When this Covid shutdown is over
@theSNP
better launch a huge push for independence. Front and centre of 2021 election campaign. Scotland faces disaster with No Deal Brexit. If we don't get off our knees now we never will.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
If Kate Forbes was a Roman Catholic or a Muslim do you think Patrick Harvie would talk about her faith in these terms? Or is it because she is a member of a small, predominantly Highland, Calvinist church. One he thinks he can ridicule?
Greens leader
@patrickharvie
says the government has dumped its progressive agenda with a Cabinet reshuffle that saw Kate Forbes become deputy first minister.
"Is this the Scottish Government's vision for the future...taking us back to the repressive values of the 1950s?"
#FMQs
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Anyone leaving
@theSNP
because of other members' views remember this: Our enemies want rancor. Focus on independence and ignore those promoting division.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Anyone who says Nicola Sturgeon, Angus Robertson etc don't believe in independence is in instant block. Disagree on tactics and timing but these guys have been campaigning for
#indy
for over 35 years.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
The UK government have been preparing for months and are about to launch a huge fight to save their 'precious Union'. They will use every resource, every dirty trick and be ruthless. I hope the Scottish government and
@theSNP
are prepared. Time for us all to step up...
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Was told last night by a former Herald journalist that the primary role of most Scottish journalists is to talk their country down and destroy national self-confidence. Holding the government to account and telling us we are all shit is a fine line.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
For those of you planning a holiday to the Highlands in the summer I'm afraid you've missed a trick. Sitting here in 25 degree heat, blue sky, sea and bluebells (and cold beer in hand). Cuckoo in distance, lambs in fields, new life everywhere. The hills are still brindled and
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
If there is a No Deal Brexit I expect
@NicolaSturgeon
and the
@theSNP
to use their
#indyref2
mandate forthwith. We can't wait around for 5 months as businesses and lives are destroyed. It changes everything.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Has
@BBCNews
apologised yet for spreading misinformation about 3 deaths in Glasgow yesterday? I thought they needed 3 sources? Made idiots of other journalists who trusted them. Ignored
@policescotland
and SG advice.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Most political journalists in Scotland has known for a long time that Alex Salmond was given a memory stick by police showing overwhelming evidence of a plot to jail him. Yet some have been calling Craig Murray and the rest 'conspiracy theorists'. Why?
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Just found old copy of Herald from Nov 2007. This had a huge impact on how Scots saw themselves after years of being called subsidy junkies. Journalists behind story...
@LeaskyHT
and
@BBCDouglasF
with commentary from Alf Young....
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
If there is a No Deal Brexit because
@joswinson
refused to back the official leader of the opposition as caretaker leader for a couple of weeks then I will hold her responsible for every lost job, every lost business & every lost life that will follow. She better wise up fast.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
A friendly reminder that
@AlexSalmond
is a hero of the independence movement who has devoted his life to Scotland. There is hardly a British politician alive fit to lace his boots. I've been a member of the SNP since the age of 15 and I will be voting SNP1ALba2.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
I'm not particularly religious but I see these attacks on Kate Forbes as Free Church and a devout Christian as an attack on my Highland family and Highland culture. Also shows how ignorant some journalists & politicians are of wider Scottish society.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
#bbcdn
When Kate Forbes speaks No voters listen. She is extraordinarily gifted in being able to persuade those we have to. Quite incredible that elected members have turned against this once-in-a-generation talent just because of her faith. Staggering.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
With so many likely to vote Alba on list it's absolutely essential SNP win nearly all constituencies. Unionists will tactically vote so every indy supporter has get out and vote SNP1 or an expected overwhelming victory could turn into a disaster. This is serious. Need to unite.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Kate Forbes has the intellect and personality to be an outstanding First Minister. Ash Regan has the ideas to change the dial. I really don't know what Humza has to offer other than more of the same. At a loss why people are endorsing him to be honest.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Alex Salmond and Alex Neil proposing national housebuilding company. Brilliant idea. Can't rely on big private house builders to provide quality or quantity to meet Scotland's housing needs.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
For those in the SNP who used to stand with Alex Salmond but turned their backs on him in his time of need, I hope you feel utterly ashamed. That was a man telling the truth yesterday. Those who think he is 'finished': you are utterly wrong. We need
@AlexSalmond
back.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Ruby Wax did not like one bit that a working class Scottish man could articulate the impact of lockdown on mental health better than she could. Was unnecessarily rude to
@lokiscottishrap
and embarrassed herself.
