SO they are right then? We might not be too wee or too poor to be an independent country but at this point we are certainly looking too stupid.
Good grief! A political party – correction, two political parties – who purport to believe in independence are prepared to play fast and loose with the only defence the people of Scotland will have against a Red Tory, Unionist tsunami from down south lapping on our shores in the next General Election, because they are miffed or spurned? I’m not exactly sure their independence credentials are holding up here.
READ MORE: Ian Blackford addresses Scottish Greens ahead of no confidence votes
In both cases they have benefitted enormously from the SNP dominance; the Greens from second votes in a d’Hondt system (from SNP voters voting for them) and the Alba MSP and MPs from being elected to represent the SNP and then defecting.
Lest they need reminding, had the Holyrood election been first-past-the-post the SNP would undoubtedly be a majority government. And in Westminster their dominance to date has been unchallenged.
Now as an SNP supporter I have to admit that I’m not happy with them either, because they have squandered our trust and slow-walked any progress towards independence. And, while I understand that being subject to the hot-and-cold threat of withdrawn support for the BHA was untenable, I’d have expected the SNP to game out the entirely predictable responses from Ross and Sarwar (with, R Reeves’s full approval, thank goodness) and not be left as they are.
READ MORE: Alex Salmond claims BBC interview sparked Scottish politics 'crisis'
I also have no confidence that calling a Scottish election at this time, which apparently hasn’t been ruled out – against the entire Unionist media and an arrogant Starmer on a high, benefitting from his morally unpleasant opposite number – is a smart play either. Starmer will rapidly make the case for us when in office. Better to hold fast and wait for him to be exposed. It won’t take long and the Scottish elections are not required imminently.
Meanwhile, despite our lack of forward movement towards independence, to risk a Labour/Tory Unionist Holyrood pact (because we know they will form one) should the Greens and Alba decide to abandon the cause would be unforgivable. The Greens and Alba will look like uncommitted, self-serving, petulant phonies. I’m just not sure “rogues” will cover it.
I Easton
Glasgow
I HAVE sat back and watched and listened to all the comings and goings and I must admit at times it was hard to keep up. Throughout all of it, one thing has shone out. That is Humza’s lack of tactical nous. Maybe he just does not have what it takes. His latest wheeze of writing to his opponents is fantasy to say the least. Does he honestly think that inviting them to talk to him about why they want to get rid of him is a good plan? They all must be having a laugh and thinking to themselves that he is toast, and they will gladly help him along his merry way to the scrapheap.
READ MORE: Andrew Tickell: What Humza Yousaf should learn ahead of no confidence vote
It is unthinkable that Nicola Sturgeon or Alex Salmond would have ever got themselves into this kind of situation. That, alas, tells me all I need to know. This was a time for the leader of the SNP to be brave and take all these desperados head-on. I suppose he still has time to call an election, but a rumour is circulating that Sunak is going to call a General Election, in which case he would be outflanked by the English Tories.
We are all chomping at the bit, or at least most of us are, to get a chance to vote in a Scottish election, so I am flummoxed as to why he just does not do it! He has nothing to lose considering the position he is in, and the rewards for securing an indy majority in Holyrood are massive. If you don’t want to be remembered as the worst ever leader of the SNP, just do it, Humza!
Old John
Ayrshire
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