Nicola Sturgeon resigns!!

[mustang5861]

If this story was of Tories mishandling party funds the BBC et al would be all over it seeking blood

But whose blood? Sturgeon and Murrell have left the scene, so that blood is stale because all the media outlets (TV and Press) know that their efforts cannot get them a 'result' in the form of forcing Sturgeon out of office - and, given the events and 'optics' this week, they would most certainly have wanted (and got) exacly that if she had not already quickfooted her way ouf of Bute House. Knowing that pursuing Sturgeon (and to a far lesser extent Murrell) has a reward of slim pickings at best, the Beeb, at least here in Scotland, and other media outlets are now content to bide their time before turning their attention on the new Target No. 1 - Humza Yousaf - using at the very least the the tactic of 'guilt by association' to make his tenure as First Minister a) extremely uncomfortable and b) relatively short.

Assuming Kate Forbes took over should Yousaf walk, the Beeb, after a collective round of high-fives and pats on the back for 'Mission Accomplished', would be as happy as pigs in sh*t taking her apart for her 'We Free' beliefs. Result: yet more chaos at the top of the political tree; and media always love a to play mischief-makers when a state of chaos arises in each and every political party, especially the party that is in power at the time.

[slogen51]

The SNP a single issue party have brought the chaos upon themselves in a way Boris would be familiar with

I have always thought and still do that the former FM operated with a lot of integrity and she was clearly a conviction politician ( hopefully not convicted politician!) In that she campaigned on her own values.

She said in her resignation speech that she had be pondering her resignation for a few weeks "I've been thinking about it with oscillating intensity," she says with a smile."
And
"A couple of weeks ago it started to crystallise a bit more."

However only a few weeks earlier when the New Zealand prime minister resigned saying she had enough Sturgeon said that she was full of energy and was going to see Scottish independence through especially as Westminster had refused to make any referendum concessions. She was speaking from a position of authority and in full control.

However we now know ( or think we know) that she may have discovered some irregularities in the party finances - normally a leader would shrug that off and sack anyone involved and move on but when the person involved is your spouse then she was facing the inevitable and gave the well used " I want more time with my family speech"

[mustang5861]

The SNP a single issue party have brought the chaos upon themselves in a way Boris would be familiar with

I have always thought and still do that the former FM operated with a lot of integrity and she was clearly a conviction politician ( hopefully not convicted politician!) In that she campaigned on her own values.

She said in her resignation speech that she had be pondering her resignation for a few weeks "I've been thinking about it with oscillating intensity," she says with a smile."
And
"A couple of weeks ago it started to crystallise a bit more."

However only a few weeks earlier when the New Zealand prime minister resigned saying she had enough Sturgeon said that she was full of energy and was going to see Scottish independence through especially as Westminster had refused to make any referendum concessions. She was speaking from a position of authority and in full control.

However we now know ( or think we know) that she may have discovered some irregularities in the party finances - normally a leader would shrug that off and sack anyone involved and move on but when the person involved is your spouse then she was facing the inevitable and gave the well used " I want more time with my family speech"

Agree with that. As to the timing of her quitting, something nobody seems to have picked up on is that on 7 February, a week before her official announcement, Humza Yousaf suddenly terminated a legal action he and his wife had brought against an Edinburgh school for refusing to accept their daughter. Coincidence of timing, or an attempt to 'clear the decks' having been tipped-off by Sturgeon, for whom it was the widely known that Yousaf was her preferred successor, that she was going to quit?

I'd also be interested to learn when exactly Johnston Carmichael quit as the SNP's accountants. If it was before Murrell resigned as Chief Executive of the SNP, might they have been tipped-off that some of the figures they had been given re. the SNP's finances were 'inaccurate' to say the least?

[slogen51]

I did wonder why the former Deputy FM John Swinney didn't throw his hat into the leadership contest? So it certainly looks like people at the top including the former auditors knew there would be no escape from the clinging 'oil slick' of corruption that would soon surface .

How much if anything did Yousaf know of Sturgeon's real reasons for resigning?

Council By-elections just around the corner will be a good test although the turnout for by-elections is usually woefully low.

[XWP29]

I did wonder why the former Deputy FM John Swinney didn't throw his hat into the leadership contest? So it certainly looks like people at the top including the former auditors knew there would be no escape from the clinging 'oil slick' of corruption that would soon surface .

How much if anything did Yousaf know of Sturgeon's real reasons for resigning?

Council By-elections just around the corner will be a good test although the turnout for by-elections is usually woefully low.

I agree that elements of the press only concentrate on taking certain scalps.

There have been references in nation newspapers comments sections many months ago referring to these issues and that it would come to a head, my memory seems to recall as long ago as the Salmon investigation.
Auditors resigning is not really that significant in its self apart from distancing themselves and they will likely have a covering letter for the accounts preparation saying they are not responsible. This is the norm certainly in company accounts.

As for the way NS left I am reminded that usually just before a football manager is actually sacked the media are told that the manager has the full backing of the board/club. No surprise that these things come as a shock, I would imagine the own goal and stupidity of sending a man to a woman's prison is as good as any reason to throw in the towel.

