The Switch
We were reminded this week of the amount of stick we got when we wrote these words almost five years ago, right after the 2016 Holyrood election:
(The rest of our post-match analysis wasn’t too shabby either.)
But readers, we have to grudgingly admit: we’re only NEARLY always right.
Because we’re genuinely shocked that the much-maligned (including by us) Holyrood inquiry committee has somehow ended up delivering a far more damning report on Nicola Sturgeon’s government than the man who – unlike the committee – actually WAS allowed to see (nearly) all the evidence of its corruption and conspiracy.
The intransigent blind party loyalty of the committee’s four SNP members, along with Andy Wightman’s unwillingness to take the difficult final step and vote for what he clearly knows in his heart to be true, has kept its report just short of the vital threshold required to remove the First Minister, and that – let there be no doubt whatsoever about this – is a crushing tragedy for both the Yes movement and Scotland, which kicks any prospect of independence down the road for at least another five years.
You can quote us on that again in 2026, because there is not the slightest sliver of hope of a second independence referendum while Nicola Sturgeon resides in Bute House, and we’ll put any amount of money you like behind that assertion. Contact us with a wager for whatever sum you choose and we’ll take it.
But the committee deserves some credit for still spelling out the truth for anyone willing to read even slightly between the lines. Let’s walk through some highlights.
Paragraph 235 clearly indicates that the committee knows the new harassment procedure WAS designed primarily to pursue one man and one man alone, but can’t quite summon the collective courage to actually say so:
Especially when taken in conjunction with Paragraph 293:
Let’s just linger for a few moments over the word “astonishing” in Paragraph 314:
Because it’s also a fair word to describe any prospect of Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans surviving the publication of this report in any sane world:
But we should also note this well-buried mine, which appears to be the committee’s only direct attempt in 187 pages to sneak in the truth about where the buck stops:
Paragraph 366 is shamefully weak-kneed on the issue of steamrollering the wishes of complainers with regard to involving the police, but can perhaps be overlooked given that Laura Dunlop’s review of the procedure has already recommended they should be given a clear and unequivocal veto.
Behind some rather tame wording, paragraphs 377 to 381 are nevertheless a clear and unambiguous acknowledgement of the fact that the procedure designed by Leslie Evans and her team was a complete turkey – an intrinsically unfair one which in particular was unconcerned with justice for the person being accused.
Paragraphs 408-414 will again invite readers to marvel that rather than being quietly handed a bottle of whisky and a revolver after the shambolic collapse of the judicial review, Leslie Evans was instead gifted a lucrative two-year contract extension by Nicola Sturgeon as if her performance had been not only acceptable but in some way actively meritorious.
In what’s perhaps the most powerfully-worded section of the report, the committee makes plain that Evans seriously let down not only the complainers but Alex Salmond, inflicting serious harm on all involved, to whom she alone had the primary duty of care.
(Earlier, we’d seen the Scottish Government’s constant cynical insistence to have been chiefly concerned with the welfare of the complainers shot down bitterly in flames by the complainers themselves.)
Paragraphs 526-528, meanwhile, unambiguously confirmed the complete truthfulness of David Davis’s comments in the House Of Commons last week, and therefore the utter, knowing dishonesty of the First Minister’s subsequent attack on him at FMQs.
Paragraph 588 is pretty brutal.
As are 594-595.
But it’s paragraphs 598 and 599 which ought to be the coup de grace for both Leslie Evans and Nicola Sturgeon. They represent the report’s strongest criticisms of anyone:
Evans gets it right in the neck, with the committee noting that “[her] individual failing is as significant as the general corporate failing already described”.
But while most of the worst specific errors clearly lie at the door of Leslie Evans, she is not in charge of or responsible for the Scottish Government. The First Minister is.
Yet readers will not need reminding that in fact not one person has in any material way been “held accountable” for a single moment of this fiasco so far. Indeed, most of those responsible have been rewarded with longer contracts and/or large pay rises.
It remains to be seen whether that situation persists.
The report draws to a bizarre close with the committee and James Hamilton engaged in a farcical impression of the Chuckle Brothers calling “to me… to you”.
Where yesterday Hamilton had said “it is for the Scottish Parliament [ie the committee] to decide whether they were in fact misled”:
…the committee lobs the hot potato straight back at him:
But in the end both sides bottle it. The committee, as was already leaked at the weekend, DOES conclude that it was misled by the First Minister, but chickens out of making the key (and logically inescapable) conclusion that it was on purpose, clearly because Andy Wightman lacked the courage to sign up to that part.
That failure was of course not his alone, but driven by the presence on the committee of four spineless SNP lapdogs concerned only with fawning loyalty to Nicola Sturgeon. For how else are we to explain the final paragraph?
Let’s take a moment to reflect on what that means. The committee’s key finding that it “may have insufficient powers to hold the executive to account” was OPPOSED by the four SNP members.
In other words, they actually WANT the Scottish Parliament to be too weak to hold the Scottish Government to account, and for it to have fewer and weaker powers than are being called for by the opposition and by David Davis, a Westminster Tory MP.
The abject refusal by SNP MSPs of more powers for Holyrood in case those powers might impose actual democratic accountability on their own administration is in some senses the most revealing and most shaming aspect of the entire affair.
It is an all but open admission that Nicola Sturgeon has survived only by using every means at her disposal to escape proper scrutiny, and by exploiting the weaknesses built into Holyrood’s power structures by the Unionists who devised them.
But more than that, they show a First Minister very comfortable within the confines and limits of devolution, and deeply unwilling to accept significantly more power for Scotland’s parliament because of the difficult responsibilities that come with it.
And that’s a characteristic which readers might wish to reflect honestly and soberly on when considering the likelihood of her ever delivering independence.
Thanks Rev – excellent & quick analysis, as always.
Is anyone else really, REALLY down today??
I don’t think I can face another 5 years of their shite. Worse, I don’t think I can face all the BS on Facebook and Twitter.
Hamilton has already said that his findings were redacted the Scottish government, before publication and as such, renders much of it meaningless/difficult to follow and in places, downright misleading.
Actually it makes me VERY nervous about said cabal running an independent Scotland!
A system by design where the legal system and parliamentary system are basically wholly owned by the government..
Yip, a ton of evidence against Sturgeon and her clique, such as Lesley Evans, yet not one sacking not one resignation, not even a reprimand.
Unless something spectacular happens over the next five years I agree that independence is dead until at least 2026.
I think one of the major problems with the committee was that every member of it went in with his/her mind already made up. Just occasionally, people like Jackie Baillie (and it pains me to say this) asked probing questions. Even so there was no sense that the committee were concerned with truth, only getting answers that suited their own agendas.
Than you for this critique. It certainly shows up the weakness of the Scottish Parliament, and the SNP desire to maintain this weakness. Sturgeon is badly damaged goods, but as you say she will cling on to power like all dictators. Scottish independence is a can that has been well and truly kicked down a very long road.
I do believe that the only means now available to register a very large part of the electorates disenfranchisement from politics is to spoil hundreds of thousands of ballot papers.
You know how I feel right now?
Like a very slightly watered down version of the despondency of 19th September 2014.
That first time was self inflicted by the public.
This time it’s been inflicted on us by the political class.
Verdict of the people of Scotland remains. Vote her out only solution now.
Oooooft
I’m only on para 65 😀 😀 😀
Excellent summary. What a tragedy it is one which most of the media will ignore, and most politicians will tut about and move on. The killer conclusion sums it up – the executive is unaccountable – exactly what Sturgeon knows and has exploited to the hilt. Any honorable public office holder would be gone after that report, along with her cadre of colluding liars. The SNP committee members are spineless toadys completely unworthy of their position and their large public salaries. As are the whole party and their lickspittle civil servants and media cronies. What a bunch of third rate criminals, who are now seeking to wrap it up by censoring Craig Murray, one of the few honest and brave journalists to bring the facts to the public’s attention.
SNP and Independence have become the ‘Dead Parrot’ sketch of politics. I’m disgusted and appalled.
Independence is dead under this lot. We’d be better to damage them and let a new party rise in the next 5 years. The only way to go is NO VOTES SNP!
So many people crowing over Hamilton, like their messiah has risen again. The cult is strong and that almost guarantees us another five years of can kicking down the road. Whatever next to delay the referendum?
To counter this, we need a strong voice to hold their feet against the fire. Better to have a minority SNP, suitably chastened and rid of the virus (not covid), and a strong 2nd Indy party which grows massively as SNP declines and ensures Indy is the main focus and that we get a referendum within the next 2 years max. I of course do not mean the greens!
Bang on cue, the specky spreadsheet guy John Curtice is on Radio Scotland commenting on things he knows fuck all about.
His glasses are unlawful, procedurally unfair, and tinted with apparent bias…
‘the principles of a free constitution are irrecoverably lost, when the legislative power is nominated by the executive’ – Gibbon.
I now wonder what this means, as far as column inches are concerned, for every unionist publication stationed in Scotland? No damning headlines around May? No building crescendo of scandal designed to rock the very notion of independence? No lurid, front page expose? On the face of it, they no longer need to employ these as she clearly poses zero threat to the union, nor appears EVER to do so?
Blocked a few previous followers/ing utter wankers, male and female, from my Twitter account last night; you know the type – toy dogs, led around by a fluffy, pink carrot – I look forward to seeing their mealy-mouthed words of disappointed surprise when the gaping crack of corruption finally swallows and burps-up the hoor that is Sturgeon. Mmm, I’ll enjoy ruefully shaking my head when those children start to wailing.
Get it right up you, Sturgeon – I’m with Alex Salmond – the true gowd of Scottish independence.
Great to see the Chuckle Brothers appearing in a Wings post, and such an important one at that.
Good things come to those who wait!
😉
Unless something spectacular happens over the next five years I agree that independence is dead until at least 2026.
And if it’s dead until then it’s dead forever, because Holyrood will be neutered before then. Brexit and devolution are not compatible.
Andy Ellis suggested protest voting in another thread and the idea of compiling a list of preferred candidates so that we can all concentrate our disapproval in the same place.
I think that’s a great idea, assuming we rule nothing out and are willing to vote Labour, Tories, etc., and not just pro-indy parties.
“Let a new party arise”
By,by independence and Scotland for all time coming.
Cleanse the Agean Stables and start at the next conference,there are more than enough good guys left in the SNP to do it. They need organised and I can see the awakening but sadly I am too old to join that fight.
I think after May ( and I hope for an SNP bloodbath – can’t believe I typed that) then the members re-group and pick candidates for westmonster election with a manifesto of a majority of pro-indy Mps then negotiaitions begin.
The present incumbents should be replaced by the significantly anti-woke.
All this can only happen if the SNP lose and lose big in May. I hope our SNP MSP cowards are reading this. Folk are still seething at caudillo sturgeon’s cabal.
I don’t think any of them are equipped to defend HCB and GRA on the doorstep. Hell mend them.
I hope no-one, and especially OGH, considers it an insult when I describe the Rev Stuart Campbell as Scotland’s very own 21st century Cassandra:
In Greek mythology, Cassandra was a priestess who was cursed to utter true prophecies, but never to be believed. In modern usage her name is employed as a rhetorical device to indicate someone whose accurate prophecies are not believed.
The way Stuart Campbell has been denigrated, lied about, insulted, scorned, disbelieved and every other method of attempted put-downs of his blog and himself by certain SNP factions, well, one can only ask: “Why are they constantly shooting the messenger?”
His extensive, incontrovertible post today shows that he is definitely one of the very few who has their finger on the pulse of Scottish Politics. *MORE POWER TO YOUR PEN*, Rev Campbell, and I will support you as much as I can.
Well surely even the most devoted disciple who faces Bute House every hour on the hour and chants 10 Hail Nicolas will gradually see over the next 5 years that The Empress has no clothes?
Looks like that’s what it’ll take and so we’ll just have to suck it up. I’ve got used to not qualifying for World Cups and waiting 4 years for a crack at the next one so I’m well practised.
Marion: “Hamilton has already said that his findings were redacted the Scottish government, before publication and as such, renders much of it meaningless/difficult to follow and in places, downright misleading.”
They have done that with everything, of course, from the very start. It has been suggested they also destroyed evidence which is normally considered a serious crime.
Sturgeon and her cabinet essentially had complete power over the law, too, so that they could redact and withhold whatever suited them and threaten anyone that got in the way.
There’s a long list of people and organisations in the background that were threatened by them. That lists includes The Committee itself and a Westminster MP.
That’s what it took for them to keep the “conspiracy theory” out of the frame, sustain the lies, and keep their jobs…
And here it comes, Fabiani’s Farce long awaited whitewash to complement Hamilton’s mind blowing and unbelievably underwhelming whitewash.
How much did both whitewashes costed the taxpayer?
If they already knew from the beginning the committee would fall within party lines to be able to obfuscate the investigation so the main evidence was thrown away, totally kiboshing justice and democracy to exonerate the most corrupt FM, Lord Advocate and civil service in Scotland’s history, and Hamilton knew he would not have the balls to do what needed to be done and release anything damning against that corrupt FM no matter the evidence, then how such a waste of taxpayers’ money and time can ever be justified?
The committee criticises quite rightly Sturgeon, Evans and the Lord Advocate for allowing the case to proceed when the advise by senior counsel was to give up. Well, I would like the committee and Hamilton to reflect on the whitewashes they insulted the electorate and taxpayers with and attempt to justify the expenditure for something was never designed to do its job in the first place, but rather to stop that job being done.
We have heard and seen a lot. We cannot simply ignore what we have seen and heard because of this whitewash. We have heard of civil servants deliberately taking documents out of the pile that had already been cleared by external counsel to go to court and yet we see no demands for sacking of anyone?
The buck always stops with the boss. So why wasn’t Evans sacked when confidential information was leaked from the Sgov to a newspaper?
Do Hamilton and the Fabiani think taxpayers and the electorate are such idiots that are just going to swallow this whitewash?
If they always intended to release this insult to the intelligence, I actually don’t know why they even bothered.
Alex Salmond and Craig Murray are obviously being used as a warning to others to keep quiet in Nicola Sturgeon’s brave new Scotland. A real independence party must be built as a matter of urgency, but look out for infiltrators. They can be difficult to spot as we know, often oozing with fake sincerity.
I have always voted, never missing an opportunity, because a vote is a precious thing and people have died for the right to have one. Nevertheless I cannot vote for the SNP any longer, having become disgusted by what they have become under Nicola Sturgeon.
I resent that, but I will use my vote on the day for what I think is a deserving list party. We have to start to rebuild now.
@Kingu
The problem with that is that it might put Holyrood under the control of the unionists. Who will then move to ensure it can NEVER be used to call an indyref again.
The new parties such as us in the ISP are not in a position to challenge the SNP in the constituencies. But that will change in 2026 IF we get people elected to Holyrood.
If by some point between now and then the conclusion is that we have been sold a pup on indy then all bets on 2026 will be OFF.
Last chance for the supposed Indy vehicle, it it’s a wreck then we get ones.
I think I’ll be hanging fire for a couple of weeks before making any final decisions on where the Xs are or aren’t going.
Politics has got to the stage that choices are like deciding between Ian Brady and REDACTED, and Fred and REDACTED West.
The early hours of May 7th, or perhaps sometime on May 8th:
“As Returning Officer for Glasgow Southside constituency I declare that the number of votes cast for each candidate was as follows:
…Sarwar, Anas 15,743 votes
Sturgeon, Nicola [REDACTED]
And I declare that Nicola Sturgeon has been overwhelmingly re-elected and all the others have lost their deposit.”
I honestly thought that, by now, I’d have convinced my wife to move to Scotland. She would be an asset to the country. She’s a highly-qualified Registered Nurse. But why would I do that to her? We both value the freedoms we have in the USA. Why would we swap that for living in a totalitarian regime?
@Skip_NC
Bravo – hilarious.
Jeez..! My flabber will never recover from the gasting it’s been getting over the last 10 days.
I think NS was smiling because she knew that however bad the Hamilton Report was/could be, her cronies would redact it to the smell of a rose catalogue.
As for the Fabiani stich-up I’m mildly surprised that so much critisism managed to get through, in particular for the sacrifcial lamb, Evans.
IMHO, I think it’s time to line up the battleships and concentrate on getting the 1st vote ..? / list vote ISP/AFI/NOW act together very quickly.
It’s no good moaning an’ groaning, that won’t get the NS cabal out. It’s candidates, top names and a major marketing initiative incl. WWBs and members/supporters with stalls on the ground in every city and town. Phantom Films, Bonnie Prince Bobs everywhere.
Get the adrenaline moving, what lifted you up in 2014, be inventive.
I you WANT indy, then you’ve got to get the corrupt leadership of the SNP out.
Your vote is a weapon, learn to use it. 🙂
We need to give the Labour party a bloody nose in these elections by voting ISP on the List. We will be preventing unionists from getting List seats and SLAB will be included.
News yesterday was Central party interference to remove a candidate who was in favour of an indyref. So there is movement inside SLAB in the right direction. They need another failure to help their argument that the direction of travel is wrong.
If we can move SLAB into that position we will be much, much better off.
WBB of course not WWBs. SORRY.
Why do people saying that the new parties are only any use for the list vote?
Dr Peter ISP says:
23 March, 2021 at 10:12 am
“@Kingu
The problem with that is that it might put Holyrood under the control of the unionists […]”
Do you know something, Dr Peter ISP, the way I feel today and especially the way that I felt yesterday after the publication of Hamilton’s redacted “verdict”, I do HONESTLY WONDER if being under control of the unionists could be so bad after all?
The “unionists” have to answer to a higher power in Westminster and there is absolutely no way that some of the shenanigans of the current SNP leadership cabal, would ever have been allowed, accepted, tolerated, call it what you will, by Unionist leaders “darn sarf”!
After what we have all seen over the past few weeks – except for those many who “will not see” – whoever on this Earth will be able to hold the present High Heid Yins of the SNP to account, *IF*, they are returned to Holyrood in May with a majority?
I am not prepared to take that chance and will vote accordingly.
Sad outcome but again you predicted this Stu.
No independence likely with this lot.
I just wonder what their ‘game’ actually is, apart from keeping the highly paid jobs.
Dr Peter, that’s all pish.
Anyone that votes SNP is a mug.
Graf Midgehunter, that’s quite easy to do. We’ve had a lot of wee whitewashed books lately.
Am I the only one who, where the report mentions Leslie Evans thinks it is for all intents and purposes synonymous with Nicola Sturgeon?
Dr Peter ISP says:
23 March, 2021 at 10:23 am
“We need to give the Labour party a bloody nose in these elections […]”
ROTFLMAO! I know who I would really, *really* like to give a bloody nose to in these elections and it is *NOT* the Labour Party by a country mile.
“I’ll tell you wot I want …
Wot I really *really* want … ”
And I will try my utmost to spike the guns of the NS cabal presently running Scotland with complete disregard to the rules of law and order.
(And does anyone at all think that *IF* the present FM is returned with an absolute majority in May, that she will take her foot off the pedal which is currently driving Scotland pell-mell to disaster?)
So…no personal growth into the important position of FM.
No development of any personal vision of what Scotland could be.
Quite certainly no real imposter syndrome.
Just an actual imposter…
SNP -the party of devolution.
Hatuey says:
23 March, 2021 at 10:30 am
“Dr Peter, that’s all pish.
Anyone that votes SNP is a mug.”
Well said, Hatuey, although your message is not one I would have agreed with some time ago.
However:
“When the facts change, I change my mind”
As should all sensible people.
I wish to refer to the last point made about accountability and oversight of the executive. You correctly note that there is none within Holyrood. You also surmise that there will be no independence until 2026. Might I suggest your comment should have read “ no independence until there is adequate accountability and executive oversight”. It’s bad enough being governed over say 60% of our lives at the moment by an unencumbered executive, how on earth do you think an independent country could function with a similar lack of oversight. If the SNP say that with independence there would need to be appropriate oversight, then if it’s good enough then it’s surely required now.
I tell you what. If Salmond did start a party. I reckon he could take a constituency seat or two off the SNP. Certainly plenty of list seats.
Would any reputable law firm ( what’s that?, Ed) or Counsel ever accept instructions from the SNP again?
Highlighting all the pages that was critical of the FM is pretty pointless because the majority of people will ignore it. Unless Alex comes out with some bombshell tomorrow we are facing another 5 years of the same useless government Five years when drug deaths will get worse, education will get worse, the NHS will decline further but don’t worry its Westminster’s fault and if you just vote for us again in the “most important election (change date to suit)” then all will be well. Heaven knows what kind of muppets will manage to get seats over the next 5 years. About the only thing that will give me satisfaction will be Rhiannon Spear still not getting in.
Anyone looked at the Guardian? Busy retrying Alex Salmond.
Rev , I expect to be in moderation as I am still a Hotmail user – but I do wish I was stuck in 1996 as I had more hope then and besides I was only a very young 50!
As BBC Radio Scotland’s Kaye Adams might say in an interview with a neurosurgeon aboutn brain surgery, “So, what’s your take on lobotomy?’
Here’s my ‘take’ on the actions of the First Minister:
“Sturgeon Misled Parliament’: https://wp.me/p4fd9j-pDT
Is there any appetite for a judge led inquiry? The opposition should be pushing for one at all costs.
How long after the Holyrood election before the SNP is bankrupt?
Doesn’t matter how many people are on Nicolas side when there is no money left!
I’d have to agree with some of those posting above: the only language the Sturgeonista cultists will understand is losing seats. That means either not voting in hope a reduced turnout costs the SNP seats, or voting tactically against them. The latter will make more impact if it is done in specific seats where they are vulnerable, or where there’s a particularly odious individual we’d like to see defeated.
