Wings Over Scotland

Thon shoogly peg is hingin oot the wa’ noo…

After all the in-your-face brass-necked brazenness, dictstorial directives, independence ignoring, Machiavellian manoeuvering to destroy her mentor, use of the mentally ill and useful idiot swarmtroopers online to attack her opponents, endless selfie-servings with adoring myopic devotees, playing at being the wacky indulgent hip auntie to a pack of sniffy middle class wannabe-American dolts, turning the arts scene into a racist circus, naked misandry, ignoring of the working class base of the party and their problems in her dealings…and on and on…there’s not a chance this weird and disturbing woman will ever resign, at least. The lady’s not for turning.

In normal times this would be enough for a resignation. Unfortunately live in a post- truth era where populism and deception reign supreme. Nicola will rouse her rabble just as Trump has when her position is threatened. Expect a full on assault on AS and JC in the media.

Must be something in the water, a previously undetected addition to our drinking water has rendered some people in the SNP with unknown special powers of invisibility and you can’t touch us Syndrome , usually people under pressure present outward signs , undue sweating or nervousness , well not these Two the double act are exhibiting none of these , bloody good acting worthy of a Oscar if ever I saw it a real eye opener as how convincing they are.

This First Minister goes on at great length that this is Scottish Government business in this tweet link to archive.is

Mine was received 24 Aug 2018, 14:40 & is exactly the same as your email above. Doing a search I can confirm that I have never received an email from SNP/Nicola Sturgeon with the text given to the committee.

Been thinking for a while now that those in power will be watching Wings for the truth. Saves them a lot of bother etc

Has Mr Murrell just thrown Mrs Murrell under a very big bus ?

Karma.

Kevin Cargill in the first response to this post, said pretty-much what I was thinking.

If Baroness TRuthless does not lead on this at FMQs tomorrow – and goes in with all guns blazing – then we can be fairly-certain there is an Establishment plot to keep the Murrells in-power within the SNP – at least for4 the time being.

They are keeping their powder dry until the Holyrood camopaign begins inearnest, then they will hit the Murrells with everything.

The SNP have to lance the boil before New Year, and get the new leadership team in-place well before the campaign begins. Or they are in deep doo-dah.

I’m truly disgusted by the SNP leadership. Charge them all. Nothing more to say.

I can confirm I’ve received pretty much the same emails as listed above and in particular the one in question from Nicola Sturgeon was received on the 24th August 2018, not the 27th August.

I was an SNP member at the time and received neither message.

Socrates, you’re bang on with that. It’s the issue party loyalists don’t seem to understand – if the leadership survives this it means the election is going to be dominated by it. It could really hurt them too; aside from the impression it makes on the minds of pro-Indy types and the certain loss of votes there, how many non party members in the middle ground are going to take a very dim view of this and other stuff?

Sturgeon and Murrell are electoral liabilities for the SNP and it’s for that reason they need to go, before it’s too late. The worst thing that could happen for the SNP is they scrape through this, damaged and tainted, and they go into an election totally compromised.

Mark my words, everything that gets said in here about conspiracies and an innocent man being targeted, the abuse of power, corruption, etc., will play a huge part in the Tory campaign if they’re still there.

The meeting on the 29th March did not inform the FM there was an investigation into Salmond, therefore it cannot have been Government business.

-Nell G-

Aye, and look at what’s happened to Trump now: a farcical has-been, shouting at clouds. Keep the faith!

I can confirm the email containing the NS statement was delivered to me on 24 August 2018 at 14.41.

All this “the Murrells” are UK Gov plants is a wee bit too far fetched for me.

Corrupt, yes.

Not entirely focussed on Indy, yes.

Nauseating with their Woko Haram agenda, yes.

But UK gov plants? Thats a little too big a stretch for me.

@Finnz,

Geoff Aberdein who was actually at that very meeting would disagree with you. His sworn testimony in court was exactly that it was about the complaints and investigation which was being conducted by the Scottish government ,not the SNP.

Therefore it could only be government business.

Well played Rev Stu.

The treachery and lying from the Murrells just becomes more and more exposed. At some point, and maybe not too far from now, the whole thing is going to unravel completely for the Murrells.

Their time is up and it is not difficult to see big big changes in the not too distant future.

Keep up the good work Rev Stu.

Anybody got this archived?
link to thetimes.co.uk

@Socrates MacSporran says:
9 December, 2020 at 4:37 pm
“They are keeping their powder dry until the Holyrood campaign begins in earnest, then they will hit the Murrells with everything.”

Spot on.

