Behind the walls
An ongoing exception to this site’s retirement is for news relating to the scandalous imprisonment of journalist and former UK ambassador Craig Murray, the only human in the history of the planet Earth ever to be jailed for the barely-defined pseudo-crime of “jigsaw identification”.
We had another phone call from Craig in HMP Edinburgh yesterday, and he continues to be in good spirits and be well treated by both staff and fellow inmates. He expressed great gratitude for the flood of mail sent by Wings readers in response to our appeal a couple of weeks ago – he’s been receiving up to 60 letters, emails and packages a day, which have been very much appreciated in helping him pass the 22.5 hours out of every 24 that he spends locked alone in his cell.
The prison authorities, however, imposed some bizarre restrictions.
Craig has been unable to reply to many letters because the prison has refused him access to stamps, on the bewildering grounds that he might use them as currency to buy drugs. He was also initially denied the books that many readers sent him, also on drugs grounds. (Apparently some people soak the pages in illegal substances, and the prisoner then smokes them.)
Happily the latter situation was resolved via a compromise by which Craig has donated all the books to the prison library and the library is then allowed to lend them to him, presumably because while drug use in prison may be rife, the non-return of library books would be considered beyond the pale.
With prisoners generally released after serving half their sentence, Craig is now a quarter of the way through his likely incarceration, which means he has three-quarters to go. He would be very grateful if people continued to write to him, and will now also be able to read any books you send him. He apologises to anyone he hasn’t replied to, through circumstances outwith his control, and hopes to also have that situation resolved sometime soon.
His address is:
157095 C Murray
G3/34 HM Prison Edinburgh
33 Stenhouse Road
Edinburgh
EH11 3LN
Alternatively you can email him via the officially-sanctioned Email A Prisoner service. This costs 40p per message, but Craig can reply and video chats are even possible (although sending photo attachments is NOT allowed at HMP Edinburgh).
I hope Craig received a copy of my book that I sent him, ‘Doun-Hauden’ (i.e. ‘oppressed’).
I just don’t recognise Sturgeon’s Scotland. She has shamed us all with Craig Murray’s imprisonment.
It just makes me so sad that this is what our country has become. Thank god for people like you and Craig.
Mr Campbell
Your descriptions (I’m terrified to use a different word in case int gets misinterpreted in this Alice in Hell world that we now live in) are very useful. I can n ow think of books tbat Craig might like to read which could be could for the prison library too.
You know as utterly disgraceful as this imprisonment is, I could perhaps accept it being justifiable of contempt of court if all the other media reporters were sharing a prison cell with Craig.
I believe that’s the worst part of all of this the selective prosecution of Craig.
That’s what scares me, I hope should independence finally come one day that this mockery of justice is not only over turned but compensation paid to Craig’s family – and that the entire justice system is overhauled.
But with the cabal in power with their media lackies I fear that day will never come.
I thought the prison would have used a franking machine, frankly. I knew chocolate was the currency of choice in the big hoose, but never knew that they used stamps.
Murray’s state prisoner status and this never ending Covid crap
https://archive.is/8ytxU
make you detest politicians and all their works.
Those who elect them should exercise more caution in handing over power to such self-serving careerists.
https://i.imgflip.com/4dj9zv.jpg
Circuit breaker, ball breaker, mind controller.
I sent Craig a copy of ‘Les Miserables’ the most up to date translation by Victor Hugo, which is by far the best translation to date.
The book contains a description on the Battle of Waterloo which stayed with me long after the narrative story faded. Hugo visited the battle field just days after the battle ended.
The Scots were there of course and singled out by Hugo, in the book, for their bravery. It is just unfortunate that we were fighting on the wrong side, unlike when we fought with Joan of Arc against the English.
I have also sent Craig a card and will continue to write to him. I am sure no-one is expecting a reply so please tell Craig not to worry about that!
What a god-forsaken country we live in that the charlatans against Salmond, had a judge given lifetime anonymity order and kept their high paid jobs, coorie-ing doon with those two great imposters, ‘Mr & Mrs’ Murrell.
History will right this wrong. The truth will out, even if it is, like the McCrone Report, after they are all dead. They will be known forever only for their perfidy, in time. The truth always rises, like a fragile air bubble from the depths of the oceans, but completely unstoppable by all the oceans’ might.
It’s sad to see how Scotland has descended into a pathetic woke banana state. In fact it has become, under Sturgeon, just what Westminster desires. Infinitely powerless, mostly full of the most venal and mediocre politicians anywhere. Life expectancy has fallen, with education standards offering abysmal results compared to elsewhere in Europe. History won’t be kind to the New SNP.
Craig reported to me that they have also confiscated his oximeter which he uses to assess the severity of dizzy spells relating to his lung and heart problems.
The justification was that devices containing batteries are not permitted.
Wings have certainly earned their Wings ! Good on you Stu !
Like everyone else I feel heart-sick at the thought of what Craig is going through. It’s hard to accept that Scotland could sink so low in such a short time. But I’m thankful that everyone is keeping in touch with him. That will surely help him through this dreadful ordeal – the knowledge he has many friends.
Its good to read that Craig Murray is okay.
Rev thanks for the update, and can I ask if will you extend the Wings end date if Craig hasn’t been released before it comes around ?
