Deja news
Posted on
June 22, 2018 by
Rev. Stuart Campbell
Oh joy, it seems it’s time for the Scottish media’s annual cretinous non-story about the Scottish Government’s (entirely necessary and intrinsically unavoidable) “underspend”.
So as we’re busy today we’ll just refer you to some of the previous occasions we’ve covered it, because literally everything about it is exactly the same now as it was then.
See you same time next year, folks!
Can hunting down elusive chocolatey treats really be described as “busy” ?
Have a proper holiday Stu.
Ask CC, he’s an expert.
Its the UK way. Never prepare, never get a deal beforehand, never worry about the future. Empire will save you if the shit hits the fan.
Or you might hold a bit in reserve in case something like leaving the EU goes badly – which will never happen!
It’s simply not the British way. Could you ever imagine a ‘proper’ government like Westminster having a surplus?
The yoonies could respond to “The Song Remains The Same”…seems very appropriate
Gross mismanagement is a wild overspend without any regulation. An under-spend is not gross mismanagement especially if the money is secured for future projects. Some might even call it careful stewardship and having resources for a rainy day.
With propagandists like Blackley I suppose rinse and repeat is all they have but it is still poor journalism.
Aye – but unlike SLabour, SNP WON’T be handing it back to London.
O/T
Brexit-related job losses in UK (thus far) = 128,433:
link to tinyurl.com
4,372 jobs gone in Scotland.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. We have to cut ourselves loose from this economic disaster being inflicted upon us.
FFS Scotland – save yourselves!
…I’m getting weary of this!
Go a penny over and these so called journalists would be in rapture.
Amazing how a massive Labour/LibDem underspend and sending the money back gets you elevated to the Lords 🙂
I make that surplus 1.2% of the budget. Wikipedia reports it as £37.2billion in total (for last financial year).
It is actually a pretty modest surplus and pretty much essential for a government almost totally reliant on a fixed income. We can’t sell bonds to raise money or print money like UKGov can. So a surplus is entirely sensible.
So this is aimed at two sets of readers, the tiny number that actually have had there taxes raised and the financially innumerate that think they have but have never looked at their pay slip.
So let me get this right here.
The Labour party, the party of returning OVER £1 BILLION to Westminster because they can’t think of any to spend the money on, is complaining because the Scottish government has put some money aside for a “rainy day.”
They complain about this during what I think most folks would describe as THE worst financial DECADE ever, and it STILL carries on. Of course the question has to be asked, does it it not.
What would Labour have done differently?
Well I think we all know the answer to that one don’t we?
Labour would have done one of two things here.
Option 1. They would have spent every last penny A.S.A.P. leaving the cupboards bare thereby ensuring the Scottish government, had they been in charge, looking like utter incompetents when a disaster or emergency situation requiring government assistance occurred.
Option 2. They would, as they have done previously, returned all the “underspend” to Westminster because … well because they are the biggest bunch of fiscal ignoramuses known to mankind!
Imagine that, prudence £450 Million or 1.2% saved for a rainy day or this:
“The UK government’s budget deficit was better than expected in the latest financial year, according to figures published on Tuesday by the Office for National Statistics. The headline level of borrowing was £42.6bn in the 12 months to the end of March, down from £46.2bn the previous year”
link to google.co.uk
Sorry won’t archive 🙁
Most of the Unionists or others in Westminster do not known how the Barnett Formula works. Neither do the other members and of the UK political parties. They have not got a clue and do not bother to find out. Or do a bit of research. Useless.
The Civil servants Westminster Treasury do the communication and exchange. All UK civil servants Westminster/Holyrood politicans etc are subject to the Official Secrets Act because people voted No. None of these people can freely discuss any of these matters. They can be put in jail.
Civil servants can disclose the details of these matters and the discrepancy when they retire or are not subject to the Official Secrets Act. Most Gov servants and Gov officers have to make/take an oath of secrecy. Civil and public service. That is the rotten core of Westminster governance operates. Hides it’s criminality and corruption under the Official Secret Act. Iraq, Dunblane, Lockerbie kept secret for 100 years. Reports of criminal abuse and neglect. Illegally, shredded and lost by the Westminster Gov.
Were not Crown estate assets being distributed to local authorities or other public bodies, around Scotland. The Crown Estates own the beaches and other public? assets.
Airbus going £Billions lost.
Guernsey meeting Nice
The Westminster unionist Gov is starving people to death and killing people. The race to the bottom.
GERS was always based on estimates that we took Westminster’s word for. Now that Holyrood is getting a direct cut of Income Tax and VAT it must come as a shock to find that they’re getting more than they planned for. Fairly certain that’s one of the explanations being hinted at when an SNP minister said this years underspend is partly due to more tax coming in than anticipated.
The britnat media is now in such a pathetic state it is forced to regurgitate its own garbage. It’s not recycling; it is dying.
Keep boycotting the britnat media. Leave it to the Rev to expose their britnat lies and deceit.
The britnat media has, for some time been in pure panic, knee jerk SNP bad mode. Add this to the fact that many of their so-called journalists are not the smartest of tools, then an opportunity to exploit the situation for our advantage exists.
Surely, the Scottish government has enough smarts to bait them and use the media to do the heavy lifting for us? It will take guile and perhaps some Machiavellian art, but surely the media can be tempted to cover some stories (under SNP bad guise) that ends up promoting our cause and making them look foolish?
Alex Salmond was/is a master at this – he knows how the britnat media operate and how to use their own momentum against them.
So, I thought the point of all this austerity was to turn a deficit into a surplus (yes I know). The Scottih Government performs the miracle.
Result? Uproar.
Well- that’s Airbus for starters.
Next will be the car companies:-
Honda
Nissan
Toyota
Jaguar/Land Rover
Rolls Royce (BMW)
Bentley (VW)
Mini (BMW)
That little lot is Some Brexit Dividend.
Capella says:
22 June, 2018 at 1:41 pm
So, I thought the point of all this austerity was to turn a deficit into a surplus (yes I know). The Scottish Government performs the miracle.
Result? Uproar.
