Tommy Sheppard's column in The National suggesting that an SNP defeat in the general election would be the 'end of the journey/conversation' on independence is both fair comment and infuriating. It's fair comment because we know what will happen if Labour win in Scotland: the media and the London political class will declare the independence issue dead, merrily dance on its grave, and will not deem even an SNP Holyrood victory in 2026 to be a resurrection. After all, the argument will go, if "now was not the time" for independence or a referendum when the SNP dominated Scottish representation at Westminster, how can it be the time when unionists once again are ascendant in the "national parliament"?
But it's infuriating, of course, because Tommy Sheppard himself played a pivotal role in ensuring this general election is not about winning independence, with an amendment calling for more devolution instead, and yet is now lecturing independence supporters on how they have to unite behind the SNP to keep independence alive. There's also an argument that he's being irresponsible in the language he's using, because the chances of the SNP actually pulling their election chances out of the fire are getting slim enough that we have to think about whether his words will be recited back at us as "once in a generation" were.
If it's any consolation, he's largely wasting his breath, because the SNP don't win elections by begging for pro-independence votes in a pro-independence publication. As I pointed out in my previous post, by reversing Nicola Sturgeon's de facto referendum policy, and by reversing it quite as thoroughly as they have done, they've effectively set themselves the task of winning the general election without the pro-independence vote being galvanised. I see no sign yet that they've recognised that reality or have fathomed a way of pulling the feat off - assuming it's even possible at all.
This is not a counsel of despair, incidentally, because I think the obvious point is that the SNP need to revisit the decision they made last autumn on the role of independence in their election strategy - and they have the time to do that. They also need a unity SNP Cabinet and an advertising campaign to discredit Keir Starmer. And, for the absolute love of God, they need to swallow their pride and not stand against Angus MacNeil, who is the only pro-indy candidate who can possibly stop Labour in the Western Isles. From memory, there's a precedent of the SNP not standing in Orkney & Shetland in a general election and backing a local autonomist movement instead, so it's not as if they'd be breaking some iron law by standing aside.
Moderation policy: I'm going to experiment with switching pre-moderation off in the comments section of this blog to encourage more free-flowing debate. The quid pro quo, though, is that I henceforth reserve the right to delete (or possibly edit) any comment for absolutely any reason I see fit, and without explanation, so please only comment if you understand and accept that. Part of the reason I had to switch pre-moderation on in the first place was the sheer exhaustion of endlessly having to deal with people demanding explanations for their comments being deleted - so please note that any comments criticising or querying moderation decisions will generally be deleted without reply (and that applies no matter how many times you indignantly re-post them!).
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I am currently fundraising in the hope of running a new Scot Goes Pop opinion poll in the near future - details can be found HERE, and the fundraiser page itself is HERE.
Such an ill advised statement from Tommy Sheppard. As you say James, it will be quoted back at the Yes movement endlessly once the inevitable SNP GE defeat happens. Although I wholeheartedly agree with you that there is time to make changes for the better before the GE, I just don't believe the SNP have the self awareness to carry out the necessary overhaul.
ReplyDeleteI see the SNP currently as an alcoholic reaching for the bottle at 9am every morning while telling themselves they don't have a drinking problem.
I have to be honest and say the upcoming GE fills me with dread. Realistically, the only way I can see the SNPs fortunes turning around is if the polis investigation ends with no charges being brought. This outcome could be a game changer, and could maybe even galvanise the Yes movement, however It’s fair to say a different outcome to the investigation really doesn’t bare thinking about.
ReplyDeleteThe other issue, of course, that could do serious damage is pro independence parties contesting the same seats. As James points out, the SNP standing a candidate in the Western Isles would be crazy, but apart from that the SNP, Alba and even the Greens need to get their heads together on this issue. Imagine a handful of votes going to a Green candidate being the difference between the SNP winning or losing a seat to a unionist party!
Realistically, the only way I can see the SNPs fortunes turning around is if the polis investigation ends with no charges being brought. This outcome could be a game changer, and could maybe even galvanise the Yes movement, however It’s fair to say a different outcome to the investigation really doesn’t bare thinking about.
