I resign
I will today submit my resignation from the SNP. I plan to join the Greens but will, of course, continue to vote in ways most likely to ensure victory by pro-independence candidates.
My reasons for resigning are:
- the party leader’s outspoken support for the awful Hilary Clinton despite her hawkish foreign policies which have resulted in the mass deaths of women and children in the Arab world;
- the party leader’s enthusiasm for the political insights of the repulsive Henry Kissinger despite his status as a war criminal responsible for mass deaths in SE Asia and S America;
- the party leader’s willingness to be physically familiar with the disgusting Alistair Campbell despite his role in facilitating the war crimes of the Blair regime in Iraq and his overt rabid opposition to Scottish independence;
- the party leader and her inner circle’s treatment of the former FM, Alex Salmond;
- the party’s treatment of Gareth Wardell (Grouse Beater);
- the party leadership’s misguided enthusiasm for UK membership of the EU at the expense of Scottish independence from the UK;
- the party leadership’s lack of drive toward independence;
- the party leader’s lack of engagement with the wider Yes movement;
- the party’s lack of fight against Scottish media bias;
- the party’s lack of drive in dis-associating itself from weapons used in Yemen.
Professor John W Robertson
Ayr
26th April 2019
Talking-up Scotland 
Hope you come back at some point John
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Maybe joining Greens not such a good idea?
More Andy Wightman MSP Retweeted BBC Scotland News
Congratulations @kezdugdale – the correct decision. Roll on defamation law reform
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Don’t think it is myself , they do things that I am not happy with ,your quote to name but one , but you pays your money and makes your choice.
.
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Your points are well made, John, and raise a much deeper question – ‘Are established parties a good thing in political democracy?’
Some thoughts:
1. A political party has the basic characteristics of what we call a conspiracy – undeclaed, or only partially declared agendas, secret agreements and concealed control mechanisms…..
2. One of the worst aspects of the d’Hondt voting system is that it is dependent on the existence of recognised political parties. Political innovation is largely stifled.
3. For an elected representative, loyalty is too often divided between the party’s purposes and the electorate’s interests. The ‘whip’ system of Westminster is designed to favour party interests over democracy.
4. In my lifetime the mention of the names of political parties was introduced for the first time on ballot papers. Why? Prior to that, only the names of the candidates appeared so that the vote was meant to be dependent on the individual candidate’s ability to persuade the voter.
5. The current Brexit fiasco is widely stated in the nomedia to arise from ‘differences’ among members of the major political parties which can often be boiled down to personal rivalries for power, influence and, dare I say, money. These same members boast at the same time that they represent their constituents’ wishes – an obvious source of conflict of interests.
OK, I know that we must live with what we have in the short term and we must make the best of things but let’s be in no doubt that our current systems of governance based on political parties are seriously flawed and must not endure far into the future.
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Yes, all true. Chomsky, my ‘leader’ is an avowed anarchist.
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To be continued, perhaps, when considering the new constitution post-independence?
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I will happily remain unaffiliated, my preferences untainted by party “loyalty”.
I do wish the SNP well, as the main driver for independence, though I wish it still had Salmond at the helm. The SNP really need to challenge Westminster on their use of a veto over Scottish self determination.
When you read Dame Cox’s report on bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct at Westminster, its easy to see how Salmond has been railroaded by the “British” civil service. The previous year, Tory activists at Westminster also compiled a dossier on their own MP’s misconduct. You NEVER hear anything about that on the BEEB or any of the colonial press.
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Yes, I agree with what you write.
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John, in a US “free” society of fairly rigidly controlled ( media, politics, universities) ideological parameters, Chomsky has kept his intellectual contribution wide ranging, critical and free of the censorship others would impose on him.
I look to you as our example of a free thinking person, liberated and unwilling to bow to the constraints and lies, fed to us by Unionism and their identikit media.
For pity’s sakes, don’t ever abandon us to the relentless garbage of the Daily Mail, Hootsman and Reporting Scotland.
As someone else said —-“the truth will set you free”. You are our provider of truth, John—-our sword and shield.
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I agree with everything you wrote, John, apart from your desire to join the Greens. They look just as much like opportunistic shysters as the rest of the political establishment are. Stay unaffiliated with the freedom to call everyone to task that that allows. IMHO, of course.