In some seats there will be little point: if the SNP majority is large and the candidate is well regarded. But….it’s certainly feasible to target particular seats. I know Rev Stu hates the guy behind Bonny Prince Bob who is standing in Edinburgh Central, but I’d still rather see him secure a few hundred votes and ensure Robertson loses than sit back and watch Robertson take the seat.
There must be other similarly tight constituency seats where this is worth doing?
Well I suppose Princess Nicola will be relieved that the conclusions of the committee weren’t too critical of her and her Governments actions .
No one from the political party that’s being investigated because it was the SNP Government that was being investigated, they should have never have been allowed anywhere near this committee ,
This problem was highlighted years ago when the police used to investigat improper conduct in the police a outside agency was the only way any inquiry could be trusted,
A judge led inquiry preferably not drawn from the Scottish legal fraternity would be the only universally acceptable way of getting to the truth , the Chinese wall situation that exists in Scotland between agencies fools no one , even the Independent review has questions of prior involvement by the judge with the Government agencies he was investigating not very convincing and only acceptable to the fervent supporters of the First Minister .
Finally we have or will be presented with a eye watering bill for the SNP Governments failures yet no one is to blame no resignations no sackings a total fk up and not one person removed from their posts, Not One Person .
The only casualty in this whole massive fk up is one guy who apparently might have inadvertently annoyed some fkr in the SNP Government who used their position to influence in bringing the whole weight of the Scottish judicial system down on his head , Craig you have many friends who you have never met but this is a vindictive prosecution to far , enough is enough this is a red line
The Unionist brigade are certainly out in force on your blog today Stu.
Icelandic women and global bankers comes to mind.
My initial view come May was to vote SNP only if it was a Joanna Cherry, Kenny MacAskill type candidate, not bother voting on the constituency if it was a run of the mill Sturgeonite type SNP candidate and vote tactically against the SNP if it was a woke candidate.
However after seeing the final stages of the inquiry and in particular the shocking contrast between Salmond’s testimony and Sturgeon’s. I would now vote tactically against all SNP candidates excluding the two mentioned above.
As the Rev correctly points out. If you vote SNP it will be 5 lost years as the last 5 have been. So this time is lost anyway and we might as well put it to the best use possible instead.
Much better to use it to remove as much of the woke infestation as possible… for the new leader of the independence movement.
We have to clean out the Sturgeonites for the new leader (of the SNP or even a new party) or they will be handed a similar poisoned chalice as Corbyn was handed with a party infested with Blairites.
I have no idea if enough people are aware of what needs to be done for it to have the required impact but we have to go for the jugular now and hope we make a telling impact in May. Be completely ruthless and act as one tactically speaking as much as possible.
Sturgeon’s SNP = Scotland’s shame.
A toxic bùrach o’ sharn run the SNP and Nic’s farts do and forevermore smell like roses.
If you wanted in opinion and its all I have (Taken from series 24) is that Sturgeon is being made to fell in a position of being secure and that she is untouchable, come on the British state is never ever going to allow her to just simply get a majority in May. WE have got eight weeks of watching of the dirty side of British/SG politics to look forward to and lets she where we all end up and I bet the Queen of all that has been will have that smirk wipe of her face.
And the BBC take their coverage of the report to show the Daily Record’s front page of Salmond again, while talking about the leak. Wonder why they would do this? Despicable.
I would vote for Joan McAlpine/any other SNP candidate who is explicitly gender critical. If I don’t get that option, I’ll vote for whichever non-SNP candidate most clearly backs womens rights. If none of them do, or they only use weasel words, I’ll vote for whoever is mostly likely to displace the SNP incumbents, however revolting I may normally find them. It doesn’t really matter much since independence is off the table anyway.
I finally decided after listening to NS smear Alex time and time again at the committee hearing that I cannot vote for that woman.
I will abstain or spoil my paper on the constituency and vote ISP/AFI on the list, It’s a personal decision and I’m not suggesting anyone do the same, it a matter of conscience and my conscience will not allow me to vote for a corrupt, criminal institution like the SNP.
I think our only hope is for one of the new list parties to win as many seats as possible and I think that’s what we should be working towards.
The problem (if I understand D’Hondt correctly) is the worse the SNP do in the constituency, the harder it will be for an indy list party to win seats on the list, they’ve got us by the throat no matter what we do, it’s a puzzle wrapped up in a riddle inside an enigma.
George, did you cut down the cherry tree?
No father, I cannot tell a lie.
But you were seen and your footprints are all round the stump and you’ve got the axe in your hand.
Sorry father I don’t remember.
Oh that’s all right. you quite clearly cannot recollect. Off you go and help yourself to something from my wallet.
The End.
Following yesterday’s downer great to see your mojo back. Linking to the twitter feed on the site I note Para 29 of the report being highlighted on how the two “complainers” were dumped after the Judicial review process. So much for the “poor women” pish. Can’t do the linking thing, sorry.
On a brighter note. Re your comment about a post later in the week can you include some indication of the smallest constituency majorities that could be attacked via tactical voting? I know it’s a contentious issue but we need info to start the discussion on how we fight back. Thanks.
Onwards and upwards!
If the SNP is mired in debt and facing a huge election bill, now would be the time for disgruntled members to hit it with legal action regarding it breaching its own constitution.
We all knew there was not nearly enough time for a meaningful alternative to the SNP to form and run against them head on in constituencies in May.
A new list party might have worked if Alex Salmond had helped launch it but again time was against it (even assuming AS would want to do that).
The Inquiries amounted to a Hail-Mary pass as the clock counted down before May… looks like they will come to nothing.
That just leaves us the voter and the ballot box to do what others have failed to do so far.
Worst that can happen is the SNP win a comfortable majority (as we all would have predicted they would just a few month back).
Best than can happen is we give them a serious bloody nose which precipitates a new leader and or the formation of a new party.
But whatever happens by next election around we are ready to go again minus the Team Nicola / woke arseholes.
May is our last chance saloon for five long long years. I wont be hesitating. I just hope enough other people feel the same way.
Dr Peter ISP,
It is my own personal opinion that the unwillingness to work with other parties regarding the list vote should seal your fate.
I believe Scotland has enough power hungry politicians and it’s about time the electorate sent them a clear message.
There are plenty of broken parties already without another proclaiming that all the other parties are shite so we’re not working with them. People on here have been asking for list parties to work together and it seems to me that the AFI are trying to answer that call.
I’m not or ever have been a member of any political party so you are getting an objective opinion.
The reasons ISP use not to work with the AFI is frankly, pathetic.
So, basically just one epic failure after another, at every level and throughout the entire process. And an innocent Mr. Salmond’s name slurried and dragged through the mud for nothing.
Mr. Salmond, for the hard of understanding, was found wholly and completely innocent of ALL charges by a mainly female jury and a female judge, in Scotland’s highest criminal court. They effectively did NOT believe the prosecution, or for that matter, any of its witnesses.
Has Leslie Evans
resignedbeen sacked yet? At the very, very least for gross incompetence leading to damage to [redacted] and an innocent man.If unbelievably, Nicola Sturgeon is an innocent party in all of this, then she is guilty of gross incompetence, and is simply unfit for office. Their is no other possibility. As PhilM points out above, not so much ‘imposter syndrome’, just an actual imposter. It is time she took the hint and went.
Personally, I hope Mr. Salmond finds a legal route to take each and every single on of them, personally, to the proverbial cleaners, over and over and over and over again.
What they did was evil. Utterly utterly evil.
Fishy Wullie says: 23 March, 2021 at 11:14 am
“The problem (if I understand D’Hondt correctly) is the worse the SNP do in the constituency, the harder it will be for an indy list party to win seats on the list”.
Which again is another reason why AFI/ISP/SDA/SIRP/Madame Gusto’s Circus, etc. should stand both on the lists AND at least two constituency seats per region to show they’re serious and maximise their list vote in the process – instead of trying to piggyback on a party they claim to despise and expecting voters to swallow the paradox “just because”.
Many of us new that this committee was a farce because the final result would be voted along party lines. The unionists had a bad day yesterday and it looks like they in for another bad day today.
The below article is truly sickening. I can only hope the voters of Edinburgh Central have informed themselves well.
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/nicola-sturgeon-cleared-women-who-complained-about-alex-salmond-have-been-through-hell-as-msps-tried-to-score-political-points-angus-robertson-3174554
An excellent analysis of the Fabiani committee’s report and the current state of the governance of Scotland.
‘It is an all but open admission that Nicola Sturgeon has survived only by using every means at her disposal to escape proper scrutiny, and by exploiting the weaknesses built into Holyrood’s power structures by the Unionists who devised them.’
That sums it up.
I was reading papers and personal site headlines this morning, I see some down south are of the opinion that the only true victim in this whole scenario is AS and his family,
Folks should download a hard copy of the committee report, in case the Lord advocate demands further redactions and for it to be taken down from the internet.
That’s a joke,btw, but in current circumstances, sadly, it could be very true.
I hope the SNP survives this.
It would be such a pity for any new and committed Pro-Independence and Scottish Constitutional Party to be infiltrated and compromised by disgruntled SNP weirdos and nutjobs the way the SNP was wrecked by an uncontrolled unflux of Transextremists and science-deniers. I hope the SNP survives so these cretins and Sturgeonistas can be herded together in one place and kept in their alternate universe (known to you and me as “Obscurity”). Really wouldn’t be helpful if SNP shattered into poisoned splinters flying in all directions.
Anyhow… So a New Independence Party. Breeks’ personal Checklist:
Constitutional Integrity. – Essential that every potential member is given a dictionary which defines the meaning of the word ‘sovereignty’, and signs a docket to say they have understood the meaning of the word, and it’s Scottish context.
Democratic Integrity. – Yes, in principle, but secondary to it’s Constitutional Integrity. What I am trying to frame here, is getting Scotland out of the Treaty of Union by facilitating a Legal and Constitutional challenge to the UK Union’s faux constitutional integrity. This action does not by itself require a democratic mandate, a lawful constitutional one would suffice, (under International Law, NOT domestic UK Law), and any changes affected, given democratic confirmation by a ratification plebiscite at some later date. Sovereignty is the superior of Democracy. ALWAYS.
Holyrood Presence. – Completely non-essential. But, if 23 years of colonial devolved administration and unconstitutional legislation can be undone and rewritten so as to be consistant with the unqualified and inalienable sovereignty of the Scottish people, then some vestige of Holyrood “Government” might remain. Personally, there is little I care to retain.
A Written Constitution. – Not, as many have instigated a ‘modern’ twist or constitutional shopping list, in fact, nothing “new” written or reimagined at all, but Scotland’s EXISTING Sovereign Constitution SIMPLY codified into modern language without embellishment. A codified Constitution acknowledged by the sovereign Scottish people to be the definitive codification of Scotland’s Constitution as defined by the Declaration of Arbroath and recognised by the 14th Century Catholic Church, and 1328 Treaty of Northhampton/ Edinburgh.
Post Independence, Scotland could adopt Amendments similar to the US Constitution, but let us steer an Independent Scotland into clear blue Scottish Constitutional waters first. KISS. Keep It Simple Scotland.
Constitutional Audit. – Any and all existing and /or proposed political union, whether that’s the 1707 Treaty of Union, EU or EFTA membership, NATO, etc, must be audited on a constitutional basis for compatability and lawful legitimacy, even on a retrospective basis where actors for the Nation of Scotland did not have the constitutional authority to act in the way they did.
Citizenship. – I propose a Gordian Knot disclaimer attached to the principle of Scottish Citizenship. The Scottish people are sovereign, thus, any Scot who denies that sovereignty shall be deemed to be denying their own citizenship the fruits of that sovereignty.
NOTE: That ISN’T a fascist dictat to disposses half the population of it’s Scottish citizenship. Respect the Constitutional principle of sovereignty, and citizenship is automatically restored.
The object isn’t to suppress dissent, but prohibit any Scottish Government entering into unconstitutional agreements or undertaking unlawful plebiscites or referenda.
Scottish Citizens need not be denied “a” Scottish Citizenship, nor the right to vote or dissent, nor would they be denied a Scottish Passport, but they would choose to limit their own citizenship and be denied the merits of the sovereignty which they would denounce. Thus they could denounce Scottish Sovereignty, still be Scottish, but Scottish with the lesser constitutional status of a non-sovereign national.
This lesser citizenship would outwardly have no merit, but citizens in Northern Ireland can hold both UK and Irish Citizenship, and maybe, repeat maybe, some notional but powerless “UK” Citizenship might function as a security blanket for Scottish citizens who cannot reconsile themselves to Scotland being a sovereign Nation.
So, if your hear of any new Independence Party’s which fulfills Breeks’ checklist of requirements, I’d be pleased if you’d point me in their direction. Forget May’s elections, they are of no consequence to me.
Glortard says:
23 March, 2021 at 10:53 am
” […] we are facing another 5 years of the same useless government Five years when drug deaths will get worse, education will get worse, the NHS will decline further but don’t worry its Westminster’s fault and if you just vote for us again in the “most important election (change date to suit)” then all will be well. Heaven knows what kind of muppets will manage to get seats over the next 5 years. About the only thing that will give me satisfaction will be Rhiannon Spear still not getting in.”
This is so *absolutely* true!
Another 5 years of the same again and what really does disgust me out of the very valid list that you have posted, is *EDUCATION*!
Scotland once led the world in education and even more so in secondary education. The massive numbers of Scottish pupils who flowered and thrived in the old Scottish Education system brought shame to much wealthier and supposedly better educated countries, including the one where I came from before settling in Scotland in the 1960s.
The Scots were renowned for their formal, strict, enlightening education system which produced leaders in almost every walk of life, who then went out into the world and demonstrated just what could be done had a pupil received a proper and full education.
Today, we await some “investigation”/”report”, whatever, call it what you will, into the rigours of education in Scotland. According to news report, the publication has been delayed:
“Och! Michty mei!” How can they *ever* fail to disclose just how very important, necessary and *thorough* the education of our Scottish bairns have been under this SNP Government?
Unless, of course, the systems laid out by our SNP Government and their slithy Education Minister seem to have sent Scottish School results right down the league tables?
Is this why the report is being held back?
I’m surprised that Nicola’s SNP Education Minister did not grasp “legal advice” from a Wolff and simple redact the reports to then show the results desired by the SNP.
I was going to quote that famous line from the Play:
“There is something rotten in the State of Denmark!”
Instead I prefer my own thoughts on the State of Scotland at the moment:
“There is something not quite right in Scotland at the moment:
The government is totally rotten, corrupt, secretive, lawbreaking, stinking-to-high-heaven, “rotting from the head down”, and all-in-all – SCOTLAND IS IN A WEE BIT OF A MESS!”
This is most definitely *not* the country I moved to some 50+ years ago and were I very much younger, I would kind of skedaddle away from this second-rate, attempted rotten republic, before “She Who Must Be obeyed” possibly gains many more powers come May and perhaps sends her attack dogs against people like me who post such messages.
And what of Humza Yousaf, the Justice Secretary?? You know, what with him being completely in charge of law and order in Scotland, it has to be remarked he hasn’t had much to say.
I find that quite interesting in itself.
Here’s the article Archived:
https://archive.is/eZ9XD
I am trying to appreciate the analysis from both sides of the independence debate and I see that Sturgeon isn’t well loved here.
I’m no great fan of hers, personally, but I’m a fan of independence. I’m confused as to why so many wanted yesterday’s report to be against her. To my mind, it would have demolished her personally (which might be a goal in itself), but it would have damaged the SNP and the independence movement, too, given her approval ratings. I’m not trying to goad angry responses, I’m genuinely not clear on this point and hoping someone with patience can let me have their view on that one.
@ScottieDog, 9.32
Actually it makes me VERY nervous about said cabal running an independent Scotland!
Relax, ScottieDog. This cabal has no intention of running an independent Scotland. The work would be too challenging. Remember the call “Scotland will not be dragged out etc etc” when there was no plan or preparatory work going on to deliver that goal? The current talk of indyref2 is simply a vote-harvesting ploy as it was in 2019.
RE SIGN STUREGON!
Join us @#majorityscot.uk and attend our next rally in Oxford Street on 32nd March
You no it makes sense.
@Robert Louis – Scottish law is a disaster area.
BigG @11:52
“but I’m a fan of independence.”
That’s the difference between you and Nicola Sturgeon.
Fraser MacKintosh says:
23 March, 2021 at 11:05 am
“The Unionist brigade are certainly out in force on your blog today Stu.”
Ach, away, Fraser – just you keep burying your head in the sand, or mebbes just you jump into the bog like so many others and end up to your knees in Pete!”
Nicola Sturgeon is to Scottish independence what John Damian was to intercontinental air travel.
This from Alyn Smith. If it’s genuine then he really is a scumbag!
https://twitter.com/Grouse_Beater/status/1374330751504748545
In all the years I have supported a independent Scotland and the SNP I can honestly say I have never been a fan of Princess Nicola , she was there but I couldn’t say I was ever really impressed ,
I first noticed her in a clip, it was of a young Nicola Sturgeon she was campaigning at the bottom of Union St in Glasgow and my impression was she was a bit weird and not quite a normal person someone who you could relate to , even when she was annotated FM I couldn’t watch her I don’t know what it was I just wasn’t impressed
I have watched some really impressive women Independence supporters on clips presented by Indy live on utube ,women with fire and who you could listen to ,so much talent on show it’s tragic they don’t have a wider audience .
BIG G: Because NS has no intention whatsoever of ever pursuing indy or ever holding indyref2.
“it would have damaged the SNP and the independence movement”
The only person doing that is NS herself. She reminds me a little of the character of Norton in Agatha Christie’s “Curtain”.
I give up!
I guess you can all get the Independence show back on the road around 2030. I doubt I will see a free Scotland now.
Thanks Nicola.
@AndyEllis,
Nearly agree entirely but would caution against not turning out. A low turnout will be attributed to covid rather than any failure by the SNP. At a minimum people should turn out and spoil their paper if there is no one they can stomach voting for.
If you need more motivation not to support the SNP, For Women Scotland’s case for judicial review “Stop the Scottish Government redefining “women” to include men” has FAILED. Lady Wise’s ruling today.
Really is Alice through the Looking-Glass territory.
Big G -Nicola is now a divisive character.
No matter what side you are on, this cannot be denied. You cannot win independence with a leader who is divisive, and to many of us toxic. Regardless of the outcome of any enquiry. She needs to go, for the good of the movement.
Another day in court, another crap decision.
ForwomenScots case to have the definition of woman to exclude cross dressers, anyone who thinks they are, lost.
I despair.
Also Andy Wightman is officially a fucking weirdo.
Having done OK on the committee, his own personal take on the Inquiry, states that it was all ASs fault for inappropriate behaviour with civil servants, which everybody knew about.
The guy needs sued for defamation.
No one GAF about his ‘personal take’
Rev, I have already decided to spoil my constituency vote as there is effectively no Independence party looking for my vote. I can see from the comments that there are a significant number who feel the same. As this is the case, can wee coordinate/agree a message to write on it so that our voice can be heard as a recognisable collective. Any ideas……
Sturgeon’s clique are getting more and more like the tory party, its sickening the way they lie and award her lackies even though they are incompetent
I am not a nationalist and not committed to independence, but I deeply appreciate your honestly and integrity in reporting these issues. I despair of the political realm and in recent years have voted but could not bring myself to endorse any of the parties and have spoiled my paper by writing “None of the Above”. (It does bother me that my “vote” is classed among the graffiti drawers and those incapable of only putting one X.)
I have no deep principial objections against independence, but remain to be persuaded on the economic and political factors. Unfortunately the current goings on will make more people apathetic or even antagonistic towards political parties and will reduce reasoned debate.
Thank you again for what you do.
Stuart Campbell 12.41
What to write on a spoiled ballot paper?
INDEPENDENCE NOT CORRUPTION.
ther – that’s my suggestion.
We know, she knows, everyone knows really that she only got away with this through sheer jiggery-pokery. All that evidence withheld and redacted come on. As David Gray said:
‘“Just because Alex Salmond was found innocent doesn’t mean he didn’t do it”
Bet you now regret saying that Nicola because we will remember your words.’
Leslie Evans and Judith Mackinnon should resign immediately.
Pretty rough day for us all but as Grouse Beater says:
‘There will be an alternative appear soon, strong voices who will lift up the dropped baton; do not lose hope.’
Big G says:
23 March, 2021 at 11:52 am
“I am trying to appreciate the analysis from both sides of the independence debate and I see that Sturgeon isn’t well loved here.”
Hi Big G – Some people with long memories recall when the SNP stood mainly for a quite single goal – Independence for Scotland.
From Big G – “I’m no great fan of hers, personally, but I’m a fan of independence. I’m confused as to why so many wanted yesterday’s report to be against her.”
To Big G – I did *not* want yesterday’s report to be against her. I hoped to hear the truth.
However, when a supposedly ‘independent report’ is then redacted by the government which commissioned that report, a government *led* by NS, has actually blacked out certain parts of the ‘verdict’, then I have absolutely no trust in that verdict.
From Big G – “To my mind, it would have demolished her personally (which might be a goal in itself), but it would have damaged the SNP and the independence movement, too, given her approval ratings.”
To Big G – I personally would not lend any support or credence to a person, or an organisation, or a *government* which chose to ‘black-out’ and *HIDE* certain facts which all of those people had decided were not to be seen by the public.
Maybe a FM; certainly a group of Government officials; indeed a whole nest of vipers who, *AFTER RECEIVING AN ‘INDEPENDENT REPORT’ CONCERNING THE CONDUCT OF THE FIRST MINISTER OF A COUNTRY* – well, they decided amongst themselves that certain parts of *that* report should be blacked-out and must not be disclosed to the public of the country which they presently rule. It is the actions of a dictatorship.
