In the Herald last week but only noticed by me after a retweet:
Stephen Flynn – the SNP’s Macbeth, a man of ambition unfit to lead
by Neil Mackay (above), then nailed by John Nicolson MP:
Almost comically personal & vindictive in tone. Worse, unbriefed. SNP MPs at Westminster wanted Ian to stand down. There was a vacancy. Then an election which Stephen comfortably won. His leadership media & PMQ performances thereafter were impressive.
A year ago, I could write this, below, and it stands:
It’s been some time since I’ve read Neil Mackay, ‘Large Writer’ at the Herald. Clearly I’m not going to do him the honour of reading his cod piece today [https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/viewpoint/23910248.sturgeons-sleekit-slipperiness-spits-scotlands-face/] accusing the former FM of the above, but the headline deserves a quick response.
Should you have tired of watching ‘The Living Dead’ or some other zombiefest, you can search for him here and read my several angry reactions to his low journalism.
From May this year:
In the Herald today, Neil Mackay’s ‘big read’ exclusive on the breakup of the far-right group Patriotic Union (PA), leads with this claim:
Today, The Herald on Sunday’s exclusive investigation carried out by our Writer At Large exposes extremists linked to the Scottish Conservatives and SNP
What is the evidence for these links? See this in the Herald article:
Taking the second case first, a former Conservative candidate attends PA rallies – fair enough, a link.
First, though, a PA member ‘works as a cameraman’ at SNP conferences and Cop26? Really? Is that all you have Neil?
Is the SNP responsible for checking the records of employees of whichever company filmed their conference?
If they were at COP26, why are they not ‘linked’ to the Greens, the UK Government or the UN?
We’ve had a lot of shoddy journalism from Mackay but this tops everything.
From August last year:
Professor James Mitchell is one of the nation’s leading expert on the constitution, devolution, the Scottish Parliament and Government. He’s seriously worried about the state of our democracy. In a no-holds-barred conservation with our Writer at Large, he lays it on the line about independence, the SNP, Westminster and systemic political failure IF you want to diagnose the health of Scottish democracy, there is only one man to turn to: Professor James Mitchell from Edinburgh University, a leading authority on Scottish politics. He has spent a lifetime dissecting the constitution, devolution, and the workings of the Scottish Government.https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20800885.neil-mackays-big-read-scotlands-top-political-scientist-diagnoses-scottish-democracy-verdict-patient-serious-trouble/
First and quickly, James Mitchell, then Neil Mackay, OK?
Mitchell is a long-time critic of the SNP, Labour supporter, with a clear Unionist agenda making him far from ‘top political scientist.’
See:
Take the issue of independence out of Scotland’s election and the SNP would be struggling: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/03/take-independence-out-scotland-elections-snp-struggling
and
SNP’s independent Scotland would be a ‘little Britain’ as expert tears into ‘dismal’ second Indyref2 paper: https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snps-independent-scotland-would-little-27509049
Try searching for Scottish political scientists and Mitchell does not pop up by himself. Prof Sir Curtice at Strathclyde, for all his faults, has a far great profile and the far more evidence-based methods, as opposed to the largely opinion-peddling of Mitchell, of Prof Henderson at Edinburgh, are at the top, if there is such a thing in research.
Henderson, of course, is too honest to suit the MSM agenda, saying things like this on the Conservative hold in Galloway and West Dumfries, in the BBC election coverage last year, she said:
Labour voters have already tucked themselves up behind the Conservatives to prop up the Conservatives in a way. There is a smaller swing between Labour and the Conservatives because that swing happened last time. We are seeing smaller swings in the seats already held by Unionist parties. That is an example of that in Galloway and West Dumfries.
Sarwar to Cook: Get her off!
I agree with Mitchell that Scotland’s democracy can be improved but our electoral system allows a voice for minority parties, such as the Greens recently, and Scottish Socialists in the recent past, unheard of at Westminster and rare elsewhere, making it far more inclusive than most.
As for Mackay, well sensationalist, scare-mongering drivel based on SFA peer-review standards.
Then back in September 2022
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
No wonder few read the Herald. Click bait and no comments. The ‘journalists’ are dire. Regurgitated rubbish. Out to annoy. Unionist to the core. Full of bias. Illogical.
LikeLike
Should The Herald’s ”Writer at Large ” not be confined in some way as , given the drivel he writes , he appears to be in danger of bringing his newspaper into even more disrepute ( if that is possible ! ).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Evidence you say ?
