Thursday, January 18, 2024

Some in the SNP think this election will be "bad" like 2017 - but it could actually be bad more like 1979 or 1983

Believe in Scotland is sometimes dismissed as nothing more than an SNP front, and it's true that the last time I spoke to Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp (which was way back during Independence Live's coverage of the 2021 Holyrood election results), I detected plenty of warmth towards the SNP and the Greens, but a distinct ice-coolness towards the Alba party, which I had only just joined.  But anyone who has paid any attention to his writings will know that he has in fact been sceptical of late about the SNP's election strategy, and that at least to some extent his concerns mirror the ones held by those of us in the Alba camp.  

I certainly find very little to disagree with in his latest analysis in The National, which expresses the worry that large numbers of SNP voters could stay at home on polling day due to their party's tepidness on the independence issue.  He also wonders if warm words towards Labour in pursuit of tactical votes in Tory-held seats could be counterproductive by contributing to substantial losses in the much greater number of seats where Labour is the SNP's main opponent.

Perhaps the one comment I might take issue with is in the closing sentence of the piece where Gordon suggests that "right now it looks more like 2017 than 2015".  I take that as a warning against complacency, but paradoxically it may well in itself represent a form of complacency, ie. a belief that 2017 represents some kind of worst case scenario, and a failure of imagination about just how bad things could get.

The reality is that the SNP are in a much, much weaker position than they were in 2017.  When Theresa May unexpectedly announced she was going to the country that year, there were fears for the SNP, but those fears were that they might lose up to ten of their 56 seats to the Tories, and perhaps one or two to the Liberal Democrats.  Initially it was assumed there was a floor of 45 seats below which the SNP couldn't fall, but in fact they ended up with only 35.  The YouGov MRP projection from a few days ago already shows the SNP with ten fewer than that, which means they're on course to lose their majority and slip to rough parity with Labour.  If we were really learning the lesson of 2017 we'd be thinking about how much worse things can get once the campaign is underway, rather than wallowing in imagined disappointment about how we'll feel if things stay exactly as they are.

Today a YouGov subsample was published showing the following: Labour 35%, SNP 29%, Conservatives 14%, Greens 9%, Reform UK 9%, Liberal Democrats 4%.  OK, even a subsample that is correctly structured and weighted will have a very large margin of error, and the high shares for both the Greens and Reform UK should perhaps make us a tad dubious.  But if hypothetically that was the election result in Scotland, the seats projection on the new boundaries would be: Labour 34, SNP 13, Conservatives 7, Liberal Democrats 3.  There would only have to be a further 4% swing to Labour (ie. Labour 39%, SNP 25%) for the SNP to be facing a near-extinction event that would reduce them literally to just TWO seats.  This could end up feeling a lot more like 1979 or 1983 than 2017.

I say these things not as a counsel of despair, but to try to wake the SNP up and make them realise that they're dabbling with strategic tweaks when the situation may require a total strategic overhaul.  There's still time to do that, but they need to act fast.  Restore unity by bringing Kate Forbes and her allies back into the fold in senior ministerial positions.  Galvanise the Yes support by actually giving independence voters independence to vote for.  Relentlessly expose Keir Starmer for the unprincipled confidence trickster that he is  - and whatever happened to Brexit as a wedge issue?  Couldn't the SNP be making far more of the fact that Scottish Labour are a pro-Brexit party trying to win in an anti-Brexit country?

Before we finish, a reminder that the Scot Goes Pop opinion poll fundraiser urgently needs a boost - let's not leave it in limbo for months.  It's important that not all Scottish opinion polling is commissioned by anti-independence clients - we need to make sure that occasionally questions are asked that Yes supporters want asked.  Donations can be made via the fundraiser page HERE.

However if you have a Paypal account the best way to donate is via direct Paypal payment, because that can totally eliminate fees depending on which option you select, and payment usually comes through instantly.  My Paypal email address is:

jkellysta@yahoo.co.uk

175 comments:

  1. Brexit isn't a wedge issue anymore. The developing UK-wide consensus is that it should be binned as quickly as possible with a grim realisation that this is going to take time. It can only become an issue if the next Labour government does absolutely nothing to begin its reversal. The most tokenistic of gestures will be sufficient to blunt that wedge.

    And even if wedging it worked? The UK government would get its thumb out and start making genuine progress on rejoining parts of the EU, like the single market or customs union.

    In sum it's a waste of effort. We only need to talk about it enough to refute the way it'll be used as a stick to beat us with. "Brexit was a terrible mistake and a massive failure, Scexit is that on steroids!"

    The UK government is what fucked Brexit up. They'll be the ones fucking up after we've dumped them and sorted our shite out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can’t picture England (in whatever form) rejoining the common market or the European Union any time remotely soon.

      Delete
    2. "The developing UK-wide consensus is that it should be binned as quickly as possible"

      I'm sorry but that's completely ridiculous. The Tory-Labour consensus is that Brexit is permanent, and there is thus no prospect whatever of the UK rejoining the EU.

      Delete
    3. I agree Brexit is not a wedge issue with massive power right now. Whenever Brexit comes up you could produce electricity with the eye rolls it gets as a topic.

      It's in a weird place where 'most' think it's a disaster but also do not want to talk about it for a good long while.

      That's kind of how I feel about it too even though I fully accept it doesn't really make much sense. I'm sure I heard a radio4 piece too that said similar was found in polling.

      It's like a wound people know about but can't be ar*ed pulling the plaster off quite yet.

      If it was such a winner, Labour would be all over it.

      Delete
    4. Looks like my comment was deleted? By UK-wide consensus, I meant among the electorate, not the political parties. Recent polls show ~50% want to rejoin and ~33% stay out. With don't knows excluded, that's a 60-40% margin.

      That electorate knows it'll take time to rejoin and will give Labour the benefit of the doubt. The political reality is that the major obstacle to rejoining the EU is now European consensus.

      I'm not saying that rejoining the EU isn't a fundamental part of the independence process, but campaigning for the UK to rejoin would be wasted effort. The people of the UK are already minded to rejoin as soon as it is practical to do so. Their politicians will eventually, gradually make movements in that direction.

      Delete
    5. Hard disagree on this assertion of there being a clear and settled will among the English public for rejoining Europe. If there were: the political parties would seize it and take them back on. There’s also immense financial interests in rejoining the common market, who would make sure it would happen.

      Pay closer attention when you read those “rejoin polls.” Looo at the undecided figures and, crucially, who commissioned them. They strike me as wishful, push-poll nonsense, like Scotland in Union’s many attempts to prove independence dead here.

      Delete
  2. " Reform UK 9% - must be all the English immigrants.

