r/Glasgow Tools

Title
Author	zellisgoatbond
Comment	Lib Dems (via a postal vote). I'm in a relatively safe SNP seat, though Labour have a slight chance to take the seat. I would say it's really down to a few things: * On the whole the Lib Dem's policies are probably the closest to my personal views - in particular I especially like their focus on rehabilitative justice, a willingness to legalise the recreational drug market, the introduction of proportional representation and their support for civil liberties. I suppose in that sense I'm sympathetic towards the Greens and the SNP's policies as well, and Labour a bit less so, but economically I'm closer to the Lib Dems, the Greens aren't running here, and the transphobia issue within the SNP is personally quite important to me. * I don't think Jo Swinson is an amazing leader or anything like that, but I get the impression that she's not willing to shy away from a topic just because it might be unpopular. And that's something I respect quite a bit. * I think the SNP incumbent isn't especially good. It's not that they've been actively bad or anything, but it feels a lot like that wave of MPs where they got elected mainly because of the colour ribbon they're wearing, if that makes sense? (There's also an issue of siding with a big employer in the area against the views of the constituency and their party, but I don't intend to go into details since it might give a bit too much away). * I generally oppose independence but I'm not totally against supporting pro-independence candidates. I haven't done so in this case, but I respect that the Lib Dem candidate here isn't completely ignoring the issue (that would be naive IMO), but also mentioning that being pro/anti-independence is a very, very coarse way to describe Scotland's political landscape. * Ultimately I think the "main" campaigns haven't been especially inspiring - a lot of "vote for me because it stops X", and not very much actual policy. I think the Lib Dem candidate here still has some weaknesses (namely focusing on devolved policies a bit too much, although at least acknowledging they're devolved), but I respect that they're willing to take policy while also deviating from the party's general views. I'm somewhat "lucky" in that I'm in a relatively safe seat, I'm not especially fussed about the "outside" chance winner, and I can vote how I want, but I have several friends who would also vote Lib Dem had they not been in very, very marginal constituencies. I would also say as well - one of the most useful things you can do is stay engaged well after the election. That doesn't mean reading the news on Twitter or whatever, but keeping up to date with what your MP is doing, and in particular intangible things like how they get involved in local issues - do they remain aware and willing to help out? Do they get involved in the "easy" stuff and not worry about the hard stuff? Do they realise when they should stay out of the limelight? These local issues are, in a sense, considerably more important than national issues, where in the majority of issues there will be a lot of agreement between your 1st/2nd choices anyway.
Reddit Link	https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/e8rx9a/politics_who_you_voting_for/fahqg9m/
Created	Wed 11th Dec 2019 7:08pm
Status	normal ()

Lib Dems (via a postal vote). I'm in a relatively safe SNP seat, though Labour have a slight chance to take the seat. I would say it's really down to a few things:

* On the whole the Lib Dem's policies are probably the closest to my personal views - in particular I especially like their focus on rehabilitative justice, a willingness to legalise the recreational drug market, the introduction of proportional representation and their support for civil liberties. I suppose in that sense I'm sympathetic towards the Greens and the SNP's policies as well, and Labour a bit less so, but economically I'm closer to the Lib Dems, the Greens aren't running here, and the transphobia issue within the SNP is personally quite important to me.
* I don't think Jo Swinson is an amazing leader or anything like that, but I get the impression that she's not willing to shy away from a topic just because it might be unpopular. And that's something I respect quite a bit.
* I think the SNP incumbent isn't especially good. It's not that they've been actively bad or anything, but it feels a lot like that wave of MPs where they got elected mainly because of the colour ribbon they're wearing, if that makes sense? (There's also an issue of siding with a big employer in the area against the views of the constituency and their party, but I don't intend to go into details since it might give a bit too much away).
* I generally oppose independence but I'm not totally against supporting pro-independence candidates. I haven't done so in this case, but I respect that the Lib Dem candidate here isn't completely ignoring the issue (that would be naive IMO), but also mentioning that being pro/anti-independence is a very, very coarse way to describe Scotland's political landscape.
* Ultimately I think the "main" campaigns haven't been especially inspiring - a lot of "vote for me because it stops X", and not very much actual policy. I think the Lib Dem candidate here still has some weaknesses (namely focusing on devolved policies a bit too much, although at least acknowledging they're devolved), but I respect that they're willing to take policy while also deviating from the party's general views.

I'm somewhat "lucky" in that I'm in a relatively safe seat, I'm not especially fussed about the "outside" chance winner, and I can vote how I want, but I have several friends who would also vote Lib Dem had they not been in very, very marginal constituencies.

I would also say as well - one of the most useful things you can do is stay engaged well after the election. That doesn't mean reading the news on Twitter or whatever, but keeping up to date with what your MP is doing, and in particular intangible things like how they get involved in local issues - do they remain aware and willing to help out? Do they get involved in the "easy" stuff and not worry about the hard stuff? Do they realise when they should stay out of the limelight? These local issues are, in a sense, considerably more important than national issues, where in the majority of issues there will be a lot of agreement between your 1st/2nd choices anyway.