Humza Yousaf - FM of Scotland

Slater survives vote of no confidence.

Failure pays whilst the gravy still flows.

BREAKING New poll gives #Yes a 3-point lead in #Indyref2 voting.

Yes: 47.9%
No: 45.0%
Undecided: 7.1%

Fieldwork: 13th to 20th June conducted by Find Out Now and based on a representative sample of 1,249 voters aged 18 and over.

next UK election

vote SNP for a referendum

Humza Yousaf humiliated as 'EU snubs key part of independence strategy'

Humza Yousaf has been rebuffed by the EU over a key part of his independence strategy.

The Scottish First Minister outlined plans to send an envoy to the bloc to “prepare the ground for Scotland to become an independent member state of the EU” during his speech to SNP members at an event in Dundee last Saturday.

But EU sources rejected the prospect of the European Commission taking part in separation talks when asked about the SNP leader's proposal for an envoy.

A source told The Times: “The EU as such deals only with the official governments of third countries.

“Of course we welcome the friendship of our Scottish friends and stand ready to engage with all parts of the UK within this new cycle of our relationship.”

In his first overseas trip since taking over from Nicola Sturgeon, Mr Yousaf has travelled to Brussels to attend an inward investment dinner with members of the British Chamber of Commerce.

He is due to meet the European Commission's vice president Maros Sefcovic tomorrow.

But the SNP leader will be "babysat" by the UK ambassador to the EU, Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby.

Scottish DRS scheme unlawful according to court.

Will Humza regret backing Loopy Lorna?

The way that the Scottish Government's deposit return scheme (DRS) was set up by the firm behind it was unlawful, a court has ruled.

Lanarkshire shopkeeper Abdul Majid won a judicial review against the firm which was set up to oversee the scheme by the Court of Session on Friday.

Majid, who runs Costcutter and Baba’s Kitchen in Bellshill, challenged the legality of the retailer handling fees which Circularity Scotland was trying to impose. The company proposed that retailers would have to pay a fee for each item of scheme packaging collected.

The court ruled that Circularity Scotland had no power to set the fees and that it should not have tried to impose a flat fee.

This comes just weeks after the scheme was postponed until 2025 following a row with the UK Government over whether glass could be included.

The Record also revealed that Circularity Scotland was on the brink of collapse, with Green minister Lorna Slater facing calls to resign.

Mhairi Black, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, will be standing down at the next election.

Dumza says he is sure he will be watching something then 3 seconds later when asked another question by the interviewer says he’s not sure if he will be watching it.

Even most used car salesman can hold there position with conviction for 5 or 10 minutes.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1803694/humza-yousaf-england-world-cup-final

humza ratings up 11%

drugs deaths down 30% from 2022

Westminster Voting Intention (Scotland):

SNP: 37% (=)
LAB: 35% (+1)
CON: 17% (=)
LDM: 6% (-3)

Via
@Survation
, On 18 August,
Changes w/ 23-28 June.

Projecting Survation 15 - 18 Aug into seats (changes vs 23 - 28 Jun / vs 2021):

SNP ~ 46 (-1 / -18)
Lab ~ 42 (+3 / +20)
Con ~ 20 (-2 / -11)
Grn ~ 10 (-1 / +2)
LD ~ 10 (nc / +6)
RUK ~ 1 (+1 / +1)

Has brass Nic told him whether he watched the Lionesses game or not yet?

rutherglen by-election

5th oct

snp v labour fight

latest polling - labour 8% ahead

Humza telling porkies again.

Humza Yousaf accused of false claim cover-up

Humza Yousaf has been urged to refer himself to a parliamentary watchdog after opposition MSPs said he may have knowingly misled parliament.

They suggested civil servants retrospectively created statistics to justify an incorrect statement the first minister made about Scotland's renewable energy capacity.

Mr Yousaf later said he intended to say "per capita" in his original answer.

His spokesperson denied a cover-up and said the record was now accurate.

At First Minister's Questions on 22 June, in a response to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Mr Yousaf said that Scotland had "the majority of the renewables and natural resources" in the UK. The correct figure for 2022 was 26%, according to Scottish government figures.

