I am interested that Twitter and Facebook is full of people alleging Rhiannon Spear is the second complainant in the failed attempted prosecution/ persecution of Marion Millar. If true and I have no reason to question it, it is the latest involvement of senior SNP personnel in a series of prosecutions that have resulted in the reputation of the Scottish Justice system being trampled into the mire.
It all started with a series of bogus, trivial charges made against former First Minister Alex Salmond. It was widely reported in the mainstream media ( a protected species courtesy of Lady Dorrian) that senior SNP people were amongst the accusers. Identities were protected by an order from Lady Dorrian that ensured total secrecy, even after each and every accusation failed to deliver a guilty verdict and Mr Salmond was cleared of all charges.
Throughout both the judicial review and the subsequent criminal trial there was copious evidence of Government bias and interference as the Scottish Government sought to restrict the information available to the point where their own legal counsel threatened to withdraw from the case unless they desisted immediately. In the tiny window of opportunity between the Government losing their case before the judicial review and Mr Salmond being formally charged, someone from within a very tight circle within the Scottish Government decided to leak all the charges facing Mr Salmond to the Daily Record meaning he was tried and found guilty by the media long before any trial took place. This was no accident or unfortunate occurrence. This was malicious and entirely in line with Lesley Evans quote “ we may have lost the battle but we will win the war”. The Scottish Government were “at war” with Alex Salmond and they fully intended, from top to bottom to fight dirty. Extremely dirty!
The subsequent Parliamentary Enquiry was an even bigger farce as evidence was withheld and retracted, witnesses were forced to recant their previous sworn evidence as an outbreak of forgetfulness and “honest mistakes”swept the entire Scottish Government, no more so than when Nicola Sturgeon took the stand and recited a litany of “I cannot recall” I am unable to confirm” “ I would have to check etc”. Days after her testimony a considerable amount of evidence that was withheld because it endangered identification of those making the allegations was suddenly revealed not to do so but contained facts that would have conflicted with the First Minister’s story.
We know that some of the alphabet women were also behind the trial of Craig Murray. No chances were taken this time, as an example of bad and unfair justice this trial was exemplary, no Jury, no right of appeal, judged solely by the same judge that had excluded him from the Salmond trial, using archaic legislation describing jigsaw identification where even the judge could not explain what it was, requiring mystical “interpretation” by the judge to determine conviction. This the same judge who advocated removing juries from cases involving sexual matters. That move must never happen.
We then move to the case of Mark Hirst, who following complaints from some of the alphabet women, was arrested. He lost work worth thousands of pounds, run up a substantial legal bill preparing his defence. All his computer equipment necessary for his work was seized by the police. When the case came to court many months later it was dismissed out of hand by the judge as having no case to answer. Mark’s career and finances were decimated by this whole perverse action while those who made the ludicrous allegations were not out a penny because the daft law paid for all their legal costs while the innocent party is required to fund his own, with no recourse to recover the money when the allegations are shown to have no worth or value.
Then came the case of Marion Millar, whose case resulted in collapse this week. It had no worth or value and was further evidence that the legal system is being used by a politically motivated grouping close to the First Minister and who share her gender reforming objectives. I am reading the dropping of this case is “subject to review” and it is not over until that review is complete. This looks to a layman like myself to be yet another legal tactic to prolong the pressure on Marion. I am told, by sources I trust that another senior member of the SNP was the co complainant in this case. We should not make the mistake of thinking that the Marion Millar case is the last of its kind. Another is in the pipeline with Dave Llewelyn facing ludicrous allegations at an early December court date. The allegations come from, wait for it, from two very senior SNP MEMBERS, including one MSP. Senior SNP members seen as very close to the First Minister.
SO DR WATSON DO YOU SEE THE COMMON THREAD RUNNING THROUGH ALL THESE CASES? They can’t all be coincidences, how likely is it that all these senior SNP PEOPLE COULD BECOME EMBROILED IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT CASES OVER SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME?
YOUR RIGHT SHERLOCK, THESE ARE NOT COINCIDENCE, THIS IS A DETERMINED STRATEGY BY SOMEBODY RIGHT AT THE TOP.
WILL THEY GET AWAY WITH IT?
NOT IN THE LONG TERM, PLOTS LIKE THIS HAVE A SHORT LIFE, EVENTS OCCUR THAT CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING. YOU CAN’T STAY IN POWER FOREVER. WHEN A NEW REGIME TAKES OVER THERE IS NO TELLING WHO AND WHAT THE NEW BROOM WILL UNCOVER. IT’S JUST A MATTER OF TIME. It just takes one of the circle to crack. one will given time.
