Over the last few days, for want of anything more interesting happening in Scottish politics, we’ve been reviewing some of the entertainingly fluid criteria by which Unionist politicians used to assert that Scotland could supposedly achieve independence. But we hadn’t seen this one before:
A view apparently “almost universally shared among English Tory backbenchers” back in the late 1980s was that independence could be won by the SNP securing a majority of Scottish MPs at not one but two successive UK general elections.
Given that that line has now been crossed in THREE Westminster elections in a row, we’re all agog to find where Boris Johnson will move the goalposts to in his keenly-awaited response to the Scottish Government’s second Section 30 request, which he’s due to deliver any minute now.
We’ve never been able to actually confirm the oft-cited “quote” from Margaret Thatcher suggesting that the SNP winning a majority of Scottish seats at a UK election would constitute a mandate for independence, but here’s a verified more recent one from a then-serving Conservative PM.
“[John] Major has made it clear that a majority of SNP MPs after an election would serve as a mandate to begin negotiations for separation. There are no plans to hold a referendum”, said former Thatcher minister and party chairman Norman Tebbit a few months before the 1997 election.
It was a position the Tories held right up to 2010 – the last election at which the SNP didn’t win a majority of Scottish seats, at which point the goalposts magically shifted. Now, of course, the rule is that a majority of MPs doesn’t count, but you also can’t have a referendum.
Scotland is a prisoner without hope of parole. Time for a breakout.
We couldn’t help but raise a quizzical eyebrow at this assertion from SNP MP Pete Wishart in today’s Sunday National.
It was said in the specific context of securing a second indyref in 2020, and since such a referendum has NOT in fact been secured – and looks extremely unlikely to be – we wondered which other definition of “success” might be being used to justify the claim.
The 2010s end in a matter of hours, and everyone and their genderfluid dog is writing retrospectives of the 10 years just past. This site, which came into existence in the second year of the decade, has very little interest in following suit – we’ve always been about the future.
But a cursory glance over the shoulder does reveal one immediately striking fact that’s worthy of passing note.
We got blocked by LBC’s James O’Brien today for very gently and politely challenging him over this tweet:
And while this site most assuredly carries no torch for Jeremy Corbyn, it’s a reframing of reality that merits a bit of investigation for what it tells us about the UK media.
Innocent bystander on Blue In The Face: “Within the second paragraph of PS response they apologise that reference was made that they had been advised HOW to…” Jul 14, 20:50
robertkknight on Blue In The Face: ““Would be sweet karma if Nicola bust the SNP by self-obsessed accident.” I’d say by design rather than by accident.…” Jul 14, 20:19
Dan on Blue In The Face: “Aye, indeed it is a rather self-induced wretched state of affairs, but I’m not sad, more frustrated and somewhat angry…” Jul 14, 19:41
Young Lochinvar on Step One: “Pastor Fagat 2nd attempt to post this reply, fingers crossed this time. I am using your numbered list, see below…” Jul 14, 19:39
sarah on Blue In The Face: “Urgent and Important: Scotland’s independent legal status has just been directly denied by the UK government in the Court of…” Jul 14, 19:35
Chris on Blue In The Face: “Apologies Stuart,, I was a bit impatient, sorry.” Jul 14, 19:18
James on The Interests Of The Many: “Aye, just like you, petal. Why don’t you three get a ‘family room’ somewhere for a night?” Jul 14, 19:00
James on Blue In The Face: “Light bulb moment, Inglis?” Jul 14, 18:56
Wally Jumblatt on Blue In The Face: “I don’t know the details of the SNP’s Articles of Association or whatever, but I suspect that they are now…” Jul 14, 18:44
MP on Blue In The Face: “Worth the follow-up Q’s, but I think that they are saying (1) they knew that the money had been spent…” Jul 14, 18:44
agentx on Blue In The Face: “Those Bloody English!” Jul 14, 18:40
Alf Baird on Blue In The Face: “Aye Robert, for a people who are out of the game, “all roads lead to Rome”. The native seldom looks…” Jul 14, 18:32
Eric on Blue In The Face: “There seems to be more buck passing here. It states these “matters were … reported to the COPFS for guidance”.…” Jul 14, 18:25
barelybare on Blue In The Face: “I agree, Houston leaves us hanging by ending the story with report to COPFS. One could conclude he is saying…” Jul 14, 17:54
Captain Caveman on The Unstoppable Lie Machine: “Heh, well maybe – but not if we’re talking about the Court of Public Opinion? That’s really quite the cliff…” Jul 14, 17:17
Young Lochinvar on Step One: “AI Dun Well you would wouldn’t you! Remember; A is B, black is white and up is down in your…” Jul 14, 16:46
robertkknight on Blue In The Face: “It is becoming clearer by the day that Police Scotland and/or the COPFS have been told this far, (Murrell trial/conviction),…” Jul 14, 16:35
Andy Ellis on Step One: “@Young Lochinbore I see you have comprehension difficulties on top of you other issues. The point of the list is…” Jul 14, 16:33
Young Lochinvar on The Unstoppable Lie Machine: “Pastor Fagat & 1.51 The classroom creep.. “Please Miss! Please Miss! Please Miss!; Alf used the “C” word!!!!”” Jul 14, 16:30
Aidan on Step One: ““Some English person took the piss out of Scots and therefore we better deny all English people living in Scotland…” Jul 14, 16:28
Young Lochinvar on The Unstoppable Lie Machine: “Confused Now now, that’s enough of that! Poor AI Dun will have swooned requiring a touch of the vapours after…” Jul 14, 16:25
Thistle's Bristles on Hey Lord Don’t Ask Me Questions: “‘His lawyer says he is “Overwhelmed by feelings of embarrassment & shame” ‘ Who is? That is, does the ‘he’…” Jul 14, 16:22
Young Lochinvar on The Unstoppable Lie Machine: “Ld Pal Val might have something to say about that!! 🙂 Anyway, it’s widely held that she doesnae like the…” Jul 14, 16:08
Rev. Stuart Campbell on Blue In The Face: “You sure? They’re usually out in August.” Jul 14, 16:05
Rev. Stuart Campbell on Blue In The Face: “I haven’t deleted any comments on this thread.” Jul 14, 16:03
Rev. Stuart Campbell on Blue In The Face: “I have of course already drafted an FOI to that effect 🙂” Jul 14, 16:01
Rev. Stuart Campbell on Blue In The Face: “I think Ian means US holding a fundraiser to bring a judicial review, not the SNP doing one.” Jul 14, 16:01
Northcode on The Unstoppable Lie Machine: “Those chickens have grown wings and flown off to Portugal, or some similar sunny place, never to return to their…” Jul 14, 15:56
