To be irritated that John Swinney is going to spend next week banging on about Gaza?

I think the scottish Govs pretty poor. I don't get why these minute countries like NZ and Scotland want to appear to be world changing - other countries like the Netherlands, Denmark make changes to immigration to suit their population. Don't throw millions into transgenderism. They just get on with doing the best to make a fair and successful country, which they have, in a calm and determined way. without all the fanfare and attention seeking.
If they improved education in Scotland they'd improve health and drug problem.

I'd not be calling other people ignorant when you don't know the difference between arc and ark.

To be honest, I think people in Scotland (and the UK generally) are feeling like shit and just really fed up. Roads are shocking, NHS waiting lists are dire, cost of living is through the roof, services are being cut despite a massive rise in council tax (13.5 % in the west of Scotland where I live taking mine to £349 a month yet bin collection is reduced and we’ve now to pay extra to get garden waste collected).

There’s zero general maintenance so the public bins are overflowing, grassy areas don’t get cut and graffiti not removed. Workforce in Glasgow to deal with maintenance has been cut from nearly 200 to about 30. The place just looks a mess.

Fly tipping massively on the rise. Police don’t attend lots of reported crimes. Classes are overflowing in (some) schools. Can’t get a GP or dentist appointment for love nor money. ££££s being spent on illegal migrants while the number of homeless on our streets is increasing. There’s now tents in the street in Glasgow city centre which I’ve never seen before in over 50 years (yes there were homeless folk in tents etc but generally not in the middle of Buchanan street!

You get the drift. And yes, these problems individually are NOTHING compared to the awful situation in Gaza but when your everyday life is just getting harder and harder, despite working hard and paying a fortune in tax, you just want to see your own politicians actually doing something about it.

And you can accuse people of being thick/racist/ill-informed etc, but that’s irrelevant because people will vote based on their own perceptions rather than “facts” - a famous philosopher once said “there is no truth, only perception” so if people perceive our politicians care more about Gaza than their own people, then that will be reflected in their vote. Trump is testament to that.

It’s the reason why Reform are appealing to a wider range of voter. Even if what much of what they are spouting is shite, if people believe it, they’ll vote for it - as per Brexit.

I myself feel politically homeless but I really worry we will end up with Reform in power.

There is so much going on in the world, people are being massacred because of their religion every day, but you only want to show your compassion when it comes to Gaza.

Why is this? Are you just doing it because it is fashionable? Are you doing it because other massacred people are predominantly Christians? Are you doing it because you don't understand?

John Sweeny is a toon Councillor. He has no power in the world. No one is listening to him. He could make a difference in Scotland to the poor, to education, to small business, just to pot holes. But he is virtue signalling madly and after reading this thread I can see why.

sending components, intelligence, or support counts as ‘arming.’ It’s not just literal bombs- it’s helping sustain the military capacity that’s causing the deaths.

Ffs OP

Where is your compassion?

Oh get a grip.

Our first minister can do hee-haw about Gaza.

He can do hee- haw about not much in fact.

Trying to kid on Scotland can do anything on a world stage is ridiculous. We are struggling in Scotland but he hopes no one looks as he points " over there".

Well I never said all arms are coming from the U.K. and I also said I’m not in the U.K. so you have misinterpreted me @Lolapusht

I won’t be returning to the thread because MN isn’t working properly

No where near as many. Only a wilfully ignorant absolute numpty would think otherwise.

@Fragmentedbrain 👍

Well, I said ‘when you say things like…’ which wasn’t actually quoting you.

My question was around the reasonable interpretation some, if not many, people may give to ‘arming Israel’ (again, not directly quoting you).

The death of civilians in any war is awful.

When people say things like we “need to stop arming XYZ…” the reasonable interpretation would be that “we” ie the UK are sending the guns/bombs that are responsible for those deaths. In some cases, depending on the surrounding g text, it may even read like all the arms are coming from us. I don’t think that’s right. Precision and clarity rather than suggestion and inference.

I’m with Palestine 🇵🇸

Yeah someone already answered me but thanks

Yes.

You can do the research yourself. But the answer is yes.

Well your point wasn’t really applicable to me when you used a quote that I never said and your point about using components instead of the finished product doesn’t change the outcome of what is being done to the Palestinian people so I don’t really know how to respond to you.

Man believes the Pallywood images and hangs flag to signal his virtue.

Oh, forgot those.

Does that change my point?

Perhaps he should put more money into education. 😂

There were Lowland Scots and Irish mercenaries fighting with the English against Scots. And Scots soldiers fighting in Ireland but why let the truth get in the way of a rant

The guy with the arc? Lost me there.

Showing empathy for a country that's having war waged on it is the sign of a government of a developed country. Running a country and having empathy for another aren't activities that are mutually exclusive.

Regardless of your politics.

Google Plantation of Ulster by James VI. SNP likes to pretend that didn't happen.

Don't pretend you were the victim and absolutely did not profit from slavery and colonisation. Scots are only in union with England because they bankrupted themselves trying to colonise others. Funny how you sweep the Northern Ireland comment under the rug.

The Scots regularly invaded England and did the same.

What about the surveillance flights @Lolapushthttps://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/aug/07/uks-surveillance-flights-over-gaza-raise-questions-on-help-for-israeli-military