https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/ en Copyright 2007 Tue, 08 May 2007 09:16:31 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss I'm on my way up to Edinburgh to witness the dramatic conclusion of an election whose outcome still hangs in the balance. Who would have guessed it? Who would have dared? A single seat in Scotland - Labour's historic heartland... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/eyes_north.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/eyes_north.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 16:09:21 +0000 Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/at_last_off_air.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/at_last_off_air.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 06:20:00 +0000 When the counters are sent home, I think it may be time to sign off. Two big stories to come in the Vale of Glamorgan and in Bridgend... but always good to leave your audience wanting more! Nos/Bore da! Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/signing_off.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/signing_off.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 06:18:57 +0000 The Welsh Assembly has its first AM from an ethnic minority. Welcome to Mohammed Asghar AM. But something else to chew on: the BNP came within 2580 votes of winning a seat on the North Wales regional list. Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/a_warm_welcome.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/a_warm_welcome.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 06:04:50 +0000 The BBC's boffins are now predicting that the Labour Party will fall well short of the 30 seats needed for it to be able to control the Assembly on its own. Indeed, we are forecasting it will win no more... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/clear_red_water.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/clear_red_water.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 05:48:04 +0000 And Tommy Sheridan is out! He has failed to win on the list in Glasgow - as did Rosie Kane, his former colleague. Four seats on the list in Glasgow for the SNP - including Scotland's first MSP from a... Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/tommy_sheridan_out.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/tommy_sheridan_out.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 05:44:21 +0000 What do 5,500 jobs in St Athan get you, if you're the Labour AM in the Vale of Glamorgan? Answer: a third recount. Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/a_quiz_for_you.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/a_quiz_for_you.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 05:36:03 +0000 After all the sound and fury... BBC WALES FORECAST @ 0515 Labour: 26 Plaid: 14 Conservative: 12 Lib Dems: 7 Independent: 1 Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/looking_ahead.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/looking_ahead.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 05:32:35 +0000 You've hated it throughout the campaign, though you'll have heard plenty of it. Now that we DO have facts - not all the facts, granted but some facts - I'm surely allowed to whisper the word at least. IF the... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/coalition_talk.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/coalition_talk.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 05:28:45 +0000 More on the minors. Gossip - and it is just that - is that Tommy Sheridan may not be elected in Glasgow. At the very least, it's marginal at the moment. Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/sheridan_may_be_out.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/sheridan_may_be_out.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 04:59:29 +0000 If you're watching the TV programme in England and saw David Dimbleby mock me for repeating what he'd just said, you might be interested to know that one of my first jobs was as the researcher who whispers facts into... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/david_dimbleby.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/david_dimbleby.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 04:56:11 +0000 So Labour have now gained a seat in the Welsh assembly having lost three (one each to the Tories, Plaid and the Independents). It's still unclear whether they'll be above the 25 seat mark considered crucial for Rhodri Morgan if... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/rhodris_future.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/rhodris_future.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 04:53:26 +0000 And so in Bishopbriggs they've suspended the count in Strathkelvin and Bearsden. That is because the computer system cannot validate the votes that have been counted so far. That adds to problems elsewhere. This is, frankly, a disgrace. Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/vote_supension_disgrace.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/vote_supension_disgrace.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 04:44:26 +0000 I'm back to rumours but might John Marek's hold on Wrexham have been loosened by Labour? Independents have been doing well all night - in fact all campaign - but Labour's blogger, Lesley Griffiths is looking pretty relaxed. Could we... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/patterns_emerging.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/patterns_emerging.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 04:37:06 +0000 Looks like the wee parties are getting squeezed out on the list. John Swinburne of the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party reckons it's looking tough for him at least. But he says "hope springs eternal". If he loses, he's off... Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/struggle_for_socialists.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/struggle_for_socialists.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 04:19:18 +0000 The failure to win Paisley South is another poor performance by the SNP in a vital west of Scotland marginal. If the SNP fail to come first tonight it will be because they could not crack Labour's west of Scotland... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/another_poor_pe.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/another_poor_pe.