Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Enough of the hate mail, thanks

Since I declared my support for the Alba party, I've been receiving hate mail from SNP members - in particular, repeated emails from two individuals.  I've ignored them until now, but come on, chaps, enough is enough.  You know perfectly well that what you're doing is inappropriate, and that this isn't what the contact address is there for.  Just pack it in.

Perhaps disappointed that screaming blue murder at me hasn't affected my choice of party, one of the two correspondents has recently changed tack and started messaging me with rants about my constituency profiles in The National.  Anyone who has read those profiles will know that they're not influenced in any way by my own party preferences - I've just been giving my honest assessment of the knowns and the unknowns.  However, even if they were influenced by partisan considerations, they most certainly wouldn't be anti-SNP in nature, because I'll be voting SNP on the constituency ballot, and the whole independence movement will be praying that the SNP win as many constituencies as possible.  The idea that I'm in any way trying to undermine the SNP is, frankly, idiotic.

The specific complaint today is about the profile of Caithness, Sutherland & Ross, which I quite reasonably stated is a Lib Dem target seat in which the SNP remain slight favourites.  Apparently that's not good enough - in this era of "you're either with us, or you're with the terrorists" I was supposed to demonstrate my loyalty by saying that the SNP victory is beyond all question and that Maree Todd will be pelted with flowers by the adoring crowds on her way to the declaration (although that would breach the pandemic restrictions, of course).

Here are some responses to the specific points that are raised in the email - 

'Gail Ross won the seat with a comfortable majority last time' - Yes, she did, and at that point the equivalent Westminster seat was also held by the SNP with a similar majority.  It's since been won twice by the Liberal Democrats - in spite of the fact that on one of those occasions the SNP won the wider national election by a landslide.

'Maree Todd is better known than the Liberal Democrat candidate Molly Nolan' - That'll probably be why I said so in the article.

'The Westminster constituency has different boundaries' - Yes, it does, but on absolutely any boundaries this is a seat with a strong Liberal Democrat tradition.

'The popular and much-loved Jamie Stone almost lost the Westminster seat to a complete unknown from the SNP' - In that case, why are you placing so much emphasis on Molly Nolan being an unknown?

Today's other constituency profile is Orkney.

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96 comments:

  1. Well, based on last night we can be 100% certain that Oor Nicola will be calling this abuse out and expelling the members concerned immediately.

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    1. I agree such abuse should be dealt with harshly, as should calling women 'cows'...making disparaging comments based on race...abusing aid victims. Such behavior is not acceptable, and any candidate behaving in such a way should be stood down.

      I hope you report those concerned James. We can all debate without the need for abuse, misogyny and racism.

      Delete
  2. Well said, Both the article and the comment by Kenny. I find it so sad that in Scotland today we cannot have a reasoned and balanced debate without some people reverting to abuse.

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    1. Couldn’t agree more! It is a fundamental facet of democracy tht you can hold different opinions with relative impunity.

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  3. I've decided after watching last night that I'm going to continue splitting my vote with the Greens

    They've got the best policies in my opinion

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    Replies
    1. They've worked hard for many years to build up their voter base and, crucially, actually would love to be in government.

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    2. Ah, now everything makes sense. A couple of woman-haters.

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    3. Is that a quote from an email you were planning to send to people Andy?

      Also, are you a married man with daughters like myself?

      Incidentally, I've never voted Green. Just SNP and Margo.

      Delete
  4. Achieving a super-majority of pro-indy MSPs in this election will remove any excuse for not holding a referendum.

    The only way to achieve a super-majority is by voting Alba on the List.

    If the SNP manifesto contains a commitment to a second indyref with OR WITHOUT a Section 30 order, then we will know that sturgeon is serious about independence.

    If the manifesto pledge is to hold indyref2 ONLY WITH a Section 30 order, then we will know that sturgeon is not serious about independence.

    Alba will hold sturgeon's feet to the fire re indyref2.

    Ergo, Alba must be destroyed/belittled/ridiculed.

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  5. Yes, in fact James I read your article on Caithness, Sutherland & Ross and shared it earlier (me being an inhabitant of the said constituency.) It was fair and balanced as usual.

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  6. I hope Maree wins as it will increase the chances of the Wokist Roddick not getting elected on the List.

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  7. Splitting the vote seems to be all the rage. I think I'll go SNP Green for the first time normally just always SNP. We could have a supermajority with the Greens.

