Scottish Elections

[Clydeside_Sheep]

52 minutes ago, Lencarl said:

The truth is out there.

Indeed it is:

Take independence and the pandemic out of the election, and the SNP would be struggling.

At the start of her premiership, Nicola Sturgeon promised to “close the [educational] attainment gap completely”, but the most recent independent evaluation by Audit Scotland concluded that progress had been “limited”, falling short of the government’s aims. Public Health Scotland, launched a year ago, warned that health inequalities had worsened over the previous decade. People living in Scotland’s most deprived areas could expect on average 48.2 years of good health, compared with 72.3 in the least deprived areas. Drug deaths have increased by 160% during the SNP’s time in office.

The Scottish government has siphoned off local government money to try to address such deficiencies, leaving local government to face increasing demands with fewer resources. Local public services have been cut across Scotland, including Sturgeon’s own back yard in Glasgow. The SNP approach to policy making is reflected in its manifesto, which proposes to sprinkle goodies around, enough to create a headline or appease groups of voters, but not enough to have much impact on outcomes. Outcomes have limped lamely behind the SNP’s soaring rhetoric.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/03/take-independence-out-scotland-elections-snp-struggling

This is a wholly incompetent party which has taken Scotland backwards.  Their record is shite and Scotland deserves much better, especially kids in School and those in deprived areas.

People can hold their nose and pretend that the poor governance is because they are so focused on Indy, but we know that is not true because they have failed to advance or develop the case for it one jot since 2014 - as even Alex Salmond identifies.

Really, the party is a personality cult based around Sturgeon, with her core support being drawn from naive youth, feminist zealots and LGBT activists.  This was clearly shown by the SNP's campaign buses which did not mention Independence or even say "SNP" - it was just a picture of Sturgeon's face and the slogan "both votes".

[Clydeside_Sheep]

SCOTTISH POLITICS IN THE GRIP OF A FACT-DENIAL EPIDEMIC

https://www.these-islands.co.uk/publications/i374/scottish_politics_in_the_grip_of_a_fact_denial_epidemic.aspx

Its a very good article, highlighting how poorly inform Indy supporters are in general, but also the chaotic and confused perception wrt Independence.

 

57% of Indy supporters think the GERS figures are "made up by Westminster to hide Scotland's wealth", despite the figures being produced and published by the Scottish Government itself and being of sufficient rigor to quality as national statistics.

Other nonsense which Indy supporters believe include:

54% of Indy supporters believe that Scotlands tax revenues are understated because the figures don't count Scottish exports from rUK ports.

66% of Indy supporters believe that taxes raised from Whisky are not properly allocated to Scotland.

55% of Indy supporters believe that Scotland only has a deficit because it pays a share of public projects for the south of england.

Only 20% of Indy supporters are aware that public spending in Scotland is greater than taxes raised. 

These are low information voters who would vote to cut their own throat and then blame any and all of "The english", "the rich" and "that maggie thatcher" for what they have done to themselves.

[Clydeside_Sheep]

On 5/2/2021 at 4:22 PM, manboobs109 said:

Willie Rennie

An arse!

[Clydeside_Sheep]

On 5/1/2021 at 11:31 PM, ConsiCanBoogie1903 said:

Nothing you've said is based on science or fact, its pure opinion. 

 

You're upset about folk getting HIV treatment. 

 

You're a deranged bigot. You'll probably be the first person I've ever blocked on here. 

 

No point in debating matters of human rights with someone who views some humans as more worthy than others. 

The sad thing is, you probably do think there is no such thing as objective reality, only "opinion".

I do not view some people as being "more worthy" - every person of the same worth, but not all forms of behaviour are of the same worth.

[Henry]

29 minutes ago, Clydeside_Sheep said:

SCOTTISH POLITICS IN THE GRIP OF A FACT-DENIAL EPIDEMIC

https://www.these-islands.co.uk/publications/i374/scottish_politics_in_the_grip_of_a_fact_denial_epidemic.aspx

 

 

These Islands is a forum for debate founded in the conviction that no crisis should be allowed to go to waste. It stands unabashedly for the view that more unites the three nations of Great Britain than divides them, and that good relations between the various communities of Northern Ireland, Great Britain, and Ireland are all the more important to work for in the wake of Brexit. Accepting that there is a pressing need for recalibration, it does so with a sense of optimism and relish. Enthusiastic about the Union, it is enthusiastic as well about local identities and loyalties. It recognises that to explore a British sense of identity is also to explore the other identities that people in these islands have, and that the plural nature of the United Kingdom, far from constituting a weakness, is its greatest strength.

