The Herald Election Site

Labour MSPs will go straight from Wednesday's crucial Holyrood vote, which is likely to see Alex Salmond become the first SNP First Minister, to a two-day closed meeting which could decide Jack McConnell's future.

In spite of speculation over the weekend about if or when he might step down or be ousted, and who might succeed him as Labour leader, none of the key names was owning up to this last night.

The most widely-named candidate for the succession, Wendy Alexander, issued a statement last night stressing: "Jack McConnell is both serving Scottish Labour leader and still Scotland's First Minister. There is no vacancy and he has my support."

One report at the weekend had several Labour women MSPs meeting to plot Ms Alexander's leadership campaign over a Chinese meal, prompting jibes from political opponents about the "prawn cracker conspiracy" and the "sweet n' sour coup".

Those present at the event at the home of Pauline McNeill, the MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, said describing the gathering in terms of a plot is laughable. It was simply a get-together involving friends, many accompanied by their children, after a month of hectic electioneering.

"I was astonished to discover that me having a Chinese takeaway was front page news," said Jackie Baillie, the Dumbarton MSP. "It was simply a gathering of old pals with their kids. Wendy wasn't even there by the time the food arrived.

"Yes, we gathered as friends and yes, we had a Chinese meal, but simply as a group that get together socially from time to time. The laugh is that the biggest debate wasn't about Jack or the leadership but about which rooms we wanted at Holyrood."

The other flaw in the "sweet n' sour conspiracy" theory is that should Mr McConnell decide to stand down, some of those present could be rival contenders with Ms Alexander to succeed him. Margaret Curran was present, as were Johann Lamont, Sarah Boyack and Karen Gillon.

There was also speculation that if Mr McConnell does not stand down Charles Gordon, the Glasgow Cathcart MSP, would seek to force a contest, but he said last night: "There is no vacancy and I am not going to comment on speculation."

Meanwhile, Home Secretary John Reid was yesterday urged to take over the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party following the election defeat.

Labour MP Brian Donohoe suggested that Mr Reid could come to Scotland to lead the party after he stands down as Home Secretary.

The Central Ayrshire MP said: "He John Reid said he had had nine jobs in 10 years - maybe this should be his 10th job."

He added there should a by-election in one of the party's Holyrood seats, which Mr Reid could then contest. Once elected as an MSP, he could then become the party leader.

RETIRED................... OR BRIAN BLESSED.
Read this.

David el escocés wrote:
TO JASON4QUEEN

One more thing. You have a web site and some other people don't. At least you are wearing your heart on your sleeve and saying, "This is what I am and this is what I believe." Although your politics differs from mine, I think you are doing something that a lot of labour supporters don't do, and that is asking questions. You don't OFTEN come on and say, "I believe this and you are all wrong." You do at least look for some answers as to why we Nats think as we do. For me, as I have stated before, I was there when Winnie Ewing took Hamilton and was part of the "car cavalcade." Yes I am that old, (55 going on 20), and the sense of BIG CHANGE was in the air! I remember people from the "sing-sing" scheme in Hamilton cheering us on when we drove through the estate. These were people who traditionally voted labour and had had enough. I have waited for forty years for this big breakthrough and my heart is bursting. I don't know how old you are (and I suppose it for me or anybody to wait, but I have waited through the bad years when we were in decline. The recent upsurge in support for the SNP has gladdened me immensely and I'm sure you understand that although you don't agree. One thing to think of. During my adolescent years and adulthood, labour was always very strong in Scotland. We voted labour when England voted Tory and we in Scotland were stuck with Thatcher & Major. I remember 1997 when Tony Blair & labour won the election. Although I voted SNP then, I was glad that we finally had got rid of the conservatives. In this we both agree. I just don't want to see another Tory government in my lifetime. Unfortunately, in my opinion, I don't think labour will win the next UK election. You will understand now that my voting SNP was not an anti-labour vote but a pro-Scotland vote.
Scotland is traditionally a labour stronghold, although recent events have altered the map. There are many aspects of the labour manifesto I agree with, but if we have UK Tory control, it's all a bit pointless having labour in control of the Scottish parliament. we will be ignored. If we had an Independent Scotland, it wouldn't matter a toss if England, Wales & Northern Ireland were Tory as it wouldn't affect us.
Think forward to the future if we WERE independent. The Scottish elections would take place and people would then vote on policies! The SNP, Labour, Tory, Liberal & Greens etc would produce manifestos. We would vote according to our beliefs as to what was best for our OWN country (hopefully with FULL proportional representation) and have a parliament working for our own populace doing what was best for us all. I believe only by voting SNP can we achieve all this and more.
I know I can never change your mind, as you could never change mine, but I think I have set out exactly where I am am coming from. All the best from sunny Spain and I'll speak to you soon.

You see Retired, This was written by an adult. Not a small child who only throws tantrums at those of us who disagree on certain SNP policies. You should take a leaf out of his book. Although it would have to be a picture pop up book for you to understand it.

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