The general tone and tenor coming from candidates in this lacklustre, boring election, the foot sloggers chapping on doors and standing by their stalls piled with leaflets and badges, is one of ennui. Only Labour hopefuls claim people they canvass tell them they will vote Labour. Everyone else is discovering a different reality. The attitude is one of not voting, abstaining as a kind of protest, or voting tactically for the same reason, to teach liars a lesson they will not forget. We should not treat democracy as something to ignore.
What has put voters off in Scotland from voting? A multitude of reasons, but one abiding impression is people do not trust politicians to deliver what they promise. This is where the populists, the charlatans and the weekend hobbyists move in for easy pickings. They see an opportunity to win favour by rabble rousin, playing to the gallery.
The profound disappointment of the SNP
There is riotous disillusionment with the SNP’s lack of a backbone. Their lethal lack of understanding of how to use mandates for the benefit of the majority, how to protect the wealth of this nation, or know who among them is not a confederate but a colonial watchdog scunners us. To be so short-sighted they cannot identify an informer loyal to London’s interests signifies an MSP who is only playing the role of a carboard politician. The lying from the SNP comes in the form of the party’s regular, dragged out of the bottom filing drawer, multiple promises of liberty tomorrow soon as an election hoves in sight. It rots faith. It kills hope.
Back late last century, the leader of the Tory party Alec Douglas-Home promised Scotland Home Rule, a promise too many Scots fell for hook, line and stinker. This was the first Big Fat Lie I encountered in my youth. He renounced his heriditary peerage to become prime minister and fool us into thinking he was a man of the people. As soon as he walked inside No 10 Downing Street, Home Rule was quietly forgotten. And who forgets the lies of Tony Blair telling us Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, and rockets that could take as little as 40 minutes to reach the UK?
From Margaret Thatcher to Boris and beyond
Margaret Thatcher was caught out in a brazen lie that she had not sanctioned a spy satellite, the investigative press soon disambused her of any association with the truth. In another famous case, the Malvinas war, she lied again when she said an Argentinian warship, the Belgrano, we sank drowning over 300 crew, was heading to the islands, when in fact it was sailing in the opposite direction. Today, Trump is an entire factory of falsehoods and boasts, and Farage a sausage machine of untruths.
Closer to home, in 2019, Joanna Cherry SNP MP was one of a group that proved in England’s Supreme Court that Boris Johnson was a chronic liar. He had misled the Queen over a parliament that could be prorogued for purely administrative reasons. The circumstances, the court concluded, demonstrated that “the true reason for the prorogation is to reduce the time available for parliamentary scrutiny of Brexit at a time when such scrutiny would appear to be a matter of considerable importance”. We are out of the protection, trade and grants from the EU, suffering badly from our isolation from Europe. Scotland and the English were sold bare-face fabrications about the benefits to be accrued from not being a member of the EU, and how awful was the EU in the way it treated innocent, naive England.
Sunaks lies and always delivered with a nice smile
Many other politicians mislead the public, and parliament, with arrogant impunity. According to the fact checking campaign Full Fact, Rishi Sunak, forever putting on an act of a prime minister for ethical governance, has made over 50 false or misleading public statements since becoming prime minister. Starmer is trying hard to build a list as large. The press call it flip-flopping over policies one day to the next, but actually lying using sincerity to speak the lie, and to renounce it next day. In the same period of Sunak’s tenure Starmer uttered eleven lies. I have yet to count those made by his cabinet; starting with Grant Shapps might keep me busy for weeks.
Lying is an increasingly common political tactic. It causes cynicism among the electorate, and as stated in the introduction, a feeling of being disenfranchised, separated from the lying power elite, and a commoner of no say or influence. Voters have short memories. Life can be hard, politics not the daily interest it is for independence supporters.And when the royal family photoshop their press photographs what chance honesty exists at all among our movers and shakers? Fewer than 10% of UK people believe MPs are honest.
Truth is essential to a functioning democracy.
Without truth, we might as well not bother electing parliamentary representatives. We could just throw them into an arena and let them fight it out between themselves, those still standing given power for a term. If, for example, the government can convince voters that the national debt is falling – as Sunak has falsely claimed – it cannot be held accountable for the fact it’s actually rising. In Scotland we had the Michael Matheson case where costs run up on an I-pad from roaming charges were fobbed off with white lies, and obfuscation, all handled badly by the first minister John Swinney.
