to think some of the Anti Scottish rhetoric in the media due to the rise of the SNP is frankly shocking?

[ssd]

Scotland voted to stay in the UK, David Cameron and Ed Milliband wanted this, now it feels like they wish we hadnt.

Anyway, it's getting late. Night all

NS is not tabling independence. I'm not expecting it when I vote for them in a few weeks and I think the SNP voters out there know that too. If it is offered, i.e. put i na manifesto, then the is NO doubt that it will be made clear that it is on the table and people can vote accordingly. But some SNP voters can also be NO voters, who see SNP as an alternative too, or merely an opportunity to shake up Westminster

I am not happy with the press coverage expressing something nearing outrage at the thought that an SNP block vote could determine the UK government. That's our constitution and to have the press suggesting that the government would not be legitimate if it depends on SNP support is quite dangerous, IMV.

Just have to share my friends status updates in relation to the press hysteria and the Boris Johnson fb rant... Very very funny but oh, how right he is. As another friend put it, the Tories are quaking in their La Chameau wellies!

I think nationalist politics of any variety are divisive. The prospect of a party which only a fraction if the population can vote for holding the balance of power fills me with horror.

My personal view is that the snp want independence at any price. Am quite sure they will view a strong vote for the snp as a mandate for another referendum.

Why does that fill you with horror? That's the constitution. Is it worse than parties governing with a low share of the vote? In 2010 less than 24% of those eligible to vote voted Tory and Scotland voted for one Tory MP. No horror about that?

All it really means is that non of the parties have any worthwhile policies or they would be fighting the election on policies alone

Fills you with horror...

What about the people of Northern Ireland? They can't vote Labour or Tory. Why the horror about England?

The SNP would have us believe that NO-ONE in Scotland votes for the conservatives. This is not true. In 2010, 412K voters in Scotland voted for the Tories, 16.7% of the turnout, compared to the SNP 491K votes, and 19.9% of the turnout. The SNP are no more or less about spin than any other party. and of course, no-0ne can vote for Nicola Sturgeon in the GE anyway.

I had no idea about northern Ireland not being able to vote for labour or Tory. Our system is weird.

And yes, devisive nationalist politics fills me with horror. I put ukip firmly in that category.

BlueDressingGown I agree with your post.

yes I agree 100% with what bluedressinggown posted.

It doesn't really matter how many people vote Tory in Scotland if it only translates into one seat out of 59, that's not spin.

I wish they had voted for independence - the SNP are only interested in 3 things.
Scotland, Scotland, & Scotland.

I wish they'd bugger off.

I think that is too generous a views of the SNP's aim which is an independent nation state of Scotland, whatever the consequences for that nation or it's inhabitants.

It's appealing in the same way as Farage's aim of pulling up the drawbridges on the UK - it's a simple solution to a complicated world.

I think the diviseness is appalling. I don't think theres anything to be gained from saying anti-Scottish rhetoric in particular is a feature of this GE, when in Scotland there is so much anti-English rhetoric and, in some circles, if you dare express an opinion slightly away from what is perceived to be the majority, you're quite likely to be told to "f off out of our country then", even if you are Scottish.

For instance, many in Scotland would have you believe no Scots vote Conservative, meaning that 412,000 people at the last GE are considered not worthy of consideration. This sort of intolerance is actually a very specific brand of Scottishness, a brand which shouts the loudest. It has very little to do with the rural east of Scotland which I am from.

CrystalCove It doesn't really matter how many people vote Tory in Scotland if it only translates into one seat out of 59, that's not spin

A typical viewpoint. What does of course matter is that the Conservative vote in Scotland is much more evenly spread through the country as a whole, rather than pockets of very strong SNP support, which is also very effective at mobilising the vote. And it is in many aspects the vote of former Labour voters, who obediently voted for Labour generation after generation, without thinking.

I don't feel Scotland is a welcoming country to me any more, as a Scot. That's a horrible way to feel but I don't want to live there. I do however have a vote, and it counts every bit as much as that of any SNP supporter.

Likeican-

Well the Tories are only interested in the rich, the rich, the rich.
Labour, themselves, themselves, themselves.
UKIP, immigration, immigration, immigration.
Lib dems ???

MPs are supposed to represent their local areas. What is wrong with SNP MPs doing the job they are being paid for?

Chandler "typical" viewpoint? No, just a fact - regarding the amount of MPs returned to Westminster it doesn't matter how many people vote for the Tories, it's the amount of seats that count. They have ONE. It's not likely to increase anytime soon either.

And that's 1 out of a possible 59. Hopefully zero soon

Its "just a fact" that the votes of 412,000 people don't matter? Wow. Are you crazy? That's something I'd expect to read from the disciplies of a tinpot dictatorship ruled by violence in parts of the world who have never experienced a democratic culture, nor had an independent education.

it's the amount of seats that count. They have ONE. It's not likely to increase anytime soon either.

Aside from the fact that sounds a hell of a lot more like your opinion than fact, it matters because we live in a democracy with a General Election forthcoming, and we have recently seen a massive increase in powers to the Scottish Government, which has Proportional Representation.

No I'm not crazy. It doesn't matter towards the number of MPs returned, you know full well what I meant. You don't like the voting system tough. Take it up with your MP - if you live in the UK. And judging by the polls it doesn't look like increasing anytime soon, we will soon know!

CrystalCove No I'm not crazy. It doesn't matter towards the number of MPs returned, you know full well what I meant.

I know full well what kind of nonsense you are insinuating. Decent people don't really come out with statements like that. I'm sick of all the intolerance about people's choice in a democracy over their way to vote. Not so long ago, the same thing was being said about Labour in Scotland - you would have actually thought voting Labour was compulsory in some parts, and you risked being beaten up if you admitted to anything different.

I always think, when I hear comments like yours, "oh well, you'll not be wanting my taxes then either, since you think I don't count". Which doesn't bother me, easy enough to get out of Scotland (its not as if other countries don't offer better opportunities), and you have the right vote in your former constituency for up to 15 years under UK electoral law if living overseas. But apparently, my vote doesn't count according to you, if I vote for my own choice of party. What an utterly ridiculous comment.

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