Scots voters consider Labour ‘irrelevant’

LABOUR is seen as “irrelevant” and “part of the past” by voters in Scotland who have deserted the party, research using focus groups into the party’s heavy General Election defeat in May has found.
Labour's own research revealed that Scots voters view the party as 'irrelevant'. Picture: GettyLabour's own research revealed that Scots voters view the party as 'irrelevant'. Picture: Getty
Labour's own research revealed that Scots voters view the party as 'irrelevant'. Picture: Getty

The focus groups conducted in Edinburgh and Glasgow for the party found that Labour was seen as “indistinguishable from the Tories” and “an incompetent version” of the them.

There was also anger about Labour “taking Scotland for granted” for years has dissipated, but only because the party is “simply an irrelevance” which is “firmly in the past….part of the heritage.”

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The party’s research said: “Labour must re-build in Scotland as a credible alternative to the SNP that isn’t at the beck and call of Westminster”. It said the party should “consider rebranding Scottish Labour as independent.”

However, it also found there were some underlying fears that Scotland is becoming a one-party state, and many voters would have preferred a Labour-SNP coalition.

Some Scots were also “anxious” about the Conservative Government.

“By far the biggest concern is that Scotland will continue to be ignored and Cameron’s promises on devo max will never materialise,” the research said.