Operation Branchform, SNP staff, present and former to be re-interviewed by Police Scotland investigating SNP Party finances, this development in the slow moving case is said to be directed by the Crown Office, Scotland’s prosecution service, is this another false dawn for action, or is the storm about to erupt?

When former Nicola Sturgeon was cornered like a rat by the Holyrood press pack, you could see in her demeanor that she extremely uncomfortable by the line of questioning regarding matters relating to OperationBranchform. Branchform started out as a police investigation into the whereabouts of £600k of a supposed ‘ringfenced’ campaign fund. This Fund was specifically to be used in the event of indyref 2. So, in order to spend that money on the campaign, an officially sanctioned campaign via a Section 30 order from Westminister is what a reasonable person would expect for the SNP to access and spend those funds. When the SNP accounts were looked at by third parties, they flagged up the cash actually held by the SNP was well below £100k. People were then ‘fed a line’ that the money was woven through the accounts, which some people disputed. There were other people who had donated, who decided they had to inquire at SNP HQ as where their donations where. They were told not to worry this cash is ‘ringfenced’, and everything was above board. As SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon told people directly in a zoom meeting that the party SNP finances had “never been stronger” and that people should be very careful about suggesting there was “any problems” with the accounts. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXFGjl1qr1U    

The bottom line is simple, either the cash is there or the cash is not there.  

The Police inquiry began in July 2021, and led to the arrest of Nicola Sturgeon, the former first minister, her husband, Peter Murrell and Colin Beattie, the SNP Treasurer. What is very interesting is that those people tasked as part of SNP national executive committee with responsibility for scrutinising the party's finances started resigning prior to the Police crashing through the door. SNP MP Douglas Chapman stood down from his role as party treasurer citing a lack of "support or financial information". Most people would think that as treasurer, Chapman would be entitled to know what monies have came in, and what monies have gone on, and crucially that they were spent legally. If you think back to the Natalie McGarry  criminal case of fraud, McGarry while in charge of party funds in Glasgow used that money for personal gain and benefit, a criminal trial would see her convicted. Therefore the same rules regarding correct spending of cash going out would be essential for Chapman to do his job properly. According to Chapman, he wasn’t allowed to do his job properly as treasurer because as he put it, SNP HQ weren’t providing the necessary "support or financial information". As treasurer, he decided that this wasn’t a situation which he would allow himself to be put in. Then the resignation of SNP MP Joanna Cherry from the party's national executive committee, as she stepped away, her position was there were "a number of factors" had prevented her fulfilling her mandate "to improve transparency and scrutiny", and "uphold the party's constitution". Although an MP, Cherry who is seen as a Salmond supporter is also a KC, King’s Counsel, a high rank lawyer, patently she didn’t like the new emerging landscape of secrecy.  

The effect of Operation Branchform on SNP polling has been dramatic; trust has been broken between the SNP and the Yes Movement. As the party sinks lower helmed by Sturgeon’s proxy Humza Yousaf there is a feeling that the investigation into SNP finances has been taking too long. The reason for delay is that the Police need to tread carefully, and that the original investigation has mushroomed into other areas regarding the SNP. The SNP pitch to gain public office was based on their claim of they would ensure openness; establish trust and being ethical, the hallmarks of public service. Many people feel those claims of being ‘white knights’ were a lie, a deception on a public desperate to break away from a stagnant political landscape in Scotland. The public want answers, so far, they have been kept waiting for what seems an impossibly long time. The immediate questions from the public which come to mind, is there going to be a trial? When will it happen? Who will be charged and with what crimes? As I stated above, the bottom line is simple, either the cash is there, or the cash is not there.  

In a new development, the pieces of this chess game seem to be moving around the board a bit quicker, Detectives investigating the SNP’s finances have requested to re-interview staff working at SNP HQ. It is said that this action is being directed by the Crown Office, Scotland’s prosecution service. We have already seen people arrested, we have seen Sturgeon’s Glasgow home searched with a big blue tent erected on the front lawn.We witnessed enough police pile into the party’s headquarters in Edinburgh which reminded some of the monty python sketch of the Romans searching a home. The finding of a luxury campervan which cost about £100k plus was also seized from Murrell’s mother’s driveway in Dunfermline, Fife, it now has a new home in a police impound yard down in Govan. A party source has made the claim the vehicle was purchased to aid campaigning during Covid but was never used. One of the eye openers was when Police decided 'check £95K car bought by Peter Murrell'. An electric I-Pace SUV was bought from a dealership in Edinburgh around 2019 but has since been replaced by a rather modest black electric 208 Peugeot. In motoring terms from Jag to 208 is quite a drop.  

