The third and fifth largest parties in the Scottish Parliament are a source of neverending bafflement to me. Labour and the Lib Dems have been constantly telling the SNP they need to pull their fingers out in support of the Remain campaign in the EU referendum. So what happens? Alex Salmond makes up 50% of the entire Remain side of the panel in the first big UK-wide TV referendum debate, and puts forward a relentlessly positive case for membership of the European Union. Kezia Dugdale and Willie Rennie then denounce him for being there, and Rennie in particular urges him to quit the Remain campaign before he does any more damage. Er, what?! Get the story straight, guys.
Rennie's main complaint seems to be that, by answering an audience member's question on whether a Leave vote would trigger a second independence referendum, Salmond may have indirectly encouraged independence supporters in Scotland to vote Leave. Let me just gently try to point out the bleedin' obvious here...
1) Rennie and his colleagues are forever telling us that the settled will of Scotland is to oppose independence. If he really believes that, it surely follows that more people in Scotland will be scared into voting Remain by the prospect of a second indyref than will be encouraged to vote in the opposite direction.
2) This was a UK-wide debate in a UK-wide referendum. More than 80% of the population of the UK live in England. As we know from polling during the indyref, there is only limited sympathy for Scottish independence south of the border. It therefore doesn't take a genius to work out which side will benefit from the prospect of a Leave vote bringing about independence. That's probably why David Cameron has gone out of his way on a number of occasions to warn English voters about the SNP's plans for a second indyref in the event of Brexit.
3) What Salmond said in no way contradicts his genuine support for the Remain campaign and desire for a Remain victory. It's perfectly reasonable to say "I hope you take my points on board, but if you don't, you at least need make the decision with your eyes wide open and in full awareness of the consequences. Because we're determined to make sure Scotland's interests are protected whatever happens."
4) If a political leader is worried about "damage" being done, surely the NUMBER ONE thing you DON'T want to do is castigate one of the two representatives of YOUR OWN CAMPAIGN in the first big TV debate? Just a thought, Willie.
Wullie played the Indy Ref in the SGE and it was likely to have benefitted him, NE Fife is traditionally a LibDem overhang from Ming Campbell and Tory area. Though the SNP had a very solid vote that increased.
ReplyDeleteHe played it relentlessly and he might think it will work again.
There is one question about Willie that no journalist seems to have asked. The Scottish LibDems lost 48 deposits, and, with 5 MSPs, are now behind the Greens, why hasn't he resigned?
And indeed as a representative of a very small, very regional party, it would be reasonable for him to really only appear on local news. I can see how his opinions would be fairly represented on say Orkney Radio, but in the central belt he is an irrelevant figure.
DeleteI do hope the "National" broadcaster keeps this in mind. They clearly would not like to be accused of bias after all.
Because they have no one of "quality" to step into his shoes.
ReplyDeleteIt has come as no surprise that the Yoon Numbnuts and Fuckwits would use the EU Referendum to have a daily SNP BAAHD whinge. Just stick a BBC/STV camera crew and Yoon heid cases with a microphones in front of them and they start bleating SNP BAAHD. The same applies when they are approached by any Yoon Press hack.
ReplyDeleteAsk them a question about why it might be good to stay in the EU and the answer will nearly always be SNP BAAHD! You could almost ask them why they don't join the Leave Campaign if they feel like that 24/7.
Those elements of the Yoon Press and Media that a pro EU must think they have it in the bag if they can take time out to have a daily SNP BAAHD Campaign.
One thing you have to admit about Wullie Rennie - he is an excellent self-publicist and by hanging his entire party out to dry and fail, he engineered a campaign where he was the only focus and led to him winning his FPTP seat.
ReplyDeleteSure it's ruthless, selfish and for his party utterly destructive. But it worked for him and I would expect that's all he cares about.
What is not clear is why the media, particularly the BBC continue to treat him as relevant. His party went from 5 seats to 5 seats but went a lot further from seats in many more constituencies, they are in second place in practically no FPTP seats now, compared to a dozen or so last time. That's moving backwards.
He is getting more coverage on BBC Scotland than the Greens are, despite the Greens quite convincingly whupping the Liberals into 5th place and being closer to an additional seat than the Liberals in half of Scotland.
Exactly. Why should Rennie and his Ruth-lite crap get more coverage than the Greens? The man and his party are an irrelevance.
DeleteThe Nat sis invite derisory comments because of their lies and deceit. Tax raising powers to end austerity aye fookin right. Real middlle class scubags they are. Just rich Nat si Tories but good con merchants.
ReplyDeleteYou are not welcome here you fucking skidmark. I know yoons are stupid, but you must be the thickest fuck in your village.
DeleteAnon.--No one on this blog takes McGibbon seriously. He tries to get under your skin but should be treated as nothing more than a slightly irritating itch. He has the intellectual capacity of a single-cell protozoa and the conversational level of a demented baboon, He also has an alcohol problem.
DeleteWho are you ya Nat si knob to say anyone is welcome or unwelcome. This a blog ye ken ra noo. Now go forth and multiply sonny Jock.
DeleteYou don't know what you are you Moron. People might pay more attention to your nonsensical rants if you had the organs to publish your name instead of hiding like the unionist coward you are.
