Scottish Business UK’s Post

Fascinating FT piece today on the perils of chasing the grey vote - but this is by no means particular to the UK. The same trend is visible across many aging democracies (as the author points out) and in many places it becomes self-reinforcing via a simultaneous aversion to engaging with younger voters who are seen as politically inclined in the opposite direction. Politics has always been about 'who gets what, when, where and how' but this focus on the grey vote is more about fundamentally limiting who is at the table. Which may be inevitable given the sorry state of public finances in much of the western world but may also be driving some of the disillusionment and disengagement that is also on the rise. In many places it will take a combination of political entrepreneurship and structural change to break this cycle as we often see voting systems either reinforcing this stasis by not offering enough options (2 party systems) or too many options (multi-party coalitions where marginal changes at the ballot box get lost in negotiation).

The election is nearly upon us and it’ll be time to vote soon, but it’s also the chance to punish the Tories for 14 years of disgustingly bad government. This blog is about why tactical voting is so important, and my last blog is about this current General Election.   Happy reading.

Interesting article on the Conservative and Labour housing manifesto’s. 3 days to go #housing #election

📝Check out my latest article in the Scottish Daily Express. 🎯The Scottish Conservative campaign strategy was highly targeted and disciplined, ultimately proving successful in a very tough election. Despite the disappointing blow of losing Aberdeenshire North and Moray East to the SNP, this was due to the rise of Reform UK—a challenge the Scottish Conservatives need to address. 🗳️On the campaign trail, it was evident that voters were not switching to Reform UK because of Douglas Ross or David Duguid, but because they felt frustrated and wanted change 🔵We need a new Scottish Conservative leader who can present a bold, clear vision that resonates with voters, to earn back their support. Emphasising individual liberty, limited government, lower taxes, and free markets. They must credibly tap into the desire for real change among Reform UK voters and present conservative solutions to the challenges facing Scotland. Read more here 👇🏻 https://lnkd.in/emnV6aB8

🗳 B.C. Votes 2024: Ridings to Watch - Saanich North and the Islands 🗳 Saanich North and the Islands has long been a Green Party stronghold, but with Adam Olsen stepping down, the Greens face a significant challenge to retain their seat. This riding remains a crucial test for the party's future in the legislature, especially as they look to secure a foothold amidst shifting political dynamics. With BC United's campaign being suspended, the NDP will be framing a narrative that a vote for the Greens could inadvertently aid the Conservatives. This adds pressure on the Greens, who aim to act as the 'conscience' of the legislature. How the Greens navigate this narrative will be key in their effort to maintain a provincial presence. Questions about how this election may affect your organization? Reach out to speak to one of our experts. www.cdnstrategy.com #bcpoli #bcleg #BCVotes2024

In the latest Colleston’s Corner, read updates from the MPS financial scandal, including that MPS administrators knew about the state aid clawback before the referendum vote. https://lnkd.in/gzdrJX9x #MPS #financialscandal #stateaidclawback #administrators #scandal #currentevents

This us an interesting letter, but isn’t everyone now missing the point that it is the Civil Service who now seem to wield the power of what policies are enacted and which are thwarted? Maybe we should start having senior Civil Servants elected? SIR – The local elections have been an unmitigated disaster for the Conservative Party. The re-election of Ben Houchen as Tees Valley mayor should not be allowed to mask that. The continued rise of Reform UK reflects the Tories’ lurch to the Left, away from the values held by most party members and Red Wall voters. In recent days the Prime Minister has announced several policies that appear to be more Right-wing, but the reality is that Conservative voters no longer trust their MPs to deliver such policies. One Nation MPs – many of whom would be more at home in the Liberal Democrats – have blocked policies that would have persuaded us that the Government is on our side, and Conservative Party headquarters seems intent on selecting more of the same candidates. We can only hope that the general election, which will almost certainly be equally disastrous, brings about a reset and a return to a truly Conservative agenda.

Please share your thoughts. Is this an appropriate use of your - the tax payers - money? Senedd members (MSs) voted to increase their numbers from 60 to 96, from the next election to Cardiff Bay. In Wednesday's vote, on a Senedd reform bill, the changes were backed by 43 MSs from Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats, and opposed by 16 Conservatives. Conservatives argue that the extra spending involved, estimated to be as much as £17.8m a year, should go on schools and hospitals. The current combination of 40 local and 20 regional MSs would be replaced by 16 larger constituencies, each represented by six members. Parties would put forward lists of ranked candidates for every seat, under what is known as a closed list system, preventing voters from backing individual candidates. https://lnkd.in/g7MFMqt3

Hey 3rd party fans, instead of uselessly stumping for POTUS, which you know won't happen in the current nation, better to expend that energy in your State and local elections where many fewer voters are interested so you are more likely to be triumphant. Imagine all those Green state laboratories to show the world. ; This talk of "Court packing" against the Dems when it was McConnell's GOP that refused to vote in Obama's judicial picks to leave the slots open for their next POTUS, made a huge deal of not accepting a Dem pick in the year of an election while later insisting on their right to vote in a Trump pick clearly not wanted by the electorate, during the election. The Dems are just trying to find a counterbalance as they well should under the common law decision in Goose v. Gander. ; The rising prices aren't set by legislators, the President, the politicians. They are set by the market -- you know, what the Right has traditionally insisted our economy be based on.    ;   It's not an "illegal immigrant" crisis. It's a desperate refugee crisis, and like inflation, it's happening everywhere, many places much more so than here, wrongly framed for political gain that makes actual, useful solutions much more difficult to institute.

Following the surprise announcement of a general election on 4 July, ICAEW is calling on political parties to adopt tangible measures that will boost #productivity, support #businessgrowth and ensure the UK’s economic #resilience. As politicians enter the campaigning period, prominent business names are making known what they want from the powers-that-be. As a business owner, what do YOU want from the general election? #generalelection #businessnews #businessowners