Historic night for Scotland

[fartingfran]

Spine tingling stuff!

It does look as though the SNP will storm it. Milliband must be feeling rather depressed. Paves the way for a referendum on independence, of course, and I wonder if the swing to the SNP means that's more likely to be a 'yes'. I've never quite understood what Scotland would actually gain from independence, and I worry that the reality will not live up to the expectation, but it'll be interesting to see the debate. The make-up of Westminster would also look rather different, of course.

exciting!

I fell asleep last night, so I've just turned the TV on! Can't believe labour have lost their stranglehold on the West of Scotland! Guess there'll be a Scottish Labour leadership election soon.

And a drubbing for Lib Dems too - a definite reflection on Nick Clegg.

I think Alex S did a good job as First Minister and I think he deserves a second term. Exciting stuff!

I think this election result may be one of the only good things about the Tories being in power in Westminster. I feel that with a stronger result in these extremely straitened times that the SNP will have to really step up and prove themselves, and it can only be a good thing that they're given the chance to do so. As for a referendum - it should absolutely be forthcoming, I always find myself a bit disgusted by the reluctance of politicians to open up choices to us (the proles). If they think the result will go their way they've nothing to fear and if they think the result will go against them then their reluctance to allow a poll stinks of paternalism.

Can't wait til all the results are in!

It's brilliant to see proof that the SNP have gained the confidence of the electorate. I might yetsee independence in my lifetime - something to tell the grandkids

As an SNP supporter I'm pleased, as the wife of a serving memeber of HM Forces - well not so. Scotland's military bases will all be closed ( and I mean all of them, RAF,Navy and Army)by the end of term Con/Dem term in Westminster. Scotland will pay for re-electing the SNP

ian gray lead a really bad campaign. and now he is trying to pin it on the lib dems. i think it is a good thing that scottish voters have realised they can not vote labour on occassion, make life more interesting.

Very unsure how to react on this. I hate nationalism and I don't like the anti-English feeling among the SNP supporters I know, and I don't trust the SNP on green issues, which I feel are so important. However, if they stick to their election promises on issues like university tuition fees and if they avoid the privatisation of the NHS, then that will be good for Scotland.

Independence. That would really be throwing the rest of the UK to the dogs. A Tory England, Labour Wales (don't know about Northern Ireland) - couldn't that lead to the eventual break-up of the UK? And I would feel so sorry for the northern counties of England who have always relied on the Scottish votes as a bulwark against the Tory south.

However, I think most Scots just wanted to show that they were rejecting Westminster politics. They've had enough of Tories, LibDems and Labour and are simply voting for something different.

"And I would feel so sorry for the northern counties of England who have always relied on the Scottish votes as a bulwark against the Tory south."

How about feeling sorry for the English who have to suffer Scottish/Welsh/Labour disasters like Gordon Brown, Tony Blair or Neil Kinnock because of the celtic fringe vote.
Please get on with your independence vote.

Scotland would have had to pay way more had SNP not been re-elected. And defence is a reserved matter?? I believe SNP are the only party who will fight tooth and nail to protect Scotlands jobs and it's people. I am absolutely delighted at the result.

I agree with Mellowfruitfulness that this is less about independence and more about rejecting what is happening in Westminster and hoping to protect services eg NHS Scotland from the effects of the Tory led cuts.

SNP have done a good job so far - better than I expected.

Get rid of Ed Milliband. He's a snake in the grass who stabbed his own brother in the back. If he can do that to his own kin, then he'll be willing to screw anyone and everyone to get power.

Lib Dem, they're done. Nick Clegg, what can you say? He's a weasel.

"I don't trust the SNP on green issues"

Even though Eck started out as an energy economist and has a long history of campaigning for pro-environment causes? The SNP appear to take climate change and sustainable energy provision more seriously than many, and have set ambitious green energy targets since being in power.

i support snp but am not a nationalist particularly. they are the only party with scotlands interest at heart.

Mellow - agree that Scottish independence would throw the rest of the "U"K into confusion. It would have major constitutional consequences (not good ones) for Northern Ireland.

What would Britishness even be if the British " mainland" were split into separate states?

Damn you Scottish people - what about the rest ae us? :o

FF, yes that's what they say, and I hope you are right. But only time will tell if they will stick to their promises.

I worry about the four biomass plants proposed in Scotland - and can't imagine how a party that wants to up its green credentials could possibly support it. What worries me most is that Salmond might not be able to resist the pressures of big business to 'grow' Scotland. Yes, we need jobs, no doubt about that, but the environment is something that affects everyone. And there are jobs in green energy.

PaintedWhore, I think a lot of folk feel like that. But if we do ever get a referendum on independence, then it will be down to us to decide. I don't think either a referendum or independence is something to fear. But I do think a lot of people now believe that the SNP are the only true party to govern Scotland.

Painted nail, head.

The SNP will take this as an indication that Scots will vote for independence. I honestly don't think that necessarily follows. Lets hope Eck doesn't get distracted by his referendum and concentrates on the job in hand.

I see this as a reaction to the ConDem's in Westminister. Margaret Curran claimed on the Beeb last night that no one could have predicted the LibDems vote disappearing as it has. Aye they could. Who the hell is going to vote Tory by stealth?

The SNP have done well because there is a Tory led govt in Westminster. I believe it's a clear message to the Tories to, well, get it right up ya. The core support will always be there but the swing is a protest against the Condems and, I suppose, an indication that the Labour party is not seen as the party that will be most effective at protecting Scotland's interests.

I wonder what Iggle Piggle Dave makes of it all?

I would like independence but will certainly settle for another SNP government in the meantime....as a life long SNP supporter I am chuffed at the result so far...

MollysChamber, I agree completely. I'm no fan of Eck I'm afraid but I have to admit that the SNP have done fairly well in their last term, and will likely have similar progress in this parliament too. Ian Gray was no candidate for FM - and I say that as a Labour supporter/and member! I think this is another reason for Labour's poor performance in the election, people know nothing about him. Labour need someone with passion and charisma and the energy and focus to promote and represent the party. Ian Gray's not the man, I'm afraid.

How the LibDems can say that they couldn't have seen this coming I really do not know. I am ashamed to say I voted LibDem at the last Westminster election, but I know a lot of other LibDem voters share my view that I'll never make that mistake again. Never. I feel utterly betrayed by the LibDems, and it looks like many others in Scotland feel the same way.

It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the results pan out. My constituency hasn't been called yet as far as I know.

" the swing is a protest against the Condems " The Conservatives had hardly any presence in Scotland to swing away from. Surely the swing was more against Labour? Milliband apparently made a massive mistake at the last Scottish Labour Party conference when, in a speech, he spoke about a revival of Labour's fortunes in Scotland being a springboard to regaining power in Westminster.

Does DC even acknowledge that Scotland exists?

I don't think it matters to DC whether Scotland vote SNP or Labour...he knows he's on a hiding to nothing.

The real worry is for Labour.

Chil
The swing is away from labour and the lib-dems.

I firmly believe that the SNP have gained votes as a result of the Conservative govt precisely because the Tory's have no support in Scotland. There is a strong sense, amongst nationalists and non-nationalists, that a Tory govt in Westminster is potentially very damaging for Scotland.

Voters are looking for a way to make a statement, a protest. Voting Labour will not make that statement. Voting SNP will.