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Myth of Callaghan defeat

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Published Date: 05 November 2008
Alexander McKay (Letters, 4 November)
repeats the old Labour myth that SNP MPs brought down the Callaghan government in 1979. They voted against Callaghan because he refused to implement the Scotland Act after the "Yes" vote for devolution in the referendum held in March 1979. Labour would have survived the vote if a Labour MP had not been taken ill and if expected Northern Irish supporters of Labour, such as Gerry Fitt and Frank Maguire, had not been persuaded to abstain at the last minute.

Like Gordon Brown, Jim Callaghan dithered when he had a chance to win an election, in the autumn of 1978, but following the winter of discontent, the Tories, led by Margaret Thatcher, would have been elected whenever Labour had held a general election.

CALUM STEWART

Montague Street

Edinburgh





Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 04 November 2008 10:24 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Richardinho,

05/11/2008 03:35:02
I've always thought that it was the voters who voted out the labour government in 1979, but the bitter labour supporters seem to maintain otherwise.
2

Pilrig.,

Livingston 05/11/2008 05:44:12
The blame for Callagahan's defeat lies with Neil Kinnock and the Labour anti-devolutionists, and no-one else.
3

donald,

glasgow 05/11/2008 06:20:03
They could have implemented Devolution and won the vote, but the North British Nationalist Labour MPS were revolting.
4

donald,

glasgow 05/11/2008 06:22:15
Labour often voted with the official Tories against Scottish and Working Class interests in favour of Anglo-Capitalist Imperialism.
5

Itchy,

05/11/2008 06:44:47
#5 This is the kind of Marxist mince that made Labour so unpopular in the first place.
6

Colin Wilson,

Aberdeen 05/11/2008 06:47:05
"... the old Labour myth that SNP MPs brought down the Callaghan government in 1979. "

They certainly helped to being it down. However, if the UK electorate had wanted Labour back again, they could have voted for this in the following election. Instead, they voted for the Conservatives led by Margaret Thatcher.

If you're a Labour Party unionist, and you live by the UK, then you need to accept that you die by the UK too. People who blame the SNP for the Conservatives' election in 1979 are disrepecting the UK electorate and the electoral process itself.
7

Mr. Lachie Todd,

Edinburgh 05/11/2008 10:22:55
The Labour Party may have made Scottish (and Welsh) Devolution possible but naively believed that the
introduction of this constitutional arrangement would forever kill nationalism "stone dead and leave the political status quo in place.

The once dominant Welsh Labour Party is now in coalition with Plaid Cymru in the Welsh Assembly because its support has fallen to such a low level.
It could not even form a coalition with the Welsh Lib-Dems. Welsh Labour even considered a pact with the minority Welsh Tories, so desperate was it to remain in power! In future years, Labour, or another Welsh Unionist party, may have no other option but to co-habit with Plaid if it wishes to govern the Principality under the terms of the Government of Wales Act!

The Scottish Tories are now a fringe political party and the Scots Lib-Dems remain inconspicuous.

IF, Labour still believes it has a god-given right to govern Scotland then it might very well have to do so in future years in coalition with the Nationalists?
Such an outcome will be just a further erosion of the Union as Nationalism becomes embedded in the Scottish body politic!
8

Alternative (High-Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 05/11/2008 10:34:28
If... if... if...

Thankfully, Callaghan WAS deafeted by Margaret Thatcher in 79. Christ knows what kind of mess this country would be in by now if he hadn't been.

Look forward to the same thing happening to Brown soon---only I sincerely hope that this time around, the electorate woun't be s categorically stupid as to vote for stupid labour ever again.
9

bill-alba,

Fife 05/11/2008 12:17:03
#9 yes whereas we all know the mess that britian is in with the thatcher years.
10

Alternative (High-Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 05/11/2008 16:41:06
#10:

Say goodnight to the folks, Gracie...

 

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