On twitter, I occasionally ask the question is Peter Murrell still alive or is the Crown Office hoping he is dead. The reason I ask is that staunch defender of nationalism Peter Murrell has all but disappeared from public view. Gone, like he never existed, it is also said that even within Sturgeon’s inner circle it is unclear about his whereabouts. One would assume he is still camped out in his Glasgow home, but no one knows or how he has occupied his time in the ten months since his arrest. Peter Murrell is like the man who never existed, and his wife Nicola Sturgeon is like a part time MSP. A senior source said: 

“Nobody talks about him, nobody has seen him, nobody knows where he is.” 

Another high up in the party source said parliamentarians and staff members have stopped asking about their former boss. Humza Yousaf, seen as Sturgeon’s proxy, gave Peter Murrell a glowing recommendation describing him as a “proven winner” while Murrell was CEO, whether he still feels the same way is anyone’s guess. Colin Beattie, the SNP MSP and former party treasurer, who was arrested two weeks after Murrell, is still visible in the Scottish parliament. Nicola Sturgeon is also visible although classed by others as a part timer, full time wages for part-time effort. 

There is no doubt that Operation Branchform is like a death kneel to the SNP’s fortunes, it has undermined trust and damaging their electoral prospects. And having a Sturgeon proxy in place as First Minister who is inept will continue to harm the Nationalists’ prospects as a general election approaches. As 2024 is a General election year, the question is how much damage will be done to the number of seats currently held by the SNP, even in supposed heartlands. New in-depth polling research released at the weekend, which showed the SNP is losing support, primarily among middle-class voters who the SNP have overtaxed. This is a direct result of their bad stewardship of Scotland’s finances. 27 polls conducted since Sturgeon dramatically quit a year ago, said there was a direct correlation between the arrests of Sturgeon, Murrell and Beattie and the dip in support for the SNP. There is a feeling that Humza Yousaf’s role is all about keeping the First Minister seat warm for a Sturgeon return. The question is for Humza Yousaf is how do you get rid of a problem like Sturgeon, it is likely she will top the list system in Glasgow, so even if she loses her seat in Glasgow Southside, she gets a second lifeline. For those who don’t know the SNP well, Humza Yousaf isn’t popular, he is seen as a caretaker, and with Kate Forbes seen as the natural leader in waiting, how does a damaged good Nicola Sturgeon present herself a virginal white alternative to Yousaf in a post Operation Branchform world? A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: 

“Senior professional prosecutors from COPFS and an advocate depute are working with police on this ongoing investigation. It is standard practice that any case regarding politicians is dealt with by prosecutors without the involvement of the law officers. All Scotland’s prosecutors act independently of political interference. As is routine, to protect the integrity of ongoing investigations, we do not comment in detail on their conduct.” 

As the SNP employees gear up to face the police once again, you wonder if they kept notes about what they previously said to the police. Three people arrested so far, staff will be keen not to join that group.  An SNP spokesman said: 

“As we’ve said previously, the SNP has been co-operating with the inquiry and will continue to do so; however, it is not appropriate to comment further on a live investigation.” 

In the past SNP employees made claims about the indyref2 campaign funds, the fact the police are still beating the brush shows that something doesn’t appear as it should. Years ago, I blogged that a clear out of SNP HQ was needed while a member; I was told that Murrell and Liz Lloyd appeared to wield the power in the party HQ. Lloyd is now gone, Sturgeon is no longer leader, and Peter Murrell has disappeared. The last time Murrell reposted on his twitter account was 12:36 PM · Feb 14, 2023, then he was gone from twitter. 5 April 2023, police arrested him, and refused to tell the press which station he was taken too. This led the press to stake out Govan Police Station along with other stations in Glasgow area. Murrell, Sturgeon and Beattie are innocent until proven guilty as anyone is, but one wonders what is sitting in the police files but also the evidence lockers of Police Scotland? Many items were taken away in an evidence van. What were the items and how were those items bought? Is this re-interviewing by Police Scotland, another false dawn or is the storm about to hit? Well we will just have to wait a little bit longer, you can feel the tension.  It was announced in early April, after Murrell's arrest, that accountants Johnston Carmichael who had done the SNP for some years had resigned from auditing the SNP’s finances. What was the problem that they didn’t like? Murray Foote, previously SNP media chief, now CEO replacing Murrell openly denounced the conduct of the Police Scotland investigation, saying that the possibility that Branchform is a "wild goose chase". This begs the question, has he found the ring fenced £600k? If not, then it would appear to be not a "wild goose chase" regarding the indyref 2 fund, more like someone’s goose is cooked. 

The flight of the Falcon, a Star Wars clip, a George Laird production.

The Laird Report Episode 27 The SNP leadership don't care about Scotland or its people, they degrade our country and people

It’s the time to be cheerful, so Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family, be safe and well, don't drink and drive, enjoy the holidays and if you get the chance, do a good deed because you can’t buy that type of happiness

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family, have fun, stay safe and don't drink and drive. 