After being challenged by Scottish Tory MSP Liam Kerr, the first minister wrote a letter on 29 August that stated he had intended to say "per capita" in his original answer.

Scottish government emails released under freedom of information (FOI) to pro-Union organisation These Islands show officials established after FMQs on 22 June that Scotland had 26% of UK renewable capacity and 26% of generation in 2022.

But it was not until 3 July that the "per capita" figure appeared in the email chain, much of which was redacted.

The updated figure put Scotland on 651.6GWh per 100,000 people, compared with 649.7GWh for the rest of the UK combined.

In a letter to Mr Yousaf, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said the emails suggested the figures had been "reverse engineered" to "save embarrassment" for the first minister.

He urged Mr Yousaf to refer himself to the independent advisers of the Scottish Ministerial Code.

"I am concerned that in the course of correcting the record in relation to the exchange on 22 June that you may have knowingly misled Parliament in your letter of 29 August," he wrote.

Tory MSP Mr Kerr, who has also called for Mr Yousaf to refer himself to the independent advisers, accused the civil service in Scotland of becoming "increasingly politicised" at FMQs on Thursday.

The first minister responded and said that he would not take lessons on "truth and honest from the party that gave us Boris Johnson".

The Scottish government has also rejected the claim.

Mr Yousaf's spokesman told reporters the cover-up claims were untrue.

He said: "The fact that we corrected the record speaks for itself and the fact that we disclosed under FOI the discussions that took place in terms of civil servants surely also speaks for transparency."

The first minister is able to refer matters to the independent advisers to "provide advice on which to base their judgement about any action required in respect of ministerial conduct".

https://twitter.com/staylorish/status/1702299308358258882

Humza's reply is effectively:

I don't need to answer the questions I've been asked about me lying because Boris also lied and my lapdogs will clap me regardless.

keir starmer visited scotland last week 

SNP 38% (+2)

LAB 27% (-5)

Won't be long before you're talking about sainthood for him.

Humzas questions to answer.

Did you force supposedly impartial civil servants to breach the ministerial code on your behalf in order to try and save face?
How many officials were working on this response over a number of weeks?
Given your officials had the correct figures a matter of hours after FMQs finished on June 22, why did you not correct the official record there and then?
Why did it take you almost a month to inform officials of what you had intended to say on June 22?
Did you personally ask the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to sign off on this response? If not, were you aware of their involvement?
Will you now refer yourself to the Independent Adviser on the Ministerial Code?

I wonder if he will answer any of them? Probably got the spads working overtime on how many times he can fit Boris and Brexit in to one paragraph.

bf ex rutherglen

snp 35 to 11
labour 1.03 to 1.09

Shocking Shrewd , The UK is in the Middle of biggest Political Disaster in History ,The whole shebang are not worth a T0ss

Could have swore I posted something that Case then replied to.

Presumably deleted. Maybe the 3rd coming of Meadows is nigh?

Fergus Ewing tonight delivered a scathing attack on the SNP after he was suspended by the party at Holyrood.

SNP MSPs opted to remove the whip from the long serving MSP for a week by 48 votes to nine against. Four MSPs abstained in the vote.

His offence had been to side with the Conservatives in June in a Tory-led no confidence vote against Scottish Green minister Lorna Slater over her handling of the now defunct deposit return scheme.

Flanked by his sister the SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing, who was close to tears, and colleagues Kate Forbes and Christine Grahame, Mr Ewing gave a statement after the meeting which lasted 65 minutes.

He said the SNP no longer put Scotland first.

"I was literally born into the SNP. For me, and indeed many others, support of the party and advocacy of an independent Scotland has been a life’s work," said the 66-year-old former senior minister.

"My loyalty to the party has been great. Many is the time as a minister and as an MSP I have bitten my tongue for the greater good.

"I did this because I knew that whatever disagreements or policy shortcomings I thought the party had, it was fundamentally attempting to do the right thing by my constituents and for Scotland.