Months ago, I read the Welsh Assembly is considering a “truth law”. The Senedd, the Welsh parliament, saw it proposed by Adam Price. (I am unsure if he was the originator.) supported by Plaid Cymru, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats. The proposal will criminalise Senedd members and candidates who make false statements. This may seem harsh, but those holding public office are in a unique position of public trust and power. It’s right that they are held to a higher standard than us. There should be no hiding behind parliamentary sovereignty, not in Scotland where the people are sovereign.
Price’s proposal is worthj incorpoirating in Scots parliamentary law. It brings politicians more into line with other professions, (including lawyers and KCs) who can be punished for lying in a professional capacity. They get struck off, their career lost. What will need to be identified is what constitutes wilfully misleading the public, and what was a simple error (say) advised incorrectly by a civil servant.
The former leader of the English Green Party, Caroline Lucas, described the current situation as a “dishonesty epidemic”. ‘They are all liars” and ‘They all lie’ is the most frequently heard complaints. The public will not trust politicians until we know there is a genuine disincentive for lying.
Why bring up this topic?
In the face of distrustful representatives and voters turned off the democratic spirit, I believe a vote abstained is democracy infringed. I like the Australian system, there voting is mandatory. It is not up to anyone to tell us which party to vote for, but if the choices are poor, then I counsel you choose the lesser of two evils.
As it is, the soundings from the street tell us of a low turnout.
We in Scotland are scoured by the curse of colonialism. Remove a politician wedded to freedoms and independence, no matter how slothful they seem in securing the ideal, and we welcome back another colonial oppressor, the very people we wish banished from our country. The absolutist says wipe out the SNP and lets start again. But they don’t say how or led by whom. And none of us are getting any younger, fearing we lose the Big Day celebrations. This time will see the invaders make laws to stop our march to full civil and constitutional rights and those people are far more undesirable than any disliked personality in the SNP, ALBA, ISP, SALVO or solo candidates standing for election.
Vote. And choose wisely.
NOTES
***************************************************
Grouse Beater 
Gareth you have my total agreement in introducing a lying charge into the SP which I have proposed on many occasions on many blogs , the usual objection to that is “how can we tell and prove when it is a deliberate lie” That should not be a major concern or a reason not to do it , unfortunately as with anything else that may impact negatively on a politicians ability to remain in power they would NEVER vote for it , similarly with direct democracy in the form of a citizens assembly it horrifies them , politicians believe that they are superior in intellect and any challenge to that belief is a threat
You cite Joanna Cherry’s winning case against the prorogation of parliament which only benefitted english people , many people celebrate that victory and heap praise on her for exposing that falsehood but if JC had been serious about independence she would have carried on and exposed the continuous and blatant breaches of Scotland’s Claim Of Right and the egregious and erroneous falsehood that englands mp’s have the right to overrule the votes of Scotland’s mp’s or even have the right to speak for or represent a SOVEREIGN Scot
You appear to be advising people to vote for the Scum Nonce Party because they are lesser pieces of shit compared to the unionist parties , even although the treasonous sturgeon , racist youseless , and undertaker redactor swinney have done less than nothing to fight for independence , whilst simultaneously FORCING through reviled legislation vehemently rejected by Scots , running a incompetent corrupt government infested by freaks , deviants and perverts who place the safety and security of our womenfolk and children in grave danger
In 2020 Alex Salmond appealed to voters to vote snp1 and ALBA 2 to ensure a strong independence representation in HR, sturgeon dismissed and rejected the appeal with venom insisting on snp 1&2, many people actioned Salmond’s appeal which returned the Scum Nonce Party to government which allowed them another 5 YEARS to FORCE through their vile policies and divide and alienate the independence movement
Labour and Tories are 2 cheeks of the same arse and are enemies of Scotland but to vote for the scum snp only allows them another 5 years to destroy independence indefinitely
#EndTheUnion
My intention on 4 July is to draw a line through all the names on the ballot paper and write “none of the above” at the bottom of the slip. Why should I vote for people I cannot trust and for a parliament that I do not recognize ?
The British lie. That’s a given. Twas ever thus. To be expected.
But the Scottish political entities and representatives supposedly in favour of restoring Scotland’s full self-government are promoting a deceit. The deceit is that a vote for them will result in a return to independent statehood for Scotland when they have not proposed a plan which would make this a potential reality.
