I say disturbing because the SNP's popularity goes way beyond what any other party has enjoyed in recent political history. No other party has ever dominated so completely.
When folk were expressing worries about a "one party state" back in May that could be explained away as due to voters' anger at perceived betrayal over the referendum result and "The Vow". To see the SNP further entrench their dominance at Holyrood seems to smack of a similar emotional populism, rather than voters coolly calculating who would best govern Scotland. The SNP's record in government is not spectacular: they've got some things right, but most of that is a continuation of Lab/Lib policies pre-2007. As "we" see, on transport for example they have got a lot wrong. There is also a distinctly authoritarian streak to the SNP.
We can deceive ourselves all we want that Scottish voters are more sophisticated, progressive, etc. I don't see that. Rather than hard headed rational voters looking at policies, I see a rather primitive, reactionary even, desire for "strong government" and a politics that is defined in opposition to Westminster: that's the SNP agenda through and through, hence their ideas have become hegemonic within Scottish society.
"The biggest surprise (for me at least) in that poll is how well the Greens appear to be doing. In the past "second vote Green" appealed to many voters who would vote for a different party in the constituency vote."
Which is great, but facing a hugely dominant governing party with an even more thumping majority, any opposition parties will really struggle to make any impact or put the brakes on the SNP juggernaut. I cannot imagine this will be good for Scottish democracy. Yes, I find it disturbing because without a properly functioning check on executive power, in a unicameral parliament the SNP will be able to ride roughshod over the objections of other parties, NGOs, local government, indeed anyone who disagrees with the party line.
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