The somewhere was Dunfermline. Greynbow is my agonisingly contrived but even more painfully appropriate term for the assortment of speakers assembled to address a gathering of independence supporters and activists at the Duloch Leisure Centre yesterday afternoon (Sunday 10 April). All credit to the organisers, they did well to get these people to share a … Continue reading Somewhere under the greynbow
Regular readers will be well aware that I am no supporter of the Alba Party. I regard it as a powerless and therefore pointless distraction from the focus that Scotland's cause requires. Alex Salmond's new party needlessly dilutes the effort to pressure the SNP+SGP/Scottish Government into taking the action required if Scotland's independence is to … Continue reading Clinging to reality
Did Neale Hanvey actually say "Ukrainian independence needed to be balanced against Russia’s security concerns"? Reuben Duffy claims that he did. His entire critique of Alba Party's stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine is based on these words. Yet he neglects to provide a source. And I can find nothing in any published statement … Continue reading Exploring the flaws in Reuben Duffy and The National’s stance on Alba
A regrettably rare intervention by Stu Campbell on Wings Over Scotland reminds us of two things. Firstly - and most obviously as this was the purpose of the article - it reminds us of the sickening spate of scaremongering pish that issued from the anti-independence campaign ten years ago and which continues to pour from … Continue reading When the need for illusion is deep
Contrary to an assertion made in an exchange on Facebook, it is surpassingly easy to "judge the idea of Alba". Once you rid yourself of the fantasy politics and deal with the reality, that is. It's only clinging to the fantasy that prevents someone seeing that reality. And, perhaps more importantly, recognising and accepting the … Continue reading A mire of fantasy
While it can be gratifying to watch the performances of the best in any area of human endeavour, it can also be a jarring reminder of one's own deficiencies. As I watched and listened to Craig Murray address assembled well-wishers and by way of various media, the world on his release from HMP Edinburgh yesterday … Continue reading Bearing up
A photograph (above) posted on Twitter by Alex Salmond and shared by Joanna Cherry has prompted some speculation about the latter making a move to join the former in the Alba Party. The photograph shows a smiling Joanna Cherry standing between former First Minister Alex Salmond and senior Alba member Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh. As one individual … Continue reading What do you see? What do you hear?
Alex Salmond is correct, of course. Having, to date, done absolutely nothing to progress Scotland's cause for the entirety of her incumbency as First Minister and SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon would be hard-pressed to have everything in place for a referendum in September(?) 2023. If the intention is to prepare an updated version of Scotland's … Continue reading What’s the point?
The following was intended to be a comment on James Kelly's Scot Goes Pop article suggesting ways to achieve/restore unity in the Yes movement. It probably wouldn't get past the censor-monkeys so I had intended to copy it here anyway. But it transpires that I can't even post it because there's a daft character limit. … Continue reading Concrete crumbles
I didn't hear Ian Blackford's address to the crowd gathered on Glasgow Green at the end of the Yes march in Glasgow on Saturday (9 October) and I have been unable to find a full transcript of his speech. It might be more accurate to say that I couldn't hear Mr Blackford's address. My hearing … Continue reading Multiple failures of leadership
Peter A Bell 