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On a walk yesterday, Frances and I got to talking about the forthcoming Scottish elections. One of the recurring topics we seem to revisit is the complete lack of anything radical, constructive or differentiating between the parties, with the glaring exception of the SNP’s policy of a referendum on independence.

This morning, having watched a few politics shows and been greeted by Alex Salmond too many times for me to feel comfortable that the elections are being represented particularly fairly in the national media, I got to thinking I’d take a look at the party websites and see if that would help me come to a view about the policies they are putting forward.

Which of them put forward the most constructive, interesting, or radical ideas? How negative are they about the current administration? How distinguishable from their national parent? Would any of what I encounter affect my own vote?

SNP

Starting with the media’s favourites, the SNP have three policies: Local taxation; Dump student debt; Keep healthcare local; Trusting government. I think we can also include the inevitable referendum. It’s the single most identifiable nationalist policy, after all.

Unfortunately, nothing here other than the referendum on independence is radical. Local taxation is, or was, a Lib Dem national policy, and a local income tax been criticised as being unfair with company employees potentially taking home different salaries depending on the council they live in. Healthcare is a default policy, and trusting government another standard policy every party claims.

But full marks are deserved for the nationalists for pushing a distinctive identity, and even a website that is at least clear on that: We all know the key independence policy, and how much of it hangs together from that. Whilst they are the national party, so can’t be distinguished as the three other main parties can, we know what we’d get with the SNP in power. They do have radical ideas, and aren’t afraid of screaming them, even if I fear they don’t largely add up, and many of their politicians are too quick to be critical and not push their own distinctive ideas (other than independence).

Scottish Green Party

A terrible website that immediately reminds me of Greenpeace activism with a headline about surfers descending on beaches. Nothing really policy wise here unless you click through to to their policies. Scrolling down the front page doesn’t show much other than a lot of criticism for Labour and the Libdems, plus a predictable renewable-energy manifesto commitment. OK, the greens are a typical protest vote which results in useful pressure at a regional and national level. A vote for a conscience, perhaps. Their one idea that appeals, beyond the usual fare, is for ‘radical democracy’, but with national voter turnout so low in recent elections, can we really expect that to appeal?

Scottish Labour

Oh dear. The website is nothing but criticism and national politics with a slight local twist. It’s inevitable that it’s going to push the recent budget perhaps, but as BBC’s Politics Show discussed, there really is no ‘clear red water’ between Scottish Labour and the national Labour party, as there is in Wales (and even that is a very diluted, rusty colour . In fact, the best example of a new policy from Labour in Scotland is the smoking ban. Sure, it’s been a success (in my view, as a non-smoker), but is it really the best thing that’s happened in the last Scottish Parliament? Doesn’t that silence ironically scream a complete lack of radical ambition?

The Labour website criticises the SNP on almost every landing article. Inevitable given that the SNP is shaping up to be the biggest threat to the Labour administration, but how are they going to attract votes by criticism alone. Where are the ideas, much less the Scottish ideas that don’t feed directly from national politics?

It’s an issue for me in that it really shows a lack of ambition and local ideas, and is deeply depressing given the inevitable support for Labour will – for the foreseeable future – mean they are always a significant force.

Scottish Lib Dems

Another awful website landing page, dominated by a not particularly wonderful picture of their dear Leader. “A positive role for young people”, is an aspiration, but a vague one. We get their 7 month plan, which does at least have some clear commitments, including admirable targets, not least at last some talk about using the tax varying powers the Scottish parliament has. But it still feels rather standard stuff.

The biggest problem for the Lib Dems, other than getting media attention, is finding a way of separating themselves from Labour, with whom they share power.

Scottish Socialists

I’m no socialist, and whilst their website is at least a bit more in your face – at least you know what you’re going to get – the policies are – to me – so unworkable it’s shocking: Plenty of cuts in costs, free services, and scant little about how they expect to be able to pay for any of it. The emotive language leaves me feeling there are some angry people involved, and anger is not the basis for a government.

I think it’s important that there is a representative, and wide, breadth of opinion in national and regional politics, but the strident nature of the Socialist policies doesn’t – to me – stand any real chance of expanding outside of their core vote. They have problems of their own too, with Tommy Sheridan’s party Solidarity likely to take a lot of core votes. A fight amongst themselves only detracts.

Scottish Conservatives

Unsettlingly large pictures of the leaders (Goldie and Cameron) greet on arrival, but a typical ‘Goldie launches assault on crime’ is hardly a new approach from the Conservatives. We have little banners talking about ‘Stop the NHS cuts’, ‘Danger Road Tolls ahead’, ‘Conservative for Change’ and ‘Manifesto for affordable homes’. There is more detail clicking through to nicely presented little pdf’s.

The surprising thing here, at least according to the front page and immediate click through pages, is that there’s very little negative content. At least, then, the Conservatives are trying to push their agenda rather than tear down what’s there. Nothing particularly new, but Scotland’s relationship with the Conservative party is still rather fractious and untrusting they could probably afford to try to speak more vocally on what distinguishes them.

 Conclusion?

It’s very easy to be hypocritical and on the one hand demand eye-catching headlines and policies, but on the other dislike trite sound-bite statements with no follow through. But the ‘big ideas’, at least according to the websites, seem to be buried away under a gloss of leadership pictures and criticism of those in power.

Of course it’s said that “Government’s lose elections, oppositions don’t win them“, and a necessary part of gaining power is therefore to undermine those who hold power, or help them undermine themselves (as in the general election of 1997). However, am I wrong to be asking for a little bit more of a radical agenda on the part of the parties without so much negative coverage?

On the face of it, from the websites at least, I come away thinking only the SNP and Conservatives are pushing a policy agenda that is their own, distinctive at least from national politics (in the Conservatives case anyway). The greens will always be the greens, as will the Socialists, and the usual rhetoric comes through on their websites. Protest votes are likely to dominate their campaigns. The Scottish Lib Dems should sack their webmaster, or at least the team behind the content. It just feels confused and wishy-washy.

My main conclusion then is really that the main UK-wide party websites are lack-luster. This is more a reflection of the fact that so few of the parties have really new or differentiating policies for us to consider. Labour, in particular, are hopeless. Pathetic even. I’m left wondering what any of their distinctive Scottish policies are? More of the same, steady as she goes? That’s political apathy of the worst kind: From the politicians themselves.

So is it any wonder then that the SNP are doing so well? With clear and distinctive policies, even if I disagree with many of them, they are at least carving out a very distinct identity and taking Labour on, as well as selling a unique vision. This particular vision is seemingly lacking elsewhere: You can’t help wonder whether the SNP are, in fact, the only party with a passion.

And my vote goes to…?

For somebody who – now at least – feels I’m most definitely a ‘floating voter’, I was considering a vote for the Liberals, Conservatives or Green party. The Socialists are never going to get my vote: They’re at least to be credited for having an ideology, even if it’s one I disagree with. The rest by exclusion: I dislike the principle policy of the SNP (and am dubious enough about their grasp of economics to doubt the rest). The Scottish Labour party’s lack of distinctive vision, ideas of their own, much less any palpable ambition is really quite appalling: They don’t deserve to win on that basis.

But I do find it sad that I – and the few folk I’ve talked to – can’t really find positive and compelling reasons to vote for a particular party in the remainder. So now at least my vote remains undecided, and I’m honestly wondering why I shouldn’t just go mark ‘None of the above’ on my ballot: Right now, it’s the strongest feeling I have, and that has to be a sad reflection on the parties ambition and breadth of ideas.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 25th, 2007 at 11:27 am and is filed under Politics, Scotland, Scottish elections, UK. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.