Who on here would describe themselves as a floating voter?

[Hibbyradge]

Over the years, I have voted for Labour, the SNP and the Liberals but I wouldn't call myself a floating voter because I've always voted tactically against the Tories.

My definition of a floating voter is someone who fairly readily changes their electoral choice depending on the performance of the government, the behaviour of the different parties, their personalities and what they are promising to do etc.

There must be millions of people like that given the swings in the opinion polls and I'm interested to find out which Holy Ground contributors are in that bracket.

[grunt]

I don't float any more.

[neil7908]

Same as you I think in that I don't think I fit the bill as a floating voter.

But I've voted Green, SNP, Labour and Lib Dems (never again).

My vote is generally about the election itself, leader and party policies at the time and my MP/MSP.

When I think of floating voter though it means someone in the middle who goes between left and right. I.e the red wall voters in North of England that Boris got on side after voting Labour for years, and who now appear to be heading back to Labour.

[Crunchie]

I've voted Labour, SNP then Conservative in that order for various reasons. I wouldn't consider any other parties.

[Ozyhibby]

I’ve voted for all but conservative but in 2010 I wasn’t unhappy that they won. Been SNP since 2005. Iraq war was catalyst at the time.


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[wookie70]

I'm a Corbyn type Labour voter at heart who has voted ABC(Anything but Conservative). I have voted Scottish Socialist, SNP(one time Only) and Greens. I'm now at the point where Independence is all that really matters in terms of my vote so I will vote for the party that supports that and the one furthest to the left. That usually means Greens and they are probably the closest fit for my politics out of the bigger parties.

I'd agree that a Floating voter goes between left, right and centre but even floating on the left can mean the right wins and if I lived in a constituency that the Tories had a chance I would vote tactically

[JeMeSouviens]

I've voted Lab, SNP, Margo, Green (and Libs once, in 2010, to my eternal shame). I float between SNP and Green these days.

[SHODAN]

I've voted Labour, SNP and Green. No party can really say they 100% have my vote; it's typically SNP at the moment as a means to an end, but that isn't guaranteed either. Under no circumstances for example would I vote for a transphobe like Cherry etc, and I'd find it difficult to support the SNP as a whole if a social conservative like Forbes became FM. After independence my vote could easily go back to Labour if they commit not to try to go back to the union, and move to the left.

I have a pre-determined set of values and I'll vote for anyone who can realistically implement them.

[The Modfather]

Not sure I’m a floating voter either. I’ve voted SNP the last while as a means to an end for independence. Prior to that issue I’ve often spoiled my ballot paper. I’m still of the mind that all political parties are self serving and much of a muchness, the post Brexit Tories have gone all out to stand head and shoulders above the rest in their awfulness though.

Where’s the Brewsters Millions “none of the above” option.

[Hibrandenburg]

I've only ever voted Labour and Green in the past. I've never voted SNP but will be doing so in the future. The British system is all but broken however setup so that same system of government will remain, probably for centuries to come. The only party offering Scotland a real alternative is the SNP and until that changes they will have my vote despite me not being happy with some of their policies. Once independence is achieved my vote is up for grabs.

[wookie70]

Not sure I’m a floating voter either. I’ve voted SNP the last while as a means to an end for independence. Prior to that issue I’ve often spoiled my ballot paper. I’m still of the mind that all political parties are self serving and much of a muchness, the post Brexit Tories have gone all out to stand head and shoulders above the rest in their awfulness though.

Where’s the Brewsters Millions “none of the above” option.

Forgot to mention that in my reply. I have spoiled quite a few of my votes. If I am honest I am a "none of the above" type voter currently but will hold my nose and vote for a Party that gives a chance of Independence.

[Scouse Hibee]

I only started voting about five years ago, I’m 55 and bored with it already, don’t think I will bother again.

[AgentDaleCooper]

I’ve voted for all but conservative but in 2010 I wasn’t unhappy that they won. Been SNP since 2005. Iraq war was catalyst at the time.


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genuinely, why were you not unhappy?

[The Harp Awakes]

There's no one political party represents my views today. Up until the mid-90s, I had only ever voted Labour, but my enthusiasm for them began to wane after John Smith passed away in 1994. I've seen them as red tories since Blair got into power and their allegiance with the tories now in Council wards up and down Scotland means that I despise them as much as the tories.

