It's crept on us, but tomorrow is local election day. It'll be only the third time that the Single Transferable Vote system has been used in Scotland for nationwide elections. Instead of marking a cross on the ballot paper, we'll be using numbers to rank the candidates in order of preference. With the Scottish Tories seemingly on the march, it's now more important than ever that pro-indy voters use all or most of their preferences to rank every non-Tory candidate ahead of every Tory candidate - and, for that matter, to rank every non-unionist candidate ahead of every unionist candidate. If you're still unsure about why that's the case, the following video guide may help - it's a collaboration between myself and the amazing Phantom Power, creator of the recent Journey to Yes series. Feel free to pass it on to anyone who may find it useful. The direct link to the video on YouTube is HERE.
I'm sure the Single Transferable Vote system was mentioned on Good Morning Scotland this morning by Jamie McIvor, the BBC's local government correspondent.
ReplyDeleteBut, I only caught the end of it.
Can someone tell me what he said?
As it sounded like bad advice to me.
The DM Reporter @DMReporter 25 minutes ago
DeleteTHERESA MAY: “Everyone is trying to reverse Brexit except me. There’s saboteurs and traitors on every corner. Trust no-one but me.”
I'm voting Tory - a big fat 1 next to my candidate and nothing for any of the others.
ReplyDelete(laughs uncontrollably)
DeleteOh dear. Sounds like a fan of Rape Clause and Tory Election Fraud has been released early.
DeleteWalloper.
DeleteThanks James - very informative. One question - (and I hope this doesn't signify that I've got completely the wrong end of the stick) - assuming the first candidate to make the quota has more first preference votes than needed to make the quote, how is it determined *which* votes for the first candidate to make the quota are surplus?
ReplyDeleteThink I've just answered my own question by reading this useful pamphlet: http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/sites/default/files/What-is-STV.pdf This does make me wonder though, is this whole process computerised and are the ballots read by machine? Or are numbers of ballots small enough that this can all be tabulated by hand?
DeleteThe ballots are optically scanned into the computer and then it's all done digitally. The transfer votes are done as fractions.
DeleteThis is why I have worries about voting in the UK.
DeleteWho writes the computer program to count the votes?
I thought they were mucked and tilled on a table to randomize?
DeleteNo Tory leaflet received so far so I am feeling left out.
DeleteThe process is fairly transparent and they test the programming thoroughly the day before. You do have to trust is a bit more than a simple paper-count though.
DeleteHere was me thinking that local elections were about local issues - sad that Scotland has become divided along NI lines. Slow clap to the SNP and it's supporters.
ReplyDeleteTake it up with Ruth Davidson, not with us. She was the one who turned this election into a referendum on a referendum by plastering "send Nicola Sturgeon a message about a referendum" on every Tory leaflet. Sorry, but you can't have it both ways.
DeleteNope, nothing like Northern Ireland. On this planet people tend not to agree on everything. That's why there are different political parties. However, not everywhere: for unanimity, look to the old East Germany or to North Korea. No division there, apparently.
DeleteIt doesn't invalidate your general point, Iain, but East Germany had several parties I believe.
DeleteThe SNP have not mentioned independence referendum but your unionist pals have many times check out the Tory leaflet that went through your door,it will tell you all about what other will do wont do how they think but not one mention of what the Tories will do or can do,Tories making a laughing stock of democracy,if you believe what you posted then you who typed the comment for you as I'm certain you lack the ability to think straight and do anything that needs direct thought.
DeleteYes, we have a polarisation of Scottish politics, but the SNP started it. The rest of it is reactive to them. A gradual bleed off of support from SNP and Greens back to the unionist parties will eventually resolve the issue. But for the time being everything else takes a back seat - Education, health etc. That's the choice of the SNP and its supporters. By making Scottish politics an existential matter of identity and nationhood, you have relegated everything else to a distant second place.
DeleteThe tory troll 'Aldo' calls scottish people "morbidly obese, dangerously unfit and nicotine stained." Described opponents of the Tory Rape Clause as "spaz" "chav" "loser" and "autistic". Spouts vile abuse about mental heath involving the mothers of scottish posters on here and generally behaves like a tory ned.
DeleteAh Aldo the vermin is back . What a slavering Tolley
DeleteExcellent, James.
ReplyDeleteO/T did you just ignore the last YouGov Scottish sub-sample because it was completely nuts, and what implications do you think that has for the validity of that whole UK poll?
Do you mean the one showing SNP 36%, Tory 32%? If, as the full-scale Scottish polls show, the SNP are leading the Tories by somewhere between 11 and 15 points, it's not unexpected that there would be some subsamples showing not much of a lead at all, because the margin of error on a sample of less than 200 is huge (even if the figures are properly weighted, which they aren't).
DeleteIt's very unlikely that the SNP lead is as low as 4%, but that sort of result is another sign that the true lead probably isn't quite as enormous as we would like in an ideal world.
Yes indeed. Mind you it's balanced by Panelbase today which has the Tories on 19% in their Scottish sample.
Delete"With the Scottish Tories seemingly on the march," That is a rather polite way of saying they are impersonating Dr Strangelove.
ReplyDeleteThis will be the first STV Election that I will use all the boxes. In my area there are 7 candidates chasing 4 seats. I will have great pleasure in putting the corrupt sleazy, incompetent and inbred anti Scottish Tories last.
