Dave78

I doubt voters see a different with the SNP and Labour on the traditional political spectrum. The only difference to them is on the constitution. With indy off the table, they are the obvious alternative. Well no, the success since 2015 was the aftermath of the 2014 indyref, and the 'Better Together' resentment from the 45% towards Labour. And of course, that success was built on Salmond's d'hont-breaking popularity in 2011. No, I'm talking about being centrist from the Scottish electorate's point of view. You seem to be conflating centrism with the UK perspective of the word.

I think Nicola had the right plan*. Make the next Westminster election a defacto referendum, in which if the Yes parties vote got over 50% would force Westminster to concede a proper legally binding indyref2. *by the "right plan", i mean late stage plan. In hindsight we can all agree she made some huge tactical errors in securing indyref2.

It's pretty obvious where the political zeitgeist has moved in politics over the last 5 years or so. It's been away from the SNP (i.e. to the right). I agree completely with HL when he says the SNP should always be a centrist party, and Nicola has moved the dial away from there.

I imagine Labour activists said the same about socialism, as they watched their voters drip away to the SNP.

As to why it'd make a difference, well mainly, it's easier to be in opposition than government. The current SNP is tired and out of steam. The indy polling has stagnated and the anti-democratic Westminster won't play ball with an indyref (thanks Nicola). The only way to change the picture is with a 2nd wind/resurgence, and that isn't going to come from the current SNP.

I'm intrigued by that. Opposition leaders always have an easier job than actually leading a government. Why do you believe she wouldn't have the grit?

As the old truism goes, 'political parties don't win elections, governments lose them' Some introspection needed among the SNP high heid yins. It's a conundrum, certainly. I've said to you before that i've been wondering if the SNP need to spend some time in opposition (while Labour are in charge), only for them to sweep back on an indyref2 second wind, a decade or so in the future. What are your thoughts on that point, and the conundrum above?

Video should start with Conway's first...

As for the game.... I only half watched it, but on my 'highlights' (i.e. when i looked up at the telly), Scotland should have won that

That reminds me of the main Irish commentator (i forget his name) when Kieran Tierney first started impressing for Celtic in the champions league ages ago. The story came out Ireland had been trying to persuade him to play for them, and the commentator kept pointing out he was born in the isle of Mann. Feck off ye predatory c*nts 😋

McCoist (and Souness) are the archetypal English sooks. It started with James Boswell, and we've had 300+ years of them. Billy Kay's tweet today explains it well....

It'll be a bit less than that i think: First devolution referendum, 1979 . . <18 years> . . Second devolution referendum, 1997 . . <17 years> . . First independence referendum, 2014 . . (Pencil indyref2 in for 2032)

Reading this back, i should clarify that i'm sure indy will be kept alive, not that pro-indy parties will necessarily lose control of Holyrood.

I get all that. But from my objective ivory tower in the wealthy former British colony of the budget-surplus-making-sovereign-wealth-fund-rich Emerald Isle, that's exactly what i think is required to move the tide of independence up the shore. Yes, keeping independence alive and visible will be more important than ever during the time of the nationalists being out of power. And i've no doubt that will happen

Difference being, "chaos" (in the form of Starmer's tory-lite rule) is what i think is required to refocus the Yes movement. I can see where you're coming from with the comparison though. Voters are quite willing to support flawed candidates if they think doing so will achieve their main objective. The SNP are right to be worried about Alba, if only that they might be the tail that wags the SNP dog.

At this stage in the game, any calls for Indyref2 are dead in the water. It's really going to be a 'generation' before the next one. I'm leaning towards thinking the SNP probably need to spend some time in opposition. The pact with the Greens made sense when securing a pro-independence majority in Holyrood strengthened the case for indyref2. Now that's constitutionally and politically dead, what purpose does the pact actually serve for the SNP?

Further to the point you make above, you have to think about where those 'lost' voters go. Those that would leave the SNP upon ending the pact would transfer to the Greens. Those that are lost by continuation of the pact go where? The only logical assumption is to one of the unionist parties.

Oh Kieran Tierney, you are the love of my life, Oh Kieran Tierney, he shagged Arteta's wife, Oh Kieran Tierney, we love Spanish burds tooooo....

Like this for example....

To my understanding, the phrase "join the Euro" means joining the currency union, i.e. using the Euro as your national method of exchange. The same goes for the phrase being "part of the Eurozone". I think these definitions are pretty well established. "Join the EU" means joining the political and trading union, but without necessarily joining the currency union.

I completely agree. Brexit, Freedom of Movement etc isn't a live issue anymore. The SNP will try to remind everyone about this at the next election, but they'll look like WW1 Generals fighting a war with tactics from the last one.

Like i said, it's the kind of smart tactics Salmond is adept at

I don't know the details of the Unity plan. I doubt they even exist, as i don't think it's a serious policy and simply an Alba tactic... But if it did happen, i'd assume most of the Unity candidates would be from the SNP

Not sure what you mean? According to polling, the Yes vote is running a good bit higher (maybe 10 to 15 percent) than the SNP vote. That's the gap the proposed unity candidate would attempt to shore up.