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    1. I'm voting 1. SNP 2. Green 3.Communist 4.Jacobite and 5.IKEA

      #ubermajority.

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    2. Thought you were joking until I saw that there are around 20 list parties so all of those could be actual parties :)

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  8. James , Sadly there are folk who love to complain no matter what you say. Especially in this kind of scenario where folk with very disparate political views both want the same thing . The devil is in the how we get it


    On side note is the calculator in this website reasonably accurate { based on the relevant polling data of course}.
    http://www.electionpolling.co.uk/swingometer/scottish-parliament

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  9. So we have the SNP and the Greens in the current Parliament both want independence. So that's a super majority of independent supporting MSP,s. If you change all the Greens for the breakaway Alba party.
    In what way is that different. Is it only because Alex Salmond is involved Westminster will be shaking in their boots.

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    1. I don't think the green party appeals to the more hardcore indy supporters that Alba may well attract. I have seen even some more moderate Nicola and SNP supporters ask if the potential presence of Alba could add some urgency to the indy question.

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    2. I'm a 'hardcore' indy supporter, but don't think I'll being going for Alba.

      Being hardcore of course won't deliver indy; it's getting those softer Nos on board that's needed.

      Alba holding the feet of soft Nos to the fire (via the SNP) will probably not have them rallying to Yes.

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    3. Is urgently getting the referendum the goal or is it winning it. We could be in a rush to put own heads on the chopping block

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    4. The Greens have been regarded as softer than the SNP on Indy for a while. Their committments to it in 2016 was neither reinforcing nor pressuring the SNP in any way.

      Alba being elected cannot force Westminster to unblock a referendum, but they are moving the Overton window. The more Scots are willing to vote for direct independence, the more independence-by-referendum moves into the centre.

      Delete
    5. Firstly: Until last year there had not been a majority for Independence under Nicola Sturgeon. Which obviously why one had not been called.
      Secondly; The full effect of this disastrous Brexit will not be felt and seen by the general public until shops reopen/don't reopen post pandemic. Then the pro indy% will increase even more. Hence the aproach taken by the FM.
      Ally

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    6. What's the difference between hardcore British Unionist and hardcore independent supporter. Is it that they both think they can enforce an idea on people. Without actually persuading them. Wouldn't
      We just be swapping hardcore types of people

      Delete
  10. I certainly don't think putting pressure on Scots to vote Yes by 'holding their feet the fire' is a wise strategy.

    Johnson's been trying that with unionism and look where's it got him; Yes went into majority after he said No.

    We need gentle persuasion and consensus.

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    Replies
    1. Lucky, then, that the suggestion was not that "Scots" should have their feet held to the fire, but that *the SNP* should.

      But, hey, you knew that.

      Delete
    2. But that's the net result if the SNP are in power. If you put the government's feet to the fire on indy, then you puts Scots feet to the fire, kinda obviously.

      If you manage to pressure the SNP into an iref next week, then you've put Scots right on the spot and are trying to force an answer out of them.

      Delete
    3. "If you put the government's feet to the fire on indy, then you puts Scots feet to the fire, kinda obviously."

      Kinda obvious in a totally non-obvious sort of way.

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    4. I think if the Abla party are going to e.g. force a no confidence vote in the SNP unless they hold iref2 before Christmas or such like, and with unionist support the government could fall, then yes, the electorate are having feet held to the fire. They are being pushed into a choice.

      If the Alba party are not going to try and strong arm the SNP - and so Scots - into an iref when Alba wants it using such tactics, then why are they claiming that's why we should vote for them?

      UKIP forced Scots voters feet into the fire over brexit (via pressure on the Tories and Labour), which is probably why they did so badly here, even though 38% voted leave.

      We won't win indepdence any earlier than Scots are ready for by forcing them into it. All we can do is keep trying to encourage them with the same fundamental arguments that we've made since 1707.

      It is the situation that changes, not the arguments.

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    5. I think if the Abla party are going to e.g. force a no confidence vote in the SNP unless they hold iref2 before Christmas or such like, and with unionist support the government could fall, then yes, the electorate are having feet held to the fire. They are being pushed into a choice.

      By that token, the SNP pushed the electorate into a choice in 2014. Would you say that did them harm?

