Trogdor

You may be in for a shock given the age profile of the SNP membership. That being said I'd be very shocked if Humza doesn't get at least 40% on the first ballot. He could well win it on the first ballot given his backing. Regan is a total spoiler in this but you'd expect her 2nd preferences to be more likely to go to Forbes than Yousaf. Who knows? It'll be interesting to see how it plays out. Hopefully focus is now on the path to independence, economy, health, education et al. Identity politics and culture war can get in the bin. It's been done over and over as of late.

I'd like to thank you both for making me feel young.

Lads and lassies, our indifferent form can't go on forever.

As someone who hasn't played the game (Xbox owner) this is compelling television. Its brutal on the emotions though. I try not to get too attached to anyone other than Joel & Ellie!

We really need to lose the deflection and whataboutery about Westminster. Westminster is a binfire and being critical of the SG doesn't mean you support the WG. We as a country should aspire to be better not just go "well its less shit than Westminster". We won't move the needle on independence that way (as its proved). My point about the hustings is fairly clear though. Obviously all 100k SNP members won't be able to attend either. How can they engage in the hustings without tickets? If they aren't being livestreamed and the press aren't there? Being able to engage is a fairly fundamental tenant of democracy. To defend it, is rather bizarre to be honest.

Banning the press to create a "safe space" for candidates is a bit of a minter regardless of how you spin it. There needs to be scrutiny, after all whoever wins is inevitably going to be First Minster of Scotland and only 100k of our 5m population will have been eligible to vote. There is a wee bit of irony in this as well. Had the SNP thought a bit more about safe spaces then NS might not be resigning.

After the leak, I'm disappointed it's not Suzuki.

Is that revenge for my bait on the Cup thread? We'll speak again of cup adventures in a couple of weeks.

We need to be careful an away tie to a League One team is more dangerous than it sounds. Especially with the indifferent form we are in. I expect our class will tell in the end resulting in a 3-1 away win.

I never realised Lichtenstein used the Swiss franc. Thanks for that.

Aye, that's the Alba das and Wings vernacular. Best avoided.

I can't make this game. Last home game on a Saturday I missed we humped Queens Park 5 nil. Same scoreline on Saturday please.

You download the form. Link is here: Download form Either return to: seasontickets@ayrunitedfc.co.uk or hand in to the club shop. The details are on an email from the club on 20th Feb titled 'Five Grand Giveaway!'. Edit also on a news article on club website: https://ayrunitedfc.co.uk/season-tickets-instalments-202324

This passed me by about paying for season tickets via installment and being able to lock in this season's price. This a great idea.

The crude point I was trying to make is that say 80,000 vote that the 50% threshold to win isn't actually 40,001 votes. It is on the first ballot but not thereafter. Say in round 2 that the least supported candidate had 10,000 votes without a second preference. Then the 50% to win is 35,001 votes rather than 40,001. As you only have 70,000 valid votes. I was trying to demonstrate that it is better to use your transferrable vote, that was all.

I hope they have a strong chair for the debates. 2 hours isn't that long, so brevity will be required in order to cover a decent amount of ground.

SNP members get a vote. It is one vote per member but it is a transferable vote. You rank the candidates by preference and if your 1st preference is eliminated it goes to your 2nd preference until a winner has more than 50% of the valid votes. Edit - valid votes is important because if you voted (as an example) Regan 1 and no-one else and Regan had the least number of votes on the first ballot your vote wouldn't be transferred and would be discounted in the second round (ie. not counted for the 50% threshold). MPs/MSPs are the same as ordinary members. They each hold one vote. In terms of who is in charge of the counting. I'm not 100% sure. I'm not actually a party member.

I get what you are saying but he stops next to zero crosses. Some of that could be down to a lack of support on the flank but he's too easy beat too often for me. Most teams are aware of that weakness and attack us on that flank which just exasperates it. It's the most pressing part of the defence needing fixed tbh. I never thought I'd be saying that about a four man defence which includes McAllister and McGinty but there you are. There is an argument that when Frankie comes back he displaces Reading rather than McGinty.

I think smoke without fire would have been more apt to be honest.

There is a lot to be critical of Sturgeon for but keeping schtoom (although by what she has said its easy to infer she is Team Humza) in the leadership race doesn't make my list.

The only bit of that mock up of a home shirt that I like is the old school collar and buttons.

I bet he's the sort that laughs at his own jokes. That tweet is crass. Incidentally, I agree with what he's saying about Murrell (he is decidely shifty) but the last sentence is totally unnecessary.

Don't they do cars and motorbikes? I hadn't realised they have diversified into sportswear.

It is quite imposing. It might not be too bad if you could swap the home and away sponsor. The blue box with jewson would probably be fine on a black shirt.

I think the argument is that Scottish Government were rushing it to be "first". Despite almost every type of business saying it was going to cost them money and they weren't ready for August. I think it would be more sensible to take the time and get it right. Could even consider joining England, Wales & Northern Ireland in launching a UK wide scheme in 2024.