Political Death looms in Rutherglen Part Two, Humza Yousaf lose 15,000 votes as support for the SNP collapses to 2010 election levels, the decaying stench of Nicola Sturgeon hangs over the party like a ship in a bank of fog, how long can Sturgeon be allowed to stay in the party while dragging it to its death, Humza Yousaf is no leader of men, the calls for a new leadership in the SNP have gained new momentum for a Kate Forbes leadership bid

On the 31^st July 2023, I did a blog post called ‘political death looms in Rutherglen’, my contention was that the by-election on paper seemed to be a ‘shoo in’ for the Labour Party. The Labour Party traditionally pulls in a sizeable vote in this constituency, and here is a link to wiki to see this information. Fast forward 3 months later, and indeed the result confirm my theory that the shoo in result was to be correct. The defeat of the SNP wasn’t a mystery, the Labour Party worked the area solidly for six months; this means they were highly active in the two phases of the campaign, the long campaign and the short campaign. Their activists  worked to win the seat for the Labour Party, was seeded entirely in the long campaign as the party managed to garner 17,845 votes. The SNP vote on the other hand went from 23,775 to 8,399, a total collapse of support in a tale of two campaigns of contrast. The Labour Party threw people, money and resources at Rutherglen, the three key elements that make up the “political economy”, they “outspent” the SNP in every critical area. The SNP who historically were very good at by-election were reduced to using their “payroll vote” as ordinary political activists have deserted the party.   

Down below, I will put up the numbers of the voters for each candidate and here is a link to my earlier post.  

https://thelairdreport.blogspot.com/2023/07/political-death-looms-in-rutherglen-snp.html 

By-elections traditionally are a vehicle to give the government in power a bloody nose, and the SNP certainly got one in a huge 20 per cent swing to Scottish Labour. The SNP is as I have said an lgbt controlled party which at present is fronted by a Muslim, Humza Yousaf. Yousaf is a Sturgeon proxy, in Rutherglen one thing missing, very noticeably was Nicola Sturgeon. Although Yousaf is the leader on paper, his position isn’t secure, he isn’t popular with the public despite a Sturgeonesque makeover to make him appear acceptable. Humza Yousaf looks more like a caretaker leader each day, caretaking for Nicola Sturgeon return. Nicola Sturgeon knows that if Humza Yousaf falls her prospects for survival in a Kate Forbes’ SNP world are reduced considerably. In the previous election contest for SNP leader allegations of a possible rigged contest circulated on social media as everything seemed geared towards a Humza Yousaf win. Despite this, the win by Yousaf with the entire Sturgeon lgbt machine wasn’t decisive for him, the worst candidate won, and was seen to have won. 

Michael Shanks from Scottish Labour overwhelmingly won the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election due to a huge run in time along with other advantages. In 2024, he seems a clear favourite to retain the seat; it is unlikely that a continuation of a Humza Yousaf leadership will recover circa 15,000 lost votes. Today for the SNP is a day of excuses, the reality is the SNP is as I said over a decade ago, was turned into a rat ship. Alex Salmond was asleep at the wheel as a sub organization was built up all around him, the LGBT wing who waited to Salmond stepped down than acted as Nicola Sturgeon’s gatekeepers. As I also pointed out, four groups make up the SNP, LGBT, Muslim, Sein Fein Lite and the Rich, little is known about the Rich who remain in the background and away from the day to day operations of the party. The other three groups vie for power, expect to see more Muslim candidates because the ‘diversity’ campaign by Humza Yousaf will be coming down the pipeline. When Yousaf did his anti white people in top jobs speech, you must have known that diversity meant Scottish Muslims and Muslims of Pakistani descent, not Poles, Chinese, Norwegians or East Europeans. The diversity campaign blog is for another day; today is mostly about Rutherglen and Hamilton West. 

If Michael Shanks is smart, he will get himself setup, office etc, and his first order of business is to restart his election campaign to be in place before xmas 2023, work out the kinks, he won’t have the manpower afforded him in the by-election. Shanks needs to cement his victory, as some people know I did Paul Sweeney’s campaign in 2017, this overturned the biggest SNP majority in the city of Glasgow, two years later, he lost the seat. I worked on both campaigns, although in the second campaign I started late and had to leave early for health reasons. What I saw in the second campaign was problems in how the campaign was being run, but there was more to this loss than just the events in the short campaign. Although I passed on my thoughts on campaigning, the Labour Party isn’t a vehicle that accepts new ideas readily, and the lack of ability to adapt ruined Paul Sweeney’s chances in 2019, couple with the SNP who actually did some work to recover lost ground. Although I give advice, I accept not all people are willing to take it onboard, and losing is never a good time to remind them I told you so. But that is politics, you play your cards your way, and sometimes you get beat, Paul Sweeney didn’t deserved to lost, but the essential ground work wasn’t done to cement his victory, a lesson painfully learned. I went to get him elected in 2021; he sits as a list MSP in Holyrood for the Glasgow region. 

