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Wings Over Scotland


Progress update

Posted on April 13, 2022 by

In slightly over a month from now, Nicola Sturgeon will overtake Alex Salmond as the longest-serving First Minister of Scotland. It seemed a reasonable time to take stock.

It’s very nearly six years since the Sunday Herald headline above from 1 May 2016. (Remember the Sunday Herald, readers? It feels like another lifetime, doesn’t it?)

April/early May is very often the period leading up to an election, which is when the SNP traditionally ramp up the carrot-dangling about independence to secure the votes of the faithful for yet another “cast-iron mandate”, so it’s not a bad barometer. Let’s see how far we’ve come.

The last poll before 1 May 2016 was just a few days earlier – a Panelbase one for the Sunday Times with the fieldwork from 23-28 April. It found support, with Don’t Knows excluded, at Yes 47% No 53%.

The most recent poll is one conducted by BMG for the Herald, reported four days ago. It found support, with Don’t Knows excluded, at Yes 47% No 53%.

Just for fun, let’s also see where we were at the halfway point. Panelbase also did a poll from 24-26 April 2019, right in the middle of the other two. It found support, with Don’t Knows excluded, at Yes 47% No 53%.

What about the intervening years? There were no April polls in either 2018 or 2020, but Survation did do April ones in 2017 and 2021 so let’s add those too to get another polling company into the mix.

In April 2017 Survation found support at Yes 47% No 53%, whereas in April 2021, in the middle of COVID, they recorded it at Yes 47% No 53%.

And what the heck, we may as well be completist and include Sturgeon’s first ever April as SNP leader/FM, that of 2015, as well. A YouGov poll for the Sunday Times that month broadens our sample with another different polling company, and found figures of Yes 47% No 53%.

So let’s put those into a graph and see how we’ve been doing under Nicola Sturgeon’s leadership, through perhaps the worst, most chaotic, shambolic and disastrous peacetime years in the history of the UK – Brexit, knocking on for 200,000 deaths from a virus pandemic, runaway inflation, empty shop shelves and all the rest of it.

Thank goodness for that calm, steady leadership winning over all those soft No voters and building support to the point where it’ll be irresistible, eh folks? Just another infinity years to wait and we’ll be right there.

We don’t know about you, but we’re counting down the days.

 .

APPENDIX

An interesting facet of today’s poll is that the SNP habitually claim massive youth support for indy, but in fact the 16-24s the party obsessively pursues are only very narrowly in favour, and less so than the sneered-at “boomers” of 45-54. It’s specifically the 25-34 bracket that’s the outlier (along with over-65s at the other end).

Also striking, for those of us who remember the SNP’s supposed “woman problem” under Alex Salmond, is the fact that after seven years of Sturgeon’s leadership there’s now a sizeable gulf in support between men and women, with men very narrowly pro-indy and women against by a hefty 14 points.

That’s a spectacular drop since Sturgeon initiated plans for “gender reform” last year, just days after a poll in which 60% of women backed independence.

And it’s very female-specific. The drop in support among men since the poll cited by Carslaw is just three points, compared to the 17-point fall among women in the same period, and has turned a 14-point Yes lead into a 6-point No lead.

Who’d have guessed that destroying women’s rights would be unpopular with women?

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1173 to “Progress update”

  1. robbo
    Ignored
    says:

    I see she’s oan “loose wimin” the day.

    Ask her wit a wumin is please!

  2. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Breeks 8.51 am

    “The Constitutional route is a credible and reasonably short way to secure Scottish Independence, and once the population knows that, (coz right now the vast majority don’t know it), then we will see who is with us. I think that’s where YES support will be most potent, – a binary choice with no political tribalism screwing it up.”

    I agree that a constitutional route is one credible route to independence, but what’s your definition of it being a “reasonably short way”? If the vast majority don’t know it yet, walk us through the process of what gets us from the current position, when presumably the vast majority of independence supporters are wedded to the “conventional” route of a binary referendum or maybe plebiscitary elections if they’re enraged enough to change when it becomes apparent #indyref2 isn’t happening, to embracing a change to a constitutional route.

    Presumably that has to be led by someone or some collective if it’s not an existing party? How does that persuade existing independence voters to switch horses, encourage enough current anti independence to switch to give us a majority, and then demonstrate to the international community that the new constitutional body should be recognised as the settled will of the sovereign Scottish people?

    In the end, much as I and others would like to see Alba do well – even preferably do to the SNP what Sinn Fein did to the IPP over a century ago – if we’re advocating a route that doesn’t really depend on conventional political parties, but some “big tent” Yes movement, then it doesn’t matter if Alba fails. I’m still not seeing how we move from where we are now, to the sunny uplands of a non-party constitutional convention or assembly of some description declaring independence? Are they going to stand candidates for elections or try to pressurise existing pro independence MSPs and MPs to back them, or to withdraw from Holyrood / Westminster or just assert that the sovereignty of the people means we don’t need to ask permission?

  3. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    At the risk of triggering the nativist “Crivvens!….its a local site for local folk, kin ye no just talk about oor ain wee kaleyard” types, those famously neutral Swedes seem to be having second thoughts about neutrality, having not been at war since Napoleonic days.

    Aftonbladet newspaper commissioned a poll by Demoskop. 57% of Swedes now support NATO membership, up from 51% in March. Those opposed fell from 24% to 21%, and undecideds fell from 25% to 22%. Excluding undecideds that’s a pretty convincing majority of 73% in favour to 27% against.

    I wonder what the people of Brigadoon….sorry Scotland….would answer if asked if they want to be part of NATO post independence or trust that nobody could possibly be a threat to a small, relatively rich independent state in a strategically important position?

    Makes you think eh?

  4. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    I listened to the lying babbling fool that acts as England’s PM on the radio at lunch time.

    No wonder Labour has died with its feet up as they ask him awkward questions but he doesn’t answer them and turns to attach Starmer.

    Bojo goes on to say how well he is doing in managing Covid-
    Really with having the highest death total in Europe and with excess deaths it’s almost 200K

    How he has employment now above pre pandemic levels?
    That isn’t true. How come no one in the opposition states that? Don’t they know?
    It’s Their job to know.

    He is leading the world in helping Ukraine?
    What with blocking refugees with the most absurd levels of firms and documents or is it by sending weapons their Minsters say they don’t have.

    Perhaps they might end up in Rwanda.

    Westminster politics is a mixture of Monty Python and 1984.

    Let’s leave it all far behind

  5. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    ” types, those famously neutral Swedes seem to be having second thoughts about neutrality, ”

    Agent Ellis.

    Neutral my arse, the Swedes aided the Nazi’s in WWII, Some even worked as guards at Treblinka as well. Of late, the crafty Swedes have tried and failed to set up Julian Assange on false rape charges at the behest of the Great Satan.

    Not to worry though Westminster had illegally held Assange in England’s Gitmo (Belmarsh) and today the English great Satan compliant judge gave the all clear to extradite Assange, to torture and certain death in the USA, all it needs now (appeals apart) is the signature of the not so Priti Patel.

    AS for an indy Scotland there are many countries around the globe that are not members of Nato, and they function without fear of the bully boy club invading them. SCotland doesn’t need Nato, or US nukes thirty-miles from its largest city.

  6. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Although I don’t believe for a minute that Sturgeon the betrayer will hold a proper indyref next year, I fear that she might attempt some half-arsed limp wristed type of effort that will be shotdown in flames and let her off the hook, I certainly hope this isn’t the plan.

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.scot%2Fnews%2F20081000.scottish-independence-nicola-sturgeon-says-vote-2023-still-realistic%2F

  7. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Andy Ellis says:
    20 April, 2022 at 2:18 pm

    I agree that a constitutional route is one credible route to independence, but what’s your definition of it being a “reasonably short way”?

    If the vast majority don’t know it yet, walk us through the process of what gets us from the current position…

    Presumably that has to be led by someone or some collective if it’s not an existing party?

    A petition to the Court of Session is the shortest way to ‘stress-test’ the Acts of union.

    All it needs is ONE PERSON to seek the answer – No political parties need be involved.

    The vast majority would know about it if/when such a petition was allowed to proceed.

  8. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “All it needs is ONE PERSON to seek the answer – No political parties need be involved.”

    Scott.

    Looked what happened when Martin Keatings tried to find out if an S30 (Sturgeon’s only route) was really needed. He had the Lord Advocate and the Scottish Government actively working against him, he then had to raise a shit load of cash for the court hearings, in which the Lord Advocate proposed that he wasn’t qualfied to find out the answer, and after all that we were palmed off with hypotheticals on the answer.

  9. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Republicofscotland says:
    20 April, 2022 at 5:13 pm

    “All it needs is ONE PERSON to seek the answer – No political parties need be involved.”

    Scott.

    Looked what happened when Martin Keatings tried to find out

    Yeah, there’s a reason I didn’t support his motion or help finance the costs – he was asking the wrong question and was doomed to failure from the start. Good luck to him in the local elections though.

    When petitioning CoS:

    It is possible not to be charged the fees of the court;

    There’s no need to employ solicitors or barristers…the plaintiff can prosecute their own case using plain language throughout.

    The only barrier to truth is fear.

  10. twathater
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Effigy , I wholeheartedly ENDORSE the despicable repugnance that should be heaped on bojo and his party of evil for ALL their lies and corruption , BUT we have our own despicable repugnant lot of evil charlatans engaging in their own lies and corruption

    We Scots can do NOTHING to stop WM , Bojo , the tory party , the LIEbour party , the lib dumbs,from engaging in their lies and corruption because we are ALWAYS outvoted by stupid or greedy self serving english people

    The ONLY way we can rectify and rebalance the situation is through independence which our despicable repugnant evil FM is desperate to avoid at all costs

    SO to be clear Effigy it is NOT bojo and his party of degenerate repugnant evil scum that is FORCING Scotland to ENDURE bojos lies and corruption , it is our own degenerate repugnant scum of a FM and her corrupt evil party who are FORCING us to ENDURE bojos lies and corruption , I am sure the posters on wee grifter dug will be endorsing the (it’s all bojos lies and corruption fault) nikkla has a plan but it’s a secret

  11. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    Effigy 20 April, 2022 at 4:32 pm

    “highest death total in Europe”

    You’ve claimed this before. I corrected you the last time. Sad that I have to correct you again. It’s as if you just can’t accept anything that challenges your preconceived ideas.

    Covid deaths per capita in European Economic Area, in decreasing order:
    Bulgaria
    Hungary
    Croatia
    Czechia
    Slovakia
    Slovenia
    Latvia
    Lithuania
    Romania
    Poland
    Italy
    Belgium
    Greece
    UK

    If you want to expand the selection from the EEA to Europe, and look purely at death totals, not deaths per capita, then in at number 1 comes Russia with 369,000 dead.

    Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1111779/coronavirus-death-rate-europe-by-country/

  12. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    Death toll I refer to is the number of Covid deaths and not per head of population.

    With Boris claiming to be world beating and ahead of the EU, look at Germany’s Death total
    where they have 15 million more to look after including 1.3 million refugees.

    Boris informed us to expect up to 20,000 Covid deaths.
    Shouldn’t we mention it’s 10 fold that and counting.

  13. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “Yeah, there’s a reason I didn’t support his motion or help finance the costs – he was asking the wrong question”

    I disagree Scott, by the very fact that the Lord Advocate and the Scottish governments interventions to hinder Mr Keatings, it was as plain as the nose on your face that both the LA and the S&G don’t want the answer revealed, and that sets alarms bells ringing for me that an S30 is not needed, for Sturgeon has built her house on sand on it being the case that we cannot contemplate leaving this union without the S30.

    Which would end up in the courts if challenged and we all know how that will end.

    For me the next GE should be a plebiscitary election, a majority of Scottish MPs returned who support independence at the next GE should be enough for us to declare independence at Holyrood.

    However we can bring them home after the vote and hold another one which includes the MSPs at Holyrood, again a majority for Yes allows us to declare indy again, Westminster should not have any say whatsoever on Scotland voting on its future.

    Voters who voted for their MP or MSP will have had their votes represented via electing them so their voices will have been heard as well.

    It doesn’t matter what Westminster thinks of the vote, what matters is what Scots think and that the international community recognises it, though there will be some countries that won’t recognise Scotland as an independent country because they are loyal to England.

  14. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    John Main says:
    20 April, 2022 at 5:35 pm

    Effigy 20 April, 2022 at 4:32 pm

    “highest death total in Europe”

    You’ve claimed this before. I corrected you the last time. Sad that I have to correct you again. It’s as if you just can’t accept anything that challenges your preconceived ideas.

    If I were moderator I would ban posters who addressed others in such a condescending manner

  15. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Ruby.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has an overall view of countries with the highest mortality from Covid/Coronavirus, right up until the 18th of April this year.

    Apparently the UK is among one of the highest death rates from the pandemic.

    https://covid19.who.int/

  16. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Effigy 20 April, 2022 at 6:04 pm

    “Death toll I refer to is the number of Covid deaths and not per head of population”

    That’s quite a daft metric.

    “With Boris claiming to be world beating and ahead of the EU”

    With UK 14th on the list, I make it that the UK is ahead of 13 EU countries.

    “Boris informed us to expect up to 20,000 Covid deaths.
    Shouldn’t we mention it’s 10 fold that and counting.”

    As of 6 days ago, UK death toll was 171,396. That’s 8.6 fold.

    I’ll give you the “counting” though.

    Why don’t you allow BoJo’s many failings to speak for themselves? You don’t make the case any stronger by lying.

    In fact, as many of the criticisms of BoJo concern lying, all you are doing is showing your own hypocrisy.

  17. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ruby 20 April, 2022 at 6:34 pm

    “If I were moderator I would ban posters who addressed others in such a condescending manner”

    Course you would Ruby. Then you could have the BTL section entirely to yourself. And as you use a girl’s name when posting, you could insult and swear with impunity.

  18. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ruby 20 April, 2022 at 6:34 pm

    “If I were moderator I would ban posters who addressed others in such a condescending manner”

    Course you would Ruby. Then you could have the BTL section entirely to yourself.

    But you would be shooting yourself in the foot. By allowing the occasional post from the TAF, the brilliance of your posts shine in contrast. Think about it.

  19. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    twathater says:
    I am sure the posters on wee grifter dug will be endorsing the (it’s all bojos lies and corruption fault) nikkla has a plan but it’s a secret

    That site seems to be all about the wicked Tories. I went there last week to see if any BTL posters had any doubts about the timing of the referendum. There was nothing just loads of articles & comments about the Tories.

    The current article is about the local election and it’s all about ‘vote till you boak’ and make sure to put Tories last and all independence parties first.

    Some were not happy about this article:
    https://archive.ph/UkPan
    Alex Salmond to launch Alba manifesto with jibe at ‘stagnation’ under SNP

    After all the talk of putting all the independence supporting parties first this comment make me smile:

    scottish_skier says:
    April 19, 2022 at 1:01 pm

    Well, Salmond was clearly saying that the SNP count as stagnation.

    I’m also at a loss as to how voting Alba here will help progress indy? Since when were cooncillors in charge of indyrefs etc?

  20. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    John Main says:
    20 April, 2022 at 6:50 pm

    @Effigy 20 April, 2022 at 6:04 pm

    “Death toll I refer to is the number of Covid deaths and not per head of population”

    That’s quite a daft metric.

    “With Boris claiming to be world beating and ahead of the EU”

    With UK 14th on the list, I make it that the UK is ahead of 13 EU countries.

    So not ahead of the EU, only some members.

    Sophistry 101

  21. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    I have a comment awaiting moderation. Trying figure out which word trigger this.

  22. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Checking Part 01 removed link to Herald article

    twathater says:
    I am sure the posters on wee grifter dug will be endorsing the (it’s all bojos lies and corruption fault) nikkla has a plan but it’s a secret

    That site seems to be all about the wicked Tories. I went there last week to see if any BTL posters had any doubts about the timing of the referendum. There was nothing just loads of articles & comments about the Tories.

    The current article is about the local election and it’s all about ‘vote till you boak’ and make sure to put Tories last and all independence parties first.

    Some were not happy about this article:

    Alex Salmond to launch Alba manifesto with jibe at ‘stagnation’ under SNP

  23. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Checking Part 02 removed named of poster

    continued from part 01

    After all the talk of putting all the independence supporting parties first this comment make me smile:

    Well, Salmond was clearly saying that the SNP count as stagnation.

    I’m also at a loss as to how voting Alba here will help progress indy? Since when were cooncillors in charge of indyrefs etc?

  24. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Figured it out. It was this word that trigger the ‘awaiting moderation thingy

    https://tinyurl.com/3jtzbdm7

    Once your post goes into moderation it never comes out.

    The other words that I’ve discover does it are:

    1. https://tinyurl.com/mr5ay8m5

    2. https://tinyurl.com/yh4jjdys

    The 1st one spelled with two Ts.

    No idea why the 2nd one does. Maybe the old medical term for ‘backhole’ is offensive. 🙂

  25. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    A golden handshake for MacTaggart, and still it appears unclear why MacTaggart was ousted.

    “One redacted document reportedly said if ministers were asked, to say that they had been informed about Mactaggart’s departure on February 18, and then if pushed further, to say that officials were made aware at the end of January.”

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.scot%2Fnews%2F20081757.scottish-national-investment-bank-boss-eilidh-mactaggart-paid-117-500-quitting%2F

  26. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    John Main says:
    20 April, 2022 at 7:16 pm

    @Ruby 20 April, 2022 at 6:34 pm

    “If I were moderator I would ban posters who addressed others in such a condescending manner”

    Course you would Ruby. Then you could have the BTL section entirely to yourself.

    The problem with that rubbish is you are the only poster who addresses others in such a condescending manner

  27. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    I didn’t notice any mention of GRA/Self Id over on the Dog site.

    It’s all just Tories evil SNP Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

  28. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Republicofscotland says:
    20 April, 2022 at 7:56 pm

    A golden handshake for MacTaggart, and still it appears unclear why MacTaggart was ousted.

    Possibly
    Mactaggart defined what a woman was and had to go?

  29. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    John Main says:

    And as you use a girl’s name when posting, you could insult and swear with impunity.

    What brings you to that bonkers conclusion?

  30. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    Okay, so who watched ‘Loose Women’?

    Did anyone ask Gallus Alice what her definition of ‘loose’ is?

  31. stonefree
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Ruby at 7:32 pm

    “I’m also at a loss as to how voting Alba here will help progress indy? Since when were cooncillors in charge of indyrefs etc?”

    I suggest that ALBA want the council non-SNP controlled as Sturgeon wants the councils to be in her power to control the country.
    I she gets all the councils SNP, she can do even more damage, she has been trying this for seven years
    It’s a strategy don’t think it’s a good one.
    If ALBA and ISP prevent SNP control of councils , then she scuppered
    I would ask that folk watch the interaction between SNP and Labour

  32. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    stonefree says:
    20 April, 2022 at 9:36 pm

    @ Ruby at 7:32 pm

    “I’m also at a loss as to how voting Alba here will help progress indy? Since when were cooncillors in charge of indyrefs etc?”

    Just to be clear I did not say that. That was a quote from a poster on ‘Wee Ginger Dug’

    I can understand why you might be confused. I had to muck about with the post trying to see why it had gone into moderation.
    I can’t post the name of the poster ‘cos his name triggers the moderation thingy.

    The post by XXXXXXX XXXXX made me smile because the article & other posts were emphasing the importance of voting for Independence parties first in the council elections. So I guess that had nothing to do with Indyrefs etc but just to keep the Tories out of the councils. The Tories being their main preoccupation over on WGD.

    I can’t go along with the vote for Independence supporting parties first idea because I can’t bring myself to vote for any ‘anti-women party’ The Greens & the SNP will be at the bottom of my list.

    I’ll be rating the parties not on whether they claim to support independence but on whether they claim to support women. I don’t think I will be the only woman doing that.

  33. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Scott 7:24 PM

    Two and a bit years down the line, now that all the dust has settled, we can see that the UK had not too bad a Covid.

    Not as good as some. Sweden, for instance. How I remember the never-ending posts slating their approach at the time. All forgotten now of course.

    UK better than Italy and 12 other EU countries.

    Far better than Russia, a so-called “major world power”.

    Far, far better than China, where the government is now telling people to put all thoughts of freedom out of their minds.

    People without axes to grind can see this for themselves. People also remember that it was the availability of vaccines in the UK, much earlier than they were available in the EU, that provided the route out of Covid for us.

    BoJo has much to answer for. But he did make one or two right calls on Covid, probably more out of luck than good judgement. Politics is not populated with pantomime goodies and baddies, it’s just a wee bit more complicated than that.

  34. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ruby 20 April, 2022 at 6:34 pm

    “If I were moderator I would ban posters who addressed others in such a condescending manner”

    @Ruby 20 April, 2022 at 10:16 pm

    “I had to muck about with the post trying to see why it had gone into moderation”

    Lookout Ruby! You’re gonna get banned!

  35. robbo
    Ignored
    says:

    Tell me this Ellis and Tell me this Main ?

    In yir ain words why do you think Scotland should be an Independent country?

  36. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Brotherhood says:
    20 April, 2022 at 9:05 pm

    Okay, so who watched ‘Loose Women’?

    Did anyone ask Gallus Alice what her definition of ‘loose’ is?

    That might be trickier than defining women. Loose has numerous definitions. The one that springs to mind visa a vis
    ‘Gallus Alice’ is the term ‘screw loose’ She is definitely not loose in the sense of being ‘a sexually promiscuous woman’ I strongly believe Nicola Sturgeon is a virgin.

  37. Ebok
    Ignored
    says:

    stonefree says:
    20 April, 2022 at 9:36 pm
    ‘Sturgeon wants the councils to be in her power to control the country. If she gets all the councils SNP, she can do even more damage, she has been trying this for seven years’

    That’s not how STV works, stonefree.
    It is almost impossible for ANY council to be controlled by any main party. No party won overall control of any of the 32 councils in 2017, 29 being no overall control (coalitions or minority) and 3 where there was a majority of Independents.

    It’s highly likely that it will be the same in a couple of weeks, i.e. no party will have total control of any council.
    SNP will be the largest party in many councils, though probably with less councillors. ALBA are just looking to get as many as possible of our 100+ candidates elected to make a breakthrough.

  38. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    John Main says:
    20 April, 2022 at 10:20 pm

    @Ruby 20 April, 2022 at 6:34 pm

    “If I were moderator I would ban posters who addressed others in such a condescending manner”

    @Ruby 20 April, 2022 at 10:16 pm

    “I had to muck about with the post trying to see why it had gone into moderation”

    Lookout Ruby! You’re gonna get banned!

    I really don’t get it! Can you please explain what you mean? Why would I be banned?

  39. robbo
    Ignored
    says:

    Apparently “Pinocchio” is a banned word in Westmonster.

    Mibee thon SNP Clown shid jist huve said ” Haw you big nose” jist resign noo.

  40. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    John Main says:
    20 April, 2022 at 10:16 pm

    @Scott 7:24 PM

    Two and a bit years down the line, now that all the dust has settled, we can see that the UK had not too bad a Covid.

    Far better than Russia, a so-called “major world power”.

    Far, far better than China, where the government is now telling people to put all thoughts of freedom out of their minds.

    —-

    Sit doon ya balloon…the figures speak for themselves.

    UK: est. pop. 67m – Covid deaths 171878 = 2565/million

    https://covid19.who.int/region/euro/country/gb

    Russian Federation: est. pop. 144m – Covid deaths 374141 = 2598/million

    https://covid19.who.int/region/euro/country/ru

    China: est. pop. 1.4bn – Covid deaths 14687 = 1.05/million.

    https://covid19.who.int/region/wpro/country/cn

  41. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    ‘not too bad a covid’ is such a deliberately fuckin offensive statement, it’s hard to know where to start.

    So I won’t.

    Shame on you JM.

  42. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Brotherhood says:
    20 April, 2022 at 10:53 pm

    ‘not too bad a covid’ is such a deliberately fuckin offensive statement, it’s hard to know where to start.

    So I won’t.

    Shame on you JM.

    —-

    I don’t think it knows the meaning of the word ‘shame’.

  43. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    This WOS article is getting attention again for reasons which will become obvious if you trail back through the related threads on Twitter.

    https://twitter.com/ianbhood/status/1516894404656738304

    https://wingsoverscotland.com/?s=some+things+stay+the+same

  44. stonefree
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Ruby at 10:16 pm My misunderstand had I read the whole thing in context and WGD I would not have responded, he is of no interest to me, he caters to the Sturgeon Loyalist

    @ Ebok at 10:33 pm
    It has little to do with STV
    NAC was controlled by the SNP in 2015 (there were other council similar,
    Sturgeon wanted her father in the council, so a MSP resigned her seat , SNP majority goes, By-Election and the SNP loose and that makes them behind.

    The only think that bothers me about STV is there should be a mandate requiring all to vote
    Every election somebody counts the no-voter, as someone who actually voted to twist their illusion

  45. stonefree
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Ruby at 10:16 pm My misunderstand had I read the whole thing in context and WGD I would not have responded, he is of no interest to me, he caters to the Sturgeon Loyalist

    @ Ebok at 10:33 pm
    It has little to do with STV
    NAC was controlled by the SNP in 2015 (there were other council similar,
    Sturgeon wanted her father in the council, so a MSP resigned her seat , SNP majority goes, By-Election and the SNP loose and that makes them behind.

    The only thing that bothers me about STV is there should be a mandate requiring all to vote
    Every election somebody counts the no-voter, as someone who actually voted to twist their illusion

  46. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    This, from over a year ago:

    Lothianlad says:
    7 March, 2021 at 8:16 pm
    Sturgeon in the early 1990s was able (assisted) to totally control the YSN of the SNP. She made it impossible for any young talent to flourish that she didn’t approve off.

    With her pals. S Robinson, a. Hosie and others, she was given a platform to rise through the snp whilst stiffiling any future obstacles to the direction she wanted to pursue.

    Assisted by the leadership who wanted new talent to carry the torch, another group who saw the rising star as an asset for their ends was the British secret service.

    Their agenda was to control the future leader through bribery, coercion and blackmail so that when the crucial time was right, she could sabotage the party when independence support was at its highest.

    The doubters will label thus all conspiracy theories. I dont give a fruck.
    Plenty evidence of brit state control of their enemies at the highest levels existing. Look at how they I filtrated and I fluenced the irish Republican movement.

    Ian Lawson, Campbell martin and others also have implied this in their previous writings. It would be foolish to think sturgeon is not owned by her brit nat handlers.
    Look at the mandates squandered and the destruction of the party she presided over.loosing 40,000 members and not an eyelid batted? Etc etc.

    Sturgeon must go if we are to become independent. The indy movement really needs to know the enemy within.

  47. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Brotherhood says:
    21 April, 2022 at 12:07 am

    This, from over a year ago:

    Assisted by the leadership who wanted new talent to carry the torch, another group who saw the rising star as an asset for their ends was the British secret service.

    I’m not saying that a male ’employee of MIskive’ was a frequent visitor to someone who claims to support independence, and who also lives round the corner from Robin & Joan Sturgeon, the fervent unionists until Nicola ‘persuaded them both otherwise’…only because I don’t know how often he landed or if, let’s call him Tony, still does.

  48. twathater
    Ignored
    says:

    @ ROS 7.56pm Re Mactaggart and her 6 month additional salary , some slimeball spokesperson from the Scottish administration said they were contractually FORCED to pay her her 6 months salary but she received no other benefit payments , YET the article states she was also paid a bonus on top of her salary for those 6 months , how can you EARN a bonus when you are NOT present at your employment or have left the company , a bonus is based on the work you will do that will benefit the company , if you have left the company how can you bring the company benefits
    THIS is ANOTHER thing that the deadwood parliamentarians should be screaming from the rooftops ESPECIALLY with the upcoming elections , and the MSM should be devoting numerous front pages to , BUT almost silence from the MSM and the parliamentarians (or troughing morons as they are known) and nothing , nada , zilch from our intrepid broadcasters , they’re too busy promoting war and helping sell arms

    They weren’t FORCED to pay her her 6 months salary they could have insisted she serve out her notice , and correct me if I am wrong but when a person RESIGNS as she is reported to have done there is NO OBLIGATION to adhere to contractual requirements

    This is another thing that STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN and is enveloped in the usual pish statement that it is NOT in the public’s interest to publish details

    When we are independent I demand an end to that copout of hiding bad news and responsibility by redactions and refusals to publish details , that would be a thing that any citizens assembly would excel at

  49. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    twathater says:
    21 April, 2022 at 2:26 am

    Re Mactaggart and her 6 month additional salary , some slimeball spokesperson from the Scottish administration said they were contractually FORCED to pay her her 6 months salary

    They weren’t FORCED to pay her her 6 months salary they could have insisted she serve out her notice

    By not forcing her to see out the final 6 months (the notice period), even on gardening leave, ‘the bank’ were contractually obliged/forced to pay the salary.

    Something does stink here, but whether the full truth ever emerges is something we’ll only know when/if it does.

  50. Robert Hughes
    Ignored
    says:

    ” Ian Brotherhood says:
    20 April, 2022 at 9:05 pm
    Okay, so who watched ‘Loose Women’?

    Did anyone ask Gallus Alice what her definition of ‘loose’ is? ”

    No , but I did see a clip of her previous appearance on that * show * a while back .

    The * girls * were getting , well , girly , on the subject of husbands , all Lassie’s Bogs innuendo/double entendre ; when it was Stoogeon’s turn to comment she tried to join in the * fun * with some reference to her marital sex life : it was as clear as day she was lying through her teeth ; a sociopath trying to be * one of the girls * . Excruciating , though , unintentionally , very revealing .

    This person will say and do ANYTHING to anyone to maintain her position of power .

    Wee Ginger Poodle and the handful of buffoons that account for 95% of BTL comments on that Sycophants Assembly are welcome to her . They’ll still be blowing her trumpet when the ship goes down . Hopefully soon , before she/they take Scotland down with them

  51. Robert Hughes
    Ignored
    says:

    ps Ruby ” ….. I strongly believe Nicola Sturgeon is a virgin. ”

    Possibly ? But I’m reminded of a quote by C.J Jung

    ” In the absence of love , power fills the vacuum ”

    This could be nearer the mark

  52. Dorothy Devine
    Ignored
    says:

    Blimey! I don’t watch Loose Women – the only time I ever did I found it offensively silly so I am surprised that the F.M ventured forth – trying to emulate the wee baroness of the Tory party by taking any route for publicity?

  53. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    What I’m curious about Sturgeon, isn’t Sturgeon at all. I find her extraordinarily dull and insincere, and it’s a straightforward chore just to listen to her.

    But I do wonder how many good Indy folks, and good ideas, have been lost to the cause and given the frosty treatment down the years, but these bright lights didn’t protest with any conviction because they didn’t want to damage the movement.

    Ask yourself this, if there wasn’t an ALBA, would you have known who Sara Salyers was? Would you have heard of the SSRG through Sturgeon’s SNP?

    Sturgeon has been such a complete disaster for Scottish Independence, right across the spectrum. Nothing has thrived and prospered throughout her tenure, and over an extended period when Independence was there for the taking. Instead she has frozen Scotland like the perpetual Winter in Narnia.

    Her cabal of troughing charlatans only ever talk about Independence in the countdown to some election, and otherwise are content to do the barest minimum they can get away with. How could any true Independence supporter function like that? Even if you found you were out your depth and were struggling, you’d seek help and ultimately step aside for someone with more drive and ambition to get Scotland over the line.

    By that Peter Wright Spycatcher theory about a spy’s loyalty being revealed by analysing a profit and loss ledger of their career, the good they’d done compared to the harm, in my opinion, Sturgeon’s Account is so far in the red it would seem beyond redemption, and she’d be removed from any position of influence without delay.

    Believe it or not, I don’t even care if she is an MI5 stooge. Whether her failure in leadership is down to corruption, treachery or incompetence, the nett result is the same. When she has done so much damage to Scottish Independence, the “why” seems irrelevant. If that’s the harm she can achieve when she supports the idea, it’s difficult to imagine what greater damage we’d have witnessed if her intention was to destroy us. In fact, a more reckless deconstruction might have rang more alarm bells much sooner.

    I try not to get angry with the self righteous, quivering vegetable types you see over on WGD. For one thing, they seem to bask in the flagellation. But as time marches on, you realise it’s the servile complacency of these types who have allowed the talentless Sturgeon to rise to the top and flourish, and then affect her scorched earth policy on the YES movement.

    When Sturgeon is toppled, (oh what joy and rejoicing there will be on that day), and the truth emerges about all the backstabbing shit and sabotage, I hope these pious wretches will have the backbone to stand up and own it, but I think we all know they’ll be nowhere in sight. Narcissism and sycophancy is a toxic and repugnant symbiosis.

  54. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @robbo 10.30 pm

    It should be independent because only by having all the political levers and powers at the disposal of an independent country can we deliver the social, economic and political outcomes most Scots want and deserve. Being part of a deeply regressive, ramshackle, crypto-medieval shambles like the United Kingdom won’t deliver the kind of society our people need, centring social justice, equality, better public services and a more prosperous future.

  55. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Nicola Sturgeon needs the likes of Angela Merkel or Hilary Clinton to give her advice on how to handle the menopause.

    Ordinary women won’t.

    Neither Angela Merkel or Hilary Clinton have written a book about their experiences with the menopause so Nicola is lost.

    OMG How is she going to handle FMQ’s if she has a hot flash?

    She’s going to have to take HRT that’s if there’s any left after all her trans pals have theirs.

    Some women have no menopausal symptoms others experience: hot flushes
    night sweats
    mood swings
    vaginal dryness
    reduced sex drive

    I realise this post might be full of offensive language don’t know what the hell the non-offensive word for menopause is. I know I shouldn’t write vaginal dryness but use the term ‘front hole dryness’ instead but quite frankly my dear………….

  56. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Correction!

    Ordinary women won’t do

    Nobody has any idea how many men are going to self-id as women and want HRT. There could well be a shortage in the very near future. Perhaps it would be more caring if ‘cis women’ found natural ways to cope with the menopause and left the HRT for their ‘sisters’ who need it more. ‘Cisters’ need to support their ‘sisters’. Don’t be a transphobe. Aye right!

    ‘Cisters’ also need to consider the cost to the NHS of the taking a drug that could be alleviated by natural methods.

    Positives:
    Night sweats & hot flushes could help reduce your heating bill. A hot flush when standing at a freezing bus stop could be very welcome maybe even better than Stu’s electric jaiket.

    It used to be menopausal women could reduce their spending on tampons but that doesn’t count anymore because their are free tampons everywhere including in the men’s toilet.

  57. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    OMG! I’ve typed their instead of there that could result in me being called a ‘scheemie’ an uneducated lump of pork.

    ‘Scheemie’ that is a word that should definitely be banned. What a utterly horrible way to describe people.

    I have a word for people who do that.

  58. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ruby 8.47 am

    It’s not your inability to type or the odd typo that gives away your underlying character away though, it’s your propensity to pepper your comments with the word cunt. If you don’t want to be thought of as a low life schemie, try not acting like one. If such a relatively tame appellation sends you in to such paroxysms of rage that you have to constantly harp on about, at least have the self awareness to wonder if calling folk cunts all the time might have something to do with it?

    Like Scott, you seem more than a tad obsessed, whilst trying to claim the moral high ground from behind your sweary anonymity. It isn’t fooling anyone.

    I see you’ve also taken to pontificating about how you’d tone police the site and what terms you would and wouldn’t ban, and what subjects are and aren’t suitable for discussion. Doubtless Rev Stu will give your wishes all the consideration they deserve.

    I think we all know what to call the kind of person Ruby you are, and what it says about their (lack of) character. When people tell you who they are, you should believe them.

  59. Alf Baird
    Ignored
    says:

    Breeks @ 7:38 am

    “Narcissism and sycophancy is a toxic and repugnant symbiosis.”

    The reality of colonialism also explains a situation where the regime is always looking for an opportunity to punish those who stand in its way. Lets remember that the UN regards colonialism as ‘a scourge’, i.e. a form of punishment inflicted on a people, which can only be ended through self-determination and independence. Edward Said described colonialism as ‘geographic violence’, and Albert Memmi reminds us that ‘every colonial nation carries the seeds of fascist temptation in its bosom.’ For in colonialism, which is ‘force’ according to Aime Cesaire: ‘There is a law of progressive dehumanization in accordance with which henceforth on the agenda of the bourgeoisie there is-there can be-nothing but violence, corruption and barbarism. I almost forgot hatred, lying, conceit.’ Which helps explain why the laws spewing out of a colonial administration are mainly concerned with legalising ever more punishment on an oppressed people.

  60. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    Not sure if I’m reading things Covid related as they are meant to be?

    Are people defending Boris and Westminster as we approach the 200,000 Covid Death?

    Covid not a problem says Boris we are well stocked up and ready to cope.
    The reality they totally ignored the Cygnus Exercise that should the U.K. could not support an
    Epidemic let alone a Pandemic.
    Not extra investment was put in place to provide extra staff, facilities or equipment such as PPE.

    Boris let’s 10,000 Spanish football supporters into Liverpool while the virus raged over there.
    They kept open the Cheltenham race festival as there was Tory investment in it.
    Over 250,000 people mixed unprotected at these race meetings.

    A U.K. vacuum cleaner manufacturer came up with a basic ventilator system when there were great shortages. His contract was cancelled when Tory supporter Dyson asked if he could start looking at how to manufacture them in Singapore were tax is lower.

    We had thousands of Doctors and Nurse from the EU as they felt unwanted with Brexit.
    The Tories started charging £1,200 for a 3 year work permit for foreign NHS staff.

    The Tories stopped bursaries for those looking to train as nurses.
    They forced the first ever Junior Doctors strike.

    Boris goes into a Covid ward and shakes hands with everyone while telling you not to.

    Billions handed out in contracts to Tories in Emergency or PPE contracts without tender.
    Much of what was delivered was unusable.

    Hancock having an affair and making a fair bit of contact that was not permitted.
    Zahawi and Hancock major share holders in companies given NHS contracts.

    Boris has been to more parties than a mobile disco while the public cannot visit dying relatives.

    Boris breaks the law on multiple occasions and he stops the release of the Gray Report and must be controlling the Met who with the help of the report itself, statements from those who resigned for being at the same party as Boris and several months of investigation are still unable to close the case.

