SNP candidate for Glasgow North East David Kerr quits

No, I am not re-running the Glasgow North East by-election stories about the the first and second candidates quitting and David Kerr being the SNPs third choice.

This is about David Kerr quitting himself as the SNP candidate and now very happy to talk about the Opus Dei sect, something during the by-election he was not so keen to talk about.

David Kerr is quitting politics (short time and not a good effort) to join the Catholic Church media office and will play a key role when Pope Benedict XVI comes to Scotland.

According to the Scotland on Sunday;

[SNP] party managers are understood to be unhappy at having to find a new candidate at such short notice, with 6 May the probable election date.

David Kerr added;

"The papal visit is of huge significance not just to Scotland's Catholics but to the country as a whole.  I am looking forward to working with people across Scotland's faiths, parties and communities in putting this visit together."

I bet Scotland's LGBT community can hardly contain it's excitement of the Pope's visit, I for one am certainly looking forward to it and letting him know how utterly ridiculous his views on safe sex and condoms really are and the damage that view does to hundreds of thousands of people across the world.

Glasgow North East by-election - the aftermath and analysis

So, finally the Labour Government have gained a seat in a parliamentary by-election in this Parliamentary term. Labour have finally turned the corner in campaigning terms in Scotland in my opinion.

Watching them in three consecutive by-elections in just over 12 months has been really interesting.

In Glasgow East Labour ran not only the wrong campaign, they took so long getting their campaign into gear it was quite obvious they were going to lose, plus the SNP pushed them onto the back foot and stole their thunder.

Then we moved to the Glenrothes by-election where Labour once again took a little time to warm up but then got into it and got into the groove and although the SNP were quite obviously on a high after Glasgow East they became arrogant.

Tavish Scott was right to highlight during the Glenrothes campaign that Alex Salmond as First Minister should be busy running the country not gallivanting around Fife in a by-election campaign.

The Glenrothes result was a catastrophic result for the SNP and they had Angus Robertson running around the media scrum at the count telling people they had won, with me and Graeme Littlejohn, our press officer telling everyone it was a Labour hold.

In fact the Labour Party were coming to us for clarification of their own victory, they weren't 100% sure. We were, we got the result from our box counts within 0.2%.

Even the infamous Michael Crick got it wrong, despite us telling him minutes before he went on air. Willie Rennie MP had great fun the following morning rubbing his nose in it.


And then there was Glasgow North East, Labour waited 144 days to fill the vacancy and maybe that was their strategy all along. As both Glenrothes and Glasgow North East were played as the long game, whereas Glasgow East was just three weeks.

Labour hit the ground running this time, third time lucky, local candidate, in fact the only one to vote in the by-election, although by postal vote, good local messages and rebuttals plus the added bonus of a not so good SNP candidate who made gaffes as the campaign hotted up.

On day one the media stated it was a two horse race between the SNP and Labour, and to be fair it was because the SNP didn't have the deceny to observe to protocol of not standing against The Speaker, while we do. The Conservatives also had to do well as the Government in waiting.

We didn't have the pressure on us despite us being the second Westminster Party in Scotland.

The media storm following the BNP appearance on Question Time definitely helped their vote, but the fact the newspapers gave them more column inches than the four mainstream parties at times, including the Daily Mail who dedicated two, yes two, front pages to the BNP.

No wonder they did so well.

Obviously I am disappointed by our result but I am also aware that when the media dictate the horses in the races, the remainder are pushed out.

I suspect from yesterdays line up of candidates there will only be two names back on the ballot paper at the General Election, Willie Bain and our own Eileen Baxendale.

Well done Eileen, you and the team did us proud.

Glasgow to lose in East Coast Main Line plans

Often during a by-election campaign you can see a party which runs a council, or the government put extra resources into an area especially if it is the same party who is defending the vacant seat and the more cynical amongst us then accuse them of trying to buy the election.

We have seen accusations thrown at the SNP for holding one of their national conversations pieces in Glasgow North East for example.

However, it is rare, and some may even say stupid when you see a party defending a seat take the opposite action.

