Robbie Dinwoodie in the Herald, 27 th November 1998.
| 'The most significant indication after today's count will be the percentage spread of the vote. Dr Macartney gained almost 43% last time, more than 14% ahead of Labour on 28.4%. Labour were 10% ahead of the Tories, who were 10% ahead of the LibDems. The gap between SNP and Labour will therefore attract most scrutiny.' Robbie Dinwoodie in the Herald, 27 th November 1998. | |
The average turnout in European by-elections in recent years has been just over 19%, and, although yesterday's poll was expected to beat that, there were fears that it would not do so by much, particularly with the voters' roll being near the end of its life.
As a result, although the SNP remain firm favourites to retain the seat, the plunge in turnout from almost 38% in the full European elections in 1994 was likely to slash their majority. The late Dr Allan Macartney gained a majority of more than 30,000 then. His election agent, Ian Hudghton, the leader of Angus Council, who carries the party flag at this by-election, has clocked up almost 6000 miles in the last three weeks traversing one of Britain's largest European constituencies.
The Labour challenger is Kathleen Walker Shaw, a union official in Brussels. For the Tories, Struan Stevenson is standing, while the Liberal-Democrats' candidate is Keith Raffan, a former Tory MP who defected. There are two other candidates - Harvey Duke, for the Scottish Socialist Party, and Robin Harper for the Greens.
The most significant indication after today's count will be the percentage spread of the vote. Dr Macartney gained almost 43% last time, more than 14% ahead of Labour on 28.4%. Labour were 10% ahead of the Tories, who were 10% ahead of the LibDems.
The gap between SNP and Labour will therefore attract most scrutiny. - Nov 27
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