Adding further weight to their theory is that in the decade since then the SNP are now known to have conned almost their entire support base that they remain serious about Scottish independence. Put simply, these poor, deluded, desperate people are so thirsting for independence that they’re prepared to swallow each now pledge on it by first Nicola Sturgeon and then her two hapless successors. 

It’s now reached the stage where the SNP are fighting every Westminster and Scottish election with only one single intent: to provide jobs for a cohort of remarkably incoherent and low-calibre chancers, some of whom (and I’m talking about some sitting MSPs) should be put on permanent state gardening leave to protect the national infrastructure. 

This being the week, when we’ve elected a new Pope, I’ve taken a vow of kindness in Leo’s honour, so I won’t name them. But you all know exactly who I’m talking about. 

And Holy Mother of God, have you checked the social media accounts of some of the SNP newbies? These people look like they should be raising funds for their gap-years engaging with yaks in Kathmandu. In fact, I’d be for introducing the concept of a gap-decade for them.

I’m just not buying the spy theory, though. And in any case, nothing the British security forces could ever do to undermine Scottish independence can match the damage already done to it by the SNP. 

COURTING CONTROVERSY

THE collected responses of the Scottish political establishment to last month’s Supreme Court verdict that the terms ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act referred only to biological women and biological sex have worried me. 

There’s no polite way of putting this: Scotland with this lot at the helm is not fit for independence. Cheered on by their favoured media glove-puppets, they have embarrassed this country on the global stage. 

Many of us thought Shona Robison’s declaration in 2022 that “There is no evidence that predatory and abusive men have ever had to pretend to be anything else to carry out abusive and predatory behaviour,” could never be beaten in terms of sheer, crass stupidity. 

But since their Supreme Court Lordships and Ladyships clarified what it means to be a woman in law the Scottish political elites have been jostling to take Ms Robison’s crown. 

First up was Maggie Chapman, the Deputy Convenor of Holyrood’s Equalities Committee and a member of a party which has never actually managed to win a democratic vote in its entire existence. She accused the brightest legal minds in the UK of expressing “bigotry, prejudice and hatred” in their judgment. A few days later, her own committee – helped by the votes of some SNP hillbillies – endorsed her stupidity by voting to maintain her presence on this influential committee. 

The response of John Swinney, the coward’s coward, was to pledge that trans rights would be the bedrock of society. This was a deliberately alarmist and misleading statement by the First Minister. 

The Supreme Court merely clarified the existing law while at the same time reinforcing all the human rights of trans people. If Mr Swinney could tell us which ‘rights’ trans people are missing then I’ll back any campaign that seeks to install them. 

Roz Foyer  (Image: PA)

STUC UP ATTITUDE?

SADLY, the malady of stupid which has come to settle on Scotland’s political classes has also extended to our trade unions. Who’d have thought that an organisation tasked with fighting for the rights of workers could be so easily captured by a self-indulgent, middle-class caprice?

In a recent interview in this newspaper, Roz Foyer, General Secretary of the STUC, agreed with the interviewer in finding it “amusing that the commentators most animated about this debate are straight white blokes of a certain age”. Later, she declared that Maggie Chapman had nothing to apologise for in accusing the highest court in the UK of being hate-filled bigots.

We’re now in ‘jumping the shark’ territory here. A clutch of law lords have intervened to protect the rights of women from someone like Ms Foyer who is actually paid a huge salary to do that job. 

I’ll remind Ms Foyer and her interlocutor that among the loudest and most articulate voices in this debate are people like Joanna Cherry, JK Rowling, Ash Regan, Joan McAlpine, Mandy Rhodes, Susan Dalgety, Jenny Lindsay, Johann Lamont, Dr Kath Murray, Lucy Hunter Blackburn, Lisa Mackenzie, Trina Budge, Marion Calder, Susan Smith and Elaine Miller. 

Gentle clue here for Ms Foyer: they’re all real women. As ever though, with Ms Foyer and some journalists who ought to know better, it’s always been about the men. Still, I'm sure her career is as safe as houses.

Read more:

Kevin McKenna: An extra 20k for ministers? John Swinney’s now trolling Scotland

Kevin McKenna: How the SNP and Labour killed off left-wing politics

TAKING THE NIC

NICOLA Sturgeon whose fanatical belief in the primacy of men over women has destroyed Scottish political engagement has also weighed in. 

At Holyrood last week, the former First Minister said that she too had concerns about the Supreme Court verdict and the interim advice about it published by the EHRC. She also said that certain interpretations of this “potentially makes the lives of trans people almost unliveable”.

Ms Sturgeon doesn’t need me to tell her that amongst the most vulnerable people at risk of being forced into a trans identity by invasive medicalisation are young people experiencing confusion about their sexuality and those with a neuro-diverse condition.

This was the original purpose behind the Cass Report and at the root of its conclusions. 

The consequences of an influential politician, once the leader of her country, saying that trans lives may become ‘unliveable’ hardly bear thinking about. Does she really need me to spell it out for her? 

Of all the responses to the Supreme Court judgment, Ms Sturgeon’s is the most dangerous and sinister. Three cheers for the Union in protecting Scotland from the excesses of its dreadful politicians.