The Scottish Politics Thread

[Slick]

But what damage will be done in those 10 years? Can we afford to remain in the UK for another decade?

Come on. More economic damage than we will do to ourselves? Not close.

I wrestle with this a lot having moved back up 4 years ago. I can see clearly that the current situation doesn't work and Westminster is not really interested in Scotland. But the thought of Scotland going it alone in the current situation scares the hell out of me. If there was a clear path, one that people could get behind rather than the emotion on both sides, I could buy into that.

[tc27]

So much for the Union of Equals, eh?

Bit of a flippant response more worthy of cybernat twitterdom than here.

To address your well used comeback - we are equals as we all get the same franchise and the same legal rights as citizens. The UK is not and never was a confederation the act of union established a single sovereign parliament through which all power ultimately flows.

This misreading of the SNP and the current situation isn't new, and in many ways it helps the SNP's and the Indy movement's cause - if you don't understand your opponent you aren't going to beat them.

The Tories have been struggling to fill a taxi in Scotland for decades, Labour are joining them simply because they just don't "get it", rolling out Gordon Brown shows this, personally I have no animosity towards him, but others don't share that point of view.

There was an article in the Sunday Times this past weekend outlining what the UK Government's approach to the Indy movement will be in the coming months, it was all hardball - I immediately thought, "Well that's the vote won".

They just don't get it.

edit - oh and another thought which I forgot to add, UKIP were successful, very successful, they went from being the embarrassment at the back of the hall at the Tory party conference, handing out home-printed leaflets, to leading huge constitutional change, the biggest for nearly fifty years.

Yes I understand the arguement that not doing exactly what the SNP what and/or devolving more powers and loosening the fabric of the nation will actually just deliver more support into the nationalists hands. Well that being pretty much exactly the whole approach taken by UK government's since 1999 and its failed.

I am not going to apologise for being sceptical of this line particularly when those spinning have good reason not to be sincere.

[tc27]

I know and understand why the independence debate gets many people quite emotional but my single biggest fear is Scotland being stuck in limbo for a long time.

We have had the last independence vote which is very divisive, Brexit (divisive), COVID which will have a long term impact and no UK country has handled it "well", Brexit again (full effects unknown) and now the prospect of another divisive referendum.

But to me that's why it needs to be parked for a decade. It won't happen, but for the SNP to say we are looking at a referendum in 2031 and in the meantime we are going to work across governments to get Scotland in the best position we can for it, would be great. Get the country into a strong position so that the indy precipice doesn't look quite so daunting, have a proper masterplan we can all buy into. As I've said before, I don't think there are many people who are idiologically opposed to Independence but it does seem like madness currently.

But what damage will be done in those 10 years? Can we afford to remain in the UK for another decade?

Just yesterday Boris Johnson came out saying how unfortunate it is 100,000 have died of Covid but that they 'did all they could', which is demonstrable bullshit. Meanwhile it is clear they are equally inept at dealing with the Brexit they themselves forced upon us all. It is clear that the current Tories are really, really bad at governing. Or worse. The only reason the UK Government isn't widely seen as institutionally corrupt is that most Britons still believe corruption only really happens in countries full of people with questionable skin tones. Meanwhile dodgy PPE contracts handed out to clueless Tory pals and donors with no expertise in the area are directly responsible for killing hundreds of NHS staff over the last year.

I'd much prefer to force the issue now rather than aim for some undisclosed and unlikely consensus a decade from now when everyone will happily set sail on the good ship Republica Caledonia. Out, now.

Ok to be very reductionist on this over the next ten years Scotland will receive about £100 billion in net fiscal transfer from the UK treasury - actually because of the spending splurge on CV it will be far bigger than that but I am counting 'normal' years. Scotland will also benefit from being part of an internal market of 65 million to which its businesses by a considerable margin export most goods and services into. It will have the benefits of civil servants, defence jobs and other public sector investments that are disproportionately based in Scotland. It also

If you want to make it an argument about what can be 'afforded' you need to show the tangible benefits of giving this all up over the next ten years particularly considering most of that period would be spent trying to establish the basic functions of a new state, a new currency and negotiate new trading relationships with everybody.

