I have decided today to rename this week’s episode The Robin McAlpine Show. Robin joined myself Yvonne Ridley and Eva Comrie to discuss the week’s events as they effect Scotland. We discussed the resignation of Ian Blackford and his likely replacement. Several topics were covered, Keith Brown’s car crash interview that ruled out any Holyrood Plebiscite before 2026. The early day motion from Neale Hanvey on a Scottish Independence Referendum that was ignored by all SNP MPs except Angus MacNeil.
We discuss the upcoming Way Forward for Scotland rally next Saturday in Perth. Nicola Sturgeon at last admitting abusive, predatory men may indeed abuse the system, however, she is still going ahead as planned with no sentiments to her GRR Bill.
What we also were lucky enough to get was a masterclass in political strategy and political knowledge by Robin. This is a man at the top of his game, political strategy is his lifelong career and vocation. His enthusiasm, knowledge and downright common sense make this episode of Prism a not to miss spectacular! His enthusiasm, knowledge, passion and downright common sense make this episode of Prism a not to miss spectacularIt is more of a seminar than a review show.
Another great Prism. Thank you all.
Thank you for watching
Never a disappointment, Roddy. Some excellent points brought up. Robin was a great choice. Had to agree with so much he said. Eva and Yvonne and you had many good arguments, too. If we leave this issue and the GRA reform one for much longer, the absolute poisonous atmosphere that is being created now around all public discourse will only become much worse, and division is inevitable.
The way that virtue-signalling has taken over sensible talk is now profound on every level and on every issue. The Sunday National, probably quite inadvertently, used the word ‘gender’ (class) instead of sex (class) in an article about women and girls in Afghanistan and the punishments being meted out to them, not because they adhere to the female ‘gender’ but because they are members of the female sex class. I don’t care who that offends: this is becoming insane to the point where a word is used entirely in the wrong context because of fear of offending some Stalinist idiot who wants to appear ‘kind’.
Women are being hurt and killed because they are women, not because they prance around with short skirts and lippy on like demented Barbie Dolls. Use of the word, ‘gender’ erases the female sex and dilutes what they are suffering to something they can pick and choose. So sick of these people who scream victimhood at the drop of a hat, parading it on social media and in the MSM, and the virtue-signallers who back them up. Being misgendered is not the same as being whipped to bloody skin rags with a whip with metal additions.
It is not racist to say that some people who have made Scotland their home voted against independence in 2014 based on a false sense of either victimhood or superiority, or both. It is an undeniable fact, backed by statistics, albeit I take on board what Robin is saying – and, no, it’s not boring – that we need to appeal across the board. We do not need a massive number of people to move over to our side, just enough to carry the day. He is also right when he says that we are being blocked from the top – and that, again, is across the board, although a goodly number of the MSPs and MPs are in full support of the blocking from the top. We have an authoritarian FM who is unwilling to acknowledge that her experiment has failed on both counts: on taking the slow boat to independence; and on trying to pretend that there will be no repercussions for women and girls (and children) if GRA reform goes through unamended and without guaranteeing female rights and spaces by a tightening-up of the 2010 Equality Act, running parallel, to keep men out of all female single-sex spaces and rights.
The slow boat approach to independence, the refusal to even look at other constitutional means and routes and the attempted silencing of those who understand that time is not on our side has been an utter disaster of epic proportions. Yes, we need to speak to people and ascertain what they need that independence can, and will, provide, no matter where they originated, and try to persuade them, cajole them even, into understanding that independence is not going away and that a mutually-agreed way forward is better than an NI Troubles situation, which is predictable if independence is blocked by the courts, by Westminster, by Holyrood, or by the man and woman in the street.
I echo your sentiments Lorna this indeed was a very informative Prism and Robin was on fire , I also agree with you re the constant replacement of sex with gender it is being done deliberately and every time it happens the persons should be held to account
A wee bit late in catching up here Roddy but aw ah kin say, that wis a BRAMMER the day. Excellent contributions as ever from the Eva and Yvonne but Robin McAlpine laid it oot in nae uncertain terms what is required if we are to successfully circumvent the machinations of those responsible for holding the Independence movement to ransom.
Already looking forward to the Perth Prism and a return appearance of Robin in the near future to further expand on “What is to be Done”. Live viewing figures on an upward trend can only bode well for the cause!
Robin talks a great deal about strategy, and quite right too because it is important. However, one of the most important aspects in strategic management is a need to first analyse in sufficient depth the specific ‘environment’ we are talking about before seeking to address the challenges faced in it through development of a strategy. (I say this as someone who has a degree and PhD in strategic management and has developed teaching modules based on undertaking applied research in the subject.)
