The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland


Ironic timing

Posted on March 26, 2014 by

The advert below is being distributed by Glasgow Subway to its passengers today.

differentview

But that’s okay, because it’s not “political”.

287 to “Ironic timing”

  1. haud on the noo says:

    Seriously ? As in openly handed to punters ?

    Reply
  2. Seasick Dave says:

    Hahahahahaha!

    Brilliant.

    Reply
  3. Grant says:

    Did you contact your MSP?

    Reply
  4. Macart says:

    Pretty clear cut.

    If your advert has to go then so does this.

    We’ll see how long it stays up.

    Reply
  5. Seasick Dave says:

    You have been Tangoed!

    Reply
  6. Kenny says:

    Is it actually SPT distributing this pap? If so, there’s a shitstorm waiting to happen. If it’s just on their property, your first line is wrong and should be corrected. Allowing iy while banning the Wings ads is still hypocrisy though, and quite possibly a breach of the rules.

    Reply
  7. Proud Cybernat says:

    Ordinary Man? Try ‘Bitter Unionist’.

    Reply
  8. Janine says:

    Oh my! Well isn’t that just … serendipitous? Let’s see if any complaints about this are noted to the point that it gets pulled – if not it could be very, very bad publicity.

    Reply
  9. yerkitbreeks says:

    Wow – the retribution that’s going to be due post Ref, whatever the outcome.

    Reply
  10. Doug Daniel says:

    Keith Howell – an Ordinary Man with an Ordinary Job of being an Ordinary Director on various Ordinary Companies over the past few years.

    You know, just like the rest of us Ordinary People.

    Reply
  11. betterapart says:

    They remove our posters but can get away with handing out that? Crazy!

    Reply
  12. Indy Mandy says:

    It’s mental. Complaints are already launched to the Metro for this and to SPT for yesterday’s ads being removed.

    Reply
  13. Mary Bruce says:

    How is it being distributed? There’s no way they can justify pulling our ad if they are letting this go out, now it really has become a scandal. What a disgrace.

    Reply
  14. Proud Cybernat says:

    Have just fired off another complaint to SPT asking them to explain this.

    Reply
  15. fairiefromtheearth says:

    You couldent make it up. LOL SPT

    Reply
  16. Les Wilson says:

    It does not seem right that this is allowed when our is prevented, there is no low the Unionists will not go to.
    It is done to deceive and steal people’s votes.
    Is there not a legal angle here?

    Reply
  17. titchyboy85 says:

    God forbid we get lesser.

    Reply
  18. OMFG, now I’m annoyed. Such blatant misleading of people, such clear bias by SPT. This is utter BS. What are going to do about it?

    Reply
  19. mogatrons says:

    Well, here’s hoping your media enquirer follow up on this as well …

    As if the case against SPT wasn’t strong enough already.

    I’ll be contacting them to complain about this political statement too,

    Give a unionist a spade, and be astounded at how far into a hole they’re prepared to dig in order to avoid political reality.

    Reply
  20. Thomas William Dunlop says:

    Follow the link to nupateer.com, to reveal the identity. Anyway it is so blatantly political, it should not be distributed

    Reply
  21. Ian Brotherhood says:

    Do we know anything about the funding of this ‘nupateer’ outfit?

    Reply
  22. Dal Riata says:

    From his website:

    “Who is an ‘Ordinary Man’?

    The adverts published on nupateer.com were signed off as an ‘Ordinary Man’ to emphasise that the author is not important in any way. But there is no intention of hiding behind anonymity.

    Keith Howell has lived in Scotland for 23 years, near Edinburgh in the north of the Scottish Borders. He has made his home in Scotland with his family, and he now has grandchildren here too. Over that time he has been active across the private, public and voluntary sectors, typically as a non-executive Director or Chairman of various organisations.

    He also owns Ordinary Man Productions a small company that is developing ‘thinking’ apps and websites. As well as publishing the Referendum ‘Think again’ series of adverts, the company’s first app is hoped to be released in the first half of 2014.”

    Reply
  23. Disco Dave says:

    It is in today’s Metro. Somebody has inferred that the “Ordinary Man” didn’t get much change out of 6 grand for his troubles?

    Reply
  24. the Penman says:

    Full page spread in the Metro. Only surprise is they didn’t print it in green ink.

    I’m going to annotate one with, you know, the truth, and leave it lying in our canteen at work.

    Reply
  25. fairiefromtheearth says:

    note to bitter together we aint SNP supporters keep on bashing them it shows how desparate you are.

    Reply
  26. Anne Lawrie says:

    Nupateer.com have a list of leaflets on their website. This seems to be no 2. You can read them all. Expect more..

    Reply
  27. Albert Herring says:

    Might be an idea to read the caption, folks.

    Reply
  28. BigSteveChisholm says:

    Dear Keith Howell (aka Ordinary Man of West Linton)

    In answer to Q10. Yes, in the Referendum, I am happy to vote like a nationalist.

    Thanks for asking.

    With respect, your argument in defence of the Union wasn’t very convincing. Neither was your use of bold type.

    Reply
  29. Illy says:

    Yeah, not suprised at all.

    Maybe you should complain about the Metro on the subway?

    Tit for tat and all that.

    Or maybe you forgot your “this is not political” disclaimer at the bottom of your advert?

    Reply
  30. Dal Riata says:

    More from the website:

    “What is nupateer.com?

    nupateer.com is a website being developed to host e-pamphlets on a range of issues of the day.

    While the site is in development an initial issue hosted here is the Scottish Independence Referendum – carried in the shape of a sequence of adverts. All ten are hosted here so that anyone can view them and in a form that can be shared with others.

    nupateer.com is owned by Ordinary Man Productions, a Scottish based company that develops ‘thinking’ apps and websites.”

    Reply
  31. mogabee says:

    Sounds more Better Together than “ordinary man”!

    Reply
  32. Red Squirrel says:

    Wow, different view indeed. Wonder which direction Ordinary Man is looking…

    Reply
  33. heedtracker says:

    Why’s it called ” a different view” anyway? Very odd. Its identical to vote NO for the UKOK “view” pumped out daily by all newspapers and all of it coordinated by the BBC in Scotland. Ever little helps I guess.

    Reply
  34. Jimbo says:

    Hypocrisy rules – OK!

    Reply
  35. iconofwaste says:

    He’s an “Ordinary Man”. He probably enjoys Beer and Bingo after a day of hard work.

    “UKOK”… how about “BTBS” ?

    Reply
  36. Ian Brotherhood says:

    West Linton, Peeblesshire?

    Do a post-code property search – you won’t get a pad there for anything less than a quarter-mill.

    ‘Ordinary’ my arse…

    Reply
  37. Illy says:

    Well, if he’s calling his own view “different” then he’s admitting that Yes is the mainstream view!

    Reply
  38. Simon MacKenzie says:

    This is Ordinary Man here:

    link to duedil.com

    a very ordinary 76 company directorships.

    Reply
  39. tartanfever says:

    I’m not in favour of this advert and it’s message.

    However, our argument is not with this fella, it’s with SPT for their double standards.

    Keep the pressure on SPT, not the advertiser.

    If he can use the Metro, then so can we, how much for an ad ?

    Reply
  40. Helena Brown says:

    Well I was funnily enough going to ask about putting a leaflet about Wings in the Metro. Now that is freely available on buses and trains and I dare say the SPT. How do they square the Metro and this bit of rubbish (I was about to use a rude word) with being non political?

    Reply
  41. bookie from hell says:

    PMSL

    Reply
  42. Onwards says:

    The message here is ridiculous.
    So the unionist campaign isn’t a different type of nationalism?
    And the accusation of being against the people of England,NI,Wales is pretty offensive.

    You don’t have to be ruled by Westminster to have a British identity.

    I wonder if the same person will be campaigning for a united Europe, accusing people of ‘nationalism’, and being against the ordinary people of France, Ireland, Spain etc

    Reply
  43. Ordinary man? Yeah because clearly the every day ordinary men and women of Scotland are all directors of various companies.

    Ordinary fat cat is more like it.

    Reply
  44. heedtracker says:

    5.is good. “They suggest we take the bulk of the oil and leave the great bulk of the debts.” So for example, its fine that Scotland has to pay for England’s high-speed rail network while the Perth/Inverness A9 remains the ageing death trap of Europe? I suppose it is for your average bettertogether pamphleteer.

    Its an awful lot of lying to stop Scotland becoming a self governing democracy next year. Why do these guys need to lie so much, is another UKOK mystery.

    Reply
  45. Craig P says:

    Perfectly entitled to his opinion, though it is the usual complete misunderstanding of the independence position as British-style ‘blood and soil’ xenophobic nationalism.

    Kid yourself if you like Keith, but I and many others have long since moved on. You can be English *and* support better governance for Scotland – many do 🙂

    Reply
  46. Eddie Anderson says:

    link to facebook.com

    Just in case anyone want to leave their views publically

    Reply
  47. Grendel says:

    Where’s my tinfoil hat!

    The nationalists are pursuing independence through progressive policies!

    Reply
  48. Proud Cybernat says:

    From this leaflet:

    4. The SNP Government suggest we get smaller and lesser in order to get better. How sensible is that?

    It is perfectly sensible, you unreconstructed twit. Never heard of the expression ‘less is more’? It is a known fact that smaller nations are much more flexible and can adapt far quicker to change than the cumbersome monolith of the larger state such as the UK.

    I am sure one by one, each of your spurious points will be demolished by the readers of this Board.

    Welcome to the real world.

    Reply
  49. tartanfever says:

    SPT publish a very short response to the advert ban:

    An SPT spokesperson said:

    “SPT advertising contract guidelines state that Subway sites should not be used to campaign or lobby for political benefit. Our advertising agency applies that standard to all commercial bookings but unfortunately this particular ad slipped through their net. The ad was taken down as a result.”

    Extract from contract states:
    3.22 Approval of Advertisements
    …..any advertisement of a political, religious, sectarian, racist or sexual nature or which is likely to bring SPT into disrepute will not be permitted or approved.

    link to spt.co.uk

    Reply
  50. Dan Watt says:

    Disgraceful.

    I’d bet my bottom dollar this is left, despite complaints.

    €unts.

    Reply
  51. Grant Cruickshank says:

    Wow, that ad is such a manipulative pack of lies, deceits and falsehoods. I’ll be sending Mr Howell a point-by-point response forthwith.

    Reply
  52. Bill Fraser says:

    List of active directorships of Keith Howell

    link to duedil.com

    He has held 78 Directorships.

    Reply
  53. Cath says:

    Ah well, now you know where the first full page advert should be placed.

