Alex Salmond

[Auld_Reekie]

You think the press depict the SNP as extremists?

Yes I do. Or rather, I think the press are more than happy to use extremist language in order to make the SNP unacceptable and dangerous.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-independence-snp-under-fire-over-extremists-at-rally-1-2529585

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/snp-shrugs-off-attack-on-dark-side-of-nationalism-1602126.html

It's the same when it comes to cybernats. While not explicit extremism, the press have consistently over-egged any overage that paints the majority as one-step short of being militant nutters. If they can get an idiotic politician to call them extremist, even better.

[Larky Masher]

oh FFS... one of the most capable, inspiring and also bruising politicians in the UK today, in his political prime, and easily the SNP's best and folk want him step into political obscurity... and for what exactly?

Nicola is riding a post referendum wave, and if anything I think Salmond is doing a good job keeping the attention off her and on him to some extent. The media are utter scum remember she is not going to get a fair hearing no matter what and it is just a question of when not if they turn nasty on her. Especially if the SNP threaten to hold the balance of power blah blah feckin blah... I would not be surprised if this was something Salmond was doing on purpose with her knowledge. He is running interference. I just wonder where they are going with this. I cannot stomach any coalition. Make them form a coalition or a minority government (it was good enough for Scotland after all).

I'm not sure he's running interference but he's certainly causing it.

[Scunnered]

the press have consistently over-egged...

I see what you done there

[Auld_Reekie]

I see what you done there

[giblet]

Problem you have is that its only Salmond who the MSM will want on their shows etc, faced with something rather than nothing will take Eck on Marr's sofa everytime. Everytime you get a Tory minister saying how horrible it would be if the SNP were able to be involved in decision making at the Westminster parliament its another reinforcement of the unionist hypocrisy around wanting us to be part of the union, just not have any say on how its governed.

[Toepoke]

He said as much to Anna Soubry yesterday when she was going on about Salmond losing the referendum.

"Well you wanted us to be in Westminster"...

[Tartan Eagle]

I'm more in tune with Parklife on this one.

After the optimism and then the despair in Sept, the SNP can't take any votes or seats for granted.

If Miliband and Labour implode, and if the SNP through Salmond is aggressively talking of holding feet to fire throughout, the English vote could swing to the Tories. Labour losses in Scotland will still go to SNP but, in this scenario, Labour losses in England go to the Tories who were only 20 or so seats short last time. It's not impossible for them to win and SNP do not want to blow it by unnecessarily p*****g off the English and driving voters to the Tories.

I think Nicola Sturgeon's doing a great job and it's clear to me that Salmond is taking the heat off her. They're a good team - no conflicts of interest: he'll lead the party in WM, she leads ScotGov.

Come May 8th we can be as noisy as we want but before that I'm a bit nervous that we over-egg it [see I can do that egg thing too]. These are critical times and IMO the SNP don't want to jump the gun.

It's fun watching the panic in WM all the same!

[mariokempes56]

As above. But if the Tories get in , especially in tow with ukip ( cannot see that) or the libs, then its great for SNP in a longer term. The poorest outcome is SNP in cahoots with Labour in any form. Jeez its fun.

[irnbruman]

I agree with Mario. If the Tories get in then we have a referendum on Europe which should result in UK coming out (unless MI5 intervene like the Scottish referendum). From a Scottish point of view another Tory government can only enhance SNP voting. Any sort of coalition will give Labour a chance to recover in Scotland.

Love seeing Salmond on TV noising up the establishment. At the moment they can't help themselves with the "jockbashing". I don't know how much of n impact that has in Scotland but its certainly rife in England.

Larky Masher should be on TV - he would wind up any fooker.

Edited March 23, 2015 by irnbruman

[Scunnered]

As above. But if the Tories get in , especially in tow with ukip ( cannot see that) or the libs, then its great for SNP in a longer term. The poorest outcome is SNP in cahoots with Labour in any form. Jeez its fun.

You see a Tory government... Or worse, a Tory-UKIP coalition as a positive?

[mariokempes56]

No I meant its win-winish. Keyword is longer term.

[Larky Masher]

I agree with Mario. If the Tories get in then we have a referendum on Europe which should result in UK coming out (unless MI5 intervene like the Scottish referendum). From a Scottish point of view another Tory government can only enhance SNP voting. Any sort of coalition will give Labour a chance to recover in Scotland.

