If there were elections tomorrow, how would you vote?

[Ulysses]

It's been quite some time since anyone ran a poll on JKB to test party preferences, and with our referendum voting intentions poll running I thought now would be a good time. The choices are for parties, and we're not really sophisticated enough to offer people a dual "constituency" and "regional" vote in the case of the Scottish Parliament.

 

But in any case, the poll is asks which party you would vote for in the event of an election to the Scottish Parliament, and also asks which party you would vote for in the event of an election to Westminster. In common with our referendum polls, there are options for undecided and for those who either can't or wouldn't vote.

 

General political chat is welcome here, but please keep referendum discussion to the thread for that purpose: http://www.hmfckickb...page__st__21300

[PsychocAndy]

Post Independence I'd more likely vote Scottish Labour Party, Pre Independence, or if the No vote wins, SNP

British election, SNP.

 

New Labour aren't the Party I voted for, and was a member of, after 98. So I'd vote tactically,

[Guest C00l K1d]

I'd vote for the SNP in Scotland, but not sure what the point of voting them in the UK election would be.

 

Undecided on a UK vote, probably someone like the greens. I think voting is important, but there's nobody worth voting for.

[scott_jambo]

The Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party acheived more votes than UKIP at the last Scottish Parliament elections in 2011. They should be included in the poll if UKIP are.

[Ulysses]

The Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party acheived more votes than UKIP at the last Scottish Parliament elections in 2011. They should be included in the poll if UKIP are.

 

UKIP are listed because of their performance at the 2014 European Parliament elections.

 

Based on the current state of the parties we can probably remove UKIP along with the Liberal Democrats.

[scott_jambo]

Not true.

 

The Scottish Parliament currently has 5 Liberal Democrat MSP's. 5 more than UKIP or the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party. 2011 was the Lib Dem's nadir as the voters looked to punish them. I would expect a marginal increase in seats for the Liberal Democrats in the next Scottish Parliament elections under PR.

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Doesn't seem to be much evidence of this SNP "realignment" post independence here.

[Ulysses]

Not true.

 

 

I was referring to the state of the parties in this poll.

 

[Socrates]

Doesn't seem to be much evidence of this SNP "realignment" post independence here.

Given that people are voting on the parties as they currently stand, what would you expect.

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Given that people are voting on the parties as they currently stand, what would you expect.

 

Given that in the last UK General Election the vote was pretty fluid to Labour, I think it is a fair question.

[hughesie27]

Just now SNP for both. Post-independence I'd like to think that Labour or possibly Green would get my vote.

[Sheiky Baby]

SNP now and SNP after independence. Possibly Green in the future.

[flecktimus]

I voted SNP for both, but if there is a yes vote i will have to investigate my political leanings as my vote will be up for grabs.

[Pans Jambo]

Granted not scientific but I see the Lib Dems are doing well on this poll.

 

Sell your soul to the devil and thats what you get.

 

Embra tory supporters getting a shout in I see

[DETTY29]

It's been quite some time since anyone ran a poll on JKB to test party preferences, and with our referendum voting intentions poll running I thought now would be a good time. The choices are for parties, and we're not really sophisticated enough to offer people a dual "constituency" and "regional" vote in the case of the Scottish Parliament.

 

But in any case, the poll is asks which party you would vote for in the event of an election to the Scottish Parliament, and also asks which party you would vote for in the event of an election to Westminster. In common with our referendum polls, there are options for undecided and for those who either can't or wouldn't vote.

 

General political chat is welcome here, but please keep referendum discussion to the thread for that purpose: http://www.hmfckickb...page__st__21300

Voted in both but I think I'd vote for a different constituency party to my list vote.

[Jambof3tornado]

Granted not scientific but I see the Lib Dems are doing well on this poll.

 

Sell your soul to the devil and thats what you get.

 

Embra tory supporters getting a shout in I see

but i dont live in embra!!!

[Psychedelicropcircle]

Shocked to see 13 Tories attend JKB.

[Gizmo]

Holyrood: SNP / Greens

Westminster: SNP

 

I'd prefer to have more options post referendum as it would be nice to actually consider voting for a proper Labour party again.

 

If a close NO in the referendum then it would HAVE to be an SNP vote for Westminster. If a YES in the referendum and assuming a Tory or Tory coalition government I assume they would want to move heaven and earth to have negotiations complete and us out of the equation before the General Election?

[Abbey Craig]

Knowing how tactically the Scots have voted over the years (myself included) the next elections will be very interesting indeed. I think many peoples intentions will change depending on the referendum result.

[Brian Whittaker's Tache]

No Scottish Socialist Party?

[Marvin]

I would probably vote the Greens. I have all but lost faith in the mainstream parties and will never vote UKIP.

[Rick Grimes]

I voted SNP for both, but if there is a yes vote i will have to investigate my political leanings as my vote will be up for grabs.

