In giant letters, a message to voters which spelled out the stark choices
THE DAILY Record’s message to “choose hope” in yesterday’s election was beamed across Scotland’s biggest city yesterday.
Our memorable front page – a spin of the famous Trainspotting monologue – pointed out to readers that they had a choice between continuing the cruel policies of Theresa May’s Tories or a new Government to make Britain fairer.
And as the rain poured in Glasgow city centre that message couldn’t have been clearer to passers-by at our massive tall screens in the city centre, on the quayside and in Tradeston.
“Choose Theresa, choose Boris, choose Ruth and the rest. Choose food banks and joining the ranks of the working poor,” the message said.
Labour voter Asad Iqbal, 47, the owner of Charcoals Indian restaurant in Glasgow’s Renfield Street, stepped outside for a five-minute break to read the Record’s words lit up against the city’s skyline.
Asad, from Glasgow, said: “I read the Record every day and I think it’s great you’ve made it very simple by putting it on your front page and all these screens around the city.
“This has been a snap election and then there have been major attacks in the UK in recent weeks which has meant people have not had time to really absorb what the party policies are really about.
“This reminds them exactly what their vote means.”
The front page went on: “Choose disclosing you’re a rape victim so you can afford your kid’s shoes. Choose dementia tax and your gran freezing to death in the winter.”
On the quayside, SNP voter Mark MacFarlane, 36, from Govan, said: “It’s good the Record are getting their message out about what voting Conservative could really mean.”
The message carried on: “Choose tax loopholes for billionaires and the rich getting richer. Choose the worst-of-all Brexits.”
Luzier Jeffrey, 46, was among those who stopped to read our message at Glasgow Central. The undecided voter, from Croftfoot, Glasgow, said: “I’ll definitely not be voting for the Conservatives. It is good to see the Record putting their stance out there and words like ‘your gran freezing to death in the winter’ are harsh and hard-hitting.”
The front page also said: “Choose £350million-a-week lies on the side of a bus. Choose gambling with the future of foreign doctors and nurses. Choose anti-immigration propaganda and choose hard borders.”
Landscaper Craig Noral, 24, from Springburn, Glasgow, took time out to read the message.
Craig said: “I will be voting SNP. I’ll definitely not be voting Conservative and I agree with everything on the Record’s front page.”
Ross MacKenzie, 20, from Balfron, Stirlingshire, appreciated our message but was also headed to vote SNP.
Ross said: “It’s good for the Record to remind people what a Tory government will mean. I’m pro-independence and I’m going to vote SNP because I want a second referendum.
“But I’ve seen the screens and the front page and The Daily Record certainly make a point.”
The front page concluded: “Today you can choose the party of May and of Thatcher or you can vote for a new government to make Britain fairer: choose hope.”
As our front page went live across our social media, readers congratulated the Record on it.
The small hours of today will show how far across the rest of the country that message of hope has beamed.