“Extremists linked to the SNP” ?
Well here’s a tenuous link for you on that via this Neil MacKay exclusive:
“a PA member ‘works as a cameraman’ at SNP conferences”.
Ta-da !
PA being the ‘Patriotic Alternative’ group a far right group who may promote in their title that they are “patriotic” but not, nay never, that they are extreme ‘Nationalists’ as that is reserved for us the supposed real ‘Nasty and extreme Nats’ apparently.
As in us who support Scottish independence (also known as Separatists too) , yet in us supporting Scottish independence we, unlike them, hold no extremist views or heinous opinions against ‘others’.
Who knew that we who support Scottish independence were not “Extremists”.
Well obviously we do but then so does the media , as do those political parties who support British Nationalism also know too, but who just like the PA group, hides behind their supposed “British patriotism” .
(As does Rishi Sunak know too, the same Rishi Sunak who referred to us as being “Extremists” while ignoring the actual “Extremists” in his UK, for obvious reasons, as they as extreme Nationalists supported the UK as does he Sunak).
The investigation from Neil MacKay must have been intensive.
No stone was left unturned.
(Especially those under bridges….troll troll).
How many significant political stories are left untouched , as in unreported by much of the MSM, which, as hugely significant political stories, have been widely communicated and debated on social media but for some reason these stories aka Hot potatoes, are those not chosen to be promoted by the MSM.
I read that “The Herald declares in every edition that it does not endorse any political party”, however in backing a NO vote in 2014, it was then , as a newspaper , clearly endorsing those political parties who were part of the NO campaign.
Confucius says ‘you can declare this faux statement in every edition if you will , but clearly you are endorsing those particular political parties who favour the UK being maintained, while simultanously you are also then clearly opposing the SNP as a political party’.
Read all about , as in #SNPBAD, in many editions of The Herald newspaper headlines, as in the same Herald newspaper who would say that they are not one of those newspapers who are ‘Wolves in sheep’s clothing’ .
Yet with every publication they publish , The Herald, clearly act as those who are indeed seemingly very much full of ‘malicious intent’ and so very much a newspaper not to be trusted in their political coverage especially concerning the SNP and also anything regarding Scottish or UK politics.
The Herald newspaper may be published and distributed in Scotland yet somehow they manage to be, as a newspaper, no more Scottish than those other newspapers published in England who also are obvious in their support for certain NO supporting political parties while also obvious in their opposition towards the SNP as a political party.
If you want the real news (as in to actually “Read all about it” news) ,that is the news that is not heavily tainted by either political or constitutional bias , then best avoid MSM sources and obviously the alternate media such as GB News and TALK TV , who are not really an alternative to MSM but instead are an extension of it.
(For proof of this see all BBC Scotland news output where it puts channels like GB News and Talk TV to shame as far as propaganda is concerned and proves, that in Scotland, these alternate news channels, such as GB News and Talk TV, were very much surplus to requirement here in Scotland – mind you reading the opinion pieces of some Herald columnists also proves that too).
Seems there is no end to the succession of exposé articles concerning the SNP as a party and as the Scottish government by The Herald, who proclaim in every edition that they “do not endorse any (particular) political party” yet clearly are proclaiming who they, as a newspaper in many of their articles and headlines, do NOT endorse as a political party, and that is the SNP. ( who are indeed a political party that they The Herald obviously oppose).
Alas there is fat chance of many of the Pro UK media ‘snakes’ ever shedding their (old) skin, because as a pro UK media ,then for us who support Scottish independence, they as a media are best avoided if you want to know the real “news where you are”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Neil is a journalist he has every right to comment on the SNP. Like most of us we now see the SNP as a right wing party (freeports) and full of libertarians. Nicholson is a cheif troffer. Made nearly a million quid in wages and gave Scotland nothing
LikeLike
Like most of us we now see the SNP as a right wing party (freeports) and full of libertarians.
Please would you provide some context to “us”? Because it doesn’t include me or anybody I know. So we’re not “us” (IYSWIM)
I think a person can only ever speak for themself with complete certainty. After all, the other person might be agreeing for their on purposes.
And, as the saying goes: the only 3 people who are entitled to use “we” to refer to themselves are:
LikeLiked by 2 people
As the saying goes, you are talking mince. The Scottish government ‘works with’ Westminster on freeports but that does NOT mean that the SNP had the power to turn them down. Better to try to ameliorate the damage than to give Westminster a free hand. And anyone who thinks that the SNP is ‘right-wing’ needs help in the thinking department.
