A defeated Jim Murphy leaves town, failing to see the writing on the wall
What a night, and what a challenging five years ahead for Scotland.
A profound democratic revolution has taken place at the British ballot box.
The auld enemies face each other across the border once more. But the Tories have no mandate in Scotland. And the irony? There is always irony where politics are concerned. The irony is, Cameron is son of a Scotsman, and he faces a phalanx of Scots in opposition.
56 SNP MPs out of 59 elected to Westminster – the Tories sweep to power in England.
Scotland against the might of Etonian England. A huge swing to a view opposing neo-liberal policies. One token lonely Tory, Liberal, and Labour MP Left in Scotland to sob into their sherry, wine or beer. (No more champagne for Labour socialists.) The election proves beyond a shadow of doubt that unless Labour wins in England it doesn’t matter how many seats it wins in Scotland, it won’t rule at Westminster.
We know Nicola Sturgeon will be celebrating but it is a bitter-sweet victory facing the Tories in London with few Green or Welsh MPs in support. However, she is well liked in all parts of the British Isles, unlike Cameron. It’s a personal victory for Alex Salmond, returned to Westminster and with the private pleasure of seeing every one of his vicious opponents from the past gone, banished: Ed Balls, Douglas Alexander, Davidson, Danny Alexander, Saint Vince Cable, Jim Murphy, ‘Margrit’ Curren, Sarwar, Galloway, the sad Kennedy a good man fallen years ago, Nick Clegg, the list goes on and on.
Ed Miliband, leader of the blind Labour party fell on his sword, still bewildered as to why his myopic policies held no sway in Scotland. Miliband and the others stood up and said Scotland didn’t count unless it agreed to do Westminster’s bidding. They all said the people serve parliament. The talk still of ‘keeping our country together.’ Sorry, which country was that?
Even Gordon Brown’s old constituency now SNP, and Darling no more too – MPs that forgot who it was they were elected to serve as soon as they had been elected – Scotland.
For me, a delight was to see Douglas Alexander, the man responsible for Labour’s election strategy, who previously enjoying a large majority, get beaten by a twenty year-old student yet to finish her final exams. Mhairi Black is some sort of heroine. But it was symptomatic of the way the people of Scotland had enough of lying, double-dealing, flaky MPs claiming high expenses while imposing austerity on everybody else, and above all, Scottish MPs derailing or blocking the will of their own country.
The morning after
Jim Murphy lost too. At his morning after the night before speech he continued to lie, in a seriously mean, over-long farewell note telling voters the SNP had promised “vote SNP get Labour.” No such promise was made. He is a chronic liar.
I am sure Jim Murphy and his behind the scenes henchmen, McTernan and MacDougall, spin doctors of falsehoods, will have to resign. Scotland’s branch party was thoroughly routed. Any pronouncement from Murphy that he feels obligated to stay on and fight the good fight for Labour’s renaissance will follow with a choked cry of et tu Brute as deposed Labour politicians gather around him for the kill.
Murphy does not realise he took part in a people’s revolution from the wrong side of the palace gates.
Lame Labour and Lib-Dems
Clegg’s Lib-Dem party is decimated, same as Labour. They, like Labour, pay the price of uniting with the extreme-Right against the interests of Scotland, happy to show how they really treat ‘a valued part of the United Kingdom’, treated with disdain for generations.
How can the Tory party impose a non-SNP MP on Scotland as Secretary of State? The lion has roared in Scotland said Alex Salmond in his acceptance speech, which makes it very unsafe for a rookie Secretary of State with no whip or chair to enter the lion’s cage.
How can the Tory party impose any policy on Scotland faced with the will of the people. The best they can do is submit to the inevitable and begins talks to evolve a genuine federal state. Try and take Scotland out of the European Union against its will and all hell will break loose. At that point Nicola Sturgeon will be justified in responding to calls for another plebiscite on independence for Scotland.
The largest party
The SNP is now the third largest party at Westminster. That entitles the party to sit or accept chairmanships on many of the most influential select committees, including the Treasury, defence and foreign affairs.
It would also entitle Nicola Sturgeon’s party to have automatic speaking and tabling rights during Commons debates and at prime minister’s questions – putting it ahead of the Liberal Democrats for the first time in the party’s history.
As a large party it is eligible for state funds. Central government funding helps fund activities among constituents will increase in the SNP’s case up to £2 million, I think. (Don’t have figures in front of me.) Plus we attend commemorations, state events, that sort of thing, all high profile, no longer Scotland ignored.