    Reply
  54. wullie says:

    I though at first glance is said NUMPTY
    numpty near you
    Numpty if your believe this
    Numpty of you vote no
    Is there a numpty next to you reading this

    Reply
  55. Chris Paton says:

    Scary how he uses bold type like that. IT WILL BE CAPITALS NEXT 🙂

    Reply
  56. Thomas William Dunlop says:

    When the opposition start talking about the “ordinary” man and the common people, you know they in deep trouble.

    Reply
  57. Fiona says:

    @Tartanfever

    Are they claiming that the wings advert would bring the SPT into disrepute, then? How would that work?

    Reply
  58. I should also point out. He claims that nationalists define themselves by what they are against. The SNP have done no such thing. By his reasoning, they are not nationalists

    However SLAB most certainly have. Labour define themselves by opposing the SNP at every turn. That makes them nationalists.

    Reply
  59. And I really wish I had time to do a point by point deconstruction of this, like I did with the currency and EU issues. However I’m afraid that my workload is getting a bit too heavy for now.

    Reply
  60. Alfresco Dent says:

    This has to be in breach of something, surely? I was under the impression that freedom of speech was a right inalienable to everyone, not just the select few who bow & scrape to their political masters in Whitehall.

    There are obvious issues of inconsistency in this pamphlet / ad. Such as, how much has the UK government spent on it’s anti-Scotland message, paid for, obviously by the same tax-payer this moron claims is being defrauded by the “SNP government”? However, contentious issues like this are irrelevant, he’s entitled to his opinion and I would defend that right.

    We are also entitled to our opinion on exactly the same grounds. Can we not all fund a class-action suit against this clear violation of a democratic right? Or are we genuinely second class subjects?

    Reply
  61. Will M says:

    “The ad is in the Metro, a newspaper owned by the virulently and openly Union-supporting Daily Mail, which the Subway actively distributes every morning in return for money.”

    Profit-making venture you say? How very dare they.

    Reply
    • Rev. Stuart Campbell says:

      “Profit-making venture you say? How very dare they.”

      Nothing wrong with taking money to carry ads. So why not ours?

      Reply
  62. Dal Riata says:

    @Ian Brotherhood

    West Linton, Peebleshire? Then it *allegedly* could well be yer man Keith Martin Howell, who can be found here:

    link to companydirectorcheck.com

    That is some list of directorships…! How very, very “Ordinary”…

    Reply
  63. Before I post my “thought for the day”, I am, of course, sitting here laughing at this post. Because that is a transparent “aye up yours”.

    Oddly, it fits in to my latest piece. These people want us to despair. They want us to see the vast array of power against us … and they want us to lose hope.

    Once in my lifetime, they did this to us. They don’t get to do it again.

    The Scottish independence campaign is the most important we’ll ever face, for a multitude of reasons. But for some of us, there is, I think, a more personal one. This is a huge act of political and social revenge against the lies and the liars who, in 2003, took us to war.

    They did it in the same way as they’re running their campaign here. Dirty tricks and lies.

    “This country has, in my lifetime, been cursed with two of the most immoral leaders in its history. One was Thatcher, the other was Blair.”

    link to commentisntfree.com

    Reply
  64. msean says:

    Bit much bold type,so much so it looks like a dodgy sales leaflet.More political than an advert asking folk just to look at both sides of the Indy debate.

    Reply
  65. Ghabhain says:

    Well I just checked out the Whois record for nupateer.com who seem to be behind the advert and shady it is in the extreme! The domain was registered through an anonymising service, Domains By Proxy in Scottsdale Arizona. Their contact number is also an anonymous mobile number.

    For those not in the know, you can normally find out who operates a domain by looking up its Whois record but in this case the true owners are being very secretive about who they are. They are also breaking the law by not having a cookie policy or privacy policy on their site.

    Reply
  66. Annibale says:

    Talk about double standards….

    Reply
  67. We all have to complain to SPT about this. Emailcomplaints@spt.co.uk Do it NOW!

    Reply
  68. Desimond says:

    Nupateer?.. is it a Brit trying to make money out of the Scottish referendum per chance?

    You shouldnt bother giving him any publicity Rev.

    As I said yesterday, just make one call….

    “Hello, is that the Metro?”

    Reply
  69. bookie from hell says:

    Dianne Abbott calls Devolution Delusional

    link to theguardian.com

    Reply
  70. Dorothy Devine says:

    Looks like RT are determined to undermine independence.
    I have seen some American lady talking about the impossibility of shared currency and how business will be jumping ship including RBS followed by David Torrance lauded as an expert on what would happen with the NO vote and how Westminster would devolve far more powers to Scotland in that event.
    I remain pissed off and shocked at events.

    Reply
  71. Alfresco Dent says:

    @ heedtracker

    “Its an awful lot of lying to stop Scotland becoming a self governing democracy next year. Why do these guys need to lie so much, is another UKOK mystery”.

    They lie because they are losing. They know it & we know it. They just can’t abide the ‘Ordinary Man’ knowing it. God forbid.

    “The nationalists are pursuing independence through progressive policies!”.

    “And they’re doing it deliberately!”.

    “Astonishing!”.

    Reply
  72. heedtracker says:

    “Why do the SNP gov want to change who you are” is a bit creepy too. What do they think Scotland as a new nation state with PR democracy in Edinburgh is going to turn us into anyway? not Scots from Scotland surely! Bet this pamphleteer tells every and anyone he’s a proud Scot but.

    Reply
  73. tartanfever says:

    Fiona,

    It seems from the SPT response that they are saying all political advertising brings them into disrepute.

    It’s a really dreadful response. If you’re ‘establishment’ – ie Scotsman, Herald, Mail etc, no problem you can advertise.

    The Mail which carries out personal vendetta’s against members of the public that don’t agree with their way of thinking.

    The Scotsman, which takes our national Flag and turns it into a Swastika then places it on their front page, (thanks Kenny F.)

    All of these publications would have no problem placing an advert.

    Reply
  74. Desimond says:

    @bookie from Hell

    Taxi for Abbott! ( see what I did there?)

    Diane and Michael Portillo constantly dismiss the chance of a YES vote whenever the topic comes up on This Week. Every time they utter the casual “Oh Im sure the Scots voters are too clever for that” I think “Just you wait”

    Reply
  75. Jim T says:

    companycheck.co.uk/director/900149996/MR-KEITH-MARTIN-HOWELL

    Reply
  76. Jim Mitchell says:

    Some thoughts:

    Just watched the ‘ordinary man’ video, this wasn’t done by any political mind, I suspect darker forces at work, however they may have done us a favour.

    This is easy for me to suggest, but I know from this site that there are those with the ability to produce leaflets of decent quality very quickly. If there is money in the kitty, could we not have leaflets drawn up headed, the advert they don’t want you to see. If possible this should be distributed outside as many subway stations as possible.

    The leaflet should also contain the background story of course. I am sure there would be plenty of willing volunteers to help distribute this!

    Can anyone tell me, if by law, a person is entitled to ask if anyone has made a complaint regarding the advert and if so who?

    Reply
  77. Ghabhain says:

    I meant to say that I don’t believe for a second that Keith Howell is the brains behind Nupateer, just the front-man. Otherwise why would he go to the expense of anonymising his site?

    Reply
  78. Claire McNab says:

    I love the way that this dude reveals the appalling truth that the pro-independence campaigners seek a range of progressive policies.

    This shocking reality should have been his main point, in big bold print at the top. Can there be any revelation more shocking than the fact that the Yes side wants to implement policies which would improve the lives of ordinary people?

    It is surely a terrible indictment of the current debate that this central point was revealed by a humble, ordinary, common-or-garden company director.

    Reply
  79. Dorothy Devine:

    It’s easy to feel like that. It’s what they want. Don’t give them what they want.

    Hope, over fear.

    Reply
  80. Jeannie says:

    @tartanfever

    Well, if it’s their sites that can’t be used to campaign or lobby for political benefit, then it seems fairly clear that the Metros can’t be distributed with that ad in them on a subway site, no?

    Reply
  81. Morag says:

    (aka Ordinary Man of West Linton)

    Nooooooo…….!!!!!!!

    Reply
  82. Alfresco Dent says:

    May I also suggest that everyone here who uses Facebook (and for our particular cause might I say that if you’re not on Facebook you should sign up immediately and pack it in on 19th September if you so wish) should follow Eddie’s post above and report the site for hate crime as I already have…

    Eddie Anderson says:
    26 March, 2014 at 10:51 am
    link to facebook.com

    Reply
  83. ronnie anderson says:

    A bit of perspective here Keith Howell runs a production

    company A Ordinary Man, is he doing this out of his belief in

    a UK, or is some other body commissioned this,if so Who is

    the ? to be answered.

    Reply
  84. Vincent McDee says:

    nupateer.com is a website being developed to host e-pamphlets on a range of issues of the day.

    While the site is in development an initial issue hosted here is the Scottish Independence Referendum – carried in the shape of a sequence of adverts. All ten are hosted here so that anyone can view them and in a form that can be shared with others.

    The Think Again adverts

    •Think Again
    •The White Paper
    •A Different View
    •The First Minister Has No Clothes
    •The Economics of Independence
    •10 Things They Forgot to Tell You
    •Good People
    •How to Speak…
    •I’m Sorry to Spoil the Party
    •Forever

    nupateer.com is owned by Ordinary Man Productions, a Scottish based company that develops ‘thinking’ apps and websites.

    Keith Howell has lived in Scotland for 23 years, near Edinburgh in the north of the Scottish Borders . He has made his home in Scotland with his family, and he now has grandchildren here too. Over that time he has been active across the private, public and voluntary sectors, typically as a non-executive Director or Chairman of various organisations.

    He also owns Ordinary Man Productions a small company that is developing ‘thinking’ apps and websites. As well as publishing the Referendum ‘Think again’ series of adverts, the company’s first app is hoped to be released in the first half of 2014.

    You can contact Keith Howell on contact@nupateer.com

    Reply
  85. Morag says:

    West Linton, Peeblesshire?

    Do a post-code property search – you won’t get a pad there for anything less than a quarter-mill.

    ‘Ordinary’ my arse…

    Yes you will. Though I agree his house probably isn’t in that category.

    The village ain’t that big, and really you can’t turn round but somebody will know about it. Gimme a few days. Somebody will tell me who he is. That’s assuming the SNP councillor doesn’t already know.

    Reply
  86. Alfresco Dent says:

    @ tartanfever

    You’re of course quite right except for one thing…

    Stu is a vey intelligent man and I suspect chose the wording used in our banner with a remarkable degree of thought. It was specially un-biased and apolitical. A good lawyer could run & run with this one I think. Hell, I could win in a court of law with this one.

    Let’s take the fight to them!

    Reply
  87. Gillie says:

    An Ordinary Man living in a £1 million+ house.

