Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News General Election 2015 Live Blog
20 April 2015
  • Climbing the walls: SNP choose off-the-wall venue for manifesto launch

    10:06 AM
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    • Alex Thomson Chief Correspondent

    Metaphor Central – SNP launch Edinburgh International Climbing Centre pic.twitter.com/vGpu9worRb

    — alex thomson (@alextomo) April 20, 2015

    Indoor climbing venue for SNP manifesto launch pic.twitter.com/aeCmP8MvIF

    — alex thomson (@alextomo) April 20, 2015

    Alex arrived in Scotland on the sleeper train this morning and is currently hanging out meeting SNP supporters in the overflow carpark at the Edinburgh climbing centre where the manifesto will be launched in an hour. He sends this report: 

    Their problem is there is no room in the overflow carpark. So they line up and leave the cars on the verges, over the pavement – wherever.

    All this an hour before the manifesto launch is due to take place.

    A woman gets out of her SNP-beflagged VW Beetle: SNP earrings; SNP sports top; Saltire-coloured schemes tartan kilt (is there a Sturgeon tartan?).

    Inside the main arena it is METAPHOR CITY – a climbing wall of concrete faces, footholds and handgrips.

    Party in the ascendant…climbing the mountain…the rise and rise of Nicola … you get my drift.

    You can climb every mountain and come over all Julie Andrews – but you can go Jimmy Cliff and the harder they fall.

    So the metaphor feels dangerously mixed to me this side of the poll.

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20 April 2015