The New Britain
So things are getting pretty strange.
Polling in Scotland, the UK and Wales in the last few days has shown Great Britain taking a fairly heavy swerve to the right after just five months of Sir Keir Starmer’s government. Labour now lead Reform (who have five seats to Labour’s 411) by just three points in the UK and are even more remarkably now in THIRD place in Wales, a country where the party has won every single election for over 100 years.
Scotland, meanwhile, is heading for a hung Parliament in 2026 in which – as this site has been telling its readers for the last year and a half – the only possibility of a stable administration will be an SNP-Labour coalition.
We live, as they say, in interesting times.
(Our dear cousins across the Irish Sea, incidentally, are in a similar boat. Last week’s election to the Dáil left the nation so split, with no party able to achieve even 22% of the vote, that a coalition of FOUR parties might be required to get anything done.)
In so far as a single conclusion can be drawn from these disparate political situations, it’s that public disillusionment with all major parties is at an all-time high, the unifying evidence being the surge in support for Reform – even in Scotland, where the party has basically zero presence but is currently set to take as many as 14 seats, and could well have an even more dramatic effect on the political map than the projection above.
So, y’know, it’s not all bad.
What’s left of the much-reduced Scottish political blogosphere has mostly reacted to these developments with either catatonic indifference or wild outbreaks of denial, clutching at all manner of straws to pretend that there’s any credible prospect of a pro-indy majority after the next Holyrood election.
18 months is a long time in politics, but we’re going to call this one early: there is zero prospect of a pro-indy majority after the next Holyrood election. None. Barring a nuclear war or an alien invasion or some equally implausible revolutionary event, it’s simply not happening, and our first job is to deal with that fact, because otherwise we’re going to waste another year-and-a-half chasing unicorns before we get down to any serious work. And that hasn’t worked out too well in the last decade.
Scottish Labour’s short-lived lead in the polls was always a passive one derived from people’s disgust with the SNP, rather than based on any surge of enthusiasm for Anas Sarwar’s wet lettuce of a branch office, and Keir Starmer has well and truly torpedoed it with his impossibly hapless start in 10 Downing Street.
But people who were so disenchanted with the SNP that they voted for a party as dismally weak as Scottish Labour aren’t just going to fall back in love with John Swinney’s rolling binfire. Nor do they show any inclination to vote for any of the new indy parties, however much we might all like to believe otherwise.
Instead, like Americans did last month, they appear increasingly inclined to vote in the manner which most expresses their loathing for the entire political establishment. And while wealthy banker Nigel Farage is nobody’s idea of a plucky outsider, these things are relative, and he’s been so ostracised and vilified by mainstream parties and the cultural media for the last 20 years that he just about fits the bill for people who feel that nobody else is even pretending to listen to them.
(As a side note, Wings always felt, and said at the time, that Alex Salmond calling his new party “Alba” was a terrible misjudgement. It now appears to be widely-agreed wisdom that an obsession with minority identity politics is at the root of the malaise affecting parties of the broad left, and what could signal that more strongly than naming your party in a language spoken by even fewer voters in Scotland than there are transgender people? Like it or not, most Scots find Gaelic a total irrelevance at best, actively alienating at worst, and Salmond swiftly giving in to the people who demanded he pronounce it “Aluhpa” just compounded the issue. It immediately put public perception of the new party back where the SNP was in the early 70s, dismissed as a bunch of nutty fringe teuchters in Rob Roy costumes, before – ironically – Salmond himself modernised and professionalised it.)
For a few years now we’ve called it the “Fuck You” vote.
And it doesn’t matter how much we warn people, they refuse to listen.
But shutting your eyes and sticking your fingers in your ears doesn’t make it go away.
And here we are again.
Only the Tories have learned anything in Scotland, electing the competent and fairly sane Russell Findlay as their new leader, but it’s probably too late to save them – years of damage at the hands of the idiot Douglas Ross and the inconceivably farcical UK party are unlikely to be repaired any time soon, even despite Kemi Badenoch’s impressively quick turnaround of Tory fortunes in England.
She’s taken them from just 23.7% in the general election to as high as 30% just a few days ago by pushing the Conservatives to the right on a range of issues, but the revival seems to be in addition to growing support for Reform rather than despite it.
Extraordinarily, just five months after an election in which Labour won a 174-seat majority, the parties of the UK right now lead the party of the notional left by around 20 points, and Labour is responding by triangulating further and further right on issues like immigration and welfare, which only serves to bring Reform closer to the effective centre and makes voting for them easier.
Wishful thinkers in Scotland suggest that the UK’s rightward shift will serve to make independence a more attractive prospect, but that’s a desperate fantasy for a whole clutch of reasons, perhaps most pertinently that the supposed party of independence has absolutely no strategy for achieving it. The SNP tried to ride that horse in July’s election (“Vote for us and we’ll achieve independence by er um mumble mumble something”), and crashed and burned spectacularly. Nobody remotely sane is buying the dead puppy in a paper bag they’re selling.
(It would be a tough enough job at the best of times, but the current leader is no salesman. His almost parodically robotic sermon of bland, vacuous wonkspeak for St Andrew’s Day would have sent a hummingbird to sleep.)
Of course, it’s at this point that people ask what our solutions are. And unfortunately we don’t have a magic rabbit to pull out of a hat. The answers are the same as they always are – stop trying to force niche ideologies onto people that they don’t want. Stop making their lives worse at every single turn because you have neither the resources nor the basic competence to make them better. Stop putting up their trainfares, stop punishing them for driving the wrong kind of car or liking the wrong food, stop grooming their children, stop wanging on about Gaza, and all the rest of it.
None of it is remotely rocket science. All of the data showing how the electorate feels about these things is out there in plain sight. But our politicians, across parties, are pathologically obsessed with social engineering, trying to create the public they wish existed rather than serve the one that does.
So who are we even talking to? There, readers, is the rub. The SNP aren’t listening. Alba aren’t being listened to. The latest new indy party couldn’t even manage to have a website organised in time for their launch, and isn’t running in 2026 anyway.
We’re probably on extremely shaky ground trying to explain things by way of reference to the popular Nintendo videogame series Advance Wars. (Older readers can apply most of the following to the boardgame Risk instead, the fundamentals are the same.)
But take it from us – the key lesson of that game is that you don’t send weak troops into battle. If your units have taken a battering you retreat to your bases to recover, regroup and reinforce. Staying out in the field, sending infantry with sticks and stones up against tank divisions, just gets you slaughtered.
We’ve lost our most skilled general and the former High Command is full of cowards, idiots and traitors, (and soon bankrupt to boot). This is a defensive phase. We need to hunker down in a fortified position, start facing up to some hard facts, and not come back out until we’re in fighting shape.
If that sounds like woolly rhetoric, well, it sort of is. But what it really is is a call for a return to first principles, and that means stopping telling voters that they’re wrong. It means stopping telling them that independence means a bunch of stuff happening that they don’t want.
We need to offer them a country where THEY get to decide things. We need to tell them that they can elect whoever they want in an indy Scotland, even parties WE don’t like. Because until we can agree on that basic core premise, and stop insulting their choices and their priorities and their freedoms, they’re going to keep saying “Fuck You”, louder and louder and louder, until it’s the only voice anyone can hear.
Spot on yet again.
Immigration both legal and illegal, is the far and away biggest issue in the UK. Reform UK is the only party that confronts the centrality of this issue for the health service, the education system and the fabric of society. The momentum throughout the whole UK is with Reform. In my nearly 80 years I’ve never known a more exciting time.
Without immigration, the health service would collapse. I assume you’re a fit and healthy 80 year old.
That’s a circular argument. Immigrants are needed to replace British workers who are not encouraged to work either for Benefits reasons or ludicrous anti work taxation policies. Of course the hundreds of thousands of immigrants then need more immigrants to provide for their health needs and so on.
So let’s see if I have this right?
These anti-work taxation policies only affect “British Workers” but not immigrant workers in the NHS?
How does that work as a process? Is it something to do with Schrödinger?
It would also be useful to have the definition of what is being considered an “immigrant” here?
Thank you.
“These anti-work taxation policies only affect “British Workers” but not immigrant workers in the NHS?” Most immigrant workers do not work in the NHS nor do most British workers. The NHS may well pay wages that are more attractive than Benefits-plus-wages to both British native workers and immigrants.
The fact is that many people are unable to see the point of entering the work force (not simply the NHS) because of taxation policies that remove benefits on a scale pro-rata with wages earned and where the tax bands start at such low levels. (Reform wants wages under 20k excluded).
However to restrict ourselves to the NHS, it is the case that we employ thousands of immigrants to treat many more thousands of immigrants, as any visit to A & E will confirm or any attempt to get a GP appointment will show. Of course the NHS can’t cope without immigrants precisely because of the masses of immigrants using it.
I’m surprised you don’t know what an immigrant is. They are people who immigrate to the UK for economic reasons mainly and whose numbers have recently been revealed to be in numbers about the size of the City of Leeds. Some immigrants call themselves “asylum seekers” (sic) and they are illegal having broken into the country. They need health services, schools and use of the infra structure and often do not share our culture in any way. Which takes us back to the enormous success of Reform UK.
Ted, the original context of Derek Thompson’s question to which you replied was the NHS
“Without immigration, the health service would collapse.”
And that was the context of my first question.
To which you still have not supplied an evidence based response.
You state: “The fact is that many people are unable to see the point of entering the work force (not simply the NHS) because of taxation policies that remove benefits on a scale pro-rata with wages earned and where the tax bands start at such low levels.”
That will be the case for ALL people in employment, immigrant as well as non-immigrant.
Your original statement that “British workers who are not encouraged to work either for Benefits reasons or ludicrous anti work taxation policies” implies that this is only the case for British workers and not for workers who are “immigrants”.
Hence the request to explain how this actually works?
Dealing with the issue of the concept of “immigrant” I see that it will be necessary to simplify the question to Janet and John level:
Does YOUR definition of “immigrant” include ALL people coming to work or study in this country, or is it limited to particular groups of immigrants and not others?
Whilst we are on the subject, two observations occur:
Firstly, the issue you define is easily solvable. All that is required is to remove the demand. This can be done by;
(a) The UK, among others, to cease interfering directly and indirectly (through proxies) in other countries by bombing them back to the Stone Age.
(b) The UK, among others, ceasing to interfere in the economic development and progress of other countries by aggressively imposing economic policies which insist on privatising their infrastructures and resources for the benefit of UK and other Western corporations.
It is not quantum mechanics. Libya, to cite merely one among numerous examples, was the richest country on the African continent until it was wrecked, with UK support. Add in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Lebanon, Syria, Ukraine et al.
And even then the UK is only receiving a tiny fraction of the refugees our Government created compared to the neighbouring states of those countries cited above.
Moving on to your evidence free claim that the NHS is only treating immigrants, I have tell you not only that you are factually wrong but also that you are talking nonsense.
Try that line with the exercise class of cancer patients I am presently attending, and they will fall about with the derision that nonsense deserves.
Not one of them is an immigrant. Yet all of us were dealt with speedily, professionally, effectively and efficiently by the offspring of both native and immigrant employees in the NHS. Not just immediately but over months.
Since my initial diagnosis in January, I’ve been through Urology, Hepatology, Haematology, and Cancer as well as the speciality dealing with my bowel cancer. I have experience none of the problems you claim to exist not has anyone else I know.
Similarly, I have this afternoon visited a friend who has just been discharged home from surgery to remove a benign brain tumour. They tell me the same story of their experience.
I spent last Easter in a hospital ward where, on Easter Friday morning I was woken up by one of the male nurses whose parents were originally from India who wished me a “Happy Good Friday”.
In seventy years of orbit around the sun, I have yet to witness a reverse of this – i.e where someone from another culture is greeted in similar fashion by someone from Britain.
Your statements in this regard are myths. Fed to the naive and gullible by a corporate media and unscrupulous chancers and hypocrites like Farage and others like him. Who then repeat this evidence free nonsense at odds with the everyday experiences of real people.
This is no different to the shite the woke put out. They are rightfully challenged for their evidence free nonsense and told they are wrong. You are equally wrong, Ted.
Reform (and the lizard Farage) also want to abolish the NHS and introduce private healthcare akin to the US model. Let’s hope that either a. they never get near power (but I fear the masses are turning into dolts) or b. you never get ill.
“…the NHS can’t cope without immigrants precisely because of the masses of immigrants using it.”
Dearie, dearie, dearie. Desperate stuff.
Imagine people in this country voting for far-right wing parties. Have we learned nothing?
Better get our blackshirts hunted out.
Trebles all round, what!
It’s not just Reform trying to replace the NHS & SNHS with private health care.
Haven’t you noticed planned and wilful destruction by all parties over the past decade?
You’ll find, in Scotland, the the reason for non-treatment is not because there are not enough nurses and doctors. It’s because of budget restraints demanded by Holyrood.
In Fife they’ve actually closed Dunfermline Hospital as a normally functioning Hospital!
