The controversial and increasingly far-right Somerset blogger "Stew" seems to have been more than a tad triggered by my blogpost of last night, in which I pointed out that the catastrophic failures and errors of judgement of the people behind Alba and Liberate Scotland have ended any chance of a non-SNP route to independence, and that therefore John Swinney has to at least be given a limited window of opportunity to make his own strategy (which I made clear that I do think is flawed) work. I suspect the reason Stew is so touchy about this is that he knows perfectly well that he personally bears partial responsibility for the failure of Alba in particular, and therefore for ending any realistic hope that next year's Holyrood election will be used as a de facto referendum. To some extent that's a feature not a bug - Stew doesn't even want the election to be about independence, and instead wants it to be about a breakthrough for the soft-fascist and ultra-unionist Reform UK, and by extension some sort of 'cleansing destruction' of the independence movement as we know it. "To win independence we must first kill independence" is the preposterous, if thus far unspoken, Stew motto de jour.
It's all very well for anyone to say that Alba are right to propose that independence parties should use the Holyrood election to seek an outright mandate for independence, and that the SNP leadership are wrong to reject that idea. But in circumstances where the self-appointed elite of Alba (and the true elite centred around Ahmed-Sheikh, Wilson, Donoghue, Cullen, etc, are very much appointed and not elected) have idiotically squandered any chance of taking a leadership role in the independence movement by behaving like a poundshop Mafia for the last four years, it's a bit redundant for them to complain about being on the losing side in the battle of ideas over strategy. When you've left the pitch clear for the SNP to monopolise the leadership role, it's a statement of the obvious that the SNP leader will have the discretion and space to make his own strategic calls, however dubious the rest of us might be about them. "It shouldn't be like this, it should be like that" is the plaintive wail of Stew, which a) constitutes a loss of contact with the real world, and b) evades his own partial responsibility for creating this situation in the first place.
No, Stew, if you don't get your own way on strategy and policy, the answer is not to "destroy everything and start again", because there'll be nothing left to start again with. Even if Swinney turns out to be wrong in his strategic choices, and he may well do, we have to conserve and protect the strengths we have as a movement if independence is ever to be won, and to a large extent that does mean preserving the SNP in the here and now. "I have been spurned, so the movement must be purified in flames" is narcissistic twaddle that we should have no time for at all.
Stew is on particularly weak ground in his "Build Indy Support (FAILED)" point, because it was only yesterday that I set out in detail how his graph showing the evolution of indy support under different SNP leaders was totally fraudulent. You're entitled to your own opinions, Stew, but not to your own facts. The first step is to admit the graph was a lie, and then by all means a discussion can be had based on the actual facts.
He should really concern himself with Somerset. Scotland is outside his remit.
ReplyDeleteIf you believe that anon 11.39am then why does Swinney not tell all the English media/politicians to do the same and but out?
DeleteCampbell is not an English politician. He wanted to be one but thought better of it.
DeleteAnon @12.38pm that reply does not answer my question.
DeleteOh but it does.
DeleteAnon at 12.36. You come over as pretty thick. Back to WOS with you, you silly billy.
Delete1.05pm no it does not. Answer anons question.
DeleteThere is genuine anger out there as we're essentially being asked to support the SNP regardless when we know fine well Westminster won't grant another referendum if there was a massive SNP win and whenever somebody asks what the plan is for when Westminster says No again they're shot down with "WHAT'S YOUR ALTERNATIVE STRATEGY!?
ReplyDeleteIs it really a massive shock that there's some resistance to the notion that we all need to just vote SNP simply because they're the 'only game in town' and then just 'hope for the best'.
Is it really a massive shock that people want a little more clarity on what the plan actually is and how things will be different following the 2026 election from what's happened since the 2021 election? After the past decade many are fresh out of hope and are tired of keeping their fingers crossed.
"Is it really a massive shock that there's some resistance to the notion that we all need to just vote SNP simply because they're the 'only game in town' and then just 'hope for the best'."
DeleteIt certainly ought to be a shock when what you actually mean by "resistance" is "ah'm gonnae vote Yoon cos Stoo told me to". Talk me through how that will help again?
Isn't that like saying how will voting Tory help if you want House of Lords reform as only Labour has promised to reform it?
DeleteI'm sure they'll get round to that eventually like the SNP will get round to doing something about independence.
I certainly wouldn't vote Tory if I wanted to reform the House of Lords. I wouldn't vote Labour to do it either, but I dare say asking you how voting Tory will help to reform the Lords would get the same non-answer from you as asking how voting Reform will bring about independence.
DeleteAnon at 1.08. You really are part of the problem. It is simple. People are disillusioned by the failures and incompetence of the SNP over the last four years or so, to the extent that they have lost one million voters. SNP are asking people to vote for them why exactly? Because they are not quite as shit as the other parties? Not good enough. Because they are the only party of Independence? What are they actively doing to promote Indy? What will they DO (not say) if we vote for them next year? How will that get us nearer to Indy? Answers? Until you start giving them you are the problem. You and others like you are killing the SNP and stifling the broader movement. You destroyed a broad church party and replaced it with an agenda driven, gender riven undemocratic incompetent self serving group of careerists and entryists. Well done.
