Scottish Politics
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Peripatetic
Posts: 11,298
Looks like a fleet of buses (people for throwing under) are being prepared to save Nicola’s job....
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/n...user-2nb7526xm
New evidence that Nicola Sturgeon’s team leaked name of Alex Salmond accuser
Unpublished evidence lodged with an inquiry into the Alex Salmond affair has raised fresh concerns that the SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, misled parliament, in breach of the ministerial code. It indicates that her team was aware of harassment complaints against her former boss and closest friend several weeks before she told parliament she became aware of them.
The material from Salmond’s former chief of staff, Geoff Aberdein, also supports claims made by the former first minister that Sturgeon’s administration leaked the identity of one of the women complaining about him — claims that Sturgeon rejected last week........
The Sunday Times has been given details of Aberdein’s evidence to the Scottish parliamentary committee investigating the SNP government’s unlawful handling of complaints against Salmond, who testified on Friday......
Aberdein’s evidence, which heaps pressure on Sturgeon, has been shared with members of the Holyrood inquiry committee but not published on legal grounds. It indicates Sturgeon’s team was aware of allegations at least as far back as early March, and that the identity of a complainant was passed to Aberdein, who then conveyed it to Salmond.
During his appearance at the inquiry on Friday, Salmond was asked whether he knew whether the name of a complainant was shared during a meeting with Aberdein, as a precursor to the meeting between Salmond and Sturgeon. Salmond replied: “Yes,” saying he was told that by his former chief of staff, and that others knew it to be true.
The committee is writing to Aberdein and others he spoke to at the time.
On Thursday, when pressed in parliament on whether the name of one of the women involved had been passed on, Sturgeon said: “To the very best of my knowledge, I do not think that happened.”
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, a member of the inquiry committee, said: “In any other employment situation, if a complainant’s name was leaked, it would be a matter of gross misconduct. This would be a most extraordinary breach of confidentiality.”......
SNP sources predict Leslie Evans, the head of Scotland’s civil service, will be ousted over her role in the affair. The SNP chief executive, Peter Murrell, who is also Sturgeon’s husband, and her chief of staff, Liz Lloyd, are also tipped to move.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/n...user-2nb7526xm
New evidence that Nicola Sturgeon’s team leaked name of Alex Salmond accuser
Unpublished evidence lodged with an inquiry into the Alex Salmond affair has raised fresh concerns that the SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, misled parliament, in breach of the ministerial code. It indicates that her team was aware of harassment complaints against her former boss and closest friend several weeks before she told parliament she became aware of them.
The material from Salmond’s former chief of staff, Geoff Aberdein, also supports claims made by the former first minister that Sturgeon’s administration leaked the identity of one of the women complaining about him — claims that Sturgeon rejected last week........
The Sunday Times has been given details of Aberdein’s evidence to the Scottish parliamentary committee investigating the SNP government’s unlawful handling of complaints against Salmond, who testified on Friday......
Aberdein’s evidence, which heaps pressure on Sturgeon, has been shared with members of the Holyrood inquiry committee but not published on legal grounds. It indicates Sturgeon’s team was aware of allegations at least as far back as early March, and that the identity of a complainant was passed to Aberdein, who then conveyed it to Salmond.
During his appearance at the inquiry on Friday, Salmond was asked whether he knew whether the name of a complainant was shared during a meeting with Aberdein, as a precursor to the meeting between Salmond and Sturgeon. Salmond replied: “Yes,” saying he was told that by his former chief of staff, and that others knew it to be true.
The committee is writing to Aberdein and others he spoke to at the time.
On Thursday, when pressed in parliament on whether the name of one of the women involved had been passed on, Sturgeon said: “To the very best of my knowledge, I do not think that happened.”
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, a member of the inquiry committee, said: “In any other employment situation, if a complainant’s name was leaked, it would be a matter of gross misconduct. This would be a most extraordinary breach of confidentiality.”......
SNP sources predict Leslie Evans, the head of Scotland’s civil service, will be ousted over her role in the affair. The SNP chief executive, Peter Murrell, who is also Sturgeon’s husband, and her chief of staff, Liz Lloyd, are also tipped to move.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: North of Hadrians Wall
Posts: 124
Originally Posted by longer ron
I can see the 'attraction' to some people of having the country run by people who use the word 'Scunner' etc - in reality we would just be swapping the 3rd rate Westminster Clowns for 5th rate Holyrood Clowns sitting in their expensive eyesore building
Gentleman Aviator
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Teetering Towers - somewhere in the Shires
Age: 71
Posts: 3,490
350 years ago! Nice one, that'll have them quaking in their boots.
Quite a lot has changed since then, even up here.
Quite a lot has changed since then, even up here.
Oh - and to be precise, the Darien scheme was three years after Glencoe, so a mere 326 years in the past.........