Murrell to be recalled by the panel to answer questions about his contradictions:

link to bbc.co.uk

Not looking good for the Murrells!

Lenny Hartley, here you go, link to archive.is

Nicola is very clear that Alex was under Government investigation in August 2017 and not one held under the auspices of the SNP.

Therefore any decisions taken thereafter relate to government
action rather than SNP. The government found a block that did not allow them to prosecute or discipline former First Ministers. Somewhere along this timeline Nicola sanctioned changes in policy which would allow such action.

She may not have created it herself but she signed it off, knowing that the Government were actively investigating Alex.

Alex won his review but then Leslie Evans involved the police as a fall back position. Alex won that as well.

Nicola we are led to believe knew nothing of these subsequent actions after she asked the Civil Service to create a new policy, because she recused herself from the process.

She knew how and who it was going to be used against. But she did not want to be publicly seen to have blood on her hands.

This is disgusting.

Muscleguy,

Killing independence is probably not possible. You’d just be going through a succession of leaders, each slightly more intransigent than the previous one. Much better to kill the desire for independence by have the faults and frailties of devolved government on show so they people generally give up on the idea as they see it’s little better than the system they hope to break free from.

If I was head of MI5 I wouldn’t be wasting my money on Nicola Sturgeon. Instead I’d be making sure the line of people following her were even more inept and feckless – kind of like the various people we all know and love.

Murrell remains as CEO today and Nicola looks as confident as ever, this should ring alarm bells for anyone, and then there’s Leslie Evans, where she should have been sacked she had her contract extended instead, this says to me the party has been taken over at the top by unionists. for the record neither myself nor my husband received either of these e-mails, we were both members until last year. I’d love to think this will finish her off but I can’t help but think she’ll survive this. maybe the party itself needs to make a move on her.

@Stuart McKay
“Killing independence is probably not possible. You’d just be going through a succession of leaders, each slightly more intransigent than the previous one. Much better to kill the desire for independence by have the faults and frailties of devolved government on show so they people generally give up on the idea as they see it’s little better than the system they hope to break free from.”

A Fabian strategy then? keep the SNP in power for a s long as possible (say 20 years from 2007 to 2026) and watch the shiny idealism wash off, and corruption and cynicism take their place.

What else can the Yoons do? they have no arguments.

The First Minister of Scotland and leader of its governing party along with her husband the Chief Executive of the same party are called to give evidence to her government’s Harassment Complaints Committee. Overlooking that that in itself seems to provide grounds for investigation, the conduct of both appears, at best, dubious and therefore questionable. That raises the query – are they being held accountable to their party’s procedures.

From the SNP’s Constitution, Rules and Standing Orders –

2. Aims
The aims of the Party are—
(a)  Independence for Scotland; …
(b)  the furtherance of all Scottish interests.

The SNP conduct Standards;
s4: Every member owes a duty to the Party to refrain from conduct likely to cause damage to or hinder the Party’s proper pursuit of its aims in accordance with its constitutionally laid down policy and direction.

The National Secretary (Stewart Stevenson) acts as guardian of the Constitution of the Party.

Are those with the power to halt and improve the deteriorating standards within Scotlands biggest political party refusing to take any initiative? Are they just easily swayed, attention seeking, time wasting mediocrities who have lost sight of the requirements of their country and Constitution while concentrating on irrelevant but controversial issues which deflect scrutiny away from their limited abilities?

Ref: Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, Construction and procurement of ferry vessels in Scotland,
‘403. … the Scottish Government’s approach to the procurement and construction of new vessels to serve Scotland’s ferries network has been short-term, piecemeal and lacking in strategic direction.’

Like the governance of its country?

NS isn’t a plant.

But she has been turned East German style.

One wonders what they have on her.

@Dan,

Thanks Dan. I remember it now and on the events revealed over the last few days it makes sense. I wasn’t sure if he was ousted as a result of an internal SNP inquiry or a Scottish government one.

@Dakk,

I listened to Mr Hynd give evidence. Perhaps you should too.

Nicola knew about the Government investigation in August 2017.

Mr Hynd testified that he found a gap in the policy in October 2017.

Two months AFTER the investigation was started. Makes you rather think they were looking at the possibilities if they went after Alex don’t you think ?

Letter reveals Leslie Evans met Salmond accusers
link to archive.is

Permanent Secretary meeting with complainers

link to parliament.scot

“Ms Baillie asked whether the Permanent Secretary had spoken to the complainers following her consideration of the initial report from the Investigating Officer. The documentation sets out that the Permanent Secretary spoke to Ms A and to Ms B in early March 2018, to discuss the investigation of their complaints in the context of the new Procedure, and to allow the Permanent Secretary to explain her role and the SG’s duty of care as their employer”.