 

This

[freddiemac]

Shocked to see 13 Tories attend JKB.

tories were historically linked more to hearts than our neighbours hibs for example.

[SE16 3LN]

tories were historically linked more to hearts than our neighbours hibs for example.

Nice try, but Hearts have always had left sympathies.

[Ulysses]

Voted in both but I think I'd vote for a different constituency party to my list vote.

 

I get what you're saying - that's true for a lot of people, especially in 2011 when the Greens scored respectably in the list vote but didn't run candidates in the constituencies.

[Guest Trapper John]

I'd vote Labour. But I'd place the Tories on the list before I'd ever vote SNP That's how much I loathe the SNP.

 

A lot of people might do the same thing next time.

 

Thanks, Eck. You've actually made the Conservative Party look good.

[Rand Paul's Ray Bans]

I'd vote Labour. But I'd place the Tories on the list before I'd ever vote SNP That's how much I loathe the SNP.

 

That's the modern Scottish Labour party in a nutshell: put your dislike for the SNP above all else.

[EIEIO]

 

That's the modern Scottish Labour party in a nutshell: put your dislike for the SNP above all else.

They're not keen on socialism either to be fair. I'd consider voting Green, Scottish Socialist or SNP, the London parties are dead to me.

[luckydug]

Not voting in any more UK elections.

If there is a YES vote in the referendum I don't think it would be right to vote in a UK election anyway.

If there is a NO vote I don't think the SNP should stand in a UK election and I would have no intention of voting for any of the rest.

As for the Scottish Parliament I would vote SNP but could go back to Labour in an Independent Scotland once the party has returned to its principles

[Ulysses]

Bump.

[Gorgiewave]

I believe UK citizens can vote in Westminster elections for 15 years after leaving the UK. I wouldn't be able to vote in Scotland and would vote Labour in a UK general election. It would also be Labour in Scotland if I could.

[Gorgiewave]

I'd vote Labour. But I'd place the Tories on the list before I'd ever vote SNP That's how much I loathe the SNP.

 

A lot of people might do the same thing next time.

 

Thanks, Eck. You've actually made the Conservative Party look good.

 

I agree with this. The SNP now deserve the almost-universal opprobrium the Conservatives currently enjoy.

 

I'd like Labour and the Liberal Democrats to merge.

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Gorgiewave raises a good point. Although I don't plan to vote in any more UK elections now that I have Aussie citizenship, my Scottish constituency would be eliminated in the event of independence. Where would that vote be transferred to? Do I get to pick or does it revert to North Antrim?

[Ulysses]

It's noteworthy that this poll has relatively little interest compared to the other poll.

[Do The Dance]

If we become independent then all parties, in a way, have the chance to start again with their policies , freed from the need of the south England vote.

[JamboX2]

Labour and or Green in Holyrood depending on the vote balance in my seat and the swing needed to get the labour candidate into the FPTP seat before. Unlisted vote. But preferably those two.

 

Labour for Westminster.

 

A good poll, if yes wins, would be, how do you intend to vote for the 2016 election since yes has won?

 

As GK has pointed to, I'm skeptical that many would depart from the SNP. Which, would be sad to see. Especially as there's no point in a nationalist party once you've got independence.

[JamboX2]

 

 

 

I agree with this. The SNP now deserve the almost-universal opprobrium the Conservatives currently enjoy.

 

I'd like Labour and the Liberal Democrats to merge.

 

You mean, the Scottish Labour movement merging with Charles Kennedy and the boys to make a.... Social Democrats? Oh I think John Smith may have questioned this.

 

 

That's the modern Scottish Labour party in a nutshell: put your dislike for the SNP above all else.

 

I vote Labour because they talk about health and education and social justice in Scotland without the caveat of "wait till we get what we want first" to try make a difference.

[scott_jambo]

It's noteworthy that this poll has relatively little interest compared to the other poll.

 

Because this one is hypothetical and the other is real life just maybe?

[westbow]

Always Labour. Dyed in the wool.

[Guest Trapper John]

I agree with this. The SNP now deserve the almost-universal opprobrium the Conservatives currently enjoy.

 

I'd like Labour and the Liberal Democrats to merge.

 

Now that it looks more and more like a No vote, I think that the referendum has galvanised Scottish Labour which did need a good kick in the arse admittedly. Hopefully after the SNP's Night of Long Claymores after the blame game is played out, Labour will sweep the lot of them out of the Scottish Parliament in 2016 or earlier. I have some vain hopes that the SNP will do the decent thing for once and hold an election sooner than that as they are going to be incapable of 'running' the country whilst they are all (hopefully) at each others throats. Will that be fun to watch or what.

 

The Labour Party gave us:

 

The NHS

Unions

Council Housing

Free school meals

Minimum Wage etc etc.

 

The SNP gave us:

 

Answers here if you have any.

