Mr Russell is a very experienced politician. It is no surprise, therefore, that he manages to deploy two devious politicians' tricks in the first two paragraphs of his column in The National. First, the smear. He presents his critics as uncouth and abusive. Never mind the message, throw faeces at the messenger knowing some of … Continue reading Tricks of the trade
Mike Russell does a fine job of setting out the choice facing the people of Scotland. He is rather stating the obvious when he observes that "the UK political and media establishment, dripping with privilege and disdainful of democracy, will try to stop us making that choice, using all their malign tricks and lies". Which … Continue reading Information is not enough
I believe him. When Mike Russell says the mandate will be honoured, I believe him. When he says a Bill will be introduced to facilitate a new referendum, I believe him. When he says we are "on a trajectory" to that referendum, I believe him. But I am not at all comforted by such assurances. … Continue reading Not convinced!
Wise words from Michael Russell in The National today. Wise and brave. As I have oft times discovered, one does not make oneself popular with the general public in Scotland by praising or defending the BBC. Not that I ever find much to praise. But I have constantly defended the BBC in very much the … Continue reading Save the best bits
There is an important part of the Brexit saga (so far) which Mike Russell has omitted from his column in The National. It is easy to understand why. The SNP/Scottish government's abject failure to defend and protect Scotland against the insanity of Brexit is something those culpable would prefer to airbrush from history. That the … Continue reading A choice explained
Three weeks ago I published an article under the title Not just any referendum! Not just any campaign! in which I warned - not for the first time - of the lack of fresh thinking on the constitutional issue among the SNP leadership and the need to ensure not only that we get a referendum, … Continue reading A failure of imagination
Protocol dictates that I congratulate Mike Russell on his appointment as political director of the SNP's independence unit. Honesty makes me wonder how long it will be until he resigns in doubtless well-concealed frustration and despair. The embittered facetiousness born of my own frustration and despair prompts the observation that if history is to be … Continue reading Speak softly and carry a white flag
The Scots Government should in the court action challenge the very existence of the legal power of Westminster to say no to indyref2, by plainly asserting that the democratic legitimacy of Holyrood trumps that of the Westminster Parliament over Scots affairs, giving it Holyrood the legal authority to hold an independence referendum.Scott Crichton Styles This … Continue reading The legal and the political
Nobody in the SNP leadership appears to be asking that most obvious of questions: Why is this happening? Or, if they are, they're answering that question in the shallow, petty manner evidenced by Angus Robertson's initial response. Nobody, so far as can be determined from public statements and private rumours, is asking that question in a serious, thoughtful way. Not even Mike Russell.
Of course, the SNP's manifesto hasn't been published. It may not even have been written yet. But there are abundant clues as to its probable content in various statements from Nicola Sturgeon, Mike Russell and others. We also now have the draft Referendum Bill, which provides conclusive evidence of the SNP leadership's thinking on the constitutional issue.
Peter A Bell 