LikeLike
Backbone my arse troffers more like. Tell me what they have achieved at Westminster to forward the case for independence.
LikeLike
“Like most of us” ?
“us” ?
Who would that be then ?
“Neil is a journalist” ?
Well only in the sense that he writes for a (alleged) ‘newspaper’ that tends to be , like yourself, a tad way too anti SNP , thus as those who oppose the SNP , and so then one assumes must support another political party , well you and they are then somewhat compromised in your, and also their , clearly partisan and biased opinion.
“cheif troffer” or Chief troffer is surely more a title fitting for many a Tory or Labour politician, both current and also very much previous ones who eventually end up in the HOL’s gravy train with daily attendance expenses paid, subsidised meals and wine within the parliament’s restaurants and plenty of opportunities to earn extra income via TV, Radio appearances and newspaper columns and also Directorships in private companies solely based on their elevated position as one who is a member of the HOL.
Of course if being partisan one could just ignore all of that and instead just do what you did in your comment and join in with British Nationalists and shout #SNPBAD via anything and everything.
My support for the SNP is not unconditional but I do at least recognise that as a party they are most certainly not the worse ones within the UK….by a very long shot.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You beat me to it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha Ha
Great minds think alike while yet another #SNPBAD visitor tries to promote the same old same old #SNPBAD spiel that we hear repeated by others like this person , while ignoring the actual ‘Elephants in the room’ aka British Nationalist political parties.
Which I guess they would do, as in ignore them, as not only are they singing from the same hymn sheet but they, as an individual, are helping them to write the hymns Ha Ha.
It does become way way wearisome does it not, as in we have heard it all before #BigYawn, and no doubt will keep on hearing it (or reading it from certain people) , but tell me how will repeating #SNPBAD either save their (non) Union or if one supports it help us gain our independence. (any time soon that is).
As to the above #SNPBAD commentator I am not sure what or who they support, as in they may either support Independence or support the UK and also may support either an alternate Indy party or a Pro UK one.
However after their comment they could be either of the two options (or both at the same time Ha Ha , as any negative SNP comment clearly helps the Pro UK parties and also helps their UK too).
Maybe they came onto the wrong site to air their anti SNP grievances or like others they just love to troll . (also could be either or both Ha Ha).
LikeLiked by 2 people
The SNP cult are alive and kicking. Do some research on freeports and the lack of transparency. I’ve been voting SNP all my life but we are know further forward. What the hell have they achieved in Westminster?
LikeLike
I thought we had moved on from this discussion.
So you say “The SNP cult” as someone who also apparently states “I’ve been voting SNP all my life” , that does seem a tad contradictory and straight out of the Unionist playbook of quotes against the SNP too.
What have the SNP achieved at WM ?
Well what do you suggest they should have done or should do with a now diminished amount of MP’s elected at WM ?
Scotland as part of the UK is subject to a dominant pro UK political regime, where if the SNP decided not to stand in UK GE’s then how do you think those members of the public within Scotland , as in those who are not politically engaged , would understand and accept that as an action taken by the SNP ?
Also the combined media and pro UK political parties would feast off this as an action by the SNP for ages and ages , and trust me they would misrepresent it as an action , and so convince those within Scotland , who are easily convinced and oblivious to facts , that this was the SNP not wanting to represent Scotland in the UK parliament.
Same UK parliament that Scotland has to still be subjected to via Reserved policies made by the UK government .
So if that is not the angle you are taking but instead you are just asking what have they done at WM.
Well what do you want them to have done as a minority party representing Scotland within the HOC.
Previously Scotland had 59 MP’s allowed to be elected to WM , now with the 2024 boundary changes it is 57.
How many do English constituencies have that are represented in WM, that would be 543 seats , formerly they had 533 but gained 10 seats after the 2024 boundary change review.
So what could the SNP do to change the current situation ?
Oh I know is it to declare UDI where we then force the international community to accept this, as a precedent for others to perhaps also do as an action, and then tell the international community, nay demand , that they must accept our new status as an independent country and so trade with us now that we were independent.
Also how do we get a UK government to negotiate with us on the many outstanding matters and issues that would need to be resolved post us becoming independent independent (via UDI and not via the democratic consent of the people of Scotland from a second Indy referendum).
We also force those people within Scotland, who as yet are not 100% behind Scottish independence , to then also just accept it.
Your comment fails to expand on what you think should be done or could have been done by the SNP at WM, hence I am left guessing, perhaps wrongly , as to what you think should have been done by the SNP.
