A strange phenomenon we’ve remarked upon a few times since the independence referendum is the inexplicable undying rage of a certain subset of Unionist voters.
Having won the vote, a casual observer might expect them to be happy, but instead they appear to exist in a constant state of fury.
(Our own best guess is that they were expecting to triumph by a crushing margin of two or three to one – some fretted that it might only be a 20-point victory – and then suffered the double blow of a much closer result that kept the Yes movement very much alive coupled with a massive surge in SNP membership and support.)
A demented anti-SNP tactical-voting campaign for this year’s general election – led by, among others, a frothing ultra-Loyalist-nutter-type by the name of Andrew Skinner – recorded one of the most spectacular failures in history as the Nats captured 56 out of 59 Scottish seats, only narrowly missing the other three, and the party’s poll ratings have continued to rise since then.
So this week, Mr Skinner decided to try for a more manageable target.
When it comes to Scottish Labour’s great brainwave about “restoring” Tory tax-credit cuts, the madness just won’t stop. Here’s Magnus Gardham, formerly political editor of Scotland’s staunchest Labour paper the Daily Record, in the Herald today:
This is amazing, readers. It’s an extract from this afternoon’s The Big Debate on Radio Scotland, in which a journalist – the BBC’s Gordon Brewer – finally gets round to asking someone from Scottish Labour how they can make the extra £500m they need to fund their tax-credits “policy” while keeping all taxes the same.
You might have to listen through a few times to get your head round it, because that really is what a grown woman actually tried to get away with in front of a live audience.
A convention of the world’s finest satirists pulling a 24-hour shift on Red Bull couldn’t come up with anything to beat Labour’s position on renewing the UK’s Trident nuclear weapons system. Following an overwhelming vote at the Scottish Labour conference this afternoon, these are the current cut-out-and-keep standings:
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.
Ever since the SNP’s unexpected majority in 2011, there’s been a constant low-level whine of “one-party state” from various elements of the Unionist establishment. (The first example we could find from a quick Google search was Liberal Democrat buffoon Sir Malcolm Bruce in September of that year.)
It’s a curiously bitter and irrational way to refer to the outcome of democratic elections held under proportional representation, reflecting a worrying contempt for the views of voters, but after the SNP saw the benefits of First Past The Post in May 2015 (having spent decades being its victim), the angry bleating has become far more noticeable.
(The most recent politician to use the phrase was the Lib Dems’ current leader Tim Farron. Perhaps the party is engaging in displacement activity to distract itself from its craven abandonment in 2010 of its lifelong commitment to introduce PR, selling its principles cheaply for ministerial cars and a referendum on what Nick Clegg called the “miserable little compromise” of AV, which was then lost by a humiliating margin.)
twathater on A Long Hard Think: “You would also have noted Willie that the Donald also brought up the situation regarding the Argentinian claims for the…” Sep 13, 03:26
Mark Beggan on A Long Hard Think: “Aye and Mad Dog starting to bark. Statements being issued. Sinn Fein on the ropes. something already brewing then Trump…” Sep 13, 00:02
Confused on A Long Hard Think: “trump says “up the ‘ra” tom harris says andy burnham needs to send him a message – special branch as…” Sep 12, 23:46
sam on A Long Hard Think: “Maybe if I ask Rev Stu he might remove Beggan’s threat of my rape as well? Or Beggan might ask.” Sep 12, 22:06
sam on A Long Hard Think: “I see the Rev has deleted Beggan’s abusive threat of rape to Marie.” Sep 12, 22:02
Insider on A Long Hard Think: “James says: “it is truly astonishing how ‘someone’ can occupy so much physical space while contributing absolutely nothing of intellectual…” Sep 12, 21:24
robertkknight on A Long Hard Think: “Prick 1 and Prick 2 tag-teaming. What a novel approach to discourse. BTL contaminated by the usual suspects.” Sep 12, 20:54
Mark Beggan on A Long Hard Think: “Interesting. There’s a village on the east coast of Scotland where the buildings all have unique red roof tiles that…” Sep 12, 19:52
Hatey McHateface on A Long Hard Think: ““Why would they come to Scotland” Because their ancestors came from Scotland. “such a shithole as you constantly try to…” Sep 12, 19:21
Hatey McHateface on A Long Hard Think: “Near ten hours for that one, twathater. Please tell us it took you nine and a half hours to clean…” Sep 12, 18:59
Dan on A Long Hard Think: “Why would they come to Scotland if it is such a shithole as you constantly try to point out. Why…” Sep 12, 18:55
James on A Long Hard Think: “Young Lochinvar is adept at educating Scots regarding their own history, much of which has been airbrushed out of existence…” Sep 12, 18:53
Hatey McHateface on A Long Hard Think: “Sure you’re Scottish, sam? Back when I was a loon, clyping was beyond the pale. The one unforgivable that marked…” Sep 12, 18:47
Dan on A Long Hard Think: “The issue with that is covered in this post. https://wingsoverscotland.com/a-long-hard-think/#comment-3445700 Totes win for the corrputed cunts when they simply remove…” Sep 12, 18:47
Hatey McHateface on A Long Hard Think: ““I think a Unified Ireland is coming” Then you must also think a million or so Ulster Unionists are coming…” Sep 12, 18:34
Hatey McHateface on A Long Hard Think: “Fa’s the James that posts “Prick”? His posts gie readers muckle mair time tae hae a life.” Sep 12, 18:25
twathater on A Long Hard Think: “And as usual Arsehole Main deliberately misses the point of my comment , as a member of the 77th brigade…” Sep 12, 18:15
Stuart Swanston on A Long Hard Think: “If enough of us keep libelling Nicola Sturgeon as a person who has handled stolen goods and when informed by…” Sep 12, 17:32
Mark Beggan on A Long Hard Think: “Maybe they will rape you instead.” Sep 12, 17:08
Mark Beggan on A Long Hard Think: “72 million! The war chest is full. Let battle commence. No quarter asked No quarter given. Let’s; Make Scotland Normal…” Sep 12, 17:04
sam on A Long Hard Think: “The documents reportedly included information on torture:physical and psychological torture was employed against suspected Mau Mau members and sympathisers. There…” Sep 12, 16:39
James on A Long Hard Think: “See, Jockos; it’s all yer own fault. So sing the “all day, every day” unionists. Dealing with a hollow, insulting…” Sep 12, 16:36
SJB on A Long Hard Think: “And the brutal Mau Mau murders of white farmers and their families in Kenya at that time” Sep 12, 15:14
Captain Caveman on A Long Hard Think: “‘Ferries procurement’ comes to mind. Well, if your entire government – and bloated Civil Service – is filled to the…” Sep 12, 14:32
Marie on A Long Hard Think: “@chas 11.41am – 300 years is nothing. Absolutely nothing. And yes, the colonial authorities did destroy documentation relating to their…” Sep 12, 14:28
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on A Long Hard Think: “Many thanks to Prof Alf Baird for this presentation: THE COST OF COLONIALISM (5 Sept 2026) www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnfqeZr-2fU” Sep 12, 14:24
100%Yes on A Long Hard Think: “Please have a look at the link below, your be amazed at the shit that’s happening in Scotland. https://www.isp.scot/september-5th-september-11th-2026/” Sep 12, 13:47
Knuckle_Heid on A Long Hard Think: “Kind of related to Stu’s headline story – on 14th of July (almost two months ago) David Hendry & Sean…” Sep 12, 12:35
Knuckle_Heid on A Long Hard Think: “Very interesting Willie, I read Robin McAlpines articles about the Standards Commission / Fiona Higgins case and was appalled at…” Sep 12, 12:28