DeleteGiven that CID have been on the case for more than a thousand days and still haven't got anywhere, I wouldn't worry about it. The Watergate investigation took less than half the time they've spent trying to work out whether Peter Murrell's maw has ever gone on holiday in a camper van.
Keaton - you clearly have insider info to so boldly state that the polis " haven't got anywhere". Care to share your evidence or source? I may be wrong but I suspect you are talking piss and know nothing either way.
DeleteDuly chastened. I should have given them credit for putting up a tent and writing some press releases about a year ago
DeleteKeaton, I never asked you to give the police credit for anything. I make no judgement on their work as I have no more info than is reported. I and probably you and no doubt many others wonder why the investigation is taking so long. You posted a comment that made a conclusion based on no info so you are right to feel chastened. Your conclusion may end up being correct but that would just be luck. Sorry to say but your comments give me the impression that you are being influenced by that well known Sturgeon propagandist and all round liar Scottish Skier who consistently mocks a financial fraud investigation just because it is the SNP. There are serious questions to be answered.
DeleteKeaton here is an example of what I based my comment on. Irish/French/Scottish Skier says:- "Police Scotland will have to keep on finding nothing but continuing to investigate for at least 9 months most likely. " your comment sounds very similar. Skier has no idea if the polis have found nothing but he is happy to punt this propaganda/lies. Now it may well be that the investigation is a political set up by Westminster but neither you or Skier know that.
DeleteKeaton I think you are better than this. Certainly better than Skier.
Well TartanTam if you give any credibility to the SNP WGD numpty Scottish Skier who says:- " Well branchform has singularly failed to see a single SNP voter move to a Unionist party. So if that was the goal, its failed." there is no need to get stressed if you believe the crap posted on WGD.
ReplyDeleteOf course, in the real world there is no way the proven liar Skier can know this.
Surely if no charges are brought the SNPs fortunes would at least partially improve.
DeleteTartanTam - your point seems reasonable enough. Best take it up with Scottish Skier, he is the person who punts the "fact" that it has made no difference.
DeleteSo TartanTam where do YOU think the £600k ring fenced money is?
So why do YOU think SNP politicians keep punting the lie that it is SNP money that they can do anything with?
What is YOUR theory as to why Murrell's mother had an unused SNP owned Motor Home on her driveway for years?
So if no charges are brought does this mean the polis have found the money? or
are the polis corrupt?
The same Skier who went on endlessly during the leadership contest about how Kate Forbes should leave her own divisive beliefs out of politics. Meanwhile, Skiers pick, Humza can't shut up about his support for Palestine because of his family connections.
DeleteIFS, I honestly don’t know, and like you, fear the worst.
DeleteAll I’m trying to do is look on the bright side, and hope we get a positive outcome, though I’m not overly optimistic.
TartanTam - maybe it's out of fashion these days but I hold the opinion if you commit a crime you should be prosecuted no matter who you are and that includes SNP politicians. So I am looking for truth and justice not a cover up. That to me is a positive outcome. However, as I do think the UK is a total shithouse of a country I'm not overly optimistic as well.
DeleteIFS, I couldn’t agree more that if you commit a crime you should be prosecuted. The thing is though, we don’t know for sure if a crime(or crimes) has been committed. Nobody has even been charged yet, let alone convicted.
DeleteYou appear to have made your mind up Sturgeon’s gang, as you put it, are guilty, despite the fact nobody’s been charged yet. We all have to hope you’re proved wrong.
Anonymous at 8:28 was me btw.
DeleteTartanTam - well you are different from a lot of SNP members who just want to wheest for Indy and all that moral/decency free approach. No I have not made up my mind. I just asked you questions which you cannot answer so please do not put words in to my mouth.
DeleteSo Tam I'll ask you the same questions again but add why did Murrell refuse to let the SNP elected Treasurer and elected Finance auditors see the books that led to them resigning their positions and Murrell appointing the previous Treasurer who was then subsequently arrested and interviewed.
