A contribution from former SNP Group Leader on Renfrewshire Council Brian Lawson
Some folk would prefer that we condemn the UK Government than comment on SNP shortcomings. I have been condemning the UK Government for the past 50 years but they just don’t seem to be listening ! I live more in hope than expectation that the SNP might still be listening. It is a fact that local government and both the Scottish and UK governments are run by political parties. These political parties implement policies – or in many cases sadly fail to.
Independence for Scotland will be won or lost mainly on the policies of the SNP by it winning the hearts and minds of voters. It has been that way especially since the creation of the Scottish Parliament back in 1999.
Simply haudin yer wheesht and hoping for independence will not work.
We will not gain independence by simply pointing to the ills of our southern neighbours and the actions of their government. The actions of Humza Yousaf, the SNP and the Scottish Government now dictate when and if Scotland sees independence. The voters I still speak to on a regular basis do not want to hear too much about the council tax in Birmingham – they don’t live in Birmingham. There is little point in spending the rest of our lives individually building a case with undecided voters when our own government is attacking the very foundations of that case on a daily basis. CalMac is a perfect illustration of the problems that we face. The procurement failures of the CalMac ferries have a cost both financially and politically. The Scottish public see a failure to make the best use of what finances we have been granted by the UK parliament and they now increasingly begin to wonder if a fully independent Scottish Government can be trusted to control the considerable wealth of our nation.
I suspect that most of Scotland’s electorate already accept that we are getting a less than fair financial deal from Westminster. We cannot expect to take Scotland forward to independence when the existing devolved parliament we have been granted by the UK makes decisions that many undecided voters find bizarre. For example, the bargain sale of the Scotwind leases, the long term failure to replace the Council Tax, the ferry fiasco, hate crime legislation, gender recognition, the failure to support the Grangemouth refinery and yes – the introduction of tax free ports.
The coming general election will decide the future of Scottish politics the next few years, at least until the Scottish Parliament elections in 2026. The loss of those elections by the current Green / SNP government would see independence off the political agenda for a long time. The clock is ticking but when does the alarm go off?
Brian Lawson.
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I get your point clearly Brian. I accept most of it.
You are correct for many that the SNP means independence despite the fact that they have since 2014 just talked about it, usually just before a vote. There current policy on independence is a joke. They are regrettably the Scottish administration branch office for England.
Because of their failure on independence, there arrogance in ignoring others opinions and there pathetic policy failures they are making themselves for me unelectable. The real rub for me in addition to all of this is identity politics and the apparent take over of a once great party by this cabal.
I can never again vote SNP. I will vote for the ISP if they stand in my constituency or an independent if they support independence. If neither of these options are available I will spoil my ballot paper with #endtheunion.
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Brian is right, though, andy, because we do girn about the mote in England’s eye while ignoring the beam in our own. We need to take responsibility for our own shortcomings and lack of nous and courage.
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” The loss of those elections by the current Green / SNP government would see independence off the political agenda for a long time. ” .
As would the winning of those elections by the current Green/snP Gov .
How much more evidence for this is required ?
Continuity Clown Yousaf & rest of the Troupe after , again , attempting to insult our intelligence by – NOW – mentioning the ” I ” word constantly , having excised it from their vocabulary since the run-up to the last election , are no longer even bothering to disguise the fact that approach-wise NOTHING has changed – their * strategy * ( HA ! ) is to continue begging W.M for permission to hold a – let’s not forget ….Non-Binding… Referendum ; so , even in the extremely unlikely event of W.M sanctioning another Ref and YES * winning * it , there would be no compulsion on the part of the Brit State to honour it . This is totally academic , the Brit State will never sanction another Ref , or would only do so if it KNEW it would win , eg by fair means or foul .
Short of a total internal revolution , purging the Devolutionists , Bad Actors , * Gender * Zealots and accumulated debris- and the chances of that are as remote as Betelgeuse – there is no hope of Independence being achieved , or even the possibility being progressed , under the snP .
NONE WHATSOEVER .
Sure , neither is there under a BLIS or any other unionist Gov . The difference being that the entire idea of Independence wouldn’t be tarnished as it is being so now with the outrageous , authoritarian actions , coupled with the ” another fine mess ” slapstick incompetence of the post-Salmond snP
Yes , the polls may be consistently breaking 50/50 – or thereabouts – despite the woeful performance of the present Gov , and that’s a good thing , obv , but as ” the map is not the territory ” neither are polls any guarantors of future outcomes and in Political terms there’s a long way to go until the next H.E .
