Normally when I think a political party has made a mistake in its choice of leader, I would say "but I might be wrong, time will tell". I'm not going to say that on this occasion. Sarwar will be an atrocious leader, and he's the SNP's dream opponent. I burst out laughing every time I visit ConHome and see someone earnestly say "Sarwar is thought to be the man the SNP fear". Whoever managed to convince the unionists that Sarwar is some sort of political titan deserves the highest honour an independent Scotland can bestow. In a sane world he wouldn't even have been a candidate - the Labour 'moderates' will probably end up bitterly regretting that they didn't put up Jackie Baillie instead.
Saturday, February 27, 2021
Labour send a clear message to independence supporters: "WE DON'T WANT YOUR VOTES"
I was genuinely conflicted about the Scottish Labour leadership election. To drum up support for Anas Sarwar, social media's top international socialist Dunc "don't call me Dunc" Hothersall tried to get a narrative going that independence supporters wanted Monica Lennon to win. But it was never as simple as that. Yes, Lennon had a somewhat less boneheaded stance than Sarwar on an independence referendum, but the downside of that is she could actually have succeeded in winning back a minority of independence supporters to the Labour fold, in which case an indyref could paradoxically have become less likely. I'm not sure that risk would have been worth it in exchange for a 10% chance that she might have been in a position to persuade Prime Minister Sir Keir to grant a Section 30 order in 2025 or 2026. More likely, actually, is that she would have gone native once in harness. So we may well be better off with Sarwar - he's a far poorer politician than Lennon, and his win sends a clear message to independence supporters that Labour don't want their votes.
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I guess the thinking is that Sarwar has more friends in the media than Lennon, so at least they won't mock him the way they did Richard Leonard? I don't think electoral potential really comes into it anymore for Scottish Labour.
ReplyDeleteHow long do you think Sarwar will last? He could be gone after the Holyrood elections, certainly before a referendum is held.
ReplyDeleteLabour may lose more votes to the SNP over this.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I'm all clear to vote SNP-SNP. None of my local SNP candidates were involved in any plot. Salmond's cleared that all up.
He's still advising a vote for the SNP too. Unless he's made some announcement otherwise?
Fair enough if Murrell, Ruddick or McCann are standing in your constituency; I'd understand you might want to consider the accusations made against these and wait for the committee findings before making your mind up.
But for everyone else, it's all good for SNP now.
"He's still advising a vote for the SNP too."
DeleteLink? Source? I'm not aware of him giving any advice as of yet about how to vote in this election, and he hasn't been an SNP member for quite a while. To be clear, I'm an SNP member and I'm advising a vote for the SNP, but it would be good to stick with the facts.
in the same sort of vain, I cant see anything saying that he publically backed her to be SNP leader?
DeleteI'm just going by his past advice. I'm not aware of any change in that.
DeleteCertainly, if he wants to go down in history as a key figure in the SNP and their quest for indy, he would need to continue supporting them. If he started telling people to vote otherwise and it damaged the SNP, maybe even costing Yes parties a majority so dashing any hopes of indy in the near term, that would all be there in the party's history. He could not be an SNP hero if he doesn't support them. That's obvious.
The SNP isn't Murrell, Sturgeon or anyone. It is all its members, from elected reps to candidates to those pounding the streets. If Salmond turned against all those who have done him no wrong, punishing the many for the sins of the few, that is how he'll be remembered. That would be his legacy; one of attacking people who've never harmed him and putting personal vendettas before the Scottish nation.
So far, he doesn't seem to be doing that. He was super clear who he has beef with and has made a point of not calling for Sturgeon to resign. To do so would be to admit his own failure of leadership in preparing her to take over from him.
Scottish Skier: He may well advise an SNP vote at some point (indeed I presume he almost certainly will on the constituency vote), but he has not done so yet. Your comment effectively reads as "I think he should, therefore he has".
DeleteHe's only ever advocated voting SNP. I've never tried to claim that he's said this recently, just that there's no evidence he's changed that position that I was aware of. Is there a rule about a specific period of time advocacy for a party needs openly renewed or it expires?
DeleteIf he doesn't back the SNP, he needs to tell his supporters in the party he's turned against them. Folk keep talking about his allies like Kenny Macaskill, Alex Neil and recently Joanna Cherry. If he's turned against them and now advocates voting against them/their party, they cannae be his allies.