Although the ward boundaries have shifted slightly, in 2012 my ward went all the way to the seventh round. No candidate was elected in the second, third, fifth or sixth rounds. There were seven candidates, so it went the full run.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, there's a ward in the same council which elected all three of its councillors in the first round - those three each exceeded the quota and the other three candidates got knocked out there and then.
So it might have no effect or it might go all the way. Best to be safe, vote right to the end and leave that box blank as a sign of contempt for your least preferred candidate.
In both 2007 and 2012 our single SNP candidate was elected as last man standing. So the fact that I didn't use all my preferences on those occasions actually didn't matter a button. Just as well, because I didn't understand the system well enough to use it properly.
ReplyDeleteNow I do, and this time our single SNP candidate is likely to be elected as first or second to reach quota. So I'm going to do it right and go all the way down the ballot paper.
SNP
Green
Independent 1
Independent 2
LibDem
Labour
Tory 1
Tory 2
Sadly, as we haven't been campaigning on this point, I fear too few people will do this to pile up enough franctional transfers to keep the second Tory out.
Why on earth only one SNP candidate? Are they serious?
DeleteIf your plan is to keep the Conservative candidate out then you've got Labour and the Lib-Dems the wrong way round based on the statistics of terminal transfers from the last council elections in Scotland. If your "tactical" vote helps push a Lib Dem over the line then there's a slight bias in the redistribution of their own voters ballots in favour of Conservatives over Labour.
DeleteThe only message you can give is how you state your preferences. Don't build yourself up in to a frenzy about somehow keeping a particular party out. All that will lead to is a propaganda win for them if it doesn't go to plan.
By all means vote all the way down the list if you want. Just bear in mind the two ways your vote, or part of it, can be transferred.
Iain, you're prioritising a point that isn't likely to be important. I think the main reason Rolfe favours Lib Dem over Labour is that she believes the SNP can work with the Lib Dems in her local council.
DeleteAnonymous, I'm in the Borders and we don't have a serious chance of getting more than one SNP candidate elected. (Also, SNP HQ knocked back potential candidate so we wouldn't have had anyone to stand even if we'd wanted to. But really, we're fine for one and there was no serious point in standing two.)
DeleteIain, Labour do not have a snowball's chance in hell of getting a seat. They don't have a single councillor in our region. It's absolutely immaterial where I put them as the candidate will have been eliminated long before my fractional transfer gets anywhere near him. I just put the LibDem higher because, coming from north Lanarkshire, I hate Labour councillors like poison.
Actually, all I need to do is rank the SNP candidate first and then make sure the LibDem is above both Tories. None of the others is going to get elected so it's an academic matter where I put them in the ranking.
I've no problems with listing candidates in order of preference in order to send a message that the last one you want in charge of your local services as a conservative.
DeleteI've also got no problem with viewing it as voting for a team of 3 or 4 people rather than just one. That would certainly encourage people to use their vote as much as they care to.
If you think that the SNP and Lib Dems are the best team for your local area then that's a positive way to vote.
However if you get in to the area of trying to vote against people then it might work but it might backfire.
On the other hand if your primary aim is to express a preference and state that a conservative is the last person you'd trust in your council then there's no way you can lose. If doing so does keep them out then that's a bonus.
I personally boaked when it came to giving any unionist candidate a preference. So they got none.
Anyone you don't rank is effectively given the rank one below the lowest rank you actually wrote in. So if you simply don't mark your last preference it's the same thing.
DeletePersonally, I went all the way down. I wouldn't want the Tory thinking I'd just forgotten about him or didn't notice his name or didn't know who he was. I nice round number 8 shows that I really do have him in the "over my dead body!" slot. (He'll still probably get in mind you.)
And your point is? Seriously I don't see the difference between different coloured tories. Obviously I boked sooner than you. However I did pick more candidates than the seats up for grabs so at least I got that "right".
Deletepanelbase scottish cross tables have better news for the snp
ReplyDeletesnp 42%
cons 17%
lab 13%
Libdems 12%
excluding dk's
snp 48%
cons 19%
lab 14%
libdems 14%
Is this a new UK poll?
DeleteCross breaks are useless. One had a Labour lead over SNP in the run up to 2015.
DeleteAnd how many dozens didn't?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWhat a slavering Tolley you are aldo. You give an erse a sare heed
DeleteJames, you might think about explaining what a quota means, and also a vote management strategy. I remember once explaining how STV works to an English guy and he was staggered to find that grabbing every possible vote, as you would in a FPTP election, is not necessarily a good thing for a candidate.
ReplyDeleteIt is a good thing for the candidate. It isn't a good thing for the party, if it's standing more than one candidate.
DeleteKevin McKenna @kmckenna63 34 minutes ago
ReplyDeleteThat was a paranoid and rambling speech by a clearly weak and unstable Prime Minister who is miles out of her depth
Oh dear. Sounds like a fan of Rape Clause and Tory Election Fraud has been released early.
DeleteKevin SchofieldVerified account @PolhomeEditor 45 minutes ago
ReplyDeleteTheresa May there, accusing Brussels of trying to sabotage the result of an election she didn't have to call.