The Nu SNP leadership guide book
To become a senior SNP figure it is necessary to raise spurious and frivolous charges against political rivals and opponents. Money is no object because we use state finance to weaken our opponents while “the accused” can be damaged both in terms of reputation and financially crippled in the process. The eventual judgement is academic, we have always won before any trial takes place.
You are involved in valuable research as we test just how best to use the Hate Crime Bill to intimidate and eliminate our political opponents. Too date these tactics have been deployed solely against men. We are however looking at alternative charges that could be levied against females. Please note the terms male and female are now outdated and will be outlawed once self ID and GRA LEGISLATION is secured shortly.
POSTSCRIPT
By sheer coincidence a bit of information came my way the other day about senior SNP Office bearer Rhiannon Spear, the Woman’s Convener. You may remember she was defeated at the last SNP Conference but when her woke colleagues made it impossible for her successor to stay on the SNP NEC, and her successor left the Party, the Woke dominated NEC determined that she and her colleague Fiona Robertson could be returned to their previous posts MINUS the need for any internal election thus boosting even further the number of WOKE appointed, rather than elected NEC members.
Now the annual elections are underway in preparation for the SNP November Conference. I don’t know what her chances were of her being properly elected to her post but it doesn’t matter.Here is why.
At the last NEC she led a move to completely ignore a Conference instruction not to apply the same fixing procedures that were used to organise the Holyrood elections but to once again interfere in every Local Government area, no matter the already existing balances in place.
Much to her surprise, in what can only be explained as a collective nervousness not to stir up another storm amongst the membership during the period elections where being held, and this time not ignoring legal advice about not to interfere, the NEC voted and her move was defeated,much to her anger. The outcome was that she promptly threw a hissy fit, threw the toys out the pram and resigned as the Woman’s Convener. So one down about another twenty to go. On the other hand how convenient, given the collapse of the Marion Millar case there might have been calls for her resignation. can’t happen now as she is already gone over another matter. Lucky, or did she know?
Given other reported events it’s not been a good month for Ms Spear. Which probably means its been a good month for everybody else.
I am, as always
YOURS FOR SCOTLAND.
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News update
Rhiannon Spear was the second complainant in the Marion Millar case. It was confirmed on the BBC NEWS this evening.
YOURS FOR SCOTLAND 
The truth will hopefully out, but it’s too late. The independence movement and wider public in Scotland needed to understand what was happening before the May election. Because there is no way the arms of the U.K. state in Scotland – the Civil Service, the Crown Office (run by an “ex” MI5 guy), the media – would all go along with a devolved SNP leader controlling them all to stitch up and destroy political opponents. This is the SNP leadership working with the U.K. state to destroy Alex Salmond and others.
Instead of seeing the truth of that, the same combined SNP and media went after ALBA in May and ensured we were stuck with that SNP, working with the U.K. state for another 5 years.
They turned on Salmond, Cherry etc and hounded many out the party over the post Brexit years when any genuine Indy party would have been pushing Scotland’s rights and pushing independence forward. In 2017 when the false allegations started, he was about the take editorship of the Scotsman which would have transformed the Scottish media landscape at exactly the time we needed that, while we had a too QC in Westminster in Joanna Cherry who could have pursued other legal routes to independence. Instead the senior SNP turned in them and instigated deliberately divisive policies.
That was the last five years. Over the next five they, along with the U.K. government, can take back devolved powers and make independence virtually impossible. The result in May was a disaster for Scotland. I can’t help but feel in the current SNP leadership we just have a branch of the U.K. government running Scotland. The party will likely destroy itself along with the Indy movement over the next 5 years but in doing so will, at best, set independence back by decades.
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Cath – I fully agree that Sturgeon is doing enormous damage to Scotland, our society, our economy and our prospects for independence – damaging even our status as a nation. Corbyn is now talking out of school about a second indyref and with any other SNP leadership the indyref would be scheduled already. I agree the SNP are finished as a YES party. They are now the party of weaponised woke and corruption. We need rid of Sturgeon or we need to simply bypass her – my thoughts are that we should avoid an indyref altogether – the franchise is too badly flawed as Alf has shown us. Use the Westminster election to send down ALBA as a defacto indyref, as suggested on this blog. For this to happen we must first get the truth out there about the smear campaign and the lies told about Salmond. That truth will rock Scotland. The stupidity of Brexit will rock the belief we are “better together” that many cling to like children. The tide of opinion will turn decisively to YES. With ALBA is Westminster I do not see how Sturgeon could continue as FM in Holyrood – though I do hope the polis will have felt her collar before then.
Despair is our greatest enemy – the fight is right now and there is everything to fight for.
