As much as Salmond is a total creep, he’s the finest politician Scotland has by the most countriest of miles.

The rest are an absolute embarrassment and should be nowhere near the corridors of power.

The SNP have made an absolute erse of the easiest political reign in Scotland’s history.

Think what you will, but Sturgeon was an astute politician. Some of her ministers were balloons and she should’ve get rid sooner.

Salmond is a creep. Great politician that he is, his arrogance outweighs it.

I’m still all for Independence, but I feel totally let down by the party that wanted to achieve it.

The pragmatic option would be to combine Alba and SNP as a SNP refreshed under Salmond.

Those in decision making within the SNP would never have it so independence will be kicked further down the road.

you would need to be a cultist to not see flaw in the SNP now.

and there are many out there.

comment by JFK (U8919)
posted 34 minutes ago
you would need to be a cultist to not see flaw in the SNP now.

and there are many out there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
what flaws??

comment by Magnum (3 in a row easy) (U22391)
posted about an hour ago
comment by JFK (U8919)
posted 34 minutes ago
you would need to be a cultist to not see flaw in the SNP now.

and there are many out there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
what flaws??
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Ignore JohnFToryday there

He is all about Wee Dougie. Can't see any flaws in his leader. Aww my Dougie come here so I can suck on your wee Tory chod.

JFT is the epitome of Tory boys. He won't leave the house if he isn't in mustard chinos and a maroon shirt or in a 3 piece Saville Row suit

Elocution lessons are a must for speaking to him

comment by Call Sign (U3627)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Magnum (3 in a row easy) (U22391)
posted about an hour ago
comment by JFK (U8919)
posted 34 minutes ago
you would need to be a cultist to not see flaw in the SNP now.

and there are many out there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
what flaws??
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Ignore JohnFToryday there

He is all about Wee Dougie. Can't see any flaws in his leader. Aww my Dougie come here so I can suck on your wee Tory chod.

JFT is the epitome of Tory boys. He won't leave the house if he isn't in mustard chinos and a maroon shirt or in a 3 piece Saville Row suit

Elocution lessons are a must for speaking to him
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Never been to the Algarve though.

The last indyref was close because the SNP were riding high on good approval ratings after a generally popular early stint in government. Given the caulk ups of recent years, the naivety of the Greens, and Salmond being a creep, the indy movement just doesn't have that credibility at the moment. That's what Salmond and the others calling for more focus on independence right now just don't get. We need credibility from focus on good governance, and the indy argument can follow on from that. Ultimately since at least the last election the SNP could be characterised as having generally good policies which they've executed terribly. I'm not sure if that's better or worse than bad policies executed well, but it's poison for the independence campaign.

comment by WorkPermitPending (U1067)
posted 33 minutes ago
The last indyref was close because the SNP were riding high on good approval ratings after a generally popular early stint in government. Given the caulk ups of recent years, the naivety of the Greens, and Salmond being a creep, the indy movement just doesn't have that credibility at the moment. That's what Salmond and the others calling for more focus on independence right now just don't get. We need credibility from focus on good governance, and the indy argument can follow on from that. Ultimately since at least the last election the SNP could be characterised as having generally good policies which they've executed terribly. I'm not sure if that's better or worse than bad policies executed well, but it's poison for the independence campaign.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you actually think people who wanted independence suddenly become unionists?

The leader of a party doesn't change that.

It was the unsure voters than need convincing. Yes voting numbers won't drop

comment by Call Sign (U3627)
posted 37 seconds ago
comment by WorkPermitPending (U1067)
posted 33 minutes ago
The last indyref was close because the SNP were riding high on good approval ratings after a generally popular early stint in government. Given the caulk ups of recent years, the naivety of the Greens, and Salmond being a creep, the indy movement just doesn't have that credibility at the moment. That's what Salmond and the others calling for more focus on independence right now just don't get. We need credibility from focus on good governance, and the indy argument can follow on from that. Ultimately since at least the last election the SNP could be characterised as having generally good policies which they've executed terribly. I'm not sure if that's better or worse than bad policies executed well, but it's poison for the independence campaign.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you actually think people who wanted independence suddenly become unionists?

The leader of a party doesn't change that.

It was the unsure voters than need convincing. Yes voting numbers won't drop
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The unionists told all the Scottish pensioners, they would lose their pensions if we got Indy, the BBC spouted the same pash. That was ten years ago.