_________
So, I thought if the Scottish Government were to OVERspend in this time of austerity it would look like incompetent book-keeping by Derek MacKay et al.
Result? Uproar.
[With acknowledgements to Capella for the idea]
orri @ 13:10,
Well, indeed. English Chancellor Hammond was saying the same, more income tax coming in than predicted, but the media reaction was most definitely not the same. Down south it was wonderful, up here it’s a disgrace.
Oh, and down south income tax is going to have to increase to pay for the laughably-misapplied “Brexit Dividend” for the NHS, but again not a peep of complaint from the media, just back-slapping all round from the Leaver press.
Two different countries, with the BritMedia proving on a daily basis just how divergent even they are! =laugh=
@ Welsh Sion – we could write these all day! 🙂
Also, the front page of the Scotsman today has a nauseating “Better Together” picture of Ruth Davidson and Richard Leonard gazing into each others’ eyes, contentedly. Caption?
You have to scroll down to the Scotsman on the BBC newspaper review page. I can’t find an isolated front page:
link to bbc.co.uk
Better in credit than a deficit. Bankrupt. Like the rest of the UK. Scotland has to make repayments. On loans not borrows and spent in Scotland. Scotland does not have debt. Just having resources illegally and secretly taken for years.
A prudent Gov, Unionist liars. Bastards. The Scottish Gov will even get some interest on it.
They would do even bette without Westminster Treasury interference. Tory/unionists bad policies imposed on Scotland. Illegal wars, financial fraud and tax evasion. Killing and starving people cost more. 40% tax on Oil & Gas sector when prices had fallen. Fishing industry using too small nets. No conservation. Bad terms and conditions of employment. Farming taking intended CAP funding from farmers in Scotland farming under difficult terrain. Scotland pays more for fuel and energy than the rest of the UK. Despite being in surplus. A 10% tax on the Scottish economy.
Ridiculous focusing on a non story spun into more SNPBad when so many BIG things are happening in Scottish and UK politics,
The Tories are a completely out of control bunch of delinquents with Brexit, and yet they still manage to work in an attack on the devolution settlement. There are multiple really BIG and important stories among all that, and still the media give the Tories an easy ride.
The UK may be on the verge of an economic event bigger that all the recessions and crisis of the last 40years put together!
Time to climb into the escape pod!
So if it is 1.2% that is the equivalent of someone earning £25,000/yr. net paid annually being down to their last £260 by payday.
Or monthly £21.66 left at the end of the month on a near average income.
I’d call that cutting it a bit fine.
On Airbus:
“If Airbus leaves the UK would lose tax revenues of £1.7bn, excluding social costs of subsequent redundancies. This firm’s revenues cover 21% of net UK cost of EU membership – & that’s just one company”
link to twitter.com
On Jaguar Land Rover (owned by India’s Tata Motors, incidentally):
“Jaguar to move production of Land Rover Discovery from UK to Slovakia”
link to archive.is
So nail, hammer, head @gus1940 says at 1:45pm
Also very perceptive from Dick Winchester on Airbus:
“Should also remember that BAe used to own a share of Airbus but stupidly sold it in about 2006. Needless to say that deal was approved by that giant of UK industry Gordon Brown. Sure proof now of course that if you don’t own it you don’t control it.”
link to twitter.com
Also Continuity Bill hypocrisy from Westminster:
“Jersey, Guernsey have passed their own EU Withdrawal Bills without legal challenge from @GOVUK and Isle of Man about to do the same.”
link to twitter.com
Same yoonshit, different day. See you at Bannockburn tomorrow everyone!
Date: 23–24 June 1314
Result: Decisive Scottish victory
wiki
Capella @ 2:01 pm
Here you go,
Orri @ 1.10
“GERS was always based on estimates that we took Westminster’s word for. Now that Holyrood is getting a direct cut of Income Tax and VAT it must come as a shock to find that they’re getting more than they planned for.”
I missed the “cut/share in VAT collected” ?
I thought it was a bribe/possibility after Brexit, anyone got a link?
BTW , shouldn’t we be retorting “Scotland has a deficit, don’t you know”
Saw the James Kelly clip on twitter earlier. OMFG !
Yes Leontard and Colonel Yadaftie have #moreincommon as per your link @Welsh Sion says at 3:18pm but with each other, not the people of Scotland.
Each a cheek of the same British Nationalist Arse.
Both prepared to stoke Sectarianism for Political gain.
Both devoid of principles.
Both devoid of policies which would benefit Scotlands people.
Both Mangers of their Parties Scottish Branches.
Both stand no chance of being Scotlands next First Minister.
Or
Can anybody recommend a nice place for a spot of lunch near the start of the March tomorrow
For all of you marching tomorrow … What I sub-title my “Rally Parable”.
Be assured, that this Welshie would be marching with you tomorrow, if he could.
And leaving his longbow behind, too … 😉
________
Parable 25. (of 60.)
The sun and the snowflake
“Ha!” said the sun one day. “How weak and insignificant you are, little snowflake! Why, I could melt you with one wink of my eye.”
“Perhaps,” replied the little snowflake. “But you’ll find it much harder to get rid of us when thousands and thousands of us cover the land.”
The sun set an angry red colour.
_________
Parables for the New Politics
2012-2018
Lengthy Obituary for Bill Speakman VC in today’s Independent.
I know that he was an Englishman but they fail to mention that his regiment was the KOSBs.
The VAT thing was, admittedly speculation, in some quarters that it might not have been properly reported prior to Holyrood getting to keep it’s share. After all what difference did it make to the Treasury.
Income Tax is also something that might have been under reported. Although perhaps not as much as VAT.
If takings in either of those is now reflecting their true value rather than a rule of thumb estimate then Holyrood will be taking in more than they expected.
The main culprit might be VAT, especially at the height of tourism.
@ Welsh Sion 3.18 – thx – gruesome isn’t it. That’ll be a few more nails in SLab’s coffin,
Liz g @ 3.34
I live right beside the start of the March. The nearest place for food is a wander down the hill at the Park entrance until you come to the main centre (about 10 minutes casual walk). Everything is within about 500m of there but nothing great to recommend I’m afraid. Stirling eateries are very poor. If you want an old style cafe with homely food then try Victoria’s on King Street. Else its pub style food, pizzas or the usual bakers. The Blue Lagoon chippie has a sit in area as well. Many of the pubs, cafe’s are at junction in middle of King Street.
