Yesterday I reposted on this blog an open letter from the Indian Council of Scotland. In their letter they stated that they were withdrawing all support from the SNP. It went on to say that the Council had good relations with all political parties in Scotland. They complain that the attack on the Dundee Nursery by Humza Yousaf is both unjust and unfair. They had sought a meeting with the First Minister which has been ignored. Their specific concern being a breach of the Ministerial Code by the Health Minister, Humza Yousaf, MSP, and the complaint with regards to the Care Inspectorate. They also go on to state that they have put in an official complaint with regards to the conduct of the Care Inspectorate and are asking for an independent enquiry.The claims by the council suggest Humza has been involved in making fake nursery applications, making comments in a radio interview to Jeremy Vine of the BBC inciting racial hatred, not following the proper procedures and much more.
If any of this is true then it most certainly merits some kind of inquiry. They go on to say that the First Minister has thus far failed to engage with them on this matter. Again if this is true we feel that it is unacceptable. However, until the matter is investigated properly, it all remains speculation and counter allegation.
What happened after I posted this open letter actually brought to my attention the myth of this so-called Civic Nationalism many like to preach. The President & Chairman of the Indian Council of Scotland Neil Lal is an ex-member of the Tory Party. When I enquired into this matter, I was assured that Mr Lal had actually resigned from the Tory Party sometime ago.
That, of course, should not make a blind bit of difference to this complaint. If there has been wrong doing then it needs to be called out and dealt with in a fair and just manner.
That someone’s politics should determine whether or not they are entitled to natural justice should not come into the equation at all. Indeed, if Mr Lal was still a member of the Tory Party or even an advisor to Boris Johnson that should make not an iota of difference in this matter.
Several years ago Stu Campbell of Wings Over Scotland was the first to warn us that the likelihood of Ms Sturgeon’s SNP bringing us another Independence Referendum were slim to none. He also warned us of the woke faction that had taken up prominent positions within the SNP. (Usually without the backing of the SNP membership.) He uncovered the plan to introduce self-identification. He warned us all that this would bring division and cause havoc. This resulted in him being attacked from all sides. Latterly this woke faction had him banned permanently from Twitter and were perhaps even instrumental in making Stu walk away from the cause. Sadly, even SNP MPs and MSPs expressed joy that the movement had lost their best source of detailed information.
Everything he wrote or published was ‘trumped’ with cries of Fake News! He, as a source was rubbished and traduced at every turn. We were told not believe any wrongdoing or lies he exposed because it was from the dreaded Wings.To this day nobody has been able to cite a single inaccuracy or false claim by Wings Over Scotland. They never will!
The same tactic has been used on many of us other bloggers. Craig Murray is in jail because of his beliefs. A loose cannon, an eccentric don’t believe him they cried. Craig apparently wasn’t suitable to be an SNP candidate but Pete Wishart, Kirsty Blackman, John Nicholson et al all passed vetting! Make of that what you will.
So yesterday when this open letter broke the SNP hate Brigade quickly went to work. Even the in-house magazine The National joined in the smear campaign.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/19726991.indian-council-scotland-leaders-attacking-humza-yousaf-scottish-tory-allies/
THE chairman of the “council” that made headlines accusing Humza Yousaf of breaking the ministerial code is also the president of a Scottish Conservative group, The National can reveal.
This is then reason to deny a fair hearing? We should ignore the complaint? This is Civic Nationalism at work? Does ‘Civic Nationalism’ only apply to those that meekly submit to the doctrine of the SNP and Yes orthodoxy? If you are a member of a Unionist political party or a New Scot that believes the union is best are you to be ignored if you bring forth any complaints?
Lady Dorrian at Craig Murray’show trial told us there is to be two sets of justice when it comes to the written word. MSM journalists are unlikely to face any prosecutions, citizen journalists will be held to much higher standards of probity.
“The applicant describes himself as a โjournalist in new mediaโ. Whatever that may involve, it is relevant to distinguish his position from that of the mainstream press, which is regulated, and subject to codes of practice and ethics in a way in which those writing as the applicant does are not. To the extent that the submissions for the applicant make comparisons with other press contempts, and the role of mainstream journalists, this is a factor which should be recognisedโ.
Is this now going to be extended into the rest of society? It seems so, if you are a woman and a man that self identifies as a woman then exposes himself in a female changing room you are the guilty one if you dare to complain and suggest he is a male and is ‘flashing’ in your safe space.That will be a Hate Crime and the lady in question could face jail time.