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I agree Marion. I no longer trust this SNP to hold a referendum: I wouldn’t trust them not to be working to throw it and end independence for decades. We need a better route and Alba is possibly the only way to that. A new SNP leadership willing to work with Alba and others would also really help, and I don’t think that’s impossible. If, as you say, the truth gets out and the membership is genuinely allowed to choose a new leadership. It’s a mess, but you’re absolutely right – despair isn’t the answer.
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Great post Cath but there is one small error:
“ [Alex Salmond ] was about the take editorship of the Scotsman “
This is not true.
He would have been offered the Chairmanship of Johnston Press had the (unsuccessful) Norwegian investor gained control of the group.
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I believe there were three complainants – the third is a serving police officer. The male complainant has allegedly made another complaint in NI against a lesbian survivor of child sexual abuse.
The council elections are next year – I hope that Alba and/or ISP in Greater Pollok can field a strong selection of candidates that can ensure that the area of great deprivation can be represented by councillors whose focus is not the challenges affecting the area and who can benefit the community. I’d be happy to pop over to Pollok and give them a hand with leafleting!
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Ms Spears was imposed as a council candidate over the heads of much better local activists. The branch was badly damaged in the ensuring fallout. I have no idea what Ms Spears has done for the past five or six years for her constituents since she never let anyone in the branch in on her activities. She attended perhaps two or three branch meeting at one of which she failed in a pathetically staged attempt to take over the senior positions in the branch. She did indeed make a spiteful comment about Manny Singh of the “That’ll teach him to ignore councillors.” variety. However, she is one of Ms Sturgeon’s favourites, so that gives her a protected position. In my opinion she is in no way qualified or fit to fill any responsible position in the SNP.
I will, health permitting, also be leafleting in Pollok come the next council elections, but not for the SNP for the first time in years. I will be leafleting for Alba.
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You forgot Manny Singh, put in Jail by SNP Glasgow Council.
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By a complaint lodged from Rhiannon Spear I believe
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Spear hails from the Isle of Bute from a big family (her sister is a doctor, a very attractive one I must say) . I don’t know where she got her wacky, loopy brand of politics. It certainly wasn’t Bute, that’s for sure.
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When you lay out all the prosecutions above plus Craig Murray mentioned in the previous post and Margaret Ferrier whose actions were wrong but no more so than others in public life as yet uncharged, it paints a far from pretty picture. Is Scotland turning into a banana republic without the bananas or elected Head of State?
If Fanon and Memmi were still alive would they be researching and writing about Scotland?
What can we can do to save Scotland???
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It must also throw in doubt the conviction of Natalie McGarry who seems to be the name that shall not be uttered,
From the back of my brain I think that the original accusers in her case were of the same clique.
Of course you also have this precedent to consider when assessing these ‘bullying’ allegations
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Oops
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/women-who-accused-top-officer-of-bullying-given-1m-kk8nrvsx9
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@ panda paws
If Memmi and Fanon were still around they might well wonder how it’s possible that a colonized people, at this point in their national history have, as yet, failed to engender an anti-colonialist political party with an uncompromising anti-colonialist critique and an unequivocal and wholly normal aspiration to secure their nation’s national liberation from the colonizer?
Albert Memmi’s: The Colonizer and the Colonized, was first published in 1957.
Frantz Fanon’s: The Wretched of the Earth, in 1961.
Draw your own conclusions, of course: but does waiting for a S 30 with a gerrymandered franchise add up to much?
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Gordon Brown wants the so called first world to effectively dump its unwanted vax on the so called third. The colonial mentality in all its self righteous, condescending glory..
«Impérialism leaves behind germs of rot which we must clinically detect and remove from our land and also from our minds» wrote Frantz Fanon. The psychological leavings can be more obdurate than the physical.
Brown is totemic of the personality type in thrall to its own conceits and deceits. Why Scotland’s body politic requires radical surgery.
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Sturgeon is not bright or competent enough to work out the strategy described above. But playing “ring-a-ring-a roses” with Leslie Evans and chums from MI5 she is ultimately responsible for the apparent poor Independence prospects. But it’s up to all of us to inform the public, making sure all Scots learn the truth. Thank you, Iain.
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Rhiannan Spear resigns!
I have no doubt that the der leader will intervene with “this is your home” or some such special video/podcast release pleading for her to return.
I feel sure, to paraphrase another frightening destroyer, that SHE’LL BE BACK!
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Maybe not; Arnie cropped up on radio 4 this afternoon – 39 ways to save the planet – as the sensible face of the Republicans, in that he was willing to be the interface between big buisiness and the Democrats.
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Excellent blog Iain. The truth will out and when it does I am sure there will be a sea change that will sweep in independence. The biter will be bitten and, if we keep our heads and stay ready, we will be free. When it happens I think it will happen fast.
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I live in hope as well
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There are many of us who do Iain and blogs like yours keep the hope alive. I for one cannot wait to the see the day when the destroyers of the SNP, of every rank and position, get their just desserts.
