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Professor John Robertson OBA
As we heard Peter Murrell may not return to court until after Holyrood election (Herald 22 August 2025), many would have been thinking they knew this would happen, as the case is further milked for political ends. Then we ponder who is making sure this happens, perhaps in pursuit of what they would call ‘national security?’
The Express in February 2025 had:
Nicola Sturgeon was CIA agent who stoked gender wars to foil Scexit, claims top nationalist – Former diplomat Craig Murray suggests that American spooks used USAID funding to split the SNP, adding that the former First Minister was likely ‘bribed, indoctrinated and blackmailed’
https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-cia-agent-who-34647121
Mad, eh? Who would believe any of that?
I’m saying nothing….well nothing much but I have worried and written at times of a more subtle form of CIA presence – a form of cultural imperialism which manifests itself in ‘Atlanticism‘ – a tendency to admire US politics, especially the Democrats and to uncritically side with US foreign policy moves. It’s common among Glasgow University politics graduates, in my experience.
Let me be clear. I’m not so daft as to think someone like me would last a week in places like Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, China or in any of their satellites states. A critical, lefty, social liberal like me and many of you, I’m sure, depends on the level of civil and human rights only found strongly embedded in North-west Europe, Oceania and, maybe, in parts of North America.
However, that doesn’t mean to say I have to agree with everything, especially the frankly wrong-headed military interventions in other countries which were deemed not to be serving Western interests. That’s why I was such an admirer of Alex Salmond when, back in 2003, he alone among big-party leaders stood against the launch of Iraq War 2 and even went so far as to call for Tony Blair to be tried as the war criminal he undoubtedly is.
Returning to Atlanticism, you can see it in the all-paid ‘cultural’ trips to the USA made by budding Labour politicians, Scottish MSM journalists, even a few SNP MPs including one who has called for an alliance with Labour and, of course, top Holyrood civil servants including one blamed by some for the demise of the very man who had decades before had the nerve to criticise the Blair Government and the security services for fabricating the case for war in 2003.
So, when in 2015, I read this in the admittedly leftist WSWS but based on what did actually happen, I was dismayed:
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s comments to the United States Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, DC, brook no misunderstanding. Asked in a question and answer session to elaborate on the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) views on the European Union (EU) and Scottish relations with the US, Sturgeon explained:
“We would consider ourselves to be a key ally of the United States. We want to work constructively within the world community to make sure we are playing our part and resolving some of the conflicts and some of the issues of challenge that we live with in the modern world. We would want to be a continuing member of the NATO Alliance to play our part in collective security.” https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2015/06/23/stur-j23.html
Again, I’m not saying Scotland should stand against NATO but do we have to be a ‘key [US] ally?’ Did she even have to go at all? No doubt when the FM said it, she imagined her glass ceiling-busting hero [a complete monster hawk of course, but a woman Democrat so that’s OK?] Hilary Clinton, would be President.
So, returning to the Express piece, do we think the CIA used USAID money for gender seminars at Edinburgh University and MI5/6 did a bit of ‘persuasion’, to weaken the SNP and to confuse the Yes campaign more widely?
Sounds mad doesn’t it? Have MI5/6 and the CIA ever done things that had you suggested them, your best friend would suggest you were paranoid, losing it?
I mean, MI6 faking evidence on WMDs in Iraq, or spying on UN member nations before the vote on the Iraq War? They’d never do that would they? MI5 turning the top IRA killer and having to let him kill other MI5 assets to maintain his cover?
The CIA? You’ve seen the films, the documentaries – sending explosive cigars to Fidel Castro is one of the less mad ideas they’ve had. So, just how mad is the Express story. It’s only suggesting a bit private conversation and spending a few bucks.
I dunno what to think but I’m not happy.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
I commented myself a couple of weeks ago to “We Support an SNP Government” slightly to one side of Peter Murrell’s case.
The “write down” is of course to do with accountancy figures not market value. But why still impound a camper van bought above board for legitimate purposes and clearly shown in SNP accounts?
“Sky News on SNP finances mentioned that the still impounded Camper Van held by Police Scotland bought during covid as a safe way to do canvassing is now “only” worth £41,500 …. Well what a surprise a vehicle depreciates in value as it gets older. Who’d have thought that!
