballot for the Greens.

Green co-convener Patrick Harvie said: "It's certainly pleasing to know that Ian Rankin's second vote on Thursday will be for the Greens."

Bit of an Ed–ache for Scottish Labour

HE HAS hardly appeared in Scotland during the campaign, but Labour leader Ed Miliband appears to have managed a gaffe that has undermined his Scottish party. Labour north of the Border has been claiming that the SNP has failed to challenge the Tories and is, in fact, in cahoots with them.

But in a television interview, Mr Miliband admitted: "The reason we're in a tough fight is that you've got two parties who are fighting against a Conservative-led government in London."

Bookies have their favourites

VOTERS have yet to make up their minds obviously, but already the bookmakers have decided the SNP is set to come out on top.

According to Ladbrokes, it is looking good for the punter who managed to secure odds of 5/6 on an SNP victory, with the party now clear 1/6 favourites in the parliamentary election betting.

Meanwhile, Labour is now 7/2 to win, having been the 1/12 hot favourites when betting began last month.

Foxed by question of which is worse

A LEADING Scottish member of the cabinet – Tory Defence Secretary Liam Fox – was unable to say last week which would be worse for Scotland, a Labour win or an SNP win.

Asked the question at the Westminster press gallery lunch, Dr Fox, a former Edinburgh GP who represents an English seat, said: "Naturally since it is not ours it is always the sub-optimal outcome."

Debateable use of London's cast-offs

POLITICIANS in Holyrood have all been saying Scotland needs to rely less on handouts from Westminster. Nobody seems to have told BBC Scotland which, in its debate last night, used cast-offs from last year's Westminster election, the podiums from last year's prime ministerial debates.