Bustin’ flushes

Wings Over Scotland marked its ninth birthday earlier this month .
To be honest , we totally forgot about it until someone reminded us .
Normally we mark the anniversary with a small reflection and taking of stock over how things are going , but this year we couldn ’ t be bothered – we ’ d already mentioned readership stats in August .
But today in The National we found out that we were apparently dead .
But reports of our demise have been , as the saying goes , somewhat exaggerated .
We ’ re certainly more alive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which vanished from the website before anyone could archive it or it could even be lodged in a Google cache .
But fortunately Mr Smith ’ s dedicated and loyal fanclub was on hand , and a copy of his full-on personal attack ( “ bigots ” ) on people like us , the SNP Women ’ s Pledge group and the SNP Common Weal group survived for posterity .
( Click to enlarge . )
[ EDIT 12.21pm : we see it ’ s back now . ]
“ The SNP ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going straight on our bio page , although since we ’ ve never been in the SNP we ’ re not actually the SNP ’ s answer to anything .
( And we also can ’ t be a “ party within a party ” , since we ’ re , um , not within a party . )
We also don ’ t recall ever “ urging the general public ” not to vote for Smith in last year ’ s election – we merely said WE wouldn ’ t if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nerve centre of the party ’ s Twitler Youth faction for which “ Daddy Bear ” is the figurehead .
Regarding our “ obsession ” , Wings has run a total of 37 articles touching – to some degree or other , sometimes only passingly – on transgender ideology , which is 0.67 % of the 5,533 posts in the site ’ s history , or 4 % of our 866 posts since we first broached the subject almost three years ago .
Since the issue came to the political fore , 96 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mentioned it in any way .
We were also a touch confused about Smith ’ s last line – “ We ’ ve a referendum to win ” .
Have we ?
Did we miss a big news story somewhere ?
Last we heard the SNP had , by its own admission , no credible plan to even secure one , never mind win it .
But “ a sad busted flush ” ?
In August we noted that we ’ d had 670,000 visits in July , far more than every other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put together .
So we guess now we ’ re “ busted ” that must have taken a dive .
Independently-audited visits in October were in fact up by 28 % compared to August .
Wings currently comprises 61 % of all traffic to stat-recorded pro-indy websites , up from 55 % in August .
( A rather bigger share of the “ vote ” , we can ’ t help noting , than the 51 % Smith boasts about getting in a two-horse race in Stirling . )
In truth , readers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking another break for a little while .
We feel like we ’ re just repeating ourselves a lot at the moment , because COVID-19 has killed all normal politics and almost all there is left to do is point out the absolute cancer tearing the SNP apart from the inside , whether it ’ s the abandonment of any practical intention to achieve independence , the pandemic of corruption riddling every level and aspect of the party from the financial to the moral , or the betrayal of voters with the incessant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the back of votes for independence .
And while it ’ s stuff that needs saying , it ’ s not much fun writing about it and we ’ ve said it all dozens of times already .
But if we ’ re getting under the skin of Smith and his violent misogynist woke faction this much , we suppose we ’ re just going to have to carry on .
Because if the stats are any guide – and they ’ re pretty much all we have to go on – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even if the likes of Pension Pete ( 20 years ’ service to the Crown builds you up quite an entitlement – amounting to roughly £50K a year in Wishart ’ s case by the end of the current term – that might go out of the window if Scotland were to inconveniently become independent before you retired ) would much rather you didn ’ t .

Wings Over Scotland marked its ninth birthday earlier this month. To be honest, we totally forgot about it until someone reminded us. Normally we mark the anniversary with a small reflection and taking of stock over how things are going, but this year we couldn’t be bothered – we’d already mentioned readership stats in August.
But today in The National we found out that we were apparently dead.
But reports of our demise have been, as the saying goes, somewhat exaggerated.
We’re certainly more alive than that column by Alyn Smith, which vanished from the website before anyone could archive it or it could even be lodged in a Google cache.
But fortunately Mr Smith’s dedicated and loyal fanclub was on hand, and a copy of his full-on personal attack (“bigots”) on people like us, the SNP Women’s Pledge group and the SNP Common Weal group survived for posterity. (Click to enlarge.)
[EDIT 12.21pm: we see it’s back now.]
“The SNP’s answer to Voldemort” is obviously going straight on our bio page, although since we’ve never been in the SNP we’re not actually the SNP’s answer to anything. (And we also can’t be a “party within a party”, since we’re, um, not within a party.)
We also don’t recall ever “urging the general public” not to vote for Smith in last year’s election – we merely said WE wouldn’t if we lived in his Stirling constituency, the nerve centre of the party’s Twitler Youth faction for which “Daddy Bear” is the figurehead.
Regarding our “obsession”, Wings has run a total of 37 articles touching – to some degree or other, sometimes only passingly – on transgender ideology, which is 0.67% of the 5,533 posts in the site’s history, or 4% of our 866 posts since we first broached the subject almost three years ago. Since the issue came to the political fore, 96% of Wings posts haven’t mentioned it in any way.
We were also a touch confused about Smith’s last line – “We’ve a referendum to win”. Have we? Did we miss a big news story somewhere? Last we heard the SNP had, by its own admission, no credible plan to even secure one, never mind win it.
But “a sad busted flush”? In August we noted that we’d had 670,000 visits in July, far more than every other indy site big enough to register statistics put together.
So we guess now we’re “busted” that must have taken a dive.
Oh.
Independently-audited visits in October were in fact up by 28% compared to August. Wings currently comprises 61% of all traffic to stat-recorded pro-indy websites, up from 55% in August. (A rather bigger share of the “vote”, we can’t help noting, than the 51% Smith boasts about getting in a two-horse race in Stirling.)
In truth, readers, we’d been planning on taking another break for a little while. We feel like we’re just repeating ourselves a lot at the moment, because COVID-19 has killed all normal politics and almost all there is left to do is point out the absolute cancer tearing the SNP apart from the inside, whether it’s the abandonment of any practical intention to achieve independence, the pandemic of corruption riddling every level and aspect of the party from the financial to the moral, or the betrayal of voters with the incessant pushing of massively unpopular policies snuck in on the back of votes for independence. And while it’s stuff that needs saying, it’s not much fun writing about it and we’ve said it all dozens of times already.
But if we’re getting under the skin of Smith and his violent misogynist woke faction this much, we suppose we’re just going to have to carry on. Because if the stats are any guide – and they’re pretty much all we have to go on – you still want to hear about it.
Even if the likes of Pension Pete (20 years’ service to the Crown builds you up quite an entitlement – amounting to roughly £50K a year in Wishart’s case by the end of the current term – that might go out of the window if Scotland were to inconveniently become independent before you retired) would much rather you didn’t.


Schrodinger’s Cybernat

We couldn ’ t help but chuckle yesterday when the £100K-a-year Westminster MP and obsessive Wings Over Scotland reader “ Pension Pete ” Wishart announced – in the space of six minutes – that this site was simultaneously an irrelevance that nobody listened to , but also somehow one of the greatest threats to independence .
It got a lot funnier today , though .
Because today was when someone emailed us to let us know that they ’ d had another Freedom Of Information response from the Scottish Government .
Now that IS amusing .
Though it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government ’ s latest proclamation : “ We ’ ve changed the law to specifically let you do something , BUT YOU MUST NOT DO THE THING WE ’ VE JUST TOLD YOU YOU CAN DO.
” And it ’ s arguably less funny than this : Nor does it quite muster the crudely un-self-aware comedic irony of three SNP figures issuing a demand for “ unity ” by [ checks notes ] attacking anyone in their own party who disagrees with them as “ nutters ” and “ zoomers ” who need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unifying .
And it ’ s definitely not as hilariously absurd as discovering that even while the Scottish Government can ’ t manage to spare a SINGLE member of staff to work on the case for independence during the COVID-19 crisis ( or the four years before it ) , it ’ s nevertheless more than willing to put the entire machinery of government at the beck and call of the trans lobby while the pandemic is going on .
But these are dark times , and you ’ ve got to find @ @ @ @ @

We couldn’t help but chuckle yesterday when the £100K-a-year Westminster MP and obsessive Wings Over Scotland reader “Pension Pete” Wishart announced – in the space of six minutes – that this site was simultaneously an irrelevance that nobody listened to, but also somehow one of the greatest threats to independence.
It got a lot funnier today, though.
Because today was when someone emailed us to let us know that they’d had another Freedom Of Information response from the Scottish Government.
Now that IS amusing. Though it’s not as bleakly comical as the Scottish Government’s latest proclamation: “We’ve changed the law to specifically let you do something, BUT YOU MUST NOT DO THE THING WE’VE JUST TOLD YOU YOU CAN DO.”
And it’s arguably less funny than this:
Nor does it quite muster the crudely un-self-aware comedic irony of three SNP figures issuing a demand for “unity” by [checks notes] attacking anyone in their own party who disagrees with them as “nutters” and “zoomers” who need to “bolt”. Mmm, unifying.
And it’s definitely not as hilariously absurd as discovering that even while the Scottish Government can’t manage to spare a SINGLE member of staff to work on the case for independence during the COVID-19 crisis (or the four years before it), it’s nevertheless more than willing to put the entire machinery of government at the beck and call of the trans lobby while the pandemic is going on.
But these are dark times, and you’ve got to find laughs where you can.