Now why would you do that when we have waiting lists longer than my lifetime?
The SNHS is a service, it is not business, so stop treating it in that model.
If the health of the nation is in such a critical condition then its due to the choices presented to us. Therefore, it follows those who created and happily promoted this condition should pay to resolve it.
Whether through fraud, deceit, lies, corruption or exploitation and excessive profits there has to be justice. Why should the public be the only ones to suffer through their health and basic standard of existence.
And, of course, I lay the blame for the destruction of the SNHS squarely at feet of she who can’t be named.
I agree. But as the Rev has noted previously; the Tories are just evil.
This is a very good point about the Americanization of health care. Let me explain what that means in reality. My wife got very sick at the start of the year. She nearly died. Skilled medical care saved her life. The only reason she is back to work, contributing to society is because she has almost constant kidney dialysis for three days, then regular sessions thrice weekly for about a month. We got a bill for $20,000 because the insurance company decided that the dialysis wasn’t medically necessary. Who the (insert choice of expletive) thinks that kidney dialysis is a choice?
Anyone who votes for the right-wing parties -Con, Lab or “Reform” is voting for crap like my wife and I are going through, figuring out how we can pay $20,000 out of a gross income of $90,000 on top of our other living expenses, including $8,500 per year for the privilege of having medical insurance that finds excuses not to pay out on the expensive stuff.
Voting SNP, of course is like voting for Baa Baa Black Sheep. What a minging set of options.
Sorry to hear about your problems, Skip.
I read recently that the biggest cause of bankruptcy/people losing their homes in the US is that they get sick and can’t afford the medical bills. And some here are cheering it on.
Unbelievable.
That is true. Something like 62% of bankruptcies are down to medical debt, which can fall into several categories:
Incidentally, the $8,500 I quoted above is just my wife’s share of medical insurance premiums. Her employer pays the rest and the total cost in 2023 was just over $23,000. That is just the insurance. Out of pocket expenses are about $4,000 in a year without exceptional expenses. Years in which either of us needs an endoscopy or colonoscopy hit hard because the largest company that employs anaesthetists nationwide refuses to accept insurance.
The US Bankruptcy Code is comprehensive and there are provisions that will let you keep your home whilst getting other debt written off. however, it does require a regular monthly income, which one may not have if one is ill.
There are opportunities in the USA for a fantastic life, but only if you can afford the little things that we take for granted. Perhaps if our elected officials and assorted hangers-on only got median wages (which is more or less where my wife and I are) they would form different views.
Usually I agree with lots that you post James but this comment is why we cannot have a serious discussion about immigration
As soon as you raise the issue the despicable racist card is played , it is comparable to the anti semitic diatribe and curse if you dare to criticise Israhel or Judaism, or Islam or Mohammed
BUT a white Christian is fair game for everyone to insult we are the only racists and bigots on the planet
I agree with Dave Hansell re the uk acting with others destabilising other countries whether through war or other means and forcing people to flee their homelands or become refugees BUT their are other people who come for economic reasons and create problems with the systems that are currently in place
The reality is that the uk has been mismanaged by successive governments and imbecilic politicians who are more interested in keeping neocons happy by ignoring tax avoidance and evasion than FORCING them to pay their fair share of taxation, HENCE all social constructs are facing ever more shrinking finances
England currently has the highest rate of illiteracy of the 25 developed nations, has 30% child poverty, which has created an attainment level of a third world country, a housing crisis never seen in my lifetime, failing public services with councils on the verge of bankruptcy, leaving them no option but to reduce services to the point where they are no longer able to meet their statutory responsibilities, has penalised parenthood to the extent that the indigenous population is in decline, this is all pretty basic stuff that you need to address, for without grabbing the nettle and nurturing your indigenous population, then you will always be reliant on immigration. Would also point out that Englands unemployment level is only 4.4% one of the lowest rates in Europe and is causing employers real difficulties in finding staff, Scotlands 3.3% is a serious threat to any notion of growth. You can bash on about immigration as much as you like, but without addressing all of the above, you have no where else to turn, it’s either immigration or recession, even a depression is on the cards
“…I heard it in the house of commons, “everything’s for sale…”
Ah yes, the Tories, don’cha just luv ’em? Lowest pension in Europe, highest fuel bills in the world, zero hours contracts, 3 part-time jobs, working people using food banks. Didn’t they do well?
Power, telecoms, railways, Post Office, you name it; all sold off to their friends for pennies, because, as we have seen they know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
And now the meeja is fooling them towards ‘Reform’. And we get whatever Engerland votes for. Every time. Jesus wept.
Lowest pension, but highest paid train drivers….
Your analysis is wrang.
The UK has long brought in immigrants already trained to do jobs. It is a cost constraint.
In 1971, 31% of UK doctors were trained abroad.
Today, about 24% of UK nurses and midwives trained abroad.
Yes Derek I’ve seen hundreds of doctors and nurses coming across the chanel
There’s a rumour going about on certain online sites that Musk may be prepared to bankroll Reform to the tune of £100 million.
If true, that will make things interesting as well as exciting.
What kind of person are you?
A mirror image of the woke process and approach he thinks he is against.
The English governments economic growth “plan” , is based on increasing the service economy by growing the population, as the birth rate is incapable of sustaining that growth, the only feasible alternative is to import educated and keen workers from (currently) India and Nigeria, without the 700k net migration, the economic plan collapses and recession is inevitable.
Well said Rev.
The Alba Party is a none starter and it always has been, its time to rethink before its to late. No disrespect to the former FM but Sturgeon ruined his political career and he never returned from the abyss.
If over 50% want Independence and its now the norm WHY isn’t the movement capitalizing on such a huge amount. I believe if Scotland wants to move forward and quickly there is only one option and for me and its seems the right option for Scotland too, Start a new political party appealing to the English nationalist who want Independence for England and with the view of ENDING the Union and every nation going its own way. I no longer believe in the SNP or Scotland becoming Independent without appealing to the English wanting the same goal.
There is only one place that can make a difference for anyone living on these Islands and that’s Westminster, 56mp didn’t do it and neither can 59 Scottish MPs but with the rest of the UK wanting the same goal as Scotland and Wales and with this goal we can beat Farage and the Unionist parties if the Independence tickets is on the table for all the nations in the union. The Unionist parties wouldn’t want to talk about England wanting to leave this Union so lets make a political party to end the whole Union not just Scotland and Wales. I believe when England finds out that it doesn’t exist anymore we have a strong case to end this Union with English nationalist help.
I did suggest on previous occasions that SNP then Alba should stand in English constituencies on a platform of “independence for England”. If they had stood in the Speaker’s seat there would have been no other candidates and I’m sure would have done well.
Alba should stand in English constituencies when they can’t find candidates for Scottish constituencies?
They might improve on their usual 1% in England, because a lot of English voters would be happy to see Scotland go.
Westminster is where the power is and the SNP have made it perfectly clear they will not change the status-quo. Its really going to be a difcult battle for us Indy supporters when we are fighting both governments on our right to exsist. The SNP has become the main force behind denying us our place in the world and not alot of people are paying attention to the fact the SNP is handing Scotland to the Unionist south of the border and their goal is simple one Island under one name,Britian. For me this isn’t appealing at all its frighting. The Indy movement is the strongest force in Scotland but the SNP is trying its hardest to destroy in peoples minds the idea that Scotland being a country is a good thing. What the SNP does want is to remain as a county with little or no powers working within the Union, their mesage coundn’t be any clearier if it was coming from the mouth of a DUP MP.
I can’t count how many Indy parties has been formed since 2014 and what has been achieved NOTHING we even have our own newspaper who headlines seem to be more about the Labour party that the way forward towards Independence.
Another ten years will pass and nothing will change the Indy parties will remain the same no seats in Holyrood or Westminster and the real fact is Westminster is where the real power is.
The SNP has deibrately cause the merry go round with no way off. The real problem isn’t Westminster is the SNP and the Greens until we rid ourselve of these parties Scotland is slowing becoming irrelevant and its all been done by design the SNP leadership and supporters.
WM may be where the power lies but Alex still managed to get #indyref1 with 6 MPS
He did that from Holyrood so it depends on those in Holyrood to get the finger out.
Of course Swinney and Sturgeon were both happy to defer to WM
Alex would never have taken that.
Interesting.
It’s certainly the approach that did for the Soviet Union.
Watched Scotland Tonight yesterday evening and listened to the talking heads discussing the upcoming budget.
Apart from Ponsonby talking sense the former politician and political monkey both thought an early election would be an eye rolling heaven forbid anything but situation.
I was disgusted, an election is when we the voters get our say and the fact the troughers in power are mulling over who of their enemies they are willing to put their pyjama bottoms on back to front for rather than demeaning themselves to let us have our say paints a very telling picture.
Yup fuck you..
I have been banging on about that for a few years now, we have been fighting the war on the wrong battleground, it would be far simpler to appeal to the English nationalist gammons, convincing them that the other constituent nations are a drain on their economy, if you told the English electorate that Scotland, Wales and NI were responsible for the majority of the English governments deficit, they would believe it and probably unquestioningly vote to get rid.
Presumably, on the basis of some of the attitudes one witnesses daily, in such an event there would be calls to limit, if not totally remove, all immigration from Scotland?
They would, but nobody in power wants that because they know we are a wealth of natural resources to be exploited.
Ah! Given that the context here is [checks notes] the “fuck your open borders” requirements of the
consumersvoters rather than those in power (politicians) it would seem reasonable to surmise that in this scenario the Scots would be considered as the “Good” immigrants rather than the “Bad” ones? (whichconsumersvoters get to choose, how is the issue framed, and who gets to do the counting?)Things can change very quickly these days as the recent collapse of landslide Labour proves. If the current leadership of the SNP was to change in favour of a believably pro-independence one the SNP’s fortunes would rapidly improve.
Swinney must go. A budget rejected followed by a quick Holyrood election with July-like abstentions from the pro-independence electorate could see him depart because of the high number of lost seats. We would still have the 2026 election to come, hopefully with someone in charge of the SNP who actually wants independence and who is ready to put all the superfluous muck to one side in order to get the pro-indy voters back on side, resulting in a larger-than-ever SNP win.
I don’t know anything much about most SNP MSPs – nothing good, certainly – but they don’t seem to have anyone with a burning desire for independence. Fergus Ewing, and presumably Annabelle, are the most fiery, probably – but it needs more than 2.
As for other SNP members. Who is there to lead them in the right direction? Might Joanna Cherry be the answer? I’m not sure.
The Scottish electorate for the most part have yet to come to terms with their colonial status and the part the SNP continues to play in facilitating the dominance of another countries parliament over Scotland’s affairs! Joanna Cherry is not and will never be the “answer”!
A very astute and subtle comment which raises a key problem with part of the analysis presented by the Rev in this piece.
Because logically, the concept of national independence can only exist where a relationship of colonial control is in place. The two cannot be rationally separated.
By definition, therefore, the very position of seeking independence from the colonial situation – whether it’s an average independence voter or a politician from a political party seeking independence – is telling those voters who don’t accept the concept of colonialism (economic as well as political) – be it Scottish or anywhere else (Palestine springs to mind) – that they are wrong.
Because “stop wanging on about places like Gaza.” As though the concept of independence is not a generic one, but is only applicable in specific cases and not others. Sounds very much like Josep Borrell’s Golden Billion of the (superior) Western Garden and the (inferior) everybody else outside the West.
Similarly, any practical process in which independence occurs for Scotland vis a vis its relationship with England/the rest of the UK will require a new economic structure for both entities.
That process will inevitably include who gets to inherit what proportion of the UK debt. In which case the question of debt write-downs for the colonised state – in this case Scotland – will have to feature.
Simply because – whether it’s Scotland, England, the USA or anywhere else in the world – as detailed by those such as the economist Michael Hudson, compound interest grows exponentially whilst production only grows logarithmically. Consequently, as the historical record demonstrates, to avoid the collapse of a society such unpayable debt cannot be paid and will have to be written down.
That’s not dogma. It’s not woke. It’s not ideological. It’s basic arithmetic. Good luck to anyone trying to gain independence – economic and political – by either rejecting this reality or by going along with anyone who rejects that reality and failing to tell them they are wrong and explain why they are wrong.
Because politics ain’t a consumer product. And spouting complete impractical bollocks is not a monopoly limited to politicians and the PMC’s. Average punters are just as prone to it and just as prolific.
Both need to be pulled up when they come up with or repeat evidence free nonsense fed to them by others. Which means calling out anyone – whoever they happen to be – when they are objectively wrong on a matter.
Limiting the practice only in the case of the woke – whose definition and whose doing the counting – is something of a departure from the core values and approach a lot of us who have followed this site over the years understand those values and that approach to be.
Fergus Ewing can barely stand up, never mind lead a new charge for independence. He was clearly unwell at AS’s funeral. I cant see a way forward at all. Perhaps Reform, Trump and Musk will burn it all down, and the revolution will begin.
