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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Voters' Panel - Leader views | Voters' Panel - Leader views |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A selection of panellists from the BBC Scotland news website have offered their views on how the leaders of the political parties are performing in the campaign. | A selection of panellists from the BBC Scotland news website have offered their views on how the leaders of the political parties are performing in the campaign. |
| Philip Ashley-SmithShetland "The election should be about policies and not personalities" | Philip Ashley-SmithShetland "The election should be about policies and not personalities" |
| Tina WatkinsMuir of Ord "I found Robin Harper to be passionate about his party's policies" | Tina WatkinsMuir of Ord "I found Robin Harper to be passionate about his party's policies" |
| Andrew PalmerWestern Isles "A politician's image doesn't carry as much weight as substance" | Andrew PalmerWestern Isles "A politician's image doesn't carry as much weight as substance" |
| Alex BrowneLinlithgow "Compared to others, Alex Salmond comes out equal or ahead in every area" | Alex BrowneLinlithgow "Compared to others, Alex Salmond comes out equal or ahead in every area" |
| Alistair BarclayLochearnhead "Annabel Goldie comes across as the matronly aunt" | Alistair BarclayLochearnhead "Annabel Goldie comes across as the matronly aunt" |
| YOUR COMMENTS | YOUR COMMENTS |
| I can't believe the views of your panelist Philip Ashley-Smith are not from a party hack. The rest sound reasonable.David Chalmers, Glasgow | |
| The panel have correctly identified the anti-Scotland bias of Blair and McConnell which will push voters towards the SNP.Labour have had the opportunity and missed it.The Liberals can't make a decision to save themselves and the Conservatives have an image problem that Scots despise so lets give the SNP a chance to show if they can do better.John Campbell, Edinburgh | |
| Disrupt the status quo by voting SNP? The only party with a really fresh way of approaching the problems we face is the Scottish Green Party. Only the Greens take climate change to the heart of all policy areas, tacking injustice whether social or environmental. I'll be voting for them on the regional vote and for the Council. Ben Mller, Edinburgh | |
| The likes of the Daily Record have been so scare mungering over the snp and very unbalanced in its reporting on the election, i am not against labour and understand this is a labour supporting paper but i believe the records biased reporting will backfire against labour, and encourage more people to consider the snp.steve, aberdeen | |
| Scotland will never reach political maturity until we have a Government that dosn't involve the mediocre Labour Party. I will be voting for the SNP and Scotland's future.Labour are yesterdays men and women.They have stifled this Country's prospects for too long.Gordon Clarkson, Edonburgh,Scotland | |
| It's a tragedy of the human condition that it seems so much easier for people to separate themselves from one and other rather than to try and be as one with their fellow humans. The acheivments of this country (Britain) over the last 300 years far outweigh it's problems and as we begin the new millenium I can't help feeling that people are letting their respective differences endanger future progress - or worse still take us backwards. This is an issue which affects the English, Welsh and Scottish. I despair at the actions of the current government which have damaged some of the most important values that British people hold close, certainly in the most recent term and put the integrity of the UK at risk in so doing. I sincerely hope the SNP and Plaid Cymru don't get what they want after the May elections and that the surviving UK government (if there is one) wake up and actually take their own country more seriously.Gareth, Aberystwyth, Wales | |
| The bedrock of the Nationalists is anti-monarchy, anti english, not a positive dynamic outlook, but one of dislike, not of appreciation of all that is good, so should be taken aboard. At least now they realise businesses have to be given help. I'm a Scot and pro Scot but think it retrogressive to break up. There is enough of that in the world.Blair of course is a no-go. McConnel is not an attractive-looking or sounding man, but much of what he's done is okay, except they do not realise we have to depend on vibrant businesses to get in the monies to give to those in need and what have they done for this? The bedrock of Liberals is spend spend spend and with 51 percent of Scots on the governemnt payroll who pays? HOW CAN WE PAY FOR GIVING EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE? Tories are a very unknown quantity. I admit to liking Annabel Goldie, heaven knows why, but what are they aiming to do? Why can't Liberals and Labour realise they rely on businesses to keep the economy going and we absolutely agree on a fair society, but there is not enough money for everything and they should not be so afraid of being unpopular that they cannot clearly say there is only enough money for THIS and not for THAT. And give clear and properly reasoned arguments for this decision? Who to vote for? I don't know!rosemary Morton, MONTROSE,Scotland | |
