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One last thing to remember

Posted on March 09, 2016 by

The BBC’s Brian Taylor on GERS:

briantaylorgers

As we have, of course, noted before.

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  1. 09 03 16 22:44

    One last thing to remember | Speymouth
    Ignored

73 to “One last thing to remember”

  1. Giesabrek
    Ignored
    says:

    Surprised the big bear Brian admits this given his previous pro-union views.

  2. bobajock
    Ignored
    says:

    The man in the street in Scotland … knows this. The Unionist moron in the street – does not care, they want to be bent over by the English.

    GERS … just junk made up by those who know Scotland is worth a lot more than just ‘money’.

  3. John Moss
    Ignored
    says:

    Ah, Ian Lang..might have known. Bless, he was a conniving bugger n’est ce-pas?

    Is he dead yet? Just wondering….

  4. Ruglonian
    Ignored
    says:

    Nice, another one for the ’see, I told you so’ file 😉

  5. RogueCoder
    Ignored
    says:

    Hmm, I wonder where Brian dug up that bit of information – the original Wings article perhaps? 😀

  6. AngusMan
    Ignored
    says:

    Poorer than the rUK? It’s not the wealth that matters, it’s how fairl we distribute that wealth that is the most important thing for an independent Scotland.

  7. Almannysbunnet
    Ignored
    says:

    I read that earlier today and must admit I was a bit flumoxed by such a rare bout of honesty from Brian Taylor. A glimpse of some “free thinking” and the potential of a Scottish six?
    Next time you sign off Brian send us a clue that you are moving to the dark side by dropping the really annoying “toodleoo the noo.” Only then will I start to believe there is a glimmer of hope for you.

  8. David Mills
    Ignored
    says:

    What when GERS nolonger services to talk down Scotland it time to talk down GERS. Are we to expect a new tool to appear that suggest somehow will be used?

  9. Effijy
    Ignored
    says:

    GERS – Grossly Exaggerated Revenue Speculation.

    In the bodies own words, they are not very good at their job.

  10. One_Scot
    Ignored
    says:

    So even the Yoons accept the fact that GERS is basically nothing more than propaganda porn for Yoons. Well that is good to know.

  11. Alan Mackintosh
    Ignored
    says:

    O/T In case you didnt know theres a show in Edinburgh tonight for some tour with JC4PM, supporting Corbyn. Jamie Ross from buzzfeed has been tweeting from it. Most of the comics and speakers have been praising the SNP. Worth a look over on Wings twitter, or else have a look on the twitter sidebar up the top of the page. Its even got batshit Muriel Gray bleating to Mark Steel about their support for the SNP

  12. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    To demonstrate to that self government is A Bad thing, as his BBC goes Project Fear apeshit tonight.

    “Much later, with a devolved parliament firmly in place, matters transmogrified as the annual GERS figures were used by SNP ministers to suggest that Scotland’s economic position was relatively strong and that, with oil, we were potentially rich beyond ambition.”

    What’s “rich beyond ambition” in BBC speak, Norway, UKOK royals, Pacific Quay management trousering 200 hundred grand a year each, plus expenses. You cant buy a house in the south east of England land under 600 hundred grand, which can get you a whole street in Glasgow. But I’m not an economist or a BBC leech.

  13. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    In fairness to Scotland Tonight, it does say “Do the GERS figures show we are better together? We speak to Finance Secretary”.

    Well, whoever that guy doing the “interview” was, certainly did the speaking TO Swinney, and no listening. He’s usually on a sofa, I guess he has no training at interviewing.

  14. Andrew Mclean
    Ignored
    says:

    And now on the channel that gave you, drop yout panties child Jim will fixit, we have denial financialy fiscal please, give a round of applause for Keazia, wait forever dugdale,
    Well Keazia, what’s with the Royal getts tonight! Sorry gets, sorry The sound of a flute band, God bless my iron bru, green brigade up the ra, Dan, the man, labour wee but poor i Kent am man dug the dug dale, England my England you say what ” 5 times worse” than the tories, fuck me!

