John Swinney facing vote of no confidence over Salmond legal advice 28 Feb 2021 at 1:26pm
JOHN Swinney is set to face a motion of no confidence by MSPs if he refuses to publish the legal advice the Scottish Government received over its doomed Alex Salmond judicial review by Tuesday.
Reports Sturgeon knew about Salmond claims weeks earlier than she said 28 Feb 2021 at 3:05pm
UNPUBLISHED evidence handed over to the Alex Salmond inquiry suggests the First Minister?s team was aware of complaints against her predecessor several weeks before she told Parliament she first became aware of them, fresh reports have claimed.
Anas Sarwar warns Keir Starmer over taking Scotland for granted 28 Feb 2021 at 11:50am
ANAS Sarwar has issued a warning to Sir Keir Starmer that he will not become Prime Minister ?unless he recognises the importance of Scotland? and focus on winning back support north of the border.
Anas Sarwar: Nicola Sturgeon must quit if she broke ministerial code 28 Feb 2021 at 10:08am
SCOTTISH Labour leader Anas Sarwar has suggested Nicola Sturgeon should resign if she is found to have breached the ministerial code on a ?point of principle? and ?respect? for the office of First Minister.
Scottish Tories threaten no confidence motion against John Swinney over Alex ... 28 Feb 2021 at 2:44pm
The Scottish Conservatives will this week lodge a motion of no confidence in John Swinney unless the Scottish Government makes a U-turn over its repeated refusal to release its legal advice over Alex Salmond?s judicial review.
Anas Sarwar calls on Nicola Sturgeon to resign as 'point of principle' if it ... 28 Feb 2021 at 2:26pm
The newly elected leader of Scottish Labour has called on Nicola Sturgeon to resign as ?a point of principle? if it emerges she has breached the ministerial code over when she knew about harassment allegations against Alex Salmond.
Insight: The Alex Salmond inquiry and unpicking a tangle of disinformation 28 Feb 2021 at 8:12am
The days leading up to Alex Salmond?s appearance before the Committee on the Scottish Government?s Handling of Harassment Complaints were so full of bluff and bluster - of court skirmishes, promises of ?bombshell? revelations and unhinged references to Scotland as a Banana Republic - that, when it finally happened, it felt anticlimactic.
Amid Alex Salmond inquiry furore, we should remember Charles Kennedy, a good ... 26 Feb 2021 at 12:52pm
BBC Alba?s profoundly affecting documentary on the life of Charles Kennedy ended with a reference to early Latin texts about debate and rhetoric which assert that the ultimate aim of any orator is simply to be a good man, speaking.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant 28 Feb 2021 at 6:13pm
Bath, readers – which some of you may be aware isn’t even in Scotland – is a pretty darn pleasant place to while away your days, all things considered. Packed from head to foot with gorgeous Georgian architecture the colour of set honey and nestling amid a clutch of lush green hills, it’s like a miniature version …
The Great Festival Of Squirrels 28 Feb 2021 at 11:39am
It’s the second sunny day in Bath since last September, readers, so we’re going to go out and feed the wildlife, but we thought you’d enjoy a quick roundup of some of the distractions the Sturgeonite elements of the Scottish media are punting today in a desperate attempt to avoid dealing with the devastating contents …
Judges, Juries And Horseshit 27 Feb 2021 at 2:11pm
Iain Lawson’s fine blog today reveals that Nicola Sturgeon has already taken it upon herself to answer Jim Sillars’ complaint from Thursday – which was sent to Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans, not to the First Minister – about her breaking the Ministerial Code by casting doubt on the jury’s verdicts in the Alex Salmond trial. It’s …
The Longest Day 26 Feb 2021 at 7:39pm
In the end the four-hour session ran for almost exactly six hours, and Alex Salmond looked like he could have done another six standing on his head. Now, it would be only fair to acknowledge that this site was on his side before the start, but by any rational objective assessment the former First Minister delivered …
The Lion?s Den 26 Feb 2021 at 10:55am
Just a couple of hours now. From 12.30 this afternoon, Alex Salmond will attempt to tell the people of Scotland the truth about what happened to him in the last two years – a grave injustice which saw an innocent man have his reputation dragged through the gutter, be placed under incredible personal stress, be …
The Fall Of Saigon 25 Feb 2021 at 5:45pm
When the Faculty Of Advocates – the most senior body of lawyers/QCs in the country – is handing out barely-veiled smackdowns like this to the First Minister, then you know you’re in some pretty uncharted jungle. Nicola Sturgeon’s Scotland is a rogue state. Because the FoA weren’t alone in their outraged response to the First Minister’s …
