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Scott2006

The political life of Scotland and/or the UK seems to change, sometimes slightly and in the light of certain factors more markedly, as a result of a by-election.

Do you think Scotland 'changed' out of all recognition as a consequence of the Winnie by-election, or did the few years before the following general election allow the media to adapt etc?

If, in the next few years, a by-election was called, for whatever reason, would it show strong support for the SNP, which the opinion polls seem to demonstrate, or 'local power' bases - keep the status quo...?

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Scotland deserves a First rate Parliament for a First rate People
The Scottish Parliamentarians who voted for Treaty of Union in 1706 and signed away Independence had been voted for by less than 2% of the Scottish population

Scott2006 · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:08 am Post subject:

WSC1917

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Scotland deserves a First rate Parliament for a First rate People
The Scottish Parliamentarians who voted for Treaty of Union in 1706 and signed away Independence had been voted for by less than 2% of the Scottish population

William_Cleland · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 8:30 am Post subject:

The West Lothian and Bridgeton by-elections earlier in the 60s set the scene for the Hamilton one so Hamilton didn't quite come out of nowhere as is sometimes implied.

Glasgow Bridgeton
DATE: 9th November 1961
Mr J Bennett Labour 10,930
Mr M McNeill Conservative 3,935
Mr I MacDonald Scottish Nationalist 3,549
Mr G Stone I.L.P 586
Majority 6,995

Labour hold

West Lothian
DATE: 14th June 1962
Mr T Dalyell Labour 21,266
Mr W C Wolfe Scottish Nationalist 9,750
Mr W I Stewart Conservative 4,784
Mr D Bryce Liberal 4,537
Mr G McLennan Communist 1,511
Majority 11,516

Labour hold

Not sure Hamilton should be seen as anything more than part of the general swing away from the two party system at by-elections in the 60s. Paisley was almost the big breakthrough for the Liberals in by-election terms a year before Orpington:-

Paisley
DATE: 20th April 1961
Mr J Robertson Labour 19,200
Mr J M Bannerman Liberal 17,542
Mr G R Rickman Conservative 5,597
Majority 1,658

Labour hold

Orpington
DATE: 14th March 1962
Mr E R Lubbock Liberal 22,846
Mr P Goldman Conservative 14,991
Mr A Jinkinson Labour 5,350
Majority 7,855

Liberal gain from Conservative
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The people have spoken, the bastards! - Dick Tuck

Aventinian · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:58 am Post subject:

agentmancuso · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject:

Economist · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:13 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure that it did change Scotland, it was just part of a general trend I think - a symptom of the changing times rather than a pivotal event in our political history (although viewed alone, it was a pivotal event).

The movement away from Unionism to nationalism in Scotland (with a small "n" - even if it wasn't of the overtly political type) probably started to gather pace in the early 60s.
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Taurus excreta cerebrum vincit - Bullshit baffles brains