“Burn it all down”
That could be sooner than you think and maybe a bit too toasty, if the idiots Starmer and Biden keep going as they are….
Joanna is not in politics?
Jeezo.
Imagine replacing ‘Honest’ John with BAP / Freeports Forbes or walking ignoramus Shona Robison. How about Neil- ‘I didn’t get it wrong enough, I should have done more of doing the wrong thing’ Grey? How about invisible no-mark clique dangleberry ‘Shirley-Anne-shit-for-brains’ (to quote our host).
Get real.
If change was to come, it would have to be in place BEFORE the turkeys take another opportunity to reorganise the deck chairs.
🙁
And another thing.
from Grouse Beaters full throated
‘The Speech I Would Have Given‘
And Holyrood’s Salem: Nicola Sturgeon and her scented agents, Alex’s own colleagues Liz, Heather, Shirley-Anne, Lesley, Catriona, Francesca, Katie, and the chief book keeper, Peter Murrell
link to archive.is
There’s 9 names you would not want to see left in power.
Oh and while you’re at it,
consider to buy his new book:
“30 Tenets of Liberty” 😉
Beware of accidental jigsaws
Unfortunately you are correct, Rev.
But can we put a stick in the Unionist parties tri-cycle wheels?
Could you ask a top Scottish lawyer if there is a way to force the Electoral Commission to stop Labour, Conservative and Lib-Dems misleading the voter by putting “Scottish” in front of the actual legal party entity’s name?
I would contribute to a crowdfund for such a case.
You don’t have to be “a top Scottish lawyer” to understand that putting “Scottish” in front of a party’s legal name signifies nothing more than that, somewhere along the line, said party has some of form of relevance to Scotland – whether by location of its head (or branch) office, the nature of its interests, the specific geographical area of its concerns etc.
Everything you ever post is crackpot pish.
I can’t remember which wannabe Prez of the US it was who, upon hearing that he had lost the election, said:
” The people have spoken. The bastards”
🙂
That would have been notorious prankster, Dick Tuck. Anyone wanting a few tips for political mayhem will enjoy some of his tricks.
1. Create a new party
2. Use AI to propose an overarching manifesto to provide maximum benefit to the majority
3. Allow crowdsourced modification to the manifesto at constituency level
4. Crowdfund ballot deposit per constituency
5. Use blockchain smart contract per constituency to select a list of potential candidates from the donors
6. Best willing candidate signs contract to only vote how constituency wants them to on any specific issue on pain of fine/deselection
Gets us back to “by the people, for the people” and removes the influence of lobbying. Gets away from personality politics.
Thoughts?
John Farnham: Whispering Jack: You’re the Voice:
“We have the chance to turn the pages over
We can write what we want to write
We gotta make ends meet, before we get much older
We’re all someone’s daughter
We’re all someone’s son
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun?
You’re the voice, try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear
Oh, whoa
We’re not gonna sit in silence
We’re not gonna live with fear
Oh, whoa
This time, we know we all can stand together
With the power to be powerful
Believing we can make it better…”:
link to tinyurl.com
#WEScotland…
Dear negative ones (Nicola and Peter ??),
Why don’t you believe in Scotland ?
Why do you scorn the notion of people empowerment ??
Why don’t you consider yourselves Team-Scotland players ???
Why on earth do you shady forever-losers hide like pathetic cowards in the dark (it’s far easier to rip your integrity to pieces if you cannot face reality)
#PowerToScotlandsPeople
Hi Craig, there’s a lot of reliance on tech in your suggestion, but the bones of it are not that far off what I’ve been suggesting for years but effectively getting zero support or engagement…
The question is would you actually be prepared to yield from your exact suggestion and meld it with the similar ideas of others?
But the first thing to clarify is whether your suggestion is about electing individuals to continue to play along with being bit part players in this farce of a union which continues to fail Scotland, or will these individuals you hope to elect with the democratically expressed support of their electorate end the union.
Over recent days I’ve asked and bumped various past comments to garner clarity on using a plebiscite election to end the union, but not had any input from the site owner…
I think the strength of the idea is that it’s entirely people-powered. Once it was set up, I’d want nothing to do with running it or controlling it. Anyone in a position of power is too easily influenced. That’s why the reliance on tech. Smart contracts are open to all to review to ensure nothing funny is going on. Blockchain allows the party finances to be directed towards the deposit for the ballot and any extra could be donated to other constituencies who didn’t collect enough, local charities or spent on campaigning leaflets etc as the members saw fit. Polymorphic encryption allows for voting systems that allow individuals to ensure their vote was correctly counted, allows transparent voting but also preserves privacy. Anything less is too open to manipulation.
In terms of the ability to gain independence, if a party like this got into power, it may actually make the UK system workable for all nations, nullifying the need for independence. However, it also opens up the option for voters in England to vote for English independence, or to support Scotland in it’s bid to have another referendum. I don’t see this as an independence party, rather just a means of near direct democracy. Chances are it could lead to independence or devo max etc.
Such a party would be a massive target It would struggle to survive- a great idea though.
What if it wasn’t a Party? But a loose alliance of local independent candidates merely acting as a conduit to genuinely represent their specific constituencies?
Candidates stand on a much simpler recall commitment too that if they ever fail to act as instructed, or their behaviour renders them unsuitable to continue representing their constituents, they will stand down.
I’ll also chuck in not taking a wage* as a sweetener and sign that some are not in it for slurping at gravy.
*Expenses and staffing costs would be taken though.
Much harder for these honest local individual representatives to be taken out by the powers that be like what we’ve seen play out with Corbyn & Salmond, and their political Parties smeared by association, and imo if similar attacks were made by “outsiders” then it could even backfire and actually galvanize local support around the individual.
Of course still need to find about 53 individuals to stand and get busy in their locales.
Or of course we could jist sit on oor arses and continue to whine about the shite state of affairs…
I get what you’re saying, Dan. An umbrella grouping such as Action for Independence where individuals and small parties stood under the principle of Independence First [or Manifesto for Independence] so all votes for any of them counted as pro-independence, regardless of their other policies.
Trouble is that voters don’t get the message in time because the group is starved of MSM coverage.
There were several committed, principled I4I and ISP candidates in 2024, any one of whom would have been better than what we got, so the people are there – it’s just the system.
And I’ve explained already why I4I didn’t make significant inroads.
It was far too short a campaign time, compromised electoral leaflet deliveries, big name bloggers did little to fuck all to promote the candidates because they were not in the clique. Something which is even more ridiculous when I4I women were predominantly gender critical women which has been Stu’s main focus for years.
Eva actually did pick up more votes than Alba’s Kenny McAskill who belatedly switched constituencies which compromised his own campaign.
Now admittedly Eva did not get a huge vote share in the scheme of things, but she didn’t get next to zero votes either so potential was shown.
And you have to remember the short time frame of campaign. Anyone thinking a few months is adequate time to succeed with an electoral campaign really doesn’t understand the real world practicalities on the ground.
With proper organisation and developing a local network within each constituency it would make a difference. But it is essential that folk have to be receptive to working with other people.
Political Parties are fucked because they are filled with the remaining toxic political junk that’s slurped on gravy for far too long. Voter turnouts show this, Reform increasing vote share also a sign.
Even other Scottish supposedly pro-Indy MPs when they had the chance failed to use their parliamentary privilege to assist in clearing Alex before his premature demise. Jeezo, with friends and colleagues like these… Instead they left it to English Conservative David Davis to step up.
Stop thinking on so much of a national scale as clearly we can’t rely on and would be stupid to look for a single leader to follow. Years have been pissed away because the current crop at the top have utterly failed to identify and nurture any new rising talent or other initiatives.
That’s short sighted in the extreme and points to self-serving outlook rather than developing the overall cause of returning Scotland to self-governing status so we can begin to repair the carnage inflicted on our socoety and country over the course of this 300 year union.
All these folk waiting for “a leader” to arise might have actually supported the folk that were trying to do something in the past. And if they didn’t recognise what was happening back then and are only just catching on now, then maybe accept that they aren’t that up with events so might consider a reset of how valuable their views actually are.
AFI and ISP were the first to manifest years back to fill the vacuum created by NuSNP’s pish.
But instead of folk getting behind them we got further confusion and division with Alba forming and now Schrodinger’s NSP party forming at a time when the electorate are evermore sick of fucking political Parties…
So aye, the loose national alliance is in the background, but work away to develop the I4I strategy in each local area. Face to face with real people, not on the sodding internet platform with its all too prevalent trolling disruption and low brow like or hate interactions.
“Nothing happening in Scottish Politics”, “Ten years before something will happen”… Just get in the sea with that pish because you have no idea what Scotland will be like in ten years time to have a clue what the prevailing wonts and needs will actually be. If you can’t identify any potential leaders now then how on earth do you know there will be anyone that fits your exacting criteria in the future?
FFS Rev Stu will not even address or respond to legitimate questions on his plebiscite manifesto, be they from committed Indy activists or just trolls trying to shred his manifesto for independence.
If he won’t defend his own manifesto when folk try to ask if it can be tweaked or others are picking holes in it, then why would or should any activist support and run with it if he won’t help back them up on it?
I think the main advantage of my suggestion is it’s nothing to do with individuals seeking to gain power by convincing people they’re worthy. It’s a chance to poke the establishment in the eye. It’s like a “none of the above” option but with the added bonus that they may well elect someone who will be legally obliged to vote in parliament in line with their constituency’s wishes.
It reminds me of Rage Against The Machine getting xmas number 1 a few years ago because people were sick of the X-Factor mob having it buttoned-up every year.
Political engagement is in the toilet because people can see nothing but pigs in the trough differentiated only by their rosette colours. If people started to see an opportunity to kick them out, I think they’d jump at the chance. It’s the kind of thing I can see going viral on social media etc.
Considering the few votes I4I and ISP get, the MSM covers them far TOO MUCH. Far more than they merit.
The extremist fringe will blame anything for their poor showing at the polls–except the fact that people aren’t buying what they’re selling.
“What if it wasn’t a Party? But a loose alliance of local independent candidates merely acting as a conduit to genuinely represent their specific constituencies?”
You’re reading my mind. I had thought the name COIN would be good for the party, short for “coalition of independents”.
Also in terms of wages for those elected, I’d suggest they’d need to be on at least the same salary as they’re already on. Or some multiple of the minimum or average wage. And donate the rest to local charities.
Finding people willing to stand shouldn’t be that hard I reckon. All you’d need is to donate to the ballot deposit crowdfund, even if it was just 50p, and tick the box stating you’d be willing to stand. Then a smart contract can pick a winner at random. I did actually think we could use some sort of robot since they’d not be tempted by brown envelopes and wouldn’t need a salary, just some electricity…
No, Craig, not a randomly selected candidate.
OK, I’ll compromise.
Randomly selected candidates on the day after you get on a bus with a driver randomly selected from people who like the idea of bus driving, or go for root canal work from a bloke randomly selected from people who fancy themselves as dentists 🙂
BTW, even if all MSM is sidetracked, everybody and everything is captured on people’s mobys, and on UTube etc within seconds.
A candidate that doesn’t look presentable, can’t string two words together, freezes or explodes at awkward questions, etc. will be just as much a liability under your scheme as now.
People need charismatic, eloquent, inspirational, persuasive, natural leaders. That’s how we’re wired. It’s not going to change. That’s why politics is “show business for ugly people”.
The other idea I think you have wrong is the belief the job is an easy one. It’s probably the hardest job in the world. That’s why they say that every political career eventually ends in failure, with the only exceptions being those leaders who are assassinated before they can fail.
It would indeed be a target, just as any threat to the establishment is a target as Corbyn and Alex found out. However, the beauty of it is that they can’t attack a figurehead individual, the candidates would be picked at random from the electorate and they would vote as directed by their constituency’s crowd-sourced manifesto. So by attacking the party, they’re attacking all it’s members, not some figurehead.
You need to do a lot more work on # 6.
For starters, the constituency will consist of two blocs (at least) – the bloc that voted for the candidate – and the bloc that didn’t. Possibly the second bloc will be larger than the first.
How does the candidate find out what the constituency wants, given that it is unlikely that the constituency will ever be unanimous on anything?
Secondly, surely only a very poor quality candidate would find herself in the position that her constituency has better answers for complex questions than she has. If she is doing her job, she will be full-time studying and learning about the issues she is dealing with, taking into account all kinds of dependencies, and the pros and cons for any course of action.
I would think that virtually no member of her constituency would have that depth and breadth of knowledge. Besides we’re talking about government. The candidate will often be party to knowledge that isn’t and can’t be in the public domain.
So in short, without a great deal of refinement, the candidate would quite likely find herself often rubber stamping decisions taken by some shouty, ignorant (in the sense of not having all the relevant facts) eejits.
And that doesn’t seem much good at all.
“You need to do a lot more work on # 6.
For starters, the constituency will consist of two blocs (at least) – the bloc that voted for the candidate – and the bloc that didn’t. Possibly the second bloc will be larger than the first.
