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If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere wellIt were done quickly – politicalbetting.com

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  • SelebianSelebian Posts: 8,583
    Pulpstar said:

    Finally gone over to the ubiquitous Smartmeter. Gas all online with 1/2 hour granular detail available. Electricity 4-6 weeks to come online though ?!

    What sort of archaic systems are in the back end of our grid for it to take that long ?

    That's bizarre. Ours were both online same day IIRC (I was told it might take up to 7 days or similar).
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,751
    Dura_Ace said:

    Andy_JS said:
    In a chaste manner, entirely conformant with proscriptions of the Old Testament.
    Well, as long as the spikenard is kept under control.


    While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

    A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.

  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,459
    Selebian said:

    TOPPING said:

    WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE THIS WHOLE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO SCOTLAND THING GO AWAY.

    No one cares ffs.

    Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, and this is a United Kingdom politics site.
    Until and unless that changes, whilst certain people might not care (I don't care about Merbyn Kernow for instance) it's right to discuss it.
    We're long overdue a header on MK :disappointed:
    YES. Including the standing menace of the extremist wing dedicated to the establishment of an inexpressibly sinister (also fattening) Greater East Cornwall Co-Prosperity Sphere extending from the Tamar to Shepherd's Bush Roundabout.

    You have been warned . . . many, many times!
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,675
    @nickeardleybbc

    Sounds like John Swinney could stand for SNP leadership… he days giving it careful consideration and will say more in coming days

    Wants to speak to family in particular

    But warns party must stay in the centre left to be successful
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,160
    Selebian said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Finally gone over to the ubiquitous Smartmeter. Gas all online with 1/2 hour granular detail available. Electricity 4-6 weeks to come online though ?!

    What sort of archaic systems are in the back end of our grid for it to take that long ?

    That's bizarre. Ours were both online same day IIRC (I was told it might take up to 7 days or similar).
    I was told two weeks initially but the guy who came to fit it said that was "just them covering themselves" - it should happen almost straight away.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,160
    Scott_xP said:

    @DeltapollUK
    🚨New Voting Intention🚨
    Labour lead widens to twenty points in our latest results.
    Con 24% (-3)
    Lab 44% (+1)
    Lib Dem 8% (-1)
    Reform 12% (-)
    SNP 3% (-)
    Green 5% (-)
    Other 3% (+2)
    Fieldwork: 26th-29th April 2024
    Sample: 1,577 GB adults
    (Changes from 19th-22nd April 2024)

    Stop the boats!!!
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,160
    Scott_xP said:

    @JohnRentoul

    Ladbrokes news release: BETTING SUSPENDED on Humza Yousaf replacement after flood of bets on John Swinney


    I took some of the 8/1 that was on offer this morning

    Betfair market now up:

    https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/politics/market/1.228297205

    £0 so far
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,675
    @elrick1

    Is Ash Regan still the most powerful MSP at Holyrood? Asking for a friend....
  • numbertwelvenumbertwelve Posts: 6,678
    edited April 29

    Alex Salmond telling Radio4 that Humza Yousaf phoned Alba at 730am today about a deal but the SNP 'old guard' blocked it

    https://x.com/HTScotPol/status/1784922044636774475

    I don’t believe him, frankly. That call might have taken place. I very much doubt that was the reason a deal didn’t come through.

    I believe Humza genuinely didn’t want to be seen to be being bailed out by Salmond, due to his aversion to what he sees as reactionary culture war nonsense (yes, yes, I know he’s not one to talk) and probably loyalty to Sturgeon.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 41,903
    Scott_xP said:

    @JohnRentoul

    Ladbrokes news release: BETTING SUSPENDED on Humza Yousaf replacement after flood of bets on John Swinney

    I took some of the 8/1 that was on offer this morning

    Well done. The BF market is up now - but all blue no pink for the moment.
  • DonkeysDonkeys Posts: 723
    edited April 29
    FF43 said:

    More chaos ahoy. Humza Yousaf does a Sturgeon and announces his intention to resign as FM but not until SNP members (number TBC) have chosen another leader. Stand by for another unedifying dogfight on the cusp of a general election

    https://x.com/HTScotPol/status/1784902279084081173

    This is presumably to pause the 28 day countdown timer to an election if no replacement FM in place. I don't see the Greens wanting to VoNC to force an election.

    Humza has been the opposite of astute but this move makes sense.

    Labour are unlikely to withdraw their motion of no confidence in the government. That means in the government under Yousaf as caretaker first minister, which is the only government Scotland has got. If it passes, the clock starts ticking regardless of what happens in the SNP. This leaves it open to the Greens to vote No Confidence in Yousaf's govt but Confidence in an SNP govt under another leader who gives them the two ministries back.

    It's all looking like a successful scheme to remove Yousaf, not to remove the SNP in a general election.

    Kate Forbes is probably considered "sound" on Gaza.
    Never forget that the Broederbond in South Africa were Calvinists.
  • gettingbettergettingbetter Posts: 535
    Pulpstar said:

    Finally gone over to the ubiquitous Smartmeter. Gas all online with 1/2 hour granular detail available. Electricity 4-6 weeks to come online though ?!

    What sort of archaic systems are in the back end of our grid for it to take that long ?

    Thanks so much for mentioning this. I have been trying to get one for 4 years, last year they said it was now possible in our area but there are never any appointments. On reading your post I just looked and there was an appointment for Thursday (presumably a cancellation).
    .
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 59,872
    I wonder actually if a PM like Tony Blair would be the most effective in stopping the boats.

    Gets the issue (and in no way dismisses it or avoids hard truths in the British interest) and would be sufficiently internationalist to actually do the deals to fix it.
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,052
    Sandpit said:

    More chaos ahoy. Humza Yousaf does a Sturgeon and announces his intention to resign as FM but not until SNP members (number TBC) have chosen another leader. Stand by for another unedifying dogfight on the cusp of a general election

    https://x.com/HTScotPol/status/1784902279084081173

    It would be somewhat amusing if the PM calls a general election in the aftermath of the locals this weekend, so the SNP has to write themselves a manifesto with no leader and no money to campaign.
    That is a very interesting possibility.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,411

    Dura_Ace said:

    Andy_JS said:
    In a chaste manner, entirely conformant with proscriptions of the Old Testament.
    Well, as long as the spikenard is kept under control.


    While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

    A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.

    “Will you….. endure to see a chasuble set up in your marketplace? Will you have your daughters sold into simony? Will you have celibacy practised in the public streets?'
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 13,677
    What, exactly, was HY's plan here when he wiped his hairy ringpiece on the Bute House agreement?

