The video clip below is from Russia Today, which is in no way an impartial news outlet. However, it’s dangerous and unwise to reflexively dismiss any message purely because of the medium. Heck, even the Daily Mail tells the truth sometimes.
His views are expert and worth listening to. (The full interview is here.) Readers can, as ever, decide for themselves whether to believe him or David Cameron.
A convention of the world’s finest satirists pulling a 24-hour shift on Red Bull couldn’t come up with anything to beat Labour’s position on renewing the UK’s Trident nuclear weapons system. Following an overwhelming vote at the Scottish Labour conference this afternoon, these are the current cut-out-and-keep standings:
It’s been brought to my attention that you recently shared a quote attributed to the TV presenter and Westminster political commentator Andrew Neil, and that in response Mr Neil has strongly denied making the statement in the quote, namely:
“Devolution, the Calman Commission, the Scotland Bill, the Edinburgh Agreement – all of this and more you have is because Westminster parties are scared of the SNP. If you vote ‘No’ you massively change the balance of power and they will not only give you nothing, but will probably take powers away from the Scottish Parliament”.
I find it very strange that he denies making that statement.
Another three months have come and gone – where does the time get to, eh? – so it’s time for a quick Wings readership-stats update. There’s nothing particularly interesting or dramatic about them, so we’ll just give you the numbers and move on.
UNIQUE VISITORS IN OCTOBER 2015: 293,793
PAGE VIEWS: 4,616,334
In what’s been mostly a very sleepy time for politics, we’re thrilled with that.
Kezia Dugdale spoke for almost exactly 45 minutes to the Scottish Labour conference in Perth today. But we know you’re busy people who don’t want to sit through all of that, and that you trust us to endure it on your behalf so that we can sift through it and present you with only the important bits.
We’re big fans of socialism ourselves, so when a number of delegates at the Scottish Labour conference today, including UK leader Jeremy Corbyn, revived an old Keir Hardie line we were quite excited.
Asking the question is the easy bit: “If the all-new, super-autonomous Scottish Labour decides to oppose the renewal of Trident, and UK Labour continues to support it, which way do Scottish Labour MPs at Westminster vote on it?”
The answer, unsurprisingly, was a lot more difficult to ascertain.
There’s an extraordinary article in the Daily Record today. Here’s a bit of it:
Alert readers might feel that a few lines have gone missing somewhere between paragraphs four and five. And the fact that they have has nothing to do with dead football clubs, and everything to do with the dying Scottish media.
robertkknight on The Curious Fringes: “…the definition of mediocrity.” Dec 30, 04:11
Anthem on The Curious Fringes: “As I said before, you’re talking mince! I.live in the area you clown.” Dec 30, 03:43
twathater on The Curious Fringes: “Be prepared to be even more depressed Heather for it appears ALBA members are the new cult , they have…” Dec 30, 03:19
Peter McAvoy on The Curious Fringes: “Why do the SNP still expect others to believe they support independence after the recent act damaging tourism by closing…” Dec 30, 02:49
Northcode on The Curious Fringes: ““Holyrood is the conduit through which Westminster controls and manipulates Scotland…” Well put, Saffron Robe.” Dec 30, 01:02
Saffron Robe on The Curious Fringes: “I agree, Northcode. Holyrood is the conduit through which Westminster controls and manipulates Scotland from within, hidden behind the veneer…” Dec 30, 00:45
Insider on The Curious Fringes: ““WTF was the SNP doing with their £1.3 million per annum in British state Short money?” and WTF happened to…” Dec 30, 00:22
Northcode on The Curious Fringes: ““…but it [Holyrood] is all we have for now.” If by ‘we’ you mean independence supporting Scots then… no, we…” Dec 30, 00:18
Derek on The Curious Fringes: ““…in the same way that Alex Ferguson used West Coast establishment media bias…” Neatly done. According to my digging, there’s…” Dec 30, 00:13
100%Yes on The Curious Fringes: “I have no idea why people are saying it looks grime, its been grime since Sturgeon took on the roll…” Dec 29, 23:58
David Holden on The Curious Fringes: “On the ball as usual but in this parish we have an ISP candidate so I have a vote I…” Dec 29, 23:33
Northcode on The Curious Fringes: ““…and nothing will change…” Yeah, waking from a nightmare is always a bit disturbing, if not depressing. Looks like you’re…” Dec 29, 23:14
Northcode on The Curious Fringes: “I understand, Sarah, and I do respect you for the great effort you have made – and the commitment you…” Dec 29, 23:05
Bilbo on The Curious Fringes: “The reality in 2020’s Scotland, and everywhere around the world, is that social media has totally changed society where it…” Dec 29, 22:48
Scot Finlayson on The Curious Fringes: “`Chinese eunuchs, serving in the imperial court for millennia, functioning as harem guards, palace servants, and political figures, wielding immense…” Dec 29, 22:40
William G Walker on The Curious Fringes: “Well Done Heather McLean! So much sense from her. I particularly liked: “5 years of incompetent, ineffective, idiotic, corrupt, virtu-signalling,…” Dec 29, 22:15
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Curious Fringes: “Of general interest. Hints of current Trump support for putative breakaway of oil-rich province of Alberta from the Canadian confederation.…” Dec 29, 22:08
Andy Ellis on A matter of class: “I agree. However the fact that – at least at present – the strongest defenders of women’s rights and opponents…” Dec 29, 21:54
sarah on The Curious Fringes: “Northcode, I am only asking the Rev to increase, if possible, his efforts for the improvement of Holyrood and the…” Dec 29, 21:48
Northcode on A matter of class: “It’s six syllables, Alf… a big ask for the colonialists who fart aboot this joint.” Dec 29, 21:12
Northcode on The Curious Fringes: ““Please, Rev. Scotland needs you.” I fear you might be wasting fingertip skin there, Sarah. Better following Alf’s suggestion and…” Dec 29, 21:09
Alf Baird on A matter of class: “‘Colonialism’ seems a hard word for some to say.” Dec 29, 20:52
Alf Baird on The Curious Fringes: “Yes Sara, the Liberate Scotland alliance is the only serious option for the independence movement in May’s national election: “We…” Dec 29, 20:41
sarah on The Curious Fringes: “Exactly, Heather. This is why it is vital that we do all we can to inform people about the candidates…” Dec 29, 20:39
Northcode on A matter of class: “That’s great, good for Ireland. The things a country can do when it isn’t colonised, eh? Maybe the President of…” Dec 29, 20:36
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on A matter of class: “Teachtaireacht na Nollag ón Uachtarán Connolly / Christmas Message from President Catherine Connolly (22 Dec 2025) Is é seo an…” Dec 29, 20:06
Colin Alexander on A matter of class: ““You can’t redefine facts just by saying words”. says Chatgpt. You mean like calling imperialism a union or commonwealth? “Yes…” Dec 29, 19:53
Northcode on A matter of class: ““My contention is that the public persecution of Nurse Peggie (and numerous other Scots) is primarily due to ethnic discrimination……” Dec 29, 19:08
Heather McLean on The Curious Fringes: “If I wasn’t feeling depressed before I surely am now “ the party that’s been in power for the previous…” Dec 29, 18:51
Rev. Stuart Campbell on The Curious Fringes: “Yes, that’s very likely the cause of a couple of recent spikes in Scottish Greens polling.” Dec 29, 18:35