    Wow, I can’t wait to be so ordinary!

    Reply
  88. Desimond says:

    People…why are you worrying about some numpty looking to jump on a bandwagon and make a few bucks of the referendum?

    Do yourself a favour, ignore such NO campaigners. Youre only helping him by acknowledging him. He cannae even spell nupatter for Gods sake 🙂

    The Rev’s point was about SPT ( and the complainers), dont get diverted with the man jumping up and down in the corner shouting “ME ME ME”

    Reply
  89. HandandShrimp says:

    Ordinary Unionist says ordinary Unionist things whilst using a really irritating emboldening style of writing as if we are too stupid to read ordinary prose.

    Yes, Keith I am happy to vote Yes. The implication of your text is that the Scottish Government are dishonest. You talk of balance and make no suggestion that the UK Government might also be dishonest. Not balanced, not big and not clever. Not a very good advert either though. 🙂

    Reply
  90. Keith says:

    Hi Stuart,
    Do you have any contact details so that we can complain to the SPT on mass for this clear show of bias?

    Reply
    • Rev. Stuart Campbell says:

      “Do you have any contact details so that we can complain to the SPT on mass for this clear show of bias?”

      link to spt.co.uk

      PLEASE DON’T BE ABUSIVE.

      Reply
  91. Wayne says:

    Since when did exercising rights within a free press become political?

    I assume the problem here from the point of view of SPT is the use of the word independence, hence therefore it must be political. This of course takes a generous view of their mindset and excludes the just as likely probability that once Labour controlled SPT realised those nasty cybernats has slipped an ad past their advertising company they went berserk and ordered the immediate removal of the odious material.

    What I’d be interested in to know is for SPT to clarify what they would allow? Let’s suppose that the ad remained exactly the same except the third line about independence was removed, would that be OK?

    Or, let’s suppose we employed cleverer tactics. Suppose the ad was left entirely blank, or with some x-filesesque statement like “The Truth is Out There…”.

    In a way it would be a great victory to have a Wings ad back on the subway.

    I’d love you to challenge this in the courts. It seems to me this raises a very important question regarding the limits of freedom of expression. There must be some sympathetic lawyer out there who would be prepared to act for you pro bono. There is certainly something to argue here, something really important. There comes a point where you have to stop laughing at the system, and instead begin fighting back. Think of the publicity. Imagine if you won!! Not impossible by any means.

    Start a fund!!

    Reply
  92. Illy says:

    Something I just noticed: He’s invoking the conspiracy fallacy (I don’t know what it’s formally called).

    The Conspiracy Fallacy is the one that goes: There’s no evidence to be found that they did it, so they must have hidden the evidence *really well* for there not to be any evidence.

    Reply
  93. PRJ says:

    I don’t know if it’s been mentioned. But the withdrawal of wings advert may be more related to today’s full spread BT advert than for any other reason. After all the wings advert contradicts the BT advert. And for those getting in first it increase brownie points. You may now find that SPT may back track and issue an apology.

    Those in the know would have put pressure on SPT board to withdraw the wings advert and then deal with the consequences afterwards.

    Reply
  94. Illy says:

    @Wayne: He probably just forgot the boilerplate disclaimer.

    Stick a bit of text in 3-point at the bottom of the wings advert saying “This is not political, blah blah blah” and they’d probably accept it.

    Words are magic like that, they can stop something from being political just by stating it.

    Reply
  95. Morag says:

    An Ordinary Man living in a £1 million+ house.

    Wow, I can’t wait to be so ordinary!

    Having done some extensive research into properties in West Linton prior to moving there in 2007, I can’t say for sure there are NO properties in that price range, but I didn’t come across any.

    I don’t suppose it matters where he lives, but it does give me some satisfaction to know that I have most certainly shoved a leaflet through his door on multiple occasions. I’m just curious to know in what sort of esteem he is regarded (and I’ll find that out quite easily), and where he lives so I can metaphorically stick two fingers up at the place.

    Reply
  96. Bigbricks says:

    My complaint to SPT has been sent. No acknowledgement yet of the complaint sent last night re pulling WoS ads.
    Does anyone living in Glasgow feel as if the city is slowly transmuting into Pyongyang?

    Reply
  97. Gary says:

    Well, he’s made nupateer.com private. However… nupateer.co.uk? Not so!

    whois nupateer.co.uk

    Domain name:
    nupateer.co.uk

    Registrant:
    Ordinary Man Productions

    Registrant type:
    Unknown

    Registrant’s address:
    [REDACTED]
    United Kingdom

    Registrar:
    GoDaddy.com, LLP. [Tag = GODADDY]
    URL: http://www.godaddy.com

    Relevant dates:
    Registered on: 31-Aug-2013
    Expiry date: 31-Aug-2018
    Last updated: 31-Aug-2013

    Registration status:
    Registered until expiry date.

    Name servers:
    ns77.domaincontrol.com
    ns78.domaincontrol.com

    WHOIS lookup made at 11:44:37 26-Mar-2014

    Reply
  98. proudscot says:

    RevStu, I assume SPT will have reimbursed you for the unfulfilled portion of their contractual obligation to display your Wings advert for an agreed time in return for your payment?

    Reply
  99. HandandShrimp says:

    I take it the Wings adverts have been removed today, anybody had a look to see?

    What about the buses are we allowed to put a few on the side of First Bus double deckers that go through Glasgow?

    Reply
  100. ronnie anderson says:

    @ Morag the Border Retriever on the hunt tae sniff him oot

    gone yersel hen ( noo a could’na say bitch could ah )Morag

    a luvs you realy doo.

    Reply
  101. a Supporter says:

    That hand out is scandalous. Will someone at YES campaign HQ please get a complaint in ASAP and have it stopped. The author is clearly a BT numptie and it will be a concealed BT publication.

    Reply
  102. Gillie says:

    I feel inadequate now – I have discovered I am less than ordinary.

    I blame my parents.

    Reply
  103. Morag says:

    —–
    West Linton
    —–

    Well that was quick. That’s about half a mile from where I live. It’s just outside the village proper, down a farm lane. And yes I have leafleted him, obviously. And will most certainly do so again!

    Reply
  104. Alfresco Dent says:

    Desimond says:
    26 March, 2014 at 11:31 am
    People…why are you worrying about some numpty looking to jump on a bandwagon and make a few bucks of the referendum?

    Do yourself a favour, ignore such NO campaigners. Youre only helping him by acknowledging him. He cannae even spell nupatter for Gods sake

    The Rev’s point was about SPT ( and the complainers), dont get diverted with the man jumping up and down in the corner shouting “ME ME ME”

    Seconded!

    Please people, focus on the real issue here. This sad individual has every right to say what he believes to be true, however ridiculous that assertion may be.

    We also have that right and are being denied it. That is the issue!

    Reply
  105. heedtracker says:

    So another day here in Tubeless Aberdeen and the “Different view” from the Press and Journal vote NO UKOK headlines are, CBI says vote NO, rUK student fees unjustifiable so vote NO, businesses AND shoppers bills will “push up” so vote No and lots of great manly pics of David Cameron and Alistair Darling, like super heroes saving us, so vote NO. Maybe the “different view” pamphleteer lives in a place where he can’t buy the Press and Journal or any other UKOK newspaper.

    I should add that the above headlines are just a few from a whole raft of vote NO P&J’s daily UKOK propaganda thing.

    Reply
  106. Clancheif says:

    How much did this “ordinary man” have to pay to take out a full page advert like that
    And why is this deemed non political, when this is more overtly political than the banners for wings ~
    How do we get an even playing field in ANY areas of the referendum
    Surely if this ends in a No vote it MUST be open to legal challenge in the courts

    Reply
  107. Vestas says:

    @ BigBricks

    Glasgow City Council is a lot more corrupt than the wee North Korean lunatic. Has been for decades.

    Reply
  108. heraldnomore says:

    Trying to work out how many ways there are to put a ‘X’ in a box; but I think I might still have to “vote like a nationalist”. And I’ll make my mark in the Yes box I think, being an Ordinary Man.

    Any Ivan was brilliant at BfS Glasgow last night. If only multi-directorship Keith Howell was there. He might have learnt something; I know the 120 or so present did, and I see there was the expected swing to Yes as a result.

    Reply
  109. Alfresco Dent says:

    And Stu, please, gonna get that Sealand Gazette Butchers Apron down from the top of the page. Seriously sick of seeing it there. Put it at the bottom if you have to put it anywhere but it’s the first bloody thing I see when I visit and it’s doin’ ma nut in!

    Reply
  110. Desimond says:

    Seems they cant even give the UNION away these days….

    link to travelzoo.com

    Reply
  111. Gillie says:

    The current online value for [address], West Linton EH—– is estimated to be between £950,000 and £1.2 million.

    I feel my semi-detached premises is inadequate now. Why was I born less than ordinary? I feel cheated.

    Reply
  112. Morag says:

    OK, maybe three quarters of a mile, now I’ve checked the paper map. I could be mistaken, but I thought that address was a repair garage, and I think there’s a bicycle workshop there too. It’s not opulent.

    Reply
  113. Illy says:

    “How do we get an even playing field in ANY areas of the referendum”

    We don’t.

    I thought everyone knew we wouldn’t get a fair fight already?

    Reply
  114. Proud Cybernat says:

    I like this one…..

    link to scottcreighton.co.uk

    Reply
  115. CameronB says:

    yerkitbreeks
    I wouldn’t want to fall out of a relationship with you.

    Just saying.

    Reply
  116. Bruce Morton says:

    What a bunch of disingenuous, desperate pap.

    Reply
  117. Morag says:

    estimated to be between £950,000 and £1.2 million.

    I know the people who live in —–. I also know what they paid for the house in 2007 and it wasn’t that.

    However, this person does not live in ——. He lives in White Moss, an altogether more modest property. I associate White Moss with this garage, but the name is different.

    link to whitemossgarage.co.uk

    Reply
  118. Greannach says:

    I wish I was that ordinary! I’d love to be an ordinary man with loads of money preaching to the less well-off from the lofty heights of affluence. “I have money. I demand to be listened to.”

    Reply
  119. John Bannatyne says:

    Does the following quote sound relevant? It was said by Daniel dafoe in 1706

    Thus, on both Sides, the case stood between the nations, a Pen and Ink War made a daily Noise in either Kingdom, and this served to Exasperate the People in such a manner, one against another, that never have two Nations Run upon one another in such a manner, and come off without Blows.” – Daniel Dafoe 1706

    Reply
  120. Desimond says:

    @Proud Cybernat

    Nice, although reminds me of an idea a mate and I had to encourage people to appreciate Glasgow City Centres wonderful buildings. We considered getting a stencil and spray painting the words “LOOK UP” on all the main pavements. Short, simple, effective.