    Back to wee willie winke, from the party of liars,”she recklessly recommend the reclaslrecklaslay position that she reclaslrecklaslay ran: the reclaslrecklaslay lassy she

    Keazia you got my lunch money, that basically dastardly dick of a unusual MP curmudgeon Carmichael has proliferated from my purse.

    Not the first time ladies,,hey,!!!!

  15. Dave McEwan Hill
    Ignored
    says:

    So it’s true then. The 300 year Union has destroyed the Scottish economy and left Scotland as an economic disaster. Is that what the “proud Scots” are exulting about on the basis of a low oil price? The oil from which Scotland to date has had not one penny revenue as that all has gone to the UK treasury.
    Their joy is disgusting.

    The GERS figures just released are those of a Scottish economy trapped in a UK economy which has an almost unservicable debt of over £1,600,000,000,000. Hasn’t anyone noticed?
    And we’re the ones that are supposed to be too stupid to manage our own finances?
    We’re just expected to settle for more of the same apparently.

    I’m afraid that only daft Scots swallow this guff anymore, but then again I have met some who seem to imagine we don’t manufacture, we don’t farm, we don’t build, we don’t work, we don’t provide services, we don’t invent and innovate, we don’t export and we don’t pay taxes like the people of any other country.

    Actually if you remove from the figures Scotland’s huge payment to the UK debt, our assumed massive expenditure on defence including Trident and illegal invasions, our billions on “national expenditure” ( like the London Sewerage System and the London Underground upgrades) the deficit almost disappears. But why spoil such a good story with the facts?

    These figures are irrelevant anyway to what we would do if we were in charge.
    They are produced to attack Scotland’s ability to go it alone.
    But we don’t want to be independent to continue running Scotland down as is happening now.
    We want to be independent to do things very differently and run our own country properly.

    But then again, if we are such a burden on the UK finances surely they will let us go?

  16. Proud Cybernat
    Ignored
    says:

    O/T

    Cameron gubbed tonight in Sunday Shopping vote. Anyone else sense that the air in Downing St. will be blue tonight? I just fear for the porcelain.

    And why is the colonial media accusing the SNP of hypocrisy? If these had been 56 Labour MPs from Scotland they’d have been told by the London Labour Party how to vote anyway and Cameron would still have lost. And there wouldn’t have been any issue that it was the 56 Scottish Labour MPs that caused the Govt’s defeat.

    Anyway – I can live with ‘SNP Defeats Tory Government’ headlines. Sure – the English, Welsh and Irish MPs can vote down every single amendment to the Scotland Bill and that is perfectly acceptable to them. But how dare we vote down English issues (that actually impact on Scotland). Now that’s your REAL hypocrisy in action right there.

    GIRFUYs.

    BTW – wasn’t EVEL supposed to be able to prevent this kind of thing from ever happening to ‘English-only’ Bills? What’s the script with that? Anyone know?

  17. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    On BBC 2, 11:15 PM – 12:15 AM
    Land of Hope and Glory – British Country Life
    Series capturing the glory and eccentricity of the men and women who live the rural life, from a ‘girl in pearls’ shoot in Yorkshire to a historic mansion in Dorset, via Lindisfarne castle and a family farm in Somerset.

    Proud Scot buts must watch.

  18. Meindevon
    Ignored
    says:

    Just watched Scotland 2016 and according to David Torrance and some woman from the Herald (nice balanced journalism there folks) there is absolutely no way for the SNP to spin their way out of these wretched GERS figures. No way at all. We would have been sinking into a mire of misery, doom and gloom if we had had voted to be self governing.

    It must be us that have got it wrong because Torrance says ‘WE know what GERS is, some of US even understand it’ but your ‘average punter on the street’ thinks it’s all just about the football!

