Sunday, March 13, 2022

#Referendum2023: Can a hashtag shape history - or at least shame history?

“When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’ 
’The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.’ 
’The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master — that’s all.”

So I've been reading with great interest Paul Kavanagh reporting to Wee Ginger Dug readers, under the title "Referendum 2023", that the Scottish Government's "plan" to hold a referendum in the latter part of next year "remains on track".  That could be seen as rather carefully chosen language, because of course any plan to hold a referendum next year would technically "remain on track" until the Tory government and/or the Supreme Court are given the chance to formally say no - and part of the whole problem is that we haven't even got to that stage yet.

But in fairness Paul goes on to use what appears to be much less tricksy language.  He notes that some people (hi!) will never be satisfied because they have "convinced themselves" that the Scottish Government are only pretending to want a referendum.  (Translation: we've learned from repeated past experience that the Scottish Government are only pretending to want a referendum.)  He adds that "the rest of us" have received "welcome confirmation" that a referendum "will indeed go ahead in the latter half of 2023".

Well now, blimey, that's quite a statement.  Since when have the Scottish Government - or their most loyal supporters - conceded that they have the ability to simply decide that a referendum will indeed go ahead on a certain date?  They are the ones who insist that we must have a "gold standard" process requiring consent from Westminster that we know is not going to be forthcoming within such a tight timescale.  They are the ones who idiotically use language like "legal referendum", implying that any referendum not sanctioned by the Tory government or by the Supreme Court would be "illegal". (In reality, we do not live in Spain, and in the United Kingdom there is no such thing as an "illegal vote" - merely a vote that has no legal effect.)

So unless there's been a complete U-turn while we were all napping, Paul's statement that a referendum "will indeed go ahead" appears to be literally devoid of all meaning.  I can only assume the get-out clause will be "no-one could possibly have foreseen that Boris Johnson would say no, but don't worry, he's sure to realise his stance is totally unsustainable by 2025!"

Long-term readers may remember that I was bemused in mid-2017 by Peter A Bell's repeated use on Twitter of the hashtag #Referendum2018. I pointed out to him that no-one in the SNP leadership had actually committed to a referendum in 2018, and judging from the mood music it was extremely unlikely to happen that early.  But he explained that it was a kind of "fake it until it's real" exercise - he thought that if enough people used the hashtag often enough, the Scottish Government would be forced to accept that a referendum in September 2018 was strategically inevitable.  Well, I think we can safely deduce from the failure of Peter's wheeze (and the failure of his similar #DissolveTheUnion wheeze) that hashtags alone cannot change the course of history.

But now that, for the first time, the SNP leadership have committed themselves to a rough date, the calculation may be slightly different.  It would be interesting to see if liberal use of #Referendum2023 could make it harder for them to allow the timetable to slip yet again.  So here are some thoughts about what you can tweet with the #Referendum2023 hashtag:

* Your plans for a referendum night watch party with your mates.  #Referendum2023

* What nibbles you plan to get in for referendum night.  #Referendum2023

* Speculation on who the BBC presenters will be for the results programme.  Will Sarah Smith be brought back for one night only?  #Referendum2023

* Invite SNP MSPs to speak at referendum hustings in your town.  #Referendum2023

* Should you take your own pen to the polling station?  Thoughts, please?  #Referendum2023

* Make suggestions for a new hat George Galloway could wear at the televised debates.  #Referendum2023

And if, as impossible as it may seem, we arrive at New Year's Day 2024 without a referendum having actually taken place, for heaven's sake don't stop using the #Referendum2023 hashtag.  It'll be an important way of forcing SNP leadership loyalists to notice and accept that they've allowed the goalposts to shift yet again.  So tell us about...

* Your favourite fictional memories of encounters with dogs at polling stations on referendum day.  #Referendum2023

* Your favourite fictional result on referendum night.  Was it that sensational Yes majority in Clackmannanshire?  #WellDoneClacks #Referendum2023

* Reminisce about that priceless fictional expression on BBC pundit Blair McDougall's face as the results came in.  Memories to last a lifetime!  #Referendum2023

*  *  *

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11 comments:

  1. Well put. Meanwhile your old friend Peter Bell is telling us that the SNP haven't acted because they didn't get enough votes in the last few elections!