The main issue that matters to me now is gaining Scottish independence. Perhaps it's the wrong way to look at it, but I can't wait to see the day when Scotland will never be ruled by tories in Government again. The best way of securing independence is to vote SNP, as rightly or wrongly, a vote for another party, even the independence supporting greens, is seen by the tory media as a blow to independence.

So, I'll be a non-floating SNP voter until independence. After that though, I'll likely become a floating voter.

[superfurryhibby]

I've voted Labour, SNP and Green. No party can really say they 100% have my vote; it's typically SNP at the moment as a means to an end, but that isn't guaranteed either. Under no circumstances for example would I vote for a transphobe like Cherry etc, and I'd find it difficult to support the SNP as a whole if a social conservative like Forbes became FM. After independence my vote could easily go back to Labour if they commit not to try to go back to the union, and move to the left.

I have a pre-determined set of values and I'll vote for anyone who can realistically implement them.

Transphobe like Cherry.....that’s a bit of an odd statement.She does seem to attract the anger of those against freedom of speech thoughI. Either way , think you’ll be fine, she’s been well marginalised by Sturgeon and her acolytes. I would also say that if you want a left of centre independence party, the SNP aren’t it.

I voted only Labour until 1992, thereafter it’s been SNP, Green and Scottish Socialist Party, but mostly SNP, despite their forelock tugging deference to the Windsors.

[H18 SFR]

I have voted for five different parties in local, Scottish, European and national elections. I’ve been voting 26 years and have never not voted with the exception of the last independence referendum.

[PaulSmith]

Me:

Independence - would prefer a federation/more powers
Part of the EU - yes
Part of the wider UK - yes
Workers rights - yes
Resolving social inequalities - yes
Nuclear power - yes
Climate crisis - meh
Animal rights and conservation - yes
Controlled immigration - yes
Govt overreach - no
Supporting business - yes

However not one party seems capable of putting together policies which addresses all of the above so I’ll continue to vote where I think best serves my own thoughts.

Problem is that politicians are 1) self interest 2) party interest and 3) voter interests in that order.

[Bristolhibby]

Not a floating voter at all.

Live in the South West of England, currently in a Tory stronghold or North Wiltshire.

My first Election was a European Election in 1999. Where due to Regional PR I voted who I wanted to which was Labour.

Since then it’s been Lib Dem for Council and National elections. As they are the most credible opposition to the Tories.

I’m going to be affected by boundary changes where I think I move into Chippenham. The gerrymandering bar stewards are moving my rural (massively Tory) vote into the urban area of Chippenham to kill the Lib Dems off forever.

Just on the topic of floaters, do you think football fans are less likely to be floaters than the general population.

Is it in our mindset to stick with our “team” regardless?

Just a thought.

J

[wookie70]

Me:


Climate crisis - meh
Animal rights and conservation - yes


However not one party seems capable of putting together policies which addresses all of the above so I’ll continue to vote where I think best serves my own thoughts.

Problem is that politicians are 1) self interest 2) party interest and 3) voter interests in that order.

Not surprised one party doesn't represent those views. The two I left in appear complete contradictory imo. Huge parts of animal welfare like habitat destruction are completely aligned with Climate change. The world will likely change dramatically in the next 50 years and that won't just be for humans. When you look below the oceans and in already extreme environments above the sea then climate change is having massive effects on animals. Far more than it is currently having on humans

[Pretty Boy]

Over the years I've voted Labour more than anyone else. I've given list votes to the SSP and Greens at Holyrood and have voted SNP in one Holyrood and one Westminster election.

I didn't vote in the last Holyrood election because I felt I'd be sacrificing too many principles to vote for any of the parties. I still feel broadly that way now, ultimately no one is offering any push back against the destructive neoliberal consensus that has dominated for the best part of 5 decades, it's just some have slightly more of a social conscience than others. Depending on how my constituency looks I would probably hold my nose and tactically vote either SNP or Labour at the next Westminster election if it looked like the Tories could sneak it. That's an outside chance though so I'll likely remain a non voter rather than a floating one.

[grunt]

I don't understand it when otherwise plainly intelligent people decide not to vote. Surely that just allows others to determine your future?

[wookie70]

I don't understand it when otherwise plainly intelligent people decide not to vote. Surely that just allows others to determine your future? I have spoiled my paper a good few times. That is my way of voting when none of the parties come close to representing my views. I choose to vot for noone rather than not vote at all

[Colr]

Tactical voter but not a floating one.

