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Glasgow East: Weary candidates on the home straight



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Published Date: 24 July 2008
ONE began the day with a bowl of muesli; the other evoked echoes of former Tory prime minister John Major, using a soapbox for a last-day rallying call to supporters.
But political stereotypes are not what they once were, and it was SNP candidate John Mason who was tucking into a healthy breakfast that owes more to the New Labour heartland of Islington than his home turf of the East End of Glasgow.

For her part
, Labour's Margaret Currant was keen to maintain her image of a street-wise fighter with her rallying cry to the troops in Parkhead.

The candidates began the day by crossing swords on a BBC Radio Scotland debate. This included Ms Curran's refusal to commit to relocating from Glasgow's south-side to the East End if elected to Westminster.

Mr Mason, meanwhile, went bowling before meeting voters on the street and attending his final media call. At the event, he held true to what has been a fairly fought campaign and refused to make a personal attack on Ms Curran over her choice of home, saying the question was "for Margaret Curran to answer".

With more voters to meet and doors to knock on, he said it had been a tiring campaign – with the prize at stake the "phenomenal honour" of serving Glasgow East at Westminster.

Ms Curran, who also looked out on her feet, would surely agree.



The full article contains 242 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

AM2,

Scotland,UK 24/07/2008 00:16:37
Islington? Oh, he won't like that comparison. Bear in mind that this is the councillor who, during the 2006 World Cup finals, complained about the supposedly “excessive” number of English flags being hung by pupils at Hillhead High School.
2

a proud doonhamer,

Dumfries 24/07/2008 00:38:36
Here is my final prediction for the Glasgow East seat:-

Turnout = 41.0% approx. 28000 votes


SNP = 42.0%, 11760
Lab = 39.0%, 10920
Con = 7.5%, 2100
LD = 5.5%.1540
SSP = 3.0%,840
Green = 1.5%, 420
Sol = 0.5%, 140
Ind = 0.5%, 140
F4C = 0.5%, 140

SNP Majority = 3.0%, 840
Swing = 24.0% Lab to SNP.
3

,

24/07/2008 00:43:07
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
4

Rev. S. Campbell,

Bath 24/07/2008 00:43:36
#1 Hillhead isn't in England, is it?
5

ThomasP,

24/07/2008 01:02:48
#1

English Flags, in Scotland which were at a public school...

Totally wrong and should of been taken down.
6

,

24/07/2008 02:21:02
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
7

SNP hypocrisy,

24/07/2008 05:56:41
2. Absolutely pathetic. The SNP really need taken down a peg or two. People like you are a complete and undemocratic joke. No matter whne the people of Glasgow East reject the SNP today. I'll be singing 'Le'ts all laugh at Salmond, Let's all laugh at Salmond, na-na-na na-na-na.' Which is what he deserves now that he has turned this into a vote of confidence in the SNP. LOL!
8

kt mcallan,

scotland 24/07/2008 06:29:17
ms curran, did you ever visit mr marshall's constituency office? we are still waiting for you to answer.
9

MacGillicuddy,

24/07/2008 07:30:22
This is a WIN-WIN today for the SNP.

At best the SNP will take the seat. At worst Liebour will retain it but with the mother and father of majority reductions.

Regardless of the outcome, the people of Glasgow East and of Scotland now have further irrefutable evidence of the absolute corruption endemic in the Liebour Party. That sleaze coupled with the realisation that Liebour has zilch to offer decent ordinary people will be enough to persuade the Scots to break up the UK.
10

Richardinho,

24/07/2008 07:44:32
It will be a set back for the SNP if they don't take the seat, but only a momentary one.
Curran will have to show that she really can 'stand up for the people of Glasgow East'. and that this wasn't simply empty campaign rhetoric. Labour are drinking in the last chance saloon as far as their traditional west of Scotland hegemony is concerned.
11

yolanda,

24/07/2008 09:47:20
Has the Labour canditate changed her name by adding a "T" on the end so that the voters don't confuse her with the other one?
12

sm753,

24/07/2008 10:45:19
#5 Young Thomas

"English Flags, in Scotland which were at a public school...

Totally wrong and should of been taken down."