Laura KuenssbergVerified account @bbclaurak 35 minutes ago
ReplyDelete10am Hammond says last few days have been 'manouvreing', Davis says no 'megaphone' diplomacy, 3.30 PM accuses EU of interfering in our elex
T.May falling apart like a dyke in a bad storm.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think the SNP will lose 7 to 10 MPs to the Tories come June.
ReplyDeleteYeah, keep your spirits up. Everyone loves an optimist.
DeleteUmmm. Who's being optimistic at what side here? Confused....
DeleteI remember arguing with a bloke on Facebook before the 2015 election - a nationalist who took it as a personal affront that the tories had any presence in Scotland whatsoever. He banged on endlessly about how he was looking forward to wiping out the single tory seat (never happened).
DeleteMake no mistake, people like that will be horrified if the tories get 7 - 12 seats next month - geographically big seats that will make Scotland look like blue cheese on a political map. I imagine the bloke from FB will have steam coming out his ears. I just hope he doesn't thump his wife too badly.
It was always going to be the case that, closer to independence, it was going to be a straight fight of unionist votes against nationalist votes. It happens to manifest itself as a Tory 'surge', but had Labour been in better shape, it could just as well have been a Labour one. We're in the end-game.
DeleteEnd game? The whole case for Scottish independence is predicated on the idea that Scotland is socialist and England conservative. That assumption goes out the window if high numbers of Scots vote conservative.
DeleteMaybe it is an end game - but which kind?
The tory troll 'Aldo' calls scottish people "morbidly obese, dangerously unfit and nicotine stained." Described opponents of the Tory Rape Clause as "spaz" "chav" "loser" and "autistic". Spouts vile abuse about mental heath involving the mothers of scottish posters on here and generally behaves like a tory ned.
DeleteAll true - apart from the 'Tory ned' part. Tory ned is a contradiction in terms. We are a refined, educated, tasteful people. Neds are confined to SNP voting Glasgow and its environs - a complete shithole apart from one or two foreign owned restaurants.
DeleteWATP
DeleteEnd game? The whole case for Scottish independence is predicated on the idea that Scotland is socialist and England conservative. That assumption goes out the window if high numbers of Scots vote conservative.
DeleteIn England, the Conservatives win elections. In Scotland, they will merely be the least soundly beaten by the main independence-supporting party.
I'm not an optimist; rather a realist.
ReplyDeleteYou just tell yourself whatever you need to, old chap. It's going to be a long few weeks, and there's no point in abandoning hope at this stage, in spite of the mountain you have to climb.
DeleteWhat mountain? Clearly there will be a Conservative victory in the UK and nothing for the SNP to bleat on about.
DeleteAh, so you have no hopes of victory in Scotland. Now I know what you mean by 'realist'.
Deletehrtbps @hrtbps 2h
ReplyDeleteIt's fucked up how the EU are trying to influence our election by making Theresa May hide in a scout hut and repeat sound bites ad nauseam.
The EU have interferred twice in the last few days. But being a thick nat si you would not have noticed. Hard brexit required Britain will not become a satellite EU state run by Germany. Greece no more!
DeleteThe last few days have revealed the EU to be an arrogant, hostile, inflexible, self defeating organisation ran by sneering idiots. If I ever felt any slight measure of regrexit over my voting choice, it has completely disappeared now - a bit like in that horror film when the guy's 'wife' reverts back into demonic form as he is leaving her. If I had my doubts before, I'm outta here now!
DeleteAnd we have that wee sweaty upper lipped its a sin Tim Farron going around forgetting about his country and supporting the EU Mafia.
DeleteTreason, GWC, in any other time.
DeleteConservativeHome @ConHome
DeleteGarry Heath: Let’s seize this chance to purge our Party and deselect the Remainers http://bit.ly/2olE9nE
ROFL!!
Same thing the tory twats were beside themselves with glee when it happened in Corbyn's Labour.
Tories are the hypocritical stupid party.
Jim WatersonVerified account @jimwaterson 10 hours ago
DeleteITV is going to broadcast a leader's debate in prime time on 18 May, whether or not May or Corbyn agree to take part.
You can't be conservative and pro Europe. Its just a fact. Defence of the realm, policing of borders and the sovereignty of the nation are at the very heart of conservatism.
Delete"The undecideds and the bottlers will put it in the back of the net for 'remain'. I'm sure Cameron also has a few tricks up his sleeve to deploy in the dying days of the campaign."
Delete'Aldo'
You can't be conservative and pro Europe. Its just a fact.
Deletehttps://munguin.wordpress.com/2017/04/28/did-i-really-say-that/
I realise many 'conservatives' are pro Europe - but they aren't conservative. They are 'conservative' in name only. A big part of conservatism is upholding tradition. You can't do that while slowly relocating the British capital to Brussels. Sorry, if you support the EU you aren't conservative. You may be unionist (as in pro UK), you may have some free market leanings. But you aren't conservative.
DeleteI realise many 'conservatives' are pro Europe - but they aren't conservative.
DeleteHahaaahaahaaa!!!! totally radio rental
Faisal Islam?Verified account @faisalislam
DeleteFaisal Islam Retweeted graeme.christie
Quite regular this stuff now..thought all left behind in 1980s. On personal basis - I don't care. what must be going on generally - terrible
graeme.christie @ChristieGraeme
@faisalislam you could return to your native land, or go to Europe!
