[L i b]

(Original post by Stanley Baldwin)
I would love a totally decentralised Scotland - especially in a future independent state. But the primary merit of centralisation at the present moment is, in the case of the council tax freeze, is that it prevents certain local authorities from inflicting pain on the people who pay their council tax. I'd bet if the SNP didn't have the 'gun to the head' (to quote the soon to be ex-leader of GCC) of local authorities that council tax would be increased like crazy. I think it is perfectly acceptable that way if council tax remains frozen.

You either believe in these guarantees of good things, or you believe in localism. The two are mutually exclusive and the latter relies on you accepting (1) that a higher body will not have control, and (2) that in some occasions there will be postcode lotteries.

The ever-continuing centralisation of Scottish local government in Holyrood had made local councils little more than elected administrators. It has stifled creativity, it has lowered the quality of candidates and it has made the public completely uninterested. I have no idea what parties like Labour and the SNP are thinking on local government, but as far as I'm concerned if they're going to continue on like they do at present, they may as well abolish local authorities and replace them with some sort of centrally appointed regional governors.

[L i b]

(Original post by NR09)
I actually live in East Renfrewshire, and from what I can tell the SNP have virtually no chance, it will be another Labour win.

It's all academic though as I'm still only 17, so I have no say either way!

Eh?

Labour didn't 'win' last time around in East Ren - they got seven councillors, and so did the Tories. They had to form a coalition with the SNP, Lib Dems and Independents just to keep the Conservatives out.

[NR09]

(Original post by L i b)
Eh?

Labour didn't 'win' last time around in East Ren - they got seven councillors, and so did the Tories. They had to form a coalition with the SNP, Lib Dems and Independents just to keep the Conservatives out.

I mean the last election that took place, the Scottish general election (is that even what it's called?), I've only started taking an interest in politics in the past year, but I'm pretty sure Ken Macintosh (labour) is our MSP.

[Will Lucky]

If I were Scottish I would vote Conservative, but I hope the unionist parties are able to hold out but odds are the SNP will storm to victory in this election over all three.

[Stanley Baldwin]

Well I voted just after 1pm this afternoon and gave my '1' to an SNP candidate (I'm trying to balance out the fact that his running mate hasn't been helping him, 'their' literature has been all about him) and my '2' to the Liberal Democrat (she has been my local councillor for almost ten years now, and she is a hard-working one). I withheld any additional preferences from any other party or even the other SNP candidate (for reasons previously stated).

Results are due tomorrow afternoon - so no late nighter!

Update: And according to this poll the Conservatives will romp home against the odds! There are quite a few Conservatives in this online community, aren't there?

[Cyanohydrin]

I voted for the Greens.

[Mr Dangermouse]

Well it was a poor night for the Nats.

[CAElite]

1. SNP
2. Green
3. Labour

Both SNP and green are parties with HQs in Scotland (English green is actually not the same as Scottish green) and both parties support independance which i believe in strongly that it will help Scotland.

And i just put a 3 on labour because they are the lesser of the three evils when it comes to the mainstream parties.