Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Let's inject some sanity into the "gaming the system" debate

On the day that yet another breakaway pro-indy party is launched, I'm becoming more and more concerned that the "tactical voting on the list" lobby are displaying cult-like tendencies.  There's one particular ISP-supporting blogger who is increasingly extreme in his personalised denunciations of anyone who takes issue with his quasi-religious certainties - if you don't think it's possible to game the Holyrood electoral system, you must be a liar, or in league with "the Yoons", or every other unhinged accusation under the sun.  One of his fellow travellers took it a step further today by asking me in all apparent seriousness if I was only arguing that the idea isn't feasible because I had been paid to do so.  That's the moment at which you know people are losing touch with reality - when they cannot conceive of any reason why someone might disagree with them other than bribery or corruption.

It's an uphill struggle, but let's try to re-inject some sanity into this debate.

1) Part of the reason the "game the system" brigade have become so militant is because they've genuinely convinced themselves that the list vote system is some kind of conspiracy to reduce pro-indy representation.  As I pointed out in my recent National Extra piece, that simply isn't the case.  Both the SNP and the combined pro-indy camp are in fact slightly over-represented in the Scottish Parliament as compared to the votes they received in the 2016 election.  The purpose of list seats is to bring the overall composition of parliament more into line with the percentage of votes cast for each party - sometimes, as was the case in 1999, 2003 and 2007, that leads to a correction in favour of pro-indy parties, and sometimes, as was the case in 2011 and 2016, it leads to a correction in favour of unionist parties.  But whichever way it goes, the effect of list seats is always to make the result more proportional.  In other words, to make the outcome fairer.  There really isn't anything to be angry or concerned about in that.

2) The system is actually biased against one type of party, though - namely, very small parties.  Almost every system of proportional representation around the world is intentionally loaded against tiny fringe parties - for example in national list systems, there's often a 5% threshold to attain any sort of representation at all.  The Holyrood system achieves a similar effect by being conducted on a regional basis, which in practice ensures that any party will need 5-7% of the vote in a region before it will win any seat.  So if you're thinking of voting for a small party, you need to be very hard-headed and realistic about its chances of securing the required number of votes.  There may well be good reasons for giving your vote to a party that isn't going to win any seats.  But if your main reason for choosing a small party is to "game the system" and to win a truckload of extra seats, your logic has gone wrong somewhere.

3) The only way to game the system is with a large party, not a small party.  And the only way a "pop-up party" is going to be large enough is if it's fronted by Alex Salmond. I literally cannot think of any other person who is capable of pulling it off.  I suppose it's possible that Dave Thompson's initiative today might be part of pre-planned choreography that is paving the way for a Salmond-led party.  But if that isn't what's going on, Mr Thompson is just adding to the collection of very small parties who will be scrapping over the small number of people who want to vote "tactically".  The more of those parties there are, the more distant are the hopes that any of them will win even one seat.

4) To the best of my knowledge, Alex Salmond has not publicly denied suggestions that he might set up a new party.  That may or may not be significant.  If he eventually goes down that road, I and many other SNP members and supporters will have a big decision to make.  The reason for my current allegiance is that the SNP are the credible party that most closely represents my own views.  That might no longer be the case if there was suddenly a Salmond-led party, which would almost certainly be somewhat stronger on independence than the current SNP leadership, and less obsessed with "woke" identity politics.  But it would still be a very tricky decision, because I have fears about the long-term/medium-term consequences of fragmenting the independence movement.  And I would always vote for a party on the list because it's my first-choice party, and not for any "tactical" reason.  

5) If a Salmond-led party does not fight the 2021 election, the only other way of bringing about a stronger line on independence is to win the internal debate within the SNP - and the more people that desert the SNP to join fringe "game the system" parties, the less likely that is to happen.  I firmly believe Colette Walker made a tactical mistake by leaving the SNP.  It's less than a year since she almost won the Women's Convener vote, which meant that for as long as she remained in the SNP, she was a very real threat to the "woke" hegemony.  By walking away, all she's done is help to entrench that hegemony - as can be seen from the jubilation in certain quarters on social media.