    I presume the Greens will support the SNP as long as it led by anybody but HY or Sister Kate of the Immaculate Forehead? That would seem to be the logical move. To the limited extent that logic has any purchase over this fiasco.
  • numbertwelvenumbertwelve Posts: 6,678
    Cicero said:

    Sandpit said:

    More chaos ahoy. Humza Yousaf does a Sturgeon and announces his intention to resign as FM but not until SNP members (number TBC) have chosen another leader. Stand by for another unedifying dogfight on the cusp of a general election

    https://x.com/HTScotPol/status/1784902279084081173

    It would be somewhat amusing if the PM calls a general election in the aftermath of the locals this weekend, so the SNP has to write themselves a manifesto with no leader and no money to campaign.
    That is a very interesting possibility.
    Maybe Rishi will call that GE this afternoon, after all!
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,675

    Cicero said:

    Sandpit said:

    More chaos ahoy. Humza Yousaf does a Sturgeon and announces his intention to resign as FM but not until SNP members (number TBC) have chosen another leader. Stand by for another unedifying dogfight on the cusp of a general election

    https://x.com/HTScotPol/status/1784902279084081173

    It would be somewhat amusing if the PM calls a general election in the aftermath of the locals this weekend, so the SNP has to write themselves a manifesto with no leader and no money to campaign.
    That is a very interesting possibility.
    Maybe Rishi will call that GE this afternoon, after all!
    If he was smart. So, no then...
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,411
    Dura_Ace said:

    What, exactly, was HY's plan here when he wiped his hairy ringpiece on the Bute House agreement?

    I presume the Greens will support the SNP as long as it led by anybody but HY or Sister Kate of the Immaculate Forehead? That would seem to be the logical move. To the limited extent that logic has any purchase over this fiasco.

    “What, exactly, was HY's plan here when he wiped his hairy ringpiece on the Bute House agreement?”

    Flaw in your thinking highlighted.

  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,114

    I wonder actually if a PM like Tony Blair would be the most effective in stopping the boats.

    Gets the issue (and in no way dismisses it or avoids hard truths in the British interest) and would be sufficiently internationalist to actually do the deals to fix it.

    I have see two videos of the French police putting the inflatable boats out of use by knifing them. Seems to me to be the way to go. Can we buy the French more knives?

    Ultimately we have the confrontation of international laws designed for a different era, plus millions (billions?) who see the Western lifestyle, look around at the shit holes that they live in and fancy a change, cynical people smuggling gangs, and nations that just don't want the problem (both us and France are culpable - the current government, and many if the British public, don't want those crossing the channel from a safe country (France) and the French just want them gone to where they want to go (UK).) How this gets resolved is THE major challenge for Starmer's new government.
  • NeilVWNeilVW Posts: 732
    FF43 said:

    FF43 said:

    More chaos ahoy. Humza Yousaf does a Sturgeon and announces his intention to resign as FM but not until SNP members (number TBC) have chosen another leader. Stand by for another unedifying dogfight on the cusp of a general election

    https://x.com/HTScotPol/status/1784902279084081173

    This is presumably to pause the 28 day countdown timer to an election if no replacement FM in place. I don't see the Greens wanting to VoNC to force an election.

    Humza has been the opposite of astute but this move makes sense.

    The SGP is polling quite well. Need they fear an election?
    It's a good question. The Greens are being conciliatory to the SNP now rather than pushing to collapse the government. Which suggests they don't want an election.
    Wings’ take is that the Greens are in a very powerful position in the Parliament, with the arithmetic poised the way it is. An immediate Holyrood election would likely produce a fragmented result, with Lab and SNP too far short of a majority for the Greens to have any sway.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,675
    @AlanJZycinski
    NEW:
    @AnasSarwar tells me @ScottishLabour will “see how week plays out” before deciding if motion of no confidence against Govt still goes ahead.

    Also scathing of @StephenFlynnSNP: “He encouraged the FM to go on the front foot…he actually shot him in the foot”

    @akmaciver

    This is the right move by Anas Sarwar. Almost no chance his motion would pass so no sense in being associated with it. Best sit and wait.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 13,677

    I wonder actually if a PM like Tony Blair would be the most effective in stopping the boats.

    Gets the issue (and in no way dismisses it or avoids hard truths in the British interest) and would be sufficiently internationalist to actually do the deals to fix it.

    You're probably right. If you haven't got the fortitude for tow backs, which the tories clearly haven't, then the only person who can (っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ STOP THE BOATS ♥ is Macron. Could Blair flatter and/or bribe Macron into doing it. Maybe.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    Someone has kept the receipts....

    "While government must act in good faith, so must our opposition" says Humza Yousaf. That's a little rich given the way in which Sturgeon, Yousaf & others sought to shut down reasoned opposition & good-faith attempts to amend the SNP's self ID reforms.

    https://x.com/soniasodha/status/1784903361168388149

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/21/stoking-a-culture-war-no-nicola-sturgeon-this-is-about-balancing-conflicting-rights

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/10/scottish-schools-have-tumbled-from-top-of-the-class-this-is-what-went-wrong
  • RandallFlaggRandallFlagg Posts: 1,279
    Biggest problem with Forbes becoming FM is I can't see how she'd be able to form a government. The Greens despise her more than Yousaf, and the men in grey suits have made it abundantly clear they don't want a deal with Alba. I think that ultimately means 1) the Sturgeon wing will do their absolute upmost to stop her 2) if she does win the leadership then they'd have to be an immediate Holyrood election.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,006
    "French movie legend Gerard Depardieu, 75, is placed in custody in Paris over claims he sexually assaulted two female production workers on film sets"

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13361425/French-movie-legend-Gerard-Depardieu-75-placed-custody-Paris-claims-sexually-assaulted-two-female-production-workers-film-sets.html
  • SelebianSelebian Posts: 8,583
    Dura_Ace said:

    What, exactly, was HY's plan here when he wiped his hairy ringpiece on the Bute House agreement?

    I presume the Greens will support the SNP as long as it led by anybody but HY or Sister Kate of the Immaculate Forehead? That would seem to be the logical move. To the limited extent that logic has any purchase over this fiasco.

    I can only assume Yousaf has some great long-odds bets on his exit date, the date of the next Holyrood election and the next leader of the SNP.

    Unless he's another Lib Dem sleeper agent :open_mouth:
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 59,872

    isam said:

    Foxy said:

    TOPPING said:

    As all here may be aware, I yield to no one in my left wing, bring 'em all over, that mug is not in my name, sure I may have been at war with and dropping bombs on them but now I am a big fan and support their struggle against the evil oppressor, pro-immigration stance.

    But Ireland may inadvertently be giving Rishi the support he needs wrt his immigration/Rwanda policy. Pass a law saying they must go back to the last country they came from, eh? Well I never.

