I was a delegate yesterday at the SNP National Council in Dundee. Regular readers may remember that when I was a delegate at the special SNP constitutional conference in March, I asked for advice about what I could safely say on the blog about that event, and the answer was "pretty much nothing, apart from the fact that it happened and you were there". I'm fairly sure the same principle applies to the National Council because it appeared to be a private session throughout. So a photo of me posing in highly dignified fashion outside the venue with my delegate card will have to suffice.
As there isn't much I can say about the day in Dundee, today's video commentary instead returns to the subject of Eurovision, and the EBU's shameful failure to remove Israel from next year's contest. My previous video on Tuesday about the subject attracted far more views than I expected. In fact it was my most-viewed video so far by a long distance, and also received almost 300 comments - including, inevitably, some from pro-Israel apologists containing the familiar misdirection and misinformation. In the new video I respond to one of those comments in particular.
As I understand it the countries which have not boycotted have officially agreed to participate at this point and will incur a financial penalty if they subsequently decide to pull out.
ReplyDeleteThat's going to make it a fair bit harder for the house of cards effect to happen but I still believe more countries will withdraw if Israel continues it's attacks.
A lot can happen before next year's event. Belarus might be welcomed back by then. Who knows?
I have always felt Israel- and Australia! Should not be in the Eurovision contest-for the obvious reason- they aren’t in Europe! The war in Palestine didn’t start 2 years ago at the terrible attack at the pop concert. Go back to 1945 where Israeli terrorists murdered British soldiers and civilians. Some become Statesmen and women whit hi a few years supported by the USA. The theft of land by the Israeli state the murder of Palestinians by settlers continue to day and the criminal in power asks for a free card to avoid corruption charges supported by Trump. Stop the murder from both sides but the resettlement programme -in defiance of the UN continues. Starmer has gone quiet on stating it is ok to starve and refuse water to civilians. Even he was recognise that is morally repugnant. Still the right wing claim foul so the press such as the bbc move to the right and give the racists and others airtime. Even in Kuensberg this morning we had a Reform Councillor taking centre stage. I know a few councillors- they have never been asked on.
ReplyDeleteThe terrible incident in Australia is to be condemned without fear or favour. The extremists want a response back on no doubt the extremists on the right wing government of Israel will oblige and on it goes. The innocent suffer.
ReplyDeleteExcellent commentary on the disgusting genocide taking place in Palestine by the State of Israel. This is a modern day example of colonialism. Nutters using a religious text ( the Bible ) to justify murder, ethnic cleansing and land grabbing. These nutters believe a God gives them the right to murder and drive out any Arabs in the "promised land".
ReplyDeleteThe fact that there have been no countries or clubs withdrawing from playing football against Israel is very disappointing. Russia banned immediately but Israel left to continue playing in European and World football competitions. Why is that? Perhaps the fact that the !abour party have a Chancellor Reeves who openly declared recently she is an unapologetic Zionist. She has also received in the order of £200k in monies from friends of Israel. Both these points may help explain it. So many politicians getting money from friends of Israel.
Wall to wall coverage of the poor people murdered in Australia, which is an appalling act, but minimal coverage by the British/Western media of the daily killing of Palestinians. Over 300 killed since the phoney Trump ceasefire in Gaza.
Vote Labour or Tory and you have the blood of thousands of children on your hands.
Your comment re the SNP made them sound like some sort of secret society - not quite like the Masons but getting there.
James, I note that, unlike you, Out For Independence have no reservation about publicising details from the SNP National Council. It seems they are more focussed on the Out part than the Independence part. Not surprising really as the longest serving FM leader of the party has recently declared she is non binary.
DeleteI have no problem if they want to challenge the UK Supreme Court decision re biological sex and its knock on effects but it certainly will not help Scottish independence. My problem is the contrast with how the SNP have meekly accepted the UK Supreme Court decision in respect of indyref2. The SNP are looking more and more like a subset of Stonewall rather than a serious vehicle for independence.
I agreed with every word of that IfS.
DeleteJames, on your next vlog blink 3 times rapidly if you were happy with the meeting in Dundee yesterday. They can't touch you for that, surely? :)
Ach, there's always Liberate Scotland !
DeleteFor a motion to be passed by acclaim at party council, does that mean support for it was perfectly unanimous?
ReplyDeleteNo. Or not necessarily, at any rate.
DeleteIfs .I assume you are in the masons
ReplyDeleteAnon troll at 4.32pm you assume wrongly. I am not in the masons. Only you know why you posted that comment but I'm guessing you also assumed Sturgeon would deliver on her many promises to deliver Indyref2.
DeleteMasons are sworn to secrecy so, to use the classic phrase, you would say that. :) More seriously the SNP continues to waste it’s time and our money on trying to circumvent the clear findings of the Supreme Court. This is wrong in principle but also highlights the real lack of intellect within the senior ranks of SNP today. Practical solutions to issues arising from the ruling are really straightforward unless you are pursuing an agenda that runs contrary to the judgement. How much time is SNP currently spending on engaging with employers and especially manufacturing and other businesses heavily reliant on electricity, pointing out to them the overnight reduction in their power costs in the event of Independence. I cannot find the relevant information and flyer in the SNP website. Why is that ? Oh they haven’t done it. Changing the attitude of employers towards Independence will change the attitude of their staff. Walkers in Aberlour is a great example. Get them onside and you get hundreds of others coming over as well. It’s grass roots politics. Why is this not happening on a daily basis?
DeleteIfs - mysoginist and fixated on Nicola Sturgeon. Move on to 2026 and he will still be drooling.
DeleteOoh hundreds wow
DeleteLowlife troll at 3.56pm.
Delete3.56pm I see you still can’t spell misogynist even after posting the same unsubstantiated claim many times. Your credibility is zero.
DeleteTragic that no viable electoral alternative to the SNP has emerged. A 'gentlepersons' club of self servers, marginally less bad than the alternatives.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your YouTube status.
ReplyDelete