I'm really surprised Scottish people haven't heard of Brexit, or record inflation, cost of living crisis, Liz Truss, Boris Johnston et al. If they'd had of heard of these absolute shambles, they would've probably lost confidence in the carpet bagging Tories and start voting for Independence...

I think there is still a solid pro-independence base that will persist regardless of SNP performance - and I'd probably count myself in that tbh - but I'd be surprised if it says more than around 25-30%. On top of that you'll have some floating voters who will lean towards indy because they've seen the tory shambles down south, but you'll also have floating voters who'll lean towards the union because the SNP have underperformed, or because they believe Labour will ride in and save us all. Then you'll have the hardcore unionists who probably make up another 25-30% of the electorate. I hope and think the independence argument can be won but I don't think it will be won without some feel-good governance in Scotland first.

You won't get good government from any SNP led team for the foreseeable because a) the UK is a financial basket case and b) the UK government controls the levers of finance sent to Scotland and can manipulate much round the fringes chipping away at what they see as a rogue state. Lickspittles like Alister Jack will do his master's work and others will swing boots in too like the PO scandal pardons.

There is so much bitterness that coalition governments are hard to imagine despite that being the goal of our voting system. WHole thing is a shambles. How in fack do we need 128 MSP spongers when the whole UK gets by on 650 MPs?

Sturgeon's MO was absolute power and there's too many that are too young and feart or know nothing else and go along to progress their 'careers'. A few brave senior free thinkers but they are marginalised by HQ.

Depressing stuff.

The SNP to me are a means to an end, and right now thats purely because i can't stand the other two.

the difficulty now is that in the event we were to somehow gain independence, would these guys be able to see it through successfully?

have my doubts.

comment by Zico - Celtic Treble Winners 22/23 (U21900)
posted 13 hours, 45 minutes ago
comment by Call Sign (U3627)
posted 37 seconds ago
comment by WorkPermitPending (U1067)
posted 33 minutes ago
The last indyref was close because the SNP were riding high on good approval ratings after a generally popular early stint in government. Given the caulk ups of recent years, the naivety of the Greens, and Salmond being a creep, the indy movement just doesn't have that credibility at the moment. That's what Salmond and the others calling for more focus on independence right now just don't get. We need credibility from focus on good governance, and the indy argument can follow on from that. Ultimately since at least the last election the SNP could be characterised as having generally good policies which they've executed terribly. I'm not sure if that's better or worse than bad policies executed well, but it's poison for the independence campaign.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you actually think people who wanted independence suddenly become unionists?

The leader of a party doesn't change that.

It was the unsure voters than need convincing. Yes voting numbers won't drop
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The unionists told all the Scottish pensioners, they would lose their pensions if we got Indy, the BBC spouted the same pash. That was ten years ago.

I'm really surprised Scottish people haven't heard of Brexit, or record inflation, cost of living crisis, Liz Truss, Boris Johnston et al. If they'd had of heard of these absolute shambles, they would've probably lost confidence in the carpet bagging Tories and start voting for Independence...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I simply don’t understand the argument that because of Brexit you should vote independence, independence would be 100 times worse. Would set the country back as a poorer nation for 25 years even going by the SNP economists.

And the idea that Truss, Boris etc should be an argument for independence, the suggestion Scottish politicians are any better is a strange one going on evidence.

People painting independence as a simple decision is mental. Strong idealogical arguments for it, but in practice it would be a shiite show in the short term, being our lifetimes, at the minimum.

It’s the same arguments on repeat, and part of the reason the SNP hasn’t won over voters who could be swayed is they still don’t have good or consistent answers to big questions like currency and when we could, or how we’d rejoin the EU.

The currency question should be resolved by saying we will use the pound until we use the Euro.

Don't know why the Euro is viewed negatively against the pound when it's been outperforming it for years.

Europe would take Scotland in but the party leading Scotland would need to go to them ahead of a referendum and agree on a plan and then publicise it. Much would depend on the contents of that.

Europe would take Scotland in but the party leading Scotland would need to go to them ahead of a referendum and agree on a plan and then publicise it
=============

these are the kind of plans that need to be investigated prior to an referendum, "we could" doesn't convince me that they know.