6) Jason McCann recently wrote a blogpost about the Holyrood voting system that was misleading or inaccurate in a number of respects.  He stated that it was "a mathematical impossibility" for any one party to dominate the parliament - it "cannot be done", he added.  That is simply untrue.  If a party were to receive 100% of the votes, it would get 100% of the seats (as long as it put up enough candidates).  There is no artificial 'cap' on the number of seats that the SNP or any other party can win.  Jason conveniently neglects to mention that part of the reason the SNP lost list seats in 2016 is because its pecentage list vote fell.  If you get fewer votes, you get fewer seats - it's not rocket science.  On a point of pedantry, it's also wrong for Jason (and indeed the Solidarity account on Twitter) to refer to the Holyrood voting system as "the D'Hondt system".  AMS is a hybrid system and the D'Hondt formula doesn't apply to all of it.  It's ironic that the tactical voting lobby refer to it as "D'Hondt", though, because it's the very fact that it isn't a pure D'Hondt system that makes it (theoretically) suspectible to gaming.

77 comments:

  1. I share your exasperation, James. But to be fair, until recently I had the same views. Then I read about the D'Hondt mechanism which clearly shows that the regional vote is the one that counts Esther than the FPTP one. Maybe we're so accustomed to the London govt election system that we don't look at the details.
    Please keep reiterating the message, James. Even though it may seem counterintuitive. Thanks.

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  2. Not 'Esther' but 'rather'. Predictive text is infuriating

    ReplyDelete
  3. FPTP is better. It gets rid of wasters like the Greens and SSP milking the taxpayer. OK it has given Labour dominance in the past and would give the Scottish Nat sis power for a while. However the voter will determine the outcome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Covidia would vote for unending dictatorship as long as it wasn't sent to the fields at harvest time.

      Delete
  4. We're not quite at the last hurdle yet, but some seem utterly determined to trip us up already. A new People's Judean Front popping up every day.

    It would be one thing if it was just the one party, headed by Salmond. It's entirely another to have a whole host of new independence parties scrambling to shave votes off the pre-existing parties of independence. Our best hope now seems to be that such a ridiculous number of them appear in the coming months, that the Scottish electorate look on at them, see them playing at Life of Brian, and rightly conclude none of them are worthy of serious consideration.

    Because there's a danger none of them are willing to admit, that they might kill independence more effectively than any Tory could ever dream of. Truly the Unionist's Useful Idiots.

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    Replies
    1. There are Scottish Natzis who would wipe out one of the worlds oldest states, Israel, and yet the Scottish Nat zis claim their right. Hyporites. The Scottish people will vote to remaining in the UNION if the vote actually happens.

      Delete
    2. The israelites came from East Africa acording to the bible, the waters opened up to allow them over to Palistine.

      Delete
  5. Some half-truths, many non-sequiturs and mostly (il)logical dead-ends, above.

    Here's the whole truth. And nothing but the truth.

    ONLY Alex Salmond can deliver 23 new Indy MSPs. ONLY Scotland’s Independence Referendum Party has asked Salmond to join.
    https://tinyurl.com/yapptyqc
    https://tinyurl.com/ycjtj89x
    https://tinyurl.com/yapptyqc
    Say YES at www.SIRP.Scot
    Any better plans? Ps Vote SNP 1+2 isn't working..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So you appear to be asking me if I can think of a better plan than to vote for "Scotland's Independence Referendum Party.Scot". Frankly, I can, yes.

      I love the typo on your website.

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    2. Alex Salmond can't deliver anything, he's not a candidate for any party and it's highly likely he never will be

      Plus with respect to those who believe him to be the messiah, he lost, why would we want to bring that back again

      Delete
    3. The chances of Alex Salmond joining your party is zilch.