      Delete
  11. Abuse of any sort is unacceptable. And many leading politicians and other in the public eye get barrowloads, especially women it seems.

    On the question of Alba, I'll be looking out for your first post after the results if either of these scenarios happen: they get no, or at most 1 or 2 seats; or the SNP/Indy parties lose their majority thanks to the false prospectus of "millions of wasted votes".

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I hope you'll be looking out for my first post after the election regardless of whether the result is good or bad. I aim to be compulsive reading.

      Delete
  12. When will we get the first poll showing support, if any, for Alba?

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    1. Dunno. Wings showed a poll including Alba apparently in the field, but it will likely overestimate Alba as the latter were not included as 'other' alongside other parties which have never won seats, but was bumped up to the level of those that have. This invariably results in overestimation.

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    2. That's pushing it a bit. Anyone would think you're trying to get an excuse ready, just in case Alba have a decent number. An exhaustive list of parties, large and small, simply reflects what the actual ballot paper looks like.

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    3. But not necessarily how people behave. The ballot paper may be exhaustive in every election, with the Monster raving loony party as prominent as the SNP, but the bigger parties all but invariably take the lions share on the day because of the e.g. 5% threshold or FPTP wasted votes.

      Delete
  13. It's almost as if supporters of the current SNP leadership are banking on Alba taking SNP list seats in order that they can blame someone [other than the real culprits] for postponing indyref2 yet again.

    Indeed the SNP leadership would probably welcome another excuse to decline, yet again, to fight for independence.

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    1. I suspect that parties who 'don't want to be in government' are much more likely to cause delays by, well, not wanting to actually do the hard work of governing.

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    2. It's almost as if supporters of the current SNP leadership are banking on Alba taking SNP list seats in order that they can blame someone [other than the real culprits] for postponing indyref2 yet again.

      Indeed the SNP leadership would probably welcome another excuse to decline, yet again, to fight for independence.


      So are you going to deny them this excuse by voting SNP on the list, or will you play into their hands by voting Alba?

      Delete
  14. Just this minute done a panelbase poll on independence/voting intentions for the Scottish election. Questions asked about Alex Salmond's trustworthiness compared to Sturgeon and Johnson. Questions on other party leaders. Questions on GRA.

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    1. What was the regional list question like? Current parties with seats and an 'other' option (leading maybe to options) or silliness with everyone from the communists to the senior citizens immediately listed?

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  15. Scottish skier - other parties

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    1. That's good thanks. Should help us properly gauge the initial impact of Alba on the list.

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  16. Sorry SS, scratch that - I got mixed up. It listed ALBA along with the current parties

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  17. Just ALBA though, no silly parties included,

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    1. Ok, so will likely overestimate Alba.

      There's no good statistical reason to include Alba over other small parties who didn't win seats last time in the initial prompt.

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    2. You've yet to offer a convincing explanation of why that would lead to an overestimation. As to why it's been done, I would guess because the party had two MPs, several councillors, and is led by the former First Minister of Scotland.

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    3. Yes, but that's not a statistical / science based reason for including Alba. It's just a fuzzy 'feeling' which scientists / statisticians should not base things on. They might chase it up with some tests, but that's it.

      All the main pollsters a rule only include parties that have won / normally win seats the initial prompt because not doing so overestimates newbies / small parties based on experience. If they start to see a lot people answering other then 'Alba', that would maybe add justification for adding to the initial prompt or trying both ways ahead of the election and seeing which gets it right.

      Alba have never won a single seat in any previous election. They cannot be statistically compared as a group with those that did last time / recently in other elections.

      Salmond at the height of his FM popularity could likely have walked away with half the vote. If he'd had no controversy, coming back out of retirement could definitely have made a big impact too. But as things stand, it looks like he is notably less popular than Farage was in Scotland ahead of May 2016, although precise like for like data is not there.

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    4. Here's some stuff on this for readers:

      https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2019/05/31/heres-how-we-prompt-brexit-party-and-why-its-more-

      How pollsters ask questions is an eternally controversial issue. For voting intention, that often focuses upon how the answer options are presented. The approach that YouGov has always taken is to prompt for the traditional main parties, but only prompt for other parties if people select "other". A similar approach is taken by most other polling companies. This may seem unfair to some people (and has often been a source of complaint from supporters of smaller parties), but is based on what actually gets elections right. In the past, prompting for smaller parties has tended to overstate their support when compared to actual elections, and the two-stage approach to prompting has produced more accurate results.

      https://anthonybmasters.medium.com/prompts-and-political-polling-820b20170850

      ..The goals of survey research are accuracy and insight, not pandering to politicians. It is for social research companies to test methodological changes, and determine the most accurate means of measuring support for new (or reincarnated) parties.

