Starmer to Sell Off the UK to BlackRock on the Cheap – Be Warned

What is BlackRock? It is one of the largest vulture funds ever to gain control, by stealth of the financial affairs of entire countries and the people that live there. Its mode of operation is to buy up the debt of troubled organisations/companies and in doing so establish absolute control over the resources and land of nations. Any profits gathered to the pot are transferred to the many transnational companies who invest in BlackRock. The name of the game is profit which is largely achieved through the ruthless pruning of labour costs and the evasion of taxes through the use of a maze of subsiduary companies headquartered in offshore locations. Those who monitor the activities of hedge funds such as BlackRock need only to reflect on past/present turmoil in Ukraine, Greece, Nigeria, Congo, Argentina, Ecuador,, Panama, Peru, Indonesia and many other countries.

Who runs the USA government? Those who thought that Obama and Biden ran the country are deluded. BlackRock pulled all the strings!!

Larry Fink’s BlackRock dicatated the foreign and financial policies of President Obama’s and Biden’s governments. To achieve this he placed his investment executive Brian Deese in government to lead the National Economic Council, (NEC) effectively serving as the top economic advisor to Obama and Biden. Fink also added his former chief of staff, chief executive and longtime Democrat, Adewale “Wally” Adeyemo, to serve as one of the top official’s at the US Treasury Department.

And the UK is in BlackRock’s sights. Starmer, a devotee of Obama and Fink has had recent meetings with both of them discussing the expansion of “Freeports” and similar ventures which will remove the power of the voting public forever. No more unncessary elections to Westminster. BlackRock will appoint them. But faced with reality many voters chose to act like fools.

Contrast the as yet undisclosed agenda for the future of the UK; with Norway which nationalised oil and gas exploration and its production and refinement ensuring the control of all profits remained with the electorate. and Poland which introduced control measures, against the wishes of the EEC ensuring 90+ % of land would be owned in perpetuity by Poles.

Mark Twain said; ‘it’s easier to fool someone than to convince them they have been fooled’

Blairite Sarwar’s loyalty was rewarded with the Party Leadership role in Scotland- but things are not going well for him. GROK provides a view

Anas Sarwar, joined the Zionist backed British American Project (BAP) in 2018 and praised it as his “special family”. His register of interests included £2,000 in costs paid by the BAP for a four-day trip to attend its annual conference in Seattle in 2018. Sarwar said the trip was “to develop and grow professional transatlantic relationships with a focus on technology and the rise of prejudice and hate.”

He exalted Tony Blair and called on Jeremy Corbyn to apologise for the “antisemitism crisis” that rocked Labour under his leadership.

His commitment to the Starmer led London based Labour Party ensured his future political career in Scotland would most likely land him a peerage and lifetime in the House of Lords.

This is how things are done in Starmers Party:

Quote from Socialist Resistance article 16th January 2021:

‘On the evening of Wednesday January 13, Starmer hosted a secret online meeting to which Leonard was not invited, though private millionaire Labour donors and Ian Murray were.

A deal brokered by the GMB saw Leonard resign the next day with immediate effect, but guaranteed him a place at the top of one of Scottish Labour’s regional lists for the Holyrood elections in May – in apparent contradiction of the Scottish Labour policy of putting women at the head of all lists. Guaranteeing Leonard one of Scottish Labour’s dwindling number of seats in the Scottish Parliament and an MSP’s salary of £65k for the next four years.

While Leonard went along with the pretence that this was a personal decision taken over Xmas in his vacuous resignation statement, the shoddy ‘deal’ produced outrage from Leonard-supporting left wing MSP Neil Findlay who attacked Leonard’s opponents as “flinching cowards and sneering traitors” ( (a reference to the words of the “Red Flag”, the longstanding anthem of the Labour Party ritually sung at Labour’s conferences but completely ignored by Labour leaders other than Corbyn).

And Scots end up being governed by a Scottish Labour Party controlled by Blairites’ Ian Murray and Anas Sarwar, with Starmer, yanking their strings from London.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (middle) with journalist Ayesha Hazarika and comedian Matt Forde at the 2021 BAP conference in Glasgow, which Sarwar organised.

