Probably one of the best things Swinney can do is keep Independence in the News every single day.
The TV is often droning on in the background, and I notice that the likes of GMB, News, weather "We're still in a heatwave", Quizzes, even BGT - are all becoming more and more English. There seems now to be diminishing efforts to even pretend to represent the whole of the "UK".
It's gonny rain ..like oan oor parade ..so don't hing the washing oot jist yet Peter...
Had the roof cleaned brilliantly yesterday by a pair of great wee hard working Scots lads( who want Independence). I only use Scottish companies if possible... ( difficult as so many foreign english companies embedded up here ..a bit like poisonous tics..and the so called 'scottish 'political parties)
But it makes me grind my teeth when I see the Wizard of Oz messing about with Scotland's future. Those two lads are being fooled by OZ..and his non existant plan. Their future not even a consideration for swiney and his REAL plan to stay in a forever sinecure.
'There's a whole host of things to be done' (swiney)
Here's mine swiney..
1 You gone...charlatan..that's YOU..you traitorous b*st*rd
2. Close the Border
3. UDI
4. Scots pay a visit to Holyrood and let them know what we think
5. Get Farrell out of Chief of Police...she's a foreign english plant
6. Oaths of allegiance from Army ( have we still got one?)
7 Close Faslane
8. Any threats by westminister returned in kind.
9. Take control of our resources
10. Get advice from the experts..they live in Ireland.
No-one can stop us but ..US. It's clear to see that swiney has been making a fool of Scotland..we suspected this before the vote ..but hoped that somehow swiney would pull the rabbit out of the hat..and he did....it's a bunch of paper flowers ...and a big grin from him. Fooled again Scotland ! Ho! Ho! Ho!
I have to echo Stephen's succinctly expressed sentiment. Two Westminster by-elections aren't going to tell us anything significant. The results will be spun as both positive and negative based not on any hard information, but on the prejudices of the one doing the spinning.
Oh and another thing that is maybe worth saying, for those who do not not particularly pay attention or for those of a more cynical / realistic persuasion.
Once one starts to listen to Swinneys utterances and analyse them as if they were spoken from a devolutionists perspective then a striking pattern is clear.
Those vague objectives that serve as pabulum for the Independence faithful are noticeably presented in ways that later on can be claimed as successes, if reality later develops in the direction of a devolutionists style of 'progress'.
Case in point:
When JS says " make it impossible for the UK Government to refuse the ability of Scottish Parliament to legislate on this question"
He is enabling the possible future scenario for example that he could later bask in the glory of claimed success if Westminster 'gives' him a 'concession' such as a 'referendum' or a change of the Scotland Act 'giving' a Northern Island style 'power' (which is of course anything but).
It is a pattern. Once you see it you cannot unsee it.
It builds the impression that JS would be quite happy if he could pass the time uneventfully and occasionally be able to claim 'wins' when he 'extracts' 'concessions' from the UK government.
Even if each of those is in fact another nail in our coffin.
In other words, Swinney keeps his options open for accepting credit for any kind of 'advance' for Scotland's Cause just as long as others do the heavy lifting.
I think, politically, Swinney's greatest ambition in life would be to be the FM / PM of Independent Scotland in 2031. On that basis he would beat Salmond and all of them.
Expectation of independence dimmed and enthusiasm eroded by year after year of SNP deriding and marginalising anyone who does not toe the party line. This latest vote when there has been no work since 2014 on the issues exploited to derail us then is a disgraceful exhibition of pointless, performative incompetence from a party that has strangled and alienated talent and is now in terminal decline.
I'm not so sure about the "terminal decline", Derek. Prophecies of the party's demise have been rife and unfulfilled. The problem is that even the people who want to punish the SNP are more often than not obliged to vote for them as a shield against the British parties. That terminal decline will not happen until there is an electable alternative. Sadly, Alba Party failed to take on that role. Nobody else has stepped up with a credible strategy for restoring Scotland's independence. That is why I am now working on a relaunch of New Scotland Party in November.
I think Derek may be right, Peter. Swinney's leadership is now seriously in question as he is drawn ever deeper into the Murrell scandal, as is the former FM, and likely the treasurer too. Little coincidence Flynn the successor is all over the media today. However the stench of corruption is overwhelming the party. Upcoming Westminster by-elections in Scotland will likely be lost, perhaps badly. As with Labour in England, despite its recent 'success' the SNP is in its death throes, condemned by its own hypocrisy, much as you imply. The ending of a once dominant national party 'co-opted by colonialism' and now tainted, rudderless and defenseless should be expected and could be very rapid indeed - much as is predicted by postcolonial theory:
The SNP's decline in popularity has been ongoing for some time. But it has not been reflected in electoral contests for the very obvious reason that they are still regarded by many as the 'party of independence'. And because they are currently the most effective shield against the British parties regaining control of our parliament.
The election is over. Swinney and his party are safely ensconced in Holyrood for the next five years. Experience tells us that even if a chastising message is sent to them in these by-elections, they won't get it.
The "ending of a once dominant national party" won't happen until there is a new one to take its place. If there is a silver lining in the dark cloud hanging over Scotland's cause, it's that we have a couple of years to get New Scotland Party up and running and fit to fight the 2031 election. My concern is that any number of false alternatives might spring up in that time.
Probably one of the best things Swinney can do is keep Independence in the News every single day.
The TV is often droning on in the background, and I notice that the likes of GMB, News, weather "We're still in a heatwave", Quizzes, even BGT - are all becoming more and more English. There seems now to be diminishing efforts to even pretend to represent the whole of the "UK".
Good.
It's gonny rain ..like oan oor parade ..so don't hing the washing oot jist yet Peter...
