Iain Lawson is a former SNP Senior Office Bearer and has held numerous roles within the party including being in charge of the Party’s fundraising and administration and creating the ‘Challenge of the Nineties’. He now runs his own online blog, Yours For Scotland Blog
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Great conversation. I would like to ask Collette Walker, why doesn’t the ISP run for the constituency in May’s election and make it a Plebiscite vote. Also has she reached out to Joanna Cherry to join the ISP in a leadership role ?
Excellent, BB and Iain. Lays it all out. I very much agree with Iain’s last remark about getting everyone pushing for the same thing, but Estonia and Scotland are very, very different. In voter make-up, we are much closer to Quebec. Because of the Soviet influence, the Baltic states have always been ready to revolt. Many of the people from all three were sent to the Gulag. We have not suffered that kind of oppression in recent times, and present generations have forgotten that our people were shipped off to slavery in the Carolinas at one time. Furthermore, and I know it is controversial, but our influx of non-Scots origin people is, again, very similar to the Franco-Anglophone split in Quebec. We must remember that almost 75% of rUK voters in Scotland voted NO in 2014.
No one is suggesting that their civil and human rights should be taken from them, or their vote, as some of them appear to believe whenever you write about it. They get angry, but the truth is the truth, and without their allegiance, the Scottish Unionists could not have won in 2014. That is a fact and only by staring it right in the eyes can we decide how to proceed. Few people ever refer to this when they castigate Nicola Sturgeon, and, although I believe she will fall, and must, I also think that she was ever mindful of this minority in Scotland and which comes from the part of the UK from which we wish to separate. Yes, I know about English YES for Scotland, and I have English family myself, both up here and down there, but it is something we are going to have to confront sooner rather than later if we ever hop to win a PRE independence referendum.
In the Baltic States, the Russian minority were offered a stark choice: stay and become Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian citizens and come into the future with us; or go back to Mother Russia. They were given a free vote like everyone else, and you know what, they voted by a large majority for independence in a RATIFYING referendum. That, I think is what we need to do with our minority rUK population: let them know that we have international law on our side in relation to our independence; that the UK signed up to the UN Charter; and that we have the Treaty which we are entitled, as much as England, to use to our advantage. Just like the corrupt practices that have been happening within the SNP and facing up to the reality of them, and confronting them, we must do the same about the rUK vote if we are to stand any chance of winning a second indyref. It will give us a chance if we can both make them feel welcome, but also confront them with the result of they actions last time, as we would not hesitate to do with Scottish Unionists. Then, we might have a hope of winning another referendum. That is why, too, a plebiscitary election would circumvent the anguish, but the Scots never do thing the easy way.
As for the pseudo ‘wokerati’, they are far more dangerous and disruptive than many realize. Left alone, they will, without a shadow of a doubt, destroy the SNP. That they are being used by others, namely corporate interests, to undermine our societal cohesions across the board as well as in specific area (NHS, for example) is very evident, even though they appear not to realize it themselves, being mainly young and naive. That their destructive propensity is being channelled and used by the British State, without their actual knowledge, we should also keep an open mind on; they, themselves, might be hellbent on their own issues, but others, older people in the higher echelons, might be manipulating them for their own, and others’, ends.
The Alex Salmond affair and the shambolic machinations engulfing the Scottish National Party, Scottish government, Procurator Fiscals office, Scottish civil service and Scottish Police Services over the last few years are in my opinion completely understandable. I could not have foreseen the details of the chaos that has consumed our civil governance but I expected it after the result of the referendum of 2014.
The root of the mess Scotland finds itself in is; our devolved Scottish parliament, Holyrood.
Up until the 2014 referendum Holyrood was exciting, a dynamic political place to witness. the 2011 Scottish election result that enabled the referendum made Holyrood for those few years the focus of the world. Had Scotland voted Yes it would have made Brexit look like a side show. In fact Brexit would not have happened.
But it did’nt.
And so far nobody has stopped and taken stock of the impact of the result on the SNP as a party and the Scottish parliament as a seat of governance.
