Twitter voter split on Greens/SNP offered cake bribe

A SELF-CONFESSED “floating voter”, who declared her uncertainty over whether to vote for the SNP or the Greens on Twitter, has been wooed by leaders of both parties in a very modern piece of campaigning.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon appeared to lose out to Scottish Greens leader Patrick Harvie in a tug of war to win a floating voter's allegiance by offering her cake. Picture: Twitter

After Katie McGarvey confessed her indecision, Nicola Sturgeon and Patrick Harvey made direct pleas for her alliegance.

But the wily Ms McGarvey, tweeting as @KatieKhaleesi, played the two leaders off of each other – much like her Game Of Thrones-referencing Twitter handle – and appeared to secure a pledge for her ultimate prize: cake.

“Thinking of joining a party in run up to Scottish elections to help campaign properly,” wrote Ms McGarvey on the social networking site. “Heart says Green, head says SNP.”

Ms Sturgeon replied: “I accept I might be a bit biased...but I hope I can persuade you to make it @theSNP.”

Ms McGarvey, courting Mr Harvie for a rival offer, suggested a future headline: “Green Vote Soars As (Fair Trade) Chocolate Sent To All Floating Voters”.

Mr Harvie, playing his trump card, wrote: “I’ve been known to bake a cake for branch meetings. Would that do?”

Apparently not, as McGarvey later wrote: “I don’t mean to criticise Pat Harvie and Nicola Sturgeon, but I’m now more torn than ever over who to join #yousearebadatthis”

Nicola Sturgeon and Patrick Harvie. Picture: John Devlin

Sensing defeat, the First Minister wrote: “That’s a low blow, Patrick - striking at the heart of my inability to bake cakes!!”

At the time of writing, the tug-of-war over Ms McGarvie’s vote (and sweet tooth) is still going on. Labour, via interim leader Kezia Dugdale and former Better Together campaign chief Blair McDougall, have now muscled in with their own confection offers.