Voting for smaller parties

[ErinGoBraghHFC]

I’ve voted SNP since I turned 16. I’m now considering not doing that, as I don’t feel the party really aligns with my beliefs as much as other parties do. Problem is, the parties that I feel represent my opinions most have the square root of sod all’s chance of winning any seats. So, what I’m really asking is, is it worth it to vote for the smaller party (SSP for any nosey buggers) or should I hold my nose and vote for the SNP despite them being further to the right than myself? At the minute I’m probably going to vote for the SNP to try and ensure a Nationalist win in my constituency, it’s likely to be between SNP and Labour here. Does anyone here vote for a smaller party in elections?


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[neil7908]

I have always voted Labour in General elections, SNP in Scottish elections and then Greens in council/European elections.

This was based on supporting the party they aligned as closely as possible to my views, but had a chance of getting power. For council/European elections I was going for the party that really fit with my world views.

For the next batch of elections I'm going to start voting for who I want, not the least worst option of the larger parties.

The only exception might be if my seat is a very close call, and the Tories can sneak in.

I think it's a pretty damning indictment of our system that we regularly vote for parties we don't actually support. Something has change imo.

[NORTHERNHIBBY]

I've never voted for the party that I support as it has always been the least worst option to keep the Tories out.

[Pretty Boy]

I always vote SSP if they stand a candidate in my constituency. They have no chance of winning and some may argue it's a wasted vote but I want my vote for a socialist party to be registered.

Next general election I'll probably abstain from voting again if they don't stand a candidate. As with the last Holyrood election I don't want there to be any chance my vote will be used as de facto endorsement of a position on the constitutional issue by either side.

[ErinGoBraghHFC]

I always vote SSP if they stand a candidate in my constituency. They have no chance of winning and some may argue it's a wasted vote but I want my vote for a socialist party to be registered.

Next general election I'll probably abstain from voting again if they don't stand a candidate. As with the last Holyrood election I don't want there to be any chance my vote will be used as de facto endorsement of a position on the constitutional issue by either side.

See, the potential of my vote being taken as a de facto endorsement of independence is what is one of the major factors leading me to swing towards holding my nose this time around.


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[grunt]

See, the potential of my vote being taken as a de facto endorsement of independence is what is one of the major factors leading me to swing towards holding my nose this time around.
Sorry to hear that, but you must do what you feel is right for you.

[ErinGoBraghHFC]

Sorry to hear that, but you must do what you feel is right for you.

If this was 15 years ago I’d be voting for the SSP no questions asked. Unfortunately politics in Scotland has been almost completely “Ulsterised” to the point of (what would appear to be) no return. I often wonder how any other pro-independence party can actually have the money to put candidates forward for election and why they bother, they often get <1000 votes with 95%+ of the pro-independence vote going to the SNP, I can see why unionists often criticise SNP supporters of being cult-like in that way. I think there needs to be a move away from FPTP to a different system, we need something that will encourage voters to vote for the party they actually want to vote for, not just the one that’s most likely to win from their side of the constitutional debate.


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[superfurryhibby]

I always vote SSP if they stand a candidate in my constituency. They have no chance of winning and some may argue it's a wasted vote but I want my vote for a socialist party to be registered.

Next general election I'll probably abstain from voting again if they don't stand a candidate. As with the last Holyrood election I don't want there to be any chance my vote will be used as de facto endorsement of a position on the constitutional issue by either side.

How does that strategy sit with the SSP position on independence?

[Pretty Boy]

How does that strategy sit with the SSP position on independence?

The SSP vote is currently so insignificant that I would argue a vote for them has little bearing on the 'indy supermajority' claims. I think they polled 300 odd votes in my constituency last time out. Broadly speaking I am still supportive of independence just not the current vision for it, which seems a continuation of the wishy washy 2014 offering so I'm more comfortable with my vote being taken as a vote for indy if it has a dose of socialism in the mix.

Continuing a post above I feel that post 2014 has been a missed opportunity to build a non partisan independence movement. A decade on we are still repeating the 'SNP are the only route to independence' as a mantra. That suits them electorally as the largest pro indy party of course but I'm not sure it's been good for the movement overall. I suppose partisan loyalties were always going to take precedence over the wider goal but it's left us in a state of limbo with every election dominated by a single issue. Ulsterisation is quite a good description really.

[Paul1642]

Vote for who you want. Your one vote won’t make a jot of difference anyway and if everyone voted for who they wanted then we might actually see some change. Sick of voting for X because they have a chance of winning or because they are the lesser evil than Y. I’ll vote for who I want this time regardless of who’s likely to win.

[wookie70]

I always vote SSP if they stand a candidate in my constituency. They have no chance of winning and some may argue it's a wasted vote but I want my vote for a socialist party to be registered.

Next general election I'll probably abstain from voting again if they don't stand a candidate. As with the last Holyrood election I don't want there to be any chance my vote will be used as de facto endorsement of a position on the constitutional issue by either side.

I'm the same. Vote for the most left leaning party except when Independence is part of the equation. In the last Scottish elections I held my nose and voted SNP with Greens second. Next time the SNP probably won't get my vote as politically they are far too centrist to me and in terms of Independence it is falling way down their list of priorities. My vote doesn't really have a natural home these days but the Green Party are probably closest

[grunt]

I think there needs to be a move away from FPTP to a different system, we need something that will encourage voters to vote for the party they actually want to vote for, not just the one that’s most likely to win from their side of the constitutional debate.
:confused: We have FPTP in Scotland?

[Smartie]

I know this is a bit daft but one of the main reasons I vote SNP is because for me they represent the best chance of bringing about the radical reform that is so badly needed.

It’s not healthy that small parties who might enjoy greater popularity than they do currently tend to be overlooked but that’s where we are.

