24 hours on, pretty much everyone seems to have come to the same conclusion (with the assistance of briefings from the FM himself) about Humza Yousaf’s “independence strategy” as the one Wings saw immediately yesterday, namely that he’s taken Nicola Sturgeon’s flawed version of a de-facto referendum and made it even less credible.
In as far as they’re talking about it at all, anyway.
Still wondering what Humza Yousaf’s going to say to the SNP’s pretend “conference” on independence strategy this coming Saturday? Well, wonder no longer, because this morning he told Sky News.
In other words, he’s waving the white flag and praying for a miracle.
The Scottish National Party’s primary and defining purpose is Scottish independence. Next weekend’s “special conference” will at least notionally determine its policy on that subject for years to come. On the face of it it’s the most important congregation of party members in the SNP’s history.
The Caird Hall can accommodate just 3% of the claimed membership. (And you’d expect at least half the seats to have been reserved in advance for the faithful payroll.) Members ought to be fighting like dogs for a ticket. And yet a week before the event the leader is having to send out pleading letters to try to scare up enough attendees that it won’t be a half-empty humiliation.
The SNP tell us that independence support is currently at 53%.
They tell us that most Scots want a referendum within the next year:
And we know that it’s absolutely unequivocally possible for the SNP and Greens to trigger a Holyrood election which would serve as a de facto referendum not only within a year, but within weeks. Scots could entirely realistically go to the polls this August or September, or even on the date Nicola Sturgeon promised less than a year ago.
So why are the SNP choosing this of all moments to give up?
Jim Tadgercock on Barbie Stories: “Spot on mate all by design.” May 18, 06:53
Young Lochinvar on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I see the Herald is leading with a picture of the selfie queen (SHE whose name shall not be uttered)…” May 18, 03:22
Young Lochinvar on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I hate to direct anyone to the NatAnal rag anymore but a history search reveals a non paywall rendition of…” May 18, 02:55
Andy Ellis on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “The idea has legs Mr McHateface! Sadly* I see that many of those who would have been most embarrassed by…” May 17, 21:29
sarah on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “@ 100% Yes at 6.30: the KC Prof Robert Black was forensic in proving the falsity of the “United Kingdom”.…” May 17, 21:22
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “« I’m off out to feed the swans. » (recent Stu Campbell remark) _________ « we may as well do as Rev does…” May 17, 21:00
Hatey McHateface on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I’ve enjoyed reading the Grok analysis and assessment of the “debate”. I wonder if it would catch on BTL too.…” May 17, 20:58
Hatey McHateface on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I’m not sure it’s not a folk memory now. The place bears little resemblance to what it was in my…” May 17, 20:34
Hatey McHateface on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Sounds like your post needs fixing. How about “explosive stuff regarding the union by a fake KC” Any political and…” May 17, 20:20
Bilbo on Barbie Stories: “I was trying to stick the dagger deep but others have done so much better than me. She’s certainly no…” May 17, 19:08
TURABDIN on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Cutting to the crux, unless Scots grow a pair their country will just be a folk memory. There are no…” May 17, 19:07
100%Yes on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “This is what annoys me, people who claim to want Independence then advocate two votes for the SNP 1&2 when…” May 17, 18:30
aLurker on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “@Willie John Aye, pick a nitter instance that is currently in good health [1]. Then use the nitter service instance…” May 17, 17:20
Skip_NC on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Stu, if we are to believe James Kelly’s characterization of you, you were born in Hanover in 1960 (a few…” May 17, 17:00
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “GLASGOW DAWN (For my brother Stuart, 21 March 2009) Were they not great those hours we spent up in your…” May 17, 15:31
Ebok on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I think Rev, that you are attacking the system from the wrong angle and playing by the rules of the…” May 17, 14:39
Willie John on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Anybody got any tips on how I can read the whole saga without joining twitter/x? (Which I politely decline to…” May 17, 14:27
Skip_NC on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Stu, despite your obvious-self confidence, I am amazed that you actually had a debate on this issue with Scotland’s foremost…” May 17, 14:14
Jon Drummond on Barbie Stories: “Yes, I remember Zambonini. Just posted pice of her drunken socialising. Lips hanging of her skull with a hundredweight of…” May 17, 14:00
Jon Drummond on Barbie Stories: “Holy Mother of Christ. How the SNP (NuSNP) have fallen. Her only life/work experience is stocking the printer with with…” May 17, 13:51
lothianlad on Barbie Stories: “The SNP have been infiltrated, and are now utterly discredited.” May 17, 13:15
ScottieDog on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “There are complex algorithms used in portfolio investment decision making, yet research concluded that the use of simple hueristics such…” May 17, 10:21
MPW on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I asked if he could provide a link as stu had done, he delete the post. Therefore I believe stu…” May 17, 10:03