The National poll yesterday found this:
I was a bit surprised by the Kate Forbes interview where she doubled down on some quite reactionary social attitudes and I remain uncertain that any Christian fundamentalist or Muslim, regardless of how moderate, democratic and decent they seem, is genuinely accepting of same-sex marriage, abortion, women’s or trans rights.
Both claim they can be trusted to protect the existing laws but I want more from a leader than that.
I understand the National poll may have been compromise by bots:
So, I did a quick small poll with 9 100 TuS twitter followers and got this:
Pretty similar results and my prediction that no one would get an overall majority only scrapes in at 49.8%.
More evidence that SNP supporters and other Yes supporters too, ‘are not as socially liberal as might be assumed‘:
https://www.thenational.scot/news/23347351.snp-membership-not-socially-liberal-might-assumed/
As a partly-recovered hippy, muesli-munching, sandal-wearing, Marxist (Groucho variant), I’m really disappointed in how some of you are turning out! Have you forgotten what Bob told us?
Talking-up Scotland 
What do we want? Self-governing independence.
Who can get us there (if not me)?
Ash Regan is the most pushy, but would need to enthuse a wider electorate than just the SNP. She seems to be aiming at too narrow an audience.
Humza Yousaf is stuck, as the “continuity candidate”, with the weight of perceived government failures. As such he would be the choice of the Labour/Tory parties and their media chums.
Kate Forbes has a social agenda at odds with everything I believe in, but……………..
She appears to have (?) that indefinable SOMETHING that connects her with the wider public. If she is willing to state her opinion, but then subordinate that view to an alternative majority, then she is my choice.
The media is a disgrace.
What was Sunak’s opinion on equal marriage? He was never asked.
What is DRossies views? Never to be told.
What of Starwars? “Don’t ask,, don’t tell”! say the editors.
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Kate Forbes and Humza Yousaf have a view of life that I do not agree with its alright for them to say they appreciate that Scottish law differs from their own way of life and that they would be able to work with it BUT I do not want someone leading us who has such differing views from what I would say are the majority of people in Scotland , let’s face it both are minorities , nothing wrong with that but I would only choose a minority as a leader if they had some sort of special aptitude in an area sought after and I do not see that special aptitude in either of them.
Ashley Regan has the strongest Scottish independence commitment of the three so it is she that I would choose, I know not much about her otherwise which could be a good thing .
What we do not want are people who will be a target from the start because of their beliefs
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”Newsflash !”
Whoever is chosen as the next FM/Leader of the SNP ”will be a target from the start because of their beliefs ” – belief in an Independent Scotland !
It will only be a matter of nano seconds from the announcement of a new SNP Leader to the first critical article in the MSM .
Jesus could be elected as SNP Leader and the Unionist media would be complaining about his penchant for wearing open-toed sandals !
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You are so right there James Mills , thanks for straightening my thoughts , tell you what , this Scottish independence malarkey fair bends yer mind sometimes but if we stick together we can do it 😊
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‘Ashley Regan has the strongest Scottish independence commitment of the three’.
Candidly, having the ‘strongest commitment’ in one’s rhetoric is of limited value in terms of real politique if not accompanied by a smart, actionable ‘theory of change’ which can get us successfully from the here and now to a democratic event focused on the issue of independence, to negotiating the dissolution of the Union, and to internationally-recognised independence.
Of course we’ll hear more from Ms Regan as she sets out her stall: intellectual weight, political insight and astuteness, persuasiveness will all hopefully be tested in this leadership election. Personally, these capabilities need to be shown by someone who convinces as a socially progressive candidate.
Arguably, the Alba Party – in terms of rhetoric – might appear to have the ‘strongest commitment’ to independence – easy to say stuff when not in government, when not burdened with responsibility. But as Mr Salmond and the Yes movement found in 2014, ‘strong commitment’ is necessary but certainly not sufficient to win in the face of institutionalised Unionist power and influence.
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I said at the start that of the three candidates I preferred Kate Forbes but I will wait until the hustings are over before voting.
HOWEVER THE POINT I WOULD FORCIBLY MAKE IS LETS NOT MAKE THIS FRACTIOUS. WE DO NOT WANT TO PRESENT THE ALREADY VERY HOSTILE MEDIA WITH ANY IDEA THAT THE PARTY IS SPLIT IN ANY WAY. WHOEVER WINS MUST BE GIVEN TIME AND THE PARTY SUPPORT TO BRING ABOUT GOOD GOVERNANCE AND LEAD US TO INDEPENDENCE
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