Who knows how much more damage this mob will do before then ?
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Robert, you are right. No way are we getting independence with or without the SNP/Green coalition because they are simply not prepared to advance it one iota. That is the harsh reality. Too many believed the nonsense that so-called ‘progressive’ policies – which are draconian and utterly regressive, in reality – would free up Scotland to vote for independence. Is that pink, porcine object above my cranium a blimp left over from WWs I and II? We are being lied to – not just manipulated and used but actually lied to, and it is way past time that we stopped believing these lying toads.
We find out that Ash Regan – yes, the Ash Regan – actually voted for this latest legislation which is nothing short of totalitarian, I do not care how many so-called measures have been built in to prevent its being draconian. It is draconian. I have never seen so many lawyers so opposed as one to a piece of legislation – except the tame Unionist and SNP ones, of course. It isn’t just that it is aimed at protecting one ‘special’ group at the expense of the majority of the population, but that it is a blight on Scottish society that rightly prides itself on being at the forefront of the 18th century Enlightenment, when freedom of thought and action were principles every Scot embraced. We are a supine and despicable race these days and, although the SNP cannot have all the blame heaped at its door, it does deserve the brickbats it receives.
We will be staring into the abyss very soon if the Greens are not dislodged, along with all the useless drone that occupy SNP seats at present. Give the SNP the fright of its life and refuse to waste our votes on them. They have betrayed us in so many ways, they are too numerous to count. Let a real independence movement arise that is supported by the people, and particularly, by the wee folk at the bottom of the heap. ALBA has also betrayed the aspirations of those who left the SNP to join it by following the same policies to a large extent as the SNP/Greens. Not use. We need new and revolutionary and radical ideas that reflect our country, not imported nonsense from Canada and New Zealand with a green label stuck on it.
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Spot-on as ever , Lorna . Hope you are well my friend
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I have received brickbats because I don’t believe or accept Ash Regans EXCUSE for voting for the REVILED HCA , I accept the brickbats willingly because I despise untrustworthyness and will NOT accept attempts at misleading or excusing stupidity or duplicitous behaviour
My question for ASH REGAN and everyone who voted for this reviled act , Do you believe that Scots are so vile and despicable and so uncaring without empathy or compassion that they REQUIRED additional draconian laws aimed at SILENCING freedom of speech and the opinions of people who are intelligent enough to know right from wrong
The FACT that these people voted for this REVILED act shows ME the contempt that they hold for us voters , and in doing so I personally will show my contempt for them by never voting for them again
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Aye you’re correct Brian. We’re in a midden of nicoliar’s making. It’s not incompetence. It’s by design. That’s the only thing that makes sense to me. These young pathetically looking for another brain cell is down to the liar. Well done the British establishment. Well done nicoliar and pete. And. Jesus. Well done Alex. you brought them in. I’m still a member of ALBA , but it’s a shooghly peg for me.
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Brian is correct when he states that the actions of the SNP/Green coalition government are “bizarre”, but they are also dangerous and hugely damaging to our economy, our culture and our people.
Given the number of crazy schemes and clear evidence of incompetence for which there seems no end, it is difficult to come to any other conclusion than this is being orchestrated by the English government masquerading as the UK.
With the SNP intent on self-destruction and losing tens of thousands of its members in the past 3 years it has now taken a giant lurch to the right by partnering the Tory government at Westminster to create freeports and special economic zones in Scotland. Almost unbelievable that the SNP/Green coalition is complicit in this ultra right wing agenda. Whatever happened to the left of centre competent party that we once knew?
We are edging closer to the next general election and given the evidence from the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election where they had to pay to have their election material delivered, they are in no position to put up an effective resistance to the colonialist parties.
The introduction of the Tory freeports and special economic zones was another opportunity squandered to confront Westminster but instead we had Kate Forbes writing to Gove “I very much welcome the resumption of joint working between the Scottish and UK government, on a partnership basis….” She went on to say “I believe the agreement reached, as reflected in your letter, is a fair and balanced one…..” Ooh Michael, we are so so grateful, if Scotland rolls over will you please tickle our belly?
