One of the main strengths of the No campaign in the independence referendum was that it had an efficient production line for “truthiness”. Best known as a concept from the US satirical TV show The Colbert Report, the term means things that SOUND as if they’re true, and which people will therefore be inclined to believe, even though they fall apart under any factual scrutiny.
One good example is shown above. The facts on the graphic are individually true, and convey – without ever actually saying so explicitly – the message that Scotland is subsidised by the UK to the tune of £7.6bn a year.
But that message, despite being implied through exclusively true facts, ISN’T true, because the extra “spending” on Scotland is actually borrowing, which Scotland has to pay back. The real truth is that the figures on the left are accurate, and that Scotland heavily subsidises the rest of the UK.
But to walk someone through even the basic explanation of that is quite complicated and involved, whereas the original message is punchy and SOUNDS true. The simpler something is the more people want to believe it, so the implicit lie on the graphic is difficult to dislodge from their minds once it’s in there.
(It works especially well if the media is overwhelmingly on the side of those creating the misleading impression, because they can count on the fact that the mainstream press won’t run any analysis pointing out the flaws in the argument, and the only people who’ll ever encounter the explanation are those who actively seek it out.)
One of the compensations of living in England (from the perspective of editing a website about Scottish politics) is that you get a much clearer picture of how English people – who make up 85% of the UK electorate, and as such in practice determine who the government is – see the country’s political leaders.
For those of you who don’t, here’s Charlie Brooker – a man who’s no fan of the Tories by any stretch of the imagination – casting a weary and exasperated eye over Ed “these strikes are wrong” Miliband on last night’s Weekly Wipe.
In our experience it’s a pretty accurate snapshot of how the hapless Labour leader is regarded by most left-leaning people down on this side of the border. You’ll need to have seen the rest of the episode to get the “Schofield!” joke.
The abusive Facebook comments recently directed at Labour MP Margaret Curran and highlighted in a piece on the STV website today make us sigh. Not only are they horrible but they’re counter-productive, in every sense of the term – they’re not going to change Curran’s mind about anything by yelling at her, and they feed a narrative about “vile cybernats” that the media is all too eager to gleefully perpetuate.
So let’s make something clear from the off: shut up, idiots. You’re not helping.
A number of readers last night sent us copies of the response to complaints they’d made to the Independent Press Standards Organisation about the Daily Record’s infamous “The Vow” front cover. We attach the full judgement at the bottom of this article, and as far as we’re concerned it’s fair and accurate. The Vow was a deliberate deception, but it didn’t break any rules – it merely relied on readers misinterpreting it.
The bit we’re still interested in is the paragraph above.
You almost have to grudgingly admire the sheer bull-headed tenacity of their dogged determination to prove once and for all to the people of Scotland that Labour think they’re dribbling gullible morons.
A quick rhetorical question, readers: if, as Labour endlessly claim, the Tories want the SNP to win seats in Scotland in order to stop Ed Miliband being PM, why are most of the Scottish columnists in the right-wing press calling on Scots to vote Labour?
By now we imagine most readers have already seen the alleged leak of the Ashcroft polling results which aren’t due to be officially released until 11am today [EDIT 00.47am: out now], and which suggest some jaw-dropping SNP gains.
We’re not going to go off half-cocked until those have been confirmed, so instead here’s something sent in by an alert reader. It’s an extract from the autobiography of former Radio 1 DJ Liz Kershaw, and describes events around the funeral of Princess Diana. We think you’ll find it enlightening.
The media is aflame today with the claim that Jim Murphy has finally ended weeks of speculation about whether he’ll stand again for his current Westminster seat of East Renfrewshire in the general election. Numerous sources including STV, the BBC, the Scotsman and Murphy’s local press have all announced unequivocally that the MP has confirmed his candidacy.
The only slight hitch is that he’s done absolutely no such thing.