Big G, you say “[…] it would have damaged the SNP and the independence movement, too, given her approval ratings.”
Not a single person’s ‘approval ratings’ are worth considering against the hiding and suppression of parts of a report which the FM and her government commissioned. THEY CHOSE THEIR VERY OWN JUDGE IN USING HAMILTON.
Even though he was their “questioner of choice”, for some reason when his verdict was eventually delivered, some of his words in his verdict did not suit the ears of the current FM’s cabal, and therefore the were redacted (blacked-out).
EVEN THEIR OWN CHOSEN JUDGE SAYS HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THIS CENSORSHIP!
From Big G – “I’m not trying to goad angry responses, I’m genuinely not clear on this point and hoping someone with patience can let me have their view on that one.”
Well, Big G – there you have my view. The whole pesky bunch of the current SNP Governement and Leadership *chose* their very own personal judge to decide upon their actions …
AND YET !!! When the verdict eventually came in from their personal judge, they were so unhappy with it that they unilaterally, *without* the consent of their said judge, decided to *BLACK-OUT* [redact] certain facts which did not suit their case.
My own opinion is that a REDACTED verdict is a WORTHLESS verdict.
Born, raised & educated in Scotland, I nevertheless have dual citizenship. And despite strong economic reasons keeping me here, I am seriously considering leaving Scotland again, only this time for ever.
This is not the place I want to spend the second half of my life, under an increasingly authoritarian regime, apparently accountable to no one, not even parliament. Thus we can no longer claim to live in a democracy.
A government that is able to exercise the power of The Crown to protect itself from the very people it was elected by, is all but a dictatorship.
And we are witness to new legislation created to make it increasingly difficult to criticize and protest against government injustice, under the guise of “Hate Crime”.
Regrettably, we can’t even rely on the media since it is determined to keep Sturgeon in power, entirely confident that despite promising sounding bites, the constitutional settlement is safe in her hands; there will be no independence while she remains in office.
Meanwhile, she has built an apparatus of corruption around her to eliminate political enemies such as Salmond & Cherry.
And all Unionists have to really do is look on, pretending to offer an alternative. But there isn’t one and they don’t even have to care either because just like the media, are reasonably happy with the status quo.
Scotland’s vehicle for independence has just been totaled by a head on collision with the SNP death juggernaut.
So now the SNP propaganda steps up a gear to try and discredit the committees report that proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that Sturgeon did misled parliament.
The idea is to praise James Hamilton QC’s (who was appointed by Sturgeon in 2015, ergo he can hardly be said to be independent) report that Sturgeon didn’t break the Ministerial Code, whilst rounding on the committee, that even though they were starved of vital info, and Sturgeon refused to answer vital questions on at least fifty occasions, found that Sturgeon did misled parliament, a very serious offence that should be resigning matter.
Sturgeon however will not resign, she has no honour or respect for Scotland, she’s a tainted character, and she’ll survive tomorrows VONC by the Tories, because the Greens will have her back, a match made in hell if you ask me.
“… Leslie Evans and her team was a complete turkey – an intrinsically unfair one which in particular was unconcerned with justice for the person being accused… ”
Or, to be fair, for anyone concerned because I believe that at least most of the women were used to achieve a certain outcome, and, in the end, it has harmed them as well as Mr Salmond, albeit to a lesser degree.
Nicola Sturgeon has proved herself to be as adept as Boris Johnson when it comes to weaselling out of responsibility, but, as is always the case, there are those around who are determined that she stays. The Unionists need have no fear: there will not be a referendum any time soon, and, if by some miracle, there is, the electorate will vote against independence a second time. After 2014, another referendum would have to be an own goal to even be considered.
There is now no chance of independence at all by means of the ballot box – as, I have to say, has been the intention all along. Sure, the referendum bill might well pass, but it is almost certain that, even if it comes to fruition, we will not win it. Another defeat would be totally in keeping with both Westminster’s objectives and the SNPG’s objectives. Unless you are willing to accept that Nicola Sturgeon and her coterie have been got at/threatened by the British State (not an impossibility, by any stretch of the imagination) there is no plausible explanation for the way the SNPG has behaved for the past seven years – unless it is so stupid as to be beyond redemption.
Now, that might well be the case, but, somehow, the slipperiness we have witnessed over the past few months doesn’t quite match the level of stupidity it would take to make such a pig’s ear of the battle for independence. No, right from September 19, 2014, the trajectory has been to dither and dally until it became all too late, to insist on a S30 Order that we were never going to get, and only a fool would have believed we’d ever get a second one. The SNPG under this FM has been helped at every step by those independence supporters who could not see that another PRE independence referendum of any kind was a trap to keep us right where we are – nowhere.
end of
If only. Had Salmond’s acquittal been “end of” we wouldn’t be where we are today as an independence movement. It’s been the constant smearing and media re-trials, driven very much by those who were desperate for him to go to jail, with Sturgeon herself being the key cheerleader recently which has created the problem.
Now that Scotland is no longer a democracy, but a one party state ruled over by lies and corruption, certain individuals within the SNP might want to take stock. The likes of Joanna Cherry, Kenny MacAskill, Chris McEleny and Angus B. MacNeil, might find themselves on the wrong side of a Sturgeon purge.
As will those who are a well kent faces on social media, who support Alex Salmond and independence, and are not coy about telling the truth. They too will find the corrupt Crown Office foot soldiers Police Scotland, at their doors, and like Craig Murray and Mark Hirst, they’ll find themselves in court before their feet can touch the ground.
For me, the most devastating thing is what Rev Stu highlights in his last five or six paragraphs.
The Westminster Parliament that devised the Scottish Parliament in 1997-1998 designed it with a fundamental design flaw. “Wee pretendy parliament” to keep the natives happy.
I don’t know how much input the SNP of the time had. I don’t know how much influence they could’ve had – probably next to zero, so they went along with it, with some sort of idea that first we get this, then work forward from there.
Holyrood is a New Labour creation. Tony Blair’s Labour expected to be in power in the Scottish Parliament for ever and ever, with some help from the LibDems. Also help from the tories to keep the SNP permanently in opposition, contained. That’s why Labour especially was so upset, nay, raging mad, in 2007 (first minority SNP Scottish Government) and ever since.
Tony Blair’s Labour basically designed something for Scotland they would have wanted for Westminster: an executive that could not be held to account by the parliament or the judiciary.
When Alex Salmond became First Minister in 2007, he tried to separate the powers by NOT having the Lord Advocate as a minister in his government. Nicola Sturgeon invited the Lord Advocate right back in.
That the SNP under Sturgeon is now endorsing the flawed devolved parliament design is the real tragedy for Scotland. All these fiascos of trying to get rid of political rivals or truth-telling journalists with the powers of the state are chilling, but they’re symptoms or indicators of something much more fundamental.
The SNP under Sturgeon has figured out how to use the devolved parliament/executive/judiciary, the institutions of the state, in their favour to create a tin pot dictatorship.
Right now, they’re very happy with devolution – with periodical noses about “independence” when they need to harvest votes at an election – and in the unlikely event that Scotland became independent under Sturgeon’s SNP, she and her cabal and acolytes would be perfectly happy to keep the original devolved parliament design flaws and have the parliament and judiciary of an independent country firmy under the control of the executive, with no accountability or transparency.
Anybody who desires an independent Scotland that aspires to be an open, transparent, accountable, modern democracy should recoil in horror from Nicola Sturgeon’s vision for Scotland.
The only way for Scotland to secure its independence as quickly as possible is to do what Sturgeon and her cabal fear the most, give them your vote on the 6th May, and give ISP/AFI your second vote for a strong independence alliance.. Any other kind of vote leaves us with the possibility of Ruth Davidson as the FM of Scotland. Now, how horrendous would that be? Stay strong, stay brave.
The way I envisaged this going was that when the details of what was done to Salmond emerged from the gloom people would realize how horrific it is and Sturgeon would have been forced to resign.
But that should have happened quite some time ago now.
What is amazing me is that people in the YES camp who I previously respected are going along with it. It is almost like they are supporting a football team (i.e. Nicola FC v Alex FC) rather than investigating what really happened, looking at the information that has come to light, and concluding on that basis.
I did not really expect that. It shocks me and makes me feel a deep repulsion from those individuals and groups.
For them to be now again reveling in someone like Craig Murray getting possibly sent to jail and sexually assaulted, someone who blew the whistle on the crimes of their boss who was trying her best to get another innocent man sent to jail… is well beyond disgusting. (I have seen the same sneering attitude from them to Assange as well. Also very telling of the SNP’s complete lack of moral compass these days.)
There is just no way I will be voting for or supporting anyone or anything involved in all of that, or who in anyway condones or supports it. Not just now but indefinitely. In fact I will oppose them at every turn.
Nicola Sturgeon created the wedge but the happy clappers who now go along with it are hammering it home. What on earth are they thinking… do they think they are ‘winning’ here by defending the indefensible, supporting the unsupportable. Surely they cant be that stupid. (Yes, they are.)
I can sum it up. Fuck that and fuck them.
Hey ‘Pixal’
Get a new fucking line
Sturgeon should absolutely be pursued for defamation.
Patsy Millar says:
23 March, 2021 at 9:34 am
I think one of the major problems with the committee was that every member of it went in with his/her mind already made up. Just occasionally, people like Jackie Baillie (and it pains me to say this) asked probing questions. Even so there was no sense that the committee were concerned with truth, only getting answers that suited their own agendas.
——–
You don’t think. X4 SNP plus chair [who herself had some interesting history] couldn’t swing it. You just couldn’t bear to give credit where it was due… that magic moment during questioning where both salmond and fraser looked at each other and realised if both said what they were thinking it would, oddly enough, be contempt of court.
Now there, right there, is the answer to your quandary….
If the popular theory is correct and the Unionists are going to throw the kitchen sink at the SNP leading into the election exposing the HCB and GRA to the masses to damage the vote then we can assume Sturgeon has lost the plot, is totally unfit for office and/or has been played by the British State.
If my theory is correct and there will be no mud slinging as I see little evidence of this, then we know for sure she IS the British State and wee Dougie and the rest are just there as a sideshow.
How do you become untouchable in Scotland, a nation of 5 million when your colonial masters have more than 10 x the population without the full endorsement of Westminster and the Crown?
Does anyone have a source for the letter which James Hamilton published alongside his report?
Michael posted the text on last night’s post at 7.10 but there was no source. If it was genuine then Hamilton is not at all happy about what happened to his work and nary a peep has been said about that anywhere.
And I still don’t understand who redacted his report. Does he? Does anyone?
Who are these unaccountable bastards who decide what the rest of us can or cannot read?
JimuckMac says:
23 March, 2021 at 1:04 pm
“The only way for Scotland to secure its independence as quickly as possible is to do what Sturgeon and her cabal fear the most, give them your vote on the 6th May, and give ISP/AFI your second vote for a strong independence alliance.. Any other kind of vote leaves us with the possibility of Ruth Davidson as the FM of Scotland. Now, how horrendous would that be? Stay strong, stay brave.”
From the House of Lords? That will be some trick.
Willie Jay @ 11:42 am
“Scotland once led the world in education and even more so in secondary education.”
This is surely a bit of a unionist myth.
Pre 1960s less than 5% of Scots were educated to degree level. Today it is only 27%, which is still a lot less (half or worse) that of many other countries. Scotland’s elite universities main focus is on educating higher fee students from outside Scotland and employing and nurturing academics and researchers from outside Scotland.
In Scottis schuils we dinnae e’en lairn oor bairns thay’re ain mither tongue!
The Scots native speaker is arguably an afterthought, if not worse, in ‘Scottish’ education.
Rev
If only more people had listened to you earlier.
I remember you getting labelled an agent for the english government.
And you were spot on all the time.
Since posting my reasons for leaving the SNP yesterday I have had a fair amount of feedback thanks in part to Grousebeater tagging my post onto his blog. The interesting part is those agreeing with my action as they have done the same are not just bog standard cannon fodder like myself but office holders in SNP branches etc. I am not sure how many fake new members it will take to replace the expertise and hard graft of stalwarts at branch level leaving. My first vote is now up for grabs and will depend on what happens between now and May as here in Argyll and Bute we have a new candidate thankfully not the one the party tried to foist onto us. I got my thank you e mail from Mr Murrel this morning and with any luck he will not be in a position to send more for much longer. I would just like to say a big Indy get lost to Pete Wishart not that he ever reads this blog.
Graham says:
23 March, 2021 at 12:50 pm
“Born, raised & educated in Scotland, I nevertheless have dual citizenship. And despite strong economic reasons keeping me here, I am seriously considering leaving Scotland again, only this time for ever.”
I wish I were younger. I might be trying the great escape, also.
“This is not the place I want to spend the second half of my life, under an increasingly authoritarian regime, apparently accountable to no one, not even parliament. Thus we can no longer claim to live in a democracy.”
A point of view that I totally agree with
“A government that is able to exercise the power of The Crown to protect itself from the very people it was elected by, is all but a dictatorship.”
I do not quite agree with your point here – the present SNP Government seems to be using a *CORRUPTED* power of the Crown to protect itself. Crown Power was never meant to be used as it has been exercised by the Wolff man.
Can you imagine for one moment, that the equivalent of Woolff in the UK Parliament would *DARE* to tell a Select Committee that *THEY* would be answerable to *HIM* and his staff as Woolff promised the alleged “Investigating Committee” when he appeared before them at Holyrood?
HAD HE DONE THAT IN THE UK PARLIAMENT – A PARLIAMENT DESPISED BY MANY IN SCOTLAND – His feet would have never touched the ground as he was led off to the nearest Police Station to the Tower!
It is high time many false facts, innuendoes and shyte claims were exposed for just what they truly are.
The Rule of Law and Order in Scotland are at the moment in great peril. If you do not believe me, spare a thought for Craig Murray, who published *NOTHING* when compared to the MSM who have escaped Scot Free!
Honest John Swinney at it again:
https://archive.ph/dqD7O
It’s one year ago today that Alex Salmond walked out of court an innocent man after being found not guilty on all charges .
#IStandWithAlexSalmond .
@Alf Baird – “Scotland’s elite universities main focus is on educating higher fee students from outside Scotland….” That’s where the problem lies, Alf. In the 1980’s probably 90% of students or more were Scottish.
Had a re-elect Nicola Sturgeon leaflet posted through my door about half an hour ago. Small print on side of leaflet reads “Promoted by Mhairi Hunter on behalf of Nicola Sturgeon, both of 0/2, 4 Tantallon Road, Glasgow G41 3BX.”
The only way to get rid of Sturgeon and her stranglehold on Scottish democracy is for the SNP to get battered in the election.
A spell in opposition would see the party reclaimed by the membership, the ‘royal family’ booted out and allow the party to elect a leadership that remembers why the party was formed.
Sad to read that the Gender Representation on Public Boards challenge has failed. So a board made up of 50% men and 50% trans identifying men is considered gender balanced and fair. Words fail me.
The band is still playing, the lights shine brightly, and there is still plenty of single malt being served by the efficient staff behind the bar of the first class lounge.
But down below the waterline, the icy water is flooding into the gouge left by the iceberg.
The mass of ordinary passengers know nothing of the disaster ahead. Lied to and fed soft, soothing promises, soon even they will start to see the ship of state is listing and losing headway.
This is where the Titanic analogy fails. The ordinary passengers have the power to fix the leaks and get the ship under way with new crew by using their votes wisely. But first, those who are struggling in the dark to contain the disasterous floods of water have to broadcast the urgency of the danger.
Those controlling the ship are intent on keeping the danger a secret. They are confident there are enough lifeboats to see them safely away when the ship founders, but they need a head start so that they can depart before the ordinary passengers rush the boat deck.
YES memorabilia put away in bottom drawer.
Sturgeon has scunnered me so much that I just don’t have the stomach to start marching up and down hills fighting for Independence.
Sturgeon has to be completely removed from the scene before my enthusiasm came back.
She has to be removed.
How anybody could vote SNP is beyond me.
A coalition government is needed to straighten out Holyrood.
Then indyRef2 in a Manifesto for 2026.
But god knows which Party will be doing it.
My thoughts on recent events, blog posts and comments:
Scottish independence is the greatest threat to the British State. This has been clear since shortly after the 2014 referendum. Every resource of the British State will be used to undermine democracy in Scotland and the threat of independence. I think the fiasco of the prosecution of Alex Salmond should be viewed with this very much in mind.
Once questions/rumours about Alex Salmond’s personal conduct had been raised the Scottish Government had to address them regardless of the consequences. Otherwise the British State would have aired them together with evidence of the hush-up at a time of their choosing.
Nicola Sturgeon rightly recused herself from the process. The disastrous outcome cannot be laid at her door. It carries some weight with me that Alex Salmond has not called for her resignation.
She does carry responsibility for the incompetence of those around her whom she has appointed and supported and her reputation is justly damaged.
Many weaknesses have been highlighted. Changes need to be made to the governance of the SNP. Separation of powers regarding the Lord Advocate and Attorney General.Parliamentary privilege for MSPs. Etc. But there is no point in throwing the baby out with the bathwater. These weaknesses can be addressed.
At this time of unprecedented threat to devolution and the rights of people in Scotland I will continue to support and vote for independence. I am suspicious of those who urge voting against independence to teach the SNP a lesson. I think a better plan would be to join the SNP to influence change.
My thanks to Stuart Campbell, Craig Murray and other pro-independence activists for their perspicacity and bravery.
Sturgeon’s behaviour reeks of the gutter. The way she uses and abuses others whilst maintaining a slick image making machine that depicts her as the feisty but nice and down to earth lassie fae next door. They can’t disguise the bad odour though. Gutter, all the way.
@Graham Paterson (1.32) –
Interesting that the final remark in your comment is a thank-you to Craig Murray.
Have you watched his podcast from last week?
Things done “off the record” when accurate documentary records should have been made.
Complaints sat on then complaint processes tainted by bias. eg, An absence of independent and unbiased investigation.
Important documents suppressed / redacted by their organisations. Reams of useless information provided.
When accused of misconduct the professionals deny it. The argue they can’t remember the disputed events.
They rely on being judged on their previous reputation.
The eyewitnesses who can help establish what really happened aren’t asked for their witness testimony.
Things that cast doubt on the professionals’ account are ignored.
Information is suppressed. Other officials collude to hide the truth.
The victim is further victimised for complaining, so are those who assist the victim.
You see sympathy and fear in the faces of a few decent people who bite their lip and stay silent. Most actively go along with the cover-ups.
MPs and MSPs don’t want to know. The Scottish Government don’t want to know.
It becomes like a stone thrown in a pond and rings form around the fleeting splash but, there’s nothing else to see. It’s hard to prove the stone was ever thrown unless someone corroborates seeing it happen.
No, I’m not talking about Alex Salmond’s experiences.
Hamilton Report: Shackled from the outset by the narrow terms of reference set by, er…John Swinney, and by court orders. Hamilton was frustrated at several turns – see his ‘Note on the publication of a redacted report’ – and was himself dissatisfied that he couldn’t get at the whole truth.
Fabiani Committee: Expecting partial politicians to set aside their own individual and party interests in a search for the truth was a huge waste of time and resources. Turkeys, Christmas, etc..
Am I left despondent by these outcomes? No. Expectation management kicked in ages ago. A lesson learned from decades of following Scotland’s football team.
“give them your vote on the 6th May”
No. They have gone too far.
Sturgeon’s only women voters seem to be the thick Soap Opera fan contingent, and her loyal Lesbian following.
Straight woman, mother’s with daughters seem to be the ones furious at allowing men dressed as woman into their women only spaces.
But for some reason the Sturgeon Lesbian fanatics are ignoring this outrage and going to vote for Sturgeon’s SNP, no matter how concerned other females are.
Any women with an ounce of decency would Vote against the SNP for that reason alone.
If you want to know the position of the Scottish people regards politics and legislation, wether it is the hate crime bill, gender woowoo, or your position in relation to referendums or present leaders of the SNP,
Read the following, Electric Scotland
THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF THE KINGDOM OF SCOTLAND.
know your rights in Scotland.
The thing that bugs me most of all about this is NO ONE is taking responsibility or being disciplined for this clusterfuck.
Sturgeon: We’ll listen to lessons learned, but no one’s taking responsibility here
Hamilton: It’s not for me to decide, its the Scottish Parliament
Committee: It’s not for us to decide it’s up to Hamilton, we have no power to do anything.
Weak, useless, dishonourable.
O/T in other news, Scotland becomes even more regressive for women.
https://forwomen.scot/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2021CSOH031.pdf
If you want to know the position of the Scottish people regards politics and legislation, wether it is the hate crime bill, gender woowoo, or your position in relation to referendums or present leaders of the SNP,
Read the following, Electric Scotland
THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF THE KINGDOM OF SCOTLAND.
know your rights in Scotland. Know your rights that are in the the treaty of union.
In trying to work out ‘where it all went wrong’ some may still be clinging to the concept that its been a bit of a muddle or accidental incompetence.
There are key moments that would indicate nothing could be further from the truth.
2016 Brexit vote, and 2017 GE – absolutely no money in the SNP kitty (at the height of their membership numbers) for campaign literature – from memory, we got one measly Billboard, a week before voting (and it was pish).
Also for the Brexit vote – very, very poor and inclear messages from HQ as to what the campaign messages should be.
2017 – the ‘ring fenced’ Indy Fund – never properly accounted for, even at the beginning.
At the end of 2018 Angus Robertson was responsible for putting forward a change in SNP policy – to ensure the membership were removed from influencing policy, and personnel on the NEC – and that it could be stuffed to the gummells with Nicla cultists.
Nothing about the GRA concerns, stands up to the least bit of scrutiny.
Latter half of 2017 the Alex Salmond stitch up begins.