    We need more folk looking up, physically and metaphorically!

    Reply
  121. Robert Peffers says:

    This numptie is quite obviously a product of the English Education system. He has no grasp on his own native language, does not know his history nor his geography. The signs are all there on his website. He obviously has no idea that the title, “United Kingdom”, refers to a bipartite union of two kingdoms and two parliaments and that when any bipartite union loses a member it disunites. His reference to being both Scottish and British shows he is of the belief that the United Kingdom is all Britain. Yet we Scots will be every bit as British as the English, Welsh, Irish, (both lots), Manx and Channel Islanders after the bipartite United Kingdom has disunited. Then we have this numptie’s reference to the, “Government White Paper”. He obviously has no clear idea of what a, “Government White Paper”, actually is. His total ignorance exhibits the usual, “Bitter Together”, poverty of proper education. For his, and any YES supporter who needs to justify the Scottish Government White Paper to the totally ignorant, here is the official definition cut & pasted from the Westminster Parliament’s own website : –
    “Government White Papers are documents produced by the Government setting out details of future policy on a particular subject. A White Paper will often be the basis for a Bill to be put before Parliament. The White Paper allows the Government an opportunity to gather feedback before it formally presents the policies as a Bill”.
    As you can see the SG White Paper exactly fits that definition. So just what else did, “Bitter Together”, expect it to be other than, “setting out details of future policy on a particular subject”? Perhaps we should keep asking them that question?

    Reply
  122. Fiona says:

    Mr Howell’s address is available here

    link to companiesintheuk.co.uk

    Reply
  123. Andrew Morton says:

    Softly, softly, catchee monkey.

    The next step is to establish whether the ad was pulled because of the wording or because it advertised Wings. If just the wording, then a more acceptable format can be devised. If it’s because it’s Wings, then the question must by why and who objects. Do SPT allow adverts for other organisations who push a particular point of view? Play this right and we can keep them squirming for ages.

    Reply
  124. Abaron Nomore says:

    This Metro ad is of no consequence. It will be glanced at and chucked away, like the paper it’s in. Unionists will like it but it has no hope of convincing any undecided or Yes voter. An idiotic waste of money, unlike Stu’s Subway ad. Sorry we are giving this rubbish unwarranted publicity.

    Reply
  125. CameronB says:

    IMO, nupateer’s tell is UK = a country. Nuff said?

    Reply
  126. Gillie says:

    It could be Mr Ordinary has downsized from his ordinary mansion and bought an ordinary farm-house, making an ordinary profit in the process.

    Myself being less than ordinary can only down size to a shed.

    I do wish I could live in an ordinary world – I suppose I am just being jealous.

    Reply
  127. Dcanmore says:

    STV now has the story …

    link to news.stv.tv

    Reply
  128. mai parks says:

    I don’t know why I’m surprised. Perhaps it’s my nature of fair play and justice for all , that feels this is totally wrong. I just hope that the YES campaign supporters keep working hard towards our goal.
    I’m now off to have a cuppa and a quiet growl (as hubby on nights!)

    Reply
  129. Andrew Morton says:

    Mr Howell should just be ignored. Let’s face it, he’s just trying to do what the Rev is doing but on the other side. He’s not very good at it so let him be. If we start attacking him the next thing is that the MSM will start running articles about how a poor wee, ordinary man is being abused by nasty Cybernats.

    Reply
  130. kalmar says:

    link to news.stv.tv

    “The timing is especially ironic given that the subway is happy to actively distribute the Metro to its readers, which is owned by the virulently and openly Unionist Daily Mail, and which this morning contains a full-page political advert backing a No vote worded in highly intemperate language suggesting that nationalists are dishonest and xenophobic.”

    Sub please check!

    Great PR this, well done.

    Reply
  131. gerry parker says:

    @Proud Cybernat,
    Now that is a cracker!

    Reply
  132. Kev says:

    It makes you wonder if our complainant was Mr Howell himself – he wouldn’t want his message (which wouldve cost a tidy sum) to be countered by an opposing one in the same week…At the end of the day though, most folk sitting on trains and buses spend most of their time on their phones and those reading the metro are just flicking through and not really engaging with the content.

    The major downside to this attempt is that, although the clear intention is for it to be read like an article, it isn’t – it looks and feels to the eye as a full page advert and it will be ignored as such. A complete waste of (a lot) of money.

    Reply
  133. Ian Brotherhood says:

    @Dcanmore –

    That’s a chunky piece by STV – good on them. Here’s hoping it makes the telly later.

    Reply
  134. faolie says:

    The point here Wingers is surely not Normal Man’s advert in the Metro, but the fact that it looks as though it’s being distributed by SPT in blatant disregard and contravention of their own rules.

    Not really sure that that’s the case though. They’re distributing the paper sure, but they won’t care about ads in the Metro – they’re for the Metro to allow or ban. They do however, have full control over ads on their train walls, hence the ban on our ad.

    As for Mr Ordinary, his ad’s a joke. Full of the usual dreary negative pish. No need to publish his personal details here but. I thought we’d all agreed that before. What purpose does it serve, except to brand us all evil cybernats?

    Reply
  135. Linda's Back says:

    Is this legal?

    Has “Ordinary Man” registered with Electoral Commission?

    Is he not restricted on the amount he can spend?

    If so Wings should be doing something similar with a new moniker.

    Reply
  136. Edward says:

    Bill Fraser
    Have also looked up this less that ordinary man
    and its very telling
    link to companycheck.co.uk

    I smelt something when I saw his slick video, just knew that he wasn’t exactly what he was claiming to be.

    I found it interesting that he was a director of
    The Skills development Scotland Ltd
    Careers Trust Scotland Limited
    and
    Scottish UFI Limited
    all of which he has just resigned his directorship this month!

    Reply
  137. joe kane says:

    The ordinary man, sensible view of things is usually an appeal to the status quo and to get people to stop questioning the nature of reality and stop thinking for themselves.

    In contrast to the “commonsense man in the street” view of things, the pursuit of science is the complete opposite. It has to discard what we believe and take for granted, and what we believe to be true in order to make intellectual progress.

    Any time you hear someone making appeals to the views of the “man in the street” or claiming to be nothing out the ordinary it’s usually to get others to stop thinking and acting independently for themselves.

    Reply
  138. Findlay Farquaharson says:

    jeezo stu, what a clever move, put in an advert in a labour stronghold knowing macdougal would immediately make an official complaint to his fellow glasgow labour collegues. this complaint would of course be succesful resulting in overwhelming publicity that will reach a hundred times more people than the ad on the subway would have. bloody good move, mr salmond would approve im sure.

    Reply
  139. dennis mclaughlin says:

    Surely this action by SPT should be of some interest to the Scottish Information Commisioner?.
    In the interests of fairness for starters…

    Reply
  140. Findlay Farquaharson says:

    jeezo stu, what a clever move, put in an advert in a labour stronghold knowing macdougal would immediately make an official complaint to his fellow glasgow labour collegues. this complaint would of course be succesful resulting in overwhelming publicity that will reach a hundred times more people than the ad on the subway would have. bloody good move, mr salmond would approve im sure.

    Reply
  141. ochyes says:

    Voting for the UK is voting Nationalist too

    Reply
  142. Isabel Melville says:

    A company check of Kieth Martin Howell lists his business premises as being in George Square, Glasgow. link to companycheck.co.uk

    Reply
  143. James Kay says:

    That STV story (Dcanmore, 12.17) gives more exposure to the advert than the Subway would have done!

    Well done Stu.

    Reply
  144. CameronB says:

    Kev
    I have no legal background, which hopefully isn’t embarrassingly apparent.

    WOS bought print and obtained legal agreement with SPT to display said print on SPT property. WOS will be billed by the print supplier(?), though the print is now redundant because SPT has reneged on the contract.

    That’s how I see it anyway.

    Reply
  145. CameronB says:

    Kev
    I have no legal background, which hopefully isn’t embarrassingly apparent.

    WOS bought print and obtained legal agreement with SPT to display said print on SPT property. WOS will be billed by the print supplier(?), though the print is now redundant because SPT has reneged on the contract.

    That’s how I see it anyway.

    Where next I have no idea though.

    Reply
  146. Morag says:

    Mr Howell should just be ignored. Let’s face it, he’s just trying to do what the Rev is doing but on the other side. He’s not very good at it so let him be. If we start attacking him the next thing is that the MSM will start running articles about how a poor wee, ordinary man is being abused by nasty Cybernats.

    You’re quite right, I’m just a bit tickled to realise he lives only a short walk from my house and in fact if there wasn’t a wee hill in the way I could see his house from my living room window.

    He doesn’t seem to be the chap who owns Whitemoss garage, so I’m curious to know where he fits in. There’s not a lot down that road to be honest.

    Reply
  147. Gillie says:

    link to youtube.com

    Reply
  148. Dcanmore says:

    You can see the bigger picture forming here: Pro-independence ads being banned on publicly-run transport; YES website blocked on public computers in schools and libraries; YES stalls being banned from public events or spaces; Publishing and distribution costs of White Paper on Scottish Independence heavily scrutinised; Pro-independence comments heavily moderated on newspaper websites and banned from Better Together Facebook… is there more?

    Vote YES for democracy, freedom of speech and the right to choose!

    Reply
  149. Desimond says:

    Have a smile…Scots in Exile

    link to news.stv.tv

    Mr Docherty questioned what would happen to peers in the House of Lords. Scottish National Party MPs in attendance could be heard saying: “You can have them.”

    Reply
  150. Gillie says:

    This is better;

    link to youtube.com

    Reply
  151. CameronB says:

    Reneged is too strong a word, but I do not think SPT have been impartial in determining the weight and merits of the compliant.

    Reply
  152. James Kay says:

    That STV story ( Dcanmore, 12.17) has the potential to give more, much more, exposure to the ad than would ever have been achieved on the Subway.

    Well done, Stu.

    Reply
  153. James Kay says:

    Sorry for the double post.

    On first submission, I received a Guru Meditation notice, and I assumed (wrongly) that it had been lost.

    Reply
  154. CameronB says:

    Gillie
    You’ve got it. Go forth and infect. 😉

    Reply
  155. Drunken Hobo says:

    It’s really beginning to worry me that people think like that. Those are all such unbelievably bad arguments that nobody could possibly believe them, unless they had abandoned all semblance of rational & critical thought.

    It’s going to be like arguing with a creationist or conspiracy theorist. No matter how watertight your argument is, no matter how much evidence you’ve got to show them that their argument is flawed, they won’t listen to you. They don’t operate on the same rational level as other humans.

    How widespread are these views?