@Wee Monkey
If even as a citizen I was to fly to NZ to see family or whatever I would be put in mandatory govt isolation for a minimum of 2 weeks. Even if i had the money and I could have tapped the estate going back for my mother’s funeral last month would have been utterly pointless.

So i wrote a poem for her which my youngest read, very well I’m told, for me at the funeral.

Scotland and England’s voluntary isolation is a farce. In NZ they put you in a hotel, unused because the tourists are gone, ringed by security fencing with 24hr security. They test you for covid regularly and you don’t get out without two consecutive negative tests.

That is a quarantine system. They’re talking about moving things to military barracks instead.

!elsie Evans found to have met two complainers in March 2018,
despite telling the Inquiry that she did not as it would be jnappropriate.

They have put out a statement to try and justify it but she lied under oath.

Put this in context. The civil service is a large employer.

In no other organisation I know do you get to meet the Head of the organisation via a complaint. They must remain neutral and detached. Here again is proof she deliberately involved herself in this case to achieve an end.

Whatever their precise motivations are, whatever is exactly going on in their heads, the Murrells have been undermining the cause of Scottish independence and will continue to do so if left in post. Their removal from the public life of our nation is urgently needed.

@Dakk,

Nicola Sturgeon accepted a policy that existed nowhere else in the UK. She could easily have said she would accept it if the rest of the UK did too If she was reluctant.

If she had refused to accept it, then Whitehall who were Leslie Evans bosses would have backed Nicola as well. They advised Evans against the policy.

So somewhere along the line whether you accept it or not, someone in Holyrood gave Evans permission to proceed with this move. Who could that be apart from Nicola? Nobody.

Eh. THE SNP ARE THE SG. If they arent the SG then who is? Sturgeon must go!!!!!

@Brian Doonthetoon,

Possibly because they all knew what was happening? Even though the process was supposedly confidential of course.

I was going to write that I was astonished that you haven’t yet figured out what this entire case was all about, but then thought – perhaps erroneously – that you have no experience in such matters.

Isn’t it perfectly obvious by now? This isn’t a conspiracy – more a classical tragedy. Consider the principles and their personal history and relationships – then the disclosures regarding the conduct of one during his trial. Turn back the clock and a very capable young woman and a couple of older, powerful and impressionable men.

None of us – except those three – know the emotional mechanics of the relationships or what might have happened to influence and taint respective friendships and expectations. But respectfully – use your imagination and your own experience – if you have any.

These have been tragic events for those espousing Scottish independence – and it would be the greatest shame if the necessary discourse exploring these matters were impaired by the (understandable) disagreement between the principals. Circumstances exacerbated and complicated the entire episode – perhaps with untoward influence from the civil service and the Crown Office – but had Mr Salmond behaved with complete propriety and honour, then none of this would have happened.

It is a tragedy for everyone – but particularly for Moira, who bears the greatest burden. I suspect most empathetic Scots would agree.

They share a similar loss.

@Mark Russell,

There are many elements to this story and not necessarily the ones you highlight. There is also ambition ,protection of position and fear of rivalry.

If you know anything about Nicola Sturgeon, you would know she is just as demanding as Alex ever was,so don’t let the smile deceive you. Behind that’s a very determined lady who wants no bad publicity.

@ Mark Russell at 9.29pm: What on earth are you blethering about? If the attempt to jail Alex Salmond on false charges was the only problem with the SNP leadership, you might just about have a valid point, but that isn’t the only problem, is it? We also have the total inaction in securing our independence, that £500,000-odd in ‘ring-fenced’ donations which have vanished, and the focus on anti-factual gender and hate-crime nonsense. And if Sturgeon and Murrell have nothing to hide, why are they doing everything in their power to obstruct the inquiry, and finding it so difficult to tell the truth about what they did?

Papko.

That doesn’t excuse the cover up. It also doesn’t excuse trying to frame a man on criminal charges, when they are matters of a moral societal matter.

Salmond’s moral compass may be found wanting. But to me that is completely irrelevant here. It was alleged attempted rape or as near as that description. Every second male executive would be up for these charges using this logic.

Mark Russell

I find it ironic that I find myself writing and saying to you that to suggest that the Trials of Mr Salmond represent the make up of a ‘Greek Tragedy’. It’s ironic because that suggestion is so simplistic when studying this case and it had never dawned on me, before, just how simple a Greek tragedy was:-)

Patrick Roden at 6.57pm considers how Sturgeon, Wishart, Nicolson Black et al may have been turned by the security services.