Murrell, of course, is a proven liar. He lied during the Parliamentary Inquiry in to the actions of Sturgeon re the persecution of Salmond and he lied about the SNP membership numbers. Murrell kept the fact that a motorhome was parked in his mothers driveway a secret. Poor old Russell had to prattle on about using a horsebox during the future imaginary Indyref2 when a nice motorhome was sitting in a driveway.
So no I have not decided anyone is guilty of fraud. Just pointing out that none of the SNP propagandists can answer these questions.
On the other hand I have made up my mind about Sturgeon's gang falsifying accusations against Salmond and people who cannae be named lying in the High Court.
Hope that clarifies my position for you. Please do not misrepresent me again.
IFS, how would I know the answers to your questions?
DeleteI’m just trying to stay positive and hoping for the best.
You, meanwhile, sound like the prophet of doom.
TartanTam you are like a man walking towards a cliff edge saying I am just trying to stay positive and hoping for the best and ignoring the people telling you to stop and change direction. It's your choice but your last words will be ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
DeleteSheppard would rejoin Labour in a heartbeat if they were firm about abolishing the House of Lords. As far as Indy is concerned he's an opportunist, far more interested in keeping his backside on the green benches.
ReplyDeleteThe trouble is you could say that about nearly all the SNP charlatans in Westminster. They have been totally seduced by the London lifestyle and have only roused from their lethargy re independence when they see that comfortable lifestyle under threat.
DeleteIndeed. The thought of the GE being a de facto referendum and them losing their seats if they didn't get elected - or losing their seats because of Independence fills them with dismay.
DeleteTheir motto is "Stronger for Scotland within the Precious Union",
I remember Sheppard giving an excellent speech at the end of an independence march in Holyrood park, Edinburgh. You would have almost thought he wanted Scottish independence - I thought he did at the time - maybe he did at the time - but they have all proven to be talkers not doers and now come across as charlatans wanting another 5 years on the London gravy train.
DeleteTommy is in the papers saying the debate on independence will stop if we don't vote SNP. But what debate is that? It all seemed to stop when Sturgeon drove the party down the rainbow road to nowhere to please a small group of activists who were using the party as a Trojan Horse to pursue their own agenda (and that agenda ain't independence)
ReplyDeleteA Trojan Horse - now we know what Horsebox Mike Russell was doing with the horsebox - transporting all the Trojan Horses about Scotland - Green Bampots and British agents.
DeleteI see that our unionist plant is back on board. Mike Russell has xampaigened
DeleteI see that our unionist plant is back on board. Mike Russell has campaigned for independence throughout all of his adult life and, like many of us, through thick and thin.
DeleteAnonymous - more the thick in your case. What's with the "our ". You don't own me ya numpty. Away and get yourself a half brain transplant on the private Health Service Russell promoted. Numpties galore today.
DeleteMike Russell is a good person who has devoted his life to the SNP.
DeleteAnonymous at 10.36pm - I’m led to belief Snow White was a good person as well - so what. Russell may have devoted his life to the SNP - so what. It's Scottish independence stupid.
DeleteI can't stand people who associate Britain as England and I can't stand people who think the SNP own Scottish independence.
IFS, the SNP don’t own independence, that is true. However they are the only realistic vehicle we have.
DeleteThe time has come to put on a united front and really get behind the SNP. I also repeat what I’ve said before, if Alba and the Greens contest too many seats at upcoming elections, thereby splitting the nationalist vote, it has potentially disastrous consequences.
As far as I'm aware, this is supposed to be a site whichi discusses independence. The SNP is the only political party which has any chance of taking Scotland to a position where independence can happen. If there are people on here that think otherwise then they are either misguided (at best) or at worst, completely deluded. To those who've posted who are genuinely committed to supporting independence , my question is that if you don't intend to vote for the SNP then who is it that you will actually vote for? The only vote that will matter for a genuine independence supporter is a vote for the SNP. Alba will barely register at the GE and the Scottish Greens will be fortunate to retain a deposit in any seat they're contesting. I get that there will be genuine independence supporters who want change inside the SNP. That being the case my advice is to get involved and work for the change you want. That will do far more good than going online to moan and do nothing other than give solace to the unionists.