    Reply
  156. CalumCarr says:

    Using Zoopla and the address given for a Mr Keith Howell found in one of the company checking websites, his house was sold for £852k in 2006 and is estimated to now be worth £950k.

    An ordinary man indeed.

    Reply
  157. Alasdair says:

    Leaflet published by ordinary man productions Ltd with contact given as http://www.nupteer.com .

    Ordinary man productions ltd is a design and production company with Keith Howell registered as the sole director

    Then it becomes interesting as Keith Howell is a Board Member of Skills Development Scotland
    and his registered outside interests are stated by SDS as Good Practice Ltd and Ordinnaryman Productions Ltd .

    Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is a quasi Government organisation , headed by Robin Crawford , in which the Scottish Government has a major interest and input . It would appear that board member Keith Howell may well now have , at the very least , a conflict of interests through the nupateer website and Ordinaryman productions which he owns and are fronting a campaign specifically targeted against the SNP Government and Independence .

    SDS should now be providing answers for the actions of Keith Howell .

    Reply
  158. John Bannatyne says:

    I too have seen the ad in the metro and if Mr ordinary is indeed oridary why did he not put his name to the piece? Rather than hiding behind the moniker?

    Reply
  159. HandandShrimp says:

    I am, I confess, bored by the ordinary man now. His advert wasn’t that good. I read it and can’t remember any salient points other than I do indeed want to vote Yes. It is too long and too vague. I doubt many will read it. I skip most adverts in the Metro.

    I’m glad that our advert being banned is a story though. That is real free advertising 🙂

    Where are we going to place our poster next?

    Reply
  160. cearc says:

    Well done, Stu, You got us a bargain there.

    I bet STV advertising costs much more.

    Reply
  161. Desimond says:

    I repeat…we hire someone to dress up as a Squirrel ( the cuter the better..the Squirrel that is, the persons looks are not for judging) and send them to appear at various Labour events.

    Imagine the tears running down many a childs face as the cute Squirrel is man-handled by by someone like Big Bad Blair or threatened by someone like Ian “You want a doing” Davidson. Viral here we come.

    Reply
  162. hetty says:

    I haven’t seen many people reading the Metro at all on the buses lately, thankfully. I wonder if the stories in it are just not interesting to people, after all they are just jackanory type, celeb worship tosh mostly. People soon get bored with that, is this ‘ad’ being distributed in England? That would be more worrying perhaps as it would stoke up more hatred toward Scotland at the moment. We knew it would get nasty, just need to counter the bias, much as we can.

    O/T
    I was at a meeting for a charity yesterday and the Referendum was brought up as a point of discussion as the question being raised about where money for it would come from if it is a YES vote, the words ‘risk’ and ‘uncertainty’ were used, wow, that got me speaking up! I won’t go into it but the upshot was that some people, asked how they could get the white paper and were wanting to know more. Some people are still fumbling around in the dark, even though they have the internet! Also it was mentioned that with a no vote it will be ‘business as usual’. That is worrying, as charities like that will most certainly go with a no vote when they cut the block grant! Onward and upward as they say! Oh and someone said we would just have to sit on our hands and wait, at which point I said I most certainly would not be just sitting around waiting! Jeez, do people really feel that disengaged and disempowered? Work to do…

    Reply
  163. Helena Brown says:

    Mr Howell has a habit of resigning from companies, seems he has little or no staying power.
    Would appear to me he has a sniff of the Tory Party about him and can probably be dismissed as can the CBI and their little addition this morning.

    Reply
  164. Morag says:

    On an earlier thread, Edward said:

    Ok I’m going to be mr smelly pants on this and say that placing advertising on SPT transport, though ballsy, is crazy by sheer fact that SPT is politically controlled, and must have been certain to been on a hiding.

    A bit akin to placing communist advert in an American republican broadsheet in the 50?s. You can do it, but once they cotton on to what its for they will remove it.

    Uh, Edward, that’s not a bug, it’s a feature.

    Which has just delivered as intended, in spades, as James noted.

    That STV story ( Dcanmore, 12.17) has the potential to give more, much more, exposure to the ad than would ever have been achieved on the Subway.

    Bingo, kerching. Bitching online was arguably not going to do much good, but STV picking it up has made it totally worthwhile.

    This is the genius of Wings, to think out a win-win move like this. If the ads had stayed, they were very good ads and would have been worth the price. On the other hand, there was a chance this might happen.

    Now, there will be more ads, in places where “political” isn’t going to get you shut down, and this stushie has already begun to create a brand recognition.

    Reply
  165. Moreida Lord says:

    I don’t know why we are so surprised. It is however very infurianting that the rules of the game do not apply equally.

    Reply
  166. CameronB says:

    Desimond
    Now I know you are evil. 🙂

    Reply
  167. Morag says:

    Using Zoopla and the address given for a Mr Keith Howell found in one of the company checking websites, his house was sold for £852k in 2006 and is estimated to now be worth £950k.

    That’s interesting. The house isn’t much (unlike Lynehurst, which is an Art Nouveau arts-and-crafts beauty), but there could be land with it. There’s a farm of the same name, and although a pony-riding business that used to be there has moved, there are still horses in the fields.

    Another thing to bear in mind is that some of these property-price web sites use some sort of boiler-plate formula to calculate current prices that assumes everywhere is inflating like it is in the south-east of England.

    Reply
  168. FortBill says:

    Once again the main point is being missed and how many times must we say it before it sinks in
    This is a referendum not an election, how many times are the SNP mentioned in this rubbish and as usual nothing but negatives nothing positive to say about the future of the union.

    The people of Scotland know how well the SNP have managed our country for the last 7 years, they understand that that they have delivered more of their manifesto promises than any other post war government, and they can’t be so easily discredited as some seem to think. A leaflet distributed in the underground is hardly likely to make a difference.

    Reply
  169. Desimond says:

    @CameronB

    In the spirit of the NO campaign, I will simply record that ‘It wasnt a No’…. 🙂

    Reply
  170. Gillie says:

    I read online Lynehurst sold for £800k around 2006-8.

    Reply
  171. abystander says:

    What would happen then if you had your ad done as a leaflet and distributed by volunteers?

    In same leaflet you might refer to this “ordinary” chap’s effort and list his directorships.

    Reply
  172. Desimond says:

    I’VE GOT IT!!!

    Hows about a Bat-Signal style light for WINGS….

    Get the WINGS symbol flying over major Scottishlandmarks, i.e Edinburgh Castle, Glasgow City Chambers, Wullie Youngs hoose etc

    Im sure the creative and techie bods on here could knock that sort of thing up in no-time.

    Reply
  173. Morag says:

    I don’t suppose it’s a secret. £855,000

    Reply
  174. Gillie says:

    I think the STV story itself must be worth £thousands in free publicity, and WoS I suspect in the end will have recouped most of it’s original outlay for the SPT ad.

    Also there is a cost to SPT in dealing with lost revenue, handling complaints from the public and also from negative publicity.

    All in all a first successful business venture for WoS in the ad world.

    Reply
  175. Paul Martin says:

    This is all in the public domain. Mr Howell was quite happy to have been appointed by an SNP minister … a “nationalist” … to the board of Skills Development Scotland on 29/07/2010

    link to scotland.gov.uk

    And the most recently minuted board meeting from a few weeks back indicates that he’s still in post link to skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk

    Reply
  176. Gin says:

    Jackpot: story just appeared on BBC site. Full Advert top of page !

    Reply
  177. Vronsky says:

    I don’t get it. Your link to ‘Glasgow Subway’ just goes to another of your own posts. Please clarify: was this an ad displayed in subway coaches, or just some lone nutter handing out leaflets? One matters, the other doesn’t.

    Reply
  178. Jamie Arriere says:

    Try putting an ad into the Metro then, even though we know they’ll refuse. It will help prolong this story, confirm the bias we know is there to everyone else, and all the while build the demand for the WoS Blue Book when it’s released.

    In fact, ads in maybe all the Scottish papers – if they’re banned, it might draw responses from other advertisers who are pro-indy or at least neutral.

    But this is all more effective publicity than any ad could muster!

    Reply
  179. Morag says:

    I don’t suppose it’s a secret. £855,000

    I meant Lynehurst, in 2006. It’s beautiful house, classic Arts and Crafts. Whitemoss must have a lot of land with it, let’s put it that way.

    Reply
  180. saporian says:

    OMG the story is now on the BBC website link to bbc.co.uk

    Reply
  181. Paul Martin says:

    I stand corrected, he resigned from SDS a few weeks ago on 6th March. Obviously he had other projects in mind LOL !

    Reply
  182. K1 says:

    ©Desimond
    In that stv piece…Mr Stevenson, the Tory in favour of banning Scottish mp’s from voting…

    “But this is wholly unacceptable. Why should the people of Northern Ireland, Wales and England have laws passed upon them in this House by MPs who will, for all intents and purposes, be about to be part of a foreign country with divergent interests and priorities?”

    Ah…now they begin to understand how we feel! Having been repeatedly at the mercy of governments that we didn’t vote whose divergent interests and priorities have all but in name been foreign to the people of Scotland for generations. Cognitive dissonance doesn’t even cover the total disconnect in the minds of these waffling muppets.

    Reply
  183. martincoull says:

    It’s on the BBC Scotland website now!

    Reply
  184. Gillie says:

    STV and now the BBC.

    That is now worth £tens-of-thousands in free advertising.

    Make it go global.

    Reply
  185. martincoull says:

    I wonder if the Beeb site will open comments… 🙂

    Reply
  186. Cath says:

    We’ve got back to having a guy’s address, now with directions on how to get there, published on this thread. Not sure that’s a sensible thing to do and could be read as threatening if someone chose to read it that way. Which let’s face it, we all know someone will.

    Reply
  187. Morag says:

    Jackpot: story just appeared on BBC site. Full Advert top of page!

    Now THAT is what I call a result. Both of them. If there’s a wee piece on the TV news this evening, then double jackpot with rollover.

    Respect, Stu.

    Reply
  188. gerry parker says:

    @ Morag.
    I hope you could manage to plant a large saltire on the hill they blocks your view of the man’s house.
    Maybe the ninga turtles could oblige.

    Reply
  189. Morag says:

    We’ve got back to having a guy’s address, now with directions on how to get there, published on this thread. Not sure that’s a sensible thing to do and could be read as threatening if someone chose to read it that way. Which let’s face it, we all know someone will.

    Turns out the information is publicly available. And I hereby threaten – no, promise – to post copies of all the Yes Scotland newspapers through his letter-box, from now until 19th September. And Stu’s blue book as well. So there. Take that.

    Reply
  190. K1 says:

    Brilliant stuff rev…Just brilliant!

