Scottish independence

A Dub in Glasgo

A bad decision by the SNP membership, Yousaf is already starting from a pretty negative rating and will do little to arrest the decline

30% of the membership did not vote which shows a massive level of disengagement or the SNP membership figures are fiction (again!)

Water John

Ah shur, whichever way they voted, you'd have a negative spin ready for it any way.

Forbes possibly lost owing to her conservative social values. Probably was the most able candidate. Seem also to be a warm person.

Handled losing very well, in contrast to Regan, who looked shocked. Wish Yousaf well.

Mr.Nice Guy

I think it's the smart choice. Forbes would have faced constant questions about her religious views a bit like that Tim Farron who had a short and terrible run as Lib Dem leader. Regan talked a big game without having any plan to back it up.

Yousaf has the best chance of unifying the camp and keeping the focus on the big prize.

L1011

Regan looked like thunder after the votes were announced; Forbes at least hid the disappointment better.

A Dub in Glasgo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120407800#Comment_120407800

What is the big prize? To the likes of Yousaf, the continuity guy, it is the gravy train of devolution

Water John

If you're nominated for an Oscar, when they open the envelope you better be smiling.

Mr.Nice Guy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120408121#Comment_120408121

I'd say first off he needs the opinion poll numbers for independence to get back above 50%. He needs to heal the divisions in the party and improve the SNP's record in government. I don't see any alternative in the short-term the way things are.

Danzy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120408121#Comment_120408121

Does he want Scottish independence? I suspect he doesn't really care, he has always been a good shouter than a doer.

Outside of that he has no discernible talent, Unionists and their masters in London are delighted tonight.

Water John

He needs to make life better for people in Scotland. That's the priority, difficult to achieve with the austerity platform pushed by Westminister for the last 13 years. That's the best way to move the independence dial.

A Dub in Glasgo

"When Humza Yousaf was declared leader of the SNP, the reaction of many in the Labour Party was unmitigated jubilation.

“It’s the best possible result for us,” a senior Labour figure said. “People have already made up their minds about him. Once people have formed an impression of a politician it’s very hard to shift it — we saw that with Ed Miliband. People think he’s a failed politician who can’t run the health service.”

The calculation for Labour is simple. During Yousaf’s tenure as Scotland’s health secretary waiting lists have soared to record levels, something the party plans to weaponise before the next general election. The election of Yousaf, Labour believes, will enable it to ram home criticism of the SNP’s domestic record on health and crime.

Labour strategists believe that the party could win as many as 20 seats north of the border at the next election, which would help propel Sir Keir Starmer into No 10. The party hopes that its long exile from the mainstream in Scottish politics may finally be coming to an end.

There was a similar reaction in the Conservative Party, where Kate Forbes, the runner-up, had been viewed as the bigger threat. “It’s played out very well for us,” a senior government source said. “Kate Forbes was the risk. She’s the centre-ground, business-friendly vote. With Humza it’s business as usual.”

https://archive.is/k2Xm8

Capt'n Midnight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120405601#Comment_120405601

It's not like Westminster hands back corporation tax paid in London on the portion of earnings companies make in Scotland.

Sam Russell

The whole funding of devolved assemblies based on the Barnet formula is very unfair.

It is set up such that Westminster controls the funding, and since England does not have a devolved assembly, and the vast majority of Gov MPs and ministers are based in England, it is to be expected that a bias would exist that favours England and English Gov MPs.

For example, the Heathrow extension, the HS2 and Cross Rail projects do not benefit any devolved assembly, but its funding affects the Barnet formula. Those three particular projects are a huge cost and only benefit the SE of England. They do not even benefit anywhere north of Birmingham.

Add in the tax concessions to high earning City types to plumb up their generous private pensions tax-free , so this current corrupt Tory Gov makes sure it looks after its friends in the SE of England, and those living in the Tory safe seats. Truss, in her 42 day stint as PM, even crashed the UK economy is a vain attempt to further these ends of helping her rich friends and donors.

Water John

Forbes turns down low Minesterial offer

https://www.thejournal.ie/kate-forbes-to-leave-scottish-government-6031463-Mar2023/

tinytobe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120408497#Comment_120408497

He's already been in charge of health and look at the condition the Scottish NHS is in.

Sturgeon left before the scandals start catching up with her.

Even the lowest tabloid media understood that the SNP has been taking Scotland for a ride for many years:

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/comment/nicola-sturgeons-failures-scandals-education-29225559

Water John

I think Forbes with near half the party already, is opting to wait in the long grass.

rock22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120416449#Comment_120416449

No, I don't think so. She was offered a major demotion , which I think any self respecting person would turn down.

If she does end up waiting in the long grass then Yousaf will have only himself to blame. You can't make a speech about united the party and then offer your opponent a role she has to refuse.

serfboard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120417140#Comment_120417140

Indeed - Youzaf seems to either not know, or to have disregarded the adage in politics about keeping your enemies close.

Water John

Agree, it should have been a significant portfolio with Rural Affairs thrown in as she has a special interest in that. Youzaf's error.

A Dub in Glasgo

It is factionalism on steriods. Forbes got 48% of membership that voted and yet none of her backers have been offered anything of substance

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120417982#Comment_120417982

People predicted a break up of the SNP once independence was achieved.

I'd say it's coming much sooner than that.

Water John

It's by definition a coalition of conservatives and progressives. Any leader must keep both sides reasonably happy. Very foolish if not.

