Trogdor

It's a matter of integrity and political judgement. He's been remarkably stupid in his version of events. Then he doubles down and gets his lawyer to come out and actually make it worse. Rather than owning his actions (8 years ago) he's trying to retain the moral high ground despite having been caught in a lie. He is either being poorly advised or he's too stubborn to admit he erred. I would accept something along the lines that he was relatively inexperienced and was under immense pressure from the Mosque so it was easier for him to duck the vote. Now he's a more seasoned political operator he wouldn't allow that pressure to affect his decision making. The reason he won't say that is because he's already said his faith doesn't affect his legislating and believes it is an advantage he has over Forbes. The reality is the debate has moved on but he's letting this fester.

Most will be in the later camp.

On that basis if I were a member of the SNP I would vote for Forbes.

How bad was it?

I think this is also an unlikely scenario. It would also set the yes movement backwards. Its too late to try and find another vehicle for independence. The SNP are it. Moreover, the Scottish Greens have never won a constituency seat. In order to do so they would need a mighty swing from the SNP. Even if you were pissed off you would vote SNP on the constituency and Greens on the list. Otherwise you risk splitting the constituency vote which let's the Unionist parties in.

NS as Black Rod?

Lee Bullen...

Just fucking win Ayr! I'm missing today and Tuesday. I don't care how we win, just win.

I thought it was Dunblane?

A lot of folk are not far away from that tbh.

He scheduled the meeting after the vote on equal marriage was arranged. The meeting was at his request not the Pakistani Consulate. The subject of the meeting wasn't actually on death row when the meeting was scheduled (he was subsequently). That is all a matter of public record. There is no need for Alex Neil or Alex Salmond to confirm that. The Alex's are commenting on his motivations for doing it. The evidence clearly shows he ducked the vote. Why lie about it?

This is literally the least the government could do. The existing scheme had cost less than they had anticipated to not have extended it would have been unconscionable, even for a tory.

She got a bit forgetful towards the end.

Sorry but you'd have to ignore the facts to believe that. He said he had an immovable meeting with the Pakistani consulate. That has proven to be untrue. That was in fact a lie. This is like Would I Lie to You. No one is suggesting he's against equal marriage. He simply preferred to duck the final vote. Why he hasn't been honest about that is baffling for me. Incidentally, that was a free vote rather than a whipped one. Something the party as of late seems to have stopped doing. It's also not an attack. He said something which was untrue. Pointing that out isn't an attack. I get those who are reluctant Team Humza (I fail to believe anyone would be enthusiastic Humza) defending him but all candidates should be measured the same. On this matter he has erred. Pointing that out isn't an attack.

We need to tackle the bigger issues facing the nation. Is it too difficult to improve the NHS, close the attainment gap, tackle inequality, reduce drug deaths, grow the economy, make taxation more progressive, deliver big infrastructure? The focus on marginal issues is started to grind my gears. For a period now the SG has been focusing on the wrong things like the named person scheme, the hate crime bill, gender recognition reform. These had laudable aims but each has been badly implemented (or delayed or cancelled) and expended significant political capital in the process. Its time to get on with the day job, the electorate are losing patience. The look how shit Westminster is, is no defence. I first supported the SNP when they promised to scrap the graduate endowment and make education free and they delivered it! I am toiling at the moment and these three candidates are not inspiring me one bit.

The opposition would have to unite around a single candidate. In 2007, Salmond was elected FM with 49 votes from MSPs. I imagine a number of parties would simply abstain as they did then. Ironically, the 2 Green MSPs supported Salmond back then. It is extremely unlikely. The importance of the Greens is vastly overstated by posters on here. They are an irrelevance.

This is cloud cuckoo land stuff. That would see the SNP literally implode.

Is she in jail yet?

I think its fairly clear that Humza has been caught here. He has been decidedly shifty when asked about it. Giving it the "I don't recollect a meeting" and "it was 9 years ago...". He hasn't said that Alex Neil or Alex Salmond are lying. I certainly would have if I knew I was right. Moreover, I would have thought some big hitters would have come out to bat for him if he was telling the truth. The Deputy First Minster (NS) at the time for one. To date he has Joe Fitzpatrick who *checks notes* was the Minster sacked for the drug deaths debacle (before the parliament voted on a motion of no confidence in him) and whose contributions in parliament have been utter word salad. It is political naivety from Humza here. He had no reason to lie. Just tell the truth, I scheduled a ministerial appointment at the time as I was under immense pressure from Muslim leaders in Scotland. In hindsight and with my experience now I wouldn't have done the same. Done and move one. He is very likely to be the next First Minster as well and as VT highlighted his policies amount to continuity Sturgeon. Which wasn't working out too well at the end. No chance of a reset or change of direction, I'm not even sure he has the political vision for that.

This. I really don't understand why Humza would lie about something like this where he gains so little advantage. He has been the same way as minister tbh, a lack of political judgement. If I had a vote I would spoil my ballot.

Any update on Murdoch and Musonda? We are a much stronger team with them starting. I genuinely think they can make a big difference to our performances. Particularly around ball retention and quick passes. Far too ponderous in possession (when we don't shell it) at the minute.

Humza has to be primed for a mic drop at some point now hes got the mic in hand!

This is actually a decent watch (admittedly I'm doing some work on the side). Mike Russell reminding me of Dimbleby on Question Time here.