The morning papers

This week on Wings has been altogether more navel-gazey than we ’ re comfortable with , as various SNP MPs have mounted a series of all-out personal attacks on the site before the weekend ’ s crucial NEC elections .
So we ’ ll have a proper article for you a little later on today , but in the meantime it ’ d be remiss of us not to tidy up the last fragments of shrapnel , so we ’ ll direct you to the right of reply to Alyn Smith ’ s column that The National kindly gave us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Wings being the favourite indy site of Scottish Government staff , in a piece whose bizarre last line gave us an excellent laugh .
We can offer the wokebearded young hack some help on that question : No .
No it did not .
( Bella never did produce any sort of evidence in support of that rather dubious 2014 claim , incidentally . )
A couple of newspapers , and also the Daily Express , run with Nicola Sturgeon ’ s latest feeble dangling of yet another shrivelled indyref carrot in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the SNP ’ s pseudo-conference .
Goodness knows how many amphetamine injections and jolts of electricity it took for the Express to work itself into such a froth over what was in reality the most anodyne and weasel-worded “ commitment ” to a second referendum yet , based on a couple of TV interviews in which Sturgeon said she “ hoped ” it “ could ” happen by mid-2023 , while refusing to detail anything she ’ d do to actually make it happen .
The Telegraph had by far the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pages , which not only revealed what seems to be a real possibility of the Deputy First Minister being given his jotters by Parliament over the government ’ s ongoing and increasingly desperate obstruction of the slowly-tightening Salmond inquiry , but also used a rather cheeky pic ( actually from last year ) to illustrate a story about the Scottish Government ’ s ridiculous new “ You can have a Christmas party but don ’ t ” policy , featuring what the Scottish Sun ’ s Chris Musson archly described on Twitter as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So that ’ s the news .
See you later on , folks .

This week on Wings has been altogether more navel-gazey than we’re comfortable with, as various SNP MPs have mounted a series of all-out personal attacks on the site before the weekend’s crucial NEC elections.
So we’ll have a proper article for you a little later on today, but in the meantime it’d be remiss of us not to tidy up the last fragments of shrapnel, so we’ll direct you to the right of reply to Alyn Smith’s column that The National kindly gave us today:
(Sadly they chose to disable comments, we’d quite have enjoyed the reaction from the few remaining diehard leadership loyalists still posting there.)
They also covered the revelations about Wings being the favourite indy site of Scottish Government staff, in a piece whose bizarre last line gave us an excellent laugh.
We can offer the wokebearded young hack some help on that question:
No. No it did not. (Bella never did produce any sort of evidence in support of that rather dubious 2014 claim, incidentally.)
A couple of newspapers, and also the Daily Express, run with Nicola Sturgeon’s latest feeble dangling of yet another shrivelled indyref carrot in front of the gullible on the eve of the SNP’s pseudo-conference.
Goodness knows how many amphetamine injections and jolts of electricity it took for the Express to work itself into such a froth over what was in reality the most anodyne and weasel-worded “commitment” to a second referendum yet, based on a couple of TV interviews in which Sturgeon said she “hoped” it “could” happen by mid-2023, while refusing to detail anything she’d do to actually make it happen.
(The distinctly sub-whelming nature of such unusually lukewarm, undercooked activist-fodder may be because with nobody present at this weekend’s conference in person, there’s less need to whip up the crowd in preparation for a nice long standing ovation.)
The Telegraph had by far the most interesting of the day’s front pages, which not only revealed what seems to be a real possibility of the Deputy First Minister being given his jotters by Parliament over the government’s ongoing and increasingly desperate obstruction of the slowly-tightening Salmond inquiry, but also used a rather cheeky pic (actually from last year) to illustrate a story about the Scottish Government’s ridiculous new “You can have a Christmas party but don’t” policy, featuring what the Scottish Sun’s Chris Musson archly described on Twitter as “the ghost of Christmas past”.
(There was a very telling piece in The Scotsman in which the First Minister admitted that the idiotic stance was to avoid her getting any bad publicity.)
So that’s the news. See you later on, folks.


wingsoverscotland--2020-11-27--The Worst People In Scotland

The Worst People In Scotland

In case anyone was looking for a list : It ’ s been put together by a man who lied in order to covertly gain regular access to women who ’ ve been raped and then sniggered about it on camera , and who recently failed in two separate seats to be nominated as an SNP candidate for next year ’ s Holyrood election despite some high-profile endorsements from within the party .
The list of names appears at the bottom of a letter which is full of both absurd and demonstrable lies , and totally spurious and defamatory allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of signatories it contains numerous entries marked only as “ Anon ” .
Many of the other signatories are transactivists responsible for documented tirades of abuse against women in particular , but also anyone else who might have the temerity to stand in defence of women ’ s rights , basic science or freedom of speech .
( As we write this , incidentally , the treasurer of a branch of the transactivist SNP youth organisation Young Scots for Independence is engaged in a shocking and disgraceful campaign of “ doxxing ” against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , based on nothing more than the fact that two people – with different surnames and different dates of birth – both used the same massive internet hosting company .
Despite having been shown that his smears – as well as the small matter of their being untrue – are a case of mistaken identity , Dempsey has still not removed the tweets almost two hours later .
They ’ ve been liked/retweeted by several of the same people who signed the letter , which brings us back to our story . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ political parties ( and presumably by extension everyone else ) are held accountable to a deranged , 3,000-word-long definition of “ transphobia ” which expressly includes , among very many other things , simply stating that women are adult human females .
This would literally mean that merely believing human biology exists would become a view meriting expulsion from any political party in the country if it were expressed , with no other “ offence ” required .
Another passage would also make it “ transphobic ” , and therefore automatic grounds for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transwoman ” without a space in the middle .
We could spend all night listing more examples , but we urge readers to read the full “ definition ” .
It is beyond doubt the most demented contribution to the gender debate ( although it lists “ debate ” as another form of transphobic abuse ) since the infamous 2017 “ manifesto ” of an Edinburgh group calling itself Action For Trans Health , which demanded the instant release from prison of all self-identified transgender people no matter what their crimes , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the clinic , of psychiatry , and of the medical-industrial complex ” and much , much more .
Among the signatories demanding that pretty much any form of disagreement with anyone claiming to be transgender should be made a punishable offence are Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP , Patrick Harvie MSP , SNP councillors Mhairi Hunter and Graham Campbell , many other SNP figures including the party ’ s current Equalities Convener Fiona Robertson , Labour activist Duncan Hothersall and The National columnists “ Steph/en ” Paton and the extensively-named Vonny “ Bravo ” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basically , not to put too fine a point on it , a Who ’ s Who of all the most repulsive , intolerant and in some cases just downright evil woman-hating lunatics in Scotland , inexplicably being supported by elected representatives and journalists of supposedly progressive parties and newspapers , who with extraordinary chutzpah are portraying it as an anti-hate initiative .
We ’ ll be frankly amazed if there aren ’ t several more SNP M/SPs ’ names on it by this time tomorrow , and we all know which ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one useful purpose – as a record of people who should never , ever be entrusted with any sort of power or influence ever again by any decent and/or sane human being .
But it belongs in only one place .
The same one it , and its author , came from .

In case anyone was looking for a list:
One’s just turned up.
It’s been put together by a man who lied in order to covertly gain regular access to women who’ve been raped and then sniggered about it on camera, and who recently failed in two separate seats to be nominated as an SNP candidate for next year’s Holyrood election despite some high-profile endorsements from within the party.
The list of names appears at the bottom of a letter which is full of both absurd and demonstrable lies, and totally spurious and defamatory allegations. Despite claiming to be a list of signatories it contains numerous entries marked only as “Anon”.
Many of the other signatories are transactivists responsible for documented tirades of abuse against women in particular, but also anyone else who might have the temerity to stand in defence of women’s rights, basic science or freedom of speech.
(As we write this, incidentally, the treasurer of a branch of the transactivist SNP youth organisation Young Scots for Independence is engaged in a shocking and disgraceful campaign of “doxxing” against a totally innocent woman for supposed transphobia, based on nothing more than the fact that two people – with different surnames and different dates of birth – both used the same massive internet hosting company.
We’ve redacted the image below.
Despite having been shown by Marion Millar that his smears – as well as the small matter of their being untrue – are a case of mistaken identity, Dempsey has still not removed the tweets almost two hours later. They’ve been liked/retweeted by several of the same people who signed the letter, which brings us back to our story.)
The letter demands that members of all political parties (and presumably by extension everyone else) are held accountable to a deranged, 3,000-word-long definition of “transphobia” which expressly includes, among very many other things, simply stating that women are adult human females.
This would literally mean that merely believing human biology exists would become a view meriting expulsion from any political party in the country if it were expressed, with no other “offence” required.
Another passage would also make it “transphobic”, and therefore automatic grounds for expulsion, to write the word “transwoman” without a space in the middle.
We could spend all night listing more examples, but we urge readers to read the full “definition”. It is beyond doubt the most demented contribution to the gender debate (although it lists “debate” as another form of transphobic abuse) since the infamous 2017 “manifesto” of an Edinburgh group calling itself Action For Trans Health, which demanded the instant release from prison of all self-identified transgender people no matter what their crimes, as well as “the total abolition of the clinic, of psychiatry, and of the medical-industrial complex” and much, much more.
Among the signatories demanding that pretty much any form of disagreement with anyone claiming to be transgender should be made a punishable offence are Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, Patrick Harvie MSP, SNP councillors Mhairi Hunter and Graham Campbell, many other SNP figures including the party’s current Equalities Convener Fiona Robertson, Labour activist Duncan Hothersall and The National columnists “Steph/en” Paton and the extensively-named Vonny “Bravo” “Moyes” Laing-LeClerc.
It’s basically, not to put too fine a point on it, a Who’s Who of all the most repulsive, intolerant and in some cases just downright evil woman-hating lunatics in Scotland, inexplicably being supported by elected representatives and journalists of supposedly progressive parties and newspapers, who with extraordinary chutzpah are portraying it as an anti-hate initiative.
(This is of course true on one level, as if you forbid anyone from ever disagreeing with you on pain of instant sacking/imprisonment/death then there won’t be any hatred.)
We’ll be frankly amazed if there aren’t several more SNP M/SPs’ names on it by this time tomorrow, and we all know which ones to expect.
The document does serve one useful purpose – as a record of people who should never, ever be entrusted with any sort of power or influence ever again by any decent and/or sane human being.
But it belongs in only one place.
The same one it, and its author, came from.


