As "akenaton" stated initially, the East End of Glasgow has been returning Labour politicians since the days of Maxton, Wheatley and Shinwell - and is still "one of the most deprived areas in Britain", although there have been several Labour administrations in the last century, and, with regard to local/Council politics, a virtual Labour monopoly. Not exactly a strong reason for continuing to vote for Labour, or New Labour as it's been called in a rebranding exercise. One of the best leaflets of the campaign showed a photograph of Gordon Brown with another politician he greatly admires; it was issued by the Scottish National Party, and of course the other politician was Thatcher. One of the most significant things Brown ever said was an impromptu reply to some journalist who, in the early days of the current "war against terrorism", when Brown was Chancellor, asked how much the war would cost. Instantly, Brown replied, "as much as it takes"; perhaps the video clip is still available. Had anyone asked how much would be spent on health care, education, &c., it wouldn't be long before familiar phrases about "financial prudence" and "prioritization of finite resources" were trotted out; but you would wait long enough before any politician would say "as much as it takes". That's the calibre of a person who makes it to a top position. Hope I live to see Scotland regain the kind of pride and self-respect that comes of the kind of independence every other nation has as an unquestioned right; here, you have to argue for it.