Echoes of history
The Sunday National’s front page today elicited a sigh of “So what?” from most.
We’ve already GOT a “pro-indy” majority at Holyrood and have done for the last 10 years, for all it’s been worth. But to be fair there was a paragraph in the article that at least raised a quizzical eyebrow.
Because, y’know, that doesn’t seem very likely.
The Greens trailed in a very distant 4th in the seat in 2021, despite a relatively well-known candidate (the current Presiding Officer, in fact), and since they’d likely need at least a 300% jump in their vote to stand a chance – something not suggested by any polling anywhere – we’re not quite sure how the analysis has managed to arrive at that rather startling conclusion, even with 1,000 tries.
(It would seem to us somewhat more feasible that Reform could cannibalise the collapsing Tory and Labour votes to emerge as the main challenger, though they’d still be quite an outside bet in the unusually affluent seat.)
But something rang a bell as we read those lines. And then we remembered.
In 2016, an “analysis” from Cutbot, a “media and public affairs monitoring company” run by super-creepy Scottish Greens activist James Mackenzie, had also predicted the Greens capturing the seat from the SNP. The reality proved somewhat different.
Alison Johnstone came a distant 4th again, but her 4,644 votes were enough to let Ruth Davidson sneak through and pip the SNP candidate by 610, with almost twice as many votes as the Cutbot analysis had predicted. (The poor old Lib Dems got barely a third as many as Cutbot imagined, and the Greens less than half.)
The predictions (which were widely covered at the time by a gullible Scottish media) are still worth a chuckle a decade later. Cutbot’s website no longer exists and its Twitter account last tweeted just three weeks after the 2016 election. So we’re not sure what it is about Edinburgh Central that appears to disrupt people’s brainwaves.
(Also of particular note was its assertion that UKIP’s then-leader in Scotland, David Coburn would be “fairly comfortably elected” on the list in Highlands & Islands with 7% of the vote. In the event they trailed in nowhere with just 2.6%. In the same article, the SNP insisted that voters should give the SNP their list votes because to do otherwise “risks letting UKIP in by the back door”. In the event, 953,000 voters did so, winning the SNP just four list seats, while UKIP got nothing but almost exactly the same number of list votes – 960,000 – for Labour and the Tories secured them 45 list seats. Plus ca change, eh readers?)
If anyone thinks the analysts have got it right this time, though, we’re happy to accept any wagers made by readers who think Lorna Slater will capture the seat in three months’ time. Just let us know how much you want to bet in the comments.
What kind of window-licker is going to vote for that cunt?
What a shame Rev. that you posted this before the really big political story broke : that of the resignation of Morgan McSweeney. The implications of this for a SLab politicians by Doogie Alexander and others would merit some examination by you.
Tell you what, Cynicus, lead by example.
Explain to us the implications to you and every other Sovereign Scot of McSweeney’s resignation. Starmer’s too if the baying mob get their way.
Of course, you won’t be able to because the entire pantomime is intended to distract you from the important things going on that CAN and WILL affect ordinary Scots.
It’s obviously working.
Alternatively just relax and watch the Scottish mixed doubles colonised curling team enjoy their success (so far) at the Winter Olympics.
The noose tightens on Starmer and his rotten and corrupt Labour party.
McSweeney’s departure is but a king Canute maneuver that will not stop the tide, tidal wave in fact that is coming Labour’s way.
Regulatory capture is the name of the game and the people know.
Bought and sold not for English gold but by Epstein and the elites gold. Mandelson, Starmer, Brown, they have all been captured.
And with Starmer introducing mandatory digital ID, trials without juries, the proscription of free speech and expression the default of which is arrest, life is going to get immeasurably worse.
Indeed with mandatory digital ID everything from mobile phones to computer use to banking to facial recognition to health records to banking to passport to travel and movement will all be linked.
People capture being out into place by the regulatory captured politicos the future is authoritarian. Every aspect of our being will be monitored and controlled.
So yes, the noose tightens on Starmer’s neck but he is just another iteration of Mandelson and the others like them.
