STURGEON IS QUITTING

[Clymene]

Just seen on BBC headlines

Val has got a serious case of "our dear leader syndrome"

What a puff piece from an otherwise good crime writer who presumably got rather giddy at meeting a woman in power.

And the issue about acceptance since 1979. Val, that's the people of Scotland. It's been 44 years and it's changed in a similar way to the rest of the UK. Not because of Nicola Sturgeon!

Not only in the UK @LexMitior
I grew up in a small, Catholic village in Northern Bavaria and the changes in people's attitudes between 1979 and 2014 are mindboggling.

This is an interesting piece from Brian Wilson, ex Labour MP:

www.spectator.co.uk/article/sturgeons-failure/

'Sturgeon’s politics revolved around one contrived ‘row’ after another.'

I’m not surprised about val mcdermid’s piece in the times.

I do think she does have a wee bit of a chip on her shoulder and she likes to be thought as special; wasn’t she streamlined into an elite class with Gordon Brown at Kirkcaldy High school?maybe that’s where it’s coming from.
See the bbc Scotland video she did with a Glaswegian writer in September 2021 ( I think it’s had an edit since there seems to be a blip)?
It’s her experience, but get over yourself hen.
I had to tone down my accent when I went to Edinburgh university in the 1990s.

I remember her book and tv adaptation, wire in the blood; I didn’t feel the need to read anymore more of her works.

I don't like Val McDermid at the best of times but that piece was nauseating.

One might point out that JK Rowling supported McDermid when McDermid was being attacked on social media. McDermid and Sturgeon were of course embarrassingly and conspicuously silent re JKR.

She drained every semblance of humour and camaraderie from public and political life. Scotland should be rejoicing to see the back of her.’

Oooft. Harsh but absolutely spot on.

I bet that lad was pleased he had mask on!

Personally I would have laughed out loud (in fact when I watched this, I did).

There is a woman, Ash Regan, who seems to have thrown her hat (or rather her suffragette-coloured scarf) into the ring. I haven't heard of her, but is she a hopeful? Has to be better than Humza.

One might point out that JK Rowling supported McDermid when McDermid was being attacked on social media. McDermid and Sturgeon were of course embarrassingly and conspicuously silent re JKR.

Quite.

Ash Regan resigned her ministerial position to rebel on the GRR bill. That showed integrity.

Plus Has to be better than Humza. is an EXTREMELY low bar 😩

Ash Regan I don't know much about, but I know she has courage and integrity. That'll do over Humza Yousaf.

Yes, Yousaf is utterly hopeless. He's got the reverse Midas touch, it seems.

Yousaf's the candidate for me.

If they go for Regan they will lose the Greens, probably lose the Greens if they go for Forbes.

If they go for Yousaf surely they’ll lose the entire country?

Well yes, exactly. That's why he's my top favourite candidate.

@NatashaDancing ditto!

😆

Right, but how would that help Scotland, really? Even if you're not pro-Independence (I'm ambivalent, highly wary), having a government implode, which is what I think Yousaf's is likely to do, is not good for anyone, surely?

It'd be okay perhaps if we had a functioning opposition ...

I'm afraid I don't think we can get rid of the SNP without a catastrophic failure of government from them. I think Scotland will be better off without them.

But ... who would take over?

I'd take Sarwar over any of the SNP diddies any day.

Really not a fan of ACH after the GRR nonsense. but don't think he'd be completely incapable.

I don't think the opposition are as bad as you think and certainly no worse then those that have put themselves forward from the SNP.

No idea.

Nicola Sturgeon has fucked up her independence cause. Alex Salmond knew, absolutely knew that he had to show that the SNP could govern and then they would a credible party. Then he bartered with Westminster and got his referendum which he very nearly won. That man is an operator. Think of that, he got a referendum. He co-operated with Westminster when it was in Scotland's interest.

What did Nicola Sturgeon do? Failed to govern. Nursed grievances with the Scottish people, picked fights with Westminster (yes you will find out about those soon) so that there was no way to work effectively, and then spent time drafting and pushing forwards laws that were poorly drafted, wrong in law, and constitutionally impossible. She did all of that like a wrecking ball, with a huge dose of self promotion on the top.

Scotland is going to have a look at her achievements and they will look very small. She's certainly ruined what she was given, a healthy basis to convert voters.

And before anyone says Salmond is a sleaze, I don't doubt it. But he is actually capable of delivering and not just campaigning and he had the skills to negotiate with Westminster.

Sarwar, at least on gender issues, would gift us the Labour Sex Fudge. Labour have repeatedly shown themselves to be weak as dishwater on this issue (honourable exceptions having all left politics).

No, thank you.

The more I look at this the madder it all seems. Sturgeon fucks off with absolutely no clear successor and few who even seem willing to try. There's no apparent pressing need for her to leave, so why does the leadership race have to happen in six weeks?