James Che on A Matter Of Declinature: “Willie. The Crown office of England Wales, Due to the Act of Settlement passed by the parliament of England -…” Jul 17, 10:36
Hatey McHateface on A Matter Of Declinature: “Really, Cynicus? What is it you cannot say? You fearty fantasist, you. Not exactly a recruiting poster for the kind…” Jul 17, 10:20
James Che on A Matter Of Declinature: “The evidence that Scotland is and has been Colonised since 1707 lies in the parliament for England and Wales. As…” Jul 17, 10:17
Hatey McHateface on A Matter Of Declinature: “Odd that you think I’m flogging the union, Alf. I point out the fact that it does exist, to the…” Jul 17, 10:13
robertkknight on A Matter Of Declinature: “The Code of Conduct does not permit members of either House to refer to fellow members using dishonourable terms, including…” Jul 17, 09:33
Captain Caveman on A Matter Of Declinature: ““Never trust a Tory” Well, that’s the kind of blind, catch-all tribalism that is pretty much largely responsible for the…” Jul 17, 09:22
Willie on A Matter Of Declinature: “Utterly outrageous how the Crown Office decided to remove £60k of stolen goods from the charge sheet when these items…” Jul 17, 09:15
MaryB on A Matter Of Declinature: “I remember being surprised when David Davies appeared at Alex’s Glasgow Arena gig. But, in fact, they had become friends…” Jul 17, 09:00
Hatey McHateface on A Matter Of Declinature: “You reckon, Auld Lochnagar? Man, but you must have put the fear of death into the Orcs eyeballing you across…” Jul 17, 08:41
BLMac on A Matter Of Declinature: “Looks like we are about to find out whether our police work for Scotland or are a tool of a…” Jul 17, 08:34
Hatey McHateface on A Matter Of Declinature: “Ah, c’moan noo, Red. Have you learned nothing from the teachings of Professor Baird and oor ain dear, dear Northy?…” Jul 17, 08:27
Hatey McHateface on A Matter Of Declinature: “Getting out their what? Ooo err missus!” Jul 17, 08:10
diabloandco on A Matter Of Declinature: “David Davis defended Alex Salmond in the house before – didn’t know you could call someone a liar in the…” Jul 17, 08:07
diabloandco on A Matter Of Declinature: “Looks like the world and its mother blames the manager from what I see in the press.Don’t really get involved…” Jul 17, 07:51
Aidan on A Matter Of Declinature: “It’s an intemperate response Northcode, a childish response would be, for example, claiming you have won an argument you haven’t…” Jul 17, 06:13
Young Lochinvar on A Matter Of Declinature: “Powerful stuff. Quite illuminating that she calls him a “coward hiding behind Parliamentary Privilege” while she herself pays a lawyer…” Jul 17, 03:00
Cynicus on A Matter Of Declinature: ““her most evil act was stitching up Alex Salmond to hide the truth” about Murrell’s crimes.” Lying Nicola Sturgeon destroyed…” Jul 17, 01:07
Young Lochinvar on A Matter Of Declinature: “HMcH @ 6.03 Even by your standards “old boy” over in the Scotchland Office that is a particularly pointless, smug…” Jul 17, 01:01
Cynicus on A Matter Of Declinature: ““ Dug wi a bone…” ============== But NOT a Wee Ginger one” Jul 17, 00:40
James on A Matter Of Declinature: “Aw, Northy- dinna be too hard on Poor Adrian. He’s just trying to join in.” Jul 16, 22:33
James on A Matter Of Declinature: “Well said, Alf. Don’t let these plants grind you down. Their orders are divert, distract, and divide. All day, every…” Jul 16, 22:29
robertkknight on A Matter Of Declinature: “Certainly didn’t miss and hit the wall.” Jul 16, 22:24
Alf Baird on A Matter Of Declinature: ““So why don’t you fess up to what this means” It means the ‘union’ aw you folks keep floggin is…” Jul 16, 21:48
Northcode on A Matter Of Declinature: ““Right, well the fact that you can’t fucking read doesn’t stop you posting endless drivel hour after hour, day after…” Jul 16, 21:47
sarah on A Matter Of Declinature: “Thanks, Dan, for posting the link at 6.22 to David Davis in the Commons today calling Sturgeon a liar and…” Jul 16, 21:41
100%Yes on A Matter Of Declinature: “Comments are simply priceless, thank you all made me lol. Its only the start.” Jul 16, 21:33
Mark Beggan on A Matter Of Declinature: “Aberdeen university totally distancing themselves from the freak Herbert. Mr Heather Herbert is the pinnacle of Leftwing policy. The fruits…” Jul 16, 21:17
Southernbystander on A Matter Of Declinature: “Almost everyone is blaming the manager! But not because he is German. Football fans always blame the manager, for everything.…” Jul 16, 21:04
Aidan on A Matter Of Declinature: “Right, well the fact that you can’t fucking read doesn’t stop you posting endless drivel hour after hour, day after…” Jul 16, 21:02