Love seeing Salmond on TV noising up the establishment. At the moment they can't help themselves with the "jockbashing". I don't know how much of n impact that has in Scotland but its certainly rife in England.

Larky Masher should be on TV - he would wind up any fooker.

MI5 have banned me.

[Orraloon]

You see a Tory government... Or worse, a Tory-UKIP coalition as a positive?

You're not looking at the bigger picture. Your aims are different from a lot of us. You want to see a Scotland governed by socialist parties. I want to see an independent Scotland so that the people of Scotland can decide which kind of government we have.

[ParisInAKilt]

The SNP being part of a UK government in any way will probably be a bad thing, things only seem to be getting worse and being associated with a failing government can't be good.

But then again they need to be seen to have influence so people will vote for them.

Edited March 23, 2015 by ParisInAKilt

[Gaz]

And also I think when you have faced such a biased and shit bag media for as long as Salmond you do become a bit of a street fighter in debates because otherwise they would steamroller over the top of you on TV. If any one of us tried to do what he does in interviews with the BBC whanks we would get massacred. He doea an amazing job but yeah he can annoy a lot of folk at the same time, mainly the ones that just saw their arguments reduced to rubble in a jovial manner. That is when they complain he is 'arrogant'. You'd in have to be.

what that man said!

let's cause f#ckin havoc in WM.

They wanted us, so now you F#ckin got us !

Edited March 23, 2015 by Gaz

[Scunnered]

You're not looking at the bigger picture. Your aims are different from a lot of us. You want to see a Scotland governed by socialist parties. I want to see an independent Scotland so that the people of Scotland can decide which kind of government we have.

Unfortunately I can see the logic in it. It's just not a method for generating support for independence that I could be part of. Seeing former Yes comrades celebrating a Tory government would be up there with seeing former Labour comrades celebrating the No vote for me. No matter what picture or how big it may be.

[ParisInAKilt]

Unfortunately I can see the logic in it. It's just not a method for generating support for independence that I could be part of. Seeing former Yes comrades celebrating a Tory government would be up there with seeing former Labour comrades celebrating the No vote for me. No matter what picture or how big it may be.

I can see both arguments.

I'll vote and watch the general election but I can't imagine any outcome that will make me happy.

[Maq]

You see a Tory government... Or worse, a Tory-UKIP coalition as a positive?

I'm with Scunnered on this. A Tory-UKIP coalition would be a disaster for Scotland, short-medium term at the least. Great for the SNP, granted, but it would be bloody awful for Scotland for a long time - and who's to say we'd get another referendum in the next 20 years? Or that we'd convince the Britnat, "I'm alright Jack"s to vote Yes?

I'd love Scotland to be Independent. But more than that, I want the best for Scotland.

I wouldn't celebrate a Tory-UKIP win

[Orraloon]

I'm with Scunnered on this. A Tory-UKIP coalition would be a disaster for Scotland, short-medium term at the least. Great for the SNP, granted, but it would be bloody awful for Scotland for a long time - and who's to say we'd get another referendum in the next 20 years? Or that we'd convince the Britnat, "I'm alright Jack"s to vote Yes?

I'd love Scotland to be Independent. But more than that, I want the best for Scotland.

I wouldn't celebrate a Tory-UKIP win

Do you think a Labour government at Westminster would do anything much different to what the Tories are planning? If you do, then you are clearly not listening to what the Labour party themselves are telling us. Their plans are almost identical to the Tories. Any minor differences are nothing more than just tinkering around the edges.

[Auld_Reekie]

I can see both arguments.

I'll vote and watch the general election but I can't imagine any outcome that will make me happy.

This. I reserve the right to not give two f***s if the Tories or Labour are elected. IMO, celebrating a UK Labour win as if there was more than a modest difference between the two parties is no better than celebrating a Tory win. Two cheeks of the same backside and anyone pretending Labour are left leaning or interested in any kind of socialism is lying.

I'd go even further and say that the Tories don't actually scare me that much. I absolutely hate them but at least you know what you are going to get with them - we've 5 years of prior art to judge them on and while it's been predictable garbage, it's... well... predictable. Compare and contrast with Ed Miliband and Ed Balls and I genuinely think that could be carnage. Ed Miliband is an absolute nightmare and if people are in any doubt about the power of the media in this country, just wait til they get their teeth into him if he becomes Prime Minister. Ed Balls isn't any better. So much so that if Miliband/Balls somehow win this election, there's a good chance they'll kill Labour electorally for the next ten years.