#bbcqt
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Quite incredible the intolerance Patrick Harvie has for someone with mainstream Christian views. Fortunately for Patrick, as a practicing Christian and a good human being, Kate is kind, understanding and forgiving. Why the wee nyaff was ever allowed a whiff of power is beyond me.
Greens leader
@patrickharvie
says the government has dumped its progressive agenda with a Cabinet reshuffle that saw Kate Forbes become deputy first minister.
"Is this the Scottish Government's vision for the future...taking us back to the repressive values of the 1950s?"
#FMQs
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83
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
In Gaelic we say 'tha sinn a' tarraing air an aon rΓ mh'. It means we are pulling on the same oar - we are together, we want the same thing. Indy supporters, whatever their politics, should remember we are rowing together. We have to.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
The way the Tories are behaving Scotland might be independent sooner than we think. Power grab, disastrous Brexit, shambolic Covid response & London saying no democratic route to self-determination. The people might not wait for the SNP to make a move.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
If
@theSNP
and elected representatives continue to slander
@AlexSalmond
they will increase division and encourage SNP members to resign and join the new party.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
On the 1st of March 40 years ago, the Labour government betrayed Scotland by not delivering a parliament that the people voted for. As a result we endured 2 decades of Tory rule that we did not vote for, destroying our industrial base while having our assets stripped.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Masterly press conference from Alex Salmond. He is transforming this campaign into THE independence election. This will galvanise the indy supporters to get out and vote SNP - something many failed to do in 2017. A big chunk will also vote Alba. London will be in a panic.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
The reason Alba and Greens did not do better is because a lot of the electorate don't understand how the D'hondt system works. That is not the fault of the SNP, It is the fault of our media, particularly the BBC.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
If Alex Salmond is coming back into politics it will be to help deliver independence. He should be welcomed. Those who continue to smear an innocent man...I hope they get a swift warning legal letter.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
On the day the Labour Party splits remember this: The Labour Party would rather Scotland under Tory rule ad infinitum than be independent. Labour worked hand in glove with the Tories to stop Scottish independence in 2014 and will do so again under Corbyn.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
If there is a No Deal Brexit then I'm afraid
@theSNP
strategy of winning a new mandate in May 2021 is superseded. I hope they realise that. The movement will not stand about waiting for leadership as businesses, livelihoods and lives are destroyed.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Countdown to a Herald journalist writing article on Sarah Smith and BBC being bullied by nasty Cybernats... closely followed by the usual crew writing the same article...
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
I see certain people are *pronouncing that they have left the SNP to join the Greens. I'm delighted that the cuckoos in the nest are off. They didn't join the SNP to win independence but to push their ideology. The tragedy for Nicola Sturgeon is that she believed their dangerous
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
If NEC has adopted that definition of transphobia then the party will split. If you don't go along with the junk science of the cult you will be disciplined with input from Stonewall to decide your transgression. What a disaster by
@theSNP
.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
If Alex Salmond comes back and leads Scotland to independence this will make a more epic historical tale than the stories of Wallace and Bruce combined. It's House of Cards meets Game of Thrones.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
I'll be voting
#SNP1ALBA2
on Thursday. The independence movement needs the energy of the Alba activists and it needs their brilliant candidates elected. They will put independence for Scotland first and last.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
If you visit Skye as a tourist, and you are able, and the weather allows, and you have the appropriate clothes/footwear/maps etc, I cannot stress enough how rewarding it is to climb a hill. Any hill. It is epic.
Third of Irish immigrants to Scotland were Protestant. Famine and hunger didn't recognise religion. Are the bigoted Orange Rangers supporters suggesting some of them go 'home' to Ireland themselves or are they just ignorant?
What a disgraceful statement by
@GeorgeAdam
. Utter disgrace. Alex Salmond deseves justice and SNP members deserve the Truth. Fed up of this shit from leadership.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Hearing today of people resigning from SNP and joining Alba after being disgusted by the petty attack on
@KennyMacAskill
.
@theSNP
should give up the vitriol if they don't want to lose members.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
At this point - facing a no deal Brexit -
@theSNP
should have been fully prepared to move on independence. The reason they are not has little to do with Covid.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
I see journalists are suggesting the SNP will spurn Alba but instead work closely - or even form a coalition - with the Greens. I don't think they've considered that SNP msps could defect to Alba after the election if there is any foot dragging on delivering indy.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
I see some people are saying Kate Forbes shouldn't be First Minister because she belongs to the Free Church. Would they say the same if she was Catholic or Jewish?
