Wings Over Scotland| The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Powers without pennies 200

Posted on June 23, 2016 by Scott Minto

One of the more intriguing aspects of the EU debate has been the claim made by former Labour minister Tom Harris that a vote to leave the EU would transfer a raft of new powers, including over fishing and farming, to the Scottish government.

(Part of a fairly major volte-face by Harris on who should control what in Scotland, but let’s not get into that right now.)

On the face of it, this is a perfectly feasible possibility, since devolution was set up on a “reserved list” basis – any issues not specifically reserved to Westminster are devolved to the Scottish Parliament. In theory this would indeed mean that powers over farming and fishing would revert to Holyrood automatically upon exit from the EU.

But it’s not quite as simple as that.

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Tags: Scott Minto
Category analysis, comment, debunks, europe, scottish politics, uk politics

The undecided 702

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Rev. Stuart Campbell

Alert readers will already know that the closest thing this site has to a position on this week’s EU referendum is that supporters of Scottish independence living in Scotland should vote Remain.

(And even that view is conditional on whether you consider Scottish independence the most important political goal of your life. If it’s more important to you to be out of the EU than out of the UK then clearly you’ll be voting Leave and there’s nothing we could say that would change your mind.)

But what if you happen to be a supporter of Scottish independence who DOESN’T live in Scotland? What then?

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Tags: perspectives
Category comment, europe, uk politics

There Are Crocodiles 210

Posted on June 19, 2016 by Chris Cairns

Tags: cartoons, Chris Cairns
Category comment, media

Total Perspective Vortex 115

Posted on June 18, 2016 by Rev. Stuart Campbell

Returning astronaut Tim Peake reveals the BBC’s new weather map.

(Chris Cairns will be back tomorrow.)

Category comment, media

Lion lies down with lambs 276

Posted on June 17, 2016 by Rev. Stuart Campbell

The man who last year wrote this:

…and in 2014 wrote this, today wrote this. We live in strange times.

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Category comment, europe, media, scottish politics, uk politics

Another 24 hours 190

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Rev. Stuart Campbell

Good grief. And we thought yesterday was grim.

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Category comment, uk politics

48 hours in Britain 292

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Rev. Stuart Campbell

So, just to recap this week’s events so far:

It’s now offensive to call gay people human beings, a Leave vote will destroy Western civilisation, a Remain vote will bring about an Orlando-style mass killing by Islamic terrorists, Ed Balls – whose party isn’t in government and who isn’t even an MP – has promised to cut immigration if we vote Remain, Alistair Darling has teamed up with George Osborne to deliver a Punishment Budget if we vote Leave (except that it won’t pass because 57 Tory MPs will vote against it), Jeremy Corbyn led the last Prime Minister’s Questions before the EU referendum by asking about the Leveson Inquiry, and Bob Geldof is conducting a naval battle on the Thames with Nigel Farage.

Did we miss anything?

Category comment, uk politics, wtf

Promotional feature 42

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Rev. Stuart Campbell

Since it now looks increasingly like we might be doing this indyref thing all over again pretty soon, we thought you’d like to meet our Fulfilment Department:

This short video by the ever-excellent Phantom Power Films takes you to the heart of AyeMail, who not only handle the delivery of immaculately-packaged donor perks for pro-indy fundraisers and things like the Wee Black Book, but also produce a growing range of merchandise direct, ensuring that as much money as possible stays within the Yes movement.

If you want some stuff made for Indyref 2 – This Time It’s An Emergency, we can recommend their various services without hesitation.

*No payments or incentives of any kind in either direction were solicited or received for this endorsement.

Category misc, video