    Now parliament cannot vote on whether to investigate Boris and there are enough seats willing to aide and abet that he will not be investigated even though we know he is a guilty as hell.

    I wouldn’t want to be ruled by Russia, China or Westminster.
    Scotland is tethered to the 3rd most corrupt and ruthless government on the planet.

    Don’t give me didn’t he do well.

  61. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @robbo 20 April, 2022 at 10:30 pm

    “In yir ain words why do you think Scotland should be an Independent country”

    Honest question deserves an honest answer.

    As a democrat first and foremost, I think Scotland should be an independent country when a majority of Scots clearly indicate they want it to be.

    So, a majority at a referendum, or a majority at a clearly stated plebiscitary election.

    Meantime, I consider it worthwhile to persuade honestly for independence, as that should be the best way of ensuring improvements in the lives of ordinary Scots. So that excludes obvious lying in order to bolster the case, and pointless gutter-scraping gossip about the FM, to give but 2 examples from yesterday.

    Oh, and independence means independence. It does not mean de-facto diluted sovereignty within a supra-national organisation like the EU. That’s a separate decision, to be taken after clear consideration of the pros and cons, at a separate referendum or similar, post-independence.

    Independence is not going to be handed to Scotland while Scots sit on their hands bleating. The undecided are not going to be persuaded in their hearts by posts deriding people who are sacrificing their lives for their own independence. The undecided are not going to be persuaded in their heads by posts telling them “facts” counter to their lived experiences.

    There you go Robbo, hope that’s clearer for you.

  62. stonefree
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Breeks 7:38 am

    Correct

  63. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Alf Baird 21 April, 2022 at 9:14 am

    “Which helps explain why the laws spewing out of a colonial administration are mainly concerned with legalising ever more punishment on an oppressed people”

    Can you provide some examples of recent laws “legalising ever more punishment on an oppressed people”?

    I think that for these laws to clearly indicate a colonial administration, they would have to be laws passed in WM that specifically target Scotland (or Wales, or NI), but please advise.

    Thanks in advance.

  64. Dorothy Devine
    Ignored
    says:

    Effigy , thanks I was beginning to lose track of the inequities perpetrated by the swindlers of Westminster.

  65. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Scott 20 April, 2022 at 10:51 pm

    Figures show other European countries have worse total Covid deaths.

    Figures show other European countries have worse per-capita Covid deaths.

    Figures therefore prove UK is worse than some for Covid and better than some.

    Too bad it takes a balloon to point this out to you. Sorry that you find facts offensive.

    Oh, and China. Tens of millions of people locked down right now with no end in sight. Big supply chain disruptions coming down the pipe. Maybes you can post to blame all that on Brexit when the time comes.

    Happy ballooning!

  66. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    I love my ‘magic mouse’ just one flick of the pinkie and that orange faced moniker disappears from my screen. Adios Coño!

    Now ‘Cisters’ keep in mind green tea, yoga & meditation will help relieve any menopausal symptoms you may have but it ain’t going to help your ‘sisters’ grow breasts.

    Don’t be a transpobe! Your ‘sisters’ need the HRT more than you.

    Nicola Sturgeon needs to shut up about the menopause it’s highly offensive to her trans sisters. Makes them think they are not real women.

  67. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    My wish for today is that John Main gets himself a a nice bright picture profile picture.

    Bye for now ‘C U Next Time!’ 😉

  68. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Main @9.36am.

    If you don’t count Russia as a European nation, and God knows many don’t, then the UK has the highest deaths from Covid in Europe, well according to the World Health Organisation, with 171,878 deaths, as of April 18th 2022.

    Presently at the top of the deaths list is the Great Satan (USA) with 981,834 deaths.

    Scroll down and click on deaths for the data, and view details for an indepth look.

    https://covid19.who.int/

  69. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    Following on from Robbo’s question above to me and John Main, another advantage to being an independent country of course would have been the ability to “do better” than the UK did in response to Covid. Leaving aside ideological disputes about Covid, I think the vast majority of us would agree that more people in the UK generally and Scotland in particular died than was necessary if we’d had competent governments.

    Of course inherent problems with lack of funding of the NHS over decades played a role, but so did immediate responses to the crisis as others have pointed out. A lot more people would be alive today if our governments had followed strategies like those in countries who are shown from the data to have much lower number of deaths per million inhabitants than the UK.

    Anyone who doesn’t think an independent Scotland, having full powers to organise and fund its NHS as it sees fit, and full powers to control its borders and pandemic response policies the way (say) New Zealand, or Denmark or Norway or any number of other small, successful states with far lower proportional death rates did, hasn’t been paying attention!

  70. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    @Breeks (7.38) –

    ‘Her cabal of troughing charlatans only ever talk about Independence in the countdown to some election, and otherwise are content to do the barest minimum they can get away with. How could any true Independence supporter function like that?’

    Great post.

    I selected that quote pretty much at random. It’s all good stuff.

    Many of us find it difficult to express the disgust we feel, for NS and those who enabled her. But that post is as good an effort as I’ve seen.

    Bravo sah!

    😉

  71. Mark Boyle
    Ignored
    says:

    Ruby says:
    21 April, 2022 at 9:45 am

    Now ‘Cisters’ keep in mind green tea, yoga & meditation will help relieve any menopausal symptoms you may have but it ain’t going to help your ‘sisters’ grow breasts.

    Don’t be a transpobe! Your ‘sisters’ need the HRT more than you.

    Nicola Sturgeon needs to shut up about the menopause it’s highly offensive to her trans sisters. Makes them think they are not real women.

    Ruby, you’ll find a lot of males in Scotland manage to grow a splendid pair of diddies without any need for HRT the moment they discover beer.

  72. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    Thought this worth sharing from the Guardian-

    Home Office Civil Servants rebelling against the Patel Rwanda scheme.

    Talk of strike action and comparison to Nazi war crime trials where they need to say they were only obeying orders.

    The best bit comes from the Home Office Spokesperson
    If staff are being disrespectful breaking our guidelines and our values of Integrity, Honesty,
    Objectivity and Impartiality they will be removed.

    What F*** joke from someone working under Boris’s government.

  73. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ruby 21 April, 2022 at 9:59 am

    “My wish for today is that John Main gets himself a a nice bright picture profile picture”

    Oh well, Ruby. Better luck with your wishing tomorrow.

  74. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “Home Office Civil Servants rebelling against the Patel Rwanda scheme.”

    Effigy.

    Its interesting to note that if you have brown skin you’ll be sent to Rwanda, and that the Royal navy can now turn brown skinned boat people around in the channel.

    However if you’re a Ukrainian the flags will be out for you as you enter the UK, money will be given to sponsors as well, and in Scotland Sturgeon the betrayer has even appointed a special minister for Ukrainian refugees entering Scotland to make sure they have all they need, no Rwanda destination for them.

  75. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    This from Sturgeon the betrayer at FMQ’s.

    “The First Minister said people had a right to demonstrate but should do so outside the Scottish Parliament rather than outside hospitals.”

    Sturgeon via the SPCB has made sure that we cannot demonstrate outside Holyrood the way we used to. Around 500 women demonstrating for their rights outside Holyrood called out Sturgeon, she must’ve heard it and soon after that demo the SPCB contacted Westminster to ask if it could lay the legislation to stop Scots demonstrating outside their parliament.

  76. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Andy Ellis 21 April, 2022 at 10:38 am

    “Anyone who doesn’t think an independent Scotland, having full powers to organise and fund its NHS as it sees fit, and full powers to control its borders and pandemic response policies the way (say) New Zealand, or Denmark or Norway or any number of other small, successful states with far lower proportional death rates did, hasn’t been paying attention!”

    Agreed.

    I listed the European countries with the highest Covid deaths per capita yesterday (the only directly comparable statistic) and pointed out that the UK comes in at number 14. That had a predictable effect on the BTL dialogue here (spoiler alert – none).

    On that same list, Sweden, which famously went its own way to the horror of many posters on here at the time, comes in at number 20.

    That’s great for the Swedes. Their government treated them like adults, and they responded accordingly.

    Our Scottish government treated us more harshly than BoJo did to the English, many Scots cheered NS on (and still do), and we got worse results. Go figure.

    Anyway, I see the moving finger of BTL irrelevant discussion (with respect to the elections in just 2 weeks time) has moved onto outrage at the proposed “Nazi” treatment of illegal immigrants who have paid substantial cash sums to force entry to the UK.

    I guess it falls to me to point out that Denmark, that EU bastion of “Nazi-ism”, has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Rwanda in order to deal with its own unwanted economic migrants in the same way. Go figure again.

  77. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    https://archive.ph/NccLG

    Government launches consultation on criminalising misogyny

    Anyone spotted the first major problem they are going to have with this consultation?

  78. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Republicofscotland 21 April, 2022 at 1:35 pm

    Hard to tell if your misrepresentation of the situation arises from ignorance, or malice.

    The people in the rubber dinghies pay criminals far more than the going rates for legal travel arrangements because they can’t legally enter the UK. As most of them have destroyed their identification documents, nobody can tell if they are fleeing persecution or fleeing the stench of unshaved French armpits. They are overwhelmingly young males who have abandoned their women to starve, be enslaved, or die.

    Ukrainians are fleeing a genocidal war started by your pal Putin. They are overwhelmingly women, children or pensioners. Their men are fighting to defend the free, sovereign nation of Ukraine.

    A basic sense of right and wrong leads most people to sympathise with the Ukrainians. An enhanced sense, underpinned by sympathies for women’s rights, further reinforces support for the Ukrainians.

  79. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    GRA/Self-id is misogyny
    Changing the language to exclude words like women, vagina, womb, breast-feeding etc is misogyny
    Denying women the right to single sex spaces is misogyny.

    Calling people standing up for women’s rights transphobes, anti-trans & racist is is misogyny.
    Women being cancelled, losing their jobs, being arrested for expressing their conerns about GRA/Self is misogyny.

    “Kennedy says she keenly felt the anger expressed by women about being left out of the original hate crime legislation but she is equally adamant that she did not want to be distracted by the increasingly febrile debate around trans rights and definitions of what a woman is

    Can anyone help?
    How do you create a law for a spefific group of people when you are unable/unwilling to define that group of people?

  80. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Sigh! Another comment under moderation!

    What is it this time?

  81. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Sigh! Another comment under moderation!

    What is it this time?

    Checking this part

    GRA/Self-id is misogyny
    Changing the language to exclude words like women, vagina, womb, breast-feeding etc is misogyny
    Denying women the right to single sex spaces is misogyny.

    Calling people standing up for women’s rights transphobes, anti-trans & racist is is misogyny.
    Women being cancelled, losing their jobs, being arrested for expressing their conerns about GRA/Self is misogyny.

  82. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Now this part

    “Kennedy says she keenly felt the anger expressed by women about being left out of the original hate crime legislation but she is equally adamant that she did not want to be distracted by the increasingly febrile debate around trans rights and definitions of what a woman is”

  83. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Last part

    Can anyone help?
    How do you create a law for a specific group of people when you are unable/unwilling to define that group of people?

  84. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    New moderation must be restricting the length of posts.

    My post went into moderation when one long post when posted in three parts it worked.

  85. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    As most of them have destroyed their identification documents, nobody can tell if they are fleeing persecution or fleeing the stench of unshaved French armpits.

    Spot the racist!

    Racist & Sexist. Difficult to know if he’s referring to French women or men.

    Must be women unless men in the UK now have their armpits waxed?

    Sorry I’m not au fait with with all the latest male grooming.

  86. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @John Main 1.57 pm

    “ That’s great for the Swedes. Their government treated them like adults, and they responded accordingly.”

    My daughter was in Sweden when Covid started and until the autumn of the first wave of the pandemic. Their government came under heavy criticism from many there for the relatively poor performance, particularly with respect to the lower mortality figures in comparison with their near neighbours like Denmark, Norway and Finland.

    There would be more Swedish adults around today if their government had been more responsible. Their good health service and the fact Swedes are renowned for literally keeping their distance anyway and disliking their physical space being invaded, probably helps account partly for why their figures weren’t even higher. They had a similar issue with care homes as the UK, particularly in the early days when they relied on the same failed herd immunity strategy as the UK.

  87. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Here’s a thing about Ukraine. Transwomen are being advised to destroy their identification documents because they risk being beaten up by the border guards or forced to remain in the country & be beaten up.

  88. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Main @2.15pm.

    Lets see now, the destruction Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan by the Great Satan and its minions has left millions of refugees heading for Europe for years, the likes of Great Satan and its minions attacks on Syria as well left millions fleeing murder and persecution from Western mad dog mercenaries the same lowlifes that now haunt Ukraine.

    Perfidious Albion even kicked an entire country full of people out (Chagossians) first menacing them, then threatening them, killing their pets and animal stock, and finally forcing them off the islands to allow a Great Satan airbase to be set up (Diego Garcia).

    The Ukrainians do not even need to leave their country, Putin isn’t interested in attacking civvies, RF’s have even given supplies to civvies, only for the Nazi’s and the SBU to murder them for taking the supplies, Ukraine isn’t even a democracy.

    Ukraine’s “pro-democracy” president Zelensky has outlawed his opposition, ordered rivals arrested and presided over the disappearance and assassination of dissidents.

    https://consortiumnews.com/2022/04/20/zelenskys-hardline-internal-purge/

    Anyway the bottom line is the UK is racist when it comes to immigrants/refugees, white Ukrainians are welcomed in and will be fully taken care of, however brown skinned folk will be sent to Rwanda.

    Even the Pope admits the West are racists.

    https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/04/16/680408/Pope-Francis-racism-Ukraine-immigrants

  89. Mark Boyle
    Ignored
    says:

    Ruby says: 21 April, 2022 at 3:11 pm

    Here’s a thing about Ukraine. Transwomen are being advised to destroy their identification documents because they risk being beaten up by the border guards or forced to remain in the country & be beaten up.

    The reason is the number of males either simply dressing up as women and making for the border or (lower figure) outright playing the trans card in an attempt to get out of the country and avoid the compulsory draft into the armed forces for all males in a certain (and widening) age group.

    Think Alfred Lickspittle in “The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies” and you’ll get the gist.

  90. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Mark Boyle says:
    21 April, 2022 at 3:43 pm

    The reason is the number of males either simply dressing up as women and making for the border or (lower figure) outright playing the trans card in an attempt to get out of the country and avoid the compulsory draft into the armed forces for all males in a certain (and widening) age group.

    It would be easy enough to do the above in Scotland but there is no self-id in Ukraine.

    Nobody knows how many men in Scotland will self-id as women. What do you think would happen if we had a 90% female population?

  91. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    I can’t quite shake the notion out of my head, but when Priti Patel first mentioned sending refugees to Rwanda, there were a couple of civil servants / speechwriters in the wings, one of them punching the air that she’d actually said it, and the other getting his wallet out to stump up for losing the bet.

    A bit like Will Ferrell’s anchorman Ron Burgundy, saying any old shit that appeared on his teleprompter…

  92. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    English Covid deaths are over £150,000.

    Scotland has less than 12,000 deaths.

    Multiply by 10 or 11 to compensate for population and we certainly have not done worse than
    England on that regard.

    If Scotland had control of its borders or the ability to borrow for fighting the virus it may have been a great deal less.

    I agreed with the more cautious approach we took as opposed to Boris going gung ho.

  93. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    I’m always suspicious of reports like this especially when they use the word “minor.”

    “Radioactive material has leaked at the site of the former Dounreay nuclear power station in Caithness, it has been confirmed.

    Radioactive liquid effluent is understood to have leaked inside a treatment facility.

    The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said the leak was minor and did not get outside the plant.

    Sepa has launched an investigation. Dounreay is currently undergoing a £2.6bn decommissioning process.”

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-15222259#:~:text=Radioactive%20material%20has%20leaked%20at%20the%20site%20of,minor%20and%20did%20not%20get%20outside%20the%20plant.

  94. Mark Boyle
    Ignored
    says:

    Ruby says: 21 April, 2022 at 4:03 pm

    Nobody knows how many men in Scotland will self-id as women. What do you think would happen if we had a 90% female population?

    The toilet seats would still be bloody left up and the empty cardboard tubes left in the loo roll holders.

  95. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Andy Ellis 21 April, 2022 at 3:10 pm

    “There would be more Swedish adults around today if their government had been more responsible”

    That’s quite a claim Andy, so it needs some evidence.

    It is probably true that there would be more Swedish adults around today who did not die of Covid. As to how the conversion of a Health Service into a Covid Service pans out in the medium to long term, we will see. Five years from now, if Europe’s best Covid performer, Norway, is Europe’s worst performer for cancers, strokes, etc. etc. who will still be saying “didn’t they do well”?

    Meantime, the evidence for spiraling death rates from all of the illnesses that are not Covid continues to grow in just about every country in the world.

    Apart from in the poorer countries of course, where its the evidence for spiraling poverty and starvation that is foremost.

    Covid casts a long shadow. Any policy that seeks to deal with it in isolation, to the exclusion of everything else, merely shifts the death totals into a different category.

  96. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Mark Boyle says:
    21 April, 2022 at 6:48 pm

    The toilet seats would still be bloody left up and the empty cardboard tubes left in the loo roll holders.

    The toilet roll thing is so weird. I had a TP holder with a spring mechanism (bit fiddly) which I changed to one where you just slide the roll and off to make it easier. Still the same tube still left in the holder & new toilet roll on floor.

    Leaving the seat up is annoying.

    If we have to share toilets with men it would probably be best if we had these Turkish toilets where ladies could just stand up and pee. Sure when you first use them you do tend to soak your shoes but with a bit of practice it’s fine. Better than having to share a conventional toilet with Mr I.P Squint.

  97. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Republicofscotland 21 April, 2022 at 3:39 pm

    Main @2.15pm.

    ” … Great Satan … ”

    You forgot Chechnya again. Guess they don’t count. Is it because they are Muslim, or is it because that genocide can be laid at Putin’s door, or a bit of both?

    ” … Western mad dog mercenaries … ”

    Believers in freedom. May be a few Scots in there somewhere. Must still be a few Scottish believers in freedom left, surely.

    “The Ukrainians do not even need to leave their country, Putin isn’t interested in attacking civvies”

    Print that up, laminate it and distribute thousands of copies to Ukraine. Grieving relatives can pin a copy to the grave markers.

    “Anyway the bottom line is the UK is racist when it comes to immigrants/refugees”

    Sure, which is why immigrants/refugees are in the professions, the government, the media, just about every street in the land, etc. etc. I guess it’s also why tens of thousands risk their lives to come here every year.

  98. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Republicofscotland 21 April, 2022 at 6:46 pm

    “ … BBC … ”

    FFS Republic. It’s no time since you were telling us everything reported by the BBC is lies.

    So what’s the gen here? Has one of the Satans detonated a nuke in Caithness as a false flag op to pin on the Russians?

    What do your usual “go to” Kremlin sites say?

  99. twathater
    Ignored
    says:

    WTAF
    UNBELIEVABLE

    https://grumpyscottishman.wordpress.com

  100. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    “I’m sure it’s a matter that the civil service will want to reflect on, about how they best document important decisions that significantly influence not just the use of public money but the provision of extremely important aspects of public services.

    – Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-61150027

    ‘the civil service’ is a Whitehall dept, and has failed Scotland as much as the NuSNP.

  101. Brian Doonthetoon
    Ignored
    says:

    Bog seats…

    They are hinged for a reason. If you want to stand and pee, it is a good idea to lift the seat, to save having to wipe it if your pee goes squint.

    If you want to sit on it to have a pee, you put it down to the perpendicular and carry on regardless.

    People who leave it in the flat position, or leave it in the upright position, are doing no wrong. It’s up to the next user to align the seat to their preference.

    Why create an argument over personal choice?

  102. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    Worldmeters Covid report 646 U.K. Covid Deaths today. 2,525 Deaths per million population

    Germany at 1,592 Deaths per million.

    Can you here Boris say again how great he has managed the Covid Situation.

  103. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Brian Doonthetoon says:
    21 April, 2022 at 9:03 pm

    Bog seats…


    Must be a slow news day, but…

    Seat AND lid should be down when flushing, because of risk of bacterial and viral transmission.

    [I always sit down to pee, so a fixed seat would do me fine]

  104. Brian Doonthetoon
    Ignored
    says:

    Hi Scott.

    Yes – I agree. The seat and lid should be flat when flushing. You just have to see the video to convince.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egkzyAFJ-g8

  105. Mark Boyle
    Ignored
    says:

    Brian Doonthetoon says: 21 April, 2022 at 9:03 pm

    Bog seats… [snip!]

    Why create an argument over personal choice?

    Ruby and I’s exchange is – what is known in the trade – as reciprocal tongue-in-cheek …

  106. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    “The Parliaments of England and Ireland have agreed upon the articles following:

    Article Sixth

    The subjects of Great Britain and Ireland shall be on the same footing in respect of trade and navigation, and in all treaties with foreign powers the subjects of Ireland shall have the same privileges as British subject.”

    – Union with Ireland Act 1800

    https://www.legislation.gov.uk/apgb/Geo3/39-40/67/section/1.?view=extent

    Article XVIII of UwE1707 is constructed along similar lines.

    https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aosp/1707/7?view=extent#commentary-c920124
    ***

    Incompetence is clearly one reason Scotland isn’t independent.

    Brexit allows NI to trade on different terms to the rest of us, which begs the question..

    Have any politicians or Lord Advocates ever actually read “the Acts” of union?

  107. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    “The Parliaments of England and Ireland have agreed upon the articles following:

    Article Sixth

    The subjects of Great Britain and Ireland shall be on the same footing in respect of trade and navigation, and in all treaties with foreign powers the subjects of Ireland shall have the same privileges as British subject.”

    – Union with Ireland Act 1800

    “The Parliaments of England and Ireland have agreed upon the articles following:

    Article Sixth

    The subjects of Great Britain and Ireland shall be on the same footing in respect of trade and navigation, and in all treaties with foreign powers the subjects of Ireland shall have the same privileges as British subject.”

    – Union with Ireland Act 1800

    https://www.legislation.gov.uk/apgb/Geo3/39-40/67?view=extent

    Article XVIII of UwE1707 is constructed along similar lines.

    https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aosp/1707/7?view=extent#commentary-c920124
    ***

    Incompetence is clearly one reason Scotland isn’t independent.

    Brexit allows NI to trade on different terms to the rest of us, which begs the question..

    Have any politicians or Lord Advocates ever actually read “the Acts” of union?

    Article XVIII of UwE1707 is constructed along similar lines.

    https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aosp/1707/7?view=extent#commentary-c920124
    ***

    Incompetence is clearly one reason Scotland isn’t independent.

    Brexit allows NI to trade on different terms to the rest of us, which begs the question..

    Have any politicians or Lord Advocates ever actually read “the Acts” of union?

    *reposting with correct link*

  108. Clavie Cheil
    Ignored
    says:

    Is it me or are we getting hit with above average amount of Royalist Guff right the now? Give me 12 million and I will go away. Not a mention of the kiddy fiddler.

  109. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Aplogies, brain fog has the better of me ce soir.

    “The Parliaments of England and Ireland have agreed upon the articles following:

    Article Sixth

    The subjects of Great Britain and Ireland shall be on the same footing in respect of trade and navigation, and in all treaties with foreign powers the subjects of Ireland shall have the same privileges as British subject.”

    – Union with Ireland Act 1800

    https://www.legislation.gov.uk/apgb/Geo3/39-40/67?view=extent

    Article XVIII of UwE1707 is constructed along similar lines.

    https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aosp/1707/7?view=extent#commentary-c920124
    ***

    Incompetence is clearly one reason Scotland isn’t independent.

    Brexit allows NI to trade on different terms to the rest of us, which begs the question..

    Have any politicians or Lord Advocates ever actually read “the Acts” of union?

  110. Robert Hughes
    Ignored
    says:

    Twathater @ 8.35

    All too believable in Stool Brittania mon ami . Though the depth of hypocrisy n ” let them eat fck all ” arrogance displayed by Itchy Bolsak n his missus is priti extreme even by Tory * standards * .

    Could it be caused by Covid , or the Ukraine situation , or – my bet – the misogynist leaving-up of pee-flecked toilet seats ?

    Or are they ALL just cunts ?

  111. Clavie Cheil
    Ignored
    says:

    Is there an upside to the Ukraine war and the genocide being visited on it by Russian fascists and the big Tory party Donors that are the Russian fascistic Oligarchs? Well yes there is..

    We are living in interesting times. We are witnessing the final collapse of the Russian Empire and its bastard children. The Tsars basically clung on in the form of Soviet Dictators and now the fascistic Vlad Putin.

    After WW 1 we got rid of the cousins of the Brit English Royals in that the Germans got rid of the Kaiser and we got rid of the Ostrogoth Hungarian Hapsburg’s as well.

    The only warmongering Whores of Europe left soon will be England’s Germanic Royals.

  112. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    Why on earth would India give Boris a better trade deal than they would give the EU, the
    world’s largest trading market?

    The last time they tried this it fell apart as India insisted on Indians having the right to work in the U.K.

    India knows that Boris will grasp any straw in hope any deal will make him look competent and deflect attention from the fact he was a lying party animal throughout the Covid lockdown.

    Bojo’s outrage with Russia in Ukraine didn’t see the Russian Money returned from his party and it won’t affect his quest for a trade deal as India continues its support for Russia rejecting any sanctions against them.

    Boris has history of being willing to break U.K. and International law and was happy to back out of the exit deal he signed as he left the EU.

    Everything he says and signs is worthless.

  113. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    “Auditors call for new reviews over Scotland’s ferry fiasco after transparency ‘failure'”….

    https://archive.ph/3bNOd

    Aye, just put Linda Fabiani in charge of it then sit back and watch the heads roll.

    … with laughter.

  114. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    https://archive.ph/pK1Fx

    HRT ‘betrayal’ forces women to buy on the black market

    “Harris added: “The government was totally unprepared for the rise in demand for HRT”

    In Scotland it is not known how many men will want HRT SG cannot possibly by prepared for rise in demand.

    Demand has surged in recent years amid high-profile menopause awareness campaigns, which have reassured women over HRT side-effects and highlighted the benefits of the therapy.

    ‘Menopause awareness campaigns” working on behalf of big pharma?

    Interesting fact: Japanese women experience far fewer difficulties with menopause than their North American counterparts.

    If you want to learn why Japanese women don’t experience menopause the way Western women do, keep reading the rest of this article. It might just be what you need to go through menopause comfortably. Let’s talk about menopause in Japan.

    https://menopauseexperts.com/menopause-in-japan/

    PS Anyone know the non-offensive word for menopause?

  115. Clavie Cheil
    Ignored
    says:

    The British Nationalist and Wokism????

    https://thehistoryvault.co.uk/james-i-vi-and-his-male-favourites/

  116. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    HRT has also been associated with an increased risk of blood clots and certain types of cancer.

    I would recommend seeking a natural solution to menopausal symptoms.

    It would be transphobic not to do so & it will also be better for your health.

    What’s the problem with a hot flush? Could be better & cheaper than “Stu’s electric jaiket’ on a freezing cold day.

    The reason I say it’s transphobic is ‘sisters’ need HRT more than ‘cisters’ Green Tea, yoga, meditation & a good diet ain’t gonna help our ‘cisters’ grown breasts, reduce facial hair & achieve their feminisation goals.

    Don’t be an HRT hog be kind let the men have the HRT.

  117. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Is it embarassing for ‘cismen’ to talk about ‘cervic haver’s’ problems or is that just a myth?

  118. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    Bog seats and HRT?

    2 weeks from now it is very likely we will be discussing the disappointing showing in the election. Maybes somebody will remember to ask how bog seats and HRT went down on the doorsteps.

    Meantime, in the real world, I listened to Tobias Elwood on the wireless this morning (if you don’t know what he does, look him up). He was very clear on just how the UK is getting incrementally sucked in, day by day, into the war in Ukraine.

    I have my views on this, but what is far more important, in my mind, is whether our increasing involvement and commitment should be done “by stealth”, i.e. without prior communication and discussion.

    Maybes we should be talking about that here. Once peace returns and Russia is trashed (or we are), we can get back onto the important stuff like bog seats and HRT.

  119. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Effigy
    bribery and promise.

  120. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    https://archive.ph/wip/ziboW

    “Just in: HRT will be available to buy over the counter for the first time ever”

    Women will be able to pick up the hormone replacement without a prescription in a groundbreaking move.

    Until now, you have to see a GP or specialist for a consultation prior to being able to access the medicine”

    This all sounds very dodgy.

    Now you can just self-id and get a years supply of HRT for £19.

    ‘This is because one (now debunked) study from 2001 found that HRT could be linked to higher risk of breast cancer, and it’s widely concluded that the benefits now outweigh any associated risks.’

    Suspicious?
    That study was done on ‘women’ what about the risk of men taking HRT?

    https://archive.ph/SPM0R
    This guy based in Manchester is charging £150 for 3 months supply of HRT.

    Is that legal? Whether it is or not he’s going to be hard hit by HRT being available for £19 a year in the local phramacy or maybe not.

    He could buy a years supply of HRT in the local pharmacy and sell it online for £450.

    These costs wont apply in Scotland.

    Will HRT be available to anyone without prescription FOC?

    Do you believe all this for the benefit of ‘cervic havers’?

  121. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Radio Shortbread (Scotland) confirming that the Ukrainian Nazi’s are now being trained on heavy artillery equipment in the UK, Nazi’s in the UK, Main and Cheil will be wetting themselves in delight.

  122. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Oor ain folk canny find a hoose in Scotland, yet Sturgeon the betrayer is bending over backwards to accommodate Ukrainians.

    https://www.thenational.scot/news/20085358.scots-family-facing-homelessness-abandoned-borders-council/

  123. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Meanwhile the promises from Sturgeon the betrayer and her clique are coming thick and fast as the Council elections deadline approaches. The only thing the Betrayer hasn’t promised yet is the Moon, that will come next week.

    “SNP councillors will lead a “pandemic-level response” to the cost-of-living crisis and support their local communities, Nicola Sturgeon will say at the party’s manifesto launch.

    The First Minister will outline the key priorities of SNP councillors in local government such as: keeping the Council Tax reduction scheme, designing a National Care Service and improving the energy efficiency of homes and buildings across the country. The delivery of a new Parental Transition Fund to help tackle the financial barriers that parents face re-entering the workforce will also be a key policy.”

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.scot%2Fnews%2F20085365.nicola-sturgeon-pledges-pandemic-level-response-cost-living-crisis%2F

  124. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Clavie cheil.

    Dont ask me to ever believe in climate change from the western leaders policies for citizens to abide by,

    While most of the western world leaders want to start world war 3.

    Blowing apart the earth and animals they want to save from plastic.

    And what do tanks and war machines run on,

    The same fuel source they are banning citizens around the world from using for heating and cooking.

    War policy is incompatable with climate change policy that the WEF and Davos spew.
    Perhaps both provide equal finances to the leaders and to hell with people.

  125. Mark Boyle
    Ignored
    says:

    John Main says: 22 April, 2022 at 9:25 am

    Bog seats and HRT?

    2 weeks from now it is very likely we will be discussing the disappointing showing in the election. Maybes somebody will remember to ask how bog seats and HRT went down on the doorsteps.

    Probably better than Alba’s rank rotten party political broadcast, which everyone I’ve encountered to date has been slagging off. Their one chance, and they wasted it on the usual Mickey Mouse production circa 1990s SNP-ville.

    Good ideas badly presented: having someone giving your points in a “See you Jimmy!” voice doesn’t add “working class authenticity” to your PPC, it’s regarded as patronising by those in lower income brackets and grating by those above. There’s a good reason why Tommy Sheridan succeeded why every other wannabe class warrior failed so miserably, it’s called presentation – something some of those moronic Weegie SNP MPs could learn about.

    And once again, the sweeping Harry Potter style panoramas of Bonnie Scotland (and the cliched Oor Wullie/The Broons ceilidh music) than mean zero to someone stuck in a Weegie flat whose nearest to greenery is Sainsbury lettuces and dandelions growing through the pavement gaps. It certainly don’t inspire anyone to “heroism at the ballot box” for their country.

    That Alex even went to the bother of pointing out four minutes twenty secs in “Look children, look, this is Arbroath!” showed deep down even he had no confidence with the material – it would have been pretty obvious to anyone even mildly ScotNat it was bloody Arbroath Abbey, and to any that weren’t, pointing it out would have triggered the responsorial “so what?”.

    But since Salmond thinks that’s what makes for a good PPC, and he’s made sure to surround himself with only sycophants that will tell him what he wants to hear, not what he needs to hear (just like Sturgeon), the same old mistakes will be repeated until the whole house of cards collapses, and Sturgeon gloats as another source of grassroots dissent withers.

    Said it before, and the 5th May will bear it out, this battle was lost before it was fought – it’s the next battle to come that matters when Sturgeon’s trans-chickens come home to roost; and for that Alba, the ISP, SSP and the rest of the ragbag of “Yes Indi, No SNP careerists” camp need to get over themselves and truly unite – but as things stand they’re all too silly and selfish to do so.

    So we may as well talk about toilet seats when we’ve a bog standard opposition whose chances of bringing changes in May have long gone down the pan …

  126. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Clavie cheil.

    Dont ask me to ever believe in climate change from the western leaders policies for citizens to abide by,

    While most of the western world leaders want to start world war 3.

    Blowing apart the earth and animals they want to save from plastic.

    And what do tanks and war machines run on,

    The same fuel source they are banning citizens around the world from using for heating and cooking.

    War policy is incompatable with climate change policy that the WEF and Davos spew.
    Perhaps both provide equal finances to the leaders and to hell with people.

    The world leaders are finding solutions for the problems they have yet to create.

  127. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    John Main says:
    22 April, 2022 at 9:25 am

    Bog seats and HRT?

    2 weeks from now it is very likely we will be discussing the disappointing showing in the election. Maybes somebody will remember to ask how bog seats and HRT went down on the doorsteps.

    The issue of toilets & HRT dismissed by the sexist/racist Mr John Main.

    He’s failed to see the seriousness of these issues:

    1. Non availablity of drugs due to Gov not forecasting the increase in demand due to their policies.

    2. Big pharma promoting the use of drugs. Women are being fooled into taking HRT.

    3. Drugs being availabe without prescription.

    4. Not defining what is meant by ‘women’ resulting in drugs with serious side effect for men being available over the counter & without medical consultation.

    John Main is a fool

  128. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Rev stu,
    Is it possible to do a poll or survey on how many NHS local surgeries have gone private in Scotland while the SNP have been in charge.

    Sneaking feeling the Snp have been privatising most of Scotland NHS under the radar.

  129. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    John Main says lets talk about Ukraine Fuck Scotland and Fuck trivial issues like ‘women’s rights, HRT & toilets.” Fuck women they are unimportant. So unimportant they can even be defined. That is how a sexist/misogynist thinks.

    We can talk about Ukraine until the cows come home but it’s not going to make a blind bit of difference.

    Nobody is going to be discussing Ukraine on the doorstep but I guarantee women will be discussing women’s rights, HRT & toilets. Probably a lot of men too.

  130. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    I have been back reading some comments from a few days ago to catch up after hospital.

    I see a discussion regards successor countries should Scotland and England separate. And how debts would be divvied up.

    In this discussion we have to remind ourselves that England and it parliament denounced its self as England being a continueing country.

    But transferring to a new title of the parliament of Great Britain.

  131. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Ooops typo” can’t not can.

    <b”Fuck women they are unimportant. So unimportant they can't even be defined. That is how a sexist/misogynist thinks.

  132. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    A line has to be drawn in the sand legally.

    We ( Scotland) made a treaty with the English Parliament,
    Which then closed its doors and denounced itself.

    In 1706/1707 Scotland had been left without another partner to the treaty. But a suspended Scottish Parliament, (Sine Die).

    Before the Great British Parliament was or could be Created.

    Breaking any agreement The English Parliament had had with Scotland’s Parliament.

  133. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Thus Scotland continued as the original kingdom and parliament asbefore and after 1707.

    When dividing finances or revenues it become obvious that England Parliament no longer has a say in the matter.
    And additionally would be impossibly for it to claim any degree of authority over negotiations, as a closed parliament of three hundred years or more.

  134. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    If Scotland wished or decided to go independent the newly created parliament of Great Britain of 1706/07 would or could have little say in the matter as a late comer after the English Parliament closed its doors.

    Anything the English parliament had promised as a legal entity by way of a future agreement with Scotland became null and void as soon as England Parliament ceased to exist and denounced itself
    And ceased to operate as Englands Parliament.

    A legal technicality long overlooked.

  135. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Englands Parliament does not and cannot hold a treaty with the Scottish Parliament.

    Nor did Scotland make a treaty with the Great British Parliament,
    The Great British Parliament did not exist at the time of the 1706/07 treaty with the English Parliament.

  136. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    It is a fog war of words, smoke and mirrors from the New Great British Parliament since 1706/07.
    It can not legally act as continuation of Englands old Parliament.

  137. Ottomanboi
    Ignored
    says:

    Plainly, the Scottish national movement is deep in the quicksand. Who, what is going to extricate it? Alba? A party of old men and women who can remember the days before mobiles? A palace revolution in SNP lalaland? A realisation that the whole thing may need a restart from zero?
    Desicions, decisions, decisions….

  138. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Ottomanboi says:
    A party of old men and women who can remember the days before mobiles?

    Spot the ageist

  139. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Ruby
    Ottomanboi.

    i am beginning to think actually that.

    Start at the beginning and see what is logical and sensible in realistic legal terms.

    We may be politically fighting for freeing Scotland and it people from an entire bogus treaty.

    I am kinda in favour of a logical approach to legalities, and what is correct on paper.

    I am also kind of eager to get rid of politicians whom are leading us astray with not recognising women as much as politicians whom lead us down a falsified treaty with England s Parliament whichno longer exists.

  140. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Most politicians in Scotland are saying ” we will stop the snp from continuing putting independence first.
    The snp are saying the same using alternative wording.

    We are all being played in Scotland.

    Lets start at the beginning.

    Do we need to be recognised by other countries for coming out of a treaty?
    Or

    Do we need to acknowledge we were never in one ourselves.?