    Even now the SNP take yes voters for granted. Pretty much the way Labour used to do.

    If it's 6 SNP or 56 SNP MPs the English parties will always get their way in Westminster. Not much to lose there in practical terms - it's not Holyrood. The Britnats crowed independence is dead after the 2017 result. It wasn't. SNP vote and number of MPs went back up substantially in 2019 when Indyref2 was promised. If the SNP are that dumb to ignore independence then they deserve to crash. They sat there all these years and it took Hanvey's bill to flush out official Westminster confirmation that Scotland is a colony and Scots have no right to self determination. I say flush out all these SNP wasters who have settled in at Westminster.

    ReplyDelete
  3. With their wishy washy approach to Indy on the GE, I think it could be 6 MPs like back in 2010 - 15.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The independence cause? Is that what Nicola was thinking about when she bottled it year after year?

    Trough trough trough, lads. Our voters don’t know what they’re missing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Meanwhile back in numpty land top nicophant Dr Jim is still in love, living in the past and delusional.

    Jimbo says:- " This is an election Nicola Sturgeon would have romped to total anhilation of both English parties."

    There's the answer to the SNP problems bring back Sturgeon the Betrayer. Jimbo never asks himself why did she run away? Somebody call the nurse Jimbo is free again.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Some people wondered about the SNP MPs who didn't vote in Neale Hanvey's "Scotland (Self Determination) Bill", and note carefully the name of the Bill. To vote against it could be considered perhaps and hopefully, a vote against Scotland's right to self-determination. Anyways, crossing theyworkforyou and the SNP's MP list

    https://www.theyworkforyou.com/divisions/pw-2024-01-16-45-commons

    you get, who didn't vote:

    Mhairi Black
    Douglas Chapman
    Joanna Cherry
    Stephen Flynn
    Carol Monaghan (teller - couldn't vote)

    5 of the ones who voted were "proxy vote cast by Marion Fellows", so planned absence was no excuse. Maybe ill, urgent business, whatever. Noticeable also that Angus McNeil didn't vote.

    E&OE - long work day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angus McNeil didn't vote for our sovereignty? Yet Alyn Smith and even Pension Pete did!?

      I’m surprised. Would have thought many more SNP MPs would pull a Cherry and not bother their plush posteriors showing up for a matter of such little bearing to the imperial state.

      NcNeil, though? What's he up to?

      Delete
  7. I'm getting more and more convinced Pension Pete Wishart is now a regular poster on SGP.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just another Alex Salmond embarrassing see through attention seeking piece of nonsense like the contents of his wee plastic box that he shows of on GB news and Talk TV because there's no Russian media to get himself on

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What has Alex Salmond got to do with this article? What's his 'wee plastic box'? Did you ever watch his show on RT - he interviewed people
      from across the political spectrum.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous at 12.37 am is clearly not bothered about Scotland's right to self determination. So that means he is a Britnat or a very confused Alba basher.

      Delete
  9. A new cracker of cognitive dissonance from an SNP supporter. The secret plan theory is that the SNP only come across as unionists because they need to appeal to unionists to get their vote and then subsequently independence. Once independence happens the Unionist cloak will come off to reveal the original hard line Independence Party. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Now that really is a cracker of nonsense.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. From the same school of self-delusion as "New Labour is just a front, Tony Blair will be Britain's first Socialist Prime Minister since Attlee."

      No, he was a Tory, and the nuSNP are Brits.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous at 10.12am - correct. There are probably some Labour people thinking Starmer will miraculously turn in to Corbyn lite. Starmer in a recent interview stated he didn't think Corbyn could win in 2019. Starmer is Tory lite.
      Hope is fine delusion is never fine.

      Delete
    3. To be fair: I didn't think Corbyn could win in 2019, either. The polls weren't good, as I remember. England loved its conman Boris, and the media was also quite agreed that this unsightly Corbyn prole could never be let anywhere near power.

      I’m a bit disappointed to see Corbyn's name missing from the Scottish Right to Self Determination vote. Caroline Lucas stood by her values, as did all of Plaid.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous at 12.24pm - Corbyn has always been consistent ( a little waver once I believe) in freedom for all oppressed people except Scotland - it's the Labour way.

      Delete
  10. Important to remember that the voting system for Westminster results in nonproportional outcomes. Currently SNP have a much higher share of seats than share of votes. Key point: large falls in seats would/should not be treated or interpreted as equally large falls in support. This is well understood.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Polling nerds like us can understand it, sure. But the narrative will be EPIC COLLAPSE IN CATACLYSM FOR THE NATS!

      John Major's Tories are hardly remembered for doing well in 1997. Everyone (who's old enough) remembers the tsunami that swept them from power, and left Scotland 100% Tory free. But they actually got more votes in 1997's apocalypse than Michael Howard did when he put the first dent on Blair's majority in 2005. One more general election, and they were back, where they've remained ever since.

      There's always complexity in the numbers. The narrative, however, is far more simple.

      Delete
    2. That's rather naive. A large fall in seats would be treated by the media an an equally large fall in support. The truth doesn't really matter.

      Delete
    3. James, in a colony the truth is a stranger.

      Delete
  11. You're correct of course but the other side of that is that so many SNP supporters see indy at c50% in the polls and assume that equates to a 50% vote for the SNP. In fact, the SNP vote is far behind the indy vote and that gap is growing as more and more people give up on the SNP actually doing anything about independence.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Correct. I’m as passionately for Yes as I was on referendum day in 2014. Only a thorough (and unlikely) change of heart from the party will, however, win my vote back to the SNP.

      They lost me. I owe them nothing. Get back to independence and we'll return. Until then: take a hike.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous 10.21

      You're precisely the problem.
      If the SNP appeals to you, it won't ever appeal to the undecideds or the currently pro union.
      So you can moan about it from inside the union with them.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous at 8.41pm - so you really think that the self ID stuff will appeal to the undecideds or the currently pro union do you. I cannae see it myself but you dream on.

      Delete
  12. I ask myself is it asking too much of the supposed independence supporting MPs who have spent a lot of time down there in Westminster actually turning up to vote for Scotland's right to Self Determination. Now sure, everyone knows the English MPs will vote it down but still vote for it for goodness sake. Maybe the people who didn't vote had very important dental appointments. Check out Flynn's teeth at next weeks PMQs. Maybe Black was meeting a drag queen.

    Just to confirm Scotland is officially a colony the English controlled TV news-politics programmes in Scotland totally blanked this vote and its meaning. They always have a murder to report you know or the fact that the additional 1200 university places created for Covid reasons are being withdrawn. Cannae tell the people of Scotland they live in a colony can they. The pretence that we live in this happy BRITISH family must be maintained as our resources are stolen and our basic human rights are gone as well. Do the SNP tell the people of Scotland what happened? Well the SNP leader and deputy leader didnae even bother voting for it so what do you think.