That’s all there is I’m afraid.
MARCH FOR INDEPENDENCE- BANNOCKBURN
SAT 23RD JUNE 2018
GATHERING EARLY, LEAVE 1.30PM SHARP
PROCESSION ROUTE:
King’s Park, Kings Park Road, Polmaise road, Torbrex Road, Coxithill Road, Cultenhove Road, Barnsdale Road, Newpark road, Nailer Road, Borestone Place, Bannockburn Field.
Thx ronnie – got the message – see you there.
Thanks Ronnie
Despite not being allowed it would seem to start the march from the centre of Stirling the presence of many thousands of Yes supporters will not go unnoticed in the centre.
I’ll be there before 12:00 and hope to meet up with many more before we make our way to the park for the start, hopefully the sun will shine. Whatever, let’s all have a good day and win Stirling over to our side.
RIGHT THAT’S IT , I will never ever ever vote SNP again , according to those worldwide renowned financial geniuses James ( the claw ) Kelly and Murdo ( we arra peeeeple ) Fraser , Derek Mackay is wrang or nae good at sums or whitever these experts call it .
Does he not know that the aim is to spend spend spend then when you’re skint tough sh** you just blame sumbody else , efter all our big bosses in engerland owe sumbody 1.7 trillion and they don’t give a sh**
Shurely liebour and the tolies are ripping the pish making these twa brain dead loons shadow finance secretaries , it really makes you wonder what people see in these incompetents and their parties to vote for them
C’mon people please think what these buffoons are doing to our country and your children , Vote for Independence and Competency in government , vote SNP
Did “greased up deaf guy” write this article?
SEE Y’ALL NEXT YEAR!
Cappella Bdtt is here with me we hope to see ah lot of Wingers & Fellow Yessers & Lurkers ( nae Lurkers badges ) sos .
alister @ 4.38
Thanks very much for the information Alister
A 10min walk away sounds just fine I’m sure we’ll find something.
All the best on the march tomorrow. Stirling is my “home”. Used to live beside King’s Park. Hope many, many, many thousands turn up.
Is there something on in Stirling tomorrow, fancied a wee day trip there and eariest i can get a train back to Glasgow is 10:30pm!!
From Craig Murray’s comments – link to an excellent Off Guardian article on that great propaganda organ “Panorama”. Dissects David Dimbleby and his ilk with their smug superior airs.
link to off-guardian.org
Liz g.
Take Park Terrace, the road with houses on both sides, left, out of the King’s Park Assembly Point/starting point ( should be beside a double mini roundabout)
You’ll come to the Alan Park area and that it the beginning of the town centre; everything is to the left of that heading in towards the pedestrian area.
At the crossroads, left, Dumbarton Road has a Papa Joe’s and Namaste which is a ‘world buffet’ type of restaurant.
To the right, the Blue Lagoon fish and chip shop, and in the Upper Craigs, there is a Kilted Kangaroo bar and some other small bars and eating places.
Straight on, there is an M&S with food shop in the Thistle Centre and Greggs Bakers.
In King Street the Burgh Coffee House is YES friendly, (Nicola has even had coffee there) and there is also a Cafe Nero.
Good luck.
Only one more sleep!!!
Thanks to everyone for the info about tomorrow, places to eat etc. Forecast looks good, fingers crossed.
Then it’ll be Inverness, Dundee, and Edinburgh to round-off the AUOB marches.
Here’s hoping the Edinburgh march is the last big one before indy. Have been talking to fellow Wingers recently about this and there seems to be general agreement that although they are enjoyable – and we’ve all made some great friends as a direct result – there has to come a time when these gatherings have done their job. We all have things we’d rather be doing with our time. All the more reason to make these final few marches as impressive as possible, to get switherers off the fence and make even the most obstinate ‘No’ voters realise that the time has come for change.
Don’t know about anyone else but I must confess to feeling a bit jaded!
😉
@Jockanese Wind Talker says: 22 June, 2018 at 2:51 pm:
… “Jersey, Guernsey have passed their own EU Withdrawal Bills without legal challenge from @GOVUK and Isle of Man about to do the same.”
link to twitter.com
That’ll be because Jersey, Guernsey and The Isle of Man are Crown Protectorates – that is they are part of Her Majesty’s personal United Kingdom but they are not part of Her Majesty’s United Kingdom Government – They are not under Westminster rule.
Which is almost similar to the position that Scotland will be in after we end the bipartite United Kingdom.
What Britain will consist of is four Crown Protectorates, (including Scotland), because the Queen is not sovereign in Scotland but is Queen of Scots and the protector of the people of Scotland’s sovereignty. The Republic of Ireland is, whether the south of Ireland likes it or not.is part of the British Isles (it is not, though, part of the United Kingdom and that is a different matter.
N.I. is an English Province due to the Crown of Ireland Act of 1542 that made the monarch of England, (Not of the United Kingdom), the monarch of Ireland.
Wales is an English, (not a United Kingdom), Principality due to the Statute of Rhuddlan of 1284.
These are real facts but not what has been taught in Schools history. When the excrement hits the ventilation equipment these are what will stand as the actual legal standing of the various British Isles countries.
So there you go, The Westminster Government doesn’t have a say in Jersey, Guernsey and The Isle of Man and more than it has a say in the Republic of Ireland and the Westminster Government, when Scotland ends the union, wont get a say in what Scotland does.
The Status Quo Ante post independence is that Westminster ceases to be a parliament of anywhere because there hasn’t been an, elected as such parliament of England since 30 April 1707.
Westminster is legally the United Kingdom Parliament and that ends when Scotland declares the United Kingdom over.
If they then take control and declare themselves still to be a United Kingdom of England, Wales and N.I. then they are illegally taking control and that gives Wales and N.I. assemblies the chance to tell them to get lost as there is no such United Kingdom because when England forcibly took over Wales in 1248 they did so under the rule of law of Divine Right Of Kings and that was an annexation – not a treaty of Union.