  141. James
    Ignored
    says:

    John Main says:
    21 April, 2022 at 9:16 am
    “As a democrat first and foremost, I think Scotland should be an independent country when a majority of Scots clearly indicate they want it to be”.

    Define ‘Scots’.

  142. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @James 12.58 pm

    “Define ‘Scots’.”

    We already have. Which Scots that were allowed to vote in 2014 do you think should be disenfranchised?

    Define ‘xenophobe’.

  143. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    Ottomanboi says:
    22 April, 2022 at 11:51 am

    Desicions, decisions, decisions….

    Constitution, Constitution, Constitution…

    The Scottish people are sovereign, thus Scotland’s Brexit was unlawful, and thus both the Law and the Treaty of Union were breached.

    It doesn’t require a party of old men, it requires a Constitutional Lawyer with some backbone, and a People’s Constitutional Assembly to sponsor the Test Case.

    Martin Keatings had the right idea, but in my humble opinion his approach was too myopic, because he believed in democracy and wanted Referendum, and thus focused on the 1998 Scotland Act, and was trapped by the 1998 Scotland Act. To Hell with the 1998 Scotland Act and the Constitutional swamp of Devolution. To Hell with a Referendum so compromised by colonial interference and media indoctrination.

    Assert the Claim of Right through a Constitutional Assembly of the people, and formally dispute Scotland’s Brexit Subjugation as unlawful, and an irreconcilable breach of the Union Treaty, thus the United Kingdom no longer exists as a direct consequence of Westminster’s catastrophic Brexit misadventure.

  144. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @ James Che

    10.13 am: “Dont ask me to ever believe in climate change from the western leaders policies for citizens to abide by,….”

    Sooo…science denying conspiracy theorist who doesn’t accept global warming mid morning, meet James Che just after noon:

    12.49 pm: “I am also kind of eager to get rid of politicians whom are leading us astray with not recognising women…”

    Recognises the scientific reality and rejects gender woo.

    Confused much?!

  145. James
    Ignored
    says:

    Ellis:

    Define ‘straw man’.

    Setting us up to fail again?

    Your Yoon is showing.

    ‘Scots’ have already voted ‘Yes’ to independence, it’s the absurd and very unusual voting franchise that lost it for us due to the portion of incomers (which is edging higher month by month) who have no stake in Scotland regaining independence and never will have, as they see us as belonging to them. All you need is an address ffs.

    You should read Doun Hauden and educate yourself.

  146. robertkknight
    Ignored
    says:

    James…

    “Define ‘Scots’.”

    Anyone domiciled in Scotland who has an “S” prefix on their tax code, students studying at further and higher education establishments who are in receipt of SAAS funding, irrespective of where they are studying, and members of HM Forces whose place of birth is Scotland, irrespective of where they are serving.

    That would cover those who are in Scotland because they regard it as home, irrespective of where they’re from originally, and those who through employment (MoD) or education are temporarily absent.

    Anyone here on a temporary basis, i.e students from outwith Scotland studying here, and MoD personnel and families posted here temporarily from elsewhere in the UK, should not be permitted to vote in Indyref2.

  147. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    James Che. says:
    22 April, 2022 at 10:22 am

    Rev stu,
    Is it possible to do a poll or survey on how many NHS local surgeries have gone private in Scotland while the SNP have been in charge.

    No need, Mr Cheyne.

    GP practices are ‘private businesses’ contracted to provide NHS services, and always have been.

    As for your continuing belief that England’s parliament ceased to exist, thus rendering “the Treaty” void?

    Union with England Act 1707; Union with Scotland Act 1706 both explicitly state how and when the Parliament of GB came into being.

    The breaches of the terms of the treaty have occurred since then, not before.

  148. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @James 1.20 pm

    No James, just that the majority of the movement, and those who aren’t regressive blood and soil nationalists, aren’t prepared to give up on civic nationalism. If we can’t win independence by convincing enough of the >80% of the population who are “native born” plus enough “New Scots”, then our case is shit.

    There is no pressing need or justification for moving the goalposts from the franchise agreed for #indyref1. You’re simply factually incorrect – or just being dishonest – to claim the franchise used is “very unusual”: in fact the OPPOSITE is the case.

    There are plenty of “incomers” who are ardent supporters of independence, yet you’d disenfranchise them? How about all the native born Scots abroad? Are you going to enfranchise them…..? Catalans abroad can vote in their referendums, so will you support the 800,000 eligible Scots in England being able to vote whether their country of birth, where they will be entitled to claim citizenship, being able to vote? No…of course you won’t, because they’re overwhelmingly unionist.

    I have read Doun Hauden. It’s unconvincing. The “Scotland as colony” narrative is deeply flawed. It trivialises the suffering of those subjected to “real” colonisation, and panders to the Scots chip on the shoulder that “we wuz robbed by furriners” rather than own up to the fact that we bottled it in 2014, and still haven’t made the case to significantly alter the polls in the 8 years since.

    The incomers didn’t deprive us of independence, it’s just that too many Scots are slaves who revere their chains: the answer isn’t to deny “New Scots” the vote, it’s in making an irresistible case. Retreating in to the kind of xenophobia and “little Scotlanderism” we see too often in here these days won’t achieve independence faster, it will be a huge turn off for many voters and delay it further.

  149. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Andy.
    accusing the wrong people to fit in.

    Both those agendas are not mine, i am sure you are aware of it,

    One is incompatible with the other as to saving the planet,

    Antagonistic as always. Diverting as always.
    Always trying to be followed.

    Stop the Scots talking. No matter the subjects or which Scot.

    Only this once andy with regards mysel no matter your answer.
    And you would need to take the incompatibility up with the WEF and world leaders , as neither ( as I said) are a Policy of mine.
    Just pointing out the contradiction from personal observation.
    It is up to others here if they wish to give you a hearing platform to attack them.
    I don’t mind.
    Watching you resort to calling people or myself names.
    My gran always used to say, “someone is loosing the arguement when they resort to badmouthing 🙂

  150. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    I see the guardian is running a piece on what our national anthem should be when we are independent.

  151. robbo
    Ignored
    says:

    Ottomanboi says:
    22 April, 2022 at 11:51 am
    Plainly, the Scottish national movement is deep in the quicksand.

    Well You’re in it anaw.

    West Monster- Full of auld men and women troughing it since 1707.
    House Of Lords & Ladies /Lairds- Full of auld men and women troughing it since 1707.
    HR- Full of auld men and women and younger weirdo’s troughing it since 1999.

    Decisions, decisions, decisions eh!

  152. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Robbo.

    Like it. Good point.

  153. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @James Che 1.41 pm

    I’m afraid you seem to be the one diverting James: you do this a lot.

    It’s hardly exceptional to point out that it is an odd position for anyone to take that they disbelieve the scientific evidence of global warming, but accept the scientific reality of sex rather than gender woo. If that’s wrong, it’s down to your inability to express yourself, not the fault of those trying to make sense of your posts.

    I’m not trying to stop anyone talk. This is another “thing you do”: assert that others are trying to stop Scots talking, or divert from the issues while spaffing the BTL with ill-researched and stream of consciousness nonsense about constitutional issues you patently don’t understand.

    Don’t attack others for your lack of clarity or rambling posts. Do better. Be clearer.

  154. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Interesting turn of events on Radio Shortbread (Scotland).

    They are now reporting that the Scottish government has looked high and low for the contracts of the two ferries that are four years late and millions over budget, and they cannot find it.

    The Auditor General wants to see it, I wonder if a version it will turn up redacted of course, and will the Lord Advocate do everything in her powers to obfuscate and delay the details of the contract from being known.

  155. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Scott.

    I agree with you that breaches of the terms of the treaty have been since then, but i may add “as well”

    For the creation of the treaty of the union to happen and be continious,
    Look at it this way. Lets say i have a business and promised to deliver some goods.

    I then voluntary fold my business before delivering the goods that were promised in my company name.

    I then start up a new business with a new business name, and presume i can resume as was the old business operatives and clients debts and bills.

    However this is a presumption that business re-concluded under the old name.

    Taxes, financial gains, land, moveable and non moveable property remain legally as separate structure and entity being the burden of the previos company,

    To infer the English Parliament business continued under a new name would imply that the Great British Parliament was Legally the English Parliament.

    The English parliament claimed itself to be in business no more in 1706/07.
    The old business had folded.

    It no longer had the authority to make promises that would take it into a new business, or contract or treaty,

    There is a separation point between the promise made and actually fulfilling that promise as a new created entity.

    That separation point is where the old english parliament ended.
    Because the English Parliament did not write into the treaty of union agreement that Scotland was making a treaty of agreement with the Great British Parliament.
    And Scotland holds no such treaty agreement.

    Scotland and England both hold a treaty to join the Parliament of England and the parliament of Scotland together only.
    Then England closed its Parliament.

    There is and never was a treaty to join the Scottish Parliament to the Great British Parliament.

  156. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Republicofscotland says:
    22 April, 2022 at 2:25 pm

    Interesting turn of events on Radio Shortbread (Scotland).

    They are now reporting that the Scottish government has looked high and low for the contracts of the two ferries that are four years late and millions over budget, and they cannot find it.

    Auditor General stated that this is a problem created by failure of the “Civil Service” to record things accurately, if at all.

    [Mr Boyle also expressed his frustration at the lack of documentation.

    “There’s clearly a frustration from us that we weren’t able to review what we would consider to be all the relevant evidence,” he said.

    “Our judgment is not that evidence has been withheld from us during the course of our audit work, but rather that an important piece of documentary evidence wasn’t prepared to arrive at the judgment that ministers arrived at – to accept the scale of risk so unusual in the scale of this contract and contrary to the advice of the public body (Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited) which oversees the contract.”

    He added: “I’m sure it’s a matter that the civil service will want to reflect on, about how they best document important decisions that significantly influence not just the use of public money but the provision of extremely important aspects of public services.”]

    Source – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-61150027

    Politicians don’t write the contracts or prepare briefing notes etc.

  157. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Robin McAlpine says three lousy meeting from the SNP on independence is nothing, and having 10 civil servants working on indy (supposedly) out of the 50,000 working in Scotland doesn’t bode well for an indyref to take place.

    “If you have worked on policy development in government at all or have been involved with the development of legislation you will know that three top-level meetings doesn’t get you over much ground. When you’re dealing with something as complex as setting up an independent country, three meetings gets you next to nowhere.”

    “The agenda is being dictated by Sturgeon, Swinney and Angus Robertson, seemingly alone, does not give cause for comfort. I have it on good authority that no-one else in Cabinet is involved in this process. Sturgeon’s track record on ferries, Swinney’s on education and Robertson’s generally give reason to doubt that a couple of hours spitballing with the civil service is sufficient.”

    “It seems that this narrative (referendum next year for sure and anyone who doubts that is underestimating the First Minister) appears to be driving all else before it. The need to hold a party together.”

    https://robinmcalpine.org/three-meetings-aint-much/

    It makes you wonder by her lack lustre approach to an indyref, if Sturgeon knows that something is going to happen next year that allows her to have a great excuse not to hold an indyref.

    The betrayer might just ask Johnson for the S30 and when he say no, she’ll shrug her shoulders and say I asked, he said no, its not my fault, and normal service will resume, the Sturgeonistas, The Dug’s Mug’s and a few others will then finger point back in Westminster’s direction, job done.

  158. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    James Che. says:
    22 April, 2022 at 2:36 pm

    Scott.

    I agree with you that breaches of the terms of the treaty have been since then, but i may add “as well”

    There is and never was a treaty to join the Scottish Parliament to the Great British Parliament.

    Read “the Acts” and stop posting gibberish.

  159. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Scott @2.41pm.

    Thank you for the link, this from it.

    “Reports suggest they could include holding a short inquiry into the scandal.”

    I hope it materialises.

  160. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    So far no one has come up with evidence that Scotland signed a treaty of union with the Great British Parliament in 1706/07.

    We used to briefly have a Treaty with the old English Parliament before it ceased to exist,

  161. Ron Maclean
    Ignored
    says:

    @Republicofscotland 2:25pm

    Mr Bill Etherington MP speaking in the HoC on 03 July 1996 following the loss of MV Derbyshire the largest British ship lost at sea.

    ‘We have evidence that these ships were not built to specification. Even worse, perhaps, is the strange disappearance of the ships’ plans made by Swan Hunter’s naval architects. The plans should have been registered with Lloyd’s, but they were never presented there and no one has had sight of them since.’

  162. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    James Che. says:
    22 April, 2022 at 3:02 pm

    So far no one has come up with evidence that Scotland signed a treaty of union with the Great British Parliament in 1706/07.

    We used to briefly have a Treaty with the old English Parliament before it ceased to exist,

    Dear James Cheyne,

    The Treaty and “the Acts that put it into effect” created the Parliament of GB.

    You should get a job with the BBC, like your namesake. You seem to petulantly obfuscate at the same level, or is it just wilful ignorance?

  163. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Andy Ellis.

    What are you jumping the gun for, what are you on about ?

    I don’t recall specifically mentioning you’re name.

    I had been talking to another Andy privately and decided to post it.

    Stop thinking everything has to be about you, good grief,

  164. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Ron McLean.

    Yes the need for safety is of the utmost this from Scott’s link suggests there are still many problems with the vessels that need resolving.

    “It revealed that as recently as January there were still 175 technical, safety or quality issues be resolved – including some that could prevent the issuing of a passenger safety certificate by regulators.”

    And the Finance minster doesn’t appear too confident either that problems won’t arise in the future.

    “Finance Secretary Kate Forbes also warned MSPs there was possibility that new problems may emerge during the commissioning process, although she insisted the ships would be completed.”

    I think there needs to be an inquiry the vessels are years late and million over budget, this is Scotland’s money that we’ve entrusted these people with, someone must be held accountable.

    But then again we’re dealing with Sturgeon’s SNP, where no one was held accountable for the fit up of Salmond and they way it was carried out, that too cost Scots a fortune.

    Back to the ferries I think Sturgeon’s clique even tried to blame shamed ex-Finance secretary Derek Mackay for the debacle, Mr MacKay siad he wasn’t responsible the commissioning of the ferries, that came from higher up in the SNP.

  165. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Scott,

    The acts and the treaty itself hold no authority from the English Parliament, once it closed its doors.

  166. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    @RepublicofScotland (2.47) –

    ‘It makes you wonder by her lack lustre approach to an indyref, if Sturgeon knows that something is going to happen next year that allows her to have a great excuse not to hold an indyref.’

    It’ll be the ‘bug, with a new, scarier name.

    Trying to think of any other ways that Sturgeon, Swinney et al could plausibly fuck-up anything else without it becoming obvious – even to the terminally dim – that their project is all about undermining the very notion of independence.

    I’m more than happy to confess that I was one of those who continued to believe that Sturgeon would make an effort, but then came The Betrayer (published here) and her disgusting Harrassment Inquiry performance.

    If it’s difficult for some of us political nerds to accept that she really is what she’s shown us to be, how much harder for folk who really don’t have the time or inclination to ‘read between the lines’?

  167. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Brotherhood.

    Yes Ian it was a real body blow, like a punch in the stomach from someone you’ve trusted all your life, when it became apparent that Sturgeon wasn’t interested in doing what we elected her to do which is to get us out of this union.

    When I first read this by the Rev, who was way ahead of the pack on this one, I couldn’t quite believe it, not Sturgeon, not Salmond’s protege, she would never sells Scots out, but as it finally dawned on me and others that we are going nowhere on the indyfront with Sturgeon at the helm, I thought to myself where do we go from here.

    https://wingsoverscotland.com/the-betrayer/

  168. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    James Che. says:
    22 April, 2022 at 3:21 pm

    Scott,

    The acts and the treaty itself hold no authority from the English Parliament, once it closed its doors.

    Piss off and stop insulting my intelligence.

  169. Gordon Currie
    Ignored
    says:

    Republic of Scotland

    “The betrayer might just ask Johnson for the S30 and when he say no, she’ll shrug her shoulders and say I asked, he said no, its not my fault, and normal service will resume, the Sturgeonistas, The Dug’s Mug’s and a few others will then finger point back in Westminster’s direction, job done.”

    She’s already set the scene for that, she very pointedly stated that she would “DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER” to deliver a referendum.

  170. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    Scott and James Che: WoS very own Mutt and Jeff…..?

    It’s like watching two bald men fight over a comb. 🙂

  171. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    What I’d really like to see is Joanna Cherry being interviewed and asked to comment specifically on the work of the SSRG, and what Sara Salyers was proposing.

    It’s not that I doubt the lawful legitimacy of Scotland’s Constitution and Sovereignty, but for the life of me, I cannot work out why Scotland’s politicians seem utterly loathed to address the issue. I want to hear them explain why not, because It’s a grievous injustice upon Scotland.

    I’m picking out Joanna Cherry because she has a foot in Law and another in Politics, and has at least appeared to grasp the ramifications of Scotland’s Auld Constitution. But it wouldn’t have to be Joanna Cherry.

    It feels to me like we have our wee Constitutional snowball sitting at the top of the mountain, but nobody has got the bottle to give it a wee shove over the edge.

    How can we change this?

    @ Ian Brotherhood… Yeah some of that Max Blumenthal stuff is pretty harrowing. There’s a sickness about using prisoners or casualties phones to gloat about their fate to their families. Such a profound hatred.

    The worrying thing is that you won’t see this footage broadcast widely in the West, but you can bet it will be seen far and wide in Russia, and it seems inevitable atrocity will spawn counter atrocity.

    What seems particularly nasty is shooting them so high in the leg. If the would isn’t fatal itself, there is less room to apply tourniquets or clamp arteries, and if the poor fella loses his leg, it’s probably gonna be from the hip. Of course that assumes they actually get medical attention, not just a mass grave. I cannot imagine there’s a trauma surgeon standing by while that’s all happening.

    What a mess. In every which way, a total mess, yet the West is determined to pump in more weapons and ammunition.

  172. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “She’s already set the scene for that, she very pointedly stated that she would “DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER” to deliver a referendum.”

    That’s right Gordon, the million dollar question must be if she asks for the S30 her only route, which some know is a dead end, and Johnson says no, and Sturgeon says in a sincere fashion to Scots, look I asked, he said no, I want independence but Johnson is stopping us, will that placate the indy masses and keep them endeared to Sturgeon, bearing in mind that many will not be aware of the S30 route being a non-starter to begin with.

  173. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Breeks says:
    22 April, 2022 at 4:36 pm

    What I’d really like to see is Joanna Cherry being interviewed and asked to comment specifically on the work of the SSRG, and what Sara Salyers was proposing.

    It’s not that I doubt the lawful legitimacy of Scotland’s Constitution and Sovereignty, but for the life of me, I cannot work out why Scotland’s politicians seem utterly loathed to address the issue.

    It feels to me like we have our wee Constitutional snowball sitting at the top of the mountain, but nobody has got the bottle to give it a wee shove over the edge.

    How can we change this?

    *hint*

    In Scotland, the people already hold all the powers needed to effect change.

  174. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    It was interesting to listen to parts of Boris Johnson’s speech today in India, he was there to thrash out a trade deal, secure a military agreement and more importantly try and change Modi’s mind on buying Russian fuel.

    However amongst all the chaff that spewed from Johnson, came this little gem placed there by Modi, Johnson said we don’t tolerate extremist groups in the UK.

    The comment was clearly aimed at Sikh’s who most of are fed up with being treated as second class citizens and the majority of them want to create a independent country in India (Punjab) called Khalistan. Sikh’s around the globe have already held non-binding votes on whether or not they’d like to see a Khalistan, Modi and his government and I’d wager most Hindu Indians are opposed to a independent Sikh country.

    Was Johnson grandstanding a bit to Scots back home hinting that he’d never agree to Scotland leaving the union, I think he was, Sikh Scotsman Jagtar Singh Johal (from Dumbarton) has been held without charge and tortured in India for over 1,500 days, he is a casualty of the growing unrest between Modi’s government and its treatment of Sikhs and the Sikhs threat to create a Khalistan.

    I doubt Johnson would’ve mention the illegal detention of Mr Johal to Modi, even though Johal is a British citizen, well second-class to be specific he’s Scots afterall.

  175. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    Gordon Currie says:
    22 April, 2022 at 4:21 pm

    She’s already set the scene for that, she very pointedly stated that she would “DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER” to deliver a referendum.

    I heard a reference to the “Cost of living crisis” being said in the context of a new crisis to be heroically resolved before it’s Independence o’clock.

    Surely the penny must drop amongst the most devout believers eventually…

    Twitter’s not really my thing, but lurking around as you do, I would say exasperation is increasingly palpable amongst the “little people”.

    I still think the SNP will do ok in May, big core vote, you’d have to hope they did well, but at the same time, it’s not impossible that they might get a fright from a desperately low turnout. Not saying they will get a doing, but when Scotland gave up on Labour, Labour didn’t see it coming. I don’t think ALBA’s ready to do that, not quite, but give him a year, and let’s see what that man Salmond can deliver.

  176. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Scott.
    Every thing you say is true, totally in agreement with you,

    The part that is going by my intelligence is that if we both agree the treaty of the union has been disrespected since supposedly created by the British Parliament from the beginning,

    Why not take a deeper look into the legal ramifications of its seed beginnings.
    We know that slight of hand has been pulled on Scotland more than once.

    The question is when did it begin and within what legal context.
    And discussing what got us here in the first place needs studying,
    Otherwise totally in agreement with you,

  177. twathater
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Breeks 5.15pm , yes breeks I agree the quote from the betrayer about the cost of living crisis in her manifesto is the planting of the seed that we cannot face the impending doom of the financial crisis on our own as we are out of the EU , and we cannot sacrifice or risk alienating england as they are our biggest trading partner, and whilst the energy crisis and cost of living skyrockets NOT just here but throughout the world we have to consider the safety and security that working hand in hand with our closest neighbours many of whom are our family members gives us

    It is with EXTREME regret that due to the worldwide financial crisis and the unstable worldwide political situation it would not be prudent to hold a referendum on independence at this time , once things have stabilised and improved you have my assurance that I will do “EVERYTHING IN MY POWER ” including the much promised and vaunted DRAFT referendum bill being placed before the SP at the earliest opportunity

    I also think the turnout for these local elections will be derisory as people are so disgusted with partygate and see no viable alternative which will suit the sturgeon apologists and sycophants , the 3 unionist parties not including the snp unionists have nothing new to offer the electorate which again suits the sturgeonites

  178. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Breeks 4.36 pm

    “What I’d really like to see is Joanna Cherry being interviewed and asked to comment specifically on the work of the SSRG, and what Sara Salyers was proposing……….I cannot work out why Scotland’s politicians seem utterly loathed to address the issue. I want to hear them explain why not, because It’s a grievous injustice upon Scotland.”

    I imagine Joanna Cherry, and any experts in constitutional law that senior figures have no doubt already “war gamed” these issues with, have simply decided that the kind of things being proposed are either premature, or simply don’t have enough support to push them through. I imagine very few “real” independence supporters doubt the validity of the sovereignty of the Scots people, but there’s a big leap from where we are now to taking the kind of steps advocated by Sarah Salyers, the SSRG and others advocating “novel” means as an alternative to #indyref2 or plebiscitary elections.

    The open letter issued by SSRG in November 2021 to all the pro-independence parties was 2,500 words long. There was a lot to digest in there, and a lot of interesting information and plans about how alternative routes to independence from those currently envisaged *might* be successful. However their plan still depended on a majority of Scots MPs at Westminster voting to withdraw from the union. We all know that ISN”T going to happen with the current SNP leadership and cadre of MPs.

    Similarly, we all know that this proposal below from SSRG isn’t going to happen from the current Holyrood parliament:

    “The Scottish Parliament should therefore pass a resolution establishing both that it is the only parliament which represents the sovereign will of the Scottish people – and to declare that the Nation of Scotland is sovereign and is withdrawing from the 1707 Treaty of Union with England with immediate effect.”

    We can all agree that the principle is right but the SSRG, Sarah Salyers et al are still relying on elected pro-independence MSPs and MPs to “convert” and have a Damascene conversion to the principle of a legal/constitutional solution to the attainment of independence rather than a referendum/electoral solution. That’s a huge ask, particularly of those from the SNP.

    You’re still hanging your hat either on the SNP being totally changed from within, OR the Scottish electors voting in large numbers for pro-independence parties other than the SNP. Of course both of these things might happen, but do you or others really expect them to happen in the short term…or even the medium term? How likely are wither things before the next Westminster or Holyrood elections? How many of the “lumpen SNP” electorate do you think will switch?

    Don’t you think that if there was a “slam dunk” easier route to achieving the SSRG’s aims that folk like Joanna Cherry, or other potential supporters like perhaps Roddy Dunlop QC, or constitutional experts in academia who are pro-independence – or even neutral ones from other countries but with specialist knowledge – would have been telling us what the path was?

  179. DJ
    Ignored
    says:

    Andy Ellis
    6.35 pm

    So we are f****d? Is that what you are saying?

  180. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ruby 10:22 & 10:38

    Oh dear, Ruby, not having a good day, are you? Misrepresentation, lies and insults.

    And because you use a girl’s name when posting, replying is problematic.

    Here’s an approximate quote from the unfairly neglected author and poet, Alasdair Maclean:

    “Behind the perfect armour would lurk the perfect monster”

    As a sexist, racist, mysogynist, TAF, fool, I don’t know what it means. Obviously.

    Still, Ruby. It makes you think, eh?

    But to the burning issues of the day. Less than 2 weeks to go, but still time for Alba to make their position clear on bog seats. Leave out the bog roll holders for now – keep something in hand for 2024.

    Up? Or down? No time for focus groups or expensive consultancy. Going to have to go with a gut feel response.

    BTW, “going to have to go” might itself go down well on the doorsteps.

  181. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @DJ 7.05 pm

    No, not at all. I’m just unconvinced by these proposed “novel” routes to independence: note I’m not saying they’re impossible, in fact in the right circumstances they may even be absolutely necessary, I’m just not convinced that as things stand they’re going to result in us achieving independence faster than the alternatives…..are you?

    It still seems to depend on an improbable series of events, but then who knows…perhaps things will move faster and in ways we can’t foresee at present? It may take upcoming hardships before the scales fall from some people’s eyes…and that needs to happen to a lot of fairly solid erstwhile SNP loyalists before the alternatives stand a chance.

  182. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Andy Ellis 7:44

    Can’t remember who, said:

    In politics, most things are impossible, right up to when they become inevitable.

  183. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Republic 5:07

    If Sikhs want independence enough they will fight for it.

    If that time comes, you can post on here how they deserve to be decimated.

    Not sure if the “Nazi” slur will work, but you have time to come up with a new one.

  184. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Main @7.55pm.

    You’ll be salivating like Pavlov’s Dog at the thought of the Ukrainian Gestapo the SBU holding the American journalist Gonzalo Lira in one of their Nazi dungeons awaiting to terminate him.

    You’ll also be in ecstasy at the thought of your Nazi buddies being trained on UK soil in how to use heavy artillery, you lowlife creature.

  185. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @John Main 7.55 pm

    Odd isn’t it that Putin’s Poodle froths himself in to a lather about mercenaries on the Ukrainian side, but is apparently unconcerned about Syrians, Libyans and other Wagener group guns for hire fighting for the Russians, or how about the Chechens…? You know, the ones who are now fervent allies of Putin after he carpet bombed the fuck out of their independence movement?

    Still waiting on the Russians coming up with this US Army General that Putin’s Poodle assured us they’d captured…. perhaps his sigint source is faulty?

  186. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Agent Ellis.

    You are on the side of the Nazi’s just think about that for a moment, history will remember that Europe and the USA/Canada/Australia/ New Zealand supported a undemocratic Nazi regime I think that is unforgivable.

    What even more surprising and more to the point telling, is that Israel is sending the Nazi’s military equipment said Benny Gantz.

    For all Russia’s fault and there are many, they may have to save Europe once again from Nazism.

  187. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    Rev Stu earlier today had a tweet about how unhealthy it is to keep one’s bowels from moving regularly.

    Maybe, given that we’re all pretty pissed off doing the whole demo/marching thing, other ways of expressing the discontent will emerge.

    Right now, on Twitter, I’m seeing serious, committed, veteran activists doing their fuckin dingers because Alba hasn’t dared contradict the whole ‘covid’ narrative. It’s a fair point. And a lot of us were also disappointed to see the Ukrainian flag being draped across the table at that Presser. (How many would have been pleased to see the Palestinian flag instead? And how ‘appropriate’ would that have been?)

    The great advantage Alba has, right now is that it has nothing to lose. But even then, no-one, not even Alex it seems, dares kick against the narrative because they know they’ll just be ‘cancelled’ otherwise. ‘The Covid’ and ‘The War’. FFS, it’s bad enough having one Achilles tendon.

    But we are where we are.

    The typical WGDugger ‘argument’ for SNP loyalty frequently uses motoring metaphors – ‘we’re on a journey’, ‘the SNP is the best vehicle’, ‘bumps in the road’ (i.e. ‘honest mistakes etc) ‘driving forward with powerful leadership’ an aw that jazz.

    No, Alba isn’t anyone’s ‘ideal’ party. But right now, it looks a more trustworthy vehicle. The clear statements on safety of Women and Girls, in themselves, set Alba well away from the sickness which has so deformed the SNP and, it seems, Scottish Govt/Establishment generally.

  188. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Andy Ellis 8:24

    Yeah, the lies and insults come thick and fast from Republic.

    I have struggled over and over to understand how Republic’s warped ideas are supposed to help Scots Indy, but I have come up with nowt.

    A couple of weeks now since I predicted that Republic would be on here every day until the elections, giving it the old Nazis, Satans, etc. etc.

    Go figure.

  189. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    @Republicofscotland –

    Lira is okay.

    (see today’s UKColumn)

    😉

  190. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Republic 8:49

    So Israeli Jews are Nazis?

    Or you are a deluded eejit?

    Simples!

  191. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Putin’s Poodle 8.49 pm

    Oh purleez, nobody apart from you and a few of your neo-communist mates takes your agitprop remotely seriously. It’s almost comical that you think your Putinista narrative has any traction amongst the voters generally or within the movement.

    The one supporting an undemocratic nazi regime is you with your slavish devotion to Putin and nauseating false equivalence between western regimes, however imperfect, and authoritarian regimes like Russia and China.

    You and those that think like you continue to be a stain on the movement. You’re not democrats in any conventional sense, whatever your performative protestations about encouraging people to support independence for Scotland, while cheering on the suppression of Ukrainian independence and making excuses for war criminals who murder civilians.

    You’re not really even managing to convince yourself of the whole farrago about Ukrainian nazism as your comment about Israel aptly demonstrates. Self awareness has never been your forte though, as the endless stream of Kremlin propaganda you come out with proves.

    You’re one of the orcs mate, not one of the elves. Everyone else can see it apart from you and mad wee posse in here.

  192. Chas
    Ignored
    says:

    Been a few weeks since I last visited the site. No way have I got the time, or the inclination, to trawl back very far!

    I see that Scum 1 (RoS) is still very active. I would imagine that he is still posting exactly the same shite that he posted yesterday, last week, the week before that etc etc. I still cannot understand why Andy Ellis and John Main engage with this clown.

    The 300 year old Treaty, Sovereignty, Grand Scottish Constitution still boring every one to death. No politicians or serious journos have any interest in this. Does anybody ever wonder why? The posts from the usual 10 contributors simply reek of desperation. Can I remind you all again that change will only come via the ballot box.

    It is good to note that more people are finally waking up to the fact that Sturgeon and her acolytes are totally incompetent. It is worth remembering that 95% of the posters on here, including me, voted for the SNP at some time. Never again.

    Another plus is that ‘gregor’ seems to have stopped posting. I bet that this is a great relief to the majority.

    It is good to end with a laugh. I see that oor Ruby is upset because some folk are calling her names! This really is unfair because Ruby would never stoop to that level. Would she?

    I still intend to vote for Alba 1 in May. SNP last, just behind the Tory’s but fear the worst.

    Scotland is in an awful place with very little politically to look forward to on the horizon.

  193. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    Interesting to see Andy Ellis’s use of the word ‘orc’ at 9.18.

    Anyone who has managed to get beyond BBC for their information will know that the term ‘orc’ has a very specific meaning in the conflict.

    But I’ll leave it to Andy to explain what that is…

  194. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ian Bunchedpanties 9.47 am

    “But I’ll leave it to Andy to explain what that is…”

    Happy to….

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-are-ukrainians-calling-russian-invaders-orcs-

  195. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    As Andy well knows, the term ‘orc’ is used by Zelensky supporters to refer to Russian-speakers, or those suspected of not supporting Azov etc.

    You may have seen some of these citizens, often forced to smear their own faces and necks with green paint, on film already.

    Women taped to lamposts. Fathers and sons displayed likewise, with trousers around their ankles, in the freezing cold.

    Elected politicians being tortured and executed. Journalists being arrested, tortured. Dissidents of whatever bent…you get the drift.

    UKColumn, today, laid out evidence of serious war crimes by Ukrainian forces.

    https://www.ukcolumn.org

  196. gregor
    Ignored
    says:

    “Another plus is that ‘gregor’ seems to have stopped posting. I bet that this is a great relief to the majority.”

    Good luck with your aim.

  197. Saffron Robe
    Ignored
    says:

    Republicofscotland says:

    “For all Russia’s faults, and there are many, they may have to save Europe once again from Nazism.”

    I agree entirely, Republic. I, too, think it is unforgivable to support a Nazi regime. The West seems to have forgotten entirely, or choses not to remember, the tragic events of World War Two. It is not so easy for Russia to forget, who suffered more than any other nation at the hands of the Nazis and are now facing the same threat once again.

    http://www.thepostil.com/the-military-situation-in-the-ukraine/

  198. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    Why hasn’t Andy Ellis and John Main not travelled over to Ukraine and joined their Foreign legion?

  199. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    Andy Ellis says: 22 April, 2022 at 9:57 pm

    @Ian Bunchedpanties 9.47 am

    “But I’ll leave it to Andy to explain what that is…”

    Happy to….

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-are-ukrainians-calling-russian-invaders-orcs-

    Rather nationalist of you framing things as us and ‘the other’?

  200. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    Another comment from that famous Russian troll, Lord Robertson, former head of Nato

    https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/9911/html/

    Q29 Stuart Anderson: That is interesting. You talk about the polar opposites and I agree that Putin has been successful in uniting everyone, as probably all parties believed would happen. Looking at the unity we have got from the Ukraine crisis, hindsight is a wonderful thing. Is there more that NATO could have done in the build-up to what has been happening in the Ukraine crisis?

    Lord Robertson: It is difficult to know precisely what could have been done, and in many ways we did do quite a lot. I am not entirely certain that Putin had a long-term plan for the invasion. A lot of what has happened since then has suggested that it has been ill-thought-through, badly planned. This is a radical thought for me to give you, but I wonder: did we goad him into doing it? Was he assembling the troops around Ukraine in order to harvest some security guarantees but, at the end of the day, felt that his credibility would be diminished if he did not invade? That is a heretical notion, and history will prove me right or wrong, but a very senior Russian was in London before the invasion saying, “There is no way he is going to invade, but every day he doesn’t invade he loses a bit of credibility.”

    So, what NATO could and should have done, and did do, was to be ready and conscious of the fact that Ukraine is not a NATO member but is a partner country, and to do as much as we possibly could to prepare it for the possibility that Russia was going to invade, as it seemed to be threatening with the troop formations that were put in place.

    Q30 Stuart Anderson: Can you expand on the point about whether we goaded him—as you said, that is quite radical thinking. If it was viewed that way, do you still think he would have invaded if we did not actually do the build-up we did?

    Lord Robertson: I do not know the answer, and I cannot see inside Vladimir Putin’s head. He is a very different individual to the one that I dealt with when I was NATO Secretary-General and I met him on nine occasions. All I am suggesting is that some of the more optimistic views that he must have had about how easy it was going to be to invade showed signs of a lack of preparation, a lack of intelligence, on his part. We thought we were right in exposing our intelligence that he was going to invade, that he had made preparations for the invasion, but then he would, if he was going to extract the maximum from the bargaining process. Only history will tell, but there is no doubt at all that this has been a badly planned operation, and he will rue the day that that invasion took place in the way that it did.

  201. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    An interesting alternative perspective to the conflict in Ukraine

    https://thegrayzone.com/2022/04/15/us-eu-sacrificing-ukraine-to-weaken-russia-fmr-nato-adviser/

  202. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    The question that needs to be asked by everybody is why isn’t Andy Ellis and John Main not over in Ukraine fighting for a cause they fervently believe in?

  203. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    Here’s the article Andy Ellis linked to earlier.

    If this is the quality of material that Zelensky supporters are presenting to ‘prove’ their case, then they have no case at all.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-are-ukrainians-calling-russian-invaders-orcs-

  204. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Brotherhood says: 22 April, 2022 at 11:49 pm

    Here’s the article Andy Ellis linked to earlier.

    If this is the quality of material that Zelensky supporters are presenting to ‘prove’ their case, then they have no case at all.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-are-ukrainians-calling-russian-invaders-orcs-

    Isn’t that the classic far-right tactic of ‘framing the other’?

  205. robbo
    Ignored
    says:

    Chas says:
    22 April, 2022 at 9:21 pm
    Been a few weeks.

    Make it years next time.

    Must be an election coming. Slag off the natives. Slag off SNP . Slag off Alba.
    Keep the union flying high.

    If Chas ever voted for Alba it wid be a miracle. Full of shite Yoon

  206. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    @Pacman (11.52) –

    ‘Isn’t that the classic far-right tactic of ‘framing the other’?’

    Well, if it isn’t, it’ll certainly do until the real thing comes along!

    😉

  207. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    PacMan says:
    22 April, 2022 at 11:24 pm

    Why hasn’t Andy Ellis and John Main not travelled over to Ukraine and joined their Foreign legion?

    They prefer to stay here and fight with fellow Scots.

    They want to turn ‘Wings Over Scotland’ into ‘Wings Over Ukraine’ it’s very strange.

    Even stranger is the fact that they’re presenting the MSM as being the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth and totally dismissing all alternative media.

    It would proabably be more accurate to say they want to turn ‘Wings Over Scotland’ into
    Wings Over Ukraine & the British Main Stream Media.

