The Times website has an "exclusive" claiming that Alba are making a 'Scotland United' electoral pact the price of any support for Humza Yousaf in the no confidence vote. Some people are interpreting that as a demand that is intentionally so unpalatable for the SNP that it's actually meant to be rejected, in other words that Alba have already made up their minds to vote against Yousaf and are just working their way through the pre-vote choreography. But this may be one of those occasions where it's worth looking beyond the headline and reading the details of the article, because what Alex Salmond said was more conversational and open-ended than you might realise, and at least for now I think it remains an open question whether he has been interpreted correctly.
Mr Salmond even goes out of his way to suggest that an electoral pact for the general election may not actually be possible at this stage because candidates have already been selected. He goes on to say he might want to have a discussion about a pact for Holyrood 2026, but the wording is vague enough that I'm not convinced he's deliberately making impossible demands. And although the electoral pact issue is described as "top line", elsewhere in the interview he describes independence itself as the "number one priority".
My question would be this: if Yousaf concedes the referendum legislation that Ash Regan has argued for, and makes some sort of concession on the rights of women and girls, but refuses an electoral pact, would - or should - Alba say that's not enough? I doubt it. The referendum in particular would be a monumental win for Alba and it would be crazy to spurn it. But that may be an academic point, given how the usual suspects are lining up to demand that Yousaf treat Alba as complete untouchables.
I'll actually be happy enough if Alba end up voting to remove Yousaf in the coming days, but only as long as it's done surgically and doesn't topple the government or trigger an early election. As Tyrannical Theresa might put it, now is not the time for that. Although, as we now know beyond all doubt, no time was ever the right time for Humza Yousaf to be First Minister of Scotland and leader of the independence movement.
The SNP better be careful they aren’t blindsided by a WM GE happening before they’ve got around to choosing a new leader
ReplyDeleteBrian
The SNP has no intention of choosing a new leader before the GE.
DeleteThat's nice, but the captain of the Titanic had every intention of getting the ship to New York.
Delete"Has The Times misrepresented ..."
ReplyDeleteDo bears make policy in the woods?
You can't boil an egg without breaking the omlet
DeleteToo many Cooks spoil the BBC.
DeleteHumza has just ruled out a pakt with the Alba party according to news sources tonight.
ReplyDeleteI am actually starting to wonder if it wouldn’t be better for Forbes (or whoever!) to launch a leadership challenge in advance of the VONC.
ReplyDeleteIt would give loads of “SNP divided!” headlines, but those would only last until a new leader was inevitably elected. And it’s not like the SNP are going to be getting glowing headlines in the absence of a challenge right now.
Humza’s biggest downfall now is that he looks weak on a level that’s impossible to recover from. The next FM seizing the initiative to decisively topple him would make them much more formidable right off the bat.
Bring him down, Forbes. Don’t delay.
Forbes knows to wait until someone else does that or he resigns himself.
DeleteAbsolutely. The MSPs already disapprove of her, so she’s wise to stand back until she’s called for. Her time will come.
DeleteShe will need to reshape the snp and retire/expel the worst of the sturgeonite MPs if they defy her.
DeleteI doubt that the parliament would vote her in as FM. The Greens hate her. I doubt that even all of the SNP MSPs would vote for her.
DeleteI don't think you understand how the First Minister is elected. Alex Salmond was elected in 2007 with just 47 votes out of 129. Forbes would have no problem.
DeleteI've got a nasty feeling that Yousaf and the Greens will be patching things up in the coming days. For a not particularly nice analogy, the Greens will be the poor, pathetic wife who takes back her violent, abusive husband because she can't live without him. It's sickening to watch from the outside.
ReplyDelete'I still love you, only slightly less than I used to'.
Actually, doesn’t a humiliating public eviction count as a Hate Crime under the new law? I’m almost being serious!
Deleteyeah greens had a hissy fit - now cooling off as reality sets in - humza now realising bute house agreement protected him more than the greens
ReplyDeleteI can't see much sign of cooling off. Somebody interpreted Patrick Harvie saying they wouldn't install a Tory government as "cooling off" but that was just a statement of the obvious. They're still out to replace Humza.
DeleteHY is just incredibly bad at politics. He has ended up alienating everyone. If his party sticks with him (?) he does have options, even now, but can he chart a path forward that doesn’t end in calamity… not sure. Obviously, all his MSPs back him at VONC, but that won’t be enough now to stave off defeat, as things stand.
