We long ago ran out of words to express the magnitude of the contempt in which the SNP now hold the people of Scotland. Which is unfortunate, because this probably calls for the invention of a whole new scale.
Shall we go through just a few of the more crassly insulting holes in this pitiful excuse for a cover story, just to pass the time while we wait for the former First Minister to appear before the COVID inquiry? We don’t know about you, but we’ve got nothing better to do.
(Including but not limited to International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia; International Pronouns Day; International Transgender Day Of Visibility; Transgender Awareness Week and of course the whole of “Pride Month”, which is now an almost entirely trans-focused event).
Citizens of Scotland and the UK were solemnly instructed to “remember the many trans people whose lives have been tragically cut short by violence”, although weirdly none of the politicians issuing the orders actually named any.
However, since we’re endlessly being told that trans people are the most marginalised, oppressed and vulnerable members of our society, and that an actual “trans genocide” is currently in progress, we expect there have been loads.
Once again, we’re dismayed to report that we called it right. Because last night SNP MSP Mairi McAllan, officially representing the party on Question Time, told a weary audience in Fort William that that was precisely the case.
And readers, if ever a policy has been tested in battle and found wanting, it’s that one.
But we’ve subsequently noticed a number of attempts by various people to muddy the story by talking about a “draft” warrant request, implying that there was no improper delay. So we checked up, and thought you might like to know how the process works.
It’s not often we have to correct the figures of an esteemed KC like Joanna Cherry, but she’s made a straight-up mistake in her column for The National today.
Because of course Ash Regan and Kate Forbes did rather better than that.
Today is the last day of Nicola Sturgeon’s record-breaking reign as First Minister of Scotland. In a few hours we’ll know who is to succeed her in the role. She was only the second SNP occupant of Bute House, and the legacy she bequeaths compared to the one she inherited from Alex Salmond is a matter of measureable record.
Tonight’s debate on Sky News between the three SNP leadership candidates was yet another inconclusive low-scoring draw, with each contender taking a few hits (almost all from host Beth Rigby) and also landing the odd blow on each other.
The most notable of the latter was probably when Ash Regan gave Humza Yousaf a rather uncomfortable time over his claiming credit for the Queensferry Crossing when he was Transport Secretary.
As well as frantically trying to deflect by pretending Regan had attacked the SNP’s record on the project in general, Yousaf insisted that he’d played a major role in the bridge’s delivery. So let’s just check the timeline.
Bob Johnston on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Is there a precedent for a Privy Councillor being jailed for fraud? Could be the establishment isn’t too keen on…” Jun 27, 20:43
Northcode on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: ““…some kind of martyrdom.” Now we see the deployment of the: “I’m Going to Use Three Big Words So You…” Jun 27, 19:59
Young Lochinvar on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Claire I wish to heck I could put my hand on the quotation in print but my (admittedly not always…” Jun 27, 19:52
Northcode on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: ““…your petulant foot stamping…” Having now examined the specimen in its natural habitat (a social-media thread), we can confidently classify…” Jun 27, 19:50
Hatey McHateface on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: ““A lot more involved” Sure. £660k wisely invested for several years might be double that now. Might be ten times…” Jun 27, 19:44
Hatey McHateface on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Your good friend, perhaps. No friend of the tunnel skulking scum whose misogyny, barbarism, hatred, theft and contempt for the…” Jun 27, 19:39
Hatey McHateface on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “You been criminalised yet, Northy? Seems to me you’re as free as I am to post whatsoever you like. Like…” Jun 27, 19:30
holymacmoses on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “I’m simply assuming that the Police and the Crown Prosecution Office knew they would have to prosecute someone – so…” Jun 27, 19:20
Mark Beggan on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “That’s what hells for. The post colonials are running out of text book excuses. “We’re going to need a bigger…” Jun 27, 19:18
Northcode on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: ““…you’re pebble dashing the site with high pressure shite.” Here we encounter the “Over-Invested Bathroom-Tile Enthusiast” School of Rhetoric. Only…” Jun 27, 19:09
Hatey McHateface on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Cants gubbed Panama 6-1 an a. Is there no justice under heaven?” Jun 27, 18:58
ALANM on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “There’s a simple explanation which I’ve also cited in relation to a case currently being pursued through the courts by…” Jun 27, 18:55
David Johnston on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “The problem with the two interviews is the both the DCC and COFS were talking about the embezzlement case and…” Jun 27, 18:32
Hatey McHateface on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Mind to come back on here, Northy, and tell us as soon as your resistance is criminalised and you’re punished…” Jun 27, 18:28
A2 on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Where’s Colin Beattie by the way? Slipped out the back door while no-one’s looking?” Jun 27, 18:19
Northcode on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “In The Wretched of the Earth, Fanon describes the colonial world as divided into the coloniser’s zone (privileged, protected, policed…” Jun 27, 18:15
M.E on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “There’s more waffle going on here than the freezers in Iceland.” Jun 27, 18:14
Hatey McHateface on The Promise: “Good Lord, Northy! Are you claiming that the hyphen (“-“) is an alien imposition forced on the Scots by the…” Jun 27, 18:10
Fiona on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Hands up anyone who agrees with Mr Logue that “we have a system that words” Or is there anyone who…” Jun 27, 18:04
Hatey McHateface on The Promise: “Haha, Alf, but I’ve noticed before that to be a fully paid up member of the tonto Indy faction that…” Jun 27, 18:01
Ex President Xiden on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Crown office are being disengeneous here. In cases like this the police investigate under the direction of the Crown office.…” Jun 27, 17:38
george wood on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “In the police interview at 26minutes in, the officer says “he was funding a lifestyle that he didn’t think he…” Jun 27, 17:34
Percy Adam on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “I see that Dorothy Bain, The head of COFPS at the time, has just resigned.” Jun 27, 17:29
gm on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “… on the other hand Sturgeon Swinney and others may have been in the UK pocket of course, maybe for…” Jun 27, 17:27
Oneliner on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Clearly, Mr Logue is used to dealing with those whose heads button up the back. And by that I mean…” Jun 27, 17:22
Effijy on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “I recall a higher ranking criminal relation of a friend telling me that his Uncle had got out of the…” Jun 27, 17:20
Andy Wiltshire on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Hi Rev, you had a second (stalling) answer from the police, but is there any sign of an additional something…” Jun 27, 17:03
Glenn Boyd on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “The only solution that presents itself is that of a Private Prosecution where Sturgeon’s duplicity, dishonesty and sociopathy will be…” Jun 27, 17:02
