In May 2016, this site published one of the most unfortunately prescient articles in its history. It didn’t actually use the words “woke” or “cancelled”, which weren’t yet in common parlance, but its purpose was very much to warn of the puritan, censorious, hyper-intolerant and catastrophically destructive culture they came to embody.
At the time Nicola Sturgeon had only been First Minister for a year and a half and there were few signs that she was that movement’s commander – or, those inclined to a more charitable outlook than us might posit, its prisoner. It would be two more years before she detonated the bomb that really shattered the unity of the Yes movement when she attempted to fit up Alex Salmond over fake allegations of sexual assaults.
But last night and this morning I was struck by an unexpected pang of pity for the fanatical, fundamentalist Twitler Youth rainbow stormtroopers who make up Sturgeon’s ideological frontline. Sympathy for the little devils, you might say.
And since it’s a somewhat rare feeling, it seemed worth a little exploration.
Facebook is essentially unsearchable (which in itself is a pretty good reason not to trust anyone who does the majority of their work on it), and even when we went to the Believe In Scotland page and scrolled down and down and down and down for an eternity, it was impossible to find.
But eventually we had a brainwave and searched the site’s pictures for the one used in the Express and found the post. He really said it. And it needs some examination.
The National must have been enormously proud when it successfully fought off all the other newspapers to secure this stunning exclusive today.
We must admit, when we had a good look in the “Pete Wishart Victories” section of our extensive archives we drew a blank. So we were excited to read on and find out.
Word reaches us, readers, that Nicola Sturgeon was “furious” when she joined the most recent meeting of the SNP’s Westminster group by Skype. Her rage was driven by the suggestion that the party should trigger a Holyrood election to act as a de facto independence referendum, a policy we’re reliably told is supported by a number of MPs who are too scared of being browbeaten by Sturgeon in front of their colleagues to actually speak out in favour of it.
(We won’t mention their names at this point.)
Our source mentioned to us that they seemed to remember an interview in which the First Minister had revealed a possible reason for her extreme antipathy to the idea – one for the BBC’s extensive and rather good three-part documentary “Yes/No – Inside The Indyref”, which was broadcast in August 2019 and never seen again.
It’s not available on iPlayer or YouTube, but fortunately we happened to still have the show recorded on our Sky+ box, so we went to check, and lo and behold our source’s recollection was correct. Apologies for the slightly wonky quality of this video, as we had to record it off the TV screen.
You can’t move on social media today without tripping over effusive tweets from SNP MPs and MSPs singing the praises of departed Westminster leader Ian Blackford and admiring all his achievements in the position over the last five years, although weirdly nobody has actually listed any of them.
Or possibly the other way round, we’re not sure. All we know is that we’re always surging upwards and forwards but somehow never actually getting anywhere.
If anyone knows when “this process” will have ended and we’ll get our choice – or indeed what she achieved for Scotland in the Brexit negotiations – do let us know.
It’s nice to see the British media (and perhaps, if we might be allowed to dream for a moment, the law) catching up with Michelle Mone.
It’s such a shame nobody did any proper investigative journalism into what a crooked, venal chancer she is before now – seven years ago or even four years ago, say – or the country might have been saved a few billion quid. Ah well, you live and learn, eh?
