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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to hope that the SNP and the Labour Party

30 replies

SoManyQuestions219 · 09/05/2015 21:01

form a parliamentary alliance and vote against any unpalatable oncoming Tory cuts / excesses in the months to come - especially since they are now unchecked in government.

I known the numbers don't quite stack up but 56 SNP MPs, overtly more socialist than their Labour counterparts and not afraid to voice their opinion is a good thing IMO.

As such I hope that Scottish MPs can continue to vote on English matters. I also hope that they see their responsibility as being not only towards their Scottish constituents but also towards everyone in the UK.

AIBU? Not sure of the mechanics of parliament but want to learn more so please discuss if you feel like it!

OP posts:
Andrewofgg · 09/05/2015 21:04

Why the hell should they be allowed to vote on Bills which don't apply to Scotland and concern matters which in Scotland are the business of their own Parliament?

jkklpu · 09/05/2015 21:04

Whatever the subject, a minority can't outvote a majority. Opposition parties usually vote against any government bill, even if they agree with much or all of the content. So what you're suggesting is likely to happen, but it won't stop new legislation.

Andrewofgg · 09/05/2015 21:05

Actually jkkipu I doubt if the SNP will turn out in force to be outvoted on English Bills.

pinkfoxes · 09/05/2015 21:43

The son already don't vote on English matters as a point of principle. Unless they affect Scotland in some way, of course.

TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 09/05/2015 21:55

But Sturgeon has explicitly said they would, pink.

ShouldIworryornothelp · 09/05/2015 21:56

Let Scotland become independent.

Bring all the UK business and public sector and industrial work south of the border, create masses of jobs in the north.

Ubik1 · 09/05/2015 22:01

Why does everyone have it in for scotland?

As I understand it, we are all citizens of the UK and part if the uk voted a certain way.

Why such vitriol?

tabulahrasa · 09/05/2015 22:02

"Why the hell should they be allowed to vote on Bills which don't apply to Scotland and concern matters which in Scotland are the business of their own Parliament?"

Because that's the way parliament is set up, because it suited governments to have their Scottish MPs voting.

If you're not happy with that, talk to your MP about parliamentary reform - it's bound to come up sometime soon anyway...

unweavedrainbow · 09/05/2015 22:03

Except that they have a majority of 12. 12. All it takes is a few pissed off backbench MPs or a Labour/Tory backroom deal, hell, even an inconvenient vote, and that majority crumbles to nothing. That's not a great position for a PM to be in. It's also worth remembering that this could be a Parliament dominated by Europe. Anyone who remembers Major and Maastricht knows what a toxic combination Europe and a very slim majority government is. I predict chaos ahead, even without the destabilising effect of the SNP. Add them in and goodness knows what you end up with...

Ubik1 · 09/05/2015 22:03

I think it came up last year.

ShouldIworryornothelp · 09/05/2015 22:04

Because Scotland are so vocal about hating being part of the UK. Or rather the mouthpiece Sturgeon is on your behalf...

AlternativeTentacles · 09/05/2015 22:08

Even with the SNP and Labour vote against the cuts, the majority means that any and I mean ANY Tory policies get through pretty much automatically.

Labour - and I mean Ed - not wanting to have a coalition with SNP means that they could quite easily let any laws that don't favour Scotland go through no problem...even if there wasn't a majority. Just to piss Labour off. Not laughing at the SNP now are you Ed?

Ubik1 · 09/05/2015 22:08

Scotland voted no

Monka · 09/05/2015 22:14

I voted for the conservatives because I didn't want a labour /snp coalition govt (I am not the only one who was worried what that would look like). I don't believe they would have been good for the economy and it would have made us look weak (would have implications in the financial market) as I believe we would be held hostage to SNP demands. I admire Nicola as the leader of the SNP as a woman who is articulate, holds her own and is a good leader. But I think Labour will have to tread carefully with any alliances with the SNP over policy as it may come to bite them when they are looking to be reelected next time round. That's just my personal opinion and I used to be a labour supporter - I voted for labour in the previous election but didn't want anything to do with them this time round.

ratspeaker · 09/05/2015 22:21

Labour at 232 MPs and SNP at 56 still doesn't outnumber the tory majority.
Even if all the non conservative parties combined they total 320
The conservatives have 330 unless the back bencheres revolt, which is going to be unlikely.

The whip will be stricter than 50 shades of grey in this parliament

ratspeaker · 09/05/2015 22:26

Monka you voted tory
You got tory
The previous govt was a coalition, were the Lib Dems not something you worried about?

You compromised Labour values because you percieve SNP left wing or socialist?

LindyHemming · 09/05/2015 22:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

silveroldie2 · 09/05/2015 22:28

They can form any alliance they like, they will not be able to out-vote the Tories, thank god. The sooner the Government introduce new laws preventing Scottish MPs from voting on English matters the better and it should be done before ceding any further powers to Scotland.

olgaga · 09/05/2015 23:08

Not sure what depresses me most about this OP.

Is it the failure to manage simple addition?

Or maybe the failure to understand the Tartan Tories' agenda?

Monka · 09/05/2015 23:22

Ratspeaker - I think my concerns are that had there been a labour /SNP coalition the SNP would have a stranglehold over UK policies as they could choose to vote on a case by case basis. I don't believe we would have political stability and as I stated before i think it would have an impact on our financial markets and overall confidence in the UK. I work in an industry where someone has to sneeze in the Middle East and it affects our jobs.

I wasn't worried about the Lib dems last time round as I agreed with some of their policies. The Scottish National Party whose primary concern and focus (quite rightly) is Scotland but I live in England so I don't feel they represent my needs. Maybe I did compromise my labour values for overall political and economic stability.

Original poster
SoManyQuestions219 · 09/05/2015 23:26

Is it the failure to manage simple addition?

Erm no since I said that "the numbers don't quite stack up" (slight understatement I know) Hmm

My point was partly that the SNP will be a strong "socialist" voice in parliament.

And as far as understanding what their agenda is Hmm, I guess I am hoping that they won't only be about this.

OP posts:
Original poster
SoManyQuestions219 · 09/05/2015 23:44

Have found what I wanted to say articulated much better on another thread (don't know what the form is with regard to quoting from these but here it is):

I live in SE England and I welcome the influence of the SNP. I think they have great calibre in their politicians - passion, intelligence, strength and the ability to articulate well. I'm rather jealous.

Brilliant to see the young female student get in - as a woman in my 50s I wondered where this type of young woman had gone. Up North is where.

Anyway - they'll be a wonderful thorn in the Tory sides and keep them on their toes with some brilliant Parliamentary debates on issues not just about Scotland.
(Poster: FloatIsRechargedNow)

OP posts:
silveroldie2 · 09/05/2015 23:45

And their "strong socialist voice in parliament" will achieve what exactly? Fortunately absolutely nothing.

Viviennemary · 09/05/2015 23:53

I must say that my heart sank when I heard a 20 year old student was to be an MP. But she did speak very well and very sincerely I thought. I think such a large SNP party will make some waves but they won't change anything. Labour plus SNP just simply not enough to do anything about Tories at all.

WonderingWillow · 09/05/2015 23:56

Well they probably won't, since Cameron is planning to pass the English votes for English laws bill. So sorry about that, probably won't happen. Plus I think the SNP is more concerned about fiscal responsibility than your personal vendetta.