Mick, I strongly suggest you learn the subtleties of written English quickly.
DeleteI strongly suggest you take your head out of your arse and the Daily Mail before making a complete twat of yourself again Vance
Delete"The undecideds and the bottlers will put it in the back of the net for 'remain'. I'm sure Cameron also has a few tricks up his sleeve to deploy in the dying days of the campaign."
Carlotta 'Aldo' Vance
Huw Jordan @huwjordan 19m
DeleteHow did @theresa_may go from supporting the Remain campaign to accusing the EU of meddling in #GE2017? Playing political games perchance?
pic.twitter.com/0ppCcNgBMk
Mick Pork doesn't understand quotation marks :0)
Delete"The undecideds and the bottlers will put it in the back of the net for 'remain'. I'm sure Cameron also has a few tricks up his sleeve to deploy in the dying days of the campaign."
DeleteCarlotta 'Aldo' Vance
I've been trying to formulate the most effective anti-SNP vote for my local area. I'm thinking Tories 1, Labour 2, Lib Dems 3. But then Labour are a bit two faced on the constitutional question, so I may miss them out.
ReplyDeleteNot quite sure why some ballots have more candidates from one party than from others - seems a bit unfair. But STV does seem to be a bit of a clusterf**k doesn't it?
The tory troll 'Aldo' calls scottish people "morbidly obese, dangerously unfit and nicotine stained." Described opponents of the Tory Rape Clause as "spaz" "chav" "loser" and "autistic". Spouts vile abuse about mental heath involving the mothers of scottish posters on here and generally behaves like a tory ned.
Delete"The undecideds and the bottlers will put it in the back of the net for 'remain'. I'm sure Cameron also has a few tricks up his sleeve to deploy in the dying days of the campaign."
Delete'Aldo'
roger cee @enablerbro1 5 hours ago
Deleteroger cee Retweeted Nick Robinson
If people want to know why Theresa May showed her arse to rest of the world today, just read the @BBCNews spin. Playing to swivel-eyed bores
But then Labour are a bit two faced on the constitutional question, so I may miss them out.
DeleteSo you ranked them equal with the SNP and Greens? Oops.
But seriously folks, whe it would be wonderful to have a strong, successful independent country that did away with the corruption and self-serving that we have become used to, the SNP are just too left-of-centre to make it hold water. That's BEFORE we scrutinise the financial case, which is extremely dubious to say the least.
ReplyDeleteIn the event of an iScotland coming to pass, those that stand to lose the most will be the worst affected, and they will NOT be happy when the SNP withdraw all their well-intentioned and noble promises. It would be an economic basket case, which we would be foolish to pursue. By all means, let's work for a successful independent country, but the SNP are not the people to take us there in their present inception. We need to build a much more autonomous economy before we have another indyref. The SNP are making promises they could never keep, and as always, the people least able to bear the burden would be doing just that.
All in good time, but not with the present plan, and not yet.
(Applause)
DeleteScotland needs to change its attitude before it becomes independent. We need to work harder, study harder, deregulate, roll back the state and lead healthier more responsible lives. If we do that then we run a surplus and can stroll out of the UK anytime we want. We will, however, be a conservative country. So whether or not we will want to leave the UK at that point is debatable - but at least we will be able to.
And half the waster MSP'S.
DeleteThe Food Umbrella @thefoodumbrella
DeleteA list of the Tory MPs under criminal investigation for #ElectionFraud
RT & SHARE
#87RT #GeneralElection #GE2017 #GE17 #GeneralElection2017
Kimberley @Indy_Kimberley
DeleteKimberley Retweeted Ruth Davidson
Scotland has said No to Tories for over 60 yrs & we'll be saying No in May & June again & we mean it. So we look forward to you fucking off.
Not so much 'no' as 'hmmm....maybe. I know I shouldn't like you but I can't help myself. Oh go on then - take me!'
DeleteMore than £50 billion of UK trade goes to Scotland. Half of the oil of the UK is imported.
DeleteScottish GDP per capita 2015: $43,410. Germany $40,952. France $37,653. Spain $25,843.
I'll piss myself laughing if a tiny number of Labour councillors end up holding the balance of power between SNP and Tory in councils across the country.
Delete@KatieKhaleesi @KatieKhaleesi 6minutes ago
DeleteIt's not 'gutter-level politics' to report that a tory candidate shares Britain First material. One of their members murdered an MP last year.
Garvan Walshe @garvanwalshe
DeleteCEO, @brexitanalytics Former Tory National and International Security Policy Adviser. Columnist for ConservativeHome @conhome
Garvan Walshe? @garvanwalshe Feb 26
I was in 2005 Tory campaign - we worked assiduously to ramp up anti immigrant feeling.
Garvan Walshe @garvanwalshe Feb 26
And from Brown on nobody challenged lies that immigrants took jobs, were here on benefits etc.
Far-right Scum
Pedo Saville was a guest of Maggie Thatcher for Christmas every year from 1979 to 1992.
