Who are you voting for?

[rsmama27]

The general feeling on social media is that the Tories will be obliterated in the upcoming GE. AIBU to not be surprised if they get voted in again?

I'll be voting Labour as I have always done.

Lib dem

Weeeell, you say that. I live in one of those places too but, partially down to Reform splitting the right vote, Labour has its best ever chance of winning here this time.

We are in a newly created constituency and I have just checked the candidates registered- Tory, Lib dem, Green, Reform. Does that mean Labour won't be putting a candidate forward or can they still announce someone?

The Barnett Formula does not permit the Scottish Government to borrow, nor does it provide the freedom of choice that being fully independent does with regard to how a Government chooses to divide and spend revenue.

So I ask again... Why is the expectation that the SNP should be able to correct all the failings in Scottish public sector provision, when the Westminster government performs even more poorly with added freedoms and options available to them?

They can still announce a candidate. Lots of constituencies still have to confirm candidates.

There's still plenty time to register a candidate. I think they'll have until early June - iirc the deadline is roughly four weeks before the election.

Mine will be a tactical vote to get the Tories out. #ABC (anyone but Conservative)

No because the British government has had to bail out the SNP multiple times in the last 10 years as they’ve overspent, and that’s with a more generous budget than they would have otherwise 😬

I’ve always voted SNP but not this time, think I’ll have to do a tactical vote so probably Lib Dem’s to get Tories out

What a pile of risible nonsense 😆

The SG literally can not "overspend", and usually returns a small surplus for that very reason.

You do realise that it isn't the 70's or 80's anymore don't you. Politics, people, attitudes and the rest are constantly evolving. It would be impossible for almost anything to stand still. Politics has to represent the world of the present (and hopefully the future) not what was happening in 1973.

Labour

Absolutely… women need to be more aware of this.
No safe spaces … can’t describe what a born biology woman has for sex organs
Labour give me the ick

So I ask again... Why is the expectation that the SNP should be able to correct all the failings in Scottish public sector provision, when the Westminster government performs even more poorly with added freedoms and options available to them?*

I don’t think correcting the whole of the public sector, but part of it. We pay the highest taxes in the UK, and too much of that money is wasted on vanity projects rather than investing in health, policing, education and social work - core services that make a difference to those same tax payers.

If they used the money they have more wisely, I’d consider whether they were being hamstrung by Westminster.

Why have they been bailed out then?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-67750367.amp

Reform. Our local candidate missed being elected by a whisker in the by-election. He will definitely get in for a GE.

Probably Labour.

I normally vote SNP, but I'm really scunnered with them just now, and TBH I think getting a bit of an electoral kicking just now would be a good thing for them in the long term.

I plan to write to my local Labour candidate and ask her whether if she wins she intends to be saying anything along the lines of "this is a rejection of independence" - because if she does, I'll not be voting for her (and it's a seat where both of those parties have a chance, so I'm hopeful I'll get a response)

I highly doubt that, but anywhere with one less Tory would be welcome.

Here's my take:

Doubt it. People vote sensibly in general elections whereas protest votes are common in by elections. Turnout tends to be a lot higher too.

Scotland doesn't have a shortfall in the sense you want it to mean. The Scottish government is given a percentage of the income it generates, and has to balance its books within that budget. The rest of the money it generates is retained by Westminster to spend on whatever Westminster decides it wants to spend it on, with no consultation with the devolved countries. This WM expenditure is often in excess of the money it actually has, leading to WM borrowing heavily. This results in the UK being trillions in debt. WM then divides this debt pro-rata amongst the UK countries, resulting in Scotland, Wales and NI each having a nominal debt which is not of their own making, which they were not consulted on, and which, were these nations independent, would likely not have accrued at all. For example, the majority of Scotland is anti-nuclear weapons however WM wants them so they are forced upon us, and their costs are billed to us even though we neve asked for them and don't want them.

Having the powers of a normal independent country means that Scotland and Wales (not sure about NI) could control their own spending and borrowing rather than being forced to take a share of their neighbour's reckless debts.

I’m a little mixed on Reform.

Yes, for immediate purposes I’m happy to see people vote for them, as it helps ensure a Labour majority.

That said, I think I prefer the old right wing (wealthy people trying to preserve their standing) to the new right (populist conspiracy loons, who also want to preserve inequalities).

I don’t imagine Reform will be of any relevance in 10 years time but the the right becoming increasingly extreme and stupid isn’t a great pattern.

I think Scotland has oil though, and the chance they wouldn't get so involved in military spending, probably increase taxes on the wealthy

I would vote Labour If they didn't have that stupid policy on tuition fees. Every child should get to go to a school they want to. In other European countries you get money paid by the government to the school of your choice. This should be the same for every child in this country! We pay enough taxes as it is. So unfortunately Keir is a no for me.