Conservatives in opposition in Scotland

[foxy lady]

a slightly to the left version of that sort one nation, centrist conservatism was what was at the ideological core of blair and his chums new labour revival until it all went to pot.

 

cameron creates the impression that that is where he would like to be but it doesn't seem to work since his more right wing mp's would never stand for it and he's probably too posh to believe it anyway.

 

in scotland, at least, labour are in something of a hole, the snp has been legitamised as a party centre left people can vote for. the scottish conservatives have become something the centre right can vote for. the other centrist parties are getting squashed and the extreme left/right will pick up the non-centrist votes as they always did do.

 

scottish labour seems to be very much in the position the lib dems were in in england before 2010. as long as they dont go too far to the left then they will become the second choice of everyone.

 

their way out is to hope one of the other two parties implodes, which seems unlikely or find a compelling and consistent alternative policy which is both centrist and different to the other two's.

 

But the story that most folk seem to have missed is that the opinion polls got it wrong again. Just like in the general election.

The opinion polls in Scotland had labour losing badly to the SNP but maintaining second spot. It was once again the exit polls that pointed out the error but this time no one was offering to eat their hat if the exit polls were right.

It does seem that opinion polls still consistently under report tory support, and is something to note.

[andyofborg]

But the story that most folk seem to have missed is that the opinion polls got it wrong again..

 

that's hardly a story

[foxy lady]

that's hardly a story

 

I wouldn't say that. It may well be that a victory for Labour in London and polls that don't reflect the disaterous position labour are in could well keep Corbyn as labour leader until the next election, when it will be obvious to all that Corbyn is unelectable and labour needs to win big in Scotland to be in with a chance.

 

Who knows why the polls say what they do or why Zac Goldsmith put up such a pathetic campaign.

 

He who pays the piper.

[GLASGOWOODS]

It shouldn't come as a surprise really. Until the 60s the Tories were very popular in Scotland. The brand of Conservatism in Scotland is recently recognisably different from that at Westminster, with the Tories up there demanding spending increases on all kinds of things. Their manifesto looks mildly left wing and is neatly put together to appeal to the more left wing Scottish electorate. They've done a very slick job and deserve to be in opposition in Scotland.

 

The SNP has lost voters this time round to the tories because the tories are against another in-out referendum. Believe it or not, a hell of a lot of SNP supporters don't want out the union.

 

---------- Post added 07-05-2016 at 18:39 ----------

 

Good points there. Free prescriptions for all have also come at a cost to other parts of the health service in Scotland (and Wales). The fall in the price of oil must be a huge blow to the SNP.

 

True.

 

I find it ridiculous that i don't pay for prescriptions (when i need it).

Edited May 7, 2016 by GLASGOWOODS

[foxy lady]

The SNP has lost voters this time round to the tories because the tories are against another in-out referendum. Believe it or not, a hell of a lot of SNP supporters don't want out the union.

 

There was indeed something like a 2 1/2% swing from the SNP to the Tories, but that hadly explains the 7% swing from Labour to the Tories. Over all the Tories increase their share by more than 10 points. I doubt that is the type of message Labour are wanting to hear when the claim was a left wing nutcase like Corbyn would appeal to the Scottish voters and win their old seats back from the SNP.

[Guest]

Not in Scotland, its almost enough to make you vote for independence from the South.

 

The Scottish people, by voting SNP at the expense of Labour, are ensuring Tory Westminster governments. With Scotland out of the equation, Labour need to win more seats in England than Tony Blair achieved if they are to get into government, which is not going to happen.

[Berberis]

The Scottish people, by voting SNP at the expense of Labour, are ensuring Tory Westminster governments. With Scotland out of the equation, Labour need to win more seats in England than Tony Blair achieved if they are to get into government, which is not going to happen.

 

Maybe that is the idea. Maybe the Scottish dislike Labour more than the Torys now.

[truman]

Not in Scotland, its almost enough to make you vote for independence from the South.

 

Do you reckon the North could finance itself?

[GLASGOWOODS]

Do you reckon the North could finance itself?

 

I would say definately not, unless taxes are raised, and all SNP vanity schemes are scrapped.