Tag: Nationalism

The conspiracy theory of a Westminster “sabotage”. The principal criticism of Scotland’s handling of the pandemic has been the shortage of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). In response to this criticism, the SNP have pushed the narrative through their media (not least the front page of The National) and social media channels that English firms were… Continue reading The SNP Ain’t Scotland Part 12

Like many other political actors around the world, the SNP are looking to make electoral hay from the ongoing pandemic, and, they hope, bring a second independence referendum closer to reality. And from their point of view, it seems the sooner the better. Since the Westminster election of 2019, a slight majority of Scots now… Continue reading The SNP Ain’t Scotland Part 11

The response to the coronavirus pandemic has shown the “sheer might” of the UK union, Boris Johnson has said during a visit to Scotland. Mr Johnson was in Orkney and the north of Scotland one year on from the day he took office as prime minister. He said the work of the military and Treasury… Continue reading The SNP Ain’t Scotland Part 10

Nicola Sturgeon has told Boris Johnson not to use the coronavirus pandemic as a “political weapon” after the prime minister claimed Scotland’s response to the virus had benefited from being part of the UK. Speaking on Thursday as Mr Johnson visited Scotland, the first minister told reporters: “I don’t think any of us, and I… Continue reading The SNP Ain’t Scotland Part 9

STV has launched an internal investigation after the broadcaster released a video of children praising Nicola Sturgeon for “keeping them safe” during the coronavirus pandemic. A series of clips from the video were posted on Twitter yesterday before being taken down following a number of complaints. Some compared it to the sort of brainwashing media… Continue reading The SNP Ain’t Scotland Part 8

An investigation has uncovered evidence coronavirus may have been brought to Scotland during a conference of Nike employees in Edinburgh. A BBC Scotland Disclosure investigation found more than 70 Nike employees from around the world attended a conference at Edinburgh’s Hilton Carlton Hotel on February 26 and 27, before the first confirmed covid-19 case in… Continue reading The SNP Ain’t Scotland Part 7

This coronavirus crisis has delivered a lesson in the power of the British state and its institutions. Rishi Sunak has added something like £60bn to public spending, and another £330bn in loan guarantees to companies. The most impressive and reassuring presences on our TV screens have been chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific… Continue reading The SNP Ain’t Scotland Part 6

Independence is itself a big idea, of course, if a somewhat blunt one. Before the pandemic struck it seemed entirely achievable, as a posh, right-wing, pro-Brexit Conservative government at Westminster moved the UK further and further away from what we might term the Scottish ideal. The trials, tribulations and revenge lust of Alex Salmond aside,… Continue reading The SNP Ain’t Scotland Part 5

The SNP likes to consider itself politically radical – an anti-establishment insurgency that would run Scotland more virtuously, more harmoniously, more Scottishly, than the British state has managed for the past 300 or so years. That the SNP has been in government for 13 years – by which time Alexander the Great had no more… Continue reading The SNP Ain’t Scotland Part 4

An SNP candidate dropped over alleged antisemitic comments has won a Westminster seat despite the party’s withdrawal of support. Neale Hanvey was the SNP candidate for the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency but was dropped in the run-up to Thursday’s poll after social media posts he made two years ago came to light. Despite his suspension,… Continue reading The SNP Ain’t Scotland Part 3