Yes, I received a reply with this info. There must surely be an exception to the rule with an SAE? How? in the name of the wee man can an envelope addressed to me have any value? . I’m going to try with a royal mail pre purchased label, that might help . So, i’ll go online, buy a label from me, to me….. Is that possible I wonder? Soon find out! ? Stand by Craig, more drivel incoming!!
Good to hear that Craig will only have to serve half his term but of course he shouldnae be in prison and his sentence will be overturned retrospectively if there’s any good in the world.
Thank you for the update, Stuart. It’s much appreciated, as I’m sure most of us are keen to hear how Craig is bearing up. Seems to be he is doing okay and I’m really happy about that. Most of all, I’m glad to know that his fellow inmates are treating him well. I suspected that might be so (even these folks couldn’t fail to recognise the unfair treatment of Craig & express it in their own way ie refuse to intimidate him or make his life hell, as they undoubtedly could. Fair dues to them.)
My contribution (a 9 page letter) is on its way & I’m already keeping my eye out for snippets of political shenanigans with which to regale him in the next one. I must remember not to soak it in… ooops!
Thanks for keeping your blog open re Craig and giving the updates. I’m really pleased that Craig’s sacrifice to democracy & the price he’s paying, hasn’t been forgotten (I don’t mean you personally, sir but people in general). But then… I never believed the good folks here would do that. But it’s still good to know. Take care & thanks again.
Thanks a lot Stu for letting us know how Craig is coping.
Much appreciated.
Does Craig receive any & all postcards that are sent to him?
Will the last people to quit Sturjonistan remember to put the light out…save energy, the NHS, the planet and all that.
Afghanistan is looking an alternative option. Pistachios, pomegranates, grapes nice food..
https://flavorverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Afghan-Foods.jpg
If you dont enjoy being muzzled https://www.thehighlandsun.com/news/international/20261/as-afghans-try-to-figure-out-talibans-new-rules-burqas-are-barometer-of-sorts/
then maybe not….too much like «home».
Much thanks to rev. Stu and wings for keeping an eye on the peculiarities that seemingly offers the only chances for prison staff to entertain themselves with, apart from tucking their forelock to the rank judicial authorities they serve.
Craig will come out a stronger man and I can almost hear the sound of his pen on paper as he designs a new Independence movement which has now thankfully split into Westminster chaff and the real thing.
I hope that the police Scotland interviews of 400 Indy members with regards to finding evidence of the money’s lost are going well and that such funding, if not frittered away on important political sexual policies our new Green ministers are being held in high regards about.
That this Green tinging is just another set of cloth for the SNP to look good at the Cop26 later this year, is barely disguised hearsay. Sadly, the Green MSP’s carry no crux with the Common weal green plan for communities, which they could easily adopt for an instant resolve for communities to go ahead with, rather than carry on and wait until some arbitrary future date, as they never set their eyes on a green plan of their own.
Keep writing to Craig, its the best thing for his moral,imho.
take care all.
And he’s not allowed jigsaws, either!!!
Stu, I thought I read somewhere that because Craig is deemed a civil prisoner that he didn’t qualify for early release. I know nowt of these things so perhaps you could clarify?
Rev, many thanks for passing on this information about poor Craig. It is some comfort to know that you are having regular chats with him on the phone.
A question: do you know if any action is being taken to obtain early release on health grounds? I mentioned in my email to Craig this week that I had emailed Keith Brown “Justice” Minister and Maree Todd about it, and plan to email Kate Forbes and others idc.
I have since received a reply from Ronnie Fraser, Criminal Law, Practice and Licensing Unit, St Andrews House, explaining that COPFS and the courts are “operationally independent of the Scottish Government” so the Ministers I wrote to are unable to comment on the cases I raised.
When I stop laughing about COPFS’ supposedly independent status I will have to respond to Mr Fraser, I suppose.
Expect some of this during «COP26»
https://archive.is/WJQmb
«She» will be aiming to be the prophetess at this gathering of the righteous.
Create a wasteland for dissent and it shall be called Safe. Amen!
Yes, I received a reply with this info. There must surely be an exception to the rule with an SAE? How? in the name of the wee man can an envelope addressed to me have any value? . I’m going to try with a royal mail pre purchased label, that might help . So, i’ll go online, buy a label from me, to me….. Is that possible I wonder? Soon find out! ? Stand by Craig, more drivel incoming!!
So Sturgeon the Betrayer of Scots is bumping her gums on Afghanistan, saying that the UK must take more than 20,000 Afghans, if she’s so concerned about folk being mistreated abroad then why isn’t she crying out for the UK to take refugees from the likes of Saudi Arabia, or Yemen, or Bahrain or Qatar or Oman, all of which are brutal regimes.
The answer is simple the UK government is in bed with these oppressive dictatorships.
The city of Glasgow is filthy, there’s rubbish strewn everywhere, the rat population is on the rise. you can’t get proper access to a doctor or dentist unless you are prepared to pay, ambulances are queuing up outside hospitals to drop their patients off and A&E waiting times are at there longest, the latter is thanks to Health secretary Humza Yousaf, who spends his days in the office thinking up ways to further restrict freedom of speech in Scotland.