I still hold a lot of respect for the man. Yes James, I hope he does not let all his allies and supporters in the SNP down by turning against them. I would prefer he does go down in the history books as someone who helped the SNP movement lead Scotland to indy.
In simpler terms, unionists and English right-wing bloggers would like us to believe that Salmond has turned against the SNP. I see no evidence for this; only for him having beef with a tiny fraction of the party.
Delete"Is there a rule about a specific period of time advocacy for a party needs openly renewed or it expires?"
DeleteIs there any rule about it lasting until the heat death of the universe unless otherwise stated?
Ha ha, well kinda James (and I'm Ross in case you missed it previously, so happy to be called that by friends online), as long as you state it's the last position they held and that they have not said differently.
DeleteI've never said Salmond is definitely backing SNP, just that he's not said he's turned against his long term support for them as unionists are really trying to sell. Maybe he has / is planning to. However, I see no evidence of that.
I'd like to see him remembered for all the work he did for the SNP. If he does turn against all those in the party that respected and trusted him (including me), then that will be his legacy. Let's be realistic; he could never be in the SNP 'hall of fame' for turning against his allies / supporters in such a way.
So far, he doesn't seem to be doing that, so I'm holding out a bit of hope.
For me, the SNP isn't some sort of cult. It is a group of individuals in a broad church who believe in Scottish indy. Some may turn out to be bad eggs. However, I will never collectively blame the rest for their actions like the usual suspects on here and English bloggers do.
I don't and have never seen some faceless party machine as unionists try to paint it as. I know far too many members and supporters.
James Kelly the optimist asking Smearer Skier (liar since 2014) to stick to the facts.
DeleteSmearer lies his face off in about every second post. He actually posted on the previous article he was a person of integrity. Wrong Smearer you are a person with a brass neck.
Smearer Skier (liar since 2014) says "Salmond cleared that up."
DeleteLying again and not for the first time on this point. I would estimste it is the third time you have posted this lie. You may think you are supporting independence lying like this but you do it a disservice as you are acting just the same as the lying Britnats. Are you a lying Britnat because you act the same.
I know what your legacy is Smearer Skier - a lying Smearer.
Smearer Skier (liar since 2014) says Salmond only has a "beef with a tiny fraction of the party" - yeh and that is the Chief Executive, the Chief Operating Officer and the Compliance manager. In Smearers world that is nothing - what a tosser.
Delete@Scottish Skier
Delete"Certainly, if he wants to go down in history as a key figure in the SNP and their quest for indy,"
You're having a laugh!
His sizeable contribution was already erased from the SNP website; an act of pure Stalinism
At least someone cares. In Holyrood the SNP are the New New Labour, a decade out of date, and the Tories are the opposition. In the UK, Labour actually occasionally toy with the idea of the workers being given the ownership of the means of production.
ReplyDeleteNothing even vaguely radical has any traction in Scotland. The government looks like it is run by corporate lobbyists (AirbnB, Serco, RBS, BoS, National Car Parks, First Bus, 'Scottish' Power, 'Scot'rail, etc, etc, etc.), and people accept it. Because they they are too scared of anything else. Belarus is less of a Ronald McDonald State.
No idea what planet Sarwar is on. The last one was a trades unionist. Sarwar looks like he rocks up at Maqbool's in a brand new Mercedes with a big roll of banknotes for Friday Shopping.
ReplyDeleteNicola "rates" him, she tweeted in her congrats.
ReplyDeleteNobody should criticise her for observing the normal courtesies.
DeleteIf I was Sturgeon, I'd be really pleased too.
DeleteSarwar is absolutely an asset to the indy movement.
Labour well, they had an empty net and scored an own goal at the opposite end. That was after the Sturgeon presented them with the ball.
ReplyDeleteSorry to read this.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thenational.scot/news/19122987.scottish-flag-ripped-railings-william-wallace-monument-london/
Scottish flag 'ripped from the railings' of William Wallace monument in London
If anyone spots a tweet on twitter saying that the SNP fear Sarwar or he will be the next FM can you post it here so we can have a good laugh.
