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?)

Whose money carol? I hope you don't mean 'England's money' because you might get a verbal kicking.

Tony Benn was a long time ago.

Scotland tends to vote to the left of centre.

Milady, I agree with your analysis about the SNP being populist as much as popular.

I am not an SNP supporter, but they don't seem to have totally screwed things up while in power in Holyrood. Not any more than any other parties. That sounds so cynical doesn't it?

Who knows if everything will implode though - I can't work out how they can afford to fund things like free prescriptions and no council tax rises.

I am worried about how powerful they are predicted to be in the next Westminster parliament. I think it's going to cause havoc, which a lot of people seem to think will be a good thing. I think people might rue the day

No, grimbletart, Nicola's party did not lose the indyref, because it wasn't a party-political issue. The Yes campaign lost. Nicola did not lead the Yes campaign.

It's an interesting question. A few days ago I glanced at a research result - not sure where now, I'll have a think - that said this was a myth about Scots being more left-wing. Than elsewhere in the UK.

I am a Scot living in Scotland and come from a long line of left-wing people (Red Clyde-siders and the like) and yet there was always a smattering of Tory voter in the family. And of course a fair few, I am sure, who said nuffink about politics or their voting intentions. Of course at a time when Labour was Socialist. In the 1970s, when I was growing up, the SNP was widely dubbed the Tartan Tories. Certainly now they are much more 'social democrat' than even Labour. I truly believe society needs to look after their more vulnerable members, and the SNP does seem to have an agenda that protects more than the other main parties. But it's hugely complex and of course none of what we read/hear in the news/media is truly unbiased, I think.

Where I live in Scotland now we have SNP MSP whois Republican(anti-Royalist) and yet she is actually quite reactionary in her views on matters like gay marriage, abortion, physician-assisted suicide. She was not a supporter of the late Margo MacDonald's bill. I'm raking my brain to remember when she won her seat - from a Tory, one of the tartan trew- wearing landowner crowd. 20-30 years ago maybe.

Re-WM seat, they keep moving the boundaries, so we are often Labour but occasionally have had a SNP MP. I am unsure how to vote in the GE.
The SNP candidate stood for Tories previously and I am unsure of her agenda ( fear she is more confused than I am!), nobody is standing for the Greens. And I can't stand the Mili-Murf duo though I prefer Mili to Murf. I will end up voting Labour, I suppose. That in itself does not make me left-wing - though I am.

I'm impressed that your MSP won her seat 20-30 years ago, given the Scottish Parliament opened about 16 years ago!

I'll probably vote Labour. In a "lesser of all evils" way. We have a Labour MP who I have met and he seems a nice bloke with a good track record of working hard. But I really don't like Milliband so am havering. Murphy at least has the courage of his convictions and doesn't come out with bollicks statements because some strategist has told him it will play well

I actually really like Ruth Davidson, her politics notwithstanding. If you can be a high profile lesbian and leader of the Scottish Tories then it does give me some hope for this country and she is excellent when campaigning for gay rights and inclusion. Murdo Fraser I could cheerfully strap to the front of a JCB and drive off a cliff. Odious man.

So what if Tony Benn was a few years ago? My point still stands. Judging someone on their upbringing, rather than their actions, is prejudice.

Oh dear, did I kill the thread? Thing is many tax-payers in Scotland vote SNP so they must be happy enough with how the Scottish Govt spends the money, carol and others who are concerned about tax-payers' money.

I think the comparison above between Sturgeon and Miliband is slightly iffy. Mili is the child of immigrant/refugee parents and did attend comprehensive school, albeit in that huge metropolis in the south. His parents were/are both more socialist than he - didn't he or his brother say in an interview their mother thinks they've both sold out? Unlike Clegg, Cameron, Blair and many others he did not attend public school. What ahs happened to his brain since and political thinking since is sad but it's not to do with his family background. Just saying ... Then, look at Murphy and all the other Scottish leaders of main parties, Ruth D., Willy Rennie, all educated in state school.

Anyway, must go. Boy needs the router. We live in an internet 'cold spot, sadly.