How does the candidate find out what the constituency wants, given that it is unlikely that the constituency will ever be unanimous on anything?”
Of course there won’t be unanimity around any subjects as we all have our beliefs. But we’re talking about democracy, majority rule. I foresee the crowdsourced manifesto as a living document, able to be changed in line with the majority view in any given constituency. It may even be that differing constituencies under the same party umbrella vote against each other. That’s fine, that’s democracy.
“Secondly, surely only a very poor quality candidate would find herself in the position that her constituency has better answers for complex questions than she has. If she is doing her job, she will be full-time studying and learning about the issues she is dealing with, taking into account all kinds of dependencies, and the pros and cons for any course of action.”
I don’t see the candidates as standard politicians, because if they are, they’re just as open to lobbying etc as our current breed of troughing politicians. I see their job as glorified button pushers to allow the member’s wishes to be expressed in parliament. I’d replace them with robots if the tech was available.
For local matters, locals should discuss how best to handle any situation and make their wishes known to their candidate.
“I would think that virtually no member of her constituency would have that depth and breadth of knowledge. Besides we’re talking about government. The candidate will often be party to knowledge that isn’t and can’t be in the public domain.”
I think this level of secrecy is what allows the levels of blatant abuse and corruption to go unchallenged. Maybe for matters of national security they’d be unable to share some info with the members. short of that, they should be as transparent as possible.
“So in short, without a great deal of refinement, the candidate would quite likely find herself often rubber stamping decisions taken by some shouty, ignorant (in the sense of not having all the relevant facts) eejits.
And that doesn’t seem much good at all.”
Again, that’s democracy. I think that you make a good point here but misdirect your ire. I don’t blame people for their stupid (in my opinion, of course) beliefs. The unbelievably biased media in this country has the ability to sway opinion and not for the best. So many turkeys might well vote for xmas. The saving grace is this system would mean the people had real influence on how they are governed. If that’s the case, I think they may well be incentivised to look beyond the headlines before voting either way. And it puts the onus on level-headed sorts to try to explain the best solutions in an accessible way to garner support.
There’s loads that could be done to help people come to the best decisions they can. Mini publics for major topics where some people are picked, like jury duty, to listen to experts from either side of an argument and make a decision on the best course of action. Or at least present the pros/cons to the members so they can make a more informed decision.
Thanks for your reply.
Lots to think about in it!
Unfortunately, I agree with your last 4 paragraphs
The two council by-elections should give an indicator of public opinion.
The minor, fringe parties (Monster Raving Loony, Alba, ISP) couldn’t even find a candidate.
It’s projected that Unionist parties will get at least twice the vote share of the nominally Indy SNP.
‘Alba’ does not have ‘national’ it its title. The word ‘national’ being so easily spun, pejoritively and it is also guaranteed top billing in ‘alphabetical order’ election ballot papers. A well thought out article though. Your crystal ball gazing will prove to be very accurate, yet again. When people feel they need to vote to register their anger, disappointment and contempt for lies, hidden agendas & politically expedient cover-ups, we reap the political whirlwind.
Spot on. It’s got nothing to do with Scotland now. It’s about stopping the Woke Madness by what ever means .
“Woke Madness”
Bed And Breakfast Non-Gender-Specific Person…
“Barring a nuclear war or an alien invasion”
there’s an alien invasion being predicted for tomorrow, funnily enough (on X…….i know)
sincerely hope so
always guid tae hear frae ye, rev
lol, true…
Q ‘The Voice Of Q’:
“(This is the voice of Q
Whatchu got to do
Open your mind and listen
Prepare to receive?transmission)
Let’s?communicate
Interplanetary hyperspace
Open up?your mind
Q will answer questions anytime…
Feel the gravity
Move into?a?new?reality…”:
link to tinyurl.com
Elon Mars: Alien XXX:
link to tinyurl.com
Mars Elon: Cassiopeia:
link to tinyurl.com
Absurd Smoque: Q: Cassiopeia:
link to tinyurl.com
#RealityWins
Reality loves Scotland and its amazing people (:even regressive scornful forever-losers:)
It’s the ultimate ally for all non-delusional and conscious humans…
Zero One: Psy-Fi: Reality:
link to tinyurl.com
Mars Elon: Zero, My Crazy:
link to tinyurl.com
The negative ones never learn (soulless low IQ total fu**wits) – Reality never stops, especially for forever-losers – REALITY = CONTINUUM (duh)…
Zero One: Psy-Fi: Continuum:
link to tinyurl.com
@QTHESTORMM
“A NEW WORLD BEGINS. NOTHING STOPS TEH CAW …”:
link to tinyurl.com
Zero: Continuum:
link to tinyurl.com
#SeeMirrorFuckwits
Absurd Smoque: Q: Continuum:
link to tinyurl.com
#LetsGo…
And if this shit doesn’t stop there will be no Scotland to fight over.
I didn’t expect much from Labour & Starmer but to say they’ve made a mess of their first five months is an understatement. Sure, there’s some good in there but he’s going to be remembered for freezing pensioners to death, while helping push an assisted suicide bill through with barely any debate and no detail that it’s going to hang on his shoulders for as long as he’s PM. Hence why people pissed off are voting Reform.
There’s the obvious concern that voting for a hard/far right party like Reform in numbers takes us into dangerous ground, but the likes of the Greens have dragged us into exceptionally dangerous ground hence the backlash they’re suffering in polls across Europe. If they’d remained eco-socialists campaigning for the environment and to warn us of climate change they’d be fine but the push into identity politics, gender and trans ideology which is being pushed upon most against their will has made people despise them. Trans authotarianism is being pushed back on as people are done with their bullying and the violent threats women especially have to face.
So I do think Reform could even be the 3rd largest party in Holyrood which means the SNP and Labour will work together as Stu says. Independence as a political force is over. The SNP will be seriously reduced while it’s increasingly debatable whether the Greens care any more. They’re more interested in bike lanes and grooming children and vulnerable adults.
At some point things are going to get very bad and I can’t help but think of 2019 and the prime chance Sturgeon had to get a second referendum and she failed. In 2019 we’d have won. I’m certain of that and now we’re going to suffer all because of that women’s ego and her hubris.
She never failed; she didn’t bother, it’s not in her remit.
At risk of repeating myself.
The only country which can deliver Scottish independence is America. We could somehow get another referendum in thirty years time and vote 75% in favour, but if Washington don’t recognise it then it is pointless. (as happened in Catalonia)
Better then to seek to join the United States. Become their next state, but one with the same rights as Texas, – ie the ability to leave the Union.
We are in a stanglehold from Westminster which only a bigger bully (ie Washignton) can break. Yeah it’s a mad idea, but what other alternative could actually work. Time to think outside the UK box folks!
Parties aren’t winning by gaining seats, they’re losing fewer than the other lot.
It’s all a Shambles – perhaps we need a dictatorship – no wait, we had that with recent FMs.
There must be goodness in the world we call Politics, somewhere, isn’t there?
Nigel Farage was a metals trader rather than a banker but otherwise…..ooft.
A parasite, in effect.
I thought Alba was a great name choice, not least because it is the title of a Runrig song. How Pete must have choked on his tea.
Also in Scotland:
Fuck your woodburning stove ban
Fuck your heat exchange systems
Fuck your minimum unit pricing of alcohol
Fuck your speed limit reduction (but increase for HGV)
Fuck your pylons
Fuck your substations
Fuck your giving away our energy
Fuck your closure of Grangemouth
Fuck your gayest parliament in the world
Fuck your redactions
Fuck your expenses
Fuck your muirburn
Fuck your Time for Inclusive Education and rainbow laces
Fuck your Decapitate TERFs
Fuck your White! White! White!
Fuck your unfunded public sector pay rises!
Because that’s what is about to turn around and fuck all the rest of us.
And fuck you!
Up the arse wi’ a pointy stick!
Careful Michael, you’re not on one of your hook up sites!
This is Wings BTL.
Respect to you and your missus though. Your relationship must be a strong one.
I’m assuming that you’ve actually told her 🙂
“Fuck your unfunded public sector pay rises!”
That’s the equivalent of someone who lives on a flood plain where the river has burst its banks and who is knee-deep in rising water phoning the plumber rather than the Water company/Environment Agency because they think the flooding is due to the dripping tap.
And there I was thinking the British education system was the envy of the world!
Nah, it’s the equivalent of saying that a government with a finite income stream will have to cut funding for some things when it increases funding for other things.
Such as attempting to buy votes from its captive client base – the Scottish public sector.
BTW, I’ve never heard of the British education system. The nations of the UK pursue different and largely independent educational systems.
Obviously you weren’t paying attention. That lack of focus would also explain your special “talent” for getting other things spectacularly wrong too.
It was a shite song as well.
The ‘basic core premise’ is that independence means decolonization, according to the UN, and as mony ordinary Scots ken fine. In a colonial society it is mainly the native middle class /bourgeoisie wha are aye a wee bit late in figuring oot this ‘basic core premise’, according to postcolonial theory. Which also helps explain the SNP’s ‘neutral’ stance on independence and the rupture in the movement:
link to salvo-cor.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com
Correct.
What is the exact meaning of independence?
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state, in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the status of a dependent territory or colony.
Check out the Oxford dictionary.
AI will be the big game changer in the coming years, a lot of cosy middle class jobs will disappear. Manufacturing has already been adjusted by robotics….tradesmen will always be needed. The Revolution is Coming……..!!!
Reform is being groomed to become the next government at the next general election, that is obvious, the establishment sees that people are turning away from the duopoly which was created to maintain the status quo, they can’t afford for the people to elect a party which will truly represent the people and the country hence the grooming of reform, the status quo must be maintained at all cost.
I didn’t vote at all at the general election in June and won’t vote at any general election going forward, I didn’t vote SNP at the last Holyrood election and going forward I will only vote for an independent candidate who holds my values and that includes being against genocide and US hegemony, NATO and rejoining the EU.
“against genocide and US hegemony, NATO and rejoining the EU”
You’re against lots of stuff but haven’t told us what you’re in favour of. Maybe nothing. Maybe totalitarianism, colonialism and aggressive imperialism, centred on Moscow.
Fair enough, you should get off your butt and campaign for all that stuff. Run it up the flagpole, see who salutes.
But you do, personally, really need to be in favour of better educational standards in Scotland. Then you’d know what is and what isn’t genocide.
I tried to upvote you but my vote registered as a minus. Can’t stand the antisemitic stuff of some nationalists.Then I tried to delete my tick by ticking the minus and downvoted you again! (Senior moments).
Nae bother.
Unless a post is topping out at -20 or so, it’s obviously not too good.
You get a -1 for every fact, and a -3 or -5 for every opinion or POV that resonates with the majority of decent, grounded, rational, pragmatic Scots.
Just why facts and reasonable opinions stick in the craws of some of the Wings BTL regulars is a rich source of endless fascination and wide-eyed wonder.
Medice, c?r? t? ipsum
Helen, I agree with every point you make in your comment, but please don’t use that dreadful management-speak/politician-speak expression, ‘going forward’. ‘In the future’ or ‘henceforth’ are much better.
Aye, Helen, that’s the first and the nice warning.
There will be no second warning. Cross Michael again and it’ll be the farmyard noises and the number two plops for you!
stop wanging on about Gaza
Rev Stu for First Minister of Scotland and Keeper of the Great Seal.
Fucking just do it, Stu!
(BTW, I was going to point out that the figures for Reform are before Musk bungs them £100 million to finance their campaign. Maybe that’s just a big fat rumour, I guess we will find out soon enough).
stop wanging on about G@za
Rev Stu for First Minister of Scotland and Keeper of the Great Seal.
Fucking just do it, Stu!
Why not push on the door that is already opening – go for a Unilateral Declaration of Independence – for England.
Everybody want reform – let’s do it with a top-to-bottom clean-out of the garbage. All of it.
re. “let’s do it with a top-to-bottom clean-out of the garbage. All of it.”
Team-Humanity (the undisputed winning team) is all inclusive and won’t be stopping –
We’re having unlimited success – unity, peace and harmony –
We’re gonna have lots of fun while doing the cleaning and our future will be fu**Ing awesome (Come and try and stop us, miserable powerless ones)…
#TrashNWOCan
Sigh, all the down-voting in the world (especially from those spineless scornful cowards hiding in the darkness) doesn’t stop Team-Humanity/Scotland
It’s a actually blessing in disguise for our forever-winning team…
#SovereignScotlandPeopleRule
#PowerlessNegativeFools
The downvotes are probably because nobody has a clue what you’re gibbering about. Do you support independence or not?
What do you think, Michael (sigh)
It would appear that a number of total f**kwits on here take issue with our love and support for Independent Scotland and its people –
How dare you belittle and trash our wonderful Scotland.
#ScotlandForever
Any chance you could answer a question, Gregor?
How many halfwits in a total f**kwit? Is it exactly two, or is there some kind of rounding error so that you will end up +/- a fractional part, what I might call a fracwit?
