It cannot be denied by any rational person that the Independence Movement is split asunder. People can offer their suggestions as to why, however nobody can refute the fact. Many are disgruntled because in her entire 7 year tenure Nicola Sturgeon has done absolutely nothing to advance the cause of independence.That is an indisputable fact. Others are angry with Nicola and the SNP because of her obsession with Gender Politics. Many are disgusted at her subservience to the British Establishment and media. Thousands are repelled by SNP trough dwellers sniping at independence supporters, like the member for Perth and North Perthshire.
I do not know how many times I have posed the question ‘Name three things that SNP has done to practically advance the cause of independence since November 2014. Receiving any replies is unusual, which is in itself telling. When the polls were favourable some tried to show this as a practical measure taken by Sturgeon. They obviously did not understand a simple question. Nor do they understand the complexities required to achieve our independence.
Since September 2014 the SNP have not addressed the issues that caused us the most damage during the Referendum. Currency, Borders, EU/EFTA. In 2019, the SNP Conference voted overwhelmingly to have a separate Scottish Currency and Central Bank. This has never been integrated or articulated as an SNP policy. Frustratingly, just this week Ian Blackford has been accused of “misleading Scots” after pledging the currency of an independent Scotland “wouldn’t have to change” amid an internal party row on that policy.
Blackford made a guarantee to Scots that the pound “they had in their wallet today will be the pound they have in their wallet on the day after independence” adding “it won’t change” in the event of a future Yes vote.
https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/ian-blackford-scottish-independence-indyref2-25981993
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48069470
Once again the so-called ultimate power in the SNP, the Party Conference is being ignored. Until Ms Sturgeon inherited the leadership, Conference decisions were sacrosanct and always became Party Policy. This obsession with Sterlingisation by Sturgeon is very stupid because it is at odds with the SNP oft stated desire to get back into the EU. You cannot be in the EU when you do not control your own currency. Funnily enough nobody ever asks anyone from the SNP to explain this contradiction in terms. Not unsurprisingly there has been no plan or timescale given on how an independent Scotland can regain entry back into the EU.
However, without a doubt the biggest cause of division in the YES Movement has been the ditching of Independence as the SNP raison d’etre and replacing it with Gender Politics and Self-Identification in particular. This issue has seen thousands of women leave the SNP. It most certainly was a huge factor in another four independence parties being formed in the past 3 years.
The Woke faction although a tiny, tiny minority within the SNP and Scotland are elevated above all others in Sturgeon’s party. This group are a particularly viscious, nasty, bullying faction.They are also it seems, above reprimand. A perfect example of that is John Keihlmann, a man who threatened women with armed struggle. He is still in the Party and very much one of the Sturgeon in crowd. His comments were so offensive Westminster suspended him for his threats. Just think what Westminster will tolerate to realise just how toxic this guy is to have been suspended by them!
However not only was he not expelled from the SNP, he didn’t even face any punishment for his outburst. He was never asked to explain his violent threats to the Conduct Committee! Worse still, he was encouraged to stand for the SNP NEC. Like inviting a struck off medical professional to join the General Medical Council.
Meanwhile, MPs and SNP Party spads daily attack Joanna Cherry for daring to defend women’s rights and safe spaces. They to a man or woman are also untouchable. They never face sanctions for their actions. Actions that contravene both the SNP Constitution and rules. Not once has Nicola Sturgeon spoken out against the bullying of Joanna Cherry. She should be thoroughly ashamed of her betrayal of a fine colleague and fellow female.
This blog has been advocating that unity is required if we are to win our independence. Therefore, it is up to the leadership of the SNP and Nicola Sturgeon in particular to address the issues that are at present causing division. They need to drain the swamp.
What these two fissures in the movement have in common is a lack of transparency. For four years or more Angus Brendan MacNeil, MP, has tried to have a motion on a Plan B to independence debated at both Annual and Spring SNP Conferences. On each and every occasion, the leadership has blocked this topic being discussed by its governing body. That really is the strangest thing of all. Why would an Independence Party not want to debate independence? Why would an independence party leader not want this topic debated? If her Gold Standard Section 30 route is the best option surely after open debate Conference would agree?
