Part of the Union 249


Labour voters are switching straight to Tory as second preference and Tory straight to Labour in Scottish local government by-elections held under the STV system. These are not opinion polls, they are real elections.

I was shown results and transfer sheets yesterday in the margin of the SNP vetting assessment of potential candidates which I was attending. Unfortunately I did not have a chance to copy down the figures, but the pattern was clear.

For those unfamiliar with single transferable vote, you mark the ballot paper 1,2,3 in the order you prefer the candidates. What is now becoming clear is that Labour voters tend to put the Tories at 2, and Tories put Labour as 2. I have been arguing for years that there are no significant policy differences between Labour and Tory – it is a fake choice. I will never forget at the count in Clackmannan the Labour and Tory councillors and their wives all celebrating together, all looking well-heeled and arrogant and entitled, impossible to tell apart.

That the few remaining Labour voters put the Tories as second preference, instead of the Greens, SNP or Liberal Democrat, shows that the core Labour support base is largely Blairite. Which explains why the ultra-Blairite Jim Murphy, scion of the far right Henry Jackson Society, is set to become Labour Party leader in Scotland. It is also interesting that Tory voters are happy to give second preferences to Labour, recognising that Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper, Tess Jowell and Harriet Harman – every one a millionaire – are doughty protectors of the rich and the established order.

I haven’t been able to find a website that records local byelection results including the transfers – some results are listed on politicalbetting.com but only give the final result after all transfers. If anyone can find the data online I would be grateful. I should love to see an analysis from James Kelly on this one.


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249 thoughts on “Part of the Union

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  • Republicofscotland

    “At present the Electoral Commission is not planning on publishing a headline figure about how many people have fallen off the electoral register since the transition to individual electoral registration began until February – despite local authorities releasing data for their areas this week.”
    ______________________________

    Ben

    According to Radio 5 Live political presenter John Pienaar, 23 million people in the UK failed to vote, whether or not they’re disillusioned with politics, I can’t really say.

    Thankfully in Scotland a new political awareness has arisen.

  • Ben the Inquisitor

    Just over 38% of US eligible voters showed at the polls last month, RoS. I think it has a lot to do with voter cynicism and apathy.

  • guano

    Thanks to Captain Kirk on the bridge of CM Blogship Enterprise.

    Thanks also to Tinky on the previous thread for this quotation:
    Kissinger:

    “One should not confuse undercover action with social work.”

    Means in the present context of USUKIS’ Islamic State that even if IS is used by them to lead an insurrection against Saudi Arabia who are currently paying for the insurrection against Assad, they, IS , will be tortured and hung for their pains after the job is done, with much applause and cheering from USUKIS citizens.

    I think it is one of the most profound quotations, if true, for the depth of its understatement about Zionist power and ambitions.

  • Phil

    A gawd. Labour boo! Tory boo! Liberals schhhush… SNP brilliant!

    The SNP are a pro-monarchy, pro-NATO party promising relatively small change as they try to gain real power for themselves. It seems the grass roots Yes campaign has been truly co-opted.

    None of this is anything new. None of this will change anything except the faces of your political class.

  • Ben the Inquisitor

    Kirk of the Enterprise…lol. Who has to come to Kirk’s rescue….why Scotty, of course; engineer of all things impossible.

  • Phil

    Sory should have read:
    The SNP are a pro-monarchy, pro-NATO nationalist party.

    A friggin nationalist party. You are looking for salvation from a pro-monarchy, pro-NATO nationalist party led by bankers and ex-state enforcers. No wonder this world is fucked.

  • Habbabkuk (la vita è bella)

    Mary

    “Troll fest here since earlier.”
    _________________

    Well, the solution is simple – you should post less.

  • CanSpeccy

    What is now becoming clear is that Labour voters tend to put the Tories at 2, and Tories put Labour as 2.

    Well obviously. Who else could they put? A liberal? LOL. The Scots have some sense of decency and propriety. As for the SNP, what use would it be to have someone agitating for Scotch independence on the local council?

  • Republicofscotland

    “Just over 38% of US eligible voters showed at the polls last month, RoS. I think it has a lot to do with voter cynicism and apathy.”
    _________________________

    Ben

    I think you’re right, people are cynical of politicians, but I can remember when Obama, first came to power there was a “Feel Good” factor going around, especially in poor communities as though he (Obama) could be the one to make a REAL difference.

  • Ben the Inquisitor

    Good read; http://truth-out.org/news/item/27829-zinn-coeditor-that-all-voices-make-history-is-dangerous-idea-to-those-in-power

    “We live in an age of politicians and even some social activists who are scripted based on polling. How do you discern authentic voices, such as the ones in this anthology?

