Paul Cruikshank
@pashanky.co.uk
🏴Scottish 🔰Glaswegian ⚖Lawyer ✝️Catholic 🗳️Politics 🌹Labour 🐝Co-op ⚜Scout
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Paul Cruikshank
@pashanky.co.uk
· Mar 1
2025.4 – Reflections on #ScotLab25
My reflections on Scottish Labour Conference 2025; the question being asked of us ahead of 2026, and whether we are offering a good enough answer.
pashanky.co.uk
BLOG: 2025.4 - Reflections on #ScotLab25
My reflections on Scottish Labour Conference 2025; the question being asked of us ahead of 2026, and whether we are offering a clear enough answer.
My reflections on Scottish Labour Conference 2025; the question being asked of us ahead of 2026, and whether we are offering a clear enough answer.
Transwomen are Men.
Transmen are Women...unless they look like men...in which case they are men...but cannot use services for men because they are women.
Gender is innate and sex is biological reality...unless it's about how you are percieved...in which case it isn't.
That's that cleared up then.
Transmen are Women...unless they look like men...in which case they are men...but cannot use services for men because they are women.
Gender is innate and sex is biological reality...unless it's about how you are percieved...in which case it isn't.
That's that cleared up then.
The EHRC guidance will allow anyone deemed too manly to be forced out of women's bathrooms, regardless of their identity or biology.
November 19, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Transwomen are Men.
Transmen are Women...unless they look like men...in which case they are men...but cannot use services for men because they are women.
Gender is innate and sex is biological reality...unless it's about how you are percieved...in which case it isn't.
That's that cleared up then.
Transmen are Women...unless they look like men...in which case they are men...but cannot use services for men because they are women.
Gender is innate and sex is biological reality...unless it's about how you are percieved...in which case it isn't.
That's that cleared up then.
What's the Win Condition for this horrific stuff from the Government?
When Reform are Happy?
When Asylum numbers fall?
What are we looking to actually achieve - because at the moment we just look performatively and needlessly cruel and callous.
When Reform are Happy?
When Asylum numbers fall?
What are we looking to actually achieve - because at the moment we just look performatively and needlessly cruel and callous.
November 17, 2025 at 10:47 AM
What's the Win Condition for this horrific stuff from the Government?
When Reform are Happy?
When Asylum numbers fall?
What are we looking to actually achieve - because at the moment we just look performatively and needlessly cruel and callous.
When Reform are Happy?
When Asylum numbers fall?
What are we looking to actually achieve - because at the moment we just look performatively and needlessly cruel and callous.
Reposted by Paul Cruikshank
The UKSC unanimously holds that the Scottish courts adopted an unduly narrow approach to the admissibility of evidence which might be inconsistent with Article 6 ECHR in some cases BUT that neither appellant in this case had an unfair trial.
Full judgment to come shortly.
Full judgment to come shortly.
Being handed down next week: Keir and Daly v Scottish Ministers
UKSC judgment on whether Scottish courts’ rules relating to admissibility of sexual history evidence breach Art 6 ECHR
We know the answer is no, but written reasons to come next week
supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2...
UKSC judgment on whether Scottish courts’ rules relating to admissibility of sexual history evidence breach Art 6 ECHR
We know the answer is no, but written reasons to come next week
supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2...
Keir (Appellant) v His Majesty's Advocate (Respondent) (Scotland) - UK Supreme Court
1. Is the Scottish courts’ current approach to the admission of evidence concerning the complainer’s sexual history in trials for sexual offences liable to infringe defendants’ rights to a fair trial ...
supremecourt.uk
November 12, 2025 at 9:52 AM
The UKSC unanimously holds that the Scottish courts adopted an unduly narrow approach to the admissibility of evidence which might be inconsistent with Article 6 ECHR in some cases BUT that neither appellant in this case had an unfair trial.
Full judgment to come shortly.
Full judgment to come shortly.
HOW THE HELL HAS HEANAGED THIS!! #TheCelebrityTraitors
November 6, 2025 at 10:03 PM
HOW THE HELL HAS HEANAGED THIS!! #TheCelebrityTraitors
Petition for everyone to have the chance to borrow Celia Imrie for a day for motivational purposes. #CelebrityTraitors
October 29, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Petition for everyone to have the chance to borrow Celia Imrie for a day for motivational purposes. #CelebrityTraitors
To say I am devastated is to undersell it.
