Fed up of snp. Won’t vote Tory.

[museumum]

What do I do?

I’m actually quite ambivalent about independence and can see pros and cons on both sides. But I fear the snp will always be in power unless we do get it.

I feel they’ve been in power long enough without delivering on equality poverty or education. At the very least I’d like to see them with a far smaller majority.

But who the hell can I vote for? It feels like both Labour and Lib Dem are lost causes.

I’ve never felt so disengaged

Jail them all!! They’re not nice!

@seeingdots

I was considering voting for Laura Marshall *@sparkysdream*.

She's a regional candidate so she would be the second (list) vote though. I've still no idea on the constituency vote.

Yup, that’s same as me. My constituency is between Tory and SNP. I just can’t contemplate voting Tory, but not happy with the SNP. The current MSP (Tory) is awful so I do see SNP as the lesser of two evils so I probably see it as between them and spoiling my ballot for the constituency vote. Maybe Laura Marshall for the list vote.

@WouldBeGood - its actually a very interesting concept legally, a protection of free speech bill. Douglas Ross either got some advice on doing that or got lucky that the HCB is such a mess that you can actually put one in and potentially eviscerate the nonsense passed in the HCB.

The line between freedom of speech and hate crime was in Scotland very clear until the HCB - now its very unclear.

I’m not pro more legislation.

It’s all stupid. But the HCB is the root of all this.

Common law covers all this stuff anyway.

They're not going to look at the spoiled ballots and read the comments though @Waitwhat23 !

They won't care: if they win they'll just plough on with claiming victory.

Your username is making me because I tell my son off about ten times a day for going 'wait, what?' 😆

[quote LexMitior]@WouldBeGood - its actually a very interesting concept legally, a protection of free speech bill. Douglas Ross either got some advice on doing that or got lucky that the HCB is such a mess that you can actually put one in and potentially eviscerate the nonsense passed in the HCB.

The line between freedom of speech and hate crime was in Scotland very clear until the HCB - now its very unclear.[/quote]
the amendments in HCB already do that.
freedom of speech is actually enshrined in this law.

Here: 9A Protection of freedom of expression. For the purposes of section 3(2), behaviour or material is not to be taken to be threatening or abusive solely on the basis that it involves or includes— (a) discussion or criticism of matters relating to— 15 (i) age, (ii) disability, (iii) sexual orientation, (iv) transgender identity, (v) variations in sex characteristics, 20 (b) discussion or criticism relating to, or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule or insult towards— (i) religion, whether religions generally or a particular religion, (ii) religious beliefs or practices, whether religious beliefs or practices generally or a particular religious belief or practice, 25 (iii) the position of not holding religious beliefs, whether religious beliefs generally or a particular religious belief, (c) proselytising, or (d) urging of persons to cease practising their religions.

Even Scotnet's 'favourite' QC Roddy Dunlop said about the bill, with the freedom of expression amendment added: ' I think right balance has mainly been struck there.'

Dunlop also tweeted, when Prof Tomkins amendment one was accepted.

'Amendment 1 already implicit in the law, but as I (&other commentators) have said there is no harm in underlining the protection of #freespeech. Hopefully will reassure people no conviction where convicting would infringe ECHR'

Well, to take Mr Dunlop's line, I think he's being very polite in saying "this does no harm" about something that the rest of the country already knew was the standard legally, and had not got themselves into a position where they had to clarify something legally which was already well understood in common law and the ECHR, which implicitly conditions all legislation made in Westminster, but not apparently in Scotland.

Mr Dunlop is being polite about this legislation, but clearly amazed as are those across the UK that Scotland uniquely found itself in a position where it had to write down basic standards of freedom of speech, such is its liberal nature.

Also, all very good, but I would love to see this administered by the Crown Office as a prosecution standard. I wonder how that would go...

Mr Dunlop is being polite about this legislation
I'm sure you're right. He's known for that isn't he?
He also tweeted this after the bill was passed.

www.thenational.scot/news/19158975.andrew-tickell-many-critics-hate-crime-bill-just-chasing-phantoms/

But I'm sure he was just being polite.

@happygolurkey

Mr Dunlop is being polite about this legislation I'm sure you're right. He's known for that isn't he? He also tweeted this after the bill was passed.

www.thenational.scot/news/19158975.andrew-tickell-many-critics-hate-crime-bill-just-chasing-phantoms/

But I'm sure he was just being polite.

Excellent - what did Dunlop say about it? The actual story is of naught, isn't it?

He said: 'Essential reading (if you can stomach the paywall) for all those complaining about the effects of the bill and anyone that dared to suggest that maybe, you know, abusive or threatening hate speech is not something to cherish.'

@happygolurkey

He said: 'Essential reading (if you can stomach the paywall) for all those complaining about the effects of the bill and anyone that dared to suggest that maybe, you know, abusive or threatening hate speech is not something to cherish.'

When was that? I can't find it?

Mea culpa, I did find it, amidst a huge number of serious criticisms of SNP legislation and policy. I suppose the exception proves the rule.

That said, I disagree - the HCB had to be amended significantly. One criminal lawyer effectively saying in a nationalist newspaper that it will never engage with private comment conveniently ignores the apparently captured Crown Office who will administer this law and prosecute people under it.

Traditionally a labour voter but cannot vote for them any longer as so weak on issues that are important to me - too much like the SNP now. i am voting tactically i.e. the party that is most likely to defeat the SNP which in my area is the Tories. If it were labour I would vote for them. There are too many big picture / longer term issues at stake for me to agonise about voting otherwise.