Heavy Is The Crown 25 Feb 2021 at 1:22pm
Is the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service of Scotland institutionally corrupt? I don?t believe so, but it’s certainly a troubled organisation. The cost and reputational damage to it from the Rangers FC case are of a magnitude never seen before, and the actions in the Alex Salmond case and related actions by the Lord …
The brick wall 25 Feb 2021 at 9:22am
I was until this week a member of the SNP’s Conferences Committee. After being elected last November I sought to fulfil my “manifesto” pledge ? that is, to attempt to restore the power of the membership, which has been systematically eroded by the party leadership over the last two years, through conference, the proper constitutional vehicle for all internal …
Hands up if you?re totally corrupt 24 Feb 2021 at 10:14pm
Well, obviously you. Any more? Nobody’s even asking you, mate, sit doon. Haven’t we seen you before? And you. Get lost. YES YES WE KNOW. Okay, now smirk if you think you’re going to get away with it. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
UPDATE On Friday we withdrew the award offer, which had not been taken up. To be honest I was 99.9999% sure it would not be, and we don’t have £25,000. It was a rhetorical device trying to drive home to people the crucial importance of Geoff Aberdein’s evidence, which proves that Sturgeon knew of the …
The importance of this is in direct proportion to the massive state attempts to block it. Alex Salmond’s submission to the Holyrood Inquiry has finally, after bad faith attempts to suppress it by Linda Fabiani and the SNP MSP’s on her committee abetted by Andy Wightman, been published. I strongly urge you to read it …
Alex Salmond – After Massive Suppression Attempts, Testimony Finally Published
Ministerial resignations should be the least of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic procurement corruption scandal. Ministers, MPs and their corrupt mates who benefited from these contracts should be in the dock and looking at lengthy periods of imprisonment. This blog was ahead of mainstream media in breaking details of some of these contracts which …
Dominic Raab and numerous Tory MPs never showed the slightest concern when British bombs and missiles supplied to the United Arab Emirates killed thousands of Yemeni women and children. Those bombs and missiles were dropped and fired from British planes with British trained pilots, maintained by British engineers, and often acting in concert with British …
Nadira and I (supported by Cameron, Emily and Jamie) are delighted to announce the arrival this afternoon of our new son Oscar John Murray. In the best family tradition he milked his appearance, spinning it out for over 48 hours and making it as dramatic as possible. But happily both Oscar and Nadira are now …
Lady Dorrian in the High Court this morning described a position taken by the Scottish Parliament’s legal advisers, on the publication and inclusion of Geoff Aberdein’s and Alex Salmond’s evidence, as “an absurd interpretation of the court order”. She also stated that “The answer is for the committee to take a robust attitude to the …
Yes lead maintained in latest update of Scot Goes Pop Poll of Polls 28 Feb 2021 at 12:50pm
One reason I started the Poll of Polls on this blog in 2013 was to counter hysterical reporting of individual polls that were better than usual for No, and to put them in their correct wider contex...
The "real SNP", in numbers 26 Feb 2021 at 9:12am
It's lovely that controversial journalist David Leask is now a freelancer, and can punt his conspiracy theories about dark Russian involvement in Scottish politics in a variety of publications, not...
"But what motive could there possibly have been?" 24 Feb 2021 at 12:59pm
My problem with the " vast conspiracy against Alex Salmond," theory is what was the motive?He was a busted flush politically, he had lost his seat, so why would all of these people plot against him...
Scotland's nose-peg election? 23 Feb 2021 at 5:17pm
If the leadership announced at 9am tomorrow that they were reintroducing capital punishment and dropping their opposition to Trident, by 6pm they'd be tweeting without any sense of irony: "Eyes on ...
Has anyone watched "Murder in a small town" yet? 1 Mar 2021 at 12:32am
Its on Channel 5, 2 part documentary about the Jodi Jones/Luke Mitchell murder case back in 2003. Pretty compelling viewing about a piece of Scottish modern history, would recommend. submitted b...
What?s the quality of the mental health support available in Scotland? 1 Mar 2021 at 12:30am
English student looking to attend university in Scotland. No answer is going to put me off, there simply isn?t any mental health support available in England so it can?t be worse. It?s just useful ...
