How many political parties have you voted for.

[jamamafegan]

I seem to remember voting for Labour once. I think it was in the 2011 local elections. Have voted SNP ever since.

[Kejan]

I gave my first ever vote to the Lib Dems in Angus (Clive Sneddon) and he's still going and putting himself up for humiliation every Dundee East or Angus election. I feel ashamed I gave them my first vote in 2001.

2003 - SNP/SSP

2005 - SNP and what a choice! SNP won Dundee East from Labour with about 303 votes!

2007 - SNP/SNP

2009 - SNP

2011 - SNP/SNP

2012 - SNP

2014 - SNP

2015 - SNP

2016 - SNP/SNP

2017 - DIDN'T VOTE --OOPS.

SNP pretty much. I was pretty gutted when the SSP went to the dogs, as I really wanted to vote/be a member even ; but what a shame, they had about 6/7 MSPs in 2003, I think they have 1 councilor in Scotland today! I have been tempted to vote Green but always shite it on the day e.g this one as well, I went SNP.

I think SNP short of a majority in 2021 but topped up by a SNP-Green coalition would be fantastic, although I promised a Green pal I would go Green at 2016 but ended up SNP/SNP ; maybe in 2021 or I'll shite it again and go SNP/SNP.

[pandarilla]

I gave my first ever vote to the Lib Dems in Angus (Clive Sneddon) and he's still going and putting himself up for humiliation every Dundee East or Angus election. I feel ashamed I gave them my first vote in 2001.
2003 - SNP/SSP
2005 - SNP and what a choice! SNP won Dundee East from Labour with about 303 votes!
2007 - SNP/SNP
2009 - SNP
2011 - SNP/SNP
2012 - SNP
2014 - SNP
2015 - SNP
2016 - SNP/SNP
2017 - DIDN'T VOTE --OOPS.
SNP pretty much. I was pretty gutted when the SSP went to the dogs, as I really wanted to vote/be a member even ; but what a shame, they had about 6/7 MSPs in 2003, I think they have 1 councilor in Scotland today! I have been tempted to vote Green but always shite it on the day e.g this one as well, I went SNP.
I think SNP short of a majority in 2021 but topped up by a SNP-Green coalition would be fantastic, although I promised a Green pal I would go Green at 2016 but ended up SNP/SNP ; maybe in 2021 or I'll shite it again and go SNP/SNP.

Why are you shiting it when you voted socialist so often?

They're basically a grown-up version of the SSP.

[Donathan]

1 hour ago, John Lambies Doos said:

1 hour ago, Donathan said:

Labour (2014 Europeans)
SNP (2015 GE)
Tories (2016 Scottish Parliament, 2017 GE)
Greens (2019 Europeans)

Strange combination

 

Didn't know much about politics in 2014 but voted Labour based on family habits, then voted no in the referendum (I was 18) but pivoted to the SNP in 2015 because I thought they'd do the best job at standing up for Scotland within the union. I was concerned however that they'd had free reign to do what they like at Holyrood and wanted more effective opposition hence voting for Ruth Davidson when she stood in Edinburgh Central the following year.

 

I then moved to Manchester in late 2016 and stupidly bought into Theresa May's "strong and stable" crap in the general election. Voted green this year based on a coin toss between them and the Lib Dems being the two unashamedly remain supporting parties. I'd probably vote Labour in a GE but would be full SNP now if I was back in Scotland and would strongly encourage my family and friends back home to vote yes if a 2nd independence vote was called.

[Savage Henry]

Strange combination

It is, but I’m far more sceptical of people who vote for one party all their lives. Especially a party like the SNP, which at one point was right of centre, then moved to the left, and now sits centre left.

People make political journeys, but it’s pretty difficult to explain only voting SNP over a thirty year time frame on any kind of ideological level.

[John Lambies Doos]

It is, but I’m far more sceptical of people who vote for one party all their lives. Especially a party like the SNP, which at one point was right of centre, then moved to the left, and now sits centre left.

