The SNP are the Real Plague of Scotland; Alex Salmond supporter Mark Hirst is blasted by Rape Crisis Scotland charity over alleged "threatening" comments about female witnesses of Salmond trial, chilling youtube video talks about there is “going to be a bit of a reckoning” when the Coronavirus pandemic is over.

Dear All

There have been several sad stories of people who have lost their lives in the corona virus pandemic; each life lost is a tragedy in itself for society. Three deaths caught my eye while scanning the news, In Italy a 72 year old Priest gave up his ventilator so a younger patient could live, an ENT surgeon who saved many lives contracted the virus and passed away, a 13 year old boy died.

Whether you are young, whether you are old, the message is clear…… stay at home!

Stay at home to save lives, the life you save might be your own, a family member or a neighbour. Shop for essentials then get back indoors. Being isolated is hard, people by nature are social beings, after several days inside, I did some shopping; it was a surreal experience after being stuck at home. More surreal was the fact that the panic buying had eased off, I put this down to people who hoarded being stocked up rather than them coming to their senses.

It is a time of fear, but also a time of resolve, where we have to dig in as the number of people dying climbs; people infected weeks ago paint a grim picture, but it can get a lot grimmer. Today, we learned nearly four hundred souls had lost their lives; we can expect many more to add to that UK total hovering around 2,000 mark.

Defeat has been fought off but we are far from victory, this is a time of bitter endurance.

One issue in Scotland amid the concerns of coronavirus is the aftermath of the Alex Salmond trial. Although Salmond has postponed his day of reckoning, his supporters are as keen as mustard to show their vocal support. Kenny MacAskill, Alex Neil, Joanna Cherry, Wings over Scotland, Craig Murray, all have something to say about what transpired re Salmond. There is a lot of anger, and with the victory by Salmond, their cause has a spiritual zealot zeal to it while at the same time Sturgeon’s ‘allies’ if that term has any meaning seem to have melted away like snowdrops. Salmond’s 9 accusers penned a letter, but you get a feeling other than organisations like Rape Crisis Scotland who get the bulk of their funding from the Scottish Government, support for them is like the non-existent footfall on a Scottish street. 

Rape Crisis Scotland is headed up by former Glasgow University student called Sandy Brindley. I remember her from Glasgow University as she used the QMU and for some reason always seemed to be wearing a blue duffel coat, rain or shine. Why Rape Crisis Scotland is putting them forward into what is seen as an internal SNP civil war is something for them and Brindley to come to grips with. One thing is certain, in this scenario, there are no winners, no upside and negatives will come out later. In a post Salmond world, the Scottish political landscape will change because people attached to Salmond never forget and never forgive.

Present day, in the ‘phoney war’, an Alex Salmond supporter has been blasted by the rape crisis charity over alleged "threatening" comments about female witnesses who testified against Salmond. One chap on the radar is Mark Hirst, he is a former SNP candidate who said that he suspected the "precious anonymity" of Salmond's accusers would "not be continued".

Of course, people will continue to play the guessing game into the identity of  these women are, but even from the trial coverage by various people including the BBC, some people have pieced together who testified against Alex Salmond. And others from got it on tape apparently from the mouth of Salmond’s QC, Gordon Jackson. One wonders if the 9 women are also waiting for corona virus to be over before they also go public and reveal themselves. They may wish to do this before Mark Hirst gets to see the events that happen in which there is “going to be a bit of a reckoning”.

Sandy Brindley of Rape Crisis Scotland said:

“These comments are sinister, threatening and to identify the women would be illegal. This behaviour should be condemned in the strongest possible terms by all parties — it serves no-one and damages an already fractured and fraught public conversation.”

When she says all parties, does she mean political?

I am sure all political parties will condemn violence, sexual assault and rape against women, but in the Salmond case, a jury found him innocent of all charges, 12 not guilty and one not proven. However much Sandy Brindley of Rape Crisis Scotland might want other parties to stand as united front, she might find the ‘frontlines’ rather empty.

And I hope she isn’t a woman to trust Nicola Sturgeon.

For the record, a court order issued by trial judge Lady Dorrian means it is a criminal offence for anyone to publish the identities of the women.

In a YouTube video, Hirst said:

“I suspect very strongly that as this rumbles on, that precious anonymity that they’ve sought will not be continued. Because these women, and not just these women, some of the people involved in this, are senior members of the Scottish Government, senior members of the SNP.”

He continued:

“And they’ve been involved in this active collusion to try and destroy Alex Salmond’s reputation and there’s not a cat’s chance in hell that they’re going to get away with that. So they’re going to reap a whirlwind, no question about it. As soon as this virus emergency is out the way, then there’s going to be a bit of reckoning takes place. We’ll clear out the soft independence supporters which are currently leading the party, that’s why we’ve seen no movement in nearly six years.”

You might be unaware but Hirst has worked for several SNP MSPs over the years and also worked for Russian state news agency Sputnik. As well as accepting the Scottish rouble like Alex Salmond, he also contributed to programmes for The Alex Salmond Show which can be seen on Russian state broadcaster RT. In a game of winners and losers, it is clear that Mark Hirst thinks that Salmond’s camp are destine to be the victors in an SNP civil war. We will have to wait and see, because despite Salmond winning, the road back into the SNP maybe very bumpy for him if at all.

One word stands in the way of his application……… no!

Nicola Sturgeon is rumoured to stepping down after the 2021 election if that happens, when she goes, what future for the 9 professional women who gave evidence against Salmond. I would say their future doesn’t look bright post Sturgeon. A key test of the ‘war’ is the fight for selection at Edinburgh Central, between Joanna Cherry and Angus Roberston, a Sturgeon ally. I think we can expect a really dirty fight for the seat between these two and worse from their supporters.

Finally, as much as everyone loves a popcorn night in watching others destroy themselves, spare a thought for those who are dying, and going to die from corona virus. It is important to rout for the real victims in life, and not the made up ones. What some have expressed over the Salmond is a sincere hope that Sturgeon and Salmond groups destroy each other, wishful thinking maybe, because just as revenge is important in the SNP, so is greed, money, power, position and perks. Which is why I doubt that anyone will shed a tear for the internal civil war in SNP regardless if anyone considers themselves worth of victimhood in that fight!

     

Yours sincerely

George Laird

The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University