Recent events in Scotland, such as the closure of Grangemouth give lie to Sarwar’s pre-GE statement that the refinery would be safe in Lanour’s hands. Is his political future assuredar will he suffer a fate similar to that meted out to former Labour Party First Ministers?

Grok provides a view here:

https://twitter.com/i/grok/share/pHatnjfY6lciWqrzjkglRK2SA

The Obama’s-Biden’s-Clinton’s and their Crony’s Exposed as a Coven of Dangerous Mobsters

Obama Inspired the coup against Trump

Declassified documents confirm beyond the shadow of a doubt that Barack Obama personally authorized one of the greatest criminal conspiracies in United States history, the Russian collusion hoax to tie Donald J. Trump to the Russians in an attempt to overthrow the United States government in 2016 and then later attempting to overthrow a sitting President in 2017.

General Michael Flynn knew about Barack Obama and his mistress Susan Lice, their crimes and illegal activities, Including bribing Stephen Halper to target and tie Donald Trump and his campaign to the Russians.

Obama maliciously, unmasked, targeted and framed the General, a three-star United States Army veteran with 33 years of service, 4 Bronze Stars, 5 Commendation Medals.

Obama approved the United Kingdom [5 Eyes Intelligence Alliance] to execute PROJECT FULSOME seeking intelligence gathering on the Trump Organization and Donald J. Trump for President Inc.

Throughout his years in politics Obama and those who think with him have enveloped politics in a blinding mist of false information and mendacity contrary to his statement:

” The “foundations of democracy are so sacred that you do not allow the politicization of the criminal justice system, the intelligence system [or] the military.”

I reported

1 Feb 2017: https://caltonjock.com/2017/02/01/obama-the-worst-president-in-the-history-of-the-united-states-of-america/

15 Jan 2017: https://caltonjock.com/2017/01/15/obama-and-the-democrats-beat-their-chests-in-anguish-claiming-without-supporting-evidence-that-putin-fixed-the-election-in-favour-of-trump-but-obama-fixed-the-scottish-referendum-in-favour-of-th/

4 Feb 2018: https://caltonjock.com/2018/02/04/president-trump-pilloried-by-the-press-lefty-luving-hollywood-elite-and-politicians-with-their-heads-in-the-trough-yet-adored-by-the-american-public-his-record-in-his-first-year-in-office-is-e/

14 Apr 2018: https://caltonjock.com/2018/04/14/dirty-tricks-trumpgate-and-skripal-all-roads-lead-to-london-and-mi6/

5 Jun 2018: https://caltonjock.com/2018/06/05/putin-trump-helsinki-summit-us-press-corps-and-many-political-false-prophets-disgracefully-keep-the-pot-boiling-against-their-elected-president/

14 Oct 2020: https://caltonjock.com/2020/10/14/trump-down-but-not-out-american-voters-might-yet-defeat-the-deep-state-and-return-him-to-office/a/

A Wee Sniff Around those That Destroyed Corbyn and Why

The British-American Project (BAP) was set up in the 1980’s amid CIA concern about ‘anti-American’ drift in the Labour Party.

It describes itself as “a transatlantic fellowship of over 1,200 leaders, rising stars and opinion formers from a broad spectrum of occupations, backgrounds and political views.” It cultivates pro-American political positions among the British left. Work to create the BAP began in the early 1980s when Labour was headed by Michael Foot, the first non-Atlanticist Labour leader to emerge since World War Two. The BAP’s aim was to push British progressives into a pro-American political position at a time when the CIA was worried about the strength of the Labour left and its ‘anti-American’ views.

Labour MP Rushanara Ali sits on the project’s advisory board alongside former MI6 chief Sir John Sawers. Many senior UK military officers have been members with two joining this year without the knowledge of Ministry of Defence. Project funders include BAE Systems and BP. Three senior Labour politicians recently joined a secretive lobby group set up in coordination with the US embassy in London to further cultivate the British left.