    Personally I would like to see ‘Wings Over Scotland’ becoming more ‘Wings Over Woman’ at the moment but maybe that’s being a bit selfish.

    I do believe GRA/Self ID is a major issue and it certainly would help reduce Sturgeon’s popularity more than anything to do with Ukraine.

    You would think founder members of Alba would be a little interested in GRA/Self ID.

    I’m wondering if Ellis, Main & Chas might be supporters of Sturgeon posting here about Ukraine to detract from Sturgeon’s madness?

    I expect I’ll be subjected to the usual abuse from Ellis, Main & Chas for the above post.

  208. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    https://twitter.com/Scotpol1314/status/1517778936951885830

    12 o’clock tomorrow.

    Kenny MacKaskill MP, Ian Grant SIF, Alison Watters Now Scotland, Mark MacNaught SSRG.

  209. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    https://www.karadansky.com/read/the-11th-hour-blog-goes-global

    THE 11th HOUR BLOG GOES GLOBAL

    ‘This is an outstanding development in the global fight to take down an industry that eats children for lunch, colonizes biological sex for profit, and tramples on the rights, privacy, and safety of women and girls.’

    https://www.the11thhourblog.com/

    Worth reading if you are interesting in discrediting Sturgeon who is a big supporter of the “Rich, White Men Institutionalizing Transgender Ideology?”

    https://www.the11thhourblog.com/

    What have these rich white men done for Sturgeon & the SNP?

  210. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ruby 9.07 am

    As frequently observed in the past, nobody is stopping you or others from posting your opinions on things here, but you seem curiously keen to control the narrative and tone police what everyone else says. At least try to be a little consistent, huh?

    Nobody is saying we have to take the MSM at face value, but where then are we to get our information? Are you confident the sources Putin’s Poodle and Ian Bunchedpanties quote are totally authoritative, neutral and balanced? Few Scots trust the BBC in relation to its coverage of Scottish politics, nor would they necessarily trust the MSM of other countries, but those aren’t the only sources for what’s happening in Ukraine. Many of the thinks being argued about are binary, with people taking diametrically opposed positions: either they happened or they didn’t. Thus, either the Mosvka was hit by Ukrainian missiles, or it blew up of its own accord. Only one can be right. Similarly, either the Russians captured a US Major General in Mariupol or they didn’t.

    Other issues aren’t as black and white: they require judgement, looking at the sources and who is telling you the information, and making your own decision as to which you personally feel is more convincing. Either you’re convinced by Putin that this isn’t a war, that Ukraine needs de-nazified and de-militarised, and shouldn’t be allowed to do what other independent countries do, or you aren’t convinced. How else are “most” ordinary Scots going to decide on such matters other than by listening to news, reading, and trying to understand the background. Simply writing off any reliance on all MSM as tainted and therefore fake isn’t a tenable position, except for already convinced doctrinaire ideologues like Putin’s Poodle.

    Discussions about the Ukraine may leave you and others cold, but why then are we obliged NOT to talk about that but talk about your hobby horse issues instead? If you weren’t so closed minded, you’d realise that opposition to GRA reform and gender woo-woo is one of the few things that unites most of us in here.

    As Rev Stu’s figures show, it looks like SNP support amongst women is already falling, so perhaps the issue IS already having an effect. If so: good. It’s up to all of us to ensure the issue becomes more widely discussed and starts to impact on the SNPs support amongst men too. That doesn’t mean however that other issues people find important, whether the war in Ukraine and its implications, or constitutional issues, or climate change, or transportation policy aren’t important and don’t merit discussion.

    Your motivations for othering folk and labelling them “Sturgeon supporters” because they don’t agree with you is just desperately weak stuff. to say it’s intellectually lazy gives you too much credit. Do better. Unlike you, I’m not hiding behind a cozy anonymity blanket. If I was a secret Sturgeon acolyte in Alba’s ranks, I’m sure others, including creepy stalkers like Scott, would have ensured the party knew about it and took action.

    If you can’t see the impact of the Ukrainian war will have on ordinary Scots, not just economically but in terms of the political prospects for independence in both the short and long term, then that’s simply down to you lack of imagination, or your total focus on other areas of policy. That’s your prerogative of course, but don’t whinge about it and act all butt-hurt when others point out that sticking our heads in the sand and focusing exclusively on “local things for local people” might be a bad idea.

  211. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    Meanwhile in the Solomon Islands….

    Kinda chilling hypocrisy? Or rank opportunism in the prevailing circumstances?

    https://archive.ph/3Uasd

    ““If steps are taken to establish a de facto permanent military presence, power-projection capabilities, or a military installation, the delegation noted that the United States would then have significant concerns and respond accordingly.”

    One rule for Russia and another for the US?

  212. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Pacman 11:49

    If you fervently believe in free, independent, sovereign nations and the rights of their citizens to self-determination, why aren’t you over there fighting?

    I don’t come on here to bang on about Ukraine “Pacman”.

    But when so-called supporters of independence and freedom post in celebration of the destruction and enslavement of the proud and brave nation of Ukraine, I get angry.

    People who are fighting and sacrificing everything, up to and including their lives, being sneered at by keyboard warriors in their bedrooms. Pathetic.

  213. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Breeks 10.12 am

    Careful Breeks, if the Brigadooners like Ruby think discussing the Ukraine is “a quarrel in a far away country, between people of whom we know nothing”, they’re going to have an aneurism if you start discussing the Solomon Islands and China!

    Stick to kailyard politics and whether to leave the loo seat up or down…that’s apparently the intellectual level to aspire to for some in WoS these days. 🙁

  214. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    OMG The finger wagging lecture from Ellis today is a mile long.

    Thank goodness for my magic mouse. A couple of flicks of the pinkie makes the orange faced moniker disappear off the screen.

  215. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @John Main 10.29 am

    I’m sure Pacman could join the orcs helping out the pretendy People’s Republics in Donetsk and Luhansk if he’s that keen? Apparently lots of Syrians and Libyans have signed up to fight for Russia too. Al Jazeera is reporting that they get US$200-300 a month, or even > US$1,000 a month if they have some military experience.

    Probably sounds like quite a good gig to some of the Putinistas in here make right enough….

    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/1/in-syria-moscow-leads-effort-to-recruit-fighters-for-ukraine

  216. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Saffron Robe 11:21

    Biased or simplistic shite.

    Per capita, Poland had the highest number of casualties in WW2, being subject to the brutal attentions of both Germany and the USSR.

    It is because of this that the Poles are now leading the efforts to mobilise EU, NATO and wider support for Ukraine. Poland is not now threatened by Germany. Poles remember all too well how they suffered the last time Russian occupiers, rapists, murderers and enslavers rampaged westwards.

    Jeeso, Scottish towns and cities have been hoaching with Eastern Europeans for years now, Poles, Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians, even some Ukrainians, yet it’s like nobody on here has ever so much as talked to any of them.

    Educate yourself FFS.

  217. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Andy Ellis 10:42

    Yup, it’s a mess alright, and getting messier by the day.

    Russia alone doesn’t have the manpower for this war, and meantime, half a billion Chinese are eying up the mostly empty terrain and resources of Siberia and it’s neighbouring lands.

    My guess is that China will play the long game as usual, provide limited support to encourage Putin to get right out of his depth, then pull the plug and engineer the breakup of the Russian federation.

    We Scots can learn the lesson of what happens when all of the power of the state becomes concentrated in the hands and the image of one deluded, incompetent, and not very bright individual.

    As if we don’t already know!

  218. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ruby 10.42 am

    “OMG The finger wagging lecture from Ellis today is a mile long.”

    Put that through the Ruby Translator (TM):

    “When people post a detailed response to one of my facile posts, I ridicule the length of the response, because I lack the wit to engage in reasoned argument. Easier just to call them cunts instead and witter on about toilet seats. That’s what REAL independentistas do!”

  219. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    Boris has to agree to a major migration of Indian citizens if a trade deal is to be done.
    Taking control of your Brexit borders anyone.
    Ukrainians with the resilience to filling in 52 page documents and download several proof of I.D. forms can eventually come in.
    African and Middle East Women and Children from dinghy’s university
    African Middle East Men in on way to Rwanda
    Indians via a faked up bad trade deal no where near the EU membership deal in.

    Trans people born women say they are men to Rwanda- who would say that?
    Trans born male say they are female can stay- who wouldn’t say that.

    Well if the PM can attend several parties, see E-mail party invites and being advised of there being parties by his private secretary didn’t understand they were parties as he sat in the middle of them, what do you expect?

    PS Boris ready to tear up the pre Brexit N Ireland protocol.
    Their paramilitary pals in power the DUP demand it as well as a few £Billion for blind support

  220. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @John Main 10.45 am

    This from “saffronrobe” is a real doozie:

    “It is not so easy for Russia to forget, who suffered more than any other nation at the hands of the Nazis and are now facing the same threat once again.”

    It’s extraordinary that there are people so ill informed that they can post stuff like this with a straight face. I wonder what colour the sky is in their universe, because they sure as hell don’t inhabit the same one as normal folk?! Can you imagine trying to speak to ordinary Scottish voters and convince them that the correct take on the Ukraine war is that the Russians are defending themselves from the same threat they did in WW2?

    What sort of ideological somersaults do you have perform to convince yourself that the orcs are the goodies in this scenario? They will bang on and on about Ukrainian neo-nazis, who are a negligible force, and yet are determined to not only give the sins of far right ethnic Russian separatists in Donbas a bye, but appear oblivious to the war crimes being committed against Ukrainian civilians, because *neo-nazis*.

    What sort of nationalist in their right mind stands shoulder to shoulder with a state that carpet bombed the Chechen independence movement out of existence and installed their own political catamite to rule there (one who is now gleefully participating in the attempted extinction of Ukrainian independence)?

    It hadn’t occurred to me before that there is a strain of far left opinion within the movement which can trace it’s ideological roots straight back to the kind of “tankies” in the Labour movement who used to argue that the Hungarians “had it coming” in 1956, same for the Czechs in 1968 or the Poles in the 1980’s. Whether they are paid assets of the Kremlin, or just useful idiots, is neither here nor there in the end. They’re toxic for the movement.

  221. Chas
    Ignored
    says:

    Robbo

    There are a few posters on here who present their arguments, on any subject. logically and rationally. I might not agree with what they say but sometimes I can see where they are coming from.

    Unfortunately, you do not fall into that category.

    The SNP and more importantly Alba need to attract more supporters to the cause. In my mind, we are witnessing the beginnings of the demise of the SNP. What sane, educated Scot would want anything to do with Sturgeon and her incompetents who lurch from shambles to shambles. Just like the Tory’s in Westminster.

    The problem for Alba is to attract disenchanted SNP supporters. If Alba can remain ‘viable’ in the eyes of the general public, for another year, support will come. Alba need to go on the attack now.

    Ruby

    I really should stop reading your posts as well as those from the scum. If you think I am a Sturgeon supporter you are thicker than I originally thought!

  222. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    We have have had 2 years of being locked up and at the end of it, we have walked into a cost of living crisis. On top of that we are potentially being asked to take a major cut in living standards by getting involved in a country that is like Northern Ireland except each side has heavy weaponry and powerful allies to keep them supplied.

    I wonder when people are going to wake up to this nonsense? Given the choice of going without a holiday or doing what it takes to stop the destruction and enslavement of the proud and brave nation of Ukraine, what do you think they will choose?

    The pathetic self righteous anger will soon disappear once social media trends will interest in Ukraine and go onto the next big thing to distract the masses.

  223. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    First Finland and Sweden….next Ireland….?

    48% of Irish voters now support joining NATO, with 39% against. (Red C opinion poll published in the Sunday Business Post 28/03/22). As recently as January only 34% supported joining. 46% favoured holding a referendum to let Irish troops serve in a potential future European army.

    59% favour significantly increasing military expenditure, with 28% against (currently Ireland spends 0.2% of economic output on defence, around 1.1 billion Euros, amongst the lowest in Europe). Ireland has no military grade radar or sonar capabilities, nor any jets capable of long range surveillance or interception. Under a confidential agreement with the UK, the Irish allow the UK RAF to intercept any Russian aircraft violating their airspace.

    Oddly 57% still said they opposed dropping neutrality, so some confusion there still, but looks like the Irish example beloved of so many Putinistas in the Scottish independence movement might be disappearing too?

  224. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    While I’m here, I thought I’d post something on the OP.

    Nicola Sturgeon has created a very polished media image and used social media both to enhance that image and to ride on it in order to further increase her presence in the conscience of firstly the Scottish public then also south of the border as well.

    She enjoys continued support by a large part of the SNP in the mistaken belief that in her harnessing social media, she will build on support for independence amongst the young. The belief is that due to demographics where the older unionist support dying off and these young independence supporters will eventually become the majority and a future referendum will be won.

    This idea is flawed. Firstly, as people grow older, they become more conservative in outlook and the idea of independence is seen more of a risk than it was.

    The other major flaw is what I am trying to get at with Ukraine. The business model of social media companies is constant attraction of eyeballs through constant creation of new content. It means that when people getting bored easily with one trend, the social media companies tweak their algorithms to either continue interest in the trend or amplify ones that are starting to grow in order to get people to continue to use their platform and view their published adverts.

    With that, the idea of independence will eventually disappear or become irrelevant in the minds of these social media following young supporters and will move onto other things.

    In short, Social media is a fickle mistress and any politician or movement who latches onto it are going to have a short-shelf life.

    I’ve got a feeling that Nicola Sturgeon knows this very well and has planned her future career accordingly. For those who still believe in her delivering independence, they are in for a rude awakening.

    Then again, do they actually believe in independence any more? It seems they feel more comfortable being settled into the Westminster system and talking about fighting the Tories.

  225. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Ruby.

    Ns is a bit late into the fray when she touts gender recognition.

    The Parliament of Great Britain passed the, The Gender Recognition Act 2004.
    The sex discrimmination Act 1975.

    It was amended by the Government and the Parliament of the United Kingdom ( Gender Reasignment 1999.
    And
    The Gender Recognition Act 2004.

  226. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Not meaning to burst any bubbles, but it appears that the political parties down south all voted this gender woo woo in to britain from the EU yonks ago.

    Now of course britain has brexited.
    But it has not been voted out again.
    Or made void.

  227. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Says one of two things…..
    (1) about parliamentry sovereignty of the Parliament of Great Britain.

    (2) the Great British Parliament want to keep the gender woo woo laws in Britain
    that cause children and women to be in danger.

  228. DJ
    Ignored
    says:

    Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom

    Anyone who thinks Ukraine doesn’t deserve it’s independence and freedom should watch the above-named Netflix documentary.

    If we had half the Ukranian people’s courage and determination, as clearly shown in the documentary, Scotland would now be independent.

  229. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @PacMan 12.05 pm

    Perhaps most Scots just aren’t as self absorbed as you? Angry as I might be about the effects on our economy of brexit and our useless governments both in Westminster and Holyrood, I’m also capable of being pretty enraged about the impact on our economy – as well as on international affairs generally and human rights – of Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine. The ones to blame for that damage are Putin’s regime, the Russian people for tolerating it, and Putin’s useful idiots in our own midst.

    The town of Bucha near Kyiv had a population similar to that of Bearsden or Newton Mearns: around 28,000 people. When Russian forces withdrew from the town, almost 500 locals were dead, many of them having been shot and showing evidence of torture. You won’t hear Putin’s Poodle and his mates discussing this of course, let alone condemning it: they’ll simply retreat to “whataboutery” about the crimes of Ukrainian neo-nazis in the Donbas, as though that somehow excused the (vastly more numerous) killings in the Ukraine since Putin’s “special military operation” began.

    I challenge any of the Putinista’s to read the account of the executions and unlawful killings on Yablunsaka Street in Bucha described by Human Rights Watch, and come back and tell us that the Ukrainians had it coming, as Putin’s Poodle assured us was the case. Obviously he and his cadres will first insist this is fake news, HRW is controlled by the Great Satan / Illuminati / George Soros / Space Lizards, but most people with a sense of perspective will wonder why the coverage comes from so many different sources, and quotes “ordinary” Ukrainians who were actually there witnessing events.

    “Ukraine: Russian Forces’ Trail of Death in Bucha”

    https://archive.ph/PUm7c

  230. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Andy Ellis.

    LOL. Not self-absorbed, but pragmatic and not naive. Most people hadn’t heard of Ukraine before February and once they lose interest or most likely the MSM and social media lose interest, the war over there will only be mentioned occasionally.

    The whole thing reads like the Daily Mail. They get their readership whipped up into a righteous frenzy with recurring stories of a certain event and then gets dropped only for them to do the same for another event.

    I wonder when this happens will you be on here with the righteous fury that you displaying on here now? I doubt it. You will have some other thing to get yourself whipped up by?

    Genuine question though on the subject of Ukraine. If the Ukrainians were more Eurasian looking or even brown, do you think the Western MSM and certain politicians would have picked events up the way they have?

  231. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “The town of Bucha near Kyiv had a population similar to that of Bearsden or Newton Mearns: around 28,000 people. When Russian forces withdrew from the town, almost 500 locals were dead, many of them having been shot and showing evidence of torture. ”

    Agent Ellis.

    The above is of course a complete lie, and there’s plenty of evidence online to support that if you’re willing to look for it. The mayor Bucha appeared on screen in a video, he’s now in hiding of course the day after Russian forces left Bucha there were no bodies on the streets and the mayor didn’t mention any murders by Russian forces. The Nazi’s moved in after the RF left, and unsurprisingly the bodies then appeared some of the bodies had white arm bands on them, the RF asked citizens to wear these armbands to distinguish them from Ukrainian forces, those that did were killed by the Nazi’s.

    The same situation of murdering their own citizens occured at the Kramatorsk train station, again if you search for the truth and its not that hard to find you will see that the station was bombed using a Tochka-U missile the same kind the Nazi’s use and the booster section in photos still shows the serial number which has been traced back to Ukrainian stocks, Russian forces do not use Tochka-U missiles, and certainly not in Ukraine for this precise reason.

    As for the theatre explosion in Mariupol and I call it an explosion and not a bombing because that’s what it was, again if you have the determination to search online you’ll find testimonies from Ukrainian civilians that they were herded into the theatre by the Nazi’s of which they had planted explosives and the explosives were set off by the Nazi’s.

    Finally hospital number five in Mariupol was taken over by the Azov battalion and used as a temporary HQ, they stole the patients food and supplies and kicked them out of the building again testimonies can be found online if you are willing to look closer than the BBC.

    As for the Russian flagship the Moskva, one person died and twenty-seven are reported missing, it looks like it could’ve sabotage, one of the main reason is the the fire radar systems were in peace time mode, so its very unlikely that it was tracking an incoming object, its more likely that the destruction occurred from within rather than from without.

    I urge anyone with the slightest interest in what’s going on in Ukraine and why the West is willing to crash Europe’s economy, which is and will have long lasting effects on not just Scotland and the rUK but Third World countries that are already on the brink of a humanitarian crisis, to do their own research into why this conflict has broken out.

  232. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    DJ says: 23 April, 2022 at 1:21 pm

    Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom

    Anyone who thinks Ukraine doesn’t deserve it’s independence and freedom should watch the above-named Netflix documentary.

    If we had half the Ukranian people’s courage and determination, as clearly shown in the documentary, Scotland would now be independent.

    Ukraine has suffered so much throughout it’s history from Russian colonist interference, much like Ireland and Britain. That is why I had previously made the comparison to events in Ukraine to what is happening in Northern Ireland.

    There are two things that you can’t escape from. Firstly Ukraine has far right extremism embedded in it’s society and that Russia isn’t some third world banana republic where we can send in the Marines to take out the mad dictator in charge.

    Russia is a nuclear power and if you want to go toe to toe with them military then expect Nuclear weapon escalation. They aren’t going to hit the US which will cause all out Nuclear war. They are going to hit European targets, including us. The Americans aren’t going to Defcon 1 for us. That will only happen when Russian nuclear weapons fall on American soil which won’t happen.

    There need to be pragmatism and a bit of honest here. We aren’t going to go in to save Ukraine. We should be stop turning it into a proxy war and give peace a chance in order to save Ukrainian lives.

  233. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    James Che. says:
    23 April, 2022 at 12:38 pm

    Ruby.

    Ns is a bit late into the fray when she touts gender recognition.

    The Parliament of Great Britain passed the, The Gender Recognition Act 2004.
    The sex discrimmination Act 1975.

    Well yes, but none of those acts included self-id, no medical consultation, denial of freedom of speech, puberty blockers and the rest of the horrors.
    The current concerns are about the reforms of The Gender Recognition Act

    It looks as if more info is needed here on Wings.

  234. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Republicofscotland

    I wouldn’t bother with him. The thing that annoys me about the whole coverage of the war is that there are no objective reporting.

    There are only reports from Ukrainian government sources as well as basing narratives on events right after they have happened without any evidence.

    People like Andy Ellis love this. It’s like a war movie where they sit back, enjoy and boo at the bad guy. They’ll go on and on about it because it has no effect whatsoever on their lives and when they get bored with it, they will move onto something else.

  235. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Brotherhood.

    I think Lira was reporting from within Ukraine and he was quite critical of Zelensky, he took a big risk with the SBU Ukrainian Gestapo scouring the country dishing out punishment without recrimination.

    Breeks.

    On the Solomon Islands, yes I read the other day that they had signed an agreement with China, and this sent Washington into a meltdown, so they sent diplomats to the islands, I’d imagine firstly to make offers to supplant the Chinese deal and then if that doesn’t work threats. From what I can recall off the top of my head the island chain is only 2,000 miles from Australia, and the thought of China trading just 2,000 miles from Australia will have gotten Scott Morrison’s knickers in a twist, no doubt he’d have been straight on the phone to his boss in Washington Biden.

  236. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Ruby,

    I think the one under Gordon Browns Government did,

    Which explains why starmer cannot identify women.
    And you would think Bj would automatically know where children come from being as he has so many.

  237. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    James Che. says:
    23 April, 2022 at 12:44 pm

    Not meaning to burst any bubbles, but it appears that the political parties down south all voted this gender woo woo in to britain from the EU yonks ago.

    Now of course britain has brexited.
    But it has not been voted out again.
    Or made void.

    OMG James you really need to get yourself informed about what NS is proposing. Where have you been for the last six months?

    Definitely too much Ukraine and not enought info for voters about ‘The Reforms to The Gender Recornition Act’ being proposed by SG.

    This is a very serious matter and could cost Scotland it’s Independence.

  238. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Pacman @2.15pm.

    The fact is Pacman, in economic terms we are all going to suffer, this comes on top of Brexit and Covid, and now this in Ukraine.

    The price of everything is skyrocketing and will continue to do so, Nato and Europe has forced Putin’s hand, so who benefits from forcing his hand, certainly not the citizens of Europe or Nato, they are forced to pay for it on top of all the price rises. The real winners in the short term are the arms manufacturers and the Pentagon whose budget will now rise dramatically.

    This position we find ourselves in has been long in the planning since the coup of Ukraine by the US, and possibly even earlier from articles I’ve read.

  239. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @PacMan 2.00 pm

    Perhaps amongst people you know and have experience of that’s true. It’s certainly not my experience among people I know, whether family, friends, work colleagues, acquaintances….most seem pretty clued up about the situation in Ukraine. Not one has ever echoed any of the sentiments of the Putinista cabal that infests this site. I’ve seen a lot of Ukrainian flags in peoples windows, cars and even on lapels, bit not a single expression of support for Russia.

    Why might that be do you think?

    The Russian consulate is a few streets away: I’ve seen protests outside it, policemen guarding it, lots of Ukrainian flags being hung in neighbouring properties and people attaching messages of support for the Ukraine to the barriers outside the consulate (which the staff scurry around removing every evening). I’ve never seen a single thing supporting the Russians.

    Why might that be do you think? Do you really have such a low opinion of Scots common sense that they are hoodwinked by the MSM, and don’t listen to any counter arguments? Are they all neo-nazi sympathisers perhaps?

    I have might doubts this story is going away any time quickly. Time will tell. Perhaps Ukrainian resistance will collapse and Putin will win. Or perhaps the Russians will fail and Putin will find himself hanging upside down from a lamp post outside the Kremlin. Or perhaps the war will continue for a while and end in a stalemate as the Russians realise they can’t defeat Ukraine. That will be a dangerous thing for the Russians as they realise they’ve bankrupted their economy and now face an armed and hostile Ukraine which is readying itself to throw them out of the territory they invaded using superior western weapons, better trained and motivated troops, and the support of most of the world other than all the despotic authoritarian hell holes who still support Putin in the UN.

    As to you last point, perhaps not though the fact Bosnian and Kossovan folk were if anything even closer to most of them than the Ukrainians didn’t really help them much when they were in dire straits, did it? It seems to me that many of those advocating that we sit on our hands in such situations and advocate strict non-involvement and non-intervention are taking the easy way out. The western democracies were quite happy to throw the Czechoslovaks under a Nazi bus in 1938, and Finns under a Russian bus in 1939, but finally took a stand to defend Poland in 1939….then happily sat on their hands in France as the Germans and Russians carved the second Polish Republic up.

    Worth remembering that the Russians deported 1.5 million Poles from the areas they invaded after stabbing Poland in the back in 1939. Few of them ever returned. 320,000 Polish armed forces personnel were captured by the Russians, and it’s estimated around a third were murdered, including >15,000 armed forces officers, political and religious leaders and professionals in Katyn Woods on Stalin’s direct order, a crime they insisted for decades was carried out by the Germans.

    Those happy to let Putin and his cronies fill their boots are entitled to their opinion of course, just as they’re entitled to their views that “the Great Satan” and all the “little Satans” in NATO are no better, or even worse than Russia or China. Nobody in the general public with an ounce of common sense or empathy buys their bullshit though.

  240. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    James Che. says:
    23 April, 2022 at 2:29 pm

    Ruby,

    I think the one under Gordon Browns Government did,

    Which explains why starmer cannot identify women.
    And you would think Bj would automatically know where children come from being as he has so many.

    Get more informed James.
    It’s really a pity that nobody was interested in the articles Stu wrote about GRA.

  241. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Pacman 2.10 pm

    “There are two things that you can’t escape from. Firstly Ukraine has far right extremism embedded in it’s society and that Russia isn’t some third world banana republic where we can send in the Marines to take out the mad dictator in charge.”

    Russia’s issues with far right extremism, Russian xenophobia and the influence of the deeply regressive Russian Orthodox Church, are far more serious and pervasive than the Ukraine’s issues with its relatively trivial neo nazi movement. The far right in the Ukraine polled about 2% in the last free elections. The current gangsters running Russia can’t afford to see the Ukraine become a free, successful and western aligned liberal democracy, following the same path as the former People’s Republics in Eastern Europe, because they know they’d end up out of power and probably in prison for their corruption and now for their war crimes.

    Your analysis of the nuclear issue is as flawed as the rest of what passes for your analysis. Russia can’t risk using nuclear weapons against any NATO member, because it knows it would trigger a response. As we’ve seen, their military has spectacularly under performed so far. As one wag put it, we used to be told the Russians had the second most powerful army in the world: now we see they’re the second most powerful army in the Ukraine.

    “We” don’t need to save the Ukraine: as they’ve shown, they’re pretty capable themselves. We do need to help them all we can with equipment, materiel and training. The vast majority of public opinion in the west supports this, including most in our own movement. Those who don’t are a fringe minority of extreme lefties, Putinista assets and pacifists. However hard you try to spin it otherwise, they enjoy negligible levels of support.

    The public will happily see our governments arm and support Ukraine until the Russians are driven out, or Putin falls. On balance it’s much more likely that the Russian Federation will implode than the west would allow Putin to dismember or totally take over Ukraine. In the long term our security and the international order would be much the better for it. If Putin thinks the Chinese are going to save him, he’s even more delusional than his recent actions suggest.

  242. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Ruby,

    Get more informed James, where have have you been the last six months.

    At family grave sides and in and out of hospital with my other half..

  243. Mark Boyle
    Ignored
    says:

    Andy Ellis says: 23 April, 2022 at 12:08 pm

    First Finland and Sweden….next Ireland….?

    48% of Irish voters now support joining NATO, with 39% against. (Red C opinion poll published in the Sunday Business Post 28/03/22). As recently as January only 34% supported joining. 46% favoured holding a referendum to let Irish troops serve in a potential future European army.

    59% favour significantly increasing military expenditure, with 28% against (currently Ireland spends 0.2% of economic output on defence, around 1.1 billion Euros, amongst the lowest in Europe). Ireland has no military grade radar or sonar capabilities, nor any jets capable of long range surveillance or interception. Under a confidential agreement with the UK, the Irish allow the UK RAF to intercept any Russian aircraft violating their airspace.

    Oddly 57% still said they opposed dropping neutrality, so some confusion there still, but looks like the Irish example beloved of so many Putinistas in the Scottish independence movement might be disappearing too?

    Much of this is to do with the Irish public has turned VERY militant against Russia, and that was before the invasion. When Irish fishermen object to Russian factory ships destroying what native fish stocks they had, Putin did some stupid show of strength of “accidentally” intruding in Irish territorial waters in much the same way he childishly sent Turpolev Backfires and Bears (the latter probably the worse aeronautical job in the whole world) to troll the UK coastline.

    Except that the Irish, far from cowed, overreacted big time – and the invasion of Ukraine gave them every excuse to take unilateral action. When they hold a grudge, they REALLY hold a grudge! Russia’s embassy was forced to ask the Irish government to procure fuel for their vehicles as Irish companies and even forecourts refused to sell to them or fill their vehicles. Most people right now would like to frogmatch their entire diplomatic mission out to Poolbeg Lighthouse, fling them into Dublin Bay and tell them to fking swim back to Mother Russia.

  244. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Quite why a founder Alba member wants to rant on 24/7 about ‘Putin’s Poodle’ just before the local elections is beyond me.

    Keep in mind many believe Alex Salmond is Putin’s Poodle, that he worked for RT & was paid by Putin. There was also the interview in QC which resulted in him being named all the same names Ellis is using to describe posters on this forum.

    Wouldn’t it be better for Alba if he shut-up about ‘Putin’s Poodles’ and concentrate on the proposed reforms to the GRA.

    If this post results in another mile long finger wagging lecture from Ellis could someone please inform me (excluding Main & Chas) if there is anything in his post worth reading or if it’s just a repeat of the other 100’s of posts he’s addressed to me and it would be best just to ignore.

    I’m not even a member of Alba and I am telling every female I meet that they should vote Alba because they are pro-women.

  245. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    James Che. says:
    23 April, 2022 at 3:01 pm

    Ruby,

    Get more informed James, where have have you been the last six months.

    At family grave sides and in and out of hospital with my other half..

    So sorry for your loss.

    Hope things are brighter now and you’ll find time to get yourself informed.
    Pity there are not more people here to help you.
    I’m running out of patience now so I’m probably not the best person to help.

    The links that I posted earlier are very good and Glinner is a good source.

  246. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Mark Boyle 3.08 pm

    The law of unintended consequences indeed. The scales will doubtless start to fall from some peoples eyes before too long. Putin’s megalomania has crashed their economy, will result in an expansion and strengthening of both NATO and the EU, and end with a hostile and re-armed Ukraine waiting for revenge when the time is right.

    The west will keep supplying and training the Ukrainians, so that their updated air defences will make it impossible for the Russians to have air superiority, the Russian fleet in the Black Sea will be gradually degraded (and can’t be added to because the Turks have closed the Bosporus to any warships going through them in to the Black Sea), and the Ukrainians will gradually be supplied with more and superior western heavy weapons. When the Ukrainians get their hands on western fighters it’ll be a turkey shoot.

    The Irish have always had a fee ride to spend next to nothing on defence, because nobody ever really thought anyone (other than the UK!) would ever invade them. The fact they’ve now woken up to the potential economic impact of anyone from anywhere coming into your EEZ and basically hoovering up your resources tells us something. They recently bought 2 pretty capable mothballed ships from the New Zealand navy to patrol the Irish Sea….but they don’t have enough navy personnel to sail from New Zealand to Ireland, so they’ll have to come containerised on another ship. 🙂

  247. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    Why would anyone in Alba listen to sweary harridan like Ruby, who isn’t a party member, still less take her advice about which subject were and were not suitable to talk about?

    The fact she appears to be on the right side about GRA reform and women’s rights doesn’t make her any less of a liability to the movement than some of the other political skid marks in here.

  248. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    When was the first time you heard about a woman being a rapist?

    Was it after the 2004 GRA, when Gordon Brown was in power or just recently.

  249. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    One thing I don’t know about GRA/Self Id is what happens to your marriage if your wife decides to self-ids as a man.
    Is the marriage immediately annulled.

    What happens to children if their Dad self-id’s as a woman. I understaand India Willoughby’s son doesn’t speak to his dad or is it his mum.

    I find that very sad.

  250. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Ruby.

    I will back check as much as i can, when i can,

    Four deaths in the family in six months, many hospital visit before hand, my mum is in the last stage of cancer now , and my better half just been diagnosed with cancer last week.

    Doing the best i can under the circumstances,
    Wings as actually been MY lifeline for keeping me informed regards what is going on in Scotland and around the rest of the world.
    Along with some legislation and Statue research in the uk.

    Always willing to learn more and you have been a good source on some subjects just as much Alf Baird and Breeks.
    And many others contributing.
    Do not feel sorry us for our lot.

    Most if not quite everyone here have more than helped us.
    My and my other half’ s main aim regardless of family outcomes is to see Scotland rise up as a nation and become proud of saving Scotland by becoming independent.

    There are many others here that stay silent with tail of family grief an woe’s
    If There is one common binding thing we can do together, that is to free Scotland

  251. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Just re- reading The Law Society of Scotland on the treaty of the Union.

    David Walker 18th June 2007: where he states the following.

    (1) that the English Parliament could not approve or ratify the Scottish Acts, as they had no power over the Scottish Parliament.

    (2) Ractification by either Parliament did not pass the Acts into domestic Law.

    (3) it was not given Royal Assent?

  252. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    The woke brigade complains to Aberdeen Uni, over allowing the Alba party to hold an event there. What does Aberdeen Uni do, it cancels the Alba event ahead of Alba’s roadshow Wee Blue Book Event.

    It would appear that Aberdeen uni, doesn’t want to upset the woke brigade, and has decided that the woke brigades interests come before that of women in Scotland of which the Alba party defends, infact the Alba party is the only party in Scotland that actually knows what a woman is.

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.scot%2Fnews%2F20089230.alex-salmond-hits-aberdeen-university-alba-event-cancelled%2F

  253. Mark Boyle
    Ignored
    says:

    Andy Ellis says: 23 April, 2022 at 3:37 pm

    @Mark Boyle 3.08 pm

    The Irish have always had a fee ride to spend next to nothing on defence, because nobody ever really thought anyone (other than the UK!) would ever invade them. The fact they’ve now woken up to the potential economic impact of anyone from anywhere coming into your EEZ and basically hoovering up your resources tells us something. They recently bought 2 pretty capable mothballed ships from the New Zealand navy to patrol the Irish Sea….but they don’t have enough navy personnel to sail from New Zealand to Ireland, so they’ll have to come containerised on another ship. ?

    Ireland’s long been on a hiding to nothing over its defence. They used to have an airforce with modern aircraft, unfortunately that was back in 1945! In the late 1990s, in a desperate bid to boost the calibre of recruit, they bought in the Uzi because of the Terminator movies – just as the rest of the western world’s armies was junking it for the lighter and more reliable Heckler & Koch MP5. Their old Reserves – the FCA – was regarded as an Irish tax payer funded pub crawl.

    For historical reasons, they’re nervous about having too large or powerful a standing army, but the biggest problem is that anyone wanting a military career would take the traditional route of joining the British armed forces with its miles better prospects (or at least travel) – ironically thanks to the residue of that far-flung empire the Irish are brought up at the teat to so despise! In any case, there’s an unwritten gentlemen’s agreement between Britain and Ireland that due to the large numbers of Irish in our armed services, we’d instantly come to their aid if threatened (thus avoiding the prospects of any serving service people taking “unilateral action”).

    The Fianóglach (Rangers) – their special forces – however are regarded as the joint best in the world, which ironically is a deterrent to some Irish soldiers as it means they’re more likely to be asked by the UN to do their ‘special jobs’ (ie. total suicide!) where soldiers from the UK, US or France cannot be asked for “historical” reasons connected with the region concerned. Unlike many standing armies, this group’s soldiers tend to be in their 30s/40s – not having this obsession with culling all squaddies over 30 as with NATO.

  254. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “THE Queen “will accept” Scottish independence if voters back Yes in a second referendum, according to the monarch’s biographer.”

    Does anyone really care what the old parasite queen lizzie, or her brood thinks about Scottish independence.

    It wasn’t that long ago that this chief royal sponger purred in delight when she found out yes had lost in 2014.

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.scot%2Fnews%2F20089372.queen-will-accept-scottish-independence-event-yes-vote-says-biographer-robert-hardman%2F

  255. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    @Rev Stu –

    I still have a comment from last night (8.56) in moderation, and my latest (5.44) has met the same fate.

    If there’s something obvious triggering my stuff into moderation, please let me know what it is.

  256. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Republicofscotland says:
    23 April, 2022 at 5:04 pm

    The woke brigade complains to Aberdeen Uni, over allowing the Alba party to hold an event there. What does Aberdeen Uni do, it cancels the Alba event ahead of Alba’s roadshow Wee Blue Book Event.

    It would appear that Aberdeen uni, doesn’t want to upset the woke brigade, and has decided that the woke brigades interests come before that of women in Scotland of which the Alba party defends, infact the Alba party is the only party in Scotland that actually knows what a woman is.

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.scot%2Fnews%2F20089230.alex-salmond-hits-aberdeen-university-alba-event-cancelled%2F

    This is what Ellis describes as Kailyard politics. He’ll accuse you of sticking your heads in the sand and focusing on “local things for local people”
    The woke brigade has an extraordinary amount of power. The question is where do they get it from

    I don’t believe Alba were there to play golf or to stop anyone playing golf except perhaps to suggest men entering women’s golfing competitions was unfair & that women were uncomfortable with male golfers using female changing rooms.

    God help the students being educated at Aberdeen university especially those studying biology. Perhaps when this madness blows over a degree for Aberdeen university will be worthless.