Indeed Hirpie, she was in WM first of all as an MP. Look her up if you wish. Roseanna Cunningham is her name. I wasn't really thinking. DS breathing down my neck for internet time.

Sorry, Hirples. My brain must have been thinking you were some kind of 'harpie'.

I think most people are now voting SNP because of policies, not because of their independence stance. Indeed, I know a good few Labour voters in the north of England who would vote SNP if they had the option.

Labour has lost its way, Conservatives never been popular (in recent years) and the Lib Dems are relying on personal votes, not party votes to win through. Only Alistair Carmichael is likely to make it.

I'll be voting SNP for the first time. I have a huge admiration for Nicola Sturgeon. She has stuck to her principles, hasn't wormed around the way some of our Labourites have. She seems natural, honest and committed. The current crop of SNP prospective candidates have mostly had "real" jobs before putting themselves forward at this election. (not gone the Oxbridge PPE, party job, parliamentary job career ladder as most current MPs)

I think many in the rest of the UK will see the inevitable influx of SNP MPs as a welcome breath of fresh air.

Milady, I wonder if we are in the same constituency - local Labour guy well regarded and known to work hard. I too will probably vote labour as I have on occasion in the past - voting for the candidate more than anything, due to his good track record.

Agree with Topaz that Miliband should have met his potential better - I am clinging to the hope that heis just be horribly misunderstood/underestimated due to the kicking he gets in the press and his crappy advisers.

OllyB, I don't think they will see SNP MPs as a breath of fresh air. I think a lot of English et al voters will resent them. And they will cause trouble, that's not in doubt. Sturgeon has said as much this week.

I think a lot of people are ready and willing for this type of 'big shae-up' to happen though, which is why they are going to vote SNP, rather than it be about policies. It's about undermining Westminster and wanting change.

No problem, Topaz, I thought it would be something like that! And I do have the odd "harpie" moment...

It's about undermining Westminster and wanting change.

And I think that's a desire UK wide - not just in Scotland.

I don't believe Sturgeon did say she would "cause trouble". One thing we learned from the IndyRef is how much the media distorts what is actually said. It was widely reported that the Chairman of John Lewis said that prices would rise if the vote was yes. On listening to the interview, he said no such thing, and was actually completely neutral on the vote.

Oh, does that mean I can stop my one-woman boycott of JL? I agree the media distorts so much it's hard to know what to believe.

Maybe it is a desire UK wide OllyB, but how will English voters feel if Scottish MPs disrupt things based on a purely Scottish agenda, which presumably is the SNPs raison d'etre. I think it will piss off a lot of people. But who knows? It is definitely a weird one this time, and the old system is not working. Change is often difficult, and messy.

Still think Sturgeon will want to cause trouble, and by that I mean put a spanner in (certain) works and hold certain people to ransom. I don't feel much trust.

If causing trouble means a focus on restoring the NHS, widening access to education, balancing economic measures in favour of the vulnerable rather than the privileged, then you might be right.

The SNP disgust me. Last year (funnily enough, referendum year), £444m underspend by the scottish government while blaming westminster for cutbacks.

My point about tax was that the SNP do not raise any, they spend the Barnett formula money provided by the Westminster govt, so always blame Wesminster/the English for not providing enough.
They are the 'Disney' parents of politics.

I think Scottish MPs voting on England only issues is wrong. But that's not the SNP's fault.

Scottish labour MPs voted in tuition fees for English students in the full knowledge it would not affect their constituents.

My point about tax was that the SNP do not raise any, they spend the Barnett formula money provided by the Westminster govt, so always blame Wesminster/the English for not providing enough.

Where have all my taxes been going then? (All income earned and taxes paid in Scotland)

Scotland pays more in than it gets out. See this BBC article - and BBC has been very anti SNP.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-28879267

Olly The SNP do not set tax rates or rules.

What I am trying to say is that when comparing parties for Westminster, you are normally looking at the balanced picture of spending and taxation. When voting for Holyrood, you are only looking at spending because they choose not to use the tax changing powers they have. They also blame Westminster if there is 'insufficient' money to honour thier promises. They do not have the responsibility of a national party.