Labour leader Keir Starmer and Labour shadow minister Alison McGovern joined the project in Sep 2022. She is the former chair of the Blairite campaign group Progress (now Progressive Britain) and quit her role in shadow chancellor’s John McDonnell’s team in 2016. She went on to become a vocal critic of Corbyn’s leadership. She is close to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, serving as his shadow minister for sport and culture before her current role. She attended a fully funded (the project paid £1,776 for her presence) at the annua conference in Minnesota in 2022.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (middle) with journalist Ayesha Hazarika and comedian Matt Forde at the 2021 BAP conference in Glasgow, which Sarwar organised.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, joined the group in 2018 and organised its annual conference in Glasgow in 2021. He spoke of his “unparalleled enthusiasm” for the event and referred to the BAP as his “special family”. His register of interests included £2,000 in costs paid by the BAP for a four-day trip to attend its annual conference in Seattle in 2018. Sarwar says the trip was “to develop and grow professional transatlantic relationships with a focus on technology and the rise of prejudice and hate.” He described the BAP as a “not for profit leadership network” adding: “I do not consider that this visit meets the prejudice test or the political activities test.” In June, he praised Tony Blair and called on Jeremy Corbyn to apologise for the “antisemitism crisis” that rocked Labour under his leadership.

James McMahon, Labour’s shadow minister for the environment, declared he was a member of the BAP in 2015, listing it under organisations whose “principal purposes includes the influence of public opinion”. He served as leader of Oldham council from 2011-2016. In his declaration to the council, he wrote that the BAP had paid for him to attend its conference in Philadelphia in 2010 at which time he was a 30-year-old Labour councillor. Soon after becoming MP for Oldham in 2015, he hosted BAP personnel in a discussion in his constituency. He is also a member of Progress and supported Owen Smith, Corbyn’s challenger from the right, after the failed coup against the latter’s leadership in 2016.

Rushanara Ali, Labour MP for Benthal Green and Bow, joined the BAP in 2004 as a 29-year-old Home Office staffer working on community cohesion. She now sits on the project’s 13-strong advisory board, alongside the former head of MI6, Sir John Sawers. In 2016, Ali backed the coup against Corbyn’s leadership, saying he should “do the decent thing” and quit as Labour leader. In the resulting leadership election, she also campaigned for Owen Smith. The following year,” UpRising Leadership” a mentoring charity which helps “leaders better reflect and represent the communities they serve”—paid £595 for Ali to attend the BAP conference in Manchester.

Joanne Anderson, Labour’s Mayor of Liverpool, joined the project this year where the 2023 BAP conference titled “You’ll Never Walk Alone” will be held. Anderson became Labour’s candidate for Liverpool Mayor in controversial circumstances in 2021. Then led by Starmer, the party scrapped a shortlist of three candidates selected by the local party with no explanation and imposed two local councillors, including Anderson. The original, locally selected shortlist included socialist candidate and the city’s Lord Mayor Anna Rothery, who was backed by leading figures on Labour’s left, including Corbyn.

Another figure involved in the project is Claire Kober the former Labour leader of Haringey Council who was paid £2,000 by the project to attend its November 2016 conference in Houston, Texas. Just over a year later, Kober quit her position on the council citing “bullying” and “sexism” from followers of Corbyn, who opposed the £2bn joint venture deal her council had struck with private developer Lendlease for a controversial housing project.

British-Nigerian poet Ben Okri, a celebrated figure in post-colonial literature, joined the project in 2014. He wrote that British children, “should be taught about the empire and colonialism but they must also learn about the legitimate voices against its cruelties and how people fought for their independence.” Oddly he sits on the project’s advisory board alongside Sir John Sawers, head of MI6 from 2009-14, who was a foreign policy adviser to Tony Blair at the time of the illegal invasion of Iraq.

Blair appointed Sawers Britain’s a special representative to Iraq in May 2003, two months after the US-UK invasion. He is now a director of BP, which returned to Iraq in 2009 after a 35-year absence. He made £699,000 in his first four and half years on the UK oil giant’s board, which he joined a year after stepping down from MI6.

Ruth Smeeth, an honorary captain in the UK military, is now CEO of Index on Censorship, Britain’s most important free expression group. She was appointed by Trevor Phillips, chair of Index’s board, who was close to Tony Blair and has been a prominent figure within the project for decades. In June 2015,

Phillips spoke at a BAP event at which Peter Mandelson also spoke. She was an outspoken critic of Corbyn’s leadership of Labour, particularly around his alleged toleration of antisemitism in the party. A US diplomatic cable, published by WikiLeaks in 2010, named her as a “strictly protect” informant for the US embassy in London.

