OH HOW THEY LAUGHED!

OH HOW THEY LAUGHED

My Twitter feed has been full of unionists these last weeks following me to get a glimpse of the latest on the Inquiry and the “civil war” in the SNP. It usually takes up to an hour each day to go through and block them. I had to block Lord Foulkes last week, he was quite easy he used his real name. A lot made it easy by putting a Union Jack on their tweet, but there were a few that took a bit more effort to identify

No doubt they were in heaven sure they were witnessing the end of the Independence threat. No matter how many times they were told that there was a lot more to The YES movement than just the SNP they clung to the belief that the SNP were their sole opponents, How wrong could they be? At 2pm on the 26th March they found out just how wrong they were. It is a disaster for them.

Now they discover their worst nightmare. While they were busy laughing and slapping each other on the back, wiser folk were quietly putting in place the trap that will see the forces of unionism put to the sword on the 6th May. There must have been a lot of choked food on the floor as they heard the news about ALBA in the Unionist and SNP HQ’s.

Yes ALBA has been formed, a very serious list only Party headed by master tactician Alex Salmond, professionally well organised and ready to field high quality candidates across the country. They will have electoral appeal, they will present a serious challenge in every region. What is their target, what do they want to achieve? 

INDEPENDENCE, AND THEY HAVE A PLAN TO GET IT! In this first election nothing less than being the official opposition at Holyrood, creating along with the SNP and Greens a massive pro Independence majority in the Parliament. An unarguable majority, scything down big numbers of unionist MSP’s on the way. Oh happy days! Who needs to gamble with the risks of the D’Hondt electoral system where it is a huge lottery to try and secure a pro Indy majority? With ALBA in the field now, not only guaranteeing that pro Indy majority, but providing the very real route to a supermajority that protects Holyrood and provides the ability of a plebiscite independence vote any time Scotland chooses? How much better a prospect is that?

At a stroke the both votes SNP argument is blown to smithereens. Here is a way to seriously advance Independence. SNP in the constituency vote, ALBA on the list and we elect a super majority of pro Indy MSP’s giving us the two thirds majority in the Parliament that opens up a much bigger range of tactical options to the pro Indy majority. A Parliament where a lot fewer Unionist MSP’s will be in evidence. That means a lot less full time paid opponents across the land.A lot of Unionist offices closed!

When ALBA helps ensure a big pro Indy majority, in excess of two thirds of the Parliament,  a major wall suddenly appears round the Parliament defending it against any attempt by Westminster to weaken it. With a two thirds majority the Parliament suddenly has the ability to call a Scottish General Election at will. Westminster faces the worry that any vindictive action against Holyrood might result in a general election or even a Scottish plebiscite election a few weeks later when the Scottish electorate can pass judgement on their plans, or on Independence?

I think this is potentially a huge step forward, the Calvary coming over the hill in the brink of time just as things were going downhill fast. Instead of loads of disillusioned Indy supporters staying home here is the perfect remedy to get them excited, a reason to turnout and land a serious blow to the Union…and the backsliders on Independence within the SNP as well. It will increase the turnout of Indy supporters and help the SNP in the constituency vote as a useful by product, by getting more pro Indy voters to the polls.

This will not be a one off. I think the Indy movement can be greatly strengthened by having two strong parties each trying to build Indy support, perhaps operating different, but hopefully complimentary strategies. Each vying to lead. That takes fresh ideas, better tactics, effective strategies. It will be interesting to see what changes that brings about. For sure each Party will need to be fully focussed on the main goal. Much less likely to be taking time off to promote divisive policies like GRA and the Hate Crime Bill when those opposed to such measures have a serious pro Indy alternative waiting nearby.

What will the Unionists make of this? It is pretty much a disaster for them I think. One minute laughing and joking that Independence was on the slide and then suddenly this! Cripes, as they would say down Surrey way, never saw that coming, did you?

The next couple of months are going to be fascinating. I want to set out my position in the clearest fashion from the off. I will be voting ALBA with my second vote, talking with my family and a close group of friends we will all be. I suspect they will enjoy overwhelming support from pretty much all the bloggers Wings, Barrhead Boy, Jeggit, Yours for Scotland, GROUSEBEATER for sure. We have all long been urging a serious list alternative that would be a sensible home for the huge numbers of pro Indy voters who want an alternative to the crazy behaviour and divisive policies like GRA and the Hate Crime Bill. Policies that for many make it all but impossible to vote SNP.

People also felt trapped in the Section 30 dead end. They were disgusted with the SNP leadership but they didn’t want to harm Independence by risking Unionist advances. That risk has now been removed. It will be a lot easier to vote SNP in the constituency ballot knowing that ALBA are there alongside as a control measure to any wild excesses from the current SNP leadership.

I have been hugely critical of the SNP Leadership. They are either incredibly  arrogant or spectacularly stupid. They have been behaving for a long time now as if they thought they could do whatever they wanted, just ignore what others were telling them about the division and destruction of introducing crazy, divisive policies, ignoring and excluding branches and members from the operations in running their own Party. 

Becoming a secret society run by a cabal, best illustrated by an appointed, rather than elected, NEC and removing National Council. The two key structures that were there to keep any leadership accountable to the ordinary membership. The two key structures that in the past would have stopped this happening and is responsible for the loss of tens of thousands of members in recent years. A new home, an exciting pro Indy home, is now available. I would urge everyone to jump to make the most of this great new option.

I have had suspicions this would emerge but let me be clear I have not been involved in its development. Of course I heard rumours, but it was never certain information and anyway I would have been totally in favour of keeping it a surprise to maximise the impact and effect. . I only knew for certain a few weeks ago. It’s been hard, particularly in the last few weeks when it became known to me that it was certainly going to happen, not to write a cheery word in response to the great many pro Indy people, including good friends, who were pouring out their despair on social media, in particular those who did so on the comments page of this blog. I feel very pleased that their hopes have been realised with this news and I hope there will be a greatly energized new recruitment to the Indy cause. These are very exciting times and that serious advance for Independence is only weeks away, if WE ALL get our act together.

The creation of ALBA establishes the now solid reputation of Nicola Sturgeon as the creator extraordinaire of more pro Indy Parties than any SNP LEADER that has gone before. As for Peter Murrell well I think “the more fronts he has to fight on the better!”

I am delighted and impressed ALBA have managed to carry out the enormous amount of work in creating a new Party secretly. It tells me a lot. They are clearly professional, very disciplined and have a very good grip of strategy and planning. Exactly what the pro Indy side need at this time.

So welcome ALBA, your new presence is very welcome and enthuses me and many thousands of others with new hope and vigour for the contest in front of us. Bring it on! I finish with these words, there will be many more in the weeks ahead.

So tremble false Whigs in the midst of your glee

You have not seen the last of my bonnets and me!

Raise your bonnet and your glass. I give you the new hope, REAL HOPE for Scottish Independence.

I give you ALBA!

I am, as always

Yours for Scotland

Beat the Censors

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