Libraries are being closed, as are community rooms that elderly folk rely on even if just see another person that day, but hey we’ve got multiple cycle lanes in the city that are hardly used.
One can only wonder what the world leaders will make of Glasgow when they (ironically) jet in to the city this November, as hotels and the folk willing to let their flats out for the event, charge preposterous fees for those with an interest in following or reporting on the COP26 when they too come to Glasgow.
we’ll be 20 years with the SNP by the end of the term and the prison system seems as bas as ever.
All my support to Craig Murray.
As I was saying,
In The fables of a kingdom not faraway.
the powerful voice boomed across the divide, and spoke with a word impediment, and sometimes used spoonerisms.
EWE ARE NOT THE FIRFT PERWITHINGER WE HAVE TAKEN FOR TOCKING.
BUTT EWE WILBE THE OTHER WAN.
THE FIRFT WAN SLOWLY LOOSES HIS MIND AND WILL DIE SLOWLY ALONE.
But madem, your ladyship it was not I ……started the little voice.
QUITE,
EWE ARE NOT MENT TO SQUEAK. KNOR MENT TO BE HERD.
AS WITH OTHER PEEPOLS IN CASE THEY BISS AND HOO.
WE WILL NOT HEAR ANY REASTHONBLE ARGUMONTS FROM EWE
SO! I ASKETH EWE AGAIN?
DID YOU FIXTH THE PUZZUL TOGETHER?
No, it was not I’ said the little voice,
“WELL EWE NEARLY SAIDTH IT.
No, I didn’t.
WELL EWE MIGHTAV?
No I wouldn’t.
WELL EWE CUDAV.
But I did not you’re ladyship.
BUT EWE THOUGHT IT DID EWE KNOT.
It was not me, it was the big boys and girls that suggested it.
MEIN IES ARE FOCCOTHED ON EWE! EWE AREY THE TARGET. THEY ARE INNOCENT, SO I WILL IGKNOR THAT PINGER FOINTING.
ENUFF SQUEAKING,
EWE WILL BEECOM OWER PERWITHINGER IN OWER DUJEONS AND WILL NOT PASS GO OR COLLECT £200, CE ANYWAN, NOR KOMUMICATE WITH THE OUTSIDE KINGDOM, THAR SHALL BE NO BREE FOOK KEEPING, THERE SHALL BE NO SPARE AVENVENUES TO HEAR EWE SQUEEK.
AND OTHER KINGDOMS GOT TO HEAR HOW THE WICKED WITCH DAD ALLOWED LITTLE VOICE BOXES TO BE IN DUNJEONS WITH NO HELP.
Mr Jack and Co might want to take a moment to reflect on how Westminster treats its supporters and place men in Afghanistan when they lose power and have no use for them.
He might find himself looking for a flight to anywhere that might have him.
Republicofscotland @ 27 August, 2021 at 4:16 pm
“The city of Glasgow is filthy, there’s rubbish strewn everywhere, the rat population is on the rise.”
Nothing different from any other time in Glasgow’s history.
“(Y)ou can’t get proper access to a doctor or dentist unless you are prepared to pay”
Really you know that for a fact,pay to see a GP I don’t think so. My wife must be making a fortune and not telling me, she is a GP by the way. Dentists on other hand, well most folk had to pay anyway.
Where did you get your information from that you had to pay for a visit to the GP? Whoever it was I believe are lying.
Thanks for the information Stuart , at least Craig will have the dubious pleasure and won’t be telling lies when his fellow prisoners ask him what he’s in for and he responds “i’m innocent guys” because in ANY SANE WORLD he is
Another well written piece from Stuart Campbell. I’ve never met Craig Murray but it sounds as if he’s accepted his lot for now and is keeping a level head. Stuart Cambell supports him by giving him a voice among his supporters and injects his own measured amount of humour, which I think is appropriate just now.
@ Ian Hart 4.57pm , Ian I am a born weegie , born in the suffering general in 1951, a true Govanite tenement dweller, moved to Easterhouse for better housing but liebour forgot about shops,doctors,dentists and schools tammany hall were busy with brown envelopes
I was incandescent when after the city of culture celebrations were over they ransacked and demolished all the good building work that had been done , the typical story of Glasgow
I cannot speak for having to pay for doctors but I can agree with ROS that many areas of Glasgow are like shite tips but as you say so also are many other towns and cities in Scotland, but Nikla is too busy poncing about and looking after her friends in the taliban trannies green party to even contemplate improving Scotland for its citizens
@ David Gray at 3.23pm
You may have read that Craig is being held as a civil prisoner rather than a criminal prisoner in the following article.
“Craig is doing okay a week and a half into his eight-month sentence in Saughton and is being treated well by both staff and inmates, but was recently informed that he is not eligible for early release on an electronic tag (which might have seen him out by the end of next month) because he’s a civil prisoner rather than a criminal one.”
https://wingsoverscotland.com/locking-hands/
Ah well arrested, charged and thereafter released on an undertaking to appear in court, it has just been announced that all charges against Gillian Sturgeon have been dropped.
Clearly the Lord moves in mysterious ways with divine intervention very much in play at the Crown Office Prosecution Service. Either that or maybe the First Minister pulled a few strings.
All in all the stench of suspicion wafts around the Crown Office and the political establishment.
