With the election coming up, I thought it might be nice to get a few folk in to tell us who they are voting for and why – in about 100 words.  If only politicians could do so just as succinctly.  Anyway, here’s some reasons folk are voting a particular way:

Dr Jonathan Blackwood (Perthshire North): I am based in the seat of Perthshire North, and only the four main parties are standing for the constituency election. I will be voting for the SNP as the least bad option here- Alex Salmond is the only credible candidate for First Minister from the four big parties.  My positive vote, will be cast on the list for the Scottish Greens. They have outlined a genuinely radical programme, a really effective campaigner in Patrick Harvie, and are the only party, with any chance of elected representation, who aren’t shuffling cards from the same shabby, dog-eared neo-liberal pack.”

Doug Daniel (Aberdeenshire South & North Kincardineshire): I’m voting for the SNP in May primarily because I want Scotland to be independent, and we won’t even get a referendum until there is a majority of pro-independence parties in Holyrood. In the meantime, I think the SNP’s first foray into government has been largely successful. They’ve delivered more than anyone thought possible as a minority government, their management of our resources has been excellent (for the first time ever, I feel confident government projects have been properly costed – the cost of the parliament building would not have risen ten-fold under the SNP), and their few mistakes can be put down to inexperience. Also, tell me this: when was the last time a government went a full parliamentary term without a sleaze scandal? Perhaps most of all, Alex Salmond has led Scotland as if she were already independent – no more “best wee country” rubbish – and I know that while he is FM, further education will remain free, and no new nuclear power stations will be built on Scottish land. That’s why my two votes will go to Maureen Watt and the SNP.

“Set in Darkness” (Linlithgow): I’m finding it very hard to choose who to vote for. Of the 5 choices, I can immediately rule out the extremist parties like the National Front, the Conservatives and Labour [his words, not ours – EDs].  Tactically, I should probably vote for the SNP to evict the current Labour MSP, Mary Mulligan. Fiona Hyslop is doing a lot of work in the area, unlike the LibDem candidate who cannot be said to have a presence in the area. As someone who thinks localism is very important, this is a fatal problem.  But the SNP?  Can I vote for a pro-Trump, pro-bridge party?  I hope to get answers from the candidates on some questions before making my final decision.  On the list?  This localist, environmentally aware, anti-trump, anti-bridge, anti-nuclear voter will be voting … Pensioners. No!  Green! Damn, I’ve spoilt my ballot paper.

Paris Gourtsoyannis (Edinburgh Southern): Like at the last election, I’ll be proud to split my vote. Even if I support one party before others, I believe democracy is about plurality and I want diverse views in parliament. My constituency vote will be going to my local MSP, Mike Pringle. I’m a Lib Dem member, but this is a personal vote for Mike.  I’ve thought a lot about my second vote. I gave it to the SNP in 2007; overall, I’ve been impressed with their term in government, and I want to see an SNP-led administration after 5 May, not a Labour-led one. I’ve also got a lot of time for Shirley-Anne Somerville in particular, but this time I’ll be voting Green. I think they’re running the best campaign of all the parties, and Patrick Harvie is one of the best parliamentarians in the UK, let alone Scotland. I’d like to see more Green MSPs to help put him in a coalition government.

Indy (blog commenter): I’m voting SNP, firstly, because I support Scottish independence.  Secondly, because the SNP Government has done a good job and I trust them. Yes, there have been disappointments – class sizes, LIT -  but also big improvements in the health service, policing, support for small business and much more.  Thirdly, the next few years will be hard work. Scotland will need a government that treats every part of the country fairly and governs in the national interest, without fear or favour. The SNP are grown-up enough to rise to that challenge.  On the evidence of the past four years, Labour aren’t.

Daniel Juett (Aberdeen Central): I’ll be using both my votes to help get Martin Ford elected for the Greens.  Martin has already proved that if his party does something fundamentally against his views he will not support them. People talk of the Greens supporting Labour in building new nuclear power stations (which I think would never happen), even if it hell froze over and the Green Party supported the idea I know Martin Ford wouldn’t, having seen him stand up to Aberdeenshire Council, the Liberal Democrats and Trump we know he wouldn’t.  He’ll skip party press calls to attend council meetings to help protect Aberdeenshire’s children from the education cuts, cuts due to council tax freezes and a refusal to look at raising additional money to protect the most vulnerable.

Ross McCafferty (Greenock & Inverclyde): As a paid up member of the SNP, I could use this vehicle to give you the List with a massive capital L. But that’s plain for all to see. The definition of a Government is how it goes about its business, be that the Cross References paranoia of the Coalition, or the limp to the finish, gallows humour of the Brown years. I fully believe that the SNP has governed with a pragmatism, ideological strength, humility and dedication that many thought was impossible with the advent of minority government. Two sworn party enemies such as the SNP and Labour voting together on a matter as important as the budget could not have been envisaged – and in my view couldn’t have been achieved – without the strength of the SNP ministerial team. That we are considered the strongest team against the party that was the establishment in Scotland for 50 years is testament to the strength of our team.  I’ll leave you with indisputable words of Nicola Sturgeon: “We have by far and away the best candidate for the job of First Minister.”  I’ll be voting twice for the SNP.

Douglas McLellan (Midlothian South, Tweeddale & Lauderdale):  I’m voting for the Scottish Liberal Democrats for a number of reasons. My local MSP Jeremy Purvis is hard working and has responded well to all of the issues that his constituents have brought to him as well as the concerns my local community has sought his support on. Also, I want to show my support for the Lib Dems both in Scotland and Westminster. Finally, the manifesto in Scotland is bold and contains impressive ideas offer a different vision for Scotland. Devolution was about new ideas and that’s what the Scottish Liberal Democrats are offering the people of Scotland.

Aidan Skinner (Glasgow Kelvin): I’m voting Labour because I believe in public ownership where it makes sense, such as Scottish Water and possibly Scotrail. I believe in Co-operative and community ownership for everything from housing to power generation to start ups where employees benefit from their work. I’m voting Labour because I care about the future and think everybody needs to be able to read and have access to relevant training. I’m voting Labour because our planet’s important and Labour promises 80% of energy generated from renewables by 2020. I’m voting Labour because I’m a socialist and believe we achieve more together than apart.

Peter Warren (Edinburgh Northern & Leith): Working for an Independent MSP for the past 8 years you would expect me to say none of the Parties please, but you would be wrong. If my experience has taught me anything it is that the Parliament desperately needs independent thinkers. These brave souls, whoever they are can carry Party colours or not. The important thing for me is that they are able to analyse and assess each piece of business on its merits, not because it appears in a manifesto. For that reason alone, locally I will plump for Malcolm Chisholm, who may yet become a true independent.

John Whyte: I intend to use both of my votes for the Conservatives. While it may, in time, be proven wrong, I believe that the cuts program enacted by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition is the right course of action in our current economic situation and has helped to protect the nation as a whole from the catastrophes suffered in Ireland, Iceland and Portugal. I have also been impressed by the Conservatives’ constructive attitude towards the SNP minority government in Holyrood. I do not fear for an independent Scotland but do believe that we can achieve more as a constituent of the UK.

Thanks to all for their comments – I’m sure there’s plenty to think about in the above (including the absence of anyone voting Tory – if there are any, I’m happy to add them).  Also, kudos to Indy, Douglas, Aidan and Peter for doing it in EXACTLY 100 words.  Fair play – that’s what I asked for!