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Reluctant Hero · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:47 pm Post subject: Salmond targets 20 MPs

Alex Salmond said today that he is hoping to have at least 20 SNP MPs after the next general election. Who would bet against him achieving it?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8307222.stm
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azzuri · 'Our Scotland' Fossil Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 4304

Ambitious the way the boundaries are set up. Even if the SNP were to beat Labour in % share of the vote, they'd struggle to get said 20 MPs.

Who knows though, don't bet against the Scottish electorate. 10-12 would be a massive swing though. Watch for the Lib Dem vote collapse, except in the Orkney and Shetland Isles of course...
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landg · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject: Re: Salmond targets 20 MPs

October1974 · Standing in a Council Ward Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 426

In 2007 the SNP won 21 FPTP seats. In the same seats in 1997 we won 6. In 1992 only 3. The party has come a long way since those days.

It will depend on how far the Labour vote is down on 2005. If the SNP outpoll them then seats can tumble, if not then it will be harder.
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Holebender · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:14 am Post subject:

This target was set at least a year and a half ago. It's rather old news.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sal...an-dance-to-scottish-jig-1.878981
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landg · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:52 am Post subject: Re: Salmond targets 20 MPs

Dave Coull · Independentista Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 2845

Holebender · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:19 pm Post subject:

Actually, the offer was to bet a thousand pounds and a thousand dollars and a thousand euros. I just offered to simplify it a little by making it three thousand of any one of those currencies. I'm quite prepared to make it a thousand of each though, if that's preferred.
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Stevie · Independentist Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Posts: 1226

landg · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: Salmond targets 20 MPs

Aventinian · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:54 pm Post subject:

They will make gains, but 20 is very ambitious. Once you get down to the 'least likely' of their 20 possible gains, we're talking about overturning massive majorities in areas where the SNP has never been particularly popular, whilst conversely having the SNP retaining seats like Angus where they have a relatively small majority.
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pictus · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 7:15 pm Post subject:

Latest regional splits put the SNP ahead of Labour in one, and sharing 29% with another.

Holebender · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject:

Of course it's an ambitious target. What's the point in setting an unambitious target? Targets are supposed to be challenging.

How inspiring would it be if party leaders didn't tell their member to return to their constituencies and prepare for government? Ambitious targets are set to rouse the troops and gee them up for the campaign, not to conform to the latest opinion poll data.
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Tartan Tory · Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:05 pm Post subject:

If Salmond basing the number 20 on the 2007 election he should bear in mind there are more FPTP seats in Holyrood (73) than there are Scottish seats in Westminster (approx. 50)
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Holebender · Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:18 pm Post subject:

I think he probably knows that. Doesn't everyone, especially politicians?
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Stevie · Independentist Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Posts: 1226

Ambitious yes, but Salmond is not usually guilty of ridiculous over reaching.

Does anyone have the lowdown on the seats he's interested in.
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Cruachan · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:15 pm Post subject:

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