And another thing…

I am sure if the Government had served the writ for the middle of the Scottish summer holidays, the SNP would be complaining that the government was ignoring the needs of Scotland.

Pathetic.

Don’t really understand labour’s tactics here. They could possibly have caught the SNP on the hop but have now given the party enough time to build up a head of steam a la Govan.

The Govan by-election was in November too as I recall or it might have been October. But Millan resigned much earlier than that. It was a long long campaign as I recall.

I dont get it Tom, how come the Norwich and Glasgow BE’s will be so far apart when the MPs both resigned at roughly the same time?

if you are confident of Labour’s record in Glasgow NE, then surely you would want to fight the by-election asap, so that the people can be represented, no?

Are you honestly standing by your party's decision to leave the people of Glasgow North East without an MP for nearly 6 months?

Come on Tom, you're a pretty sraight kinda guy, this is poor form from Gordon Brown, particularly given the pressing need to clean up Politics.

I’m as opposed to the SNP’s core agenda as anyone, but found myself in the unusual position of agreeing with their basic argument on this issue. Labour will, I think, come to rue this — and not just as a political own goal but as an unjustifiable instance of putting party interests over those of the electorate.

Tom what do you make of your Labour colleague, Lord Foulkes' comments about General Dannatt?

This kind of unthinking tribalism is at the heart of Scottish Labour, they feel they must smear and besmirch every single person/party that has the temerity to disagree with them. It makes the people of Glasgow South sick.

In Norwich the schools broke up 5 days ago. In Glasgow it is bang in the middle of the Summer Holidays. Whilst the timing of Norwich isn't great, it wasn't so far into the summer that would have made the election a sham.

Is anyone seriously saying that the differences between English and Scottish holidays should be ignored?

Jeff and Scottish Unionist – I actually agree with the SNP on this one… with their position in 2008, that is, namely that you shouldn't have a by-election during the holidays. There is not a shred of doubt in my mind that whenever we held the by-election, the SNP would claim it was the wrong date. Same day as Norwich? During Glasgow Fair. August 13? Schools still on holiday. November? Well, you know their response there.

This was a political stunt, nothing more. But since the SNP are so keen to see Scots represented at Westminster, why aren't they concerned that the people of Banff and Buchan haven't been represented for two years?

You are not seriously making the point about Alex Salmond are you? I put it to you that, in constituency terms, the people of Banff and Buchan are as well represented as the people of Kirkcaldy and cowdenbeath. I think as a former minister you may well, if you are honest, agree.

this was a stunt, thats right. but it was a stunt targeted to expose the hollowness of the Labour position.

The summer holidays issue is neither here nor there really. Labour called Glasgow East in the middle of the Glasgow Fair last year, so it's not a point of principle for Labour, it's an electoral calculation.

That's what I find interesting.

Why the desire to wait till November? That can only benefit the SNP – who have not had the best of starts to the by-election campaign.

The Scottish schools return in mid-August. Are you honestly suggesting there is no single date between then and November when this by-election could be held? I found it laughable that Brown would refer to the Norwich & Glasgow NE by-elections today during his press conference, when the people of Glasgow NE have not even been given their democratic rights. Stunt or not, this excuse for a government should be exposed for the sham it is at every opportunity.

PS: No comment re Mr Coulson's appearance at the CMS Select Committee yesterday, Mr Harris? You had plenty to say on the matter a couple of weeks ago. What was it, he'd be gone before Parliament rose for the recess?

Aye, right.

"This was a political stunt, nothing more."

Actually the SNP were against holding the Glasgow East by election during the glasgow fair, not during the holiday season per se. So there's no particular hypocriscy there. Unlike from certain other parties….

"Why the desire to wait till November? That can only benefit the SNP – who have not had the best of starts to the by-election campaign."

Labour party conference in late september. Brown announces he's finally to put us out of his misery. Leadership campaign in october with a vote in early november, just before the by election. Labour hope to catch the new leader bounce to avoid another humiliating election defeat.

Or

Brown is putting off a humiliating election defeat until after the conference.

Trying to play you at your own game then are they Tom.

None of these explanations make sense. Labour’s result in Glasgow North East in the euros was the best in Glasgow. On the basis of that vote, they do appear to have a strong core vote in the constituency. It’s the SNP that has to make the running in this campaign therefore in terms of getting round the doors, identifying supporters and persuading floating voters to switch. By delaying the by-election till November Labour has given them time to do that.