scottish parliament elections

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 06 May 2007, 22:43

Lib Dems rule out coalition with SNP :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6631053.stm

... SNP minority government ...

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 06 May 2007, 22:49

...or another election...

Jamesie · Post by **Jamesie** » 06 May 2007, 22:57

How can the Limp Dems call themselves democrats when they refuse to allow the electorate to make a democratic decision in a proposed referendum?

Are they scared of the electorates' opinions and views? If so they are unfit to play any part in the parliamentary process and have shunned democracy.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 06 May 2007, 23:14

seanie - is that what the rules say? Imagine having to re-run the election - what if you get another or similar result?

Jamesie - I know what you mean. Surely the Lib-Dems can't have any problem with there being a referendum on whether there should be a referendum on independence?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 07 May 2007, 09:34

Dadaist wrote:seanie - is that what the rules say? Imagine having to re-run the election

According to the BBC

But the clock is ticking - under the Scotland Act, a new first minister has to be appointed within 28 days of the election, making the deadline 30 May.

If not, a fresh election will have to be held.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 07 May 2007, 09:43

Crikey. I hadn't read that "crunching the numbers for power" one, Marya - I didn't know that the presiding officer had to be elected and that this meant they gave up their vote.

Imagine if the chamber refused to vote in Eck as first minister!

It would be nice to have Dial Margo as presiding officer though.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 07 May 2007, 10:36

Dadaist wrote:Crikey. I hadn't read that "crunching the numbers for power" one, Marya - I didn't know that the presiding officer had to be elected and that this meant they gave up their vote.

Was a surprise to me too Dada.

Imagine if the chamber refused to vote in Eck as first minister!

Yes, just imagine

Especially after the SNP registering 'Alex Salmond as First Minister'

as part of the election strategy. I might have been a tad premature in my post declaring we had a puddock as First Minister.

kipling · Post by **kipling** » 07 May 2007, 16:22

Marya wrote:I might have been a tad premature in my post declaring we had a puddock as First Minister.

Yes, very good.

I remember The Puddock from school, and I see what you're saying. I hope you’re wrong, though. And there’s no obvious candidate for the heron, as far as I can see.

I’d also suggest another poem - The Dying Chauffeur - dedicated to wee Jack and the ministerial Mondeo that he’ll be returning to the car pool in due course.

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 07 May 2007, 18:05

Dadaist wrote:Lib Dems rule out coalition with SNP :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6631053.stm

... SNP minority government ...

Who blinks first.......

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 07 May 2007, 19:38

Hopefully it can all be decided within 28 days, if not another election will happen on 2nd August

Im sure it will all be ok in the end. I'm hoping.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 07 May 2007, 20:10

An alien spaceship lands on Pilrig Park and out step a couple of green aliens. They walk up to a woman who is walking her dog :

"EARTH PERSON, WE COME IN GOODWILL. NOW TAKE US TO THE LEADER OF THIS CITY" says the first alien

"There isn't one" says the lady

"VERY WELL. TAKE US TO THE LEADER OF THIS COUNTRY" says the other alien

"There isn't one" says the lady

The aliens confer with one another and draw their laser pistols.

"But you said you came in goodwill!" says the lady

"DON'T WORRY, WE DO - AND ARE JUST GOING TO EXTERMINATE THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS OF THIS PLANET"

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 09 May 2007, 06:37

Rejected ballots "7% of the vote" :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6637387.stm

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 09 May 2007, 13:24

And I see Edinburgh East and Musselburgh topped the league!

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 09 May 2007, 13:49

bearcub wrote:And I see Edinburgh East and Musselburgh topped the league!

Correct. We had the most in Scotland at 2,521.

7.7% of the total votes cast I think (if "turnout" == 29,967 counted votes + 2521 spoiled ones)

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 11 May 2007, 22:46

So

we're nearly up and running.

What's the local SNP stance on:

Ship to Ship oil transfers

Portobello High School

emdy have a clear source of info?

ta

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 12 May 2007, 08:11

I think you know as much as us. I think if any local SNP had said anything, not only would it have been reported on here in the right thread, it would have been heavily discussed.

Maybe you could write to or email either of our SNP reps and ask them to state their positions on these things?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 12 May 2007, 08:20

Just had a look at the SNP webite and it would appear the SNP aren't pro ship to ship.
http://www.snp.org/press-releases/2005/ ... hterm=ship

ali · Post by **ali** » 12 May 2007, 10:21

mr magnolia wrote:So

we're nearly up and running.

What's the local SNP stance on:

Ship to Ship oil transfers

Portobello High School

emdy have a clear source of info?

ta

Dadaist wrote:I think you know as much as us. I think if any local SNP had said anything, not only would it have been reported on here in the right thread, it would have been heavily discussed.

Maybe you could write to or email either of our SNP reps and ask them to state their positions on these things?

So you two really looked long and hard in to all the parties policies before casting your votes in the election then?

If these matters were of such concern to you then I would've thought you would've found out what each party was saying about them before the election, surely?

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 12 May 2007, 12:19

ali wrote:
mr magnolia wrote:So

we're nearly up and running.

What's the local SNP stance on:

Ship to Ship oil transfers

Portobello High School

emdy have a clear source of info?

ta

Dadaist wrote:I think you know as much as us. I think if any local SNP had said anything, not only would it have been reported on here in the right thread, it would have been heavily discussed.

Maybe you could write to or email either of our SNP reps and ask them to state their positions on these things?
So you two really looked long and hard in to all the parties policies before casting your votes in the election then?

If these matters were of such concern to you then I would've thought you would've found out what each party was saying about them before the election, surely?

I didn't look long or hard into anything other than my heart.

ali · Post by **ali** » 12 May 2007, 12:42

Dadaist wrote:
ali wrote:
mr magnolia wrote:So

we're nearly up and running.