Do you think this woman has a Scottish or English accent? 28 Feb 2021 at 11:55pm
Hope this kind of post is allowed, apologies if not. Someone is trying to tell me this woman sounds Scottish; what do you think? https://www.reddit.com/r/trashy/comments/luf6cv/uk_drunken_kebab_kar...
Travelling within local council.. 28 Feb 2021 at 9:27pm
Hello :) Just wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction with this! I?ve heard of people receiving police fines from travelling 2 towns away (15 minute drive) because their town has ...
Beautiful 28 Feb 2021 at 9:24pm
submitted by /u/Gwlanbzh
Mark McGeoghegan: Latest poll should be a wake-up call but catastrophe is not... 28 Feb 2021 at 7:30pm
FOR nearly a year the SNP and the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, have enjoyed seemingly gravity-defying polling as Scottish independence first became the preference of most Scots, and then overtook the level of support Unionism reached in 2014.
Limiting SNP MPs to one or two terms might focus minds on independence 28 Feb 2021 at 6:30pm
I HAVE to agree with the letter in Saturday?s National regarding the lack of action from SNP MPs in Westminster. Apart from the odd inspirational speech from Mhairi Black or Joanna Cherry winning the court case against the Tory government illegally proroguing parliament, what have they actually achieved?
Those salivating over current inquiry ignore corruption at a UK level 28 Feb 2021 at 6:30pm
THE so-called Salmond inquiry witnessed the greatest mobilisation of the Unionist press to ?Northern Britain? since the independence referendum of 2014. Right-wing commentators like Andrew Neil were visibly salivating at the prospect of damaging the Scottish Government ? and by implication, the independence movement ? to enable him and his establishment associates to place Scotland firmly under...
John Swinney faces no-confidence vote over Alex Salmond legal advice refusal 28 Feb 2021 at 3:42pm
JOHN Swinney may face a vote of no confidence for the second time after the Scottish Tories threatened to lodge a motion over his refusal to release the Scottish Government?s legal advice on Alex Salmond?s judicial review.
Jim Sillars writes directly to Nicola Sturgeon over alleged code breach 28 Feb 2021 at 1:58pm
JIM Sillars has today written to Nicola Sturgeon asking her to refer herself to be assessed on whether she breached the ministerial code over comments she made about Alex Salmond at a Covid briefing last week.
Poem of the week : Aspirants 28 Feb 2021 at 5:00pm
Aspirants On Thursday we get a bill for the electric I catch a new colour in the mirror, a greening of the eye You?re tetchy about the intrusion of normal, all that aspiration. I try to distract, light a small fire in the wardrobe ?What happens if the whole place burns to a crisp?? I […]
No Banana Republic 28 Feb 2021 at 12:25pm
No less an authority than Polly Toynbee this week proclaimed: “The sums are so vast, the secrecy so shocking, that ?chumocracy? doesn?t begin to capture what Britain has become ? redolent as we are of banana republics, the Russian oligarchy and failed states.” If you look at the seemingly Teflon career of Matt Hancock (dry […]
People of Colour and the Creative Industries in Scotland: A Post-2020 Reflection 28 Feb 2021 at 10:50am
Since August 2020 Arusa Qureshi has been a Commissioning Editor for Bella Caledonia, you can read all of her articles here. As she explored the experiences of underrepresented voices in Scottish arts and culture she published a weekly playlist of new tracks by artists of colour [listen to them all here]. The full archive […]
Saturday night at The Howff with Arab Strap, The Countess of Fife and Wojtek ... 27 Feb 2021 at 6:29pm
howff /ha?f/. A favourite meeting place or haunt, especially a pub. The Howff is Bella?s Boozer, your virtual lounge for the lockdown. Every week we bring you new releases and recommendations for your listening pleasure. This week we bring you tracks from Arab Strap, The Countess of Fife and Wojtek The Bear The Refugee Benefit […]
Bella Chats ? Tom Urie 26 Feb 2021 at 8:29pm
Tom Urie has been a permanent fixture on Scottish TV screens for over two decades now, from Chewin’ The Fat through to Guilt via River City. He is also a musician, DJ, Musical Director, singer and all round good egg. His very public battle with his weight became a feel-good story for thousands who followed […]
Where Next for Scottish Labour? 26 Feb 2021 at 4:36pm
On the eve of the announcement of Scottish Labour?s latest leader, Jim Monaghan looks at where the party are now and where they might be going. With less than 3 months to the 2021 Scottish Parliament Election, Scottish Labour have a problem. Currently polling at around or under 20%, it?s difficult to see how they […]
