Having been preoccupied with Other Stuff for most of the morning, I sat myself down a few minutes ago with my laptop atop my lap (I’m a traditionalist that way.) ready to confect a morsel to feed the ravenous beast that is the blog. Things being as they are, I thought it best to check the headlines before proceeding to cast pearls of wisdom that might better resemble turds of absurdity in light of unfolding events.
I was wise to do so as, with no consideration at all, Humza Yousaf went and resigned while my back was turned. Some folk will do anything to get attention.
I have only read The National’s early report of Yousaf’s resignation, so details are a bit sparse. My understanding is that he has resigned with immediate effect as party leader, but merely declared his intention to resign as First Minister. Presumably, his actual resignation will follow once a new FM gets the ceremonial thumbs-up from the English King.
If you are from furth of Scotland’s shores you may be asking WTF all this has to do with the King of England. If you live in Scotland, you are likely to be just as perplexed. Me too!
It is what it is! (©Sopranos)
As if it wasn’t enough that we have one phony election frenzy going on, now we have two. Or three, if you count the extraordinary Scottish general election that might be triggered by Yousaf’s resignation as First Minister, when it happens, or by his defenestration – along with the entire Scottish Government – by means of a vote of no confidence which may or may not be tabled by British Labour in Scotland (BLiS).
Or four, if you count the election of a new First Minister. But only MSPs get to play in that game.
Just for something which might be mistaken for clarity, the full list of elections either on the calendar or on the cards is as follows.
- UK parliament general election
- Scottish National Party leadership election
- Scottish Parliament general election (extraordinary)
- First Minister election
All leave has been cancelled for politics reporters, columnists and bloggers. Or will be just as soon as we get dates for any of these thrilling events. The only one that kicks off more or less immediately is the SNP leadership contest. The extraordinary Scottish Parliament election may not happen at all, depending on how things pan out. Although I don’t rate the Presiding Officer’s chances of cobbling together a credible government within 28 days of the office being vacated by the present incumbent.
So, let’s focus on that SNP leadership election for the moment. Or, for preference, let’s not. Because it is a seriously depressing prospect. The National’s Xander Elliards asks ‘Who are the favourites to become SNP leader after Humza Yousaf?’. Once everybody has stopped shrugging, Xander answers his own question. It’s not an impressive list. If the list was a colour, it would be over-washed beige. If this list sets your heart racing, you should probably look for the nearest defibrillator.
- Kate Forbes
- Jenny Gilruth
- Mairi McAllan
- Stephen Flynn
- Neil Gray
- John Swinney
It should be noted that Mr Swinney’s name was only added to stop Neil Gray being bottom of the list. When asked if he would be tossing his hat into the ring, John said he’d rather eat it with a garnish of chopped hogweed after fishing it out of a sceptic tank. We think he meant, “Fuck off!”.
Stephen Flynn is a bit of a non-starter as he is not an MSP and so couldn’t become First Minister.
Jenny Gilruth is a bit doubtful as she is married to former BLiS leader-like thing, Kezia Dugdale. It’s not being a lesbian that’s the problem, it’s her choice of spouse. It would be wrong for us to suggest that this choice raises doubts about her judgement. But it may be safe to assume that a significant part of the SNP membership might be less than entirely comfortable with a leader who is, quite literally, sleeping with the enemy.
Mairi McAllan is almost certainly out as she is with child and that surely must be her first priority. She looks barely more than a bairn herself (says the old guy), so she has plenty time to pursue high(er) office. She’s already multi-tasking with being Energy Secretary and in charge of Wellbeing Economy and Net Zero.
Which leaves us with Kate Forbes and Neil Gray. Frankly, if I was being asked to choose, I’d opt to do without. But it’s the SNP members who will choose. And this is as interesting as it gets. Because this would be a contest between a man who is said to have the blessings of Nicola Sturgeon and a woman who ruffled a few feathers when she stood against Humza Yousaf the last time the party was annointing appointing a leader. If this race is run along the same lines as the last one, Neil Gray has to be regarded as a shoo-in. He is probably the candidate favoured by both the leaderships of the SNP – the official one and the shadowy Sturgeon cabal.
It’s possible, of course, that there might be a surprise candidate or two. But there is no reform candidate. There is nobody with even the vaguest chance of being elected leader who shake things up, both in the party and in the independence campaign.
With what’s on offer in the SNP leadership contest, we can only anticipate that the continuity will continue.
Peter A Bell 
The SNP has become a circus really … but now without the main attraction, its continuity clown.