Imagine if you will an MP stands down, the party defending this seat then leaves it vacant for say four months, then perhaps the same party defending the seat which also runs the local council decides to shut some local schools.

Then the same party defending this seat now vacant for over four months, with less schools than it used to have then announces it is going to slash train services into this major city just six days before polling day.

Well, that party is the Labour Party and the seat is Glasgow North East.

Today we have learnt that the new East Coast main line services will no longer go through to Glasgow in proposals that have emerged today, the new December 2010 timetable is under discussion and will have to go out to public consultation before plans are finalised.

I don't think I will ever understand the logic of the Labour party.

SNP in Glasgow North East by-election gaffe

We have had the trio of Glasgow North East by-election gaffes from Labour, then Karen Whitefield MSP in her email gaffe and now after the SNPs first choice second choice third choice candidate has been selected and got going it is his turn today.

Unfortunately for David Kerr - because I suspect he may not have had a choice in this - because the SNP have a central diktat on everything from personal opinion to what you can and cannot cannot say - someone has reproduced a leaflet from his Falkirk campaign in 2000 when he said the words;

"..born and educated in Cumbernauld." and now in 2009 he is "Dennistoun born David explains."

Now, don't get me wrong, there is always the chance his mother was in labour driving round looking for a hospital back then in the days of Tory government - but seriously this is a gaffe!

BNP Leader Nick Griffin fails to show in Glasgow North East after being pelted with eggs

So, where the English failed at the Question Time event, the Scots stopped Nick Griffin appearing with his racist candidate, Charlie Baillie standing in the Glasgow North East by-election.

Nick Griffin was due with Charlie at the Springburn Shopping Centre today to meet people in Glasgow North East, thankfully for them Nick Griffin was "held up" after being pelted with eggs by a crowd of around 40 demonstrators who were there to greet him at the HQ of L107 Radio in Hamilton, Lanarkshire.

Nick Griffin took part in the Lanarkshire station’s Music and Talk Show, hosted by James Russell this morning and L107 programme director Derek McIntyre defended the decision to have the BNP leader on but admitted it was “commercial suicide”.

He said: “We have received 50 emails this morning from people withdrawing their support for the station and two or three advertisers have said they are pulling out.”

I disagree with Derek McIntyre because the BNP have no elected representatives here in Scotland so he did not need to allow Griffin on but that is obviously his choice, although when a broadcast decision affects your advertising in a negative way, then I suspect the shareholders may also have a few.

I hope the eggs were battery and not free range, I would hate to see good food wasted.

Labour candidate in Glasgow North East's contract - part two

On Thursday this week I blogged about Willie Bain's contract with the voters of Glasgow North East, you can read it here, he launched his contract but did not sign it, I assume because he didn't agree with it?

Well, now he has signed it but it is amended so he obviously wasn't happy with the first one, here is the new amended signed contract, which we will probably see at the Labour launch tomorrow.

Now, the missing text is quite important, it is here below and if you visit the original blog post you will clearly see it there.

It appears that Labour's Willie Bain no longer wants to earn the trust of the people in Glasgow North East and that he also believes that our MPs don't need to earn your trust. The second point is that, yes, Willie Bain will take you for granted, some may say Labour already are. If he felt these two points were important they would have stayed in the amended contract that he went on to sign.

Labour's Glasgow North East by-election gaffe #3

Three, yes three, firstly why have the people of Glasgow North East now been without an MP for 117 days, they could have called the by-election before the summer recess when Michael Martin stood down so;

Gaffe one - not calling the by-election when Michael Martin resigned.

Gaffe two - candidate Willie Bain not signing his "contract" with the people (as of this morning it still isn't signed).

Gaffe three - phoning Lib Dem voters to tell them the writ is being moved today (Friday), wait for it........who live in Dunfermline.

Last night telephones in Dunfermline were being called by an electronic message from their Glasgow North East candidate.

"Hello, I am Willie Bain, Labour candidate in the Glasgow North East by-election"

He then started taking about when the poll would be called and then mid sentence hung up.

To be fair Willie is the candidate for Dunfermline, Willie Rennie MP that is, who took the Dunfermline & West Fife seat in the 2006 by-election from Labour.