Mission Creep 26 Feb 2021 at 11:16am
The committee investigating the handling of complaints against Alex Salmond reaches a crescendo not today, but next week. Predictable sections of the press and broadcast media can hardly contain themselves. The media elite: Andrew Neil, Fraser Nelson, Alex Massie, senior voices within the BBC, and others are straining at the bit to see Nicola Sturgeon […]
Bella Caledonia, Poor Things and the Fifth Estate 25 Feb 2021 at 11:45am
Bella Caledonia emerged from the pages of Alasdair Gray’s novel Poor Things in 2007. Since then we have strived for autonomy, independence and self-determination, and to “work as if you are in the early days of a better nation.” In my imagination Bella was looking for a publication and an alternative media and a political […]
Trade unions have failed migrant workers. To remedy this, we need serious sel... 25 Feb 2021 at 10:19am
Trade unions and migrant workers in Scotland have a complicated history. While virtually all modern trade unions subscribe to and reproduce the language of equality, diversity and inclusion, a detailed look at the realities of migrant workers in insecure, low paid, and precarious occupations reveals a more troubling picture. History has not yet repeated itself: […]
Poo, Pee and Silliness 24 Feb 2021 at 6:49pm
For the past year I have been the only woman in the UK with a weekly political cartoon slot. I feel very privileged to have had this opportunity with Bella Caledonia (see all of Lorna’s cartoons here – Ed). As newspaper sales have plummeted further I kept a steady routine, my work strengthened and my […]
The union unit: the No 10 team tasked with keeping UK together 28 Feb 2021 at 4:03pm
How what one MP termed a ?Whitehall psychodrama? has propelled team into the headlinesBoris Johnson?s four-person union unit, dedicated to averting Scottish independence, had become used to operating quietly behind the scenes. That is until what one MP termed a ?Whitehall psychodrama? exploded an...
Anas Sarwar: UK?s first Muslim to lead a party follows in family footsteps 27 Feb 2021 at 5:03pm
The new Scottish Labour leader is the son of the first Muslim MP ? but his path to the top has not been completely smoothAnas Sarwar has continued a family tradition in political precedent setting by becoming the UK?s first Muslim to lead a party.Sarwar?s father, Mohammed, was the first Muslim MP...
'We haven't been good enough': Anas Sarwar pledges to rebuild Scottish Labour... 27 Feb 2021 at 12:31pm
Anas Sarwar said becoming Scottish Labour leader was the greatest honour of his life, and pledged to rebuild the party. ?I know Labour has a lot of work to do to win back your trust,? Sarwar said. ?I?m sorry we haven?t been good enough.?Sarwar, 37, faces a battle to save Labour from what polls su...
Anas Sarwar wins Scottish Labour leadership election 27 Feb 2021 at 11:56am
Sarwar wins snap election triggered by surprise resignation of Richard Leonard six weeks agoAnas Sarwar has won the Scottish Labour leadership contest after a snap election triggered by the surprise resignation of Richard Leonard six weeks ago.Sarwar, a former deputy leader of Scottish Labour bac...
What we learned from Alex Salmond's evidence to Scottish parliament's inquiry 26 Feb 2021 at 7:35pm
Analysis: Nicola Sturgeon will give evidence herself on Wednesday after being accused by ex-first minister of possibly breaking ministerial codeWhat questions does Alex Salmond?s evidence raise for Nicola Sturgeon?The former first minister said that he could provide witnesses to confirm his versi...
Salmond v Sturgeon is not just a battle of personalities | Ruth Wishart 26 Feb 2021 at 6:58pm
As the SNP row intensifies, fault lines are emerging across Scotland?s independence movementThere can?t be many occasions when a committee session of the Scottish parliament has garnered Netflix-style viewing figures. Today it wasn?t just the political classes who were transfixed by the testimony...
Salmond accuses Sturgeon of using Covid briefing to 'effectively question jur... 26 Feb 2021 at 6:48pm
Scotland?s former first minister appears before MSPs investigating inquiry by Nicola Sturgeon?s government into complaints made against himKey questions Salmond could face in Holyrood What is the Salmond controversy all about? Sturgeon under intense pressure to explain what action she took 6.45pm...
Alex Salmond: weak leadership could hurt case for Scottish independence 26 Feb 2021 at 6:21pm
Former first minister launches a stinging attack on the SNP during evidence to a Holyrood inquiryAlex Salmond has suggested that weak and incompetent leadership of Scotland?s institutions could undermine the case for independence, in a bitter attack on his former allies and party.The former first...
