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Prop up your jaws

Posted on June 25, 2019 by

You’re going to need to before you watch today’s episode of The Jeremy Vine Show, featuring Paul Burrell (who used to be a royal butler about 20 years ago and somehow is now a political commentator), Nicola McLean (who used to get her surgically-altered breasts out for tabloid newspapers around the same time and then went on a reality show for halfwits with no actual talents), and Carole Malone, who we assume is some sort of live public-safety-information warning about the dangers of overdoing HRT.

Vine watches the unfolding horror with the expression of a man absolutely convinced he’s going to be murdered the next time he comes to Scotland. The most painful part is probably just after (Scottish) co-host and former weathergirl Storm Huntley (no, really) helpfully pipes up to suggest “shortbread, tartan… bagpipes” as Scotland’s economic foundations, at which point Jeremy turns in last-ditch desperation to the audience to save him from this slow-motion trainwreck and… well, you’ll see how that goes.

When the second indyref comes along, whenever the Yes campaign has a political broadcast slot on TV, we suggest just putting this on every time.

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798 to “Prop up your jaws”

  1. RobertTheTruth
    Ignored
    says:

    @Dane 10.19

    The ‘green ink Brigade’ on this site are the people who constantly post the same SNP propaganda which is off putting for the majority of Independence supporters who do not support any particular party regularly.

    This is an Independence site not an SNP site.

    It sounds as if you want repetition of fixed viewpoints without discussion and are afraid that any criticism of the SNP, SG and FM is a criticism of Independence.

    Surely it is better to have a range of opinions rather than seeing your own reflected back at you all the time. It may comfort you that others think the same way but then you never learn anything. Or do you think you will never change your mind on anything ever again?

    There are a number of posters here who when presented with references or evidence say they just want to hear posters’ opinions and then go on to rubbish them or raise suspicion about the posters because they do not agree or feel uncomfortable hearing different views.

    I prefer informed opinion. I have raised this about the historical interpretations here. History, more than any other subject, is rife for misinterpretation. However it seems people do not want sources or references, they want someone else’s interpretation of e.g the Constitution because they are lazy or because the posters’ narrow views fit with their own.

    There are some subjects that are manipulated for political purpose more than others – History is one and another even more relevant in the current climate is Psychiatry, a tool of despots and dictators for as long as it has been around.

    I feel it is unfair to label every differing opinion as BritNat or causing disruption for the sake of it. We want to be informed and make rational decisions and we cannot do that if only one prevailing viewpoint is allowed.

    Ironically, the site was set up to challenge the orthodoxy of prevailing opinion but it seems that does not extend to below the line commentary.

  2. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Call me Dave at 9:59am ….. “Nearly.”

    “Nearly” right enough Call me Dave, says I with a big red face.

    …………..

    @ Golfnut at 10:24am ….. “GoT.”

    I reckon, lol, I should say no more on the matter, Golfnut.

    ……………

    Anyone else sick and tired of reports on issues such as drug addiction in Scotland? They forget to mention that this area / policy is reserved to Westminster with Holyrood only having control over the judicial side of things. The usual “piecemeal” approach to screw things up for our politicians and make it easy for them to lump the blame onto the SNP government. Then they go to the other extreme and take ownership of UK climate change stats by including our excellent record with their lousy one.

    I’d also like to know how many addicts, homeless people, homeless veterans and those who’ve pushed up the SNHS / Social Care stats massively (etc) actually come from outwith Scotland. Maybe the Unionists who are now making thousands of FOI requests could inform us about that?

  3. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    @Golfnut

    Another aspect to all this ‘new Indy party’ idea …. the SNP have achieved success, particularly at WM elections, because the BritNats are fragmented into umpteen parties. Conversely the Indy side hasn’t been so fragmented. If the SNP vote were split evenly between two parties ( like Lab and Tory (and now Brexit also)) it would have been far less effective. Or, if the Greens were more effective and stood at GEs.

    Anyone suggesting seriously undermining the SNP electoral success is playing with our future. Some will be BritNat saboteurs – divide and rule. Others, to my mind wreak of ideological purity in a fight leading to defeat which is somehow an achievement. Some have just let impatience take hold of reason.

    Indy support is increasing. It is coming. But SNP ongoing success is essential.

    Are the SNP being assertive and confrontational enough? I’m tempted to say no, but fortunately I’m not in the driving seat.

  4. Iain mhor
    Ignored
    says:

    Before the Queen’s visit to Holyrood, man I enquire of learned Wingers, a fact I can’t be arsed to look up.
    Of all the Scots titles Chairlie has (Earl, Duke, Baron, Lord) why is his official title Chooky Rossy & not Prince (High Steward) of Scotland? He gets Prince o’ Wales often enough.
    Supplementary question : If there are official titles for visiting royalty, why does the Queen not use Elizabeth I ?
    I vaguely recall that particular point being brought up in a speech at Holyrood on some prior visit. Probably some trivial, arcane reasons. I’m sure I know the answers to all this, but my brain is mince today.

    Perhaps in the far past they would have used more appropriate titles. I’m left with a feeling it’s not unrelated to a previous post about Scotlands nation status and the related continuator status of England within the new UK of GB& NI Perhaps Royal titles are correctly used within their own continuing Kingdom (hence also Prince of Wales) but as Scotland is no longer a Kingdom (is it a fiefdom?) there is no requirement to utilise “ER I” or “Prince of Scotland” because that Kingdom no longer exists. So Chairlie just uses a feudal landed title and his maw remains “ERII”.

    Why retain the title “Prince & High Steward” etc at all, why not just bin it with the Kingdom the same as his Maw binned “ER I”? It’s not even a very accurate title, as it should be Scots and not Scotland, but ach, fuck him – Chooky Rossy indeed… get a grip.
    Pff Now I’m bored with the question hahah!

  5. Frank Gillougley
    Ignored
    says:

    Galamcennalath 11.35

    SNP

    There is a wonderful illustrative diagram in the Museum of Scotland, showing the schisms in the Scottish protestant church after the great disruption of 1843 and thereafter.

    If that is not a political lesson in what not to do, I don’t know what is.

    Topical, eh? 😉

  6. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    I believe her Majesty the Queen’s title in Scotland is officially *Brenda*

  7. exile
    Ignored
    says:

    Re Wark and McConnell, will some Winger please immediately save & archive the following Scotsman article (I don’t have the skills)?

    I searched for both fore and surnames, and
    found a Scotsman article dated Sunday 12/02/2006, headlined “Wark kept on BBC probation over bias fears”. Here are some extracts….

    “Leading TV presenter Kirsty Wark was placed on probation by worried BBC chiefs a year ago as a direct result of her controversial holiday with Jack McConnell and will continue to be closely monitored.” ……

    “The Villagate row erupted after Wark invited McConnell and his wife, Bridget, to spend Hogmanay with her and her partner Alan Clements at their 150,000 house in Alaro, Majorca. The families also holidayed together at the villa in December 2002.”……

    “It subsequently emerged that Wark and her family had twice been overnight guests at Bute House, McConnell’s official residence in Edinburgh.”

  8. A. Bruce
    Ignored
    says:

    Does anyone know if a timescale for completing Stage 2 of the Referendums(Scotland) Bill has been set as I’m sure it was supposed to be fast tracked?

  9. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    @A Bruce 12:05pm

    By October I heard

  10. jfngw
    Ignored
    says:

    Scotland being in the UK feels a bit like being part of the Arcadia group, we exist merely to keep someone else living in the style they expect and there may be no pension at the end of it.

  11. Jockanese Wind Talker
    Ignored
    says:

    Just for you @exile says at 12:00 pm

    Archived article Wark and McConnell

    http://archive.is/DQyzU

  12. Capella
    Ignored
    says:

    @ exile – also, Alan clement is a producer who gave evidence to the Culture, Media and sport committee of the HoC taking evidence on the parlous state of broadcasting in Scotland.

    When asked why there were no dramas produced in Scotland for years, Clement answered that in 2014 Scotland “went out of fashion”.

    Unfortunately, his response failed to broadcast as the live transmission buffered at that point and when restored, his contribution had been edited out. Fortunately, the transcript in Hansard printed his response.

  13. Welsh Sion
    Ignored
    says:

    iain mhor @ 11.52 am

    Please don’t remind me of the Charlie-fest that will be in evidence next week to mark the 50th anniversary of his investiture as the “Prince of Western Colonies” by his mum in that “splendid badge of our oppression” aka Longshanks’s Caernarfon Castle, on 1 July 1969.

    Here’s hoping I can estivate next week. 🙂

  14. Iain mhor
    Ignored
    says:

    @Dr Jim
    Ha! I’ve read that title a few times in the far past, when I used to take Private Eye. Thought it was an English thing. Is it not Lizzy or Libby in our neck o the woods?

    @Welsh Sion
    Sorry about that, but you do win 1 Free Internet for creative use of ‘Estivate’ – nice one! 🙂

  15. Jockanese Wind Talker
    Ignored
    says:

    Clements also wrote a book called “Rogue Nation” about an Indy Scotland becoming a Russian Satellite state

    Haven’t read it but looks like BritNat Propaganda piece.

    Blairite British Nationalist Labour in Scotland Byres Road Collective numpties who cannot reconcile that the Scottish Electorate have rejected them and their mates.

  16. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    @Iain mhor 12:56pm

    As far as I understand it the story goes that Prince Phil the Greek used Brenda as his pet name for her Maj

    Of course that could be another one of those urban myths but loads of us have pet names for our spouses so it could be as true as anything else

    I hope it’s true because it makes them seem less likely to be *The Lizard people from outer space* destined to rule over us for all time

  17. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    The Labour Mafia are entrenched in BBC/broadcasting. Hold all the main roles. There is an article that explains the connection. MSM tax evaders. Fifty years of pithy lying Labour. Lining their pockets on other people’s misery. Holding Scotland back. Embezzling Oil funds, illegal wars, Trident, tax evasion.

  18. Golfnut
    Ignored
    says:

    @Iain Mhor.

    Good question, bored or not it deserves an answer.

    Prince of Wales was the Royal title of the monarch of Wales. Edward longshanks, after defeating Welsh forces,(temporarily I might add since Wales never really gave up) conferred the title on his son and heir to demonstrate his overlordship of the Welsh. Didn’t go down to well, but ever since the heir to the English throne was invested as Prince of Wales. Scotland’s heir held the titles of Earl of Carrick, Bruce’s Earldom, however when Bruces daughter had child( she married the High Steward) that title was added to the heirs list. Lord of the Isles was added later when full control of the Isles was removed from the McDonald’s. I think it was James VI who conferred the title of the Dulke of Rothsay on Charles his heir. Charlie’s title in Scotland is the Duke of Rothsay heir to the Scottish throne which is still extant.

  19. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Football’s coming home say the British media

    They can’t help themselves can they and in a way I kinda hope they do win the womens world cup football because they’ll instantly see that as a sign from God that they should once again rule the world and we know what happens then, the megalomania power crazed one brained mass takes over and they start saying it out loud and behave in that uncontrollable insane manner we know so well which can only be good for us up here beyond the wall

    On the other hand the prospect of them getting a really good thrashing by America or France is slaveringly delightful

    Preferably France

  20. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    The Royals should slim down or bow out. Not much chance of that. Multiplying. When the Windsors keel over. There has to be s9me changes. £400Million of funding. The Tory Royals support austerity causing mental health problems. They engage in illegal wars, killing other people’s mothers.

    Their excessive cavalcade just knocked down and severely injured an elderly lady at a crossing. They do not stop. Some of them should not be driving. They got fantastically wealthy tax evading. The heir pays £2Million tax on £20Million. 10%. The rest tax evade. Monies which should go to fund essential services and elderly services. The privileged get fantastic tax free pensions.
    .

  21. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    I am getting totally fed up with Johnson and Hunt talking utter pish and much of the MSM allowing them to persist with their fairies and unicorns fantasies.

    This sums up well ….

    “Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt will have to ditch no deal – or face an election ….. If the winner next month does not briskly climb down and resurrect May’s deal, there will be a parliamentary crisis. The outcome is likely to be a demand from MPs either for a softer Brexit or for a new referendum. On present form, certainly Johnson and probably Hunt could not plausibly execute such a demand. The government of the day will be stranded. Parliament will have failed in its primary duty, to supply the country with stable government. It will surely have to be reelected. “

    http://archive.is/GQ8bK

    A GE won’t solve much in the Brexit front. The Tories and new PM will stand on a ‘no deal’ ticket. If they don’t, BxP will.

    If there’s to be a GE, IMO the SNP must stand in a strong Indy ticket. For me that would be a commitment for very short campaign IndyRef2. Name the date in the manefesto – then watch the sleeping giant that is YES go to work.

  22. Welsh Sion
    Ignored
    says:

    Golfnut @ 1.10pm

    Do you know the ‘ich dien’ = ‘eich dyn’ myth, which began life in the Victorian period?

    And of course, as you appreciate me typing here, the Cymry never ‘gave up’. (Even when your own Bonny Prince Charlie was ‘Prince of Wales’ [sic.])

  23. bittie45
    Ignored
    says:

    Only 17000 signatures in support of independence required to reach the 250000 target on Yes.scot.

    For those who haven’t yet, please consider adding yours.

  24. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    Re Royal costs.

    Have a look at this …

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchies_in_Europe#Costs

    I can’t be arsed looking any deeper into this, but was surprised by the assertion … “Revenues from these hereditary possessions have been placed at the disposition of the British government …. the revenues of GBP 304.1 million (fiscal year of 2015/16) far exceed the expenses of the British royal family in this sense resulting in a “negative cost” of the British monarchy.”

    I object to monarchy on a moral basis – I don’t agree with hereditary privilege being part of the framework of society. The message it sends rather than the cost annoys me most.

    Something does disturb me though … the world’s most successful nations are monarchies (Norway etc) which does shake my believes.

  25. exile
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Jockanese Wind Talker at 12.35

    Thank you for archiving!

  26. Legerwood
    Ignored
    says:

    Capella at 11:21 am

    Self-ID and review of GRA Act.

    I do not think the SG had any intention of proceeding with the slf-ID/GRA business at this time and their announcement of a delay and further consultation was pretty much what I would have expected after reading the documents related to the review to date. I think you gave a link to them and I had also found them for myself.

    In particular the detailed analysis of the responses – 15,000 – or so that was carried out by an independent researcher. Reading that, albeit quickly, it was clear to me that the SG would not proceed even although there seemed to be a majority in favour of various changes the opposition was pretty strong and coherent. No government could ignore that.

    So as I said, not surprised by their decision but it certainly caught a lot of other people on the hop especially the ones, some of whom were prominent on this site, who saw it as a way to beat, and possibly divide, the SNP.

    You do not stay in power for 12 years or more by handing the opposition that sort of cudgel.

  27. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    One of the main players from Scotland in Union’s “green ink brigade” is one Martin Redfern of Edinburgh. His letters pop up in newspapers all over the place from the Shetland Times to the Times of London.

    He’s a tryer alright and he has one today that is top of the letters page in the Independent which I’m sure will make him very happy.

    I doubt though that he will at all be happy with the video piece that the Independent have used of Nicola Sturgeon in a speech talking about Brexit and Independence that is used to “promote” his letter.

    The video is well worth a watch, reading his letter not so much 🙂

    https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/letters/nicola-sturgeon-boris-johnson-brexit-scottish-independence-a8979061.html

  28. Welsh Sion
    Ignored
    says:

    bittie45 @ 1.31

    Only 17000 signatures in support of independence required to reach the 250000 target on Yes.scot.

    For those who haven’t yet, please consider adding yours.

    ________

    Have already done so.

    In solidarity, I enclose the link.

    https://www.yes.scot/

  29. Iain mhor
    Ignored
    says:

    @golfnut 1:10pm

    Cheers! Nice and concise there, I always wondered why Duke of Rothesay over Prince of Scotland.
    When you’re cutting about as royalty, you can hit half a dozen other Dukes, Earls and Barons with a bread roll from 10 feet.
    If it was me, I’d have bridled at that.
    ‘Ehh Duke? ‘Prince’ ya wee dick and don’t forget it!”
    Ha! Just as well I’m not King of the World Mwuahahah!

  30. HandandShrimp
    Ignored
    says:

    Yesterday on the Guardian I asked if there was anything Boris could do to lose Tory support

    I wondered if turning up for a debate dressed as a golliwog would do it. Or perhaps a drunken greet and meet with the plebs ending up with a Karaoke rendition of Smack My Bitch Up with ambiguous mumbling leaving doubt as to whether he was singing about heroin or domestic violence.

    I postulated that as long as he said “31st October, do or die” he could do all the above and still win by a country mile.

    My arse was moderated almost instantly 🙂

    When did the Guardian become so utterly anemic and pathetic?

  31. schrodingers cat
    Ignored
    says:

    terms for regions like strathearn, dumbartonshire, perthshire forfarshire are used to efface the older underlying regions/kingdoms.

    in some cases, eg Angus, have tried to re invent themselves as a regional ancient identity

    this may sound like historical gobbledy gook, but such notions are taken very seriously by the establishment, eg that the boundary of fife is about to be broken, (1st time in living memory) with the creation of the Dunfermline and Clackmannanshire constituency, and Devon and Cornwall being combined into the Devonwall constituency is no unthought random act.

    neither are the 2 princes being named the earls of dunbartonshire and strathearn respectively

    it is a bit like renaming scotland as north britain

  32. naina tal
    Ignored
    says:

    Just been doon tae watch the parade at Bo’ness Children’s Fair. Gratifying number of Saltires on show. Only a few UJs though. Maybe no like the Indy mairches, but still…. Well done Bo’ness!

    BTW National Roadshow hits Bo’ness next week. What a week they’re hivven doon there!

  33. Capella
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Legerwood – except that they (the SG) put out statements announcing that it was their intention i.e. to legislate to make self ID possible within this parliamentary session.
    Fortunately, they now realise what a massive vote loser this is.

    But the pressure to legislate will be ferocious. I noted the fury expressed by Ross Greer and Kezia Dugdale during the Census debate; the reference by Ross Greer to protesters outside with “No Debate” placards; the Pride March speech by Patrick Harvie accusing MSPs of betraying his friends, all point to battles ahead.

  34. Iain mhor
    Ignored
    says:

    @galamcennalath

    As the maxim runs, the rich get rich by not spending money.
    For example the chooky rossy has incomes from his estates. How much does he spend of that income to upkeep the estates.
    A case in point:
    Chairlie is forever cutting aboot his big drum, Dumfries House, at Cumnock. Much of the landscaping and other restoration work was done ‘gratis’ by *ahem Voluntary Organisations and a fair bit of equipment was donated to those organisations by local businesses.

    I was working with one a while back, which donated a fair sum of equipment to local ‘Charity’ orgs. The fact that the business was on its uppers at the time rankled. The fact he was getting his big hoose done up free with child labour, didn’t help my mood.

    Now, I do not wish to disparage the various volunteer groups and charitable organisations, who do great work in the communities. Possibly having such merits as credit towards a chooky embra award or some such, might go a long way for kids and the unemployed trying to get a kickstart in life.
    The big hoose does also bring in tourism and money to the area. But somewhere, somewhere at a distance, I can’t help feeling that it was *kerching, free equipment, free child and unemployed labour and all it cost was a pat on the head, a photo op and a cardboard ‘Award’

    Ensuing profits? Well, maybe they are all plowed back into the community and I’m just a big cynical, grumpy arsehole.

  35. naina tal
    Ignored
    says:

    Iain Mhor at 2.31
    Agree with you about the rich not spending money. Royals don’t even carry money.

    Reminds me of a jaicket I aince bought. Nae pockets.
    Turned oot they were just sewed up. The guy in the tailors said they make them aw like that. Something tae dae wi the shape o the jaicket when they iron it. They just forgot tae unpick it.

    We had a guid laugh aboot it but he said he thought they often left the jaickets for royals sewed up. Because they nivver yaise the pockets oanywey. Dinnae need tae cairry money or a wallet or cairds. No even a hoose key. The lackey even keeps a poke o bilins and takes them oot the paper if Charlie or oany o them want a sook o a sweety.