As I have mentioned before, I wonder what the SNP worthies of yesteryear would think about their party partnering a right-wing Tory government to assist them in their plunder of our considerable resources and providing safe havens for their tax-avoidance schemes. Once they have their foot in the door” we can expect them to squeeze every last penny of profit at the expense of our people.
That will be similar to what James VI stated on 31 March 1607 when he was speaking to the English Parliament about how a union would benefit them much more than Scotland. He said:
But what Preparation is it which I crave? Only such as, by the Entrance may shew something is done, yet more is intended.
In other words, once convinced to join the union Scotland will be open for plunder and once those freeports are in place Scotland can expect that “more is intended.” They will use the fact that they are unregulated (except by themselves) and unaccountable to take whatever they wish and experience shows that the enormous cleanup costs will be borne by the people of Scotland.
So, not only complete incompetence by this Scottish government , matched only by the incompetence and complicity of 30 of the 31 Scottish Commissioners selected by Queen Anne to negotiate the Treaty of Union, but also a betrayal of the sovereign people of Scotland.
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“at least until the Scottish Parliament elections in 2026. The loss of those elections by the current Green / SNP government would see independence off the political agenda for a long time. “
Newsflash they’ve been OFF the table for a decade now under the SNP and lately the Greens, what makes you think the next decade won’t be full of the same under these two supposedly indy parties?
In my opinion things will get worse before they get better, and by that I mean we’ll need to oust these two parties and suffer whilst whilst new indy blood filters in at Holyrood
Of course we could all just vote ISP and shorten or pain a wee bit.
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I joined the SNP when I was still at school. Support for the SNP was enthusiastic and increasing. A mock election was being held at school and the SNP were clear favourites. I was the candidate. Support was way too vociferous and enthusiastic and the school authorities stopped it.
At that time there was only one word on the SNP policy card, “independence”. Economic policies and potholes in roads were not getting any mention.
The word has been lost along with any sense of direction and drive.
The SNP politicians ave demonstrated that they seem content with running a colonial outpost of Westminster. They have also demonstrated that they could not run a tap.
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what finances we have been granted by the UK parliament.
That should read what SANCTIONS the UK parliament has inflicted on Scotland.
Think differently.
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Interesting comments Brian.
I fully understand your comments about independence being won through hearts and minds mainly due to the policies of the SNP.
As an individual like so many who spent a lifetime in the SNP developing it to the hugely successful campaigning machine that it became under Salmond and others I can fully understand the sentiment that you express. But the SNP of then is not the SNP of today. Rather the SNP is a party actively against independence and against the wishes and aspiration of the people.
By every metric, and I mean every metric, the SNP are failing. To use the buzz words it is hate, dislike and dismay that they now engender. Bad and incompetent government, detested policies, they fail on every front and not just on independence.
Those left in the SNP may believe that some voters may hold a residual attachment for the SNP. That I believe is a wrong assumption. A recent UK Gov poll predicted that the SNP would lose 29 of their 28 Westminster seats. That I think is over generous to the SNP as voters more and more decide that they will not, even through gritted teeth, vote for them. The political landscape for the colonial administrators has changed.
Indeed, even as Scotland reels from the latest lunacy of the HCA it emerges that the authoritarian SNP / Green alliance is is preparing even more unpopular legislation whereby in relation to household bin uplift, households who put garden waste in their bin, or bottles in with the plastic will be issued a fixed penalty fine.
Quite how that is going to work is a big question. How do you make a household liable for a fixed penalty fine where someone may have put something in the bin. What will the burden of proof be. Will all the members in the household be vicariously liable for the actions of someone. And what of the bin collectors who are now going to be trained to issue fixed penalty fines. They are not going to be popular. And all the while bin uplift to homes is reduced to once every three weeks whilst in some councils charges are levied for garden waste bins.
It’s a joke, it comes on the back of a failed bottle return scheme that cost the country many tens of millions of pounds and where supermarkets are now suing the Government for loss. Yes we need to cut waste, improve recycling, but for the last ten years the government have utterly failed to drive down waste. And now the punters are to be hounded. It’s just another example, small example of how the authoritarian woke trans obsessed SNP are out of touch – on the road to extinction.
