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Alex Salmond looks set to do a lot better amongst Scottish men than women – politicalbetting.com

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  • BurgessianBurgessian Posts: 2,752

    malcolmg said:

    dixiedean said:

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    That Daily Mail teacher story is appalling

    This is the teacher's father talking:

    'Look what happened to the teacher in France who was killed for doing the same thing. Eventually they will get my son and he knows this. His whole world has been turned upside down. He's devastated and crushed. '

    Does anyone know why he was stupid enough to present the cartoons?

    I would not, for example, be taking St Aloysius Girls Year 10 to see “Piss Christ” at the local art gallery.

    Of course one deplores the insane local “community”, and one feels immense pity he may now need to live anonymously, but the
    teacher seems to have been an idiot.
    Read the bloody article

    "However, his father fumed: 'The school has thrown my son under a bus. The lesson that he delivered in which the picture of the Prophet Muhammad was shown was part of the curriculum, it had been approved by the school. Other teachers have done exactly the same thing.

    "'So why is my son being victimised like this? The school should have come out fighting for him and made it clear to the protestors that if offence was caused, then it was not my son's fault. It was the school's policy to show this picture, it wasn't an individual decision made by him.'"
    Ah. I withdraw.

    In which case, the man and family need the full support of the state; the school should immediately be placed in special measures; and the local “protesters” arrested for making death threats.

    But I am not sure this is about “freedom of speech” as much as standing against hate.
    It is definitely about freedom of speech. What amounts to is

    "You have the freedom to say x because of freedom of speech, however don't actually ever say x because you might offend people"

    This is a bit like the queens ability to block legislation. In theory she has it the moment she tries to use it then it will be removed.
    No.

    Teachers (or schools) do not have the right, and certainly not the imperative, to say anything they like.

    There is no “right” to inflame local nutters.
    There is no right for local nutters to utter death threats on some one saying something legal that was also on the school curriculum. It is noticeable though that you are on the side of local nutters
    Stupid comment.

    Clearly the local nutters are culpable first and foremost.

    Sad you don’t engage properly.

    It was legal for the teacher to show
    It was on the curriculum

    Why does any of your opprobrium attach to him?

    Not me not engaging properly its you saying he is somewhat to blame
    I started that way, but I was corrected.
    It was on the school curriculum.

    My beef (apart from with the rancid community “protesters”) is with the idea that this is about “freedom of speech”.

    It is, but only marginally.
    These people are not against “freedom of speech”. They are just hateful shit-heads.
    Then my apologies I misunderstood you I got the impression you were saying he shouldn't have shown it
    There is an argument for saying this cartoon should not be shown in schools. I am divided. On the one hand you do have to present kids with challenging material, and they do have to be taught why we allow mockery of religion: it is the bedrock of the Enlightenment. But these particular images are pretty toxic. There should be a better way of teaching about blasphemy-v-free speech.

    There is NO argument for putting these cartoons on the curriculum, allowing several teachers to show them, then, as soon as one innocent teacher gets into trouble, grovelling immediately to a hateful mob at the gates, suspending the teacher, and totally ruining his life and that of his family. And possibly getting him killed.

    It is rank cowardice. Appalling.
    Agreed. That is what I said on the previous thread - that the school had apparently hung the teacher out to dry.
    Cowardice, however much we might condemn it, I can understand in the context. Which is why the school needs direct support from government in the circumstances. It has gone some way beyond what even a well lead school can handle on its own (and assuming the media reports are accurate, that's probably not the case).

    The local authority seem to have washed their hands of the issue, saying it's not their business as the school is an academy.
    In which they are correct.
    Removing LA oversight was a key supposed benefit of Academies.
    So the buck stops at Gavin Williamson.

    Can’t see any issues.
    Stupid , did not describe it , nowhere near 100 list seats, where did you get those numbers from your erchie.
    I assumed electorate votes were unaffected.

    I devised the regional votes using your prediction of ALBA = 14%, at the expense of SNP and Labour.

    The net result (versus today) was:

    Indy parties + 12
    Unionists - 12

    SNP would still need Greens to govern, but would not need ALBA.
    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

  • justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527
    malcolmg said:

    tlg86 said:

    His ratings really are terrible, but I suppose he only needs the support of a small percentage to potentially hold the balance of power.

    If he gets 10% on the list (two-thirds of those who give him a positive rating) then that will be enough to give him the balance of power - unless the SNP manage to win a majority in the constituencies alone, or they somehow tumble to losing at least a dozen constituency seats.

    I'd expect most of those favourable to him would be independence supporters, and willing to vote for him for the super majority.
    10% is, apparently, the figure Alba need to do more good than harm to the pro-Independence cause. I doubt they will do that well. They could do harm to the Greens who are certainly not happy with this development.
    They will get 6 seats with just under 6% and only 1 of those is SNP , so even at that it is a big benefit.
    If bitterness between the two factions continues to develop, how many Alba List voters will decide to sit out the constituency ballot - or even support other parties?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,858
    Maffew said:


    April 12th remains the big unknown for the Govt. And that's a fortnight away. By the time that's past and any effects - or complete lack of (ahem) - are seen, we'll all be basically reopened anyway.

    It will still be a criminal offence for me to have my parents in my home. I will not be permitted to train indoors in martial arts classes (niche I realise, but makes the point), if I want to go out for a drink with friends I will be limited to five other people and banned from doing it indoors.
    You have more than 5 friends? What the hell are you doing on here?
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905
    algarkirk said:

    Is there a Scottish party that supports independence but doesn't support applying to join the EU?

    I ask for two reasons: polls show there is a group of people who take that view. I'm not sure who they vote for.

    Secondly because arguing for Scottish independence is perfectly sensible (though personally I don't back it). But arguing that pooling sovereignty with NI, England and Wales is so terrible that we are planning to pool sovereignty with Lithuania, Spain, Slovenia, Germany and 23 others instead doesn't kind of add up does it?

    I seem to recall reading somewhere that about a third of the SNP vote also backed leaving the EU. That's a substantial body of opinion, most or all of whom it's probably reasonable to infer would not want an independent Scotland to go back in either. I've no idea if any research has been done into how many of these people prefer to stay entirely outside of EU regulated structures and how many would like or be prepared to countenance a more Norwayesque relationship, but regardless that's a lot of voters.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    edited March 2021
    https://twitter.com/MacaesBruno/status/1376595424413429764?s=20

    By trying to nuke the UK's vaccine roll out?
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207
    Pagan2 said:

    IanB2 said:

    At least that ship in the Suez Canal is now freed, and the canal is opening 24 hours to clear the backlog.

    Yay more china tat
    A load of sex toys are on the move again - The European continent rejoices
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,476
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    That Daily Mail teacher story is appalling

    This is the teacher's father talking:

    'Look what happened to the teacher in France who was killed for doing the same thing. Eventually they will get my son and he knows this. His whole world has been turned upside down. He's devastated and crushed. '

    That is an awful thing for that father to say whether or not that's what he believes.
    Jesus, cut him some slack. His wife, the teacher's mother, is also in hiding. I imagine they are all quite emotional.

    A dreadful story on multiple levels
    Yes, it is an awful situation, and I am very much 'team teacher' on this, but you cannot, cannot speak that way.
  • BurgessianBurgessian Posts: 2,752
    DavidL said:

    Salmond also had a women's problem during the indyref where women were much more sceptical about independence than men.

    And people even question who is the smarter sex.
    True. Amazing how Sturgeon has managed to turn this into a binary between him and her. For years she was his chief cheerleader and apologist ("not a sexist bone in his body".) And now butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Nauseating. No wonder Eck is so beside himself.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,930
    Floater said:

    Pagan2 said:

    IanB2 said:

    At least that ship in the Suez Canal is now freed, and the canal is opening 24 hours to clear the backlog.

    Yay more china tat
    A load of sex toys are on the move again - The European continent rejoices
    Won't anyone think of our poor local artisans?
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,851
    If you want you can sign the petition for the teacher at Batley Grammar here.

    https://www.change.org/p/batley-grammar-school-keep-mr-denville-at-batley-grammar-school?recruiter=307940145
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,429
    edited March 2021

    malcolmg said:

    dixiedean said:

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    That Daily Mail teacher story is appalling

    This is the teacher's father talking:

    'Look what happened to the teacher in France who was killed for doing the same thing. Eventually they will get my son and he knows this. His whole world has been turned upside down. He's devastated and crushed. '

    Does anyone know why he was stupid enough to present the cartoons?