DeleteYes, GWC2 seems to have uncorked the Chablis fairly early. There should be some more comic posts heading along soon. I'm looking forward to any that she writes after midnight once the booze has really worked its magic.
DeleteYep. It gets downright sub-Spanneresque after sunset.
DeleteHe has escaped from the nut house again.
ReplyDeleteHimmel mein Nat si even Edith Smelly is edging in with the sad sacks.
ReplyDeleteThat's nice, 23. In your impotent rage, do try not to choke on your crayons.
DeleteActually, there's some entertainment value in poking fun at his rants. All the more so when he gets angry - it's comedy gold.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSalmond is doing what he's always done - regardless of the issue, regardless of what's best for Scotland, regardless of what people actually want, he will always follow whatever strategy best furthers the cause of independence - & every other consideration can go to hell.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the SNP are almost fanatically pro-EU, like all Nats, Salmond, Sturgeon & the rest are positively drooling over the possibility of Brexit, for obvious reasons. Much as they'd like to though, they can't overtly campaign for a Remain vote in Scotland but a Leave vote in England, so they're doing it covertly - making weak supporting statements of support for Remain whilst criticising campaign strategy at every opportunity.
Unfortunately for them, whilst a Leave vote is certainly still possible, especially if there's a low turnout, it's highly unlikely - Remain still massive favourites at 1/7 with the bookies.
Even in the unlikely event of Brexit tho, is Salmond saying there will have to be another indyref, even if the people don't want one? I seem to recall a certain recent opinion poll on this subject which strangely hasn't had much coverage on this blog ?
DG
Why do you have this weird obsession with bookies' odds? Do you want me to walk you through some of the many, many occasions when the bookies' odds have been hopelessly inaccurate about political events?
DeleteLeaving aside bookies odds the bloke is right about the Nat sis. They have no concern about the well being of the working class and poor. They are a right wing Nat si party obcessed with leaving the Union. Their hatred of the English is obvious as they would be happy to turn Scotland into a mere local authority governed from Bruxelles and Berlin.
DeleteLeave is huge value to any bettor with a decent bankroll. I have a fair few quid on it but obviously limited as I dont have lots of spare cash.
DeleteLeave is very likely to win, it has all the underlying metrics in its favour.
Leave will lose as this referendum will be rigged like ours was the Tories and there business pals will make sure of it.
DeleteYou could get 6/1 on a Tory majority in early May last year, so while 1/7 is confident, especially in a binary outcome, I would not overplay its significance. Bookmakers make their money covering the spread, not predicting the winner.
DeleteThat's what the punters are for.
As ma graindfaither wid huv said "Ye cannae mak a straight line wae a bent ploo"
ReplyDeleteAnd so it is with the union and its supporters...
Yer granfaither cleary met a bent ploo which are usually straight.
Delete...and here comes 23 with this evening's main course of spittle-flecked ravings.
DeleteFollowed by anon with his underpants oan his heid and pencils up the nostrils, wibble.
DeleteI refer to you as a he because I like women.
The irony of having Blackadder Goes Forth used as an insult by a supporter of Blairite warmongering...
DeleteThe britnat bbc will always give britnats like Rennie an easy time.
ReplyDeleteThe bbc is the stinking turd evacuated daily from the britnat estalishment’s anus. Don’t pay the bbc tax. Let britnats pay for their own britnat propaganda.
ReplyDeleteI suppose you want the BBC to give out German or Jock Nat si propoganda seeing as you want to hand Scotland over to Herman
DeleteNasty little racist.
DeleteNat si anti English fash rascist.
DeletePlastic prole.
DeleteThis is all just glorious.
ReplyDeleteNothing better than watching the Tories tear lumps out of each other.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36407447
Hey Skier You are the Joke. You are in bed with the fookin Tories.
DeleteProjection from 23 again. Years of doing the Tories' dirty work in indyref1 just slipped his mind.
DeleteYou Nat sis are still playing along with old Tory legislation. You are just wearing their skiddies. So no more of this false anti Tory crap it does not wash anymore.
DeleteTry something radical like nationalising the trains and buses without compensation. Try taking over the power companies. Half the ammount of MSPS. Just stop being Tories.
...thus speaks the red Tory.
DeleteWell at least you are not denying my statement. You must agree then the Nat sis are Yellow Tories.
DeleteI agree to no such thing. Don't try putting words in my mouth, 23.
DeleteNot at all but you know I am right about the Yellow Tories.
DeleteYou tried to put words in my mouth, 23. That tired old routine is as old as the run up to the 1979 election, and about as convincing. So, no, you're as wrong about this as you are about everything else you bark about here.
DeleteI am as right as you are wrong about everything.
Delete...and that's the best 23 can manage in three days' thinking time. The crayons must have been worn to stubs filling the Dreary Heil letters page.
DeletePost 23rd June is going to be one mother of a mess down in Westminster whichever way it goes. The right-wing nutter Tory faction are going to take over; will be hard for Ruth to sell that to modest right, pro-EU one nation Tory voters in Scotland. Meanwhile Labour are at each other's throats too.
ReplyDeleteIf people in Scotland just want peace, quiet and stability, they'll need to back indy.