By Professor of Media Politics, Dr John Robertson, SSP Member (2024), Research Ethics Chair, Faculty of Business and Media, University of the West of Scotland, 2016 (rtd)
In the 2021 Holyrood Election, the Scottish Greens won 8.1% of the Regional vote and earned 8 MSPs. The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) which had 6 MSPs back in 2003 did not participate and the Alba Party did not exist at that point.1
Opinion Polls do not include the SSP and those which do include Alba, typically, have them at between 1 and 3%, o.64% in the latest Survation poll, too low to win any MSP places. Recent polls have the Greens dangerously down at between 3 to 6%.2
Before proceeding let me be clear (like politicians say). I know and respect many good people in the SNP, Alba and the Greens. I fully understand their reasons for joining and staying. I’d love to see the SNP wipe the slate in the Constituency vote and would welcome Green and Alba representation in Holyrood, but most of all, for me, the drive for Scottish independence and democratic socialism belong together, nurture each other, make victory possible and that needs the full-time democratic socialists of the SSP in Holyrood.
This poll of 445 (as of 15:36) from the 11 000 or so following Talking-up Scotland is not based on a scientifically constructed sample but is self-selecting and given the opening statement that is likely to have increased the SSP response. However, it has the advantage of polling quite a large number [pollsters usually have a sample of only 2 000 to represent the whole UK electorate of 48 million!] ]of mostly pro-independence supporters, the group most of interest in establishing the level of support for a party, fully pro-independence and with left-of-centre, common sense, policies such as on poverty, inequality, cost-of-living and state control of utilities, which are known to be popular, from several polls, across the country and among different socio-economic groups.
In addition, given the almost complete non-coverage of the SSP and its policies by media, compared with that given to the Greens, Alba and Reform, with their high profile, Question Time-invited, leaders, greater awareness of the SSP might, over time, make that 17% seem modest.
Were the SSP to win 17% of the regional vote in 2021, having put up enough candidates across Scotland, that could translate into 16 MSP posts. A group of that size would be essential for the SNP to govern and at the same time enable the SSP to nudge policy to the left.
I appreciate there is much conjecture here and look forward to comment.
Link to SSP3
Sources:
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
The SSP and ALBA have been grounded by the refusal of SNP to work with them , regretably i have concluded that voting for the SNP perpetuates this split in the Scottish independence movement i can therefore say quite categorically that until we dump the SNP they will not change , i really hope that those people who want Scottish independence cote for the SSP or ALBA and not the SNP , its appears to be the only way to chamge the behaviour of the SNP but at the same time t increases the risk that the english party,s labour conservative and lib den will again take control of the majority of seats in Holyrood Scottish parliament .SNP must know this , if Scottish undependence was their primary policy they would have teamed up with ALBA and SSP long before now , i fear they have been usurped by the britnats in the same way the laboyr party has been usurped by tories.I say dump SNP lets go for ALBA and SSP.
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I look forward to more info on the SSP, I’d give them my 2nd vote…if they are really pro indy 100%. I can see why folks are miffed with the SNP, and I’m not sure about Swinney re the 2026 election (yikes), but they and say the SSP should start talking to each other about where they stand should SSP win that 16 seats. Iv’e seen nothing positive from ‘Alba’ to convince me they are pro indy and would work with the SNP if required, just negative stuff about SNP gov and quite frankly, it’s not helpful to say the very least.
It’s still a confusing voting system that the EngGov imposed on Scotland though, no doubt for a reason and we know it’s designed to never allow an SNP majority. Worst would be the English HQ’d parties, LabCons Tories and Libdems, taking control by forming a coalition, doesn’t bear thikning about.
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your article just proves how unreliable our media is- no mention of SSP anywhere. Focus is all on the English Reform party, and ” internal conflict” within SNP.
Alba are unelectable at the minute- and based on the attack dog behaviour of many of its supporters I don’t see that changing, certainly not after the death of Alex Salmond.
But SSP sings to the very heart of Scotland. What can be done to raise awareness?
Until we have our own broadcasting service we are stuck with the status quo.
SNP 1 SSP 2?
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