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Yes, changed my mind about Greens.
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That was quick!!
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I empathise with your reasoning, but until there is an independence leaning centre right party, I am stuck. Bring back AS.
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Yes, AS had a more honest strategy.
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Very sad, I assume that means no more blog, at least not a pro-SG one as previously? The info about the Reporting Scotland misreporting, misleading and distortion, the analysis of good governance by the SG was truly uplifting in an unending bad news media.
You will be very sincerely missed by all SNP supporters.
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No, I’ll continue to give credit where it is due, often to the SG. Will only continue critique of NS if she earns it.
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I totally endorse your sentiments.
In 2017, after over 40 years of SNP membership I also resigned from the party because of the overt culture of personality worship of Nicola & also the statement by Ms Sturgeon during that 2017 Westminster Election that the Election was NOT about Independence. I was always led to believe that EVERY election the SNP participated in was about Independence.
The current wishy-washy attitude to independence is frustrating & we are being led up a blind alley by Ms Sturgeon & her inner circle. And the supine and docile and uncritical attitude of MSPs & MPs makes the situation worse. We are being softened up to accept Devo-Max!
More grist to your elbow & may you continue to take issue with the biassed MSM in Scotland.
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Thanks. Appreciate your support.
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Hi John – We each have to make our personal political decisions. You have indicated that you have had concerns for a while and, ultimately, we have to perch where we can feel comfortable. I certainly don’t give carte blanche to the SNP and recognise some in merit quite a bit of the stuff you itemised. In my case, however, I feel that being a member of the SNP is an important element in my commitment to Scotland’s future as a normal, independent nation. (But that’s my choice – and everyone has to follow their own instincts in these matters, as you are doing now).
I would take a different interpretation with Item 6. on your list. It seems to me that Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP are trying (very hard) to find ways to follow the instructions by the Scottish electorate in June 2016 that Scotland should remain within the EU. That the SNP and Nicola are having to work via the UK political process to try and carry out the instructions of the Scottish people is demonstrating, increasingly vividly, the shortcomings of the devolution settlement. It is to be hoped (fervently) that a significant percentage of those electors in Scotland who opted for the UK union in 2014, and who opted for the EU union in 2016, are coming to the conclusion that the UK cannot, will not, and has no interest in, delivering the democratic instructions of the Scottish electorate. Perchance these observations will influence them to consider casting their vote rather differently when future opportunities allow?
It would have been so much easier had a majority of the Scottish electorate selected Indy in Sept. 2014. Sadly, they did not.
The SNP, Nicola, you, I and all of us in Scotland are now having to try and work through, as best we can, the situation that we find ourselves in. The actions, inactions and general lunacy of the Westminster/Whitehall ‘ruling class’ are putting all of us in Scotland at considerable present and future risk (economic, political, social and cultural). This might, I put it no stronger than that, act as the necessary recruiting sergeant for Indy. Time will tell. What I do know is that all of us who have Scotland’s future interests at heart have to hang together and keep pursuing Indy through each and every avenue we can identify. Whether we are members of the SNP or not. If we don’t hang together then the Westminster/Whitehall elite will surely hang us (politically) one by one. This blog is an important tool in that struggle. Please understand how much those of us who have found our way here, or been directed here by friends, absolutely value this site and the work you put in to further Scotland’s case and cause.
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1/ you can say that about every USA president
2/ not clued up on that so I will take your word
3/wasn’t alistair Campbell on the Alex Salmond show on rt,seemed to get along fine with mention of the Iraq war
4/ Alec’s a big loon he can fight his on battles, 2 unionist mps have been brought to court by Indy people with what seemed to me cut and dry cases and lost
Don’t hold out much hope for Alec with this justice system and didn’t AS resign from the snp to protect the party? And wouldint NS be seen as trying to influence the result of investigation by showing any vocal support
5/ totally agree as private individual innocent till prove guilty
6/ I think brexit is going to happen no matter what the snp do so can the FM not turn round and so to the folk of Scotland we did our best now make your mind and up Indy or Britain
7/ at the start of the easiest deal possible did you think we would absolutely no further on 3 years later
8/ agree to point but can’t see any politicians sharing a stage with the Rev swearyS Campbell ,you yes but some others no
9/agree but then you would be out of a job and I wouldn’t have an excellent blog to read
10 /let’s start with getting rid of trident and the broken rusty subs
Let’s keep the high ground gentlemen and they run at us all day with their heavy horses and they will never break our lines ,splinter and we are done
To push comment button or not
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Interesting to read your thoughts on John’s list. Thanks Zander.
