The retirement of Nicola Sturgeon is a gift for Labour. The SNP is in disarray and after 5? winning elections complacency had grown. And it is rather ironic that the vote for Yiusaf was 52-48, a figure which John Grace has called a nemisis for the nation.
With the Conservtives in Scotland dwindling in numbers the opportunity is there for Starmer to strengthen Labour in the Central Lowlands. If Sunak says he will fight to retain the union it means there is no battle to be had anymore – he can do nothing and claim a victory as the SNP self-implode. For Labour there is the opportunity to win possibly tens of seats. They could also do better in NI in the form of the SDLP if it can win those not polarised by sectarian nonsense.
As we come out of what has been a fairly dull and miserable winter – spring will be here soon, although winters departure is that of a begrudging teenager being told to go to bed – we enter a spring and summer when light and hope should be poured upon us by the opposition parties.
The Conservatives are showing their colours early – culture wars, tough on crime, tough on migrants. All policies that seek to divide and encourage hate. The tough on crime bit I have not commented on before. Most, if not all of Sunaks blathering, was already illegal. The police and the courts cannot cope with the legislation they are supposed to enforce already. More bullshit about police numbers will not help, how many will be sacked if proper review of policing takes place? What vetting of new recruits will take place? Nitrous oxide consumption is already illegal, so new words will make squiddlydo difference. Graffeti and fly tipping are alreasdy illegal and common! House parties, although annoying, are surely less important than solving theft and burglary. Will the tories be able to say by the next election “WE HAVE ……” Rather than “WE WILL….” . They have had 13 years to sort things out how they would like them and have screwed up badly – time to let others have a go.
Who do they invite to their focus groups? I think it is people who would be annoyed if “**” happeneded to them, even though it is highly unlikely! Why would anyone here care about the poor refugees risking their lives to get here without the media winding them up. They will tell people to be offended about the football team taking the knee – when they have never seen a fooitball game in their lives. They will be offended by … oh shut up Parish!