The best Labour can hope for is to win, and replace Miliband as soon as possible, or, parliament is so unstable, there's a re-run in 6 months time giving the Labour Party time to elect a better replacement.

I understand why people say instinctively that Labour is a far better proposition than the Tories, but Im genuinely not convinced by that at all. Labour consistently look 2 days away from being an utter humiliation and I find the prospect of Ed Miliband and Ed Balls being the leaders of the United Kingdom entirely laughable. I'm still convinced theres a good chance the Tories could get a majority - I can't believe people will seriously go into a polling booth and risk Miliband as Prime Minister.

Edited March 23, 2015 by Auld_Reekie

[Scunnered]

Do you think a Labour government at Westminster would do anything much different to what the Tories are planning? If you do, then you are clearly not listening to what the Labour party themselves are telling us. Their plans are almost identical to the Tories. Any minor differences are nothing more than just tinkering around the edges.

I'd call the 50p tax rate, Repealing the Tory health act (for our English friends), a mansion tax and reforming the energy industry as more than tinkering round the edges. But that's just me.

There's a lot to hate about Milibands Labour, but compared to Blairs they're a step in the right direction.

A Labour minority government propped up by smaller parties is my preferred outcome.

[giblet]

This. I reserve the right to not give two f***s if the Tories or Labour are elected. IMO, celebrating a UK Labour win as if there was more than a modest difference between the two parties is no better than celebrating a Tory win. Two cheeks of the same backside and anyone pretending Labour are left leaning or interested in any kind of socialism is lying.

I'd go even further and say that the Tories don't actually scare me that much. I absolutely hate them but at least you know what you are going to get with them - we've 5 years of prior art to judge them on and while it's been predictable garbage, it's... well... predictable. Compare and contrast with Ed Miliband and Ed Balls and I genuinely think that could be carnage. Ed Miliband is an absolute nightmare and if people are in any doubt about the power of the media in this country, just wait til they get their teeth into him if he becomes Prime Minister. Ed Balls isn't any better. So much so that if Miliband/Balls somehow win this election, there's a good chance they'll kill Labour electorally for the next ten years.

The best Labour can hope for is to win, and replace Miliband as soon as possible, or, parliament is so unstable, there's a re-run in 6 months time giving the Labour Party time to elect a better replacement.

I understand why people say instinctively that Labour is a far better proposition than the Tories, but Im genuinely not convinced by that at all. Labour consistently look 2 days away from being an utter humiliation and I find the prospect of Ed Miliband and Ed Balls being the leaders of the United Kingdom entirely laughable. I'm still convinced theres a good chance the Tories could get a majority - I can't believe people will seriously go into a polling booth and risk Miliband as Prime Minister.

Very much this. Can see no difference between a Tory or a Labour government, all a means to an end. I want us independent as quickly as possible, either scenario will present opportunities for this to happen. If Milliband gets the nod to be PM, no rejoicing this end.

What I will rejoice is seeing 50 Portillo moments as one by one of the sycophantic Labour and Lib Dem MP's in Scotland get nailed one by one. Special mentions on the watch list for Curran, Davidson, Murray, Kennedy,Alexander (x2) and my local MP , Mike Crockhart who was a rabid unionist during indyref.

[ParisInAKilt]

I agree with Scunnered about some Labour policies but then I see a Labour polition on TV criticising the SNP, nationalists or Indy and all the hated I felt for them during and post referendum comes back. I definitely could never vote for them, mainly because I don't trust them anymore.

[Scunnered]

I agree with Scunnered about some Labour policies but then I see a Labour polition on TV criticising the SNP, nationalists or Indy and all the hated I felt for them during and post referendum comes back. I definitely could never vote for them, mainly because I don't trust them anymore.

There's no denying that Labour are evil scum sucking ####s... But to compare them to the Tories is unfair.

I'm just discussing this with an SNP friend of mine just now and he told me that Hosie said during Hustings that a Tory government would be beneficial to the SNP.

The "Vote the Red Tories out... But not the real Tories" line is unsettling for me, and not one to be spoken outside of hushed tones... Certainly not at a hustings meeting.

Edited March 23, 2015 by Scunnered

[Mark frae Crieff]

Look at History... when the Allied invasion of Nazi Europe was being set up they used Paton to divert the gaze from the actual goal.. Can you see Eck wi a steel skid lid and 6 shooter??