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 04:06:55 +0000 More on the voting system. Robin Harper of the Greens - whose party look to be struggling - has called the figures on rejected ballot papers "disastrous". One of my readers has told me that they were given advice to... Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/rejected_papers_disastrous.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/rejected_papers_disastrous.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 04:03:59 +0000 So Alex's deputy is elected as well... Nicola Sturgeon was a very prominent face in the SNP's campaign - Alex Salmond didn't want to present himself alone. They appeared together at the manifesto launches, etc etc. She was a member... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/helping_the_snp.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/helping_the_snp.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 04:02:28 +0000 And so they've done it again. The Lib Dems have taken Dunfermline West from Labour - just as they did in the Westminster by-election last year. Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/lib_dems_do_it_again.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/lib_dems_do_it_again.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 04:00:23 +0000 I used to teach Welsh to adults in Risca. From listening to the returning officer in Newport, I should have started an extra class there too. Come on Newport! This is insulting. Huw Edwards is threatening to turn down the... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/language_matters.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/language_matters.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 04:00:09 +0000 And so Alex's deputy is back too! Nicola Sturgeon has won Glasgow Govan - that seat of historic memories. She took the seat from Gordon Jackson. Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/sturgeon_wins_govan_seat.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/sturgeon_wins_govan_seat.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 03:48:46 +0000 So as predicted, the rumble for the Tumble was won by Plaid and a far more stateswomanlike win than in 1999. And Roger Scully? You must be a very good tutor. Your students were BANG on! 51% and 35% it... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/as_predicted.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/as_predicted.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 03:47:14 +0000 Earlier I pointed out the councils which the Tories failed to gain. It's only fair to point out that they've recorded a number of quite spectacular gains eg North West Leicestershire; South Ribble; Chester; and North Somerset. If they do... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/was_it_good_eno.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/was_it_good_eno.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 03:44:01 +0000 Interesting that Alex Salmond began his victory speech (watch it by clicking here) not by talking about the SNP but by attacking the electoral arrangements. As I just said on air... if the election is close - as close as... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/electoral_arran.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/electoral_arran.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 03:26:32 +0000 Is there really a chance that Labour could lose their deposit in Ceredigion? Mind you if the Lib Dems have time to gossip, must mean they've given up on winning the seat from Plaid... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/time_to_gossip.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/time_to_gossip.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 03:22:41 +0000 A wind of change blowing through Scottish politics. Alex Salmond's description of the night's results. A deliberate echo of Harold Macmillan's famous speech about Africa? I think so - I think the SNP leader was reflecting that Labour has led... Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/wind_of_change.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/wind_of_change.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 03:13:54 +0000 Wow! The Lib Dems were wrong. They have not stopped Salmond. The SNP leader has just had a stunning victory in Gordon. Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/a_stunning_vict.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/a_stunning_vict.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 03:11:37 +0000 He's back! Alex Salmond has won Gordon, coming from third place. The rest of the night will determine whether he returns, leading the largest party. Mr Salmond condemned the confusion which has resulted in thousands of votes being rejected. Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/salmond_returns_as_msp.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/salmond_returns_as_msp.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 03:10:55 +0000 Hey presto! The boffins have toiled long and hard and come up with the numbers that tell us how the parties have done nationally. This, you might think is absurd since people are voting on local issues at least as... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/projected_natio.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/projected_natio.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 03:08:39 +0000 Vale of Clwyd goes something like this... Labour ahead by 50... oh no, Tories ahead by 11... oh no, Labour hold by 92. That's what I call marginal. Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/quick_change.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/quick_change.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 03:06:05 +0000 Remember I told you yesterday about that press officer who was worried what his boss would find when he came back to Cardiff Bay (yes when, not if - he's loyal)... because his ministerial office had been stripped bare? Well... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/time_to_move.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/time_to_move.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 03:03:00 +0000 Why does Peter Hain think Labour may be facing "a difficult night" in Wales? His view: "Ninety per cent of morning papers in Wales are produced in London rather than in Wales. It's been very difficult for us to get... