Tactical Voting

[Kyle]

I know, I know. #SNPout are weirdos and all that, but I think we all know that some will follow this line, and it may even push a few lib dem/labour candidates over the line in some places.

Where do we think this will really come into play? I can't imagine that supporters of the 3 main unionist parties will lend their votes to someone else if their party has any squeak of a chance of gaining that seat. The obvious one (and the exception to the rule) is probably Gordon. I've mentioned this before, but I do wonder if Salmond has played a canny game here - take the media attention away from other seats which may be affected by tactical votes, put his own potential seat at risk and hope that other gains more than make up for his lost one. I quite like that Argyll & Bute is being talked up as being a '4 way marginal'. It's the same in Edinburgh, in a few seats in Aberdeen and borders too, and the SNP can possibly gain a lot of ground there without too worry too much about that.

Another thing to think about - is it completely out of the question that SNP and labour could team up in seats where it looks likely a race between them and the lib dems/Tories? There is a bit of a tag team match going on in the media, Lib Dems & Tories vs the SNP and Labour. Surely some might take that into account when voting, especially those who perhaps aren't as engaged with the debate? Obviously not those who blindly hate the SNP/Labour would be convinced by that idea one way or the other, and may actively do the opposite of this, but I think it's something to think about too.

[I'm Brian]

Rumours are circulating down in not so sunny Ayr that the Tory party are actively telling people to vote Labour.

[Fide]

http://wingsoverscotland.com/the-wheels-keep-turning/

[ayrmad]

Rumours are circulating down in not so sunny Ayr that the Tory party are actively telling people to vote Labour.

Just to quell any rumours, I'll be voting SNP, can't wait to tan my cargo watching SLAB's meltdown up here.

[Kyle]

Rumours are circulating down in not so sunny Ayr that the Tory party are actively telling people to vote Labour.

I can see that going well with them to be honest. In fact, I think a lot of Tory voters might be more inclined to vote SNP to increase their own party's chances of being the 'biggest party' (like that actually makes a difference).

[Scary Bear]

Voting tactically may help in some seats, but if the polls are correct and the SNP are polling between 40-50%, then it probably won't help as much as tactical voters think. Voting tactically also polarises the vote, so that we'll be in danger of having every election boiling down to another referendum on independence. It'll also give the SNP more ammunition that all the pro-union parties are the same. I'm surprised they aren't making more capital out of the small band of Labour led union supporters who are campaigning for a Tory in Perth, given Labour's insistence that if people vote SNP they get Tory. Frankly, I'd be happy enough with the Tories winning the most seats. That would give Labour a dilemma. Support Tory policy or back the dreaded SNP. Whatever else, UK politics is not boring at the moment.

[Kyle]

Indeed - i really don't envy the position labour find themselves in.

They're poison in Scotland after campaigning with the Tories, they'll be poison in England if they do back the SNP (and I don't think many SNP voters will 'return home' on the back of that either), they're unlikely to get a majority and the lib dems are very unlikely to pick up enough seats to help them out of that dilemma.

They're circling the drain, and not just in Scotland.

[SodjesSixteenIncher]

Actually think it wil save a few seats here and there but only in constituencies with a very specific set of circumstances. Basically, seats where the SNP came 4th or a distant 3rd and polling suggest ridiculous swings to potentially winning by a few percent. Would only take a very small amount of Tories/Lib Dems to tactically vote to let someones else in. Murphy's seat is the perfect example of where it will probably work.

The #snpout nutters who think it will kill off the SNP up and down the country are deuded beyond belief.

[I'm Brian]

I can see that going well with them to be honest. In fact, I think a lot of Tory voters might be more inclined to vote SNP to increase their own party's chances of being the 'biggest party' (like that actually makes a difference).