The other dividing issue, GRA Reform/Self ID has also never been debated by the membership. This most controversial legislation is to be prioritised at Holyrood but never to be debated by the membership or the public. Self-Identification was not in the SNP Holyrood Manifesto. This has not stopped the First Minister and several of her MSPs blatantly lying to the Scottish public by saying Self-Identification was mandated by the Scottish voters in May. That is patently untrue.
Public Consultations on GRA Reform have never been published instead they have been very much hidden from sight. Only selective results have been drip fed into the public domain. Usually supportive comments from government funded agencies and think tanks. Organisations that are unlikely to disagree with the desires of their paymasters. He who pays the piper names the tune at Holyrood for sure.
Here is my suggestion to heal the schism in our movement. This Spring Conference Nicola allow debates on both PlanB and GRA/Self ID. If as you suggest everyone is in favour of your Section 30 approach and allowing men to self identify as women without any medical or physiatric evaluations then you will surely win by a claim both arguments.
Then critics both inside and outside of the SNP cannot accuse you of betrayal of both independence and the female sex. Open debate with no fear of retribution will cleanse the wound of mistrust completely. It is also your chance to articulate the logic and strategic reasoning behind both these contentious policies.
The only reasons not to do that is fear. Fear that your argument for both these topics will not stand up to even the slightest scrutiny. That being the case why would you risk our independence while knowing your ideas are at odds with the sovereign people of Scotland? Your every living, serving minute should be spent getting us independence, nothing else. If you do not realise or agree with that you really should step aside immediately.
Debate is healthy! Secrecy is counter-productive.
During the Scottish referendum the greatest damage wasn’t which policies were addressed or not but rather permitting a foreign country’s government and its establishment to be the official opposition. The root cause of independence was brushed aside as though it were something to be ashamed of. Only in Scotland is this the case. Pride in one’s heritage, culture and symbols of it were discouraged from being spoken about. Folk were keen to stress they were not “national” nationalists but rather “inter” nationalist or “civic” nationalist. All things that portrayed Scotland positively were banned especially by the Fringe festival, one of Scotland’s most famous yearly festivals, while anything that portrayed the English establishment and the status quo positively was promoted.
It is the fear of upsetting the English establishment and its supporters that still have Scots scared to be openly proud of their heritage, culture and national symbols. Look at any other country in the world and this victim mentality is missing. Even among the poorest and most war ridden countries. Here in Scotland, however, folk take pride in considering themselves a colony despite the fact that Scotland is legally an equal partner with equal authority to the treaty and thus everything done to Scotland is of Scotland’s own making for simply refusing to assert its own authority. It matters not how many MPs or votes England has or how big its population is. As LEGALLY equal partners with equal authority and as a sovereign nation state that is merely in an international Agreement which even the English establishment acknowledge (seems only the Scots refuse to do so) England has no say in and over Scotland bar that which the Scots themselves grant.
Policies change like the wind. They are irrelevant to the actual cause. Yes, folk want to know if they will be worse off. All that needs said is that the value of their money will remain the same or it will increase due to the value being related to the productivity of its people. If the Scots do not address the core issue of independence and continue to place blame on other countries then the Scots will not see their statehood reasserted in this or future generations lifetimes. The Scots must take full responsibility for their situation and the failure to assert their authority. Only then will Scotland finally move towards reasserting its statehood.
“Policies change like the wind. They are irrelevant to the actual cause.”
Well said Gayle, and you are right about the significance of our Scots culture and language in the quest for national liberation from colonial oppression as these aspects are key to the independence of any ‘people’. As Frantz Fanon said, independence is ultimately ‘a fight for a national culture’, as well as for return of political control over their own lands and economic assets and resources which continue to be plundered.
Roddy is as ever correct about the many blind alleys an over-dominant and deceitful National Party elite leads the independence movement along, Devo-Max being another blind alley, as well as their other ‘mystifying’ policies which divert the people from the principal objective – independence and the reclaiming of our rightful sovereignty.