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This was malicious and entirely in line with Lesley Evans quote “ we may have lost the battle but we will win the war”. The Scottish Government were “at war” with Alex Salmond and they fully intended, from top to bottom to fight dirty. Extremely dirty!
Well, that is what Tories do and have always done it is called survival – the collateral damage is unimportant. Oh sorry, did you think that the SNP were different?
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I did once , but not since Alex Salmond left the leadership.
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This is Sturgeon’s Scotland. I thought American’s were thick following Trump, willing to take their country’s democracy away at the behest of what many consider a man who is so egotistical he has lost all reason. Who would have thought our Scotland would be run by a person whose soul interest is her own self serving ego. A demi God a dictator who has a following of hundreds of thousands who still don’t get it. She is slowly but surely giving Scotland to the union on a plate. I hope I live to see the downfall of her and all her brown nosing government whether in Holyrood or the ones skiving in Westminster. Thanks again Iain. We will be free. Saor Alba.
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As someone has already said, Sturgeon couldn’t do all the things she is doing without the blessing of Westminster and the intelligence services. Who ever heard of a democracy worthy of the name where the judiciary and the police worked so closely with an obviously corrupt government.
The Unionists have won as far as the SNP are concerned. ALBA is the only vehicle we have that can take us to independence now. We must be alert at all times, and guard ALBA against infiltration by British plants.
Having said that I didn’t see Nicola Sturgeon for what she is until it was far too late. A good actress if ever there was one.
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I got 6 months in jail for trying to expose the Alex Salmond stitch up accusers.
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I read about that Clive.
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Mr Thomson.
I tip my hat to you for having the courage to call it out, I see Lady Dorrian had a hand in your sentence as well.
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Clive, is there a place where I can go and read about your situation?
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I wish I could give you a hundred likes Clive , It is absolutely reprehensible that the truth is STILL being denied to the people of Scotland by a justice system that has been proven to act maliciously and illegally YET AGAIN NO ONE HAS BEEN HELD TO ACCOUNT
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We are in a very bad way. We are not going to get out of this postion unless the punters are well informed about how power works here. If Alba and Alec Salmond have learned anything then it should be obvious that the people need to be informed about nature and detail of how power works in Scotland. We need to be able to evict the corrupt and the deranged from office before they are able to cause the damage we are experiencing now. I used to believe we were building towards our Independence now I am worried about whether Scotland will survive.
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I am sick of being kept in the dark by the absolute scum bags who it is plain have the power to ruin any one of us just because they feel like it.
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Absolutely bang on Iain, i can’t add much to this SNP skullduggery from its hierarchy, when put together like this we have to wonder how the SNP got away with it, well so far. The COPFS needs to come under scrutiny as well, for without its help the SNP couldn’t have accomplished what they have, and covered it up, if not so well.
Our judiciary also needs looking at, Peter Cherbi has been noting its failures for years now.
I think Mark Hirst has taken legal action against the injustices upon him, I hope he is successful, one wonders how much the COPFS has paid out with malicious prosecutions in mind, a heavy cost to the taxpayer.
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Anyone operating politically outside the safety provisions of the SNP bubble must feel a wee bit like Tam ‘o Shanter on the night he was pursued by the witches. A number of notable figures failed to make the leap in time and the consequences of their failure are well recorded. We need to find out just where they gather to concoct their witches brew and destroy that big black pot/culdron of WOKE dogma that drives them to destroy the country that I love. CaltonJock
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“ Anyone operating politically outside the safety provisions of the SNP bubble must feel a wee bit like Tam ‘o Shanter on the night he was pursued by the witches. ”
And without the consoling sight of Curry Sark
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Indian version of Cutty Sark. Still warms the heart.
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Is something afoot? Just read your latest tweet Iain regarding NEC.
Also report about NS’ future plans in Daily Rectum…
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This is an absolute scandal which, if we had an independent media, would be headlines in any country which cared about the conduct of its government and how justice is applied. When you see it all laid out together with the same elements, the same provocateurs, present in all of them, you would have to bury your head ten feet into the sand not to notice or draw the obvious conclusion.
Let us remember the charges in the Millar case: one of the most prominent was a photo of a protest. In the background they had tied some ribbons in suffragette colours on to a fence, I think. This was denounced as a threat because it was meant to be a noose. This is so beyond absurd that you wonder why any police person or prosecutor could take such a charge seriously enough to send it to court. So obviously a malicious charge based on the most spurious and ridiculous interpretation which cannot possibly be the one of what the law calls ‘a reasonable person’.