I don't either, but the likes of Reynard probably would. What it boils down to is exactly how many will follow their advice. I have heard a few Tories say that they will vote for anyone who has a chance to remove Osborne. So it could even itself out

But if the rumours are correct then local elected Tory politicians are just making a rod for their own backs. From what I can gather they really should be a little more savvy in who they suggest this tactic to. Certainly not SNP supporters

It would seem they are certainly still better together

[SodjesSixteenIncher]

I'm pretty sure the people campaigning for this and the hint hint nudge nudge tactics of the media will be counter productive. The potential for tactical voting in seats like I mentioned above would've happened anyway.

Uber Britnats campaigning on a ticket of seethe will only help the SNP support in the 90% of seats where this won't work.

[Granny Danger]

From the limited evidence available many of the 'activists' from the unionist parties are local councillors and their immediate families; they are about the only folk left with the (self) interest to do anything.

Is a local Tory councillor go out and persuade someone to vote Labour - and vice versa - knowing that at a future point they will be asking for a personal vote? Quite frankly I don't see it.

[I'm Brian]

From the limited evidence available many of the 'activists' from the unionist parties are local councillors and their immediate families; they are about the only folk left with the (self) interest to do anything.

Is a local Tory councillor go out and persuade someone to vote Labour - and vice versa - knowing that at a future point they will be asking for a personal vote? Quite frankly I don't see it.

With the health warning of "I didn't personally see it" in place this is exactly what happened at the weekend. And the rumours are coming from very reliable people. It was a Tory councillor telling people to vote Labour. The councillor in question represents the leafier part of Ayr and will have no bother at all getting back in.

[Granny Danger]

With the health warning of "I didn't personally see it" in place this is exactly what happened at the weekend. And the rumours are coming from very reliable people. It was a Tory councillor telling people to vote Labour. The councillor in question represents the leafier part of Ayr and will have no bother at all getting back in.

Well I suppose anything is possible however unlikely.

To reinforce this point, Dundee beat United recently.

[John Lambies Doos]

From the limited evidence available many of the 'activists' from the unionist parties are local councillors and their immediate families; they are about the only folk left with the (self) interest to do anything.

Is a local Tory councillor go out and persuade someone to vote Labour - and vice versa - knowing that at a future point they will be asking for a personal vote? Quite frankly I don't see it.

If I was a labour person and labour told me to vote Tory, or if I was a Tory and was told to vote labour.......... I would vote SNP.

This tactical voting sham will backfire spectacularly

[The Master]

Is this the same as St Mirrens tactical booing?

Or tactical bacon?

It's hard to criticise people for voting tactically while we still have FPTP. In a proportional system, or even AV, you can vote for everyone you think has a chance of keeping out the person you don't want in.

I also don't think it's unreasonable for the Lib Dems in Gordon to try and encourage Labour and Tory voters to vote for them (to use one example); what is unacceptable is supporters of one party actively encouraging votes for another.

[Kyle]

Or tactical bacon?

It's hard to criticise people for voting tactically while we still have FPTP. In a proportional system, or even AV, you can vote for everyone you think has a chance of keeping out the person you don't want in.

I also don't think it's unreasonable for the Lib Dems in Gordon to try and encourage Labour and Tory voters to vote for them (to use one example); what is unacceptable is supporters of one party actively encouraging votes for another.

I don't think that's a bad tactics for the lib dems to employ, but do you not find it a bit weird that activists for labour are telling people to vote Tory and vice versa? Aren't they meant to be completely different?

[The Master]

I don't think that's a bad tactics for the lib dems to employ, but do you not find it a bit weird that activists for labour are telling people to vote Tory and vice versa?

I think that's more or less what I said in my final sentence.

[Kyle]

I think that's more or less what I said in my final sentence.

So it is.

'pologies.

[Double Jack D]

I'm a committed SNP voter.

If any rep for the SNP told me to vote tactically for another party then I would....... and I would never vote for the SNP again.

Labour supporters voting Tory or vice versa in a UK election is absolutely batshit mental.

[mizfit]

The #snpout people have genuinely lost the plot. Imagine the explosion if the SNP win 30+ seats