    The English will always be able to vote down anything they don't like originating from Wales, Scotland or NIreland. It was designed that way - 1705 to 1707. The English call it democracy. I call it colonialism - an English specialty for hundreds of years.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Might is right, do as we tell you or we'll smash your teeth out, God Save the King. It's been their way since the bloody invasion which systematically exterminated their ruling class in 1066.

      Delete
    2. Colonies are not allowed to express their democratic will on matters which the colonial oppressor doesn't want them to. Hence no sec 30 will ever happen again. Note it was Labour MPs who made up the most MPs who voted against self determination for Scotland. Labour are the Britnat B team. Tories for the most part were in the many Westminster bars knowing that fellow Britnat Labour would do the job on this occasion. Yet some numpties believe that if there is a hung parliament Labour would do a deal with the SNP for a sec 30. This is not even a forlorn hope but a delusion.

      The only current democratic option open in Scotland to vote for independence is a de facto referendum. The colonial parties will soon close this window if there are any signs their colonial agents in Scotland have lost control of the SNP. These people say a de facto yes vote will not be accepted by Westminster or abroad. So they say let's do nothing instead - oh no wait - that's not accurate they say we must have a sustained majority of some amount >50% and somehow this vague achievement will miraculously achieve independence. The trick is that this option is not defined so you can never achieve it anyway. If you want a democratic vote for independence time is running out.
      Generation after generation have passed on the fake notion of the BRITISH family for hundreds of years when there is only a colonial arrangement. 100 years ago - of funds raised in Scotland each year only between 20% to 26% was spent in Scotland. It's time it ended. The SNP could have called a de facto Holyrood referendum in 2021 or in 2022 or 2023. Ask yourself why didn't they? Colonies exist to be controlled and benefit the colonial masters - that is Scotland's status and it's nothing new for Scotland. In every colony there are always people who will side with the colonial masters for their own individual benefit.

      Delete
    3. Here is the Bitter Together stance on Scotland the colony.

      "Claims that Scotland has suffered under a colonial yoke - and they come from supposedly intelligent people as well as the ignorant - should be given the short shrift they deserve. The UK has been an equal partnership and always will be. "

      A classic piece of Britnat gaslighting. Currently 533 MPs from England, 59 from Scotland, 40 from Wales and 18 from N. Ireland. The English are giving themselves MORE MPs and the other nations less for the next UK GE. An equal partnership - a union of equals - only idiots would believe that. England will always get what it wants and that includes Scotland's resources. The UK has never been an equal partnership and never will. England takes it disnae share.

      You do not get rid of your colonial status unless you recognise it and shout it to the world and tell Westminster we aint playing any more.

      Delete
  13. how damaging it could be for the independence cause

    I think you should explain a bit what damage you expect a bad SNP result to do to the independence cause. Around here, at least, your apparent assumption that the two are really tightly linked doesn't go without saying.

    My impression is that the most common fear is something to do with the effect on what assholes would call "the narrative": if the SNP lose a lot of seats, the media will proclaim that the issue is now dead. Of course that will happen. And? Will that cause voters to stop supporting independence, or to stop using it as an issue which influences their vote? I suppose it might, but to me it seems a more remote risk than that the SNP will take a good result as a sign that they can continue as they have been doing.

    Outside of the "narrative", Westminster elections are basically a waste of time in Scotland, so this is the perfect opportunity to deliver a relatively harmless, but still frightening, warning to the SNP, while they still have a platform at Holyrood and the chance to change course before the election there.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Keaton the greatest damage to the independence cause was not having a referendum when there was an excellent chance of winning it. Sturgeon's gang to blame for that.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The electorate regard the SNP as incompetent, and probably tedious. They have to pay people to stuff pamphlets in letterboxes - even party (in)activists can't be bothered with them. I think most of their votes now come from people who vote for them out of habit, if they can be bothered to vote.

    However, the idea that Kate Forbes would be the saviour of the SNP is bizzaire.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She's imperfect, it's true. But who isn't?

      As someone who will not vote for the SNP in its current state, this is what I like about her:

      - She writes well and presents well, she's obviously intelligent and can get across her argument effectively when she wants to.
      - She's no child of the suburban central-belt professional political class, who'd be cosily in Labour if it hadn't lost power, unlike so many leading names in the SNP.
      - She's a lot fresher than tired old Humza, who's actually younger than me but doesnae look or sound it!
      - She doesn't strike me as so egocentric and cynical as Jo Cherry or, for that matter, Angus MacNeil
      - Team Nicola detests her. She's burned her bridges with the Continuity nuSNP.

      That last one is crucial. The SNP needs a total reset. Whoever's going to do it must be someone Nicola wants dead.

      Delete
    2. RP

      I agree the idea Kate Forbes would change things is unconvincing. I think it's too far gone. The SNP are the unpopular kids at school and too late to change that. It only needs a 15% or so of their own previous support to give them a kicking and at least that many have been put off by a whole host of factors too numerous to mention.

      I can't believe they didn't take the opportunity of the defacto vote and literally had snipers from the sidelines in their own side rubbishing the idea. It needed Sturgeon at the helm too to give it the gravitas needed. This would have given the snp vote a boost but it's too late now. Nobody knows what their message is. Without independence, what's the point?

      I have no idea why they thought defacto voting need be a once in a generation event either. All they need to say is we're testing Scotland's opinion on the matter at every WM election. A loss needn't have been the end of the story. A win takes us into exactly the conversations which lead to further acrimony about independence in the eyes of the Scottish people, whether London agreed or not. Such a bizarre own goal.

      Delete
    3. RP says:- " It needed Sturgeon at the helm to give it gravitas needed." You seemed to have forgotten that Sturgeon faked it for years and then ran away without delivering her no if no buts solemn promise of a referendum.

      RP says:- " Such a bizarre own goal." It was a deliberate own goal. Sturgeon resigned knowing it provided the opportunity for her late conversion to de facto referendum to be scuppered.

      Delete
  16. it's quite possible both these things are true;

    1. the SNP are unpopular primarily due to becoming seen as taking people for granted, wedge issues and monstering progressive voices who don't agree with every iota of wokeism (for want of a better word)

    2. a severe defeat for the SNP will take wind out of the independence sails for a long, long time.

