I’VE never seen a less logical case presented than the one put forward by Martin Hannan in The National on Wednesday. He claims that “the way ahead” at the Holyrood election is “both votes SNP”. He then gives a list of reasons, not all of them consistent, to justify this claim.
The assumption seems to be that maximising the number of votes for the SNP, irrespective of how these votes are used, is the objective.
I can’t see this as being an intelligent way ahead if the main objective is to get the maximum number of independence supporters into the Scottish Parliament in May.
READ MORE: Independence activists on why both votes SNP is the way ahead at the election
What is the “way ahead” that we are seeking? As a strong supporter of Scottish independence and – although not a member – a supporter of the SNP, my objectives for the May election are three in the following order: (a) to maximize the number of pro-independence members of the Scottish Parliament; (b) get an SNP Government, a majority government if possible, returned; (c) to significantly weaken the Unionist parties in the Scottish Parliament.
I am hopeful that I can get all three of these objectives in May. But in order to make sure that I do not waste one of my precious votes I will vote SNP with my constituency vote and I will use my regional vote to vote for the independence-supporting candidate who I judge has the best chance of gaining a seat in this region.
Now by doing that I am pretty sure my first vote will be effective and is likely to ensure that the SNP retain this constituency seat. My second vote is also likely to have some success in the region by helping one, or two or more independence-supporting candidates to get elected.
If this happens, and it will certainly happen if a percentage of wise SNP voter do the same, then it will not threaten the SNP, or prevent them from forming the government, even if they do not get an overall majority, but it will certainly reduce the number of Unionist candidates who are successful in getting a seat, because there will be fewer wasted votes from independence voters.
Hannan says this is undemocratic. Nonsense – elections are about individuals making individual choices about candidates. They are not about political parties. Hannan says the Unionists might use “tactical voting”. They may indeed – all the more reason for us to be wise about not throwing votes away. Hannan says we might provoke the Tories into taking steps against us to limit our political powers. Well, I don’t know where he has been, but the Tories are actively doing that right now. In any event, Hannan, you don’t stop bullies by appeasement. On the contrary, it makes them bolder.
Hannan is far too late to try to appease Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings as they are hell-bent on controlling us, and they will bend any rule or law to do it. We will only defeat these people if we use our full strength and our intelligence for our objectives.
Andy Anderson
Saltcoats
IT’S a nice thought: vote SNP for the constituency and vote for another independence party for the list and – hey presto! – we increase the number of pro-independence MSPs at Holyrood. Just one snag – it took the SNP almost 90 years to become the dominant party in our country, so how do we guarantee that enough voters will vote for these new parties?
For goodness sake, leave it the Greens. They at least have some history behind them and some of their aims are similar.
Stuart Farquharson
Thornliebank
REGARDING the article in Wednesday’s National on “both votes SNP”. My gut feeling is it should be both votes SNP, however for some time now I’ve asked the following question: “When will we see spreadsheets that have taken actual votes from the previous election and reworked them to show results based on more SNP votes in the list section?”
Still waiting!
James Macintyre
Lesmahagow
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