McCabe attacks leadership for ignoring perils of voting system
A leading Labour councillor yesterday attacked the party leadership for ignoring warnings from the party rank and file and losing it hundreds of council seats, with tensions running high between the national and local leadership over deals done with SNP ministers.
Jim McCabe, leader of North Lanarkshire Council and a critic of the new proportional voting system for councils, told the party's conference they had been warned ahead of last year's election about the damage it would do to the Labour campaign machine at local level.
"Listening is one thing and learning is another," he said, to applause. "Had they listened a couple of years ago, we'd have another 200 Labour councillors. That was a serious mistake." Mr McCabe dismissed the significance of the new concordat signed between the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) and the SNP government.
"A concordat is not a contract," he said. "I'll take what
I need and leave the rest behind."
There was a plea from other councillors that the party needed to understand why they had to do deals with other parties, led by Rhonda Geekie of East Dunbartonshire, who leads the country's only Labour-Conservative coalition. Steven Purcell, Glasgow Council's leader, said it was not an option for him to refuse to work with ministers and to say that the city was shut.
Pat Watters, the Labour councillor who is president of Cosla, hinted at the deep divisions between the party leadership at Holyrood and councillors who work closely with SNP ministers. He told delegates that council leaders are doing "difficult jobs in difficult circumstances. They deserve the support of the movement and of the party".
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Posted by: subrosa on 12:19am Sat 29 Mar 08
[italic]"A concordat is not a contract," he said. "I'll take what I need and leave the rest behind." - Jim McCabe[/italic]
Well that's his card well and truly marked by the government. He'd best not put a foot wrong.
"A concordat is not a contract," he said. "I'll take what I need and leave the rest behind." - Jim McCabe
Well that's his card well and truly marked by the government. He'd best not put a foot wrong.
Posted by: Jimbo on 12:30am Sat 29 Mar 08
McCabe wanted to retain the first past the post option so Labour could continue to rule Scotland with only 30% of the vote. No doubt the majority of his numpty cohorts sympathised with his opinion.
McCabe wanted to retain the first past the post option so Labour could continue to rule Scotland with only 30% of the vote. No doubt the majority of his numpty cohorts sympathised with his opinion.
Posted by: ditchgazza on 12:47am Sat 29 Mar 08
North Lanarkshire eh.
Of course these useless bags of s*it who run these councils are whinging. They're sensing a threat to their seats on the gravy train.
I'm a pacifist Dug, but I honestly think these b*stards who run these councils in the central belt should be shot.
Either shot or dragged naked through the ghettos the've deliberately created, the worst deprivation in Europe, in order that they can lavish taxpayers money on themselves.
North Lanarkshire eh.
Of course these useless bags of s*it who run these councils are whinging. They're sensing a threat to their seats on the gravy train.
I'm a pacifist Dug, but I honestly think these b*stards who run these councils in the central belt should be shot.
Either shot or dragged naked through the ghettos the've deliberately created, the worst deprivation in Europe, in order that they can lavish taxpayers money on themselves.
Posted by: Dave, Away on 12:48am Sat 29 Mar 08
"Pat Watters, the Labour councillor who is president of Cosla, hinted at the deep divisions between the party leadership at Holyrood and councillors who work closely with SNP ministers. He told delegates that council leaders are doing "difficult jobs in difficult circumstances. They deserve the support of the movement and of the party"."
Watters is trying to warn them. I wonder if the party realizes how much it could lose if it tries the heavy hand with it's grass roots....unlike Stalin they don't have draconian powers to drag people away in the night (may it never be that they do)...
Apparently not everyone appreciates Her Wendiness as much as I....
"Pat Watters, the Labour councillor who is president of Cosla, hinted at the deep divisions between the party leadership at Holyrood and councillors who work closely with SNP ministers. He told delegates that council leaders are doing "difficult jobs in difficult circumstances. They deserve the support of the movement and of the party"."
Watters is trying to warn them. I wonder if the party realizes how much it could lose if it tries the heavy hand with it's grass roots....unlike Stalin they don't have draconian powers to drag people away in the night (may it never be that they do)...
Apparently not everyone appreciates Her Wendiness as much as I....
