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1. Correction to comments on Blair's mandate
2. 'X' in GM crop trial field "a splendid ironic gesture by people who are prevented from the democratic process" - Dr Michael Foxley, Highland Council
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1. Correction to comments on Blair's mandate

The biggest share of the electorate didn't vote so 'NONE OF THESE' was the most popular choice. Of those who did vote, though, Blair's New Labour got the most votes. Our initial statistics were wrong, however - under 25% of *potential* voters, rather than actual voters, voted for Labour, so the percentage of actual voters voting labour was around 40%. Apologies for the error.

It still means though that Blair lacks anything like a popular mandate asd not only did 75% of the electorate not vote for Blair and his policies, but that even among those who did vote, far more people (ie around 60%) supported parties other than Labour, though under our interesting electoral system Labour still won around 170 more seats than all those parties put together.
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2. X GM crop trial field = "a splendid ironic gesture by people who are prevented from the democratic process"
http://hoovnews.hoovers.com/fp.asp?layout=displaynews&doc_id=NR20010609670.4_190300099919d2dc
Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK), June 08, 2001, Page 1
Cross trampled in crop marks vote of rejection for North GM field trial
Andrea Elderfield

POLICE are investigating after a giant cross was carved out of a GM crop trial field on the Black Isle yesterday.

Environmental groups and politicians said the action reflected the amount of opposition to the oilseed rape trial being held at Roskill Farm, near Munlochy.

A Northern Constabulary spokesman said: "A section of crop appears to have been trampled and pulled in a shape that may resemble an 'X'. The cost of the damage is not yet known but it is thought not to be excessive. Police inquiries are continuing."

It has not been confirmed who carried out the action.

Roskill farmer Jamie Grant last night said he did not want to comment on the damage to his crop, which took place in the early hours yesterday.

Dr Michael Foxley, Highland Council chairman for the land and the environment committee, said he could understand locals taking direct action.

He said they had been treated with "contempt or indifference by the Scottish Executive on the issue of GM farm crop trials".

He added: "An 'X' is a splendid ironic gesture by people who are prevented from the democratic process."

Highlands and Islands GM Concern has been campaigning peacefully against the trial since it was first proposed more than a year ago.

Dr Kenny Taylor, chairman of the anti GM group, said the action "reflected the strength of passion running high among people in the Highlands and in Britain".

He called for Rural Affairs Minister Ross Finnie to stop all GM crop trials immediately, saying there was enough evidence to show that people were against them.

He pointed to a recent Black Isle Community Council survey which concluded that one in 10 people in the area were unhappy with the trials.

Highland Councillor David Alston, whose ward includes the GM crop trial site at Roskill Farm, near Munlochy, said the protesters' action made the point, on election day, that this was a vote against GM crops trials.

He went on: "Although Highland Council understands the frustration felt by many people at the lack of consultation over GM crop trials, the council cannot support such action."

Mr Alston added that next week, a random sample of 5,000 people in the Highlands will receive a questionnaire commissioned by the council about the issue.

Organic farmer Donnie M- Leod, from Ardersier, said last night he had been contacted by Glasgow-based Scottish Genetics Action, an environmental group affiliated to the national campaign Genetic Engineering Network Scotland (GENS) who said the X had been made by locals.

Scottish Genetics Actioncould not be contacted yesterday.