    What an arrogant wee ……..eegit!

  19. Proud Cybernat
    Ignored
    says:

    It’s a funny old world sometimes. I mean, last year GERS in Scotland was skint. Now this year–allegedly–Scotland in GERS is skint.

    Ok, I’ll get ma jaikit.

  20. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    Just leave this here, like a big Rupert Murdoch jobbie on a pavement, with cartoon steam still wafting upwards to toryboy heaven

    Kenny Farquharson ?@KennyFarq 2h2 hours ago
    Lots of indy supporters on my timeline today saying GERS is just Westminster propaganda. Actually, er, it’s produced by Scottish Government.

  21. Dave McEwan Hill
    Ignored
    says:

    BTW I’ve always found Brian Taylor pretty straight and fair.

  22. ScottieDog
    Ignored
    says:

    Golly, that’s a surprise from a BBC man although Mr salmond always seemed to speak highly of him
    Folks, if we are going to create a better country up here we have to start debunking neo-liberal myths. The deficit obsession is one of the worst.

    Deficits are normal and have been almost continuous since the war. A government runs a deficit by virtue of automatic stabilisers which kick in when the money supply starts to fall. This happems mostly when the private sector takes on less debt (as happened in 2008 and the deficit spending duly kicked in). We can inject money by way of export revenue but the UK is a net importer.

    What the UK economy as a whole requires is govt spending – yes a bigger deficit. The private sector can’t take on any more debt – it already dwarfs govt debt and is likely to cause another recession.

  23. Arbroath1320
    Ignored
    says:

    Proud Cybernat says:

    BTW – wasn’t EVEL supposed to be able to prevent this kind of thing from ever happening to ‘English-only’ Bills? What’s the script with that? Anyone know?

    As I understand it PC it was pegged onto the end of another bill. Typical Tories, all knowing … all seeing … NOT, did not see this coming down the tracks and so they omitted the plan to cover it by their evil EVEL rule! 😀

  24. FairFerfochen
    Ignored
    says:

    Some eye watering figures regarding just how much Scotland contributes to the UK treasury over on hansard in the Scotch Whisky debate.

    Just about every SNP MP gave a speech with the English contingent trying awfully hard to claim it’s only with English barley it can succeed.

    Greig Hands calling it a “Great British success story”

    Even had that nauseous wee 3rsehoal Wayne David jibbing in about Welsh whisky, (wha tha?) Well batted away by Angus O’neal tho.

    Worth 30 mins of reading time just for the facts n figs alone.

  25. Iain More
    Ignored
    says:

    @Proud Cybernat

    “Anyway – I can live with ‘SNP Defeats Tory Government’ headlines. Sure – the English, Welsh and Irish MPs can vote down every single amendment to the Scotland Bill and that is perfectly acceptable to them. But how dare we vote down English issues (that actually impact on Scotland). Now that’s your REAL hypocrisy in action right there.

    GIRFUYs.”

    I think I can live with the SNP sticking the boot into the supine English Tories as well.

    I think there will be much Brit Nat hysteria and not just hypocrisy on show tomorrow if not tonight already. There wont be anything about the fact that Labour MPs and rebel Tories voted down their own Bitter Together Govt though in our twa faced Press and Media.

  26. Derek
    Ignored
    says:

    …and Sellar & Yeatman predate the NME in capitalisation of every word by quite some margin.

  27. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    @Yesindyref2

    The guy doing the interviewing of John Swinney on Scotland Tonight is Colin McKay a DJ on Radio Forth
    so a highly qualified and respected member of the “Journalistic” team now (sarcasm)

    It seems that all Interviewing on Scotlands TV now is done from the position of not finding out any information but practising the art of (How many irrelevant things can I say in a hostile manner which makes me seem important to the viewer and boost my own credibility) Scottish “Journalist” School

    And why does Scotland tonight and BBC 2016 use the same script for both programmes
    And doesn’t David Torrance now look uncannily like Paw Broon with specs

    These questions will never be answered coz nobody but us political noseys watch these terrible shows and that’s why the Telly folk don’t release viewing figures on them coz they know we know

  28. John Moss
    Ignored
    says:

    …Ian Lang.