Alex Salmond tells Holyrood inquiry Scotland's leadership has failed ? video 26 Feb 2021 at 5:04pm
Alex Salmond has said there is a failure of leadership in Scotland, as he criticised Nicola Sturgeon and claimed there had been a 'calculated and deliberate suppression of key evidence' to a Scottish parliamentary committee. In his opening statement to a Holyrood inquiry into the Scottish governm...
Alex Salmond to testify at Holyrood over claims of conspiracy against him 26 Feb 2021 at 10:16am
Former first minister to give evidence as feud intensifies with former allies including Nicola Sturgeon Alex Salmond is due to give evidence at Holyrood on his allegations of a Scottish government conspiracy against him, with MSPs expected to issue a last-ditch order seeking the release of eviden...
Not feeling well
Hi everyone, I’m really sorry but I’m not going to be able to get the blog done today and maybe tomorrow. Just after sitting down to start a piece this morning I developed a high temperature and a severely upset stomach. I had to get to bed whereupon I just passed out. My other half […]
The Tory assault on devolution intensifies
While sections of the independence movement get on with the serious business of self-righteously and noisily condemning other sections of the independence movement for the terrible crime of having a different opinion about certain issues which are not directly related to independence. The Tories are quietly getting on with their far more serious business of […]
What would Alex do?
The documentation about the botched investigation into him that Alex Salmond wanted to be put in the public domain has now been released, Alex believes that it proves there was a conspiracy against him orchestrated by senior figures in the SNP who are close to Nicola Sturgeon. The First Minister is due to put her […]
The disunion unit
All is not well with the British government’s campaign to fend off Scottish independence. After just two weeks, Oliver Lewis, formerly of the Vote Leave Campaign, has resigned from his post as the chief of Boris Alexander de Pfeffel Johnson’s much heralded “Union Unit”. They called it that because the more accurate title, “The Suppressing […]
Normal blogging service is (about to be) resumed
Well it took longer than we had originally thought, but we are now in our new house in South Ayrshire. There was a problem with the title deeds for our new place which our solicitor had to sort out before the sale could be finalised, and as a result we had to spend an extra […]
The big move
The big move is finally happening. On Friday 29 January we need to vacate this flat. For various reasons I won’t bore you with we probably won’t get access to the new house in South Ayrshire until the following week. In the interim all our stuff will be going into storage and Peter and I […]
The Settled Will
By the time that you get to nineteen opinion polls in a row, over the course of more than a year from several different polling companies, all of which have shown a lead for a vote for independence in a referendum, it becomes legitimate to posit that a desire for independence is now the settled […]
Stroke recovery update
I thought it was about time that I gave everyone an update on how my recovery is going since the stroke. It’s now been four months since the stroke, and although I’m still experiencing significant issues, I’m definitely doing much better than I could have hoped just a few weeks ago. I no longer use […]
Yes times eighteen
We’ve had yet another opinion poll showing a substantial majority for Yes. Today’s poll for the Scotsman, carried out by Savanta ComRes, has Yes on 57% and no on 43%. When the don’t knows and undecideds are removed, there’s still a majority for independence, Yes is on 51%, No is on a mere 38 %, […]
British nationalist poutrage won?t stop Scottish democracy
The stench of British nationalist desperation is overwhelming. With seventeen opinion polls in a row showing a majority for independence, and equally consistent indications that the SNP is on course to trounce The Conservatives, Labour, and the LibDems in this year’s Scottish elections after promising to deliver another independence referendum,a referendum which the independence movement […]
Michael Greenwell
So long as men worship the Caesars and Napoleons, Caesars and Napoleons will duly arise and make them miserable. - Aldous Huxley
A Fun New Game
The UK government has recently brought back an old idea about plastering “Funded by the UK government” on lots of things in Scotland, with a big Union flag somewhere. This is supposed to make us forget about the various disasters that the UK govt seem to be hoping will just miraculously disappear by themselves. However, …
The Scottish Independence Podcast 187 ? Odes To Our Adversaries
Just occasionally in all the years I’ve been doing this, mostly for laughs, I’ve made a few little, ahem, tributes, to some of our political adversaries. The 187th episode of The Scottish Independence Podcast is a run through of some of the best of these, because I think most of us are in need of …
The Scottish Independence Podcast 186 ? Tory Lies, Trump, Empire
