In the modern political world, you don’t get anywhere without a movement, and movements don’t get anywhere without a flag. So we’ve decided it’s time to take action and stand up for a very large group of people who are genuinely discriminated against and significantly disadvantaged in our society.
Here’s their symbol.
Today is July 1st, and we officially, on behalf of all our oppressed kinfolk, declare this to be People Who Aren’t Eligible For A Railcard Pride Month.
I was going to write this article yesterday, but 2024’s miserable damp squib of a summer unexpectedly delivered a beautiful day – a perfect 20C of unbroken sunshine with a refreshing slight breeze – so I went for a nice walk instead.
Rather than my usual bird-feeding and bear-patrolling beat along the river and canal, I headed off on what used to be my standard summer stroll: up the long steep hill to Beckford’s Tower and its associated cemetery with stunning views over the city.
I’ll scatter a few pics from the walk throughout this feature, as otherwise I’m afraid it’s going to be a bit depressing and angering.
There are now just 10 days until the general election. Wings has never told its readers how to vote and we’re not going to start now. Which is lucky, because if we were, we wouldn’t have a clue how to.
Just, y’know, not for any of these wretched, worthless shiters.
When you’ve been watching Scotland playing football for 50 years of your life, you become accustomed to disappointment. You expect disappointment. Anything better than disappointment becomes a bonus.
Having solved cat hunger in Greece, the tireless Holiday Boy has now turned his hand to addressing Scotland’s crippling golfing shortage, so we’ve got a different sort of cartoon again for you this weekend.
The clip below is from a 1981 arcade videogame called Venture, by Exidy, in which you play a cheerful character called Winky on a mission to loot treasure from a series of monster-infested dungeons.
For the purposes of this article the treasure in the room above, which takes the form of a castle tower, represents Scottish politics. The room itself is the Union.
The SNP released their general election manifesto today. We’re not going to link you to it, because we don’t want to be responsible for wasting your time. This is everything it has to say on the party’s (cough) strategy for achieving independence.
It deserves much, much less respect than we’re giving it. Tomorrow, ice lolly reviews.
We’re still trying not to pay attention to the election because it’s so tedious and awful and pointless, but this is worth putting on the record because it’s in The National and otherwise nobody’s going to read it.
Holiday Boy has of course chosen the general election campaign to spend the next three weeks feeding stray cats somewhere sunny, so here’s a cartoon by the brilliant webcomicname that summarises the Baillie Gifford story for anyone joining us late.
January 2018, with no general election due for four and a half years: “I very rarely talk about Scottish independence in the chamber, because I talk about things that matter”
June 2024, with an election in four weeks and a £91,346 salary, expenses and pension at stake: “ROBERT THE BRUCE! BANNOCKBURN! DECLARATION OF ARBROATH! FLOWER OF SCOTLAND! FREEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOMMMM!”
Wally Jumblatt on Believers In The Ruins: “I really don’t care if in 1632 or quarter to eight some treaty or law was passed. Since don’t have…” Aug 14, 14:49
Hatey McHateface on Believers In The Ruins: ““Scotland absorbed, annexed, incorporated is actually how the world sees it and many English do also” Aye, TURABDIN, just like…” Aug 14, 14:11
Captain Caveman on Anatomy Of A Grift: ““Plus any attempt to discuss a subject btl just gets relentless trolling from obvious disruptors to the point few can…” Aug 14, 13:46
Captain Caveman on Anatomy Of A Grift: ““trannyism is deadly boring” Yeah, it’s only “deadly boring” if you don’t have a wife, daughters, granddaughters, dear female friends;…” Aug 14, 13:41
TURABDIN on Believers In The Ruins: “Scotland absorbed, annexed, incorporated is actually how the world sees it and many English do also. A face to face…” Aug 14, 13:40
Hatey McHateface on Anatomy Of A Grift: “As always, it needs to be pointed out that the alternative to the NHS needn’t be an “American style” system.…” Aug 14, 13:25
Confused on Believers In The Ruins: “that was an odd segue into footy about halfway; don’t knock it, it gives joy to many people www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrgJ_-stYHw anyway,…” Aug 14, 12:51
Confused on Anatomy Of A Grift: “trannyism is deadly boring and only becomes interesting once you realise what it is all connected to; it is not…” Aug 14, 12:47
aLurker on Believers In The Ruins: “@Breeks. I always enjoy your posts, but this one has prompted me to respond. I am assuming that you are…” Aug 14, 12:22
Spartan 117 on Believers In The Ruins: “A good post that accurately sums up many of the problems in the West currently. Although along with HMcH I…” Aug 14, 12:21
Hatey McHateface on Anatomy Of A Grift: ““I’ll take the gammon over the quinoa every time” An unforgettable classic line! Hoping I can re-use it occasionally with…” Aug 14, 12:05
Stevie on Believers In The Ruins: “As Reform does better, amplified by the likelihood that pro-indy voters won’t be actually motivated to go vote for the…” Aug 14, 11:55
Aidan on Anatomy Of A Grift: “Probably also worth pointing out that the trans issue IS one of the most important issues in Scottish politics, both;…” Aug 14, 11:27
Rev. Stuart Campbell on Anatomy Of A Grift: “Since we started covering gender, something like 5% of Wings posts have been on the subject, so the idea that…” Aug 14, 11:19
Hatey McHateface on Believers In The Ruins: ““we welcome the soporific effect of mindless, tribal politics” You got that right. “In the West, we live in a…” Aug 14, 11:12
Aidan on Believers In The Ruins: “This was considered by the UN in 1954 and a decision was taken that Scotland would not be listed as…” Aug 14, 11:09
Hatey McHateface on Believers In The Ruins: ““I must remember to keep repeating that” You must, sam, and tae hell wi the environment. Let it burn! One…” Aug 14, 11:07
100%Yes on Believers In The Ruins: “Senior Police Accuse Prosecutors of Master-Servant Power Dynamic After Peter Murrell Scandal youtube.com/watch?v=rY9LqiAk1M4” Aug 14, 10:41
James Che on Believers In The Ruins: “Claiming UDI from a Colony,? uK general elections in Scotland when the Scottish parliament was dissolved from the parliament of…” Aug 14, 10:04
Vivian O’Blivion on Believers In The Ruins: “Marx said; “religion is the opium of the people”. In the West, we live in a post religious world. In…” Aug 14, 10:02
James Che on Believers In The Ruins: “Correction to last post, Meant to say over 3 hundred years,” Aug 14, 09:55
sam on Believers In The Ruins: “Professor Robert Black KC has said that Scotland was effectively annexed into England and ceased to exist as a sovereign…” Aug 14, 09:55
Hatey McHateface on Believers In The Ruins: “Ah, TURABDIN, aren’t you an exile in a foreign land, your ancestral home a pile of rubble, hostile strangers picking…” Aug 14, 09:55
James Che on Believers In The Ruins: “Breeks, I admire your post yesterday and you’re efforts to sort out a new Scotland from its problems, which is…” Aug 14, 09:53
James Che on Believers In The Ruins: “With the articles of a treaty if real, being ignored as old guff by the Westminster parliament, it only leaves…” Aug 14, 09:42
Hatey McHateface on Believers In The Ruins: “Any potential “leader” intending to bring the fight to the “enemy” must be immediately sidelined. This is the 21st century,…” Aug 14, 09:39