Last night we highlighted the reaction from various right-wing columnists to the SNP’s torpedoing yesterday of Tory attempts to relax the laws on foxhunting in England and Wales. Today the same commentariat has turned its rage to thoughts of revenge, in the form of “English votes for English laws”.
And we’re confused, because we don’t know what this “England” they speak of is.
It seems safe to say that the SNP’s de facto defeat of the fox-torturing lobby today has riled the right-wing commentariat beyond their endurance. Unable to get their way and inflict a prolonged, agonising death on small animals for “sport”, Tory columnists have instead descended howling and bloodthirsty at pack strength on their readers.
As part of their tireless campaign against abuse and threats on the internet, the Mail’s ever-alert reporters will doubtless be wanting to run a major piece on the deputy leader of UKIP calling today on a widely-read website for Nicola Sturgeon to be killed.
No need to thank us for the tip-off, guys. All part of the service.
So this site is thrilled by the announcement from the SNP that they will, after much speculation in the media, vote against (and therefore likely condemn to defeat) the UK government’s plans to relax England’s fox-hunting ban to a point at which it would be de facto repealed entirely.
And not just because foxes are a lot cuter than Tories.
The Scottish Daily Mail today leads with a screaming banner headline announcing in its trademark style that, according to a poll it commissioned with Survation, Scots are massively opposed to any income tax rises when Holyrood eventually gets power over the rates under the new Scotland Bill.
And the reason that’s weird is that we commissioned a poll on the very same thing just days before, and got a dramatically different answer.
Yesterday we listed some of the nastier items from George Osborne’s horrifying 2015 budget that Labour had said they wouldn’t be opposing, including the public-sector payrise freeze, the reduction in the benefit cap and the slashing of child tax credit for families with more than two children.
Of course, it’s entirely natural that the Labour Party and The Economist should be on opposite sides. But somehow everything seems to be the wrong way round.
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Marshalling Plan: “« Thit a shúil ar bharr tí in aice leis an gcairéal. Cosúil le splanc tintrí osclaíodh na fuinneoga ann,…” Feb 5, 00:34
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Marshalling Plan: “« His eyes fell on the top storey of the house at the edge of the quarry. The casement window…” Feb 5, 00:30
Cynicus on The Marshalling Plan: “@ Sarah “ A better system existed in Scotland before 1707 ” ======== In what way? Better that in the…” Feb 5, 00:29
Cynicus on The Marshalling Plan: “100%Yes says: 4 February, 2026 at 9:12 pm “The PM has no intention of standing down……” ======== He may have…” Feb 4, 23:58
James on The Marshalling Plan: “YL; Indeed. A very pertinent question.” Feb 4, 23:44
James on The Marshalling Plan: ““Do us all a favour and stop posting mince on here.” Oh, “Chas” – please, PLEASE!” Feb 4, 23:39
James on The Marshalling Plan: “What’s the collective noun for two ****’s in a row?” Feb 4, 23:35
James on The Marshalling Plan: “Randy Andy & Mandy are being lined up as patsies; fall guys to cover th rest of them. 6 months…” Feb 4, 23:33
James on The Marshalling Plan: “#Site Prick; “Bet I’m a fascist…” First truth you’ve ever posted. Well done. Own it.” Feb 4, 23:29
James on The Marshalling Plan: ““..that a handful of folks got some scraps off the table, to lick the spoon, is no cause for celebration,…” Feb 4, 23:24
Young Lochinvar on The Marshalling Plan: “Well said Sarah. As I have said here several times though; why does this site ignore such initiatives? Why?!” Feb 4, 22:10
100%Yes on The Marshalling Plan: “The PM has no intention of standing down and why does he need too. These politicians aren’t the same as…” Feb 4, 21:12
DaveL on The Marshalling Plan: “Why would he be apoplectic? It’s par for the course and nothing unusual. Colonialism, it’s invasive and everywhere. You obviously…” Feb 4, 21:03
sarah on The Marshalling Plan: “Great news that Alliance to Liberate Scotland is now registered with the Electoral Commission. This gives a real pro-independence option…” Feb 4, 20:58
Southernbystander on The Marshalling Plan: “Maybe they like the colour?” Feb 4, 20:52
James Barr Gardner on The Marshalling Plan: “Birds o’ a feather flock the gither……..” Feb 4, 20:38
Willie on The Marshalling Plan: “Anybody like to put odds on how long before the Prime Minister stands down. Like a rat in a trap…” Feb 4, 20:32
Rev. Stuart Campbell on The Marshalling Plan: ““I dont think the constituency vote is first past the post” The constituency vote is DEFINITELY First Past The Post.” Feb 4, 20:03
Chas on The Marshalling Plan: “Did you notice that the curlers are British? That colonialism gets everywhere! Baird will be apoplectic.” Feb 4, 19:52
Nae Need! on The Marshalling Plan: “Apparently there’s pressure on McSweeney to take the rap for Mandy’s appointment. But, without McSweeney where is 2Tier?” Feb 4, 19:02
Cynicus on The Marshalling Plan: “@ agentx “Speaking to ITV Border on Wednesday, Scotland’s first minister……” ========= Swinney was also on STV an hour later…” Feb 4, 18:57
The Flying Iron of Doom on The Marshalling Plan: “Ah, so Reform won’t be coming up with the goods either? That’s going to annoy a few folk, but what…” Feb 4, 18:44
Nae Need! on The Marshalling Plan: “The conversation has moved since I was last here, and so has my thinking (or what passes fir thinking in…” Feb 4, 18:40
agentx on The Marshalling Plan: “Don’t forget the curlers are in action in the Winter Olympics – live on iPlayer now.” Feb 4, 18:08
Cynicus on The Marshalling Plan: “A Farage fanboy opines. I have no idea what he means and don’t really care.” Feb 4, 18:08
Aidan on The Marshalling Plan: “‘No judges’ – so how do you think the law might be administered in that context?” Feb 4, 18:08
Hatey McHateface on The Marshalling Plan: “If Reform do what they say, reform our politics, then they will have succeeded in working themselves out of a…” Feb 4, 17:21
agentx on The Marshalling Plan: “John Swinney has ordered an investigation into his government’s dealings with Peter Mandelson to see if the “interests of Scotland…” Feb 4, 17:21
