Zern

The fact that the Lord Advocate has succeeded in having this taken up by the Supreme Court demonstrates that this is far from settled law. The First Minister is thorough, with backup plans for every eventuality. She did no come before us with 1 plan, but 3. The offer for a section 30 remains open, to whoever occupies the PM slot between now and 19th October 2023.

Well. They've not had one called by a Nationalist yet. It is worth considering if MIchelle O'Neill were in a similar position to Nicola Sturgeon, able to legislate a request for a border poll, whether the UK would refuse.

More movement? We got a bill announced yesterday that includes an example of the ballot paper for a referendum on 19th October 2023. We got the Lord Advocate going to the Supreme Court for clarification on the legality of holding an advisory referendum absent a section 30. We got a further announcement for what happens in the event it all fails, and that the GE will be run on a single issue from the SNP Leader. Lots of movement. Plenty still to come. With papers to answer specifics on monetary policy, EU membership and more.

I have a feeling that plenty thought that indy had been "killed permanently" a few years back. Yet here we are.

Forced repatriation of Michael Gove.

They've not held one yet, but in UK law it sets the minimum period between holding such border polls for secession from the UK.

Nicola Sturgeon's letter: So it's really been around 10 years since we began discussion over the last referendum.

Scottish Independence Referendum Bill (www.gov.scot) Looks like if your on the electoral register you'll get to vote.

A border? In The Borders? Inconceivable!

Ain't that the truth.

I wonder if Johnson is tempted to grant a section 30 simply as a massive middle finger to Douglas Ross the pretendy leader of the Scottish Tories.

I think a over a decade of meeting all their budget targets demonstrates that they can.

That was one the more ridiculous theories going around, Nicola the arch-unionist. She turned up today with not one, but 3 ways forward for independence. The other "theory" was that Nicola is a man. think about it. It's not Nicola Sturgeon, it's Nicolas Turgeon. Hiding in plain sight.

Is to early to call it historic? A speech that might one day be written in history books of The Celtic Isles. I found the responses from Dross, Anas and whatisname very thin and lacking democracy.

Well. i guess people could always not vote for them. I think it shows a maturity of politics in Scotland that our First Minister sets out a position for every eventuality. 1 Her door is open to sec 30 2. Legality of indyref2 w/o sec 30 tbc 3. what happens if legal (19.10.2023) what happens if not (GE). Notably they abide by each decision. Much better than empty slogans and a general disregard for domestic and international law as represented by the UK today.

Lord Advocate to take a reference to the Supreme Court? Also date, she was not bluffing. We go there.

19th October 2023, Now is the time.

I blame those damned Westminster/local* conservatives. *delete as applicable How could they not defeat this obviously stupid piece of legislation? The UK has decided it wants to take on Ireland, US, EU, China, Turkey and India in a combined trade war. All whilst the economy is in free-fall. I guess all this talk of being "at war" is supposed to cushion the inevitable reintroduction of rationing.

It looks like the Tories have decided to go full Brexit. A Johnson Juche.

What the UK is proposing is arbitrarily settings tariffs and ignoring the WTO rules on this thing known as most-favored nation, in that the terms you offer to one must be given to others (unless there is a trade agreement in effect) they are doing what they have done with all their agreements, ignoring the rules written and agreed by themselves. It is becoming something of a hallmark of this UK government. You are probably correct that they are attempting to shore up votes in certain areas with this announcement, but i doubt it will work. Not least because the amount of people who believe the lying tory scum must surely be diminishing. At least i hope so.

The countries being targeted so far are China, Turkey and India. India will not be pleased at all to hear this. Byebye trade deal. Turkey being a NATO member also complicates things. It really is no way to run a government. On the EU being protectionist, it's a fair point. It does neglect that the idea behind trading blocs worldwide is to benefit members and disadvantage non-members. In that respect it is protectionist, but doesn't breach WTO or international rules. What the UK is proposing is different.

UK Plans to unilaterally impose Steel Tariffs in contravention of WTO rules. From the Independent: Steel tariffs to be extended despite WTO rules, Boris Johnson indicates | Politics | The Guardian

We know all the racists and xenophobes in the UK overwhelmingly supported Brexit and wrapped themselves in the flag. Current Tory policy is just red meat to that bunch.

Heh. Yeah, well, that says a lot about where Labour are politically.

Which presents a problem for the LibDems, catering to their new support base of disaffected Tories. Who will swiftly abandon the LibDems if they enter a coalition with Labour. They are a damned party.