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/the_london_papers.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/the_london_papers.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 02:46:58 +0000 That result in Dumfries - where Labour won - is a huge personal setback for the Tory candidate, Murray Tosh. He's been an MSP since 1999 but is now almost certainly out of Parliament because he's lowly ranked on the... Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/tory_candidate_setback.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/tory_candidate_setback.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 02:44:42 +0000 A week is a long time in politics... a couple of hours is enough to make me think that the LDs won't quite get Newport East but that if they don't, that means instead of NO Mr German, it COULD... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/fairer_greener_wales.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/fairer_greener_wales.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 02:37:19 +0000 Cathie Craigie has held Cumbernauld against all the odds. It was the top SNP target - at least among Labour seats. So big swings across Scotland to the SNP - but this a disappointment for the SNP. Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/craigie_beats_the_odds.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/craigie_beats_the_odds.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 02:36:41 +0000 Tip from the north-east is that Alex Salmond has managed to take Gordon - from third place behind the Tories and the incumbent LibDems. Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/salmond_set_to_win_seat.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/salmond_set_to_win_seat.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 02:28:43 +0000 50 votes in it in the Vale of Clwyd so it's recount time. But who ASKED for a recount? In other words who's behind by 50 votes. The Tories I hear. Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/whos_behind.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/whos_behind.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 02:23:37 +0000 The majority for Labour in Airdrie was 1446. The number of rejected ballot papers was 1536. Nobody is suggesting that all of those rejected papers were for Labour's rival, the SNP. But it is scarcely a good advert for democracy. Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/no_advert_for_democracy.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/no_advert_for_democracy.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 02:04:22 +0000 In one Scottish seat just announced - Glasgow Anniesland - there were 1,736 rejected ballots - that's a massive 7.2% of those who voted. The level of spoilt votes in the first three Scottish declarations has been running at 3%... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/spoiled_votes.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/spoiled_votes.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 02:02:47 +0000 Sorry to mention Newport East again - never thought it would take over my blog - but Lib Dems think they may just have missed out. Mr German will be... well what? Disappointed or ever so slightly relieved? Hey. A... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/hey_a_result.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/hey_a_result.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 02:01:47 +0000 I think I can now reveal what a group of students - studying Welsh and UK Politics at Aberystwyth and doing a course on polls - came up with when they had a bit of a practice in Llanelli a... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/academic_exercise.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/academic_exercise.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 01:57:40 +0000 Phew. That's likely to be the sentiment in Labour supporting homes up and down the land tonight. The result in Scotland is still too close to call but they may well hang on to power. That's vital both symbolically and... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/no_alex_and_gor.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/no_alex_and_gor.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 01:55:48 +0000 For now, of course, we're only getting constituencies. And it looks - maybe, perhaps - as if the SNP may fall short of their ambition of taking 20 new seats. However, gossip - and it is just that at this... Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/snp_falling_short.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/snp_falling_short.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 01:53:02 +0000 Heck! The very next email that came in after I mentioned things flooding in was an offer of cut-price Viagra. Wonderfully well-timed spam there! Spooky. Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/flooding_in.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/flooding_in.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 01:43:12 +0000 Sheffield... Australia... your comments are flooding in from near and far. At least something's flooding in. Come on - a result! Please! Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/near_and_far.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/near_and_far.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 01:40:58 +0000 "Maybe we won't be making an advance as fast as we may want". Iain Duncan Smith has just exposed the anxiety that tonight's results will provoke for the Tories even though they're sure to be the overall winners. The north... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/anxious_progres.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/anxious_progres.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 01:29:12 +0000 Rumours coming in from Bridgend. The man with the quietest blog in Wales - Carwyn Jones - might be getting nervous. The Tories say they're pushing him close. Now what did Rhodri Morgan mean when he said that Labour will... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/coalition_talk_already.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/coalition_talk_already.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 01:22:43 +0000 Nia G did indeed do better... much better. Hats off to her for such honesty. The people ganged up on us and gave us a kicking. Just read that the SNP have narrowly missed winning a target seat. Any chance... