Nicola Sturgeon's time is up

[quimcunx]

*indulges in idle fantasy about Mhairi Black becoming an SNP MSP then becoming leader.

 

[JimW]

you fed up with him at Forest Green Rovers already?

would like to see him with the head of the UK oil lobby in a headlock over how much they will pay for renewable energy licences, though

He's on a hiding to nothing with us, is good in moments like this and wants a chance to answer his country's call.

 

[JimW]

So is it due to some corruption scandal about to break?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I’ve just renewed my SNP membership too.

¿Andalucía ya no es tu tierra?

 

[Puddy_Tat]

BBC news was leading very heavily with the whole transphobia line.

i turned the damn thing off.

 

[steeplejack]

He's on a hiding to nothing with us, is good in moments like this and wants a chance to answer his country's call.

"Nicola's done a fine job here bit fir whatever reason it's went stale in the last few month. Onywey ah dinna want to comment on another manager's work as ah wisna here. Ah ken there's good boays n lasses n that cabinet room but its a clean slate fur everyone. If ye don't work in trainin you'll no be in mah team on a Wednesday luncthime. There's folk burstin tae wear that yellah n black shirt but dinna think just because ye steered through a tricky amendment oan Local Authorty Park Keeping Comepteneces (Scotland) 2022 that ah'm impresst. It's a 100 per cent effort fae ivrybody from now oan n we can get these results turnt around. "

 

[sojourner]

*indulges in idle fantasy about Mhairi Black becoming leader.

My daughter has literally just Whatsapped this to me Her and her g/f are gutted about Sturgeon going.

 

[quimcunx]

Sounds like her and Jacinda have been having a good chat over zoom, coffee and a caramel log.

 

[JimW]

No chance of co-opting her until a seat is found? UK has had non MP PMs hasn't it? Or is first minister necessarily leader of largest Holyrood party?

 

[A380]

Cometh the hour...

 

[bmd]

Duncan Ferguson in as caretaker?

Jesse Marsch is a shoo in.

I liked Nicola Sturgeon.

 

[dessiato]

¿Andalucía ya no es tu tierra?

It will always be my heart and home, even while I live here in Edinburgh.

 

[PR1Berske]

So is it due to some corruption scandal about to break?

Nah. Like Jacinda in NZ I suspect that there's just a point where the constant hammering by social media accounts and hostile newspapers makes for a cut-off point to be reached. I'm not implying that it's a "woman's emotions are different" thing, but when women in power are often treated with such horrendous vitriol by an army of anonymous people online, I can't imagine it's easy to stay in post for a year, let alone eight.

 

[platinumsage]

Nah. Like Jacinda in NZ I suspect that there's just a point where the constant hammering by social media accounts and hostile newspapers makes for a cut-off point to be reached. I'm not implying that it's a "woman's emotions are different" thing, but when women in power are often treated with such horrendous vitriol by an army of anonymous people online, I can't imagine it's easy to stay in post for a year, let alone eight.

Online vitriol got worse for Thatcher after she died, so I'm not sure merely resigning will help them.

 

[dessiato]

Nah. Like Jacinda in NZ I suspect that there's just a point where the constant hammering by social media accounts and hostile newspapers makes for a cut-off point to be reached. I'm not implying that it's a "woman's emotions are different" thing, but when women in power are often treated with such horrendous vitriol by an army of anonymous people online, I can't imagine it's easy to stay in post for a year, let alone eight.

I think this is it. I think that she's just burned out due to all the various pressures she's had to deal with.

 

[steeplejack]

Craig Murray (yes, I know) is bouncing about twitter like an angry wasp in an upturned jam jar, having apprently got access to Stuart MacDonald's (SNP Foreign Affairs spokesperson) entire personal emails and is swithering on whether to dump the contents online.

The contents are rumoured to be pretty nuclear. This may or may not be related as whilst this departure was widely expected at some point before the next Scots election, it does seem a little hurried.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

The trouble for those chugging themselves into a frenzy over Sturgeon's departure, as I have said many times before, is that there is simply no credible opposition / government in waiting in Scotland. Ross, Sarwar and whoever is leading what's left of the Liberals these days are simply not credible alternative first ministers and no one is interested in whatever alternative programme they may be advocating.

I agree with this (bar the chugging bit). Scotland's immediate fate feels likes ours: a vacuum of leadership, ideas and momentum and a soggy interregnum of managerial late capitalism. An increasingly unloved SNP staggering on due to utter public indifference with the any of the other purported alternatives.

