[Beso]

Thank the lordy...no more indy 2

[reece(:]

Rape clause Ruth did that

[Greg!]

35 out of 59 seats isn't bad!

[Gusto Brunt]

I cannot stand Alex Salmond. Such a big head. Glad he got the boot.

[Cherie]

Nicola like May didn't read the mood of the people, both promoting themselves over the people that put them in office

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Nicola like May didn't read the mood of the people, both promoting themselves over the people that put them in office

I don't think it's really self promotion for Wee Nic, the driving force behind the SNP was always independence, and she has just been running with that. The issue is that the SNP were a small party not so long ago and so operated on this key issue, and they haven't fully adapted to having a larger scale.

If they want to remain Scotlands largest party (which I do think is best for Scotland) then they need to change their focus and message from "whatever it takes to get independence" to "whatever gets the best deal for Scottish people".

I'm not concerned about the SNP being down to 35 seats in Westminster, the 2015 result was always going to be a one off rooted in one key issue. I am slightly concerned that so many swung to Conservative rather than others, but I'm not entirely surprised, because the Tories were absolutely hammering the Union propaganda in the run up to the election north if the border. I was getting spam in the post every day and there was a very heavy focus on "Only voting Conservative makes it clear that you don't want another referendum". That was their entire campaign up here. I do think many who agree with that message would have voted Labour, had they not (mistakenly, it now seems) believed that Labour was dead in the water and a "pointless vote".

[Beso]

Were you surprised at robertson losing his seat TS?

Why do you think he lost?

[user104658]

Originally Posted by parmnion

Were you surprised at robertson losing his seat TS?

Why do you think he lost?

I've not seen the figures for his seat but most seats that went blue seem to be a combination of two factors, both based on not wanting another referendum. The first was the Tories setting themselves up as the "No" vote ("Labour can't beat the SNP here!" was their mantra) and the second was the rest of the "sick of indy" vote swinging from SNP to Labour, diluting the SNP vote and handing the win to Conservatives.

But yeah overall, the entire reason for them losing seats is jumping the gun on Indy2. They've totally blown it there IMO. I personally think that ship sailed months ago anyway, but SNP are still the best for Scottish interests regardless. They damaged themselves by pushing the message that they're The Independence Party.

[jaxie]

I think overall that's a good thing for Scotland. Perhaps now the focus will be more on working for Scotland rather than Indy refs and clinging to the EU.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by jaxie

I think overall that's a good thing for Scotland. Perhaps now the focus will be more on working for Scotland rather than Indy refs and clinging to the EU.

I actually agree with that, I think it will be good for both Scotland and the SNP. I do believe in eventual independence but they massively jumped the gun going on about it so soon, prompted by Brexit. It should have been something that was considered in 5 to 10 years time, AFTER the effects of Brexit are known. As things stand, another referendum would simply yield the same result and is a pointless distraction.

Its just a shame that Scottish people seem to have believed so firmly that Labour "was dead" and taken Tory as the "unionist voice". I am 100% sure a chunk of those blue areas would be red if the people could have seen a glimpse of this overall outcome before the vote.

I think this is a one-off "anti-indy result" for Scotland to be honest; I think the SNP will change their rhetoric based on this, to being about getting the best for Scotland WITHIN the UK (which is where they should have put their focus in this campaign) and will still do well in the Scottish election. Next UK GE I would imagine will be yellow and red.

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I actually agree with that, I think it will be good for both Scotland and the SNP. I do believe in eventual independence but they massively jumped the gun going on about it so soon, prompted by Brexit. It should have been something that was considered in 5 to 10 years time, AFTER the effects of Brexit are known. As things stand, another referendum would simply yield the same result and is a pointless distraction.

Its just a shame that Scottish people seem to have believed so firmly that Labour "was dead" and taken Tory as the "unionist voice". I am 100% sure a chunk of those blue areas would be red if the people could have seen a glimpse of this overall outcome before the vote.

I think this is a one-off "anti-indy result" for Scotland to be honest; I think the SNP will change their rhetoric based on this, to being about getting the best for Scotland WITHIN the UK (which is where they should have put their focus in this campaign) and will still do well in the Scottish election. Next UK GE I would imagine will be yellow and red.

Yes, I reckon you have it spot on.
I think their losses are down to concentrating on another indyref, they will bounce back to the original 50 plus figure next election if they change their focus.

[jaxie]

It's interesting to think that if Scotland has gone Labour, we could have been looking at a very different outcome today.

[andybigbro]

I'm glad they lost 21 seats, especially salmonds!

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by andybigbro

I'm glad they lost 21 seats, especially salmonds!

Like UKIP they have lost loyalty, I'm just so surprised at who picked up the votes they lost.
Being so against brexit, and opting for a hard brexit party :/

[Kizzy]

I feel the most sorry for Angus Robertson, he was fantastic at QT, Scotland backed the wrong horse here, as I said on another thread the Scots didn't have exactly the same pressures we have, had the Scottish Labour party hammered this home then things may well have been different.

