Politics is still on hiatus after the dreadful events of Manchester, so we’ve taken the chance to go and enjoy the sudden summer weather while nothing was happening.
And today, as we (“Drove at a legal speed” – Ed) across the pretty hills overlooking Bath in an inexpensive convertible, a song came on the stereo that made us think of all the Unionist trolls who were still busily raging on Twitter – mainly about the SNP’s awful failure to light up every building in Scotland with the Union Jack in tribute to the dead (no, really), but also at the most recent data “proving” that independence would mean the country regressing to the Stone Age and whatnot.
So we thought we’d share it with you, because as well as having a jaunty tune it’s got a good attitude to adopt when they’re screaming and yelling themselves red, white and blue in the face about something or other, rather than wasting your time and mental equilibrium on being dragged into their fetid mind-swamp.
It works on any day, even if you’re not in a sports car.
The spanking new issue of Viz, which is totally still a thing, is out today at all good newsagents. The cover promises a “FANTASTIC FREE VOTING AID” inside, and we thought you’d be at least mildly and fleetingly amused by the Scottish aspect. Of it.
Pop out to the shops and buy a Viz*, readers. (Or subscribe to try three issues for a mere £1.) It’s just as funny as it used to be but much less popular, so it’s cool again.
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*Wings Over Scotland has no connection to Viz or Dennis Publishing Ltd and has received no inducement for this endorsement. Although we’re open to offers.
(NB The media is understandably mostly occupied today with the horrific events in Manchester. But life goes on – music websites are still talking about music, football websites are still talking about football, videogames websites are still talking about videogames. Any rational observations about terrorism made here would be screamed down as making political capital from tragedy. So let’s get on with the day job.)
If you apply to go on a televised political debate and then submit a question to ask a national leader, it seems a reasonable deduction that you want that issue to be raised and discussed. If you also make it personal by describing your own circumstances, it seems logical that you’d want those circumstances to be widely publicised, and to be asked about them so you could say more and tell your story to the country.
So it’s a bit odd that Edinburgh nurse Claire Austin has suddenly gone off the radar.
We’re not going to join in the attacks on a nurse who criticised Nicola Sturgeon during last night’s BBC election debate. While her lifestyle seems at a glance to be wildly at odds with her claim that she relied on foodbanks to survive, there are – genuinely – possible explanations for at least most of it.
Owning a convertible car isn’t proof that someone’s wealthy – I have one myself that’s worth less than £1000, and I also have a relative who has very little money but who nevertheless owns a horse just like Claire Austin’s daughter seemingly does. (It’s also possible to be quite poor but still own things you bought when you were less poor.)
It ill befits Yes supporters – who are happy to deploy the existence and growing use of foodbanks to justifiably attack the UK government – to complain if someone who calls the First Minister “wee Jimmy Krankie” adopts the same tactic. More to the point, we entirely agree with Ms Austin’s core view that nurses should be paid more in general, as we suspect most people do.
(And in Scotland, of course, they ARE paid more than in the rest of the UK, and under the SNP have always been given the full pay rises recommended by the independent pay board, which hasn’t been the case in England.)
But that still leaves some things hanging disquietingly in the air.
Following the striking success of their tactical voting campaign at the general election of 2015, the Unionist parties are keen to repeat the strategy this year, and have once again deployed THE WHEEL.
There’s only one problem. They can’t quite agree on the colours of the spokes.
Kezia Dugdale tells voters in the Borders, Highlands and a number of other areas that voting Tory is a better way to stop the SNP than voting for her own party’s candidates.
(Alert readers may have noticed that I had to adopt a wee bit of subterfuge to get on by saying – truthfully – that I was from Bathgate, because BBC Scotland don’t tend to take my calls when I say where I am.)
As you’ll hear, Rennie had no answer to the question (even when put to him again by Adams), trying to deflect the issue onto SNP BAD instead.
His position was that the British people should have the right to another vote in case they’ve changed their mind about Brexit, even though there’s been no material change of circumstances, but that the Scottish people SHOULDN’T have the right to another vote on independence even though there HAS been a huge material change.
