We are now under 10 weeks away from what some are describing as the most important Scottish election ever. Therefore, it was to be expected that the SNP, NEC met last weekend to firm up their plans to win the election and our independence. However, as news from the meeting of the SNP ruling body emerged disturbing facts began to appear.
Instead of spending the meeting discussing the strategy to win the election and deploy their 11 Point Plan for independence the meeting was entirely about ‘Gender’ matters. The Party Leader made one of her rare appearances at the NEC not to drive home plans for Scotland’s liberation but plans to redefine the meaning of transphobia.
Those like myself who are purely motivated by the struggle for independence have been left shocked and bewildered by this action. As more information made its way into the public discourse the ridiculousness of this entire fiasco became known.
It is bad enough that once again the NEC governing body of the party failed to discuss or debate the raison d’etre of the party, Independence. What followed was also an affront to every member and every democrat in the party. When deliberating matters that would have ongoing serious consequences for women, and society in general you would expect the officials, elected by the membership to major on these topics to be the ones leading the discussions. The elected Women’s Convenor and the Equalities Convenor were both in fact sidelined at this meeting by the Chair Kirsten Oswald.
Instead of these two women elected by the SNP membership a person that the membership has rejected not once but twice was given centre stage. Fiona Robertson although voted off of the NEC has managed to inveigle her way back in deputising for an affiliated member that seems unable to attend any meetings nowadays. This set off alarm bells to the remaining honest members on the NEC. The staffers and those that owe their living to the party of course, sat silently as once again any sense of democracy or decency was shredded.
Just as at the previous NEC meeting when the GRA zealots gerrymandered the Regional Lists the chair was again complicit in ignoring democracy and the wider membership.
We are reliably informed that both Robertson and Sturgeon monopolised this meeting. At no time were any dissenting voices to this doctored motion allowed to be heard. The Party Leader apparently droned on for an hour and a half about gender matters and expelling members for reading or endorsing a certain pro-independence blog.
We should all be outraged that the SNP party leader and the SNP NEC have not taken this opportunity to discuss a route to independence. We should all be outraged that instead the NEC chose gender issues and purges. Joanna Cherry we are told was cited by the Party Leader as the source of all that is wrong with the party. Wings Over Scotland is according to Sturgeon a publication of evil. Never has she or any of her sycophants had a bad word to say about the Scotsman, Herald, Mail, Express, Record, BBC, STV. Yet the most popular and widely read pro independence journal is evil.
There can be no doubt now that the SNP is no longer the party of Independence. Its core policy is not self-determination for Scotland. That has been replaced with self-identification and gender. You can now self identify as a woman, a man, disabled, BAME. Whatever you do though, do not identify as an independinista!
A few weeks out from the most important election in Scotland’s history we are getting a description on transphobia but nothing on winning our independence.There is no plan A, B, C or D. The 11 Point Plan is a carrot. It is being used to garner our votes to allow them to introduce GRA reforms that will destroy the social cohesion of our nation forevermore.Do not be deluded by this leadership. There will be no move towards an Independence referendum or plebiscite within the next five years!
There will still be many that will try to wheesht everyone up so that SNP can win in May. Some people will never be convinced that the party has been infiltrated and destroyed from within. There will be some that genuinely still believe that Nicola and her leadership has independence as their core belief. They either refuse to see or believe the evidence before their very own eyes and ears.
In 1945 even as the Russian artillery was shelling the centre of Berlin, there were many Germans that still believed total victory was imminent. It was only after the guns stopped that many realised they had been deluded and lied to in the cruelest fashion.
Wings wrote a brilliant, if chilling account of the meeting at the weekend.
Those of you that do now realise the reality of the situation are probably hoping I may have some magical solution to our problem. Sadly, I don’t have anything magical only practical suggestions. I have now accepted that the SNP is beyond saving in the short term. The rot is too deep and there are too few independence heroes on the inside. We need to create an alternative to this shambolic situation we find ourselves in at present.
Now Scotland is a vehicle that offers us a chance to bring the YES Movement together as one. It is without the taint of politicians.It is a group of dedicated activists. The aim of this new organisation is independence, nothing else. The very thing that the SNP has relegated to a nice to have option. There are far more independence supporters than SNP members. That has always been the case and as time goes on I would suggest that gap is widening.Now Scotland is, a brilliant concept, it is not though a fix for the short-term difficulties we face.