Take the SNP first. What is a party of independence doing running a devolved government? Up until 2014 the answer to that particular question was ‘to show the SNP is a capable party that can run government effectively. But after 2014? Of course no one asked the question because there are a lot of good jobs are involved in Holyrood. But there is a contradiction in a party of independence running a devolved government, because in reality Holyrood is an arm of Westminster. Devolution is a unionist construct.
The Scottish Parliament. Lets be honest here. It is an unnecessary tier of government. Before devolution the Scottish office and Scotland’s councils ran Scotland for 300 years. Holyrood has really only one task that it must carry out on an annual bases. Allocation of the block grant. After dividing up of the Westminster pocket money has been agreed what else is there to do? The MSPs have to look around for issues to campaign for , that is why we get crazy stuff such as Hate Crime and Gender Recognition. Holyrood is an expensive vanity project in a country with the highest drugs and suicide rates in Europe.
I will end with an example of the madness. I gave up membership of the SNP over the issue of ‘Presumed Consent’ with regards to organ donation. The Labour Party introduced the proposal I think in 2016. The SNP voted against the motion. I was amazed why they would vote against such a sensible piece of legislation. So I contacted my MSP Bob Doris and asked for a meeting. His explanation was hard to believe, what he told me was that the SNP group were going to support the proposal but because Jackie Baillie summed up for the motion they the SNP MSPs tweeted each other (during the debate) and voted it down. It is hard to credit it but that is what happened. Of course I told Bob Doris I could not be a member of a party that operated in such a petty vindictive way.
Presumed Consent legislation has still not been introduced. Children waiting for a kidney transplant are still dying.
We are in a mess of our own making. I dont know how we get out of it. I take consolation by watching it without a dog in the fight. Trust me it helps.
Richard: I personally believe that the 2014 indyref result was a massive blow to the psyche of the Scottish people – those who wanted independence. It still makes me angry, but we could have deconstructed it and learned from it. Instead, we decided to pander to NO voters. I can only speak for me, but I knew, from the demographics of the result and from the Crawford and Boyle Report that we were screwed, and the pursuit of another referendum was insanity on stilts. I felt that we had to find another route that would be democratic and legal, but circumvent the Scottish Unionist/rUK NO vote without altering the franchise or damaging anyone civil rights. It was SNP policy for nearly 80 years to have a plebiscitary election to decide the issue, but I can understand why Alex Salmond chose the S30/Ed. Agreement route – quick, east, smart if we had won, and, boy didn’t we come close.
However, there was not a snowball’s chance hell that we would get a second bite of that cherry, although a Cherry might get us a second bite at independence. Coupled with a plebiscitary election, we needed to have the Treaty ‘sound’ in Scots Law, and ready to back a case at the UN if England reneged. Also, international law was on our side.
I don’t completely blame Nicola Sturgeon because I have researching the ‘pokies’ and the tans lobby, in particular. They have captured the American, the Canadian, the Australian, Irish, New Zealand and other governments; they have also positioned themselves within private companies, corporations and legal firms. Always, their agenda is the same: capture, then institute policies that are encased in the fear factor, unplatform, cancel, sniff out dissenters from the orthodoxy, redact documents so that complaints are difficult to prove, refuse to engage, allow no debate, discussion, deny science and cancel the past, denouncing people who were great thinkers for their 18th century beliefs, infiltrate universities so that critical, intellectual rigour goes out of the window.
Yes, Nicola Sturgeon enabled this coup which has taken over the SNP, but the monster has outgrown even her control, I think. It has to be stopped and the same principle that applies to Westminster/Scottish Unionist/rUK alliance on independence, has to be applied to both problems: both must be confronted and overcome. No other way. We need a leader who can do that.
Claude Cockburn said that whilst he frequently doubted what he read in editorials and the Op-Ed articles he found that, on the back pages, the closing prices seldom lied.
I note that in order of lengthening odds the bookies list the following runners in the race to be the next First Minister of Scotland:- Robertson, Forbes, Swinney and Cherry, They give odds for four outsiders ahead of the ninth, Davidson. One name stands out as so far unsullied by recent events.
Too young and inexperienced
Great, heartening broadcast on a rather maddening situation.
