To say thank fuck for Nicola Sturgeon

[Chippednailvarnish]

I can't stand her anti English stance, but at least one political leader is doing something for the refugees...

are posters here actually of the mindset that DC gives more of a shit about the people than NS? Because then I will know to dismiss you as eejits.

Christ No!! NS doesn't have the monopoly of being an utter false gobshite - if there is a thread about Cameron that isn't too long to join, I'd say the same there too!

Indeed Kidwhat did happen to respecting others views? Not really one of the SNPs strengths

What you have seen on this thread is the views of posters who despise NS. You are entitled to post your views about any policitian you despise.

Where did I get my figures? Only 50% of votes cast in the GE were for the SNP, so I guess that means that half the voting population of Scotland don't want an SNP MP, and presumably don't like the SNP. 55% of those who voted rejected independence a year ago. So it's not just me.

I'd like to talk about anything that the SNP have done to make Scotland a fairer place or done to improve the lives of the poor or increased Scotland's standing in the world, anyone?

What was it NS said the other day about wanting to make Scotland the best place to do business in the UK - now thats fucking ambition right enough - lets be the best place to do business over a few other places, what about trying to be the best in Europe or the World? What about helping Britain to be the best? Naw - lets just try and do something to rub in the English faces.

Still Scottish btw in case that's not clear....

I also have no strict objection to an independent Scotland - when that is at a time where it makes sense, not at any and all cost, just to be on the history books as the person who delivered independence, which is what it comes down to in the SNP books at the moment.

But if Cameron decides to admit a stated number then that number are admitted - which is not in NS's gift. That's why she can talk big.

but she can offer to take a bigger proportion, she can lobby to up the number using her MPs, there is plenty she could do, she could co-ordinate a charitable aid campaign and offer Scottish government facilities as drop offs etc. there is loads she could do that she simply chooses not to.

Exactly Andrew. I think most of the vitriolic NS despisers on this thread know that, which is partly why we are being so vitriolic! it's just another example of NS/SNP say / do whatever will make gullible people think we are better/nicer/fairer than the English in Wastemonster

I'm from South London and have lived, worked and raised children in scotland for about 10 years.

I think nicola sturgeon is a good leader. I think the SNP are doing a good job overall in the devolved parliament against a Government determined to dismantle the welfare state and public sector. It's not perfect. But still good.
She's a great speaker, she can connect with ordinary people, she is an extremely experienced politician.
She is a worthy opponent to politicians who would make mincemeat out of Kezia.

Of course she has a PR team. So does the labour leader.
I find her measured and genuine. I don't give a monkeys what she looks like.

I was really cheered to see Ruth Davidson, kezia Dugdale and nicola sturgeon during the referendum debates. They were all great speakers; dignified, clear and did not resort to misogynistic personal comments.

I think scotland will end if taking more than 1000 refugees and so it should. I live in Glasgow and think it is a great example of multiculturalism in action.

Ubik, I don't necessarily agree with you but I like your post - it is an example of stating your point of view clearly and without malice, spite or vitriol - almost makes me feel bad for calling her a gobshite - but that's just the way we Scots rock sometimes - calling a spade a fecking big shovel.

A genuine well done for actually showing that there are people who have genuinely thought about what the SNP are offering and what you like about it.

I like Kezia, tbh I think she could have done with a few years experience at a higher level before taking the leadership but that wasn't really the way things panned out. I hope she has a future. i also quite like Ruth even though I disagree with her a lot too, I think she has been unfairly treated by her own party.

I think Ruth Davidson is very good. I just don't agree with her politics. I like Kezia Dugdale too but yes I agree her inexperience shows compared to a warhorse like nicola sturgeon.
Mind you, kezia has a new PR guru on board so I expect a far more polished and perhaps ruthless Labour leader to emerge in the coming months

Kezia just needs to bang about the will of the Scottish people over and over again and ignore all common sense put in front of her. She'll be more than a match for NS - who is less like a war horse and more like a yappy, irritating dog who won't stop barking.

