We’ve already noted that today is a confusing news day. But when we were listening to the radio this morning we thought we maybe hadn’t woken up properly.
The segment concerned a report by the Tory-leaning think tank Reform Scotland, and saw both the organisation and Labour MSP Hugh Henry trying doggedly to find a bad spin on the news in the fact that crime in Scotland is at a 40-year low. So desperate were they to do so that they ended up denying the existence of arithmetic.
So first of all there’s this (click pic for full story):
…in which the figures appear to show that Iceland’s policy of imposing justice and imprisoning the greedy bankers who caused the world financial crash – rather than just shovelling money at them and letting them carry on robbing everyone – actually saw its economy recover at least as well as anywhere else’s.
Thank you for your e-mail to Kezia with regards to her exchange with the First Minister in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 23rd April 2015.
Kezia can confirm that the person mentioned in the exchange has had their membership of the Labour Party put under administrative suspension and an investigation is currently being conducted by the General Secretary of the Scottish Labour Party.
If you have specific questions on the investigation you will need to direct them to the Scottish Labour Party, not Kezia’s Parliamentary office.
If there is anything other issues Kezia can help with as your MSP, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
We’ve already brought you the First Minister’s appearance on last night’s The Daily Show in the US, but in addition to the seven minutes that were shown on TV there were a further seven minutes of interview which didn’t go out on air, but were shown on the Comedy Central website, region-blocked so only US residents could see them.
When the FM goes abroad to represent Scotland in the outside world, though, we think it’s only fair that Scots get to see what she’s saying and doing on their behalf, so we didn’t let such trifling obstacles get in our way.
The Daily Record’s conscience is evidently still bothering it.
Having sold Scotland a pup back in September, the paper has spent much of the time since then frantically trying to present itself as the doughty and fearless champion of home rule. But it’s hard to see what it’s getting itself so worked up about.
The Daily Mail, having unaccountably failed to notice the slew of Unionists who tried to blame the SNP for Charles Kennedy’s death before the body was cold on Tuesday, suddenly remembered to look at its Twitter timeline again today.
There’s an unmissable piece in today’s Guardian about the last days of the general election campaign, as seen from inside the headquarters of the Labour Party.
The reason it’s fascinating isn’t because (as it claims) it provides an insight into why Labour lost the election, but because it reveals how the party’s most senior staff, by pathologically avoiding any non-stage-managed contact with actual voters, lost all grip of reality and sleepwalked into their most crushing defeat in decades.
I had no time for the way that Charles Kennedy conducted himself in the referendum campaign and it would be hypocritical to pretend that I did.
But before that he was one of the main reasons I voted Lib Dem for over 20 years – a compassionate, principled man who took some difficult stands and left his party in a far healthier place, both politically and morally, than it occupies now.
James Cheyne on A matter of class: “Xaracen, I take on board you’re excellent analyses of the position of Scotland territory and Sovereignty still belonging to the…” Dec 28, 16:14
TURABDIN on A matter of class: “Some of the many things said about the English is that they treat nothing seriously and the men are sublimated…” Dec 28, 16:13
Captain Caveman on A matter of class: “In actuality, Andy, I believe British nationalism is enjoying quite the renaissance of late, most notably in the form of…” Dec 28, 15:19
Alf Baird on A matter of class: “““The intellectually low lumens” (wattage at a push) … metaphor to compare intellect to the brightness of light” Yes Northcode,…” Dec 28, 14:40
Mark Beggan on A matter of class: “For those who can. I hope you are feeding the wee birds this winter. They also need fresh water at…” Dec 28, 14:35
Northcode on A matter of class: ““Of course your keyboard being all sticky can’t help either.” Intellectual my perfectly smooth and rounded porcelain buttocks, Andy Inglis.…” Dec 28, 13:47
Andy Ellis on A matter of class: “I’ve thought for a long time that the chief reason the British nationalist project is “going down the pan” was…” Dec 28, 13:20
Alf Baird on A matter of class: “The ““Scotland as colony” narrative – is perfectly legitimate”, especially so for those having studied postcolonial theory in depth, then…” Dec 28, 13:11
Andy Ellis on A matter of class: “@ Northcode Correction: “que the inevitable…” should, of course, read as “cue the inevitable…” I guess that’s what happens when…” Dec 28, 13:05
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on A matter of class: “Book review I did a few years ago which may be of interest to some – ‘CANADIAN GAELDOM: FADED FOOTPRINT…” Dec 28, 13:00
Northcode on A matter of class: “Correction: “que the inevitable…” should, of course, read as “cue the inevitable…”” Dec 28, 12:17
TURABDIN on A matter of class: “@ ANDY ELLIS, ENGLAND OR UK is going to the dogs, finished according to taxi drivers and Hampstead dinner party…” Dec 28, 12:11
Northcode on A matter of class: ““Your contribution is little more than we’d expect from the intellectually low voltage usual suspects in here…” “The intellectually low…” Dec 28, 12:03
Xaracen on A matter of class: “@James Cheyne; 1- The 1707 Treaty did not expire with the Irish treaty in 1800! Technically, the English/Irish agreement wasn’t…” Dec 28, 11:56
Andy Ellis on A matter of class: “@ Alf 11.33am I happen to agree with the OP, however my contributions being directed towards addressing the wall to…” Dec 28, 11:49
Alf Baird on A matter of class: “A point to note is that “Your contribution” to the subject matter of the article itself is non-existent, your purpose…” Dec 28, 11:33
Andy Ellis on A matter of class: “@ Northcode 10.51 am Your contribution is little more than we’d expect from the intellectually low voltage usual suspects in…” Dec 28, 11:12
Northcode on A matter of class: ““Oor Scots language is wha we are, aye Scots, an the verra grund o the independence/leeberation muivement” Aye, Alf, yer…” Dec 28, 11:08
Mark Beggan on A matter of class: “We are not Unionists we are Fascists. Do try and keep up with the world around you.” Dec 28, 11:06
Alf Baird on A matter of class: ““If Rev Stu added the word “colony” and it’s variants to his banned list” The colonizer only bans what he…” Dec 28, 10:56
Northcode on A matter of class: ““If Rev Stu added the word “colony” and it’s variants to his banned list, we’d scarcely hear from you again…”…” Dec 28, 10:51
Mark Beggan on A matter of class: “Talking of Independence. How’s that going these days? Not so good. In fact it’s now reduced to barricading itself behind…” Dec 28, 10:50
Northcode on A matter of class: “I think I’ve figured out why one of my comments has been bounced into the WoS wilderness… It’s because I…” Dec 28, 10:48
Northcode on A matter of class: “Guid mornyng aw… a howp youse aw hae a guid day the day.” Dec 28, 10:40
Anthem on A matter of class: “With barely a 27% turnout it’s hardly a sign of reform being a major player. Labour still managed 21% even…” Dec 28, 10:29
Anthem on A matter of class: “With barely a 27% turnout it’s hardly a sign of reform being a major player. Labour still managed 21% even…” Dec 28, 10:27
Mark Beggan on A matter of class: “The colonization of Mars has been cancelled. It appears the indiginus natives have ‘gone fishing’. While the men returning from…” Dec 28, 10:25
James Cheyne on A matter of class: “Now remember you theorists of a union with Scotland your looking for definative evidence to consolidate that your theory is…” Dec 28, 10:23
James Cheyne on A matter of class: “You see what happens, When I do not post, the Scottish unionist theory believers flood the site in droves on…” Dec 28, 10:10
Andy Ellis on A matter of class: “@ Alf Baird 9.41 pm Always so many questions on this and that, all of which avoid the most important…” Dec 28, 10:07