wingsoverscotland--2020-11-27--Not The Plan B

Not The Plan B

When ’ s a Plan B not a Plan B ?
Well , when it ’ s something that could and should have been done already , and won ’ t be anywhere near adequate even if delivered .
Yet that seems to be what some colleagues are now arguing for .
It ’ s welcome that their thoughts are at last turning to the possibility of the Tories saying No to the Scottish people ’ s democratic vote .
But it ’ s happening dangerously slowly as the dismantling of devolution and reintegration into the UK gathers pace .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to act now , not after a Holyrood election .
Britain has never been weaker , except perhaps in a time of war .
This is the optimum time for Scotland to strike for its independence .
The lies told to secure a No vote in 2014 have been exposed , Britain ‘ s deeply divided about what it is and where it ’ s going , and those leading it have never been more incompetent or self-serving .
That , though , won ’ t always be the situation .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Tory minds will turn north .
Their weakness will lessen , and their abilities may increase with personnel changes .
The idea that the Yes movement needs to down tools for a pandemic whilst damaging actions are inflicted on our land and people is absurd .
An immediate vote mightn ’ t be possible but action to allow for an early one certainly is .
A global flu pandemic didn ’ t see the Dail Eirann suspended or actions for Irish freedom curtailed a century ago .
Within necessary constraints , now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But what ’ s proposed ?
Scottish diplomatic and representative offices abroad , who could possibly disagree with that ?
We already have offices in key capitals and SDI operate in other areas .
Fiona Hyslop is seeking to expand them and although it can be argued it should have been done before , as with a “ Plan B ” let ’ s be grateful for something being done .
Other devolved nations do it and the Legation de Quebec was hugely active both in trade and lobbying for that matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So , there ’ s a willingness to act , a base to build on and a template to follow .
But how will that deliver a referendum ?
International politics is based on national self-interest .
Sympathies of course exist and moral support can be forthcoming .
But interfering in what ’ s viewed as the internal politics of another land just isn ’ t done .
The EU27 will be driven by the needs and wants of their member states .
Trade and relationships with the UK will dwarf those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it exists – and it won ’ t in all as we ’ ve seen in past actions – isn ’ t formal support .
Even moral indignation doesn ’ t elicit a response as both Catalonia and Hungry testify to .
So , by all means let ’ s do this , but do it now and in the knowledge that though it ’ s important , it won ’ t of its own deliver .
International support no more than legal challenges can deliver what ’ s ultimately a political battle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The first question is why wait ?
The behaviour of this Tory regime has been reprehensible and yet nothing beyond rhetoric has been deployed .
EVEL an outrage , Brexit a disgrace , the Internal Market Bill unacceptable but still the relentless crushing of Scottish interests proceeds unabated and without consequence .
Disrespect shown in behaviour towards Ian Blackford at Prime Minister ’ s Questions is tolerated .
That ’ s because it ’ s not and never can be our Parliament .
The idea of being the real opposition was an absurdity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A minor rebuke of Johnson by the Speaker for saying “ Scottish Nationalist Party ” hardly offsets the contempt that ’ s regularly shown for elected members , let alone that which seeps towards our land from the very pores of the institution .
In any event it ’ s not SNP MPs ’ task to administer the British state .
When votes were close then soaking it up and seeking to influence could perhaps be argued for .
But not now when every vote ’ s lost to a crushing Tory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the event of yet another flagrant disregard of Scottish democracy ?
Boycotting inter-governmental meetings may be counterproductive depending on the issue .
The Scottish Government still has a duty to promote the welfare of Scotland .
Actions in Westminster are long overdue but boycotting Public Bills committees alone will hardly suffice .
That we ’ re not there to settle down but to settle up is oft proclaimed but never delivered in practice .
More – much more – needs done and now .
What ’ s been proposed by Pete Wishart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a plan for further delay when the time is now .
International support should be sought but independence will be won by ourselves alone and by the Scottish people , not through a British Parliament .

When’s a Plan B not a Plan B? Well, when it’s something that could and should have been done already, and won’t be anywhere near adequate even if delivered.
Yet that seems to be what some colleagues are now arguing for. It’s welcome that their thoughts are at last turning to the possibility of the Tories saying No to the Scottish people’s democratic vote. But it’s happening dangerously slowly as the dismantling of devolution and reintegration into the UK gathers pace. Which’s why the Yes Movement needs to act now, not after a Holyrood election.
Britain has never been weaker, except perhaps in a time of war. This is the optimum time for Scotland to strike for its independence. The lies told to secure a No vote in 2014 have been exposed, Britain‘s deeply divided about what it is and where it’s going, and those leading it have never been more incompetent or self-serving.
That, though, won’t always be the situation. When Brexit’s resolved in whatever way, Tory minds will turn north. Their weakness will lessen, and their abilities may increase with personnel changes. The idea that the Yes movement needs to down tools for a pandemic whilst damaging actions are inflicted on our land and people is absurd.
An immediate vote mightn’t be possible but action to allow for an early one certainly is. A global flu pandemic didn’t see the Dail Eirann suspended or actions for Irish freedom curtailed a century ago. Within necessary constraints, now most certainly is the time for Scotland.
But what’s proposed? Scottish diplomatic and representative offices abroad, who could possibly disagree with that? We already have offices in key capitals and SDI operate in other areas. Fiona Hyslop is seeking to expand them and although it can be argued it should have been done before, as with a “Plan B” let’s be grateful for something being done. Other devolved nations do it and the Legation de Quebec was hugely active both in trade and lobbying for that matter when it had a Parti Quebecois government.
So, there’s a willingness to act, a base to build on and a template to follow. But how will that deliver a referendum? International politics is based on national self-interest. Sympathies of course exist and moral support can be forthcoming. But interfering in what’s viewed as the internal politics of another land just isn’t done.
The EU27 will be driven by the needs and wants of their member states. Trade and relationships with the UK will dwarf those of Scotland. Sympathy, even if it exists – and it won’t in all as we’ve seen in past actions – isn’t formal support. Even moral indignation doesn’t elicit a response as both Catalonia and Hungry testify to.
So, by all means let’s do this, but do it now and in the knowledge that though it’s important, it won’t of its own deliver. International support no more than legal challenges can deliver what’s ultimately a political battle.
But what about parliamentary action? The first question is why wait? The behaviour of this Tory regime has been reprehensible and yet nothing beyond rhetoric has been deployed. EVEL an outrage, Brexit a disgrace, the Internal Market Bill unacceptable but still the relentless crushing of Scottish interests proceeds unabated and without consequence. Disrespect shown in behaviour towards Ian Blackford at Prime Minister’s Questions is tolerated.
That’s because it’s not and never can be our Parliament. The idea of being the real opposition was an absurdity in an institution designed to defeat us. A minor rebuke of Johnson by the Speaker for saying “Scottish Nationalist Party” hardly offsets the contempt that’s regularly shown for elected members, let alone that which seeps towards our land from the very pores of the institution.
In any event it’s not SNP MPs’ task to administer the British state. When votes were close then soaking it up and seeking to influence could perhaps be argued for. But not now when every vote’s lost to a crushing Tory majority.
And what’s proposed in the event of yet another flagrant disregard of Scottish democracy? Boycotting inter-governmental meetings may be counterproductive depending on the issue. The Scottish Government still has a duty to promote the welfare of Scotland. Actions in Westminster are long overdue but boycotting Public Bills committees alone will hardly suffice. That we’re not there to settle down but to settle up is oft proclaimed but never delivered in practice.
More – much more – needs done and now. What’s been proposed by Pete Wishart isn’t a Plan B but a plan for further delay when the time is now. International support should be sought but independence will be won by ourselves alone and by the Scottish people, not through a British Parliament.