  36. Hamish100
    Ignored
    says:

    Re McConnell

    Remember the furore when McConnell better have got the council’s Director of Museums job in Glasgow in the 1980’s. Who the heck is she? said one worthy.

    Ahh connections said another.

    That’s labour in charge

  37. JGedd
    Ignored
    says:

    The title of Duke of Rothesay was invented by Robert III for his eldest son, David. Before this, the title ‘Duke’ had not been used in Scotland. Thereafter, it was used as a title for the eldest son of the king, just as the English had Prince of Wales. ( Do you know, I don’t even care if anyone picks me upon this? It comes under the heading of royal trivia for me.)

    As for Elizabeth being referred to as Elizabeth II even in Scotland, there was some stir about this in Scotland at the time of her coronation and the misgivings of even the unionist set at the time were dismissed due to the so-called convention of taking the larger of the regnal numbers in listing the monarch. Didn’t work for James VI though, did it? There is a story that this was a quickly invented ‘convention’ demanded by Churchill to thwart seditious comment in Scotland, even of the more polite sort. After all, there had already been a pillar box or two blown up because of the royal crest on post boxes.

    ( Sorry had to take some time off from the gardening because of the heat. I would be happy if she were Elizabeth the Last and her numerous tribe could take themselves off to luxurious retirement where they can procreate to their heart’s delight but have to pay for the upkeep of their offspring themselves.)

  38. Golfnut
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Welsh Sion.

    Have to admit the Bonny Prince isn’t exactly one of my favourite historical characters, his sojourn here cost Scotland dear, had he been content with the Scottish Crown, our history might have been a little different. He was no loss to Wales.

    ‘ eich dyn ‘ I serve the Prince of Wales motto. Was it not supposed to have been taken from some dead Prince after a battle, excuse my ignorance.

  39. Golfnut
    Ignored
    says:

    @ JEff.

    Yes I think you may be right on the Duke of Rothsay, I think it was created so that the Scottish title matched the English.

    Churchill didn’t need to invent the convention, it had already been used in Scotland. One of Robert the Bruce’s grandsons became King when his older brother died. The name John was considered unlucky for a monarch, so he was crowned as Robert.

    Thanks for reminding me regarding about the origins of the Scottish title.

  40. bjsalba
    Ignored
    says:

    I recommend this piece about the wannabe PNM and Brexiteer claims.

    http://chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2019/06/making-sense-of-article-xxiv-smokescreen.html

  41. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    Golfnut says:

    The name John was considered unlucky for a monarch, so he was crowned as Robert.

    …. presumably because no one wanted to be seen following in John Balliol’s footsteps. And certainly not in that period of our history!

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Balliol

  42. bittie45
    Ignored
    says:

    Welsh Sion at 2:10
    Thanks for the proper link to https://www.yes.scot/

    My chin is really sore now, because after partially recovering hitting the deck from Rev’s clip, I came across https://tvlicenceresistance.info/
    where I perused a few articles and after failing to heed the propping jaw up advice, suspect I’ve done some permanent damage.

    Whilst the BBC is funded directly from your (mis)appropriated treasures account, I take comfort that each threatening reminder letter sent out by the Bullying Bullshit Cartel is redirecting funding that would otherwise go towards fake news production.

  43. Welsh Sion
    Ignored
    says:

    Golfnut @ 3.42

    You’re getting there! 😉

    ‘eich dyn’ = ‘your man’ in Welsh. Allegedly the words uttered by Edward I when he presented his baby son to the invaded Welsh as the ‘new’ Prince of Wales from the battlements of Caernarfon Castle, with the further emphasis that this baby spoke not a word of French nor English. (Nor obviously Welsh, but hey, who could quibble with the Conqueror of your country?)

    ‘ich dien’ of course is German for ‘I serve’ and if memory serves me right was the motto of the Duke of Luxembourg, who, along with his personal symbol of three ostrich feathers, was appropriated by Edward, the Black Prince on his murdering the said Duke and installing them, along with the motto, to the ‘Prince of Wales’ set up.

    All this of course is Victoriana make believe – Edward I did no such thing nor indeed present his son to the Welsh people. (Edward II, although born in Caernarfon – my home town – would be invested with his new Principality in Lincoln in 1301 in a private ceremony before his father.)

    This Principality, (by which we are incorrectly associated) lasted until 1535 (and the first ‘Act of Union’ aka Laws in Wales Act). Notwithstanding none of the subsequent ‘Princes of Wales’ came from anywhere but Wales, the title of PoW is NOT automatically given to the eldest son of the English/British monarch. The Sovereign has to personally appoint that dauphin to the role (as Elizabeth I/II did in 1958) and then he has to be invested with his (non-existent) Principality via Investiture.

    These ‘open air, public’ investitures of PoWs is relatively new – since 1911 in fact and with David Lloyd George’s contrivance to get David Windsor (aka Edward VIII) invested in Caernarfon Castle in that year. Charlie duly followed in 1969 – there being no son available to George VI to be made PoW and Princess Elizabeth could not be Princess of Wales.

    My father wrote a novel on the exploits of a young adolescent who intended to assassinate Charles Windsor on his big day. Note too that this was a real threat too with those on the edges of Welsh nationalism of the time threatening the same.

    Now back to our ‘Acts of Union’ of the 16th century which put an end to ‘the Principality.’ They also ended ‘Wales’ in English legal terms, as everywhere (until 1967) was to be referred to as ‘England’. That is why Robert Peffers and others make the point that there are only two signatories (Scotland and ‘England’) to your own Treaties and Acts of Union of 1706-1707.

    However, our self-same ‘Acts of Union’ (1535-1542) were abolished by Westminster as of 21 December 1993, so that we are no longer ‘in union’ with our eastern neighbour. (Remember, we haven’t been a Principality since 1535, nor considered as part of England since 1967).

    In consequence we wish for a speedy repeal of *your* Acts of Union with said southern neighbour and join us in the freedom that that entails.

    Next stop: Independence!

    Yours, aye.

    Dros Gymru / For Scotland

  44. kapelmeister
    Ignored
    says:

    Glasgow Tory councillor Euan Blockley registered his protest at the Council having an indy debate by …….er…speaking in the debate.

    Councillor Blockhead’s rhetorical style doesn’t win any prizes but there’s no doubting his commitment to the UK.
    I can see him leading a future (and small) Bring Back the Union Party in independent Scotland.

  45. Golfnut
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Welsh Sion.

    Thanks for that. I remember watching the ceremony on the telly, black and white for us.

    So we’re did the ‘ your man ‘ motto come from. Is it from the ancient Welsh ceremony before the Anglo Normans stuck there nebs in.

  46. geeo
    Ignored
    says:

    Cubby @8.53am

    Cheers for clarifying that, although doesn’t sound like anything i would say, bit too polite lol

    As for ‘SJW’s’ No idea, but apparently there are more than one of them !!(hah).

    Never mind, thats us posted today, so Cow Pie man will be happy 😉

  47. JGedd
    Ignored
    says:

    Golfnut

    Still here on gardening leave – meaning in my case, leave from gardening and some recalcitrant overgrowth. Thanks for responding.

    Slightly puzzled. Do you know which of Robert Bruce’s grandsons? Robert III was a great grandson of Robert Bruce and eldest of Robert II’s many sons. He was christened John and as an infant was not expected to live. However, the second brother was christened Robert and was a thorn in his brother’s side throughout his unhappy reign. John was given the regnal name of Robert but his brother continued to be called Robert and was made Duke of Albany when Dukes were being created in Scotland by Robert III. The title thereafter became the title given to the the Scottish monarch’s eldest brother.

    I sometimes wonder if the situation of the two brothers was a psychological element of Albany’s troublesome relationship with his older brother. He might have expected to reign had his sickly brother not lived to maturity and then to have his own name, Robert, taken as John’s regnal name might have rankled. Not having enough heirs was often a problem for monarchs but nearly as bad was having too many.

    David, the first Duke of Rothesay, did not live to become King and died in mysterious circumstances. Robert III was so distraught at not being able to protect his sons from his jealous brothers and recalcitrant nobles that he felt obliged to send his remaining heir, James, to France. However, the ship was intercepted by English pirates and James was handed over to the English king. Robert III was said to be so overcome by grief that he retired to his favourite castle, Rothesay. ( Might have been the reason why the title granted to his late elder son had been Duke of Rothesay.)

    Everyone will know what happened to James subsequently.

    By the way, the story about Churchill concerned the regnal number, not the regnal name.

    It’s a hot day and my brain is fried. Going to take a long cool drink in the shade and dare the weeds to grow.

  48. Golfnut
    Ignored
    says:

    @ gallamcennalath

    Good point, regards John Balliol, toom tabard himself, though I have read also King John of England, Richards brother as the reason. Toom Tabard would I think be more likely for Scots to reject the name John.

  49. JGedd
    Ignored
    says:

    Anyone know why Duke of A-L-B-A-N-Y cameout as Caesarly in my post. I know I’ve been out in the sun too long but..

  50. geeo
    Ignored
    says:

    Dane @10.09am

    I suspect viewing figures for wings suggest otherwise than what you claim.

    Why do people always project their negativity as if it is endemic to others ?

    YOU are looking in less often, YOU.

    You really shouldn’t try talk for others, especially when the blog here is massive (3rd biggest political blog in uk) which is some achievement considering most viewers will be in Scotland and the topic matter is mostly attacking anti indy unionist media, which is nearly all of it, on behalf of around half of Scots.

    The blog just held a record fundraiser, not bad for a blog apparently turning folk off.

  51. Welsh Sion
    Ignored
    says:

    Golfnut @ 4.49 pm.

    Apologies, I must have explained it badly.

    ‘Eich dyn’ = ‘Your man’ (or ‘Votre homme’, if you understand French).

    This was NEVER said by Longshanks – it’s either a bad pun on ‘ich dien’ or an attempt by Victorian educators to normalise Edward I as a benevolent overlord to the cowed Welsh. (Those of us with a good head for history know all about ‘Victorian educators’ and what they did for the native, Celtic languages of these islands …)

    Before the Conquest, Wales had its own kings and Princes, with the last native Prince of Wales, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd being killed in battle on 11 December 1282 – a date marked in our collective memory. He was even acknowledged as PoW by the King of England – Henry III – in 1267. He also made agreements with the Comyn family in Scotland. His brother, Dafydd, assumed the title but was subjected to a ("Tractor" - Ed)’s (aye, right) death by Longshanks a year later on his capture.

    There’s a lot which some people don’t know about Welsh history (often deliberately so, others because of a failure of education), but I’d be happy to recommend useful background reading to anyone here (either through the medium of English or Welsh.)

    Cofion.

  52. JMD
    Ignored
    says:

    Re bickering and tetchiness on threads btl, always happens when a thread’s been running too long though people who refuse to stop feeding/engaging with trolls doesn’t help either.

    ON TOPIC

    I didn’t/wouldn’t watch that programme however I can’t believe that that there weren’t at least another couple of thousand undecided’s and soft no’s who had the misfortune to watch that programme and who are now at least thinking hard about switching to indy. (though why would anyone with at least half a functioning brain be watching the likes of the Jeremy Vile show in the first place?)

  53. Golfnut
    Ignored
    says:

    @ JGedd.

    Robert the 111 was indeed the monarch renamed, his brother A-baby would undoubtedly have made the better king and,he knew it. A bany’s son was beheaded when James returned to Scotland. A bloody period in Scotland’s history.

  54. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Scottish Yoons don’t know who to get angrier at today Nicola Sturgeon or Leo Varadkar, so they’re trolling them both
    Apparently they think Scotland Wales Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland should all leave the business of the UK to the UK because they can’t bring themselves to say England rules OK No Surrender God save the Queen

  55. schrodingers cat
    Ignored
    says:

    WS

    A History of Wales by John Davies is a good start

  56. Golfnut
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Welsh Sion.

    Thanks, I understand fully, the rewriting of history has been going on for very long time.

    I had a spat with a historian who had written an article posted on face book regarding the relationship between Scotland and England.
    I took umbrage with part of the article stating that the victory at Bannockburn was unusual because the Scots didn’t win very often.

    I responded of course giving dates, names and locations of Each battle fought between England and Scotland, of the 51 battles fought between the two countries, Scotland had won 29.

    Remember this was a historian I was correcting, my comments were taken down of course, they just can’t have the establishment narrative being challenged.

    I feel sorry for the English, the ground is going to be very hard when they hit it.

  57. manandboy
    Ignored
    says:

    IAN DUNT ON PUTIN & THE NEW WAY OF COMMUNICATING BY NOT COMMUNICATING.
    The architect of ‘confused perplexity’, which underpins Putin’s reign in Russia, is Vladizlav Surkov, Putin’s chief political communication strategist. Here in the UK, his name is not recognised and his huge impact and influence on UK political discourse is suppressed. It appears that the Conservative Party has copied what he has done in Russia, as a means to achieve the same result as that achieved by Putin – staying in power for a long time.

    https://mailchi.mp/politics/week-in-review-putins-attack-on-liberalism?e=d73254f154

    “Fake news, the inability to assess the reliability of the information you see, the emergence of a political class with no concern about truth, which will say anything to get what it wants and is seemingly completely unfussed by whether someone points out it’s wrong, the death of any sense of honour in the manner in which one discusses things in politics.

    The aim is to make it almost impossible to assess arguments. And once that is chiselled away, your ability to form independent judgements is fundamentally compromised.

    This has always been core to authoritarian agendas. It’s why making Winston Smith say 2+2=5 is so important in 1984. Once you cannot reason independently, you must defer to a higher power.”

  58. Cubby
    Ignored
    says:

    Thepnr

    Good to see you back posting again.

  59. Cubby
    Ignored
    says:

    Robert the Truth

    It’s not good to see you back posting again.

  60. Welsh Sion
    Ignored
    says:

    Golfnut and cat.

    Have read both Davies books (he translated his own work from Cymraeg initially – and would recommend them as being the best to start off with. (Although active in the National Party, Davies wrote objectively as a historian and is sadly missed.)

    It’s a pity that (mostly) English historians are of the Starkey and Schama variety. Concentrating on (English) Crown and little else – and often woefully (? wilfully) ignorant of things outside that little patch. Things are changing in both our countries however and the hope is that the next generation *I’m 51) will know more about the history of their own country.

    Best wishes.

  61. Welsh Sion
    Ignored
    says:

    You’re favourite BBC Scotland blogger states today:

    “How do I know what corrupts a bee?”

    The answer’s obvious, Mr Taylor:

    “Shorter flowers and more honey.”

    Happy weekend, everybody!

  62. CameronB Brodie
    Ignored
    says:

    Legerwood
    I hope you’re not doubting my motivations re. my concerns over self-ID? There are radical trans-activists within all major political parties, including the SNP. This should be evident to all who are paying attention. These are the ones undermining liberal democracy and the indy movement.

  63. Iain mhor
    Ignored
    says:

    Learning a bit of history today, nice one.. Not that I’m totally ignorant, but there’s a lot of it and I don’t tend to keep it in RAM. Good to be reminded of the neuks of Scottish history now and again.

    @naina tal 3:12pm
    I had a bit of a laugh at that. Just visions that Chairlie and the heavy team don’t actually speak wi bools in the mooth. They’re just necking the soor plooms and kola cubes a lackey pops in their gub surreptitiously.
    “Good horsey” 😀

  64. Legerwood
    Ignored
    says:

    CameronB Brodie says:
    28 June, 2019 at 6:27 pm
    Legerwood
    I hope you’re not doubting my motivations re. my concerns over self-ID? “”
    ………

    No, because I had not noticed your position on this issue. Sorry.

  65. ronnie anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    J Gedd U got caught by wordpress settings in the 1st 4 letters of the word in question lol.

  66. JGedd
    Ignored
    says:

    Thanks Ronnie!

  67. jfngw
    Ignored
    says:

    Something must be afoot, that’s three programmes on the networks pumping out anti Scottish drivel this week, Jeremy Vine, Newsnight, and a Portillo outburst on This Week. They certainly see the writing on the wall and they don’t like it when we are not bending our knees and thanking them for stealing our resources.

  68. CameronB Brodie
    Ignored
    says:

    Legerwood
    “No, because I had not noticed your position on this issue. Sorry.”

    No problem then. If you ever do get interested, you could do worse that search back for material I’ve posted, as I’m pretty sure I’ve provided sufficient evidence to convince any reasonable observer, that women exist and have embodied, sex-based, human rights. These trump feelz any day, in any reasonable court of law.

  69. jfngw
    Ignored
    says:

    How much does it cost to buy the ermine, ask Jack, it’s about £1.5bn, but you don’t have to use your own money. We paid for Jack’s ermine fetish.

  70. geeo
    Ignored
    says:

    Trump ain’t going to like this news.

    Special EU channel to allow trade with Iran, circumvent US sanctions is now operational – statement https://www.rt.com/news/462944-eu-channel-iran-sanctions-bypass/

    Question is, where does that leave uk firms if Oct 31st actually IS exit day and WM are desperate for a trade deal with ‘murca?

    On the outside of EU/Iran trade and even more squeezed. Think america will replace those lost orders uk firms may have with Iran ?

    Nah, me neither.

  71. jfngw
    Ignored
    says:

    Jack thinks that England is a larger trading partner than the EU for Scotland. On Brexit Day potential Scotland trading area still in the EU/EAA/EFTA, EU area 4.4million kms, England area 131,000 kms, population, EU450 million, England 56 million. Which has the best potential for Scotland export expansion?

  72. Legerwood
    Ignored
    says:

    Cameron Brodie @ 7.32 pm

    “”No problem then. If you ever do get interested, you could do worse that search back for material I’ve posted, as I’m pretty sure I’ve provided sufficient evidence to convince any reasonable observer, that women exist and have embodied, sex-based, human rights””
    …..

    I am a woman, a reasonable one on the whole, and do not need academic tracts to convince me of the fact of my existence as a woman. But thank you for the thought.

  73. CameronB Brodie
    Ignored
    says:

    Legerwood
    You’re welcome, though self-ID would conflate gender with sex, so the issue is a matter of concern for everyone, not just women. 😉

  74. Capella
    Ignored
    says:

    The National article on Cineworld not showing the new Robert the Bruce film in Scotland:

    http://archive.fo/OiFPy

  75. twathater
    Ignored
    says:

    @ jfngw 8.01 pm you took my post right oot ma brain ( scary ) but lard jack thinks we can’t see the stupidity in his statement , maybe this is how he thought when handing that 1.5 billion back to wastemonster , but typically his wee holiday buddie widnae like tae confuse or confabulate her co conspirator
    After all it widnae dae to point out that a market of 405 million people is mair than a market of 56 million people , but there again arithmetic was never a strong point of jacks liebour unless it was filling in their expenses forms

  76. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @Capella says: 28 June, 2019 at 8:39 pm:

    ” … The National article on Cineworld not showing the new Robert the Bruce film in Scotland:”

    http://archive.fo/OiFPy

    That is the best laugh I’ve had for weeks, Capella, these idiots down south are firmly convinced that it was the film Braveheart that caused the rise in Scotland of the independence movement and now they are in abject terror that a movie about the Bruce will end their precious union.

    The levels of ignorance and stupidity are, (almost), unbelievable.

    Now I might just be mixing with the wrong people but I don’t know a single Scottish person who doesn’t know that Braveheart was more fiction than history.

  77. ahundredthidiot
    Ignored
    says:

    UK Govt should follow Cineworlds brave example and immediately ban tartan

  78. ahundredthidiot
    Ignored
    says:

    OT

    Trump on for a landslide

    Democrat candidates championing abortion rights for trans-women (AKA men……..mental)

    Putin on the money with the death of liberalism

    Hope my Party is paying attention – social responsibility, yes, liberalism, no.