The 186th episode of the Scottish Independence Podcast is amongst other things, a mix of some bad excuses. There’s a bad excuse for a Prime Minister, a bad excuse for a President of the United States, and a few bad excuses for the behaviour of the British Empire. Along with that, there are people trying …
Sometimes It?s Too Blatant To Let It Go
Last night the story came out that the US Department of Justice would rather like a wee word or two with Prince Andrew regarding his connections with Jeffrey Epstein. Well, they have wanted to have a little chat with him for a while, but they actually filed a ‘Mutual Legal Assistance’ request. This “moves Andrew …
One Thing Doesn?t Negate The Other
Whatever you think about the very current activities with regard to defacing or pulling down statues, what was written on the Churchill statue is a statement of fact. Let’s have a look at some of Churchill’s statements (not the we will fight them on the beaches stuff). You may have seen most of them before …
The Scottish Independence Podcast 185 ? Billy Kay on Scotland and Identity
The 185th episode of the Scottish Independence Podcast is a talk by Broadcaster, writer and activist and former guest on the show, Billy Kay, about Scottish identity. Have you ever noticed when you go abroad that the locals always seem to know what happened in 1437 in every wee nook and cranny of their town. …
The Times Handed Its Arse by Football Club
The Times, or at least The Sunday Times, has a history of getting things wrong about Hitler. And it seems to have happened again. This was the response by Schalke 04, a German football team, to the latest mistake…
What has gone wrong with Scottish politics and democracy?
What has gone wrong with Scottish politics and democracy? Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, January 24th 2021 There is a feeling of crisis across Scottish politics and democracy. Partly this is the sense of decay and drift in the SNP with infighting, divisions and lack of trust between senior figures in the party; amplified by the …
The post What has gone wrong with Scottish politics and democrac...
A Different Class: Choose Your Side
A Different Class: Choose Your Side Gerry Hassan Sunday National, February 21st 2021 Class is one of the defining concepts of life, Scotland and capitalism ? but barely receives much informed analysis on our TV screens. Instead, we are offered unstated but loaded assumptions in news, TV documentaries and countless other programmes, with a distinct …
The post A Different Class: Choose Your Sid...
How do we talk and listen in an age of noise?
How do we talk and listen in an age of noise? Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, February 17th 2021 Scottish public life doesn?t need to look far for controversy and heat at the moment. There is the ongoing Nicola Sturgeon-Alex Salmond saga, the mess of the Scottish Parliament inquiry, the growing sense of drift in the …
The post How do we talk and listen in an age of noise? appeared first on Gerr...
Who will speak for a democratic England in the break-up of Britain?
Who will speak for a democratic England in the break-up of Britain? Gerry Hassan Sunday National, February 14th 2021 The UK is in major flux. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are increasingly in a different political space and marching to their own beats. Westminster day by day underlines its incompetence and unfitness, which leaves us …
The post Who will speak for a democratic England in...
Labour needs to find a very different story of Britishness and patriotism
Labour needs to find a very different story of Britishness and patriotism Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, February 10th 2021 The big question of what the Labour Party stands for and represents has been raising its head again, particularly in relation to the party and Britain and Britishness – including such hot topics as patriotism and …
The post Labour needs to find a very different story of B...
How to win the argument, case and vote for independence
How to win the argument, case and vote for independence Gerry Hassan Sunday National, February 7th 2021 The SNP are high in the polls, Nicola Sturgeon?s popularity is hugely positive and massively outperforms Boris Johnson, and independence has now been in the majority for 20 polls in a row over the past twelve months. Boris …
The post How to win the argument, case and vote for independence a...
Joanna Cherry, Andy Wightman and the importance of dissent
Joanna Cherry, Andy Wightman and the importance of dissent Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, February 3rd 2021 These past few weeks have not been quiet ones for the SNP and Scottish Greens, the two pro-independence parties in the country. First of all, respected Green MSP Andy Wightman announced he was leaving the party, and this week, …
The post Joanna Cherry, Andy Wightman and the importance of...
The state of the union and independence after Johnson?s jaunt
The state of the union and independence after Johnson?s Jaunt Gerry Hassan Sunday National, January 31st 2021 Boris Johnson came to Scotland last week: much trailed and talked about but certain to have no lasting effect. This was the week where a once-revered Scottish institution announced it had fallen on hard times. Once popular with …
The post The state of the union and independence after ...
Alex Salmond.