People make political journeys, but it’s pretty difficult to explain only voting SNP over a thirty year time frame on any kind of ideological level.

I agree, hence I liked the post

[Jacksgranda]

I first voted in the early 70s, can't remember for whom, probably Labour.

Since moving over here I've voted for SDLP, the UUP (under their various names), DUP, Alliance, Independents, TUV, PUP (I think they've stood in my area, if not, scrub them), the Greens, basically anybody but SF.

The joys of proportional representation!

 

[Carl Cort's Hamstring]

I've voted Lib Dem, Green, SNP and Labour in various elections.

I did almost vote for the Tory candidate (Zac Goldsmith) at the last London Mayoral election, until he begin his horrible, dog-whistle racist campaign. Ended up voting for Labour in protest, despite not actually liking Sadiq Khan.

[renton]

18 hours ago, Im_Rodger said:

I vote Conservative because I see them as the 'least worst' party that aligns with my political views. 

I would vote for them again if nothing changes in Scottish politics.

My ideal party would be:-

• Centre Right.
  • Lacks context, a fairly meaningless distinction so let's look at your specific policy desires
• Pro Science. E.g. happy to overfund medical research. 
  • The Tories have always shied away from 'picking winners' in industry, and more widely have been disinterested in protecting UK companies if 'shareholder value' is at stake. This doesn't make them anti science per say, but neither are they likely to throw large sums of public money at issues they think the market will sort out itself
• Against religion in public sector. E.g. No public funded religious schools. No religious clothing in work.
  • The Tories have gone out of their way in England to deregulate schooling so that anybody, weird cults and all, can open one. Not sure how enforcing no religious clothing tallies with your libertarian attitudes to drugs below: Is it simply a case of anybody can do what they like so long as I agree with it?
• Having a focus on lowering taxes.
  • Yeah, that's the Tories all right. Albeit Tory tax cuts are never done with the idea of making normal people's lives better. They believe in trickle down economics, ergo those at the top should be given every advantage. 
• Decreasing alcohol/gambling/drug regulations. (Should be the choices of the person what you do and not the government.)
  • The Tories have long since established themselves as the party of law and order, their members are largely drawn from the hang 'em caucus of old people. They are never going to deregulate those things, which is possibly a good thing because...
• Maintaining/Improving the NHS.
  • ...You want to make the NHS better at the same time as cutting taxes, and therefore inevitably squeezing budgets, while at the same time deregulating recreational drug use which, with the best will in the world will inevitably create more demand on the NHS.
• Having realistic views on climate change and evaluating what our part to play is in relation to other countries around the world. 
  • Whether you believe the science or not, one thing the Tories are is dogmatic about the market. Therefore, even in the face of proof to humanity's impact on climate change, the Tories still wouldn't lift a finger to put public funds into helping.
• Against the Monarchy. E.g. Replace with an elected President/Royal Protector. 
  • Not even sure it's worth making the point here. The Tories believe in the monarchy, from their bent knees to the top of their overly tugged forelocks.
• Reforming the House of Lords into a PR elected parliament on the same level footing with House of Commons. 
  • Again, No. 
• Making the UK more Federal. E.g. having a devolved administration for the 9 regions of England, 1 for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
  • Like the point above, No. The Tories do not believe in radical reformation of the Union or it's political institutions and have campaigned against every reform put forward.
• Focus on strengthening Commonwealth ties after EU exit.
  • No idea why people bring this up beyond romanticism for a perceived bygone era. 

A completely unrealistic view on the perfect political party. 

 

I think the Tories tick one of those boxes. I honestly have no idea how you could hold those views and then vote Tory, it's not an unrealistic view of the perfect political party, but it is an unrealistic view of the fucking Tories.

[Highlandmagyar 2nd Tier]

Labour in every election (local, national and European ) since I could vote(1978).

[Gaz FFC]

20 hours ago, JamieThomas said:

SNP, SSP, Green depending on the occasion.

