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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you are voting SNP?

562 replies

SpiceAddict · 03/04/2015 11:10

How do you think they are going to 'end austerity'? How will this be financed? You can't just suddenly invest more in infrastructure etc to create more jobs if there is no.money.

If it is going to be financed by stopping trident, then we will lose US support - not really a good idea....

Labour are going to increase tax for higher payers, mansion tax etc in order to fund their investments.

I live in Yorkshire and we really don't get the support for SNP. They don't make sense to me, but as they seem to be so popular, please can someone actually why?

OP posts:
KidLorneRoll · 03/04/2015 20:21

I'm pretty sure the SNP realise it, and all the material I've seen from them is about working with system, rather than against it. You are free to form your own opinion, of course, but the point stands - a vote for the SNP in a general election cannot bring around the breakup of the union.

SquirrelledAway · 03/04/2015 20:22

I think one of the biggest problem that Scotland's 17 year olds have at the moment is trying to deal with the CfE mess.

FannyFifer · 03/04/2015 20:24

Yup will absolutely be voting SNP.

KidLorneRoll · 03/04/2015 20:29

SantanaLopez

  1. I'm aware the UK government sanctioned the referendum. My point is that they could not refuse it, in the real world. Democracy and all that.

  2. Salmond is not first minister any more. He's a backbencher, and if elected to Westminster is not even the leader of the Westminster SNP group. His opinion is not SNP policy and, once again, even if it was independence is not going to come about due to the election of a number of MP's that, at most, will make up

blowinahoolie · 03/04/2015 20:32

"I'm amazed at the unquestioning following the SNP have."

Why? It's not difficult to work out.....Take a good look around you, people are getting poorer (the poor, that is, not the rich) and people need hope. Why stick with the current regime that isn't working for ordinary working people? That's why many will vote SNP. It offers a glimmer of hope. It may not be perfect, but it's a damn sight better trying than carrying on with the status quo. If you're being offered an alternative to what shit we're in at the moment, you'll take the alternative (well, most people would).

SantanaLopez · 03/04/2015 20:38

I'm aware the UK government sanctioned the referendum. My point is that they could not refuse it, in the real world. Democracy and all that.

No, once sanctioned, it couldn't be refused. The Scottish government could not run a referendum (legally) without the consent of the UK government.

Salmond is not first minister any more.

He is still extremely prominent and a figurehead of the referendum.

Since when was your statement about being part of a greater whole true? I'm sorry, but that is patent nonsense. Each party has it's agenda, and if the SNP return MP's it's their right to persue that agenda, just like any other party. They all act according to a set of specified interests, the SNP are hardly unique in that regard.

The SNP are unique in that they do not want to be controlled by Westminster. Their agenda is completely different because their driving force is their desire to be independent.

unlucky83 · 03/04/2015 20:45

The fact is if they do well in this election they will view it as support for them as a whole - with their end goal of independence...
(Because the referendum was fixed - or swayed by that last minute vow)
They will push for another referendum - and if they are part of a coalition it will be one of their bargaining tools. Or they will use that power to push for independence by the back door (which I fear is more likely).
I don't trust them and I don't think they have managed things well....as I posted before the ready excuse that all the 'bad' things are due to Westminster.
They are responsible for the flash obvious 'headline' things that people notice - eg free prescriptions for the antibiotics they need once every blue moon. Or no tuition fees (with fewer higher education college places)
Its all smoke and mirrors...
I am disillusioned with all politicians but the SNP really are no better...just have better PR.

SirChenjin · 03/04/2015 20:46

That's why many will vote SNP. It offers a glimmer of hope

A hope of what, precisely?

blowinahoolie · 03/04/2015 20:49

Ginnels I also liked Leanne Wood in the debate and thought she really stood out like Nicola Sturgeon. LW was calm and reasoned in her discussion with the others on the panel. I just hope Wales gets a better deal in the future, they seem to have got the shit end of the stick when the Barnett Formula was brought about. It doesn't seem fair.

blowinahoolie · 03/04/2015 20:51

Sir people are hoping there will be improvements in their working lives, and an end to this austerity, or less austerity. This Conservative model isn't working for the poorest in society. Only wealthy people would find this hard to understand...

ScotsWhaHae · 03/04/2015 20:57

Explain the back door to me please unlucky

It's oft referred to by everyone other than the SNP but it's not clear what this back door is?

I'll help you out here, there is no back door.