1,is the foreign affairs spokesman for the SNP but was not even in parliament for the debate on syria but was in scotland to unveil a portrait of himself.
2,falls asleep when he is in parliament when representing the scottish people.
3,is a fud.
Brexit slowly becoming a Farce.
Let's face it, this Tory Govt has no intent on pulling out of EU. It will go on and on and on until lie of land changes!
Polling: 2017 General Election, Council Elections and Independence
Despite the roaring success of the polls in recent years; it may be worth starting a thread specific to upcoming elections. All UK, Scottish subsamples, specific Scottish polls and leader popularity welcome; not to mention the independence question.
What is the point of Labour
Much as I hate the tory party (and christ do I do) you have to give them credit for a couple of things.
1. They have stupid unionists voting for them despite the fact Scotland is going to shit.
2. They think brexit is a good thing for the UK and bring stupid unionists to think the same an...
The George Galloway "Unity Party" thread
I see our very own(Scotlands, not P&B's...) Gorgeous George has started worrying that he was slipping into irrelevance and has decided the best way to get his name recirculating is to move home and form an Anti SNP party who, in his own words, will allow for a return to "Traditional Left/Right po...
The official Boris pm cluster-fuck thread
Day to day discussions relating to the bumbling, chinless twat. He's currently giving a trumpesqian speech in Manchester relating to his Northern powerhouse plan - building a railway between Manchester and Leeds. He's went off message a few times, notably guessing when Stephenson's rocket was a ...
General Politics Thread
Firstly, what happened to capybara's thread? I've went back about four pages and can't find it. Am i going blind/dottled?
Anyway, until it is found.
I know it's purely an English/Welsh issue, but the junior doctors' dispute is not improving. Looks like the government is going to try to impose ...
BBC bias
Is anyone going to tell welshbairn about yesterday's hilariously blatant SNP smear the BBC conducted yesterday, as they do most days? Or is he better to be allowed to live in blissful delusion that the BBC wouldn't lie cause reasons?
If anyone has stats on how many foi requests the BBC has ...
Pundits
I felt like this could do with its own thread, as it never quite fits anywhere else. A place to discuss and highlight examples of the political commentator class in Scotland and elsewhere.
I read this article the other day by Chris Deerin and wanted to tear my eyes out:
https://www.pressa...
Ireland
Needs a thread on it's own.
Esp with the Wolfe Tones at Number 1 in Ireland and UK. Who saw that coming? A wee history lesson for some Brits.
The normalisation of the far-right continues
Tommy Robinson.
6 months ago nobody had heard of the c**t, and if they had it was only to recognise him as an ignorant, racist nutter.
Today I had the car radio on and listened as BBC 5Live gave this guy a full 20 minutes of coverage, including having a reporter outside prison waiting bre...
This Board Needs Tunes
Been off the board for a few weeks and have no idea what's going on.
Couldn't resurrect the original thread so here's a timely new beginning. Come on back folks!
Our beautiful Scotland.
Jokes
A Chinese doctor can't find a job in a hospital in the US, so he opens a clinic and puts a sign outside that reads "GET TREATMENT FOR $20 - IF NOT CURED GET BACK $100."
An American lawyer thinks this is a great opportunity to earn $100 and goes to the clinic.
Lawyer: "I have lost my...
Jodi Jones murder
Was going to stick this in the TV thread but maybe deserves its own thread. Anyone been following the channel 5 thing ? Fucking hell ?
Have a fantastic weekend !!!!
Have a brilliant weekend everyone. Enjoy yir families, your pals, yir football, whatever it is, that includes you DandyDunn. Life is short, and make the most of it.. I am unfortunately working late this evening, but plan to watch the Celtic vs Aberdeen match the morra, then cross country skiing w...
Indy Ref 2
Since no-one's started the thread...
A lot of former No voters including some pretty prominant activists, politicians and commentators either coming out for Yes or softening their position - even Chris Deerin saying today that he's not saying that he would vote Yes but that he couldn't say th...
Free Beer
https://brewdog.queue-it.net/?c=brewdog&e=brewdoglostlager2021&t=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brewdog.com%2Fuk%2F&cv=889488086&cid=en-GB
Apparently, although 2 quid delivery. Bit of a wait to get on the website but it counts down if you leave the page open on your phone.
Holyrood Elections 2021
Probably needs a thread of its own.
i see Alex Neil is the latest incumbent to announce they are standing down and not seeking re-election.