DeleteLike, do some people not get Scottish attitudes?
DeleteWhen many are told that they need to do something because they don't have a choice you're more likely to get a 'get fucked' natural response. No one wants to be told that they need to do something and that there's no other option, especially when they believe who they're being asked to vote for won't actually do anything.
The House of Lords argument was more that at this point many see 'Vote SNP for Independence' in the same light as 'Vote Labour for House of Lords reform' and both to be as equally daft.
In that case, we pro-indy Scots can feel quite entitled to tell Stewie and his demented wee clique to 'get fucked' when they consistently tell us not to vote for the SNP, as we have no other choice if we want independence.
DeleteThanks for making that clear.
"as we have no other choice if we want independence."
DeleteVote for us, you have no choice.
Would love to see that on a billboard.
"we pro-indy Scots can feel quite entitled to tell Stewie and his demented wee clique to 'get fucked' when they consistently tell us not to vote for the SNP"
DeleteAye, spot on.
"Anon at 1.08. You really are part of the problem."
DeleteNo, Anon at 1.30pm, you are the problem. You're not even PART of the problem, you are the WHOLE problem. Read my lips: if you follow Stoo's advice and vote Farage, that will not get you independence. You'll wake up one morning with tears of regret streaming down your face.
That's a vivid image. But you're not wrong.
DeleteVoting Farage won't get us independence... but atm voting SNP won't get us it either.
DeleteSeem to be advocating more to have a nice day out either, maybe a walk in the park, pop down to the pub etc. Be more productive then going to a polling station.
2:12 Agreeing with yourself (1:58) again? Don't you realise by now that you're fooling nobody?
Delete"Voting Farage won't get us independence... but atm voting SNP won't get us it either."
DeleteBut only one of those options will destroy independence. Only you can explain why that's the option you prefer.
Anon at 2.15. My comment has SFA to do with the arsehole on wings and I despise Fargage. Peculiar that you see them as the issue. It’s usually unionists who see them as the biggest direct threat to them. Mmmmmh? Try reading more slowly. As I said you are part of the problem. I do accept that I should make allowance for your low intelligence, but even taking that into account, you need schooled. Do you have grown ups you can talk to?
Delete"As I said you are part of the problem."
DeleteAnd as I said you are the WHOLE problem. Didn't catch that? Try reading more quickly.
Anon at 4.06. You realise too late you should have kept that in your head. How stupid you look now. Even more than before. Oh dear. You still haven’t answered a single one of the questions put to you at 1.30. Why not? Let’s have your answers. You’ve had more than five hours. No, nothing? Learn your lesson and toddle off. Don’t respond unless it’s with answers to the questions.
DeleteNo offense, but the SNP hierarchy has been pretty Stalinist over the years since Sturgeon and Swinney have ran it - way beyond the Mafia crap of Alba. Swinney's plan is crap, even you know it, giving him a wee while to see what happens is another couple of years down the pan.
ReplyDelete"way beyond the Mafia crap of Alba"
DeleteYou must be joking. A far bigger percentage of Alba members have been expelled or thrown out than SNP members. You're going to have to face facts: Alba is unique in how comprehensively it has f*cked up.
Oh and no offence, but "offense" is the American spelling.
I'm American
DeleteI believe you.
DeleteThank
DeleteSorry, spelling error should be Thanx
DeleteFundamentally is the plan going into 2026 any different from the plan going into 2021?
ReplyDeleteThat's not really the point, is it? The SNP didn't stick to the plan in 2021. The question is whether they will do so this time.
Delete2021:
Delete"If the SNP is returned to government and there is a simple majority in the Scottish Parliament for that bill after the election there can be no moral or democratic justification for Boris Johnson or any Westminster government to obstruct the right of the people of Scotland to decide their own future."
2026:
"We are ready to turn the heat up on Westminster and its anti-democratic stance, mobilising the support, energy and the impetus of people in Scotland behind the simple idea: no ifs, no buts, Scotland has the right to choose.
I want to persuade independence supporters that the way to deliver independence is only with an emphatic SNP win in 2026 and the priority is to do that now"
I mean... we already know what Westminster's response will be. Surely we need to move past just pointing out what a democratic outrage it is (as everyone knows that already) and do something about it?
Well, wot do you think? You think they will this time?
DeleteYes, vote SNP and Westminster will cave!
DeleteStew's personal hatred's are far more important to him than independence. SNP have a lot to prove but take SNP out of the independence equation and what do you have. Tiny insignificant pro independence parties who's overall support adds up to 3% on a good day!
ReplyDeletewhen the SNP win another mandate westminsters position will be untenable
ReplyDeleteswinney is doing a rope a dope on the english
ReplyDeletehe pretends not to be doing anything by
not doing anything
therein lies the deception
then we strike
All part of Nicola's secret plan, it's still in play. Keep the faith!