Here’s my take, until we can see a clear majority of the public in Scotland who are 100% behind Scottish independence, then and only can we be more forceful with those who oppose us , via the undertaking of various actions that leave absolutely no ambiguity on the democratic wants and wishes of the people living in Scotland actively seeking independence from the UK.
However those people in Scotland who voted Labour, Tory and Lib Dems in Scotland at the last GE convinces me that a lot of people still are not 100% behind gaining independence, indeed especially some of them as voters voting Labour again after what they, Labour, did and promised us in 2014.
So I have to ask what really is your point ?
Actually do not bother answering that as I think you have just come onto this site to moan and also to state #SNPBAD and also “The SNP cult” which are both neither original actions nor will , as you say , bring us “further forward” in gaining our independence.
I do believe there are others sites online who will be more to your taste, which includes pro UK sites , who also parrot the cliché that is “SNP Cult” also.
Better for you surely to be among friends than your being on here when you only seem to have non solutions and obvious anti SNP grievances to offload onto others on here, who may not share your opinion upon the SNP.
I mean I am not wanting to be sarcastic but just constantly moaning about the SNP well ‘that’ll surely do it’ NO ? ……as in convert others to support and vote for independence.
As in that’ll win us our independence real soon (Not).
LikeLiked by 2 people
You ask what they could have done. They should have demanded that broadcasting be devolved just like any other nation. The claim of right means that the people of Scotland are sovereign not a foreign parliament. Stephen Flynn believes the exact opposite. They could have and should have opposed freeports and SEV’S but meekly accepted selling Scotlands territory to Corporations. They earned a fortune for bobbing up and down on green benches achieving nothing. I’ve knocked doors and worked hard for independence but I now see the SNP as a front for right wing zealots.
LikeLike
Could have , would have, should have.
Demanded ?
From whom ?
In 2015 SNP Minister called for the devolution of broadcasting, amidst what was a political and media environment where they, the pro UK side, had a monopoly .
In the 2015 UK GE the SNP had the most MP’s elected in Scotland at WM but that did not matter one jot to the Pro UK political parties who were never going to concede ‘owt .
As in a monopoly of English pro UK media and English pro UK politicians who refuse to ever listen or do anythingthat is either suggested or demanded by the SNP, as we all know “whoever controls the media controls the mind”.
So no way would they ‘allow’ us this as a potential opposition to their pro UK dominant media and the propaganda they spread on behalf of the UK
Of course the SNP as the Scottish government are under forensic scrutiny as a government so the huge matter of governing within Scotland as a devolved government needs to done effectively as we all know what Rottweilers await any slip up by the SNP (and also who they Rottweilers are).
I see we are at the point of having to agree to disagree so you keep your opinion and I will keep mine.
Best we do cross paths again on here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
*Best we do cross paths again on here
Best we do not cross paths again on here.
(hopefully , as obviously futile for both of us).
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Allow us’ that’s the big problem waiting for the UK to grant us something. Broadband is reserved yet the SNP Government ploughs money into fibre networks. Why not set up a broadcasting company? What would Westminster then do? It would create a debate at least. However that requires a backbone.
LikeLike
To set up a broadcasting company ( a publicly owned one) would be cost restrictive meaning that if the SNP did set one up there would be the usual slaughtering from all unionist media (during a Westminster created cost of living crisis), that and they would have to go to OFCOM ( uk controlled) for a licence meaning that Michael Grade (Lord Grade of Yarmouth) and Dame Melanie Dawes would decide if they would grant the SNP Scottish Government a licence to broadcast………do you actually believe that those two arch unionists would allow it let alone Westminster….I think not!!!
JB
LikeLiked by 1 person
Typical scared as hell of what might be said. As I say no backbone.
LikeLike
As a matter of fact, they did demand that (also known as advocating since they have NO power to ‘demand’) at the Smith Commission and much good it did them. News Flash. The SNP never has and never will have a majority at Westminster to push through things that the English parties will always vote down. And that the SNP is a party of ‘right-wing zealots’ is too ridiculous and out in space that it is not worth even discussing. I do not believe your tale of being a former SNP stalwart for even one second.
LikeLike
Uh huh. Sure you have.
LikeLike
I have plenty of backbone as do the SNP you need to leave your weak arguments in the playground and join the real world, you have made your mind up and quite obviously there is no talking to you as you are elther deliberately being unconstructive or just a bampot….I would reckon the latter!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person