For some further context, the First Minister was referencing and recommending a quite specific written contribution by Kissinger – the potential impact of AI on society. It prompted me to seek out Kissenger’s views on the topic and found the essay below and have now read it. I’d also recommend reading it.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/06/henry-kissinger-ai-could-mean-the-end-of-human-history/559124/
And also for perspective: “Noam Chomsky tells those who refused to vote for Hillary Clinton to stop Donald Trump: You made a big mistake” (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/noam-chomsky-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-a7438526.html )
And more: “WND asked Chomsky if he was optimistic about the prospect of a Hillary Clinton presidency, or if he saw any difference in comparison to Obama. “[Hillary would be] maybe a little more militant,” he said. See: https://www.wnd.com/2015/06/chomsky-hillary-like-obama-only-more-militant/
My point in making these remarks is not to demonstrate my admiration or any support for the two US citizens in question but to offer some additional information to lay alongside outright condemnation of our FM!
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Thanks, I appreciate your comments but I reject the notion that Kissinger’s views on any topic can be worthy of my time. I feel sure, if I could be bothered, I would find at least the same broad values underpinning his contempt for the people of Cambodia in his views on AI. I’m reminded of those who complacently thought they could adopt the Nazi philosopher Heidegger’s philosophy uncontaminated by the Nazism which he himself insisted was one and the same thing with it. As for Chomsky, I am not his groupie. He can be wrong. Finally, Salmond having Campbell on his show does not authorise Sturgeon to be cuddled by him.
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Been fighting for Indy for 47 years now Without being a Member of Any Political Organisation, And not One is Ever going to be Perfect, And not one Ever could, Simply because In life We have to make Compromises For the So-called greater good, More so as a Politician, Personal opinions are one thing, But you do no good Picking and Choosing What you see as Issues With mainly one Person Be it the Party leader or Not, Alex was Never perfect either, He screwed up on Many occasions, Apples & Pears .. Good luck on your Future Endeavours,
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Thanks
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In her speech Nicola said, “To those who believe independence is not the right change, I say bring forward your own proposals”. This is an invitation to the Unionists to make more false promises and tell more lies.
The most the Unionists will propose is some kind of Federalism or Devo-max. It looks to me as the SNP has abandoned Independence for their kind of Federalism or Devo-Max. Of course they would honour such promises in the way they did their promises in 2014.
It seems to me the only way to gain Independence is for the Scottish MPs to withdraw from the English parliament of the UK, join with the Scottish Parliament and resile the Treaty of Union and revoke the Act of Union. Former Ambassador Craig Murray, advocates this, demonstrates that it is legal under International Law, and tells how to do it. https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/12/the-scottish-parliament-does-have-the-right-to-withdraw-from-the-act-of-union/
The Unionist PMs will not withdraw from the English parliament, but the majority of Scottish MPs, being SNP, will withdraw if that becomes the policy of the Party.
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Another interpretation is to regard this as a sensible way of drawing out any proposals from the Unionists. Should any actually come forward: (a) it will be an acknowledgement that the status quo is broken and no longer sustainable (see the FM’s deliberate reference to Murdo Fraser’s recent paper on ‘quasi-federalism’ in her speech; (b) it will get any Unionist proposals for change out into the open in good time when they can be challenged/countered rather than once again come at the eleventh hour as a Vow Mark 2; and (c) their level of ambition or lack of it will be exposed. And if none come forward, then it shows up the Unionists’ absence of ideas, of vision, of solutions for Scotland – in other words, for them, what we have presently is as good as it gets!
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The SNP continues to play by britnat rules. SNP politicians are treated with open contempt by Westminster britnats and britnats in the media, so why play by britnat rules?! Does the SNP really believe the britnat establishment will change their views towards Scotland?! I just hope the SNP are seriously considering boycotting Westminster and the britnat media. They [Hell! We!] have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
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Bye
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Sorry, the Bye was for Jim further down.
