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Hopefully he'll be replaced by someone who foams at the mouth when they speak, either Andy Kerr or Wendy Alexander will do. _________________ "Quite simply, Labour have been caught red-handed so often that no-one believes a word they say any more."
Lord George Foulkes - now that would be good. I would fear for Andy "shocked and upset" Kerr (shocked and upset by the fact Alex Salmond said the "I" word in speech when the Queen was present.)
I fear the SNP Government would shock and upset him too much to competently carry out his job.
There is just such a dearth of talent on the Labour benches, it is hard to imagine any of them doing any good. And to be quite honest, that is pretty shocking for Scottish democracy, given they are the 2nd largest party in the country. _________________ Taurus excreta cerebrum vincit - Bullshit baffles brains
If the SNP can keep going the way they have been, then the Labour vote should drop - reflecting that lack of talent.
I still think that Alexander could cause problems for the SNP though. She is definitely more quick witted than most on the Labour benches. If she wisens up a wee bit, she could provide a challenge to Salmond. Much more than any of the rest of them IMO. Equally, if she falls back on the rabid Unionist rhetoric that she was coming out before the election, from that platform, she could make her party unelectable.
Her close relationship with Brown could end up giving Labour a big boost if Brown manages to win a UK election. Again, that could backfire as well if Brown fails. At the moment though, I think it would give her a boost in terms of public opinion.
I think alexander is a clown, she is painted as being the intellectual or business friendly labour member but her behaviour during the election campaign showed her up as a whining spin-merchant.
I hope it's her as she will annoy even more of the public than Jack did.
If I were Labour I would go for someone like Jamieson who has a rapport with working class voters. They have to look at rebuilding and rebranding Labour in Scotland as they are sinking fast.
Should McConnell eventually stand down, whoever replaces him won't be the de facto leader, they'll still be led from London. Maybe we'll see Dr. Doom (John Reid) stand in a by-election in Jack's stead.
For Scotland to become independent it is not the Tory or Liberal voters who have to be converted it is mainly the labour voters. Who better to do this than Wendy the Caterpillar Woman? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGdybkDZNH8
That surprises me. Set a precedent for former FMs to be offered a peerage, as all former PMs are, and you open up an enormous can of worms. After all, that means Alex Salmond would be next in line, not to mention the problems which Northern Ireland throws up. _________________ A very merry Christmas to one and all.
McConnell was ineffective as FM. his inability was evident and this shows up more so in opposition. Nicola was able to run rings round him with ease, and now Alex isn't even trying to ridicule him (he does that himself)! _________________ "Name not the land where the olive tree grows,
Nor the land of the Shamrock, nor land of the Rose;
But show me the Thistle that waves its proud head,
Over heroes whose blood for their country was shed!"
Andrew Park.
That surprises me. Set a precedent for former FMs to be offered a peerage, as all former PMs are, and you open up an enormous can of worms. After all, that means Alex Salmond would be next in line, not to mention the problems which Northern Ireland throws up.
Hi Aventinian,
Salmond wouldn't accept. The SNP voted several years ago that none of their MPs could accept a position in the House of Lords.
Someone suggested that perhaps it would be a good idea for the SNP to be represented in that chamber, hence the vote. It was a most definite, unanimous NO.
I posted a comment onto Taylor's blog, but after a day it is yet to appear.
The comment suggested that his article tried too hard to be generous to McConnell. I aslo suggested that (as a lot of observers are saying) Scottish Labour needs to free itself from the shackles of London Labour, i.e. from Westminster, if it is to evolve. I observed that this is an ironic metaphor given that their nemesis, the SNP, have been advocating just that for the entire nation in order for Scotland to develop.
Can't mind where, but there was an article the other day suggesting that Kerr et al were ready to stand aside and hand the leadership to Alexander. Be pretty disappointing if that's the case.
Andy Kerr, Wendy Alexander & Curran are all pretty basic/poor leaders and I can't imagine them enlighting up the public or turning voters to Labour but prove me wrong though.
Labour in Scotland need a Alex Salmond, Tommy Sheridan, Rhodri Morgan type statesmen e.g someone with a bit of balls and will stand up for the beliefs in stead of letting British Labour run all over them, I don't know if they have such a MSP in their ranks
Such people don't get selected as candidates by the numptocracy. _________________ "My instinct is to agree with your opinion of his verse, but I've never so much as glanced at it." - agentmancuso
Andy Kerr, Wendy Alexander & Curran are all pretty basic/poor leaders and I can't imagine them enlighting up the public or turning voters to Labour but prove me wrong though.
Probably Wendy Alexander is as good a candidate as they could hope for, though this is mainly because the alternatives are so poor. I think she is pretty useless, and if I may borrow Holebender's term, nothing more than a member of Labour's ruling numptocracy.
Personally I don't think Labour has quite come to terms with losing its grip on power, a power it seemed to think it had by right, and as such it hasn't been able to renew itself. The party is still full of third rate time servers with hardly a decent brain between them.
Because the SNP is attractive to people who are idealistic and optimistic, and because it is not (yet anyway) an establishment party, it benefits from a brighter standard of recruit. That bodes well for the longer term future of the party, but let us be fair and recognise that the SNP are still very reliant on the personality of Alex Salmond.
If for whatever reason St Alex was to relinquish the party leadership it would leave a gap Nicola Sturgeon would seriously struggle to fill. _________________ Anthropos ikane prophasis eis to dustukhein
It is only logical that McConnell is standing down as a leader; He led the party to an election-defeat. Not really his fault but there must always be a scapegoat.
The next election is still some time away and the Scottish Labour must start the process of reinventing itself.
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There is just such a dearth of talent on the Labour benches, it is hard to imagine any of them doing any good. And to be quite honest, that is pretty shocking for Scottish democracy, given they are the 2nd largest party in the country.