We know that the SNP has been hollowed out by a combination of incompetent leaders, bad actors and careerists intent on feathering their own nests. They seek ‘Gold Standards’ and ‘democratic effects’, all of which compromise the Scottish people’s popular sovereignty (see Declaration of Arbroath, 1320, and Claim of Right, 1689) and inalienable right of self-determination (see UN Charter, 1945). Claiming that it is on our behalf they beg and plead with our colonising oppressor, humiliating us in the process. After 10 years of bombast, bluff and bluster the SNP have zero credibility on the constitutional question. Those in control are devolutionists at best. Their interests are not in our interest.
And what of the Alba Party? Much as though I admire Alex Salmond, Neale Hanvey and Ash Regan, they are offering much the same. That is, deference to Westminster:
I will not vote for any party or individual that does, or can, not lay out a clear step-by-step process by which Scotland regains the normality of nation-state status and dispenses with the anomaly that is this iniquitous Union.
But I will vote.
I will repurpose my ballot paper to inform candidates of my wishes and desires. And to instruct them to
#EndTheUnion!
You express well my disappointment of Cherry, notwithstanding that she somehow contrived not to answer my friendly emails to her. GRR is her chosen specialism. Indie is a not a priority.
On who to vote for, no party in history has an unblemished record, on policy implementation, and they change tack if led by sensible leaders. The SNP chose Swinney hoping he will save them from Purgatory. They never seem to learn.
That will be you saying you opt out of the voting system.
I am not opting out of the voting system.
None of the political parties are offering a credible route to freedom. It is they have disenfranchised me.
I am telling them what I want and instructing them to EndTheUnion, which means providing a plan to facilitate this which does not entail negotiation/compromise/treating with the British.
On the contrary, I am using my right to vote but showing my regard for the prospective MPs. Both Westminster and Holyrood are in need of a shakeup. The more spoiled ballot papers they get, the clearer this message becomes.
Well Farage is speaking inconvenient truth when it comes to Ukraine/Russia. We’re so far down the pan that history is being rewritten or wiped altogether.
Will they read your actual ballot paper?
I can’t condone that. Better to buy a loudhaler and let them know what you think of them when they are around, plus send a letter to them giving the reasons why you think them unelectable.
“Farage is speaking inconvenient truth”
The hypocrisy from our lot of liars is at nuclear level. Don’t know where Farage picked up the truth, or if he knows the whole story, but his remarks took me by surprise. I waited to hear if he had a sound plan to end the war in some way but answer came there none
They don’t need to read it – but spoiled ballot papers are counted. The more that are spoiled, the bigger the effect.
GB, you ask “Will they read your actual ballot paper?”
On the Electoral Commission website covering dealing with doubtful ballot papers:
“1.6 When undertaking the adjudication of ballot papers it is important to ensure that the process is carried out in full view of all candidates and agents present at the count, as well as in the presence of any Commission representatives and accredited observers in attendance”
Electoral Commission – How the votes will be counted:
“Stage 2 – Verification
Ballot boxes are emptied onto tables The verified ballot papers are shown to election and counting agents face up.”
So they will see them all right.
The message:
Here’s what you could have had if you had stood on a proper platform with a credible plan for achieving Independence.
The impact:
The press will report it if there is enough – they won’t be able to resist. Remember 2007 @ Holyrood? Brian Taylor of the BBC couldn’t talk about anythin else when the results cam in and the printed media were no different. (See Spoilt votes tally could be 140000).
Thank you, Grouse Beater, for that little chink of light which has penetrated the gloom that surrounds this General Election. I sincerely hope that the Senedd will adopt the proposed bill and criminalise members and candidates who make false statements. This should, of course, also be adopted by Holyrood and Westminster.
When it comes to voting, I strongly disagree that we should vote for the lesser of 2 evils. Voting in that way is the reason why the UK is stuck in the undemocratic mess that it’s been in for my entire life. (I’m 75.) People who hate the Tories vote Labour. People who hate Labour vote Tory. It’s time that we had the opportunity to cast our votes positively for what we actually want. Now that there is so little between the Tories and the Labour party, it won’t matter which party is elected because we will end up with a warmongering, authoritarian government that is hell-bent on privatising the NHS. Having a third choice which means we continue as England’s largest colony is not an option for those of us who want independence. It really won’t make any difference who sits on the green benches at Westminster to ‘represent’ Scotland. We need to take this opportunity to try to make the SNP understand that they have to work with other independence-supporting parties and independent candidates to get us out of the union as fast as possible before Scotland is left destitute. Will losing seats make the SNP change its ways? I don’t know, but I do know that if they hold on to the majority of their seats then it will be business as usual and they will still be sitting on the green benches in 5 years time with nothing to show for it but the money in their bank accounts.
