tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post2277483660560714274..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Scottish Media Establishment Hiding Bad Labour Poll?Iain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-74590577921560740372007-04-24T23:22:00.000+01:002007-04-24T23:22:00.000+01:00I hear The Herald is to publish a phony poll just ...I hear The Herald is to publish a phony poll just before the elections to sway people away from the SNP.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-446487357414132382007-04-19T21:00:00.000+01:002007-04-19T21:00:00.000+01:00Could it be that this idea of a high number of "do...Could it be that this idea of a high number of "don't knows" is the cover story for getting it so "wrong?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-22173238656359718082007-04-19T16:54:00.000+01:002007-04-19T16:54:00.000+01:00As the real Brian Howat from Newsquest Herald Time...As the real Brian Howat from Newsquest Herald Times I would like to point out that the earlier post was not from me.<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/><BR/>Brian HowatAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-85497923978038134802007-04-18T15:26:00.000+01:002007-04-18T15:26:00.000+01:00I'm sorry to see the Herald reduced to the same le...I'm sorry to see the Herald reduced to the same level as the Daily Record.<BR/>The press in Scotland is biased to the core and the worrying thing for them is that despite their denials most of us are quite prepared to believe that they would bury a poll that did not suit their Labour masters.<BR/>I am not as optimistic as some that all will be well ,if the Herald is prepared to stoop as low as this what are we going to get from the tabloids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-26914089669314071692007-04-18T12:49:00.000+01:002007-04-18T12:49:00.000+01:00This will be the one you asked to be redone Brian ...This will be the one you asked to be redone Brian no doubt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-7673674979207122302007-04-18T10:10:00.000+01:002007-04-18T10:10:00.000+01:00I would like to correct some inaccuracies within t...I would like to correct some inaccuracies within this article. As Research Manager for Herald & Times Group, I can assure you all that we have only results from one poll and those results were first published on Friday 6th April. We do have a second poll in field with results expected around the 25th April.<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/><BR/>Brian HowatAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-11554761745111327752007-04-17T23:14:00.000+01:002007-04-17T23:14:00.000+01:00I'm usually a pretty pessimistic/realistic SNP sup...I'm usually a pretty pessimistic/realistic SNP supporter. I have been proven right at election after election. However, I've been out canvassing today, and I'm beginning to feel a twitch of a smile at the corner of my downturned mouth - the canvassing returns are astonishingly good. The SNP might just do it. I would guess just over 40 seats, a couple of seats ahead of Labour.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14006519022440250862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-32302707596076326182007-04-17T20:22:00.000+01:002007-04-17T20:22:00.000+01:00Labour are absolutely shafted in Scotland thanks t...Labour are absolutely shafted in Scotland thanks to a combination of near-universal hatred of Bliar (and his Iraq war in particular), a widespread feeling that the Scottish Parliament is not quite delivering, an outstanding SNP campaign led by Salmond, and the most incompetent Labour campaign in memory. Add to this a warm fuzzy feeling that the independence thing may not be so bad after all, as there will be a referendum (plenty of time for cold feet) and, as there is a Scottish Parliament and a European Union in any case, what will the difference be?<BR/><BR/>There is a west coast Labour media clique with fingers in all sorts of pies - just witness what happened with McConnell and Wark holidaying together. Far more sinister was the Sunday Mail's unearthing of the romp story regarding Angus MacNeil, portrayed as taking place on Shetland when it apparently occured on Orkney at a bash with other political figures present (inclding McConnell). I reckon the MacNeil story was common gossip in Holyrood, and the dire predicament of Labour vs SNP (and some schadenfreude over smearing the man who called in Yates of the Yard) outweighed the risk of tit-for-tat revelations of other snippets of gossip best kept from the unwashed electorate.<BR/><BR/>I am enjoying every minute and my "vote SNP" poster is in the window. This should take the shine off Bliar's leaving tour somewhat!