UK polling report casts doubt on whether the LDs could be the largest party in Scotland after the elections.
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9 Comments
When was there ever a possibility that they would be? They were 4th in 2003 and only 2nd in 4 seats. Who was seriously saying that they had any chance?
“Who was seriously saying that they had any chance?”
Nicol Stephen said it a couple of times. I supposed it was just some spin (as all parties do in run ups of elections)
In the main, the claim was made after the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election, coming from a distant second and smashing Labour’s majority.
“In the main, the claim was made after the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election, coming from a distant second and smashing Labour’s majority”
It’s usually made referring to that result as an example, but he has also made it months after that occasion. The last time he referred to it was his New Year’s message
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6221467.stm
“The last time he referred to it was his New Year’s message
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6221467.stm”
Indeed, when he referred to the Dunfermline result as “the turning point”.
I agree it is unlikely that the Lib Dems could end up with the largets number of seats in a tight race it is not comletely out of the question. Particularly if the Lib Dems are able to turn out their UK general election votes.
I don’t agree with Tom that there are only four constituencies they could win – I’d say on a good day at six to eight constituency gains could be possible including seats in Edinburgh, Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Aberdeen
Inverness and Dunfermline – all areas where there the Lib Dems are strong in local governemnt, there are marginal MSPs or the Lib Dems hold the Westminster seats. There’s also an outside chance in places like Greenock and Glasgow Kelvin.
With a small increase in vote share additional list seats in Glasgow and West Scotland among others would also be possible.
So the Lib Dems could realistically reach the high twenties/early thirties in seats. If the election was close enough (like Inverness in 1992) that might conceivably be enough to make them the largest party in a very well hung Parliament!
But I won’t be putting my shirt on it…
The front page of the Scottish Lib Dems website says:
“It [Dunfermline] was a turning point and for the first time it is now clear the Liberal Democrats can be Scotland’s largest party.”
The words ‘snowball’ and ‘hell’ spring to mind?
and then i came out, mommy move me down sout. Liesbeth Kiki.