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Testing Times Activities
Activities for Standard Grade and Intermediate 1. ‘The whole function of an election campaign is to meet and speak to as many people as possible.’ Andrew Wilson, Scottish National Party candidate List the different ways in which Andrew Wilson attempted to do this. 2. Study the three bar charts (seats won on first vote, seats won on second vote, total seats won). 
Explain each of the following statements: a) ‘After the election, the Labour Party needed the support of the Liberal Democrat MSPs to form a coalition government.’ Kirsty Wark b) ‘We came second... We are now the opposition party in the first Scottish Parliament.’ Alex Salmond, Scottish National Party c) ‘I would have loved to have members in the Scottish Parliament who represent constituencies.’ David McLetchie, Scottish Conservative Party 3. Study the statements below, then answer the question which follows. ‘Four daily newspapers supported the Labour Party (The Scotsman, The Scottish Express, Daily Record, The Scottish Sun). Two supported parties who backed the union of Scotland and England (Scottish Daily Mail, Dundee Courier and Advertiser) and two papers didn’t back anybody (The Herald and the Press and Journal). No major daily supported SNP, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Scottish Conservatives, Green Party or Scottish Socialist Party.' ‘We’ve done well without getting the media exposure that the rest of the parties got. I shudder to think how well we could have done if we even had a fraction of that coverage.’ Tommy Sheridan, Scottish Socialist Party Do you agree with the view of Tommy Sheridan? Your conclusions must use the sources above but may also include other evidence. Activities for Higher Outcome 1 1. What evidence is there that the result in the 1999 elections to the Scottish Parliament was fair? 2. What was the reaction of each of the following political parties to the results of the 1999 elections to the Scottish Parliament? Conservative Party; Liberal Democrats; Labour Party; Scottish National Party (SNP). Outcome 2 1. Examine the view that the 1999 elections to the Scottish Parliament provide further evidence that the Labour Party has a strong hold on power throughout the United Kingdom. 2. ‘The media had a major influence on voters during the 1999 elections to the Scottish Parliament.’ Discuss. Further Enquiry 1. ‘Opposition parties have a habit of becoming governments.’ Alex Salmond, Scottish National Party Work in pairs. Find evidence to support and to oppose this view. (You may wish to study local or national elections in Scotland, the UK or some other country.) 2. Visit the website of one of the following political parties: Find out about two policies of your choice. Give a short report on your findings to the class.
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