    Just checked, the buggers still alive https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Lang,_Baron_Lang_of_Monkton

  29. mr thms
    Ignored
    says:

    When does GERE, GERW and GERNI come out?

    I’m interested in comparing Scotland’s devolved debt with the other three nations

  30. Returnofthemac
    Ignored
    says:

    Started to watch Colin McKay on Scotland Tonight interviewing, that is, interrogating John Swinney. Gave up after two minutes. Colin,let it go, you won the referendum.
    Another second rate hack immitating the Gordon Brewer technique of intervi….interrogating SNP politicians.

  31. Macart
    Ignored
    says:

    ‘It was intended, in part, to demonstrate…’

    Yes. Yes it was and is still used that way today. Unfortunately much like those who still use it in that way, or indeed use it at all, it stands out as being a bit flawed once that purpose is understood. 🙂

  32. Peter Clive
    Ignored
    says:

    GERS just reinforces unionist control strategies:

    http://moflomojo.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-feeders.html

  33. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Scotland is losing £10Billion+ a year to the Union. Since 2011 the Scottish Oil sector has been taxed by Osbourne 60/80%, losing thousands of jobs and at least £4Billion a year. More Oil and Gas has to be imported. Scotland has to pay £4Billion a year repayments on debt it doesn’t borrow or spend. £1Billon could be saved on a tax on ‘loss leading’ drink. People would be healthier and happier. £1Billion on Trident/illegal wars. = £10Billion. Over five years = £50Billion. Scotland would have £35Billion which could have been better spent.

    Scotland is losing £Billions on tax evasion. Whisky firms tax evade and pay no tax. HMRC is not fit for purpose. The UK tax Laws are not being inforced. Scotland has lost £Billions on illegal wars and banking fraud.

    Cameron/Osbourne haven’t long to go They are criminals. The abuse of children by Westminster Unionist criminals is absolutely appalling. The cover up is beyond belief. Westminster are sanctioning the vulnerable and starving people. The migrant crisis in Europe caused by Westminster policies is a complete and utter disgrace. The non Dom tax evading MSM under Westminster control is a joke. The BBC just needs to go. It has broken it’s Charter abusively.

  34. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Brian Taylor looking for future employment prospects Will have to do better than that. Will have to try harder. Try the truth for once. Or nil points.

  35. jimnarlene
    Ignored
    says:

    So much for the earlier, SNP braced for opposition onslaught, line the BBC were peddling.

  36. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Here’s a tip Colin. Stick to the DJ ing. Folk might listen to you because they sure won’t watch STV nonsense.

  37. Janet
    Ignored
    says:

    According to HM Treasury, Scotland is the second richest part of the UK!

    Anyway, does anyone recall if Glasgow ever got the £500m bribe money if Scotland voted NO?

    Just asking!

  38. McDuff
    Ignored
    says:

    Saw Nicola Sturgeon interviewed yesterday regarding the “GERS“? figures and I must say her response was disappointing in that she seemed defensive and unprepared.
    The Rev and other contributors have been providing evidence of GERS political origins and bogus figures for some time and I just wish the SNP would use them to bite back when being interviewed on tv as it is the best way to inform the general public as to the farce that GERS is.

  39. Almannysbunnet
    Ignored
    says:

    PwC forecasts growth in Scottish economy. Who are PwC? I’d never heard of them before this article but their site might be worth bookmarking for future use. I’m guessing they don’t rely on GERS figures to carry out their business.
    https://archive.is/2XTw9
    http://tinyurl.com/zhhwt3p
    http://tinyurl.com/j72jnv8

  40. Grouse Beater
    Ignored
    says:

    John Moss: “Ian Lang. Just checked, the buggers still alive.”