DeleteShe also recommended his knighthood in 1990
Pierre @PierreJouet Apr 19
DeleteRemember when Theresa May tried to hobble the MP child abuse scandal from the start? She cannot be trusted. #GE2017
pic.twitter.com/hZWs8nPYVU
Immigrants do take jobs that could be performed by the existing British population. But that's not the fault of the immigrants necessarily - the UK government is too soft on welfarism and the UK population too lazy or too precious to do dirty, hard, manual work. The solution? Reduce immigration and welfarism - tell the UK population that they must do those jobs or be cut off from the benefits system. This also deals with the feckless, benefit seeking immigrants - of which there are many.
DeleteThere's only one party with the balls to do it - the Tories.
"The undecideds and the bottlers will put it in the back of the net for 'remain'. I'm sure Cameron also has a few tricks up his sleeve to deploy in the dying days of the campaign."
Delete'Aldo'
Mark Oosterveen @MarkOosterveen
DeleteMy dad. 82. Lived here 20+ years. British wife (dead), two British kids. Can't walk, has Alzheimer's. DUTCH. Been told to prepare to leave.
Quite right. He's not a citizen. If his country sees sense, he'll get to stay.
DeleteFaisal Islam?Verified account @faisalislam
DeleteFaisal Islam Retweeted graeme.christie
Quite regular this stuff now..thought all left behind in 1980s. On personal basis - I don't care. what must be going on generally - terrible
graeme.christie @ChristieGraeme
@faisalislam you could return to your native land, or go to Europe!
Incompetent May @IncompetentMay Apr 25
Deletea former British Ambassador has pointed out Theresa May’s election platform is identical to the BNP’s in 2005.
evolvepolitics.com/ambassador-theresa-may-manifesto-bnp/ … via @EvolvePolitics
Matt Pearson @MLPasterisk 6 hours ago
ReplyDeleteIf she's this rattled by a leak from a dinner, god knows what she'll be like once they start leaking the actual negotiations.
The DM Reporter @DMReporter 6 hours ago
ReplyDeleteMAY: "If Brexit negotiations fail it's the fault of the EU. If I lose the election it's the fault of the EU. Not me, I'm strong and stable."
Right Wing Ruth's Tory Promise to Stop Free Prescriptions for Scottish Pensioners and Families
ReplyDeleteTory leader Ruth Davidson was quizzed on policies stating she would introduce a graduate charge of £6,000 for a four-year degree and prescription charges of up to "about £8".
You do realise that universal benefits and entitlements help the rich at the expense of the poor?
DeleteA sub Daily Mail level of comprehension regarding the principle of universality. Not that you could expect anything more from a far-right simpleton.
DeleteStick to shrieking hatred at foreigners and the disabled you worthless tory dimwit.
Dr Craig Dalzell @thecommongreen
DeletePrescription charges in England to go up to £8.60 per item.
Elsewhere in UK medical treatment still free at point of need.
"Michael Gove wanted to privatise it, Boris wanted to charge people for using it and Iain Duncan Smith wanted a social insurance system,"
Delete"The NHS is about as safe with them as a pet hamster would be with a hungry python."
- Sir John Major. Former Tory Prime Minister speaking about the N.H.S.
How are they paid for if they are free? The capitalist pharmaceutical companies require payment!
DeletePedo Saville was a guest of Maggie Thatcher for Christmas every year from 1979 to 1992.
DeleteShe also recommended his knighthood in 1990
Were you a victim, Mick?
DeleteDid you ask Jim to fix it for you to stop being a retard?
Universality means a wealthy person like myself being provided pills free of charge - pills that treat a condition that could be dealt with by behavior modification - when that money could go towards cancer treatment or the treatment of sick children. Universality means rich kids being sent to college and uni free of charge at the expense of college places for the poor - something that has been demonstrated to be actually happening in Scotland. As a result, England - nasty, Tory England - has a greater proportion of working class kids going into higher education.
DeleteDick Mackintosh @DickMackintosh
Delete13 things we've learned from the damning probe into Tory election expenses
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/13-things-learned-electoral-commissions-10036884#
Richard Murphy @RichardJMurphy
DeleteMay's claim that the Tories cooperated with the Electoral Commission is a straightforward lie according to the Electoral Commission
When participation in college is factored in, the Scottish HE participation rate is significantly higher than in England.
DeleteLil'oldme @relovedreams
DeleteElectoral commission have fined Tory party £70,000 for fiddling expenses #toryelectionfraud now bring on prosecutions
PoliticsHome?Verified account @politicshome
DeleteWATCH: Tory chair Patrick McLoughlin pushes camera away and flees election expenses questions http://bit.ly/2ndFJum
It's just a shame that Scottish participation is weighted towards the rich - paid for, in part, by taxation raised from the poor.
DeleteThe English system does seem to be more egalitarian, despite the charging of fees. I bet their unis are far better as well. Access to more funds generally does mean better.
The tory troll 'Aldo' calls scottish people "morbidly obese, dangerously unfit and nicotine stained." Described opponents of the Tory Rape Clause as "spaz" "chav" "loser" and "autistic". Spouts vile abuse about mental heath involving the mothers of scottish posters on here and generally behaves like a tory ned.
DeleteStudents' perception of their degree's value for money continued its downward trend across the UK, falling from 53 per cent four years ago to 37 per cent in 2016 - with the least satisfied students attending English institutions.
Delete- Javier Espinoza, education editor
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Foodbanks on the increase in Scotland under the Nat sis regime.