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-83296976535159135252007-04-17T19:27:00.000+01:002007-04-17T19:27:00.000+01:00The SNP are second to labour in most seats. I thin...The SNP are second to labour in most seats. I think they are second in about 40 seats accross scotland. polling day being anything like this would result in an SNP landslide.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-65186636106149225802007-04-17T17:56:00.000+01:002007-04-17T17:56:00.000+01:00In how many of these seats are the SNP in second p...In how many of these seats are the SNP in second place, though? And in how many would even a large swing to the SNP from Labour actually let in a Tory or a Liberal?<BR/><BR/>Incidentally, Iain and others might like to learn that the introduction of STV for local elections in Scotland has led to the paying off of (mostly Labour) Councillors of 30 or 40 years standing, to the tune of tens of thousands of pounds, as if they had been made reduntant or taken early retirement from normal (rather well-paid) jobs, while plans are now afoot to put Councillors in Scotland on salaries of twenty grand or more.David Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06839882674758833524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-59668089799547553052007-04-17T17:44:00.000+01:002007-04-17T17:44:00.000+01:00The word on the street is that Laboour is going to...The word on the street is that Laboour is going to lose BIG in Scotland. There is panic in the ranks in central Scotland and what were thought to be safe labour seats look as if they are tumbling to the SNP.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-11211004907311353712007-04-17T17:27:00.000+01:002007-04-17T17:27:00.000+01:0021% unknown or won't vote? So is the turn out goin...21% unknown or won't vote? So is the turn out going to be 79% - hah, hah. As Cernig suggests with their avatar - pigs might fly. Luke Akehurst is linking to some polls that show Labour top and are possibly conducted by non-lightweights.Chris Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679067503215414300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-54918249868931404562007-04-17T16:44:00.000+01:002007-04-17T16:44:00.000+01:00I have this on excellent authority: Lab 40, SNP 38...I have this on excellent authority: Lab 40, SNP 38, Lib Dem 21, Con 20, Green 7, Solidarity 2, and Margo McDonald re-elected. Apparently, the polls don't take account of local variations, notably where a swing from Labour to the SNP would let in a Liberal or a Tory. Nor do they take account of the fact that the regional top-up lists are precisely that: regional, not national.David Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06839882674758833524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-4552217770992362802007-04-17T16:03:00.000+01:002007-04-17T16:03:00.000+01:00Hero, I suspect the discrepancy in the poll and th...Hero, I suspect the discrepancy in the poll and the fact they're working with a new polling company explains the shelving. That's not to justify why they ran the first poll, more to explain why they don't want any more egg on their faces than they've got.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, who believes 'em anyway?Richard Havershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309594787689405779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-82030138392659179812007-04-17T15:59:00.000+01:002007-04-17T15:59:00.000+01:00They have been asked to do another poll and this t...They have been asked to do another poll and this time to get the answers rightAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-915342200735171572007-04-17T13:55:00.000+01:002007-04-17T13:55:00.000+01:00Here's a wee update... The Herald editor Charles M...Here's a wee update... The Herald editor Charles McGhee dumped its traditional pollster, TNS System 3 on cost grounds, and hired a largely unknown and inexperienced market research company, mruk.<BR/><BR/>The first poll from them a couple of weeks ago, bucked the opinion poll trends by suggesting Labour was ahead of the SNP by 6%. This gave McGhee tons of ammunition to use against the SNP (in accordance with Gordon Brown's wishes who apparently telephones The Herald daily to agree (or issue) lines to take.<BR/><BR/>Only the second poll which has come out did not continue the Labour lead - quite the opposite in fact. So embarrassed at this result, the poll has been shelved.<BR/><BR/>Now, considering McGhee has been a bit of hatchet man, staffers are not happy with the editorial team and, therefore, surprise surprise, the poll results have been leaked!<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, American owners, Newsquest/Gannett, have been made aware by a letter-writing campaign by a dedicated group of Nats incensed at the increasingly partisan reporting of events.