And meanwhile Bro Humza and or his partner Mrs El-Akla, and lawyer sidekick Bro Aamer Anwar are progressing court action reported to be being raised against the Little Scholars Nursery under the Equalities Act.
Responding to fake enquiries initiated from three applicants with Muslim sounding ethnic names and to fake enquiries from mothers with non ethnic names it is being reported that the Daily Record and Mrs El-Akla have no option but to proceed with court action against the nursery for damage occasioned to Mrs El-Nakra and her daughter Amal Yousaf.
Between Sturgeon’s sister and Yousaf’s partner what a shit show Scotland has become – and in the case of the Little Scholars Nursery maybe someone will do a crowd funder to help them get to the bottom of the allegations of racism. Scotland is clearly a country ill at ease with itself.
Thanks Stuart for the update. Chin up Craig we’re thinking of you.
Does anyone know if you can hand deliver books to Saughton?
The weird thing about the nursery thing is that as soon as they got a refusal they immediately jumped to the conclusion that it was due to racism.
Ian @4.57pm.
Ian.
I’ve been told that its mainly a call back from a doctor, and on the pay thingy, I should’ve been a bit more clearer, I meant if you need an operation (in which already 270,000 planned ops have been cancelled), that going private is a quicker prospect, or so my neighbours have said through their experiences.
Dan says@5.35pm
I was just being polite in not asking Rev why he was now contradicting himself by saying Craig would be eligible for early release when he previously said he wouldn’t. Just being polite.
@willie – Scottish law is stumbling from one nadir moment to the next nadir moment. They’re all nadir moments. Wrecked by Holyrood – misfeasance by the SNP and disinterest from all the rest of them. Gordon Dangerfield himself said that it is now a living breathing organ of the SNP, so what do you expect? The law is as good as dead in Scotland; it’s wobbling on its foundations and I think we all know that. The law in Scotland is now something you run away from, not something you run towards.
Really good to hear Craig is baring up .
The one single person who has his been responsible for his imprisonment is our very own British government employee agent Sturgeon and her circle of closet freaks , I doubt if she will ever do a walk about and pose for selfies like she used to do real Independence supporters would probably spit on her ,
Meanwhile on the dogging site that attracts every baffled pensioner around they still dream of the old days when the SNP had a moral compass and stood for something
Aye way back in the mist of time a lot of people trusted them but most normal people learn from their mistakes, not the fairies on that site they are probably unable to tell you what day it is because the same pointless disc takes place every fkn day it’s like believing in the tooth fairy and looking under the pillow every night not for money for their fkn teeth .thats if they can work out why they are in that room in the first place .
Any fancy having a discussion about books and the sort of books they are sending Craig?
I was thinking comedy would be good.
Maybe even some children’s books like ‘Horrid Henry’ they always made me laugh when I was reading them to children. The Christmas Play was my favourite.
Anyone read the ‘Little Village School’ by Gervase Phinn a friend thought that was a great series. Light & Funny.
He has a book entitled ‘The Virgin Mary’s Got Nits’
School Christmas plays are always fun!
Maybe some chic lit/romantic comedy. Good to experience all sorts of different genres. Something like Janet Evanovich’s “Stephanie Plum
series”. The books have titles like ‘One for the Money’ ‘Two for the Dough’ “Three to Get Deadly’ etc etc etc etc They are very funny and the titles don’t seem like chick lit so might be OK in a men’s prison.
So I think I’ll go for one Horrid Henry, the first book in the Gervase Gervase Phin-Little Village School series & the first book in the Stephanie Plum series ‘One for the Money’
I’ll try to hand them into Saughton to save postage and if I get positive feedback and I’ll send book 2 in both series and another Horrid Henry.
I am reminded of a Nelson Mandela quote, “In my country you have to go to prison before you become President”
@Tannadice Boy – I’m getting-on very well now and I’ll know in 3-4 weeks. It’s all been thanks to the bloggers.
Mandela had a hard edge that Murray doesn’t have and, sadly, I don’t think Murray’s honesty gets you anywhere in Scotland nowadays.
I just hope Judge Leeona June Dorrian and Alex Prentice QC are nowhere near the Marion Millar case coming up on 31st August.
Stamps as prison currency? Maybe if they’re dealing in Penny Black’s otherwise its bullshit typical of a bone headed prison governor. Either through the ranks-crawler- or fast tracked – chancer – its a typical bullshit ” security” argument.
I just abused every prison governor in Scotland there. Nice.
@ David Gray at 6.49: “not qualify for early release?”.
Not with a tag, was the qualification – Craig could have been out in 4 weeks with a tag but only criminals get the benefit. You would have to laugh if it wasn’t so ironic.
But Stu is now referring to the fact that prisoners in general are released half-way through their sentence. If that is the case then Craig will be released after 4 months.
@Captain Yossarian 7:27pm
I would agree the bloggers have done well. If I was to expand, I would say that Stu is the last bastion of free speech in Scotland. It’s a bit rough and tumble at times but a great source of information. On the comparison between Mandela and Murray. I can’t comment. I may have met Murray, I definitely haven’t met Mandela. My comment was meant as a comfort to Murray when he is eventually released and he reads these comments.
ROS @ 4.16
COP26 Glesga will be a carefully choreographed Holyrood Bollywood production , all smiling faces and elbow-bumping pantomime swathed in green mist .
