One thing that has become painfully obvious over the last few days is that the London establishment, including ITV, Sky News and quite possibly the BBC as well, are hellbent on crushing the SNP at this election, and aren’t much bothered about being seen to do so by illegitimate means. And I’m afraid some SNP supporters are being a tad naive in telling themselves that high-profile TV debates excluding the party will have little impact on voting intentions or somehow might even work in the SNP’s favour. The evidence from 2010 tells a very different story – the three-way Brown-Cameron-Clegg debates effectively became the whole campaign, and the SNP could only look on helplessly as the Cleggasm changed the trajectory of the campaign in Scotland as much as in the rest of the UK. It’s also naive to believe that intensive local campaigning can somehow offset the negative effect of a debate exclusion. If the broadcasters refuse to do the right thing, the SNP really ought to consider legal action, because it’s no exaggeration to say that it might just be the only way of rescuing their election chances.
That said, local campaigning is obviously very important as well, and the SNP are not on a level playing-field as far as funding is concerned – the Tories in particular can bring in riches from south of the border in a way that the SNP can’t. So, as I’ve done in previous general elections, I’ve put together a list of links to local SNP election fundraisers. It’s probably not exhaustive – feel free to point me in the direction of any I’ve missed.
GLASGOW NORTH-EAST – Anne McLaughlin
RUTHERGLEN & HAMILTON WEST – Margaret Ferrier
WEST ABERDEENSHIRE & KINCARDINE – Fergus Mutch
GORDON – Richard Thomson
NORTH-EAST FIFE – Stephen Gethins
EAST LOTHIAN – Kenny MacAskill
KIRKCALDY & COWDENBEATH – Neale Hanvey
OCHIL & SOUTH PERTHSHIRE – John Nicolson
DUMFRIESSHIRE, CLYDESDALE & TWEEDDALE – Amanda Burgauer
MORAY – Laura Mitchell
AYR, CARRICK & CUMNOCK – Allan Dorans
BERWICKSHIRE, ROXBURGH & SELKIRK – Calum Kerr
DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY – Richard Arkless
COATBRIDGE, CHRYSTON & BELLSHILL – Steven Bonnar
ANGUS – Dave Doogan
ABERDEEN SOUTH – Stephen Flynn
STIRLING – Alyn Smith
MIDLOTHIAN – Owen Thompson
EDINBURGH WEST – Sarah Masson
EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE – Amy Callaghan
LANARK & HAMILTON EAST – Angela Crawley
EDINBURGH SOUTH-WEST – Joanna Cherry
ROSS, SKYE & LOCHABER – Ian Blackford
GLASGOW EAST – David Linden
EAST RENFREWSHIRE – Kirsten Oswald
GLASGOW NORTH – Patrick Grady
PAISLEY & RENFREWSHIRE SOUTH – Mhairi Black
ABERDEEN NORTH – Kirsty Blackman
AIRDRIE & SHOTTS – Neil Gray
INVERNESS, NAIRN, BADENOCH & STRATHSPEY – Drew Hendry
DUNDEE WEST – Chris Law
PAISLEY & RENFREWSHIRE NORTH – Gavin Newlands
GLASGOW CENTRAL – Alison Thewliss
CENTRAL AYRSHIRE – Philippa Whitford
GLASGOW SOUTH-WEST – Chris Stephens
EDINBURGH EAST – Tommy Sheppard
CUMBERNAULD, KILSYTH & KIRKINTILLOCH EAST – Stuart MacDonald
NORTH AYRSHIRE & ARRAN – Patricia Gibson
GLASGOW SOUTH – Stewart McDonald
MOTHERWELL & WISHAW – Marion Fellows
KILMARNOCK & LOUDOUN – Alan Brown
There are a couple I haven’t included on the list because they seem to be closed after reaching their target – Catriona MacDonald in Edinburgh South and Paul Robertson in Banff & Buchan.
There’s also the option of donating to the SNP centrally HERE.
Of course, another vitally important thing that everyone can do apart from donating money is badger any potential SNP and/or independence supporter they know to register to vote at this link by the deadline of 26th November, if they’re not already registered. Young people and those who have recently moved house are particularly worth chasing up. And remember also that citizens of the Republic of Ireland who are resident in the UK, and citizens of all Commonwealth countries who are resident in the UK, are eligible to vote in general elections – but may not be aware of that fact. New Zealanders may be newly-receptive to the arguments for Scottish independence given what happened to the All Blacks a couple of weeks ago!