“They don’t need to read it ”
So, if a spoiled paper it is put in a pile one of many, with no specific candidate the wiser. Are you lobbying other voters to spoil their’s?
They will be wiser – they are turned face up in front of the candidates. They will be aware if they choose to look. Which they will. Otherwise why are they observing the count?
I mean, will the candidate see the spoiled paper in which his name is specified? I doubt it. They are only concerned about totals, mainly their own.
It’s a futile protest when better are available, a method to double down on failure.
I disagree – they will SEE the message. They will KNOW why they didn’t get the vote.
What is futile is to vote for a supposedly pro-Independence party at the British general election when a) they don’t have a plan for realising Scotland’s Cause and b) Scotland’s vote doesn’t count when it comes to the government that is elected.
A person has to see and hear anger from another individual to be chastened. Scotland’s Achilles heel – not voting for an indie candidate lets in the colonial and that person has a plan, (unlike the SNP) and it isn’t for freedom from London governance.
If I vote for the Alba Party or the SNP I am endorsing there position.
I will not do that – it is deference to Westminster. I do not consent to that.
Scotland used to live with a dilemma, you could only vote for a unionist party. Now we have a choice. but that dilemma has expanded to include the SNP who have fallen on their own sword, an inability to be in control of this nation’s destiny. For example, they (Swinney back in the day) complained about GERS bitterly as a system designed to obfuscate, and then meekly accepted it. Our enemies took advantage of our lack of resistance and said we saw GERS as a good system.
If you care about Scotland but refuse to vote, or you spoil your ballot paper, you’re sacrificing our security for momentary anger. And it’s going to have a consequence.
You don’t love a country and follow its policies blindly. You criticise what’s wrong, you try to change the policies, expose them; criticise again, change it.
I fully understand why people are repelled by what the SNP has done, and not done, the latter being to refuse to unite with other indie parties. But not to vote in a neo-liberal reality opens the door to the opportunists, the Blair McDougalls, the Michael-no referenda-ever- Shanks, the Dougie Alexanders and the Farages. Reform UK is standing in Scotland.
There’s another word for lesser evilism, it’s called rationality. Lesser evilism is a rational position. But you don’t stop with lesser evilism. You begin with it, you use it to prevent the worst, and then you go on to deal with the fundamental roots of what’s wrong. You continue to organise and develop the mass popular movements, (as Salmond is doing) which will block the worst and change the institutions. All of these things can go on at once.
As for the simple question of what button do you push on ballot day? That is a personal decision. But one’s decision matters, it matters a hellova lot.
It really isn’t “momentary anger” on my part.
I have reached my viewpoint logically.
I want to see the restoration of Scotland’s full self-government and the return of our independent statehood.
None of the parties are offering a route to that end.
I, therefore, cannot support them.
It’s as simple as that.
ALBA – the only party with an experience leader – promises but can’t determine unless elected to Holyrood in strength in 2026. Hence I am not sure why some think its aims inconsequential if they refuse to vote for it. Anyhow, I’ve stated my position; nihilism, saying voting is meaningless, is the path to the hair shirt shop.
I take exactly the same viewpoint as duncanio. Voting for either the SNP or Alba endorses their policies and their non-existent route to independence.
Who could reasonably vote for the SNP after they let the wacky party and trans-ideology take what was once our party and trashed any form of democracy within it? They betrayed Scotland and our people when we trusted them to get the job done on our behalf.
Then up springs Alba and a new hope for those truly seeking independence, only for it to turn into an SNP clone with nothing new or radical that would result in the restoration of our Right to Self-determination and independence. The tens of thousands of people who left the SNP, many of whom joined Alba, found that similar internal problems quickly arose and the final reason for my resignation was the adherence to the belief that somehow, sometime, someone at Westminster would allow another constitutional referendum. I throw at Alba the same accusation that they did towards Salvo – they are ‘howling at the moon’!
There simply is no political route to independence that goes anywhere near to Westminster and is is some small relief that the parties are now at least beginning to adopt Salvo / Liberation Scotland language, language that was not being used before they began work just 2 short years ago.
As long as the ‘Big Two’ continue with their deference to a foreign monarch and his parliament, then unfortunately there is no way that I or many others can place an X next to their candidates.
Please leave ALBA out of it. They have yet to declare their manifesto thus making a fool of those who condemn the group as if the SNP.