  79. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Is that David Cameron back to banning movies or television series about Scotland again or Jeremy Hunt removing Scotland’s diplomatic service even though Scotland pays for it

    Or could it be the BBC because they need to make room for Kirsty Wark’s toryfest of Luurv Scotland movie starring everybody else but the people who count, our government that we vote for and our people, not their stooges

    This shitshower of Tory terror tactics is two things, laughable but at the same time deadly serious, once again Scotland speaks and once again England tries to tell us to shut up using all the tools they have to do it and their wee pet house Jocks in Scotland keep backing them up because they’re either gutless users or sectarian bigots too afraid or too bigoted to run their own country

    There’s no doubt in my mind whatsoever that Cineworld will produce the most plausible cooked up shitty reply of an excuse they think they can get away with but this time we’ve nailed you because it’s once too often playing the same tactical stupid game to deny what Scots might find interesting at this moment in time

    Scotland is not England if our football team were to win the world cup Scotland wouldn’t instantly believe we had the God given right to rule the world like England does on a regular basis no, to us Scots a movie is just a movie
    we’re educated that way

    If England wish to attack Scotland they have to come up with a better tactic than something the brain of a child thought up like Jeremy Hunt for example

    Prime Minister for Jesus sake, Child Minister more like

  80. Ghillie
    Ignored
    says:

    Dear Dr Jim!

    How dare you defame children?!!!

  81. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    And lo as we speak a statement has come from Cineworld to say that there is *No demand* in Scotland to see the new Robert The Bruce Movie

    That’s about as blatant as you can get *No demand*

  82. Ghillie
    Ignored
    says:

    ahundrethidiot

    The Tories: Hold my Pimms.

  83. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @ahundredthidiot says:28 June, 2019 at 9:27 pm:

    ” … UK Govt should follow Cineworlds brave example and immediately ban tartan”

    Well, ahundredthidiot, it wouldn’t be the first time Westminster has done that and also banned playing the pipes. Matter of fact throughout my entire time in the state Education system I was Lochgellied for speaking my native language and often being told it was slang English.

    I deliberately used Lowland Scots at least once in every period. It drove them wild for I was never out of the top two for English. I guess I was always a rebel against English domination against Scotland.

  84. Dorothy Devine
    Ignored
    says:

    Ha!Ha! Is there really no demand in Scotland to see Robert the Bruce?

    I presume that there is demand south of the border?

    cineworld might be losing customers.

  85. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    I’ve got some books if they’d like to come round and burn them, they’re about Scottish stuff so I must be breaking the new laws about to come into force in the county of Jockshire

  86. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    @Dorothy Devine

    Apparently all the people who count have seen the film and it’s no good so England is saving us Scots from bad cinematography

  87. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @Dorothy Devine says:28 June, 2019 at 9:57 pm:

    … Ha!Ha! Is there really no demand in Scotland to see Robert the Bruce?
    I presume that there is demand south of the border?
    cineworld might be losing customers.”

    These people just do not use their heads. If they wanted Scots to not want to watch it they could have just advertised it with a Butcher’s Apron on the advertisement. That would have done it for sure.

  88. winifred mccartney
    Ignored
    says:

    I sincerely hope no one we know will darken the doors of Cineworld again. Hit them where it hurts – in the pocket.

  89. ahundredthidiot
    Ignored
    says:

    I am guessing that there might be a wee award in the next round of Honours for whoever runs Cineworld – a bit like the queen of Glasgow Airport getting her OBE for allowing rendition flights use the airport…….allegedly.

    Gotta give them credit – they take care of their own.

  90. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @winifred mccartney says: 28 June, 2019 at 10:12 pm:

    ” … I sincerely hope no one we know will darken the doors of Cineworld again. Hit them where it hurts – in the pocket.”

    It’s the same old story, Winifred, “Except for viewers in Scotland”.

    You just have to laugh – could they manage to be more small minded than that?

  91. Scot Finlayson
    Ignored
    says:

    `Cineworld Glasgow Renfrew Street is the tallest cinema in the world and the busiest, by customer base, in the UK`,

    the YES city of Glasgow has the busiest Ciniworld in the UK and yet they refuse to show a film about one of Scotland`s greatest heroes King Robert the Bruce,

    all to protect their blood stained Brutish Empire,

    to the good Scottish citizens of Glasgow boycott,boycott boycott.

  92. kapelmeister
    Ignored
    says:

    If a film was made about the events of 1706/1707 in Scotland then presumably Cineworld would have to decline to show it.

  93. Legerwood
    Ignored
    says:

    Just saw a report on the BBC News website that the EU has signed a trade deal with South America. Took 20 years to negotiate!

    “”The EU and South American economic bloc Mercosur have clinched a huge trade deal after 20 years of negotiations.””

    So recent EU trade deals have been with Canada, Singapore, Japan and now South America with India in the offing and the UK is leaving.

  94. Dane
    Ignored
    says:

    RobertTheTruth @ 11:31
    Robert, nowhere in my post do I mention the SNP. I am well aware that the Independence Movement is more than just the SNP. I don’t know if you misunderstand what I was getting at. I do not want a repetition of fixed viewpoints, that’s my point.I like to read informative, & sometimes diverse opinions of good contributors on here. If you check the archives in any of the previous articles, you will see many of the same protagonists, spouting the same negative drivel time & time again. These are the ones I was referring too, they will never change. All they do is clog up the forum. I’m sure you must have seen some of the veiled threats made on here recently. Hardly encouraging, & certainly not showing the movement in a good light.

  95. Golfnut
    Ignored
    says:

    I wonder where they got the ‘no demand’ idea from. Wee Sleekit, cowering, timerous beasties that they are. They can’t even insult our intelligence properly. I’m playing golf on Sunday with about 12 guys, I won’t be having any conversations with any of them before I see them at the club. I would wager that there will not be a single one of them that does not know about this. Do they really think we won’t get to see this film.

  96. Dane
    Ignored
    says:

    Geeo @ 5:03pm
    Geeo, I don’t know what you’re getting on your high horse about. I didn’t come on to argue with genuine contributors. I am not being negative about people putting positive points & information. You are a regular contributor on here, so you should be aware of the people I’m referring to. The same ones who crop up on every article spouting the same drivel time & again. Also the ones making threats, veiled & otherwise to other posters.
    I also said that Stu’s blog is the biggest & best. I also know Stu has just had a record fundraiser, & worth every penny.
    You are correct in saying that the blog is well read & appreciated by many,including non & not yet believers in Independence. The same cannot be said about the comments section though. Unfortunately, it has become a turn off for some activists. If you don’t know that, you’ll have to get out amongst the grassroots a bit more. There are many excellent regular posters, and several occasional with good points, well worth reading.
    I still look in at the comments, but I tend to use the “Find” function to get to the posters who I appreciate want to read. It makes life easier.
    This article looks like it has run its course, & Stu will probably have the next one ready soon. I’ll look back in then.

  97. Legerwood
    Ignored
    says:

    What about Vue cinema? Are they showing it? Vue Stirling does not appear to be showing it at the moment but the MacRobert Cinema at the University of Stirling is showing it over the next few days.

  98. Kangaroo
    Ignored
    says:

    Interesting article on the Irish Border
    https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-06-27/brexit-do-or-die-game-theory-johnson-lying-hunt-ireland-eu

    It links to a series of articles in the Daily Telegraph

  99. Fionan
    Ignored
    says:

    … “Ha!Ha! Is there really no demand in Scotland to see Robert the Bruce?
    I presume that there is demand south of the border?
    cineworld might be losing customers.”

    These people just do not use their heads. If they wanted Scots to not want to watch it they could have just advertised it with a Butcher’s Apron on the advertisement. That would have done it for sure.”

    Robert Peffers, that made me laugh out loud, not a mean feat!

    Shopping tonight at tesco, all the strawberries had the saltire, the universal butchers apron seems to have disappeared. So, strawbs for pud tomorrow 🙂

  100. kapelmeister
    Ignored
    says:

    Mercosur has 14 full and associate member countries, now with a trade deal with the EU. Yet brexiteers will think not being part of the Mercosur bloc/ EU bloc of over 40 countries is of little import (in reality, little export).

  101. Capella
    Ignored
    says:

    If Robert the Bruce is not shown in Scottish cinemas, it destroys the “water cooler” effect. That’s the well known phenomenon of people getting together in spare moments and saying, “Did you see…?”

    Without that shared experience, people are fragmented, isolated and deprived of the means to make sense of their experience. That’s the point.

    We must find a way of showing this film to the widest audience possible. Anyone can arrange a public viewing providing you are at least 35 miles from a commercial cinema.

  102. geeo
    Ignored
    says:

    Dane@11.16pm.

    So, now you are claiming people are not reading the btl comments as much as the articles ?

    Are there seperate figures for distinguishing that claim ?

    Or, again, you are projecting ?

    Oh wait…some grass roots activists “told you’ which clearly translates as being a representative fact.

    By all means, feel free to moan about btl comments, but to claim there is a surge away from them by site visitors because you and a few others said so, is projection of your personal view.

    I always read the btl comments on here, as it is a great place for quality information from people with great ideas and insights helpful to the indy cause, which is exactly why they are polluted by allsorts of trolls, naysayers, agitators, splitters etc, desperate to get people to STOP READING.

    The info of a topic post by Stu is the thumping heart beat of this site, the btl discussion is the blood which spreads the hearts message far and wide.

    People can learn as much from each other down here btl, as they learn from Stu’s articles.

    Even the agitators etc teach us stuff, we learn how to identify their techniques, styles, language of division and so on, then WE can share even THAT information far and wide to others.

    Once people see it, they never unsee it.

    Once that happens, they question stuff they see.

    And THAT makes them harder to fool.

    THEN they start to believe WE are correct.

    Telling folk on here that “people are put off by btl comments section” COULD be read as “do not read the btl comments folks”

    Its already the plan by some, clearly non indy folks, to try make btl look divided, particularly by the concern trolls and “sleekit” types who constantly berate the SNP and FM.

    Lets not help these people.

    Meet them btl and fucking tell them we ain’t buying the shite they are selling.

  103. HandandShrimp
    Ignored
    says:

    I see the Guardian gives Robert the Bruce 3 stars. That means it is a decent enough film and worth a look. Cineworld have no problem showing 1 and 2 star movies. The only conclusion there can be is that the decision is political.

  104. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    WGD:- ‘BBC2 Newsnight’s Scottish Toryfest.’

    ….”Out of the nine political voices that the programme presented from Scotland, seven were Conservatives. And not one of those representatives of a minority party was asked to explain what mandate they have from the people of Scotland to block another independence referendum. So yeah, a totally balanced and even handed presentation of the current state of Scottish politics after 20 years of the Scottish Parliament. That’s your BBC balance for you.”…..

    https://weegingerdug.wordpress.com/2019/06/28/bbc2-newsnights-scottish-toryfest/

  105. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Paragraph 18 of the Smith Commission says clearly Scotland can have a future referendum any time it likes, and the UK signed it

    They’re just hoping enough of us don’t know it because they know their own tame media won’t tell anybody

  106. chicmac
    Ignored
    says:

    I remember Tesco refusing to stock Braveheart VHS tapes, then after that became a media issue (it wouldn’t now) they stocked it but it was £50, way above the norm for VHS movies.

  107. chicmac
    Ignored
    says:

    PS Mrs Brown was made a year after Braveheart but appeared on TV years after Mrs Brown.

    Then there was year Braveheart was rescheduled at New Year.

  108. chicmac
    Ignored
    says:

    PS2

    Cameron made a personal plea to the head of Sony not to license Outlander in the UK.

    Caledonia was banned on the Beeb.

    Letter from America was banned on the Beeb (after it was explained to them what it was really about).

    Retaining Scotland has been a long term goal of the English Establishment.

  109. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Another one of the reasons why Westminster keeps control over broadcasting

    Why would any country want to keep the power to control what’s broadcast in another country, no need for postcards

    They say North Korea’s bad…..really!? is it?

  110. Col
    Ignored
    says:

    Lucky enough to live in Glasgow so there is plenty choice when it comes to watching films on the big screen. I’m done with cineworld now, there’s a 9 screen cinema opening up in the St Enoch centre soon so I that along with all the rest is more than enough choice and choose I shall. Just not to cineworld in the future. Sick of big companies thinking they can bully their customers.

  111. Reluctant Nationalist
    Ignored
    says:

    May’s wonderful scowling performance with Putin, what a masterclass. Now THAT’S acting, all for our benefit. From one corrupt arsehole to another, I wonder if Saint Nicola was glad she didn’t have to do that sort of thing for fear of being unable to suppress a smirk, or if she thought she would have left no seat dry in the gallery.

  112. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    Yeah, take your time Scotland. What’s the rush?

    Meanwhile the world moves on.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/EUCommScotland/status/1144197512372391936

  113. Iain 2
    Ignored
    says:

    Thats cineworld lost two more regular customers.

  114. Artyhetty
    Ignored
    says:

    Robert the Bruce film is showing at Vue in Edinburgh and premiered at Edinburgh film festival.

    Cineworld been off our radar for quite sometime since there was an error with son’s direct debit, he had a subscription as he used to go there a lot, they did not tell him there was an error and sent it to their ‘internal debt collector’! Son has never been in ‘debt’, ever, I was livid and they got short shrift from me. Avoid them, nasty company.

  115. Golfnut
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Cappella

    It destroys the ‘ water cooler ‘ effect.
    I kind of disagree with that. Yes people won’t be discussing the content of the film, because they haven’t seen it, but then a lot of people might not watch it anyway for a variety of reasons. Instead they may be talking about Robert the Bruce for a different reason, remember Cameron asking Sony not to licence outlander in the UK. No matter what the truth is behind not showing this film, the UK gov will get the blame. Coming immediately after the FO stopping diplomatic services for Nicola,just emphasises how petty and arrogant the UK gov is.

  116. Ronnie
    Ignored
    says:

    Check put this article on the BBC website –

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-48801826

    – specifically check out the photos. The kids showing the Queen round the Gaelic language centre are all holding saltires *and* union flags and some just the latter. Now presumably they didn’t all bring them from home, so someone must have dished them out. The teachers? The Queen’s entourage? Either way it’s turning kids into a transparently political statement.

  117. bjsalba
    Ignored
    says:

    @Kangaroo 28 June, 2019 at 11:31 pm

    https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-06-27/brexit-do-or-die-game-theory-johnson-lying-hunt-ireland-eu

    It links to a series of articles in the Daily Telegraph

    Interesting , Yes but only as a guide to how Brexiteers/ERG types think.

    From this, I get the impression that they still think they can get a good deal from the EU – that when faced with no deal – the EU will cave in but with enough “concessions” on the UK side so they can save face and pretend they are not.

    Personally, I cannot see this happening.

  118. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    I’d recommend Craig Murray for sobering and wide perspective, although, for once I see what I consider an uncharacteristic failure; a failure to grasp just how weak a leader Jeremy Corbyn actually is, despite whatever principles he might have.

    https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/06/a-moment-in-history/#tc-comment-title

    The “best of a bad lot” doesn’t cut it when the “bad lot” is the spectacularly dismal and inept shower of political empty vessels we are currently saddled with, across the whole political spectrum. Corbyn gives an increasingly remote opportunity to change the script, but not I think, to write the happy ending.

    I don’t know where the head of the Establishment snake is, the critical pivot point where everything can be put to right by a magnificently benign cascade, but I do know the “malevolence” could not manage these surreal misadventures without the puppet media and it’s indoctrinating propaganda.

    As religion arguably loses it’s grip on the increasingly secular world and forfeits it’s capacity to control the masses, the “modern” media is stepping in to fill the vacancy, and it’s an ugly and dangerous phenomenon that is currently unfolding.

    At some point, it will start the burning of heretics, and damning non-believers.

  119. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Putin supported Scottish Independence and called Cameron out.

    Russia resists constant calls for war in the region on th3 Russian borders. Nonatter hiw mych the West wants to stoke up confrontation. Russia and China resist confrontation and war in the UN. Constantly vote against. Even though the US/UK warmongers are constantly trying to maintain conflict and suffering.

    The Russian saved the West in the 11WW. A conflict they wanted to have nothing to do with. Describing it as a class war for Imperialists. They were still draw into it and had to defend themselves. Cruelty treated. 26Million Russian died defending the West. 1/2Million British and French, 1/2 Americans. They came in later 1941. Used atomic bomb on Japan. Still arming the world and creating conflict.

    150 million people have gained self determination and freedom since the 1990’s. Gorbachev,Yeltsin and Putin. The highest number in history in that space of time? Perestroika and Glasnost. Putin supports self determination and freedom, The population of the USSR halved from 300million+ to 150Million.

    One of the reason the EU/UN supported Scottish self determination and need for democracy in Scotland. The Eastern European countries achieving self determination and self governance had more democracy than Scotland had in the UK Union. That is why the EU/UN will support it. If people in Scotland vote for it.

    Russia and China are no warmongers. Russia spends $69Billion on Defence 150 million pop.
    China spends $211Billion? 1.3Billion pop. They would rather build up their economy. Help people prosper in peace.

    UK spends £40Billion. 62million pop (more pro rata)

    US spends $611Billion. Pop 320 million. A third of all world spending. They can’t afford it.

    Saudi Arabia spends $69Billion. 40million pop (pro rata one of the highest).

    The US/UK/Saudi. The world warmongers starting illegal conflict everywhere. They can’t afford it. Up to their eyes in debt. Highest debt pro rata in the world. People suffering fir it.

    Trump is trying to stop world conflict. That is why the Americns elected him. They are fed up of illegal war and conflict damaging their economy. Trump might be daft but he is not as daft as that. Trying to speak and engage in dialogue. Jaw, jaw instead of war. War. There is a balance. A lot of the problems in going are a result of the previous corrupt administration. Clinton won but lost D’Hondt system. Probably just as well. The US warmongers would have had conflict all over the world by now. On the Russian border. Increased division in the Middle East, There would have been more use of redundant weaponry. Johnstone and Hunt are culpable. Trying to stir up more conflict. Ignoramuses. Imbeciles. Just as well they will be gone before long. Into oblivion.

    Vote SNP/SNP. Vote for Independence. Get someone to vote as well. Stop conflict in the world. Just by putting a cross on it. Putin is not the enemy. The Westminster unionists imbeciles are damaging the world and the Scottish economy. The Tory/unionist Brexit shambles and EU conflict. The greens could not save themselves. Vote SNP./SNP.

  120. starlaw
    Ignored
    says:

    Ronnie ; 7-05
    Someone does hand these flags out don’t know who they are from, home office perhaps. During a visit to a school, by Prince William Saltires were taken from the kids and they were given UJ’s. At the opening of the Queensferry crossing the kids were on the bridge denying access to these people.

  121. Robert Louis
    Ignored
    says:

    CINEWORLD, showing themselves as mere political puppets and state censors. Were this happening with a film in China or Russia, their would be ‘outrage’ at Westminster. But, if it is done to the people of Scotland that is deemed ok. It is censorship, no more no less. Any so-called excuses by the charlatans running Cineworld are lies.

    The English colonial state is now really desperate to hang on to Scotland, and subvert democracy in its last colony, Scotland. By forcing cinema chains to censor the showing of a major movie about one of Scotland’s Greatest leaders, just shows how feart England really is.

    Cineworld can go f*** itself sideways, and its enablers, managers and directors. Boycott Cineworld. Make them pay for this blatant state sponsored censorship of Scottish history and culture.

    I fully expect the directors of Cineworld to receive Knighthoods in the next list of honours. Just like they do with subservient cloying political puppets in communist China.

  122. Golfnut
    Ignored
    says:

    @Breeks.

    Regards Corbyn.

    It does appear to be a bit of a blind spot for Craig, I don’t see any benefit for Scotland if Corbyn becomes Prime Minister, he wants out of the EU, he is undoubtedly establishment voting fodder along with the rest of Labour.
    I see the the Civil Service have gone political again, apparently they consider Corbyn to frail for the job of PM.
    It’s seems there code of conduct can be disregarded if and when its suits.

