To vote with my head instead of my heart?

[ImNotDaveGorman]

I need advice from random people as I don’t like to talk politics in real life.

I’m in scotland and we have an election next month. The 2 main parties in my area are SNP and conservative. TBH I really dislike them both, but absolutely detest SNP. For reasons I’m not going to get in to I really don’t want scotland to be independent (also, that is not what I want this tread to be about!). I found it so difficult during the last referendum-people were horrific to each other and I want that vote to stand.

So, every time there has been an election I have voted for the party I do like, but every time the results come out the percentages are tiny for any party that is not SNP or conservative! So, basically, I feel like my vote is being wasted.

So....
YABU-vote with your heart for the party you want

YANBU-vote conservative, the lesser of 2 evils (in my eyes) and hopefully we won’t have to go through a second referendum

Again-this is not a thread to change my mind on my reasons for being against Scottish independence, so I won’t be having that argument.

I’m in the same position. I don’t want independence and SNP’s attitude to women is awful. That said Don’t know if I could ever vote conservative, would feel so wrong.

No help at all but sympathy.

Greens? To be fair I don’t understand the Tory mindset of lesser of two evils? Cronyism, corruption and the Brexit shit show, I’m amazed anyone could bring themselves to vote for them.

@Woeismethischristmas yup I’m the exact same! I just can’t believe I’m even considering voting for them

Depends. How close is your area likely to be? If Tories will probably win anyway, then I’d vote for who I liked. If it was close then I’d vote to make sure that the party I disliked most didn’t get in.
I live in England in a very safe Tory seat. So I vote for the party I like most, but if there was a chance a party I didn’t love but liked more than the tories (not difficult for me) would win, then I’d vote for them.

Have the same dilemma. Not against independence in principle but don't see think we can afford it and the focus should be on recovery of the economy not anther referendum.

Will not be voting SNP but still not sure I can bring myself to vote Tory. Makes me feel better that's it's not just me.

Not in the Borders by any chance? We're having the same issues. I detest the SNP with a passion and think pushing for independence now (if ever) is utter madness but it'll be a cold day in hell before I'd vote Conservative. Any other vote here is pointless. DH is seriously considering voting Tory.

If the others have no chance of getting in, then you have to vote for the lesser of two evils ie conservative.

I’m the same OP. Getting fed up with the dictatorship that is Scottish politics. It does feel like it doesn’t matter who you vote for SNP will win anyway.

I’m in a very safe SNP seat but as I would never vote for them mine switches between Labour or Lib Dems.

In your place I would struggle to vote Tory but I would do that over SNP any day

I am not in scotland but in a very Conservative area. I vote with my heart because i don't think whoever i vote for it won't be Conservative. If it meant Conservative might be not elected i would consider the close opposition..

So my point is drpends how close it is likely to be

Please, for the love of God, DO NOT vote for a party that vote to starve children. I don’t know in what dimension voting for the Tories is ever the lesser of two evils.

I have been (in the past) prepared to vote for the Lib Dems in order to try and stop a Tory being elected; but I could never vote for a Tory.

I have decided that in spite of the fact most of the time my vote is wasted I will now vote for what I actually want - even if they don't stand a chance in my area.

What we vote for makes so little difference in reality that I have decided I must be true to myself.

At least the Tories tend to know what a woman is.

Voting conservative can almost never be viewed as the lesser of two evils. Surely not a genuine consideration?

There’s a similar thread on Scotsnet
You are not alone - I’m voting tactically against the SNP.

I live in a very safe Labour stronghold in England, and whilst I plan to vote for our Labour councillor (because I think he's ok) in the next local election, I haven't voted Labour in a GE since the 1990s. I just vote for who I want in GEs, because I feel my vote doesn't count. However, I'm with HectorHalloumi - if its close, I'd vote Tory.

I'm having a similar dilemma here in Wales. I live in a Labour/Conservative swing seat (typically retain 80% of the vote between them). I don't want Labour to retain control of the Senedd, nor do I want to vote for the Conservatives.

A vote for anyone else is just a small voice expressing displeasure at the status quo. We even have proportional representation for Senedd elections so even that hasn't helped the two party fight for a seat.

I hate being politically homeless.

So those who’d vote Tory.... you like the way this country is being run?

The constant corruption/ embezzlement is not a problem?

A government that only does the right thing when people scream loudly enough?

A leadership who’ve stripped us of our rights without our consent?

You do you I guess.

For most (all?) constituency MSPs it's a straight fight between the SNP and the tories. If you really can't bring yourself to vote for either then perhaps spoil this ballot and just register a list vote?

I would vote any party but the Tories, personally.
SNP and Greens (second vote) for me this Scottish election year.

But zoemum you could say almost word for word same about SNP at the moment - there's some really iffy stuff going on.

I second the "spoil the ballot" suggestion if you're in such a quandary.

To all those that say they can’t believe I would consider Tory....you clearly don’t know what it’s like to have two parties that you are so horrific.
We currently have a Tory MP and SNP MSP. We are in the North.

I hate this about the voting system in the UK. For lots of people they don't have a real choice, just the least shit option.

OP if you're worried about SNP winning vote tory.

If I were you I would vote for the party you like best.
The people in your area, that don't like SNP will be in a similar position to you, so your party may do better than you think.
Personally, I would vote for any party before Tory, in my opinion, they are much worse than SNP or any other party.