The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland


Down the drain

Posted on March 15, 2014 by

41 to “Down the drain”

  1. Doug Daniel says:

    Absolutely brilliant. The cartoon, not the UK’s handling of the oil wealth – that’s total pish.

    Reply
  2. This should be on a billboard.

    Reply
  3. heedtracker says:

    link to theguardian.com This is from “Scotland doesn’t exist so vote NO” Guardian. Its interesting because in this Britain, there is virtually no mention of Scotland either in the report or CiF. Yet Scotland will once again pay billions for this next phase in England’s transport infrastructure.

    Cringers will be thrilled but the author goes “The fundamental point to recognise here is that HS2 will serve eight out of 10 of Britain’s largest cities and one in five of the UK population.” Or, Β£38 billion UKOK HS2 super sonic railway wont go anywhere near Scotland as per.

    Reply
  4. TheGreatBaldo says:

    This to be part of The Wings Billboard Poster Campaign please

    Reply
  5. gordoz says:

    So simple and brilliant at portraying the sad truth of our predicament.

    Must be on a billboard somewhere.

    Reply
  6. Claire McNab says:

    I’d give it 5 out of 10.

    The oil wealth is not just being thrown away in some abstract sense. It is being poured into the mouths of the fat cats in the City of London, who have been given massive tax breaks.

    Reply
  7. Croompenstein says:

    Spot on Chris though you should have given John Bull ‘broader shoulders’

    Reply
  8. gordoz says:

    Christ that John Bull looks a lot like the lone ‘Tory MP’ in Scotland, (whats his face …)

    Reply
  9. gordoz says:

    Tariq Ali podcast – from 1hr 22mins (Excellent stuff)

    link to bbc.co.uk

    Reply
  10. Macart says:

    Another beautifully drawn commentary.

    Nice one Chris.

    Reply
  11. Albalha says:

    And in his speech Cameron said, (frankly Dave we don’t need your ‘broad shoulders’, thanks anyway.)

    “In oil and gas – if we maximise this asset our economy could be boosted by Β£200 billion over the next 20 years.

    “And, yes, that’s about the bravery of those who work in deep-sea exploration and the experts in Aberdeen, but it’s also about encouraging investment with the proven, long-term stability of the UK economy – the broad shoulders that make it all possible.”

    link to heraldscotland.com

    Reply
  12. Murray McCallum says:

    Excellent picture and message Chris.

    Reply
  13. Capella says:

    Brilliant!

    Reply
  14. bookie from hell says:

    heedtracker ,good point about HS2

    The M8 between glasgow,edinburgh only 2 lanes,and crumbling

    Reply
  15. Rev. Stuart Campbell says:

    “This should be on a billboard.”

    Readers, you would not BELIEVE what a chore it is trying to get quotes out of billboard advertising companies. Been trying for WEEKS now. Evidently they hate money.

    Reply
  16. Albalha says:

    @Rev Stu

    I did some research on the costings last year happy to forward the emails, may give you different contacts?

    Reply
    • Rev. Stuart Campbell says:

      “I did some research on the costings last year happy to forward the emails, may give you different contacts?”

      Sure, fire over anything you’ve got. I’m getting nowhere.

      Reply
  17. handclapping says:

    Don’t believe him, Hamish!

    Another great cartoon by Chris Cairns, claps hands together.

    Reply
  18. Luan says:

    Are bus stop and phone box advertisers (not sure what the technical term is for them) easier to contact? My son always notices the adverts on a phone box on our local high street., well placed, lots of people see them everyday reinforcing the message.

    Reply
  19. SquareHaggis says:

    Another eye-catching cartoon Chris, and one that spells it out nicely.

    An A4 or A3 printable version would be handy – would sit Neatly on our billboard outside the community centre.

    Reply
  20. Papadox says:

    A picture is worth a thousand words.

    Reply
  21. liz says:

    That’s strange re billboards.
    I hope they’ve not all been bought up by BT,

    Something similar was said re the Quebec referendum.

    Posters are definitly a good idea especially if they are short on words and strong on graphics.