    Ireland is in La Francophonie, so Im sure President Macron will do his utmost to help out.
    Perhaps I missed it, but I don't think any French government minister was so dim as to claim credit for asylum seekers crossing the Channel in small boats. None of them said, "you see, our policy to scare asylum seekers to go elsewhere is working," and thereby accept responsibility for it.

    Sunak has accepted that his policy dumps asylum seekers on Ireland, that he is essentially in the same position as Belarus, shoving people across the Polish border, and so that puts Ireland in a much stronger position to demand that he does something about it.

    If he hadn't been so stupid he would have responded to the Irish claims with a gallic shrug, said that the Rwanda policy was intended to stop the boat crossings, and left British voters to join the dots. But he couldn't help himself.
    A key problem with the Rwanda scheme is that it seems unlikely to work, so Sunak and the policy's supporters have fallen on the Irish government's comments like a thirsty man in a desert finding a spring. The value of someone saying "it's working" (even though they are doing so for their own political reasons) is worth more to Sunak than the cost of having to clear up the mess that follows admitting he's shoving people across the Irish border.
    I can understand opponents to the Rwanda scheme dismissing the Irish development but this is a real issue between Ireland and UK that will draw France and the EU into it and hopefully see cooperation and more importantly determination across thee countries to stop the boats once and for all and make Rwanda scheme redundant

    Of course this would be a political result for Sunak but for me stopping the boats is about saving lives at sea not least because our family have lost several family members at sea and why our youngest son is an active RNLI sea going volunteer

    Rwanda is all about political posturing. Wasn't it Cummings who suggested it was a smoke screen to cover up another Johnson scandal?

    I doubt very much the scheme will stop the boats. There were far more robust mechanisms that could have been explored, but a political win is a political win. The Irish issue which has become an unexpected by product is a Daily Mail win for Sunak. Will the boats stop? Very unlikely, but if 6 boats a day becomes five, Sunak will consider that a win.
    On Friday and Saturday there were 500 recorded small boat arrivals so evidence of a deterrent effect seems rdispute ather absent!

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats-last-7-days
    I find it extraordinary that anyone would expect to see an immediate reduction in boat crossings when the smugglers will be desperate to send over as many as possible before the consequences of the legislation become obvious not least as this Irish problem develops and flights take off
    Here’s Tony Blair saying that a lot of asylum seekers are no more than economic migrants playing the system

    https://x.com/wayotworld/status/1784633398973092319?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
    Asylum claim refusals peaked under Blair. For those who want an efficient migration system they should vote for pragmatists like Blair, not those who shout the loudest.
    Blair would be considered too right-wing by Labour today, he was even considered too right-wing back in his day, and SKS is clearly to his Left on issues like culture and migration no matter how often he drapes his canister in the Union Flag with his serious PM'y like poker-face.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 59,872
    TOPPING said:

    WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE THIS WHOLE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO SCOTLAND THING GO AWAY.

    No one cares ffs.

    I care deeply about Scotland.

    I'm a Unionist.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,411
    Dura_Ace said:

    I wonder actually if a PM like Tony Blair would be the most effective in stopping the boats.

    Gets the issue (and in no way dismisses it or avoids hard truths in the British interest) and would be sufficiently internationalist to actually do the deals to fix it.

    You're probably right. If you haven't got the fortitude for tow backs, which the tories clearly haven't, then the only person who can (っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ STOP THE BOATS ♥ is Macron. Could Blair flatter and/or bribe Macron into doing it. Maybe.
    The French President would probably agree to discuss it. Then, when an attempt to discuss it was made, accuse Blair of bad manners.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    We now await news of which MSPs might fancy their chances of winning the right to lead the SNP to humiliation in the coming general election. To whoever ends up with the crown, might I humbly suggest they try to get through their victory speech without describing their opponents as the scum of the Earth.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/humza-yousafs-biggest-mistake/
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,216
    .

    FF43 said:

    GIN1138 said:

    I see it is Hammer the Disabled Day on Sunak's news grid.

    A multi-millionaire (with an even richer wife) hammering the the sick and disabled isn't a good look, is it?
    Sunak is very right wing. He believes government is there only to defend the country and ensure the rich keep their wealth. The Conservative Party have previously done a good job of pretending to be on the side of the common man and woman. Sunak's sin is not even to bother to pretend.
    I always get the impression that a lot of Tories think that most who claim to be disabled are having us on. No doubt there are a few (always fun to see a case in the Daily Mail of someone claiming to be unable to walk more than a few steps, shown running a local marathon or some such. But it is unlikely to be that many people, and those in genuine need should not suffer because of them.

    Support for disabled folk is clearly going to be very specific to the individual.
    Not if the current administration stays in power. It's going to be considerably curtailed across the board..
  • numbertwelvenumbertwelve Posts: 6,678
    If Swinney runs, he feels like the winning candidate to me*.

    He probably keeps the Greens on side.

    He doesn’t rock the boat too much within the party.

    *but again, I do think this is a bit of an awkward one to predict. You’re going to have all sorts of external influence about who members should
    choose based on the parliamentary arithmetic etc, and I’m not sure how that will swing things.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 10,640
    Alba currently have 2 MPs, 1 MSP and 2 councillors. No-one has ever been elected under the Alba label, however. They won nothing in the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary election and nothing in the 2022 local elections, despite both being under PR systems. They've won nothing in any by-elections. Does Salmond care or is this just about extracting revenge on the SNP?
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 41,903
    Dura_Ace said:

    I wonder actually if a PM like Tony Blair would be the most effective in stopping the boats.

    Gets the issue (and in no way dismisses it or avoids hard truths in the British interest) and would be sufficiently internationalist to actually do the deals to fix it.

    You're probably right. If you haven't got the fortitude for tow backs, which the tories clearly haven't, then the only person who can (っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ STOP THE BOATS ♥ is Macron. Could Blair flatter and/or bribe Macron into doing it. Maybe.
    Two thirds of a supergroup: The Gods of Centrism. Just need Bill Clinton facilitating and we have it.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 17,972
    edited April 29

    Biggest problem with Forbes becoming FM is I can't see how she'd be able to form a government. The Greens despise her more than Yousaf, and the men in grey suits have made it abundantly clear they don't want a deal with Alba. I think that ultimately means 1) the Sturgeon wing will do their absolute upmost to stop her 2) if she does win the leadership then they'd have to be an immediate Holyrood election.

