Sturgeon resigns

[Xipe Totec]

Glad to see it doesn't keep you awake at night.

To be quite honest, it doesn't. The reality is that the dream of independence is dead, there doesn't remain a scintilla of a flying fück's worth of the remotest point in caring much about a political party which only exists to pursue that now non-existent goal.

Over a decade's worth of (admittedly hands-tied) progressive democracy had made Scotland feel like a positive and hopeful place to be while the rest of the UK spirals into early-onset fascism, however it now looks like that's coming to an end - the front-runner for the party leader role, and almost certainly First Minister too, is politically right-of-centre and also a cynical, disingenuous little religious bigot who is only too happy to spit her venomous, inculcated disdain for minorities and women's reproductive rights.

If that's how it ends up going, I will find it it spectacularly easy to walk away from.

 

[BoldonLad]

I feel sorry for Nicola.

I liked her style, regardless of if I agreed with her aims.

Another woman, let down by a man.

 

[Xipe Totec]

...

Quiet on here isn’t it?

I wonder why

SNP leadership: SNP in 'tremendous mess', interim chief says https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-65001543

Tory bias of course.

You were saying?


View: https://twitter.com/poloandsons/status/1637753405341851648?s=20

 

[AndyRM]

I feel sorry for Nicola.

I liked her style, regardless of if I agreed with her aims.

Another woman, let down by a man.

They weren't really 'her' aims.

The SNP has always existed as a pro-independence party.

She was the most effective leader I can think of in modern UK politics, and is a sore loss.

I think Yousaf would be a good replacement, but I don't know how long he'd last before getting eviscerated by the press.

 

[cookiemonster]

If that's how it ends up going, I will find it it spectacularly easy to walk away from.

As I have just done.

My SNP membership expires next week, it won't be renewed, for the time being at least. I've been an SNP member since my late teens.

 

[Xipe Totec]

Humza Yousaf has been elected as SNP leader.


View: https://twitter.com/BallotBoxScot/status/1640341547618115588?s=20


By a fag-paper taking 2nd preference votes into account, but a relief that the SNP membership didn't choose to trash the party's progressive credentials on the basis of populist bigotry.

 

[spen666]

I'm intrigued that only 50,000 of the 72,000 party members voted

Yes, a far higher proportion than the electorate who vote in General Elections.

This is not a dig at SNP, (because I suspect it happens in other parties in a similar way) but why go to trouble and cost of joining a political party, then spurn your chance to have a say in its running?

You have made a positive decision to join a party, but if you are not going to take part in shaping its future, why join?

 

[newfhouse]

You have made a positive decision to join a party, but if you are not going to take part in shaping its future, why join?

I'm a member of a political party. I don't always have a view on candidate selection so don't vote at every opportunity. I remain a member because I believe in the overall aims of the party and I imagine the same will be true of many SNP members.

 

[spen666]

I'm a member of a political party. I don't always have a view on candidate selection so don't vote at every opportunity. I remain a member because I believe in the overall aims of the party and I imagine the same will be true of many SNP members.

Thanks for the answer


1. Why join a party if you are then not going to influence its future. What is point of paying the cost to join? There is obviously the option to support a party without joining it? What is the benefit to you of joining the party as opposed to just being a supporter?

2. 30% not voting seems a large number of people who join the party but do not take part in its leadership campaign.

 

[Xipe Totec]

I'm intrigued that only 50,000 of the 72,000 party members voted

Yes, a far higher proportion than the electorate who vote in General Elections.

This is not a dig at SNP, (because I suspect it happens in other parties in a similar way) but why go to trouble and cost of joining a political party, then spurn your chance to have a say in its running?

You have made a positive decision to join a party, but if you are not going to take part in shaping its future, why join?

It's a very good point and I strongly suspect it's a consequence of the weakness of all of the candidates. None of them are inspiring figures, or have the stature and substance of a Sturgeon or even a Salmond. The best of the SNP's talent is either in Westminster and therefore ineligible, or wanted nothing to do with the role.

I might have mentioned upthread that for a party which exists to deliver independence, and which has pledged to hold an independence referendum during this term, the fact that Westminster has made sure Scotland can never achieve independence through legitimate means makes the role of SNP leader something of a poisoned chalice.

 

[multitool]

The turnout for the SNP leadership vote was higher than for the Labour leadership election.

 

[spen666]

The turnout for the SNP leadership vote was higher than for the Labour leadership election.

like I say it was not a party political point, more just why bother paying to join a party then not voting to influence its future.

I bet turnout in Tory leadership vote was equally small as a % of membership

 

[multitool]

like I say it was not a party political point, more just why bother paying to join a party then not voting to influence its future.

I bet turnout in Tory leadership vote was equally small as a % of membership

Curiously for Liz Truss it wasn't. Nearly 90%.

 

[newfhouse]

Thanks for the answer


1. Why join a party if you are then not going to influence its future. What is point of paying the cost to join? There is obviously the option to support a party without joining it? What is the benefit to you of joining the party as opposed to just being a supporter?

The benefit to me is hard to quantify. I‘m not expecting any immediate gain but I’m happy to make a regular financial contribution to support their campaigning and membership is an easy way to achieve that. I am planning to retire next year so things may change then.

 

[Xipe Totec]

The benefit to me is hard to quantify. I‘m not expecting any immediate gain but I’m happy to make a regular financial contribution to support their campaigning and membership is an easy way to achieve that.

Same here - I'm an SNP member, I voted for Yousaf as the least-worst option, because I didn't want to see the party piss its progressive credentials & legacy up the wall to appease a minority of noisy bigots who'd love to see the party dragged to the right - which appeared to be central to the objectives of the other two. Had all three candidates shared similar views & been similarly limited in charisma & leadership potential, I could quite easily have lacked the motivation to vote for any of them.