When N.I. opted to go with the United Kingdom after the south declared itself a Republic it did so as already being part of the Kingdom of England due to the 1242 Crown of Ireland act and not by a Treaty of Union.
Personally I’m surprised that the Crown Dependencies were stupid enough to throw in their lot with a United Kingdom on the verge of splitting up as well as leaving the EU.
“Britain is confident of getting a good trade agreement with the European Union when it leaves the bloc which will include the aerospace sector, Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokeswoman said after Airbus warned of the impact of a no-deal withdrawal.”
link to uk.reuters.com
“Good trade agreement”? That’s a long way down the line, years away. Airbus (and others) are worried about a cliff jump next March!
First, TMay has to agree to the EU’s unlimited long term backstop for Ireland. This alone seems challenging without facing down both hard Brexiteers and the DUP. If a cliff jump is to avoided she must do this soon.
Then she has to finish all the other details of the Divorce Treaty so it can be ratified everywhere this winter.
That should give her a two year transition to talk about the future. The Tories are obsessed with trade with no tariffs, however a “good trade deal”is likely to be about also about regulatory alignment, common standards, and dispute procedures. Then what about services which make up 80% of UK GDP!? With TMay’s red lines, something much more primative is likely.
Ian Brotherhood Jaded jaded U say ma backs brokered an thats before ah start loading the car wie Gisbo & boxes for the Wings stall ( ah might get it loaded the nite if Bdtt gets oota the toilet wie hiz book ) lol.
Sees Yous aw the morra.
@Ronnie A –
BTW, I came across a stash of Proud Cybernat’s BBC Misreporting Scotland stickers t’other day. Want me to bring them for the stall?
Radio 4 with the First Minister talking about Brexit from the Channel Islands. Radio Scotland also plays the same “tape”. However someone in Pacific Quay has turned up the background noise of what sounds like the niagra falls. She can hardly be heard. Obviously another wee mistake from the news editor team.
What a bunch of low life.
Meg Merrilees @ 5.58
Thanks very much Meg… We should certainly find somewhere..
Hope to see ye there.
Have booked on the bus,but am now bringing a couple of newbies and they are driving so we decided to go earlier and get some lunch.
While you and Alistair have already been very helpful,can I push my luck and ask if ye might have any parking tips?
I’m not being lazy honest I am looking on line but without my co-pilots ( kids) I’m no very good!
Stirling yes is meeting at the black boy statue at 12.45, (south side, next to carlton bingo.
all our marches are a show off force,and brave intent to the people we depend on to show courage and say no, and go for the final battle.
tomorrows route aint perfect.
did you think our enemy would let us go after Glasgow and dunfries?
stirling will be braw, we are sovereign, the people.
I don’t really care what Jim Sillars may have done in the past it’s what he does in the future that counts now. The SNP should expel him is my view, his utterances are now an embarrassment and the MSM can’t wait to wheel him out to utter them.
There is no Brexit power grab, Jim Sillars tells Scottish Secretary
JIM Sillars has renewed his support for the UK Government’s position that there is no Brexit “power grab” in a letter to Scottish Secretary David Mundell.
The former SNP deputy leader insisted none of Holyrood’s current powers are being taken away, and that the plans amounted to “no grab at all” – putting him in direct opposition to his party’s leadership.
link to archive.li
Liz G @ 7.10
For parking there is a NCP multistorey just at centre of town (Wellgreen).
There are 2 park and rides either end of Stirling just off the motorway junctions. Else its pot luck on the roads around Kings Park. If 10,000 turn up in cars then might be tricky !
I dont know
Alistair @ 7.58
Thank you once again Alistair,hope to see you there.
I dont know if field at Bannockburn is open for parking but you can get bus into toqwn from there as well.
Havent seen any info from AUOB
“However someone in Pacific Quay has turned up the background noise of what sounds like the Niagra falls. She can hardly be heard.”
@Hamish100: I swear I could almost hear Eddie Mair (the Sultan of Smug) smirk as he explained on Pravdasound4 that the FM was standing beside a miniature waterfall during the recording.
Because the Union never sleeps…..
I used to have a lot of time for Jim Siilars. Now he’s either going senile or he’s decided to throw Scotland to the wolves. Either way he’s a liability to the independence cause.
“In a letter to Mr Mundell, he argued “the positive aspects of Brexit” should be recognised.
Seriously? Some kind of joke surely.
Really looking forward to tomorrow’s march. Thanks Ronnie A, Ian B and everyone who works so hard. I’m sure I’m not the only one who appreciates your efforts. Hoping a huge turnout will cheer you up.
`The automotive industry is a vital part of the UK economy accounting for more than £77.5 billion turnover and £18.9 billion value added.
With some 169,000 people employed directly in manufacturing and in excess of 814,000 across the wider automotive industry, it accounts for 12.0% of total UK export of goods and invests £4 billion each year in automotive R&D.
More than 30 manufacturers build in excess of 70 models of vehicle in the UK supported by 2,500 component providers`
most of these jobs are in England (Alexander Dennis,bus building, of Larbert being the only major manufacturer in Scotland and only here and not been relocated to England because it is owned by Brian Souter and Ann Gloag )
basically the money England make from our oil goes to the foreign manufacturers of motor vehicles/engines to relocate to England.
@Highland Wifie –
You’re very kind but I don’t actually do anything, it’s Ronnie A, BDTT and all dem characters. Because I wasn’t properly initiated with The Hairy String it’s considered bad luck for me to lift a finger.
Quelle dommage…
😉
Today “The two major oil benchmarks, WTI and Brent, rose 4.6% and 3.1% respectively.”
More doom and gloom, being burdened with this terrible increase of income.
“More doom and gloom, being burdened with this terrible increase of income.”
To the UK coffers perhaps, of which Scotland receives not a penny directly.
What’s your point, caller?
Thepnr , aye he should be expelled , he is neither use nor ornament nor accurate nor helpful – merely a hindrance , might be an honest one on the other hand…. I see the glint of gold and self importance!
