Almost nine in ten Scottish voters now back a second referendum on independence. This rather startling news was brought to us at the weekend by an unlikely source, in the form of walking brain vacuum Annie Wells MSP.
Wells was absolutely unequivocal that NO other vote this Thursday – not Labour, not Lib Dem, not Brexit Party – would constitute opposition to a second indyref.
(She emphasised the point by RTing a tweet from the Scottish Tories’ boorish and obnoxious head of media Adam Morris which described both Nigel Farage and Vince Cable as “weak on Scotland’s place in the UK”.)
We watched the whole of the Labour shadow Scottish Secretary’s interview on this morning’s Sunday Politics Scotland, and can confirm that this is a wholly accurate representation of what she said on it with regard to Labour’s position on Brexit.
So for those of you keeping score: Labour does NOT support a second referendum, does NOT support the current deal, does NOT support no deal, but WOULD vote for the current deal if it included a second referendum, and would INSIST on a second referendum on any alternative deal.
Honestly, we have no idea why anyone’s still confused.
We got a tweet this morning from one of those odd Twitter accounts that’s been going for eight years and still only has six followers. This one appears to be a fairly moderate right-wing, UK-nationalist Brexiter with only a few dozen tweets (nearly all replies) to their name since 2011.
Almost exactly two years ago, this website suggested that it might not be the smartest idea for Labour to go along with Theresa May’s call for a snap election. (Under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, it couldn’t have happened without Labour’s support.)
And it occurred to us today that if they hadn’t, the current government would only have a maximum of one year left to run.
The Conservatives’ disastrous handling of, and failure to deliver, Brexit seems to have finally begun to hurt them in the polls, with a clutch of recent stats showing Labour with a significant lead for the first time in many months.
Most seat projections on the numbers show Labour failing to reach a majority either on their own or with the Lib Dems, but being able to get Jeremy Corbyn in to Downing Street with the assistance of an increased number of SNP MPs.
We’ve still got a few of the results from our last Panelbase poll (conducted last month) to round up, and this one seems pertinent this week:
As has been the case ever since we started asking this question about the nation’s twin constitutional dilemmas back in July 2015, the single most popular option in a four-way choice remains an independent Scotland inside the EU, which leads the impending reality (a UK Scotland outside the EU) by a clear 10 points.
Scotland isn’t merely about to get something it doesn’t want, it’s about to get the exact opposite of the thing it wants most. But oh boy, is it ever more complicated than that.
Billions of years from now, when the Sun finally dies and expands to swallow and burn up the Earth in a final cataclysmic explosion, the very last thing to turn to dust and atoms will be Scottish Labour’s brass neck.
Coming from The Eternal Abstainers themselves that’s already quite a breathtakingly hypocritical claim, but if you look at last night’s results closely it gets a lot worse.
Confused on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “It is a new global religion being imposed from on high, but psychologically it manifests as neo-puritanism – absolutist, dogmatic,…” Aug 21, 00:46
Young Lochinvar on Before Action: “Meant to add.. They will make out it is not their job to make your case for you, so devil…” Aug 21, 00:31
Campbell Clansman on Before Action: “Sadly, “stall, ignore and dismiss” has worked for years now on this case, continues to work, and as history tells…” Aug 21, 00:03
Young Lochinvar on Before Action: “Very good Rev. A post service professional career reinforced in me the absolute necessity of pointing out matters of complex…” Aug 20, 23:59
James on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “Try this one. Identifies as Scotch and vomits up unionist *shite* all day, every day on a Scottish independence supporting…” Aug 20, 22:33
robertkknight on Before Action: “Excellent! Well done Rev! Can you wait until payday for the crowdfunding? Anytime after Thursday next be good 😉” Aug 20, 22:32
Angus on Before Action: ““Please consider this as a Letter Before Action”. Can’t wait for the Action to commence. The bastards and bitches at…” Aug 20, 22:21
Angus on Before Action: ““This is a Letter Before Action” Can’t wait for the Action to start.” Aug 20, 22:08
Jay on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “Confused, thanks for the link, very interesting, confirms some suspicions.” Aug 20, 22:00
Aidan on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “@CC the Carrera 4 was a 996, and the Turbo was a 997, they were always fun but I enjoyed…” Aug 20, 21:21
Mark Beggan on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “For sure Marie. White supremacist colonial baby killer. That’s me! What am I like?!! Too sexy for my political beliefs.…” Aug 20, 21:16
Andy Wiltshire on Before Action: “That, hopefully, will be something they can’t just dismiss with a one-fingered salute.” Aug 20, 21:10
James Carr on Before Action: “I’d just like to express my admiration for your tenacity in sticking it to the Police Scotland sleekit, cowardly, probably…” Aug 20, 21:10
Andrea on Before Action: “I am ready to donate.” Aug 20, 21:10
Dickie on Before Action: ““…you may wish to seek legal advice.” ???” Aug 20, 21:04
Mark Beggan on Before Action: “What is a likely outcome of this? I understand these things move in legal steps. Will they just double down…” Aug 20, 21:02
lollysmum on Before Action: “Excellent Stuart count me in for the fundraiser. Its about time we had another one of your famous fundraisers seeing…” Aug 20, 20:59
Captain Caveman on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “Awesome Aidan, kindred spirit. What gen were the Turbo and Carrera 4? Great cars both, the turbo has unhinged performance…” Aug 20, 20:59
Knuckle_Heid on Before Action: “Excellent work Rev and I’m sure we are all waiting with bated breath for what the Police come back with.…” Aug 20, 20:58
IAIN HUGHES on Before Action: “You can get some funds from me! $500 NZD if required.” Aug 20, 20:57
Al Ba on Before Action: “Hope to see full accountability achieved, and honest justice delivered. How much is left (or has been spent) from the…” Aug 20, 20:56
Hatey McHateface on Before Action: “Superb! Let battle commence.” Aug 20, 20:50
100%Yes on Before Action: “At what point is one of these going to fold and say he/she isn’t worth saving? Thank you for continuing…” Aug 20, 20:50
Carol Neill on Before Action: “Jack Russell wi a bone , hats off” Aug 20, 20:49
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “To be fair, the practitioners of the “born in the wrong body” trannytrope have re-discovered the human soul for the…” Aug 20, 20:46
Calum on Before Action: “Good luck Stuart, these bastards are it.” Aug 20, 20:42
Jimboagain on Before Action: “16 is the clincher” Aug 20, 20:41
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “Too easy, Wally. Try this one. Self-identifying adult, graduate of compulsory, free primary and secondary schooling, reputed to be the…” Aug 20, 20:39