One aspect of the campaign of note was the result for the Conservatives; they lost their deposit, with Thomas Kerr finishing on 1,192. From what I could tell and from what I learned from members inside the party, the party leadership didn’t rally their membership effectively to come out as activists, they didn’t put the work in during the long campaign, and managed to lose circa 7,000 votes. What the Conservatives in the Glasgow region need is new leadership, a new engagement strategy with members and a new campaign model to get ordinary members active. You don’t win seats during the short campaign; you need to work an area 10 months minimum, during the year. To go from 8,054 to 1,192 is to be blunt ridiculous. It has been voted that Conservatives voters switched to the Labour Party to rout the SNP and get rid of them, but I seriously doubt that to be true to any significant number.

14 people stood in the by-election, a huge number each paying a £500 deposit; only two candidates get their money back. By-elections can be incredible fun, but more than that, they are a very useful learning tool for activists to gain practical experience and also learn from others. I am a big fan of by-elections, the more you do; the better and sharper you are, when meeting people. The wooden spoon of the evening went to Garry Cooke who amassed 6 votes, but in reality there can be only one winner, like showbiz, politics can be a tough gig. Learn to live with disappointment because at sometime, you will experience it politically. Politics isn’t about the best candidate winning, it’s about who tells the best story. 

This by-election was caused by a petition to remove Margaret Ferrier after she broke Covid rules. Since Nicola Sturgeon was trying to appear tough on covid rule breakers, she flung Ferrier under the bus for political reasons. The decision to do so is telling about Nicola Sturgeon, she is a vicious horrible nasty individual. Just as Sturgeon got rid of Ferrier who won Rutherglen and Hamilton West for the SNP in 2019, it seems that the weight of destiny may see the SNP into the reality that it has to get rid of Nicola Sturgeon. Nicola Sturgeon is still under police investigation since her arrest as is her husband and the SNP treasurer. £600k of indyref 2 funds is gone, and someone or others has to be held to account. You can’t walk back from missing money, or use a bullshit excuse to get off the hook. Of course, we must have a link to Rishi Sunak’s epic quip on Nicola Sturgeon, she done a lot of harm to Scotland and its people, that is historical fact, but this is worth a laugh. 

The turn-out was particularly low in this by-election, and the news reports with ordinary people showed why, they are sick of the political class who are making their lives bad to worse. Only just 30,531 people could be bothered to vote;, only 37.19 per cent of the eligible electorate is the damning indictment of this election. I personally favour compulsory voting because it would force the political class to up their game considerably. Although voter ID was required in this election, ironically this is being used as one of the excuses why the SNP lost. The National (SNP pravda) is actively looking for people turned away from polling stations for having no ID to explain away SNP defeat. Do you think 15,000 former SNP voters were turned away from polling stations? A more viable reason is that the Scottish National Party has become the party of the crook, the party of the deviant, the party of the nonce and the leading anti woman party in Scotland. 

Basically the SNP is a stinking cesspool of low grade humanity. 

Finally, I noticed on twitter that Iona fyfe was having a dig at the Scottish Family Party for gaining 319 votes as if that is some sort of judgement on the party, and its candidate Niall Fraser. The Scottish Family Party pretty much stood on a single issue, their result was 1.05% of the vote. The party seems happy, they are trying to establish a brand, but perhaps they may make a wider policy platform to have more appeal in future contests. Iona Fyfe who is referred to as #Bignose by some on social media isn’t a fan, I assume it is maybe because she is woke and buys into this trans debate nonsense that a man can become a woman. Iona Fyfe has her critics, as this tweet makes an opinion on her lifestyle. Fyfe has been hanging around the SNP leadership for possible personal advancement, just in case the singing career doesn’t pan out, as the old saying goes, opinions vary! Although the win was solid for Scottish Labour, a single by-election of this type isn’t tablets of stone of future success, but I would say, Michael Shanks has a better than decent chance of retaining the seat in 2024, I doubt the SNP can recover in Rutherglen and Hamilton West to make a real challenge at the next election. Here is the full result, enjoy, large field but no Alba candidate, they obviously think their united for indy candidate strategy is still something worth pursuing, it isn’t. 

