In many ways, the fabricated, hysterical furore of Humza Yousaf Vs Elon Musk is the ultimate in summer-silly-season politics stories.
Absurdly plainly, the former First Minister ISN’T going to take any legal action against the billionaire owner of Twitter. He only likes bullying small nurseries, and even then he doesn’t follow through. He didn’t even sue us for calling him racist a few months ago, so there’s zero chance he’s going to square up to the world’s richest man.
We’ve been off for a little break in the country, and as far as we can tell we’ve missed absolutely nothing in the moribund world of Scottish politics. We did, however, arrive back just in time for something mildly interesting, or at least revealing.
It’s the latest episode of a new podcast by veteran Scottish political journalist and broadcaster Bernard Ponsonby and jobbing opinion columnist Alex Massie, inventively titled The Ponsonby And Massie Podcast.
The first 35 minutes or so weren’t very noteworthy, other than the curious omission – when predicting the makeup of the next Scottish Government – of the idea of a Labour-SNP coalition, which to this site remains by far the most practical and logical outcome of the 2026 Holyrood election.
David Davis may be the last of his kind – a libertarian Tory from a council-scheme and grammar-school background, and also one of the few remaining big beasts occupying the political jungle of the back benches.
(He could in fact have been Tory leader, and would have been if David Cameron and George Osborne hadn’t teamed up to defeat him in 2005 after he won the first ballot.)
So on the rare occasions when he leads a Commons adjournment debate, as he did last Thursday evening, those with an educated eye for politics sit up and take notice.
The 2005 election was the last time the Daily Record and the Scottish Sun both endorsed the same party at a UK general election. So, y’know, something is going on.
Survation released their final projection for the election last night. It’s quite a boring image because they had to make it mostly grey to correctly illustrate the margin of Labour’s lead.
Those ranges are substantial, but even their BEST-case scenario for the Tories is below 100 seats. The WORST-case scenario for Labour – 447 seats – still gives them a majority of 244, which would smash the all-time record of 209 set by the Tories exactly 100 years ago. (The best case is a dizzying 384.)
Scotland is probably the hardest area of the UK to call. In most polls there are only a few points between Labour and the SNP, and depending on how the votes are spread and who’s best at getting their support out either could still win the most seats.
That won’t, of course, make the slightest difference to the governance of the UK for the next five years. Even 57 Scottish MPs out of 57, for any party, would be completely meaningless to a government with a majority of over 200.
But it’ll make a big difference to the independence movement. Because if the SNP manages to hold onto to a significant proportion of its seats, we can all wave goodbye to the slightest chance of progress for another decade on top of the one that’s been wasted since Alex Salmond resigned.
In the modern political world, you don’t get anywhere without a movement, and movements don’t get anywhere without a flag. So we’ve decided it’s time to take action and stand up for a very large group of people who are genuinely discriminated against and significantly disadvantaged in our society.
Here’s their symbol.
Today is July 1st, and we officially, on behalf of all our oppressed kinfolk, declare this to be People Who Aren’t Eligible For A Railcard Pride Month.
There are now just 10 days until the general election. Wings has never told its readers how to vote and we’re not going to start now. Which is lucky, because if we were, we wouldn’t have a clue how to.
Just, y’know, not for any of these wretched, worthless shiters.
Holiday Boy has of course chosen the general election campaign to spend the next three weeks feeding stray cats somewhere sunny, so here’s a cartoon by the brilliant webcomicname that summarises the Baillie Gifford story for anyone joining us late.
January 2018, with no general election due for four and a half years: “I very rarely talk about Scottish independence in the chamber, because I talk about things that matter”
June 2024, with an election in four weeks and a £91,346 salary, expenses and pension at stake: “ROBERT THE BRUCE! BANNOCKBURN! DECLARATION OF ARBROATH! FLOWER OF SCOTLAND! FREEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOMMMM!”
