DAVID STEWART: Debates are cross between West Wing and Mastermind
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As I write, thousands of SNP members will have received their ballots to vote in their leadership election.
The stakes are high, as the new leader will also be our next First Minister and will set the political agenda for the next three years until the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2026.
The Courier has enhanced its reputation as a “newspaper of record” in the north by organising a hustings tonight – not just for SNP members but for readers as well. You do not have to be the Brahan Seer to predict some of the questions that might be raised tonight – but no spoilers here!
For the candidates, hustings are high-stress events. Their individual campaign teams will have them prepped on policy issues and opponent weak spots. High-powered election campaign organisers will arrange for a team member to “play” the opponent and to analyse feedback from in-house policy and media specialists. It is a cross between West Wing and Mastermind.
In my five general election campaigns from 1987, I averaged eight hustings per election. I used to write out policy headings on index cards and my election agent would test my knowledge as if I were back in Inverness High School!
It may be stressful for our three candidates this evening, but has it not been stressful for local voters as well? Many have felt let down by failures of Scottish Government on ferries, transport and crime – as Kate Forbes expressed so eloquently at an earlier hustings!
We should be proud our engagement in politics
In my last column, I predicted that Kate Forbes would win the SNP leadership and become our next First Minister, and join the exclusive club of Highlanders who have led their party.
I referred to Charlie Kennedy and Ramsay MacDonald – born in the Highlands and Moray respectively. My friend, Norman, contacted me to highlight a gap in my analysis – I had missed John Smith, the late Labour leader born in Argyll and Bute.
So I gave it a bit more thought – and realised I had also missed Douglas Ross MP and MSP, who currently leads the Tories in Scotland and who was born in Moray.
As Highlanders, we should be proud our engagement in politics, whatever party.
What about a combined film studio and music venue?
During my last year in the Commons, in 2005, I was asked to attend a lunch at Portcullis House (my office at the time), with a group of campaigners who were planning a new film studio a few miles south of Inverness. My lunch companion was actor James Cosmo who has appeared in Highlander, Braveheart and Game of Thrones.
The lunch was a great success and the campaign was launched for a Highland Film Studio. The project was later cancelled at the 11th hour, which was very disappointing.
Film tourism is the new buzz phrase for the industry. That is where tourists visit the location of film scenes.
What about a combined film studio and music venue sharing stage and lighting? We could maybe call it The Ironworks?
