Wings Over Scotland isn’t the only website dedicated to scrutinising the truthfulness of things claimed by politicians and media pundits. There’s the widely-respected and diligent FullFact.org, there’s Scotland’s own The Ferret, and there’s the BBC’s Reality Check (which frequently takes the more unconventional approach of, er, not making a finding either way about what the reality of things is).
And then there’s Channel 4’s FactCheck, which we’re going to generously assume had a liquid lunch yesterday and was a little under the weather.
Because not only is the conclusion that it reached on the subject of an independent Scotland having to use the Euro utter nonsense that’s been debunked roughly 1000 times in the last six years, it doesn’t even agree with itself.
This was the Scottish Tories two years ago, when Scotland’s economy registered a small downturn for a single quarter, which was definitely the SNP’s fault:
Shall we find out what actually happened, readers?
Several media outlets today relate a story from BBC Scotland’s fascinating three-part documentary of the indyref, revealing that secret UK government polling in the first week of September 2014 gave Yes a lead even bigger than the famous 51-49 one published by the Sunday Times on the 7th.
And naturally we couldn’t help wondering what might have caused it.
Dr Craig Dalzell of the Common Weal is a very sharp guy we’ve run several pieces by on Wings, and he’s currently appearing all over the place with a highly accessible and concise explanation of how an independent Scotland could sensibly run its economy.
If you haven’t been able to make it out to see him, a quiet Sunday might be an ideal time to catch up with it.
For some time, most polls for “Who’d make the best UK Prime Minister?” – the stat that really decides who wins general elections – have shown a solid lead for “Don’t know”, narrowly ahead of Theresa May and a long way ahead of Jeremy Corbyn.
It’s a prime symptom of a UK-wide contempt for politicians the magnitude of which we’ve never seen in our lifetime, and Scottish voters are in no way immune.
We loaded this question from our latest Panelbase poll in the party leaders’ favours, because you don’t have to think any of them is doing a GOOD job to say that one of them is doing the BEST job out of the four. Everything is relative – and we also didn’t ask the question specifically about Brexit.
But even with those get-outs, “They’re all useless” came out on top by a clear seven points over Nicola Sturgeon, and the rest weren’t even at the races.
Tonight sees what’s likely to be a highly-charged Scottish Cup quarter-final replay at Ibrox Stadium. Defeat will effectively end the losing side’s season, and games between the participants, Aberdeen and Rangers International, have tended to be fierce affairs ever since the latter club was formed in controversial circumstances in 2012, with this season’s clashes already having seen numerous red cards.
(Mainly for the home team’s temperamental striker Alfredo Morelos.)
Football authorities will be hoping for a minimum of flashpoints on the field which might lead to repeats of shocking recent scenes of abuse and violence from spectators, which have prompted the nation’s media to wring its hands in theatrical angst and demand that something be done.
The public’s view on the subject, meanwhile, has remained absolutely consistent.
Sundays have been the low point of Scottish political journalism for a while now. Traditionally a day when newspapers are heavy on comment and light on news (because politics tends to happen on weekdays), they unleash all the weary old dinosaurs who’ve been driving away readers for the last 30 years.
So you really have to stand out to be noticed for especially appalling hackery on a Sunday, which is probably why nobody from Scotland On Sunday wanted to have their name on this toe-curling piece of second-hand, lifted-from-another-paper garbage.
Professor Ronald MacDonald, you say? That name seems to ring a bell.
MARR: “What would [Theresa May] need to bring back [from Brexit negotiations] to win you over?”
DAVIS: “She needs to bring back a clear ability on the part of the United Kingdom to be able to leave this treaty when it chooses to. There is no other treaty in the world I’m aware of where a sovereign nation undertakes to join up and can only leave when the other side says so.”
We’re pretty sure we can think of an example, David.
Michael Glackin of the Sunday Times is the only serious contender to the Scotsman’s demented Brian Wilson as the most poisonously, blindly instinctive hater of anything even passingly connected to the SNP or independence in the Scottish media. His weekly bilious rants in the paper make even Scottish Daily Express hacks wince and say “Blimey, that’s a bit strong”.
But even by those standards, this week’s column is quite something. So let’s take a little look at just how much of an idiot you can make of yourself if you never allow facts to get in the way of your rage.