Posted by: Bungle, An ITV Storage Cupboard on 12:58am Sat 29 Mar 08
[quote]Steven Purcell, Glasgow Council's leader, said it was not an option for him to refuse to work with ministers and to say that the city was shut.
Pat Watters, the Labour councillor who is president of Cosla, hinted at the deep divisions between the party leadership at Holyrood and councillors who work closely with SNP ministers.[/quote]
Oh dear. The peasants truly are rebelling against her Wendiness and his Holiness the Brown.
They are wanting to deliver for people but hint that their leaders are trying to pressurise them into wrecking peoples lives for partisan purposes.
How much longer can this shaky alliance between local Scottish Labour and unionist Parliamentarian Labour remain?
Steven Purcell, Glasgow Council's leader, said it was not an option for him to refuse to work with ministers and to say that the city was shut.
Pat Watters, the Labour councillor who is president of Cosla, hinted at the deep divisions between the party leadership at Holyrood and councillors who work closely with SNP ministers.
Oh dear. The peasants truly are rebelling against her Wendiness and his Holiness the Brown.
They are wanting to deliver for people but hint that their leaders are trying to pressurise them into wrecking peoples lives for partisan purposes.
How much longer can this shaky alliance between local Scottish Labour and unionist Parliamentarian Labour remain?
Posted by: exile, far away on 1:17am Sat 29 Mar 08
McCabe attacks leadership for ignoring perils of democracy. That tells us all we need to know. Away tae China ya bampot.
McCabe attacks leadership for ignoring perils of democracy. That tells us all we need to know. Away tae China ya bampot.
Posted by: Jock Politicaljunkie, Glasgow on 1:32am Sat 29 Mar 08
Jim McCabe, leader of North Lanarkshire Council and a critic of the new proportional voting system for councils, told the party's conference they had been warned ahead of last year's election about the damage it would do to the Labour campaign machine at local level.
"Listening is one thing and learning is another," he said, to applause. "Had they listened a couple of years ago, we'd have another 200 Labour councillors. That was a serious mistake."
Aye, another 200 councillors on the same dwindling vote! First Past The Post is just SUCH a fair voting system. Grasping Git!!
And Broon calls the [italic]SNP[/italic] backwards looking?!?
Has never met the likes of the Jim McCabes of his party? The trough swilling backbone of the "peoples party". In it for what they can get out of it!! Wonder what those 200 indispensible liebour councillors are doing now?.... Actually I don't give a monkeys.
Jim McCabe, leader of North Lanarkshire Council and a critic of the new proportional voting system for councils, told the party's conference they had been warned ahead of last year's election about the damage it would do to the Labour campaign machine at local level.
"Listening is one thing and learning is another," he said, to applause. "Had they listened a couple of years ago, we'd have another 200 Labour councillors. That was a serious mistake."
Aye, another 200 councillors on the same dwindling vote! First Past The Post is just SUCH a fair voting system. Grasping Git!!
And Broon calls the
SNP backwards looking?!?
Has never met the likes of the Jim McCabes of his party? The trough swilling backbone of the "peoples party". In it for what they can get out of it!! Wonder what those 200 indispensible liebour councillors are doing now?.... Actually I don't give a monkeys.
Posted by: Traquir, Alba on 1:44am Sat 29 Mar 08
Looks like Lord Foulkes has a new minion , this all
sounds very familiar - see tinyurl.com/378suf
17th Oct 2007
"Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: . I tell my noble friend, the noble Baroness and her colleagues that the introduction of proportional representation in Scotland has been an absolute tragedy. We have seen chaos, confusion and cuts. At local government level, we see the Liberal Democrats in an unholy alliance with the Scottish National Party. Will my noble friend assure us that, because of this experience, we will stick to the tried and tested system of first past the post, which has given us stability in this country for decades and centuries?"
Clearly rather than have democracy for Scotland Labour
would prefer to maintain the stability of their beloved Union
even if it means their arch enemies the tories being in power.
Apparently the aspirations of the Scottish people and
the SNP are even greater enemies.
