8chan/8kun QResearch Posts (2)
#10629133 at 2020-09-13 11:50:17 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #13602: The Legit #13602 Edition
https://globalnews.ca/news/7331899/caf-chief-liberal-priorities/
New chief of defence staff expected to signal Liberals' priorities for the military
Time is running out for the federal Liberal government to name a new commander of the Canadian Armed Forces before it faces a confidence vote, with some observers worrying a delay could leave the military in limbo in the event of an election.
Yet exactly who will be selected to succeed Gen. Jonathan Vance as chief of the defence staff remains a mystery because while there may be one seemingly obvious choice, there are others who might suit the Liberals better.
"There's a generalized understanding that any of the individuals who have made it to three stars have demonstrated a pretty strong portfolio in terms of competencies and strengths," said Canadian Forces College professor Alan Okros.
"It then becomes an issue about where does the priority fall?"
The Liberal government has quietly indicated it wants to announce the new chief of defence staff before the speech from the throne on Sept. 23. Sources at the DepArtment of National Defence, who are not authorized to discuss the search publicly, said interviews were conducted this past week
Retired lieutenant-general Guy Thibault, who previously served as vice-chief of the defence staff, is one of those hoping for an announcement before a possible election.
"You just don't want to have a chief in waiting with a chief caretaker in place," said Thibault, who now heads the Conference of Defence Associations Institute.
The seemingly obvious choice is Lt.-Gen. Mike Rouleau.
The former Ottawa police officer who re-enrolled in the Forces after 9/11 spent years in the field before becoming commander of Canada's special forces in 2014, at a time when the elite soldiers were in Iraq and elsewhere.
Rouleau has since been burnishing his credentials in Ottawa, first as commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command, which oversees all domestic and foreign operations, before recently taking over as Vance's second-in-command.
"I think Mike is really the full-meal deal of all the current three-stars," said Thibault, echoing an assessment shared by many defence insiders and observers.
Rouleau's appointment would signal a continuation of the current path set by Vance's five-year tenure - the longest in modern Canadian history - and enshrined in the Liberals' defence policy.
That policy - known as Strong, Secure, Engaged - released in 2017 promised massive billions of dollars in investments over the next 20 years for more troops, new equipment such as warships and jets, and new capabilities in cyber and space.
A similar signal would be sent if the Liberal government tapped Royal Canadian Air Force commander Lt.-Gen. Al Meinzinger, Canadian Army commander Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre or Royal Canadian Navy commander Vice-Admiral Art McDonald.
They, along with Lt.-Gen. Christopher Coates, who recently moved into Rouleau's old job as head of the Canadian Joint Operations Command, would bring their own skills and styles, but they are also viewed as largely similar in terms of continuity.
#6801852 at 2019-06-20 22:50:46 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #8700: Rockin' Stock Market Edition
>>6801761
Mike Cernovich
Verified account
@Cernovich
Is there any good reason for NBC to be asking about a person's religious beliefs?
https://twitter.com/Cernovich/status/1141834605646897152
Art McDonald
@ArtMcDonald8
1m1 minute ago
More
Replying to @Cernovich
NBC uses the Pelosi Smear
Mr Moore
@MrMoore78339867
22m22 minutes ago
More
Replying to @Cernovich
WOW, the same thing that Hitler and the Nazis did….
