[Closed] The Scottish Elections.

11 seats to go, looking likely i think.

To be expected really but I wouldn't take it as a huge backing for independence (as Ally Salmon will play it).

Lib Dems are taking a shoeing for being treacherous gits.
Labour aren't trusted after they got us into this mess.
No one votes Tory in Scotland.

Which basically leaves the SNP (and maybe the Greens).

SNP seem to have done well so far in the Scottish Parliament so carry on.

I hope they do get an independence referendum - as I think the result will be a resounding No and maybe Uncle Alec will finally shut up about it.

I hope they do get an independence referendum - as I think the result will be a resounding No

9 seats more .... (fingers etc. all crossed)

The proposal for a referendum is not a simple yes or no question. There are plans to include middle ground options such as enhanced devolved powers without independence.

The proposal for a referendum is not a simple yes or no question. There are plans to include middle ground options such as enhanced devolved powers without independence.

Personally i think the path to independence is quite simple, wait until the general election, watch englandshire vote in a majority tory government and i think independence is a stick on after that..

Looks like we may have to declare Lib Dem MSPs an endangered species - perhaps we can make Tavish Scott a tourist attraction like the Ospreys at Loch Garten?

What's going on is pretty incredible - it's not just the constituencies that the SNP are storming, they're also winning seats in the regional lists, which is supposed to be well-nigh impossible. If you take that factor into account, there is something pretty seismic going on in the Scottish political scene, although I'd be at a loss to try and explain exactly what has caused it and what the likely implications are.

Despite being cautiously in favour myself, I'd assumed that a referendum result in favour of independence was unlikely in the forseeable future. Given that the other parties have made SNP=independence such an issue in their election campaigns, I'm left wondering if we've all underestimated the appetite for giving it a go across Scotland?

The referendum will be interesting.

History in the making here folks 🙂

The proposal for a referendum is not a simple yes or no question.

At the end of the day, its not their decision to make. Its all about power and money. And who has the most of it. Scotland can't demand independence any more than Nick Clegg can order Dave to stop all the NHS changes, Privatisations etc. What's Alex going to do? Declare war?

However, if the English electorate were offered a vote on the matter....

😉

I think its brilliant. If I was Scottish I'd be voting for them and voting yes in a referendum on independence.

Time for the rest of the UK to wake up.

What's Alex going to do?

However, if the English electorate were offered a vote on the matter....

What are peoples thoughts on the results so far?

Not happy.

But it'll all come out in the wash when, 4 years down the line, all public services will be crippled by no Council Tax rises in 7 years, the NHS is ruined by free prescriptions, we're saddled with an humungous debt building a new bridge to ferry Fifers into Edinburgh, and there's not a single bit of Scottish hillside that doesn't have a pointless (and UK Government subsidised - fiscal automany my arse, it only suits Smarmy Face and his midden-faced deputy when they want it to) windfarm on it.

😀

Don't worry Kit, I think TJ is going to sell all of your oil for you. 😉

Not sure how I would vote in a referendum. But when you look at the political map across Britain, we're governed by a ConDem partnership that hardly anyone north of the border voted for (except a few lefty idealogist who gave the Lib Dems a few axtra seats). I think this result shows our frustration at being governed by a party we don't want.

amatuer - None of us in the north of England voted for them either. Note the election results from every single city up here last night.

I'll say it again: INDEPENDENCE FOR THE SOUTH EAST OF ENGLAND!!!!!!

Only 5 more now for a majority I think.

5 seats to go - I can't take the tension 😯

You've still got time to make it to the border - leave now! 😀

I think like GrahamS says, the SNP have benefited from the anything but Lab/Con/Lib vote more than at any point in the last decades simply because of their connections to Westminster politics, which is so utterly devalued by this and the previous UK governments. However, I think they ran a decent campaign (not much talk of independence) on the back of a (unexpectedly?) mature performance in a minority coalition which has set Holyrood (regardless of party politics) in good stead . The way the coalition parties have dealt with the most recent term of office has shown Scottish politics in a good light – especially compared to the confrontational old-boys politics that goes on in the House of Commons, which appears determined to entrench its status as the laughing stock of European 'democracy'. Like some others have said - it should be a wake up call for those south of the border.