The 180 degree turn by Nicla on ‘people’s vote’ for a second Brexit Referendum.
Known criminal associates of extremely dubious character being employed on the NEC.
Overruling NEC elected reps, legal advice, illegal employment policy re self IDing as BAME or Disabled.
Late and unclearly produced Party accounts.
NEC Financial reps resigning – BECAUSE THEY CANNOT INSPECT THE BOOKS OR GET ANSWERS ABOUT FINANCIAL OUTGOINGS.
Raging personality disorders being put forward as electorial candidates.
The Hate Crime Bill – its tempting to see it as just badly thought our and written laws – but really – it has a laser like intent to shut down sites such as these that keep us informed.
What’s that old phrase? ‘to err once is human…’
The SNP is now fundamentally corrupt to the core, and the people who are enabling this to continue, are the decent folk standing by and letting it happen, with the hands over their eyes and their fingers in their ears.
SHAME.
Ian Brotherhood 1.10
https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/independent-report/2021/03/independent-report-by-james-hamilton-on-the-first-ministers-self-referral-under-the-scottish-ministerial-code/documents/note-on-the-publication-of-a-redacted-report/note-on-the-publication-of-a-redacted-report/govscot%3Adocument/Note%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bpublication%2Bof%2Ba%2Bredacted%2Breport%2B-%2BJames%2BHamilton.pdf
Breeks,as far as I can ascertain, Each and every Scottish person individually is sovereign, we can refuse legislation that we do not approve of.
End of term report
The usual could do better
Should be replaced with
WHY DONT YOU JUST FK OFF Nicola and take your wee gang with you.
Maybe this SNPs MSPs could all self identify as honest folk and having a SPINE
The master of deception has even managed to convince the English media that she has the pursuit of Independence at the top of her agenda , if it wasn’t so far from reality it would be quite funny,
James O’Brians show on LBC he made the comparison between Pretty Patel & The Princess he ended the show with this observation so the Princess forgot a date Gee hardly a hanging offence
Breeks, as far as I can ascertain, Each and every Scottish person individually is sovereign, we can refuse legislation that we do not approve of. Private rights for Scottish people in Scotland are more than a wet blanket, Westminster would lead us to believe we are tied to the treaty of the union in 1707, that being the case, they agreed to the sovereignty of each of one of the people of Scotland,
Life begins on the other side of despair. Jean-Paul Sartre.
Ye best lytel Cuntree in ye Worlde.
Just in case we all forget Craig Murray could be in a jail cell tonight or just shortly , while the real criminals are laughing and having a party having fooled and deceived the people who should have fkn jailed the lot of them.
And still Not one sacking or resignation
NOT FKN ONE
This lot should go a long way they could teach the Mafia new tricks , they must be getting some serious protection from the movers and shakers who actually run this banana republic , once they have served their purpose they will be disappeared .
Craig Murray’s latest post is another example of a court case brought to crush someone who had the nerve to suggest that one of Nicola’s inner circle should have stayed in Edinburgh rather than go to holiday home in tiny island of Lismore.
I can offer anger management sessions but breathing into a paper bag might work just as well.
Genetically I am aligned with Bruce and the spider and would scream “No surrender” if that phrase had not been hijacked .
Some of the aggression and rage displayed here if positively directed pushing for independence could well have achieved our freedom.by now.
As the FM just said in parliament we should show more compassion and love and it will decrease your anxiety. She is grateful to all for the sacrifices made. No,not like Joan of Ark.
I would like to thank you Rev for all your factual reporting regarding this case. No other journalists has managed to expose as much as you. In 2014 leading up to the referendum most of us had nothing but hope for Scotland. As a camp we were all united. However lurking amongst us all were the self serving vile careerist waiting to pounce. Many of them were previous SNP candidates in failed election campaigns. Those cronies felt it was their entitled right to be candidates in 2015 purely on the basis of them being in the SNP longer. Many of them are now SNP representatives and they don’t care about the constitution. They are an active group who know how to look after their own interests.
I genuinely believe they will eventually be found out by the majority and exposed for what they are. Until then I will never vote SNP again however I will give AFI my second vote as the Greens are basically the same careerists as the SNP and have no spine and are woke militants.
Please start another crowd funder soon as you deserve to be paid for all your hard work.
Carwyn Jones the former Welsh FM – Was cleared by James Hamilton of breaching the MC. He resigned 5 days later.
Why. Because this case involved the suicide of a member of his party. He was deemed not to have dealt with the case properly and tried to dictate the terms of the enquiry.
Although cleared on the technicality. The injured party’s family lawyer pursued the case legally. Carwyn had to resign.
There are lessons for all the cybersturgeons. Don’t be thinking your leader can just walk away from this. The MC is merely a side show.
@ Borehousewife re the forwoman court case.
Lady Wise presided – Wise by name – but in reality does not seem to know the difference between a man and woman.
I was reading through it – and at the start its the petitioners arguements – I thought they made the case extremely well.
Then the verdict, ’56Disposal[67]I have concluded that none of the challenges to the 2018Act advanced by the petitioner can succeed for the reasons given in relation to each one. The Act was within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament and does not offend against the fundamental principle of equality of treatment. I will dismiss the petition and reserve meantime all questions of expenses.’
We are truely through the looking glass.
Robert – Craig has just become a new father as well. Welcome to Sturgeon’s regime. She makes sure that innocent fathers are taken away from their children.
pixal @ 1:42 pm
“great speech by mairi black”
It would perhaps be helpful if many of Scotland’s elected National Party representatives actually understood what independence is and why it is essential for the Scottish people and nation.
What is independence?
Independence is sought by countries and peoples who are governed by another country and people. Being governed by another country is known as colonialism, which the UN maintain is “a scourge” (i.e. a form of punishment and oppression) that should be ended.
Independence is therefore decolonization.
Colonialism-oppression may take many forms including cultural imperialism (e.g. BBC, msm), linguistic imperialism (Scots are deprived of learning the indigenous i.e. Scots language); political domination such as Scotland’s enforced EU exit, forced to fight illegal and undesired wars, and to act as a weapons and defence platform for the ‘Administrative’ Power, oppressive laws restricting human rights, and the state persecution of independence campaigners; social aspects such as institutionalised inequalities, poverty, lack of opportunity (especially for native speakers), and a cultural division of labour favouring the coloniser/elite group; economic exploitation leading to economic under-development, and the plundering of resources; and may also involve occupation.
The most important requirement for independence is a people’s national consciousness, which reflects the existence of a national culture (including language). Without national consciousness there can be no motivation for nationhood and independence in the first place. Scottish culture and (Scots) language form the basis of our national consciousness and our (Scottish) identity, which cultural and linguistic imperialism aims to remove and replace.
As Frantz Fanon stated: “it is national consciousness which is the most elaborate form of culture. National consciousness, which is not nationalism, is the only thing that will give us an international dimension.”
So that is briefly what national independence is, and its understood rationale.
All of these issues and more are covered in my book: ‘Doun-Hauden: The Socio-Political Determinants of Scottish Independence’.
@pixal says:
23 March, 2021 at 1:42 pm
great speech by mairi black
https://twitter.com/MhairiBlack/stat
Mhari Black? Hey I remember her!
Got elected, started moaning her head off about how “disillusioned” she was by Parliament and was going to chuck it, didn’t stop her standing two more times, still moaning. Her constituency office in Paisley has been closed for years, is dilapidated and an absolute eyesore to match the notorious abandoned Dixon Mabon office of the SDP in Bridge Of Weir which lay empty for almost two decades before anything was done about it (at least they had an excuse with both the party and Mabon no longer existing).
The last time she bothered her backside with her constituents was to force primary one children at Glencoats school to listening to thinly veneered “gay means good” propaganda from a drag queen called Flowjob (with a sideline in porn), and then when the parents objected (after the council lied to the press they’d given their consent when they’d done nothing of the sort), she screamed they were all “homophobic bigots”.
Never in a million years did I think Paisley and Renfrewshire South could have a more useless, butt lazy, self serving tosser than Dougie Alexander or Norman Buchan but by God she’s risen to the challenge and in six short years her constituents have never known a greater void!
Michael says:
23 March, 2021 at 1:23 pm
The only way to get rid of Sturgeon and her stranglehold on Scottish democracy is for the SNP to get battered in the election.
A spell in opposition would see the party reclaimed by the membership, the ‘royal family’ booted out and allow the party to elect a leadership that remembers why the party was formed.
^^^^^^^^^^^
This! In spades! Well said, Sir!
Dare to go and do it! A huge loss for the SNP would definitely mean that the Murrel Royal Family would have the reins of power scraped from their cold, dark, sticky fingers.
And just think of the *AFTERMATH*!
A final and total rooting out and routing out of most of the people who have created this catastrophe in the SNP!
It is time for change!
And after serious political change in Scotland, we can one day gather again to see our goal.
Always remember, you will *NEVER, EVER” be presented with an Independence Referendum whilst the peresent High Heid Yins, along with the MANY FAT-CAT “HUMBLE” CROFTERS & CO., pretend that *THEY* represent Scotland.
Represent Scotland?
That bunch of grasping, two-bit charlatans, who are “VERY COMFORTABLE IN THEIR VERY CUSHY LIFE DOWN IN LONDON, SUCKING HAPPILY ON THE TEAT OF THE WESTMINSTER COO, WHICH KEEPS MPs OF *ALL* SHAPES AND SIZES CONTENTED,
Dare to go and do it *just* for SCOTLAND!
Ian Brotherhood at 1.10pm.
Ian,
Here is Fraser Nelson’s article on the Hamilton report.
https://archive.is/o0cOE
‘To his apparent fury, the Hamilton report has been censored so much as to be incomprehensible in all too many places. In a separate statement, he complained that his own report “cannot be properly understood by those reading it, and presents an incomplete and even at times misleading version of what happened.” But he refused to change the wording of his report. In fact, the dozens of redactions seem to have been his form of protest.’
There are links to the archived pdf version of Hamilton’s ‘Note on the publication of a redacted report’ – this is the ‘separate statement’.
@ pixal: Of course a referendum is NOT what we want. All we want and need is that the SNP, and other independence parties, state that the May vote will be a plebiscite vote on independence.
The referendum route is a snare and delusion – waste of time and effort and resources. Makes one wonder why the SNP are pressing on with it, doesn’t it?
Plenty of examples of what the SNP Manifesto SHOULD say exist: the Rev’s on Wings, the Manifesto for Indy site by Geoff Bush, Manifesto for Independence by Peter A Bell, and Chris Hanlon’s draft which Wings reported last week.
Easter’s approaching…time for Scotland’s resurrection?
Or is that an exercise in blind faith?
Do Hope not!
Pixal, if they do not have it (that the election is to be treated as a plebiscite) in their manifesto, how can they claim a mandate for it? That will not fly.
Stop talking rot.
Mark Boyle
Correct .I wonder if JC has ever gave her ther time of day.Black, Another chancer that doesn’t belong in a parliament, even WM.She got in on false promises, she is only ever been interested in the woke agenda, nowt else.
Lets not forget about all the dosh she’s made and still manages to look like something the cat dragged in.
I see the criminal Dani Garavelli has been given a platform in the Guardian today.
I just wanted to say thanks all for coming back to me with answers to my question – genuinely appreciate the decent responses.
Pixal, I didn’t say ‘SNP’. I said ‘they’ which would mean *any* party claiming afterwards that it had been a plebiscite without saying in their manifesto that they were treating the election as one and would implement the result subject only to a confirmatory referendum.
The involvement of Hamilton mirrors the HR stitch up. Let’s just engage someone we know to be “tame” therefore we don’t need to worry unduly about the outcome as it’s going to be in our/my favour.
I have no skin in the game as I’m based in London so can’t vote and unable to influence anything that’s going on. That said; as an interested observer the political situation in Scotland right now is beyond dire and I can’t think of how an even modest improvement is likely to happen any time soon.
By his own admission AS could and should have been a better man. Regardless of his behaviour trying to get him locked up was a mind blowing course of action. Thank God he had the resources to challenge and successfully defend himself. NS is without doubt the most heinous creature and will go down in history as an unmitigated disaster who lied and lied and lied about EVERYTHING.
As a retired fraud investigator the only obvious way to proceed is chase the money and in particular the £600K which seems to be “unavailable”. My guess is that these funds were used to pay legal fees out with the blatantly corrupt Crown Office.
Now that’s journalism!
What intrigues me is why, if Salmond and all his works are anathema, does she cling like a leach to his Section 30 approach to independence?
Eh Pixar
You open to offers or will it be fixed price ?
I have a mug oops , eh a prospective client down Westminster way you might know him the one with the unkempt Barnet I believe he is in the market for one
Can you tell me how long this bridge is because the one he’s after is quite long , could your bridge be extended ?
A serious inquiry
Fergus says:
23 March, 2021 at 1:43 pm
Sturgeon’s only women voters seem to be the thick Soap Opera fan contingent, and her loyal Lesbian following.
Straight woman, mother’s with daughters seem to be the ones furious at allowing men dressed as woman into their women only spaces.
But for some reason the Sturgeon Lesbian fanatics are ignoring this outrage and going to vote for Sturgeon’s SNP, no matter how concerned other females are.
Any women with an ounce of decency would Vote against the SNP for that reason alone.
Hey, pipe down with your homophobic and misogynistic lesbian rant!
Don’t tar every woman (adult human female) and lesbian (homosexual woman, i.e. woman sexually attracted to another woman) with the same brush!
Many, many lesbians are against the gender woowoo advocated by Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP and the Greens. The SNP and the Greens are the ones advocating redefining “woman” to mean anybody who says they’re one. Including men (adult human males) who get a sexual kick out of pretending to be their idea of what a woman is.
No chop necessary, and any and every lesbian (adult human female sexually attracted to another adult human female) can now be declared “transphobic” for not accepting male “trans-lesbian” “lady diques” into their sexual lives. Homophobic or what!
After the passing of the atrocious Hate Crime Act, all lesbians, all women, are unprotected. Reject the sexual advances of a trans-identified male, into the slammer you go for “transphobia”.
All women, including lesbians, who dare to question this and try to have reasoned discussions about women’s sex-based rights and how they could be reconciled with the needs and rights of the various trans-identified groups: “transphobic” “hate speech” – into the slammer you go!
As a woman, I cannot stand with the faux feminist Nicola Sturgeon. If I was homosexual, even less. She’s using the fig leaf of the shallow and populist middle-class US #Metoo “movement”, and the deeply misogynistic radical trans activist movement to advance her own goals. Feminist she is not.
(And I don’t give a fig about her own sexuality,it’s irrelevant to me. It’s her actions, which seem homophobic and misogynistic to me.)
As Sturgeon is keen on saying, James Hamilton QC’s report is partisan, Sturgeon used that word after the committee found that she misled parliament.
Sturgeon appointed Hamilton in 2015, its a bit like asking Bill Clinton if he thinks Hillary Clinton is a neoliberal warhawk.
Just watching the Vote of Confidence
Aye I know waste of fkn time
The master of Deflection at work
It wasn’t me , I am totally innocent , aye fkn right dear forget about the Ministerial Code that’s just a smoke screen , a cover for a attempt to Jail Alex Salmond that spectacularly failed , now we are getting the Covid shite and the poison princess has the brass neck to make reference to the toxic atmosphere in the chamber ,
I nominate her for the actress of the year award she’s fkn priceless
@Ian Brotherhood
https://www.gov.scot/publications/independent-report-by-james-hamilton-on-the-first-ministers-self-referral-under-the-scottish-ministerial-code/
Simon says:
23 March, 2021 at 10:26 am
Why do people saying that the new parties are only any use for the list vote?
Because they’re only standing for list seats.
@Strathy & cynicalHighlander –
Thanks both.
😉
Swinney can’t act and remember his lines at the same time.
Oh Christ, if I read anymore about how the two complainants were hard done by, even though now they are glad they came forward to try and set up a man and send him to prison for life I think I’ll puke.
The nameless and faceless pair who saw Salmond acquitted by a jury of his peers made up mainly of women with a woman judge presiding over the fit up, will probably spend years bleating from the security of anonymity, about what a terrible culture it was when Alex Salmond was FM, and how their lives have been ruined.
Both women along with the other complainants who the jury decided that they were untruthful and unreliable, will also probably do a lot of sob story articles for RCS, attacking Salmond from behind again their faceless and nameless positions.
What truly corrupt country Scotland has become under Sturgeon and her vile clique.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/scotland-news/blind-eye-turned-to-alleged-harassment-say-alex-salmond-complainants/ar-BB1eSqbO?ocid=msedgntp
For those interested in some figures WRT Holyrood 2016 majority numbers for the upcoming constituency elections, some interesting take aways from the detailed figures:
1) 3 constituencies where LDs came 2nd to SNP (maj. in brackets): Argyll & Bute (5978), Caithness Sutherland & Ross (3913), Skye Lochaber & Badenoch (9043)
2) 17 constituencies where Tories came second to SNP, (6 in the NE, 3 in W, 3 Mid Scot & Fife, 2 South, 2 H&I & 1 Lothians)
3) 39 constituencies where Labour came 2nd, most in central belt.
Smallest majorities are:
Perth & Kinross (1422 over Tories)
Ed Pentlands (2456 over Tories)
Angus N/Mearns (2472 over Tories)
Aberdeen S/ N Kinc. (2755 over Tories)
Moray (2875 over Tories)
So even the Sturgeon lackey James Hamilton QC, had his report redacted by the uber corrupt Crown Office on 76, yes 76 occasions, there’s no lengths this vile nasty SNP government won’t stoop to, to keep their dictator Sturgeon in power.
Hamilton’s ‘Note on the publication of a redacted report’ was the first thing I read yesterday. Been ignored so far – but actually when read together with SG inquiry report produce the same conclusions. Misleading parliament on industrial scale missing docs, redaction, false under oath declarations. So industrial scale.
But on the very narrow JH terms of references – one point – one specific occasion did she mislead parliment. No.
But JH has included a load of dynamite content. That NS and SG have redacted out to further mislead parliment. That is what his note declares.
As expected the head of the snake survived the vote, WTF with Labour and the Lib/Dems.
“MSPs vote by 65 to 31 to reject the motion of no confidence, with 27 abstentions – so that’s just the Tories backing the motion, the SNP and Greens against, and Labour and the Lib Dems abstaining”
https://twitter.com/BBCPhilipSim/status/1374393854149808139
Sturgeon sails on, apparently unsinkable. But she’s like the Bismark after the Battle of the Denmark Straits. Damaged, slow and with steering problems, and a fair long way from a safe port.
The JH headline declaration was a 99.9% cert given the very very narrow terms of reference set by Swinney.. or more likely NS. So fine. That’s what was expected – accept JH actually went a lot further, put that dynamite content in and then stuck to his guns on keeping it in.
The rev took a differnt view – which was the most likely squirrel written in when she drafted JH’s terms of reference… make the scope so narrow has to be a not guilty
A couple of premises
Society throughout is polarised at the present and deluge of opinion based media means that it is easier for political parties to deny and spin to there own ends
The SNP is the only defacto independence party in Scotland at the present that is organised
There is major doubt that The SNP in its current form is able to or wishes to deliver a pathway to independence
The government of the SNP and it’s surrounding institutions are corrupt and self serving with no moral compass
The voting system in play and the candidates place in it leave no straight forward option for an honest independence candidate/party that can deliver that goal
So the whole cluster f#$k leaves everyone bemused and demoralised leading to accusations of betrayal of loyalty independence by not following SNP or betrayal of morality by following them
There needs to be a adult conversation to unravel this and move forward
Not that anyone cares I don’t thing the SNP are for to govern and deserve a vote
@lumilumi says: 23 March, 2021 at 3:30 pm
“The SNP and the Greens are the ones advocating redefining “woman” to mean anybody who says they’re one. Including men (adult human males) who get a sexual kick out of pretending to be their idea of what a woman is.”
^^^^
This.
Sp!ked magazine said it’s a fetish taken too far, and they’ve got a point. The trouble is it will become a criminal offence to say out loud it is, and those ghastly eyelid fluttering mincing grotesque parodies of femininity straight out of Hollywood’s neanderthal era and Male Chauvanist Pig Monthly will be “celebrated” by Generation Snowflakes so-called “Feminists” without one drop of irony.
For me, it is bad enough watching as the far-right’s stale identitarianism bollocks of the 1990s is microwaved by the hobby left and “progressives”, who think serving it up in their own sauce makes it any less tasteless or junk.
But rushing to fulfil the agenda of the nastier anti-lesbian elements of society and the more misogynist elements of the gay community (there’s still too many male homosexuals with as much “seriously WTF?” attitudes to women as their heterosexual counterparts) is beyond belief.
Looking through this website, I thought I’d visites the ukip /orange order/ tory party propaganda page.
“Looking through this website, I thought I’d visites the ukip /orange order/ tory party propaganda page.”
If you don’t want to see the truth, as this site puts up, then head over to the arse licking, head in the clouds WGD, I’m sure you’ll be right at home there.
Swindler with a straight face, aye we made a right arse of attempting to Jail Alex Salmond but them that blabbed about us making a arse of it they are beyond contempt they are the lowest of the Low
He is without doubt a definite contender for drama Queen of the year followed by that scabby Harvie who was only missing the white Mack to complete the picture . How he can give the government a pass is quite spectacular I wonder what the Greens have been promised ? , he totally missed any criticism of the Sturgeon led Government it was as if he was speaking about a different subject it was so far from reality as you could possibly get .
High seas Tim
Try English so we can all read your pearls of wisdom
Out of all the people they could have chosen, I wonder why the Scot Govt chose Mr Hamilton to investigate whether Nicola Sturgeon breached the Ministerial code?
Mr James Hamilton previously cleared a Welsh Govt minister of breaching the ministerial code.
