McConnell’s future hangs in balance Whither Jack McConnell, Scotland's third First Minister, and Scottish Labour this morning?
Will he still be in post once the days, if not the weeks, of horse-trading to establish a governing party at Holyrood have been endured, or will he retire gracefully to the opposition benches, either to the back benches or as leader of the opposition.
The future for Mr McConnell and the Scottish Labour party is uncertain. Last night, Labour was putting on a brave face. While it is undoubtedly true the party lost only four seats, and its vote held up surprisingly well, the SNP beat Labour by one seat, and can legitimately claim to have the populist vote.
Mr McConnell concedes the ball is now in Alex Salmond's court. Labour will leave him to make the first approach to the Liberal Democrats and there will be no parallel discussions. Equally, he is not conceding Mr Salmond the automatic right to be First Minister, and he is not prepared to lie back to let him lead the country in a direction in which it does not want to go.
Whatever rainbow coalition is agreed it is likely to be a minority coalition between Labour and the Liberal Democrats, or the SNP and the Liberal Democrats. Annabel Goldie, the leader of the Scottish Tories, has consistently argued against coalition politics; the two Greens want to go it alone; and Margo MacDonald, the solitary Independent, will not entertain a coalition with anyone.
The chances of another Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition are scant. Labour ministers, already cynical about the LibDems, believe they will do a deal with the SNP, although Nicol Stephen, the LibDem leader, has ruled out any deal which includes a referendum on independence.
Mr Salmond, given the chance to inherit the mantle of First Minister, may blink first, and it is possible that a temporary deal would be in the interests of both parties.
If the polls are accurate, the Scottish electorate does not want independence, so Mr Salmond might prefer not to hold a referendum. Equally, Mr Salmond might be banking on Scots changing their mind on independence if David Cameron leads the Tories to victory at the next General Election without a mandate from Scotland.
Mr McConnell last night was playing for time. In a short statement after the votes were counted and announced, he said: "Having fought an election campaign to put a strong economy, the foundation of our work - the education service - as our national priority, and action on crime and antisocial behaviour as fundamental, it is right and proper this weekend that I and my party reflect on how best to take forward these priorities in government and the parliament again."
This morning Mr McConnell will meet the Labour group of MSPs at a private session in Glasgow. Despite contrary speculation, Mr McConnell will not face an immediate challenge but ministerial colleagues maintain he will be prepared to do whatever is in the best interests of the party, even if that means resigning.
Wendy Alexander and Andy Kerr, the Health Minister, are the names being bandied about as a possible successor, but it beggars belief that any credible candidate would want to inherit what can only be described as a poisoned chalice. The most likely scenario is Mr McConnell leading the imminent negotiations and, at a later date, facing a leadership challenge, or falling on his sword of his own volition.
Today's meeting is more likely to concentrate on a post mortem of the campaign, around the strategy of the past, and on a strategy for the future. Mr McConnell's cabinet colleagues, not to mention other Labour figures in the Scottish party, and beyond, were and remain furious at his insistence to work with only a small coterie of advisers, who they claim gave him mostly dubious advice.
They were angered also by Mr McConnell's refusal to start campaigning months before he did.
However, wise heads in the party were telling Mr McConnell not to panic last night. One insider said: "We were told we would be in meltdown, and we are not. The SNP are not 10 seats ahead, they are only one, and that is with all the flak over Iraq, cash-for-peerages, Blair, the third term of a Labour government, and the third parliamentary election. Even with all that, the SNP only squeaked it."
Labour apparatchiks were hoping that comparisons may be drawn between Mr McConnell's statesmanship and Alex Salmond's showmanship, but last night that looked a forlorn hope as the SNP leader accused Labour of having no moral authority left to govern Scotland.
Whatever else happens, it is a safe bet to assume that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown will keep a million miles away from any negotiations. The prime minister and Paddy Ashdown may have thrashed out the details in the wake of the first Holyrood election but times have changed.
