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.
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Hatey McHateface on Cowering From Destiny: “Guantanamo is still open. Should be a cinch to organise a direct flight from Fairford. The Yanks will have no…” Sep 27, 18:28
Hatey McHateface on Cowering From Destiny: “The usual masterful insights from Confused. His conviction that R can’t do force projection gives us hope that when everybody…” Sep 27, 18:22
Hatey McHateface on Cowering From Destiny: “Loving how English colonialism supposedly made them the world’s most hated nation, whereas Scottish colonialism supposedly gained us many international…” Sep 27, 18:03
Captain Caveman on Cowering From Destiny: ““Factual post” No one is denying the accuracy of Lavrov’s quote, Shit-for-Brains, merely the act of quoting him at all,…” Sep 27, 17:45
Spartan 117 on Cowering From Destiny: “Nowt wrang wi the Mail, Star and Beano. All are hilarious comics. I’d recommend The Viz as well but it’s…” Sep 27, 17:44
willie on Cowering From Destiny: “Read this week that the Ira-ni-an man arrested for apparently trying to gain access and attack the submarine base at…” Sep 27, 17:36
Spartan 117 on Cowering From Destiny: “I expect behinds will be felt for this one, especially if the guardroom call going unanswered has any truth to…” Sep 27, 17:32
James on Cowering From Destiny: “LOLZ. Alf posts a factual post and as usual gets half-witted responses from The Daily Mail The Daily Star and…” Sep 27, 17:21
Spartan 117 on Cowering From Destiny: “Indeed. NI is a warning to us all of the consequences of people keeping ancient irrelevant grudges festering instead of…” Sep 27, 17:20
Alf Baird on Cowering From Destiny: “England-as-UK Foreign Minister Miliband sure as hell won’t help liberate us Scots, he’s there to keep us ‘doun-hauden’ and to…” Sep 27, 17:18
Mark Beggan on Cowering From Destiny: “Trumpy just said to the press that the US was investigating the group from the start. The UK media are…” Sep 27, 16:39
Dan on Cowering From Destiny: “A “Compromise” might have been to not hold the highly contentious march in that particular area in the first place……” Sep 27, 16:33
Spartan 117 on Cowering From Destiny: “This morning’s event seems to have been an extremely lucky escape instigated by the vigilance of a good citizen (who…” Sep 27, 16:20
Spartan 117 on Cowering From Destiny: “Quoting Lavrov has to be an academic’s nadir. I’ll respect your democratic right to your views but sorry, you’ve lost…” Sep 27, 16:04
Captain Caveman on Cowering From Destiny: ““Foreign Minister Lavrov” Ah, the “R” guy at the UN. Figures, eh Alf. Hilarious to see you being a fawning…” Sep 27, 15:16
Dan on Cowering From Destiny: “Had a quick search and aye, the boiler issue was mentioned in the following article; Which also points out the…” Sep 27, 15:11
Alf Baird on Cowering From Destiny: ““Don’t be attached to it when it goes down” Foreign Minister Lavrov can also see it coming. Evidence here that…” Sep 27, 14:38
lothianlad on Cowering From Destiny: “Thats an anger i can relate to!! truly” Sep 27, 14:29
Willie on Cowering From Destiny: “Interesting comments Dan. Seems that there is a major issue with gas boiler tubes. But the plant has been beset…” Sep 27, 14:03
Mark Beggan on Cowering From Destiny: “Todays threat level in Scotland is at level 4. Severe attack is highly likely. Make sure you have batteries for…” Sep 27, 13:29
Dan on Cowering From Destiny: “That’s far from an ideal situation. Viridor are a big company that run many ERF sites across the UK so…” Sep 27, 13:10
Mark Beggan on Cowering From Destiny: “Oh dear, Oh dear, Oh dear. Alcohol does such damage to the brain.” Sep 27, 12:49
Spartan 117 on Cowering From Destiny: “Grrr, They Inglish. How dare anyone seek a better life for themselves away from their origin. *Awaits the inevitable Grassy…” Sep 27, 12:38
Spartan 117 on Cowering From Destiny: “You almost made a sensible post there for once, 8 Ace.” Sep 27, 12:33
Spartan 117 on Cowering From Destiny: “Someone really needs to keep you away from the COSHH cabinet. It’s bad for your liver.” Sep 27, 12:25
Captain Caveman on Cowering From Destiny: “That’s all very well, Confused, but may I ask: what’s your favourite cheese?” Sep 27, 11:54
Confused on Cowering From Destiny: “– as for this war game shite : The UK army is 50K men with guns, 2 aircraft carriers with…” Sep 27, 11:38
Confused on Cowering From Destiny: “No one quite whines like an Anglo – but oh no, the end of empire https://archive.ph/pDwRw everyone wants rid of…” Sep 27, 11:34