Obviously, based on his previous experience, Mr Hamilton was the right man for the job.
https://seneddhome.com/2018/04/hamilton-report-no-evidence-of-bullying-in-welsh-government/
O/T
The Queen has appointed Prince William as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for 2021, Downing Street has confirmed.
Membership of the Kirk is approx 300k less than 6% of the Scottish population.
Why no jist go the whole hog Betty the Last an’ mak’ him King Billy, it’ll go down a **** in NI.
Lynne @ 3:54 pm
“Because they’re only standing for list seats.”
The election involves two separate national votes, one for parties standing in regions and one for parties standing in constituencies.
A national majority vote (by number of votes) in favour of independence on the list would still comprise a national majority vote in favour of independence in a democratic national election.
That is to say, it would then be correct to state that a majority of Scots will have voted in favour of independence in a national election.
The hysterical viciousness of the Sturgeonistas on “Wee Ginger Lapdog” today just confirms three things for me:
1. I made the right call when I ended 23 years of membership of the SNP.
2. The SNP is now a literally hate full party, intolerant, corrupt, dishonest, and crooked.
3. My first vote will now (as of today) remain blank.
James Barr Gardner @4:41
“The Queen has appointed Prince William as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland…”
How fucking quaint.
Nicola wins by 34 votes.
Quite convincing.
Labour and Wee Willie showing a bit of sense by abstaining [knowing that their votes would not change anything].
Here’s a genuine question: if all is lost, broken, destroyed, and we should get out of Scotland while we still can, as you put it a couple of posts ago…why do you even continue? Seriously.
What was it we were promised by Sturgeons SNP ?
A new style of politics
Different from Westminster
Well that’s one promise we all got , and we got it in spades I never saw that one coming oh well must remember not to be so trusting and gullible again I will be reminded of that just as I am looking at my ballot paper and wondering how I am going to be disappointed this time .
I am now certain where my little X is going , so nothing personal dear, well actually it is sweetie totally personal.
@ Onlooker
Remember Bruce’s spider.
Also, independence only needs to win once.
And because the prize is soo desirable.
So, this is what happens when you appoint your closes staff in government, solely upon their xes, and not ability. That is what NS did.
So even if the lovely nickla is totally innocent in all of this, she is in charge. So, when will the staff disciplinary procedures start over all of this??? Epic fail, after epic fail, yet nobody takes the blame? Nobody disciplined?? Nobody sent on a ‘training course’ about listening to what your senior counsel tells you before spaffing three quarters of a million of taxpayers money in the court of session.
No? nobody to blame? just carry on as normal, mibbes even promote some of the clowns responsible? That is no way to run a government.
As an aside, but important, has Leslie Evans
resignedbeen sacked yet?? Mibbes she is awaiting instructions from her handler in London?Lizzie Windsor has apparently appointed one of her grandsons to all the high offices of state, including ‘Lord high everything else’ in Scotland, or something.
Who cares? Seriously, who cares?
O/T and apologies if someone has already posted this: https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2021/03/a-small-story-of-scottish-justice/comment-page-1/#comments
Is this what we want Scotland to be? Elections have consequences. I hope the Scottish electorate will make its collective voice heard loud and clear on May 6th.
Recently received a small postcard sized election leaflet from the sitting constituency MSP.
Independence hardly any mention at all, eclipsed by baby boxes etc.
Serious question, are any of the incumbent troughers in Holyrood putting Independence front and centre of their campaign?
Anybody?
The reason that nobody has been sacked by Sturgeon. Remember this is a house of cards. If one goes then they all go.
We are dealing with liars here. If one gets bumped, then they reveal all. It’s a very very shortly peg holding the whole lie together.
It will tumble. Just give it time.
I noticed in some comments that they are going to leave vote 1 blank or not vote.
The paper should never be left blank, open to fraud, and not voting is denying democracy.
See this https://www.votenone.org.uk/think-before-not-voting.html
Big Jock @5:42
“It will tumble. Just give it time”
Isn’t AS making a statement tomorrow, or did I misread that somewhere?
Been watching various news reports and reporters on the beeb and have noticed coincidentally that the reporters are now being very respectful and proper in talking about the First Minister or the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon all very different from the past , I wonder what has changed to convey this respect to the former most dangerous woman in the uk
A noticeable change in tone over in La La Land over the past few months .
previously he had a questioning approach to any progress or lack of progress being made by the SNP on the Constitution issue and the political links between the two nations , he used to be quite eager to push them further and faster , that’s gone now .
Recently a total lack of any criticism about anything this SNP are doing and it’s the polar opposite of what has been said before, unquestioned support seems to be the flavour of the day , nothing to do with current events and financial circumstances or maybe even Immigration status of someone close I really don’t know how this change happened and how a small group has taken over his site
Maybe avoiding making any enemy’s in this ruling cabal its maybe best not to draw any attention from them knowing what they are capable of .
Scip NC
I always believe that there are generally to sides to every story.
We have seen yours, I wonder what the other one looks like.
What on earth are we supposed to do if the Greens/AFI/ISP are all on the same list ballot? That would be straight out of The Life of Brian. I’ll look forward to Friday’s info, but I wish someone would knock the AFI & ISP heads together. For cultural punk/goth reasons I don’t think that I could ever vote Green!
O/T. Just letting everyone know: Mandeep Singh now has a fundraiser. The link is https://gofund.me/926e66ba
Robert.Yes Salmond will make a statement tomorrow.
I watched the FM giving it full rage at Holyrood today. She really thinks she is untouchable. I really detest the sight of her now.
Gullaneno4, do you doubt a factual report contained in a newspaper in general circulation? Because much of Craig Murray’s article is either the Oban Times or a screen-shot of the Daily Record. A decent amount of the rest is a transcript of an interview between Prof Woolhouse and Krishnan Guru-Murthy. I do not require that everyone agree with me (I wonder if that will catch on?) I offered the link so that intelligent people could read it for themselves and make their own mind up.
One thing that comforts me in all the white noise of the Sturgeon cult.
The Rev has never been wrong about anything that he predicted. Trust me , we are on the right side of history here.
to all intents and purposes, she is untouchable. Except at the ballot box.
Looks like more of the same going forward.
Augian not Agian
@ alx: “what to do if Greens/AFI/ISP all on the same ballot?”
Greens are as bad as the current SNP – e.g. Andy Wightman felt oppressed by their anti-scientific, anti-democratic stance on trans issues.
AFI are an umbrella group with independence as their primary policy.
ISP are pro-women’s rights BUT won’t form an electoral pact with AFI.
So my choice is AFI. Whose fundraiser is struggling – they need to reach £28,000 by 31st March and have only got just over £6,000 so far from 58 people. If people want a viable indy option then I am afraid they will have to chip in. Surely more than 58 people want to have this option to vote for?
Pixel. …let’s see what Salmond has to say tomorrow!
@Hatuey 745,000 SNP List votes elected NOBODY last time. It is scheduled to be even worse this time. Here in the NE and elsewhere that means only unionists got elected on the List.
A party’s List vote is divided by the no of constituencies +1. Which means last time here in the NE the SNP List vote was divide by 10 at the start.
It is SNP2 which is pish. Unless you want your vote to be only worth 1/10th or less of a vote for the ISP. If you want unionists to be elected by default on the List vote SNP.
If instead you want Yessers to be elected on the List vote ISP2.
The maths is unassailable.
Tinpot Tyrant Sturgeon. Just had a leaglet asking me to vote for Angus Robertson. No way am I voting for that asshole. I’m sick of voting cunts into well paid powerful jobs. I consider the political class the deadly enemy of the people. A wonderful turnout on Saturday at the anti lockdown march through London. It was peaceful and good natured. The Antifa riot in Bristol on Sunday was a Gov3 rentamob designed to give Government an excuse to ban protests. No protests no democracy.
“It will tumble. Just give it time”
I’m becoming less hopeful of that. There is too much power behind all this. This isn’t an SNP leader and clique running this show. Enabling it, yes, but there is no way the entire power of the state, media, Crown Office etc would be behind them if they were doing it alone. I feel profoundly depressed about where we are now and where we’re headed after May. Also, the smears against Alex are really ramping up, along with this new non-jury trial thing. They’re going to get away with it and make sure they do it right next time. Unless there is some really heavy legal power ready to intervene, quickly. At least both Hamilton and the inquiry report do seem to leave room for further legal action.
@Cath – “Unless there is some really heavy legal power ready to intervene, quickly.” You would expect that to be the Lord Advocate wouldn’t you? I mean, normally it would be him and we would all have confidence that he would ensure the rule of law would be applied fairly and in the public interest. One thing this episode has taught us is that he is the 2nd or 3rd biggest crook of them all.
Salmond will have the last say in this. I am keeping the faith.
If NS & SNP do get stuffed at the election I wonder what excuse we will have from her on 7th May?
I need to reflect? If I hear that wumin using that fecking term “reflect” I swear I’ll crack.
Ayrshire – Sturgeon will blame Salmond of course.He seems to have done everything else.
Even heard wee Wullie Rennie saying today:” Salmond has shown himself for what he is” What innocent.
If I was Salmond I would sue every last one of the bastards. It’s like a kangaroo court.
Scotland is almost finished.
Almost.
Cath says @ 6.29
“This isn’t an SNP leader and clique running this show”
Once my story becomes known – it will prove how corrupt Scotland is. A clue is “asked to keep a secret about one person” I can’t believe people fell for this and didn’t realise it is a complete abuse of Human Rights. It is a cover-up for something much darker and sinister – that’s why it’s a secret. Rogue Intelligence are responsible.
Idiot hyperbole.
Scotland has not even started!
Give us the wings of independence and see us fly to new heights.
Aye Big Jock
I heard that runt Rennie saying nobody walks away from this ???? ,and especially Alex Salmond.
Bloody disgrace that they keep getting away with this character assassination.
Awful stuff, really is.
When you find some rot in your house, you can repair while still inhabiting the house.
When you find that the rot affects the structural stability and your/families safety it is time to move out, cut out all the rot and rebuild but better using hind sight.
At least I have an honest neigbour to move in with temporarily, may not agree with all they say.
First the good news – I confidently predict that Sturgeon will be gone by the end of this year. Off to some fancy, well paid job in Geneva or some other centre of world power and influence.
Now the bad news. She’ll leave behind a country in tatters, one where everyone is just one accusation away from being thrown in jail either for causing offence or over some alleged “hate crime” or perhaps just for being the wrong sex. As Stu quite rightly advised yesterday, get out while you’ve still got a chance.
AFI and ISP are already hoachin with folks from the Ministry. Hence the nonsensical and heartbreaking self immolation on issues being pursued.
one the few crumbs of comfort in all this (it ain’t much, but hey ho) is that if NS bails out in august she is unlikely to walk into a cushy gig at the UN or similar. Outfits like that will do heavy background checks to see if any skeletons are lurking and I have no doubt the top intelligence agencies are perfectly aware of what has been going on….
Welcome to the tory party!!
ALANM
Don’t forget the,
if you ever flicked a lassies hair,
touched a lassie on the cheek to wake her(instead of shaking the living hell out of her)
or had a naughty cuddle wae a lassie after a few drinks. Under Humza bill, that’ll be every man nearly in the country. Expect a chap on the door soon.
Pure purile push the lot of it.
The pro- Nicola brigade are in full flow on Twitter (I know, I know, short attention space etc). Some of the MPs are joining in as well to deflect from the education report.
Please tell me that Alex Salmond is going to bring out the metaphorical big guns.
highseastim
If you don’t like it, go elsewhere then fool.
Dropthevipers
I’d normally agree but then there’s the war criminal Tony Blair.
Middle East Peace Envoy!
FFS
https://mobile.twitter.com/ChrisGreenNews/status/1374416503869558788
Evans will not be resigning according to Sturgeon. It really is beyond parody.
Big Jock
With you all the way on everything you have said tonight.
Haven’t posted here for yonks but thoroughly disgusted by recent events.
Rev. big thanks to you for beating your head against a brick wall so we don’t have to – sweeties already in the jar x
Beaker says:
Google “twitter.com/hashtag/snp” there are alot of people unhappy with what’s gone down…and some pond life.
Have the AFI or ISP got a Plebiscite for Scottish Independence wrote into their Manifesto’s?
If not, they look as useless as the Greens, same seat warming troughers, different colour.
Shinty. Thanks and welcome back.
Heard Rennie going on about “the type of man salmond was”
Yes Willie innocent is the word youmissed
Clearly the decision of a jury can now be ignored
Nicola may have won this round but she will lose the war. The women will betray her. Such people always get a better offer at some point
Funny how the unionists never used the salmond verdict against nicola. Just the poor women
BBC Scotland telling us the election with be all about how the government handled the Covid outbreak.
Not a sausage about how corrupt Sturgeon is.
Nothing to see here, move along please.
Nicola Sturgeon is a shoe-in for a job on the world stage. She ticks all the right boxes. No-one will care about her past, and if she is compromised, all the better.
Pixel @ 6:09
Read the advice from the link I provided.
@ Andy at 7.18: Solidarity are under the AFI umbrella and Solidarity have a plebiscite in their manifesto.
Sylvia- You will need to give us a better clue. Keeping a secret for one person could be any current SNP MSP.
I say.
This hideous aberration is nothing more than the crumbling of a Royal Arch. Let Ouroboros gnaw away say I and well may the guilty tremble before The Blazing Star.
Take heart Scotland.
Now good day to you.
Sturgeon has survived every bullet fired at her.
We had the opposition Parties trying to bring her down.
We had the Committee looking into her actions.
We had Mr Hamilton.
Every bullet fired, missed.
Is Sturgeon really that bullet-proof?
Because, for as long as she is around, I am finished with Scottish Politics.
Big Jock @6;05
Thanks. Fingers crossed he doesn’t disappoint.
Likewise… I’ll confess to not having detested a political leader as much since Thatcher.
If the politicians don’t have the guts to get shot of her, then hopefully the electorate will.
What happens if the RT News Station Spills ALL THE BEANS!
After mysteriously being furnished with all the non-redacted truth??
Are they outside the Scottish Crown Jurisdiction. Just asking like?
@AYRSHIRE ROB
Very true; and we’ve not even started talking about the prospect of historic complaints being raised. Imagine having the police banging on your door long after you’d gone to bed demanding to know where you were on 31st December 1978? “We’ve received a complaint that you touched a young lassie on the knee just before midnight at the Moorings Nightclub in Largs when the DJ put “Three Times a Lady” on the turntable – how do you plead?”
Nally Anders says:
23 March, 2021 at 7:04 pm
Dropthevipers
I’d normally agree but then there’s the war criminal Tony Blair.
Middle East Peace Envoy!
FFS-
True dat. But…Blair’s foreign adventures were just geo-political house keeping. He was also pissing outside of the tent rather than shitting on his own doorstep. Also, as a political operator Blair is in a different league to the distinctly amateurish Sturgeon-Imagine if Blair tried to bury an opponent in similar fashion, no way would he have made the kind of hash of it Sturgeon has done.
I’m with Cath on this. As this situation develops it seems to me that Sturgeon could not have managed this on her own or even with her clique.
As the curtain pulls back on this whole scenario it would appear that the Scottish branch of the security apparatus might well have been giving assistance. There would not appear to be any challenge coming from the legal establishment. Far from it.
Journalists who challenge Sturgeon and her narrative are prosecuted – a blatant curb on press freedom – and the partiality shown to her supporters in the press demonstrate clearly political bias.
Well Sturgeon can’t go through the whole election campaign avoiding the hard questions.
An interview with James Mathews will be interesting.
You and your tory cohorts are fucked, by the way I’m an ordinary tax payer who put money towards some of your previous fundraisers, but never again!!
Agree with every word Stuart, very well written.
Only a responsible person can act responsibly.
Big Jock says:
23 March, 2021 at 6:08 pm
One thing that comforts me in all the white noise of the Sturgeon cult.
The Rev has never been wrong about anything that he predicted. Trust me , we are on the right side of history here.
100% Agree!!
I was watching ‘unforgotten’ last night . It involves a group of people who have done a really bad thing and have all been lying about it for quite a while. They are all coming under intense pressure and it looks as though at least one of them is about to break. Should that happen they are all going to be brought down. Anyway, no idea why I thought of that . As you were.
highseastim
Naw ye didnae fuck off
I guess high seas Tim is lost because it looks like he can’t find its way to La La Land
Another world first for Scotland , it seems Innocent means guilty now , and guilty means innocent by that measure innocent of any and all smears on her character Sturgeons guilty or was it innocent oh make your own mind up despite or including any evidence that might or might not exist
********** said I don’t ********* so that’s now clear ******** added ****** and that’s confirmed .
Wullie the bus conductress from fife slipped a wee Snide remark in during his rambling contribution in today’s confidence debate as usual Wullies mooth was way ahead of his brain he said We all ,know what Alex is like , yes tell us Wullie exactly what is Alex like ? this seems to be the fashion now have a wee pop at someone in public assuming you can get away with it , what’s the point of Courts or Juries if everyone behaves like they know best probably without the full story or information anything goes , Christ if Alex had the time his Lawyers would be working 24 / 7 delivering Law suites like bloody confetti .
INDEPENDENT says:
‘What happens if the RT News Station Spills ALL THE BEANS!’
– I would doubt it. They operate in the UK under the same license terms as all other broadcasters and subject to the same laws. Being RT, they are under much more scrutiny than say the BBC and many would jump at the opportunity for them to lose their broadcast license.
Tartanfever, I agree it is unlikely but under the guise of their Going Underground Reports. Karma would be delish. Imagine the RT showing up the toothless MSM.
I suppose I can dream
Highseastim @ 7:53
” I’m an ordinary tax payer ”
No, just an ordinary arsehole.
Get gone, and prostrate yourself before your Queen Nicla the Great, worm!
The rest of us will keep working towards an Indy Scotland, despite the best efforts of your Dear Leader to kill the dream in favour of her Woke utopia Gender-woo-woo-land.
ALANM
Aye. Think I had a few smoochies tae that wan Alan lol I wisnae 18 then but or near that club though so think am safe!
AYRSHIRE ROB
He will only F**k Off when he clocks off.
Starts at aprox 4pm finishes at 9-59pm end of shift Cheltenham Time or it might be Bedtime by the standards of his comments.
Yours for Scotland
@ AYRSHIRE ROB says:
23 March, 2021 at 6:29 pm
If NS & SNP do get stuffed at the election I wonder what excuse we will have from her on 7th May?
I need to reflect? If I hear that wumin using that fecking term “reflect” I swear I’ll crack.
She’ll blame Swinney for all those redacted voters.
I’m a conservative yoon. Doesn’t make me a bad bad person… No it doesn’t!
I went to bed after the last referendum thinking that I might just have to come to terms with the settled democratic will of the people the next morning. Whether it was go or stay.
And I would have if the Yes campaign had won.
Now, I couldn’t do that easily. I would always doubt it. Wondering how it had been cheated.
And I look at this site and think a great many people here are conservatives. They want a democratic system of government in which individual rights and freedoms are officially recognized and protected, and the exercise of political power is limited by the rule of law. And they want to conserve the best of the current set up (free speech men are men and good education for all)
So, my challenge to you all is make any future referendum one in which I won’t have any lingering doubts that some weegie power couple and their mates just fudged it.
Why on earth don’t you try a more inclusive and small c conservative nationalism. As a democrat I can deal with a lost vote, just not a lost democracy.
I think if Salmond wants, he can bring Sturgeon down. It’s whether he wants to.
If it was me I wouldn’t think twice about it.
Dee Murrel is from Edinburgh and Sturgeon from Ayrshire…Weegie?
@BJ
Is that because you’re a big time sturgeon fan, Nicola first and to hell with the consequences.
Big Jock says:
23 March, 2021 at 8:25 pm
I think if Salmond wants, he can bring Sturgeon down. It’s whether he wants to.
If it was me I wouldn’t think twice about it.
Surely, if he were going to dob her in to the maximal extent he could, he would have done that before now?
Garrion says:
23 March, 2021 at 6:48 pm
AFI and ISP are already hoachin with folks from the Ministry.
Name them then.
Dropthevipers, not necessarily. Maybe he saw the possibility that both reports would be, erm, nuanced, no matter what he said. So maybe he is keeping something in reserve.
“some weegie power couple and their mates”
You blew it…right there.
Dee Dubya. I think you might are generally correct.
Sylvia @ 6.39: Intriguing post, but since I have never been any good at any kind of jigsaw, I can’t even begin to guess what it’s about. Obviously, I am not asking you to reveal more of your story (‘my story’ in your post) than you have done, on the assumption that it is not yet opportune for you to do so. However, could you give us a clue about how long it might take before the time to reveal the secret arrives?
I think we Scots forget too easily how important a place Scotland is, for all kinds of vested interests, even on account of our geographical (and hence strategic) position. Not just for the British state, but for the USA in particular, and others too.
This is not entirely new: even historically, where Scotland stood – even with its small population, and comparative poverty – could swing the balance. In the Middle Ages, the great expansionist power was England, and if she had not been held back by having to fight on two fronts she would certainly have held on to much of France.
It’s not simply a joke to say that Scotland’s historic mission was to pi** on England’s border. Keep them busy, pin them in – with France to their South and Scotland to their North.
You see it in the 18th Century too. The Union that created the UK changed the balance of power in Europe, with effects for the rest of the world. In the Seven Years’ War with France (1756-63, if I remember rightly), the French would probably have defeated the English in North America (Canada, in particular) if it had not been for the Scots.
Think what that would have done! If France had won, Canada and what is now the USA (or most of it) might have been almost entirely French-speaking regions of the world. Certainly, the world would have been very different from the one we know today. Both Scotland’s and England’s respective histories would have been very different.