The elephants outside

`` There 's no limit to what a man can do , or where he can go , if he @ @ @ @ @ gets the credit . ''

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


Titanic Blinky

In a post last month we referenced a ZX Spectrum computer game from 1984 called “ Worse Things Happen At Sea ” .
Today as we watched the First Minister on the Andrew Marr Show , we were put in mind of another nautical-disaster-themed one from a great deal nearer to the end of the Speccy ’ s life .
It was grim viewing in every sense .
We counted a remarkable 41 blinks in the 20 seconds Sturgeon was onscreen before she said a word , and the rate barely decreased throughout the 16-minute interview .
If you don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant about that , we suggest trying it yourself .
Walk around your house blinking twice a second ( or do it while reading this ) and see how long it takes before you have to stop because you ’ re getting dizzy .
It ’ s like being in a disco when a strobe light comes on .
It really isn ’ t natural .
But the overall performance was dire .
With a face like thunder the FM simply waffled and swerved around every question an unusually combative Marr put to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fallback answer ( often reached via “ We ’ re not as bad as England ” ) was “ We ’ re ahead in the polls ” .
It is , as we ’ ve noted before , basically the argument of a violent spouse – “ You ’ ve got nowhere else to go , what are you going to do ?
” The SNP are untouchable in the polls because Scotland has a farcical clown show for an opposition , and because the No vote is split three ways while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single party .
But time and time again Sturgeon evaded tough realities she couldn ’ t explain away by saying “ Hey , I ’ ll leave it up to the people to judge me ” .
Thing is , that would need her to survive until May .
This Tuesday , the Holyrood inquiry into the botched Alex Salmond investigation will hear evidence from Sturgeon ’ s principal private secretary John Somers .
The evidence could be explosive in itself .
Somers ( far left in the pic below ) has no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by covering for the SNP leader , and in civil service terms is still a young man with a promising career ahead of him – so long as he can avoid any culpability in this maliciously-planned and incompetently-executed five-alarm trainwreck .
But it ’ s the person at the other end of the shot who might feature more dramatically in next week ’ s news .
It ’ s widely expected that John Swinney will announce – and quite possibly on the same day as Somers ’ appearance – that the Scottish Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal advice on the Salmond case .
If it does , it appears likely that the opposition parties will call a vote of no confidence in the Deputy First Minister , and very probably win it , leaving him no option but to resign .
Such an event would be seen as a “ you ’ re next ” warning shot across the bows of the FM , and at that point things would get very interesting indeed .
Sturgeon has been using Swinney as a human shield until now , putting him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him set the remit for the separate Parliamentary standards inquiry and also handing him the ticking timebomb of the legal advice .
If he goes , she ’ ll have to start frantically casting around for other people to throw under the bus to try to somehow save her own skin .
If we were Leslie Evans , James Wolffe , Liz Lloyd or Judith Mackinnon we ’ d be very nervous indeed .
But they weren ’ t the ones who had to go on telly this morning , and anyone with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view will have seen for themselves what it looks like when you can see the inescapability of the iceberg ahead .

In a post last month we referenced a ZX Spectrum computer game from 1984 called “Worse Things Happen At Sea”. Today as we watched the First Minister on the Andrew Marr Show, we were put in mind of another nautical-disaster-themed one from a great deal nearer to the end of the Speccy’s life.
It was grim viewing in every sense.
We counted a remarkable 41 blinks in the 20 seconds Sturgeon was onscreen before she said a word, and the rate barely decreased throughout the 16-minute interview.
If you don’t think there’s anything significant about that, we suggest trying it yourself. Walk around your house blinking twice a second (or do it while reading this) and see how long it takes before you have to stop because you’re getting dizzy. It’s like being in a disco when a strobe light comes on. It really isn’t natural.
But the overall performance was dire. With a face like thunder the FM simply waffled and swerved around every question an unusually combative Marr put to her, and every time her ultimate fallback answer (often reached via “We’re not as bad as England”) was “We’re ahead in the polls”.
It is, as we’ve noted before, basically the argument of a violent spouse – “You’ve got nowhere else to go, what are you going to do?” The SNP are untouchable in the polls because Scotland has a farcical clown show for an opposition, and because the No vote is split three ways while the Yes vote is the property of a single party.
But time and time again Sturgeon evaded tough realities she couldn’t explain away by saying “Hey, I’ll leave it up to the people to judge me”.
Thing is, that would need her to survive until May.
This Tuesday, the Holyrood inquiry into the botched Alex Salmond investigation will hear evidence from Sturgeon’s principal private secretary John Somers. The evidence could be explosive in itself. Somers (far left in the pic below) has no reason to go down with the ship by covering for the SNP leader, and in civil service terms is still a young man with a promising career ahead of him – so long as he can avoid any culpability in this maliciously-planned and incompetently-executed five-alarm trainwreck.
But it’s the person at the other end of the shot who might feature more dramatically in next week’s news. It’s widely expected that John Swinney will announce – and quite possibly on the same day as Somers’ appearance – that the Scottish Government will maintain its refusal to release its legal advice on the Salmond case.
If it does, it appears likely that the opposition parties will call a vote of no confidence in the Deputy First Minister, and very probably win it, leaving him no option but to resign. Such an event would be seen as a “you’re next” warning shot across the bows of the FM, and at that point things would get very interesting indeed.
(It’s perhaps worth noting in passing how embarrassing it is for the SNP to be insisting that Boris Johnson will “respect democracy” and cave in to a Section 30 if another pro-indy majority Scottish Parliament is elected next year, while itself steadfastly refusing to respect two clear democratic votes of that selfsame Parliament.)
Sturgeon has been using Swinney as a human shield until now, putting him squarely in the firing line by having him set the remit for the separate Parliamentary standards inquiry and also handing him the ticking timebomb of the legal advice. If he goes, she’ll have to start frantically casting around for other people to throw under the bus to try to somehow save her own skin.
If we were Leslie Evans, James Wolffe, Liz Lloyd or Judith Mackinnon we’d be very nervous indeed. But they weren’t the ones who had to go on telly this morning, and anyone with the slightest ability to take a detached view will have seen for themselves what it looks like when you can see the inescapability of the iceberg ahead.


The poison within

She hasn ’ t asked us to , but they deserve some amplifying .
Cherry did indeed appeal last year to Alyn Smith to do something about the abuse being directed at her by people close to him .
His response was to show her email to his repellent young boyfriend and let him gloat and jeer about it on Twitter this morning , with some extra abuse thrown in .
Smith IS sometimes willing to condemn abuse , though , as long as it ’ s of men .
Last year , for example , he sprang swiftly to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kerr after someone tweeted some extremely mild criticism of him .
When Nicola Sturgeon was asked directly to condemn the abuse of Cherry on Good Morning Scotland earlier today ( from 2h 55m 20s ) – having recently leapt to the aid of controversial transactivist SNP NEC member Rhiannon Spear over totally imaginary abuse – she initially attempted to deny any knowledge of the two-year hate campaign , then rapidly tried to make it all about herself , before eventually , grudgingly making a woolly general condemnation of all abuse .
Wings covered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of trans activists to which Cherry was referring on Friday night .
The bravely anonymous authors removed the paragraph about her and others at the weekend , with ill grace and under threat of legal action , but the letter and list of signatories remains online , although no new names have been added in almost two days as large numbers of prominent and vocal TRAs suddenly got cold feet at the thought of being added to a lawsuit .
Those who had signed the letter while it still contained the defamatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SNP officeholders , Yes movement figures and representatives of “ civic Scotland ” who are either funded by or otherwise close to the Scottish Government .
Below is by no means a complete or comprehensive list , it ’ s just the names that really jumped out at us .
Cllr Gregor Murray , former SNP ( now independent ) councillor found guilty of a campaign of misogynist abuse .
Iona Paton , former SNP staffer who last year made false allegations of bullying against Joanna Cherry in an attempt to have her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an MP .
We could go on , but you get the flavour .
All of these people were happy to sign their names to an abusive , defamatory , intimidatory letter attacking a lesbian SNP MP ( even though the vast majority of them are LGBT themselves ) and demanding that all forms of opposition to transgender ideology be deemed a hate crime .
Although many are SNP members and the party constitution expressly forbids public attacks of this nature on other members , Nicola Sturgeon hasn ’ t condemned a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action , despite being given numerous opportunities .
We call on her to do so , knowing with complete certainty that she will not .
She won ’ t because she leads a party , and indeed a wider Yes movement , that ’ s riddled with a virus far more toxic than COVID-19 .
Its numbers are small but its influence is great , because it is tacitly endorsed by the party leadership , and – as we see above – often openly endorsed by that leadership ’ s loyalists .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misogynist creed , and a time is coming soon when those still standing on the sidelines of this life-or-death struggle for the soul of the SNP and the Yes movement bleating “ Oh , just wheesht for indy !
” are going to have to pick a side .

