Not in my name

In response to the Yes Scotland website scam, the campaign has issued the following statement:

“YesScotland.net is open to all people who want to find out about the many benefits of an independent Scotland, including 15,000 supporters who have already signed the Yes Declaration and followers, people of ‘independent mind’, who are not counted as supporters, and who have connected with Yes Scotland through our website, Facebook page or twitter account simply to find out more.”

I, and many other people who work or are interested in politics, follow Nick Griffin on Twitter – but it doesn’t mean I want a picture of myself on the front page of the BNP website implying I am a supporter.

As Euan McColm points out, this is dishonest in the extreme. Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie has condemned it in the following terms:

“They tried to rig the referendum, now they are rigging the website.

“Following an individual or group on Twitter should not be misrepresented as support.

“The Yes Scotland website fails to make this distinction and implies that everyone who follows the campaign supports the campaign.

“This is an underhanded way to pad out numbers to make it look like more people support the break-up of the UK than is actually the case.”

The Yes Scotland team have to explain how they differentiate between ‘supporters’ and ‘followers’ as this is not clear on their website. Many people are angered that their name has been used in such a misleading way. They deserve an apology.

This is a another blow to the campaign after a launch that political commentator David Torrance described as “frayed around the edges.”

Labour leak… again

Anyone who works in a large organisation will be aware of the pitfalls of distribution lists. Hit the wrong button and your email, which was supposed to discreetly point out that a colleague’s choice of office attire is an affront to fashion, can be sent to everyone from the boss to the tea lady.

And so it is in the Scottish Parliament that these everyday issues glean a political edge. Hit the wrong button and your carefully crafted political strategy is transmitted to your opponents in a blink of an eye. Now, Drew Smith’s email may not have outlined Labour’s political strategy, but it is an embarrassing mishap coming just days after leaked Labour emails over the budget vote at Westminster.

Note to self: triple check recipients from now on!

The email exchange that was sent to the entire Scottish Parliament this morning.

From: Gray I (Iain), MSP
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 10:46 AM
To: Smith D (Drew), MSP; DL MSPs LAB
Cc: DL Labour Support Unit; DL MSP Researchers
Subject: RE: Mark McDonald, voting against a budget

Drew,

Also this exchange which I thought I remembered.

Willie Rennie: If Kenneth Gibson welcomes those initiatives, why did SNP MPs at Westminster vote against them?
Kenneth Gibson: We must look at the budget in the round. If Mr Rennie listens to the rest of my speech, he might hear that.

Iain

PS Mr McD does not appear to know what a dichotomy is either…….

From: Smith D (Drew), MSP
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 10:39 AM
To: DL MSPs LAB
Cc: DL Labour Support Unit; DL MSP Researchers
Subject: Mark McDonald, voting against a budget

Colleagues, may have heard Kez referring to Mark McDonald in closing the budget debate yesterday.  Given that Mr McDonald likes to parrot the SNP line in the Chamber that Labour have voted against apprenticeships, street lighting, apple pie and every other positive aspect of government spending because we haven’t supported various SNP budgets.  Members may find it useful to point out his assertion that the SNP are entitled to welcome specific aspects of the UK budget while rejecting the overall package, should they encounter an intervention on this subject in a future debate.

Mark McDonald (North East Scotland) (SNP): Let us knock on the head a false dichotomy—the claim that somehow we do not support certain measures in the budget. We have recognised that there are some welcome measures contained deep within the budget that relate to, for example, the computer games industry and the offshore sector in my region. Admittedly, they reverse damage that was done before. It is a bit like a person thanking the man who has turned up at their door with a couple of buckets of water, but who had set fire to their house in the first place.

Drew

Drew Smith MSP

A new voice for Glasgow

 

 

Yours maybes aye, maybes naw

Lovers of grammar everywhere, look away now.

I post this Scottish Conservative email to party members in full, warts and all. I sincerely hope that Ruth did not actually write this herself.

Yours aye, naw, maybe.

G

Dear Colleague,

I wanted to write to you before our Conference this week to let you know about the great progress we are making as a party heading into the important local government election.

As you will be aware, in 2010, Lord Sanderson of Bowden carried out a forensic examination of the Party’s fitness for purpose with his Commission. The Report he produced, Building for Scotland, was a blueprint for future success and the full engagement of the grassroots of the Party.  I am delighted to announce that of the 88 areas of recommendation in the Report we have now implemented, or are in the process of implementing, 73.  At our Conference we will elect the new Management Board who can then get on with the job of completing the final 15 recommendations.

With regard to policy, we have already pushed ahead with the launch of proper policy discussions for members, engagement with third parties, think tanks and practitioners as well as ensuring we have proper debate at conference about the issues that really matter to Scots. 

On membership, we have launched a major membership recruitment campaign which will continue throughout the year, but has already added more than 2,000 members to our party from our position a few months ago during the leadership election. 

On party organisation, we have elected 3 excellent Regional Conveners, who will ensure that we are reaching out to be a party of all of Scotland.  We have appointed 2 Regional Campaign Managers and are in the process of appointing a third – to succeed we must be a potent campaigning force once more.

The changes and improvements will continue beyond May’s elections and throughout the year and I will keep you updated with our progress.

However, in the short term, look out for a number of exciting announcements this week – not least on Friday with the launch of our Friends of the Union Group.  I hope to see as many of you as possible in Troon as well as in the coming months as I continue to promote the party across Scotland.

Yours aye,

Ruth

Leader

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party