Dumbarton

[Benjamin]

Toni Giugliano was the unsuccessful SNP candidate for Edinburgh Western in 2016 and for Edinburgh West in 2017.

[David]

Despite it only being 109, I have a sneaking suspicion Labour might just hold here. It may well be single figures though.

[yellowfox]

On current polling (which is the only evidence we actually have) there is no way Labour will hold this, or indeed any other constituency seat.

Doesn’t mean they won’t, but you’re betting on a horse starting 5 seconds late in that sense.

[greyfriar]

Oct 11, 2020 18:24:17 GMT yellowfox said:

On current polling (which is the only evidence we actually have) there is no way Labour will hold this, or indeed any other constituency seat.

Doesn’t mean they won’t, but you’re betting on a horse starting 5 seconds late in that sense.

This constituency has consistently defied the national polling on the basis of Jackie Baillie’s local profile and every reason to expect this to continue. Notwithstanding, it will be close but I fancy her to hang on.

[robbienicoll]

SNP selection candidates:

Math Campbell-Sturgess (co-founder of English Scots for Independence)
Toni Giugliano (candidate for Edinburgh West in 2017 and Edinburgh Western in 2016, the latter of which he ousted sitting MSP Colin Keir before subsequently not winning, has been working for the Mental Health Foundation in between, was on Come Dine with Me once)
Karen Conaghan (Dumbarton councillor since 2017)
Scott Lafferty (not much public info beyond local activist, got an endorsement from the equivalent MP)
Lorna Douglas (Helensburgh Central councillor on Argyll and Bute Council since 2017)
Robert Thompson (zero public info, also standing for selection in Dunfermline)
Sid Khan (see Aberdeen South and North Kincardine entry)

[Devil Wincarnate]

Oct 5, 2020 22:30:51 GMT greyfriar said:

SNP candidates to take on Jackie Baillie:

Three local female councillors from different wards within the constituency - Karen Conaghan (Dumbarton), Caroline McAllister (Vale of Leven) & Lorna Douglas (Helensburgh). The other candidates are Toni Giugliano and Scott Lafferty, who appear to be activists of some sort.

Giugliano stood in an Edinburgh seat in the past, I think.

[andrea]

Oct 13, 2020 15:06:12 GMT Devil Wincarnate said:

Oct 5, 2020 22:30:51 GMT greyfriar said:

SNP candidates to take on Jackie Baillie:

Three local female councillors from different wards within the constituency - Karen Conaghan (Dumbarton), Caroline McAllister (Vale of Leven) & Lorna Douglas (Helensburgh). The other candidates are Toni Giugliano and Scott Lafferty, who appear to be activists of some sort.

Giugliano stood in an Edinburgh seat in the past, I think.

He replaced Michelle Thomson as candidate in Edinburgh West for 2017 GE.

[Tony Otim]

Oct 13, 2020 15:08:42 GMT andrea said:

Oct 13, 2020 15:06:12 GMT Devil Wincarnate said:

Giugliano stood in an Edinburgh seat in the past, I think.

He replaced Michelle Thomson as candidate in Edinburgh West for 2017 GE.

Having previously replaced Colin Keir as the candidate for Edinburgh Western the previous year, giving him the honour of losing the SNP the Holyrood and the Westminster seats in a little over a year.

[greyfriar]

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/caroline-mcallister-snp-gender-reform-critic-cannot-stand-for-holyrood-rj7gfrtgp

Cllr Caroline McAllister failed vetting due to her leadership of the Women’s Pledge. Seems the whole trans agenda remains an article of faith:



The leader of an SNP faction trying to stop controversial gender reforms has been barred from standing as an MSP.

Caroline McAllister, a councillor and convener of the party’s Women’s Pledge group, wanted to face Jackie Baillie, the Labour MSP, in Dumbarton at next year’s Holyrood election.

However, she failed internal vetting, prompting some to speculate that her hostility to the gender reforms proposed by the party leadership has stalled her political career.

Ms McAllister, deputy leader of the SNP group on West Dunbartonshire council, has been among the most vocal critics of plans to overhaul the Gender Recognition Act, which have split the party. Proposals to make it easier for trans people to legally declare their gender have been paused until after the election because of the pandemic.

If successful trans people would receive a gender recognition certificate through self-declaration after six months, rather than requiring medical evidence and two years of living as that gender.