SNP MP Joanna Cherry posted a series of tweets this morning.
She hasn’t asked us to, but they deserve some amplifying.
Cherry did indeed appeal last year to Alyn Smith to do something about the abuse being directed at her by people close to him. His response was to show her email to his repellent young boyfriend and let him gloat and jeer about it on Twitter this morning, with some extra abuse thrown in.
Smith IS sometimes willing to condemn abuse, though, as long as it’s of men. Last year, for example, he sprang swiftly to the defence of homophobic Tory MP Stephen Kerr after someone tweeted some extremely mild criticism of him.
When Nicola Sturgeon was asked directly to condemn the abuse of Cherry on Good Morning Scotland earlier today (from 2h 55m 20s) – having recently leapt to the aid of controversial transactivist SNP NEC member Rhiannon Spear over totally imaginary abuse – she initially attempted to deny any knowledge of the two-year hate campaign, then rapidly tried to make it all about herself, before eventually, grudgingly making a woolly general condemnation of all abuse.
Wings covered the defamatory and abusive letter from a group of trans activists to which Cherry was referring on Friday night. The bravely anonymous authors removed the paragraph about her and others at the weekend, with ill grace and under threat of legal action, but the letter and list of signatories remains online, although no new names have been added in almost two days as large numbers of prominent and vocal TRAs suddenly got cold feet at the thought of being added to a lawsuit.
Those who had signed the letter while it still contained the defamatory abusive passages about Joanna Cherry include numerous SNP officeholders, Yes movement figures and representatives of “civic Scotland” who are either funded by or otherwise close to the Scottish Government. Below is by no means a complete or comprehensive list, it’s just the names that really jumped out at us.
Mhairi Hunter, SNP councillor and Nicola Sturgeon’s election agent.
Patrick Harvie MSP, Scottish Green Party leader.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, Liberal Democrat MSP.
Cllr Graham Campbell, SNP NEC member and partner of Anne McLaughlin MP.
Rob McDowall, chair of Welfare Scotland
Mridul Wadhwa, male, approved SNP candidate.
“Steph/en” Paton, columnist for The National.
Vonny Laing-LeClerc, columnist for The National.
Cllr Gregor Murray, former SNP (now independent) councillor found guilty of a campaign of misogynist abuse.
Emma Cuthbertson, male former SNP (now Scottish Greens) officeholder.
Tristan Gray, Scottish Greens officeholder.
Heather Herbert, male, Scottish Labour candidate.
Janey Godley, anti-abuse comedian and prominent Yes activist.
Blair Anderson, Scottish Greens candidate.
Josh Aaron-Mennie, SNP NEC member and OFI convener.
Teddy Hope, OFI trans officer and pathological attention-seeker.
Sarah Cheung, OFI officeholder and supposed lesbian advocate.
Jeroen van Leeuwen, Scottish Greens candidate.
Iona Paton, former SNP staffer who last year made false allegations of bullying against Joanna Cherry in an attempt to have her expelled from the party and deselected as an MP.
Claire Miller, Scottish Greens councillor.
Mary Campbell, Scottish Greens councillor.
Eva Murray, Scottish Labour councillor.
Jon Molyneux, Scottish Greens councillor.
Fiona Robertson, SNP Equalities Convener.
Emma Roddick, SNP counciller and OFI officeholder.
Dylan MacAodha, SNP, YSI and OFI officeholder.
Leeze Lawrence, male, OFI member and serial misogynist abuser.
Gavin Lundy, SNP activist and former YSI convener.
Michael Gibbons, SNP activist and former SNP Students convener.
Cailyn McMahon, YSI convener.
Jordan Daly, SNP NEC candidate and founder of TIE.
Guy Ingerson, Scottish Greens candidate.
Fatima Joji, SNP staffer and chair of Aberdeen Independence Movement.
Carolynn Scrimgeour, Scottish Greens candidate.
Jeremie Fernandes, SNP NEC candidate.
We could go on, but you get the flavour. All of these people were happy to sign their names to an abusive, defamatory, intimidatory letter attacking a lesbian SNP MP (even though the vast majority of them are LGBT themselves) and demanding that all forms of opposition to transgender ideology be deemed a hate crime.
Although many are SNP members and the party constitution expressly forbids public attacks of this nature on other members, Nicola Sturgeon hasn’t condemned a single one of them, far less taken action, despite being given numerous opportunities. We call on her to do so, knowing with complete certainty that she will not.
She won’t because she leads a party, and indeed a wider Yes movement, that’s riddled with a virus far more toxic than COVID-19. Its numbers are small but its influence is great, because it is tacitly endorsed by the party leadership, and – as we see above – often openly endorsed by that leadership’s loyalists.
It’s a violent, intolerant, misogynist creed, and a time is coming soon when those still standing on the sidelines of this life-or-death struggle for the soul of the SNP and the Yes movement bleating “Oh, just wheesht for indy!” are going to have to pick a side.


wingsoverscotland--2020-11-30--Mr Lenin, awaken the boy

Mr Lenin, awaken the boy

Ridiculously , more than eight hours after voting closed in an all-electronic election in which “ counting ” should have taken a maximum of one second , and at 11.30pm , the SNP have released the results of this year ’ s NEC elections .
There are some big stories .
Alyn Smith is OUT as Policy Development Convener , replaced by Chris Hanlon .
Rhiannon Spear is OUT as Women ’ s Convener , replaced by Caroline McAllister .
Fiona Robertson is OUT as Equalities Convener , replaced by Lynne Anderson .
All of these are dramatic changes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Neale Hanvey is IN .
Roger Mullin is IN .
Dorothy Jessiman is IN .
Catriona McDonald is IN .
Douglas Chapman is IN .
All ditto .
There are still a few Twitler Youth cowering in some of the danker corners of the NEC , but they ’ ll be feeling lonely because basically it ’ s been a rout .
There ’ s a small chance the SNP might yet be saveable .
More analysis to come later ( and potentially a very significant day in the Holyrood committee rooms @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Ridiculously, more than eight hours after voting closed in an all-electronic election in which “counting” should have taken a maximum of one second, and at 11.30pm, the SNP have released the results of this year’s NEC elections.
There are some big stories.
Alyn Smith is OUT as Policy Development Convener, replaced by Chris Hanlon.
Rhiannon Spear is OUT as Women’s Convener, replaced by Caroline McAllister.
Fiona Robertson is OUT as Equalities Convener, replaced by Lynne Anderson.
All of these are dramatic changes for the better.
Joanna Cherry is IN. Neale Hanvey is IN. Roger Mullin is IN. Dorothy Jessiman is IN. Catriona McDonald is IN. Douglas Chapman is IN. All ditto.
There are still a few Twitler Youth cowering in some of the danker corners of the NEC, but they’ll be feeling lonely because basically it’s been a rout. There’s a small chance the SNP might yet be saveable. More analysis to come later (and potentially a very significant day in the Holyrood committee rooms tomorrow too). For now:


wingsoverscotland--2020-11-30--The Snake In The Long Grass

The Snake In The Long Grass

We had , we think it ’ s only fair to say , extremely low expectations of Nicola Sturgeon ’ s keynote speech this afternoon to the SNP ’ s soporific , strangled 2020 non-conference .
It seems that members felt the same , because 15 seconds before the speech began only 1,166 of them were logged in to watch it .
The speech she just delivered , though , limboed under those expectations in platform shoes and a stovepipe hat without even grazing the underside of the bar .
It spent almost all of its time droning on about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with a couple of cheap giveaways to grab the media headlines , most notably a £500 one-off bung to carers , accompanied by a plea for Boris Johnson to make it look good by forgoing the tax on it .
( Otherwise it ’ ll be £400 . )
Her grand indy strategy got barely a cursory passing mention , but luckily we already knew what it was because she gave it away on Good Morning Scotland at 8.50am .
In three minutes Sturgeon packed in a quite extraordinary amount of disingenuous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breathtaking in its audacity – particularly the bit where she claimed the legality of a Section 30 order had “ never been tested in court , and I hope it never has to be tested in court , but I don ’ t rule anything like that out ” .
It was wise of her not to rule such a possibility out , of course , because it ’ s ACTUALLY LITERALLY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW .
Martin Keatings has brought precisely that issue to the Court Of Session , with a crucial hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government has been actively and doggedly obstructing it for months on end .
Almost as bold was the astonishing claim that “ there was a debate on [ Plan B ] at the SNP conference yesterday , and the position that was put forward was overwhelmingly supported ” .
What was discussed – there was no actual proposal to “ debate ” – at the conference was a wishy-washy vague resolution basically saying independence was good , with any talk of actual strategy having been expressly and deliberately forbidden and booted off into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next year .
And even then the resolution only mustered about a 75 % -25 % majority of the 1,400 delegates who were present from the party ’ s total of 87,000 members .
But the key lines came near the start of the interview , when Gary Robertson asked if she ’ d been looking at any options other than the referendum Boris Johnson insists he won ’ t give permission for .
But we already know that that ’ s simply granting the UK government a veto .
Sturgeon then handed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ridiculously , that anything else would be “ against democracy ” .
But the alternative being put forward , as Robertson pointed out , was a free and fair plebiscitary election , which is as far from an “ undemocratic ” proposition as you could possibly get .
People voting , in the full advance knowledge of what they ’ re voting for , is literally the definition of democracy .
Sturgeon responded by saying that Westminster would simply refuse to acknowledge it , which is a jaw-dropping level of hopeless defeatism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority democratic vote on an explicit single-issue manifesto of a declaration of independence is a vastly stronger argument than simply begging for permission to even ask the question yet again , from a UK government that already has a clear electoral mandate and a 12:1 majority to refuse that permission .
If an appeal to the international community is what we ’ re counting on , a plebiscitary mandate is , at the very least , an unequivocal and incontestable expression of the will of the people , compared to an election in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ merely one of a whole raft of policies voters were voting on .
It would certainly be an infinitely more powerful and persuasive thing to wave in the faces of the international community than merely having been turned down for a re-run of a vote we had less than seven years ago .
The interview made as clear as is humanly possible that Sturgeon has no practical interest in , or intention of , securing independence in the forseeable future .
It was all but an open statement that if Johnson says no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another five years .
No wonder she didn ’ t want to talk about it in her speech .
PS Voting closed in the NEC elections just before the FM ’ s speech .
Even though the voting was 100 % online , and therefore all the results would have been known within literally seconds of the closing time , we ’ ve been told to wait several hours for them to be “ counted ” .
We ’ re sure there ’ s no sinister reason for this .

