Poll results: Who would best replace Brown?

Who would best replace Brown?

Lord Mandy 5 votes (13%)
David Miliband 0 (0%)
Jack Straw 4 (11%)
Harriet Harperson 2 (5%)
Alan Johnson 3 (8%)
James Purnell 4 (11%)
Ed Balls 1 (3%)
Jim Murphy 1 (3%)
Alastair Darling 1 (3%)
Other 15 (43%)

Thanks to one and all for your votes. Looks like an utter lack of endorsement for any of the main contenders. The polls at the weekend tend to show a drift towards the Tories, though not dramatically so.

Will Labour have a long wait before they return to electability, like the Tories after '97? I'm not so sure - the weakness of the economy will give the Tories a very short honeymoon. If Labour are smart they'll have a good dose of bloodletting after the election, remove as much dead wood and clear the way for a new generation as soon as possible. Once the cuts start to bite in the next parliament they'll at least have the opportunity to capitalise on any discontent with the Tories. Whether they can ever hope to reconnect with Middle England to the extent that Blair did is very doubtful though.

Poll results: If you were Justice Secretary how would you have treated Megrahi?

If you were Justice Secretary how would you have treated Megrahi?

Keep him in prison: 4 votes
Prisoner transfer: 1 vote
Compassionate release: 38 votes

An overwhelming endorsement for MacAskill's decision then. Thanks to everyone who voted.

Poll results: What do you think of Scotland's target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2020?

Noble gas 4 votes
Laughing gas 1
Gas bags 3
What a nerve gas 1

A pretty even split then between those admiring the good intentions and those sceptical of whether the targets can, and perhaps should, be met.

Perhaps the Scottish government would persuade more people by seeking an endorsement from a prominent celebrity? Susan Boyle for example - I can see it now, Boyle's Law. And if anyone can think of worse gas-related puns please share them!

Poll results: Which voting system do you favour for elections to Westminster?

FPTP: 2 votes
STV: 22 votes
AV: 1 vote
WTF?: 3 votes

So STV by a landslide. Assuming most visitors to Brigadoon are independence-friendly (as suggested by the onward rumbling constitutional settlement poll) I guess that makes sense. After all, the SNP have routinely gained many fewer MPs than their share of the vote would justify.

It's been interesting to see some of the arguments from various corners of Westminster about PR vs FPTP. Essentially the argument seems to have been that yes, PR is more democratic, but it precludes the formation of a strong government (unless of course a single party polls >50%). Perhaps they should cast their eyes northwards to see a strong minority government in action, aided by a few fleeting glimpses of a new, more consensual style of politics...?

Sadly I fear the BNP gaining 2 MEPs will scupper any chances of PR appearing in Westminster elections any time soon: it's the perfect excuse to keep the cosy Lab/Tory duopoly for evermore.

Poll results: Who do you blame for the expenses scandal?

Individual MPs: 16 votes
Party leaders: 7
"The system": 8
Fred Goodwin: 2

So, it seems that individuals are mainly to blame, with a rap on the knuckles for the party leaders (presumably for failing to enforce expenses discipline?) and the system for allowing the abuses in the first place. And poor Fred Goodwin! (not a phrase you hear very often) He still attracts a protest vote! ;o)

Poll results: Rate Darling's budget

A - Magnificent 0 votes
B - Mighty fine 0
C - Middling 0
D - Meagre 0
E - Moribund 3
F - Murphy 15

So 15 out of 18 voters thought the budget was terrific...only kidding! I think we can safely assume that visitors to Brigadoon were unimpressed with Darling's (mis-)calculations. I just wish I'd added Mendacious as a category...

Poll results: Do you agree with Labour's Lord Foulkes that MPs deserve a pay rise?

Hear hear! 1 vote (shame on you George)
Yah boo! 10 votes

So perhaps Lord Foulkes' fragrant wife was right to advise him against writing his inane article...

Ah gentle dames, it gars me greet,
Tae think how mony counsels sweet,
How mony length'nd, sage advices,
The husband frae the wife despises!

Poll results: Would you back Tory plans to break up the nationalised banks?

Yes: 2 votes
No: 0 votes
Only the biggest: 2 votes

Thanks for your votes, erm, all 3 of you!

Poll results: Who do you blame for the demise of Dunfermline Building Society?

DBS: 3 votes
FSA: 9
The Treasury: 12
Alistair Darling: 14
Gordon Brown: 16
Fred Goodwin: 0

Looks like Broon will need a big G20 bounce to recover from this latest debacle. Thanks again for all your votes.

Poll results: minimum price per unit of alcohol

The results of the latest poll were:

Do you approve of a minimum price per unit of alcohol?

Yes, >40p: 5
Yes, <40p: 3
No 1
Yes, 1p, hic!: 1

The temperance movement is alive and well in Brigadoon it would seem. Thanks again to all who voted. Maybe to boost the numbers I should publicise the next poll on Blether with Brian again...?!

Iain Gray: final poll results

For posterity, the final results of the Iain Gray poll are below:

Q. Did Iain Gray's speech do it for you?

Yes: 4 votes
No: 39
Who's Iain Gray?: 37

Scant approval for Mr Gray here it seems. Thanks to all who voted!