We thought you might enjoy watching Sarah Smith just about remembering to mention the European elections while conveying to a watching nation her amazement that the dastardly SNP still want independence, from tonight’s Reporting Scotland.
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.
Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the ALDE group in the European Parliament (essentially the Euro Lib Dems), is by no means our standard go-to guy for political guidance. Like most European politicians he’s been criminally silent on the outrages being perpetrated by the government of Spain, and in general he’s a bit neoliberal for our tastes.
But his speech from yesterday is powerful stuff.
As we write this, the UK’s parliament is blundering through a third successive day of toe-curling farce on the floor of the Commons, aimed this time at securing some sort of extension to Brexit to avoid a disastrous no-deal in just 15 days’ time.
It may yet be that such a request will be issued and the EU will grant it, dragging out the whole awful mess for God knows how much longer. But judging by the tone of M. Verhofstadt’s impassioned, exasperated address in Strasbourg, we wouldn’t like to have money on it. It appears that an entire continent has had just about enough of us.
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.
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.
twathater on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “So Jay you said “Too many of the comments made on ‘Wings’ appear as those of an in-fighting rabble who,…” Aug 19, 03:54
Peter McAvoy on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “The Herald today mentions that more student accommodation is to be built on the site of the former Herald premises…” Aug 19, 01:58
Alex towns on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “Swinney gave it in private but means diddly. He was open about not having a committee membership etc so wasn’t…” Aug 19, 00:25
Alex towns on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “What utter pish. A indie Scotland would have the same career driven assholes in the same positions making sure they…” Aug 19, 00:24
Ian Smith on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “If police were made aware that the SNP had pilfered the cash, are they duty bound to sit on their…” Aug 18, 23:13
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “Aidan, I don’t think that’s what was said. I think the lady simply agreed with James. I think I understand…” Aug 18, 23:08
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “Marie says: 18 August, 2026 at 2:54 pm “Monarchy – a relic. Time to get rid.” You were doing so…” Aug 18, 22:51
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “Even if every poster on here agrees with Alf tomorrow that Scotland is a colony, Alf still fails to provide…” Aug 18, 22:43
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “If another fit of boredom strikes you, Northy, why don’t you re-write the lawyer’s letter in a superior form? Not…” Aug 18, 22:35
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “Fucks sake, Jay Main. It’s a well-known quote, widely repeated. Why don’t you educate yersel? And yes, if a nation…” Aug 18, 22:29
Strathglass on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “replying to Northcode (A) OK. not really important in the scheme of things. (B)Ditto. (C) So Police Scotland are saying…” Aug 18, 21:39
Aidan on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “@Alf – if it is the high-quality work you say it is, then why is it published in a student-run…” Aug 18, 21:24
Aidan on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: ““A distinction is appropriate, here, because Alf has been accused of obsessive references to various writers who deal with Colonialism”…” Aug 18, 21:20
Alf Baird on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “An extensive summary of the ‘Doun-Hauden’ book’s findings and theoretical framework developed to explain Scotland’s colonial condition, inclusive of extensive…” Aug 18, 21:14
Spartan 117 on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “I don’t always agree with Alf however he does make compelling points and makes his points without any disrespect or…” Aug 18, 20:48
Saffron Robe on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “I’m not sure I agree with your conclusion, Stuart. What if independence is the only way to bring about justice?…” Aug 18, 20:28
James Che on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “The devolved Scottish governance is English by nature and law under legislation and Statues from the Westminster parliament in which…” Aug 18, 20:15
Northcode on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “Police Scotland’s reply… tone, structure, and meaning. This letter is calm, procedural, factual, standard, professional, and non?reactive. It’s exactly what…” Aug 18, 19:19
Jay on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “Anthem and Alanm, your assessment is correct. Thatcher and her associates intended to corrupt potentially democratic politics with a massive…” Aug 18, 18:16
Northcode on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “You’re wrong, Jay. Alf only references those pioneers of postcolonial theory to punt his book, “Doun-Hauden: The Socio-Political Determinants of…” Aug 18, 17:56
Jay on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “Confused as to the utility of your comment (referring to J. Arday) for remedy of the ills with which Rev…” Aug 18, 17:24
James Che on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “With Scotland not having a legal parliament of its own, ( as presently its under the legislation and statue’s of…” Aug 18, 16:17
James Che on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “It would appear that Stu is dealing with the wrong Crown offices of England and english laws, not Scots law,…” Aug 18, 16:01
James Che on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “Union minded people are beginning to fight a losing battle in its efforts to hold Scotland even as a Colony.…” Aug 18, 15:47
Aidan on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: ““So universities now teach there is no union between Scotland and England” Which universities teach that?” Aug 18, 15:39
Northcode on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “A fit of boredom came upon me… so I had a closer look at the lawyer’s letter for something to…” Aug 18, 15:30
Jay on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “They say your name is J. Main: you speak only for yourself.” Aug 18, 15:21
James Che on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “Just talking to a lady from England with full qualifications on studies on geography and world war one and world…” Aug 18, 15:16
robertkknight on The Land Of Do-As-You-Please: “Agreed, Alf. Ignore the site pricks/usual suspects.” Aug 18, 15:08