[Dogbert]

But to me that's why it needs to be parked for a decade. It won't happen, but for the SNP to say we are looking at a referendum in 2031 and in the meantime we are going to work across governments to get Scotland in the best position we can for it, would be great. Get the country into a strong position so that the indy precipice doesn't look quite so daunting, have a proper masterplan we can all buy into. As I've said before, I don't think there are many people who are idiologically opposed to Independence but it does seem like madness currently.

But what damage will be done in those 10 years? Can we afford to remain in the UK for another decade?

Just yesterday Boris Johnson came out saying how unfortunate it is 100,000 have died of Covid but that they 'did all they could', which is demonstrable bullshit. Meanwhile it is clear they are equally inept at dealing with the Brexit they themselves forced upon us all. It is clear that the current Tories are really, really bad at governing. Or worse. The only reason the UK Government isn't widely seen as institutionally corrupt is that most Britons still believe corruption only really happens in countries full of people with questionable skin tones. Meanwhile dodgy PPE contracts handed out to clueless Tory pals and donors with no expertise in the area are directly responsible for killing hundreds of NHS staff over the last year.

I'd much prefer to force the issue now rather than aim for some undisclosed and unlikely consensus a decade from now when everyone will happily set sail on the good ship Republica Caledonia. Out, now.

Ok to be very reductionist on this over the next ten years Scotland will receive about £100 billion in net fiscal transfer from the UK treasury - actually because of the spending splurge on CV it will be far bigger than that but I am counting 'normal' years. Scotland will also benefit from being part of an internal market of 65 million to which its businesses by a considerable margin export most goods and services into. It will have the benefits of civil servants, defence jobs and other public sector investments that are disproportionately based in Scotland. It also

If you want to make it an argument about what can be 'afforded' you need to show the tangible benefits of giving this all up over the next ten years particularly considering most of that period would be spent trying to establish the basic functions of a new state, a new currency and negotiate new trading relationships with everybody.

TC , what proportion of Defence Jobs are based in Scotland , compared to the UK ?

[tc27]

From 2016 - but with MPA now based in Scotland, the consolidation into RAF Leuchars that happened this year and Type 26/31 work replacing CVF I think its probably grown since then.

https://www.gmbscotland.org.uk/assets/m ... 0Cover.pdf

An estimated 13,840 people are currently employed at Ministry of Defence (MOD)
installations in Scotland
x We estimate that MOD employees support a total of 20,687 jobs and £473.4 million
worth of wage payments across Scotland
x The Aerospace, Defence, Marine and Security (ADMS) sector is estimated to directly
employ a total 38,400 people in Scotland
x The two BAE yards at Govan and Scotstoun directly employ a total of 2,723 people in
Glasgow
x Over 1,000 BAE employees are skilled tradesmen or are undergoing apprenticeships
x We estimate that the two yards in Glasgow support a total of 5,943 jobs and £162.7
million worth of wages across Scotland as a whole
x The shipbuilding sector in Fife is estimated to support a total of 3,870 jobs and £105.9
million worth of wage payments across Scotland

Edit - to actually answer your question:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... 799504.pdf

7.1% of MOD jobs which broadly matches the population share but obviously doesn't include non mod jobs like shipbuilding which is exclusive to Scotland. As I said since then the MOD has consolidated further into Scottish bases and based its new MPA fleet there so I reckon that has comfortably being improved upon.


In terms of defence spending per head Scotland is 4th out of 12:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... 799504.pdf

[Biffer]

From 2016 - but with MPA now based in Scotland, the consolidation into RAF Leuchars that happened this year and Type 26/31 work replacing CVF I think its probably grown since then.

https://www.gmbscotland.org.uk/assets/m ... 0Cover.pdf

An estimated 13,840 people are currently employed at Ministry of Defence (MOD)
installations in Scotland
x We estimate that MOD employees support a total of 20,687 jobs and £473.4 million
worth of wage payments across Scotland
x The Aerospace, Defence, Marine and Security (ADMS) sector is estimated to directly
employ a total 38,400 people in Scotland
x The two BAE yards at Govan and Scotstoun directly employ a total of 2,723 people in
Glasgow
x Over 1,000 BAE employees are skilled tradesmen or are undergoing apprenticeships
x We estimate that the two yards in Glasgow support a total of 5,943 jobs and £162.7
million worth of wages across Scotland as a whole
x The shipbuilding sector in Fife is estimated to support a total of 3,870 jobs and £105.9
million worth of wage payments across Scotland

The UK gov figures say we get broadly a population share of defence jobs supported. So as we should but not disproportionately high. Some year to year variation

[Tattie]

Jesus, the opposition parties in Scotland are OBSESSED with independence, it’s all they ever talk about. Just watched that damp piece of cardboard Wullie Rennie on the Lib Dem party political broadcast and you just knew that everything he was saying at the beginning was a build up to talking about it. Non of the opposition parties have one single policy between them aside from bashing the SNP and independence. What have any of them got to offer? Perhaps if they had actual ideas and policies then more people would vote for them.

