On 31 January last year everything changed. On that date – the one when Scotland was officially dragged out of the EU because it was in the UK, despite the SNP’s repeated pronouncements that such a thing would not happen – sane people finally woke up and realised that Nicola Sturgeon had no plan to secure independence.
Almost a year later, a shrinking rump of less-sane people are still clinging desperately to a variety of irrational beliefs (there’s still a secret genius strategy waiting to be unveiled and we simply can’t give away our hand yet; Boris Johnson is an honourable democrat and will cave in if the SNP get a majority in May’s election; magic pixies on unicorns will descend from the heavens and grant Scotland its freedom), but most of us have now realised that 31 January 2021 will be just as pivotal as 31 January 2020.
Because an awful lot of stuff is about to happen in a hurry.
Yesterday we noted that rational people arrive at decisions about things based on the facts, not the personalities of who else might support or oppose those things. But in the interests of balance, allow us to present the counterpoint.
As it happens, we agree with McDonald on NATO membership. It would be a pointless folly and an exercise in self-destructive virtue-signalling to leave an organisation which is willing to defend Scotland militarily for free because of its strategic location, and it would be extremely unpopular with the Scottish public (including SNP voters), no matter how much those on the left might wish otherwise.
His reasoning above, however, is a wretched embarrassment.
Because 2020 is the maddest year in history, Ruth Davidson opened her contribution to Holyrood’s debate on the Brexit deal today with a lengthy quote from this website.
Drew Hendry won a lot of praise from Yes supporters a few days ago when he seized the Mace in the Commons. It’s not easy to speak in the chamber at any time and doing so in the face of hostility from the Speaker is challenging indeed.
The institution of Parliament is, by its very design, geared towards control by the British establishment. Not only are all sides uniformly hostile, but even the staff and officials, usually so polite and deferential, turn on you. So it was an intimidatory atmosphere in which he acted and it can’t have been easy.
But the idea that Scottish MPs should routinely require to suffer the scorn and derision poured upon their nation and their people is long past its sell-by date. Much of the vitriol shouted wouldn’t be countenanced elsewhere and just because it’s supposedly Honourable Members who act in that manner doesn’t justify it. There comes a time when words aren’t enough.
Dr Tim Rideout is one of the most serious and respected people in the Yes movement and the SNP. As convener of the Scottish Currency Group he’s presently engaged in trying to solve the party’s self-inflicted weakness over its lack of a coherent currency policy, and he’s sufficiently highly rated by SNP members that earlier this month he was elected to the party’s Policy Development Committee.
So you might think he was entitled to a view on, well, development of policy.
If this site seems to spend most of its time being angry at the SNP these days, that’s because we are. And a large part of that is because there’s very little that hacks us off more than people insulting our intelligence.
Smith’s tweet is just a crassly offensive flat-out lie. This week’s vote is NOT about “EU membership”. The United Kingdom hasn’t been a member of the EU since 31 January. We’ve already left and there’s no going back. The vote is about whether we leave with a sliver of a trade deal slightly reducing the self-inflicted harm, or the total catastrophe of no deal at all, and it’s just crushingly embarrassing for all concerned that Smith thinks so little of his own supporters as to believe he can “frame” it otherwise.
There is no good position for the opposition parties in the House Of Commons to take on the impending Brexit deal vote this coming week.
It’s a terrible deal, and voting for it – as Labour will do – makes you look like an idiot, especially when it completely fails the “six tests” you swore never to vote for it without. On the other hand, time is absolutely up and were it to be somehow defeated the only alternative left to the deal would be a no-deal exit, which is the only thing worse.