ReplyDeleteIf he just lets this drift on then we could end up with an early election by default of him ruling out all other options. Good luck to the SNP, Charge of the Light Brigade levels of losses incoming, if that’s the case.
Should have chosen Kate. She’ll hold her fire for, as Napoleon said, don’t interrupt an opposition general as he’s busy making mistakes (rough paraphrase).
Brian
Has he “grown into the rôle” yet? 😉
DeleteHumza was selected by Nicola to manage the SNP’s decline and to make her look good in comparison. He has succeeded in that task a little faster than planned. She wanted her Major or Brown. Turns out he’s Liz Truss.
Lies of course by the Brit Nat -I’ll do my masters bidding. R u a Starmer or Sunak follower?
DeleteEh? Can’t you see he’s wounded and floundering? Indy’s off the cards until this bùrach is put to sleep for good.
DeleteInteresting how my brain still jumps at any glimmer of hope. Anon @ 8:41 makes the point that the Murrells set Humza up to fail, screwed him over .
DeleteAs we know Humza is a man who seeks revenge, goes back on his word and doesn't play well with others. Maybe before he gets punted he might consider making some of those secrets public, either to try to save his arse or push certain people under a bus out of spite.
Now that would be mighty tasty…
DeleteThe referendum Bill would be a very good basis for a deal, and the pro Independence electorate would certainly approve this.
ReplyDeleteThere is no need to insist on the united front pact, the candidates have already been selected anyway
The referendum bill appeals to me a lot. It’s actually what Salmond had planned back in 2011 before Cameron warmed to section 30. It gives us the advantages of a referendum without the explicit consent of a fearful London government. Its only weakness is the “supreme court” striking it down, citing Nicola’s failed case as precedent. I don’t see any good way out of that, and it seems highly likely.
DeleteWhat day are the motions scheduled on? And which one is voted first, Tory or Labour?
ReplyDeleteCan’t remember if it was when Boris Johnson or Liz Truss went(or maybe on both occasions), Sturgeon describing it as a democratic outrage that a GE wasn’t called(and that was with a big Tory majority).
ReplyDeleteIt goes without saying, if Yousaf goes, there’ll be no calls of “outrage” from Nationalists if these charlatans are allowed to limp on for another two years.
Much as I personally hate the Scottish Green Party, the fact is they are on a strong position right now and have little incentive to do a deal again with HY, as suggested above. If it comes to a fresh early election, they will likely gain seats even as SNP takes the big hit in representation.
ReplyDeleteBrian
They are good in terms of standing up for climate change, anti-hate, and LGBTQ+ rights especially the most marginalised.
DeleteAs a Yesser, I feel a lot more marginalised than any of they do.
DeleteCan’t see the Greens gaining seats if they’re seen as responsible for bringing down the government. James or others who are keeping up a bit more than me might say otherwise, but they surely have to have some sh*te on their shoe from all this?
ReplyDeleteI think some SNP supporters are being a bit naive about this. From the public's perspective it looks like the Greens have just been randomly dumped for no particular reason. It's hard to see how their own voters are going to blame them.
DeleteYes, absolutely. HY pulled plug, not them. They were unlucky in seats last time given their % vote. Young and woke Yes voters may switch over to their performative version of politics from the SNP. Despite being useless at getting anything practical ever done, SGP nicely set the electorally. If I were Lorna et al then I’d be saying: bring it on. Yuck.
DeleteBrian
I am one of a group of seven who meet each Friday for discussion and poetry. We are all committed Indy supporters. Four of us were SNP members and resigned over the last two years. We all voted SNP Constituency and Green List at the last Holyrood elections. We were all reconsidering our position on the list vote because of the incompetence of the Greens and the hugely divisive and toxic rhetoric coming from elements within the Green Party. They were trying to hold the SG hostage over the Bute House Agreement, and leaving the SG looking weak and overly reliant on the greens. The MSM would have had a field day. Something had to give. What else could Yousaf have done? The list vote is in the balance. If (when?) the greens support the no confidence motion, they lose all seven of our list votes. Anecdotal I know, but conversations with others in the pub suggest the greens are going to take a tanking on the list vote at the next Holyrood elections if things pan out as seems probable. I did not want Yousaf as leader, but we got him, and I will support him unless he is removed by democratic means. It’s wait and see and everything else is speculation at this stage by Indy supporters, and wishful thinking by unionists.
DeleteI meant to put my initials in the post immediately above. S M
DeleteAnonymous at 1255 asks “what else could Yousaf have done?” He could have announced the abandonment of the gender bill and announced necessary changes to the Hate Crime legislation. The Greens would have had to walk away and he would have appeared decisive and in sympathy with the vast majority of voters.