    She might be able to do a deal with the Tories, perhaps, just to abstain on her becoming FM, and then something to get budgets passed?
  • kamskikamski Posts: 5,100
    edited April 29
    538 polling averages:
    National: Trump +1

    Arizona: Trump +3.7
    Georgia: Trump +6.6
    Michigan: Trump +2
    Nevada: Trump +6.3
    North Carolina: Trump +5.6
    Pennsylvania: Trump +1.6
    Wisconsin: Trump +2.8

    So polling in states like Nevada and Georgia have swung more to Trump than the national polling, whereas Wisconsin and Pennsylvania less.

    Trump's electoral college advantage looks like it could be less than last time (Biden would need Pennsylvania and Michigan and Wisconsin to just win the EC, assuming Nebraska still gives him 1 vote). But Biden would need more than 1.8% lead nationally to win the EC on those figures.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,676

    TOPPING said:

    WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE THIS WHOLE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO SCOTLAND THING GO AWAY.

    No one cares ffs.

    I care deeply about Scotland.

    I'm a Unionist.
    Don't be absurd. Literally no one else cares. You and Big G that's it.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,751
    More wtf has it got to with your whiny, victimhood-raddled ass news.


  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,676
    What devolved powers do they have. The ability to set rates for public car parks at national monuments. Anything else? It is a mickey mouse government thinking they have powers to do this, that, and the other on the world stage but they have no such power hence are reduced to arguing the toss about trans rights and Gaza.

    Like a student government that the grown ups indulge and laugh at.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 59,872
    Dura_Ace said:

    I wonder actually if a PM like Tony Blair would be the most effective in stopping the boats.

    Gets the issue (and in no way dismisses it or avoids hard truths in the British interest) and would be sufficiently internationalist to actually do the deals to fix it.

    You're probably right. If you haven't got the fortitude for tow backs, which the tories clearly haven't, then the only person who can (っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ STOP THE BOATS ♥ is Macron. Could Blair flatter and/or bribe Macron into doing it. Maybe.
    I don't think we'd even have the fortitude for puncturing boats with knives, like the French are doing, without mass hysteria and passive resistance from Border Farce.

    Macron craves attention and recognition so Blair could play him like a fiddle.
  • ajbajb Posts: 144

    Pulpstar said:

    Finally gone over to the ubiquitous Smartmeter. Gas all online with 1/2 hour granular detail available. Electricity 4-6 weeks to come online though ?!

    What sort of archaic systems are in the back end of our grid for it to take that long ?

    Thanks so much for mentioning this. I have been trying to get one for 4 years, last year they said it was now possible in our area but there are never any appointments. On reading your post I just looked and there was an appointment for Thursday (presumably a cancellation).
    .
    Good luck. When mine were installed, they caused a gas leak.
  • RandallFlaggRandallFlagg Posts: 1,279

    Biggest problem with Forbes becoming FM is I can't see how she'd be able to form a government. The Greens despise her more than Yousaf, and the men in grey suits have made it abundantly clear they don't want a deal with Alba. I think that ultimately means 1) the Sturgeon wing will do their absolute upmost to stop her 2) if she does win the leadership then they'd have to be an immediate Holyrood election.

    She might be able to do a deal with the Tories, perhaps, just to abstain on her becoming FM, and then something to get budgets passed?
    I think she gets defenestrated if she tries to a deal with Ross. Things have changed since 2007.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 59,872

    I wonder actually if a PM like Tony Blair would be the most effective in stopping the boats.

    Gets the issue (and in no way dismisses it or avoids hard truths in the British interest) and would be sufficiently internationalist to actually do the deals to fix it.

    I have see two videos of the French police putting the inflatable boats out of use by knifing them. Seems to me to be the way to go. Can we buy the French more knives?

    Ultimately we have the confrontation of international laws designed for a different era, plus millions (billions?) who see the Western lifestyle, look around at the shit holes that they live in and fancy a change, cynical people smuggling gangs, and nations that just don't want the problem (both us and France are culpable - the current government, and many if the British public, don't want those crossing the channel from a safe country (France) and the French just want them gone to where they want to go (UK).) How this gets resolved is THE major challenge for Starmer's new government.
    I think his view is, essentially, that if they've made all the effort to get here they must have a good reason and should be given the benefit of the doubt.

    Yvette Cooper's main job will be to do the moirologist act over how awful it all is.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,675
    If Swinney goes for it, he might be the only candidate which avoids a member vote.

    Forbes is perhaps the only one who might stand against him, but she can't form a Government. Better to wait for the wipeout and go then
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,751

    If Swinney runs, he feels like the winning candidate to me*.

    He probably keeps the Greens on side.

    He doesn’t rock the boat too much within the party.

    *but again, I do think this is a bit of an awkward one to predict. You’re going to have all sorts of external influence about who members should
    choose based on the parliamentary arithmetic etc, and I’m not sure how that will swing things.

    I would be amazed if he ran for leader rather than took it on as temporary caretaker. The only motive for the former would be to take the hit for electoral defeat and leave a cleanish sheet for his successor, and I don't think even he's that selfless.

    Contra Unionist sneering he's quite popular in the party and seen as honourable so would work as a calming caretaker. I believe his wife has MS so I guess he would be doing a lot of consulting with her before taking on all the shite that goes with being even a temporary leader.
  • sarissasarissa Posts: 1,976

    We now await news of which MSPs might fancy their chances of winning the right to lead the SNP to humiliation in the coming general election. To whoever ends up with the crown, might I humbly suggest they try to get through their victory speech without describing their opponents as the scum of the Earth.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/humza-yousafs-biggest-mistake/

    Angela Rayner is ineligible.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 59,872

    Dura_Ace said:

    I wonder actually if a PM like Tony Blair would be the most effective in stopping the boats.

    Gets the issue (and in no way dismisses it or avoids hard truths in the British interest) and would be sufficiently internationalist to actually do the deals to fix it.

    You're probably right. If you haven't got the fortitude for tow backs, which the tories clearly haven't, then the only person who can (っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ STOP THE BOATS ♥ is Macron. Could Blair flatter and/or bribe Macron into doing it. Maybe.
    The French President would probably agree to discuss it. Then, when an attempt to discuss it was made, accuse Blair of bad manners.
    Macron would want Blair's help in tackling it at source- he has big problems in France with it.

    Ultimately the EU is going to have to use force in the Med to repel all boarders.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,751
    TOPPING said:

    What devolved powers do they have. The ability to set rates for public car parks at national monuments. Anything else? It is a mickey mouse government thinking they have powers to do this, that, and the other on the world stage but they have no such power hence are reduced to arguing the toss about trans rights and Gaza.

    Like a student government that the grown ups indulge and laugh at.

    You voted for Boris.

    High pitched squeal: But Jezza made me do it!
  • CookieCookie Posts: 13,506
    ajb said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Finally gone over to the ubiquitous Smartmeter. Gas all online with 1/2 hour granular detail available. Electricity 4-6 weeks to come online though ?!

