We’ve watched in growing amazement this morning as some Remain supporters have tried to spin last night’s election results as somehow representing a Remain victory. Much of it has been based on this batshit-mad graphic from the BBC website:
Despite in some ways being the most tumultuous election result in UK history (in terms of the near-destruction of the two main parties), it also changed almost nothing.
…for the EU election results, a reminder of days gone by.
Inexplicably, the Scottish Tory manifesto for the 2014 Euro election forgot to include the paragraph saying “Of course, if you vote No this September, then England votes to leave the EU in the most catastrophic manner possible, Scotland will be dragged out too no matter how it voted, and we’ll just tell you to shut up if you complain about it”.
It was probably meant to go in that space at the end, but you know how it is, mistakes happen. No harm done, eh?
So Theresa May has handed in her notice. She will formally resign as Conservative Party leader on June 7, triggering a leadership election which will be concluded by “the end of July”, until which time she’ll continue as a powerless lame-duck caretaker PM.
I’ve just been out to vote in the European elections, because as a rule I think people should vote in stuff. And while it was a very difficult choice, in the end I voted for the only sane option. (Click pic to view.)
Almost nine in ten Scottish voters now back a second referendum on independence. This rather startling news was brought to us at the weekend by an unlikely source, in the form of walking brain vacuum Annie Wells MSP.
Wells was absolutely unequivocal that NO other vote this Thursday – not Labour, not Lib Dem, not Brexit Party – would constitute opposition to a second indyref.
(She emphasised the point by RTing a tweet from the Scottish Tories’ boorish and obnoxious head of media Adam Morris which described both Nigel Farage and Vince Cable as “weak on Scotland’s place in the UK”.)
We watched the whole of the Labour shadow Scottish Secretary’s interview on this morning’s Sunday Politics Scotland, and can confirm that this is a wholly accurate representation of what she said on it with regard to Labour’s position on Brexit.
So for those of you keeping score: Labour does NOT support a second referendum, does NOT support the current deal, does NOT support no deal, but WOULD vote for the current deal if it included a second referendum, and would INSIST on a second referendum on any alternative deal.
Honestly, we have no idea why anyone’s still confused.
The Herald has a story this morning about the Secretary of State for Scotland, a man who readers may recall promising that Scotland would benefit financially from the UK government’s £1.5bn bung to the DUP (which then didn’t happen), and threatening to resign over Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement (which he didn’t do, then denied ever saying), and promising to do everything he could to oppose a no-deal Brexit but then abstaining on a vote to rule it out (and refusing to resign despite being a government minister who had refused a government whip).
William G Walker on The Curious Fringes: “Well Done Heather McLean! So much sense from her. I particularly liked: “5 years of incompetent, ineffective, idiotic, corrupt, virtu-signalling,…” Dec 29, 22:15
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Curious Fringes: “Of general interest. Hints of current Trump support for putative breakaway of oil-rich province of Alberta from the Canadian confederation.…” Dec 29, 22:08
Andy Ellis on A matter of class: “I agree. However the fact that – at least at present – the strongest defenders of women’s rights and opponents…” Dec 29, 21:54
sarah on The Curious Fringes: “Northcode, I am only asking the Rev to increase, if possible, his efforts for the improvement of Holyrood and the…” Dec 29, 21:48
Northcode on A matter of class: “It’s six syllables, Alf… a big ask for the colonialists who fart aboot this joint.” Dec 29, 21:12
Northcode on The Curious Fringes: ““Please, Rev. Scotland needs you.” I fear you might be wasting fingertip skin there, Sarah. Better following Alf’s suggestion and…” Dec 29, 21:09
Alf Baird on A matter of class: “‘Colonialism’ seems a hard word for some to say.” Dec 29, 20:52
Alf Baird on The Curious Fringes: “Yes Sara, the Liberate Scotland alliance is the only serious option for the independence movement in May’s national election: “We…” Dec 29, 20:41
sarah on The Curious Fringes: “Exactly, Heather. This is why it is vital that we do all we can to inform people about the candidates…” Dec 29, 20:39
Northcode on A matter of class: “That’s great, good for Ireland. The things a country can do when it isn’t colonised, eh? Maybe the President of…” Dec 29, 20:36
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on A matter of class: “Teachtaireacht na Nollag ón Uachtarán Connolly / Christmas Message from President Catherine Connolly (22 Dec 2025) Is é seo an…” Dec 29, 20:06
Colin Alexander on A matter of class: ““You can’t redefine facts just by saying words”. says Chatgpt. You mean like calling imperialism a union or commonwealth? “Yes…” Dec 29, 19:53
Northcode on A matter of class: ““My contention is that the public persecution of Nurse Peggie (and numerous other Scots) is primarily due to ethnic discrimination……” Dec 29, 19:08
Heather McLean on The Curious Fringes: “If I wasn’t feeling depressed before I surely am now “ the party that’s been in power for the previous…” Dec 29, 18:51
Rev. Stuart Campbell on The Curious Fringes: “Yes, that’s very likely the cause of a couple of recent spikes in Scottish Greens polling.” Dec 29, 18:35
Rev. Stuart Campbell on The Curious Fringes: “He did? I missed that one 😀” Dec 29, 18:33
Robert on The Curious Fringes: “I suspect many potential Green voters don’t actually know that Zack Polanski heads a completely different party (and one that…” Dec 29, 18:27
Northcode on A matter of class: ““WHAT PART OF “DO NOT POST THE SAME COMMENT…” Since nothing much is happening in this place at the moment…” Dec 29, 17:51
Andy Wiltshire on The Curious Fringes: “Totally OT, but does anyone know when Sandie Peggie’s appeal is likely to be heard?” Dec 29, 17:07
J Galt on The Curious Fringes: “According to another blogger, who shall remain nameless but who appears to hang on your every word, to discuss Reform…” Dec 29, 17:03
sarah on The Curious Fringes: “Rev, now that you are in a good mood what with Aberdeen only losing 1 match in the last 6,…” Dec 29, 16:31
Andy Ellis on The Curious Fringes: “It is interesting to see the levels of self delusion around amongst too many in Scottish politics Stu. As you…” Dec 29, 16:18
Vivian O’Blivion on The Curious Fringes: “Not content with polluting my YouTube feed with ubiquitous, targeted advertising featuring Anas Sarwar’s baw heed fizzog, the Royal Mail,…” Dec 29, 16:06
Itsahuvtaecase on The Curious Fringes: “Politics is about perception and only this, as Swinney and post Indy SNP is perceived as a Devo masked Yoon…” Dec 29, 15:57
Northcode on The Curious Fringes: “It isn’t THAT nice to have him back posting – but that’s just my opinion and not for any reason…” Dec 29, 15:52
willie on A matter of class: “The reality one can only suspect is that the UK cannot afford social contracts by which I suspect means pay…” Dec 29, 15:51
James Cheyne on The Curious Fringes: “Betwixt the devil and the deep blue sea. A vote for a union party like Reform Or A vote for…” Dec 29, 15:49
Blackhack on The Curious Fringes: “John Swinney went in for an arsehole transplant…..But the arsehole rejected him.” Dec 29, 15:46