The endemic , generational poverty and strife , opoid and alcohol ravaged ” Schemes ” , the prolonged abandonment of the disadvantaged will not be part of the itinerary .We can be certain of that .
Equally certain is that any * commitments * * bravely * agreed upon by the Progressive Politburo will not impact greatly on their own comfortable lifestyles but on those who can least afford it .
Glasgow Smiles Bitter . The Old Normal
Crowd funder for a franking machine?
@Tannadice Boy – Mandela was some sort of enforcer when he was a young guy. God love him – he was committed all-right. He calmed right down, all those years wasted in jail, and became a father-figure for a whole worldwide generation. I can only share your opinion of Stuart Campbell. Today, once again, his article is balanced, with edge to it and with some sarcastic humour.
@Captain Yossarian 8:46pm
Agreed about Mandela and about Stu. I enjoy when Stu drills down on the facts but also his playful side. Unfortunately I don’t think we will have him much longer.
@ Ruby at 7.04: books for Craig.
I have asked him if he likes the sound of P F Chalmers series based on a real 16th century person, Robert Carey – they are amusing as well as historically interesting. I was going to wait for his reply but now I know he is donating them to the library I think I will send them anyway.
Rev Stu’s commitment to Scottish independence is without doubt.
I feel that there will be developments over the next few months, that will “gird his loins”. Hope so, onnyhoo.
@Brian Doonthetoon 9:05pm
I hope so. He is fundamental to the cause. But he is also pretty good. I won’t say anymore or he will be on the Turkish Delight Gin. I wasn’t planning to join Alba but your relentless positivity has got me thinking. I was burned by the SNP, once bitten twice shy. We will see. We need a gamechanger.
Ruby @ 6.07.
The racism call is an easy card to call. And call it Bro Yousaf and his partner most certainly seem to be doing.
The law is a weapon in the hands of many people people. It can and is it appears now being very much used as a weapon, malignly applied – and now it seems, the law is being used against a popular Dundee nursery because Mister Yousaf and his partner did not get a slot for their child.
Well they’ve called the nursery, its staff, and indeed by implication the parents and children who go to the nursery racist. Racists sending there children to a racist nursery. That is a very serious allegation.
A madrassa for non Muslim racists? Well that’s allegation from Bro Yousaf and or his partner El Nakra and they better be right.
And no, the Daily Record on undercover maneuvers, at the behest of Yousaf or his wife is no back up to the initial allegations.
And all this from a guy whose cousin tried to get selected as a replacement for the sitting MSP in Ayrshire, using a different name, one suspects to distance himself from some murky Islamic centre funding gone wrong regarding unaccounted hundreds of thousands of taxpayer funding.
Or of his partner El-Nakra who too tried to muscle in on a slot as an MSP.
Or what of Bro Yousaf himself. Found in a car some years back with someone not his wife in a car without insurance. Seems he was upset, forgot, wasn’t his fault, or something like that, as he was found guilty and fined something like £500 as I seem to recall.
Yes Ruby, there’s a bad rotten smell to all of this and I don’t think it’s the racist toddlers, their parents, or the nursery.
Let us trust that we get to the truth.
@ David Gray and sarah
From April last year.
https://www.lawscot.org.uk/news-and-events/legal-news/prisoners-to-be-released-early-under-covid-19-scheme/
And from 10 days ago. The Scottish “Government” are now looking to make some Covid 19 Emergency Powers permanent. And those Powers previously included emergency release of prisoners.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-58244323
Maybe this is a factor in potential early release as we aren’t in normal times.
@Robert Hughes 8.26: yes indeed, and, to make matters worse, the rest of us will probably be lock-downed by then.
Oodles of Brownie-points for Imelda of The North, with optional Jimmy Choo opportunities.
Nice stepping-stone to NWO fame and fortune, though.
And so it goes on…..
I understand that it’s Miss Al Nakla who is pursuing the claim- Yousaf is not named as a co Pursuer.
Why ?
Might I suggest that it’s the dawning on Sturgeon the embarrassment it will cause, in that a Govt Minister is throwing his weight around in a hissy fit that his kids didn’t get into a high end nursery?
His public schoolboy entitlement, his money , his ministerial position at the age of 30 odd – never having worked a day in his life outside politics, oh and of course lastly and most powerful of all the “ race card”- yeah you can see how he must have been discriminated against all his life to get where he is now! Goodness knows what this multi talented nonentity might have achieved by now had he not been so mercilessly discriminated against all his short life?-FM?
Let’s also remember that the nursery – which is excellent- owned by Asians – has a multi ethnic staff & multi ethnic kids is not only facing a costly court action- which can only obtain limited damages if successful – £5k max- but is also traduced by the Daily Record – is also “inspected” by Scottish Govt agencies which have no remit in “ discrimination “ matters.-Wonder why?
Yes there is discrimination in nursery placements in Scotland but that discrimination is against poverty- the ordinary working family can’t get near Little Scholars or indeed any other private nursery- they can’t afford it.
What can you do about that Humza?
Tinto Chiel, at 9.40, reiterates the blinding truth – we’re heading for another lockdown.
