Green Party representation in Holyrood relies heavily on list votes from, predominantly, SNP supporters who won't look kindly on them for, as they see it, sabotaging the BHA. This means there's little likelihood of a pro-independence majority at the next election.
@sfscotland@iaruffell@alanferrier
Vast majority of constituencies don't have Greens standing in them. I would, and have, give both my votes to the Greens, but give my constituency vote to SNP because Indy.
@simon_brooke@sfscotland@iaruffell@alanferrier
Long ago, I was a member of the SNP, but the NATO policy introduced by Angus Robertson made me leave. I don't like hawks. I still voted for them, but if they trash their green/progressive credentials, I will find it difficult!
@Alternatecelt@iaruffell@alanferrier yes, that's what I was wondering. I don't think my constituency has ever had a Green stand. And I can understand that would be when they'd "lend a vote". I was really just wondering what the alternatives were in terms of policy etc if the SNP are out of the equation. I know many people, like yourself, indy is the dividing line. But wondered if there were any other issues that were also dividing lines?
@simon_brooke@Alternatecelt@sfscotland@iaruffell@alanferrier I should hope the changes in the climate would ultimately benefit Scotland, but I doubt they will, given that our nasty coal, oil and gas habit (and I take the blame as an Angloid living in BC, Canada, where it’s normal to burn gas to stay warm, but weirdly, to open the taps on a hydroelectric plant to cook) is putting the kibosh on the warm winds and currents from southern Africa via the American gulf that bring the whole of Hiberno-Britannia its comparatively warm for latitude weather.
@melanie@Alternatecelt@alanferrier@iaruffell@sfscotland ahhh.... the changes to the climate won't benefit anyone, anywhere. But Scotland is in a particularly awful position. The failure of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation will make Scotland much colder as the rest of the world gets hotter, and the billions of refugees from the tropics start to flood north.
But obviously political action is required, both nationally and internationally. That is why there is a European Green Party, of which we are a part, not to mention Green parties worldwide.
@Alternatecelt@sfscotland@alanferrier historically, the Greens have concentrated on the regional list, mainly for financial reasons, but that is changing.
In terms of policy, the SNP embraces some very divergent views, not only on the economy and environment, but also on social issues. Although the SNP has lately tended to present as progressive, many within it are unhappy about that and pressured Yousaf to distance himself from the Greens on both counts.
@Alternatecelt@sfscotland@alanferrier also, with such things as the Freeport and Council Tax freezes, it was trying to have things both ways, which was an ongoing source of tension within the Greens.
@iaruffell@Alternatecelt@sfscotland@alanferrier The thing is that, although the SNP does indeed have some very right wing senior politicians, the overwhelming majority of its electoral support is on the left. So if it abandons its leftish facade, even if that is now only skin deep, its electoral support could collapse.
@simon_brooke@iaruffell@sfscotland@alanferrier
Definitely.
There was a time when you could call them 'tartan tories' but that changed and with that came the electoral success they had waited more than 50 years for. Then, of course, there was a swelling in membership that was very leftist, so they had to go with that flow.
Pretty daft to turn the clock back on that.
Add comment