Which is handy, because today is also the day of the Gorton and Denton by-election in Manchester (fun fact: a seat we’d very likely have lived in ourselves if not for Osama bin Laden, but that’s another story), and that throws up some interesting parallels.
There is a not particularly funny joke that is sometimes told in legal circles about why a law student failed to finish his coursework – because he had no conviction. With rare exceptions lawyers aren’t renowned for their sense of humour but I can’t help thinking someone, at the highest levels of our justice system, is having a right laugh at my expense and those who have loyally supported me over the past six years.
I’m talking about the Lord Advocate, Dorothy Bain KC – a sitting member of the Scottish Government’s cabinet who was nominated by Nicola Sturgeon to that post in 2021, five months after I was acquitted.
For those unfamiliar with my case, I offer this brief summary. In March 2020 I made a short video on my mobile phone that was two minutes and thirty eight seconds in length. I hadn’t planned to make the video when I went out for a walk in a field near my home. But I was annoyed and wanted to articulate that annoyance, although at the time I recorded it I wasn’t intending for it to go much further.
Later that night, just before turning in, I uploaded it to my YouTube channel on a closed, unlisted link and then posted that link to my Twitter account that, at the time, had a modest 1000 or so followers. I then forgot about it.
Little did I know that short mobile phone video would result in me facing initially a criminal trial, then a five year legal battle in the highest civil court in Scotland and now, most likely, an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
So on the one hand there’s obviously very little point paying attention to the SNP’s regional list candidates for May’s Holyrood election, because as this website has comprehensively demonstrated over recent months, the chances of the SNP having any list MSPs elected are remote.
However, nothing is impossible, so let’s take a look at the B team, which also serves as a guide to the party’s upcoming talent taking its first steps towards the gravy bus.
As the six-year fight for justice for Alex Salmond continues, we thought you might like to see this clip from this morning’s Mike Graham Show, interviewing Paul McManus, the businessman and drummer in Glasgow rock band Gun who’s stepped up to fund the Salmond family’s case against the Scottish Government despite disagreeing with much of what Alex stood for politically.
The Sunday National’s front page today elicited a sigh of “So what?” from most.
We’ve already GOT a “pro-indy” majority at Holyrood and have done for the last 10 years, for all it’s been worth. But to be fair there was a paragraph in the article that at least raised a quizzical eyebrow.
It seems that it’s fine to farm important judgments out to mysterious shadowy figures who just make important chunks of them up out of thin air, and then issue them in your own name. Back in your boxes, plebs.
Hatey McHateface on The Tactics Of Suicide: “I feel a little sorry for the plumber bint. She’s throwing away a steady, high earning, useful, productive, respected, needed…” Feb 27, 20:20
GM on The Tactics Of Suicide: “As did Enoch Powell. I think Enoch actually spoke the language.” Feb 27, 20:16
Sven on The Tactics Of Suicide: “Mark Beggan @ 19.12. But, “When I became a man I put away childish things,” mostly, as every Dad knows,…” Feb 27, 20:13
Mark Beggan on The Tactics Of Suicide: “The old saying ‘When you sup with the devil use a long spoon’ comes to mind. The Greens will roll…” Feb 27, 19:55
Hatey McHateface on The Tactics Of Suicide: “Crivens, Geri. If you went private during the time you were referred for treatment, sue them for every penny you…” Feb 27, 19:39
Hatey McHateface on The Tactics Of Suicide: “I’ll throw the question open to you too, Northy. Any ideas for May? Anything that will set the heather alight…” Feb 27, 19:19
Geri on The Tactics Of Suicide: “Its you that’s delusional, as per usual. This news just in – No one likes the Unelected leaders at the…” Feb 27, 19:15
Mark Beggan on The Tactics Of Suicide: “‘When I was a child I thought like a child, I spoke like a I reasoned like a child……” Corinthians…” Feb 27, 19:12
Hatey McHateface on The Tactics Of Suicide: “The Green people who want to end mass air travel are greetin that people can’t afford holidays. The Green people…” Feb 27, 19:11
Hatey McHateface on The Tactics Of Suicide: “Wow, Geri. From zero to posting pedo accusations within 24 hours. Promise us you’ll never change. Xxx” Feb 27, 18:59
Geri on The Tactics Of Suicide: “It won’t be changing with London based stooges that’s for sure. The nawbags have far too much to lose. Say…” Feb 27, 17:43
Andy Ellis on The Tactics Of Suicide: “@Geri More delusional nonsense Geri: colour us unsurprised. Ordinary Scottish voters will still troop to the polls in May and…” Feb 27, 17:42
Geri on The Tactics Of Suicide: “A new world order is coming. Englandshire is a pariah. It won’t make a seat at the next International organisation…” Feb 27, 17:13
Stevie on The Tactics Of Suicide: “I haven’t anything valuable to add other than, the SNP is the enemy of Scotland and Scottish culture – Reform…” Feb 27, 17:11
Mark Beggan on The Tactics Of Suicide: “It’s official Muslims love homosexuals and Transgender ideology. That’s progressive politik in motion. The Green revolution.” Feb 27, 17:03
Andy Ellis on The Tactics Of Suicide: “Doubtless many “politically homeless” Scottish independence supporters – whether native born or vile New Scots colonialists so reviled by the…” Feb 27, 17:01
Northcode on The Tactics Of Suicide: “Aye, Alf… thon yin maun hae mair coorags an curnies and ither fyngers oan ane haun than maist fowk hae…” Feb 27, 17:00
Geri on The Tactics Of Suicide: “‘Hoo’s the F16s these days? Tires worn oot frae all the taxiing aboot?’ I’ve forgot nothing. They’re not off the…” Feb 27, 16:49
Iain More on The Tactics Of Suicide: “MRP Predictions – I just dont believe it. Greens winning a by-election on Trumps aircraft carrier the USS England will…” Feb 27, 16:38
Young Lochinvar on The Tactics Of Suicide: “Horton and Denton by election. Green Party leader Zak Polanski told news reporters that “there aren’t any no- go areas”…” Feb 27, 15:54
Geri on The Tactics Of Suicide: “Give it up, Shiteface. Nothing, & I mean NOTHING, trumps the Eppy files & the people behind all of it.…” Feb 27, 15:48
Hatey McHateface on The Tactics Of Suicide: “Quantity AND quality, Alf. Big Scottish election coming up in May. Will set the path for Scotland’s governance for the…” Feb 27, 15:36
Hatey McHateface on The Tactics Of Suicide: ““make the declaration of Arbroath a modern reality, without death” Just so long as we can still totally destroy the…” Feb 27, 15:30
Alf Baird on The Tactics Of Suicide: “Jings, 25 oot o 85 commends here fae yer guid sel sae faur, Hatey ower Scotlan. Yer daein awfu weel,…” Feb 27, 15:22
Young Lochinvar on The Tactics Of Suicide: “I see Churchill’s statue in Lahndun (variously described back in the day as either looking like a turtle or Mussolini-…” Feb 27, 15:03
Hatey McHateface on The Tactics Of Suicide: “Game on AND game over, Geri. Michty! Hoo’s the F16s these days? Tires worn oot frae all the taxiing aboot?…” Feb 27, 14:46
Cynicus on The Tactics Of Suicide: “Geri says: 27 February, 2026 at 2:10 pm A. I am glad we can agree that. But surely you are…” Feb 27, 14:43
Jamie on The Tactics Of Suicide: “Reform are going to do well in both elections with or without Scottish Patriot support. The time is now to…” Feb 27, 14:40