Scottish Election 2007

The Scottish elections are coming up, and I who can't vote am fascinated. Being neither a British subject nor an EU citizen, I am ineligible and technically an alien on the voting register. This did not stop me participating in a telephone poll on my voting intention last week.

Partly this is because R. has already promised me her vote. She is an eligible EU citizen who canvassed and followed my voting preference last time, on the grounds that I was better informed, longer resident and more righteous to vote than her, as a more recent emigrant. Apparently she followed my wishes, far from her natural political centre of gravity.

If R. follows my directive again, we'll cast a tactical vote in the constituency election for whoever's second to Nigel Griffiths (Lab); probably the LibDem in South Edinburgh. The regional vote will be for the Greens, since the Sheridan debacle has so sadly divided the socialists into splitter camps. The argument that voting is a waste of time has some value, but spare a thought for those that might but can't.