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)?

I am really really struggling and keep swinging. The decimation of women’s rights this time is really trumping everything else and that will impact my vote but who to vote for on the candidate list is not an easy one.

@Selkiesarereal

I am really really struggling and keep swinging. The decimation of women’s rights this time is really trumping everything else and that will impact my vote but who to vote for on the candidate list is not an easy one.

Depends on who is in your area. I refuse to vote for "career candidates" those who never really had any other job then working in a party office! In my area that gets rid of 3 straight away including the SNP 😂 I then look at who has understanding of local issues and pressures. In my area that's the labour candidate although they have little chance as its a SNP/Tory battle area!

In my seat at the last election, second place was Tory followed by a small margin y Labour but the Labour candidate doesn’t seem to know what a women is and right now, that’s very important to me. It’s really hard. List includes Jackie Baillie so that’s a much easier decision.

@GintyMcGinty

Im a postal voter so I've already voted.

I voted Labour on constituency and Conservative on the list. These were the best tactical unionists votes for my area.

That's probably what I'll be doing too, @GintyMcGinty. In the UK elections we're in East Dunbartonshire which swaps fairly regularly between SNP and LibDem. However the Scottish parliamentary constituencies are very different and we're lumped in with Clydebank, where people don't traditionally vote Lib Dem, COnservative or Green. It's very much SNP/Labour.

So as Labour are the only alternative to the SNP they will get the constituency vote. To be fair, their candidate is strong and they have been campaigning hard, and the outgoing SNP MSP is retiring and not standing again. Still don't think Labour will win but it's the best tactical vote.

The list Conservative MSPs are very strong in standing up to the SNP, and were excellent on the schools and blended learning shitshow last year.

@forfucksakenett

I am *@Helensburghmiddleagedmum*

Me too, @forfucksakenett, and unbelievably my husband who up until recently was completely anti-SNP has also voted SNP, as has my son. We did postal votes and they are all away.

My husband and I were just having a rant chat about NS/Humza Yousaf and their inability to describe what a woman is, or how many sexes there are, and now we're both dead set against voting for them.

They're losing votes over what is a non-issue for the vast majority of people. Hope they enjoy their woke cookies though.

@Helensburghmiddleagedmum

Is anyone voting SNP? Is anyone brave enough to admit they are voting SNP?

I probably am Helensburghmiddleagedmum - though I keep saying I'll probably only decide for sure when I get in the polling station. I've been round the houses on the gra issue - even thought about not voting or spoiling paper in the past, but ultimately I feel that's pointless/a waste. I support trans rights but think a lot more thought's needed on self-id and possible effects. The fact SNP paused on it and opened a new consultation, and the fact people like Joan McAlpine were able to bring in other viewpoints on it has given me some hope that a balance can be struck.

@SoMuchForSummerLove yep.DP is the same as you and we’re both agreed on the weirdness of losing votes on this woke stuff, which in practice is not a consideration for most ordinary people.

He did suggest I set up a party called 'Only Women Have Fannies' but I think that would get me struck down by the HCB...

@SoMuchForSummerLove probably, but I’d vote for you 😂

I haven't read the full thread, but one thing that I have noticed is there are a lot of people saying they'd vote Labour if it wasn't a wasted vote. I can't help thinking if everyone who thought that did vote for them, it wouldn't be wasted after all. Personally I am lucky to be in an SNP/Labour race for my seat - so I'll be voting Labour as they are my natural home, but also I am so tired of Scottish politics being dominated by possible Indy ref2 when we need our government to concentrate on day to day stuff (particular Education imo) so I am voting against SNP.

I am so tired of Scottish politics being dominated by possible Indy ref2 when we need our government to concentrate on day to day stuff (particular Education imo) so I am voting against SNP.

This is exactly why they’ve pivoted from inde promise at start of election, to ‘vote for NS, didn’t she do well with covid, she’s an incredible leader’ as their message.
Totally dismissing the previous 14 years in power and shining a light on the lack of talent in the party. NS can talk a good game, hold an audience...now imagine John Swinney as your FM...and keep in mind that Derek McKay was seen as a successor to NS. There are no words.
For anyone voting SNP to give thanks to television’s Nicola Sturgeon for communicating the message strong leadership during the covid crisis and subsequent UK vaccine procurement over the past year, they need to familiarise themselves with the SNP’s back catalogue of failures for Scotland.