Effijy on The Secondhand Amendment: “Absolutely unacceptable whitewash and a very large nail in the coffin of justice. Why don’t they just tear up the…” Jan 19, 08:31
WeeChid on Learning Insanity: “I’m so glad I’m retired ’cause if I was still in the workplace and had to go on one of…” Jan 19, 08:26
Willie on The Secondhand Amendment: “If it was AI as you suggest Iain then this would mark Judge Kemp as a liar since Sandra Muir…” Jan 19, 04:09
Tim on The Secondhand Amendment: “Are the judges and lawyers (reputed to have been) involved in “Fettesgate” in the early 90s still in place? That…” Jan 19, 03:50
Iain mhor on The Secondhand Amendment: “Everybody and their dug knows it was AI. Every Civil Service letter I get is patently AI generated. Nobody in…” Jan 19, 03:18
Willie on The Secondhand Amendment: “Surely not another cover up? Surely yes I’m afraid Northern Lad. Duvet government, duvet law, might be euphemisms to describe…” Jan 19, 03:18
Northern Lad on The Secondhand Amendment: “A long time reader and admirer of the site but rarely a commentator. What I would say is that the…” Jan 19, 01:21
Willie on The Secondhand Amendment: “A most excellent informative article Rev Stu. And a thanks too to solicitor Ewen G Kennedy for his excellent complaint…” Jan 19, 01:20
Cynicus on The Secondhand Amendment: ““Whether it was Judge Kemp or our mysterious John or Jane Doe who made them up, they were still made…” Jan 19, 00:44
Young Lochinvar on Learning Insanity: “H McH Another your “bad” to add to your count. Wrong again. FACT!” Jan 18, 22:13
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Learning Insanity: “Professor ALF BAIRD’s commendable letter to the MODERATOR of the Church of Scotland is on BarrheadBoy’s site here: SCOTLAND’S COLONIAL…” Jan 18, 19:34
Alf Baird on Learning Insanity: ““Indy should be such an easy sell, a unifying idea, that we really shouldn’t be bringing religion into it. Not…” Jan 18, 19:23
BigJay on Learning Insanity: “…and I’ve found the letter in reply from the Moderator to the Professor: “Dear Alfie, TL;DR. Lots of love, Rosie.”” Jan 18, 18:45
DaveL on Learning Insanity: “I can’t remember this particular halfwits name but I do recall that he was known for constantly ‘flouncing’ off twitter.…” Jan 18, 18:42
willie on Learning Insanity: “So Trump is now at war with Great Britain. 10% tariff on all goods from 1st February and 25% tariff…” Jan 18, 18:36
Lorna Campbell on Learning Insanity: “But it didn’t end, James. Had it ended, there would be no Union. It simply expanded to include the Treaty…” Jan 18, 18:29
TURABDIN on Learning Insanity: “Scotland has a rich intellectual history, dissident and questioning. That i respect, particularly valuable in a time when information is…” Jan 18, 17:27
Insider on Learning Insanity: ““James” Cheyne That is absolutely hilarious “James” !” Jan 18, 16:49
Hatey McHateface on Learning Insanity: “I’ve found Alf’s letter to the Moderator of the Church of Scotland. It’s written in English.” Jan 18, 16:46
Hatey McHateface on Learning Insanity: “What can I say, TURABDIN? If Scottish nationalism is indeed about intellectual reacquaintance with our immensely rich heritage, then the…” Jan 18, 16:23
Hatey McHateface on Learning Insanity: ““the most dangerous in the world” Yet you not only claim to know details of its inner workings, but you…” Jan 18, 16:14
Hatey McHateface on Learning Insanity: “Good one, Confused. There is no more pernicious religion than zealous antisemitism. Take a look in the mirror. As for…” Jan 18, 16:03
Hatey McHateface on Learning Insanity: “Wow! Welcome to 2026 – same as 2025! Post “Orcs” and up pops Implants with some “Great Satan” sophomoric drivel.…” Jan 18, 15:56
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Learning Insanity: “TURABDIN, thank you for your thoughtful and informed contribution. My essential gripe is that few Scots seem to do any…” Jan 18, 15:50
James Cheyne on Learning Insanity: “this funny picture sprung into my head of unionist very busy on keyboards trying to..delete.. all the old available information…” Jan 18, 15:28
James Cheyne on Learning Insanity: “The treaty between Scotland and England either stands or it does not, IF it is claimed it still stands as…” Jan 18, 15:20
James Cheyne on Learning Insanity: “Strange though it may seem, The 1707 treaty of union for and of Scotland only refers to two gender biological…” Jan 18, 15:05
James Cheyne on Learning Insanity: “If religion came into it at all, then king Charles and the present governments would be in breach of the…” Jan 18, 14:51
