leyton.org

I really didn’t really expect to find my weblog becoming somewhat Nicola Sturgeon focused in the space of a week, but a series of events has occurred which have made it impossible for a blogger like me to ignore her.

Last week, of course, I was trying to avoid her. Then, just yesterday, she knocked on my door and managed to turn a few of my preconceptions and anti-SNP considerations upside-down.

Today, a third installment. I was checking through my spam mailbox to find where a test contact e-mail had gone, and my eye was caught by an e-mail purporting to be From Nicola. It was misclassified by my normally very accurate spam filter (It’s probably struggling to keep up with my opinions this week!). Sure enough, it was from Nicola, who had somehow stumbled on my weblog despite having been out on the stump all day. She had nice things to say, and I’ve sent her a response which I hope she’ll find interesting.

So you have to hand it to her - she’s proving persistent! To good effect too, because as I researched my e-mail reply to her I continue to think that for the local MSP vote she has become - from no consideration of the SNP at all - a serious possibility for my vote.

It’s worth emphasising that this is regarding a first past the post system vote, and a look at the previous results indicate it’s a straight fight between Labour and the SNP. I’m decidedly unimpressed that the Labour candidate seems to remain a practising barrister. Whilst there’s something to be said for outside and past interests keeping representatives in tune with voters, national politics is something I’d prefer they focused on. And that’s even before I get on to specific policies, which have been decidedly lacking from his party.

She’s also stood in both previous elections as the Govan candidate. Whilst she is on the national list too, and as such as good as guaranteed she’ll be returned through that route if she fails in Govan, it’s admirable she has returned to fight this particular seat each time. Sure, it’s marginal, but it’s good to know she is determined to win specific area, and has been so visible during the campaign so far. I’ve seen nothing of any of the other candidates beyond a few fliers through the door.

My decision not to vote Labour is, I think, firm on all counts: local MSP and regional. I’ve been decidedly unimpressed with the vigour and enthusiasm with which they have governed in the three years I’ve been living here, and their campaign is more about the SNP than distinctive policies of their own (See their campaign page if you don’t believe me!). And even their manifesto reads more like a bureaucratic committee output than an enthusiastic pitch for the next four years of Scotland governance.

Perhaps I’m being naive to expect enthusiasm and energy in a campaign manifesto, but there’s bucket loads more of it from the SNP, than Labour.

Of course, the local MSP vote is just one part of the choice I have to make. I also have regional candidates, as well as Glasgow council. It’s complicated stuff, but it’s exciting too. Across Scotland a recent poll shows a 50% of voters remain undecided, so this election is a long way from over, nationally as well as for me.

Whilst I still need to give the other candidates a good look over, but for this one individual voter, Nicola Sturgeon has managed to achieve a great deal in turning my opinions around and make me much more sympathetic to an SNP vote. And rest assured, nobody is more surprised by this turn of event than me.