It has though led me to think about a much more serious point --- and, of course, all of this has to do with a little event some 84-days away, which I'm sure isn't unconnected (sorry!) to the recent upsurge in the local SNP's interest in new media ...
... and that point is the preparedness of the main political Parties in Edinburgh for the upcoming Local Government election. Here's a quick summary, with apologies in advance if I've got anything wrong:
PARTY - Lib-Dems
No. of Councillors - 16
All new candidates selected/announced - No
Manifesto (or draft?) launched - No
Website presence - http://edinburghlibdems.org.uk/en/
last web update - 18th August 2007
2012/13 Budget announced - No
PARTY - Labour
No. of Councillors - 15
All new candidates selected/announced - Yes http://www.edinburghlabour.com/p/people.html
Manifesto (or draft?) launched - Yes http://andrewburns.blogspot.com/2011/11/consultation-document-launched.html & now http://www.edinburghlabour.com/p/moving-edinburgh-forward-together.html
Website presence - http://www.edinburghlabour.com/
last web update - 7th February 2012
2012/13 Budget announced - Yes http://www.edinburghlabour.com/2012/02/labour-group-alternative-budget.html
PARTY - SNP
No. of Councillors - 13
All new candidates selected/announced - No
Manifesto (or draft?) launched - No
Website presence - http://edinburghsnp.blogspot.com/
last web update - 18th August 2007
2012/13 Budget announced - No
PARTY - Tories
No. of Councillors - 11
All new candidates selected/announced - No
Manifesto (or draft?) launched - No
Website presence - http://www.scottishconservatives.com/people/councillors/edinburgh/142
last web update - 20th January 2010
2012/13 Budget announced - No
PARTY - Greens
No. of Councillors - 3
All new candidates selected/announced - No
Manifesto (or draft?) launched - No
Website presence - http://www.edinburghgreens.org.uk/site/
last web update - 2nd February 2012
2012/13 Budget announced - No
Now, I do know of course, that all of this isn't a predictor of the results that will be announced on Friday 4th May --- but, it surely is a small indication about who is mounting (so far, at least) a serious Local Government Election effort ...
... personally, I think it is of some significance.
But, I would say that, wouldn't I ... would be interesting to know what others think?
UPDATE - Edinburgh Labour last web update now 8th February 2012 :-)
UPDATE 2 - Greens have got 8 candidates selected, with more to come, all listed here: http://www.edinburghgreens.org.uk/site/local-green-teams/
3 comments:
Andrew
The Greens selected 8 candidates a year ago and the remaining 9 are being selcted right now. Our manifesto is well on the way to being completed. As for the budget, well, as you yourself say, it is a farcical process and the Greens attempted to make it more interactive 3 years ago. This game of bidding in a darkened room does Edinburgh no favours.
Shandon - thanks for the feedback; much appreciated. Is there a public list of Green candidates on your site ... I couldn't see it?
Agree completely about the budget process. 24-hours to go (virtually) and still not a single line published for tomorrow's meeting :-(
Shandon - OK ... think I see it now at the "In Your Ward" section.
I'll update the post - thanks :-)
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