    Our criteria are fairly straightforward. Howard and I looked for voices of people who risked something, where something was at stake. We also looked for voices that also speak to the present and help illuminate ongoing struggles. One of the reason people are so turned off of politics – and by contrast, are so moved by the voices in our book and live performances, as well as our documentary version, The People Speak – is they understand how utterly inauthentic and bought-and-paid-for so much political speech is these days. No one could ever say that about Vito Russo, Sylvia Woods or Eugene Debs.

    You have sections on the revolt against racial segregation and on the denunciation of the Vietnam war. One can argue that the truth exposed by these movements broke the back of the traditional US narrative of a country with liberty for all and one that establishes peace. It appears to me that the backlash to those revelations – to the dispelling of so-called “American exceptionalism” – is still occurring through the right wing and the Tea Party. Your thoughts?

    “American exceptionalism” defines the framework for discussing US history and politics, even among many critics. Liberalism basically accepts the ideology of exceptionalism. It just expresses frustration that “we” have fallen short of our “ideals.” Someone like Samantha Power talks about our sins of omission – where we failed to intervene, ignoring or excusing the countless cases, continuing to the present, where the real issue is sins of commission. These are crimes that we actively commit and which liberals like Powers enable by wrapping US imperialism in the cloak of liberalism. The Tea Party version of exceptionalism is rooted in reaction and nostalgia, and is thoroughly racist. But it actually has less of a hold than the everyday exceptionalism that informs the reporting of NPR and The New York Times or the speeches of President Obama.”

  • Habbabkuk (la vita è bella)

    OF POSSIBLE INTEREST TO ALL READERS OF THIS BLOG.

    From Squonk’s place, this from Phil:

    “Squonk, I have a proposal, a long shot. Would you consider publishing guest posts?

    Following on from what Clark said I am concerned that comments are not up to representing the breadth of my concerns. I would like to develop the problems I have with Craig Murray standing for parliament into something more.

    …. It would take some curating but could be a not insignificant step in rebalancing the one sided power relationship that currently exists { presumably Phil means on Craig’s blog} It would take some curating but you seem to be made of impartial as impartial gets stuff.

    Anyway, just an idea. Depends on what you want for this place. And other things.”

    ______________________________

    An attempt to set up a parallel blog? Or to diminish this one?

    Are there no limits to Phil’s vendetta against Craig?

  • craig Post author

    Habbabkuk

    Phil has every right to pursue his peculiar obsession in any way that makes him feel a little bit better. I should be delighted if he set up his own blog. It might give him something more constructive to do than be so angry at me for not wanting total social isolation.

  • doug scorgie

    Phil
    7 Dec, 2014 – 4:25 pm

    “The SNP are a pro-monarchy, pro-NATO party…”
    …………………………………………………………………………….

    Labour is a pro-monarchy, pro-NATO party; the Conservatives are a pro-monarchy, pro-NATO party; the LibDems are a pro-monarchy, pro-NATO party.

    It all gets so confusing doesn’t it. Thanks for your insight Phil (not).

  • nevermind

    Anyone who thinks he might want to be a candidate should by now be on his leathers and get around the constituency.
    Those who think that this is all wrapped up during a very short election campaign period have not learned or did not want to listen in the past.

    Anyone wanting to stand as an Independent could do no better than start now. I’m surprised that the SNP has yet to get ready for the off, they should be doing some fun things in local communities, parties events, all sorts, rather than bitterly doorstepping alone. Any chance to raise a smile missed is a potential voter being passed by.

    HOW ANYONE CAN GET PEOPLE TO BOND and vote.

    Just in case you’re short of any ideas on how to get people of all sorts of directions to bond, try and introduce /announce a ‘Bossel’ session after giving one of the thousands of speeches given.
    being scottish you might want to introduce rescue remedy into the game, a wee dram after every throw.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryIUG80cUZ4

    It is ideal to book a lunch in some pub beforehand, so after you done a 5 mile course from A to B, and and had a few, you all end up with a meal. Now such an event will get people to chat to each other whilst waiting their turn, all sorts of chat, boring, jokes galore, banter, policies, ideas for an election campaign.

    It is also a great idea to come on a cycle so you don’t have to walk back to your car parked somewhere else.

    Team with the least throws wins, whatever, a bottle, pralines, cinema tickets. Simples
    what do you need is a man with a red flag to stop all play when traffic occurs a score keeper and the balls, all weighing the same.

    you can get the gear here, or, if you are skilful, turn some well seasoned wood into three equal spheres, good luck, drill them centrally and melt lead into it, be careful to do the melting outside in a tin, but, ensure you DO NOT BREATHE IN ANY OF THE LEAD EMISSIONS. You weigh the balls before filling and only melt the equivalent in lead which will bring all three balls to the same weight. Plug the hole

    done.

  • doug scorgie

    Phil

    7 Dec, 2014 – 4:32 pm

    Sory [sic] should have read:

    “The SNP are a pro-monarchy, pro-NATO nationalist party.”

