Scottish election: Six terrible London media takes – and three that are spot on

EVERYBODY knows the London media just don’t get Scotland. Every so often, something happens "north of the border" (usually an election or a referendum) which means that they need to start PAYING ATTENTION. Wait a minute, could this be the end of the Union? Have Salmond and Sturgeon fallen out?? Why don’t the Scots like Boris???

The Westminster press pack's knowledge of Scottish politics – and particularly the driving forces behind the movement for independence – is already pretty much non-existent. But their understanding of Scotland’s electoral system is even worse.

Scotland's voters look set to have delivered a comfortable pro-Yes majority – with the SNP (possibly) just falling short on their own, but a substantial number a Greens (whose votes do count, by the way) also want a referendum.

THIS IS A MANDATE FOR INDYREF2. This shouldn’t need explained. And media outside the UK (who are used to reporting on proportional election systems) understand this too.

Annette Dittert, senior correspondent and bureau chief for ARD German TV, was puzzled by the reaction. She tweeted: “Why is the idea that the #SNP would need an overall majority for a second referendum to be legitimate so dominant in the British media today? If a majority of the Scottish parliament was voted on the basis of supporting it, that's certainly just as legitimate.”

But this simple point seems too difficult to grasp for Westminster’s finest.

Anyway, here are six terrible takes from the London media on the SNP election result (we’re sure you’ll spot some familiar faces). When Laura Kuenssberg inevitably tweets something daft, we'll add it to the list.

1. The police will be shutting down polling stations! The Mail on Sunday's Dan Hodges here – who else? – with his vision of a post-apocalyptic indyref.

Do people actually realise what we're heading for in Scotland. We're literally going to see the police closing down polling stations. When people say the UK Government should go to court to block a referendum this is where it will end up. At which point independence is nailed on.

— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) May 8, 2021

2. IF tHe SnP DoN’t GeT a MaJoRiTy tHeRe WoN’t Be aN iNdYrEf! Want to bet, Iain?

Huge day - if the SNP gets an overall majority, hard to resist referendum call post-pandemic. If they fail and fall short there won't be one. Will be a lot of shouting and strutting about, Holyrood will pass a bill, UK will ignore it. And there won't be a referendum for 5 years.

— Iain Martin (@iainmartin1) May 8, 2021

3. "Helps efforts to argue". Actually, Beth, what helps the Prime Minister is you talking a load of a rubbish about political mandates.

This is fascinating. There will still be a pro-independence majority (SNP + Green) but will come as huge relief for UK govt if SNP miss outright majority - politically helps efforts to argue against second independence referendum https://t.co/AaXqstuTyV

— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) May 7, 2021

4. So much to unpack here. Jackie Baillie winning in Dumbarton thanks to Tory votes is the most consequential result of an election in which the SNP sweep the board after 14 years in power. That's a lifeline for Boris Johnson?

This could prove the second most consequential result of Thursday’s elections. If the SNP don’t win an outright majority in Hollyrood - now looking unlikely - it will hand Boris Johnson a lifeline to deny a second independence referendum, arguing the party lacks a mandate. https://t.co/3rpZ8QjAX7

— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) May 7, 2021

5. We’re very sorry Michael. We thought you were better than this. Analysis of facts is actually what we want from our broadcasters.

I’m very sorry Tom, that may be your personal view, but it not right that you as a senior presenter of ITV programmes regulated by Ofcom, should express it in public. It goes against everything ITN used to stand for.

— Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) May 7, 2021

6. Is this an incumbents’ election? Well, the SNP have been polling pretty much where they finished for years now, since before the pandemic. Might be the case in England and Wales, but we have a little something called the independence debate up here, and Unionist tactical voting proves conclusively this election was all about the constitution.

A pattern is emerging: Labour are making vote share gains in Wales. SNP are putting on MSPs at the moment, and the Tories are hoovering up more of the Red Wall. Is this (in part) an incumbents' election, voters rewarding a vaccine salvation in the time of a terrifying pandemic?

— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) May 7, 2021

But amongst it all, there were a few good takes worth pointing out, and it would be churlish for the Jouker to not point them out.

1. Well done Robert Peston – spot on.

Robert Peston - Boris Johnson won’t be able to refuse a referendum if there’s a pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament @itvnews #SP21 pic.twitter.com/JSVhyXLdf2

— Phantom Power (@PhantomPower14) May 7, 2021

2. And here's Times columnist David Aaronovitch:
 

Let me stress here, I think Scottish independence would be hugely damaging both to Scotland and the rest of the UK - as Brexit has been and will be.

— David Aaronovitch (@DAaronovitch) May 8, 2021

3. We don't always see eye to eye with Owen, but...

The SNP and the Greens have a majority in Holyrood, at the very least, which means the people of Scotland have given a democratic mandate to an independence referendum, and an independence referendum has to happen, obviously. Anything else is an obvious affront to democracy.

— Owen Jones 🌹 (@OwenJones84) May 8, 2021

Seen any more? Let us know at reporters@thenational.scot...