"It was never an ordinary political party because it was one which put Scotland first. In good conscience this is no longer the case and it has nothing to do with personalities or my antipathy towards the Green Party."

He added: "It has to do with policies on the deposit return scheme, on fishing, on transport, tourism and small businesses, and on boiler replacement, which are deeply hostile to the interests of my constituency.

"The SNP I joined would never have asked me, or indeed any other elected politician, to choose between loyalty to party and loyalty to constituents. Indeed in the old SNP it was always expected that country and constituency would come first. That is why the SNP, while often attacked, was always respected.

"As a minister in Alex Salmond’s government I voted for railways to the borders, the new crossing over the Forth, the completion of the motorway network of central Scotland in the M74, M80 and M8 projects and the magnificent Aberdeen bypass.

"I was proud to do so because I had absolute confidence that the commitments made to the A9 and the A96 would also be met and that the Highlands would have our day in the infrastructure sun. That administration would indeed have kept faith with the Highlands.

"So what am I to do now? Am I to pretend that these promises were never made or to gull my constituents into thinking they have been treated fairly when they clearly have not?

"Or am I rather to speak out fearlessly and apply the same pressure which has already junked the bottle return scheme and the damaging fishing proposals to the madcap boiler ban and honouring pledges on our vital roads.

"I choose to defend my constituents and Iet the cards fall as they will."

Mr Ewing was accompanied in the meeting by John Campbell KC, who had been the lead counsel on the Holyrood building inquiry led by Lord Peter Fraser.

One of the few in that cesspit of a party with principles and integrity.

The old stalwart Fergis Ewing blowing up the party for the troughers.

I think some of the kids on here would call it "scenes".

]It was not the best day of my life. Facing a “jury” of ones peers, as the “accused” was an uncomfortable experience. Nearly all the SNP MSPS – about 61 or 62 – attended the committee room 6, to pass judgement on me, or joined on video link.

I had determined to have a lawyer appear for me and for two reasons. First, the circumstances of the vote which led to my being disciplined occurred on the day when I learned that my mother was dying and I did not feel able to put my case involving as it did a reference to the events of that day and the day after – when Winnie passed away.

Second, as a solicitor myself, I am only too well aware of the maxim: “A lawyer that acts for himself has a fool for his client.”

John Campbell KC, originally hailing from Bonar Bridge, was my lawyer. In the finest traditions of the Scottish Bar he provided professional advocacy of the highest quality, and with unstinting dedication in preparing for the hearing, over the week or so we had to prepare.

Sadly, minds were made up; I suspect before any evidence or argument was led. John argued that I had exercised my conscience and voted for my constituents’ interests. The SNP rules state that one can vote with one’s conscience. And that these included constituency issues.

In the vote in question, a confidence motion, I voted against the minister Lorna Slater, who was in charge of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), continuing in office. But It was never about personality, but policy. The DRS scheme had it been implemented, would have been a disaster for Scotland pushing up prices for people , and hammering businesses. Some told me they would have to close.

In his oral submission, John explained to the SNP MSPs that I had had no less than 41 meetings or conference calls with businesses about the DRS – many in the north – and on the day after voting, I was thanked in a letter signed by 171 businesses for the courage in voting with my conscience, my constituents and beliefs.

But the SNP disciplinary rules go on to say that the chief whips’ permission is needed before one can vote on a matter of conscience.

John argued that conscience can never be a matter of permission. “One cannot sub-contract one’s conscience,” he argued. That surely must be correct. Or else we are not a parliament but a group of automatons voting at the behest of party bosses.

However, I did enjoy support from many colleagues, not least my friend and parliamentary neighbour Kate Forbes. That was a source of real comfort.

On the way to the Holyrood committee room, in which the hearing took place, I ran the gauntlet of press and media and gave a statement to them at the end. I often think of the quote from the Prime Minister Arthur Balfour, himself a Scot. He said of political issues: “Nothing matters very much and few things matter at all.”

What happens to me – a suspension from the group for a week – is of no consequence. But what is hugely important is that members of the place we call our Parliament is worthy of the name. And that means that members must, to the best of their ability and experience, represent their constituents and part of Scotland they serve.