With the SNP in the ascendancy, Mr Blair will know that any solution must be homegrown. That is not to say that he will not become involved if needs be, but Downing Street insists that whatever is going on will be taking place in Scotland.
Gordon Brown, who is likely to be the prime minister in less than two months' time, will be looking on anxiously but, whatever his instincts, he too knows the devolved problem merits a devolved solution.
Commenting last night on the results, Mr Brown said: "Having been written off in Scotland a week ago, the Labour Party has fought back, and the vast majority of those who have voted have voted for a Scotland that maintains its rightful place in Britain.
"And our mission as a Labour Party will be not just to maintain but to strengthen the unity of Britain in the interests of all. To all those who came back to Labour - and to everyone throughout Britain - my resolve is that we, the Labour Party, will listen and we will learn as we continue to work for and serve the people of Britain."
Mr McConnell is expected to speak after this morning's meeting. Expect another holding statement. He is hardly in a position to make anything else.
12:01am Saturday 5th May 2007  Print  Email this  CommentPosted by: J. Alan, Edinburgh on 4:16am Sat 5 May 07 I was one of the TENS of thousands who lost out on my postal vote - the first time i have missed voting - and i am incandescent about this latest SCOTTISH NATIONAL DISGRACE that was our supposed election. But there is about as much chance of our newly elected self-serving politicos demanding a re-run to this debacle as there is in Alex Salmond wiping that permanent smug grin off his chubby face.
The politicos who were pipped by a few hundred votes, where the "spoilt" ballot papers outnumbered the overall "majority", should be taking IMMEDIATE legal action.
Let's hope "King Alex" and his Court Jesters (Kenny "The fact of the matter is... " / "Man of Justice" MacAskill; "The Wee Nippy Sweety"; and the rest of the inner-circle) are forced into a minority rule and we somehow, in the next few weeks / months, get a complete re-run of OUR DEMOCRATIC (fare, proper and JUST) SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY / COUNCIL ELECTIONS ... though, of course, we won't hold our collective breath.
Q: What do you call a 129 MSPs (and ALL self-serving Scottish / UK politicos generally) at the bottom of the North Sea?
A: A b****y good start!
I was one of the TENS of thousands who lost out on my postal vote - the first time i have missed voting - and i am incandescent about this latest SCOTTISH NATIONAL DISGRACE that was our supposed election. But there is about as much chance of our newly elected self-serving politicos demanding a re-run to this debacle as there is in Alex Salmond wiping that permanent smug grin off his chubby face.
The politicos who were pipped by a few hundred votes, where the "spoilt" ballot papers outnumbered the overall "majority", should be taking IMMEDIATE legal action.
Let's hope "King Alex" and his Court Jesters (Kenny "The fact of the matter is... " / "Man of Justice" MacAskill; "The Wee Nippy Sweety"; and the rest of the inner-circle) are forced into a minority rule and we somehow, in the next few weeks / months, get a complete re-run of OUR DEMOCRATIC (fare, proper and JUST) SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY / COUNCIL ELECTIONS ... though, of course, we won't hold our collective breath.
Q: What do you call a 129 MSPs (and ALL self-serving Scottish / UK politicos generally) at the bottom of the North Sea?
A: A b****y good start!
Posted by: donald anderson, glasgow on 6:42am Sat 5 May 07 Jack in Stocks. Wendy in charge of the cabbages. Jack in Stocks. Wendy in charge of the cabbages. Posted by: Oscar, Dumfropolis on 7:05am Sat 5 May 07
That's what I say.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Tiz6INF7I
That's what I say.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Tiz6INF7I Posted by: Bratachdubh, Dundee on 7:52am Sat 5 May 07 "Labour apparatchiks were hoping that comparisons may be drawn between Mr McConnell's statesmanship and Alex Salmond's showmanship"
Aye, right. The best wee numptie in the world, oft spotted trailing behind Bliar or Broon pretending the knew who he was, at least Hewitt was more honest! Alex never wore a pinstripe skirt in public, either.
