The Fall Out Continues - thread 6

[TheShadowyFeminist]

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A lot of the things that effect every day life are already governed (badly) within Scotland.

At what point did these party offices deem themselves to be a business that needed supporting through covid? Fucking mindblowing.

So.. Farage has spoken out in support of Salmond: “We’re very similar”. 😃

And MacCaskill saying not aiming to rejoin EU but a “Norway style agreement” .

And he and Salmond to tell us at lunchtime about British State interference in Scotland’s election.

@SempreSuiGeneris

Next level misappropriation of Covid support funding by the SNP in Angus.

Two SNP branches each got £10k in Covid business grants from their council - despite not being a business

www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/angus-mearns/2090614/angus-snp-branches-made-to-hand-back-20k-covid-business-support-handout-in-payout-blunder/

Blunder

Blunder?! How can you "accidentally" apply for something that requires you to show actual proof of lost income from one date to another, if you aren't eligible?!

The 10k grants didn't require proof of lost income - but they shouldn't have applied

Gary Robertson on Good Morning Scotland gave NS a wee bit of a toasting (or was that roasting) this morning (2 hoursish in on iplayer).

Fuck off with “someone like you”, @GreenlandTheMovie.

I mentioned it as an argument I had seen.

That’s not me making the case for that policy.

Anyone know if there’s any truth to the rumour (reported in The National and The Sun today) that Alba won’t be able to use its logo on the ballot papers?

If true that’s yet another amateurish mis-step; it’s a fairly common position from the Electoral Commission that you’re not allowed logos with crosses in them.

Don't know but Labour lost the argument to rebrand as Anas Sarwar's Labour Party complete with campaign slogan on the ballot papers earlier in the week.

I saw that one, it was because they made the request too late, but the Alba request was put in in early March. Other approvals requested at the same time have been granted (or denied) - I can’t see any decision on the Alba one though other than the media reports. Which may not be wholly reliable ... !

Someone earlier was asking about insight on campaigning in Nicola's constituency. This is the Billboard on the main bus route into town.
www.scotlandmatters.co.uk/titanicfailurebillboard/

Will cut through equally on Humza's doorstep and in Ruthergen (stomping ground of Covid Margaret).

Few seem to remember it was Gordon Brown who negotiated the G20 response to the 2008 banking crisis not just for the UK but as Leader of the WW Group.

Yes I remember that @Sempre. Watched a documentary on Obama and he was very complimentary of GB. How I would dearly love to get his detailed account of the fiscal side of any Independence. One of the UK’s best Chancellors IMO.

@Happinessisawarmcervix

I saw that one, it was because they made the request too late, but the Alba request was put in in early March. Other approvals requested at the same time have been granted (or denied) - I can’t see any decision on the Alba one though other than the media reports. Which may not be wholly reliable ... !

I think this just highlights the rushed last minute (amateur) nature of this whole set up.

My understanding is that AFI were in a similar situation & that impacted their official launch & membership drive. When they launched, they were offering free membership. Which then begs the Q, how were they funding the candidates they were intending to field, funding their campaign etc.? 🤷🏻‍♀️

You then had the ISP - who by all accounts actually did the legwork & got themselves well established & properly registered & spent months working on their whole party set up/manifesto/campaign launch, only to be scuppered at the 11th hour by the Alba party being set up.

I think of the 3 parties set up to 'max the yes' vote as its being framed, ISP are the ones I think have the right to be v pissed off with how this has been managed. I picked up some 'tension' between ISP & AFI online, with the negativity & aggression coming from the AFI, it did come across as though they were trying to intimidate another party into backing down to give them a free run. And then in swoops Alba & that effectively did the same to AFI but also ISP. But it now turns out, Alba weren't anywhere near as organised or prepared as ISP. Which all links back to Salmond's ego - rather than join an organised established party, he chose to effectively undermine them without being properly set up in his own party.

The whole situation is a farce.

And the ongoing sniping between all the Indy parties now is incredibly off putting. It's not exactly a winning formula IMO. And yet, it will likely make little impact in the vote. 🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s very unedifying. The traditional wisdom is that the electorate don’t like divided parties. Salmond is now threatening legal action to get into the TV leadership debates, I really don’t see that going well for him.