Theoretical framework on independence: https://www.facebook.com/YesHaddington/videos/professor-alf-baird-speaking-at-yes-haddingtonyes-tranent-meeting-151221/1059504741259620
The great offshore renewables swindle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp2VDVVu7KE
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Gayle I have positively responded to your many assertions that the ONLY thing stopping us from independence is US (the Scottish people) , the problem is the Scottish people keep electing LIARS and TRAITORS to represent Scotland in politics , first it was the liebour party whose socialist principles were written in invisible ink and who were more troughers than the current NSNP , then Alex Salmond whose naivety allowed the english and others to interfere illegally and determine the direction of travel with black money , compromised franchise , purdah breech , bbc state broadcaster interference with lies and misinformation , and the infamous vow promised by a creature from hades who had NO legal authority to offer such a vow , a vow that was soon proven to be just MORE LIES by our EQUAL PARTNER
NOW we have a deviant pervert who PUBLICLY LIES OPENLY about the policies she was elected on , who is more interested in the sexual proclivities of our children than she is about making a better future for generations still to come or those currently here , a dangerous narcissistic entity who will stop at nothing to get their own way and destroy anyone who stands against them even if it means creating reams of false allegations which have been found to be lies
So although I agree with your assertions Gayle and we all know the route that has to be taken for independent statehood how do we FORCE the sovereignty of Scots to overcome our LYING POLITICAL CLASS
“Debate is healthy!”
That is not the view of the mafia of the mediocre that have taken control of the SNP.
Those that fill positions of power and influence in the upper echelons of the party view discussion through a prism of paranoia and suspicion. Distrust and fear of the person who questions their actions and behaviour, or merely suggest alternative approaches, is the automatic knee-jerk reaction.
A good try Roddy but I’m guessing you are not anticipating a sympathetic response from your intended target audience.
Nicola’s Ascension to the UN is predicated on the GRA passing because she needs that to burnish her credentials among the glitterati and also on Scotland remaining firmly and securely in the Union as she needs that for Westminster’s blessing to get the job.
There can be no healing until the upper echelons of the SNP are booted out by the members of the party. No external takeovers. This is a problem they created and they must solve it. Until that happens there will be no progress towards independence or even a referendum as what Nikkie wants, Nikkie gets, and there’s nobody with the cohones, now or in the foreseeable future, to stop that. Craig Murray was absolutely right. The inaction has a simple explanation – the conceit and selfishness of one person.
As for Blah, Blah Blackford, his ignorance on basic economics is rather shocking.
It would take a leader with far greater courage and cunning than any of the ones who presently rule the UK nations have, to stand against this stuff, Stuart. Nicola Sturgeon embraced it fervently, however, which suggests that she really does believe it – which, to my mind, means that she has not the critical faculties necessary to be a leader. If I am wrong, and it is a matter of convenience for her, then she is equally culpable of a quite astonishing lack of scruples or the slightest loyalty to her own sex. I really don’t think this is about one person because so many of her cohort are wedded to the trans lobby, and, much as I admire Mr Murray on his independence stance, he, too, is a proponent of this stuff.
By the way, Roddy, have I been banned from all sites now as scarcely one comment of mine has appeared in days anywhere, even though I have taken care not to break the rules? Everything is being deleted, if not by the bloggers, then by WordPress. I have even posted via the dashboard and seen my comment appear, only for it to be removed. This has happened on every single blog I comment on and it never appears later.
I have certainly never censored or deleted any comment of yours.
It wasn’t intended as an accusation, Roddy. I may have overstepped the mark on occasion and I am always aware that the bloggers bear the brunt of outrage from certain quarters. I have contacted Askimet to discover whether there is something amiss. Thank you.
I hadn’t taken any offence Lorna. I am in Dubai at present and due to time zone my approving comments might be the issue
Sturgeon’s behaviour towards women, I find bizarre ,she lacks any scruples as you say, but she seems to hold women within the party to behave in a similar manner,and act as she does
Are they awestruck or afraid of her? I tend to think the latter
Re WordPress
Wordpress could be at fault, via gravatar (it’s attached to some blogs/ forums) capturing your details and editing them.
That being said, I too can’t generally post and any post vanishes where WP is the host,
I do have a forum, that has been wrecked by the removal of posts ,they were early ones circa 2015/6 where I post about what I believed was going on the SNP.
