WHO'S ANYBODY?
So we're to have a new First Minister in a few weeks from now. Maybe that's something that was needed. Although it feel more like the SNP government has been in power for too long. They are running out of ideas, and have serious issues over competence, corruption and honesty. So it would be good to have someone else to vote for, to usher in a more complete change that might bring in real improvements after the next Holyrood election. But who is that alternative?
Twitter in these Muskian times seems flooded with right wing nutjobs. And diehard unionists. Often the same people. My feed covered in them, unsolicited and largely unwelcome, like a dog crapping on your dinner. Yes, I could simply block, or see only people I've chosen to follow, but there's something to be said for 'know your enemy', so it's worth persevering and seeing what the people who are causing the problems are saying.
And it gives the opportunity to ask questions. There's a particular kind of right wing unionist who persistently whines and whinges about the SNP government, and makes constant personal attacks on the outgoing First Minister. Mysogyny is never far away. I've taken to asking them what seems like the obvious question - Who is the credible electoral alternative we should be voting for?
And the answer is always the same - Anybody. When I point out that I've never seen the Anybody Party on any ballot paper their replies become more vague, or they vanish or block. Most liukely because even they know there isn't a proper alternative. Only Labour can oust the SNP as a government. The Tories might like to pretend they could, but Scotland sees through them. And if greater competence, less corruption and more honesty are the attributes being looked for, then their Westminster record shows them to be ten times worse than anything the SNP have done, without even the latter's humanity.
Which leaves Starmer's party. Because much as I have some liking for Sarwar, he is still going to have to do the party line from London. Which is avowedly unionist, doesn't commit to trying to reverse brexshit, and seems increasingly dostant from anything recognisable as socialism. So what's the point of Labour? To replace the nasty party in England for sure, but what can they offer this country? I wait to be wooed.
In the meantime we can only wait to see who the new FM will be, and what they offer. Sadly, it doesn't really have to be much to be better than the other lot.
