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Recent major surveys of the Scottish electorate and of Scottish National Party (SNP) members have revealed a distinct gender gap in support for the party. Men are markedly more likely than women to vote for the SNP and they comprise more than two-thirds of its membership. In this article, we use data from those surveys to test various possible explanations for the disproportionately male support for the SNP. While popular accounts have focused on the gendered appeal of recent leaders and on the party’s fluctuating efforts at achieving gender equality in its parliamentary representation, we find much stronger support for a different explanation. Women are less inclined to support and to join the SNP because they are markedly less supportive of its central objective of independence for Scotland. Since men and women barely differ in their reported national identities, the origins of this gender gap in support for independence presents a puzzle for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Through a study of local party adaptation to the introduction of the Single Transferable Vote (STV) in the 2007 Scottish local government election, this article asks whether party organisations can be strategic, vote-maximising actors when a new electoral system is introduced. By examining candidate and 'vote management' strategies, the article demonstrates that local parties tended to adapt best in areas of organisational and electoral strength. However, despite some comprehensive attempts to adapt to the STV system, parties were hampered by a lack of experience with the new system and a lack of adequate data upon which to base candidate and campaigning decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the impact of introducing STV for Scottish Local Government elections. The new electoral system has had a significant effect in terms of extending the principles of coalition politics, thereby presenting opportunities for all parties. Parties now work within the context of multi-party agreements in order to run Scotland's 32 councils. The myriad of party configurations or 'coalitions' to emerge from these STV elections stands in sharp contrast with the behaviour of parties at Holyrood, and with parties competing under FPTP rules. In this respect, STV has transformed party politics in Scottish local government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]