Looks like Lord Foulkes has a new minion , this all
sounds very familiar - see tinyurl.com/378suf
17th Oct 2007
"Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: . I tell my noble friend, the noble Baroness and her colleagues that the introduction of proportional representation in Scotland has been an absolute tragedy. We have seen chaos, confusion and cuts. At local government level, we see the Liberal Democrats in an unholy alliance with the Scottish National Party. Will my noble friend assure us that, because of this experience, we will stick to the tried and tested system of first past the post, which has given us stability in this country for decades and centuries?"
Clearly rather than have democracy for Scotland Labour
would prefer to maintain the stability of their beloved Union
even if it means their arch enemies the tories being in power.
Apparently the aspirations of the Scottish people and
the SNP are even greater enemies.
Posted by: doonhamer on 1:55am Sat 29 Mar 08
[bold]"I'll take what I need and leave the rest behind."[/bold]
Finally a slogan that truly represents the Labour Parody in Scotland and in Westminster.
Thank you, Mr. McCabe, for making it crystal clear for all of us.
"I'll take what I need and leave the rest behind."
Finally a slogan that truly represents the Labour Parody in Scotland and in Westminster.
Thank you, Mr. McCabe, for making it crystal clear for all of us.
Posted by: Donald Anderson, glasgow on 3:00am Sat 29 Mar 08
Lanarkshire will be empty today as its numpites head for Glasgow, not Aviemore. Old Firm = Numpties United.
Lanarkshire will be empty today as its numpites head for Glasgow, not Aviemore. Old Firm = Numpties United.
Posted by: USE- the way ahead, Lanarkshire on 3:23am Sat 29 Mar 08
Jim McCabe may criticise the new proportional voting system for councils, if he feels it has lost the Labour party councillors and changed the balance of power.
As a voter, I can only say this has to be a good thing. In due course, as in other parts of Europe, It must surely result in a more conciliatory approach to decision making, where the “sheep-mindset” of the party line comes second to the local needs and political fundamentalists are kept in check.
Jim McCabe may criticise the new proportional voting system for councils, if he feels it has lost the Labour party councillors and changed the balance of power.
As a voter, I can only say this has to be a good thing. In due course, as in other parts of Europe, It must surely result in a more conciliatory approach to decision making, where the “sheep-mindset” of the party line comes second to the local needs and political fundamentalists are kept in check.
Posted by: David B, Larkhall on 7:36am Sat 29 Mar 08
Mr McCabe maybe should try for a job with ZANU in Zimbabwe.
Anyway, I was under the impression that there is pressure from the EU for a democratic voting system to be used in all member states. It will eventually arrive for Westminster. And remember too that it was the LibDems price for keeping Labour in power in the last administration at Holyrood.
Perhaps if a party harbours in its ranks people who are opposed essentially to democracy that party ought to expel those people.
Mr McCabe maybe should try for a job with ZANU in Zimbabwe.
Anyway, I was under the impression that there is pressure from the EU for a democratic voting system to be used in all member states. It will eventually arrive for Westminster. And remember too that it was the LibDems price for keeping Labour in power in the last administration at Holyrood.
Perhaps if a party harbours in its ranks people who are opposed essentially to democracy that party ought to expel those people.
Posted by: oldmack, Scotland on 8:01am Sat 29 Mar 08
"I'll take what I need and leave the rest behind."
£950.00
"I'll take what I need and leave the rest behind."
£950.00
Posted by: Toophingers, Bellshill. on 10:02am Sat 29 Mar 08
Another two hundred Labour councillors!
Another two hundred Jim McCabes!
Shudder.Shudder.Shud
der.
Another two hundred Labour councillors!
Another two hundred Jim McCabes!
Shudder.Shudder.Shud
der.
Posted by: sid the sceptic, renfrewshire on 10:38am Sat 29 Mar 08
morning all , looking forward to todays words of wisdom from aviemore,yesterdays were amazing or a good laugh depending on how generous you want to be .the biggest group of ostriches ever seen in the 1 place. the pressure is on the reporter in the sunday herald to come up with a brammer to round it all off . go on my son.
morning all , looking forward to todays words of wisdom from aviemore,yesterdays were amazing or a good laugh depending on how generous you want to be .the biggest group of ostriches ever seen in the 1 place. the pressure is on the reporter in the sunday herald to come up with a brammer to round it all off . go on my son.
