Restless Land

Angela Rayner best put down since Julia Gillard demolished Tony Abbott sexism “My advice to the Deputy PM is to cut out the snobbery and brush up on his opera. The Marriage of Figaro is the story of a working-class woman who gets the better of a privileged but dim-witted villain”

@Jonathon_Shafi Jonathan, I think if we are being honest there should be self-reflection. Many claimed that SNP and NS had abandoned the independence cause. Time to give credit where it's due and start to play a positive non-sectarian role again within the broad Yes movement.

Imagine the Tories just said: fine, have it. October 23rd, same question, and it's legally binding. The campaign starts now. That's probably the one eventuality that would actually panic the SNP HQ, if we are being honest.

During the grim days of Thatcherism, many Scottish Labour activists devoted a lot of time and energy campaigning for a Scottish Parliament. They weren't wrong. Surely we can walk and chew gum at the same time?

Right-wing former Tory Michael Fry is supporting Alba because, he says, Alex "understands that equality breeds mediocrity" while Nicola "hates capitalism". An exaggeration no doubt - but a helpful steer for those of us on the left. thenational.scot/news/19196238.…

@HTScotPol I suspect if there was ever an inquiry into media coverage of this whole affair, there would be a lot more than a few mild criticisms of the level of competence and partisanship. And heaven help the opposition leaders should they be subjected to this degree of scrutiny.

The Hamilton report isn't all plain sailing for Nicola Sturgeon. He found the claim that one of her officials leaked the name of a complainer to be "credible"

Maybe it's time for certain prominent Scottish opposition figures to consider their position. And some newspaper editors too. Shocking political and journalistic incompetence.

Cost of legal challenge to 2018 Judicial Review: £510,000 (0.001% per cent of Scottish budget). Cost of Scottish ministers attending 2005 Tartan Day Parade in New York: £511,000 (0.002 % of Scottish budget).

From a fervent federalist to enemy of devolution. From staunch EU supporter to rampant Brexiteer. From left wing socialist to Tory voter, From Dundee Utd fan to Celtic FC convert. This man @georgegalloway is a serial turncoat.

Rare TV moment - the Tories being called out on BBC. The face of @AndrewBowie_MP here…

The latest lockdown is "a body blow to the British people" declares former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith - who after decades in the House of Commons still can't tell the difference between Britain and England.

To mark the bicentenary of the execution of the leaders of the 1820 Radical Rising, we reprint Chapter 19 of Restless Land which tells this gripping story. And you download a free pdf of the original 5,000 word chapter restlessland.org/the-1820-radic…

Yes @JohnSwinney made a poor call in defending SQA - but can't remember @IainGrayMSP ever calling for the resignation of his ex-leader Tony Blair, whose incompetent judgement on Iraq led to hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of refugees.

Support for Scottish independence surges in new poll as SNP look set for landslide victory at Holyrood elections heraldscotland.com/news/18562149.…

Spiked Online - formerly the Revolutionary Communist Party - on @CallKaye to support #DominicCummngs and condemn a lockdown designed to protect the most vulnerable.

Labour MSP: Party should 'positively support' Indyref2 if there is Holyrood majority heraldscotland.com/news/18271541.…

On 11 May 2015 @carolynleckie wrote in the National: "The personal behaviour and character of every new SNP MP is now on trial. As Jimmy Reid told the UCS workers in 1971 when the eyes of the world were on them, 'there will be no vandalism, no hooliganism, no bevvying'."

Some on the Scottish left have welcomed Brexit Day. For a different viewpoint, see this pro-socialist, pro- internationalist, pro-independence take on the EU that was adopted by the @The_SSP_ back in 2009. restlessland.org/2020/02/01/lit…

Iain Macwhirter: Labour is on a loser with its unsubtle attack on nationalism heraldscotland.com/news/18194437.…

So 3 out of 4 Labour leadership candidates oppose the basic principle of national determination.Disagree with her opposition to Scottish independence but at least @RLong_Bailey is a democrat.

Former policy convenor of Scottish Liberal Democrats @siobhanhmathers has just told BBC Scotland that there has been 'a material change in circumstances' since 2014 and there is a justified case for a second independence referendum.