As previously, we’re having quite a lot of trouble understanding the difference between “independence” (39%), and “the Scottish Parliament should make all the decisions for Scotland” (51%). We’re going to drop the SSAS a line and see if they’ll ask for us.
Barring some sort of unforseeable apocalypse, Scottish Labour aren’t going to win the Holyrood election in May, so it doesn’t really matter what their policy proposals are – they’re never going to happen.
Nevertheless, it’s pretty much our job to examine stuff like their plan to “scrap council tax”, and it’s more fun than watching the news today, so let’s give it a go.
Even by the low, low normal arithmetical standards of the Scottish media, yesterday’s Scottish Sunday Express humiliated itself with the most stupendously factually wrong articles we’ve seen in a newspaper for some time.
From Kezia Dugdale’s speech to the Scottish Labour conference yesterday:
So hang on – only people born in Scotland are “Scottish”? Bit controversial. But then again, given Scottish Labour’s constant pejorative use of the word “foreigner” in recent years, we probably shouldn’t be shocked.
The Scottish Daily Mail has been working itself into a froth this week over the idea that the Scottish Government doesn’t intend to match George Osborne’s increase in the upper-rate income tax threshold from £42,000 to £45,000.
Central to the complaint is that rejecting the increase will hurt what the Mail calls “the squeezed middle” and “middle earners”, including “nurses, teachers and police”.
There are, of course, several ways of defining “middle”.
Hatey McHateface on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “@ Dan says:17 September, 2026 at 6:34 pm “No sane, rational, or productive human being with any self-awarenbess” So true,…” Sep 17, 20:42
Hatey McHateface on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: ““stop humping my leg, it was funny for a while” It’s still excruciatingly funny. As in like those Victorians who…” Sep 17, 20:28
Aidan on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “@Dan – I appreciate you want to rant and rave here, but let’s deal with some home truths: – the…” Sep 17, 20:08
sam on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Scotland, too during the famine caused by potato blight and gubmint policy. Charles Trevelyan, senior Treasury civil servant described Scottish…” Sep 17, 19:54
Al-Stuart on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “. The Most Reverend Stuart Campbell, Bishop of St Bartholomew., Patron Saint of Truthfulness, Church of The Clean Bath, County…” Sep 17, 18:55
Captain Caveman on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Yea chaps, ol’ Hatey’s a “leg humper” – as according to some barely coherent nutcase spewing 1.1.1 Trichloroethylene-inspired drivel and…” Sep 17, 18:50
Dan on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “TBF Hatey probably can’t hear much due to blasting out da Ed Sheeran tuneage… No sane, rational, or productive human…” Sep 17, 18:34
Confused on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “another thing – you can’t let the anglos control your food supply they have a bit of previous ireland and…” Sep 17, 18:19
Confused on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “leg hump you’ve never refuted a damn thing, never won an argument, you are like the black knight in monty…” Sep 17, 18:02
Confused on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “it is for the houthis. They think strategically. Trump started a real stupid war because the “epstein people” were probably…” Sep 17, 17:58
Hatey McHateface on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: ““Strange that Scotland as a net exporter doesn’t have decent port infrastructure” Scotland is only a net exporter because of…” Sep 17, 17:17
Hatey McHateface on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Sure, Confused, £2 for a liter of diesel is one of the greatest things ever. I guess the death toll…” Sep 17, 17:06
Spartan 117 on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Dan – bang on. The Edinburgh Trams (read: Shams) was a tremendous waste of public money that caused untold suffering…” Sep 17, 17:05
Hatey McHateface on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Even easier to refute than usual, and that’s saying something. Belgium 4, USA 1. 6th July 2026. Oh dear, Confused,…” Sep 17, 16:52
Dan on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Not much consistency with you is there. So you were happy for shitloads of taxpayers money to be spaffed on…” Sep 17, 16:47
Aidan on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “If a private operator wants to run the Rosyth to Europe ferry and they can do so on a commercial…” Sep 17, 15:30
Dan on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “No shit Sherlock, that’s why I said a ferry service could be included in future port plans, not be the…” Sep 17, 15:08
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “THE PROCLAIMERS: ‘TRANS ACTIVISTS ARE TRUTH-PHOBIC’ The belief that a man can be a woman is pure myth, Scottish music…” Sep 17, 14:02
James Che on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “The private finances from the private subjects within Scotland that gave to a private matter of Scottish independence within the…” Sep 17, 13:18
Aidan on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “What a odd thing to say, other than a ferry service a port can be used for: – exporting and…” Sep 17, 12:29
sarah on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Yet another failure by the SNP executive. They and Westminster were each putting up £3million to get this ferry service…” Sep 17, 12:28
Confused on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “come on now, Dan – everything Scotland runs on must come through Carlisle on a lorry. That way if the…” Sep 17, 12:24
Confused on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “yeah I am sure this lawfare will work this time negotiating the legal system in Scotland is easy – apply…” Sep 17, 12:21
Dan on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: ““The Port of Rosyth is an important asset for Scotland and we are committed to exploring a number of business…” Sep 17, 12:03
BLMac on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “When you see so much prevarification, you know there was not just one bad apple. The whole basketful is rotten.…” Sep 17, 11:27
TimePilot on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Police Scotland’s response to FOI requests within the 20 working days timescale is abysmal. I might submit a FOI to…” Sep 17, 09:16
James Che on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “I surmise that the SNP have also dedicated themselves to the people/ subjects within Scotland as they are a Scottish…” Sep 17, 09:13
James Che on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Do the Subjects within Scotland pay out of….their private incomes within Scotland for the Police or Crown offices in Scotland.…” Sep 17, 08:57
James Che on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Stu, The Law Society of Scotland, 2007. Article XV 111 private Rights. Which is unalterable by the parliament of Great…” Sep 17, 08:38
Willie on A Thousand Islands In The Sea: “Maybe Big John Swinney, assuming he’s not in pokey too, could have his old mucker Murrell back in post helping…” Sep 17, 08:37