More than three years after the COVID law-breaking that cost the SNP’s Margaret Ferrier her job as MP, voters in Rutherglen and Hamilton West will be summoned to the polls on October 5 for a byelection to choose her successor. Why is Labour’s Michael Shanks very widely expected to win? And what would a Labour gain here mean? The first thing to say is that this is one … [Read more...] about Labour needs a thumping majority at Rutherglen to win big in the UK
Sturgeon arrested – and SNP ratings stay strong
The Scottish National Party is in a dreadful mess. Former leader and former first minister Nicola Sturgeon had already described the events of the past few months as beyond her “worst nightmares” – and that was before she was arrested. Opinion had long since been divided (largely on “indyref” lines) on how far the SNP retained the reputation for competent government that had … [Read more...] about Sturgeon arrested – and SNP ratings stay strong