Burning Barns

I'm aware that this thread was set up specifically for trolls to trash Alba during the Holyrood election, so I expect no less than the kind of posts that are on it. I've always tried to provide some balance, but it's essentially an echo chamber of carbon copy posts from totally biased individuals, taking it in turns to upvote each other. It's interesting that the last post on the joint SNP/Green thread was four days ago. Yet, they're on here instead.

I wouldn't know, but there are probably SNP supporters on here who haven't engaged with this thread at all, but many of those who have, only do so to slander Alba and fellow nationalists. They wouldn't be doing this, if they didn't perceive Alba as a threat to their own party. All the bluster, insults and pretentiousness, it's just party politics to them. Meanwhile, the independence movement gets nowhere.

You're correct, my mistake, but I still think the comparison is a fair one. Hopefully, Alba will make their electoral breakthrough at the next Holyrood election. I fully expect that by then, we still won't have been provided with any mechanism to become an independent country by the current Scottish Government and frustration at this situation will only grow. I think it's worth noting that it's the same SNP members or supporters who are always on this thread posting their smears. They obviously perceive Alba as some kind of threat, because otherwise it'd simply be ignored. I guess there wasn't much to talk about when it comes to the ever so invigorating and superbly attended online SNP conference at the weekend.

It's clear to see the same posters are intent on regurgitating the same old, completely partisan, "Alba-Bad" tropes they were throwing about six months ago during the election. It's a simple smear campaign. I'd urge anyone with a genuine interest in the party to do some research yourself and take what you read about Alba online, especially from intensely hostile sources on social media sites like those on this, with a pinch of salt. For what it's worth, Alba got nearly double the votes this year that the SSP did in their first election. In their second one, they got five MSPs.

You're conflating two separate things, examples of homophobia and racism, which have absolutely nothing to do with self-ID and should rightfully be condemned, because you believe it suits your argument. Women are entitled to expect to be around other females in certain spaces, such as, bathrooms, changing rooms, hospital wards, prisons, women's refuges, sports teams/competitions etc. In my opinion, that isn't controversial. I respectfully disagree with self-ID, but I don't deny the life experiences of trans people and believe they deserve the same level of compassion and understanding as anyone else. Look down on who you like, though.

As a couple of the posts above show, some people have become completely zealotic on this issue, to the point where they believe others with differing opinions are beneath them. Stories like this one for example, are why some people, mainly women, feel there is a conflict of interest between the concept of self-ID and the rights they are entitled to. https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/north-lanarkshire-council-accused-of-callous-decision-to-withdraw-funding-for-womens-aid-services-3147513 The SNP/Green response is simply to denigrate and slander. No debate is required, just sneering condescension and insults.

Utter crap, but this is the level of "debate" to be expected from supporters of the New SNP, I guess.

No amount of "distancing themselves from Westminster" changes the fact that Boris Johnson is the leader of the Tory Party, an organisation based and lead from England. Dross is, pretty much, a glorified Branch Convenor and does not lead an actual political party. The SNP wouldn't be what it is today, without Alex Salmond. Neither would the cause of independence. We are where are, politically in Scotland, largely because of his tenure, and the selfishness and stupidity of the British regime since the indyref. So far, his successor has largely failed to deliver anything of note.

It shows that a party with a leader with low approval ratings in Scotland, can still get a considerable amount of votes. It's possible that people who don't necessarily like Alex Salmond might still vote for Alba, if he's the party leader during the next Holyrood election, for example. The circumstances we're in as country at that time will dictate that.

For me, the ironic thing about that is, despite polls like these, the party Johnson leads are the largest opposition group in Holyrood.

As you know, AS was cleared on all charges. Protecting the rights of Scottish women and girls is a key part of what Alba stand for. The current party of government at Holyrood and their coalition partners, both have some issues, so to speak, when it comes to this.

Who would you rather lead a new independence supporting party? Objectively, AS was the most successful leader the SNP ever had, taking them from the political wilderness to having an outright majority at Holyrood, as well as making the indyref happen, which we were very close to winning, against almost all odds. Since then, the cause of indy has completely stalled and the SNP become increasingly comfortable at Westminster and more British in their outlook and opinions by the day. You're entitled to your view, of course, however it's still very early days for Alba as a party. From what I've seen so far, there is tremendous enthusiasm and determination to help the party succeed. Had Alba not been formed, I would be politically homeless, much like yourself.

That doesn't make the information any less valid. Just thought I'd post it for some context, since the number of people attending conference was brought up.

At one point today, only 31 people were tuned into the SNP conference online.

During the indyref, the original Wee Blue Book was a campaigning item, given out to voters free of charge. I'd imagine it'll be the same with this one. If you want talk about grifters in Scottish politics, look no further than those individuals who squandered the £600,000 which they were entrusted with to use for indyref2.