As diligent students of British politics understand, most votes under our first past the post system make no real difference to the result of a general election. The ones that count are those cast by swing voters in marginal constituencies. The Conservatives have been confident in their assertions that, despite a narrowing gap in nationwide opinion surveys, their lead among these defining voters in the marginals is big enough to make the crucial difference. A carefully targeted poll in this morning's Times suggests their confidence may be misplaced.
The Caledonian Mercury, Scotland's new online national newspaper, launched last night. It is written by a team consisting almost entirely of former Scotsman journalists. They are a superb bunch. I am going to pay particular attention to the foreign coverage. It is being edited by Andrew Macleod, who, as foreign editor of the Scotsman, was among the most creative and compassionate journalists it has been my privilege to work with.
