Scottish constituency. Who to vote for

[AShaveAndAHarecutHalfPrice]

Anyone else in this position?

My constituency is currently held by the SNP, but the majority has dropping from approx 14000 to 2000.

I do not rate this MP - he has been largely invisible as a member (didn’t turn up at hustings).

However, I do like a LOT of the policies Nicola Sturgeon has delivered at Holyrood, and it seems -independence apart - a good fit for someone wanting moderate left wing policies.

I am not pro independence, but am prepared to put that aside for now in favour of their social policies and decent work as an opposition party in Westminster and fight indyref2 at another time.

I’m a natural labour voter - voting for the party which most represents help for people much worse off than me seems the just thing to do.

Yet their infighting is worrisome and the lack of leadership on Brexit is infuriating. I’ve got no clear idea of what Labour will deliver and who will be calling the shots.

I’m a remainer.

I find Johnson hideously untrustworthy and do not want a Tory government.

I thing the best I can fight for is a hung parliament, though.

So - who do I vote for?

Tbh I don’t know, I don’t see the point in returning an SNP candidate to Westminster because they’ll never be able to form an effective opposition, or indeed a government, which in effect in my constituency means voting labour because it’s a pretty straight fight between the two.

While there are undoubtedly issues with labour, if I don’t want a Tory shit show there’s no other party able realistically to form a government so while I might disagree with some of what’s happening within the Labour Party, I disagree with the Tories much more.

It’s difficult isn’t it? I don’t favour independence, but Nicola Sturgeon and a lot of the SNP are extremely competent politicians, certainly Nicola is head and shoulders above Johnson and Corbyn. Many of their non-independence policies are excellent and they have successfully implemented some good initiatives. I feel we are better off in Scotland than the rest of the UK.

However, they have made it clear that a vote for the SNP is an endorsement of independence. So if they are your only option to avoid a conservative winning I think voting for them inevitably sends an unwanted message if you are pro-union which is unfortunate. It’s a lesser of two evils choice. I would hold my nose and vote SNP if they were in a race with the Tories.

Or, you could read the thread about Santa vs Father Christmas from yesterday and decide that independence isn’t so bad after all

It is such a tough one.

I think SNP can in some ways form an effective opposition - certainly st PMQs Ian Blackford has held his own.

They could form a coalition with labour for a minority government or strong opposition.

I think I will still be dithering on Thursday morning.

Ian Blackford has been exceptionally effective in telling the truth in parliament, I have a lot of admiration for him.

The last thing Scotland needs is Indyref2. We seem to have had years of uncertainty and referendums. A vote for SNP is endorsing more years of uncertainty.

Scotland needs to get on with the day job, schools are failing we have the same money for education as England but they are beating us in the PISA tables.

Depends who is second in the hustings and who you want to get in. Sounds like for you SNP would be ok to you.

I've just voted Labour - not because I particularly want to vote Labour as I think a Corbyn government would be dreadful for the economy, but because we're in the constituency with the only Labour MP in Scotland and he does a good job. Even though if Labour did get into power they'd do a pact with SNP, I do not want SNP to sweep the board and then declare grounds for another referendum.

So I voted tactically but it could backfire. I don't know who I want to win - I think Lib Dems could be doing a lot better but they overplayed their hand with the scrapping Brexit notion and leaders both for UK and Scotland don't seem up to the job.

I suspect Lib Dem’s will be decimated.

Willie Rennie always looks it of his depth. Jo Swinson seems too right wing for me.

Tories - enough said (though Jackson Carlaw comes over well).

I am usually an SNP voter but don’t feel I can vote for them this time. I cannot give them my vote when I feel that education is being let down very badly. Also, the debacle of the sick kids in Edinburgh and the terrible situation at the Glasgow hospital. I could never bring myself to vote Tory, think Labour in Scotland have lost their way, and that the Greens are admirable but have little chance. Genuinely stuck!

I'm not politically minded so really struggling here. I think my SNP vote is wasted this time round, and that I should be voting for one of the 'main' parties, but at the same time it's SNP across the board here so my vote will simply disappear.

I don't think Sturgeon has delivered on her promises, she isn't any different to the rest of the politicians. She is driven by her desire to be the one to bring Scotland to independence, meanwhile we can't even get a doctors appointment and our schools are over capacity.

Do labour have a decent chance where you are?
If not, I would vote snp due to anyone-but-tory.

I wish the snp would encourage their MPs to things like answer their constituents' letters though.

snowybaubles find out who was second last time in your area, it's self fulfilling to say that SNP will sweep the board, I really hope they don't even though none of the alternatives are that palatable either.

Whoever's most likely to beat the SNP. There are websites to help you work it out. I don't agree in entirely with ANY of the main parties, I think the Lib Dems stance on gender identity is ridiculous.