  123. Brian Lucey
    Ignored
    says:

    “Interesting article on the Irish Border
    https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-06-27/brexit-do-or-die-game-theory-johnson-lying-hunt-ireland-eu

    It links to a series of articles in the Daily Telegraph”

    May as well link to an economic analysis by Pa Broon. The Torygraph is as useful a analytical source on Brexit and the Irish Border as I am on how to construct a fusion reactor

  124. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    The film will be a great success available.worldwide. Scottish films are always a great success worldwide. A massive engaged audience. Scottish matters influence the world. They always have done.. Scotland is a great attraction for the film industry. Scottish film industry is doing really well. Bringing in visitors and revenues. Famous worldwide. Scotlabd has great hero’s and stories to tell. Including Alex Salmond. A great Statesman with world influence. A great storyteller. Really interesting.

    Cineworld will just lose out, A poor financial decision, They are already losing out. The profit comes for the estate increasing in value. When it is sold. That is why the drinks and sweeties are priced so high, To try and offset profits. Cineworld have made another bad commercial decision. Bad for review and customer service, They could change their policy or lose out, Their poor decision. Losing revenues and business. People will just use other outlets to view it, A massive audience and fan base.

  125. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    @starlaw
    @Ronnie

    Flags. I have clear, but admittedly biased views.

    The Saltire is our national flag, it symbolises our country, and belongs to everyone. It inclusive.

    The Union Flag represents a union which half of Scots no longer want to belong to. It is partisan. Waving it is a political statement, nothing else.

    Waving a Union Flag is Scotland is just as confrontational, now, as waving an EU flag in a Leave part of England. It won’t be interpretated as a neutral symbol of a union we are all part of, it will be seen by many as promoting something they definitely don’t want. If there was a Royal visit to say Grimsby and someone handed out 100s of EU flags for kids to wave, would this go down well?

  126. Footsoldier
    Ignored
    says:

    Today’s Daily Telegraph highlighting SNP’s IT failures at £250M.

    Whilst this definitely requires scrutiny, the usual lack of balance and Telegraph’s obsession with independence and the SNP means the huge IT disasters in England are forgotten.

    Meanwhile the SNP wait for the other side to blunder in aid of our cause.

  127. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Corbyn is a total hypocrite. Letting down so many people. Mixed messages to con people. Just another Westminster unionist ignoramuses, Stuck in the past with policies that did not work then and will not work now. The world has moved on. Corbyn’s position on Trident among other things is just untenable. What a total hypocrite with no principles at all. Corbyn’s position on Scotland is just ignorant and arrogant.

    The mess and shambles the Tories leave could bring about another Indyref. that can be won. 2020 has a ring to it. Looks more likely now. Support reported to be rising. The Westminster Brexit shambles scandal. They could not make a better mess if they tried. Damaging the economy. It could damage the Scottish economy even further. Damage the world economy. The Westminster Brexit imbeciles. £multimillionaires lining there pockets on other people’s misery. Totally appalling.

  128. mr thms
    Ignored
    says:

    When you watch the BBC coverage of the 20th anniversary, remember that Scotland did not vote remain to a question to leave or remain a part of the United Kingdom. It voted ‘No’ to the question -‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’

    I spotted this in the Electoral Commission Report

    https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/elections-and-referendums/past-elections-and-referendums/referendums/scottish-referendum

    “4.49 Professor Tomkins was of the view that ‘independent country’ fudged the
    issue and did not get to the heart of the what the referendum was about. He
    was opposed to the idea that Scotland should become independent of the rest
    of the UK, but told us he could vote ‘Yes’ to the referendum question
    proposed, because he could accept that Scotland is already an independent
    country in all sorts of ways.
    I consider that the question must refer to statehood – “should Scotland
    become an independent state?” – and not to Scotland’s identity as a
    ‘country’. ..Scotland may already be an independent country but it is
    not (yet) an independent state.”

  129. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Management South of the border ordered the new Robert the Bruce film NOT to be shown in Scotland.

    Boycott Cineworld go elsewhere, don’t give them your hard earned cash, this shows what they think of Scots.

    https://www.thenational.scot/news/17738142.cineworld-offered-robert-the-bruce-film-but-didnt-answer/

  130. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    bjsalba says:

    …. but only as a guide to how Brexiteers/ERG types think … they still think they can get a good deal from the EU

    It’s quite difficult to separate the bullshit they spout to get gullible right wing voters on side, and what they actually believe. The problem being they appear to believe the impossible, which prompts questions about their mental state.

    Another aspect, they still confuse future trade arrangements with the Withdrawal Agreement. In the early stages Brexiteers thought they could do both in parallel. This was always nonsense, as trade talks can only occur after Brexit. The transition period negotiations into the WA allows time for this. So when Brexiteers talk of concessions from the EU it looks like they want to talk trade too early, again.

    The WA seems straightforward. Citizens rights, money owed, and an arrangement to protect the Good Friday Agreement. What is it the Brexiteers are unhappy with? The suspicion is that the hard core just don’t want any WA, they want a dirty ‘no deal’ exit. Then they believe the EU will give them the open trade they want, with no strings. Fantasy built on more fantasy.

  131. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Meanwhile no pro-EU MEP has featured on QT for almost ten years. On the otherhand they probably can’t get on because Farage has a permanent safe seat on QT.

    The BBC another British state propaganda machine worth boycotting as well.

    https://www.thenational.scot/news/17737182.people-are-sharing-this-incredibly-damning-question-time-graphic/?ref=mr&lp=1

  132. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    The Scottish *journalists* day

    What have you got on the SNP today says one *journo* to the other, well I heard one of them couldn’t get their tablet to work, perfect says the other we’ll go with *SNP IT failures*
    anything else? well I saw John Swinney eat a pie, Oh yes ya beauty *Swinney fails on nutrition in our schools* C’mon there must be more we can get them on, Oh well Nicola Sturgeon was wearing a fitbit style watch, Bazinga!! *Nicola Sturgeon in health scare is she fit for office*

    Well that’s it for the day back to bed for a rest before we meet up at the pub at tea time for some more fact finding

  133. Golfnut
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Mr thms

    Well spotted, brilliant.

  134. John H.
    Ignored
    says:

    Sorry if this has been posted before. BBC hypocrisy.

    apple.news/ACqOkDo3JQmKdBTUMMkiPwA

  135. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) and the quango Historic Environment Scotland (HES) are buying goods from England made in Third World countries and selling them to tourists in Scotland.

    They claim they can’t find Scottish producers, aye right.

    https://www.thenational.scot/news/17738186.national-trust-scotland-and-hes-slammed-for-union-jackery/?ref=mr&lp=9

  136. John H.
    Ignored
    says:

    I’ll try that again.

    https://apple.news/ACqOkDo3JQmKdBTUMMkiPwA

  137. Republicofscotland
    Ignored
    says:

    #NoTeamGB.

    Is this an attempt to phase out our national football team?

    https://mobile.twitter.com/hashtag/NoTeamGB?src=hashtag_click

  138. kapelmeister
    Ignored
    says:

    Given that Holyrood is about to start the summer recess and won’t be back until early September, it means the writ for the Shetland by-election will not issued until that month.

    After allowing time for nominations and then the usual 3 or so weeks campaign, the polling day should be late October.

    What do you know? Brexit day, the 31st October is a Thursday. We could have a parliamentary by-election on the very day Scotland is taken out the EU against our majority wish.

    To hold the seat against the SNP challenge the Lib Dem candidate will have to defend the policy of their party to deny an indyref2. And will have to defend that policy during the final few days that Scots are EU citizens.

  139. Iain mhor
    Ignored
    says:

    While considering the ‘constitutional status’ of commonwealth countries (Dominions and all that) it was interesting to re-visit the situation of Cyprus.

    In 1954 Minister of State, Henry Hopkins, caused a right stooshie in Parliament, when he stated that Cyprus, despite being a Commonwealth country and being granted extensive ‘dominion’ or ‘devolved’ powers, would be denied the ultimate right to sovereignty accorded to other Commonwealth countries – for ‘reasons’.

    “…there are certain territories in the Commonwealth which, owing to their particular circumstances, can never expect to be fully independent”

    Basically: ‘We stand behind and encourage every country’s right to self-determination – except you Cyprus’. If you have a spare 20 minutes, the Hansard exchange is well worth a read as a reflection of todays policies and mindset towards Scotland.

    https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1954/jul/28/cyprus-constitutional-arrangements

    The consequencies of this policy -the divide and rule, the struggle over strategic territory and its natural resources – is still playing out today. My original source for the Hansard link was this interesting article last week:

    https://theconversation.com/cyprus-dangerous-row-over-gas-exploration-dates-back-to-british-colonial-meddling-119331

  140. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @Welsh Sion says: 28 June, 2019 at 5:04 pm:

    ” … Apologies, I must have explained it badly.”

    No, Welsh Sion, you explained it just fine.

    ” … Those of us with a good head for history know all about ‘Victorian educators’, (and what they did for the native, Celtic languages of these islands …). Of course also with the aid of the Lochgelly Tawse, or any solid bit of standard issue schoolroom equipment”.

    Mind you it did have some good effects. Most pupils leaving school in those days were adept at ducking and dodging flying objects.

    Indeed – I think I had some of those Victorian educators as my teachers in the early 1940s. ;-))

    Due to WWII they had conscripted anyone, young enough, who could walk and hold a gun and it included teachers. I hadn’t realise the old buffers teaching us were old Victorians but now that you mention it … …

    If truth be told the history of the British Isles as taught in our schools is more fantasy than truth and it started with the Romans who were the first to record it. When you really get down to serious study the first thing you learn about the Roman historians is that lots of it contradicts other lots of it.

    Roman history, much like today’s, is politically biased and dependent upon which Roman faction the author belonged to. So the reader finds one historian’s report contradicts another historian’s report.

    So the question has to be, “Who decided which version was the true version to be included in the school’s curriculum”?

    The really strange bit is how, in every case, the versions chosen always seems to support what is best for, or shows up England as, best?

    ” … Before the Conquest, Wales had its own kings and Princes, with the last native Prince of Wales, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd being killed in battle on 11 December 1282 – a date marked in our collective memory. He was even acknowledged as PoW by the King of England – Henry III – in 1267.”

    Which is another matter that the schools curriculum never makes plain. The Celtic system of Royalty differed greatly from the Anglo Saxon system. In the Celtic system there were many individual kings or princes who all owed fealty to one supreme king.

    It often called them other than king or prince but the system was the same. As in the Scottish Highland chieftains and the Southern Upland extended Family system, (also often wrongly described as clans). It seems to me that Welsh, Irish and Scots history is always tinged in the curriculum by the English point of view.

    I do not know about Wales but the pre-World War two Scottish teaching profession were almost exclusively Oxbridge educated teachers. Only post WWII did, due to demobbed service people returning, did the Oxbridge stranglehold on teaching begin to relax but there were still far too many of, (cough!), ‘the old school’ of educators teaching in our schools.

  141. Socrates MacSporran
    Ignored
    says:

    Much as I hate to disagree with Auld Boab Peffers, but, I fear he was a wee bit off-target in saying pre-WWII teachers were “almost exclusively Oxbridge educated.”

    I think it was a very “British” system back then, and while I am sure the respective seats of learning would deny this, Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities operated a sort of Oxbridge model-based system for turning out teachers. They may have been Scottish-based, but, they were very British in what they taught and how they taught it.

    As regards the use of the Lochgelly tawse. At Primary School, we had an itinerant music teacher, who came to the school one day a week – he was notoriously free and heavy with the tawse, until the day he belted all the boys in my elder brother’s class.

    The bruising was half-way to their elbows and since my Dad was the only father in the school at that time who went to work wearing a collar and tie, it was suggested he take-up the matter with the Head Teacher.

    What he did was, he advised the Headie to find some business which would keep him away from the school on the next day the music teacher was there – this he duly did.

    Then, as the music teacher left the room at lunch-time, he was met by four of the fathers, all face workers at the local pit. Never again, after their brief and to the point conversation, was the music teacher’s tawse seen at that school.

  142. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Tory Royal visit.

    Lord Hamilton who betrayed Scotland for what they can get. Enough is never enough. Total greedy thieving hypocrites. Low life unionists. Still at it. The garter racket.

  143. Cubby
    Ignored
    says:

    Dr Jim@12.49am

    Yet independence supporters still believe we have to go cap in hand to Westminster begging for a referendum. Not begging for independence but begging for what is our right and has been confirmed by the Claim of Right and para 18 of the Smith Commission the right to be an independent country and terminate the UK if we so choose to do so.

    It’s one thing twats like Johnston/Mundell/ Davidson/Hunt telling us to f….. off but Independence supporters dancing to their tune. We are the ones who should in no uncertain terms be telling them to f….. off.

  144. Hamish100
    Ignored
    says:

    Re the NTS .

    Look at the members of the NTS. It cries out lib dem, Tories and labour place men and women. Seems a higher proportion of people from certain classes and from England. Some also sit on our Universities pushing the britnats line.
    Can’t spot anyone from a council estate. Happy to be corrected.

    Still one director is a “father of three children who are new to Scotland but are getting out to castles, coastlines and other great sites run by the National Trust for Scotland pretty much every weekend.”

    Ahhhhhhh. It sells it to me. Unlike the £15 coo mug made in England.
    Reminds me when I cancelled my family subscription the rather cheeky letter sent to me in response. How dare We.

    Maybe such charities should have minimum number of individuals reflective of Scotland today and not from the 1950’s and not political place men or women which the NTS is.

  145. Footsoldier
    Ignored
    says:

    Queen’s visit to Holyrood – have yet to see a Saltire among the people being interviewed by BBC – plenty of Union flags near those being interviewed.

    Looking at the people lining the street in general, hardly anyone has flags and the few that do are waving the Union Jack.

    Have Saltires been banned or was there any attempt to issue them? Looks very much like the crowd did not want to wave the Union flag – hence the general lack of flags being waved.

  146. kapelmeister
    Ignored
    says:

    So, Scotland’s Parliament is 20 years old today.

    Next year at 21 it gets the key of the independence door.

  147. Cubby
    Ignored
    says:

    Kapelmeister@10.42pm 28 June

    I think there will films about the signing of the Treaty of Union 1706/7 when the treaty is terminated. No film maker has the courage IMO to make one at present.

  148. Scozzie
    Ignored
    says:

    While I agree it’s an outrage that the Robert the Bruce movie won’t be shown…

    Where is the outrage from the Scottish population and the SNP on the soon to be repatriated powers from EU / talk of WM spending in Scotland bypassing Holyrood / massive stockpiling of civil servants in Edinburgh’s UK in Scotland office (or whatever it’s calling itself) / removal of Foreign Office support to the Scottish Government’s overseas visits / ripping up of the Sewel Convention and much more…

    These are the things that we should be shouting about. And before I get pelters from the party faithful on the Wings BTL commenters, I’m gonna come out and say it – it’s what the SNP should be shouting about.

    I get that movies can trigger passion and pride but the issues listed above are what really matters and need to be shouted out hard.

  149. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Queenie visits our parliament

    Soldiers in bright red line the streets of Edinburgh outnumbering the onlookers by some considerable distance, the car comes into sight containing the Queen and her son Cherlie the Duck of Rothesey, the Royals emerge from the purple Bentley, a momentary murmour goes up from the bystanders then they fall silent again as had been the eerie way in which the Royals seem to have been welcomed in Scotland

    The dignataries both men and women bow and courtsey including Ken MacIntosh who’s head came as low as his waistband, until it comes to Linda Fabiani who who extends her hand but doesn’t courtsey, then to Christine Graham who again extends her hand but no grovelling by her either and she doesn’t fall for the Queens favourite trick of speaking so quietly people who didn’t bow are forced to lean forward looking like they are bowing, seen that trick many times Queenie, Christine Graham is a seasoned veteran

    More reporting later on the creepy crawling toadies that will be headed up by Bryan Taylor inventing reasons for why various individuals move their heads or an arm movement and describing exactly what they’re thinking as they do it

    The BBC employ people like Bryan to do that because he’s psychic and aware of the thoughts in his head and how to put them into other peoples mouths just as if they said those words themselves

  150. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Education difference. Scotland was guaranteed a separate legal system and separate (Protestant church) A shared Protestant monarch. The separate Church led to separate education system. Education was church based done through the Parish. Scotland was the first country in the world to have free tertiary education. That is the significance of the education system it was universal and ‘free’. Available to all. Also led to a more equal classless society. A meritocracy. That led to freely educated people. People could do the best for the community. This contributed to the Scottish invention.

    Still the same today. Scottish invention changed the modern world. A commitment to universal education for all. Education according to ability. Not the ability to pay. The SNP total commitment. Improving the economy. Life long education system. Freely available. Scotland has one of the highest education population in the world. More uni pro rata. More people in education or training. More apprenticeship. Additional needs education provision. It is some (unionist) councils that do not comply with the aims abd ambition.

    The Victorian culture held back woman. Less equality. Church dominated. The Church acted as a control. without community restraints.of discipline. Control by the State. Class system. Without other desired means of control.

    Be good or you went to hell and damnation. Be burnt in the fire. Instead of the glamour light of heaven. Etc Reinforces class values. Headed by a god like monarchy cult. The divine right to rule. Know your place. You get your just rewards. An imposed paternal society of male dominance. To keep power, control and cohesion. Dominated by ‘family’ restricted values so people would conform and not step out of order. Even used as cannon fodder by the monarchy and the State. Death of millions.

    Life was cheap. People lived shorter lives. Average age of death. In Victorian Times 50% of children died before they were five. A large expansion of population. Malthus theory. Total of hygienic conditions or medical advances. People drunk alcohol safer than unclean water. They were all drunk and boisterous but died younger. Depressing,

    That influence education. Only the wealthy could afford it. Males received more value. Females less educated. Many people could not read and write. Education became an elite commodity.Victorian values of hierarchy. Not conformed to in Scotland. More highly educated. More opportunities.

    Scotland To be treated equally. Terms of the Treaty of Union.That did not happen. Treaty of union not supported in Scotland. Riots and petitions presented in Edinburgh Parliament against it. Ignore by the privileged. Same today. Tory Royal visit. Hierarchy of privilege. Not appreciated in Scotland.

  151. kapelmeister
    Ignored
    says:

    Cubby@11:17

    I think you’re right, that no established filmmakers would go near it until the union has gone. But maybe some aspiring filmmakers could crowdfund a low budget production.

  152. Fireproofjim
    Ignored
    says:

    Republic of Scotland@10.24
    Not really an attempt to phase out our football team.
    It’s like all other sports. The National team recognised by the Olympic authorities is the U.K.
    So the Murray brothers. Alan Wells, and a host of other Scots, Welsh and N Irish had to compete as British or miss out. You can’t blame them for wanting to appear at the greatest sporting festival.
    Of course the answer Is Independence.

  153. mr thms
    Ignored
    says:

    This BBC coverage of the 20th anniversary of devolution is like a commemoration!

    Had it been the 20th anniversary of independence it would be a joyous celebration.

  154. ailsa craig
    Ignored
    says:

    I too was stunned at the group of UJs outside our Parliament. All I noticed held by non-Scots. All tourists. One Scot interviewed who may or may not have been holding a flag. There was, I am glad to note, no flag waving or much cheering. Surely the flags must have been handed out. Especially interesting is the royal calvacade we’re flying the Lion Rampant!
    20 years ago I do not recall any UJs. Just a sea of Saltires. What is going on? It was the same when Harry and Megan visited

  155. Hamish100
    Ignored
    says:

    Kaye Adams on Breaking the News comedy show.

    Doesn’t she normally host a comedy show on each morning.

    More money for the self “I’m not a BBC employee” employed

  156. Lenny Hartley
    Ignored
    says:

    Fireproofjim The issue is that there has been noises from Fifa that the UK should have one “National” team for Fifa sanctioned events such as the World Cup and other Major tournaments.
    Think its a good idea myself, if we are happy to be a region of Englandshire why should we have our own National Football team.