The SNP have done a fantastic job of running Scotland into the ground with smoke, mirrors and good PR rhetoric fooling so many people - it makes me want to weep.

No, she needs to bang on about the will of the Scottish people whilst simultaneously ignoring the will of the Scottish people.

That is absolutely true Queen. A loose grasp of the meaning the word democracy and the ability to conveniently forget previous promises that the referendum was a once in a generation opportunity would also help tremendously - as would zero understanding of economics.

I just find it really odd that the entire SNP party all believe exactly the same. My 14 year old understands that you may have a set of core beliefs or and ideology that are/is the same or similar to a particular group but the chances of you believing in exactly the same thing completely is a bit suspicious. It's the fact that none of them are allowed to express anything other than the party line that gets the "cult" thing going.

Maybe if they were allowed to be actual human beings and not constantly spout the party line verbatim like some skewed version of the stepford wives we'd maybe feel some connection and respect for their views.

That's what leads to the cult comparisons wanker (or do you prefer wank? ). Also the unquestioning adulation from their fanatics.

Rain, not all anti SNP supporters are Tories, I think less of Cameron than I do of Sturgeon.

I do like Ruth Davidson despite disagreeing with her politics and don't particularly like Kezia despite being a Labour voter.

The SNP are playing a very clever game there though - with no dissent tolerated at all by Sturgeon Towers, they are promoting the idea that they are absolutely united and one big happy family (apart from Great Uncle Alex, their little embarrassment). That will not change for the foreseeable future, because anything else would be terrible PR. That contrasts with the more established parties who tolerate a variety of views and opinions, and who have gone through testing times as a result.

They don't actually have to lead a country though - all they have to do is issue the daily whinges about Westminster and/or the Tories, as opposed to making any real decisions. They could have done so much more for Scotland, but they've chosen not to. It will be very interesting to see what they do next year when the Scottish rate of income tax comes into play.

It's the fact that none of them are allowed to express anything other than the party line that gets the "cult" thing going.

This is some weird paranoia. I've seen the 'cult' line advanced by Influential journalists too. Perhaps Kezia's PR guru is already earning his money. It seems to be a popular construction anyway.

I think this is an interesting graph. Personal experience of SNP supporters supports this

maybe it's different being on the outside looking in Ubik?

trixy, I'll answer to anything :o

I despise everything to do with the SNP at the moment, but can I say I will never vote for them? probably not. I don't have any plans to, I can't forsee a time when I would, but never say never. I'll take each election and each candidate at a time and vote with whoever or whatever is the best fit for my views at that time - i hope that doesn't mean that I cast my lot in with the Sturgeonater though.

It's not paranoia at all - there is no dissent tolerated within the party. Good article here in The Scotsman www.scotsman.com/news/brian-wilson-snp-control-freaks-want-zombie-mps-1-3711952

that is interesting Cuckoo - i take it that that is a genuine poll etc?

Cuckoo - that chart is about right. The SNP are a nationalist party which have promoted themselves (if you believe their guff) as the only ones truly representing Scotland and the Scottish people - with that nationalism and Scottishness at the heart of everything they do and say. To dissent from that is to be unpatriotic (a common insult levelled at no voters is that they are not 'true Scots', for example) - so a criticism of the SNP is a criticism (to their followers) of their identity and to Scotland.

The Scotsman ha ha ha

I don't have any strong affiliation but I like nicola

I've had a lot of prosecco now... And yay itsfriday

What I like about UK government is that when there are these projects or whatever, there is always an MP from the opposing side put in as chair etc so that there is robust argument which I think makes legislation better for everyone. That doesn't happen in the Scottish parliament so what you get is what the ruling party (in this case the SNP) want without challenge and the legislation is weaker for it.

Not sure if I've explained that correctly though.

It's Friday!!!!