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  2. I very much doubt that Blowhard Blackford takes a dump without first checking it is ok with Sturgeon. So I suspect Sturgeon asked Blowhard to test out the reaction to a suggestion that Indyref2 may have to be delayed due to the Ukraine/Russia war.

    The negative reaction clearly spooked her so much that she sent out wee Patrick to tell us all that Nicola is telling the truth that Indyref2 will happen some time next year.

    That was all good enough for WGD numpty Dr Jim - wee Patrick says a date for the parliament to discuss the Indyref2 date will be set soon and Dr Jim says it's a definite thing. Now I know where all that manure in Mike Russell's horsebox is coming from. Hope he disnae bring it to the AUOB march in Arbroath next month. It'll stink the place oot.

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  3. FANFARE FOR A WGD NUMPTY

    Get the banners out - Alec Lomax manages to post more than two sentences in a post on WGD. Lomax calls me a wee comic. Wrong as usual Lomax - 6feet 1 inch is my height - and you numpties provide a mountain of material that is both comical and unmissable.

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    1. Keep the banners unfurled the buffoon know as Lomax has managed another post containing two sentences - less words this time - clearly his wee brain is getting tired as there is nothing original in his comments. Can this WGD numpty manage three in a row?

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  4. If the SNP/ Scottish government seriously think they have a plan for independence then it is no wonder they cannot deliver anything more complicated than a lengthy SNP transphobia definition.

    Mr Kavanagh and his less than merry band of doggers have been saying Indyref2 is next year for a number of years now. If they are all so sure 2023 is the year why do they not take up Campbell's bet. Surely they would love to take money from Campbell as they all seem to hate him - particularly Irish Skier - who now seems to be the resident WGD expert on Ireland's problems. A future post from the Skier will no doubt be on the subject of his travels through Ireland's unisex toilets.

    " But now that, for the first time, the SNP leadership have committed themselves to a rough date" sorry James they have made a political promise to a rough TIME PERIOD, that's all. No different than before when Sturgeon said they would have a referendum in 2020 and she reneged on that.

    How about #weePatrick says Indy is a goer in 2023

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  5. THE BBC STURGEONS FAVOURITE BROADCASTER

    reported on a small crowd ( Reporting Scotland said 100 - looked more like 50 to me) demonstrating in George Sq Glasgow against the war in Ukraine. This is the broadcaster that ignored massive independence marches through Glasgow but Sturgeon says they are great.

    Sturgeon an independence leader - 😂😂😂😂😂😂

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  6. I'm afraid Mr Kavanagh knows fine well that there is no way around the section 30 'gold standard' roadblock which Sturgeon herself erected to close off any route to a second referendum. He has however found a lucrative income stream in providing false hope for the gullible.

    It's becoming increasingly clear that Sturgeon truly believes in the 'once in a generation' mantra and is only really interested in pursuing Stonewall's queer theory agenda these days. We will never progress under her glacial leadership.

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  7. So not long after Sturgeon tells us we are lucky to be living in the U.K. Mr Kavanagh then in his most recent article also tells us how we are lucky to be living in the U.K.

    " The UK is a democracy, a flawed democracy, but a democracy nonetheless. We enjoy freedom of speech and expression and freedom of political organisation. Scotland is not a possession or a colony,....."

    The UK is a democracy for England and yes Scotland is possession and a colony and therefore it is not a situation to tell people we are lucky to live in the UK.

    Is Mr Kavanagh just another nicophant or is he being directed to write this stuff to back up Sturgeon's comments. Who knows - it is crap anyway. He then spoils the case that the UK is such a great place to live by posting lots of reasons why it is not.

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    1. Kavanagh says: "We enjoy freedom of speech, ...".

      try telling that to Craig Murray and Mark Hirst.

      Sturgeon's Scotland may not be as bad as Johnston's UK but it is still grim.

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  8. The Chief Constable, I livingstone ( remember him, he popped up every so often on Sturgeons Covid briefings ) and the Lord Advocate have decided to defend Mark Hirst's action for damages as a result of a malicious prosecution instigated by some alphabetties. Most people will probably have a good idea by now which betties are involved.

    Oh well that could be very interesting.

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    Replies
    1. Poor thicko Hamish100 disnae seem to know anything about this - that's what comes from having your head stuck in the sand all the time.

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