When assessing who might be the best choice for the next leader of the SNP, and by extension of the independence movement, it’s a pretty good rule of thumb to beware of anyone being bigged up by the Unionist media.
Can you spot the subtle change between these two National stories, readers?
Now, as they’re both in The National the standard of journalism is obviously completely dreadful, and so neither of them actually explains their headline. Nobody is named or quoted even anonymously, and there’s no elaboration other than that “[a member of] the NEC appeared to halt any proposal to use the next General Election as a proxy constitutional vote”, with no indication of HOW they “appeared” to do that.
But they DO raise the question of where on Earth – whoever becomes its new leader – the SNP goes from the smouldering bomb crater that Nicola Sturgeon has left it in.
Nicola Sturgeon told Scotland’s press this morning that despite her weariness, she could have managed a few more months or even a year as First Minister, which would at least have got her halfway to keeping her promise to serve a full term if she was elected in 2021.
Which just makes her timing all the harder to explain.
We did so because we’d just been told – by a completely random source – that Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney would both resign today, and Brown would be the interim leader while a replacement was elected. We’d never spoken to this person before, but the manner in which they said it made us take it more seriously than all the “someone told me” rumours we get told and ignore every other day.
As yet only the first part has been confirmed, but you have to admit that our source is looking pretty darn hot right now.
The title of this article might sound a bit like the name of a band making their debut at Glastonbury this year, but in fact it’s something infinitely more serious.
News broke late last night that the person we must presumably now refer to as an “individual” who had been arrested in connection with the disappearance of a missing Galashiels schoolgirl (happily found safe and well and back home with her parents) had in fact been charged with an as-yet-unspecified crime.
But the alleged crime wasn’t the only thing going unspecified.
After Wings’ investigation into the disturbing world of “furries” earlier this week, the mainstream press picked up on the quite extraordinary decision by SNP MSP Christina McKelvie to endorse a “counter-protest” being organised by the costume fetishists against a women’s-rights event in Glasgow tomorrow.
Because it appears the SNP are more and more openly throwing their weight behind both extreme sexual kink (and worse) and the intimidation of women.
Yet even after our extensive revelations about his past last week, not a single MSP has disassociated themselves from him. And now we find ourselves in a position whereby in order to protect other women, we’re forced to direct people’s attention to something we really wish we didn’t have to.
We’ve asked Alex Cole-Hamilton for comment several times without reply. (Although there has been an unverified third-hand answer via Willie Rennie and a Twitter user.)
Wings Over Scotland makes absolutely no assertions about why MSPs wouldn’t want to very clearly and unambiguously disassociate themselves from such an unpleasant character after information about him had been brought to light in a widely-read (over 200,000 views) article which was trending on Twitter all day yesterday.
For the avoidance of doubt, we have no information about any interactions between Douglas and any MSPs that we’re keeping secret. But we’re not the least bit surprised that people have started wondering what possible reasons a whole string of male politicians could have for not wanting to upset a male prostitute, particularly given the long and sordid history of male politicians and male prostitutes in the UK.
To quash such speculation, we once again urge all MSPs who have associated with Beth Douglas to clearly and publicly disavow him and assure voters that he will no longer shape or influence legislation passed in the Scottish Parliament.
Last week he was prominent in a protest outside Queen Elizabeth House against the UK government’s S35 intervention over the Gender Recognition Reform Bill. He spoke alongside MSPs including Patrick Harvie, Karen Adam, Ross Greer, Paul Sweeney and Alex Cole-Hamilton, who lavished fulsome and effusive praise on him, going so far as to say that it was for Douglas personally that MSPs had pushed the bill through.
Wings will have a major article related to the subject dropping tomorrow morning, put together in conjunction with The Glinner Update. Please do tune in from 8am.
