Mhairi Black: I understand why progressive left voters won't back SNP

We are beyond the point of parody, with government ministers making two grand on suspiciously accurate election bets; Labour candidates admitting they have wanted the Tories to win and even betting against themselves; and with a media surprised that Nigel Farage is finding success despite decades of providing a platform for him to promote his nonsense.

I have previously written about the dangers which follow the collapse of the Conservative Party. Don’t get me wrong, enjoy their downfall and take a moment to celebrate ridding ourselves of one of the most incompetent, bigoted, and corrupt governments we have ever seen, but brace yourself for what likely follows.

If, as is expected, Farage’s Reform find themselves the dominant conservative opposition voice in the Commons, then the diet racism, bigotry and misogyny we are used to from Sunak’s Tories will very quickly turn to full-fat racism, bigotry and misogyny.

Nigel Farage's Reform party have been criticised for their links to fascists

History has made it perfectly clear that growing inequality, poorer health, lack of housing and lack of hope and opportunity forms the perfect breeding ground for bigotry of all kinds. Emotionally and financially crippled people are too preoccupied trying to survive to keep a watchful eye on what the people in power are telling them.

It becomes easier for bad actors to convince them that the reason they cannot get a house is not because of the Government failing to build enough houses, but rather, it’s because of the asylum seeker fleeing the very bombs which we have built.

The reason you are working yourself into an early grave is not because of a political class determined to hoard wealth and power, but rather it is because of the single mother across the road with addiction issues. 

So, whilst Reform drag Britain to the far-right, with the Tories acting like an irritating younger sibling trying to imitate, now more than ever we need the so-called “left” to be as effective and as defiant as possible. Some would say the incoming Labour government will be just that, but the facts say different.

As we endure this last week of the election period, the richest campaign claim so far has to be the Labour Party’s constant offering of “change”.  Cap bankers’ bonuses? Nah. Scrap nuclear weapons? Nah. Invest in our drowning public services? Nah. Get rid of the rape clause? Nah. Admit the damage Brexit has caused, and is still causing? Nope. End the racist dog whistles when it comes to immigration and asylum seekers? Not a chance. 

The reason given by Sir Keir Starmer, and whichever Labour politician is trotted out any given week is “we don’t want to promise things we can’t deliver”. It would be a refreshing sentiment if it wasn’t so politically convenient.

I admire how it is said with a straight face because it didn’t stop Sir Keir promising whatever he had to in order to become leader of the Labour Party, only to break his word the moment he held power in his hands.

Labour entered this campaign promising to abolish the House of Lords, only to last week announce that they hope to stuff it with more unelected peers. Knowing that in a few short days they will be moving into Number 10, the row back of expectations is in full swing.

READ MORE: Labour criticised for 'U-turning' on plans to abolish the House of Lords

If you want to do whatever you can to prevent this drift to the right, then it has to be a vote for the SNP or the Greens.

From first-hand experience I know how vital it is to have left-wing voices in Westminster saying the things the Labour Party should be saying, but won’t. In Scotland we are blessed with more electoral choice than elsewhere.

The reality is that, in Scotland, that other option is predominantly the SNP. In saying that, I understand fully, and cannot criticise, progressives on the left who feel the SNP are undeserving of their vote.

All I can say is, as always, find out what your candidates stand for and vote for who you believe in most.