    I would not, for example, be taking St Aloysius Girls Year 10 to see “Piss Christ” at the local art gallery.

    Of course one deplores the insane local “community”, and one feels immense pity he may now need to live anonymously, but the
    teacher seems to have been an idiot.
    Read the bloody article

    "However, his father fumed: 'The school has thrown my son under a bus. The lesson that he delivered in which the picture of the Prophet Muhammad was shown was part of the curriculum, it had been approved by the school. Other teachers have done exactly the same thing.

    "'So why is my son being victimised like this? The school should have come out fighting for him and made it clear to the protestors that if offence was caused, then it was not my son's fault. It was the school's policy to show this picture, it wasn't an individual decision made by him.'"
    Ah. I withdraw.

    In which case, the man and family need the full support of the state; the school should immediately be placed in special measures; and the local “protesters” arrested for making death threats.

    But I am not sure this is about “freedom of speech” as much as standing against hate.
    It is definitely about freedom of speech. What amounts to is

    "You have the freedom to say x because of freedom of speech, however don't actually ever say x because you might offend people"

    This is a bit like the queens ability to block legislation. In theory she has it the moment she tries to use it then it will be removed.
    No.

    Teachers (or schools) do not have the right, and certainly not the imperative, to say anything they like.

    There is no “right” to inflame local nutters.
    There is no right for local nutters to utter death threats on some one saying something legal that was also on the school curriculum. It is noticeable though that you are on the side of local nutters
    Stupid comment.

    Clearly the local nutters are culpable first and foremost.

    Sad you don’t engage properly.

    It was legal for the teacher to show
    It was on the curriculum

    Why does any of your opprobrium attach to him?

    Not me not engaging properly its you saying he is somewhat to blame
    I started that way, but I was corrected.
    It was on the school curriculum.

    My beef (apart from with the rancid community “protesters”) is with the idea that this is about “freedom of speech”.

    It is, but only marginally.
    These people are not against “freedom of speech”. They are just hateful shit-heads.
    Then my apologies I misunderstood you I got the impression you were saying he shouldn't have shown it
    There is an argument for saying this cartoon should not be shown in schools. I am divided. On the one hand you do have to present kids with challenging material, and they do have to be taught why we allow mockery of religion: it is the bedrock of the Enlightenment. But these particular images are pretty toxic. There should be a better way of teaching about blasphemy-v-free speech.

    There is NO argument for putting these cartoons on the curriculum, allowing several teachers to show them, then, as soon as one innocent teacher gets into trouble, grovelling immediately to a hateful mob at the gates, suspending the teacher, and totally ruining his life and that of his family. And possibly getting him killed.

    It is rank cowardice. Appalling.
    Agreed. That is what I said on the previous thread - that the school had apparently hung the teacher out to dry.
    Cowardice, however much we might condemn it, I can understand in the context. Which is why the school needs direct support from government in the circumstances. It has gone some way beyond what even a well lead school can handle on its own (and assuming the media reports are accurate, that's probably not the case).

    The local authority seem to have washed their hands of the issue, saying it's not their business as the school is an academy.
    In which they are correct.
    Removing LA oversight was a key supposed benefit of Academies.
    So the buck stops at Gavin Williamson.

    Can’t see any issues.
    Stupid , did not describe it , nowhere near 100 list seats, where did you get those numbers from your erchie.
    I assumed electorate votes were unaffected.

    I devised the regional votes using your prediction of ALBA = 14%, at the expense of SNP and Labour.

    The net result (versus today) was:

    Indy parties + 12
    Unionists - 12

    SNP would still need Greens to govern, but would not need ALBA.
    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    A lot of the PB analysis focuses on how Alba can and will help get a super-majority for Indy. ie it focuses entirely on the potential upside.

    Of course, there is a significant potential upside, and that's fair.

    But we are neglecting the potential downside. Salmond and Sturgeon doing the same election campaign but in different indy parties is going to be horribly awkward - especially for Sturgeon (Salmond is too brazen to care). She has denounced this man time and again, she has said he is actually guilty of sexual offences, and should really be in jail. Now he's "on her side" with indy, but eesh

    His reappearance must rattle her. She already looks rattled. And that's not her normal style

    It is difficult to see how this can be good for the Nats, it is easy to see how this will be bad. Softer Nats/indy supporters might be put off voting altogether by the bickering and loathing. Schisms generally aren't good in political causes.

    Alba might do notable short term damage to indy, until one or both of the two leaders finally retires and the tension dissipates. THEN having two parties could be a serious advantage
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 4,939
    edited March 2021
    AnneJGP said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Very true, some have vented frustration on here, I think. But even if we handed over 100% of our vaccines to the EU, it wouldn't get them into people's arms any quicker.

    Everyone's horizons may take quite a while to broaden again, yet it isn't necessarily the closest neighbours that we'll be able to visit again first.

    Good evening, everybody.
    Evening Anne. Hope you are well.
    Very well, thank you. And yourself?

    It's lovely to see more people out & about today.

    On topic: If I were a voter in the upcoming Scottish elections, I think I'd prefer Mr Salmond to Ms Sturgeon. Nothing to do with personal probity, as with Mr Johnson here; just that it seems more urgent to stop the rigging of the political structures than to stop the unsavoury personal behaviour. I know that doesn't help those who suffer the unsavoury behaviour.
    I wonder how unsavoury Salmond’s behaviour really was, when defectors from the SNP include Lynne Anderson, the SNP Equalities Convenor, Caroline MacAllister, the SNP Women’s Convenor and Eva Comrie, Principal of a Children and Families legal practice,
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,858
    isam said:

    Leon said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Had a game of tennis a couple of hours ago. Got a bit sunburnt though. That's what happens when you haven't been in the sun for 6 months.

    It's fabulous to see the Royal Parks thronging with people - drinking, singing, carousing, picnicking, playing tennis and footie. Everything.

    It's like the Liberation of Paris. Marv.
    Boris is lucky - he’s seen to be setting people free (despite being the jailer himself) and it just so happens the weather is gorgeous. No easy task for Sir Keir to have to find a way to have a moan about it
    You misunderestimate him. SKS is Eeyore's disappointed uncle.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,314
    Nigelb said:

    Another case for @Cyclefree

    Credit Suisse and Nomura warn of hit after Archegos-linked sell-off
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/mar/29/credit-suisse-nomura-archegos-sell-off-hedge-fund

    Why do banks feel it safe to do business in the billions with ex cons ?
    https://www.finews.asia/people/34136-who-is-bill-hwang
    ...in 2001, Hwang established the former Tiger Asia Management which was established following his time as a "tiger cub" – a term to describe the dozen of hedge funds with roots that trace back to renowned hedge fund manager Julian Robertson and the 42-year old Tiger Management.

    Tiger Asia grew to be a multi-billion dollar hedge fund and one of the largest investors in Asian financial markets but in 2012, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Hwang and Tiger Asia with insider trading and manipulation of Chinese stocks. Hwang pleaded guilty, agreed to criminal and civil settlements of over $60 million and later closed the fund.

    In 2013, Hwang converted the firm into a family office – Archegos Capital Management – which has reportedly grown to become larger than even many well-known hedge funds...

    Been there, done that. I provided some of the key evidence to the SEC for that 2012 prosecution.

    Tiger Management has quite a history. First came across them in 1995 when the French took actions against a number of firms for insider trading in relation to the 1994 Eurotunnel rights issue.

    As to why banks overlook this, how long do you think the corporate memory in City firms is? Even mentioning that I was involved in a case in 1994 made people think I was some sort of female Methuselah.

    Never ever overestimate the greed. Never ever underestimate the stupidity.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,995
    algarkirk said:

    Is there a Scottish party that supports independence but doesn't support applying to join the EU?

    I ask for two reasons: polls show there is a group of people who take that view. I'm not sure who they vote for.

