With next year's Council elections fast approaching there is a lot of speculation going on about which of the sitting Councillors will be stepping down, either through choice or because they face de-selection by their local parties.
We in Labour have not begun our selection process yet - the delay being down to the by-election caused by the sad passing of our colleague David Cairns. All of the sitting Councillors - with the exception of Iain McKenzie for obvious reasons - have indicated that we will be seeking re-selection. With a number of local party members already expressing an interest in standing there will certainly be competition for places. Hopefully we will have our candidates in place within the next few months.
None of the other parties have officially announced their candidates but the Lib Dems seem to have some in place already. It looks like a chap by the name of John Watson will be their candidate in Ward 1 to replace sitting Councillor Tom Fyfe. I heard at the weekend that long-time Lib Dem activist Robert Burns - who stood against me at the 2003 election in Ward 6 - will be the candidate in Ward 2.
Rumour has it that the other two Lib Dem sitting Councillors, Alan Blair and Ciano Rebecchi, will be calling it a day. There is speculation - I don't know how informed it is - that Ciano's wife, Diane, will be standing as an independent in Ward 6.
Speculation about the SNP is even more intriguing. The word in the Council buildings is that four of the five Councillors face de-selection with only Keith Brooks apparently having the support of local party members, although I am told that Keith is reluctant to stand again. Personally I would be surprised if this was the case but others certainly seem to know more about what is going on in the local SNP than I do.
There is also speculation that a number of independents are going to put their names forward, similar to in 2007, although I am not sure if they will be acting as an organised 'party' grouping this time.
The next nine months promises to be interesting.
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DEAR MR McCABE, THE SNP LOSING FOUR COUNCILLORS? YOU NEED TO GET YOUR FACTS FROM ELSEWHERE INSTEAD OF CHATS IN THE TEAROOM WITH DAVEY WILSON.
ReplyDeleteCouncillor Brooks is standing down from May.Jim Macleod is standing again and running for leader again.Innes Nelson is hoping for a new job.Chris Osborne is moving to Thailand.Jim Grieves is to become a taxi driver.
ReplyDeleteSNP candidates selection is based on a few issues,some internal some external but is not unconnected with Labour party candidate selection,which has been discussed at a variety of meetings and the SNP selection process .
ReplyDeleteA strategy is in place and the SNP have already identified potential labour candidates who may be selected,and are selecting based among other things on who their opposition may be.
There is a view in certain wards that Labour have better connections, and potential Labour candidates have already gained local leverage over the SNP councillors who are already in place.
I would have hoped candidates were selected on merit and potential and not Labour opposition. I do still think the SNP have the potential to win next years election and the fact your own party havent made selection gives the SNP a head start.
I will watch with interest on the outcome
David Felgate
Who are you David and what is your particular interest in this matter?
ReplyDeleteFirstly ,I am an SNP supporter from Greenock and also a union official in Govan. I have a close association with SNP members in Inverclyde and the West of Scotland and also have the ear of many local union members in Inverclyde.And this is were I get my information.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, My interest is for the proper representation for the people of Inverclyde and Scotland.
As a Greenock resident, and political theorist, I have watched closely the last three elections,who the main players are locally,who organise campaigns,who the main campaigners are and who we may see pitched against who in the future.
My reason for writing is ,I watch your blog among others closely.
In my opinion,I dont beleive that the selection procedures of the SNP should be based on the ability of your candidates,but I beleive that it is time for a new start within Inverclyde.An opportunity that was missed last month.
David Felgate
Just one more point,you seem to take a lot of things on here as having a go at you ,this was not my intention ,just looking at the facts and how I see them
ReplyDeleteDavid Felgate
Well the facts as I see them David are that the current group of SNP Councillors are not fit to run our local Council. So if you are looking for a new start within Inverclyde I would be interested to know where the new talent in the local SNP has been hiding. Give me some names that I might know.
ReplyDeleteI would also be interested to know how many seats you think the SNP will win next year and if they fall short of a majority who they would go into coalition with.
