Scottish Parliament election - 5th May 2016

[Catholics vs. Convicts]

Not sure if this has been discussed here, but is there any opinion on why Scottish Labour, Conservatives, Lib Dems should/should not gather within one, somewhat progressive, party to oppose the SNP? Frankly, I just see the handwriting on the wall that Scotland will effectively be a one party state until they force independence. I get that politics, especially in Europe, does not have to fit into a neat, two party system. But would Scottish Labour and Conservatives really prefer letting SNP dominate for the foreseeable future rather than working together in a big tent coalition?

[Catholics vs. Convicts]

Not sure if this has been discussed here, but is there any opinion on why Scottish Labour, Conservatives, Lib Dems should/should not gather within one, somewhat progressive, party to oppose the SNP? Frankly, I just see the handwriting on the wall that Scotland will effectively be a one party state until they force independence. I get that politics, especially in Europe, does not have to fit into a neat, two party system. But would Scottish Labour and Conservatives really prefer letting SNP dominate for the foreseeable future rather than working together in a big tent coalition?

The short answer is yes.

To flesh that out a bit, quite apart from the uncertainty of the political positioning of such an arrangement (which party south of the border does a 'Unionist' party align itself with, and what kind of policies does a party that is an amalgam of the traditional three main parties of the UK put forth), most Labour and Conservative politicians and members would rather eat glass than be part of the same political party. The fact is, ultimately, aside from so-called swing voters, each party really and truly caters to a different type of person, and such people are not going to be comfortable with the idea of being forced into an artificial new party. Quite apart from that, campaigning on an explicitly 'unionist' platform, as the Labour party has, has certainly not done it any electoral favours, with the possible exception of gaining a handful of loan votes from the other anti-nationalist parties in a desperate attempt to stop the SNP juggernaut. I simply can't see a unionist party, one that would be riven by internal uncertainty over its policy direction and probably divided along old party lines doing any better than Labour is. It would probably be doing even worse.

I guess I need to accept that this is the case. But I have no doubt then that that a strongly Conservative UK and an entirely SNP Scotland just spells inevitable independence. Labour is screwwwwwwwwed.

[Catholics vs. Convicts]

I'm telling you...the Scotland will effectively be a one party state unless the Scottish unionists get together. Not enough Conservatives, and no need for Labour anymore....

[Catholics vs. Convicts]

Pretty sure I'm going to stick to BBC Scotland on election night; IIRC last time they actually gave some attention to the numbers, which is something that is getting rarer on the UK-wide BBC (both on general and local election nights). Plus it'll mean avoiding Jeremy Vine and his OTT graphics.

I had so much fun watching the referendum results on BBC Scotland, that last year I flipped back and forth between BBC and BBC scotland for the general. It was tough because I wanted results from across the uk, but I much preferred BBC Scotland's coverage. So I know who I'll be watching in May, June though I have no idea.

[Catholics vs. Convicts]

Lib Dems - 26
Labour - 18
Green - 14
SNP - 10
UKIP - 2
Conservatives - 1

This checks out. SNP is actually a good party for me, except for the whole independence thing... But I think I am solidly a Lib Dem, which makes sense considering my ties to Scotland like in Lord Campbell of Pittenweem's constituency. Kind of surprised how low the Conservatives are though...

[Catholics vs. Convicts]

I love to watch the BBC Scotland coverage. I'll be watching through the night while most of Scotland sleeps i(including my fiancée who's visiting)

[Catholics vs. Convicts]

WOW Willie Rennie wins his constituency vote! This is such a strange election.

Yay Lib Dem for North East Fife!

I'm satisfied for this election.

[Catholics vs. Convicts]

Wow Edinburgh is not feeling SNP this year.

[Catholics vs. Convicts]

If England dragged Scotland out of the EU, then I'd probably support independence. But Scotland should know that its potential membership in the EU would be far from guaranteed.