    Secondly because arguing for Scottish independence is perfectly sensible (though personally I don't back it). But arguing that pooling sovereignty with NI, England and Wales is so terrible that we are planning to pool sovereignty with Lithuania, Spain, Slovenia, Germany and 23 others instead doesn't kind of add up does it?

    https://restorescotland.org/

    Cannae see them making much of dent.

    One pooling of sovereignty let's you decide if you want to continue pooling, the other doesn't, a pretty basic sum of just how much sovereignty you're surrendering I'd suggest.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,429

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    That Daily Mail teacher story is appalling

    This is the teacher's father talking:

    'Look what happened to the teacher in France who was killed for doing the same thing. Eventually they will get my son and he knows this. His whole world has been turned upside down. He's devastated and crushed. '

    That is an awful thing for that father to say whether or not that's what he believes.
    Jesus, cut him some slack. His wife, the teacher's mother, is also in hiding. I imagine they are all quite emotional.

    A dreadful story on multiple levels
    Yes, it is an awful situation, and I am very much 'team teacher' on this, but you cannot, cannot speak that way.
    Probably an unguarded remark as he wept through his hands, thinking of his entire family being slaughtered in the imminent future. I am prepared to forgive him
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905

    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    There'll never be a unionist alliance. If Labour contaminated itself by striking deals with the Tories then it would bleed far more support away to the SNP than it would gain from Tory voters in seats where their own preferred candidate was stood down.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,858

    If you want you can sign the petition for the teacher at Batley Grammar here.

    https://www.change.org/p/batley-grammar-school-keep-mr-denville-at-batley-grammar-school?recruiter=307940145

    Done.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,429

    algarkirk said:

    Is there a Scottish party that supports independence but doesn't support applying to join the EU?

    I ask for two reasons: polls show there is a group of people who take that view. I'm not sure who they vote for.

    Secondly because arguing for Scottish independence is perfectly sensible (though personally I don't back it). But arguing that pooling sovereignty with NI, England and Wales is so terrible that we are planning to pool sovereignty with Lithuania, Spain, Slovenia, Germany and 23 others instead doesn't kind of add up does it?

    https://restorescotland.org/

    Cannae see them making much of dent.

    One pooling of sovereignty let's you decide if you want to continue pooling, the other doesn't, a pretty basic sum of just how much sovereignty you're surrendering I'd suggest.
    Strange then, that you fiercely supported a YES vote in 2014, which would have seen Scotland sundered from EU membership instantaneously, with no assured route back in.

    That did not bother you at all. Now Scotland leaving the EU because the UK had a unified vote on this, is a democratic outrage blah blah yawn

    It is total, blatant hypocrisy, which is why Nats never address the issue
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 9,877

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    That Daily Mail teacher story is appalling

    This is the teacher's father talking:

    'Look what happened to the teacher in France who was killed for doing the same thing. Eventually they will get my son and he knows this. His whole world has been turned upside down. He's devastated and crushed. '

    That is an awful thing for that father to say whether or not that's what he believes.
    Jesus, cut him some slack. His wife, the teacher's mother, is also in hiding. I imagine they are all quite emotional.

    A dreadful story on multiple levels
    Yes, it is an awful situation, and I am very much 'team teacher' on this, but you cannot, cannot speak that way.
    You are being bizarre

    What is it you see as wrong....his father warning him he may be in danger....which judging by the french teacher he definitely may be. You need to get a grip and start shouting at the people who'se fault this is and thats the people issuing death threats not someones father for telling him he might want to take it seriously.

    What sort of idiot are you?
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Andy_JS said:

    Foxy said:

    I see Canada has suspended AZN in the under 55s.

    https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/astrazeneca-under-55-1.5968128

    As we know, more people will die from not taking the vaccine than would ever die from side effects from it.
    Not in this case in Canada, though - they haven't got enough vaccine anyway, so using what AZ they have got on the over-55s won't reduce the number of vulnerable people they can jab whilst they have this suspension in place.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,995



    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    Haven't you been keeping up with Murray Ross's communiques? He's suggested exactly that to a chorus of raspberries from SLab at least.

    https://twitter.com/themajorityscot/status/1376316487858786307?s=20
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905



    AnneJGP said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Very true, some have vented frustration on here, I think. But even if we handed over 100% of our vaccines to the EU, it wouldn't get them into people's arms any quicker.

    Everyone's horizons may take quite a while to broaden again, yet it isn't necessarily the closest neighbours that we'll be able to visit again first.

    Good evening, everybody.
    Evening Anne. Hope you are well.
    Very well, thank you. And yourself?

    It's lovely to see more people out & about today.

    On topic: If I were a voter in the upcoming Scottish elections, I think I'd prefer Mr Salmond to Ms Sturgeon. Nothing to do with personal probity, as with Mr Johnson here; just that it seems more urgent to stop the rigging of the political structures than to stop the unsavoury personal behaviour. I know that doesn't help those who suffer the unsavoury behaviour.
    I wonder how unsavoury Salmond’s behaviour really was, when defectors from the SNP include Lynne Anderson, the SNP Equalities Convenor, Caroline MacAllister, the SNP Women’s Convenor and Eva Comrie, Principal of a Children and Families legal practice,
    Then again, how much does anything matter to any of these people, relative to what they believe to be the best approach to securing independence? Who can say?
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 21,298



    AnneJGP said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Very true, some have vented frustration on here, I think. But even if we handed over 100% of our vaccines to the EU, it wouldn't get them into people's arms any quicker.

    Everyone's horizons may take quite a while to broaden again, yet it isn't necessarily the closest neighbours that we'll be able to visit again first.

    Good evening, everybody.
    Evening Anne. Hope you are well.
    Very well, thank you. And yourself?

    It's lovely to see more people out & about today.

    On topic: If I were a voter in the upcoming Scottish elections, I think I'd prefer Mr Salmond to Ms Sturgeon. Nothing to do with personal probity, as with Mr Johnson here; just that it seems more urgent to stop the rigging of the political structures than to stop the unsavoury personal behaviour. I know that doesn't help those who suffer the unsavoury behaviour.
    I wonder how unsavoury Salmond’s behaviour really was, when defectors from the SNP include Lynne Anderson, the SNP Equalities Convenor, Caroline MacAllister, the SNP Women’s Convenor and Eva Comrie, Principal of a Children and Families legal practice,
    Yes, I noted that.
    It’s bizarre.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,930



    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    Haven't you been keeping up with Murray Ross's communiques? He's suggested exactly that to a chorus of raspberries from SLab at least.

    https://twitter.com/themajorityscot/status/1376316487858786307?s=20
    Something about this just seems wrong, and I doubt the voters will enjoy being told what candidate to vote for.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,211
    Interesting article from the US on the (constitutionally recognised) difference between free speech inside school and outside.
    https://slate.com/technology/2021/03/mahanoy-area-school-district-supreme-court-snapchat-cheerleader.html
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,858
    Catch them when they are young. Don't teach them economics though. It gives rise to awkward questions.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821


    Yes, I noted that.
    It’s bizarre.

    Is it not related to the TERF wars that have been raging in the SNP?
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,995
    Leon said:

    algarkirk said:

    Is there a Scottish party that supports independence but doesn't support applying to join the EU?

    I ask for two reasons: polls show there is a group of people who take that view. I'm not sure who they vote for.

    Secondly because arguing for Scottish independence is perfectly sensible (though personally I don't back it). But arguing that pooling sovereignty with NI, England and Wales is so terrible that we are planning to pool sovereignty with Lithuania, Spain, Slovenia, Germany and 23 others instead doesn't kind of add up does it?

    https://restorescotland.org/

    Cannae see them making much of dent.

    One pooling of sovereignty let's you decide if you want to continue pooling, the other doesn't, a pretty basic sum of just how much sovereignty you're surrendering I'd suggest.
    Strange then, that you fiercely supported a YES vote in 2014, which would have seen Scotland sundered from EU membership instantaneously, with no assured route back in.

