Vote Green in Glasgow Kelvin

I've said before my chances of winning are slim - the New-Labour banner will probably fly again as traditional Labour voters turn out again to put their 'x' beside Labour, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth voting Green. Votes are the great levellers in politics - it doesn't matter which party, how much money, or how high your office; votes are not ours, they're yours and you can choose to do with them what you will.

Now, I generally suggest to people that they should vote for what they want rather than just tactically - if you don't vote for what you want you'll never get it. There are times however when voters, look at the big picture and with the first past the post system decide that their chance to influence is in the voting system. Sometimes they feel the need to make a difference by voting for another party even if they don't agree with the whole platform of that party.

Well, I don't propose to answer that conundrum for you but I think it is worth thinking about what might make this election different and what effects the tactical voter could consider.

• In each successive election more people realise more the importance of taking green issues seriously.
• In the Kelvin constituency election this time there is no SSP or Solidarity candidate.
• In the Kelvin constituency this time there is an independent who formerly represented LibDems
• Of the main parties, the Greens are the ones who have worked most co-operatively with other parties and the ones who have been respected for this.

Now, look again at the graph of the last election counted in the Kelvin area. (See my previous blog posting).

If this is the starting point of dedicated voters for their preferences where might they jump if voting tactically?

Who will benefit from the SSP's lost constituency voters? Let's review the tactical possibilities.

Will people tactically vote SNP? After all, Sandra White (SNP), has come second twice...

Now let's inject some realism here:

• are we really expecting SSP voters will get into bed with SNP's big business influenced agenda...? (see also 2003 cash for access) even if they did they'd need more votes on top to beat Labour...

• are Green-minded voters going to suddenly take the SNP (who support the M74 extension) seriously on the environment...? (no smirking at the back..)

• are LibDem voters aren't going to switch to a nationalist party whose core raison d'etre is whatever it takes to split the union? they might find the Greens' principled localism with open minded self-determination - a more palatable route to 'independence' if the Scottish people determine it - some would argue it's a more Liberal position even than their own party's.

• Tories - well now that Annabel Goldie is clearly coming out for the union it would take a lot of personal capital for them to go for Sandra White as their potential constituency representative.

Tactically vote LibDem? It didn't work at Westminster elections...

• SNP voters won't be switching to LibDem whose leadership are opposed to any sort of referendum ever of any kind see (No, No, No!)

• SSP/Solidarity voters will probably find LibDems too woolly.. too abstract from the concerns of every class.. too much interested in tinkering around the edges when more vision is required.

• Tories might switch to LibDem I suppose, depending on what they think of Katy Gordon, if they find her compelling enough.

Tactically vote Green?

• ex-Labour supporters (the most influential group of voters) don't fear that a Green MSP will just be about "independence" or will side uncritically with the Alex Salmond; they know that a local Green MSP will fundamentally share their concerns for local health service provision, their concerns about Trident and indeed stand up for principles unfettered by internal Labour party politicking; good chance of a few votes then (we've certainly gained a few members from Labour)

• free-thinking LibDem supporters may find a Green both liberal and environmentally conscious enough to be palatable (indeed some ex LibDems are joining our ranks having become sick of their party)

• moderate/greener SNP supporters, those who believe in independence but are not so wedded to the SNP's business agenda and who are concerned its shifting positions (and lack of priority for climate change concerns) may find it palatable to vote for a pro-localist, pro-referendum party candidate.

• greener or socially concerned pragmatic Conservatives - of whom there are more than a few in Kelvin, may trust a medically qualified professional who is committed to standing for a constituency to be more thoughtful and responsive to their concerns than the alternatives.

Hmm... perhaps Green isn't such an unreasonable tactical vote. Of course, there's a good bet that no amount of tactical voting (much of which may be attracted by a huge SNP media machine or LibDem glossy leaflets) will unseat a Labour vote, marshalled by fearful stories of independence..

Oh, well. I know why I'll be voting Green - it's just the right thing to do. (If I didn't think so, I wouldn't be the candidate.)