The Laird Report Episode 29 National Service & National Disgrace

The Laird Report Episode 28 Our governments have betrayed us all

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%)