Thepnr @ 7:41 pm
“Jim Sillars has renewed his support for the UK Government’s position that there is no Brexit “power grab” in a letter to Scottish Secretary David Mundell.”
I despair at this from a man that I have admired for his insight and commitment.
Several things occur to me. (i) without any pressure on him to do so, he chooses to be pro-active in lending public support to a Tory Government and give some comfort to an under pressure Tory Secretary of State at a critical time; (ii) he fails to acknowledge the pragmatic position of a Government and a Parliament that due to carefully crafted legislation was once granted a ‘right’ to powers and, regardless of changed circumstances, wishes to retain that right – i.e. a right to a requirement for consent; and (iii) he fails to acknowledge that it is the principle of consent for what happens NEXT, not what has already happened since the beginning of devolution, that matters – it is what Westminster may choose to impose in future that is the threat to Scotland and its Parliament not anything that was done or could (or not) be changed in the past.
So is Mr Sillars placing his support for Brexit before all else – before protection of the devolution settlement and before the means of protecting it (and the achievements of devolution in Scotland) in future; allying with the Tories regardless of the vote in Scotland to ‘remain’ in the EU and regardless of the SG’s efforts to find a compromise re-Brexit consistently rejected by the Tories in Westminster; and allying with the Tories against a cross-party majority in Holyrood? It seems so – very disappointed.
I have to correct a slight misapprehension with regard to my home country.
Under the Statute of Wales 1284 (aka the Statute of Rhuddlan) Puria Walia came under the control of the English Crown but was not joined to it, following the Conquest of Edward I. The Welsh Principality of Wales came to an end, and the king’s son, later Edward II, was invested with the ‘new’ Principality which included the whole of Wales in 1301 in Lincoln.Welsh law in most civil matters was maintained, but English law generally had precedence in criminal matters.
The idea that Edward (born in my home town of Caernarfon) was presented to the Welsh as a babe who spoke no English or French by Longshanks from the castle Wales, the punning reference to “ich dien” and the continued, unbroken link of subsequent “Princes of Wales” are all myths.
Subsequently, in order to create uniformity of language, culture and “good order”, Henry VIII in 1535 promulgated the misnomer of an Act of Union (20th century title) on Wales (real name: Laws in Wales Act) which effectively extinguished the Edwardian Principality and henceforth termed the land to the west of Offa’s Dyke as “England”. This law was followed by a subsequent Act of Westminster (Laws in Wales Act 1542) which gave official recognition to Members of Parliament from this part of “England” to sit in the House of Commons.
These Acts were therefore essentially Acts of annexation, of Subjugation – and a cultural Anschluss in the history of Wales. No parcel of Welsh rogues sold their Parliament to London – there wasn’t one to sell for English gold, no leaders ‘rebelled’, and no Welsh institution stood in the way of the Tudor juggernaut. Language was proscribed (when 90%+ were Welsh speaking monoglots) and English ways, laws, tradition, Church were all imposed on the people.
This English legal interpretation of what was England was repeatedly hammered home, as was the imposition of the English language. You will be familiar with the idea that no ‘native’ was allowed to hold public office unless he also spoke English and that the Wales and Berwick Act 1746 (key date, obviously) re-inforced the idea that these places did not exist in English law – rather they were designated as “English”.
Fast forward now to the 20th century. English law finally recognised in 1967 that Wales would no longer be designated “England” when a piece of Westminster legislation decreed the law applied to “England”. For most of the intervening time, but not throughout (being PoW is NOT hereditary, as the titular Prince has to be so appointed by his sovereign), the Prince of Wales came from anywhere but Wales. (At least this tradition holds true – there has been no native PoW since Glyn Dwr in 1400). Yet, it is conceded at all levels, including European legal ones, that Wales is not a Principality but a nation (albeit, fortunately not having a place on the Butcher’s Apron nor the English/British Coat of Arms or English/British Royal Standard).
When the first Devolution Referendum was called, the Act of 1978 enabling it defined Wales in no uncertain terms as being a nation not a Principality. This has been confirmed also in various style guides in English which reject the term.
So whilst Wales may no longer be governed by its on king (yes, we were a kingdom too at various points prior to the loss of independence) nor have native princes any longer, I do feel strongly it’s a misnomer to call my homeland a Principality (not least, I guess, when you consider who the current eponymous Prince is …).
We face the same enemies as our friends in Scotland and we actively (or at least should) be working together where are aims and ideas are similar – feeding off and learning from each other. This is why in part I feel so blessed in being able to contribute to and contribute from the feedback of our two national parties.
I wish you all a successful march in Stirling and know that you will soon win your independence from the self-serving, greedy, venal and unsympathetic archaic monstrosity that masquerades as democracy at Westminster. And may we in Cymru be not that far behind you!
springkerse retail park at the edge off stirling has about parking for a thousand cars, and a park and ride bus every 15 mins! to bus station stirling.
Hi Liz, ( and others )
Use Google Earth to see where I’m directing you.
If you are happy to pay to park, head directly for the centre of Stirling and park at the Wellgreen; Thistle Centre or Marches – not sure of the charges and could be busy with Saturday shoppers as well.
If you want free, on street parking read below.
Don’t know where you’re coming from – presume you’ll be using the M80 Glasgow or M9 Edinburgh/Perth. They cross over at the Stirling Services, Junction 9 of the M9.
You”ll come off at the huge roundabout and you want to take the A872 left – signed to Whins of Milton. Drive past the ‘Battle Centre’ on your way into Stirling. ( If you have enough time, you might be able to park up there somewhere and try getting a service bus into Stirling but that might take a while)
About 1.7miles later you’ll come to another big roundabout – St. Ninian’s Toll.
Paid parking areas:
Take the second left off the roundabout, A9 bypass, and follow the blue “P” signs, go over two roundabout and you come to the Thistle Centre and Marches car parks.
For on street:
At St, Ninian’s Toll, take 1st left on the B8051 – signed for Stirling Castle and the red ‘H’ for Hospital sign. This is now the main road into the centre of Stirling, past the Shell petrol station.
