Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Scotsnet

Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

Who do you want to see as new First Minister?

483 replies

Rememberal · 18/02/2023 17:44

And who do you think it'll be if they are different?

Not seen any threads on this yet!

My two cents -

I voted SNP when I was very young (Salmond) and under the impression they were a kinda catch-all working man's party who didn't do much to offend the left or right, but I stopped voting for them ages ago and recently started to actively despise them.

Normally I'm the polar opposite of the Reddit consensus and they seem to want Robertson but only, it seems, because they can't have Mhari Black (which is one MP I DO know and absolutely cannot stand). I feel like Forbes is the only one who'd bring them back to the centre and increase membership as she might attract everyone who left back.

So I suppose I'm a toss-up between Forbes who might pull them away from their more (imho) farcical policies and Black who might finally start to kill them dead in the water.

I do believe Sturgeon resigned because the recent polling data (where ALL age demographics agreed with the WM overturn including a large amount of SNP membership) showed that people vote SNP despite their progressive policies and not because of them. I reckon they knew it would really hurt them at the next election, and since she can't U-turn, the only thing left to do was step aside and let a new leader shift their direction.

I'm interested to know what people on here think though.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
NicolaSturGONE · 22/02/2023 08:42

I saw that, why are the statements only issued to wings and not repeated in other media?

readsalotgirl63 · 22/02/2023 08:42

Wow @Rainbowshit that's extraordinary and let's hope people take notice.

I did see last week that the India Council and the Muslim Council had distanced themselves from the SNP generally but that statement goes quite a lot further.

Does raise an eyebrow when organisations like those are not endorsing Yousaf.

Staggie · 22/02/2023 08:47

The “Muslim Council of the UK” is a flimsy organisation – in fact I can only find it existing in reference to attacks on the SNP.

Similarly I think the Indian Council of Scotland is a very flimsy thing of Mr Neil Lal. It gave an award to Rangers and campaigned for Penny Mordaunt to be PM.

The real organisation is The Muslim Council of Britain.

Rainbowshit · 22/02/2023 08:51

Staggie · 22/02/2023 08:47

The “Muslim Council of the UK” is a flimsy organisation – in fact I can only find it existing in reference to attacks on the SNP.

Similarly I think the Indian Council of Scotland is a very flimsy thing of Mr Neil Lal. It gave an award to Rangers and campaigned for Penny Mordaunt to be PM.

The real organisation is The Muslim Council of Britain.

Are those your own words @staggie?

They look awfully familiar. 🤔

ArabellaScott · 22/02/2023 09:02

Rainbowshit · 22/02/2023 08:21

Oooft, this is quite an extraordinary intervention by the Indian and Muslim councils...wingsoverscotland.com/a-time-of-fear/

Holy fuck.

NowThatsWhatICall22 · 22/02/2023 09:42

In amongst the madness today, I saw this perfectly put tweet from Muriel Gray:

Having no skin in this game but been an activist for gay rights all my adult life,I am disquieted by the monstering of Kate Forbes for honestly admitting what she believes. Easier always to debate against positions of belief, than against lies that blow with winds of fashion.

BigBoysDontCry · 22/02/2023 10:30

As the saying goes, "when someone shows you who they are, believe them"

I would never vote SNP and don't rate any of the candidates , but surely it can be seen (if it wasn't before) that humza is a self serving snake promoted beyond his very limited abilities? At least KF is honest in what she believes for herself whilst saying others can believe what they want. A bit different from being told we must believe men can be women.

If Yousless had anything about him he'd not only be honest about his own beliefs but also defend KF to have her own. Instead he is sitting smugly and allowing others to beat her up for hers.

And why is AR not getting any press?

Rumour is that HY is not getting the backing that the SNP mafia thought so it's more difficult to force him in and that there might be a 4th candidate entering.

That heavy weight intelligent mastermind Gilruth seems to be the rumour mill choice.

