Even with Labour in a buoyant mood at the annual party conference, which concluded on Wednesday, insiders still acknowledge that the path to power is tricky.
One thing that would make Sir Keir Starmer’s bid for No 10 much easier is a comeback in Scotland, where just one out of 59 constituencies is held by Labour.
The rise of the SNP and support for independence mean that a return to previous political patterns north of the border, where Labour would traditionally sweep up at least two-thirds of the seats even in relatively lean years, is impossible.
But optimism is rising that the party could establish a serious toehold once more, thanks partly to the leadership of 39-year-old Anas Sarwar and his determination to break out of a model where all Scottish politics is dominated by the constitution, driving voters to the most hardline options on each side – the SNP and, for unionists, the Conservatives.
Even though Mark Drakeford, Wales’s First Minister, has much more electoral success to show, it was Mr Sarwar who was treated as a superstar at the conference in Liverpool.
After council elections this year, in which Scottish Labour reclaimed its place as the second-largest party, the party has its eye on at least 15 and possibly as many as two dozen seats in the Central Belt which includes Glasgow and Edinburgh, where the SNP is dominant but its support is seen as relatively soft.
A source close to Sir Keir told i: “If Labour looks like it is heading for government then SNP supporters start to stay home or switch to us.” A senior Scottish Labour source agreed, saying: “The prospect of a Labour government at Westminster starts to unlock things for us in Scotland.”
If – as polls currently suggest – the Conservatives’ decade-plus of government is coming to an end, Labour believes it can neutralise the SNP’s argument that independence is the only way for Scotland to take control of its own destiny.
Sir Keir went out of his way to attack the nationalists in his conference speech, saying: “We can’t work with them. We won’t work with them. No deal under any circumstances.” By contrast, he has notably not ruled out working with the Liberal Democrats in a hung Parliament.
Under FPTP, Labour doing well and taking votes off the SNP would be a disaster.
It may let the Tories through the middle in half a dozen seats.
Reminder – had May not scraped those dozen seats in Scotland, the Tories would have been done in 2017.
They have next to no hope.
The Tory’s pissed off Scotland in the 80’s and they are lucky to get a seat or two.
Labor pissed off Scotland when they got wiped out then did so recently forming minority coalition councils with the Tory’s.
The lib dems have more chance in the north.
Pipedream.
Glasgow City Council is having to sell off some crown jewels (Kelvingrove Museum and Art Galleries, City Chambers, and I’ve seen comments about Kelvin Hall too) in order to raise funds to cover the equal pay claims racked up when it was a Labour run council.
Labour are also in effective coalitions with the Tories in other councils. They’re little better than red Tories when you get down to it.
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Even with Labour in a buoyant mood at the annual party conference, which concluded on Wednesday, insiders still acknowledge that the path to power is tricky.
One thing that would make Sir Keir Starmer’s bid for No 10 much easier is a comeback in Scotland, where just one out of 59 constituencies is held by Labour.
The rise of the SNP and support for independence mean that a return to previous political patterns north of the border, where Labour would traditionally sweep up at least two-thirds of the seats even in relatively lean years, is impossible.
But optimism is rising that the party could establish a serious toehold once more, thanks partly to the leadership of 39-year-old Anas Sarwar and his determination to break out of a model where all Scottish politics is dominated by the constitution, driving voters to the most hardline options on each side – the SNP and, for unionists, the Conservatives.
Even though Mark Drakeford, Wales’s First Minister, has much more electoral success to show, it was Mr Sarwar who was treated as a superstar at the conference in Liverpool.
After council elections this year, in which Scottish Labour reclaimed its place as the second-largest party, the party has its eye on at least 15 and possibly as many as two dozen seats in the Central Belt which includes Glasgow and Edinburgh, where the SNP is dominant but its support is seen as relatively soft.
A source close to Sir Keir told i: “If Labour looks like it is heading for government then SNP supporters start to stay home or switch to us.” A senior Scottish Labour source agreed, saying: “The prospect of a Labour government at Westminster starts to unlock things for us in Scotland.”
If – as polls currently suggest – the Conservatives’ decade-plus of government is coming to an end, Labour believes it can neutralise the SNP’s argument that independence is the only way for Scotland to take control of its own destiny.
Sir Keir went out of his way to attack the nationalists in his conference speech, saying: “We can’t work with them. We won’t work with them. No deal under any circumstances.” By contrast, he has notably not ruled out working with the Liberal Democrats in a hung Parliament.
Under FPTP, Labour doing well and taking votes off the SNP would be a disaster.
It may let the Tories through the middle in half a dozen seats.
Reminder – had May not scraped those dozen seats in Scotland, the Tories would have been done in 2017.
They have next to no hope.
The Tory’s pissed off Scotland in the 80’s and they are lucky to get a seat or two.
Labor pissed off Scotland when they got wiped out then did so recently forming minority coalition councils with the Tory’s.
The lib dems have more chance in the north.
Pipedream.
Glasgow City Council is having to sell off some crown jewels (Kelvingrove Museum and Art Galleries, City Chambers, and I’ve seen comments about Kelvin Hall too) in order to raise funds to cover the equal pay claims racked up when it was a Labour run council.
Labour are also in effective coalitions with the Tories in other councils. They’re little better than red Tories when you get down to it.