    I don't think destructing the SNP, despite the problems, helps in the long run. Yes, they probably need a bit of defeat to change course but not a near fatalistic event.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd agree with you, but for two things:

      1. The SNP had a taste of small defeat in 2016 and 2017, when they lost a handful of Holyrood seats then a boatload of Westminster seats. Their response was to BACKPEDAL ON INDEPENDENCE. They honestly saw their raison d'être as a liability in "Middle Scotland."

      2. Labour government in Westminster, and quite possibly Holyrood as well, could well put the wind back in our sails again. When Labour is the "kinder face of Britain" that you're relying on, and it's led by an openly anti-Scottish bunch of right wing hacks, you know it's not going to end well. And the best thing is: the only other hope you've got beyond independence is the next Tory government!

      The SNP's in a state right now.
      Independence is another story.

      Delete
    2. To add to my 1st point above: the SNP is, as we all know, backpedalling on independence again even now, simply as their go-to impulse whenever they feel threatened in the polls.

      You know exactly what they'll do if they hold onto their Westminster seats. For all the good having so many of those have done for us.

      Delete
    3. Hi , in response I would say that "middle Scotland" were exactly the sort of people who didn't vote Brexit and could have been wooed by a pro-EU, independent Scotland.

      They've now been losing people who don't believe the SNP are serious about independence now and don't feel obliged to vote for them.

      Delete
    4. Ironically, I even know a few of these Middle Scotland folk myself. They're not as mythical a creature as you'd think, at least in Edinburgh. They're No/Remainers who found independence frightful in 2014, but Brexit really shook them. They went SNP, admired Nicola during Covid, but the ones I know mostly didn't cross the independence divide and they've all turned sour on the SNP. They're split now between the London parties where they came from.

      Beyond heavily No/Remain Edinburgh, and places like East Renfrewshire and Eastwood, I still think "Middle Scotland" is an illusion. It's obviously a reference to Middle England: the supposed battleground of centrist floating voters between Tory and Labour. (Not that they mattered in 2019 when England voted highly polarised on Brexit.)

      It's an illusion. In Scotland, such thinking leads the SNP to tone down their demand (and scupper their plans) for Independence. This bass-ackward thinking they've caught from London has them acting as if it's dangerous stuff to talk about independence in front of "their voters."

      We'll see about that playing safe, won't we then?

      Delete
    5. RP

      I think middle scotland is your ordinary family on 60-100k gross income getting by with their mortgage, going on their family holidays and hoping their kids go to university.

      I think a cross section of that group are as much a mix of SNP, Labour with small tory vote. I don't see them as heavily pro independence or heavily unionist. It's 50/50 like the country itself. They probably make up most of the country so that's no surprise.

      East Ren and some parts of Edinburgh are the higher classes who have skew No and always will do. Half of them are English as well, I jest, only slightly. Even so East Ren would still have a high third to low forties supporting independence. It's not like there's no support for it there.



      Delete
    6. East Ren- my constituency - elected an SNP MP in 2015 and 2019. Oswald lost in 2017 because Sturgeon said a vote for the SNP is not a vote for independence. There are enough independence voters in East Ren but if independence is taken off the table and SNP disastrous policies are the focus then Oswald will probably get the boot. So RP is correct in saying there is support for independence in East Ren. There are probably a bit above the average of English voters but nothing like in some villages in the Highlands or the Borders.

      Delete
    7. RP: isn't £100k p.a. a high-income, rather than an ordinary, household?

      Delete
    8. Between two people , household income gross 100k is definitely in higher amount yes. I said 60-100. I've parents on 30 each upton 50 each.

      Delete
  17. (SNP Independence convention Dundee June 23') Humza - 'Day one, page one of our manifesto, will be to enter into negotiations for Scotland to be an Independent country'
    (SNP GE24 soft launch Jan '24) huma - ' SNP can wipe out every Tory seat in Scotland'.
    .....so what we are actually going to do, is go to the electorate with essentially 'f** the Tories' as our message of hope and inspiration!
    If this is the strategy, the SNP are badly misjudging the mood of the country, not just Yes voters.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Independence is constitutional, not party political, i have seen no evidence of Independence being off the table should the SNP lose. They are losing votes now, but Independence remains stable.
    People do not go from thinking ' i believe in a fairer, , prosperous and more equal independent country' , to saying ' Nah, actually i prefer the politics of a corrupt failed UK state'.
    SNP defeat would in effect, reset the movement back to 2007, a new leader would be elected, internal structures would be strengthened and more accountable, and the fight would continue at the next election. People just need to believe it is actually on the table in the first place.
    Defeat will be because majority of people stay home, not because they fall in love with Labour, Starmer and the UK again.

    ReplyDelete
  19. "going to the country"

    Maybe we should replace that turn of phrase with "going to the state"? If only to discourage lazy thinking.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Send Fujitsu engineers to the moon to fix the Japanese craft. Oh on second thought maybe naw.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Could people use names please - this is a good read - better than Wings btw but no good if I can't follow trains of thought.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've tried and tried to persuade people to end their comments with a name, ANY name (see the last blog) but nobody listens - I'm a voice crying in the wilderness😢

      Delete
  22. Kate Forbes? There's a wee free church at the bottom of my road. The tenants of Forbes' church of choice have barely been covered. She would get monstered about a host of church beliefs which presumably she shares. You can start with creationism, and musical instruments being Diabolical and take it from there. The surface of her belief system has barely been scratched and already features a woebegone attitude to homosexuality. She would get absolutely trashed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She deserves to be admired for adhering strongly to her views which are rooted in the Wee Frees which are one of the most important churches in Scotland.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous at 8.06 pm - will Forbes turn Bute House into a WeeFree Church on her first day just as Yousaf turned it in to a mosque.

      Delete
    3. No she will not.

      Delete
    4. Nicola’s lot really did weaponise Kate’s faith against her. Thank Allah the current first minister would never deign to mention his beliefs…

      Delete
    5. Whatever you think of religion, it's come to something when traditional Christian views are deemed medieval yet Islam is perfectly acceptable. Can you imagine Humza taking one of those transwomen or a gay activist into the Mosque?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous at 9.25pm - " Can you imagine Humza taking one of these transwomen or a gay activist into the mosque. " why is he having another affair?

      Delete
  23. I understand why some are disillusioned with the SNP. However I can’t for the life of me understand the mindset of some on here taking about staying at home on Election Day or spoiling ballot papers. It really is mind numbing, and if this threat is carried out, and we end up with the worst case scenario of the SNP losing the majority of their seats, it’ll be immensely damaging to the independence cause.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How do you suggest we express our disillusionment then? By voting in the do-nothing SNP for five more years on the gravy train or by voting for Alba/ISP?

      Delete
    2. You should vote for the SNP.

      Delete
    3. And that expresses my disappointment?🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

      Delete
    4. You could write a letter to one of your SNP representatives.