We had, we think it’s only fair to say, extremely low expectations of Nicola Sturgeon’s keynote speech this afternoon to the SNP’s soporific, strangled 2020 non-conference. It seems that members felt the same, because 15 seconds before the speech began only 1,166 of them were logged in to watch it.
The speech she just delivered, though, limboed under those expectations in platform shoes and a stovepipe hat without even grazing the underside of the bar.
It spent almost all of its time droning on about coronavirus and how the Tories were bad, with a couple of cheap giveaways to grab the media headlines, most notably a £500 one-off bung to carers, accompanied by a plea for Boris Johnson to make it look good by forgoing the tax on it. (Otherwise it’ll be £400.)
Her grand indy strategy got barely a cursory passing mention, but luckily we already knew what it was because she gave it away on Good Morning Scotland at 8.50am.
(Good Morning Scotland, BBC Radio Scotland, 30 November 2020)
.
In three minutes Sturgeon packed in a quite extraordinary amount of disingenuous, dishonest claptrap, some of it breathtaking in its audacity – particularly the bit where she claimed the legality of a Section 30 order had “never been tested in court, and I hope it never has to be tested in court, but I don’t rule anything like that out”.
It was wise of her not to rule such a possibility out, of course, because it’s ACTUALLY LITERALLY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. Martin Keatings has brought precisely that issue to the Court Of Session, with a crucial hearing due in January, and the Scottish Government has been actively and doggedly obstructing it for months on end.
(Maybe she just doesn’t know. After all, we’ve learned over recent months that none of the truckloads of civil servants and special advisors working for her, or her husband, who’s also the CEO of her party, ever tell her anything.)
Almost as bold was the astonishing claim that “there was a debate on [Plan B] at the SNP conference yesterday, and the position that was put forward was overwhelmingly supported”. What was discussed – there was no actual proposal to “debate” – at the conference was a wishy-washy vague resolution basically saying independence was good, with any talk of actual strategy having been expressly and deliberately forbidden and booted off into a powerless talking-shop “National Assembly” next year.
And even then the resolution only mustered about a 75%-25% majority of the 1,400 delegates who were present from the party’s total of 87,000 members.
But the key lines came near the start of the interview, when Gary Robertson asked if she’d been looking at any options other than the referendum Boris Johnson insists he won’t give permission for.
“I think if Scotland is to become independent that has to be a view that is expressed through a legal referendum. Y’know, however much I might want independence and might want to think there are shortcuts to that, there aren’t. That’s what has to happen to demonstrate majority support in Scotland and to demonstrate to the international community that it is something they should recognise.”
But we already know that that’s simply granting the UK government a veto. Sturgeon then handed Boris Johnson a very convenient soundbite suggesting, ridiculously, that anything else would be “against democracy”.
“I believe [Plan A] is actually the right one, and why should those who are arguing the democratic route be the ones that have to come up with a plan to deal with those who are arguing against democracy?”
But the alternative being put forward, as Robertson pointed out, was a free and fair plebiscitary election, which is as far from an “undemocratic” proposition as you could possibly get. People voting, in the full advance knowledge of what they’re voting for, is literally the definition of democracy.
Sturgeon responded by saying that Westminster would simply refuse to acknowledge it, which is a jaw-dropping level of hopeless defeatism.
“People sometimes say, well, if Boris Johnson or whoever’s in Downing Street’s going to block a referendum we should just have an election as a mandate for independence. What do you think they would do then? Do you think they’re just going to say ‘Well okay, we won’t accept the election result in favour of a referendum but we’ll accept it in favour of independence’?”
By any conceivable measure, a majority democratic vote on an explicit single-issue manifesto of a declaration of independence is a vastly stronger argument than simply begging for permission to even ask the question yet again, from a UK government that already has a clear electoral mandate and a 12:1 majority to refuse that permission.
If an appeal to the international community is what we’re counting on, a plebiscitary mandate is, at the very least, an unequivocal and incontestable expression of the will of the people, compared to an election in which a REQUEST for a referendum was merely one of a whole raft of policies voters were voting on.
It would certainly be an infinitely more powerful and persuasive thing to wave in the faces of the international community than merely having been turned down for a re-run of a vote we had less than seven years ago.
The interview made as clear as is humanly possible that Sturgeon has no practical interest in, or intention of, securing independence in the forseeable future. It was all but an open statement that if Johnson says no, that’s game over for another five years.
No wonder she didn’t want to talk about it in her speech.
.
PS Voting closed in the NEC elections just before the FM’s speech. Even though the voting was 100% online, and therefore all the results would have been known within literally seconds of the closing time, we’ve been told to wait several hours for them to be “counted”. We’re sure there’s no sinister reason for this.


The Portillo Moments

It wouldn ’ t be human not to take a brief pause to enjoy a victory .
But this is only one battle .
Because all last night achieved was to give the independence movement a fighting chance of achieving its goals again , by taking back a measure of control of its main political arm from an intolerant , extremist , entryist group pursuing other agendas with no real interest in independence as a principle .
The rage last night at a simple expression of democracy was telling .
That second one , from the convener of the hyper-woke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is especially telling .
It sourly complains not that the entire membership didn ’ t have a vote in the NEC elections , but specifically that some over-represented “ affiliate groups ” ( ie theirs ) didn ’ t get special privileges in the voting that would have allowed them to override the wishes of the wider party .
Because the way that small but determined special-interest entryist groups manage to capture large organisations is through things like the NEC elections , where only a few hundred conference delegates ( out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get to vote .
If you ’ re stealthy and dedicated , you can effectively mount a coup with a microscopic fraction of an organisation ’ s membership , simply by turning up to branch meetings that most people can ’ t be bothered with , getting your people nominated as delegates , and then springing the ambush at conference .
The difficulty with that strategy is that it only works as long as you can cling onto the power that you seize .
You can ’ t pull off the same surprise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it and they see you coming .
The transactivist faction are so furious today because they know the game ’ s up and there ’ s no way back .
Cailyn McMahon , of course , was one of the signatories to the appalling letter targeting Joanna Cherry , Joan McAlpine and others on Friday .
Sane people in the SNP probably owe a significant debt to whoever put that letter together .
Its content was SO toxic that it couldn ’ t have been better timed for the “ gender critical ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were won by narrow margins – the awful Fiona Robertson was edged out as Equalities Convener by just 62 votes , for example .
It doesn ’ t seem like a wild leap to imagine that significant numbers of people were sufficiently horrified by the letter when this site made it public on Friday night – Wings certainly got HUGE traffic on it , and even more so on Monday when covering Joanna Cherry ’ s fightback – to rouse themselves to vote against its supporters , and to tip the balance in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The closeness of the power struggle was indicated by some of the seats that the woke faction DID manage to cling on to .
Graham Campbell , another shameful signatory to the backfiring letter from the aggressive trans faction , held his position as BAME Convener against the excellent young woman Sameeha Rehman by just SIX votes out of nearly 2000 , for example .
Astonishingly , someone who is currently SUING the party ( and who was blocked from addressing conference on the opening day ) also came within a hair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that of National Secretary .
David Henry lost out to Stewart Stevenson by just 48 % to 52 % , having actually been ahead with just two rounds of transfers to go .
So we should be in no doubt that the elections could very easily have had a much worse outcome .
Last night ’ s victory for sanity and decency and women and gay people achieves nothing in itself , but it had to be won for there to be even a chance of saving the party and the campaign for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onto those elected last night – Joanna Cherry , Caroline McAllister , Douglas Chapman , Neale Hanvey , Dot Jessiman , Catriona McDonald and more – to use the power the SNP ’ s members have given them in some key positions to guide the party back towards its primary goal .
There is still time .
The good guys are in a clear majority on the NEC now , and this site will keep their actions under the same scrutiny as their predecessors .
But for the first time in a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement are feeling some hope this morning .
It ’ s been a good day in other ways too – Keira Bell has won her landmark court case , the ramifications of which will be much discussed in the coming days .
And as we write this we ’ re also watching a very interesting session of the Salmond inquiry playing out at Holyrood .
Hope is a fragile thing , but it ’ s precious .
Just for today , let ’ s enjoy it .

