Where are all my No-mates?

[HamletsSister]

In despair. Absolutely in despair. Do we have to go through this again? And with such a long lead up to the referendum? Really? What happened to the settled will of the Scottish people?

@statisticallychallenged Will you help me get through this again? (Was Roseformeplease then).

On a more positive note, pleased to note Kezia Dugdale doing well.

I've spotted a few nursegate posts too. From what I can see it seems rather vitriolic and ugly; I've no idea whether or why she needed a football but the posts I've seen are horrendous

Just watched most of it on catch up. Pretty much think all the protagonists spoke to their core vote, but anyone on the fence on the Left would at least have given Kezia a hearing, which was not happening in 2015.

NS had a much harder time than usual as everyone else forced her to defend her record.

Interestingly all the Scottish papers seem to be leading with the nursegate story. All except the National. What a surprise .

Ironic that it was supposedly set up to counter bias in the press.

All this is just to detract from the main issue which is why are people (nurses or otherwise) needing to use food banks at all? Why are people in a developed affluent country having to rely on the charity of strangers to feed their children?

That's the situation that should be being addressed and challenged.

I don't think you are ever going to get rid of food banks no matter how rich the country. There will always be mental health issues, addictions to drugs, alcohol and gambling, domestic abuse, redundancy and just people being caught out for whatever reason, unexpected bill etc.

It is a disgrace that people who are working are living in poverty. People should be paid enough to have a decent standard of living.

I know, but they should be a last resort and in a way it is a positive thing that people in society are prepared to give unconditionally to help others in their community.

My DH drives an ambulance - he gets paid a lot less than a nurse (although he is also a trained nurse). It's just as well that I work in a better paid job than he does or we would be living in poverty too.

Anyone else noted the thread on here about the nurse who took on NS? OP looks like a classic cybernat - not openly campaigning, but trying to undermine critics rather than having a proper debate.

Yeah I spotted it. Posted a couple of times then gave up.

Is it just me, or is there markedly less SNP-euphoria than at the last GE? Where I live, last time you couldn't move out of the house without seeing yellow posters everywhere, and almost everyone was sporting some item of clothing saying 'I'm with Nicola'. I'm not naive enough to think my constituency will return to Labour, but the sense of SNP can do no wrong, independence can't come quick enough, appears to be over. What's the view from where others are?

Re nursegate, given what we know about cybernats, I think the nurse was a bit foolish to be less than candid about her work situation. She must have known that the cybernats would be all over the story. I don't think it excuses them, and I think her basic point is really important, but by giving what I understand is a misleading impression about her work situation she played into their hands and it's allowed attention to be diverted from the issue that professional people are having to resort to using food banks, something this country should be ashamed of.

I'm at a conference in Manchester with colleagues at the moment. We've never discussed politics before, but the conversation turned to the SNP and every single one of us was quite vehemently opposed to independence. We're all actuaries so well educated and financially savvy.

Trixy I didn't realise you were an actuary too - I've not found a pro-indy one yet!

I haven't either, although it is quite often hard to discuss politics in Scotland. A lot of people are reluctant to talk about it.

I was quite surprised at the strength of feeling against the SNP from all of them.

You must have had a great time

mornington I am in Labour / SNP country and the view on the ground seems to be very much a plague on all their houses. I think there will be a low turnout. In lots of seats round my way SNP only got in because turnout was so much higher than usual due to Indyref1, so in theory low turnout should favour Labour. However JC and Kezia have not really been on the same page to date and I am not sure the UK wide Labour bounce will translate up here.

I can't think that many people that are financially savvy and understand the economic case are pro-independence right now - of course you'll find a few that think it'll be alright in the long run/very high price is worth paying for 'freedom', but not as a rule.

I'm not particularly savvy finance wise and I still think independence is a bad move at present, even you look at the economic side of things.

For many supporters of independence though it's a deeply felt ideological position and the "cost" is a minor consideration compared to the symbolic value of Scotland being an independent country. The SNP have exploited that very cannily.

*when you look

That's very true re discussing politics in Scotland trixy . I have a new colleague from an eu country who is so incredibly open about his political views compared to most Scots - I've experienced this with others from the same country too.

Flippinada I have some respect for that position as long as there is honesty that there will likely be a cost, what enrages me is those that say we'll be better off, there will be no foodbanks and therefore anyone opposed to independence is selfish and right wing

Nyx it was a very pleasant evening thanks. Nice to discuss it with like minded people in real life rather than just online.

Absolutely agree with you trixy.

To be honest, I was very surprised NS announced her intention to hold Indyref 2 when she did. It seemed like an odd move.

I think she had Salmond snapping at her heels and others questioning her commitment to Indy so felt she had to to keep the top job.

The latest poll has the snp under 40% so let's hope it was a miscalculation on her part to call for it.

I think she had Salmond snapping at her heels and others questioning her commitment to Indy so felt she had to to keep the top job.

The latest poll has the snp under 40% so let's hope it was a miscalculation on her part to call for it.

Did anyone watch the Andrew Neil interview last night. I missed it but will watch it on catch up. Let's hope he didn't hold back.

Jeremy Corbyn has said he will "open discussions" with the Scottish government over an independence referendum if he wins the election.
(From the BBC website)
Isn't that good news?
But wasn't the Labour party opposed to the idea of a referendum?