The SNP’s iPadGate farce continues apace as Scotland’s health secretary Michael Matheson is now claiming that his children took his parliamentary iPad while on holiday in Morocco and watched the 2nd January Old Firm game without his involvement. Matheson told STV last week: “had I been aware of that at the time, I would have been able to take action“. Hacks are now questioning that story having cottoned on to the fact that Matheson previously accepted free tickets to watch Celtic games. Suspect, though you could play off accepting the tickets as professional courtesy…
Guido’s had a close look at his social media activity, where it actually becomes clear he’s a big football fan. He’s tweeted about watching six football games in one weekend with his sons and liked a post detailing Celtic’s group stage draw. One of his two tweets from his holiday in Morocco was about Pelé. His claims about not being a fan are looking dubious indeed…
Humza Yousaf has made the stupid decision to support Matheson as the lines change every few days. Scottish Tory MSP for Glasgow Annie Wells tells Guido: “The health secretary is seriously expecting us to believe that a football obsessive – someone who boasts of watching six matches in one weekend – was oblivious to the fact that the biggest game in Scottish football was taking place… even by the cack-handed standards of this scandal, his claims surrounding the Old Firm game take some swallowing“. Matheson’s hoping no more evidence comes out which could suggest he’s been inadvertantly misleading Holyrood and the public on this…
Guido hears the Tories are planning to table a motion of no-confidence over the scandal, though are aware the SNP would most probably win and put the scandal to bed as a result. They reportedly want to drag it out as far as it can go to cause maximum damage before that. The SNP continues to hold the record for the most ludicrous politicians in the UK…
The SNP have released a paper detailing what their fantasy independent Scotland would look like and grovelling to the EU about the benefits of rejoining. The 81-pager mainly drones on about what Scotland could bring to the bloc if it was allowed to join. The SNP claims Scotland’s “vibrant culture” and alignment with the EU’s “values” make them ideal candidates. The European Commission must be desperate to bring Glaswegian culture to the continent…
In a nod to Starmer the SNP praises Labour’s proposed renegotiation of the EU trade deal, suggesting that it could lead to a reduction in physical checks and consequently make the whole thing less of a problem. In the unlikely event of an independent Scotland, Guido’s not sure bagpipes and kilts will be enough for the EU to welcome the Scots back into the fold…
Scottish civil servants have been given a weekly “chill out” hour since July in a pilot scheme dubbed the “Wellbeing Hour“. Staff are encouraged to do yoga, read or take a walk to “de-stress” from the toll of being a civil servant. Though they can decide themselves what they do with their free hour.
According to The Scottish Sun, the scheme is estimated to cost the public purse a whopping £7 million per year in wages. John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, blasted the programme:
“While ministers squeeze ever more tax out of pay packets, bureaucrats are being granted a siesta. The Scottish Government should put a stop to this pilot.”
Perhaps it’s an incentive to draw civil servants back to the office…
The Scottish parliament’s finance and public administration committee has today warned that Scotland could soon run out of money. Their report points out that “the Scottish Government has itself projected a potential £1 billion resource spending gap in 2024-25, rising to £1.9 billion by 2027-28“. Meanwhile Humza’s tax hikes are pushing businesses south of the border…
The seven members of the committee are attacking SNP leader Humza Yousaf for ScotGov’s “short-term approach towards financial planning” which continues to haemorrhage cash. Giving in to calls for public sector wage increases with no plan to pay for them and spending £500 million on two non-existent ferries are good examples…
While Yousaf bangs on about “Westminster’s cost of living crisis” and blaming the Ukraine war for the state of Scotland’s finances, the committee says “affordability does not appear to be a key factor in Scottish government decision-making”. Warnings that will no doubt be ignored by the SNP for their budget in mid-December…
Certified male and fitness instructor Jason Grant had a brief stint surfing the wave of SNP progressivism as Scotland’s first and only “Period Dignity” Tsar last year before the post was quickly eliminated altogether. He stepped down after critics pointed out that he didn’t have much experience in that department…
Grant has now secured a payout from the Period Dignity Working Group after suing them on grounds of sex discrimination. The case was due to conclude in March – it’s now been confirmed Grant managed to have the dispute “resolved” and settled out of court. Shame, Guido was planning on providing updates once a month….
American magazine TIME has named failing regional politician Humza Yousaf a “trailblazer” and “the new face of Scotland”. Guido is not sure whether the magazine means that the First Minister is trailblazing in bringing the SNP’s once unassailable lead in the polls down to only 4 points, allowing support for Scottish independence to drop, or hiking taxes so that businesses leave for England. Voters will decide at tonight’s by-election. Guido won’t mention his record at Health, Transport, or Justice…
One of the first quotes Yousaf provides is to mention that his appearance makes him “really stand out” and that when he first saw his Bute House portrait he remembers “looking at it and thinking, almost whatever happens now … mine will always be the one that looks different.” Echoes of Liz Truss’ “at least I was Prime Minister”…
