[althusser]

A extremely well written piece by Chris Derrin on the sinister side of the SNP:

Good article. Well balanced in giving praise to the SNP in various respects, whilst drawing attention to the dark side. There was literally nothing to be gained politically by the constant harassment of people like Murphy, and it was just ugly. Unless the intention is to try to intimidate those who think to challenge them.

[Robon]

I agree, Boogers, it is an extremely well written and balanced piece - thank you for posting it.  For the first time in my life, and I am most certainly not in the first flush of youth, I feel politically threatened in the country I love because I am a unionist and not an SNP supporter.  It is not a position that I feel comfortable with.  Although 50% of the Scottish electorate voted for the SNP at the General election, 50% did not and, I am sure, many feel as I do that they have little or no representation at Westminster.  What is more sinister is the response from many, although I accept not all, SNP supporters that any criticism of the party, its policies or individuals is not only unpatriotic but treacherous in some way.  I am and have always been a patriot and I hope to live long enough to see Scotland returned to political tolerance and reasoned debate once more - I sincerely hope it is.  Interestingly, Aileen, in case you wonder, I believe I am considered to be a 'grown up' by those than know me.

[boogers]

Good article. Well balanced in giving praise to the SNP in various respects, whilst drawing attention to the dark side. There was literally nothing to be gained politically by the constant harassment of people like Murphy, and it was just ugly. Unless the intention is to try to intimidate those who think to challenge them.

That certainly seems to be the case. I find the fact that they've demanded that all of their MP/MSP's sign up to a rule prohibiting any form of dissent sinister and supportive of that theory.

I do think there's an interesting moment of reckoning coming up for the SNP. Sturgeon is a smart woman and judging by her recent rhetoric she understands that FFA and ultimately independence will lead to ruin. Now she needs to placate the 45ers. Not so easy.

[Robon]

@Robon - I too am of a certain age but at least I'm prepared to accept that nothing stays the same forever and that if you want progress then change is necessary.  After all, if change had never happened in Britain we'd still be living in caves and painting ourselves with woad.

Change is not always progress though, Aileen.

[althusser]

That certainly seems to be the case. I find the fact that they've demanded that all of their MP/MSP's sign up to a rule prohibiting any form of dissent sinister and supportive of that theory.

I do think there's an interesting moment of reckoning coming up for the SNP. Sturgeon is a smart woman and judging by her recent rhetoric she understands that FFA and ultimately independence will lead to ruin. Now she needs to placate the 45ers. Not so easy.

Yeh it will also be interesting to see if she introduces any subtle changes to what 'independence' means. Salmond certainly did during his time, to the point where huge control over Scottish economic policy would be have been left with the bank of England. Might she end up advocating some kind of continued 'pooling of resources' I wonder? Imaginative wriggling may be needed!

[Fiverings]

I do think there's an interesting moment of reckoning coming up for the SNP. Sturgeon is a smart woman and judging by her recent rhetoric she understands that FFA and ultimately independence will lead to ruin. Now she needs to placate the 45ers. Not so easy.

  Disagree. What she is quite rightly very wary of is a lopsided deal from Cameron before the Holyrood elections which he is hoping will help Ruth Davidson make some headway against the Tories flatlining in the polls in Scotland even despite the No campaign, and the SNP surge. And we're still waiting to hear what his idea of the most powerful devolved administration in the world is - I wonder which one he envisages overhauling?

[boogers]

Disagree. What she is quite rightly very wary of is a lopsided deal from Cameron before the Holyrood elections which he is hoping will help Ruth Davidson make some headway against the Tories flatlining in the polls in Scotland even despite the No campaign, and the SNP surge.

Still in denial, eh. The problem is, a "fair" deal - one in which Scotland gets FFA and the subsidies are dropped - is completely unpalatable for the SNP. And rightly so - you'd be completely doomed. Despite all of the bleating over oil and the lies spun by Wings over Scotland and the like, the fact of the matter is that Scotland currently gets a damn good deal.

That is why Sturgeon has gone very quiet on the idea of FFA, let alone independence.

This does beg the question... did she believe the hilariously over-optimistic economic projections in the IndyRef white-paper? Or was she simply toeing the party line?

[Fiverings]

 

Do tell, boogers.     Surely you must know.