    Reply
  22. creag an tuirc says:

    What about these for a bit of advertising? link to scotair.com

    Reply
  23. creag an tuirc says:

    and a Jack Foster voiced radio jingle

    Reply
  24. Macandroid says:

    @ Bookie

    I wonder how the state of the roads in the two capitals (sorry Wales & NI) compare?

    No I don’t …

    Reply
  25. Yesitis says:

    A superb image, and one that cuts through the nonsense we hear about the UK oil industry`s ‘broad shoulders’.

    Spot on, Chris.

    Reply
  26. caz-m says:

    Rev, Here is another banner/poster company.

    Just thought I would through it into the mix. Maybe worth a look.

    link to glasgowbanners.co.uk

    Reply
  27. The Rough Bounds says:

    Sorry for the downer folks, but I’ve just been informed that Tom Brady, a life long nationalist from Glasgow has died: age 71.

    Tom stood for the SNP in the Gorbals by election in 1969 and gave the Labour Party a hell of a fright.

    So sad that he won’t be here to see the final victory.

    Reply
  28. Albalha says:

    @RevStu

    Just sent you several email exchanges from Primesight and JCDecaux, any queries let me know via email.

    Reply
  29. Davy says:

    Never a truer sentiment was drew, and excellient cartoon Chris, needs to be on a posterboard.

    Reply
  30. Desimond says:

    Hahahah Bravo.

    Squinting eyes here…Is that Drain a Third Eye with an image of Westminster behind it?

    Reply
  31. The Rough Bounds says:

    @Davy.

    Not ‘drew’ Davy, but ‘drawn’. ie. ”never a truer sentiment was drawn”…and no i in ‘excellent’.

    Reply
  32. CyberNiall says:

    How about David Cameron and a scotsman on an old British galleon, named ” Broad Shoulders”, being pulled under by the debt kraken. David’s scorning through a bullhorn “don’t forget, you rely on us”, while the scot is getting into a lifeboat. Waiting in a luxury yacht named “Maiden Scotland” is the Yes camp.

    I’m sure you could portray it a lot better Chris.

    Reply
  33. Ah’ve said it before an I’m gonny say it again, Chris you should dae a book.

    Reply
  34. Anthony Armstrong says:

    That cartoon should be on every billboard in the land.

    Reply
  35. ronnie anderson says:

    Rev, We all have Windows,I have both back front windows that can be viewed from both roads ( the rear on a main bus route,& a short cut to/from a main road,( sizes 34″x43″)get the poster
    printed up on a thin plastic ( clingfilm type )various sizes,
    no clues required.

    & again I dont need to remind you, you have many hands to lighten
    the load, ( postage, distrabution points) USE US.

    Great cartoon Chris.

    Reply
  36. David McCann says:

    My understanding is that most postersites have been booked by the Yes campaign.
    Maybe you should send the artwork to them

    Reply
  37. Patrician says:

    Chris, again a brilliant cartoon. Heave you thought about getting some toy Hamishs created, i am sure they would go down a treat, especially if wearing a wings jumper.

    Reply
  38. Chris Cairns says:

    @CyberNiall

    Jeez! I think you only missed out Turner’s The Fighting Temeraire and perhaps the Battle of Jutland going on in the background.
    Still, I’m flattered by your high opinion of my abilities!

    Reply
  39. bald eagle says:

    luan @11:40am

    not sure what the technical name is

    pole dancers

    Reply
  40. Appleby says:

    I like it Chris. You’re a dab hand at these and they keep getting better. πŸ™‚

    Reply


Comment - please read this page for comment rules. HTML tags like <i> and <b> are permitted. Use paragraph breaks in long comments. DO NOT SIGN YOUR COMMENTS, either with a name or a slogan. If your comment does not appear immediately, DO NOT REPOST IT. Ignore these rules and I WILL KILL YOU WITH HAMMERS.


  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a thing that exists.

