SNP in practice

[MercladUK]

How will this work?

Lets assume SNP get 50 MPs.

Conservative get 290 and form a minority/coalition government.

Government put Proposal A through the HoP.

SNP don't like the proposal, so vote against it

Labour get 290 and form a minority/coalition government

Government put Proposal A through the HoP.

SNP don't like the proposal so vote against it

Surely the same issues will be experienced no matter who gets into power. Labour have ruled out a coalition, so even if the SNP wanted to prop up the Labour party they will still vote on proposals.

so I don't buy it that SNP can vote down trident, yes they can vote against it, and probably will no matter who is in government, but if the majority of the 650 MPs vote for trident, then SNP's vote becomes irrelevant

[TestMangler]

How will this work?

Lets assume SNP get 50 MPs.

Conservative get 290 and form a minority/coalition government.

Government put Proposal A through the HoP.

SNP don't like the proposal, so vote against it

Labour get 290 and form a minority/coalition government

Government put Proposal A through the HoP.

SNP don't like the proposal so vote against it

Surely the same issues will be experienced no matter who gets into power. Labour have ruled out a coalition, so even if the SNP wanted to prop up the Labour party they will still vote on proposals.

so I don't buy it that SNP can vote down trident, yes they can vote against it, and probably will no matter who is in government, but if the majority of the 650 MPs vote for trident, then SNP's vote becomes irrelevant

On issues that have majority support across parties, then yes, any small party is irrelevant. Like for example, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The horse trading starts when the smaller party demands the bigger party supports them on certain issues in return for support on other issues. It's like anything else that requires negotiation, some things are traded for other things.

[Project Monkey]

How will this work?

Lets assume SNP get 50 MPs.

Conservative get 290 and form a minority/coalition government.

Government put Proposal A through the HoP.

SNP don't like the proposal, so vote against it

Labour get 290 and form a minority/coalition government

Government put Proposal A through the HoP.

SNP don't like the proposal so vote against it

Surely the same issues will be experienced no matter who gets into power. Labour have ruled out a coalition, so even if the SNP wanted to prop up the Labour party they will still vote on proposals.

so I don't buy it that SNP can vote down trident, yes they can vote against it, and probably will no matter who is in government, but if the majority of the 650 MPs vote for trident, then SNP's vote becomes irrelevant

Yes, that's correct. Next!

[MicrosoftBob]

Well they seem to want to appeal to the UK electorate as a national party unifying the country, being quite socialist as well, perhaps a name change is in order

What about the National Socialist Party for starters :nazi:

[TestMangler]

Well they seem to want to appeal to the UK electorate as a national party unifying the country, being quite socialist as well, perhaps a name change is in order

What about the National Socialist Party for starters :nazi:

The SNP have some socialist policy, but are also often criticised by the left for having too many 'business friendly' policies too. Possibly reading the detail instead of the DM headlines may help you.

[d000hg]

The question "what happens if SNP won't support Labour OR Conservatives, if neither can get a majority without SNP votes" is an interesting one. It's assumed SNP will come to some agreement with Labour after helping to kick the Tories out, but what if they just want to play silly buggers? Is there a recourse other than common sense to prevent an infinite loop?

[TestMangler]

The question "what happens if SNP won't support Labour OR Conservatives, if neither can get a majority without SNP votes" is an interesting one. It's assumed SNP will come to some agreement with Labour after helping to kick the Tories out, but what if they just want to play silly buggers? Is there a recourse other than common sense to prevent an infinite loop?

Yes, I think it's known as 'calling a general election'.

And all the above scenarios could be avoided if England would make its mind up and vote for someone.

All this middle England pant wringing is about 59 seats out of 650 or something.

Make your f*****g minds up and vote a government in and you don't need to worry about it.

[d000hg]

And when SNP get all the Scottish votes a second time?

[TestMangler]

And when SNP get all the Scottish votes a second time?

Do the arithmetic.

If England votes a government in by majority, you have a 90% chance that will be the government.

All this coalition stuff is caused by the fact that you lot can't make your mind up between the two wet blanket ******* you have to choose from.

[Ticktock]

And when SNP get all the Scottish votes a second time?

That doesn't matter. What matters is whether another party, whether Conservative or Labour, can get enough seats to take an overall majority, or have enough support across the house that the SNP cannot vote down anything they don't like unilateraly.

I somehow doubt, though, that the SNP will simply vote against whichever government on absolutely every issue, just to be awkward.