On the way in I was ask if I had any regrets. I replied “Je ne regrette rien” the marvellous old song made famous by the great Edith Piaf. I have a clear conscience as I hope I did what was right.

After the ordeal was over, I then received a deluge of messages from all over Scotland, and they were pretty much overwhelmingly supportive. Most people were urging me to carry on speaking out. Be in no doubt: that is exactly what I plan to do, and most especially in the campaign to deliver for the people of the north of Scotland the same safer better road links as the central belt populace take for granted.

I am writing this at my desk in the Holyrood chamber. People think suspension means a ban from Parliament. It does not. It means I cannot attend the group meeting – a hardship I can live with! As I conclude this, I hope to catch the presiding officer’s eye to quiz the First Minister on what is happening to delivery of the pledge to dual the A96 between Smithton and Auldearn, including the Nairn bypass.

Courier readers will be the first to be told.

[

Turns out Scooter was to I’ll to attend and wee Jimmy had other pressing concerns. What a couple of cowards leaving it to the rest of the troughers.

*ill

Police Scotland is preparing to sell off 30 more of its properties, after warnings that force spending could go £19m over budget.

The Scottish Police Authority heard that finances has worsened - despite recent efforts to cut back on expenditure such as overtime costs.

Police Scotland earned more than £28m from nearly 100 sales of former stations and other property since 2013.

Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said the new sell off was "necessary".

"We understand community concerns around closing police buildings," she said.

"But it's important to underline that as we consolidate our estate, we now have over 60 co-locations with partners providing more sustainable, modern, safer workspaces for our people."

A written report to the police authority suggested that North Lanarkshire would be one area affected by the property sales.

Is Scooter defunding the Police?

The costs of two CalMac ferries being built at the Ferguson shipyard have risen again after regulators ordered safety changes.

Completing Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa will now cost at least an extra £24m, the yard's boss has told MSPs.

The delivery date for the second ship has been pushed back by five months, to May 2025.

The passenger capacity of the ships may also be reduced from 1,000 to 852 to satisfy emergency evacuation rules.

The two ships, which were meant to cost £97m, are now 3.5 times over budget and will be delivered six years late.

Ferguson chief executive David Tydeman told Holyrood's net zero committee the yard was continuing to face "design gaps, associated re-work and surprises".

He believes this is due to errors made in the past, both before and after the Port Glasgow shipyard was nationalised in 2019.

The latest costs increase is largely driven by changes required by safety regulator the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

The ships will not be allowed to carry passengers unless improvements are made to emergency evacuation routes.
Weeks of sea trials

Plans to widen corridors and fit extra staircases on each ship have now been agreed with the MCA, but discussions are ongoing about about "eleven vertical exit routes" from the car decks.

Talks are also taking place with CalMac and ferries procurement agency CMAL on reducing the passenger capacity of both ships by 148.

The delivery date for Glen Sannox is scheduled for 31 March next year, but several weeks of sea trials will be required by CalMac so it may miss the start of the summer season on the busy Arran route.

Delivery of the second ship Glen Rosa, formerly known as Hull 802 and also destined for the Arran route, has been pushed back by five months until 31 May 2025.

When government-owned ferries procurement agency CMAL placed the order with the Inverclyde shipyard nearly eight years ago, the two ferries were expected to cost £97m and were due for delivery in 2018.

The latest increases mean the ships will cost nearly £380m if written off government loans to the shipyard are included in the figures, as suggested by Audit Scotland.

As well as a £24m increase for completing the ships, the latest update also suggests an increase of about £20m in worst case contingency funding in case there are further problems.

Sea trials of Glen Sannox and the commissioning of the ship's LNG propulsion system, which is not due to begin until after Christmas, could also lead to further problems, Mr Tydeman acknowledged in his letter.

"It would be very unusual if there are not issues of equipment or systems failing or breaking or highlighting some of the specification changes needed, particularly with the first of class aspects of the LNG system," he wrote.
'Repeated interference'

When the ferries contract was awarded in 2015, the yard was owned by Jim McColl, a successful businessman who had rescued it from administration just weeks ahead of the previous year's Scottish independence referendum.

