Dear All
Today, I pottered into the Gurdwara (Sikh Centre) in Albert Drive, Glasgow for the BBC indy debate with Gordon Brewer.
Firstly, I would like to thank the staff of the Sikh centre for their fantastic hospitality; they helped put on a super event.
One of the best events I have ever attended on the campaign trail.
The BBC staff as usual were just great particularly Sarah who appears to do everything at 100 miles an hour brilliantly.
The guests were unpopular Nicola Sturgeon, Patrick Harvie for Yes, and Drew Smith MSP and Lib Dem Jeremy Purvis for Better Together.
Unpopular Nicola Sturgeon had a terrible time as she tried and repeatedly failed to win the economic argument. She seemed really depressed slumped in her chair like a broken woman who knows she has been found out. Everywhere it seems the vote is slipping through her fingers. Nicola Sturgeon's attempt at being friendly also came unstuck as she sat there her face like thunder and looking very annoyed.
Defeat is coming and it is coming like a rocket and she can’t hide it.
Patrick Harvie is a good speaker, wasn’t exactly a supporter of the Nicola Sturgeon independence vision during the show. And he wasn’t hiding it at all either. He spoke well but part of the programme he looked also depressed, a man who knew the game was over. He did have his good moments but not enough. At one stage it looked as if Patrick Harvie was on the No side. I thought at some points, it was the 3 guests against Sturgeon which added to her miserable experience.
Drew Smith, the Labour MSP had a decent take doing the standard and expected performance. You could stay he did the key points and buzzwords, it is what I would expect and so wasn’t disappointed.
The best speaker by far who ‘stole the show’ turned out to be Lib Dem Jeremy Purvis; I was surprised that he delivered such a well polished performance. He ticked all the right boxes, done the homework, delivered the goods and then some. His analysis was spot on and he easily defeated Nicola Sturgeon who just wasn’t well prepared on detail. He articulated his points very well and made good counter points.
I met someone I knew called Clare and sat with her chatting away before the show, the Yes camp was there in force but numbers aren’t everything, quality counts and the SNP and their allies didn’t have it in depth.
As I said, unpopular Nicola Sturgeon looked really depressed and so unhappy, but the unhappiness she feels today will in no way compare to the feelings of mega crushing defeat on the 18th September as everything slips away from her. As I sat there in the audience, I thought to myself, is she really is looking terrible, that shattered look you sometimes see in people who have the life sucked out of them.
Unpopular Nicola Sturgeon is looking very much like a tragic isolated woman on the wrong side of destiny.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Hi George. Ive never fully understood Patrick Harvie's endorsement for Yes - why would a Green support a Petro - Currency economy, with its success based on oil prices. Also the SNP's track record on the truth, armed police and Yes Scotlands attempts to silence debate must make him think very seriously if he has backed the right horse. Nicola Sturgeon has the weight of the world on her shoulders as shes been left to carry the can. This is her third debate already this week and shes not coming up against one single person twice. On Tuesday she had to cover her own back and try and contain the car crash that was Elaine C Smith. Swinney is let off the reigns only occasionaly and Salmond thinks he is beneath debating with anyone other than David Cameron. The rank and file SNP ministers - Kenny McAsklill, Joan McAlpine,Mike Russell, Fiona Hyslop, Alex Neil et al are a liability and aren't let anywhere near a proper debate. Anis Sarwar on the occasion he is let off the leash is shocking. Meanwhile there is an embarassment of talent on the Better Together side who are being heard no matter how loud the YES rabble boo and hiss.
ReplyDeleteGeorge<
ReplyDeleteWhen will this debate be broadcast?
Cheers
Terry
Dear J F
ReplyDeleteHe signed up possibly thinking it would boost Green support, much as SSP did.
Patrick now finds out he backed a loser, but he is stuck now.
I am sorry to hear that Nicola Sturgeon is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, but you should remember she wanted it, and it has backfired now on her.
I have nothing personal against her other than she is not a leader and can't be trusted. I do mention that she is unpopular regularly.
As to Elaine C Smith, well she doesn't do politics, so hearing her babble is amusing, but you can't take her seriously. I have met her, she is quite nice, this isn't her field.
Joan McAlpine isn't a Minister, but the rest are more or less sheep except Alex Neil who needs punished for lying.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Dear Terry
ReplyDeleteThe debate was live this afternoon, I was trying to get Patrick Harvie to explain how the SNP economic case for Nordic welfare without Nordic taxes works. He said ask the SNP to explain that one, I think he is now distancing himself for the indy bid.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Joan MacAlpine,,, yuk.
ReplyDeleteWas part of Nicola's depressed demeanour due to the fact that Pete Wishart et al did not turn up to vote down the bedroom tax, all but knackering the YeSNPs credibility on "social justice"? Where was the "sovereign will" or "mandate" of the scots they represent, that they trumpet about so much?
ReplyDeleteSays it all, really, about the SNP - Independence, at any cost!
Also, the fact that a Labour-Lib Dem alliance was formed in the vote, surely can't bode well for Salmond and Co in the last few days of Indyref, if the YeSNP are going to persist with their "social justice" mantra?
Dear Anon
ReplyDelete“Was part of Nicola's depressed demeanour due to the fact that Pete Wishart et al did not turn up to vote down the bedroom tax, all but knackering the YeSNPs credibility on "social justice"?”
No, she probably was reading that the polls are going backwards.
“Where was the "sovereign will" or "mandate" of the scots they represent, that they trumpet about so much?”
On this blog, I stated the SNP don’t stand for fairness, equality and social justice, and yet again, they furnish the proof.
“Says it all, really, about the SNP - Independence, at any cost!”
That is about the size of it.
“Also, the fact that a Labour-Lib Dem alliance was formed in the vote, surely can't bode well for Salmond and Co in the last few days of Indyref, if the YeSNP are going to persist with their "social justice" mantra?”
They say they stand for social justice it is a lie to get vote caches.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
George the polls are edging closer to 50/50 what are your thoughts for the real numbers?
ReplyDeleteYou were right about the Mccanns too it should be noted
Dear Anon
ReplyDeleteThe SNP got a slight bounce after Salmond's second debate, but that is now gone.
The gap is going to widen quite dramatically I feel towards the 60/40 split.
But expect to see movement in both directions to a minor degree than a sudden jump towards No.
People will Vote No to secure jobs, mortgages, pensions and opportunity, and importantly currency.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Thank George for your blog and confirming those figures,may I copy this?
ReplyDeleteDear Anon
ReplyDeleteHelp yourself to anything, I told people that the polls would get closer before they widened.
I was right, now watch as they start to widen between now and polling day.
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University