Confused on A Fishy Tale: “Lara Fearnely-Whittingstone-de-Montefiore seems fragrant; reminds of Stewart Hosie’s wife. Just the type to storm the machine guns in our final…” Jun 20, 11:59
BLMac on A Fishy Tale: “Nothing shows the problem with Scotland more that the current World Cup. Look at all those Scots who have found…” Jun 20, 11:49
Alf Baird on A Fishy Tale: ““We’re colonised precisely because we’re politically illiterate” Not so. Independence is ‘a matter of national culture’ (Fanon), not a matter…” Jun 20, 11:05
Oneliner on A Fishy Tale: “……. and infiltration” Jun 20, 10:22
MaryB on A Fishy Tale: “She seems keen on Palestine, but no mention of independence that I can see.” Jun 20, 10:17
MaryB on A Fishy Tale: “According to STV, Lara was Lynda Jones Bird. So a few name changes there. She did grow up near Kirriemuir…” Jun 20, 10:00
Hatey McHateface on A Fishy Tale: “I’m quite confident that Professor Baird and his supporters would claim that because we’re colonised, we’re politically illiterate. I see…” Jun 20, 08:06
Hatey McHateface on A Fishy Tale: “In a perfect world, everybody should get what they deserve. I can’t help thinking that what the sorry people of…” Jun 20, 07:50
J Robertson on A Fishy Tale: “I think we know from the Salmond judicial review fiasco that they ignore even external legal advice ( and subvert…” Jun 20, 06:37
Derek on A Fishy Tale: “…fish heads, fish heads, roly poly fish heads…” Jun 20, 01:51
Saffron Robe on A Fishy Tale: “SNP (def.) – a faux independence party replete with faux Scots under foreign allegiance.” Jun 20, 00:27
Alf Baird on A Fishy Tale: “Postcolonial theory tells us that a national party elite ‘co-opted by colonialism’ will soon ‘disintegrate’ (Fanon), which is already happening…” Jun 19, 21:45
Young Lochinvar on A Fishy Tale: “FF Thanks, however all (possibly except the last military one) are far far too slow. The tune is “Hey Tuti…” Jun 19, 21:06
Lewis E. See on A Fishy Tale: “We often hear the SNP vote becoming like the old Labour vote – staunch clients & grudging old believers who…” Jun 19, 20:31
James on Response Level Upgrade: “““most men lead lives of quiet desperation” – then the internet came along and the likes of Beggan Aidan Chas…” Jun 19, 20:16
Young Lochinvar on Response Level Upgrade: “CC “Enjoying the World Cup immensely”.. More social media influencer nonsense yet again Mash, because you certainly don’t sound so…” Jun 19, 20:05
Captain Caveman on Response Level Upgrade: ““Blow it out your ass” Something you do with monotonous regularity no doubt, you fat twat. 😀” Jun 19, 19:42
sam on A Fishy Tale: “Off topic for this post by Stu. It is relevant to his engagement with Police Scotland and COPFS. https://andywightman.scot/2026/06/no-police-or-copfs-action-over-transparency-offences/ No…” Jun 19, 19:12
Aidan on Response Level Upgrade: “Hahahaha “James” mouthing off like he could fight his way out of a paper bag.” Jun 19, 18:28
Lorncal on A Fishy Tale: “Just how is she going to be able to do anything much down there when she is studying for the…” Jun 19, 18:11
Ex President Xiden on A Fishy Tale: “To be fair Lara Bird is her stage name a bit like Elton John and Freddie Mercury. Quite common in…” Jun 19, 17:56
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on A Fishy Tale: “SCANDAL AS NHS GOES AHEAD WITH ‘UNETHICAL’ PUBERTY BLOCKERS TRIAL Campaigners warn of irreversible harm as the NHS restarts its…” Jun 19, 17:41
sam on A Fishy Tale: “If you want to read 80 pages or so around For Women’s petition for judicial review the link is below.…” Jun 19, 16:52
agentx on A Fishy Tale: ““Scottish First Minister John Swinney said: “Lady Ross’s judgment has just been given down and it is a very comprehensive…” Jun 19, 16:32
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on A Fishy Tale: “MARCH DES SOLDATS DE ROBERT BRUCE (Four versions): ———— 1) Pèlerinage des Troupes de marine à Bazeilles – 2013 Concert…” Jun 19, 16:31
sam on A Fishy Tale: “Before that happens, Scottish people need another united political independence party sufficiently well organised and funded to replace the SNP.…” Jun 19, 16:17
lothianlad on A Fishy Tale: “Spot on Stu!!” Jun 19, 15:55
Peter McAvoy on A Fishy Tale: “I wonder if the new MP will recognise and abide by Scots law or continue to reduce it to the…” Jun 19, 15:50
Lorncal on A Fishy Tale: “The thing is, agentx, a first term law student could have told the government this was illegal and contrary to…” Jun 19, 15:17
