Harvie takes the cake in Twitter bidding war for voters
A PRO-INDEPENDENCE voter’s dilemma over which political party to join has sparked a cake-based bidding war involving some of Scotland’s most senior politicians.
Katie McGarvey revealed on Twitter yesterday that she was considering joining a party ahead of next year’s Holyrood elections, but was torn between the SNP and the Greens. “Heart says Green, head says SNP,” she wrote, before asking her 5,000 followers for help.
Within minutes, Nicola Sturgeon noticed the tweet and told Ms McGarvey she hoped to persuade her that the SNP was the right choice. Not one to take the first offer, Ms McGarvey asked Green co-convenor Patrick Harvie whether he had anything to say.
Mr Harvie said: “I’ve been known to bake a cake for branch meetings. Would that do?” before Green supporters keen to add another member to their growing ranks provided photographic evidence of the Glasgow MSP’s efforts in the kitchen. The First Minister was unimpressed, accusing Mr Harvie of a “low blow” by taking advantage of her lack of baking ability. Ms McGarvie, while admitting a fondness for cake, said she was more torn than ever.
Kezia Dugdale, who is favourite to become Scottish Labour leader, then entered the fray with an audacious bid to secure Ms McGarvie’s affections. She posted an impressive picture of a home-made strawberry and chocolate cake, along with the message “I’m just going to leave this here”.
Mr Harvie sent Ms McGarvie a message saying, “now look what you’ve started” after details of the exchange appeared on the HeraldScotland website.
While high-profile leaders of Westminster parties rarely enter into dialogue with the public over Twitter with messages often posted by their staff, Scottish politicians have personally taken control of their accounts.
In January, Ms Sturgeon, Ms Dugdale and Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson engaged in a popular exchange in which they joked that they would agree to put aside preparation for First Minister’s Questions to watch Andy Murray.
Ms Sturgeon said she would open up her office to her opponents, with Ms Davidson promising to bring some snacks and Ms Dugdale offering to take a bottle of Pimms along.
Ms McGarvey has not said which party she will join.