Would a +fracwit and a -fracwit cancel each other out? This is getting interesting, and I have a 12-seat Christmas dinner to plan!
Sorry! Got carried away and ended up with extra questions.
Hatey, no need to apologise –
“How many halfwits in a total f**kwit?”
As many as it takes…
Would a +fracwit and a -fracwit cancel each other out?
Perhaps it would be wise to ask your fracwits/sources (you’ve got nothing to lose:)
Banoffee: Look at Us Now Dad: Fuckwit:
“I told you
I don’t sweat the little things…
This is so much bigger than small…
So tired of all the talk
?Leading to nothing…
I hope they think you taste good
I hope they love you
Like you so desperately need someone to
I hope you think you do good…
I know you could do good
Just if you want to
I guess you must really have fucked with
I guess you must really have fucked with
I guess you must really have fucked with me
(I hope they love you)…”:
link to tinyurl.com
#GodIsGreat
#AllFuckwitsMatter
Do you scorn-driven fu**wits prefer the devil (evil) over God (jeez) ?
Do you regressive forever-losers have anything positive to offer Scotland, at all ??
An empowered independent Scotland must give you unmitigated losers fu**ing nightmares
Should you deny reality it will shine right back into your face and will expose you –
There is no escaping reality (far better to embrace it than face its wrath:)
#RealityWins
The very obvious answer can be found by purchasing one of the items to be found on this site and using it for its primary purpose, Gregor.
link to mirroroutlet.co.uk
Apologies, Gregor, that should read “Hatey McHateface.”
Dave, no need to apologise,
Dave, vanity mirrors are useless –
A true mirror can see inside your soul (if you can find it)…
Absurd Smoque: Evolution: A Scottish Nightmare (Original Version):
link to tinyurl.com
I have no idea. Try expressing yourself in plain, concise language instead of unintelligible riddles and people might understand what point you’re trying to make.
LOVE YOU SCOTLAND
Can you comprehend reality, Michael ?
POWER TO SCOTLAND’S PEOPLE
100%Yes (Wings contributor)
“I can’t count how many Indy parties has been formed since 2014 and what has been achieved NOTHING…”:
link to wingsoverscotland.com
Agreed (smile)…
link to x.com
Do you negative ones love Scotland ???
Hands up if you love Scotland and its people –
Are you stand-up people capable of proclaiming your love for Scotland, on a public forum…
#LoveScotlandForever
Support:
“To agree with and give encouragement to someone or something because you want him, her, or it to succeed:
My father supported the Labour Party all his life.”
“If you support a sports team or a sports player, you want them to win, and might show it by going to watch them play:
Which team do you support?”:
link to dictionary.cambridge.org
#TeamHumanity #TeamIndyScotland2024…
#KeirSACKEDStarmer
Yes: The Quest: Music To My Ears:
“Move towards your goal
Take back all control
Go to the waters edge now
Sail the oceans and make your pledge
It’s music to my ears, music to my ears
Music to my ears, you’ve found the way
You don’t have to ask
Or question every task
There’s a strength you’ve found
Step by step moving around…
It’s music to my ears (it’s a blessing in disguise)
Music to my ears (as the darkness disappears)
Music to my ears, you found the way…”:
link to tinyurl.com
#LoveYouSovereignScotland
#Freedom…
Prior to the last GE I saw a number of interviews between Kellie Jay & Richard Tice. They seem to get on very well & were in agreement on gender issues.
Here’s one interview:
link to youtube.com
The question is what will Reform do in the next election? Will they focus on what happened in the US and maybe follow in Trump’s foot steps with regards to gender issues.
If they do they could be on to a winner.
None of the Scottish parties seem to be very interested in ‘women’s rights’ or the ‘woke mind virus’.
Reform is as much a business as a political party.It is about self enrichment.
link to hopenothate.org.uk
It’s not impossible to imagine that Labour in Scotland might go it alone and align itself with Independence. Then again, it’s possible to imagine almost anything you like. Including,the SNP crossing the floor on behalf of their future employment prospects.
I woùld rather the Tories came out for indy. After all it is pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, standing on your own 2 feet, etc.
Standing on your own 2 feet doing your 3 part time jobs on a zero hour contract (on minimum wage)?
Is that what you mean?
Only 2 feet, James?
The general subject matter of your posts had convinced me you have 4.
Job? You?
Moo.
I think that is pretty much impossible to imagine. If Labour had any inclination towards seeking independence for Scotland they’ve had plenty of opportunity to demonstrate it, and they’ve done no such thing.
Great analysis. Starmer will be oot the door in 5 years if Farage decides to side again with the Tories. There’s every chance he could end up as PM but he’s arguably the most dangerous man in British politics to the establishment.
Trump is a lunatic on many things but Americans like his outspoken personality and the feeling that he’s on the average Joe’s side (they seem to ignore the fact he’s a billionaire and part of the establishment but go figure). The woke rhetoric is a gift to him as is a totally inept, spineless opposition.
And as for Scotland, well it’ll just keep on keeping on as a wee dreamer of independence but it’s not happening for at least a decade. The rot must be utterly cleaned out and replaced with something that respects its electorate and puts common sense policies first. To borrow a phrase – make Scotland Great Again. A start would be revitalising our once renowned education system, investing in our growth sectors and sorting out our mess of a legal system. We also need to make Scotland healthy again and face the fact that the average Scot is a disgraceful overweight mess. It’s not something to be proud of but an utter embarrassment.
Just my strategic tuppenceworth…
Forming any party or movement right now is premature and I very much fear, is doomed to fail. Sad, but true. The SNP really did a number on us.
But FFs be proactive and plan! Develop a cohesive, rational, step by step path to Independence properly delivered, and do that first, and allow the streamlining of all these disparate initiatives to coalesce around a SINGLE plan of attack.
This can ONLY happen via a Constitutional Convention; a meeting of strategists, where everybody leaves their egos and politics at the door, and focuses solely upon the job in hand; sovereign Independence.
Take that core value, sovereign Independence, and adopt that as the skeletal framework from which other initiatives can be hung.
We are doing this in reverse currently; fracturing into factions and despairing at the faltering camaraderie. People are signing up to parties without knowing what the core strategy is, and consequently, we have as many parallel strategies as there are separated factions to promote them. It is literally Peoples Front of Judea type stuff right now.
Progress away from this moribund stasis begins with the simplicity of a plan, (correction, make that a cogent plan), which everybody who is pro Independence can say yes to, and for fk sake, say yes to it!
And for goodness sake be discerning; we know who our betrayers are. Keep the barstewards out of influencial appointments. If we assemble around a core value that is crystal clear and unambiguous, we become that much harder to divide and misdirect.
In 2014, a three letter word, “YES” said everything and meant everything.
You Yes Yet?
Become the coiled snake that is ready to strike. “IF” now isn’t the time, then be ready to act decisively the moment it is time.
That’s pretty much what the New Scotland Party are advocating? Get independence then sort out all the other divisive issues.
They’re not even standing candidates, they’e trying to coalesce all independence supporters around their “Manifesto for Independence”, a single issue Manifesto
“Cap in hand” for SNP members
Can you name one political movement in all of recorded history “where everybody leaves their egos and politics at the door?”
I can’t.
What you’re calling for is just more pie-in-the-sky.
And how would you magically make “everyone” agree the “core values?”
Just for starters, how would you define “sovereign” independence?” If most Scots want to join the EU, which explicitly claims sovereignty over nations that join, doesn’t that negate the sovereignty you wish for? Would you explicitly reject an “independent” Scotland joining the EU?
Try again.. and this time, deal with people as they are, not as you wish them to be.
“Keep the barstewards out of influencial appointments.”
Worth remembering that in a colonial society all institutions are managed only by those who hold to the colonizer’s values. Successive SNP governments refused to alter this colonial ‘cultural hegemony’, instead becoming a ‘co-opted’ part of the racket.
“We need to offer them a country where THEY get to decide things.”
Yes, this is the bottom line for all that is going on. And, though not mentioned in the article, the ISP have been more or less going down that path since its inception. ‘Direct Democracy’ is one of its core principles.
Funnily enough, Direct Democracy wasn’t something Alex Salmond was in favour of: he wanted the status quo of the people are only sovereign during the time it takes them to mark an ‘x’ in a box and, after that, all power would flow to politicians again. For me that batted a vote for Alba right out of court and Alex Salmond tumbled in my esteem too.
Is any of this do-able. I think yes, Switzerland does a reasonable job of Direct Democracy, and they can force a politician out of power if they deem him/her beyond saving.
‘Salvo’ is also notable in that it too is on favour of Direct Democracy and a principle of being able to sack politicians if they are proving to be utter duds.
Who are THEY, Scotland
Who are YOU
We’ll get there…
Who are WE, Scotland (sigh)
If you don’t know who you are and are unwilling to look yourself in the mirror –
WHAT THE F**K ARE YOU, SCOTLAND (a fu**ing lost coward) ???
How about Scotland values ???
(I asked this question on this forum years ago with zero success)
Does Scotland 2024 hold any values….
The actual poll results are worse for Indy Parties than Stu’s tables suggest.
The actual voter intention for Scotland (not counting the “don’t knows”) in the next general election is:
Conservative 17%
Labour 12%
Lib Dem 9%
Reform 17&
Greens 11%
SNP 29%
Other 5%
To sum up, there’s a vast majority of Scots who will vote for Unionist parties.
See link to findoutnow.co.uk and the links provided, for the numbers.
And if the “Don’t knows” are included in this poll. only 18% of Scots plan to vote SNP.
Politicians want, first and foremost, to keep their jobs. If there existed an overwhelming demand for Indy, the politicians would respond. There isn’t–and the politicians have concluded that there isn’t.
For me we’ll never leave this illegal union – unless we take our independence – England just cannot afford to let Scotland go – I doubt things will get better come the 2031 elections – England controls the all powerful media and Scotland is riddled with gatekeepers, and House Jocks – and that’s even before the English security services play their part.
Yes the Scottish public – won’t rise up to rid themselves of tyranny – but neither did the majority of the Irish – until they knew that John Connelly was executed by the British whilst tied to a hospital stretcher – he was too ill to stand and be shot.
Remember the gatekeepers – House Jocks along with Westminster, have blocked-off any route out of this illegal union – ( not even what happen to Salmond ignited the flames of rebellion) I wonder if they’ll ever be a incident in Scotland – that will waken Scots up and see them rise up and free themselves from the shackles of this ungodly union.
The truth about Connolly’s execution was not subject to the same suppression as that of Willie MacRae.
The legal brain (Mulholland) who saw something apparently untoward in Duff and Phelps administration accounting procedure saw nothing suspicious in a ‘suicide’ using a rifle to the back of the head.
Maybe when Faslane goes up?
Oops! Too late.
The time between now and ’26 is very long. Lots of time for Reform to blot its copy book and/or implode. For Farage to get censured for never being in the House. A long time for the far right bigotry to burst it’s cages and leave Scots in particular cold.
It is also more than long enough for the UNDC to have ridden into town with new eligibility rules for indyref2 (native Scots & maybe 1st gen exiles). Voters will have seen the SNP caught like rabbits in the headlights no idea what to do.
Plenty of time for the public to learn that only ISP has been involved (heavily) in Salvo & Liberation. Only we will have a story to tell about our liberation.
History says that such parties do well. We could hoover up unionist seats on the List. Our member John Hannah got 8.75% coming 4th in a council election just after the GE. That is enough to get us seats and more than Alba has achieved.
” Plenty of time for the public to learn that only ISP has been involved (heavily) in Salvo & Liberation. Only we will have a story to tell about our liberation.”
This is crucial .
As this WOS post refers to and listed by others , above , all those dividing n distracting ( from the goal of Independence ) * issues * are , in essence , stories , mostly ” told by an idiot , full of sound & ( performative ) * fury * ” ; but stories nonetheless ; narratives , ways of describing/understanding the World
The spurning of the entreaties of Salvo & Liberation to collaborate , and form a united front capable of giving the Independence cause greater depth and width , by the other pro-Independence Parties – with the notable exception of ISP – is an act of unpardonable folly , and has contributed to the growing disillusionment of the Independence supporting % of the Scottish Electorate with any of the ” established ” Parties .
The Public need to hear much better , richer , more resonant stories , eg about where we are as a Nation – the Present – how we got to the * condition * we’re in – History – and where we could go if liberated from our current hobbled circumstances – the Future .
Salvo & Liberation AND Alf Baird are trying to tell us these deeper stories , stories that ring true – because they ARE true .
” Scotland ” would do well to listen to these stories
Agreed.
For me, as per my comment above, SALVO is providing the cogent route to Independence which every faction should coalesce behind.
At the risk of over thinking this; even if a successful initiative “doesn’t work”, or more likely does work but gets ignored; having Scotland’s sovereign integrity affirmed as legitimate in law, becomes a towering influence over everything else.
