Scottish Voice
Encyclopedia
A new centre-right
political party, provisionally named the Scottish Democrats or Scottish Voice, was launched in Scotland
in February 2007. The founder of the party is wealthy businessman and landowner Archie Stirling
. The party headquarters are at Craigarnhall, by the town of Bridge of Allan
, in the historical parish of Lecropt
.
Although Stirling personally is a Unionist, in a statement he said "The position of Scotland within the union is not central to this movement."
Many of the new party's supporters were formerly in the Scottish Conservatives
, but have found themselves in disagreement with it, particularly after its massive decline in Scottish politics in the 1980s and 1990s. At the beginning of April The Scotsman
website reported an opinion poll which suggested 21 per cent of voters could cast their regional vote for Scottish Voice. If this support had held until the Scottish Parliament election in May
they could have secured a regional list seat. Other news suggested that the Scottish Voice campaign was failing despite importing election agent
s from Canada
to support it.
Polling information published on the eve of the election by The Scotsman suggested there was considerably less support for Scottish Voice than the earlier quoted opinion poll. No minor parties, other than the Scottish Green Party
were returned in the election, and Scottish Voice failed to win any seats.
The Scotsman
reported on 31 August 2007 that figures published by the Electoral Commission
revealed Scottish Voice spent £184,920 on its campaign for the Scottish elections that year. This is equivalent of £21.06 for every vote. This made it the most expensive party per vote generated.
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
political party, provisionally named the Scottish Democrats or Scottish Voice, was launched in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in February 2007. The founder of the party is wealthy businessman and landowner Archie Stirling
Archie Stirling
Archibald Hugh Stirling, of Keir, more commonly known as Archie Stirling is Laird of the Keir estate at Lecropt in the Stirling council area in Scotland....
. The party headquarters are at Craigarnhall, by the town of Bridge of Allan
Bridge of Allan
Bridge of Allan is a town in Stirling council area in Scotland, just north of the city of Stirling. It was formerly administered by Stirlingshire and Central Regional Council....
, in the historical parish of Lecropt
Lecropt
Lecropt is a rural parish lying to the west of Bridge of Allan, Scotland.The population of the parish of Lecropt is estimated to be around 75, consisting entirely of isolated farms and houses, as well as the Keir Estate owned by the landed Stirling family...
.
Although Stirling personally is a Unionist, in a statement he said "The position of Scotland within the union is not central to this movement."
Many of the new party's supporters were formerly in the Scottish Conservatives
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
The Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party is the part of the British Conservative Party that operates in Scotland. Like the UK party, it has a centre-right political philosophy which promotes conservatism and strong British Unionism...
, but have found themselves in disagreement with it, particularly after its massive decline in Scottish politics in the 1980s and 1990s. At the beginning of April The Scotsman
The Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
website reported an opinion poll which suggested 21 per cent of voters could cast their regional vote for Scottish Voice. If this support had held until the Scottish Parliament election in May
Scottish Parliament election, 2007
The 2007 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the third general election to the devolved Scottish Parliament since it was created in 1999...
they could have secured a regional list seat. Other news suggested that the Scottish Voice campaign was failing despite importing election agent
Election agent
In elections in the United Kingdom, as well as in certain other similar political systems such as India's, an election agent is the person legally responsible for the conduct of a candidate's political campaign and to whom election material is sent to by those running the election. In elections in...
s from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to support it.
Polling information published on the eve of the election by The Scotsman suggested there was considerably less support for Scottish Voice than the earlier quoted opinion poll. No minor parties, other than the Scottish Green Party
Scottish Green Party
The Scottish Green Party is a green party in Scotland. It has two MSPs in the devolved Scottish Parliament, Alison Johnstone, representing Lothian, and Patrick Harvie, for Glasgow.-Organisation:...
were returned in the election, and Scottish Voice failed to win any seats.
2007 Election Results
Scottish Voice received a total of 8,782 votes across the whole of Scotland and this resulted in no Scottish Voice MSPs being elected.The Scotsman
The Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
reported on 31 August 2007 that figures published by the Electoral Commission
Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)
The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections...
revealed Scottish Voice spent £184,920 on its campaign for the Scottish elections that year. This is equivalent of £21.06 for every vote. This made it the most expensive party per vote generated.
External links
- Official website
- Party details from the Electoral CommissionElectoral Commission (United Kingdom)The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections...
website