The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland

Author Archive


The unpalatable harvest 211

Posted on August 28, 2014 by

One of the most commonly-observed facets of the independence referendum so far has been the lack of a real grassroots “Better Together” campaign, and as a historian of Scottish popular politics I’ve found myself pondering why there wasn’t one.

togetheralone3

It’s not like there aren’t thousands of Scots who passionately believe in the Union and will be voting No, and are perfectly capable of arguing their case. We all know some – I certainly do, both family and friends. But there’s no organised grassroots campaigning of any serious note. Tiny handfuls of Labour activists, some of them shipped up from England and paid, have done almost all of the donkey work so far.

But as a historian of Scottish popular politics I should have an explanation, shouldn’t I? And when I had a think about it, something occurred to me.

Read the rest of this entry →

Tags:
Category analysis, comment, culture, history, scottish politics

  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a thing that exists.

    Stats: 6,979 Posts, 1,251,259 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

    and finally and firstly arithmetic fail braveheart klaxon britnats captain darling cartoons Chris Cairns confused cringe crybabies dateline debates Devo Nano Federalists Unionists and Devolutionists flat-out lies foreigner watch from the archives fundraisers galleries Greg Moodie hamish hypocrisy liars light-hearted banter lizards memogate misinformation one nation perspectives poll project fear project feart qft Scott Minto smears snp accused soapbox the positive case for the union The Vow ticktock toldyouso too wee too poor too stupid unionist of the day vote no get nothing

  • Recent Comments

    • Confused on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “come on now, Dan – everything Scotland runs on must come through Carlisle on a lorry. That way if the…” Sep 17, 12:24
    • Confused on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “yeah I am sure this lawfare will work this time negotiating the legal system in Scotland is easy – apply…” Sep 17, 12:21
    • Dan on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: ““The Port of Rosyth is an important asset for Scotland and we are committed to exploring a number of business…” Sep 17, 12:03
    • BLMac on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “When you see so much prevarification, you know there was not just one bad apple. The whole basketful is rotten.…” Sep 17, 11:27
    • TimePilot on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Police Scotland’s response to FOI requests within the 20 working days timescale is abysmal. I might submit a FOI to…” Sep 17, 09:16
    • James Che on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “I surmise that the SNP have also dedicated themselves to the people/ subjects within Scotland as they are a Scottish…” Sep 17, 09:13
    • James Che on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Do the Subjects within Scotland pay out of….their private incomes within Scotland for the Police or Crown offices in Scotland.…” Sep 17, 08:57
    • James Che on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Stu, The Law Society of Scotland, 2007. Article XV 111 private Rights. Which is unalterable by the parliament of Great…” Sep 17, 08:38
    • Willie on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Maybe Big John Swinney, assuming he’s not in pokey too, could have his old mucker Murrell back in post helping…” Sep 17, 08:37
    • Captain Caveman on Like Responsible Citizens Do: “Multiple posters take the time and trouble to objectively, politely, patiently and provably show that Alf Baird is plain wrong…” Sep 17, 08:24
    • Spartan 117 on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “I see some firey Greek madam absolutely tore Empress VDL a new ring in the EU Talking Shop, sans lube.…” Sep 17, 08:09
    • James Che on Fear And Favour: “Aidan, The dates that I have provided are facts, They are information, The facts are from Westminster parliament own site.…” Sep 17, 07:46
    • Aidan on Like Responsible Citizens Do: ““General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples” General Assembly resolutions are…” Sep 17, 06:07
    • PhilM on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “I see now why I was confused. I read ‘taking a punt’ as metaphorical and the person taking a punt…” Sep 16, 22:13
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “‘POWER, CORRUPTION & LIES’ Bit of research on article title ‘A THOUSAND ISLANDS IN THE SEA’. Line from ‘Leave Me…” Sep 16, 21:59
    • Hatey McHateface on Like Responsible Citizens Do: “@ Alf Baird says: 16 September, 2026 at 7:34 pm I responded to your post with a cut and paste…” Sep 16, 21:57
    • Hatey McHateface on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Because in the hypothetical, decent, respectable, law abiding Scotland, the idea that Murrell will be out of prison, while the…” Sep 16, 21:46
    • Slim Jim on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Stick it to them Rev!” Sep 16, 21:41
    • PhilM on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Why would it be a smart move?” Sep 16, 20:33
    • Hatey McHateface on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Slightly off topic perhaps, but as Murrell was sentenced to a bit over 5 years, how long will he actually…” Sep 16, 20:17
    • Rev. Stuart Campbell on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “😀” Sep 16, 19:58
    • Rev. Stuart Campbell on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “No, I haven’t removed anything.” Sep 16, 19:58
    • Alf Baird on Like Responsible Citizens Do: ““the framework that actually exists”, irrespective of UN reform: General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) Declaration on the Granting of Independence…” Sep 16, 19:44
    • Alf Baird on Like Responsible Citizens Do: “Why always so negative Hatey, anyone would think you were against Scottish independence/decolonization, such is your haste to dismiss even…” Sep 16, 19:34
    • Aidan on Like Responsible Citizens Do: “Actually, what Northcode said is that these are facts, and not subjective viewpoints, and Northcode is right about that. I…” Sep 16, 19:32
    • Northcode on Like Responsible Citizens Do: ““As you imply, these are largely your subjective viewpoints.” I think you may have misunderstood the nature of the points…” Sep 16, 19:15
    • Hatey McHateface on Like Responsible Citizens Do: ““Hence a major restructuring of the UN is expected” If so, nobody’s writing about it in the news feeds I…” Sep 16, 18:59
    • Hatey McHateface on Fear And Favour: ““you just slink away” Odd, Confused, other regulars like to accuse me of being here 24/7. “if I could be…” Sep 16, 18:56
    • Alf Baird on Like Responsible Citizens Do: “As you imply, these are largely your subjective viewpoints, which as one can see lack definitive sources. They also assume…” Sep 16, 18:42
    • Aidan on Like Responsible Citizens Do: “Yes absolutely – within the current framework of international law there is no route to Scotland being designated as an…” Sep 16, 18:29

  • A tall tale



↑ Top