Massive change for next year's Holyrood election: there'll be no overnight count. Votes to be counted on the Friday instead.
October 29, 2025 at 5:43 PM
To say I am devastated is to undersell it.
Delighted to see the original cursed ratio getting an airing today. #LabourDeputyLeadership
October 25, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Delighted to see the original cursed ratio getting an airing today. #LabourDeputyLeadership
TOP TIER ROUND TABLE! #TheCelebrityTraitors
October 15, 2025 at 8:59 PM
TOP TIER ROUND TABLE! #TheCelebrityTraitors
Good thing for Kate looks can't kill, otherwise Tom Daly would be facing murder charges! #TheTraitors #CelebrityTraitors
October 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Good thing for Kate looks can't kill, otherwise Tom Daly would be facing murder charges! #TheTraitors #CelebrityTraitors
Alan Carr couldn't lie in a bed, let alone on National Setpiece Television.
Inspired decision-making from the producers here. #TheTraitors #CelebrityTraitors
Inspired decision-making from the producers here. #TheTraitors #CelebrityTraitors
October 9, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Alan Carr couldn't lie in a bed, let alone on National Setpiece Television.
Inspired decision-making from the producers here. #TheTraitors #CelebrityTraitors
Inspired decision-making from the producers here. #TheTraitors #CelebrityTraitors
Sweep's seen better days hasn't he!
October 7, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Sweep's seen better days hasn't he!
Take a moment, please, to think of the sports subs.
October 5, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Take a moment, please, to think of the sports subs.
"Will no-one rid me of this meddlesome piece".
Silhouetted remains of the High Court Banksy
creating a curiously medieval quality...as if depicting Thomas a Becket being attacked in the crypt
'It is dangerous for men in power, if no-one dares to tell them when they go wrong'
Thomas A Becket 1118-1170
creating a curiously medieval quality...as if depicting Thomas a Becket being attacked in the crypt
'It is dangerous for men in power, if no-one dares to tell them when they go wrong'
Thomas A Becket 1118-1170
September 11, 2025 at 1:11 PM
"Will no-one rid me of this meddlesome piece".
I won't comment on the brouhaha...but an absolute belter of a line from the MP here.
Is shall be nicked.
Is shall be nicked.
EXC: A Scottish Labour MP has branded Douglas Alexander a "wee p***k" after Ian Murray was sacked.
The MP said: “If I had a pound for everyone who liked Douglas, I would have 50p.”
The MP said: “If I had a pound for everyone who liked Douglas, I would have 50p.”
Scots Labour MP brands Douglas Alexander a 'wee p***k' after Ian Murray sacking - Daily Record
EXCLUSIVE - The parliamentarian was scathing about the appointment of Alexander to the role of Scottish Secretary: “If I had a pound for everyone who liked Douglas, I would have 50p.”
www.dailyrecord.co.uk
September 8, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I won't comment on the brouhaha...but an absolute belter of a line from the MP here.
Is shall be nicked.
Is shall be nicked.
Bloody Nora!
Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor (East Renfrewshire) by-election, first prefs:
Labour: 1901 (41.9%, +21.7)
SNP: 1142 (25.1%, -8.3)
Reform: 1018 (22.4%, new)
Green: 247 (5.4%, +2.0)
Conservative: 207 (4.6%, -6.2)
Abolish: 27 (0.6%, new)
(Non-returns: Inds 26.0% & 5.1% Alba 1.1%)
Lab elected stage 6
Labour: 1901 (41.9%, +21.7)
SNP: 1142 (25.1%, -8.3)
Reform: 1018 (22.4%, new)
Green: 247 (5.4%, +2.0)
Conservative: 207 (4.6%, -6.2)
Abolish: 27 (0.6%, new)
(Non-returns: Inds 26.0% & 5.1% Alba 1.1%)
Lab elected stage 6
August 22, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Bloody Nora!
The New Jeremy Corbyn Vehicle has already had it's first leadership spat, without it being clear Jeremy Corbyn is involved...or whether there is, in fact, a vehicle.
Perfection.
Perfection.
![Tweet from Gabriel Pogrund @Gabriel_Pogrund:
EXCLUSIVE: I understand Jeremy Corbyn has not agreed to join the new left party with Zara Sultana yet
He is furious and bewildered at the way it has been launched without consultation.
Quoting a tweet from Zarah Sultana MP @zarahsultana
Today, after 14 years, I'm resigning from the Labour Party.