One word on England’s racist party, Ukip. Farage won only one seat and it was not his. His thanks but no thanks speech tried to imply the English voted for the Tories because they are scared of Scotland. How gracious, and how typical to blame ‘foreigners.’ “I have never felt happier” for losing, says the loser. I hope he does not qualify for welfare. Either that or time to join his expats in Spain and order as much warm beer there as he can afford.
Celebration without triumphalism
Despite the Tories victory in England it cannot afford to indulge in triumphalism. They have only a few seats of a majority. That equals an unstable administration. In 1992 the bumbling John Major was put back in to Number 10 to his surprise. One Tory MP was heard to opine they ‘could do anything now” – which is exactly what many must be thinking now. Tony Blair swept them all away at the next election. Before that happened Major faced rebellion after rebellion, ‘those bastards’ from his own backbenchers. They made life hell for him. He simply could not govern. He carried no authority. Thatcher’s choice of successor was always a grave error of judgment. And he proved it with ease.
The Tories will try to stick to their manifesto commitments but are in for a hard lesson faced with so many SNP MPs on the opposition benches. Scotland’s soldiers did not turn back before they reached London.
The Queen will not be purring this time. She is hacking up a fur ball.
As for the BBC – the Tories want to emasculate that ‘great institution’ and the SNP no longer trust it. The BBC’s future is indeed very shaky. For once, Tory and SNP have a common cause, reorganisation of the BBC.
Back to work and reality for me and everybody else. Nicola Sturgeon demeaned and defamed almost before she uttered a word dubbed ‘the most dangerous woman in Britain.’ She has the backing of her nation. She has my full support.
What lies ahead for Scotland depends on how well the Tory party holds together – remember Cameron is disliked by some of his far-Right colleagues – and how well the SNP manage that den of iniquity that is the ‘mother of all parliaments.’
Nicola Sturgeon – to the victor the spoils
Grouse Beater 
I agree with you post GB, and you are correct that the real winners will be the people of Scotland, but only if we can hold together, The Tories really do not have any democratic mandate here but with a population they see as weak I do not think that will stop them trying.
I am looking forward to the most Dangerous Woman in Britain sending in her Storm Troopers, if they thought she was bad they have yet to meet the rest.
Yes, ‘the most dangerous woman’ almost forgot. Thanks, Hektor’s mum
“For me, the greatest delight was to see a thoroughly disreputable MP, Jim Murphy, enjoying a large majority get beaten by a twenty year-old student yet to finish her final exams. Mhairi Black is some sort of heroine.” Correction……….. Mhairi Black defeated Douglas Alexander not Jim Murphy!
You are however correct with the use of “disreputable” – how could you have any sort of good reputation when you don’t appear to even have enough moral fibre to fall own you sword?
Managed to fix that conflation one once I got the sleep out of eyes, and downed a cup of strong coffee. Many thanks. 🙂
Miss Black gave Oor Doogie a doin’, not Spud. She’s good but she can only get rid of one at a time.
Oh, I’ve a feeling she’ll reach cabinet level just as soon as she passes her university exams. 😉
Ace again GB.
I usually look for one quote or a wee one liner to pick out to use but there’s too many here. (Thumbs up thingy)
And it’s thumbs up thingy from me too. 🙂
Well I may be wrong, but in any event, all the SNP hero’s, including every last voter, have had a wee hand in sacking Murphy. He not only lost his own seat but lost the whole branch office. Now a lone Labour MP from Scotland is the only Establishment Labour representative left in Scotland. All that rep needs is a pay-as-you-go-mobile phone, a laptop computer and his bus fares.
Talking of which, don’t the Tory & Labour pair seem just like the Scottish Pandas?
Both trying to be good mates but never quite up to doing the job right.
Three comments from different people in England. Make of them what you will.
‘ I think what they meant when making all those promises was please stay in, just don’t expect or try to have any influence! Can’t believe you guys bought that load of shyte anyway! Turnaround the next day…’
‘SNP should put candidates up in England too.’
‘If you want a YES in your next referendum just allow the English to vote.’
Perhaps Tories should ditch an in-out EU referendum and switch it to ‘full independence for Scotland’ – a new treaty to be negotiated. The status quo of yesterday is dead.
Someone suggested that David Cameron will go the FFA road to keep the SNP out of Westminster to allow him to run England which will result in Independence in the end.