Grasping at straws... "Labour apparatchiks were hoping that comparisons may be drawn between Mr McConnell's statesmanship and Alex Salmond's showmanship"
Aye, right. The best wee numptie in the world, oft spotted trailing behind Bliar or Broon pretending the knew who he was, at least Hewitt was more honest! Alex never wore a pinstripe skirt in public, either.
Grasping at straws... Posted by: A Scott ..Glasgow, Scotland on 8:35am Sat 5 May 07 J.Allan Edinburgh..........Calm down get back in your cot and AND PUT THAT DUMMY BACK IN YOUR MOUTH.Silly boy J.Allan Edinburgh..........Calm down get back in your cot and AND PUT THAT DUMMY BACK IN YOUR MOUTH.Silly boy Posted by: Alan, Falkirk on 8:57am Sat 5 May 07 The exclusion of 100,000 plus willing voters was the Labour Party's fault, pure and simple, And as the minister with direct responsibility, Douglas Alexander should resign now. Even his insistence that the Electoral Commission should conduct the "independent” inquiry shows how unfit office he is. Labour party aside, the Electoral Commission is most responsible for the debacle, And please do note - its Scottish chief officer, Andy O’Neil is ex COSLA (Labour controlled) and an ex Labour Party member. Just like most of Labour Scotland - scratch the surface and you will find some high paid and willing labour sleeper in there, handy to have around to conduct an "independent" inquiry when you need one. And of course Neil Kinnock is a director of DRS the company who mucked up the electronic counting ( I trust we aunt paying them, indeed we are suing them?) . But all coincidence wee Doggie, the son of the manse will insist
We should all insist on one thing for starters. Douglas Alexander should go, and go now. He should have no role whatsoever in even selecting who conducts the inquire or its terms of reference. And, if instead of spending the last few month running around the courtly interfering in the Scottish Parliament election’s campaign spinning drivel and lies on behalf of his master Brown, he had just concentrated on he job he is paid to do - ensure free and fair election - none of this would have happened. Go and go now Douglas Alexander . We don't care how "bright" you are or how well connected.
Sign this online petition please to help get him out and secure the genuinely independent inquiry Scotland needs. And actively pass on word of it to as many folks as possible
[bold]www.ipetitions.com/petition/ScottishVoteScandal2007[/bold]
The exclusion of 100,000 plus willing voters was the Labour Party's fault, pure and simple, And as the minister with direct responsibility, Douglas Alexander should resign now. Even his insistence that the Electoral Commission should conduct the "independent” inquiry shows how unfit office he is. Labour party aside, the Electoral Commission is most responsible for the debacle, And please do note - its Scottish chief officer, Andy O’Neil is ex COSLA (Labour controlled) and an ex Labour Party member. Just like most of Labour Scotland - scratch the surface and you will find some high paid and willing labour sleeper in there, handy to have around to conduct an "independent" inquiry when you need one. And of course Neil Kinnock is a director of DRS the company who mucked up the electronic counting ( I trust we aunt paying them, indeed we are suing them?) . But all coincidence wee Doggie, the son of the manse will insist
We should all insist on one thing for starters. Douglas Alexander should go, and go now. He should have no role whatsoever in even selecting who conducts the inquire or its terms of reference. And, if instead of spending the last few month running around the courtly interfering in the Scottish Parliament election’s campaign spinning drivel and lies on behalf of his master Brown, he had just concentrated on he job he is paid to do - ensure free and fair election - none of this would have happened. Go and go now Douglas Alexander . We don't care how "bright" you are or how well connected.