[Slick]

Jesus, the opposition parties in Scotland are OBSESSED with independence, it’s all they ever talk about. Just watched that damp piece of cardboard Wullie Rennie on the Lib Dem party political broadcast and you just knew that everything he was saying at the beginning was a build up to talking about it. Non of the opposition parties have one single policy between them aside from bashing the SNP and independence. What have any of them got to offer? Perhaps if they had actual ideas and policies then more people would vote for them.

[Blackmac]

Not a fan of his in any way but Craig Murray's latest article is a belter.

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/

[Caley_Red]

Jesus, the opposition parties in Scotland are OBSESSED with independence, it’s all they ever talk about. Just watched that damp piece of cardboard Wullie Rennie on the Lib Dem party political broadcast and you just knew that everything he was saying at the beginning was a build up to talking about it. Non of the opposition parties have one single policy between them aside from bashing the SNP and independence. What have any of them got to offer? Perhaps if they had actual ideas and policies then more people would vote for them.

Jesus, have a degree of introspection..

[tc27]

Joanna Cherry claiming she's being sacked from the SNP's Westminster front bench.

[westport]

Joanna Cherry claiming she's being sacked from the SNP's Westminster front bench.

tc where was this?

[Slick]

Can someone explain, in simple terms please, what has happened in the last few days on the trans debate?

I saw that the FM made a statement, then heard she made a hasty video backtracking as a lot of young SNP members started kicking off, which caused another group of members to kick off.

I'm not following this at all but it seems to be a lot of discussion flying around.

[clydecloggie]

Joanna Cherry claiming she's being sacked from the SNP's Westminster front bench.

tc where was this?

The Herald on Twitter just now.



She's probably the most knowledgeable of all SNP MPs, especially in the legal domain where the SNP isn't exactly awash with talent. Looks like not being in 'camp-Nicola' has finally done for her. A shame.

[westport]

Joanna Cherry claiming she's being sacked from the SNP's Westminster front bench.

tc where was this?

The Herald on Twitter just now.



She's probably the most knowledgeable of all SNP MPs, especially in the legal domain where the SNP isn't exactly awash with talent. Looks like not being in 'camp-Nicola' has finally done for her. A shame.

Thank you

[tc27]

I cant figure out is the Salmond/Cherry/Rev Stu faction really care about this transgender stuff or its a stalking horse to oppose Sturgeon without saying they do out loud.

A separate but just as bitter fight has broken out over the NEC and the allocation of list nominations...its all quite 'Byzantine court politics' stuff but more than a whiff of the early days of the downfall of Scottish Labour (yes I can read polls but even so).

[Caley_Red]

I cant figure out is the Salmond/Cherry/Rev Stu faction really care about this transgender stuff or its a stalking horse to oppose Sturgeon without saying they do out loud.

A separate but just as bitter fight has broken out over the NEC and the allocation of list nominations...its all quite 'Byzantine court politics' stuff but more than a whiff of the early days of the downfall of Scottish Labour (yes I can read polls but even so).

To be fair, labour were like that for 10+ years before folk got hacked off.

I suspect it's an amalgamation of three areas of opposition: this trans debate, methods for another referendum (illegal vs legal) and this salmond affair.

Gloves are off now, hopefully Cherry supports turning this Salmond inquiry into a public one so that the committee can do its job unimpeded by aforementioned Byzantine procedural constraints. It may well even clear the leadership for her.

[tc27]

Interesting report from the LSE: https://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/brexit17.pdf

Cost to Scottish economy from leaving the UK would be 2 to 3 times as much as Brexit and only marginally offset by eventually re-joining the EU.

[I like neeps]

Interesting report from the LSE: https://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/brexit17.pdf

Cost to Scottish economy from leaving the UK would be 2 to 3 times as much as Brexit and only marginally offset by eventually re-joining the EU.

Does anyone genuinely believe in the short term that it'll be good for Scotland economically to leave the UK?

