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As it was, is, and shall be 95

Posted on January 16, 2014 by

As we were collecting stuff for the new Repository in our Reference section, an alert reader pointed us to the thing we’re about to show you, which we hadn’t seen before. It dates from 1975 but was only released to the public a few years ago under the 30-year rule – having been kept secret by successive Labour and Conservative administrations in the intervening period – until it was retrieved by Irish journalist Tom Griffin.

yesminister

It’s the minutes from a discussion between some UK government civil servants on the subject of Scottish devolution, in relation to oil revenues, and what the public should be told about them. This was Westminster’s attitude to informing the electorate when even a small amount of self-determination of Scotland was at stake. Read it and ask yourself if you think the opponents of independence are being any more honest now.

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The schools and the universities 11

Posted on January 16, 2014 by

What the heck – since it’s topical, let’s have another double-header.

claim14

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Broadcasting and language 21

Posted on January 15, 2014 by

As we’re a day behind due to Saturday’s technical catastrophe, and Chapters 12 and 13 of “The Claim Of Scotland” are unhelpfully titled, let’s give you a wee bonus and have a double helping of could-have-been-written-yesterday 46-year-old history.

claim12

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Images and stereotypes 32

Posted on January 14, 2014 by

Chapter 11 of “The Claim Of Scotland”.

claim11

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Migration and unemployment 15

Posted on January 13, 2014 by

Chapter 10 of “The Claim Of Scotland”.

claim10

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The Highlands and islands 42

Posted on January 12, 2014 by

Chapter 9 of “The Claim Of Scotland”.

claim9

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The takeover bid 38

Posted on January 10, 2014 by

Chapter 8 of “The Claim Of Scotland”.

claim8

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The framework of taxation 11

Posted on January 09, 2014 by

Chapter 7 of “The Claim Of Scotland”:

claim7

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The law 54

Posted on January 08, 2014 by

Chapter 6 of “The Claim Of Scotland”.

claim6

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Bureaucrats in the saddle 36

Posted on January 07, 2014 by

Chapter 5 of “The Claim Of Scotland”.

claim5

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Frustration in Parliament 68

Posted on January 06, 2014 by

Chapter 4 of “The Claim Of Scotland”.

claim4

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In all loyalty to the Crown 121

Posted on January 05, 2014 by

Continuing our daily serialisation of HJ Paton’s fascinating 1968 book “The Claim Of Scotland”, courtesy of splendidly alert and dedicated reader Wilma Watts.

claim3

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    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on There May Be Justice: “Willie writes (5 Oct 2026 at 1:09 pm): « This one’s for Moira…Democracy is a fragile flower » —————- Brings…” Oct 5, 13:53
    • Terry on There May Be Justice: “Proud to be part of this – especially when I complained to the police about the donations I gave, got…” Oct 5, 13:25
    • Aidan on The Love Of Big Brother: “Yes “Confused” – an accurate and concise description description of the formation of Great Britain is “irrelevant pedantry”, whereas your…” Oct 5, 13:23
    • Ian on The Love Of Big Brother: “People in glass houses……. https://archive.ph/3OAhZ” Oct 5, 13:12
    • Willie on There May Be Justice: “This one’s for Moira. Yes, that struck a cord. Justice has to be served for what was done to Alex…” Oct 5, 13:09
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Love Of Big Brother: “SARA SALYERS: NO KINGDOM NO UNION (3 Oct 2026) www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l6XDoIg4uI” Oct 5, 12:30
    • Northcode on The Love Of Big Brother: “For clarity: Q: Is Scotland a country? A: YES Q: Is England a country? A: YES Q: Is Scotland a…” Oct 5, 11:58
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    • Captain Caveman on The Love Of Big Brother: “”Orwell’s ‘authoritarianism’ is essentially colonialism” You don’t say. Probably a lot easier at this juncture if you can bloody tell…” Oct 5, 11:26
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Love Of Big Brother: “SALVO STONEHAVEN ROADSHOW (26 Sept 2026) Q&A with SARA SALYERS www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIcsq3LkcrU” Oct 5, 11:24
    • Confused on The Love Of Big Brother: “Desperate, put a sock in it NC. – there is a peculiar kind of mid-wit who takes pleasure in irrelevant…” Oct 5, 11:22
    • Alf Baird on The Love Of Big Brother: ““Just about at the door of Orwells1984” Orwell’s ‘authoritarianism’ is essentially colonialism, which is likewise ‘based on psychology’, and the…” Oct 5, 11:08
    • 100%Yes on The Love Of Big Brother: “Its wrong but it happens all the time the cost are used as a weapon even when you’ve got a…” Oct 5, 10:25
    • Northcode on The Love Of Big Brother: “That was then and this is now… I’m bored with all the chuntering surrounding the “Treaty of Union” that goes…” Oct 5, 10:16
    • sarah on The Love Of Big Brother: “Rev, fingers well and truly crossed for the Protected Costs Order. I don’t suppose that there is any idea of…” Oct 5, 09:05
    • Hatey McHateface on The Love Of Big Brother: ““There seems to be utter confusion” Agreed.” Oct 5, 06:43
    • James Che on The Love Of Big Brother: “Lornical It is not a case of Scotlands people agreeing to the treaty of union at all, there were enough…” Oct 5, 01:06
    • gm on The Love Of Big Brother: “The labour party cancelled ‘buy one get one free’ a while back, for items they felt weren’t good for the…” Oct 5, 00:23
    • James Che on The Love Of Big Brother: “Can we presume that the not Scottish parliament politicians in Scotland would like cheaper drugs and easier access for themselves…” Oct 5, 00:02
    • James Che on The Love Of Big Brother: “Lorncal. Well said. Know our history, we are a Colony because we do nothing and avoid conversations on the subject…” Oct 4, 23:51
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    • Hatey McHateface on The Love Of Big Brother: “I would have thought the mega data centres, the ports, the huge pylons and the undersea cables pose far less…” Oct 4, 22:27
    • Hatey McHateface on The Love Of Big Brother: ““it has been Unionists who have acquiesced, not independistas” Naw. If anybody has acquiesced, it’s been the majority. If anybody…” Oct 4, 22:19
    • Lorncal on The Love Of Big Brother: “Can we be the only people who have actively acquiesced in our own cultural and historical obliteration, Alf, because that…” Oct 4, 22:03
    • Lorncal on The Love Of Big Brother: “Of course there is still a Treaty, Northcode, and (domestic) Acts cannot overturn or submerge primary legislation – which the…” Oct 4, 21:39
    • Hatey McHateface on The Love Of Big Brother: “I have long believed that the costs to the NHS of treating the diseases and conditions associated with tobacco abuse,…” Oct 4, 21:38
    • Insider on The Love Of Big Brother: “Alf @8.19pm Whit ??? The Burmese Imperial Police are giving the rev the runaround ? Have you told him yet…” Oct 4, 21:35
    • Hatey McHateface on The Love Of Big Brother: “So the Burmese Imperial Police “explains the runaround the Rev is getting”? Only in yer heid, Alf. I asked you…” Oct 4, 21:24
    • Southernbystander on The Love Of Big Brother: “Yes but I put ‘right’ in inverted commas for a reason – you don’t need such a right as no-one…” Oct 4, 21:11
    • Alf Baird on The Love Of Big Brother: “Join the dots, Hatey: ‘Imperial Police’? Explains the runaround the Rev is getting, and a few other things.” Oct 4, 20:48
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