Which UK political party should I support?

Question

Scottish Parliament elections are coming up soon! This is the first time I'm voting, and I'd really appreciate some help.

My opinions don't correspond to any party line at all! They're left, right and centre!

I am (from "left" to "right"):
PRO immigration, especially for *skilled* migrants
PRO European Union
PRO NHS
PRO identity cards
PRO Anglo-Scottish Union
PRO greater police powers + harsher punishments
PRO selective state schools (grammar schools, 11+, etc.)

I am (from "left" to "right"):
AGAINST tougher immigration restrictions, though I do not mind action against immigrants who were illegal in the first place.
AGAINST privatisation of health care.
AGAINST Scottish separatism or further devolution.
AGAINST Islamist extremism.
AGAINST placement in comprehensive schools according to catchment area.
AGAINST House of Lords reform. Long live the Peers! Long live tradition!

So... help, please!! Whom should I vote for??

Also, please don't start a political debate here.

I'm only asking for which political party BEST represents my views, as I don't fit into any "neat category".

Oh, and Thanks!! =)

On the grammar schools...

I'm not calling for a complete return to the obviously flawed tripartite 11+ system of the 1950s.

I'm just hoping for a bit more academic selection in the school allocation process.

Answer 1

Labour by a some way. Strangely enough, Scottish Conservative would be my second choice amongst the main parties, just ahead of the LibDems.

Simply looking at the numbers, the SNP are:
Pro skilled immigration
Pro EU
Pro NHS
Pro greater police powers (but not necessarily harsher punishments)

On the Against side, you seem to agree with them on
Immigration
Health care
Islamic extremism (maybe - complex issue!)

However, the deal-breaker is always going to be independence.

Looks like you're voting Labour, although you might also find a home in the Green Party, although they are pro-independence as well.

As a wise man once said "Politics is the art of the possible." Sometimes you have to accept a few policies of a party that you don't personally care for. Voting is a serious responsibility and one you should discharge after some thought. It is heartening to see a first-time voter taking this seriously.

Answer 2

Considering your pros I'd have immediately chosen Labour for you, but then upon examination of your cons you appear to be a bit of a traditionalist (Long live the peers).

I think that you should number your pros and cons and consider which of the those are most important to you and which aren't.

If you are a traditionalist and pro-union (Long live the UK I say) and also believe in greater police powers then you should vote Conservative (along with me in Scotland - good luck!).

However; I would consider voting Labour if I were you for the following reasons:
1) The SNP would love to dissolve the Union and are also a very socialist (read very left) party. The SNP would immediately impost ridiculously high taxes on the middle and upper classes and create a whole new "Clearing" in Scotland.
2) The Conservative Party doesn't have a chance in Scotland. Too many Scots are still hung up on the Poll Tax issue which is almost 25 years old now. Get over it - Thatcher is long gone!

I hope you make the choice that you feel is right for you!

Skip's answer below is fantastic - even though Skip and I are on different sides of the political coin (I lived in England and voted Labour in the last Gen Election) his reasoning is brilliant. Nice one Skip.

Answer 3

Labour is closest fit

No party will be able to bring back grammar schools and its too late to prevent House of Lords reform.

Answer 4

UKIP feels like the lesser of lots of the evils.they do no longer seem to be vegetables and desire the united kingdom out of Europe meaning shall we provide up the circulate of criminal immigration from each and every of the recent ecu member states. UKIP via improve lean in the direction of Tory ideals somewhat than the different like the Lib Dems who could like greater desirable integration with Europe. With Ukip we'd back regain administration of our very own borders and easily have commerce agreements with Europe.

Answer 5

well I'm jist a redneck from the Cypress swamps and pine forests of deep east Texas, move here and vote republican with us. we are against illegal immigration, esp. Mexicans. Staunchly anti-abortion, thankfully there are no abortion clinics within 500 miles of our area, we ran em out. my cousin burned one down , and we made so many threats to the baby butcheres that they decided it wudnt be prudent to build one in the hollers of east Texas. we are pro-gun( i have 6 shot guns and 7 deer rifles) we are rabidly anti homosexual, believe men are for women and vice versa. We support the war on Iraq and wish Blair and Bush would bomb the hell out of all the crazy damn extremist Muslims. we love America but more than that we love the south and wish the damn Yankees would stop pushing their liberal policies. Maybe we could get them to move to U.K so y'all could vote for em. By the way I'm not kidding I'm for real. check out my 360 page.http://360.yahoo.com/profile-1S4R.1E7dK7B.syr.FMfiVy2VD8ohex2lF1hHqF11Q--

Answer 6

I think you are well of supporting the bush administration, because we control your government. Tony Blair is our little puppet, when we say to war, he says to the british people, brits to american wars. So whoever you support, is going to be controlled by the Americans.

I love it.

Answer 7

Don't know.