[edit] the real challenge is maintaining this approach and consensus with a working majority - and without fudging previous demands for a vote on independence.

4 to go.

Oooooooooooo - this is going to be so much fun to watch. A car crash unfolding over a four-year term. What did you promise again Alex?...

"The moon on a stick in every home!"

The last thing on earth that moon-faced dwarf wants is a working majority. Careful what you wish for eh? 😉

3 to go.

The big count down ... 😀

binners - dont know what you've been doing for the last few years but the rest of the country has been tangled up in the wreckage of a huge arsed pile up - the SNP cant do any worse as it is simply not possible.

I do wonder how england would vote if there was a realistic alternative to Con/Lib/Lab here.
Instead we only have extreme niche parties.

Interesting point backhander - I could be the first SNP candidate for South Northants! That would really frighten the local Tories.

What do you think? 😆

I think that is why they are getting the votes. They are a party not involved in the chaos down south therefore people are going for the 'anyone but the Westminster parties vote.' Don't think it is a vote for independence though. I think most people realize that the 21st century soultion isn't to turn the clock back to 1314(AD)

the SNP cant do any worse as it is simply not possible.

If I'm entirely honest I think most of us want (and certainly need) a credible alternative to the clowns we are saddled with of late, but I think the word here is 'credible'

Seems like he's been promising everything, a la, Lib Dem, never expecting to be in a position to actually have to deliver any of it.

I suspect that most policies will be viewed in the same way as the Lib Dems viewed their tuition fees pledges. Take a good look at this:

[img] [/img]

There's going to be an awful lot of this kind of thing going on north of the border

I think there will be an independence referendum but that'll it'll fail with only perhaps 40-45% in favour. A lot of people I know who've never voted SNP before have done so this time, but aren't in favour of independence.

I think there are three main factors in this result:
1) Lib dems going into a co-alition with the Tories was always going to be electoral suicide in Scotland
2) The SNP have had a decent first term and look like a safe pair of hands and competent when in power - no longer just a one-issue party. A lot of people have been surprised and a little bit impressed
3) The leadership situation - The SNP have their A-team in the Scottish parliament and everyone else has their B-team. That means Salmond runs rings around them and appears the only reasonable choice for first minister. Gray is a non-entity and very, very few people want him in charge.

I think that people are happy with what the SNP did during their first term whilst in minority, so are more than happy to give them a go in a majority. Nobody realistically expects them to do everything that they pledge to do, but they'll give it their best shot which is all that you can ask for. It makes a refreshing change to see politicians placing people at the heart of their policies and not simply playing party politics.

As a northerner I'm just jealous 😉

The proposal for a referendum is not a simple yes or no question. There are plans to include middle ground options such as enhanced devolved powers without independence.

How does that work, then? They still need the national government to give them those powers - nothing guaranteed there either. I reckon selling Scottish independence to Westminster would be easier, tbh.

And he's got the majority....

Be nice to have a middle ground party; not acting for the benefit of their financiers (banks, murdoch, unions etc)
Just for what is in the best interest of the country as a whole. Problem would be financing election campaigns etc.
As it is, we just use our own opinions on who is the best of a bad bunch (well I do)

Breaking news: Coachloads of brickies are heading towards Hadrians Wall.

(But it didn't say if they were coming from the North or the South...)

😉

Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding at the birth of TJ's Socialist Nirvana

*stands and applauds*

😀

Not yet - still on 62, need 65.

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dedicated to every politician 😉

2 to go.

1 to go.

Make sure you get your kid in that Gaelic school SbZ, he's goign to need it 🙂

Here goes...

The Lib/Dems and Labour are seen as anti-Scotland parties by people who would otherwise vote for them.

When the Lib/Dems and Labour support a free Scotland, their voters will return.