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To wonder why people keep voting SNP?

415 replies

Carla786 · 31/01/2026 05:34

I don't know a lot about Scottish politics and I may be missing important things they've done. However, I used to have a lot of respect for Nicola Sturgeon but her handling of gender critical issues has destroyed that. The SNP do not seem very effective at reducing drugs, poverty, or other serious issues.
My understanding was that quite a few people vote SNP not because they want independence (which most Scots appear to not want) but because they think the SNP are more committed to Scotland sorcifically than Tories and Labour. How accurate is this though..?

Since most Scots appear to not want independence, I thought the SNP was probably high achieving in other areas & Tories & Labour seen as poor by comparison. Or is it more often seen as the best of 3 bad options? Or is SNP much more positive than the impression I've got?

OP posts:
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Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 02/02/2026 09:37

Differentforgirls · 02/02/2026 06:46

It hasn’t, it’s still superior.

Hope you are not saying that with a straight face 😂
Our children are failing due to this shambolic governmemt

ThatBlackCat · 02/02/2026 09:34

Differentforgirls · 02/02/2026 06:43

No they don’t. But this is mumsnet where the hatred of 0.1% of the population is off the scale.

They put Bryson a rapist in women females where females can't escape, HOW is that not putting women in danger? He is a FULLY INTACT MALE! Do you even realise that? A fucking RAPIST! With his penis intact. In a cell with a woman (most women in prison have a history of sexual and/or drug abuse and are vulnerable as it is). For goodness sake, use some critical thinking.

MALES are 50% of the population. Not '0.1%'. It's honestly strange how Mens Rights Activists manipulate and re-write facts and statistics to push their agenda. As if somehow there is a third sex: male, female, and 'trans' who are 0.1%. And that third sex is somehow allowed to take the rights of the male sex.

Lie, twist, distort, manipulate, re-badge and rewrite all you want, @Differentforgirls ; the fact remains that that "0.1%" of males are fully intact males with penis and testicles, and they should not be in change rooms, rape crisis centres, battered womens shelters or toilets where rape survivors like me are.

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 02/02/2026 09:30

For all you SNP voters, are you happy to continue going forward with how they have failed our children?
Really!!

Lillitut · 02/02/2026 09:29

My goodness! You CANNOT quote the National as proof of ANYTHING. It’s about as accurate as Pravda, and just as biased. I’m so embarrassed for you that you seem to have a subscription! Dear me Differentforgirls. You don’t seem to have any idea about how Scotland works at all.

Lillitut · 02/02/2026 09:26

Differentforgirls · 02/02/2026 07:37

Some anectodal evidence on Twitter which I take with a large pinch of salt. Every young person I know who went to Uni got their first choice place.

It’s a fact! Places for Scottish students ARE capped!

Lillitut · 02/02/2026 09:25

Shakeoffyourchains · 02/02/2026 08:36

It would probably be worth you spending just five minutes reading about how sovereignty and asset division work post independence, and another five on why London’s income figures look so high (hint: they’re largely about accounting location, not value creation) before posting stuff like this in future.

I don’t know if you realise but corporation tax is very much dependent on where a company is headquartered. It’s why Google pays most of its corp tax in Ireland and Amazon in Luxembourg. Do you seriously think any company would choose to be headquartered in an Indy Scotland where there is zero regulation, or history of regulation?

Lillitut · 02/02/2026 09:23

Differentforgirls · 02/02/2026 06:46

It hasn’t, it’s still superior.

So you haven’t seen the latest PISA scores or the exponential rise in violence figures. Goodness, you’re so ‘Weesht for Indy’!

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 02/02/2026 09:19

Carla786 · 01/02/2026 18:27

Yes, I remember getting the impression over the years that the Scottish school system was pretty positive, more so than England's. If that's changed due to the SNP, that's terrible...

Scottish education used to be something to be proud of. Under the SNP it’s been a constant downwards spiral. They even removed Scotland from the international comparisons because the destruction they have wreaked looks so bad for them.

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 02/02/2026 09:13

CherryPieface · 01/02/2026 22:17

I don’t know any Scots who ‘hate’ English people, saying that this is the norm is ridiculous. Scotland is a beautiful country, the majority of us love living here and nothing is ‘fucked’ despite what some negative posters are saying.

DH is English. He has encountered many Scottish people who hate the English in the 30 years he’s been living here.

ThatBlackCat · 02/02/2026 09:13

NewName12345678910 · 01/02/2026 14:49

I fully understand the article. Don’t be ridiculous.

Then you will know that the government are going to court to have males in female prisons just as I said!

Quine0nline · 02/02/2026 09:09

Having worked in the NHS primary care 2000-2008 in Scotland and 2008 -2016, and 2019-current in Scotland it's not fantastic either side of the border but slightly better in Scotland.

I don't think Wales or Northern Ireland are milk and honey either.

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 02/02/2026 09:04

Differentforgirls · 02/02/2026 06:43

No they don’t. But this is mumsnet where the hatred of 0.1% of the population is off the scale.

The SNP are literally going to court for the right to put violent men in prisons with vulnerable women. 🙄

Westfacing · 02/02/2026 08:44

I expect it's along the lines of people like me, not Scottish and live in London, who keep voting Labour!

I'm very disillusioned but who else can I reasonably vote for, given my leanings and opinions?