[caledonia]

Gers figures are with Scotland being part of the uk so a great advert for independence.

And these islands is a union jack waving shithole

 

[caledonia]

Message getting through with SNP voters finally.

get rid of the unionists support Alba on the list.

[daytripping]

21 minutes ago, caledonia said:

Message getting through with SNP voters finally.

get rid of the unionists support Alba on the list.

You do realise Alba was created to piss the snp leaders off, it's an ego trip by Salmond.  Not sure voting for his type is a good thing. I'll be voting Other.

[Guest]

27 minutes ago, daytripping said:

You do realise Alba was created to piss the snp leaders off, it's an ego trip by Salmond.  Not sure voting for his type is a good thing. I'll be voting Other.

In my North East constituency it's a two party race between SNP and Ross's Bastards, so SNP will be getting my vote.

Labour will get my list vote. New leader impresses me so far.

Many folk are correct, Salmond simply on an ego trip. Furthermore every time I hear him speak nowadays I reckon that he is in failing health and should be concentrating on his garden instead. At least Scotland's women may have less to worry about going forwards, allegedly.

[Clydeside_Sheep]

21 hours ago, Woody21 said:

Labour will get my list vote. New leader impresses me so far.

I agree Sarwar has made a good start.  He is much better than Leonard, although I do not think his own character will improve Labours chances in the short term.

It isnt really clear what Labour are for:  the SNP have hoovered up the whinging anti-english vote and socialism is a hard sell at the best of times, in one of the richest and most privileged countries in the world.

Indeed, in one sense, its absurd to see privately educated, multi-millionaire Sarwar in charge of labour and talking about "greedy tories".  (Just as its ridiculous to see people like Boris Johnston or Ruth Davidson as prominent Conservatives).

[Clydeside_Sheep]

So, predictions for the election then?

I think there will be little overall change in the Parliament.  There might be a few seats changing hands, but nothing significant to alter the make-up of the chamber.  All of the parties will try to portray this as a resounding victory.

I believe there are too many new, small parties - SFP, Reform, All for Unity etc - for any of them to achieve anything.

The odious Greens might take a few new seats, but the interesting part will be to see how Alba do.  The polls on them have been all over the place.

I expect the new Parliamentary term will pan out as usual:  incompetent governance taking Scotland backwards, while the parties argue about a referendum which will - of course - not take place*.

(*The SNP dont want it and the public dont want it).

 

 

[Ten Caat]

SNP to either scrape an overall majority or fall just short (62-67 seats)

Labour and Tories to be neck and neck for second largest party (25-29 seats each, could even see a dead heat for second)

Greens to be the "big" winners.....increasing their representation to double figures, possibly gaining their first ever constituency seat (10-11 seats)

Lib Dems to remain a relative nonentity (4-6 seats)

Alba probably 0 seats might sneak 1 or 2  if the SNP  in certain regions vote tactically rather than blindly "both votes SNP" 

But a comfortable majority for independence seeking parties over remainers.........minimum majority of 15

[jamiesd]

2 minutes ago, Ten Caat said:

SNP to either scrape an overall majority or fall just short (62-67 seats)

Labour and Tories to be neck and neck for second largest party (25-29 seats, could even see a dead heat for second)

Greens to be the "big" winners.....increasing their representation to double figures, possibly gaining their first ever constituency seat (10-11 seats)

Lib Dems to remain a relative nonentity (4-6 seats)

Alba probably 0 seats might sneak 1 or 2  if the SNP  in certain regions vote tactically rather than blindly "both votes SNP" 

But a comfortable majority for independence seeking parties over remainers.........minimum majority of 15

Shit times

[Parklife]

5 minutes ago, Ten Caat said:

