The BBC’s Reporting Scotland is, in our view, directly responsible for at least 80% of Yes supporters’ belief that the UK’s state broadcaster is biased against independence. Almost all of the worst examples of unbalanced or downright dishonest coverage over the last five years come from the flagship teatime bulletin.
Just a quick one-week-on update: thanks to your incredible support, our fundraiser for legal action now stands at a phenomenal £14,683 including all sources. We’re well beyond the initial target of £5000, but since even a modestly-eminent QC costs slightly over £8 a minute, every extra penny helps.
The Yes movement, like almost all movements, is plagued with a small but incredibly loud faction of intolerant, destructive extremists. Alert readers will have noticed that this site has again been the victim of them this week, but we’re not alone. They’ve also gone after two print publications – The National and iScot – over their “transgressions” against the beliefs of these self-appointed arbiters of what people are allowed to think.
What those two outlets and Wings have in common is achievement.
Last month saw the first meeting between the UK Brexit delegation and the EU’s, and by many accounts it fell far short of the UK’s expectations. David Davis spent months drumming up the “strong and stable” approach which would see both the divorce deal and the subsequent post-Brexit trade deal negotiated simultaneously. He was told by everyone that this wouldn’t happen, but simply brushed off the warnings. When push came to shove, he finally accepted that he’d have to negotiate the divorce deal first.
This is just the latest in a long string of failures and ineptitudes over the course of the UK’s handling of the whole farcical process and it got me thinking. If Scotland had voted Yes in 2014, what would it have looked like if the Scottish Government had handled that vote the way the UK has managed Brexit?
Millionaire-funded diehard loyalist forelock-tugging faction Scotland In Union published an extraordinary blog post yesterday.
Its 606 words comprised a sort of Caledonian Cringe Greatest Hits, allegedly penned by someone called Fiona Annesley (of whom we’re told nothing else, and who has no detectable online presence), but the line that particularly caught people’s eye was this:
The complete series so far. If you’ve got a story like this to tell, or you know anyone who does, Phantom Power want to hear from you – drop them a line.
I went to “Dunkirk” at the cinema today. If you want to know what it’s like, just watch this trailer 40 times in a row and save yourself the £12.
It’s a poor movie, disjointed and aimless and curiously lacking in tension or narrative given the real-life subject matter. (It’s remarkably short on dialogue, which is lucky because you can barely make out any of what little script or story there is from behind the endlessly howling one-note airhorn of the soundtrack. It’s a bit like someone filmed an IKEA assembly manual in live action during a Formula 1 race.)
But I couldn’t help thinking that part of the reason it was so unengaging was because it felt akin to watching a boxing match between two fighters you don’t like. If Mike Tyson took on Tyson Fury, would you cheer for the rapist or the anti-Semitic homophobe?
Hatey McHateface on The Jokers: “It’s really wicked to hope somebody takes her down into the tunnels to sample at first hand, for a year…” Jun 8, 10:27
TURABDIN on The Jokers: “OF COURSE to many in native Scottish politics this is by far more important. https://archive.is/fWe1Y The owl and the pussy…” Jun 8, 10:11
Hatey McHateface on The Jokers: “OK, Xaracen, I stand corrected. You and Mia both. I constantly challenge you to give us some examples of how…” Jun 8, 10:04
Hatey McHateface on The Jokers: “Thanks for your reply, Alf. I’m very happy with the idea of re-instating the Scottish Crown. That’s exactly the kind…” Jun 8, 09:55
Xaracen on The Jokers: ““you would have noticed that Mia writes off every democratic vote in Scotland as illegal or invalid when it does…” Jun 8, 09:40
Alf Baird on The Jokers: ““People don’t like being made a fool of.” Yes, quite, and in this regard we are still awaiting the response…” Jun 8, 09:28
Hatey McHateface on The Jokers: “You may have a point, Alf. Never mind the 5.5 million Scots who have been hoodwinked by the hoax. There’s…” Jun 8, 08:47
robertkknight on The Jokers: ““Would Scots crowdfund such a judicial review of the ToU?” This one would!” Jun 7, 22:53
Alf Baird on The Jokers: “The petrifaction of Scotland’s elected national representatives and their ‘lack of courage at the decisive moment’ (as predicted by Fanon)…” Jun 7, 21:49
Hatey McHateface on The Jokers: “How do you account for Ferguson? Has he been colonised?” Jun 7, 20:19
Xaracen on The Jokers: “Its not the Act of Union, whichever one you had in mind that’s invalid; it’s the Treaty of Union that…” Jun 7, 19:26
Chris Downie on Ball Of Confusion: “I don’t know of any interview where he said that specifically, but I have no reason to believe it’s not…” Jun 7, 17:59
agent x on The Jokers: “I’m surprised that Mia hasn’t told us that Scotland beat Iceland last night yet.” Jun 7, 17:48
Anthem on The Jokers: “And exactly how do you achieve that without interference from Westminster? That’s right, you can’t! We even have English parties…” Jun 7, 17:45
Hatey McHateface on The Jokers: ““analytical thought such as Mia exhibits” Mia’s “analytical thought” has led her to praise poot on here. And blame the…” Jun 7, 17:18
Hatey McHateface on The Jokers: “Isn’t it odd how quickly people jump on the bandwagon of believing Scottish politicos have sold out to cash in…” Jun 7, 17:00
Jay on The Jokers: “Chas. Usually, I bypass your comments because they contribute nothing positive to National liberation. You appear to have virtually unrivalled…” Jun 7, 16:44
Hatey McHateface on The Jokers: “You’re either lying or you’re spouting ignorant shite. 30 seconds of research is all it takes to find that there…” Jun 7, 16:16
Hatey McHateface on The Jokers: ““Utterly determined to kick off WW3” FFS wake up. WW3 started over 3 years ago. You’re like one of those…” Jun 7, 16:10
Hatey McHateface on The Jokers: “Wheesht, TURABDIN! Wingers mostly don’t like facts that contradict their preformed prejudices. Like the fact of which indigenous group first…” Jun 7, 16:01
Hatey McHateface on The Jokers: “Is that you,Alf? ” Jun 7, 15:50
Hatey McHateface on The Jokers: ““Kingdom of Scotland” Hear, hear. I’m all for it. But first we have to get rid of those damn republicans…” Jun 7, 15:47
Mia on The Jokers: ““For Scottish MPs to attempt to break the Union against the expressed wishes of the Sovereign Scottish people would be…” Jun 7, 13:49
Jay on The Jokers: “Tony, Little do you know: if you do not put X in a box according to particular rules then it…” Jun 7, 13:38
Mia on The Jokers: ““Can be arsed to go out and vote”? Why should they even waste their time in going to the polling…” Jun 7, 13:36
factchecker on The Jokers: “Mia says ‘On the other hand, if the people of Scotland were not required to vote for the ratification of…” Jun 7, 13:13
Jay on The Jokers: “Steven. Your last 2 lines are false. You either do not read enough or are a liar or delusional. Your…” Jun 7, 13:08
Northcode on The Jokers: “I’ve copied some text from Alf Baird’s THREE PHASES OF DECOLONIZATION paper which I think is relevant to a comment…” Jun 7, 12:46
Mia on The Jokers: “” Is there a more bitter, collection of fantasists anywhere in Scotland than those who post drivel on ‘Wings’ everyday,…” Jun 7, 12:39