RUTHERGLEN AND HAMILTON WEST RESULT IN FULL

Michael Shanks (Lab) 17,845 (58.55%, +24.08%)

Katy Loudon (SNP) 8,399 (27.56%, -16.64%)

Thomas Kerr (C) 1,192 (3.91%, -11.06%)

Gloria Adebo (LD) 895 (2.94%, -2.25%)

Cameron Eadie (Green) 601 (1.97%)

David Stark (Reform) 403 (1.32%)

Niall Fraser (Scot Family) 319 (1.05%)

Bill Bonnar (SSP) 271 (0.89%)

Colette Walker (IFS) 207 (0.68%)

Christopher Sermanni (TUSC) 178 (0.58%)

Andrew Daly (Ind) 81 (0.27%)

Ewan Hoyle (Volt) 46 (0.15%)

Emperor of India Prince Ankit Love (ND) 34 (0.11%)

Garry Cooke (ND) 6 (0.02%)

Some turds aren’t meant to float or be polished; Nicola Sturgeon's attack dug Mhairi Hunter eyes up possible Holyrood seat in 2026, if Nicola Sturgeon is at Holyrood and with no high profile job lined up, Hunter isn't getting a Holyrood seat, Nicola won't be giving anyone especially Hunter a leg up if it endangers her re-election

There are lines in literature that causes you to raise an eyebrow. Just recently a puff piece was done in the Herald where Kevin McKenna was trying to raise someone up in the eyes of the public. He wrote without sarcasum, “There’s something about Mhairi Hunter.” 

Personally, I would have gone with another more brutal punch line, ‘my day at the computer polishing a turd’. Yes, turd polishing in politics is not un-common, usually this is started off by the leadership in a party done for some people deemed to be ‘rising stars’. The only problem in turd polishing is usually the person selected isn’t a ‘star’, never has been and has no track record of achievement. Although there are many clear examples of turd polishing in the SNP, the most obvious is Humza Yousaf. He used to be referred to as ‘the chosen one’ in the SNP, but as we have seen by his record of failure in government and now as SNP leader, he has risen to the top or more aptly ‘the bowl’. Humza Yousaf like Mhairi Hunter was part of the Glasgow SNP Southside cabal which surrounded Nicola Sturgeon. 

McKenna rightly points out, Hunter did have a stint as a long-serving local councilor and at the same time was a Cllr in the same area she worked for Nicola Sturgeon. Effectively getting paid twice for doing the same job, she was also Sturgeon’s eyes and ears on the SNP Council until the public wised up and gave her the shaft by voting for a Green Party candidate thus levering her out the door. In the SNP, Hunter acted as Nicola Sturgeon’s election agent, and in terms of doing quite well out of that positioning, she made a cushy living raking in two salaries from the public purse. Before the Glasgow bubble, wider Scotland doesn’t know ‘English’ Mhairi, much in the same way that no one really knew her mother, who was also Sturgeon’s election agent. In fact, most people I talked to in the Govan by-election 0f 2013, had never heard of her mother who was the SNP Councillor for the area. Previously myself as an SNP activist used to campaign in Govan, SNP Cllr Allison Hunter rarely came out to work in the area. I have of course written about how lazy Mhairi Hunter’s mother was and how she treated me, the woman was an arsehole. Like mother, like daughter. If anyone is going to say you’re speaking ill of the dead, I am and freely, because the truth can sometimes be brutal. And I previously wrote of how I was abused by Allison Hunter at an election count. My one real regret was remaining polite when I should have been equally abusive back. 

I enjoy comedy, but where is the comedy in trying to take an idiot, and elevate her to a national profile and attempt make Hunter into a politician of significant standing. The experiment failed in middle class educated Humza Yousaf, he is nationally known as Humza Yousless, he is a joke figure. In put his piece together, Kevin McKenna decided it seems to go do a bit of back ground digging, stopping by the City Chambers, he found someone willing to describe Mhairi Hunter in thse terms, as a “stalwart” and “formidable” and “no-nonsense”. To cover all the bases, they also chimed in with hard working, committed and real. The marketing of the SNP superwoman really doesn’t hang well on ‘English’ Mhairi, yes; Mhairi apparently was born and raised in London, England. She is one of the many English people ‘earning a coin’ out of campaigning for the SNP. On twitter, Hunter is seen as an arch-defender of the party’s official line on everything, she is Sturgeon’s dug, and as noted by Kevin, there is a growing band of critics, both inside and out the SNP. You see the tenure of Nicola Sturgeon has come to a sudden grinding halt. In what must seem like sarcasm, McKenna notes that Hunter’s exchanges are done with a touch of class and no little elegance, personally, I thinking polishing the turd that hard will break the surface. The next bit may seem farfetched, well, it did to me when I read did. Someone else who apparently disagrees with Hunter “on just about everything” says that she would be an asset to the SNP at Holyrood. 

I have to say….. oh please fuck off (and with utter distain).  

At the 2021 Council elections, she lost her Southside Central seat, this was a great comic moment after she was squeezed out by a combination of issues, an SNP backlash among the people of Govanhill and beyond, aided by Green and Alba performing better than expected. 

Hunter in her usual ungracious way said; 

“Well I didn't expect today to go like this. A combination of Green and Alba votes leaves me no longer a councillor. Pretty ironic really. Still, more time to campaign for independence.” 

Beaten by a guy in a dress who calls himself Elaine Gallagher, he identifies as a she and curiously also as someone who is behind in paying their council tax. 