The problems with these reports being a strategy for remain are you run the same risks as with brexit. People know the economics and have decided accordingly. Or people don't believe in GDP and stock market etc as an economic indicator because it doesn't really immediately benefit them. Coming from Dundee I have a huge amount of sympathy for that argument as GDP goes up as Dundee gets worse.

[Slick]

I cant figure out is the Salmond/Cherry/Rev Stu faction really care about this transgender stuff or its a stalking horse to oppose Sturgeon without saying they do out loud.

A separate but just as bitter fight has broken out over the NEC and the allocation of list nominations...its all quite 'Byzantine court politics' stuff but more than a whiff of the early days of the downfall of Scottish Labour (yes I can read polls but even so).

To be fair, labour were like that for 10+ years before folk got hacked off.

I suspect it's an amalgamation of three areas of opposition: this trans debate, methods for another referendum (illegal vs legal) and this salmond affair.

Gloves are off now, hopefully Cherry supports turning this Salmond inquiry into a public one so that the committee can do its job unimpeded by aforementioned Byzantine procedural constraints. It may well even clear the leadership for her.

It's going to be interesting. I suspect it may have an influence on the "soft yes" vote which may tip the polls back marginally regarding independence. When it comes to the elections though, even those that have said they have left the SNP in disgust will still vote for them.

[tc27]

Interesting report from the LSE: https://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/brexit17.pdf

Cost to Scottish economy from leaving the UK would be 2 to 3 times as much as Brexit and only marginally offset by eventually re-joining the EU.

Does anyone genuinely believe in the short term that it'll be good for Scotland economically to leave the UK?

The problems with these reports being a strategy for remain are you run the same risks as with brexit. People know the economics and have decided accordingly. Or people don't believe in GDP and stock market etc as an economic indicator because it doesn't really immediately benefit them. Coming from Dundee I have a huge amount of sympathy for that argument as GDP goes up as Dundee gets worse.

Clydcloggie (I think....apologies if mistaken) has expressed that view here (though base on the assumption that Scotland would be back in the EU straight away and the City of London would relocate or something).

There are limits to how far purely economic arguments will go but there is a very important group identified as 'yes curious' who will be swayed by economics - its this cohort who have pushed Indy over 50% in recent polls. For this reason I think we will continue to see this report and other like it outright denied or countered by obfuscation or outright fake news.

[clydecloggie]

Interesting report from the LSE: https://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/brexit17.pdf

Cost to Scottish economy from leaving the UK would be 2 to 3 times as much as Brexit and only marginally offset by eventually re-joining the EU.

Does anyone genuinely believe in the short term that it'll be good for Scotland economically to leave the UK?

The problems with these reports being a strategy for remain are you run the same risks as with brexit. People know the economics and have decided accordingly. Or people don't believe in GDP and stock market etc as an economic indicator because it doesn't really immediately benefit them. Coming from Dundee I have a huge amount of sympathy for that argument as GDP goes up as Dundee gets worse.

Clydcloggie (I think....apologies if mistaken) has expressed that view here (though base on the assumption that Scotland would be back in the EU straight away and the City of London would relocate or something).

There are limits to how far purely economic arguments will go but there is a very important group identified as 'yes curious' who will be swayed by economics - its this cohort who have pushed Indy over 50% in recent polls. For this reason I think we will continue to see this report and other like it outright denied or countered by obfuscation or outright fake news.

Don't think I ever said there would be immediate economic gain from going independent? What I have said, as far as I can remember, is that I think it won't be as bad as the Unionist side thinks - and yes, that includes assumptions that there will be a relatively quick rejoining of the EU with an associated rise in, in particular, financial industries looking at Edinburgh as their base rather than London in (hah) a 'best of both worlds' scenario.

[tc27]

Does anyone genuinely believe in the short term that it'll be good for Scotland economically to leave the UK?

The problems with these reports being a strategy for remain are you run the same risks as with brexit. People know the economics and have decided accordingly. Or people don't believe in GDP and stock market etc as an economic indicator because it doesn't really immediately benefit them. Coming from Dundee I have a huge amount of sympathy for that argument as GDP goes up as Dundee gets worse.

Clydcloggie (I think....apologies if mistaken) has expressed that view here (though base on the assumption that Scotland would be back in the EU straight away and the City of London would relocate or something).