There was something else that I thought could have done it, but to say openly would sound like a case of paranoia
Hi David: it has been happening on every blog. I’m not saying comments have been deliberately removed, but something very odd. As I said, I have posted a comment, seen it on the blog page, stayed around for a few minutes to make sure it’s still there, then, later, it has gone, never to return. It has happened now on every blog I comment on, although I see that the odd one is still getting through. It has happened before, but never across every blog. I tried posting a completely innocuous wee comment, saying absolutely zilch really, and it, too disappeared after having appeared on the blog site. Askimet is having a look, apparently. We’ll see.
As you say, Nicola Sturgeon’s behaviour towards women is decidedly odd, but some of those women are dyed-in-the-wool pseudo ‘wokerati’, so I don’t think they are scared of her. It’s seems to be a form of Stockholm Syndrome, much the same as the original, from which it derives that catch-all title, and is very similar to the Scottish version re independence, which, again, oddly, Nicola Sturgeon has done her level best to thwart for the past seven years.
I think many powerless groups adopt this Syndrome as a reaction to the utter alienation of their true interests, so it might not be as odd – in either situation – as we think. Perhaps it is a way of preserving one’s sanity in a very stressful and distressing set of circumstances over which one has no control. I can speak only for me, but the refusal to do anything about independence is really frustrating and distressing because there is no other solution, and the collaboration in the GRA self-ID stuff is really doing my head in.
Cancer did for my internal female organs and has left me with issues that have bedevilled me, and I find myself crying when I think of all those young girls and boys deliberately being mutilated and not being aware of the consequences. I hope these people who have facilitated and enabled all that are charged and prosecuted under the full force of the law, but it will be too late for many of the children caught up in this full-on child abuse project. Fingers crossed this gets through.
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Very interesting and potentially important article. We can only hope the suggestions are taken on board. Perhaps more importantly we can only hope the suggestions are even considered. Surely there must be one person out there who has close contacts with the current SNP leadership, who reads this article with an open mind, and can point Nicola Sturgeon in the right direction. Surely?
No one can change Sturgeon’s mind. She is the one who knows best and suggestions are brushed aside as soon as she hears them. She’s like the female version of Johnson. She’s more fond of power than independence.
The issue: GRA Reform/Self ID has never been debated by the membership… “Debate is healthy! Secrecy is counter-productive”; to quote ‘Barrheadboy’, and while I’m keeping this as brief as possible, I’ll close with this wee piece,
Brit.party?
Shamefully Needless Politics (SNP),
Secrecy’s suitable for criminality;
Members know next to nothing, see?
And EX members too, that’s like me!
© Ewen A. Morrison
Excellent summary, BB, of where we are now. Rightly, you point out that not adopting from day one, our own currency, setting up a central bank, etc., are not luxuries, but necessities, or we will face the same old arguments about sterling and the same people will believe them all over again.
Rightly, too, you get it that independence and GRA reform are interlinked and inseparable, a fact that so many in the independence still don’t get. Without the votes of the female population, the SNP – or, indeed, any other party – simply cannot reach the goal. We should remember, too, that all the parties support this stuff, and that all parties are losing the female vote.
What, perhaps, Joanna Cherry has not heard about is that it is not the domestic laws of individual countries in which Twitter, et al, operate that is the fundamental problem but that, the algorithms themselves that are the drivers of the social media platforms may have been designed to reject anything connected to the word, ‘female’.
This, if it is true, as a whistleblower has suggested, began in Silicon Valley. I think, if it is checked, that the social media platforms all ignore domestic laws, so it may not be a simple problem of monitoring or defying laws (they are defied in America, too, and in Canada, etc.) but a basic spoiler contained within the algorithms at source.
If anyone is in any doubt about the vast influence of the trans movement, and how little our independence or our country matters in the bigger picture, they should think again. If they have any doubts that this is being orchestrated by huge monetary interests, they should think again.
