Times: “Isla Bryson is Sturgeon’s Poll Tax moment”

[SidewaysOtter]

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a8cc04a2-a4a5-11ed-9d5c-69bd3c5b98b3?shareToken=0d217dc3eb76e6c335f8de48824ac0ef

Interesting that it would seem the SNP are realising that this is immensely unpopular amongst its voters and the general populace.

And it shines yet more light on Sturgeon’s ridiculous “Trans women are women except when it doesn’t suit my political ambitions they’re not” standpoint, as well as how women’s fears were dismissed only to be found entirely valid.

'The arid and parched nature of Scottish politics over such a long period begins to erode the framework of our civic institutions and stakeholder organisations. This encompasses the Third Sector, all of our quangos and any other organisation that relies on the Scottish Government for public funding.

When all power is collected in one ruling couple, surrounded by a hand-picked coterie of acolytes and with no discernible opposition for the foreseeable future you simply fall in line and adopt every ukase and every personal whim without protest or hesitation if you know what’s good for you.

Organisations delivering art and culture, education, health, policing, housing and employability must adopt the path of least resistance if they want to remain in favour or secure patronage. It’s how medieval courts worked'

from November 2022.

www.celticway.co.uk/news/23105013.westminster-politics-isnt-broken-scottish-politics/

What another terrible performance from Nicola Sturgeon!

So according to Nicola sturgeons line of reasoning rapist is a new gender?

I thought chosen pronouns were so very important and to use the wrong pronouns was almost like a hate crime.

shes got form for referring to people as ‘that’ hasn’t she remember ‘that woman from the UN’

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-64537210

Taking the odious Alyn Smith’s comments seriously, I would have respect for SNP politicians if they did stand as independents.

Who on Earth would they select in their place? They struggle to get decent and respectable candidates to stand in local authority elections let alone parliament elections.

I assume that the correct pronouns for the gender of "rapist" are bastard/bastard/bastard.

Alex Salmond has weighed in and it's not flattering.

twitter.com/AgentP22/status/1622669910756270100

I am agog, tbh. I cannot see either Sturgeon or the SNP weathering this storm successfully, yet we have no replacement/alternative that's credible.

What next?

Alex Salmond must be really enjoying this. Wonder if he fancies himself at having another shot at the helm of the SNP?

Still absolutely agog at how quickly this has turned sour for our dear leader. 🤭 oh dear what a shame. 🤭

Oh I do hope so

It is late and my mind may just be muddled ramblings but I need to get this out to see if it makes any sense to others...

So first of all I will say I am not a fan of Nicola Sturgeon.

Having watched her avoidance of being in Parliament last Wednesday I think and then her performance at first ministers questions on Thursday and then the comment that she had made it clear earlier her stance on the situation and todays (well yesterdays now) ask me anything news conference...

She does believe she is answering clearly by stating 'rapist'.

Not a new gender, but in fact clarifying male due to legal fact that only biological males, men, can commit rape.

If Nicola Sturgeon were to clarify if she believes they are Male or Female, a man or a woman she would be caught up in her tangled web but insisting on referring to the 'rapist' is clever word play so she can justify to herself and others at a later date that she made it clear. He is male as only Men can legally commit rape.

Nicola Sturgeon can change her words up by stating "she (Isla/Adam) identifies as a woman" while not giving their solicitor the ammunition to quash the conviction as is the law in any way sees them as legally female/woman the conviction of rape couldn't stand?

Perhaps damage control it is better for Nicola Sturgeon to play word games and look silly never seeming to answer the question but this is better all round than a two time rapist being released due to a conviction being quashed if a woman cannot commit rape?

Other people's thoughts?

Apologies, I will maybe make more sense in the morning, I just needed this out my head to get to sleep. Honestly the constant gaslighting and questioning my own reality and sanity is getting to me. Anyone else?

Just in addition - the cost it is going to take to take contest the section 35 in court is it worth it? Could the money not be better spend giving the much needed pay rises to nurses and teachers, train workers etc

Telegraph front page, lead story:

"Nicola Sturgeon’s gender ‘nonsense’ has set Scottish independence back years, says Alex Salmond"

twitter.com/tmorrowspapers/status/1622727601562259457?s=46&t=mojHfuzmkJW4SuDDsEkGJQ

I see the stupid Welsh Government (Welsh Labour+ Plaid Cymru) has announced its LBGTQ+ Action Plan.

Welsh Government announcement
www.gov.wales/wales-sets-out-ambitious-plan-hope-its-heart-reach-goal-becoming-most-lgbtq-friendly-nation-europe

Interestingly, the WG announcement doesn't mention changing gender, but the BBC News website story makes that the headline
www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-64548844

The only version of the action plan I can find is the one consulted on in 2021
www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/consultations/2021-07/lgbtq%2B-action-plan.pdf

It seems to me that the BBC has noticed what is happening in Scotland and smells a story in Wales. It also seems to me that the WG, which must have noticed, has decided it can barge ahead with this. Why? Because there are no women's prisons in Wales and the pesky rapist scenario won't arise? Do they think that's the only potential problem?

That's quite a speech.

But he's right though. I'm not Scottish and have no particular view on Scottish independence, but for people who are adherents this must be maddening. It's such an incredible and avoidable political own goal.

Also now reported in the Times:
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/5ef3ef3e-a6bc-11ed-a7e8-7a5fed5c43c4?shareToken=c415229896b78fbf290c07d71c7df30d

I never thought I would actually enjoy (in a weird sort of way) Alex Salmond give a speech.

I must say the entire clip is worth watching. The delivery is so good:

"...get independence over 50% and then! Throw it away! On some self-indulgent nonsense which even if it was right - which it isnae.."

We used to have conviction politicians. We used to have big beasts. We used to have political figures who believed in something (and you may or may not have believed it too). Takes me back.

As much as I detest Alex Salmond he is a good politician.

Scotland used to punch above its weight when it came to politics. Look at us now. 😞

Jim Sillars was pretty unsparing too. I still recall his definition of the ' central paradox ' of British politics - a Labour voting Scotland being ruled by a Tory voting England. I paraphrase but that's the nub of it.

It remains unresolved and de facto independence is still the only obvious way out. Incidentally, I don't buy this ' held hostage by the Greens ' cop out. In coalitions the smaller party will be punished by voters if they petulantly bring down the government.

Sturgeon could easily have kicked this into the long grass and basically dared the Greens to oppose her. Surely there is a new generation of sensible social democrats waiting in the wings to lead the SNP?

Sturgeon's government has only been supported formally by the Greens since August 2021. I'm pretty sure Sturgeon was heavily into the gender bollox well before then. As others have pointed out, probably as part of the "progressive" image to be contrasted with Westminster.

Yes, this is her mess.

Yes, I'm sure Sturgeon could have muscled the Greens aside had she wanted to.

For some unfathomable reason she is really determined to put in the most extreme version of genderism imaginable. It makes no logical or political sense at all.

Crikey, that's some speech.

How long before Sturgeon becomes just too toxic for the SNP? When she's seen to be damaging their cause via plunging approval ratings (both for the party and for independence) I can't see them tolerating her for much longer.

Daily express seems to think sturgeon is so set on this GRR bill to try and secure a position at the UN.

www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/woke-nicola-sturgeon-using-gender-29143193.amp

Alex Salmond is now on the World at One on Radio 4 to give Sturgeon a kicking over her gender obsession.

Good, I hope he gets a whole lot of air time and continues to be as bluntly to the point! He's right. Scotland are in a right mess.

He must be raging at the mess she's created. Not a politician or man I generally agree with but better than her!