DeleteHe could have done that but thankfully didn’t.
DeleteHe managed the impressive combo of pissing off the Greens while remaining hostile to the gender-sensible majority.
DeleteAnonymous at 1255 asks “what else could Yousaf have done?” He could have announced the abandonment of the gender bill
DeleteAbandon it how? It's already been passed by Holyrood (and blocked by the Scottish Office)
Keaton. I think you intended to respond to anon at 1.37?
DeleteI did. I was quoting his quote of anon at 1.37
DeleteThe SNP do have a salient point that Alaba candidates have never won any election, for anything, and if they agreed to that party's demands, they would look insane - like negociating with the Pensioner's Party. Alaba also look all over the place. Who makes up their policy? And, Regan's 'referendum' proposal, along with the rest of her 'demands' are as silly and pointless as Ash Regan is (if nationalist partys win a majority of votes in an election, the government would ask for a referendum? FFS, what's new? Say you like women's rights? Good grief. Say thay you will be 'competent'. Oh fuck off). That's the concrete demands from the Alaba Party at their only opertunity, so they are a useless bunch.
ReplyDeleteWhy are you calling it Alaba? Are you mocking Gaelic pronunciation? As for never having won an election, that's also the case for the SNP under Yousaf. They haven't even won a local by-election since he took over.
DeleteNegotiating with Alba seems a bad option for Humza. Better to stick to greens.
DeleteSorry James, I should have made that clearer: Alaba candidates have never won any election, for anything, by a long way, ever. And if you are happy with Gaelic spelling for an English word, why be unhappy with the English spelling for a Gaelic word.
DeleteBut it's not the English spelling for a Gaelic word. It's your own deliberate mis-spelling. I ask again - why are you doing it? To mock the Gaelic language? And perhaps I should have made it clearer: SNP candidates under Yousaf have never won any election, for anything, by a long way, ever.
DeleteMy mother is a gael and is used to people being condescending towards the language. Water off a ducks back but I do feel sorry for people who want to denigrate others.
DeleteWhere is Alba spelled Alaba in English lol?
DeleteIt's literally never spelled like that?
It's interesting to note that the extra vowel sound between consonants
Deleteas in Alba is common in Gaelic and Irish . Also in Scots , presumably a Celtic influence . Examples are Scots / Scots English Girl , Iron and many others. Alba was the original Pictish name for Scotland. Some folk say the whole Island was called Alba meaning white in old Celtic and Latin. After the cliffs of Dover! Pity those dam Angles and Saxon messed ut all up.
When the Romans came, they came to a Celtic Britain. As far as I’m concerned, the (Anglo-Saxon) English misappropriated the name. The language we spoke in lowland Scotland then was closer to Welsh than Irish. Yet we Celts were driven to the “fringe” of our own homeland when the Germanic tribes came in the Middle Ages.
DeleteI’ve learned Gaelic in recent years. The pronunciation of Alba is echoed in many other words, and reminds me very much of the way we say words like “film” and “morn” in Scots/English. Our history is long and lives on with us.
Alaba also look all over the place. Who makes up their policy? And, Regan's 'referendum' proposal, along with the rest of her 'demands' are as silly and pointless as Ash Regan is (if nationalist partys win a majority of votes in an election, the government would ask for a referendum? FFS, what's new?
DeleteThat isn't the proposal, though. Also, the pejorative spelling of the party name is "Abla". Get it right
How is it right that Humza treats Greens like this and then tries to get them to vote for him?
ReplyDeleteExactly. Even I can see that, though I despise them.
DeleteBrian
“But we can still make up, babe. I love you!”
DeleteListening to Salmond. Oh heck. To think I once looked up to this guy and supported his election.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/46/notes/division/3/4
ReplyDeleteReading the above legislation, it would suggest that if a Scottish GE was to be called now for example, the elected government would sit only until May'26 (ie 5 years from the last scheduled Scottish GE.)
Perhaps James may be able to elaborate.
Thanks,
Michael.
That's exactly right. It's only if an early election gets called within a few months of the scheduled election that the scheduled election gets cancelled. Not really sure what the logic for that is, but that's how it works.
DeleteThis is designed to limit cut and run politics.
DeleteCut taxes and run for re-election? Isn’t that what London does, and frankly everyone?