We also have to hope that events can in the short-term bring the SNP back to its core. This coming week the Strichen Lion is about to enter the fray. His dedication, honesty and integrity are not in question. He is a hero to many of us and just as Sturgeon is proving a divisive leader he is the exact opposite. Whatever path, Alec Salmond chooses now will be crucial to the independence cause. Nobody could fault him if he decides that he has done his time at the coalface and that it is now the task of others to save our cause. Should he decide to step into the front line he will come under massive pressure from the corrupt media and the equally corrupt ones surrounding Sturgeon and her gender crew.
We have seen how they treat decent honest folk like Joanna Cherry, Joan McAlpine, Neale Hanvey, Margaret Ferrier, Michelle Thomson, and ordinary decent members like Grousebeater too. It will be nothing to the onslaught that would come Alec’s way.
However, if taking all of that into account he decides that his love of country is such that he needs to act, we must be ready. We the people who place, Scotland’s Independence above all other matters must as one support his every move. Should that be a new political party we must join in massive numbers. If he chooses one of the existing parties, as, a vehicle we must do the same. Should it though be a new entity then those new Independence parties must decide if they should continue or suspend their Holyrood intentions for the greater good.
That is all for the future. This coming week will be pivotal in Scotland’s destiny. Be vigilant and be hopeful. It is always, darkest before dawn.
Great piece and my thoughts exactly. There are more good people fighting for the cause outside of the SNP now than inside. Alec can unite the movement and I’ve no doubt a new party would gain traction very quickly. Would Alec put the SNP to the sword though considering his years of devotion to building the party? I honestly believe the Sturgeon years have been toxic which now make saving the SNP one hell of a task. Routing out the careerists, ideologues, incompetents and Unionists within the party might be more trouble than it’s worth and could take several years so my preferred option is a clean slate with robust vetting bringing in players like Craig Murray and the handful of good guys left in the SNP. This week will be interesting indeed and Alec will be subjected to the most vile smearing yet which I’m sure he’s prepared for. We need to back him to the hilt and call out the lies and slander. We need to build on a platform of honesty and integrity to counter this and the public’s sense of right over wrong will prevail, at least I hope so.
As ever, I agree with you totally. My hope for a long time, through all these travails, was that Alec Salmond would return to the fray, unite us and lead us to independence. I have lost faith in the ‘newSNP’ and after a lifetime of support, feel I cannot vote for what they stand for, I see nothing of the party that is recognisable, even from MPs and MSPs that I once respected! I would join any party that Mr Salmond headed up in a heart-beat, I stand ready, able and willing! Let’s hope and pray that his words hold true that, ‘you’ve no’ seen the last of my bonnets and me’ ! Saor Alba gu Brath!
Great article – I agree with every word.
I am still a SNP member but I wont be donating anything to the campaign. And my second vote will be going elsewhere. I will never forgive the wokeratti especially the murrells, daddy bear and kirsten oswald.
May will be a disaster for the SNP.
Roddy I agree.
There is no quick fix now. Sturgeon has broken the path to independence over the last 6 years. It’s therefore going to take a long time to fix this.
We need a new leader before the next election. That new leader must have the popular support of the yes voters. That new leader must be independence first. The leader must be strong and not afraid of the MSM , or the minorities in the movement.
There will not be a referendum in 2021. There can be a referendum in 2022, but the campaign must start straight after the election. The Section 30 must be dropped leading up to the election and thereafter. We have our referendum made and delivered entirely in Scotland ,under the peoples authority.
The alternative of another 5 years of Sturgeon will be the end of the SNP , and potentially the end of independence for a decade.
Roddy I it would be best if he becabecame the leader of now Scotland.
I disagree, keep it free from politicians. It is a pressure group we still need a political Party to force through the independence mandate.
I agree; it is a pressure group that can force the politicians to be vigilant and remind them where their power comes from – the Scottish people. I am still dealing with the visceral disgust with the Sturgeon cabal and their Stalinist pursuit of Alec Salmond, Craig Murray, Mark Hirst, Grousebeater and many others.
What if Alex no longer wishes to be a politician?
Did you read the blog?
Yes. But the point still is AS is no longer a politician,he hasn’t stated that he wants to be one,and I doubt even he would have the time or energy to save the snp.That ship has sailed. IMO he would be the ideal figurehead for now Scotland. Remember it’s us the people who need a leader. Plus think of the havock he would cause amongst ALL AND I DO MEAN ALL the traitors in holyrood.