8chan/8kun QResearch AUSTRALIA Posts (5)
#10705285 at 2020-09-19 06:00:20 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #10 - INFORMATION WARFARE Edition
#9 - PArt 13
Qanon "Conspiracy Theory" Hit Piece Bun - PArt 2
>>10466217 Exclusive: FBI document warns conspiracy theories are a new domestic terrorism threat (2019) - Jana Winter - news.yahoo.com
>>10466217 Trump praised the supporters of QAnon, a conspiracy theory the FBI says is a domestic terrorism threat - Zeke Miller, Jill Colvin & Amanda Seitz - chicagotribune.com
>>10481398, >>10481410,, >>10481424 QAnon: Conspiracy theory takes hold in Cairns - Pete MArtinelli - cairnspost.com.au
>>10481665, >>10481669 QAnon Australia: Explaining The Absurd And Dangerous Conspiracy Theory Down Under - Cam Wilson - gizmodo.com.au
>>10491351, >>10491362 Victorian MPs hit with tsunami of vile anti-lockdown abuse from conspiracy theorists - Josh Butler - thenewdaily.com.au
>>10501359, >>10501361, >>10501370 Donald Trump, QAnon and the limit of Twitter's crackdown on conspiracies - Ted O'Connor - .abc.net.au
>>10501618 StewArt McDonald, Scottish National PArty MP questions Tony Abbott about "health dictatorship", a term also used by QAnon conspiracy group - Latika Bourke - smh.com.au
>>10501635 Video: StewArt McDonald - "Are you familiar with Qanon, Mister Abbott?" Tony Abbott - "Look, I'm afraid I'm not. But I'm sure you'll enlighten me."
>>10512673, >>10512678, >>10512685, >>10512692 'Stop the cabal': What is the conspiracy movement QAnon? - John Buckley with Simone Fox Koob - smh.com.au
>>10501618 StewArt McDonald, Scottish National PArty MP questions Tony Abbott about "health dictatorship", a term also used by QAnon conspiracy group - Latika Bourke - smh.com.au
>>10501635 Video: StewArt McDonald - "Are you familiar with Qanon, Mister Abbott?" Tony Abbott - "Look, I'm afraid I'm not. But I'm sure you'll enlighten me."
>>10512673, >>10512678, >>10512685, >>10512692 'Stop the cabal': What is the conspiracy movement QAnon? - John Buckley with Simone Fox Koob - smh.com.au
>>10532456 Video: Joe Biden has a suggestion for QAnon supporters - Yahoo News
>>10532456 Biden tells QAnon followers to seek mental health counseling before the Affordable Care Act is repealed - David Knowles - au.news.yahoo.com
>>10532738, >>10532745, >>10532756 The other virus: distrust rides high on the back of COVID-19 - Jewel Topsfield - smh.com.au
>>10533251, >>10533267 QAnon is here to stay. Is it the future of our politics? - Kishor Napier-Raman - crikey.com.au
>>10533310 Pandemic linked to rise of conspiracy theories - Anna Patty - brisbanetimes.com.au
>>10535408 Marc-André Argentino Tweet: Tonight I want to share some of the research I have been doing on what I am calling "Pastel QAnon"
>>10535408 Marc-André Argentino Tweet: 8kun QAnon worries me less than Pastel QAnon
>>10535408 Elise Thomas Tweet: I think they're different kinds of risk, because of the different demographics
>>10535408 Elise Thomas Tweet: For extremist violence, 8kun is more of a worry; for social movements, holistic light-worker crystal healing QAnon is more of a concern
>>10553714, >>10553730 Australia's conspiracy theorists are increasingly energised, but police crackdowns may be counterproductive - Elliott Brennan - theguardian.com
>>10575201 New Zealand election TV debate: fears inclusion of fringe pArty may 'legitimise conspiracy theories' - Charlotte Graham-McLay - theguardian.com
#10705222 at 2020-09-19 05:53:45 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #10 - INFORMATION WARFARE Edition
#9 - PArt 3
Coronavirus / COVID-19 Bun - PArt 2
>>10491438 Video: Anti-lockdown ringleader calls coronavirus a "scam" | A Current Affair
>>10491693 Detained Australian journalist Cheng Lei authored Facebook posts about Wuhan coronavirus cover-up
>>10499142 SHOCK REPORT: This Week CDC Quietly Updated COVID-19 Numbers - Only 9,210 Americans Died From COVID-19 Alone
>>10499184, >>10499961 A Doctors' Open Letter to Daniel Andrews re: government's management of the COVID-19 viral pandemic
>>10499240 Greens deliver despot Dan 6 more months of emergency powers - michaelsmithnews.com
>>10499543 Victoria's Births, Deaths and Marriages - deaths registered per month - - michaelsmithnews.com
>>10500441 Open Letter to Health Minister About Ivermectin - "One Dose is Normally Sufficient for Recovery"
>>10500546 Breakthrough Drug: Ivermectin Shows 'Astounding' Results Against Coronavirus
>>10501605 Tony Abbott rails against Victoria's coronavirus response - 'Health dictatorship'
>>10501610 Video: Australia and the Coronavirus Crisis, PolicyExchangeUK - With Hon Tony Abbott AC, Health dictatorship reference @ 8:35
>>10501615, >>10501618 'Unaccountable experts': Tony Abbott calls for end to lockdowns, travel bans
>>10501618 StewArt McDonald, Scottish National PArty MP questions Tony Abbott about "health dictatorship", a term also used by QAnon conspiracy group
>>10501635 Video: StewArt McDonald - "Are you familiar with Qanon, Mister Abbott?" Tony Abbott - "Look, I'm afraid I'm not. But I'm sure you'll enlighten me."
