Fleeting successes
What a timely reminder from David Torrance (Debate & Opinion, 3 November) of just how fleeting and precarious by-election victories can be. Jim Sillars's 1988 Govan "triumph" was quickly followed by his rejection at the next general election, the voters apparently having made their protest.
Perhaps Mr Sillars's proteg Alex Neil, another frustrated former Labour man who was rejected by the electorate at the 1992 general election, had been referring to 2093, not 1993, when he spoke of being "free by '93".
We should not forget also the 11 SNP MPs who committed political hara-kiri and then faded into oblivion after bringing down the Callaghan government and allowing in Margaret Thatcher in 1979.
By-election "victories" by minor parties have a habit of rebounding badly.
ALEXANDER McKAY
New Cut Rigg
Edinburgh
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Thursday 16 February 2012
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