Of the party’s decision to fail Ms McAllister during vetting, one SNP source said: “It looks to me like she was a scalp because she’s the convener of the Women’s Pledge.” Other party figures have disputed claims of an ulterior motive and suggested that content shared on Ms McAllister’s social media platforms had been problematic.

Other candidates from the party’s so-called “awkward squad” — those who have publicly opposed party policy or criticised the leadership — have raised concerns about the length of the vetting process.

The Women’s Pledge comprises more than 100 SNP members and emphasises sex-based rights over gender identity, which it says is predicated on regressive stereotypes.

Teddy Hope, an SNP transgender officer, claimed in June to have been the target of abuse at a public meeting and online and that the party’s headquarters had done “nothing to address” the complaints. This was strongly disputed by the Women’s Pledge, whose members include the MP Joanna Cherry and the MSP Joan McAlpine. Both suffer routine online abuse.

While the reforms are being brought forward to strengthen the rights of transgender people concerns have been raised about its impact on women’s rights.

Yesterday the Court of Session allowed ForWomen.Scot, a campaign group, to pursue a judicial review against ministers over the proposals. A hearing is scheduled for January 7.

Ministers including Kate Forbes, the finance secretary, Ash Denham, the community safety minister, and Ivan McKee, the trade minister, have urged Nicola Sturgeon not to rush ahead with the plans.

Selections for next year’s Holyrood election are hotly contested. Three ministers — Ms Denham, Shirley-Anne Somerville, the social security secretary, and Fergus Ewing, the rural economy secretary — are facing challenges from within the party.

Ms McAllister could not be reached.

[greyfriar]

yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2020/10/19/very-important-update/

A bit off stooshie between the constituency association and SNP HQ over hustings. More fallout likely.

[neilm]

Do people in the SNP usually sign off with 'Yours for Scotland'? I'm always amused to get union emails that begin 'Dear Comrade' and end 'Yours Fraternally.'

[David]

Oct 19, 2020 14:48:03 GMT neilm said:

Do people in the SNP usually sign off with 'Yours for Scotland'? I'm always amused to get union emails that begin 'Dear Comrade' and end 'Yours Fraternally.'

Quite a few do in my experience. Either that or Saor Alba or Alba gu bràth.

[greyfriar]

democratonline.net/2020/10/21/blood-on-the-walls-as-snp-fall-out-over-candidate-to-take-on-baillie/

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/split-widens-between-snp-leaders-and-grassroots-over-dumbarton-seat-63xb37h56

It appears the hustings was less than harmonious and transpires the Zoom account used was limited licence for up to 100, despite having 1,100 members of the constituency party. What could possibly go wrong?

[andrea]

Oct 13, 2020 14:59:04 GMT robbienicoll said:

SNP selection candidates:

Math Campbell-Sturgess (co-founder of English Scots for Independence)
Toni Giugliano (candidate for Edinburgh West in 2017 and Edinburgh Western in 2016, the latter of which he ousted sitting MSP Colin Keir before subsequently not winning, has been working for the Mental Health Foundation in between, was on Come Dine with Me once)
Karen Conaghan (Dumbarton councillor since 2017)
Scott Lafferty (not much public info beyond local activist, got an endorsement from the equivalent MP)
Lorna Douglas (Helensburgh Central councillor on Argyll and Bute Council since 2017)
Robert Thompson (zero public info, also standing for selection in Dunfermline)
Sid Khan (see Aberdeen South and North Kincardine entry)

Toni Giugliano got it

[greyfriar]

Nov 6, 2020 18:49:17 GMT andrea said:

Oct 13, 2020 14:59:04 GMT robbienicoll said:

SNP selection candidates:

Math Campbell-Sturgess (co-founder of English Scots for Independence)
Toni Giugliano (candidate for Edinburgh West in 2017 and Edinburgh Western in 2016, the latter of which he ousted sitting MSP Colin Keir before subsequently not winning, has been working for the Mental Health Foundation in between, was on Come Dine with Me once)
Karen Conaghan (Dumbarton councillor since 2017)
Scott Lafferty (not much public info beyond local activist, got an endorsement from the equivalent MP)
Lorna Douglas (Helensburgh Central councillor on Argyll and Bute Council since 2017)
Robert Thompson (zero public info, also standing for selection in Dunfermline)
Sid Khan (see Aberdeen South and North Kincardine entry)

Toni Giugliano got it

Jackie Baillie is safe