Others were tweets where, once again, massively hysterical overreactions were claimed as evidence of ‘abuse’ and ‘threats’. This is the standard procedure for the trans lobby which routinely acts with fury and outrage, not to mention victimhood, when their beliefs are merely questioned with alternative views.
Why this ever went to court is a mystery, a farce, and a terrible waste of precious resources. However exactly the same can be said of all the prosecutions mentioned in the article, particularly Salmond, Murray and Hirst. And in all those cases we see demands being made on the police by senior SNP politicians and their associates. Left to the police there is a fair chance they would never have reached court. And that is where the scandal lies – the manipulation of the police, the courts and the justice system by people who have bought into an ideology they have convinced themselves must be implemented by hook or crook, never openly debated, and those who disagree, or want debate, denounced in a way that resembles the witch trials.
When will the mainstream media wake up and start using some independence of mind and show some concern for the way Scottish government is heading, into an authoritarian, demagogic nightmare, where individuals are jailed for expressing opinion and fact?
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Sadly the unionists media will “wake up” and start reporting when it best suits the union to do so. And they won’t do it in a way that helps Salmond or any other independence supporter, or jails the right people. They’ll just do it in a way that trashes the SNP and independence. It’s why they are no longer the vehicle for independence.
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Yes, that is exactly the danger and the consequence of this corruption, which plays right into the opposition’s hands. They are giving them fuel for their own bonfire.
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Reblogged this on Ramblings of a now 60+ Female.
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When the leader turns blind and deaf to the rogue elements around them then those elements consider it approval.
It is a simple as that. Sturgeon unleashed the cult by her lack of leadership in failing to set standards and expectations.
With the legal system and police it was far mor direct using her position in Government.
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She didn’t turn blind and deaf , she was part of it with her ‘chosen pronouns’ and her ‘ not valid’ but during the investigation she couldn’t remember much so perhaps she is suffering from a form of dementia.
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Regarding fighting dirty, in May an unnamed minister in BritGov told the Telegraph that «there is no room for complacency, we are in a bare knuckle fight to save the union».
Is it not unreasonable to assume that BritState might be fighting through embassies and cultural agencies such as the British Council to make the case against Scotland dissolving the union? Cop26 will certainly present rich occasions for laying the need for state unity in the face of impending «global catastrophe» on thick along with the eco schmooze.
During Johnson’s Spanish holiday the opportunity to exchange views with Madrid on the Catalan and Scottish «problems» is unlikely to have been passed over, Gibraltar being a handy mutual «back scratcher» in that context. Don’t, however, mention Ceuta and Melilla!
Playing divisive dirty tricks with your own is pure Mission Impossible.
Self destruct in 10 secs?
The background colour of the SNP logo is yellow. Whether banana or custard, both make a sticky gloop.
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Lady (A misnomer surely ?) Dorrian must be worrying about doing time. No one is unimpeachable. Sturgeon has to sleep knowing this.
Sturgeon has far, far fewer vocal supporters. The SNP cowards are keeping their heads down. This bodes well regarding her demise. Sturgeon has to sleep knowing this.
The new lord advocate appears just as corrupt as the old lord advocate. I do hope they read my second sentence. COPFS are a disgrace. And this will be revealed bit by bit. Sturgeon has to sleep knowing this.
And the paramilitary wing of the genderwoowoo ( I think they’re called Police Scotland) must be panicking at James Kelly’s excellent poll. Sturgeon has to sleep knowing this.
Independence is now the more popular option for folk in Scotland. The dissolution of the union is now assured. All the loyalists can do is delay matters – possibly for years. However as soon as it is deemed advantageous – Sturgeon will be thrown under a bus and hopefully into jail. Sturgeon has to sleep knowing this.
Spear and the genderwoowoo are famed for their total lack of empathy, kindness, understanding or decency. When they turn on Sturgeon in a flouncing hissy fit – Sturgeon will deserve all that and more. Sturgeon has to sleep knowing this.
Like many I toiled for the SNP for over thirty years. In May, I and many thousands of ex-SNP members. delivered Alba leaflets – and I am a better man for it. Sturgeon has to sleep knowing this.
The question is when will the dam burst ? Sturgeon has to sleep knowing this.
To cheer us all up :
Mr Salmond has not played any of his cards ….yet. Sturgeon. Evans and the cabal have to sleep knowing this.
And that is why Sturgeon is looking so very, very haggard.
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O/T Iain, but interesting.
Just 20% of Scots and only 29% of SNP supporters back gender self-ID in Scotland, so why is Sturgeon and her party hellbent on pushing these unpopular reforms in Scotland.
https://scotgoespop.blogspot.com/2021/10/exclusive-scot-goes-pop-panelbase-poll_28.html
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Stonewall are running the policy and writing the legislation.
