Points of Principle
So the AV referendum failed to energise and convince the voters.
In fact it looks as if the only people who voted for a fairer voting system at Westminster - were the ones already convinced - plus a smattering of Lib Dems.
But the Lib Dems couldn't even carry their own supporters in the Orkney Islands - which was the first part of Scotland to give AV the thumbs down.
The Tories campaigned hard against a new voting system because while it would be indeed be fairer and more representative - it would do their party no favours.
Labour on the other hand were badly split and largely ineffective campaigners - even though AV was used to elect the new Labour leader, Ed Miliband.
I listened yesterday to one Labour MSP defending his decision to vote NO to AV - while at the same time professing to support a fairer, more proportional voting system.
He voted No he said - to poke Nick Clegg in the eye - or words to that effect.
Now that's principle for you - no wonder the voters have fallen out of love with Labour in Scotland.
The trade unions also campainged hard against AV - even though it was AV trade union votes that delivered the Labour leadership for Ed Miliband.
So that's Labour and trade union politics for you - many of these people wouldn't recognise a point of principle - if it jumped up and bit them on the arse.
In fact it looks as if the only people who voted for a fairer voting system at Westminster - were the ones already convinced - plus a smattering of Lib Dems.
But the Lib Dems couldn't even carry their own supporters in the Orkney Islands - which was the first part of Scotland to give AV the thumbs down.
The Tories campaigned hard against a new voting system because while it would be indeed be fairer and more representative - it would do their party no favours.
Labour on the other hand were badly split and largely ineffective campaigners - even though AV was used to elect the new Labour leader, Ed Miliband.
I listened yesterday to one Labour MSP defending his decision to vote NO to AV - while at the same time professing to support a fairer, more proportional voting system.
He voted No he said - to poke Nick Clegg in the eye - or words to that effect.
Now that's principle for you - no wonder the voters have fallen out of love with Labour in Scotland.
The trade unions also campainged hard against AV - even though it was AV trade union votes that delivered the Labour leadership for Ed Miliband.
So that's Labour and trade union politics for you - many of these people wouldn't recognise a point of principle - if it jumped up and bit them on the arse.