    Reply
  191. Desimond says:

    “You don’t fight Russia *and* America. You get Russia and America to fight each other… and destroy each other” – Allan Bates ‘The Sum of all Fears’ movie

    Okay Rev, now you have the Online TV Media highlighting issues elsewhere regarding bias in the Press, now you need to reverse it and get the Press highlighting online or TV bias. I have full confidence in you as ever.

    Reply
  192. ronnie anderson says:

    bbc/Stv websites carry the story, but that is where it will

    remain,I doubt very much if it is aired on the evening news

    programme’s

    Reply
  193. Morag says:

    I hope you could manage to plant a large saltire on the hill they blocks your view of the man’s house.
    Maybe the ninga turtles could oblige.

    That’s not practical, but I was thinking about a flagpole in my front garden. If I did that, anyone passing from that general area to the village shops or the main road couldn’t miss it.

    He can probably see the big blue Yes I have in my front window at the moment. Thinking harder about the flagpole now….

    Reply
  194. Gillie says:

    Morag I like your style, you are more than ordinary.

    Reply
  195. Taranaich says:

    @Desimond: Mr Docherty questioned what would happen to peers in the House of Lords. Scottish National Party MPs in attendance could be heard saying: “You can have them.”

    The new Disinherited?

    *For non-history buffs: the Disinherited was a name given to owners of land & property in Scotland who lost them when the Scots won the war of independence. This included not only English lords granted Scottish lands, but those Scottish nobles who allied with Edward in the Wars of Independence, and found themselves exiled in England after the Treaty of Northampton.

    I bristle when people use misrepresentations of our history against us, but you have to admit sometimes there are apt parallels.

    Reply
  196. liz says:

    OMG – this is great news if both the BBC and STV have put that up.

    Reply
  197. Morag says:

    BBC/STV websites carry the story, but that is where it will remain; I doubt very much if it is aired on the evening news programmes.

    Probably not, but we can dream until then, and even as it is, that’s pretty good going.

    Reply
  198. Ian says:

    SPT is a public body.

    I see a FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST going in to get the emails and documents relating to both the acceptance of the advert and its removal.

    Reply
  199. Dcanmore says:

    Holy-moley how much is BBC/STV exposure worth in money terms?

    The BBC have more or less carried Wings as an advertisement! Londg time since I said this but well done 🙂

    BT will be furious and Labour astonished.

    Reply
  200. gerry parker says:

    “Surely this action by SPT should be of some interest to the Scottish Information Commisioner?”

    Surely it should also be of some interest to the people who pay their wages, and the people who appoint them.
    Time for a clear out post independence, and “I was only following orders” won’t be an acceptable excuse.

    Reply
  201. CameronB says:

    One thing I noticed about the BBC article is that it does not mention any complaint received by SPT. What’s that all about?

    Reply
  202. HandandShrimp says:

    I am tempted to write to SPT to thank them for censoring our poster. We could not have bought this sort of publicity. Message and web site cast abroad. This is good 🙂

    Reply
  203. Desimond says:

    @Taraniach

    English History will teach us nuffink 😉

    I dislike whenever I hear the implication “Should Scotland go Independent”. I’ve always preferred the thought “Should Scotland return to being Independent”

    Reply
  204. Alec K says:

    Jesus fucking wept

    Reply
  205. HandandShrimp says:

    Dcanmore

    It will be astonishment on stilts 😉

    Reply
  206. MochaChoca says:

    The BT lot must be spitting feathers seeing your ad splashed so prominently over the BBC and STV sites…. brilliant!

    Reply
  207. Paula says:

    What a condescending little prick. The stuff in that nupateer.com link is atrocious. Sorry “Ordinary Man” (actually Keith Howell), I don’t love the UK, I don’t hate the people of England, N.I or Wales, and I don’t care about being the citizen of a smaller country. Also I am a woman.

    “The point of this advert is not to vote in a particular way”- yes it is you fibber, you are telling us to vote against independence and the SNP.

    Reply
  208. gerry parker says:

    @ Morag, That’s the stuff, I’m in a cul de sac but I’ve noticed a large saltire in a garden just next to Whifflet traffic lights. Highly visible. No more room for stickers on the car or they’ll attract the attention of the boys in blue who’ll no doubt caution me that they’re obstructing my view and try to extract money from me for their corporation funds.

    Great to see so many new commentators on the site.

    Reply
  209. Desimond says:

    @Paula
    Bravo, I love a genuine laugh out loud after lunch. Brilliant but such colourful language, i mean calling the man a fibber…how long you worked as a Docker?

    Reply
  210. Duncan Lundie says:

    “Ordinary Man” Productions has £800 cash, and £13,500 in debt. One wonders how Mr Howell managed to pay for his non-political advert.

    Reply
  211. Dcanmore says:

    I doubt many people will pay attention to the Metro advert from puppeteer.com. The newspaper is designed to be read in 20 minutes (or glanced at) as people travel to work in the morning, unless the advert has an eye-catching picture or design I think most commuters would the none the wiser.

    Reply
  212. CameronB says:

    Desimond
    How about “should the Scots relinquish their sovereignty, for ever and ever? With stilts on.

    Reply
  213. Morag says:

    I’m in a cul-de-sac too, but quite near the main road. My front garden will take a flagpole fine. Unfortunately I think the prevailing wind will blow the flag directly towards the main road, not across so it can be seen, but you can’t have everything.

    Reply
  214. bald eagle says:

    the thing about the wings ad on the underground is being reported on clyde one news

    Reply
  215. Morag says:

    Oh wow, Bald Eagle!

    Reply
  216. heraldnomore says:

    Wow, these words don’t some often, but well done BBC, and STV.

    Who mentioned Streisand effect?

    How’s the stats looking this afternoon Stu? Welcome everyone, do stay, join in.

    Reply
  217. CameronB says:

    One thing I noticed about the BBC article is that it does not mention any complaint received by SPT. What’s that all about?

    Was there a complaint and were the posters pulled because of it?

    Reply
  218. Morag says:

    I doubt many people will pay attention to the Metro advert from puppeteer.com. The newspaper is designed to be read in 20 minutes (or glanced at) as people travel to work in the morning, unless the advert has an eye-catching picture or design I think most commuters would the none the wiser.

    I think you’re right. If I wanted to burn £5000 to influence the referendum, I’d want to be sure I got a hell of a bang for my buck, and this ain’t that.

    Reply
  219. Morag says:

    On the other hand, look at the bang Wings has got, for essentially NO outlay, as Stu has been offered alternative advertising space to compensate for the pulled ad.

    Reply
  220. Desimond says:

    @CameronB

    I was meaning from the perspective of a Unionist, say someone like Dianne Abbot commenting on This Week. They always say “Should Scotland go Independent” it like we would be making some crazy new radical mad choice when in fact its just a case of us reverting to what was very much the norm etc

    Reply
  221. Gillie says:

    The SPT were wrong in labeling the ad as political when clearly it is constitutional.

    What was political was banning the ad, and in doing the SPT have brought themselves into disrepute.

    Even a less than ordinary person like me understands that.

    Reply
  222. CameronB says:

    Desimond
    Any idea why BBC didn’t report on the complaint SPT received?

    MISINFORMATION perhaps?

    Reply
  223. Desimond says:

    Tuesday 25/03/14
    Wings Ad reported. SPT pull Ad. BT rejoice.

    Wednesday 26/03/14
    Wings Ad reported – EVERYWHERE!
    BT unavailable for comment

    Reply
  224. Paul Kelly says:

    There is nothing like a good old ban to draw attention! You lucky, lucky, B*?”:+rd!

    Reply
  225. Wullie B says:

    link to bbc.co.uk

    Reply
  226. Donald says:

    Dear New Bod brought here by the BBC or STV.

    Forget about us chattering amongst ourselves in the comments section. Have a look at the Reference section, pick an area you have an interest in and see if it takes you more than 2 minutes to think ‘WOW’.

    Reply
  227. Ray says:

    As the offending recent tweets involving Wings and blah blah seem to have been deleted, I hope after today the site concentrates on winning independence for the country and not wasting time engaging with irksome activists.

    Unless they try to defame, of course.

    Reply
  228. Desimond says:

    @CameronB

    Im willing to overlook their failure to note the “many complaints” as stated by STV in the interest of the main point being put out there front and centre on the main BBC Scotland Politics page.

    Lets be optimistic they will correct any such omissions come the 18:30 Scottish News on the big screen. If we get it covered as a censorship issue by mainstream, what a result.

    Reply
  229. TJenny says:

    Stu’s just tweeted that the Ad company is sending him a full refund! So now we’ve got much wider reaching FREE advertising. 🙂

    Our Rev’s a genius.

    Reply
  230. Iain says:

    I’ve looked at the list of his directorships.

    link to duedil.com

    Anyone who has been involved in this number of companies and has this number of resignations as a director is a shyster. Real directors don’t have time for all that chopping and changing – they’re too busy making and keeping one or two main businesses successful. The last list I saw similar to Howell’s ducking and diving was that of Charles Green.

    Reply
  231. Training Day says:

    Appalling. This looks like it has been done DELIBERATELY to dupe the doughty worthies on SPT into handing the separatists a propaganda coup. And with monies being refunded it’s been done – deliberately, mind you – at a cost of nowt.

    Oh, for the days when Oor Wullie would take aim at PC Murdoch’s helmet with an apple – no Machiavellian separatist intrigue, just good old-fashioned Unionist fun..

    Reply
  232. Arbroath 1320 says:

    Well done Stu you’ve won today’s jackpot.

    We knew you were on the way to the jackpot when the story appeared over on the STV website but now it has has appeared on the BBC site BINGO! 🙂

    I must admit I do love this from the BBC site.

    A spokesman for SPT said the posters had “slipped through their net” and were deemed in breach of guidelines.

    Slipped through their net! are they having a laugh? This must be the biggest attempt they, SPT, have ever made to try and cover their political earses. With the BBC quoting a ‘spokesman’ then it is now clear beyond any doubt that SPT knew all about the content of the Wings ad BEFORE it went up. All this garbage about removing it because of complaints is nothing more than a smoke screen to cover their own inadequate earses.

    At the end of the day what’s done is done but Wings is the only one to come out of this situation smelling like roses. Well played Stu. 😛

    Reply
  233. CameronB says:

    Desimond
    Yeah its great were on the Beeb and STV, but doesn’t it change the context of events. Makes it look as if there wasn’t external pressure involved.

    Happy to let this go if wrong.

    Reply
  234. CameronB says:

    Stu’s just tweeted that the Ad company is sending him a full refund! So now we’ve got much wider reaching FREE advertising. 🙂

    Well played Rev. Now about my internet bill…

    Reply
  235. Brian Powell says:

    These passages appears to contravene Article 19 of the UN Convention on Hate Speech.