I think that's 21 so far - there were 24 retirees in 2016 - that will make the parliament look very different and for those who are constituency MS...
Scottish Album Of The Year?
so, the 20 longlist become the 10 shortlist
big surprise some of the albums that did not make the cut......
www.sayaward.com
Series Worth Watching
Wee bit like the movies thread - just got this showbox app on my tablet and it's got hundreds of different series on it.
Anybody recommend any worth watching?
Am about halfway through Homeland - quite enjoying it and have watched Peaky Blinders (which I found surprisingly good).
Tried Game of Thr...
Will these Events Over 7 Days in November 2017 Bring About the Downfall of Ni...
Timeline-Scottish Parliamentary Inquiry-Conspiracy against Alex Salmond Late October 2017: Aamer Anwar alleged the existence of a ?ticking time bomb” catalogue of sexual harassment at Holyrood. Ms H allegedly disclosed to her friend, an SNP politician, details of an alleged sexual assault upon her by Alex Salmond. 31 Oct: Daily Record/David Clegg received a …
Marginalising Men in Scotland?s Society ? Sorry Ladies the Numbers Just Don?t...
Social engineering Social engineering is the control of behaviour through government legislation. In recent years policy-makers in the Scottish Government have made claim that sex discrimination is the primary source of unfairness in the labour market and encouraged by an ever increasing range of lobbyist groups it has forced radical feminist agendas on …
George Foulkes Makes a Sensible Proposal for Holyrood ? Honestly He Does
4 Dec 2015: Baron George Foulkes of Cumnock Proposes the Establishment of an elected upper chamber for Holyrood The Scotland Bill is currently in committee stage in the House of Lords. Coming in the wake of last year?s referendum, the Bill is intended to provide Scotland with a robust set of devolved powers …
Kirsty Blackman Speaks for the SNP ? Read and Learn
Gradualist Kirsty Blackman Interview-The Guardian She is markedly less keen to talk about Scottish independence, the SNP?s founding principle. She says she is not in Westminster to pressure the government for a referendum. ?I don?t think most folk in their daily lives give two hoots about whether Scotland is a member of the …
Is Alex Salmond a Pawn in the Devious Schemes of Svengali Swinney
John Swinney – The man who never is Swinney was the MP for Tayside North from 1997 to 2001 and was elected leader of the SNP after Alex Salmond resigned the leadership in 2000. His leadership skills were poor and the SNP lost seats in Parliament in 2001 and 2003. In 2003 SNP activist Bill …
The Irish Struggle for Freedom From English Misrule ? Lessons For Scotland ? ...
The Tortuous trail to a United Ireland The Irish Free State, comprised of 32 counties, came into being in 1916 and seceded from the United Kingdom under the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1922. 6 counties under the control of Unionists, opted to remain with the United Kingdom. The Irish Government introduced a republican constitution in …
Swinney ? Flying Without Wings Politician ? Time to Step Down John
John Swinney Swinney was the MP for Tayside North from 1997 to 2001 and was elected leader of the SNP after Alex Salmond resigned the leadership in 2000. His leadership skills were poor and the SNP lost seats in Parliament in 2001 and 2003. In 2003 SNP activist Bill Wilson unsuccessfully challenged him …
The Long Delayed Istanbul Convention Needs to be Ratified Now to Save Rape Cr...
Rape Crisis Scotland Sandy Brindley and her staff have been at the forefront of the organisation for many years and are to be commended for the work they do supporting victims of rape and abuse, very often in very difficult circumstances. But the relentless increase in the incidence of rape, sexual assault and …
Where Did the Order to Implement the Novel New Procedure Against Former Minis...
The Nicola Sturgeon Inquiry The inquiry has been advised that there were meetings between the First Minister and persons representing Alex Salmond, on 29 March and 2 April 2018. The attendance, purpose and content of the discussions is disputed but based on intent the legal profession is more accepting of Alex Salmond’s record …
Rape Crisis Scotland ? Staffed by Ultra Radical Feminists Focused on the Subj...
Jan 2019: Sociology student Adnan Ahmed was the subject of a nationwide media scandal Adnan was a Criminal Justice Practitioner for Turning Point focusing on human/men?s rights. His job was supporting ex-cons and drug addicts to reform and integrate into society. He was planning to study criminology for a BA (Hons) in …
2020 a record year for the UK cyber security sector
There was a nine per cent rise in employment in the industry, with more than 3,800 new full-time jobs created, bringing the total number working in the sector to nearly 50,000