ReplyDeleteIm 2 fick ro understand wot fiscal autonomy iz
DeleteUniversity tuition fees in England 'now the highest in the world'
ReplyDeletehttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/university-tuition-fees-england-highest-world-compare-students-student-loan-calculator-a7654276.html
Paul Lewis @paullewismoney
ReplyDeleteGovt delays unpopular statement on raising state pension age despite Pensions Act 2014 s.27(2) "report must be published before 7 May 2017"
Ray-Ray @RayVersionTwo 8 hours ago
ReplyDeleteFaisal Islam: "Many things David Cameron warned about in 2015 with a Labour government actually happened under the Tories"
Sounds familiar..
Strange how the Jock nat sis mention Savile the pervert who was a devout Catholic pervert. Tim Farron the Lib would say he was a sinner. Makes yer laugh.
ReplyDeleteStrange how the Jock nat sis mention Savile the pervert who was a devout Catholic pervert. Tim Farron the Lib would say he was a sinner. Makes yer laugh.
DeleteIt does make yer larf. Wonder if Savile was abused as a child and thought it was the norm. Makes yer larf.
DeleteIt does make yer larf. Wonder if Savile was abused as a child and thought it was the norm. Makes yer larf.
DeletePaul Lewis @paullewismoney
ReplyDeleteGovt delays unpopular statement on raising state pension age despite Pensions Act 2014 s.27(2) "report must be published before 7 May 2017"
John Hamill @sparkyhamill
ReplyDeleteMy wife is 36k worse off as she is a #Waspi with 6 years of her pension gone thanks to the Tories.
Whit a shame she could have become an MSP. Loadsamoney nae need fur ra foodbank.
DeleteElectoral commission have fined Tory party £70,000 for fiddling expenses
Delete#toryelectionfraud
now bring on prosecutions
Mick, you are as mad as a box of frogs. How long do you actually spend on here, posting under various names? It seems to be a full time job for you. Not a paid job, mind you - unless you are working for the unionists. Mad mad mad!
ReplyDeleteI'm off to bed. I have a job, bills to pay etc. You know? A normal life? LOL! :0)
The tory troll 'Aldo' calls scottish people "morbidly obese, dangerously unfit and nicotine stained." Described opponents of the Tory Rape Clause as "spaz" "chav" "loser" and "autistic". Spouts vile abuse about mental heath involving the mothers of scottish posters on here and generally behaves like a tory ned.
Deletetranslation - it's off to spam stormfront lite for the next 6 hours
DeleteOff to vote now. I think the SNP may struggle to break 40% in this election - there were a huge number of independent votes last time round (about 12%). If the same thing happens this time, I would expect the SNP vote share to be less dramatic than some may expect.
ReplyDeleteI'll meet you at the Pipeworks for a celebration
Delete@KatieKhaleesi @KatieKhaleesi 10 hours ago
Delete@KatieKhaleesi Retweeted insideMORAY
It's not 'gutter-level politics' to report that a tory candidate shares Britain First material. One of their members murdered an MP last year.
I've not seen any suggestions the SNP would hit 40% in the local elections?? I doubt even the Tories in England would hit 40%. Is this you getting your warped spin in before the SNP gains are announced? You should try getting out more, you're living a very angry and isolated existence and your main pursuit in life if getting a wee buzz posting endlessly on a blog. Think about it!! None of us know who you are, you're just letters in a comments section but you know who you are and by god you must hate yourself.
DeleteJeezo, calm down! You folks can be so touchy!
DeleteThe tory troll 'Aldo' calls scottish people "morbidly obese, dangerously unfit and nicotine stained." Described opponents of the Tory Rape Clause as "spaz" "chav" "loser" and "autistic". Spouts vile abuse about mental heath involving the mothers of scottish posters on here and generally behaves like a tory ned
DeleteJim WatersonVerified account @jimwaterson 20 hours ago
ReplyDeleteITV is going to broadcast a leader's debate in prime time on 18 May, whether or not May or Corbyn agree to take part.
I will cancel my holidays. Just love watching arseholes bumping their gums and telling the faithful how wonderful life will be if you elect ME. The Tories have given me over a thousand quid in tax breaks over the past three years and the Nat si Tartan Tories have frozen cooncil tax for years. Foodbanks increasing!
DeleteJock rich raking in the dosh. Vote Labour.
Hi Ya pal x
DeleteThe troll 'GWC2' calls scottish people "jocks", advocates arming Leave campaigners, arbitrary deportations and public mutilations, claimed Jo Cox's husband was a fascist, uses racial, homophobic and ethnic slurs, pretends to be Labour (badly) while espousing far-right racist hate-speech, praises Theresa May and the tories and displays a perverted poisonous obsession with Scotland's First Minister & her predecessor
DeleteThat's it done.
ReplyDelete1. Tory
2. Labour
3. Labour
4. Lib Dems
5. Lib Dems
Two SNPs, a Green and an unknown independent left blank. Vote till you boak? No thanks.
The tory troll 'Aldo' calls scottish people "morbidly obese, dangerously unfit and nicotine stained." Described opponents of the Tory Rape Clause as "spaz" "chav" "loser" and "autistic". Spouts vile abuse about mental health involving the mothers of scottish posters on here and generally behaves like a tory ned
DeleteGood stuff Aldo. You do know you have fucked it up don't you?...Why do you think James and co on the pro-independence side were telling people to rank the Unionists, and not leave the ballot paper blank?