[147lothian]

I've normally vote SNP long time since I voted Labour, next election I might not vote.

[grunt]

I don't understand it when otherwise plainly intelligent people decide not to vote. Surely that just allows others to determine your future?


I have spoiled my paper a good few times. That is my way of voting when none of the parties come close to representing my views. I choose to vot for noone rather than not vote at all
Yes, but ...? :confused:

[The Modfather]

I don't understand it when otherwise plainly intelligent people decide not to vote. Surely that just allows others to determine your future?

Does it make much difference when all parties are much of a muchness and all driven by self interest? No mainstream party is radically different from all the others.

[Ozyhibby]

Does it make much difference when all parties are much of a muchness and all driven by self interest? No mainstream party is radically different from all the others.

I’d say there is a bit of a difference between the SNP and the Tories.


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[The Modfather]

I’d say there is a bit of a difference between the SNP and the Tories.


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There is with the post Brexit Tories, but in the scheme of things they are ultimately as self serving as all the rest. They’re all a bit like the Hibs midfield, you can shuffle them around but ultimately you end up essentially still in the same position.

Vive la revolution!

[Hibbyradge]

Does it make much difference when all parties are much of a muchness and all driven by self interest? No mainstream party is radically different from all the others.

They're not much of a muchness though.

The Tories behaviour over the last few years won't be repeated by a Labour government. The brazen corruption, the focus on making the rich richer, the disregard for working people and the snout in the trough attitude will end, even if the policies might not end up as radical as many of us would prefer.

Brazil game has just started so I'll leave it there.

[Kato]

There is with the post Brexit Tories, but in the scheme of things they are ultimately as self serving as all the rest. They’re all a bit like the Hibs midfield, you can shuffle them around but ultimately you end up essentially still in the same position.

Vive la revolution!Where are the stories of the SNP helping their friends fraudulantly gain billions of pounds by taking abdvantage of a pandemic?

Are the any stories about the SNP similar to "gold walllpaper" or trying to change legislation in order to make elected officials taking backhanders/bribes legal?

They might all be in it for themselves but then there is matter of intent and a question of degree.


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[Since90+2]

Does it make much difference when all parties are much of a muchness and all driven by self interest? No mainstream party is radically different from all the others.

The country was offered something radically different with Corbyn and the Labour party and they turned if down.

Labour will be back in power shortly and will be an improvement on the Tories, but I'm not sure the country will ever elect a socialist or left leaning government anytime soon.

[Skol]

My votes have generally been against whoever I don’t want in charge. I voted only labour until 2014 on the basis I didn’t want conservatives in charge. Labour were closest to but not entirely what I was after

Since 2014 I have voted tactically against the snp which has also meant I voted conservative in two holyrood elections, but never in a general election.

[grunt]

My votes have generally been against whoever I don’t want in charge. I voted only labour until 2014 on the basis I didn’t want conservatives in charge. Labour were closest to but not entirely what I was after

Since 2014 I have voted tactically against the snp which has also meant I voted conservative in two holyrood elections, but never in a general election.
That makes sense. :greengrin

[marinello59]

The country was offered something radically different with Corbyn and the Labour party and they turned if down.

Labour will be back in power shortly and will be an improvement on the Tories, but I'm not sure the country will ever elect a socialist or left leaning government anytime soon.

I vote Scottish Socialist if they have a candidate standing. I know they have no chance of winning but I like to have that recorded.

[Skol]

That makes sense. :greengrin

Lol. I know it doesnt.

I was brought up to always use my democratic vote and so I do. but my first vote would have been when thatcher was in power and so the obvious option was to vote the other way. My family voted labour and my grandfather was a labour councillor for a while, so that was an easy choice

As I grew older I realised there are areas I have different views to labour and have been less close to labour, but always very anti conservative.

Given the impact of independence will have greater impact on me that’s what has driven my vote of late. I would be open to a different view if a suitable case was presented. Sadly that’s not been the case to date

I find myself in a no man’s voter land to be honest

[Ozyhibby]

Lol. I know it doesnt.

I was brought up to always use my democratic vote and so I do. but my first vote would have been when thatcher was in power and so the obvious option was to vote the other way. My family voted labour and my grandfather was a labour councillor for a while, so that was an easy choice

As I grew older I realised there are areas I have different views to labour and have been less close to labour, but always very anti conservative.