@StatisticallyChallenged

The 10k grants didn't require proof of lost income - but they shouldn't have applied

Ah, you're right... But it did remind me that my accountant forwarded me something from the council about the business support grants (that did require proof of lost income!) and it also reminded me to apply for one for me . And I AM eligible...

Would probably be better for NS if AS does get to debate. When he has time to think about his responses to her he's pretty brutal.

Re the gambling comments which she repeated today.

“I haven’t managed to back any horses today because I am busy in the campaign, but I have to say that Alba in this election will be appealing to everyone in Scotland who backs horses, as well as everybody in Scotland who doesn’t back horses.”

This will resonate on lots of levels:

1. NS is too timid to actually get on and progress Indy
2. NS is a total killjoy trying to drive pubs and all other forms of entertainment to the wall
3. NS lacks vision to make the big decisions to drive the future economy
4. If NS knew AS was a gambler why did she provoke him into calling her bluff re the whole JR mess?
5. Warning shot to back off with the tangential slurs.

Follow up comments re his legal costs. Lots going on between the lines. (GG reckons the costs paid out to AS so far could end up being the tip of the iceberg. If he gets elected suspect he will wear them but if not then it could become very expensive for SG and potentially SNP and even individuals.)

He added: “Like many of us, you can go through tough times, but many many people in Scotland have things much much tougher than I do, and I suspect much much tougher than you do.”

“We’ve got to understand that we are in a situation where there are millions of people in Scottish society who are finding the economics and finances very tight indeed at the present moment.”

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/alex-salmond-responds-nicola-sturgeons-23835310?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

GG is also running a full List of candidates and threatening legal action over media coverage or lack thereof. Suspect there will be movement on this.

Who or what is GG?

George Galloway?

@Seeingadistance

Who or what is GG?

Adopt creepy voice, shall I be the cat?

Interesting article on Wings by Margaret Lynch 'Why Women want Alba'. Here is an excerpt:

"Nicola, who I have long admired and liked, has demonstrated over and over again that she CANNOT be trusted to defend women’s rights – and in fact would throw them under a bus in a heartbeat to gain the support of the fanatical youth wing of the party, and the Greens who appear to care less about the environment than they do about bedding down Queer Theory in Scotland’s political institutions.

What drew me to join Alba was the tactical opportunity it presented:

– to ensure that there’s a party which will protect women’s rights in Scotland, and provide a safe harbour for those of us who want independence to cast our votes in the coming election without betraying our sex.

– to act as a countermeasure to the malign forces which have propelled the SNP leadership towards an agenda which is dismantling women’s rights, to speak out on the matters which affect us, and to retain safe spaces and representation."

Full article, here: wingsoverscotland.com/why-women-want-alba/

in the West of Scotland region, if you are pro union, which party is best for the list vote? Labour?

Jackie Baillie is my MSP

It's not just the Tories who love austerity and a bit of centralisation for cronyism.

www.thinkscotland.org/thinkpolitics/articles.html?read_full=14530

Bit of context about council cuts and the SNP.

@TheShadowyFeminist

George Galloway?

Ah!

Thanks, although the cat thing may see me having nightmares!

Galloway is not remotely comparable to Salmond in terms of what success he can expect. He has no support base left. The left see him as a turncoat, the right see him as a traitor.

According to this poll, Alba isn't getting the support needed to be considered relevant in the election.

Tweet with linked article

I honestly can't see how they can increase their profile/ awareness & be able to translate that into votes at all.

@fandabbydoozy

in the West of Scotland region, if you are pro union, which party is best for the list vote? Labour?

Jackie Baillie is my MSP

Lucky you - she’s a superstar.

On the list results last election you could barely get a fag paper between Labour and Conservative, and both won one constituency (Baillie for Labour and Carlaw for Conservative, both are standing again).

SNP - 135827
Labour - 72544
Conservative - 71528
Green - 17218
LD - 12097

Giving - 3 Labour, 3 Conservative, 1 Green

I’d go with whichever out of Labour and Conservative you feel most comfortable supporting. I’m making the assumption you don’t want to go with SNP/Alba/Green (SNP would be a wasted vote so if it’s who to lend your vote to in that regard the safe bet would be Green).