Deletelol the daily mail dimwit doesn't have a fucking clue
DeleteExcept that's actually what you've done. Vote until there were four candidates you found unpalatable.
DeleteI was thinking of voting Green as my more palatable nationalists, ahead of snp. But then I thought why bother as I hate them all pretty much equally. Voting for someone you actively despise makes you feel sullied.
DeleteBtw, I think you guys ranking the tories last may theoretically backfire on you. A blank box can't be interpreted as support under any circumstances - but by explicitly stating that tories are your 10th choice, it could benefit them - under very specific and rare circumstances.
Who's fucked up now? Lol!
"but by explicitly stating that tories are your 10th choice, it could benefit them - under very specific and rare circumstances."
DeleteIf there are only ten candidates, then no, ranking the Tories 10th cannot benefit them under any circumstances whatsoever. (I've no idea whether you've genuinely misunderstood or you're deliberately trying to mess with our heads, but the answer is the same either way.)
Voting done
ReplyDeleteSNP
SNP
GREEN
LIB/DEM
MONSTER
BNP
BRIT/FIRST
NAT/FRONT
LABOUR
CHRISTIAN MUSLIM PARTY
It's alright for some but I'm in Colinton/Fairmilehead. 3 councillors from 6 candidates and the labour gonad is the fake Doctor, S Arthur. I'm not putting him anywhere but last. Two Tories elected last time and no chance of preventing at least one of them from getting in no matter how anybody votes or boaks. Not in this ward.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously folks, whe it would be wonderful to have a strong, successful independent country that did away with the corruption and self-serving that we have become used to, the SNP are just too left-of-centre to make it hold water. That's BEFORE we scrutinise the financial case, which is extremely dubious to say the least.
ReplyDeleteIn the event of an iScotland coming to pass, those that stand to lose the most will be the worst affected, and they will NOT be happy when the SNP withdraw all their well-intentioned and noble promises. It would be an economic basket case, which we would be foolish to pursue. By all means, let's work for a successful independent country, but the SNP are not the people to take us there in their present inception. We need to build a much more autonomous economy before we have another indyref. The SNP are making promises they could never keep, and as always, the people least able to bear the burden would be doing just that.
All in good time, but not with the present plan, and not yet.
Too wee too poor too stupid
DeleteThe troll 'GWC2' calls scottish people "jocks", advocates arming Leave campaigners, arbitrary deportations and public mutilations, claimed Jo Cox's husband was a fascist, uses racial, homophobic and ethnic slurs, pretends to be Labour (badly) while espousing far-right racist hate-speech, praises Theresa May and the tories and displays a perverted poisonous obsession with Scotland's First Minister & her predecessor
DeleteScottish GDP per capita 2015: $43,410. Germany $40,952. France $37,653. Spain $25,843.
DeleteTell me why we're too poor to be independent again.
I've just been done up the arse by a pig. Ruth's front bottom looks like my arse.
ReplyDeleteMother keeps saying this to me but I'm taller than her!
ReplyDeleteVoted Tory 1 - didn't bother with the rest of the scum.
ReplyDeleteThis site has become one big away day for Stormfront Lite.
DeleteSchool 'em, folks. Vote till you boak.
"Michael Gove wanted to privatise it, Boris wanted to charge people for using it and Iain Duncan Smith wanted a social insurance system."
Delete"The NHS is about as safe with them as a pet hamster would be with a hungry python."
- Sir John Major. Former Tory Prime Minister speaking about the N.H.S.
My colleague voted Tory 1, rest blank. He came into work wearing a pair of union flag socks :0)
DeleteThe tory troll 'Aldo' calls scottish people "morbidly obese, dangerously unfit and nicotine stained." Described opponents of the Tory Rape Clause as "spaz" "chav" "loser" and "autistic". Spouts vile abuse about mental health involving the mothers of scottish posters on here and generally behaves like a tory ned
Deletevoting done
ReplyDeleteno x for Nat si party
has anyone got any idea how to get rid of thread worms? been up itching and scratching all night
Just a quick question perhaps a stupid one , but s.t.v system in the council election as you can vote / rank for more than one candidate can you vote snp 1 , 2 ( obviously ) green 3 and then vote tory as last choice / ranking at 8 missing out 4 5 6 7 ? any thoughts ?
ReplyDeleteNot a stupid question at all. Risk of invalidating your vote if you leave a gap like that. Vote till you boak.
DeletePaul Lewis @paullewismoney
DeleteGovt delays unpopular statement on raising state pension age despite Pensions Act 2014 s.27(2) "report must be published before 7 May 2017"
Wings Over Scotland @WingsScotland 34 minutes ago
ReplyDeleteDon't believe the hype - the Tories are the Nasty Party now more than they've ever been:
https://wingsoverscotland.com/song-for-the-scottish-conservatives/
Grieving families to be £12,000 worse off under new bereavement benefits- the rules changing from TODAY
ReplyDeletehttp://archive.is/LBHpS
Probably be even worse given the lump sum will be deposited in a bank account and no doubt count as savings and thus reduce entitlement to other benefits.
