Mark Irvine - Blogger, Campaigner, Organiser

Kevin McKenna: How will the John & Kate political romance pan out? ➡ https://t.co/eKT81hRAuG pic.twitter.com/CQvHnzgI5k — The Herald (@heraldscotland) May 3, 2024 Kevin McKenna in The Herald suggests that the influence of the Greens on Scottish politics has suffered a severe setback with the dramatic return of Kate Forbes to the Scottish Government.  "In less than a week the Greens have been turfed out of government; their two departments no longer exist and Ms Forbes, the politician they loathe above all others, is set to return to the top tier of government."

Scottish comedy has been in the doldrums of late. Many of our best known 'stand-ups' have been in thrall to the SNP for years - too scared to say anything controversial for fear of being cancelled and de-platformed. The reaction to Peter Brookes cartoon tells its own story - it's a clever metaphor which uses the SNP's logo to mock successive SNP leaders who are being hoist on their own 'Indy' petard. Only a fool would suggest it's encouraging violence.

SNP politicians are being mocked for their ridiculous, anti-democratic antics over Humza's resignation and Swinney's coronation. Sadly, SNP hacks love to ridicule their rivals, but can't seem to laugh at themselves! 

The accidental First Minister John Swinney needs to answer a simple question if he is to lead Scotland for the many, not a few: What is a woman? My @TheScotsman column https://t.co/KY6URVr4T3 — Susan Dalgety (@DalgetySusan) May 4, 2024 John Swinney stood foursquare with Nicola Sturgeon while the former SNP First Minister promoted trans ideology and did ridiculous things like dropping the word 'mother' from the Scottish Government's maternity policy. Susan Dalgety writing in The Scotsman is in no mood to SNP spin and nonsense about 'Honest John': The ‘woman question’ may irritate Swinney. It may elicit yawns from political pundits more interested in internal party spats than real life. It may even prompt calls of ‘bigot’ and ‘transphobe’ from so-called progressives. But it is one Swinney needs to answer. So, soon-to-be First Minister, “what is a woman?”

Brand new episode hosted by Martin Clunes, with @ChloePetts and @bbclysedoucet tonight at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer pic.twitter.com/H2wMf8L5iS — Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) May 3, 2024 The HIGNFY team poke some well deserved fun at Scottish politics, in particular the SNP. Not only is Humza Yousaf labelled 'useless' - the shameless comedy crew suggest that John Swinney has been chosen as his successor because the men in kilts had to find someone in the SNP who hasn't been arrested.  Cue mad SNP supporters with thin skins and zero sense of humour demanding the programme be taken off the air.  

What's India got against men - he is one? pic.twitter.com/sxOj1VtT0M — Mark Irvine (@Mark1957) May 2, 2024 More baloney from India Willoughby - he says he'd rather die than be treated on a all-male hospital ward. Such nonsense.

  Hands up! Who thinks this great Peter Brookes cartoon is literally suggesting that Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon are both fish  -  intent on eating each other?

Hands up! Who thinks this cartoon is suggesting that Alex Salmond is a real monster? Very sinister if you ask me.

Satire and cartoons are part of our political life and of course this can be edgy. However this crosses a line, it is offensive and does nothing to foster respectful debate. I am surprised by @thetimes who should both withdraw and apologise for this. https://t.co/W2tQ8xoSyp — Ian Blackford 🇺🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@Ianblackford_MP) May 3, 2024 SNP politicians are being mocked for their ridiculous, anti-democratic antics over Humza's resignation and Swinney's coronation. Sadly, SNP hacks love to ridicule their rivals, but can't seem to laugh at themselves! 

Fair to say it would take a heart of stone not to laugh at this video featuring three great Scottish comedians. Rikki Fulton, Humza Yousaf and Humza's No 1 fan - Nicola Sturgeon.

  What Scotland could do with is some straight talking from its politicians - not more party spin and evasive leaders who cannot answer a straightforward question.

