A thread for people who admire and like Nicola Sturgeon

[upstar]

Just what it says really. I think she's done a great job. She has made mistakes and owned them. She has taken advice and is willing to change policy where necessary. I think she's done pretty well and our virus figures are improving daily. So a thread for some positive things!

I like NS - she made mistakes with the care homes but she's worked her backside off throughout. She's also a fantastic role model to young girls - she came into speak to the children at my school and was so down to earth and showed real interest when they were talking.
I would love to see Scotland rejoin the EU, have control of our taxes and get rid of Trident.
When I visit places like Austria, Germany, it makes me sad how little the poorest families have here. I know the SG pay the bedroom tax to the UK Gov so individual families don't have to but their hands are tied with our taxes going to WM not Scotland.
Just need to keep hoping that change will come. For my children more than for me.

This tweet sums it up for me:

And the idea of a safe space on Mumsnet is not new, look at the Brexit and feminism threads where people are left to express their opinions without people getting into arguments on every thread.

I completely disagree. Try posting a pro Brexit comment on the Brexit threads and see where it gets you.

Oops!

my DDs said NS is sleekit so not a role model to all young girls.

Yes lets get rid of trident and lots of jobs that rely on it!

@Andante57 yes that's why there are separate threads where people who like Brexit post.
Why would you go on an anti Brexit thread and try to stir up an argument?

@YonBonnieBanks that's why I like NS. She doesn't support weapons of mass destruction.
Plenty of navy jobs and support jobs that don't rely on nuclear bombs.

MumofHunter Holyrood have tax raising powers and have had for many years, I thought you would have known this?

I don't think anyone is suggesting that people can't come and post what they want, the suggestion to try other forums was about MN not being an echo chamber where people are going to agree with you or not post. There are other forums where celebrating SNP and NS will be welcomed and no dissent given. that seemed to be what OP was hoping for?

Also not a girl, but do girls even exist anymore? Surely we must be cis girls?

So what do we think might happen if UK/Scotland had no effective defense or offense in the situation where the country is under threat? I'm sure that if we were in the EU we have to have something to offer in terms of contributing militarily so NS might not have an option? I've really not looked this up for a while to be honest so that may indeed be guff.

@Mascotte, that's a classic!!

@WaxOnFeckOff I think it's a budgetary commitment the EU are looking for - a certain percentage of GDP .. but that might be NATO. Trump got the percentage reduced!
We definitely need armed forces for lots of reasons ( emergencies like pandemics!!) but why do we need nuclear bombs 20 miles from Glasgow? I'm not even sure that future threats will be deterred by Trident - cyber and chemo warfare look more likely...

@WaxOnFeckOff I think it's a budgetary commitment the EU are looking for - a certain percentage of GDP .. but that might be NATO. Trump got the percentage reduced!
We definitely need armed forces for lots of reasons ( emergencies like pandemics!!) but why do we need nuclear bombs 20 miles from Glasgow? I'm not even sure that future threats will be deterred by Trident - cyber and chemo warfare look more likely...

Not sure why that posted twice sorry... also how we got from apprentices to nuclear war! Never a dull moment

As a non weedgie, I think 20 miles from Glasgow is absolutely the correct place for it to be!

And happy for Glasgow to be the capital of whatever the SNP want to call their new country once we decide on the split...they could give it a Gaelic name I think.

Sturgeongrad

@WaxOnFeckOff

North Gaelrea?

The rest of Scotland will keep the Nuclear bit though :)

@WaxOnFeckOff will you stay here then?
Actually I would love to be a normal independent country like France or Norway. Then we could get back to normal politics.

Also the fact she refused to take the increase in wage that she's entitled to and gives the difference to charity.
I do wonder how she manages to keep going day in day out. I know she reads to relax.
When I saw BJ standing by Cummings and his trip to his parents, I was so angry (still haven't seen mine due to Covid) but my sister said his disgusting attitude might lead some to want independence from WM which made me feel somewhat better!

Yes UpStar, and an oil fund like Norway would help the country immensely - although we've lost billions over the last forty odd years, I would hope it's not too late to set one up in an independent Scotland.
Nearly all my friends work in the industry (although as a conservationist, the renewable sector is also vitally important!).

What stay in the UK which is a normal independent country? For sure.

If there is independence across the board in Scotland, really not sure. I'm north central belt but originally from the south east, current thoughts are to retire to the Borders, but I wouldn't rule out moving to another part of the UK much as I love Scotland. The Lakes would be appealling if it wasn't for all the pesky tourists!

However, I'm Scottish born and bred so really not sure, I love my country and despite being a thrawn cow, I'm not sure that I would seriously take a strop and walk out. I'm well used to never being represented by anyone I've voted for either locally or in Scotland or in the UK. It's a democracy heh so what can you do?

I will not disagree that she is extremely dedicated and a hard worker. There you go, more positive things!

Are you saying that if someone doesn't agree with your viewpoint, they should never post on Mumsnet and go and post somewhere else where you might not come across it? Even if they're not looking for a debate? Really?

Not at all. But you can't start a thread stating that Nicola Sturgeon (or Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, Jeremy Corbyn) is the best thing since sliced bread and only permit people to post who agree with your stance.

Not the way it works.

Re defence. Get rid of Trident and the biggest employer in the West goes. Helensburgh and surrounding areas will become ghost towns. MoD is one of the biggest employers in Scotland.If UK forces leave, Scotland will be undefended until they can build their own Army, Navy and AirForces. That will take time( recruitment, training, procuring kit and uniform) and money( buying existing MoD properties such as Redford, Lossiemouth etc). Scotland is entitled to a percentage of existing hardware, but personnel do not have to Tupe from UK armed forces to Scottish one. They dont want to because of pensions and risk. Even the proudest of Jocks( not pejorative, it is a term used with pride by Scottish infantry) want to fight in the British Army because of history, prospects, and wages. A survey in 2014 of Army personnel found a staggering 98% saying they would not move to a Scottish Army if Scotland became independent. NS dodges this, along with other issues.