We’re not in the habit of just reprinting other publications’ stories wholesale here at Wings Over Scotland – we’ve done it maybe four or five times in a year-and-a-half, and two of those were yesterday – but we’ve got a lot on today and there isn’t much we can add to this piece in today’s eminently-worth-purchasing Sunday Post.
As our Twitter followers will know, we’ve experimentally decided to reserve Saturdays for light-hearted comic banter, as a bit of relief from the serious business of politics.
Sir Alex Ferguson (no relation) resigned as manager of Manchester United this week. The resulting deluge of newspaper articles covered a wide range of opinions, both gushingly complimentary and rather less so, but one characteristic of the man was uniformly (and approvingly) agreed on – that he always defended his players.
And it was hard not to contrast that unwavering loyalty (a trait described by Ferguson himself as “the anchor of my life”) with events in the independence debate last week.
Somewhat to our surprise, the tabloid press at least hasn’t been able to avoid covering Labour activist, election candidate and BBC pundit Ian Smart’s astonishing brainfail outburst of Sunday night. (We’ve just noticed a Herald piece too, leaving – surprise! – the BBC and Scotsman as the only media not to consider it worthy of note.)
Smart himself has attempted a hasty damage limitation exercise, claiming that his comments, which presented Scotland as a nation of violent racist bigots suppressed from attacking minorities only by (relative) economic stability, were in fact directed solely at a small faction of independence-supporting “cybernats”.
It’s indescribably beautiful that the No camp’s much-trailed “500 questions” PDF about independence actually features 507. At least they’re getting their arithmetic wrong downwards for a change. When all those are answered they promise hundreds and hundreds more, so we thought we’d give them a head start on Volume 2.
Let’s imagine for a second, just for a bit of fun, that this was a prominent SNP or Yes Scotland activist, rather than a Labour one who’s the main contributor to LabourHame and regularly employed by the BBC for some cosy chat on the Sunday Politics.
Charles Green wasn’t using the P-word in a hateful or prejudiced way either, but he got slammed all over the media, chased out of his job and fined £2500. We’re guessing it’s a non-story here, though. Shall we all have a look at the papers tomorrow and find out?
But incredibly, the P-word isn’t even the most offensive thing.
We stumbled across this quite by accident yesterday. We think you’ll enjoy it.
The clip is from last year, and was aired on Canadian national news channel Sun News. Douglas Murray is a British writer who claims to be half-Scottish on account of unspecified links to Unionist breeding ground the Isle of Lewis, popular haunt of No-camp luminaries like Alistair Darling, virulent Labour anti-devolutionist Brian Wilson and controversial “Better Together” donor Ian Taylor.
Murray studied at Eton and Oxford and writes for august UK journals like the Spectator and Guardian, as well as appearing on numerous BBC political shows. For some reason, the Canadians consider him an expert on Scottish politics, qualified to inform and enlighten their viewers. See what you think.
The BBC’s flagship satirical programme “Have I Got News For You” is, of course, comedy. The tone of the opening minutes of last night’s episode was a little uglier and nastier than the usual friendly inter-regional jibes (normally delivered by the likes of Jeremy Clarkson and accompanied by rebukes from the rest of the panel), but it really wasn’t anything to get overly worked up about. Comedy isn’t always cuddly.
It must have been a little uncomfortable for the No camp, though.
The Scotsman reports this morning that Ed Miliband is planning a highly personal attack on Alex Salmond and the SNP at the Scottish Labour conference in Inverness later today. Apparently the Labour leader will say, among other things:
“His is a narrow nationalism that thinks the way Scotland prospers is in a race to the bottom across the UK, cutting corporation tax rates for powerful companies while doing nothing for working people. And a narrow nationalism that says if it is in the interest of the SNP then it is OK to do cosy deals with Rupert Murdoch.”
