Why have the SNP just become unstopable in Scotland ?

[Leekbrookgull]

Just did a quick Google and these figures are staggering,for a party that likes to see its self Left of Centre (?) one can understand winning seats in Labour's heartland,but how do they translate this into the Highlands,Borders,etc area's not known for poverty ? Or is this all down to the drive foe independance ? http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/conlist_scot.html#RossSkyeandLochaber

 

[Ernest]

People want an alternative and the cock up with the devolution vote gave them the impetus

 

[GT49er]

Just did a quick Google and these figures are staggering,for a party that likes to see its self Left of Centre (?) one can understand winning seats in Labour's heartland,but how do they translate this into the Highlands,Borders,etc area's not known for poverty ? Or is this all down to the drive foe independance ? http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/conlist_scot.html#RossSkyeandLochaber

They make lots of promises. The English end up paying for them.........

 

[BensGrandad]

Isnt it ironic they wanted independance, lost that vote and are going to control Westminster.

 

[ferring seagull]

Just did a quick Google and these figures are staggering,for a party that likes to see its self Left of Centre (?) one can understand winning seats in Labour's heartland,but how do they translate this into the Highlands,Borders,etc area's not known for poverty ? Or is this all down to the drive foe independance ? http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/conlist_scot.html#RossSkyeandLochaber

Perhaps it is less than realistic to say that Highlands, Borders etc. do not experience poverty.

But SNP might perhaps be better descibed as not 'left of centre' but rather 'left' of 'left of centre'

Scotland has a land mass of approximately two thirds of England but with a population of around one tenth of Englands. The fact is that, although the majority of the population is condensed into the central belt, it does not take a massive swing to affect the outcome of any election.

FWIW, I don't think that the general consensus in that Central part of Scotland is much different from say that of Liverpool, Manchester or Newcastle in it's approach to politics but I may be very wrong.

There is a substantial number of Scots who have a sensible understanding of politics and I feel for them in the curreny situation.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Perhaps after the referendum result they saw the CON-LAB-LD alliance of the NO campaign despatched from Westminster when the prediction polls were going in the wrong direction for what it really was.

 

[Hampster Gull]

Isnt it ironic they wanted independance, lost that vote and are going to control Westminster.

I thinkthis is just the kicker needed to move the tories on

 

[ferring seagull]

As a Jock I, in many ways, wish that the CON/LAB/LIBDs had not pushed so hard for the NO vote.

Independence may well happen one day anyway and perhaps it would have been better 'then' rather than 'later'.

 

[nicko31]

Bored of all the noise from just 8% of the population. Increasingly deluded a socialist utopia is some dream ticket..

 

[beorhthelm]

FWIW, I don't think that the general consensus in that Central part of Scotland is much different from say that of Liverpool, Manchester or Newcastle in it's approach to politics but I may be very wrong.

not much different - solid left wing views. even in areas that look like they migh be a prosperous midshire, that vote Labour with stonking majorities. except now, they apparently have taken a fancy to SNP (and lets call a spade a spade, they are socialists). you can see the sense, left wing and nationalist looking out for the Scottish interests. even if you dont like full indepedence thats a good story, basically the Scots have clocked they can have both ways. they voted in a majority of SNP to their parliament, why shouldnt they follow the same pattern in the GE?

whats slightly more interest, if only because it doesnt get the coverage, is whether there will be a similar swing in Wales, where PC have never really made a dent but the same outlook above might see a number of the valleys leave Labour.

 

[GreersElbow]

Because the Scots have found a new false sense of moral superiority. **** them.

 

[glasfryn]

we spent centuries telling them what to do















now its their turn

 

[RexCathedra]

It's interesting to watch simultaneous arguments being made that the Scots shouldn't have sought independence, outside the UK, and that a nationalist party shouldn't hold the balance of power in any coalition within the UK.

As LBJ used to ask -- do you want them outside the tent pissing in, or inside the tent pissing out?

 

[Gwylan]

whats slightly more interest, if only because it doesnt get the coverage, is whether there will be a similar swing in Wales, where PC have never really made a dent but the same outlook above might see a number of the valleys leave Labour.

They won't: the SNP and PC are similar but in one big respect they're different. The SNP is basically monolingual, PC isn't and there's a split between the traditionalists - who are strong on Welsh identity, culture and, above all, the language - and the lefties, who are more SNP-like in their beliefs. Leanne Wood is the first ever native English speaker to be PC leader and I think that it depends on whether she can shift the party.

It shouldn't be forgotten that SNP has a similar history being a merger of a right-wing traditionalist party (some say near fascist) and a left wing one and don't forget also that the SNP went into a bit of decline in the 80s and 90s - there's plenty of time for PC to make an impact

 

[pasty]

As long as the SNP decimate the Labour vote in Scotland as predicted and leave us with an overall Conservative majority, then they're doing a grand job

 

[wellquickwoody]

we spent centuries telling them what to do















now its their turn

When just over 5 million start telling the other 60,000,000 what to do there will only be one outcome, one side will get a bloody nose.

 

[wellquickwoody]

The SNP very cleverly manipulated the independence referendum by somehow getting Westminster to allow 16 year olds to vote, thereby giving them a sense of excitement and entitlement all in one foul swoop. This inevitably led to tears when a 'No' vote was passed, but has now led to a very strong belief in Scotch power translating into Labour probably being wiped off of the political map. It will all end in tears again somewhere down the line.

 

[glasfryn]

When just over 5 million start telling the other 60,000,000 what to do there will only be one outcome, one side will get a bloody nose.

yes and I'm afraid it could be the English

 

[simmo]

Why are the SNP so popular in Scotland, I think it is because the other 3 main parties are so unpopular (its the same with UKIP in England, its just that UKIP support is more dispersed). It is very easy to be in perpetual opposition (as the Lib Dems have found out) and promise the earth especially when times are tough (I know the SNP run Holyrood, but they have the get out of jail free card which they play of blaming "Westminster" for all problems and yet claiming credit for all good).

Yesterday Nicola Sturgeon was saying her ultimate aim was to lead Scotland out of the UK.....queue big round of applause from her fellow delegates.......and yet on Thursday SHE was telling the rest of the UK whom SHE wanted to "lock out" of 10 Downing Street and thereby PM of the very same UK....its funny that because I thought it is the rest of the British and NI electorate who decides whom is "locked out" of 10 Downing Street, not Nicola Sturgeon.

Is there anything worse than the SNP having the balance of power in the UK? A country they want to leave (I can think of only Sinn Fein!). I just hope that one of the 2 main parties get a majority or that the Lib Dems can get enough seats to do a deal with one of them. The SNP should never be part of any UK govt either formally or informally (because of what their ultimate aim is). Maybe Cameron and Milliband should get together beforehand and say that if in the eventuality of only the SNP holding the balance of power another election will be called??If I was a Labour strategist I might be tempted to tell Milliband to say that unilaterally (as it is an obvious tactic that the Tories are trying to tie SNP/Labour together). The only people that should be "locked out" of 10 Downing Street are the SNP.

 

[Javeaseagull]

I would prefer a Minority Government to another Elected Dictatorship like we had under Thatcher and Blair. The Government would have to get the approval of Parliament to change any laws. That sounds like Democracy to me.
There is so much abuse being hurled at the SNP the press must be really worried. They will probably have less MPs than the Lib/Dems did last time yet our press are trying to put the fear of God into the English. They shout that the SNP would get rid of Trident but don't explain how 40 MPs would do this.
Everyone knows we need Trident to protect our Food Banks, don't they?