The past week or so has seen the British Labour Party in Scotland participating in its second favourite pastime. Internecine party politics is a SLAB speciality. They have never been as efficient or sleekit in the removal of their branch managers as their fellow Neoliberal Tory chums. We recently witnessed Jackson Carlaw leaving the chamber after another verbal tongue lashing from the First Minister to him becoming a back bencher five minutes later. There had only been minor grumbling over his management of the branch office, nothing open or major had leaked out into the public domain. What has since transpired was that Baroness Davidson, London HQ or London HQ and the Baroness, whichever way, conspired to remove the second hand car salesman and in his place promote the linesman Dougie Ross. Someone, somewhere decided that to prevent a drubbing next May a change of messenger was required. In the name of all that is holy how they came up with Douglas Ross as the answer is one of life’s mysteries. What was the question they asked themselves to come up with the answer Douglas Ross?? 😲😲😲

The one thing that the House-Jock Parties do have in common is the ability to replace rank rotten with rancid. Each time they stick up a new House-Jock overseer, they always manage to select one that is worse than the one they just removed. It seems they will neither accept or understand that the settled will of the Scottish people is for ending the union. There is no desire for a return to unionist control or dominance. No amount of personnel changes will alter that reality. Since 2007 the SNP has won every electoral contest. Local, Holyrood, Westminster, Europe, Brexit.

Rather than adapt their policies and politics, all of the English registered parties employ the same failed tactics, SNP/Scotland Bad! They constantly rubbish every statement, bill, initiative, law, Cabinet Secretary of the SNP. They think by shouting SNP Bad and demanding resignations will somehow have people change their opinion on the paucity of the British Union. In my own way I have demonstrated this often by asking countless Unionists this simple question. ‘Name just three things that can only be achieved by the British Union that cannot be achieved by an independent Scotland.’ I can report as of today, from House-Jock Party leaders to Unionist supporters, pro Unionist journalists literally hundreds asked, nobody has yet come up with a single thing, never mind managed three positive reasons for the union. It usually ends up with a variation of SNP/Scotland Bad! Yet London thinks the problem is the Branch Managers.

There is no positive case for Scotland in the union. Believe me if there was we would have heard it by now. It seems the favourite reasons for not favouring Scottish Independence range from Scotland is too poor, to Nicola Sturgeon looks like Jimmy Krankie. There are lots of equally nonsensical smears and sneers in between these two ridiculous replies.

With each passing election defeat and SNP landslide, London HQs seem to think just replacing the House-Jock Branch Manager will bring a change of fortunes. They seem incapable of accepting that Scotland no longer has faith or trust in the politics of Unionism. That ship has sailed, as has the one opportunity Westminster had to save the union in 2014. Had they just for once kept their word and honoured THEIR VOW then quite possibly the Scottish nation would have given London another chance to show a positive case for Scotland remaining inside the union. The Brits though could not resist what they saw as an opportunity to rub Scottish noses in the dirt.

They introduced EVEL, reneged on the Vow, rebutted all 103 SNP Amendments to The Scotland Bill. They have traduced the entire Scottish nation at every opportunity ever since.

They dragged us out of the EU against our will. They have discounted the nations votes not just against Brexit but at every election since 2014. Every time our elected representatives rise to speak at Westminster they are heckled and demeaned. Scots are more than aware that when this happens to our SNP MPs, we are all being insulted. There are exceptions, of course, the hardcore Scottish Unionists take a masochistic pleasure in being trashed by English MPs and journalists.

As opinion poll after opinion poll comes out showing a growing number of Scots ready to vote for independence the UK establishment quivers. Instead of trying to woo us, the English instinct is to try and crush us. They are forgetting that the Scottish Thistle is not the best thing to grab and squeeze if you want to remain pain free.

BLIS for reasons best known to themselves seem to think that by removing Richard Leonard and replacing him with some right of centre Blairite stooge will somehow change their fortunes. Right of centre politics work in middle England so the thinking in Labour’s London HQ seems to be it will also work in Scotland. This only demonstrates the problem they face, they just do not get or understand Scotland, its people or its politics.We should not be surprised when their point of reference on all matters Scottish is, Ian (Union Jack) Murray. He is ably backed up in his Scottish assertions by the noble Lords McConnell, Darling, Foulkes and old Toom Tabbard himself, Brown of the crypt. Is it any wonder Labour in Scotland are where they are when such Scotland haters are the ones telling London how to crush the SNP?

In the next week or so, if not before you actually even read this blog, Richard Leonard will be removed. I have never met the man he is by all reports a thoroughly decent chap. His politics though leave a lot to be desired. He chose to join this party of shysters, spivs and backstabbers. He should have heeded one of his predecessors, Johann Lamont who made it quite clear Scotland is a branch office to London. Labour in Scotland will always be treated thus. The day Sir Keir reclaimed the Labour Party for the right wing Blairites. Mr Leonard’s days as Branch Manager were numbered. Holyrood to London Labour and Tories is a backwater. Somewhere to despise and disparage. It is not worthy of respect only contempt.

It is interesting to note that the SNP MPs in London with a few notable exceptions wish to be in Holyrood, not Westminster. While the Britnat Parties fear the Holyrood Election, the Indy movement relishes the campaign. It would aid Party unity and help drive the Unionists into further despair if the SNP selected its strongest candidates. I again plead with the Party hierarchy to reverse this idiotic rule that makes standing for Holyrood next May difficult for Westminster MPs. If you are truly serious about an independence referendum then we need our best minds and smartest operators in Holyrood not languishing in Westminster.

Let us ensure these are the last ever Branch Managers appointed to English registered political parties in our Scottish Parliament. We need to hear the proposed date for the upcoming referendum we have been promised. It gives us all something to work towards and is a huge incentive for the YES grassroots to campaign. We have patiently been awaiting this since September 19th 2014. The date  for the proposed independence referendum will unleash an unstoppable surge Nicola!

Show us the date!