This is a very real probability. Compromising politicians is one of the key ways the security services work. And neither do the individuals compromised have been guilty of their indiscretion because they can be very easily set up. Its the oldest trick in the book.

A penchant for other girls might not be the thing the FM wants over the papers. A lavender marriage with a husband with an interest in deviant sex, little boys, promiscuous gay cruising, extra marital affairs – all very much in human frailty or easy to set up.

Or dodgy financial dealings. Or failed attempts to destroy a political rival. The FM and her circle may have thought about doing in Salmond, but could well have been helped along that route – ergo Police, Fiscal etc. And now, they are exposed for their dark deeds that they should never ever gave done.

Yes, democracy is not a hallmark of the UK. read its colonial history and you’ll see that. Time we brought Salmond back.

Mark Russell

The bigger picture is that Scotland is being shafted because we have a corrupt and ineffectual leader.

@ Papko at 9.43pm

It would be a wonderful story, if we all weren’t so emotionally involved, but I guess that will be its enduring and inescapable strength. I don’t hold much hope for the lessons of this to be applied in time for any salvation or hope – in any context, politically or personally. I think we’re all fucked as long as we stay on the same conveyor belt.

It’s a great shame. Nicola Sturgeon reminds me very much of Jennie Lee – in so many ways. She’s canny, principled and honest – not withstanding the commentary here and elsewhere. She’s gained the respect of many people – way beyond the narrow confines of the independence movement. Maybe a time for everyone to take stock – not just the principles.

@ Mark Russell; “but had Alex Salmond behaved with complete propriety and honour,none of this would have happened”.

Eh? He was found not guilty by his peers, is that not sufficient for you to then ponder why simply spurious complaints – he touched the hair on my head – were compiled by a coven(?) of persons so inept to fail to grasp the frail weakness of their strategy?

Persons so inept.. perhaps,but in well-paid positions of authority, who when appearing before the investigating committee at Holyrood…cannot recall, are unsure, have to return and correct their statements? Your taxes are paying the salaries of such people.

In the broader sense, sexual attraction is a devil of a thing, I read once an article by a lady regretting that as she aged, she had become invisible…to men. Is flirting, an enjoyable pastime, now off limits for fear of being accused of ‘touching her hair’.

If you take a wee step back from this and look at it from a distance.

NS in her position as FM was made aware of 2 historic – and what turned out to be UTTERLY disproved, allegations of sexual offences against former FM and Leader of HER OWN PARTY – a man whose previous track record – had absolutely no such bad reputations attached, in spite of an open cheque book to any reporter, anywhere, who could dredge some up.

She was informed that legally, the SNP had no jurisdiction over AS, as he had resigned from the party.

She was informed under existing Scot Gov / employment procedures the complaints while they might constitute employment harassment procedures at the time of the offence – as AS was no longer employed by Scot Gov he was no longer under their remit and therefore, legally, there was nothing Scot Gov could legally do about it.

Employment laws, are there to be used by employers and employees. They’re not there to police random members of the public.

At this point in time, NS – with the greater good of Independence in mind – she should, have breathed a great big sigh of relief, shrugged her shoulders, drafted a very sympathetic letter to the complainers, and explained to them, that legally – both in employment law and SNP rules and regs – there were no legal levers available to deal with their complaints, and she had pursued every avenue.

But lets just assume, she wanted to make absolutely sure, with the best of intentions. The civil service drafted the ‘retrospective’ legislation – which suddenly enables the complaints against AS to be dealt with.

It was looked at by Westminster Civil Service – who told them in no uncertain terms – it was extremely unadvisable, unlikely to withstand any legal proceedings, and that it would certainly not be adopted anywhere else in the UK as policy.

This gave NS, in her capacity as FM, and leader of the Party supposedly trying to fight for Scotland’s Independence, an absolute, totally legal, and morally upright OUT.

Instead she signed off on it. She’s a lawyer ffs. A fundamental principle of committing any offence, is Guilty Intent. If the action was Not Illegal on the day it is carried out, for someone to re-write the law 4 years down the line, to entrap you, is basic, fundamentally unjust.

Think about it, every day for a year you’re driving down the road obeying the speed limit. Today they Retrospectively change the speed limit on that road, and in effect make you guilty of speeding. No court in the land will entertain this.

I do not want leaders – of my party, or any party, to cover up complaints of this nature.

What I do expect of my party, is that when complaints of this nature come about, and procedures are legitimately followed which mean that legally there is not much they can do about it – I do not expect them to bend over backwards, write illegal procedures, waste millions of my tax payers money, to carry out a spurious, malignant, witch hunt ON ONE OF OUR OWN.

