Shall we have a Scotsnet general election thread?

[JennyLake]

This WILL be interesting. Even if it doesn’t rid us of the SNP from Holyrood, it will provide a good barometer of public opinion on the recent exploits of the SNP.

Farewell Blackman and Black!

I agree, I've been a lifelong Labour supporter but voted tory a couple of times as that was the best chance against the SNP. However, anytime I've written to my msps, the tory is generally the first or only response and I find myself in agreement with them on many things eg. Gender and dogs etc. In addition we have 4 councillors serving our area and the only one who does anything constructive is the tory, the Labour guy occasionally gets involved but nada from snp on any issue at any level.

Yes.

I really rate my constituency Tory MSP.

To be honest, I also think my Tory MP candidate seems decent but I could not bring myself into voting towards UK Tory party.

My constituency is sadly safe SNP. I shall vote Labour.

I'm quite worried as DH has received his postal vote but I haven't had mine and we're leaving on holiday soon. Is there anything I can do if it doesn't arrive in time?

Does anyone else have a different attitude to the Scottish conservatives from the UK conservatives?

Absolutely, yes. I have never voted Conservative but was a big fan of Ruth Davidson.

None of us have received ours yet. Sent away around 2 weeks ago. It's so frustrating that the election was arranged for the summer holidays.

@GargoylesofBeelzebub you can arrange a proxy vote if you still have time.

Totally! We are on holiday, postal votes didn't arrive and no one to do a proxy vote for us. Well no one close enough that we discuss politics with.

Very frustrating with it being in the scottish school holidays.

I agree. A lot seem decent and I like that they’re for free speech and have been the strongest voice against some of the mad nonsense from the SNP.

Don't forget you'll need photo ID to vote

Conservatives are only party that know what a woman is and take a stand on trans gender . Glad Douglas Ross is going as leader as he’ll be better as an Mp . However I feel Cons in ScotLand have been hardworking and not brainwashed by Stonewall and their mates and our Cons Mp works his socks off .
Education and growing business are the two most important things . All else in years ahead will follow .
Labour hate the private school sector which is one of the few things in UK we can still be proud of . We will be only country in Europe to tax education. I feel this indicates they want to drag everyone down to lowest level . I acknowledge there are some fabulous state schools but that seems to depend on the Heads .
After a year in power Labour will hit the big buffers and be flailing around blaming Tories ( echoes of SNP) forgetting Covids legacy . Some of the blame will be deserved but almost every Country in Europe is struggling with exactly our problems and they didn’t have Liz Truss . Canada is same too so something else at play here

Seriously what a shower of numpties. Why would you think it was OK to place any bets on an event you could be said to have insider knowledge about - even if you genuinely didn't know, it leaves you open to all sorts of accusations. Shows very poor judgement.

Apparently it is a tradition to bet against yourself winning if you stand in an election. That’s what the Labour guy did. But if every candidate has followed this tradition and has already bet against themselves winning, that could be a heck of a lot of candidates profiteering.

It’s right that those who placed a bet while having knowledge of the outcome are vilified. These people need to be separated from those who placed a bet but did not know the outcome. Politicians who did that are just daft, not criminal.

Eeeek , just read A Jack was pulling their legs re the 2 k winnings

I think the Borders is pretty safe still?.
Mind you, I've had not one but TWO Tory door-knockers around looking worried.
Every single vote counts.

Last time in my area it was between SNP and Conservatives and the SNP won by about 4000 votes.
I voted SNP.

Labour received hardly any votes.

This time I don’t want to vote for the SNP and I definitely won’t vote Tory.

Additionally I’d like a candidate who will be visible in the constituency and actually does something for the local area.

I am happy for Labour to win the election so I was going to vote labour but I worry
that
1/ it’s a wasted vote as they have no chance of getting in here,
and
2/ I now see that the Labour candidate is from England and reading between the lines (had to research them online as their election literature skirted around this issue) I don’t think they have ever set foot in this area.

I’ll probably still vote labour but it’s just all a bit crap isn’t it.

Anyone in Central Ayrshire? What's this Labour chap Alan Gemmell like? It seems he's got a chance of taking the seat from the SNP.

Dh voting Labour. I probably will too. I have been far too busy at work to properly look into him and the new SNP candidate (I actually liked Dr Philippa).

I've had a rather good response from my local Labour candidate (Gregor Poynton, Livingston East) regarding his stance on the definition of a woman/gender (see below). I've had no response from the other party candidates I contacted, which speaks volumes.

***
Dear OneWildBiscuit,

Thank you for getting in touch about this important issue.

The lack of political leadership has been incredibly disappointing, allowing this debate to be dominated by division and distrust instead of openness and discussion. Women who voiced reasoned and reasonable concerns about the Bill in the Scottish Parliament were shouted down and ignored. This must change to ensure women feel reassured about a way forward.

Labour is proud of our Equality Act and the rights and protections it provides to women. We will continue to support the implementation of its single-sex exceptions.

A fraught and expensive legal battle could have been avoided if both of our governments had worked in good faith to deliver a bill that everyone could trust.

That is why Scottish Labour called for both governments to work with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to find solutions. The real questions here won’t be answered in the courts – we need to focus on building consensus and public support for a way forward on reform.

I hope this gives you clarity on where the Labour Party and I stand on this issue.

Do let me know if you have any further questions.

Best,

Gregor

That IS a good reply.

I disagree. The tory government aren’t to blame at all . It was all on the SNPgreens, Lib Dem’s and Labour.

user1471522343
Yes it certainly is all crap. In fact, it's so bad I am seriously thinking of spoiling my vote for the first time in my life.

I’ve received my postal vote and posted it back yesterday. DH hasn’t received his yet though and we go on holiday tomorrow. We’re in fife - bbc reporting that there are issues in fife. Delays to postal votesTypical even if it is delivered I don’t trust them to get it back to the electoral office in time

DH had his yesterday, he applied later than the other voters in this house but it's only going as far as Kirkintilloch - I could walk it there myself in less than a week!! I do think postal voting in Scotland is going to be much more common, so many people I know are away on holiday.

@OneWildBiscuit THANK YOU for posting your Labour candidates response.
It has prompted me to write to mine just now. I'll post on here if I get a reply.
I thought KS response last night was reasonable. I am no lawyer but he seemed to be saying that the provisions in the Act already allow for nuanced application? I agree that it would be good if the 'debate' could be much less polarised so that women's safe spaces are protected whilst those who feel they are a different gender also feel respected. I am not trying to start a debate on this thread. I'm aware we have agreed not to discuss it atm. Im just saying what I emailed to MP I will be interested to see if / what they reply.

I have heard lots of parents locally say they've applied for a postal vote 1st time as the election was called for the 1st week of Scottish school hols when everyone goes away before the prices go up when English kids are off.
No one has their postal vote through yet & it's now too late to arrange a Proxy.
I have altered my holiday plans to be able to vote in person as I had no faith in this. I called my local council & was told I could do a proxy vote but when you look at the form I didn't fit in the categories so I wouldnt have been able to?

It's so important that everyone who wants to vote can & that there is no US style claims after that the result is not valid for whatever reason.