STEWART PATERSON
HOLYROOD WEEK
POLITICS, it seems, is the new rock ‘n’ roll but this week I am particularly glad not to be a member of a political party.
Ok, so it means I don’t get to ‘rock out’ at the Nicola Sturgeon tour of Scotland but it also means I don’t need to worry about choosing Jim Murphy, Neil FFindlay or Sarah Boyack as LLabour’s new front man or woman. Nor do I need concern myself with eelecting Keith Brown, SStewart hosie or Angela Constance as Ms Sturgeon’s SNP support act.
It is much more interestiing to watch from the wings as the manoeuvring and politicking takes place back stage, and in that respect the Labour contest is more intriguing.
Some seem to think the solution to fill a vacancy created amid accusations of meddling and control from London is to recall a Westminster MP who has shown little previous interest in holyrood.
Fresh from his own tour of Scotland, which was more street busking than stadium rock, Jim Murphy wants lead the Labour band.
Labour’s troubles can be traced back to 1997 and the gradual growth in disappointment with Tony Blair’s Government, which is also the period in which Mr Murphy developed as a politician and rose through the Westminster ranks.
he is clearly the favourite, likely to win support from elected members and party members, although the trade unions are less encouraged, with some already warning he is not the answer.
Mr Murphy backed student tuition fees, the Iraq war and Tony Blair, all of which lost Labour votes to the SNP.
They are all decisions of the past, but ones he will be forced to revisit and will be reminded of by his new opponents if he is elected leader and attempts to win back those who felt the Labour Party deserted their traditional values.
That battle will intensify when Nicola Sturgeon takes over as SNP leader. She looks ready to build on the remarkable events post-referendum that saw the party fail in its overall aim but end up with around 80,000 new members and a loose Yes alliance working to oust Scots Labour MPs at Westminster.
The contest between Sturgeon and Murphy, should it happen, will be interesting. Neither are afraid of confrontation and both have the ability to present clear and direct challenges to their opponents.
Before that, however, Mr Murphy has to win the contest and then find a seat to contest and win at holyrood in 2016 or before.
That will involve the political machinations and behind closed doors dealing that turns many people off politics in the first place.
Ms Sturgeon said she will wear her own shoes as leader, if Mr Murphy wins he must do the same.
Tony Blair was costly for Labour in Scotland. The last thing the party needs is a tribute act.