SNP are lying b******s as well !

[lucky]

Grady must resign his position is untenable and he is damaging the SNP. Blackford, who has done well at Westminster, is being dragged down on this as his response is not any different to Johnston standing by his mates when they’ve behaved appallingly. If you take up public office you are subjected to a higher level of public scrutiny and standards.

If Sarwar had acted like this many poster on here would be going crazy and can you imagine if Mick Lynch from the RMT had done something like this then the whole of the U.K. media would be in a frenzy.

[He's here!]

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I've had my genitals and backside grabbed on work Christmas nights out, and that was wildly inappropriate. But I am a grown man, and I am not intimidated in the way a young woman would be. I could have had them sacked, im sure, but the embarrassed apology done me given the women's age and size.

And this is nothing like what happened to me. This was mild in the extreme. Particularly in the dismissed case against the female MP, I'd suggest that this guy is at it. Imagine writing down that statement " she stroked my neck and I was scared." Get directly in the bin. The parliament is riddled with sexual misconduct - largely, I bet, because its a bad idea to have loads of cheap drink in your offices- and "they stroked my neck" is the one that breaks through?

It's all a bit odd.

You're way off the mark with that kind of chat.

[LewysGot2]

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I don't think you realise how brutal this chat is. The part about the woman's age and size really fires it home. Your stuck in a different era thankfully

What the hell age and size has to do with anything, who knows?

It's like MeToo never happened.

The power imbalance here was ridiculous. Nobody in a position of trust can breach those boundaries. The era where people turned blind eyes to inappropriate behaviour are widely gone. And with good reason.

The era people seem to be harking back to also allowed the likes of well known creepy disc jockeys and personalities to act in predatory fashion.

We've still a long way to go it seems...

[He's here!]

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What the hell age and size has to do with anything, who knows?

It's like MeToo never happened.

The power imbalance here was ridiculous. Nobody in a position of trust can breach those boundaries. The era where people turned blind eyes to inappropriate behaviour are widely gone. And with good reason.

The era people seem to be harking back to also allowed the likes of well known creepy disc jockeys and personalities to act in predatory fashion.

We've still a long way to go it seems...

As has this story it seems. The guy's not letting things lie with Blackford:

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/ian-blackford-snps-westminster-leader-facing-calls-to-resign-over-handling-of-sexual-harassment-case-12638655

[He's here!]

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As a member, I find the SNP's "we need to move on" approach very disappointing.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-61909112

The staffer clearly has no intention of letting them move on. He seems to carry a lot of media clout, while Blackford rejecting the invitation to appear on Radio Scotland will do nothing to put this story to bed. Uncomfortable FMQs for Sturgeon by the sounds of it.

[He's here!]

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I agree, but the initial finding was of that she had, I assume there must have been more evidence than an allegation

According to this she admitted being too drunk to recall exactly what was said and it seems largely to have come down to a case of his word against hers:

https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20230482.snp-mp-patricia-gibson-cleared-sexual-misconduct-bungled-investigation/

[Stairway 2 7]

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According to this she admitted being too drunk to recall exactly what was said and it seems largely to have come down to a case of his word against hers:

https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20230482.snp-mp-patricia-gibson-cleared-sexual-misconduct-bungled-investigation/

Like most cases like these, it's most of the time unlikely that guilt will be proven. Do mps regularly get black out drunk at their work bar.

[heretoday]

A proper Scotsman would have turned round and given his assailant one in the orchestra stalls.

[Berwickhibby]

Watched Blackford’s interview on STV, avoided answering any of the questions, a lot of rhetoric on reflection etc…end of day the 2 day suspension will sufficient blah blah, independent enquiry blah blah …. Car crash of interview imho

[He's here!]

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Watched Blackford’s interview on STV, avoided answering any of the questions, a lot of rhetoric on reflection etc…end of day the 2 day suspension will sufficient blah blah, independent enquiry blah blah …. Car crash of interview imho

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-61926125

If Sturgeon says his comments were "utterly indefensible" and "unacceptable" why does she still have "full confidence" in him?!

[Stairway 2 7]

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-61926125

If Sturgeon says his comments were "utterly indefensible" and "unacceptable" why does she still have "full confidence" in him?!

Reading that, it's bizarre Blackford never got his books

[Berwickhibby]

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-61926125

If Sturgeon says his comments were "utterly indefensible" and "unacceptable" why does she still have "full confidence" in him?!

Nothing will happen, they again will again close ranks, possibly issue another gagging order and carry on as if nothing had ever happened.

[whiskyhibby]

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Nothing will happen, they again will again close ranks, possibly issue another gagging order and carry on as if nothing had ever happened.

Your right, but as abhorrent as Blackfords conduct is there are worse examples in the SNP, online grooming, theft as well as sexual predation, it’s rife through the SNP.

Almost forgot about the missing £600k ……

they are an arrogant party that have been in power far too long, Scotland is becoming more like North Korea every day

[He's here!]

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Reading that, it's bizarre Blackford never got his books

Unless the vote of confidence in him from Sturgeon ultimately ends up like most votes of confidence do...

[He's here!]

Grady to step away from SNP membership as police launch probe into allegations against him:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...itics-61942317

[Ozyhibby]

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Grady to step away from SNP membership as police launch probe into allegations against him:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...itics-61942317

Think Blackford will lose his job this week as well.


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[He's here!]

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Think Blackford will lose his job this week as well.