      We'll probably see some different approaches used. We won't know which approach is the most accurate until we see how the results went.

      If I was a gambling man, I'd go for the more conservative second prompt approach. That should at least give the worst case or higher Alba level. Those you can be sure will vote Alba will seek them out on the second prompt.

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    5. Why is there not not "...a statistical / science based reason for including Alba"?

      Why, "It's just a fuzzy 'feeling' which scientists / statisticians should not base things on..." instead of the more obvious, that the polls have been commissioned, precisely to guage support for Alba?

      I, for one, want to know.

      Delete
    6. The polls are aimed at accurately predicting the shares of all parties. They are aimed at getting the communist share correct as much as they are Alba.

      If they make the mistake of doing something that causes an overestimation of the final Alba share, they'll get the wooden spoon for it in post election analysis and less customers.

      Ergo, anything that gives Alba unfair promotion in prompting is a risk to them. Unless they are getting paid for that.

      In early polls they are happier to take your cash to tell you what you want to hear. In their final polls they'll try to be right.

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    7. I'm not following your logic Skier. I'd imagine Friday's launch would have triggered a flurry of activity & a number of organisations would have commissioned polls purely to assess Alba's impact. So they'd surely ask questions specific to that, whether you think it's good practice or not.

      As for inflated early results flattening over time, that may not be down to flawed polling. I wouldn't be surprised at any launch causing a spike, which subsequently flattens after the initial hype has died down.

      At this stage I don't want to know much more than which ballpark Alba playing in. Damp squib, contender or game changer will do me, so we're not making wild guesses with fantastical numbers. We can progress to wild guesses with real numbers.

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  18. Rhys Crilley of Glasgow Uni has done an analysis of Alba on Social Media and says the numbers are surprisingly low. https://twitter.com/rhyscrilley/status/1377277348173787137?s=20
    Avery interesting read.
    Ally

    Reply

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    1. Isn't that Rhiannon Spears hubby?

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    2. Interesting link Unknown and not looking great for Alex Salmond.

      Rhys Crilley's saying that ''it's also worth noting that since last Friday Alex Salmond has lost Facebook followers, and the SNP & Greens have gained a fair few.''

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    3. ''Isn't that Rhiannon Spears hubby?''

      Seems that some people are easily duped.

      Rhys Crilley:-

      www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/staff/rhyscrilley/

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    4. @JimA, is that link somehow supposed to indicate that he isn't her partner? Because, I mean, he is.

      Delete
  19. The sad individuals that have time to waste, or no lives, frittering their existence on hate mail baffle me. What do they expect to achieve?

    They should be expelled from the party. There is no place for poison.

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  20. March 28, 2021 at 7:14 pm
    Well, 2 days later, the Scottish Greens have 59,700 followers on twitter, Alba not as many – 7,806”

    Current level is 8,890 Followers, so an extra 1,024 in 3 days, 342 a day. That’s in spite of AFI, ISP and Kerevan joining Alba (he has 17.3K Followers on his own)
    Will be interesting to see new poll figures.
    Ally

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    1. I'm not sure I'm following this. The Scottish Green Party was founded in 1990. It would be a bit odd if they *didn't* have more followers than a party that was formed last week.

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    2. Yep James
      But Alba have 5 wks to get their target of what is it one million voters.
      Ally

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    3. Chances of getting 1 million votes with no credible organisation other then WoS, Twitter and Facebook is optimism which you should be commended for.

      The next couple of weeks time the MSM & Unionist press will ramp up their attacks on the SNP and Alba if they are perceived to a real threat to the union. I expect the press are going through all the candidates twitter and Facebook pages for starters.

      Delete
    4. WoS a credible organisation? That was the worst thing that Alex Salmond could have done especially when he's trying to shake off a bit of a reputation. Forming an allegiance with that dork. Then again he needed that site to pass on the leaked data and to continue to undermine the SNP as he pretends that he's squeaky clean. Get's Campbell to do his dirty work for him.