I just hope people wake up. Germany in the 1930s walked into the Nazi regime. Today we do the same. Only this time the tools of control will be ever more effective.
Mandelson and Starmer expose how it is done. Sturgeon in Scotland shows too how regulatory capture and sell out works
Indeed, with Gordon Brown having woken from his slumbers to call for a Crime Commission, I think however we know where from he cometh and why at this time.
Time we woke up and took back control.
Willie says:
8 February, 2026 at 7:37 pm
“The noose tightens on Starmer and his rotten and corrupt Labour party.”
========
How do you tighten a noose on an empty suit?
Closer to home, I note that Your Party Scotland, newly launched in Dundee, s pro independence.
link to thenational.scot
Will they do more damage SLab or the SNP ?
The norge bloke. I believe he’s called Mouat was impressed with the amount of British flags where in the audience.
I said to the wife not you know why I was supporting every team other than Doods & Mouat.
Willie says:
“Time we woke up and took back control.”
——————————————-
Why have you been asleep and is tomorrow ok?
Better late than never doll. You happy with tyranny then? Oh dearie me.
People are entitled, within reason to post their opinions.
But one has to say that there are some utterly shallow stupid contributions that discredit the BTL comments.
But hey, maybe utterly facile comments adding nothing are a contrast to the otherwise excellent articles and comments by many of the readers.
And with that, cue the morons.
“entitled, within reason to post their opinions”
Generous, willie, no stereotypical grippy Scot are you.
But then it’s not your site, is it?
I’d rather Lorna Slater got the Seat than Angus Robertson, that’s how much I despise the SNP, its gone past hating this party to totally despise them with every fiber of my being.
Is this so hard to believe, I don’t believe it is. Just ask yourself who hasn’t the SNP leadership screwed over in the past 11yrs and when you write that list down you have your answer.
I hope this prediction is correct and its a mirrors what will actually happen on May 7th god willing.
I would also rather see Slater win than Robertson for the simple fact that Slater is just an idiot while Robertson is dangerous and a nasty piece of work. Given the choice of these two and some Reform goon lurking in the wings the poor voters have my sympathy.
Now I’ll get on to Freeman, this woman was never an Indy supporter, she run to which ever party was going to win the election on the night. Sorry for her passing, NAW. She put Sturgeon before everything else.
Maybe its just me but I really can’t see why people think Sturgeon is anything special I’ve just never seen it.
She was a week individual who should have stood up to Sturgeon instead she allowed Sturgeon to run her department, “One of the most formidable public figures of her generation” she couldn’t even do her own job as health minster see allowed Sturgeon to do it. NO Good bye and good riddens.
Are you my uncle?
Understand your sentiments 100% yes. Many will feel the same. However, it does no good, at least in my mind, to say goodbye and good riddance.
Aside of Ms Freeman’s politics and modus operandi, of which I am no supporter, she was aside someone’s daughter, someone’s partner and therefore a wee bit more decorum would not I respectfully suggest, be out of place.
Now if you made a similar comment about Prince Andrew as an example, I would have no hesitation in saying goodbye and good riddance too.
Hail Alba.
“She was a week individual”
About 20 years ago, I worked with a minute individual.
She eventually moved on – I guess her replacement must have been a second individual.
Angus Robertson is unlikely to lose his seat, not because Lorna Slater is any less under the control of the Green/’trans’/’woke’ mafia than whatsherface, Chapman, but because Angus will pull out all the stops to ensure he does not lose, and he will have the backing of SNP central. The Greens are now so far from being about climate change and green energy, etc., and so steeped in gender ideology, that they have lost the plot.
Never mind, the SNP still appear to be the overall romping-home party – or should that be limping? – and they will need some bedfellows, so why not the Greens again to shovel another pile of ordure on us all? Unless, of course, Labour does a U-turn and implores the SNP to grace their marriage bed, or Reform manages to climb on to the balcony and serenades the SNP or, indeed, Corbyn’s ‘Your Party’ emerges from the wings or the Lib Dems ditch “We did it for you, Beth” and undergo a transformation into something approximating sanity.
