Scottish politicians unfollow Unionist group after 'bomb Holyrood' Twitter/X post
The Scottish Tories' leader Russell Findlay continues to follow the group – along with a swathe of his MSPs – and the party did not respond to this paper's approach.
On June 14, days after Israel had bombed Iran in a major escalation of conflict in the Middle East, The Majority posted: 'Dear Israel, while you're at it, can you hit this target? 55.9523° N, 3.1749° W. Thanks!'
The co-ordinates in question are those of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.
Elsewhere, The Majority posted on July 30: 'Out of around 100 people we walked past in Argyle Street in Glasgow last night, only two were white. Everyone else was Middle Eastern, Indian or black. What is going on?'
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It added: 'Walk down a city centre street, take a bus, go to a park: there are masses of black, Indian and Middle Eastern immigrants. Is it any surprise that people think that it's out of control?'
In March, the account had written: 'Immigrants from other cultures shouldn't be wearing their national dress as daily wear in the UK. You don't see Japanese immigrants to the UK wearing kimonos every day. If you want to integrate here, wear proper clothes. If you don't, go back home and wear them there.'
The Majority then added: "Special occasions: fine. Going to get the milk: not fine."
Immigrants from other cultures shouldn't be wearing their national dress as daily wear in the UK. You don't see Japanese immigrants to the UK wearing kimonos every day. If you want to integrate here, wear proper clothes. If you don't, go back home and wear them there. — The Majority #AbolishHolyrood (@themajorityscot) March 26, 2025
In April, the account called Humza Yousaf a "Muslim propagandist", and during his time as first minister shared a video of him praying in Bute House saying: "This really feels like a Muslim takeover of our civic institutions."
The Majority is run by Mark Devlin and his partner Mary, who despite the anti-migrant rhetoric lived as immigrants in Japan for 18 years, and then in the US for eight.
After the posts were raised with the Scotland Office, Murray took action to unfollow the account. Scottish Labour's depute leader Baillie did the same.
READ MORE: Scottish Government challenged to explain 'critical friendship' with Israel
The Scottish LibDems said that Cole-Hamilton had not been using Twitter/X due to its affiliations with Musk, but his account has since also unfollowed The Majority.
"These are obviously appalling posts. We have absolutely zero interest in hateful accounts,' a spokesperson for the party said.
Attempts to contact The Majority through the contact form on its website were unsuccessful.
An example of one of the many Vietnamese-language self-help articles on The Majority's website (Image: Web) The most recent article on the website was 11 months ago, with most of the posts on its homepage being Vietnamese-language self-help articles apparently written to appeal to search engines.
In 2021, a self-professed 'expert" and "university lecturer" who had written extensively for The Majority mysteriously disappeared from the internet when The National asked for proof of his existence.
The group had made headlines after crowdfunding a series of anti-Nicola Sturgeon stunts ahead of the 2021 Holyrood elections.
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Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside SNP's internal battle as ‘real reason' for Kate Forbes resignation revealed
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The Deputy First Minister chose daughter Naomi's third birthday to tell boss John Swinney she was ditching the cauldron of Holyrood to enjoy 'the precious early years of family life'. But party sources said Ms Forbes had also grown tired of being 'undermined' by cabinet colleagues who saw her as a threat to Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan — seen as a future Nats leader. One insider said: 'Perhaps if Kate hadn't been getting tripped up at every step by people who are meant to be on her side then she would have stayed on. 'But given the personal sacrifices, it is clearly not worth the effort any longer. 'The family issues are clearly a huge factor for Kate but may not have been insurmountable if other things were different.' In her letter to the First Minister, Ms Forbes, 35, said she had given 'careful thought' to her future before deciding she 'does not wish to seek re-election' at next May's Scottish Parliament elections. And she told broadcaster LBC of a lack of 'support' for parents at Holyrood. She added: 'I'm not the first mum who's also an MSP to cite motherhood as a reason for standing down.' The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP since 2016 said: 'It is partly because of the eight-hour return drive I do every week, and the minimum five-hour drive across the constituency. Kate Forbes picks her biggest scandal of the SNP's time in power 'It's one thing to try to get home every night to see them, it's another to face the prospect of going full weeks without being there.' Another source said: 'John Swinney simply saw Kate as window dressing for a certain section of the Scottish electorate. 'Swinney has not had the courage to stand up to the likes of McAllan and [Education Secretary] Jenny Gilruth. "They will think they've won, but the SNP will be in a worse place and in a worse position electorally without Forbes.' And former SNP special adviser Geoff Aberdein said there was 'no doubt' Ms McAllan has ambitions to rival Westminster chief Stephen Flynn as Mr Swinney's heir apparent — but both lacked Ms Forbes' economic competence. Mr Aberdein told the Holyrood Sources podcast: 'I'm not saying there aren't people in the party who are viewed as credible in the business community, but nowhere near as credible as Kate Forbes. 'There will be some in the party who will be quite pleased by this decision which really frustrates me because, whether you agree with her brand of politics or not, she is a huge electoral asset.' Now a managing partner at the True North think tank, Mr Aberdein said he has been inundated with messages from business leaders lamenting Ms Forbes' departure. He said: 'She's extremely credible to the business community and that is a gap that John Swinney is going to have to fill. 'That is a major problem and I hope it is not a major recalibration, because if you don't have voices within your party that can speak to that then that is a huge weakness.' A senior Scottish Government source rejected the claims that cabinet rivalry was a factor in Ms Forbes quitting. They said: 'This is utter rubbish. Kate has set out her reasons for standing down.' And Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville dismissed claims that Ms Forbes threw in the towel because she had become disenchanted with the SNP. She said: 'Political hacks are trying to find another angle but maybe, just maybe, it's about someone doing what's best for her and her family.' Ms Forbes, who married husband Alasdair MacLennan in 2021, became the Scottish Government's youngest Finance Secretary when she succeeded shamed Derek Mackay in 2020. She came under fire for her views on gay marriage, abortion and trans rights. 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Mr Swinney said: 'I pay tribute to Kate for her invaluable contribution to public life over the last ten years. "The challenges of frontline politics are considerable, and I understand the decision she has made, although I wish it was not the case.'