Why in Scotland are Labour campaigns so disastrous at the start, they do then seem to sort themselves out but is this another case of disorganisation or just stupid mistakes?

Labour candidate in Glasgow North East forgets to sign his own contract

The Labour candidate is launching his campaign on Monday but today has revealed his contract with the people of Glasgow North East, with one slight problem. He hasn't actually signed it!

Normally a contract is only legally binding once it's signed! Whoops. An own goal by Labour.

Eileen Baxendale, the Liberal Democrats candidate for the by-election is working really hard knocking on the doors speaking to the good people across Glasgow North East, if the people there want real change Labour is not the option, and neither is the SNP.

Glasgow North East - and we are off

Despite the fact that the people of Glasgow North East have now been 115 days without Westminster representation and that as of yesterday Labour still had not moved the writ in Parliament for the by-election to take place, the Liberal Democrats launched their campaign yesterday with Leader Tavish Scott, Eileen Baxendale and Robert Brown MSP in Springburn.

As is always the case with these things we had journalists getting a wee bit irate because of deadlines, and it showed in their questions (a chill pill may have been in order there), Tavish was delayed because a van broke down on the M8 and it was overcast.

But there were some good photos with a local family and with Eileen's family there as well it was a great launch, but be under no illusion this wasn't the Liberal Democrats starting there in Glasgow North East yesterday, oh no, we have been there for weeks now, in fact months.

Eileen and the team have been out knocking on thousands of doors and local residents have been genuinely pleased to see the face of someone who cares, someone who has spent nearly twenty years on and off working in the heart of their community and understanding them, not patronising them like some of the career politicians.

If you have never been to Glasgow, and to be honest prior to me taking this new role on in Scotland my experience of Glasgow used to be running from Central Station to Queen Street Station to then get a train up to see my Mum in Ardgay.

Last year I spent six weeks there with our fantastic candidate Ian Robertson in the Glasgow East by-election and then various times with Katy Gordon our candidate fighting to be the next MP for Glasgow North and now recent weeks in Glasgow North East.

The area may have not had the funding it so richly deserves, but the people and the communities are so united and their determination is amazing. I have met some great people in Glasgow and yes, that is where I was introduced to Irn Bru, like the people a great product of Glasgow.

With Labour closing schools across Glasgow, and the SNP yet to build any schools since coming into power the children of Glasgow will surely suffer, if not now certainly in the future and we want the school building to commence again as it was happening when the Liberal Democrats were in Government, the money is there for the SNP to do it and to continue our record of building new schools - I know they have just announced a new wave of school building but why did they stop the programme? Why has nothing been built in the last two years?

The SNP are so all over the place in Glasgow North East, they are on their third candidate already, so before nominations close it may very well all change again, who knows?

This election should not end up with another career politician being elected in Glasgow North East because that isn't what the people want or need, they need someone who will stand up for them after decades of Labour neglect and now SNP u-turns and inaction on the things that really matter in their communities across the area. Change is certainly needed, a vote for the Liberal Democrats will certainly bring about that change.

It's true - Scottish Labour are anoraks

I was over in Glasgow North East again today, specifically I was in Springburn for the launch of the Lib Dem campaign with Eileen Baxendale, Robert Brown MSP and Tavish Scott.

I was sat in Tesco having a coffee and then stood at the counter were two political anoraks as the picture below shows - it is true Labour are just a bunch of anoraks.

Although I am taking the mickey it was very noticeable as they wandered around finding a seat.

I have to admit I do have a range of different Liberal Democrats tee-shirts, but no ties, or anything else of that order and certainly not an anorak!

Although I am sure they are happier in their anoraks than the Scottish Tories who were pictured supping champagne after David Cameron's ban - let us see that photo!

Glasgow North East candidate in u turn shock

I cannot claim this blog posting, it is a good A+ for Scottish Unionist who saw this fantastic u turn by the SNP candidate for the Glasgow North East by-election.

Read here what he said about the al-Megrahi decision on the 21st August and then the complete kind u turn only 4 days later.