It wouldn’t be human not to take a brief pause to enjoy a victory.
But this is only one battle.
Because all last night achieved was to give the independence movement a fighting chance of achieving its goals again, by taking back a measure of control of its main political arm from an intolerant, extremist, entryist group pursuing other agendas with no real interest in independence as a principle.
(And who knew that the actions of transactivists up to this point had in fact been a demonstration of “reconciliation”?)
The rage last night at a simple expression of democracy was telling.
That second one, from the convener of the hyper-woke, trans-captured Young Scots for Independence faction, is especially telling. It sourly complains not that the entire membership didn’t have a vote in the NEC elections, but specifically that some over-represented “affiliate groups” (ie theirs) didn’t get special privileges in the voting that would have allowed them to override the wishes of the wider party.
Because the way that small but determined special-interest entryist groups manage to capture large organisations is through things like the NEC elections, where only a few hundred conference delegates (out of a membership of tens of thousands) get to vote.
If you’re stealthy and dedicated, you can effectively mount a coup with a microscopic fraction of an organisation’s membership, simply by turning up to branch meetings that most people can’t be bothered with, getting your people nominated as delegates, and then springing the ambush at conference.
The difficulty with that strategy is that it only works as long as you can cling onto the power that you seize. You can’t pull off the same surprise twice, because people are watching for it and they see you coming. The transactivist faction are so furious today because they know the game’s up and there’s no way back.
Cailyn McMahon, of course, was one of the signatories to the appalling letter targeting Joanna Cherry, Joan McAlpine and others on Friday. Sane people in the SNP probably owe a significant debt to whoever put that letter together.
Its content was SO toxic that it couldn’t have been better timed for the “gender critical” movement. Many of the NEC votes were won by narrow margins – the awful Fiona Robertson was edged out as Equalities Convener by just 62 votes, for example.
It doesn’t seem like a wild leap to imagine that significant numbers of people were sufficiently horrified by the letter when this site made it public on Friday night – Wings certainly got HUGE traffic on it, and even more so on Monday when covering Joanna Cherry’s fightback – to rouse themselves to vote against its supporters, and to tip the balance in a key number of close contests.
The closeness of the power struggle was indicated by some of the seats that the woke faction DID manage to cling on to. Graham Campbell, another shameful signatory to the backfiring letter from the aggressive trans faction, held his position as BAME Convener against the excellent young woman Sameeha Rehman by just SIX votes out of nearly 2000, for example.
Astonishingly, someone who is currently SUING the party (and who was blocked from addressing conference on the opening day) also came within a hair of being elected to its top role, that of National Secretary. David Henry lost out to Stewart Stevenson by just 48% to 52%, having actually been ahead with just two rounds of transfers to go.
(Craig Murray, incidentally, also put in a highly creditable showing for the ceremonial position of party President, securing a quarter of the votes against the very popular veteran figure Mike Russell.)
So we should be in no doubt that the elections could very easily have had a much worse outcome. Last night’s victory for sanity and decency and women and gay people achieves nothing in itself, but it had to be won for there to be even a chance of saving the party and the campaign for independence.
The onus now shifts firmly onto those elected last night – Joanna Cherry, Caroline McAllister, Douglas Chapman, Neale Hanvey, Dot Jessiman, Catriona McDonald and more – to use the power the SNP’s members have given them in some key positions to guide the party back towards its primary goal. There is still time. The good guys are in a clear majority on the NEC now, and this site will keep their actions under the same scrutiny as their predecessors.
But for the first time in a long time, the grassroots SNP and Yes movement are feeling some hope this morning. It’s been a good day in other ways too – Keira Bell has won her landmark court case, the ramifications of which will be much discussed in the coming days. And as we write this we’re also watching a very interesting session of the Salmond inquiry playing out at Holyrood.
Hope is a fragile thing, but it’s precious. Just for today, let’s enjoy it.


Piling on

We must admit , the terrible people that we are , we ’ ve been enjoying watching today ’ s extended meltdown by the SNP ’ s woke faction about last night ’ s NEC election results .
Because it appears their egos are so huge that they ’ re not even smart enough to play dignified to spoil our schadenfreudish fun .
It ’ s been full-on public tantrums .
But this nonsense needs briefly addressing .
We ’ ve never to our knowledge accused Cailyn McMahon of either being a misogynist or running a “ hate group ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 21st century we ’ re apparently not supposed to criticise someone if they ’ re ( a ) young or ( b ) female .
We believe women are the equal of men and 20 was adult last time we checked , and if you ’ re grown-up enough to be the Convener of a political party grouping you should probably be able to cope with some dissent , especially if you like to make a big song and dance about how mature and worldly wise you are despite your tender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when we read it we couldn ’ t remember ever hearing McMahon ’ s name before Friday night .
We ’ re old and forgetful , though , so we went and checked .
And sure enough she ’ s quite right – it appears we ’ ve mentioned her in four articles , going back to early August .
We ’ ll issue you with a trigger warning at this point , readers , because some of this is incredibly brutal stuff even by our infamous standards of vile cybernattery .
Proceed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we wrote a piece about Alyn Smith MP ’ s proposed reforms of the NEC .
We noted that if they were implemented a number of members would lose their seats on the committee , and we listed a few of them .
That ’ s it .
That ’ s the whole “ pile-on ” .
We said her name and pictured one of her tweets , without any sort of comment , halfway down a 1200-word article , because the article was about something that would have affected her .
Pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week ago we quoted her annual report ( alongside those of a long list of other groups , none of whom appeared to be prioritising independence ) on behalf of YSI to the SNP conference .
Admittedly we did at one point gently mock the fact that she doesn ’ t appear to know the difference between the words “ conscious ” and “ conscience ” .
We are monsters .
There was then nothing until Monday , when we noted that McMahon was one of the people who signed the disgraceful letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris McEleny and others and attempting to intimidate them ( and everyone else ) into silence over women ’ s rights and freedom of speech .
We noted her participation , as the 30th in a list of 35 examples holding some sort of political or civic office , and pictured her Twitter bio , again without any comment .
It seems that ’ s some sort of bullying now , ironically .
And finally today we actually wrote an entire paragraph that was more or less directly about her .
We apologise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the horror .
So there it is .
The future of Scottish politics , hardened by suffering , determined to lead Scotland over the barricades to freedom against the assembled might of the evil British state – so long as nobody does anything mean like say her name in a blog .
We shall now await the arrival of armed police .
We ’ re very sorry for everything .

We must admit, the terrible people that we are, we’ve been enjoying watching today’s extended meltdown by the SNP’s woke faction about last night’s NEC election results. Because it appears their egos are so huge that they’re not even smart enough to play dignified to spoil our schadenfreudish fun. It’s been full-on public tantrums.
But this nonsense needs briefly addressing.
We’ve never to our knowledge accused Cailyn McMahon of either being a misogynist or running a “hate group”. But it’s curious that in the 21st century we’re apparently not supposed to criticise someone if they’re (a) young or (b) female.
We believe women are the equal of men and 20 was adult last time we checked, and if you’re grown-up enough to be the Convener of a political party grouping you should probably be able to cope with some dissent, especially if you like to make a big song and dance about how mature and worldly wise you are despite your tender years.
But we must admit, when we read it we couldn’t remember ever hearing McMahon’s name before Friday night. We’re old and forgetful, though, so we went and checked.
And sure enough she’s quite right – it appears we’ve mentioned her in four articles, going back to early August. We’ll issue you with a trigger warning at this point, readers, because some of this is incredibly brutal stuff even by our infamous standards of vile cybernattery. Proceed at your own risk.
PILE-ON 1
In August we wrote a piece about Alyn Smith MP’s proposed reforms of the NEC. We noted that if they were implemented a number of members would lose their seats on the committee, and we listed a few of them.
That’s it. That’s the whole “pile-on”. We said her name and pictured one of her tweets, without any sort of comment, halfway down a 1200-word article, because the article was about something that would have affected her. Pretty savage, right?
PILE-ON 2
Then about a week ago we quoted her annual report (alongside those of a long list of other groups, none of whom appeared to be prioritising independence) on behalf of YSI to the SNP conference.
Admittedly we did at one point gently mock the fact that she doesn’t appear to know the difference between the words “conscious” and “conscience”. We are monsters.
PILE-ON 3
There was then nothing until Monday, when we noted that McMahon was one of the people who signed the disgraceful letter attacking Joanna Cherry, Joan McAlpine, Chris McEleny and others and attempting to intimidate them (and everyone else) into silence over women’s rights and freedom of speech.
We noted her participation, as the 30th in a list of 35 examples holding some sort of political or civic office, and pictured her Twitter bio, again without any comment.
It seems that’s some sort of bullying now, ironically.
PILE-ON 4
And finally today we actually wrote an entire paragraph that was more or less directly about her. We apologise in advance if any delicate readers faint from the horror.
So there it is. The future of Scottish politics, hardened by suffering, determined to lead Scotland over the barricades to freedom against the assembled might of the evil British state – so long as nobody does anything mean like say her name in a blog.
We shall now await the arrival of armed police. We’re very sorry for everything.