Meanwhile, if you are one of the SNP Woke crowd you can attack, abuse, threaten and try and have fellow SNP MPs expelled from the party with absolutely no repercussions. To face expulsion you just need to hold a different view from the woke Brigade.
As I write this I know that some of the SNP Children division/wokerati on Facebook have complained that by just posting the Indian Council open letter I am using hate speech and they want me removed from FB permanently.
I came under sustained attack yesterday because apparently Indian Tories deserve no justice, no hearing, no opinion. I would like to make clear I do not know if the Indian Councils complaint is worthy. I do however support their right to a fair hearing. Nobody in Scotland should feel that there is one set of rules for them and no rules for others. That is very unionist and one of the reasons I became an independinista in the first place.
Nobody has more contempt or disgust for Tories than me. Anyone who knows me will attest to that. However, above all else I am a democrat and a believer in justice for all. I defend their right and stupidity to be Tories. I also defend their right to have natural and real justice.
I am appalled at the way Alex Salmond, Mark Hirst, Craig Murray, Marion Miller have all been treated by the Scottish legal system. I say we have had enough of kangaroo courts and the dismissing of people because their views are contrary to the accepted norms of the Scottish Government.
If Civic Nationalism is to mean anything we all have to accept different views, races, sexual orientation. We do not have to agree with any of them, but we must not exclude or deny any citizen a fair hearing and justice.
I have passionately believed in an independent Scotland my entire adult life. I do not though want an independent nation that removes the rights of people because of their political or religious views, skin colour or sex. As Voltaire said, “I disapprove of whatย you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
It’s getting very Fascist over here, don’t you think? Speaking of which, wrong think and thought crime will be next no doubt, if not already here…Whatever happened to good old fashioned debate, swapping views, discussing the ideas and concepts. They are SO shit scared of that and it shows them up for what they are.
Debate vanished the day we accepted a narcissist as leader of the SNP.
You haven’t seen the latest fiction produced in the National by the French Lieutenant’s Woman , Kate Forbes , the failed SNP MP Candidate Gordon McIntyre-Kemp and the Canadian Scot Green Goblin ?
Its embarrassing made up crap that the Unionists are quite rightly laughing at , I think She that much be obeyed is using the Clueless Greens to dismantle the Indy movement and leave it in tatters.
Alex Salmond should be taking Sturgeon to the cleaners on this level of incompetence , but will we even hear from him ?
๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ปSure did.
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It seems to me that ns has been surrounded by advisors that have led her into a place that she can’t get out of now, and the damage that has been done is close to terminal
But what’s the solution? Alba and isp have made a start but can they make up enough ground in the next few year to make a difference.? Sincerely I hope so, there’s a lot of people out here that need a different party to those in government and oppose the union
Ah, the fable of the good Tsar โฆ..
The SG reality deniers now hold sway โthey know best at all times and no marginal agenda will be failed to be introduced even when itโs entirely contradictory to their election platform.Decent principled politicians are relentlessly attacked by children hunched over keyboards at the behest of this mob and wee appearances on Twitter from individuals you would cross the street to avoid on appearance alone keep cropping up .What to do ? -well the binning of the forgetful one would be a start along with Angus and his geographically dislocated partner but l feel that wonโt happen until wee Nicola heads off for the UN or some such โthe struggle continues
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I got a first email from John Smythe Investigations some days ago and found he has produced several lists concerning meetings between Civil Servants and the initial complainers against the conduct of Alex Salmond, Ms A and Ms B.
These show meetings had begun well before the official investigation and both Ms A and Ms B were in contact with each other and Civil Servants before this. These functionaries also met together at times before this was officially recognised and there is evidence from partially redacted material as well as a time line.
The Investigating Officer informed both complainants of her forthcoming role before it was officially assigned to her and was ‘phoned into’ at least one meeting where she stated on oath that she ‘was not physically present’ at the time, which was the truth bit not the whole truth.
Interesting reading and a lot to take in but it does look as if there is sufficient evidence to suggest that the complaints were not dealt with according to the procedure that these people had themselves devised.
If Alex Salmond or any one else might have it in mind to seek clarity on these matters, there could be serious repercussions for the FM and Scottish Government concerning their handling of the affair.
Meanwhile good news – apparently Craig Murray is to be released on the morning of November 30th.
๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ปUN wid be a ruddy fool to take on a natural bor Liar.Any fool wid be .Deceiving Liar Compulsive Liar.
Many political viewpoints are held in society. Far more than would ever be possible to be represented by political parties. I always welcome it when a Party more aligned to my views wins an election but I never have, nor ever will demand that the other Parties be silenced or banned ( even the NF. I prefer them in the light rather than hiding in other Parties).
