Mark Irvine - Blogger, Campaigner, Organiser

Our members with equal pay claims in Glasgow will be outside the city chambers tomorrow morning with a message ahead the last full council meeting before May’s elections: “Equal pay hasn’t gone away.” Read more and full details for the demo👇 https://t.co/bWVti4c4dV pic.twitter.com/ZkdtsshpkD — GMB Scotland (@GMBScotOrg) March 30, 2022 Glasgow's equal pay claimants are lobbying the City Council today to remind councillors that their fight for justice is far from over - and will continue until GCC replaces its discriminatory pay arrangements which are still in place 5 tears after being condemned as 'unfit for purpose' by the Court of Session, Scotland's highest civil court. People Make Glasgow - Glasgow's Fight For Equal Pay ( March 28, 2022 ) Well the good news is that people really do make Glasgow. Because just days ago no one was even talking about a further 'interim payment' in connection with Glasgow's long-running equal pay dispute.  Yet in the fac...

"During the election he told the local newspaper that he lived with his wife and two-year-old daughter and that the couple were expecting their second child." Our thoughts are with them. https://t.co/gy56kJ7awn — For Women Scotland (@ForWomenScot) March 30, 2022 Jamie Wallis MP has been living a double life while betraying his wife and two-year-old daughter and fled the scene of a serious road traffic incident after crashing his car - y et Wallis is being lauded, in some quarters, for suddenly declaring his 'ambition' to become trans. But For Women Scotland have the correct take on this story if you ask me - people's thoughts and solidarity should be with his wife and children not this selfish asshole.     

Sporting bodies warned 'every women's world champion in five years will be a trans athlete' https://t.co/69PkfzdD5A — Sharron Davies MBE (@sharrond62) March 30, 2022 Unless we take a stand against the madness of male bodied competitors being allowed to take part in women's sports this gloomy prediction is likely to come true.     

Keith Brown, the SNP MSP and Scotland's justice minister, is isolating after testing positive for Covid. In his absence Keith's Office Manager, Cllr Ellen Forson, will no doubt step up to the plate while continuing in her day job as SNP Leader of Clackmannanshire Council - a post held previously by Keith, if I remember correctly. Are they having a laugh?       It's A Fair Question, Keith! ( February 28, 2022 ) I think we should be told how the SNP Leader of Clackmannanshire Council manages her council job which is paid a full-time salary - while also drawing another public salary as Office Manager for Keith Brown, the SNP MSP and Scotland's justice minister.     SNP - Taking Us All For Fools ( February 26, 2022 ) A reminder of the bizarre goings on in Clackmannanshire where the Leader of Clackmannanshire Council (Cllr Ellen Forson) has also been enjoying employment as the Office Manager for Keith Brown - SNP MSP and Scotland's justice minister. SNP - Taking...

Team Sturgeon's insatiable appetite for publicity and photo opportunities was on display again yesterday as both Nicola and hubby Peter both poled up to Prince Philip's memorial service at Westminster.  But why were the SNP's power couple behaving in this odd fashion especially when the spouses/partners of other political figures were kept well away from the limelight?      

Scotland's democracy is much 'chummier' than other parts of the UK with a family franchise dominating both the Scottish Government and the SNP as the party of government - in fact you could say it's a real family affair. Which just goes to show that Scotland really is exceptional because just imagine the hoots of derision if Boris and Carrie were a Mr & Mrs double act for the Tories at Westminster? Nicola Sturgeon (FM and SNP Leader) and Peter Murrell Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds Jeremy Corbyn and Laura Alvarez Theresa May and Philip May David Cameron and Samantha Cameron Gordon Brown and Sarah Brown Tony Blair and Cherie Blair John Major and Norma Major Margaret Thatcher and Denis Thatcher   

The news that Humza Yousaf's wife, Nadia El-Nakla, is standing for election to Dundee Council provides more evidence that the government of Scotland is increasingly dominated by an SNP gang culture.   Nadia has a job already, of course, being employed by the SNP social justice minister, Shona Robison, whose previous job as Scotland's health minister is now occupied by Nadia's husband, Humza Yousaf. Meanwhile, Serena Cowdy, the wife of Shona Robinson's former husband, Stewart Hosie, the SNP MSP, is standing for election to Angus Council.

The news that Stewart Hosie's new wife is standing as a SNP candidate in May's council's elections triggered the following thought about Scottish politics and nepotism. The health minister, Humza Yousaf's wife (Nadia El-Nakla) is also standing for election and currently works for the social justice minister and former health minister, Shona Robison. Shona, of course, was previously married to Stewart Hosie, the SNP MP whose new wife (Serena Cowdy) is standing for election as an SNP councillor in Angus Council. Which makes me wonder - does the SNP operate some kind of family franchise?  

Politics has become family affair in Scotland's dominant party which helps explain why the SNP is running into so much trouble these days - they keep placing members of 'the clan' into positions authority and responsibility for which they have little talent or ability.  

Scotland's democracy is much 'chummier' than other parts of the UK with a family franchise dominating both the Scottish Government and the SNP as the party of government - in fact you could say it's a real family affair. Which just goes to show that Scotland really is exceptional because just imagine the hoots of derision if Boris and Carrie were a Mr & Mrs double act for the Tories at Westminster?   Nicola Sturgeon (FM and SNP Leader) and Peter Murrell Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds Jeremy Corbyn and Laura Alvarez Theresa May and Philip May David Cameron and Samantha Cameron Gordon Brown and Sarah Brown Tony Blair and Cherie Blair John Major and Norma Major Margaret Thatcher and Denis Thatcher