To wish Nicola Sturgeon could be Pm

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She seems so genuine and actually seemed to care. She came across as strong though which means she is pm material.

Ps I know its impossible but we all have hopes.

DowntownFunk Out of interest Chandler, what do you think of Creepy Jim Murphy and Kezia Deputy Dugdale?

Erm, I find him rather hard to place. I know he is insincere and a bit slimy, but there is something slightly fascinating about him in an almost vampirish sense. I suspect he appeals to a lot of elderly female voters.

I'm afraid I don't know much about Kezia Dugdale. I moved abroad with work just after the Referendum and generally I try not to obsess too much over individual party leaders and figures, but more the policies the parties are likely to implement.

What I find sad about Scotland is that the idea, that it is more left wing, high tax and caring, is a good one, but the only countries where that actually succeeds in practice are the Scandinavian ones. Particularly Denmark, which has very low levels of corruption and high levels of respect and trust. I just don't see that lack of corruption in Scotland and there seems to be a deep lack of respect in the SNP for those voting no, and so I cannot see its left wing theories producing good results in practice, and I would be afraid of Scotland ending up more like Lithuania or Latvia than Denmark or Norway.

a nippy sweety. Did anyone see the referendum debate between Sturgeon and Joan Lamont last year (female presenter). The behaviour of all was embarrassing (infact cringeworthy).

Yes and Nicola Sturgeon and Johann Lamont agreed with you. Nicola Sturgeon said they chatted afterwards and said the format had been wrong she admitted that it was exactly what they had agreed to so held her hands up to it being rubbish.

I'm Scottish and can't stick the woman. I'm not convinced by her at all.

I can understand why this thread was started. Nicola Sturgeon has some characteristics I want to see in an MP - she seems sharp, sincere, passionate, down to earth, fearless, and not too defensive.

For practical reasons we can't have. She has a conflict of interests I know that, but I get why she appeals to many, especially when you compare her with the soulless and insincere Milliband and Cameron

I know the thread has moved on, but Fugacity, you think her glottal stops have anything to do with her ability to lead a country?! Jesus H Christ.

I'm Glaswegian, my glottal stops are part of my accent; I'm sure your diction is far superior to mine. But then I also have a doctorate from one of the top universities in the world. Do you?

David Cameron, now there's someone with superb diction, with whom I would not wipe my Weegie erse.

Saw front page of Daily Wail today saying NS is calling for another IndyRef 'as soon as next year'. DW is tosh so disregard.

But then see The Times has the same headline.

I didn't get to see the Scottish Debate the other night and the news is moving fast atm...

PLEASE tell me she didn't actually say this?

Start speaking properly, agent, if you want to be on the world stage. I can't see any reason for an educated (7 years, no less) person not trying to improve themselves.

Glottal stops are a normal part of her accent.

It would sound a tad weird if she developed RP.

Getting rid of your accent isn't "improving yourself".

ihave - yes she said this and was booed by her Scots audience. You can see it on YouTube... Awful woman, typical "I know better then you" politician.

Followed shortly by a certain Tony Blair telling us that membership of the EU was far too important to be decided by the electorate via a referendum as we are clearly not intelligent enough. You couldn't make it up.

If I want to be on the world stage, Fugacity? Pal, I've spoken at more international conferences than you've had hot or cold dinners. And been told how good it is to hear a speaker who hasn't tried to lose their regional accent, no less

great post agentcooper

I don't see anything wrong with glottal stops but I do think there is something odd about the way of speech adopted by both AS and NS - its odd to have such pronounced glottal stops without the traditional Scots pronunciation that goes along with it. And I don't mean broad, hard to understand pronunciation, its just not the everyday speech that someone using that many glottal stops would use.

It almost gives the impression that they are over-emphasising the glottal stops (AS not only does it to "t" but also to "d") to sound more authentic/Scottish/appeal to the traditional working man/woman. That also appears a bit fake to me.

I'm sure a linguist would have a field day with this! And please don't go down the road of saying you are not allowed to mention glottal stops just because they're Scottish, or because its snobbish, people talk about other politicians' accents and speech all the time, and its well known that many politicians are coached in it so as to appeal more to voters.

Okay, who else has Googled glottal stop?

chandler what a load of pish.

Just catching up on the STV Scottish leadership debate. She's not doing terribly well there despite Bernard Ponsonby being so partisan.

And I agree about Sturgeon over emphasising her woman of the ordinary folk Scottish accent.

more pish...

What an eloquent response.

Chandler, Sturgeon has an Ayrshire accent and it's pretty typical to my ears. It definitely differs from Glaswegian in that it can sound softer and more (to some ears) 'well-spoken' but still has the glottal stops and westerly edge that you don't get in Edinburgh or the Borders, for example. My DH's family are from Irvine and Prestwick and their accents are definitely differ from mine (Glaswegian).

This analysis of NS's accent is baffling. Take a walk down Irvine Mall and you'll hear lots of similar voices. It reminds me of when folk started saying no one in Scotland used the term 'bawbag' with any frequency before the SNP. My primary school teachers would disagree furiously A lot of my classmates were kept in over playtime because of that word!

intlmanofmystery - oh, DELIGHTED* to see she was booed.

I don't give a flying whatsit about her accent, but as a resident of Scotland I do give a damn that she is ignoring what the majority of my fellow countrypeople voted for last year.

My area voted 77% NO and she wants another IndyRef 'as soon as next year'.

FUCK OFF - don't tell me you represent me and then ignore me and mine on something SO fundamental.

Is she going to keep asking us until she gets the answer she wants?

AgentCooper Chandler, Sturgeon has an Ayrshire accent

But why drop the slang but keep the glottal stops?

I'm all for saving accents and promoting Scots as a separate language, but I'm not sure that that separate language has ever been this politician hybrid version with RP pronunciation and heavy glottal stops. Although I'm actually wishing that Alex Salmond might resurrect a few more good old Scots words that are in danger of going out of use. I'm sure he's flourished more than a bawbag or two in his time?

English politicians are scrutinised on everything from their suits to their voices and accents, why should Scottish politicians be exempt? They are all prepped and primed to appeal to the voters, in a myriad of ways.

I was talking about this today.

I'm English. In the south of England.

But I think she's so dynamic.

I was mooting if the SNP could put delegates here could she win? What would be the outcome?

If she were GB-centric she'd get my vote.

*and left leaning. Obvs.