Maths on acid
As we browsed the print edition of the Daily Record today to compare its coverage of the latest independence referendum donations news with the online version (with particular regard to Kevin McKidd), we spotted something else curious.
We’ve already noted a curious hypocrisy in the Scotsman’s reporting of the same issue this morning, where it pointedly questioned whether the SNP had handed over some sizeable donations to the party to the Yes campaign, while allowing Blair McDougall to make a virtue out of the fact that Labour and the Conservatives hadn’t transferred party funds to the No campaign. But the Record’s arithmetic is even more confused than the Scotsman’s logic.
The Record suggests that “Better Together” has a warchest twice the size of Yes Scotland. But we know from the original Herald article that the No camp has only actually received around half of that figure, with the rest of it in as-yet-undelivered promises. So that’s one rather dodgy stat right away.
Then the text notes that “Better Together’s top donator is oil trader Ian Taylor, who handed over £500,000… 100 times that donated by Labour-supporting Man Utd boss Alex Ferguson”, who the graphic lists as donating £501 (said at the time to be a defiant gesture at Yes Scotland’s suggestion that no donations over £500 should be accepted from people living outside Scotland). Except that £501 times 100 is £50,100 rather than £500,000.
(The online version – which now has a picture of Sir Alex in place of Kevin McKidd – is even worse, saying that £500,000 is “ten times” £501.)
But it’s not just on the No side that the Record’s all over the shop. The image only actually lists one supposed donation to the independence side – that of Colin and Chris Weir, which the Scotsman has told us in fact hasn’t been given to Yes Scotland by the SNP. But if we’re including contributions to the SNP rather than the Yes campaign, presumably we’d also have to include the near-£1m bequeathed to the Nats by the former Makar, Edwin Morgan. There’s a case for including both or neither, but not just one of them.
So while the Record presents the “score” as £2m No to £1m Yes, the reality is either £1.1m No to £0 Yes, or £1.1m No to £2m Yes. The only thing we can say with any sort of certainty is that it isn’t what the Record says it is.
Uncharitable readers might suggest that was a good maxim for the paper’s coverage of Scottish politics in general, but we couldn’t possibly comment.
So use this one instead: “The UK – A Voluntary Union or Capture by…
O.T. Just came accross a tweet from Tom Harris ” anyone spotted on a bus and over the age of 30 is a failure in life” the sheer arrogance of this man leaves me speechless. I wonder how many of his constituents fall into this category.
Might he be quoting Thatcher? She said something very similar once.
(Maybe)
link to en.wikiquote.org
The article could backfire on them as some readers might send in donations to the Yes Campaign.
Can you link to the Tom Harris comment? That is outrageous, has he just ridiculed the whole park and ride policy, does this mean we should ignore the upcoming trams in favour of driving around Edinburgh instead.
What a twat
“Can you link to the Tom Harris comment?”
It’s here:
link to twitter.com
He’s billing it as something Thatcher never said (Why? Is he defending her reputation?), although it appears to be a matter of debate whether she did or not.
Rev, 2nd last sentence has an extra ‘is’ in it. Should it read -: …certainty is that it isn’t what the Record says it is.
“Rev, 2nd last sentence has an extra ‘is’ in it. Should it read -: …certainty is that it isn’t what the Record says it is.”
Oops. The result of trying two different versions of the sentence and forgetting to clean up the – er, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU MEAN.
Sorry to be O/T, but some such as scottish skier may be interested in the latest release from wikileaks, the Kissinger cables. This is documents from the early 70’s and includes many items related to oil and devolution and independence.
Oh, and there is also this wee gem, regarding the BBC. Some things, it would seem, never change.
link to wikileaks.org
meanwhile in Glasgow
link to glasgow.gov.uk
?
Anybody else finding the wings site is loading very slowly, or not completely?? My browser has not changed.
i know this is nothing to do with the article, but for the few that watched the man down south refusing to pay his license fee because of the coverage of 9/11 and particular the building called 7
link to beforeitsnews.com
says it all
RL
Yes me too
Promises to NO campaign. We’ll give you x if you exempt us from criminal prosections/paying tax. Give us a knighthood/seat in The House of Lords.
@Rob Louis …
What I find is at my home computer using Safari Wings is fine; but a work using Firefox Wings is very slow.
This Wikileaks stuff is superb, just pick a year and put Scotland in the search and tons of stuff comes up, especially about devolution circa 1970s.
link to wikileaks.org
pity, I like Baxters soup but that’s off the menu for a while now
This chap just upped the Yes pot thanks to Sir AF,good on you Mr Black. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=539828649401871&set=a.441088302609240.117414.440378819346855&type=1
O/T sorry Rev
Re: Wikileaks … this 1976 excerpt could have been written recently!
“ACCORDINGLY, IT MAY BE ASSUMED THAT THE SNP’S BEDROCK SUPPORT DOES NOT EXCEED 20 PERCENT OF THE ELECTORATE, WITH THE BALANCE BEING UP FOR GRABS. WHETHER THE LABOR PARTY — TORN BY INTERNAL STRIFE, QUESTIONABLE SCOTTISH LEADERSHIP AND A CREDIBILITY PROBLEM — THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY — DIVIDED AND BANKRUPT ON DEVOLUTION — OR THE LIBERAL PARTY — VIRTUALLY IRRELEVENT AT THE MOMENT — WILL BE ABLE TO EXPLOIT THE SNP’S APPARENT WEAKNESSES IS ANOTHER QUESTION. AT THE MOMENT THERE ARE FEW GROUNDS FOR OPTIMISM.“
Interesting that Tom Harris considers actively ruining the environment a measure of success, no doubt he sees his car as compensation for his cock size as well.
i know this is nothing to do with the article, but for the few that watched the man down south refusing to pay his license fee because of the coverage of 9/11 and particular the building called 7
Bwahahahaha! That’s spin beyond even the BBC. The judge said, in effect, go away you silly little man, and these fruitloops claim a huge victory. You couldn’t make it up – except they did.
Pmcreck said:
Interesting that Tom Harris considers actively ruining the environment a measure of success, no doubt he sees his car as compensation for his cock size as well.
He was tweeting something Thatcher was alleged to have said. Maybe we need to know the point he was trying to make before we launch into an insulting attack.
MJB
I was right in my comment above. People power rather than millionaires. The chap is always writing in the local papers blasting all parties if he disagrees with any issue or plan not to his liking.
Apologies Morag you are correct, I simply expect the worst of him (and avoid twitter)
Still, once we find out the point he was trying to make, it may still be appropriate to have a go. Live in hope!
Norrie over at Lethal Yak has the naysayers funding perfectly….. a picture IS worth a thousand words!
Apologies it’s the ipad won’t let me post links in first post of day, here it is
link to norrie.wordpress.com
@MJB – Well done Mr Black
Looks like the Biased BBC just can’t help itself.
link to newsnetscotland.com
Well done Joan McAlpine – above and beyond the call of duty sharing a couch with George Foulkes.
alexicon says:
8 April, 2013 at 10:23 pm
Looks like the Biased BBC just can’t help itself.
link to newsnetscotland.com
I thought I had deleted this comment.
I deleted the post while it was under pre mod, but it hasn’t cleared. Anyone know how you do this?
I am a bit concerned that the Yes campaign might be away to reveal that its most significant donor is a political party. I hope that there is a rule against that.