Lorna Campbell says:
8 February, 2026 at 9:17 pm
“Angus Robertson is unlikely to lose his seat…..”
=========
I hope you are wrong. But nobody here wants Slater in either.
This is a perfect example of why you should not vote FOR any candidate or party. Vote AGAINST the SNP-Green pantomime horse.
The equine-visaged Lorna S. is well equipped to front the beast formerly mounted by Sturgeon; Angus H, hero of the referendum, is the ideal arse-end for anything.
#No Votes SNP
#No Votes SNP
If necessary, hold your nose and place your vote for the candidate most likely to beat them – even if you would in better times cut off your hand before voting for that party.
Do not vote FOR a Labour candidate;
Do not vote FOR a LibDem candidate;
Do not vote FOR a TORY candidate;
AND, least of all:
Do not vote FOR a REFORM candidate.
LEND your vote to whichever one in May only is modt likely to beat the devo-unionist SNP-Greens who have set independence back by possibly a generation.
“Angus H, hero of the referendum”
======
That should of course read:
Angus R, hero of the CENSUS!
Two errors in six word phrase.
And what happens if the English NAZI Reform Party only stands in the Regional Lists. The question that the complacent SNP dare not ask.
I wonder how much Palantir is getting paid by Scottish Govt so far? We know that they are into the Corrupt Sleazy UK Govt to c750 million so far. Who knows how much more~? This isn’t going to be a Free and Fair Election in May however you look at it. Not with Billions in Contracts at stake.
Is there any Party in the UK that is clean when it come to Palantir and others hunting out UK Govt and Devolved Govt contracts?
I still don’t think the may elections are about indy., or much else that folk are twittering on about.
Most folk are simply so sick of politicians that many, many folk are going to opt for the “f you” vote and vote reform.
I don’t think reform will last as they are simply morons but most folk don’t care and simply want to kick the current politicians up the ass.
OT on the top part of that front page.
Honest question, are we been governed by a cabal of lesbians? I didn’t know Freeman was a lesbian too until pretty much now. This group seems to be overly represented in the upper echelons (past and present) of the scottish parliament. Can someone (Rev. perhaps?) why?
Have you just noticed? Half the bloody cabinet was gay when Sturgeon was in power! I include her in that. Ruth Davidson the Tory clown was gay, Kezia Dugdale was gay, whatsisclown…eh…Harvie was bi…
…on the SNP side, it’s all because because Sturgeon is gay and wanted to surround herself with like-minded manhaters as part of her revenge legacy. Job done.
Don’t you remember this meaningless swill?
link to bbc.com
I had noticed (I remember when the rainbow trio where in charge of all the parties), but only latterly I noticed how they keep cropping up.
Andrea , have to say I was thinking that too – a gross over representation of the LGBT community
@Rev. do we have statistics on LGB representation at Holyrood?
The scottish census gives a number of 1.76% lesbians in scotland.
While I don’t really care what a politician’s sexuality is as long as they represent their whole constituency fairly I have to ask why are there such high numbers of gay and lesbian politicians in the SP?
There is obviously something different about the proportions here and I would be curious what the reason is, good or bad.
It certainly goes some way to explaining the SG obsession with LGBT rights, far beyond the interest or views of the general population.
Mair lik’ a Coven O’ Witches, feckin’ nasty wans at that…
Why are English registered political parties running in Scottish elections?
Shouldn’t they be named British Elections then,
James Cheyne, Your correct and maybe this is the point Reform is making too by calling themselves Reform UK. Lets be honest all the unionist political party’s In Scotland call themselves Scottish first, why? These unionist parties following the English party’s policy and doctrine, rather than their own. So to call them Scottish parties are far fetched.
Looking and examining how bias elections in Scotland are being run awash with english registered parties, as faux scottish parties,
Studying the confusing for many Hondt system set in place for Scotland,
And the investigation that found the 2014 election in Scotland had been interfered with but not being fairly re-run after those findings,
And our vote being transported and not counted on site,
I wonder why anyone has faith in winning a election for a independent Scotland under these conditions.