SNP to either scrape an overall majority or fall just short (62-67 seats)

Labour and Tories to be neck and neck for second largest party (25-29 seats, could even see a dead heat for second)

Greens to be the "big" winners.....increasing their representation to double figures, possibly gaining their first ever constituency seat (10-11 seats)

Lib Dems to remain a relative nonentity (4-6 seats)

Alba probably 0 seats might sneak 1 or 2  if the SNP  in certain regions vote tactically rather than blindly "both votes SNP" 

But a comfortable majority for independence seeking parties over remainers.........minimum majority of 15

That's kinda what I think too. Would like to see Tories take a beating and Labour picking up their votes. 

[The Buzzard]

46 first past the post counts on Friday and looks like the other 27 on Saturday, so the first results for constituency seats should be around noon on Friday. 

Looks like it'll be Saturday evening before the full result is known in terms of which parties get MSPs in on the regional/list vote. 

[Lencarl]

5 hours ago, Clydeside_Sheep said:

So, predictions for the election then?

I think there will be little overall change in the Parliament.  There might be a few seats changing hands, but nothing significant to alter the make-up of the chamber.  All of the parties will try to portray this as a resounding victory.

I believe there are too many new, small parties - SFP, Reform, All for Unity etc - for any of them to achieve anything.

The odious Greens might take a few new seats, but the interesting part will be to see how Alba do.  The polls on them have been all over the place.

I expect the new Parliamentary term will pan out as usual:  incompetent governance taking Scotland backwards, while the parties argue about a referendum which will - of course - not take place*.

(*The SNP dont want it and the public dont want it).

 

 

The SNP will win by a BIG majority.

The Greens will do well.

ALBA will not do as good as some folk think.

Not interested in the other English Parties.

 

Vote SNP 1st and 2nd.

[Ten Caat]

1 hour ago, Lencarl said:

The SNP will win by a BIG majority.

The Greens will do well.

ALBA will not do as good as some folk think.

Not interested in the other English Parties.

 

Vote SNP 1st and 2nd.

Depends where you live.

In my region in 2016 , on the list vote SNP got just over 120k votes. Between them Labour and Tory got 124.5k votes. Lib Dems and Greens got just over 38k votes between them

Result......SNP got  0 seats

Tories got 4, Labour 2 and the Greens got 1 (despite polling less than the Lib Dems by nearly 3k votes)

 

SNP got a grand total of 4 list seats, 3 of which were in the South of Scotland, 1 in the H's and I's

Tactical voting for the Greens (or Alba if you really must) in the highly populated areas of Scotland is far more likely to net you an indy supporting list MSP. 

[Redforever86]

3 hours ago, Ten Caat said:

Depends where you live.

In my region in 2016 , on the list vote SNP got just over 120k votes. Between them Labour and Tory got 124.5k votes. Lib Dems and Greens got just over 38k votes between them

Result......SNP got  0 seats

Tories got 4, Labour 2 and the Greens got 1 (despite polling less than the Lib Dems by nearly 3k votes)

 

SNP got a grand total of 4 list seats, 3 of which were in the South of Scotland, 1 in the H's and I's

Tactical voting for the Greens (or Alba if you really must) in the highly populated areas of Scotland is far more likely to net you an indy supporting list MSP. 

This. SNP 1 and ALBA 2 for me. 

Edit to add I actually followed the Greens representative for my area on Facebook, can't see them doing well if that's the standard unfortunately. 

[Parklife]

Will be giving my constituency vote to Peter Kyrkant. A worthy candidate. 

Unsure on my list vote. 

[Jocky Balboa]

As an expat I don't have a vote this time, but keep a close eye on things back home. My predictions:

1. Overall result - SNP and Greens in unofficial coalition, followed by five more years of woke drivel, virtue signalling and grievance monkey behaviour, but Scotland no closer to independence.

2. Tories to go slightly backwards (2017 was their natural peak) and lose some List system careerist nonentities, but DRoss (sic) might keep his job for now, because there's no viable replacement.

3. Labour to tread water, with little overall impact (they'll not shake off the Better Together legacy anytime soon) despite the latest branch office manager impressing (duping?) a few easily pleased commies.