Sign this online petition please to help get him out and secure the genuinely independent inquiry Scotland needs. And actively pass on word of it to as many folks as possible
www.ipetitions.com/petition/ScottishVoteScandal2007
Posted by: Alan Smart, www.youscotland.com on 8:59am Sat 5 May 07 The exclusion of 100,000 plus willing voters was the Labour Party's fault, pure and simple, And as the minister with direct responsibility, Douglas Alexander should resign now. Even his insistence that the Electoral Commission should conduct the "independent” inquiry shows how unfit office he is. Labour party aside, the Electoral Commission is most responsible for the debacle, And please do note - its Scottish chief officer, Andy O’Neil is ex COSLA (Labour controlled) and an ex Labour Party member. Just like most of Labour Scotland - scratch the surface and you will find some high paid and willing labour sleeper in there, handy to have around to conduct an "independent" inquiry when you need one. And of course Neil Kinnock is a director of DRS the company who mucked up the electronic counting ( I trust we aunt paying them, indeed we are suing them?) . But all coincidence wee Doggie, the son of the manse will insist
We should all insist on one thing for starters. Douglas Alexander should go, and go now. He should have no role whatsoever in even selecting who conducts the inquire or its terms of reference. And, if instead of spending the last few month running around the courtly interfering in the Scottish Parliament election’s campaign spinning drivel and lies on behalf of his master Brown, he had just concentrated on he job he is paid to do - ensure free and fair election - none of this would have happened. Go and go now Douglas Alexander . We don't care how "bright" you are or how well connected.
Sign this online petition please to help get him out and secure the genuinely independent inquiry Scotland needs. And actively pass on word of it to as many folks as possible
[bold]www.ipetitions.com/petition/ScottishVoteScandal2007[/bold] The exclusion of 100,000 plus willing voters was the Labour Party's fault, pure and simple, And as the minister with direct responsibility, Douglas Alexander should resign now. Even his insistence that the Electoral Commission should conduct the "independent” inquiry shows how unfit office he is. Labour party aside, the Electoral Commission is most responsible for the debacle, And please do note - its Scottish chief officer, Andy O’Neil is ex COSLA (Labour controlled) and an ex Labour Party member. Just like most of Labour Scotland - scratch the surface and you will find some high paid and willing labour sleeper in there, handy to have around to conduct an "independent" inquiry when you need one. And of course Neil Kinnock is a director of DRS the company who mucked up the electronic counting ( I trust we aunt paying them, indeed we are suing them?) . But all coincidence wee Doggie, the son of the manse will insist
We should all insist on one thing for starters. Douglas Alexander should go, and go now. He should have no role whatsoever in even selecting who conducts the inquire or its terms of reference. And, if instead of spending the last few month running around the courtly interfering in the Scottish Parliament election’s campaign spinning drivel and lies on behalf of his master Brown, he had just concentrated on he job he is paid to do - ensure free and fair election - none of this would have happened. Go and go now Douglas Alexander . We don't care how "bright" you are or how well connected.
Sign this online petition please to help get him out and secure the genuinely independent inquiry Scotland needs. And actively pass on word of it to as many folks as possible
www.ipetitions.com/petition/ScottishVoteScandal2007 Posted by: FEDUPWI', A'THEFIBBIN' on 9:38am Sat 5 May 07 [quote][bold]J. Alan[/bold] wrote:
I was one of the TENS of thousands who lost out on my postal vote - the first time i have missed voting - and i am incandescent about this latest SCOTTISH NATIONAL DISGRACE that was our supposed election. But there is about as much chance of our newly elected self-serving politicos demanding a re-run to this debacle as there is in Alex Salmond wiping that permanent smug grin off his chubby face. The politicos who were pipped by a few hundred votes, where the "spoilt" ballot papers outnumbered the overall "majority", should be taking IMMEDIATE legal action. Let's hope "King Alex" and his Court Jesters (Kenny "The fact of the matter is... " / "Man of Justice" MacAskill; "The Wee Nippy Sweety"; and the rest of the inner-circle) are forced into a minority rule and we somehow, in the next few weeks / months, get a complete re-run of OUR DEMOCRATIC (fare, proper and JUST) SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY / COUNCIL ELECTIONS ... though, of course, we won't hold our collective breath. Q: What do you call a 129 MSPs (and ALL self-serving Scottish / UK politicos generally) at the bottom of the North Sea? A: A b****y good start! [/quote]
J ALAN
Still touting this bile on another posting I see.
Yer a bitter wee jobbie of a person, and I bet yer a hoot at parties.