This is the control of Colonialism working at its best, governing the outcome of Scottish elections. Manipulating the system to appear falsely as a democratic choice on the surface,
Colonialism is not a choice, ….it is planned and arranged.
100% Yes.
There are a lot of unionist parties in these Scottish elections not registered here,
Which implies that Westminster parliament of England and Ireland do not envisage Scotland as a separate Country in a 1707 treaty with England.
But rather a region of England-Ireland 1801/02 agreement.
This of course why, although from different root than Alf Baird, but coming to the same conclusion at the end,
That I agree with Alf Baird that iScotland is indeed a Colony,
But disagree with the limited solution for being as only one route out. There is more than one way to swing a cat, as the phrase goes.
It is only now, when I reflect on the company I kept as a young man, that I am able to see in the recalling of the speech, mannerisms, activities, and beliefs of those I once counted friends and family – now just the shadows cast by a time lang syne – the imperial hand of English colonialism.
It was only through chance, the magical power of love, and the entitlement of a young lass who sought to possess me and whose people embraced me as one of their own for her benefit that I was pulled into a society very different from the one I was born to and in which I was raised.
It was then that the world of the well-off and wealthy, impressive titles, celebrities, and peers of the realm was made known to me… and yes, I much prefer the Oxford comma when listing stuff.
It is only now, with hindsight and my newfound knowledge of postcolonial theory, I see them as the assimilated colonized elite they were; careless of the common folk and blind to the suffering of the less fortunate… and which their descendants, some of whom I would babysit on rare occasions, undoubtedly still are.
And yet I cannot bring myself to hate them… for I once was one of them; and as such yit cairy within me a slicht disdain fir yer commoun Scot.
“a society very different from the one I was born to and in which I was raised”
Tell us more, Northy. We’re all gasping to read about your time as a True Pict on that alien planet orbiting a star, dozens of light years away from our sun.
99.7% chance of Indy majority and yet the SNP only party wants a 100% majority.
I’ve heard someone on here say he doesn’t believe May’s election is about Independence, its not and never was that’s the con.
For Scotland nothing is going to change. These unionist parties have all enjoyed a easy life in Holyrood with the SNP in charge as along as they all continued to get elected. How reform is going to change all that and that’s the reason I’m voting for Reform and the only reason these Unionist party’s don’t want you to vote reform now there jobs are on the line.
The Scottish parliament has went from good governance to a self protecting politicians for own interest run buy corruption sleaze.
I comprehend thoroughly why the union parties keep applying the propaganda theory of keep perpetually voting Scotland for your own demise
Cos we can ensure it never happens.
Happy B to David Hayman all the best.
If you want to show how fed up you are with the SNP and the party political system in general, and the quality of most MSPs, for heaven’s sake vote for an Alliance to Liberate Scotland party candidate.
They are all normal people, living in the real world, who are uniting for independence, nothing less. They will not be bound by party whips, many of them are individual independents i.e. not in a party other than the umbrella party of Alliance. They are standing to make a difference, not to keep things the same, and certainly not to make an income.
See the https//liberatescot.scot site for the committee.
sarah says:
9 February, 2026 at 11:44 am
“If you want to show how fed up you are with the SNP and the party political system in general, and the quality of most MSPs, for heaven’s sake vote for an Alliance to Liberate Scotland party candidate.”
======
I personally would like to do that and would advise others to do the same but ONLY in those constituencies OR REGIONS where LS is the best chance of beating the SNP/Greens.
Could you please advise us of such constituencies/regions?
Not necessarily now but, especially, as May draws closer. If your advice stands up to scrutiny, I WILL endorse LS.
#No Votes SNP
#No Votes Greens
@ Cynicus: I have come to my view of having faith in the people behind the Alliance to Liberate Scotland over some years of listening to/reading what they have to say [Through a Scottish Prism; Eva Comrie’s One legged Woman blog; Colette Walker’s ISP weekly updates etc on Voices for Independence; Barrhead Boy; Lloyd Quinan.].
Also it dawned on me quite soon after 2014 that the current SNP leadership haven’t the ability nor desire to do anything serious about restoring Scotland as a self-governing country. [It may be worse than that – there may be some who are deliberately sabotaging the cause.]
