Even by the low, low normal arithmetical standards of the Scottish media, yesterday’s Scottish Sunday Express humiliated itself with the most stupendously factually wrong articles we’ve seen in a newspaper for some time.
From Kezia Dugdale’s speech to the Scottish Labour conference yesterday:
So hang on – only people born in Scotland are “Scottish”? Bit controversial. But then again, given Scottish Labour’s constant pejorative use of the word “foreigner” in recent years, we probably shouldn’t be shocked.
The Scottish Daily Mail has been working itself into a froth this week over the idea that the Scottish Government doesn’t intend to match George Osborne’s increase in the upper-rate income tax threshold from £42,000 to £45,000.
Central to the complaint is that rejecting the increase will hurt what the Mail calls “the squeezed middle” and “middle earners”, including “nurses, teachers and police”.
There are, of course, several ways of defining “middle”.
We can hardly contain our joy, gentle readers, that Scottish Labour have brought this magnificent graphic from January back again, tweeting it several times yesterday with all the mindbogglingly fat-headed flaws from two months ago still present.
But we couldn’t help being struck by this new comment about it, by the branch office’s notoriously truth-averse finance spokesclown:
Let’s walk through that one really quickly. People can’t afford to save for a deposit, because rents are so high. So rather than do anything about rents, Labour will double the zero they HAVE managed to save, boosting it all the way up to, er, zero.
There are two very different kinds of welfare in the UK. One is the kind that primarily benefits poor people, which is under remorseless attack from the government.
But there’s another kind too, for which there’s still a bottomless pit of cash.
gregor on Once more around: “Wikipedia: Operation Branchform: “Operation Branchform is a Police Scotland investigation into possible fundraising fraud in the Scottish National Party (SNP)…” Jan 1, 01:28
KT Lorimer on Once more around: “Once more indeed – Happy New Year.” Jan 1, 00:06
Geri on And Then What?: “You should’ve patented that idea, Dan. You could’ve been quids in! It makes a lot of sense. They’re adding lots…” Dec 31, 23:53
gregor on And Then What?: “Tommy Scott: Scotland Forever: Scotland Forever: “Days are gone Oh my land, my home When our fathers fought to be…” Dec 31, 23:53
Geri on And Then What?: “It won’t exist at all unless we go independent. Philippa Whitford gave an excellent speech during indyref. (Available on YouTube…” Dec 31, 23:32
Young Lochinvar on And Then What?: “Then why are they so desperate we stay?!? Can’t be anything to do with the announced exploitation of oil and…” Dec 31, 23:12
Young Lochinvar on And Then What?: “You are making a fool of yourself. Best stick to opinions built on facts to make yer case, otherwise Geri,…” Dec 31, 22:44
lee on And Then What?: “i agree the general public are not being informed of the link between our animal/processed food diet and the tsunami…” Dec 31, 22:39
Young Lochinvar on And Then What?: “I think what is ironic is Westminsters dissing of Scotland yet it’s apoplectic knicker wetting hysterical reaction to the possibility…” Dec 31, 22:35
Dan on And Then What?: “LOL. Cure for cancer gets a down vote. There’s simply no denying that some humans are absolute fucking roasters.” Dec 31, 22:27
sarah on And Then What?: “Well done, Dan – it is very nice to read a success story.” Dec 31, 22:25
Derek on And Then What?: “I wouldn’t be surprised if it was them! Just haven’t heard their name mentioned. Been swimming in the Forth on…” Dec 31, 22:24
sam on And Then What?: “Best wishes, George. A debate is needed on the NHS. I second Geri’s remarks upthread.” Dec 31, 22:20
gregor on And Then What?: ““Earlier my whellie bin blew over” Wow, a very close call (re. wee bit blustery). Thank God you’re safe and…” Dec 31, 22:18
sam on And Then What?: “It isn’t pathetic. It shows the performance of the people in Scotland’s NHS is better than the performance of England’s…” Dec 31, 22:13
Wullie B on And Then What?: “Most of them are likely up in the e fishing stronghold North East of Scotland, taking votes from the Toerags” Dec 31, 22:12
Young Lochinvar on And Then What?: “What a silly post. Lothian and much of “Northumbria” was no more English than the Faroes till wrested from local…” Dec 31, 22:08
Dan on And Then What?: “It was just topical application Sarah. Though I am sure a decent does of oral Vit C either in tablet…” Dec 31, 21:59
Young Lochinvar on And Then What?: “You are being far too kind!! What an absolute ignoramous Fifth columnist. Wonder how his views would go down if…” Dec 31, 21:52
Geri on And Then What?: “Yes – correct & especially since 2014 unionists weaponised NHS Scotland & drowned out all discussion by confusing the issue…” Dec 31, 21:50
Young Lochinvar on And Then What?: “New State? Then who signed the act of Union? A phantasm?? You are making this up as you are going…” Dec 31, 21:46
George Ferguson on And Then What?: “Thanks for your comment Dan I always appreciate your input. I prefer to rely on years of medical study and…” Dec 31, 21:44
sarah on And Then What?: “Did you swallow the vit C tablet, Dan? Also I’m interested in the ivermectin. My husband has polymyalgia and some…” Dec 31, 21:39
Young Lochinvar on And Then What?: “Game, set and match Geri! We should find out who (if qualified) Aidan works for and bear this back and…” Dec 31, 21:38
Sven on And Then What?: “When the best defence we can make of a public service is that someone else does it worse, that’s just…” Dec 31, 21:35
Geri on And Then What?: “I know one that’s going to New Zealand. (Radiography) She’s young & has a young family so the worlds her…” Dec 31, 21:34
Young Lochinvar on And Then What?: “300 years.. What different does that make? The Soviet Union split somewhat sooner than that and nobody contested it, not…” Dec 31, 21:21
Dan on And Then What?: “Soz to hear you’re still waiting for treatment. TBH in my experience doctors could do a bit more for the…” Dec 31, 21:17
Geri on And Then What?: “LOL! Earlier my whellie bin blew over. You should’ve seen the destruction tae my gravel. I was just about to…” Dec 31, 21:15