DeletePerhaps someone kept notes about the debate at the time. Many things about devolution, however, strike me as “here’s your pretendy parliament, don’t get ideas above your station” from the Brits. Even calling Scotgov the “executive” as if it was a parish council was a sneering move, well fixed on day one by Salmond.
I want independence with all my heart but it sort of feels like we're not in a strong position to be putting forward the legislation right now.
ReplyDeleteIt's like showing your cards before the flop.
We’ve not been in a strong position since Nicola dropped the ball. The polling is okay but the passion and self-belief are nothing like they were before Covid. We need an inspiring leader with a plan we can believe in.
DeleteRoss Greer who is now a rising star of the Green party these days announced in an important podcast yesterday that if Douglas Ross's VONC in HY is successful (and the Greens will certainly vote for it after HY treated them so disrespectfully) then in all reality he would be replaced making Anas Sarwar's VONC in SG a completely different matter (and the Greens therefore may not vote for it).
ReplyDelete-- Derek
Hi Derek
DeleteReplaced how? With an appointed SNP person to that role, or via a SNP election?
It would be a really bad time to hold the latter.
Thanks, Brian
I just don't know. But Greer does know how thing work so his comments are interesting. Ross Greer also added that if they replaced HY with KF then SGP could not support Scottish Government in VONC.
Delete--Derek
DeleteI think Greer is up to some tactically wishful thinking. What if Humza doesn’t resign? What if the party membership is consulted, as they should be, with a full leadership election; as they were when Nicola resigned? What if Humza is the only choice available for a month or more? What will the greens do then?
DeleteThey’ll be humiliated. Either the Greens, the SNP, or both.
It all could have been so much better if the SNP numpties had voted for Regan to be the party leader. The only candidate out of the three who actually wants independence. Instead we got continuity chump foisted on us. It's your mess SNP chumps - own it.
ReplyDeleteDon't think Regan is strong on LGBTQ+.
DeleteIfS - Regan got my 2nd vote, Kate got my first. Regan never really had a realistic chance of winning. Kate would have won had she not blown herself out of the water with her rant at Humza at the conclusion of the STV debate. Kate would have been the correct choice but her time may well be coming.
DeleteWell I went to the hustings and Regan is nothing short of an embarrassment. No wonder spoke this morning telling us what he will tell regan to do.
DeleteAnon at 11.58am - your post is an embarrassment.
DeleteAnon at 11.56 am - " Regan never had realistic chance of winning" - that just shows that it ain't just the leadership of the SNP that are devolutionalists. Forbes showed in the hustings she had no interest in independence.
Delete... as are you IfS...lol
DeleteThanks Derek, thanks IFS
ReplyDeleteMy candidate was and always will be Forbes, if she stands. Never Humza.
Anyway, that’s by the by. The question is what happens next. I strongly suspect Forbes will not stand for leader &/or FM this time around, she’s no reason to.
Being called a chump is very mild for the blind forums, so I’ll take that ;-)
This is objectively a mess, regard who made it so. Time for damage limitation, meaning let’s delay any party election until after the WM GE.
How?
Thanks, Brian
* online forums
ReplyDeleteFrom the National:
ReplyDelete"“Given that I never made that proposal in the first place, that was an overwrite in a Sunday newspaper, we're not particularly bothered by that," Salmond said. " (about the electoral pact])
Salmond always did have a mischievous sense of humour. And of course he owes the BBC nothing, absolutely nothing.
Still the simple fact is that most female’s dont like him and they have a vote.cheeky chaps no more. Personally I think a SGE would be good to clear our dross and co
ReplyDeleteHumza Yousaf is growing into the role and showing sureness-of-touch. He made a great speech at conference. The Greens adore him. We can all agree.
ReplyDeleteI'll have some of whatever you're on.
DeleteThe Greens are defo adoring fans of his now.
DeleteBiggest thing Humza will dee is in his breeks.