The Alliance people are at least sincere and principled. They are sufficiently intelligent and experienced in politics as well as in trying to improve things in their own communities and areas of expertise.
Having a separate grouping on the list is obviously necessary under the d’Hondt system. And the umbrella party seems to me a sensible way of aggregating the support of several small parties under a common cause so there is no splitting of the independence vote.
It is a pity to my mind that they haven’t adopted the Manifesto for Independence – I can’t see why they won’t, but we just have to make the best of what’s on offer.
#No Votes SNP
#No Votes Greens
#1 Vote Reform
#1 Vote Liberate Scotland or Independent
I had a look at that link, sarah.
Deeply unimpressive.
I suggest they use some of their fund raising to get somebody to set up a half-decent web site and maintain it up to date on a regular basis.
Feel free to pass that on.
If, by some accident, you posted the wrong link (I hope you did), please post the correct one.
Apologies re the link given – I was thinking of the committee of Yes United!
North Code,
I hear you north Code, sounds like you’re are on a threshold, in a dilemma, torn by upbring and teachings, a precarious fence.
I am sure my father long ago would have sat on that same fence for a while, until WW11 opened his eyes and never succeeded in closing them afterwards.
Only the wealthy and governments make the financial gains, the poor, injured or crippled, in all Countries the owned, and the Colonies if they survived go back to work,
Angus Robertson or Lorna Slater?
Who cares?
One is a prick the other a twat (folk are free to choose which is which) and neither one of them is a Scot.
I’ve realised why I find Scottish politics – and especially ‘Scottish’ elections so dull and boring… it’s because it’s the same stupid, shite-scribbled pantomime with the same stupid shite start, shite middle and shite end (no Oxford comma required here, I feel) I’ve seen again and again and again and…
Scotland’s political scenery – not being real – is flat and boring and Scotland’s political analysts are fifth-rate ‘scriptwriters’ brought in just before the last act of the Westminster produced panto hits Holyrood town to try and give the whole imperial production a quick polish and showshine in the hope the Scots will take it seriously and buy tickets for the big event.
The hauf-polished political panto-pish that is Holyrood’s parliamentary election is strong in Scotland… may the farce fuck off and be with some other folk for a change.
There’s a better show coming to town called the Alliance to Liberate Scotland party… buy tickets for that one instead.
100% Yes,
The Scottish parliament that exist as such in Scotland right now is not a Scottish parliament, it is under the legislation of the united kingdom of the England- Ireland parliament,
The Scottish parliament was dissoled from the 1707 treaty in 1707 by the transferred English parliament members into and acting as the parliament of England in the Great Britain parliament without elections taken place,
Voting for unionist parties in Scotlands elections is like turkeys voting for Christmas
Confirming the idea that it ok to accept being Colonised. While Scotland was dissolved from the 1707 treaty with England as long ago as 1707.
Sarah,
Excellent idea,
But to succeed between now and May, they need a lot more candiates in every voting area,.
I watched Through a Scottish Prism yesterday and the deliberate stalling and late decision to include the Liberate Scotland Alliance,
A good idea but short on time for May 2026 , a lot of ground to make up on, it could work long term,
James Cheyne, I agree that the time-scale for the word to get out about Alliance to Liberate Scotland is far too short. It desperately needs every independence organisation and blog to talk about it because there is no better plan available.
Scotland is in a terrible state – the heads of every organisation are incompetent or corrupt [in every sense]. We need decent people in Holyrood who will force some decent governance on our civil institutions, including the prison service. With luck, the Alliance MSPs might be part of the “government” – then we would see improvements.
” With luck, the Alliance MSPs might be part of the “government” ”
Seriously?
So as soon as bums hit HR seats, the #IndependenceNothingLess and #IndependenceNothingElse promises gang richt oot the windae?
Michty! But at least somebody’s being honest up front for once.
