Nicola Sturgeon For Leader

[boxtops]

Well, there's no surprise - it's just been announced on the BBC News that NS is stamding for leader of the SNP when AS steps down. I don't know why others thought it might be any different.

[Zacs-Master]

I thought Gordon might have defected.

[youngmafbog]

Still seems fishy to me

[DTCwordfan]

Then the end of the SNP is nigh - she won't hold unity as Salmond did - she's too extreme and republican in her views.

[murraymints]

hopefully only till next election and SNP lose control of holyrood !

[youngmafbog]

//hopefully only till next election and SNP lose control of holyrood//


In your dreams. 40% of the voting population were behind them, that is a very significant part of the population. If you then add in those who like the SNP but didnt want to go the whole hog on Independence I thing you may well find a majority.

Salmond will not be going away either.

[DTCwordfan]

If Gordy B runs as leader of Scottish Labour, it will be an interesting election.

[janbee]

Minty, I agree with you. Sadly, I doubt it'll be the last we've heard of that Fat Eck bloke.

[murraymints]

YOUNG..still in the minority though ! 28 of 32 seats voted no....and Nicola will not win many fans over !

when will folk actually accept the majority did NOT want and did NOT vote for SNP last week !

[youngmafbog]

The problem is the 'majority'

40% of a vote is sizeable. Twisting it into seats to make it look like a small minority rather looks like you have something to hide.

Personally I dont care, I am not Scottish and dont really favour the SNP, but you should not hide from the facts unpalatable as they may be.

[Quizmonster]

The 'Yes' vote was a lot nearer 45% than 40%, but have a look here:
http://www.channel4.com/news/snp-membership-soars-politics-scotland-referendum
The SNP now has more members, as a result of a surge after the referendum, than the Lib-Dems! Consequently, I would advise people to beware of dismissing the possibility they may yet again win an overall majority in the next Scottish parliamentary election in 2016.

[anneasquith]

I don't think we should dismiss N S too quickly.

[Slapshot]

Don't like the nippy sweetie but the SNP have one or two capable people, John Swinney is a very quiet thoughtful and conciencious politician but not a leader. Reading what Youngmafbog and Minty were talking about the SNP will win a majority next Scottish election as Labour, the only real oppostion in Scotland have shot themselves in the foot, the old labour heartlands of Glasgow, lanarkshire and Dundee were the places that voted predominantly YES.
Unless westminster carries out the changes promised we're going to be back in the same position we are now in four years time, guaranteed

[maggiebee]

May I remind people that Scotland were NOT voting for any political party last week. There were no names or parties on the ballot papers, just a simple YES or NO. NS may not be my ideal First Minister, but she has been Deputy First Minister for 7 years and must be high in the running. As an aside, the SNPs have gained 70,000 new members since the referendum so don't think they will be disappearing soon.

[whiskeryron]

Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon. What about Kelpie Kipper or Thomas Trout ?