The team player

If you don ’ t have the time to read Alyn Smith ’ s astonishing response to the SNP NEC election results in today ’ s National , we ’ ve edited it down to 10 seconds for you .
If you ’ re in no rush , read on .
It ’ s literally days since Smith declared himself a humble “ TeamSNP ” member whose sole ambition was to “ play for the jersey ” .
He even briefly gritted his impressive teeth and tried to congratulate his successor as Policy Development Convener .
We think it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charade is over .
With our trademark scrupulous fairness we ’ ll note that Smith probably didn ’ t write the headline .
But it ’ s nevertheless an accurate summary of the “ me , me , me ” tantrum of the first paragraph and indeed the column as a whole .
We honestly thought he ’ d try for a mature , moral-high-ground approach closer to the second tweet above , with a few subtle digs slipped in , but as we noted yesterday the egos of the SNP ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battered by the outcome of the election that they can ’ t even muster the self-control to feign a dignified reaction .
Instead we ’ ve had an outpouring of outraged entitlement , of which Smith ’ s is only the most unhinged among many .
While the general public ’ s interest in such political-bubble spats is minimal , they actually determine the direction the entire country is going to be pushed in over the coming months and years , so it ’ s worth probing a little into exactly why Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That “ somehow ” is a delight .
Smith is indisputably part of the SNP ’ s favoured and privileged middle-class elite .
He was parachuted into the Stirling constituency , with a time-served local candidate booted out under very dodgy circumstances to make way for him after he lost his MEP job at Brexit .
The idea that he got booted as some sort of general coronavirus-based protest against authority is as comical as the line about people voting from their sofas is sour .
It ’ s not THEIR fault they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they paid £32 for the privilege .
It would be unusual ( if not actually impossible ) for everyone registered for any sort of three-day conference to show up and vote on every resolution every day , especially when the resolutions were such feeble , empty puffery as those presented to SNP members this year .
But even if people only registered to vote in the NEC elections ( the only meaningful votes at the whole event ) , so what ?
They ’ re allowed to do that if that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue .
It is , in fact , an undemocratic scandal that only conference delegates get to vote for the NEC .
Why shouldn ’ t all members have a vote on the key committee that controls the party ?
And it ’ s more than slightly ironic that Smith whines about social media having a disproportionate influence , since it ’ s his faction that enjoys a privileged social media platform while hundreds of feminists and free-speech advocates get banned every day .
National Assemblies can be organised online just like conferences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in January – so that ’ s a feeble excuse for Smith not having produced a single policy paper in his year as Policy Development Convener .
But that last line is breathtakingly audacious – those 130 motions were all thrown straight into the bin , replaced by six woolly , marshmallow “ resolutions ” penned by nobody knows who , allowing no meaningful opposition or debate , which were dutifully rubberstamped after a process so controlled and stage-managed that it would have embarrassed the North Korean parliament .
This passage is almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that policies like gender reform and the Hate Crime Bill have NOT been debated and agreed .
Gender reform is supposed to be out for public consultation , but the leadership faction which Smith belongs to has repeatedly and publicly made clear that it intends to press ahead with reforms no matter what the consultation says .
The only purpose of the “ consultation ” , according to the minister in charge , is to try to browbeat opponents into submission .
And the hits keep coming .
Joanna Cherry went public with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them internally were completely ignored .
She ’ s been subject to public attacks and abuse from scores of party members , in clear breach of party rules , and none of it has even been condemned by her leader , let alone acted on .
Yet here Smith has the brass neck to do it once again , while bleating about “ unity ” and “ loyalty ” , and also implicitly attacking the ordinary members of the SNP who had the sheer disgraceful temerity to , er , vote democratically for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
Smith ’ s petted lip sticks out so far here it ’ s almost 3D .
But whether you agree with “ Plan B ” or not , claiming it “ barely exists ” is embarrassing .
It ’ s an enormously simple and clear plan which can be fitted into a single tweet : It ’ s a strategy that countless nations have already successfully used to achieve their independence , and in any event it ’ s a bit rich complaining about its “ real world ” viability when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is “ Boris Johnson will give in to us on moral-decency grounds ” .
Leaving aside the truly stupendous irony of Alyn Smith lambasting anyone for narcissism and ego , this passage is strange .
What is it precisely that Alex Salmond “ apologists ” are supposed to be apologising for ?
Alex Salmond is an innocent man , cleared of all charges by a judge and jury of his peers , the majority of them women .
In what way is there any conflict between him and defenders of women ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one currently trying to take away the safe spaces women had to fight for decades for , or lock them up with rapists .
Having had a bash at the uppity women , the faction-hating Smith now turns on the pesky lefties , namely the Scottish Currency Group who ’ ve put in a power of effort – somehow managing to do so despite the restrictions of COVID that apparently made it impossible for Smith to do any policy work for a year – into coming up with credible currency options to fill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Growth Commission report ( which has been mercilessly and quite properly exploited by Unionists in the subsequent two and a half years ) , and sneers at them as “ magic bean ” advocates .
Who is the “ we ” here ?
If Smith is claiming the SNP is all one united party and that he wants no part of factionalism , then exactly who is he going to be organising against ?
Is he claiming that the NEC elected by party members somehow doesn ’ t represent the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allies are the true carriers of the SNP flame ?
It ’ s an interesting line from a “ team player ” , we ’ ll give it that .
The woke cabal that captured the SNP and rode roughshod over the views of the rank-and-file membership appears to still be in the denial phase about this week ’ s events , unable to grasp what ’ s happened or deal with it like rational adults .
For the sake of the movement we hope that changes soon , but until the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not holding our breath .

If you don’t have the time to read Alyn Smith’s astonishing response to the SNP NEC election results in today’s National, we’ve edited it down to 10 seconds for you.
If you’re in no rush, read on.
It’s literally days since Smith declared himself a humble “TeamSNP” member whose sole ambition was to “play for the jersey”. He even briefly gritted his impressive teeth and tried to congratulate his successor as Policy Development Convener.
We think it’s safe to say that that particular charade is over.
With our trademark scrupulous fairness we’ll note that Smith probably didn’t write the headline. But it’s nevertheless an accurate summary of the “me, me, me” tantrum of the first paragraph and indeed the column as a whole.
We honestly thought he’d try for a mature, moral-high-ground approach closer to the second tweet above, with a few subtle digs slipped in, but as we noted yesterday the egos of the SNP’s transgender cult are so huge and so battered by the outcome of the election that they can’t even muster the self-control to feign a dignified reaction.
Instead we’ve had an outpouring of outraged entitlement, of which Smith’s is only the most unhinged among many. While the general public’s interest in such political-bubble spats is minimal, they actually determine the direction the entire country is going to be pushed in over the coming months and years, so it’s worth probing a little into exactly why Smith and his allies are so furious.
That “somehow” is a delight. Smith is indisputably part of the SNP’s favoured and privileged middle-class elite. He was parachuted into the Stirling constituency, with a time-served local candidate booted out under very dodgy circumstances to make way for him after he lost his MEP job at Brexit.
(We’re told, incidentally, that although Smith promised to move to the constituency if elected, almost a year later he still resides in Edinburgh. We’re happy to correct this information if we’ve been misinformed.)
The idea that he got booted as some sort of general coronavirus-based protest against authority is as comical as the line about people voting from their sofas is sour. It’s not THEIR fault they had to vote from their sofas, and they paid £32 for the privilege.
It would be unusual (if not actually impossible) for everyone registered for any sort of three-day conference to show up and vote on every resolution every day, especially when the resolutions were such feeble, empty puffery as those presented to SNP members this year. But even if people only registered to vote in the NEC elections (the only meaningful votes at the whole event), so what? They’re allowed to do that if that’s what they consider the most important issue.
It is, in fact, an undemocratic scandal that only conference delegates get to vote for the NEC. Why shouldn’t all members have a vote on the key committee that controls the party? And it’s more than slightly ironic that Smith whines about social media having a disproportionate influence, since it’s his faction that enjoys a privileged social media platform while hundreds of feminists and free-speech advocates get banned every day.
National Assemblies can be organised online just like conferences can – there’s one planned in January – so that’s a feeble excuse for Smith not having produced a single policy paper in his year as Policy Development Convener.
But that last line is breathtakingly audacious – those 130 motions were all thrown straight into the bin, replaced by six woolly, marshmallow “resolutions” penned by nobody knows who, allowing no meaningful opposition or debate, which were dutifully rubberstamped after a process so controlled and stage-managed that it would have embarrassed the North Korean parliament.
This passage is almost as hypocritical. The whole problem is that policies like gender reform and the Hate Crime Bill have NOT been debated and agreed. Gender reform is supposed to be out for public consultation, but the leadership faction which Smith belongs to has repeatedly and publicly made clear that it intends to press ahead with reforms no matter what the consultation says. The only purpose of the “consultation”, according to the minister in charge, is to try to browbeat opponents into submission.
And the hits keep coming. Joanna Cherry went public with her concerns because numerous attempts to address them internally were completely ignored. She’s been subject to public attacks and abuse from scores of party members, in clear breach of party rules, and none of it has even been condemned by her leader, let alone acted on.
Yet here Smith has the brass neck to do it once again, while bleating about “unity” and “loyalty”, and also implicitly attacking the ordinary members of the SNP who had the sheer disgraceful temerity to, er, vote democratically for the candidate they supported in a free election.
Smith’s petted lip sticks out so far here it’s almost 3D. But whether you agree with “Plan B” or not, claiming it “barely exists” is embarrassing. It’s an enormously simple and clear plan which can be fitted into a single tweet:
“We believe that the Scottish people are sovereign, and we hereby announce our intention to declare Scotland independent and submit that intention to the will of the people in this election for their approval.”
It’s a strategy that countless nations have already successfully used to achieve their independence, and in any event it’s a bit rich complaining about its “real world” viability when the only alternative you’re offering is “Boris Johnson will give in to us on moral-decency grounds”.
Leaving aside the truly stupendous irony of Alyn Smith lambasting anyone for narcissism and ego, this passage is strange. What is it precisely that Alex Salmond “apologists” are supposed to be apologising for? Alex Salmond is an innocent man, cleared of all charges by a judge and jury of his peers, the majority of them women. In what way is there any conflict between him and defenders of women’s rights? He’s not the one currently trying to take away the safe spaces women had to fight for decades for, or lock them up with rapists.
Having had a bash at the uppity women, the faction-hating Smith now turns on the pesky lefties, namely the Scottish Currency Group who’ve put in a power of effort – somehow managing to do so despite the restrictions of COVID that apparently made it impossible for Smith to do any policy work for a year – into coming up with credible currency options to fill the gaping void left in that field by the Growth Commission report (which has been mercilessly and quite properly exploited by Unionists in the subsequent two and a half years), and sneers at them as “magic bean” advocates.
(A strangely cringing way to describe the idea of Scotland having its own currency, like almost every normal nation on the face of the planet does.)
Who is the “we” here? If Smith is claiming the SNP is all one united party and that he wants no part of factionalism, then exactly who is he going to be organising against? Is he claiming that the NEC elected by party members somehow doesn’t represent the party, and that only he and his allies are the true carriers of the SNP flame?
It’s an interesting line from a “team player”, we’ll give it that.
The woke cabal that captured the SNP and rode roughshod over the views of the rank-and-file membership appears to still be in the denial phase about this week’s events, unable to grasp what’s happened or deal with it like rational adults.
(We note in passing that unlike last year, the First Minister has as yet not been able to bring herself to congratulate the newly-elected NEC.)
For the sake of the movement we hope that changes soon, but until the head of the snake is also removed we’re not holding our breath.