  257. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ruby 3:13 pm

    I advise you to read and study every one of Andy Ellis’s posts.

    You will probably learn something new from every one.

    Even if you don’t always agree with Andy, being exposed to ideas that take you out of your comfort zone will be good for you. It may also help you cope with your anger management issues, so it’s a win-win for you.

  258. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Ruby.

    Kailyard refers to a small plot (land) the SNP government has a rather large plot (not land) to role back women’s rights in favour of trans rights the women of Scotland must not vote for the SNP you know that and so do I, but many don’t realise that their rights that they’ve fought hard for are on the verge of being impinged upon.

    As for Agent Ellis he has his agenda laid out for him by his bosses just as the woke brigade have there’s backed by the SNP/Greens. I think it was Peter A. Bell who headed up a 500+ Scottish woman demo outside Holyrood where women demonstrated that they will fight for their rights, a few days later the SPCB asked Westminster if it could ban demos outside Holyrood.

  259. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Brotherhood says:
    23 April, 2022 at 6:12 pm

    @Rev Stu –

    I still have a comment from last night (8.56) in moderation, and my latest (5.44) has met the same fate.

    If there’s something obvious triggering my stuff into moderation, please let me know what it is.

    I’ve had that a number of times & the post never comes out of moderation. Have you read my previous post about this subject. I discovered 3 words that triggered moderation. I divided my posts into three parts and checked which part triggered moderation and figured things out from there. I’ll try and find the pics and post them again.

  260. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “I advise you to read and study every one of Andy Ellis’s posts.

    You will probably learn something new from every one.”

    Main.

    Why would anyone take advice from Nazi loving scumbags such as Ellis and yourself, best leaving the advice to those who don’t spend their time goosestepping and performing the seig heil in front of their telly.

  261. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Iain
    These three words that trigger moderation:

    1. https://tinyurl.com/mr5ay8m5

    2. https://tinyurl.com/yh4jjdys

    3 https://tinyurl.com/2wcydya9

    1. Spelled with two Ts.

    2. ? Perhaps it’s just the first part of the word

    3. The moniker used by someone on WGD

    I found out by dividing my post up and uploading in small sections.

    I did it on the current forum. Might be less annoying if done on ‘Off Topic’ or an old thread.

    Good Luck. Let me know if you find out what triggered yours.

    My original posts never came out of moderation.

  262. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ruby 6.20 pm

    My, you’re absolutely obsessed with what I post aren’t you. It’s pretty easy to live inside your head isn’t it? Plenty of space at least.

    Any reasonably developed primary school student would see through your fallacy. I wouldn’t describe the matter as kailyard politics, that’s just something you made up, and woefully misrepresented as usual, to suit your intellectually lazy straw manning.

    I criticised you and others who said that we shouldn’t discuss issues you regarded as unimportant because the weren’t Scottish enough (like Ukraine, despite the impact it has on all our lives due to the economic effects). Not only is it small minded and myopic, it’s singularly lacking in empathy.

    Discussing issues of direct relevance and impact is of course important, but not to the exclusion of every other issue, particularly when the extremists appointing themselves prefects for deciding what it is admissible to discuss are individuals as loathsome as you.

    Happy to point out your basic errors as per usual.

  263. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Anything worth reading in the latest Ellis finger wagging lecture?
    (Posts by Main & Chas of no use.)

    Thanks in advance for your help. 🙂

  264. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    Ruby: “My original posts never came out of moderation.”

    Finally, some good news……!

  265. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    “Stick to kailyard politics and whether to leave the loo seat up or down…that’s apparently the intellectual level to aspire to for some in WoS these days.” – Ellis

    https://wingsoverscotland.com/progress-update/comment-page-2/#comment-2690454

  266. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Scott 7.24 pm

    Thanks for the re-iteration….what’s you point?

    Oh…yeah…you don’t have one. Stun us with another.

    It’s surely not a difficult thing to understand even for someone as psychologically damaged as you? We’ve had the usual cavalcade of Putinistas and Covidiots droning on for days that we shouldn’t discuss anything but domestic issues. The usual small minded, “Xenophobes-R-Us” stuff…nothing to see here: nativist is as nativist does.

    Nobody is saying domestic issues can’t be discussed, or that they aren’t important. What we are saying is that most adults with a sense of perspective (so not folk like you or Ruby or Putin’s Poodle obvs…I mean ordinary folk who aren’t either weird stalkers or just deeply loathsome individuals and skid marks on the movement) will realise that the world around us has an impact.

    And of course the idea that anyone should listen to Ruby’s hot take on what she thinks can or can’t be discussed will seem pretty outlandish to anyone who reads her brain farts for any length of time.

  267. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ruby –

    Thanks. Appreciated.

    😉

  268. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Andy Ellis says:
    23 April, 2022 at 7:47 pm

    @Scott 7.24 pm

    Thanks for the re-iteration….what’s you point?

    Oh…yeah…you don’t have one. Stun us with another.

    It’s surely not a difficult thing to understand even for someone as psychologically damaged as you?

    Nobody is saying domestic issues can’t be discussed, or that they aren’t important. What we are saying is

    And of course the idea that anyone should listen to Ruby’s hot take on what she thinks can or can’t be discussed will seem pretty outlandish to anyone who reads her brain farts for any length of time.

    The most “psychologically damaged people” are ‘narcissists’.

    Andy Ellis is a narcissist, a bully, a failure, a hypocrite, and a cunt who is so insecure that it can’t qualify its own thoughts without mentioning ‘others/strawmen’ who ‘share its world-view’.

  269. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    It was hard enough for many of us to face up to the horrible reality about Sturgeon and her cronies. But we did it. And we’re still being fingered by the Duggers for betrayal.

    So, how many of us would go back to the ‘wheesht for Indy’ brigade with any realistic hope of another referendum before, say, 2030?

    No. We wouldn’t. Because that would be stupid. it would fly in the face of the evidence we’ve all seen revealed here over the past 6, 7 years.

    But we’re also supposed to believe that the BBC is telling us the truth about what’s happening in Ukraine, and we should ignore the efforts of independent media and solo journalists on the ground who are doing their best to show us the reality. It would be hard to find a clearer example of ‘doublethink’.

    Refusing to swallow UK/US/NATO propaganda does not equate to ‘supporting’ Putin or anyone else. It is what it is – a simple matter of exercising critical judgement in a period of ever-growing hysteria and mass formation psychosis. The same people who refused point-blank to even acknowledge questions over lockdown, masking, adverse reactions, victimisation of ‘refuseniks’, mass sackings of workers etc are the very same now exploiting/frightening the gullible and exhorting us to raise a foreign flag in our gardens.

  270. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Republic 6:50

    As is so often the case, Family Guy provides the words I need.

    Scene: Quagmire, standing in front of a mirror.

    Quagmire’s reflection moves independently and asks:

    “What happened to you, man? You used to be on the side of right, freedom and honesty.”

    I guess you avoid mirrors these days, eh Republic?

  271. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “or just deeply loathsome individuals and skid marks on the movement)”

    Agent Ellis, you mean like Sir Nick Carter or Brigadier Alexander Turner, or Richard Moore and Ken McCallum, all toilet bowl dwellers like yourself.

  272. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ruby 7:01

    I can see why this has you so exercised.

    There’s hardly anything left for you to still post about.

    Oh but wait, c*nt is still OK, so you have some material to work with yet.

    Over to you, Ruby, HMU with some Saturday night entertainment.

  273. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Putin’s Poodle 8.26 pm

    At least the men you name aren’t principle voids who think the Ukrainians had it coming.

    That already makes them better people than you…..

  274. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    Guess who wrote this?

    ‘And for the 101st time: if you are against helping Ukraine you are functionally in favour of Russia winning the war. This is easily understood too.’

    It was Alex Massie, in a tweet earlier tonight.

    This is the level of ‘argument’ we’re seeing now. ‘You’re for us or you’re against us.’ That is – almost verbatim – the phrase Dubya Bush used to threaten nations who were wavering in their support for the calamitous, sadistic invasion of Iraq.

    If Andy Ellis and John Main and other Wingers have thrown their lot in with Zelensky, fair enough. But they have no right to demand that others do likewise, let alone guilt-trip or insult them.

  275. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Agent Ellis @8.44pm.

    I know exactly what you are Agent Ellis, and of course with your boss being among the toilet bowl dwellers I new you’d feel compelled to defend them.

    Ian Brotherhood @8.48pm.

    Its all part and parcel of the hate crimes directed towards Russian folk with Instagram and Facebook suspending their rules around hate crime to allow folk to call for the deaths of Russian folk, for Lizz Truss to call out to folk to go to Ukraine and kill Russians, to the stealing of Russian folks possessions in Europe, the West has let the mask slip and its not a pretty sight, the hatred of all things Russian in the West is off the scale, its embarrassing and ugly to boot.

    The Western media could not be trusted before this conflict to tell the truth, Western journalists wouldn’t even stand up for one of their own in Julian Assange, let alone report the truth, I’m afraid its all down hill from here on in.

  276. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ian Brotherhood 8:48

    I believe I am only guilt-tripping those who have thrown in their lot with Putin and insulted those who have first insulted me.

    But I would like to hear from the pro-Putin contingent what the advantages to Scotland of the destruction of Ukraine will be. Just as I would like to hear from the fence-sitters how that will benefit us.

    I believe in realpolitik and democracy. Make a convincing case for supporting Putin, or looking the other way while pretending Ukrainians are not being murdered, and I am here to be convinced. If you can convince a majority of Scots, I will accept the will of that majority. Of course.

    Over to you. But keep it real. Real advantages, such as economic, pro-Indy, more personal freedoms.

    Spell it out how Putin’s victory in Ukraine benefits us Scots.

  277. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Brotherhood says:
    23 April, 2022 at 8:48 pm

    Guess who wrote this?

    ‘And for the 101st time: if you are against helping Ukraine you are functionally in favour of Russia winning the war. This is easily understood too.’

    It was Alex Massie, in a tweet earlier tonight.

    This is the level of ‘argument’ we’re seeing now. ‘You’re for us or you’re against us.’ That is – almost verbatim – the phrase Dubya Bush used to threaten nations who were wavering in their support for the calamitous, sadistic invasion of Iraq.

    If Andy Ellis and John Main and other Wingers have thrown their lot in with Zelensky, fair enough. But they have no right to demand that others do likewise, let alone guilt-trip or insult them.

    —-
    “Compelled speech is fascism” – Ellis on GETTR [ https://archive.ph/vYaSh ]

    Fascism is therefore inherently opposed to free-speech (that is, any speech critical of the fascists) because it is the first line of defense against the implementation of it’s (sic) political agenda, and so it becomes the first casualty at their hands. Under fascism free-speech was seen as an evil or immoral tool of liberalism and democracy which serves to manipulate the minds of the masses toward what they felt were somehow immoral or harmful political views and actions which detracted from their superior goals; it is summarily moral from the perspective of a fascist to silence the speech of political detractors.

    Which brings us face to face with one of the great political ironies of our time: self-styled anti-fascists using force to advance their party and objectives in a way which directly undermines the fundamental principles of democracy itself: the freedom of citizens to openly express their political views and to participate in the arena and marketplace of ideas whose products we hold as the very fruits of democracy itself” – VagabondSpectre

    https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/1094/on-fascism-and-free-speech

  278. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ian 8.48 pm

    We’re not demanding you do any such thing. I’m sure you and others will continue t use your victim blaming and whataboutery as a fig leaf for your repulsive lack of empathy.

    Massie is in this instance correct, however much I may disagree with the rest of his politics. Ukraine is not Iraq. Nobody here should fool themselves that the views of Putin’s Poodle and others who agree with them represent anything other than a very small coterie of people.

    Not so much the Hard Left, as the Hard Of Thinking Left. Don’t presume to tell folk – in here of all places – what they can and cannot do you utter roaster. People in here who dare to say that “the Ukrainians had it coming”, or use terms like “the Great Satan” are beneath contempt in my view, and those of a large number of other people.

    I honestly don’t care if you and others don’t like it or find it insulting. I find your moral cowardice nauseating. I’m ashamed to share the same movement with you. The fact we may share the same ultimate doesn’t give you a get out of jail free card to escape your lack of a moral compass.

    You can try and dismiss the opposition to the Putinistas as just a few individuals in here all you like, but you can’t honestly believe the general public share your outlook, or accept the pro-Russian narrative?

  279. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “what the advantages to Scotland of the destruction of Ukraine will be”

    Main @9.06pm.

    There is no advantage for Scots nor for any citizens of the UK or Europe for that matter, the Wests continuous encroachment on Russia which had led to this conflict has no benefits for your ordinary Westerner, we are the losers financially, economically, culturally the latter because we’ve cut-off ties with the largest country on the planet.

    So who benefits from the conflict, Nato for one, they now feel they have a real reason for their existence, and we the public will pay more to finance them the weapons manufacturers, the global corporations who make money from conflict. The West really really wanted this conflict and now they’ve got it and we will pay for it, and the likes of you, Ellis, Chas are defending it, and the Nazi’s who are just a pawn in the game.

  280. twathater
    Ignored
    says:

    I recd an email from change.org with this message

    The new owners of Inchconnachan island on Loch Lomond, Kirsty Young and her husband Nick Jones MBE (chief executive of Soho House UK Ltd) intend to eradicate the famous Loch Lomond wallabies and build holiday lets on the island, a fragile area of special scientific interest and special area of conservation. the LINK

    https://www.change.org/p/scottish-government-save-the-wallabies-of-loch-lomond

    Friend of independence HA,HA , Kirsty the BBC’s favourite when it comes to rubbishing Scotland , a vociferous and unrepentant proud Scot BUT , sturgeon the betrayers pal , Alex Salmond’s public maligner with other disreputable independence for Scotland opponents
    YES Kirsty just like the flamingo land owners wants to capitalise monetarily on the raw unspoiled natural beauty of our country because as a member of the middle class bourgeoisie she is ENTITLED to IGNORE the plebs

  281. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    twathater says:
    23 April, 2022 at 9:24 pm

    I recd an email from change.org

    Change dot org petitions are worthless, apart from raising awareness income for the San Francisco based for-profit corporation.

    [Donations through the platform do not go to the campaign makers, according to the change.org spokesperson, “The money raised from petitions goes toward helping the campaign win and helping us build and maintain our technology platform, making it possible for us to provide people with the tools they need to win the change they want to see. – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Change.org#Business_model ]

  282. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    Here is a lengthy interview, broadcast just a few days ago, with Sergei Lavrov, who probably knows a wee bit more about what’s happening than most of us.

    21stcenturywire.com/2022/04/20/interview-sergei-lavrov-talks-with-india-today-on-ukraine-multipolarity-and-eurasias-future/

  283. Alf Baird
    Ignored
    says:

    Scott @ 9:07 pm

    Given that national independence is decolonisation it is therefore possible to link the rise of fascism to colonialism and hence trans-national nationalism. As Albert Memmi wrote:

    “But the colonialist’s nationalism is truly of a special nature. In order that he may subsist as a colonialist, it is necessary that the mother country eternally remain a mother country and… he uses all his energy to that end. Now one can carry this a step further; every colonial nation carries the seeds of fascist temptation in its bosom. What is fascism, if not a regime of oppression for the benefit of the few? The entire administrative and political machinery of a colony has no other goal.

  284. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    I’m halfway through that Lavrov interview.

    It’s brilliant.

    Watch it.

    😉

  285. Confused
    Ignored
    says:

    Hey twathater – steal yourself a copy of Scottish Field once in a while and think about

    “what you could have won” and contemplate why we can’t have nice things.

    I see ken mccallum has been mentioned – he did maths at glasgow around 1990; someone must have some dirt on him, like sexual consent issues incompatible with modern sensibilities; deeply ironic if the folks who fit up others on sex smears lost one of their own.

  286. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    At around the 32 min mark in that video, the interviewer, a young Indian woman, rhymes off a whole list of areas in Russia that may or may not be seeking independence.

    Lavrov gives her a smile and says that’s impressive, she could be a spy.

    Auld charmer that he is. And she loves it.

    🙂 🙂 🙂

  287. twathater
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Scott I am well aware of what change.org does with the money I am also aware that they farm info but I signed up ages ago and sometimes you get info that you otherwise wouldn’t hear about , can you see the MSM highlighting this , and I don’t contribute money
    I also don’t contribute money to charities that have CEO’s being paid hundreds of thousands of pounds whilst their beneficiaries starve or lack water

  288. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    So….French election day then. All the Putinistas will be hoping their mate Marine Le Pen sees off Macron.

    Nativists gotta stick together after all…..

  289. Robert Hughes
    Ignored
    says:

    8.30 in the morning and you’re straight in with the name-calling Andy . Any reason why you need to do this ? I’m fairly sure no one here is rooting for Le Pen . Not that there’s any reason to root for Macron , yet another of the arrogant * we have plans for you * progeny of Herr Swab ( sic , sick ) . France , like just about everywhere in world , is afflicted by a plague of awful politicians .

  290. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    I genuinely try to remain neutral in the Ukraine debate. No doubt I fail, but I do try. However Sergei Lavrov does strike me as a cut above your “average” politician, but his charm and disarming demeanor paradoxically means you’ve gotta listen a lot more closely to what he’s saying, or else he’s going to chop you up into sushi and you won’t feel a thing.

    What he says about WW2 resonates tremendously, because all that is happening in Ukraine today bears an uncanny resemblance to what was happening in Ukraine 80 years ago, with Nazi’s in a steelworks cauldron uncannily reminiscent of Nazi’s in tractor factory cauldron in Stalingrad, but with two noteable exceptions; it’s the Russians who are on foreign soil, (although it’s arguably a “defensive” invasion, a tactic to protect the innocent which NATO knows all about), but what is most alarming is that “the West” is fully onside and arming the Nazi’s, and dare I say it, being seduced by an intensity of propaganda which Josef Goebbels would be proud of. Not a pleasant notion, but tell me it’s wrong…

    These are spookily real parallels I think, not the implied variety typical in Godwin’s Law, where everything traces back to Hitler. In Ukraine, a great deal of everything actually does.

    I don’t see anything “material” happening before the Cauldon collapses, obviously bad news for the Nazis, but I hope the Western leadership is savvy enough to realise this event will represent the crossroads between de-escalating the crisis, and opening up a whole new world of pain which might blight Europe for decades.

    But if we’re going to depend on the caliber of Western leadership, we may have a problem with Curly, Mo and Larry….

    https://archive.ph/STJ2o

    Back in 2012, I wasn’t in the SNP, but I felt Scotland was better of in NATO. Right now however, I wouldn’t touch NATO with a barge pole.

  291. Dorothy Devine
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian B, whisper it – he has long been a favourite of mine , intelligent , quick witted and with gravitas.
    Though I take Breeks point about the charm and the sushi.

    It does beggar belief that those who have been on WoS for ever and a day, trained by the Rev to ignore trolls and other irritants , still respond to the takeover bidders.

  292. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Republic 9:21

    I didn’t ask anybody to tell us yet again what the downsides of standing up to Putin might be.

    I asked what the advantages of folding, packing in, and leaving Ukraine to enslavement within an enlarged RF will be for us Scots.

    You are one of the most vocal denigrators of the west’s actions on here. So f*ckin tell us how we all stand to gain in the geopolitical reality of an enlarged, empowered, emboldened Russia up against the borders of its next annexation objectives.

    I can’t make this any clearer Republic. If you dodge the question again the implications will be obvious.

  293. Robert Hughes
    Ignored
    says:

    Breeks @ 9.03

    My sentiments exactly . I too have been trying to stay out of the morass that is the Ukraine * situation * . My perception of it is that of yourself , Ian B , ROS and a few others here and those pitifully few ( though increasing ) genuinely critical , independent journalists ( remember them ? ) elsewhere .

    That people insist on maligning anyone pointing-out the vileness of a significant strata of the Ukrainian military and Government and the warped machinations of US * interests * in all this as * Putinistas * or indifferent to the suffering of * ordinary * Ukrainian people will be recorded as complete failure of honesty and insight when/if the smoke clears .

    The ONLY demands that we should be making is for a cessation of the killing and that peacemakers – if there are any left – be brought to the forefront .

  294. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Robert Hughes 8.44 am

    Any reason you see it as your role to tone police BTL comments Robert? It’s hardly more outlandish to be up and about posting at this time than posting in the wee small hours is it?

    I’ve no particular time for Macron either, but again it’s hardly a stretch to point out the similarities between a regressive, anti-immigrant nativist in France with links to Putin and those in Scotland with similar views, is it?

    Mind you, odious as Marine Le Pen undoubtedly is, and even though she’s funded by Russians, I doubt even she would go as far as some of the supposedly pro-independence supporters in here and publicly state the Ukrainians had it coming.

    I can’t imagine why anyone sane or with a moral compass in our movement would tolerate people spouting such toxic bullshit, but there again, it’s very hard to be sure they are genuine supporters anyway, as virtually all of them prefer to remain anonymous. It’s not that hard to see why given their world view is it?

  295. Cherrybank
    Ignored
    says:

    Twathater 9.24 are you confusing Kirsty Young with Kirsty Wark.?

  296. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    John Main says:
    24 April, 2022 at 9:42 am

    So f*ckin tell us how we all stand to gain in the geopolitical reality of an enlarged, empowered, emboldened Russia NATO up against the borders of its next annexation objectives.

    Look! I translated your comment into Russian, – and I can’t speak a word.

  297. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Breeks 9:03

    Of course in WW2, the Nazis were the largest, best equipped, most motivated, and arguably the finest fighting force in all of history (dont agree? Take it up with Max Hastings).

    The Russians were doubly weakened by Stalin’s purges against the officer class of the Soviet military, and Stalin’s cognitive dissonance where he flatly refused to believe that the crowning glory of his foreign policy, the Russia-Germany pact in which the two totalitarian dystopias agreed on the mutual carve-up of Eastern Europe, had been betrayed by Hitler. Right up to the point where those reporting the build up of German forces were executed for spreading “disinformation”.

    Not sure there were many trapped women and kids in those days. You know, the “human shields” that the Russians refuse to provide a safe exit corridor for.

    But yes, there was a lot of fighting in industrial complexes. Got to allow you that one.

    But hey, you’ve already betrayed your sympathies by calling the Ukrainians Nazis, so I have already wasted more time on you than you warrant.

    Those b*stard freedom fighters eh? How the Scots Indy movement loathes them.

  298. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Dorothy 9:12

    Scroll on by the “takeover bidders”, it’s not difficult.

    Close your eyes to those supporting those b*stard freedom fighters. Don’t feel bad, we know now that fighting for freedom is too rich a brew for a significant strand of the Scots Indy movement.

  299. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “The ONLY demands that we should be making is for a cessation of the killing and that peacemakers – if there are any left – be brought to the forefront .”

    Robert Hughes.

    Agreed Robert, a bit of common sense there, if only the Minsk Agreements were taken seriously, it might not have came to this.

  300. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Breeks 9:54

    Freedom.

    Simplest answer ever. May still be beyond your Ken though.

    Ask Gregs to provide one of his trademark dictionary definition posts.

    Looks to me like a sizeable chunk of the Indy movement needs to go back to school. Use it or lose it, eh Breeks?

  301. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Robert Hughes 9.52 am

    “My perception of it is that of yourself , Ian B , ROS and a few others here and those pitifully few ( though increasing ) genuinely critical , independent journalists ( remember them ? ) elsewhere ”

    The reason those people, and those they have somehow managed to convince are “pitifully few” is because you’re on the wrong side Robert. You’re not party to some special class of information that isn’t available to the rest of us, nor are you and your compadres better read, or more intelligent.

    It takes a special kind of person to look at the historical situation and background, then look at all the sources on the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the recent history of the Ukraine, and accept the views of folk like Republic of Scotland. You are of course quite entitled to do so. Unlike Russia, this is a democracy. Please don’t try to insult our intelligence by claiming any moral high ground in this debate, or that you and the other apologists for Russian aggression are somehow on the side of the angels here.

    You obviously recognise that you’re in a tiny minority: all that’s needed now is for you and others to accept how toxic that minority is seen as being by the rest of the movement, and by voters in general.

  302. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Confused @10.07pm.

    Yes its shameful and embarrassing to the city of Glasgow, that one of their own is the head of MI5, a domestic security service that has among its many remits, to do all it can to suppress Scottish independence. MI5 is no friend of Scotland’s.

  303. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ian Brotherhood

    “Whole list of areas in Russia … may be seeking independence”

    Let’s name names, Ian.

    Let’s get started trashing their independence aspirations like good Wingers.

    Let’s divvy them up into Nazis, Zionists, fascists, dupes of the assorted Satans, racists, etc. etc.

    Can’t have any of those freedom-fighting b*stards getting their freedom on our watch.

  304. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Breeks 9.03 am

    “….but what is most alarming is that “the West” is fully onside and arming the Nazi’s, and dare I say it, being seduced by an intensity of propaganda which Josef Goebbels would be proud of. Not a pleasant notion, but tell me it’s wrong…”

    Of course it’s wrong. Your reality filters appear to need adjustment if you honestly think the MSM in western liberal democracies, whatever its faults, is morally equivalent to Goebbels. Godwinising at its worst.

    “These are spookily real parallels I think, not the implied variety typical in Godwin’s Law, where everything traces back to Hitler. In Ukraine, a great deal of everything actually does.”

    Oh, look! There come Mr Godwin again. Imagine our surprise! Ukrainian history is somewhat more complex than your facile Godwinising would allow. I’ve never seen any reasonable discussion that denied there were neo-nazis in the Ukraine, or that there was an issue that needed to be addressed.

    What you and others always fail to mention however as you attempt to break a butterfly on a wheel, is that such groups now represent a negligible danger in the Ukraine. They are certainly much less of an issue there than far right, often avowedly nazi movements are amongst Russian nationalists. Why is that? One might almost think you had an agenda.

    Of course, you’re entitled to your ideologically blinkered views of the Maidan protests,and to believe all the QAnon stuff about it being a western plot, and that the USA is – as Putin’s Poodle keeps reminding us – “the Great Satan”, but do you really expect such extreme, conspiracy theory based views to be accepted by mainstream voters?

    More to the point, since you appear to accepted the Kremlin talking points advanced by Putin’s Poodle as factual, do you agree with his view that the Ukrainians “had it coming” too?

  305. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Alf Baird 9:54 pm

    Ukraine’s national independence represents decolonisation.

    Russia’s attempt to re-incorporate Ukraine into its colonialist empire is therefore fascism in action.

    Thanks for the academic explanation and justification for what some of us have been writing here since February.

  306. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “Russia’s attempt to re-incorporate Ukraine into its colonialist empire is therefore fascism in action.”

    Main 10.29am

    Lugansk and Dontesk’s right to independence from Ukraine is decolonisation from Ukraine, and for doing so, their hospitals, schools, and residential areas have been shelled by the Nazi’s for eight years killing many civilians, and the world has stood by and watched it happen.

  307. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @John Main 10.29 am

    It’s doubtful many of the non-Russian ethnicities currently living under (real) colonial rule inside the Russian Federation will shed any tears if – hopefully when? – the “Federation” falls apart. It could all happen much faster than people think. I’ve been reading Ian Kershaw’s book “The Roller-coaster: Europe 1950-2017”, and it struck me how fast things changed when communism and the USSR collapsed, and how few people saw it coming or were prepared for it happening, or for the consequences.

    The west should be both facilitating and preparing for the dissolution of the Russian Federation. Reducing it to a Muscovite heartland and giving all the republics and colonised non-ethnic Russian peoples which the Kremlin currently oppresses will be a win-win. As nationalists who are in favour of peoples having the right to self determination, it is something we should be supporting.

    Ridding the world of a deeply regressive, imperialist and unstable gangster state like the Russian Federation would be the biggest achievement since the USSR collapsed under the weight of its own failure.

    Doubtless Alf Baird et al will be along directly to support the independence of all these new colonised peoples…? Chechnya, Dagestan, Tatarstan, the Ural Republic, Komi Republic, Eastern Karelia, the Kuril Islands, Kaliningrad, Tuva, Sakha…there are around 20 republics within the so-called Federation.

  308. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    For those catching up, this is a link to the Sergei Lavrov interview, which some seem so desperate to ignore.

    21stcenturywire.com/2022/04/20/interview-sergei-lavrov-talks-with-india-today-on-ukraine-multipolarity-and-eurasias-future/

  309. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    For those unaware, the Neo-Nazi’s in Ukraine are woven through its National Guard, Ukrainian President Zelensky said of them, they are what they are.

    The Ukrainian parliament even has Neo-Nazi representation, Ukraine lauds national heroes like Stepan Bandera the Ukrainian parliament even awarded him a Hero of Ukraine medal posthumously.

    There are many streets and monuments dedicated to Nazi sympathisers in Ukraine.

    Why would the population of the country tolerate this Neo-Nazism in their society, they are either too afraid to speak out against, it or they are fine with it, either way Neo-Nazism is a big problem in the country.

    https://thegrayzone.com/

    https://forward.com/news/462916/nazi-collaborator-monuments-in-ukraine/

    https://consortiumnews.com/2022/03/06/robert-parry-when-western-media-saw-ukraines-neo-nazis/

    The Russian language is banned in Ukraine, the Eastern regions of Ukraine known as the Donbas also speak Russian and for that reason and others as well they have been attacked by the Neo-Nazis for the last eight years, such is the hatred for Russians in Ukraine that many Russian speakers in the country were herded into a municipal building in Odessa including children and pregnant women whilst the public outside mixed with the Neo-Nazi’s shouted death to them as they set the building on fire.

    It doesn’t take much of an imagination to see why the US carried out a coup in Ukraine in 2014 (Ukraine is no democracy) in an attempt to bring it under Nato rule and inevitably roll US nukes up against the border with Russia.

    For the situation with regards to Crimea, if you take the time to read this you’ll have your answer.

    I can only provide the info you must make the decision on whether you believe it or not.

    https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2019/11/02/the-obama-regimes-plan-to-seize-the-russian-naval-base-in-crimera/

  310. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Putin’s Poodle 10.44 am

    “Lugansk and Dontesk’s right to independence from Ukraine is decolonisation from Ukraine, and for doing so, their hospitals, schools, and residential areas have been shelled by the Nazi’s for eight years killing many civilians, and the world has stood by and watched it happen.”

    You keep coming out with this “disinformatsiya” tovarich, but nobody apart from Putin’s shills takes it at face value. you’re the person who opined in public that the Ukrainians “had it coming”, who still refuses to accept the virtually universal acceptance that the far-right Russian nationalists in the Donbas murdered almost 300 people shooting down a Malaysian Airlines flight, and continually bangs on about imaginary genocide against ethnic Russians in the Donbas, and caricatures the whole of the Ukrainian people and state as neo-nazis.

    The figures are there for anyone to find. Only a blinkered pro-Russian zealot like you could try to characterise the conflict in the Donbas as a one-sided conflict. People have died at the hands of both sides. There are unpleasant, far right and neo nazi groups on both sides. Strange that you never admit to those on “your” side, or express any regret about the lives lost to shelling by the Donbas separatists, or the now far greater number of Ukrainian civilians killed by the Russians.

    Why is your empathy so one-directional?

    The number of casualties in the Donbas since 2014 (prior to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine) is widely accepted as around 13-14,000. Around 3,300 of those were civilians, including just less than 300 murdered by Russian separatists when they shot down the Malaysian Airlines flight. Of the 3,000 others, many will have been killed by the pro-Russian separatists, whether they were ethnic Russian or Ukrainian.

    500 Russian troops were also killed in the Donbas helping their far right Russian nationalist allies.

    The international community of course doesn’t accept the validity of the Donetsk or Luhansk Republics, any more than it accepts that of the annexation of the Crimea, or the pretendy Transnistrian Republic. However, if Putin does succeed in establishing such unrecognised statelets, they’ll find themselves international pariahs like the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It might also give some of the 20 odd republics in the Russian Federation some ideas. He should be careful what he wishes for!

  311. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “who still refuses to accept the virtually universal acceptance that the far-right Russian nationalists in the Donbas murdered almost 300 people shooting down a Malaysian Airlines flight,”

    Agent Ellis.

    Irrefutable proof that Ukrainian forces shotdown flight MH17

    https://caucus99percent.com/content/it%E2%80%99s-now-obvious-nose-your-face-mh17-shootdown-was-false-flag-executed-elements-ukrainian.

    Mind you the Malaysian War Crimes Commission found Blair and Bush guilty of crimes against humanity, something the (ICC) would never even contemplate, maybe that was among the reasons along with trying to blame Russia for shooting down the Malayasian flight.

    https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2011/11/28/kuala-lumpur-tribunal-bush-and-blair-guilty/

  312. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Putin’s Poodle 11.24pm

    Those insisting the Ukrainians downed the Malaysian Airlines flight are in the same mould as conspiracy theorists who bang on about JFK being killed by the CIA, or FBI or alien space lizards. You have exactly the same level of credibility, as do your sources.

    Folk like you – slavishly loyal assets of the Russian state – doubtless still insist that the Nazis murdered all those Poles in Katyn forest in 1939, or that the Holodomor never really happened. There seem to be no mental gymnastics you are not capable of to avoid any criticism of your paymasters.

    That in the end is the difference between ordinary people in the western liberal democracies, who can admit the faults and errors of their system and governments, and folk like you who are constrained by their doctrinaire ideological zealotry to argue that black is white, that Putin and Lavrov are just a great bunch of blokes and a bit misunderstood, and that everything would be a lot better if we just let them get on with it and learned to love Big Brother.

    The troubling thing isn’t that you’ve convinced yourself and a small coterie of the hard of thinking in here, it’s that you honestly believe you have any significant support in the real world, still less within the independence movement.

    It’s not difficult why you and most of the others guard your anonymity so assiduously of course.

  313. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    If Andy Ellis can’t or won’t address the points made by Lavrov then why should anyone listen to a word he says about Ukraine, ‘covid’, or anything else?

    That interview, almost an hour long, provides him with the opportunity to deal directly with what the organ-grinder is saying. Why would he prefer to spend his time flinging insults at us mere monkeys?

    Lavrov’s voice has been silenced by the BBC. Does Andy seriously want us to accept that simply excluding the voice of either side in a conflict is wise? If he doesn’t, then he’ll be keen to deal with Lavrov’s points so that we can get the kind of explanation the BBC has been denying to its global audience.

  314. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    Is this and example of free and democratic country that we should be involved in where the state is so weak that ultra nationalist milita’s have filled the vacuum in some areas:

    Right Sector has become ‘de-facto police’ in Ukraine’s 2nd largest city

    This isn’t a picture of the whole of Ukraine but it shows how the picture painted by the MSM isn’t the same as reality.

  315. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    https://archive.ph/jSz94

    Sajid Javid inquiry into gender treatment for children

    Health secretary compares political fears over trans issue to silence during Rotherham scandal

    Javid is said to be particularly alarmed by her finding that some non-specialist staff felt “under pressure to adopt an unquestioning affirmative approach” to transitioning and that other mental health issues were “overshadowed” when gender was raised.

    Bravo Sajid Javid!

    Scottish Govrnment “none of these concerns are valid’

  316. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    ‘VIDEO 2014 Ukraine: mercenary Nazis threaten the director of state TV to have him resigned.
    It is useless to pretend.
    This is one of the many faces of NATO.
    This is what the fans of Ukraine support.’

    twitter.com/antonio_catta/status/1517982886976184323

  317. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    Why would I feel constrained to listen to a 1 hour documentary on the recommendation of one of the chief Putinista shills on this site? Lavrov’s comments on the “special military operation” have been widely reported: I’ve no need to listen to him avoiding tame questions from a Russia-friendly source to know that he will simply parrot the same kind of disinformatsiya your friend Putin’s Poodle has been coming out with for 3 months Ian.

    Since you’re so enamoured of his arguments, do us all a service and precis his points for us and tell us why you think we should believe him, point us to the evidence backing up his claims and let us decide which we find most convincing.

    Of course you and others have already written off any MSM source, haven’t you? That makes it kinda difficult for any “ordinary Joe” to know who to believe doesn’t it? We see news reports from correspondents on the ground reporting on civilian deaths, but Putin’s Poodle insists it’s all fake news.

    What do you think Ian?

    Do you agree that the Ukrainians had it coming too?

    It’s not an unreasonable question in the circumstances…..

  318. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Lots of interesting things happening in Alba!

    Not much mention about Alba here on ‘Wings Over Ukraine’

  319. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ruby 1.17 pm

    You should definitely try and inform folk about those Ruby….just try to avoid all those verbal ticks that keep getting your posts put in to moderation maybe?

    In the meantime we can talk about things more interesting than whether to leave the loo seat up or down, or focus on your monomania about the GRA as though that was the only issue of concern to anyone.

  320. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pressandjournal.co.uk%2Ffp%2Fnews%2Faberdeen-aberdeenshire%2F4206548%2Falex-salmond-alba-party-meeting-aberdeen-university%2F

    Alex Salmond slams ‘sinister attack on free speech’ over Alba Party meeting ‘ban’ from Aberdeen University Student Association

    “AUSA stands in full solidarity with the trans community who raised concerns about the event. Our campus should be a safe place where all our students feel welcome.”

    They stand in full solidarity with the trans community & against the non-trans community. They would be 100% behind Lia Thomas and have zero concern for the young women in the UPenn Swimming Team. Aberdeen University Student Association is 100% anti-women.

  321. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Another lecture from Ellis.

    Can someone inform me if he has written anything interesting? I would rather not waste my time if it’s just the usual

    Thanks in advance.

  322. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    Perhaps we should now just draw a veil over Andy Ellis’s performance here.

    Sloppy, fact-free, insult-ridden rants masquerading as ‘discussion’.

    Embarrassing rubbish.

  323. Mark Boyle
    Ignored
    says:

    John Main says:
    24 April, 2022 at 9:59 am

    @Breeks 9:03

    Of course in WW2, the Nazis were the largest, best equipped, most motivated, and arguably the finest fighting force in all of history (dont agree? Take it up with Max Hastings).

    I would no more trust Max Hastings on history – especially so-called “military history” – than I would J K Rowling on witchcraft or even R Allen Brown on the Norman Conquest …

    The Nazis were certainly not the best equipped as legend would have it. As a certain young upstart called Charles De Gaulle proved when during the Battle of France he kicked the arse of Heinz Guderian – author of Achtung Panzer (the latter only rescued by the intervention of Stukas), they simply used superior tactics – so long as they were up against people still fighting as if it were WW1.