Rainbowshit · 22/02/2023 10:44

People seem to have completely misunderstood what equalities legislation is about. It's to protect against discrimination, not to mandate or outlaw what our beliefs and thoughts should be.

Our so called tolerant and progressive SNP members are demonstrating very clearly their intolerance against religion.

There's a big difference between voting against someone because of their beliefs versus saying they shouldn't be allowed to hold that position because of their beliefs. The latter is discrimination.

NowThatsWhatICall22 · 22/02/2023 11:00

I’ve been critical of KF before in the context of her job as chief bean counter, but I’m seriously concerned about the way she’s being discussed on social by those in her party and supposedly her colleagues up to this point. Joanna Cherry has tweeted to support KF’s rights to a personal faith- but why the tumbleweed from those at the top of the party who were very happy to endorse her for a top role in Scottish government? We know why. What a shower.

If I was KF, I’d drop out, extend my mat leave, sit back and watch this all crumble, then return on my own terms.

Aphrathestorm · 22/02/2023 11:11

It's irrelevant whether NHS Scotland pays for it. Why should that be necessary to travel furth of Scotland at all?

Maybe because it takes less time to fly from Shetland to Manchester than Shetland to Inverness because of the different planes used.

Highly specialised health care is never going to be delivered in remote communities. Don't pretend this is only about abortion. Specialists work in large urban centres and people travel to them for all sorts of treatment.

Of all the sticks to try to beat the SNP/ScotGov with this isn't it.

Unionists would 'fix' this how exactly? Not seen any of them with this as a policy...

ArabellaScott · 22/02/2023 11:16

Maybe a tangnt, but this was on the BBC today, regarding maternity care/women's health care in Caithness:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-64680123

Rae36 · 22/02/2023 11:56

I feel like Kate's religion needs to be put to one side and she needs to be judged on her personal values. Does the SNP want someone with these conservative values as their leader? Does she represent the party? If she does the vote for her, if not don't.

You can be Christian and still support equal marriage. Even the Church of Scotland has managed it.

So these are her personal views and should be treated as such.

As a Christian woman in Scotland today I've been really upset by how she has been treated. Other faiths like Islam are treated with more respect than Christianity. It's hard to be a Christian in Scotland today, many people tend to think we're all just a bit weird and bigoted or some sort of historical curiosity.

I'm proud of Kate publicly standing by her faith and for trying to say "these are my views but they're not everyone's and that's fine with me".

But I do wonder how easy that might be in practice if you're face with being the figurehead for a bill you don't believe in, and people know you don't believe in. That would be hard. HY just didn't turn up to certain votes, I don't know that the party leader could get away with doing the same.

As I'm typing I've just heard "Kate Forbes and her faith" in the news, why can't they just say "Kate Forbes and her personal values"?

Workerbeep · 22/02/2023 12:00

Commentator on Times radio hinted at Jenny Gilruth being encouraged to throw her hat into the ring, as those in charge don’t want HY.

Boisey · 22/02/2023 12:19

In a world where most politicians in Scotland don’t know what a woman, the Tories are trying to say Brexit is good, and the SNP are trying to say that Scotland would be a successful country post Indy it can feel like we are being continually gaslit.

in this context I admire her honesty. If she can separate her views from what us best to do for a modern democracy I would vote for her.

Shelefttheweb · 22/02/2023 13:18

ClosedAuraOpenMind · 18/02/2023 18:52

Forbes might be gender critical - hence the live for her on here - but she doesn't support either same sex marriage or abortion because of her religious beliefs, which feels dangerous to me

Yousef’s religious believes mean he didn’t vote for same sex marriage (and he had a vote on the matter). And his beliefs would also require women to wear hijabs. Why is there so much focus on Forbes’ beliefs but not Yousef’s?

Shelefttheweb · 22/02/2023 13:24

You can be Christian and still support equal marriage.

