It’s been such an exciting, action-packed week for Scottish Labour since a dynamic and thrusting PPB launched the 2015 branch-office conference that we worried there might be a danger people had forgotten it already. So we’ve brought it back for a curtain call, in a version a bit more appropriate for what remains of their core vote.
The video clip below is from Russia Today, which is in no way an impartial news outlet. However, it’s dangerous and unwise to reflexively dismiss any message purely because of the medium. Heck, even the Daily Mail tells the truth sometimes.
His views are expert and worth listening to. (The full interview is here.) Readers can, as ever, decide for themselves whether to believe him or David Cameron.
Kezia Dugdale spoke for almost exactly 45 minutes to the Scottish Labour conference in Perth today. But we know you’re busy people who don’t want to sit through all of that, and that you trust us to endure it on your behalf so that we can sift through it and present you with only the important bits.
Asking the question is the easy bit: “If the all-new, super-autonomous Scottish Labour decides to oppose the renewal of Trident, and UK Labour continues to support it, which way do Scottish Labour MPs at Westminster vote on it?”
The answer, unsurprisingly, was a lot more difficult to ascertain.
Even the alertest readers will probably already be confused by the baffling tale of Douglas and Jacqueline Wright, who sold their home to Edinburgh West MP Michelle Thomson. We certainly were last night, but on delving a little more into the media coverage of their story, things got a whole lot worse.
Older readers may remember an ITV show called The Krypton Factor, which had an “observation round” section in which contestants were shown a short video clip and then asked a series of questions about it.
An extract from First Minister’s Questions earlier today:
That was Kezia Dugdale’s opening question. Despite the Presiding Officer making it absolutely clear that the question was improper and outwith Holyrood’s remit, the Scottish Labour leader went on to use her entire allotted time on the issue. She was then followed by Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson doing the same.
The people of Scotland are being done a grave disservice.
It appeared on any possible interpretation to be complete nonsense, but Ms Dugdale – who’s pledged to make education the issue at the heart of her leadership – has been somewhat reluctant to clarify the statement.
Several queries from her Lothian constituents have gone unanswered, but one Wings viewer did manage to get a single tweet of response.
This is shadow Chancellor John McDonnell speaking to the Labour Party conference in Brighton just a few minutes ago (immediately prior to rather presumptuously inviting the Scottish electorate to “come home to Labour”):
We don’t recall those things happening. We feel sure that if they had, they would have been mentioned in the papers. Can any readers help us out?
twathater on The quality of mercy: “Scotland will never be independent as long as we allow non Scots to vote for our independence , 2014 was…” Apr 4, 04:23
Young Lochinvar on The quality of mercy: “Beggars So you’re cool with the North Koreans, China, R, most South American countries, U, Poland and various African states…” Apr 4, 03:45
Mark Beggan on The quality of mercy: “The problem with the Western world is that they still think evil does the Goose Step.” Apr 4, 02:35
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The quality of mercy: “Hopefully a better link: LIBERATION SCOTLAND UN UPDATE www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGn2SXcM7zw” Apr 4, 00:29
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The quality of mercy: “LIBERATION SCOTLAND UN UPDATE (2 April 2026) « Peter Young (IndyScotNews) discusses with Alan McMahon, Craig Murray and Sara Salyers…” Apr 4, 00:07
Geri on The quality of mercy: ““Independence is not even in SNP voters’ top three priorities” Neither is the top two cause they’re completely out of…” Apr 3, 22:04
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The quality of mercy: “The seminal (and still available) book by Will Storrar – SCOTTISH IDENTITY: A CHRISTIAN VISION was published by Handsel Press…” Apr 3, 22:02
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The quality of mercy: “The joke was of course first cracked by Tom Nairn. You should watch (minister) Professor Will Storrar’s 10 minute tribute…” Apr 3, 21:20
Geri on The quality of mercy: “The problem is these independence marches used to be a collective of all different political parties or none at all.…” Apr 3, 21:16
Northcode on The quality of mercy: “” …the shift from an independence movement to a liberation movement…” Yes, indeed, Alf. I have, for some time now,…” Apr 3, 21:03
Geri on The quality of mercy: “Offshore/North Sea: Reserved to the UK Parliament under the Scotland Act 1998. The licensing, exploration, and exploitation of offshore oil…” Apr 3, 21:02
Karen on The quality of mercy: “Google “What was Graeme McCormick promised?” And it comes up with “Swinney committed to moving forward with the independence campaign…” Apr 3, 20:40
sarah on The quality of mercy: “O/T: naming no names but have you noticed the absence of certain prolific btl commenters? It is a bank holiday…” Apr 3, 20:18
Geri on The quality of mercy: “Swinney says nothing of the sort. Scotlands oil is a reserved matter to our Overlords & they told us it…” Apr 3, 20:17
Alf Baird on The quality of mercy: ““Do NOT vote for them” Thankfully postcolonial theory predicts the dominant national party now co-opted by colonialism disintegrates. Hence the…” Apr 3, 19:44
Geri on Sicknote Slippers: “It wasn’t an independence march. It was a march against the rise of the hard right which is what that…” Apr 3, 19:37
agentx on The quality of mercy: ““SNP and Greens join independence march ahead of Holyrood election” 28 March 2026 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy817d0pjdxo” Apr 3, 19:19
TURABDIN on The quality of mercy: “someone opined that the Scots will be free when the last minister is strangled with the last copy of the…” Apr 3, 17:53
Mark Beggan on The quality of mercy: “Baby Swinney says; Drill Baby Drill.” Apr 3, 17:43
Wally Jumblatt on The quality of mercy: “Whether people realise it or not, the ghost of Sturgeon / Murrell has to be brutally exorcised before any progress…” Apr 3, 17:40
Breastplate on The quality of mercy: “Yes, the cringing Scots who will take no responsibility or accountability for making their own decisions are simply, British Nationalists.…” Apr 3, 17:01
Young Lochinvar on The quality of mercy: “Meanwhile in Baron Von Trumphausens “world”; the US has a fighter headed to the moon (made of cheese, great cheese,…” Apr 3, 16:58
Captain Caveman on Clocks And Calendars: ““Bash harder” That’s your line, Fatso. Ugh.” Apr 3, 16:55
DebatableLands on The quality of mercy: “Believing in independence as an idea and being prepared to do something about it, are different things. Lack of enthusiasm…” Apr 3, 16:37
Andrew F on Sicknote Slippers: “But where is the evidence that the protest is “openly antisemitic”? The link doesn’t support the claim.” Apr 3, 15:26
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