John Swinney: “If our politics is defined purely and simply by these questions, I think we’re not addressing the core issues and challenges that people face in our society. So, today, I am going to address the core challenges and priorities that face people in our society.” — mandy rhodes (@holyroodmandy) May 2, 2024 John Swinney, Scotland's unelected SNP leader and putative First Minister, won't answer a simple question.  Meanwhile transgender ideology is being imposed on Scotland's public services, notably health and education,  by the same SNP ministers who dropped the word 'mother' from the Scottish government's maternity policy. So while Humza and Sturgeon have gone it's the same old, same old SNP baloney when it comes a to self-ID and men magically declaring themselves to be women.

Latest @HolyroodDaily went to print last night and out on Monday, just another bonkers week in Scottish politics! pic.twitter.com/sXSFdFxrur — mandy rhodes (@holyroodmandy) May 3, 2024 The SNP keep banging on about using Scottish elections as a referendum for 'Indy'. Yet as soon as an opportunity presents itself they bottle it - and run for cover! Chickenhearts not Bravehearts.

The SNP's spin machine can't hide the fact that the party has suffered another yet reversal of fortune with the news that Humza Yousaf has had to be dumped - and replaced with its semi-retired, former leader John Swinney. In turn Swinney has had to accept that Kate Forbes, vilified previously by the SNP establishment, is "an intelligent, creative, thoughtful person who has much to contribute to our national life". So much so that Forbes has been assured of a "significant role" i n any Swinney led SNP government. No substitute for fresh Scottish elections, of course, but what a hoot all the same!

I had a good old laugh listening to Patrick Harvie's desperate pitch for the Greens (ie Paddy and Lorna) to stay in the Scottish government. Fresh Holyrood elections are not necessary and would, in fact, be terribly inconvenient because MSPs are all planning to go on their summer holidays. What a joke!  

Who knew the SNP was such a hotbed of religious debate and controversy? Apparently, John Swinney   had his first marriage (which produced two children) annulled by an arcane procedure in the Catholic Church which, like all religions, has its own peculiar rules and beliefs - see article below from The Herald's archive. In the wake of Kenny Farquharson's article about Kate Forbes' fitness to be First Minister, what role, if any, should people's religious views play in their ability to stand for high public office? https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12536659.swinney-has-first-marriage-annulled-for-rc-wedding/ Swinney has first marriage annulled for RC wedding 26th July 2003 HERALD AND TIMES ARCHIVE JOHN Swinney, leader of the SNP, has had his first marriage annulled in order to marry in the Roman Catholic Church today. Mr Swinney has said that any children he might have with his new wife, Elizabeth Quigley, the BBC journalist, would be brought up as Catholics. As a sign o

If Humza Yousaf and the SNP had the courage of their political convictions, they would call fresh Holyrood elections and put their ‘frustratingly close’ claim about Indy to Scottish voters?

I am a stronger character who has done a lot of tough stuff, says John Swinney. Oh. pic.twitter.com/cAX6dx6H44 — Susan Dalgety (@DalgetySusan) May 2, 2024 John Swinney is so tough he said not a single word in support of Kate Forbes when her fitness to be elected as Scotland's First Minister came under attack. What a coward!

Martina Navratilova is a good a judge as you'll find when it comes to things 'crossing a line' - and pretending that men can produce breast milk is one of them.  Ain't No Such Thing As.....Male Breast Milk ( December 31, 2022 ) Just like 'male breast milk' men literally turning themselves into women is a complete fantasy - a delusion - sometimes an unhealthy, even dangerous one. Ain't No Such Thing As........Male Breast Milk ( December 17, 2022 ) Men do not produce breast milk of course - and this is just another idiotic attempt to turn reality on its head. Trans Ideology and 'Chestfeeding' ( May 21, 2021 ) Edie Wyatt tackles the ideology of the 'sex vs gender' debate by writing very powerfully about her own experience of becoming a mother: "Gender has become Frankenstein’s monster as it has taken on distorted and confusing legal and cultural meanings. The idea that woman is not a biological entity, a sexed body, but an identity that can