There are limits to how far purely economic arguments will go but there is a very important group identified as 'yes curious' who will be swayed by economics - its this cohort who have pushed Indy over 50% in recent polls. For this reason I think we will continue to see this report and other like it outright denied or countered by obfuscation or outright fake news.

Don't think I ever said there would be immediate economic gain from going independent? What I have said, as far as I can remember, is that I think it won't be as bad as the Unionist side thinks - and yes, that includes assumptions that there will be a relatively quick rejoining of the EU with an associated rise in, in particular, financial industries looking at Edinburgh as their base rather than London in (hah) a 'best of both worlds' scenario.

They actually modelled the effect of re-joining the EU (which we know would not be 'quick' and any FS that want to leave London will have moved years before Scotland became available) and it only makes a modest difference. Anyway its worth bearing in mind they only modelled economic downsides associated with trade friction. The economic effect of fiscal and monetary separation are not touched upon and are potentially far worse.

As a final thought - the LSE are pretty well respected and they where frequently quoted by the SNP and indeed Nicola Sturgeon when they modelled the effect of Brexit...

[TheNatalShark]

When does Holyrood intend to bring online the hotel quarantine? Doesn't look like it is going to happen to England for a while yet.

Presume if Sturgeon believes they can go further and impose on all travellers, that they aren't in fact tied to England roll-out which is taking its sweet time already.

[Biffer]

When does Holyrood intend to bring online the hotel quarantine? Doesn't look like it is going to happen to England for a while yet.

Presume if Sturgeon believes they can go further and impose on all travellers, that they aren't in fact tied to England roll-out which is taking its sweet time already.

Rightly or wrongly, they are probably waiting for an indication from London of the finances being in place for it.

Cue some of the usual suspects jumping down my throat.

[tc27]

When does Holyrood intend to bring online the hotel quarantine? Doesn't look like it is going to happen to England for a while yet.

Presume if Sturgeon believes they can go further and impose on all travellers, that they aren't in fact tied to England roll-out which is taking its sweet time already.

Rightly or wrongly, they are probably waiting for an indication from London of the finances being in place for it.

Cue some of the usual suspects jumping down my throat.

Ill bite....so you have moved on from claiming its legislatively impossible to there's no money to do it until WM coughs up?

Considering the cost is likely to be single digit millions its really not that hard to imagine the SG could not find it. If necessary the £15m funding 'constitutional policy or the £26m 'International and European relations ' announced by Forbes in the budget might be diverted?

[Biffer]

When does Holyrood intend to bring online the hotel quarantine? Doesn't look like it is going to happen to England for a while yet.

Presume if Sturgeon believes they can go further and impose on all travellers, that they aren't in fact tied to England roll-out which is taking its sweet time already.

Rightly or wrongly, they are probably waiting for an indication from London of the finances being in place for it.

Cue some of the usual suspects jumping down my throat.

Ill bite....so you have moved on from claiming its legislatively impossible to there's no money to do it until WM coughs up?

Considering the cost is likely to be single digit millions its really not that hard to imagine the SG could not find it. If necessary the £15m funding 'constitutional policy or the £26m 'International and European relations ' announced by Forbes in the budget might be diverted?

I'm still unconvinced the powers lie at Holyrood to do this. It's something that was never envisaged as being necessary so it was considered at the time.

But regardless of that discussion, you seem to have missed the 'rightly or wrongly' bit.

[Biffer]

Johnson has come up with his spiffing new plan to save the Union. An absolute show stopper. I hear through contacts that Nicola will be calling a press conference just before the Calcutta Cup match to concede the whole issue.

[Slick]

Did anyone watch BBC QT last night?

It was a Scottish edition and it was pretty depressing and embarrassing. Just the same things being said on both sides over and over again with Jeanne Freeman sticking to evidently ridiculous statements. Angela Haggerty was just appalling, even riling up the mild mannered NI guy at one point by suggesting Nicola should get a free ride because she is popular. Audience was collectively braindead with the same things as always just being parroted by both sides.

Fiona Bruce was cringing the whole way through.

Caveat: I've had a 90 minute call with an old mate just before and had a few drams.

[tc27]

The comment by Angela Haggerty was simply unbelievable.

And yet the nationalists insist they face a hostile media...do they bollocks.

