Scottish Election 6 weeks away.

PS. I had got mixed up and thought she was the Deputy Leader .

Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said more than 1,500 young people were having to wait more than a year for mental health support.

And he said the pandemic had also highlighted the need to improve the country's care sector, and the lack of support for schoolchildren who had lost out on education.

He said: "I've seen a window into the next five years in the last few weeks - arguments over the constitution, strategy about independence, arguments between Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond which have been poisonous and unpleasant.

"What we need to do is to put all of that behind us and choose a different future.

"And if we can do that we can tackle mental health, we can tackle education, but we can also make sure our social care workers get the pay they deserve."

Just read that Jayda Fransen is standing in Nicola Sturgeon's constituency as an independent.

Ms Fransen used to be deputy leader of Britain First.

Thoughts?

Jayda Fransen? No thanks!

Well that's one thing we can agree on Aveline!

I don't know what possesses some of these no hopers. Just want attention? Pathetic. Bring back Screaming Lord Such at least he was entertaining in a way.

I did not know who she is......so have just googled her name ..

I thought this thread would have been more animated and lively with different viewpoints . Are we all a bit jaded with it all ?

Yes

I think we're all just jaded, yes Cathymac, and none of them are saying anything to set the heather on fire.

I see the Proclaimers have come out for Alba

Very disappointed in them!

I think it just feels intuitively the wrong time for elections at the moment, it’s hard for any of us to drum up enthusiasm for political change when we have so much else to worry about. it feels like it should all be put on the back burner for another year until life hopefully returns to a more even keel and people have some headspace. If it’s any consolation all the campaigns in Wales are equally lacklustre so far.

Scotland still isn't going to get another "once in a life time" referendum, without there being a significant change.
Perhaps the rest of the union also having a vote ?

At least Scotland has it's own parliament.
England doesn't, but has to put up with interfering and vote/policy manipulation by Scotland et al.

I simply dont understand why the snp are so hell bent on getting their sovereignty back from the uk, just to then hand it over to the EU the next day. You either want independence or you dont. The only thing that makes sense to me is the snp simply hates Westminster and the evil English. Its borderline racism by any definition. They are still fighting battles won and lost centuries ago

I simply dont understand why the snp are so hell bent on getting their sovereignty back from the uk, just to then hand it over to the EU the next day

I suspect they have a better understanding than you, Keeleklogger, of what sovereignty actually means and how it works in relation to the EU.

Posts like yours Keeleklogger, used to make jump to the defence of Scottish independence supporters but now that I realise that they are based on such lack of knowledge of Scottish politics that I just sigh a bit.

Nobody’s stopping England having its own parliament, tell your MP you’d like to have one. And it should be noticed that SNP MPs do not vote on English-only topics, so I don’t know what you mean by the vote/policy manipulation. Scotland has 59 MPs, which is more or less in proportion to the proportion of the UK population that is in Scotland.

The “hate the English” thing is so old. Borderline racism, dear God. That’s the only bit that still makes me a bit cross, actually. That you can’t see that modern Scots don’t have to define themselves in relation to anyone else, don’t have to hate anyone. It’s a compete misunderstanding of the whole situation, but what can we do about it?

The Tory Party PPB on TV last night started with Ruth, who isn’t even standing, who won’t even have an elected post in any Parliament after the election. Then Douglas Ross, who currently has only 25% of people who think he is doing a good job as leader of the Scots Tories. And all they spoke about was how to stop the SNP. No policies, just stop the SNP. That’s the politics of grievance, right there.

Alegrias have you not seen the placards carried by SNP fanatics on marches? They literally state 'English out' and other slogans including words I won't post on here. There is no doubt that some of the nationalists do hate the English but for the life of me I can't think why as the English seem to fund their way of life. Latest figures showing Scots get 30% more funding than people living in other parts of our country. SNP still hasn't made an economic case for separation.
We could continue to slug it out on here but I frankly can't be bothered. We'll never agree. I just want to make sure that English, Welsh and Northern Irish Grans know that, up here, we dont all want another term of SNP inept management of a once great Scotland and we certainly want to remain part of the union.