If you can’t quite remember who Ed Miliband is, this is him:
100%Yes on Before Action: “Who are you calling the “establishment” if you mean the SNP or Scottish government then say it.” Aug 21, 12:32
Douglas on Before Action: “Excellent response to an apparently deaf, dumb and blind organization which, in my view, is shaming Scotland. A crowd funder…” Aug 21, 12:28
lothianlad on Before Action: “Thank you Stu for your persistance They know that the truth will expose their crimes fully. We know that sturgeon…” Aug 21, 12:28
Anne Cowling on Before Action: “A faint cry goes up from the constabulary, ‘why isn’t this working….?’ Send up the bat signal when you start…” Aug 21, 12:20
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “There’s something about seeing multiple examples of Alf’s “former colonised peoples” hanging about on street corners, in pedestrian precincts, and…” Aug 21, 12:19
sarah on Before Action: “You are correct, Alf. The Scottish establishment will always kowtow to Westminster until we manage to get out from under…” Aug 21, 12:10
Hatey McHateface on Before Action: “That’s certainly an innovative technique for dealing with those SNP luminaries who have gone on record to state they don’t…” Aug 21, 12:01
Captain Caveman on Before Action: “Brilliant, great news. If and when a fundraiser becomes necessary, I’ll be more than happy to chuck some quids into…” Aug 21, 11:58
Alf Baird on Before Action: ““In the name of justice, transparency and accountability, we will continue trying to expose what all of them are united…” Aug 21, 11:52
Nicky T Naquetti on Before Action: “Kick them in the nuts. Let’s see if they have any – or if they are simply neutered pets for…” Aug 21, 11:36
Alf Baird on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: ““Great Scot, it is embarrassing to be British!” Indeed it is, not least because many ‘peoples’ now understand that ‘to…” Aug 21, 11:36
Northcode on Before Action: “It’s not about the money, it’s about the principle… plus interest.” Aug 21, 11:35
Ronnie on Before Action: “Rev, when does the 3 month clock start ticking?” Aug 21, 11:34
Jay on Before Action: “Mark Beggan comment @ 9:32 maybe attempts to start in-fighting in this ‘thread’.. Mark, if the objective of Independence for…” Aug 21, 11:25
ALANM on Before Action: “The fact that money was solicited from and donated by individuals who were not party members is perhaps the most…” Aug 21, 11:13
Jay on Before Action: “Mr.n Beggan, do you want Independence for Scotland?” Aug 21, 11:08
Jay on Before Action: “Rev. Stu, it is good to see a worthy cause pursued in a determined fashion and I shall donate according…” Aug 21, 10:46
James Che on Before Action: “The people join forces in Ireland, and this is what Scotland needs to do.” Aug 21, 10:41
James Che on Before Action: “Well done Stu,” Aug 21, 10:39
Southernbystander on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “And you think all the finger-pointing at Arday was not a witch hunt, nor all the total condemnation of EDI…” Aug 21, 10:22
Mark Beggan on Before Action: “Especially when they were educated at the Mickey Mouse school for bigger kids.” Aug 21, 10:20
Andrew scott on Before Action: “The letter is concise and exactly to the point Brilliant Roll on the Action as plod will prevaricate again Ready…” Aug 21, 10:11
Les Halles on Before Action: “So, if the strategy of the SNP and by extension the Judiciary and Police Scotland provides a precedent, you could…” Aug 21, 10:07
Spartan 117 on Before Action: “Excellent news. Keep at it.” Aug 21, 10:06
Spartan 117 on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “The site idiot speaks. Lay off the meths for once you miserable racist simpleton.” Aug 21, 10:05
willie on Before Action: “Great news and congratulations to Cllr Fiona Higgins and her legal team from PBW Law who have just succeeded in…” Aug 21, 10:02
Hatey McHateface on Before Action: “Never seek impartial advice from anyone who has a book to flog on Amazon.” Aug 21, 09:54
Patsy Millar on Before Action: “Happy to donate if needed.” Aug 21, 09:33
Mark Beggan on Before Action: “When did the Indy movement become the post colonial movement? Looking back on comments one can see the gradual replacement…” Aug 21, 09:32
