Notice board English election results have given a gift to the SNP
● John Hulbert and David Maule will be discussing their books on the Stone of Destiny at 6pm tomorrow at Waterstones in Perth. John’s book is The Stone of Destiny & The Scots: The Stone’s Journey to Perth Museum and David’s is The Mysterious Case of the Stone of Destiny. Free, all welcome.
● To See Ourselves – Jane McAllister’s documentary about the 2014 referendum focusing on her father, activist and local councillor Fraser McAllister – will be shown at 7.30pm on Wednesday at Cameo Cinema, Edinburgh. The film will be introduced with songs from Stuart McHardy and followed by a discussion with the filmmakers and Fraser himself, hosted by Bella Caledonia’s Mike Small. For tickets see toseeourselves.film/ see-the-film
● The Blether-In, Forfar’s pro-independence hub, is hosting an event from 2pm to 4.30pm on Sunday in the West-End Social club. This will be a Q&A event on the question “Is Westminster relevant?” with MPs on the panel. Tickets are £5. Contact Linda Clark: 07917142622/mrsLindaclark@ btinternet.com
● Julie McNeill will launch We Are Scottish Football, a collection of poetry to get us fired up for the Euros, at a very special evening of football, poetry and music at 6.30pm on Monday, May 20 at The Scottish Football Museum in Glasgow. Hosted by Hugh McMillan, Julie will be joined by photographer Campbell Ramage and Fitba Makars Stephen Watt and Hamish MacDonald, with music from Hunter & McMustard (Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5). Free tickets are available from www.tickettailor.com.
● Yes Cumbernauld will host roundtable discussions on the values of an independent Scotland on Monday, May 20 in the Muirfield Community Centre at 7.30pm.
WHY is this indy supporter so excited about the English local election miasma? Maybe because I’m astounded at the clear political gift handed to the SNP. Let Labour claim victory in Blackpool rather than acknowledging that it was won for them by consecutive Conservative catastrophes and the Reform UK vote leak. One can only pray the delusion lasts.
Let Sunak claim that the mayoral win in Tees Valley is his. Lord Houchen (pictured) did not acknowledge either Sunak or the Tories in his victory speech.
The Independent called it “a snub”.
Let the media crow about larger gains for Starmer than for the old war criminal, Tony Blair.
Peering through the murk of the recent local elections in England, any long-term political creature will see what this is – simply the most anti-incumbent impetus of the UK’s post-war political era.
Let’s be honest, when the time comes, the people who will count are the ones in the middle, the undecided or floating voters and don’t-really-knowers. Maybe even a handful of Ant and Dec viewers (I’ve-lost-my-critical-faculties-get-meout-of-here) will leave the sofa on polling day.
If the SNP can focus on one simple, straightforward, digestible message – the one just handed to them on a plate – let it be this:
“A Labour vote may oust a Tory government. Only SNP success will end Tory policies.”
Loud and clear. On repeat. Until the final vote is cast in the upcoming General Election.
Amanda Baker Edinburgh
ENGLISH Labour’s viceroy-inwaiting Ian Murray wants an election now. He slams the Scottish Givernment’s record but doesn’t say that Scotland not only has the UK’s best-performing NHS but has avoided strikes while the English NHS has had almost continual strikes since 2022.
And look at Labour-run Wales. The new Welsh Labour leader accepted a £200,000 donation from a company owned by a man prosecuted for illegally dumping waste, the Welsh NHS isn’t functional according to the Welsh BMA head, and 80% of Welsh GPs complain of excessive workloads putting patients at risk.
But you won’t hear Ian Murray calling for a Welsh election.
Then we have yet another English Labour U-turn, this time a roll-back