We are not talking about the St George Cross flying from the staff at the top of Edinburgh Castle, or over St Andrews House. (Although why would that be objectionable, say on St George's Day? We fly it over Murrayfield every other year when the neighbours come to visit.)

We are talking about some schoolkids putting wee flags (some possibly hand-drawn and coloured) up on the walls and windows. During a big sports tournament.

I've been to the school my daughter goes to next year. They have them learning the basics of all sorts of languages from around 6 or 7, and so have them drawing, colouring and sticking up French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Chinese and all sorts of flags too.

Problem? Only for a petty-minded xenophobe.
13

Scottish 'N British,

24/07/2008 11:02:47
9

Actually it's a LOSE-LOSE.

The vibes thus far is of a failing UNION, and the most disliked British government of all time, the SNP Executive in Edinburgh is (supposedly) popular, and up against a 5th choice candidate.

By-elections are also notorious for voters giving the incumbent PM a good kicking.

To summarise - talk up a possible SNP defeat all you want, but no one is fooled.

Today will be Salmond's 12th day canvassing. If the SNP do not emerge victorious it will be a MASSIVE blow for not only him, but the SNP's credentials as a force.

We should find out either way at around 2am tomorrow morning.
14

MacGillicuddy,

24/07/2008 11:09:02
#13
Idiot!
15

European Scot,

24/07/2008 11:55:42
13

" To summarise - talk up a possible SNP defeat all you want, but no one is fooled.
If the SNP do not emerge victorious it will be a MASSIVE blow for not only him, but the SNP's credentials as a force."

The only talk up on this by-election, has been about how' close' it all is, a 'knife edge' situation, how worried Labour are etc.
Total hype to turn a foregone conclusion into a Labour 'victory'.
A Labour stronghold, with a 13,500 majority at the last election.
A hard core who vote Labour, whoever, or whatever, is wearing the red rosette.
Now if you slash that majority by thousands Alex, but don't actually win the seat it will be a massive blow against you and the SNP.
A great victory for New Labour !

Ah yes, such Unionist logic !
16

jacquesmac,

24/07/2008 12:03:53
yolanda,24/07/2008 09:47:20
Has the Labour canditate changed her name by adding a "T" on the end so that the voters don't confuse her with the other one?

No Yolanda, she has dropped the R's, plus one vowel and addet that "T"

These letters know make up a well known word and now add before it two words to make a well known phrase or saying.

Probably moderated, what the furk!
17

Scottish 'N British,

24/07/2008 12:18:39
15

You clearly haven't been following events too closely.

Eck has discounted the polls and has openly predicted an earthquake of a victory. More than that, being there so often, he has decided to stake his own reputation on victory.

Ergo, defeat will be a MASSIVE blow.
18

European Scot,

24/07/2008 12:43:53
17

"You clearly haven't been following events too closely."

I've been watching very closely.
A halving of the Labour majority would be bad enough, but to be within a couple of thousands would indeed be a massive blow, but not for the SNP.
The reality is the percentage of the drop, will give an indicator of Labour's future.
That isn't looking too good !
19

,

24/07/2008 12:47:00
Comment Removed By Administrator
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20

,

24/07/2008 14:33:01
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
21

Rev. S. Campbell,

Bath 24/07/2008 16:22:08
God bless these rictus-grinned Unionists, who apparently think that a BIGGER swing away from Labour than saw the Tories take Crewe & Nantwich (which is all but a certainty tonight, regardless of whether it reaches the magic 22%) will amount to a crushing blow for the SNP. The fact that the result is even up for debate is an astonishing shift of Scottish political ground which has been unmoving as rock for most of a century.

Westminster is a sideshow for the SNP, a little bit of fun to keep the activists busy in the holidays. Even if Labour cling on, and I'm FAR from sure they will, they'll still be a broken shambles on both sides of the border, leaderless in impotent opposition at Holyrood and with a lame duck for a leader in Westminster, counting the days until the Tories put him out of his misery (and those of us unfortunate enough to live here into ours). The SNP will remain a hugely popular government, knowing that NO Labour seat is out of reach, and that the Tories are about to take power in England with no mandate in Scotland whatsoever.

Roll on the referendum. Roll on freedom. Tonight's just a bit of telly.

 

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