I think we would have faired better with sturgeon walking into a debate in that regard, f...ing salmond last time, first question "what is project fear Alastair"

waste of a question.

comment by JFK (U8919)
posted 11 minutes ago
Europe would take Scotland in but the party leading Scotland would need to go to them ahead of a referendum and agree on a plan and then publicise it
=============

these are the kind of plans that need to be investigated prior to an referendum, "we could" doesn't convince me that they know.

I think we would have faired better with sturgeon walking into a debate in that regard, f...ing salmond last time, first question "what is project fear Alastair"

waste of a question.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

They’ve peddled different ideas on currency, some of the more recent ideas they’ve put out there would prevent us joining EU. A mess considering how long they’ve had.

Bring back the bawbee.

comment by Blue Heaven (U20912)
posted 56 minutes ago
Bring back the bawbee.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The big wan or the wee wan?

comment by RenegadeOF (U9457)
posted 3 hours, 3 minutes ago
comment by Zico - Celtic Treble Winners 22/23 (U21900)
posted 13 hours, 45 minutes ago
comment by Call Sign (U3627)
posted 37 seconds ago
comment by WorkPermitPending (U1067)
posted 33 minutes ago
The last indyref was close because the SNP were riding high on good approval ratings after a generally popular early stint in government. Given the caulk ups of recent years, the naivety of the Greens, and Salmond being a creep, the indy movement just doesn't have that credibility at the moment. That's what Salmond and the others calling for more focus on independence right now just don't get. We need credibility from focus on good governance, and the indy argument can follow on from that. Ultimately since at least the last election the SNP could be characterised as having generally good policies which they've executed terribly. I'm not sure if that's better or worse than bad policies executed well, but it's poison for the independence campaign.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you actually think people who wanted independence suddenly become unionists?

The leader of a party doesn't change that.

It was the unsure voters than need convincing. Yes voting numbers won't drop
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The unionists told all the Scottish pensioners, they would lose their pensions if we got Indy, the BBC spouted the same pash. That was ten years ago.

I'm really surprised Scottish people haven't heard of Brexit, or record inflation, cost of living crisis, Liz Truss, Boris Johnston et al. If they'd had of heard of these absolute shambles, they would've probably lost confidence in the carpet bagging Tories and start voting for Independence...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I simply don’t understand the argument that because of Brexit you should vote independence, independence would be 100 times worse. Would set the country back as a poorer nation for 25 years even going by the SNP economists.

And the idea that Truss, Boris etc should be an argument for independence, the suggestion Scottish politicians are any better is a strange one going on evidence.

People painting independence as a simple decision is mental. Strong idealogical arguments for it, but in practice it would be a shiite show in the short term, being our lifetimes, at the minimum.

It’s the same arguments on repeat, and part of the reason the SNP hasn’t won over voters who could be swayed is they still don’t have good or consistent answers to big questions like currency and when we could, or how we’d rejoin the EU.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Boring boring boring

comment by Magnum (3 in a row easy) (U22391)
posted 24 minutes ago
comment by Blue Heaven (U20912)
posted 56 minutes ago
Bring back the bawbee.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The big wan or the wee wan?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I've said it before about currency - it is just a token, a promissory note to make transactions easier. I don't care who's head is notionally on it nor what it is called, no emotion. Yes, there are some concerns over who's economy it is tied to viz. rate decisions but that is 100% no different to the situation we are already in!

Independence would be no different to Brexit with us feeling the wrath, bitterness and obstinance of the larger partner who will no negotiate prior to any vote because to do so would legitimise it. So, it will always be a leap in the dark. No share of the UK assets means no share of the debt either and ram your Trident & Coulport unless you wanna negotiate.

Initially, we may well be set back financially especially by lily livered, lazy PLCs taking the easy option to risk avoidance. Any new gov should set out it's plan to prevent that. Unfortunately, UK is already feeling the gravitational pull of the USA who will resist global taxation legislation long mooted.

UK is a sh*t show. London and the SE has been allowed to grow too much to appease the chatterers at the expense of overall growth and now things are coming to a head. They raped the oil money until it has almost run out and the same is happening with the financial centre. Now the lazy cants are staring at oblivion unless they do something hard and find ways to generate new private enterprises to pay for services.

fun few week for hearts fans i'd imagine.

starting with saturday, "we'll do our best for you guys, i promise we'll try really hard, but see if we win, see the last day of the season can you come and sit with me at tynecastle, maybe come and meet my mum, i'll get her to make cripsy pancakes for dinner but only if you like crispy pancakes"

freaks.