      Delete
    4. Community attitudes towards violence against women and girls are a key predictor of perpetration of such abuse. They can also heavily influence women and children's own responses to victimisation, as well as those of wider society and potentially be a barrier to children and young people speaking out about gender based violence. Gender stereotypes play a central role, with individuals who hold discriminatory attitudes being more likely to tolerate violence and abuse against women. Evidence shows the criminal justice system has an important role not only in dealing with perpetrators but also in shaping community perceptions, with strong legal sanctions encouraging community intolerance of violence against women and girls. The media has a powerful influence in either reinforcing or challenging the attitudes and norms that contribute to violence against women. Numerous studies link sexualised violence in the media to increases in violence towards women, rape myth acceptance and anti-women attitudes. Despite the power of the media, it is generally recognised that cultural change will not be achieved through media campaigns alone, though some community development initiatives have been found to increase the effectiveness of such campaigns by reinforcing messages at the local level.

      Delete
  6. The "Independent Scots For Scottish Independence Party Number 335.5"July 15, 2020 at 12:44 AM

    Now see here, James! I'll have you know that all 5 of the Scottish Twitter users who remain unblocked (for reasons of compliance) by the official "Independent Scots For Scottish Independence Party Number 335.5" have assured us in no uncertain terms that no other independence initiative popping up at this time can deliver the same success that we here at the "Independent Scots For Scottish Independence Party Number 335.5" can achieve!

    No other party can bring the decimalised vote to the table, and that's numbers you simply can't argue with!

    Want another number you can't argue with? Every. Single. One. of the followers we haven't had to block for inconvenient opinions have assured us they are 100% committed to voting for the "Independent Scots For Scottish Independence Party Number 335.5" in next year's 2nd vote. As you know, 100% follower enthusiasm, combined into 100% follower committal, comes out at 100% squared, which is 10000%. Given that this will take place in the 2nd part of the vote, I'm sure even a master contrarian like yourself couldn't deny that this has the effect of multiplying the 10000% vote for the "Independent Scots for Scottish Independence Party Number 335.5" by 2, thus translating it to a whopping 20000% when the ballots are tallied!

    Wait, what's that...? It's strangely echoey in here... Better bully one of my 5 faithful followers into opening a window... If they disagree I'll toss them out of it...

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    1. Following a heated disagreement on which window should be opened, and who should open it, I need people to know that we are no longer participating in the "Independent Scots For Scottish Independence Party Number 335.5".

      Instead we have created the "NEW Independent Scots For Scottish Independence Party Number 335.5.1". We have already gained 25% of "Independent Scots For Scottish Independence Party Number 335.5" twitter followers, which shows the momentum is with us. We have written to all indy-supporting parties asking for their support with the exception of "Independent Scots For Scottish Independence Party Number 335.5".

      Unlike "Independent Scots For Scottish Independence Party Number 335.5", the "NEW Independent Scots For Scottish Independence Party Number 335.5.1" is a welcoming party and will have a strong and popular policy platform which we will publish on Friday 7th May 2021.

      Thank you in advance for the promise of your vote and delivery of 24 regional list seats.

      Delete
  7. Collette Walker left the snp.Dave Thompson left the snp.maybe the problem is the snp ?.these are people that have given up a lot more than the keyboard worriers on here for independence.we should not be telling people with there dedication and experience for the snp not to start a new independence party.we should be asking WHY they feel the need to.

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    1. ScottytheScotinScotlandJuly 15, 2020 at 1:04 AM

      Good point Ds2.

      Delete
    2. Loads of Labour MPs had dedication and experience for the Labour Party. Does that mean they were tactically astute to break away and form CuK? Y'know, that fad party where none of them retained their seats and the split from which the Labour Party never recovered?

      If we're going to split a dozen different ways, we need to be honest about that, and admit that it will secure a UK Conservative Government's control over Scotland for a generation at least.

      Throwing tantrums like many of those attacking James seem to be doing, all because they wish the likely outcome of the splits were different and can't bring themselves to admit the most likely scenario is one that benefits Unionism, is frustrating and dispiriting.

      It's like they've seen everything the factionalism in the Labour Party has done for the Conservatives over the past 50 years, and decided they want to get in on the whole "factionalism and helping the Conservatives" thing too.

      Delete
    3. Independence for ScotlandJuly 15, 2020 at 1:16 AM

      Anonymous - in case you didn't notice the UK has been in control of Scotland for centuries. Tories, Labour, Liberal, Whigs it matters not a bit they are all Britnats who don't give a toss about Scotland.