What a voice Iain’s got.
I reckon I’d be in kinks listening to him read out the phone book.
Thanks for the work
Ian Blackford is obviously following Nicola’s lead by surrounding himself with dwarfs in the hope he’ll look like a giant. The FM only appoints those she feels are no threat to her, which leaves us with a very lacklustre govt, who simply avoid issues which might upset the applecart.
Good Podcast. We now need to get a plan to get our party back?
Its a bit like the Emperors clothes- we all know we are just waiting on the whole things falling to bits
The situation here is dire, and very closely resembles the situation within the Labour party in Scotland during the early 80’s through to the early 90’s.
I agree with the sentiments expressed by both yourself Roddy and Iain. Iain’s assertion late in the conversation that he favours positive campaigning is well made. I still reside in Barrhead, a town for which I have great affection. Sadly, however, the representatves for the SNP at Scottish and British levels are woeful.
As you’ll probably know, we’re saddled with the Orwellian apparatchik Kirstin Oswald at Westminster (I have indeed voted for the creature twice). Meanwhile, at Holyrood, we have the anodyne boy Tom Arthur (a Barrhead boy himself, but not fit to tie your shoelaces). Both of these creatures are of the Sturgeon persuasion and, as such, cannot represent my best interests.
I find myself, therefore, on the horns of a very painful dilemma. Can I vote for these careerists again? What are the options? I am tempted to spoil both constituency votes and to favour the ISP candidate for the list. I have the sinking feeling that these would be futile gestures.
Do I refrain from voting entirely? Sadly, this is an option I am strongly considering.
If there is a significant change of leadership before the coming election (due to take place in 14 weeks…) and a change for the better, I will reconsider.
I have never been a member of the SNP, but I have supported them since 1998 (having shamefully voted for Jim Murphy in 97. I know. Apologies.) and have leafletted my area to lend my back to the cause. I feel rather stupid now.
Always nice to hear from another Barrhead man Neil. I do indeed know the two candidates in question.Tom was of course, in my branch and I assisted in ensuring he gained the nomination originally. He is not alone in this slavish devotion to Nicola Sturgeon who I truly believe to be a corrupt leader that needs removed.As to Kirsten I would rather just not comment, disappointed doesn’t come close to expressing my feelings. I would never tell anyone how to cast their vote and I sympathise with your dilema. The problem of course is Sturgeon and her crooked cabal know it too. I have already directly told Tom I will be voting ISP on the List. As to Constituency I have committed to him he has my support however his dalliance with the Daily Record last week has now cast even that into doubt.
There are not many books on Scottish independence, and few if any academic textbooks.
Please let me know if you wish to discuss my book: ‘Doun-Hauden: The Socio-Political Determinants of Scottish Independence’
Alf Baird
I think I would need to read it first Alf.
BB – I can vouch that Alfs book is absolutely a very important contribution to the debate, and I truly beseach you to please read it as a matter of urgency!
BTW excellent show today, well done you both.
Respect, as ever.
😉
I’m not from Barrhead Roddy, but I am thinking of giving my 2nd vote to the ISP. Unfortunately I have tried to contact them on facebook, on their website, and in an email to their enquire address, with absolutely no replies! I was asking about their politics on the right/left spectrum and a specific query about the voting system. Their website doesn’t tell much about the people involved and if they want our votes they will surely have to speak to us. Can you help with this in any way?
Listen to my podcast on Friday I have the Leader of the Party as my Guest.
Thanks for that I will listen in – but it seems strange that they cannot actually reply to my queries. My 2nd vote is still in the balance so far.
Why strange? I am not a member of any party so better that a spokesperson answers your quesries not just an observer of politics. I have the same access to facts as you, I made my investigations to reach my decision it is up to you and others to do the same.
It’s available here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doun-Hauden-Socio-Political-Determinants-Scottish-Independence/dp/B086Y6MMH2/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=doun-hauden&qid=1612363093&sr=8-1
Happy to send you a copy.
I will gladly purchase a copy All wages of the day should be paid. A craftsman should be rewarded
SNP are bought and sold for Euro gold. Sic a parcel o’ rogues in a party.