My heart lifted slightly when I caught sight of Richard Walker's latest column in The National. For a moment I thought he was about to break ranks and suggest a change of approach to the constitutional issue by Nicola Sturgeon. Perhaps I fooled myself in my eagerness to have someone of Richard's standing add their … Continue reading Bombarded!
If the idea of "bludgeoning" anti-democratic British Nationalists is so abhorrent to Nicola Sturgeon as to be a hindrance to Scotland's cause then she is no more suited to the task of leading that cause than Douglas Ross is to the role of Scotland's First Minister.
Downing Street. Carnaby Street. Cable Street. All streets famous for one reason or another. And now there's a new addition to that list - Kenmure Street. Just as Downing Street is a metonym for executive power in the British state. Just as Carnaby Street is synonymous with 1960s fashion. Just as Cable Street is famed … Continue reading Acts of rebellion
I have spent the last two days staring at a blank page. Blank, that is, but for the title at the top - 'What next?'. I set out to explore options for the independence movement now that the opportunity offered by the 2021 Scottish Parliament election has been squandered. It was an opportunity for Scotland's … Continue reading What next?
This morning online, Westminster journalists are making it *pretty* clear that anything less than an SNP majority will not be seen as a mandate for indyref2The National Election Live Blog We always knew this. Or should I say, this was always knowable. If somebody didn't know it, this could only be because they had only … Continue reading ‘Twas brillig, and the slithy Gove…
If the Yes movement is to march march under one banner it must be a banner that everybody is prepared to march under. It must be a banner which concisely expresses our common cause. It must be a banner which purposefully excludes all subsidiary causes. Causes which, forgivably in most cases, seek to hitch a ride on the cause of restoring Scotland's independence and in doing so hamper and hinder that cause.
It may be interesting to speculate how different our media would be if they adopted that as their motto. When you claim to be speaking truth unto power, is it not vital that the truth you speak be as impeccable as human fallibility will allow?
The SNP has no intention of moving to resolve the constitutional issue with the urgency which Salmond at least recognises. But the notion that Alba will be in any position to force the pace is fantastical. There almost certainly won't be a supermajority and there definitely won't be a supermajority that works the way Alba claims it will. The reality is that regardless of how many seats Alba Party wins it will have no leverage over an SNP/SG Scottish Government. Absolutely none.
I try not to grudge Alba Party supporters the excitement they feel. But I do resent their tendency to castigate as trolls, Tories and traitors anyone who doesn't share that feeling. The adrenaline jolt of political battle is harmless so long as it doesn't come at significant cost to rationality. For all too many Alba Party supporters that cost has evidently been very significant indeed.
The cold, hard political reality is that only the SNP is placed to provide the effective political power that Scotland's cause absolutely requires.
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A blog by Iain Lawson
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