Everybody deplores the fiasco of the vote, and someone needs to be held to account, but spare us the vitriol..........once was bad enough..........and please don't post this tosh anywhere else.....we get yer nasty bitter message............and the attempted joke, which like the rest of you, is not original, and like you....no longer funny.
Get back under the stone you scary wee person. J. Alan wrote:
I was one of the TENS of thousands who lost out on my postal vote - the first time i have missed voting - and i am incandescent about this latest SCOTTISH NATIONAL DISGRACE that was our supposed election. But there is about as much chance of our newly elected self-serving politicos demanding a re-run to this debacle as there is in Alex Salmond wiping that permanent smug grin off his chubby face. The politicos who were pipped by a few hundred votes, where the "spoilt" ballot papers outnumbered the overall "majority", should be taking IMMEDIATE legal action. Let's hope "King Alex" and his Court Jesters (Kenny "The fact of the matter is... " / "Man of Justice" MacAskill; "The Wee Nippy Sweety"; and the rest of the inner-circle) are forced into a minority rule and we somehow, in the next few weeks / months, get a complete re-run of OUR DEMOCRATIC (fare, proper and JUST) SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY / COUNCIL ELECTIONS ... though, of course, we won't hold our collective breath. Q: What do you call a 129 MSPs (and ALL self-serving Scottish / UK politicos generally) at the bottom of the North Sea? A: A b****y good start!
J ALAN
Still touting this bile on another posting I see.
Yer a bitter wee jobbie of a person, and I bet yer a hoot at parties.
Everybody deplores the fiasco of the vote, and someone needs to be held to account, but spare us the vitriol..........once was bad enough..........and please don't post this tosh anywhere else.....we get yer nasty bitter message............and the attempted joke, which like the rest of you, is not original, and like you....no longer funny.
Get back under the stone you scary wee person. Posted by: Iain on 2:21pm Sat 5 May 07 [quote][bold]J. Alan[/bold] wrote:
I was one of the TENS of thousands who lost out on my postal vote - the first time i have missed voting - and i am incandescent about this latest SCOTTISH NATIONAL DISGRACE that was our supposed election. But there is about as much chance of our newly elected self-serving politicos demanding a re-run to this debacle as there is in Alex Salmond wiping that permanent smug grin off his chubby face. The politicos who were pipped by a few hundred votes, where the "spoilt" ballot papers outnumbered the overall "majority", should be taking IMMEDIATE legal action. Let's hope "King Alex" and his Court Jesters (Kenny "The fact of the matter is... " / "Man of Justice" MacAskill; "The Wee Nippy Sweety"; and the rest of the inner-circle) are forced into a minority rule and we somehow, in the next few weeks / months, get a complete re-run of OUR DEMOCRATIC (fare, proper and JUST) SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY / COUNCIL ELECTIONS ... though, of course, we won't hold our collective breath. Q: What do you call a 129 MSPs (and ALL self-serving Scottish / UK politicos generally) at the bottom of the North Sea? A: A b****y good start! [/quote] Labour presided over this debacle and ultimately they will cop the flak for it. A good few of their majorities are smaller than the number of spoiled ballots and none of their people want to go to the polls again either.
A rerun would more than likely lead to a bigger SNP majority. Sounds good to me but I don't get the impression that's what YOU would like.
J. Alan wrote:
I was one of the TENS of thousands who lost out on my postal vote - the first time i have missed voting - and i am incandescent about this latest SCOTTISH NATIONAL DISGRACE that was our supposed election. But there is about as much chance of our newly elected self-serving politicos demanding a re-run to this debacle as there is in Alex Salmond wiping that permanent smug grin off his chubby face. The politicos who were pipped by a few hundred votes, where the "spoilt" ballot papers outnumbered the overall "majority", should be taking IMMEDIATE legal action. Let's hope "King Alex" and his Court Jesters (Kenny "The fact of the matter is... " / "Man of Justice" MacAskill; "The Wee Nippy Sweety"; and the rest of the inner-circle) are forced into a minority rule and we somehow, in the next few weeks / months, get a complete re-run of OUR DEMOCRATIC (fare, proper and JUST) SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY / COUNCIL ELECTIONS ... though, of course, we won't hold our collective breath. Q: What do you call a 129 MSPs (and ALL self-serving Scottish / UK politicos generally) at the bottom of the North Sea? A: A b****y good start! Labour presided over this debacle and ultimately they will cop the flak for it. A good few of their majorities are smaller than the number of spoiled ballots and none of their people want to go to the polls again either.
