Familiar tale of Labour infighting
I’VE worked out that medieval Scottish history is so boring because it is so like the Scottish Labour leadership contest – a series of unmemorable kings being assassinated by family members and close rivals while their opponents dance rings around them.
The saga of Scottish Labour leaders is in danger of having as many sequels as the Star Wars franchise, though it is far less profitable as figurines of Alex Rowley don’t sell as well as those of the Emperor Palpatine.
That can’t be because Rowley is less scheming, less powerful and incapable of living the double life the Star Wars villain led.
Labour shouldn’t fool themselves. The Corbyn surge in Scotland – up six MPs – is not as deep-rooted as they would like people to think.
Yes, a couple more percentage points of support and the party could be looking at taking fistfuls of SNP seats, but a couple more points the other way and they’re down to one MP again.
Why wouldn’t there be an equal SNP surge? I’ve always said a disastrous Brexit is Nicola Sturgeon’s last best hope before the 2021 Holyrood election.
I was the one holding the jackets at the Scottish Labour leadership hustings the Record organised at the Brighton conference. It was a civilised affair. All credit to the candidates, both of whom are very serious about doing the job, and the delegates who came along to ask questions.
Off stage, though, the campaign to succeed Kezia Dugdale is quickly disintegrating into that familiar trope of betrayal and infighting.
With weeks of campaigning to go, the party better sort themselves out if they are going to get out of the hole they are in.
The people they represent hope for deserve better than this.