Carry on past the Thistle Park, over the lights at Lidl/ ‘Scots Wha Hae’ pub.
From here to Clifford Road there is on street parking, except in the immediate vicinity of the Hospital. Once you pass Clifford Road you are entering a controlled parking zone. Be careful because the permit restrictions apply till 5.30 on Saturday.
You should be able to find somewhere to park on the side roads in this area – Clifford Road, Livilands Lane, Randolph Road, Bellfield Road, Newhouse, Main Street,Manse Crescent, Williamfield Ave, Lennox Ave, Berkeley Street. It is a short ( 10 min) level walk into the town centre from here and you arrive at the Allan Park – at the Black Boy Fountain where YES Stirling are meeting up at 12.45.
If you want to try nearer the town, continue, over the mini roundabout at the Police Headquarters/Clifford Road and go left at the next set of lights – Snowdon Place. This road leads you directly to Kings Park just up from the rendezvous point.
There is free ‘on street’ parking at the top end of Snowdon Place, near the park and in some of the surrounding streets off to the left side – Laurelhill Place and surrounding side streets. If you try to go right – i.e. near town, you will be in the controlled zone and it is ‘permit only’ till 5.30, even on a Saturday.
Parking in town is time restricted.
Hope this isn’t too complicated. See you there.
Thanks for an outline of Welsh history Sion. My wife, from Birmingham who often visited Wales when younger and loves the country, often complains that we know too little about your lovely country and people. Clearly, like ours, your history had been distorted in favour of our imperial masters. Although now late in life I am comforted by the fact that the realities, of your and our position, are emerging – if only we had been taught our own histories at school instead of the fairy tales of English wonderfulness. Good luck to you Sion and all of your people. We’ll be at Stirling/Bannockburn tomorrow and will spare a wee thought for our friends who also been treated abominably by Westminster
link to my.stirling.gov.uk
Park and ride just off junction 10 M9, Castleview as well as Springkerse.
Jim Sillers is going for a Knighthood (…he has had the nod it will go though if he keeps on spouting the Tory line).
…why is he still in the party!
See you all tomorrow…I’ll be under a Saltire 🙂
@Welsh Sion: very interesting and subversive account 😛
You are truly a vile sep and brother-in-arms.
There is always a healthy number or Welsh flags on the AUOB marches.
@Welsh Sion (8.51) –
Thanks for the good wishes, and same back to you.
I’m not a historian but I’m wondering if the old ‘last-in-first-out’ rule applies to the British Empire generally. If so, it should be Scotland and Wales’s turn soon as pretty-much abody else seems to have bolted.
😉
Tractor Sillars would be none the worse for a liberal application of gar and feathers and a one way ticket South to join his colonial masters.
I hope that there will be clear opportunity for folk to join The SNP at the rally tomorrow.
It is a bit ironic that Jim Sillars steered the SNP to “Independence in Europe”. A lot of youngsters don’t know who we are talking about. He is yesterday’s man.
I completed a Panelbase poll tonight which is amusing as I am not registered with them, I received an invite by some shopping website to do a survey and found it was a Panelbase poll about Scottish politics. I wonder who commissioned that? 🙂
Scottish Nazi rallies should be banned unless given permission from their EU masters.
all the best to everybody tomorrow – have a great day
Show the powers-that-be that this time we mean it
Ben
@Macart
I saw your post earlier about having a break. Sometimes they are needed I and have had a few myself as you know. I hope you don’t stay away too long as your insight is important.
Take as much time as you feel like but mind and come back, we will need you along with everyone else here.
Marcia is that you in the pic? You could make a fortune in Westminster as a Doris Karloff lookalike.
Meg Merrilees @ 8.55 & 9.03
Thanks again for takin the time to post all that information Meg…. Now my lot won’t have to mount a search and rescue operation for me tomorrow night…. I kid ye not….
Se ye there..
Doesn’t matter that Bill Speakman VC was born an Englishman he served as a ‘Jock’ @Gus1940 says at 4:02 pm
Bill was Black Watch, attached to 1st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
After Korea he served with the SAS (which is heavily weighted with Scots) in Malaya, Borneo and Radfan.
He allegedly fought off the North Koreans with beer bottles after he ran out of bullets and grenades (so pretty much fought like a ‘Jock’).
I am as always your humble student, @Sensi Peffers says at 6:21 pm
The KOSB are British. Does the word Borderers not wing a bell! The HQ is in Berwick upon Tweed England.
LISTEN UP!
Haha just kidding but here’s a wee tune to stir the porridge and get you in the mood for tomorrow. You won’t regret watching this if you’ve never seen it before, class 🙂
link to youtube.com
Afghanistan just wont go away. Answers needed
link to caltonjock.com
What are the Black Watch (apart from Sheep Shaggers*) @Mad Unionist says at 10:30 pm
Bill was Black Watch ATTACHED to KOSB.
He was with the KOSB due to CCR.
Combat Casualty Replacement.
The North Koreans and Chinese steamrollered the UN forces in the 50s in the same way the Red Army did to the Wehrmacht in WWII.
Superior numbers armed with submachine guns charging and overwhelming static positions.
War of Attrition.
Ask anyone who isn’t a Walt in your 77th Barracks tonight you REMF fud.
*Nae the same kind as the Dandy Dons Rev.
@Footsoldier says: 22 June, 2018 at 8:33 pm:
“Today “The two major oil benchmarks, WTI and Brent, rose 4.6% and 3.1% respectively.”
More doom and gloom, being burdened with this terrible increase of income.”
I don’t know from where you get your information, Footsoldier but all that extra income goes directly into Her Majesty’s Treasury in London.
Not one single penny of it comes to Scotland. First of all the United Kingdom sells licences to prospect for oil& gas and when any oil or gas is found then HM Government sells licences to extract it and none of the licence money comes to Scotland.
After the oil & gas starts to flow it is taxed by the barrel at the wellhead and the tax goes directly to HM Customs and Excise. Furthermore, any that is refined in Scotland is taxed as it leaves the refinery and then taxed again at the pumps on the filling station forecourts. Up to 98% of the oil & gas comes out of Scottish Territorial waters but is classified by Westminster as coming from United Kingdom Extraregio Territory and they claim every penny as United Kingdom assets.