ReplyDeleteWell all those electoral majorities for the SNP in Westminster and Holyrood over the last decade have really helped haven't they? We're not one step closer today than we were when Sturgeon took over. When your head starts bleeding, it's time to stop banging it off the wall.
DeleteWe got a mandate for a referendum at the 2021 Scottish elections. Holyrood passed a Referendum Bill but the UK Supreme Court said it was unlawful. Þhe SNP were in in no way to blame for that decision. The referendum route is dead, the SNP has noted that but it beeds to gainva bajority of Scottish MPs to enable it to progress hatters
Delete.... matters via other routes. If you're not prepared to support the SNP in its attempt to do that then lets have your alternative ideas for doing so.
DeleteThe referendum route is dead, the SNP has noted that but it beeds to gainva bajority of Scottish MPs to enable it to progress matters via other routes. If you're not prepared to support the SNP in its attempt to do that then lets have your alternative ideas for doing so.
DeleteWhat routes do you have in mind that require the SNP to have a majority of Scottish MPs?
Numpties galore today. Top anonymous numpty the poor deluded numpty at 8.33pm. I really hope it is from WGD because it means there are more of them out there if it isn't.
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DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThird time lucky😁I don't have to suggest alternatives as I'm not the one standing for election. But your blind faith in today's SNP is risible. Salmond got us a referendum with 6MPs and a minority admin in Holyrood, Sturgeon has had as many as 56 MPs and successive majorities at home and what did we get? A 'no ifs or buts' referendum in October 2023 which failed to materialise because she sen down her tame unionist advocate to tell the Supreme Court how rubbish our case was!!!
DeleteThe SNP of today is little more than a gravy train for devolutionists. If you can't wise up, at least wake up .
Anonymous at 7.47pm - is that you Pete Wishart? The old blackmail trick that the SNP have been using since November 2014.
DeleteWell said Felix. Unless these people wise up we will never get anywhere. It really is embarrassing that independence supporters are so easily fooled.
Sturgeon said in the UK GE 2019 to vote SNP to get independence. The following month in Jan 2020 she gave a surrender speech in which she said she would not hold an illegal referendum. The Great Betrayer then proceeded to get Indyref2 declared illegal years later.
Here we are 5 years later and we are getting the same guff from numpty posters but not the SNP. They ain't even bothering to say vote SNP to get independence this time around. Just a lot of gobbledook.
If you cannot see that the SNP are parasites on the independence movement that just want your vote but will never deliver independence then there really is no hope for you.
Anonymous at 7:47pm, well said, of course realistically, it’s only the SNP that can take us to independence. That has always been the case. There certainly needs to be change within the SNP though, but obviously Yousaf needs to be given til after the GE.
DeleteI doubt Alba can really become a force to be reckoned with, but who knows, maybe one day. All Alba and the Greens are going to do is take votes from the SNP and split the Nationalist vote.
I agree with you, there are too many moaners.we need to be positive and get unity within the independence movement. To me that means getting behind the SNP before it’s too late.
We're always being told by SNP supporters how little support there is for Alba so how come they are a threat to the independence vote? Meanwhile the party is happy to get into bed with those other 'vote splitters' the Greens whose commitment to independence is lukewarm at best.
DeleteTartanTam says:- " take votes from the SNP" - it seems you do think the SNP own the votes of independence supporters. Well the SNP don't own my vote and they won't be getting it until they have cleared out Sturgeon's gang and start taking action to get Scottish independence instead of taking the piss as at present.
DeleteSNP numpties capacity to just forget stuff is just endless. Both votes SNP policy - a perfect example of the SNP looking after the party and inflicting more Unionist MPs in Holyrood. It's the SNP that has been preventing unity.
TartanTam - pray tell me how the ex Daily Record Editor and self confessed author of the INFAMOUS VOW (that helped scupper the indyref in 2014 ) Britnat Murray Foote being the Chief Executive of the SNP helps convince independence supporters that the SNP is a genuine Independence Party. Is this the only person in the whole of Scotland that could do the job? Why do SNP members not reject this man. James Kelly could do the job - at least it would be someone who supports independence in charge without a track record of telling lies against independence.
