Earlier today we reported on the mysterious failure of the Herald to notice that its front page lead story about supposedly poor ScotRail punctuality figures made a number of serious errors with regard to the facts, most notably confusing the excellent figures for last month with a 12-month rolling average which was significantly worse.
But as we read the rest of the papers, we noticed the oddest thing.
We’re back in the archives again today, because there’s still no news. (The Herald is desperately trying to whip up outrage over trains arriving 61 seconds late, and David Torrance has finally turned up at the “OMG YES MOVEMENT SPLIT” party just as the last stragglers are heading home and the hosts are going to bed.)
And we’re particularly enjoying this one, for a whole list of reasons:
In the continuing summer absence of any sort of Scottish politics news (the Sunday papers consist of Michelle Thomson understandably taking a swipe at the SNP in the Sunday Post, the Sunday Times spluttering in impotent fury that Michelle Thomson wasn’t prosecuted, and the Sunday Herald giving a glowing write-up to idiot Tory MSP Annie Wells while savaging sections of the Yes movement yet again – this time “older white men”), we thought you might enjoy a piece from the archives.
Discovered by an alert reader, this 1976 Times article features Labour MP for Basildon Eric Moonman discussing the seemingly-imminent prospect of Scottish devolution, to which he was implacably opposed and instrumental in defeating, ultimately leading to the collapse of a Labour government and the election of Mrs Thatcher.
Today’s edition of The Times contains a textbook example of a phenomenon that we highlight regularly: how newspapers gradually unpick their own dishonest headlines to grudgingly admit a truth which is often the polar opposite of the initial claim.
The BBC’s Reporting Scotland is, in our view, directly responsible for at least 80% of Yes supporters’ belief that the UK’s state broadcaster is biased against independence. Almost all of the worst examples of unbalanced or downright dishonest coverage over the last five years come from the flagship teatime bulletin.
The Yes movement, like almost all movements, is plagued with a small but incredibly loud faction of intolerant, destructive extremists. Alert readers will have noticed that this site has again been the victim of them this week, but we’re not alone. They’ve also gone after two print publications – The National and iScot – over their “transgressions” against the beliefs of these self-appointed arbiters of what people are allowed to think.
What those two outlets and Wings have in common is achievement.
Last month saw the first meeting between the UK Brexit delegation and the EU’s, and by many accounts it fell far short of the UK’s expectations. David Davis spent months drumming up the “strong and stable” approach which would see both the divorce deal and the subsequent post-Brexit trade deal negotiated simultaneously. He was told by everyone that this wouldn’t happen, but simply brushed off the warnings. When push came to shove, he finally accepted that he’d have to negotiate the divorce deal first.
This is just the latest in a long string of failures and ineptitudes over the course of the UK’s handling of the whole farcical process and it got me thinking. If Scotland had voted Yes in 2014, what would it have looked like if the Scottish Government had handled that vote the way the UK has managed Brexit?
David Ferguson on Narrowing the options: “I’d be pretty confident in securing a conviction for fraud on the basis that no ring-fenced account was ever created,…” Jul 3, 23:54
BLMac on Narrowing the options: “Maybe we’ll see the Augean Stables cleaned before the next election.” Jul 3, 23:05
Skip_NC on Narrowing the options: “Sturgeon had no clue what she was parroting when she said that. It’s a minor point but I am curious…” Jul 3, 22:34
McDuff on Narrowing the options: “Your tenacity in this matter is a credit to you rev and I am reminded of a recurring line in…” Jul 3, 21:37
BH on Narrowing the options: “Looks like mate in 1. Neat zugzwang. Well played. Will they really play knockboardover?” Jul 3, 21:03
Iain Ross on Narrowing the options: “If, as Sturgeon says, the accounts are prepared on “a cash flow basis”, why do the notes to accounts show…” Jul 3, 20:58
Alf Baird on Fob, Fob, Fobbing Along: ““Cheap leccy!” In my analysis I found that most of the world’s oil rich nations also have the lowest energy…” Jul 3, 20:47
Stephen Cowley on Narrowing the options: “Nicola Sturgeon stated on camera that the SNP accounts were prepared “on a cash flow basis”. Presumably this means that…” Jul 3, 20:31
Hatey McHateface on Narrowing the options: “You can’t know that for sure, Mark, until you’ve worked your way through the OnlyFans directory. I hear Snooty Cow…” Jul 3, 20:28
Mark Beggan on Narrowing the options: “Did you see my clever use of words there? That snooty cow will never show her Blips. So we will…” Jul 3, 20:05
Andrea on Narrowing the options: “@cynicus, Actually “outwith” is a word I come across quite regularly, and I use it myself. I think I saw…” Jul 3, 20:04
Stuart MacKay on Narrowing the options: “I can just imagine the reply… It wasn’t in the public interest to prosecute someone for embezzling the public.” Jul 3, 19:57
Confused on Fob, Fob, Fobbing Along: “main, unless you understand the market auction process and can explain what a CFD is, you need to STFU about…” Jul 3, 19:54
robertkknight on Narrowing the options: “Dripping with sarcasm….love it!” Jul 3, 19:52
TimePilot on Narrowing the options: “Meanwhile in London readers, looks like someone has turned to comfort eating and drinking…. (caution advised this is not pretty)…” Jul 3, 19:05
Hatey McHateface on Narrowing the options: “Surprised you’re still here. Thought you’d be at the funeral. Lasts until Thursday so there’s still time.” Jul 3, 19:01
Hatey McHateface on Fob, Fob, Fobbing Along: “So true, Wally the Winking Walrus. All over Scotland, facts fall into line to suit the first deployer of “bum…” Jul 3, 18:56
Hatey McHateface on Fob, Fob, Fobbing Along: “Cheap leccy! Two words that tell us you haven’t a scooby what you’re wanging oan aboot. If you really, really…” Jul 3, 18:44
twathater on Fob, Fob, Fobbing Along: “As always Confused, bang on the money , the only things holding us back is the progressive “Be Kind arseholes”…” Jul 3, 18:30
Captain Caveman on Fob, Fob, Fobbing Along: ““Keep believing your own prejudices.” Wow, that’s rich coming from you pal. 😀 Odious apologist.” Jul 3, 17:24
James on Fob, Fob, Fobbing Along: ““Confused” shoots ’em down in flames. Yet again lolz “None of you anglo bumboys has even the good sense to…” Jul 3, 17:23
Ian Smith on Narrowing the options: “Martin Guisler hinted that it wasn’t his colleague’s finest day that they considered the original missing funds investigation a big…” Jul 3, 17:12
Cynicus on Narrowing the options: “Andrea says: 3 July, 2026 at 2:28 pm “Ingathered” is my new word of the day.” ========== Like “outwith” it…” Jul 3, 17:10
Ian Smith on Fob, Fob, Fobbing Along: “Does doing well mean our medium income is so low that fewer class as poor? Poverty dropped during the 2008…” Jul 3, 17:05
Mark Beggan on Narrowing the options: “I think all could be forgiven if the KC showed Scotland her Blips live on TV.” Jul 3, 16:38
James on Fob, Fob, Fobbing Along: “So where does the cash go, Adrian? Westminster. You and your half-wit chum below you are a pair of fucking…” Jul 3, 16:36
Luigi on Narrowing the options: “You’ve got em squirming, Rev. No more wiggle room. They must love you.” Jul 3, 16:18