There’s no shortage of Unionists in positions of power who can do that.

There are obviously some who still think that NS was following her conscience, and attempting to be scrupulously kind to the poor wee wimen.

Good intentions, coupled with malignant, dodgy legislation, aimed at your own team….

Truly if that is what you believe, can I respectfully suggest, that while that might be the case, it is NOT the quality or skill set needed of the Leader of the Independence Movement at this, or any other time.

And if your thinking that someone as demonstrably grossly incompetent – and/or wicked – has some magical plan B to deliver Indy when WM declines a S30 for a third time. Then Scotland really is too stupid to run its own affairs.

Wake up and smell the shit.

@ velofillo says at 10.33pm

If I was in a relationship with someone who behaved like Alex Salmond admitted during his trial, I would seriously attempt to change his sex with shearing scissors. I don’t think it acceptable that someone I love would this it ok to have a lie down and a cuddle with someone else – unless it was completely non-sexual and they informed me about it immediately afterwards. That’s just me.

Sexual attraction and flirting is cool with mature adults – respect and consent as a given. Some people are good at it – some aren’t. Some have no fucking experience whatsoever. 🙂

@Mark Russell,

She’s canny ,principled and honest.

Well at least you got one out of three right. She is canny.

Von der leyen meant there lol

Ayrshire Rob

Rather than hearing that Boris Johnson had dined on turbot I’d have preferred to hear that great white shark had dined on Boris Johnson.

There was a clown in the greenock telegraph the other night telling everyone about all the people who have been reported for moving about into other areas
He seemed to be quite happy about all of this
Now I know for a fact this clown travels to edinburgh all the time as his big minging coupon is there behind Saint Nicola of Wiznymee all the time
Yes, he is our very own Stuart McMillan MSP from Inverclyde, a charmless doughnut and a big wind with a bag around it
He obviously does not consider himself as one of the great unwashed as he is every where like a bad smell in a dirty cludgie

@ ‘James Horace says:
9 December, 2020 at 10:38 pm
What do you think will come of this then Daisy?’

All of this has become the single point of focus for the Yes Movement.

One side has seen more than enough evidence of foul play and no longer has any trust in Nicla. They also see the great big threat that Brexit will do, to the economy and in destroying Devolution/Holyrood.

The other side, of true believers, won’t look at the evidence, can’t see the evidence, won’t listen to the evidence and nothing will dent their faith in Nicla.

The first side thinks (probably wrongly) that if there is enough evidence comes out – just a little bit more, it will be so overwhelming, that all the wheels will go back on the Yes bus again and we can all start pushing in the same direction. With a great deal of speed.

And while all eyes are on this ‘show’ – there are only 21 days before Breshit hits, and 5 months for the new Civil Service Hub in Edinburgh to take over all the powers of Holyrood before the May election.

The only guaranteed method of not getting caught up in BritNat games – is to look at what campaign strategy and ground needs covered, and if it is not being covered, we need to do it. Which is sole destroying if there is no one pointing the way, shouting out the route, and singing the rallying song.

The upcoming vote on gender/sex amendment as per Wings last post – will, or should identify all SNP MSP’s who are loyal to the GRA nonsense.

If Scotland is to gain Indy –

I think the Holyrood election in May has got to be plebiscite for Indy (one way or another – including with a confirmatory Indy Ref if appropriate).

For that to happen – Independent candidates will need to be stood for votes 1 and 2 in all the seats where the above identified SNP GRA loyalists are sitting.

And it would need to be backed up by a campaign starting now.

And lastly – the closer this looked to working, the more likely it is that something will come up and the Holyrood election will get pulled…. or spiked.

As to whether NS will remain – she got through the Conference. From now on until May there will be no more Polls showing support for Indy in the high 50’s%. It will drop now to around the 53% mark, no higher.

The only way I see her going now, is if someone high up in the SNP falls on their sword and does a big reveal. And that would also need to be coupled with an organised take over by plan B group.

Stranger things have happened, but …

For Nicla – once Breshit is delivered, she’s in clover. Everything from then till May – deliver a big fail for the SNP – will be her bonus. She’ll get a lucrative deal on the international stage a la Tony Blair. Big Pharma pay very well I believe, and she’s been such a loyal advocate for their latest new market.

Yeah kapelmeister pity.

To make ma blood boil even more just watched stv news there. Two English men arguing over the price of our grouse.
Wan fae Edinburgh and wan fae London.To be fair the guy fae Edinburgh was saying it should be stopped.
The arse fae London saying it’s not for sport,it goes in to food chain in London Aye fecking London ya bam at £100 a pop more like. Means feck all to us up here.