    Every inch the aging gigolo on the dance hall floor – 50 shillings a samba, extra for use of hanky.

  41. scottieDog
    Ignored
    says:

    We are ridiculed for the stats yet under the framework aren’t being given the powers to grow the economy. This is why we should launch our own complimentary currency right now….

    http://www.neweconomics.org/blog/entry/scotpound-a-new-digital-currency-for-scotland

  42. scottieDog
    Ignored
    says:

    Pwc – companies like that one gave the banks a clean bill of health before the crash. They are part of the problem. When instructed they will give us junk status

  43. Sassenach
    Ignored
    says:

    @Almannysbunnet “Who are PwC?”.

    PriceWaterhouseCoopers, one of the ‘big four’ audit firms, internationally. Google them.

  44. bjsalba
    Ignored
    says:

    @heedtracker

    GERS is produced by the Scottish Government, but its format and content were designed by a Thatcherite.

    It isn’t totally propaganda, but Westminster and the MSM portray it as the complete picture of the Scottish economy. It isn’t.

    Tell me, would you accept incomplete company accounts as a valid basis for an investment decision?

    As Dr Craig Dalzell just wrote in the last

    “Just as Westminster controls some 70% of the revenue of Scotland, it also controls more than 40% of expenditure IN Scotland (including money spent outside of, but “on behalf of”, Scotland).”

    So why would you accept GERS as a valid assessment of what Independence would be like?

  45. Socrates MacSporran
    Ignored
    says:

    Is anyone surprised that something called GERS is a very pro-UK tool?

    Still the BUMS keep plugging away with this: “If Scotland had been independent” line; assuming an Independent Scottish Government made-up of SNP politicians would have done everything in exactly the same way as the Tory-led UK government.

    They base their arguments on the nominal 8.4% of oil revenues which are allocated to Scotland, rather than the 100% of oil revenues which an Independent Scotland would get.

    Do they really still believe the Scottish electorate is so-stupid as to believe their guff?

    Anent EVEL. Never forget, EVEL only kicks-in at the committee stage of each bill’s progress through the Commons. At the final stage, the Scottish MPs still get to vote. Of course, little good this does them thanks to First Past the Post and the “Democratic Dictatorship” which the Tories overall majority allows them. I don’t have a problem with EVEL. I do, however, have a problem with FPTP, and the way it allows a Tory government with so-little support across the UK to dictate to us.

    Finally, Almannysbunnet asked about PwC. This is PriceWaterhouseCooper, one of the world’s leading accountancy companies.

  46. Sassenach
    Ignored
    says:

    I was also disappointed at the lack of ‘fight-back’ by the SNP yesterday – it allowed our Glorious BBC to walk all over them (and God only knows what Dimbledum might do on QT later).

    It will definitely be ‘all against John Swinney’. Will be interesting to see how ‘balanced’ the audience is!!!

    Without this site, yesterday would have been most depressing – thanks Stu.

  47. Almannysbunnet
    Ignored
    says:

    In my defence I never connected Price Waterhouse with PwC in Scotland because their web url is pwc.blogs.com. Not very Price Waterhousey.
    After some cursory digging I’m not sure how it is set up. They say they are “one firm” but then “PwC refers to the PwC network and/or one or more of its member firms, each of which is a separate legal entity”

    So they are a franchise like McDonalds? As long as they aren’t serving a side order of GERS.

  48. Sinky
    Ignored
    says:

    Culd Kale relishing debate on GERS deficit.