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Isn’t this pernicious, manipulative attempt by Spear and her like merely a foretaste of what is to come once they put the legislation on the statute books? Apparently they want to legalise their illegal, or at least corrupt, behaviour, and mandate the law to fall in line with their ideological fringe beliefs. That is the wider and more worrying implication of these actions. Silencing people through the threat of court action and jail for having beliefs they don’t agree with, or don’t want the public to hear, is the hallmark of autocratic regimes, not democracies.
Trans people have every right to be treated fairly and equally, but that does not mean this legislation will do that, without affecting other people’s rights or allowing those with dubious motives to take advantage of it. And that is of course what they refuse to debate, abusing anyone who does.
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You have highlighted the enormous dangers of doing nothing and allowing this vindictive bullying and abuse of power to continue.
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The danger of using this legislation to silence and intimidate people who might have a different opinion may, in time, lead to a backlash against it. And the people who will suffer most in such a scenario will be trans people, blameless, but put in that position by the people who claimed to speak for them, whilst using the legislation for their own political purposes. Such is the tangled web they weave so blithely.
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” It is a simple as that. Sturgeon unleashed the cult by her lack of leadership in failing to set standards and expectations. ”
Not quite Clootie .
Almost from day one of her taking-over the SNP leadership there was a very deliberate strategy to make her the main focus of the Party and by extension the entire Independence movement .
My bullshit-o-meter started flickering when the N.I.C.O.L.A emblazoned helicopter appeared , though it took longer to overcome my initial faith in her as a worthy successor to Alex and the right person to progress our cause and realise my words to a friend on the day she did – ” definitely the right person at the right time ” – were almost comically wrong
Time and clear sight has proven beyond any doubt that the exact opposite is the case .
She is the worst possible person for the task , for many reasons , none of which need stated here , we all know what they are .
Perhaps the most insidious , and for our aspiration the most intractable , problem though is that she has managed , by guile , deception and virtual elimination of any contrary opinion from inside the SNP , been able to convince the majority of Independence supporters that she is the real deal ie a truly committed fighter for Independence – despite what ,should be , overwhelming proof this is definitely NOT true .
So any concerted attempt to remove her by * force * will be exploited to the maximum by our opponents whilst her remaining as FM/SNP Leader keeps us in the stasis she and her cabal have created . A truly perplexing double-bind .
On balance I think the former effort is the least harmful . Our cause is going precisely nowhere , actually , it is going somewhere , backwards to possible oblivion , under her * leadership anyway .
To quote Mr Zimmerman ….” when you ain’t got nothing , you got nothing to lose “
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This Craig Murray interview is well worth a (re)watch. 26 June 2021 (between sentencing and incarceration).
‘JUDICIAL LYNCHING: Chris Hedges interviews Craig Murray about his 8 month sentence, Julian Assange, Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon.’
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When does Craig Murray get released>?
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(Someone please correct details if necessary)
Today (Sunday 31 Oct) is the 91st day of Craig’s imprisonment. He has therefore completed three months. So the full eight month sentence will take him to the end of March/ beginning of April 2022.
The CRAIG MURRAY JUSTICE CAMPAIGN issued an important press statement on Thurs (28th Oct). In part, it reads —
“Murray was sentenced to an eight month prison sentence for contempt of court (without a jury). As a civil prisoner he is being treated more punitively than criminal prisoners. He was not eligible to benefit from (a) the Scottish Government’s policy of a presumption against custodial sentences of less than 12 months, and (b) the early release ‘on tag’ scheme.
“Repeated requests for Murray’s release in line with these provisions have been ignored. Since 1st September 2021, formal requests have been made to Keith Brown, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Justice, to pass emergency secondary legislation to rectify the inequality in law between civil and criminal prisoners. There has been no response.
“Murray suffers from life-limiting health conditions. He was deemed medically unfit for community service at the time of his sentencing, yet he is serving a custodial sentence in an overcrowded prison estate in the midst of a Covid outbreak.
“Murray is a former UK Ambassador with no previous convictions and represents no threat whatsoever to the general public. He has a young family, including a 12 year old son and an eight month old baby. Murray’s wife and family have been permitted only the most limited contact with Murray, raising questions about whether the Rights of the Child are being considered for the children of prisoners.
“Murray is the first person to be imprisoned for media contempt in 70 years. His various appeals to the Scottish and UK courts have been dismissed. It seems likely that Murray’s final route of appeal against the conviction will be to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg.”
—————
The immediate spur for this press release is alarm at the prevalence of Covid cases among inmates in proximity to Craig.