>>10501671, >>10501674 Pregnant woman arrested in Ballarat for creating anti-lockdown protest event on Facebook
>>10504219 Snr Sgt Tim Argall, 'authorising Officer' on the search warrant for pregnant protest inciter from Ballarat, had affair with Lawyer X
>>10508924 Victoria Police are trained to issue summonses rather than arrest where possible - why was this pregnant mum handcuffed?
>>10509221 >The (alleged) Facebook post that got pregnant mum Zoe Lee arrested today
>>10523738, >>10523747 The bodybuilder conspiracy theorist behind a group pushing COVID-19 checkpoint breaches
>>10534097 Coronavirus Australia live news: Anti-lockdown protesters gather across Australia, arrests made in Melbourne and Sydney (Q WWG1WGA sign in Perth)
>>10535023 Sharon McGowan Tweet: Anti-lockdown protesters are now walking down Albert Park towards St Kilda. (WWG1WGA sign in Melbourne)
>>10535035 Wake up Australia Tweet: The crowd is kind of shy, Beautiful, Full of hope and joy, Chanted, Free Victoria (Q sign in Brisbane)
>>10535045 Morgans Tweet Freedom Day Byron Bay wwg1wga (WWG1WGA sign in Byron Bay)
>>10535053 JayTeePee Tweet: Almost 10,000 West Australians stood together at Parliament House for FREEDOM DAY (#WWG1WGA T-shirt in Perth)
>>10535070, >>10535082 WeareMaximus Tweets: Brisbane / Chant of the day... Free Victoria / Free the children chant (Q WWG1WGA T-shirts in Brisbane)
>>10535235 No arrests as hundreds protest in Brisbane (Q Make Australia Great Again sign in Brisbane)
>>10535606 Tommyblues Tweet: Small one in Cairns but good to see numbers none the less (The Great Awakening sign in Cairns)
>>10535729 6% Jo Tweet: It was excellent. Brisbane protested with them (Q / WWG1WGA / Children / Human Trafficking signs in Brisbane)
>>10535808 N.Marsters Tweet: Oh Yes, we here in Brisbane, Australia. #freevictoria #FreedomDay (Q sign in Brisbane)
>>10536615 UN Forced To Admit Gates-Funded Vaccine Is Causing Polio Outbreak In Africa
>>10542825 Chanting for 'freedom' and shouting of Fascism, a city's fringe erupts in anger
>>10553790 Protesters Clash with Police While Rallying Against Australia's COVID Restrictions
>>10575094 Coronavirus Victoria: Brett Sutton says he did not recommend Melbourne curfew
>>10575404 Coronavirus vaccine setback a headache for Trump
>>10578919 Video: Coronavirus: Victoria exposed in ADF assistance documents | 9News Australia
>>10579104 Parliament of Australia - Select Committee on COVID-19 - Answers to Questions on Notice - EMV Commissioner Andrew Crisp
>>10586484 Tom Hanks accused of getting special treatment after returning to Australia amid coronavirus quarantine
>>10587164 Annastacia Palaszczuk slams Scott Morrison and Queensland opposition over 'disgusting' border bullying
>>10588476 Was Australia's crippling lockdown based on a MONUMENTAL stuff-up?
