A long time ago a wise man commented on politicians books. He claimed they all ran the same way. That is, if the Prime Minister did the correct thing, it was my idea. If the Prime Minister did the wrong thing it was because he did not listen to my warning. I did not doubt that this book would offer some one-sided opinions on the troubles in the Scottish National Party, (SNP) over the last few years, and this was of course a book written to answer Nicola Sturgeons self-seeking work 'Frankly,' so we would not be disappointed.
Joanna Cherry covers the years since the failed referendum in 2014, when Scotland ought to have become independent. The leadership of Alex Salmond, the greatest 'Big Beast,' in Scottish politics and it appears the last one for a while. Clearly Joanna admired Alex, didn't we all, and like him, she sought a clear, intelligent, way forward for independence. This book makes clear the next First Minister did not have Alex's talent, insight or purpose, and instead left us with a leadership style not unknown in North Korea.
Joanna discusses the loss of MP seats in Westminster and the reasons thereof, the lack of co-ordinated leadership, the lack of strategy, and the loss of 30,000 members of the SNP caused by preferencing trans people and gays rather than independence.
The blatant needless and failed attack on Alex Salmond, the reasons for this still unclear, the failed court case in which he was awarded £500,000, and the next case, in which he was suing the Scottish government, when he died from the stress caused by Nicola, a case that continues yet.
A chapter on the Covid panic, the appearance of control which is now known to be false, and the next big division, the gender problem, and whether a man in a skirt is a woman or not. A difficulty the Scots government have yet to deal with. The power of the trans lobby is immense these days.
The implication of this book is the weak Nicola Sturgeon was more concerned with public image than policy, 'feared' by the intelligent proposals put forward by some, including Joanna Cherry, and scared she would lose her position to another. At the heart of government Scotland's desire for independence was broken by a weak self-centred woman, and a trans lobby that scared the Sturgeon Junta desperate to keep their well paid jobs. Joanna would have changed all that had she become leader.
So we read of the usual political tricks, smears in the English owned press, always keen to attack the SNP. Close friends who side with the other, attacks both brutal in public and behind her back, and fear amongst her supporters who do not wish to suffer the same. Both Alex Salmond and Joanna suffered much from the SNP Junta.
The author puts forward an approach to independence which appears intelligent and worth considering. A debate is required on all aspects of indy, yet debate was something Nicola did not wish for, she tended to lose out here, so debate was replaced by bullying. I suspect this is normal political life, it is something the one who enters it much face.
This book is easy to read, though some of us yawn when the nitty-gritty of legal and political complications are discussed. An Advocate, that is Barrister to you, will rejoice in such things, most of us do not. Nevertheless, the book is readable, I went through it quite quickly, and while there are some womanly ways which irk in the writing I think it is well worth a read for those who know Scotland. Joanna may no longer be in politics, she might never return, though a change of leadership and a proper perspective on the way forward may lead to that.
I have to say I know who's side I am on before I read this book, that remains the case.