    Stats: 6,980 Posts, 1,251,638 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

  • Recent Comments

    • Minceheid on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Did he pay you $5000 to say that? πŸ™‚Sep 23, 14:25
    • Alf Baird on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: ““the ” Republic of Scotland ” that has become a Colony of Englands Great Britain parliament” Oor colonial reality is…Sep 23, 14:20
    • Mark Beggan on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Well Trumpy certainly smacked a few bottoms yesterday. Some of them won’t sit down for a week.Sep 23, 14:04
    • Mark Beggan on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Look! There’s a bronze squirrel!Sep 23, 14:02
    • Stevie on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “It’s really just a matter of time till they/them joins Labour and wears a hijab.Sep 23, 14:00
    • Hatey McHateface on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “The WHO estimates 15 million were killed by Covid. And it looks to me like our society doesn’t give a…Sep 23, 13:46
    • Willie on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Jeepers creepes Hatey I thought you were talking about 450,000 being the estimate of numbers to die when we go…Sep 23, 13:21
    • Hatey McHateface on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Not too late to get this reversed. Just need some of these organisations to re-invent themselves as militant trans, ideally…Sep 23, 13:21
    • Hatey McHateface on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “He would have got the single occupant discount and been exempted from water charges. Dry your eyes πŸ™‚Sep 23, 13:13
    • TURABDIN on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “According to the BBC Scotland, a de facto colony if not de jure, has the worst drug addiction problem in…Sep 23, 13:00
    • James Che on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Hatey, Scots are already taxed higher, And may I add twice when income for a year goes higher, Letter from…Sep 23, 11:59
    • James Che on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “The reasoning that the territory of Scotland is first of all a Republic Country , is that the political union…Sep 23, 11:39
    • Ian Smith on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “I’m not sure Sturgeon was ever capable of a well thought out defense and security policy. She was just more…Sep 23, 10:49
    • James Che on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Spartan 117. Letter Council 3rd September 2015, Dear Mrs Che, Council tax reference number………. I would firstly advise that the…Sep 23, 10:41
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF ART to close craft courses, including jewellery and textiles. (BELLACALEDONIA 23 Sept 2026) Β« Further to the…Sep 23, 10:35
    • James Che on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “The approach to the UN should be that Scotland officially by legalities is a Republic Country However a Colony of…Sep 23, 10:04
    • James Che on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “The Great Britain State unification of 1707 never evolved because the Parliament of Scotland was Dissolved in England on the…Sep 23, 09:36
    • James Che on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “The question is, how did Scotland become a none governing State by presumption of the parliament of England, As Scotland…Sep 23, 09:32
    • Spartan 117 on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Indeed Hatey. Plenty of us would be pleased to see the end of both FollyRude and the plethora of local…Sep 23, 08:25
    • Hatey McHateface on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Make sure your wills are in order, folks. 450,000 to die in the next 6 months: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/23/el-nino-450000-extra-deaths-six-months It seems a…Sep 23, 08:19
    • Hatey McHateface on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Plenty of Scots, including posters on Wings BTL, would like to see an end to the wee, pretendy, Scottish parly.…Sep 23, 08:03
    • Hatey McHateface on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Careful, Cynicus! If you believe they’re behind everything, then you don’t want to be broadcasting to the world that you’re…Sep 23, 07:46
    • Hatey McHateface on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Here you are again, Bilbo, just for your dug: “Link to one MSM article that says β€œthe enemy is going…Sep 23, 07:36
    • Minceheid on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Spartan 117 says: 22 September, 2026 at 9:05 pm Gordoom went Scorched Earth on the UK in a fit of…Sep 23, 07:07
    • Willie on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “And meanwhile if I may change the dial what thoughts if any on the announcement that Mr Swinney is looking…Sep 23, 03:11
    • Cynicus on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “Thanks Fheargais. I was in Sleat a few days before the event but had to get home on the Monday…Sep 23, 00:13
    • Cynicus on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “For Hasbara or Integrity Initiative? Or both?Sep 23, 00:07
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “77 SUNSET STRIP – 1958 – TV Series – ABC www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QGvjXDIJ54Sep 23, 00:07
    • Bilbo on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: “A whole lot of comments and everybody and their dug sees that Hatey is talking mince but has too much…Sep 22, 23:05
    • Hatey McHateface on His Majesty’s Loyal Sabre: ““forgot to iron his shirt” That’s a mystery. In the pic I saw of him boarding the plane to fly…Sep 22, 22:31
  • A tall tale



↑ Top