The FULL PRESS RELEASE is online here —
PRESS RELEASE: COVID OUTBREAK IN HMP EDINBURGH THREATENS LIFE OF FORMER BRITISH DIPLOMAT
https://craigmurrayjustice.org.uk/2021/10/28/
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Back on 12 Feb 2021 I posted the following comment, with link and lyrics, on Craig Murray’s blog —
On Twitter earlier today (12 Feb) Craig remarked: “Unless something happens this afternoon, that’s another week gone by with no judgement in my contempt of court case. The hearing lasted just 90 mins. By Monday it will be 19 days ago. Shadow of possible jail sentence, so delay in judgement is beginning to affect my mental health.”
I recently had a go at translating Audioslave’s ‘I am the Highway’ into Gaelic. While doing so, I began to wonder if some of the lyics might well resonate with Alex Salmond and with Craig. Not so much the “get on by myself” bit, I suppose — though (as many readers will know only too well) no matter the degree of sustaining solidarity, any experience of prolongued deep stress remains ultimately a very lonely journey through darkness. So Chris Cornell (1964-2017) therapeutically articulates here for us all some kind of transcendence over remorselessly hounding circumstance:
I AM THE HIGHWAY by Chris Cornell (Audioslave)
Pearls and swine bereft of me.
Long and weary my road has been.
I was lost in the cities, alone in the hills.
No sorrow or pity for leaving, I feel, yeah.
I am not your rolling wheels – I am the highway.
I am not your carpet ride – I am the sky.
Friends and liars don’t wait for me,
‘Cause I’ll get on all by myself.
I put millions of miles under my heels;
And still too close to you, I feel, yeah.
I am not your rolling wheels – I am the highway.
I am not your carpet ride – I am the sky.
I am not your blowing wind – I am the lightning.
I am not your autumn moon – I am the night…the night.
———
IS MIS’ AN RATHAD MÒR
(Bhon Bheurla aig Chris Cornell, Audioslave)
Neamhnaidean ’s mucan cuidhteas mi.
Fad is cianail mo thriall air bhith.
Bha mi caillt’ anns na bailtean, leam fhìn anns na cnuic.
Gun truas gam fàgail, caoidh idir nam chridh’.
Chan e mis’ do rothan luatha – is mis’ an rathad mòr.
Chan e mis’ do bhrat air sgiath – is mis’ an speur.
Càirdean ‘s breugairean, na bi feitheamh riums’.
Nì mi a’ chùis nam shlighe fhìn.
Chuir mi milleanan de mhìltean mar-thà fo mo shàil,
Ach fada ro fhaisg riut tha mi faireachdainn fhathast.
Chan e mis’ do rothan luatha – is mis’ an rathad mòr.
Chan e mis’ do bhrat air sgiath – is mis’ an speur.
Chan e mis’ do ghaoth a shèideas – is mis’ an dealan.
Chan e mis’ do ghealach fhoghair – is mis’ an oidhch’…an oidhch’.
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Nobody knows see other posts on this thread. It is disgraceful.
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Just noticed this 1 November ‘Justice Campaign’ tweet indicating JUST ONE MONTH TO GO for Craig —
++++++++
Craig Murray – 95th day in prison Retweeted
Craig Murray Justice campaign
@cmurrayjustice
1 Nov
Craig finally received a COVID19 test over the weekend which came up negative. Huge relief for friends and family, though we’ll be holding our breath until his release in 29 days.
++++++++
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Iain, the sheer pleasure of reading your analyses is an absolute tonic. It’s incredible to me that at this dark time for Scotland, there you are, there’s Roddy, there’s Gareth, there’s Carlton Jock, there’s Mia and there’s Gordon Dangerfield.
Love that you will give Carlton Jock a spot … What a writer he is.
The meanness against Marion Millar, who is an outstanding hero. And the meanness of leaving it til the last minute to drop the case, while leaving threat in the air … Pure dead Hallowe’en.
It will all come to an end … But time is precious. It’s great to see ALBA speaking in favour of independence at the COP26… Alex Salmond’s show this week was an absolute cracker. On the carbon capture projects that his government instigated and that would have been world leading projects by now had they been allowed to continue instead of being squashed by UKGov and ignored by ScotGov.
They have every right to be there … And an independent Scotland would be a massive boon to the wider world.
Iain, Respect.
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it’s not meanness, tombkane. It’s malicious prosecution. Is it also an example of Lawfare? Here’s a definition from Wikipedia
Lawfare – A tactic used by repressive regimes to label and discourage civil society or individuals from claiming their legal rights via national or international legal systems. This is especially common in situations when individuals and civil society use non-violent methods to highlight or oppose discrimination, corruption, lack of democracy, limiting freedom of speech, violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law.
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What a word, Cirsium.
Four other words come to mind Alex Salmond, Craig Murray.
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Sorry, Alf … Forgot to add your name to that last of reasons to be cheerful even in these mental times… 🙂
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While I welcome Spears downfall. I hope karma catches up with her and she spends some time in jail.
