Are Scots truly that Left Wing?

[ragged]

The SNP seems to have a very left-of-centre political agenda and set of policies. Separate from their aim of independence.

If every party campaigning in Scotland was equally pro-independence, would as many Scots still vote SNP because they still liked their left wing policies best?

I've sometimes wondered if SNP would plummet in popularity post independence, because maybe most Scots don't truly support their other priorities & policies (or do they?)

Well seeing as a lot of people voted for the SNP and then didn't vote for independence... I'm guessing they are actually voting for their other policies.

Scots have traditionally been more left wing than the rest of the country.

Many people have bad memories of the actions of the Conservative government during the 1980s.

And of course as the joke goes we have more pandas in Scotland than Tory MPs.

As for the SNP, they are generally considered to have done fairly well in the Scottish government.

Who knows how the General Election will go though, it'll be interesting to see.

And of course as the joke goes we have more pandas in Scotland than Tory MPs.

I love that

The SNP seem to veer from left to right, depending on what suits their agenda at the time. Dh has always referred to them as Tories in kilts.
I'm in Scotand, and have no ide a which way I'm going to vote at the election, heart says labour, heart says tactical vote to get Cameron out, head say "are you kidding-Milliband would be worse". Feck knows

My impression is that people may well by conservative, but not Consevative IYSWIM.
SNP policies vary IMO from more right of centre to more left of centre.

As I cannot vote in the GE (not British) I am looking forward to following the campaign and public debate without needing to consider my own vote .
The outcome will of course affect me too

Oodear the Pandas are extremely popular...

The SNP have been in government in Scotland since 2007, with an outright majority since 2011 (under an electoral system designed to prevent majority governments) so we're not unfamiliar with how they actually perform, as opposed to what they say they'll do. And, in the main, they do do what they say they will.

We like that our gvt spend some of our education budget on free tuition.

We like that some of our NHS budget goes on free prescriptions, and on free personal care.

We like that a major engineering project (the new Forth crossing) is being completed early and underbudget, with the savings going to start duelling the A96.

They're not perfect, nobody is. But yes, they're massively popular, and not just for indy purposes.

Apparently the UK General Election of 1955 was the last time the Conservatives won the most seats in Scotland. In recent times, the rural parts of Scotland have tended to be more lib dem (it will be interesting to see how many retain their seats at the forthcoming election).

Just out of interest Ragged do you live in Scotland or are you an interested bystander so to speak?

People say that Scotland always voted Conservative in the 1950s when rest of country was tending to vote Labour. When and Why did things change?

I live in England. I was listening to Any Questions & am always struck at how left wing SNP outlook is (compared to rUK parties) and I wondered how many Scots think "I'll vote for them as gesture of nationalism (and ignore what else they say) " rather than "I'll vote for them because I like their policy bundle better than the other parties'."

In Scottish Parliamentary elections, I'd say it's their policies. In this particular Westminster General election, there's probably a high "protest" vote factoring in. Tories are massively unpopular, LibDems haven't been impressive, and Labour have completely lost touch. Who else to vote for, this time round, but the SNP? The Scottish Parliamentary elections next year, however, may see some reduction in SNP MSPs as the Greens and SSP will pick up a lot of votes on the list.

As tab and hirples have said, people have been voting for them consistently since devolution, without much thought that it would actually lead to independence, which would indicate policies.

Bear in mind that since the referendum the SNP (and the Greens to a lesser extent) have massively increased party membership. The SNP membership now stands at 100,000 which if I recall makes them the third biggest party in the UK.

I think a lot of the UK would rather vote left, but unless you live on Scotland,/under the FPTP system, you have no real opportunity to have a non right leaning MP.

I see the sainted Nicola, miffed at losing her aim of breaking up the UK, is now determined to have her way over England as well even if the Conservatives look likeliest to be able to form a Government.

"The politician pledged that if there were a hung parliament, SNP MPs would vote to "stop a Tory government even getting off the ground".

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-32094423

She really is a bad loser.

If the Tories can win an outright majority, there's nothing Nicola can do. But that's kinda up to the English, isn't it? Everyone knows the SNP won't prop up the Tories (so we can lose the Tartan Tory tag), everyone knows there's no coaltion on offer between Labour and SNP. It's down to both Labour and Tory parties to convince their English electorate, and we'll all be bound by that.

And by Parliamentary law, of course.

Yes might have lost the indyref, but describing UK's most popular political leader, head of the fastest-growing party in the UK, as a "loser" is, um, interesting thinking.

Can't vote in Scotland but would like to see the end of Labour stranglehold in Scotland. Scots have woken up to the fact that Labour seem to have a vested interest in keeping the 'working class' in the status quo. People can't relate to a London metropolitan elite. If you compare the background of Nicola Sturgeon to that of Ed Milliband... well there's a staggering gap. Nicola is one of us, people are saying. I do believe that Scots traditionally believe in equality and fairness. There is a saying, "We're all Jock Tamson's bairns", which means that everyone is created equal. It is ingrained in our psyche. Do you really believe that David Cameron, Ed Milliband and Nick Clegg are men of the people?

I've voted for the SNP in previous elections. I won't be this time as I fear they have become too powerful. I don't like to see Sturgeon grandstanding on UK issues, as I don't believe that is what the SNP are about or should be about. I've always admired their Scotland only and not be drawn on anything else stance. That's changed and I suspect it's because they are trying to ensure Labour are truly finished in Scotland and are continuing the anti-Westminster stance that got such support in the referendum.

I voted SNP in the past because I wanted a party in Hollywood that would govern Scotland for Scotland's interests. Now it seems we may get an SNP that will involve itself in UK wide issues for Scotland's interests and I'm not sure I'm ok with that. I acknowledge that it's democratic for them to do it, and a byproduct so to speak of union, but it's not a stance I support.

They are left wing. Far more socialist than Labour. They are however hugely populist, and I think it is this that ensures a strong support in Scotland. Personally I would rather they plugged the gaps in NHS spending in Scotland than give me free prescriptions. I'm very pleased we have free tuition but am appalled at the proposed huge cuts to education budgets being rolled out across local authorities at the moment and if I had a choice I'd divert some of the funds to stop that. Yes the Forth crossing is going up on time and budget but where are the promised funds to dual the A9?

Since the referendum and Sturgeon as first minister I've moved away from the SNP as a party whereas previously they did have my support. For transparency I voted No. I am looking forward to seeing Salmond in Westminster though. He'll cause chaos .

Hollywood? Hollyrood!

Hirpies: I was accurate. Nicola's party lost the referendum, therefore she was a loser. If I came second in a two person race I, also, would be a loser.

Oh FFS

Of course it is easy to be socialist when you are sepnding other people's money.

Can't speak for Scotland, but ItsAllGoingToBeFine don't forget Wales. Plaid are certainly a more left wing option than Labour and are pretty successful. (Shame I live in a Cons/Labour marginal!)

Hmm I dunno derxa what does one of us mean? We are a hugely diverse nation. I'd rather judge someone by their actions, not their background. Anyone want to suggest Tony Benn was not a "man of the people"?

carol I'm not sure I quite follow?

Whose money do you think the Scottish Government are spending? We do pay tax in Scotland...