Is Scotland really a one party state

[BetterTogether]

With the run up to the general election now in full force much is being made of the upsurge in SNP membership and how labour is about to be wiped out in the forthcoming election. This has me curious though is Scotland rapidly becoming a one party state. Do the people of Scotland really all hold the same views on all SNP policies. Most other countries have a wide cross section of political parties which represent the views of the whole nation. Or are the polls once again incorrect and only showing one part of the picture.

[Rheghead]

One party State? That sounds like a slur on Scotland. And you still wonder why?

[BetterTogether]

One party State? That sounds like a slur on Scotland. And you still wonder why?

I see no slur in the statement of the SNP win the predicted landslide victory the polls are suggesting with one claiming 87% then it would become a virtual one party state.

[sids]

I see no slur in the statement of the SNP win the predicted landslide victory the polls are suggesting with one claiming 87% then it would become a virtual one party state.

Is a large majority of votes fundamentally wrong and undemocratic?

[BetterTogether]

Is a large majority of votes fundamentally wrong and undemocratic?

Not at all I just find it a bit odd that one party can be all things to all people

[David Banks]

Not at all I just find it a bit odd that one party can be all things to all people

Dear "BetterTogether,"

I find your (supposed) curiosity in starting this thread difficult to accept as being real.

You know exactly why people may want to support this particular party at this time, and you know full well there is nothing "odd" about it.

Divide and conquer will not work a second time.

[Rheghead]

I see no slur in the statement of the SNP win the predicted landslide victory the polls are suggesting with one claiming 87% then it would become a virtual one party state.

It is a slur. A one party state is a state where other political parties are not allowed to exist by force or they are suppressed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-party_state

[BetterTogether]

It is a slur. A one party state is a state where other political parties are not allowed to exist by force or they are suppressed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-party_state

I did read in the media today that Nicola Sturgeons silencing of MSPs from talking out of line from the party mantra was positively Stalinist with Kesia Dugdale commenting on it recently. Wikipedia is hardly the best source to use and that is one form agreed but I sense you're just attempting to bait again

[Rheghead]

I did read in the media today that Nicola Sturgeons silencing of MSPs from talking out of line from the party mantra was positively Stalinist with Kesia Dugdale commenting on it recently. Wikipedia is hardly the best source to use and that is one form agreed but I sense you're just attempting to bait again

That happens in all political parties except the Greens. It is called a political whip.

[gerry4]

When labour won the vast majority of seats was it classed as a one party state.

I think you will find that most peoples impression of one party states is one where only 1 party allowed the mechanics to run & tell the electorate their policies.

Not sure that could be said to be true here.

[sids]

There are several parties. They don't all get the same number of votes.

At least, that's what I think happens.

[Gronnuck]

With the run up to the general election now in full force much is being made of the upsurge in SNP membership and how labour is about to be wiped out in the forthcoming election. This has me curious though is Scotland rapidly becoming a one party state. Do the people of Scotland really all hold the same views on all SNP policies. Most other countries have a wide cross section of political parties which represent the views of the whole nation. Or are the polls once again incorrect and only showing one part of the picture.

No BetterTogether Scotland is not becoming a one party state. The Conservative and Unionist party still exists, the Labour party is still active, the Green party is growing too. There has indeed been an upsurge in membership of the SNP. However not everyone who may vote SNP in the General election necessarily wants Scotland to be independent. They want change; they want something different. The Tories in Scotland have a history of being arrogant and complacent regarding Scottish issues and people have long memories. Scottish Labour has an uphill battle to establish themselves as a truly Scottish party and not just a branch office. SNP is possibly seen as an opportunity to shake up the Westminster village and its sycophants.

[BetterTogether]

I'd tend to agree with you on many points Gronnuck, but politics is changing and some of the grievances of the past are not really worthy of dragging into modern times.
There isn't a single party that actually keeps to it manifesto promises and that needs changing. I am somewhat disconcerted by the actions of the SNP actually bringing in formal rules that stop its MPs from quoting anything but the party line, yes the party whip has often been applied in the past but even then an MP has had the option to vote as they wished.
With the new rules that option is removed from SNP MPs and they can no longer vote through conscience without fear of recrimination from the party.
Why would you want to vote for a party whose elected members are unable to freely speak their minds and are forced to toe the party line.
Some of the rhetoric of the SNP over what they would do should they gain that power is worriesome, forcing the UK to abandon Trident ( contentious I'd agree ) trying to disband the house of Lord, forcing £180 billion of spending through to name but a few.
If any of this happens it would create more division through the UK and make the SNP a toxic party within the UK who no other party would be able to deal with due to the backlash from the rest of the electorate.
Meanwhile here in Scotland all you'd have is policies being rammed through without due diligence and no single SNP member allowed to speak out for fear of reprisal from within their own party.

[PantsMAN]

With the new rules that option is removed from SNP MPs and they can no longer vote through conscience without fear of recrimination from the party.
Why would you want to vote for a party whose elected members are unable to freely speak their minds and are forced to toe the party line.

I think you're indulging in a wee bit of michief with that statement.

The report in the Herald said the following -
"The new standing orders state that any MP must "accept that no member shall within or outwith the parliament publicly criticise a group decision, policy or another member of the group. The SNP declined to comment on the move but confirmed it was passed "overwhelmingly" by delegates."

Rather different from your implication that on any vote that may occur, at no time will the SNP MPs be allowed to vote according to conscience.

Let's not go back to Project Fear where Unionist parties tried their hardest to demonise the SNP.

As you can see above, Lizz has already been hoodwinked into believing a load of nonsense.

[Humerous Vegetable]

With the run up to the general election now in full force much is being made of the upsurge in SNP membership and how labour is about to be wiped out in the forthcoming election. This has me curious though is Scotland rapidly becoming a one party state. Do the people of Scotland really all hold the same views on all SNP policies. Most other countries have a wide cross section of political parties which represent the views of the whole nation. Or are the polls once again incorrect and only showing one part of the picture.

Why would you see the current political status of Scotland as a one-party state? Maybe because there is no strong opposition to the reduction of austerity measures, supported by the SNP, the more socially just and inclusive measures, supported by the SNP, the ridding of Scottish taxpayers of the vast amounts of money they spend on Trident and the House of Lords, supported by the SNP...

Maybe if we had a decent opposition, the SNP would not have such massive support. It's called democracy.