Clowns

I can confirm the email containing the NS statement was delivered to me on 24 August 2018 at 14.41.
Nothing on 27th.

@ Daisy Walker at 10.34

She was informed that legally, the SNP had no jurisdiction over AS, as he had resigned from the party.

Surely he didn’t resign till after the complaints procedure was triggered (29/08/18)? The day after his own judicial review started, in fact.

Mark russell 10:44pm:

“If I was in a relationship with someone who behaved like Alex Salmond admitted during his trial, I would seriously attempt to change his sex with shearing scissors.”

…or before you pull out the shears you might question the nature and ambitions of the co-respondent.
Could they have been leading?
Is only one sex predatory?
Is only one sex obliged to decency,the other auto victimhood?
While I do not know the complainers, they hardly come across as ingenues from the descriptions in court.

Scunnered with the SNP leadership. Murrell made an arse of himself and Nicola. Time for change – we deserve better.

“…or before you pull out the shears you might question the nature and ambitions of the co-respondent.”

I make no comment regarding the complainants’ case- only what Alex Salmond admitted in evidence. Understand human nature and behaviour – the personalities and traits are there for all to see. Salmond is not a serial killer or a sex fiend like Savile or Epstein – although you might think so given the exposure and persecution – he’s just an ordinary human being with the same failings as most of us.

But under the kind of magnifying glass scrutiny we see here and elsewhere in the media – the obvious reality becomes completely distorted – and deeply damaging.

@ Crazycat

AS, in addition highlighting to NS the the course of conduct she was proposing was illegal, including offering her access to his own legal advice confirming same, also, repeatedly offered her/Scot Gov the opportunity to resolve the matter in a legal and proportionate manner via legal arbitration.

It was when these offers were refused, and NS continued down the ‘tainted by legal bias’ route, that AS instigated his legal appeal and at that point resigned from the SNP.

So, you make a good point, why, when first informed, and determined to ‘deal’ with these historical (and later to be proved ‘inaccurate’ complaints, did NS not require AS to resign from the SNP – as this was the one tool that she had the authority to use?

I’m going to suggest that at this time, the whole matter was one of leverage and negotiation between all parties involved.

Considering that AS repeatedly offered a legal and proportionate means by which the complaints could be dealt with appropriately – can it really be argued that NS (however well she may have intended it) made operational decisions ( 1 x expensive civil ‘tainted by bias’ procedure and a 12 charge – not guilty – ‘reeks of political trial/frame up’ criminal trial) for which she has shown not the slightest sign of unbiased response to the the decision of the jury – can it really be argued that NS demonstrates the qualities and skills needed to lead the Independence movement.

She sure as hell never had Alex Salmond’s back – and I’m not talking about doing him favours, only ensuring that the whole process was scrupulously fair. Given how ruthless the Unionist movement is against the whole Yes Movement – that is unforgivable.

And its probably the issue in a nutshell. She had a duty as First Minister and as leader of the SNP to ensure that all legal procedures taken to deal with complaints against one of our own, and anyone else for that matter, were scrupulously fair. She actively signed off on a procedure that was legally determined to be the exact opposite of that…. against one of our own.

The exact timeline, dates, venues, who knew what, when and where, and how many times they have to revisit the inquiry to amend their evidence with the facts…. It is absolutely succeeding in making unravelling all of the above incredibly difficult.

But bottom line – she bent over backwards to go gunning for AS – when there were more suitable legal methods to deal with it, and she signed off on an illegal witch hunt against one of the Yes Movements biggest players. The buck stops with her, just as much as it does with any leader. Male or female.

@ Quinie frae Angus at 12.44

I’ve raised this with Daisy (my post at 11.56) but she’s not had time to reply yet – she probably keeps more sensible hours than I do.

Her interpretation relies on the following sequence of events:

1) NS is told about complaints
2) NS tells complainers she can do nothing because AS has resigned from the party
3) NS also says employment law doesn’t cover the complaints
4) New procedure is introduced.

But Alex Salmond had not resigned at that point.
He resigned on 29/08/18, the day after his judicial review began, and therefore by definition after the new procedure was implemented.

Therefore, point 2) cannot have been a motivation for introducing the procedure, surely? Point 3), possibly, hence the retrospective nature of the new rules, the unacceptability of which I entirely agree with Daisy about.

-Quinie frae Angus-

Gender theorists are sexually interested in children? That’s about as surprising as the sun rising in the east!

@ Daisy

I also agree with all you say at 1.34.