Given the impact of independence will have greater impact on me that’s what has driven my vote of late. I would be open to a different view if a suitable case was presented. Sadly that’s not been the case to date

I find myself in a no man’s voter land to be honest

You don’t need to qualify or apologise for your vote. If you vote Tory, your a Tory and should be proud of it.


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[Skol]

You don’t need to qualify or apologise for your vote. If you vote Tory, your a Tory and should be proud of it.


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That rubbish but you know that ;-)

[Hibbyradge]

You don’t need to qualify or apologise for your vote. If you vote Tory, your a Tory...




Except that's not correct.

I'm not a Tory by any stretch of the imagination but I might just vote for them to prove you wrong! :hilarious

[Pretty Boy]

I vote Scottish Socialist if they have a candidate standing. I know they have no chance of winning but I like to have that recorded.

It's a shame the whole Sheridan affair absolutely decimated the socialist vote in Scotland.

I always find it a bit regretful the range of views represented in the 2nd Scottish Parliament couldn't be maintained. It was really the list system showing it's benefits with representation for the SSP, Greens, Senior Citizens Party, Independents and by the end of the term Solidarity. A voice for those who would otherwise have been discounted by FPTP.

Now the list has become little more than 'vote this way if you want/don't want independence' which really makes me wary of my vote being seen as tacit approval one way or another. That's before we get to the vaguely sinister suggestion that those elected on the list have somehow circumvented democracy and should be dismissed as irrelevant (only when they are on the opposing side of course).

[superfurryhibby]

They're not much of a muchness though.

The Tories behaviour over the last few years won't be repeated by a Labour government. The brazen corruption, the focus on making the rich richer, the disregard for working people and the snout in the trough attitude will end, even if the policies might not end up as radical as many of us would prefer.

Brazil game has just started so I'll leave it there.

Sounds quite a lot like the last Labour government, without the added supporters of weapons of mass destruction. Radical policies and the Labour Party, that moment passed with Corbyn.

[He's here!]

My votes have generally been against whoever I don’t want in charge. I voted only labour until 2014 on the basis I didn’t want conservatives in charge. Labour were closest to but not entirely what I was after

Since 2014 I have voted tactically against the snp which has also meant I voted conservative in two holyrood elections, but never in a general election.

That pretty much mirrors my voting pattern (and many others) post-2014. 100% tactical. Used my list vote for the Tories in the last two Holyrood elections with a view to denying the SNP a majority.

I also weighed up a Tory vote in a general election to keep Corbyn out but I lived in Ian Murray's constituency at the time and I knew he'd trounce the SNP (plus he had all but assured me when he came canvassing to our door that Corbyn wouldn't get in) so I stuck with Labour.

[Since90+2]

Sounds quite a lot like the last Labour government, without the added supporters of weapons of mass destruction. Radical policies and the Labour Party, that moment passed with Corbyn.

History is being rewritten here. The last Labour government were nowhere near as bad as the current Tory party. Not even close.

[Hibbyradge]

Sounds quite a lot like the last Labour government, without the added supporters of weapons of mass destruction. Radical policies and the Labour Party, that moment passed with Corbyn.

The first great thing the last Labour government did was win a General Election and get rid of the Tories

Some of the other things Labour did for the UK after it's election;

1. Longest period of sustained low inflation since the 60s.

2. Reduced mortgage rates.

3. Introduced the National Minimum Wage and raised it to £5.52.

4. Over 14,000 more police in England and Wales.

5. Cut overall crime by 32 per cent.

6. Record levels of literacy and numeracy in schools.

7. Young people achieving some of the best ever results at 14, 16, and 18.

8. Funding for every pupil in England has doubled.

9. Employment is at its highest level ever.

10. Written off up to 100 per cent of debt owed by poorest countries.

11. 85,000 more nurses.

12. 32,000 more doctors.

13. Brought back matrons to hospital wards.

14. Devolved power to the Scottish Parliament.

15. Devolved power to the Welsh Assembly.

16. Dads now get paternity leave of 2 weeks for the first time.

17. NHS Direct offering free convenient patient advice.

18. Gift aid was worth £828 million to charities last year.

19. Restored city-wide government to London.

20. Record number of students in higher education.

21. Child benefit up 26 per cent since 1997.

22. Delivered 2,200 Sure Start Children’s Centres.

23. Introduced the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

24. £200 winter fuel payment to pensioners & up to £300 for over-80s.