It's always interesting to see what the public think in these sort of matters, often on or completely off the mark.

I'm waiting to see what happens.

[slogen51]

A weak SNP could be bad news for the Tories at Westminster although they have probably already shot themselves in both feet and their arse!

I did notice that the Conservative Union party narrowly won the Sterling by-election in march

[Condor68]

Item on news the other night stated auditors were not getting details of income or commitments.That looks like somebody hiding something and/or brown envelopes.

[XWP29]

Police have “arrested” a Motorhome from his mothers house.

[Pippie123]

£110K motorhome at his 92 year old mum's house. Fairly recently delivered according to the report.

It gets more interesting by the day.

[iainpeden]

£110K motorhome at his 92 year old mum's house. Fairly recently delivered according to the report.

A test vehicle stored there in the interim until the SNP ferries (how many years delayed?) are ready for sea trials.

[mustang5861]

£110K motorhome at his 92 year old mum's house. Fairly recently delivered according to the report.

An example of forward planning: it's the motorhome Murrell will move into when Nicola kicks him out of the marital home...

[slogen51]

He won't get that lucky!

[slogen51]

Camper van confiscated

What a cheek! Peter Murrell buys an expensive motor home and then leaves it on his mother's driveway for two years apparently without ever driving it.

Ripped from the Daily Torygraph
Police have reportedly seized a luxury campervan from the home of Nicola Sturgeon's mother-in-law the same morning they raided the former First Minister's house.

Officers confiscated the vehicle from outside the home of Margaret Murrell, the 92-year-old mother of Peter Murrell, on Wednesday morning. She lives in a private estate in Dunfermline, Fife.

Neighbours said the high-end campervan, similar models of which can sell for around £110,000, was originally delivered to the address by two men in January 2021 and had not been moved since.

[XWP29]

Camper van confiscated

What a cheek! Peter Murrell buys an expensive motor home and then leaves it on his mother's driveway for two years apparently without ever driving it.

Ripped from the Daily Torygraph
Police have reportedly seized a luxury campervan from the home of Nicola Sturgeon's mother-in-law the same morning they raided the former First Minister's house.

Officers confiscated the vehicle from outside the home of Margaret Murrell, the 92-year-old mother of Peter Murrell, on Wednesday morning. She lives in a private estate in Dunfermline, Fife.

Neighbours said the high-end campervan, similar models of which can sell for around £110,000, was originally delivered to the address by two men in January 2021 and had not been moved since.

Keep up, some people not paying attention to earlier posts.

[slogen51]

I am building on the subject.

It's a shame for her legacy. Murrell is going to take everything Nicola had.

[Thunder]

Her legacy is she and her cronies have ruined Scotland and charged the tax payers a fortune in the process. Freebie this freebie that all comes at a cost for those that pay their way. I sincerely hope that both of them have committed a crime and are made to suffer for it. The SNP and corruption are never far apart. Remember the Alec Salmond sexual assault trial, where Sturgeon point blank denied any knowledge of his accused wrong doings, despite evidence to the contrary and the private meetings with Salmond in the build up to the case along with the denials and she discussed the case with her husband Murrell. The epic Ferry saga is full of controversy and corruption and I would be surprised if that doesn’t end up in a Police investigation at some point. Will she now deny any knowledge of the missing money, memberships and the RV. Fingers crossed that she is made to pay for it just like she has made the Scottish taxpayer pay for her shambolic Government over the past 9 years.

It now appears that Police Scotland made certain people within the Scottish Government and senior SNP figures aware of the investigation 3 months ago, but seemingly agreed to put it on hold until after the SNP leadership contest. Not only allowing time for crucial evidence to be destroyed but also potentially influencing the leadership contest.

[Mike]

Very well said, Scott, I agree with everything you have said.

For those of you living South of the border, you really need to live up here to realise the brain-washing the SNP have done to the Scottish population over the years, your average Joe Public think they are God and believe everything they do and say is the best thing since sliced bread.

It's a fact that the intelligent people in Scotland utterly detest the SNP and those that have less intelligence are the ones that are stupid enough to vote for them.

[XWP29]

I am building on the subject.

It's a shame for her legacy. Murrell is going to take everything Nicola had.

Legacy? one trick pony.

[slogen51]

I must admit that I didn't know of the Scottish Ferry Contract fiasco - it does look disastrous - 5 years behind and over budget

Jobs for the 'boys'

'The SNP’s ferry fiasco is a very Scottish sham'

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the ... tish-sham/

The arrogant minority - you often hear minority losers claiming the majority are stupid or don't understand the issues - we had this during Brexit from remainers.

[mhm]

The SNP needs to show all accounts funding since the party was formed. The police needs to check all MP's bank accounts of said party to see if any monies were syphoned off for private use. The UK Government should not send anymore monies to Scotland until such checks are done. Why did the accountants resign. What did they know, and will Police Scotland do a proper job or should it be left to an independent force to investigate.