Why Scotland's next White Paper must do more to involve other parties And there we have the problem. It is simply assumed that because there was a White Paper for the 2014 referendum we must have one for the next referendum. No stopping to consider whether this is appropriate or advisable in the light of … Continue reading Unforgiveable folly!
If, as Ruth Wishart persuasively opines, Scotland's cause depends on "a massive communal effort on behalf of the Yes family" then I fear Scotland's cause is lost. Ruth refers to "real politik" [sic] and her analysis is steeped in that - until it comes to the conclusion. I see a lot of this. An argument … Continue reading Moving people
That Toni Giugliano is an idiot has already been established. But it seems that his earlier remarks fomenting division in the independence movement by defining exclusive and excluded categories was not as I had supposed an utterance born of careless idiocy, but a statement of quite deliberate idiocy. In this report from The Sunday National, … Continue reading By invitation only
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
Gerry Hassan's column in The National today offers an interesting analysis of the relationship between the SNP and the wider independence movement as he tries to answer the question posed in the headline, How do we resolve tensions between SNP and the wider Yes movement? It's an issue I've addressed repeatedly over the last few … Continue reading The meeting 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 had another very enjoyable day yesterday in the company of 2,000 other independence supporters as we marched through Stirling. The weather was almost ideal for such a strenuous activity. Not too hot - except for the periods when the clouds parted sufficiently to let the sun beat down on us with its full intensity. … Continue reading Scotland’s Cause
Other than her commitment to the Section 30 process nothing, I would contend, better evidences the woeful lack of strategic thinking within the SNP than the statement issued by Nicola Sturgeon on 17 March 2020 in which she effectively sent a cease and desist letter to the entire Yes movement. Aye! Not just members of … Continue reading The bosses know best?
My bio says 'No attitude immutable. No conclusion final. No opinion humble.'. Responses to this statement split very sharply into two categories. People either get it, or they don't. Especially the bit about none of opinions I express being humble. You will never find me starting a sentence with the words "In my humble opinion..." … Continue reading Scotland’s cause needs no justification
When Mike Russell made that dismissive remark about shouting from the outside as a way of effecting change I almost felt as if he was talking to me. When I quit the SNP a couple of months ago it was for a range of reasons - not all of which were entirely unemotional and some … Continue reading The shout!
Peter A Bell 