I think we're all a bit in shock that Craig Murray is actually going to jail, even though we've known for a few weeks that this moment was likely to arrive. Some will say "well, he's not above the law, you know", but what's truly staggering about this case is that we've discovered that equality before the law does not actually apply: bloggers are held to a higher standard, and are dealt with more punitively, than mainstream journalists. Lady Dorrian ludicrously justified that novel principle with reference to the IPSO code - an entirely voluntary code which has no legal standing that I'm aware of and that is rather selectively enforced, to put it politely.
As for Lady Dorrian's cheerleaders, probably the most reprehensible thing I've seen is a relatively well-known person within the SNP who indicated that she wanted Craig in jail, because if he was sentenced to community service he'd worm his way out of it due to his health conditions. Either the implication is that his health conditions are fake (in which case doctors are lying about them for some unspecified reason) or that she would rather Craig's life was put at risk than see him escape punishment. Never again can that individual claim to be a progressive: she has betrayed a repugnant right-wing belief system that is incompatible with restorative justice or rehabilitation, or indeed common decency.
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If you're a fellow member of the Alba Party, you'll have received a flurry of emails over the last few days about registration for the forthcoming conference, the election of office bearers, and a consultation about the party's draft constitution. A few people have messaged me to ask whether I'll be going to conference, and one person also wanted to know if I'd have any objection if he nominated me for one of the ordinary places on the National Executive Committee. I certainly would very much like to go to conference - the only snag is that I have a lot of contact with a vulnerable person, so I'll have to see how risky the virus situation seems at the time. But I plan to register to give myself the option of going if it's safe. And I don't have any objection if anyone genuinely wants to nominate me for the NEC - other than the inevitable mild embarrassment when only one person actually does it! (Ten nominations are required to make the ballot.) I'll probably send in nominations of my own for some of the various positions, but as the deadline is a few days away I'll give myself time to have a proper think about who to nominate. Alex Salmond for leader is a no-brainer if he wants to continue, but there are several possibilities for depute leader: Kenny MacAskill, Neale Hanvey and Chris McEleny would seem to be the obvious candidates, but there may be a feeling that a woman should take the role if the leader is male.
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Poll fundraising: We'll get there eventually! I'm still fundraising for the poll via the Scot Goes Pop general fundraiser - if you'd like to donate please click HERE. A million thanks for all the generous donations so far.
I'm sure WGD will be all over this
ReplyDeleteCraig Murray would be a free man if Scotland had a free press that reported details of the case for Salmond's defence as well as the salacious details that made the front pages.
ReplyDeleteThe Scottish establishment, both legal and political should never have accepted the authority of the English/UK supreme Court. A clear breach of the treaty of Union which ostensibly guaranteed the independence of Scots law.
Craig's sentence is harsh IMO. I hope he comes through it OK.
Ramstam- Craig Murray would be a free man if Sturgeon hadn't set her dogs on Murray just like she did with Salmond and Hirst. No decent person should ever vote for that crook and her gang. Are you a decent person Ramstam?
DeleteHi James do you have a link to this SNP well-known person's comments ?
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm not going to go there.
DeleteIf Craig's case had been heard before a jury, he would be a free man.
ReplyDeleteUnless you had inside knowledge, there is no way any of us could guess the names of the Alphabet women. The point has also been made many times, why just procecute Craig, a jigsaw has more than one piece.
The sentence (suspiciously delayed until after the Scottish elections) is unnecessarily harsh and raises questions as to the motivation.
If this case is a foretaste of things to come in Judge led trials, where clear bias and unfairness seems to have played a part, then I genuinely fear for the men of Scotland. Let us remember, Lady Dorrian's ambition that all future rape/sexual assault trials should be jury free.
Appeals are not won on 'unfairness' no matter how egregious. They're based on misapplication of the law and it looks like the appeal court thought Dorrian applied the law correctly. Even if almost no-one else agrees.
ReplyDeleteI'm more concerned over the Alba Party constitution than nominations at this point. We have lots of wonderfully qualified people. But the constitution seems to be repeated the mess that the SNP got into with the 'affiliated groups' having voting membership of the NEC. NO! I say no to affiliated groups period. Get your comments in....
ReplyDeleteAnyone heard yet how one can participate online (and vote) at conference? As a one member one vote party I would assume this is happening and voting will not be restricted to only those who can show up but I've seen nothing. Yes, I've asked and have not yet had an answer. If anyone has seen something, please let me know.