      These problems can be solved by the SNP putting a mandate for independence in their manifesto for 2021 and then everyone can vote SNP. Just do it SNP.

      Delete
    4. What has the fact that they've been in control of Scotland for centuries got to do with my point about gifting them another 50 years? Your logic there seems to imply that it is somehow acceptable to risk another 50 years of Westminster rule, because it has already gone on far longer than that. In which case I would suggest you change your name from "Independence for Scotland" to "Butler for Boris", because that far more accurately reflects your aims.

      These problems can be solved by independence supporters accepting that they engage on social media in an isolated bubble of like-minded supporters, that in the real world, the SNP are *extremely* unlikely to win anything approaching a majority on an "independence now" ticket - and nor is any other party, and that a referendum will almost certainly have to be fought and won before independence is achieved.

      Just because you and your small echo chamber of pals on social media would vote for an "independence now" platform, does not mean everyone would. It's like you're deliberately trying to stop us from carrying the majority of Scotland with us.

      And, very conveniently, just at the crucial time when it looks as though support is becoming a majority.

      Delete
    5. Independence for ScotlandJuly 15, 2020 at 1:59 AM

      Anonymous - your posts lack logic. Your anonymous name is just appropriate.

      Delete
    6. I'm not surprised it went over your head, since your own attempt at logic amounts to "split the independence vote to achieve independence". Similar logical follies may include "pull out an eye to improve vision", "shoot your own foot to improve balance", and "do what the Unionists want you to do to defeat Unionism".

      Delete
    7. If Alex Salmond took a long look at things he would maybe see Dave Thomson as more of a unity figure among yessers and decide not to attempt to lead Alliance for Independence but possibly to stand on the list as an independent.
      Salmond carries a lot of baggage
      and is not universally popular among independence supporters.
      That'll upset a few. True though.

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    8. Independance has been in the SNP manifesto at every election.

      Delete
    9. Independence for ScotlandJuly 15, 2020 at 10:50 AM

      William Purves - 10.33 am - that being the case why do we need a gold standard Sect 30 referendum?

      Also care to say where it was in the 72 page 2016 manifesto.

      Delete
    10. I spit on your grave, Mrs Denfield. So, sue me!!

      Delete
  8. The problem isn't the SNP, the problem is greed, and who's supplying the money
    Right at this moment Johnson has splashed £5million around Scotland on an internet battle to bring down the SNP and there are always willing recipients of money
    Some folk say it gives them Wings

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    1. How much is Boris's agent in Bath getting? You know, that fella whose approval the cultists are all so eager to retain that they'd pop their baby in a blender if it kept him happy?

      I wouldn't be surprised if he's sitting there behind his screen, all done out in his finest red white and blue, laughing as you throw your weans lunch money in his direction, so he can keep living off the independence movement indefinitely.

      And he's got you all pointing the other way gibbering about wreckers and bad-faith actors. It's quite the feat on his behalf to have you all pointing in entirely the wrong direction when the truth is right in front of you.

      But then anyone who calls themselves a reverend must incur some sort of blind and dangerous faith.

      Delete
    2. The Very Rev Mike SmallJuly 15, 2020 at 11:05 AM

      It behoves us to be aware that, as we seek out our common purpose, we are in grave danger of being trapped by the hermeneutics of psephology and statistical fundamentalism. And I believe that, in a very real sense, the still, small voice of RISE was the bearer of a prophetic message from Scotland's Left.

      Delete
    3. Hello Cameron, jordon, jinty or whichever of the Alyn's Paedo-army you are today.

      Delete
  9. ScottytheScotinScotlandJuly 15, 2020 at 1:09 AM

    I've got 8 MSPs and an MP and none of them will give me what I really really want - independence.

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    1. Neither will you, if you're stupid enough to vote against it.

      Delete
    2. ScottytheScotinScotlandJuly 15, 2020 at 1:55 AM

      Anonymous - it is only Britnats like you that would vote against independence.