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
For years the SNP went out of their way not to upset any section of Scottish society. Radical land & tax reform ditched to placate those who would never vote Yes anyway. Now Nicola is alienating 50% of population with this gender nonsense. I don't understand the strategy.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
The Government met today in Derrynane House, Daniel OβConnellβs ancestral home. We had a long & substantial discussion on Brexit & agreed to ramp up our contingency plans. This will include hiring more than 1,000 extra inspectors for our ports & airports. We will be prepared.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
The 'Navvies Graveyard' at Kinlochleven dam. Hundreds of Irish and Scottish itinerant workers died building this epic hydro scheme. Setting of Patrick MacGill's classic book Children of the Dead End.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
By calling the stitchup of Alex Salmond a 'conspiracy theory' these SNP politicians are not just having a go at 'SNPBaad bloggers', they are accusing Alex Salmond of lying. None of these politicians are fit to tie Alex Salmond's laces.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Lessons from Lockdown:
1. Rural communities are nicer places to live without tourist traffic.
2. Rural economy needs to diversify from over reliance on tourism.
3. Many businesses can be run from anywhere in world. Shiny city offices not needed.
4. Reimagine our country.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
English building control have been partially privatised with third party consultants checking compliance rather than professionals at council. One of many differences, all making their system inferior. A disgrace.
Michael Gove 2016: Holyrood would be strengthened if we left the EU.
"The Scottish Parliament would have new powers over fishing, agriculture, over some social areas and potentially over immigration."
Michael Gove 2020: Holyrood to be emasculated .
I've not watched
@BBCNews
since 2014 but I see from Twitter they have lost credibility across the UK. Boris Johnson recovery more important than almost 1k daily death toll. Noone in UK government being held to account for this tragedy.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Anyone who continues to support
#GRR
is not a serious candidate to be leader of the SNP and the independence movement. Ditching the toxic Greens out of government should be their first act. Reconciliation with Alec Salmond their second.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
@Ianblackford_MP
@HumzaYousaf
@theSNP
Kate clearly a far better candidate so I have no idea why you didn't support her Ian. Really, really strange what is going on.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
I see Kate Forbes is now being attacked because she 'might have married a Tory'. As far as I'm aware she married someone she loves, a widower who she knew through her church and their families missionary work in India.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
@DickWinchester
Alex is not putting independence at risk. He has no control over enquiry timetables. The people putting independence at risk are those who tried to stitch him up and send him to prison. They are the ones who will never be forgiven.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
SNP politicians should realise you can support Nicola Sturgeon without smearing Alex Salmond, a man found innocent of all charges. He is still a political hero to many members and this will just increase division.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Any SNP elected politician that continues to traduce Alec Salmond: You are now doing it to the party and movement. What is truth and what are lies is now blindingly obvious. Don't treat party members as idiots.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
At least Jackson Carlaw was articulate, passionate & represented the salmon-shirted, golf-club wee business conservatives. Like Ruth Davidson, Douglas Ross is a Tory with no beliefs or base. But she has likeability & charm. He's the opposite. Replaced Carsale with Carcrash.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
1) A thread
A tale of two PPE suppliers.
The company set up on 12 May 2020 by an associate of a Conservative Peer.
The family business in Knowsley, with over 50 years proven track record.
One was given a contract for Β£122 million.
The other was given the run around.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
If Nicola Sturgeon had sacked incompetent officials, Evans, MacKinnon and Lloyd when the judicial revue was catastrophically lost, she wouldn't be facing losing her own job now. Worse this mess is seriously damaging the prospects of SNP majority & independence.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
With the levels of insulation required under the latest building regs the vast, vast majority of energy requirement for a new house will be for baths and showers. In other words, stoves, when lit, will quickly lead to overheaing. So what is the point of banning them if they will
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
To put Alba's 3% after 3 days in context - neither AFI nor ISP registered even 1% in any poll after months of existence and social media promotion as far as I'm aware.
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Alasdair Stephen πΊπ¦π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
I predict Kate Forbes will win. Why? Because members joined the SNP to win independence and she is the best candidate to deliver that. By far. All other issues are secondary.