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Fleeting successes

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Published Date: 04 November 2008
What a timely reminder from David Torrance (Debate & Opinion, 3 November) of just how fleeting and precarious by-election victories can be. Jim Sillars's 1988 Govan "triumph" was quickly followed by his rejection at the next general election, the voters apparently having made their protest.
Perhaps Mr Sillars's protegé Alex Neil, another frustrated former Labour man who was rejected by the electorate at the 1992 general election, had been referring to 2093, not 1993, when he spoke of being "free by '93".

We should not forget also the 11 SNP MPs who committed political hara-kiri and then faded into oblivion after bringing down the Callaghan government and allowing in Margaret Thatcher in 1979.

By-election "victories" by minor parties have a habit of rebounding badly.

ALEXANDER McKAY
New Cut Rigg
Edinburgh



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 03 November 2008 9:14 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Alastair the First,

04/11/2008 11:14:59
Oh forgawdsake, not this tedious old f4rt again! Is he sleeping with the editor of the Scotsman?

The reason that the SNP couldn't support the Labour government in 1979 was that the Labour government did their best to scupper the devolution referendum with their 40% rule and other dirty tricks (which we now know included lying to Scotland about the value of our oil resources). The reason the Tories got in was that England voted Tory. To suggest that there was some sort of moral duty for the SNP to support a corrupt and incompetent Labour government is just rewriting history. McKay is becoming, no, has long been, a tedious bore and an apologist for war criminals and crooks.
2

G,

dundy 04/11/2008 12:39:45
Your history looks a little different from reality....how many times the SNP try to excuse or explain their actions on the basis of "facts" since revealed or invented and how many times they insult anyone who takes them to task, does not change the facts, the SNP chose not to support Labour in 1979 for their own political aims NOT for Scotland's benefit.
The heatedness of your post suggests suppressed shame.......
3

bill-alba,

Fife 04/11/2008 15:21:22
G repeating lies time and time again doesnt make it true...as for your little blurb re the SNP not doing it for Scotlands benefit..the SNP are the only party that does anything for Scotlands benefit. You vichy scots should maybe ask what labour/libs/tories have ever done for Scotlands benefit.
4

,

04/11/2008 19:34:15
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