      Delete
    3. Sit doon and stop trying to talk tough on the internet, Da. These parties that are springing up all over the place aren't going to be popular just because your pals Tam and Kenny posted on Facebook promising you they would be, and gave you a snazzy wee graphic to show you why.

      It's time a lot of the older indy supporters wise up to realities of social media. Just because you see it on Facebook and Twitter, doesn't make it true. Just because you can reach more people online than you can in person, doesn't mean you actually are. And just because you've got lost in a small but strident feedback loop where all your opinions on indy and the SNP are reinforced by a dedicated cadre of
      digital companions, doesn't make your viewpoint a widely accepted reality.

      Unfortunately, the Venn diagram of indy supporters who don't understand that social media is a deceptive echo chamber, and indy supporters who insist a bunch of fringe parties simply HAVE to be a success, is practically a circle.

      So like I say. Sit doon. Wise up. Stop doing your level best to throw this thing to the Unionists.

      Delete
  10. The only split I see is for the list votes.so really 4 seats but going by latest polls maybe 1 or 2 at most by 2021.snp still on course for 95% of fptp votes.chances are all indy partys.yes.
    Auob. will amalgamate for the list vote.hopefully led by alex.most people are just becoming aware of the list vote. The nearer we get to the election yes voters will know what to do.

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  11. You Nat sis will have to wait for around 20 years for another referendum if you are lucky. You had your chance 2014 and screwed it with your lies and false promises. Knickerless your big hope will be a well aff pensioner by then and moved tae Catelonia.


    ReplyDelete
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    1. ScottytheScotinScotlandJuly 15, 2020 at 2:03 AM

      GWC - you may be a disgusting individual but at least you don't pretend to be anything other than a Britnat unlike anonymous.

      Delete
    2. Away back on Youtube, Da, where you can watch the inane babblings of Peter Dow, convince yourself everyone in Scotland is a militant republican, and then cry conspiracy when an opinion poll shows support for the monarchy in Scotland is higher than 0%. After all, you could SWEAR you read a comment on one of Dow's rants from Youtube User 'ThistleSaltireDeBruceGuBrath1314', which informed you that everyone in Scotland was behind Dow and against Crown.

      It's an enormous shame more people under the age of 60 aren't involved with the independence movement online. Because watching you try to negotiate and understand how splits, opinions and niches in the Twittersphere become distorted and magnified, is like watching a blind man try to negotiate the M74 in a schoolbus full of weans.

      Delete
    3. If the SNP gets a majority government with, independence in the manifesto, another referendum is not required. The Scottish Govrnment can start negotiations with Westminster, if they disagree the Scottish Government will repeal the Treaty of the Union.

      Delete
  12. The more I'm told not to vote SNP in the next Holyrood election, the more I'm inclined to move them to the top of the list for getting my vote.

    From polling data it seems the Scottish public feel similarly.

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  13. One of the problems with 'gaming the system' is the assumption that voters will do what you want or expect. In my experience they will do whatever the hell they want to regardless of any modelling on a fancy spreadsheet. The whole argument is based on the assumption you can herd voters into doing what you want them to do!

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    Replies
    1. Random Totty From Freedom SquareJuly 15, 2020 at 10:48 AM

      Actually, James would bite your hand off for a place on an Alternative List in one of the West Central areas. He's just playing hard to get. (As we all do.)

      But he needs to get out more. And I can't imagine him being under the same umbrella as Peter Bell.

      Delete
  14. Anyone heard of the Battle of Dunbar – 1650?

    Short version: Successful professional soldier David Leslie got the Scottish army into an impregnabkle position above Cromwell's sick and defeated troops. Radical preachers embedded in the army forced Leslie to move off the hillside in the belief that they were invincible. Cromwell swept the Scottish army up, sold the survivors into slavery, occupied Scotland and the following year incorporated – repeat, incorporated – Scotland into the English Commonwealth with the Tender of Union

    Any lessons we can take from this, people?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dunbar_(1650)
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tender_of_Union

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cromwell couldn't believe his eyes, saying "The Lord hath delivered them into our hands!"

      I take your point.