    What sort of archaic systems are in the back end of our grid for it to take that long ?

    Thanks so much for mentioning this. I have been trying to get one for 4 years, last year they said it was now possible in our area but there are never any appointments. On reading your post I just looked and there was an appointment for Thursday (presumably a cancellation).
    .
    Good luck. When mine were installed, they caused a gas leak.
    I've been trying to get one for a year. The one time I have got an engineer to turn up, she told me she couldn't get to either gas or electric meter. I'm not bothered about the gas meter - I'm only doing it so I can export my solar - but I'm trying again with the electric - I've arranged an electrician to turn up at the same time to move the consumer unit so she can get to it. Seems a right bloody palaver for something which they apparently want us to do.
  • LennonLennon Posts: 1,770
    Selebian said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    What, exactly, was HY's plan here when he wiped his hairy ringpiece on the Bute House agreement?

    I presume the Greens will support the SNP as long as it led by anybody but HY or Sister Kate of the Immaculate Forehead? That would seem to be the logical move. To the limited extent that logic has any purchase over this fiasco.

    I can only assume Yousaf has some great long-odds bets on his exit date, the date of the next Holyrood election and the next leader of the SNP.

    Unless he's another Lib Dem sleeper agent :open_mouth:
    Or he's been tipped the wink by Police Scotland that Nicola is about to be arrested and charged and wants out ASAP?
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216

    If Swinney runs, he feels like the winning candidate to me*.

    He probably keeps the Greens on side.

    He doesn’t rock the boat too much within the party.

    *but again, I do think this is a bit of an awkward one to predict. You’re going to have all sorts of external influence about who members should
    choose based on the parliamentary arithmetic etc, and I’m not sure how that will swing things.

    I would be amazed if he ran for leader rather than took it on as temporary caretaker. The only motive for the former would be to take the hit for electoral defeat and leave a cleanish sheet for his successor, and I don't think even he's that selfless.

    Contra Unionist sneering he's quite popular in the party and seen as honourable so would work as a calming caretaker. I believe his wife has MS so I guess he would be doing a lot of consulting with her before taking on all the shite that goes with being even a temporary leader.
    But its going "Yousaf > Next Leader" isn't it?

    Yousaf's done a Sturgeon, waiting for the last possible moment to exit Stage Left, rather than immediately resign and call for an interim leader.

  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 59,872
    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE THIS WHOLE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO SCOTLAND THING GO AWAY.

    No one cares ffs.

    I care deeply about Scotland.

    I'm a Unionist.
    Don't be absurd. Literally no one else cares. You and Big G that's it.
    And you wonder why so many Scots want independence.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 13,677

    Dura_Ace said:

    I wonder actually if a PM like Tony Blair would be the most effective in stopping the boats.

    Gets the issue (and in no way dismisses it or avoids hard truths in the British interest) and would be sufficiently internationalist to actually do the deals to fix it.

    You're probably right. If you haven't got the fortitude for tow backs, which the tories clearly haven't, then the only person who can (っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ STOP THE BOATS ♥ is Macron. Could Blair flatter and/or bribe Macron into doing it. Maybe.
    The French President would probably agree to discuss it. Then, when an attempt to discuss it was made, accuse Blair of bad manners.
    Macron would want Blair's help in tackling it at source- he has big problems in France with it.

    Ultimately the EU is going to have to use force in the Med to repel all boarders.
    That would help but due to poor customer service by North African traffickers (Free rape and/or kidnapping with every passage. Use code FUCKED for 10% discount on check out.) more now travel to Europe overland via "Route Balkan".
  • DonkeysDonkeys Posts: 723
    edited April 29
    TOPPING said:

    What devolved powers do they have. The ability to set rates for public car parks at national monuments. Anything else? It is a mickey mouse government thinking they have powers to do this, that, and the other on the world stage but they have no such power hence are reduced to arguing the toss about trans rights and Gaza.

    Like a student government that the grown ups indulge and laugh at.

    Of course it is. Have you seen the lecterns that the "MSPs" stand behind, as if they're giving lectures? But sometimes even a student Mickey Mouse local council politician can do something right, and HY has shown more guts on Gaza than almost any "grown-up" politician and he deserves credit for this.

    Similarly with Leo Varadkar - more guts on Gaza than Starmer and Sunak put together times 100.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    The view from Bath:

    It's so transparent watching media hacks being fed the line that nobody should dare run against Swinney if he chooses to stand for the leadership. The SNP are desperate to get Ross Greer's "work dad" in place ASAP.
    https://x.com/WingsScotland/status/1784933703661105246
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,675

    I would be amazed if he ran for leader rather than took it on as temporary caretaker. The only motive for the former would be to take the hit for electoral defeat and leave a cleanish sheet for his successor, and I don't think even he's that selfless.

    That's exactly the plan.

    Oor 'Scotch expert' not fully up to speed there...
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 21,939
    FF43 said:

    FF43 said:

    More chaos ahoy. Humza Yousaf does a Sturgeon and announces his intention to resign as FM but not until SNP members (number TBC) have chosen another leader. Stand by for another unedifying dogfight on the cusp of a general election

    https://x.com/HTScotPol/status/1784902279084081173

    This is presumably to pause the 28 day countdown timer to an election if no replacement FM in place. I don't see the Greens wanting to VoNC to force an election.

    Humza has been the opposite of astute but this move makes sense.

    The SGP is polling quite well. Need they fear an election?
    It's a good question. The Greens are being conciliatory to the SNP now rather than pushing to collapse the government. Which suggests they don't want an election.
    No point gaining MSPs if they no longer hold the balance of power.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    How gender wars can go badly:

    The US - where debate is more polarised - is going in the opposite direction to the UK on gender identity ideology. UN expert @UNSRVAW says that redefining sex as gender identity in Title IX will increase the risk of male violence against women and girls....

    It's a tragedy to see politicians on the left - in this case the Biden administration - collude in the erosion of women's protections against sex discrimination and single-sex spaces


    https://x.com/soniasodha/status/1784929745450250251
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,676
    edited April 29

    TOPPING said:

    What devolved powers do they have. The ability to set rates for public car parks at national monuments. Anything else? It is a mickey mouse government thinking they have powers to do this, that, and the other on the world stage but they have no such power hence are reduced to arguing the toss about trans rights and Gaza.

    Like a student government that the grown ups indulge and laugh at.

    You voted for Boris.

    High pitched squeal: But Jezza made me do it!
    Boris became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

    United Kingdom. Shall we ponder on that for a moment.

    According to wiki, of all things, the United Kingdom appears to include the great empire of Scotland.

