Craigleith Blackhall Community Council are hosting a Scottish Parliament hustings event at St Columba’s church main hall tomorrow ( Thursday 28 April) from 7.30 to 9pm. Continue reading Holyrood hustings at Blackhall tomorrow
Tag: democracy
Do Scots feel at home in a country dominated by one party?
A new report by Electoral Reform Society Scotland says that both Labour and the SNP have benefited from a “predominant-party problem” in Scotland, and calls for a range of radical political reforms to ‘transform our political culture‘. Continue reading Do Scots feel at home in a country dominated by one party?
Holyrood 2016: factfile
The Scottish Parliament elections take place on Thursday 5 May – one week to go! See below for all the information you could ever wish for!
Your local constituency candidates are:
EDINBURGH CENTRAL
BETTSWORTH, Hannah (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
BOYACK, Sarah (Scottish Labour Party)
DAVIDSON, Ruth (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)
DICKIE, Alison (Scottish National Party (SNP))
JOHNSTONE, Alison (Scottish Green Party)
LAIRD, Tom (Scottish Libertarian Party)
EDINBURGH NORTHERN & LEITH
CALDWELL, Jack (Independent)
HINDS, Lesley (Scottish Labour Party)
MACPHERSON, Ben (Scottish National Party (SNP))
MCGILL, Iain (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)
VEART, Martin (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
-
Jack Caldwell IndependentLesley Hinds Labour PartyBen Macpherson Scottish National Party (SNP)Iain McGill Conservative and Unionist PartyMartin Veart Liberal Democrats
EDINBURGH WESTERN
BATHO, Sandy (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)
COLE-HAMILTON, Alex (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
GIUGLIANO, Toni (Scottish National Party (SNP))
HEADLEY, Cat (Scottish Labour Party)
Other Edinburgh Constituencies:
Edinburgh Eastern
COOK, Nick (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)
DENHAM, Ash (Scottish National Party (SNP))
D’INVERNO, Cospatric (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
DUGDALE, Kezia (Scottish Labour Party)
Edinburgh Pentlands
FARTHING-SYKES, Emma (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
HEARY, Blair (Scottish Labour Party)
LINDHURST, Gordon (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)
MACDONALD, Gordon (Scottish National Party (SNP)
Edinburgh Southern
BRIGGS, Miles (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)
EADIE, Jim (Scottish National Party (SNP))
JOHNSON, Daniel (Scottish Labour Party)
SUBBARAMAN, Pramod (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
LIST VOTE
The names of the parties for the Lothian Region are listed below in the order that they appear on the ballot paper.
Seven candidates will be elected to the Lothian Region as Members of the Scottish Parliament, from the following list:
RISE – Respect, Independence, Socialism and Environmentalism
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Scottish Green Party
Scottish Labour Party
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish National Party (SNP)
Scottish Women’s Equality Party
Solidarity – Scotland’s Socialist Movement
UK Independence Party (UKIP)
THE VOTING SYSTEM
The Additional Member System (AMS) is used to elect members to the Scottish Parliament.
How it works:
There are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
There are two ways an MSP can be elected.
Each elector (voter) has two votes.
Scotland is divided into 73 constituencies and each constituency elects one MSP. These are known as constituency MSPs and are elected by ‘first past the post’ in exactly the same way as MPs are elected to Westminster. This is the elector’s constituency vote.
The regional vote is used to elect 56 additional members. Scotland is divided into 8 parliamentary Regions and each region elects seven regional MSPs.
In the second vote the voter votes for a party rather than a candidate. The parties are then allocated a number of additional members to make the overall result more proportional. The regional MSPs are selected from lists compiled by the parties. These MSPs are also sometimes referred to as List MSPs.
HOW DO I VOTE?
Always read the instructions for filling in the ballot papers carefully, even if you have voted before.
You will receive two ballot papers.
On the lilac coloured ballot paper you will vote for your constituency MSP. The ballot paper lists the name of each candidate along with their party name and party logo.
Simply put a cross (X) next to the one candidate that you wish to vote for.
On the peach coloured ballot paper you vote for a party or independent candidate competing for the seven regional seats for your region of Scotland. The ballot paper lists political parties and independent candidates.
Simply put a cross (X) next to the one party or independent candidate that you wish to vote for.
If you make a mistake then you can ask the polling staff to give you another ballot paper.
WHERE DO I VOTE?
Your polling place will be noted on your Poll Card, or you can check it online. You should go to your polling place to vote on 5 May, between 7am and 10pm.
WHO DO I VOTE FOR? THE MANIFESTOS …
What do they stand for? What are they offering?