      (Though these days it's important to be clear about the difference between the slavery black Africans got, and the forced indentured servitude, which Scottish Covenanters and Irish rebels got.)

      Delete
    2. Covidia is fanatical in its pathetic hatreds.

      Delete
    3. the lesson is ... we should teach Scottish history in Scottish schools so that most people know stuff like this.

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    4. Slavery is slavery.

      Why are the people responsible for the Atlantic slave trade never held responsible? The Africans who sold their fellows into slavery in the first place. If there had not been an existing trade in slaves then there is no evidence that Europeans would have started one.
      Black people are to blame and need to be held accountable. Start with Afua H from the guardian and her Ashanti parasite family. Might shut her up with her race-hate for 5 minutes.

      Delete
  15. You can be sure that the amount of media coverage given to small independence parties will be in direct proportion to the amount of damage that the British establishment judge can be done to the independence cause by splitting the list vote into sub 5% chunks!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Since 2014 every election in Scotland is seen as a referendum on Scotlands future, the SNP will win that election but the total votes cast are even more important as a reflection of Scotlands desire for Independence, a vote for another party indicates the opposite no matter what the political position of any other party claims to be

    Professor John Curtice will say as he points to his graphs "There's a swing away from the SNP*

    Folk using Alex Salmonds name to suggest that somehow he's either behind an alternative party or he intends to lead another party are lying for their own ends, Alex Salmond is not now or maybe even ever returning to politics in that manner and the people who are using his name know it, but they also know that at this moment in time he can't and won't speak for himself so they're using him dishonestly

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Independence for ScotlandJuly 15, 2020 at 2:23 PM

      Anonymous - it is well known that many people vote for the SNP to run Holyrood who do not support independence. It is also well known that many people do not vote for the SNP but would vote for independence. So, in summary, your paragraph is once again more pish. Yes Curtice will say a swing away from THE SNP not independence because he knows what you are saying is pish.

      In your last paragraph you speak about people being dishonest - well you are at it all the time. Personally, I don't care about people talking about Salmond one way of another but I know you post pish and i know you are doing so deliberately.

      Delete
    2. Wings over Scotland sends out his faithful jehadis like *Independence for Scotland* to promote the hate and subversion
      don't vote for Nicola Sturgeon or the SNP vote for somebody else you never heard of now and will never hear of again the Wings faithful must destroy the SNP

      Delete
  17. Latest deaths per week per 100,000 based on today’s NRS update

    WE 26/06 Scotland 0.45 UK 0.8
    WE 03/07 Scotland 0.2 UK 0.53

    An improving picture all around, hopefully a trend that will continue.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In endeavouring to dispute an (as it were) heretically accepted belief or beliefs-set, one faces (or can face), in a very real sense, the peril of ceasing to exist.

      Delete
    2. I have the sense that you are approaching an existential end game.

      Delete
    3. Might one suggest that you sound - albeit in print as opposed to vocal format - like a total (if total there be) tit.

      Delete
  18. If the SNP leadership really does support Scottish Independence then they had better get on and deliver it (if not for us then for themselves) before the majority support they presently enjoy dissipates due to their own inaction. That would be the ultimate irony.

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    Replies
    1. And if Anthony Joshua doesn't organise a fight next thursday against a Polar Bear and win I'll never support him again
      Maybe in the meantime I could find a bouncer in a club somewhere who'll fight the Polar Bear, disnae matter who it is or if they win or lose but if Big Anthony won't fight when I tell him to then it's the bouncer

      Delete
  19. I have gone back and forth on this question, but I am now firmly SNP 1 and 2

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    Replies
    1. That's one vote that counts and the other wasted.

      Delete
    2. It's the most votes that count in Scottish elections since 2014, every election a referendum SNP 1X2

      Delete
    3. Unfortunately under the d'hondt system used for the list, there's also a denominator as well as a numerator and it's not the aggregate of the most votes that counts, if the same parties win a large proportion of the constituency seats.

      Any votes for indy supporting parties would count toward a form of de facto (moral) mandate for independence, so its irrelevant in that sense which indy supporting party you vote for.

      We don't live in a direct democracy though, and the larger the contingent of indy supporting MSP's the stronger the mandate for independence will be.