    Boris may be an effete arsehole but you know what the great man said about that.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 13,506
    Donkeys said:

    TOPPING said:

    What devolved powers do they have. The ability to set rates for public car parks at national monuments. Anything else? It is a mickey mouse government thinking they have powers to do this, that, and the other on the world stage but they have no such power hence are reduced to arguing the toss about trans rights and Gaza.

    Like a student government that the grown ups indulge and laugh at.

    Of course it is. Have you seen the lecterns that the "MSPs" stand behind, as if they're giving lectures? But sometimes even a student Mickey Mouse local council politician can do something right, and HY has shown more guts on Gaza than almost any "grown-up" politician and he deserves credit for this.

    Similarly with Leo Varadkar - more guts on Gaza than Starmer and Sunak put together times 100.
    Not sure it takes 'guts' to just do what those shouting the loudest want.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,411
    Dura_Ace said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    I wonder actually if a PM like Tony Blair would be the most effective in stopping the boats.

    Gets the issue (and in no way dismisses it or avoids hard truths in the British interest) and would be sufficiently internationalist to actually do the deals to fix it.

    You're probably right. If you haven't got the fortitude for tow backs, which the tories clearly haven't, then the only person who can (っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ STOP THE BOATS ♥ is Macron. Could Blair flatter and/or bribe Macron into doing it. Maybe.
    The French President would probably agree to discuss it. Then, when an attempt to discuss it was made, accuse Blair of bad manners.
    Macron would want Blair's help in tackling it at source- he has big problems in France with it.

    Ultimately the EU is going to have to use force in the Med to repel all boarders.
    That would help but due to poor customer service by North African traffickers (Free rape and/or kidnapping with every passage. Use code FUCKED for 10% discount on check out.) more now travel to Europe overland via "Route Balkan".
    Also the Libyan Coast Guard who introduced 100% employment on zero hour, zero pay contracts for the migrants they provide involuntary accommodation for.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,676

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE THIS WHOLE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO SCOTLAND THING GO AWAY.

    No one cares ffs.

    I care deeply about Scotland.

    I'm a Unionist.
    Don't be absurd. Literally no one else cares. You and Big G that's it.
    And you wonder why so many Scots want independence.
    And so many don't. The majority, even. They recognise that Scotland is a part of the United Kingdom. Would we be having this discussion if the leader of Hartlepool council suddenly stepped down.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    edited April 29
    Donkeys said:

    TOPPING said:

    What devolved powers do they have. The ability to set rates for public car parks at national monuments. Anything else? It is a mickey mouse government thinking they have powers to do this, that, and the other on the world stage but they have no such power hence are reduced to arguing the toss about trans rights and Gaza.

    Like a student government that the grown ups indulge and laugh at.

    Similarly with Leo Varadkar
    What has Leo achieved for Gaza?
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,676
    Donkeys said:

    TOPPING said:

    What devolved powers do they have. The ability to set rates for public car parks at national monuments. Anything else? It is a mickey mouse government thinking they have powers to do this, that, and the other on the world stage but they have no such power hence are reduced to arguing the toss about trans rights and Gaza.

    Like a student government that the grown ups indulge and laugh at.

    Of course it is. Have you seen the lecterns that the "MSPs" stand behind, as if they're giving lectures? But sometimes even a student Mickey Mouse local council politician can do something right, and HY has shown more guts on Gaza than almost any "grown-up" politician and he deserves credit for this.

    Similarly with Leo Varadkar - more guts on Gaza than Starmer and Sunak put together times 100.
    Yes they are key decision-makers in the whole Gaza episode. Well done them. And Owen Jones don't forget his guts.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 22,571
    Dura_Ace said:

    Andy_JS said:
    In a chaste manner, entirely conformant with proscriptions of the Old Testament.
    The daughters of Lot say Hi.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 22,571

    Alba currently have 2 MPs, 1 MSP and 2 councillors. No-one has ever been elected under the Alba label, however. They won nothing in the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary election and nothing in the 2022 local elections, despite both being under PR systems. They've won nothing in any by-elections. Does Salmond care or is this just about extracting revenge on the SNP?

    A bit UKIP.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    edited April 29
    Scott_xP said:

    I would be amazed if he ran for leader rather than took it on as temporary caretaker. The only motive for the former would be to take the hit for electoral defeat and leave a cleanish sheet for his successor, and I don't think even he's that selfless.

    That's exactly the plan.

    Oor 'Scotch expert' not fully up to speed there...
    Certainly the theory is mooted that Beeker (Greer) pulls the strings, and shorn of Harvie & Slater could see another love in with a Swinney SNP.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,411
    edited April 29

    Dura_Ace said:

    I wonder actually if a PM like Tony Blair would be the most effective in stopping the boats.

    Gets the issue (and in no way dismisses it or avoids hard truths in the British interest) and would be sufficiently internationalist to actually do the deals to fix it.

    You're probably right. If you haven't got the fortitude for tow backs, which the tories clearly haven't, then the only person who can (っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ STOP THE BOATS ♥ is Macron. Could Blair flatter and/or bribe Macron into doing it. Maybe.
    The French President would probably agree to discuss it. Then, when an attempt to discuss it was made, accuse Blair of bad manners.
    Macron would want Blair's help in tackling it at source- he has big problems in France with it.

    Ultimately the EU is going to have to use force in the Med to repel all boarders.
    The EU *is* using force in the Med. both directly - see accounts of behaviour by Italian and Greek coast guard - and indirectly.

    The Libyans claim to have cleaned up their act, but….
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,598
    edited April 29
    Donkeys said:

    TOPPING said:

    What devolved powers do they have. The ability to set rates for public car parks at national monuments. Anything else? It is a mickey mouse government thinking they have powers to do this, that, and the other on the world stage but they have no such power hence are reduced to arguing the toss about trans rights and Gaza.

    Like a student government that the grown ups indulge and laugh at.

    Of course it is. Have you seen the lecterns that the "MSPs" stand behind, as if they're giving lectures? But sometimes even a student Mickey Mouse local council politician can do something right, and HY has shown more guts on Gaza than almost any "grown-up" politician and he deserves credit for this.

    Similarly with Leo Varadkar - more guts on Gaza than Starmer and Sunak put together times 100.
    They don't stand behind them. They sit at them. The things are called 'desks', with voting buttons and screens and all. One for each MSP, even.

    I do appreciate it's difficult for someone used to the HoC for the last 6-700 years. But that alone makes thing far more efficient than the voting lobby system.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,006
    "In contrast to the Scottish Greens, the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats says he will continue to back a motion of no confidence against the Scottish government, if Scottish Labour pursue it.

    Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live, Alex Cole-Hamilton says: "If Labour choose to press that confidence vote in the government, then we will continue to support it."

