As alert readers will know, we’ve just done another Panelbase opinion poll. You’ll be hearing more about the results over the next couple of days, but we thought we’d give you the headline finding first.
The most interesting thing about those numbers is that as far as we can make out that’s the highest Yes figure Panelbase has ever returned for that question. (The last two times, for the Sunday Times in September and July, both came out 47-53.)
And has no more luck this week with hapless Scottish Labour list MSP Claire Baker than he did with her habitually mendacious colleague Jackie Baillie last week:
(The Big Debate, BBC Radio Scotland, 13 November 2015) .
One of the stranger criticisms regularly levelled at this site is that we don’t attack the SNP/Scottish Government enough.
That’s weird firstly because it’s not like there’s currently a shortage of hostile media scrutiny of Nicola Sturgeon and her colleagues, and secondly because we’ve never in our four-year life claimed for a moment to be neutral.
What Unionists insisted was the biggest and most important parliamentary transfer of powers to a devolved government anywhere in the world was squeezed into five and a half hours of debate time in the House Of Commons tonight, approximately two hours of which were taken up by Westminster’s farcical voting system.
Of the remaining three and a bit hours, a third of the time was taken up by the three MPs you can see video of at the bottom of this post. We know it’s a lot to ask to watch an hour of politicians deliberately trolling Scotland, but if you didn’t see the debate live it’s about the minimum you need to get an accurate sense of the tone.
At the end of it all, a small number of things had been decided.
The tiny number of people who watch the BBC Parliament channel is undoubtedly a blessing to the parties of the Union. We’ll be bringing you some eye-opening excerpts from today’s Scotland Bill debate later, but as a taster here’s one brief exchange.
Alberto Costa, the Scottish-born Conservative MP for South Leicestershire (of whom we’ll be seeing much more in a bit), is heard loudly expressing his satisfaction that not a single Scottish MP of any party (nor indeed any from Wales or Northern Ireland) has been permitted to sit on the Joint Committee discussing the government’s plan to scrap the Human Rights Act, although six unelected peers do get places.
When challenged, Costa explains that he’s happy about it because it’s a matter reserved to the “United Kingdom Parliament”. The fact that he apparently doesn’t consider any Scottish members elected to that parliament to have any business with its affairs is perhaps rather more revealing than Mr Costa intended it to be.
Last Friday’s article on the limitations of GERS caused quite a stir among the stout defenders of the Union, as social-media users may have noticed over the weekend.
Amidst the wildly-flailing fury-storm of shouty, abusive responses which pathologically evaded addressing the article’s point, the one vaguely factual argument raised was the notion that an independent Scotland wouldn’t be able to make significant savings on its current (notional) £3bn defence budget because NATO supposedly requires all member states to spend 2% of their GDP on defence.