      Delete
    5. Go away and lie down in a darkened room😂😂😂😂😂

      Delete
    6. "we end up with the worst case scenario of the SNP losing the majority of their seats"

      If the SNP are only interested in "Making Scotland Tory-free", or / and "Keeping Starmer honest", who exactly gives a hoot apart from the green bench dispossessed previous SNP MPs, who should have been more interested in getting a strong Resolution passed at the recent conference, rather than blocking the next GE being a de facto referendum - ironically in case they lost those comfy seats!

      They'd be getting their just deserts in not standing up for us, Indy supporters and free voters.

      Delete
    7. So true, ir2. We want our “full fat Scottish nationalism” back. Not just fattened careerists in comfy slippers, pensions, salaries and seats.

      You’re not there to settle in. Wakey wakey!

      Delete
    8. Anon at 7:57, I’m with you on this. A vote for any party other than the SNP is a wasted vote, and abstaining or spoiling ballot papers is utter lunacy.

      Delete
    9. Better a wasted vote than re electing that shower of wasters

      Delete
    10. You’re entitled to your opinion,

      Delete
    11. Why thank you, that's very magnanimous of you!!!

      Delete
  24. Nicola Sturgeon in her Covid daily briefing August 21 said:- " I think if you understand statutory public Inquiries you would know that even if I wasn't prepared to give that assurance, which for the avoidance of doubt I am " telling us all she would keep all information/ communications from Covid work. Another case of over promise and under deliver or just a blatant lie as the Covid Inquiry says she deleted every Whattsapp. What you hiding Sturgeon?

    John REDACTOR MAN Swinney probably won't need to redact much as he has also deleted lots of communications. Jason Leitch also. Most people clean their teeth before going to bed but Leitch deleted his Whattsapp messages. What is the point of a Freedom of Info law if people can just delete stuff and then say there is nothing on this subject matter. It should be a criminal offence. The real big reveal is that Liz Lloyd - Sturgeon's fixer - sorry Chief of Staff - didn't think much of Boris Johnston.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is basic good practice to delete old messages so that there is space on the mobile telephone.

      Delete
    2. Anon at 8.09pm Not when a Covid Inquiry instructs you to do otherwise.

      Delete
    3. Nicola deleted them long before there was an inquiry. Nicola's handling of covid was second to none. She was widely regarded as the best leader in terms of her highly effective handling of the disease. She will I am sure be praised by the inquiry when it completes its investigation.

      Delete
    4. https://x.com/CrossgateCentre/status/1748406684068798708?s=20

      Delete
    5. Sorry I don't have x.

      Delete
    6. Pity, it's Nicola promising during a covid briefing that she would release all emails and WhatsApp messages to any subsequent enquiry.

      Delete
    7. Help. Ma multi gigabyte phone is stuffed full of messages!

      Jeezo. And what were they up to in the garden I wonder?

      Delete
    8. The messages were deleted in routine tidying up of inboxes and changes of phone.

      Delete
    9. The above is the sort of nicophant crap that really pisses me of. Is it cognitive dissonance by these people or can they not read. The post tells you Sturgeon promised to keep all her Whatsapps in August 21 - So part of 2021 - all of 2022 and part of 2023 - where are they - deleted - she broke her promise to keep them. It's another blatant lie but posters just deny reality. Her promise is recorded in the daily briefing.

      Delete
    10. " Nicola's handling of Covid was second to none. " says anon at 8.17pm. So you have fully researched that statement have you?

      Delete
    11. Sturgeon’s daily briefings during covid were like party political broadcasts for the SNP.

      Delete
    12. Be fair, she also took the time to undermine the jury in the Salmond trial so it wasn't all about covid or the SNP. And, of course, she had a lot on her mind what with stuffing sick patients into care homes to spread covid among vulnerable pensioners.

      Delete
    13. Anon at 9.41pm - she didn't just undermine the jury decision. She spat out disgraceful vitriol about Salmond directly accusing him of being guilty. After many briefings insisting she would not discuss any other subject she happily started slagging off Salmond during TV broadcasts setup purely for Covid. The nicophants used to always say well done Nicola for sticking to Covid and ignoring the media who tried to raise other subjects. But when Sturgeon changed her tune and attacked Salmond like a demented harpie they cheered her on.The woman is a disgrace and the nicophants are a disgrace.

      Delete
    14. Importantly, Nicola has today made a statement in which she says that she wanted to set the record straight.
      Given the recent media attention, there are specific aspects that she deems crucial to clarify. In contrast to the perception conveyed in some reports, she is very clear that the Inquiry possesses those messages exchanged between her and those with whom she had regular informal communication. Even though these messages were not stored on her personal device, she is absolutely clear that she successfully acquired copies, which were subsequently provided to the Inquiry last year. It is essential to emphasize that she is clear that her management of the Covid response adhered to formal procedures, originating from her office at St Andrews House, and not conducted through WhatsApp or any other informal messaging platform. Thus the media speculation (reproduced by some above commentators in this thread) is very wide of the mark.

      Delete
    15. Importantly you only say " regular" not all communications.
      Sturgeon never sets the record straight.
      Sturgeon promised not to delete any messages. It is not for Sturgeon to determine what messages are relevant. That is the responsibility of the Inquiry. Sturgeon did and said the exact same for the Salmond persecution Parliamentary Inquiry also known as the Fabiani Farce.

      Delete
  25. What about the Alba Party James? what will the election bring for them? will they hold on to their 2 MPs, could they dare to dream of increasing their numbers, it would be a great thing if they could take a few more seats from the Unionists.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really do share your excitement about the future prospects of the Alba Party. Welcome aboard!

      Delete
    2. Love this forced narrative that all our votes belong to the SNP and if we fail to see that the blame is all on us.

      Your party, “Please Release Me” is as complacent and self serving as Hillary Clinton’s Democrats and Blair’s Labour. If you want my vote, earn it.

      I’m certain the SNP will be the only “independence” option running in my seat. I’m not leaving them for someone else. I’m actively choosing never to vote for them until they get the message and get back to delivering independence.

      Delete
    3. Thanks for that guys, I too am excited to see how Alba fair in this years election, I'm also excited for the SNPs chances, I'm not onboard either ship tho,
      as an Indy supporter since 1967, ( a great year ) but not so much a fan of petty politics, I look forward to the upcoming election with hope.

      Delete
    4. Hope for what? A "nationalist tsunami" SNP clean sweep like 2015 which got the media excited on election night, then did absolutely NOTHING for Scotland or Independence?

      "Scotland will not be torn out of Europe against our will."

      Indyref2, please, please, pretty pretty please, Prime Minister?

