UK General Election (in Scotland)

Postby mcsproot » Thu May 07, 2015 7:22 pm

Or more specifically, my constituency of the Northern Isles.

The incumbent candidate got re-elected, but in 5 years his lead went from 10,000 to 900. A pretty large swing.

Scottish National Party are also cleaning up, with 43 out of 59 Scottish seats at Westminster at the time of posting.

As an SNP supporter, I am disappointed that SNP did not win my seat, but with such a narrow 2nd place, it is also a good feeling. Put that on top of SNP doing very well, things are looking interesting over here.
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Re: UK General Election (in Scotland)

Postby jsherwood » Fri May 08, 2015 7:42 am

They won't pass weird legislation like BDSM for sure...haha

No Miliband fought weakly.

Re: UK General Election (in Scotland)

Postby Tieup1 » Fri May 08, 2015 2:54 pm

The SNP were always going to do well. They gained a lot of support during the referendum, and have carried it along to the Election.

I thought all the campaigns were weak, the live debates, being a small highlight.

The Conservatives won, but with a small majority, it may be hard for them to pass legislation, unless, they do some deals.

Re: UK General Election (in Scotland)

Postby Chris12 » Sat May 09, 2015 4:38 am

So how does a British election work? Ukip doesn't really give me a good impression but love em or hate em they did get millions of votes. How does that translate to only a single seat?

Re: UK General Election (in Scotland)

Postby xtc » Sat May 09, 2015 5:36 am

The nation is split into 650 constutuencies. Each constituency returns only one MP: the one with the most votes.
That means that all those votes not cast for the winners are discounted.
Even if one party polled second in all constituencies,their considerable electoral support would not be reflected in the make up of the House of Commons.
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Re: UK General Election (in Scotland)

Postby Oohmynameisblue » Sat May 09, 2015 8:58 am

The explanation above is correct and that is exactly why I hate how they do it. It doesn't correctly reflect the number of votes. I wasn't voting Ukip but they would have got a much better score if it was done that way.

Re: UK General Election (in Scotland)

Postby skybird137 » Mon May 18, 2015 1:40 am

I'm hoping that the SNP will abstain from the fox hunting vote on the grounds that it is an "English" matter.

This is not on the grounds of supporting fox hunting with hounds, as I think of this to be medieval. However, I don't think that the Conservatives made the promise of repealing this with any intention of carrying it out, hoping that there would be enough people on their own side in a free vote to prevent it from going through.

However, the massive increase in SNP votes at Labour's expense would mean that the Tories will massively outvote Labour (should the SNP abstain) and repeal fox hunting and my guess is that the outrage will make the one against the Poll Tax appear mild by comparison.

Re: UK General Election (in Scotland)

Postby KP Presents » Mon May 18, 2015 4:47 am

Skybird - it's a false assumption that hunting is an English only matter. Growing up in Linlithgow, I remember the local hunt gathering twice a year - once over the Marches holiday, and once in the autumn. They also used to ride in the fields near where I lived.

As far as I am aware, the Scottish Assembly does not have jurisdiction over this one.
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Re: UK General Election (in Scotland)

Postby skybird137 » Mon May 18, 2015 5:13 am

The devolved Scottish Parliament passed its own law banning hunting with hounds in 2002, two years before the ban in England and Wales. So, if the Conservatives repeal the ban, it would lead to a situation where it is allowed in England and Wales, but banned in Scotland.

Re: UK General Election (in Scotland)

Postby KP Presents » Mon May 18, 2015 5:20 am

skybird137 wrote:The devolved Scottish Parliament passed its own law banning hunting with hounds in 2002, two years before the ban in England and Wales. So, if the Conservatives repeal the ban, it would lead to a situation where it is allowed in England and Wales, but banned in Scotland.


Ah - I sit corrected. On the other hand, it's going to make hunting around the borders fun...
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Re: UK General Election (in Scotland)

Postby mcsproot » Fri May 22, 2015 2:42 am

I would hope the SNP become more engaged with English matters. They are the official third party, which brings several responsibilities.

Not only that, but the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats all begged Scotland to stay, so now they can accept that 56 SNP MPs is the consequence of that.
23 year old guy from the UK.

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