  157. Dave McEwan Hill
    Ignored
    says:

    Prof Adam Tomkins at the Declaration of Calton Hill. A Britnat establishment chancer

    The Scottish Socialist Party drew up a declaration of independence calling for “an independent Scottish republic built on the principles of liberty, equality, diversity and solidarity.” The declaration of Calton Hill ran from 11am till 1pm and there was a signing ceremony at noon. A crowd of around 500 gathered on a dry, overcast autumn day to hear speakers and entertainers. Constitutional law professor Adam Tompkins of Glasgow University reminded the crowd of the Queen’s previous reluctance to pay tax despite her massive income. He said that the queen had special powers or `prerogatives`, which included being able to appoint anyone she liked as Prime Minister. You cannot sue the monarchy. He said Tony Blair used these special powers to attack Iraq and there would have no Iraq war without the crown. In a democracy it is the people who are sovereign and not the crown! He urged the abolition of the monarchy. “If you want democracy down with the crown!”

  158. kapelmeister
    Ignored
    says:

    The BBC web pages has a 20 question multiple-choice quiz to mark the 20 years of the Scottish Parliament.

    Trouble is, although the multiple-choice answers are there, most of the questions are completely or partially missing.

    Sums up the mess that is the UK and its institutions like the BBC.

  159. Cubby
    Ignored
    says:

    Fireproofjim@11.26am

    Is the Olympics not a Team GB rather than UK. Where is N Ireland? Are the Irish called GB for the purposes of the Olympics but technically are not.

    This whole UK of GB and N.Ireland thing is a dogs dinner.

  160. Cubby
    Ignored
    says:

    Geeo@12.17am

    A cracking post telling it as it is. Don’t like to compliment you too much because some diddys will think I am complimenting myself. LOL

  161. kapelmeister
    Ignored
    says:

    All those unionist fancy dress outfits and symbols to mark the devolution anniversary. Unmistakably fin-de-siecle, as our fellow EU citizens the French say.

  162. Meg merrilees
    Ignored
    says:

    …hanging on with great excitement and enthusiasm to every morsel that the BBC is providing on it’s live text coverage of the visit of a Royal dignitary to our Parliament. Can’t wait to hear (T)Ruthless’ speech on the news tonight.

    Very odd – a kilt wearing band not playing bagpipes, no spectators that I can see.

    Genuinely interested to see a photo of the first page of the trumpet part of a specially composed welcoming Fanfare.

    “Fanfare for Elizabeth, Queen of Scots”

    – composed by the legendary, eminent trumpet player John Wallace ( being deadly serious here, the man is a living legend in the music world)
    – only one snag – the BBC, in its wisdom has renamed it

    “Fanfare for Elizabeth, Her Majesty, The Queen”.

    Here’s another snag – there is no piece written with the BBC’s title. The piece that is being played today is called ‘Fanfare for Elizabeth, Queen of Scots” – her legitimate title in Scotland. Is the BBC trying to avoid paying Performing Rights to the Composer as there is every chance the video footage will go worldwide?

    ww.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48790983 (- see the entry for 11.11am)

    She is accompanied by her son, whom we all know is called the Duke of Rothesay when he is in Scotland, and Prince of Wales when he is in ‘the Other Place’ so why are they refusing to use HM The Queen’s Scottish Title, when she is in Scotland?

    Oh dear, BBC what a mess again, why do you try to tell lies. The truth is much simpler!!!

  163. mr thms
    Ignored
    says:

    #Golfnut @ 9:55 am

    “Well spotted, brilliant.”

    Thanks!

    If Scotland was already an ‘independent country’ what was the ‘No’ vote for?

    Federalism???

  164. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @Scozzie says: 29 June, 2019 at 11:18 am:

    … I’m gonna come out and say it …

    Maybe I’m psychic but I just knew you were going to do that, Scozzie.

    ” – it’s what the SNP should be shouting about.”

    But, Scozzie, the SNP are shouting about it – all the time – cannot you hear them, Scozzie?

    Have you, perhaps, become deaf?

    What’s that you say, Scozzie? You are not deaf? Oh! Well then perhaps there may be another reason you cannot hear them or read about them doing so. I wonder what it might be?

    Perhaps they don’t shout loud enough? Nah! I have hearing problems and I can hear them, I can also read about them doing so and I can view what they say on my computers.

    Could it be there are other reasons you cannot hear, view or read about what they say? Could it be that the reason you cannot read, hear or see what they are shouting all the time is that the sources you use have little addendums tagged on at the end of everything, ” … but not for viewers in Scotland”?

    There’s your problem, Scozzie the UK/British/English government controlled or funded SMSM and their Broadcasters do not allow the SNP’s loud shouting to be printed or broadcast to Scotland.

    Think about what you have just claimed in your comment on an article about how the so called, ‘Scottish’, media is suppressing Scots access to things you come out with this rubbish about the SNP not shouting about it.

    Good grief, Ian Blackford shouts at the de facto Parliament of England, (and I do mean shouts it out loud), every time he gets allowed to speak by the Speaker in the House of Commons. To the extent that he is on very thin ice of being thrown out and barred from the house for whatever period the speaker decides.

    Joanne Cherry is also prominent at having a go at the Westminster establishment as are the rest of the SNP contingent but if you get your information from the so called Scottish MSM or Scottish broadcasters you would not even known they had been allowed to speak.

    Nicola Sturgeon makes speeches and announcements and they do not get reported. Nicola speaks to the EU, the UN and many foreign leaders and it goes either not reported, wrongly reported or under reported.

    You simply will not know how hard or loud the SNP are shouting about it if you only read, listen or view the Westminster controlled media.

    Let me point something out to you that went largely unreported – the BBC, (that is about to remove free TV Licences from over 75s), that is complaining it is short of funding finances lots of reporters on so called Scottish media outlets that are struggling to survive.

    Now do you get the true picture – or could it be you just do not want to get the true picture?

  165. Balaaargh
    Ignored
    says:

    Cracking job from Boris Johnson this week. Isn’t it funny how his hobby also seems to be the same thing as he was recently in court for – buses.

    Google’s popularity index now fills the first page with his car crash interview more than the £350M lie he toured the UK with.

  166. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    Just looking at online photos and comments about the royal visit to Edinburgh. Basically, Scots are just ignoring it. I saw one twitter comment suggesting most bystanders were tourists.

    I assume the BBC will be using some clever close up and odd angles to give the impression of a successful and well attended event.

    I’m sure it’s the UKness of it all which is so off putting. The final days of the union are just sad. It really needs to be put out of its misery.

  167. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    So Queenies day oot in our parliament was going reasonably well with everybody containing themselves in what they wanted to really say on the telly in front of her Maj until the Labour party’s chief Doofus Richard Leonard opened his big Bert and Ernie mooth and turned it all into a party political broadcast for Labour closely followed by Patrick Harvie who narrowly escaped doing the same except when he fist pumped the air and shouted gay rights for all (slightly exaggerated there, but not by much)Nicola Strurgeons speech was short and polite but the barely detectable undercurrent avalanched with intent and purpose for what she intends to come

    Ritu Davidson’s speech was the sound of a defeated foe promising to rise again but not really meaning it

    Tavish Scott spoke for the Lib Dems thank God and he was amusing and even managed to make her Maj smile

    Best bit, Karen Mathieson singing an arrangement of Aye fond kiss, and it was great and moving

    Worst bit, when the piper at the end refused to listen and slow the tempo for the singer unable to catch up with the speed he was going at, Big Baw heid ae a Numpty

  168. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Scuse my typing today I’m not functioning on all cylinders

  169. Legerwood
    Ignored
    says:

    ailsa craig at 11:34 am

    The Lion Rampant is the Royal Standard of Scotland since the early 13th century hence its place on the Royal car.

    When the Queen is in Scotland she ‘wears’ a different crown and bears a different coat of arms and flies a different banner – the Lion Rampant.

  170. Cubby
    Ignored
    says:

    20 Year Celebration of Scotlands Parliament

    Good on you John Finnie wearing the kilt.

    Best part was the music. Brilliant apart from BBC cutting off the final singer and going to some presenter to prattle on about the Queen. Boody BBC.

    Funniest moment McIntosh forgetting to switch his speaker on. He’s not just biased he ‘s a diddy.

    Stuff Donald Dewer. Leonard prattling on about Labour being the party of devolution. More the party of stopping devolution.

  171. Iain mhor
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Dr Jim

    Wait… “Ae fond kiss”, really? Holy shit!
    Naw… Were the lyrics entirely changed or something?

  172. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @ailsa Craig says: 29 June, 2019 at 11:34 am:

    ” … Especially interesting is the royal calvacade we’re flying the Lion Rampant!”

    Nothing, “Especially interesting”, about the Royal Cavalcade flying the Lion Rampant flag, ailsa Craig.

    The Lion Rampant flag is associated with Scotland and it is considered the unofficial flag of Scotland, but is referred to as the ‘Royal Flag of Scotland’.

    It is connected with royalty because historically and legally the lion flag belongs to the monarchy, in particular the King or Queen of Scotland.

    Since there has not been a Scottish only King or Queen since the 17th century, the flag therefore now belongs to Queen Elizabeth II. The lion flag is only officially allowed to be flown by a monarch, and it is traditionally flown at royal residences when the Queen is not in residence.

    In 1672 Parliament made it illegal for a private citizen or corporate body to fly or wave the Lion Rampant flag. The flag is called Lion Rampant flag because of the position of the lion, he is ready for battle.

    So, there you go, personally I would never fly a Lion Rampant flag and I believe it is nowadays flown by those not actually royals, who are “Loyalists”, who would rather not be associated with the Saltire which is the official flag of Scotland but not really of the current Royals why are associated with the Butcher’s Apron. But that’s mainly my own personal view excepting for the bit about it being the Royal Banner. Factually the Lion Rampant was the flag flown by the King/Queen in the days when the royal person led the Scots army into battle and that wasn’t yesterday.

  173. ailsa craig
    Ignored
    says:

    I know the official Scottish flag for a royal appearance is the Lion Rampant. That was why I was surprised at the UJs. And lack of any saltires or LRs.
    Broke habit of many years and watched the inside event as I was there 20years ago. I was immensely proud of the talent of my country on display. Worth watching again, missing out most of the speeches and faffing about. Sad to see the Tories not clapping the more overt Scottish items.

  174. James Barr Gardner
    Ignored
    says:

    chicmac says:
    29 June, 2019 at 12:50 am

    Braveheart was screened as a drive-in cinema at Flesher’s Haugh, Glasgow Green in the lead up to IndyRef1.

    The sound for the film was from your car radio tuned into a specific frequency, however due to some weird meteorological event it clashed with a German radio station ?

    Was the signal jammed by overplaying with a boost german by the BBC ? Is rain wet ? Yessers have good memories !

    The work of the deep state is now very transparent to most Yessers. Scotland is in a Union with one of the most toxic states in world history. Dissolve this UNION NOW !

  175. Famous15
    Ignored
    says:

    In the local Co op to buy a newspaper. No National on display so asked staff who said it was on the bottom shelf but hidden by the Racing paper. I took the bundle of Nationals and put them on a higher shelf.Just a

  176. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    @Iain mhor

    Music’s an interpretational art form meant to move emotionally, it’s not a historical document that must be srictly adhered to, or a poem of rememberance to be quoted, if it were, music and the styling of it would never change and that would be not worth listening to because we’d know what was coming every time and be bored rigid, it’s why most people enjoy music, it changes

    I’ve been a musician for 55 years but if I’d had to keep sticking to singing or playing every word and note the same way I seriously doubt I’d still be doing it, or that anybody would want to listen to it

    Even classical music has changed over the centuries with the advent of better instruments and instrumentalists who rewrite and update old script to modernise interest and excite the listener

  177. Famous15
    Ignored
    says:

    Just as I was leaving an old git (actually a lot younger than me)in sannies and tracky hid them again. No wonder sales are small.

  178. ailsa craig
    Ignored
    says:

    iain mhor @12.54
    That is the original and full version of “Ae Fond Kiss”. Take it from an Ayrshire lass raised on Burns! Karen Jamison was fantastic. Tears to a glass e’e and a’ that.

  179. ronnie anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    “The march will go ahead at 1.30pm on Saturday in Ayr and we would ask those who are intending to come to be in plenty of time.”
    Image may contain: text
    Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, people standing
    Wallace Kerr
    51 mins
    https://www.thenational.scot/…/17738145.scottish-independe…/
    .

    South Ayrshire Council confirmed to The National that it has demanded that AUOB purchase public liability insurance cover of £5 million for the rally element of the march – due to take place on the Low Green, adjacent to Ayr Esplanade which is Common Good land controlled as a park by the council.

    The council is believed to be ready to waive the fee for the hire of the Low Green, but is sticking fast to the need for insurance and a public entertainment licence for the rally. The event will have a stage for speakers and musicians and the usual stalls that the marches attract.

    On its website, the council suggests that Low Green may not be the rally venue. It says the route will be from Blackburn car park and then to “Esplanade, Pavilion Road, Wellington Square, Barns Street, Dalblair Road, Alloway Street, High Street, New Bridge Street, Sandgate, Wellington Square, Bath Place, Esplanade – Low Green.”

    The National can reveal that AUOB have written to the council blaming them for not realising the rally element would need a stage and stalls.

    They wrote: “We write in response to the council’s communication to state the following. We will not be purchasing public liability insurance, we will not be paying for a public entertainment licence, we will not be paying any fee whatsoever for the use of the Low Green

    AUOB added: “The council has materially failed to follow due diligence in respect of our notification for the march and rally, as submitted to the council and duly received last autumn where we advised that at the end of the procession there would be a political rally with a selection of community stalls. Therefore, as such the council has lied to us and the general public by stating you were not aware of the rally element to our event until June 21, 2019, but if not a conscious lie then a material oversight from the very beginning right up until the present time. Regardless this makes the council look very foolish.”

    The group have given the council a 5pm deadline on Wednesday, July 3, to back down from its position. The National has been told that the council is considering its position.

    AUOB told The National they would have to “materially change the route and rally site” if the council would not compromise. A spokesman said: “If it is necessary we have an alternative rally site ready to go, but obviously we would rather stick to the original plan.

    “The march will go ahead at 1.30pm on Saturday in Ayr and we would ask those who are intending to come to be in plenty of time.”

    Read 5th Paragraph ( AUOB ) wont pay for hire of Low Green as they have not payed for the hire of any public parks they have held events . Why are they demanding monies from Stall Holders 20% from Burger Vans ect & 10% from Stalls selling merchandise for their respective groups in the furtherance of Scottish Independence.

    I can see another Edinburgh situation arising whereby final decision will be at the 11th hour .

  180. Footsoldier
    Ignored
    says:

    I sometimes think this website might be a lot better without all the know-all’s on here who cannot abide another viewpoint different from their own.

  181. Iain mhor
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Dr Jim

    Yes, I understand what you are saying, but the whole emotion and entire essence of “ae fond kiss” is of a final parting, the severing of a relationship, sorrow, loss and unrequited love.
    Seriously, is it just me? Surely the subtext is obvious in the context of the Queens visit to Holyrood.

    One wouldn’t take a song like that and mold it into a joyful air, however hard one tried. There are a thousand other tunes more suited to that and with no such association.

  182. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Another wee word on Queenies speech in Holyrood where she made a wee veiled Royal attempt at putting Scotland back in our box by saying that *Holyrood had fulfilled its function as a place to talk*

    Sorry yer Maj but that’s not what true Scotland has in mind, we’re doing a bitty more than just talking in there and we’re expecting a lot more doing

  183. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Councils putting erroneous charges and fees to stop the March. Totally political to illegal stop the March. It is totally unnecessary for such a large amount. People are using the public highway and public services to which they are totally entitled. This now could have to be raised. If there is not a way around it. Applying for an entertainment licence might cover it. Depending on the local by-laws.

    It would be for one day cover. That might keep down the cost, Everyone in the area should complain to the Council, local authorities or Scottish Gov. The licensing authorities. There might be a way around it. Or the spoil sports will get away with it,

    How many illegal Orange marches have £Millions of liability insurance and they are marching every day of the week. Cluttering up the public highway and ruining economic activities. Misogynist, bigoted racist and unequal.

    The AUOB Marches bring heaps of people abd revenues to the areas. The Councils should be welcoming the Marches because of the favourable economic activities and visitors it brings to the areas. The bands and speakers and entertainment. The hotels and restaurants increased revenues.

    The AUOB needs funds from the profits of the caterers etc. After expenses. The smaller stalls it would be a £5 or £10. The larger caterers are making a fortune. Vast queues and business. They should make a contribution. They are making vast profits. Many of the performers, speakers will be doing it voluntarily. Or for expenses covered. The stewards and others often give their services for nothing. Just enjoy the day. Really grateful. It takes a vast amount of time and money to organise.

  184. winifred mccartney
    Ignored
    says:

    Interesting to see the lack of Scots on the streets to Holyrood today and all the people from all over the world holding UJ’s. Where did the UJ’s come from?

    First time for everything RL was great (though I will never vote for him). Incredible to think Labour always espoused home rule until they decided they needed Scotland to win WM (not true of course). Even TS was very good.

    Wonderful music and singing, The Maker at her very best – wonderful, the Jazz singer superb and Karen Mathieson – out of this world. All the music was wonderful

    Next year the parliament will be 21 – here’s to getting the keys of the door and independence. We need to work to make it happen.

  185. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Ken McIntosh fawning. He once said there were too many Scottish voices on BBC Scotland. That hypocrite in the Parliament. Some of them want it shut down. The Tory Royals. Not a great turnout of spectators. The usual warped view. To give a different impression. Cover up. The typical BBC. Do not watch it.

  186. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    @Iain mhor

    I’m afraid we’re falling between the two stools of what’s good and what’s liked, in that all that’s liked may not be good, and the reverse, all that’s good may not be liked

    With all art comes personal taste and music comes in for the most criticism of all the arts because everyone has *taste* and this sets the confusion alight over the issue

    There are many examples of popularity in music that are musically awful, singers who are dreadful, but the people who like these examples will say they are good confusing good with like, and the same can be said in reverse

    It all comes down to the consumer’s personal idea of taste, but I’ve always believed if you like a piece of music then be happy it’s fine, but if you don’t that’s also fine because there’s nothing going to change the listeners mind unless they decide to change it themselves

    The nature of music lyrics composition arrangement is an attempt by the artist to give the listener their personal experience of what they’ve produced and if folk like it they’re happy, if folk don’t like it the first thing all artists do is try again to find the formula that folk do like

    I used to make the joke that Sydney Devine must be really good because so many folk liked him, now the truth is everybody knew Sydney was not *good* even Sydney knew that, but he knew how to make a lot of people like him

    You just can’t put limits or descriptions on taste, it just is what it is

  187. Lenny Hartley
    Ignored
    says:

    5 million public liability insurance is the minimum required these days, I have to have that to get accreditated Photographer access to trackside at Motorcycle Road Racing events . I do not think it is a excessive request. What if a Yes Biker loses control and runs into a passer by? Maybe the timing by South Ayrshire Council is a bit suspect but I understand the requirement to have Public Liability Insurance for a Rally on Council Land.

  188. Iain mhor
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ailsa Craig 1:21pm

    Yeah, I’m just quite shocked. I thought perhaps they might have created some alternative arrangement of the lyrics, or a totally different tune. If most of the Scottish Parliament was happy to sign off on that, we may have more hope than we think.

    The only other explanation, I can think of, was someone was trying to evoke some deep emotion of attachment to the Crown etc. in the listeners – a pleading message of “Please don’t go, we want you to stay forever, we love you”. But if so, was still a terrible choice for Unionists.
    The message in the song, is indeed about love, but about the inevitable parting forever, the sorrow about it and that the object of the affection is the one doing the leaving – It is not a song about hopeful re-union or even requited love.

    It’s most definitely a song about a lover spurned and mourning the inevitable loss of a union. I wonder if her Maj got the message…

  189. Pete Barton
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Meg Merilees 12:06

    Seriously?

    Renamed the title of the tune?

    Perhaps the composer might enlighten us?

    Queen of Scots now airbrushed out of our history, man I’m getting worried now.

    Ae fond kiss.

    Goodbye, Empire .. Hello Scotland.

  190. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Was there some booing at the exit, Did not really watch it, There were reports there were a group with Saltires and EU flag. Protestors? The BBC blocked it.

