Jim Murphy, take a bow

Andrew Spencer

I loathe Mr Murphy for the lies he told over the Lisbon Treaty. I know he was sent out to say them by others, and he did it pretty darned well, but the lies he told were bare-faced and unforgiveable.

Spin Bowler... In the Brown!

The fact that Labour retained the seat came as no surprise to me at all - though the scale of their victory did, I must admit. Had this by-election taken place a couple of months ago - or put it another way, had we not gone through the financial crisis - and Labour had still won I would have been just as surprised as the reporters and commentators of the BBC.

However, the financial crisis did intervene and helped improve the Prime Minister's standing and in doing so raised expectations - mine at any rate. Throw into the mix that Labour were defending a 10,644 majority in a traditional Labour seat which neighboured the Prime Minister's own constituency as well as the fact that Gordon 'McCavity' Brown campaigned twice in Glenrothes breaking convention that Prime Ministers do not campaign in by-elections, all pointed to a narrow Labour win to me, countering the normal trend that government's lose mid-term by-elections, particularly those run by Gordon Brown. The fact that McCavity showed his face in Glenrothes - not once, but twice - gave me confidence in a Labour victory. If Brown thought Labour were going to lose he would have been on the other side of the world!

http://inthebrown.blogspot.com/

JR

I'm a fan. He's got something about him and he's got a good understanding of the public's concerns. He's also admirably attached to the policies he takes on - child poverty being a case in point (to the extent he knew enough about the Wisoncin reforms to be able to make a reasoned decision as to whether they were relevant to the UK experience). His speeches are okay if on script but he's frankly a bit rubbish on the floor of the House.

It's also fair to say he was not a fan of European Law intervening in GB policy making before he got that job, far from it. So he's certainly willing to 'do a job'. Also on the negative side he's a tragic Celtic fan and once managed to launch a policy from the pitch - that was pretty cringe worthy.

Fraser Nelson

Are you a Hun, then, JR? Another clue as to your identity...

mac

@JR Also cringeworthy was this morning's Today interview laced as it was with the fawning obeisance towards Brown as 'the most experienced world politico-economic genius'. Jeez!

TrevorsDen

I saw him on TV and thought he was an arrogant tw#t. Lying through his teeth with every breath.

Scott

The Labour leaflets in this constituency truly were disgusting.

George Laird

Dear All

Last night was victory for negative campaigning and the SNP not closing down the issue of charges for care in Fife.

Spin won but in about a year from now when the recession bites and people lose their jobs and homes, then it will be a different kettle of fish.

Last night wasn't a vote for Brown, it was fought on local issues and the fact their candiate Lindsay Roy is well known to the people.

Mr. Roy campaigned on devolved matters to Holyrood which he can't effect. He speaks well
when handed a speech pre-written, less so off the cuff.

Peter Grant was a more able candidate but really needs to work on being more dynamic.

Brown got breathing space because Labour held the seat, they didn't win the seat from another party. Labour made no gains last night.

Finally, newspapers are spinning this as Brown Bounces Back, he didn't, all that happened was the SNP was outmanoeuvred by a clever trick, Labour fighting a UK Westminister seat on devolved issues to the Scottish Parliament.

It is a lesson the SNP won't forget, because I will remind them.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

hadrian

As one who took over one of the few remaining enclaves of Scottish Toryism, he cannot be forgiven. His promotion of E.U. imperialism is equally revolting; his support for Celtic says it all.
However I agree he's a nice enough chap, if terribly misguided...just as the idiot electorate of Glenrothes are. Incidentally, how can this be a 'defeat' for the SNP, given they never held the seat anyway and managed to chomp a sizeable bit of the Labour majority?
However I had thought maybe old Cardinal O'Brien's strictures on Brown might have had an even greater impact but it just goes to show the waning influence of RC clerics over their flocks.

I never felt Glenrothes would go as Glasgow East but the fools of that part of 'The Kingdom' will live to rue the day. Labour's abysmal economic record clearly hasn't yet bitten as har as it almost inevitably will...just wait, then, you smug socialists.

donnyb

He has a lot to be humble about.

William Humbold Jr

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