First of all, just a brief word about the Pope. I don't know about historical Popes, but Francis was undoubtedly the best of my lifetime, and was about as progressive as any Pope can reasonably be expected to be. (And given that historical Popes were not generally noted for their progressiveness, he may well have been the greatest of all time.) On Gaza, he didn't speak in code, he was absolutely explicit in his condemnation of Israel.
I have a horrible feeling that these things go in cycles and that the next Pope could be an arch-conservative like Ratzinger. But you never know, of course, some of the Cardinals who will be voting were appointed by Francis himself. [UPDATE: Having checked, it turns out that *80%* of the Cardinals eligible to vote were appointed by Francis, which is pretty astonishing and potentially very encouraging.] Doubtless at some point over the coming days, I'll be doing an "Are Papal elections more democratic than Alba NEC elections?" blogpost, and inevitably answering the question in the affirmative.
Meanwhile, there was an MRP mega-poll from More In Common that I overlooked on Saturday. It shows Reform UK on course to become the largest single party across Britain, and the SNP on course for a majority of seats in Scotland.
Seats projection (More in Common MRP):
Conservatives 165 (+44)
Liberal Democrats 67 (-5)
SNP 35 (+26)
Plaid Cymru 5 (+1)
Greens 4 (-)
Encouraging results for SNP showing that John Swinney has been good as leader.
ReplyDeleteI hear he'll be launching an independence initiative in January 2026.
DeleteFantastic news. Good to hear this.
DeleteI rarely get excited about anything but an initiative does sound very exciting.
DeleteAnd rightly so. Groundbreaking, I'd say.
DeleteIndeed. I’ve never been so confident on indy.
DeletePlease stop
Deletewith another mandate westminsters position will be untenable
DeleteI get excited by excitement. I might scream.
DeleteI've got an uneasy feeling that the Scot Gov may try and ride out the immediate aftermath of the Supreme Court judgement and attempt to carry on like it never happened.
ReplyDeleteThey've got form here. The SNP NEC elections '21 (or was it '20?). When they didn't get the people they wanted reelected, they just made up some new posts and parachuted in their picks.
The whole trans lifestyle is based on delusion so I wouldn't be at all surprised if the SC judgement is ignored. We'll see how captured the Scot Gov is, I suppose.
I hope they do. The Supreme Court, as far as I’m concerned should not be overruling Scottish judges. I think transwomen should be treated as women here - as is the norm in functioning European democracies. If Scottish judges interpreted the law in the way the Brits have it would be difficult and still feel regressive but it’s much worse that it’s the English judges who are stripping transwomen of legal acceptance they’ve had up until now.
DeleteAir handling- you do remember that the most recent policy was voted by the labour , Hreens, Lib Dem’s, SNP, some tories. Still the court ruled that the laws past by Westminster were contradictory so maybe they should get their house in order first. The Supreme Court was formed due to the eu. All laws should be passed to the Court of Session.
Delete4:30 If voting SNP means enabling women-hating incels like you to get their way, I hope they fail disastrously.
DeleteComments on here show that people are falling for the lies and disinformation being spread by Maggie Chapman and others. The judgement is on one point. It’s a simple point and clarifies the law on the one point. You may not like the decision but that is a different matter. Indy anyone?
DeleteAnon at 6.12. Zzzzzzzz
DeleteWAKE UP AT THE BACK THERE
DeleteAnon at 6:12 is correct.
Explain!!!
DeleteWill the SG pass the buck today. A statement responding to the SC judgement is expected.
DeleteA deliberately vague speech of Swinneywaffle is quite likely, I think, which when analysed will contain no contrition and no details of new guidance.
Lab and Tory on exactly even seats would be brilliant. What can the Tories do? Ally with Farage as his junior partner? Or ally with Labour against him, squabbling ferociously over who dominates who?
ReplyDeleteEngland’s politics are still as shite as ever, but at least their next election looks like a barnstormer. We don’t even get that here in Scotland. Just more continuity until Farage has his way with all of us.
