Every year since 2010, with the sole exception of three years ago when the Covid emergency was at its peak, Scot Goes Pop has published an April Fool. You've fallen for some of them, you haven't fallen for others, but all of them have been suitably outlandish. Two of my favourites can be read HERE and HERE.
This year, like every other year, I've tried to dream up the most outlandish and improbable thing I can think of. Here's what I've come up with -
In 2016, the SNP promised the people of Scotland that they would not be dragged out of the EU against their will, and that they would definitely get a vote on whether or not Scotland should become independent to avoid Brexit.
In 2022, after years of humming and hawing and setting dates for referendums and then scrapping them, by which point Scotland had been long since dragged out of the EU against its will, the SNP finally brought matters to a head by asking the Supreme Court to rule on whether a referendum could be held without Westminster's permission. This was a serious and solemn step, not to be taken lightly, because if the court ruled in the wrong way it would be a crushing setback for the independence cause unless a credible Plan B was in place. Luckily it was - an integral part of the SNP's plan was that a de facto referendum would automatically follow any court defeat. This part of the promise was practically signed in blood, and was taken seriously - because having marched their troops to the top of the hill and back down again so many times, it seemed inconceivable that the SNP would do so again when the stakes were so incredibly high.
The Supreme Court then ruled against the Scottish Government, and the SNP naturally indicated that they would press ahead with the second part of the plan by holding a de facto referendum.
After a few months, the SNP suddenly said "you know what, let's not bother with the second part of the plan, actually, let's do nothing instead". This instantly transformed a plan that was supposed to have been a means of ensuring Scotland definitely had a vote on independence one way or another into a Scotland-randomly-shooting-itself-in-the-foot exercise. The only effect of pursuing the first part of the plan was now to remove forever one key strategic option for pursuing independence that the Scottish Government had previously always had in reserve. Nothing had been gained, and a huge amount had been lost, all because of a loss of nerve and yet another betrayal of trust.
The SNP members then narrowly voted to support this act of abject surrender, mainly because they'd somehow been hypnotised into believing that to do anything else would be "socially conservative" and "transphobic".
So there you go, that's the most unlikely and ridiculous thing I can think of this year.
Unfortunately, it's just happened in real life.
(Luckily, there are still grounds for hope.)
Happy April Fool's Day.
The strikingly weak case Scotgov brought to the court—with an advocate hand picked by the First Minister, against much opposition at the time, who made no effort to pretend she even believed in it—that's the bit I can't unsee now. What did Nicola think she was doing? Trying to neutralise both alternatives to infinite, impotent pleading to Brit governments for Section 30s? Sorry, "the gold standard referendum." The one we will never have, by convenient coincidence.
ReplyDeleteI was still willing to go along with her, if she held the plebiscite election. Quitting when she did, however, was the end of any faith in her. Outrageous timing! Self-serving and dodgy as can possibly be.
Honestly, the only thing she didn't do, which she should have if she were working for the Brits, is ending the SNP's abstention from the House of Lords. She could keep on troughing there with Ruth, as could the hubby, Swinney, and Humza in due course. What a missed opportunity! F*** indy, that one must be what burns them!
United Nations ambassador for Going to Your Room and Eating Your Cereal.
DeleteAnonymous at 12.17pm - you can't say you weren't warned that Sturgeon was a time waster. I mean she even said she was British. She stabbed Salmond in the back to prevent him progressing independence. She has now successfully installed more time wasters in charge of the SNP to continue her time wasting by proxy.
DeleteYou're quite right. I heard it and dismissed it, as impatience with an overly cautious leader with the hope of a nation on her shoulders and a wary personality. I mean, folk were spouting conspiratorial pish ever since the morning after indyref when, supposedly, the postal votes had been taken down to England. As if they couldn't pochle the numbers north of the border!
DeleteI’m not generally inclined to believe everything I read. I was growing impatient with her, too, but only her actions convinced me. Quitting when she did was unforgivable. She's exposed now. She's been having us on, and it's not over yet, not under Humza.
WGD nasty numpty Dr Jim says:- " I'm a big Nicola Sturgeon fan...." well who would have thought it😂 We all know you love her Jimbo.
ReplyDeleteJimbo also says:- " Nicola Sturgeon at one time could've sold radiation poisoning and folk could've bought it, ......" yeh numpties like you Jimbo would have bought it just like you bought the idea she would deliver Indyref2.
So Jimbo still worships Sturgeon but hates Sturgeon's boy Yousaf. Everyone knows Yousaf has been put in place by Sturgeon so why does Jimbo not love Sturgeon's boy Yousaf. Is Jimbo jealous of Yousaf?
A quick skim of some of the party faithful on Twitter makes for interesting reading. There's an underlying note of real panic at the other day's opinion polling. The remarkable thing is they somehow didn't see this coming. It's as though they thought they could will a honeymoon period into existence through sheer collective delusion.
ReplyDeleteIt might be just as well that Rutherglen looks to be going to a by-election. A tangible warning shot, for those who choose to listen.
But those voters just bigots. They don’t deserve Humza or coalition with the greens.
DeleteRemember when Gordon Brown said the same thing with his mic still live, after talking to a voter who gave him her mind? That attitude about your voters (and your members) always works.