It’s not same, but there are similarities… for all the good it’s actually done them, (and that’s a shameful indictment), just imagine how weak and anaemic the Palestinian argument would be without the 131 UN resolutions overwhelmingly backing their plight and condemning the illegal occupation of their land.
Yes, it’s true, it has yet to prevail in the real world, but that legal distinction, that affirmation that the occupation is illegal, is a watershed with defining ramifications. It gives legality to one side of the argument and denies legality to the other. Imagine the situation of that distinction didn’t exist.
A comparable affirmation of Scotland’s sovereign integrity would provide a similar watershed in Scotland’s long running predicament, and while it may not deliver all we want, it will curtail and discriminate against the unlawful activities of the non-sovereign opportunists, and it will serve notice on those currently plundering Scotland’s resources with impunity.
If it’s true that support of Independence sits around the 50%+ mark already, (I suspect it’s higher amongst Scots), without these landmark adjudications, just imagine power and vindication they would give to Scotland’s position, and correspondingly, imagine how damaging they would be to our parasitic colonial style usurpers of power.
It is my firm conviction that SALVO is closer than anyone, to the defining injustice of Scotland’s impoverished predicament in a “Union” which should never have properly existed to begin with.
This issue, Constitutional sovereignty, is the heart of all arguments. When truth stands for all to see, it’s the lies and betrayals which are undone. The Union will collapse in ignominy. There is no other conclusion possible.
Project Arbroath booklet link
https://projectarbroath.scot can help people understand where we are
Is there a free version available?
Please tell me more about how the UN is going to ride into town and restrict the democratic franchise away from people who are lawfully resident in Scotland, and may have been for 40+ years. The alien invasion referred to above is much more likely to happen.
I’m sure coming 4th is a huge achievement for someone representing a crank ideology, however I think it’s unlikely that turnout will be 20% in 2026, as it was in the aforementioned council by-election. A whole 1% of the electorate supporting ISP is hardly overwhelming evidence of popular support.
It just struck me that in 2026 no party will be offering social democracy (which the SNP used to do under Salmond and Sturgeon for a shirt while), liberalism or conservatism. Instead it’s a mix of neoliberalism, identity politics, ultra capitalism and the hard to far right ideas of Farage and Reform. Reform may be the ‘fuck you’ party but they offer Scotland nothing.
The days of Holyrood being left leaning and liberal is ending as it has been for the last five years at least. The right is full of dangerous people like Farage but what’s happened to the left is a tragedy. This obsession with the Omnicause has seen things like people crying ‘genocide’ in regards Gaza but complete silence regards the half a million dead is Syria. Or the outrage in regards Gregg Wallaces comments about middle aged women but the complete silence in regards women being abused by TRAs.
As Stu says, people want a roof over their head, feed themselves, have a job with decent conditions and public infrastructure that works. As a whole these people have been abandoned and it’s from this group that Reform and Trump draw their support. Having cities reshaped for a few middle class bike ridings geeks while kids can’t get fed and councils cut services is a pisstake. Grooming their kids is unforgiveable. Of course people are angry.
Sadly your leftish/liberal parties are infested with young activists who see politics not as a way to improve the lives of tye majority but to impose their ideology on us and if we don’t like it they’ll make laws that can imprison us. I can’t see any improvement in the short term but the poor, disabled and working class don’t have a voice in party politics as a whole barring a few outliers. Everything is focused either on the wealthy and/or the middle class.
We’re in dangerous times. There’s a huge risk of Trump crashing the American economy in the next few years and that’s going to go around the world. Labour are going to be lucky to do anything to repair the damage the Tories did and may well make things worse. Meanwhile the SNP flounder with no direction, imagination or drive beyond individuals working out how to keep, or get, a safe seat in 2026 and I despair again as activists lead by Sturgeon, chased out so many capable people to be replaced by empty-eyed pod people.
Good post. I would also say that the virtue signalling leftists in the independence movement should also be called out for their Trump Derangement Syndrome. As much as many of us don’t like the guy, his incoming administration is one we will have to deal with, one way or another. His personal stance, of a Unionist persuasion (albeit sentimental, die to his mother’s stance a century ago, when the UK was a very different place) will not budge – and given his narcissistic personality, may even harden and become vindictive – if our movement keeps bleating on about him being “literally Hitler” or such like.
That Derangement Syndrome is not limited to Trump.
A perusal of some of the above comments reveals at least two more similar Derangement Syndrome’s.
Putin Derangement Syndrome and Gaza Derangement Syndrome. Sometimes from the same source.
Exactly we should use his love of scotland to our advantage, any sane FM would. Trumps unionist leanings are malleable at best. Though he will be out of office and likely dead of old age the time Scotland has any serious prospects of independence.
The current system of government is flawed. Once in power the government assumes an authority that should not be available to it. The manifesto commitments should be sacrosanct. Referendums, as often referred to as the Switzerland practise, needs to be adopted so as to understand, and act upon the views of the population.
There’s no easy answers because it’s not an easy task, especially not in the context of a modern democratic wealthy state like the U.K. There are dozens of independence movements across Europe, all of whom are failing to achieve any real traction.
To stand even a fight chance, I think a few things are needed;
a) seriously outstanding people, the calibre of Dominic Cummings, who are prepared to work away at the cause for decades;
b) to recognise that more public support is needed, and to get more unionists in the position where whilst it its not their ideal choice, it’s something they can get comfortable with and live with; and
c) jettison all of the conspiracy theorists, Russia apologists, self appointed legal scholars, UDI enthusiasts etc. (looking at you Salvo).
Even those three things won’t guarantee success, but in absence I think there is a guarantee of failure.
(Trying again as can’t even quote your own words…)
“…stop wanging on about Gaz@, and all the rest of it.”
It. Wow!
Maybe start your own site, “Mac”.
“Wangs Over G@za”!
Run it up the flagpole, see who salutes 🙂
Good game this isn’t it – where anyone can “play” using the same general principles?
Rev, you have explained the “f u” problem clearly and equally clearly that the solution is to make the SNP “change, change utterly” so that people will be prepared to vote for them.
Have you any idea on how that can be done?
As you know, there are many groups beavering away on various aspects of independence campaigning, and it seems that they are all prepared to work with each other and with the political parties.
It is only the main, supposedly pro-independence political party, that won’t co-operate. So, whilst hunkering down in our defensive fortified position, what can be done about the SNP?
[I hope that my query won’t drive you mad…]
“stop wanging on about G–az z-a”
Wow! I’m speechless there’s a Jenno-cide ongoing in you know where, and the ICC has at least issued arrest warrants – somehow I think the majority of the Scottish public are wanging on about it in there own ways.
Kit Klarenberg ????? (@KitKlarenberg): “This is the most important image of the 21st century to date. Study it. Never forgive. Never forget.” | nitter.poast.org
Breaking news – sole occupant of scotland loses voice – all contact with scotland lost.
Breathtakingly astonishing that a so-called Indy supporter – supposedly sensitised through harsh and bitter experience to the fact that a hysterical accusation is not a guilty verdict – nevertheless chooses to treat an accusation as a fact and a guilty verdict when it suits his own rampant antisemitism.
And that’s before we look at the numbers, approx 45,000 dead in 13 and a half months.
We killed half as many as that again in WW2, IN FRANCE, and we weren’t even at war with them. Was that a “Jenno-cide” too?
Speaking of a “Wow”, jump past the 2 minute ad at the beginning, and the first few minutes of this Livestream are dynamite.
link to youtube.com
I’ve never seen it summarised so concisely.
Incredible. ‘Operation Timber Sycamore’ eh?
Boris Johnstone; “one of the great fools of our time”
These fools will kill us all while, like the neo-con loon atop the nuclear missile in Dr.Strangelove, whooping and hollering three cheers for God and property while they blow us all to kingdom come.
I have to say I find it a bit funny that you attribute the problem to talking about G@za and gen0cide when you have subjected us to a gazillion funking articles on trannies.
Even during the last Scottish election when ALBA was trying to get traction… endless tranny stories.
Craig Murray actually angrily tweeted as much straight after the defeat.
Did that have an adverse effect at all buddy?
Could you please post a link to the articles on trannies.
Also the the tweet by high profile trans activist Craig Murray.
Seriously?
The trannies deranged world view is adversely affecting half of all Scots right now. The half with lady bits.
Now it is true that the G@zan’s world view could adversely affect half of all Scots too. And surprise, surprise, it would again be primarily the half with lady bits.
But unlike the trannies, who are here with us, the G@zans are still a few thousand miles away.
And then it’s not a gen0cide either. Everybody’s donkey has sussed that a war that can be stopped by releasing a hundred or so hostages and promising to stop lobbing rockets could never be a gen0cide.
No true gen0cide in the entire history of the world ever had the advantage of such a simple solution.
To wang on and on, forever insisting that something is true just because you wanted it to be true, was never going to fly in such a simple, open-and-shut case.
The half with the lady bits? Is this another new term for women?
I would suggest ‘the trannies deranged word view’ as you call it is affecting more than just the women but sadly a high percentage of those ‘without the lady bits’ just don’t get it.
“a hundred or so hostages”
There are a lot more hostages than that.
Oh! Sorry. Scrub that.
I’m forgetting, In this mirror image inversion of the woke practice (known as “The Rules Based Order”) that only works one way and the thousands of hostages in jail don’t count.
And of course it goes without saying, that this oft toted right to self defence only operates one way as well.
Don’t you just love those “British Values”!
Makes you wonder why we have this reputation of being labelled Perfidious Albion?
I hate say it, but I think the loss of Mr Salmond is a completely unrecoverable disaster for both Alba, and the independence movement as a whole.
I’m an Alba member,and SNP before that, but Salmond was our Lionel Messi/Micheal Schumacher (insert god levelsportsman here).
Who can you honestly say could lead the independence movement and give it the profile it needs?
None of the current heid yins, that’s for sure.
Get set for rule by unionist fuckwits for the rest of the decade,simply because there is no successor worthy, or able.
And thats it in a nutshell.
…sorry to be so negative, but I can’t see it any other way.
It was nice for a bit tho..(2007-2014)
Which is of course exactly why he was taken out.
For Scotland to have any chance whatsoever… things will have to come to a head elsewhere.
And then, maybe, independence will fall (somehow) into our laps.
But even if it it did… our massive fifth column population would find a way to squander it.
(Apologies…yet again ballsed up the email address)
Which is (of course) exactly why he was taken out.
For Scotland to have any chance whatsoever… things will have to come to a head ‘elsewhere’.
And then, maybe, independence will fall (somehow) into our laps.
But even if it it did… our massive fifth column population would find a way to squander it.
Scotland is unique as we are right next to the beating heart of it.
We are kidding ourselves that we are just going to ‘vote’ ourselves out of this nightmare.
Duncan Hamilton showed a fair bit of the necessary attributes, I thought. If he could be pushed to the fore it would be very useful.
I thought that too when I was listening to him speak in StGiles on Saturday.
Very very sad, but very very true
On current polling the SNP group in 2026 will consist largely of the same people as at present with few ex-MP’s added in. As the majority group in a SNP/Lab coalition they will offer more of the same policy agenda and Labour will find it hard to disagree as they don’t want to rock the boat with the Trade Unions and the Third Sector either. So we will carry on with little reform to the public sector with the occasional free stuff handed out to generate a headline. The only hope of movement before 2031 is if the membership of the SNP tires of being taken for granted and takes action rather drift into apathy.
Tonight Scottish TV Viewers can watch a women’s qualification football match against the Republic of Ireland.
The ITN news did a feature on the Wales match at 6.30pm. On another free channel Scots can watch a friendly women’s match England Vs Switzerland.
Scotland’s women were also playing a qualifier over in Finland
tonight.
No mention on the news and no TV coverage.
Why do the Scottish government not call this out?
It was shown live on BBC.
I thought the Alba Party was founded by Laurie Flynn and therefore named by him and that Mr Salmond joined the party. Or did he just get Mr Flynn to register it so that his name was not associated with it until he was ready?
“Swinney must go.”- Doug
=======
As sure as night follows day.
But it is far more important for Holyrood and the SNP to rid themselves of the Dreghorn Midden. Robin McAlpine puts the case in language more polite than my uncharitable capacities:
link to robinmcalpine.org
The reason why Labour across the UK are doing so badly, is that after getting elected as a change from the hated Tories, they have done nothing but follow exactly the Tory strategy (with a few meaningless tweaks).
The reason why the SNP are so unpopular, is because they are not doing what people elected them to do – pursue independence.
In both Labour and the SNP, their is a failure to lead. Their is no vision, on the part of Labour, for a better ‘britin’ (as they would put it). All they say, is they will make tough decisions – failing quite miserable, in the process, to realise that is EXACTLY what the tories told us for 14 years.
Likewise, the SNP, seem obsessed with everything but independence. All of them just want to play politics. Not one, since the departure of Alex Salmond has the political nous or backbone required to effectively stand up to the English colonial government and push independence (and the end of English colonial rule) forward.