@SoMuchForSummerLove

Agree *@Iwouldratherbesailing*

Similarly I object to people writing off independence supporters as either followers of a cult, or too ignorant to understand the impact, or both. I see it on here a lot and it's such lazy narrow thinking.

“ The overwhelming majority of independence supporters believe annual economic figures that reveal the country’s deficit are fabricated by Westminster to discredit the nationalistic cause “

Survey by Survation in Papers yesterday

Oh dear🙈

Right....well there are smart/not so smart educated/ill-educated people who vote for all parties.

How else would you explain the working class vote for Brexit? Talk about turkeys voting for Christmas.

Whatever else you think about it, it indicates the absolute dearth of trust that many Scottish people have in the WM government, and WM are largely responsible for that.

BJ is on record saying some truly disdainful things about Scotland, while also publicly begging Scotland not to leave the union. No wonder people feel they can't trust 'official' figures as they think that means WM have had a hand in their creation.

I think some Brexit voters and some SNP voters have a lot in common on that. They vote for an ideology painted as the way to save them and make everything better. I think it’s a bit like the Trump thing too. People feel disenfranchised so are easy to sway with promises of making Britain/Scotland/America great again.

Once again, I despise BJ and his crew too.

Yes, I suppose that's true.

Just another thing which makes it glaringly obvious that there are no great options. I sort of want to take the UK and shake it like a snowglobe, to mix it all up and start over again.

I don't mind if people want independence because of the ideology of it and that's what they wish for.

I do object to the automatic rubbishing of economics that is produced, run and triple checked by very smart people without bothering to read it, try to understand the data or sources that they have used to come to those conclusions because their party says its rubbish.... Its insulting to the people who have done the work!

I also get annoyed at the blind statement that independence is for the better..... It may be long term but is a unknown gamble but not short or medium term and short and medium term in political landscapes is 5 years short term, 6-15 years medium term. It has to be paid for and established.

SNP have had 14 years to improve the basics and has failed in the things they are in charge of. As much as people say its bigger than 1 party..... It will be that party negotiating it and given the track record I don't trust them to get a decent set up or even understanding of what some of the things are they propose.....

E.g they have said they will be in charge of scottish oil and gas..... Except this is on the decline and the tax payer is responsible for 50% of the decommissioning costs..... So Scotland taking control of oil and gas revenue will also be responsible for half of the decom cost. The Tory govt isn't going to go sure you have it we will still pay decom costs.

I don't give a toss what BJ says about Scotland. He could call me an ugly jock bitch to my face and I still wouldn't support breaking up the UK.

I couldn't care less who paid for his wallpaper either.

80 pc were also unaware that public spending in Scotland is more than the amount of taxes raised. 54 pc agreed Scottish tax revenues are understated because of Scottish exports leaving via English ports .

Scotland is seen to be running a deficit because some costs outside of Scotland like HS2 and infrastructure spending in SE are charged to Scotland.

Report concluded that the support for independence is built on misunderstanding and misinformation.

I know a 26 year old vet who is a ferocious supporter of SNP and he didn’t know what a deficit was.

Oh dear oh dear ..... 🙈🙈🙈🙈

The HS2 and infrastructure comments weren’t true , didn’t word it well .

I want the uk political snow globe! Imagining all the tiny politicians shaking around in it, then peace and order restored 😃

@MorrisZapp

I don't give a toss what BJ says about Scotland. He could call me an ugly jock bitch to my face and I still wouldn't support breaking up the UK.

I couldn't care less who paid for his wallpaper either.

And they say independence supporters can be a bit much

and comparing independence support to Trump supporters. . Just some though, so that's ok

No, I mean, I think there are broad similarities -or one similarity, I should say. Both point to 'them over there, the establishment' as the reason for all the current ills in society, and that's becoming an old trope now, given that both have now had significant periods of power (although obviously the SNP don't control everything that they would if Scotland was an independent country).

But I think that's where it ends really. The political views of the bases of each are poles apart.