If making the Union changed things – world history, indeed – so much, then unmaking it (even in the very different circumstances of today) can change its direction again. There are bound to be very powerful vested interests opposed to that change, which will resist it by all means. That means by fair means and foul, by hook and by crook, and it opens the door to every form of corruption.
We should not be surprised by every possible means being deployed to prevent our independence, including the most corrupting. This is almost bound to happen insofar as the break-up of the UK is perceived as damaging the interests of powerful nations and institutions, corporations and individuals. These powerful interests will do anything to get what they want, and corruption of one kind or another is the obvious way to do this.
Scotland is a very important country, far more than we tend to imagine, and that is not really a good thing for us. There are too many people paying attention to us, the kind of people we could do well without it. Especially when they operate behind the scenes, under cover of dark, pulling unseen strings to direct puppets who may not even be aware a good lot of the time that that is what they are – puppets.
I suppose it’s like having too many suitors, and you don’t know which one to believe – but if you are wise (and most of us aren’t – just look at that judgement from ‘Lady Wise’ today) you should work on the assumption that they are all false. Isn’t it likely that they all simply want to use us, and instrumentalise us for their own purposes.
When you think of that, and you look at the calibre of most of the people in Holyrood – across the whole Party spectrum – who are they really? Babes in the wood? tadpoles among the sharks? Parish councillors, playing student politics (on and against each other) while trying to swim in international waters. And if they are already like that, won’t the candidates lined up for May the 6th turn out to be even worse, rather than better?
With regard to Craig Murray, about whom we must all be concerned, I do not see how he can be singled out for ‘contempt of court’ in regard to the issue cited when other publications within the UK continue to publish names of accusers of AS with, apparently, complete impunity. Just yesterday I stumbled on a site which specifically identified one of the so-called ‘Alphabet’ women, giving her name (well known for other reasons to anyone following Scottish politics at the moment) and attaching a specific letter of the alphabet to her.
It was by pure accident that I stumbled on this site when looking for something else, and I was so astonished I did not even take a note of it so, even if I wanted to (which I do not), I would not be able to find it back again. Computers, like jigsaws, are another thing I am not good at!
I also note the depths of puerility, distortion and simplification – not to say dishonesty – in Angus Robertson’s article in the Evening News tonight, which someone posted above. How anyone can vote for such a man is beyond belief.
I had hoped at one time that Joanna Cherry might just resign the SNP whip, and stand against him. It’s highly improbable, almost impossible, and in no way would I ever blame her for not doing it. But she does have bags of courage, and I would have loved to have seen it.
As it is, I will still enjoy following Bonnie Prince Bob’s efforts to undo Robertson, albeit from afar since Edinburgh Central is not my constituency. As anyone with half a brain should be able to see, Bob is no fool, and it will be a joy to see some creativity and genuine imagination and, above all, passion being injected into the political sphere for once. I don’t discount the possibility that he might do very well indeed. The manner in which the Angus Robertsons of this world deploy words already indicates what insipid and dull lives they must be leading! The manner in which they attack others, the ease with which they distort all things suggests
“give us barabbis” they roared!
…and that’s wot they got…then it rained!
hi paul!…had some things worth saying,won’t bother now.
except i feel sorry for all of u over there!..your lost!
@Dee Dubya 8.20pm
As a representative of my people (!) why are you expecting “us” to do your homework? A “small c” conservative nationalist party is something you’re going to have to sort out for yourselves. It has been – and still is – one of the problems of the broader Yes movement that whilst projecting itself as a “big tent” which could shelter Scots of all political persuasions, it is basically the creature of one dominant (supposedly?) social democratic party and some also rans.
Perhaps it would have been better if we’d had conservative and liberal pro-indy parties as well? The problem for those of us now disillusioned with the SNP is that we always kind of thought we could ride to independence on the back of this ramshackle, all encompassing vehicle. Recent events sadly have shown many of us that the kind of independent Scotland the current SNP would deliver isn’t one we would want.
I may not share your political conservatism, but I – and many others who support this site – share your concerns on individual rights, freedom of expression, the limitation of power and the rule of law. Many of us now see the current SNP (and the Greens) as a threat to our values and to achieving the kind of progressive Scotland we seek.
The problem for *most* Scots conservatives is that they are British first and Scottish second. For there to be any common ground or co-operation they have to show us what their priorities.
“which kicks any prospect of independence down the road for at least another five years.
You can quote us on that again in 2026, because there is not the slightest sliver of hope of a second independence referendum while Nicola Sturgeon resides in Bute House, and we’ll put any amount of money you like behind that assertion”
Some of us trust you 100% on that and won’t have to quote in 2026.
But could you now not publicly advocate a tactical vote in favour of Sarwar to unseat Sturgeon in her Glasgow Southside constituency?
That would start the momentum to get rid off her.
And it would flush out all the diehard Sturgeonists who have infected Wings Over Scotland.
45 days till election,
priorities,
annihilate the Green party and then salt the earth they stand on,
vote out Humza Yousaf for being a clownshoe,
get Tommy elected,
SNP need ISP/AFI to form Government,
condition of forming Gov is to make Tommy the First Minister.
Very helpful and informative summary. Thank you Stu.
@wull says: 23 March, 2021 at 8:42 pm
“As it is, I will still enjoy following Bonnie Prince Bob’s efforts to undo Robertson, albeit from afar since Edinburgh Central is not my constituency. As anyone with half a brain should be able to see, Bob is no fool.”
As anyone with half a brain should be able to see, Bob is a complete shitgibbon.
https://imgur.com/I68AoXZ
The same person who called Wings Over Scotland a ‘Snake Oil Selling Charatan Piss Artist’ three years ago now wants WoS readers and supporters to vote for him on May 6th 2021.
Not on this side of sane (as Gary Numan would say).
@Mark Boyle 8.57pm
“If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons.”
I don’t care if Bob is a shitgibbon. The purpose of voting for him isn’t to get him elected, because we all know that’s never going to happen. The whole point of having such an alternative is to stop Robertson winning the seat, and send a message to the SNP leadership.
I live in Edinburgh Central and – absent a better alternative – will definitely vote for BPB in the constituency and ISP or AFI on the list.
Those still planning to vote SNP – however they try and justify it to themselves – are tacitly supporting what they represent.
We see you.
Mark Boyle @8:57
Bonnie Prince Bob does not have to be a paragon of virtue. If he stops Angus Robertson in his tracks then he’ll have done his country a service.
I’m a small c conservative and a small l libertarian and have only ever voted SNP because I believe the constitutional issue overrides very other thing that flows – almost.
Free speech, democracy, the rule of Law and an accountable governance structure must prevail.
I have no Party to vote for in May.
I will spoil.
Rev. Stuart Campbell:
“You can quote us on that again in 2026, because there is not the slightest sliver of hope of a second independence referendum while Nicola Sturgeon resides in Bute House, and we’ll put any amount of money you like behind that assertion. Contact us with a wager for whatever sum you choose and we’ll take it.”
Go on Ruby, put your money where your mouth is:
Ruby says (“Three choices”),
“I’m voting SNP 1/2 because I want Nicola Sturgeon to have to face the consequences of her actions.”
That little turd Harvey, is already acting as though he’s in a coalition with the SNP, he’s so far up Sturgeons arse I don’t know where he ends and Sturgeon begins.
“Last night Patrick Harvie said committee members who had leaked to the media and shown “contempt” for the process should consider their positions, and should not be candidates at the upcoming election.”
https://www.thenational.scot/news/19181753.nicola-sturgeon-no-confidence-vote-patrick-harvie-slams-holyrood-inquiry-msps/
A lot of strange things have happened over the last 2 days, yesterday all of the Facebook pages of Dave Llewelyn have disappeared, he was very vocal about the whole Salmond case and very much anti Sturgeon.
Maybe it is something that wings can look into to see if there was some pressure applied in an attempt to silence Dave
Big Jock @ 8:32
Wow- do I have a story about the depth of corruption in Scotland. It involves me-I have just found out and I am shaking with anger – I have a serious complaint against the NHS – I just googled the Complaints Manager name and found them on LinkedIn-previous experience 6 YEARS WITH F’IN POLICE SCOTLAND. Talk about a cover up-I’m too mad to write anymore-will post details tomorrow.
Ayrshire Rob – there was a disturbing story in the press a few days ago about a Dad in Canada who has been jailed for “misgendering” his 15 daughter, who he was hoping to save from the trans cult before she was
sterilised and mutilatedgiven gender-affirming “healthcare”. A court told him he’d better pretend his little girl is now male, and he’s been jailed for refusing to lie.I realised this is basically exactly everything the Neo-SNP loves in one neat little package: authoritarian control over speech, Frankenstinian gender experimentation, and the State’s contempt for parents (the Named Person scheme wasn’t that long ago) disguised as tolerance.
Humza must’ve had a wee stauner reading about that one. I wonder when we’ll see the first Scottish parents up in court for aggravated belief in biology, and whether they’ll be allowed a jury trial.
Personally I would be very surprised if AS returned to politics. He has had his head in a spin dryer for the past two years so I suspect he wouldn’t want to sit in parliament next to the scum that fitted him up.
“Where yesterday Hamilton had said “it is for the Scottish Parliament [ie the committee] to decide whether they were in fact misled”
Said the person who was supposed to decide whether the Scottish parliament was in fact misled.
As I had predicted in advance:
“The likes of James Hamilton don’t worry one bit about their reputation with the plebs.
Its their reputation with the Establishment which is their only concern.”
Crook.
Why would anyone in their right mind vote SNP 1 and 2?
McDuff says,
“Personally I would be very surprised if AS returned to politics”
Alex Salmond did more for Scottish independence than anyone else since Scotland was sold more than 300 years ago.
The corrupt lying criminals that hijacked the SNP tried to jail him on false charges, removed his rightful place in SNP history and ruined him financially.
The scum in charge of the SNP are infinitely worse than Tory scum.
Hopefully one day they will be exposed by someone outwith Scotland and end up in jail where they belong.
Alex Salmond deserves a quiet retirement. Let us wish him and his wife all the best.
It is now for someone else to take the cause forward, although I can’t see anyone who can.
FFS! Sturgeon and the SNP lackeys, backed up by the Greens.
I wish I had taken the blue pill now. Can someone please kindly reinsert me back into the matrix.
As Discharge once sang: ‘it’s a messed up, fucked up fucking system’.
This isn’t over. People forget how smart Salmond is. I hope he does everything possible to weaken and divide the SNP.
But no matter what happens, the SNP will never recover.
Disheartened, disaffected, broken, call it what you will; a huge number of people walked away this week, with hopes that their children might live better lives than they did turned to dust. They won’t be back.
Who gives a fuck, right?
The country is in the hands of a bunch of losers. Above all else, they’re losers because they put their crappy little jobs and their crappy little salaries above everything else, and that includes independence.
And that’s the age old problem, isn’t it — you can buy people off in this country for peanuts.
People thought Holyrood was a Parliament and a platform but it’s actually a bribe. It’s the bribe paid to stop you ever having a Parliament or a platform.
@Hatuey 9.52pm
Preach brother!
[insert Meryl Streep standing ovation GIF here].
The Matrix would be a blessing.
Do you ever feel like you are the only intelligent life. This site is like a pocket of resistance.
I am just waiting on Donald Sutherland coming up my drive with a duplicate body for me.
Mia says,
“The buck always stops with the boss. So why wasn’t Evans sacked when confidential information was leaked from the Sgov to a newspaper?”
Hasn’t your belief always been that the British state was behind all this?
Mia says (previously),
“So this is not just “a Scottish lash up”. The British state’s dirty fingers are all over this.”
That would answer your own question as Leslie Evans is part of the British state.
But the truth is, which I trust you now realise, that it was not the British state via Evans, but the Criminal in Chief Sturgeon who started the illegal process to make sure Alex Salmond did not return to the Scottish parliament as that would have threatened her hold on power.
Thank you for your info Mark Boyle @ 8.57. I did not know about that aspect of Bonnie Prince Bob. At the same time, I nevertheless agree with what Andy Ellis said in response to you @ 9.08. My main interest is to burst Angus Robertson’s parachute, and prevent him from winning Edinburgh Central.
Would still love it if Joanna Cherry resigned the SNP whip, and contested. I think she’d win.
Meanwhile, the more pro-Indy voters vote for a pro-Indy candidate who is NOT an SNP (or a Green) candidate, the better. These are votes FOR Indy but AGAINST the SNP, each one of which sends a message to the SNP which they need to hear. A lot of pro-Indy people are fed up with them.
Any disaffected former SNP voter who has such a candidate standing in his constituency is lucky, and should take full advantage of the opportunity it gives them. Many of us, alas, in other constituencies, won’t have that possibility.
I may be mistaken, but I think that that’s the solution many of us would like to have. We want both our votes to demonstrate BOTH support for independence AND dissatisfaction with – indeed opposition to – Sturgeon’s New SNP.
We want to vote FOR Indy, but AGAINST the SNP
Can we put redacted on our constituency vote?
Skip_NC says,
“We both value the freedoms we have in the USA. Why would we swap that for living in a totalitarian regime?”
Skip, please do Scotland a favour.
Set up a website we can all follow, as Wings Over Scotland is highly likely to be closed down and attempts made to jail the Rev. Stuart Campbell.
Please post the link to your website here ASAP before this website gets closed down.
As you are outwith Scotland, you can publish whatever you like without redacting anything.
The corrupt lying criminal James Wolffe, Lord Advocate of Scotland, will be in no position to threaten you as he threatened Wings Over Scotland and The Spectator.
Kiwilassie, lumilumi, and others living outside Scotland’s juridiction could also do Scotland a favour by disclosing the criminals who tried to jail Alex Salmond.
Red
Some background at
https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/50484/was-a-canadian-father-jailed-for-referring-to-his-trans-son-as-his-daughter/50486#50486
@ Andy at 7.18 “Have AFI/ISP got a plebiscite in their manifestos?”.
I asked AFI why pursue a referendum when a plebiscite is much better? They replied that they do want a plebiscite. If SNP won’t run on a plebiscite manifesto, AFI will press them to at least not delay the referendum “until after covid”.
James Che. says,
“Breeks,as far as I can ascertain, Each and every Scottish person individually is sovereign, we can refuse legislation that we do not approve of.”
Pray, tell us how?
Who in their right mind would vote SNP 1?
And only an out and out raving lunatic would vote SNP 1 and 2.
@Andy Ellis says:
23 March, 2021 at 9:08 pm
@Mark Boyle 8.57pm
“I don’t care if Bob is a shitgibbon. The purpose of voting for him isn’t to get him elected, because we all know that’s never going to happen. The whole point of having such an alternative is to stop Robertson winning the seat, and send a message to the SNP leadership.
Then why in the bowels of Christ are you backing a candidate with NO CHANCE OF TAKING ANY VOTES?
He’s a joke candidate – full stop. Stop pretending he’s anything but that. He’s cut from the Al Murray candidature cloth, or that prick Mark Thomas at the Hemsworth by-election when he pretended it was about protesting at John Trickett’s enforced candidature but it was really cheap publicity for his shit Channel 4 show.
If you remotely think this has anything to do with anything beyond a Z-lister raising his profile Alex Zane style, you are going to be very disappointed.
@kapelmeister says: 23 March, 2021 at 9:09 pm
“Bonnie Prince Bob does not have to be a paragon of virtue. If he stops Angus Robertson in his tracks then he’ll have done his country a service.”
Voting for someone who has attacked this site and called the person running it a liar just to curry favour with the cybernats when it suited him? Nope, fk that for a game of sodjers. Let the cnt lose his deposit.
Believing that mess will take votes off ANYONE is beyond any known levels of optimism. He’ll scoop up a hundred or two dafties tops who don’t normally vote but will this time “for a laugh”.
“Hasn’t your belief always been that the British state was behind all this?”
That is correct and that belief remains as strong today as it was yesterday.
“That would answer your own question as Leslie Evans is part of the British state”
No it does not answer my question. She is the permanent secretary, the most senior civil servant in Scotland. That information was leaked on her watch and that is a breach of the civil service code of conduct. The buck stops with her.
“But the truth is, which I trust you now realise, that it was not the British state via Evans”
She is the most senior civil servant and that information was leaked on her watch, on the same way that documents were removed from the pile of documentation approved by the senior counsel to hand to the courts during the judicial review. That this woman is still in post is frankly astonishing.
There is no way Sturgeon would have got away with this unless the british state was protecting her. The crown agent, the copfs, the police, the civil service and the opposition parties that abstained today in the VONC to save her arse are elements of the british state.
And regards Craig Murray Voting SNP 1, why?
They are trying to crucify him, and yet he is telling us to vote for them.
I can’t figure that one out.
Very relevant post yesterday on this very topic.
Kcor says:
23 March, 2021 at 2:51 am
TOMMY SHERIDAN says,
“I sincerely hope Craig Murray has secured top spot in the Lothians and will lead the AFI challenge.”
“Are independence supporters and even SNP members going to waste their votes again by indulging in the reckless folly of Both Votes SNP or will they give their 2nd vote instead to Craig Murray and send a real, fearless and capable independence advocate to Holyrood?”
What utter dishonesty and hypocrisy Tommy.
The very Craig Murray you mention was barely two weeks ago publicly advocating BOTH VOTES SNP.
And the likes of you are still advocating a constituency vote for the corrupt lying criminal SNP which wants to send Craig Murray to jail.
I have never ever heard of someone advocating a vote for a corrupt lying criminal political party that wants to jail him.
I am sorry to say but the likes of yourself, Craig Murray and Martin Keating are cowards trying to get into parliament through the backdoor.
Where is that bravery you once had?
You could have stood against Sturgeon in her Glasgow Southside constituency.
Craig Murray could have stood against Robertson in Edinburgh.
Martin Keating could have stood against Swinney.
That would have been real fights, not the pretendy fights you are seeking.
Big Jock says:
23 March, 2021 at 9:55 pm
I am just waiting on Donald Sutherland coming up my drive with a duplicate body for me.
🙂 Smiley thing.
Mark Boyle @10:22
Bonnie Prince Bob has reached almost halfway to his £10 000 target on Go Fund Me after just 4 days. I wouldn’t be so ready to dismiss his campaign.
@ Andy: I think you are being a bit harsh on Craig Murray and the others.
Most SNP voters haven’t heard of AFI nor understood the bad things done by the SNP. Those voters still think SNP are for independence, and recognise that the SNP government has done some good things e.g. no prescription charges, no tuition fees, so they will still vote SNP.
On practical grounds AFI can only make a case in the short time left to it, for a Regional list vote. So far they haven’t got big names so must rely on the relatively simple arithmetical point that people may grasp. There is no time to campaign against the current SNP leadership. Craig and the others can only try to get a list seat and hope to be able to apply some pressure on an SNP/Green government. It won’t be a pleasant or easy task and I am grateful to them for even attempting it.
Mia says:
In business, if you are looking at your competitor and their market share(that you want control over) you assess several factors before throwing cash and resources at a hostile take over:
Assets- Excellent.
Their workforce- Educated and efficient.
Management team- inexperienced, poor, weak and of low calibre.
Leadership- psycopaths, narcissists.
Result- no need to expend time, effort and expense as it is more efficient to let them fail.
British State never needed to anything, it is all home grown failure.
John – thanks, that link includes some info that sounds right up the Government’s/COPFS’ alley – banning people from taking about court cases, redefining words as “violence”.
I think it’s only a matter of time before the same thing happens here. There’s already an appetite in officialdom to go after anybody who draws the ire of the transgender lobby, and the HCB/GRA will make it a lot easier.
My feeling is this is going to blow up into a huge scandal in a few years, with massive lawsuits from people whose lives and bodies have been ruined by doctors who’ve accepted the crazy idea that you can be born in the “wrong” body and that destroying your reproductive organs can somehow make you better. Especially the girls who find themselves on the trans treadmill, which bears all the signs of social contagion in the same way anorexia sometimes flares up among teenage lassies.
That’s no consolation though. Good people need to resist this agenda, if we care enough.
I feel sorry for kids today. 1980’s Scotland was a long way from utopia, but in hindsight it was a far better time to be a child.
Andy says,
“Who in their right mind would vote SNP 1?
And only an out and out raving lunatic would vote SNP 1 and 2.”
Let me present Ruby to you:
Ruby says (“Three choices”),
“I’m voting SNP 1/2 because I want Nicola Sturgeon to have to face the consequences of her actions.”
One of the most important events in the Salmond saga. Is who leaked the story to the Daily Record.
I think Salmond knows who it was. This could be very significant, depending on who it was.
I also believe the Holyrood enquiry leak came from the SNP.
It’s all about timing.
Sarah 10.38
Can you explain to me in simple, easy to understand language why Craig Murray is telling us to vote for his executioner?
Kcor 10.41
You are joking kcor, this person needs immediate medical attention.
Well, I told you what would happen with Mrs. Murrell and The Greens.
You’re being stitched up and the ONLY way to stop this is by not voting for anyone, no party, no ‘list’ parties, nobody. Just take a biro and scribble out everything, so nobody can tamper with your paper and put a X in a box without you knowing.
Like I said, Mrs. Murrell is bulletproof and going nowhere. There’s no other viable alternative other than not voting. Even if a minority is returned, The Greens are going to support her all day long because it’s their only way of getting THEIR policies introduced.
Mia says,
“No it does not answer my question. She is the permanent secretary, the most senior civil servant in Scotland. That information was leaked on her watch and that is a breach of the civil service code of conduct. The buck stops with her.”
So the buck stops with Leslie Evans rather than with Sturgeon?
IMHO, you are a diehard Sturgeonist.
And if you are not, you are probably the only independence supporter in Scotland who will not give their list vote to the AFI because they haven’t included in their manifesto something they would be in no postion to deliver.
