[0762]

There's still a "ray of hope" re the independence issue itself Jim! I can understand the despondency coming from many people re this current situation. However, I'm old enough to remember worse situations than this one when the SNP was truly split between the left and right of the party decades ago, but the party eventually came out of the crisis much stronger and more unified. Recent opinion polls show that the solid core indy support is thankfully still holding steady and I'm not surprised as most people view the SNP predicament as a political one rather than any slight on the independence movement. I, and indeed you, have previously highlighted the continuous hostile attacks on the SNP and the Scot govt for well over a year - a complicit RW media/press orchestrated from down south attacking our political ideology (strongly anti-Brexit btw and they don't like that!!) and democratically elected Scot govt that they don't like. Like him or loathe him, Yousaf will not be helped by this hostile media that is eager to exploit any "news" in Scotland that can be manipulated to promote a RW ideology and/or to sustain a long-dysfunctional and increasingly undemocratic Union. The worse the "news", the happier will be those preying on fears and feeding the self-interest of their customers predominantly located south of the border. This is what I'm observing at the moment. All who support independence already know that the sooner Scotland has the powers to determine its own future, the sooner the more serious work on constructing a fair, egalitarian and prosperous country can commence. In the meantime, the Scottish govt must work within an economic straitjacket, wrestling with many demands forced upon it. The "ray of hope" for me lies in a good number of ideas raised during that recent leadership contest - they not only have merit, but they can bring together the SNP and the wider "Yes Movement" in progressing our common cause. Like many other indy supporters, I regard Nicola Sturgeon as failing badly in that regard and that has to be quickly rectified by Yousaf, and others like the newly appointed Minister for Independence. The challenge is huge, but initial actions by Yousaf are encouraging - broaden involvement and input both within and outwith the SNP (perhaps via a Scottish Independence Convention). As every day, another "negative Scot Govt story" is broadcast by BBC Scotland, and permeates the UK MS media, often without any objective context, Yousaf's idea of an instant/rapid "rebuttal unit" is a good one IMO. It needs to be created in order that an appropriate spokesperson can immediately inform the media of pertinent context (rather than rely on more Tory propaganda). Same goes for these bogus annual GERS figures that Sturgeon and her govt meekly accepted on an annual basis and compiled by a devious Brit govt - the preparation of "RealGERS" figures/reports required and publicised please!!!!! That is long overdue and useful in subjectively countering misleading claims that Scotland has an enduring reliance on UK financial aid. Lastly, I concur re that gut feeling there is something else going on in the background re the Murrell case and not quite sure what it is. Is that sinister Brit govt financed "Union Unit" involved in this shit???? I'm not sure! I wish some kinda whistleblower "crawled out the woodwork" to expose a Unionist conspiracy against Scotland that is definitely active and has been for quite a while. It goes "hand in hand" with the aforementioned media and political attacks that we have previously debated with great concern.