      Delete
    4. Arghjhjhhhhh!

      Can folk stop being arseholes to each other?

      Whoever Armygrad chooses to vote for, and whatever reason they have is for them and them only. The same goes for Anon, Unknown and the other few million.

      We need to stop jumping down folks throats of those already supporting indy

      Delete
  20. Equally Safe: Scotland's strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls
    'There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.'

    United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon

    Vision

    A strong and flourishing Scotland where all individuals are equally safe and respected, and where women and girls live free from all forms of violence and abuse – and the attitudes that help perpetuate it
    Aim of Equally Safe

    To work collaboratively with key partners in the public, private and third sectors to prevent and eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls
    Priorities

    Scottish society embraces equality and mutual respect, and rejects all forms of violence against women and girls
    Women and girls thrive as equal citizens – socially, culturally, economically and politically
    Interventions are early and effective, preventing violence and maximising the safety and wellbeing of women, children and young people
    Men desist from all forms of violence against women and girls, and perpetrators of such violence receive a robust and effective response

    ReplyDelete
  21. ATEOTD SNP 1+2 has it's last hurrah in 2021, it's either indy (hopefully) by 2026? or all but the bampots will have realised voting SNP on the list results in 0 seats other than borders and NE.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Maybe your right and maybe your wrong James but the fact is the reason we’re looking elsewhere is because the SNP are quite obviously not interested in independence. They’re stuffed Full of career politicians and British govt secret service. What’s the point in an Independence Party that won’t fight for independence? I’d rather try and dilute the SNPs power to the point that they can’t move Politically without returning independence to the front and centre of their priorities. If that means we have to rebuild then so be it. What a waste of all those years of hard work
    We’ve all done. Only to be stabbed in the back by the very party We empowered to get us out of this suffocating Union.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Big Eater From PerthJuly 15, 2020 at 4:20 PM

    Only those proudly ignorant of the views that I have not been at all shy about making public would accuse me of being an “SNP ultra-loyalist”. But I wholeheartedly oppose the sheer idiocy of pursuing cunning plans and magic solutions via the list vote while stubbornly ignoring the realistic process by which Scotland’s independence can be restored.

    At the very moment when Scotland’s cause demands hard-headed political calculation a significant part of the fucking Yes movement is away chasing candy-floss fucking unicorns.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So your solution is to continue to vote for a party that’s clearly not interested in delivering independence?

      Delete
    2. What is that realistic purpose? Do nothing? Wait for our masters to grant us a section 30?? You’re the idiot. We either take our independence by our own rules or we accept Scotland as a region of greater England. Nicola Sturgeon has shown herself to be a sheep in sheep’s clothing. She will do nothing to endanger her well paid job, her husbands well paid job and her power. It’s time to take our country back and if we need to remove the SNP to do it then so be it.

      Delete
  24. Does anyone have the latest goss on the Jimmy Depp and Amber Campbell revelations?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You stole my name. MY NAME! Are you exterminating me? Fiend from the maw of hell.

      Delete
  25. The Man from AuntyJuly 15, 2020 at 6:49 PM

    What is the point having more Indy parties? They will probably trash the movement with outlandish ideas and hold the SNP to ransom at every turn. I see the new parties more to do with big egos than anything else. I won't be voting for them.

    ReplyDelete
  26. The Nat zi debates should include why do the Nat zis want to give the EU powers to control Scotland.



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  27. The Nat zis must put in their 2021 manifesto that they want the EU to run Scotland economically. They want the EU to run our fisheries and agriculture. They want to join the euro. They want the UCHR to make our laws. They want Scotland to be subservient to their EU masters. Just be honest and the Scottish benefit seekers will say, aye go on knickerless.

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  28. Anon: Comment deleted. The chances of me not deleting a pointless and petty lie of that sort are pretty slim, so I've no idea why you'd even bother. As I correctly stated, our electoral system is the Additional Member System. It's a hybrid system and the d'Hondt method doesn't apply to all of it. These are plain, straightforward, undeniable facts. You may not want to hear them, but that's your problem.

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