From 2016-21, Index received £603,257 from the National Endowment Democracy (NED), a “democracy promotion” organisation established in 1983, two years before the project, and funded by the US Congress. According to the New York Times, the NED was established “to do in the open what the Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] has done surreptitiously for decades”. Ruth Smeeth’s husband Michael Smeeth, is the UK chair on the project’s executive committee and one of its three directors.

Tony Blair won the 1997 election and appointed no less than five BAP members to ministerial posts in his first cabinet. He later said the BAP had direct access to his ministers and arranged meetings for them. “The British/American project aims to strengthen the vital and long-standing relationship between the US and UK,” he told parliament, adding “as part of that process, it arranges meetings, including with [UK government] Ministers, for young leaders from…the two countries.”

Jonathan Powell, Blair’s chief of staff, was a BAP member while in government and commented in 2007: “The lasting relationships that are built up [in BAP] are the only way to underpin an enduring Special Relationship. Takes the working out of networking.” Powell is now part of a conflict mediation group, Inter Mediate, which he wrote in a private email “works closely” with MI6.

Another member of the BAP, since the 1990s, is Peter Mandelson, who held various ministerial posts under Blair, and in 2015 spoke at one of its events. Two years later, Mandelson said: “I work every single day in some small way to bring forward the end of [Corbyn’s] tenure in office.”

Financial support for the BAP has also come from Britain’s largest corporations. In 2000, the BAP was funded by British arms manufacturer BAE Systems and oil giant BP as well as cigarette company Philip Morris and mining giant Rio Tinto. By 2004 funders also included Monsanto, Coca-Cola and Saatchi & Saatchi. Three years later, funders also included investment bank JP Morgan and phone company Vodafone, in addition to BAE Systems and BP. These companies were still funding the group at the last available record, in 2011.

Summary of a lengthy article by Matt Kennard. Published in “Declassified” on 22 Nov 2022

The Dutch Declared Their Independence from Spain in 1648 -Scots Can Awake Late and do the Same in 2025

In 1581. The Dutch had been under Spanish rule for over ten years.

The Spanish King, Philip II, had conquered the Netherlands which was subsequently governed by the Duke of Alva, a Spanish nobleman. The Dutch suffered.

Their rights were taken from them, heavy taxes were imposed, some were enslaved, and they suffered hardship, torture and murder.

On the 26th of July 1581, the representatives of the seven northern provinces met and agreed upon the following statement:

“When a king does not obey his duties, but, instead of protecting his subjects, tries to oppress them as slaves, then he is no longer a king, but a tyrant. In that case, his subjects, have a right to denounce him and choose another leader.”

The first-ever statement also listed all the cruelties to the Dutch people, and the tyranny of Alva, and laid down the arguments for the far fetching decision.

It called upon the Dutch people to reclaim their rights.

The statement had made the case for human rights, sovereignty of the people and freedom of thought.

The Dutch declared themselves independent from Spanish rule and called for the inception of the first-ever republic in the world, eventually winning their battle for independence in 1648.

Scottish-Independence-Another Key Factor Supporting My Assertion That Liberation Scotland Should Submit an Application for Membership of the Global South and Non-Aligned Movement. Now! No more Pussyfooting about!!!!

Scapa Flo Orkney

Container Transhipments and Demand for Container Terminal Capacity in Scotland

Scapa Flow in Orkney provides the best available deep water port in Europe with the potential to handle any amount of major transhipment of today’s mega-size container ships.

The container port market in Northern Europe is expected to continue its upward trend, demand more than doubled over the 2001-2015 and is expected to double again between 2015-2030.

With container traffic increasing faster than output, transhipment growth will be even more rapid as carriers, due to ship upsizing, reduce the number of direct port calls and move towards hub and bespoke services.

For the fast growing Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Australian, New Zealand, other Asian markets and existing European and North American Authorities, the efficiencies and economies will be matched by the opportunity to achieve through use of the Orkney facility, the secure gateways required.

Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland will benefit directly from economic spin-off, cheaper transport and a major stimulus to the development of sea and water-borne alternatives to the UK road network.