“ALBA – the only party with an experience leader – promises but can’t determine unless elected to Holyrood in strength in 2026. Hence I am not sure why some think its aims inconsequential if they refuse to vote for it.”
We are discussing the 2024 British/Westminster General election. You have not addressed the reasoning I have laid out for reaching my conclusion and taking the proposed action at this time.
“Anyhow, I’ve stated my position; nihilism, saying voting is meaningless, is the path to the hair shirt shop.”
Yes you have and you are entitled to your opinion.
It’s not mine.
Scotland needs to ignore the WM elections, we should only vote in HR elections, to send someone from any party to WM says you believe in the UNION & are happy to sit among almost 600 English MPs who will never listen to you, never allow a bill you present to be passed, out vote you at ever chnace, and then SNEER at you…
WHY go there? Let’s prove we really want out of this UNION by NOT ever voting in any GE again…
IF every true Independentista agreed on that, be it from political so called Indy Parties, or indy candidates. then & only then will the world get the message WM refuses to admit, Scotland wants OUT of this so called UNION..
This will be the last GE I ever go to the polls for, but I shall NOT be voting for any party, or any indy candidate as unfortunately there is no Indy candidate in my constituency, nor ISP. And I agree with the comment above, ALBA are just SNP mk2 ..I say that as someone who who jumped in as a founding member, as soon as ALBA hit the electoral list. But on hearing Alex will use the same franchise as before, means HE has learned nothing either…And his attack on Sara Salyers proves he will only ever ask for WM permission…
I shall repurpose this ballot paper with #EndTheUnion..
If I live to see another GE I shall NOT participate in any more English Parliament elections ever again..
And any party or candidate that sells themselves as a “vote for me is a vote for Independence,” Then takes up a seat in that English Parliament, is not a true Independentista..Unless they walk in & take an oath to Sovereign Scots & walk out again..
‘Please leave ALBA out of it. They have yet to declare their manifesto thus making a fool of those who condemn the group as if the SNP.’
I left Alba with many others when they were condemning Salvo / Liberation Scotland but even then, had they gone with a route to independence that did not involve Westminster at any stage, then I would have voted for their candidate – had their been one in D&G.
However, I and others can only go by what Alba has to say and comparing them with the SNP is valid as far as their position on Westminster is concerned.
It is true that they have not had the opportunity to sell off Scotland to corporations or to introduce legislation conjured up by a coalition with the Wacky Party. That is simply governing Scotland on Westminster’s behalf – just as any good colonial party would do.
ALBA cannot be too small, too poor, and too weak to matter one day, and a wrecker of indie unity the next.
There is about a quarter of voters in Scotland who are either undecided, (they don’t know who to vote for) or uncertain, (they think they know but are unsure if it’s the right choice). ALBA’s strategy this election is to aim for them and offer them an indie alternative.
“You have not addressed the reasoning I have laid”. Responding with an alternative view presupposes I took time to consider your stance. As you say to me, you have made your point and intend to stick to it, come what may.
Personally, I would prefer we took no part in Westminster elections, choosing to make that our first point of resistance. That would avoid solo protests by spoiling the ballot paper.
“Scotland needs to ignore the WM elections”
We should stand but if elected not take our seats. However, MPs staying in Scotland to serve their constituents need paid. Other than that, I agree entirely, but our elected leaders do not as yet think leaving London to its colonial manipulators will do any good.. Loss of MPs at Westminster might change minds.
That’s an odd stance to take considering ALBA is derided by the SNP at every turn as NOT the SNP. There are thousands of people looking to ALBA as a save heaven led by Alex to get back into Holyrood. I see no reason to shoot kith and kin before they get close.
“The more that are spoiled, the bigger the effect.”
What effect? Candidates see a pile of spoiled ballot papers and their party goes home to think again?
“ALBA cannot be too small, too poor, and too weak to matter one day, and a wrecker of indie unity the next.”
Who said or implied that? Certainly not me.
“ALBA’s strategy this election is to aim for them and offer them an indie alternative.”
The “indie alternative”, as I have argued in detail previously which you have not refuted, is much the same as the SNP in that it still defers to Westminster. Arguing that the Scottish people are sovereign and have a right to self-determination on the one hand is utterly incompatible with parleying with Westminster to “bend them to Scotland’s will”, ask for the British to transfer powers (with strings attached) and “negotiate Independence” on the other.
“Reponding [sic] with an alternative view presupposes I took time to consider your stance.”
Yes it does. If, as you imply, you haven’t then you really are not in a position to dismiss it.