Posted by: Clare, Lanarkshire on 10:39am Sat 29 Mar 08
"A concordat is not a contract," he said. "I'll take what I need and leave the rest behind."
I hope all of those on these threads who were saying recently that Local Councils have changed read those words. Jim McCabe has not changed and will never change. He is not alone. I hope John Swinney gets the message too.
As for all McCabe's nonsense about the new voting system Labour knew further back than two years ago what this would mean, that's why they opposed PR at Council level. They knew it would change things forever. I remember when the consultation was underway and the shouting matches that broke out when community representatives attended meetings with Councils. The rage of Councillors was clear. It wasn't about democracy for them, it was about seeing their powers dwindle.
Blaming the leadership is typical of McCabe. He forgets how many Labour Councillors knew what was coming and just shut their eyes to it. Maybe they'd had it so good for so long they just couldn't believe it really was going to happen. I can understand that. I remember feeling the same except in my own case I was adding, "and about time too!"
"A concordat is not a contract," he said. "I'll take what I need and leave the rest behind."
I hope all of those on these threads who were saying recently that Local Councils have changed read those words. Jim McCabe has not changed and will never change. He is not alone. I hope John Swinney gets the message too.
As for all McCabe's nonsense about the new voting system Labour knew further back than two years ago what this would mean, that's why they opposed PR at Council level. They knew it would change things forever. I remember when the consultation was underway and the shouting matches that broke out when community representatives attended meetings with Councils. The rage of Councillors was clear. It wasn't about democracy for them, it was about seeing their powers dwindle.
Blaming the leadership is typical of McCabe. He forgets how many Labour Councillors knew what was coming and just shut their eyes to it. Maybe they'd had it so good for so long they just couldn't believe it really was going to happen. I can understand that. I remember feeling the same except in my own case I was adding, "and about time too!"
Posted by: Duns Scotus, The Borders on 10:51am Sat 29 Mar 08
[quote]"[italic]A concordat is not a contract[/italic] ," he said.[/quote] When asked to explain, Councillor McCabe replied, "[italic]Concordat is a nerryplane and a contract is something ye gie oot fur a broon envelope.[/italic] "
"A concordat is not a contract ," he said.
When asked to explain, Councillor McCabe replied, "
Concordat is a nerryplane and a contract is something ye gie oot fur a broon envelope. "
Posted by: Saul Tyre, Germany on 11:07am Sat 29 Mar 08
Jim McCabe is NOT a democrat. Far from it. He's in the right party though.
Jim McCabe is NOT a democrat. Far from it. He's in the right party though.
Posted by: Observer, Glasgow on 11:09am Sat 29 Mar 08
Jim Mc Cabe is picking a fight with the Labour Party not John Swinney. He is very much in the minority.
Jim Mc Cabe is picking a fight with the Labour Party not John Swinney. He is very much in the minority.
Posted by: Clare, Lanarkshire on 11:45am Sat 29 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Observer[/bold] wrote:
Jim Mc Cabe is picking a fight with the Labour Party not John Swinney. He is very much in the minority. [/quote] Jim McCabe has made it clear what he is about Observer, and he is leader of North Lanarkshire Council. He has confirmed what many of us already knew about the previously powerful Labour Councils. They don't intend to change. People like Jim McCabe will NEVER change. They are marking time until (they hope) things get back to their idea of "normal".
[bold]"A concordat is not a contract. I will take what I need and leave the rest behind." [/bold]
He didn't make that statement as an individual. His participation in the concordat isn't as an individual but on behalf of North Lanarkshire Council. He has now publicly confirmed that there is every reason for Swinney to tread very warily indeed as some of us warned weeks ago.
[bold]That statement says, "I know we agreed to this, but it isn't a contract. So it doesn't mean we meant it."[/bold]
Yes, he said it at the conference but he has still made his position clear. He has proved that co operation on his part is a sham. If Swinney has ears he should be listening very carefully. For if McCabe and his ilk intend to take, not give, and then leave the SNP to carry the can when they screw up bigtime Labour will blame Swinney for the mess.