Shakeoffyourchains · 02/02/2026 08:36

cotswoldsgal1234 · 01/02/2026 18:37

Except the UK sovereignty owns the North Sea, not Scotland. And the financial district in London, generates more income than the whole of Scotland, so there’s something to think about.

It would probably be worth you spending just five minutes reading about how sovereignty and asset division work post independence, and another five on why London’s income figures look so high (hint: they’re largely about accounting location, not value creation) before posting stuff like this in future.

Differentforgirls · 02/02/2026 07:37

Coffeeandbooks88 · 02/02/2026 07:26

Isn't there fewer spaces for Scots because universities need the money so they favour fee paying students?

Some anectodal evidence on Twitter which I take with a large pinch of salt. Every young person I know who went to Uni got their first choice place.

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 02/02/2026 07:29

Coffeeandbooks88 · 02/02/2026 07:26

Isn't there fewer spaces for Scots because universities need the money so they favour fee paying students?

Correct. I’d hardly trust pro Indy The National either.

Coffeeandbooks88 · 02/02/2026 07:26

Isn't there fewer spaces for Scots because universities need the money so they favour fee paying students?

Differentforgirls · 02/02/2026 07:21

Goatsarebest · 02/02/2026 07:05

No such thing as free university education in any Country. That's the problem with spending other people's money. You think it's free. Higher taxes and everyone either finds ways not to pay it or leaves Scotland. The diminishing returns of punitive tax at higher rates is well known.

www.thenational.scot/news/24890374.people-moving-scotland-rest-uk-boost-population-growth/

Goatsarebest · 02/02/2026 07:05

Quincepaste · 01/02/2026 00:40

The SNP have some policies I strongly support. Some examples:

Free university education - a norm in many euro countries, and it should be in England and Wales too

Higher income tax - though I’d prefer them to go much further on this

Free prescriptions

Baby box - I don’t personally need this so haven’t applied for it for any of my babies, but the principle that no baby should start life without the basics is an important one

Theres a lot I don’t agree with too, a lot they’ve mishandled, and there’s a glaring shortage of talent in the party. But of the available options they’re the best for someone with my politics.

I voted for indy in 2014 but probably wouldn’t now. I think the parallels with how Brexit has played out are too hard to ignore. But this is irrelevant as I don’t see any realistic prospect of independence any time soon.

No such thing as free university education in any Country. That's the problem with spending other people's money. You think it's free. Higher taxes and everyone either finds ways not to pay it or leaves Scotland. The diminishing returns of punitive tax at higher rates is well known.

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 02/02/2026 06:51

Differentforgirls · 02/02/2026 06:43

No they don’t. But this is mumsnet where the hatred of 0.1% of the population is off the scale.

I think you’ll find any right minded person (backed up by polls) thinks putting men into women’s jails is a really stupid, dangerous idea. As is the SNP’s thrall to the ridiculous notion of gender ideology which has the potential to harm women and girls. You can keep trying to spin it as ‘hating trans people’ when it’s really about preserving women’s rights to sex based spaces.

Differentforgirls · 02/02/2026 06:48

cotswoldsgal1234 · 01/02/2026 19:02

Spoken like a true Scot. I rest my case.

I wonder why people seemed to dislike you in Scotland? 😬

Differentforgirls · 02/02/2026 06:46

Carla786 · 01/02/2026 18:27

Yes, I remember getting the impression over the years that the Scottish school system was pretty positive, more so than England's. If that's changed due to the SNP, that's terrible...

It hasn’t, it’s still superior.

Differentforgirls · 02/02/2026 06:43

Carla786 · 01/02/2026 17:35

Excellent post. The SNP chose to put women in danger....

No they don’t. But this is mumsnet where the hatred of 0.1% of the population is off the scale.

Differentforgirls · 02/02/2026 06:39

cotswoldsgal1234 · 01/02/2026 13:59

Do English MPs get a vote on things specific to Scotland, like free University places? Or the amount of debt per head you are racking up, which then goes into a central debt fund?
Dont forget you owe more money per head than the English, so I am not sure how you plan to pay that back. Your tax will have to rise, to compensate the Barnet Formula which is so generous to Scotland. You will no longer be able to use the pound either. Your education system has let a generation fail, when it used to be superior, all thanks to the SNP. Glasgow is still the drug capital of Europe. Be careful what you wish for because it could be coming your way soon.
And if you fail to get independence, will you just keep pushing for another one? Maybe campaign for England to have an independence vote , because then you may well get your Independence.

Scottish Govt have limited borrowing powers. The debt has been run up by Westminster.

Differentforgirls · 02/02/2026 06:33

OllyBJolly · 01/02/2026 11:57

I also believe Scotland could thrive as an independent country. However, the SNP under Sturgeon has failed to run the country effectively. It's turned into a virtue-signalling PR exercise.

Why do they keep winning? Lack of alternatives really. The calibre of politician in Holyrood is generally dire. As a life long lefty Labour Party member, it's a sad day when I watch Holyrood debates and find myself nodding along to the Tory contributions.

I was so excited to see a Scottish parliament. What's it actually achieved - other than created a vast number of public sector jobs and funded a plethora of quangos that don't seem accountable to anyone? Never thought I'd say this but I think Reform's policy of shutting Holyrood down might be a vote winner. And that poor standing lies at the door of the SNP.

What have they done?

To wonder why people keep voting SNP?