Saturday 1 November 2008

Glenrothes

Earlier today I decided to go out for a drive. Perhaps inspired by this photo the silver Hyundai headed out on the A90, over the Bridge and into deepest Fife. Yes, I was on my way to Glenrothes.


Saltire
Originally uploaded by David Farrer

The first thing I noticed was the compete absence of posters on lampposts. Here in Edinburgh elections mean party posters on virtually every lamppost to be seen. I noticed the same phenomenon in Glasgow during the recent by-election over there. Turning off the main road I drove through the village of Cardenden, home place of Ian Rankin and, inevitably, Inspector Rebus. I saw one window poster - for the Labour candidate Lindsay Roy. That was your lot.

When I got to Glenrothes proper I had a wee drive round the town and then parked by the main shopping centre. I paid my £1 for all day parking and went into the overheated mall. You could have been anywhere in the UK judging by the shops. At the far end I did see a TV cameraman talking to a couple of press photographers but there was no sign of any action. Back nearer the car I spotted some yellow balloons outside. I was handed a leaflet, which contained an attack on "greedy bankers who bet everything on black and want bailed out when it comes up red." Aha! Some libertarians? Sadly no: they were from the Scottish Socialist Party, and also called for "free" school meals, "free" public transport and "free" prescriptions. "Free" at the point of consumption I presume. Where's Adam Smith when you need him?

Then I spoke to a lady at the SNP stand.

"How's it going," I asked.

"Fine, and you are?"

"David Farrer, I blog at Freedom and Whisky."

"And I'm one of your readers, she replied"!

It turned out that I was speaking with Tricia Marwick, the local MSP.

I was told that the lamppost laws are different in Fife. We chatted about the campaign and also about the American election. Obama reminded Tricia of Tony Blair. That wasn't a compliment. I defended Sarah Palin on the gun question and was reminded that politicians here haven't yet realised that crime goes down when law-abiding folk are armed...

Ms Marwick pointed me in the direction of Markinch, which is a pleasant little village on the edge of Glenrothes itself. There I found the SNP headquarters. I parked the car and just walked right in. It occurred to me that I'd have been shot by now had I been at the Obama or McCain campaign offices without an appointment. After explaining that I was a blogger, a media lady was called to speak to me. We had a nice chat and I heard that there was no sign of any "Brown Bounce" in Glenrothes following his recent career move to become saviour of the world's finances. Quite the opposite, if anything.

I was told that there was to be a "photo opportunity" in the nearby Carlton Cafe and that I was free to go along. I sat down and ordered a coffee. A few minutes later in walked Peter Grant, the SNP candidate, together with the First Minister himself. They sat down at the next table where they had a televised and photographed chat with two "switching" voters. A small group of protesters were also in the Carlton and they were objecting to the SNP's lack of funding for their group. Salmond offered to talk to them later. After taking a few photos, I left.

Afterwards it occurred to me how lucky we are that an unknown member of the public can walk right into an election campaign office, without producing any ID, and then sit in a public cafe at the table next to the country's First Minister with no vetting whatsoever.

Of course, the young mother and father with the two children at the table to my right were probably from the SAS...


Alex Salmond
Originally uploaded by David Farrer


Peter Grant
Originally uploaded by David Farrer

1 comment:

David Farrer said...

Comments made on previous template:

Liberty Belle
I didn't write this piece, but it is the best post I have read in a long time. I am sharing it with my readers, I'm passing it along to you. It is pure mind candy. One commenter wrote: 
 
If this were an essay on economics, it would be the best essay on economics I’ve read in a year or more. 
 
If this were an essay on social structures, it would be the best essay on social structures I’ve read on a year or more. 
 
If this were an essay on conservative versus reformer mindsets, it would be the best essay on *that* that I’ve read in a year or more. 
 
In fact, it was all three of those things, and I’m frankly stunned at how excellently you’ve made so many points in such a short space. 
 
Bravo. 
 
http://beetlebabee.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/jane-galt-a-libertarian-view/

19 November 2008, 19:39:24 GMT
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jameshigham
Nice to be well known, David.

6 November 2008, 12:52:03 GMT
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Andrew Duffin
Umm, I think "defend them from who" is correct. 
 
Defend is an intransitive verb, hence the need for the "from". Therefore it can't have an object. 
 
Or something. 
 
I need to consult my consulting pedant.

4 November 2008, 12:33:06 GMT
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Ahoyhoy
Sorry, should have written "Defend them from whom? 
 
People can be oddly critical of grammatical errors online.

2 November 2008, 19:05:44 GMT
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Ahoyhoy
Well they are the SNP - it is not like the British state is going to go out of its way to defend them! 
 
Defend them from who?

2 November 2008, 19:04:39 GMT
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Patrick
I think that says a lot that there weren't any Labour campaigners out there.

2 November 2008, 13:13:47 GMT
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David Farrer
Patrick 
 
I didn't see any. The SNP lady told me that ZNL were concentrating on their core voter areas in the older settlements nearer the coast. The Scottish new towns like Glenrothes proper have always been quite good for the SNP.

2 November 2008, 12:32:30 GMT
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Patrick
Very interesting! Did you talk to Labour campaigners as well?

2 November 2008, 11:09:58 GMT
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vavatch
Well they are the SNP - it is not like the British state is going to go out of its way to defend them! 
 
Be interesting to try the same hting at the labour campaign headquarters.

1 November 2008, 21:45:21 GMT
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Bill (Scotland)
Afterwards it occurred to me how lucky we are that an unknown member of the public can walk right into an election campaign office, without producing any ID, and then sit in a cafe at the next table to the country's First Minister with no any vetting whatsoever. 
 
It seems perfectly normal to me; it's the maniacal security checking that is completely abnormal. Long may the current situation continue!

1 November 2008, 19:24:02 GMT