My constituency borders Scotland and I have spent a great deal of the last 18 months in Scotland campaigning for the Union, against the SNP and helping the Scottish Conservative Party find its voice again in places as far afield as Aberdeen, Argyll, Fife and the Borders. What happens in Scotland affects us in Northumberland...and its politics is very interesting.
At the same time, since September 18 Labour support is declining. SNP lost the Referendum and yet the polls show they are doing well; the Scottish Conservatives are in second place and see support growing, with Ruth Davidson energised and the lone voice of fiscal responsibility; and, with a General Election less than 200 days away, the Scottish labour Party is considering who to choose to be their next leader. At present Jim Murphy is a Westminster MP, albeit everyone is clamouring for him to return to Scottish Politics and confront the SNP.
The Spectator has a great assessment of the situation:http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/10/scotland-needs-jim-murphy-even-if-he-doesnt-want-to-go-back-there/
The most interesting thing for me is consideration of Jim Murphy's present role: he was the manager of David Miliband’s leadership campaign and Murphy has paid the price. He was the best Shadow Minister during his time as shadow defence secretary. His demotion was to shadow international development; for my part I do not regard that as a job worth giving up if he truly believed Labour could win the General Election. Putting it bluntly, if Labour were to win the election I would want good men and women in the Cabinet. Losing Murphy to Scotland would energise Scottish labour [as I am sure he would win the leadership] and help halt the march of the SNP, but the UK will miss the David Miliband / Jim Murphy types if Labour were to win the UK General Election. This country needs intelligent centre left Labour Party politicians, and they are becoming ever fewer on the ground. Like I said, interesting times.
