This documentary starts a little slowly, but becomes an eye-opening case study of how Labour steamrollered through crippling PFI contracts to build public infrastructure on the never-never when they ran the Scottish Executive from 1999-2007.
We referenced this a few days ago because we definitely remembered it happening, but we’d been unable to actually locate the evidence, and at Wings Over Scotland that sort of thing bothers us. After a very considerable amount of effort we’ve now tracked it down, so we’re bunging it up here to preserve it for the record.
(At that point host Frank Skinner gave up and moved on.)
It’s from one month after the indyref, and the interesting thing is that Robinson is twice given the opportunity to respond to Skinner’s question about whether he thought that the pro-Yes supporters had any sort of fair point about his alleged bias, and both times – rather than, say, just dismissing it with a quick “Of course not” – he ducks it.
Readers can, as always, make their own judgements.
Amid the horror of events in Catalonia yesterday, the Prime Minister of the UK – quite unintentionally – said something during an interview on the Andrew Marr Show which was highly pertinent not only to the Catalan referendum but to British domestic politics too. We thought it needed saving for the record.
This site can’t claim to know enough about Spanish and Catalan politics to have an opinion about whether independence for Catalonia is a good idea or not. All we can say is that democracy is a good idea, and the draconian and extreme attempts of the Spanish government to suppress the referendum – ludicrously under-reported in the UK media, particularly broadcast media – are a terrifying throwback to its fascist past. We very much hope they don’t succeed.
A Scot living in the EU, and an EU national living in Scotland, discuss the implications of the Brexit being forced on Scotland against its will by the UK government.
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 complete series so far. If you’ve got a story like this to tell, or you know anyone who does, Phantom Power want to hear from you – drop them a line.
Northcode on The quality of mercy: “The recent “Believe in Scotland” pretence at showing support for Scottish independence was never going to fool most of the…” Apr 3, 15:14
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The quality of mercy: “« I remember him [José Bergamín (Pepe)] saying to me one day that he had realized the Spanish people had…” Apr 3, 15:10
panda paws on The quality of mercy: “I don’t think that the 50% of the population who support independence aren’t committed to it being delivered. I think…” Apr 3, 14:53
100%Yes on The quality of mercy: “Why would the BBC report on a Indy march? The BBC knows the SNP and believe in Scotland have no…” Apr 3, 14:49
Betty Boop on The quality of mercy: “Spot on! There was a time when we could be confident that the leadership believed in Scotland and worked for…” Apr 3, 14:48
Mark Beggan on The quality of mercy: “Just to be there. Oh yes. Just to be there. 2007-2014. They all resigned knowing what they were leaving Scotland…” Apr 3, 14:42
Frank Gillougley on The quality of mercy: “We are getting there though, to a starting point, that is. As soon as this generation of SNP Politicians are…” Apr 3, 14:32
Betty Boop on The quality of mercy: “Spot on! There was a time when we could be confident that the leadership believed in Scotland and worked for…” Apr 3, 14:26
TURABDIN on The quality of mercy: “The Greeks remember the part Scottish George Gordon Byron as the man who made them take the idea of independence…” Apr 3, 14:15
James Che on The quality of mercy: “As far as I can ascertain from your post and stats it relays the information that the independence movement is…” Apr 3, 14:07
Alf Baird on Clocks And Calendars: “Thon’s aboot the size o hit, Northcode – i.e. English domination.” Apr 3, 14:01
James Che on The quality of mercy: “The evidence shows that the 1 . 6 million people whom support Scottish independence are not attached to the political…” Apr 3, 13:48
Sven on The quality of mercy: “Mark Beggan @ 13.24. The World Cup is sport, Mark, so it’s arguable that it’s not winning or losing, but…” Apr 3, 13:42
James Che on Clocks And Calendars: “The false political parties registered in England acting in Scotland like actors, are not representatives of the people of Scotland…” Apr 3, 13:30
Mark Beggan on The quality of mercy: “It’s not winning the World cup that matters it’s taking part in the tournament. The might have beens, The could…” Apr 3, 13:24
Rev. Stuart Campbell on Sicknote Slippers: ““That is nonsense ON MULTIPLE LEVELS.. The flag has nothing to do with the alleged policy of the regime. And,…” Apr 3, 13:23
duncanio on The quality of mercy: “Richard Walker and co are are entirely deluded and have been totally deceived by the myth making primary independence industry…” Apr 3, 13:17
James Che on Clocks And Calendars: “Mark Beggan, Further to conversations on this matter it is still standing as fact and that unionists have never been…” Apr 3, 13:12
James Che on Clocks And Calendars: “Mark Beggan, It is sadly true, People looking for reasons for Scotland to be attached to Englands parliaments. When they…” Apr 3, 13:07
Mark Beggan on Clocks And Calendars: “You can always tell when the radical lunatics are in meltdown. They start listing the reasons for their reason to…” Apr 3, 12:45
James Che on Clocks And Calendars: “The point is and often missed by the people in Scotland is that the people in Scotland are not English,…” Apr 3, 12:40
James Che on Clocks And Calendars: “Alf Baird, The Scottish people whom crave to be English and also crave to dispose of belonging to the Country…” Apr 3, 12:28
Northcode on Clocks And Calendars: “A description of the British Isles (as seen through the eyes of the English): Britain is England. British is English.…” Apr 3, 11:47
Alf Baird on Clocks And Calendars: ““And independent Scotland with no falsehoods obscurring your vision.” Yes James, cultural assimilation is what obscures our colonial reality. Those…” Apr 3, 10:54
Geri on Clocks And Calendars: “The Greens don’t care about children cause they’re not their children. They want to control everyone else’s. I’ve never came…” Apr 3, 10:46
James Che on Clocks And Calendars: “It pays pod casts and web sites to continue, theres money and benefits for unionist to keep up the pretence,…” Apr 3, 10:00
diabloandco on Clocks And Calendars: “I just hope the North East has the sense to have a wee look at what Chapman has decided for…” Apr 3, 09:27
Captain Captain on Clocks And Calendars: “Ah, what’s the expression I’m looking for here? “It wisnae us!” Pathetic, but to be expected. I note you swerved…” Apr 3, 08:55
Bilbo on Clocks And Calendars: “Andy boy, you a pal of Jordan Linden?” Apr 3, 07:48
Bilbo on Clocks And Calendars: “You couldn’t make this up. https://archive.is/8uSIu Emma Cuthbertson, who led the Rainbow Greens alongside Guy Ingerson, has resigned her membership…” Apr 3, 07:42