Jas on Tuning In The Shine: “Not long before ‘Strictly’ calls?” Jul 2, 16:12
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “Confused (2 July 9.59am) writes: “Spook HQ in Glasgow is Kentigern House” ————————- KENTIGERN etymology. Saint’s formal name, also affectionately…” Jul 2, 16:02
Young Lochinvar on Tuning In The Shine: “Er ye go, the assertions been made so over to you John Swinney – move into and live in a…” Jul 2, 15:52
joolz on Tuning In The Shine: ““John Swinney would live in a cave for independence” but he won’t be honest about money. He can’t claim the…” Jul 2, 15:48
Ian Smith on Tuning In The Shine: “I cannot understand why Beattie stood again, (never mind why anyone would vote for him again) if not that he…” Jul 2, 15:35
Effijy on Tuning In The Shine: “Could we enquire why Guissler didn’t investigate or ask his bbc colleagues or bosses? Because they are anti Scottish and…” Jul 2, 15:33
Shug on Tuning In The Shine: “The big question for nationalists is Why did the MSM protect the SNP Why do legal professionals at the highest…” Jul 2, 15:27
Alf Baird on Tuning In The Shine: ““don’t think any of it got “censored”” At least you got a Brit State platform Rev, congrats. I offered Geissler…” Jul 2, 15:23
Liza Laine on Tuning In The Shine: “Upton Sinclair explained this ~100 years ago: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary…” Jul 2, 15:18
Mark Beggan on Tuning In The Shine: “Good point. The only interview I seen was when he was asked about the impact it had on his life…” Jul 2, 14:37
Ronnie on Tuning In The Shine: “Enjoyed that. The only comment I would make is how does Geissler not understand how there were two crimes commited?” Jul 2, 14:34
Mark Beggan on Tuning In The Shine: “” ..Fru fru knickknacks for his kitchen..” My favorite.” Jul 2, 14:10
David Ferguson on Tuning In The Shine: “Interesting your remarks abut Colin Beattie. He has done a fantastic job of staying completely under the radar so far.…” Jul 2, 14:04
Rev. Stuart Campbell on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: ““Except that’s not quite the case. The small print of the fundraiser pretty much did say it could be spent…” Jul 2, 13:55
Rev. Stuart Campbell on The Fast Track: ““Just a thought, but is it possible the alleged ringfenced referendum cash doesn’t appear in the annual accounts because it’s…” Jul 2, 13:53
James Che on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “The so called new incoming prime minister has no given mandate to go forward, there would have to be an…” Jul 2, 13:45
Mark Beggan on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “A bit off topic but not really. The fifty percent women cabinets have a habit of turning into a a…” Jul 2, 13:31
Mark Beggan on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “I give Andy Cap twenty minutes on the seat of power before his biscuits start burning and his Marxist plot…” Jul 2, 13:23
Peter McAvoy on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “While quickly browsing the BBC Scotland today website some stories on the review of the papers front pages attracted my…” Jul 2, 13:22
Andy Wiltshire on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston of Police Scotland and Crown Agent John Logue of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal…” Jul 2, 12:45
Hatey McHateface on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “Out in the real world, the UK is about to get a new Prime Minister who has already outlined his…” Jul 2, 11:19
Hatey McHateface on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “Aye, Northy, you must be ruing the day you all so right royally fucked up the 2014 referendum. It’s good…” Jul 2, 11:11
Hatey McHateface on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “I have to agree Homer. Asserting that anybody who disagrees with one is a “fucking moron” who “enjoys taking it…” Jul 2, 11:04
Hatey Mchateface on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “Aye, Confused, we’d be down the pits digging coal, or on the Clyde welding supertankers, and all whilst being paid…” Jul 2, 10:51
Northcode on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “Apples and pears; low hanging fruit… easy and obvious targets. The good stuff is far higher up the tree closer…” Jul 2, 10:49
Confused on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “dana garavelli doing her 10000 words in the LRB made me think of this – www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8F7iEyitGw – there used to…” Jul 2, 10:09
Confused on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “everything is connected – and you can always be relied upon to miss the point in some shallow manner; well,…” Jul 2, 10:01
Confused on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “I dined once at Somerville College (looked good but not up to much, must have been their set menu), around…” Jul 2, 09:59
James Che on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “So it correct to assume Scotland has two tier government, the UK one and the imaginary one under the devolved…” Jul 2, 09:48
