Scottish Election 6 weeks away.

I agree, Cathymac. If Scotland rejoins the EU it won’t be Scotland’s choice as to what border there is between us and England. The EU will be making v clear exactly what type of border they want and it won’t be open and free-flowing.

An independent Scotland will also be dealing with an English Tory government in perpetuity which could be interesting.

Lemon I'd be more inclined to take your advice if you had the slightest idea about Scottish politics.

She's not worried about many supporters switching to Alba; they've got about 3% of the vote at the moment and if pressed I'd say they are unlikely to get any representation in the Parliament at all; maybe Alex if they are lucky. Although he is standing in the North East where they don't like a shyster, so even that's not a shoo-in.

Can we vote for Green if we want to stay in the Union, according to your advice? They are independence-supporting as well and much more likely to get candidates elected than Alba.

And finally, its MSP. If you're going to advise us on how to vote, at least get their job title right.

I agree Cathy perhaps she’s really worried about the election and if many supporters will switch to Alba.
For those people who don’t want Scotland to leave the union, don’t vote for the SNP or Alba.If you have a really good local SMP from whatever party, and like them, vote for them, and in any future referendum vote to stay in the UK.

On the Andrew Marr show Nicola Sturgeon looked tired and jaded . I agree with Aveline that her answers are calculated to deflect. Shocking that there has been no financial modelling for independence .. no analysis of the impact on incomes . .. just bluster that everything will be all right . The issue with the hard border ... again she deflected with no real answers... just platitudes that she would keep trade flowing.

Possibly, but not right before an election.

Time to step aside then?

Can't handle being put on the spot?

NS has been constantly put on a variety of spots, for years, and she handles them well.
No-one could be expected to keep that up forever, tho, and she must be worn out after the year she's had.

I wouldn't be surprised if NS is unwell. She's been under massive stress this last year.

We received an enormous SNP pamphlet this morning, it’s the size of a double page broadsheet. Not once is independence or a referendum mentioned anywhere. Thanks to its size it’ll be perfect for lining the cat litter tray.

Is Ms Sturgeon ill? She has looked very unwell each time I’ve seen her in the past couple of weeks.

"That woman". Well we'll leave it there shall we?

Thanks for the explanation of SNP policy, BTW.

I'm well aware of what that woman is like. I'm also very surprised that you have missed thst she's said that a referendum could be held next year and the referendum bill she's planning to put forward ASAP. She has to keep the separatists happy.

The election is about who will run Scotland for the next 5 years. (Clue - it'll be Nicola)

If you think Nicola can't stand being put on the spot you haven't really been paying attention.

Alegrias all she can do is deflect as she didn't have any answers. Uncosted independence? One minute telling us this election is about independence and on Marr trying to get away from the subject. She's looking very tired and irritable. Quite aggressive at times. Her absence on Question time was interesting. Can't handle being put on the spot?

I thought she looks tired Kim19 but she batted away Andrew Marr's rather predictable questions rather well, I thought.

Jeremy Vine interviewed Anas Sarwar last week, and Sarwar was trying to talk about education, NHS etc, and Vine kept going back to "Yes, but what about independence? What do you think of that?" Do others agree with me that the UK-wide media think its all we talk about up here?

In other news....Alex Salmond and Douglas Ross are each less popular in Scotland than Boris Johnson.

www.sundaypost.com/fp/scottish-election-poll/

Watched Nicola Sturgeon on the Andrew Marr show and thought she seemed somehow 'unwell'. Hope not. Not her usual slick and admirable performance.

What a ridiculous idea JenniferEccles.
Would you have supported that type of arrangement for Brexit?

(Money goes both ways, I'm sure you know, so income to UK from Scotland would have to stop too.)

Nobody's giving us anything, it's not in anybody's gift. If we want it, we'll take it.

Anyway, George and his ubiquitous fedora. Anyone see it? What was the picture of Churchill meant to symbolise?

How about giving Scotland their independence for a trial period, say two years with their income from Westminster suspended.

Feelers could be put out to the EU during that period to see if they would be welcomed with open arms or not.

At the end of that period they could have their referendum.
The result might be surprising.

Anyone see George Galloway's PPB last night? That cheered me up no end.

Maybe we need a Jedi knight.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIFJLMyUwrg

I did a bit of digging...

Anas Sarwar was a dentist. Lorna Slater is an engineer/project manager in the renewables segment. Douglas Ross worked on a dairy farm. Patrick Harvie worked for the Inland Revenue . Willie Rennie worked in communications/PR. There are a couple of lawyers on the books as well but I'm not going to mention them...

Interesting. It seems more diverse than the WM government, or is that just my impression?

They won't win a majority though. The only hope is a coalition government working for the actual benefit of people in Scotland and not blindly pursuing party lines.
It might help if there are intelligent members with useful life experience of business and industry, education, health care, law etc.

Are we still doomed if the Scottish Conservatives win a majority?

Scotland's doomed. That's the spirit.

Yes. Plenty of them in SNP and that's before you look at Salmond's motley and dodgy crew. Scotland's doomed.