... a certain SNP Councillor from the City Centre Ward is apparently off to the States (employment driven), and is about to trigger a local by-election!
You can see the 2007 Ward results here and you'll no doubt notice that, whilst we were 4th on 1st preferences, there were less than 200 such 1st preferences between the top four Parties - with the Greens close behind. All that on a 50% turnout, which would undoubtedly drop considerably in any by-election.
Now - I don't need to spell it out I'm sure, but if the SNP lose that seat to Labour (or the Tories, or the Greens) then their local Coalition Majority with the Lib-Dems would be over :-)
Further dark rumours circulating the Chambers are, of the variety, that they are desperate to lose the by-election so they can extricate themselves from the shambles that has been the last 4-years of the SNP/Lib-Dem stewardship of Edinburgh :-(
Whatever the local SNP's intentions ... if there is to be a by-election ... one thing is for certain: Edinburgh Labour will be in it, to win it.
4 comments:
In it to win it?
With yourself & the Greens not even getting 1 of 3 last time you're not getting 1 of 1 this time!
With LibDems unelectable this is a 2 way fight - SNP vs tories - you'd have more chance of power if you help the tories win!
Anonymous
Thanks for the comment - but, you'll be shocked to hear, I disagree.
No one automatically cleared the quota threshold in 2007 (nowhere near it actually, with everyone being at least 360 1st preference votes short of it!) and that was on a 50% turnout.
On a much lower turnout this August(almost guaranteed) it will be a very open contest and we have every intention of winning it.
Andrew
My fear is this will become a for or against the trams single issue campaign, how will you broaden the debate to actually highlight the do nothing fence sitting antics of the current Dawes/Cardownie team as opposed to your own vision for eDINBURGH NOW AND COME mAY 2012 ?
Anonymous
Take your point and can only assure you all that work is in hand.
Andrew
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