Full details here:

2003: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmtran/783/783we23.htm

2004: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2004/09/19885/42553

2004: http://www.napier.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/impact-case-studies/the-greenest-port

2006: http://sutranet.plan.aau.dk/WP4/nov2006/SCAPA/FLOW/CONTAINER/TERMINAL/COASTLINK/PERTH/26/SEPT/2006.pdf

2011: https://www.computescotland.com/scapa-flow-crossroads-for-container-terminal-4184.php

2014: http://container-mag.com/2014/05/02/the-orkney-floating-container-terminal-alternative/

The Impact of Global warming on World Trade

As the seas around Russia are released from the grip of the Arctic ice studies are projecting: “remarkable shifts in trade flows between Asia and Europe, diversion of trade within Europe, heavy shipping traffic in the Arctic and a substantial drop in Suez traffic.

Russia has not been slow to recognise the new opening for trade and is building nuclear powered ice-breaker ships well capable of keeping sea channels open to commercial traffic.

Cost savings achieved using a new “Northern Channel” are eye wateringly high and joint development, with Russia or China of a new trans container facility, at the southern end of the channel, in Orkney would bring significant benefits to participating countries.

Presently the channel is freely navigable in the summer and autumn months, ice breaker support is required over the winter period but a report by the Copenhagen Business School found that large-scale trans-Arctic shipping will become economically viable by 2040.

2016: https://services-webdav.cbs.dk/doc/CBS.dk/Arctic%20Shipping%20-%20Commercial%20Opportunities%20and%20Challenges.pdf

6 Sep 2017: The Northern Sea Route is completely ice-free and shipping thrives

As Russian Arctic ice shrinks to this year’s lowest, a big number of ships are moving in. In waters normally covered by thick ice, ships are today sailing easily and without escorts.

Ice data from Russia’s Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute show that the whole Northern Sea Route now is ice-free.

Even in the waters between the Kara Sea and the Bering Strait, normally a highly complex and ice-covered area, shipping appears smooth and easy.

The ice edge in the East Siberian Sea is now retreating to north of the 75th parallel and practically the whole Laptev Sea is ice-free.

There is only some scattered ice around the Vilkitsky Strait, the area separating the Kara Sea and the Laptev Sea.

https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/2017/09/northern-sea-route-completely-ice-free-and-shipping-thrives

The Northern Sea Route – The Russian Perspective

Due to global warming, it will become viable to deliver goods from Europe to the Pacific throughout the Arctic as ice floes melt.

There is reason to believe that China would be interested in participating in the development of the NSR, as the waterway will save time and can help China find a way out of the Strait of Malacca dilemma that has long plagued importers and exporters.

Efforts to open up the NSR would help pump fresh investment into the country and would benefit the development of Russia’s Far East.

The NSR has the potential to become a significant new area for cooperation between China and Russia. It is expected that the Belt and Road initiative will create an opportunity for Russia’s NSR ambitions to turn into reality.

https://sputniknews.com/infographics/201709051057097124-northern-sea-route-suez-canal-alternative/

The Northern Sea Route – The Chinese Perspective

The Northern Sea Route, one of three Arctic shipping routes that connect East Asia and Europe along the Russian coastline, is now subject to more attention than ever before. The Northern Sea Route Administration notes that in 2016 traffic volume on the Northern Sea Route reached 7,265,700 tonnes – an increase of 35 percent in comparison with 2015.

As the world’s third largest ship-owner, China has a strong interest in Arctic shipping, especially in the Northern Sea Route. That was reflected in China’s decision to include the Arctic in its Belt and Road Initiative.

On June 20, 2017, China’s National Development and Reform Commission and State Oceanic Administration published the “Vision for Maritime Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative” (the Vision). The Vision officially incorporates the Arctic into China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Moreover, before attending the G20 Summit in Hamburg, President Xi Jinping visited Russia and signed the “China-Russia Joint Declaration on Further Strengthening Comprehensive, Strategic and Cooperative Partnership” (Joint Declaration) on July 4, 2017.

Described as the Ice Silk Road, the development of the Northern Sea Route is a key area of cooperation between China and Russia.

The Ice Silk Road can be seen as a further step in shaping China’s Arctic policy. The three main pillars of this policy are: respect, cooperation, and sustainability.

Moreover, the BRI now officially extends to the Arctic, which could help achieve the objectives of China’s Arctic policy. It is now very clear that China is keen to play a role as a user of the Northern Sea Route.