>>10625777 Peter Dutton says Tom Hanks should not be treated differently
>>10626007 Second round of anti-lockdown protests flop in Melbourne gloom
>>10627663, >>10627678, >>10627695 Violence erupts as hundreds of anti-lockdown protesters chanting 'freedom' storm Queen Victoria Markets
>>10643198 Outrage over Victoria Police officer filmed stomping man's head
#10705018 at 2020-09-19 05:30:03 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #9 - Welcome to the Digital Battlefield Edition
#9 - PArt 13
Qanon "Conspiracy Theory" Hit Piece Bun - PArt 2
>>10466217 Exclusive: FBI document warns conspiracy theories are a new domestic terrorism threat (2019) - Jana Winter - news.yahoo.com
>>10466217 Trump praised the supporters of QAnon, a conspiracy theory the FBI says is a domestic terrorism threat - Zeke Miller, Jill Colvin & Amanda Seitz - chicagotribune.com
>>10481398, >>10481410,, >>10481424 QAnon: Conspiracy theory takes hold in Cairns - Pete MArtinelli - cairnspost.com.au
>>10481665, >>10481669 QAnon Australia: Explaining The Absurd And Dangerous Conspiracy Theory Down Under - Cam Wilson - gizmodo.com.au
>>10491351, >>10491362 Victorian MPs hit with tsunami of vile anti-lockdown abuse from conspiracy theorists - Josh Butler - thenewdaily.com.au
>>10501359, >>10501361, >>10501370 Donald Trump, QAnon and the limit of Twitter's crackdown on conspiracies - Ted O'Connor - .abc.net.au
>>10501618 StewArt McDonald, Scottish National PArty MP questions Tony Abbott about "health dictatorship", a term also used by QAnon conspiracy group - Latika Bourke - smh.com.au
>>10501635 Video: StewArt McDonald - "Are you familiar with Qanon, Mister Abbott?" Tony Abbott - "Look, I'm afraid I'm not. But I'm sure you'll enlighten me."
>>10512673, >>10512678, >>10512685, >>10512692 'Stop the cabal': What is the conspiracy movement QAnon? - John Buckley with Simone Fox Koob - smh.com.au
>>10501618 StewArt McDonald, Scottish National PArty MP questions Tony Abbott about "health dictatorship", a term also used by QAnon conspiracy group - Latika Bourke - smh.com.au
>>10501635 Video: StewArt McDonald - "Are you familiar with Qanon, Mister Abbott?" Tony Abbott - "Look, I'm afraid I'm not. But I'm sure you'll enlighten me."
>>10512673, >>10512678, >>10512685, >>10512692 'Stop the cabal': What is the conspiracy movement QAnon? - John Buckley with Simone Fox Koob - smh.com.au
>>10532456 Video: Joe Biden has a suggestion for QAnon supporters - Yahoo News
>>10532456 Biden tells QAnon followers to seek mental health counseling before the Affordable Care Act is repealed - David Knowles - au.news.yahoo.com
>>10532738, >>10532745, >>10532756 The other virus: distrust rides high on the back of COVID-19 - Jewel Topsfield - smh.com.au
>>10533251, >>10533267 QAnon is here to stay. Is it the future of our politics? - Kishor Napier-Raman - crikey.com.au
>>10533310 Pandemic linked to rise of conspiracy theories - Anna Patty - brisbanetimes.com.au
>>10535408 Marc-André Argentino Tweet: Tonight I want to share some of the research I have been doing on what I am calling "Pastel QAnon"
>>10535408 Marc-André Argentino Tweet: 8kun QAnon worries me less than Pastel QAnon
>>10535408 Elise Thomas Tweet: I think they're different kinds of risk, because of the different demographics
>>10535408 Elise Thomas Tweet: For extremist violence, 8kun is more of a worry; for social movements, holistic light-worker crystal healing QAnon is more of a concern
>>10553714, >>10553730 Australia's conspiracy theorists are increasingly energised, but police crackdowns may be counterproductive - Elliott Brennan - theguardian.com
>>10575201 New Zealand election TV debate: fears inclusion of fringe pArty may 'legitimise conspiracy theories' - Charlotte Graham-McLay - theguardian.com