Had the roof cleaned brilliantly yesterday by a pair of great wee hard working Scots lads( who want Independence). I only use Scottish companies if possible... ( difficult as so many foreign english companies embedded up here ..a bit like poisonous tics..and the so called 'scottish 'political parties)
But it makes me grind my teeth when I see the Wizard of Oz messing about with Scotland's future. Those two lads are being fooled by OZ..and his non existant plan. Their future not even a consideration for swiney and his REAL plan to stay in a forever sinecure.
'There's a whole host of things to be done' (swiney)
Here's mine swiney..
1 You gone...charlatan..that's YOU..you traitorous b*st*rd
2. Close the Border
3. UDI
4. Scots pay a visit to Holyrood and let them know what we think
5. Get Farrell out of Chief of Police...she's a foreign english plant
6. Oaths of allegiance from Army ( have we still got one?)
7 Close Faslane
8. Any threats by westminister returned in kind.
9. Take control of our resources
10. Get advice from the experts..they live in Ireland.
No-one can stop us but ..US. It's clear to see that swiney has been making a fool of Scotland..we suspected this before the vote ..but hoped that somehow swiney would pull the rabbit out of the hat..and he did....it's a bunch of paper flowers ...and a big grin from him. Fooled again Scotland ! Ho! Ho! Ho!
Correct SD..bypass westminster..il n'existe pas...
Correct DC...SNP in terminal decline...just like our country as it is robbed and insulted..
We know it.
For OUR Scotland and her betrayed weans...
I think we might call your approach 'distinctive'.
Let's see what the two forthcoming by-elections brings.
I have to echo Stephen's succinctly expressed sentiment. Two Westminster by-elections aren't going to tell us anything significant. The results will be spun as both positive and negative based not on any hard information, but on the prejudices of the one doing the spinning.
Why?
So the backsliding begins.
Apparently it's for the grass roots to take the initiative, not the 'party of Independence' and it's so called leader.
“We’ve got to make it impossible for the UK Government to refuse the ability of Scottish Parliament to legislate on this question”
There's only one way - by-pass Westminster and assert the primacy of the Scottish Parliament.
PS
Peter, Don't take long with that washing - Swinney's hanging Scotland's Cause out to dry!
As Kemi said to Wes. I say to Swinney. "Do YOUR Job".
Oh and another thing that is maybe worth saying, for those who do not not particularly pay attention or for those of a more cynical / realistic persuasion.
Once one starts to listen to Swinneys utterances and analyse them as if they were spoken from a devolutionists perspective then a striking pattern is clear.
Those vague objectives that serve as pabulum for the Independence faithful are noticeably presented in ways that later on can be claimed as successes, if reality later develops in the direction of a devolutionists style of 'progress'.
Case in point:
When JS says " make it impossible for the UK Government to refuse the ability of Scottish Parliament to legislate on this question"
He is enabling the possible future scenario for example that he could later bask in the glory of claimed success if Westminster 'gives' him a 'concession' such as a 'referendum' or a change of the Scotland Act 'giving' a Northern Island style 'power' (which is of course anything but).
It is a pattern. Once you see it you cannot unsee it.
It builds the impression that JS would be quite happy if he could pass the time uneventfully and occasionally be able to claim 'wins' when he 'extracts' 'concessions' from the UK government.
Even if each of those is in fact another nail in our coffin.
:-(
In other words, Swinney keeps his options open for accepting credit for any kind of 'advance' for Scotland's Cause just as long as others do the heavy lifting.
I think, politically, Swinney's greatest ambition in life would be to be the FM / PM of Independent Scotland in 2031. On that basis he would beat Salmond and all of them.
That's not going to happen.
Expectation of independence dimmed and enthusiasm eroded by year after year of SNP deriding and marginalising anyone who does not toe the party line. This latest vote when there has been no work since 2014 on the issues exploited to derail us then is a disgraceful exhibition of pointless, performative incompetence from a party that has strangled and alienated talent and is now in terminal decline.
I'm not so sure about the "terminal decline", Derek. Prophecies of the party's demise have been rife and unfulfilled. The problem is that even the people who want to punish the SNP are more often than not obliged to vote for them as a shield against the British parties. That terminal decline will not happen until there is an electable alternative. Sadly, Alba Party failed to take on that role. Nobody else has stepped up with a credible strategy for restoring Scotland's independence. That is why I am now working on a relaunch of New Scotland Party in November.
I think Derek may be right, Peter. Swinney's leadership is now seriously in question as he is drawn ever deeper into the Murrell scandal, as is the former FM, and likely the treasurer too. Little coincidence Flynn the successor is all over the media today. However the stench of corruption is overwhelming the party. Upcoming Westminster by-elections in Scotland will likely be lost, perhaps badly. As with Labour in England, despite its recent 'success' the SNP is in its death throes, condemned by its own hypocrisy, much as you imply. The ending of a once dominant national party 'co-opted by colonialism' and now tainted, rudderless and defenseless should be expected and could be very rapid indeed - much as is predicted by postcolonial theory:
https://yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2024/05/25/the-three-phases-of-decolonization-lessons-for-scotland/
The SNP's decline in popularity has been ongoing for some time. But it has not been reflected in electoral contests for the very obvious reason that they are still regarded by many as the 'party of independence'. And because they are currently the most effective shield against the British parties regaining control of our parliament.
The election is over. Swinney and his party are safely ensconced in Holyrood for the next five years. Experience tells us that even if a chastising message is sent to them in these by-elections, they won't get it.
The "ending of a once dominant national party" won't happen until there is a new one to take its place. If there is a silver lining in the dark cloud hanging over Scotland's cause, it's that we have a couple of years to get New Scotland Party up and running and fit to fight the 2031 election. My concern is that any number of false alternatives might spring up in that time.