Ireland's history suggests a con lab coalition. Rotate office of pm between bad Enoch and starmer. Any other option surrenders office of pm to farage outright. Similar dynamics to irelands old enemies ff and fg coalescing to keep out sinn Fein. You'll be unpleasantly surprised at how long that arrangement could hold on for.
DeleteAs for the selection of the next pope, I advise everyone to watch Conclave. Superb film, at every level. You’ll get spoiled on its plot by commentary on real events soon enough, so better to see it first.
ReplyDeleteNo need. When a pope dies another one popes up. Easy peasy.
DeleteI get excited at papal conclave. I might scream.
DeleteA couple of union bear twats!!!
DeleteTime for a new force in Scottish politics.
ReplyDeleteThe Tas and Farage party otherwise known as Tits and Twats.
Scottish voters just love Alba and Farage is a brilliant statesman who never has a bad idea.
DeleteA match made in heaven.
The tits and tats versus the Nats. Come on the Nats. Intae thum. Tongs ya bass!
DeleteJohn Swinneys statement about the pope was very statesmanlike. He deserves credit for it.
ReplyDeleteI hear he'll be launching an independence initiative in January 2026.
DeleteFantastic news. Good to hear this.
DeleteExcellent news. I can honestly say I’ve never been so confident on indy. It’s only a matter of time now surely.
DeleteIt's groundbreaking.
DeleteJust been reading a pamphlet from Ross Greer, my West of Scotland region MSP. It contained all very worthy achievements by Ross - saving Loch Lomond, free bus travel for young people, supporting nature restoration, cancelling school debt, temporarily removing peak rail fares.
ReplyDeleteStrange how it didnae mention Ross cannae tell the difference between a man and a woman and wants rapists in women's prisons. Strange how he didnae mention that there are large numbers of weird and wonderful genders. I'm guessing such honesty would lose him a shed load of votes so he keeps quite about his success on this matter.
You got my vote in 2016 Ross but not in 2021 and you won't be getting my vote in 2026.
Both votes SNP for a fairer greener Scotland.
DeleteAnon at 6.42. It is looking like the only meaningful Indy option at this stage. The least bad option. How did it get to this?
DeleteAlso remaining silent on his role in the organisation of the Glasgow occupy camp where a heavily pregnant woman was allegedly raped. Nor suggesting for a second that he had any part in that but the lack of condemnation of the lack of safety measures was noticeable. Concerns about the safety of women were raised (by women) and dismissed. Anyone detect a theme?
DeleteNope.
DeleteSNP 1 and drawing a massive cock 2.
DeleteI mean if you're going to waste the vote on the Regional List ballot you might as well have some fun with it!
Why waste your vote? Just juvenile
DeleteAnon at 9.08. Not been a good time for you this last week has it? Women having their rights acknowledged and protected seems to bother you. Care to explain?
DeleteRoss takes a lot of credit for things that that he doesn’t own….’poor little greeney’
DeleteDon't pretend you care about the women in women's prisons.
DeleteTrans people are not going away. So which scenario do you prefer:?
DeletePeople who look like women go into women's bathrooms.
Or
People who look like women go into men's bathrooms.
Therefore people who look like men can go into women's bathrooms. And women will be in more danger than they are now.
Let's also not ignore the stupidity of thinking that a man ready to assault a woman is going to be kept out by a sign on the door.
People who are women to women's bathrooms and people who are men to men's bathrooms. This stuff isn't difficult.
DeleteThe 'poor little greeney' is indeed AladdInsane, right enough.
Delete9.47am anon is Skier, definitely. It's a slight variation to a post he's made on the national btl and WGD and has his typical MO of twisting facts to make his point.
DeleteYou will voting for Tommy Sheridan.
ReplyDeleteI get excited by Tommy Sheridan. I might scream.
DeleteIFS votes?
ReplyDeletePoster which was for sale in the US Holocaust Museum -
ReplyDelete'EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF FASCISM'
'Powerful and continuing nationalism'
'Disdain for human rights'
'Identification of enemies as a unifying cause'
'Rampant sexism'
'Controlled mass media'
'Obsession with national security'
'Religion and government intertwined'
'Corporate power protected'
'Labor power suppressed'
'Disdain for intellectuals and the arts'
'Obsession with crime and punishment'
'Rampant cronyism.'