#10704843 at 2020-09-19 05:12:37 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #9 - Welcome to the Digital Battlefield Edition
#9 - PArt 3
Coronavirus / COVID-19 Bun - PArt 2
>>10491438 Video: Anti-lockdown ringleader calls coronavirus a "scam" | A Current Affair
>>10491693 Detained Australian journalist Cheng Lei authored Facebook posts about Wuhan coronavirus cover-up
>>10499142 SHOCK REPORT: This Week CDC Quietly Updated COVID-19 Numbers - Only 9,210 Americans Died From COVID-19 Alone
>>10499184, >>10499961 A Doctors' Open Letter to Daniel Andrews re: government's management of the COVID-19 viral pandemic
>>10499240 Greens deliver despot Dan 6 more months of emergency powers - michaelsmithnews.com
>>10499543 Victoria's Births, Deaths and Marriages - deaths registered per month - - michaelsmithnews.com
>>10500441 Open Letter to Health Minister About Ivermectin - "One Dose is Normally Sufficient for Recovery"
>>10500546 Breakthrough Drug: Ivermectin Shows 'Astounding' Results Against Coronavirus
>>10501605 Tony Abbott rails against Victoria's coronavirus response - 'Health dictatorship'
>>10501610 Video: Australia and the Coronavirus Crisis, PolicyExchangeUK - With Hon Tony Abbott AC, Health dictatorship reference @ 8:35
>>10501615, >>10501618 'Unaccountable experts': Tony Abbott calls for end to lockdowns, travel bans
>>10501618 StewArt McDonald, Scottish National PArty MP questions Tony Abbott about "health dictatorship", a term also used by QAnon conspiracy group
>>10501635 Video: StewArt McDonald - "Are you familiar with Qanon, Mister Abbott?" Tony Abbott - "Look, I'm afraid I'm not. But I'm sure you'll enlighten me."
>>10501671, >>10501674 Pregnant woman arrested in Ballarat for creating anti-lockdown protest event on Facebook
>>10504219 Snr Sgt Tim Argall, 'authorising Officer' on the search warrant for pregnant protest inciter from Ballarat, had affair with Lawyer X
>>10508924 Victoria Police are trained to issue summonses rather than arrest where possible - why was this pregnant mum handcuffed?
>>10509221 >The (alleged) Facebook post that got pregnant mum Zoe Lee arrested today
>>10523738, >>10523747 The bodybuilder conspiracy theorist behind a group pushing COVID-19 checkpoint breaches
>>10534097 Coronavirus Australia live news: Anti-lockdown protesters gather across Australia, arrests made in Melbourne and Sydney (Q WWG1WGA sign in Perth)
>>10535023 Sharon McGowan Tweet: Anti-lockdown protesters are now walking down Albert Park towards St Kilda. (WWG1WGA sign in Melbourne)
>>10535035 Wake up Australia Tweet: The crowd is kind of shy, Beautiful, Full of hope and joy, Chanted, Free Victoria (Q sign in Brisbane)
>>10535045 Morgans Tweet Freedom Day Byron Bay wwg1wga (WWG1WGA sign in Byron Bay)
>>10535053 JayTeePee Tweet: Almost 10,000 West Australians stood together at Parliament House for FREEDOM DAY (#WWG1WGA T-shirt in Perth)
>>10535070, >>10535082 WeareMaximus Tweets: Brisbane / Chant of the day... Free Victoria / Free the children chant (Q WWG1WGA T-shirts in Brisbane)
>>10535235 No arrests as hundreds protest in Brisbane (Q Make Australia Great Again sign in Brisbane)
>>10535606 Tommyblues Tweet: Small one in Cairns but good to see numbers none the less (The Great Awakening sign in Cairns)
>>10535729 6% Jo Tweet: It was excellent. Brisbane protested with them (Q / WWG1WGA / Children / Human Trafficking signs in Brisbane)
>>10535808 N.Marsters Tweet: Oh Yes, we here in Brisbane, Australia. #freevictoria #FreedomDay (Q sign in Brisbane)
>>10536615 UN Forced To Admit Gates-Funded Vaccine Is Causing Polio Outbreak In Africa
>>10542825 Chanting for 'freedom' and shouting of Fascism, a city's fringe erupts in anger
>>10553790 Protesters Clash with Police While Rallying Against Australia's COVID Restrictions