At this point, feel no sympathy for Sturgeon’s dug, this is as they say a ‘laughing matter’. 

Before, I can continue, a thought popped up in my head, as it did with some other people, Mhairi Hunter, firstly bizarre, and secondly whose seat? Dornan’s in Cathcart? Sturgeon’s in Glasgow Central? Or Humza’s in Pollok? Given Humza Yousaf bailed on Glasgow for Dundee, where would there be a seat for her? It is highly likely that even if there is Humza flight to a new seat in Dundee or even the Dundee list, would Hunter be welcomed in Pollok? Would she get the votes, if you discount Pollok, the obvious two seats in Glasgow are Sturgeon’s and Dornan’s. My main point here is, does this signal the SNP is preparing for Sturgeon leaving either voluntary or involuntary? After all, with £600,000 of indyref money missing, could there a criminal trial, could previously arrested Nicola Sturgeon be charged? Of course, the usual, everyone accused in the current police operation Branchform is innocent in the eyes of the law. If Sturgeon is still in place as an MSP come 2026 for Holyrood, would she stand again? Would she want to keep her ‘I am innocent’ campaign going with a MSP seat to use as her pulpit? 

So, what could we expect from Mhairi Hunter, well let’s hear it from the horse’s mouth. 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QNhEz3WIXGs 

The SNP inaction in Govanhill allowed the place to be turned into a cesspit, a modern day third world slum, a ghetto right in the heart of Glasgow. There are too many stories from Govanhill’s decline to mention, murder, robbery, slum landlords, flytipping and child prostitution, it’s all there for a quick google search. The interesting part is the laid back attitude of Nicola Sturgeon who came to visit the place doing a series of staged show face events, normally not only to the general public in the area. There for anything that made her look good but never there to discuss the real issues with the real people. Another treat which you could see from Hunter, if anyone would vote her in is a crusade from her as a staunch defender of transgender rights. Bad housing, bad roads, bad healthcare, bad council services et al, but if any guy in a dress is unhappy, Mhairi Hunter will be straight to the barricades. Mhair Hunter along with Nicola Sturgeon represents what is rotten in the body politic in Scotland; both of these people are like a stinking sewer in high summer, spreading a bad smell beyond their immediate area. An example is Hunter backing the official Scottish government position on permitting self-ID. Self id is a pervert charter, this allows rapists to access women’s prison complete with their ‘lady dick’. A huge stink caused Nicola Sturgeon to lose public support, although she probably didn’t care; that and police appearing at her house showed that her time was up.

What is interesting to me; is why the press seems to think that Mhairi Hunter has a future outside the Sturgeon bubble. Once Sturgeon is gone, the SNP really doesn’t have much use for Hunter. Touted as a “key ally” of Nicola Sturgeon is being to sound something which is tainted now, other key allies of Nicola Sturgeon will be familiar to you too such as Derek Mackay and SNP MP Patrick Grady, both homosexuals and both with an interest in young teenage boys. Sturgeon’s certainly has strange friends. 

In talking about her future she said:  

“I have no fixed plans for the immediate future. I had care responsibilities for my dad for 10 years and then when my sister became very ill. So, this is the first time I’ve had some time to think. I’d certainly stand again for the Council and I’d certainly consider standing for a Holyrood seat. Right now though, our priority is on the next Westminster election. But I’m certainly thinking about Holyrood.” 

The only way Hunter gets to Holyrood is possibly the Glasgow list, in a first past the post seat, this oddity when seen by the public spouting her trans rights crap is a vote loser. She isn’t a heavyweight political figure, she is the exact opposite. She tied herself to Sturgeon’s apron strings, now that attachment seems like a problem. Kevin McKenna makes much of Hunter self publicizing herself on doorsteps as if this translates into concern and action, I refer you to the video above, Mhairi Hunter, the great escape for Govanhill. If you see her at your door, it’s to get your vote and your personal information, and all of that is for the SNP to use to keep people like Hunter on the gravy train. Hunter done quite well out of being Sturgeon’s enforcer, and with no UN, WHO or EU for Sturgeon, the prospect for Hunter at Holyrood to me borders on zero! If Sturgeon is still an MSP, Hunter isn’t going to even get the vacant seat by Dornan; or even John Mason’s old seat across the river.   

Some turds aren’t meant to float or be polished; Mhairi Hunter proves this in spades. 

The Epic Statement of Nicola Sturgeon, 'there are no reasons to be concerned about the party's finances', but supporters say Nicola Sturgeon 'may claim she was too busy running country to know how SNP funds spent', just how many items of evidence was taken by Police Scotland from Nicola Sturgeon's home, who used them, who bought them and was anything bought with indyref2 funds?