But the Lib Dems aren't going to form a government and push it through. Let Sturgeon have her way and it's irreversible.

Interestingly, the last twice I phoned for a doctor’s appointment they offered me the next day.

Realistically though in most Scottish constituencies it's a clear choice between SNP or Conservatives, so there's an unpalatable choice to be made - vote for the party that's going to push through a referendum that will decimate our nation or vote for the party that wants another referendum to decimate our nation.

@rookiemere

Thanks. It was Conservative but very closely followed by Labour. However, Labour have had a hold historically many times. So it's not as SNP as I thought! (I paid no attention to politics for years - I know, i know - really bad of me) I think I may well vote Labour as they possibly stand a chance, but so do the Torres as it's been rather close previously. Yes, I think that's it. Labour.

but because we're in the constituency with the only Labour MP in Scotland. Where does this come from? There are several Labour MPs in Scotland, seven I think (could be wrong)? I have a Labour MP and Edinburgh South is Labour so that’s two for a start.

For the first me ever I’m not voting, I live in an snp seat who has won it by a huge majority the last few times we’ve voted. The next party was thousands behind and no chance of overturning him as he does do a good job in the area. However I’m not a huge fan of snp and dislike this chat about indyref2. We voted in our once in a generation vote and it was a no!

As for labour and conservative who would want boris or Jeremy running our country , total madness!

OP, if the SNP get any increase in their vote share they will take it as a green light for a second independence referendum. With disastrous financial consequences for everyone in Scotland if (God forbid) it succeeded.
Keeping the U.K. intact is far more important than any other issues, or your personal opinion of candidates or their parties’ policies.
Sturgeon asked to be judged on education. Scotland has been plummeting down the international PISA ratings for the last ten years - we are now behind not only England but the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Their handling of the stupidly centralised Police Scotland has been a fiasco. The leaders have been resigning in droves.
The NHS ditto- look at the deaths and scandal at the “Death Star” hospital in Glasgow and the debacle over Sick Kids in Edinburgh.
The SNP won’t take responsibility for any of it. They lie about education, claiming it is “stable” (presumably the steady rate of decline?) and try to blame Westminster for everything else, despite them being devolved issues.
Please consult the tactical voting websites and pick whichever anti SNP candidate has the best chance in your area.
Whatever you think of Johnson, he is the only leader who has vowed to prevent Indyref 2.

I just don't think the tories will ever really benefit Scotland.

Also I tend to look at who I vote for as an MSP for devolved issues.
Eg health and education.

Whereas for things like home office policy I would choose my MP - apparently I agree with the SNP on 80% of their policies for this election

I also think they've had their nose bloodied over self-ID and they're being a lot more careful lately
They need mass appeal for independence related reasons. Most independence voters don't want self-id.

Health wise my dad has been ill here and has had excellent treatment.
My partner's dad has been ill in Cornwall and while the staff have been lovely he's been kicked out of hospital repeatedly and keeps bouncing back in, and every time he goes back he spends the night in a corridor.

Schools wise I'm very happy with the school my younger DC are at in terms of support staff. They have 3 guidance teachers which is a lot more than in the schools I hear about from my friends in England.
They have 2 paid counselors.

My dd who has finished school, who only experienced CfE (was home educated before it kicked in) had a good experience of school and learned what she needed to learn to succeed in her career.

What I could do with is more mental health services especially for children and more funding for women's services such as rape crisis support. But I think it's the same level of crisis in England and I can't see how that isn't linked to tory austerity.

I'm socially conservative and would probably 'naturally' vote tory but I do care about vulnerable people in society and will tend to vote for whoever will protect them the most.

Would rather have dinner with a tory 9 times out of 10. Anna Soubry in particular is a shero of mine and seems like great crack.

Anna Soubry is not currently a Tory. She resigned from the party.

I agree with Babdoc that if you are not in favour of independence it's madness to vote SNP.

I'll vote for the strongest opposition to them where I am, even though I'm in a very strong SNP constituency so my vote will count for nothing except to show that we're not all in favour of independence.

I'm in a currently Conservative Seat in Scotland and will be voting SNP, having until recently always voted Labour. I agree with much of the SNP policies and appreciate things could be better in some areas, but in comparison to the rest of the UK, we often are running things better.

Voting SNP now doesn't mean one has to support Scottish independence at any future referendum. For now, I'm voting for the party that has Scotland's best interests at heart. Yes they won't every get into government at Westminster, but the more of them that are down there, the more our interests can be represented. Been really impressed by some of the SNP MPs to date.

'Anna Soubry is not currently a Tory. She resigned from the party.'
I know. As far as dinner parties go she would still count and would be very welcome at my table.

See also: Sayeeda Warsi.

I loved the way she was so open about her apology for earlier comments that were homophobic.

Not like some current candidates.