Wednesday, May 02, 2007

24

This time tomorrow, 22:04, dear reader, the polls will have just closed in the Scottish Parliamentary and local elections for 2007.

We have less than 24 hours to save Scotland from Alex Salmond, from the SNP, from four years of uncertainly and chaos and from a lifetime of social and economic downturn.

It's as simple as that.

The choice is ours.

A vote for the SNP means an increase in living expenses, an end to the tram network in Edinburgh and Ian losing his job. A vote for Scottish Labour means more social and economic improvements for all, investment in transport and public services and Ian keeping his job.

Let's hope people think about the consequences of an SNP vote before marking their ballot papers tomorrow.

As things are so horribly scary, I've decided to withdraw support for Margo. Some projections estimate there may be only one seat in the balance. If Margo is re-elected, in a vote for First Minister, she's bound to go for Alex and not Jack. So, I'm sorry, Margo, I love you dearly, but cannot vote for you tomorrow.

I've decided to vote for Labour in both the constituency and region. The Liberal Democrat, Stuart Bridges, will get my #1 vote for the council. I'll probably give my #2 vote to Eric Barry, Scottish Labour - and stop there. I cannot vote for a party with nationalist leanings, simply because they will support the SNP and refuse to vote Tory on moral grounds, so all the others are out.

Scotland is electing its coucillors by the STV system for the first time this year. In my case, three former wards have been amalgamated, Firrhill, Fairmilehead and Colinton. Three councillors will be elected now, instead of the usual one. My vote will only elect one councillor, but I will take advantage of the STV system and list my two favourites in numerical order. That way, if my preferred candidate, Stuart Bridges, is not elected, my vote will go to Eric Barry. Of course, he might not get elected either, though this is unlikely. I should give my vote #3 to one of the Tories standing, if only to keep the SNP out, but I just can't bring myself to do it. The SNP and Scottish Conservatives are as nasty as each other.

Super Thursday kicks off an interesting couple of days, dear reader. I hope, though, interesting only and not horrendous.

I could be a foreigner in my own country. How morbid does that sound?

3 comments:

A Lewis said...

I feel for you...and I wish you and your country well tomorrow. Let's hope that a high number of fair-minded and balanced people will vote in your favor. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Moncrief Speaks said...

There will always be a United Kingdom.


Won't there??

Moncrief Speaks said...

I wish we had a Texas National Party here that had a good chance of getting its state to secede from the US.