So after all the kerfuffle and commotion and comedy, a deal was done, of sorts. The unsquareable circle wasn’t squared, but the day of facing up to it was punted down the line for five years, by which point everyone hopes that it’ll be someone else’s problem. (Which is certainly the case for David Cameron.)
Every newspaper in Scotland tomorrow will look like this:
It’s quite incredible that someone with Jim Sillars’ political experience should be so naive about the tactics surrounding the EU referendum. Regardless of your feelings on the EU itself, there’s absolutely no point in any supporter of Scottish independence voting Leave this June, and here’s why.
Alert readers can’t have failed to notice a desperate Scottish Labour dusting off the old “Tartan Tories” attack on the SNP recently, over the Nats’ unwillingness to join in with Kezia Dugdale’s kerrazy kaper of hiking up income tax.
So after today we can only assume they’ll be looking for some similarly pithy zingers for their colleagues in Wales. They can have this one for free.
It’s curious that as the Scotland Bill negotiations deadlock drags on, well beyond its original deadline of 12 February and now hurtling headlong towards the extended 23 February one with no sign of progress on the horizon, that nobody is remarking on one of the most striking facets of the new devolution proposals.
Remember “pooling and sharing”, readers? Whatever happened to that?
Last night, MP Natalie McGarry made another heavily-qualified semi-apology to the popular abusive-tweeter enthusiast JK Rowling, because that’s how bullying works. (As far as we know McGarry has still refused Rowling’s demand that she make a sizeable donation to Rowling’s charity under threat of legal action.)
One of George Orwell’s most-quoted lines is “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.”
We wonder who was trying to silence the torrent of drivel below, then.
James on A matter of class: “Aw, sweethheart, are you still carrying a torch for me? Thanks, but I’ll pass. What a sad bot you are.” Dec 21, 22:04
McDuff on A matter of class: “This country stinks from the SNP to the judiciary and just about every where else .I never imagined Scotland would…” Dec 21, 21:48
Hatey McHateface on A matter of class: “Turkey, sprouts and gravy, Dan? No True Scot would ever pollute the ethnic purity of his body with the hated,…” Dec 21, 21:37
Dan on A matter of class: “@Southern(not so)bystander Not saying it’s the case with the specific matter you are responding to; But I think that posted…” Dec 21, 21:35
Hatey McHateface on A matter of class: “Try posting “Bairns Not Bombs”. Works every time.” Dec 21, 21:20
Hatey McHateface on A matter of class: “This is just so desperately sad. Once again, I’m the only one to respond to Northy’s attention seeking – his…” Dec 21, 21:16
Hatey McHateface on A matter of class: “@Alf Have you considered translating the complete works of Fanon, Cesaire, Crivens and Jonesie into Scots? That would really supercharge…” Dec 21, 21:08
Northcode on A matter of class: ““No country, people or polity has a God given right to exist in perpetuity.” Unless it’s England, apparently: “There’ll always…” Dec 21, 21:01
Hatey McHateface on A matter of class: “@Alf 2:05 I want my Scotland to be run by the meritocratic best. I don’t want my Scotland to be…” Dec 21, 20:59
Dan on A matter of class: “Something to read and mull over. https://angrypict.substack.com/p/scotland-ai-convergence-and-the-case” Dec 21, 20:36
Southernbystander on A matter of class: “Hatey: ‘You didn’t used to pussyfoot around this’ Did he not? I once asked Alf after he labelled the English…” Dec 21, 20:32
Alf Baird on A matter of class: “Like any peoples language the Scots language plays ‘a vital role in shaping and defining ethnic identity’, serving as ‘a…” Dec 21, 20:24
Al-Stuart on A matter of class: “. Hi Stuart, I see the Scot-Goes-Splat fundraiser Jimmy McGrifty has now gone full stalker mode with his obsession about…” Dec 21, 19:55
Dan on A matter of class: “Franchise Fanny returns! But tae fuck with offering a shred of crimbo goodwill to fellow supporters of Scotland returning to…” Dec 21, 19:53
Cynicus on A matter of class: “Andy Ellis says: 21 December, 2025 at 4:09 pm “One wonders if the Post Colonial Snake Oil Salesman in Chief…” Dec 21, 18:44
Northcode on A matter of class: ““Lovely people the Finns…” I’ll write to the Finnish embassy in London and let them know you think they’re patronizingly…” Dec 21, 18:25
Northcode on A matter of class: ““How about the >5% of Finns who are of Swedish language and ethnicity, having lived in Finland for centuries?” You…” Dec 21, 18:09
Alf Baird on A matter of class: “Is that you on the colonial backshift, Andy? Hatey on his weel-deserved brak. Surprised ye didna ken that language aye…” Dec 21, 18:00
Mark Beggan on A matter of class: “Well God Bless you sir. Merry Christmas.My Grandfather would be proud of that.” Dec 21, 17:46
Andy Ellis on A matter of class: “@Northcode 4pm Ethnic Finns, or Suomalaiset, are a Baltic Finnic ethnic group native to Finland, with a rich cultural heritage…” Dec 21, 17:15
Andy Ellis on A matter of class: “I think that qualifies you to play for Ireland’s national football team if not outright for Irish citizenship Mark. Odd…” Dec 21, 17:07
Northcode on A matter of class: “Correction: The Ethnic Egyptians are known as Misriyyun not whatever nonsense Wordpress created when it processed the text of my…” Dec 21, 16:16
Andy Ellis on A matter of class: “@factchecker 2.3ppm In fact, his concept of each country being run by a separate ethnic group seems distinctly wrong. Is…” Dec 21, 16:09
Northcode on A matter of class: ““The eminent professor…” As usual the point being made immediately, and irredeemably, soars swiftly over the minds of colonists. There…” Dec 21, 16:00
Mark Beggan on A matter of class: “And there was me drinking Guinness with the Irish. It all went well until I happened to mention I was…” Dec 21, 15:51
Mark Beggan on A matter of class: “You need to get over that or you will not go forward.” Dec 21, 15:49
Mark Beggan on A matter of class: “You will be arrested for that.” Dec 21, 15:41
factchecker on A matter of class: “The eminent professor says “You know, like ethnic Norwegians run Norway. Or ethnic Finns run Finland. Or ethnic Indians run…” Dec 21, 14:39
Alf Baird on A matter of class: “Hatey, I assume you have good reason for suggesting that ethnic Scots should not run their own country? You know,…” Dec 21, 14:05
James Cheyne on A matter of class: “Westminster parliament of England and Ireland simply pretended through deceit and lies it was the same legal construction and legal…” Dec 21, 14:03