In both cases, timid tepid leadership and poor policy choices are at the root. Sir Keir Starmer is clearly a man of ZERO principles, drifting like the wind, and the same can be said of almost ALL SNP politicians – paying lip service to independence only when they need votes.
Nobody on the left has, it seems, the ability to make the case for taxing the super rich. Nobody, it seems, in the SNP, has the ability to make the obvious case for Scottish independence.
In both cases, they seek to appease. Pursuing tepid policies, scared of frightening the horses.
And PEOPLE ARE SICK OF IT. That is why they voted in Trump in America, that is why extreme right wing, loony parties are gaining votes. People see current politicians for what they are, careerist nobodies who stand for nothing, except their own bank balances.
Of course voting in nutters like trump is stupid. Of course voting for people like Farage is stupid. People do it, because they are right royally f***ed off with existing political nobodies who stand for NOTHING.
MEMO to politicians: stand up for what you believe in.
MEMO to politicians: stand up for what you believe in.
?
Sadly this is exactly what they are doing they do not and never will give a shit about the people.
The era of politicians must end
“MEMO to politicians: stand up for what you believe in”
And, sadly, that is exactly what they are currently doing.
To stand up for what they believe in, which is their careers, bank accounts, pensions, easy life, subsidised bars, free ministerial car rides and licking USA’s arse, of course.
The entire political system in Scotland and the UK is a complete failure. It is a device to ensure absolute rule can be administered whilst disguised as a pretend “democracy”.
Currently, one has to wonder who is actually in control of the UK, never mind Scotland. Is it the English crown? Is it MI5 and MI6? Is it USA’s deep state? Or are the children murderers in I who are in control?
Because if one thing is certain is that it is not the people of the UK, never mind the Scottish people.
When exactly did the people of the UK agreed to put the interests of the last USA puppet acting as U’s president ahead of the interests of UK’s pensioners? and when did we agree to spend billions of taxpayers’ pounds prolonging USA’s proxy war against R threatening us all with nuclear oblivion? When exactly did we agree to support the current disgusting genocide in the middle east?
When exactly did we agree to call transwomen women, to put rapists dressed as women in women’s prisons, or to let males pretending to be women beat the crap out of women in “sports”?
When did we agree to funnel millions of taxpayers’ funds into dodgy quangos like Stonewall or LGBT Youth Scotland?
Now we hear rumours that Musk, an American citizen, is planning to fund Reform to the hilt to transform that party into Trump’s mini political satellite. In other words, overt foreign interference into “our” political system on an industrial scale. And nobody even blinks. We are expected to just accept that an American citizen has more control over Scotland than the entire Scottish people themselves. How wonderful. How democratic. The electoral commission might tell us that such contribution will break the rules. But all the foreign interference during the Brexit referendum also “broke the rules”, yet, including courts, everybody in control just turned a blind eye. Foreign interference in our political systems is not only acceptable for the ruling classes. It appears to be encouraged. And then they tell us this system is democracy. They must think we are all idiots.
The article above beautifully shows that the current political system does not and it has never been designed to properly represent the people who allegedly vote in it. We are told that recent polls have put support for independence above 50%. And yet, the first figure of the article shows a formation for the upcoming 2026 Holyrood Parliament where not a single seat represents people who pursue independence. Not one seat.
SNP and Greens have demonstrated since 2021 that they have SFA interest in delivering independence. With absolute anti-union majorities in Westminster and with pro-independence majorities in Holyrood if any of these two parties had truly any interest in delivering independence, they would have done it already. Yet, these two useless parties couldn’t even be arsed to deliver a bloody referendum and tried to kill time instead by bringing in the dodgy gender nonsense and failed bottle return schemes.
This lack of representation, which leads to parliaments and governments completely detached from the Scottish public interest and aligning with USA’s and I’s interests instead, will continue for as long as we continue to support this rotten, broken, rigged system with our votes.
I cannot help but laughing at some of the comments in the National. There are some idiots who think that removing Alba, ISP and other pro-independence parties from the political scene will ensure that all us ex-SNP voters are going to run to cast our vote for these brigade of betrayers, grifters and troughers. That is a beautiful example of what is wrong with this system: the belief that political success rests on actively denying democracy by constantly removing from the ballots the options which constitute vehicles to deliver Scotland’s independence.
If we want change, the way to start is by bringing the whole rotten thing down. If we are not presented with the option of a vehicle to deliver independence worthwhile to vote for, then we may as well spoil the ballots or refuse to vote.
Do we know if Elon Musk supports Scottish Independence or not?
“Currently, one has to wonder who is actually in control of the UK, never mind Scotland. Is it the English crown? Is it MI5 and MI6? Is it USA’s deep state? Or are the children murderers in I who are in control?”
We don’t know. And it is by design.
We never see that tree, only its fruit.
Personally I think it is fluid in that it changes over time. WWI&II were very pivotal in this regard. As will be WWIII.
Idi Amin’s son (allegedly) made an (easy to find tweet) about the US deep state that sticks in my mind. Maybe we are vastly over complicating this…
This is why I say what is happening the middle east is a lens.
It is showing us.
re. “one has to wonder who is actually in control…”
Mac and Mia (et al) are in control…
#PowerlessNWOLoser
If you look at the leadership in the West versus R and even C what strikes me is that our leaders don’t like us, the western populations.
In fact they seem intent on destroying us. They hate us.
Whereas the leaders of R & C seem to like their own populations and are striving to improve their lives.
When you look at how much they have improved their countries this last 30 years and then compare and contrast what has been done in our countries by our leaders… then I think it tells a very clear story.
They inflicted this woke nightmare on us, targeted our kids… decades in the planning. Weaponized immigration… open borders… dumbing down… it is huge list.
“In fact they seem intent on destroying us. They hate us”
We are seen as cannon fodder. We are seen as tools. We are seen as an inconvenience that needs to be bypassed and ignored. More to my point of wandering who/what the hell is controlling the UK, never mind Scotland.
The woke nightmare and open borders are nothing other than instruments of division. The reality is that they would not be able to keep 60 million people in the UK on a leash if we all joined together against this criminal and warmongering government. They need something to divide us up and to keep us fighting against each other rather than against them.
Bring that up a notch and you have the same strategy operating at a global scale in USA and EU. How many people do you really think would want a full blown war against R? Very few. I often wonder if the deployment of this woke shite was always a strategy to stop the people in the USA, EU and the UK organising against their disgustingly corrupt and warmongering governments.
Superb commentary. No more immigration. The NHS needs to be rebranded as a national service. They should recruit men in Glasgow.
“Born in Castlemilk. Made in the NHS.”
Make it brave to join the health service and serve your community. Stop the immigration from abroad taking the number one thing voters in Scotland care about. The NHS.
The NHS needs to restore it’s Scottish identity.
‘Union on Trial’ (Part One)
Sara Salyers and others with a history lesson…
link to youtube.com
I “enjoyed” that, Ian: sobering stuff destined never to air on MSM. Imagine if people were routinely exposed to these truths by truly independent media in Scotland rather than the endless slurry of Britnat propaganda to which they are subjected!
And what a charming lady MP near the start exulting in Scottish historical defeat and forced emigration, much to the amusement of the House of Commons.
Can’t remember if any of the feeble SNP contingent stopped thinking of their pronouns or bank balances long enough to put her in her place. They only walked out once and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t on that occasion.
Jings.
Maybe I misunderstood but was the G@za comment directed at Craig Murray?
I can’t think of anyone else (who is high profile) involved in Scottish politics who has been speaking out about the gen0cide and ethnic cleansing…
In fact what has been noticeable is the almost total silence in Scottish politics over what is happening in G@za. That is much more of an issue than people talking about it IMHO.
I understand why as it is the ‘third rail’ in western politics, touch it and you die. Which means hardly anyone is talking about.
Alex was much braver than most with respect to foreign policy, but now he has conveniently gone, and Galloway lost his seat, who in the HoC is even mentioning it, certainly not the SNP.
‘That is much more of an issue than people talking about it IMHO.’
Agreed.
But what can be done?
If folk don’t want to discuss something, not much anyone can do about that.
If folk shrug and say <i>’so what?'</i> that might be a scunner but at least they’re admitting that they don’t care.
If folk say <i>’there’s nothing I can do about that'</i> then fair enough, but that could apply to pretty much anything unpleasant.
I suppose ‘freedom of speech’ itself is something that a lot of people aren’t <i>really</i> that bothered about either, especially those who are vaguely ashamed that they can happily pontificate on all manner of topics but find themselves at a sudden loss for words when civilians are being shredded right in front of their fucking faces.
“You Gov has looked at what Reform supporters believe.
Of the policy statements we put to them, the one they are most likely to believe is that “young people today do not have enough respect for traditional British values”, at 89%.
They are similarly likely to think that “migrants coming to the United Kingdom across the English Channel should all be immediately removed from the United Kingdom and prevented from ever returning” (86%) and also have a very strong tendency to say “multiculturalism has made the UK worse” (78%).
When it comes to crime, 85% believe that court sentences are not harsh enough, and 77% think the death penalty should be allowed.
On LGBTQ+ issues, while two thirds support same sex marriage (65%), a similar number also say that transgender people should not be allowed to legally change their gender (69%).”
There are other policies that some of us here might support.
“Big businesses in the UK take advantage of ordinary people
74
Ordinary working people do not get their fair share of the nation’s wealth
73
Utilities like energy, water and railways should be run in the public sector”
link to yougov.co.uk
This is a false prospectus, I think.
Richard Tice is a multimillionaire. He went to a private school. His family is enormously rich.
It would be useful to have some explicit and tied down definitions of precisely what those “traditional British values are?
Along with whose definitions they are and who is doing the counting.
It would then be possible to enable a compare and contrast assessment of the stated “values” and the actual implementation.
One example might be, say, the value of respect for others alongside the total absence of respect for civilians being deliberately exterminated – almost to the point from some people of cheering it on- because, well, that’s “woke” and just performative “virtue signalling”; besides which, as appears very clear, they are only “foreigners” anyway and not as “good” as “us.”
I suspect that what we would find is a mirror image of the Woke in which all the definitions are subjective and convenient to a particular power dynamic and there is absolutely no reciprocation involved whatsoever. The so called stated value only operating one way.
Much like Eurocrat Josep Borrell’s Western “Garden” of superior beings and the “Jungle” of inferiors that is everything outside the Collective Worst approach which is part and parcel of “The Rules Based International Order” (we make the Rules, you obey the Orders).
Yet again, conflation of gender with sex. Gender is an essentially meaningless social construct. It’s sex that is binary and cannot be changed. Why do so many people find this so hard to understand?
Wonder what ‘traditional British values’ means to these tossers? God save Sausage Fingers?
James
It is a mixed bag of reasons for supporting Reform, looking at the full range of answers.
Reform is likely/certain to be a vehicle for millionaires like Farage and Tice to extract more wealth.
The downward trajectory over decades across the UK will continue with damage to health and welfare continuing.
As always with very unequal societies violence will increase.
“Deaths of despair” through drugs alcohol and suicide will continue.
Life expectancy will continue to fall.
Sooner or later most Scots will look for a way out.
But with reform in power, Scotland will never peacefully be allowed to leave this one sided union, piecemeal perhaps.
I suspect Reform supporters believe whatever they want the party to deliver. This is not a swing to the right in any sense that it’s currently understood. It’s a demand for change and Reform are the only outfit that appear willing to deliver it. Blue-rinse Tories are deluding themselves if they think this will be a return to traditional conservatism. Far from it. I don’t think anybody really knows where this will head.
If you look at the rise of the “far right” in Portugal everyone thinks it’s a return to Catholic conservatism but a sizeable number of the supporters of Chega (Enough) are in their late teens and early twenties. They see the future, and it’s not bright, so they want change, preferably for the better. The party realises this. The publicity stunts they get into look childish and are derided as such, but their antics are likely appealing to the young who see entrenched interests of the middle-aged and elderly (all those fat pensions they awarded themselves) as blocking their chances. Farage is probably smart enough to see this too.
Woke Leftism simply doesn’t work. In any nation it’s tried, and especially Scotland
Thus, the Reform Party’s growth.
“Woke Leftism”
“leftism”. What is that? A relic? Is that even relevant anymore in a place like Scotland where the political axis has been, since September 2014, firmly stuck between the sides of pro and against independence?
Stonewall got millions of pounds from the UK purse while the tories were in power. Women in England, during the tory tenure, were chucked out of their jobs for criticising the gender woo woo nonsense.
So, are you suggesting that the tories responsible for forced austerity on the working class for the best part of 10 years, the tories that exponentially increased the number of food banks and dependence of working people on them, the tories who imposed the disgusting benefit 2-child cap while catapulting individuals like Lady Mone to the HoL, the tories who paid millions to Stonewall and helped the 1% to continue evading taxes and siphon from the public purse, are “the left”?
You have a very strange concept of right and left.
If Alba, with Alex Salmond’s star power, couldn’t get more than 1% of the vote, why should any sane person think that a handful of crank bloggers can start a new party and do better?