I’m less put off by the “can’t use the pound” stuff than I am energised by the whole idea of reformed politics, more proportional representation, no monarchy, no House of Lords, no braying imbeciles who are meant to be debating in the House of Commons and start to run our affairs like a modern, adult country.

Like you, I’m having to overlook a whole lot I don’t like about the SNP in order to get there but I still think an independent Scotland within the EU is the best bet of that happening, and the SNP remain the most likely path to getting what I want (even if it is still highly unlikely).

I wouldn’t be against the Labour Party or LibDems coming up with a unionist alternative, I just don’t think there’s any realistic chance of swaying the huge English rump of voters who don’t want change.

[ErinGoBraghHFC]

:confused: We have FPTP in Scotland?

Fair point, I’ve no slept mate give me a break [emoji16] don’t know how I forgot we have PR here.


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[Hibrandenburg]

In an independent Scotland, some of these smaller parties might not be so small. I yearn for the day that Scotland can vote for what it wants rather than voting to try and adopt a system that might allow it to vote for what it wants.

[lapsedhibee]

I’m less put off by the “can’t use the pound” stuff than I am energised by the whole idea of reformed politics, more proportional representation, no monarchy, no House of Lords, no braying imbeciles who are meant to be debating in the House of Commons and start to run our affairs like a modern, adult country.

Amen to that.

[The_Exile]

I'll vote SNP until we get independence, but I wouldn't want them anywhere near governance of an independent Scotland. I felt much more in line with the Greens up until recently. My own life is completely hamstrung by the type of politics and policies society are forced to vote for so I'm much more socialist now that I was in my youth.

It's funny how previous generations got more conservative as they got older as they had more assets to lose. It feels like my generation are on their knees with nothing and therefore the polar opposite of my mum and dads generation. I do hope this political swing happens sooner rather than later but we really need young people to start voting. Nothing will change if they continually refuse to get off their ***** and vote.

[Just Alf]

I'll vote SNP until we get independence, but I wouldn't want them anywhere near governance of an independent Scotland. I felt much more in line with the Greens up until recently. My own life is completely hamstrung by the type of politics and policies society are forced to vote for so I'm much more socialist now that I was in my youth.

It's funny how previous generations got more conservative as they got older as they had more assets to lose. It feels like my generation are on their knees with nothing and therefore the polar opposite of my mum and dads generation. I do hope this political swing happens sooner rather than later but we really need young people to start voting. Nothing will change if they continually refuse to get off their ***** and vote.You're last sentence really rips ma knitting!

Totally agree with you.... I was seriously hacked off when I found out my daughter and partner didn't bother voting last time, all the while moaning about what was going on.

[SHODAN]

I typically vote SNP but was going to go Green or spoil the ballot this time around as I can't stand Chapman (my local MP). Now that he's standing down I'll probably go for them again provided the new candidate isn't stuck in the past.

[The_Exile]

You're last sentence really rips ma knitting!

Totally agree with you.... I was seriously hacked off when I found out my daughter and partner didn't bother voting last time, all the while moaning about what was going on.

It's really brutal. I think for the first time ever there's more elligible voters under 40 than there is over 60, or something to that effect, so we can change things if they'd only vote! In saying that, I was guilty of it myself, I don't thik I regularly started voting until I was in my mid twenties and society started to shaft me a little bit and so I took more of an interest.

Young people do seem to be more engaged in politics these days though and perhaps if they see their parents struggling it will trigger them to actually go out and vote. I'm not holding my breath though, just seems to be one of these things where you don't feel involved or willing to mark an 'x' until the reality of life's tribulations start to hit you.

[Pretty Boy]

It's really brutal. I think for the first time ever there's more elligible voters under 40 than there is over 60, or something to that effect, so we can change things if they'd only vote! In saying that, I was guilty of it myself, I don't thik I regularly started voting until I was in my mid twenties and society started to shaft me a little bit and so I took more of an interest.

Young people do seem to be more engaged in politics these days though and perhaps if they see their parents struggling it will trigger them to actually go out and vote. I'm not holding my breath though, just seems to be one of these things where you don't feel involved or willing to mark an 'x' until the reality of life's tribulations start to hit you.

Who do they vote for though?

If they are looking for a mainstream left wing alternative then there isn't one. Not voting may well be counterproductive but voting for the current offering is ultimately endorsement and cements this shift to the centre and right as the safe ground that wins elections.

It's arguably a chicken and egg scenario. I'll 'waste' my vote on the SSP or just not vote at all because no party currently even broadly aligns with my views. If there is no mainstream socialist party for me to vote for them I can't vote for them, equally if there is no proof that a widespread socialist or even soft left vote can win an election then no party is going to try and woo them. Corbyn tried and mobilised a huge youth vote but the FPTP system meant it came to nothing. As long as politicians continue to focus on a very narrow demographic then young people will continue to feel disenfranchised and won't vote.

Not picking on you but more generally, because it is something I hear oten, the whole 'vote SNP to get rid of the SNP' thing confuses me. The SNP are the only show in town when it comes to independence purely because the electorate have chosen to make it that way (and the SNP election strategy has been to encourage such belief). To tap into something said on the trams thread it has even extended to local elections in which national issues and the constitutional question should have zero to minimal relevance. There was a broad spectrum of choices post 2014, and still is, but people have wilfully chosen to put all their eggs in one basket. If those who believed in independence spread their vote around among the SNP, SSP, Greens and grudgingly Alba them I'd argue the movement would be in far better shape with a far stronger base to build from. Ultimately the movement under the SNPs guidance is going nowhere. Support for independence has largely stagnated and the complacency that comes with unchallenged power for a decade and a half makes them electorally vulnerable for the 1st time in a long time.