We all knew this already, of course. Last year we commissioned a poll from Panelbase which found an enormous 41-point gap between Yes and No voters on immigration. But it was still nice to have it both confirmed and laid out so clearly by Sir John Curtice on Good Morning Scotland earlier today.
(About 1h 55m in. We’re having some trouble recording sound on our new PC at the moment, we’ll get you a proper audio link as soon as we’ve figured it out.)
It’s worth keeping to hand the next time some witless Scottish Labour goon tries to tell you that independence is bad because it’s “separatist” and that voting for the Union is the international-solidarity option. Because that’s a flat-out lie.
We now have the verdicts on Brexit from three of the UK’s four nations. The Scottish Parliament, speaking for the Scottish nation, voted overwhelmingly this afternoon to reject both Theresa May’s draft agreement and leaving the EU without a deal.
At a time of unprecedented political chaos and uncertainty, just about the only thing you can still count on is that for any given situation, senior Labour figures will issue proclamations both firmly in favour of it and stoutly opposed to it, usually the same day.
So the stories below, which are respectively from today’s Scotsman and today’s Times, won’t come as much of a shock to anyone.
But against the odds, we think we’ve made some sense of it.
The front page lead of today’s Scottish Daily Mail:
As alert readers of this site will know, the Mail has a particular fondness for presenting statistics bereft of any context so that people have no idea how big or small they really are. So is 1,600 passengers a week receiving compensation for delays a lot or a little? Let’s find out.
All political discourse is plagued with genuine imbeciles, of course. But what’s far more depressing is when educated and normally perceptive people merely act like imbeciles for money, such as the case of Alex Massie in the Sunday Times today.
Because for the last two years, commentators who ought to know better have insisted in presenting Scotland’s choice as between Brexit or Brexit plus independence, and solemnly concluding that the uncertainties and risks of the latter being piled on top of those of the former prove that independence is no solution.
And we don’t care to have our intelligence insulted in that way.
Mark Beggan on The Slowest Dawning: “Brilliantly put Rev. It’s the Woke Jihad.” Aug 28, 18:42
Captain Caveman on Spot The Problem: “Well, I’m sure we’re all devastated, Fatso. (“LOL” – definitely at you pal).” Aug 28, 18:35
100%Yes on The Slowest Dawning: “Just in at The National, “SNP Westminster leader U-turns after opening door to indyref deal with Nigel Farage” I have…” Aug 28, 18:17
Karen on The Slowest Dawning: “What jumped out at me was “15. [Making the case] … over time, well ahead of any future referendum campaign”.…” Aug 28, 18:16
100%Yes on The Slowest Dawning: “The National doesn’t make good reading for people wanting Independence or the SNP membership. It states “SNP members’ fury as…” Aug 28, 18:14
James on The Slowest Dawning: “Or just don’t bother. Would suit most.” Aug 28, 18:13
100%Yes on The Slowest Dawning: “Certain people actually believe ATLS is the party you should now vote for, NAW they ain’t. They have been actively…” Aug 28, 18:09
James on Spot The Problem: “LOL. [at you, not with you].” Aug 28, 18:09
viscount ennui on The Slowest Dawning: “SNP supporters v Christians “So do you actually believe that an angel impregnated Mary to produce JC?” “Well, obviously no.…” Aug 28, 18:03
100%Yes on The Slowest Dawning: “The National doesn’t make good reading for people wanting Independence or the SNP membership. It states “SNP members’ fury as…” Aug 28, 18:00
Spartan 117 on The Slowest Dawning: “Worse than that, Honest John and his cronies want to offshore and outsource democracy to the undemocratic EU and turn…” Aug 28, 17:53
agentx on The Slowest Dawning: “I’ll wait for James Che’s in depth analysis and Alf’s quotes before passing judgement!” Aug 28, 17:46
Spartan 117 on The Slowest Dawning: “Last time round, I found the argument put forward for independence inadequate and lacking in key details, just as the…” Aug 28, 17:46
Aidan on Spot The Problem: “It’s all true CC, but it’s alright James can put a tin foil hat on his oversized head to protect…” Aug 28, 17:45
100%Yes on The Slowest Dawning: “What attracted my attention was the elephant in the room “59. abolish The Scotland Office”. What ever the UK PM…” Aug 28, 17:38
Gav on The Slowest Dawning: “The Wee Blue Book is the gold standard in getting reliable, fully-sourced information out there in a format that supports…” Aug 28, 17:23
ScottieDog on The Slowest Dawning: “When in difficulty, there’s always the civilian branch – Believe In Scotland to get the (non-jingling) collection tins going” Aug 28, 17:15
Willie on The Slowest Dawning: “Absolutely yes, bang on Fheargas. The SNP exists now purely to stymie independence. That’s is exactly what its handlers in…” Aug 28, 17:13
Willie on The Slowest Dawning: “Absolutely yes, bang on Fheargas. The SNP exists now purely to stymie independence. That’s is exactly what its handlers in…” Aug 28, 17:05
robertkknight on The Slowest Dawning: “None so blind as SNP members who will not see. Apart of course from the gender Woo-Woo and Wokerati carpetbaggers,…” Aug 28, 16:49
Jim Thomson on The Slowest Dawning: “Right at the top of your post you point out that anyone disagreeing with the general direction of the party…” Aug 28, 16:28
Captain Caveman on Spot The Problem: “Well, we all know you haven’t, Fatty. Unless you call a park bench “air conditioned”.” Aug 28, 16:26
Ian Smith on The Slowest Dawning: “Will conference discuss the big thing that happened a few months back, or show any interest in who was responsible…” Aug 28, 16:25
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Slowest Dawning: “The SNP is not a failure. I have no doubt the SNP is fully achieving what it’s dark handlers wish…” Aug 28, 16:23
James on Spot The Problem: “Ah; Pricks 2 & 3, right on cue as booked. Got air con in there, girls?” Aug 28, 15:45
Captain Caveman on Spot The Problem: “I think you’re forgetting the undoubted malign influence of 5G phone masts and flu vaccines, Aidan, not to mention “Humphrey…” Aug 28, 15:31
Captain Caveman on Spot The Problem: ““Not for nothing was the SNP referred to as the Tartan Tories – strangely enough – back in the days…” Aug 28, 15:29
Peter McAvoy on Spot The Problem: “Regarding the genius of our unwritten constitution,that term is a contradiction the genius is that the term is believed by…” Aug 28, 15:26
