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Article: Next year, the SNP take Holyrood . . . and Gordon Brown goes crackers IAIN MACWHIRTER HAS STEPPED INTO THE FUTURE AND REPORTS FROM THE END OF 2007 ON A YEAR OF TURMOIL IAIN MACWHIRTER HAS STEPPED INTO THE FUTURE AND REPORTS FROM THE END OF 2007 ON A YEAR OF TURMOIL POWERPLAY
- Article from:
- The Sunday Herald
- Article date:
- December 31, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2006 The Sunday Herald. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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LOOKING back on 2007, it seems amazing that no-one seriously
expected the SNP to win the May Scottish election, least of all the
Nationalists themselves. But the return of the SNP as the largest
party in May rocked Holyrood and Westminster. The new prime minister,
Gordon Brown, reacted with uncharacteristic panic and the UK press
demanded to know why no-one had seen it coming. But the signs were
there, if anyone had cared to look.
Labour MSPs had been hoisting storm warnings, insisting that there
was a groundswell of anti-Labour feeling spreading through the
constituencies.
But most commentators thought that was just the usual exercise in
lowering expectations. The truth was that the SNP ...