Because the bar of standards is so, so darn low right now that it would be incredibly hard to do any worse for Scotland than the damage Sturgeon’s SNP, Greens, Labour, Tories or LibDems have inflicted on this country during the last 10 years.
Each of those “crank bloggers” as you feel self-entitled to call them, have far more integrity in their little finger that the entire compound of corrupt, cowardly, self-serving MSPs + MPs + SPADS and other troughers who claim to be working for and representing Scotland, while all what they are doing is keeping a healthy cash flow into their bank accounts and a nice padded seat under their arses.
At the very least, those bloggers, in line with what the country thinks, believe Scotland could have much better and are making an effort to push for something better. The corrupt self-serving cowards and troughers sitting in both parliaments cannot even be arsed to pretend they are trying.
“Mia,” you evaded the question I posed: If Alex Salmond couldn’t do it with Alba, how could a handful of unknown cranks create yet another fringe party that would win elections?
BTW if they ever gained office (heaven forbid) history informs us that the new party politicians would become troughers too.
“if they ever gained office (heaven forbid) history informs us that the new party politicians would become troughers too”
And that is why the route to Scotland’s independence is by bypassing or not sending MPs to Westminster rather than by insisting in being fooled by the idea that, once well positioned in the green seats and with a comfortable salary, “anti-union” MPs will ever lift a finger to end the union.
The only way out is through a party like ISP where elected representatives do not take the seats, do not swear allegiance to a foreign crown and reject the Scotland Act.
“how could a handful of unknown cranks create another fringe party that would win elections?”
My guess is by tapering on the right audience.
Look around you. There were over 600,000 pro-independence voters who chose to stay at home at the last GE rather than voting because they were not tempted enough to even bothering in casting a vote.
Clearly these people are not impressed with the embarrassing “S30 begging bowl” strategy of the SNP. That figure can even be bigger by 2026. Target that audience with the right, bold pro-independence message and you get an election winner.
Alba or ISP may not have won any election so far, but their work has not gone to waste. The SNP continues to haemorrhage voters and those voters refuse to go to the unionist parties.
In the first figure in the article, it seems like the 14 seats projected for Reform come directly from the Conservatives. In other words, despite the increasing number of disillusioned pro-independence voters, the unionist vote is not growing, it is simply moving around.
What this means is that, not only the potential audience for that new “fringe” political party is increasing by the day, but also that the unionist parties are incapable of stopping it.
It seems useless to get “Mia” (and other online Indy cranks) to acknowledge actual statistics that refute her assertions.
Which is the mark of a fringe fanatic.
I cited the statistics above on voting intentions, from the poll my fellow clansman Stu cites: SNP is at 29%. Unionist parties are getting 70% of the vote in this poll, and more importantly, in actual elections this year. The SNP used to get in the 40+% range.
The Unionist vote is GROWING, not merely “moving around.” The reality is the complete opposite of what you assert.
“Unionist parties are getting 70% of the vote in this poll”
70% OF THE VOTE. Right. Where do the 600,000 pro-indy voters who did not cast a vote in the 2024 GE fit in that poll?
How representative of the voting population and what kind of mandate a “70%” of the vote is if less than 50% of the voters could actually stomach turning up to vote for the same old shite?
Don’t let the concept of the “percentage of the vote” fool you. That is not what matters in the longer term, bigger picture. Turnover is progressively decreasing and with it the concept of “democratic” representation.
Being governed by any political outfit of a set of options which you despise on equal measure will only increase your discontent and your desire for something different.
The thing is that when you have been disillusioned for a long time and deprived of a suitable option to vote for, you become very reactive to the possibility of change. So, when the possibility of that change comes your way, yo do not let it pass. You will get up your chair and vote for it.
Meanwhile, having more of the same disappointing old shite will only serve to increase the number of disillusioned voters even further. This will increase the size of the potential audience a new pro-indy party can target.
So, do you seriously think that, right now, I give a toss for your myopic “statistics”? What I want is to see the entire undemocratic, rotten in corruption, and rigged political edifice currently forcing Scotland to remain in this union and to continue preserving a ToU that has more holes than a sieve, to fall right down to the ground.
So, if that is okay with you, I rather look at the bigger picture and keep waiting for that increasing audience of disillusioned pro-independence voters to reach critical mass, thank you.
“when the possibility of that change comes your way, yo do not let it pass. You will get up your chair and vote for it”
Do you reckon Scots will vote for poot? Why don’t you make a real effort to build your base? No need to be coy, Mia, if you believe in it as much as you claim you do, big it up to the world.
Maybe play down the reality that after one successful majority vote in favour, there won’t ever be another vote. 🙂
Play up the reality that getting into bed with the NK and Ir@n axis will solve our immigration and sizzler “problems” at a stroke.
Maybe start a new emigration problem though.
What do you reckon, Mia? Will Scotswomen wheesht for cheeky lassies being taken off the streets and beaten to death for uncovered hair and other similar “deadly sins”?
Will you?
It’s not a matter of how many votes this party or that personality gets, it’s about the fact that the majority of Scots want their nation to be free of the yoke of colonialism. That’s what matters, regardless of whether one particular party gets 100%, 1% or 0.001% of the vote.
“Stop making their lives worse at every single turn because you have neither the resources nor the basic competence to make them better. Stop putting up their trainfares, stop punishing them for driving the wrong kind of car or liking the wrong food, stop grooming their children, stop wanging on about Gaza, and all the rest of it.”
Amen.
Sadly i don’t see ALBA going anywhere. You are right about the name being a mistake. They seem just like the SNP but sane. That is not enough now. Change of name and leadership may lead to more fruitful results.
But alas there is no shortcuts to Independence.
Would it be possible for Holyrood to have a vote on gaining powers from Westminster and if there is a majority Holyrood would adopt the responsibility with immediate effect,except defence and foreign affairs to satisfy the majority of no voters who preferred that and to convince them to change their minds.
First you need to get rid of the unemployable cretins who have never had a decent job or done a real days work and replace them with competent people who genuinely support independence
No, it wouldn’t, Holyrood gains its power through the Scotland Act passed at Westminister, so the Westminster parliament would need to legislate for that to happen.
“Holyrood gains its power through the Scotland Act passed at Westminister”
Don’t be ridiculous. The Scotland Act is like a straight jacket put on Scotland’s parliament to stop it becoming a full blown Scotland’s parliament.
What do you think that dodgy and unelected figure of “Lord Advocate” is doing sitting in the middle of Scotland’s cabinet? It is handing control over Scotland’s executive and legislative power to the English crown to stop Holyrood becoming a full blown parliament.
What right has the English crown or England MPs for that matter to restrict the control of Scotland’s people over their own effing legislative power?
None. That equals to imposing absolute rule over Scotland, which is a direct violation of the Claim of Right and indirectly a violation of the ToU. If we only had real representatives of Scotland among the MPs and MSPs instead of crown useful idiots, the ToU would have been declared null and void by now.
Holyrood gained its power through the vote of the Scottish people in the referendum of 1997, not Westminster. Westminster just had to comply.
What do you think the following means?
“The Union with Scotland Act 1706 and the Union with England Act 1707 have effect subject to this Act”
The above quote has been extracted from the Scotland Act 1998 Section 37.
My interpretation of that quote is that it is the Scotland Act and the shackling of Holyrood with that Act and the dodgy figure of Lord Advocate what is preserving the Union of Scotland with England. Remove that Act, and remove that unelected figure from our government cabinet and Holyrood becomes a full blown Scotland’s parliament. This would signal the end of the ToU for good.
Why? Because a full blown Scotland’s parliament will be a direct breach of Article 3 of the ToU. There is a very good reason for unionists to keep calling Holyrood “assembly” rather than Parliament.
Your own personal reinterpretation of the law has the same value as all the other eccentric personal reinterpretations of the law adopted by people like Freemen on Land, that being none. The Scotland Act clearly established the Holyrood Parliament, even if you ignore the legal argument, as a factual matter you can clearly see the causal link between the two.
If you think I’m wrong, please provide some legal authority (I.e. not just more of your own opinions) to prove it.
“Absolute rule” is an odd term to use but an accurate one, the United Kingdom Parliament has unlimited power to make laws in Scotland, see the UNCRC case at the Supreme Court. To the extent that the Claim of Right and the Treaty of Union have any remaining legal effect, the U.K. Parliament could simply pass a law which repealed them completely and that would take effect as passed. So it does not matter that anything the U.K. Parliament passed was in breach of either of those two things, as the U.K. Parliament is not bound to adhere to them when passing laws.
Finally, your interpretation of what is basically a legal clarification (that if a conflict occurs between the Scotland Act and the Treaty of Union Act, the Scotland act prevails), is doing a lot of heavy lifting. As a matter of statutory interpretation, it is very unlikely that something as significant as you are suggesting is achieved by implication. If all is as you say, then why does the law not say it explicitly?
I think it would be possible. In fact, I have constantly wondered since the 19 September 2014 what the hell where the useless SNP and Greens playing at by not including this in their manifestos.
At present, and for as long as our useless MSPs continue to abide by the Scotland Act, the power for Scotland to unilaterally dissolve this union is with Scotland’s MPs. For that to be enacted, we just need an absolute majority of anti-union MPs. That is all what we have ever needed. However, none of the establishment parties’ MPs (SNP, Greens, Labour, Libdems, Tories or, heaven forbid, Reform) will ever do such a thing and renounce to their salaries, so we need a pathway to overrule our own useless MPs.
A vote to bring back reserved powers to Scotland is that pathway. A vote to bring back all reserved powers to Scotland is, at all practical effects, the same as a vote for independence. This is because it will empower Holyrood as Scotland’s parliament. But to tell you the truth, I do not see any of the spineless “leaders” currently in control of “Scotland’s” main political parties ever finding the balls to do such thing and cut their revenue stream.
However, even if any of the new independence parties in Scotland were to include this in their manifestos for the upcoming Holyrood election, for this to work you require two things:
The right time to do this was the 2016 and the 2021 election, when Scotland had absolute majorities of anti-union MPs and pro-independence Majorities in Holyrood.
I was totally expecting that the political fraud Sturgeon would start bringing powers back to Holyrood one by one – that is what I would have done if I was in control of all those majorities and had at my disposal as many as 6 elections. I can guarantee that if the political fraud had done that, the SNP would not be now sinking in the sewer of UK politics and fading into irrelevance as it is now. But the useless hypocrite and the troughers surrounding her couldn’t even bother to try because they were never seeking independence in the first place.
Amen to that.
If that’s the reason tell them to amend the act
I entirely agree with this article. However, if I might be so bold, the point missed is the direction of travel. This hard lurch to the right is ongoing – it is but a snapshot in a still rapidly changing picture, and crucially – it isn’t done yet. The political trajectory is as clear as day: all the increasingly unpalatable nonsense of the Left (as described here daily) is simply too much form”ordinary people” (non political zealots) to possibly bear – and that’s *in addition* to left wing politics being demonstrably moribund and pretty useless anyway, without all the weird stuff.
To sum up: the Left is finished, clear as day. Even in Scotland. Look to the USA, or most of the EU – unthinkable even, say, 3 years ago. The Left has not only failed to deliver, it has demonstrably made things far worse for most people. This is nothing less than a “lightbulb moment” – and it’s about time. Good.
What does this mean for Scottish Independence? Scots will need to take their political blinkers off and smell the coffee, for starters. Maybe a renaissance beckons for the long-time deeply unfashionable “Tartan Tory”. Again, good. Much to the chagrin of the usual suspects here, again no doubt. (Suck it up boys and girls).
As Stu says, we do indeed live in interesting times. How this ends is anyone’s guess.
Oh, they’re starting to get bold!
Scots don’t like Tories, never have, and they haven’t won a national election here since 1955.
Suck it up Tory Boy.
Welcome to the new world matey. Cry harder.
Reference to ‘Left’ or Right’ was useful in pre-revolutionary France, but increasingly less useful ever since. Expect you know exactly what you mean but what about others (unless they are some sort of Cogniscienti)?
I assume this question is rhetorical.
If not, may I recommend Google, which will provide ample explanation as to what is )broadly) meant by left wing and right wing politics, including in a UK context.
Angus B. MacNeil joins the Alba party – and he could stand at the 2026 elections.
Should have said, i’m in my 70’s and my wife and i have no children( thank f***).
Scotland will get what it deserves, England is already lost sadly.
Still waiting on my first comment appearing.
Be interesting to see what percentage of the Reform vote comprises blow-ins from south of the border and those who are of a Sevco Ltd persuasion.
A good proportion I’d wager.
You are a Scottish nationalist; I am a Unionist, and English to boot. I’m not sure you want a friend like me, but I am one, and reading this has made my day.
Conmon sense to achieve a political outcome I don’t remotely support, other than in the general democratic sense- if independence is wanted, fight for it, persuade and succeed. I wish we all had the calibre of clear thinkers like the author in the UK generally; maybe we’d do better. I wish you luck.