[Tubby Isaacs]

Nice of all those hard nosed private energy firms to give "England" all that electricity for free.

[kreuzberger]

According to the Nats, Engerland has been taking the piss for generations, so you might as well start on their wind.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Two-child benefit cap ‘will be scrapped’ in Scotland, vows SNP
Scotland’s finance secretary, Shona Robison, reveals plans in budget to end ‘pernicious’ policy

Credit to them for this. This will though presumably lead to some tightening of budgets for less well-targeted stuff. I'm entirely in favour, but it might be difficult to pull off politically.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Also interesting that Kate Forbes said last year that they had no power to do this.

[Abernathy]

Well, quelle surprise.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2 ... d-marriage


Nicola Sturgeon announces divorce from Peter Murrell

[Bones McCoy]

Well, quelle surprise.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2 ... d-marriage


Nicola Sturgeon announces divorce from Peter Murrell

I wonder who gets custody of the Van.

[Abernathy]

Cracking result in the Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse Scottish parliament by-election. Taking the seat from the SNP and sending a nice “FUCK RIGHT OFF” message to Farage and Reform.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1w343v4znxt

[Youngian]

'Scottish Labour's lead by one of them,' appeared to be Reform's main campaigning point. Cunts.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Astonishing result. The SNP still seem to have problems in areas where a few years ago they looked to have wiped out Labour for good.

Reform a very competitive third, despite really nasty stuff about Anas Sarwar.

[Bones McCoy]

'Scottish Labour's lead by one of them,' appeared to be Reform's main campaigning point. Cunts.

Regrettably still mustering a high 20%s turnout based on their shit flinging.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I wonder if what we might euphemistically call "social conservatism" goes down better in parts of Scotland than some people have allowed? The SNP have a large Brexiter vote, which presumably looks like the Labour "heartlands" Brexiter vote in England and Wales.

[kreuzberger]

Larkhall, in particular, is a very strong Unionist area.

[Tubby Isaacs]

And yet the SNP have never been below 46% in the seat before. Probably more Reform friendly than a lot of seats though.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Larkhall, in particular, is a very strong Unionist area.

Ha ha ha. Have you seen this?

[davidjay]

This might well be the beginning of the end for Reform. Populists can only keep going by projecting an image of of an unstoppable, ever-victorious machine. Once they begin to slow down they fall apart.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I was shuddering with embarrassment as much as the next man when Anas Sarwar talked about a Scottish DOGE. Until I saw the rather stunning figures in this thread. I'm still embarrassed at his choice of phrase, but (in summary) Scottish Government promised to get the headcount of its civil service down to pre-Covid levels, and it's still massively up.

There's an opportunity for Labour here. And indeed Reform, who are putting together decent vote shares in Scottish polls now. That looks like a lot of headcount that would be better if it was in Fire and Police, Local Government or Further Education. Or perhaps the extra bit of Scottish income tax could be cut?

[Boiler]

I note Mhairi Black has left the SNP.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx202grvk29o

[Killer Whale]

predominantly over its stance on trans rights and Palestine

Two subjects where nuance is not allowed, I note.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Swinney hasn't been adopting a nuanced position as dropping trans rights like a stone. They got killed on the issue, especially after Isla Bryson, but they certainly could have been more helpful to trans people. So I get where Black's coming from on that, but not Palestine.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I bet the print run was enormous.

The SNP First Minister is meeting Trump, quite rightly. Is the National OK with this?