The Scottish Greens, in a feat of remarkable hubris and financial profligacy, stood 44 candidates in this week’s general election, knowing that most of them would lose their deposits, which they duly did.
But not quite all of them. And there the comedy arose.
Because while SNP boneheads on social media are raging idiotically at Alba, Wings and others for causing division and damaging the unity of the indy cause yada yada yada, a small handful of Green candidates made a real difference.
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.
I was going to write this article yesterday, but 2024’s miserable damp squib of a summer unexpectedly delivered a beautiful day – a perfect 20C of unbroken sunshine with a refreshing slight breeze – so I went for a nice walk instead.
Rather than my usual bird-feeding and bear-patrolling beat along the river and canal, I headed off on what used to be my standard summer stroll: up the long steep hill to Beckford’s Tower and its associated cemetery with stunning views over the city.
I’ll scatter a few pics from the walk throughout this feature, as otherwise I’m afraid it’s going to be a bit depressing and angering.
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.
When you’ve been watching Scotland playing football for 50 years of your life, you become accustomed to disappointment. You expect disappointment. Anything better than disappointment becomes a bonus.
Young Lochinvar on The Pit Of Vipers: “Lorncal To make ordered reading of the thread I think your post should have been a reply to my 13.38…” Apr 22, 14:32
Lorncal on The Pit Of Vipers: “YL; personally, I think that the so-called feminization of society is a load off old b******s. It is the usual…” Apr 22, 14:10
Colin Alexander on The Pit Of Vipers: “how do you know those things? “second-home owners were getting votes” anecdotal evidence. “temporary residents, foreign students” franchise was officially…” Apr 22, 13:52
Young Lochinvar on The Pit Of Vipers: “Lorncal Disagree with you on this one. Ok, Just for a moment; imagine Sturgeon was an instigator or ringleader. What…” Apr 22, 13:38
Young Lochinvar on The Pit Of Vipers: “I see (no pun intended) that the Lyrid meteor shower could be visible in night skies. Sort of thing that’s…” Apr 22, 13:11
Aidan on The Pit Of Vipers: ““We know second-home owners were getting votes, temporary residents, foreign students, dead people etc. We know postal votes were being…” Apr 22, 11:57
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Pit Of Vipers: “PAUL ROBESON SINGS FOR SCOTTISH MINERS (1949) www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0bezsMVU7c” Apr 22, 11:16
Colin Alexander on The Pit Of Vipers: “Before 2014 Alex Salmond proposed a multi-option ballot that included Home Rule / Devo-Max. The UK Govt refused. (Opinion polls…” Apr 22, 11:04
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Pit Of Vipers: “PAUL ROBESON: On colonialism, African-American rights. (3 mins, Spotlight, ABC,1960) www.youtube.com/watch?v=puOIdh944vk” Apr 22, 10:58
Dominic Berry on The Pit Of Vipers: “You get the sense that these people think that anything is permissible as long as you don’t get caught. And…” Apr 22, 10:30
Alf Baird on The Pit Of Vipers: “Yes, in a colonial society we might expect all social institutions to be colonial in terms of their allegiance and…” Apr 22, 09:58
Frank Gillougley on The Pit Of Vipers: “After all this time of him being in the political domain, isn’t it kinda obvious to everyone with any nous,…” Apr 22, 08:42
Aidan on The Pit Of Vipers: “What surprises me the most is obviously not turkeys not wanting to vote for Christmas, but the relative ambivalence of…” Apr 22, 08:01
Young Lochinvar on The Pit Of Vipers: “George Sorry brother I’m an atheist after a youth spent being dragged weekly to fairly hardcore COS. I worked out…” Apr 22, 00:44
100%Yes on The Pit Of Vipers: “James Kelly, reveals a bit more of the family home. This time with his bedroom and some of his favorite…” Apr 21, 22:57
Young Lochinvar on The Pit Of Vipers: “Thanks Sven I typed that on the hoof without checking. Sorry. Appreciate it! 🙂” Apr 21, 22:00
George Ferguson on The Pit Of Vipers: “@Young Lochinvar I genuinely think people dont understand what is happening. The Lord High Commissioner did a great job last…” Apr 21, 21:11
Sven on The Pit Of Vipers: “I believe it’s the other way round for the Scripture reference, YL, 32:23. Very appropriate.” Apr 21, 20:50
George Ferguson on The Pit Of Vipers: “@Young Lochinvar 7:22pm I am OK with the King appointing the Lord High Commissioner for the second time. A Catholic…” Apr 21, 20:41
Young Lochinvar on The Pit Of Vipers: “100 percenter Yup, Does make you think doesn’t it? Wouldn’t be surprised if Mrs Redacto was a COS elder as…” Apr 21, 20:40
100%Yes on The Pit Of Vipers: “It appears to me Sturgeon power is entirely from people she has around her, who are complete and utter morons…” Apr 21, 20:18
100%Yes on The Pit Of Vipers: “Reply to Young Lochinvar Sarah What must Swinney’s wife think to all this, she has to know. If the rolls…” Apr 21, 20:09
Young Lochinvar on The Pit Of Vipers: “Lorncal The phrases you are looking for are: -Stairheid rammies -Manipulation -Daren’t leave the group incase they get talked about…” Apr 21, 19:41
Young Lochinvar on The Pit Of Vipers: “Screams; GUILTY.. Nae wonder Sturgeon was in tears of gratitude when he said he’d take over eh!? Can’t last forever…” Apr 21, 19:22
sarah on The Pit Of Vipers: “100%Yes: I don’t subscribe to the National but saw this story posted by other independence supporters. It is a shocker.” Apr 21, 19:18
Young Lochinvar on The Pit Of Vipers: “C’mon Wullie Cicero is uber untrendy now after Bojo the Clown used him as an example in his getting sacked…” Apr 21, 19:16
100%Yes on The Pit Of Vipers: “You subscribe to the national, just wondering what is it you get from this Rag??” Apr 21, 19:05
Young Lochinvar on The Pit Of Vipers: “Lorncal Faggats and their legions of handmaidens..” Apr 21, 19:04