But yes Brian, I think I do understand your residual sentiment. The SNP once was but that is not now. Time they as colonial spoilers were gone.
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Independence is already off the table. The SNP are not interested in achieving something that will end the Vote Harvesting Machine that oils their gravy train.
What women in her right mind would vote SNP to be sent to a “re-education Centre” to correct her wrong thoughts on Gender Ideology?
What Father, Husband, Brother or Uncle would throw the Women in his life under the TransCult Bus to achieve Independence?
Would any supporter of Free Speech vote for the SNP Party?
What Scot who believes that the People are Sovereign would vote SNP when they keep telling us that they don’t?
The fastest route to Independence requires the destruction of the SNP. I recently left Alba because they have followed the same path as Labour and the SNP.
The only people to whom I will give my vote and my money too are ISP and Indy4Indy
The SNP who wasted the Brexit window of opportunity.
Who removed Democracy from the Membership
Who stole £667,000 from us
Who forced though GRRA and the Hate Bill
Who rigged the NEC with affiliates for the TransCult
Who forced out 50% plus of the Membership
Who put the Greens in Power to keep control of Holyrood.
Who refuse to work with the wider YES Movement
Who deliberately set up Marches to conflict with AUOB
Who set up fake “Women’s Groups” to rig consultation.
Who put a MAN in charge of a Rape Centre.
I’ll stop there but I still have a couple of A4 pages if anyone is still uncertain about voting SNP.
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Why don’t you tell it as it is Clootie? Your list is damning no doubt and as you mentioned there are many more issues that could be added.
I began by being disappointed about the inaction after the referendum just when we should have been preparing the nation for independence. However, those feelings of disappointment quickly turned to incredulity at the golden opportunities missed that even if they did not result in independence at the very least kept up the pressure on Westminster and in the eyes of the people of Scotland we were still moving forward.
Instead, there was no preparation and no movement! Then came the idiocy, vanity and jealousy of Sturgeon that resulted in the enforced coalition with the Greens and we all know how that has worked out. Despite being rejected by the people of Scotland the Greens did very well.
With just 4.17% of the vote they managed 8 MSPs including 2 Ministers – not a bad day’s work!
On the Regional Vote the Greens achieved 220,324 votes and returned 8 MSPs
The SNP on the Regional Vote achieved 1,094,374 votes and returned 2 MSPs
Therefore, for the Greens it took just 27,541 votes per MSP elected.
For the SNP it took just 547,187 votes to elect each MSP.
The SNP were warned that the rejection of going for a supermajority would result in a large number of unionists being returned to Holyrood. However, Oor Nickla’s private agenda trumped any thoughts of working with any other party – especially Alba. She did not care what the result would be as long as Alba was kept at bay, therefore her strategy was a terrific personal success – for the people of Scotland, not so much!
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36 votes Slater. Didn’t she/her/it do well
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Have to agree Clootie. I’ve left ALBA for the same reasons as yourself. You ask the question “what woman in her right mind would vote for SNP”. I think the answer to that would be none. None in my family and that’s quite a few votes lost, and no just the women, the men in the family too. So there’s a few votes up for grabs here, but looking round, no one to vote for. What a sad disastrous state Scotland is in just now. Would make you weep.
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The Northern Irish doctor is my MP. Hopefully he’ll loose his position and have to rely on the HCA to recoup that position..ie I’m calling him a unionist fanny 🙃
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What often surprises me is, given what we’ve long known about the SNP/Greens there are people who still want to talk about them as if nobody amongst us was aware of how utterly decadent and dangerous they have become. Both parties are irreformable, and no amount of commentary is going to make a damn bit of difference to that simple fact. The whole sordid story is likely to be much better served by our future, clearer-eyed, much better informed Scottish historians, in my opinion.
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Sorry to say but I think there are still many, many people who will vote SNP despite everything. Admittedly I am only getting a view from the small community where I live but none of the stalwarts of the SNP branch have resigned and one is the prospective candidate for Westminster. She is excellent – intelligent, energetic – yet she is sticking with the SNP.
Why is Alex Salmond allowing Alba to be spoiled? It seems an extraordinary thing for him to do. What a waste of 3 years effort to get an alternative to SNP off the ground to allow it to be ruined.
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I agree 😒
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