James Che on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “An independence supporter would think of the word “Colonialism” when no treaty can be found linking or existing between Scotland…” Mar 10, 10:17
Alf Baird on Scotland’s Most Frightened: ““the comparatively very free and democratic country within which you live” ?? That forced Brexit on Scots agin oor wull?…” Mar 10, 10:17
Geri on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “YL As per usual – historians are divided. Countries confirmed the Japanese approached them seeking an off ramp & contacted…” Mar 10, 10:04
Alf Baird on Scotland’s Most Frightened: ““Why do you let the coloniser shape the thoughts in your heid” The colonized cannot prevent it, and that is…” Mar 10, 09:43
Aidan on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “The ironic thing Geri is in a medieval totalitarian dictatorship like Iran a gobshite like you would quickly find yourself…” Mar 10, 09:42
Northcode on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Good morning, James. Keep up the good work. If you weren’t right the colonysts wouldn’t be attacking you. And you…” Mar 10, 09:03
Northcode on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Good morning all you liberty seeking Scots out there in here… ready to give those Inglis(if they aren’t they should…” Mar 10, 08:50
Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: ““keep repeating the conversation … until the penny drops in Scotland” I am quite unable to comprehend whether or not…” Mar 10, 08:39
James Che on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Scotland only had a treaty with the parliament of England in 1707, Not the successor State of the parliament of…” Mar 10, 08:29
Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: ““a well run country” Because they are serious people and they elect serious people to run it. Generous supporters of…” Mar 10, 08:24
James Che on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Sven. Good morning to you, settling in fine thanks for asking, still delays in pension though, so I guess I…” Mar 10, 08:21
Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: ““the first day they were bombed they came out onto the streets in their millions” Thocht it wis tens o…” Mar 10, 07:56
The Flying Iron of Doom on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Hatey McHateface says: 9 March, 2026 at 6:03 pm “Scotland will have expressed it’s will” Ah. I see the problem…” Mar 10, 07:52
Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “I like it, Northy! A straight crib from the President Donald Trump playbook. Declare victory when the fecht’s hairdly ……” Mar 10, 07:49
Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Gloves oan, clothes peg at the ready, YL. That cam oot her lower intestine, alang wi much o the rest…” Mar 10, 07:40
Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Geri says: “Why on earth would an independence supporter support colonialism?” An excellent question, best answered by the pootfans whose…” Mar 10, 07:36
Young Lochinvar on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Geri “Japan had already surrendered when they dropped those bombs”.. That’s genuinely news to me, what’s the source of that…” Mar 10, 03:35
Geri on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Oh aye, forgot to mention, the first day they were bombed they came out onto the streets in their millions.…” Mar 10, 00:56
Cynicus on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Geri says: 9 March, 2026 at 10:12 pm “After a good rodgering with each other it’s ontae the bus to…” Mar 10, 00:47
Northcode on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “I’m afraid the colonialists who insist on posting here long after they have lost the day to the wit and…” Mar 9, 23:57
Geri on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Stop voting for these people. They have no mandate. Another good example of why that place should be closed. Idle…” Mar 9, 23:45
Geri on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Calm yersel, shitface. You’ll do yersel an injury. Are you sure it wisnae ten million they gunned down? Whit about…” Mar 9, 23:34
Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Stop, sarah! First consider how you could use this to eliminate people who disagree with you. Take your time, at…” Mar 9, 22:58
Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: ““Which really does help explain the Scots ‘No’ vote(r)” Great. Did anybody ask for that explanation? But why don’t you…” Mar 9, 22:52
sarah on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “O/T: Assisted Dying Bill vote in Holyrood tomorrow. The dangers of this Bill are obvious – just look at what…” Mar 9, 22:48
Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “Oh FFS, Geri. Get some help. Please. Their constitution just permitted between 20,000 and 30,000 of their citizens to be…” Mar 9, 22:42
Mark Beggan on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “It is very disturbing to see some of the comments on here supporting the evil regime of inbred gangsters. What…” Mar 9, 22:39
Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: ““Well done, everyone” Is that the same people you were telling to get tae fuck yesterday?” Mar 9, 22:34
Hatey McHateface on Scotland’s Most Frightened: “What’s your beef with batshit? Compared to some I could mention, batshit is the very epitome of calm rationalism.” Mar 9, 22:30