>>10575094 Coronavirus Victoria: Brett Sutton says he did not recommend Melbourne curfew
>>10575404 Coronavirus vaccine setback a headache for Trump
>>10578919 Video: Coronavirus: Victoria exposed in ADF assistance documents | 9News Australia
>>10579104 Parliament of Australia - Select Committee on COVID-19 - Answers to Questions on Notice - EMV Commissioner Andrew Crisp
>>10586484 Tom Hanks accused of getting special treatment after returning to Australia amid coronavirus quarantine
>>10587164 Annastacia Palaszczuk slams Scott Morrison and Queensland opposition over 'disgusting' border bullying
>>10588476 Was Australia's crippling lockdown based on a MONUMENTAL stuff-up?
>>10625777 Peter Dutton says Tom Hanks should not be treated differently
>>10626007 Second round of anti-lockdown protests flop in Melbourne gloom
>>10627663, >>10627678, >>10627695 Violence erupts as hundreds of anti-lockdown protesters chanting 'freedom' storm Queen Victoria Markets
>>10643198 Outrage over Victoria Police officer filmed stomping man's head
#10501618 at 2020-09-02 08:52:51 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #9 - Welcome to the Digital Battlefield Edition
>>10501615
2/2
Appearing later before the Commons' Foreign Affairs committee, StewArt McDonald, an MP with the Scottish National PArty questioned Abbott about his use of the phrase "health dictatorship", a term also used by the QAnon, far-right online conspiracy group.
Abbott said he was not aware of QAnon and used the reference to describe the "very draconian restrictions" imposed in Victoria.
"To save lives presumably?" McDonald said. "For our own good in the judgement of Victorian premier and the Victorian government."
The Conservative chair of the committee then shut down McDonald's questions saying they were irrelevant to the work of the committee.
Abbott, who successfully sought an exemption from the ban on Australians leaving the country to travel to the UK, raised the possibility of the international border being reopened around Christmas - the same time Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he believed state border closures would be removed.
Andrews has promised to outline separate road maps for lifting regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne out of their respective stage three and four lockdowns on Sunday.
He has said he hopes the state border closures are relaxed in time for Christmas.
"We have to stay the course on this so we'll have as close to normal a Christmas Day as possible. All the sacrifice, the hard work that we have done, that has to count for something," Andrews said. He has previously said the lockdown imposed was not an easy decision to make but a necessary one.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/unaccountable-experts-tony-abbott-calls-for-end-to-lockdowns-travel-bans-20200901-p55rh9.html
8chan/8kun QResearch CANADA Posts (1)
#15236529 at 2021-12-22 14:27:52 (UTC+1)
Q Research Canada #26: We do not consent to mandates! Edition
Naval "Seaman" renaming was pushed by the military brass now under sexual harassment investigation
https://www.rebelnews.com/naval_seamen_renaming_was_pushed_by_the_military_brass_now_under_sexual_harassment_investigation
In August 2020, the Royal Canadian Navy, as pArt of its role as the "progressive employer" did away with long-standing rank titles in favour of ones free from gender bias
EXCLUSIVE: Two senior military brass now embroiled in sexual harassment scandals were behind the push to rename navy ranks to be more inclusive.
One hundred pages of access to information documents reveal the rushed planning and progressive worries of the militaries upper ranks to be more gender-neutral and progressive.