Here we first need to consider the current ‘Scottish’ socio-political environment vis-a-vis independence, i.e. decolonization. Any student of postcolonial theory knows, for example, that a dominant national party elite always seeks a compromise with the colonial power from whom it has taken great care never to break contact with. The objective of the national party is not the radical overthrowing of an oppressive system, but rather in coming to an agreement with it, much as we see with the SNP; this is what has caused the ‘rupture’ in the movement.
Those who never get as far as understanding such basics of postcolonial theory, nor undertake a reasoned analysis of the colonial situation they seek a remedy for, are unlikely to be able to shape a strategy for independence/decolonization. It is not simply everyday standard political lobbying skills that are needed here, but rather far greater levels of understanding are necessary. Here is a summary of some of the key issues to consider: https://yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2021/07/18/determinants-of-independence-colonialism/
Postcolonial theory actually tells us that pro-independence intellectuals (mostly on the Left) often have a rudimentary understanding of the situation and what independence really means, which is not a matter of Left or Right, Socialism or Capitalism. To do this they first have to undertake a reasoned analysis of the colonial situation/environment in question, as here:
https://wp.towson.edu/iajournal/the-socio-political-determinants-of-scottish-independence/
A more extensive description and analysis of the Scottish ‘environment’ including the pressures for and against independence/decolonization is presented in my research textbook: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doun-Hauden-Socio-Political-Determinants-Scottish-Independence/dp/B086Y6MMH2/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=doun-hauden&qid=1670175491&sr=8-1
Coincidentally the final chapter (13) is entitled ‘Strategies for Independence’, based on in-depth analysis of the ‘environment’ as presented in preceding chapters.
Significant aspects (e.g. constitution) relating to the Scottish ‘environment’ we are talking about are also explained in more detail here https://salvo.scot/ and in recent articles such as this one https://yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2022/12/02/fraud-by-semantics/
Hear! Hear! Alf. All of which goes a long way in explaining why, after so many years in our state of colonial exploitation and subjugation, we have still to produce an avowedly liberationist, unequivocally anti-colonialist national movement or party.
Good show again BB. Robin is one of the best writers out there. I read his blog yesterday and for you Nationalists one of the things that stood out was this sentence “It is possible to win independence without a detailed plan for what it means – but it’s a long shot. Robin McAlpine.” Suits me BB. Robin McAlpine has been good for me as he points out how corrupt my Gov is which is what I am bothered about. He is correct. The movement does have to start again. Sturgeon has managed to eff it up as she was always going to do. We seen her unprepared at that womans meeting. Obviously rattled like she was getting questioned after the SC result. By the way read a long run in account on Wings in which Campbell had with a run in with fellow Nationalist who said a Scottish Election plebiscite election is also illegal. The guy seemed to know what he is talking about.
“The early day motion from Neale Hanvey on a Scottish Independence Referendum that was ignored by all SNP MPs except Angus MacNeil.”
When Angus MacNeil is your only supporter that tells you something is amiss with your way of thinking.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/watch-snp-mp-who-locked-himself-in-the-toilet-was-practicing-his-roar-10312796.html
Great programme.
More than reinforces what a shower of toilet tailings most of the SNP at Westminster are. Eva makes the point that a reconciliation with the SNP moving to pursue independence is so sensible. But with the SNP going out of its way to destroy a super majority through SNP 1 and SNP 2 the reality of the SNP becoming an independence party is utterly misplaced.
Ditto in relation to the shit suppers at Westminster does anyone think any of them, save for a few exceptions will do anything. This crew at Westminster are not independence merchants. They are as I say shit suppers utterly fed by the Westminster establishment.
We need a respected movement supported by the people.
Sturgeon is finished. People are still voting SNP because there is no alternative but make no mistake Sturgeon has now been exposed as a discredited pretend parliament super council leader. Ditto, does anyone think the Westminster crew are worth anything, is Blackford worth anything, is a replacement worth.
And that is why we need a new movement and that is why a new movement is growing..
And meanwhile in England, the head of the Tory Party is now advising that 2,000 troops have been trained and are ready to deploy to drive ambulances, fire-engines and replace border force officers. And Sturgeon and Blackford have hitched their wagon, to the establishment.
I don’t believe that Business for Scotland are raising funds for the SNP. They’re raising funds for their own well-being / pensions campaign. Seems to me that BfS have managed to persuade the SNP leadership to buy into the well-being aspect and get an agreement of £220 per week for pensions.