Svotland, Please Vote Yes....whats Not To Like?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28192293
according to this we gain life expectancy, GDP and perpetual Tory governement. Come on Scotland vote yes and help your Tory friends!

[jim360]

Scotland didn't elect 58 Labour MPs at the last election. It was 58 non-Tory MPs. Massive difference.

More to the point, while it might be harder to shift a Tory government it's not impossible. Wipe Scotland out in 1997 and Labour's majority shrinks but is still massive. Most of the time Scotland isn't crucial to deciding the election result, but it can make a difference in the power the government has.

Mind, perpetual Tory rule doesn't even benefit Tories -- if any one government has office for too long then it has a tendency to degenerate, either into direct infighting (1996 Conservative Party) or just something of a lame duck. The most important thing is to have a strong opposition so that the inevitable dodgy ideas can be thrown out, as they should be. Not everything the Conservative Party comes out with is good. Same with the Labour Party. If either held office in perpetuity it would be a disaster.

[ToraToraTora]

we can never be sure but -58 non tory seats is a nice little bonus to be going on with. Put it this way, would ED or Dave be happier?

[jeffa]

But those seats will no longer exist if Scotland gains independence!!!

[Baldric]

I've mentioned more than once, if they will allow me a Vote I promise I will vote for their Freedom!

[Graham-W]

In 2010 there were 40 Scottish Labour MPs and one Scottish Conservative MP.
That works out as a net loss of 39 from the Labour MPs. Minus 39 is a long way from your minus 58.
As someone else said, "Simple maths".

[jeffa]

Indeed. What the OP seems incapable of grasping is that the number of seats available will also be reduced by 59.

[ToraToraTora]

yes but that is after they are gone. see the link.
current = 307 v 343 = minority of 36
after Scotland leaves:
306 v 285 = majority 21

[ToraToraTora]

i never mentioned -58 from Labour I said 58 non tory seats gone.

[jim360]

I think the point is that it doesn't always follow that no Scotland = perpetual Tory government. Just because it happened last time that removing Scotland would create a Tory majority -- more often than not it would make no difference to who is in office, just how much of a lead they have.

[jeffa]

More accurately, Jim, it doesn't follow at all, in any way! That's the point.

[seadogg]

There is a considerable "floating vote" which tends to become disillusioned with the party in power after a while. This fact, combined with the factors which Jim pointed out, makes it difficult to asses the future outcomes of any future election

[maggiebee]

DTC you have gone down in my estimation. I thought you spoke sense, but your post on this link about Alex Salmond being Prime Minister of "Snotland" just shows your ignorance. Alex Salmond is First Minister in Scotland and will remain so in the meantime no matter how the vote goes.

[Zacs-Master]

It ain't gonna happen anyhow. So stop bickering!

[anneasquith]

Maggie. this is not the first time DT has been childish/abrasive re Scotland and its elected minister, it's tiresome, and best ignored.

[anneasquith]

zac, I fear you may be right. polls not looking great....... running out of time :(

[naomi24]

I agree with Zacs. I don't think it will happen either, so there's no point arguing over it.

[Zacs-Master]

Don't fear. Just accept and move on.

[Ellipsis]

It's pretty much impossible to second guess what will happen following independence, especially after a few years. which is what makes the arguments for and against independence based on what will happen post-independence so fatuous.

The best reason to vote "Yes" to independence is that you passionately no longer wish to be British. The best reason to vote "No" to independence is that you passionately wish to remain British. It's an emotional decision, not a logical one ...

[DTCwordfan]

maggie - have you had a sense of humour loss and not picking up that I was taking the pish......

Whether Salmond (aka Kim Jock Eck and that's not of my creation) remains First Minister of Scotland or titles himself Prime Minister, if he remains in power, post-independence and assuming an unlikely yes vote, is yet unknown.

There is no reason why he, or his next incumbent, isn't titled that, unless you folk come up with some semi-meaningless title like 'Taoiseach'.....