You can also be a Christian and consider that within your faith it is not condoned by God, but recognise that most people do not share your faith and you cannot judge them according to the standards of your faith. (I believe the Bible says as much - Christians can only judge other Christians).

ClosedAuraOpenMind · 22/02/2023 13:27

Workerbeep · 22/02/2023 12:00

Commentator on Times radio hinted at Jenny Gilruth being encouraged to throw her hat into the ring, as those in charge don’t want HY.

Jenny Gilruth has endorsed HY so seems highly unlikely she would stand

ArabellaScott · 22/02/2023 13:29

Workerbeep · 22/02/2023 12:00

Commentator on Times radio hinted at Jenny Gilruth being encouraged to throw her hat into the ring, as those in charge don’t want HY.

Oh my word please no.

Workerbeep · 22/02/2023 13:40

@ClosedAuraOpenMind i did not know that.

i thought kezia dugdale sounded quite distraught yesterday when talking about Kate Forbes’ opinions.

ClosedAuraOpenMind · 22/02/2023 13:45

@Workerbeep I'd love Jenny to stand, if only for the prospect of Kez as unofficial first lady of Scotland!

StatisticallyChallenged · 22/02/2023 13:45

If HY gets it I could see a Liz Truss situation developing. He'll immediately start a section 35 case over a bill which the majority of scots oppose. The Tories made mincemeat of Sturgeon over it, as did the press.

The lack of succession planning and dictatorial leadership style is really coming back to bite the party on the arse here

NatashaDancing · 22/02/2023 13:47

Shelefttheweb · 22/02/2023 13:18

Yousef’s religious believes mean he didn’t vote for same sex marriage (and he had a vote on the matter). And his beliefs would also require women to wear hijabs. Why is there so much focus on Forbes’ beliefs but not Yousef’s?

Show quote history

Much as I dislike Yousaf, I don't think wearing a hijab is mandatory in Islam. His wife and daughter don't wear it so either it's not "his belief" at all or he doesn't seek to impose it on his family.

The difference is I suppose he has not been public about his private religiously based moral views.

I'm uncomfortable with Forbes' doing so. It's a bit, "well I don't care if you have a child without being married and won't penalise you if you do (but just be clear that child was conceived in sin)"

Surely Forbes herself can make sure she doesn't conceive a child in sin or have an abortion or marry a woman- there's no requirement she tells us she doesn't approve.

NatashaDancing · 22/02/2023 13:49

Shelefttheweb · 22/02/2023 13:24

You can be Christian and still support equal marriage.

You can also be a Christian and consider that within your faith it is not condoned by God, but recognise that most people do not share your faith and you cannot judge them according to the standards of your faith. (I believe the Bible says as much - Christians can only judge other Christians).

And I'm not sure why you need to go around telling people what you don't believe in/ approve of.

ArabellaScott · 22/02/2023 13:51

Was it not in direct answer to a question?

StatisticallyChallenged · 22/02/2023 13:53

NatashaDancing · 22/02/2023 13:47

Much as I dislike Yousaf, I don't think wearing a hijab is mandatory in Islam. His wife and daughter don't wear it so either it's not "his belief" at all or he doesn't seek to impose it on his family.

The difference is I suppose he has not been public about his private religiously based moral views.

I'm uncomfortable with Forbes' doing so. It's a bit, "well I don't care if you have a child without being married and won't penalise you if you do (but just be clear that child was conceived in sin)"

Surely Forbes herself can make sure she doesn't conceive a child in sin or have an abortion or marry a woman- there's no requirement she tells us she doesn't approve.

Show quote history

Her religion was widely known before this, so I think she only had two options

  • refuse to discuss her faith at all and just say it's irrelevant (which I don't think would have washed)
  • be open about it, and explain how it interacts with her political beliefs

I admire her for doing the latter and far prefer it. But it's becoming apparent that her having a strong faith is the fundamental issue for many - regardless of what she did or didn't say about it.