In August 2020, the Royal Canadian Navy, as pArt of its role as the "progressive employer" did away with long-standing rank titles in favour of ones free from gender bias. The press release from the time stated:
The RCN's junior ranks will soon be known as Sailor Third Class (formerly Ordinary Seaman), Sailor Second Class (formerly Able Seaman), Sailor First Class (formerly Leading Seaman), and Master Sailor (formerly Master Seaman).
By ensuring that the RCN continues to be an accepting and inclusive organization, we can demonstrate to Canadians that we uphold the values they hold as the RCN continues to protect them, both at home and abroad.
General Jonathan Vance and his replacement as Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Art McDonald, both facing allegations of engaging in inappropriate sexual relationships with female subordinates, also thought the silver cross mother destination should be rebranded as "silver cross parent" and wanted to pursue moving to "gender-neutral uniforms." Continue…
8chan/8kun QResearch SCOTLAND Posts (2)
#20839970 at 2024-05-09 00:59:44 (UTC+1)
Q Research Scotland #10: Humza In Hot Water Edition
>>20839902
>>20826329
https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/john-swinney-kate-forbes-plotted-32725835
John Swinney and Kate Forbes plotted shady backroom deal BEFORE Humza Yousaf resignation
Ian Blackford and StewArt McDonald were said to have played key roles in smoothing the path for the former deputy first minister to become Nat leader without a contest
Douglas Dickie
3 MAY 2024
Discussion between John Swinney and Kate Forbes to carve up the SNP leadership contest stArted even before Humza Yousaf had announced his resignation. Mr Swinney will take the reins 20 years after being ousted from the role after Ms Forbes announced she would not enter the race on Thursday.
While nominations remain open until Monday, no other candidate is expected to come forward. Mr Swinney's coronation will pave the way for him to become first minister on Tuesday, bringing to an end the chaotic 13-month premiership of Mr Yousaf.
The outgoing Nat leader saw his position become untenable after sacking the Scottish Greens from government last week. He faced a no confidence vote at Holyrood and spent the weekend desperately trying to save his job.
However, by Monday morning it became clear he would not enjoy the support of parliament while his authority over his own pArty was in tatters. It has now emerged the Swinney and Forbes camps had stArted communicating over the weekend in an attempt to avoid a bruising leadership battle.
The Times reports proxies for the pair opened talks on Sunday. Discussions continued with the pArty's former pArty leader at Westminster Ian Blackford and former defence spokesman StewArt McDonald seemingly playing key roles in smoothing the path to Mr Swinney's coronation.
Civil servants were told on Wednesday to prepare for a new first minister next week, a clear indication that SNP bosses were confident a contest would be avoided. Ms Forbes was physically absent from much of the main events on Thursday after her young daughter had a minor accident on Wednesday and had to go to hospital.
Sources close to the Forbes camp say the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP believed she could have won a contest with Mr Swinney. However, she was aware a second defeat in little over a year could be fatal to her hopes of ever leading the pArty.
An insider said: "She reckoned she could have given it a good go and could have won. But given the scale of the challenge to the pArty she didn't feel it was the right time. It's time to unify." Other sources have said she would have run against anyone else by Mr Swinney, who spent over eight years as deputy first minister under Nicola Sturgeon, and was playing a "slightly longer game".
Critics accused Ms Forbes of 'caving in' to pressure from the Nat establishment not to stand. Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: "Kate Forbes famously warned that 'continuity won't cut it' when it came to Humza Yousaf, yet she's now urging the SNP to go back to the future by imposing John Swinney - a failed former leader, tied at the hip to Nicola Sturgeon - as First Minister.
"Scotland deserves better than someone whose fingerprints are all over 17 years of SNP failure and secrecy. John Swinney has confirmed, via his campaign slogan, that he will ignore the public's real priorities to obsess about independence yet again."
#20816747 at 2024-05-04 02:46:11 (UTC+1)
Q Research Scotland #10: Humza In Hot Water Edition
https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/anniesland-assassination-stephen-flynn-kate-32731357
The Anniesland Assassination: Did Stephen Flynn and Kate Forbes plot Humza Yousaf's downfall at this Glasgow bowling club?