    “The SNP Government is against the United Kingdom and the people of the United Kingdom, that is the people of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and people in Scotland too if they are happy to be both Scottish and British.”

    Also, “The answer is that they are Nationalists and as nationalists they define themselves by what they are against.”

    Using the word Nationalists is important because that is used not only in relation to the SNP but is commonly used in the campaign and identifies with all people supporting Independence, that is ordinary individuals.

    One part of article 19 states:
    “No one should be penalised for the dissemination of hate speech unless it has been shown that they did so with the intention of inciting discrimination, hostility or violence.”

    The intention of the leaflet is to incite hostility; it directs to nationalists. We might not accept the label of nationalist but see ourselves a supporters of Independence, however that is how we are identified by those in the Together campaign.

    Reply
  236. Brian Powell says:

    Further to the UN Hate Spech Convetion, it does say:

    “The principles articulated in the present recommendation apply to racist hate speech, whether emanating from individuals or groups, in whatever forms it manifests itself, orally or in print, or disseminated through electronic media, including the Internet and social networking sites, as well as non-verbal forms of expression such as the display of racist symbols, images and behaviour at public gatherings, including sporting events.”

    Reply
  237. Arbroath 1320 says:

    Now that we, I’m using the ROYAL ‘we’ here you understand :), have obtained excellent massive coverage of the Wings site the big question is where do we go next?

    Perhaps we should stick with the train theme and see about getting the ads onto the rolling stock of Scotrail, after all their rolling stock is far greater then that of SPT and it covers all of Scotland. More over the numbers of passengers who would see the ads would be massive, in the humblest of my humble opinions you understand. 😛

    Alternatively perhaps we could have a wee word in the shell like of Stagecoach, after all they run the biggest bus business in Scotland as far as I can tell. Wouldn’t it be great to walk down the street of any town, city, village in Scotland and see the Wings advert as a Stagecoach bus rattles on by. 🙂

    Now I’m going to be extremely silly here, ever more silly than normal. As we know British Airways and Ryanair both support Scottish independence, mainly through the planned cutting and eventual removal of APD, perhaps we might be able to persuade either or both airlines to temporarily carry Wings adverts inside some of their aircraft that fly into and out of Glasgow/Edinburgh/Prestwick/Aberdeen. 😛

    Reply
  238. gerry parker says:

    What, just a full refund, what about compensating for the injured pride? The humiliation?
    The whiplash injuries caused?

    🙂

    Reply
  239. fergie35 says:

    Great publicity from the BBC No campaign and the Rev gets his view aired also, shows what Labour in Scotland really have become.

    Reply
  240. Appleby says:

    I’m utterly disgusted by how this has turned out. It’s nice you got a refund but make no mistake you got the shaft too in the end and this is adding insult to injury.

    This work is another bit of blatant astroturfing too. “Ordinary man”…uh huh.

    Reply
  241. CameronB says:

    Brian Powell
    How long do you think it would take to label me as a ‘Nationalist’? One of my grannies was English, I live in Scotland though that is principly due to circumstance and poverty. I feel…. human, prone to mood shifts and annoyances, a bit of a Billy Nae Mates (circumstantial…honest), but other than that, I wouldn’t like to say what I am. Who are these people, how do they know me and what right do they think they have to dictate what I am?

    I don’t know about you but I think it the height of ignorance to draw lazy assumptions about someone who you know nothing about. Especially when that leads to an undermine of that person’s right to self determination.

    Reply
  242. galamcennalath says:

    I seem to remember similar things happened to rude pop singles. As soon as they were banned, all the extra attention brought success! Stu, you should try to get banned somewhere at least once a week!

    Reply
  243. Oneironaut says:

    @James Forrest
    Thanks for posting that link earlier.
    Very inspiring read there 🙂

    As for the SPT thing, clearly this is just one more shot fired against us in what is nothing more than blatant information warfare.

    Silencing the opposition is a common tactic in dictatorships and “police states” around the world, and seeing it here should remove any doubt about whether or not we’re really living in a democracy. (Hint: We’re not!)

    Westminster mean to win this and they’ll use every trick in the dirty tricks book. How long before police are ordered to harass anyone with a Yes badge or remove stalls from the streets? They already forced through a law that allows them to stop any “non-political campaigning” during the run-up to an election, and I suspect they may use that (or some other similar “add-on” to that law) to further stifle any trace of Yes campaigning on the streets as we get closer to the vote.

    I don’t know anything about European law, but isn’t there anything in the Court of Human Rights about situations like this?
    About time we started figuring out ways to defend ourselves here.

    Reply
  244. fergie35 says:

    Got my complaint in!

    Dear Sir or Madam,

    I cannot see anything wrong with the advert for Wings over Scotland, it was quite refreshing to see the news from a different angle and I found the site very informative and interesting.
    I do hope that since you have banned an ad for a site that supports Yes Scotland, that you will ban the No campaign from handing out the leaflets such as the one I have recieved from a man handing them out at your stations, and which have been left all over SPT sites causing litter, I have attached a photo of this to my email.

    Many thanks for listening to my view,

    regards,

    Reply
  245. John D says:

    I have sent to complaints to them at the email supplied on their complaints page. One about the removal of the Wings advert and the second about the offensive blatant political advert as pictured here. Obviously because we are dealing with Glasgow Labour Labour I am not holding my breath

    Reply
  246. Arbroath 1320 says:

    While we are all still in the feel good factor, sort of, at the expense of SPT and Better Together here’s another wee uplifting article from the Herald. 😛

    link to tinyurl.com

    Reply
  247. Aidan says:

    I read the STV article with amazement.

    When I got as far as the embedded Wings tweet, I began to laugh hysterically because it seemed as though the Rev was directly addressing Wingers from within the article. Context is everything. It’s the cheekiest wee smiley ever appended. 🙂

    Congratulations, Rev Stu! Or maybe I should call you Rev (Sun) Tzu.

    Reply
  248. Bigbricks says:

    The STV website story quotes an SPT spokesman as saying that the WoS ads were removed “because of the high level of complaints about them”.
    I’ve just sent my third email to SPT complaints, asking how many complaints they’ve received regarding the ads, and how many complaints they’ve received regarding the removal of the ads or their handling of the affair. In the unlikely event that I get a detailed reply, I’ll post it here. And in the unlikely event that I get a detailed reply and it indicates that the number of complaints regarding the ads was small in comparison to the number of complaints regarding their removal, a further complaint will be winging its way to SPT regarding untruthful comments made by their staff.

    How much would this publicity have cost? It’s absolutely wonderful – keep digging BT!!

    Reply
  249. Greannach says:

    I thought about independence and our crummy newspapers and media when I was on the Subway last week between Buchanan Street and Govan. Does that mean I’ll be barred from travelling in the future, I wonder?

    Reply
  250. Arbroath 1320 says:

    Greannach says:

    I thought about independence and our crummy newspapers and media when I was on the Subway last week between Buchanan Street and Govan. Does that mean I’ll be barred from travelling in the future, I wonder?

    Well if you don’t tell SPT then I’m sure none of us will tell them either so you should be safe to travel, at least for a short period of time any way Greenach. 😛

    Reply
  251. tartanfever says:

    Arb says:

    ‘While we are all still in the feel good factor, sort of, at the expense of SPT and Better Together here’s another wee uplifting article from the Herald. 😛

    Notice the bizarre headline that doesn’t use ‘%’. It makes it look as though only 90 people out of 10,000 had anything to say.

    ‘What 10,000 readers say to indyref: Yes 69, No 21’

    Reply
  252. Arbroath 1320 says:

    tartanfever says:

    Arb says:

    ‘While we are all still in the feel good factor, sort of, at the expense of SPT and Better Together here’s another wee uplifting article from the Herald. 😛

    Notice the bizarre headline that doesn’t use ‘%’. It makes it look as though only 90 people out of 10,000 had anything to say.

    ‘What 10,000 readers say to indyref: Yes 69, No 21?

    Aye I noticed that tartan, but being in such a good mood today 😛 I thought I’d let that just slip on by, give them the benefit of the doubt if you like, maybe it was just a wee typo. 🙂

    Reply
  253. Steve Bowers says:

    You know, ( wistful sigh !) it used to be so easy to post a comment on this damned site, just scroll down a wee bit and there you go. Now I’ve got to get past all these hundreds of new supporters of YES, brilliant Rev, just brilliant. Anyway, total win for the good guys, big advert on both BBC news page and STV news page for free, nice one REV and then you got the money back. You’re crafty enough to be an Aberdonian.

    Reply
  254. James123 says:

    Maximum exposure for no cost, Rev you’re a genius!

    Reply
  255. Blair paterson says:

    Do these people not know that this union was forced onto Scotland against the peoples will and there were riots all over Scotland against it we are trying to put this right The I must fly a rebel flag and sing a rebel song and maybe she’d my rebel blood to help put right this wrong as someone once wrote vote yes

    Reply
  256. liz says:

    This stooshie over the SPT advert is one of the reasons why I love WoS.

    Reply
  257. Arbroath 1320 says:

    liz says:

    This stooshie over the SPT advert is one of the reasons why I love WoS.

    What do you mean stooshie liz, this aint no stooshie, we haven’t even begun to have a stooshie yet. 🙂

    Reply
  258. M4rkyboy says:

    I’ve heard that view a million fecking times before,it’s hardly new or different.
    In fact,the million others times it was just as idiotic as this time.
    The whole argument is on the idea that this campaign is about Nationalism,Separatism etc whilst,deliberately or not, ignoring the true definition which is Self-Governance.
    If you approach the campaign from his angle you have to close your eyes to see what he accuses us of.And when you have your eyes shut…well,anything is possible.

    Reply
  259. Desimond says:

    @Blair Paterson

    Just dont sing an Irish rebel song, thats no allowed, you’ll get the jail!

    Reply
  260. Edward says:

    Very O/T Seems that Labour are trying to out tory the Tory’s as they gave overwhelming support for the Tory’s Welfare cap plan, Tory’s won 520 to 22, the 22 contained 13 Labour rebels (only one of which was a Scottish MP)

    John Ternan tweeting “Tougher on welfare is where Labour voters want us to be” and “Rachel said – correctly – she would be tougher than the Tories on welfare. We are the Labour Party not the Dole Party”

    Really is this the kind of politics we want in Scotland?

    Reply
  261. Croompenstein says:

    Words fail me..where’s Steven Seagull when you need him?

    Reply
  262. Ananurhing says:

    @Aidan 3.53 “Rev Tzu”. Brilliant!

    Stu. You dancer! If you planned this, knowing the likely outcome, this is worthy of a Tucker award. As in Malcolm.