 

Do you like a laugh? Do you find glee in listening to someone trying to dupe you? Have you ever had someone tried to take the rip roaring piss out of with a straight face and know that is what they are up too? If the answer to all these questions is yes, then you might find yourself in for a real treat. It seems more than highly likely that in the not too distance future the probe into SNP finances is doing to yield criminal charges. You may ask why, because it allegedly appears according to the SNP own financial accounts, that the money raised for #indyref2 isn’t in the SNP accounts. And for the purposes of ass covering the three people, Nicola Sturgeon, Peter Murrell and Colin Beattie who were arrested by Police Scotland are ‘innocent until proven guilty’. Yes, these three have the right to be considered innocent, whether as they can publicly claim they are innocent, no one can say they’re guilty because that may prejudice their right to a fair trial. 

So far, two people out of three have gone on record as saying they are innocent of any wrongdoing, Nicola Sturgeon and Colin Beattie. Operation Branchform was launched in 2021 after several complaints were made to Police Scotland regarding the SNP's finances. At this point, it would remiss to not mention the ‘man of the hour’, Sean Clerkin. Although seen as a maverick and a fringe outsider, this guy has blown the SNP to bits more effectively than a 105 mm howitzer. Scotland raised an eyebrow when Police Scotland storm into the SNP and the private home of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon. We watched with interest as Police Scotland went 'the full bhoona' during their search of Sturgeon’s house with a tent erected on the front lawn and the press pack hovering about outside. We rejoiced as Police took away boxes of evidence, Poice probing SNP finances looking into designer pens, burner phones, pots and pans, and a fridge freezer among other things in a search that last 30 hours. Even teabags weren’t safe from being ‘tagged and bagged’. It was revealed Police were examining an Amazon shopping account, and 1000 allegations of fraud in relation to this fraud probe, the ‘amazon card of destiny’, lighter than the stone of destiny but with more value. 

In the aftermath of the Police raid, we saw Former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon passionately declare her innocence. Sycophants emerged from the shadows and made interventions that ‘oor Nicola’ isn’t bent, including one from her buddy SNP MP Anne McLaughlin. Flowers were organized to be sent to her, which many people found rather odd. It seems that more work was being done on ‘Nicola is innocent’ than on indyref2. One interesting point was said by Nicola Sturgeon in terms of her defence, and that she was, she was speaking for herself and herself alone. No rubber stamp of innocence was available it seems for husband, Peter Murrell; he had to do his own declarations, but is notably silent. When I heard about this, I immediately thought of the Tammy Wynette song, ‘Stand by your man’. Whether Nicola Sturgeon is standing by her man is a question which might be relevant at some future date, in the event of any possible unpleasantness. 

For those who have watched Nicola Sturgeon and her political career over the years closely, you would have homed in on theme she used time and time again in relation to SNP scandals, her constant use of don’t know to any scandal. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y77yxzM74s4 

Now, in the event of any future trial into SNP finances, and if Nicola Sturgeon is charged, it seems renewed speculation has surfaced that Nicola Sturgeon may claim she was too busy running the country to know that bizarre purchases at the centre of a criminal investigation were made with SNP funds. The claim is apparently been made by party insiders who think this is the most viable route in the event of her facing a possible criminal trial. Senior nationalist sources expect Sturgeon arrested in June, to insist she did not know that a string of assets, including a luxury motorhome seized from her mother-in-law’s driveway, were paid for by the party she led. It should be point out that Sturgeon was responsible for the SNP finances. In a trial any old tosh can be used as a defence, ‘it wisnae me’ being the most popular, ‘it was that bastard over there’ being also accepted or a combination of both. It is for a jury having been fed a story during a trial to analyse fact from fiction. It is at the end of the day for a jury to take all information/ evidence presented and mull over claims and counter claims made. However associates of Ms Sturgeon; have admitted that her claims may test the credulity of the public. The tricky problem for her lawyers is the many of the items detectives are examining were apparently seized from her own home such as a women's razor. 

Does your husband use a women’s razor Ms Sturgeon? If so what for? Then there is the issue of designer pen and jewellery, and many more interesting questions which may come up. 

Murray Foote, the SNP’s former media chief and now SNP CEO, told the Daily Record: 

“Some of these items are more likely to be on a shopping list than on Interpol’s most wanted. The hunt for a lady’s razor does make you wonder if the police are investigating a bad case of botched beauty treatment”. 

Given the humour displayed by Foote, that crack would die a death in a court, because the joke isn’t about the alleged proceeds of crime where spent, only that the money was taken. And the prospect a guilty verdict could see some people have years stuffed up their arse by a court. Have we all forgotten Natalie ‘I am innocent’ McGarry so soon? Her defence was so laughable, that a jury rather speedily concluded that her defence of being no good with numbers just wasn’t credible. It is said Senior SNP figures believed Sturgeon’s denials, claiming that “sometimes the explanation that is hard to believe is actually the one that is true”. And sometimes the opposite of denial based on emotion is more applicable, such as the duck test, this is a form of abductive reasoning, usually expressed as "If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck." So, what is the Senior SNP figures belief based on, fuck knows, however, it should be pointed out that in an interview years ago, Sturgeon did allegedly say that she and her husband would discuss things in the morning together before they started their day. 