I mean for example its taken the Spectator to actually challenge (successfully) the attempt to suppress the Salmond inquiry - it should be something even a mildly objective press should be pursuing like a bloodhound. The CE of the SNP is 'married' to the FM (but they never discuss government/Party business) and appears to be able to lie and change his story under oath with impunity. But its all ok because of poll ratings. Its fucking weird even New Labour at its height never got an easy ride like this.

[Biffer]

Why the fuck does anyone watch Question Time?

1. Nobody from any party ever answers any questions
2. The audience is provably full of plants from local parties
3. It doesn't do anything other than parrot existing shit because there's no actual debate, no one is given long enough to develop a point
4. It only increases division without any resolution

It's a stinking pile of horseshit, whatever party you support, and frankly it's only watched by braindead idiots who want their ten minute hate.

[Slick]

Why the fuck does anyone watch Question Time?

1. Nobody from any party ever answers any questions
2. The audience is provably full of plants from local parties
3. It doesn't do anything other than parrot existing shit because there's no actual debate, no one is given long enough to develop a point
4. It only increases division without any resolution

It's a stinking pile of horseshit, whatever party you support, and frankly it's only watched by braindead idiots who want their ten minute hate.

Yup, agree with all that

As I said, I was a few drams in! Hadn't watched for a long time and remembered why.

[Jasonstry]

I am not a Scot but I am married to one and love the place, so sort of a Scot by marriage. Personally, I am not in favour of independence but I can understand why others think differently and the passion behind that. Not a fan of Nicola. Anyway, with that done, I sort of keep an eye on Wings Over Scotland, as much for the entertainment value as the content and Stuart has a particuarly interesting post on his blog. Interesting times.

https://wingsoverscotland.com/the-scorc ... ore-126286

[Biffer]

I am not a Scot but I am married to one and love the place, so sort of a Scot by marriage. Personally, I am not in favour of independence but I can understand why others think differently and the passion behind that. Not a fan of Nicola. Anyway, with that done, I sort of keep an eye on Wings Over Scotland, as much for the entertainment value as the content and Stuart has a particuarly interesting post on his blog. Interesting times.

https://wingsoverscotland.com/the-scorc ... ore-126286

He used to be interesting but he's now turned into an absolute nut job. Raves on about trans stuff, gets into shit fights, obsessed with proving Salmond right as it lines up with his misogynistic world view. Comes over as an ethnic nationalist now

[Dogbert]

He used to put up some interesting stuff , but as Biffer says , now a completely bonkers , who lives I believes in Bath

WOS is now just a camp for the real Indy nonjobs who represent about 0.5% of people in Scotland

[Jasonstry]

As I say, I usually look at Wings as much for the entertainment value (he does a good rant!) than for the content, however I find the stuff about Nicola turning up at an NEC meeting and talking it out to be pretty disturbing. All in all, it is looking like a right mess and I just hope it sorts itself out without getting too messy.

[tc27]

Wings has being utterly poisonous for years - nasty hounding of anyone who disagrees with him and responsible for so much the bullshit that ardent nationalists spout (the Wee Blue Book ETC). Now hes turned on one faction of the SNP he's suddenly a problem...

I find it a little hard to think many of those condemning him are now sincere - he was widely boosted and shared by many back in the day.

[tc27]

Any Salmond today has thrown an absolute bomb today after the SGs desperate stonewalling at last fell apart - surprised I am the first to comment...perhaps the Tory Scum thread is just too engaging?




https://www.parliament.scot/HarassmentC ... l_Code.pdf

If this was happening at UKG level it would be the scandal of the century.

[tc27]

Someones lying - if its Salmond then he said some actionable stuff:



Extraordinary - this is the former leader they are talking about....

[Tattie]

The Salmond situation is a shambles.

On another note, I got slated by some on here the other week for suggesting that the opposition parties in Scotland are obsessed with talking about independence. Here's what came though our letterboxes today from the main opposition party. A little over two months until the election and this is all the Tories have to offer - zero positivity, zero policy, zero alternative - only one issue and disappointment, and a wee dig at Labour for not jumping to form a unionist coalition to stop the big bad SNP. If I had the misfortune to be a Tory voter I would be furious that this was all they have to offer, is this really going to persuade any undecideds or soft Labour/Lib Dem/Greens to vote for them?

Also, to be petty - how can anyone have a pop at Nicola Sturgeon for her appearance when you have Ruth (permanently angry 14 year old boy) in opposition, and don’t get me started on Jackie Baillie.

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