    That did not bother you at all. Now Scotland leaving the EU because the UK had a unified vote on this, is a democratic outrage blah blah yawn

    It is total, blatant hypocrisy, which is why Nats never address the issue
    I've learned to ignore blatantly hypocritical Brexiteers who whine endlessly about the undemocratic EU while wanking over how it's right for BJ to deny indyref2 cos reasons. Best for all concerned I feel.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,211

    DavidL said:

    Salmond also had a women's problem during the indyref where women were much more sceptical about independence than men.

    And people even question who is the smarter sex.
    True. Amazing how Sturgeon has managed to turn this into a binary between him and her. For years she was his chief cheerleader and apologist ("not a sexist bone in his body".) And now butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Nauseating. No wonder Eck is so beside himself.
    I still don’t understand this whole sexist bones thing.
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,770

    TimT said:

    Leon said:

    kle4 said:

    TimT said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Leon said:

    I'll take a fully vaccinated Blackpool over a partially vaccinated Barcelona any day.
    It's also bollocks. Southern Europe is desperate for UK tourists, and will take us as soon as HMG opens the gates

    Madeira:

    “We depend a lot on the British market. We know it will be the first to resume travelling. We are waiting for the UK to follow its end-of-lockdown plan so British people can start arriving gradually.”

    “I think this measure is an absolute advantage for British tourists that want to come to Madeira because most of them will already be vaccinated by May and can arrive with tranquility,” he added.

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/29/madeira-lets-in-tourists-who-can-show-covid-vaccine-passport?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_gu&utm_medium&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1616995503
    Have to say I love Madeira though not sure about the basket public transport system
    Is that short for basket case, or do they actually use baskets? I would love to see that...
    Have you never been, they have these baskets and you hurtle down the slope in them with a couple of guys behind on ropes slowing them as needed and a couple in front speeding you up
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCUJ23rsgu8
    That video reminded me of this one

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL0rbxB9Lqg
    Fuck me, that's amazing, Like parkour, but on a bike.
    Quite incredible. Painfully scary

    Good song, too

    Danny MacAskill has a bunch of good videos online. This is my favorite:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ_IQS3VKjA
    Ah, the In Pin. Nice day for it. And Collie's Ledge felt narrow enough on foot, never mind on a bike. Utterly bonkers.
    I'm quite scared just watching that.
  • MaffewMaffew Posts: 235
    DavidL said:

    Maffew said:


    April 12th remains the big unknown for the Govt. And that's a fortnight away. By the time that's past and any effects - or complete lack of (ahem) - are seen, we'll all be basically reopened anyway.

    It will still be a criminal offence for me to have my parents in my home. I will not be permitted to train indoors in martial arts classes (niche I realise, but makes the point), if I want to go out for a drink with friends I will be limited to five other people and banned from doing it indoors.
    You have more than 5 friends? What the hell are you doing on here?
    Ask me again on June 21st!
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,429
    Nigelb said:

    DavidL said:

    Salmond also had a women's problem during the indyref where women were much more sceptical about independence than men.

    And people even question who is the smarter sex.
    True. Amazing how Sturgeon has managed to turn this into a binary between him and her. For years she was his chief cheerleader and apologist ("not a sexist bone in his body".) And now butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Nauseating. No wonder Eck is so beside himself.
    I still don’t understand this whole sexist bones thing.
    I've got lots of sexist bones, I will confess. My left femur laughs at women's football
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,227

    https://twitter.com/MacaesBruno/status/1376595424413429764?s=20

    By trying to nuke the UK's vaccine roll out?

    How will he do that?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,858



    AnneJGP said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Very true, some have vented frustration on here, I think. But even if we handed over 100% of our vaccines to the EU, it wouldn't get them into people's arms any quicker.

    Everyone's horizons may take quite a while to broaden again, yet it isn't necessarily the closest neighbours that we'll be able to visit again first.

    Good evening, everybody.
    Evening Anne. Hope you are well.
    Very well, thank you. And yourself?

    It's lovely to see more people out & about today.

    On topic: If I were a voter in the upcoming Scottish elections, I think I'd prefer Mr Salmond to Ms Sturgeon. Nothing to do with personal probity, as with Mr Johnson here; just that it seems more urgent to stop the rigging of the political structures than to stop the unsavoury personal behaviour. I know that doesn't help those who suffer the unsavoury behaviour.
    I wonder how unsavoury Salmond’s behaviour really was, when defectors from the SNP include Lynne Anderson, the SNP Equalities Convenor, Caroline MacAllister, the SNP Women’s Convenor and Eva Comrie, Principal of a Children and Families legal practice,
    Its almost as if several people in a position to know think that this was made up, isn't it?
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 21,298


    Yes, I noted that.
    It’s bizarre.

    Is it not related to the TERF wars that have been raging in the SNP?
    Maybe but you’d expect such office holders to be at the woke end.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,211
    Cyclefree said:



    Nigelb said:

    Another case for @Cyclefree

    Credit Suisse and Nomura warn of hit after Archegos-linked sell-off
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/mar/29/credit-suisse-nomura-archegos-sell-off-hedge-fund

    Why do banks feel it safe to do business in the billions with ex cons ?
    https://www.finews.asia/people/34136-who-is-bill-hwang
    ...in 2001, Hwang established the former Tiger Asia Management which was established following his time as a "tiger cub" – a term to describe the dozen of hedge funds with roots that trace back to renowned hedge fund manager Julian Robertson and the 42-year old Tiger Management.

    Tiger Asia grew to be a multi-billion dollar hedge fund and one of the largest investors in Asian financial markets but in 2012, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Hwang and Tiger Asia with insider trading and manipulation of Chinese stocks. Hwang pleaded guilty, agreed to criminal and civil settlements of over $60 million and later closed the fund.

    In 2013, Hwang converted the firm into a family office – Archegos Capital Management – which has reportedly grown to become larger than even many well-known hedge funds...

    Been there, done that. I provided some of the key evidence to the SEC for that 2012 prosecution.

    Tiger Management has quite a history. First came across them in 1995 when the French took actions against a number of firms for insider trading in relation to the 1994 Eurotunnel rights issue.

    As to why banks overlook this, how long do you think the corporate memory in City firms is? Even mentioning that I was involved in a case in 1994 made people think I was some sort of female Methuselah.

    Never ever overestimate the greed. Never ever underestimate the stupidity.
    Still seems strange to me that they don’t take a bit more notice of their clients’ criminal histories.

    I’d have you on permanent retainer.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,659
    edited March 2021
    Nigelb said:

    DavidL said:

    Salmond also had a women's problem during the indyref where women were much more sceptical about independence than men.

    And people even question who is the smarter sex.
    True. Amazing how Sturgeon has managed to turn this into a binary between him and her. For years she was his chief cheerleader and apologist ("not a sexist bone in his body".) And now butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Nauseating. No wonder Eck is so beside himself.
    I still don’t understand this whole sexist bones thing.
    It was when Alex Salmond said something that was misogynistic towards Anna Soubry and Sturgeon said something along the lines of 'Alex Salmond doesn't have a sexist bone in his body'.

    Edit - Here it is, from June 2015.

    NICOLA Sturgeon has launched a bracing defence of Alex Salmond over charges of sexism after he told a Conservative MP to “behave yourself, woman”.

    The First Minister took time out from her visit to the United States to insist her predecessor “has not got a sexist bone in his body”.

    Sturgeon leapt to the Gordon MP’s defence after he sparked controversy during a House of Commons exchange with Enterprise Minister Anna Soubry last week.

    During a debate on devolution, Salmond scolded the Treasury bench and said it should “behave better”.

    Directly addressing Soubry, he added: “She should be setting an example to your new members, not cavorting about like some demented junior minister - behave yourself, woman.”

    Soubry reacted with fury to the jibe, claiming Salmond thought women should be “seen and not heard” and insisting his attitude belonged “firmly in the 19th Century”.


    https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/behave-yourself-alex-salmond-no-5858508
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 9,877
    DavidL said:



    AnneJGP said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Very true, some have vented frustration on here, I think. But even if we handed over 100% of our vaccines to the EU, it wouldn't get them into people's arms any quicker.

    Everyone's horizons may take quite a while to broaden again, yet it isn't necessarily the closest neighbours that we'll be able to visit again first.

    Good evening, everybody.
    Evening Anne. Hope you are well.
    Very well, thank you. And yourself?

