Salmond v Sturgeon Round 3 — Comment along with Sturgeon

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Previous thread here.

@noego

Im fascinated by the likes of Neil and other Unionists who are against independence but use such negative tactics to attack the idea. I'd really enjoy hearing more positive take on staying in the Unionist in the media but they don't seem keen to do that

Your OAP for one

What does OAP in this context mean?

@WaxOnFeckOff

I think it would have been much quicker and clearer if the committee was made up of so many political opponents hoping to make mischief

So who do you think should have made up the committee?

I don't think the current setup of the committees allows for it (I may be wrong) but I would personally like to see a situation where they weren't comprised solely of politicians but of experts from relative external organisations. In this case maybe some experts in public law and HR? Of course there would need to be a process to appoint them which was politically neutral too.

Ideally there would be a balance such that no political party or political alliance could dominate which would reduce the adversarial nature. How different would the committee have been today if it had, for example, had a member of each political party plus a couple of experienced lawyers and a couple of other external experts.

You would need to find a way to avoid certain groups being used too often (look at the nonsense that's gone on with the HCB consultation) or issues of policy capture but I think something less party political would help

I wasn't able to watch it the few clips I saw my prediction of it being a repeat of the Dominic Cummings press conference last night was correct.

To me it just goes to show that she is no better than Westminster and I agreed with her when she said that those should resign....... But appears her case is different....... 🙄

The last year? Every poll has shown an increase or sustained support.

That's a bit disingenuous is it not when the trend this year has been downwards?

Look, I know this is really difficult for some SNP supporters to understand but Scotland does not exist on some kind of utopian vacuum.

It requires investment, trust in its institutions and people.

Scots can be found excelling and at the top of their professions throughout the world.

As a result of the divisive and insular politics of the SNP, Scots are in danger of not being highly regarded and warmly received, which is fine if you never leave Dundee.

This whole debacle brings shame to Scottish politics and unfortunately to Scotland.

I’ve no idea how you can watch Sturgeon’s performance today and not hear the klaxons go off that this is not honest, transparent governance for the benefit of the whole of the Scottish population and not a cosy club of Scots who have forgotten what they are paid to do.

Big hint - education, health, poverty, infrastructure for a start.

Andrew Neil is anti- Scottish and I'm glad. His rightwing orthodoxy has no place here.

@Motheroffourdragons

You think being critical of the government is anti scottish and I think that is offensive

You couldn't possibly know what I think except that I am not a fan of Andrew Neil.

I am no fan of the SNP but I saw a woman today on camera from 9am to 5pm and did not feel she needed the crap that he tweeted today and over the previous few weeks.

Whatever she said he was always going to do that, and I find that galling.

This is a democracy, we can all have the opinions we like, I don't care whether you find what I write offensive, nor am I offended by what you write. All within reason. We are all entitled to our opinions.

Mine is - this is he said/she said and there will be no winners here. Potentially the possibility of another referendum on independence will be though.

So you say, but your comments about him forgetting he is Scottish were taken by others in the same way. That somehow if he was English it would be bad but the fact he was Scottish made it worse.

Its's also not always he says/she says, there is actual evidence that informs who is actually telling the truth and that wasn't NS today.

It is perfectly possible to be Scottish and proud of being Scottish and still be pro union or against independence

@StarryEyeSurprise

Andrew Neil is anti- Scottish and I'm glad. His rightwing orthodoxy has no place here.

Is he anti-scottish? Or is it just that he his anti SNP and the current SG?

@TeacupDrama

It is perfectly possible to be Scottish and proud of being Scottish and still be pro union or against independence

Yes. It is.

What does OAP in this context mean?

Your state pension

@ShowmetheSnowdrops

Look, I know this is really difficult for some SNP supporters to understand but Scotland does not exist on some kind of utopian vacuum.

It requires investment, trust in its institutions and people.

Scots can be found excelling and at the top of their professions throughout the world.

As a result of the divisive and insular politics of the SNP, Scots are in danger of not being highly regarded and warmly received, which is fine if you never leave Dundee.

This whole debacle brings shame to Scottish politics and unfortunately to Scotland.

I’ve no idea how you can watch Sturgeon’s performance today and not hear the klaxons go off that this is not honest, transparent governance for the benefit of the whole of the Scottish population and not a cosy club of Scots who have forgotten what they are paid to do.

Big hint - education, health, poverty, infrastructure for a start.

The tone of your post suggests that SNP supporters are insular. You might what to have a look at the UK gov and in fact many other countries around the world. Scotland is not unique in having an ongoing political scandal.

And please explain what you mean by education, health, poverty, infrastructure.

