My thoughts on Mhairi Black's departure from the SNP.

The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at:  scotgoespop.blogspot.com

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 28: Mhairi Black and the "Broad Church" Paradox

Why it would be strategically smart for the new left-wing party of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana to back a change to the voting system for UK general elections.

The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at:  scotgoespop.blogspot.com

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 29: Why the Corbyn & Sultana party should back proportional representation

My verdict on John Swinney's unexpected statement that only a single-party SNP majority at next year's Scottish Parliament election will be enough to request an independence referendum.

The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at:  scotgoespop.blogspot.com

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 30: Why John Swinney's new roadmap on independence must be changed

All the details from this week's GB-wide voting intention poll, and its Scottish subsample.  Also commentary on the dilemma faced by the pro-independence Scottish Greens if their English sister party goes into an electoral pact with the new Corbyn/Sultana party, which at best is likely to be neutral on the subject of indy.  

The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at:  scotgoespop.blogspot.com

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 31: SNP jubilation at latest YouGov subsample

It's not just symbolism - here's why the UK and France will make a concrete difference by recognising the State of Palestine.

The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at: scotgoespop.blogspot.com

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 32: The UK's recognition of Palestine will change everything

"Pro-independence tactical voting" on the Holyrood list is a mug's game, and the arithmetical claims made in favour of it simply do not stack up.  But when Stuart Campbell admits that his ultimate aim in calling for tactical voting is to completely destroy the SNP, something which is utterly impossible as well as being undesirable, the issue ceases to be an arithmetical one and becomes a psychological one.

The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at:  scotgoespop.blogspot.com

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 33: Asking independence supporters to "destroy the SNP" suggests a total loss of rationality

Drama as group of "eminent lawyers" identify disturbing evidence that recognising the State of Palestine may leave Britain in full compliance with an international convention that it hasn't actually signed anyway.

The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at:  scotgoespop.blogspot.com

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 34: Keir Starmer will be in big trouble if he ever goes to Paraguay

In this episode of the podcast I go through the full text of the independence strategy motion John Swinney will be presenting to the SNP conference.  I point out the numerous logical contradictions in it, and the ways in which it seems to be designed to fail.  The motion should be defeated, with a plan for using the 2026 election as a de facto independence referendum, with votes for all pro-indy parties counting towards the mandate, put in its place.

The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at:  scotgoespop.blogspot.com

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 35: My reaction to the full text of John Swinney's independence strategy motion

To my astonishment, some Scot Goes Pop readers actually believe that "nuclear deterrence" is a valid concept that works.  In this episode of the podcast, I challenge them to consider the following: if a hypothetical and highly debatable "threat" from Russia is enough to mean that the UK must have an independent nuclear deterrent, surely the State of Palestine, which faces a much more imminent and proven threat from its nuclear-armed neighbour, must either have its own deterrent or be protected by another country's deterrent.  And if you think that this would not reduce the risk of a nuclear attack on Palestine or might even increase the risk, doesn't that mean deep down that you don't believe nuclear deterrence works, and that it therefore can't work for Britain either?

The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at:  scotgoespop.blogspot.com

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 36: Should the State of Palestine possess an independent nuclear deterrent?

The shock decision of Scotland's Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, to step down from parliament next year feels like a setback for the independence cause - but can someone seize the moment and turn it into an opportunity?  One thing is for sure, though - it's a big setback for the Scottish Gaelic language, which Forbes is a fluent speaker of, and a tremendous advocate for.  

The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at:  scotgoespop.blogspot.com

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 37: Kate Forbes' Departure

I'm James Kelly, and the Scot Goes Popcast accompanies my long-running pro-independence blog Scot Goes Pop, which has a particular emphasis on opinion poll analysis.