    Being discussed on BBC Radio Scotland Morning Call at 9 a.m.
    Call 0500 92 95 00. Text 80295.
    Email morningcallscotland@bbc.co.uk

  49. Bill McLean
    Ignored
    says:

    Just seen the headline on the “Scottish” Daily Express”.
    An insult to everyone in Scotland. An insult to the poor throughout Europe and of course a blatant lie!!!!! I met the author of the report, Ben Borland, (not the headline writer I imagine) a few years ago in Dunfermline when he was covering the problems a fish shop in the town was having. From Manchester area. He should stick to fish! Raging!!!!!

  50. ahundredthidiot
    Ignored
    says:

    I have no problem with SLab or the Tories trying to score political points off the back of GERS and I am not particularly bothered if those figures are right or no.

    The best thing is that MSM, the embarrassment that it is, now feel it incumbent on them to do the SNPs political opponents work for them – nothing new I hear you scream – but it now has the sad and hollow ring of desperation.

    ‘Ye cannae dae it’! ‘Ye cannae dae it’!

    Thanks for that, but I’m pretty sure we can.

  51. Bob Mack
    Ignored
    says:

    There is one very important thing to remember.

    Anybody,and I mean anybody,who thinks that the Financial arm of the Establishment who are fighting tooth and claw to keep us in the Union, would produce figures that in any way gives the possibility of surviving independently credebility,is badly needing their head examined.

  52. Glamaig
    Ignored
    says:

    Listening to Radio Scotland this morning has just caused me to donate another £50 to Wings, so that’s more than last year.

    To the BBC and all Scots who are actively working against their own country, GIRFUY.

  53. Almannysbunnet
    Ignored
    says:

    So according to the Scottish Daily Distress “Scotland is the poor man of Europe and Nicola Sturgeon was urged to rule out a second referendum for a very long time”

    If Scotland is the poor man of Europe after 300 years of Westminster “looking after out interests” I’d say that is my definition of a very long time and our independence can’t come soon enough.
    Away with your fairy stories and sell your Scottish Distress somewhere else, you’re a busted flush and nobody is listening to you.

  54. Nana
    Ignored
    says:

    O/T

    The coalition urges the Scottish Government to convene a taskforce to commission legal and regulatory advice on how a Scottish National Investment Bank could be created

    The report says not-for-profit “People’s Banks”, overseen by local representatives with support from financial experts, should be created in Scotland’s regions to offer banking services to local people and business.

    It says these banks would be part of a “People’s Banking Network” to share risk and cooperate on training, marketing and the operation of key services.

    https://www.holyrood.com/articles/news/scotland%E2%80%99s-banking-system-unstable-and-unfit-purpose-finds-new-report

  55. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    GERS shows the state of the Scottish economy in the previous year with some ridiculous apportioning of UK level costs to Scotland. As accepted by anyone sensible, it tells you nothing about a post Indy economy in the future.

    GERS represents the past.

    I think we need to have a good independent assessment of what a post Indy economy is likely to be. All the much discussed features like lower debt repayment, lower defence expenditure, higher tax income from activity and exports currently lost to UK, VAT lost to the UK, minus rUK infrastructure projects we pay a share of, etc etc.

    Of course it would be challenged by the Yoons. However, we would be discussing a more likely set of future figures instead of what is going on just now.

  56. Capella
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Almannysbunnet
    I see Michael Moore, our former viceroy, is working for PWC now. Ah, the old revolving door.

    The Big Four accounting firms look like a cartel. There were 8, then 6, then 5 till Arthur Anderson (where Patricia Hewitt, Labour Health Privatisation Minister worked) was disbanded after the Enron scandal. They rebranded as Accenture, specialising in outsourcing.

    All that expertise yet the GERS figures are a mystery.

  57. terry
    Ignored
    says:

    Radio Scotland and Kaye Adams – still making us sound like a basket case – but with less conviction than before? Or is it just me noticing a slight improvement? Got a raving yoon on banging on about the folly of independence. He was frothing at the mouth – but that type just make me laugh now. Ha ha – get over it – move along now. Also the Brexit drama is playing nicely into our hands. Project Fear 2 will make some who voted No realise they’ve been duped. And if the SNP and support for independence has remained steady in challenging times – it can only surge in the future.