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/the_best_stories.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/the_best_stories.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 01:15:40 +0000 First SNP gain of the night as they take Dundee West. Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/first_snp_gain.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/first_snp_gain.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 01:14:10 +0000 1195 rejected ballot papers in Glasgow Kelvin - won by Pauline McNeill for Labour. This is becoming a story of the night. Not the story, but A story. Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/over_1000_papers_rejected.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/over_1000_papers_rejected.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 01:10:29 +0000 Just stopped talking about Radio Cymru's scoop and can get typing again. Nia Griffith MP has thrown in the Llanelli towel. Nice one Radio Cymru. Now she's telling our viewers they've lost Llanelli because the Lib Dems chose a candidate... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/a_scoop.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/a_scoop.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 01:08:05 +0000 John Reid has just delivered a paean of praise for Gordon Brown. So I asked him to declare his support for him as prime minister and agree that he wouldn't run against him. I even offered to eat my hat... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/reid_for_brown.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/reid_for_brown.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 01:02:49 +0000 "The leader of the largest party will be in poll position to become first minister" - Jack McConnell. But he declined to speculate on what might happen. Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/question_over_first_minister.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/question_over_first_minister.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 01:00:57 +0000 Jack McConnell says we should be cautious not to read too much into the 7% swing in the SNP's favour in his constituency. However, repeating that swing across Scotland would bring several Labour seats into the SNP camp. Early gossip... Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/caution_urged_over_swing.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/caution_urged_over_swing.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 00:55:52 +0000 Big number of spoilt papers in Motherwell and Wishaw under the new counting system. Some 970 invalid papers, that's 3.7% of the system. Much more than usual in the past. Douglas Alexander, the Scottish Secretary, says he has already requested... Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/increase_in_spoilt_papers.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/increase_in_spoilt_papers.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 00:47:27 +0000 First signs from Scotland in the First Minister Jack McConnell's seat. The increase in the SNP vote at eight points is a little below that anticipated by the final polls, though the six point drop in the Labour vote is... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/hanging_on_late.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/hanging_on_late.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 00:47:00 +0000 To those of you watching us and not listening to Garry and co on Radio Cymru, we've all missed him telling listeners that he think Labour will do worse than when he was Labour leader in Wales. Schadenfreude anyone? And... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/schadenfreude_anyone.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/schadenfreude_anyone.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 00:37:23 +0000 Jack McConnell has held Motherwell and Wishaw with a reduced share of the vote. SNP second, seven per cent swing to them. Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/mcconnell_holds_seat.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/mcconnell_holds_seat.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 00:32:36 +0000 Some early signs of how the Tories are doing in the north. The party says that they are on course to become the largest party in Bury and to make gains in Crewe and Nantwich. The official results are not... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/tories_in_the_n.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/tories_in_the_n.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 00:31:54 +0000 Ceredigion is tight... Caerphilly is tight... rumour is that Preseli Pembrokeshire is not. Might we gain another Welsh-speaking Tory before the night is out? Radio Cymru producers would be cockahoop! So. How low will Labour go? Is Ken Skates starting... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/welshspeaking_tories.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/welshspeaking_tories.html Wales Fri, 04 May 2007 00:26:47 +0000 Our boffins behind the scenes are analysing in detail the results in a few key wards. They tell me that the the early signs suggest this may not be as bad a night for Labour in England as had been... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/early_signs_1.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/early_signs_1.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 00:11:53 +0000 Put your money where your mouth is. Patrick Harvie of the Greens has £50 riding on a bet that his party will get more seats than the seven they achieved last time. Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/bets_are_on.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/bets_are_on.html Scotland Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:15 +0000 A good start for the Lib Dems. They've taken Pressa's council in Hull. That'll be a huge relief for them since they need to gain councils as they are unlikely to gain many councillors nationwide. Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/a_good_start.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/a_good_start.html Election2007 Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:02 +0000 Tommy Sheridan has forecast that the Left vote will split between his Solidarity and his former party, the Scottish Socialists. He says there may not be room for both, given a turnout of around 60%. Mr sheridan says he had... Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/left_vote_split.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/left_vote_split.html Scotland Thu, 03 May 2007 23:56:58 +0000 The chat in advance was that the authorities were being deliberately pessimistic about declaration times under the new counting system. Gossip now is that they could beat those forecasts by around an hour. Motherwell and Wishaw expected very shortly. Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/beating_the_forecasts.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/beating_the_forecasts.html Scotland Thu, 03 May 2007 23:51:52 +0000 The first editions of the papers are in and the Telegraph is predicting that Tony Bair is set to become a roving Ambassador to Africa and the Middle East after he leaves office. This - on the same day -... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/were_on_air.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/were_on_air.html Election2007 Thu, 03 May 2007 23:47:45 +0000 Looks like Motherwell and Wishaw may be the first to declare. That is the seat currently held by one McConnell, J. Wonder if he'll also be first in the race to govern Scotland? Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/first_declaration.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/first_declaration.html Scotland Thu, 03 May 2007 23:46:48 +0000 Let's just say that I may have to start mugging up on the Lib Dem candidate in Newport East as well as the Conservative in Newport West. Just in case... We don't want a Brian Hancock moment a la Islwyn... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/new_horizons.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/new_horizons.html Wales Thu, 03 May 2007 23:40:00 +0000 Just spotted a face in the crowd at the Aberdeen count. Derek Barrie of the Scottish LibDems. Derek may not be familiar to all of you - but he's an astute analyst of electoral politics. In fact, I've relied on... Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/lamenting_insider_insight.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/lamenting_insider_insight.html Scotland Thu, 03 May 2007 23:39:59 +0000 We won't know until tomorrow - but Alex Salmond is saying he is "extremely confident" of winning the Western Isles from Labour. Mr Salmond deployed a helicopter to fly round key marginal seats. But helicopter problems have delayed the count... Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/salmond_confident_of_isles_vot.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/salmond_confident_of_isles_vot.html Scotland Thu, 03 May 2007 23:21:53 +0000 The polls have closed - and amid the miasma of uncertainty, one fact. A helicopter has had problems collecting ballot boxes from Barra, meaning that the count in the Western Isles will be delayed. That is of course a key... Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/turnout_up_helicopter_down.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/turnout_up_helicopter_down.html Scotland Thu, 03 May 2007 23:09:42 +0000 The word from Scotland is that turnout is high - i.e. in the mid 50s, compared with under 50% at the last election. Labour believes that many of its traditional working class supporters have been "coming home" in the last... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/a_long_night_ah.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/a_long_night_ah.html Election2007 Thu, 03 May 2007 22:46:30 +0000 News - no, a rumour - from Ynys Mon. Turnout isn't as high as Plaid Cymru had hoped. If true, not good news for Plaid, or should I say, for their leader. Our poll for tonight's programme has come up... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/a_rumour.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/a_rumour.html Wales Thu, 03 May 2007 22:41:06 +0000 Standing by to enter the BBC's Studio 7 for what feels like the rest of my life. I will emerge at 6am having consumed gallons of caffeine and many bunches of bananas. I spent the day mugging up on Bolton,... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/on_your_marks.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/on_your_marks.html Election2007 Thu, 03 May 2007 22:35:53 +0000 Just popped up to the Radio Wales studio and scribbled on a piece of paper was this: 24 14 13 7 2 Conservative candidate Glyn Davies' prediction. Ah, but which way round are the 14/13 Glyn? In the name of... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/writing_on_the_wall.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/writing_on_the_wall.html Wales Thu, 03 May 2007 22:29:55 +0000 Let's kick off with rumours doing the rounds that no-one has checked out. What other night of the year do we get to do that? The Tories are looking good, very good in Newport West. So good we're all checking... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/and_were_off.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/and_were_off.html Wales Thu, 03 May 2007 22:04:55 +0000 For a decade the landscape of British politics has barely altered. Tony Blair has dominated from Downing Street and his party has held power comfortably not just in Westminster but in Edinburgh and Cardiff too. This landscape is about to... Nick (BBC News) http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/changing_landsc_1.html http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/05/changing_landsc_1.html Election2007 Thu, 03 May 2007 08:39:25 +0000 And he’s back. But only for now. It’s election day – and I’m in purdah. (Small seaside town in the East Neuk of Fife, rather nice actually.) Means I can’t blog for real. No comment, no analysis, not even any... Brian Taylor (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/no_comment.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/scotland/2007/05/no_comment.html Scotland Thu, 03 May 2007 06:21:59 +0000 Will the last person to leave the Senedd tonight switch off the lights? Well, ok, the BBC office in the Senedd. And that'll be my job. Downstairs the Neuadd is still jam packed full of technicians, unravelling cables, putting up... Betsan Powys (BBC News) https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/over_to_you.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/election07/wales/2007/05/over_to_you.html Wales Wed, 02 May 2007 21:42:46 +0000