@ Crazycat

I’m not keeping the wisest hours tonight that’s for sure.

And I have not checked the timeline, or the multiple versions of witness statements and amended statements with regards exactly who, when, what, where.

So, I’m not trying to be all seeing on this.

From memory – officials close to NS became aware at the end of 2017 about complaints.

Nov 2017 procedures began to re-draft official policy to take into account retrospective offences and staff.

I’m not aware of what – if any updates NS gave the complainers (she is not alluding to providing them with direct updates).

Again, from memory – it appears that Linda Evans and Judith MacKinnon may both appear to have had inappropriate contact with the complainers – inappropriate because they were also involved in the investigation. And there may also have been some collusion with the complainers about the new Scot Gov procedures.

NS signed off on the new ‘retrospective’ procedures in Dec 2017.

If looked at in the cold light of day – and for the sake of argument – why would a trained lawyer – undertake to sign off on what is Employment Law/Procedures – to make the act retrospective.

Employers have enough problems ‘policing’ the staff issues that they already have, attempting to police historic claims, with new laws, about staff no longer on the pay roll, is just bonkers, not to mention unworkable from a legal ‘natural justice’ perspective.

However – whether it was end of May 2018 or start of April 20018 – NS officially became aware of the complaints.

Between then and August 2018 there were numerous messages between her and Alex whereby he repeatedly offered to make himself available for Arbitration, and informed her the process she was invoking was unlawful – as it indeed turned out to be. And expensive.

This is not a Leader of a Yes / Independence Movement. Her absolute duty as FM and Leader of the SNP was to ensure that the Process to deal with these complaints was Fair and Lawful. That’s it. And she did not. She, and her immediate staff, put a lot of effort and are still putting in a lot of effort into Not.

Is anyone else richly entertained by the rapid descent of Mark Russell from his “Let’s all be reasonable and consider this from the perspective of human beings everybody…” to his “Let’s get out the shears and cut off his FUCKIN’ KNACKERS!”

What AS actually admitted to was one drunken consensual fumble that didn’t go any further.

He also accepted – under oath – that some of his behaviour over the years might have been considered “inappropriate”. However, we now live in a society where “He touched my arm through my cardigan in a pub ten years ago. Or maybe it was eleven years ago. I can’t really remember…” constitutes grounds for charges of sexual assault. In that context, I don’t see how any man could ever claim under oath that none of his behaviour had ever been “inappropriate”.

I notice from all the reports that bozo and gollum gove are now celebrating the fact that they have solved the GFA problem by allowing NI to be in the EU and under their regulations and trading ability , whilst simultaneously still being part of the great uk

I may be wrong but is there NOT some part of the TOU that states SPECIFICALLY and CATEGORICALLY that ALL parts of the UK must be treated equally and fairly and that no part should be given an unfair advantage over the other parts

I notice the blowhard blackford was at his usual moaning and whinging that NI is getting to stay in the EU whilst Scotland is dragged out by the scruff of the neck , it wisnae fair but husnae done anything about it
I also note that none of our stalwart defenders from the SNP independence party weren’t too vociferous or outraged enough to tear themselves away from ignoring emails from their constituents about tranny issues to deal with this abomination

I actually had faith in Joanna Cherry that following her success in the prorogation case that she would be all over this and other breaches of the TOU but as usual it appears that rocking the boat and challenging the scum at WM is NOT an attractive proposition

Boris Johnson extending talks with Europe until Sunday, as a No Deal cliff-edge Brexit looms…

Meanwhile in the political backwater of some lifeless old UK region called Scotland, a nominally sovereign people do absolutely nothing to save themselves except fixate interminably on the words of liars, fraudsters and useless charlatans whom they elected to office.

Vote SNP??? Fkg make me. Go on, I dare you.

I’d rather spend my time exploring the length and breadth of Scotland to find a cliff edge that might be suitably high enough to throw them from. I’m thinking of quarries more than sea cliffs, to avoid scaring seabirds or sullying the name of any natural beauty spots.

Another round of applause for Nicola Sturgeon and her SNP, doing SFA to save Scotland from this…

link to twitter.com

NOTHING! Since 2016. Plenty of time to sign rainbow flags for Trans-Nutters though. Gotta get your priorities right, eh Nicola?

Maybe she’ll find the time to sign the white flag she waved back in January. That must be worth at least 50p on EBay.

It looks like the inquiry might get a mention at FMQs.

link to mobile.twitter.com

.
David F., Thankyou. Now that link WAS helpful. Also I now know there is a word for the camspan phenomena… Anosognosia. Plus and elegant wee touch of humour as the penultimate rejoinder.

