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.
Mac on A Personal Best For Kezia: “Given the constant use of ‘moonhowler’ I assumed he is the commentor Andy Ellis. How many of these characters are…” Nov 26, 13:38
James on A Personal Best For Kezia: “Oh, ma sides, stop it, Zander! LOL Your lampooning of these Unionist stirrers is an enjoyable read.” Nov 26, 13:35
Campbell Clansman on A Personal Best For Kezia: “You don’t know? Your admission of ignorance of basic facts is not surprising… Alba has zero candidates in the next…” Nov 26, 13:33
Hatey McHateface on A Personal Best For Kezia: “I’m struggling to keep up with this, Ros. Are you writing about Scotland or scotland? Do you have a Yoon…” Nov 26, 13:25
Hatey McHateface on A Personal Best For Kezia: “Scotland leads the world in seething resentment. It’s in our genes and our psyche – “nursing our wrath”, etc. We…” Nov 26, 13:12
Michael Laing on A Personal Best For Kezia: “Yoons never give a straight answer to a direct question, do they? Just as they never explain how Scotland benefits…” Nov 26, 13:10
Hatey McHateface on A Personal Best For Kezia: “Careful there CC! Push “Zander” too far and he’ll deploy his nuclear option – he’ll announce to the wondering world…” Nov 26, 12:58
Hatey McHateface on A Personal Best For Kezia: ““if you try to take-out our country , yours will also be going down . Make no mistake ; they’re…” Nov 26, 12:52
Hatey McHateface on A Personal Best For Kezia: “Another day, another hagiography of Pres P from Breeks. “nobody, repeat nobody, in the West of equal stature and intellect”…” Nov 26, 12:49
Zander Tait on A Personal Best For Kezia: “How many council by elections did Alba actually contest?” Nov 26, 12:44
Zander Tait on A Personal Best For Kezia: “Glad to see that youve stopped using alias Captain Caveman and have reverted to alias Cammy Clansman. How many council…” Nov 26, 12:41
Campbell Clansman on A Personal Best For Kezia: “RoS says “Vote ISP or Alba.” Alba and ISP are so tiny and lacking in support that they couldn’t even…” Nov 26, 12:22
Campbell Clansman on A Personal Best For Kezia: “RoS, if (as you claim) “the SNP is no longer a party for Scottish independence,” and the Alba Party can’t…” Nov 26, 12:06
Republicofscotland on A Personal Best For Kezia: “I don’t think the Beth lover Alex Cole-Hamilton, and his branch office in Scotland of the London Lib/Dems – needs…” Nov 26, 11:40
Zander Tait on A Personal Best For Kezia: “Now now Cammy. Using multiple aliases to back up your lies and fabrications is most puerile not to mention childish.…” Nov 26, 11:24
Republicofscotland on A Personal Best For Kezia: “So Sturgeon the Judas – pulled the rug out from under the clinical waste disposal firm HES a few years…” Nov 26, 11:20
Robert Hughes on A Personal Best For Kezia: “Yes , B , despite the relentless , infantile demonisation of P – the oldest propaganda trick in the book…” Nov 26, 11:10
agent X on A Personal Best For Kezia: “Trans case live at the Supreme Court https://www.supremecourt.uk/live/court-01.html” Nov 26, 10:56
Zander Tait on A Personal Best For Kezia: “Double wow. Campbell Clansman is using an all new nom de plume. Captain Caveman no less. What’s next I wonder,…” Nov 26, 10:45
Captain Caveman on A Personal Best For Kezia: “Mate. I’ve got better things to do than trade insults with morons on the internet. You failed to answer the…” Nov 26, 10:40
Zander Tait on A Personal Best For Kezia: “Wow Camel has morphed into Captain Caveman. OK Cro Magnon, since Camel does not know, maybe you can help. How…” Nov 26, 10:32
Captain Caveman on A Personal Best For Kezia: ““Dumpster” (American?)… comedic genius. Don’t give up the day job (ho ho – as if), mate. Alba has won nowt…” Nov 26, 10:27
Zander Tait on A Personal Best For Kezia: “Now now Dumpster, I asked the question first. How many council by elections did Alba actually contest? Eh? We’re all…” Nov 26, 10:24
Captain Caveman on A Personal Best For Kezia: “So then, wading through the rather childish insults you’ve levelled at your opponent in this “debate”, am I to understand…” Nov 26, 10:18
Mac on A Personal Best For Kezia: “Not really I commented on that on the previous BTL. lol. Unfortunately this is on-going and I don’t think we…” Nov 26, 10:06
Captain Caveman on A Personal Best For Kezia: “I absolutely do agree with you regarding the insidious drift of mainstream (UK) politics ever leftward – and with it…” Nov 26, 09:54
Breeks on A Personal Best For Kezia: “You’re a wee bit off the pace there Mac. Not only has the US and UK disgracefully done enough to…” Nov 26, 09:45