Mark Beggan on Response Level Upgrade: “A patriot is someone who wants the immigrant to go back to their own country ASAP by the fastest route.” Jun 16, 20:32
Aidan on Response Level Upgrade: “And of course using that definition Alf, every region and county within the U.K. would similarly be a colony, lacking…” Jun 16, 20:31
Southernbystander on Response Level Upgrade: “I know James, and I am, after all, just a ‘wanker’, though I draw the line at ‘effete arsehole’ as…” Jun 16, 20:28
Hatey McHateface on Response Level Upgrade: “An immigrant is somebody who hates their adopted country. Discuss.” Jun 16, 20:10
Hatey McHateface on Response Level Upgrade: ““distributes funds necessary to keep […] much of the native proletariat on side, being ‘the most favoured section of the…” Jun 16, 20:07
Alf Baird on Response Level Upgrade: ““the book” This may be the correct term given that I assume you are referring to the only research-based book…” Jun 16, 20:05
Mark Beggan on Response Level Upgrade: “‘A patriot is someone who loves their country. A nationalist is someone who hates everybody else’s country’” Jun 16, 19:59
Hatey McHateface on Response Level Upgrade: “Can I just say, Marie, that in the Land Of The Stupid Comments, the writer of the Most Stupid Comment…” Jun 16, 19:58
Alf Baird on Response Level Upgrade: ““Public life in Scotland is dominated by fake-nats, bourgeois leftists, anglos, and every variety of grifter and opportunist” Excellent synopsis,…” Jun 16, 18:22
Mark Beggan on Response Level Upgrade: ““Only have to look at the manner in which opposite sides on political debates dehumanize each other for daring to…” Jun 16, 17:48
Mark Beggan on Response Level Upgrade: “Well done American Homeland Security. I wouldn’t let a baldy grifter who doesn’t know the difference between a man and…” Jun 16, 16:18
Aidan on Response Level Upgrade: “Do you honestly think the British state would pay three people to entertain an irrelevant idiot like you James? If…” Jun 16, 16:18
Hatey McHateface on Response Level Upgrade: “Havers, sam. It’s all the fault of colonialism.” Jun 16, 16:08
Hatey McHateface on Response Level Upgrade: ““hundreds of Scotland fans who had previously been granted an ESTA had had their travel permits withdrawn at the last…” Jun 16, 15:56
Spartan 117 on Response Level Upgrade: “Interesting quotes with much food for thought. Only have to look at the manner in which opposite sides on political…” Jun 16, 15:48
Hatey McHateface on Response Level Upgrade: “It might be a very subtle witticism, Northy. Chas might be hinting at how the reflection in the mirror connects…” Jun 16, 15:47
sam on Response Level Upgrade: ““It is easy and tempting to hate such people. However it is wrong. They are as much products of society…” Jun 16, 15:47
Hatey McHateface on Response Level Upgrade: “Obvs not you, Wally. If we’re gonna include you when writing about “we”, we need to add a second letter…” Jun 16, 15:42
Spartan 117 on Response Level Upgrade: “Having colleagues who semi-regularly travel to the States and have ran into problems since the Trump 2.0 regime rose to…” Jun 16, 15:42
Hatey McHateface on Response Level Upgrade: ““an enthusiast for the agricultural policies that paid farmers for not bringing their fields under cultivation” “have you not met…” Jun 16, 15:39
Northcode on Response Level Upgrade: ““I assume that you would include the esteemed professor…” Do you believe you are correct in your assumption? Are you…” Jun 16, 15:27
sam on Response Level Upgrade: ““…Society and its prevailing sense of values leads to another form of alienation. It alienates some from humanity. It partially…” Jun 16, 15:26
agentx on Response Level Upgrade: ““Now, influential blogger Wings Over Scotland has gone public with the rumours. He tweeted: “Intriguingly, word reaches Wings that Stephen…” Jun 16, 15:21
James on Response Level Upgrade: ““It’s a famous quotation from a quintessentially Scottish film…” And posted by you out of context, Inglis. Funny that.” Jun 16, 15:17
James on Response Level Upgrade: “Larry, Curly & Moe on a roll there. All day, every day. Almost as if they’re being paid to do…” Jun 16, 15:10
sam on Response Level Upgrade: ““..Let me right at the outset define what I mean by alienation. It is the cry of men who feel…” Jun 16, 15:05