The term 'Scottish National Party Member of Parliament' is, like 'caring British Conservativism' and 'British Labour socialism', an oxymoron. Each pairing involves concepts which are incongruous or contradictory. It may be possible to be a Conservative and to care about people. It may be possible to be associated with British Labour and yet have a … Continue reading Oxymorons
I do like a wee stooshie. A commotion. A rumpus. A bit of political theatre. Ian Blackford was the cause of a wee stooshie in the British parliament yesterday when he effectively called Boris Johnson a liar. Accused him of misleading parliament. Which is supposed to be a hanging offence. But, in the arcane way of … Continue reading The stooshie
When I read of Mhairi Black's letter to Alister "Union" Jack suggesting - nay insisting - that he devote himself to Scotland and Scotland's interests rather than the British state and the interests of the British ruling elite, my first thought was that it is a very foolish demand. A bit like ordering the leopard … Continue reading For Scotland?
Winners win! Those who look like winners tend to end up as winners. And that is why this poll is significant. It shows the SNP as winners. The specifics don't matter so much as the overall impression. They don't have to actually win anything. So long as they look like winners.
I hate to say it but there's also a definite whiff of the Bain Principle coming off the SNP's decision to vote against the Brexit deal.
Outside the bubble of the SNP Westminster group, few ask why they are treated so badly by the British. Many more ask why they continue to submit to this treatment.
When I argued for a Remain vote in the 2016 EU referendum the main reason I gave was the fact that leaving the EU would provide the British political elite with an opportunity to redefine the UK and the constitutional status of the troublesome peripheral nations.
Ours is not an anti-Tory campaign. It is an anti-Union campaign. To lose sight of this is to forget the whole point and purpose of the Yes movement.
I doubt that many outside the ranks of irredeemable and irremediable Tory loyalists would take exception to anything in Sturgeons catalogue of demands. But are they attainable? Are they deliverable? How might British Labour respond were they to be handed this list in the course of post-election haggling among the parties at Westminster?
The SNP didn't drag the people of Scotland along on its quest for power. The people of Scotland pushed the SNP to the vanguard of our fight to restore Scotland's independence, maintain our distinctive political culture and preserve our national identity. They have a responsibility serve Scotland's cause. We have a responsibility to ensure that they do.
Peter A Bell 