Great article and spot on as usual. Heart-breaking really, but SNP is gone. I cannot vote for them as it will be taken as approval for GRA/HCB and condoning the AS Conspiracy – which they may yet get away with. We need a REAL INDY party and quickly, with AS, JC and the rest of the folks who stood up, and this needs to be on the constituency vote and list. Launch it, crowdfund it, get some big donors in and get this ready, with an Indy First Manifesto – and no plan A S30 nonsense. Can this be done before May? I sincerely hope so, if not then we wait, but let’s face it we are not getting a referendum anytime soon with the current lot and an SNP majority will let the cabal run amok.
BB
I wrote in m blog today – We elected the SNP to advance the cause of independence but we are further away from that today then we have ever been. Nicola Sturgeon has done everything in her power to delay the pressing issue of independence, from trying to save England from Brexit even though they voted for it, to not having independence as a central manifesto pledge, to fighting to remove a man from politics who could threatened her hold on power, to promoting gender issues and shutting down free speech to the extent that reading anything not approved by the leader can get you thrown out of the party.
As I wrote yesterday, we now know that Nicola Sturgeon, Peter Murrell, Alyn Smith, Pete Wishart, Iain Blackford, Stuart Hosie, James Dornan, Kirsty Blackman, Linda Fabiani, Bella Calladonia etc are just other obstacles we have to overcome and as McKenna says the SNP under Nicola Sturgeon are now the biggest threat to independence and she has to go and take her drones with her, we need leaders, not drones who will do as they are told no matter how much this damages Scotland and our future. We need a party that wants independence and a leader who will actually fight for it, that sadly is not the SNP right now and it was never Nicola Sturgeon, it was someone with the skills, intellect, and knowledge of an Alex Salmond.
As you said the SNP are no longer the party of independence, and with members appearing unable to take back control, people need to seriously consider their vote in May. Keeping Nicola Sturgeon will set independence and this country backwards by 30 years, we may have to endure a unionist administration for one term as we sort ourselves out into that movement we can be and one that moves forward united with one goal without the SNP.
“Self-Determination or Self-Identification?”
With the SNP under Nicola Sturgeon’s leadership, its more likely to just be a Selfie.
The great attraction of running two or three parties in the list vote is that they can attract independence voters from the unionist parties as well as existing SNP voters. ISP has practically the same manifesto as the SNP and Scotia Future has a far more liberal/conservative manifesto. So there are homes for independence supporters who will not be voting SNP or for SNP clones.
Iain. I agree.
We have to be realistic. There won’t be a referendum this year. 2022 is the high end of optimistic. We might be more realistic looking at 2024 , if we can rebuild the SNP and start a definite process. If Sturgeon gets another 5 years, I will certainly give up for the next decade. The movement will properly start drifting away. Despair and despondency can do that to a people, no matter how strong they are.
Sturgeon is fast becoming a hate figure for us!
“Should it though be a new entity then those new Independence parties must decide if they should continue or suspend their Holyrood intentions for the greater good.”
Solidarity Scotland http://www.solidarity.scot, who will be standing under AFI (Action for Independence) on the list, have previously discussed this scenario and convener Tommy Sheridan, endorsed by the party, has publicly stated that all smaller partys should withdraw if an Alex Salmond led party enters the fray for list seats.
Cause before Party has been Solidaritys position pre 2014.
Tommy has always been a pragmatist contrary to what many others think.
Tommy is a folk hero to many of us. A deep thinker and amazing motivator . I love the passion in his speeches. You can’t fake that.
I agree, BJ! I find Tommy very inspirational. His speeches are passionate & he fills me with hope re independence being the path to a good country where Scots, of whatever origins, can make their own choices & decisions.
I really like that his party (or should I say the AFI), will have nothing but independence in it’s manifesto. Indy will be front & centre in their work. That’s what I want & that’s what I’m aiming for – independence. Nothing more, nothing less.
Again… I agree with every word you’ve written, Roddy. Good, sensible breakdown of where we are and good ideas how to proceed, but – how you can be so calm about the whole thing – I’m RAGIN’! 😉
I was angry with SNP yesterday. Today learning what the ‘new definition’ of transphobia is, I can only say – my disgust with SNP is complete & will not allow me to ever vote for them again (and no, I will NOT hold my nose!). No way will I vote for that evil woman & her acolytes. There would have to be some mighty big changes for me to do so now and I see no signs whatsoever of that happening.
