Scottish Parliament elections, who to vote for?

[EdinburghCentral]

Nearly put this on the manifestos thread, but it would be a derail there. I think that, as someone who is mostly centre-left but think's it's absolutely crucial that we regain an understanding that sex exists, is immutable, and is sometimes important, I'm likely to vote Labour for my constituency and Ash Regan on the list. Anyone like to convince me I should do anything different?

I’m going out on a limb and guessing you don’t want independence.

Look at your candidates. I am going to vote Tory as he actually voted against the GRR bill.

Neither does the SNP….

I'm undecided on that at this point, actually. I voted Yes, quite enthusiastically, in 2014, but have become quite disillusioned since that: I genuinely thought Scottish society was better than the UK average and, well, I don't think that any more, and I'm no longer sure independence would go well. But in any case, why do you say that? My constituency vote seems likely to be ambivalent (what do Scottish Labour want??), and my list vote pro-independence (Ash Regan has been in SNP and Alba and I think is still pro-indy?). No way am I voting SNP...

There is not going to be an independence referendum. So vote for who you think will be best at running Scotland, and assume as part of a coalition.

I agree with you about the SNP being useless and no way would I vote for them if I lived in Scotland.

Anyone except the SNP and Reform - it doesn’t leave much choice

Don’t tell me you would consider Green???!!!

I will vote for Ash Regan. I don't want Independence, but that won't happen anyway.

As for the constituency vote, not SNP, not Green. Definitely not Reform. The Lib Dems seem to be irrelevant now, plus they have not backed women. Labour say they will enforce single-sex spaces, but I'm not sure I trust them - they backed the GRR after all, and Labour in Westminster are faffing around trying to avoid commitment. The Conservatives are too right-wing for me, and they presided over gender ideology while in Westminster, though they did block the GRR. I'm vaguely considering Labour or Tory, just to stop the SNP and Greens, or at least to provide some opposition.

If it wouldn't be a wasted vote I might vote Communist.

Vote for the candidate who has the best chance of getting in without being SNP, Green or Reform. Ideally Labour or the Conservatives. I'm not a big fan of the Conservatives, but they won't be running the country and they do at least speak up in opposition, which we badly need.

Oh god no! I give them no thought at all that’s why I always forget about them

Looks like it'll be Labour or Tory for me. Maybe both. Just whoever has the best chance of getting rid of the SNP and keeping the Greens very far away from power.

Libdems are my party of choice, but seem to have morphed into some weird, squishy, queasy, end-of-the-pier farce. Can't do it any more, no matter how many times Davey hilariously falls in the water.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5517030-scottish-elections-party-manifestos-on-sex-gender-etc

Thread with party manifestos.

Postal vote deadline is next Tuesday! You have JUST enough time.to get your form in if need be, otherwise, you can seek a proxy.

We only have LD, SNP, Lab, Tory and Reform standing so there's not the choice of a minor party, independent or even a Raving Loony type candidate.

I was an SNP voter for over 20 years and a member for a while but can't see them regaining my vote anytime soon. I'm pretty left-leaning but am considering voting Tory for the first time ever. I think @ArabellaScott 's suggestion of voting Tory for the constituency and Labour in the list or vice-versa might be the way to go.

Is there a site where I can see what the current predictions are for each constituency to help me decide who to throw my weight behind for each vote?

I think I'll vote Labour. Liberal but without the gender nonsense.

Some sites/tools.purporting to offer advice on tactical voting.

The first is to get SNP out, second to keep Reform out, next to keep Conservatives out. Then two news articles.

Caveat - I am never sure how useful or accurate these sites or tools are. Bias may be in operation. My own bias: I'm fucking sick of the lot of them.

tacticalvotescotland.uk/

stopreformuk.vote/sp/west-scotland

tactical-vote.uk/tactical-voting.html

www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/official-scottish-daily-express-tactical-37007631

www.holyrood.com/news/view,dont-vote-reform-to-stop-snp-tactical-voting-guide-tells-unionists

https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/

Site purports to be non partisan but I am 🤔 about that.

Just to say, the tactical-vote.uk link is for the last UK general election - it doesn't have the right constituencies for the Scottish Parliament. holyrood.com seems to have technical problems right now, hopefully it will come back....

The Daily Express article: Vote Reform. Nope, nope and thrice nope.

tacticalvotescotland - Constituency Vote: Labour. List: Anyone but SNP or Green.

So looking like Labour in Constituency and Tories in List for me but I will keep an eye on the polling.

The BBC is having a hustings for Edinburgh Central and we can submit questions :
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62j6gvj6y7o

I can see two possibilities :

1 "I'm a big believer in public accountability, but the greens are running the ex-Ceo of Edinburgh rape crisis, who has been criticised by two report, did not resign when her position was untenable, and has never explained her actions publicly. Can Lorna explain what standards the greens are applying for accountability? "
( I would actually leave that wadhwa is trans out of it: let lorna have to bring that up as a" special treatment ")
2)" the second and third place regional green candidates are both heavily tied to trans causes. A number of green voters have noted the party literature does not prioritise the environment, and neither candidate appears to have the environment as a main interest. What would you say to environmental voters who are saying that the Greens are not prioritising the environment? "

Dunno which is better. The second picks up on something I have heard people say, and draws attention to the poorness of the regional candidates. Y
The first well, screw them.
I don't have the nerve to ask either myself for reasons... Very captured job area
But perhaps one of you could? Or a better question?

@IJustWantedToHelptheEnvironment

Good luck in getting those questions past BBC censors vetting.

I'm struggling to find much polling, please share if you have any!

Sorry Arabella. At the moment I'm going by the links you posted. 😕

Some polls:

https://www.pollcheck.co.uk/holyrood-polls

SNP
53

Labour
20

Reform UK
17

Conservative
15

Liberal Democrats
14

Greens
10

They need 65 for a majority. So likely a coalition. Looks like SNP/Greens most likely govt according to current polls.

Is going to be horrific, isn't it? I heard on the radio that the SNP have been in power for the past 19 years. The Greens are even keener on dumbing down the already extremely dumbed down-education system than the SNP are. And on being soft on criminals.