  191. ronnie anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    Ken 500 Previous crowdfunders have raised £22.000 + collection buckets there is no need to charge Small stallholders who raise revenues for their groups to further promote Independence .

  192. Scozzie
    Ignored
    says:

    Robert peffers at 12.14pm
    Yes I see and hear the things you write about but the general non-politcal public do not. There’s a vast section of society who are not politically minded, do not watch FMQs, PMQs, parliament TV, SNP website etc etc. You’re in the loop many others aren’t.

    It’s been 5 years since the last referendum. The SNP have had 5 years to think about how to reach out and I agree that the Establishment are against them – BBC, newspapers etc. but they seems to be playing by the same rules of the game yet again as 2014- ffs have they learned nothing?

    In what ways have they tried to convince the Scottish public of independence – its the YES movement doing all the heavy lifting. Where is the rebuttal unit that Kieth Brown was setting up? Why is there not moves to circumvent the Establishment’s media monopoly. The leadership can’t event support the AUOB marches and have just only sent out a token few MSPs.

    In 2014 both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon toured up and down the country meeting real people and answering their questions. I believe at this point of the UK crisis, the SNP should be in a campaign mode and pushing for independence.

    They seems to have no problem liaising with the trans lobby, so much so that, we very nearly had a stupid change in legislation brought forward that thankfully was reconsidered due to public reaction.

    That example shows that the public can be energised in something they think strongly about – i.e women’s rights being stripped from them. Perhaps if people fully understood their constitutional rights that were being stripped from them, there could be the same reaction.

    But people need to be faced square before their eyes to see the implications and that’s the job of the SNP to do that to the population – cold hard facts not softly, softly catchey monkey, hoping that people will slowly come to their own realisation. That is why I think the SNP need to ramp up their tactics and language and I make no apologies for that.

  193. call me dave
    Ignored
    says:

    Jings!

    The Queen B, (not the Holyrood one round in the back garden), must be taking lessons from Corbyn in spouting mixed messages.

    Talking and listening Parliament…. No change there then?

    It’s a fine line they tread when things are on the brink. 🙂

  194. ailsa craig
    Ignored
    says:

    Iain mhor

    I read it the same. Maybe along the theme that ‘it was good while it lasted, but, with deep regret [tongue in cheek], we’re off’!
    A last kiss, a fond farewell, and we’ll maybe call you. Bye!

    Just disappointed that Sheena Wellington did not include the cheeky ‘and come it will’ of Midge Ure of two years ago.

  195. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    A biker running in to a passer-by is a daily occurrence . Deal with by public services. Bikers do not need £Millions insurance. They have personal insurance and should watch where they are going. At slow pace in any case at the Rallies, Are they expecting an earthquake? An act of God in any case. It would not be covered.

    The Royal protection bikers knocked over an elderly woman at a crossing. They are not allowed to stop. Excessive protection. Do they have £Millions of cover? Can the woman sue them on their insurance company. The Tory Royals cause accidents and do not even stop. Bump into anybody and get away with it. No charges or Court case. A Law for them and a Law for others. Unlawful rights and privilege.

    Everybody is perfectly well behaved at the Rallies. Considering the event there is hardly any trouble. Even not litter of importance. Put in the bins if provided. The gross insurance cover is totally ridiculous for any risk. Just a Council/local authority carry on to try and stop it. Once in a time.

  196. bittie45
    Ignored
    says:

    HandandShrimp at 12:25 am
    “The only conclusion there can be is that the decision is political.”

    I’d agree that the Cineworld decision not to show Robert the Bruce is a political one but still at one level I’ve difficulty in believing that a company would actually go so far as this. If true, then whit a totally SUPPRESSING action to take.

    The chairman alone sits on the board of the Xantrex Technology, Inc., TechnoServe, Inc., London Symphony Orchestra Ltd., and TVnewsweb.com.
    Who knows the combined power the whole board control both at home and abroad.

    Has anyone had a look at the board of Cineworld’s board of directors’ profiles?
    https://www.cineworldplc.com/en/about-us/our-board/board
    https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/05212407/officers

    While I’m certain these people are NOT representative of their wider society this seems to fit the pattern of those who have “made it”, irrespective of the society they belong to. I find this sad, for it might put the wider and totally innocent community at risk of backlash. But then ANY folk in power will use ALL means at their disposal to impose their will and not give a damn for their community whom they may wildly claim to represent and to cynically weaponise any perceived discrimination when it suits them. They might even secretly welcome any backlash because they can then shout louder about it, whilst at the same time being comfortable in their own protective bubble. The whole thing cycles round in ever depressing circles.

    Such are the tactics of the powerful looking after their own selves.

    And is yet ANOTHER reason WHY we NEED independence.

  197. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    £22,000 fo 8 Marches is not excessive and would not cover costs. £2.500 on average is quite cheap. For all the recurring costs. Entertainment, speakers etc. Most of it will be voluntary help, it is only right that people in some instances get their expenses. Or the Marches would not be organised. Or happen. The small stallholders should just not declare a profit. That is the case. Volunteers. Or give a fiver. It is the larger profit making commercial enterprises that should be contributing. That is common practise. They are making a heap of monies. They should contribute.

  198. Iain mhor
    Ignored
    says:

    @Dr Jim

    I’m not sure I’m following you now. It wasn’t about what was good, bad, or indifferent, it was about what was appropriate and what was conveyed by the song. It didn’t stand apart from its lyrics, had it done, I could have met you half way on that. But I win’t fall out about it.

    However, because I was questioning what I was reading into it, I did a quick straw poll of those near me. The results suggest it possibly wasn’t a deliberate act by Holyrood and more akin to “That’s a lovely tune, lets do that one”.
    The majority of people responded to my query on its suitability, with “Aye, that’s a lovely tune, how? What’s it about?” – Which unfortunately, either speaks to Burns being a prophet without honour in his own land, or a form of amusia.

    So, perhaps I am wrong on this and the choice of song today can be attributed to Hanlon’s Razor : “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.”

  199. bittie45
    Ignored
    says:

    Ronnie at 7:05 am

    Following your link came across “…greeted the Queen in Gaelic and then translated the message as she entered the building.”

    The Queens team has abjectly failed to make it known that she cares deeply about her people and that she also speaks fluent Gàidhlig, Cymraeg & Gaeilge.

  200. A. Bruce
    Ignored
    says:

    Footsoldier @ 11:10

    Always a good idea to have a small bottle of tomato ketchup handy when they’re handing out their wee butchers aprons.

  201. naina tal
    Ignored
    says:

    Ae fond kiss and then we sever
    Ae fareweel, alas for ever

    Ha ha ha ha ha!

    Epic! Unwitting or deliberate? Maks nae difference.
    Hope Brenda got the message!

  202. Les Wilson
    Ignored
    says:

    Hi ya all,
    please do not forget that the excellent iScot is doing a crowd fund.Contribute if you can.They do a grand jobso here it is.
    https://www.iscot.scot/crowdfunder/

  203. geeo
    Ignored
    says:

    All chit chat aside, where is Cairnstoon today ?

    Is it his holiday season again ?

  204. bjsalba
    Ignored
    says:

    No ‘toon from Chris, I see.

    Its a bad week for Toons. My other regular source of a guffaw or at least a titter is Politico.eu where they pick the best from round the world, but this week they have come up empty for Brexit.

    I must admit that the pitiful farce being played out doesn’t lend itself to ridicule.

  205. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    I don’t often get a chance to discuss music these days but I think the most important thing about today was the music worked, it did it’s job, it moved people whether for or against the content or meaning, and that’s the intangible power of music

  206. Socrates MacSporran
    Ignored
    says:

    In my “day job” I should be crossing swords with Tavish Scoitt occasionally, now he has resigned his Holyrood seat, to join the SRU asHead of External Affairs.

    I must say, I thought his farewell speech was very good; so-much better to hear from him, a guy who has been there from the start, than from Wee Wilie Rennie.

  207. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Wow! Boris Johnson at the hustings says the way to unite and cement the Union is to have more Union flags everywhere and bypass Scotland’s elected parliament and spend Scotland’s money on whatever Westminster decides

    All that voting in the 70s all the double dealing by Blair and Dewar that resulted in a Scottish parliament which is now run by the people that Scotland voted for and want is now to be done away with because the Blue and Red Tories can see it didn’t work out the way they planned it between themselves in the permanent installation of Labour to carry out the instructions from big brother Tories

    Go for your life Boris and crew, make it so, tell the people of Scotland they’re voting wrong, come round our houses and tell us all that

    You’ll never make it to the gate

  208. Al Dossary
    Ignored
    says:

    Hohoho – I had a look at the cineworld directors. Something was striking me as rather common between most of them they all seemed to have names of a certain ethnic minority. The self same ethnic minority that controls the newspapers, the banking world, the jewelry trade and share trading companies.

    And here they are controlling what you may or may not see in the Cinema!

    When we have 80% of Tory and 25 % of sitting labour MPs in Westminster belonging to their respective xxxxx Friends of Israhell then I leave you to make up your own mind. The self same 25% who are hell bent on removing (with the aid if the MSM) Corbyn from the leadership

    Dianne abbot had more bad press over a can of Moschino on the Tube than Johnston has had the last month. Obviously Bojo is already in their pocket.

  209. Lochside
    Ignored
    says:

    R.F.
    ‘but the pre-World War two Scottish teaching profession were almost exclusively Oxbridge educated teachers.’…Really?

    Evidence please? or is this like your other assertions such as all Irish people are actually ‘British’ or that party manifestos don’t really matter? Or that Antonine’s wall was built before Hadrian’s wall?

    Or that Scotland’s parliament did not endorse the ‘Glorious Revolution’of King Billy and his missus with a sectarian Claim of Right 1689?:’The said Estates of the Kingdome of Scotland Doe resolve that William and Mary King and Queen of England France and Ireland Be and be Declared King and Queen of Scotland To hold the Crowne and Royall Dignity of the said Kingdome of Scotland To them the said King and Queen dureing ther lives and the longest liver of them and that the sole and full exercise of ‘ ( allowing King Billy’s acolyte the Duke of Argyll to massacre the MacDonald of Glencoe?

    Or any of the rest of your pompous pronouncements on how the SNP hierarchy are really democratic and not a bunch of weak prevaricating losers who are sitting back allowing Scotland to be shat on daily? They can’t even prevent UJs being handed out to guiless dupes outside the soon to be suspended Scottish ‘parliament’. Letting Betty Saxe Coburg address them is as gutless as Thatcher haranguing the pious puppets at the General Assembly back in the day.

    The clock is counting down to Brexit and exit from the EU. Where are the legislative moves ( and timetable) to halt it by the Scottish Government?
    Trans legislation appeared to have more traction in the SNP’s HQ’s priorities than our impending assimilation into Greater England.

    The BBC is becoming more naked in its propaganda: midday news on today’s Radio was intro’d by Regal trumpetry and several minutes about Betty’s trip to Holyrood’; followed by Armed Forces Day news; followed by Great Britain’s football team announcement for the next Olympics, ( which Fifa will take great interest in). All read out by one of their many new RUK announcers. Orwellian doesn’t come near it.

    Yet all we get is mealy mouthed threats and mixed messages about Independence and 20 more years of Devolution ( some hope!). So what is it to be?

  210. call me dave
    Ignored
    says:

    @Dr Jim

    Ach Johnston! 🙁

    Sitting just across the border in Carlisle spouting his plans and schemes for us Scots. Trade in your Saltire and get a free Union Jack is it?

    What’s he like! … a dangerous fellow but only the next bully in a ever growing long list stirring up the gullible darn Sarf.

    Easy to burst his balloon if we Scots all put a ‘X’ in a box at every opportunity.

  211. Cubby
    Ignored
    says:

    Bojo calls the French officials negotiating Brexit “French Turds”.

    It could be worse he could have called the Germans Nazis. Or is that still to come in October.

  212. call me dave
    Ignored
    says:

    Jings!

    Must have evoked the Boris wrath there…Three thunder plumps and lightning flashes and rain coming doon like stair-rods here in Glenrothes, all in about a minute. 🙁 🙁

  213. Lenny Hartley
    Ignored
    says:

    Ken500 as somebody who has had motorcycles i sured for 48 years I can assure you if an insurance company thought they could get out of a claim they will. , what would they do in a scenario like this in response to a claim , (describe the exact circumstances of your accident,) well thete were several hundred of us revving the tits off the bike in close proximity to several hundred Flat waving families, a dug got scared by the noise and ran in front of me, I braked hard and got hit from behind but I let the clutch out on impact and as the engine was revving at over 10,000 rpm I lost control and the bike careered into the crowd. Do you think the insurance company is gonna say fine , no problem?
    And if you think that is an unlikely situation, shit happens. Since 1971 I have been attending and photographing Motorcycle race events on track and public roads (Last decade or so as an accreditated photographer trackside) and you have no idea what energy an out of control motorcycle has. Sadly I do.

  214. Hamish100
    Ignored
    says:

    Oh dear got a warning note from the BBC web page.

    Somebody complained about an email I sent.

    I think the offensive term was ( please look away if you are of a nervous disposition) “britnats”.

    “britnats”.”britnats”.”britnats”.”britnats”.

    Well I feel better for that.

  215. Capella
    Ignored
    says:

    When the Scottish Parliament signed the Treaty of Union in 1707, regardless of the rioting townspeople outside who didn’t have a vote, the church bells of St Giles rang out “Why should I be so sad on my wedding day?”

  216. Robert J. Sutherland
    Ignored
    says:

    Scozzie @ 14:17,

    Yes, and you’re not alone in feeling that, whatever the occasional dogmatic denier on here would have us believe. And it’s out there “in the wild”, as in a couple of recent articles in The National, neither of which were challenged on here, but which did receive support on the letters pages of the paper.

    The fact that there is widespread self-censorship in the media doesn’t justify anything, it simply makes alternative methods of reaching the non-internet public all the more essential.

    Although there remains the elephant in the room. By far the most effective method of reaching the otherwise unreachable is a formal independence campaign. Then the broadcast media have to give due attention, and the channels magically open, however imperfectly. As events have developed, we’re currently floating on ~50%, and it is hardly likely that this figure will diminish with a well-conducted campaign, even allowing for further progress being harder now than from the lower baseline of 2014.

    Whatever the self-appointed gatekeeper of orthodoxy on here may like to pretend, the SNP themselves are still not coherent on this crucial issue. As the article about Joanna Cherry in today’s paper (and an excellent result for her, BTW) incidentally confirms: “It is no secret that there are ongoing disputes within the SNP over the second independence referendum”.

    Of late, Ian Blackford has been increasingly tough-talking in the HoC, which is very welcome, but sooner rather than later those cheques are going to have to be cashed. It’s a fine judgement, and the stakes couldn’t be higher, but clearly we’re going to get no help whatever from the new London regime and their Scottish proxies, who – given the polls that they see despite all the lies they tell – will clearly do their level best to chill this thing all the way through the Brexit they are lusting for. After that we’re screwed.

    We do need an antidote, and that’s what people increasingly recognise. Ongoing passivity won’t hack it. We can only hope that the SG have something in place to capture the initiative, and sufficient resolution to act on it in a timely manner.

  217. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Never are the English more treacherous than when they are espousing their own virtue

    I read that somewhere, there are many other words but those words will do the job

  218. kapelmeister
    Ignored
    says:

    Pipe bands on the day of the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

    On the 20th anniversary, we get a band with red tunics and busbies playing trombones and clarinets.

  219. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Boris Johnson to take to himself a Scottish mistress to cement the Union, he promises to do the same in Wales and Northern Ireland, he’s just that popular, what a guy

  220. Ottomanboi
    Ignored
    says:

    It is not very pukkah Brit to say so but sometimes eliminating people ‘alla Mafia’ has much to commend it. Who’d miss such gobby, opinionated, self-promoting nonentities?

  221. Capella
    Ignored
    says:

    Andy Murray is looking for a partner in mixed doubles. Serena Williams says she is available!

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/48813400

  222. Robert J. Sutherland
    Ignored
    says:

    Ottomanboi @ 17:37,

    Whatever its lack of “pukka-ness” elsewhere, it’s a proposal, whether carelessly “tongue-in-cheek” or deliberately provocative, that the independence movement absolutely repudiates.

    Incendiary rabble-rousing a la Agent Provocateur 101 is not welcome here, as I’m sure (virtually) everyone else would agree.

  223. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @ailsa craig says: 29 June, 2019 at 12:57 pm:

    … I know the official Scottish flag for a royal appearance is the Lion Rampant. That was why I was surprised at the UJs. And lack of any saltires or LRs.”

    I could be wrong but if memory serves the royal conveyance should fly the Royal Standard of whichever British Commonwealth country the King or Queen is actually in and each countries Royal Standard is different.

    Many years ago my late wife and I had stopped to have a cuppa in our campervan in a big layby right on the border. When the royal car pulled in just in front of us. The driver jumped out and removed the English Royal Standard, replaced it with the Scottish Royal Standard and carried on its way.

    What really struck me at the time was we didn’t see any security vehicles but then it dawned upon us that if it was the police providing the escort the English police would have no jurisdiction in Scotland and the Scots no jurisdiction in England but we never saw either. Mind you security was not what it has become these days back then.

  224. Robert J. Sutherland
    Ignored
    says:

    Dr Jim @ 16:52,

    Oh, it would give his formerly-stated attitude to business a whole new meaning when applied to the colonies! =laugh=

  225. Robert Louis
    Ignored
    says:

    I see the English lying clown, Boris Trump, is going to announce something tomorrow, ‘designed to entrench the union’. I assume they don’t mean the European union, but rather the wholly undemocratic one between Scotland and England.

    I mean the arrogance of these English lying Tory b***ards, and the utterly contemptible way in which they speak of Scotland and the people of Scotland.

    I genuinely fear their is serious trouble coming. And I don’t say that lightly. Just look at their behaviour towards the democratic mandate of the Scottish parliament. Look at how they have retrospectively deleted the continuity bill agreed by the Scottish parliament – and not just by the SNP. Look at how in their undemocratic Prime Minister election in England – in which the public do not get a vote- they try to outdo each other in just how much they are going to bash Scotland. Look at how they think they have some god-given right to forcibly remove Scotland from the EU, and forcibly strip Scots of their EU citizenship, against our very, very clearly expressed wishes. Look at their sneering contempt for Scotland’s democratically elected First Minister and government.

    They are happy to deny democracy and treat Scotland like a piece of sh*t on their shoe. So, when democracy is denied, and no democratic options are left, what do we have??? Another Ireland? Is that what these Tory b**tards want?

    Look at it all, and their hateful rhetoric of Scotland, and their is only one conclusion you can reach. The time is surely coming when the Scottish Government will need to either put up or be forcibly shut up by the English colonial overlords. Or worse.

    England is a failing state, and they WILL lash out. It seems the Tory liars have decided Scotland is their punch bag.

    Either scots must sit back and allow these English Tory B***ards to do as they please to Scotland, or we do something about it. Their is no other result that I can see, but I would be interested to know what others think.

  226. kapelmeister
    Ignored
    says:

    Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price published a book of his essays and speeches recently. It bears the striking title ‘Wales: The First and Final Colony’.

    It brings home that our friends in the independence movement in Wales are fully aware of the colonial status of their country, as is shown by Plaid’s excellent leader using the term for his book’s title.

    The treaty of 1707 was fake. It was colonisation in all but name. Yet in Scotland we have always had a tendency – even among ardent nationalists – to view the union simply as a raw deal. Rather than what it was and is……fake.

    The retention in 1707 of Scots Law, although important, helped obscure the political reality. Colonial status in all but name.

    Current events and the less disguised attitudes of the London parties are bringing home to more of the people of Scotland that even devolution was colonialism dressed up.

  227. ronnie anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    The Britsh state came after Scottish Independence supporters and Jeremy Corbyn didn’t speak up
    The British state came after Alex Salmond & Jeremy Corbyn didn’t speak up
    The British state came after Joanna Cherry & Jeremy Corbyn didn’t speak up
    The British state came after Nicola Sturgeon a Leader of a Political party & still Jeremy Corbyn didn’t speak up
    Now the British state are going after Jeremy Corbyn & only Jeremy Corbyn only has himself to speak up .