    I’ve been watching Brian Taylor for a while now. He’s always seemed balanced – in so far as is possible working for the awful BBC. Who knows? Maybe the MSM journalists might be the next to break rank and that could be the definitive breakthrough we need.

  58. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    bjsalba says:
    10 March, 2016 at 8:19 am
    @heedtracker

    Its fair to say that yesterday was the kick off for the next BBC led #SNPout campaign May 2016. Its certainly made the Scottish elections a lot more interesting, just to see if they really can pull the red and blue tories back in to Holyrood relevance and even win.

    With full on 110% level of anti SNP attack propaganda roaring out of Pacific Quay alone, its like their anti independence campaign mark 2, that final 8 week Project Fear hysteria all over again. So they might feel confident for May after winning that too.

    They know that if they lose, BBC Scotland will be a very different outfit in five years time.

    With a bit of luck, the SNPouter crew will get Bettertogether with their strangely stupid tactical voting rage and wheel of UKOK tactical vote comedy give-aways.

  59. One_Scot
    Ignored
    says:

    “Maybe the MSM journalists might be the next to break rank”

    I was one of posters who engaged with his blog in the early days, and believe you me, the only thing he is breaking is a set of scales.

  60. JayR
    Ignored
    says:

    DON’T WORRY!!

    Current national debts
    UNITED KINGDOM – £1.56 trillion (81% of GDP)
    IRELAND – £157 billion (99.70% of GDP)
    FINLAND – £98 billion (62.70% of GDP)
    DENMARK – £46 billion (22% of GDP)
    SCOTLAND – £15 billion (9.7% of GDP)

    Ireland, Finland and Denmark have much bigger deficits than us. I don’t see Ireland running to rejoin the UK, Finland wanting to become part of Russia again or Denmark wanting to become Germany’s newest state.

    Yes, the debt is a problem, but it is NO argument against Scotland becoming independent.

    Keep up the good fight folks!

  61. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    We take comfort here that all of these myths and propaganda pieces are being debunked, but the uncomfortable truth is that the amount of exposure these lies are given thoroughly trounces any worthwhile rebuttal. Yes, they are debunked, but next morning after the fact, and not enough people are hearing about it.

    What is so precious about this BBC that it is immune from attack? Will nobody in the public eye stand up for the truth? Must you tremble in your boots?

    You know, I have this kinda pipe dream thing, an alternative reality type thing; just suppose that our SNP government had latched onto Dr Robertson’s study of BBC bias back in 2014, and said, “You know what? This is a serious accusation. Let’s not throw this man into the wilderness with a pack of wolves on his heels, Let’s sponsor a deeper investigation. Let’s see if we can bolster the work Dr Robertson is doing, and fund his faculty into supporting a full on expose of broadcasting as a formal course agenda; perhaps even with a fledgling University News Broadcast shadowing the real broadcast news to show us how it should be done, but then comparing and contrasting what was broadcast by the networks and what should have been. Suppose too, that faculty launched its own news podcast at 1pm and 6 pm every day.

    By now, two years later, we might have two years worth of material prepared with neutrality, and academic rigour and perfectly ready, willing and able to defend its own credentials. Suppose it was so scrupulously impartial and objective that it was very hard to condemn. It wouldn’t matter a jot if the MSM smeared its integrity and printed nasty things about it, it would exist, and those of us starved of proper news might just have something to buy into besides Unionist propaganda.

    Suppose UNB got regular scoops, and five star access for statements and press conferences… You could do this SNP government… What’s to stop you?

    Suppose University News Broadcast grew popular, and expanded into current affairs and discussion panels, and without the mainstream bias to manipulate the agenda, actually focused on the relevant subject matter, and produced scholarly debates which actually informed peoples’ opinions. Just imagine that; topical debate that focused on the topic…

    It strikes me that such a course might blossom into a full blown media school, from researchers and journalists right across the spectrum to production and technical marketing, and as a product of academic discipline, it might get much closer to the trenches before the enemy guns spotted it.