      Delete
    5. The GE is certainly going to be interesting. It’s fair to say we’re going to have a Labour government, and their victory should be decisive. Unfortunately it looks like they’ll take a significant number of seats from the SNP in the process though.
      I think for the SNP it’s going to be damage limitation, and I sincerely hope not too many nationalists carry out this threat to abstain or spoil ballot papers. A lot of people don’t seem to get how damaging this could be. We need to stand together and get behind the party if we’re to have any chance of independence anytime soon.
      I understand things are not great within the SNP at the moment but am confident better days are around the corner, perhaps with a change of leader after the election. I firmly believe we need unity though or this election could be very damaging.

      Delete
    6. I think that it is too soon to say anything for certain, as regards Labour, the SNP, or the Conservatives, because polls can change quite a lot during the course of an election campaign. The SNP has shown in the last few months - when it has had some negative new stories in the media - that its support is quite strong nevertheless. Whilst I would expect many people would expect there perhaps to be some losses at the next general election, if only because the First-Past-The-Post system previously gave parties like the SNP a number of seats disproportionate to its vote share, the key surely in all of this is for the party to remain calm and cool and not to overreact to such things. I am not convinced that a change in leader will make very much difference: the SNP have never been a party that just thinks in terms of quick fixes like that. There is a view that I have heard expressed that the current problems are not very much if at all the fault of the present leader. Instead the SNP must think in terms of long term steady and sustainable strategies. The party has come through a lot and has shown absolutely remarkable resilience. Now is no time to despair. It is an exciting time for the SNP and it has an absolutely fantastic future.

      Delete
    7. Well I hope you’re right. We need people to get behind the party though
      I’m hopeful we’ll get through this difficult time, and hopefully come through the other side even stronger.

      Delete
    8. Last 2 anons: What is your goal for the SNP?

      1. Winning many seats time and time again within the British system

      2. Winning independence

      These two goals have proven to be quite distinct.

      Delete
    9. Well we’ll certainly be further away than ever to independence if we lose as many seats as predicted, that’s for sure.

      Delete
    10. I dispute that. Their complacency is killing independence. We’ll still be in this cursed Union for generations to come at this rate. They’re too comfortable doing nothing.

      Delete
    11. When Sturgeon said 'once in a generation' she meant 'once in a generation'. She has been an unmitigated disaster to the cause of independence.

      Delete
    12. Nicola was a great asset to the SNP. She brought a lot of success and if you think about it lasted almost 10 years as FM. Not an achievement to be sneezed at.

      Delete
    13. Your goal, then, is #1 that I outlined above. She was ruinous for independence. Remember the Supreme Court debacle.

      Delete
    14. That’s part of the problem. Unionists are going to keep casting the “once in a generation “ that Sturgeon said.
      Good few years til there’s much hope of Indyref2

      Delete
    15. Anon at 11:23, I agree Sturgeon was an asset for years and obviously a great leader, but in the end did little for the independence cause.

      Delete
    16. Thst anonymous post at 11.23am sums up the difference between an SNP person and an independence person. We want independence. SNP numpties are happy with the SNP winning elections and staying in office. Please note she won elections based on lying about Indyref2 while raising funds on the back of a promise she never intended to keep. That is a scam. Sneeze sneeze.

      Delete
    17. IFS, I get that you and others resent Nicola Sturgeon and are disillusioned with the SNP in general, but the fact is there can’t be independence without a strong Scottish National Party.
      We all need to hope they get their act together sooner rather than later.

      Delete
    18. They won’t without a major kick up the arse.

      Voting for them now is telling your abuser: more please.

      Delete
    19. Hoping for change from the SNP is like hoping for a Section 30.

      Neither one’s happening without a profound change of circumstances.

      Delete
    20. Ok so a major kick up the arse in the GE. What about the Holyrood election in couple of years time? Same again?

      Delete
    21. Anon at 11.41 - I used to hope they would get their act together. But I don't see any chance of that. The membership had the opportunity to elect a leader who actually wanted independence - Regan - but they went with self confessed continuity candidate Yousaf because Sturgeon and Murrell told them to do so. The SNP have been a phoney Independence Party since Sturgeon took over. We gave them 56 out of 59 MPs in 2015 - what did we get in return - nothing on independence, taken out of the EU, and bampot policies at Holyrood. Sturgeon's gang are deliberately destroying the SNP. Its been infiltrated by Britnats and useless time wasters. Time to send the first batch packing and put the others on notice.

      Delete
    22. That depends on them. Throw out the numpty stuff and focus on preparing Scotland for independence. Real work. Put some bloody back into it. Win us around.

      If Team Nicola is still in charge and nothing has changed, come Holyrood, then we’re really stuck.

      Delete
    23. Anon@11:23 Yes she lasted 10 years as FM and DID SWEET FA about independence! When are you going to grasp that? We are not one inch closer today than we were when she took over. This blind adoration of her is what has destroyed the SNP as a vehicle for independence. She is a fraud and always has been.

      Delete
    24. Sturgeon has been a great success for the Britnats. In her 9 years she has managed to declare Indyref2 illegal, embroil the SNP in a financial scandal and trash Salmond's reputation by setting up a criminal conspiracy. No wonder about 50k members have left. Hey but no worries she was a good communicator, won elections and created her own fan club of nicophants - aTaylor Swift for politics.

      Delete
    25. Well she’s gone now, so hopefully the only way is up.

      Delete
    26. She’s not gone. She keeps on showing up, and Humza is her merry puppet.

      She’ll only be out of our system once Branchform is complete.

      Delete
    27. Note to the nicophants. On the tv show the Traitors the Traitors are laughing at how easy people are fooled. I wonder if Sturgeon does the same. She is probably saying to her gang ' I told them I suffered from imposter syndrome and I told them I was British but still they supported me 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I even got Dorothy to get indyref2 declared illegal. What fools! '

      Delete
    28. It would be good to get support for independence above 50% before we think of a referendum.

      Delete
    29. It would be good if the party of independence took some action to get us there.

      Delete
    30. Anon at 11.41 says:- " but the fact is there can't be independence without a strong Scottish National Party." How is that a FACT - it's your opinion. Explain why it is a fact. Anyway we only have The Scottish British Party at present.

      Delete
    31. To put it in quite straight-foward terms, when the SNP are weak people conclude that there is little support for independence, whereas when the SNP are strong people conclude there is a lot of support for independence.

      Delete
    32. Says the guy from East Renfrewshire who says we’re not British 😁😁

      Delete
    33. Anon at 2.40pm - you misrepresent me. I said I am Scottish. You can be Brutish if you want. What has East Renfrewshire go to do with it. Not only can you not read accurately your post makes no sense. You were either too lazy to explain your post properly or it just makes no sense. Possibly both. I tend to find that people who can only post one line comments generally are lazy and lacking in the capacity to write more than one confused line.