    As for their motivation, as was discovered long after the war and hushed up for years, so much of the German forces were reliant on amphetamine sulphate (especially the Waffen SS) for their tactics to work (which they told their troops were “vitamins”). Like the Vikings of old, they were in trouble once their supply of “nature’s little helpers” ran out.

    One of the reasons the Luftwaffe got such a doing in the Battle of Britain was the likes of ace Robert Stanford Tuck (who shot down Hans-Joachim Marseille over the Channel in the days before he became the famous “Star of Africa”) had popularised Dexedrine amongst fighter pilots so much as a means of being able to fly, fight, get sloshed at night then get up in the morning and do it all over again that it nullified the advantage of the Luftwaffe’s own pep pills.

  324. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ian 2.02 pm

    I can understand why you refuse to engage Ian. You lack either the wit or perhaps just the desire to explain why Lavrov’s 1 hour interview is worth listening to, or whether his points tell us anything new. It’s quite ironic somebody like you accusing me of being sloppy or indulging in fact free rants. I’ve asked you for evidence, so let’s hear it.

    If you agree with the Kremlin narrative being put across by Lavrov and his shills in here like Putin’s Poodle, then tell us why we should give credence to Russian MSM and sources, but discount all other sources.

    There are discussions to be had on matters of fact of course, but neither you nor the other Putinistas seem keen to engage. Thus we are treated to constant assurances by pro-Kremlin commentators that (amongst other things) there has been ethnic cleansing of Russians by the Ukrainians and/or that this is genocide, that Russian separatists were NOT responsible for shooting down the Malaysian Airlines flight despite what the Dutch and other international investigators found and publicly released which shows they were responsible, that the Ukraine is infested with and controlled by neo-nazis, etc., etc. etc.

    The vast majority of people know that none of these things are actually true, but you and others have convinced yourselves that you are privy to knowledge which supports your narrative, so lets see it. Links to random conspiracy theorising QAnon-ish websites isn’t going to cut it, by the way.

    The embarrassing rubbish is all coming from the Putinista direction.

  325. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Andy Ellis

    Interesting article in the Spectator Online about the narrowing military capability gap between Russia and Ukraine. In short, western arming of Ukraine, coupled with attrition of Russian tanks and transport has been working towards establishing parity. In terms of manpower, Russian casualties have been much higher, so again, that works in Ukraine’s favour.

    Factor in superior Ukrainian morale and motivation and inferior Russian tactics, and some people are starting to wonder if Ukraine really could win this war.

    This puts Putin in a difficult spot, and more likely to go nuclear. But the problem he has there, is that as the war has exposed the Russian conventional military as a toothless tiger, can he be confident that his nuclear arsenal has not been similarly hollowed out by corruption, incompetence and toadying? He may press the button and find half the missiles don’t fly, and half the ABM defences don’t work, while the USA just wipes Russia out, almost unopposed.

    It goes without saying that Ukraine and the west are wondering about this too. As will be many Russians.

  326. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Mark Boyle 2.18 pm

    It will be interesting to hear in a few years time the analysis of why the Russian army has – relative to expectations – performed so badly in their “special military operation”.

    It almost makes me wonder if Putin fell prey to the same kind of “strike now while the iron is hot” fallacy that did for the Kaiser Wilhelm prior to WW1, because they feared being overtaken by the Russian army if they waited any longer than 1914, and Hitler in 1940 thinking that the USSR was a house so structurally weakened by Stalin’s purges that it would collapse altogether if he kicked the front door down, leaving him to deal with the British Empire at his leisure?

    Perhaps Putin wasn’t misled by his hapless advisors that the road to Kyiv would be a cake walk….perhaps he knew that if he waited much longer, the Ukrainian armed forces would kick his ass?

  327. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Breeks.
    Alf Baird.
    Robert Hughes.

    Does it make any sense to either of you as to the dates and wording in the treaty of the union regards the following and can anyone give explanation please on some of the following topic iam about to post.
    The first being, dates written.

    Englands original Calendar New year began on the 25th March, known as Lady Day, until Old Lady day on the 5th April.
    England used this calendar from 1155 to 1752.

    Scotland however had changed its Calendar New Year date to The 1st January in 1600.
    Although i realise this is why there are supposed to be two separate years on the treaty of the union for Ratifying the treaty of the union.

    It is a complication unforeseen by Englands old parliament and perhaps Scotlands, as it makes no adjustment for the legal procedure of Ratifying the Acts.

    The old Scottish parliament only ratified the Acts on the 16th January 1707.the same year a debate was to take place on wether to join with England in union when the Scottish parliament re- opened its doors in October also the same year.

    However Englands old Parliament Ratified the complete Scottish Acts of the treaty of the union and gave Royal assent? to them officially the year previously on the 6th of march 1706.

    Officially this means that the Scottish parliament had not had any official time to discuss or debate on wether to join in union with Englands Parliament,

    As Englands horse was put before the cart in Ratifying any of Scotland Acts of the treaty of the Union,

    With these early dates in signiture situe, Englands Parliament would not have the Authority in 1606 to ratify the Scottish Acts or to give royal assent before the Scottish Parliament had made such an agreement in 1707.
    Regardless of when the treaty was supposed to come into effect,

    This discrepancy of preempting any Scottish Parliaments agreement and wether or not Royal assent was made on the treaty of the union was bought to my attention by David Walker, The Law and the Union, The Law Society of Scotland.

  328. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere inherited his title and control of the Daily Mail has a £1 Billion fortune but pays no tax in the U.K.

    This leaves him plenty of cash for the Tory Party, the party of Toffs for Tax Avoidance, money laundering and dodgy government contracts for their family and friends.

    Each and every one of his reporters must attack Scotland on a daily basis or they just don’t work there.

    Some of the most outrageous political clap trap comes out of there.
    One of my favourites came from one of their secret contacts in the SNP (Booooo)
    has reported that they intended to CHEAT by having a Piper at each Polling Station!

  329. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Mark Boyle 2:18

    Do get back to us when you have published as many critically-acclaimed books on military history as Sir Max.

    Or even one.

    So it was all down to our pills being superior to the Nazi’s pills? I sure hope they tear down all memorials to Dowding. He had us all persuaded that it was his revolutionary integration of radar into the air defences that enabled the numerically inferior RAF to successfully intercept incoming raids and thus eventually stop the Luftwaffe.

    Sure, De Gaulle kicked their arses so hard he put his foot out of action and had to spend most of the war in London.

    And all those dead Allied tank crews would have loved to have known that the Tigers and Panthers with their 88mm guns were actually inferior.

    Still, an interesting perspective from you. The side with the best pills wins. Let us know if you find this belief has any practical, everyday applications. Maybes we should be looking at development of an Indy pill?

  330. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ruby 1:39

    Some good posts from Andy Ellis today. Well worth your time and effort to read, study and absorb.

    Feel free to ask again tomorrow! Always happy to help 🙂

  331. Ron Maclean
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ian Brotherhood 2:02pm

    You’re far too kind. It’s a lot worse than that.

    Interesting posts on barrheadboy.com and yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com today. They show how low this site has fallen.

  332. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Brotherhood says:
    24 April, 2022 at 2:02 pm

    Perhaps we should now just draw a veil over Andy Ellis’s performance here.

    Sloppy, fact-free, insult-ridden rants masquerading as ‘discussion’.

    Embarrassing rubbish.

    Good Idea!

    I’ve actually done that already. I no longer read post by Ellis & Main.

    It’s great I highly recommend it.

    Have a nice day!

  333. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “The troubling thing isn’t that you’ve convinced yourself and a small coterie of the hard of thinking in here, it’s that you honestly believe you have any significant support in the real world, still less within the independence movement.”

    Agent Ellis @11.36am.

    I’m not trying to convince anyone in here, I put up the info and they decide for themselves, and unlike you I don’t believe that the folk in here are as you say “hard of thinking” I think by the comments of most of them that they are pretty clued up on things other than what’s happening in Scotland.

  334. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Agent Ellis @2.42pm.

    I’ll clear it up for you, the SMO isn’t from what I’ve read a full out attack on Ukraine by Russian forces if it was it would have been done and dusted by now.

    Its not about killing civilians (unlike the Nazi’s) or destroying residential areas (again unlike the Nazi’s who also set up heavy artillery in residential areas). There hasn’t even been a full deployment of any of the majors forces from Russia in Ukraine, that’s because its not about destroying the country.

    From what I can tell, its about protecting the Donbas, and Crimea, denazifying (Azov battalion and other Nazi battalions in Ukraine) stopping Ukraine from joining Nato, if it did nukes would be on Russia’s border along with US military bases.

    Of course from what I can make out by filling in the gaps if I may be so bold, is that the West and Nato has had a meltdown over this, and Russia is now the most sanctioned country in the world, and anti-Russian sentiment is in top gear along with the sanctions.

    This Western madness will lead to the downfall of Western (mainly US) hegemony as Russia moves away from the West in a trading sense and the West Europe, complies with the Great Satan’s (US) actions against Russia, oh it will take years to accomplish, and Sparta (US) will ultimately if history does repeat itself need to attack (Athens) China or Russia to stay on top.

  335. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    James Che. says:
    24 April, 2022 at 2:54 pm

    Does it make any sense to either of you as to the dates and wording in the treaty of the union…

    Yeah kinda,…I think the way it worked was the Scottish and English Parliament’s signed off their own respective copies of the Treaty in 1706 and early 1707, and once both respective copies of the Treaty were signed, the agreement was deemed to be reached and it changed from a Treaty of Union and became an Act of Union, based upon what was said in the Treaties…. I think.

    I haven’t really given it a lot of thought, because there were so many shady dealings going on, bribery, coercion etc, that the paper chase seemed to be the least of it. – An unholy piece of trash given a fake veneer of respectability. I don’t think Queen Mary was acting properly and above board by Scotland either… But I’d need to read up on such unpleasantness to be more sure.

  336. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Breeks.
    thank you for you’re response,
    And in a way it may make sense i suppose in a back to front way,

    Although that still leaves the question of why England Parliament thought it had the authority to ratify both Englands and Scotlands Acts.

    Further to David Walkers comments, He goes on to say that the Acts were not put into domestic Law.?

  337. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian (Scotland won’t stand for it) Blackford in Sturgeon’s fanzine the National, going on about independence again, and how an indy Scotland could spark unilateral nuclear disarmament.

    If by some miracle we do become independent, and it won’t be because of anything the Westminster trougher Blackford or his boss Sturgeon does, the nukes at Faslane will either end up in England, France or back in the States, or if we have limp wristed weak minded FM in place, they’ll rent out Faslane and the nukes will go nowhere, alternatively Westminster will do what its good at, and hew off Faslane as a enclave of England’s and keep the nukes there.

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.scot%2Fnews%2F20089901.ian-blackford-scotland-can-help-spark-global-nuclear-disarmament%2F

  338. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Putin’s Poodle 3.51 pm

    OK, let’s deconstruct this for the benefit of the hard of thinking…who despite your earlier post are definitely “a thing” particularly in here.

    1) :….the SMO isn’t from what I’ve read a full out attack on Ukraine by Russian forces if it was it would have been done and dusted by now.”

    Most expert analysis agrees that Putin was misled both as to how easy the “SMO” would be, and about the quality of the Russian armed forces, both in terms of materiel and training. In the case of the former, the Russians believed their own propaganda that they would be welcomed as liberators etc. That was utter nonsense of course. The Russians tried to do too much, with too little. Both their strategy and their tactics were flawed. The Ukrainians gave them a bloody nose, which is why they withdrew and are now concentrating on the Donbas.

    No serious military commentator or expert thinks the Russian armed forces have performed well. You’d have to be blind, or a totally partisan supporter of Putin to think otherwise.

    2) “Its not about killing civilians (unlike the Nazi’s) or destroying residential areas (again unlike the Nazi’s who also set up heavy artillery in residential areas). There hasn’t even been a full deployment of any of the majors forces from Russia in Ukraine, that’s because its not about destroying the country.

    It patently is about destroying the country, as Mariupol demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt. Hundreds of civilians have died in indiscriminate heavy artillery shelling of non-military targets, use of missiles which have hit residential and civilian targets, and out and out executions of, and other war crimes against, Ukrainian civilians.

    Most estimates put 75% of Russias military as being engaged in Ukraine (the US never had more than 29% of its military in action even when Afghanistan and Iraq Wars were being fought at the same time). The Russians don’t have the troops (BTGs) or the equipment to take the Ukraine. Putin is now hoping he can partition Ukraine and leave a rump statelet cut off from the Black Sea. It’s a delusion which the Ukrainians and the western allies will never accept.

    The nazis in this scenario are Putin’s orcs, not the Ukrainians. You’ve been punting the Kremlin’s “Ukraine needs to be de-nazified” line for months now, but very few people who have looked at the evidence accept your narrative, or give it any credence at all. As many others have pointed out – including experts in the field of far right extremism – Russia has a far greater problem with far right extremism and nationalism than Ukraine does.

    Arguably the far right in America is more of a worry or an issue than it is in the Ukraine. Those facts don’t suit your narrative, therefore you simply ignore them, because you have no real evidence, and no counter argument to evidence of Russian far right extremism and nationalism.

    3) “From what I can tell, its about protecting the Donbas, and Crimea, denazifying (Azov battalion and other Nazi battalions in Ukraine) stopping Ukraine from joining Nato, if it did nukes would be on Russia’s border along with US military bases.”

    No, it isn’t about protecting the Donbas. Many of those killed by far right Russian nationalists in the Donbas are Ukrainians and ethnic Russians who oppose Putin and his separatists, and want nothing to do with plans to set up pretendy “People’s Republics”. Your analysis is flawed. The “nukes on the border” argument is a total red herring. Both sides have had periods of confronting nukes in neighbouring states: Russian SS20 in Eater Europe, Cruise & Pershing 2 missiles in Europe.

    An independent Ukraine has every right to seek NATO and EU membership. No real nationalist should ever believe that an imperial power like Russia is entitled to dictate to its neighbours how they should act. All Putin has achieved is to imminently see Finland and Sweden join NATO, accelerate EU membership for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, and to considerably strengthen both organisations, as well as wreck his own economy and see a huge increase in western military spending. It’s a fight that a second rate gangster state like Russia is ill equipped to start, still less hope to win.

    4) “Of course from what I can make out by filling in the gaps if I may be so bold, is that the West and Nato has had a meltdown over this, and Russia is now the most sanctioned country in the world, and anti-Russian sentiment is in top gear along with the sanctions.

    As it should be. Russia will soon be Burkina Fasso with nukes. The medium to long term outlook is for the dissolution of the Russian Federation. With luck Putin and his cronies will get theirs, whether at a Nuremberg style tribunal, or at the end of a rope from a Kremlin lamp post.

    5) “This Western madness will lead to the downfall of Western (mainly US) hegemony as Russia moves away from the West in a trading sense and the West Europe, complies with the Great Satan’s (US) actions against Russia, oh it will take years to accomplish, and Sparta (US) will ultimately if history does repeat itself need to attack (Athens) China or Russia to stay on top.”

    What a weird analogy. Russia is a busted flush. a kleptocracy with delusions of grandeur as their gubbing in Ukraine shows. Russia is more akin to Mordor I think. The collapse of the Russian Federation is far more likely than the end of western dominance in any reasonable timescale.

    The Chinese aren’t going to pull Putin’s chestnuts out of the fire, any more than the Indians are. They’ll happily pick over the bones of the Russian Federation when it collapses and take the Far East in to their sphere of influence. Russai will be reduced to a latter day Muscovy, and be as isolated and reviled as the Serbs have been for the past few decades.

    It couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of folk…sorry, war criminals.

  339. Ron Maclean
    Ignored
    says:

    Aw naw not again.

  340. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Breeks.
    Alf Baird.
    More thoughts on the union
    Reading through history documents and legislation
    And after ascertained that the two parliaments of Scotland and England shall be united in one Parliament known as the Great British parliament.

    A piece took my notice that claimed.
    The Scottish Parliament was dissolved on the 28th April 1707 , by Royal Proclamation,

    As there is nothing similar as to formal statement with regards the Old English Parliament being also dissolved by Royal Proclamation.
    was it not dissolved or proclaimed to be closed ?
    If so what is the official date it was royally proclaimed as such?

    1) does this separate the the Parliament of Scotland in the Acts of the treaty, from the Parliament from England Acts by Royal Proclamation?

    2) as the two parliaments by royal proclamation can no longer joined.

    3) As the treaty articles state that the ( two)Parliaments of Scotland and England will forever be united under a new Parliament of Great Britain,

    Surely according to the Articles of the treaty of the union, This does not permit the dissolving of the Scottish Parliament but rather the opposite, it must be seen to be retained to uphold the the united Parliaments ofGreat Britain.

  341. Ottomanboi
    Ignored
    says:

    How some Palestinians behave in the third holiest Islamic shrine after Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.
    https://twitter.com/imamofpeace/status/1514995796659290118
    Israeli oppression made them do it…or something of the sort.

  342. DavidRitchie
    Ignored
    says:

    Nicola is head and shoulders above Alex Salmond as FM but one of the problems is the total failure of SNP MPS at Westminster to hold the Government to account especially on Covid

  343. Robert Graham
    Ignored
    says:

    oh fk ellis has taken to writing short stories

    have i read it nope

    do i intend to ever read it nope

    what is the point of ellis ? fkd if I know

  344. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    Had our first canvasser of the election at the door this afternoon: Christine Jardine MP no less wondering if the LD’s could count on our support…..

    …..I told her they’d be just above the Tories at the bottom. 🙂

  345. Mark Boyle
    Ignored
    says:

    John Main says:
    24 April, 2022 at 3:03 pm

    @Mark Boyle 2:18

    Do get back to us when you have published as many critically-acclaimed books on military history as Sir Max.

    Or even one.

    Oh don’t be so pompous.

    Max Hastings is a journalist, his books avoid proper footnotes and referencing like the plague precisely because he knows he’d be crucified by academia.

    So it was all down to our pills being superior to the Nazi’s pills? I sure hope they tear down all memorials to Dowding. He had us all persuaded that it was his revolutionary integration of radar into the air defences that enabled the numerically inferior RAF to successfully intercept incoming raids and thus eventually stop the Luftwaffe.

    My point was that the Germans’ pill popping advantage was nullified. Nazi Germany was one giant rollercoaster of cutting corners and bluffing the world – like a certain chump in the East right now, they discovered the hard way the disaster that unfolded once it stopped working. The Third Reich’s reliance on Pervitin is hardly a matter of dispute.

    The Germans knew about radar long before the Battle of Britain (they had a chain of their own on the borders with Denmark) but thought it would be to THEIR advantage mean they would waste less fuel hunting the RAF down! Hence why they left the radar station chain alone for so long (contrary to a certain movie, only Ventnor on the IOW was ever knocked out), and by the time they did get around to bombing them, it was already too late – the flak cover now placed around them made Stuka attacks (the only way to hit such small targets) beyond suicidal.

    Dowding more HOPED that radar would give Britain a chance rather than having CONFIDENCE it would (Dowding was in fact due to stand down but agreed to stay on until the “emergency” was concluded). Although it did away with standing patrols, the problem still remained of the RAF being outnumbered over 3 to 1 – it was the discovery that the Hurricane was a lot better and the Me 110 a whole lot worse than expected (and the Stuka a death trap) that truly tipped the scales … which comes back to my point about Nazi weaponry not being the “superior” the myths had it cracked up to be.

    Sure, De Gaulle kicked their arses so hard he put his foot out of action and had to spend most of the war in London.

    Whataboutery. Fact was he proved in combat had the French not wasted their tanks by throwing them out in penny packets, they were superior to the Germans’ ones – and he did it against the man that wrote the Bible for Blitzkrieg.

    And all those dead Allied tank crews would have loved to have known that the Tigers and Panthers with their 88mm guns were actually inferior.

    The Tiger tank never appeared until 1942 (as a counter to the Russian T-34) and the Panther in mid-43 – too late in the war and with an appalling reliability record. But thank you for your straw man when I was speaking about the Battle of France in 1940.

  346. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Robert Graham 5.45 pm

    It’s not a sin to be ignorant as you are, it IS a sin to be proud of it.

  347. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    Macron elected for second term as French president, leads Le Pen 58.2%-41.8% (Ipsos estimate).

    Two cheers for Macron!

  348. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Republic 4:37

    Jeezo, make your mind up Republic.

    This morning you were all in favour of hewing off enclaves.

  349. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @John Main 7.16 pm

    That’s a good point actually: presumably the Putinistas will be cool with the Borders and Dumfries & Galloway People’s Republics deciding not to become part of an independent Scotland? Or Shetland perhaps…they might prefer to go back to being Norwegian. 🙂

  350. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Mark Boyle 5:47

    Thanks for your reply.

    So I’ve just grabbed the first book by Sir Max I could find (“Nemesis”, since you ask). 34 pages of Notes & Sources in that one, so hardly avoiding them IMO. Admittedly, not up to highest academic standards.

    And I don’t really get your assertion that Dowding had no confidence his integration of radar with command & control would work. Given the years he fought tooth and nail in the face of resistance at all levels to get it operational.

    But the gist of your original post, as I understood it, was that “our pills were better than their pills”. This is all news to me, so perhaps a reference or two is in order?

  351. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    re: the WW2 topic.

    The Germans created a amphetamine type drug called Pervitin, knicknamed either Panzer or Luftwaffe chocolate, that allowed them to function for very long periods without rest or sleep.

    In the short term great but like all drugs, addiction sets where larger doses are required. The drug worked wonders in the early stages of the war with their Blitzkrieg tactics but the advantage was lost later on where the Nazi’s had a large number of their service personal as junkies.

    https://www.amusingplanet.com/2020/05/pervitin-wonder-drug-that-fueled-nazi.html

    IIRC, German WW2 tanks very far superior but suffered from being over-engineered meaning more down-time for maintenance, parts shortages and only being able to be produced in smaller number than their adversaries. That last part was crucial as the Allies could produce for more of them which allowed tank battles to be won.

    In terms of weapons, more advanced doesn’t necessarily mean more decisive. From what I’ve read, the AK47 is a pretty bad weapon in terms of effectiveness but it is cheap, rugged and easily repaired. You can throw it in a river, fish it out, clean it, dry it out and it works. The same can’t be said for some far superior and advanced weaponry.

  352. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Mark Boyle

    I seem to have read that the German Blitzkrieg philosophy was influenced by a book written by Charles De Gaulle, think it was Vers l’Armée de métier (Towards the Professional Army, 1933)

  353. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Republicofscotland

    It terms of the end of US led western economic hegemony could well happen due to the jitters nations are having by the extent of economic sanctions by the US on Russia:

    https://menafn.com/1104081175/Sanctions-force-nations-to-look-for-alternatives-to-the-US-dollar?source=318

  354. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Andy Ellis 7:22

    Thanks. I’ve been trying to understand Republic’s “logic” to work out how it would apply to an Independent Scotland.

    I think Republic would support the right of rUK to meddle with the administration and governance of Argyll & Bute, perhaps on the basis that many people settled in Faslane and surroundings had ties to rUK. Perhaps rUK would want to influence local politics so that a party with sympathetic ties to rUK would be elected in A&B and start to openly defy HR rule. If HR got heavy, Republic would think it proportionate for rUK to provide arms and militia to protect the minorities in A&B from HR genocide. Finally, rUK might invade Scotland and attempt to seize Edinburgh & Glasgow, claiming that HR was already planning an invasion of rUK. Evidence would no doubt be found to justify claims that Scotland was hoaching with neo-Nazis.

    Republic would be onboard with all of this and would furthermore accuse any bigger country or group of countries that came to Scotland’s aid of being some kind of Satan.

  355. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ruby 3:30

    Aw Ruby, I’m still reading your posts.

    Hope that’s OK, but I promise to stop if you want.

  356. twathater
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Cherrybank 9.53am YES cherry it appears that I am doing so , so I will admit I don’t think she was involved with others in the smearing of Alex Salmond , her husband founded soho house group 60% of which was sold to american billionaire Ron Burckle for £250 million so I am sure acquiring Scottish Islands and turning them into luxury getaways where poor Scots plebs can compete with 11 Polish illegal immigrants for shit wages is done for purely altruistic reasons

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soho_House_(club)

    Their wikipedia is very interesting

    BTW Cherry excuse my cynicism I am ALWAYS suspicious of english people buying up Scottish islands

  357. robbo
    Ignored
    says:

    Forgive them lord , they know nowt what their talking aboot!

    They’ve read a few books and read shit on internet. Never been in a theater of war/conflict but can tell you how it all goes.

    Nonsense.

  358. Clavie Cheil
    Ignored
    says:

    To Putin’s Poodles.

    Brit Unionism and Russian Unionism are twa cheeks of the same diseased Imperialist arse.

    Putin has pretty much sabotaged any idea of Scotland being a neutral Nation out of NATO on the Global Stage – assuming we ever get an ‘honest’ Indy Referendum that is. I am not holding out for one.

    This little ditty is just for you boys and girls. It doesn’t do the original justice though. Its the thought that counts.

    Springtime for Putin and Russia.

    Russia was having trouble, what a sad, sad story
    Needed a new leader to restore its former glory
    Where, Oh where was he? Where could that man be?
    We looked around and then we found
    The man for you and me.

    And now it’s.
    Springtime for Putin and Russia
    Rossiya is happy and gay
    We’re marching to a faster pace
    Look out, here comes the master race

    Springtime for Putin and Russia
    Winter for Armenia, Moldova, Poland and Ukraine
    Springtime for Putin and Russia
    Come on, Russians, go into your dance
    I was born in Donbas, and that is why they call me Uncle Joe Stalin
    Don’t be stupid, be a smarty, come and join the Putin Nazi party

    Springtime for Putin and Russia
    Goosestep’s the new step today
    bombs falling from the skies again
    Rossiya is on the rise again

    Springtime for Putin and Russia
    Uboats are sailing once more
    Springtime for Putin and Russia
    Means that soon we’ll be going
    We’ve got to be going
    You know we’ll be going to WAR!

  359. Dorothy Devine
    Ignored
    says:

    Did anyone read the article in which Angela Raynor was accused of using ‘basic instincts’ tactics to distract Johnson at PMQs?

    Utter ordure but I loved this quote,

    ‘The article quoted a Conservative MP saying: “She knows she can’t compete with Boris’s Oxford Union debating training, but she has other skills which he lacks. She has admitted as much when enjoying drinks with us on the [Commons] terrace.”

    He has Oxford Union debating training????? Blimey , if that is true then the Oxford Union should have a wee re-think!

    I have to say conservatives mostly condemned the crappy article as crap.

    That quote also reminded me that there are no other large institutions apart from the House of Lords which have several bars on the premises. Working environment ? I think not.

  360. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:


    Dorothy Devine says:
    25 April, 2022 at 8:25 am
    Did anyone read the article in which Angela Raynor was accused of using ‘basic instincts’ tactics to distract Johnson at PMQs?

    Just when you think Westminster couldn’t be more of a laughing stock than it is. They behave like tacky spoiled brats who never grew up, stealing whatever they like, pretty much because most of them are, but just imagine what Islamic governments around the world make of this.

    I’ve never been called a prude in my entire life, but the Tory chavs aren’t half trashing the UK’s international reputation and standing, and it wasn’t exactly flying high to begin with.

    What the fk are we waiting for, remaining shackled to this freak show? 8 fkg years waiting for the SNP to do something, but they still don’t even know where to start!

    I am profoundly curious, in a ruthlessly acerbic and cynical way, to know what the dismal SNP non-entities would consider “favourable” conditions to press for Independence.

    You get a sense Alex Salmond could physically secure Scottish Independence, have it gift wrapped in International Recognition, hand it to the SNP and they’d still be perplexed about whether it constituted a mandate to hold an Independence Referendum.

    Why are we “following” the path set by these feckless, visionless, intellectual cripples?

  361. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @robbo 11.16 pm

    Perhaps you have been in a theatre of war / conflict robbo, in which case your insights could be seen to carry more weight than the insights of someone who hasn’t, but are you really suggesting that people should only be listened to if they have direct experience? That sounds dangerously close to the Trumpian and brexiteer mantra about not trusting experts, doesn’t it?

    Ordinary voters can’t be expected to be experts on all subjects. They will be interested in some, bored by others and indifferent or unsure about a lot too. In general, how would you suggest they form opinions about the great issues of the day, whether that’s independence, Covid, the war in the Ukraine, the debate about GRA?

    Presumably you’d agree that people get their information from a variety of sources: MSM, the internet, books, discussions with their friends, families and colleagues. Of course there will always be matters of interpretation and argument about e.g. the topics you’re alluding to above, which deal with subjective opinions. Other things are however matter of fact and pretty binary. We’re being asked to believe by many in here that their “take” on what is happening in Ukraine is the correct one, and that the information we’re being given by our MSM is either totally fake, or shouldn’t be trusted because those sources are tainted or have an agenda.

    How are we meant to decide which version is true? For example, either the Russians are hitting civilian areas with missiles and artillery or they aren’t. Either the Russians committed war crimes in Bucha or they didn’t. Saying that we shouldn’t trust experts, or the MSM leaves us dependent on what? Only relying on direct evidence if we were there?

    Do we discount the analysis of e.g. experts reporting on the performance of the Russian military because we don’t trust who they work for or who funds them? Many such people are respected academics, some come from military backgrounds and have direct experience of being in combat and of Command, Control & Communication.

    I think we should be very wary of people who think being well read is a bad thing, or of those whose knee jerk response is not to trust experts.

  362. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Dorothy Devine.

    I think they must train them on the politic stage as well in these posh places.

    Think of Rushi acting out putting fuel in a red car at the petrol pumps. That was not his car.

    Think of David Cameron rolling up his sleeves and pretending to shed a tear,

    Think of BJ ‘s ability to say lines, that in reality turn out not to be true.

    They must go through some sort of training on boards too.

  363. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Of course many of the politcians and elite were actors first.
    Or married to actors and actresses.
    Or have affairs with those same groups,

    Arnie, Justin, megan,

    And naturally one or two in the royals think they can act,

  364. Robert Hughes
    Ignored
    says:

    Dorothy D

    ” She has admitted as much when enjoying drinks with us on the [Commons] terrace.”

    Granted the implicit assumption of * superiority * in the Tory MP’s quote is laughable , isn’t the above part of the problem ?

    WM is essentially a club , once admittance is gained any rough edges or outsider status is eroded . Not saying people on opposing sides can’t be civil to each other , but that is as far as it should go .

    Witness doughball Wishart’s WM House Band , Chris Law’s WM Bike Club and whatever the fck Alias Smith n MacDonald sitting in front of a Union Flag signifies and it’s evident these jokers and most of the rest are more than comfortable in that environment .

    Breeks

    Aye if Independence was handed to this mob in a gift-wrapped box they’d ” drop it like it’s hot ” or like a IED about to explode

    ” Favourable conditions ” for them to take a tentative step in the direction of Independence will be when polls show 99% for YES , support for English Independence at 100% and Liz Truss’s dug has become Tory Leader .

    Even then they’d probably advise caution

  365. Mark Boyle
    Ignored
    says:

    John Main says: 24 April, 2022 at 7:59 pm

    @Mark Boyle 5:47
    So I’ve just grabbed the first book by Sir Max I could find (“Nemesis”, since you ask). 34 pages of Notes & Sources in that one, so hardly avoiding them IMO. Admittedly, not up to highest academic standards.

    There’s a big difference between the glib attaching of a back appendix of “sources” and actually properly footnoting each point you are making so it can be double checked. Hastings often claims someone says something, and there’s nothing to back it up other than something connected to said person being in his chapter “Sources”.

    I was very disappointed years ago to discover that Martin Walker, whose factual books I adored, had misappropriated a quote from Enoch Powell as being about opposition to immigration when it was in fact in defence of the trade union movement being demonised at that time by Wilson’s Labour government (with Tory aid) for daring to seek pay rises for their members (the “Great Simplicities” speech of 11th October 1967) as somehow “unpatriotic” or even “treachery”!

    Mind you, that can be a double edged sword. David Irving gave copious footnotes for his books, but as Heather Busch and Burton Silver proved with their glorious hoax “Why Cats Paint”, that doesn’t mean anyone bothers to check them …

    John Main says: 24 April, 2022 at 7:59 pm
    And I don’t really get your assertion that Dowding had no confidence his integration of radar with command & control would work. Given the years he fought tooth and nail in the face of resistance at all levels to get it operational.

    The Battle of Britain film, liberty taking as it was, summed his view up correctly when it had him say that he wasn’t trusting radar and praying to God so much as trusting God and praying to radar – at the end of the day radar didn’t knock planes out of the sky and the RAF were badly outnumbered.

    Dowding had little to no resistence from the Air Ministry when implementing radar – Churchill was in charge and was always enthusiastic for “new fangled things” (much to Chamberlain’s disgust). The main problem was internal departmental bickering from self-interest with resulting overcomplication which Dowding solved by rationalisation with partial reliance on an updated version of the old Observation Corps system – which, with the primitive radar of the time, proved to be precisely the right solution, whereas the Germans wasted almost a year trying to make their “Freya” system more sophisticated whilst low level Blenheims blew their French airfields to bits without warning.

    But the gist of your original post, as I understood it, was that “our pills were better than their pills”. This is all news to me, so perhaps a reference or two is in order?

    And for the third time … “My point was that the Germans’ pill popping advantage was nullified.”

    Since you wish references, feel free to peruse Nicolas Rasmussen’ “Medical Science and the Military: The Allies’ Use of Amphetamine during World War II” [The Journal of Interdisciplinary History Vol. 42, No. 2 (Autumn 2011), pp. 205-233]; Lester Grinspoon and Peter Hedblom’s “The Speed Culture” (1975) [which largely blamed WW2 for creating the western craze for amphetamines],
    Norman Ohler’s 2016 “Blitzed: Drugs in Nazi Germany”, Professor Peter Andreas’ “Killer High
    A History of War in Six Drugs” [which also brought to light that the Japanese post-War “economic miracle” had much to do with a population still as hooked on speed as much as it had been in WW2]; etc, etc, etc – this is old stuff that been debated and verified a thousand times, for all that it may have passed you by. “Panzerschokolade” was even a popular meme a few years back!

  366. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “ALEX Salmond’s QC has had a professional misconduct complaint upheld against him after he publicly named two of the former First Minister’s accusers on a train during the first week of the trial, reports say.”

    I saw that clip, and I’m pretty sure the man was set up, with someone asking the question, while his accomplice secretly filmed him through a gap in the seats a few feet away.

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.scot%2Fnews%2F20091828.gordon-jackson-qc-guilty-misconduct-alex-salmond-train-comments%2F

    On the French elections what has happened to socialists candidates in France coming to power, right now the French public had to choose between a neoliberal and racist, is it any wonder then that three million French voters spoiled their ballot paper.

  367. Dorothy Devine
    Ignored
    says:

    I cannot understand why these women are still given anonymity.
    A man found innocent by a jury should surely be free to name his accusers .

    I have little faith in Rape Crisis Edinburgh and wonder why they are the go to response in this case. I’m fairly sure it is not altogether altruistic.

    Every time the media excitedly reports on any aspect , however tenuous , it takes the opportunity to discredit Alex Salmond.

    Maybe one day he’ll sue them.

  368. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Jeez Oh, American’s embrace Ukrainian Nazism.

    https://twitter.com/elaadeliahu/status/1517948443922255873

  369. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    Rap Crisis lodged a complaint on behalf of women who were not Rap*d
    Quite insane we are supposed to countenance the withholding of names
    of those politically minded to crucify and innocent man.

    Can right-minded people have any faith or respect when all they want is to say all men are
    guilty of any charge trumped up and ridiculed as the case may be.

    What a pathetic state this country and the law are in.

  370. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Scottish history and culture has been relegated for so long in Scottish uni’s, schools, on tv and just about everywhere else, that one outside of Scotland and of course those who are Britnats within could be forgiven (just) for thinking that Scotland isn’t a separate country from England, which it is.

    “RORY Stewart says it is “insane” to think of England and Scotland as different countries while discussing Scottish nationalism on his podcast with Alastair Campbell.”

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.scot%2Fnews%2F20092516.rory-stewart-insane-think-borders-cumbria-different-countries%2F

    Scots have sat back and allowed their national identity to be badly eroded no other country would tolerate this but Scots do, even the Palestinians have more heart than we do. We’ve allowed England to foist its history and culture upon us and in the process replace our own. Now younger generations of Scots see the status quo as the norm, and unless we do something radical about it, our absorption into this union will be complete.

    Between now and the next GE momentum must be built up by Scots to make sure that its plebiscitary elections, no ifs, no buts, no excuses, how many more folk around the globe never mind South of the border see Scotland and England as one country, quite a few I’d imagine.

    Lets no leave Scottish independence in the hands of the SNP and Sturgeon the betrayer, or we’ll never exit this fetid union, lets put it in the hands of the Scottish people, lets tell Sturgeon we want a plebiscitary election, after she lets us down badly next year before its too late.

  371. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Putin’s Poodle 3.56 pm

    “Putin wants to de-Nazify Ukraine — that’s ludicrous, say the country’s Jews
    Jewish Ukrainians give short shrift to Putin’s claim he is out to save them from Nazis.”

    https://www.politico.eu/article/in-the-face-of-war-ukraine-jews-embrace-a-dual-identity/

    The article has the following direct quotes from the Chief Rabbi of the Ukraine, Yaakov Bleich:

    “Putin’s claims of de-Nazifying Ukraine is the most ludicrous and craziest thing — the ‘Nazification’ of Ukraine was created by Russian propaganda. Nobody asked him to save us. When you claim you’re saving people who don’t want to be saved, that’s a dangerous thing.”

    “There was a paradigm shift in 2014. The identity of Ukrainian Jews definitely changed at that time, thanks to Putin. He completely misread Ukrainians. I think it will be his undoing — he doesn’t understand what Ukrainians are all about.”