    This is fantasy of course. It’s a much better idea to wring our hands and let the public mill about muttering disapproval about the content and integrity of the BBC. We all remember how successfully that turned out. Ha! ha! Ha! That showed em! The BBC can’t press our buttons…. Err…

    Don’t expend ourselves trying to modify the propaganda machine hurled against us; it is rotten, and beyond redemption. But if we cannot change their agenda, then we can try to move the forum. Get debates and discussions happening where they can be held unfettered by manipulation. At the very least have a product, a podcast, a diligent product with top level contributions and sources, which the public can tap into.

    I repeat, yet again. Have a plebiscite, cover a number of issues, but try, at least try to secure a mandate to contest the state monopoly on broadcasting and how it is being abused for propaganda.

    Do something besides futile acknowledgement of defeat. It’s embarrassing.

  62. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    @ McDuff @ 7:56am …… ”Saw Nicola Sturgeon interviewed yesterday regarding the ‘”GERS” figures and I must say that her response was disappointing in that she seemed defensive and unprepared.”

    I saw her being interviewed too McDuff but wondered if her ‘response’ had been edited / cut short. I’m sure the SCUM use this propaganda tactic often especially when reporting the news.

    I just wish that the SNP would send out leaflets outlining what Holyrood has control of (how little), a list of our many assets and clarifying Scotlands economic situation including comparing it with others.

  63. starlaw
    Ignored
    says:

    Is this the same Ian Lang whom that bastion of West of Scotland socialism Baroness Helen Liddell described as “my ennobled friend” during the Indy Ref. campaign.

  64. Fred
    Ignored
    says:

    “Nobbled! mair like!

  65. Terry
    Ignored
    says:

    @one_scot

    That made me laugh out loud about the scales. Thanks for telling me about your blog encounters.

  66. Davy
    Ignored
    says:

    Having watched First Minsters QT, it was a pleasure to see Nicola go right on the attack and kick the f-ing shite out of the three amigos.

    She took no crap from that bunch of scot bashers, and she let everyone know how much the unionist leaders and their parties were dancing with delight at downing Scotland using the GER figures, but that she was prepared to fight for Scotlands right to independence, the right to success and the right to fight for a bright future.

    Yet again everyone watching got to see the unionist’s in their true colours, spouting out SCOTLAND BAD – SCOTLAND BAD. Come May the 5th lets rip the votes from them, and come 2017 lets take the councils from them.

    NOTE: watch the section with Willie Rennie asking his questions and watch Tavish Scott on the back left of Rennie acting like a right fanny when Nicola was answering the questions

    SNP one, SNP two.

  67. Al Dossary
    Ignored
    says:

    T’is good as you say (Davy@ 3:28 pm) to see NS taking no shit from the leaders of the soon-to-be-kicked into obscurity parties.

    However, she was a little too tame for my liking. WE all know that the GERS figures are biased and represent a means to con some 50% of the population, but that message has to be understood by more outwith of these hallowed pages.

    The leaders debates will be fun, with the Yoon parties ganging up to promote their SNP bad to the masses.

    I, like many others who read this site work in the oil industry, so have a fair idea of the blatant lies that have been told over the years with regards to figures. Those figures have never been adequately exposed (or even revealed). Also a fair estimate that a huge % of the workers earnings from the North Sea wings it’s way south of the border on a monthly or even weekly basis I have never seen – not to mention the scams employed by the likes of Wood Group, Salamis, Cape, Kvaerner, Petrofac etc who all employ their direct hires through brass plated offices in the Channel Islands to dodge the 13% employers NI contributions.

  68. Jdman
    Ignored
    says:

    Ha! ……….Oh!



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