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Original poster

Gender critical voting in Scottish Parliamentary elections... Help!

15 replies

SassenachsWhaHae · 04/05/2021 09:19

Apologies if there has already been a thread on this, I looked but couldn't find it!

I am at a total loss as to who to vote for on Thursday and have been so up to my eyeballs in work and childcare stress that I haven't kept track of the official gender line of all of the parties. I am looking at Scottish Labour for the regional vote after them talking sense on the Forensic Medical Services Bill but where does Anas Sarwar stand on gender issues?

It sounds contradictory but I'm considering Alba for the list vote - I'm pro-indy but simply can't vote SNP in either category due to their position on gender issues and treatment of Joanna Cherry. Have Alba made their stance on gender clear? Any other parties I should be thinking about?

(I'm conscious of the feminist issues with Alex Salmond too but tbh it feels like options are limited - short of spoiling my ballot...)

OP posts:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 04/05/2021 09:23

forwomen.scot/election-2021-guide/

forwomen.scot/01/05/2021/election-hustings/

Hopefully some things there to help you decide.

Purely on women's rights your best bets are ALBA (pro indy) or Tories (unionist)

Original poster
SassenachsWhaHae · 04/05/2021 09:28

@ItsAllGoingToBeFine thanks so much! That's really helpful. I should have thought to look on FWS... told you my brain was mush right now.

I'm tempted to spoil the regional ballot (maybe with "woman = adult human female" in big letters)and only vote on the list for ALBA.

OP posts:
Original poster
SassenachsWhaHae · 04/05/2021 09:29

Wait I'm getting the terminology wrong... spoil the constituency ballot and vote ALBA for regional.

OP posts:
JesusMaryDonkey · 04/05/2021 09:30

I too am confused - I’m looking at the tactical voting sites and see conflicting advice (or more likely am just being dense) In the 2019 general election the SNP only won by 147 votes in my Constituency so it would make sense to vote for the party that came 2nd if you were going to go down that route (am still uncertain)- but some sites don’t seem to be using that result for the tactics to reduce the SNP majority. Should I be looking at a different election?

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 04/05/2021 09:30

[quote SassenachsWhaHae]@ItsAllGoingToBeFine thanks so much! That's really helpful. I should have thought to look on FWS... told you my brain was mush right now.

I'm tempted to spoil the regional ballot (maybe with "woman = adult human female" in big letters)and only vote on the list for ALBA.[/quote]
Happy to help Smile

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 04/05/2021 09:36

@JesusMaryDonkey

I too am confused - I’m looking at the tactical voting sites and see conflicting advice (or more likely am just being dense) In the 2019 general election the SNP only won by 147 votes in my Constituency so it would make sense to vote for the party that came 2nd if you were going to go down that route (am still uncertain)- but some sites don’t seem to be using that result for the tactics to reduce the SNP majority. Should I be looking at a different election?
Vote for who you like in both votes and there is a good chance you'll get someone on the list who is unionist. FWIW I am pro-indy but I don't want an SNP majority either...
Diaryofamadwoman · 04/05/2021 13:21

I'm voting conservative (to my amazement) for the constituency vote after hearing Donald Cameron in the forensic medical services bill debates. He gets it, he is standing up for women, so although I'm no Tory, I have no choice but to support the person who stands up to this. To try and unseat the SNP I would have to vote LibDem, I'm not willing to do that.

For the list vote - I would like to vote Wightman, he is an impressive politician and would represent my interests - I have no choice here either though and I have to vote Alba. I have to send the message that women will not see themselves stripped of thier rights. Previously, I've only ever voted for SNP and Green.

I'm not even convinced it's safe to risk a bid for independence anymore with this carry on.

Babdoc · 04/05/2021 13:42

Any woman voting for pro independence parties risks giving the SNP a mandate for a referendum.
If the SNP achieve independence, you will be living in a woke anti-feminist tinpot foreign republic, where women will have NO rights to single sex spaces and no right to appeal to the UK Supreme court either.
Please vote for unionist parties as the only way to ensure women’s rights in future. And vote tactically, for the unionist candidate with the best chance of beating the SNP. In my constituency of North Perthshire, that’s the Tories.

MorrisZapp · 04/05/2021 13:46

I'm inclined to agree babdoc. If you think Canada has lost it's collective mind on gender, wait until an indy Scotland gets it's boots on.

JesusMaryDonkey · 04/05/2021 14:08

I voted Yes in the Independence Referendum and SNP at the last election. Prior to that I've been a lifelong Labour voter. My disillusionment is so total that I cannot bring myself to vote SNP. I am going to play the long game. What I decide to do on Thursday will be my own vote of no confidence in the SNP in its current incarnation and I'm prepared to delay Independence in order to try and reduce their power. I don't know whether I will be pissing in the wind by doing this and whether it will make a blind bit of difference but I just can't give them my vote.

PankhurstTastic · 04/05/2021 14:53

I went for the list vote to candidate most likely to win over SNP, and regional vote to Tories as the only party I trust to protect women's rights. Never voted Tory before, felt strange! I hope the Greens suffer at the polls, their party leaders have repellent, misogynist views.

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 04/05/2021 15:21

I have a postal vote that will be getting handed in at the 11th hour at the polling station.

I cannot bring myself to spoil my vote. But, I feel dirty at the prospect of voting Tory.

It's easier to keep rights than try and get them back, though.

Babdoc · 04/05/2021 15:54

Whatever you think of the Tories, they provided one of the fastest vaccine rollouts in the world, and allocated nine billion pounds of bailout funds for Scotland in the pandemic.
According to the Audit commission, £2.7 billion of that has still not been paid out to businesses by the SNP. Meanwhile, Scots firms, especially in the hospitality sector, are struggling to survive.
Sturgeon has had almost £1 million of taxpayers money to refurbish Bute House. Boris got a loan from a friend to refurbish Downing St, costing taxpayers nothing. And yet he gets criticised!
The SNP can talk a lot of hot air about freebies and handouts, but without subsidies from Tory England they would be unable to do any of it.
Voting Tory is not “supping with the devil” and only a last resort to protect women’s rights. It is a sensible vote for a secure financial future in a strong United Kingdom.

ArabellaScott · 04/05/2021 16:02

It depends where in the country you are, who is the biggest threat to the SNP, whether you are pro or anti indy.

A very tricky decision. I know I absolutely will not vote: SNP, Green.

I'm going independent for the list vote. Still unsure about the constituency ... I think in the end it will be whoever will give the SNP the biggest bump.

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