Anyone else unsure who to vote for?

[swiggless]

Used to be a Labour supporter but they don't stand in my constituency (or when they do, they come 5th or 6th). It's between SNP, Lib Dem and Tories (in that order) here. I physically can't vote for the latter two, however I'm not enthusiastic to vote SNP, despite voting for them previously. Greens aren't standing either. I hate the idea of spoiling my ballot but I genuinely don't know what to do. Anyone else in the same situation (not necessarily stuck between the same parties)?

Thanks all particularly Raspberry Coulis So in my constituency (which I can confirm is Strathkelvin and Bearsden) in the 2016 Scottish Parliament Elections, Rona Mackay trounced everyone else with 17k votes and both Conservative and Labour got about 8k votes each. This would lead me to think that I haven’t got a hope in hell of unseating the SNP here because they are obviously very popular having double the votes of the runners up.

BUT in the 2019 General Election, the SNP only won by the very slightest of margins (149 votes) with Jo Swinson and the Lib Dem’s a very, very close 2nd. Do these two election results have any bearing on each other? If I was in support of Independence but wanted to reduce the power of the SNP, wouldn’t I be better off voting for the Lib Dem’s as they’re obviously very popular and stand a chance of winning the seat back off the SNP? But they also would support the SNP in going for the IndyRef.

And if I was against Independence, would I vote Conservative over Labour because Labour have also said they’d not rule out supporting the SNP for IndyRef2?

Now that tactical voting site is suggesting I vote Conservative for the Constituency vote and Labour in the list. I’m guessing that’s because it’s a pro-unionist site. Because although the local Conservative MP is bragging about how they are the 2nd party in this area - this is a lie isn’t it? Because they virtually came joint 2nd with Labour in the 2016 election. But if I held my nose and voted Tory for the first time in my life, I would potentially be reducing the SNP’s power AND stopping IndyRef2. And then I could vote for them again in the List to again increase the anti-Independence presence in Holyrood.

I’m really tempted to draw a big cock and balls over both papers because none of the bastards seem to be keen on protecting women’s sex-based rights. I know the Tories are probably just paying lip service to get votes.

And if only the spirit of Johann Lamont lived on in the Scottish Labour Party I’d have been so tempted to give my constituency vote to them. I might even have lived with the risk of an IndyRef2 if the party had upheld her beliefs.

Sorry this is such a mess. I’m going round in circles. I wonder what the turnout will be like tomorrow?

Lib Dems don't support independence.

Sorry I know there was much more to your post than that, that just stood out.

I am still completely lost, and I've never struggled with my vote before. It really might be ADULT HUMAN FEMALE time.

I honestly have no clue what to do. I was going to vote Green but apparently they are hand in glove with the SNP. No idea at all what to do.

They're worse than the SNP when it comes to women. Patrick Harvie couldn't drip misogyny any more if he tried.

I've just moved up from England and am now totally clueless. I was very anti independence first time round (living in England and working for Scottish public sector), but now have plenty of friends whose views I respect who are very much in favour. Not least because then we might get a proper set of parties and people can vote without the single issue.

I am feeling queasy about an snp vote, as DH family are on the far end of rabid on the subject, with several of them local councillors (including one who is possibly the most venal, odious excuse for a man I have met for some time).
Oh yes; also very much a gc feminist too. And a lefty former labour party member.

I am thinking Alba for the list vote; but I am really conscious I don't fully understand their background...

I am stuck. I've never not voted before! I just think whatever I do, I don't fully up the implications and am very worried about getting it wrong for everyone.

Alba acknowledge women as women but Alex Salmond is hardly a role model and they’re a peculiar bunch of fairly unappealing candidates.

@SoMuchForSummerLove I really honestly feel for you. Your posts are always so balanced and genuine. It's a definite struggle this time round. I'm voting SNP but not 100% happy about it. Means to an end for me. I hope it goes okay for you tomorrow whatever you decide.

Thank you. I want to vote for independence but I can't give tacit support to the women haters. Probably. Why the fuck knows what box I'll end up ticking.

@WouldBeGood

Alba acknowledge women as women but Alex Salmond is hardly a role model and they’re a peculiar bunch of fairly unappealing candidates.

