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Two leaders unalike 223

Posted on July 27, 2021 by

All recorded indyref polling on the standard question, from here and here.

The picture (click to enlarge) tells the story more eloquently than we could.

The Idiot 287

Posted on July 24, 2021 by

Although we’re retired we already wrote this, so we may as well put it up for the 99.9% of Scots who don’t read the comments on David Leask‘s columns in the Herald.

Scotland’s worst, most reliably wrong and most pathologically insecure self-identified “real journalist” rehashed one of his favourite hobby-horses yesterday, namely that it’s a “nationalist myth” that Scotland got poorer after discovering oil in the North Sea.

It’s a claim he’s been banging on about since at least 2014, without ever providing a scrap of evidence to support it (his standard modus operandi), and yesterday was no exception. So let’s show Little Dave how proper big-boy journalists do it.

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Fix up, look sharp 702

Posted on June 26, 2021 by

Holiday Boy is still “resting”, so here’s a laugh from nearly six years ago.

Hear the bang? See the spark? No, us either.

How it started and how it’s going 279

Posted on May 01, 2021 by

Our always-alert readers will probably have noticed that Nicola Sturgeon’s constant catchphrase this week has been how Yes supporters still need to “build the case for independence”, rather than actually do anything to achieve it.

But the thing is, she’s the leader of the SNP. Building the case for independence is literally her job, and she’s now been doing it for six and a half years. So how much progress have we made?

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A different kind of joke 88

Posted on May 01, 2021 by

Holiday Boy is on holiday. But remember in 2018 when Nicola Sturgeon was going to use next week’s election as a de facto referendum if the UK government hadn’t given her permission for one by now, readers?

It’s almost like you can’t ever believe a word she says.

The right to be heard 105

Posted on April 24, 2021 by

From 1964:

How the times change, eh?

Red flags and klaxons 319

Posted on April 05, 2021 by

Hindsight is 20/20, readers, but perhaps we ought to have paid a little more attention to the article below back in 2015.

Because as the old saying goes: when people tell you who they are, believe them.

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The Switch 418

Posted on March 23, 2021 by

We were reminded this week of the amount of stick we got when we wrote these words almost five years ago, right after the 2016 Holyrood election:

(The rest of our post-match analysis wasn’t too shabby either.)

But readers, we have to grudgingly admit: we’re only NEARLY always right.

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Not-So-New Dawn Fades 65

Posted on March 16, 2021 by

Ladies and gentlemen, we welcome you back once again to the only event in politics that’s more frequent than a Scottish Labour leadership election.

Seems to come round sooner every year, doesn’t it?

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Some things stay the same 232

Posted on March 07, 2021 by

An extraordinary find by alert reader Ian Brotherhood in the archives.

(Click to enlarge.)

The paragraph at top right is a particular eye-catcher.

Heavy Is The Crown 123

Posted on February 25, 2021 by

Is the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service of Scotland institutionally corrupt? I don’t believe so, but it’s certainly a troubled organisation.

The cost and reputational damage to it from the Rangers FC case are of a magnitude never seen before, and the actions in the Alex Salmond case and related actions by the Lord Advocate and Crown Agent have called its independence into question.

There must be structural change and individuals must be held to account.

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The importance of kindness 190

Posted on January 29, 2021 by

When we saw this a few days ago, we wondered what they wanted to hide.

And now we know.

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    • Mia on Saying sooths: ““it would give an individual Scottish MP much more power than an English one” It would simply deny English MPs…Jan 28, 17:53
    • Hatey McHateface on Saying sooths: ““you’re going to have to fight for it” It’s always easier to say things like that from 1,000 miles away.Jan 28, 17:49
    • Aidan on Saying sooths: ““Why don’t they just endorse a proposal that I just invented, that is based on total nonsense and which has…Jan 28, 17:44
    • Aidan on Saying sooths: “Why would the U.K. government and Parliament agree to a measure like that? Aside from the odd position that apparently…Jan 28, 17:39
    • twathater on The Silent Revolution: “I don’t always agree with Robin because I view him as being eager to be part of the establishment but…Jan 28, 17:31
    • Mia on Saying sooths: ““The SNP will do anything to remain in power” Actually, I strongly disagree with this assertion. The SNP have been…Jan 28, 17:25
    • gregor on Saying sooths: “I’m with Mia. Unmitigated Scot Gov/SNP fraud can shove it. It has failed Scotland, miserably.Jan 28, 17:22
    • Confused on The Silent Revolution: “where will they all go? https://archive.ph/r4fYT Our wonderful leaders are already making arrangements – anglos to highlands and borders, BAMs…Jan 28, 17:21
    • gregor on Saying sooths: “My mistake (yet again) – Wings judges say FALSE. #AwesomeSNPForeverJan 28, 17:14
    • Mia on Saying sooths: ““Scotland leaving the UK could take decades” Yeah, but Scotland ENDING the UK could take just a few minutes. The…Jan 28, 17:13
    • gregor on Saying sooths: “My mistake (again) – Yesterday isn’t history. The future isn’t tomorrow. And we are not living today. Wings isn’t part…Jan 28, 17:11
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    • gregor on Saying sooths: “My mistake, Wings readers must agree with Derek re. the source should be ignored (eyes roll). #WingsForDerekJan 28, 17:07
    • Graf Midgehunter on Saying sooths: “In a certain way, I thank God that Alex S. doesn’t have to endure any more, the complete and utter…Jan 28, 17:05
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    • gregor on The Silent Revolution: “BBC (2025): Scottish Water bills set to rise 9.9% in April: “Water bills in Scotland will increase by almost 10%…Jan 28, 17:01
    • Mia on Saying sooths: ““Why the SNP should form a pact with Labour” (Stewart McDonald asks) Because they are just two different brands of…Jan 28, 16:58
    • Jason Smoothpiece on Saying sooths: “I have said often and others have also said SNP is a Devolution only party. They almost admit it. No…Jan 28, 16:42
    • Vivian O’Blivion on Saying sooths: “Stewart McDonald doesn’t submit anything his handlers in Foggy Bottom haven’t approved beforehand.Jan 28, 16:41
    • Dek on Saying sooths: “Get rid of all of them.Jan 28, 16:34
    • Frank Gillougley on Saying sooths: “‘Let’s have a look at what you could have won…’ How prophetic it was. Angels come in many guises. Who’d…Jan 28, 16:25
    • David Holden on Saying sooths: “If we are at the stage of hoping for help from Trump we are Donald Ducked continuing the theme of…Jan 28, 15:58
    • Alf Baird on Saying sooths: “Yes, the reality here is there is far mair chance of Scotsman President Donald John Trump-Macleod liberating Scots than Swinney’s…Jan 28, 15:50
    • Alf Baird on Saying sooths: “Was there ever any plundered colonies with “a ‘good vibrant’ economy”?Jan 28, 15:35
    • George Ferguson on Saying sooths: “Having a look at the Scottish Labour MSPS return for each Scottish Parliamentary Election 2007 46, 2011 37, 2016 24,…Jan 28, 15:28
    • Michael Laing on Saying sooths: “You meant ‘tractor’ as in ‘Quizmaster’, indeed. Also ‘Anglophile’, not “Anglophobe”, I presume.Jan 28, 15:14
    • maxxmacc on Saying sooths: “It’s sad when our only chance now to break free from the Westminster stranglehold, is to hope that Trump decides…Jan 28, 15:09
    • gregor on Saying sooths: “The fundamental purpose of @SNP’s existence, is independence. Where can Scotland find @SNP’s unmistakable purpose. #LGBTIQ+EU+ScotIndy20025+MaybeJan 28, 15:07
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