    “Jews never spoke Ukrainian. They knew it, but it was never their regular language of communication until 2014. In the Soviet mindset and because of brainwashing by Soviet propaganda, everyone wanted to be Russian. But in 2014 was the point when we wanted to identify as Ukrainian Jews, not as Russian Jews. There’s a new generation now, and all Ukrainians want to be Ukrainian. It took generational change for Ukrainian Jews to see themselves in a different light.”

    “In 2014 after Putin invaded, the first thing I wanted to do was get a Ukrainian passport … for the statement of it. Ukraine is a symbol of what can be done in a former Soviet country that’s fighting for Western ideals and freedoms.”

    So who do we believe about allegations of nazism in Ukraine, alert readers?

    The Jewish people of the Ukraine and their chief Rabbi, or a slavishly loyal mouthpiece of the regressive, anti-semitic regime in Moscow?

    Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

  372. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    Republicofscotland says:
    25 April, 2022 at 5:23 pm

    “RORY Stewart says it is “insane” to think of England and Scotland as different countries while discussing Scottish nationalism on his podcast with Alastair Campbell.”

    What’s insane is pretending Rory the Tory’s Auld Acquaintance “monument” at Gretna was a spontaneous outpouring of Unionist devotion, when the bulk of it, by far, was delivered by a tipper truck and built by a contractor. It was a flat and joyless Better Together stunt, about as spontaneous and genuine as your average Tory.

    Average Tory pretty much sums up Rory, but with a liberal sprinkling of weirdness masquerading as eccentricity added to the mix.

  373. gregor
    Ignored
    says:

    Biden, quote (re. laptop/s from hell):

    “Idiot fat Jewish kid…”

  374. gregor
    Ignored
    says:

    Anti-Semitism:

    “Hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group.”:

    https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-Semitism

  375. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    FK sake National…

    https://archive.ph/3IGK1

    “Scottish independence: What Emmanuel Macron has said on Scotland’s future”….

    Yeah, speaking in March 2017…

    Don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Something said 5 years ago is NOT headline news National… not unless you’re Nicola Sturgeon that is.

    Get off your arse, go outside, find a story and do some fkg journalism. See if there are any political Conferences you’ve accidentally “missed” while your were trawling for stuff said five years ago. At least pretend you’re trying.

  376. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Agent Ellis @5.28pm.

    Oh right, so there are no Nazi battalions in Ukraine, there are no Nazi leaning politicians in the Ukrainian parliament either, there’s no Nazi battalions woven through the National Guard of Ukraine, they don’t were the Wolfshook and Wolfsangel insignia associated with the German Nazi’s of WWII.

    Ukrainian President Zelensky didn’t say of the non existant Nazi battalions that they are what they are, there isn’t an abundance of streets and roads in Ukraine named after WWII Ukrainian Nazi sympathisers, nor are there copious monuments in Ukraine dedicated to Ukrainian Nazi sympathisers. The Ukrainian parliament didn’t award the Hero of Ukraine medal to the notorious Ukrainian Nazi Stepan Bandera.

    And the Simon Wiesenthal centre’s are all wrong when they complain of Nazism in Ukraine .

    And of course all these media reports on the alarming rise of Nazism in Ukraine including reports by Jewish newspapers are all fabricated lies.

    https://askeptic.substack.com/p/an-anti-ukraine-meme-gets-a-fact?s=r

    Everyone else is wrong but the Ukrainian Rabbi is correct…hmm.

    https://www.friendsofsimonwiesenthalcenter.com/news/fswc-calls-for-investigation-after-ukrainian-neo-nazis-brag-about-receiving-training-from-canadas-military

    https://www.wiesenthal.com/about/news/wiesenthal-center-blasts-10.html

  377. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Dorothy Devine.

    RCS is a mouthpiece for the SNP government they fund the organistaion, and the detestable Brindley. When you go to RCS Edinburgh and click About Us and then, meet the team, (I think you know who I’m looking for) it says page not found.

    https://www.ercc.scot/?page_id=146

    RCS played their part in denouncing Salmond at who’s behest we all know, why any woman would trust this lot is beyond me.

  378. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @Putin’s Poodle 7.44 pm

    Nobody has ever said in here or elsewhere that there are no neo-nazis in the Ukraine. The Chief Rabbi himself says as much. However you choose to ignore what he, other Jewish people and organisations, and the vast majority of other fair minded people can easily discern, which is that the Putinista narrative – YOUR narrative – is a grotesque caricature of reality.

    Nobody remotely balanced buys it. You – as I keep pointing out – ignore that there is a far lager problem with far right nationalists and neo nazis in Russia, and in particular amongst the Donbas separatists you’re so keen on.

    I’d take the word of the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine and Jews in the Ukraine over yours.

    “Chief Rabbi of Ukraine demolishes Putin’s excuse for Russia’s invasion.”
    https://khpg.org/en/1608810144

    “We Jews Know Where Putin’s Dehumanizing Language on Ukraine Leads”
    https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-we-jews-know-where-putin-s-dehumanizing-language-on-ukraine-leads-1.10654721

    “Ukrainian Jews push back against Putin’s ‘neo-Nazi’ claim as they gear up for battle”
    https://www.timesofisrael.com/ukrainian-jews-push-back-against-putins-neo-nazi-claim-as-they-gear-up-for-battle/

    On the old saw about the Azov battalion and Bandera, it’s worth quoting the words of actual Ukrainian Jews, rather than rely on supporters of far right Russian nationalists like you:

    “In justifying his invasion of Ukraine, Putin has cited the need to de-Nazify the country, purging it of the Azov Regiment, an army unit linked to right-wing extremism, and “Banderovtsy,” the followers of Stepan Bandera, a nationalist leader who waged a violent campaign for Ukrainian independence in the 1930s and 1940s.

    But while both the Azov forces and Bandera have been linked to fascism and anti-Semitic ideology, the reality is more nuanced than Putin’s propaganda machine makes it out to be.

    The Azov Battalion, formed in 2014 when Kremlin-backed separatists began seizing territory across Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region and Russia-annexed Crimea, started out as a volunteer paramilitary unit borne out of the extremist Patriot of Ukraine and neo-Nazi Social National Assembly groups. Both were known to be violently xenophobic.

    After Russian separatist forces took Mariupol in 2014, the Azov fighters recaptured the strategic port city. In November of that year, the volunteer unit was officially integrated into Ukraine’s National Guard, changing its name to the Azov Regiment and undergoing a cleanup, with some of its more extremist members splintering from the group. In 2015, an Azov spokesman said around 10 to 20 percent of the group’s 900 members were Nazis.

    According to current estimates, there are around 3,000 members of Azov, with the regiment among the forces currently holding on in besieged Mariupol, holed up in the Azovstal steel plant.

    Do the Azovs bother Rabbi Bleich, particularly if they are hardened by the war and armed to the teeth?

    “I don’t buy into his stuff,” Bleich said. “If it was not for the Russian propaganda, I would not even know the neo-Nazis in the Azov group exist, they are such a minority of a minority. We should keep our eyes open, of course, but having said that, when ultra-nationalist right-wing parties run for parliament in Ukraine, they can’t even get a seat.”

    And, Bleich added, “if Putin is coming to save the Russian-speaking population from Nazis, why is he bombing Mariupol, which is Russian-speaking? Why is he bombing Kharkiv? He bombed Kharkiv building by building, house by house. People are getting killed anywhere they go. That’s not a war against an army or a government. That’s a war against the people of Ukraine.”

    What about Bandera, the ultra-nationalist who fought and killed thousands of Poles, Soviets and Jews in his quest for an independent Ukraine? Bandera’s nationalists initially collaborated with Nazi Germany, before he ran afoul of Adolf Hitler by declaring an independent Ukrainian government in 1941, and was arrested, then sent to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Some Ukrainians fighting Russian forces today have dubbed Molotov Cocktails “Bandera Smoothies,” and view him as a symbol of freedom and independence. It doesn’t hurt the narrative that after the Nazis released him from Sachsenhausen, Bandera was killed by Soviet agents, who poisoned him with cyanide in Munich in 1959 — becoming a victim of Russia’s notorious political poisoning program.

    “Bandera is a question and problem — one man’s hero is another’s murderer,” said Bleich. “He and his people did participate in pogroms; the killings of Jews and Poles. However, I am 1 million percent sure that the Soviets propagandized against him and put much more to him than he was.” Those Ukrainians who revere him, “do not respect or idealize Bandera for killing Jews, but rather for having fought for independence for Ukraine,” the rabbi added.

    Is Bleich concerned that once the Russian forces disappear, radicalized Ukrainians may decide they want a Ukraine for Ukrainians, as Bandera argued and killed for?

    “Definitely not,” Bleich said. Since Bandera’s time, “Ukraine has changed. The more a country develops democracy and democratic values and ideals, the more people begin to respect each other. Democracy forces us to respect another opinion. Democracy is the right for all to be equal but also all to be different. Democracy has strong inherent power that allows societies to change. Look at Germany. It used to be crazy fascist and anti-Semitic, and they were able to build a very strong democracy.”

    Abovich, from the Hillel Jewish students’ group, had a similar take.

    “We don’t have Banderovtsy, if you think Banderovtsy are people who take up arms and go kill civilians,” Abovich said. “The way the term ‘Banderovtsy‘ is being used and turned around and weaponized — we don’t have this in Ukraine.

    “I worked as a director of Hillel, a student Jewish organization. I was on TV, and I was open, and not once did I feel some sort of anti-Semitism. Never. Not once,” she added. “People talk about a lot of ironies. And now the irony has become a tragedy. It’s not just that someone invented the word de-Nazification and tried to do something about it. It’s that Ukraine doesn’t have Nazis, the way Russia is showing itself as Nazis.”

  379. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Agent Ellis @8.02pm.

    I wonder what changed the Rabbi’s mind? I think we all know why the change of heart.

    “In November 2014, Bleich strongly criticized Minister of the Interior Arsen Avakov for appointing Vadym Troyan, a former Azov Battalion commander, to the post of police chief of the Kyiv Oblast. Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, Bleich stated that “if the interior minister continues to appoint people of questionable repute and ideologies tainted with fascism and right-wing extremism, the interior minister should be replaced””

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaakov_Bleich

  380. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “The article has the following direct quotes from the Chief Rabbi of the Ukraine, Yaakov Bleich:”

    Agent Ellis.

    You can’t even get the title right, actually this guy is the chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Moshe Reuven Azman, well according Jimmy Wales dodgy Western info website Wikipedia.

    “A lengthy March 2, 2022 article in The Forward about the long rivalry between Bleich and Azman for the title of “Chief Rabbi of Ukraine” concluded that “it seems that Azman has solidified his standing as the country’s chief rabbi””

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moshe_Reuven_Azman

    You dumb Chinthes are sooo predictable at times.

  381. gregor
    Ignored
    says:

    BBC (25/04/2022): Man faces trial accused of Nicola Sturgeon threats:

    “A 69-year-old man is to stand trial accused of threatening First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and another MSP.

    William Curtis allegedly sent emails and posted social media messages making “threatening remarks” between 27 February and 6 March, 2019…”:

    https://archive.ph/evgOi

  382. Robert Hughes
    Ignored
    says:

    Breeks @ 7.09

    lol , the National will be bigging-up the George 1V for his professed fondness for Scotland and how he just LUUUVED that tartan chic next .

    It’s a sign of both the * quality * of the National and the desperation to cling to even the most obscure reference to Scotland as * proof * we’re on the High Road to I*********** .

    Nikii’s Poundland Versailles will be buzzing with inert excitement at the news of Macron’s victory , maybe Nic Oo La La , Alyn and Mhairi or even Sir Pierre D’Wishart ( yea , doubtful ) will get an invite to the inauguration and get to mingle with Les Nouveau Aristocrates

  383. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    Soooo…will Elon buying the bird site attract anyone back if their accounts are restored?

    I assume there is much wailing and gnashing of teeth over there tonight? 🙂

  384. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    I’ve noticed the Unionist going hell for leather SNP and Scotland bad just lately.
    No doubt due to the forthcoming elections.

    Old videos abound were Neil Brillo Heid bombards Sturgeon.
    The one in Govanhill showing the tons of rubbish laying in the streets and rats at the feet of bin men.

    With a few days to election time should we be focused on Jews, Nazi’s, Russians?

    A whole group of Caribbean Island nations now looking at ditching the Great White Momma
    and becoming republics.

    Where is the attack resource rich Scotland got about too tiny wee to exist, they have cocoa nut oil that runs out, how ungrateful after hundreds of years of loving theft of riches and slave Labour.

    Edward and is it Sophie his wife getting their cards marked on a multi million pound visit in private jets to let the natives adore a useless failure related to the Queen.
    Are they handing out beads and mirrors and the odd certificate freeing them from slavery?

  385. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    Would I want to own Twitter? No.
    Would I pay $44 billion to buy Twitter? WHAAAAAT??? No. I don’t even subscribe to Twitter, -and that’s free.
    Am I worried about Elon Musk owning Twitter? No. More worried about Elon Musk’s sanity, and what $44 billion could have been spent on… ending global starvation, saving endangered species, building 100+ universities.

    I know the man’s a hedonistic playboy, especially when it comes to space, but I’m of an age that my dad gave a 5 year old me a Viewmaster, (it’s a stereo image viewer for looking at slides), and pictures of NASA’s Apollo missions and moon landing, and it blew me away. To a wee boy in the 1970/71, this was high definition 3d virtual reality you could just about walk in to, and the content was just as mind blowing as the stereo type viewer. I’d never seen anything like it. Hey, I was 5. So I don’t blame anybody, rich or poor, for being a space geek.

    Truth be told, I’m all for hedonistic playboys pushing the envelope in technological research, because they tend to pay for it themselves, and it’s not “spin off” technology from the Military Hawk types, trying to find new and better ways of killing people.

    Lastly, I like Elon Musk for giving the world his eh, “different” pick-up truck design, and for testing it’s bullet proof windows live at it’s launch… comedy gold.

  386. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Effigy says – 26 April, 2022 at 8:19 am

    “With a few days to election time should we be focused on Jews, Nazi’s, Russians?”

    Of course not Effigy.

    More than happy to leave the lot out of it for a couple of weeks.

    Good luck getting people like Republic to comply though. There’s the root of your problem.

  387. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Breeks says – 26 April, 2022 at 8:51 am

    “More worried about Elon Musk’s sanity, and what $44 billion could have been spent on… ending global starvation, saving endangered species”

    As the only practical way to save endangered species is to clear out humans and fence off the habitats as tightly controlled reserves, be careful what you wish for Breeks.

    That 44 billion dollars could have bought up a hell of a lot of Scotland’s real estate for the benefit of wolves, lynx, elk, beavers, Caledonian native forest re-planting, etc.

    Still, could have been some steady, minimum-wage jobs patrolling the fences for some of us. Not to be sniffed at in these uncertain times.

  388. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    I can’t stand Sarwar, but he’s hit the nail on the head here.

    “NICOLA Sturgeon has accused Anas Sarwar of a “desperate” attack on her administration as she denied a “culture of secrecy” at the highest levels of government.

    The Scottish Labour leader has called for a review into the Scottish Government’s approach to transparency in a letter to new permanent secretary John-Paul Marks, citing concerns over ferry contracts and responses to Holyrood inquiries.”

    The SNP government under Sturgeon the betrayers tenure is a shibboleth surrounded in secrecy and machinations, that stomps out dissent and sets the the COPFS on anyone who dares question their narratives.

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.scot%2Fnews%2F20093396.nicola-sturgeon-rejects-anas-sarwars-culture-secrecy-claim%2F

  389. Stoker
    Ignored
    says:

    ” Angela Raynor accused of using ‘Basic Instinct’ tactics to distract Boris Johnson at PMQs”

    Anyone else smell utter crud? Total fake news engineered by Tory-supporting friends in the BritNat media. Another in a long line of invented distraction stories being pumped out to deflect from the demands for Bozo’s resignation over Partygate.

    I see ‘The Speaker’ has ordered an appearance in The House of Commons, for an explanation of the story, from The Mail On Sunday’s political editor. Big wow’s! What’s brown-nose Lindsay Hoyle going to do? Put on another Oscar performance for his masters?

    If “The House” was truly that concerned over the story surely the first and easiest step to take would be to immediately shut down the MOS’ office within Westminster? And then summon both the churnalist responsible and the political editor before giving them and their rag a lifetime ban? Job done! Message sent! No?

    And all this crap from Sturgeon and anyone else on the matter is just that, crap. Don’t go blaming all men for Westminster’s misogyny. That will be mostly down to their Etonian types. They will change nothing until they change them. It’s ingrained in their upbringing, and that includes their “totty” (female) versions too, conditioned to be good little subservient “wenches”.

    Sturgeon has one simple solution at her disposal to rid Scotland of that festering medieval cesspit. And she has a mandate to use it so why does she prefer to keep us chained to it. Her hypocrisy has no limits.
    __________

    And in other “news”…..

    “More than half of people fear they won’t be able to afford bills within months”

    Welcome to Brexit Britain. And never mind “within months”, it’s already happening for a lot of us. And it’s been happening for months if not years.

  390. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    one for James Che.

    Gerry Hassan writes about Scottish sovereignty.

    “The English tradition of parliamentary sovereignty has increasing become fetishised, having become a quasi-religion for Brexiteers. “Talking Back Control” became returning power to the Westminster leviathan to rule over all of us – and to tell us in no uncertain terms what we should do.

    This version of sovereignty is what George Orwell biographer and political scientist Bernard Crick called “the English ideology” – an absolutist, undiluted, inflexible version of parliamentary sovereignty.”

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.scot%2Fpolitics%2F20092975.need-talk-power-sovereignty-within-scotland%2F

  391. James
    Ignored
    says:

    Jings. Arms Industry Andy’s working a double shift.

  392. DJ
    Ignored
    says:

    Keep reading about Scottish sovereignty. But what exactly does that mean? In today’s world,how does it manifest itself? Is there a body somewhere that meets and discusses Scottish sovereignty. Does any one listen? Does anyone take it seriously? If not then how can that be changed/organised/set up? Or is it just some will of the wisp, melting away in the harsh light of modern political reality?

  393. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @ James 12.22 pm

    The Putinista moles won’t whack themselves you know!

    “Let not any one pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part, and forms no opinion. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing. He is not a good man who, without a protest, allows wrong to be committed in his name, and with the means which he helps to supply, because he will not trouble himself to use his mind on the subject.”

    John Stuart Mill, 1867 inaugural address at the University of St. Andrews.

  394. Robert Hughes
    Ignored
    says:

    DJ

    Scottish Sovereignty aka Popular Sovereignty ie the People are sovereign – not Parliament , is one of the best kept secrets of all time ; well , it’s not really a secret , it’s just that no one wants to talk about it very much , most of all the collection of deadweights n airheads that are currently impersonating a Scottish Independence Party .

    Imagine ….. a country where the people TELL their representatives what they want to see happen and – get this – those representatives are COMPELLED to do what they’re told !

    What a * novel * idea . Might be worth seeing if we could have that in Scotland 🙂

  395. Stoker
    Ignored
    says:

    “British cost of living crisis to have severe impact on economic growth”

    “Supply chain disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic have been exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and renewed lockdowns in China while energy bills have soared and taxes have risen, putting a big dent in consumer spending power.” https://archive.ph/jI2mU#selection-1299.2-1299.72

    Those Brits and their media outlets eh! Not even a hint of Brexit and its part in the “supply chain disruptions”. I somehow get the impression they want us all to forget it ever happened. I’m only surprised Angela Rayner didn’t get a mention in there.

  396. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    It’s been a while since we had a wee look at the oddschecker.

    Here’s the page for ‘next independence referendum’ date.

    Basically, if you think it’s this year you’re an idiot and deserve to lose whatever you stake. That’s why they’re offering 33/1. If you think it’s next year they’ll offer 5/1. And bookies never offer 5/1 on pretty much anything unless you’ve got loads of horses and/or dogs running at the same time. So, the bookies are saying it won’t be next year.

    But the bottom line is this: if you reckon it won’t be until 2025 or later you can get 4/11. This means you’d have to stake £11 to win £4, for a total £15 return.

    So there ye go – that’s what the bookies’ political insiders think will happen. And they’re not often wrong.

    https://www.oddschecker.com/politics/british-politics/scottish-politics/date-of-next-scottish-referendum

  397. Dan
    Ignored
    says:

    Belated cheers for the responses to the Scottish transport / trains infrastructure topic I floated a week or so back. Alert readers may have noticed it at least provoked a silence of the bams for a wee while…
    So, from a wee bit of studying on things trains infrastructure related, The Kingdom of Scotland has basically, as is usual within the supposedly equal union UK wide context, been restricted in developing at a similar rate to The Kingdom of England.
    This isn’t unexpected and ties in with the population growth disparity between the two Kingdoms over the course of the 300 odd year Union.
    At the start The KoE’s population was approximately 5 times that of The KoS, but that has grown to approximately 10 times, with all the resultant benefits and advantages that gave and continues to give The KoE in terms of infrastructure development, and the economic benefits of all the wages and taxes generated from that development.
    No UK Government has had the political will to address this population growth disparity, and as a result some could argue this breaches the terms of the Union which should ensure no constituent part of the UK has an economic advantage over another area.

    In rail terms Scotland is compromised in being able to run large goods trains along with passenger trains like is done in England, because once above the central belt it is generally single track with varying sized passing loops. Track electrification is present up to Edinburgh on the East Coast and Glasgow of the West, with that forming a triangle to the most northern point around Dunblane.
    There is non electrified twin track up to Dundee on the East coast, but apparently there is an issue with electrification of the Forth Rail Bridge due to its conservation status…

    Interestingly I understand there are still potential scheduling opportunities for freight though, as there is still in place a legacy slot for a train from Dounreay which was for a nuclear flask transporting waste down to Sellafield for reprocessing during the decommissioning work.

    So any future Scottish train infrastructure plans and developments have to deal with the restrictive single track with passing loops and non electrified track matters, which has a knock on effect of what means the pulling engines would need to be powered by to be able to operate country wide.

    I also understand procurement issues are all too common in the purchasing of rolling stock. So this isn’t just limited to Scottish ferries…
    Was hearing that a few years back Thames Link didn’t opt for the Bombardier choice, and instead bought the cheaper but more complex Siemens trains. Some of the latter apparently being full 12 carriage units and are not able to be split. So when the covid lockdown came in, the full length trains had to be run even though they were virtually empty. So this meant more hours of loading and wear on the track and running time of way more rolling stock than was required if the ability to split the train to reduce the size had been an option.
    The one piece trains also mean if there is a fault, the whole train has to be removed from service till the fault is rectified, rather than just removing the problem carriage which would allow the rest of the train to proceed as scheduled.

  398. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    I went to a working class University, Heriot-Watt. Following on from Plato’s Republic, On Liberty was the 2nd topic in 1st year philosophy, ‘guided’ by The Very Reverend Bill Johnston.

    John Stuart Mill was clearly an existentialist, the ultimate black and white thinker. And some ballast in support of that was my winning entry in the final exam of the year.

    It’s true that any damn fool can predict history, but Mill was never content, things always had to mean something.

    He was a boring bastard. He liked to construct phrases that were transactional and easily broken down for the hard of thinking, the malleable, those most likely reading history, paintings, all the arts.

    When Plato was writing things down it didn’t matter whether Socrates existed, it was a tool to separate the author from the dialogue. And it works to this day.

    Addendum

    When I’m writing things down, should I call myself Plato or carry on being Scott?

  399. James
    Ignored
    says:

    Dan,
    It’s not only the single track 3rd world country style railways in the north/south west/Borders that are the problem, even in the central belt the majority of it is twin track, i.e. no capacity for running fast services non stop from say Edinburgh to Glasgow as there’s always a ‘stopper’ in the way.
    The south of England has 4 track railways coming out of it’s ears, (our) money’s no object.
    The re-opened Borders railway was similarly built on the cheap. Twin (or three/four) tracked and electrified? Not a chance. Single track with passing loops and un-electrified. They even put the bridge decks in only 1 track wide, so if ever there was the will to double track it in future it would cost a fortune as all those bridges would have to be replaced. Pathetic.
    Scotland pared to the bone – as usual.
    Meanwhile, ah yes let’s spend some Scotch money on a new fleet of trains for the London underground Piccadilly Line …..

  400. Ottomanboi
    Ignored
    says:

    DAN
    The estimated population in 1710 was England & Wales 5,240,00O (Wales >400k) Scotland 1,270,000. Famine, starvation, war took a heavy toll of the latter’s population.
    Between the mid 19th century and the 1930’s 3million quit the country.
    The special «benefits» of the English connexion are plain to see.

  401. Confused
    Ignored
    says:

    Scotland’s coastal infrastructure project – a new joint ukgov, scotgov operation, from the Nashunul

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCT-FurFVLQ

    – better together, pooling and sharing in this the most successful union of all time

  402. robertkknight
    Ignored
    says:

    Stoker says…

    “Anyone else smell utter crud? Total fake news engineered by Tory-supporting friends in the BritNat media. Another in a long line of invented distraction stories being pumped out to deflect from the demands for Bozo’s resignation over Partygate.”

    Absolutely.

    Haven’t heard a certain JRM, a.k.a. Minister for the 18th Century, comment on this. Did I miss his outright condemnation of the author of this sordid tale, or is he keeping his gob firmly shut? And if so, why?

    ______

    On the matter of the GRA, if the Bill is passed, would it be a sensible move for all heterosexual men in Scotland to register as Trans-Women?

    No need to wear lippy and a frock, just fill out the form and keep a copy handy.

    Then in the event that someone looking a tad sus’ follows your wife/daughter into the Ladies loo, possibly intent upon a bit of the old lewd and libidinous, you can follow them into the Ladies and politely ask that they leave, pronto…

    If said individual starts to bleat that you’re in the wrong place, you can wave your Scottish Government “Access All Female Spaces Irrespective of Sex” card in their face and encourage them wholeheartedly to call Plod as, being a reasonable person, you find their theatrics and hysterical behaviour to be causing you fear and alarm.

    Where do I sign up?

  403. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @Scott says – 26 April, 2022 at 2:34 pm

    “When I’m writing things down, should I call myself Plato or carry on being Scott?”

    Depends. Either of these your real name? Do you live in a cave?

    BTW, I know we live in a fast-changing world, but even so, WTF is a “working class University”?

  404. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Blackford accused of wearing his kilt, crossing his legs and deliberately putting Boris off mismanaging the country.

    Load of balls an SNP spokesperson said.

    Nicola Sturgeon has given Indy Ref 2 more Dates than an orchard of Palm Trees!

  405. twathater
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Effigy 4.25pm THAT made me laugh , up till now blah,blah has shown he has NO BALLS , Is nikklas dates of the French fancy variety or are they self id’ing as dates when in fact they are grrrrapppeess

  406. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    The SNP’s king of winning VONC’s John Swinney defends Leslie Evans right not to appear in front of a Holyrood committee.

    One dodgy character coming to the aid of another I say.

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldscotland.com%2Fpolitics%2F20094603.john-swinney-defends-no-show-top-official-leslie-evans-saying-not-individual%2F

  407. Mark Boyle
    Ignored
    says:

    Scott says: 26 April, 2022 at 2:34 pm

    I went to a working class University

    Just fk off and die and stay fked off and dead you pretentious sht.

  408. Ebok
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Brotherhood says:
    26 April, 2022 at 2:00 pm
    ‘If you think it’s next year they’ll offer 5/1’

    You heard it first here on WoS, Ian. This is from my tongue-in-cheek comment on the Revs odds in his Free money offer back in November: –
    ‘The Rev is pretty sharp and will know that the odds of even money on offer would have the meanest of bookies raising an eyebrow…the TRUE odds of Indy 2 by 2023 – with Sturgeon still FM – FIVE TO ONE AGAINST’

  409. Brian Doonthetoon
    Ignored
    says:

    What’s with all the class war stuff that’s creeping in btl?

  410. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Who fancies the following odds?

    200/1 & 4/11

    £5 Single Stakes About (SSA) returns £2013.64.

    Ruth Davidson succeeds Boris as UK Prime Minister, (allowing Scots law a say in the Commons, and use of the crown prerogative of the Scots; “No Independence referendum until 1st January 2026 at the earliest”.

    Take the odds, good luck. For me, its free money.

  411. Elmac
    Ignored
    says:

    I have not commented here for many months but keep abreast of what is said. I much lament the lack of regular input from the Rev but appreciate his occasional interventions.

    Where are we now? Certainly no further forward than we were in 2014 and arguably well behind the high water mark achieved shortly thereafter. The party which we believed would lead us to independence has been hijacked. No longer does it have independence as its core aim. Instead we are asked to await the outcome of Brexit, the Pandemic, the Ukraine war, and just in case that is not enough, lets throw in the transgender debate. None of this should have deflected us from achieving succession from this union. They were ever only excuses put forward by a compromised and corrupt cabal who now control the SNP and are very comfortable with the status quo. There will never be independence under Sturgeon or the current SNP. That much is obvious to anyone with a grain of common sense which unfortunately excludes a lot of blinkered diehards.

    The SNP are a lost cause. The only glimmer of hope we have is the rise of alternative independence parties, particularly Alba. All we can do is hope that they will generate traction as people start to realise they have been betrayed. In the coming election we are asked to rank all the candidates in order of our preference. That is “vote till you boak”. If you value the future of our country that should mean Alba first, Tory second last and SNP last. Tine to wake up and be rid of these parasites at UK and Bute House level.

  412. Confused
    Ignored
    says:

    If Elon Musk just bought Scotland, would we at least get a hyperloop?

    – and we could heat our homes with his electric vehicles going up in flames.

    I bet he would use the wind turbines to mine bitcoin thus making a profit on the deal. This is a smart cookie who even fixed his own bald.

    He can fix the rampant hunnery blocking the streets issue by giving them all neuralink brain implants, so they can experience a virtual reality simulation of the walk, without walking, along with after battle atrocities at the boyne and nasty sex with Lana Fox (- there is no other kind).

    Our best hope for indy is then – Elon buys up England’s national debt (at a discount) and then demands payment; private property and debts are sacrosanct in a capitalist economy, so the whole of England becomes collaterai, the people can make their way to the slave ships for resettlement in the east and a free shower, making a return on the organ transplant market and animal food angles. Consider that if Elon compelled each of the 50M english to sell a kidney, it would raise £1trillion by itself (about half the value of the national debt), but this would leave them still alive, which is suboptimal. With them gone, Scotland, europe, the world breathes a collective sigh as the worst shits in it, are history.

    It’s a price worth paying and a deal worth doing, for peace and freedom. England will become a haven for rewilding projects and the child-r4pe dungeons of Westminster can be liberated, finally.

    If it is Scotland’s destiny to be Oompah Loompah land owned by some oligarch, then at least let us choose a decent Willy McWonka, one who lets us slag off the trannies on twitter.

    Scotland’s infrastructure will be improved once significant numbers of English move north and start finding things – a little bit difficult. Then there will be action.

    This last bit is not a joke.

  413. gregor
    Ignored
    says:

    DailyMail (27/04/2022): Twitter executive accuses Musk of MISOGYNY for criticizing firm’s top lawyer over her ‘incredibly inappropriate’ censorship of Hunter Biden laptop story:

    https://archive.ph/WI38K

  414. gregor
    Ignored
    says:

    Biden (re. laptop/s from hell), quote:

    “Shove it down her throat…”

  415. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    If the SNP were to have a referendum and had to do it with a S30, they would need to be in control of as many local councils as they could in order for this to happen.

    The SNP are of course no serious about the referendum so if you believe in independence and don’t have an Alba candidate sitting in your ward then you have to look at the SNP candidate in charge and ask yourself is this the person you want elected.

    You have to do this simply because you will be voting for them for purely on party issues which doesn’t include independence.

  416. Andy (not Wightman)
    Ignored
    says:

    Stuart,

    Please, PLEASE post another piece – about ANYTHING.
    My browser is set to open at Wings’ page and it turns my stomach to have the 2016 Herald cover of a smug Sturgeon leaping out at me every morning! I’ve had to endure her for a fortnight now.

  417. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    PacMan says:
    27 April, 2022 at 8:00 am

    If the SNP were to have a referendum and had to do it with a S30, they would need to be in control of as many local councils as they could in order for this to happen.

    Nope. Section 30 is Section 30 of the 1998 Scotland Act. The Scotland Act is a small ‘c’ constitution of the devolved Assembly, NOT the big ‘C’ Constitution of the Scottish Nation.

    Arguably, (and I only say arguably because a red sovereign Holyrood was there for the taking), the Scotland Act presumes Westminster is Sovereign, whereas in Scotland’s big ‘C’ Constitution, it is explicit and clear that the Scottish people are sovereign.

    Thus, Scotland Act legislation, such as Section 30, is domestic Westminster legislation attempting to encroach on Scotland.

    Domestic Westminster Legislation does NOT trump, and never has trumped, the Constitutional Sovereignty of the Scottish people.

    If you’re not going argue Holyrood is a Red Sovereign entity which answers to the sovereign people of Scotland,(and it seems undeniable Sturgeon has capitulated on that argument), and do not contest the assertion that the devolved Assembly of Holyrood answers to Westminster, then Holyrood becomes a tool of colonial suppression.

    There is NOTHING in the colonial Scotland Act which gives it ascendancy over Scotland’s Constitutional Sovereignty and the Claim of Right. NOTHING.

    The population of Scotland is being duped into believing the domestic instruction booklet for Holyrood, the Scotland Act, has “somehow” superseded Scotland’s Constitutional Sovereignty, when it hasn’t. Unfortunately, the SNP is selling the con to you rather than fighting for your rights.

    Scotland needs no third party, neither Westminster, nor Holyrood, to interfere with the covenant between the Scottish people and their sovereign birthright.

    When you’re arguing the toss about the validity and relevance of Section 30, you’ve already swallowed your Westminster medicine like the obedient subject you are, and you’re barking up the wrong Constitutional tree, because that’s the tree “owned” by Westminster.

    Holyrood’s fate is either as a seat of Scottish Government which recognises the ascendancy of the Red Sovereignty of the Scottish people, or it is outpost of Westminster’s colonial rule reinforcing the colonial fiction that Scotland’s people are not sovereign.

    Sturgeon, in her ineptitude has chosen the latter, and thus Holyrood means death to Scotland, unless there is some draconian undoing and reversal of the stupid unconstitutional concessions and dangerous precedents already set by Sturgeon.

    To go forward, we must either make Holyrood a Red institution answerable to a Sovereign Scotland, or we throw it away as an instrument of colonial encroachment. Fuck Section 30. Fuck the Scotland Act. The Sovereign people of Scotland will hold their own Constitutional Convention which answers to nobody except the sovereign people of Scotland.

  418. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    Sorry Pacman, reading back that sound’s a but accusative. I didn’t mean it like that. I don’t mean you personally, but what I wrote doesn’t read very well.

  419. Dorothy Devine
    Ignored
    says:

    Can anyone tell me how to vote in the upcoming election? There is only ONE person for whom I wish to vote , I want the others to languish unloved .

    Do I fill in my 1 and leave the rest blank thereby giving an opening for someone to sneakily fill in the others. Or do I place my 1 and put x’s at the others?

  420. Dorothy Devine
    Ignored
    says:

    I have just revisited Allan Bisset and ‘Vote Britain ‘He reminded me why I voted YES and will do again.

    The weasel words of ‘ I will lead Scotland to independence ” ring hollow in my ears.

  421. DJ
    Ignored
    says:

    So then Breeks and all good people, one and all, what the f##k do we do about it? My suggestion, for what it’s worth, is we hire a room somewhere, and we declare the “Scottish Sovereignty Committee” is up and running.

    Then through social media, press releases etc, we highlight every action, utterance, law passed, statement made which affects Scottish sovereignty.

    Then we replicate this in town, cities and villages all over the country, as in Scottish Sovereignty Committee (Dunfermline), Scottish Sovereignty Committee (Inverness) etc.

    WE JUST DO IT – even although we will be ignored and laughed at at first. But if we persevere…?

    What do you all think?

  422. James
    Ignored
    says:

    Elmac; “If you value the future of our country that should mean Alba first, Tory second last and SNP last”.

    Only number those you want to support. Don’t give the Tories any number at all!

    They’re trying to fool folk into thinking you have to number every box – you don’t! Even giving someone a ‘5’ boosts their chances while no number at all means they get sweet F A from you….

  423. Mark Boyle
    Ignored
    says:

    Dorothy Devine says: 27 April, 2022 at 9:55 am

    Can anyone tell me how to vote in the upcoming election? There is only ONE person for whom I wish to vote , I want the others to languish unloved .

    Do I fill in my 1 and leave the rest blank thereby giving an opening for someone to sneakily fill in the others. Or do I place my 1 and put x’s at the others?

    The guidance for returning officers – who get to see all ‘spoiled’ ballot papers before any final confirmation that a count is valid – is that so long as the intentions of the voter are clear and unambiguous, the vote must be counted. This is to stop unscrupulous counters from trying to do down candidates they don’t like or trying to help a candidate they like win.

    So, for example, if you put a 1 in your preferred candidate, but scored out the boxes for all the other candidates (ie. scribbled them into darkness as black as their evil empty hearts which are not worthy of your pure exercising of the franchise), this must be counted until your candidate is either elected or eliminated, after which it will take no further part of the process.

    Do not simply cross the other candidate’s boxes out – which could be claimed by other candidates’ election agents as you being ‘confused’ thinking it was a Westminster style election, and an excuse to invalidate your vote.

  424. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    @DJ (10.27) –

    It’s great to see someone making a positive suggestion.

    Unfortunately, it seems well-nigh impossible to start anything new without it being infested, instantly, with spooks and troublemakers. They seem to be everywhere.

    I suspect that’s why there has been such a decline in ‘active’ activism. The determination of the State to infiltrate any movement, no matter how small, is well documented, and we also know, from the treatment of Alex Salmond, Craig Murray, and many others, how far they’ll go to remove anyone or anything perceived as ‘a threat’.

    Sorry if this sounds negative, but ‘once bitten’ an aw that…

    🙁

  425. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Sturgeon the betrayers bluff called, its likely we’ll now know one way r the other what progress the SNP has made on holding an indyref next year, if any progress has been made at all which I doubt very much.

    Of course the betrayer might get her pet Lord Advocate onto the case to hide any non-existent progress.