Quite liked Labour before I was old enough to vote, which just goes to show what a cretin I was as a teenager.

Yeah I voted Labour in the late 90s. What a fanny I was back then

[Benjamin_Nevis]

Labour in 1997 ([emoji38]) SNP since

[renton]

Turned 18 in 2002.

Westminster: Labour 2005, 2010; SNP 2015, 17

Holyrood (Cont./List): Labour/LD 2003; didn't vote 2007; SNP/Green 2011, 2016;

EU elections: didn't vote 2004, 2009;  SNP 2014, 2019

[Mr Heliums]

1 hour ago, Savage Henry said:

People make political journeys, but it’s pretty difficult to explain only voting SNP over a thirty year time frame on any kind of ideological level.

I'll have a go at explaining it on two levels.

First, in my lifetime, the SNP has always appeared to me a moderate, left-of-centre party, from its sustained, 50-year support of unilateral nuclear disarmament to its opposition to Poll Tax in the eighties. As far as consistency goes, it compares well to the Labour Party, which has in the last ten years vacillated on fundamental issues like Brexit, nuclear weapons, PFI, free school meals, and free university tuition.

Second, and separately, you have to remember that 30 years ago the SNP had no obvious chance of power and was viewed by some as a single issue party. If your overriding ideological belief was in the right of Scotland to govern itself (and safe in the knowledge that voters here never change the result of a Westminster election) a vote for the SNP was literally the only way to voice your constitutional view. 

[HTG]

UK

1. Conservative - Labour looked a shambles under Michael Foot and I was only wee.

2. Labour 1987 - 2005

3. SNP 2010 - independence 

Scottish Parliament

1. Labour 1999 and 2003

2. SNP 2007 - independence 

[Jambomo]

Can't remember exactly when but I went from:

Labour
Lib Dem
Green
SNP (since IndyRef)

 

[pandarilla]

UK
1. Conservative - Labour looked a shambles under Michael Foot and I was only wee.
2. Labour 1987 - 2005
3. SNP 2010 - independence 
Scottish Parliament
1. Labour 1999 and 2003
2. SNP 2007 - independence 

You voted for Thatcher!

I think you should be made to wear that as a t shirt every time out in public.

[sophia]

On 27/05/2019 at 15:33, Comrie said:

Liberal Democrat while Charles Kennedy was alive, as he helped my mother on two occasions and I spoke to him a couple of times and he was a sound bloke.

After he died, I've gone between the SNP and the Green Party.

Isn't helping constituents up there in the top one of a MSP of MP's priorities?

Sound or not, turns out Charlie was a fraud. Shame really.

Given what the Tories and Labour represented in the days when weeks were three, they would never get my vote.

Neither could I bring myself to support the charlatans of the liberal party.  Their all things to all locals schtick never fooled me.

It's always been obvious to me that my sympathies would have to be elsewhere and where better than a party that has been unstinting in their positivity. It's only beyond independence day that I might have cause to consider a transferrable vote.

[BFTD]

Thought about starting another thread for this, but there probably wouldn't be enough replies to make it worthwhile; have any P&Bers run, or seriously considered running, for political office? I know we've had Ad Lib, and I'm sure Granny Danger mentioned being a Labour councillor.

Guy I went to college with almost raised the £500 to stand as a candidate for the 'Paint Your Penis Green' Party. He just wanted to hear the Returning Officer read the name out on election night. Bless.

[pandarilla]

Isn't helping constituents up there in the top one of a MSP of MP's priorities?
Sound or not, turns out Charlie was a fraud. Shame really.
Given what the Tories and Labour represented in the days when weeks were three, they would never get my vote.
Neither could I bring myself to support the charlatans of the liberal party.  Their all things to all locals schtick never fooled me.
It's always been obvious to me that my sympathies would have to be elsewhere and where better than a party that has been unstinting in their positivity. It's only beyond independence day that I might have cause to consider a transferrable vote.

Why was he a fraud?