Crackerjack Part V: The Final Insult?

macnumpty · Crackerjack Part V: The Final Insult?

Rumours abound of shenanigans in Glasgow Govan, with Gordon Jackson apparently on the verge of being dumped in favour of Anas Sarwar, son of Mohammed Sarwar MP, and currently Number 1 on Labour's Regional List in the City. This will trigger a bid for the Constituency from Muhammad Shoaib (who has also announced a plan to stand on the List and for the Council) as an Independent.

Firstly, Labour have a strict 'no dual candidacies' policy (or at least, they do now - they waived this rule in 2003), and like to slate other parties for letting Constituency candidates go forward for Regional ranking, so it will be interesting to see if Sarwar vacates his position at the head of the List. If not, expect cries of 'hypocrisy' (I know I'll be making them), especially if he fails to win Govan but gets in on the List.

Secondly, what of poor Gordon? All the way back in July, I said that the Labour Scottish Executive were threatening to de-select him until he threatened to resign the seat immediately, triggering a By-Election. Labour have decided to move at the only possible time: too late for him to do this (if he quit now, the seat would lie empty until Parliament dissolves) but with a few weeks to get Sarwar established, rather than scout around for a candidate in April. Gordon's bluff has been called.

However, Labour are now in a 'damned if they do, damned if they don't' situation. Jackson's reputation as a part-time MSP has clearly (and, by extension, Labour) cost him dear, and keeping him makes things easier for SNP Depute Leader Nicola Sturgeon. Sarwar replacing Jackson could trigger a Shoaib candidacy which would split the Labour vote, just as the SSP probably stopped Sturgeon from winning the seat in 2003, simply by fielding a candidate (an action that they aren't necessarily going to repeat this time around).

But in short, to keep his candidacy, and keep the seat, Gordon Jackson needs several miracles. I'll miss these occasional Crackerjack posts...

Reluctant Hero

azzuri

To be fair though - Gordon Jackson is still a very intelligent man and could probably do the same amount of work that most Labour MSPs do in a quarter of a third of the timespan. My local MSP has been absolutely useless, was in the local rag the other week wanting to fine people if they don't recycle!

FFS - they can't even catch people littering - just how does she plan to implement such a loppy scheme?

macnumpty

She's probably just after attention. Ignore her.

The problem with his intelligence was that he didn't seem to notice the frustration he's created and (if the story is true, which we don't know yet) he's managed to be outmanoeuvred by the Party. It hasn't done him any favours, really.