    It's lovely to see more people out & about today.

    On topic: If I were a voter in the upcoming Scottish elections, I think I'd prefer Mr Salmond to Ms Sturgeon. Nothing to do with personal probity, as with Mr Johnson here; just that it seems more urgent to stop the rigging of the political structures than to stop the unsavoury personal behaviour. I know that doesn't help those who suffer the unsavoury behaviour.
    I wonder how unsavoury Salmond’s behaviour really was, when defectors from the SNP include Lynne Anderson, the SNP Equalities Convenor, Caroline MacAllister, the SNP Women’s Convenor and Eva Comrie, Principal of a Children and Families legal practice,
    Its almost as if several people in a position to know think that this was made up, isn't it?
    Well apart from that those titles don't actually imply they do anything after all labour set the form here with hodges
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905



    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    Haven't you been keeping up with Murray Ross's communiques? He's suggested exactly that to a chorus of raspberries from SLab at least.

    https://twitter.com/themajorityscot/status/1376316487858786307?s=20
    It's a sensible strategy. He can offer, and when he's rebuffed claim that Labour and the Lib Dems aren't committed to the Union.

    At a guess, about a fifth of the Scottish electorate is unionist (which is not at all the same thing as a No voter, of course.) Ultimately that's never going to get his party anywhere in terms of wielding power, because if anyone will work with them it's only ever going to be trading votes for a few minor concessions in a very hung parliament, but that's at least enough to keep about thirty Tory politicians in lucrative employment.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,858

    Nigelb said:

    DavidL said:

    Salmond also had a women's problem during the indyref where women were much more sceptical about independence than men.

    And people even question who is the smarter sex.
    True. Amazing how Sturgeon has managed to turn this into a binary between him and her. For years she was his chief cheerleader and apologist ("not a sexist bone in his body".) And now butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Nauseating. No wonder Eck is so beside himself.
    I still don’t understand this whole sexist bones thing.
    It was when Alex Salmond said something that was misogynistic towards Anna Soubry and Sturgeon said something along the lines of 'Alex Salmond doesn't have a sexist bone in his body',
    Yes, yes, yes, but that was then. Now he is not fit for public office. Keep with the program for goodness sake.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,989
    Pagan2 said:



    Yay more china tat

    Such as the sort that you typed your comment on?
  • DavidL said:

    Nigelb said:

    DavidL said:

    Salmond also had a women's problem during the indyref where women were much more sceptical about independence than men.

    And people even question who is the smarter sex.
    True. Amazing how Sturgeon has managed to turn this into a binary between him and her. For years she was his chief cheerleader and apologist ("not a sexist bone in his body".) And now butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Nauseating. No wonder Eck is so beside himself.
    I still don’t understand this whole sexist bones thing.
    It was when Alex Salmond said something that was misogynistic towards Anna Soubry and Sturgeon said something along the lines of 'Alex Salmond doesn't have a sexist bone in his body',
    Yes, yes, yes, but that was then. Now he is not fit for public office. Keep with the program for goodness sake.
    Yes of course, I have to be delicate, I keep on forgetting I'm one of the just 648 people Alex Salmond follows on Twitter.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,930
  • londonpubmanlondonpubman Posts: 3,639
    Andy_JS said:
    Perhaps we can have a thread asking if this poll is indicating a Keir victory?!
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 9,877



    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    Haven't you been keeping up with Murray Ross's communiques? He's suggested exactly that to a chorus of raspberries from SLab at least.

    https://twitter.com/themajorityscot/status/1376316487858786307?s=20
    It's a sensible strategy. He can offer, and when he's rebuffed claim that Labour and the Lib Dems aren't committed to the Union.

    At a guess, about a fifth of the Scottish electorate is unionist (which is not at all the same thing as a No voter, of course.) Ultimately that's never going to get his party anywhere in terms of wielding power, because if anyone will work with them it's only ever going to be trading votes for a few minor concessions in a very hung parliament, but that's at least enough to keep about thirty Tory politicians in lucrative employment.
    Is it merely me or does he look like he is wearing a corset in that photo?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,858
    Leon said:

    algarkirk said:

    Is there a Scottish party that supports independence but doesn't support applying to join the EU?

    I ask for two reasons: polls show there is a group of people who take that view. I'm not sure who they vote for.

    Secondly because arguing for Scottish independence is perfectly sensible (though personally I don't back it). But arguing that pooling sovereignty with NI, England and Wales is so terrible that we are planning to pool sovereignty with Lithuania, Spain, Slovenia, Germany and 23 others instead doesn't kind of add up does it?

    https://restorescotland.org/

    Cannae see them making much of dent.

    One pooling of sovereignty let's you decide if you want to continue pooling, the other doesn't, a pretty basic sum of just how much sovereignty you're surrendering I'd suggest.
    Strange then, that you fiercely supported a YES vote in 2014, which would have seen Scotland sundered from EU membership instantaneously, with no assured route back in.

    That did not bother you at all. Now Scotland leaving the EU because the UK had a unified vote on this, is a democratic outrage blah blah yawn

    It is total, blatant hypocrisy, which is why Nats never address the issue
    With the greatest of respect, if you are going to set a bar of hypocrisy on any Nat you are completely removing their freedom of speech. This is a free country and will be until shortly after independence, even if the government is apparently able to conspire to have you locked up without any consequence to them.
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 9,877
    TOPPING said:

    Pagan2 said:



    Yay more china tat

    Such as the sort that you typed your comment on?
    There are things that come from china

    Some are tat like mlp, gonks etc
    Some are actually useful items like video cards
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,598

    DavidL said:

    Salmond also had a women's problem during the indyref where women were much more sceptical about independence than men.

    And people even question who is the smarter sex.
    True. Amazing how Sturgeon has managed to turn this into a binary between him and her. For years she was his chief cheerleader and apologist ("not a sexist bone in his body".) And now butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Nauseating. No wonder Eck is so beside himself.
    I realise I may be in the significant minority, but I feel that Salmond has inflicted huge damage on Sturgeon. By causing her to lie so obviously - and roping the establishment into supporting her in those lies.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    Oh dear...hols in Greece on hold, Lord Adonis?

    https://twitter.com/Andrew_Adonis/status/1376605408215842821?s=20
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    MaxPB said:

    .

    MaxPB said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    That has to be a joke. The EU has gone mad. Again
    It makes a mockery of the idea the EU has 'moved on' and doesn't care about the UK anymore.
    The tone of snarling contempt is also a giveaway - "little island".

    You can see it here as well:

    "But, Kirkegaard said, the battle over exports had been “nonsense”. Von der Leyen, he suggests, may have been guilty of letting Boris Johnson get under her skin.

    “The UK is a tiny, tiny vaccine producer and will always be that. One of the biggest communication mistakes they made was that AstraZeneca supplies were down in the EU because they were up in the UK, which is absurd,” he said.

    “They think of the UK [as] much more of an equal than it is. In vaccine production it is a mouse and the EU will very soon by far be the largest producer in the world ""

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/28/jean-claude-juncker-and-dominic-cummings-unite-on-ursula-von-der-leyen-eu-stupid-vaccine-war

    Brexit REALLY upsets them, and they show it most when they are actively trying to show how little they care about Brexit.
    The UK is about to become a vaccine superpower. In 2022 we'll make in excess of 1bn doses of various vaccines. They're in for a very big shock.
    1 billion in the UK? 😲

    That is incredible. That is India levels.
    Yeah, the government has definitely decided that having a domestic vaccine industry is now in our strategic interest. Part of the remit of the VTF was to achieve that.
    Indeed but I'd have expected 100mn capacity not a billion. Wow.

    That's going to help our balance of trade a bit.
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 21,298
    If we had enough shots, we should vaccinate the various commonwealth realms in the Caribbean and go there instead.
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 9,877

    Oh dear...hols in Greece on hold, Lord Adonis?

    https://twitter.com/Andrew_Adonis/status/1376605408215842821?s=20

    How much would greece want for keeping him?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,211

    Nigelb said:

    DavidL said:

    Salmond also had a women's problem during the indyref where women were much more sceptical about independence than men.

