IndyRef2 ?

[Anchorman]

Here's a link which might prove interesting to some. It's about a former Scottish First Minister's take on Scottish/English divergance - and, no, it isn't Alec Salmond, but the second Labour First Minister, Alec McLeish. I know it's a couple of months old, but worth a read. http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2016/08/uk-nations-are-growing-apart-says-former-scottish-first-minister

[Hope]

The SNP is technically a minority government in Scotland - so hardly one party rule.

As is the Labour Government in Cardiff - its hardly ever been a decently majority government.

[jeremyp]

As someone who voted Yes and Remain, can I just say that in any consultation on another feckin referendum, I will be demanding that any change needs a higher electoral test than 50% of those voting on one day!

I think that change to the status quo should require more than 50% of the electorate, not 50% of those that voted.

[Nearly Sane]

I think that change to the status quo should require more than 50% of the electorate, not 50% of those that voted.

as discussed before % of the electorate gives a vote for no change to dead people

[Anchorman]

With apologies to Gonnagle because of the mention of a certain (new) football team, here's the latest comment from Paul Kavanagh, AKA the Wee Ginger Dug, on the political stramash. https://weegingerdug.wordpress.com/2016/10/14/the-past-belongs-to-the-union-the-future-belongs-to-independence/

[Hope]

I think that change to the status quo should require more than 50% of the electorate, not 50% of those that voted.

Many organisations - and they are often democratic in their nature - require well over 50% of the vote for such a change.  For instance, whilst one has to receive at least 50%+1 of the members attending the AGM to be elected as a deacon of our Baptist church, it requires 70%+1 to be elected as elder or pastor.  The two charities I'm a board member of require a vote of 66% in favour for any change in the constitution/Mems & Arts.

[Nearly Sane]

Good article by Gerry Hassan

http://www.gerryhassan.com/blog/high-wire-politics-the-snp-after-conference-and-the-next-independence-campaign/

[Anchorman]

The Scottish Government has published the bill today. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37708545

[Anchorman]

We were assured that, following the 2016 Scotland Act, Holyrood would be amongst the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world. The Tory government said it, so it must be true, right? Er....... https://weegingerdug.wordpress.com/2016/10/17/the-most-powerful-devolved-parliament-in-the-world-so-thats-ok-then/

[jeremyp]

as discussed before % of the electorate gives a vote for no change to dead people

But not many of them.

[jeremyp]

The Tory government said it, so it must be true, right?

Did they? When?

[Nearly Sane]

But not many of them.

so in principle dead people voting is OK with you?

[Anchorman]

Did they? When?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35716653 On the debate of the Scotland bill - the watered down detritus which was the fall out from Brown's infamous vow on the eve of Indyref. Cameron and May have restated it on many occasions since....in the delusion that the more often they say it, the truer it becomes.

[jeremyp]

so in principle dead people voting is OK with you?

Several dead people almost certainly voted in the referendum anyway. Are we going to ban postal ballots?

[Gonnagle]

Dear John,

The obvious conclusion is that the only reason they wanted to leave to UK is because they hate the English. Which is the impression I got last time I went to Edinburgh.

You went to Edinburgh! Nevermind I hear that tackling mental health issues is on the increase Next time you visit Scotland stay clear of the shortbread tin mentality you find wide spread in Edinburgh

Oh boy!! More talk about Independence Ah well! That is one way of defeating the disaster that is the Tory party.

Gonnagle.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Dear John,

You went to Edinburgh! Nevermind I hear that tackling mental health issues is on the increase Next time you visit Scotland stay clear of the shortbread tin mentality you find wide spread in Edinburgh

Oh boy!! More talk about Independence Ah well! That is one way of defeating the disaster that is the Tory party.

Gonnagle.

Edinburgh? Love it in all its tartan trews splendour.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Jim,

With apologies to Gonnagle because of the mention of a certain (new) football team, here's the latest comment from Paul Kavanagh, AKA the Wee Ginger Dug, on the political stramash.

I will accept new, as long as you accept that new team have a very long history

Now on to the more meaty subject, which is Indyref2, Nicola Sturgeon, Theresa May and the wonderful world of brexit.

I have just been reading all about CETA, which is being dubbed the little brother of TTIP, I think this is part of what our Jack Knave has been chuntering on about, allowing multinational companies to become more powerful than a countries government, is this what our Nicola wants, is this what Scotland wants!!

Do we want to be part of an EU which is in favour of handing power to multinational companies, well done to little Wallonia ( where ever little Wallonia is ) for giving the EU the middle finger, maybe we should be joining our Brexiteer English cousins if this is the kind of thing the EU get up to

According to War on Want this CETA is a poison chalice.

http://waronwant.org/what-ceta

Gonnagle.