No doubt the political class will focus on Sturgeon being knackered, the trans row, internal bickering and the polling on independence. But, it's felt for a time like the particular forces, the specific moral economy understanding of itself of working class Scotland and the broader impulses propelling the 'Yes' movement have run out of road or being co-opted and rendered meaningless by the PMC.

 

[danny la rouge]

Beginning of the end for the SNP, and not before time.

They’ve certainly been in power too long, but there’s no, absolutely no, party placed to step in. Not Labour, not the Tories, certainly not the Lib Dems.

And though I know you find this hard to comprehend, I do not say that as a supporter, merely as an observer.

The completely unnecessary gender bill was the final straw for many people.

I wholeheartedly disagree with you that a piece of legislation designed to make life a little bit better for a bunch of people was “completely unnecessary”. Indeed the unhinged regressive vitriol against it suggests it is utterly necessary.

 

[Sasaferrato]

So is it due to some corruption scandal about to break?

Who knows? It was certainly a very sudden decision.

She has brazened out the myriad of corruption scandals so far, so if there is something coming down the tracks it must be massive.

 

[Petcha]

Nah. Like Jacinda in NZ I suspect that there's just a point where the constant hammering by social media accounts and hostile newspapers makes for a cut-off point to be reached. I'm not implying that it's a "woman's emotions are different" thing, but when women in power are often treated with such horrendous vitriol by an army of anonymous people online, I can't imagine it's easy to stay in post for a year, let alone eight.

It does unfortunately have echoes of Ardern. Perhaps Sturgeon was partly inspired by her decision to say 'fuck it, ive had enough'. But in both cases, very sad.

 

[a_chap]

Nor sure what Sturgeon will be doing next?

Fortunately Twitter gives us a clue...

Spoiler

 

[Sasaferrato]

My daughter has literally just Whatsapped this to me Her and her g/f are gutted about Sturgeon going.

My daughter rang me to give me a heads up on the press conference. She was absolutely delighted.

What a glorious day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MickiQ]

Mrs Q's favourite politician and she (Mrs Q that is) isn't even Scottish. I suspect she will have something to say when she gets home. I rather liked Nicola myself she had an air of competence about her that was and still is sadly lacking amongst the rest of the UK's political leadership.
I think it will probably cost the SNP some support and sympathy (especially south of the border) for a while but in the longer term it will make not too much difference. As other posters have pointed out, the rest of Scotland's political parties are just there to add a bit of colour to Holyrood and since Independence is likely off the cards for a few years then pretty much anyone with no skeletons in the cupboard will do for a while.

 

[SpookyFrank]

So, having left the country in splinters, she now decides to walk away. Beggars belief.

Wondered when you'd show up.

Go on then, what splinters?

 

[Sue]

Nor sure what Sturgeon will be doing next?

Fortunately Twitter gives us a clue...

Spoiler

View attachment 363279

Way to go.

 

[HoratioCuthbert]

Scottish social media will need to be turned off for a week. I can't stand it. The last few weeks after the GRA stuff have been bad enough.

 

[weepiper]

Shite news tbh.

 

[Sasaferrato]

Wondered when you'd show up.

Go on then, what splinters?

Really?

 

[HoratioCuthbert]

As danny la rouge would say himself, he's right about everything on this thread and people should listen.

 

[The39thStep]

secondary cadres are pisspoor on the whole. It's a bit early for Forbes I think. She is also significantly more rightwing than Sturgeon and absolutely in hock to Charlotte Street lobbyists.

The trouble for those chugging themselves into a frenzy over Sturgeon's departure, as I have said many times before, is that there is simply no credible opposition / government in waiting in Scotland. Ross, Sarwar and whoever is leading what's left of the Liberals these days are simply not credible alternative first ministers and no one is interested in whatever alternative programme they may be advocating.

Therefore the SNP simply need someone who can walk in a straight line, write their own name and not recently have dipped their hands in the till, or have some sexual peccadillo lurking like a career iceberg on the murky waters of social media private messages, and they will be first minster for a good while yet, assuming they get through the 2025 election unscathed.

The job of SNP FM is this; froth a lot about a second referendum, do nothing to actually advance that referendum happening, whilst at the same time keeping corporate Scotland onside with nice cut price trinkets (the floor of the North Sea / Scottish renewable energy licences, anyone?) and steer a dour managerialist course ("decision making for grown ups").

Atrophy of the public services and political entropy will continue to be our lot. The new FM will blame Sturgeon's shortcomings and whatever sap is in charge of season 1,667 of 10 Downing Street, on at 4 am on UK Gold 2, for any problems. Oh, and a referendum held in two yearzzzzz...

Spot on pal.