The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland



When winning is the only thing 185

Posted on March 05, 2021 by

What puzzles many about the Alex Salmond situation is motive. It’s incredibly difficult for some Yes supporters to imagine any motive that could justify the awfulness of what Alex Salmond has been put through by his successor, and so they reject the whole idea of any sinister goings-on out of hand.

However, it’s far easier to understand what went on when you look at the personality of Nicola Sturgeon and her historical pattern of behaviour.

Because the core fact is that Sturgeon simply cannot bear to lose. She’s very single-minded, and doesn’t really adapt or regroup in the face of adversity. When events and new information make problems for her ideas and plans, she just keeps going – often creating more problems as she tries to force the plan back on track.

Sturgeon’s main priority – in common with most politicians – is to stay in power and to boost her own image and profile. We can look at some hot topics and her behaviour around them, and gain clear insights into what happened to Alex Salmond and why.

Read the rest of this entry →

How to make a coup 132

Posted on February 02, 2021 by

Having never been part of a political party, an area where Wings lacks expertise is in understanding the nuts and bolts of their operation, and how a party’s rules can be used to usurp their members’ power. We’re delighted to have someone equipped to provide a valuable insight into how that’s happened to the SNP in the last two years.

The following line is still a definitive statement in the SNP constitution:

“National Conference is the supreme governing and policy-making body of the Party.”

But in practice it is no longer the case. The 2018 redraft of the constitution centralised power in the Leader and in the NEC. The party Leader has sole and total power over policy – both in the manifesto and in government – and the NEC has sole power over who represents the party and what they are allowed to say.

So in effect, since 2018 the party elite – not the membership – has ruled the SNP.

Read the rest of this entry →

  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a (mainly) Scottish political media digest and monitor, which also offers its own commentary. (More)

    Stats: 6,690 Posts, 1,208,771 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

  • Recent Comments

    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Mandy Rhodes: ?“Flynn thought he was the oxygen needed to breathe life into a moribund party, but he could yet…Jan 14, 12:28
    • Mark Beggan on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Only problem is they’re British Racing Green.Jan 14, 12:27
    • Mark Beggan on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “I’ve gotta lovely pair of Penelope Keith garden wellingtons..Jan 14, 12:26
    • Mark Beggan on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “What size of shoe are you?Jan 14, 12:25
    • Mark Beggan on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “I was going to say ‘use this mask and get away with murder’ but I thought better of it.Jan 14, 12:24
    • robertkknight on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “If they’re the black pvc ones with the fake pony tail and the zipper across the mouth, then I’ve already…Jan 14, 12:18
    • Alf Baird on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “A good article, however, Robin rather misses a key point in his listing of certain other prosecutions that were more…Jan 14, 12:14
    • Mark Beggan on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Largactil can work wondersJan 14, 12:13
    • Mark Beggan on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Nothing missing?Jan 14, 12:11
    • Mark Beggan on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “How did the operation go.Jan 14, 12:11
    • Mark Beggan on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Gregor!!Jan 14, 11:54
    • Mark Beggan on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “I’ve just ordered a hundred thousand Sturgeon face masks… … Anyone care for a free mask..Jan 14, 11:53
    • diabloandco on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Most excellent! Thanks for the link.Jan 14, 11:50
    • Mark Beggan on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Baby boxes were designed for refugee camps they are also intended as coffins.Jan 14, 11:47
    • Mark Beggan on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Makes Mandy Rhodes article look like a Ladybird guide to Scottish politics.Jan 14, 11:43
    • diabloandco on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Nicky -tams??? For those who don’t know they were bits of string tied round trousers at the knee to stop…Jan 14, 11:34
    • gregor on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “The Independent: There’s a lesson for all politicians in Kezia Dugdale’s resignation…: “All political careers end in failure… Dugdale has…Jan 14, 11:26
    • robertkknight on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Link B useful… When does post-Sturgeon begin? | RobinMcAlpine.org https://robinmcalpine.org/when-does-post-sturgeon-begin/Jan 14, 11:25
    • Royston on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Not at all like the Yookay then…Jan 14, 11:24
    • gregor on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “The Fraud (2025): Ex-Scottish Labour leader calls out ‘awful’ Nicola Sturgeon coverage: “EX-Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has called out…Jan 14, 11:18
    • Socrates MacSporran on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “That is some piece Robin McAlpine posted yesterday about Sturgeon. He doesn’t miss her and hit the wall. Should be…Jan 14, 11:13
    • Marie on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Well written piece. As a disappointed “yes” voter I’m glad I never gave the SNP a single penny of my…Jan 14, 10:54
    • Alf Baird on Inability To Learn: “Yes Sam, Scotland with a similar population but with far more resources than Ireland is forced to make do with…Jan 14, 10:31
    • James Gardner on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “The Finns started the Baby Box but tied it in with parenting classes etc. Scot Gov only did the the…Jan 14, 09:59
    • James Gardner on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “She’ll need loads of cash, lawyers ain’t cheap an’ the SNP heid office is skint so nae haun oots ther……..Jan 14, 09:54
    • Ian Smith on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Was Murrell told, or was it a typical dash to the cameras.Jan 14, 09:52
    • James Gardner on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Donations have since nose dived……Jan 14, 09:46
    • Ally R on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Has there ever been a less successful leading Minister in the UK let alone Scotland? Even people like BoJo managed…Jan 14, 09:46
    • Robert on Inability To Learn: “O/T, but on the Branchform delay … Could it be that the police haven’t found any serious criminality (no money…Jan 14, 09:39
    • James Gardner on Nicola’s Non-Truths: “Done.Jan 14, 09:39
  • A tall tale



↑ Top