RISE
SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE & UNIONIST PARTY
Scottish-Conservative-Manifesto_2016
SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY
Scottish Greens Manifesto_Online
SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY
Scottish Labour Manifesto 2016
SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
Manifesto_-_Be_The_Best_Again-_Scottish_Liberal_Democrats_2016
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY
SCOTTISH WOMEN’S EQUALITY PARTY
SOLIDARITY – Scotland’s Socialist Movement
Manifesto available on Solidarity website
UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY (UKIP)
FURTHER READING
Keep up on Twitter:
#SP16 #VoteSocialEnterprise #Holyrood2016 #SP2016
#VoteRISE #GreenHolyrood #VoteGreen2016 #BothVotesSNP #BothVotesLabour #VoteLibDemTwice #TeamRuth
Craigleith Blackhall to hold Holyrood Hustings
CRAIGLEITH BLACKHALL COMMUNITY COUNCIL
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT HUSTINGS
Thursday 28th April, 7.30 – 9.00pm
Blackhall St Columba’s Parish Church, Columba Road
Representatives are confirmed from:
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Scottish Labour Party
Liberal Democratic Party
Scottish National Party
Scottish Green Party
RISE Alliance
UK Independence Party
Women’s Equality Party
An opportunity to meet your local candidates
All welcome, bring your tricky questions!
Holyrood Elections: are you registered?
Scottish Parliament Elections Thursday 5 May
Voters are being encouraged to check they are on the electoral roll with less than four weeks until the Scottish Parliament Election.
You must be registered if you want to vote on 5 May.
This is the first time 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to vote in an election, other than the Scottish Independence Referendum, following the passing of the Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Bill last year.
Members of the public, including students and people who have moved home since the last time they registered, should check they are on the electoral roll ahead of the registration deadline on 18 April – that’s next Monday.
MAKE SURE YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SAY ON 5th MAY!
Scotland: we have a problem?
On Wednesday 20 April, Electoral Reform Society Scotland is hosting a free public discussion to coincide with the release of our new report One Party To Rule Them All: Does Scotland Have A Predominant-Party Problem?
The report addresses the dangers of one party dominance in a parliament designed for coalitions. This event will be a fantastic opportunity to explore what Scots want from our democracy and what we can do to help keep the Scottish parliament diverse and cooperative.
| CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS |
Speakers include:
- Lesley Riddoch (journalist and commentator)
- Angela Haggerty (editor of CommonSpace)
- Rory Scothorne (ERS Scotland)
- Compered by Gerry Hassan (writer and academic)
7pm – 8.30pm, Wednesday 20 April.
Blythswood Hall,
Renfield St Stephen’s Centre,
260 Bath St,
Glasgow, G2 4JP
Join the Facebook event and invite your friends here.
EU’re having a laugh – at our expense
Government spends £9.3 million on pro-EU ‘leaflet’
The Westminster government has been severely criticised for spending £9 million of tax payers money on an ‘information’ booklet which outlines the case for remaining in the European Union. Continue reading EU’re having a laugh – at our expense
Letters: Beware promises made to be broken
Dear Editor
Between now and the election of members for the Scottish Parliament in May, prospective candidates will claim and counter-claim that they are the ones we can trust. When we make our choice we hop that trust is not misplaced – the only help we have in choosing is the past record of the individual or their party.
A close look is needed to avoid being taken in by words and promises that flow freely during election times. Promises made, then broken, are usually blamed on others – whether here in Scotland, the UK or abroad.
After voting we cannot sit back and let them have free rein: this has happened so many times, resulting in a dreadful cost to most of us.
A. Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens
Disability charity organises hustings event
People with learning difficulties from across Edinburgh and the Lothians are to be given the chance to grill their local would-be politicians, thanks to an innovative hustings event being held next week. Continue reading Disability charity organises hustings event
Last call for Holyrood candidates
Thinking of standing in the Holyrood election? Then you’d better get your skates on!
Nominations close today for candidates to stand in next month’s Scottish Parliamentary Election – and papers must be submitted by 4pm.
The Notice of Election was published on 14 March for Edinburgh Central, Edinburgh Eastern, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Edinburgh Pentlands, Edinburgh Southern and Edinburgh Western Constituencies plus the Lothian Region.
In order to stand as a candidate, individuals must submit nomination papers, which are available on the Council website, by Friday, 1 April.
The Scottish Parliamentary Election will take place on Thursday 5 May when people living across Scotland will elect MSPs to represent them at Holyrood.
Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council and Returning Officer for Edinburgh and Regional Returning Officer for the Lothian Region, said: “The Notice of Election signifies the official start of the election period. The forthcoming election will enable the city’s residents to have their say, and I would take this opportunity to urge all citizens to use their vote.
“We are keen to continue the enthusiasm demonstrated by voters during the UK Parliamentary Election last year and the Scottish Referendum in 2014, including the 16 and 17-year-olds who will be able to vote for the first time. Anyone unsure about how to register, where to vote or how to vote by post can find more information on the Council website.”
More than 84% of the city’s residents voted in the Scottish Independence Referendum in September 2014, which also saw a record-breaking turnout across the country. At the UK Parliamentary Election in May 2015 turnout in the capital stayed high, at an average of 73% across Edinburgh’s five constituencies.
On 5 May it will be the first time that 16 and 17-year-olds can vote in a Parliamentary election after the Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Bill was passed last year.
While most people who registered to vote in time for the UK Parliamentary Election will still be eligible to take part in the Scottish Parliament Election in May, first time voters or anyone who has since moved house will need to register again. Continue reading Last call for Holyrood candidates