His company Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL) beat off competition from some of Europe's leading shipbuilders after CMAL officials judged its proposed design to be the best in terms of "quality" despite being the most expensive.

But the project soon ran into trouble as design challenges led to mounting costs and delays.

CMAL has blamed this on "catastrophic contractor failure", while Mr McColl maintains the problems stemmed from CMAL's flawed concept design and repeated interference in the design process.

FMEL fell into administration in August 2019, and the yard was later nationalised by the Scottish government.

A BBC Disclosure documentary last year presented evidence that the procurement process carried out by CMAL may have been "****" in favour of FMEL.

A leading lawyer has been appointed by the CMAL board to investigate the Disclosure allegations, and is expected to report shortly.

The BBC understands Barry Smith KC has been asked to examine whether "fraud" occurred but his remit does not extend to examining whether procurement rules were broken.

More money down the Swannay.

rutherglen & hamilton west by election

weather - phishing rain all afternoon/evening

prediction - labour win but closer than many think

The consensus used to be that heavy rain on election day favoured the tories because they were wealthier and had their own transport to take them to the polling station. In modern times, postal voting has virtually eliminated that edge but the forecast today could well affect turnout.

Humza Yousaf front cover

TIMES magazine New York

turnout in the by election was around 12% at 2pm

That sounds abysmal but could be weather related I guess?

Police Scotland has responded to queries about the complaint made about Sunak's remarks re Nicola Sturgeon in his speech:

"We have received a complaint & following consultation with the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service, no police action is being taken at this time.”

Police to take no action against Rishi Sunak after a joke aimed at Nicola Sturgeon at the Tory conference

Labour 1 to 25

SNP 11 to 1

skybet

SNP sources saying they expect to lose the seat to Labour, and it’s now a question of margin

Apparently, as you mentioned upthread, the turnout is really abysmal, could be weather. Not sure what the result will prove if the turnout is as bad as perceived.

37.2% turnout. That is shocking.

Rutherglen and Hamilton West parliamentary by-election, result:

LAB: 58.6% (+24.1)
SNP: 27.6% (-16.6)
CON: 3.9% (-11.1)
LDEM: 2.9% (-2.2)
GRN: 2.0% (+2.0)
REF: 1.3% (+1.3)

Labour GAIN from SNP.

this is off the radar bad for the snp

internal war looming

only good news tory lost deposit

It was rotten weather and when I voted I was the only person in the hall but there was also
always going to be to be something of backlash against the SNP. It appears this took the form
of not voting rather than a mass switching of votes.

There is no doubt that Labour campaigned the hardest and most effectively with a decent
local candidate and the general election vote in this ward is likely to be very close.

Obviously I voted for "Prince Ankit Love, Emperor of India." Sadly he only got 34 votes which
isn't a great look for an Emperor. In fact I am beginning to wonder if he really is the Emperor
of India.

It may be important in Scotland whether SNP or Labour win these seats but they nearly always vote together in Westminster so it has little effect there.

Oct 6, 2023 -- 1:48AM, sageform wrote:

It may be important in Scotland whether SNP or Labour win these seats but they nearly always vote together in Westminster so it has little effect there.

The SNP don't vote in Westminster on matters not affecting Scotland.

The SNP don't vote in Westminster on matters not affecting Scotland.

The SNP voted against extending Sunday shopping hours in England.

They felt that would impact workers pay and conditions in Scotland which is why they voted sir.

You are correct.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35756258
The SNP has said it is to vote against UK government plans to change Sunday trading laws in England and Wales.

Proposals to allow English and Welsh councils to permit larger stores to open for more than six hours will not directly affect Scotland, where there are no trading restrictions in place.

But the SNP said it had concerns over the knock-on effects on Scottish pay.

With more than 20 Tory MPs set to rebel, the risk of a government defeat in a vote on Wednesday has increased.

MPs will vote on proposed changes to Sunday trading laws in what would be the biggest shake-up for 20 years.