THE EXPRESS INVESTIGATES: As rumours swirl about an SNP stitch-up to remove Humza Yousaf and install John Swinney as the caretaker leader without a damaging 'bloodbath', we reveal three of the key players in this shadowy Nationalist drama met just days beforehand
Ben Borland
3 MAY 2024
Questions are being asked about an SNP event where Stephen Flynn, Kate Forbes and StewArt McDonald got together just five days Humza Yousaf tore up the Bute House Agreement.
The alleged plotting is said to have taken place in the low-key setting of Scotstounhill Bowling Club in the Glasgow suburb of Anniesland on the evening of Friday, April 19. The event was held to endorse Carol Monaghan as the Glasgow West candidate.
Ms Forbes and Glasgow South MSP Mr McDonald were advertised as special guests several months in advance, along with Anniesland MSP Bill Kidd. But Mr Flynn, who represents Aberdeen South, was only added on April 16. On social media, one person suggested it was a "last minute line-up change to plot Humza's downfall".
It came as the simmering tensions between some SNP politicians and the Scottish Greens were about to boil over, brought to a head by the Cass Review into gender services for children and the decision to ditch net zero targets. Just hours before the get-together in the bowling club bar, the Greens had announced a vote on ending the Bute House Agreement.
Mr Flynn was already known to be quietly fuming at the deal, with Green opposition to the North Sea oil and gas industry causing huge damage the SNP's electoral chances across the North-East. Like Ms Forbes, he is ferociously ambitious, relatively young (she is 34, he is 35) and likely to spend years at the top of the pArty.
Two days after the Anniesland gathering, Patrick Harvie gave the extraordinary BBC interview in which he repeatedly refused to accept the findings of Dr Hilary Cass and her team of medical experts, who spent four years putting together their report. This may have been just the trigger the plotters had been waiting for…
By Wednesday, April 24, Mr Flynn was in Edinburgh for a meeting with the First Minister. He is said to have urged Mr Yousaf to chuck the Greens out of government before the pArty's lentil-munching members could vote to terminate the BHA, arguing that failing to do so would make him look weak.
The SNP leader ended the coalition the following morning - fatally underestimating the spiteful response from Mr Harvie, Lorna Slater and Ross Greer. With the eight Green MSPs threatening to support a vote of no confidence, Mr Yousaf was forced to turn to Alba's Ash Regan in order to save his political career. However, for reasons that are yet to be fully explained, he then rejected her offer of support and instead decided to resign on Monday, April 29.
It has now been revealed that Ms Forbes and John Swinney held discussions about the pArty leadership on the day BEFORE Mr Yousaf's resignation. The Times reports that Mr McDonald and the SNP MP Ian Blackford acted as proxies for the pair, with Ms Forbes eventually agreeing to stand aside in exchange for a plum cabinet post.
'I think she's going to have an incredibly bright future'
Meanwhile, Mr Flynn - who is now being tipped for a switch to Holyrood in 2026 - showered Ms Forbes with praise even as he publicly urged her not to stand against Mr Swinney. Hinting at a future leadership contest between them, he said: "So, I've got a huge amount of respect for Kate, I think she's phenomenally talented and she's going to have an incredibly bright future. But one of the reasons I'm not putting myself forward is because I'm 35 years old and I've got a lot of experience still to gain."
Suggestions of a plot to topple Mr Yousaf - also involving Nicola Sturgeon, who still wields huge influence in the SNP and is said to have torpedoed any alliance with Alex Salmond and the Alba PArty - have been swirling around in nationalist circles all week. Some have even claimed that the outgoing FM's strong stance on the war in Gaza (not to mention his dalliance with Turkish leader Erdogan) was the motivation for "the powers that be" to act against him.
There are even extraordinary claims that the political manoeuvres in Glasgow and Edinburgh were in some way connected to the British-American Project, which is run from the US Embassy in London. It seeks to strengthen links between the US and the UK and counter anti-American sentiment among the British left.