Winnie Ewing, who has sadly passed away a few weeks short of her 94th birthday, was the second SNP politician I ever heard of.
My dad met her, and would speak of her with Billy Wolfe, the party leader who was also his employer at a forest machinery company in Bathgate (and our family friend), during her second term as an MP in the UK Parliament.
She now joins my dad and Billy as people who worked for the cause of independence but died before it came to fruition, after many wasted years under the leadership of Nicola Sturgeon.
Still wondering what Humza Yousaf’s going to say to the SNP’s pretend “conference” on independence strategy this coming Saturday? Well, wonder no longer, because this morning he told Sky News.
In other words, he’s waving the white flag and praying for a miracle.
The Scottish National Party’s primary and defining purpose is Scottish independence. Next weekend’s “special conference” will at least notionally determine its policy on that subject for years to come. On the face of it it’s the most important congregation of party members in the SNP’s history.
The Caird Hall can accommodate just 3% of the claimed membership. (And you’d expect at least half the seats to have been reserved in advance for the faithful payroll.) Members ought to be fighting like dogs for a ticket. And yet a week before the event the leader is having to send out pleading letters to try to scare up enough attendees that it won’t be a half-empty humiliation.
Nicola Sturgeon has not been charged with any crime. Yesterday she was arrested, questioned and released without charge pending further investigation. We do not even know which specific suspected crime or crimes she was questioned in connection with, so it is manifestly impossible to meaningfully speculate on her innocence or guilt (save of course for the fact that all are innocent in the eyes of the law until proven otherwise, something Sturgeon herself often appears to forget).
Nevertheless, in Scotland the Contempt Of Court Act 1981 applies from the moment a person is arrested, as the country’s most senior lawyer and its official prosecution service were both keen to remind people yesterday in the clearest possible terms, and it applies equally whether you’re asserting someone’s guilt or their innocence.
So you need to be a really extra-special class of boneheaded numbwit to do this:
Northcode on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “I think we’re talking about two different things. Submitting documents, speaking at side-events, or having NGOs raise issues at the…” Sep 22, 16:10
Aidan on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Scotland has not been “recognised” in any meaningful way. Documents have been sent in, but the UN receives a whole…” Sep 22, 15:58
sam on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Scotland has been recognised within the UN framework regarding her claim as NSGT. Documents have been submitted to the UN,…” Sep 22, 15:35
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Short presentation by SARA SALYERS 6 days ago, on behalf of SALVO / LIBERATION SCOTLAND. www.youtube.com/watch?v=piEfPOlpI9k” Sep 22, 14:54
Spartan 117 on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Obviously nothing better to do. Likely retired or unemployed.” Sep 22, 14:38
Spartan 117 on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “You’ll need to ask Stu to release my post from the mod queue then, because I ain’t typing it all…” Sep 22, 14:35
Northcode on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “I agree with you — Scotland is not regarded as a Non-Self-Governing Territory. That’s precisely the point I’m making. Because…” Sep 22, 14:30
sam on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Hard to know but I’ll play the game. Gordon Brown. His “light touch” regulation of financial services helped to promote…” Sep 22, 14:22
Northcode on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Timor-Leste doesn’t refute the point I’m making, because its situation was fundamentally different. East Timor was already on the UN’s…” Sep 22, 14:21
Northcode on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “My point isn’t about how Article 73(e) is worded in isolation, but how it functions in UN practice. The clause…” Sep 22, 14:09
Alf Baird on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “On 20 May 2002, the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste came into force and Timor-Leste was recognised as…” Sep 22, 14:05
sam on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Northcode, “Declaration Regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories” “Article 73 Members of the United Nations which have or assume responsibilities for the administration…” Sep 22, 14:01
Alf Baird on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Your subjective viewpoint does not reflect the Article you refer to, which merely states the need for the administering Power:…” Sep 22, 13:38
Hatey McHateface on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “You mind me of somebody who used to be a regular on here. He had to stop suddenly – trouble…” Sep 22, 13:06
Hatey Mchateface on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “A likely story, Spartan 🙂 Why not mention an article by name, date and location. If it’s still online it…” Sep 22, 12:57
DaveL on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Almost twenty five percent of eighty posts from Hatey. What a gobby up himself know nothing obnoxious cunt he is!…” Sep 22, 12:46
Hatey McHateface on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Aw, shoot, Northy! Why de ye hae tae rain oan fowk’s parade lik that?” Sep 22, 12:26
Spartan 117 on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “@Hatey, I have just posted a list of 11 articles from a single MSM outlet alone over a 7 day…” Sep 22, 12:24
Hatey McHateface on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Surely you’re missing The Lobotomy? Or is that more efficiently administered through something added to Scottish Water?” Sep 22, 12:22
Hatey McHateface on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: ““She is going down and her handler protectors will have no hesitation in sacrificing her” Interesting how Sturgeon’s demise will…” Sep 22, 12:19
Northcode on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: ““Perhaps you missed it, Northcode” No, I didn’t miss Article 5 — it’s actually a good example of the distinction…” Sep 22, 12:12
Rob on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Don’t tempt the loonies, they will try and find an address to post the application to. 🙂” Sep 22, 12:08
Northcode on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “To clarify my point: Whether Salvo/Liberation Scotland has UN-experienced people involved isn’t really the issue here. The question isn’t about…” Sep 22, 11:55
Willie on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “When does Anas Sarwar take up his seat in the House of Lords. Sturgeon, Sarwar, Mone, Davidson, will be a…” Sep 22, 11:42
Alf Baird on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Perhaps you missed it, Northcode: “– that immediate steps shall be taken, in United Nations Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories or…” Sep 22, 11:38
Aidan on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Are the Ru**ians match funding any contribution?” Sep 22, 11:37
Mark Beggan on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “If that fails then you can apply to the United Federation of Planets. The Klingons are in the chair this…” Sep 22, 11:19
sarah on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “@ Northcode: I hope that you are mistaken. Salvo/Liberation have UN-experienced people in their committee. Perhaps you could contact Salvo…” Sep 22, 11:19
Northcode on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “The mission statement on Liberation Scotland’s crowdfunder page — “Liberation Scotland’s mission is to restore the sovereign, independent state of…” Sep 22, 10:59
