Labour Campaign Chief Warns SNP Against Election Complacency
Scottish Labour's election campaign co-chairman, Douglas Alexander, has issued a stark warning to the SNP, stating it would be "complacent" for the party to assume the upcoming Holyrood election in May is "in the bag." Speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Paisley, Alexander acknowledged that his own party enters the race as the "underdog," but emphasised the volatile nature of the electorate could shift dynamics before polling day.
Lessons from By-Election Defeat
Alexander vowed that Scottish Labour would "learn lessons" from the recent Gorton and Denton Westminster by-election, where Labour was defeated by the Greens. He revealed that campaigners had "genuinely believed that Labour could win" in that contest, highlighting a misjudgment in strategy. "My sense is that colleagues down in Manchester genuinely believed that Labour was the party who was best placed to defeat Reform," Alexander told journalists. He added, "We should be thankful that Reform were defeated, given their politics of polarisation and division."
However, he stressed the need for introspection: "Ultimately we have to learn lessons from that campaign and we will apply them not just in this campaign but in campaigns to come." This by-election loss, according to Alexander, demonstrates not only that "voters are frustrated" but also that "this electorate is volatile," a factor he believes could impact the Holyrood race.
Polling Volatility and Historical Precedents
Current polls suggest Labour trails behind both the SNP and Reform in Scotland, but Alexander pointed to historical examples where support shifted dramatically during campaign periods. He cited the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, where the SNP secured a historic majority, noting there had been a "significant shift in polling numbers during the short campaign" and a "period when Scottish Labour was ahead."
Additionally, he recalled the first Scottish Parliament elections in 1999, stating, "the SNP were actually ahead of us and we pulled our lead back." These precedents, Alexander argued, should caution the SNP against overconfidence. "In that sense I think it would be a misjudgement and complacent on the part of the SNP to think that they have this election in the bag, when ultimately the choice will rest with the Scottish people," he asserted.
Labour's Strategy and Confidence in Leadership
Despite facing "difficult headlines for Labour over recent weeks and months," Alexander expressed confidence in the party's ability to "persuade voters in Scotland that we can do better and offer a better future for Scotland come May." Over the ten weeks leading up to polling day, he said Labour would "stay focused, recognise the depth of frustration that the majority of Scots feel with this SNP Government, work to secure their support and prove ourselves."
He reiterated Labour's underdog status: "We take nothing for granted as far as this election in Scotland is concerned, we start this campaign as the underdog." However, Alexander voiced strong support for Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, saying he had "great faith in Anas' persuasion and capacity to win an argument with John Swinney about what the future holds for Scotland." This endorsement underscores Labour's belief in its leadership to challenge the SNP effectively in the coming weeks.
