By now Wings readers will likely have already seen today’s events in the House Of Commons, where Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle completely lost his rag at Alba MPs (and Wings contributors) Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey for protesting against the UK government’s refusal to respect Scotland’s mandate for an independence referendum.
‘Get them out’ demand Tory benches as Speaker Lindsay Hoyle orders ALBA MPs Neale Hanvey and Kenny MacAskill out of the chamber for heckling Boris Johnson. #pmqspic.twitter.com/RiADdSwKZA
Every one of the SNP’s MPs, meanwhile, sat meekly on their hands and didn’t squeak a single word of protest even as the Speaker flagrantly disregarded the House’s rules and subsequently improperly suspended the two Alba members for a week.
You know how the SNP are always going on about how bad the Tories are and how urgently we need to get rid of them? Well, it turns out they don’t want that to happen for at least a couple of years. They just want a different Tory as Prime Minister, even though they keep telling us that Boris Johnson is the greatest recruiting sergeant for independence there could be.
One might almost imagine that once every Parliament, a drawing of lots is conducted at The Times’ offices in Scotland and the loser is obliged to write this column, on pain of a ceremonial debagging and a jolly good paddling with an old cricket bat from all the other chaps in the newsroom.
Perhaps the fear is playing tricks with Alex Massie’s memory.
We were sent something disturbing recently. It’s from a training course civil servants are being sent on by the Scottish Government.
As you can see, one of the sites that staff are directed to is something called The Trans Language Primer. We thought you should see some of its content.
Even when you’re retired, some things are too journalistically offensive to let pass, such as this piece of absolute garbage we just saw from The National today.
The paper’s anonymous reporter set off all our red warning lights at once.
There was, very obviously, no “indyref2 campaign launch” yesterday, not least for the reason that there is no indyref2. Nothing whatsoever has changed from the situation which has persisted for the last six years, namely that the SNP says it wants another referendum and the UK government says it can’t have one.
There has been no agreement and there has been no legal judgement settling the impasse. No laws have been passed, no date has been set (though a flustered Angus Robertson blurted out something about next October on Good Morning Scotland), no preparations have been made.
While this site remains mothballed, it’s nice to keep a steady trickle of traffic going just in case it ever needs to spring back to life, eg if someone actually interested in independence suddenly somehow becomes leader of the SNP again.
So we thought it might be fun to just briefly link to some old articles as and when they became topical once more, and as luck would have it tomorrow is such an occasion.
Because that’s when the SNP will launch the first of a series of new papers outlining the First Minister’s “vision” of independence by waffling on about how it would be a jolly good thing, in the unlikely event that she ever got off her extremely well-paid arse and achieved it.
Onlooker on The Only Notes That Really Count: “The only notes that really count…are the ones that come in wads. Indeed.” Jul 10, 02:07
Young Lochinvar on The Only Notes That Really Count: “Ooops! Meant to say: HMcH @ 8.52. Anyway it’s after his bedtime/ wing lockdown now anyhows.. Waiting for hung-over intemperate…” Jul 10, 02:06
Young Lochinvar on The Only Notes That Really Count: “HMcH Somehow I doubt Roddy feels particularly chastised by your wee piece of grandstanding.. Anyways peeps, happy birthday tomorrow to…” Jul 10, 01:48
Stuart Swanston on The Only Notes That Really Count: “Once the donors who had requested repayment had been refunded we must assume that that total subtracted from the grand…” Jul 10, 01:02
fiona on The Only Notes That Really Count: “For everyone saying “the SNP will never…” “if the SNP had done….” etc etc, please acknowledge the fact that all…” Jul 10, 00:37
Lynn Fraser on The Only Notes That Really Count: “I have filled in your contact form. I gave statement to Branch Form. I hope to have contact from you.…” Jul 10, 00:01
crazycat on The Only Notes That Really Count: “I can see your point, but: When I received my refund, they admitted it hadn’t been spent on the correct…” Jul 9, 23:33
James on The Only Notes That Really Count: “Adrian getting his master’s opinion in first there….just to quell expectations amongst the colonials.” Jul 9, 23:14
James on The Interests Of The Many: “I reckon the SP wisnae in the video; his ankle tag widnae let him go ootside….” Jul 9, 23:11
James on The Interests Of The Many: “So…the ‘National Broadcaster’ eh? “…People are just pleased the England team are for once playing some decent football…” What people?…” Jul 9, 23:03
100%Yes on The Only Notes That Really Count: “The SNP will never deliver Independence!!! I hope this is the beginning of the end for this party who stole…” Jul 9, 21:41
100%Yes on The Only Notes That Really Count: “Is this the real reason the SNP has never been committed to Independence? If the SNP had been honest I…” Jul 9, 21:32
100%Yes on The Only Notes That Really Count: “I hope the SNP isn’t using the Scottish government legal counsel for advice, this has nothing to do with the…” Jul 9, 21:24
robertkknight on The Only Notes That Really Count: “There you go, Crown Office, I think that’s referred to as having one’s feet held to the fire!” Jul 9, 21:23
Sean Duffy on The Only Notes That Really Count: “It’s a very compelling argument and aligns with my understanding of how the law stood on this matter. The unknown…” Jul 9, 21:07
Aidan on The Only Notes That Really Count: “This is an excellent opinion but may not fully and completely cover off what could be the SNP’s line of…” Jul 9, 20:56
Hatey McHateface on The Only Notes That Really Count: “Well, well. Roddy Dunlop KC agrees with me that the original ring-fenced fund, sensibly invested, would have near doubled in…” Jul 9, 20:52
Fraser on The Only Notes That Really Count: “How fast can an actual Political party be wound up? Well after this there will be no money left to…” Jul 9, 20:45
Southernbystander on The Interests Of The Many: “But that is not what is happening. It is simply being pleased that English sports people are doing well. You…” Jul 9, 20:38
Blackhack on The Only Notes That Really Count: “I never paid any money in, but if I did I’d be signing that pronto.” Jul 9, 20:23
Southernbystander on The Interests Of The Many: “No. People are just pleased the England team are for once playing some decent football and we have one player…” Jul 9, 20:05
Rev. Stuart Campbell on Your Call Is Important To Us: “I have not. I’d redact it with a black box if I’d done that.” Jul 9, 19:57
James Barr Gardner on Your Call Is Important To Us: “Mallaidh is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic spelling of the name “Molly,” which itself is a traditional pet form of…” Jul 9, 18:31
DelayedResponse on Your Call Is Important To Us: “That’s incredibly frustrating – it’s amazing how often you can get a vague response like that. Hopefully they’ll actually get…” Jul 9, 17:48
twathater on Your Call Is Important To Us: “The ENDLESS mindless responses that all say the same thing “Fuck Off” we’re not interested in addressing your complaints, even…” Jul 9, 17:42
Hatey McHateface on Your Call Is Important To Us: ““Mallaidh” is a very nice Gaelic female name. So probably a real person, possibly a real woman, but according to…” Jul 9, 16:24
A2 on Your Call Is Important To Us: “Too be fair (as we say) You did complain about the rapidity of the previous. “If we twiddle our thumbs…” Jul 9, 16:14
100%Yes on Your Call Is Important To Us: “I would presume, you likely to hear from copfs after the SNP responds in 21 days to these summons.” Jul 9, 16:00
Andy Wiltshire on Your Call Is Important To Us: “Do we know who ‘Mallaidh’ is? A real person, I naively assume.” Jul 9, 15:59