A perfect description of the Trump Administration.
The USA is now a Fascist State led by Nazis.
Same as Isreal then!!!
DeleteShould have been Israel…….predictive text is shite!!!
DeleteWhat device are you using where predictive text introduces misspelt words?
DeleteSumsang
Deleteexcept zionism is also fascism and jewish notions of ethno-racial supremacy are so off the charts it makes nazism seem mild
Deletejews and nazis - both believe in the master race - they just disagreed on who it was
america was a business franchise made by puritans and freemasons, then taken over by jews
Delete- has anything worse than this ever existed
Meanwhile back here in Scotland ...
ReplyDeleteWhat a stupid thing to say. Grow up.
DeleteOh do shut up Vance.
DeleteThere was a story on social media in last few days of two German girls, 18 and 19, backpacking around the world who flew from New Zealand to Hawaii and were then trying to get to California.
ReplyDeleteThey were stopped by US Border Force, interrogated, handcuffed, full body searched and put into a full blown prison overnight before being put on a flight out of the US the next day and told they could not return on a normal visa.
As far as can be understood, neither girl had any convictions for anything in their home country or anywhere else but the American authorities accused them of wanting to work illegally in the US.
The girls denied this and said they only intended to stay for a short period before continuing their world trip.
Irrespective, the use of handcuffs, full body searches and detainment in a prison seems completely ott for these two kids.
America is rapidly becoming a country to avoid rather than visit.
It is very much an authoritarian state.
Very worrying story, if true.
DeleteAlso very important to remember that Farage/Reform model what they do and where they get their funding, from the Trump Playbook.
Garbage attracts Garbage.
MAGA
DeleteOompa Loompa
DeleteGarbage attracts garbage = David Francis + SNP
DeleteI thought the garbage is all in brummy land run by labour
Deletethe USA went fascist around 1950 with the creation of the national security state / continuity of government; in other places we call this the deep state. Eisenhower told you about it. And JFK got a bullet from them.
DeleteMeanwhile in Scottish news, the Scottish government wants the deer density on Loch Choire Estate reduced from 14 deer per square km to 7.5 within five years. They have ordered the estate to cull red deer, or they'll do it for them and recover the costs from the estate.
ReplyDeletethe deer want holyrood MSPs reduced from 129 to 59 within 5 years
DeleteAnybody got a link to the source for this - and I do NOT mean 'stats for lefties'?
ReplyDeleteSource for what? If you're talking about the MRP poll, it was posted by More In Common themselves.
DeleteWhatever you may think of Stats for Lefties, incidentally, I've never found them to be an unreliable source.
I'm looking a picture of myself and I'm mouthing the word 'succulent'
DeleteThink Donald is shagging him.
DeleteUS stocks and the Dollar continue to plunge as the Orange Blimp has now gone after the man HE HIMSELF appointed to lead the Fed.
ReplyDeleteREMEMBER........ Farage/Reform have based themselves on a Trumpist Agenda and will be as disastrous over this side of the pond, as the Fascist Fuckwit is over on the other.
Garbage attracts Garbage.
Surely this all means that misgendering and calling a trans woman by their dead name are not hate crimes any more?
ReplyDeleteSturgeon's legacy is in the bin, frankly.
Numpty troll at 9.24am. Thst is not me. You are obsessed with me. Get yourself a hobby and improve your mental wellbeing.
DeleteAlthough I do agree that Sturgeon's legacy is in the bin and that's where it will remain no matter what lies she pumps out in her book.
I gave up voting Labour as soon as I returned to Scotland but I never anticipated just how completely the Starmer gang would place themselves under the thumb of Zionist and corporate lobbyists, or the degree of toadying to Trump fascism.