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldscotland.com%2Fpolitics%2F20096554.ministers-told-release-legal-advice-planned-independence-vote%2F

  426. James
    Ignored
    says:

    Number who you support leave the rest blank….tell your friends.

  427. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Dorothy Devine says: 27 April, 2022 at 9:55 am

    Can anyone tell me how to vote in the upcoming election? There is only ONE person for whom I wish to vote , I want the others to languish unloved .

    Do I fill in my 1 and leave the rest blank thereby giving an opening for someone to sneakily fill in the others. Or do I place my 1 and put x’s at the others?

    There hasn’t been much on here about the upcoming election.

    I spotted this:
    https://weegingerdug.wordpress.com/2022/04/19/still-vote-until-you-boak/

    “You get as many ranking choices as there are candidates on the ballot paper, although you don’t have to rank every single one of them for your vote to be valid.

    However you can influence who else gets elected after your number one choice by ranking everyone on the ballot.”

    WGD going for Tories last. I think I’m going for Alba 1st other independence parties 2nd & 3rd SNP last Greens 2nd last. For the rest I’ll just put the names in a hat.

  428. Jontoscots21
    Ignored
    says:

    SNP Westminster hack and ex labour private school modern studies teacher Anum Quaisar (now there a wealth of experience given she is below 30 years old),complaining that she was micro aggressed at Westminster because apparently asked for ID. I suggest she looks at food banks, poverty and the macro aggressions her constituents are suffering. Her online profile is dominated by her attempts to get more “people of colour” into Westminster. And fighting islamophobiah. She was parachuted into this working class constituency above these who have represented their community for years. The SNP is full of these identikit mediocrities who either lounge about like glaikit goldfish at Holyrood or warm their arses on Westminster benches. None of them gives a flying fart for independence. Those of us who have fought racism and prejudice all of our lives are sick of the racialisation of Scottish politics by these grifters. I will certainly not be voting SNP but Labour 1 Alba 2. to get rid of them.

  429. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    The simple answer of the british parliamentry sovereignty derives from the presumption that the english parliament was sovereign.

    How there is a legal flaw in that presumption,

    The treaty of the union introduction and articles state that Scotland was and still is a kingdom country and realm.

    As is England,

    To dissolve either one automactically breaks the treaty of the union and articles.
    For it states that two kingdoms realms and countries have voluntary joined together/ united to create the great British parliament.

    If either one of those countries is no longer considered as a participent or legally has ceased to exist as a original sovereign parliament one united to the other,
    Then the British Parliament is no longer a legal entity.
    And as the treaty of the union article’s do not state that the new british parliament will demolish or abolish any the two participating voluntary joint creators without acknowledging its own demise.

    In the treaty of the union the articles accept that Scotland as a participating country and shall keep Scots Law, Scots Education and religion.

    Those Article’s mentioned above alone keep Scotland and its old parliament in existance,
    as an retained individual identified country within the treaty of the union, but also binds England’s old parliament to those article’s.

    The Great British Parliament cannot Claim to be sovereign from the original treaty articles, and both Original parliaments ,which is how the British parliament exists at all.

    It can also not claim to be the inheritor of the treaty without it own demise and creation,
    Which in turn, explains why the Great British Parliament is not sovereign or a separate state from the two old Parliaments.
    It is solely acting on behalf of those two old parliaments having volunteered a joint agreement.
    It has no authority to dismiss either parliament or country.

    The question of Great British Parliamentary sovereignty existing is hogwash and no more than a presumption while two voluntary countries/ kingdoms/ and Parliaments are in a joint treaty.

  430. Robert Hughes
    Ignored
    says:

    D.J @ 10.27

    I think that’s an excellent idea .

    You’re no doubt right , any such Committee would almost certainly- initially – ridiculed , or , at best , ignored . So what ?

    Remember Gandhi’s words

    ” First they ignore you : then they laugh at you : then the fight you : then you win “

  431. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    When the frills of of elaborate speech that was used in the late 1700s are brushed aside.

    We see what the fundamentals of the actual treaty were,

    They are little more than two countries jointly agreeing to join their two parliaments together and share the same monarch.

    I am not sure in particular wether it actually mentions joining the people together as one country though.
    Many have suggested that the People never got a vote on joining the treaty of the union, because that was not done in those early day’s.

    However i found this on the UK Parliament site.

    In 1707 since Scotlands small Electorate would have probably expressed dislike of the union it was decided to avoid a direct election.

    UK Parliament 2022.

  432. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Also on the UK Parliament web site the following can be read .

    The birth of the English Parliament:

    The modern British Parliament is one of the oldest continuous representative assembles in the world.
    For Nearly 900 years.

    And heres me thinking that the British Parliament met for the first time on the 1st May 1707,

  433. sarah
    Ignored
    says:

    @ DJ at 10.27, Robert Hughes at 2.16: “what to do?” about Scottish sovereignty?

    There is a Scottish Sovereignty Research Group roadshow at Aberdeen on this Saturday at 6.00 p.m. that you can attend in person or via zoom.

    Can someone post a link – BDTT?

  434. Dorothy Devine
    Ignored
    says:

    Thanks folks.

  435. DJ
    Ignored
    says:

    sarah says:
    27 April, 2022 at 2:35 pm
    @ DJ at 10.27, Robert Hughes at 2.16: “what to do?” about Scottish sovereignty?

    There is a Scottish Sovereignty Research Group roadshow at Aberdeen on this Saturday at 6.00 p.m. that you can attend in person or via zoom.

  436. DJ
    Ignored
    says:

    Thanks Sarah, I will check it out.

  437. Ebok
    Ignored
    says:

    Ruby, (Dorothy)
    I’m not sure if this is your take, Ruby, or that of WGD – I didn’t read the link: –
    “However you can influence who else gets elected after your number one choice by ranking everyone on the ballot.”

    This is really ambiguous as presented. There seems to be a great deal of misunderstanding about second and subsequent choices. Your vote CANNOT go to more than one candidate, and this ‘vote till you boak’ seems to be part of the confusion.

    Put simply, your vote goes to whoever is your first choice, and remains there until either that candidate is elected or eliminated.
    If your candidate is elected, the surplus votes they have above the quota are distributed among the second choices of you, and the others who voted that candidate, but it is only a fraction of the total and is largely meaningless.

    If your candidate is eliminated, then your vote is passed on to the next candidate on your preference list, but it is still the same vote, and cannot go to anyone else. This candidate will either be elected, or if eliminated too, in which case the vote now goes to your next preference.

    But your preference list has no influence on the ballot, it’s not as if you were giving them points – that doesn’t happen. The best way to think of it is this: vote for your candidate, then imagine they WERE NOT ON THE BALLOT. Now, is there anyone else you’d vote for if your first choice wasn’t there? If so, that is your next preference. Continue this process until there’s no-one you’d vote for, and leave the remaining squares blank.

    Though STV is closest to PR, I personally think that whatever the election outcomes, they are the least democratic and least understood of all systems. Few understand how councils are run, how they are funded, what powers they command, whether elected councillors have more power than unelected executives, what power or influence COSLA has, and rarely have I heard of anyone who has had a satisfactory outcome when any issues arise. Consultations are a joke, protests over council decisions rarely have any impact, and as we see on here, even some very clever folks don’t get the voting system.

    The only matter of interest to me in these elections is how well ALBA perform, but then again, how do we measure that when there is no yardstick?
    Just get them out of the way and give 100% to Indy matters. Leaders, get ready, your time has come: interesting thought DJ.

  438. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    DJ says:
    27 April, 2022 at 10:27 am
    So then Breeks and all good people, one and all, what the f##k do we do about it? My suggestion, for what it’s worth, is we hire a room somewhere, and we declare the “Scottish Sovereignty Committee” is up and running.

    I don’t want to be the advocate of caution, I agree with you DJ, now is the time to act, but we’ve also got to go canny, and recognise the pitfalls which might sabotage the initiative.

    If Scots launched a purely Constitutional initiative, a lot of the conventional thinking to date has seen Westminster as the “enemy”, but we now have a Scottish “Parliament” pursuing a bizarre and enigmatic strategy which defies rational interpretation.

    As such, I think it’s wise to do the wargaming around a Constitutional Initiative by Sovereign Scots, which is both opposed by Westminster AND opposed by Holyrood. Otherwise you’re going to have Scotland’s interests compromised by a Constitutional Initiative being contested by a democratically elected Scottish assembly, (and of course, a UK Establishment and media monopoly which will go full Tonto propagating dissent and confusion). That could get real messy. I don’t think we can afford to have Holyrood openly opposing a Constitutional Initiative, unless we’re left without a choice.

    So, for now I think the SSRG and ALBA are pitching it right… Now is the time for a concerted period of information promotion, and selling the idea of Scotland’s Popular Sovereignty to the broadest possible Scottish audience. We cannot afford to have the greater majority of Scots being unaware of their sovereign rights, which far too many currently are. When Scots understand the power of their sovereign birth right, I believe there will be nothing to stop us. Certainly not the Section 30 bullshit in the Scotland Act and the thieving of Scotland’s sovereignty.

    Once the Scottish Electorate is much better versed with Scotland’s Constitutional rights and sovereignty, then Sturgeon’s / Holyrood’s adopted stance of a Section 30 Referendum just falls apart, and the sands will be shifting beneath Holyrood itself.

    But we need to remember this is the UK, and just because it falls apart, doesn’t mean to say it still won’t be flogged to death by the media, and a Constitutional initiative denounced as reckless desperation. Look at the way the media insists Labour and Tories are relevant to Scottish politics. The whole jig is rigged.

    Life would be much, much less complicated if Sturgeon and her useless cabal just fked off out the picture completely, leaving Holyrood to be seen as no threat to a Constitutional initiative. We need Holyrood either 100% backing us, or rendered inert.

    That means either Holyrood under new management pledging itself to the “Red” Sovereignty of Scotland’s people, or else, Holyrood is discredited as Unionist institution which recognises Westminster as sovereign and thus, cannot properly be considered the “Parliament” representing Scotland’s sovereign people.

    Sturgeon’s SNP is the great enigma, and a risible frustration. Under more diligent leadership, the Treaty of Union should never have survived Brexit, and Scotland would have embraced a Constitutional end of the UK Union before we ever left Europe. Scotland would have been Independent in 2016, and the ratification plebiscite afterwards would have gone to the polls on the same wave of Nationalism which sent 53 SNP MP’s to Westminster. The buck for why that didn’t happen stops squarely with Sturgeon.

    I promise you, Sturgeon was the toast of Westminster and saviour of the UK throughout the entire Brexit debacle, and she remains a massive liability moving forward. I honestly don’t know what the fk people see in her.

    I have an answer to that scenario. It’s called impeachment, but unfortunately, there are too many Pearl clutchers who think that’s too radical, and still put their faith in patience and persuasion.

    So, for now, my personal philosophy is to back the SSRG 100%, and give ALBA time to establish a political presence and more clout, and also support moves to establish a people’s Convention to champion Scotland’s sovereign Constitution.

    The SNP? Frankly, fk knows. Struggling to care these days.

  439. DJ
    Ignored
    says:

    Breeks, many thanks for the reply – and the input from everyone else.

    You are probably right, perhaps now is not quite the time for such an initiative. It probably would sow further confusion. And there is enough of that already.

    So I will watch and wait for the SSRG and Alba to build momentum across Scotland’s political landscape.

    Fingers crossed they don’t take too long…!

  440. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Ebok says:
    27 April, 2022 at 3:40 pm

    Ruby, (Dorothy)
    I’m not sure if this is your take, Ruby, or that of WGD – I didn’t read the link: –

    The part in inverted commas was a quote from the link I posted.

    I only stumbled across the WGD article because I was looking to see if there was anyone posting BTL with doubts about the timing of the Sturgeon’s IndyRef promise.

  441. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Alf Baird.
    Breeks.

    Here is a behind the scene collect of papers by Daniel defoe.

    Long title i am afraid but an excellent description of what Englands parliament were preparing Scots law to intergrate by inserting new offices into Scotland before the treaty was signed and its intention afterwards.

    http://qoud.Lib.umich.edu>ecco.
    By a person concern’d in the said treaty. and presents in both kingdoms at the time of transacting.

    I found this on google by typing in

    Salvo Jure Cujustlibet.

  442. twathater
    Ignored
    says:

    @ ROS 1105AM I am sure the insistance of the SIC will have sturgeon and her fellow collaborators quaking in fear of being exposed as the lying scum that they are

    They managed through massive redactions and deliberate failures to produce and obfuscate damning documents and evidence in the Salmond trial and subsequent enquiry which would have EXPOSED their lies and corruption which was wilfully ignored by politicians , the MSM , the broadcasters and worst of all the judiciary , so I am afraid the threat of her being exposed and further reviled at the hands of the SIC establishment lackey is a dream that won’t happen

  443. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    In fact i would suggest all in the independence Yes movements read it. For some enlightenment.

  444. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    @DJ (4.06) –

    I apologise if my message was unduly negative. I was thinking afterwards what a grumpy old sod I must sound.

    But it is something which genuinely worries me. I saw at first-hand how a spook can really fuck up a group. They cause division and tension and are taught how to do it. The really good ones go undetected. (Indeed, I suspect many of us now wonder how high they actually are.) I wouldn’t know who to trust.

    The State has all sorts of lists on all of us. And what do we have on them?! It’s tempting, sometimes to suggest starting a list of our own, but that always upsets some.

    Anyway, I have my own list in my heid. Perhaps we could all do ‘swapsies’ sometime, like fitba cards.

    😉

  445. Robert Hughes
    Ignored
    says:

    Breeks @ 3.41

    ” So, for now, my personal philosophy is to back the SSRG 100%, and give ALBA time to establish a political presence and more clout, and also support moves to establish a people’s Convention to champion Scotland’s sovereign Constitution. ”

    Hard to argue with that . Seems like the best ( only ? ) option

    It is predicated on ALBA actually establishing a political presence though ; a presence sufficient to challenge the current dominance of yon lot . I hope they do , but it remains to be seen

    The big problem could be time , how much do we have while the * Union * further tightens the screws n block every escape route ?

    We know they will NEVER willingly release us from their clammy embrace , particularly now when they’re reaping the harvest of shit they sowed with Brexit/Johnson and delusional Empire Strikes Back wishful thinking .

    We might have to break-out . Don’t fancy another 8 stretch in HMP UK.Sturgeon Wing

  446. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Robert Hughes,

    It is important to have a second back up plan, a plan B and C.
    We have put all our hopes on one party or one method so much in the past, this is where we are today,
    No further ahead.
    I remember Alex himself being mock for lack of back up plans,

    I study as much of the treaty of the union before, during and afterwards, legislation and statues etc,
    I cannot remember it all, but copy or save what i do come across.

    It might one day become a plan B or C, if pinning our hopes and dreams to one flag fails us again,

    For perhaps one day we will realise that what we claim binds us is also the release mechanism.

  447. Andy Ellis
    Ignored
    says:

    @DJ 4.06 pm

    “Fingers crossed they don’t take too long…!”

    There may not be a lot of agreement in here on various subjects, but I think there’s broad agreement that the answer doesn’t lie with the SNP, and that Alba is probably the only viable solution in the short to medium term.

    I hear lots of folk talking about alternative paths, Constitutional Conventions etc., etc., but no realistic timescale for any of these novel routes that would deliver independence faster than plebiscitary elections and ensuring Alba replaces the SNP?

    Local elections are a hiding to nothing: if Alba do well it’ll be written off as “only local elections so meaningless”, but if they do badly it’ll be used as evidence Alba is finished. Still a few years until Hr2026 elections though, and Alex Salmond said, things and polls can change quickly…?

  448. Mark Boyle
    Ignored
    says:

    Andy Ellis says: 27 April, 2022 at 8:01 pm

    Local elections are a hiding to nothing: if Alba do well it’ll be written off as “only local elections so meaningless”, but if they do badly it’ll be used as evidence Alba is finished.

    I wouldn’t be entirely sure about that.

    In Renfrewshire, both Labour and the SNP have spent extraordinary resources over the year to ensure that Huntershill’s resident Barry Grant from Brookside lookalike (or Jah Wobble, depending on your viewpoint) – Paul Mack – is unseated, and then to ensure he never got back in again (which, to no one’s surprise, ensured he soon did!).

    They hate and fear Mack as one of those most terrifying of political creatures, ie. someone of genuine conviction, and as someone the more you try to intimidate him, the greater the retaliation. Unlike certain other self-styled “people’s champions” in certain other council areas, he’s proved the genuine article 24/7, not simply turning up at election time and bugger all times seen inbetween.

    One councillor powered on pure principle not advancement can with skill and guile inspire others out of their armchairs to give political activism a try or even another shot. There’s also the psychological effect on voters – win once in an area and people no longer treat you as a “wasted vote”. The other parties know this only too well.

    What’s more important is that on average only a third of people bother to vote in local elections, hence why they have always been the best chance for minor parties, whose core vote tends to be that bit more motivated/fanatical.

    To put it bluntly, if Alba and the rest of the “alternatives” to the SNP can’t get anywhere in the council elections, they will have no choice but to cease kidding themselves they’ve a chance of getting anywhere with their current strategies and either merge what meagre resources they have or give up.

  449. Robert Hughes
    Ignored
    says:

    James Che

    Agreed . Pinning all our hopes on one Party – again – is folly .

    That’s why I see merit in Breeks’ vision of a Constitutional Committee of some description . Something not in the mould of Party Politics , and wasn’t about individuals , * personalities * , leaders even , but could , in time ( dammit ! ) accrue degrees of power eg influence .

    Andy Ellis

    ” Local elections are a hiding to nothing: if Alba do well it’ll be written off as “only local elections so meaningless”, but if they do badly it’ll be used as evidence Alba is finished. Still a few years until Hr2026 elections though, and Alex Salmond said, things and polls can change quickly…? ”

    Likewise , agreed . If ALBA does do well it will be a morale booster nonetheless , however the MSM/SNP spin it . It was also be a reminder to the SNP no Party/Leader is ever truly invulnerable . It’s the imagining that they are that usually brings about their downfall

  450. Robert Hughes
    Ignored
    says:

    ” it would also ….”

  451. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    Irish newspaper reports former US Irish Ambassador Bobby McDonagh
    questions is Tory Gov ready to embarrass the Queen’s speech by declaring that they will
    break international law and break the agreed N Ireland protocol to save declining support for
    the DUP and Boris.

  452. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    A former head of the Polish army has accused Boris Johnson of “tempting evil” by revealing that Ukrainian soldiers were being trained in Poland in how to use British anti-aircraft missiles before returning with them to Ukraine.
    Gen Waldemar Skrzypczak, also a former junior defence minister, complained that a loose-lipped prime minister had revealed too much to the Russians and that his remarks risked the safety of the soldiers involved.
    Speaking to Polish tabloid Fakt, Skrzypczak said that Johnson had revealed “a military secret” and that “bad words are on the lips” when he gave details of the Ukrainian training plan on a trip to India last week.
    My own comment, Boris is beyond being a blithering imbecilic clown.
    Thanks very much English electorate.

  453. twathater
    Ignored
    says:

    Watched 10 minutes of Bastard Broadcast Corp debate night and no wonder people are switched off on politicians , Ben MacPherson SNP waffled and stuttered through every question, Rachael hamilton just done her unionist tory promotion , and the green female looks as though she’s still at secondary school

  454. PacMan
    Ignored
    says:

    Mark Boyle says: 27 April, 2022 at 8:56 pm

    Andy Ellis says: 27 April, 2022 at 8:01 pm

    Local elections are a hiding to nothing: if Alba do well it’ll be written off as “only local elections so meaningless”, but if they do badly it’ll be used as evidence Alba is finished.

    I wouldn’t be entirely sure about that.

    Daft enough to listen to that clown.

  455. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    ITV poll shows that 70% of the electorate consider Boris Johnson to be dishonest.

    What on earth do the 30% use for Brains?

    He admitted his £350 million per week to the NHS from Brexit was a lie just after winning.

    He been lying to wives and lovers with a whole series of affairs.

    He thought Cummings 150mile eyesight test was legitimate.

    He has attended a whole series of Lockdown parties according to the pictures and statements of those who resigned.

    Do you remember his promise at the DUP annual conference that there would never be a border down the Irish Sea or a different trade deal and a week later delivered just that.

    30% of the English voters should be locked up for their own safety.

  456. Robert Hughes
    Ignored
    says:

    ” TIMES INVESTIGATION
    Suitcases of Covid loan cash seized at UK’s borders
    Recipients of pandemic support also spent the money on gambling sprees, home improvements and cars, a Times investigation finds ”

    And , as yet , not a single fucker that scored in the Great British Covid Robbery has been held to account , let alone – as should happen – have their corrupt arses slung into jail .

    That yellow and blue Ukrainian smoke is proving pretty useful

  457. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    Robert Hughes above-

    Yes no prosecutions for a tsunami of theft and government incompetence but
    Pensioners fined £1,000 for not paying the BBC Tax.
    Threats of £1,000 fines for not filling in a Census form.

    Do you remember we all chipped in to pay a £200 fine for a lady who stole a 4 pack of
    Mini Mars Bars as she hadn’t eaten for 3 days.

    Universal discredit had suggested she could survive on fresh air for a couple of weeks while
    they checked out the termination of her low paid job that just got her by with nothing to spare.

    I often wondered about that Judge’s ruling to fine someone who is penniless and with any assets the sum of £200.
    Did he think some group like Wings would come up with some extra money for the Tories?
    Did he ever watch Les Mis and be outraged at a man being sent to a penal colony for stealing a loaf of bread for his starving family after finding no source of employment.

    If the Tories hadn’t closed down the viable coal mines your children would be down there working.

  458. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Robert Hughes – 28 April, 2022 at 7:06 am

    Maybes the level of proof and evidence necessary to get corrupt arses slung in jail is higher than that needed to get a page-filler published in The Times.

    I certainly hope it is.

  459. John Main
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Effigy 28 April, 2022 at 7:47 am

    “If the Tories hadn’t closed down the viable coal mines your children would be down there working”

    I thought we all tacitly agreed to keep the discussion within the bounds of sanity for a couple of weeks.

    Votes to win, unbiased opinions to affect, that sort of thing.

    Worth a try, no?

  460. Dorothy Devine
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian B , you are not old.

  461. Robert Hughes
    Ignored
    says:

    ” Maybes the level of proof and evidence necessary to get corrupt arses slung in jail is higher than that needed to get a page-filler published in The Times. ”

    As we know , The Times is not exactly hostile to Tory ideology , yet it’s the one printing this .

    Vast sums of money paid for completely useless PPE doesn’t – in a functioning Democracy ( lol ) require much evidence to prove culpability .

    The * Public Purse * was looted and the looters walked away unscathed . The * New Normal * in caring sharing Shite Brittania

  462. Dorothy Devine
    Ignored
    says:

    Brighton and Sussex Uni hospitals advised to use ‘ front hole’ and ‘genital opening’ instead of vulva or vagina in case it upsets transgenders. This was reported in the Mail not necessarily known for accuracy but if true I AM UPSET.

    How can a hospital deny science in this way? And just who thinks its not OK to ‘upset’ transgenders at the expense of others?

  463. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    “Nicola Sturgeon said: “These are the most important ­local elections in the ­history of devolution,”

    The betrayers of Scots turning on the same old speel to hoodwink Scots yet again. A vote for the SNP in these council elections is a vote for the status quo, or worse, nothing will change if we return SNP councillors back to the trough.

    If you have an Alba candidate vote for them, they at least know what a woman is.

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.scot%2Fnews%2F20098700.lock-tories-councils-says-nicola-sturgeon-cost-of-living-plea%2F

  464. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Twathater @5.43pm.

    Yes I’m afraid you might be right, no doubt the paper work will get lost, (ferry contracts) or the Betrayer will have it redacted on legal advice from the LA.

    This SNP government is rotten to its core.

  465. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    @Dorthy Devine (8.24) –

    Cheers Dorothy, but my face suggests otherwise.

    🙂 🙂 🙂

  466. Dan
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Ian B

    Are you old (or young) enough to remember the era of pink custard at school dinners? 🙂

  467. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    @Dan –

    I remember it well, and with great fondness.

    😉

  468. Dorothy Devine
    Ignored
    says:

    Pink custard! Ye gods and little fishes how disgusting was that!

  469. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    https://www.linkedin.com/posts/aberdeen-%26-grampian-chamber-of-commerce_exclusive-treasury-banking-19m-per-day-activity-6925345649957744641-R-LQ?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=android_app

    It’s seems that oil Scotland has that runs out is still putting Billions into
    Westminsters and the oil companies pockets.

    Wouldn’t it be nice if all our citizens could do basic things like eat and heat when required.

  470. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    It seems to me reading about the history of all this foul play above that is not held accountable anywhere or by any one makes politician and the laws seem like a threesome in bed when with msm.

    And i am not so sure any more that elections are untouchable either.
    BJ blamed russie for meddling in our Scottish referendum,
    But no offer of a correction or second referemdum as correction.
    and we saw ruthie peeking at votes in our elections.

    Never mind my local SNP telling me the results of our last election and that They were going into a coalition with the greens10 days before the last election. ( but nothing about it in their campaigne or manifesto).

    It surely test my interpretation of honest safe elections.

  471. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Effigy.

    Aye just imagine how Scotland could be,
    We might not always get it right in our future,

    But we certainlly could not do any worse than the position britain is at the moment.
    While dragging Scotland, Ireland and Wales down with it.

    I cant see us and Scotland being able to afford to wait until the next possible interfered with elections in 2026.

    Right now its like living through the mafia days of old.

  472. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    Sturgeon is taking a real doing at FMQs right now.

  473. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Perhaps the Scots did not bottle it in 2014.

    As Boris says it was interference in our Scottish elections that the westminster knew about.

    Mind you it would total unfair for Boris, for him to have been offered a more honest re- run of a that meddled election.

    In case the point was proved the Scots had not bottled it.

  474. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Dorothy Devine.

    No matter what the politicians promisein this election.
    We do not vote for politicians that do not recognise women solely as a natural born women, with no medical interference required.

  475. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Brotherhood @12.24pm.

    Yes I listen to FMQ’s on the radio, Sturgeon the betrayer stuttered and fluffed her way through Ross’s questions on where the vital document on the ferries contracts was. The betrayer as you well know by watching it yourself was at sixes and sevens to answer the question, with her SNP MSP clapping seals in the background desperately trying to bolster their flagging FM.

    Furthermore Sturgeon the betrayer of Scots tried her best to say there were no gagging orders on Fergusson shipyard staff with regards to the shambles surrounding the ferries, her attempts were compounded when it was revealed that the Auditor General alluded to finding out more with regards to the secrecy surrounding the debacle of the ferries if staff at the shipyard could speak plainly as to what went on.

    BLiS’s Sarwar, also had the betrayer on the ropes with the deaths in care homes in Scotland during the pandemic, and that like in England where it has been judged as an illegal procedure, or words to that effect, the deaths in Scotland must be looked at more closely and that someone must be held accountable.

    We can only hope that the walls are closing in on Sturgeon the betrayer, and that she decides to leave office for some WEF or Trilateral Commission or UN job, and then, if its still possible to save the party, a good clear out of the detritus is needed.

  476. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    SNP and Whitehall puppet Stewart McDonald, who now goes by the comedy gold title of SNP Defence spokesperson, getting inot a storm in a tea-cup argument with a Tory MP in an attempt to see who is the most compliant British puppet.

    Stewart as usual wins hands down.

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.scot%2Fnews%2F20100292.michael-fabricant-ukraine-attack-sees-tory-mp-branded-idiot%2F

  477. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    So Brown ran away and hid in the canteen just like his party has ran away from Scottish independence. This bunch of crooks and charlatans were trying to pin it on the disgraced Derek MacKay.

    I wish Brown would f*ck-off back to the Falklands and take the entire SNP party with him including the betrayer.

    “AN SNP cabinet secretary asked to sign off the disastrous deal to buy two CalMac ferries has repeatedly refused to say if he did it.

    Keith Brown, a Royal Marines commando in the Falklands War, tried to escape a media ambush at Holyrood by fleeing into the queue for the canteen.

    The Justice Secretary refused to discuss his own part in the episode, merely referring to the First Minister’s previous statements. ”

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldscotland.com%2Fpolitics%2F20100617.snp-minister-linked-ferry-fiasco-tries-hide-media-holyrood-canteen%2F

  478. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    @Republicofscotland (3.16) –

    She was also asked about gender reassignment numbers rocketing and whether or not there will be a review of what’s happening, as in England.

    Cue more waffle…

    They’re circling for the kill. It’s like an old Attenborough wildlife documentary, before the featured creatures were all Disneyfied, given cute names etc. This is old-school, where the quarry gets eaten and/or shagged, not always in that order.

  479. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Breeks.
    Alf Baird.

    Had either of you read the Daniel Defoe comments before, and how the English Parliament were inserting pre- union arrangements for bringing in new english law offices into Scotland before the treaty of the union and articles came into being, so it looked like Scots Law that was to be Retained afterwards.

  480. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    Republicofscotland says:
    28 April, 2022 at 3:16 pm
    Ian Brotherhood @12.24pm.

    Yes I listen to FMQ’s on the radio, Sturgeon the betrayer stuttered and fluffed her way through Ross’s questions on where the vital document on the ferries contracts was…

    It’s just more through-the-looking-glass stuff. Yes, she got a drubbing by Dross, and yet at the same time, she got off easy.

    Something isn’t ringing true however. If this “missing” document was so vital in any capacity, then why on Earth was there only one copy of it? Was it typed or electronic? Was there a signature on it? Where is it’s paper trail?

    To my mind, “we can’t find it”, stinks of misdirection. Perhaps the document isn’t lost at all, it’s more likely to have never existed in the first place. That, in turn, implies a more serious procedural impropriety and / or incompetence, because that would suggest the correct protocol wasn’t being followed, which is a lot more serious than a “stray” item of humdrum correspondence.

    Ross had the upper hand today yes, but he was playing to the gallery when he should have gone for the jugular and actually done some damage. Sadly Holyrood is just a shambles of the political lightweights.

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m not wishing Ross had done any better. I haven’t suddenly turned Tory. But Sturgeon finding sudden cause to resign would be a HUGE plus for Independence. Ross however isn’t up to it. Neither Sturgeon nor Ross know what an open goal looks like.

  481. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    James Che. says:
    28 April, 2022 at 4:12 pm
    Breeks.
    Alf Baird.

    Had either of you read the Daniel Defoe comments before…

    No, but I haven’t read them yet. Your link didn’t work, nor did the Google.

    I have a horrible feeling I’m not gonna like reading what the likes of Defoe had to say, but I’ll give it a go.

    I have read this about Defoe…

    Despite all the humming and hawing the bulldozer relentlessly pursued the butterfly. For the most part the people were largely ignorant of what was really going on, unless they lived in Edinburgh and kept up with the intrigue. The writer Daniel Defoe was employed by the English as a propagandist and did a model job. When the Scots came up with awkward questions about the true nature of the proposed union it was Defoe who answered, loudly and prominently, but Defoe was not an official negotiator or even accredited in any way so it has always been possible for the English parliament to deny his authority, something they did not however do at the time.

    A word must be said also about Lord Hamilton. Misgivings have variously been expressed about his conduct around the time of the union but there can be no doubt at all that he deceived and betrayed Scotland and its people. He pretended to lead resistance to the union but at the crucial moment he collapsed it like a trader’s tent and announced on the day of the vote that he could not attend due to a bout of toothache, this from a man who could buy all the morphine in Scotland. He later recovered to enjoy many benefits steered his way by the London powers and retired to his extensive estate in England.

    https://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/treaty.htm

  482. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    The 8min film with this link was by Time magazine in 2019.

    twitter.com/C48H74O14/status/1519703546006052867

    That’ll be the same Time magazine which just published this hagiographic front cover of Zelensky?

    twitter.com/TIME/status/1519618372304048129/photo/1

  483. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Brotherhood @4.03pm.

    I get the feeling Ian that the new misogyny laws about hit us, are designed to protect the tiny minority of trans folk, and that protecting real women is just a (side effect) bonus of its original intention, and it will used used to show the Scots masses that the Betrayers isn’t anti-women’s rights.

  484. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Breeks @4.29pm.

    I’m no fan of Sarwar or Ross, but I’m in the ridiculous position, as I’m sure many indyminded Scots are also in, of feeling some sort of temporary satisfaction at these two die-hard unionists attempting to hold Sturgeon to account.

    Sturgeon has betrayed us, and there’s no one to hold her to account, the majority of Scots still believe that she will hold an indyref next year, and that Salmond is rapist and that Sturgeon told the truth at the inquiry in which she failed to answer a plethora of questions, and she used the COPFS and the Lord Advocate to squirm her way out of any accountability, not forgetting that bloke who’s name eludes me for the moment, whose report said that Sturgeon didn’t break the Ministerial Code.

    Sturgeon the betrayer is as slippery as an eel, a real teflon don, nothing sticks to her, she’ll weasel her way out of this one as well, and if by some chance there’s a inquiry into the ferries fiasco, the inquiry will be stuffed with Greens and SNP MSPs, with a Fabiani like chair to oversee her escape yet again.

  485. twathater
    Ignored
    says:

    FFS Breeks, 1707 and the replay 2014 where arseholes made promises to the Scottish electorate that they most likely fell for and that they had NO , NIL , NADA , authority to promise or speak about on behalf of the ruling junta

    Defoe and Broon twa trea son ous bastards tae Scotland and Scots , working on behalf of their english maister , at least defoe is dead and can do us no more harm , the other blood sucking reviled and incompetent vampire is resurrected on far too many occasions to harass and torment the natives
    The slack jawed monster that bailed out the corrupt banks and sold the uk’s gold at bargain basement prices , obviously a business mentor to sturgeon the betrayer

  486. James Che.
    Ignored
    says:

    Breeks.

    I just tried the search again and was successful.

    This is how i did it the second time and might be easier.

    Go to google, type Salvo jure cujustlibet.
    Miss the first item that comes up and scroll down to the second item.
    That starts with the sentence.

    By a person concern’d with the said treaty…………..

    Tried it twice to make sure, i have been unable to copy this item at the moment, if you or anyone else want to do the honours before it disappears from google please be my guest as it may come in handy.

    There are plenty of behind the scenes info to the treaty of the union planning and subtifuge.

  487. Alf Baird
    Ignored
    says:

    James Che. @ 7:05 pm

    Sara Salyers and SSRG have done much of the research on such matters as Defoe, Salvo, and Claim of Right as condition of the treaty etc.

    https://yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2022/03/29/sara-salyers-paper-in-full/

  488. Brian Doonthetoon
    Ignored
    says:

    Hi James Che.

    I think your typing is going awry.

    From your comment above, I copied and pasted

    Salvo jure cujustlibet

    into Google and got 3 hits. None of them started with

    “By a person concern’d with the said treaty”

  489. Scot Finlayson
    Ignored
    says:

    Edinburgh`s Napier University is teaching midwives that men can give birth through their penis.

    And if you don`t agree you will be accused of trasphobia and probably ostracised from further studies by the transcult and their evil little student minions.

  490. Effigy
    Ignored
    says:

    Scotlands most successful gold digger has her drawers rifled- Again.

    https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/8776891/michelle-mone-home-raid-police-ppe-probe-fraud/?utm_campaign=native_share&utm_source=sharebar_native&utm_medium=sharebar_native

    2 of her “Associates” Boris & Ian Duncan Smith may need give her one

    of their ideas to get away with it.

    I didn’t know it was a multi million pound profit PPE Contract.
    I was ambushed by a Face Mask order.
    I called China to place an order just to test my hearing.
    I thought I was ordering Bra Cups.

    I’m forgetting the law doesn’t apply to Tories.

  491. Dorothy Devine
    Ignored
    says:

    Scot Finlayson, I wish you hadn’t told us that.

    Did Scotland lead the enlightenment? Was Scotland referred to as enlightened?

    Dark fucking ages now – we’ll be burning women at the stake next for daring to contradict the piffle.

    As a footnote , may I be present at the first ‘ interesting ‘ birth – I’ll cheer him on Honest!

  492. Mark Boyle
    Ignored
    says:

    Effigy says:
    29 April, 2022 at 7:46 am

    Scotlands most successful gold digger has her drawers rifled- Again.

    https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/8776891/michelle-mone-home-raid-police-ppe-probe-fraud/?utm_campaign=native_share&utm_source=sharebar_native&utm_medium=sharebar_native

    2 of her “Associates” Boris & Ian Duncan Smith may need give her one

    of their ideas to get away with it.

    I didn’t know it was a multi million pound profit PPE Contract.
    I was ambushed by a Face Mask order.
    I called China to place an order just to test my hearing.
    I thought I was ordering Bra Cups.

    I’m forgetting the law doesn’t apply to Tories.

    Aw, couldn’t happen to a nicer psycho boss!

    A spectacularly nasty piece of work, lord help her if the Manx authorities also decide they want their pound of flesh

    They have a particularly short way with “come overs”, and something tells me she must have upset the locals to see her IOM pretend home raided into the bargain.

  493. Scot Finlayson
    Ignored
    says:

    @Dorothy Devine,

    I remember i was in A&E and the cubicle next to me was a man with a blocked urethra and the nurse was trying to insert a tube in to release the pressure of all the pee that was building up cause he could not pee,

    this was a big grown man and he was screaming in pain when the tube was inserted and calling on Jesus,God and his mother,

    wonder what his state would be if that was a 10lb baby 🙂

  494. Confused
    Ignored
    says:

    Michelle Mone was an old Wings favourite from way back; some hilarious posts and commentary – her foray into cryptocurrency “TITCOIN” and many more.

    In recent years she has had a lot of “work” done on herself; she used to be this fat, brassy, blonde, with a long hooter and evil, slitty eyes – now she has “barbie-fied” herself into an approximation of a porn star (milf/matures though). She has worked her way through a number of men, using them like cigarettes – in person I reckon she would make Amber Heard seem the dutiful housewife. In pictures with the latest partner it reminds me of a spider playing with a fly.

    Her entire life could be dramatised as satire/morality tale, except she has gotten away with everything so far. But going too far is the usual cause of downfall; getting in with the tories she must have thought “grift city”, but you cannot be too obvious.

    As a Lord, I think she has the right to be tried in the House of Lords itself. Best show in town.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1NBpVKWh_c



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