Glasgow North East - the battle

It is interesting that today's coverage of the selection of the Conservatives candidate for Glasgow North East is highlighted as a battle of the BBC journalists, rather than what the people of Glasgow North East need in the shape of their new MP.

It's bad enough they are still without an MP some two months on and the prospect of another three months wait before they can choose their next one.

Eileen Baxendale, the Scottish Liberal Democrats candidate is keen to fight for the people in Glasgow North East, she has wanted to represent Glasgow North East for years but as the Scottish Liberal Democrats have observed the tradition of not standing against the House of Commons Speaker, Eileen has waited until now to do so.

Whereas the SNP have chosen to ignore this tradition.

The four main candidates have between them some interesting backgrounds, let us see where this election goes but really let us also hope that the journalists don't just harp on about it being a battle between two former journalists, because that isn't what this election will be about!

Scottish Lib Dems select Eileen Baxendale to fight Glasgow North East

As the battle to replace Michael Martin as the MP for Glasgow North East hots up the Scottish Liberal Democrats have selected Eileen Baxendale as their candidate.

Eileen has a strong track record in social work all across Glasgow but has spent an incredible amount of time in Glasgow North East working alongside and with many communities there so will be a strong candidate.

Eileen, 64 is now a South Lanarkshire councillor and formerly a social worker with over 28 years experience in Glasgow. My hat goes off to people like Eileen, social workers get a hard time when things go wrong and yet not even a squeak when everything is going well.

The people of Glasgow North East are having to wait months before they are properly represented in Westminster again, this simply isn't acceptable and it is Labour who caused this delay. I hope the people in Glasgow North East remember that!

The campaign in Glasgow North East will have many issues to focus on, time will tell exactly what all the parties focus on but school closures and the possible bin strike may feature for starters.

However, Eileen is keen to point out that it down to the people of Glasgow North East to decide what is important to them. Well done Eileen.

The Liberal Democrats already have a strong voice in Glasgow in the shape of Robert Brown MSP, and I know Robert will throw his weight behind Eileen's campaign as will Katy Gordon and Jo Swinson MP amongst many others.

Glasgow North East by-election quashed

A bid to call the by-election in former Speaker Michael Martin's Glasgow North East seat was defeated by the Government today in the House of Commons.

MPs voted by 238-127 to move the writ for the by-election when the House returns after the summer.

So, the people of Glasgow North East have already had no MP for one month, and now have at least three more to go. Four months without an MP. The earliest the by-election can be is November 5th, (although more likely to be November 12th) this is absolutely outrageous and plain silly.

Why oh why did Labour not call it for the same day as the Norwich North by-election? Why should the good people of Glasgow North East go without an MP for so long?

SNP Tactical Voting offers an explanation here. Tom Harris MP tweets about it, saying the SNP moaned Glasgow East was in the Summer and now moaning Glasgow North East isn't.

Willie Rennie MP doesn't mention the date, but does talk about the SNP's third candidate.

Why Labour think it is acceptable for people to have no representation for over 5 months I have no idea, only they can tell us the answer.

SNP candidate for Glasgow North East stands down

Today's Sunday Herald carried the story that James Dornan the SNP candidate for the forthcoming Glasgow North East by-election has already stood down, less than a week after being selected, stating he had illegally taken a position despite being declared bankrupt.

James had apparently accepted a position as 'partner Director' and trustee with Glasgow Culture & Sport, an arms-length council organisation which was a charity. despite section 52.1 of the body's Articles of Association stating that an "undischarged bankrupt" (which James Dornan was at the time) could not take such a position.

As this is obviously a really technical side of the law, at least he has done the right thing, given the current climate with politicians and trust and stood down and therefore also turn the attention of the election back onto Labour's record in Glasgow, whether it be Westminster or even the Council.

Will David Kerr now come to the fray again, or feel as he was rejected the first time that he is no longer interested?

The SNP's initial PPC Grant Thoms stood down and now his replacement has stepped down less than a week after being voted in as the candidate. I am not criticising this, because sometimes these things happen, but it isn't a good start for the SNP.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats are shortly about to announce their candidate and who knows with the Conservatives.....