The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland


Author Archive


When winning is the only thing 185

Posted on March 05, 2021 by

What puzzles many about the Alex Salmond situation is motive. It’s incredibly difficult for some Yes supporters to imagine any motive that could justify the awfulness of what Alex Salmond has been put through by his successor, and so they reject the whole idea of any sinister goings-on out of hand.

However, it’s far easier to understand what went on when you look at the personality of Nicola Sturgeon and her historical pattern of behaviour.

Because the core fact is that Sturgeon simply cannot bear to lose. She’s very single-minded, and doesn’t really adapt or regroup in the face of adversity. When events and new information make problems for her ideas and plans, she just keeps going – often creating more problems as she tries to force the plan back on track.

Sturgeon’s main priority – in common with most politicians – is to stay in power and to boost her own image and profile. We can look at some hot topics and her behaviour around them, and gain clear insights into what happened to Alex Salmond and why.

Read the rest of this entry →

How to make a coup 132

Posted on February 02, 2021 by

Having never been part of a political party, an area where Wings lacks expertise is in understanding the nuts and bolts of their operation, and how a party’s rules can be used to usurp their members’ power. We’re delighted to have someone equipped to provide a valuable insight into how that’s happened to the SNP in the last two years.

The following line is still a definitive statement in the SNP constitution:

“National Conference is the supreme governing and policy-making body of the Party.”

But in practice it is no longer the case. The 2018 redraft of the constitution centralised power in the Leader and in the NEC. The party Leader has sole and total power over policy – both in the manifesto and in government – and the NEC has sole power over who represents the party and what they are allowed to say.

So in effect, since 2018 the party elite – not the membership – has ruled the SNP.

Read the rest of this entry →

  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a thing that exists.

    Stats: 6,789 Posts, 1,222,408 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

  • Recent Comments

    • Cynicus on The Pillars Of Sanity: “Lorn says: “….. the exposure to the light that this ideology has never wanted, is complete. “ ========== The exposure…Jul 22, 02:30
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Pillars Of Sanity: “GENDER-CRITICAL ACADEMICS EXPERIENCING ‘BULLYING AND HARASSMENT’ « University staff and students across the UK have suffered “extreme personal consequences” for…Jul 22, 00:17
    • Jay on The Pillars Of Sanity: “To Rev Stu, the french expression ‘tour de force’ seems appropriate for ‘Pillars of Sanity’. Thank you for your work.Jul 21, 23:37
    • William G Walker on The Pillars Of Sanity: “Excellent idea from agent x to tranfer employment to Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline!Jul 21, 22:44
    • Young Lochinvar on The Pillars Of Sanity: “And why doesn’t SEPA respond?? I’ll tell you why; To the English, Paddy is a figure of fun, Taff is…Jul 21, 22:15
    • Mark Beggan on The Pillars Of Sanity: “They missed the oil tankers first time round. A fateful error.Jul 21, 20:18
    • agent x on The Pillars Of Sanity: ““This model accomplishes two things simultaneously. First, it creates a tight-knit ideological echo chamber, giving members a sense of belonging…Jul 21, 20:01
    • Aidan on The Pillars Of Sanity: “@Xaracen – I don’t know if you get this, but large organisations like the UN make announcements about the issues…Jul 21, 20:01
    • agent x on The Pillars Of Sanity: ““A number of options were put in front of Ms Peggie to help her return to work and avoid Dr…Jul 21, 19:51
    • Mark Beggan on The Pillars Of Sanity: “Trans ideology is like an IRA thesis on Law and Order.Jul 21, 19:33
    • MaryB on The Pillars Of Sanity: “C4 news interviewer Krishnan talking to Steve Reed, Sec of State for Environment etc. Steve R, saying that Scotland’s publicly…Jul 21, 19:31
    • Mark Beggan on The Pillars Of Sanity: “I knew it! They’re going to bomb Pearl Harbour again.Jul 21, 19:22
    • Alf Baird on The Pillars Of Sanity: ““What then is Swinney?” The stark reality in any colonial society, based on extensive international evidence, is that the leaders…Jul 21, 19:20
    • Young Lochinvar on The Pillars Of Sanity: “Boom boom George Ffoulkes staggers into the pub holding part of the House of Lords £9m £6m unworking door under…Jul 21, 18:33
    • Bilbo on The Pillars Of Sanity: “O/T There was an election in Japan yesterday where a far right party called Sanseito has become the 4th largest…Jul 21, 18:33
    • twathater on The Pillars Of Sanity: “For those who CLAIM to be independence supporters you seem tae get yir panties in a twist when Professor Baird…Jul 21, 18:26
    • Bilbo on The Pillars Of Sanity: “I’ve taken a break from politics and noticed the other day that the SNP has made holding a referendum part…Jul 21, 18:18
    • Chas on The Pillars Of Sanity: “Hopefully your PC will ‘pack in’ completely very soon.Jul 21, 18:09
    • Aidan on The Pillars Of Sanity: “What response was received to this submission to the UN? Why are you hiding it?Jul 21, 18:08
    • Xaracen on The Pillars Of Sanity: “@Stuart; This is the same drivel that Aidan has been spouting ad nauseam for many weeks, now. If it was…Jul 21, 18:06
    • twathater on The Pillars Of Sanity: “Ah but I’m an independence supporter, AYE RIGHT sonJul 21, 18:03
    • Young Lochinvar on The Pillars Of Sanity: “As an example; Much of Birminghams water supply is piped from reservoirs in Wales.Jul 21, 17:44
    • GM on The Pillars Of Sanity: “Aye, Ronnie.Jul 21, 17:20
    • Andrew scott on The Pillars Of Sanity: “Chapman knocked off top spot in aberdeen-replacement however is of the same ilc Madrugha thing 7th on the listJul 21, 17:07
    • GM on The Pillars Of Sanity: “I note that he wasn’t separated from the public purse for long. The Sturgeon gravy train chugs contemptuously on its…Jul 21, 16:30
    • Insider on The Pillars Of Sanity: ““Ronnie” Your comment makes no sense ! The simple fact is that Alf Baird’s continual swamping of every discussion with…Jul 21, 16:18
    • agent x on The Pillars Of Sanity: “Scottish Greens Holyrood 2026 election candidates: Edinburgh & Lothians East Mridul WadhwaJul 21, 16:13
    • Lorn on The Pillars Of Sanity: “I think that Nurse Peggie’s side want this to go to the wire so that every other NHS board and…Jul 21, 15:12
    • Robert Mellish on The Pillars Of Sanity: “Thanks your kindness. As I’m retired and alarmed by all the gender nonsense in Scotland, I plan to monitor all…Jul 21, 14:50
    • Jon Drummond on The Pillars Of Sanity: “Yup, you keep supporting the Nonce Party and all their deviant ideology. Way to go Andrew… Leave the kids alone.Jul 21, 14:49
  • A tall tale



↑ Top