25. On course to exceed our Kyoto target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

26. Restored devolved government to Northern Ireland.

27. Over 36,000 more teachers in England and 274,000 more support staff and teaching assistants.

28. All full time workers now have a right to 24 days paid holiday.

29. A million pensioners lifted out of poverty.

30. 600,000 children lifted out of relative poverty.

31. Introduced child tax credit giving more money to parents.

32. Scrapped Section 28 and introduced Civil Partnerships.

33. Brought over 1 million social homes up to standard.

34. Inpatient waiting lists down by over half a million since 1997.

35. Banned fox hunting.

36. Cleanest rivers, beaches, drinking water and air since before the industrial revolution.

37. Free TV licences for over-75s.

38. Banned fur farming and the testing of cosmetics on animals.

39. Free breast cancer screening for all women aged between 50-70.

40. Free off peak local bus travel for over-60s.

41. New Deal – helped over 1.8 million people into work.

42. Over 3 million child trust funds have been started.

43. Free eye test for over 60s.

44. More than doubled the number of apprenticeships.

45. Free entry to national museums and galleries.

46. Overseas aid budget more than doubled.

47. Heart disease deaths down by 150,000 and cancer deaths down by 50,000.

48. Cut long-term youth unemployment by 75 per cent.

49. Free nursery places for every three and four-year-olds.

50. Free fruit for most four to six-year-olds at school.

[Stonewall]

Alway voted in UK AND Scottish national Elections usually for Labour or the Liberals, but really against the SNP and Conservatives.

Last GE I was standing in the polling booth staring at the ballet paper unable to think of a compelling reason for voting for any of them. Chose one more or less at random and left feeling annoyed I hadn't spoilt my ballet paper. Spoke to my 82 year old Mother a few days later and she confessed she had felt exactly the same way because as someone who mostly (though not always) voted Conservative she couldn't bring herself to hold her nose and vote for Johnson.

Says a lot about what our politics has been reduced to.

[hibsbollah]

Sounds quite a lot like the last Labour government, without the added supporters of weapons of mass destruction. Radical policies and the Labour Party, that moment passed with Corbyn.

The left wing of the Labour Party has always been there since the party was founded and has had fluctuating peaks and troughs of support and influence. There's been leaders from the left of the party before Jeremy Corbyn, Momentum is still around, and the trade union movement is more active than ever. Obviously whats happening with the rules around candidate selection at the moment means that the constituency party is becoming more 'centrist', however you define that. But those who imagine the Left is permanently dead in an electoral sense just because of the 2019 election are just doing so because they want it to be so. Being a socialist is sort of implicitly linked to hope, although you can be despairing for a while of course:greengrin

[superfurryhibby]

The left wing of the Labour Party has always been there since the party was founded and has had fluctuating peaks and troughs of support and influence. There's been leaders from the left of the party before Jeremy Corbyn, Momentum is still around, and the trade union movement is more active than ever. Obviously whats happening with the rules around candidate selection at the moment means that the constituency party is becoming more 'centrist', however you define that. But those who imagine the Left is permanently dead in an electoral sense just because of the 2019 election are just doing so because they want it to be so. Being a socialist is sort of implicitly linked to hope, although you can be despairing for a while of course:greengrin

Yes, the most recent left wing leader was Michael Foot who was utterly trounced by Thatcher in the general elections of the 1980’s.

I’m happy to see Labour campaign with a Socialist agenda, like the one promoted by Corbyn. They might not be able to win an election on that platform, but at least they offer a genuine alternative to the Tories.

Sadly, the people of England do not want left wing government. It’s hard to see how the trend of the past decades can ever be reversed.

[grunt]

I’m happy to see Labour campaign with a Socialist agenda, like the one promoted by Corbyn. They might not be able to win an election on that platform, but at least they offer a genuine alternative to the Tories.
Forgive me for asking, but if they're not going to win an election that way, the "genuine alternative to the Tories" would just be gesture politics. Who would vote for that?

[Pretty Boy]

Yes, the most recent left wing leader was Michael Foot who was utterly trounced by Thatcher in the general elections of the 1980’s.

I’m happy to see Labour campaign with a Socialist agenda, like the one promoted by Corbyn. They might not be able to win an election on that platform, but at least they offer a genuine alternative to the Tories.

Sadly, the people of England do not want left wing government. It’s hard to see how the trend of the past decades can ever be reversed.

