Does size matter?

To the members of the press, a warm welcome to the first annual Scottish Jacobite Party Conference.

You have been sent to cover a story that has curiosity value in the opinion of your news editors. They assume that the serious political business is happening in Perth where the Scottish National Party Conference runs from today through Saturday. Scotland's crack political reporters are part of the team of 100 accredited journalists attending the SNP Conference.

Does size matter? We are attempting a new Guinness World Record by having a Party Political Conference in the phone box behind us. The SNP expect 1200 delegates who will contribute £1.2 million to the Perth economy over the four days. Does this make the political content 400 times greater? Or is it £1.2 million of boozy argument and heather fantasy?

The SNP are the Leaping, Lurching, Dithering Party of Scottish Politics.

The SLLDP made a giant leap backwards with the re-election of Alex Salmond as party leader. He didn't achieve much first time around, what makes anyone think he will do better this time? For a party that doesn't believe in leadership from Westminster, a curious choice. They should dump Eck, let's see what Nicola can do. There are some outstanding young women in the party. I have come across two recently who are a credit to the Scottish Political scene, Angela Constance who is running in Livingston and Aileen Campbell who is contesting Clydesdale. They are dynamic, enthusiastic about the cause of Scotland and willing to work for an independent future. Give this new blood a chance and see if they can generate some decent ideas. The current leadership doesn't have any.

The SNP are a single issue party who don't have a rational basis for policy decisions. They have had a look at New Labour, another single issue party. New Labour decided that their traditional Labour background was an embarrassment, did a neat cut and run manouvere, ditched Clause 4, and reemerged somewhere to the right of the Conservatives. It worked for New Labour. They got elected to government. Can it work for the New SNP? Embarrassed by their traditional left wing support, the SNP have made a large lurch to the right, in an effort to gain the attractive centre right political ground, the same tactic used by New Labour.

Already, the tactic has paid dividends. Last week, Sir Tom Farmer contributed £100,000 of the £1 million the SNP want for a "level playing field" with the big boys, Labour and the Lib-Dems. But the playing field was already level. Political thought is extinct in Britain. Killed off by a conservative, focus-group mentality that eliminates honest debate and dissent in the ranks. There isn't a decent political idea among the lot. Money doesn't buy ideas.

How can a party whose reason for being is Scottish Independence dither on the subject? Because in the quest for Political Power, principle plays second fiddle to getting elected. If elected, the SNP might hold a referendum on Independence. Then again maybe not, depending on whose bed they share in Holyrood. Power is the thing. Principles? What Principles?

So we have the Scottish Leaping, Lurching, Dithering Party (SLLDP).

In the Autumn 06 issue of Saltire, hot off the presses, the SNP leader outlines a seven-point plan for his first 100 days in office as Scotland's First Minister. He will give NHS patients legally binding waiting times. He needs to get out more. The NHS is in crisis and it will take reasoned analysis and time to sort out the crisis. This won't happen by dictat from the First Minister's office, whoever is in power. Mr Salmond doesn't understand the problem and compounds his error by invoking legal powers. Are we going to have tax payers money wasted with one government agency suing another for non-delivery of essential services? Lets fix the problem and leave the lawyers out of it.

The Scottish Jacobite Party   small in size   large in ideas

Scotland can be independent on May 4th 2007.
Candidates standing on a platform of Scottish Independence make the May 3rd election a referendum on Independence. No dithering, waffling or power sharing compromises.

Scotland should be out of the EU.
Lets have Scottish solutions to Scotland's problems.
EU regulations are stifling NHS Scotland, Scottish Fisheries, Scottish Farming, Scottish Ferry Services to the Outer Isles.

Its not about Scotland's Oil.   Its about Scotland's People.
We must have a well educated population generating creative, innovative ideas to power a vibrant Scottish Economy. The Scottish Education System is failing our kids. We need to sort this fundamental problem now.

Scotland must contribute to world security.
We don't need nuclear weapons to do this.

May 4th   Scottish Independence Day
The Scottish Jacobite Party has filed a petition with the Scottish Parliament to make May 4th Scottish Independence Day. Let's have a proper debate on Freedom and Independence. Then Scotland's voters can make an informed decision on May 3rd 2007. Let's celebrate the new National Holiday on May 4th in a Free and Independent Scotland.