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    5. <10k Twitter followers is a bit incongruent with the claims that multiple tens of thousands of people have actually joined the party.

      Delete
  21. Looking back to 2016, due to all the publicity and decent support for leaving the EU in Scotland, Farage got not bad sat ratings.

    Nigel Farage as UKIP leader, Scotland Jan 2016:
    15% Satisfied
    31% Neither
    41% Dissatisfied

    UKIP got 1.8% in 2016. I remember being concerned that they'd get a seat as in March polls had them 4-6% regularly. And of course Coburn had got in on a low turnout for the EU elections.

    Didn't happen though; even in Holyrood breaking through isn't very easy; it take time as voters tend to opt for safer bets.

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    1. Nigel Farage is not a former First Minister of Scotland. And the SSP and Greens both won seats at the first attempt, as did the SSCUP.

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    2. I'd say your chance of winning is based on party and leader personality. If your party is unknown, you'll more likely need a popular leader. If your party is known, the leader can be an erse and you'll still do ok, e.g. the UK Tories. Labour's been leaderless for years in Scotland with no direction yet still is the 2-3 biggest party.

      It doesn't really matter what a leader did previously. It's their appeal now that matters. They could have been the benevolent and wondrous Queen of Sheeba in the past, but if they'd fallen from grace they'd be starting from that position. Whatever people personally feel about the Salmond saga, he has fallen far if polling is anywhere near accurate.

      We can't really count 1999 as we don't have a previous reference. All parties standing were 'new' to the parliament. Maybe the Greens and SSP would have won seats in 1995 if it had existed. We just can't know. A new parliament is a blank sheet.

      SSP did gain +4.7% in 2003 and take what +6 seats? So that does say you can make inroads, although again they were already present from 1999, so were not new.

      Removing 1999, where all had never had an MSP before, no new party has made big inroads at holyrood.

      UKIP really looked like a candidate for at least a seat in 2016 but it never happened. Alba are likely too, but I'd not start counting multiple supermajority chickens.

      I don't think Alba are my cup of tea. At the same time, I think a whopping SNP majority poses dangers, so a teeny one or just under with support of the Greens or Alba is probably the best. That way Scotland is not held to ransom by any party, but there is a comfortable majority of MSPs for Yes.

      Delete
    3. Yes, maybe for me ideal is SNP with 50% of MSPs or just a couple short, Greens with a good few again and Alba have some too. Ideally this comes from a real increase in votes for Yes parties, not from 'gaming the system'. lets say a clear % for Yes parties on the PR list suggesting we are good for the same come referendum time.

      That way, all Yessers have their voice but no one yes party can really push the others around. SNP would not be at the mercy of of disgruntled former members, but it would only take a little bit of internal pressure / dissent to ensure they keep themselves in check and on course. Too much pressure and the Greens or Alba can keep SNP dissidents (indluding any cold feeters) in check.

      I will have a look at my Alba candidates, but so far they've not appealed to me.

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  22. Alba full candidates list:

    https://www.thenational.scot/news/19201559.holyrood-2021-alex-salmonds-alba-party-publish-full-list-candidates/

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    1. An impressive list - lots of experience. I also note that women outnumber men on this lists, which given the circumstances, is no bad thing. Not bad at all.

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    2. Careers can outweigh morals,it tends to be reason why women don't report things...hence metoo etc

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    3. Months into her graduate job in the French civil service, my now wife was asked (with creepy hand on leg) by the (married and late middle aged) Mayor of the town - her ultimate boss and 35 years her senior - about sex for promotion. This coming after his attempts to ply her with alcohol, complete with unwanted 'cuddles' after a staff party at the Marie.

      Suffice to say she politely declined and wiggled her way out of the situation, but didn't report it for the reasons you specify. Was not really 'criminal' was it, certainly without any recordings of the conversation...

      She did privately tell her direct boss (a gentleman) and he gave her advice as to how to handle the Mayor in such situations, but both of them preferred not risk their jobs by trying to go over the Mayor. After all, he was an influential man who often entertained his regional boss who was also apparently a sleaze. Also, given he spent most of his time drunk and not getting in the way, it was better the devil they knew.

      She left after a year to move to Scotland and live with me.

      Delete
  23. I was speaking to a couple I know from the NE.
    I was saying Alex Salmond would likely gain a seat there.
    They're both strong Yes/SNP, but say Salmond is by no means a shoo-in.
    If so they'll struggle for an MSP in some other regions, especially where the Greens have an MSP.