    “Oh fucklesticks,it’s all gone horribly wrong.”

    Reply
  263. stonefaction says:

    Just an idea for placement of further ads…maybe on a hoarding at Ibrox and/or Parkhead where they can be seen on TV, and by the thousands in the grounds too. Obviously other football grounds could also be targetted, though with smaller crowds likely may not be seen by quite as many viewers, though the views per £ may work out better value.

    Reply
  264. Croompenstein says:

    maybe on a hoarding at Ibrox
    Words fail me..where’s Steven Seagull when you need him?

    Reply
  265. Alfresco Dent says:

    Meanwhile certain Yes activists are being door-stepped today by The Sun newspaper. One reporter and one photographer.

    Reply
  266. Valeman (@Valeman_) says:

    At the bottom of each page on the nupateer website it says{

    ” The point of this advert is not to tell you to vote in a particular way, but simply to urge you to think again.”

    That is a blatant lie if ever there was one, this is clearly another pro union website and each of these adverts should be identified as such.

    Ordinary man. Pfft, it should read Unionist & Better Together man, that would at least be more representative of the truth.

    Reply
  267. Gonnaejustsayaye says:

    stonefaction are we not told politics and sport don’t mix. any adverts in Celtic Park will bring accusations of hypocrisy owing to the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act. It will do more harm than good. Anyway the Indybhoys already have a Yes and Independence banner in Celtic Park

    Reply
  268. I read this rubbish in The Metro on the No 4 bus into work in Glasgow this morning and could only nurse my wrath quietly. What a blatant set of double standards.
    No doubt the content just “slipped through” their vigorous political checks.

    Reply
  269. stonefaction says:

    Gonnaejustsayaye, it was just a suggestion to maximise coverage – even just the site name on a hoarding, rather than anything “political”. Can see the arguments against though.

    Reply
  270. john king says:

    Morag says
    ” Thinking harder about the flagpole now….”

    Check this out Morag
    15m extendable flagpole for a tenner
    link to tinyurl.com

    Reply
  271. john king says:

    Croompenstin says
    “Words fail me..where’s Steven Seagull when you need him?”

    is this who your talking about?
    “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY-PEeX5xYY

    Reply
  272. Si A says:

    On the subject on Keith Howell:

    link to skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk

    Section 5, paragraph 3 states:

    “The Board discussed the roles and responsibilities of Board members and public body executives in the context of the debate on independence. It was recognised that there were specific requirements of Board members in terms of demonstrating political impartiality and clearly and consistently separating their views as public servants and as individuals”

    The Nupateer.com website says (about Mr Howell) “Over that time he has been active across the private, public and voluntary sectors, typically as a non-executive Director or Chairman of various organisations.”

    So, he’s made it very clear that a) these are his views and b) he is a public servant. Shome mishtake, shurely?

    Reply
  273. Alba4Eva says:

    I have had a hard time personally recently… but things like this just lift my spirits and restore my faith no end.

    Thanks Stu, Thanks all and welcome to the newbies. 🙂

    Reply
  274. john king says:

    Arbroath says
    “What do you mean stooshie liz, this aint no stooshie, we haven’t even begun to have a stooshie yet. :)”

    more like a stu!oh?

    Reply
  275. Croompenstein says:

    @john king – LOL – Did the good Professor teach JoLa by any chance 🙂

    Reply
  276. Arbroath 1320 says:

    Think that’s a wee bit closer John, we’re just beginning to think about warming up for a stooshie. 🙂

    Reply
  277. john king says:

    Desimond says
    “Just dont sing an Irish rebel song, thats no allowed, you’ll get the jail!”

    Not if SLAB have anything to do with it he wont!

    Reply
  278. john king says:

    Btw everyone ,check out this website, an extendible flagpole 15 mitres £9.99 2xtoggles to attach the flag £2.99 delivery about £4.90 flag 5×3 from Bannockburn museum priceless, or £6.99 if your a cheapskate 🙂

    Reply
  279. john king says:

    Forgot the bloody website
    link to tinyurl.com

    Reply
  280. Brian Hill says:

    I’ve decided to come out as an extra-ordinary man (as we all are, men and women, of course). I’m important (as we all are). This is because people are remarkable by their nature and everyone’s important. These are values I want to embrace in an independent Scotland.

    It’s indicative how some people (Mr Howell) seem to prefer to conceal their self-importance with a pretence at ordinariness.

    When you consider it, he’s telling all us Joe Soaps he’s just like us. Well, no, actually.

    He’s a whidye-columnist.

    Reply
  281. neuro says:

    For those pointing at Mr Howell’s directorships at Skills Development Scotland and Careers Trust Scotland, you should be aware that he “resigned” from those directorships on the 6th of March and the 20th of March respectively, as per documentation filed for both organisations with Companies House on the 21st of March.

    Reply
  282. Morag says:

    Well, he’s certainly made sure Yes Tweeddale have his number.

    Reply
  283. iconofwaste says:

    “…shameful use of public funds”

    Aye, and who paid for Gideon Osbourne to fly to Europe (and for his legal team) to fight against the capping of Bankers’ bonuses?

    I tore this page out of the Metro to show it to people I know, but then again, when I bought a takeaway, I bought a 50p gas lighter for – what I thought was – “no reason”. Hmm…

    Reply
  284. Alastair Naughton says:

    Was this written by Kermit the Frog?

    Reply
  285. tartanarse says:

    Numpateer.

    Has anyone done that one yet?

    Each day, when I think I can’t be any further amazed by the Britterz, I end up slack jawed at the utter childishness of grown men who are supposed to be professionals.

    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 (mainly) Scottish political media digest and monitor, which also offers its own commentary. (More)

    Stats: 6,745 Posts, 1,216,472 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

  • Recent Comments

    • Geri on Unhinged Malady: “I don’t think they would have. They’re an English court who only seen things through an English lens. They’ve practically…Apr 23, 23:42
    • Geri on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “It’s amazing innit? How other countries all over the fucking world manage to conduct their affairs without running it past…Apr 23, 23:16
    • Mark Beggan on Unhinged Malady: “It’s started! Scottish Borders Council ordered to provide what should never have been changed in the first place.Apr 23, 23:07
    • agent x on Unhinged Malady: ““Mr Harvie said he does believe a trans woman is a woman.” https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25111265.swinney-told-apologise-women-scotland-summit/ People voted for him!Apr 23, 22:12
    • Anthem on Unhinged Malady: “There must be a law in Scotland that can be used to remove public servants with this level of incompetence.…Apr 23, 21:53
    • David on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “Is that the Scottish Family Party? You can’t mean the “Conservatives”, surely 😉Apr 23, 21:43
    • JockMcT on Unhinged Malady: “Trumpesque accountability. They are deranged, unhinged, totally unfit for any office and supported by the state media machine. Essentially the…Apr 23, 21:18
    • agent x on Unhinged Malady: “Yeh but don’t worry – Swinney had an away day to sort out Reform in Scotland. And they came away…Apr 23, 21:17
    • Vivian O’Blivion on Unhinged Malady: “Second poll conducted since Supreme Court decision has RefUK up 2% on poll from same company one week earlier. YouGov,…Apr 23, 20:48
    • agent x on Unhinged Malady: “SNP voters used their list votes for the Scottish greens!Apr 23, 20:32
    • Yoon Scum on Unhinged Malady: “While I agree with you I think that Ross Greer is even more terrifying And I don’t think for a…Apr 23, 20:15
    • Anne Johnston on Unhinged Malady: “Must have been torture putting this together Stuart and having to listen to this mental mix of soulless meaningless words..thing…Apr 23, 19:58
    • Morgatron on Unhinged Malady: “Shes a fucking fruit bat. Mad as fuck. She won’t condone violence, but won’t apologise as people are scared. Not…Apr 23, 19:43
    • crazycat on Unhinged Malady: “https://archive.ph/C794D Here’s the archive link to that Herald article; when I followed your link I hit a paywall. So I’ve…Apr 23, 19:38
    • Lorn on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “In another case that should never have been needed to be taken to court are the two parents of a…Apr 23, 19:23
    • Pat Blake on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “Geri, you haven’t even thought about how and more importantly who will write those constitutions. While many of you want…Apr 23, 19:15
    • Lorn on Unhinged Malady: “twathater: the judges cannot, unilaterally, interpret, remake or introduce laws. Someone has to take a case to them. That is…Apr 23, 19:03
    • Mark Beggan on Unhinged Malady: “Swinney’s Anti Right Wing Summit. Or a picture of Dorian Grey?Apr 23, 18:59
    • Lorn on Unhinged Malady: “I firmly believe, Alf, had anyone brought a case before the Scottish courts, or even the UKSC, on the same…Apr 23, 18:51
    • Andrew scott on Unhinged Malady: “ANYONE-ANYONE ANYWHERE HEARD FROM THE AUTHOR OF ALL THIS MESS OR IS SHE/HER/THEY/IT RAPIDLY RE WRITING HER/IT /THEY FICTIONAL BOOK??Apr 23, 18:26
    • Young Lochinvar on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “MaryB Swinney is stuck in “rabbit caught in the headlights” mode and has decided to play chicken hoping that the…Apr 23, 18:22
    • Young Lochinvar on Unhinged Malady: “Quite right Geri but Professor Frink is clearly on a (heavily funded) mission. Strange that the Revs pic above of…Apr 23, 18:12
    • Grouser on Unhinged Malady: “The woman is undoubtedly well out of her depth and was like a rabbit caught in the headlights trying to…Apr 23, 18:00
    • George Ferguson on Unhinged Malady: “https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25111146.schools-must-provide-single-sex-toilets-scotland/ Court of Session order that schools must provide single sex toilets. Today! More good news post the Supreme Court…Apr 23, 17:48
    • Mark Beggan on Unhinged Malady: “Just shows how important this rabid inbred is to the established order. This War of Women were men are cardboard…Apr 23, 16:53
    • Milady on Unhinged Malady: “I, sadly, have to agree. I will not be voting for indy while this current crop of Green and SNP…Apr 23, 16:52
    • Yoon Scum on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “Who writs this constitution? And how do you prevent filth like me getting involved with writing it Us English agents…Apr 23, 16:41
    • Andrew scott on Unhinged Malady: “I am reminded at this point about the monty python sketch SPOT THE LOONEYApr 23, 16:39
    • Geri on Unhinged Malady: “Twathater It’s the same as always – pretty wee baubles mesmerise them. A wee title & they’re sold. Well said,…Apr 23, 16:19
    • Geri on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “I’ve told you before. A written constitution & Parliamentary oaths are put in place to stop eejits going off Script…Apr 23, 16:12
  • A tall tale



↑ Top