Testing the mood in Scotland’s Labour heartlands
They call the numbers three times a week at the Dalkeith Miners’ social club.
Mining coal has long since disappeared here and the local pit went back in the 70s, before Scargill and Thatcher started at each other.
But it remains – by tradition – serious Labour country and we wanted to ask those voters to assess the mood on the day the SNP launched its manifesto.
So to calling the numbers. Around thirty punters for bingo this morning. Most happily say – and agree – that whichever politician you vote for they will break their promises.
So I felt any manifesto wasn’t going to play well…
Of course these are elderly and retired and a very specific sector of the voting public but that’s the point: these days in Scotland even in the former mining country Midlothian you have to seek out your guaranteed die-hard Labour vote .
“I don’t like Nicola Sturgeon,” says one bingo player. “Mouthy,” they added, recoiling slightly, shocked at the description that just popped out.
Another: “It was always really Labour around here – my family we’re all Labour – – but you know I’m not so sure this time around.”
Her friend puts her straight: “Dalkeith’s Labour. Always has been. Will be this time around.”