[Rand Paul's Ray Bans]

I vote Labour because they talk about health and education and social justice in Scotland without the caveat of "wait till we get what we want first" to try make a difference.

 

Yet you've still referenced the SNP, however subtlety, in briefly explaining why you support Labour. Scottish Labour will not move forward unless they drop their chip on their shoulder about the SNP, amongst other things.

 

the SNP's Night of Long Claymores

 

 

Deary me.

[Rand Paul's Ray Bans]

For the record I'm undecided for both. No party appeals to me.

[Guest Trapper John]

For the record I'm undecided for both. No party appeals to me.

 

You're not voting for a party. I thought it was a referendum on Scottish Independence...

 

Sorry if the Claymore analogy didn't work. Still it's a nice thought.

[JamboX2]

Yet you've still referenced the SNP, however subtlety, in briefly explaining why you support Labour. Scottish Labour will not move forward unless they drop their chip on their shoulder about the SNP, amongst other things.

 

 

 

 

Deary me.

 

It was a reference to your post.

 

Parties have to define themselves against others. It's of no use to not point to what you see a preceived failures of other parties and organisations to show strengths you feel you hold.

[Rand Paul's Ray Bans]

It was a reference to your post.

 

Parties have to define themselves against others. It's of no use to not point to what you see a preceived failures of other parties and organisations to show strengths you feel you hold.

 

You are correct, but Scottish Labour, to me, have gone beyond this. They're obsessed and distraught that the SNP wiped the floor with them in 2011. Every time I've seen or heard a Scottish Labour (and from politicians from Westminster too) they have always referenced the SNP or Salmond personally; [modedit]

[Guest Trapper John]

It was a reference to your post.

 

Parties have to define themselves against others. It's of no use to not point to what you see a preceived failures of other parties and organisations to show strengths you feel you hold.

 

Also the fact that for admittedly too long, Labour had it easy in Scotland. Now there is real opposition they have to learn to deal with it. In that regards, I think the referendum has been good for Scottish Labour. They should be invigorated. I just wish they could attract better quality in the front line especially in the figure of a leader. The intervention of Westminster Scots has shown the disparancy between London and the third raters up here. But then, that can be said of the entire Holyrood establishment.

[Malinga the Swinga]

If labour dressed a chimp in a suit and stuck a red badge on it, then people in the central belt of Scotland would vote for it, because, well you know, it's Labour and they represent me, and Thatcher destroyed everything and it's not Labours fault.

 

About time people really examined the main parties, SNP included, and didn't just follow their parents voting pattern.

 

The parties have all changed dramatically in the last 15-20 years and no longer resemble their past leanings.

[Guest Trapper John]

If labour dressed a chimp in a suit and stuck a red badge on it, then people in the central belt of Scotland would vote for it, because, well you know, it's Labour and they represent me, and Thatcher destroyed everything and it's not Labours fault.

 

About time people really examined the main parties, SNP included, and didn't just follow their parents voting pattern.

 

The parties have all changed dramatically in the last 15-20 years and no longer resemble their past leanings.

 

All this is perfectly true.

 

But the point is that for many, Labour is not the party their parents voted for any longer. They cannot accept that Labour has had to change with the times thus they feel 'betrayed' and seek to find an alternative.

 

Ironically, that only alternative at the moment is the SNP. A party with no history of doing anything for working Scots, has pretty shady early beginnings and is set on dividing Britain with the caveat that 'you can vote for anyone you like after it'. And yet the SNP has always been known as the Tartan Tories.

[Captain Sausage]

If labour dressed a chimp in a suit and stuck a red badge on it, then people in the central belt of Scotland would vote for it, because, well you know, it's Labour and they represent me, and Thatcher destroyed everything and it's not Labours fault.

 

About time people really examined the main parties, SNP included, and didn't just follow their parents voting pattern.

 

The parties have all changed dramatically in the last 15-20 years and no longer resemble their past leanings.

 

Spot on.

 

This is how a democracy should work!

[JamboX2]

 

 

You are correct, but Scottish Labour, to me, have gone beyond this. They're obsessed and distraught that the SNP wiped the floor with them in 2011. Every time I've seen or heard a Scottish Labour (and from politicians from Westminster too) they have always referenced the SNP or Salmond personally; [modedit]

 

I agree there is shock in the ranks over 2011. But they do have to say "well we'd do X different from the SNP government" in order to sell policies.

 

What they need to do is establish a narrative about how they are interested in furthering social justice and doing better by hard pressed working people and especially the young and hammer the SNP on their real failings in colleges, education! local services and health.

 

It's so easy to do. Just walk about talking up Souter and McColl wanting tax breaks for the rich and increased hospital queues and how hard it is to find affordable rent in Edinburgh and Glasgow these days. They do talk about this stuff but fail to join it up in an overarching narrative.