Record 4.11m register to vote today ... but experts still fear low turnout
Party accused of ‘trying to buy election’ with Glasgow pledge 48hrs before vote
A RECORD number of Scots are registered to vote in today’s local elections – but turnout could hit an all-time low.
Some 4.11million people are on the roll – a 3. per cent rise from the last local elections in 01 . The register was only higher in 014, when 4. 8million were signed up for the independence vote.
But experts fear the high number – disclosed by the Electoral Commission yesterday – could be attributed to next month’s General Election.
Electoral Reform Society in Scotland director Willie Sullivan said: ‘It is great that we have the highest level of registration, and that may be an unforeseen by-product of all the political activity.
‘But in the local government elections turnout is always an issue. There is a concern when people are not voting for delivery of local service like education, social work and transport.
‘The General Election could definitely impact on turnout. If people have limited time they may vote in the General Election, not the local election.’
Labour is expected to lose Glasgow to the SNP today. Stephen Fisher, political sociology professor at Oxford University, predicted that overall the SNP will win 43 per cent of ‘first preference votes’, the Tories 7 per cent, Lib Dems 7 per cent and Labour 6 per cent.
He said: ‘It raises an important question about how far Labour could sink.’
MINISTERS have been accused of ‘trying to buy the election’ after pledging £8million of funding for a key battleground city only days before polls open.
Officials face a probe into claims they have broken strict rules which ban announcements on initiatives that could be seen to sway voters in the weeks before a vote.
It comes after SNP Housing Minister Kevin Stewart revealed an £8.4million investment into the refurbishment of vacant office space in central Glasgow, which he claims would generate jobs.
The Scottish Government issued a press release detailing the plans on Tuesday – only two days before the council elections.
Glasgow City Council has been held by Labour since 1980 but is tipped to fall to the SNP, which Nicola Sturgeon claimed would be ‘hugely significant’.
Yesterday, opponents accused the ‘desperate SNP administration’ of ‘trying to buy the election’ and called on Scotland’s top civil servant to launch an inquiry into the release.
Scottish Conservative MSP Ross Thomson said the Government timed the release in a ‘blatant attempt to sway voters’ in the Glasgow area ahead of today’s vote.
He has written to the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government,
‘Blatant attempt to sway voters’ ‘Desperate administration’
Leslie Evans, demanding an explanation on the timing of the release.
Mr Thomson said: ‘The key problem with this is that the SNP is opening itself up to the charge that it is trying to buy the election in Glasgow.
‘That’s what voters right across the country will be thinking.
‘This looks like a blatant attempt to sway voters in an area that is being targeted by the SNP.
‘I have written to the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government asking for an explanation as to how this could be announced just 48 hours before voters go to the polls.
‘People need to have absolute confidence that public money is not being used for party political ends.’
The letter highlights guidance issued this year stating that ‘particular care’ should be taken by officials in releasing announcements between April 13 and May 4 due to the local government elections.
It draws attention to statements made by SNP officials and their ‘explicit’ references that Glasgow was a priority for them in the elections.
Mr Thomson said: ‘I am requesting a full investigation into the activity of the Scottish Civil Service leading up to this announcement and the propriety of the timing of the announcement.’
He also raised the issue as a point of order after First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood yesterday.
Frank McAveety, leader of Glasgow Labour, said: ‘This looks like an attempt to sway voters by a desperate SNP administration.
‘There must be a full and frank investigation into how this announcement came about – but it seems voters will get no answers before they head to the polls today.
‘The public has a right to know who knew what and when, as well as who authorised the release of this information.’
Guidance for civil servants was issued in January and states that ‘particular care’ should be taken in the weeks leading up to elections, adding: ‘It needs to be borne in mind that the activities of the Scottish Government could have a bearing on the local election campaigns.’
It recommends that some publications should be put back until after the election. Scottish Liberal Democrat business manager Mike Rumbles said: ‘Allegations that the Scottish Government has breached rules on the use of public resources at election time are extremely serious.
‘There are rules in place for a reason. The public must be given the strongest possible reassurances that this cash has not been splashed for ballots in an SNP target area.’
Miss Sturgeon’s official spokesman confirmed yesterday that the Government is checking over purdah guidelines – rules which prevent the release close to an election of official announcements which could be seen to sway voters.
Asked if there had been an error, the spokesman said: ‘We are checking the purdah guidelines at this stage, we will have to more to say when it’s clearer. This has only just been drawn to our attention.’
When asked if the Ministerial Code is being examined following Mr Stewart’s involvement with the release, the spokesman said: ‘We are having discussions within the Scottish Government about the handling round about that.’
The Government’s announcement claims that £8.4million worth of funding would deliver 71,000 square feet of office space, as well as supporting ‘hundreds of new jobs’.
In the release, Mr Stewart states: ‘Glasgow has a shortage of high quality office space and this latest investment will increase in the city’s stock, making it an even more appealing proposition to locate and do business in.’