In Scotland, it is not at all uncommon to find England - or England-as-Britain - referred to as foreign. England and Scotland are, of course, separate countries. You may recall, however, the rather silly bit of British Nationalist propaganda during the 2014 referendum campaign which involved Unionists in Scotland bemoaning the notion that independence would … Continue reading When foreign is bad
Pete Wishart provoked a small Twitter stooshie (Twooshie?) with a Tweet celebrating the departure of Liz Truss. Though even he is astute enough to recognise that the celebrations may be short-lived as there could be worse to come. Anyone who asks how that's possible really hasn't been paying attention for the last several years. But … Continue reading Last chance?
"Analysis from the UK’s leading polling expert, Sir John Curtice, found that the Tories face losing all six of their Scottish MPs as things stand – with the SNP winning 49 (an increase of one) and Labour picking up seven overall." Tories to return ZERO Scottish MPs at next election, in double poll whammy Which … Continue reading Making history
Despite the fact that it is dated three months ago, I had not previously seen the Tweet from Mhairi Hunter pictured above. As you would probably expect, Ms Hunter has blocked me ─ doubtless along with all other voices that dissent from the Sturgeon doctrine. I am grateful to Stu Campbell (Wings Over Scotland) for … Continue reading Where is the anger?
Set aside, for the moment, your personal feelings about the SNP. Put from your mind, temporarily, antipathy to this or that policy or position. Take your frustration and anger at Sturgeon's abject failure to properly lead Scotland's independence campaign and stick it at the back of your sock drawer. It'll still be there when you … Continue reading Twins
It is now three months ─ 91 days, to be precise ─ since First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stood in the chamber of the Scottish Parliament and delivered what has come to be known simply as her independence referendum speech. More correctly, we should say that she took to her feet to deliver her latest independence … Continue reading Bare words
For the Sturgeon/SNP loyalists there is no possibility of bad news concerning their hero as they simply will not hear it. I am a realist. I have not the slightest interest in Panglossian fantasy politics. Or mindless faith positions. I have wits enough to know that one cannot chart a course without precise knowledge of … Continue reading Time’s up!
There are three points that your resident realist must make about The National's predictably breathless report of the latest polling before the Sturgeon claque arrives littering the place with streamers and drowning out all pragmatism with their shrill fantasies and hymns to the anointed one. Firstly, noting Professor John Curtice's comments regarding the fall in … Continue reading The barren, unchanging landscape
Richard Walker isn't angry. And he doesn't want you to be angry, either. At least, not so as anybody would know. It's understandable that you might be angry. Your anger is justified. But if you want to be accepted as a genuine independence activist then you must not let that anger show. Inwardly, you may … Continue reading Are you angry yet?
Maybe it's the weather. Maybe it's my age. Or maybe it's the fact that I've been spending too much time online 'engaging' with people who would be best ignored were it not for the fact that the constitutional issue is so important. The aggravation and the frustration and the sense of futility are very wearing. … Continue reading Down and out
Peter A Bell 