<BR/><BR/>Whatever happended to newspapers reflecting the views of its readers? Ok that's a joke. There is only freedoom of newspaper ownership in this country, not freedom of speech.Tartan Herohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02349865980640474307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-54055524040196004492007-04-17T13:43:00.000+01:002007-04-17T13:43:00.000+01:00The Herald a Labour paper? hahahahahahaJust shows ...The Herald a Labour paper? hahahahahaha<BR/><BR/>Just shows how little you numpties know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23125083940159388742007-04-17T12:05:00.000+01:002007-04-17T12:05:00.000+01:00I am a leftie SNPite but let me be ungrudging. Gol...I am a leftie SNPite but let me be ungrudging.<BR/><BR/> Goldie has a sense of humour, lacks any notion of self importance, and plugs away. With her you get what you see.<BR/><BR/>Pity about her politics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-578962296368495632007-04-17T11:31:00.000+01:002007-04-17T11:31:00.000+01:00Even if Lab, Tories and Lib Dems were to form a Un...Even if Lab, Tories and Lib Dems were to form a Unionist coalition (and remember Annabel Goldie has ruled out a coalition already), then it would only have a majority of 2 on this opinion poll... with SNP and Greens as the only opposition. It would be the death knell for Unionists everywhere.. and probably only last 2 weeks.Tartan Herohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02349865980640474307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-28413316651433348062007-04-17T11:29:00.000+01:002007-04-17T11:29:00.000+01:00The Herald is on very thin melting ice by their bl...The Herald is on very thin melting ice by their blatant support of Labour. They lifted a scurrilous touch, feel and tell non-story about an SNP MP and yet according to the "Ecosse" section of The Sunday Times" 15 April, 2007, journalist Lorna Martin is on the verge of revealing all about her affair with a high profile married journalist, who may very well be employed by The Herald. What's that saying about people in glass houses - they shouldn't take baths?Gallowgaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07527857641147062094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23501144048022567762007-04-17T11:09:00.001+01:002007-04-17T11:09:00.001+01:0021% don't knows. Their last poll said 50% still to...21% don't knows. Their last poll said 50% still to decide.<BR/><BR/>If, as this poll suggests, they are breaking to the SNP then Labour would want this well and truly buried.<BR/><BR/>It's incredible that the 4th estate has come to this. Why did they become journalists in the first place? To sweep away Labour's garbage?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-11232724136414435202007-04-17T11:09:00.000+01:002007-04-17T11:09:00.000+01:00Well this must be a first - the media establishmen...Well this must be a first - the media establishment sitting on a bad story for the benefits of their friends. Never ever in all my years heard of something like this!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-20047676231597848082007-04-17T10:37:00.000+01:002007-04-17T10:37:00.000+01:00Annabel Goldie is having a great campaign up in Sc...Annabel Goldie is having a great campaign up in Scotland, that has been the biggest surprise for some. Alex Salmond as expected as a show man politician doing well, but oh dear Jack McConnell and Nicol Stephen are hopeless. <BR/>Am enjoying the way the leftie press up here have been forced to give her grudging respect for this!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-74058906281460678292007-04-17T10:11:00.000+01:002007-04-17T10:11:00.000+01:00I get the impression that the Scottish press hold ...I get the impression that the Scottish press hold to a general editorial bias against the SNP which is largely one of lack of proper coverage in comparison to Labour and the Lib Dems. <BR/><BR/>As a by the way, last night's Scottish Labour PPB was just a bash the SNP deal from the first seconds of the broadcast. They claimed throughout that the SNP would cost every adult an extra £5000 p.a. in taxes. (Nice round figure, isn't it?)<BR/><BR/>Labour is running scared in Scotland and clearly, right out of ideas.Wrinkled Weaselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05291551539649118631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-41509604196712668612007-04-17T09:58:00.000+01:002007-04-17T09:58:00.000+01:00nonsense this poll is from the press and journal s...nonsense this poll is from the press and journal so will be a regional north east poll which is a bit like the tories doing poll in the south east of england.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com