      Delete
    34. Anon at 2.36pm - I assume that is a reply to me and you have expressed an opinion not a fact. Your original comment is there can't be independence without a strong SNP not perceived support for independence. Sadly you are falling for the SNP line. A line that says they are the only route to independence yet the last 10 years shows otherwise. People can look at polling that shows SNP is detached from support from independence.

      Delete
    35. IFS, as Scotland is part of the British Isles we are all British. Not too difficult to understand surely!!! Only when we gain independence will that cease. Come on screw the nut!

      Delete
    36. Regarding SNP. I realize this organization has some support on this forum. It has had electoral success at the ballot box and so far has proven useless at pursuing independence. My own prediction is that it is going to pot and will continue to fanny about. Its former leader is still quite well known in the media but for how much longer will she avoid prison (she is on borrowed time)?

      Delete
    37. Anon 3.37pm - you are a Britnat troll - I have addressed this multiple times. Your post is nonsense - we are part of the British Isles you say - correct - a geographical fact. But you say when Scotland is independent that will cease - nonsense - is Scotland going to float off in to the Atlantic. Total gibberish. So I conclude nobody can be stupid enough to mix up geography with National identity so you are a Britnat troll. Try sticking a thistle up your arse thst may help you change your national identity to Scottish.

      Delete
    38. @Felix Love it!

      I’m done with Nicola’s “we’re not comfortable being called nationalist” SNP.

      I’ve no more time for Alba, though. I voted for them in 2021 but that 1% they got was a sure sign it was a dead horse even at that point.

      The SNP is the vehicle of independence. Nicola turned it backwards. Let’s pull out the driver and take it back, for Scotland.

      Delete
    39. The problem with that is we can't take it back. Just look at the Nicola fan club that comment here. They'll never be convinced that she is anything but a gift from the heavens.

      I don't have any expectation of an Alba breakthrough (Sturgeon did too good a job on Salmond for that) but even that 2% of the vote has panicked them. When did you last see any of these 'active for indy' MPs out on the street with leaflets? Now they're all over social media trying to persuade us to give them 5 more years at the Westminster trough.

      If some of these grifters lose their seats at the next election through abstentions, spoiled ballots or Alba, it will be the best chance we have of making them take notice of our concerns.

      Delete
    40. Agreed.

      Regards the Nicola fanclub: as you pointed out earlier, something quite shocking may be about to happen to her, which could end her saintly image in certain quarters.

      Only the shocker of a nightmare election will loosen her team's grip on the party, though. Let's give them a timely wake up call.

      Delete
    41. IFS at 3:46pm, rich of you accusing me of posting nonsense. I am not a “britnat troll” as you put it. You should stop spouting nonsense.

      Delete
    42. Anon at 10.54pm - stick a thistle up your Britnat troll arse.

      Delete
  26. I hope that all the Anonymouse pricks find a wee hole to run down and stay there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I’ll pee down yours.

      Delete
    2. Where do us non-anonymous pricks go?🤔

      Delete
    3. you could hang out at the Alba bar, with JK.

      Delete
    4. Please Please Me, this is your idea of an discussion? To call people names and bring JK Rowling into it? Away hame an' read yer Harry Potter books ya big daftie🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

      Delete
    5. oh the wit, the wit, well maybe no a full wit, no,
      half a wit, a right pair, a right pair o' half wits?
      that's about it.

      Delete
    6. Seriously pal somebody needs to tell you to grow up. You're only making an arse of yourself🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

      Delete
  27. Important: Nicola has today made a public statement in which she says that she wanted to set the record fully straight. Given the recent media attention, regarding Wats-App messages to the Covid investigation, there are specific aspects of the story that she deems particularly crucial to clarify. In contrast to the incorrect perception conveyed in some reports in the media, as mentioned inadvertently by some on this forum, she has made it absolutely clear that the Inquiry possesses all those messages exchanged between her and those with whom she had had regular informal communication during the course of the covid pandemic. Even though these messages were deleted and hence are not currently stored on her personal electronic device, she is nevertheless absolutely clear that she successfully acquired copies, which were subsequently provided to the Inquiry last year. It is essential to emphasize that she is absolutely clear that her management of the Covid response adhered to formal procedures, originating from her office at St Andrews House, and was not conducted to any extent through the means of WhatsApp or any other informal social messaging platform. Thus the media speculation is very, very wide of the mark.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Is that you Murray Foote? It wasn't up to Sturgeon to decide which messages she should pass on to the Inquiry. She promised not to delete any. Spin it whatever way you want Murray but that is fact.

      Delete
    2. Now Murray Foote deems it important to try and salvage the reputation of Sturgeon. What is important Murray is Scottish independence and people like you and Sturgeon are more interested in yourself.
      Sturgeon did the exact same at the Scottish Parliament Inquiry in to the actions of Sturgeon in the persecution of Salmond. Deleted the messages she wanted to hide and gave the Inquiry the rest. Her henchman John REDACTOR Man Swinney then spent years hiding information and redacting the life out of documents they were eventually forced to produce. They should have been keeping us in the EU and getting us out of the UK instead of working day and night to cover up their misdeeds and misuse of public funds. Sturgeon's boy Yousaf continues to waste public funds with his stupid appeal against the GRR knockout.

      Delete
  28. As an update: Humza will be on Kuenssberg tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laura Kuenssberg asked tough questions but Humza was able to hold his own in the interview.

      Delete
    2. We'll see how well he holds onto "his own" votes and seats.

      Delete
  29. I was quite impressed by Humza this morning on BBC. He came across well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was quite impressed also, he handled the interview very well.

      Delete
    2. Good to hear him talking positively about independence. We need to hear more of that.

      Delete
    3. Anon at 10.38pm We have had talk and promises from Sturgeon's gang for 9 years. Is that not enough for you. Are you wanting another 9 years of the same? They wasted the best opportunities for independence but you are happy to finally hear him talk about independence. It's amazing how little some independence supporters are happy with. It's action we need. Not waffle on a Britnat show on the English telly.

      Delete
    4. IFS, fools like you need to get behind the SNP. The only way we can achieve our ultimate goal is if there’s a strong SNP.
      All this talk by nationalists of abstaining, spoiling ballot papers and threatening to vote for fringe parties is utter madness. If you seriously think this action is going to help the independence cause then you really have problems.

      Delete
    5. Anon at 12.09pm - the problem I have is numpties believing Sturgeon's gang will do anything about independence. 19/10/2023 - I’m guessing you saved the date - numpty. PS I'm not threatening to vote Alba or ISP I will if they stand.