ReplyDeleteThose who think ALBA and SNP cannot team up are wrong , those who think that ALBA and SNP should not team up are not interested in what is best for Scotland and in particular getting Scottish Independence .Its a no brainer for ALBA and SNP to team up and work together on acheiving Scottish independence yes that one thing is of greater importance than all the reasons the nae sayers come away with when they say they dont want ALBA and SNP to team up , things like i dont like Yousaf i dont like Sturgeon i dont like Salmond bla bla bla idiotic selfish closed minded things that the english love because its exactly those kind of things that antone wanting to scupper Scottish independence would dream up which funnily enough is exactly what england has beeb doing around the world for hundreds of years and is still doing in Northern Ireland and Scotland it is incredible how people fall into the trap set by BBC SKY Ch4 and the british radio stations and english newspapers ( there are no Scottish newspapers now ).Before Salmond was taken to court some Scottish people hated him they were glad when he was taken to court but hated him even more when he was not found guilty , Some people in Scotland hated Sturgeon before covid then hated her even more when she did such a good job during covid and now that her husband had been charged they hate her even more , some people in Scotland hated Yousaf because of the colour of his skin and his audacity to say nearly all the top jobs in Scotland are held by white people even though we know they are and even though we know that it would be fair to have a percentage of non whites in top jobs that matches the percentage of non white poulation in Scotland.When wil people in Scotland learn that they are being set against each other by the english controlled media who continually attack the various leaders in Scotland and deride all things Scottish including them the voters , even those who have blogs that they say support Scottish independence fall into this trap and its clear as day that these bloggers cant even speak to each other because they are too busy with their self serving attitude .Im going to the AUOB march saturday in glasgow i really do hope the people in Scotland can behave as AUOB because our politicians and blogger Scottish independence websites clearly fail abysmally in this respect , its about time they changed there ways stopped being know it alls and showed some leadership and togetherness to ensure Scotland as a whole is AUOB of independence .Terence Callachan Dundee
ReplyDeleteThere are still plenty of Scottish newspapers, Record, Scotsman, Herald, etc.
DeleteThere’s the “National “ as well of course. Bit of a stretch to describe it as a newspaper though lol.
Pity the ALBA rep is voting for no confidence in the SNP leader. You know the position she was soundly defeated on. Sour grapes.
DeleteAs a SNP supporter b***** off. Many of my fellow members are of the same opinion.
Record owned by foreign newspaper group and unionist. As is the rest. The National is a disappointment. It has to remind its readers , a Scottish person did this, in a place called Scotland this happened , in tunbridge wells - well we know where that is.
DeleteOT - this is what gets me. From the National:
ReplyDelete"This wrecking amendment provided that devolution would only come into effect if 40% of the whole electorate voted in favour – effectively stymieing progress on Scottish home rule for 20 years."
The first parliament was in 1999, and the first devo ref was in 1979, but the second was in 1997. That's 18 years between referendums, not 20 years. Get it right. Such utter incompetence, and from someone whose line of work demands total accuracy.
It is accurate though because there was 20 years between the rigged ‘79 referendum and the parliament finally reconvening in 1999
DeleteNo it isn't. After the Ref in 1979 it would still have needed presumably the same - 2 years - for the first election which would have been in 1981, so 18 years from 1981 to 1999.
DeleteYou have to compare like with like.
That’s quite a stream of consciousness there. Virginia Wolf would be proud.
ReplyDeleteOr, if you prefer, James Joyce
ReplyDeleteI not with Terence above on much of what he says, but on the key point of SNP and Alba working together I do agree.
ReplyDeleteSouthside Ian
Have you thought this through at all? Sack Yousaf but keep the government? How does that work? Who'd be SNP leader/FM? Where would they get the votes?
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, Rex, I’m not so sure about anything anymore. Sorry. Every direction I look seems to be full of bad options.
DeleteSouthside Ian
Haha, my comment was aimed at the author of the post :D
DeleteHi Rex, you'll be pleased to hear that yes, I've thought this through. Thank you for your interest.
DeleteApparently ALBA think they could get 20 seats. In fairness their attack on the Greens is a clever ploy to,get some votes moving from Greens to them. I think “ moderate” Greens may just think SNP is still the better option
ReplyDeleteOk, so I feel like an idiot at the moment.
DeleteBut one thing I’m pretty sure of is that Alba and the Greens aren’t really fishing in the same pool (to any substantive degree) for votes. They are the two extremes of the Indy movement, with various ideological shades of SNP voters stretched out between them.
Southside Ian
So do you think ALBA may get more votes from disgruntled labour supporters who lean towards independence and see Starmer is a better dressed Sunak ? - well maybe not better dressed.
DeleteA plague on all your houses canny be fucked any more and I remember 1977.
ReplyDeleteNobody here sees divide and rule is always the empire way and this week shows nobody sees that. Wouldnae be suprised if mi5 are involved.
I remember 1977 and 1976 (lovely summer wasnt it ! ).
DeleteAye '76 was gey hot , I wis doon sooth an met Gary Glitter in the Selbourne arms .
DeleteBut I kept ma back tae the wall!
I have a feeling the spooks have been busily at play since 2016.