Jeremy Corbyn and I will co-lead the founding of a new party, with other Independent MPs, campaigners and activists across the country.
Join us. The time is now.
Sign up here to stay updated: [URL incomplete]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7akb7ebihkcttbrqpuautso7/bafkreibzteraflvmxt6r5jlobkhi5nisntjl3k5dcdix27q6i4c75cw7ee@jpeg)
July 3, 2025 at 8:52 PM
The New Jeremy Corbyn Vehicle has already had it's first leadership spat, without it being clear Jeremy Corbyn is involved...or whether there is, in fact, a vehicle.
Perfection.
Perfection.
Reposted by Paul Cruikshank
Only the best of the best will do for @holyroodmag.bsky.social.
June 26, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Only the best of the best will do for @holyroodmag.bsky.social.
June 22, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Things the ECHR/HRA have 'forced' the UK to do include:
🪖 allow openly LGBT people to serve in the military;
🚽 allow prisoners access to the loo;
🕵️ limit mass survelliance of the public;
🗳️ respect the democratic process; and
👪 not split up families Trump-style.
#SupportTheECHR #SupportTheHRA
🪖 allow openly LGBT people to serve in the military;
🚽 allow prisoners access to the loo;
🕵️ limit mass survelliance of the public;
🗳️ respect the democratic process; and
👪 not split up families Trump-style.
#SupportTheECHR #SupportTheHRA
In 2024, the European Court of Human Rights dealt with 332 applications regarding the UK. 328 were deemed inadmissible or struck out. Four went as far as a judgment. ONE (1) found a violation by the UK.
June 19, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Things the ECHR/HRA have 'forced' the UK to do include:
🪖 allow openly LGBT people to serve in the military;
🚽 allow prisoners access to the loo;
🕵️ limit mass survelliance of the public;
🗳️ respect the democratic process; and
👪 not split up families Trump-style.
#SupportTheECHR #SupportTheHRA
🪖 allow openly LGBT people to serve in the military;
🚽 allow prisoners access to the loo;
🕵️ limit mass survelliance of the public;
🗳️ respect the democratic process; and
👪 not split up families Trump-style.
#SupportTheECHR #SupportTheHRA
But like...contextually, it can be.
Why is that a controversial statement. Are we going to pretend that we have solved West-of-Scotland sectarianism? #Flegs
Why is that a controversial statement. Are we going to pretend that we have solved West-of-Scotland sectarianism? #Flegs
Scottish council leaders have apologised after a primary school in Barrhead suggested the Union flag could be considered a sectarian emblem
School sorry for calling Union flag ‘sectarian’
www.thetimes.com
June 17, 2025 at 2:41 PM
But like...contextually, it can be.
Why is that a controversial statement. Are we going to pretend that we have solved West-of-Scotland sectarianism? #Flegs
Why is that a controversial statement. Are we going to pretend that we have solved West-of-Scotland sectarianism? #Flegs
I personally find Kevin mcKenna FASCINATING!
June 10, 2025 at 11:14 PM
I personally find Kevin mcKenna FASCINATING!
Is she...is she giving this speech from Larkhall? It's hard to tell.
Kemi Badenoch asked about the Conservatives coming in a poor fourth in yesterday's Hamilton by-election and almost losing their deposit, she replies that "Larkhall is not the place where the Conservative party fightback starts".
June 6, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Is she...is she giving this speech from Larkhall? It's hard to tell.
Lots of thougths on Hamilton by-election (why is it always Hamilton) but headlines for me are:
- Labour Win.
- SNP vote still not recovering.
- Reform voters previous VID is maybe getting clearer.
- You can say SNP>LAB swing is too small; but the importance of the win is the narrative.
- Labour Win.
- SNP vote still not recovering.
- Reform voters previous VID is maybe getting clearer.
- You can say SNP>LAB swing is too small; but the importance of the win is the narrative.
June 6, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Lots of thougths on Hamilton by-election (why is it always Hamilton) but headlines for me are:
- Labour Win.
- SNP vote still not recovering.
- Reform voters previous VID is maybe getting clearer.
- You can say SNP>LAB swing is too small; but the importance of the win is the narrative.
- Labour Win.
- SNP vote still not recovering.
- Reform voters previous VID is maybe getting clearer.
- You can say SNP>LAB swing is too small; but the importance of the win is the narrative.