The fact that UKIP has one MP after landing 3.9 million votes, and the SNP 56 MPs (out of a possible 59) after landing far fewer votes is outrageous in democratic terms. But I’d like to point to another angle, which I haven’t seen covered by anyone.
The Wikipedia page on the SNP makes for interesting reading. I was particularly struck by this line:
In its economic and welfare state policies, the party has in recent years adopted a markedly feminist profile, influenced by thinkers such as Ailsa McKay.
Echoing this, one of Nicola Sturgeon’s initial actions as First Minister was to appoint a gender-balanced cabinet. What of the late feminist economist Ailsa McKay – she died last year – whose Wikipedia profile is here? From the profile page, referring to a time before Nicola Sturgeon succeeded Alex Salmond as First Minister:
First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond praised McKay’s “astonishing contribution as a feminist economist, both in arguing the case for women into work, and in being the principal author and arguer for many years for the transformation of childcare that will make that possible,” while Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described her as “an inspirational economist and feminist”.
Also in Ms McKay’s profile, Alex Salmond said this:
My regret is this, that I didn’t take forward Ailsa’s policies in my first ministerial stage.
Neither Salmond nor Sturgeon have children.
Both the SNP and the Labour party are radical feminist parties to their core. The SNP, through its success at the general election, taking many Labour seats, has gifted the Conservatives a majority government. What a delicious irony.
Indeed, the BBC must be in mourning.
Mike, have you noticed how Cameron is currently the only male leader of a major political party in the UK? 6 out of 7 are led by women.
‘…arguing the case for women into work, and in being the principal author and arguer for many years for the transformation of childcare that will make that possible’
There could be no better proof than this of the SNP’s Marxist-feminist credentials. This is the plank of Marxist economics. Get women into the workforce as contributors to the means of production and bring their children into social care provided by the state, thus undermining and diminishing the importance of the ‘bourgeois’ family with a man at its head (i.e. patriarchy) – thus allowing the state to take over in people’s lives.
I am so glad the English electorate (and to some degree the Welsh electorate) decisively rejected the threat from the SNP to govern them through a weak proxy – Miliband. A Tory majority was the only way to stop them, and it seems to me that the English and Welsh moved tactically to vote see them off irrespective of party-political loyalties.
Amazing!
Absolutely agree. I was delighted to see Labour crash so badly. As for SNP feminist policy, if anyone wants to see the effect on the quality of MPs that candidate selection based on sex rather than merit produces, they need look no further than the new MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire Mhairi Black a 20 year old student.
You made a great start in getting the message out in this election and even though you only received just over 200 votes I’m sure that the policies in your manifesto were read and endorsed in whole or in part by thousands.
I’ll certainly be giving support as you prepare for 2020
Interesting observations, Mike. There’s more about Sturgeon’s thoughts on “equality” in the opening minute or two of this video I made a while back. Part of the BBC’s politics livefeed unfortunately, so doubt there’s a direct link anymore. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgvOgQCIx5A