DeleteIFS, you’re just not grasping my point are you?
DeleteThe only beneficiaries from a split nationalist vote are the unionist parties. The SNP, Alba and the Greens really need to get their heads together and address this issue or we face potential disaster.
TartanTam says " or we face potential disaster." FGSake what do you think the years under Sturgeon's gang have been - a great success. Unbelievable. The SNP have been taken over in a classic insurgency by the Britnats. The disaster arrived some time ago and has settled in to full control of the SNP.
DeleteIFS, come on you’re being ridiculous now. Of course the years under Sturgeon weren’t a great success.
DeleteMy point was about the fact there are now 3 pro independence parties, and the split nationalist vote has the potential to hand seats to unionist parties. How can this be good? Surely you at least take my point.
TartanTam - you are one who doesn't get it. The SNP will lose seats because independence supporters will stay at home - just like in Rutherglen recently and in 2017 when Sturgeon told the truth and said a vote for the SNP is not a vote for independence. It's not Alba or the Greens standing in a few constituencies that is the problem for the SNP. The problem is people see the SNP as a Unionist party. I note you conveniently ignore the fact that Murray Foote is the Chief Exec of the SNP. People would have said you were crazy if you forecast in 2014 that 10 years later the arch Britnat Foote would be in charge of the SNP. The SNP is NOT under Sturgeon's gang a pro Independence Party. Why do you think Murrell and Sturgeon lied about the massive numbers leaving the SNP?
DeleteIFS, Do you enjoy painting a grim picture? Can’t you at least try to show a bit of optimism?
DeleteAnyway we’ll leave it at that.
TartanTam - Do the SNP sell happy pills? If they do, you seem to be swallowing a lot of them. I had plenty optimism in 2015 when the SNP won 56 out of 59 seats with 50% of the vote. What did they do with that mandate? They got fat and drunk in Westminster's numerous bars/ restaurants.
DeleteIFS, well clearly you need to start taking happy pills.
DeleteIf any unionist was to come on here and read your posts, it would be music to their ears.
There you have it the numpty says take happy pills. The numpty route to independence. Take the pills be postive and trust in Nicola - oh wait it's Humza now - thats right she faked it for 8 years and then ran away but if you take the SNP happy pills no need to worry.
DeleteIFS, I can’t believe you couldn’t grasp my original point about the nationalist vote being split if Alba and the Greens stand candidates against the SNP in multiple seats, and the damage this could potentially do. This in my opinion, is an issue that really needs addressed.
DeleteYou say the reason the SNP will lose seats is because independence supporters will stay at home. Well if that’s the case we really are in serious trouble and might as well throw in the towel.
I think the towel was thrown in a long time ago - see if it's been left in Nicola's motorhome...sorry, battlebus.😉
DeleteWhat a position for the indy movement to be in.
ReplyDeleteIf the SNP gets shellacked at the next election the indy debate will be over, at least for a good few years. But the only way now the SNP are actually going to mend their ways and change their approach is after being shellacked at an election.
Aye - and put the case for independence back by several decades, We are at the point of strength where we can potentially progress matters. It took the SNP 70 years to get us to the position of,the first referendum in 2014. If the party does get 'shellacked' through attitudes like the above then it could take a further 70 years before we ever get into a similar position again.
ReplyDeleteSeventy years ago the SNP had no MPs and got about 1% of the Scottish vote in Westminster elections. The most catastrophic "shellacking" that could possibly be expected this time would reduce them to maybe 30%, while retaining control of the Scottish Government. You must have a very low opinion of them if you think they'd take 70 years to recover from that position
DeleteObama called his party’s bloody nose in 2010 a shellacking. That was a midterm. He went on to win again. But would Humza in the home turf of Holyrood? I’ve ma doubts. When you’re up, you’re up. And when you’re down, you’re staying down until the voters are done with you.