    Karma .

  228. Ottomanboi
    Ignored
    says:

    @Robert J Sutherland
    What exactly do you think you’re up against with your tendentious response.
    Many commenters on here live in a world totally at odds with the reality of nasty BritState, C21.
    It seems to be an age thing, the older the more narrowly prescriptive.
    Do you actually want independence? Is it something you desire but only at your convenience to suit your pension etc and on your particular terms?
    To me you sound, were the die cast, like a closet unionist.

  229. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    EH!

    ‘Safety risks exposed by Nuclear bomb convoy exercise in Scotland.’

    ….“The Police Scotland control room staff reported that it was impossible to understand what was being transmitted by Airwaves from the convoy commander due to him wearing a respirator,” the report said.’..

    http://www.thenational.scot/news/17724075.safety-risks-exposed-by-nuclear-bomb-convoy-exercise-in-scotland/

    ………..

    When are the Scots going to be informed that Nuclear Weapons and Special Nuclear Material (SNM) are being transported by convoy through our towns and cities close to schools, homes and businesses and used reactor fuel is being transported by rail? With the Nuclear Weapons ultimately being ”housed” in Scotland of course.

    From what I can make out it’s the responsibility of Police Scotland to inform us following an accident / incident and tell us what to do. Too bad for individual’s who don’t watch / listen to the news.

    A leaflet should be sent out to every household outlining a short historical background, list of nuclear armed states, associated risks, accidents to date in Scotland and what we should do in the event of a nuclear incident. With MoD cost cutting and the thought of another Tory nutter ruling the roost, plus buddy Trump, it becomes even more of an imperative to do so. Better still get our Independence, ASAP, and return the contaminated muck back to the warmongering senders. It could very well be that if all Scots were better informed support for independence would rise.

    It should also be pointed out that the Scottish Government has no jurisdiction over decisions made relating to defence and foreign policy, which are ‘reserved’ to the UK Parliament in London.

    http://www.snp.org/trident-what-you-need-to-know/

    ……………..

    Nukewatch states: ”The warheads in these lorries contain plutonium and other deadly radioactive materials. With each lorry carrying up to 8kg of plutonium, any accident involving an explosion or fire could lead to a radioactive plume spreading for miles, poisoning a huge area for thousands of years (24,000). U.S. and British government research has been unable to rule out the risk of a catastrophic nuclear explosion. The risk of a major accident is growing as traffic on British roads increases.”

    …………..

    Accident and terrorism risks: ”A potential risk of moving nuclear weapons is terrorist attack. In May 2005 the MoD’s Director of Information, David Wray, refused a Freedom of Information request about convoy axle weights (it was alleged that the convoy had used a weak bridge) from an anti-nuclear activist on the grounds that it may help terrorists to plan an attack. “Such an attack has the potential to lead to damage or destruction of a nuclear weapon,” he wrote. “The consequences of such an incident are likely to be considerable loss of life and severe disruption both to the British people’s way of life and to the UK’s ability to function effectively as a sovereign state.”

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Nuclear_Material_Transport_Operations

    ………………….

    Westminster’s Public Protection Advice document includes the LAESI document which provides information for the emergency services, LOCAL AUTHORITIES and health authorities on contingency arrangements to be implemented in the unlikely event of an emergency during the transportation of ‘defence nuclear material’.’:

    ”While the MOD will pass precautionary public protection advice to the emergency services, the Police will be responsible for co-ordinating the provision of public safety information to the media (e.g. evacuation and sheltering). In all cases the public protection advice will be passed in clear speech by the MOD alerting authorities. The advice is detailed at Annexe E and Annex F. Information actually issued by the emergency services could also include additional information specific to the area. If it is necessary for Police or other members of the emergency services to enter a downwind shelter zone to provide information to the public they should wear.’

    Do we have sufficient staff, hospital beds, contamination facilities, dosimeters and relevant medicines (etc, etc) necessary to deal with such a situation? And who’ll pay for the decontamination costs? Westminster? Aye right enough.

    Check out casualty handling: …“Priority 1 patients with life threatening injuries should not have their treatment and transfer delayed for decontamination. However, it is recognised that the removal of clothing, to assist in diagnosis and to provide clinical access, constitutes a form of decontamination. Clothing that has been removed should be treated as contaminated waste. Treatment at the scene and whilst in transit should be in accordance with the protocols surrounding the wearing of Electronic Personal Dosimeters and the advice given by the trust Radiation Protection Supervisors. The receiving hospital should be notified of the patient’s contamination status prior to arrival.”

    Fatalities: ”If the emergency has resulted in fatalities the Police (together with the coroner, or the procurator fiscal in Scotland) will consider setting up facilities equipped to accept contaminated bodies.”…

    ………..

    Key points for the public announcement are:

    – An emergency occurred at (TIME) (PLACE) which involved a nuclear weapon.

    – There is no risk of an “atomic bomb” type of explosion.

    – There is a risk of radioactive particles being carried downwind.

    – The area immediately around the scene of the emergency is being evacuated for safety reasons.

    – People in the following areas (….name locations….) should take these precautions to minimise the hazard from inhaling or ingesting radioactive particles.

    – Go indoors and stay there.

    – Close all doors, windows and ventilators. Switch off any ventilation or air conditioning systems drawing air from outside the building.

    – Do not leave the shelter of a building until advised that you may do so by the Police.

    – Do not try to collect children from school unless told to do so. The school authorities will look after them.

    – Keep tuned to local radio/TV (names stations, frequencies). Emergency services and MOD forces are responding to the emergency. You will be informed when these precautions are no longer necessary.

    ………………………

    ‘When asked what guidance is issued under the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001 to homes along the route of convoys transporting nuclear weapons, the Minister (Penny Mordaunt) responded that the aforementioned Regulations apply to areas surrounding nuclear sites and do not apply to road transport.”

    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643525/20170831-LAESI-Ed_11.pdf

    ………………………

    Note associated jobs south of the border.

    https://cnduk.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nuclear-britain2-routes-FINAL.pdf

  230. geeo
    Ignored
    says:

    I see Lochside has ‘broken cover’ with a steaming pile of hysterical shite (4.14pm).

    Their panic is a joy to behold.

    Remember the bit in the Referendum Bill recently put to Holyrood ?

    Remember the bit which stated that things (indyref wise) can be expedited if and when neccessary ?

    WM cannot simply shut Holyrood, it is the SOVEREIGN WILL of the LEGALLY SOVEREIGN Scots people to have Holyrood.

    So under what authority do folk think WM can simply close it down ?

    All ears here ?

  231. Ottomanboi
    Ignored
    says:

    @Robert Louis
    Well said, you make up for the backbone many so called Scottish nationalists sadly lack.
    I wonder if they imagine independence ought be delivered on a silver platter, in some species of ‘gentleman’s agreement’ ? The ‘gentleman’s agreement’, do they not know is an English con trick?
    Tried on every colonial/colonized people.
    They need to ‘man up’, discard the rosy glasses and face stark reality.

  232. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    Looks as though my post was too long .. too many links so breaking up. 1/3

    EH!

    ‘Safety risks exposed by Nuclear bomb convoy exercise in Scotland.’

    ….“The Police Scotland control room staff reported that it was impossible to understand what was being transmitted by Airwaves from the convoy commander due to him wearing a respirator,” the report said.’..

    http://www.thenational.scot/news/17724075.safety-risks-exposed-by-nuclear-bomb-convoy-exercise-in-scotland/

    ………..

    When are the Scots going to be informed that Nuclear Weapons and Special Nuclear Material (SNM) are being transported by convoy through our towns and cities close to schools, homes and businesses and used reactor fuel is being transported by rail? With the Nuclear Weapons ultimately being ”housed” in Scotland of course.

    From what I can make out it’s the responsibility of Police Scotland to inform us following an accident / incident and tell us what to do. Too bad for individual’s who don’t watch / listen to the news.

    A leaflet should be sent out to every household outlining a short historical background, list of nuclear armed states, associated risks, accidents to date in Scotland and what we should do in the event of a nuclear incident. With MoD cost cutting and the thought of another Tory nutter ruling the roost, plus buddy Trump, it becomes even more of an imperative to do so. Better still get our Independence, ASAP, and return the contaminated muck back to the warmongering senders. It could very well be that if all Scots were better informed support for independence would rise.

    It should also be pointed out that the Scottish Government has no jurisdiction over decisions made relating to defence and foreign policy, which are ‘reserved’ to the UK Parliament in London.

    http://www.snp.org/trident-what-you-need-to-know/

    ……………..

    Nukewatch states: ”The warheads in these lorries contain plutonium and other deadly radioactive materials. With each lorry carrying up to 8kg of plutonium, any accident involving an explosion or fire could lead to a radioactive plume spreading for miles, poisoning a huge area for thousands of years (24,000). U.S. and British government research has been unable to rule out the risk of a catastrophic nuclear explosion. The risk of a major accident is growing as traffic on British roads increases.”

  233. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    2/3

    Accident and terrorism risks: ”A potential risk of moving nuclear weapons is terrorist attack. In May 2005 the MoD’s Director of Information, David Wray, refused a Freedom of Information request about convoy axle weights (it was alleged that the convoy had used a weak bridge) from an anti-nuclear activist on the grounds that it may help terrorists to plan an attack. “Such an attack has the potential to lead to damage or destruction of a nuclear weapon,” he wrote. “The consequences of such an incident are likely to be considerable loss of life and severe disruption both to the British people’s way of life and to the UK’s ability to function effectively as a sovereign state.”

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Nuclear_Material_Transport_Operations

  234. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    3/3

    Westminster’s Public Protection Advice document includes the LAESI document which provides information for the emergency services, LOCAL AUTHORITIES and health authorities on contingency arrangements to be implemented in the unlikely event of an emergency during the transportation of ‘defence nuclear material’.’:

    ”While the MOD will pass precautionary public protection advice to the emergency services, the Police will be responsible for co-ordinating the provision of public safety information to the media (e.g. evacuation and sheltering). In all cases the public protection advice will be passed in clear speech by the MOD alerting authorities. The advice is detailed at Annexe E and Annex F. Information actually issued by the emergency services could also include additional information specific to the area. If it is necessary for Police or other members of the emergency services to enter a downwind shelter zone to provide information to the public they should wear.’

    Do we have sufficient staff, hospital beds, contamination facilities, dosimeters and relevant medicines (etc, etc) necessary to deal with such a situation? And who’ll pay for the decontamination costs? Westminster? Aye right enough.

    Check out casualty handling: …“Priority 1 patients with life threatening injuries should not have their treatment and transfer delayed for decontamination. However, it is recognised that the removal of clothing, to assist in diagnosis and to provide clinical access, constitutes a form of decontamination. Clothing that has been removed should be treated as contaminated waste. Treatment at the scene and whilst in transit should be in accordance with the protocols surrounding the wearing of Electronic Personal Dosimeters and the advice given by the trust Radiation Protection Supervisors. The receiving hospital should be notified of the patient’s contamination status prior to arrival.”

    Fatalities: ”If the emergency has resulted in fatalities the Police (together with the coroner, or the procurator fiscal in Scotland) will consider setting up facilities equipped to accept contaminated bodies.”…

    ………..

    Key points for the public announcement are:

    – An emergency occurred at (TIME) (PLACE) which involved a nuclear weapon.

    – There is no risk of an “atomic bomb” type of explosion.

    – There is a risk of radioactive particles being carried downwind.

    – The area immediately around the scene of the emergency is being evacuated for safety reasons.

    – People in the following areas (….name locations….) should take these precautions to minimise the hazard from inhaling or ingesting radioactive particles.

    – Go indoors and stay there.

    – Close all doors, windows and ventilators. Switch off any ventilation or air conditioning systems drawing air from outside the building.

    – Do not leave the shelter of a building until advised that you may do so by the Police.

    – Do not try to collect children from school unless told to do so. The school authorities will look after them.

    – Keep tuned to local radio/TV (names stations, frequencies). Emergency services and MOD forces are responding to the emergency. You will be informed when these precautions are no longer necessary.

    ………………………

    ‘When asked what guidance is issued under the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001 to homes along the route of convoys transporting nuclear weapons, the Minister (Penny Mordaunt) responded that the aforementioned Regulations apply to areas surrounding nuclear sites and do not apply to road transport.”

    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643525/20170831-LAESI-Ed_11.pdf

    ………………………

    Note associated employment areas south of the border.

    https://cnduk.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nuclear-britain2-routes-FINAL.pdf

  235. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    ‘BBC editors told to reveal allegiances of guests in landmark ruling.’

    http://www.thenational.scot/news/17727259.bbc-editors-told-to-reveal-allegiances-of-guests-in-landmark-ruling/?c=c3ii6t

    ………………………..

    Cineworld banned the Robert the Bruce film? What are you all moaning about just nip along and watch ”The Queen’s Corgi” instead. We’ve had all of the Victoria, Albert, weans, grandweans, etc, ect, films / programmes, so are now moving onto the Royal dogs.

    ”The Queen’s Corgi’ is about the adventure of Rex, the British monarch’s most beloved dog, who loses track of his mistress and stumbles across a clan with dogs of all kinds confronting and fighting each other. During his epic journey to return to the Queen, Rex falls in love and discovers his true self.”

  236. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @Scozzie says: 29 June, 2019 at 2:17 pm:

    ” … You’re in the loop many others aren’t.”

    What loop would that be, Scozzie? Most of the time I’m housebound, I do not ever watch TV and I have hearing problems.

    Yet I make it my business to know what is going on. Mind you I haven’t got a scoobie of what is happening on Coronation Street, East Enders of Emmerdale. I don’t even know if they are still broadcast. What was it Mohamad said? Wasn’t it, “If the mountain won’t come to Mohamad then Mohamad must go to the mountain”.

    If people don’t want to know you cannot force them to know it and it seems rather like you either don’t want to know it or you expect others to come to you and tell you.

    If you are waiting for the BBC, or any other Westminster controlled TV channel or commercial TV channel, to tell you what Keith Brown is saying or doing. If you are waiting for any Westminster controlled radio station to inform you of what Keith Brown is saying or if you expect other than the National to report anything good about the SNP or indeed Scotland then you are in for a very long wait.

    Mind you all you need to do to find lots of people running down Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Government or the SNP then you have come to the right place. Not a day passes but there will be several people right here on Wings only too ready to run them down or otherwise attempting to undermine them, but of course you know that already – don’t you?

    How about, just for a change, you go and spend some time on this website:-

    https://www.snp.org/

    How about this for a wee change:-

    https://thoughtcontrolscotland.com/

    Perhaps a little of the truth might surprise you.

    The information is there if you look for it – so go and look for it instead of doing your best to run anything good about Scotland down.

    I expect that you will now deny it and tell me that I’m the one in the wrong – join the club. Unlike the UK I have broad shoulders and neither you or any other person talking Scotland down will bother me in the slightest. I’ve had this happen for the best part of 70 years now and I have not died from it yet.
    It’s been 5 years since the last referendum. The SNP have had 5 years to think about how to reach out and I agree that the Establishment are against them – BBC, newspapers etc. but they seems to be playing by the same rules of the game yet again as 2014- ffs have they learned nothing?
    In what ways have they tried to convince the Scottish public of independence – its the YES movement doing all the heavy lifting. Where is the rebuttal unit that Kieth Brown was setting up? Why is there not moves to circumvent the Establishment’s media monopoly. The leadership can’t event support the AUOB marches and have just only sent out a token few MSPs.
    In 2014 both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon toured up and down the country meeting real people and answering their questions. I believe at this point of the UK crisis, the SNP should be in a campaign mode and pushing for independence.
    They seems to have no problem liaising with the trans lobby, so much so that, we very nearly had a stupid change in legislation brought forward that thankfully was reconsidered due to public reaction.
    That example shows that the public can be energised in something they think strongly about – i.e women’s rights being stripped from them. Perhaps if people fully understood their constitutional rights that were being stripped from them, there could be the same reaction.
    But people need to be faced square before their eyes to see the implications and that’s the job of the SNP to do that to the population – cold hard facts not softly, softly catchey monkey, hoping that people will slowly come to their own realisation. That is why I think the SNP need to ramp up their tactics and language and I make no apologies for that.

  237. geeo
    Ignored
    says:

    Known suspects on here trying to encourage aggression towards England.

    Agent Provocateurs, but not very good at it.

    Fooling nobody. They never have.

  238. Robert J. Sutherland
    Ignored
    says:

    Ottomanboi @ 18:45,

    “Tendentious”, eh? Not long ago, a real MP was cut down, leaving a real family permanently bereft of a mother, by someone following “advice” like yours. So take a hike, you repellent troublemaker.

  239. call me dave
    Ignored
    says:

    Oh Well! as Fleetwood Mac said:

    Quiet Saturday. Sweden edge Germany in footie QF’s

    New post here for those interested.
    ——————————————————-

    Explaining democracy to unionist politicians
    http://scotgoespop.blogspot.com/

  240. Ron Maclean
    Ignored
    says:

    “… it is legally possible for the UK Government to react to the passage of a Bill in the Scottish Parliament by making a reference and then persuading the UK Parliament to amend the Scotland Act so as to render the Bill invalid.”

    “The Scottish Parliament is a democratically elected legislature with a mandate to make laws for people in Scotland. It has plenary powers within the limits of its legislative competence. It is not akin to a local authority, and it is not subject to the same legal constraints. But it does not enjoy the sovereignty of the Crown in Parliament: rules delimiting its legislative competence are found in section 29 of the Scotland Act, to which the courts must give effect. And the UK Parliament also has power to make laws for Scotland, a power which the legislation of the Scottish Parliament cannot diminish: section 28(7) of the Scotland Act.”

    From The Inaugural Dover House Lecture, 27 February 2019, delivered by Lord Reed, Deputy President of the Supreme Court.

  241. Lochside
    Ignored
    says:

    geeo says:
    29 June, 2019 at 7:03 pm
    ‘I see Lochside has ‘broken cover’ with a steaming pile of hysterical shite (4.14pm)’.

    Just what I’d expect from you..The only thing that is a ‘steaming pile of shite’ is the utter ordure you stink this site up with. You’re a charmless bully and you are the one that ‘breaks cover’ and attacks anyone who disagrees with your pathetic wee squeaking
    about ‘Sovereign will of the Scottish people’.

    As far as I am concerned I won’t be replying to any more of your insulting trolling. I will continue to contribute as I have for years, before you ever appeared, as and when I choose.

  242. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    The wee runt, expert on Scotland, invited on to the Jeremy Vine, more like the Jeremy Kyle, show. Scraping the bottom of the barrel, as per usual. Burrell bleating on about Queenies residence in Scotland after thieving from Kensington Palace. You could’nae make it up. Just wondering what’s wrong with me now, as I never seem to get invited onto any of these programmes. Looks as though the criteria for an invite is that you have to be an ignorant, lying, corrupt sack of you know what.

    ‘Profile: Controversial Jeremy Vine show guest Paul Burrell.’

    ..”Interestingly, Frances Shand Kydd came to dislike Burrell intensely and was prepared to give evidence against him at his 2002 trial for stealing items from Diana.

    Indeed. Almost five years after the death of the Princess in Paris, Burrell was accused of removing items potentially worth millions that belonged to Diana, Charles and their son William from Kensington Palace.

    Burrell was charged with theft but the case collapsed after it emerged during the trial that he had told the Queen in 1997 that he was taking material. Many observers at the time concluded that the royals had intervened to suppress details that were due to emerge in Burrell’s defence. His evasive testimony during the 2008 inquest into Diana’s death was enough to prompt the Coroner to accuse him of telling lies.

    Burrell at the time and beforehand always denied being homosexual, marrying another royal servant, Maria Cosgrove, and having two children with her before getting divorced after 32 years to marry his boyfriend Graham Cooper.”