As elaborated in the Vision:

China is willing to work with all parties in conducting scientific surveys of navigational routes, setting up land-based monitoring stations, carrying out research on climatic and environmental changes in the Arctic, as well as providing navigational forecasting services.

China supports efforts by countries bordering the Arctic in improving marine transportation conditions, and encourages Chinese enterprises to take part in the commercial use of the Arctic route.

So why is China keen to use the Northern Sea Route?

It is commonly known that the Northern Sea Route could shorten the distance of transportation between China and European ports.

China also sees the opportunity of resources development in the Russian Arctic. But perhaps more importantly, China believes that the Northern Sea Route is strategically important for its energy security.

China is facing the dilemma that energy from Africa and the Persian Gulf passes through waters dominated by strategic competitors (the United States and India),   threatened by piracy, or bottle-necked at the Strait of Malacca. It would therefore be helpful to have an alternative shipping route along a politically stable area.

https://thediplomat.com/2017/07/china-russia-trouble-on-the-arctic-silk-road/

Scottish Independence is not an impossible dream -there is a way to realise it

Military conquest and enforced colonisation of Scotland by England

English colonial rule was imposed on Scotland over 300 years ago achieved through military occupation and an embargo on Scottish trade with any other nation. The bastards starved our country into submission.

Support of many campaigns for Scotland’s relief from colonisation has never been supported by Nations whose economies are tied to the American dollar and any Scot harbouring thoughts of freedom from the corrupt Westminster system of government (which is) is destined to spend a lifetime living with hopes forlorn.

Scottish independence will never be gained through support of any political party purporting to be campaigning for it since their control systems, aims and ambitions are financed and controlled through rules imposed by Westminster.

Liberation Scotland is a notable exception since it entirely independent of any external political interference but it falls short in its ambitions because it includes an approach at some future date to the UN seeking Scotland’s recognition as an independent country. Something that may out with the control of that body.

But there is a way forward out of the colonisation which is strangling the life out of our population. Our time has come and no power in the world can stop Scots from regaining their freedom.

The Global market – North and South

The UK and Northern Ireland is a leading country functioning within the Global North but only virtue of its combination of the economies of England, Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Any diminution of Westminster control would lead to the transfer of constituent countries, (except England) to the Global South, comprising around 200 nations, many ex colonies of England).

Liberation Scotland should submit its application for membership of the Global South and Non-aligned Movement. Now!

Supporting the Policy change

Quote: It is notable that other forums and institutions of the Global South are gaining weight. The BRICS forum – comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – was set up in 2009 as a counterpoint to the G7 club of nations, to criticism from some quarters that it was little more than ‘marketing’.

Yet, it is now clear that the BRICS is growing in clout. In 1980, the G7 accounted for about 50 per cent of the world’s GDP in purchasing power parity terms, while the BRICS countries – excluding Russia, then part of the Soviet Union – accounted for about 11 per cent.

Today, the G7 accounts for 30 per cent of the world’s GDP, while the BRICS countries account match it at around 30 per cent. Equally importantly, the membership of BRICS is growing dramatically, while the G7’s is stagnant.

Why is the Global South optimistic? Take the 3.5 billion population of China, India, and the Asean countries, for example. In 2000, only 150 million of these people enjoyed middle-class living standards. Today, the number has exploded to around 1.5 billion, double the total population of western countries. And it is predicted to grow to 3 billion by 2030. At this rate, the coming decades may belong to the Global South.

A must read

https://apnews.com/article/what-is-global-south-19fa68cf8c60061e88d69f6f2270d98b

https://www.chathamhouse.org/publications/the-world-today/2024-02/measuring-power-global-south

3 Sep 2003: Swinney’s leadership ambitions under the cosh after “stalking horse” candidate submitted nomination papers

3 Sep 2003: Swinney’s leadership ambitions under the cosh after “stalking horse” candidate submitted nomination papers

Although Dr Bill Wilson stood little chance of winning, Swinney’s critics hoped that a “stalking horse” bid would provoke a serious challenge to a leader whose standing with Party members had been damaged further by the loss of 8 MSPs in the recent Scottish general election.

Critics had blamed the losses on Swinney’s style and his lack of charisma. His dictatorial style of leadership had alienated several MSP’s including former MSP, Dorothy-Grace Elder and legendary SNP, figure Margo McDonald both of whom had resigned from the Party. A senior party activist commented:

“This shows the widespread frustration among the grassroots. This was Labour’s worst election performance, but we could not capitalise on it. We lost eight seats and Swinney and others claimed it was a good campaign.”