    “A friggin [sic] nationalist party [there should be exclamation mark here]. You are looking for salvation from a pro-monarchy, pro-NATO nationalist party led by bankers and ex-state enforcers. No wonder this world is fucked.”
    …………………………………………………………………………………………………….

    Surely that’s the UK nationalists Phil. Have you been at the Sunday sherry again?

  • nevermind

    Thanks Doug, Labour had the’ white heat of nuclear technology’ imprinted on their party’s genetic.
    Not one of the parties have analysed what NATO has become, all are just running along moving on strings.
    Bankers have us all from behind, even Phil who wants to the big booby under the bed, so comfortably easy and Stalinist of him to piss into his own tent, when there is so much worse going on out there.

    But hey, nobody’s perfect, and everyone gets ticks if he gets out some more and walks in the woods.

  • Ben the Inquisitor

    “Bankers have us all from behind, even Phil who wants to the big booby under the bed, so comfortably easy and Stalinist of him to piss into his own tent, when there is so much worse going on out there.”

    Maybe it’s time to take out the trash, rather than rummaging through the waste for something of value.

  • Habbabkuk (la vita è bella)

    Craig (17h30)

    I fully agree and, furthermore, note with pleasure that we share a common concern for Phil’s mental well-being.

  • Habbabkuk (la vita è bella)

    “Bankers have us all from behind,…..to piss into his own tent,..”
    ______________

    Am I the only one to find these rather…robust…images slightly misplaced?

    We are, after all, not in the public bar of an ale-house.

  • Republicofscotland

    “Am I the only one to find these rather…robust…images slightly misplaced?

    We are, after all, not in the public bar of an ale-house.”
    __________________________________

    Habb

    Is that what banker do in a public bar, or an ale house then?

    You do seem to know, you’re rather disturbingly well informed on this matter.

  • Republicofscotland

    The Labour candidate for the Gordon seat Alex Salmond has said he hopes to contest are Braden Davy (yes, that’s the right way round), who came to the party straight out of McDonalds and now works at Westminster for Anne Begg MP, when she’s not sharing a laugh and campaigning with the National Front.

    http://wingsoverscotland.com/the-best-of-friends/

    The Lib Dems, meanwhile, have selected Christine Jardine, a former BBC journalist who was last seen securing a whopping 1,940 votes for the party in the Aberdeen Donside by-election last year.

    The Conservative candidate for Gordon is Colin Clark.

  • Ben the Inquisitor

    We get government we deserve.

    “Attorneys general in at least a dozen states are working with energy companies and other corporate interests, which in turn are providing them with record amounts of money for their political campaigns, including at least $16 million this year.

    They share a common philosophy about the reach of the federal government, but the companies also have billions of dollars at stake. And the collaboration is likely to grow: For the first time in modern American history, Republicans in January will control a majority — 27 — of attorneys general’s offices.

    The Times reported previously how individual attorneys general have shut down investigations, changed policies or agreed to more corporate-friendly settlement terms after intervention by lobbyists and lawyers, many of whom are also campaign benefactors.”

    http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/us/politics/energy-firms-in-secretive-alliance-with-attorneys-general.html?_r=0

  • Mary

    The schoolyard sneak has done that before – transmitting the contents of comments on Squonk to Craig. Perhaps he would to become teacher’s pet officially.

  • nevermind

    Habby, if your inept or can’t enjoy the evolution of the English language in all its tribal nuances, go swing your dick somewhere else.

    looking at the various Independent movements, Quebec and Scotland have the commonwealth and the same monarchy at its helm, they roughly had the same pride, money and dirty tricks going on.

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/if-quebec-splits-the-tremors-will-be-global-1579686.html

    They are comparatively different in size, but who would have expected the same results, roughly, is it exactly because Quebec and Scotland are being subjected to the same power structures, organisations, and bodies of state,as well as the City of London cooperation?

    Catalonia is different because they are united, from the reigning regional Leader to the working class labourer. over 80% in favour of splitting the Spanish royal family and their parliamentary system off, their relation to Madrid has always been hands off and they have seen how their neighbours, the Basque nation, has been treated by Spain.

    http://www.wsj.com/articles/scottish-independence-issue-may-return-quebec-separatists-warn-1411208188

    Any new Independent vote could take these allies into account, invite them to watch polling stations, take photos of people who are involved in the count, make sure that ballot boxes are counted were the vote has been received, not ferried half way round the country into one central counting depot no accessible to the public, a mutual help that has to be reciprocated, off course.

  • Mary

    PS Habbabkuk is banned from commenting on Squonk’s blog. He has tried to bypass the ban by using various subterfuges such as Lady Marmalade!! but has been rumbled each time.

  • Phil

    Craig
    “Phil has every right to pursue his peculiar obsession in any way that makes him feel a little bit better…It might give him something more constructive to do than be so angry at me for not wanting total social isolation.”

    All you’ve got is misrepresentation and name calling? Ha ha.

    More outstanding hypocrisy from the man who haughtily claims to play the ball.

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