#swinney

I have sent my warm congratulations to the leaders of Plaid Cymru and the SNP on their momentous electoral successes today.

It is a landmark day for a future beyond the Union. Here in Ireland that future means ending partition and the reunification of our country.

I look forward to working with both Rhun ap lowerth and John Swinney in the spirit of friendship, solidarity and real progress for the people of our nations.

Michelle O’Neill @moneillsf on X:

I have contacted SNP leader John Swinney and Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth to congratulate them on their enormous mandates.

For the first time ever, there could be three pro-independence First Ministers across these islands.

More and more people are looking towards a future beyond the constraints of the Union.

Key Highlights Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney proposes a national bank holiday to celebrate the men’s football team playing in its first World Cup since 1998. The proposed bank holiday would be on Monday, June 15, 2026, after Scotland’s opening game against Haiti in Boston. Swinney links the celebration of the World Cup to other important events, including the Commonwealth Games and…

Emperor Maximus Innefectus addresses the Unemployibus

This is a late Cult work created in the aftermath of the Fall - (the end of the Reign of Uselessses) and the subsequent reversals of the Cultish Empire.

A barely clad Emperor Ineffectus is seen reading from a copy of 'The Notional' - the regularlly published sacred texts of the Cult. His audience is a small collection from the many idle Cultist troops that roamed the land after the Fall. These disaffected and confused malcontents presented a problem to the Emperor's reign - many of them blaming him for the failings of the Empire, the Fall - and the resulting legions of the Unemployibus who were left without expense accounts.

From their demeanors it's clear that only the Emperor has a job, and yet it's not supposed to be 'keeping the Unemployibus placated'. For their part the Unemployibus look anxious, lost and suspicious. Doubtless their abrupt loss of travel and drinks budgets will have been enormous blows. As a class the Unemployibus were elite and accomplished state Scroungerati - stories of the fortunes they would amass each year were legendary.

But this work speaks to more than just an attempt by the Emperor to assert his leadership over a sinking regime, here Inefffectus is actually believed to be trying to stave off rebellion. The Clutland countryside had apparently become unsafe from him - with so many idle egos left wandering and ravenous. Many of them viewed the comfort of the Emperors remaining Parliamentibus redoubt with jealousy and rumors were rife that several were plotting a take-over. So Ineffectus had his hands full to keep his position while yet keeping the Cult mad and angry as the prayers of the Notional called for. The apparent resignation of the now expense-less Unemployibus in the work was clearly a confections meant to communicate that there was little to concern Ineffectus - but the Emperor's face tells another story.

The work is on view in the Nat Gallery. Prints are available from the Nat Gallery Store. Some of the prints are rare unsigned versions that have yet to be touched by the repeating visits by Unemployibus Legions.