DeleteTo elaborate a bit: 2014 was much too close for their liking. 2015 confirmed that independence was bigger than Alex Salmond, and 2016’s Brexit referendum must have put them on high alert that we would soon be leaving.
DeleteHow to target us, though? Where’s the weak points in the independence movement? Well, obviously the political parties. Top of the list is the SNP, naturally, and in case of a Sinn Féin/IPP scenario it’s a good idea to insert themselves in power positions in the smaller parties, especially the successful Greens.
I have no doubt whatsoever they are in there. Whether they were active in this week’s shocking incompetence, maybe we shall see.
Aye , somewhere , we dinae ken far ( whar) the British state will be involved . . The UK is a busted flush. England could ( and should) survive as a wee country on the oot skirts o the continent. See Caroline Lucus's book : Another England .
DeleteOh I say, what a quaint way to misspell the mother tongue.
DeleteAs i said a plague on all your houses
DeleteHumza's the right man for the FM job alright, that's why the English based parties and Alba want shot of him, he'll lead the SNP into the next Holyrood Election, there's no doubt about that.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt, eh? Care to explain your reasoning? Have you got a Skier chart to share with us by any chance?
DeleteAye Humza oor man...
DeleteHe'll be leading the charge fae Indy richt, Alison in Wondeland stuff here.
Is that iis in hiding?
ReplyDeleteiis - isolated Iranian shifters
DeleteI'm on the fence with Alba, I want it to work. I suppose f it I'm all in.
ReplyDeleteSalmond can do politics like no-one else.
and yet no-one is voting for him.
DeleteSadly so. Trial by media really works, doesn’t it? Innocence be damned.
DeleteA certain numpty thinks that the SNP have got Labour right where they want them
ReplyDelete"Aye, forcing an election when polls say you are way out in front can spectacularly backfire; ask Theresa May.
"To do so when you are deeply unpopular and behind in the polls like Labour are, is nothing short of suicidal."
Breaking - HY to resign, apparently
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-68918348
Southside Ian
I think the next one looks like it'll be Neil Grey or Jenny Gilruth. Oh dear. The public will look on with disbelief. The SNP's prospects look truly grim, and I doubt that the next one will last as long as the current disaster artist.
ReplyDeleteHumza’s big decision will be to either stick around until the leadership election is done (as Nicola did) or flounce off immediately, plunging us into chaos and a ticking clock on an election.
DeleteI wouldn’t want to be taking over in these circumstances. What a cluster bùrach!
The trouble with holding on, of course, being that the two motions of no confidence will still be live against him. He’s mortally wounded and the Brits smell blood.
DeleteNeil would make a decent fist of it i think.
DeleteKate for me X 100 !
DeleteThis was Alba's mistake, to make too many demands
ReplyDeleteYou really think the SNP would have cut a deal with Alba?
DeleteSurely Wings is wrong. There is a scenario after Humza resigns in which the govt wins the vonc under a different FM?
ReplyDeleteI'd have thought so.
DeleteBest outcome now: HY is replaced by Neil Gray or someone else palatable to the Greens, wins the VONC, absorbs the hit from the WM election and resigns in favour of someone half-decent who leads the SNP to recovery in 2026.
Admittedly the party isn't brimming with half-decent candidates, but Labour's even worse in that regard
For a year Mr Kelly has repeatedly asked for Yousaf to stand down before the elections, so does he still think it's the right thing?
ReplyDeleteThe Greens will be so scared of new elections that they'll vote for (or at least abstain) any other First minister
ReplyDeleteaccording to bookmakers, Forbes is favourite
ReplyDeleteIdiotic SNP loyalists posting above that Regan would be an embarrassment as leader. Look at who you elected - idiots voting for an idiot who has lived up to his nickname - useless - and he doesn't even want independence.
ReplyDeleteJenny Gilruth now being punted as next leader. Aye that will work well for Westminster as she tells Dugdale everything going on in the SNP. What a mess - the SNP have been totally infiltrated by the British state and SNP carrot munchers have helped them along the way.
Oh dear ... someone's found a cockroach in his porridge.
DeleteAnonymous idiot.
DeleteDont be so harsh on yourself.
DeleteHarvie already in panic mode, just said 'stability is important' and 'the SNP can still form a minority administration', basically anyone else except Yousaf is ok for the Greens
ReplyDeleteApart from Forbes.
DeleteThe SNP would be out of their minds to make a pact with the Alba Party losers. And they may have their faults, but none that drastic.
Delete