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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be triggered by the sight and sound of Nicola Sturgeon

330 replies

Ladytremain · 16/02/2021 19:02

Since lockdown started I have found that it creates a feeling of dread and anxiety in me every time I hear her voice or see a photo of Nicola Sturgeon or watch her on TV. Same with Boris to an extent, but less so due to Scottish restrictions being more relevant to me. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to hear her speak or see her without these horrible feelings coming back: feeling of bleakness and worry about what she’s going to say next. I think I’ve just come to associate her voice and face with bad news. There’s also part of me that has a sense she’s enjoying the level of control she has over the nation. I just don’t think I’ll ever be able to listen to her again without being transported back to these horrible times. I know in my rational mind she’s just doing her job, but I still feel a strong aversion due to the messages she’s delivering

OP posts:

Heatherbell1978 · 17/02/2021 16:35

I'm Scottish and not an SNP supporter but I concur that a lot of the dislike towards her seems mainly based on her being female. She's a good politician and concise whether you agree with her policies or not.

Jollygoodtime · 17/02/2021 16:36

Well I just told you I’m not defending Salmond. To wrongs don’t make a right. I mean you could pick a hole in everything if you try.

LexMitior · 17/02/2021 16:37

@BidensWingWoman

Which is potentially a step towards independence

Potentially. But they will have to persuade a lot of people of the value of that first.

They haven't even been persuaded to vote for the SNP....

Jollygoodtime · 17/02/2021 16:37

Two. Argh autocorrect

GreenlandTheMovie · 17/02/2021 16:40

@BidensWingWoman

Which is potentially a step towards independence

Potentially. But they will have to persuade a lot of people of the value of that first.

So exactly like independence for Scotland then.

Lets just have a little reminder of what Scotland did to Shetland. Previously part of the Hanseatic trading league, forcibly being co-opted into the Scottish state in a wedding dowry saw such international trading made illegal, and harsh Scottish aristrocratic landlords' rule lead to poverty and exploitation of the people in the islands never seen before. Later on, the speaking of Norn (a dialect of Norwegian) was heavily discouraged and ridiculed in the schools, so that the language was lost, and there was significant Scottish immigration into Shetland at a time the islands couldn't support it, leading to further widespread poverty.

Yes, I think we can understand why the bagpipe, tartan and Gaelic free Shetland and Orkney Islands are a little different from the rest of Scotland, and follow the Scandinavian trend towards favouring liberal political representatives.

Jollygoodtime · 17/02/2021 16:42

Man or woman I don’t think she is a good person. Why is it always down to that? If I say I can’t stand Boris, Corbyn or Sturgeon someone will still say I don’t like Her because she is female but I have legitimate reasons for disliking the others. I don’t judge her on her gender. I don’t care at all about that. I could do with her running our country, getting off the tv every afternoon and dividing the nation!

BidensWingWoman · 17/02/2021 16:44

They haven't even been persuaded to vote for the SNP

Exactly! If they don't want Scottish independence then do you think they'll be up for Shetland independence!

happygolurkey · 17/02/2021 16:44

I like her. She's acted quickly and decisively all the way through the pandemic - though not perfectly, which she admits. We're facing something unprecedented with this virus so I'm not super critical of any leader - wouldn't want to be in their shoes to be honest. However, when we reached that awful day of 100,000 deaths and Boris stood there saying he'd made no mistakes whatsoever, I couldn''t help noticing the contrast when Sturgeon admitted that though she'd done her best, mistakes had been made. Showed so much more grace.
As far as the briefings go I much prefer her's than Hancock's Half Hour when your eating your tea - although, I try and watch both. I like how she is clear and concise. Boris can't seem to string a sentence together at times with all his 'loveable buffoon' act. And I can't stand all this pally wally calling the journalists by their first names and 'that's a really important question Jane' 'so glad you asked that question Peter,' smarmy crap. Sturgeon is just straight forward and straight to the point with the reporters.

BidensWingWoman · 17/02/2021 16:53

The last time I mentioned that there wasn't gaelic in Shetland on Mumsnet I was told in no uncertain terms that I was wrong and that it would have been there in some form. I wish you'd been there to back me up then!

There was one election (yes, just one) where Shetland would have voted in the SNP to Westminster, but Orkney's votes took Carmichael through.

To be honest why either is still voting for him is beyond me, he has well and truly nailed his colours to the mast, and they are blue, through and through.

It will be interesting to see what happens in May. Will Wills increase his share from last time? There was a 14% swing to SNP at the by election.

Impatiens · 17/02/2021 17:12

There’s also part of me that has a sense she’s enjoying the level of control she has over the nation.

Completely agree - she gives me the creeps with her authoritarian tone. Boris Johnson is a disgrace and I hate the sight of him but at least I don't get the impression that he's revelling in any of this.