Watch the footage of that ‘briefing’ today, even dipping in at random, with the sound off, and ask yourself – if either of these characters (Sturgeon, and teacher’s pet, Leitch) appeared at your front door, trying to sell you something, how many seconds would pass before you brought the ‘conversation’ to a close? (If your answer involves a number with more than one digit then you are ‘not wise’.)
They are making it up as they go along. It didn’t matter what they said today – what mattered was that they sounded a ‘warning’. “It’s going to get worse, and we don’t want to do it, but…”
They already know what’s going to happen, but they have to make it look as if they are at the mercy of events. They know where they have to get to, and it doesn’t matter how inept, amateurish or plain dishonest they sound, so long as they get there. And they will, because they have a compliant media to ‘answer’ to, and no-one even vaguely critical of the official narrative is allowed anywhere near a live microphone.
It’s pure theatre. Starring really *really* bad actors.
I have just written to him, I shall send it early tomorrow morning. He is clearly a political prisoner.
Ruby says:
“Any fancy having a discussion about books and the sort of books they are sending Craig?
Maybe even some children’s books like ‘Horrid Henry’ they always made me laugh”
Ruby, you seem like a genuinely nice person – and i know you must mean well, but seriously- Horrid Henry? The man’s a public intellectual – allow him some dignity at least. All items given to a prisoner are opened and inspected by staff first before being handed over – so that in itself would be fairly embarrassing transaction for him.
I was in the company of Terry Waite a number of years ago, and he described his experience of trying to obtain some decent books(the stuff they were giving him were dross).
The hostage takers couldn’t speak English, and he had no knowledge of Arabic and he was getting frustrated trying to describe what he needed. He then managed to get a pencil and paper and drew an oval shape with a little penguin inside – and immediately one of the hostage taker’s face lit up, he ran out and came back later with, what would be the first of many – a Penguin book!
@Veritas 9:46pm
Anybody that has lived in Dundee for more than 5 minutes realises that Broughty Ferry is exclusive. They have always been for decades. In fact they still don’t believe they are part of Dundee. I know Nads, the wrong hill to die on. If you win your discrimination case then mines will be successful a thousand times over.
@Veritas
I’d laugh my tits off if there really was some discrimination involved – but due to different non whites having their own biases also.
@All
Speaking personally – id like to see my kids grow up with mostly other Scottish children and be educated with mostly Scottish children.
Why would it be racist for me to want my children to persist in their own Scottish culture with people who use the same or similar dialect? Without outside religious considerations. Or stepping carefully around other cultural and racial differences?
Why is it so wrong to want to generally be around our own folk and be less comfortable around a hodge podge of different cultures and races all with their own interests and values?
Why is there such an intense effort to insert peoples from all over the world into our society and make it almost illegal for us to prefer our own?
If you think this is racist then let me put it this way with the statement – ‘India needs a large (and growing) percentage of Chinese and Russians living in it and the Indian government should make huge efforts to accommodate them. Indians who think this is stupid and that India should be primarily for Indians are clearly quite backwards.’
Would it be imprudent to write to Lady Dorrian and ask her,politely, why she, uniquely in modern times in civilised countries or any kind of countries, is the only judge to sentence an elderly former ambassador and a man much respected throughout the world, for reporting a case honestly and in compliance with contempt rules?
Oh,for shame,Scotland!
Aye, efter indy thon gey muckle mankit an sleekit unionist slump rinnin Scotland wad hiv tae bi dicht oot an a wheen o fowk’ll bi peerin ower thay’re shouders. Fowk cannae ser twa maisters; thay aye luve ane an laith the ither.
Famous 15 good idea to remind them they work for us and after all we all make mistakes and she has made one almighty total fk up she is not some special entity above the rest of us its a great pity the people who oversee that profession are as bent as the politicians that tell them what to do
I see the United States security services can’t agree on the source of the Plague however they all agree it is not a Biological Weapon oh fk and they expect that to believed.
Sleep well folks the government and it’s security services are on the ball and are protecting us and any remote posabity of learning the truth is totally accidental fk sake the straight jacket we are all wearing is getting tighter by the day and most people don’t know they are wearing one FFS
https://www.bitchute.com/video/Z3CinYCnwoYt/
A room full of adults for a change.
I ordered some books for Craig from the Guardian Bookshop (nothing at all controversial in any way but interesting and useful for any library). The order has now been shipped and very early this morning I received a message from he Royal Mail to say that it would be delivered between 7.08 and 10.08 on Saturday 28th August. Delivery options tell me it won’t need a signature, and has now reached Edinburgh MC from where it will be sent to the local delivery Office. I have a tracking number. Happy to say that The Guardian Bookshop has worked really fast on this order. Update later.
Great work Rev. Craig has a good man in his corner.
It’s a shame Assange doesn’t have someone like you on his side.
I often laid crumbs here for Craig to pick up asking him if he could cast any light on the mystery of Assange’s silencing. But the best he could do was to suggest that it was all a bit secret and assuring us that it was Assange’s will.
Apologies to Craig, but I simply do not believe that someone as knowledgeable and communicative as Assange would suddenly decide that, for about 3 years now, he has absolutely nothing to communicate to the outside world – not even a direct message of thanks to all the supporters for their letters and asking them to keep sending more. We have no idea if our letters are even getting through.
