Forum Topic

2 Peas in a pod ?

At last year's council elections, Labour accused the ICG and the Tories of being like 'two peas in a pod', following the 2006-2010 coalition. Now we learn that Labour has gone into a coalition with the Tories on Stirling Council in Scotland - does this mean Labour and the Tories are as alike as two peas in a pod?

Ian Speed ● 3869d3 Comments

True, the current Lab poll ratings in Scotland are pretty dire, and it's not clear whether they'll recover much or at all before May.Trouble is, Labour did the right thing over the referendum because (like me) they are strongly committed to keeping the UK together. This meant them teaming up with the Tories and gave an opening for the SNP to spin that Lab and Con are the same and will likely form a national coalition - and as you probably know the Tories aren't exactly flavour of the month North of the border!They now have a new leader who by all accounts is a formidable politician (even if he's a bit too New Lab for my taste) so we live in hope :-)

Guy Lambert ● 3868d

Apologies Guy, I should have researched this as it looked like a current story posted up on Facebook, in conjunction with the recent Guardian article. Mind you, it doesn't seem to have done Labour any good in Scotland, does it, judging from the current poll ratings?

Ian Speed ● 3869d

You haven't been paying attention, Ian - that coalition has been in place since 2012, as has a Con/Lab coalition in Aberdeen (though only one of the 3 Tories there has stayed a Tory).I'd take some convincing that this is an acceptable idea but given the fact that Scottish local elections are on a PR (Single Transferable Vote) system, and that the Tories in Scotland came a weak fourth in the 2012 elections, different rules apply!

Guy Lambert ● 3869d