In the SNP finances case, the elephant in the room is not exactly an elephant, it is a campervan. This is a luxury campervan which was parked up on the driveway of Ms Sturgeon’s mother-in-law’s home in Dunfermline. Over the years we have heard how important family is to Nicola Sturgeon, but in the case of Sturgeon’s mother in law who apparently lives alone and is in her 90’s, Sturgeon’s recent claim that she rarely visited her mother-in-law is touted by her believers as “significant”. You may ask significant of what exactly;"see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"? Others apparently less generous see her comments as an attempt at “floating a possible explanation”. Begs the obvious question, would the police logs from her police protection log her as visiting the mother in law at the same time the campervan was there? I don’t know about you but if a £110k campervan was sitting in a 90 year old woman’s driveway, would you ask about it on a visit? Of course, detectives of Operation Branchform will be able to access her travel logs as part of their investigation. 

Original complaint, the one that is your moneymaker right there is of course, the investigation by the police that £600,000 of donations solicited for independence campaigns that never happened had gone “missing” from party accounts. The questions of who took it, who spent and what was it spent on are rather relevant because according to the SNP own recent accounts, it appears to be gone. Words like ‘woven through the accounts’ were previously used, but if you can weave thin air of something which is gone, let me know, oh, and as far as I can tell, no one left a IOU note to pay it back in. Iain Livingstone, the former chief constable, has suggested that detectives had “moved beyond” initial complaints and were now looking at fraud, potential embezzlement and misuse of funds. When I read this, it reminded me immediately of ex SNP MP Natalie McGarry, she was an SNP official and women for indy official who pocketed tens of thousands of donations and spent them on luxury items for herself including a holiday. 

“Sometimes the explanation that is hard to believe is actually the one that is true,” a senior SNP source said, and sometimes shit talk is just shit talk. 

As part of her ‘innocence tour’ at the Edinburgh Fringe, when quizzed by soft interviewer Iain Dale about whether she was confident her husband was innocent, Ms Sturgeon insisted nothing should be read into her refusal to say. She said: 

“I am not going to speak for anybody other than myself. In not answering that question, that’s not to say yes or no. I’m not going to try and speak for anyone else, whether it’s my husband or anybody else.”

Sturgeon also refused to say when she became aware of the campervan outside her mother-in-law’s house, an upmarket Niesmann + Bischoff model, which neighbours said never left the driveway. Does that mean she visited the house when the van was there, and it could be confirmed by police logs? If there are no police logs, then her mobile phones data cell tower logs could be used as evidence. Remember when police used this data to convince the killers of Kriss Donald? Your phone pings cell towers all day long. 

A source has said. 

“Nicola’s only conceivable defence is to say that she knew nothing about it. There had to be a reason for her agreeing to do a very public interview with Iain Dale at such a sensitive time. Her response to the question about the campervan that she never visited her mother in law was very strange. Nicola is not famous for her small talk, but even she couldn’t credibly claim that she didn’t notice a huge brand new campervan on her elderly mother-in-law’s drive or think to ask anything about it. So to say she was never there struck me as her floating a possible explanation.” 

Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in the eyes of the Court. It is worth mentioning that it is also possible that someone else will be charged, like in football, anything can happen in 90 minutes. A new player being charged at this late date seems very doubtful. Is it possible that no one will be getting charged by the police acting under orders from the Crown; this seems highly unlikely in this situation as well! And as the Crown Office cannot accept the ‘I’m innocent’ defence like in Life of Brian, the key question is, who if anyone gets a police revisit to take them down to the station for charging? 

Finally, when Alex Salmond got charged, I was shocked, unlike most of the public, I had met him on several occasions, when his case came to court, I couldn’t wrap my head around the notion he was guilty. Then later on, I found out who was accusing him, not employees spread over a vast Scottish government network, but people close to Nicola Sturgeon. I was sure that if Alex Salmond went to court, he would be found not guilty. Salmond was a threat to the Sturgeon regime, and many believe he was stitched up in an attempted to get him in prison and out of the way. Personally, in the event of any future trial involving anyone charged in the SNP finances scandal, I don’t have the same confidence or belief as I had in Alex Salmond in their ability to walk into court innocent, and more importantly, walk out innocent. 

Who knows who will be charged, but I remember Natalie McGarry’s bullshit defence, and think to myself, some people better get their act together, and their act needs to be truthful, because juries are fickle, they don’t like being played or conned. As Tommy Sheridan and Natalie McGarry found to their cost, being a good talker doesn’t work in a criminal trial, something others should bear in mind.