I’ve heard this on almost every doorstep: “I like what you’re saying, William. But can an independent actually win?”
It’s a fair question. And I’m going to answer it honestly — not with spin, not with false promises, but with the facts about how this election works and why your vote for me is not wasted.
You have two votes. Use them both.
On 7 May, you will receive two ballot papers. This confuses a lot of people, so let me break it down simply.
Ballot paper one (lilac/purple): This is your constituency vote. It’s first past the post — the candidate with the most votes in Paisley wins. This is the one where my name appears. You put an X next to William Wallace, Independent.
Ballot paper two (peach/orange): This is your regional vote for the West Scotland region. You vote for a party or an independent candidate. This vote decides the seven additional “list” MSPs for our region. My name appears here too — but the constituency ballot is where your vote for me has the most impact.
The two votes are completely separate. You can vote for me on the constituency ballot and a different party on the regional ballot. They don’t affect each other.
“But can an independent actually win a constituency?”
Yes. It has happened before at Holyrood, and the conditions have never been more favourable.
Dennis Canavan won Falkirk West as an independent in 1999 and 2003. Jean Turner won Strathkelvin and Bearsden in 2003 on a campaign to save a local hospital. Margo McDonald won her Lothians list seat three times as an independent. These were not flukes — they were people with a strong local message who gave voters a genuine alternative.
The political landscape in 2026 is more fragmented than it has ever been. Trust in the main parties is at rock bottom. The SNP vote is softer than it was. Labour is weighed down by Westminster. The Tories and Lib Dems are not competitive in Paisley. Reform is drawing votes away from the right. There is a gap in the middle — a space for someone who says: I am not here for a party. I am here for Paisley.
That gap is my opportunity. And your vote is what fills it.
“But won’t I split the vote?”
This is the argument the parties use to scare you into line. “Vote for us or the other lot will get in.” It’s effective — but it’s a trap.
If you vote for a party you don’t believe in because you’re afraid of a party you believe in less, you haven’t voted. You’ve been managed. You’ve given your democratic voice to a machine that will take your vote, count it as endorsement of everything in their manifesto, and then ignore you for five years.
Your vote is yours. It belongs to you. If you believe that Paisley needs an independent MSP who will put this town first — vote for one. That is not a wasted vote. That is democracy working exactly as it should.
How to find me on the ballot paper
Candidates are listed alphabetically by surname. On the lilac constituency ballot paper, look for:
WALLACE, William — Independent
Put an X in the box next to my name. That’s it.
Practical information
Polling day: Thursday 7 May 2026
Polls open: 7:00am to 10:00pm
Where to vote: Your polling station is listed on your poll card. If you’ve lost it, you can find your polling station at renfrewshire.gov.uk/SPE2026. You do not need your poll card to vote — just turn up.
Postal votes: If you’ve applied for a postal vote, make sure it’s posted in time. The deadline for new postal vote applications has passed, but if you already have one, post it as early as possible.
Proxy votes: The deadline for new proxy vote applications is Tuesday 28 April by 5pm. If you can’t get to the polling station on the day, you can appoint someone to vote on your behalf.
ID: You will need to bring photo ID to vote. Accepted forms include a passport, driving licence, or a free Voter Authority Certificate. If you don’t have photo ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate — but do it now.
The ask
I’m not going to pretend this will be easy. The SNP have held Paisley for over a decade. The party machines have money, activists, and name recognition that I can’t match.
But I have something they don’t: I am free. Free from the whip. Free from the party line. Free to put Paisley first on every single vote.
If that’s what you want from your MSP, then on 7 May, put an X next to William Wallace.
And tell someone else to do the same.
William Wallace
Independent Candidate for Paisley
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