It will not be enough to try and reform the SNP or oust the pseudo ‘wokerati’ because time precludes that. Our only hope is that the party can be brought to its knees by other means, but, if another party is to do that – and it is a big ‘if’ – that party has to offer a very different strategy from that of the SNP. It has to be far more radical and deviate from the ‘ca canny’ economic 10-year plan built into the SNP’s strategy, which play right into the hands of globalist, sociopathic moneymen, and its tactics have to be ruthless in achieving independence now. Any MSP or MP in the SNP should be rethinking his or her position. In fact, they should be thinking, full stop, something they have not done in many a long year.
Roddy and Gayle are both right.
the Indy movement is there and has no doubts about what they want, they are informed, aware of the situation with our colonial overlords and most of all are prepared to do something about it. Educate, educate the people about who we are, the institutions needed, our industry, economy, pride in ourselves.
Our biggest problem of all is exactly the same thing that turns up over and over and over again. We do not have a SG or party in power that is WILLING to actually use the mandate of Scottish Sovereignty bestowed upon them by the population of Scotland.
Scotland does not have leadership.
We have a party/Government in Scotland that is in a “House Jock” relationship with the “Masters” in WM who regard the ordinary people as their “Field Jocks”. It’s the meaning in every sense of a Colony.
Ah, you may say, but we are an “equal” colony
IOW, we have a “Quisling” Government of chancers who rate themselves as servants/underdogs to the Establishment of Colonial Overseers. Baubles an’ gongs for the traitors.
I utterly despise the knee grovelers led by Nicola Sturgeon and the rest of the cabal of brown-nosers.
Everyone with a modicum of sense should be out on the streets, hustings, stalls, anything you can think of, educating, educating. ALBA, ALBA.
You have to do it now and not wait until the May elections where the MSM will try to drown you out.
If you want Independence then you will have to fight tooth an’ nail for it because the fkn traitors and WM have NO intention of giving it to you.
I think the Dark Queen covid real master has a Westminster hand . Her aim in disunity, creating the false cause, this focuses us away from her hidden aims and agenda .It is to scunner us with in action devicive irrational policies. They wish us to reject our future for the status quo ,saving the union for the parictical British establishment. The Leadership have shut down democracy in the party any debate or criticism. The infultration of stogges, exlabour quislings and gender Yahoo’s are encouraged at the expense of true patriots.Twice I have emailed every MSP and MP voicing my concerns, not one replied. I am told most of the MPs and MSPs want independence well here is my challenge to you , you know what’s going on. If you cant change the leader or the direction of the party CHANGE YOUR PARTY and come over to Alba. You will be welcomed if your have independence in your heart.
A Leader setting standards is a central pillar of any organisation
Your line “ Just think what Westminster will tolerate to realise just how toxic this guy is…” is a prime example of a failure of leadership.
https://i0.wp.com/www.barrheadboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_20220121_114942.jpg?resize=768%2C850&ssl=1
Sturgeon ignoring John Keihlmann‘s behaviour clearly defines her leadership skills and standards.
I think we have to accept that no matter how clever we are or erudite commentators such as you are, the SNP under Sturgeon will not push for Independence. I don’t know if this is because of ideological reasons or personal reasons but Salmond’s heir has been found ideologically wanting. Given Salmond’s political astuteness I find it inconceivable that he would have anointed a protege who was Ideologically dubious. The issue therefor is personal.
This a very rough syllogistic proposition but I look forward to any counter arguments.
M Biyd: I honestly do not think any of them has a clue about anything much. Little actual research or work has been done on either independence or the implications of self-ID and GRA reform. The galling thing is that this lack of knowledge must be deliberate because many intelligent and well-intentioned people have actually done the work and the research across a multitude of areas. If they actually read what these people have written or listened to what they have said, all would be made clear. Instead, a deliberate muddying of the waters seems to be the response on both issues. Why the shooting oneself in the foot, why the snatching defeat from the jaws of victory? I wish I knew for sure, although I have my suspicions.
“I do not know how many times I have posed the question ‘Name three things that SNP has done to practically advance the cause of independence since November 2014”
Make it easier for them Roddy, ask them to name one thing……… oh wait a minute, they still wouldn’t be able to give you an answer
Sadly true Wullie
‘The lady’s not for turning.’ Let’s hope the membership are otherwise our only hope is through another Independence Party
a claim = acclaim?