    And people even question who is the smarter sex.
    True. Amazing how Sturgeon has managed to turn this into a binary between him and her. For years she was his chief cheerleader and apologist ("not a sexist bone in his body".) And now butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Nauseating. No wonder Eck is so beside himself.
    I still don’t understand this whole sexist bones thing.
    It was when Alex Salmond said something that was misogynistic towards Anna Soubry and Sturgeon said something along the lines of 'Alex Salmond doesn't have a sexist bone in his body'.

    Edit - Here it is, from June 2015.

    NICOLA Sturgeon has launched a bracing defence of Alex Salmond over charges of sexism after he told a Conservative MP to “behave yourself, woman”.

    The First Minister took time out from her visit to the United States to insist her predecessor “has not got a sexist bone in his body”.

    Sturgeon leapt to the Gordon MP’s defence after he sparked controversy during a House of Commons exchange with Enterprise Minister Anna Soubry last week.

    During a debate on devolution, Salmond scolded the Treasury bench and said it should “behave better”.

    Directly addressing Soubry, he added: “She should be setting an example to your new members, not cavorting about like some demented junior minister - behave yourself, woman.”

    Soubry reacted with fury to the jibe, claiming Salmond thought women should be “seen and not heard” and insisting his attitude belonged “firmly in the 19th Century”.


    https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/behave-yourself-alex-salmond-no-5858508
    I get that it’s a commonly used phrase.
    I’m just puzzled by what on earth it’s supposed to mean. Metaphor, synecdoche... it just doesn’t work.

    And as a defence, it’s less than convincing.
    (cf all those racist Republicans who are apparently without a “racist bone”.)
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,429

    DavidL said:

    Salmond also had a women's problem during the indyref where women were much more sceptical about independence than men.

    And people even question who is the smarter sex.
    True. Amazing how Sturgeon has managed to turn this into a binary between him and her. For years she was his chief cheerleader and apologist ("not a sexist bone in his body".) And now butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Nauseating. No wonder Eck is so beside himself.
    I realise I may be in the significant minority, but I feel that Salmond has inflicted huge damage on Sturgeon. By causing her to lie so obviously - and roping the establishment into supporting her in those lies.
    Yes, but the damage is below the waterline. It is not yet visible. But it will become so. Especially now he has entered the Holyrood race. He will goad her endlessly and mercilessly and he is the one Scottish politician she can't slap down (esp now Ruth D is going). An election campaign that was full of promise, for her, is now strewn with perils
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,930
    edited March 2021
    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    DavidL said:

    Salmond also had a women's problem during the indyref where women were much more sceptical about independence than men.

    And people even question who is the smarter sex.
    True. Amazing how Sturgeon has managed to turn this into a binary between him and her. For years she was his chief cheerleader and apologist ("not a sexist bone in his body".) And now butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Nauseating. No wonder Eck is so beside himself.
    I still don’t understand this whole sexist bones thing.
    It was when Alex Salmond said something that was misogynistic towards Anna Soubry and Sturgeon said something along the lines of 'Alex Salmond doesn't have a sexist bone in his body'.

    Edit - Here it is, from June 2015.

    NICOLA Sturgeon has launched a bracing defence of Alex Salmond over charges of sexism after he told a Conservative MP to “behave yourself, woman”.

    The First Minister took time out from her visit to the United States to insist her predecessor “has not got a sexist bone in his body”.

    Sturgeon leapt to the Gordon MP’s defence after he sparked controversy during a House of Commons exchange with Enterprise Minister Anna Soubry last week.

    During a debate on devolution, Salmond scolded the Treasury bench and said it should “behave better”.

    Directly addressing Soubry, he added: “She should be setting an example to your new members, not cavorting about like some demented junior minister - behave yourself, woman.”

    Soubry reacted with fury to the jibe, claiming Salmond thought women should be “seen and not heard” and insisting his attitude belonged “firmly in the 19th Century”.


    https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/behave-yourself-alex-salmond-no-5858508
    I get that it’s a commonly used phrase.
    I’m just puzzled by what on earth it’s supposed to mean. Metaphor, synecdoche... it just doesn’t work.

    And as a defence, it’s less than convincing.
    (cf all those racist Republicans who are apparently without a “racist bone”.)
    Used for emphasis: https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/505272/where-did-a-racist-bone-in-ones-body-and-a-mean-bone-in-ones-body-come
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,083
    Taps mic.....sniff sniff......SAAAAAAAADDDD
  • RobD said:



    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    Haven't you been keeping up with Murray Ross's communiques? He's suggested exactly that to a chorus of raspberries from SLab at least.

    https://twitter.com/themajorityscot/status/1376316487858786307?s=20
    Something about this just seems wrong, and I doubt the voters will enjoy being told what candidate to vote for.
    This is why we need AV to save the Union.

    Unionists would rank the Unionists accordingly ergo Unionist majority at Holyrood.

    #AVToSaveTheUnion
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,429

    If we had enough shots, we should vaccinate the various commonwealth realms in the Caribbean and go there instead.
    We have vaccinated every remaining UK dependency, so we are free to go to Bermuda, the Caymans, BVIs, Gib, Anguilla, and so on
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 21,298



    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    Haven't you been keeping up with Murray Ross's communiques? He's suggested exactly that to a chorus of raspberries from SLab at least.

    https://twitter.com/themajorityscot/status/1376316487858786307?s=20
    It's a sensible strategy. He can offer, and when he's rebuffed claim that Labour and the Lib Dems aren't committed to the Union.

    At a guess, about a fifth of the Scottish electorate is unionist (which is not at all the same thing as a No voter, of course.) Ultimately that's never going to get his party anywhere in terms of wielding power, because if anyone will work with them it's only ever going to be trading votes for a few minor concessions in a very hung parliament, but that's at least enough to keep about thirty Tory politicians in lucrative employment.
    The problem is that there is a pro-Indy and anti-Indy vote; and there is a pro-Tory and an anti-Tory vote.

    Generally, Tories are going to be hunting for other anti-Indy votes.

    But Labour (and the Lib Dems) are, generally, fishing in the anti-Tory vote.

    A cross-Unionist alliance will, all things being equal, actually push some voters toward pro-Indy parties.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,858
    Floater said:

    Pagan2 said:

    IanB2 said:

    At least that ship in the Suez Canal is now freed, and the canal is opening 24 hours to clear the backlog.

    Yay more china tat
    A load of sex toys are on the move again - The European continent rejoices
    Will this have negative effects on flint knapped items or are they so niche as to be unaffected? Asking out of concern for a contributor, natch.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,995
    Has Willie Rennie got something to tell us?

    https://twitter.com/EngenderScot/status/1376545716374536196?s=20
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,930

    RobD said:



    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    Haven't you been keeping up with Murray Ross's communiques? He's suggested exactly that to a chorus of raspberries from SLab at least.

    https://twitter.com/themajorityscot/status/1376316487858786307?s=20
    Something about this just seems wrong, and I doubt the voters will enjoy being told what candidate to vote for.
    This is why we need AV to save the Union.

    Unionists would rank the Unionists accordingly ergo Unionist majority at Holyrood.

    #AVToSaveTheUnion
    Labour voters would give any preferences to the Tories? Not sure i believe you. ;)
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,930
    Leon said:

    If we had enough shots, we should vaccinate the various commonwealth realms in the Caribbean and go there instead.
    We have vaccinated every remaining UK dependency, so we are free to go to Bermuda, the Caymans, BVIs, Gib, Anguilla, and so on
    Even Southern Thule.
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 9,877

    RobD said:



    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    Haven't you been keeping up with Murray Ross's communiques? He's suggested exactly that to a chorus of raspberries from SLab at least.

    https://twitter.com/themajorityscot/status/1376316487858786307?s=20
    Something about this just seems wrong, and I doubt the voters will enjoy being told what candidate to vote for.
    This is why we need AV to save the Union.

    Unionists would rank the Unionists accordingly ergo Unionist majority at Holyrood.