You used the word fanatics Aveline, and you're right. There are fanatics in every political debate and the "English out" crowd are part of the wing that has gone with AUOB - The Alba party and Tommy Sheridan's bunch. Got no time for them, they don't speak for the majority of Scots that I know.

The English don't support the Scots. I've explained the Barnett Formula before and I'll use your phrase: I can't be bothered explaining it again.

I'd like all English, Welsh and NI Grans to know that there is a difference between voting a party into power in the Scottish Parliament and wanting independence. Scotland is still great, anyone who things otherwise is deluded. We just need to chance to show it to the world, that's all.

Thinks, not things

We've had hundreds of years being upheld as a great example. Scots engineers, doctors and explorers have gone all over the world including as prime ministers and cabinet members in Westminster. It's only recently that we've gone so far downhill.

All these people went abroad because there were no opportunities in Scotland. Now they can all have the opportunity to stay here. Sir Tom Hunter. Sir Ian Wood. Andy Murray if you like. They are just the famous ones. There are many, many scientists and engineers working in quiet ways, that you have never heard of, it would appear.

I don't share your pessimism about this country and its inhabitants, its very unenlightened about what is going on in Scotland right now. I gave a list upthread of all of the industries that are thriving in Scotland, but you've decided that's just made up, or something. What a pity that you think we've "gone downhill", I guess that's something we'll never agree on.

At least Scotland has it's own parliament.
England doesn't, but has to put up with interfering and vote/policy manipulation by Scotland et al.

Haven't you heard of EVEL - English votes for English laws?
Although the SNP MPs never voted on English-only legislation, EVEL was brought in immediately after the 2014 referendum.
It is now used to exclude Scottish MPs from voting even on matters which will have a knock-on effect on Scotland via the Barnett rules.
Of course England has it's own Parliament, but if you think there should be change you should do something about it instead of whining here.

At one time there were no MSPs or Welsh AMs or NI Assembly members.

MPs made decisions for the UK.

When we decided to devolve powers, it might have made more sense and saved money, if the MPs attended the HoC just three days a week to decide on UK wide legislation.

On the other two days a week, Scottish MPs could have met in Edinburgh, Welsh MPs in Cardiff and NI MPs in Belfast to decide on devolved matters.

During these two days a week the House of Commons could have been an English Parliament, deciding matters which only affected England.

Anyone watching the debate? Shouting already....?

DH just wondered off but asked me to give him a shout if Nicola lands a punch on Willie ?. She'd have to get through Colin to do it but my money's on her.

Decided not to watch . Just read some news reports about it this morning.

I stuck it through to the bitter end, but it wasn't very edifying.

The best bit was when Willie told Nicola that the best way of getting back into Europe was to persuade Boris Johnson.

Douglas Ross is really a waste of space. As my DH said: Just like a referee - knows nothing about football and stands around thinking he's important.

Decision Time. My postal vote has just come through the letter box. I'm 99.9% sure that my friend and our sitting MSP will win the Constituency vote. I will place my No.1 vote to help ensure that happens. The problem lies in the second vote. As an SNP member I should of course vote SNP 1 & 2 but I doubt very much if that will lead to an additional member via the list because the SNP will probably win too many constituency seats in this region.

I could vote Green on the list as they have a good chance of having a list member elected here. The alternative is to vote for ALBA. Top of their list is a dear friend of over 40 years, who would make a very good MSP. However, I really cannot support the bunch of entitled has-beens who have set up ALBA. Their actual Web Site is fine, but the ALBA supporting blogs are disgusting, full of foul language, telling lies about the current SG and slagging off the SNP & Greens, (in particular Nicola Sturgeon), rather than attacking the current UK Government led by BJ, or indeed the Westminster controlled, Branch Office Tories, Labour & Libdems who sit in the Scottish Parliament.

I like to get my postal vote in as soon as possible, in case I am hit by a bus or kidnapped by Aliens before election day. This time, I can see my decision going right up to the wire, till I decide which Regional vote will most help the Indy Cause.