DeleteIt's a plan that's so brilliant and unexpected they have to keep it hidden away until yadda yadda etc etc.
DeleteNorth East, Green MSP Maggie Chapman, the Zimbabwean zealot has only come second in the ballot for a regional post in next year’s Holyrood elections. How will the debating chamber survive without her measured, and moderate influence?
ReplyDeleteNever mind Stewy. Give us the (vegan) beef on the Green list results.
ReplyDeleteGermany is not among the list of 26 nations which have called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
ReplyDeleteI don’t agree with Owen Jones about much, but his call to boycott German goods is timely.
The German people cannot atone for their sins by visiting genocide on others.
The German political class are fascist, racist scum.
Silly twat
DeleteThe UK is conspicuously missing too - oh and so is Scotland probably cos it's not a country
ReplyDeleteThe UK is on the list.
DeleteYes they have joined the list thank heavens
DeleteMrs Faichnie's cat Hughie has a better grasp of politics than the man in the bath who seems increasingly to be drifting in and out of reality.
ReplyDeleteDoes seem strange that 2 tweets in response to a 1,073 word blog post about him results in a follow up blog post consisting of 726 words.
ReplyDeleteFeels like whenever Wings makes a tweet he probably spent less than 2 minutes thinking about it tends to result in a much longer detailed response a considerable amount of time has likely been spent on.
Seems like this to me at the moment:
ReplyDeleteEnter the 2026 election with "Vote SNP and we will ask yet again for an S30 order": Was tried before, failed and will fail again. Looks pathetic.
Enter the 2026 election with "Vote SNP and it will be counted as a vote for independence in a de facto independence referendum": Too steep a curve for the Scottish voters, too few safeguards, may feel to some as though they are being bounced into something.
Enter the 2026 election with "Vote SNP and it will be counted as a vote for Scotland to run its own referendums": A definite further step, and if Westminster denies its validity what exactly is our legal path to independence if we so wish it?
Topher a colony does not have any legal rights to independence within the structure of a colonial power.
DeleteA lot of Stu-Anon types on here today.
ReplyDeleteIfs said he wasn’t coming back but then comes back!
Delete6.57 pm where and when did he say that?
DeleteKEEP THE FAITH
ReplyDeleteNot long now until the nicophants get to read their equivalent of the Bible/Koran. It will be seen as the word of Nicola and the absolute truth by the nicophants. I have heard they will read it while listening to I’m a Believer by the Monkees. They will read and reread every page searching for coded signs as to when the second coming will happen as part of the secret plan which only true believers know is locked away in Nicola's secret place. Dr Jim will be desperate to be the first to find the coded signs woven in to the words of the Holy text as he is desperate for the unbelievers to be cast in to the independence wilderness.
" Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
I'm a believer, I couldn't leave her if I tried"
These words will ring out at future SNP conferences and Dr Jim will be rapturous.
There you have it folks, the sick diseased mind that festers hates and infests the internet with its poison, so nasty that even dopey Wingsy banned it from posting its bile
DeleteIt called itself another name then, now it calls itself Independence for Scotland, but it's sad liar and a fake
When the desire for independence becomes stronger, garbage like this becomes frantic with its hatred desperate to prevent it
6.50pm “ It called itself another name then, “ was it “Diablo”? Also why are you misgendering IFS by calling him “it”. Isn’t that a crime in the SNP punishable by listening to Shirley Ann Somerville talk for ten hours straight or spending an evening with Angus and his wife.
DeleteEmbarrassing, even by your standards iffsy.
DeleteLooks like Dr Jim at 6.50pm is pretty upset. I doubt he is more upset than all the women he has boasted about assaulting.
DeleteThe only people preventing independence have been people like you Jimbo supporting a phoney independence leadership.
I do wish these trolls would make up their mind. One minute Campbell disnae like me and has banned me, the next minute I am Campbell, and the minute after I am a friend of Campbell. Oh and let's not forget I am also supposed to be a follower of Campbell.
Then Jimbo saw her face, now he's a believer.
You better watch out Jimbo. Anon at 7.52pm has a point. The Polis may be coming for you as deliberate misgendering may be a Hate Crime.
8.10pm are you not a believer?
DeleteIfs. The unthinking Misogynist. In fact, unthinking in most things.
ReplyDelete6.44pm good to see your spelling has improved.
DeleteAnon your post at 6.44pm is nugatory .
DeleteAre Bath supporters unaware that time moves on?
ReplyDeleteBath times? I remember them.
DeleteIronic since SNP supporters seem to be stuck in a time loop, forgetting the strategy they're pursuing has failed already.
DeleteOk Stu.
DeleteSo what is the strategy that will succeed?
ReplyDelete7.34pm That question should be addressed to the leadership of the party that claims to be the only vehicle for independence. You know the people who get votes and money to achieve independence.
DeleteAh........the sweet stench of nauseating Alba Wingsters in the early evening.
ReplyDeleteUnmistakeable.