I NOTE with interest the many and varied comments on Jim Murphy, particularly since his election as Scottish Labour leader on December 12, including the observations of Daniel Sanderson ("Pressure on Murphy to move to the left and attract SNP voters ", The Herald, December 24).
Reading some of that commentary inclines one to think that Hercules, with his Labours, including Slaying the Nemean Lion, Cleaning the Augean Stables, Capturing the Cretan Bull, and Stealing the Apples of the Hesperides, had an easier project on his hands to complete than that in front of Jim Murphy.
Mr Murphy has been presented with predictions that the SNP will win 54 out of 59 seats at the 2015 General Election. He has also been faced with many personal criticisms, including his political positioning, in that Genghis Khan was apparently more to the left than he is; his alleged war-mongering , because of his support for the Iraq War promoted by Tony Blair and others; his failure to graduate after a prolonged stay at university; his support for weapons of mass destruction through Trident, and grandstanding on Irn-Bru crates during the referendum campaign.
Lest we get carried away with this barrage of censure, there are a few points worth bearing in mind. Mr Murphy was elected , against expectation, as an MP for the first time in 1997 in Eastwood in what was up to then a safe Conservative seat and he has held it convincingly in subsequent General Elections. His abilities were recognised by his appointment to UK Government positions as Secretary of State for Scotland, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, and Minister of State for Europe.
Moreover, the General Election will not take place until May 2015 and it is worth recalling the saying , attributed to Harold Wilson, that "a week is a long time in politics". Accordingly, the comparative prospects of our political parties could look somewhat different at the beginning of May next year. The possibility of Alex Salmond becoming Deputy Prime Minister in another Coalition Government could of itself be enough to swing voters.
Ian W Thomson,
38 Kirkintilloch Road,
Lenzie.
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