10 Sep 2003: Swinney wins leadership battle

Marked by a low turnout and many abstentions an unhappy membership confirmed Swinney as Party Leader. Speaking just after the result was announced a relieved Swinney said:

“This has been an uncomfortable summer for the SNP. But we have emerged stronger. I have made it clear that I have listened to members’ concerns and will continue to listen. The row between the gradualist side of the party and those in favour of an independence referendum, and the fundamentalist wing, who want all or nothing, should now end. The door is shut on these arguments”.

MSP Campbell Martin, the most prominent of Dr Wilson’s supporters, said:

“Swinney will be pleased with the result. But he must now look over his shoulder. Bill took almost 20 per cent of the vote which means Swinney is effectively on probation until next year’s conference. Any danger to his leadership could now surface from people within his leadership clique, who could now see an opportunity for themselves.”

21 Sep 2003: Swinney talks to other Party leaders about an independence referendum

Swinney hoped the prospect of a referendum would quell rebellion in the Party after he discussed his proposals with the Green Party and other independence-supporting MSPs.

But Senior SNP figures, who believed victory at the ballot box was all that was required for independence, said that Swinney’s failure to grasp the nettle of independence by fudging the issue only confused voters. One senior fundamentalist said: “What we want is independence, not indecision”.

Swinney commented: “The choice for the SNP now is to follow a route into government and deliver independence through a referendum, or go into the political wilderness as we did in the 1980s, and that wasn’t a nice place for us. I’m prepared to talk to any political Party who supports independence”.

But a senior party figure questioned the wisdom of his plans to build such a coalition, saying: “This smacks of desperation. Swinney wants to reform the party believing an independence referendum is the way forward. But to announce a week before the leadership vote that he wants to do that along with the Greens and SSP makes us look like a fantasy party. If this is a ploy to silence the fundamentalists it won’t work. All it does is show that we don’t have full confidence in winning a majority in the Scottish Parliament”.

Swinney as SNP Leader would preside over its demise

Saving the Scottish National Party from Oblivion

The Party nosedived after the GE of 2015 when Sturgeon turned her face away from the electorates’ instruction to notify the Unionists that the 1707 Treaty of Union was ending. Her decision to ignore the strongest mandate for independence ever handed to politicians in preference for retaining and indeed strengthening the Union was unforgivable but not unexpected since she did her best to scupper the 2014 independence campaign with her lacklustre leadership.

Her commitment to the SNP and the successful policies established under the leadership of Alex Salmond was always suspect and she confirmed this by dismantling the organisational structure of the Party replacing it with one reminiscent of the East German government with all power centred on herself and her trusted clique of similarly minded LGBTQ activists.

She then set about recruiting candidates for office in the 2015 GE personally restricting recruitment to those that fit the LGBTQ profile. Many who benefitted from her largess were wholly unfit for public office. She entertained her chums and presided over any modern electorate’s biggest financial rip-off.

Furthering her dream of taking LGBTQ ideals to the forefront of Scottish society she top-sliced many millions transferring to herself control of the allocation and distribution of large amounts of finance to recently formed LGBTQ organisations many of which claimed dubious charitable status

Axed Harvie and Slater to walk away with £17k pay-off | Daily Mail Online

She further strengthened her position by adding Green MSPs supported by less than 2% of Scots to the Scottish Government, elevating some of them to ministerial office. Evidenced by their performance these Green champions were quite mad and damaged the SNP to the extent that the electorate questioned the fitness of the SNP for continued governance of the country.

The SNP is headed for oblivion in the 2024 GE and the 2026 Scottish elections but might yet be saved from oblivion with the wholesale abandonment of the Sturgeonista’s disastrous policies returning to the political agenda that persuaded Scots to support the Party when it was led by Alex Salmond.

The opportunistic posturing votes of no-confidence by the opposition parties at Holyrood will most likely fail and any fallout will be minor and temporary with Yousaf gaining confidence that his way is succeeding but this would be a false dawn to be fully exposed by the outcome of the 2024 GE in which the SNP might be decimated returning MPs in single figures.