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Election 07

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Why no singing?

  • Brian Taylor
  • 1 May 07, 05:46 PM

Altogether now, happy birthday to you, happy birthd….. what’s the matter? Why no singing? Three hundred years ago today, the Union was born. (Conception came earlier, the motivations for mutual attraction remain disputed.)

Yes, it’s the 300th birthday of the political tie-up between Scotland and England.

So, presumably there’s joyous celebration. Street parties abound.

To quote Marx, let there be dancing in the streets and necking in the parlours. (That’s Groucho Marx, by the way.)

Well, scarcely. Today’s historic date was marked by a smile and an enigma. The smile - more of a grin really - came from Tony Blair in Edinburgh as he forecast that a Scot will succeed him in office. For the avoidance of doubt, he meant Gordon Brown.

And the enigma? Just what is the future for the Union whose birthday we commemorate.

Opinion polls suggest that the Scottish National Party is leading in the election contest for Scotland's Parliament. In case it had escaped your attention, the SNP wants to introduce the Act of Union (Repeal) Bill.

So, are Scots utterly and irrevocably sick of the tie-up with England? Apparently not.

Indeed, an ICM poll for the 91Èȱ¬ suggests that Scots are more inclined than the English to say that the Union has been beneficial to their particular nation.

The SNP say they're only seeking Scottish domestic government for now. There would be a referendum before independence.

Alex Salmond insists he’d co-operate with the UK government – including G. Brown.

Labour disputes that, saying that an SNP administration would create conflict from day one.

But here’s Labour's dilemma. Their strongest counter to the SNP is to assert and proclaim the economic advantages of the Union to Scotland.

But, to deliver that message, they field the Prime Minister who is - how to put it - less than universally popular after ten years in power.

Labour's strongest card is also, by extension, their weakest.

Tony Blair knows that - which is why he repeatedly says he'll soon be gone: that giving him one last kicking won't affect him but might place the union in jeopardy. Labour's conundrum, Scotland’s choice.

From Fudge to Fadge

  • Mark Devenport
  • 1 May 07, 04:34 PM

Stormont has been famous for its fudge in the past. But now Ian Paisley is trying to build its reputation for fadge. He told the EU's top diplomat Jose Manuel Barroso that Ulster produced the best food in Europe and extolled the virtues of "fadge" potato bread. He promised to give Senor Barroso a big feed of fadge whenever he returned to Stormont, adding that if he didn't eat it all he was sure "the Deputy" (Martin McGuinness) would "gobble it all up".

Away with the fairies

  • Mark Devenport
  • 1 May 07, 03:57 PM

When I arrived at Stormont this morning to cover the visit by the EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso I passed a man sitting on the steps. Beside him was a flat cap inside of which there were a number of daisies. "Are you the press?" he enquired. "I am" I replied. "Are you here to cover this?" he asked. "What's this?" I responded.

He explained that he was about to strew flowers at the front door in order to keep folklore traditions alive. I wished him good luck and went on my way.

Further research has identified the flower strewer as Mearns Pollock from Newry. He says May day celebrations were a regular tradition in Ulster in the not too distant past, when people put May flowers on their front doors to pacify the fairy Kingdom. Now the fairies have been pacified, Mr Pollock hopes power sharing will blossom.

Testing testing

  • Betsan Powys
  • 1 May 07, 02:23 PM

So far it's Labour on 6 seats, Con 1, LD 1 Green 0 Plaid Cymru 2 ...

Comments coming in. There've been claims of electoral irregularities in Oldham ... that's handy to know ... Theresa May says the Conservatives are halfway up a mountain and Peter Hain has been telling Sky News that the results so far are "uncomfortable for Labour" ...

Oh .. Torfaen result coming in. Except the graphics are showing Llanelli on the plasma screen. And the preview screen isn't working.

Just as well there's time to rehearse Election night and live it all twice.

And seeing as how I'm going to try and blog throughout the night (apologies now to Huw Edwards if I ignore him at any crucial moments) I might as well give it a go.

Just been told to concentrate. Any tips on juggling?

Honest Ken

  • Betsan Powys
  • 1 May 07, 11:37 AM

What's Labour fighting for at this election?

A majority.

Or if you're Kenneth Skates, top of the Labour list in North Wales (or the north of the principality as the New Statesman have it in their story ) the forecast is more like "a fall to 27 (down 2) whereas the Tories will gain a handful".

We know this because that's what he wrote in his posting on the New Statesman's Election blog.

Labour officials weren't happy. Their lead candidate in North Wales asked if his comment could be removed. Instead they made it headline news.

If he's right - Labour lose a couple of seats to the Tories or anyone else in North Wales then we should be seeing Kenneth Skates AM in Cardiff Bay. And if it turns out he's that good at predicting results and making waves, he'll be very welcome.

Two more thoughts: BNP. UKIP. I met more than a few of their voters in Aberdare yesterday. A few weren't sure who they voting for - that national party, the B something, or Dai Llewellyn's lot. The same kind of news comes from North Wales. If the cross goes in the right box, could there be enough support - somewhere around 12,000 based on past figures - to grab a list seat this time?

And perspective. A producer's Dad said she was doing great work, before asking her "When do we get the real news back?"

Vote Labour Get Plaid?

  • Betsan Powys
  • 1 May 07, 11:25 AM

Gareth Thomas, a contributor to this blog and former Labour MP for Clwyd West is expected to endorse Dafydd Wigley as a candidate on the regional list in north Wales this afternoon.

He's not endorsing Plaid but must know his days a Labour Party member are about to come to an abrupt end.

Come on Gareth, tell us more!

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