Unionists urged to stop Nats by voting tactically
A BIG increase in pro-Union tactical voting is expected in today’s elections in a bid to stop the SNP.
The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have formally backed the idea of maximising the pro-UK vote by giving additional votes to Unionist candidates.
The Scotland in Union group also set up its first tactical voting campaign for a local election by urging p e o p l e t o ‘ Vo t e 1 , 2 , 3 t o s t o p the SNP’.
Local elections in Scotland use a form of proportional representation in which voters select their favourite candidate but can then rate as many others as they like by order of preference. Election experts have said that a lack of co-operation between proUnion parties has put them at a disadvantage to the SNP in the past.
But the Tories have urged people to maximise the pro-UK vote by choosing Conservative candidates as their first and second preferences, then giving lower preference votes to other Unionists.
The Lib Dems have also been targeting those who intend to give their main vote to Labour or the Tories by making clear that giving them additional preference votes can help deny the SNP an additional seat.
A spokesman for Scotland in Union said: ‘Tactical voting can make a significant difference in this election, particularly in wards where the SNP is standing two candidates.
‘We don’t need any more SNP or Green councillors who are only interested in supporting Nicola Sturgeon’s negative campaign to divide our communities and fail to stand up for their local communities.
‘By voting for every pro-UK candidate from Scottish Labour, the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Lib Dems, in your preferred order, we can help ensure we elect more councillors who are focused on improving their local communities.’
In the 2017 council elections, the SNP won 32 per cent of first preference votes and 431 seats across Scotland, while the Conservatives were in second place with 25 per cent of the vote and 276 seats. Labour was third with 20 per cent of the vote and 262 seats.
But pro-Union parties believe they can take more seats off the SNP with more tactical voting.
Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said many members of his party were giving additional votes to other proUK parties to ‘send a message to the SNP that the idea of wasting civil service and parliamentary time on an independence referendum next year is almost criminally negligent’.
He also said he was targeting Labour and Tory voters and urging them to give additional votes to his party.
He added: ‘It is not a consolation prize, or anything like that. That’s why Lib Dems brought in STV in the first place: it is a system of electoral politics that most reflects the views of the constituents it serves.’
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: ‘People are becoming more aware of the electoral system that we have for local government and are doing everything they can to stop the SNP winning in their area. The best way of doing that is by giving your first preference to Conservative candidates.’
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: ‘My advice to people across the country is use your first preference for Labour, use your second preference for Labour, and what you choose to do with your other preferences is entirely up to you.’
‘We don’t need SNP or Greens’