Paul Middleton

Professor writing on Martyrdom and Violence.
Religion & Politics.
"SNP fanboy"
"One of the blinker party faithful"
All tweets are in a personal capacity

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

Also by Jackie Baillie, Why the SNP need to stop winning elections! 🤣

[The Scotsman @TheScotsman]

Why Swinney needs to stop defending Sturgeon and back inquiry into Murrell scandal – Jackie Baillie https://t.co/Z3QeDMXWPz

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

The use of the passive voice in a headline is usually an attempt to disguise who is doing the action because it's usually someone unimportant or ridiculous.

So why didn't @TheScotsman run with "Jackie Baillie urges SNP to give away new donations"?

Genuine Question!

[The Scotsman @TheScotsman]

SNP urged to use donations surge since Peter Murrell embezzlement plea to 'make amends' and repay members https://t.co/n4naUuVlI0

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

In a blow to the media circus, political opportunists, and conspiracy theorists, after revelations of Murrell's deception today, the BBC concedes there were good reasons "auditors, party officials, and...Nicola Sturgeon... failed to spot his criminal activities over many years."

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

Put the *Newspapers* first and order an inquiry! (fixed it)
There is no point holding an inquiry for a bunch of conspiracy theorists. When it concludes by not confirming what they all "know", they'll just squeal collusion, corruption, and call for an inquiry into the inquiry.

[Graham Grant @GrahamGGrant]

✍️ From today’s leader column: The case for a Murrellgate inquiry is now inarguable, despite John Swinney’s determination to avoid one. He wants to wash his hands of this episode - but it cannot be wished away https://t.co/YPypE0Wufi

@MailOnlineScot #petermurrell #SNP

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

Scottish Independence Poll (Sunday Times/Norstat, 31 May 2026)

Should Scotland be an independent country?
YES 52%
NO 48%

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

You just keep tapping your ruby slippers, sweetie! 🤣 👠👠

[Graham Grant @GrahamGGrant]

This interview is Sturgeon's Prince Andrew/Newsnight moment. It only remains to be seen who will play her in the inevitable telly dramatisation.

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

Leaving aside McFadden's questionable claim, if he sees the main purpose of an Inquiry to question this, then he has admitted such an Inquiry is nothing more than a nakedly politically partisan stunt.

[Chris McCall @Dennynews]

Pat McFadden: "The SNP has been protected by a claim to virtue, which is often denied to those elsewhere in the UK, particularly to England"

https://t.co/KjLfqeq39T

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

Thoughts and prayers with the BritNat media at this difficult time.
Obviously, the 'other constituency' will dismiss this as an SNP conspiracy with Norstat, the Sunday Times, and probably aliens.

[Ross Colquhoun @rosscolquhoun]

A new Norstat poll from The Times:

🟡 SNP 34% (+5)
🔵 Reform 17% (-1)
🔴 Lab 16% (-3)

[JOHN NICOLSON 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇪🇺 @MrJohnNicolson]

I can honestly say I’ve not spent a nanosecond of my life thinking about the sexual preferences of lesbians.

Nurse!

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

Are calls really 'growing' for an inquiry, or is it still the same coalition of defeated parties, bored journalists, and crackpot conspiracy theorists?

[The Daily Record @Daily_Record]

SNP 'surrounded itself with control and secrecy' as calls grow for inquiry into Peter Murrell scandal

https://t.co/NNTTW7amRc https://t.co/NNTTW7amRc

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

Today this Daily Mail reporter has criticised Nicola Sturgeon for failing to apologise for her husband's crimes" and compared her to former Prince Andrew.
That's the level of crack-pottery currently passing for journalism.

[Graham Grant @GrahamGGrant]

🔴Nicola Sturgeon refuses to apologise for ex-husband's crimes

https://t.co/N1MwzINxEd via @DailyMail

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

This was a half-hearted call for an inquiry by someone who knows it's not happening. Recognising there are scandals in other parties, he as good as said the reason for having one here is "@theSNP are the dominant force in Scottish politics."

[BBC Politics @BBCPolitics]

"The only through [this scandal] is full transparency"

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden says there should be a further inquiry into Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP after Peter Murrell pleaded guilty to embezzling the party

#BBCLauraK https://t.co/CkTHGctZ4k

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

I know the Nicola Sturgeon interview went badly for the BritNat press and crackpot conspiracy theorists, but this is a particularly dishonest (and legally impossible) interpretation of those words.

[Conor Matchett @conor_matchett]

Nicola Sturgeon says "nothing that belongs to me" should be part of any court motion where Peter Murrell pays back the £400,000 he stole from the SNP

So that'll be several thousands of pounds worth of gifts she will keep, bought by stolen SNP funds

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

Oh dear, the Nicola Sturgeon interview didn't go very well for the conspiracy theorists or those who are essentially paid to be bitchy.
Put your claws away, sweetie!

[Andrew Pierce @toryboypierce]

More crocodile tears from @NicolaSturgeon who claims again to be victim of @PeterMurrell . What about the thousands of members of @theSNP ripped off on her watch as Leader?

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

Miaow! 🐈

[Andrew Pierce @toryboypierce]

A champion of Scottish independence all her life @NicolaSturgeon who campaigned to break up the Union, has moved to London. What has the Capital done to deserve this?

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

Here's Nicola Sturgeon avoiding the Press.
We'll now get howls that she's manipulating the Press.

[Laura Kuenssberg @bbclaurak]

Sturgeon tells BBC: I'm serving a sentence for crime I didn't commit - BBC News

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

"If done properly" 🙄
So now we'll get the howls that @bbclaurak wasn't capable of doing her job (perhaps Mr Grant thinks he would have done a better job!)

[Graham Grant @GrahamGGrant]

Laura K interview could be a Prince Andy/Newsnight moment, if properly done. Why is she putting herself through the wringer, as a private citizen who’s legally off the hook? Because she cares about her legacy, perhaps - but then that was already dead in the water.

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

This reminds me of the "I'll do anything to get on TV" segment of The Word, except the folk on The Word had a bit more dignity! 🤡

[The Scottish Sun @ScottishSun]

'I saw Sturgeon at Asda buying frozen pizza minutes from where campervan was kept'

https://t.co/Ro3rYhZTye

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

The frankly unhinged media and political commentary around Murrell's actions are symptomatic of a more serious issue. As SNP's opponents lose hope of ever winning, they (and media out of boredom) seek to undermine Scottish Institutions: Parliament, Law etc. That's more insidious.

[The Scotsman @TheScotsman]

How SNP scandal has turned Scotland into a global laughing stock, and why that really matters – Susan Dalgety https://t.co/mgBikRgkPT

[Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton]

Exclusive: Histrionic media and political claims of SNP-Crown Office conspiracy were bollocks.

Fixed that headline!

[Graham Grant @GrahamGGrant]

🔴 Exclusive: Peter Murrell’s court hearing was delayed until after the Holyrood election because his defence lawyers argued they needed more time to prepare

#petermurrell #SNP #politics