Webchat with Nicola Sturgeon - 1pm Tuesday, 5th May

[JustineMumsnet]

We’re pleased to announce that Nicola Sturgeon MSP, the First Minister of Scotland and leader of the SNP, will be joining us for a webchat at 1pm on Tuesday 5 May - just two days before the General Election.

Nicola is the MSP for Glasgow Southside. Before becoming an MSP she worked as a solicitor at the Drumchapel Law Centre. She has the distinction of having been called 'the most dangerous woman in British politics' by the Daily Telegraph (among others).

Whatever your hopes for the outcome of the election, there’s no doubt that the SNP’s surge in Scotland is one of 2015’s biggest stories of this election, with, most likely, big ramifications for UK as a whole.

So we hope you’ll join us and put your questions to Nicola on Tuesday 5 May at 1pm - and if you can’t be there on the day, please post up your questions in advance.

Please remember our webchat guidelines - do be polite/civil, and only one question each please as we reckon this is going to be a busy one!

OK Nicola is ensconsed in the cafe and nearly ready to go.

Hello Nicola, (sorry if this is a bit lengthy)

As a Scottish resident, I have a query (or rather a statement) regarding voting into the General Election.

Nine years ago I fulfilled one of my dreams to come to live and work in Scotland (I was born in Sweden). My reasons for coming to Scotland is many, the main reasons is that I love Scotland; its history, nature, wildlife etc.

I would love to apply to become a Scottish citizen; however, at this time in life it's difficult for many people and who can afford more than £1000 for a dual citizenship; although that would be another dream coming true.

This aside, back to the election...

As mentioned, I am living and working in Scotland since nine years and I pay my tax.

As a "UK" citizen, I'm not allowed to vote in Parliamentary Elections (only local, Scottish and at any referendum elections).

As you may understand, I also want to have my say in general elections (not only local).

Westminster want the money I pay for tax, my hard-working labor, but I'm not allowed to vote (or get a citizenship unless I pay a fortune for it)

That's a shame as I wanted to vote, to have my say as I did when voting Yes in the referendum.

I wish SNP all the best in the General Election, I'm sorry I can't vote :(

Hi, its Nicola here...preparing to answer your questions...

Welcome Nicola
Does cafe mean a plate of biscuits you famously have to choose from?!

Another Londoner who'd be tempted to vote SNP if I could - although I'd also have voted No to independence as I love being part of the same country as Scotland.

I don't understand why a Lab/SNP coalition is being portrayed as such a bad thing. I would have thought it would strengthen the Union if people in Scotland, Wales and NI felt their interests were truly represented in government.

I know Labour is a British rather than English party and Ed has to stick to the line that he can win outright, but hasn't he rather shot himself in the foot by ruling out a coalition with the SNP?

That's not my question BTW - just being friendly!

Welcome Nicola.

your biscuit choice will be excessively analysed across social media....be careful...

One of these?

This doesn't count as my question btw!

behooven!!!! Brill choice x

Yay Nicola. [waves] Hope you've not got too wet out on the campaign trail today. Weather is appalling.
Still out leafletting etc though.

Garibaldi - mixed messages maybe?

Best stick to shortbread.

Another person, esp as a member of the Scots diaspora in England wishing for a Lab/SNP deal of some sort.....just NOT 5 more years of Tories.

It was either that or a Breakaway!

Hi Nicola, how do you cope with all the sometimes stupid, sometimes misinformed, sometimes trollish insults and comments which come your way? Do you go home and throw something at the wall ?
I'm English and I think you're a total inspiration. x

at Behooven.

What do you see as the biggest achievement of your career to date?

(And welcome to the Mumsnet cauldron - there are many more Yes and/or SNP voters than you would think from reading the threads - many of them like me have given up on trying to counter the negativity and instead are concentrating on talking to people in Real Life)

"Best stick to shortbread."

I was quite disappointed when during the run up to the referendum, Alisdair darling and alex salmond both picked very scottish buscuits...it seemed like they were doing it just to make a point about Scotishness.

Not that I overanalysed their biscuit choice at all, rofl.

What makes you want to scrap Trident?

Are you worried about losing a major defence deterrent?

pretty some non-SNP people are out talking to voters as well - and some of us were out speaking to people pre-referendum too.

I give up on trying to counteract the slavish adoration of the SNP but keep getting drawn back in to see if anything has changed.

Hi Nicola,

I voted No in the referendum but really I meant Not Yet, because I didnt believe we were ready. Why would neither the Yes campaign nor the SNP say what would happen after independence, in terms of an economic plan? Did you not have one?

I thought there seemed loads of support on this thread?

Hi all, Nicola's typing away here, sorry for the delay.

@MmeLindor

While I have great admiration for you personally, Nicola, I'm another 'no' voter, who is disappointed that the SNP is unwilling to accept the democratic response of last year's referendum, and honour the 'chance of a generation' promise. I found the last year of Scottish politics to be incredibly divisive, and personally hurtful, and think that we need time to heal and recover before even thinking about another referendum.

In my life, I've never known Scotland so divided. I've always seen us as a strong and warm-hearted community. Does it worry you that the referendum has brought such strife?

Many thanks for your question. I accept the referendum result without reservation. I worked hard for a Yes vote but I accept that a majority voted No. we have no proposal for another referendum and there could only ever be one if people in Scotland wanted it and voted for it. If people want it to be once in a generation - or once in ten generations - that's what it will be.

in my experience, the referendum experience - for yes and no voters - has resulted in more positive engagement with politics and that's a good thing. there are a minority of people on both sides who behave badly and in a divisive way and we should always condemn them.

This election is not about independence, it's about making Scotland's voice heard and that's a chance for the country to unite. If the SNP is successful on Thursday we will pursue policies that are good for Scotland and people across the Uk.