The most depressing aspect of the SNP is how so many of the Sturgeon Faithful simply cannot tolerate any criticism of Nicola Sturgeon. It's usually not that they see the criticism as being right or wrong, fair or unfair. They just will not tolerate any criticism of Nicola or the SNP. Per se.
To give credit to the other parties; Labour, LibDem, Conservative, none of them ever said,
"Oh that's just Labour Bad" or "That's just Tory bad". None of them pretended we have a duty to agree with whatever they say, because they said it. I never saw them complaining of opponents or their own members, "He's slagging off Boris".
The worst Unionists take it for granted that leaders will face criticism and we have a right to slag them off when we wish. Indeed when leaders go wrong, we arguably have a duty to criticize them. They respond to criticism by telling critics why they are wrong. Not that they should not be criticizing.
Sturgeon supporters are absolutely unique in their instinct to react as if all opposition is a kind of bullying. (The poor woman!) I have never seen one Tory tell another Tory they have to shut up criticizing because, "You're creating division in the Movement". I have never seen Labour tell another Laboursaying "You have no right to oppose Brexit / Iraq / Austerity, because and playing into the hands of Labour". Issues were dealt with as true or false, fair or unfair, realistic or unrealistic. Only Sturgeon supporters shut down all criticism of Sturgeon... because it's criticism of Sturgeon. No one was ever called a "yoon troll" for disagreeing with Salmond. The dogmatic presumption that a leader can do no wrong, is something we usually only see in dictatorships or religious cults.
I can appreciate your perspective but how can we achieve independence without the SNP? After independence we can choose the government we want and that need not be SNP but how do we realistically achieve independence without the SNP? Any new mass Indy movement would take time to coalesce and gain momentum. I don't agree with many SNP policies and approaches but they are the only current vehicle to independence.
The most depressing aspect of the SNP is how so many of the Sturgeon Faithful simply cannot tolerate any criticism of Nicola Sturgeon. It's usually not that they see the criticism as being right or wrong, fair or unfair. They just will not tolerate any criticism of Nicola or the SNP. Per se.
To give credit to the other parties; Labour, LibDem, Conservative, none of them ever said,
"Oh that's just Labour Bad" or "That's just Tory bad". None of them pretended we have a duty to agree with whatever they say, because they said it. I never saw them complaining of opponents or their own members, "He's slagging off Boris".
The worst Unionists take it for granted that leaders will face criticism and we have a right to slag them off when we wish. Indeed when leaders go wrong, we arguably have a duty to criticize them. They respond to criticism by telling critics why they are wrong. Not that they should not be criticizing.
Sturgeon supporters are absolutely unique in their instinct to react as if all opposition is a kind of bullying. (The poor woman!) I have never seen one Tory tell another Tory they have to shut up criticizing because, "You're creating division in the Movement". I have never seen Labour tell another Laboursaying "You have no right to oppose Brexit / Iraq / Austerity, because and playing into the hands of Labour". Issues were dealt with as true or false, fair or unfair, realistic or unrealistic. Only Sturgeon supporters shut down all criticism of Sturgeon... because it's criticism of Sturgeon. No one was ever called a "yoon troll" for disagreeing with Salmond. The dogmatic presumption that a leader can do no wrong, is something we usually only see in dictatorships or religious cults.
we need o get away from the SNP tartan tories
I can appreciate your perspective but how can we achieve independence without the SNP? After independence we can choose the government we want and that need not be SNP but how do we realistically achieve independence without the SNP? Any new mass Indy movement would take time to coalesce and gain momentum. I don't agree with many SNP policies and approaches but they are the only current vehicle to independence.
Very good summary. I would add, capture of the ideological agenda by gender identity politics.
Baldly stated, cogent summary of the situation.
Refreshing to have an outlet to discuss strategies to deliver :and what is stopping us
standing ovation for this article. looking forward to the newsletter.
Well crafted article