DeleteGetting close out there guys
ReplyDeletesnp 40%
cons 37%
lab 15%
libdems 6%
subs for scotland nearing cross over between snp and cons. somethings happening out there for sure.
Hmmm. So you're conveniently ignoring the subsample yesterday that gave a 29% SNP lead? What's happening is exactly what you would expect to happen if the true lead is between 11% and 15%, as suggested by the full-scale Scottish polls. Because the sample size for subsamples is so tiny, you get large variations in results. If you think the Tories are genuinely on 37% and about to overtake the SNP...well, good luck with that.
DeletePretty impressive though, that any sample of people from Scotland, large or small, could return SNP and Conservative as basically level pegging.
DeleteThe Tories will be lucky to get 25%. Still 4 weeks till the 8th June. Expect their vote to collapse by then. As for tomorrow. I think the SNP will easily get 45% of the vote share.
ReplyDeleteI doubt it'll be that good in a local election. And I get the impression Tory voters may be more motivated to turn out this time. I think it'll be somewhere in between the two extremes - a decent SNP lead over the Tories, but not the enormous one we'd like in an ideal world.
DeleteI don't think the SNP will win 45%, even without this Tory surge it's hard for a party to win 45% of the vote in a local election . The GE in June will be interesting. My guess is that the SNP will poll around 43%-45% (picking up some Greens as they don't stand in all seats) The Tories to poll 26% and Labour 22%. The SNP will lose seats(-10), 7 to the Tories and 3 to the Libdems.
DeleteI voted and used all of the ballot paper.
ReplyDeleteSNP 1 2 3 Green 4 Lib/Dem 5 Labour 6 & 7 Unionist no to indy ref 8 Tory 9.
SNP canvasser saying turnout low but reckons SNP will overtake Labour in the council but not a majority. SNP/Green coalition?
If the SNP do fall short of a majority, there's the obvious nightmare scenario of Labour staying in power with help from the Tories (although Labour would take a hit for doing that).
DeleteJames that would be a nightmare scenario but Labour doing a deal with the Tories in Glasgow 5 weeks before a GE? Can't see it happening.
DeleteYes, but it probably wouldn't be a full coalition, so there would be a deniable aspect to it.
DeleteSNP will take Glasgow. Which is quite good because then they'll need to sort out Govanhill without putting the blame onto anyone else.
DeleteMost of the country will be no overall control, as it was last time. If unionists are capable of forming governing coalitions in a majority of Scottish councils, I'd call that a win for us.
The SNP will be in control either as a minority or majority in North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Falkirk, West Lothian, Mid Lothian, Angus and Dundee. They will be the largest party in Edinburgh and will go back into power with Labour as the bigger partner. The SNP will be the biggest party in P&K, Aberdeen, Moray and Clacs but will probably be kept out by a Tory/Labour stitch up. The Tories will run South Ayrshire, East Ren as a minority. The other rest of the councils will be run by independents and god knows what.
DeleteAn alternate take on that is that the SNP will take action in Govanhill, over and above that already being done, whereas there was always a dubious and nasty political advantage at a national level for the Labour run council to allow the slum conditions to continue if not get worse in order to use a weapon to embarrass the first minister.
DeleteEven if the intent is to highlight lack of funds it's a form of dirty protest with the locals being the victims. Ultimately the situation in Govanhill is to do with the spending priorities of the local council and the enforcement bodies controlled by them.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeletePretty sure Govanhill was just as rough under Donald Dewar and Jack McConnell as well, so I don't think it's a sinister plot they cooked up to hurt the SNP.
DeleteOnce again, your tin foil hat is on a little too tight.
Any word on how its going? Does someone's dog's granny's son's uncle work in a polling station and reckons UKIP have skooshed it?
ReplyDeleteSnp 1&2, Solidarity 3, Green 4, Independents 5&6, Libdem 7, Tory 8, Labour 9&10.
ReplyDeleteJimmy, when do we get results? Do you have links? Do we have turnout numbers so we can guess? Help me obi wan kelly, you're my only hope...
ReplyDeleteJock Nat sis prepared to prostitute the Scottish people to the fascist EU to line their own pockets.
DeleteAnd the Nat sis claim our ancestors sold Scotland out tae England!
Just so you ken my ancestors come from Kent good chelsea supporters not Jocko Fash Nat sis
DeleteDon't forget the lube tonight Aldo I couldn't sit down for a week after our last party. I bags being top this time we need to put on a good show for the Jocko Fash Nat sis you seemed to struggle with the crowd watching.
ReplyDeleteWhat do Wee Jimmy Krankie and Trump have in common,answer they both are liars and believe in being globalists and nationalists at the same time.Trump pretends to be a globalist and Kranke pretends to be a nationalist.
ReplyDeleteInteresting results. Maybe calling everyone who doesn't vote SNP a Red/Yellow/Blue Tory wasn't such a smart plan after all.
ReplyDeleteHrm. New comments aren't showing up.
ReplyDeleteUnless you post one, in which case they do.
DeleteNot sure if it's my machine, but I think you might have a minor blog issue James, nothing shows past 2.00am unless you make a post, at which point all the others show up. Then if you reload, they all vanish again.
Go, Tories Go. Best results for many a year.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to winning seats which used to be Conservative in just 5 weeks.
Fuck the SNP.