“The Queen will not be purring this time. She is hacking up a fur ball.”
A cracker of a line.
Totally agree with your views, on what has happened and what may happen. I’ve a feeling the Tories may offer home rule, as a way of “saving” the union but, cutting Labour of at the knees, ankle or neck. Though as you pointed out, Labour need to win in England to stand any chance of forming a government.
Interesting times ahead.
Events keep developing, Jim. Am having difficulty keeping up with changes to text!
Talking of Pandas, where is Bug the Panda these days! Didn’t see him join in festivities.
He was on Wings earlier on this morning. I think he may be away taking a small libation.
🙂
Well done everybody. Outstanding result. Onwards and upwards.
Thanks, Gerry. 🙂
Sorry, it was Mungins he was on.
🙂
http://munguinsrepublic.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/is-that-job-centre-margaret.html#comment-form
Nice wee start to my day GB.
Spent all night willing every SNP seat and dancing around my living room as Davidson, Curren et al got hammered. Dim Jim’s speech was a fantasy blah blah so reeking of hate i wanted to kick the telly. Then i realised he’s gone . Poof- a wee voice in the background that is easily ignored.
The next task is a landslide in the SE. With the tory’s and LIEbour a minority groups we have high hopes for independence. More and more folk will have woken today and seen through the the “Vote SNP get Tory ” lie.
Many will be angry that once again we suffer a tory govt . I cannot see this a anything more than a win win for the SNP. The cuts will come and the voters will march on. We want independence. Over the next year i feel the majority will agree. Interesting times ahead GB .
And thanks for the info on the short money. Never knew about that. More money and seats on commitees means we have a voice.
56 Seats GB . i am still kinda stunned . 🙂
Can’t demur from all that, Yes Guy. Chest cold or not I gave a roar of pleasure when Murphy went down, sent by the Beak to a life sentence of perpetual ignominy.
Thanks GB. You never fail to stir a primal, triumphant roar in me with these pieces. Interesting and challenging times do lie ahead, but this is another phase in the geopolitical divergence of the British Isles. Nothing will ever be the same again.
Very true. 🙂
You have to admit the Murphoid was right when he said he wouldn’t lose a single Labour seat. Although I suspect retaining a single seat may not have been what he expected.
Ah, Fate plays its hidden joker. 🙂
Supercalifragilisticlabourareatrocious!
What a RESULT.
My feeling is that SNP shouldn’t align themselves to an in-out on the EU,what if England stays in?
Let’s just let Cameron and his bunch do what they do well-totally fcuk up!
Call me paranoid but GE result looks iffy in England,then ofcourse the deep state smell is always around-Labour/Con evens with the polls but end up with 100 more MP’s than Labour.
Doesn’t mean they’re not out to get me,lol
Informative post gb, thanks
You’re welcome.
Taxi for Jim Murphy!
Good read as always GB
Here’s to the power of the people of Scotland
Montalbano for Secretary of State! 🙂
I think everything will be just fine.
I’m not about to be “governed responsibly” by some foreigner. I am a Scot and I an soveriegn and I’ve sent 56 of our nation’s finest south of the border to make my position clear.
What a wonderful time lies ahead of us.
Now correct me if I’m wrong but we Scots did not hold a gun to the English people’s heads and force them to vote for austerity, the privitisation of their health service and the endorsement of TTIP, did we?
I think they actually walked into the polling stations and did that all by themseleves. That’s their business. They are responsible for what they have done to themselves and they can pay the price.
It’s time for us to move on.
Good post.
One of the advantages of being oppressed is that you have no time or inclination to indulge precious illusions like royal babies being part of your extended family . As if…
To see Scotland waking up from her nightmare and sticking it to the spin factory of Westminster and the Citadel of London is so sweet. To witness celebrity lapdogs such as izzard the comical queen ,skulking back under a warm stone is even sweeter.
The king has no clothes , the queen has been dismissed and the people have spoken with a resounding voice against corruption ,nepotism and inbred pomposity .
Lets hope the same happens in Australia and everywhere else while there is still time to turn around this madness of corporate capture/feudalism and its acceptable face of cute cuddly royal
brats. Spam glam ! who needs that shiite ?
Time for a stiff single malt .
Malt is good, but since the idiot director of Perth’s fine distillery, Grouse whisky, exhorted us to vote No in the Referendum I’ve chosen my malts with greater care than before.
Those Panda’s now must have a wean.
We shall ponder the panda pandemonium that will ensue.