The Scottish Politics thread

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Alex Salmond becomes leader of new pro-independence Alba Party ahead of Scottish elections

Scotland's former first minister Alex Salmond has re-entered frontline politics to become the leader of the new pro-independence Alba Party.

news.sky.com

Nigel McFarage.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Nigel McFarage.

But more toxic.

 

[metalblue]

But more toxic.

Any chance he could split the SNP vote? I don’t know how much support he personally has.

Edit: apologies for my ignorance; I didn’t know how the MSP elections worked and that you get two votes, one for an MSP and one for a party. So the SNP could retain the MSP vote and lose the party vote which could deprive them in as much as 56 seats. As an aside I actually quite like this system.

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

Apart from him and Sturgeon fucking hating each other surely it doesn't matter if the votes/seats are split among them if they want the same thing (independence)?

 

[blueparrot]

Apart from him and Sturgeon fucking hating each other surely it doesn't matter if the votes/seats are split among them if they want the same thing (independence)?

They’ll hardly be split, think he’s only standing in the list votes that will give them maybe a handful of seats with the other minority parties.

 

[metalblue]

Apart from him and Sturgeon fucking hating each other surely it doesn't matter if the votes/seats are split among them if they want the same thing (independence)?

Depends what they say independence is for their party. Potentially Scottish politics has got a lot more interesting rather than the procession we were witnessing.

 

[metalblue]

They’ll hardly be split, think he’s only standing in the list votes that will give them maybe a handful of seats with the other minority parties.

If he is only really trying to win the second party vote then (I think but correct me if i’m wrong) they don’t need to really field candidates in any of the constituency seats. Just campaign at a national level, leave the SNP and the others to contest the seats and focus on campaigning for the party, if AS is popular enough he can win a number of seats on that alone. Perhaps the electorate will see it as a way of curtailing NS powers whilst still registering 2 votes for independence.

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

All sounds a bit judean people's front vs people's front of judea?

 

[bluethrunthru]

They’ll hardly be split, think he’s only standing in the list votes that will give them maybe a handful of seats with the other minority parties.

It could provide a home for those who favour an independent Scotland but couldn't vote SNP because of Sturgeon so would have stayed at home and not voted - as a result there could be an even larger representation for independence in Scotland as a result

 

[blueparrot]

If he is only really trying to win the second party vote then (I think but correct me if i’m wrong) they don’t need to really field candidates in any of the constituency seats. Just campaign at a national level, leave the SNP and the others to contest the seats and focus on campaigning for the party, if AS is popular enough he can win a number of seats on that alone. Perhaps the electorate will see it as a way of curtailing NS powers whilst still registering 2 votes for independence.

It’s a list of names and they pick MSPs off the list depending on how many second votes the parties get. A lot of people vote for the same party as the their first vote, I do. I guess some vote differently but doubt many would vote SNP then use their second vote for Salmond, some will. I think most that do split their vote usually go Main party / Green . Thats how the Greens get their MSP s and end up power sharing with the SNP, as they also support independence.
Not sure their is any great appetite for curtailing Sturgeons powers by voting Salmond, any that do want to curtail her it will be because they support SNP government but not a new independence referendum and will be quite happy with her needing another parties support as she does now, with Greens or in the case of this years budget Greens and Liberal support.

 

[blueparrot]

It could provide a home for those who favour an independent Scotland but couldn't vote SNP because of Sturgeon so would have stayed at home and not voted - as a result there could be an even larger representation for independence in Scotland as a result

Don’t think there will be a large number that fall into the category of supporting the SNP but would stay at home because of Sturgeon. The higher risk was if she had gone SNP support would have dropped then.
I’m not in my coffee shop at the moment so haven’t got that ‘coffee shop chat opinion poll ‘ to go off on the other hand I’ve hardly heard anyone really talk about Sturgeon / Salmond, most talk seems to be that Ross and Davidson have looked a bit dickish.

 

[bluethrunthru]

Don’t think there will be a large number that fall into the category of supporting the SNP but would stay at home because of Sturgeon. The higher risk was if she had gone SNP support would have dropped then.
I’m not in my coffee shop at the moment so haven’t got that ‘coffee shop chat opinion poll ‘ to go off on the other hand I’ve hardly heard anyone really talk about Sturgeon / Salmond, most talk seems to be that Ross and Davidson have looked a bit dickish.

I said the other day though - however piss poor ( and they are ) Ross and Davidson come across I watched Shaun Bailey debate with Sadiq Khan the other night - I could not believe how bad he is at being a Tory

 

[Coatigan]

Nailed it

 

[Coatigan]

But more toxic.

Iiiiis heee?

 

[Coatigan]

Apart from him and Sturgeon fucking hating each other surely it doesn't matter if the votes/seats are split among them if they want the same thing (independence)?

Pretty much.

If he got any representation, he would use it to hold the SNP to ransom in parliament and be all relevant ant shit.

But you are right, if it came to matters on independence, he would still side with them. I would guess.

I doubt we will find out as i don't expect him to win a seat.

 

[Coatigan]

Depends what they say independence is for their party. Potentially Scottish politics has got a lot more interesting rather than the procession we were witnessing.

I doubt it. But let's let time tell.

Having him back in parliament, would certainly be interesting. Pulling the pin etc etc.

 

[blueparrot]

Pretty much.

If he got any representation, he would use it to hold the SNP to ransom in parliament and be all relevant ant shit.

But you are right, if it came to matters on independence, he would still side with them. I would guess.

I doubt we will find out as i don't expect him to win a seat.

Still think if they don’t win a majority the SNP would rather do a deal with the Greens to govern rather than a handful of Salmonds Alba Party. They may win 2 or 3 seats but apart from being shouty will be largely irrelevent.

 

[Coatigan]

Still think if they don’t win a majority the SNP would rather do a deal with the Greens to govern rather than a handful of Salmonds Alba Party. They may win 2 or 3 seats but apart from being shouty will be largely irrelevent.

I'd be amazed if he wins any.

But it is interesting. We can all, and will, mock and make comparisons to farage and people's front etc etc. But, lets be under no illusion that he doesn't know what he is doing. Might come to nothing, he might not even need it to come to anything, but he is clever enough to know why he is doing it. I don't see it yet, but there is some plan behind the madness, i'm sure.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Iiiiis heee?

imo yes.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Iiiiis heee?

maybe as toxic :-)