Gould Hails Mcconnells Heroic Failure In Holyrood Elections (from The Herald Election Site)

A leading Labour polling guru has declared the party's Holyrood "heroic" campaign "showed Labour at its best".

Even after they had lost, the Prime Minister and Chancellor Gordon Brown "still believed that something could be done".

Lord Philip Gould, one of the key adviser to the Prime Minister for the past 14 years, has set out his triumphant account of how Labour nearly won last week's elections.

Writing in the New Statesman magazine, he said the Scottish battle was "the most dramatic and certainly the most challenging of all the campaigns I have been involved in".

After conducting the focus groups which have been at the heart of the Blair election machine, he explains the SNP as "a more potent mood for national expression in the post-devolution era". The public demand was for recognition rather than separation, he claims.

"This blended into a political brew that seemed unstoppable - the perfect storm that SNP leader Alex Salmond believed would sweep him into office."

Lord Gould's research suggests the SNP "lost emotional power and clarity of message" in the final days of the campaign, when its reassurance message to voters was most vulnerable.

He admits the early stages of the campaign were "bleak" and the turning point was publication of the SNP's economic plans, which he says put Nationalists on the back foot.

The final week's message to Labour voters to "come home" made the campaign team sure it would win or come close.

In claiming the campaign showed Labour at its best, Lord Gould cited Tony Blair as "magnificent, and always able to change the political weather" while Gordon Brown was indomitable, "raging against the possibility of defeat with energy that was breathtaking".

Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander had determination that was both pathological and infuriating, he recalls.

The "heroic" campaign showed a "courage that will not allow for the possibility of defeat".

If Labour could win in Scotland, it could win anywhere, and he predicts that last week's results across Britain will mark a low point for Labour from which it can bounce back.

What a load o' p*sh! I'll have a pint of what he's on. I see he's a lord, I'd have swore he was schmoozin' for a peerage - it sounds like some guff George Foulkes would come out with.

What a load o' p*sh! I'll have a pint of what he's on.
I see he's a lord, I'd have swore he was schmoozin' for a peerage - it sounds like some guff George Foulkes would come out with.

Legend in his own lunch-time.

As a prominent political academic, I can confirm Lord Gould's findings. My research has conclusively proven that Labour's campaign was the envy of the civilised world, observers flocking from around the globe to learn from the master, Jock "Shaft" McDonnell. The Bangor Residents Association, Spokane Anglers' Alliance and Stockholm Anti-Ringroad Campaign have all been in contact with Labour HQ to discover the secrets of McConnell. These organisations have seen support quadruple ever since, from 0.14% to 0.56%. I understand Glasgow City Council Labour Group are visiting on a reciprocal fact-finding mission next week. Labour's campaign will go down in the history as one of the best undertaken by modern humanity. We can all but gawp, open-mouthed at these political dynamos.

As a prominent political academic, I can confirm Lord Gould's findings. My research has conclusively proven that Labour's campaign was the envy of the civilised world, observers flocking from around the globe to learn from the master, Jock "Shaft" McDonnell. The Bangor Residents Association, Spokane Anglers' Alliance and Stockholm Anti-Ringroad Campaign have all been in contact with Labour HQ to discover the secrets of McConnell.

These organisations have seen support quadruple ever since, from 0.14% to 0.56%. I understand Glasgow City Council Labour Group are visiting on a reciprocal fact-finding mission next week.

Labour's campaign will go down in the history as one of the best undertaken by modern humanity. We can all but gawp, open-mouthed at these political dynamos.

Phew! We only came second! We thought we were losing popularity there (even though we had the press in our pockets and we've got half a million diehard voters who would put their X at Labour even if we had just murdered their family). We're doing ok. Let's invade Iran!!

Was it only in my polling booth or did it happen in yours too? The 'sample' on the wall showing you how to fill in your ballot paper had all its votes in favour of the Labour party. Lucky nobody got confused, eh?