I would suggest that she has resigned because she can no longer remain anonymous. And her actions are no longer free of consequence. ‘ Wasting police time’ and ‘ malfeasance’ seem reasonable charges to me.
What will police Scotland and COPFS do ? I think we can guess.
Spears may now have an inkling of what she put Marion Millar and her family through.
As I said before – ‘no one is unimpeachable’.
P.S. This bodes very well regarding the alphabetties.
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she may get a job with Kezia etc but there is toxic and TOXIC.
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Am I right in saying a Scottish registered boat has been impounded in France due to Brexit and the best the SNP can do is ask the English government to sort it out.
Have they no concept that from the 13th century to the 18th century the French and Scots were actively involved in treaties and agreements for mutual support against the English and whilst there may be a measure of ill will against perceived English duplicity from the French there may actually be a residual affection for Scotland and support of our position to secede from the UK and to re accede to the EU.
Why do the SNP night have direct bilateral relations with the French.
I wont go in about the Germans cause their infinity for Scotland and our mutual respect is well known but the French remain the key in Europe.
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Mbiyd, I think if you understand that the boat impounded is a British boat things become easier.
Scotland is not a nation and it is foolish to think it is. Britain, the U.K. however is and it took us out of the EU. Scotland is not a country. Full stop. ( and if I may as a side comment say, Scottish fishermen against the 64% wishes of the Scottish electorate wanted out of the EU – so don’t get so hung up about these clowns in a boat. Their U.K. government will sort it )
And with Cop26 we see again Scotland’s so called pretendy Government totally and utterly sidelined and where the so called First Minister doesn’t even get a cameo appearance as a toilet cleaner. Not a country I’m afraid.
If we can get used to that reality, disregard the myth of nationhood, then life becomes easier.
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The latest info is it a Dutch boat, registered in Turkey, crewed by ?
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Your I agree with the substance of the points you make Willie.
However …
Scotland IS a nation. It IS a country. It IS NOT a nation-state.
(Britain is not a state either. It is a landmass. A geographical assignation. The UK is not a country either. It is, however, a multi-nation state).
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Gross abuse of power
________________________________
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While delighted to see Ms Spear stand down I am not so sure she is gone for good and suspect she will bounce or should that be flounce back. She may come back as a Green or just get back onto the NEC through one of the affiliate groups. Unlike a lot of you here I cannot claim decades of SNP membership but joined after Indyref as a protest and left for the same reason. That is my only experience of being a member of a political party and after the first couple of heady years it was not a happy one. The one glimmer of hope was the good guys list for the NEC elections so nominated away and voted till I boaked and was reasonably happy with the outcome only to see those I had worked to get elected forced out or leaving as they could not do their jobs so I joined them. There is a case to offer the Spear and Robertson lassies an honorary title as founder members of Alba as they through their actions did so much to kickstart the membership surge.
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Well that depends on the title I’d say … sure some good suggestions could be made 😉
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David I am inclined to agree with you re Spears , we all thought that Sturgeon’s performance at the inquiry would be the last straw , the I canny remember queen , or the threats against Jo Cherry by SNP members , or the GRA , or the HCB , or the membership removal of the perverted clowns on the NEC only for Sturgeon to bring them all back with more power , or the perverted rules in schools where kids are groomed , or the video posted by Sturgeon PLEADING with the perverts to stay in the SNP , I could go on and on but ALL these things even collectively should have led to her FORCED removal but NO her apologists and sycophants still believe she is not a traitor , and Sturgeon will reinstate Spears and others because the CRAVEN COWARDS in her party , members and officials will NOT challenge her or expose her lunacy
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We’re clearly the mugs.
Slightly left field but has anyone noticed that Prince Charles each day looks more and more like the older bloated Bonnie Prince Charlie. Just goes to show how much of an inter-familial dispute it really was.
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Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Catholic «liberator» who in bloated old age received a British state pension and died an Anglican.
Oh Scotland, how easy thou are led up the garden path.
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Yes Michael Boyd Prince Charles face does indeed look bloated. and one wonders if he has a problem with the drinkie poos. The old aunty Margaret was steeped in the drink, and the old granny the queen mother steeped as well..
Of course we don’t know brother Andy’s penchant for the bevvy. But we do know his penchant for young women, airmiles, nd hanging out in billionaire flesh pots – just like Aunty Maggie,with Mystique and the young male friends. Or uncle Lord Louis, a bed hopper extraordinaire too.
But hey-ho – the Royals are doing as they have always done – nookie, bevvy, betting and living off the backs of others.
A bloated coupon is only a part of it.
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Now we all know what Sturgeon and her cronies have been up to. What’s fun is they now know we know. All policyical careers end in tears. The only question now is it when.
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