DeleteBoth outcomes have some risk attached. An SNP victory risks reinforcing their complacency, a defeat risks dislodging independence as the pivotal issue of Scottish politics. I think the former more likely
DeleteI don't know if you appreciate the 'shellacking' that the SNP took from its position of strength back in 1979 and the damage that was done to Scotland as a result. We were on the brink of regaining our Parliament in Edinburgh and people like you decided to get annoyed with the SNP and vote for a unionist party once more. Had they stuck with the SNP my assertion has always been that we would have won our independence some time ago.
ReplyDeleteMost independence supporters will abstain in the next Westminster election, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous at 11:50pm, and what exactly will that achieve? Don’t be ridiculous.
DeleteIt'll achieve bugger all. Yet I will most likely abstain in this election, myself.
DeleteWe have all already voted SNP long and hard. Since 2014, they've given us bugger all progress on independence. Full us once, shame on them. Fool us in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2024? Shame on us.
How long would you stick with them, openly abusing your trust?
I take your point regarding the SNP absolutely. But what is the alternative? By abstaining all you’re doing is helping the unionist parties, you’re certainly not doing the independence cause any good.
DeletePlus of course, we now have the ridiculous situation of two pro independence parties (3 if you count the Greens), which will split the nationalist vote in coming elections, potentially handing seats to Labour or even in the odd case, the Tories. This is something I’m really concerned about, but the penny dosen’t seem to be dropping on this issue with a lot of people.
The SNP will lose seats. I don't think anyone's confused by this. Those losses will be to Labour for the most part, and maybe a handful for the Tories and Libs at the edges. Not a single one will go to another pro-indy party. Alba and the Greens will be lucky to retain deposits, let alone compete for FPTP wins.
DeleteWill I be happy to see this? No.
Does the SNP need a good slap in their complacent London face? Absolutely yes. Serve us. We don't belong to you.
Don't abstain for heaven's sakes, that's not even a statistic except an unimportant part of turnout. SPOIL YOUR BALLOT SHEET - preferably in a specific way like this:
Deletehttps://peterabell.scot/2023/12/31/making-the-uk-general-election-work-for-scotlands-cause/
average spoilt ballots per constituency 100 or so - more than 200 and it'll give the media pundits something to talk about.
And every spoilt ballot is seen by the agents and / or candidates.
" By reversing Nicola Sturgeon's de facto referendum policy" - every time Sturgeon has stated an independence referendum/policy she has subsequently taken action to scupper it. She knew that when she resigned in 2023 this policy would end up in the bin. You only had to listen to Yousaf and Forbes in the hustings to realise that de facto referendum would not be happening. Bizarrely Pension Pete Wishart who vilified everyone who suggested a de facto referendum is now positioning himself as the champion of this approach, knowing it won't happen, to try and create the impression he is championing independence. A chancer extraordinaire.
ReplyDeleteOf course Sturgeon did not have to wait for a UK GE to have a de facto referendum she could have called one at Holyrood at any time long before she resigned. A point none of the SNP numpties have an answer to so like numpties do they just ignore it. No wonder they are so blind it's all the sand in their eyes from continually sticking their heads in the sand.
I am an old (in every sense of the word) supporter of Independence, most of that time as an SNP member. Like thousands of others I resigned over the NEC stuffing debacle. I no longer have any confidence in my MSP, Humza Yousaf or my MP Chris Stephens to work for Independence.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the SNP must come together with all other Independence supporting parties in the coming GE because it would be the best way of refuting the suggestion that Independence is dead. It is far from dead in the general population; it is just support for the SNP that is down for reasons most reasonable people recognise.
If the GE was declared now I do not know how I would treat my ballot paper: vote for an Independence supporting party; vote for the SNP (I am treating them separately just now); write a comment on my ballot paper in support of Independence? It depends on who is on the ballot paper. Right now I would be voting as I boaked if I voted SNP. I will not abstain under any circumstances.
Can I just mention the fundraiser? I kick in something from my pension every month. Maybe others could do something similar but I am very well aware that times are difficult. But we all need James Kelly's input more than ever now.
The WGD charlatan and his numpties btl are back to doing what they do best. Namely moaning and complaining about being ruled by King Charlieboy and Westminster. They never ask themselves why are the SNP doing nothing to get us out of the union(colony) despite all these election wins and a regular majority in the polls wanting independence.