@Hatey – it’s vanishingly unlikely that any Liberate bum will be hitting any Holyrood seat given the general lack of any serious campaign activity with the election 3 months away. Personally I think the disassociated structure is flawed in any event should the Liberate candidates win a majority (which they have to do to secure the mandate) the first thing they have to do is to form the Scottish Government. I don’t think that can just be decided post election, but it’s a moot point anyway.
North Code,
The flat boring Scottish politics and elections are such, because the are not Scottish, they are under the faux reserved matters of the Scotland acts from the united kingdom of England and Irelands parliament.
The Scottish parliament being dissolved from the english/ great britain parliament union as early as 1707.
After 1707 Scotland became a Colony without a union of parliaments in the treaty of union, to create the parliament of Great Britain.
Knocking out its very own foundation stones.
The Scotland Colony as a reality has a start date,..not some obscure timeline undefined.
“Could we just have witnessed the game changing moment that points to the imminent end of Keir Starmer’s premiership?”
=======
Question is paused by the BBC is Chris Mason, commenting on the call by Anas Sarwar for the resignation of Starmer.
Never glad confident morning again Sir Keith,
OT,
There is a personal rumour going around that after two years delays an waiting I may be getting my State pension.
There is a second rumour after waiting over a year that a house may come available soon,
If and when these rumours have finally been confirmed, I will be retiring from Wings over Scotland, which I have been promising for awhile,
However the mechanisms in governance turn Ever so slowly nowadays with the assistance of digital technology and one department never knowing what the other is doing,
Recieved one letter of confirmation, now waiting for it to be applied,
Busy packing my belongs in case I get word from the second confirmation on the other topic, am waiting on,
Been on wings for more years than I can remember,
An excellent site Stu, the only place where the people of Scotland have a voice,
But my sister has been rushed to hospital eight times since Christmas and a failing NHS, and as recently as last night.
Keep fighting for Scottish independence everyone, We need this more than ever, not just to save the Scottish NHS but to improve all the circumstances for all people in Scotland,
We can do different and we can do better.
Hopefully James your rumours will come to fruition and you will at last be able to enjoy your retirement , I am excited for you as you have endured more bad luck than any one person deserves
Good Luck and best wishes James
Best wishes from me too, James. I know we’ve had our differences, but we’re on the same side, and your tenacity and resilience are impressive.
@ James Cheyne, those rumours sound good. I hope they come true. But must you leave Wings?
“I will be retiring from Wings over Scotland, which I have been promising for awhile,”
Please, please, dear God!
Let it be true !
Sarwar has just fucked himself!
‘My first priority, my first loyalty, is to my country, Scotland’
18 months on from Starmer’s – and Sarwar’s – Palm Sunday, events have unfolded just like in Holy Week: the triumph, the betrayal, and then, the end.
If Anas Sarwar really believed what he was saying today, he didn’t have to ask Starmer to resign, he could have told him that Scottish Labour was severing ties with English Labour, that he was now endorsing policies Scottish Labour voters THOUGHT they’d been supporting for a hundred years, that Scottish Labour now supported independence, and that after May 7th there would be 100+ MSPs claiming independence for Scotland.
Had Sarwar – and Slab – and every other ‘Scottish’ Labour leader adopted this approach, THEY could have been the independence party of Scotland, there would never had been any need for SNP
Scottish Labour had Scotland in the palm of their hands for decades, but instead delivering on our aspirations, the Scottish psyche was taken, used, abused, and passed on to SNP, who in turn did exactly the same.
And rather than being revered forever, every one of them (taking a passage from a well-known Hollywood film), settled for the scraps from Longshanks table.
Welsh Labour expected to “do an Anas”
link to i.redd.it
If this is true then Starmer is toast. He is in danger of going down like BoJo the Clown.
James Cheyne @ 15.33.
Genuine best wishes forthings working out for you successfully, “James”; hopefully sooner rather than later !
Sven.
Shit – Scotland go out of the curling 🙁
Curling [mixed double] bronze is still available! Don’t despair too soon.
Playing for the colonizer is a hard act to swallow, I couldn’t watch or support team GB no matter where they come from.
When the British team handed Sweden 5 stones I thought these two might just be Scottish after all.
We’ll still be favourites for the toe curling.