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?
Southernbystander on When the law breaks the law: “Just for the record, England is not in deep trauma, a mad sort of conception that bears no relationship to…” Feb 22, 12:46
Sven on When the law breaks the law: “Ah me, if only it were an ill chosen metaphor which were to anger me more than words could express…” Feb 22, 11:52
Northcode on When the law breaks the law: “This angers me more than mere words can express: A source close to Alba added: “If Ash Regan was elected…” Feb 22, 10:38
agentx on When the law breaks the law: “Isle of Islay arrived in Scotland 🙂 https://www.vesselfinder.com/?imo=9970923” Feb 22, 10:08
TURABDIN on When the law breaks the law: “SCOTLAND MIGHT JUST POSSIBLY be on the right track when people of certain type are no longer in charge of…” Feb 22, 09:38
Andy Ellis on When the law breaks the law: “We need to be careful not to make the perfect the enemy of the good. The independence movement doesn’t need…” Feb 22, 09:25
Hatey McHateface on When the law breaks the law: “I’m sure it’s entirely coincidental, but from the looks of things, I’m confident that the sheriff has an above average…” Feb 22, 08:59
Hatey McHateface on When the law breaks the law: ““Scotland will never regain her independence until we have people who are willing to tell WM to fuck off” Precisely…” Feb 22, 08:01
twathater on When the law breaks the law: “Scotland will never regain her independence until we have people who are willing to tell WM to fuck off, what…” Feb 22, 03:57
twathater on When the law breaks the law: “As I commented on Grousebeater blog re Mark Hirst It is absolutely despicable that Scotland’s laws and legal system is…” Feb 22, 03:28
Jay on When the law breaks the law: “Dan, thank you for the link to grousebeater’s exposition concerning Sturgeon’s history. Seems perfectly compromised for recruitment. Is any more…” Feb 21, 23:53
Saffron Robe on Shield Of The Phantom: “I’ve been thinking some more about this following a conversation today about AI, and I’m not convinced the explanation given…” Feb 21, 22:21
Young Lochinvar on When the law breaks the law: “HMcH Nah, they are as bad in both departments as each other. Is either department the one/ those GP referenced…” Feb 21, 21:53
Young Lochinvar on When the law breaks the law: “James HMcH is either: 1. Flexing his +60% fat brain percentage inspired imagination Or 2. Projecting YET AGAIN..” Feb 21, 21:30
Hatey McHateface on When the law breaks the law: “Now, now, James, tell the truth. You’re here for a few days because you’ve rubbed it red raw. As soon…” Feb 21, 21:09
Young Lochinvar on When the law breaks the law: “CA As a point of order; that’s hardly an even handed source – over a year old – and, making…” Feb 21, 20:54
Iain More on When the law breaks the law: “And the Quislings and Treacherous Wokists crawl out from under their rocks.” Feb 21, 20:22
Cynicus on When the law breaks the law: “Wonderful. There are faux-Scots poets who compose English verse and, with the aid of dictionaries, translate material they pass off…” Feb 21, 20:20
Young Lochinvar on When the law breaks the law: “GP at 2.26 “That’s not how it works (HMcH) as you are in a position to know”.. Please do share…” Feb 21, 20:09
Hatey McHateface on When the law breaks the law: “A general political rule of thumb that seems to be accurate most of the time: With left wing parties, it’s…” Feb 21, 20:08
Hatey McHateface on When the law breaks the law: ““you will well know from your own sponsors” Sure. I asked them about your old department. They tell me they…” Feb 21, 20:03
Young Lochinvar on When the law breaks the law: “Has LGBTQI etc etc etc killed the SNP and Alba? Certainly disproportionately over represented per capita.. Can’t keep hands out…” Feb 21, 20:01
Colin Alexander on When the law breaks the law: ““Leaked emails show Kenny MacAskill’s concerns of Alex Salmond’s Alba”. At least Kenny MacAskill had the sense to distance himself…” Feb 21, 19:58
Hatey McHateface on When the law breaks the law: “Fanon and Memmi, Jonesy too, predicted this would happen.” Feb 21, 19:55
Hatey McHateface on When the law breaks the law: “Good to see you back, James People were worrying you’d gone blind.” Feb 21, 19:52
Colin Alexander on When the law breaks the law: “It was under Kenny MacAskill as Justice Secretary that ALEX SALMOND’S woke colonial administration changed Scottish Prison Service policy to…” Feb 21, 19:37
Cynicus on When the law breaks the law: ““ Alba Party quits Holyrood election with questions over ‘viability’” ========= https://tinyurl.com/NOT-Murrel” Feb 21, 19:12