Observer wrote:
Jim Mc Cabe is picking a fight with the Labour Party not John Swinney. He is very much in the minority.
Jim McCabe has made it clear what he is about Observer, and he is leader of North Lanarkshire Council. He has confirmed what many of us already knew about the previously powerful Labour Councils. They don't intend to change. People like Jim McCabe will NEVER change. They are marking time until (they hope) things get back to their idea of "normal".
"A concordat is not a contract. I will take what I need and leave the rest behind."
He didn't make that statement as an individual. His participation in the concordat isn't as an individual but on behalf of North Lanarkshire Council. He has now publicly confirmed that there is every reason for Swinney to tread very warily indeed as some of us warned weeks ago.
That statement says, "I know we agreed to this, but it isn't a contract. So it doesn't mean we meant it."
Yes, he said it at the conference but he has still made his position clear. He has proved that co operation on his part is a sham. If Swinney has ears he should be listening very carefully. For if McCabe and his ilk intend to take, not give, and then leave the SNP to carry the can when they screw up bigtime Labour will blame Swinney for the mess.
Posted by: Observer, Glasgow on 12:04pm Sat 29 Mar 08
Who are Jim McCabe's ''ilk'' Clare ? Stephen Purcell ? He is singing from a totally different hymn book. Mc Cabe's fight is with the Labour Party not John Swinney - and he is in a minority. We all know that Swinney is taking a risk and we all know that the Labour leadership will try and take advantage of the abolition of ring fencing. But in doing so they will be attacking their own foot soldiers who have deserted their leadership on this issue, with the the odd exception like Jim McCabe.
Who are Jim McCabe's ''ilk'' Clare ? Stephen Purcell ? He is singing from a totally different hymn book. Mc Cabe's fight is with the Labour Party not John Swinney - and he is in a minority. We all know that Swinney is taking a risk and we all know that the Labour leadership will try and take advantage of the abolition of ring fencing. But in doing so they will be attacking their own foot soldiers who have deserted their leadership on this issue, with the the odd exception like Jim McCabe.
Posted by: Buckpool Loon, Cheshire on 12:46pm Sat 29 Mar 08
"I'll take what I need and leave the rest behind?'
Say's it all really. How to perform political euthenasia.
"I'll take what I need and leave the rest behind?'
Say's it all really. How to perform political euthenasia.
Posted by: sid the sceptic, renfrewshire on 1:14pm Sat 29 Mar 08
afternoon clare,spot on as usual, labour will never change in scotland no matter what they say "change is what we do" what a load of sh1 t. con the public is what we do and is what we have done for generations. it was only a matter of time until one of these dinasours actually let slip what they thought and what they were going to do.they still think it is there divine right to be in control. well when it's been a 1 party state for generations it's quite difficult for this mob to understand they are not in power and most decent scots couldn't give a monkeys what they think .they are yesterdays news. our country must move on.
afternoon clare,spot on as usual, labour will never change in scotland no matter what they say "change is what we do" what a load of sh1 t. con the public is what we do and is what we have done for generations. it was only a matter of time until one of these dinasours actually let slip what they thought and what they were going to do.they still think it is there divine right to be in control. well when it's been a 1 party state for generations it's quite difficult for this mob to understand they are not in power and most decent scots couldn't give a monkeys what they think .they are yesterdays news. our country must move on.
Posted by: Observer, Glasgow on 3:58pm Sat 29 Mar 08
How can they be a one party state when they only control 3 Councils Sid ? You would subvert the SNP's published policy of subsidiarity whenever possible because of dinosaurs like Mc Cabe ? What about everywhere else ? Should the principle bow to the man or the man be made to bow to the principle ?
How can they be a one party state when they only control 3 Councils Sid ? You would subvert the SNP's published policy of subsidiarity whenever possible because of dinosaurs like Mc Cabe ? What about everywhere else ? Should the principle bow to the man or the man be made to bow to the principle ?
