Scottish Voice

Infobox_Scottish_Political_Party
party_name = Scottish Voice
party_
leader = Archie Stirling
chairman =
foundation = 2007
ideology =
position = Centre-right
international =
european =
europarl =
colours =
headquarters = Keir Estate Office, Craigarnhall, Bridge Of Allan, Stirling, FK9 4NG
website = [http://www.scottishvoice.net/ www.scottishvoice.net]

A new centre-right political party, provisionally named the Scottish Democrats or Scottish Voice [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/tayside_and_central/6230365.stm BBC News Scotland] , 4 January 2007] , was launched in Scotland in February 2007. [ [http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/regulatory-issues/regpoliticalparties.cfm?frmGB=1&frmPartyID=736&frmType=partydetail Electoral Commission] ] [ [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=21712007 "Millionaire maverick plans 'what about us' party"] , "The Scotsman", 5 January 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." [ [http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=34152007 "New Scots party 'not founded to save UK'"] , "Scotland on Sunday", 7 January, 2007]

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 an 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 [ [http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=757&id=506422007 "Lib Dems offer SNP way out of independence impasse"] , "Scotsman", 2 April 2007] . 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 agents from Canada to support it [ [http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=505822007 "Stirling left speechless"] , "Scotsman", 2 April 2007] .

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.

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 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 this year. [ [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1384892007 "Election cost Scottish Voice £21.06 a vote"] ] This is equivalent of £21.06 for every vote. This made it the most expensive party per vote generated.

External links

* [http://www.scottishvoice.net/ Official website]
* [http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/regulatory-issues/regpoliticalparties.cfm?frmGB=1&frmPartyID=736&frmType=partydetail Party details] from the Electoral Commission website

References