What with all the other crap about 'trans rights'/'hate speech, sacking Joanna Cherry, whatever went on with Salmond, I wouldn't trust her one inch.

BidensWingWoman · 17/02/2021 17:13

Well I just told you I’m not defending Salmond

You did.

Bu you asked why I was defending her, and I just reiterated my initial question (that you responded to) so don't make it seem like I'm twisting your words. I'm not. I'm restating mine.

happygolurkey · 17/02/2021 17:24

people suggesting that another human being would be 'revelling' in a crisis that's seen over 100,000 deaths really need to take a look at themselves. I don't care who they're saying it about.

tabitha · 17/02/2021 17:27

Between her and Boris the Moron, it's like a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. I think she's a good communicator and a very slick politician but her dour, controlling ways depress the f**k out of me. There is absolutely no need for her to have a 'briefing' (almost) every weekday. And so much of what she does seems to be to out-do Boris (someone once said that if Boris said pubs were to shut at 10pm, Nicola would shut them at 9:55! - which is very true although it would be nice to have pubs open at any time right now) or to try to make herself into a latter-day Jacinta Ardern (sorry Nicola, love, but after 9000 excess deaths, that ship has well and truly sailed).
I'm pretty neutral to the issue of Scottish independence and happy to listen to arguments from either side but the control-freak, nanny-stateism of her and her party leaves me cold.

MissEliza · 17/02/2021 17:28

@Impatiens that's what bothers me about NS in this crisis. There's something ironic about an Independence Party who seem to quite enjoy the level of control they have over society right now.

Jollygoodtime · 17/02/2021 17:32

You aim to counter everything I say about her. I was trying to answer your question about defending Salmond but you don’t want an answer you wanted to make Nicola seem better by comparing her to him. Much like how she is so popular - because she is better than the alternative (Boris) for many. If you put her against someone decent she’d flounder.

BrownEyedBlonde · 17/02/2021 17:35

I’ve not read any replies yet, so this is my first thought without being swayed by others.

I prefer Nicola to Boris. She tells it as it is which is what Boris needs to do! He just wants to be liked, Nicola seems to not sugar coat the facts! We NEED this! Not the blustering, blundering, Latin quoting Boris! Honestly, for me at least, she’s so much better at holding her own at these press conferences and I absolutely agree with her that we must quarantine from ALL countries and not just a few!

So no, sorry OP, I don’t dread the sound of either of them tbh, doesn’t affect me that way.

Impatiens · 17/02/2021 17:36

@MissEliza - There's something ironic about an Independence Party who seem to quite enjoy the level of control they have over society right now.

Absolutely.

BidensWingWoman · 17/02/2021 17:41

I don't think I've said anything other than neutral about her? What have I said that makes her seem better?

I've been a 'victim' of sexual abuse in the workplace more than once, and that may be colouring my view, but if someone else took it upon themselves to report it on my behalf, I would be really pissed off, even though they meant well. Because it's not for anyone else to decide if and when I'm ready to go through that.

So either she says something with nothing to back it up, which is pointless, or she betrays someone by naming them before they are ready. I just don't see how those are valid options.

Jollygoodtime · 17/02/2021 18:00

It’s not pointless or even if it doesn’t get anywhere at least she would’ve done her bit. As his deputy she had clout and people may have taken concerns more seriously if she hadn’t papered over it. I agree, fully, that she should not name names. And I’m sorry that happened to you. If I thought I was propping up someone abusing his power against women I could not sleep at night. I would feel complicit. What if a victim were to say to you ‘did you know about this?’ (Stressing here this is not in reference to them.) and you have to admit you did know and did nothing to stop it. But we disagree which is fine.

As an aside. Does anyone think it is appropriate the way she scowls and rolls eyes etc at questions? No manners. And that Mhairi Black is even worse.

stampsurprise · 17/02/2021 18:01

Why the SNP has been bad for Scotland

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/why-the-snp-has-been-bad-for-scotland

OldRailer · 17/02/2021 18:03

The reaction to questions has struck me.

BidensWingWoman · 17/02/2021 18:26

I fail to see how reporting something with nothing to back it up is anything but pointless. Of course nothing would come of it! You can't take action against someone based on hearsay.

Grilledaubergines · 17/02/2021 18:27

@Mistlewoeandwhine

Leave her alone. Better than the moron racist that we’ve got.

Yeah far rather the xenophobic, self serving twat any day.

dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby · 17/02/2021 18:32

@Jollygoodtime

England value Scotland more than they do the EU. SNP value any other place but England.

This used to be true but many people in the rest of the UK are likely fed up of the constant whining from the SNP who alas seem able to give the impression they speak for the whole of the Scottish population. This is part of their disunity strategy.

Jollygoodtime · 17/02/2021 18:34

It would be on my conscience if I didn’t at least try.
Would you cosy up to a perv in public to help him in his quest for power?

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