Friday 7 November 2008

Glenrothes result

A few years back I had the pleasure of watching the England and Wales cricket team contest an Ashes cricket series which was eventually won by England (as they are usually called, somewhat erroneously if for convenience's sake).

At some point, maybe the third test, Australia started celebrating a drawn match. I was stunned, the win at all costs and win easily mentality of the Australians had been transformed. They had taken to celebrating results which would have once been seen as disappointing, or at least expected. Change was afoot. England (and Wales!) went on to win the Ashes.

It is this air of unmerited triumphalism that figures in today's headlines. As New Labour celebrate holding on to Glenrothes, Gordon Brown's neighbouring constituency. A new constituency created mostly from Central Fife this was, until the SNP resurgence, safe territory. Don't be fooled by the spin, the song, and the dance. If they are not to be reduced to a rump in Scotland, as the tories now are, New Labour have to hold some seats like Glenrothes. And the SNP increased their share of the vote by 3%, with a 4.6% swing form Labour to SNP. So while the SNP may be a bit disappointed at failing to get another scalp, this is no time for New Labour to bask in glory.

The headline -LABOUR CELEBRATE HOLDING SAFE SEAT- would have an all together different feel to it. One that points accurately to their current decline.

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