ReplyDeleteCan't believe I'm quoting Alistair Campbell, but things have got that silly now Yes is ahead and brexit / English nationalism is trashing the UK. Unionism is now all fantasy conspiracies, which if you are a unionist, must be really worrying.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thenational.scot/news/19123012.scotland-attack---tells-us/
He [Campbell] tweeted: “I hold no candle for the SNP and the Salmond-Sturgeon story is clearly important and newsworthy. But my God, compare and contrast the right-wing media and BBC News coverage with the comparative lack thereof of @Suella Braverman re Cummings, Priti Patel breach min code, the entire govt prepared to break law re N Ireland/Brexit and Matt Hancock found to have broken law but said it was ok cos he was in a hurry.
“I know Andrew Neil has a dog in this fight but if there is a ‘Banana Republic’ right now it stems from London.”
Smearer Skier (liar since 2014) - I really really do believe you are quoting the war criminal Campbell because you are a Sturgeon fanboy and Sturgeon is a pal of Campbell. New Labour meets new SNP.
DeleteSomehow I do not forecast a statue of Sarwar sitting in Buchanan st in 80 years time alongside Dewar. However, I do forecast that Dewars statue will not be there and bloody good riddance.
ReplyDeleteNOT A SHRED OF EVIDENCE versus NO NEW EVIDENCE
ReplyDeleteNot a shred of evidence has changed to new evidence was provided by Salmond at the Committee meeting. That of course is misleading as the point of attending an Inquiry meeting is to be questioned on your submission/evidence already provided not to provide new evidence.
This is what Blackford stated on Newsnight last night - no new evidence he says. What happened inbetween? One minute Sturgeon is saying there is not a shred of evidence next minute Blackford says no new evidence. If there is no new evidence there must have been some in the first place. So Blackford trying to be smart is contradicting his boss Sturgeon. Best watch out Ian.
Bkackford has as big a brass neck as Smearer as he actually said we have been taken out of the EU against our will. Yeh we remember Ian - you told us a zillion times it wouldn't happen. Smearer give him some of your brasso.
There is liar who posts on SGP who says Salmond did not criticise Sturgeon on Friday. Aye right. At the beginning he said there was a failure of leadership in Scotland.
ReplyDeleteYou are needing a bit of help. You keep having negative thoughts. This is not good for anyone having these for 24/7/365. Trying to hi-jack all the threads wanting attention is a cause for concern. This thread is about Sarwar. Try keeping to the topic, that would be much appreciated. Have a good evening.
DeleteJames, no comment on the latest opinion poll before Alex Salmonds evidence to the Holyrood committee showing No to independence now in the lead....Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteLabour don't want your votes.
ReplyDeleteThe Tories are unelectable.
The voting system was set up by the Unionists to prevent a 1 party majority.
The SNP are projected to win big in the constituency vote.
Use your second vote wisely to deliver a Indy landslide.
That's all Folks.
The response here to Sarwar as new Scottish labour leader strikes me as a bit hysterical, presumably because the last thing anyone wants is a strong Labour anti-referendum stance. Step back a bit though and I cannot see what is the problem with him at all. I just watched his long interview with Sophie Ridge and I thought he pitched it exactly right. In his relaxed style he even reminded me a bit of the pre-office Tony Blair. (OK rant about Blair all you like but he was a fantastic vote winner). James needs to provide more reasons to damn him so utterly than just disappointment at his unionist stance which is surely predictable. Yet he says nothing else. And it also seems a little odd not to even bother to mention, while dishing out unqualified damnation, he is the first minority ethnic (unless you count Jewish in this category) to become leader of a political party in British history.
ReplyDeleteAs an SNP member and someone fully committed to Independence I am really pleased with his appointment. Monica Lennon would have been a threat. Anas is going to have to explain British Labour’s stance on Brexit and his own position on private education and private health care. He also needs to explain why he is not allowed to have his own nuanced policies to reflect Scotland’s interests but must slavishly follow Starmer. He is also tainted by issues surrounding the living wage. These issues will haunt him in upcoming FMQs and in election canvassing. Starmers position on a range of significant issues will cost British Labour dear in Scotland. Why should anyone seeking the return of the Labour Party to an active role in Scottish politics vote for a British Labour party whose branch office is led by a privately educated millionaire with a dodgy reputation in the area of workers rights and burdened by British Labour’s stance on a range of significant issues.
ReplyDeleteThankful for putting aside the push to wreck this, I feel all around about it, and I worth looking at it. If possible, when you cause seeing, Okay to have to reestablish your blog with more information? It's truly key to me. If you have some problem with Hp Printer in Error State click the link.
ReplyDelete