So if Humza Youseless resigns... what next?

[Misthios]

I have to admit I've not been paying attention really as Youseless, Salmond and that wee fanny Harvie give me the RAGE so I just end up swearing at the telly when they are on.

So if Youseless resigns - what next? The SNP elect someone else? Or we get an election? If he resigns, what happens about the votes of no confidence?

Will the SNP lose loads of seats in 26 though? That'll be 2 years into a Labour government. Hopes will have been raised and dashed by Steer Calmer. They will surely lose some , that's inevitable.

I want the candidate who will do the most damage to separatism and split or alienate the support for it.

I'm not a Christian but I do however find intolerance of the like shown in MissBedelia's post alarming.

Totally agree with Wings (now there's a turn up for the books)

The number of times I've seen that sentiment expressed recently! Even Effie Deans the other day...

Kezia Dugdale may no longer be an MSP but is still active politically and very much TWAW.

It’s not intolerance. These beliefs are not compatible with being in power in Scotland. They are not mainstream beliefs. The Free Church is intolerant and I do not believe that someone who holds views like hers is right for the job

Ian Blackford is also a member of the Free Church of Scotland. Is that ok? Of course it is.

Forbes has made it very clear that her private views will not influence her policy making. I hope the SNP do go for Swinney - he’s tarnished by the pandemic and hardly going to usher in a new era of competence.

After all, Nicola Sturgeon who isn’t religious isn’t supporting assisted dying - politicians have a right to beliefs separate from their political goals.

The real issue is that Forbes doesn’t look like the central belt progressive Scotland is European narrative the SNP have been pushing…

Of course it's intolerance.

And Swinney is Catholic isn’t he? And Yousaf is Muslim. The only difference between the four is that Forbes actually has the nerve to speak on her beliefs.

I'm a) devoutly atheist and b) not exactly a fan of the SNP - but personally I far preferred Kate Forbes honesty about her religious views vs many other politicians who are far from straightforward. I don't think her faith should be a barrier, because she does seem clear on the boundaries between personal belief and religious action.

There are plenty of people in the Scottish parliament acting on the basis of belief systems, including those who believe human beings can be born in the wrong body.

Swinney has been at the heart of the SNP for years though. There is probably more than enough scandal around on him just waiting to be uncovered/exploited at the right time. They desperately need some time on the back benches.

It’s not intolerant to think a leader is a secular country should not hold abhorrent beliefs

Such as that same sex marriage is wrong

I'm an atheist and I fully support same sex marriage. However, Kate Forbes has said that although she wouldn't have voted for it she accepts it's legal now and wouldn't seek to reverse that. Most mainstream religions in the UK are at odds with the law in some respect. Abortion rights is another big one.

Yes. But other issues of this nature will arise. And that is a concern.

Didn't Yousaf basically dodge the same sex marriage vote with a made up "pre arranged appointment"? Only difference is she was upfront about her religious views and people have no concern with calling them "abhorent", which most would not say about a muslim male even though his views are probably no different.

@MissBedelia who would you be ok with as a leader of the SNP? There isn't much choice as you say, a dearth of talent. In the absence of leadership the only option is to take down the government.

Taking down the government sounds awesome 😃

I don’t think he’s suitable either. With that and the donations to Hamas.

We don’t need religious leaders

We can agree on that @MissBedelia ! 😀

At the last census only 36.7% of Scots identified as having "no religion"...so we want to exclude the rest of we don't need "religious leaders"?

I don't think Forbes had a choice but to state her beliefs, because she is an openly religious woman and known to be a member of the Free Church. I'd rather she was honest than lied. I also think she was very careful how she expressed her views; I recall comments where she was clear that she was able to differentiate between what would have been acceptable for her personally (think it was children out of wedlock) but that she was quite happy to celebrate her friends babies.

Oddly, I have noted that many some of the most vocally secular politicians in recent times have been the most intolerant of diverse views. They might not worship a god, but many seem to workship a belief structure which takes on a similar role in their lives.

Let me rephrase it then.

I do not think that someone who is a member of an institution with abhorrent views should be leader of my country

@MissBedelia ok give us some ideas of who you would want to be in leadership of our country. Having faith and not being willing to compromise your integrity is a good trait imo. But anyway. Who else is there?

Blackford isn't a great advert for religion..he doesn't exactly believe in the sancticy of marriage vows.