Scottish General Election

I’m politically homeless. I’ll never vote SNP because their track record is dire, won’t vote Lib Dem because they don’t know what a woman is, the greens aren’t focussing on green issues and have very strange views, and labour are a complete disaster. Reform will attract all manner of extreme people.
That leaves Conservative who are extremely weak 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️.

Oh FFS why are people still spouting this nonsense. Any indirect link from Scottish taxes to HS2 is balanced by extra block grant funding via Barnett.

You are quoting figures from GERS, this includes money spent on Scotland's behalf by the UK.

We never see this money. We are given a fixed amount of grant money, once it is spent, it's gone.
Deficit is run up on money spent by the UK government, and is a national figure which assumes we would spend exactly the same amount if independent, on the same things.

We are only poor as part of the UK. Being able to be independent means having fiscal choice not to spend money on HS2, Channel Tunnel, London Underground, none of which benefit us but under GERS we are responsible for payment of all of these.

This is not true. Scotland runs a large net fiscal deficit and receives a substantial implicit transfer from the rest of the UK (predominantly England, as it is ~84% of the UK population and economy).
Latest GERS (2024-25): Scotland's net fiscal deficit is £26.2–26.5 billion (11.6–11.7% of GDP).1b71ca
UK-wide deficit: 5.1% of GDP.

Implied transfer to Scotland: Roughly £14–15 billion per year (the gap between Scotland's actual deficit and its population share of the UK deficit). This equates to ~£2,600+ per person higher public spending than the UK average.

Scotland raises roughly the UK-average revenue per head but benefits from much higher spending per head (via the Barnett formula and other mechanisms). This redistribution comes overwhelmingly from England's taxpayers.

Scotland gets more than £20 BILLION pounds a year more in spending than it brings in via tax.

Every year.

Sounds like we're both very happy for Scotland to lose that.

@Freysimo i did notice that, picked up on one comment re trans to tell me to look at the wider picture whilst completely ignoring the wider issues I stated.

As for another indyref. We really need to move on from that and concentrate on fixing the current issues but I suspect that it’s easier to blame Westminster for everything rather than roll up the sleeves and govern.

The only way that I think a second referendum right now would be justified is if that were the ONLY policy of a party that then wins a majority. Otherwise, I feel it is wrong that the SNP somehow think that if they get a majority, that’s what ‘the people asked for’. As if they only have that one policy.

I think the SNP would have much more respect if they had accepted the last (pretty recent still) referendum and parked their dominant focus on that, and said so. Then focus on everything but Indy 2. I would have respected that especially when there are so many things that need attention, time, and improvement. But I know that would never happen as that is why they exist.

No.

That portion of income tax raised by Holyrood for Holyrood stays with Holyrood.

Eg Before the Holyrood tax was raised, you still paid income tax to HMRC. You always did & do so now. Hence HMRC sending letters everywhere to all taxpayers in each constituent UK Nation.

@Differentforgirls Just been looking at 2011.

SNP/SNP for me.

I note OP hasn't responded to your post. I can't believe Scottish folk would vote SNP after the mismanagement and scandals. I'm in Wales and I very much fear Plaid Cymru supported by Greens and/or Labour will be main party after May.

Will be voting Lib Dem
I am against Independence and definitely don’t want another referendum
We had one, the Nats lost
My DC are early 20s ,I worry for their futures if we got independence
The SNPs record in Government is shocking

Taxes flow from Scots to London bar the Holyrood income tax.
All VAT, income tax, NI, dividend income, savings tax, IHT - all to London.
Income tax stays in Scotland. What would be the point of higher income tax for Scottish workers (above £30K) compared to the rest UK ones if the money would leave Scotland?

No, I didn't know that!

I was watching that YT Podcast from Barrhead Boy & saw the Alliance lass.

In that case if far right, no.

Does SNP SNP work? I generally vote SNP SNP..

A cult?

Political Party I think.

Taxes flow from Scots to London bar the Holyrood income tax.

All VAT, income tax, NI, dividend income, savings tax, IHT - all to London.

Of the above, we get back our so called subsidy via Barnett.

From Barnett funding is then decided for tbe devolved areas of responsibility like the NHS.

It is a critique of the entire UK that HM Treasury chronically underfunds all areas bar London & the SE.

Independence grants full financial leverage. And the currency issue? A country can use whatever currency it wants with the caveat that the issuing country of that currency can push interest rates up to make it hard.

Rejoining the EU issue? Spain has also said that they WOULD NOT block Scotland IF London gave up Gibraltar. That little side issue is ignored by unionists.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read that voting SNPx2 does not give the SNP more seats? Which is scandalous.

Maybe I'll give my second vote to Alliance to liberate Scotland.

I need to research that more. It's a flaw designed in by Westminster.

SNP & Alliance to liberate Scotland.

I believe that the UK needs constutional reform to balance out the fact that one large nation is able to dictate political outcomes that are not desired by the smaller nations eg Brexit.

Additionally, I suspect that Westminster cares nought about "the regions" except in elections. And I include English northern regions & our Cornish cousins in that.

The above outweighs for me Holyrood's gender inequality fracas.

I voted against Indy last time. Next time I will be voting Yes unless Westminster removes FPTP.

Need to dig deeper than 26k. Think you’ll be out of pocket for a fair bit more than that. 31k+200k+whatever the 3rd link totals. Even you must see the money wasted on papers nobody reads.

I find myself politically homeless right now. I plan to vote tactically for Labour to lower the vote for SNP. It might prove fruitless but it’s something I can do.

I don’t want Independence, I am pro woman’s rights which doesn’t mean I’m anti trans but I feel woman’s rights are being attacked day by day. Also I work in education and the policies and cuts are making our jobs harder and harder each day. Sen provision and support are being eradicated. It’s shameful.

I am proud to be Scottish but I feel embarrassed saying it because of the nationalistic connections.