Also with regard to the missed opportunity last month: I would be interested to know why you think Labour secured such a comfortable victory only a few weeks after the SNP ran us so close in the Scottish Parliament election.
Is this whycouncillor Osborne has taken his blog offline
ReplyDeleteYou have an opinion that the SNP arent fit to run the council,but your own administration have made numerous wrong or controversial descisions,so people in glass houses.
ReplyDeleteInnes Nelson is more than capable of running the council along with Jim Mcleod,Chris Osborne has proved himself capable first time out ,maybe the others are a little suspect,but then again so are some of Labours councillors.
On the issue of seats, Depending on who is selected by the SNP and who you put up,I will give my opinion then on how many seats I think they will win.
Last months missed opportunity was down to the fact we put up the wrong candidate,simple as that.Which takes me back to my original point.
David Felgate
Give me a few examples of these "numerous wrong and controversial decisions" David.
ReplyDeleteAnd give me a few examples of where the SNP opposed decisions that we took.
Is Innes Nelson the same Innes Nelson that wants to build a bridge from Gourock to Dunoon? A true man of vision!
I have seen Innes, Jim and Chris at close quarters. Believe me: they are not up to the job. And by the way Innes is the least able of the three.
You said you think the SNP can win the election. To do so they need to win 11 seats: do you think they can do that?
So Anne was the wrong candidate was she?
Who chose her?
Who should have been the candidate?
If, as you say, the Labour-led Council has made numerous wrong and controversial decisions, why did the Leader of that Council win such a comfortable victory, getting well over 50% of the vote?
"I have seen Innes, Jim and Chris at close quarters. Believe me: they are not up to the job.- You really know how to burn bridges. Drop the nasty nonsense Stephen.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I reckon you and the SNP councillors can agree on is that Stuart McMillan is useless.
ReplyDeleteI know one of the SNP councillors with decades of experience and he tells me that Mr McMillan is not at all liked by him or his SNP workmates.
'A man with little between the ears and a knife to stab his party colleagues in the back' is how he has been described to me.
I do not know if you are familiar with him or if you agree with what has been reported about him.
Ellen
I didn't know there were any 'bridges' to burn - are you saying that the SNP would be interested in a coalition with us after the next election?
ReplyDeleteI will leave it to others to comment on Stuart, Ellen, I wouldn't want to be accused of being nasty!
Your very quick to have a go at other councillors ,but some of your own have never been up to the job. I dont expect you to publicly agree but one or two would find it difficult to find their way around their own ward.As for having a dig at possible lib/dem ward candidates, at least they have selected,word has it you will be rolling out sitting useless councillors and ex councillors for selection.
ReplyDeleteYou are entitled to your opinion.
ReplyDeleteRead my post again and tell me where I have had a dig at possible Lib Dem candidates.
The Lib Dems are now an irrelevance. Alan Blair and Nick Clegg have seen to that.
The SNP are the only real opposition to Labour in Inverclyde.
You will have to wait and see who we put up as candidates. I am confident however that we will have a strong team.
YOu are very quick to name names as to candidate selection ,as you have done with the lib/dem candidates and your slagging of others, Why dont you name your own candidates so we can judge them as quickly as you have done to others
ReplyDeleteDid you not read my post?
ReplyDeleteWe have not yet selected our candidates.
Update on the SNP - heard from a reliable source that Keith Brooks will not be standing again. Will miss the big man - always good for a laugh.
Dear Stephen
ReplyDeleteMy wife was reliably informed today that the owner of the post office on Cathcart Street in Greenock will be an SNP council candidate in the elections of next year.
Mr S. McMillan is good friends with this man and has asked him to stand.
I suspect that this is an attempt at building strategic alliances in the council for the future given that Mr S. McMillan is not rated by councillors or managers at the moment.
Yours
Kevin McGonagle
Wemyss Bay
Thanks for the information Kevin.
ReplyDeleteWith at least two of their candidates likely to be standing down they must be struggling for candidates.