Posted by: sid the sceptic, renfrewshire on 4:16pm Sat 29 Mar 08
sorry observer what i was trying to say was scotland WAS a one party state for at least the last 2 generations which let the labour party do what they liked unchallenged.now that it is no longer the case they don't know what to do.
sorry observer what i was trying to say was scotland WAS a one party state for at least the last 2 generations which let the labour party do what they liked unchallenged.now that it is no longer the case they don't know what to do.
Posted by: Observer, Glasgow on 4:21pm Sat 29 Mar 08
Yep that is true Sid a lot of them have not woken up yet, but a lot of them have - look at Purcell wanting control of the Labour Party in Scotland to be in Scotland. I know Swinney is taking a risk with the concordat but I honestly think that Councillors like McCabe are a dying breed and the sooner they are extinct the better.
Yep that is true Sid a lot of them have not woken up yet, but a lot of them have - look at Purcell wanting control of the Labour Party in Scotland to be in Scotland. I know Swinney is taking a risk with the concordat but I honestly think that Councillors like McCabe are a dying breed and the sooner they are extinct the better.
Posted by: Clare, Lanarkshire on 9:29pm Sat 29 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Observer[/bold] wrote:
Who are Jim McCabe's ''ilk'' Clare ? Stephen Purcell ? He is singing from a totally different hymn book. Mc Cabe's fight is with the Labour Party not John Swinney - and he is in a minority. We all know that Swinney is taking a risk and we all know that the Labour leadership will try and take advantage of the abolition of ring fencing. But in doing so they will be attacking their own foot soldiers who have deserted their leadership on this issue, with the the odd exception like Jim McCabe.[/quote] Observer, read the message again from McCabe. You think that message was directed at Labour? No way. It was about the concordat and North Lanarkshire's participation in it. He has qualified that now bigtime.
"A concordat is not a contract. I will take what I need and leave the rest behind."
The foot soldiers are still there and they have not deserted, nothing like it. They are STILL Labour and they're humouring Swinney meantime. McCabe's fight is with the outrageous fact (to him) that Labour are out of government and he's still sore and praying for the day when that changes back to how his idea of democracy works in Councils like his. Purcell is in it for him, he always was and he will play both ends against the middle. Its what he does. He's another empire builder. As I've said before Observer, I'm surprised you've been so taken in by these guys. With their track record I can't believe you're convinced they've changed after decades of calling the shots. What surprised me is how quickly the mask has slipped and just how much McCabe gives away in that quote.
Observer wrote:
Who are Jim McCabe's ''ilk'' Clare ? Stephen Purcell ? He is singing from a totally different hymn book. Mc Cabe's fight is with the Labour Party not John Swinney - and he is in a minority. We all know that Swinney is taking a risk and we all know that the Labour leadership will try and take advantage of the abolition of ring fencing. But in doing so they will be attacking their own foot soldiers who have deserted their leadership on this issue, with the the odd exception like Jim McCabe.
Observer, read the message again from McCabe. You think that message was directed at Labour? No way. It was about the concordat and North Lanarkshire's participation in it. He has qualified that now bigtime.
"A concordat is not a contract. I will take what I need and leave the rest behind."
The foot soldiers are still there and they have not deserted, nothing like it. They are STILL Labour and they're humouring Swinney meantime. McCabe's fight is with the outrageous fact (to him) that Labour are out of government and he's still sore and praying for the day when that changes back to how his idea of democracy works in Councils like his. Purcell is in it for him, he always was and he will play both ends against the middle. Its what he does. He's another empire builder. As I've said before Observer, I'm surprised you've been so taken in by these guys. With their track record I can't believe you're convinced they've changed after decades of calling the shots. What surprised me is how quickly the mask has slipped and just how much McCabe gives away in that quote.
Posted by: Chris Walker, Galashiels on 10:39pm Sat 29 Mar 08
[italic]McCabe wanted to retain the first past the post option so Labour could continue to rule Scotland with only 30% of the vote.[/italic]
This isn't new either. Here's a quote from Ayrshire Central Labour MP Brian Donohoe from 2006 (http://www.theywork
foryou.com/whall/?id
=2006-02-15b.498.0):
[italic]I suggest to the Minister and the Secretary of State that we start to adopt the same type of policy and look at things [bold]on the basis of party interest[/bold], otherwise we will be in great difficulty. The measure now proposed by the Scottish Parliament—the single transferable vote being introduced for council elections—is like turkeys voting for an early Christmas.[/italic]
Emphasis mine. So, the Labour party favours the unrepresentative First Past The Post system because it benefits them, and they've said as much. Is this not electoral fraud? Could this not be punished by prison sentences?