Quite the contrary, I had to ask an MSP what they meant by “Obviously we have to continue to mitigate the worst policies but we need to force WM to… blah, blah, blah…” “What on earth are you talking about!” says I. “We are working toward Independence, where we DON’T have to ‘mitigate’! We put the right policies in place to deal with these issues! And we don’t try to force WM to do ANYTHING. We get out of Dodge!”… No answer… Independence is NOT on their horizon!
“Help us, Alex Wan Salmond! You’re our only hope…” Dammit… where’s our 4-D Communication Ball when we need it!
Well said Sir ! I myself have come full circle on this, I started arguing with people on-line criticizing Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP, Independence first and then we can sort this all out saiz I… But the more I learned the facts about what is actually going on in the SNP the more I became concerned, This next bit fills me with great sadness I have always thought Nicola Sturgeon was Independence greatest asset but the truth is she is now the biggest liability, Rest assured unlike Ms Sturgeon I will fight for our Independence and if if means fighting her..So be it,
I have watched with horror her machinations of the last few days and the worst of this is a statement that she has full confidence in Leslie Evans —is she kidding !.She and her woke compatriots will now do everything in their power to denigrate Salmond and advance any none independence issue .She is an utter disgrace and should be removed from the leaders post immediately but that won’t happen as she has surrounded herself with unionist fellow travellers —she has put the cause back ten years and l detest her for it .
Sandy Brindley of Rape Crisis Scotland is a complete and utter disgrace.
Absolutely agree, Cubby. I have been reading about an academic, I think, it was, in Norway, who is terrified to speak out publicly about what has been happened there with self-ID. Just as is intended here, saying that a trans woman is a biological man is verboten and is a hate crime. However, rape is not a hate crime, and the number of rapes committed by ‘women’ has risen by 300% since the introduction of self-ID in Norway. Suffice it to say that no biological woman has committed rape in Norway. This is what we have to look forward to.
As for the Alex Salmond debacle, they are beneath contempt, these women who insist that they must be cloaked in invisibility under all and any circumstances unto death and beyond. An anonymity order even in an ordinary sexual offences trial is bog-standard and covers the females(s) only in circumstances pertaining directly or indirectly to the case. It cannot, in law, cover anyone in circumstances that are not related to the trial, as these women and the SNPG are trying to claim. Lady Dorrian has already made that plain, but still people like Sandy Brindley undermine the protection for all women when she speaks out like this, just as she undermines protection for women’s when she allows a lying, cheating MAN to take the top job in a rape crisis centre – which is against the constitution of the organization and, as the law stands at present, against the law.
All of this s***e is insupportable and illegal, a gross misuse of power right across the board.
You all have to really think things through here. As stated at the start of the blog, we are only 10 weeks away from the May elections. If we all vote against the SNP and they don’t get a majority, do you think NS will step down? With the way she is acting lately to cling on to power, it would be very unlikely. So not only would a unionist SG rule over the Scottish people for 5 years, but NS will still be in charge of the SNP! At the end of that 5 years most of the voting public will still see the SNP as the major force towards independence. The evidence so far shows it will be difficult to get all the indie parties and Yes groups to unite to form a major competitor to the SNP. It is more likely that the vote will be split and then another 5 years of unionist government.
I understand your anger at the continuing meltdown within the SNP, but please think with your head and not your heart this close to the most important Scottish election that we have ever known. I am a long-term SNP member and shell-shocked as this has all happened, but I will try to fight for change from within. Far better to hold an SNP Scottish Government to account than expose the Scottish people to possibly 10 years of unionist rule. Vote SNP 1st vote and do what you want with the 2nd vote.
Your choice to vote for a corrupt leader and Party. I have not told you or anyone else what to vote you however think you can dictate to me what I should do. I have given no indication one way or the other. However let me say this I won’t vote for a crooked, corrupt party. I won’t vote to see Women’s rights removed. I won’t vote for a draconian Hate Crime Bill. Fortunately I have another Indy Party standing in the Constituency Scotia Future. I wrote to my MSP telling him what he has to do to get my vote his choice whether or not if he listens. My choice who I vote for, not you or anyone else makes that choice for me.
So you won’t print a post that doesn’t agree with your take on things?
So SNP of you!