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-68918348
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,598
    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE THIS WHOLE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO SCOTLAND THING GO AWAY.

    No one cares ffs.

    I care deeply about Scotland.

    I'm a Unionist.
    Don't be absurd. Literally no one else cares. You and Big G that's it.
    And you wonder why so many Scots want independence.
    And so many don't. The majority, even. They recognise that Scotland is a part of the United Kingdom. Would we be having this discussion if the leader of Hartlepool council suddenly stepped down.
    Not a majority. A minority, as with the Yessers. Which lot is bigger varies from week to week.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,676
    Carnyx said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE THIS WHOLE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO SCOTLAND THING GO AWAY.

    No one cares ffs.

    I care deeply about Scotland.

    I'm a Unionist.
    Don't be absurd. Literally no one else cares. You and Big G that's it.
    And you wonder why so many Scots want independence.
    And so many don't. The majority, even. They recognise that Scotland is a part of the United Kingdom. Would we be having this discussion if the leader of Hartlepool council suddenly stepped down.
    Not a majority. A minority, as with the Yessers. Which lot is bigger varies from week to week.
    A majority as of the only time anyone has been asked in the past 20 years so I'll go with a majority.

    The rest is conjecture.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    An election in Scotland is a democratic necessity.

    Don’t take my word for it. [VIDEO of Sturgeon calling for general election on Truss departure]


    https://x.com/scotfax/status/1784936368495349980
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,675
    @elrick1

    Pretty obvious that to avoid a rammy this side of a General election (avoiding the tartan on tartan collateral of the last leadership election & at least give a semblance of unity -the nats will fall into line behind a John Swinney leadership - 20 years after he was last leader.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,725

    Donkeys said:

    TOPPING said:

    What devolved powers do they have. The ability to set rates for public car parks at national monuments. Anything else? It is a mickey mouse government thinking they have powers to do this, that, and the other on the world stage but they have no such power hence are reduced to arguing the toss about trans rights and Gaza.

    Like a student government that the grown ups indulge and laugh at.

    Similarly with Leo Varadkar
    What has Leo achieved for Gaza?
    He’s told them that AI is coming and they will soon all be out of work, if they aren’t already.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,751
    TOPPING said:

    Carnyx said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE THIS WHOLE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO SCOTLAND THING GO AWAY.

    No one cares ffs.

    I care deeply about Scotland.

    I'm a Unionist.
    Don't be absurd. Literally no one else cares. You and Big G that's it.
    And you wonder why so many Scots want independence.
    And so many don't. The majority, even. They recognise that Scotland is a part of the United Kingdom. Would we be having this discussion if the leader of Hartlepool council suddenly stepped down.
    Not a majority. A minority, as with the Yessers. Which lot is bigger varies from week to week.
    A majority as of the only time anyone has been asked in the past 20 years so I'll go with a majority.

    The rest is conjecture.
    You’re doing a grand job on the no one cares front.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,676

    TOPPING said:

    Carnyx said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE THIS WHOLE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO SCOTLAND THING GO AWAY.

    No one cares ffs.

    I care deeply about Scotland.

    I'm a Unionist.
    Don't be absurd. Literally no one else cares. You and Big G that's it.
    And you wonder why so many Scots want independence.
    And so many don't. The majority, even. They recognise that Scotland is a part of the United Kingdom. Would we be having this discussion if the leader of Hartlepool council suddenly stepped down.
    Not a majority. A minority, as with the Yessers. Which lot is bigger varies from week to week.
    A majority as of the only time anyone has been asked in the past 20 years so I'll go with a majority.

    The rest is conjecture.
    You’re doing a grand job on the no one cares front.
    Thanks, much appreciated. For some reason everyone else is banging on about it as though it is an important event.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,751
    Anyway a short excursion to calmer waters.

    Mentalists: You know who are the worst antisemites?

    Sane people: Who?

    Mentalists: Jews!




    https://x.com/realzoestrimpel/status/1784569414249058653?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
  • eekeek Posts: 27,939

    An election in Scotland is a democratic necessity.

    Don’t take my word for it. [VIDEO of Sturgeon calling for general election on Truss departure]


    https://x.com/scotfax/status/1784936368495349980

    Sorry but where was the election when Useless took over from “the money was merely resting in this camper van”
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 21,646

    How gender wars can go badly:

    The US - where debate is more polarised - is going in the opposite direction to the UK on gender identity ideology. UN expert @UNSRVAW says that redefining sex as gender identity in Title IX will increase the risk of male violence against women and girls....

    It's a tragedy to see politicians on the left - in this case the Biden administration - collude in the erosion of women's protections against sex discrimination and single-sex spaces


    https://x.com/soniasodha/status/1784929745450250251

    Different countries. The number of elected positions in the US is dramatically larger in the UK (famously, "dog-catcher" is elected) and anti-trans sentiment is focussed via them. And, since wherever there are elections there are parties, it becomes a partisan issue. Information can be gathered via open meetings, hearings, election pitches, etc, and can be tracked and visualised.

    In the UK, which has more non-elected state institutions involved in everyday life, such sentiment is reflected in bureaucracy (eg all prospective transitioners funnelled into specialist clinics, which inevitably develop long queues as supply is restricted), which is less visible. Information-gatherers have to resort to FOI requests or guesswork.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,216
    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE THIS WHOLE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO SCOTLAND THING GO AWAY.

    No one cares ffs.

    I care deeply about Scotland.

    I'm a Unionist.
    Don't be absurd. Literally no one else cares. You and Big G that's it.
    You're saying the inhabitants of Scotland are "literally nobody" ?
    Interesting take.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,216
    The FT article itself is paywalled, but if Tim Harford is representative of their columnists, then it's not worth paying for.

    I've studied the history of solar energy and it never once occured to me that people might think that the technology would get cheaper with time by itself without mass production. What a bizarre belief
    https://twitter.com/MaxJerneck/status/1784594856104399167
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 41,903

    An election in Scotland is a democratic necessity.

    Don’t take my word for it. [VIDEO of Sturgeon calling for general election on Truss departure]


    https://x.com/scotfax/status/1784936368495349980

    We'd have been better with a GE on Truss arrival.
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 4,860

    If Swinney runs, he feels like the winning candidate to me*.

    He probably keeps the Greens on side.

    He doesn’t rock the boat too much within the party.

    *but again, I do think this is a bit of an awkward one to predict. You’re going to have all sorts of external influence about who members should
    choose based on the parliamentary arithmetic etc, and I’m not sure how that will swing things.

    I would be amazed if he ran for leader rather than took it on as temporary caretaker. The only motive for the former would be to take the hit for electoral defeat and leave a cleanish sheet for his successor, and I don't think even he's that selfless.