...perhaps some Americans called Macdonald. - the Campbells tend to keep quiet about it. 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 192
I have no issues with the Scottish people, it's your politicians I hate with considerable passion. I would not particularly like to see the Union dissolved, but if Devolution is the price to be paid to be rid of the Scots in the House of Commons, then it is a price I am prepared to pay.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: England
Posts: 31
Originally Posted by WB627
I have no issues with the Scottish people, it's your politicians I hate with considerable passion. I would not particularly like to see the Union dissolved, but if Devolution is the price to be paid to be rid of the Scots in the House of Commons, then it is a price I am prepared to pay.
Thought police antagonist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Where I always have been...firmly in the real world
Posts: 82
Originally Posted by WB627
I have no issues with the Scottish people, it's your politicians I hate with considerable passion. I would not particularly like to see the Union dissolved, but if Devolution is the price to be paid to be rid of the Scots in the House of Commons, then it is a price I am prepared to pay.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 192
But Scottish politicians voting for their children to have free university education and their parents to have free health care in residential homes in the Scottish parliament,
while Scottish politicians voted for exactly the opposite in the House of Commons, smacks of rank hypocrisy if not complete vindictiveness.
When whipped, they will not abstain from voting on English matters in the HoC as they should. They have got to go....... #TakeBackControl of our laws
while Scottish politicians voted for exactly the opposite in the House of Commons, smacks of rank hypocrisy if not complete vindictiveness.
When whipped, they will not abstain from voting on English matters in the HoC as they should. They have got to go....... #TakeBackControl of our laws
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Richard Burtonville, South Wales.
Posts: 1,981
Originally Posted by OilCan
....but we can vote to change the Holyrood clowns, the Westminster clowns who make the big decisions are decided for us by others.
CG
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Peripatetic
Posts: 11,298
The problem with that premise, is the assumption that better clowns for Holyrood can be found. If the parish council in Cardiff is an exemplar, they can't!
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Age: 55
Posts: 1,706
Think what you want of Scottish independence or, Sturgeon or Salmond but what I find rather scary is that a signifiant part of the justice system, starting with the Lord Advocate, seems to be coopted into a fairly despicable plan to discredit a political opponent. Monday's testimony will be interesting to say the least...
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: North of Hadrians Wall
Posts: 124
Originally Posted by WB627
But Scottish politicians voting for their children to have free university education and their parents to have free health care in residential homes in the Scottish parliament,
while Scottish politicians voted for exactly the opposite in the House of Commons, smacks of rank hypocrisy if not complete vindictiveness.
When whipped, they will not abstain from voting on English matters in the HoC as they should. They have got to go....... #TakeBackControl of our laws
while Scottish politicians voted for exactly the opposite in the House of Commons, smacks of rank hypocrisy if not complete vindictiveness.
When whipped, they will not abstain from voting on English matters in the HoC as they should. They have got to go....... #TakeBackControl of our laws
The fact of the matter is, all 6 SNP MPs at the time voted against the
Check for yourself;
https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/dec/09/tuition-fees-higher-education
The vote was won by 325 to 302. If the same vote took place today with 48 SNP MPs (assuming all else was equal), then the motion would have failed and the fees would not have been introduced. Ironic eh!
BTW, Devolution has already happened - 22 years ago. That genie is already out of the bottle.
Last edited by OilCan; 1st Mar 2021 at 11:45. Reason: correction
Gentleman Aviator
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Teetering Towers - somewhere in the Shires
Age: 71
Posts: 3,490
Independence or not, we need to address the East Lothian Question as it is called.
In brief: I have relatives in Motherwell; their (Westminster) MP can vote on issues affecting the schools in Teeteringshire attended by my children and grandchildren. My Westminster MP (the only one I've got!) cannot vote on issues affecting schools in Motherwell.
And then there's the Barnett formula............!
In brief: I have relatives in Motherwell; their (Westminster) MP can vote on issues affecting the schools in Teeteringshire attended by my children and grandchildren. My Westminster MP (the only one I've got!) cannot vote on issues affecting schools in Motherwell.
And then there's the Barnett formula............!
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 8,303
I have read the non redacted evidence that can’t be presented to the enquiry. It is a scandal of epic proportions that this evidence can’t be considered as it would condemn the First Minister and show she was lying. The missing paragraphs I read only concern Sturgeon and those that made the original allegations are not even mentioned so why would it be a contempt of court? The hand of the Scottish government is involved in this coverup.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: North of Hadrians Wall
Posts: 124
Originally Posted by WB627
OilCan - You are bit off the beam with that..... All this happened under Labour around 1999 IIRC, that nice Mr Blair was the PM at the time.
)The 'Lothian question' is rightly a continuing sore which only the government of the day in Westminster can resolve. FWIW, the SNP operate a self denial policy on issues which do no carry Barnett consequentials.
