Tag: Alba Party

Yes movement slams SNP

~ Peter A Bell ~ 12 Comments

Not really! It simply occurred to me when I saw yet another "SNP slams" headline in the Sunday National how weary I am of reading about the SNP/Scottish Government condemning the behaviour of the British government and how much I long to see Scotland's only pro-independence newspaper better reflect the full range of opinion across … Continue reading Yes movement slams SNP

Hope for Alba? Hope from Alba?

~ Peter A Bell ~ 21 Comments

Having read the articles in The National today from Kenny MacAskill and Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh I am now firmly convinced that there has been a change of tack by the Alba Party. A change which looks very encouraging. With the election out of the way, the party seems to be putting its dreadful campaign behind it … Continue reading Hope for Alba? Hope from Alba?

A place of political unreality

~ Peter A Bell ~ 11 Comments

...this argument comes from a place of political unreality.Andrew Tickell: Home Rule in this reactionary UK would not answer our problems Reading Andrew Tickell's column in The Sunday National this morning, the phrase "a place of political unreality" struck a chord. This, I thought to myself, could be the strapline for 'brand Scotland'. We are … Continue reading A place of political unreality

If only

~ Peter A Bell ~ 16 Comments

Ruth Wishart adds her own plea for an end to squabbling within the independence movement to the seemingly endless list of other such futile efforts at refereeing the affray. The Believe in Scotland Facebook group threatens to eject anyone judged to be conducting "internecine warfare". There we have the two most common 'solutions' to the … Continue reading If only

The nature of grievance

~ Peter A Bell ~ 8 Comments

You have to admire Chris Hanlon's commitment and dedication. But I fear he has painted a target on his back with his statement promising to continue the fight to reform the SNP from within. With other high-profile reformers lost to resignation or defection and some of the hijackers' most effective (vicious?) operators returned to the … Continue reading The nature of grievance

‘Twas brillig, and the slithy Gove…

~ Peter A Bell ~ 7 Comments

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…

Conscience and calculation

~ Peter A Bell ~ 8 Comments

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.

The observations of Mr Buzzkill

~ Peter A Bell ~ 14 Comments

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.