So it is to be Friday that we know for sure who the SNP candidate for the Glasgow NE by-election will be.
I reckon this end of the week selection will add an extra energy to the National Launch on Saturday and of course there will be increased media attention given the events of the past week or two so whether one thinks it's the second, third or fifth candidate that is under the spotlight, you can't buy the kind of coverage that he or she will attract.
I had assumed that there would be a bit more added to the story in one of the papers today but the papers are a bit light on Springburn stories. So far any progress in creating another shortlist or vetting a sole candidate has been kept under wraps successfully well.
I see Anne McLaughlin MSP has in no uncertain terms put paid to the notion that she might stand and apparently (via the Daily Record) I've heard that David Kerr is "very keen" to proceed with his nomination so my prediction could well be out the window.
I remain concerned that if no local candidates were willing to step forward in the first selection contest then why would one step forward in the second. This leads to a bit of 'key man dependency' pressure on Mr Kerr but, if the rumours are true that he is keen to see this through, then that's great news.
With the deadline now closed for candidates it will be on to the vetting today and tomorrow before Friday's announcement.
Carla in bronze
4 minutes ago
6 comments:
OFF TOPIC BUT
The Tories in the European Parliament have just elected some off the wall right wing Pole with a whiff of anti semitism about him as theĆr group leader.
SNP should hit them first with this. Is Annabel happy?
Good blog post. Will be interesting to see what happens! Especially since the last by-election was mired in allegations of fraud. Wonder how many postal votes will be cast in Glasgow North East?
There is a competition about the Glasgow North East by-election on this site: http://www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/electionpurity/?p=881
You should check it out.
Thanks Anon, well worth a post in its own right.
And thank you Shirin, I try my best!
It would be interesting to guess-timate what the postal vote numbers should be.
After a Glenrothes and Erith and Thamestead, it's not unreasonable to be suspicious.
The line that the Tories have somehow got into bed with some nasties doesn't really strike me as a winner.
I mean, the SNP are in a European party alongside New Flemish Alliance. The leader of NVA has not only been photographed alongside Le Pen, but has also made negationist statements, supportative of the officials who sent Jews to concentration camps during the second world war.
A whiff of anti-semitism? This one stinks.
It will now be on to the vetting? Kind of lost me there Jeff. I assume that if David Kerr is going forward again then he has already been vetted prior to the last selection meeting.
Candidates are not usually permitted to go forward to selection meetings without being vetted.
Any vetting will presumably therefore only be of any new hats in the ring.
You've answered your own question SP, I expect there will be one or two new candidates. We've seen the damage 'coronations' did to Gordon and Wendy. That said, given Kerr is now the clear favourite I wouldn't rule out some extra vetting there too.
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