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.
Alert social-media users will have noticed that it’s hard to avoid a constant low-level buzzing from a faction of the Yes movement, calling on the next Scottish Government (in the event, as currently seems likely, that it’s another SNP majority) to issue a Unilateral Declaration of Independence, or UDI for short.
And in the context of achieving Scottish independence UDI is indeed the answer, if we assume that the question is “What’s the stupidest thing the SNP could possibly do?”
This week, as the UK’s new Conservative government brought forward a bill to impose tax on renewable energy projects, just seven Labour MPs turned up to oppose it.
You know these guys that you used to see wandering round the city centre with a sandwich board telling us “THE END IS NIGH”? It seems they were right.
In today’s Scotsman, Peter Jones makes the case for why an independent Scotland would have been plunged into the same crisis currently affecting Greece (and making the case along the way for why George Osborne’s austerity is inevitable and we should just shut up and accept it).
He insists strenuously throughout the article that he’s doing no such thing and is simply highlighting the flaws in the idea of a currency union between Scotland and the rUK, but to anybody who actually reads the article, it’s patently obvious that that’s exactly what he’s doing.
We’ve already brought you the First Minister’s appearance on last night’s The Daily Show in the US, but in addition to the seven minutes that were shown on TV there were a further seven minutes of interview which didn’t go out on air, but were shown on the Comedy Central website, region-blocked so only US residents could see them.
When the FM goes abroad to represent Scotland in the outside world, though, we think it’s only fair that Scots get to see what she’s saying and doing on their behalf, so we didn’t let such trifling obstacles get in our way.
At this morning’s Wings editorial meeting, we were discussing whether the spectacular victory for radical-left anti-austerity party Syriza in Greece last night was a bit of a beamer for Scotland. After all, the Greek electorate were faced with a lot of the same uncertainties as Scotland was in the independence referendum, except in Greece’s case they’re a lot more real.
Greeks really don’t know which currency they’ll be using this time next year, or whether they’ll still be in the EU, or whether there’ll be an exodus of big business, or whether they’ll be able to borrow money, whereas in Scotland those were baseless scare stories. Yet voters in the Hellenic Republic didn’t bottle it and decide to leave their fate in the hands of Germany.
Mark Beggan on The thickness of blood: “Well done NHS Fife. There goes another 100,000 votes and not a Reform candidate in sight. Reform are getting their…” Feb 18, 21:09
diabloandco on The thickness of blood: “I hope you are right, and I echo your thanks to Sandy Peggie.” Feb 18, 21:02
George Ferguson on The thickness of blood: “Anyway back to the matter in hand. Sandy Peggie will win the industrial tribunal because their deliberations will be based…” Feb 18, 20:07
gregor on The thickness of blood: “I love the fact that I’m stuck in your head, Flying Paranoia.” Feb 18, 19:55
agent X on The thickness of blood: “To quote a great film: Is it safe? (here)” Feb 18, 19:22
Marie on The thickness of blood: “Someone (can’t remember who) used the term “petty venom “ on this thread earlier – petty venom on show right…” Feb 18, 18:07
TURABDIN on The thickness of blood: “ARC i.e alliance for responsible citizenship currently conferencing in east London at a venue owned and operated by an Abu…” Feb 18, 17:22
George Ferguson on The thickness of blood: “OK I seem to be clear now. Hopefully the same for other wingers. But be cautious I have just realised…” Feb 18, 17:17
George Ferguson on The thickness of blood: “New malware. Red lettered signal saying download this on your PC.” Feb 18, 16:44
George Ferguson on The thickness of blood: “I will try this. Dave Narey and Paul Hegarty were a better central duo than Willie Miller and Alex McLeish.” Feb 18, 16:30
George Ferguson on The thickness of blood: “It’s dead on here for a reason. This site is compromised. Normal service will be restored eventually. Paying the ransonware…” Feb 18, 16:24
diabloandco on The thickness of blood: “Looks as though life has returned to normal on Wings ! Thank goodness!” Feb 18, 15:11
gregor on For Mridul And Sandy: “The National @ScotNational: “It’s 51 years since the McCrone Report detailed Scotland’s incredible oil wealth – yet Scotland has some of…” Feb 18, 10:54
Hatey McHateface on The thickness of blood: “Je suis gregor!!! (Note capitalisation – these details matter )” Feb 18, 10:01
gregor on The thickness of blood: “BBC (18/02/25): Review of school sex survey to be published: “The Scottish government’s Health and Wellbeing census first hit the…” Feb 18, 09:53
Xaracen on The thickness of blood: “Now it’s d/loading a new file- Update.Client.exe” Feb 18, 08:33
The Flying Iron of Doom on The thickness of blood: “This is true but then the server is still gubbed. J’accuse Gregor and his spam campaign ” Feb 18, 08:27
Hatey McHateface on The thickness of blood: “Wow! Lots going on in the world. Even happenings in Auld Scotia. Deid on here though.” Feb 18, 07:27
Young Lochinvar on The thickness of blood: “? True, but then again I always reckoned Glasgow looked best in the rear view mirror. Face it; the bulk…” Feb 18, 03:04
twathater on The thickness of blood: “Geoff if these arsewipes continue with their disciplinary procedure on Friday and SP’s lawyers are forced to go to court…” Feb 17, 17:15
Hatey McHateface on The thickness of blood: “I’ve tried everything FIoD. £50 says the problem lies in Bath. Karma for the leccy thieves ” Feb 17, 14:55
The Flying Iron of Doom on The thickness of blood: “Any update on the server problem? Anyone?” Feb 17, 14:04
Hatey McHateface on The thickness of blood: ““Apparently we have free speech and live in a democracy” I’m free to call you an eejit and vote out…” Feb 17, 12:07
James Gardner on The thickness of blood: “https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Crusades” Feb 17, 11:48
James Gardner on The thickness of blood: “Looks like Sandie can take them to the cleaners for harassment………..” Feb 17, 11:43
Marie on The thickness of blood: “She’s possibly been shadow banned by some entity intent on destroying free speech. Apparently we have free speech and live…” Feb 17, 11:11