SNP MPs met in Westminster met on Tuesday to decide whether to order their 54 MPs to abstain in the vote, effectively allowing the proposals to pass, or to oppose them outright. They have decided to do the latter.

With Labour also opposing the changes and at least 21 Conservative MPs threatening to rebel, the SNP's stance could tip the balance in the vote.

At the moment in England and Wales, small shops - up to 280 sq m, or 3,000 sq ft in size - can open when they want to on Sundays but larger stores are restricted to six hours between 10:00 and 18:00. Retailers can be fined up to £50,000 if they break the rules.

'Paramount'
The UK government's plans to give councils the freedom to determine opening hours will not apply directly to Scotland but the SNP has concerns about their impact on existing Sunday wage rates and people who do not want to work.

Stewart Hosie, the SNP's deputy leader, said the UK government had made concessions to protect workers but they did not go far enough in terms of safeguarding the "premium pay" rates he said Scottish workers currently enjoyed, control of which the SNP wants to be devolved.

"Protecting Scottish workers has been paramount to our decision to oppose the government's plans on Sunday Trading," he said. "We have had Sunday Trading in Scotland for some time and the SNP has never been opposed to it.

"However, our concerns here are rooted in the knock-on impact to Scottish workers who would be at risk of pay cuts - many of whom are already suffering from George Osborne's cuts to tax credits and other in-work support.

"SNP MPs have considered all sides in this debate and our decision has been made so workers in Scotland are protected."

The decision was welcomed by unions, which said "common sense had prevailed".

'Common sense'
"Shopworkers across the UK will be relieved the SNP have eventually made the right decision to oppose Sunday trading changes that could impact on shop workers pay," said John Hannett, the general secretary of Usdaw.

Asked before the SNP announcement whether it was confident of Commons approval, Downing Street said it was clear about the economic benefits that could result from giving communities the power to determine opening hours.

"We think this is a way to enhance the ability of communities to support their High Streets to deal with some of the pressures that they face from the online market that we have these days and where we haven't updated Sunday trading rules to reflect that," a No 10 spokeswoman said.

Ministers say the change will help High Streets struggling to compete against online retailers and reflects changing leisure and working patterns.

But critics have said Sunday should remain a special day for people to spend with their family or pursuing other activities, including religious observance, free from added commercial pressure. They have expressed concerns that despite promised safeguards, staff will come under increased pressure to work from employers, and pointed out the proposals were not in the Conservatives' election manifesto.

In the run-up to the vote, 21 Conservative MPs signed an amendment to the Enterprise Bill opposing the changes.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has warned that the proposals would be the thin end of the wedge and could herald a full "seven-day society".

"If we march through those lobbies together tomorrow with a group of Conservatives who share our views - we will win and we'll keep Sundays as a different day - it's worth fighting for," he said during a visit to east London.

"For those with a strong Christian faith who wish to have a different Sunday I absolutely support them. For those who just want a different day of a week on a Sunday, a day they can get together with family... relaxation time, that's good."

Three quarters of SNP voters stayed at home in a by election. Tories voted for labour, tories lost their deposit. 37% turnout.

It's difficult to see a similar result in a general election, not just in this seat but throughout Scotland. Are tories in Scotland likely to all vote Labour in order to enable Keir Starmer to become PM?

they fear independence more

keir matching every tory policy from brexit to migration

Nats fear indy the most

But in Westminster 90% of issues will see Labour supported by SNP so when it comes to a hung parliament, SNP will align with Labour. It is only on Scottish issues that they differ.

More posts going missing. Must have fell foul of the First Activists draconian hate crime bill.

Anyone heard a peep from progressive international statesman and Scotland's First Activist condemning todays Terrorist attacks?

Did the Spads have the day off and Wee Jimmy wasn't answering his phone calls because she was at the Rugby?

The fact is that Scotland continues to be ruled, as it has for over half a century, by a Tory Government that Scotland roundly rejected.

The latest by-election and latest polls indicate that Scotland does not just reject the Tories, they completely despise them with support now down to 16%.