    #AVToSaveTheUnion
    If only av will save the union then the union is not worth saving....its like saying if we cut the head off this dead body we can save him
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,858

    Has Willie Rennie got something to tell us?

    https://twitter.com/EngenderScot/status/1376545716374536196?s=20

    Maybe its a cunning plan to get the SNP transgender wars into public view again.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,586
    O/T

    "There is no ‘rape culture’ in schools
    Education’s ‘#MeToo moment’ is not a scandal – it’s a moral panic over teenage sex.

    Joanna Williams"

    https://www.spiked-online.com/2021/03/29/there-is-no-rape-culture-in-schools/
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207

    If we had enough shots, we should vaccinate the various commonwealth realms in the Caribbean and go there instead.
    /vaccinate the whole of the developing world whilst giving the EU the finger
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,989
    Pagan2 said:

    TOPPING said:

    Pagan2 said:



    Yay more china tat

    Such as the sort that you typed your comment on?
    There are things that come from china

    Some are tat like mlp, gonks etc
    Some are actually useful items like video cards
    Thanks could you just give us the list of things which are ok and things which are not ok.
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 9,877
    edited March 2021
    RobD said:

    Leon said:

    If we had enough shots, we should vaccinate the various commonwealth realms in the Caribbean and go there instead.
    We have vaccinated every remaining UK dependency, so we are free to go to Bermuda, the Caymans, BVIs, Gib, Anguilla, and so on
    Even Southern Thule.
    Don't forget pitcairn and should probably do the argentinians first as well just in case they invade the falklands and bring lots of variants with them
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,858
    Pagan2 said:

    Oh dear...hols in Greece on hold, Lord Adonis?

    https://twitter.com/Andrew_Adonis/status/1376605408215842821?s=20

    How much would greece want for keeping him?
    The Elgin Marbles? Worth thinking about.
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 9,877
    TOPPING said:

    Pagan2 said:

    TOPPING said:

    Pagan2 said:



    Yay more china tat

    Such as the sort that you typed your comment on?
    There are things that come from china

    Some are tat like mlp, gonks etc
    Some are actually useful items like video cards
    Thanks could you just give us the list of things which are ok and things which are not ok.
    Well no because most people can work out whats tat and what's useful...as an adult I expect you can too
  • Pagan2 said:

    RobD said:



    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    Haven't you been keeping up with Murray Ross's communiques? He's suggested exactly that to a chorus of raspberries from SLab at least.

    https://twitter.com/themajorityscot/status/1376316487858786307?s=20
    Something about this just seems wrong, and I doubt the voters will enjoy being told what candidate to vote for.
    This is why we need AV to save the Union.

    Unionists would rank the Unionists accordingly ergo Unionist majority at Holyrood.

    #AVToSaveTheUnion
    If only av will save the union then the union is not worth saving....its like saying if we cut the head off this dead body we can save him
    Nah, the Union is worth saving.

    I've written a thread, well writing a thread, on the subject of England relative to the size of the rest of the UK is just too big for the Parliament of the UK to work properly.

    Perhaps we should go American senate style and allow each country to elect 25 senators to send to the replacement for the Lords with proper powers, or maybe a new House of Commons with 150 MPs elected from every member of the Union.
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 9,877
    DavidL said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Oh dear...hols in Greece on hold, Lord Adonis?

    https://twitter.com/Andrew_Adonis/status/1376605408215842821?s=20

    How much would greece want for keeping him?
    The Elgin Marbles? Worth thinking about.
    I think that would be fair trade
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,586
    They have large quantities of our AZ vaccine and aren't using it much.
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 9,877

    Pagan2 said:

    RobD said:



    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    Haven't you been keeping up with Murray Ross's communiques? He's suggested exactly that to a chorus of raspberries from SLab at least.

    https://twitter.com/themajorityscot/status/1376316487858786307?s=20
    Something about this just seems wrong, and I doubt the voters will enjoy being told what candidate to vote for.
    This is why we need AV to save the Union.

    Unionists would rank the Unionists accordingly ergo Unionist majority at Holyrood.

    #AVToSaveTheUnion
    If only av will save the union then the union is not worth saving....its like saying if we cut the head off this dead body we can save him
    Nah, the Union is worth saving.

    I've written a thread, well writing a thread, on the subject of England relative to the size of the rest of the UK is just too big for the Parliament of the UK to work properly.

    Perhaps we should go American senate style and allow each country to elect 25 senators to send to the replacement for the Lords with proper powers, or maybe a new House of Commons with 150 MPs elected from every member of the Union.
    Can you give a good reason for why the union is worth having? Never seen one advanced yet
  • Leon said:

    DavidL said:

    Salmond also had a women's problem during the indyref where women were much more sceptical about independence than men.

    And people even question who is the smarter sex.
    True. Amazing how Sturgeon has managed to turn this into a binary between him and her. For years she was his chief cheerleader and apologist ("not a sexist bone in his body".) And now butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Nauseating. No wonder Eck is so beside himself.
    I realise I may be in the significant minority, but I feel that Salmond has inflicted huge damage on Sturgeon. By causing her to lie so obviously - and roping the establishment into supporting her in those lies.
    Yes, but the damage is below the waterline. It is not yet visible. But it will become so. Especially now he has entered the Holyrood race. He will goad her endlessly and mercilessly and he is the one Scottish politician she can't slap down (esp now Ruth D is going). An election campaign that was full of promise, for her, is now strewn with perils
    Sky showed her campaign launch which looked as if it was filmed from her home ( but I stand to be corrected) and both my wife and I commented that she really looked wound up and the self confidence was just not there

    Also Sky pointedly said she was not taking questions
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,995
    DavidL said:

    Nigelb said:

    DavidL said:

    Salmond also had a women's problem during the indyref where women were much more sceptical about independence than men.

    And people even question who is the smarter sex.
    True. Amazing how Sturgeon has managed to turn this into a binary between him and her. For years she was his chief cheerleader and apologist ("not a sexist bone in his body".) And now butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Nauseating. No wonder Eck is so beside himself.
    I still don’t understand this whole sexist bones thing.
    It was when Alex Salmond said something that was misogynistic towards Anna Soubry and Sturgeon said something along the lines of 'Alex Salmond doesn't have a sexist bone in his body',
    Yes, yes, yes, but that was then. Now he is not fit for public office. Keep with the program for goodness sake.
    Apparently now he's the best PM we never had (©several PB yoons).
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,548

    Pagan2 said:

    RobD said:



    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    Haven't you been keeping up with Murray Ross's communiques? He's suggested exactly that to a chorus of raspberries from SLab at least.

    https://twitter.com/themajorityscot/status/1376316487858786307?s=20
    Something about this just seems wrong, and I doubt the voters will enjoy being told what candidate to vote for.
    This is why we need AV to save the Union.

    Unionists would rank the Unionists accordingly ergo Unionist majority at Holyrood.

    #AVToSaveTheUnion
    If only av will save the union then the union is not worth saving....its like saying if we cut the head off this dead body we can save him
    Nah, the Union is worth saving.

    I've written a thread, well writing a thread, on the subject of England relative to the size of the rest of the UK is just too big for the Parliament of the UK to work properly.

    Perhaps we should go American senate style and allow each country to elect 25 senators to send to the replacement for the Lords with proper powers, or maybe a new House of Commons with 150 MPs elected from every member of the Union.
    Well that will certainly kill the union dead in no time. Are you sure you really want to save it?
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    edited March 2021
    I wonder if the EU is beginning to join the dots.....

    The news that the Novavax vaccine is going to go through a process known as fill and finish in the UK is an interesting development. Fill and finish is the process by which vaccines are packaged up in vials, ready to be sent out to vaccination clinics.

    The original plan was for this to be done in Europe once the vaccine product was manufactured by plants in the north east. But a deal has been struck with drug firm GSK to do that here.

    Officially, the government is saying that it is all part of their investment in the British life science industry.
    But given the threats from Europe about restricting exports of vaccines, it begs all sorts of other questions too.


    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-56570168
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,429

    Pagan2 said:

    RobD said:



    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    Haven't you been keeping up with Murray Ross's communiques? He's suggested exactly that to a chorus of raspberries from SLab at least.

    https://twitter.com/themajorityscot/status/1376316487858786307?s=20
    Something about this just seems wrong, and I doubt the voters will enjoy being told what candidate to vote for.
    This is why we need AV to save the Union.

