Earth moved for Alex Salmond as SNP claim 'extinction' of Labour

guardian.co.uk

guardian.co.uk 26-Jul-2008

Newly elected Scottish National Party MP for the Glasgow east constituency John Mason walks with his deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon and leader Alex Salmond as they arrive for a post election press conference. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Alex Salmond had predicted that Glasgow East would be a "test of strength", and yesterday he strutted under the white awning of a shopping centre in Easterhouse like the victorious manager of a showground prizefighter. Basking in summer sunshine, he held up the clenched fists of the new nationalist MP John Mason. Over the last three frantic weeks of campaigning in the third safest Labour seat in Scotland, Salmond had repeatedly predicted a "political earthquake". On Thursday he delivered, overturning a 13,500 majority and nearly 60 years of Labour control by just 365 votes. And he... [read full story]

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Accidents Alex Browne Cabinet Cairns Crises David Defence Departments Des Disasters Earthquake Elections General Glasgow Government Kingdom Labour Lanarkshire Marshall Ministry Nationalist Natural Nicola Office Parties Party Political Salmond Scotland Scottish Secretary State Sturgeon United

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(anonymous) - 25-Jul-2008 10:47:51

The two-party political system has become an anachronism. The number one priority of any government is not the well-being of the population they are supposed to serve, nor stability, nor social cohesion - it's retaining power and pleasing their sponsors. The traditions of parliamentary democracy in Britain may be a source of national pride for many, but as far as I understand, our parliamentary system in it's present form (obviously with a few major reforms) essentially emerged in the 1600's and is now a total anachronism. Why is there no debate about how technology could be harnessed to give the population a direct say on important national issues? If the Internet is pretty much secure enough for banking, it's secure enough for referendums on important national issues.

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