A huge number within the English population DO want a left wing government. The numbers that voted for Corbyn in 2017 and even 2019 are testament to that. Almost 13 million votes would have won any other election between 2001 and 2015. The best part of 11 million in 2019 would have beaten Cameron, Brown or latter day Blair as well.

I think it's increasingly common and largely unhelpful to lump 'the people of England' into one homogeneous group when in reality they are every bit as diverse as the voters in any other country.

[hibsbollah]

Yes, the most recent left wing leader was Michael Foot who was utterly trounced by Thatcher in the general elections of the 1980’s.

I’m happy to see Labour campaign with a Socialist agenda, like the one promoted by Corbyn. They might not be able to win an election on that platform, but at least they offer a genuine alternative to the Tories.

Sadly, the people of England do not want left wing government. It’s hard to see how the trend of the past decades can ever be reversed.

This is going off topic:greengrin There have been 4 defeats of leftwing Labour leaders, 1.Michael Foot's defeat was a direct result of the SDP defections and civil war, no leader was ever going to win in that climate 2. George Lansbury was a pacifist at a time when the Nazis were rearming and totally against the tide of history at that point. 3. Corbyn in 2017, where he was a bawhair away from forming a government despite the civil war in the party and 4. Corbyn in 2019 when the normal rules of political tribalism were turned upside down by Brexit (AND there was still civil war in the party). So a socialist argument would be, using just 4 electoral defeats in UK political history to show that the Left can NEVER EVER win a UK election is wrong, especially when 3 of those defeats had almost insurmountable external reasons for happening, and the other came very very close (but no-one ever seems to like to remember and talk about how close it came to happening). The Party needs to unite behind a Left leader first for that to happen of course, and thats the biggest obstacle.

[JeMeSouviens]

This is going off topic:greengrin There have been 4 defeats of leftwing Labour leaders, 1.Michael Foot's defeat was a direct result of the SDP defections and civil war, no leader was ever going to win in that climate 2. George Lansbury was a pacifist at a time when the Nazis were rearming and totally against the tide of history at that point. 3. Corbyn in 2017, where he was a bawhair away from forming a government despite the civil war in the party and 4. Corbyn in 2019 when the normal rules of political tribalism were turned upside down by Brexit (AND there was still civil war in the party). So a socialist argument would be, using just 4 electoral defeats in UK political history to show that the Left can NEVER EVER win a UK election is wrong, especially when 3 of those defeats had almost insurmountable external reasons for happening, and the other came very very close (but no-one ever seems to like to remember and talk about how close it came to happening). The Party needs to unite behind a Left leader first for that to happen of course, and thats the biggest obstacle.

I wonder how 2017 Lab manifesto policies but with a younger leader not carrying the baggage of a 70/80s era pro-Soviet/troops out/fight the Great Satan track record would've got on?

[hibsbollah]

I wonder how 2017 Lab manifesto policies but with a younger leader not carrying the baggage of a 70/80s era pro-Soviet/troops out/fight the Great Satan track record would've got on?

Interesting question, although im slightly concerned about what newspapers you've been reading:greengrin

[Pretty Boy]

I wonder how 2017 Lab manifesto policies but with a younger leader not carrying the baggage of a 70/80s era pro-Soviet/troops out/fight the Great Satan track record would've got on?

It's not really a direct answer to your question but I've argued for some time that as the ladder continues to get pulled up and home ownership stagnates and falls among the younger generations, the state pension becomes increasingly insecure, savings become harder to accrue etc etc that traditional conservatism will become a superfluous political ideology, largely because you will have several generations with nothing left to conserve.

It's arguably already the case with the Conservatives increasingly reliant on a nationalistic and jingoistic approach. I suppose in answer to your point I would say that politicians might be out of step with the mood among swathes of under 40s (and more than a few over 40s as well). Corbyn had massive appeal to that younger demographic, particularly in urban areas. In more recent times a straight shooter who is articulate, passionate and relatable like Mick Lynch has captured the imagination of a lot of people and swung public support massively when it came to rail strikes. There's a market there for a young left wing Labour leader, whether there is a route to the position in the careerist world of party politics is another matter.

[WhileTheChief..]

There is with the post Brexit Tories, but in the scheme of things they are ultimately as self serving as all the rest. They’re all a bit like the Hibs midfield, you can shuffle them around but ultimately you end up essentially still in the same position.

Vive la revolution!

Agreed.

Doesn’t really matter which government there’s been, nothing has really changed in my day to day adult life from Major through to Sunak.