The Herald Scotland
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- The Herald Scotland
John Curtice: SNP majority in 2026 ‘extremely unlikely'
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The National
6 hours ago
- The National
Kate Forbes's resignation may be welcome for left of SNP
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'I have also been privileged to serve in Government, first as Minister for Public Finance, then as Cabinet Secretary for Finance and most recently as Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic. 'As I reflected over recess, I have concluded that I do not wish to seek re-election for another five-year term in the Scottish Parliament. 'All politicians face a choice at every election to stay on the same path or not. Quite simply, I've decided on the latter. I remain wholly supportive of the First Minister just as when I backed him to be leader of the SNP and I look forward to campaigning for the SNP at the next election – to lead Scotland to independence.' Forbes stood for election as party leader following the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon, coming second behind Humza Yousaf. She scuppered her campaign early on by saying in an interview that she would not have supported equal marriage as recognising same sex marriages runs counter to her religious beliefs. Forbes is a member of the Christian fundamentalist Free Church of Scotland, for which her father was a missionary in India. Her socially conservative beliefs and conservative economic policies put her firmly on the right of the SNP. Her support for freeports left many SNP members feeling uncomfortable. Although she never mentioned her explicitly, Forbes's elevation to the post of Deputy First Minister seems to have been one of the reasons former MP Mhairi Black recently resigned from the SNP, citing her unhappiness with the direction that the party had been taking. Black was not alone. Forbes' resignation has been welcomed on social media by those who believe that in order to win back the trust of younger voters and working-class communities, the SNP needs to promote more assertively left wing, climate-friendly economic policies. They hope that this development will signal a leftward pivot from the SNP, marking a clear political and economic distinction between the SNP and the increasingly right-wing Labour party. READ MORE: From rising star to Deputy First Minister – Kate Forbes' career as she stands down However, whatever your views on Kate Forbes, her standing down will be a big loss to Holyrood and Government, and yet another indication the price on their family lives MSPs representing Highlands and Islands constituencies are expected to pay. First Minister John Swinney paid tribute to his deputy, writing on Twitter/X: "I pay tribute to Kate for her invaluable contribution to public life over the last ten years. The challenges of frontline politics are considerable, and I understand the decision she has made.' He then added: 'Although I wish it was not the case.' Health Secretary Neil Gray also said he was "very sorry" to hear the news but does "understand why". Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "The pressures on any working mum is considerable but to combine that with senior ministerial responsibilities alongside a young family while serving your constituency is colossal. I wish Kate and her family all the best for whatever comes next." Today's announcement means that the [[SNP]] must run a fresh selection contest to find a new candidate for Forbes's Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency. Forbes's position had been confirmed in April when the SNP revealed that she had been the only nominee to stand in the area, meaning there is no second-place challenger to step in and take her place. READ MORE: What Kate Forbes's exit means for future SNP leadership hopefuls The SNP announced their full slate of nominees for the 2026 Holyrood elections in May, meaning that Forbes's constituency is currently the only area without a confirmed party candidate. In the 2021 elections, Forbes won 56.1% of the vote, while the Tories came second on 19.3%. The LibDems were in third with 15.7%. However, at last year's Westminster election, the Lib Dems took the overlapping [[Westminster]] constituency of Inverness, [[Skye]], and West Ross-shire with 37.8% of the vote against 33.3% for the [[SNP]]'s Drew Hendry.