I also prefer a strong opposition to landslides and total power.
Ar first I thought the biggest threat to society was Womenโs Safety and their Rights. However I am becoming increasingly alarmed at the silencing of debate. Every Question or concern is now shouted down and it looks like politicians, Courts, The Police have all accepted this wedge being driven into society. People being โnon platformedโ, Lecturers being forced out of their jobs, Politicians being threatened, deselected or removed via rigged procedures. At a lower level I know of several major companies who are โexpecting certain behaviourโ e.g. the visible display of pronouns. The language being used is – commitment, team player, alignment. The real message is your career and pay grade depend on you shutting up. Does anyone really belief you will pass vetting as a candidate in the SNP, Labour, LibDems if you question or Challenge the Wokerati Faith. It is already being done!
Free speech is under threat. Look at the Courts – a Women who has been raped by a Man ( claiming now to be Trans) was threatened with contempt if she did not use โSheโ. If you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth it should be just that and NOT some new official truth ( No legal change certificate existed) However even if it had, being raped by a person with a penis most victims and members of the public would accept HE as a true statement – the truth.
People are being banned from dating sites because of โsex fixationโ over gender.
When you start being told what is permitted to be said and even then what words can be used or not used be afraid. If you let the SNP Taliban push through a Hate Bill crafted by them and Stonewall Women may be the first victims but when you accept one group being silenced donโt be surprised when YOU become the next victim.
Look very, very carefully at how legislation is being pushed through. LAWS which protect Cross dressers and Drag acts but EXCLUDE Women. Legislation which denies debate to those directly funded. Legislation prepared and approved by minority groups to their design.
Someone has to remind Politicians that the People are Sovereign..
โI disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.โ
Voltaire for the 21st century
“I can’t disprove what you say so I’ll threaten you with death if you dare say it”
We, the Sovereign People, need to remind politicians AND the likes of Stonewall – who probably do not understand the concept that WE are Sovereign.
Every Goverment Department and Business who joins the Stonewall โGuidanceโ signs an agreement to keep the advice SECRET.
โParagraph 6 of the terms and conditions of the Stonewall Champions Schemeโ.
We are not allowed to know what they are giving as guidance.
Does that not scare people?
I’m totally in agreement, Roddy, with everything you’ve written above. It’s not just worrying it’s frightening that our socialist-leaning country has been trampled upon and effectively destroyed by the present Scot.Gov manipulators – and in such a short time. Since we, the people are sovereign, we must not allow this to continue. MPs and MSPs will have to realise a choice must be made. If they want to remain in office they need to clear the decks and elect an honest band of politicians to govern Scotland. If not, we show them the road. And the sooner the better for us all.
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It is shameful and so far from what I expect of any political leader.
I was brought up on fair play , honesty and judge folk by actions not looks or nationality. My Gran’s phrase rings in my ears , ” handsome is as handsome does’ or judging books by the cover is not a good idea.
I would expect a decent response not a spurious attack by those for whom we have voted not this mince , abuse and disregard.
I hope any decent SNP MSP’s and MP’s are getting ready to revolt , leave or whistleblow – if they don’t may I warn them now that their seats are under threat . Action not words please.
๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ปSaid the same if they want the job Start Talking or yir the same as the rest.Aiding the๐ฉ๐bags in all they do.
“If Civic Nationalism is to mean anything we all have to accept different views, races, sexual orientation. We do not have to agree with any of them, but we must not exclude or deny any citizen a fair hearing and justice.”.
Well said. I agree with every word.
And this is why the wokeratti must be removed from government, education, law and policing. Until they publicly acknowledge their stupidity, intolerance and fascism.
I just had a look over on the national at the post and comments re the Indian council complaint , OMG how dare these people level accusations at our illustrious she who must be obeyed and her woke warrior Useless , the post alone from the national hack is boak inducing followed up by the cringing sturgeon sycophants makes me wonder if these people are of sound mind or literally rippin the pi++
I despise tory politicians and their lies and corruption but I am finding it harder to distinguish between them and Sturgeon’s tartan taliban
“Sturgeonโs tartan taliban”
Frantz Fanon’s brilliant synthesis of numerous instances of decolonization in Africa and elsewhere tells us precisely what happens when an oppressed people seeking national liberation put all their faith into voting for a single dominant National Party, and this is precisely the outcome we see with the SNP, for example:
1. The National Party elite reaches its own “accommodation with colonialism”
2. Their main purpose then is to delay and prevent independence
3. They behave “like a gang” and become “part of the racket” of colonialism/oppression
4. They maintain a “colonial administration” and use colonial forces to attack the real independence campaigners and leaders
5. Meantime they “feather their own nests” and “prepare for their retirement” (as many did last May)
6. This is what leads to creation of new National Parties who move more rapidly towards securing independence
Based on this ‘model of decolonization’ the SNP needs to be replaced, or change most of its leadership and its focus now.