ReplyDeleteThe SNP leadership remains salary, pension and 'trough' driven. Pushing hard within the party, for decent candidates, party democracy and as strong as possible a committment to independence by the party's 'oh so polite' leadership is the only viable defence we've got against Farage and, apparently, his tiny 'fifth wheel' in Alba.
How are your own efforts going?
DeleteI’d consider joining the party and seeking out fellow independistas (the irony!) but as I’ve said before: from all reports my branch (Edinburgh West) is catastrophically woke and run by TRAs.
I know there’s a hell of a lot more Scotland beyond Brit Nat Corstorphine and its environs, but I gather the SNP is fundamentally branch based so I’m stuck here as long as I live here, which I have almost all my life.
Not really qualified to answer your question Anon 7:19. I have known several members around here transfer between local branches by local arrangement. Out situation is odd though - two separate constituencies for the two parliaments and two separate councils in one of them.
DeleteIt might be worth a try by approaching another nearby branch and asking. At the least you can transfer to the so called HQ branch, I've known one or two do that.
You're right to think about it. Being stuck with a bunch of self obsessed ideologues is a pretty miserable and unproductive prospect. I wish you well.
First steps OK for us by the way a second, much better, prospective candidate found and well received at hustings meeting. Fingers crossed.
Anon 7;19 you're an independentista ? Pull the other one.
DeleteSNP activists are committed to build a better Scotland.
ReplyDeleteThey are hard working. They are up and working when most people are still under their covers.
There are good reasons to vote both votes SNP and one is that it is a morale boost to SNP activists.
Build a better Scotland? Which Prime Minister Farage will ransack with relish once his reign begins in four years from now? That seems fruitful, for him.
DeleteWe’re either independent by then or we’re the fuel in Farage’s dumpster fire Britain. Your party leaders better be more serious about that than they seem.
SNP is serious about SNP policies, and independence is an SNP policy.
DeleteIf there is not independence it is not for any lack of work on the part of the SNP.
DeleteIn all of this, both votes SNP is the best way to support the SNPs goals and SNP activists.
DeleteAnd remember an initiative is coming.
DeleteFantastic news. Good to hear this.
Delete@8:49. What work has the SNP done for independence since 2014? Be specific, by all means.
DeleteAnon @ 12:42 PM They stupidly went to the Supreme Court to ask permission for Holyrood to hold a referendum, predictably got rejected (forever sealing off that route to indy) and then went back to the strategy of asking the UK Prime Minister nicely for one.
DeleteNote: You asked what have they done, you didn't say it had to be positive!
Anon at 2.39. You are clueless and completely out of your depth. Exhausting domestic remedies was an essential step in the plan at that time, and ensuring the unionists didn’t seize control of the timeframe for S C proceedings was hugely important. You clearly know none of this. Go and learn and then come back and make informed comment.
Delete"ensuring the unionists didn’t seize control of the timeframe for S C proceedings was hugely important"
DeleteHow so? Wouldn't it have been a better narrative for the unionists to be the ones to take it to the Supreme Court to fight against Scottish democracy?
Considering the aftermath and where we are today... what was the plan again?
To follow on from Anon @ 3:34 PM… The optics were a disaster.
DeleteIf the UK Government had challenged a Holyrood referendum bill in the Supreme Court, they would’ve been the ones seen as blocking democracy. It still ends in court—same legal result—but far better political narrative.
Instead, the SNP volunteered to be told no. They made independence a legal abstraction and, in doing so, legitimised Westminster's veto in the eyes of many.
Worse, there was no follow-up strategy. No "next step" if the court ruled against them. No credible Plan B. Just recycled demands for Section 30 orders and vague promises of "initiatives."
That's why so many criticise it now: it wasn't just the legal failure—it was the vacuum that followed.
Anons at 3.34 and 3.49. You are both proving my point. You really don’t understand what had to happen and why. As I said, and sorry to be blunt, you are clueless. Go away and learn. Then come back with informed comment and I will be happy to engage.
DeleteSo, if that was Step 1 that had to happen... what was Step 2?
DeleteBeen nearly 2 and a half years since the judgement. If there was a plan it doesn't seem to be working.