Margaret Ferrier looks like she'll trigger a bye election. First test for him, does he leave her stand again?

breezy1985

Is it my imagination or is the election of leader for the UKs 3rd biggest party barely being covered by UK media.

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120418658#Comment_120418658

I have seen plenty about it on the BBC News app.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120418700#Comment_120418700

Just checked BBC and nothing really on the main site or the UK section. Maybe there was a few days ago but I saw no headlines on TV or papers ove the last few days.

A Dub in Glasgo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120418658#Comment_120418658

It was covered

A Dub in Glasgo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120418606#Comment_120418606

Ferrier is my MP and she was good irrespecitve of her major misjudgement on the covid travel. She cannot stand for the SNP as she was kicked out of the party

L1011

Labour got that seat back on a slim majority in 2017 and re-lost it to Ferrier in 2019. Not going to be the easiest to hold (well, re-win as Ferrier is not SNP now) I imagine.

The 17-19 MP has been re-selected to run if it does go to a bye-election.

If there ends up being an Uxbridge bye-election on the same day (Boris going through that process currently) nobody will notice though!

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120421665#Comment_120421665

Wow thanks for clearing that up.

Coverage has been very little considering a major party got a new leader and Scotland a new FM. I should not need to be routeing through websites to find stories for something this important.

I'm sure people will continue to disagree though because it paints the union in a bad light to point out the English don't give a fuk about the other areas of the UK.

A Dub in Glasgo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120421683#Comment_120421683

Killen has been non-existent in the constituency

astrofool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120421688#Comment_120421688

Probably more a sign of public disinterest outside of Scotland, BBC will report it, but it's not on them to keep it top of the news headlines.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120430895#Comment_120430895

Well ya that's kinda my point. The lack of education in England as to the true make-up of their country is mind blowing.

The media play their part in that. Nothing stopping them having it front page. Plenty of stuff the general public don't think about much gets on there.

hotmail.com

Nicola Sturgeon's husband arrested in relation to finances in the SNP.

It's looking very dodgy. I think we know the real reason for Sturgeon's sudden exit.

Water John

Whether its Trump or Murrell, nobody is above the law.

VinLieger

Its far too coincidental that her resignation has to be because of this, they obviously got word it was coming and she had to jump for the good of her party.

hotmail.com

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120442839#Comment_120442839

So the excuse presented by some female commentators that she left because she hadn't enough energy (the Jacinda Arden excuse) has been exposed as rubbish.

VinLieger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120442918#Comment_120442918

Was it not presented by her as the reason? Most were a bit surprised but at the time it was literally all there was to go on, I don't think anyone deserves criticism for simply believing and repeating what she said when there was no obvious or reasonably supportable alternative reason.

Water John

Well, she hardly was going to say, I think my husband is going to be arrested. Have you found the real reason that Ardern has resigned yet?

Fr Tod Umptious

The latest news that a 21 year old has been given community service for the rape of a 13 year old when he was 17 is not going to help either.

It is a result of new sentencing rules came in that said u25s should not have custodial sentences.

And even though the rules were recommended by a independent body, the SNP supported them.

hotmail.com

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120443171#Comment_120443171

Soft on crime doesn't win votes. It's a bit like the Tories - too long in office.

A Dub in Glasgo

Told youse a while ago this pair and the rest of the SNP leadership had no interest in independence and were just gouging independence supporters

tinytobe

Police arrested Nicola Sturgeon's husband today for issues with campaign finances.

I think this will weigh heavily on Nicola's resignation as well as the SNP as the police investigation was already going on at the same time.

Danzy

Bad luck to Nicola, her husband, her pet hamster Yusuf.

The damage to independence from them may be fatal.

Strazdas

It's not been good few weeks for Sturgeon. The rumour mill has it that both she and the husband are secretly gay and the marriage was a sham (I'm not saying anything libellous here....these rumours have even been addressed in the UK broadsheets recently).

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120443485#Comment_120443485

A police tent in the garden? Officers photographing outside in the back garden? This is some house search so it is and not confined to just seizing computers or office paper files.

tinytobe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120444427#Comment_120444427

I think that's the one thing the new First Minister of the SNP doesn't want nor need. He'll be a lame duck. Sturgeon ran into an cull de sac as she failed domestically, could not deliver a 2nd referendum and was always vague on currency for an independent Scotland.

Oscar_Madison

They’re only digging up the feicing garden now- is this where they think the missing 600k is burried?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11942651/Police-seen-holding-shovels-search-Nicola-Sturgeons-garden.html

pixelburp

I guess the estimation, including my own, that it was the Gender Bill biting Sturgeon in the backside was misestimated. I'm still sure it didn't help the credibility of her leadership but the speed with which the ideologically inclined pounced on it was premature, against the more immediate crisis coming down the tracks.

VinLieger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120444754#Comment_120444754

If they are digging up the garden shes going to have a hard time denying knowledge of whatever he was up to.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120444922#Comment_120444922

In fairness something could be buried without her knowledge -but obviously I’m not saying there’s anything buried there- but it’s a very unusual raid- documents and laptops etc would be standard fare for the taking- you don’t usually see shovels in fraud cases - if it was part of the 600k they’re looking for, there's obviously some sort of evidence of a paper trail indicating large cash withdrawals - we’ll know over the coming months most likely what they’ve found if anything

tinytobe

I wonder if the new First minister knew what Sturgeon and her husband did. Is he really the self described luckiest man?