When a country keeps on being ruled by a clique of foreign rich boys they reject and vote against so overwhelmingly, especially when the foreign rich boys are odious corrupt and sleazy Hooray Henries with a sense of entitlement who have robbed the people to pay bungs to their chums, sooner of later that country will get her freedom.

The fact is that Scotland continues to reject sole rule by the sleazy, corrupt gravy troughers that are in charge at Holyrood at the moment.

The latest polls suggest that the stench of corruption and cronyism has got worse under the likes of Brass Nic and scooter boy by so much that the progress under Salmond is dissipating rapidly and the career politicians who haven't had a job in their life are now all in fighting as they thrash around in fear that the gravy bus might end as even their biggest flag wearing supporters realise they are just smaller **** in a smaller pond.

Has he condemned the attack yet?

He is also a big Celtic fan and would alienate a part of their support if he came out against the Hamas terrorists.

Rumours are that a Glaswegian has died in the attacks as well and if so he will be under a lot of pressure to find his testicles and answer journalists questions on Monday.

Please give Scotland independence and remove them from Westminster.

The fact is that Scotland continues to be ruled, as it has for over half a century, by a Tory Government that Scotland roundly rejected.

The latest by-election and latest polls indicate that Scotland does not just reject the Tories, they completely despise them with support now down to 16%.

When a country keeps on being ruled by a clique of foreign rich boys they reject and vote against so overwhelmingly, especially when the foreign rich boys are odious corrupt and sleazy Hooray Henries with a sense of entitlement who have robbed the people to pay bungs to their chums, sooner of later that country will get her freedom.

Well it wasn't a half a century ago they were given the choice. It's called democracy COT.

Has Yousaf condemned the attack yet?

Yousaf has family in Gaza,the man must be very worried.

Chris Musson

Humza Yousaf's in-laws 'trapped' in Gaza as he fears they 'might not make it'

First Minister Humza Yousaf says he "unequivocally condemns" the attack by Hamas. Says his in laws are trapped in Gaza and "we don't know if they'll make it through the night".

Well done. Only took a couple of days.

Wee wobbly heed might do the same soon.

Better late than never, Hope is family is ok.

British Electoral Politics
@electpoliticsuk
Westminster Voting Intention:

LAB: 43% (=)
CON: 27% (-2)
LDM: 13% (+1)
REF: 8% (+1)
GRN: 6% (+2)
SNP: 1% (-2)

SNP 1%

National polling where one of the parties involved only stands in a part of the country is worthless.

Well at the moment they have over 6% so its very informative yak hunt.

Oct 9, 2023 -- 1:08PM, truehoncho wrote:

Well at the moment they have over 6% so its very informative yak hunt.

Sorry, not sure what you mean?

The SNP.

Well, put it this way, in the poll above Reform are at 8% and the SNP are at 1%. Is it likely that Reform currently have eight times the support in Scotland as the SNP do?

Yes a poll showing a drop in support is "worthless".

Its a Westminster Voting Intention poll yak hunt.

and thanks for sharing SD

Oct 9, 2023 -- 1:20PM, truehoncho wrote:

Its a Westminster Voting Intention poll yak hunt.

Yes, the point I am making is that the SNP do not stand in seats outside of Scotland. The margin of error in national polls of this nature where one of the parties only stands in a fraction of that geographical area of the electorate make it worthless. If it was a poll of Scotland voters only, that is a different matter entirely.

Nonsense yak hunt. Its a poll that has as much worth as any other.

It certainly does not. How many persons in Scotland per constituency were asked to contribute to this poll, do you reckon?

So you thing the poll is biased. Ok, just ignore it then yak hunt.

Oct 9, 2023 -- 1:30PM, truehoncho wrote:

So you thing the poll is biased. Ok, just ignore it then yak hunt.

It's not in the least biased. However, it's impossible to be accurate on very small subsamples as it is here. There will be less than two persons per constituency in Scotland asked for their input to this poll. The margin for error is so massive as to make the subsample useless. If the next national poll comes along and the SNP are at 2%. does that mean that their support has doubled from this poll?

so the SNP may only have 0.1% support yak hunt.