To put it mildly. Plus I don’t believe Salmond is innocent .

I think you just have to go with what feels right tomorrow @SoMuchForSummerLove Ultimately it's between you and the ballot box

@Goldrill Alba was set up by a bitter and twisted Alex Salmond. Although cleared of all charges and a fiasco with wasted money on a judicial review the SG were told they couldn't win he is a man out for one thing only...... Revenge on NS!

Prior to Alba he also had some very questionable behaviour towards women, over ruled local council planning permission so Donald trump could destroy a SSSI and build a golf course on the promise of hundreds of jobs..... Which never materialised.
Alba is just as bad as the SNP.

The Westminster and Scottish constituencies are not the same so what happens in Westminster doesn't necessarily following. ED was an SNP/LD marginal when SNP comfortably won the Scottish parliament seat which is bizarre.

Does anyone seriously think that a vote for the SNP and for independence will then mean we live in a glorious state of harmony with no discord etc?

Because people are not still bearing grudges about Brexit and hating everyone on the "wrong" side of that vote?

This issue is ripping the country in two, who wins in the end will not really matter as about 80% of the country have their own entrenched views which are unlikely to change and therefore at least 40% are going to be upset and feel cheated/disenfranchised and really what are the elected government going to be able (or willing) to do about that?

Yes I am not a fan of Salmond at all but was hoping maybe... party not just one person and all that? Or is it more like Farage attracting like minded characters.

@VoteInstructions feel your pain as I’m in the same constituency.

I am at great pains at how I’m going to vote tomorrow and have gone round in circles for weeks but as I said earlier, the appointment at the Edinburgh rape centre has tipped me over the edge and ramped women’s rights right up to the top of my priority list.

I have never ever based my vote on a single issue but this time round I will. I really don’t feel good about any of this to be honest.

I think that women's issues will be the undoing of the SNP / Greens tomorrow. On some ways I think it's a shame because I don't think that realistically there is a party who will stand up for women in the way that it's wanted but it's a stance I do understand.

You can't put the issue back in the box though @RedactedTaeFeck 🤷🏻‍♀️

Either way a decent percentage of the population are going to feel fucked over. This constitutional question has been live for decades and it isn't going away, because around half of our population (give or take) is deeply unsatisfied with the current structure of the Union.

Voting the SNP out does nothing to improve the democratic deficit. It won't go away.

I'm not on

Ffs in not on

@RedactedTaeFeck of course there won't be glorious harmony and nor would there be if there was a Tory majority or whoever it is you want to see in power.

A significant part of the population are not happy with the union. That's not going to go away just because you want it to / don't agree with it.

I can't see it being an issue anyway. I hope I'm wrong but I don't think that the SNP will do all that well tomorrow.

SoMuchforSummerLove thanks for making your way through my unintelligible post

You’re right they’re not for Independence are they? But totally, totally feeble and ineffective on so many other levels!

@SoMuchForSummerLove

You can't put the issue back in the box though *@RedactedTaeFeck* 🤷🏻‍♀️

Either way a decent percentage of the population are going to feel fucked over. This constitutional question has been live for decades and it isn't going away, because around half of our population (give or take) is deeply unsatisfied with the current structure of the Union.

Voting the SNP out does nothing to improve the democratic deficit. It won't go away.

You can't put the issue back in the box

Nope you can't. I was responding to posters who are hoping that if Scotland becomes independent that it'll all be good and they can go back to voting Labour or whatever. That is just not going to happen so only vote for the SNP if you truly think that they are the best people to run the country and only vote for independence if that is what you want regardless of the economic situation

There will be more chance of Labour in Westminster before Labour in Scotland.

[quote forfucksakenett]@RedactedTaeFeck of course there won't be glorious harmony and nor would there be if there was a Tory majority or whoever it is you want to see in power.

A significant part of the population are not happy with the union. That's not going to go away just because you want it to / don't agree with it.

I can't see it being an issue anyway. I hope I'm wrong but I don't think that the SNP will do all that well tomorrow. [/quote]
Jeez, that's not what I said.

I'm SNP 1 and Alba 2.