    Unionists would rank the Unionists accordingly ergo Unionist majority at Holyrood.

    #AVToSaveTheUnion
    If only av will save the union then the union is not worth saving....its like saying if we cut the head off this dead body we can save him
    Nah, the Union is worth saving.

    I've written a thread, well writing a thread, on the subject of England relative to the size of the rest of the UK is just too big for the Parliament of the UK to work properly.

    Perhaps we should go American senate style and allow each country to elect 25 senators to send to the replacement for the Lords with proper powers, or maybe a new House of Commons with 150 MPs elected from every member of the Union.
    We should go for the Senate-style arrangement. Tho maybe every county should send two Lords?

    Scotland actually has more counties than England - 33 over 27.....
  • BluestBlueBluestBlue Posts: 4,556
    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    DavidL said:

    Salmond also had a women's problem during the indyref where women were much more sceptical about independence than men.

    And people even question who is the smarter sex.
    True. Amazing how Sturgeon has managed to turn this into a binary between him and her. For years she was his chief cheerleader and apologist ("not a sexist bone in his body".) And now butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Nauseating. No wonder Eck is so beside himself.
    I still don’t understand this whole sexist bones thing.
    It was when Alex Salmond said something that was misogynistic towards Anna Soubry and Sturgeon said something along the lines of 'Alex Salmond doesn't have a sexist bone in his body'.

    Edit - Here it is, from June 2015.

    NICOLA Sturgeon has launched a bracing defence of Alex Salmond over charges of sexism after he told a Conservative MP to “behave yourself, woman”.

    The First Minister took time out from her visit to the United States to insist her predecessor “has not got a sexist bone in his body”.

    Sturgeon leapt to the Gordon MP’s defence after he sparked controversy during a House of Commons exchange with Enterprise Minister Anna Soubry last week.

    During a debate on devolution, Salmond scolded the Treasury bench and said it should “behave better”.

    Directly addressing Soubry, he added: “She should be setting an example to your new members, not cavorting about like some demented junior minister - behave yourself, woman.”

    Soubry reacted with fury to the jibe, claiming Salmond thought women should be “seen and not heard” and insisting his attitude belonged “firmly in the 19th Century”.


    https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/behave-yourself-alex-salmond-no-5858508
    I get that it’s a commonly used phrase.
    I’m just puzzled by what on earth it’s supposed to mean. Metaphor, synecdoche... it just doesn’t work.

    And as a defence, it’s less than convincing.
    (cf all those racist Republicans who are apparently without a “racist bone”.)
    It's even worse if you consider that whereas synecdoche is the part for the whole, the sexist, er, bone could be considered the part for the hole...
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,692
    Macron is planning a statement on the coronavirus plan “within the next fortnight”.

    https://twitter.com/cnews/status/1376596241337946117?s=21
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,548

    isam said:
    I mean, it's not trolling. It just so happens that a majority of GSKs vaccine final fill capacity in the UK is at their Barnard Castle plant.
    You know if Cummings had been as bright as I thought he would have used that as his excuse.

    "I was on a fact finding mission to Barnard Castle to see if their facility was suitable for vaccine production."
  • Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    RobD said:



    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    Haven't you been keeping up with Murray Ross's communiques? He's suggested exactly that to a chorus of raspberries from SLab at least.

    https://twitter.com/themajorityscot/status/1376316487858786307?s=20
    Something about this just seems wrong, and I doubt the voters will enjoy being told what candidate to vote for.
    This is why we need AV to save the Union.

    Unionists would rank the Unionists accordingly ergo Unionist majority at Holyrood.

    #AVToSaveTheUnion
    If only av will save the union then the union is not worth saving....its like saying if we cut the head off this dead body we can save him
    Nah, the Union is worth saving.

    I've written a thread, well writing a thread, on the subject of England relative to the size of the rest of the UK is just too big for the Parliament of the UK to work properly.

    Perhaps we should go American senate style and allow each country to elect 25 senators to send to the replacement for the Lords with proper powers, or maybe a new House of Commons with 150 MPs elected from every member of the Union.
    Can you give a good reason for why the union is worth having? Never seen one advanced yet
    To annoy the Scot Nats, what better reason than that do you want?

    I'll explain why in my piece, précis we're better together.

    Another incidental reason is that Scexit will bring another new level of bitterness and rancour to this country, and we can do without that.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,429

    Macron is planning a statement on the coronavirus plan “within the next fortnight”.

    https://twitter.com/cnews/status/1376596241337946117?s=21

    Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint
  • I wonder if the EU is beginning to join the dots.....

    The news that the Novavax vaccine is going to go through a process known as fill and finish in the UK is an interesting development. Fill and finish is the process by which vaccines are packaged up in vials, ready to be sent out to vaccination clinics.

    The original plan was for this to be done in Europe once the vaccine product was manufactured by plants in the north east. But a deal has been struck with drug firm GSK to do that here.

    Officially, the government is saying that it is all part of their investment in the British life science industry.
    But given the threats from Europe about restricting exports of vaccines, it begs all sorts of other questions too.


    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-56570168

    The damage the EU has done to itself is extraordinary
  • FossFoss Posts: 1,019
    Does Alba plan on running in the Airdrie and Shotts by-election? I can’t seem to find a definitive statement either way.
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905
    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    RobD said:



    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    Haven't you been keeping up with Murray Ross's communiques? He's suggested exactly that to a chorus of raspberries from SLab at least.

    https://twitter.com/themajorityscot/status/1376316487858786307?s=20
    Something about this just seems wrong, and I doubt the voters will enjoy being told what candidate to vote for.
    This is why we need AV to save the Union.

    Unionists would rank the Unionists accordingly ergo Unionist majority at Holyrood.

    #AVToSaveTheUnion
    If only av will save the union then the union is not worth saving....its like saying if we cut the head off this dead body we can save him
    Nah, the Union is worth saving.

    I've written a thread, well writing a thread, on the subject of England relative to the size of the rest of the UK is just too big for the Parliament of the UK to work properly.

    Perhaps we should go American senate style and allow each country to elect 25 senators to send to the replacement for the Lords with proper powers, or maybe a new House of Commons with 150 MPs elected from every member of the Union.
    Can you give a good reason for why the union is worth having? Never seen one advanced yet
    @TSE is just winding you up.

    You could've made a good case for the Union thirty years ago. Not now. It is broken, no means (or, at any rate, no means likely to be implemented by politicians) exist to repair it, and most of its people don't really give a toss about it anymore in any event.
  • Leon said:

    Pagan2 said:

    RobD said:



    If the Alba ruse actually works (I doubt it) then the obvious Unionist response would be for them to stand down in favour of the strongest party in the constituencies. It would take a lot for that to happen but could be transformative if it did.

    That could ultimately be very good news for SLAB as the Tories would en masse transfer to them (not so much the other way round in the Tory-leaning areas) thus putting a lot of Central Belt seats into contention. However that's looking far ahead to Holyrood 2026. A lot could happen in the meantime!

    Haven't you been keeping up with Murray Ross's communiques? He's suggested exactly that to a chorus of raspberries from SLab at least.

    https://twitter.com/themajorityscot/status/1376316487858786307?s=20
    Something about this just seems wrong, and I doubt the voters will enjoy being told what candidate to vote for.
    This is why we need AV to save the Union.

    Unionists would rank the Unionists accordingly ergo Unionist majority at Holyrood.

    #AVToSaveTheUnion
    If only av will save the union then the union is not worth saving....its like saying if we cut the head off this dead body we can save him
    Nah, the Union is worth saving.

    I've written a thread, well writing a thread, on the subject of England relative to the size of the rest of the UK is just too big for the Parliament of the UK to work properly.

    Perhaps we should go American senate style and allow each country to elect 25 senators to send to the replacement for the Lords with proper powers, or maybe a new House of Commons with 150 MPs elected from every member of the Union.
    We should go for the Senate-style arrangement. Tho maybe every county should send two Lords?

    Scotland actually has more counties than England - 33 over 27.....
    That could work.
  • This 'Richard Burgon defecting to the NIPs' rumour is too good to be true, surely? I'd laugh so much it would surely kill me.
This discussion has been closed.