A rerun would more than likely lead to a bigger SNP majority. Sounds good to me but I don't get the impression that's what YOU would like.
Posted by: Richard Taylor, Aberdeen on 3:18pm Sat 5 May 07 Only thing Labour should be doing is preparing for opposition in the 3rd term of the Scottish Parliament.
Yet it still scrabbles around trying to cling to power, like a bad smell.
As for McFlannel, I couldn't care less what he does.
Only Labour could claim a seismic defeat as some sort of victory. Only thing Labour should be doing is preparing for opposition in the 3rd term of the Scottish Parliament.
Yet it still scrabbles around trying to cling to power, like a bad smell.
As for McFlannel, I couldn't care less what he does.
Only Labour could claim a seismic defeat as some sort of victory. Posted by: John Pegron, London on 4:09pm Sat 5 May 07 And do you know who the directors of DRS are? Well, they include none other than former Labour leader Neil Kinnock (ooops - that's Lord Kinnock now isn't it - working class hero who sold out the Welsh miners) and a number of other well-connected persons. Check out their 2006 Annual Report on the website: http://www.drs.co.uk/pdf/DRSfullcol2006.pdf.
Wonder how much of the electronic counting was put out to competitive tender?
No doubt the super-aloof Douglas Alexander will be taking full responsibility for the incompetence shown in arranging the elections, format of ballot papers etc, ably assisted by his holiness David Cairns MP? Absolute disgrace!
For uncensored news please bookmark:
www.takingaimradio.info
otherside123.blogspot.com
www.onlinejournal.com
www.globalresearch.ca And do you know who the directors of DRS are? Well, they include none other than former Labour leader Neil Kinnock (ooops - that's Lord Kinnock now isn't it - working class hero who sold out the Welsh miners) and a number of other well-connected persons. Check out their 2006 Annual Report on the website: http://www.drs.co.uk/pdf/DRSfullcol2006.pdf.
Wonder how much of the electronic counting was put out to competitive tender?
No doubt the super-aloof Douglas Alexander will be taking full responsibility for the incompetence shown in arranging the elections, format of ballot papers etc, ably assisted by his holiness David Cairns MP? Absolute disgrace!
For uncensored news please bookmark:
www.takingaimradio.info
otherside123.blogspot.com
www.onlinejournal.com
www.globalresearch.ca Posted by: Gregor Addison, Scotland on 4:17pm Sat 5 May 07 If Labour are still thinking that they might form a minority coalition, then surely it cannot be with the defeated Jack McConnell at the helm. This is the man who, along with Douglas Alexander, brought the party its first defeat in Scotland in fifty years. It is hardly credible for him to remain. I personally believe that Labour needs to spend some time in opposition. If the next general election is lost to David Cameron's Tories, then I'd feel a lot better with Alex Salmond as First Minister. If Labour are still thinking that they might form a minority coalition, then surely it cannot be with the defeated Jack McConnell at the helm. This is the man who, along with Douglas Alexander, brought the party its first defeat in Scotland in fifty years. It is hardly credible for him to remain. I personally believe that Labour needs to spend some time in opposition. If the next general election is lost to David Cameron's Tories, then I'd feel a lot better with Alex Salmond as First Minister. Posted by: donald anderson, glasgow on 8:04am Mon 7 May 07 Jock McDonnell's future hangs in balance.
Hingin's too good for him. See the Sun Jock McDonnell's future hangs in balance.
Hingin's too good for him. See the Sun | 