If everyone followed your example, the unionists would sweep the list seats.
Thankfully, the vast majority posting here don’t hold as high principles as you do.
A very simple question for you:
Would you like Sturgeon to be re-elected as an MSP, either in the constituency or on the list?
Trans problem solved
You know you are a woman
When you don’t want to be one
https://twitter.com/robintran04/status/1371983108711411716
NB
The world is so fecked up
This might very well be for real
We’re all doomed
We need a coalition of Parties to sort out our Parliament and justice system.
Never again should any First Minister or future Prime Minister have so much power.
indyRef2 will need put on the back burner until we get our house in order.
Harsh but true.
Andy says,
“Kcor 10.41
You are joking kcor, this person needs immediate medical attention.”
Look up her comments on previous threads.
But the thing is Craig Murray was advocating constituency AND list vote for the SNP barely 2-3 weeks ago.
Lot of sick brainwashed people in Scotland.
I will be honest.
Right now I don’t know what I am going to do in May. If the vote was tomorrow, I would simply stay at home as a silent protest. So that is where I am at right now.
Can I vote for Sturgeon as leader? No. Can I vote Green? No.
I will see what Salmond has to say tomorrow. Or who pops up on the list on Falkirk East.
A lot can change in six weeks, but my opinion of Sturgeon is fixed. Can’t stand the wumin.
Are AFI and ISP still cheerleading for the utterly corrupt SNP.
Are they still going along with the SNP’s indyref confidence trick?
It’s comparable to Kezia Dugdale encouraging people to vote for the vile Tories.
Or Sturgeon hugging a Blairite war criminal to prove her credentials as a British politician.
Or George Galloway chasing the money.
Principles for sale. As long as they get votes.
No my kind of politics. Sorry.
Kcor 10.59
Yes, totally baffling.
And nobody seems to give as a credible answer as to why he is doing it.
Mist001 says.
“You’re being stitched up and the ONLY way to stop this is by not voting for anyone, no party, no ‘list’ parties, nobody.”
Let us say everyone reading this blog follow your advice, considering that the vast majority of the public don’t read this blog.
What happens then?
What is your preferred result of the election?
Wow this place really has become like the recruitment room for the gruesome twosome of Baroness Ruth & her sidekick wanna be FM Douglas Ross.
I suspect about 75% of posters on here, are not and have never been Independence voters but rather part of the Unionist establishment along.
No more GRA
No more crooked judges.
You won’t get that Voting for the SNP.
Better the SNP fail than the Unionists win.
Meaning let the SNP have the next few years. Meanwhile a new Party is coming to town. One with a clear vision of the future Scotland can have, a proper economic model, a radical reshaping of every Public Institution, and a real bunch of clever folks who will sweep the SNP away for the clueless deceptive crass crew of pretenders they are.
@kapelmeister says: 23 March, 2021 at 10:37 pm
@Mark Boyle @10:22
“Bonnie Prince Bob has reached almost halfway to his £10 000 target on Go Fund Me after just 4 days. I wouldn’t be so ready to dismiss his campaign.”
Fools and their money are soon parted.
John Cleary says:
That article didn’t just jigsaw….
Yep I am a unionist Paolo. Very original. When you can’t play the ball play the man.
Now report back to Sturgeon that us whacky yoons are nothing to worry about.
Mist001 is a yoon living in France. He can’t vote here although he tried to tell us he could- a fraud.
He doesn’t want Scotland to be independent. He’s decried us all many times on here. He’s I told you so troll as if he’s some kind of mystic meg.
Ignore the clown.
Andy says,
“And nobody seems to give as a credible answer as to why he is doing it.”
There are hardly ever credible answers in politics.
Alex Salmond was the greatest politician of our time. Look what they did to him.
IMHO, Craig Murray and Tommy Sheridan have completely lost their credibility by advocating constituency votes for the SNP.
Why couldn’t AFI and the other pro indy list parties just seek the list vote without endorsing the corrupt lying criminal SNP in the constituencies?
Since they are not idiots, we can only conclude they are opportunists.
Cant vote snp ever again whilst sturgeon is in charge.
paolo notelli says:
23 March, 2021 at 11:07 pm
I suspect about 75% of posters on here, are not and have never been Independence voters but rather part of the Unionist establishment along.
Only 75%?
AYRSHIRE ROB says,
“Mist001 is a yoon living in France.”
Give him the opportunity to answer my question to him, Rob.
Then we can decide what his true intentions are.
Same with the true intentions of Ruby, Mia, ScottishRenewables and many others posting here.
Paolo Nutelli
Yes, it’s so obvious that not Voting SNP 1 can only mean one thing, we have been sent by some unseen force to infiltrate the high security website Wings Over Scotland, to try to convince them to vote for this unseen Party.
No wonder the SNP is in state it is in with geniuses like you as members.
Are you that Singer from Paisley by any chance?
Al,
Yes, youre right. I’m sorry.
Rev, please delete.
@ Andy at 10.25pm: “And regards Craig Murray Voting SNP 1, why?”
This has been explained repeatedly by me and others. The problem is that you keep ignoring the answer, then repeating the same question. It gets pretty boring by the tenth time.
Besides, I suspect that what you are referring to is AFI’s policy, not Craig Murray’s.
John Cleary says:
No problem, didn’t notice straight away
For Andy and others who are trying to tell us they know what Craig Murray thinks http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2021/03/vote-for-bonnie-prince-bob-in-edinburgh-central/
So are we now on a full Election footing?
If it wasn’t so funny you’d greet.
It’s good to debate.
Then maybe we can come to some kind of meeting in the middle.
pixal @ 11:34 pm
“AFI’s only policy is to unite different indy parties under one banner to max the yes”
Max the yes = independence
And don’t doubt for a minute that Tommy and Craig and Dave etc will take that majority for indy to the floor of the United Nations, and will declare our independence, and whoever is leading the SNP either goes with that or looks like a right tractor.
I can’t believe posters still reffer to Rock by his alter ego
Ha ha wakey wakey folks
I would like a protest against Sturgeon and her cronies whereby everyone self-declares themselves to be of the opposite sex and insists on using the appropriate public toilets
I see a lot of UK government adverts on Twitter right now with the “delivering for scotland” message. Purdah begins on Thursday, does anyone know if there is sufficient grounds to complain to the electoral commission or Twitter/whatever to get them taken down?
Paolo – I realise you’re probably trolling, but I’ll indulge you for a wee minute anyway.
I was voting, canvassing and fundraising for the SNP before you were born, probably. Back in the far-off ancient times of the 1990’s, when you were liable to be threatened or spat on or worse for handing out SNP leaflets in the rougher Labour voting areas.
It was a lot of fun. There was always a fair amount of gossiping and personality clashes (you can’t expect Scottish people not to pick fights), but there was also a lot of healthy debate, positivity and purpose. I met all sorts of people with different views – from out and out socialists to literal “tartan tories”, some of them more agreeable than others, but I never doubted that they were in it For Scotland, as we used to sign off letters.
Frankly, the SNP wasn’t a good place to be if you were an ambitious careerist on the make, and the party was all the better for it. It was also decidedly non-Woke. I remember a couple of high ranking SNP women laughing at New Labour’s all-women shortlists, they thought it was a ridiculous gimmick.
I no longer recognise the thing that calls itself the Scottish National Party. I expect Alex Salmond feels the same. The people who have killed the SNP, gutted it, and are now parading around in its skin suit disgust me.
They clearly don’t give a damn about Scotland – if they did, they wouldn’t be eagerly beavering away to strip Scots of their rights. They wouldn’t be trying to destroy people like Alex Salmond and Craig Murray. They wouldn’t, after umpteen years in power, hastily toss out Mike Russell’s insultingly obvious electioneering gimmick of a 3 page “draft referendum bill” that contains no date and no plan to overcome its inevitable rejection by Westminster.
Dougie Ross won’t be FM, but if he did I wouldn’t care. The current regime deserves to lose, and the opposition could hardly be worse. They might even be better. The Woke agenda is the most toxic thing I’ve ever seen in politics in my entire life, and I remember the Poll Tax (Tommy, if you’re reading this, my granny loved you).
Ultimately a political party isn’t like the football club your Dad supported, and that you therefore want to win even when the manager makes bizarre decisions and the players are overpaid primadonna badge kissers.
A political party is a vehicle for democratic representation and doing things voters want. Once they stop representing you, once they decide that actually they hold you in contempt, once they get it into their heads that they somehow know better than the people who put them in their comfortably paid positions, it’s time to move on.
The SNP needs Scotland, but Scotland doesn’t need the SNP. What we do need is people of courage, clarity and decency. There’s very few of those left in the parliamentary SNP, and for that reason, I won’t be supporting them.
Yours for Scotland,
Red x
Top scientists and defo experts have announced a clear correlation between understanding information that might threaten a persons salary or standing, and sudden onset sight, hearing and memory loss.
They add “smarmy middle class cunts are particularly susceptible to problems arising from uncomfortable facts”
Don’t you worry, I’m alright Jack, we’ve never had it so good…
…and then, there was nobody left to speak out when they came for me.
Sitting here brooding and feeling so absolutely useless. AS handed it to them on a plate and they still couldn’t manage it. The opposition in Holyrood are absolute dross. I hope Ross is a better ref than he is a politicion. Bad judgement twice, one with Swinney, the other today with Queen Nicola. Now she is able to put out a poster ‘Nicola Sturgeon has the trust of the Scottish Parliament’ what a complete joke. The election campaign well and truly started today with the abstentions, while we sit here on Wings talking about using our vote tactically to rid ourselves of NS, they do not even have the sense to vote against her, although it was a useless exercise they would at least been making a statement. I completely despair.
Red…
Well said.
Billy
There’s a lot of homeless Indy voters.
pixal says,
“so what? the rev also publicly advocated BOTH VOTES SNP in 2016”
This is not 2016.
The corrupt lying criminals Sturgeon, Murrell and Co deliberately failed to bring independence to Scotland between 2016-2021, a period when it was achieavable as never before in the 300 years plus of the union.
Only the most gullible believe that this SNP government if re-elected will bring independence between 2021-2026.
The Rev. Stuart Campbell is taking bets on this, please free to put your money where your mouth is:
Rev. Stuart Campbell:
“You can quote us on that again in 2026, because there is not the slightest sliver of hope of a second independence referendum while Nicola Sturgeon resides in Bute House, and we’ll put any amount of money you like behind that assertion. Contact us with a wager for whatever sum you choose and we’ll take it.”
Red says,
“The SNP needs Scotland, but Scotland doesn’t need the SNP. What we do need is people of courage, clarity and decency. There’s very few of those left in the parliamentary SNP, and for that reason, I won’t be supporting them.”
Will you be happy if they get back in anyway because of previous supporters either abstaining or spoiling their ballots?
For me, the only way forward is to actively vote them out by tactically voting against them in the constituency vote and giving the list vote to a pro indy list party.
With the SNP out of the way, a new genuine independence party would arise in time to stand on a plebiscite manifesto at the next Westminster election in three years’ time.
Kcor @ 10:07pm, I stand ready to publish anything from the USA that I can. However, I can only guess at two or three of the complainers. So I would need information from someone in Scotland to publish. That comes with its own set of problems. If there is a way round that, I could have a basic website up and running in a couple of hours.
The fact that the US establishment did not care for independence in 2014 is something to bear in mind, but does not concern me. The Supreme Court decided the Westboro Baptist Church case some years ago. This odious group of people attended the funerals of fallen soldiers and chanted that God hates gays and, therefore, America. The Supreme Court found in the church’s favor. Even the most awful speech is protected here. If any of the complainers are either senior civil service or MSPs, the bar they would need to clear is even higher. You see, here in the USA, you can speak truth to power and the presumption is that Power is more able to withstand an attack.
I am ready, able and willing to help and my wife will support any decision I make to get involved.
To my mind, there are at least two classes of complainers. One class is those who were dragged along, who perhaps had a misunderstanding with AS. The other class are the out and out liars. It is the latter class that I believe should lose their lifetime anonymity.
Skip should provide a means by which communications can be sent to him.
Read on Twitter earlier that about 50 of the “I joined the SNP” newbies are actually members of the London Branch of the SNP.
Assuming they are ex-pats, or possibly working at SW1.
Sturgeon has to look her Constituents in the eyes and tell them she didn’t lie.
A must watch.
Paul Cockshott, I have contacted Stu and Craig Murray once each in the last few weeks. They have (I assume) my e-mail address. Whether they, or anyone else with information, feel able to share it with someone they have never met, is a matter for them. I can certainly understand why they might not wish to share with me. It’s easy for me to offer, because I am beyond the clutches of Scotland’s legal system.
Nailed it Red.
Past the witching hour I see …so let’s speculate.
If the Revs right ( and Duh when is he no ) we are no getting a reffrendum within the next 5 years !
Well…
Since giving up is no an option , it really isn’t , otherwise we’d never feel say sair at the situation now would we ???
So…
Are we ment to work to get us right back to here in 5 years ?
Or should we look at what else can be done?
I don’t have definite answers, but I do have a thing or two to put to the ” more ”
Innovative Wingers amount us !!!
Should Holyrood be “defended ” in its CURRENT form ?
We ( the people of Scotland ) have taken Westministers crumbs in 1999 that were set to rule us and fool us, and turned it into a Parliament we viewed as representing us.
But..
If , for what ever reason, Holyrood is to be harnessed back into the instrument of Westminster it was designed to be..
Then why do we engage ?
We have power to withdraw the representation of Scotland as quickly as as fully as we gave it.
It is the value we place on Holyrood that gives it its value to those who sit in it and it’s worth to those who would capture it now.
That needs thinking about … and it looks like we’ve 5 bloody years to do it .
If Holyrood is not going to work for us….then don’t let Holyrood waste our time….
If Holyrood,a section 30 , a reffrendum and the blah de fecken blah of the past 7 years is the only way…
Then what were the SNP for before ?
Is a question..
I do remember the fear in 2015 at 57 MPs delivered to Westminister from Scotland … and we were so caught up in standing by our Holyrood … we never looked hard enough at why ?.?
I remember Alex Salmond saying there’s more than one way to a county’s independence .
Holyrood may or may not have a reffrendum in the next 5 years,
But is Holyrood and a Reffrendum our only choice??
Says who , we should wonder !
Us Sovereign Scots, Us politicaly educated Scots ?
I don’t remember sayin any such thing about that instrument of Westminster
And I particularly don’t remember agreeing to being held to a Holyrood version of anything?
We can do Indy without Holyrood , but the Scots and Westminister have to be involved.
Let’s look there for a bit, and leave those who would play around for 5 more years, to worry if the big Parliament will defend them ….
Wondering what to do in May doesn’t seem so hard when ye abandon the “Instrument of Westminster ” and turn yer gimlet eye tae the ….Organ Grinder….
Big Jock says:
23 March, 2021 at 10:45 pm
One of the most important events in the Salmond saga. Is who leaked the story to the Daily Record.
I think Salmond knows who it was. This could be very significant, depending on who it was.
Unless a complainer was responsible, he could presumably name names?
Liz g says:
24 March, 2021 at 1:26
Should Holyrood be “defended ” in its CURRENT form ?
We ( the people of Scotland ) have taken Westministers crumbs in 1999 that were set to rule us and fool us, and turned it into a Parliament we viewed as representing us.
In my opinion, Scotland has been much too willing to accommodate paradoxes in the way it interprets “ambiguities” in it’s Constitutional status, without having the tenacity to defend the correct interpretation which of course, vindicates Scotland.
Scotland seems to think it is adequate to defend it’s Constitutional Sovereignty passively, merely by occasionally quoting the existence of the Claim of Right which affirms the sovereignty of the people. But when that Right is undermined or challenged, Scotland has been pedestrian and toothless in challenging that encroachment, when really, it should have been apoplectic whenever ANY colonial encroachment over Scotland’s rights was even mooted by Westminster.
I honestly and firmly believe that there is evidence of a fundamental Constitutional malfunction implicit in the mere existence of a Devolved Assembly, and there an essential component of Holyrood that is incompatible with Scottish Constitutional Sovereignty. The distinction has been fudged from the outset, with Scotland favouring the interpretation that Holyrood was compatible with the Claim of Right and an institution which strengthened Scotland, while Westminster and many Scottish Unionists have favoured the interpretation that Holyrood enshrined a colonial beachhead for Westminster to claim sovereignty over the “Scottish” Government.
The paradox of Scotland believing in one sovereignty while Westminster and Unionists believed in a different sovereignty left Scotland in a precarious situation, which I repeat, Scotland should have immediately gone apoplectic about, and vigorously defended Scotland’s Constitutional Sovereignty to the death, but instead, (because Unionist Parties were in the driving seat at the time), Scotland was sanguine and complacent about allowing the paradox of Holyrood to be created.
To shoot off on a tangent momentarily, this whole Constitutional “duplicity” doesn’t just apply to Holyrood, because the same symbiosis of Scotland believing in it’s sovereignty while the UK Parliament does not, is a fundamental paradox of the Treaty of Union itself. It is the very essence of the UK’s “Parliamentary Sovereignty” by convention, which exists as a workaround to avoid testing the irreconcilable contradictions of two fundamentally incompatible sovereignties “somehow” becoming compatible and joined.
In Constitutional terms, the irreconcilable contradictions of Holyrood’s devolved assembly, are the same irreconcilable contradictions of the UK and Treaty of Union itself, with the definitive Constitutional truth permanently obscured behind the sophistry of “Parliamentary Sovereignty by Convention”.
The Union has survived these past 300 years because neither Scotland nor Westminster has resolved to “test” this ambiguous dichotomy to a definitive conclusion, and look behind the curtain. When you ask the question, “How do you actually reconcile the co-joining of two distinct and fundamentally incompatible sovereignties of two distinct and separate Nations?” – The answer is, you cannot. The “Union” is thus a Constitutional sham.
What has changed, and what is still changing, is that since Devolution, Westminster has been surreptitiously eroding Scotland’s “pretence” of Sovereignty, slowly but steadily encroaching over more and more components of Scottish society and making them “British”.
What has been truly disastrous for Scotland, especially under Sturgeon’s grotesque mismanagement, has been Brexit, where Westminster’s colonial encroachment over Scotland’s Constitutional Sovereignty was no longer a surreptitious erosion of Scotland’s rights, but fully blown aggressive colonial subjugation of Scotland’s Constitutional rights, and Scotland’s SNP Government under Sturgeon capitulated like a gutless shower of feckless incompetents and dutifully got down on their knees to acquiesce to Scotland’s wholly unconstitutional subjugation.
Never mind Mickey Mouse charges of misleading Holyrood ‘investigated’ by some paper tiger committee, Sturgeons whole charade of SNP Government should have been knocked on its arse, impeached, and flung out of office for their craven, cowardly and incompetent abdication of Scotland’s Constitutional Rights and SOVEREIGNTY.
Sturgeons SNP have sold Scotland down the river, and established a Constitutional precedent which outwardly affirms that Westminster’s colonial encroachment over Scotland’s Constitutional Rights and Sovereignty has been a success. You will burn in Hell with quicklime in your eyes for that one Sturgeon.
The question for Scotland now, is what can now be done to undermine and reverse Sturgeons unconstitutional capitulation, which surrendered constitutional rights which were never hers to surrender in the first place.
That is why IT IS ESSENTIAL for Scotland stop pussyfooting over Westminster’s colonial expansionism, and take Scotland’s Constitutional Rights out the hands of corrupt and feckless amateurish politicians, and into the hands of ruthless Constitutional Lawyers, (looking at you Joanna Cherry), and see Scotland’s Constitutional Rights and Sovereignty reestablished and properly recognised under Internal Law.
Fuck the SNP duffers in Holyrood. They are spineless empty vessels who have buckled in subservience to Westminster’s superiority. They are the living embodiment of modern day t(raitor)s to Scotland who ” … agreed to make us or our kingdom subject to the King of England or the English, we should exert ourselves at once to drive him out as our enemy and a subverter of his own rights and ours, and make some other man who was well able to defend us our King.”.
Sturgeon and her Parcel ‘O Rogues should be driven from office as enemies of Scotland. Vote for them? You’re having a laugh, surely.
Remember Scotland’s protection under EU Trade Deals backed by the might of the European Union Nations and their partners?
https://globalnews.ca/news/7714384/saanich-whisky-distillery-lawsuit-scotch-whisky-association/
This is just the beginning.
I think Salmond knows who it was. This could be very significant, depending on who it was.
I’m quite surprised so many on here don’t seem to know at least who the main suspect is.
I have no idea how the full story can can come out, if it ever can. But the more the smears ramp up, the more it really needs to. I hope Salmond’s legal minds have some ideas.
Cath 5.51. I’m Welsh and have so mu h sympathy for the cause. Im sure that Alex knows who it was. Most Welsh towns start with……
Absolutely nailed it Red,absolutely nailed it.I can go back to the 70’s and even darker days (80’s) but exciting all the same.Sloganeering at it’s best.”It’s Scotlands Oil” and it is.As you say there was no room in the Scottish National Party for careerists,no room at all.Hell we never referred to ourselves as nationalist in any shape or form but the Westminster parties came up with that wee wheeze on the first stage to divide and rule our country.I too am sickened by what the party has become and duly left just after Christmas to join the ISP with hope in my heart and every intention to return one day.
Breeks at 338am,
Whisky with Scottish Gaelic names – and they bleat they are not trying to pass it off as Scotch. Aye, right.
Sorry, but the SWA is quite right to go after them. The people running that business know EXACTLY what they are doing. For example in North America, typically whisky is spelt with an E, ‘whiskEy’, as is the case anywhere outside Scotland, not with those guys though. That is not an accident.