Nationally, who knows? If it was a Scotland only poll, you would know.

Without Scotland Labour will not take power.(who cares they are all the same)

UK (GB), YouGov poll:

LAB-S&D: 45%
CON~ECR: 24%
LDEM-RE: 11%
REFORM~NI: 8%
GREENS-G/EFA: 7%
SNP-G/EFA: 4% (+1)
PC-G/EFA: 1%

+/- vs. 26–27 September 2023

Fieldwork: 4-5 October 2023
Sample size: 2,062

Wow, the SNP support has quadrupled in an hour. Incredible surge from them.

Well done. Thanks for another biases poll yak hunt.

sorry biased yak hunt.

Oct 9, 2023 -- 2:38PM, truehoncho wrote:

Well done. Thanks for another biases poll yak hunt.

It's not in the slightest biased, nor was the previous one. The parties that stand in all areas of the country, their vote is relatively consistent. The ones who don't, such as the SNP and Plaid Cymru, their vote share is totally unreliable at a national poll level.

The jocks are clueless, they abandoned their Labour and thus we have had to endure this filth in power.

More than 140 civil servants in Scotland will become the first to experiment with a four-day working week despite warnings the plan will backfire.

Staff will have the number of days they work cut, but remain on the same pay.

South of Scotland Enterprise office, an SNP quango, has now been confirmed as the first to take part in a 12-month trial, which was announced by Humza Yousaf last month.

The organisation’s chief executive, Jane Morrison-Ross, told Holyrood’s economy and fair work committee that resources were stretched because of budget cuts.

Ms Morrison-Ross, whose agency is responsible for economic and community development across the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, also warned the delivery of some support programmes was under threat.

But the agency’s staff will now reduce their working week from 35 hours to 32 hours and work four days between Monday and Friday.

Mmmmm.... good gravy.

The SNP's Lisa Cameron has announced her defection to the Conservatives.

The East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow MP was facing a selection contest to remain as the SNP's candidate at the next general election.

She said she quit because of a "toxic" culture in the SNP's Westminster group.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross both welcomed Dr Cameron to the party, while SNP leader Humza Yousaf called on her to step down to allow a by-election.

More bad news for Scooter boy.

Scooters main rival Kate Forbes won't be attending this weeks party conference.

The crisis deepens....

Humza's supposedly opening his mates new opticians shop today.

Couldn't make it up with this guy. He'll be doing happy birthday videos and weddings soon.

You are very like akabula^

Yousafs mother in law in tears on the telly (sky news)

Sorry to upset you Lapsy.

So it's wee Jimmy's referendum day today. That went well. Hope everybody saved the date.

Humza Yousaf’s pledge to freeze council tax without first consulting local authority leaders is a “serious breach” of the agreement he signed with councils, the head of the local government body COSLA has insisted.

Shona Morrison accused the First Minister of having chosen to “undermine the spirit and the letter” of the Verity House Agreement when he announced the headline policy in his speech to the SNP conference.

That agreement, which was signed by both Morrison and Yousaf at the end of June, promised there would be “improved engagement on budgetary matters” in the run-up to the Scottish budget in December.

It also set out that councils and Holyrood ministers would have “respect for each other’s democratic mandate” so that local and central government can “work together more effectively”.

After a meeting of council leaders on Friday, COSLA president Morrison said they wanted to restate their “extreme disappointment that the First Minister chose to undermine the spirit and the letter of the Verity House Agreement, so soon after it being signed”.

She made clear: “There was a feeling from leaders that the announcement on council tax is a serious breach of the agreement.”

But she said councils would not quit the deal – saying there was a “belief” amongst local leaders that “for the good of our communities and public services in Scotland, we should not walk away”.

Morrison stressed the importance of “working to rebuild trust”, adding that achieving this would take “tangible actions on the part of the Scottish Government”.

Her comments came after Yousaf used Tuesday’s keynote speech to the SNP conference in Aberdeen to unveil the move.

https://twitter.com/ScotNatWatch/status/1715479526803681732