More Poll Results from Scotland

[Igneococcus]

Panelbase for the Sunday Times (dp did this one, I was looking for the results). 42 % want Nicola Sturgeon to resign immediately:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/53e7b3b2-a934-11ed-a8da-5d60effb877a?shareToken=ca070cda658d0e6780ffd3f4c851dfbf

Wrong link Igneococcus

Maybe this one?

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fa9f6d2c-aa2d-11ed-9813-2dc4880907f5?shareToken=25db18286f4f544df00c000259d3f542

Thanks @MrsOvertonsWindow the concert review was meant to go to dp

Today’s poll found that, among those who expressed a view, 76 per cent of voters believe the Scottish government’s plans to change the law on gender recognition would pose a safety risk in women-only spaces, such as prisons, hospital wards and changing rooms while some 24 per cent disagreed. A total of 21 per cent said they didn’t know.

76% wow!

76+24+21=121%?

No, it says 76% of those who expressed an opinion, so 76% of the 79% (about 60% of the total).

We're living in hope in our house! The sooner she goes, the better.

The poll on who should be the next leader is astonishing. What a dearth of talent the SNP have.

Swinney thinks a double rapist can be female and should be housed with women.

When he said that, it made me wonder if it's too late. Getting rid of Sturgeon won't stop the assault on women's rights because there's a host of others who are ready to carry it on.

Lots more in the Scotland section of the ST today, and I'll make sure I C&P the right links this time

Alex Massie's comment about the poll:
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/281eb062-aa3f-11ed-9813-2dc4880907f5?shareToken=6115a375a78ae7ebede3bef0dcf17013

Gillian Bowditch's comment "Gender Bill fiasco betrays values we once held dear":
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/b1ebd418-aa40-11ed-9813-2dc4880907f5?shareToken=a5336b5bbb6968eb8e00a0595056498e

Michael Glackin's comment on Sturgeon:
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/f67b7c80-aa33-11ed-9813-2dc4880907f5?shareToken=0cebc9578e9689c225a1f44f6ea06691

And an article about Kate Forbes as possible successor of NS:
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/190b7b70-aa1f-11ed-9813-2dc4880907f5?shareToken=14ad7ee07f4a5ee40ecaa67762496e1d

Sadly, I'm sure you're right.

yep.

Sturgeon will likely go in the next few months - the problem is who replaces her. The whole structure of the SNP itself is in a poor state, from what I can see. So many have left the party over this issue - those left will be either fervent believers or just not able or willing to see the problems it creates.

She'll be buoyed up that ONLY 40% want her to resign immediately!
Seriously, what's wrong with the rest of people?

Hamza won’t be happy not to feature as a successor. It’s probably why NS is still in place - there is no talent coming up. I really think we need a completely new party consisting of established successful doctors, teachers, lawyers, businessmen and environmentalists so that together they would look at the bigger picture.
I feel this is why private schools often have successful politicians - they more likely to be taught to debate and look at consequences than in the rushed curriculums of state schools.

Yes, by god, what we need is some Eton-educated professionals running the show, what?!

Do you not think we need better than those elected because they have dyslexia or bipolar disease like the SNP list MSPs. Do you not think we need politicians with more skills than Tenerife holiday rep? We need people who know their own industries, know where the money needs to be directed and where it can be saved, not a load of Yes men who are about to wander aimlessly with no leader.

'more skills than Tenerife holiday rep'

Could you put the snobbery to one side for a minute, at all?

To answer your question, yes, life skills are important, but I'm looking at the state of Westminster's expensively privately educated politicians with one eyebrow raised.

Integrity, intelligence, ability, conviction, and acuity have absolutely fuck all to do with a private education and/or professional qualifications, ime.

I do think that 'professional politicians' are generally problematic, although I don't know if that's due to entry at a young age, or just lack of life experience. Certainly many of the younger politicians seem to be capable of really appalling judgement (Nadia Whittome, Mhairi Black, both 'babies of the house', both prone to terrible emotive reasoning, as is Lloyd Russell Moyle, also relatively young.)

I really think we need a completely new party consisting of established successful doctors, teachers, lawyers, businessmen and environmentalists so that together they would look at the bigger picture.

I agree. But who, in their right mind, would step away from a successful career to become an MSP or MP?

However, the SNP are also manipulating the education of the young - through the schools curriculum and ‘widening access’ to universities. Then there is also the restrictions on academic freedoms and ideology infested universities. The doctors, teachers, and lawyers will have to have followed the party line to have those careers.

I think you should need to be at least 25, probably 30, before becoming an MP AND have at least five years full time experience outside politics.

I really think we need a completely new party consisting of established successful doctors, teachers, lawyers, businessmen and environmentalists so that together they would look at the bigger picture.

Sturgeon is a qualified lawyer. Maggie Chapmen a qualified environmentalist.

Its telling that the SNP want 16 year olds to be able to stand for election.

It seems to me that first ministers merely need to be able to hold court. I think Scotland has been in a sort of trance this last decade, hoodwinked by competent after dinner speakers. if you listen to what NS and her cronies actually say it’s just a word salad and never answers, never accountable; when questioned she deflects.

just swap your Eaton/oxbridge old boys for Glasgow and Dundee university graduates who are over represented in the ranks of the SNP administration.

We, the electorate are easily led. Fall for yes men who can’t manage or lead and wouldn’t be able to organise a piss up in a brewery.

Sturgeon is a failed lawyer who is not allowed to practise in Scotland. She basically jumped before she was pushed, in an incompetence hearing.

I have 3 dc who have gone/are going through the Scottish state schools. I was a comprehensive pupil who went on to Oxbridge. However you judge the unfairness of private schools existing, most private schools teach kids how to think and analyse information in far more depth than state schools. I’m not saying only public school pupils should be politicians, just that they may have skills that we need.

Wow, I didn't know that, Babdoc!

Runningslow, it's not just that private schools are 'unfair', though. I think it would be a mistake to presume that because someone has been to a private school they are any better qualified than anyone else to go into politics. If that were the case, we may have better, more able politicians in Westminster.

From my observations, what private schools seem to offer is more confidence and assuredness. Which can be useful, of course. Or it can lead to a misplaced overconfidence. Anyway, there are surely more useful metrics that what school someone went to when it comes to finding politicians.

I think the issues in the Scottish government are more to do with 1. the clunky, shitty PR system we have and 2. the lack of a second chamber (as well as a dearth of skilled and able politicians, which has quite probably been fostered by a dictatorial presidential style of government that stifles dissent and independent thought).

My late DM, a lifelong indy/SNP supporter, voted No in 2014. Her reasoning was that there was such a dearth of political talent in Scotland that she wouldn't trust them to run a piss up in a brewery, never mind the country.

I wish she was here to say "I told you so".