I must confess that during the recent election coverage I had come to the conclusion that Douglas Fraser was a typical Scottish media hack whose sole function was to recycle Labour Party press releases. After reading this article, I must now apologise to Mr. Fraser. By quoting "Lord" Gould at length and verbatim he has brilliantly revealed the deluded self-regarding nature of Labour's campaign. Blair ("magnificent"!), Brown ("indomitable"!) and the pitiful Alexander ("pathological"?) have never been so ruthlessly exposed in the pages of the Herald. Well done Douglas Fraser! Welcome to the fight!

I must confess that during the recent election coverage I had come to the conclusion that Douglas Fraser was a typical Scottish media hack whose sole function was to recycle Labour Party press releases.

After reading this article, I must now apologise to Mr. Fraser. By quoting "Lord" Gould at length and verbatim he has brilliantly revealed the deluded self-regarding nature of Labour's campaign. Blair ("magnificent"!), Brown ("indomitable"!) and the pitiful Alexander ("pathological"?) have never been so ruthlessly exposed in the pages of the Herald. Well done Douglas Fraser! Welcome to the fight!

I second the motion to invade Iran - with Gordon in charge what can go wrong! ? The Ayatollah ate my baby! Make a change from blaming the Scots Nats for everything that could go wrong in the world! What astounds me is that Labour could get worse - assuming that was them at thier poisonous best!

I second the motion to invade Iran - with Gordon in charge what can go wrong! ?
The Ayatollah ate my baby! Make a change from blaming the Scots Nats for everything that could go wrong in the world!
What astounds me is that Labour could get worse - assuming that was them at thier poisonous best!

Labour at its worst. Arm in arm with the tabloid press, a campaign based on scaring people. Who voted labour? The priviledged, the fat public setor and the scared poor abd elderly. All of creatve scotland was on the other side. Not in doubt Lord Gould, not in doubt

Labour at its worst. Arm in arm with the tabloid press, a campaign based on scaring people.

Who voted labour? The priviledged, the fat public setor and the scared poor abd elderly. All of creatve scotland was on the other side. Not in doubt Lord Gould, not in doubt

both pathological and infuriating

sums up douglas Alexander perfectly I think, and many others in the Labour party.

[quote][bold]Alan Smart[/bold] wrote: Labour at its worst. Arm in arm with the tabloid press, a campaign based on scaring people. Who voted labour? The priviledged, the fat public setor and the scared poor abd elderly. All of creatve scotland was on the other side. Not in doubt Lord Gould, not in doubt[/quote] well...I would'nt say I was priviledged, and my mother(71) converted at least 6 others to voting SNP and now with south lanarkshires looking likely to be an SNP coalition led council I think we done quite well for west of Scotland ( I agree with the low income bit though)...etc.

Alan Smart wrote:
Labour at its worst. Arm in arm with the tabloid press, a campaign based on scaring people. Who voted labour? The priviledged, the fat public setor and the scared poor abd elderly. All of creatve scotland was on the other side. Not in doubt Lord Gould, not in doubt

well...I would'nt say I was priviledged, and my mother(71) converted at least 6 others to voting SNP and now with south lanarkshires looking likely to be an SNP coalition led council I think we done quite well for west of Scotland ( I agree with the low income bit though)...etc.

Labour at it's best - with one of the most negative campaigns in Scottish electoral history. He is right that they did run a good campaign, rather than focus on Labour's policies and (lack) of achievements they tried to scare voters.

..........just when you thought that Labour couldn't come up with any more guff...up comes Philip !!! Lie down Son..............ye need a holiday !!! (Matron.......Matron???)

..........just when you thought that Labour couldn't come up with any more guff...up comes Philip !!!
Lie down Son..............ye need a holiday !!!

(Matron.......Matron???)

Quote: "If Labour could win in Scotland, it could win anywhere, and he predicts that last week's results across Britain will mark a low point for Labour from which it can bounce back." Unquote. Ehhh.... They lost! Or are they now going one step further than claiming the SNP "only won the toss" and claiming that they actually won the election? I think someone's been to a party at John Reid's place because they've obviously been on some mind-altering substances.