When it comes to Scottish Labour’s great brainwave about “restoring” Tory tax-credit cuts, the madness just won’t stop. Here’s Magnus Gardham, formerly political editor of Scotland’s staunchest Labour paper the Daily Record, in the Herald today:
Aidan on Looking up at the stars: “An informed and interesting comment Alf – thank you. In the current fiscal climate bluntly however, I would rather the…” Mar 20, 09:44
Northcode on Looking up at the stars: “Five thousand years before God (morning, God) sent His son, Jesus – or ‘God-Wearing-A-Disguise’ as I like to call Him…” Mar 20, 09:41
Alf Baird on Looking up at the stars: “My preference would be for Scotland to reduce dependence on England’s supply chain and develop the direct ferry link to…” Mar 20, 09:11
Captain Caveman on Looking up at the stars: ““An unprovoked act of aggression.” Yeah, “unprovoked”, apart from that bit where they hosed down tens of thousands of their…” Mar 20, 09:09
Chas on Looking up at the stars: “I am always amazed how people like Geri have their finger on the pulse of EVERYTHING that is happening in…” Mar 20, 09:04
Jamie on Looking up at the stars: “Yes, a 4th volume of his cartoons would be most welcome in the next year or two also.” Mar 20, 08:52
Geri on Looking up at the stars: “Because most of us who follow international news are more informed of the facts rather than the propaganda the MSM…” Mar 20, 08:51
Jamie on Looking up at the stars: “Scotland to this day still produces 4 to 5 times what it uses, we are a net exporter still and…” Mar 20, 08:48
Mark Beggan on Looking up at the stars: “It’s hard to believe the Lefty Liberal pearl clutchers on here hoping Trump looses the war. Loose to a regime…” Mar 20, 06:51
Aidan on Looking up at the stars: “Okay I realise this is like trying to explain the concept of Latin to a dog, but let’s give it…” Mar 20, 06:31
Geri on Looking up at the stars: “Allegedly, Kushy & Witless accepted $50 billion from the Saudis to throw the peace talks. Makes sense. Also, Kushy, Witless…” Mar 20, 02:57
Cynicus on Looking up at the stars: ““Meanwhile the chosen people keep killing anyone that the Donald could deal with…” ========= That son of Scotland, Dòmhnall Iain…” Mar 20, 01:01
Geri on Looking up at the stars: “It wasn’t surprising that the gayist parliament in Scotland, with the gayist parties, would jump aboard the latest gay crusade…” Mar 20, 00:23
robertkknight on Looking up at the stars: “https://news.sky.com/story/north-sea-oil-is-it-time-to-reconsider-drilling-13520893 Someone’s been pissing down our backs again…” Mar 20, 00:06
Iain More on Looking up at the stars: “I see the Kleptomaniac Sassanachs are now talking about rationing Gas, Petrol and Diesel. I guess the policy of maliciously…” Mar 19, 23:46
Geri on Looking up at the stars: “That comment to Japan was cringe. He’s lost it. What an embarrassment he is. It’s right up there with telling…” Mar 19, 22:31
sarah on Looking up at the stars: “A Plea to Chris Cairns, Cartoonist of that Ilk Woe, woe, thrice times woe! Get out your pencils. Pin paper…” Mar 19, 22:18
Lorncal on Looking up at the stars: “I support independence, Dan. Always have, always will. I was making no “digging response”. I was very annoyed that you…” Mar 19, 22:10
Geri on Looking up at the stars: “Areswipe, I hope Alf tells ye to GTF after all yer snide comments every other time. Have you never heard…” Mar 19, 22:09
Aidan on Looking up at the stars: “@Alf Baird – this is somewhere I’d welcome your opinion” Mar 19, 21:10
Hatey McHateface on Looking up at the stars: ““who will be left for the great deal maker to work with?” Do you think you may have put your…” Mar 19, 20:50
Young Lochinvar on Looking up at the stars: “Aidan As I said, grown ups will find a way. There are plenty of ports, the madness has been loading…” Mar 19, 20:46
Young Lochinvar on Looking up at the stars: “HMcH Childish silly names? What, like Hatey? Fair one, it is a childish name, but, I am not its creator.…” Mar 19, 20:33
Young Lochinvar on Looking up at the stars: “HMcH Ah! Then so much for “saving neutral Belgium” and second time around Poland..” Mar 19, 20:28
Hatey McHateface on Looking up at the stars: “Well, YL, you’ve called all the people you dislike silly, childish names. So I guess you’re winning.” Mar 19, 20:22
David Holden on Looking up at the stars: “Several weeks into Donald’s big Persian excursion and still the tankers do not move unless you strike a deal with…” Mar 19, 20:21
Young Lochinvar on Looking up at the stars: “HMcH Fair point though I suppose 1950s type technology may possibly be less susceptible being pre circuit board technology. Plus…” Mar 19, 20:18
Aidan on Looking up at the stars: “There are not “other ports” YL that have anything close to the capacity of the short straits, which is the…” Mar 19, 20:13
