chrisbrown

I'd suggest a mixture of these and a wide feeling that there is little value in voting. The tradition of Labour vote-fiddling is so entrenched - and until now has been so successful - that they may have a point. There are lots of people for whom the four parties have nothing to offer. No party has a decent policy on poverty (though tradtionally Labour governments are always worst for the very poorest people) so, if you are really poor, why should you vote for any of them? It's not as if they give a monkey's about you. Also, there is not much difference betweeen the parties. The Lib-Dums and Labour and the tories are obsessed with the union, the Gnats are obsessed with independence and both sides are prepared to lie through their teeth to push the issue. Independence would not solve Scotland's problems with drink or sectarianism and the unionists have no answer to the qestion of how come - if the union is so good - the Danes, Finns, Swedes and Norwegians are so much better off than the Scots ?

Mr. Fox got my vote; I trust him to stand up for Shetland better than any of the other candidates. The SNP got my list vote, though I really don't much like them; it was chiefly to keep the tories, lid dems and labour out; I'm fed up with their endless obsession with the union and putting Scotland down. A point about the SNP and economic viability. The question of Scotland being unable to survive financially is a red herring at best and a positve barrage of dishonesty at worst. Denmark exports butter, lager, bacon and ...butter. Scottish industries include serious agriculture, fishing, finance, education, life sciences, coal, a surprisingly large manufacturing sector, tourism, whisky ( and beer - Scotland actually exports more lager than Denmark) So - if the Union is so good for Scotland, how come Danes are rich and Scots (especially Shetlanders, given that this is where the oil is) are poor. Same aplies to Norway, Sweden, Finland and - despite everything - to Iceland and Ireland as well. I have put this Scotland-Denmark question to about two dozen Labour/Lib-Dem and Tory candidates/ MPs/MSPs/Party Officials/Journalists and have not had an answer.Can't think why not......