One of Labour's problems is outside London & other cities they're often seen as a bunch of "out of touch" Islingtonites, as well as having to fight the Daily Afraid machine in terms of image. I mean, the fact Miliband was often seen both as a "Red Tory" in Scotland, but a Communist in England, shows the press are still powerful in reinforcing & shaping opinion. Murdoch, Desmond, the Rothermeres etc would have a tough task in trying to smear a "war hero" from up Norf.
Thats true , Labour is seen as "Red Tories " in Scotland , "there not a fag paper between them " etc , indeed Miliband and Balls , did advocate a deficit reduction programme a bit "slower " , than what the Blue Tories are going to exceute .
We have already had a Coaltion version of "austerity ", and we all seem to have survived ,
Scotland is pretty much like most of the UK outside London , a post industrial economy propped up by large public sector spend and a fair % of "economically inactive " .
So all public sector cuts threaten them directly , hence the surge towards SNP , advocating more borrowing and less pain .
(except for the private sector , the self employed , they can like it or lump it )
As a Scots Tory , I am absolutely delighted by the GE , the party has the mandate to finish the job , cut the bone , introduce workfare , and have a debate on Europe .
Meanwhile the SNP will have to raise their own tax , and apportion failry amongst the people , 1. 6 million Scots voted for independence , we will soon see how many want to do more work and pay more tax , to pay for it .
Will go down like a lead balloon in the "YES" strongholds . of Dundee and Glasgow , or as I call them the "Favelas ".
I been 12 years on ebay and had 1000's of sales and I trust people more than ever now