So it needs a new one.
And the menu of options that you have laid out is rich indeed, if you appraise them in terms of the touted candidates’ ability to generate belly-laughs, guffaws or merely chuckles … of derision.
Kate Forbes is too scary for the scarecrow gender wing of their party. You know: the ones that think that believe that a man can become a woman by putting on a dress, dying their hair purple and applying a bit of lippy but are scared shitless of a woman who is a member of an evangelical religious church. I think the members of the SNP’s gender cult will most likely ensure that Forbes loses out.
Jenny Gilruth is indeed “quite literally, sleeping with the enemy” but this wouldn’t necessarily count against her. After all the members were quite comfortable with Murray ‘The Vow’ Foote firstly as Head of Communications before he resigned that post due to his being misled – according to the man himself – by SNP high heid yins as to party membership totals then becoming Chief Executive … all in a matter of a few short months. The capacity of the SNP for high farce knows no bounds so I wouldn’t discount Gilruth out on this basis.
Màiri McAllan is pregnant and will be leaving for maternity in the Summer so she must be a non-runner this time around. However, she is ambitious and comes from a family with a political ‘pedigree’ so her turn will come, possibly when she returns in March next year when the SNP will no doubt be on the brink of ditching their yet to be appointed and upcoming leader.
Stephen Flynn is an unlikely winner this time as he’s still troughing his lobsters in Westminster’s House of Horrors. But if the SNP choose to change/ignore their rule book the follicly-challenged Flynn could become a candidate and may still be in with a shout.
Then there’s the grey man’s Gray Man, Neil, who makes John Major look animated. He also ‘ran’ Humza Yousaf’s campaign for leader last year so you would think that his proximity to the outgoing leader would count against him. But as long as charisma is not a factor it’s not impossible that Gray could be the man for the stripey pajamas and size 25 shoes.
I wouldn’t rule out Dishonest John, the Redactor Man – this guy is a Sturgeon loyalist and his record as leader of the SNP when it achieved it’s worst ever performance in the Scottish Parliament (to date) in 2003 when they managed only 27 seats and 22% of the vote must surely make him in with a chance (see 2003 Scottish Parliament election – Wikipedia).
I couldn’t predict the outcome of the leadership election – assuming one takes place and it’s not just a ‘coronation’ – but one thing’s for certain: the press are going to have fun with this for next number days and weeks.
After all, the show must go on!
#EndTheUnion
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Hollowed out and going nowhere fast. Impossible to summon up enthusiasm for more of the same from a slate of individuals none of whom appear to be familiar with the concept of our inalienable rights.The openly unionist alternatives are marginally worse but that’s not a vote winner. A period of chaotic apathy may be necessary to clear the field and see priorities re-set.
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It is not necessary for me to go through the ‘card’ other than to remind myself of the fact Forbes has facilitated the prospect of huge swathes of Scotland in the form of Freeports being given over to offshore interests keen to engage with the generous tax concessions on offer.
McAllan, (nae relation), indeed has a ‘pedigree’ well exposed by Calton Jock in his blog on 30 December 2023. To describe her as ‘bland’ would be something of an understatement, her inability to make any any kind of announcement without reading it off a piece of paper is cringeworthy in the extreme.
Gray I recall abandoning his Westminster seat and parachuting into North Lanarkshire creating an opportunity for Yousafs pick to be ‘selected'(?) for that seat at the same time as Joanna Cherry was denied, by Sturgeon, the opportunity to stand in the Edinburgh constituency ‘earmarked’ for Angus Robertson the Speywifes man.
Gilruth and her association with Dugdale and the shadowy John Smith Centre should immediately set off sirens.
Flynn and Swinney, non runners, (lame)?
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So the “winner” of the SNP leadership election 2024, after the “winner” of the SNP leadership election 2023 resigned today, will be scheduled to resign somewhere around the 4th July 2025. Yet another Independence Day gone by.
There will be fireworks and hot dogs. Don’t forget to steam your greens.
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Well, I did say, Humza would rather do deals with the pro London lot, than with the pro Independence lot. I was right, alas!
Seems others in SNP would have none of it either, but Humza was still First Minister, and he was ultimately in charge, and he still could’ve been. He decided otherwise.
And now he is stepping down, Greens suddenly decide they will support the Government!
It’s too late for Greens to now.
They created this present crisis to start with. They are now in the anti Independence camp, and have made that clear for all to see.
But there are those in SNP who have shown themselves to be no better.
MSP Sturgeon has much to answer for!
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