[Anchorman]

Scotland voted to remain in the EU, Gonners. Whilst Indyref 2 is an option, it isn't the only one - allowing Scotland to remain in tghe single market and retain ECHR would stop any second referendum in its tracks. You know as well as I do that the NO campaign spouted the lie that the only way Scotland could remain an EU member was by remaining part of the disunited kingdom and voting NO in 2014 We did. Now we are being removed against our will, so much for Westminster. In 2014 the Tories spouted stuff about us being an equal partner in the union....well, if we cannot play our part as an equal partner and have a say in the brexit negotiations, the blame for the constitutional disaster which will follow will not be ours. We are not the ones who broke our promises.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Vlad,

Edinburgh? Love it in all its tartan trews splendour.

Thank you, my point exactly.

Wha's like us, damn few, there aw deid.

I think the SNP should adopt Mel Gibson and have him running around Scotland shouting, FFRRREEEEEEDDDDOOOOOMMMM, with a sprig of heather in his hair for effect

Gonnagle.

[L.A.]

I think the SNP should adopt Mel Gibson and have him running around Scotland shouting, FFRRREEEEEEDDDDOOOOOMMMM, with a sprig of heather in his hair for effect

I thought that was their present strategy.

[Anchorman]

Dear Vlad, Thank you, my point exactly. Wha's like us, damn few, there aw deid. I think the SNP should adopt Mel Gibson and have him running around Scotland shouting, FFRRREEEEEEDDDDOOOOOMMMM, with a sprig of heather in his hair for effect Gonnagle.

Er......you do know that Edinburgh has always been the hardest nut to crack as far as  the SBP are concerned? Possibly sniffing shortbread has something to do with that. And I've never watched 'Braveheart' - nor have I any intention of doing so! Actually, if you're interested in the dichotomy of loyalties, Gonners, try reading the late Ludovic Kennedy's "In bed with an elephant". It's an entertaining read from Kennedy - an Anglo-Scot who was never a nationalist. It might explain the mindset of certain elements of the Morningsiders!

[Gonnagle]

Dear Jim,

Well the good folk of Edinbugger town have the best of both worlds, when they bark some one at Westminster sits up, they also have a lovely wee Parliament of their own, nice and cosy, a nice wee tram rail that runs all the way out to their lovely wee air port, when their art galleries need funding, nae problemo, here's a wad of cash from Holyrood or Westminster, so I can see how the SNP might find Edinburgh a tough nut to crack, they don't want to kill one of their golden gooses.

When Westminster or Holyrood start to address the problems of Glasgow, Kilmarnock, Greenock, Gourock, Ayr, hell! I have even heard that the Fifers have foodbanks, this will be where my vote goes, to the person or government that tackles the real issues.

Gonnagle.

[Anchorman]

Dear Jim,

Well the good folk of Edinbugger town have the best of both worlds, when they bark some one at Westminster sits up, they also have a lovely wee Parliament of their own, nice and cosy, a nice wee tram rail that runs all the way out to their lovely wee air port, when their art galleries need funding, nae problemo, here's a wad of cash from Holyrood or Westminster, so I can see how the SNP might find Edinburgh a tough nut to crack, they don't want to kill one of their golden gooses.

When Westminster or Holyrood start to address the problems of Glasgow, Kilmarnock, Greenock, Gourock, Ayr, hell! I have even heard that the Fifers have foodbanks, this will be where my vote goes, to the person or government that tackles the real issues.

Gonnagle.

Well, speaking personally, Gonners, I can honestly say that social work - in reference to visually impaired and other disabled people - hasn't worked as well in over the thirty-five years I've been dealing with it.
We are consulted in major decisions, our views are taken into account, and we are involved in local partnership schemes with the two major hospitals in East Ayrshire. By 'involved', I mean that some of us are now trained counsellors and can advise people who approach us, without, of course, having any input to any medical matters.
All that since Labour was given the push after too many years in power. You can guess who gets my vote at a local level, then!

[Anchorman]

Great wee repost to the Daily Express from the Wee Ginger Dug as to why Indyref-ers are not Anglophobes. https://weegingerdug.wordpress.com/2016/10/31/self-defeating-behaviours/

[Nearly Sane]

This certainly chimes with what I have heard from friends on both sides of both referendums. Shocking figures for Labour though


http://blog.whatscotlandthinks.org/2016/11/yougov-mark-st-andrews-day/