    Contra Unionist sneering he's quite popular in the party and seen as honourable so would work as a calming caretaker. I believe his wife has MS so I guess he would be doing a lot of consulting with her before taking on all the shite that goes with being even a temporary leader.
    The SNP, like the Tories, are in a position where they probably need to regroup and decide whether they want to stay on the left, aligned with the Greens and be a party of devolution with an aspiration of independence at some specified time in the future (the Sturgeon continuity wing), move towards the centre with independence more to the fore and social issues less prominent (the Forbes wing) or become a purely independence party as they once were. As an SNP member, even I recognise that sometimes parties are in power too long and end up taken over by time servers, as happened to Scottish Labour.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,179
    It's quite interesting seeing fairly centrist Irish commentators coming to the realisation that they need something like the Rwanda scheme too.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 17,001

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    SHUT IT!
    We're The Swinney and we haven't had our tea.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 21,939
    Cookie said:

    ajb said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Finally gone over to the ubiquitous Smartmeter. Gas all online with 1/2 hour granular detail available. Electricity 4-6 weeks to come online though ?!

    What sort of archaic systems are in the back end of our grid for it to take that long ?

    Thanks so much for mentioning this. I have been trying to get one for 4 years, last year they said it was now possible in our area but there are never any appointments. On reading your post I just looked and there was an appointment for Thursday (presumably a cancellation).
    .
    Good luck. When mine were installed, they caused a gas leak.
    I've been trying to get one for a year. The one time I have got an engineer to turn up, she told me she couldn't get to either gas or electric meter. I'm not bothered about the gas meter - I'm only doing it so I can export my solar - but I'm trying again with the electric - I've arranged an electrician to turn up at the same time to move the consumer unit so she can get to it. Seems a right bloody palaver for something which they apparently want us to do.
    Technician. Not engineer.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 41,903

    Anyway a short excursion to calmer waters.

    Mentalists: You know who are the worst antisemites?

    Sane people: Who?

    Mentalists: Jews!



    https://x.com/realzoestrimpel/status/1784569414249058653?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    (Anti-zionist) Jews don't count.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,676
    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE THIS WHOLE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO SCOTLAND THING GO AWAY.

    No one cares ffs.

    I care deeply about Scotland.

    I'm a Unionist.
    Don't be absurd. Literally no one else cares. You and Big G that's it.
    You're saying the inhabitants of Scotland are "literally nobody" ?
    Interesting take.
    I am saying that no one cares what the "government" of Scotland does or doesn't do for the most part it seems to consist of making downtown Edinburgh a Gaza Sympathy Zone.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 21,646
    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    Carnyx said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE THIS WHOLE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO SCOTLAND THING GO AWAY.

    No one cares ffs.

    I care deeply about Scotland.

    I'm a Unionist.
    Don't be absurd. Literally no one else cares. You and Big G that's it.
    And you wonder why so many Scots want independence.
    And so many don't. The majority, even. They recognise that Scotland is a part of the United Kingdom. Would we be having this discussion if the leader of Hartlepool council suddenly stepped down.
    Not a majority. A minority, as with the Yessers. Which lot is bigger varies from week to week.
    A majority as of the only time anyone has been asked in the past 20 years so I'll go with a majority.

    The rest is conjecture.
    You’re doing a grand job on the no one cares front.
    Thanks, much appreciated. For some reason everyone else is banging on about it as though it is an important event.
    I am not sure whether to care about you caring about the nobody cares, or be uncaring about you caring about the nobody cares. I am impressed by those who care enough about you caring about the nobody cares to tell you that they don't care, but am unsure how to care about it. Please accept my state of some befuddlement until the matter is resolved.

    :):):)
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 17,972
    Nigelb said:

    The FT article itself is paywalled, but if Tim Harford is representative of their columnists, then it's not worth paying for.

    I've studied the history of solar energy and it never once occured to me that people might think that the technology would get cheaper with time by itself without mass production. What a bizarre belief
    https://twitter.com/MaxJerneck/status/1784594856104399167

    Wasn't that essentially the position of Bjorn Lomborg and others, that we shouldn't have spent anything on renewable energy at the time (20 ish years ago), but waited until they were cheaper? The implicit assumption being that the technology would become magically cheaper without any investment in it.
  • eekeek Posts: 27,939

    Nigelb said:

    The FT article itself is paywalled, but if Tim Harford is representative of their columnists, then it's not worth paying for.

    I've studied the history of solar energy and it never once occured to me that people might think that the technology would get cheaper with time by itself without mass production. What a bizarre belief
    https://twitter.com/MaxJerneck/status/1784594856104399167

    Wasn't that essentially the position of Bjorn Lomborg and others, that we shouldn't have spent anything on renewable energy at the time (20 ish years ago), but waited until they were cheaper? The implicit assumption being that the technology would become magically cheaper without any investment in it.
    You can freeload and hope someone else spends the money while you wait on the sidelines but I don’t think it’s a great idea if you want some say in the long term future
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 21,646

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    SHUT IT!
    We're The Swinney and we haven't had our tea.
    Guv! Guv! Guv!
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,751
    kinabalu said:

    Anyway a short excursion to calmer waters.

    Mentalists: You know who are the worst antisemites?

    Sane people: Who?

    Mentalists: Jews!



    https://x.com/realzoestrimpel/status/1784569414249058653?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    (Anti-zionist) Jews don't count.
    Zionist lives matter, fck the rest of ye.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    Coronation incoming:

    Understand one potential frontrunner Neil Gray is telling colleagues he wants John Swinney to stand as leader of the SNP and that's his first choice to replace Humza Yousaf.

    https://x.com/conor_matchett/status/1784941313663664360
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,676

    kinabalu said:

    Anyway a short excursion to calmer waters.

    Mentalists: You know who are the worst antisemites?

    Sane people: Who?

    Mentalists: Jews!



    https://x.com/realzoestrimpel/status/1784569414249058653?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    (Anti-zionist) Jews don't count.
    Zionist lives matter, fck the rest of ye.
    Talking about Israel, Gaza and the Jews seems to be your happy place.
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 12,527
    TOPPING said:

    Nigelb said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE THIS WHOLE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO SCOTLAND THING GO AWAY.

    No one cares ffs.

    I care deeply about Scotland.

    I'm a Unionist.
    Don't be absurd. Literally no one else cares. You and Big G that's it.
    You're saying the inhabitants of Scotland are "literally nobody" ?
    Interesting take.
    I am saying that no one cares what the "government" of Scotland does or doesn't do for the most part it seems to consist of making downtown Edinburgh a Gaza Sympathy Zone.
    However "pro-Israel" one might be, I don't think that precludes sympathy for the people of Gaza. At least I hope it doesn't.
This discussion has been closed.