What's the local SNP stance on:

Ship to Ship oil transfers

Portobello High School

emdy have a clear source of info?

ta

Dadaist wrote:I think you know as much as us. I think if any local SNP had said anything, not only would it have been reported on here in the right thread, it would have been heavily discussed.

Maybe you could write to or email either of our SNP reps and ask them to state their positions on these things?
So you two really looked long and hard in to all the parties policies before casting your votes in the election then?

If these matters were of such concern to you then I would've thought you would've found out what each party was saying about them before the election, surely?
I didn't look long or hard into anything other than my heart.

Aaah Bless!! That's so sweet!!!!

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 12 May 2007, 15:50

Rumours are that Gordon Brown could be offering one of the LibDems a place in his first Cabinet.

Now, the LibDems must have had something big to offer to get anything like this in exchange.

Interesting then that Gordon Brown doesn't want to have to deal with a SNP-led coalition majority at Holyrood, one in which the LibDems could've played a part....

Of course could be that 2+2 doesn't equal 5, and all this could be gossip-and-tittle-tattle, in which case it's in the right place.

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 12 May 2007, 19:43

ali wrote:
If these matters were of such concern to you then I would've thought you would've found out what each party was saying about them before the election, surely?

Go on then. Tell me what they said. Tell me what I missed in my unsuccessful finding out activities. That's my question.

ali · Post by **ali** » 12 May 2007, 21:13

mr magnolia wrote:
ali wrote:
If these matters were of such concern to you then I would've thought you would've found out what each party was saying about them before the election, surely?
Go on then. Tell me what they said. Tell me what I missed in my unsuccessful finding out activities. That's my question.

I'm sure all the relevant info's out there. Poppy's already found one link for you. Try google.

I just thought that you must've considered who you would vote for before the election and surely that would entail weighing up each party's manifestos and relative prospects. I mean it was all over the papers for six weeks.
Or did you just vote the way you always have previously?
Or didn't you vote at all?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 12 May 2007, 21:32

ali wrote:I'm sure all the relevant info's out there. Poppy's already found one link for you. Try google.

Hoi, leave me out of it!!

Nothing in the SNP website re Portobello. Nor in the leaflets that I retained re SNP. Perhaps Mr M is too busy with the multiude of Magnoliettes to Google much?! He asked a couple of questions - don't you think it would be nicer to answer them (or you just blustering as you don't actually know the answers!!).

It was difficult to tell what some of the candiates were actually for/against to be honest (except those of us graced with Archie Burns's email!!) as they were full of grandiloquent but, in the end, uninformative statements.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 12 May 2007, 21:44

As far as the council elections go, I have never met Mike Bridgman and I have no idea what his views are on anything. If he came anywhere near Portobello in the run-up to the election then I missed it. Does anyone who voted SNP know anything at all about the councillor they elected or were they just voting for a party?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 12 May 2007, 21:47

Bob Jefferson wrote:Does anyone who voted SNP know anything at all about the councillor they elected or were they just voting for a party?

I thought you'd stated that who one voted for is private!!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 12 May 2007, 21:52

It is, but you can tell me. Who did you vote for Poppy?

ali · Post by **ali** » 12 May 2007, 21:55

Bob Jefferson wrote:As far as the council elections go, I have never met Mike Bridgman and I have no idea what his views are on anything. If he came anywhere near Portobello in the run-up to the election then I missed it. Does anyone who voted SNP know anything at all about the councillor they elected or were they just voting for a party?

I was just voting for a party........

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 12 May 2007, 21:57

...with an atmosphere?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 12 May 2007, 22:04

Bob Jefferson wrote:It is, but you can tell me. Who did you vote for Poppy?

Can't remember. Just closed my eyes and ticked/numbered the ones my stub of a pencil landed on.

Or was I one the many who didn't vote? Which is, to my mind, just as important as how many of those who did vote made a pig's ear of the papers!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 12 May 2007, 22:10

It's certainly sobering to remember that Kenny McCaskill's majority was half the number of spoiled votes in East Edinburgh. There is no doubt in my mind that Susan Deacon would have held the seat.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 12 May 2007, 22:16

I think you're right there, Bob. And then it might have ended up 47 - 46 the other way. I wonder what the SNP approach to spoiled papers would have been then!

Post by **wangi** » 12 May 2007, 22:53

Bob Jefferson wrote:It's certainly sobering to remember that Kenny McCaskill's majority was half the number of spoiled votes in East Edinburgh.

Is the implication you're trying to make that Labour voters are idiots and cannot fill out a form?

Do you not think it's safe to assume a fairly equal spread of the spoilt papers throughout the the parties?

Dadaist wrote:I wonder what the SNP approach to spoiled papers would have been then!

Probably the same, is in they're wanting an independent investigation.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 12 May 2007, 23:06

Bob Jefferson wrote:As far as the council elections go, I have never met Mike Bridgman and I have no idea what his views are on anything. If he came anywhere near Portobello in the run-up to the election then I missed it.

Erm...Mike Bridgman was at the CC hustings in Portobello town Hall Bob.

ali · Post by **ali** » 12 May 2007, 23:09

Dadaist wrote:I think you're right there, Bob. And then it might have ended up 47 - 46 the other way. I wonder what the SNP approach to spoiled papers would have been then!

We know exactly what the SNP's approach is - Alex Salmond stated on the day after the election that if he became First Minister then he would set up an independent inquiry.

Douglas Alexander asked the Electoral Commission who were responsible for the conduct of the election to conduct an investigation which will mean they will be investigating some of their own actions and decisions.

They have since announced however that there will be some independent element to that investigation although I don't think they have yet said what that independent element will be.