Assange has an extremely tight closed circle of gatekeepers around him gagging him and, sadly it appears to me, actually doing everything possible to de-personalise him and deter genuine supporters from keeping active for his cause.
Best of wishes to Craig and I sincerely hope that when he’s out I’m able to (politely) continue pushing him to follow up his connections in the Assange inner circle to get his voice heard again.
Fred says:
27 August, 2021 at 10:54 pm
Ruby says:
“Any fancy having a discussion about books and the sort of books they are sending Craig?
Maybe even some children’s books like ‘Horrid Henry’ they always made me laugh”
Ruby, you seem like a genuinely nice person – and i know you must mean well, but seriously- Horrid Henry?
Reply
Yes Horrid Henry! Perfect for some light relief & something he can tell his boys about when they come to visit.
‘Daddy has been reading a book about a very naughty boy I think you would like it’ etc etc
I’m really not all that nice a person often I’m pretty rude.
Alike Terry Waite I’m pretty sure Craig will be getting loads of highly intellectual books from stuffed shirts like you.
What books are you sending?
I can’t wait to read your list! I’m bored just thinking about it.
Famous15 says:
27 August, 2021 at 11:35 pm
Would it be imprudent to write to Lady Dorrian and ask her,politely, why she, uniquely in modern times in civilised countries or any kind of countries, is the only judge to sentence an elderly former ambassador and a man much respected throughout the world, for reporting a case honestly and in compliance with contempt rules?
Oh,for shame,Scotland!
Reply
I would also ask the ‘Witch Dorrain’ why she thinks it’s appropriate to punish children? It’s not just Craig who is being punished it’s also his wife & two young children.
Margaret Eleftheriou says:
28 August, 2021 at 4:33 am
I ordered some books for Craig from the Guardian Bookshop (nothing at all controversial in any way but interesting and useful for any library).
Reply
Would you be happy to say which books you sent?
@Tannadice Boy
I have lived in the Ferry for 20 years now. It is not as exclusive as you paint. Sure there are some like that, mainly the older generation who talk not of going into town but going into Dundee. The Ferry used to be a separate borough. The library was the town hall and the older folk remember that.
So such is quite natural. We have the most centralised local govt in Europe. So those days may come again. Never say never.
Fred says:
and immediately one of the hostage taker’s face lit up, he ran out and came back later with, what would be the first of many – a Penguin book!
Reply
Horrid Henry is published by Penguin!
I suppose in your book ‘Harry Potter’ would also be out of the question.
You can send letters without stamps. The recipient will receive a card to say collect from sorting office & pay postage & fine and I think you can pay online & have it delivered.
I know this because I received a card a few years ago and I paid the postage & the fine only to find that the letter was campaign literature from the ***** Labour Party.
I was furious!
C’mon guys we need to talk about books. Do we want the ‘Saughton Prison Library’ to end up with 50 copies of ‘War & Peace’?
More info needed re books.
Are hardbacks allowed or just paperbacks?
https://tinyurl.com/5wafjhuw
Getting the wrong book!
Ruby@7.50
These are only my thoughts and probably don’t coincide with anyone else’s. But a bit of variety, books he would not have time to read or buy.
Wonderful life By Stephen Jay Gould – all about wonderful fossils found in the Burgess Shale in Canada, gives a sense of perspective to human existence. One of my favourite authors and books
The women of Troy – new novel by Pat Barker, retelling of myth. Craig is a feminist but I don’t think he would bother with this unless he had time on his hands.
The Peasants’ revolting Crimes Terry Dearie. Light-hearted romp through the centuries, Just for a laugh
The Moneyless Man. By Mark Boyle – Living for a year without Money. Could be useful for a prison library
A History of Feelings Rob Boddice, on bistory of emotions. Might be hard going for a prison library. But Craig unlikely to buy this for himself
Just got a message from Royal Mail (2 minutes ago) that the parcel had been delivered.
Margaret Eleftheriou says:
28 August, 2021 at 8:47 am
Ruby@7.50
These are only my thoughts and probably don’t coincide with anyone else’s. But a bit of variety, books he would not have time to read or buy.
Reply
That’s an interesting list.
Well done for thinking about books that
‘he wouldn’t bother with unless he had time on his hands.’
The postal services are doing well keeping you posted re tracking & delivery.
There have been great improvements lately. I suppose that might be because most people are shopping online having so little choice on the high street.
I’ve found DPD to be excellent. You can send up to something like 20 kilos (with some size restrictions) for around £8. That is if you are able to take it to your local DPD pick up shop. My DPD shop is the local chemist. A few quid more to have it picked up from your home.
They deliver the following day. It’s great.
Here’s a link for accurate info:
https://tinyurl.com/ey4t3crz
UPS also good (similar to DPD) they accept larger parcel up to 70cm in length DPD is only 60cm.
That’s just a bit of extra info not that I image anyone will send a parcel of books that size!
You might want to sell a large item on Ebay and use the profits to buy books!
To add to last post re having so little choice on the high street.
Three different shops I went to yesterday complained about shortages. I ended up having to order online.
I was just looking for a brush & pan set. John Lewis had only one in stock a fancy metal & wood designer set. The other shops had no choice just a cheapo plastic one.