| I've absolutely had it with Labour. Our country kept them in power down south despite the votes from English Conservatives. They have been an absolute joke and continue to "invest" billions in a war which has killed thousands of innocent people for what, a few barrels of oil that the USA may throw our way! The money wasted on Iraq would have been better spent here in Scotland and the UK. The bile I have heard directed at the SNP has only reinforced my desire to get Labour out of Scotland and the SNP in. Good luck Mr.Salmond, you have my vote and my trust in your party to deliver policies in Scotland, for Scotland.Kevin Littlejohns, Edinburgh, Scotland | |
| I will be voting for the SNP next Thursday, as they are the only party to have Scotland at the heart of every policy, not what is dictated by London. What must be noted, this election is not about independence, its about choice between a continuation of the Lib/Lab consortium or an opportunity for change and to take Scotland forward. It will also give the people of Scotland a voice on independence thru a referendum.Scott Gemmell, Lesmahagow | I will be voting for the SNP next Thursday, as they are the only party to have Scotland at the heart of every policy, not what is dictated by London. What must be noted, this election is not about independence, its about choice between a continuation of the Lib/Lab consortium or an opportunity for change and to take Scotland forward. It will also give the people of Scotland a voice on independence thru a referendum.Scott Gemmell, Lesmahagow |
| OK let Scots go it alone. let them forget the words "united we stand, devided we fall" let them face the fact that VAT will have to increase to 25%, and a raft of other indirect taxes, will also hit Scottish pockets, just for the Nation to stand still. The SNP is a one and half man band! It does not have the managerial talent to run the country (not yet, at least) the SNP will no doubt gain a victory, but come the following election, they will loose, of that there is no doubt, they will be exposed for total mismanagement. The Scots will, see reason in the end, and the UK will once again become one of the greatest nations in the World.MarkElgin Mark, Elgin | OK let Scots go it alone. let them forget the words "united we stand, devided we fall" let them face the fact that VAT will have to increase to 25%, and a raft of other indirect taxes, will also hit Scottish pockets, just for the Nation to stand still. The SNP is a one and half man band! It does not have the managerial talent to run the country (not yet, at least) the SNP will no doubt gain a victory, but come the following election, they will loose, of that there is no doubt, they will be exposed for total mismanagement. The Scots will, see reason in the end, and the UK will once again become one of the greatest nations in the World.MarkElgin Mark, Elgin |
| Jack McConnel along with messers Blair and Brown have convinced me to vote SNP next week.Why because every interview they give includes Nat Bashing!Danny McIntosh, Beith,North Ayrshire | Jack McConnel along with messers Blair and Brown have convinced me to vote SNP next week.Why because every interview they give includes Nat Bashing!Danny McIntosh, Beith,North Ayrshire |
| Shame on Jack McConnell and Tony Blair. How dare they talk down Scotland. All this nonsense of we what we would lose. Lies and bluster from two very scared politicians. Ironically both of Scots birth.Let's give the SNP the only genuine "Scottish" Party a chance.Bill Beattie, Carluke | Shame on Jack McConnell and Tony Blair. How dare they talk down Scotland. All this nonsense of we what we would lose. Lies and bluster from two very scared politicians. Ironically both of Scots birth.Let's give the SNP the only genuine "Scottish" Party a chance.Bill Beattie, Carluke |
| In spite of media bias against the SNP there appears to be a growing opinion in Scotland that there is a need to disrupt the status quo. A vote for the SNP is the only way to do that. The after you 'George' nature of the unionist parties and their constant message that the Scots are too stupid to be responsible for their own future would have all the Race Relation Industry in the UK up in arms if it was Kenya and not Scotland. Blair and Brown's uttering's increasingly carry the stench of fear: one for his 'legacy' the other because he may well go down as the Scottish PM that brought about the end of the Union.Peter Thomson, Kirkcudbright | In spite of media bias against the SNP there appears to be a growing opinion in Scotland that there is a need to disrupt the status quo. A vote for the SNP is the only way to do that. The after you 'George' nature of the unionist parties and their constant message that the Scots are too stupid to be responsible for their own future would have all the Race Relation Industry in the UK up in arms if it was Kenya and not Scotland. Blair and Brown's uttering's increasingly carry the stench of fear: one for his 'legacy' the other because he may well go down as the Scottish PM that brought about the end of the Union.Peter Thomson, Kirkcudbright |
| What do you think of our panel's views? Use the form below to express your opinions. | What do you think of our panel's views? Use the form below to express your opinions. |