SirChenjin · 03/04/2015 20:58

And the SNP's loose grip on economics will make it far worse for the poorest in society - their figures simply don't stack up. As a PP said, their PR is excellent and their soundbites are commendable - but in terms of offering Scotland anything more than a threat of more uncertainty and unrest they have nothing that will reduce inequalities or grow the economy. Nothing. It's like watching Bernard Matthews persuading the turkeys to vote for Christmas.

blowinahoolie · 03/04/2015 21:00

But the Conservatives are out of touch with real working class people though aren't they? They don't have a clue about the poorest in society. SNP don't always get things right, no party does, but they acknowledge the poorest in society a lot more in their policies than the Conservatives do.

We can agree to disagree :)

SirChenjin · 03/04/2015 21:01

And of course they will continue to push for independence - if we're not facing another independence referendum in the next few years I will be very surprised. One way or another, by the back door, front door or through the window - they will continue to push and push and push, conveniently ignoring the will of the Scottish people that they were so keen to proclaim their loyalty to - until they were defeated.

littlebillie · 03/04/2015 21:02

Nope

SirChenjin · 03/04/2015 21:03

That's right - no party gets it completely right, but the SNP is actively selling a pig in a poke to the most vulnerable and poorest in society. That's far from right.

blowinahoolie · 03/04/2015 21:07

You could also insert David Cameron into that sentence in place of the SNP, tbh Sir. Or any other party! It all boils down to personal preference at the end of the day.

Noggie · 03/04/2015 21:07

I am scottish and won't be voting snp. I just can't get past their independence stance! I voted 'no' and really really can't support them. I agree Nicola S is very good at what she does- but I'll need to figure out who to vote for instead.

hilzypop · 03/04/2015 21:12

I will be voting SNP! I will be proud to do so. SNP have really moved on from being a single issue party and have good policies and a proven track record.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 03/04/2015 21:16

www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/politics/wider-political-news/ifs-labour-could-sign-up-to-nicola-sturgeons-call-for-billions-extra-i.121222793

"But the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said new figures in this week's Budget showed that not only was her [Sturgeon] plan feasible, but if Labour agreed to the proposals the party could still meet its aim to balance UK's books by 2020.

When she made her call the SNP leader estimated that £180 billion would be required to meet her proposal - for a 0.5 per cent rise in departmental spending.

The IFS said that an analysis of the latest calculations in the Budget suggested that that figure had dropped dramatically.

Its analysis showed that Labour could meet its target for a balanced Budget by the last year of the next parliament and still increase departmental spending in real terms by £9bn a year between 2015-16 and 2019-20.

The think tank said that this £9bn increase equated to an average growth of 0.5 per cent a year - the same as the SNP proposals.

Gemma Tetlow, programme director at the IFS, said: "On the basis of projections Labour could achieve a current budget balance by 2019/20 and increase departmental spending by 0.5 per cent per year on average over the four years from 2015-16, without requiring any further tax rises or changes to welfare spending beyond the £1.2bn they propose to raise from a mansion tax."

SirChenjin · 03/04/2015 21:17

It does - but if you vote Conservative then you're voting for a party which is long established and has a specific set of policies (which is not to say I agree with them). SNP offers vague promises based on a wish list, poorly thought out economic policies and the constant threat of independence, which great brings instability and uncertainty - dangling multiple carrots to the poorest and most deprived while they do so.

But yes, personal preference.

littlejessie · 03/04/2015 21:17

I'll be voting SNP in May.

No party is perfect as others have said, but I genuinely do not consider Labour, Lib Dems or Conservatives a viable option for Scotland. We have a political wasteland in terms of alternatives here, and I think the SNP have done and are doing a good job up here.

RVPisnomore · 03/04/2015 21:19

Not unless hell freezes over first.

Buddy2go · 03/04/2015 21:24

It's the unquestioning support blowinahoolie that I don't get.

I know they are stopping any public criticism or decscent from the party line by their own MPs but it's blind faith the supporters have claiming they are informed when they are clearly anything but which really scares me. When they run out of arguments FB memes get trotted out about bravery and hope.

My local schools were threatened until a couple of weeks ago with losing 2 1/2 hours per week classroom time because of the budget mess. Most people polled wanted to pay more council tax to ease the situation but the council would've faced millions in fines from the SNP government wiping out most of the gain. The SNP are clinging to headline grabbing 'positive' policies while hiding the consequences of them. The lowest earners / unemployed aren't affected by council tax rises, the highest earners are saving masses with the freeze, I fail to see any policies that make Scotland a fairer place to live.

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