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I've never been able to stomach him but I am often sceptical of recorded/leaked info from private meetings. It can be distasteful when you see how context can be distorted to suit an agenda. However, on this occasion Blackford has had ample opportunity to set the record straight and his response has fallen way short of what was required. Whatever his personal opinion of the complainant (and reading between the lines I think we can assume it's low) and his apparent high regard for Grady none of this should have stood in the way of a straightforward apology from a guy in his position of responsibility. Instead we get one of those meaningless non-apologies ie I'm sorry this incident took place/sorry if my actions caused offence etc. Sturgeon's 'apology' has been little better...Blackford's calls to rally round Grady were 'completely unacceptable' yet she retains full confidence in him. What sort of sense are we supposed to make of that?

A blundering response all round and extremely awkward timing as Sturgeon tries to kick some life into her latest independence drive.

As this article (written prior to the current headlines) asks, surely the SNP can do better than Blackford?

https://www.newstatesman.com/politic...-ian-blackford

[marinello59]

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Think Blackford will lose his job this week as well.


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He should have been sacked last week. That doesn’t happen to front benchers of either Government any more. Sturgeon will only act if she feels public opinion has turned so far against Blackford she has no choice. The hypocrisy of it all is sickening.

[He's here!]

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He should have been sacked last week. That doesn’t happen to front benchers of either Government any more. Sturgeon will only act if she feels public opinion has turned so far against Blackford she has no choice. The hypocrisy of it all is sickening.

Her attempt at deflection ('all parties need to learn lessons') was certainly pretty lame.

Intetesting opinion piece here:

https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20236731.mark-smith-patrick-grady-scandal-sign-changed/

[Keith_M]

I'm not sure if this is the right thread for this topic, but I was reading a very disturbing article on the influence the Crown has on Government decisions, even in the Holyrood parliament.

The viewpoint of one of the MSPs was that it's almost impossible to say which policies were amended after interference from the crown, because a number of policies are modified in advance, with the expectation of opposition.



"Under an arcane mechanism known as Queen’s consent, the monarch is routinely given advance sight of proposed laws that could affect her personal property and public powers. Unlike the better-known procedure of royal assent, a formality that marks the moment when a bill becomes law, Queen’s consent must be sought before the relevant legislation can be approved by parliament."
...

"The procedure, which operates in the UK, Scottish and Welsh parliaments, dictates that proposed laws cannot be implemented without the monarch’s approval when a bill might affect her public powers or private interests such as her privately owned estates at Balmoral and Sandringham."
...

"The memo further states that Nicola Sturgeon’s government deemed it too expensive to collate and publish a list of bills that had been modified. The Scottish government has also refused to release any of the Queen’s lawyers’ letters, arguing they must remain secret to protect her constitutional and legal privileges."

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...overnment-memo

[Since90+2]

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I'm not sure if this is the right thread for this topic, but I was reading a very disturbing article on the influence the Crown has on Government decisions, even in the Holyrood parliament.

The viewpoint of one of the MSPs was that it's almost impossible to say which policies were amended after interference from the crown, because a number of policies are modified in advance, with the expectation of opposition.



"Under an arcane mechanism known as Queen’s consent, the monarch is routinely given advance sight of proposed laws that could affect her personal property and public powers. Unlike the better-known procedure of royal assent, a formality that marks the moment when a bill becomes law, Queen’s consent must be sought before the relevant legislation can be approved by parliament."
...

"The procedure, which operates in the UK, Scottish and Welsh parliaments, dictates that proposed laws cannot be implemented without the monarch’s approval when a bill might affect her public powers or private interests such as her privately owned estates at Balmoral and Sandringham."
...

"The memo further states that Nicola Sturgeon’s government deemed it too expensive to collate and publish a list of bills that had been modified. The Scottish government has also refused to release any of the Queen’s lawyers’ letters, arguing they must remain secret to protect her constitutional and legal privileges."

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...overnment-memo

Would never happen. The monarchy would not override a decision made by the Scottish parliament and backed by the Supreme court.

It's just a formality, similar to that Monarch needing to agree to the appointment of the PM. It is archaic but in reality it would never actually happen.

[Jack]

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Would never happen. The monarchy would not override a decision made by the Scottish parliament and backed by the Supreme court.

It's just a formality, similar to that Monarch needing to agree to the appointment of the PM. It is archaic but in reality it would never actually happen.

There was a fuss kicked up a few years ago when the Queen used this to hide some of her income from the public.

[Since90+2]

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There was a fuss kicked up a few years ago when the Queen used this to hide some of her income from the public.

I'm surprised it's even been mentioned as it simply wouldn't happen.

[Jack]

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I'm surprised it's even been mentioned as it simply wouldn't happen.

Apparently in the early 70s.

[Since90+2]

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Apparently in the early 70s.

Sorry, I was meaning the crown not agreeing to Scottish independence.

[JimBHibees]

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Your right, but as abhorrent as Blackfords conduct is there are worse examples in the SNP, online grooming, theft as well as sexual predation, it’s rife through the SNP.

Almost forgot about the missing £600k ……

they are an arrogant party that have been in power far too long, Scotland is becoming more like North Korea every day

You missed out the laugh emoji

[Skol]

This really was a sad story with someone clearly put in a role they were not competent for and couldnt resist the temptation and tried to hide it behind her own incompetence. I cant help but think a little bit of honesty much earlier and a jail term could have been avoided


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-61994020

[Berwickhibby]

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This really was a sad story with someone clearly put in a role they were not competent for and couldnt resist the temptation and tried to hide it behind her own incompetence. I cant help but think a little bit of honesty much earlier and a jail term could have been avoided


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-61994020

Point is she wasn’t honest, just a common thief who believed she could do what she liked.

[Jones28]

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Point is she wasn’t honest, just a common thief who believed she could do what she liked.

Competent or not, she stole money. End of story.

I've got no time for criminals, regardless of the colour of their scarf.

[Ozyhibby]

Agree with the above but I really wish we didn’t use custodial sentences for non-violent offences like this. I would have rather doubled her sentence but made her serve it at home rather this.


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