4.25pm the only point being proven is that you are a disingenuous waste of space.
Delete5.21pm there was a plan and that was to scupper any chance of a referendum.
The future is always ahead.
ReplyDeleteIf you think, as the vast majority of rational Scots do, that Fascist Racist Trump is making a deranged shitfest of America.......just wait until Mini-Me-Trump aka Farage and his mob of shite get their hands on WM.
ReplyDeleteThe English Electorate have obvioysly lost their remaining marbles, it seems.
But, even on their best showing, Reform will remain a minor, isolated player up here.
Let's keep it that way.
Let's keep that Extreme Right slime in the gutter where they belong.
Plenty of North Britons support the NF
DeleteYou mean Hel.
DeletePope Francis heavily criticised Trump for his mass deportation policies and said Trump was not a Christian.
ReplyDeletePope Francis was one of the good guys.
RIP.
Is that why Trump sent Vance over to finish him off?
DeleteWell I did say Swinney calling for a "far right summit" was a bad idea.
ReplyDeletehttps://archive.is/uOQYU
"Anas Sarwar criticises John Swinney’s anti-far right summit" and in the article "Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has already said he will not attend the event".
It's an open goal Swinney has given the opposition, and it's all because in their ivory tower, some in the SNP presume that everybody hates the far right - and even that Scots think Farage is far right, rather than a leader of a protest party. I think most Scots don't give a stuff, frankly my dear. It's a political party and it's a case of voting for the least worst.
What Swinney needs is a small group of critics of the SNP, and run silly things like this summit past them - or us. Because with this blinkered approach it's an open goal for the unionists, and they jump in with glee.
I really don't get the rationale behind the decision when he could have instead remembered the reason for the SNP's existence, press the message that the only reform Scotland needs is independence and hold a cross-party (and no Party) constitutional convention.
DeletePolls show support for indy rising, he needs to stop playing it safe and be bold.
Swinney is absolutely right in taking on Reform and their simple minded supporters head on.
DeleteThey are a clear and present threat to Scotland I the same way Trump is to the US.
Flynn was also correct when he said we must challenge the far right head on at every opportunity.
Reform is anathema to most Scots for very good reasons.
But hasn't he learned from the mistakes The Democrats made in the US though?
DeleteDemonising your opponent can have the opposite effect. The best way to actually tackle a Party like Reform is to convince people that there's a positive alternative to what they're offering.
And we must all stand, hand in hand, with the unionists to see them off?
DeleteGuess what gets tossed out first, to work with them? Independence, obviously.
Guess what could have saved us from England’s next Prime Minister? Oh aye, independence would have been nice in retrospect!
Scottish Labour are right wing.
DeleteYesindyref2 - Reform UK aren't a political party, its a Ponzi scheme run by Farage and Tice.
Delete1.29pm you seem to forget that Westminster is the ever present clear and present threat to Scotland.
DeleteHalf of the current tory MSPs will be jumping over to Reform soon enough, to save their jobs.
ReplyDelete+1 Ash Regan.
DeleteWhat about George Galloway ?
DeleteGorgeous George ain't an MSP.
DeleteIs David Francis a friend of Gerry Gable ?
ReplyDeleteAnd you a friend of liberace
DeleteLee, if you don't mind.
DeleteSomeone quoting some selected bit, (2), about Ministers in regard to Chapman, but here it is, right at the very beginning:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2008/6/section/1
"1Guarantee of continued judicial independence
(1)The following persons must uphold the continued independence of the judiciary—
(a)the First Minister,
(b)the Lord Advocate,
(c)the Scottish Ministers,
(d)members of the Scottish Parliament, and
(e)all other persons with responsibility for matters relating to—
(i)the judiciary, or
(ii)the administration of justice,
where that responsibility is to be discharged only in or as regards Scotland."
It is essential in a democracy to keep the three arms independent of each other, without undue interference or influence.
From the herald: "The Scottish Government will not tell NHS Fife to settle its employment tribunal with a nurse who objected to a trans doctor using a female changing room, despite last week’s Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of “woman.”"
