In the continuing summer absence of any sort of Scottish politics news (the Sunday papers consist of Michelle Thomson understandably taking a swipe at the SNP in the Sunday Post, the Sunday Times spluttering in impotent fury that Michelle Thomson wasn’t prosecuted, and the Sunday Herald giving a glowing write-up to idiot Tory MSP Annie Wells while savaging sections of the Yes movement yet again – this time “older white men”), we thought you might enjoy a piece from the archives.
Discovered by an alert reader, this 1976 Times article features Labour MP for Basildon Eric Moonman discussing the seemingly-imminent prospect of Scottish devolution, to which he was implacably opposed and instrumental in defeating, ultimately leading to the collapse of a Labour government and the election of Mrs Thatcher.
Today’s edition of The Times contains a textbook example of a phenomenon that we highlight regularly: how newspapers gradually unpick their own dishonest headlines to grudgingly admit a truth which is often the polar opposite of the initial claim.
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?
Alf Baird on Looking up at the stars: ““It is not only the Scots kirk that has little interest in the liberation of the Scots people, it is…” Mar 12, 16:27
Mark Beggan on Looking up at the stars: “In the last two thousand years we have seen western orthodox religion rise and fall. We now see the fall…” Mar 12, 16:05
Geri on Looking up at the stars: ““It is not only the Scots kirk that has little interest in the liberation of the Scots people, it is…” Mar 12, 15:59
diabloandco on Looking up at the stars: “Did he not attend Aberdeen Grammar School? As did my brothers – obviously not at the same time as Lord…” Mar 12, 15:55
Geri on Looking up at the stars: “According to online sleuths it’s secret societies/Freemasons/Transhumanists/Znsts who are directing Trump & who have also infiltrated all levels of government…” Mar 12, 15:47
factchecker on Looking up at the stars: ““It is not only the Scots kirk that has little interest in the liberation of the Scots people, it is…” Mar 12, 15:35
Captain Caveman on Looking up at the stars: ““More alert readers can but muse on why the Indy movement clings to such fuckwits, fantasists and congenital liars.” To…” Mar 12, 15:24
Northcode on Looking up at the stars: ““The “goitrous academics” reference is from Cesaire, not Fanon.” Ha! Only an ignorant uneducated simpleton would confuse Fanon with Cesaire,…” Mar 12, 15:20
James Che on Looking up at the stars: “Alf Baird, It is not only the Scots kirk that has little interest in the liberation of the Scots people,…” Mar 12, 15:18
Northcode on Looking up at the stars: “Oh, no! I missed an ‘O’… in ‘glorius’ what should be ‘glorious’ in that strange Inglis tongue of inglorious England.” Mar 12, 15:14
Northcode on Looking up at the stars: “Colonialism can be understood as the practice of one country acquiring partial or full control over another country and exploiting…” Mar 12, 15:09
Alf Baird on Looking up at the stars: “I’ve long since given up expecting invitations to “soirées” from colonial institutions or functionaries. “Anti-colonial literature is never welcome in…” Mar 12, 15:00
James Che on Looking up at the stars: ““Dickens wrote the real evil of the world is ignorance” Hatey, no truer word was spoken when it refers to…” Mar 12, 14:57
Alf Baird on Looking up at the stars: “It certainly appears as if the Scots Kirk is less than interested in the Scottish peoples oppression or liberation, whilst…” Mar 12, 14:40
Hatey McHateface on Looking up at the stars: “If anybody has any free sock puppets, explain 24/7 to the New Hereditary King’s most vocal handmaiden. Haha, hand “something”,…” Mar 12, 14:38
Hatey McHateface on Looking up at the stars: “Far more important, CC, to those who care, Geri is an embarrassment to Scotland and to decent Scots. That obviously…” Mar 12, 14:33
Hatey McHateface on Looking up at the stars: “A disgrace. Ten times as much would still have left Scotland’s Mammie hard done by. How quickly we all forget…” Mar 12, 14:22
robertkknight on Looking up at the stars: “Well, that all three boxes ticked in one go. Bravo!” Mar 12, 14:21
Sven on Looking up at the stars: “The Messianic Rabbi Yeshua did mention that it was not the well who needed the help of a physician, but…” Mar 12, 14:18
Geri on Looking up at the stars: ““Whilst I have no intention of diverting this site,intended to address the cause of Scottish Independence…” Knock yersel out, Sven.…” Mar 12, 14:12
TURABDIN on Looking up at the stars: “I stand corrected on the theology, not my minefield at all, but some may act in such a manner as…” Mar 12, 14:01
Captain Caveman on Looking up at the stars: ““Scotland hasn’t colonised anyone.” It takes literally 5 seconds of anyone’s time to comprehensively debunk this latest absurdly childish, moronic…” Mar 12, 14:00
agentx on Looking up at the stars: ““Lord Mandelson asked for £547,000 severance pay off after being sacked as ambassador.” ———————————- He was actually paid £75,000. Sturgeon:…” Mar 12, 13:58
Hatey McHateface on Looking up at the stars: “Good Lord, Geri. Just how many dugs have you got? Incidentally, where’s your new hereditary king? Any truth in the…” Mar 12, 13:57
Hatey McHateface on Looking up at the stars: “If this place is any example, he would have categorised Indy supporters as mad, bad and tedious to know.” Mar 12, 13:50
Hatey McHateface on Looking up at the stars: “Aren’t you a professor, Alf? The idea that you would ever invite Geri to one of your faculty soirées is…” Mar 12, 13:46
TURABDIN on Looking up at the stars: “As you know Byron had a Scottish mother and spent some of his early childhood in Aberdeenshire.In his reported attitudes…” Mar 12, 13:36
Marie on Looking up at the stars: “Religion is an outdated form of coercive control. It’s frightening how mentally ill it makes people. The insanity isn’t confined…” Mar 12, 13:34
Sven on Looking up at the stars: “It was indeed, Sarah, as I mentioned in my post when I referenced it as Lady Caroline’s description of him.…” Mar 12, 13:27
Sven on Looking up at the stars: “Turabdin @ 12.36. Whilst I have no intention of diverting this site, intended to address the cause of Scottish Independence,…” Mar 12, 13:23