McCabe wanted to retain the first past the post option so Labour could continue to rule Scotland with only 30% of the vote.
This isn't new either. Here's a quote from Ayrshire Central Labour MP Brian Donohoe from 2006 (http://www.theywork
foryou.com/whall/?id
=2006-02-15b.498.0):
I suggest to the Minister and the Secretary of State that we start to adopt the same type of policy and look at things on the basis of party interest, otherwise we will be in great difficulty. The measure now proposed by the Scottish Parliament—the single transferable vote being introduced for council elections—is like turkeys voting for an early Christmas.
Emphasis mine. So, the Labour party favours the unrepresentative First Past The Post system because it benefits them, and they've said as much. Is this not electoral fraud? Could this not be punished by prison sentences?
Posted by: Graham, Glasgow on 11:41pm Sat 29 Mar 08
cw,10:39. What do you mean by first past the post! Democracy means that the candidate with most votes is the winner. Whats wrong with that!! If Labour are so bad then they will not get most of the votes.[bold]bold[/bold]
cw,10:39. What do you mean by first past the post! Democracy means that the candidate with most votes is the winner. Whats wrong with that!! If Labour are so bad then they will not get most of the votes.
Posted by: Toophingers, Bellshill. on 1:11pm Sun 30 Mar 08
May I, on behalf of the SNP,thank the following for their own goals.
Wee Bendy for her pledge to [bold]'counter the SNP with socialist policies'[/bold] .
Des Browne for his intended reminder to party activists that [bold]'Labour still governs Scotland through legislation passed at Westminster'[/bold]
May I, on behalf of the SNP,thank the following for their own goals.
Wee Bendy for her pledge to
'counter the SNP with socialist policies' .
Des Browne for his intended reminder to party activists that
'Labour still governs Scotland through legislation passed at Westminster' Posted by: Wendy has been, Scotland on 10:24pm Sun 30 Mar 08
Jim McCabe appears to have a grudge against democracy itself if he is unhappy with the results of the last council elections and the voting system used. Aye, that is the Labour party for you!
Jim McCabe appears to have a grudge against democracy itself if he is unhappy with the results of the last council elections and the voting system used. Aye, that is the Labour party for you!
Posted by: Carnwarth on 9:39am Mon 31 Mar 08
Mr McCabe thinks that a more representative voting system was "a serious mistake" - is he related to that old socialist Robert Mugabe?
Mr McCabe thinks that a more representative voting system was "a serious mistake" - is he related to that old socialist Robert Mugabe?
Posted by: Toophingers, Bellshill. on 11:55am Mon 31 Mar 08
How many McCabes are there in North Lanarkshire politics?
How many McCabes are there in North Lanarkshire politics?
Posted by: pollokshaws, glasgow on 10:31pm Mon 31 Mar 08
Is anyone surprised that Mr.McCabe wants the status quo and isn't it not time for the Scottish electorate to get out from under the 'soviet style' arrogance of Labour both local and national.
The caption under Wendy's nose at the labour party conference read
'LISTENING TO YOU'
Tell that to the thousands that voted against the commercial development of Pollok Park.
The labour party was destroyed by Blair and Broon and for Alexander to return to the cries of the 30's to appease people like McCabe is sad and clearly indicates a party in decline
Is anyone surprised that Mr.McCabe wants the status quo and isn't it not time for the Scottish electorate to get out from under the 'soviet style' arrogance of Labour both local and national.
The caption under Wendy's nose at the labour party conference read
'LISTENING TO YOU'
Tell that to the thousands that voted against the commercial development of Pollok Park.
The labour party was destroyed by Blair and Broon and for Alexander to return to the cries of the 30's to appease people like McCabe is sad and clearly indicates a party in decline
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