[Northern Monkey]

I can't believe Salmond and Robertson lost their seats.

Robertson was a big presence at PMQ's indeed.He always gave the PM a hard time.

[joeysteele]

I'm just really disappointed some Scots voters see the Cons as better than the SNP.
It's sickening in part to think Mrs May could have been in a worse position as to parliamentary seats,if some Scots voters hadn't come to her rescue.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

I'm just really disappointed some Scots voters see the Cons as better than the SNP.
It's sickening in part to think Mrs May could have been in a worse position as to parliamentary seats,if some Scots voters hadn't come to her rescue.

I'm not going to lie Joey, there's a strong anti-immigration element to the working class part of the Tory vote here. I would say the issue is mainly that they ran a very strong anti-Indy campaign, though, we were getting conservative anti-SNP propaganda through the post every single day. The campaign up here was fought on very different grounds to the campaign in England and, frankly, I think Scottish Labour let down their party as a whole. They seemed totally defeated before they even began, almost invisible in a lot of places, and didn't capitalise on the Unionist vote the way the Tories did.

[the truth]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

I'm just really disappointed some Scots voters see the Cons as better than the SNP.
It's sickening in part to think Mrs May could have been in a worse position as to parliamentary seats,if some Scots voters hadn't come to her rescue.

Thats democracy for you....the scots were wise to vote tory really, the brexiteers and pro unionists need someone to fight their corner. Jimmy cranky needs to grow up and forget demanding neverending referendums (Neverendums) and get on with running a country properly

[user104658]

Originally Posted by the truth

Thats democracy for you....the scots were wise to vote tory really, the brexiteers and pro unionists need someone to fight their corner. Jimmy cranky needs to grow up and forget demanding neverending referendums (Neverendums) and get on with running a country properly

I genuinely believe a chunk of those anti-indy now-tory areas would have gone to labour, though, if people had known how things were going to go UK wide. Unionists backed Tory because they were convinced that a Labour vote was a "wasted vote".

[the truth]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I genuinely believe a chunk of those anti-indy now-tory areas would have gone to labour, though, if people had known how things were going to go UK wide. Unionists backed Tory because they were convinced that a Labour vote was a "wasted vote".

the voters are more volatile and fickle than ever....With crazy acts of terror and brexit on a knife edge, another election in 6 months could see massively different results again...events my boy, events

[user104658]

Originally Posted by the truth

the voters are more volatile and fickle than ever....With crazy acts of terror and brexit on a knife edge, another election in 6 months could see massively different results again...events my boy, events

If Brexit and Terrorism didn't sway this election towards a Tory majority then they're not going to sway any future vote either... they literally couldn't be more current topics.

[Jack_]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

I'm just really disappointed some Scots voters see the Cons as better than the SNP.
It's sickening in part to think Mrs May could have been in a worse position as to parliamentary seats,if some Scots voters hadn't come to her rescue.

Two elections in a row it's Scotland that's ruined the result now

Mind you, I'll take this result quite happily given what was predicted. What's your opinion of how all this is gonna play out, Joey? Will a Con-DUP pact prove unstable on a vote by vote basis? An autumn election likely? Something else?

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Jack_

Two elections in a row it's Scotland that's ruined the result now

Mind you, I'll take this result quite happily given what was predicted. What's your opinion of how all this is gonna play out, Joey? Will a Con-DUP pact prove unstable on a vote by vote basis? An autumn election likely? Something else?

I find a Con--DUP arrangement unacceptable.
The DUP are extreme,intolerant,they are a barrier to gay rights and are a sectarian party.

That they will wield influence or have demands met possibly, is totally out of order for me.

It could affect relations with the other Parties in Northern Ireland in the power sharing assembly,if it is felt the DUP could be gaining concessions from a Con govt.for DUP support for said govt.

That is likely and should be looked on with deep suspicion by other Parties and the other UK Countries.
So more problems may come across the UK as to any informal or formal deal with the extreme DUP.
Already the Greens are expressing concerns at such a deal with the DUP.

This woman has created chaos by calling this election, by embracing then too,one side of the defined characteristics of a political party from Northern Ireland,is for me a desperate and possibly dangerous move.

As to brexit,she would actually do better bring in a negotiating team from all sides of political persuasion of parties elected to Westminster.
Make it national UK negotiations now,not just one or two parties.

As for her other policies, if she carries on austerity across the UK,needing support from the DUP, that going ahead would and should be abhorrent.

[Greg!]

Originally Posted by Jack_

Two elections in a row it's Scotland that's ruined the result now

Eh? How do you work that one out? Even if every seat in Scotland went to labour in 2015, the tories still would have had a majority.

I get what you are saying about this election though, but keep in mind less than a quarter of Scotland's MPs are tories, in England more than half are tories.