Party or candidate?

[snooky]

In our local elections the candidate for the party I would probably vote for is, in my view, a total wingnut.
It would gall me to give this person my endorsement.
Has anybody faced this dilemma before? What action did you take?
a) abstained b) voted for the party nevertheless c) voted for another candidate

[One Day Soon]

In our local elections the candidate for the party I would probably vote for is, in my view, a total wingnut.
It would gall me to give this person my endorsement.
Has anybody faced this dilemma before? What action did you take?
a) abstained b) voted for the party nevertheless c) voted for another candidate


It's a genuinely tricky proposition. The person you are voting for is an important factor. You want someone who will do the job effectively because at some point in their lives a significant number of people will go to that person for help, advice or support. On the other hand our system is effectively making us choose between the policy platforms of entire parties.

There's another factor too. I often hear people complain about the talent pool at the Scottish Parliament and in Councils. If we vote for the rosette regardless of the monkey selected by the party, all we are doing is encouraging the parties to believe that they can field any er5e without there being a consequence.

[Geo_1875]

Depends whether you believe the party manifesto is paramount or you are happy to cast your vote for a party you don't support to get a genuinely effective MSP/MP in your area. Personally I'd abstain if I couldn't bring myself to vote for my preferred party.

[steakbake]

I'm a green voter. The last 3, they've had constituency and list on principle.

This time with no candidate but a list vote, I'm having to think carefully. I was actually going to vote for Malcolm Chisholm but he's stepping down. I wouldn't otherwise vote Labour, though I was a Labour voter until the Iraq War. I'm kind of more into looking at the candidates now.

[marinello59]

I've gone for party over candidate in the last few elections. It's not that hard to ignore party lines once you realise that all the major parties are fighting over exactly the same central ground despite claims to the contrary. The choice isn't one of ideology, it's one of management style, just like the Westminster election was.

[Colr]

I've gone for party over candidate in the last few elections. It's not that hard to ignore party lines once you realise that all the major parties are fighting over exactly the same central ground despite claims to the contrary. The choice isn't one of ideology, it's one of management style, just like the Westminster election was.

This is a common view but a lazy one. If you think the parties are the same, your not looking much beneath the surface. If you are saying they are mostly equally self serving, we might have some common ground!!

I have a similar problem finding someone to vote for in the London Mayoral election

[ACLeith]

I'm a green voter. The last 3, they've had constituency and list on principle.

This time with no candidate but a list vote, I'm having to think carefully. I was actually going to vote for Malcolm Chisholm but he's stepping down. I wouldn't otherwise vote Labour, though I was a Labour voter until the Iraq War. I'm kind of more into looking at the candidates now.

I guess you are Edinburgh North & Leith SB? There was a hustings meeting last night, attended by Labour, SNP, Green, Lib-Dem, Independent and RISE. Tories and UKIP never turned up, make up your own reason/excuse for that.

No debate on questions, each candidate was given a couple of minutes to give their answer without interruption from either the other candidates or the floor. So, very courteous and civilised, though one candidate in particular did manage to get more jibes about the other parties in than the others.

Leith has been Labour for a very long time, but there's no doubt that Malcolm Chisholm carried a lot of personal votes, will be interesting to see how many switch now that he has retired, particularly as their candidate is a bit of a controversial figure in the city.

[AndyM_1875]

Whoever you vote for you do need to check up on the candidate that will represent your area or you could end up with the shambles we had in in Dunfermline which when I moved over was a marginal represented by a LibDem. He lost out in 2011 to the SNP candidate who I voted for and still shudder about that.

Some of you might remember this chap, Bill Walker, later convicted of being a wifebeater (selected despite many SNP members saying he was bad news), the seat went vacant and then Cara Hillton of Labour took it comfortably in 2013 at a by-election. She's still the only candidate who has canvassed me or knocked on my door to ask me for my vote. To be fair she's been very good as MSPs go, does loads of surgeries and is very engaged in the local community. Despite my reservations about Labour I see no reason for her to lose to an SNP candidate who does not live in the area, hasn't showed up yet in the area and has links to some fairly grubby bullying business going on along the road at Kirkcaldy SNP.
But it will be a close fight.

[marinello59]

This is a common view but a lazy one. If you think the parties are the same, your not looking much beneath the surface. If you are saying they are mostly equally self serving, we might have some common ground!!

I have a similar problem finding someone to vote for in the London Mayoral election

It's a fair comment.
Of course there are differences. When it comes to actually running things staying in power becomes more important than actually doing something different. All the Parliaments we have had so far have, on balance, been run fairly well run no matter who has been in power.

[Colr]

It's a fair comment.
Of course there are differences. When it comes to actually running things staying in power becomes more important than actually doing something different. All the Parliaments we have had so far have, on balance, been run fairly well run no matter who has been in power.

This is true especially when you compare them to other countries' systems. All the more important that the quality here's hold is high as is the scrutiny.