4. Liberal Democrats will likely hold Orkney and Shetland and Rennie will hold on, but otherwise business as usual. A political irrelevance.

5. The unknown quantity is of course Alba. I think Salmond will get in, along with a couple of others, but with SNP and the Greens getting a majority, impact will be limited. I'll make a few predictions about Alba's wider strategy, though:

- Salmond is a great strategist and will have factored in that the SNP leadership won't work with him, even if he did hold balance of power. I think, in his heart of hearts, he sees this as a long game and for sticking a marker in the ground for Westminster 2024 and beyond.

- I expect to see more defections to them from the SNP, as more become aware that (a) it's a rotten, sinking ship and (b) they have no intention of delivering independence.

Let's see what happens...

[daytripping]

Doubt I'll bother voting, won't make a difference to the result. Will be Conservative Conservative if I do, too much to do in the house.

[sheepcrooky]

22 minutes ago, Jocky Balboa said:

As an expat I don't have a vote this time, but keep a close eye on things back home. My predictions:

1. Overall result - SNP and Greens in unofficial coalition, followed by five more years of woke drivel, virtue signalling and grievance monkey behaviour, but Scotland no closer to independence.

2. Tories to go slightly backwards (2017 was their natural peak) and lose some List system careerist nonentities, but DRoss (sic) might keep his job for now, because there's no viable replacement.

3. Labour to tread water, with little overall impact (they'll not shake off the Better Together legacy anytime soon) despite the latest branch office manager impressing (duping?) a few easily pleased commies.

4. Liberal Democrats will likely hold Orkney and Shetland and Rennie will hold on, but otherwise business as usual. A political irrelevance.

5. The unknown quantity is of course Alba. I think Salmond will get in, along with a couple of others, but with SNP and the Greens getting a majority, impact will be limited. I'll make a few predictions about Alba's wider strategy, though:

- Salmond is a great strategist and will have factored in that the SNP leadership won't work with him, even if he did hold balance of power. I think, in his heart of hearts, he sees this as a long game and for sticking a marker in the ground for Westminster 2024 and beyond.

- I expect to see more defections to them from the SNP, as more become aware that (a) it's a rotten, sinking ship and (b) they have no intention of delivering independence.

Let's see what happens...

Some decent predictions there JB. 

[Lencarl]

Remember to take a few minutes of your time today and vote.

Vote for SNP 1st and 2nd

ALBA just want you to vote 2nd for them to give them some street cred.

If you are serious about Independence for Scotland vote SNP. 

 

 

[maryhilldon]

12 minutes ago, Lencarl said:

Remember to take a few minutes of your time today and vote.

Vote for SNP 1st and 2nd

ALBA just want you to vote 2nd for them to give them some street cred.

If you are serious about Independence for Scotland vote SNP. 

 

 

Salmond's just looking for street cred?  Quite a statement,  what does it mean?

[RAZOR]

9 hours ago, Parklife said:

Will be giving my constituency vote to Peter Kyrkant. A worthy candidate. 

Unsure on my list vote. 

Aye, good luck to him. Someone you'd like to see sneak in there to mix it up.

In an ideal world I'd love to give my 2nd vote to Greens even despite wanting us all in bed by 6pm with no electricity. 3rd generation Aiberdeen gadge working in the ail makes that a bit hypocritical though I guess.

SNP1/Alba2

[RAZOR]

Think they'll fall short by 1 or 2 for a majority and have to ask the Big Fish to join a coalition.

Salmond knows this. Bloody genius.

[Lencarl]

13 minutes ago, maryhilldon said:

Salmond's just looking for street cred?  Quite a statement,  what does it mean?

It means that ALBA is all about Salmond and his ego.

He did not need to form ALBA until after Scotland is Independent.

ALBA keep telling folk to vote SNP first and ALBA 2nd for the good of the SNP.

Salmond knows that the second vote is the only way his Party would get any votes at all.

 

 

 

[Guest milne_afc]

1 hour ago, Lencarl said:

If you are serious about Independence for Scotland vote SNP. 

The SNP aren’t a serious party min, especially not about Independence.

[manboobs109]

Both votes Alba for me

[caledonia]