      Delete
    6. IFS, more fool you.

      Delete
    7. Anon at 12.25pm - 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 keep munching on the 🥕🥕🥕🥕 What date you got in your diary for the referendum now 19/10/ 33.

      Delete
    8. IFS, I’d say that date will be on the optimistic side if clowns like you carry on the way you’re going.

      Delete
    9. Anon 12.43 pm - here's some more for you to munch on 🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕 The only clowns are people like you who want to keep doing the same thing and expect a different result. Einstein called that the definition of insanity. I just call you numpties who will munch on the old mouldy carrots Sturgeon's gang throw your way.

      Delete
    10. IFS, I’d say you’re the definition of insanity 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

      Delete
    11. Anon 2.42pm Years ago on SGP I posted that Sturgeon/Blowhard Blackford would never deliver independence. I said they were phoneys. The type of people who would put togther a criminal plot to send Salmond to jail. I took a lot of insults from numpties like you. In the lead up to the Holyrood election in 2021 I said again that Sturgeon would not deliver anything for independence/ no referendum nothing. To be fair even I didn't forecast blue police tents outside Sturgeon/Murrell house. I said I would vote SNP in 2021 in the constituency in the hope that she got a resounding majority and then when she did nothing numpties would finally wake up. I also said if nothing changed it will be the last time I vote SNP. Well things did change - it got worse. A poster, Ramstam, in between insults, assured me Sturgeon would hold Indyref2 in the autumn of 2021.
      Here we are the SNP under polis investigation and now this anon who is another numpty tells me I should take his advice. The people who got it so wrong and still do telling me who got it right how I should vote. Now that is laughable.

      Delete
    12. IfS: the police investigation has proceeded for quite a long time and there have been no charges whatsoever at the time of writing against Nicola. Better to give her the benefit of the doubt. She was arguably a great asset to the SNP party in terms of getting votes, and she was very popular indeed with the general public. It is sad that she has had to step aside but don't believe all the negative things that people say about her in the newspapers, as many are newspapers that are intrinsically hostile towards the SNP party.

      Delete
    13. Anon at 3.50pm says " newspapers that are intrinsically hostile towards the SNP party. " Don't insult my intelligence anon - bloody cheek of these people? I worked that out in school. It is not sad she stepped aside. I know all about the polis investigation - what is it with your condescending post. Where is the money then? Why is a motorhome sitting in a polis compound right now rusting away. Two of many questions numpties cannae answer. Care to answer them anon. Perhaps Murray Foote, you know the ex Daily Record editor and author of the Infamous Vow, who is now SNP Chief Exec can answer them. You have the nerve to preach to me about not believing Britnat papers when the SNP has the guy who scuppered the 2014 referendum in charge and an ex editor of same papers. Truly unbelievable stuff.

      Delete
    14. IfS: the thing about it is that there may be a perfectly innocent explanation for all of these things that people are wondering about. It is the job of the police, not my job, to look into these questions and to determine what happened. Nicola has been clear that there is not anything untoward in her opinion. Now of course I am inclined to take her word for it in the mean time but also to await the outcome of due process. Let us all await the courtroom verdict and not come to conclusions before all the professionals have looked into it fully.

      Delete
    15. Anon 4.19pm - I note you are happy with the SNP having as its Chief Exec an ex editor of one of these papers you seemed to think influence me. To use your own words " intrinsically hostile to the SNP" . Has Foote apologised for the Vow. I bet he is pleased with himself. Not that your previous Chief Exec was that honest either - lied in the Salmond Inquiry and lied about membership numbers but hey you keep on taking their word. No courtroom is required to come to these facts.

      Delete
    16. Anon at 4:19, you’re wasting your time with IFS, there’s no reasoning with that man.

      Delete
    17. IfS: Murray Foote is a professional who is absolutely on top of his game. The fact that a person of his calibre was attracted to work for the SNP is can be taken as a positive indication about the future of the SNP. He will have satisfied the SNP leadership that there was no incompatibility between his views and those of the SNP. Since his appointment my impression is that the SNP is well run. He has been at work righting the ship -- so far, so good.

      Delete
    18. Anon at 4.50pm - when did you reason with me? Which of the many anonymous posters are you?

      Delete
    19. Anon at 6.05pm - is that you Murray Foote?

      I am sure he " satisfied there was no incompatibility between his views and those of the SNP" leadership. Exactly - do nothing about independence. So in the whole of Scotland there was nobody else who could do a decent job but an ex editor of a paper you said " was intrinsically hostile to the SNP". Can't say I've ever been to a job interview where this was on my CV. Good morning, I've been intrinsically hostile to your organisation for all of my life - can you appoint me to be Chief Exec of the organisation.

      Explain righting the ship please.

      Delete
    20. IfS: Murray Foote has been strengthening the SNP’s headquarters and improving the SNP's organisation. He brings real experience and talent. He is working very hard in terms of strengthening the SNPs headquarters, empowering the SNP's many activists, with impressive managerial experience and skills delivering important changes in governance and in transparency in party headquarters.

      Delete
    21. Aye it is you Foote or that person Ruddick. That is definitely taken from Footes CV. It makes a change from the normal numpty who cannae string more than one line of insults together. So only an old Britnat hack can do this job - nobody else. SNP for independence - what joke - you cannae even employ independence supporters.

      Delete
    22. Whatever one may think of Nicola Sturgeon, we all need to sit up and take note that the SNP are now under new leadership. It is to be hoped that independence supporters, whatever they feel about the Nicola Sturgeon years, will now vote for the SNP in the upcoming general election.

      Delete
    23. Never in a month of Sundays

      Delete
  30. It’s high time we all got behind the SNP. Then hopefully they can get the message out and lay out the case for independence. Get the undecided voters onboard and drive support to over 50%.
    Yousaf needs to be given a proper chance. We can’t keep changing leaders, look what happened with the Tories! Maybe if things go badly in the GE, the leadership issue can be looked at, but if we all get behind the party, hopefully this won’t be necessary.
    The SNP has to be the party for independence, despite what some apparently think .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agree 100%. Time to get behind the SNP.

      Delete
    2. Anon at 3.16pm - correct - time to get right behind the SNP MPs and kick the useless troughers like Wishart out of office.

      Delete
    3. Ifs, you’ll look back years from now and realise how disastrous that actually was.

      Delete
    4. I'm looking back now and realise how disastrous the leadership of Nicola Sturgeon was

      Delete
    5. Anon at 12.31pm - If you say so Pete. Tell me Pete are you for a de facto referendum today or is that only on Tuesday's?

      Delete