The only benefit Scotland gets is in some jobs and most of the off-shore workforce are not resident in Scotland. The main gain for Scotland is in service to the oil industry and in business rates on the on-shore installations and offices.
Not only that but most of the company head offices are in London and they provide no benefits to Scotland.
The entire income until recently that Scotland gets is by way of the Block Grant, (now plus just a little income tax). The Block grant contains no oil or gas money it is 100% from general taxation and the total decided entirely by Westminster by the Barnett Formula that most MPs cannot even tell you what the Barnett formula is or does.
I have explained it frequently here on Wings. The Barnett formula simply assesses the cost of the devolved functions that were taken away from the Westminster Ministries and devolved to Scotland, N.I. and Wales respectively.
Think about it – when Westminster devolved a function to Scotland they had to take it away from a Westminster ministry and as Scotland, Wales and N.I. had no tax raising powers they had to also take away from the Westminster Ministries the money to run the devolved functions.
So there you go – none of the revenues eared from the oil & gas comes to Scotland.
In fact when Westminster does the books, (the Budget), they estimate that Scotland contributes just 8.4% of the oil & gas revenues on the basis of population but that figure is only so as to calculate other data – we do not actually get 8.4% of the revenue. What’s more the real contribution from Scotland is up to 98% on a geographic basis. It is, “up too”, because a true figure is impossible to estimate as there are never 100% of the oil & gas wells producing at any particular time due to breakdowns, maintenance, accidents and updating with more modern equipment.
Boris says
“…UK casualties were four times higher than US soldiers”
… and does anyone doubt that Scots among them will have been proportionately higher than rUK, just like in every other conflict since 1707?
In the discussion above re: the KOSB (death of English Scot VC) and Afghanistan (UK casualty rate of 4:1 vs US)
The King’s Own Scottish Borderers took part in the Gulf War in 1991 but were one of the few Scottish regiments not deployed to the Yugoslav Wars of the 90s they were being mainly stationed in Northern Ireland instead (so nae luck).
So aye, the ‘Jocks’ were always front and centre when the shite was hitting the fan @galamcennalath says at 10:51 pm
As per General James Wolfe when commenting on Highland troops in North America 1750s:
“They are hardy, intrepid, accustomed to a rough country, and no great mischief if they fall.”
Remember to wear two poppies in the run up to Armistice Sunday as twice as many Scots fell in WWI compared to rUK (if you haven’t been sickened into not wearing one at all by the hypocritical British Nationalist ‘Cult of the Soldier’ mince recently).
UK Army Medical and Nursing Corps (RAMC & QARANC) knocked their pans in in Afghanistan (from patrols and FOBs all the way to Camp Bastions Hospital) saving lives.
Scots will always be cannon fodder until we are independent.
Scottish Nazi rallies should be banned unless given permission from their EU masters
I agree MU those Orange Order marches get right on ma tits.. 🙂
OK, I know the best plan is to totally ignore obvious trolls, but, Mad Unionist @ 10.30pm
You are well named Pal. The KOSB were formed, in EDINBURGH, which was then part of the Independent Kingdom of Scotland, in 1689. It was always part of the SCOTTISH Division of the British Army and today, following the amalgamations of 2006, the KOSB is part of 1 Scots – the First Batallion of the Royal Regiment of SCOTLAND.
So, fuck off elsewhere with your amateurish trolling. You are spouting shite.
23rd June 1314 Bannockburn,
Scots were willing to stand together and fight against what was seen as the best/strongest European army of the time,
Robert, King of Scots
`This is where we hold them,
this is where we fight,
this is where they die.`
Hammond has not got any windfall from any tax. Debt going up. Scotttish budget has been cut 10% a year. Now £3Billion less.
In 2009 (Bank crash 08) £600Billion was raised in the UK. £120Billion was borrowed, (Brown)
£720Billion.
Now £533Billion (9 years later) is raised in tax in the UK. Austerity. Tax breaks to the wealthiest.
Benefit, NHS and Education cuts. 2010 ConDems cut Education funding £6Billion a year. Increased student fees/loans. They will not get back £3Bilion a year of repayments. Student debts now subject to increased interest. Cut NHS £20Billion from 2015 – 2020. £4Billion a year (savings?). Have had to put in £2Billion for A&E. Welfare spending cut £18Billion. £3Billion a year for six years.
The Scottish Gov has mitigated the cuts from Westminster Increased SNHS funding. Increased education spending. Increased Loans and funding for low income students. Increased apprenticeships and provided worthwhile college places. Invested £millions for increased childcare places and increased nursery places. social care, prescriptions,. Built roads, bridges and railways. Now increasedvNHS pay and career allowance. Invested in renewables. Establishing a Central Bank. Reforming the benefit system for dignity. Increase taxes slightly for the wealthier.
UK – Hammond £50Billion is borrowed (public funding) £50Billion? Is borrowed (Chinese) to fund projects in the rest of the UK. Overpriced wasteful. Hinkley Point, HS2, rail & projects in London S/E. it costs more than other projects which would have been more cost effective,Scotland has to make loan repayments on the debt. Austerity costs more.
Scotland raises more pro rata £54Billion. (Without Oil) Exports more and can’t borrow (much limited)
Figures are on the the UK – Scottish Gov website. Easy to find.
The only time Aberdeen was properly round was when LibDem/SNP..2007 to 20011. Inherited a debt of £1/2Billion. Cleared it and run the City well keeping up essential service. Built Union Square Successful,project.
Aberdeen/shire had been received 30% less funding of every other council in Scotland by Labour – Cosla. Waited 40 years for a by pass road. Unionists would not build it. Road congestion. The only City on Europe without a by pass road. John Swinney has tried to close the gap. The by pass road has finally been built. Near completion. Good cut travel times. The Scottish Gov (Alex Salmond) helped fund the sporting centre. The Bay turbine project has helped offset the Oil down turn because of Westminster unionist mismanagement, Too near the shore. All major improvement. All the Oil revenues went South.
