We’re back in the archives again today, because there’s still no news. (The Herald is desperately trying to whip up outrage over trains arriving 61 seconds late, and David Torrance has finally turned up at the “OMG YES MOVEMENT SPLIT” party just as the last stragglers are heading home and the hosts are going to bed.)
And we’re particularly enjoying this one, for a whole list of reasons:
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.
Angus on Push The Button: “Being a Rev., I am surprised it does not bother your conscience to vote red, given that a red majority…” Apr 27, 03:09
Rev. Stuart Campbell on Push The Button: “Man, these comments are a real disappointment.” Apr 27, 02:02
Rev. Stuart Campbell on The Narcissism Of No Differences: “You know I edited all those front pages satirically, right?” Apr 27, 01:57
Rev. Stuart Campbell on Push The Button: “So, yes, stupid. Willing to risk death to appear “social” rather than actually think about what they’re doing.” Apr 27, 01:54
Rev. Stuart Campbell on Push The Button: ““ Does this not depend on your estimation of the trust level within the group doing the vote?” If you’re…” Apr 27, 01:53
James Barr Gardner on Push The Button: “I was once caught up in a redundancy situation, the dept had 10 staff, the management issued an edict, all…” Apr 27, 00:34
George Ferguson on Push The Button: “My daughter was a Graduate of the Royal Dick Veterinary School. And she was on the bus with us. She…” Apr 26, 22:12
Confused on Push The Button: “MAIRI MCALLAN SAYS WE NEED MORE MIGRANTS furgrowthunthuconmynetzero – brian wilson agrees, he says we need 20000 a year; did…” Apr 26, 22:02
Dan on Push The Button: “Hmm, regardez divide and rule in action. https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/sp.r.2026-05-07/scottish-parliament-elections-regions/ So catch up in another 5 years for more of the same…” Apr 26, 21:41
Mark Beggan on Push The Button: “The left have created a Frankenstein they cannot control. This summer is going to be the ‘Summer of Hate’!” Apr 26, 20:14
Northcode on Push The Button: “Are you a knob or a stud? The word “button” originates from the Old French word “boton”, meaning “knob” or…” Apr 26, 20:09
Alf Baird on Push The Button: “Aye Northcode, the native ‘forgetting’ their past is a big part of colonialism, and that what is called ‘Scotland’ is…” Apr 26, 20:07
Northcode on Push The Button: ““What a load of shite. . . . . . . as usual.” Whereas the sparkling sentences of the unionist…” Apr 26, 20:05
Southernbystander on Push The Button: “But this is not an either or – helping others does not require that you have sorted your world out…” Apr 26, 20:00
Southernbystander on Push The Button: “Yes. This shifts the criticism of blue voters from virtual signalling wokerati to people with a conscience who worry voting…” Apr 26, 19:52
George Ferguson on Push The Button: “@Mark Beggan A few articles ago I detailed the precarious nature of the X38 bus route from Edinburgh to West…” Apr 26, 19:33
Steve Ashton on Push The Button: “Button! They tried to proof test the nuclear button. But the man there to press it had brains of dead…” Apr 26, 19:25
James on Push The Button: “Well, you’re the “shite” expert right enough… maaaaate.” Apr 26, 18:58
Chas on Push The Button: “What a load of shite……. as usual.” Apr 26, 18:30
Sven on Push The Button: “And, indeed, below the self proclaimed breast enhancer, the former David Paulden.” Apr 26, 18:09
Mark Beggan on Push The Button: “Wouldn’t it be karmic if all the Left wing,Antifa,Trans warriors all got their doors kicked in by a dozen armed…” Apr 26, 17:35
TURABDIN on Push The Button: “This piece is by a selfstyled «thinktank»….dohh! As all foreign correspondents rarely quit the London bubble it is not surprising.…” Apr 26, 17:33
Mark Beggan on Push The Button: “You just love the old violence. Who are you going to “tear to shreds”? Just stand at the back and…” Apr 26, 17:19
Mark Beggan on Push The Button: “Is it a coincidence that the evil regime and the Lefty Europa both advocate violence against anyone who disagrees with…” Apr 26, 17:12
Cynicus on Push The Button: ““ This article on the fractious trends in UK politics is signally notable by the absence of Scotland or Wales…” Apr 26, 17:03
Grog on Push The Button: “Does this not depend on your estimation of the trust level within the group doing the vote? If you expect…” Apr 26, 14:18
Northcode on Push The Button: “Contrary to popular belief… blue buttons are intrinsically socialist, red buttons capitalist. Socialism is for the many, capitalism is for…” Apr 26, 13:42
Captain Caveman on Push The Button: “What’s the wealth per capita of Norway, in terms of natural resources? Asking for a friend. Also, using China as…” Apr 26, 13:40
Alf Baird on Push The Button: ““lousy, sub-optimal, unsustainable results” Here this is the inevitable consequence of UK Gov privatisation of public utilities which today are…” Apr 26, 13:34
Northcode on Push The Button: “Buttons are boring… unless they are those buttons made from a protein (casein) found in milk. For those interested, casein…” Apr 26, 13:25