Labour might be in power for the next 5 or 10 years in Westminster and the SNP will probably be in power in Holyrood of another 10 - 20 years.

I doubt much will change for most of us in that time.

[WhileTheChief..]

I vote Scottish Socialist if they have a candidate standing. I know they have no chance of winning but I like to have that recorded.

Same with my Conservative vote in the east end of Glasgow. The very definition of a wasted vote!

Will probably go with Labour at the next election though. They might have a chance of beating the SNP.

[grunt]

Same with my Conservative vote in the east end of Glasgow. The very definition of a wasted vote!

Will probably go with Labour at the next election though. They might have a chance of beating the SNP.To be fair, there's not a lot of difference between them these days! :wink:

[Stairway 2 7]

To be fair, there's not a lot of difference between them these days! :wink:

There is. Even though labour are very centre, they are dramatically different to this very right wing tory government. This Labour Party are very similar on the spectrum to the snp, whilst very right of Corbyns Labour

[Key West]

I always use to vote Labour then gave up on them to vote SNP, that's where my head is just now but my heart is with the Scottish Socialist party.

[Bristolhibby]

Lol. I know it doesnt.

I was brought up to always use my democratic vote and so I do. but my first vote would have been when thatcher was in power and so the obvious option was to vote the other way. My family voted labour and my grandfather was a labour councillor for a while, so that was an easy choice

As I grew older I realised there are areas I have different views to labour and have been less close to labour, but always very anti conservative.

Given the impact of independence will have greater impact on me that’s what has driven my vote of late. I would be open to a different view if a suitable case was presented. Sadly that’s not been the case to date

I find myself in a no man’s voter land to be honest

Try living in North Wiltshire!

J

[Smartie]

Yes, the most recent left wing leader was Michael Foot who was utterly trounced by Thatcher in the general elections of the 1980’s.

I’m happy to see Labour campaign with a Socialist agenda, like the one promoted by Corbyn. They might not be able to win an election on that platform, but at least they offer a genuine alternative to the Tories.

Sadly, the people of England do not want left wing government. It’s hard to see how the trend of the past decades can ever be reversed.

Taking emotion and opinion out of it for a second, there will be pros and cons to socialism/ left wing politics and capitalism / right wing politics.

Politically, much of the 70s seemed to be a bit of a caricature of what people would consider to be the downsides of left wing politics - the strikes, the 3 day weeks, the economic uncertainty etc. Many folk down South ended up a bit fatigued with it all, and that was probably more to do with "them down South" favouring right wing politics for a spell after that rather than them being innately right wing by nature.

Everything that is happening right now seems in a similar way to be the caricature of what goes wrong when right wing politics has run it's course (I may be wrong, I'm no economist, but I think it's the sort of thing that Adam Smith warned against?) There's too much concentration of wealth amongst too few people, greed and cronyism is ruling, too many people have been left behind and given little incentive to actually bother. Media is controlled by right wing types who want to push their own greed and power agendas. The great con trick is of those in power to convince the people that the red wall types are on the same side as the elites by demonising all sorts of minorities etc, allowing a continuation on the current situation.

Which normally requires a correction of sorts, which is what I reckon we must surely be about to see?

It probably just requires enough people to wake up and realise that they're being stiffed, and that strength comes in numbers.




In response to the OP, I'm a floating voter who has only ever voted SNP but in the post-independence landscape I could see myself going any number of ways. I have a problem with right wing politics in a country as unequal as Scotland as it is too cruel on the unfortunate or the needy. Were we to create a more equal society though, I'd be much more open to the idea of centre right "one nation" Tory type stuff. Private healthcare isn't all that bad an idea if everyone can afford it but it's savage when many cannot.

So, I have an open mind, even if my voting actions throughout life so far would suggest otherwise.

[The_Exile]

I've no idea who to vote for really. I will likey continue voting for the SNP until we get independence/another referendum, but I don't want them anywhere near governance of an independent Scotland. I'm likely a cross between a Greens and SSP voter but there's nothing really for me in any of the policies.

I'll never own my own home, wages across the board are an utter disgrace, I've got more in common with a Polish bricklayer or a Jamaican hotel maid than any of my Scottish peers. I do feel like I'm on the outside looking in with almost everything in modern life so I suppose if someone came along that I felt would change things for me I'd vote for them. So to answer the original question, mibbes aye, mibbes naw? :greengrin