Scottish Labour’s Michael Shanks has won the Rutherglen and Hamilton West byelection in an overwhelming victory over the SNP that the party leadership declared “seismic”, and a clear demonstration that Scotland could lead the way in delivering a Labour government at Westminster at the coming general election.

In a result that exceeded Scottish Labour expectation, Shanks beat his closest rival, the SNP’s Katy Loudon, by 17,845 votes to 8,399 – a majority of 9,446 and a resounding swing of over 20%.

  • fruitleatherpostcard@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    It’s a good point. The thing is that I did not, and still do not see the economic argument for a rational independence. Which is a pity. Perhaps with renewable energy there might be some sort of basis.

    The biggest shame, IMHO, is that the Tories are so toxic and greedy that they have fucked up the ENTIRE UK which could otherwise be a great and productive union. There could be ‘enough to go round’ and create unity rather than embittered divisions.

    • frog 🐸@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      The biggest shame, IMHO, is that the Tories are so toxic and greedy that they have fucked up the ENTIRE UK which could otherwise be a great and productive union. There could be ‘enough to go round’ and create unity rather than embittered divisions.

      Beautifully said! It’s Tory mismanagement that’s ruined the entire UK, and I reckon with an actual decent government that promites genuine unity and fairness, would render independence unnecessary and undesirable.

        • frog 🐸@beehaw.org
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          1 year ago

          Me too. I wish I could make it happen. Or, you know, that I could give you the ability to make it happen. Either is good. I wish we had a system where people that want to make things better actually stood a chance of getting somewhere, instead of those who are only in it for themselves.

    • butterypowered@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      Not that I particularly want to open this can of worms here, but I’m pretty sure that Scotland has more resources than a lot of lim independent European countries. Colossal amounts of renewables potential, oil (just don’t burn it), whisky, tourism, etc.

      I agree about there being enough to go round. Unfortunately I don’t think the Conservatives or Labour are interested in that model, and FPTP elections are never going away at Westminster.