DeleteWell of course they ******* won't. It's called "Democracy", warts and all.
Let’s hope there is scope for exemplary or aggravated compensation. If not, a separate action against NHS Fife for the hurt and distress caused would be a possibility. They are failing to provide a safe place of work.
DeleteThe ScotGov aren't directly responsible for NHS Fife so they can't tell them what to do. Likewise I guess compensation would be against NHS Fife. But it seems to me NHS Fife would have a case for compensation from ScotGov for their faulty guidance. IANAL.
DeleteIt is a matter of great regret to all of us in the Alba Party that Chris McEleny has chosen to personalise this.
ReplyDeletePoll after poll shows that Chris McEleny is a mad dog 🐕 who needs to be tamed.
Delete(It would help the joke if the public had any idea at all who he is.)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe IMF has today stated that Trump's Tariffs will hit the UK harder than the EU.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, the UK will be one of those hit hardest in the developed World.
IMF has slashed the UK's growth prospects by a huge 33%.
REMEMBER - It is the SAME idiotic and financially illiterate Trumpish mindset which infects the morons in Reform UK.
They are no more than Trump-Clones and will have the SAME disastrous effects over here, as the Orange Blimp is having over there.
Calm down Twinkle Toes, Elon will sort it out.
DeleteReally, Dummy?
DeleteHow?
Keep yer garbage mouth shut.
DeleteWhy?
DeleteYou got that wrong pal, read the article again
DeleteWrong.
DeleteSee you are back. You are great value. Indy needs you Dave!
DeleteDavid Francis is indeed, buttoned up the back.
DeleteAdair or McGlinchey ?
ReplyDeleteThe Independent, today -
ReplyDelete"The UK’s economic growth forecast has been slashed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with a warning that the fallout from Donald Trump’s trade war will hit Britain harder than the rest of Europe.
The global economic organisation predicts growth will stall by 0.5 per cent in 2025, compared to its previous forecast, with a further downgrade of 0.1 per cent in 2026. It means the UK economy will grow by just 1.1 per cent next year, and 1.4 per cent the year after.
Rising government borrowing costs as a result of Trump’s tariffs as well as higher inflation and sky-high energy costs in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are all to blame, the IMF said."
As I said previously, Reform UK is of the same imbecilic mindset as that Fat Barrage Balloon in Washington.
Both are Cretins.
I need your help David, your words of wisdom could help save my a$$.
DeleteWrong.
Delete"The UK's growth forecast is still higher than the Euro area for 2025, at 1.1% compared to 0.9%, but behind the US and Canada. "
"The UK’s economic growth forecast has been slashed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with a warning that the fallout from Donald Trump’s trade war will HIT BRITAIN HARDER than the rest of Europe."
Delete"The UK's growth forecast is still higher than the Euro area for 2025, at 1.1% compared to 0.9%, but behind the US and Canada. "
DeleteTry reading what I said in my earlier post and compare it to the highlighted paragraph from the Independent.
DeleteTa.
Try reading what I said in my earlier post and compare it to the highlighted paragraph from the Independent.
DeleteNo problemo.
Don't be selective in your quoting, it's dishonest.
Good to see you posting again David.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be annoying all the right people on here.
Keep up the good work and ignore the anonymous trolls trying to silence you.
Spineless lot.
You seem to have an unhealthy interest in James love life.
ReplyDeleteAre you gay?
Yes.
DeleteDoes the Pope shit in the woods ?
DeleteSomerville, Chapman and Brindley should all do the decent thing and resign. But they won't because they are not decent people.
ReplyDeleteThese people have created division and distress throughout Scotland and have wasted large sums of public money. What have they achieved for trans people? They have actually made things worse for them.
Incredibly they have also made the Tories look the sensible party in Scottish politics. For that alone they should hang their heads in shame, pack their bags and go and never be heard from again.
Ash Regan should be commended for standing up against the nonsense promoted by Sturgeon and her pals. All the rest of them in Holyrood (other than the Tories who voted against it ) are either cowards or bampots like Chapman for going along with this anti science nonsense.