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When I think about the Greens I get a warm cosy feeling from the knoweledge that I am a member of the SNP.
Remember Patrick Harvie joining in with all the Unionist parties at Holyrood to vote against the OBAF act. Wings Over Scotland has polling that points to the OBAF Act having wide support. James Kelly’s debating skills must have persuaded the Greens. Removing this act was just what the Divide and Conquer brigade wanted.
Recently over gender issues, Patrick retweets “Wanker of the week” taking a swipe at MSP Joan McAlpine.
Then at this weeks FMQ’s Ross Greer joined Whacko Carlaw, Johann Lamentable and Liz Smith in attacking the SNP for the reduced number of subjects studied by S4 pupils in many state schools.
And, as you pointed out, Andy Wightman retweets congrats for Kezia.
I understand climate warming issues. I also understand that to win Independence for Scotland the SNP are having to wrestle with some of the most gifted practitioners of “Thoughtcontrol” who exercise total control of all branches of the media – an almost imposible task.
Untill Scotland gains Independence its not politics as normal.
I think Nicola Sturgeon and her party should be cut a lot more slack
IMHO leaving the SNP for the Scottish Greens isn’t going to bring Independence one bit closer.
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I don’t see what your membership of any political party, or none, has to do with independence – and more to the the point, what relevance it has toTalking Up Scotland. So you don’t agree with some others in the independence movement – SHOCK or even michty me, whit next.
Talking Up Scotland is a great idea – but how can I recommend your site to NO voters when you have articles like this. And your propensity to engage in ironic headlines doesn’t help either. If you want to have a blog which might influence NO voters, as opposed to giving YES supporters ammunition – I would recommend the following.
No carping about others in the independence movement.
No ironic headlines.
Keep articles as short straight forward as possible.
You put a lot of hard work into this John – the Talking Up Scotland bits deserve a wider readership.
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Thanks for your recommendations. Feel free to recommend me to NO voters or not as you please. I’ll be keeping the irony. I love it and so do some readers I know. As for ‘carping’ – ‘characterized by fussy or petulant faultfinding’ – you might want to think more about suggesting this as I have a sound moral basis for my critique of especially the FM. As for keeping articles short etc., I am now editor-free and like it that way. Finally, your manner comes across as a bit supercilious. If you want to influence others, I’d recommend you change that.
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OK, carping was a bit harsh.
I’m not greatly into morality.
I didn’t realise you ever had an editor, and I have no desire to edit anybody, not least because I’d be rubbish at it.
I made some suggestions, you don’t agree with them. That’s OK, why wouldn’t it be.
‘supercilious’ – I’ve tried antibiotics, but nothing works, maybe it’s a virus.
Talking Up Scotland is a great idea. You put in a lot of hard work. Both are appreciated.
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Firstly John, can I say that your articles over the years have been greatly appreciated. The information you have given me has been of great use on the doorstep, trying to convince people of the case for independence, which I first discovered when I asked my parents what document they were signing in 1951. Just another case where we were ignored, I believe over 2m signed the plebiscite, calling for home rule for Scotland.
When I retired over ten years ago, I decided, instead of writing to newspapers, I would get off my backside, join the S.N.P, and try to do something practical to help the independence movement. I was made very welcome by a great bunch, and to this day, am still pounding the streets, not for my sake, but for future generations of Scots.
So while I respect your decision to resign your membership, for my self, I still believe that the S.N.P are the only political party that can deliver independence to the people of Scotland. I wish you well, and will continue to read your invaluable articles.
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Ah the curse of Scotland.
Like the church, we split and form schisms until all the advantages of unity are lost.
Off ye go and stand on your wee soapbox all alone, diluting the cause of Scottish self-determination to satisfy your self important ego.
Who needs opponents to divide us when we do it to ourselves.
>
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well done – it is hard to keep defending the indefensible – in terms of NS neo-liberalism – the Neo-liberal Growth Commission – the scramble for EU membership to keep us as vassals in a club you cannot get out of once in –
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Thanks, getting a wee bit of abuse over this. Told to ‘flounce off the the Greens!’ Lost 15 (only) twitter followers.
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