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Not that I want an indyref and certainly not under Sturgeons tenure, (I want the SSRG’s route) the SNP’s civic nationalism consists on the constitutional front, of giving everyone and their dog a vote on Scottish independence no matter how long they’ve been in Scotland.
This is of course a recipe for disaster for the yes side, and a boon for the no side, and in my opinion it will be Sturgeons preferred route on an indyref if she were to hold one which she won’t. It would give the noes and Sturgeon a platform to say to the world, look at our civic nationalism, we gave anyone who set foot in Scotland the vote, aren’t we a progressive nation.
Well said Roddy.
It was Evelyn Beatrice Hall who wrote “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” in The Friends of Voltaire (Smith, Elder & Co., London 1906), not Voltaire himself.
We at The Indiian Council of Scotland stand firm in our beliefs on working together with every political party for the betterment of our country.
We believe in civil liberties and freedom of speech to which our family’s in the past under the British banner have served with dignity, honour, blood, sweat and tears during the First/Second world wars and many other conflicts. They sacrificed a lot!
India represented at its height before British rule around 1/4 of the world GDP until the British had taken over by force.
We the Indian diaspora in Scotland are a proud diverse group of faiths/cultures. We are educated, hard working, successful, law abiding and deserve every right to voice our public opinions and support any political party to which no one has the right to stop us from this.
We thank this platform “barrheadboy” in supporting our right of freedom of speech.
Unfortunately in a recent article done by a pro New SNP newspaper the “National” to which very few people read and especially after the false/fake stories written by them about our respected organisation, The Indian Council of Scotland which is the leading Indian organisation in Scotland. This is not acceptable and unforgivable! They have insulted the Indian community in Scotland. Shame on them! There is now a full ban on this newspaper from The Indian Council of Scotland. We the Indian community in Scotland earn every right to voice our opinion.
It does not matter whether what party the Chairman and President supports as that is his personal choice after all we live in a democracy or it used to be before the current First minister took over the role and since then the country has gone downhill rapidly.
No one has the right to attack or insult anyone on their political beliefs. We believe in debate, reasoning, freedom of speech and its up to anyone to vote the way they want.
Under this current administration led by the First minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, we live in suffocating, depressing times. There are people in our community who want to leave the country because of the policies and actions of this current Scottish government. This is sad and unforgivable!
The Economy/Health/Education and much more have suffered greatly.
The problem in Scotland is that unfortunately all the political oppositions is weak! They are are not up to the task in doing their checks and balances with the Scottish government. There are many good politicians but the majority are treating it as a gravy train.
In public service I am honured to serve the Indian community and its an unpaid role.
We need to work together not for only us but for the future generations.
Its time for change!
Neil LaL
Chairman and President
of
The Indian Council of Scotland
Well said๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป
Excellent piece of writing BB. You are correct. When it comes to someone’s complaint not being taken seriously because of who they are then that is the end of democracy. You only have to listen to Sturgeons answer to Ross when all he asked was for the hubs to be kept open to continue with the vaccine and Sturgeons answer was an absolute disgrace. That is the FM Scotland has and will stay that way with the SNP picking up around 33% of the electoral vote in elections. A sad place for a once great country to be and will only end from within the SNP. No sign of that. You are absolutely correct on what you are saying. I read yesterdays comment and was sad to see the comment about the Indian guy being a Tory. The Indian people are one of the nicest people around. A credit to Scotland. I don’t think the poster fully understood what he was writing. That is where Scotland is today and it is going to get worse. As for Civic Nationalism in Scotland, well there has never been such a thing. It does not exist.
I would disagree on there never vei g Civic Nationalism in Scotland. Throughout the tenure of Alex Salmond the Civic Nationalism was born and nurtured. Till then all we had was the vile right wing blood and soil Nationalism of the Anglo/British contingent and their House-Jock helpers in Scotland. We need to return to that civic inclusive society neither the Brits or the present SNP leadership are part of the civic and civil discourse.
Fully agree, I would describe the YES movement of 2012 / 2014 as the peak of Civil Nationalism in Scotland to date. The ALBA Conference in Greenock gave a glimpse of what has been lost..
#AlbaRising I hope we,re quick!..โค๏ธ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