Several of today’s Scottish newspapers report on a marginal increase in the number of homeless people in Scotland, and in particular – for some reason – those who’ve slept rough for at least one night in the three months before declaring themselves homeless.
Things become a little clearer when you see that the reported stats are courtesy of “research by Scottish Labour”, who’ve scoured the document to cherry-pick the worst-sounding numbers in order to blame “Tory and SNP austerity”, etc etc.
That weirdly specific stat for rough sleepers has risen by 10% over two years, although this year’s increase was only 1% and overall homelessness is only up by less than1% over the same two-year period.
But all credit to Labour – it’s only taken them two months to come up with that number (which is the second line of Table 2 in the statistics). Because the figures were actually released – and reported – in the middle of June.
You may have seen yesterday’s interview with new Catalonian president Quim Torra on The Alex Salmond Show. But we’re very excited to bring you this EXCLUSIVE full edit, almost twice as long as the broadcast edition.
(And yes, we’ve got full copyright clearance for it.)
Scottish politics is still resolutely on holiday, but in response to an enquiry from Prof. Sir John Curtice today we noticed that we still hadn’t published a few snippets of data from our most recent Panelbase poll. So in the absence of anything else to talk about, we might as well have a wee look.
Our poll showed a strikingly large gulf in support for the EU between independence supporters and Unionists. Were there to be a second EU referendum tomorrow, Yes voters would choose remain by an enormous 36-point margin, and by well over two to one, whereas No voters were a much tighter eight points apart, with only barely over half plumping for Remain.
But even that overstates Unionists’ fondness for the European Union.
Scotland On Sunday has a very odd front-page splash today.
In a truly remarkable feat of sheer journalistic incompetence, the paper’s Tom Peterkin manages to cover three pages discussing the idea of an independent Scotland renting the Faslane naval base to the UK without once even mentioning the two very recent opinion polls conducted on that exact subject, on both sides of what would in those circumstances be the international border.
Right, let’s wrap this up and hope some actual politics happens soon. By now readers will presumably be aware of our successful fight against the BBC’s shutting down of our YouTube channel last week. The channel is now fully back in service, including all 13 of the clips the BBC complained about.
But the job’s by no means all done. Technically the restoration is only temporary while the BBC conducts a “review” of its attitude towards copyright of news clips, and Peter “Moridura” Curran’s large YouTube archive remains terminated (although we’re not sure to what extent he’s pursuing its return).
And quite a few questions are still hanging unanswered in the air.
For those of you who didn’t catch the media review section of today’s John Beattie show on Radio Scotland, where the Wings/YouTube copyright case was discussed at length, here’s a compilation of the relevant sections. It’s quite the listen.
(John Beattie, BBC Radio Scotland, 2 August 2018) .
What that means is that, at least for now, our YouTube channel is back (Back! BACK!), minus the 13 videos complained about by the BBC on copyright grounds. The situation is once again that Corporation has 14 business days to file a formal court challenge, and unless it does so the channel will be reinstated in full.
Before we were so rudely interrupted, we were about to write a little more about the issues around the BBC’s takedown of this site’s YouTube channel. Because while we got a very respectable five-and-a-half minutes on Good Morning Scotland earlier today, you never have the time on radio or TV to say everything you want to.
Incidentally, we get the impression – nothing more solid than that – from a number of sources that BBC Scotland are somewhat out of the loop over the whole affair, and the impetus to silence Wings has actually come from London, which is slightly scarier. But aside from that, there are a number of really rather disturbing aspects to the situation.
Hatey McHateface on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “Loving your logic, Scot. It means Indy support is always 100%. Of course, it’s divorced from reality, but perhaps that…” May 29, 07:05
Hatey McHateface on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “Great! Another convert to the cause of Brexit. Lets just hope Brussels doesn’t suck him back in with the promise…” May 29, 07:00
Hatey McHateface on Tell Them You’re Frightened: ““should be tarred, feathered and fired” Naw. Promoted.” May 29, 06:58
Aidan on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “@Agent X – it means that after June when the UNCDC meets and there either isn’t a whisper on Scotland…” May 29, 06:58
Morgatron on Tell Them You’re Frightened: “I despise them. I do hope they get gubbed next week. Reform 8/1 at corals, surley worth a tenner for…” May 29, 06:50
Big Jock on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “Scot – I would put money on 70% of those reform voters being English incomers. The British identity is now…” May 29, 00:50
MaryB on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “I guess he sees it as an alternative route. Maybe they could be done simultaneously? A double whammy.” May 28, 23:43
Alf Baird on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “C-24 can request an opinion from the ICJ and may well do so in the case of Scotland.” May 28, 23:28
Breastplate on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “It’s not logical to believe another country will prioritise Scotland’s needs. Of course, Chas and chums, taking time out from…” May 28, 23:03
Hatey McHateface on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: ““Do you want Scotland to be ruled by another country?” Whats this then? Are we having another EU referendum?” May 28, 22:18
robertkknight on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “Other sources citing the same research show differing figures… BBC shows 50.2% of Scots voted Yes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-34283948.amp YouTube clip above…” May 28, 21:58
sarah on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “Voters in Scotland [those who are citizens of another country are not eligible to vote i.e. a similar franchise to…” May 28, 21:44
Anthem on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “Totally agree! They had no mandate or public support to even propose this bill let alone try and defend it…” May 28, 21:00
agent x on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: ““The UN is currently in emergency session to discuss the petition before it regarding Scottish Indepence.” Do you have a…” May 28, 20:51
robertkknight on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: ““The majority of Scots do no want independence now or ever full stop” LOL… 53% of Scots voted “Yes” in…” May 28, 20:46
Hatey McHateface on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “Somebody slapped the face of the knowledgeable French representative too. Seems that’s just something our snail chomping old allies like…” May 28, 20:44
Chas on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “BREAKING NEWS The UN is currently in emergency session to discuss the petition before it regarding Scottish Indepence. 80% of…” May 28, 20:34
sarah on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “I do remember being a bit worried when Ewan didn’t agree with Salvo’s case. Perhaps he just thinks that the…” May 28, 20:14
Alan Austin on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “Folks you are in an echo chamber only talking to people who beleive what you beleive. The majority of Scots…” May 28, 20:09
duncanio on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “Sarah – I saw that and it is encouraging. But it doesn’t mirror the MFI since the matter of parliamentary…” May 28, 19:23
Hatey McHateface on What Are We, And Where Are We Going?: “Lots of young people will be wanting to grow transplants. And the Greens will encourage them in this.” May 28, 19:17