There is a case for being gentle to some folk afflicted with an illness. But given the affliction appears to be Anosognosia and the Anosognosiac specialises in droning on at how informed, brilliant and well educated they are, perhaps a best friend might let the Anosognosiaker know they are continuing in a way that is grinding on those lesser mortals trying to distil the golden nuggets from within the BTL section and the meadow muffins that the Camspam Bakery keep cooking and serving.

From the twitter message highlighted by Strathy above, it looks as if maybe Colonel Lady TRuthless will be going after the Murrells at FMQs today.

I trust your blinkometer is functioning correctly Rev? You may need it.

Sex is simply defined.

Gender is what you wish it to be.

Having feminine gametes at puberty can be chemically interfered with.

BUT post traumatic serious assault by r@pe you for sure want simply NOT to be examined by a person of the same sex,in trousers or skirt, that SEXually attacked you.

All these years of police improvements will be destroyed in a vote and we will be back way beyond the outrages exposed in the Thames Valley documentary over forty years ago.

Surely not by the SNP? Vote for the amendment!

And for those saying there are no trans examiners in Scotland currently. Laws are meant for all time.

Ten years ago would you have envisaged the SNP in the gametes grip of the Woke? AND jumping up to their every absurd wish. Well?

For FM Nicola to have ever seen Anchor(Scotland) as a threat and trying to stitch him up would just be a pure nonsense starting point to trying to understand what is happening here.

Why not see this as much more likely to be a U.K. civil service attack to try to ruin both Alex Salmondand Nicola Sturgeon.

Gender Bill is a potential distraction.

Scotland needs its own home made Civil Service!

Famous15

Stop trying to justify everything your hero Sturgeon does.

As usual, you talk utter fuckin shite.

Get back to the wee Gingerbread Man were you belong and let us get on with the business of bringing Sturgeon down.

Tom Platt: “ Why not see this as much more likely to be a U.K. civil service attack to try to ruin both ”

You don’t get to choose what you “see”. It isn’t a game.

Reality matters. Facts matter. Evidence matters.

I, like thousands of others, cancelled my SNP membership at the beginning of the year, after it became clear Sturgeon was not Interested in fighting for Scottish Independence.

By doing this, don’t you think we fell into the Murrell’s grand plan of getting shot of the “troublemakers”???

Because at the moment, we can’t do a single thing to influence the direction of policy or any decision making.

So howz this for a controversial change of direction in our thinking.

Why don’t we re-join the SNP on the minimum payment possible. I think it is about a pound per month.

It’s the last thing the Murrells would be expecting, for us to rejoin en masse and upset all the evil plans they have got in store for the up and coming election.

I have had this change of mind after seeing how difficult it was just trying to get people like Joanna Cherry elected to the NEC.

As I have said, I think with our mass cancellations, we fell right into the Murrell’s trap.

So I am seriously considering rejoining the SNP in January, just for the sole purpose of giving the good guys within the Party all the assistance they need to get indyRef2 back to the top of the agenda.

I was tempted to re-join the SNP after the NEC ‘victory’. But that plus my votes are the only tools I have to express my absolute disgust at their conduct and course.

If I re-join now, it will be taken as support for the ‘wheesht for Indy – LOOK AT THE POLLS, don’t scare the horses, Nicla has a secret plan’ brigade.

21 food shopping days till Brexshit.

How many mandates did we give them. And in return we lose Devolution, have our economy devastated and woman rights and safety compromised.

Sweinney and CosyFeet are my election area – I will NEVER vote for either again, and I have voted SNP all my voting life.

I deepy fear (and seriously hope I’m wrong) the rebellion of the NEC has just introduced gradualists who are just a little bit less gradualist than the ones they replaced.

It seems to me like the SNP are actively trying to lose votes, just enough so not to gain an overall majority to pursue a S30 but retaining power so they get another term in government. All other parties are unelectable and they know this.

They will blame Wings and other Independence figures for not backing Nicola. TBH unless something monumental happens before Brexit I think we’re ducked one way or the other. I have little faith the truth will come to light in time as they seem to have the whole system rigged.

A bit like the Hero of Haarlem, Peter keeps sticking his fingers in Dykes but to no avail. The flood of lies will eventually engulf the Hole in the Story Gang.But it’s taking its good time. Hope I’m awake at the end of it.

From Kenny McAskill in the Scotsman ,

Scottish independence: The old SNP is back and pressure is mounting on Nicola Sturgeon and co .

“ It’s safe to say that the elections to the SNP National Executive held last week didn’t produce the outcome the leadership had been seeking. “

link to archive.vn