ReplyDeleteEven their semi - detached WGD numpty yesindyref2 now recognises the SNP policy to be " Stronger for Scotland within the Precious Union" and that of course is a devolutionalist position and that means the SNP is a Britnat party.
Waiting for Dogot.
Delete"Well, shall we go?”
“Yes, let's go.”
(They do not move from Westminster)
There is too much catastrophism, are those pollsters contacting people from the Muslim communities? I can assure you that I don't know any Muslim in Glasgow that still supports labour after Starmer's pro Israel position
ReplyDeleteCatastrophe? Nothing they haven’t brought on themselves.
DeleteNo progress on independence
Alarming goings on in the party’s accounts
Massive drop in membership
Leader resigns in starkly dubious circumstances
Garden tent
Campervan in the parents yard
Still no progress whatsoever on Indy
“Vote for us. You’ll regret it if you don’t!”
Anonymous at 4:44pm- looks like you’ve been reading too many of Independence for Scotland’s posts!
DeleteTartanTam - looks like you have learned nothing. The trouble with you numpties is you cannae dispute the points made so you either ignore them and/or come away with personal attacks to deflect from your cognitive dissonance.
DeleteAssuming Mike Russell gets to park his backside on the Chair of The Land Commission will he produce an 11 point plan for land reform or will he make an effort this time and go for a 12 point plan. Surprising to think somebody believes Russell knows more about land reform than Andy Wightman or is it just because he hails from the SNP.
ReplyDeleteHe is a substantial and heavyweight figure who will bring energy to the role -- did a great job as SNP president.
DeleteAnonymous at 8.08pm - are you getting confused with Blowhard Blackford he was a substantial and heavyweight figure. Russell was president from Nov 2020 until Dec 2023. During this period Russell stated the SNP was having a great crisis. What do think made him so great? Do you have a top ten or even 11 points that made him so great?
DeleteRussell is a substantial and authoritative figure who stepped forward to the role of president at a difficult time for the party.
DeleteA question for SGP.
ReplyDeleteFrom the National after his speech about industrial strategy for Scotland post-independence:
"The First Minister is clearly keen to go into the General Election with a focus on independence, and particularly its economic potential, as polling shows a continued decoupling between the movement and his party. "
If this continues, accelerates and becomes totally clear, that Yousaf is absolutely prioritising Independence, in the GE, would you change your mind about him?
Sorry, that was yesindyref2
DeleteYesindyref2 - unlike the numpties who post here if someone asks me a reasonable question in a civil manner I will respect that and reply accordingly.
Delete" A focus on independence" " Prioritising independence" just words - meaningless guff. I listened to him during the hustings - made the effort - more than probably most of the numpties that post on here and SNP members who voted for him. He disnae care about Scottish independence. The only good thing I can say about him is that he has some common decency in that he doesn't turn a blind eye to genocide, ethnic cleansing and mass murder in Palestine like some Britnat politicians. If he had to choose between freedom for Palestine or freedom for Scotland it would be Palestine without a moments thought. Oh and he is Sturgeon's chosen one. Sturgeon's pal lied in the High court and you expect me to trust members of her gang because they say a few desperate words to try and get some more votes. So no is the short answer.
James, I have a lot of respect for your writings and it's great to see so many comments today. Recently I was beginning to worry that only a few folk were visiting your site and am glad to see that's not the case. For me, the only down side to this more liberal approach to comments is that at least 25 comments (so far!) are from the resident arrogant narcissist IFS. I've given up reading his posts and now happily scroll on by, but apart from that it's all looking good!
ReplyDeleteJames, I would like to complain that Marshall Adair is not posting enough on your blog. He clearly has a lot to offer in terms of gratuitous insults. It makes a change from the usual you are a Unionist stuff. I'm only sorry that Marshall will not get to read that I would love to hear more from him as this is, I believe, his first ever post. Must be a shy numpty. Marshall obviously is unaware that you can post more than once on your blog.
ReplyDelete