All to play for (1)

Final countdown in Glasgow East
The political parties and the media have moved into overdrive as we move into the last few days of campaigning. The papers are full of it, the blogosphere is filled with thousands of postings about it, party activists can talk about nothing else - the only people who seem slightly less than enthusiastic about the whole political circus are the local punters themselves.
The word is they are fed up with being accosted on the local streets by strange alien visitors from another world brandishing leaflets as they nip out to the shops for their 'Sun' or 'Daily Record', or fighting their way past yet another camera crew as they try to get the Lottery ticket on in time. They are not even safe in their own homes - if it's not some eager canvasser knocking on their door seeking support it's the dreaded telephone canvassers - sometimes called Jocasta or Justin -calling during East Enders or Corrie or when they're trying to feed the bairns. The double-glazing and kitchens salespeople can't get through to offer their 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunities' for the party political telecanvassers queueing up to offer even better deals!
The end is nigh, though - what passes as daily life in the East End will return to normal come Friday, when the media circus will have moved on and all that will be left are dozens of leaflets littering the streets and lamp-post posters awaiting removal.
The talking points of the last week were the intervention of Taggart actor John Michie, who was out on the streets campaigning for Margaret Curran. Only last year the same actor is recorded on film making a passionate plea for independence! Following this revelation the Glesca thespian exited stage left (or maybe stage right?)and has not been seen on the streets again. It's not uncommon for actors to play two roles in one production but this is surely a case that would baffle Taggart himself!
The other 'highlight' was Newsnight Scotland's hustings edition on Thursday night. It was a disappointment, we learnt nothing new and chairman Glenn Campbell didn't exactly cover himself in glory. Dimbleby, Paxman - even Kirsty Wark - he is not.
The Tory candidate has no change of winning so was quite relaxed; no doubt it's been a good experience for her and she'll find a seat in due course.
The Lib-Dem was the identikit Lib-Dem wallpaper candidate - unremarkable, uncontroversial and saying what he thought the studio audience wanted to hear. Again, he'll be back.
The SNP's Councillor Mason is an accountant to trade with a background in the church, so it was always unlikely that you were going to get a song and dance routine from this chap. He certainly came across as competent, though, and as one of Glasgow's longest serving councillors - and a resident of the East End - he didn't let himself down under the glare of the studio lights.
Margaret Curran is often described as 'feisty'. That's usually seen as something positive, but it's a quality that seems to work both ways with the Labour candidate and she appears to be turning off as many voters as she is garnering support for the cause.
Ms Curran's style is to 'talkveryveryfastandsaylotsandlotsofveryveryimportantthingswithouteveryreallyansweringthequestionthatwasputtoherinthehopethattheinterviewerwillforgetthequestionheaskedinthefirstplaceandallowingmargarettoansweratotalydifferentquestionormakeacompletelyunrelatedpointinstead'
She's very good at it, but it's dreadful to watch and a pain to listen to. Why not just answer the questions?
Labour is also said to be worded about problems with having two Currans on the ballot paper - Frances Curran is standing for the SSP, and they fear that this could cause confusion amongst voters. This has been an issue before but you've really got to ask: if voters cannot distinguish between the two different parties on the ballot paper should they really be allowed to have the vote at all?
The fate of the candidates will become clear in the early hours of Friday morning. My prediction (forget the golf and Euro 2008 forecasts!)? While the SNP will certainly get their vote out I still think Labour will hold on, on a much reduced majority and on a very low turn-out. And whatever the result, at least the good folk of the East End can feel safe to leave their homes again to enjoy what's left of their Glasgow Fair holidays.
Incidentally the pictures above are not Glasgow's East End, but pictures I took on the way to work the other morning - North Edinburgh shares many problems with our cousins out west. (As dear Kirsty might say 'More on that story later').