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Nobodies: “The following is the latest blog article from Fearghal Mac Bhloscaidh, Senior Lecturer in History at St. Mary’s University, Belfast.…” Jul 31, 12:47
Minceheid on The Nobodies: “Hatey McHateface says: 31 July, 2026 at 11:11 am Interesting to see that the calls for suspension of EU freedom…” Jul 31, 12:15
Hatey McHateface on The Nobodies: “49,000! That’s a lot of renewable energy consultants, dentists and optometrists. Interesting to see that the calls for suspension of…” Jul 31, 11:11
agentx on The Nobodies: ““The Spanish interior ministry has just said that more than 49,000 people are believed to have swum or walked into…” Jul 31, 10:34
agentx on The Nobodies: “AI response: “On the Wings Over Scotland blog, the absence of a “reply” button on certain comments is caused by…” Jul 31, 10:31
Hatey McHateface on The Nobodies: “@ Young Lochinvar says: 30 July, 2026 at 11:05 pm “I see the casting of a black actress … is…” Jul 31, 10:14
Hatey McHateface on The Nobodies: “The “Spanish Gibraltar”, Ceuta, is appealing for help from the mother country after an estimated 2 to 3 thousand Moroccans…” Jul 31, 08:26
Hatey McHateface on The Nobodies: “Aw, Dave, dinna be like that. Nae cant’s asking for a share of your humongous betting bonanza pay off. Although,…” Jul 31, 07:53
Hatey McHateface on The Nobodies: ““You do know in this day and age not every drink has to be alcohol based eh?” When toasting those…” Jul 31, 07:46
Jay on The Nobodies: “Will someone please explain why some comments have a ‘reply’ annotation and others, not?” Jul 31, 07:34
James Che on The Nobodies: “Remind me who rules the waves of England, if not the empire of GB. And who is set to dismember…” Jul 31, 07:32
James Che on The Nobodies: “Wales & Ireland need to wake up. But the police and army overall need realise that they are helping the…” Jul 31, 06:56
James Che on The Nobodies: “England aided by politicians, judges, police etc has sunk,” Jul 31, 06:30
James Cheyne on The Nobodies: “Scotland does not have time to carry on pretending England rules the waves.” Jul 31, 06:10
James Che on The Nobodies: “Watching GB news regarding the invasion of Britain through England of fighting age men arriving in large boats under dark,…” Jul 31, 05:56
DaveL on The Nobodies: “You just can’t shut up can you? You just spew any old rubbish that comes to mind. Who’d be Hatey?…” Jul 31, 03:11
Young Lochinvar on The Nobodies: “HMcH @ 10.54 I’m afraid I’ll just have to take your word for that. Voice of experience an’ that.. PS…” Jul 30, 23:21
Young Lochinvar on The Nobodies: “Between holidays and Mrs YLs big birthday I haven’t had a chance to see Odyssey yet, which I am looking…” Jul 30, 23:05
Hatey McHateface on The Nobodies: “Dinna fash, Auld Lochnagar. Wi a’ the glesses ye raise tae em, some loss o’ faculties is tae be expected.” Jul 30, 22:54
Hatey McHateface on The Nobodies: “Cheers, Alf, that’s me convinced. I’ll buy that bridge off you now. Remember your quoted price has to include postage…” Jul 30, 22:43
Alf Baird on The Nobodies: “““Want me to describe how”” Just to keep you happy, Hatey. ‘Burnham’s government is even more zion*st than Starmer’s’: https://dearscotland.substack.com/p/burnhams-government-is-even-more” Jul 30, 20:36
agentx on The Nobodies: “https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/angela-constance-must-explain-snp-37491884” Jul 30, 19:44
Dan on The Nobodies: “After 6 years I wonder if this book is still doing the rounds. https://wingsoverscotland.com/brenda-isnt-a-sheep/” Jul 30, 18:02
Young Lochinvar on The Nobodies: “Errata Bell O the Brae.. My bad..” Jul 30, 18:01
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Nobodies: “NI FESTIVAL CANCELS WOMEN’S RIGHTS GROUP OVER GENDER-CRITICAL VIEWS An arts and culture festival in Northern Ireland has cancelled a…” Jul 30, 17:43
Young Lochinvar on The Nobodies: “Driving up the High Street in Glasgow today reminded me to mark the anniversary of the Battle O Bells Brae…” Jul 30, 17:41
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Nobodies: “SCHOOLS MUST STOP PROMOTING ‘DAMAGING’ BOOKS BY LGBT ACTIVISTS TO KIDS Parents and campaigners are urging schools to stop using…” Jul 30, 17:31
agentx on The Nobodies: ““‘Queer Milk’ charity gets public money to promote chestfeeding For Women Scotland campaign group describes the taxpayer support as ‘nauseating’…” Jul 30, 17:11
Hatey McHateface on The Nobodies: “Aye, Dave, we’ll be independent by Xmas. And because you’re so confident, you’ll be laying down some big bets at…” Jul 30, 15:37
Hatey McHateface on The Nobodies: “Aye, Confused, it’s just as well that one Scot is better than ten English. What with them outnumbering us by…” Jul 30, 15:06