On the subject of Yousaf,one thing his West coast public school education missed out,was the subtle differences in the Scottish cities/ areas.Having worked in them all for years,Dundee /Broughty Ferry is the least racist place i know.This is because it had decades old dealings in the Jute industry.The first Asian bus drivers were welcomed for sure, as were the Vietnamese boat people.Why would Dundee be “Soul City” if its population was racist,as Soul music is “Black”. So playing the “race card” in Dundee is dumber than driving a motor vehicle with no insurance.
http://www.rt.com/usa/533192-babbitt-officer-interview-unarmed/
Reverse the racial dynamic and we’d be having more parliamentary discussions about how racist Scots are.
I thought I’d send
Lewis Carroll’s
Maths quiz book
The Hunting of the Snark.
Nathaniel West short stories.
Browning’s ‘Men and Women’
James Hogg Confessions and Memoirs of a Justified Sinner.
RLS Master of Ballantrae
James Heller Good as Gold
Adam Hambdy Red Wolves
And some other types of quiz/ crossword books at different levels so I might cater for everyone’s needs to some extent, given that the books are going into the prison library.
I don’t suppose Craig can get audio books or DVDs
He best make sure he returns his books promptly or the penalties will be added to his jail time!!
holymacmoses says:
28 August, 2021 at 1:32 pm
I thought I’d send
And some other types of quiz/ crossword books at different levels so I might cater for everyone’s needs to some extent, given that the books are going into the prison library.
I don’t suppose Craig can get audio books or DVDs
Reply
Puzzle books that’s a good idea.
I haven’t done any puzzles this century.
I am guilty of getting hooked into playing ‘Bubble Shooter’. I find it a bit addictive just sitting there mindlessly pressing coloured balls.
I was arrested one sunday morning from my brothers house 8.30 am
I was arrested for saying to a cop/twat, you cannot take that music system away, which according to him was playing loud music that nobody else in the world could hear apart from him and his female idiot that accompanied him
I was in the cells to 4 pm that day, and I was reading a smashing book that I only one chapter to go to finish the story
Alas I never did find out how it ended, the poe faced git that I asked would not let me take it away.
I did say I would bring it back btw
And it took a year to get that innocent music system back, they must have done everything to try to get it to talk, pity they never thought of putting a plug on it, it might have sprung into life then, and confessed everything lol
Ruby says:
I haven’t done any puzzles this century.
I am guilty of getting hooked into playing ‘Bubble Shooter’. I find it a bit addictive just sitting there mindlessly pressing coloured balls.
I play scrabble against the computer but it cheats like fuck.
I also play Taipei occasionally.
Mostly I read.
holymacmoses says:
28 August, 2021 at 7:15 pm
I play scrabble against the computer but it cheats like fuck.
I also play Taipei occasionally.
Mostly I read.
Reply
What version of Scrabble do you have? Is it the ‘Magpie’ version? 🙂
I listen to audiobooks that way I can multi-task. ie Listen to audiobooks & play Bubble Shooter etc.
I have a waterproof mp3 player so I even listen when I swim. Listening to a book makes swimming up and down a lot less tedious.
Same in the gym. I see a lot of people playing cards on the machines in the gym. It looks like patience.
I wonder if Craig is allowed a pack of cards? Although on saying that I think you would need to be pretty desperate to play patience. Even more desperate than someone who plays Bubble Shooter.
Way back last century I did play double patience with a friend & that was quite good except for the fact that he kept beating me.
I might have a look at these computer games that cheat just for a change from ‘Bubble Shooter’. There’s ‘Candy Crush’ which seems to be a favourite with Westminster politicians.
Warning about listening to sad/funny audiobooks out in public. There is the risk of crying/bursting out laughing at the sad/funny bits.
David Caledonia says:
28 August, 2021 at 5:16 pm
I was arrested one sunday morning from my brothers house 8.30 am
I was arrested for saying to a cop/twat, you cannot take that music system away, which according to him was playing loud music that nobody else in the world could hear apart from him and his female idiot that accompanied him
I was in the cells to 4 pm that day, and I was reading a smashing book that I only one chapter to go to finish the story
Alas I never did find out how it ended, the poe faced git that I asked would not let me take it away.
I did say I would bring it back btw
Reply
What was the name of the book or if you can’t remember what was the story about?
Someone might be able to help you?
Was it a love story? It would be funny if was that book about the Von Trapps written by Howard Lindsay?
I think most everyone knows the ending of that story.
Well I hope no one DID soak their books in illegal substances? As now, presumably, the whole prison would be smoking stolen pages!
Would self-addressed envelopes with stamps already on, work? If the warders kept them in a safe place for him until required. That way he wouldn’t be accessing the stamps.
If we are passing on books for the use of the whole prison, is he aware of anything that the others might find useful? We might as well improve things for everyone.
And can we assume he has access to writing materials and is writing some valuable observations or ideas from his current experience?
“Ruby says:
27 August, 2021 at 7:04 pm
Maybe even some children’s books…”
The Happy Lion
Babar
Orlando the marmalade cat
3 that spring to mind.
Oh aye, and the Moomins!
How about the likes of Tintin and Asterix, too?
Have you seen the Guardian article on Salmond?
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/30/alex-salmond-inquiry-upheld-five-sexual-harassment-complaints