@Motheroffourdragons

It's offensive not just to me but to many people as you are implying that as Scots we shouldn't be complaining about the government.

Not the intention, at all ..
I just find it wearying that someone who is Scottish continually bashes Scotland for whatever the reason, you'd know if you followed him on twitter. He is relentless. But that's my opinion, you're free to disagree.

See that there is part of a big problem. He doesn't criticise Scotland, he criticises the SNP. Not the same thing at all. Journalists criticising ruling parties is a good thing no matter which party it is.

@StarryEyeSurprise

Andrew Neil is anti- Scottish and I'm glad. His rightwing orthodoxy has no place here.

Are people not allowed to be right wing in Scotland then?

Are there approved parties that are acceptable?

@noego

What does OAP in this context mean?

Your state pension

What about it?

In other news...according to Nick Eardley on twitter Alex Salmond is to give additional evidence to the committee to support his claims on Friday (minutes of meetings and a further witness statement), and John Swinney is to provide more legal documents in the coming hours, presumably to hold off the VONC that is still in place against him. I wonder if this is the missing legal advice from the critical period in November? What a shame this batch is arriving after NS has given her evidence so she can't be questioned about it under oath.

The last year? Every poll has shown an increase or sustained support.

I think the last 4 years has also taught me not to believe the majority of polls!

Let's be honest you have a few independence at any cost people but this isn't enough to get the SNP into power..... So it will come down to if in April other usual SNP voters think the level they are in is too harsh and restrictive or not and will likely reflect in the results.

I voted SNP last general election (which is a bit unusual for someone who believes in the union) but my area is Tory.
I actually agreed with the Labour political broadcast this evening so will probably vote for them as they are focused on covid recovery and getting devolution to work.

TeacupDrama
It is perfectly possible to be Scottish and proud of being Scottish and still be pro union or against independence
Yes. It is.

I agree too.

Yes Statistically I do agree and I think it's far more difficult given the small nature of the population and Holyrood and they fact that everyone basically knows each other too well. I think a different chair or a decent convenor who was not part of the committee and just there to run the proceedings could have handled it better and got more out of the set up that exists.

Apparently, you’re not allowed to leave Scotland, have an opinion on Scotland, vote anything other than SNP.

Where do I sign up for this progressive open - minded political party that welcomes women into it ?

@ShowmetheSnowdrops

Look, I know this is really difficult for some SNP supporters to understand but Scotland does not exist on some kind of utopian vacuum.

It requires investment, trust in its institutions and people.

Scots can be found excelling and at the top of their professions throughout the world.

As a result of the divisive and insular politics of the SNP, Scots are in danger of not being highly regarded and warmly received, which is fine if you never leave Dundee.

This whole debacle brings shame to Scottish politics and unfortunately to Scotland.

I’ve no idea how you can watch Sturgeon’s performance today and not hear the klaxons go off that this is not honest, transparent governance for the benefit of the whole of the Scottish population and not a cosy club of Scots who have forgotten what they are paid to do.

Big hint - education, health, poverty, infrastructure for a start.

I absolutely disagree with everything you've said here. In fact I think it's patronising nonsense. Do you have any evidence at all that the SNP have contributed to a downturn in the opinion of Scots around the world.

This place really is the twilight zone.

@ShowmetheSnowdrops

Apparently, you’re not allowed to leave Scotland, have an opinion on Scotland, vote anything other than SNP.

Where do I sign up for this progressive open - minded political party that welcomes women into it ?

😂😂

I have a pretty basic knowledge of politics and have no affiliation to any particular political party. I watched today's hearing while working and I thought Nicola Sturgeon came across well. I thought she was straight up with what she could and couldn't answer and wasn't scared to say she didn't know on certain points. I came away feeling that she made the best decisions possible at the time in a very difficult and complex situation.

What I was surprised to see was how politically influenced the committee members were. The deputy convenor especially was awful and so obviously had already made her mind up Nicola surgeon would be guilty of something. Her questions were leading and she quite freely reached her own conclusions there and then. Surely members should be experts in their field and politically neutral as far as possible. Certainly not leaders or MSPs for competing political parties.

@ShowmetheSnowdrops

Apparently, you’re not allowed to leave Scotland, have an opinion on Scotland, vote anything other than SNP.

Where do I sign up for this progressive open - minded political party that welcomes women into it ?

Who says this? I'm pretty sure you can do what you like!

Amortentia don’t want to look at Westminster or other countries because we’re discussing Scotland the the First Minister of Scotland.

Not sure what’s hard to understand but if the SNP had done a better job at what they were actually elected to do, Scotland would be a great deal better off.
Stating the obvious. Again.