The unionists have prevented the SNP the largest party from power. In the town. A two jobs Tory. Council/Holyrood. keeps the Labour administration in office with the Tories. Labour got the City into £1.2 Bilion of debt. Refused a gift of £80Million to pedestrianise the City. Waste £200Million on a grotesque Muse project ruining the City Centre and causing traffic chaos. PPI repayment £7Million for 30 years. £200Million. Not needed shops/hotel. A total,waste of money. Shops and hotels are empty and under occupied.
Built a £300 million Conference with no mandate. White elephant.Waste. The present one is used once a month. £26Million in debt had to be paid off. £30Million ruining the Art Gallery shut for years. Built a hub £5Million. People were protesting in the street. Built a road £18Million. One worker died.
They cut funding on education, essential services, social care, cut drug/ alcohol treatment funding. Wanted to put homeless people in prison An absolute disgrace. Did not build affordable houses or schools – overcrowded. Still at it. Some were voted out. People of all political persuasion can’t stand them. They are a laughing stock. Dangerous.
Cut funding on essential,
There were more personnel in the services from Scotland (pro rata 80%?) because of higher unemployment rate in Scotland. Until quite recently. The army numbers have been cut from 100,000 to 80,000. – Hammond Defence minister. Still spend £10Billion+ a year Trident (Scotland £1Billion share) Hammond spent £2Billion up grading Army helicopters.
40 year old Oil industry helicopters were falling from the sky. UK health & safety rules and guides broken. No Inquiry or censor. The owners sold up for £250Million. Bond. It wasn’t until a crash in Norway that the type was grounded. Still not flying? Some of the pilots are ex services.
Off Topic
Watching luc bessons lockout on film 4, never noticed before that george Gallbladder was in it. ?
Apparently Fox News are now coming out wi ‘these kids aren’t our kids’ and ‘these people are from another country’. Do Americans not understand what they are, where ‘they’ came from?(Rev’s twitter)
I know its ‘Fox’ but Jesus wept…this is where we are at in the ‘west’…ah know, ah know…RN’ll be along in a minute to remind us of the ‘cesspit’.
Wur doomed ah tell ye…doomed.
Today is now the day.
FAO previous no voters:
Now is the time to submit quietly… to independence.
(you may have ‘seen this before’ like):
link to youtube.com
Love 3x today.
Here’s to a brilliant day later on Folks. Safe journey to you all.
Bannockburn rules OK.
Big day.
“There is nothing wrong your perception of the reality
Do not attempt to adjust the illusion
We control the harmonics
We control your emotions
We will move you to the left
We will move you to the right
We can reduce the volume to a whisper
Or increase it to a deafening roar
Now is the time to submit quietly
We control all you hear and feel
You are about to enter a great adventure
And experience the odd and mystery
From your ultimate fantasies, to your deepest fears
From which you may never return…”
Unless ye choose Yes.
A most special dedication to me bro Brotherhood 🙂 🙂 😉
link to youtube.com
TO Saturday, the 23rd June 2018.
TO FEEL.
See ye all on oor field.
Aye £450m blah de blah de blah ( nae nighttime swearies 🙂 )
The original 45.
Is always
There
In.
And in there somewheres.
To Bannockburn.
To the fields.
Gather.
Laters.
Like.
Here we go… three times a day.
We’re Livin’ On The Brexit Cliff-Edge:
link to youtube.com
But you CAN help yourself from fallin’
Scotland rising.
See yee’s at snowy’s.
It’s a different battle on a different day.
Here’s a jolter, sisters n sons of Scotland:
link to youtube.com
X Marks The Spot (merry xmts).
Bannockburn.
Run and you’ll live…
At least achwhile.
Just 1 chance.
Sleep.
If it is the case, I would love to know what it is that MI5 have as a HOLD against Jim Sillars (that is how MI5 works, btw – they either use a carrot or stick approach to get people to do as they instruct/become informers).
If that is not the case then he needs expelled from the SNP permanently. The man is now a disgrace. Maybe judging by his comments over the last four years, he’ll just join the tories and be done with it.
To all of you going to Bannockburn today.
Gerry Cinnamon – Hope Over Fear
Are you threatened by words from an empire of money and gold?
Will you trade in your country’s potential for the lies you’ve been sold? Are you scared that the walls are to high to be breached by the bold?
Will you stand and be counted or shut up and do as your told?
Hope over fear; don’t be afraid, tell Westminster Tories that Scotland’s no longer your slave Carpe Diem, will you sieze the day. Rip the chains from the unicorn show them that Scotland is brave.
link to youtube.com
Lamentable.
If they have money in the bank then is that not good for the #brexit mess about to unfold?
Oh please can you do a piece on fluffy in his hard hat doing an interview about Glasgow School of art fire on STV? It was like anything to give him air time.
Have a happy flag party, everyone.
The labour party, a bunch of fannys.
Maybe I’m being too kind.
Just had an e-mail from a local newsagent in Bannockburn with a photo attached.
The National have sent out badges and Posters for window display today in support of the march.
Stephen Kerr and a small group of likeminded Tories are ‘out’ in Bannockburn today – of all days , I hope the guid folk give them a flea in their ears.
Our MP and his band, stood outside the shop window, trying to obliterate the poster and without asking permission from the shop owner, had a photo shoot.
Thought you have to ask to permission to take a photo nowadays
Steady stream of people walking past my front door carrying Saltires heading into town – grand sight.
Meg – the Tories, not asking permission. Do they ever, on anything?
Wonder what lies they’re telling the good folk of Bannockburn today.
Sadly I can’t make it today but will be with you all in spirit.
BBC ‘national news’ 6pm, drug deaths in Scotland highest for 20 years, usual sad, ‘stereotypical’ Scottish types interviewed, pictures of syringes in Glasgow etc. Implication Scottish gov not doing enough.
Contrast with England’s high hopes in Russia and interviews with fans in Brighton.
The contrast couldn’t be more stark. Sunny Scotland is a dump, it’s sunny Brighton we need to be.
¡ARRIBA COLOMBIA!