On a more serious note, why is it still impounded?
We know that Peter Murrell has been charged with embezzlement – a strange one in itself given the guy loaned £100,000 to the Party and is still owed £60.000.
But the campervan???”
Hardly a wonder we smell a conspiracy given the track record of the attempt to discredit Alex Salmond first and latterly Nicola Sturgeon
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I recently read And the Land Lay Still by James Robertson who described a few shady characters used to gather info or maybe influence events, the suggestion being these were controlled by MI5 or 6. It doesn’t take much to convince me there are a lot of murky undercurrents in both British and worldwide politics, trying to sway and shape events to suit various agendas. What I struggle to believe is that Nicola Sturgeon was bribed or indoctrinated to go against fighting for independence, I see her simply as a very able but flawed politician whose opinions on world events were not as principled as many of us might hope, just as Alex Salmond’s statements re Putin and at one point Trump were not widely backed either.
I really believe we need to move on from analysing their every move or fixating on their flaws. It is this that has been amplified to split the SNP and wider indy support and it is up to all of us to recognise divide and rule tactics so we can fight back effectively. I appreciate that hard feelings run deep but just imagine if 2026 saw an overwhelming surge of support for the SNP, we could put the unionists noses out of joint and show Westminster, the world and the SNP that independence can no longer be denied us.
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Thanks Brenda
I agree with your thoughts and choice of writer. I may have read all of his works.
John
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The security services are certainly embedded in the BBC, newspaper industry in Scotland and the political parties (not just the pro-indy parties) for the last 3 decades at least? I’m sure there are papers due for release about MI5 and the SNP pretty soon (most likely shredded–“Oh, we canny find them”).
Given what we know about MI5/police sleepers in N Ireland, the miners union, Greenpeace/environmental groups et al, you would have to be pretty stupid, or working on behalf of MI5 etc, to discount this. Some “Scottish journalists” and commentariat types (like Kevin McKenna) have repeatedly denied this could be going on in Wee Scotia. Ha-ha, aye right!!!!! I have a bridge to sell you.
gavinochiltree
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Nice comment Brenda, I fully agree with your thoughts. This extension beyond the 2026 elections is quite simply ridiculous and without reason or substance. How can such a case take this long? Clearly, there is a political motivate and the establishment just doesn’t care that we know it!
Ian Kirkwood
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I believe that if you don’t believe that the Scottish political establishment is riddled with plants from the UK and US then you are far too naive to comment on politics.
I recently read about the “Kincora Boys Home” and am currently on part 2 of “One nation Under Blackmail” by Whitney Webb. However evil you think security services are you are probably underestimating.
What to do about it? Shine as much light as possible as this excellent blog does. Support the victims.
Ireland isn’t in NATO and neither should Scotland be, without our consent.
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Yep. I can’t remember which US past president said this; ‘if you have a sense of a conspiracy going on think ten times worse’ or words similar to that. Obviously not always the case, but when it comes to politics and a very many politicians, seems about right.
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I guess you just have to look at the UKEng colonial fancy new building slap bang in the centre of Scotland’s capital, employing 1000’s of English civil servants.
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” Mad, eh? Who would believe any of that? ” – Probably most of the world if that was the ONLY information getting out, which is what the BBC Network has been configured to ensure
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SNP members were not content with that sentiment and made their views known. Neither was Alex Salmond the great statesman. World known. The whole world wanted Blair in jail. He was protected by Westminster unionists. Still is.
The CIA/M15 involvement was documented. From 1913 US Oil companies in the Middle East. Ford car production. The need for cheap petrol. Britain and France carved up the Middle East, illegally. Formed the countries. Quite illegally. Stole the assets from the area.
Churchill took all Persia’s (Iran’s) Oil. Took the lot. 1950’s. CIA/M15 stirred up discontent. The MP who wanted a share was put in prison. The primary CIA/M15 involvement. The related documents are held in Boston. Public knowledge.
Iraq, Dunblane, and Lockerbie kept secret for 100 years by Westminster. Under the official secrets act..
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