The people behind this AMERICAN distillery know EXACTLY what they are doing with their labelling. Hope they get whats coming.
My feeling on this, is that the Scottish government needs to introduce a labelling requirement for ANY Scotch made in Scotland, mibbes a saltire or the Scottish coat of arms or something, which ALL Scottish producers could place prominently on their bottles sold anywhere. A BIG label – MADE IN SCOTLAND. Then the buyer can see at a glance. It would have the full weight of the Scottish government behind it.
See, this is something that is actually freaking useful the chumps in Holyrood could do, instead of making us all accept (under threat of imprisonment) that men are actually women (when we all know they are not), or trying to imprison innocent indy bloggers and political opponents of Nicola Sturgeon.
Has Leslie Evans been sacked yet??
Cath at 0554am,
It may even take a decade, but rest assured, the truth will eventuaslly come out. Those responsible, should forever be looking over their shoulder. The Knock will come for them, one day.
Cath says:
24 March, 2021 at 5:51 am
I think Salmond knows who it was. This could be very significant, depending on who it was.
I’m quite surprised so many on here don’t seem to know at least who the main suspect is.
Indeed – I thought we all knew…
So Sturgeon ‘stands by’ Leslie Evans- I suppose if you sack someone they might just be a bit annoyed and could tell a few tales. Better keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Robert Louis
I agree that those whisky folks are being sneaky with their labeling, but you’ll find that Canada spells whisky without an “e”. I think the SWA should pursue them for misleading the consumer, though.
AS having his reputation trashed again in ‘the Scotsman’ which alleges that ‘ a blind eye was turned to Salmond’s behaviour.’
These women Ms A and Ms B have had their day in court and lost. Time to move on girls!
Meg merrilees says:
24 March, 2021 at 7:27 am
So Sturgeon ‘stands by’ Leslie Evans- I suppose if you sack someone they might just be a bit annoyed and could tell a few tales. Better keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
I think that there is a bit of truth in that, but there is also an underlying psychological issue. No one in the New Scotland that Nicola Sturgeon thinks that she has created, is ever sacked. To sack someone is to question your original assessment of them. And, as we all know, the Dear Leader never makes errors of judgement. So instead, people resign. If you recall the last Scottish Csbinet reshuffle, no-one was sacked, they all wrote (or were made to write) letters of resignation. In that way the Dear Leader’s reputation remained untarnished by human frailty.
It is now beyond all doubt that Nicola Sturgeon is a (redacted) .
I actually think AS will now fade away into his retirement,let down by almost every politician in Scotland,which is shameful but if I’m being truthful he’s better out if it,what a bloody mess and all to keep a lying corrupt cow in power,I really struggle to comprehend how niave and thick some people are in Scotland,it’s hard to watch as you see a once proud nation decent into what it is now,any way good luck AS in your retirement the rest of us will just have to get on with it.
Lynne at 01.37am
The main conspirator, who orchestrated, managed, and in some cases, coerced the complaints against Alex Salmond, was able to protect her identity by inventing a claim of sexual assault and thereby guaranteeing her anonymity in perpetuity.
Cunning eh?
There is a text message to this effect from her/him in the public domain…..
Cath @5:54
IF Salmond knows, he could still be of great service to Craig and country if he uses his common law right of retort to name the skank. If he doesn’t know, then its all the more intriguing.
Either way, the judiciary needs to take a closer look at the abuse of the anonymity protocols that invite spurious accusation, discriminate against the accused and turn inside out the presumption of innocence.
@N MacMillan – and yet John Swinney says that: “this case should serve to help us create a culture at Holyrood where this type of behaviour no longer exists” – I just wonder what behaviour he is talking about? Is it claiming sexual assault to guarantee future annonymity?….or is it something else?
Breeks @ 3.26 .
Absolutely brilliant post ( again ! ) my friend .
When will we see the official launch of the Breeks Party ? I’ll sign-up immediately
Thanks for taking me out of moderation.
Sorry for earlier comments
I wonder if David Davis will use Westminster parliamentry privilege to name the committee member who leaked the result of the Scottish Governments committee decision.
And in bad news from the Sturgeonista heartlands of The Cabrach, the feuding Fan Clubs of Tomintoul (pop 236), mostly quiet since they mutually agreed to disband under the Treaty of Our Princess Diana (1998) are about to break out again in open warfare, plunging the quiet rural area into a desperate turmoil.
Sure enough Mrs Fionn MacStiofan, a founder member of the once powerful Our Deidire Barlow Fan Club, now extinct, has just announced the formation of Oor Wee Nicla Fan Club.And, as though through some inevitable law of physics, an Anti Our Wee Blinkie Fan Club has sprung up in deadly rivalry.
It cannot be long before a revisionist Our Real Wee Nicla Fan Club, a The Wee Free Oor Wee Blinkie Fan Club together with an Environmental Green Front Oor Nicla and innumerable others appear.
Mrs MacStiofan has stated “OWNFC will appeal irresistibly to all the militant true Niclaistas of Tomintoul – vigour, ferocity, ruthless determination and the ability to enrich uranium with molten porridge will see us triumph.”
Police Scotland can only look on netvously. A spokesman said under conditions of anonymity (natch) “We know that some of these zealots are armed with outsize iron-tipped handbags and sawn-off spurtles and we have also intercepted communications between them to the grand leader of the Wokebollah in Edinburgh, offering to send cakes, knitted jumpers and a complete set of vampire teeth…”
Old Fogey – Remember that in a den of liars, unity protects them. Sturgeon will not sack anyone for fear of repercussions from the one who is the scapegoat.
This is why the whole thing is so corrupt. However , like dominoes, you topple one first and the rest follow.
This isn’t over.
Captain regards Swinney – That theory only works , if the corrupt are toppled. At the moment they have all got away with it and carried on. So nothings changed.
Unless my bag of fag packet numbers are wrong here, if there were as much as 250,000 up to 500,000 spoiled sovereign votes of the disenfranchised former SNP voters would she take notice that everybody knows the deal of scottish ‘democracy’ is rotten?
Here’s the basis for my calcs. on about a 60% turnout there are about 2,300,000 votes cast. The SNP would expect to get about 45% of those votes. So just over a million votes. For 25% of those expected votes to be spoiled would be a realistic target.
The idea of a spoiled ballot then is not necessarily just an individualistic moral choice, but can become just as seriously a vote for any other party. Surely, Government as it is in Scotland would become unsustainable when faced with these numbers of spoiled ballots en masse.
Paolo notelli
Just 75%??
I am very curious to hear what AS says today.
We know from CM’s testimony at his own trial that AS went to Craig Murray and told him about the plot to stitch him up and told him who was involved and that it was Sturgeon herself behind it.
AS did that to protect himself should the stitch-up be successful. It is my read of it but IMHO he wanted of high integrity like CM to know what was really going on so they could blow the whistle if need be.
Well there was need.
At his darkest hour Craig Murray essentially did what was required of him and blew the whistle as much as he could given the legal peril that continues to this day. That painted a massive target on his back.
Craig has posted (on here maybe) about how it was a huge disappointment to him that AS came out the court and effectively said he was going to bite his tongue and wait for the inquiries and covid to run their courses.
I am starting to increasingly agree with CM. Craig Murray is in danger of being left out to dry by Alex.
I love Alex Salmond but I am getting tired of the softly softly approach. This is exactly how I felt in the aftermath of 2014 as well. It is frustrating.
To much reliance is placed on AS. He has more than done his shift he if choses to walk away. I would not blame him seeing what I have seen this last few years.
Where are the other future leaders. Nicola has done a very good job of eliminating any potential challengers it seems.
Who is actually going to take the fight to these wankers.
@Big Jock – I read that Carwyn Jones survived a James Hamilton Inquiry too…for 5-days and then he resigned. In Wales, real lawyers got hold of his opinion and tore it to pieces in no time. I would forget James Hamilton. I suspect he is just another £500/hour spoof lawyer, in the same mould as James Wolffe and many, many others in Scotland. We’ll see what the next few days brings.
@Mark Boyle 10.22 pm
Do your lips move when you read or are you just trolling for the LOLZ Mark?
Davidson won Edinburgh Central by 610 votes. How many disaffected former SNP members and supporters will it take to deprive Robertson of a victory? Nobody cares if he’s a joke candidate.
This site has few stronger supporters than me, but I’m not going to let the fact BPB has been a critic of the site, or that Rev Stu doesn’t like him deny me the chance of watching Robertson undergo a Portillo moment after the election count.
“So the buck stops with Leslie Evans rather than with Sturgeon?”
In the civil service in Scotland? Yes, absolutely. The buck stops with Evans
“IMHO, you are a diehard Sturgeonist”
well you couldn’t be more wrong.
“And if you are not, you are probably the only independence supporter in Scotland who will not give their list vote to the AFI because they haven’t included in their manifesto something they would be in no postion to deliver”
What I ask for is full commitment to independence and that means to include in their manifesto a mandate to end the union. They are in as much position to deliver that as they are to get the SNP to deliver a referendum.
Either they are committed to independence or they are not. If they are, then they must prove it with their manifesto.
“If everyone followed your example, the unionists would sweep the list seats”
If all the yes voters followed my example the election would be declared null as I intend to spoil my two ballots.
“Thankfully, the vast majority posting here don’t hold as high principles as you do”
And in your opinion that is a good thing because allows corrupt and totally unprincipled individuals like Sturgeon to get in and continue to hold Scotland to ransom for another 5 years?
“Would you like Sturgeon to be re-elected as an MSP, either in the constituency or on the list?”
NO
@Captain Yossarian says: 24 March, 2021 at 9:01 am
“@Big Jock – I would forget James Hamilton. I suspect he is just another £500/hour spoof lawyer, in the same mould as James Wolffe and many, many others in Scotland.”
It could have been worse. It could have been done by Aamar Anwar, whereupon his report would have concluded the treatment of the women and the evasiveness of the First Minister were due to institutional racism.
Big Jock says:
24 March, 2021 at 8:35 am
Old Fogey – Remember that in a den of liars, unity protects them. Sturgeon will not sack anyone for fear of repercussions from the one who is the scapegoat.
This is why the whole thing is so corrupt. However , like dominoes, you topple one first and the rest follow.
This isn’t over.
I sincerely hope that you are right.
Re the midnight ramblings of Skip-NC and exposing the conspirators via the USA.
Skip, why not get someone who knows all these people (I think I’ve only got about half) to go the snail mail road and write to you? Keep off electronic communication.
Do it Mission Impossible style. This message will self immolate in in 10 seconds!
Best Wishes.
I know there are good guy lawyers out there and probably on here as well so I mean no offence to them but jeezo I don’t think my opinion of the Scottish Judicial System and profession could get any lower right now.
Do you know what another phrase for ‘malicious prosecution’ is… a stitch-up.
For these highly trained, highly qualified, professionals to be doing what they are doing is utterly shocking for me. I always half suspected it was like this but to see it laid bare like this in the Alex Salmond stitch-up and and in the equally political persecutions of Craig Murray, Mark Hirst etc.. is mind blowing.
But not just them, Charles Green and the Duff & Phelps insolvency guys as well (these cases were also extremely revelatory).
To see these high flying lawyers knowingly and willfully hide exculpatory evidence from the defense is bad enough, but they are also covering up criminality as well, including IMHO their own at times.
They went after Alex Salmond and the Rangers’s administrators…. hmmm… what could be the driver I wonder.
These people (the LA & COPFS) are out of control in Scotland. Ignore everything they say as they are seamless liars and judge them solely on their actions.
A bank robber has more honour than someone who would knowingly stitch-up an innocent person and then watch them go to prison.
That is what these lawyers are doing, at least some of them. I really don’t know how they get away with it.
@KH at 9.27
Funnily enough I had exactly the same thought about using the mail at about 5 this morning. The idea would seem to solve a few problems.
General question unrelated to previous; Tim42 and Highseastim, are they the same person? They both seem to suffer from the same [redacted] of [redacted].
@Andy Ellis says: 24 March, 2021 at 9:10 am
“@Mark Boyle 10.22 pm Do your lips move when you read or are you just trolling for the LOLZ Mark?
Davidson won Edinburgh Central by 610 votes. How many disaffected former SNP members and supporters will it take to deprive Robertson of a victory? Nobody cares if he’s a joke candidate.
This site has few stronger supporters than me, but I’m not going to let the fact BPB has been a critic of the site, or that Rev Stu doesn’t like him deny me the chance of watching Robertson undergo a Portillo moment after the election count.”
Why do you think The Fat Signaller cut and ran to the Lords when she couldn’t get an English Parliamentary seat? Why do you think there was such a vicious battle for the candidature in the SNP beyond the Roberton/Cherry spat? They’ve got it in the bag and everyone knows it.
At the last general election, the Liberal Democrats, in one of their many “dirty tricks” that backfired, ran a “arms length” party called Advance Together in only five Tory marginals which were LibDem target seats. All the AT candidates did was publish leaflets attacking the incumbent Tory, some of it near libellous – but it allowed the LibDems to bypass the candidate spending limits and spend up to another £12000 per target seat.
[Why do you think not only Nicola Sturgeon but Diana Abbott were caught out celebrating Jo Swinson’s defeat? There was plenty of private anger amongst the “political classes” at the FlipFlops resorting to such “dirty tricks” campaigning yet again, much of it at the behest of ol’ crooked teeth and her bestie Moran, who knew they were in deep shit before the election began].
It backfired badly – the LibDems didn’t capture one. If they – with double the resources (including doubled canvassing teams) – couldn’t succeed, what’s the chances of some sad sack trying to recapture his “yoof” scratching the surface?
Unlike you, I’ve more than a wee bit experience of the whole voting game, particularly for minor party candidates. A complete unknown standing first time out against big names hasn’t a hope in hell unless there’s been some seismic event – they will be (usually rightly) dismissed by media and voter alike as a “publicity stunt” candidate and ignored.
You can “you is trolling, you big smelly jobby” all you like – it doesn’t alter the fact this clown will achieve fk all.
Katherine Hamilton, my ramblings weren’t in the middle of the night. Remember the time difference.
Anyway, let’s all be clear about a few things
Firstly, I am ready, willing and able to do this.
Secondly, it would be dependent upon others supplying me with credible information, which will be very difficult for anyone within the clutches of the Scottish justice system. I think I have worked out two or three and I believe them to be in the Liar category rather than just dragged along. But I may be wrong. My guesses could easily make things worse, rather than better.
Thirdly, would this benefit AS or cause disproportionate damage to those who were unwillingly dragged along by this?
Finally, is it a good tactical move? I am not a political tactician. Others will have to decide that.
I had hoped to avoid writing this. Publishing from abroad may not a silver bullet. Indeed, it may cause unintended consequences. I worry, too, that semi-regular, public discussion of this point will not do this site any favors.
“Thanks for taking me out of moderation.
Sorry for earlier comments”
Once again: it’s not YOU that’s in moderation, it’s everyone with a Hotmail address. Blame “Ronald Fraser” for that. Hopefully we’ll have a better solution shortly.
If only we knew a renowned whistle blower with access to all the information who also has ties to the wikileaks organization and Julian Assange.
One in jail and the other facing jail. Probably just a co-incidence…
It is not just a simple case of doing a data dump. Some redactions may still be a good idea. That is where wikileaks would have been handy.
@Dr Peter ISP
Last chance. I’m not willing to wait until 2026, they’ve dangled enough carrots. I’m done with SNP. The problem with ISP is that I’ve seen absolutely nothing from your party. I have no idea who you are, no idea who the candidate is in my area if there is one. I’m done voting for party instead I’m going to vote with my conscience, that’ll be the candidate who I feel puts over the best campaign. I have always said that i would vote ISP 2nd but if I don’t see something from you in the Northeast soon them my vote will go elsewhere. I have no intention of listening to the utter bull that comes from SNP any longer. Humza Hate Crime Bill, weak pathetic Swinney who has fucked up education, GRA to be frank, I don’t agree with. This party is an embarrassment. I will no longer blindly follow them as the only hope of Independence. It is clear there is no chance of Indy under this shower. So take your opinions and do one. @Stu again I thank you, I’m gonna forget politics for a while, will check in if you keep going with your blog but thanks mate from the bottom of my heart for all you’ve done for us and the cause. It’s time to say goodbye to the SNP.
Mark Boyle said in his post at 9:55am:
“…This site has few stronger supporters than me,…”
As a serial Lurker and sometime Poster on Wings I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments.
Hi Skip
Thanks for the reply. It was the middle of my night!
On the jurisdiction point. That’s why I thought about a letter. Untraceable. But you would need a trusted source, obviously. Also if you put it on to a new website for the purpose, it would not be a threat to WoS. Nobody in Scotland could publish it anyway but we could direct people to it.
There are no tactical implications. Info is Info. Folk can make of it what they will.
Best Wishes.
Kcor, we see you, having ago at everyone, not willing to do your own genuine research, and asking everyone to prove themselves. While you go around discrediting everyone,
If you were for independence you would have learnt to do your research and homework a long time ago, get back to us when have,
Meanwhile we see you.
Wooft.
I actually read much of the Committee Report from here, I mean at least the coloured highlit bits. The two women’s statements. And much else.
I felt impressed by its professional tone (and length, and detail).
I too, like Wings, am amazed that a committee with four SNP members out of the nine was able to reach such damning conclusions. Well, it’s out there now.
@Jack Murphy says:
24 March, 2021 at 11:01 am
Mark Boyle said in his post at 9:55am:
“…This site has few stronger supporters than me,…”
“As a serial Lurker and sometime Poster on Wings I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments.”
Just for the record, I did not say that, it was Andy Ellis who said it at 24 March, 2021 at 9:10 am at the same time he was trying to justify supporting someone that three years ago had called Stu and the Wings Over Scotland site ‘Snake Oil Selling Charatan Piss Artist’ whilst sucking up to the cybernats.
https://imgur.com/I68AoXZ
Yeah I know I’m banging on about this, but it’s beyond belief ANYONE could come on here cheerleading for some pathetic tinky bastard who did his best to get people to vilify this site and the person running it, and to get them to withdraw any support (financial and otherwise) from here. Some of you need to have a wee word with yourselves.
Skip_NC says,
“Kcor @ 10:07pm, I stand ready to publish anything from the USA that I can.”
“I am ready, able and willing to help and my wife will support any decision I make to get involved.”
You and your wife would be doing a great favour to Scotland.
If you are able to set up a website with a contact form, people in the know could send you relevant information through your website.
The most important would be the messages between the conspirators.
You could also ask David Davis for information.
But do set up a website ASAP and post its address here so we know where to look.
Remember Scotland has now become a heavily censored state.
Mia says,
“And in your opinion that is a good thing because allows corrupt and totally unprincipled individuals like Sturgeon to get in and continue to hold Scotland to ransom for another 5 years?”
How does giving a list vote to a pro indy list party allow Sturgeon to get in?
James Che. says,
“Kcor, we see you, having ago at everyone, not willing to do your own genuine research”
I am sorry, I have no idea how to do the research on what you suggested so I asked you.
If you suggest something then one assumes you know how it works:
James Che. says,
“Breeks,as far as I can ascertain, Each and every Scottish person individually is sovereign, we can refuse legislation that we do not approve of.”
Kcor,
“Pray, tell us how?”
I have a lot of respect for WoS and its contributions. However I cannot get the fact out of my head that the 2014 referendum was clearly spoken of as once in a generation. Half a decade is not a generation.
“I have a lot of respect for WoS and its contributions. However I cannot get the fact out of my head that the 2014 referendum was clearly spoken of as once in a generation. Half a decade is not a generation.”
You’d get a lot more respect for that view if you bothered to put that “quote” in its proper and full context. But in any case, things change. The No campaign spoke of a No vote as the only way to save Scotland’s EU membership. We aren’t in that situation any more.
I voted yes in 2014 because I wanted a change and independance from a bureaucracy, both Westminister and Brussels. I did not vote to leave one union to join an even cumbersome and sclerotic one.
Kcor it’s easy, you use your keypad to print into google the subject you wish to research, and Wallah, then you continue by scrolling up or down, until you find what you are looking for, then you click on it,
Of corse if you want spoon fed I am more than willing to help you further. Oh and you will find it mentioned many times over the years by various people on wings over Scotland throughout the years.
James Che. says,
“Kcor it’s easy, you use your keypad to print into google the subject you wish to research”
James Che. says,
“Breeks,as far as I can ascertain, Each and every Scottish person individually is sovereign, we can refuse legislation that we do not approve of.”
I searched “every Scottish person individually is sovereign” and got:
“Scots claiming to be “sovereign” are morons. Scotland is a colony of England. Scots have no powers whatsoever, except the right to vote if and when an election or referendum is called. Scottish justice is a colony of English justice and has no powers to rule that Scots are “sovereign”. Shut up “sovereign” morons”
Bottom line new snp Don’t want Independence for Scotland. Period. Start again. ALBA ALSO KNOW WOMEN ARE WOMEN. THANKS ALEX
I have absolutely no time to be bothered with any kind of political union, the EU is a failed project and thank goodness we are out of it, good riddance.
But in saying that, we are still signed up to the crazy human rights laws that take preference over good old common sense, an economic migrant comes over the channel on his little boat lands here and abracadabra he suddenly becomes a political refugee and gets a mobile phone, to call his pals from his 5 star hotel to tell them how nice it is, and inform his pal that he is going to tesco where the nice security guard lets you walk out the door with all the food you can carry, and I dont even have to have a covid test, and they let me walk about the town without a mask, hundreds of us, funny thing , there do not seem to be many local people about, you would think there was some kind of virus going about, well my friend, that is all the news, my champagne and caviar has just arrived, see you tomorrow I will be there on the beach when you land, don’t worry we can get a taxi, they can afford it, heh heh heh