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    1. I have seen the nominations for the NE and I have decided that I will vote SNP on the list and not lend a vote to the new party. Not impressed with the candidates after AS.

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    2. With all due respect to the couple you know, I don't see how they could possibly be in a position to judge Alba's chances at this stage. What are they basing it on - phone canvassing?

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    3. Maybe they're basing it on what they know about Alex Salmond now James. And I don't think that it goes down well either that he just appears on the scene following Nicola Sturgeon doing the hard graft for years on end and then 7 weeks away from the election waltzes in and attempts to get SNP supporters to support him. Let's face it Tory, Libdem, Labour and Green supporters won't go near him. He's totally dependent on knocking SNP votes alone.

      Delete
    4. JimA

      Nicola Sturgeon doing the hard graft. I split my sides laughing at that. What hard graft - we have had no referendum from her and the SNP have doing precious little to promote Scots Indy the last 7 years. If she and they had then there wouldn't be an Alba Party at all, we would be Independent already.

      Delete
    5. "Maybe they're basing it on what they know about Alex Salmond now James."

      In other words you think they're basing it on nothing? Nobody can extrapolate from their own opinions to work out how other people will vote.

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    6. Organising a referendum doesn't get Scots to support indy, as Salmond demonstrated in 2014.

      You organise the referendum once you have the support.

      It seems Sturgeon working on Remain voters slowly and carefully did work. After the brexit vote, they flirted briefly with the idea, then got cold feel. Sturgeon played that angle relentlessly, showing them how their voice was totally ignored and that England would take Scotland to a hard brexit. As a result, No Remainers steadily moved to Yes Remain, culminating in Yes entering narrow majority last year. If it had not been for a global pandemic, we might have had a shot at the prize. Likewise, referendum followed by an election is dangerous; as our 'true nats' like to remind us, an election plebiscite could overturn a referendum vote. So a Yes in the pandemic could have readily been reversed this May....

      Anyway, ken what % of the new Yes voters since 2014 can be attributed to Salmond, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh etc?

      Also, when was the last time WoS promoted Scots indy?

      Delete
  24. You are supporting SNP on District vote and Alba on the list?

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  25. The other James Kelly is 5th on the Glasgow List for Labour. If he doesn't win Rutherglen under FPTP he will be out of Parliament.

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    1. From a personal point of view that would be a relief, although unfortunately Rutherglen isn't necessarily unwinnable for him.

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  26. Alba party is the obvious vote for real yes.. Needs activism and wildcat referendum and international lobbying and udi.. Alba party will push for that... Snp too busy persuading no voters to vote yes through socially and politically correct policies to worry do anything on delivery mechanism. Delivering independence involves risks.. Sturgeon too risk averse. Salmonds the man for the job. As for the hate mail they're a bunch of saps. Tell them to reveal themsels and come ahead. We're the real yes.

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    1. "Snp too busy persuading no voters to vote yes"

      not sure I see the problem with that.

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    2. Unless the SNP persuade No to Yes then Independence won't happen.

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    3. "Snp too busy persuading no voters to vote yes"

      Disgraceful. No true indy party would waste time on such things. Better just to trick yes voters into giving you a meal ticket.

      I have found the tactical voting wheel; it's on the alba site and guess whit, 'aebody's a winner hen!'

      Delete
    4. Pretty sure the original poster is trolling.

      Delete
  27. James, It was based on their belief that Salmond had created animosity in the recent past and also a family member who works in local NE press.
    So not exactly scientific but still informed.
    Personally I think Salmond should achieve the 7% plus in the NE to win a seat, but remember ALBA are expecting most of their votes to come from SNPers.
    That's the same voters that many of their candidates have just walked away from.
    Surely you see that's a bit of an ask.

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    1. Well, not really - "created animosity"? With the 5% of votes he needs? A family member in the NE press? Unless that person had access to private polling, I'm not sure what difference that would make.

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  28. Nah you cant hate mail people for making a democratic decision

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  29. The equivalent Westminster seat you mention is Caithness Sutherland and Easter Ross. CSR also includes Wester Ross where Maree Todd is from and heavily SNP. The CSER was barely lost by only 200 votes. Mared Todd has worked the area hard and she is a strong favourite to retain the seat.

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