As the long-running police probe into SNP finances continues, Wings received some slightly surprising news today in the form of an FOI response.
Based on reports from various trustworthy sources we’d expected to hear that the police side of the investigation was by this point winding down somewhat, with most matters of fact already established, detectives assigned to other duties and the ball now largely in the court of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
Because we’re still more than two years out from the next Holyrood election, and it’s really hard to see how it’s going to pan out. So let’s throw some figures around.
This is so freaky I had to check they weren’t quoting each other. It’s like a game show.
Just a couple of nice well-brought-up Hutchesons’ Grammar boys in smart suits, there, thinking the same, speaking the same, saying the same, and angling for the same job. (Which one of them now has, and the other may have soon.)
If there’s ever been a (branch office of a) political party that could somehow manage to blow it in Scotland against the burning trainwreck in a ditch full of sewage that is the SNP right now, it’s definitely Anas Sarwar’s hapless Scottish Labour.
Honestly, this stuff is comedy gold. But in a winner-takes-all dumb-off with Humza Yousaf’s SNP, it’s way too close to call.
One year ago today, Nicola Sturgeon suddenly resigned as First Minister. And what a spectacular 12 months it’s been for the Yes movement since her departure.
As Twitter followers will have noticed, we’ve been busy this week with an extensive remodelling of Wings HQ, which involved the main computer being out of commission for several days while the office was basically torn down and rebuilt from scratch. (It seemed a good time to do it, given that there’s nothing remotely of interest happening in Scottish politics.)
Unfortunately the lack of activity on the site caused the comments on the last post to degenerate into the most wretched playground shrieking match, so let’s see if we can’t distract the children and talk about something else for a bit.
Particularly alert observers will have noted that Kezia Dugdale, the most spectacularly inept and unsuccessful Scottish political leader in history, this week demitted her role as Director of the John Smith Centre, which she was handed as an incentive to quit Scottish Labour after dragging it to 14% in the opinion polls.
Northcode on The Gulf War: “P.P.S.If I have made any typos the day, and fowk hiv noticed, just ignore them… recovering from the effects of…” Jan 1, 13:02
willie on The Gulf War: “A Good New Year and a good article. The bond between independence and the SNP has indeed been broken. Where…” Jan 1, 13:00
Marie Clark on Off-topic: “Steak pie day for me too Tinto. Only myself and Mr C today, makes a change. I must say I’m…” Jan 1, 12:47
Vivian O’Blivion on The Gulf War: “All the naysayer commenters on this site rip ma knitting. James Kelly assures us that it must be “both votes…” Jan 1, 12:43
Northcode on The Gulf War: “Aye, ye hiv a braw talent, WoS, it cannae be denied. Yer nous and wit kin see the patterns vague…” Jan 1, 12:42
Northcode on The Gulf War: “I like the picture your sentiment paints in ma heid, Vivian O’Blivion. It is immense and it is glorious and…” Jan 1, 12:38
James Cheyne on The Gulf War: “If your going to vote, do the Cross in box yourself, demand the votes are counted where they are and…” Jan 1, 12:03
Vivian O’Blivion on The Gulf War: “Continental Drift will separate Scotland fae England, before the SNP does.” Jan 1, 11:57
James Cheyne on The Gulf War: “The SNP do not represent Scotland any more than Nigal Farage does. Both just turn their jackets inside out depending…” Jan 1, 11:35
James Cheyne on The Gulf War: “A happy new year to everyone, The bond between party and goal is broken.. Or The bond between politician and…” Jan 1, 11:20
Morag on The Gulf War: “I remember back in about 1994 there was a similar gulf between support for independence (one poll had it at…” Jan 1, 11:19
David Holden on The Gulf War: “Happy New Year to you all from a pile of rocks off the West coast of the colony also known…” Jan 1, 11:17
100%Yes on The Gulf War: “The SNP has shown to the voters that they aren’t any good in government, they have no ideas and out…” Jan 1, 11:15
Stuart MacKay on The Gulf War: “How big does that margin need to be before it attracts someone to fill that vacuum? And who would it…” Jan 1, 11:13
robertkknight on The Gulf War: “A guid New Year tae ane an aa / Bliadhna Mhath Ùr / Happy New Year Indy for Scotland! SNP…” Jan 1, 10:30
GM on The Fear Of The Briar: “All Alan’s contempt is aimed at Scotland, England or what he calls ‘GB & NI’ gets a pass presumably because…” Jan 1, 10:29
Ronnie on The Gulf War: “Happy New Year tae all. Surely even the most ardent SNP supporter must recognise that Swinney has tae go?” Jan 1, 10:17
Andy Ellis on The Gulf War: “Excellent analysis as always. A wee typographical lapse in No. 8 perhaps….. “even though their own support has only barely…” Jan 1, 09:50
Tinto Chiel on Off-topic: “And all the best in 2026 for you and the fambly, Ian. Steak Pie Day today and Mrs Chiel’s tiramisu:…” Jan 1, 09:43
duncanio on The Gulf War: “Great analysis, Rev. “The bond between party and goal is broken” is truly a reflection of the association between the…” Jan 1, 09:33
Marie on The Gulf War: “SNP? Not for me. (From a YES voter). Happy New Year.” Jan 1, 09:23
robertkknight on The Fear Of The Briar: “The National? Is that still in print? Who buys that pi$h FFS? And a guid New Year tae ane an…” Jan 1, 02:33
Rob on The Fear Of The Briar: “When has Scotland given mandate after mandate for independence? There was one referendum and it was naw. Voting for the…” Jan 1, 02:13
Al-Stuart on The Fear Of The Briar: “. Oh Stuart Campbell, I just love the forensic analysis and fact-rich way in which you write. Your logic unassailable.…” Jan 1, 00:23
Ian Brotherhood on Off-topic: “Good to see a wee flurry in this place! Just a few minutes to go and those big bad bells…” Dec 31, 23:55
DaveL on The Fear Of The Briar: “@ Alan Scott. You’re living in southern England so which set of muppets do you mean when you say ‘our…” Dec 31, 23:39
Alf Baird on The Fear Of The Briar: “There is no ‘United Kingdom’, its a myth. Scotland was annexed by England and the English crown rebranded as ‘UK’.” Dec 31, 23:37
Northcode on The Fear Of The Briar: “One last dig at the SNP before the bells ring in the new year. The desire of the Scots for…” Dec 31, 23:32
Tinto Chiel on Off-topic: ““My husband is the only other person who talks of those wooden stairs to Bedfordshire!” Age-related I suspect, like Lobey…” Dec 31, 23:14