Quote: "If Labour could win in Scotland, it could win anywhere, and he predicts that last week's results across Britain will mark a low point for Labour from which it can bounce back." Unquote.

Ehhh.... They lost! Or are they now going one step further than claiming the SNP "only won the toss" and claiming that they actually won the election? I think someone's been to a party at John Reid's place because they've obviously been on some mind-altering substances.

Philip Gould should read that great book about New Labour and the 1997 election, written by ... Philip Gould. The pathetically negative campaign of 2007 matched in uncanny detail the pathetically negative campaign run by the Conservatives and denounced by ... Philip Gould. Becoming a lord obviously seriously affects the mental state of some recipients. But we knew that.

Oh how times change, the Labour Party supported by the elite, the power hungry and the buy a title brigade. Philip Gould don't you see thats exactly why Labour LOST in Scotland you sad delusional man, I think that title has addled your brain.

Good Lord! It's almost biblical! Philip Gould clearly believes his party is messianic. I'm tired of all this overblown Labour drivel.

What?!

Gould is perfectly right!

Heroic - what an insult to real heros dying for this bunch of numpties in Iraq and Afghanistan - this almost makes Joke McDonnell seem reasonalbe.

I just watched "Downfall" the other night, it is a great movie and portrays the last days if Hitler's life and insanity well. Perhaps the most potent impression is how his loyal-to-the-last staff joined with him in denying the reality of what was happening and still chanting the Nazi mantras - with the Russian artillary pounding overhead. OK, Sedgefield isn't Berlin and Blair is not quite as bad as Hitler, but you have to admit there are similarities.

I just watched "Downfall" the other night, it is a great movie and portrays the last days if Hitler's life and insanity well. Perhaps the most potent impression is how his loyal-to-the-last staff joined with him in denying the reality of what was happening and still chanting the Nazi mantras - with the Russian artillary pounding overhead.
OK, Sedgefield isn't Berlin and Blair is not quite as bad as Hitler, but you have to admit there are similarities.

Hahaha! Just like someone to suggest the Scots are akin to Scott of the Antartctic or to Shackleton - heroic failures. [bold]"Second best was good enough for them and it's **** well good enough for us.!"[/bold]

Hahaha!

Just like someone to suggest the Scots are akin to Scott of the Antartctic or to Shackleton - heroic failures.

"Second best was good enough for them and it's **** well good enough for us.!"

Reminscent of the days when Scotland would fail miserably at fitba but we could console ourselves that we were the best-behaved fans! London Labour and your tartan poodles - you lost. Did ye hear me? You lost! And tell that pension thief Gazza Broon that a haircut isnae gonnae save his heid fae being chopped aff.

Reminscent of the days when Scotland would fail miserably at fitba but we could console ourselves that we were the best-behaved fans!
London Labour and your tartan poodles - you lost. Did ye hear me? You lost!

And tell that pension thief Gazza Broon that a haircut isnae gonnae save his heid fae being chopped aff.

[quote]If Labour could win in Scotland, it could win anywhere, and he predicts that last week's results across Britain will mark a low point for Labour from which it can bounce back.[/quote] The party that comes second in both vote-share and seats is the winner. As long as it's Labour. Gould = balloon.

If Labour could win in Scotland, it could win anywhere, and he predicts that last week's results across Britain will mark a low point for Labour from which it can bounce back.

The party that comes second in both vote-share and seats is the winner.
As long as it's Labour.
Gould = balloon.

[quote]He explains the SNP as "a more potent mood for national expression in the post-devolution era. This blended into a political brew that seemed unstoppable - the perfect storm that SNP leader Alex Salmond believed would sweep him into office."[/quote] Only in the UK could you get a peerage for such unadulterated bullshit.

He explains the SNP as "a more potent mood for national expression in the post-devolution era. This blended into a political brew that seemed unstoppable - the perfect storm that SNP leader Alex Salmond believed would sweep him into office."

Only in the UK could you get a peerage for such unadulterated bullshit.

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