“That would avoid solo protests by spoiling the ballot paper.”
It most certainly isn’t a solo protest. And it is not ignorantly “spoiling” the ballot paper. There is a purpose to it, as laid out previously.
You made your point.
Mine is uncomplicated: I will not attack indie party candidates during an election that results in colonial candidates winning.
I prefer party policy altered from within. If that proves futile enough to disillusion many, other indie parties will arise, as we have seen. Their policies will be dictated by the early founding members, (as was ALBA’s) and become more sophisticated as new people join.
Let’s leave it there. This isn’t a duel.
Despite the lies of politicians, there remains one very clear and overriding issue for many if not most UK voters at this election – immigration, and its impacts on our society. This is arguably why we see the dramatic shift from Conservative to Reform. It remains to be seen if most of the red wall moves to Reform and the last two weeks of this election could see a dramatic shift in that regard.
Results in the Euros may also have an impact on national consciousness and voting preferences in both Scotland and England, with many perhaps coming to notice Scotland as the only stateless nation in the event; as well as our distinct national anthem which, rather than celebrating our liberty, alludes to our oppressive condition.
As an advocate of Scottish independence I find it strange that the only manifesto that so far interests me at this election is Nigel Farage’s. Aside from reducing immigration, Farage also seeks to remove the trans nonsense from schools and other institutions, and to create a far more sensible tax arrangement for millions of small businesses and individuals.
Farage is not going to deliver Scottish independence but neither are the SNP, which is why the latter’s vote is also likely to collapse at this election; the SNP has made lying to the people an art form, and ivvery time thay appen thair mou’s deceit faa’s oot! Some of a collapsed SNP vote will go to Labour and to other Scottish national parties/independents, but the latter are only contesting about half the seats in Scotland overall, hence their effect is unlikely to be material.
‘Populist’ is an interesting term though perhaps not fully understood. Their supporters see Farage and Trump etc as people who are looking to clean out corrupt and wasteful state institutions, to ‘drain the swamp’ of the established order. The establishment and cultural hegemony which drafts and implements policy and orchestrates our society as it wishes in line with ‘its’ values is what really needs to be sorted; mainstream lying political puppets are an essential part of maintaining the status quo, yet they are more a symptom rather than the cause of many continuing crises in our society and the wider world.
Mainstream politicians are therefore largely figureheads, all liars as Gareth suggests and as history tells us, but they are essentially working for and covering up for the establishment that controls our societies. Trump and Farage, however, are not mainstream politicians, and they tell it like it is. Marginalised (mainly white) groups in the US and UK view them as kind of ‘national’ liberators, which explains their popularity, and their dislike by much of the establishment, tho not all perhaps.
Farage’s comments on the Anglo-west’s proxy war in eastern Europe are also enlightening. We are reminded here that President Trump never went to war, as Mrs Clinton surely would have, and Biden did, and most US presidents do. Swinney calling Farage a ‘traitor’ (to Britain?) over this demonstrates an enormous brass neck and lack of awareness considering the Sturgeon-Swinney cabal’s hypocrisy and rupturing of the independence movement, still treating pro-indy Scots with utter contempt.
A widespread feeling therefore seems to be that we need real leaders who can pack a punch if the mankit self-perpetuating neoliberal corporate-military system is ever to change, at UK never mind Scottish institutional levels (albeit dominant values of elites are the same). Delivering Scottish independence is another matter, however, and clearly requires a different approach, in which the (legal/constitutional) solution may be found to be less dependent on politicians, mainstream or populist.
“Farage’s comments on the Anglo-west’s proxy war in eastern Europe are also enlightening.”
Not sure about you, Alfred, but Farage took me by surprise. Am still wondering how and where he got at the truth, and if he knows the extent of it, the back history.
Yes Gareth, Farage’s comments appear to have taken many by surprise and left him open to attack by the usual establishment mouthpieces including our local colonial administrators, who have a similar wokish pathological hatred of Trump. Farage and Trump have very similar perspectives and emphasis on a kind of national liberation of their own peoples/countries from their prevailing entrenched dysfunctional tyrannies as it were. They are also probably listening to the likes of Professor Mearsheimer, as many should:
I know of Professor Mearsheimer. In fact, when challenged about the source of Ukraine’s angst, I tell people honestly I get my information from forthright American political watchers, generals, politicians and investigative political journalists. I turn to Russian sources last. Here’s a link to an earlier essay:
Ukraine – The Right to Tell Lies: https://wp.me/p4fd9j-riD