Tag Archives: #Populist

Honest John?

Honest, competent, transparent, safe… these are just some of the words I would never use to describe John Swinney. Although first minister by default, he is a failure. The loyal consigliere – his role now seems to be a reprise his last stint as SNP leader and take the fall for the next electoral defeat.Continue reading “Honest John?”

Rising Tide

As Populists Rise in Europe, what hope can the UK give to the EU? The 2024 European Parliament election polls suggest a rising tide of populism across the EU, with profound implications for European Union policies and integration. Does this mean that the EU has fallen, and Remainers should abandon the dream of returning? No:Continue reading “Rising Tide”

Chinese Whispers

Is the SNPs Scotland a Chinese Trojan Horse?  Is Scotland on the verge of becoming China’s Trojan Horse within the United Kingdom? This question is neither rhetorical nor exaggerated. As the Scottish National Party (SNP) continues to push for independence, there is mounting concern that the party is either naively or deliberately opening the doorContinue reading “Chinese Whispers”

Creative Writing

The debate surrounding the economic future of an independent Scotland is complex and fraught with uncertainty. Nationalists propose a path that is both difficult and unprecedented, suggesting that Scotland could either use Sterling unofficially or separate its integrated modern economy from mechanisms such as quantitative easing and control of monetary policy.  Critics, such as JohnContinue reading “Creative Writing”

Bold Claims

A 2021 article from ‘Briefings for Britain’ is still being shared, where it makes several claims about the impact of Brexit on the UK concerning the economy and trade.   Their claims were over-optimistic at the time and, in the context of the past two years, are not a fair commentary on the impact of Brexit.Continue reading “Bold Claims”

Putting the Con in Constitution

A Constitution for an Independent Scotland: A Populist’s Dream or a Misuse of Public Funds? While the idea of a written constitution for an independent Scotland may seem appealing, the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) proposal is fraught with potential pitfalls, oversimplifications, and a lack of detail that raises serious questions about its feasibility and theContinue reading “Putting the Con in Constitution”

The Lady Doth Protest Too Much

The lady doth protest too much, methinks. Queen Gertrude, Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 2 In politics, the phrase “the lady doth protest too much, methinks” from Hamlet often rings true. This line, uttered by Queen Gertrude, suggests that an overabundance of denial or protestation can inadvertently reveal the truth. Politicians, in their quest to maintainContinue reading “The Lady Doth Protest Too Much”

Pushing the Envelope

When people of influence are caught with envelopes of cash, it rarely ends well for them It’s about as grubby and corrupt a scene as you can find in popular culture; the trope of “envelopes of cash” is often used in films and television shows to depict bribery and corruption. It has become a cliché,Continue reading “Pushing the Envelope”

Empire State

Scotland: Colony or Coloniser?  “The primary aim of propaganda is, of course, to influence contemporary opinion, but those who rewrite history do probably believe with part of their minds that they are actually thrusting facts into the past.” Notes on Nationalism – George Orwell It’s sadly become a nationalist trope to claim Scotland is aContinue reading “Empire State”

The Wrong Good Friday

The Good Friday Agreement is not Justification for the SNP’s Unilateral De Facto Referendum demands  The pub in the film the long good Friday is called “The ‘Lion and Unicorn’ – representing the standards of England and Scotland as united on the banner of James VI of Scotland when he became James I of EnglandContinue reading “The Wrong Good Friday”

How to spot a populist 

A populist is a political leader or movement that seeks or obtains power by claiming to represent the interests of ordinary people and combat what they designate as the “elite” or the powerful. This is the ideational definition of populism I refer to in the prologue to the Populists handbook, which sees populism as aContinue reading “How to spot a populist “

Attacking the Media

“Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.” Napoleon Bonaparte The technique we look at in this chapter of the Populist’s Playbook is “Attacking the media”. I like to start out with some definitions and parameters. So, what do we mean by media, and what do we mean by attacks? WhoContinue reading “Attacking the Media”