  243. ronnie anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    HoZeD Harvey’s speech

  244. Robert J. Sutherland
    Ignored
    says:

    Robert Louis @ 18:41,

    Let’s see what it amounts to first, RL. I don’t discount it being something truly dangerous for Scotland, because he is much smarter than his well-cultivated “happy-chappy” image, and certainly no friend of ours. But Tory notions about how to “manage” Scotland do rather tend to backfire, don’t they? Especially those made for the purpose of their internal elections.

    So what are the odds of it being another of his “two-feet-in-mouth” moments, d’ye reckon?

    Or even an offer to get rid of us? That would apparently go very well with his southern selectorate, and truly banjax his non-fan Ruthie into the bargain.

    What’s not (for him) to like about that…? =grin=

  245. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    Who exactly is calling the shots for these SCOTTISH organisations? SCOTS?

    ‘National Trust Scotland and HES slammed for Union Jackery.’

    …”Scots based goods only used 60% of the time by NTS in shops and online….

    …”NTS is selling a range of Charles Rennie MacIntosh themed jewellery designed by Paula Bolton, a Kent based jeweller who has most of her products made in Bali.”…

    http://www.thenational.scot/news/17738186.national-trust-scotland-and-hes-slammed-for-union-jackery/

    ……………………….

    I’m hoping that Angela Merkel isn’t suffering from something too serious. What a position to find yourself in, when under such scrutiny. Poor soul.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTdiikDPsHk

  246. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    Adam Price, Plaid Cymru leader, no doubt put the wind up Westminster when he visited Scotland again. How dare he! Surprised in fact that his latest visit wasn’t blocked by Hunt et al, as he’s a force to be reckoned with.

    http://www.partyof.wales/adam_price_benelux_britain

    And a snippet from his ”Let it die” speech at the SNP Conference last year:-

    ”The hour is now late. We’re on the Titanic’s deck. The iceberg’s looming. The British Government’s strategy it would appear is to ask the iceberg to move. Those in first class have taken to the lifeboats. David Cameron’s on a beach somewhere and has left the rest of us locked in the third-class cabins. We have got to break that deadlock. As Brexit has laid bare in excruciating detail, that Britain’s already broken; its democracy dysfunctional, its economy unbalanced, its society unequal. The old Britain is dying. Let it die. Our project is not to break up but remake this island as a home for three free nations, not the palace and the property of one. History is in our hands. Our future is in front of us.”

  247. Meg merrilees
    Ignored
    says:

    Pete Barton 2.09pm

    Honest, cross my heart, …

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48790983/page/2

    SEE FOR YOURSELF.

    The piece is called “Fanfare for Elizabeth, Queen of Scots” but the BBC writes: –

    Order of Ceremony
    – The Queen will be welcomed by the Fanfare for Elizabeth, Her Majesty The Queen and then a welcome from the presiding officer.
    Her Majesty The Queen will then address the Scottish Parliament…

    and again:

    The chamber resounds to the Fanfare for Elizabeth, Her Majesty The Queen, composed and conducted by John Wallace CBE for the 20th Anniversary of the Scottish Parliament.

    Yet the photo immediately above says ( dedicated) To the Scottish Parliament on its 20th Anniversary
    Fanfare for Elizabeth, Queen of Scots composed by John Wallace ( who is actually a CBE) and it is a photo of the 2nd trumpet part.

    Careless lies!!!

  248. geeo
    Ignored
    says:

    Lochside@7.41pm

    You do that, and I will reserve the right to call out your gibbering pish.

    Are you claiming WM are ALSO wrong to AGREE (just recently in parliament) that Scots ARE in fact, legally sovereign ?

    Its in Hansard if you want to fact check ?

  249. geeo
    Ignored
    says:

    RJS@7.30pm

    Are you sitting down ?

    100% agree with that post, very well said indeed !

  250. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    Petra says:

    National Trust Scotland

    A couple of years ago we visited the Inverewe Garden at Poolewe. We are always on the look out for unusual shrubs which will grow in Scotland. We knew there was a small garden centre/nursery there but it didn’t appear to contain plants from the main Inverewe collection, just bought in stuff like any other garden centre.

    By contrast, a small nursery just to the north had an excellent collection of locally grown plants for sale. So the NTS had no excuse for not stocking from a very local source.

  251. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    It is great to see stout background dancers, because it is good for equality. They might lose some weight and be healthier jumping about. A win, win.

  252. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    Robert J. Sutherland says:

    Or even an offer to get rid of us?

    Which would an excellent way out of the Brexit debacle – NI and Scotland get a vote to leave the UK for EU pastures, but if they choose to stay then they shut up and accept England’s hard Brexit.

    Far too creative for any Tory. I reckon it’s more likely a twa feet in the mooth moment!

  253. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Control your bikes. Simple

  254. Robert J. Sutherland
    Ignored
    says:

    geeo @ 20:58,

    Cheers!

    Of course we agree about the ends, even if not always all the means, but happily we do at least agree about some of them! =grin=

  255. Lenny Hartley
    Ignored
    says:

    Geoo , The Motion was “That this House endorses the principles of the Claim of Right for Scotland, agreed by the Scottish Constitutional Convention in 1989 and by the Scottish Parliament in 2012, and therefore acknowledges the sovereign right of the Scottish people to determine the form of government best suited to their needs.”
    Not the same as saying the Scots are legally Sovereign.

  256. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    There is a YES flag at Glastonbury but it looks red. No Saltires? Welsh dragon.

  257. ronnie anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    twitter.com/Brexit/status/1144894009757880320?s=19&fbclid=IwAR1dWRd46CUwVLOT2_tF-I6jF70An5eVzHmHOrJGN8MxPcNBZDzW9ePk4oU

  258. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    A taste of what to expect in IndyRef2?

    “How Brexit party won Euro elections on social media – simple, negative messages to older voters “

    http://archive.is/FPtoO

    The NO online presence in IndyRef1 was quite literally a joke. Next time, we can expect them to be more effective. Short, simple, negative messages highly targeted messages to their target audience is what to expect. We need to be prepared, go head to head, and beat them online.

  259. mike cassidy
    Ignored
    says:

    Its Saturday.

    So relax and enjoy this golden oldie from Glastonbury 2000.

    Boris Johnson performing an extract from The Iliad

    In Greek, I think!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TYre_n4aSw

  260. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Saltire Scottish flag appears.

    They mucked up T in the Park. Moving the site.

    Nil Rodgers was in Kelvingrove Park. Some on the Green. Nae mud.

  261. Robert J. Sutherland
    Ignored
    says:

    galamcennalath @ 21:17,

    Interesting. Well, we do have similar advantages of a stark democratic deficit and national humiliation as leverage, don’t we? We just have to be prepared and willing to use these things, as you say.

    Next time round we have to be tougher and more realistic with the electorate. We have a lot to be positive about, but unadulterated “sunshine and flowers” like last time won’t convince everyone, especially the waverers we have to turn round now. So we need succinct and hard-hitting takedowns of the BritNat position. It’s not like the juicy targets are lacking.

    But humorous as well. If you can make people laugh, you’re already half-way there. (A satirical version of the “cereal woman” video wouldn’t go amiss either, for the same reason.)

    And conversely, not another 500-page White Paper, please. The previous one was well-intentioned, but was indigestible to ordinary voters, appeared presumptous and offered multifarious targets on a plate for diversion-seeking political and media nitpickers.

    A basic story covering the essentials for the doubters should be enough there. “We the people”, as a free nation, will decide the rest in due course.

  262. jfngw
    Ignored
    says:

    What is Boris Johnson going to do to strengthen the union, I’m hoping for Harikari live, but I suspect it will be more sinister.

    1. He will personally have to approve all Holyrood bills to see if they meet the union entrenchment requirement.
    2. All political parties will need to take an oath of allegiance to the union or be banned.
    3. All SNP members will be declared aliens and be subject to removal under a new aliens act.

  263. mr thms
    Ignored
    says:

    #Meg merrilees @ 8:48 pm

    You might be interested in this..

    It is from the website of the Scottish Parliament

    https://www.parliament.scot/newsandmediacentre/112298.aspx

    “Scottish Parliament’s 20th anniversary – information about the Ceremony”

    It says…

    “Her Majesty The Queen’s Address to Parliament: 11.00 am – 12.00 pm

    Order of Ceremony

    Her Majesty The Queen will be preceded into the Chamber by:

    • The Scottish Parliament’s Mace

    • Royal Company of Archers.

    • The Crown of Scotland borne by the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, escorted by the Lord Lyon King of Arms and the Captain-General

    Fanfare for Elizabeth, Her Majesty The Queen, composed and conducted by John Wallace CBE and performed by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Brass Ensemble, will play on The Queen’s arrival in the Chamber.”

  264. CameronB Brodie
    Ignored
    says:

    “You do that, and I will reserve the right to call out your gibbering pish.”

    And that’s the sort of psychology that keeps us divided and ‘legally’ subjugated by wankers.

    A Moral Realist Defense of Constitutional Democracy
    chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=12590&context=journal_articles

  265. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Paragraph 18 of the Smith Commission clearly states:

    *This will not prevent the Scottish parliament holding another Independence referendum in the future should the people of Scotland so decide*

    And they all signed up to it, the whole Union clan of them, and Lord Smith of Kelvin is their and our guarantor of the legality of their own document

    There’s nothing in there about polls or any British Prime Ministers deciding any different or whether pigs can fly round the moon, it’s a clear fact

    What’s everybody so worried about, all this saying NO stuff is piffle and waffle to buy themselves time and it suits our team because their case keeps getting worse and all the while support is rising for Independence

    Boris Johnson doesn’t care about Scotland he only cares about our money and he definitely doesn’t care one jot about Northern Ireland he’s just as stupid as the punters who think England is the UK

    It wouldn’t suprise me right now if the planning the SNP is doing isn’t for a referendum because that’s probably done, it’s for the big party after and who they’re going to book for the celebrations, and judging by the Tories in Scotland’s faces they’re no gettin an invite

  266. Welsh Sion
    Ignored
    says:

    Ken @ 9.11

    Y ddraig goch @ Glasto?- YES Cymru, I’d be bound. (But it’s not me!)

    There is a Welsh Male Voice Choir @ the Festival this year for the first time ever. (Again, not me. As my friends: they say I sing ‘like a crow with a sore throat.’)

    Glastonbury = Ynys Afallon = Island of the Apples.

    For the Celticists present.

  267. CameronB Brodie
    Ignored
    says:

    Contemporary English politics, and Tories in particular, have a problem with cultural chauvinism. Or racism, if I’m being blunt. Do Scottish British nationalists actually think the targets of that racism doesn’t include them? Does the full-English Brexit suggest the government feel legally bound to treat Scotland equal to England? Is the British constitution worth the various bits of paper it is written on?

    A Moral Realist Defense of Constitutional Democracy

    ….What is the constitutionalist’s response to the disjunction between the commands of the Constitution and those of natural right? The most profound answer to this urgent question was provided by Abraham Lincoln. The following is his response to the positive law argument that, since the founders had not abolished slavery, this meant that the Declaration’s statement of natural law (“all men are created equal”) must not have included blacks:

    [The authors of the Declaration] did not mean to assert the obvious untruth, that all were then actually enjoying that equality, nor yet, that they were about to confer it immediately upon them. In fact they had no power to confer such a boon. They meant simply to declare the right, so that the enforcement of it might follow as fast as circumstances should permit. They meant to set up a standard maxim for free society, which could be familiar to all, and revered by all; constantly looked to, constantly labored for, and even though never perfectly attained, constantly approximated …. 54

    Here is the test case. Natural law declares that all men are created equal; the Constitution permits slavery. Did Lincoln contend that judges should disregard positive law and declare slavery illegal on the basis of natural law? Certainly not. He urged, instead, that the Declaration’s statement of natural law should serve as a “maxim for free society,” a guide to future decision-making by the people through their representative institutions, and eventually to correction of the Constitution through constitutional amendment.

    Natural law declares the “right”; enforcement through positive law will follow “as fast as circumstances should permit.” To say that there are principles of natural right is not to say that judges have the immediate power to enforce them.

    A defender of constitutional democracy can therefore accept the “aspirational” character of natural law, and even of the Constitution, without acceding to the theory of open-ended judicial review. 55 The Constitution is chock-full of aspirations. We usually call them, more mundanely, constitutional principles. Moreover, many of the aspirations of our political system in the field of civil rights, among others, have been realized through the actions of representative institutions. In such instances – the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 come to mind – the resulting positive law has far greater public legitimacy than if the same results had been obtained on the cheap, through judicial fiat.

    Finally, the constitutional amendment process exists as a continuing reminder that changes in our conceptions of natural right can be incorporated into fundamental law without either revolution or breach of democratic principle. The difficulty and relative rarity of constitutional amendments may cause us to forget that all the most prominent constitutional provisions protecting natural rights are products of constitutional amendment: the Bill of Rights and the Civil War amendments.

    Traditional constitutionalism is not hostile to judicial enforcement of aspirational principles – if they can fairly be discovered in the text, structure, and purposes of the Constitution.5 6 Open-ended judicial review does not give greater protection to natural rights – it simply substitutes the judge’s understanding of natural rights for the Constitution’s.

    chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=12590&context=journal_articles

  268. Welsh Sion
    Ignored
    says:

    Off topic:

    Adam Price, AC/AM, Plaid Cymru Leader in Caerdein/Edinburgh last Thursday.

    https://nation.cymru/news/independence-will-benefit-england-as-much-of-wales-says-adam-price/

  269. Robert J. Sutherland
    Ignored
    says:

    Dr Jim @ 22:27,

    Oh, that’s very interesting. I never knew that.

    Chapeau – well uncovered!

    That’s surely a keeper for us all, to throw back in their faces at every inane “never allow”.

  270. Dave McEwan Hill
    Ignored
    says:

    Just watched today’s Anniversary celebrations as reported by the BBC. Much impressed by fine contributions from
    Ken McIntosh
    Tavish Scott
    Patrick Harvey
    and of course Nicola
    Good stuff from Jackie Kaye and Susan Bonnar (frae Dunoon) and Karen Mathison. Lovely piece from Phil Cunningham.
    Inverclyde’s Stuart McMillan MSP on the pipes.
    Before queenie arrived the BBC was speaking to spectators on the Royal Mile -from Italy,Spain,England Scotland. Lots of wee identical Union Jacks being waved. Who gave them out? The BBC?
    Brian Taylor did well!!!
    Full marks to the lady commentator who mentioned that there were Saltires and EU flags being waved – but the cameras went to great lengths not to let us see them.

    Got a very strong feeling that everything has changed. I suspect lots of people now understand that independence is inevitable (might include queenie and her boy?)

  271. geeo
    Ignored
    says:

    Spambot@10.16pm

    You smoking crack ?

    We should NOT call out bullshit ?

    So Wings should stop highlighting unionist media horse shit then, as according to the world’s brainiest man, doing so STOPS indy.*(sigh)*

    Right ye are then.

  272. CameronB Brodie
    Ignored
    says:

    geeo
    Grow up eh!

  273. kapelmeister
    Ignored
    says:

    The Mail on Sunday are reporting that Johnson is pledging to change the Prime Minister’s official title to Minister for the Union.

    If he thinks the union has strength then why this piece of theatrical nonsense?

    We know why. So he can meddle at will with SG business and when challenged he can say ‘but I’m Her Majesty’s Minister for the Union’.

  274. cynicalHighlander
    Ignored
    says:

    Seems all is not what it wants one to believe.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/scotnews_edits/status/1145087852457472000

  275. Iain mhor
    Ignored
    says:

    @Petra 7:09pm

    Yeah, sorry a good 5 hours adrift…
    Anyway, just an anecdote.
    A previous incarnation, saw me contracting to a well known Scotch Whisky (& other spirits) conglomerate – The initial induction was at Port Dundas just above Glasgow City Centre.

    Slightly bored and drifting, during the usual boilerplate H&S preamble, my lugs picked up at the mention of “epicentre” – Quickly getting up to speed, the gist was : should the whisky bond go up in a blue lowe, the epicentre would be Dundas, taking out everything within a radius out to Queen St Station and collateral damage beyond.
    Apologies to those unfamiliar with Glasgow geography – lets just say, you’re not running away from it, nor taking a fast train to pastures safer!

    Apparently (and take this as anecdotal) Scotland’s whisky bonds have A1 priority for the fire service. If yer hoose is burning doon, and there is nae sign of the appliances – just be thankful they’re oot saving the whisky first!

    Having since worked through very many distilleries in Scotland, I’m as concerned at being within a Whisky bond ‘meltdown’ as I am about a nuclear one! It’s no wonder bonds operate their own on-site fire services.

    Have a good weekend all.

  276. kapelmeister
    Ignored
    says:

    Boris Johnson will rile so many No supporters that folk will be queueing to do Journey To Yes videos. He’ll be so adept at converting people to Yes that Jeremy Hunt and his can of Irn Bru will look like amateur night.

    BoJo is a huge picture window of opportunity for independence. Since he likes new titles so much here’s one for him;

    The Indy Windae

  277. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Robert J. Sutherland says at 11:03 pm .. Dr Jim – Oh, that’s very interesting. I never knew that.”…

    (Paragraph 18 of the Smith Commission clearly states: *This will not prevent the Scottish parliament holding another Independence referendum in the future should the people of Scotland so decide* And they all signed up to it, the whole Union clan of them, and Lord Smith of Kelvin is their and our guarantor of the legality of their own document.)

    But we can bet our bottom dollar that Nicola Sturgeon does.

    ………………….

    WGD:- ‘The turd way of politics.’

    https://weegingerdug.wordpress.com/2019/06/29/the-turd-way-of-politics/

  278. geeo
    Ignored
    says:

    @spamalot.

    Cat suddenly got your tongue then ?

    Again, and it was a simple, and fair question.
    ……..

    We should NOT call out bullshit ?

    So Wings should stop highlighting unionist media horse shit then ?
    ………

    You stated this: “that’s the sort of psychology that keeps us divided and ‘legally’ subjugated by wankers”
    ……..

    So, you think Wings is “keeping us legally subjugated” since Wings calls out unionist bullshit?

    How is it different when I call it out exactly ?

    Reasonable question to ask, so answer it.

  279. CameronB Brodie
    Ignored
    says:

    geeo
    I’m on about your generally hostile and abrasive manner. Who elected you class prefect? What’s you frame of reference to be making ethical judgements about other commenters?

    Why don’t you bring some enlightenment to the debate. Oh, I forgot, you appear to consider the clinical-legal model of social change to be spam. Think you’re smart eh? Not from where I’m looking you’re not.

  280. CameronB Brodie
    Ignored
    says:

    geeo
    If you really consider stuff like this to be spam, then you apparently fail to understand, or grasp the significance of education. Put this sort of stuff in front of a waverer and watch as their internal cogs start turning. Show them how shite the British state is.

    Justice, social contracts, and democracy

    Within all modern democracies political controversy arises over property and justice. One important tradition of political theory addresses these questions by reference to the idea of a social contract. Social contract theory is a procedural theory of justice, and so links to democracy, which is a procedural theory of government.

    Among modern contract theories, there is an important distinction between contractarian and contractualist approaches. The theory offered in this work builds upon the idea that a democracy is a political system in which power is distributed equally, and models a social contract for justice. The theory can thus be designated as democratic contractarianism. Societies can be regarded as an implicit contract, involving a balance between individual and collective interests, in which bounded rational individuals have to come to an agreement. This links in turn to the long-standing ideological controversy between individualism and collectivism.

    Keywords: justice, property, social contract, deliberative democracy, democratic contractarianism, bounded rationality, individualism, collectivism

    https://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199684649.001.0001/acprof-9780199684649-chapter-1

  281. CameronB Brodie
    Ignored
    says:

    I’m not dicking about here, I’m highlighting how the ambivalence of Scotland’s judiciary towards the constitutional implications of the full-English Brexit, should be a concern for those who support the principle of universal human rights. The full-English Brexit is intensely discriminatory against Scotland and N. Ireland!

    How well does the UK’s democracy protect human rights and civil liberties?

    A foundational principle of liberal democracy is that all citizens are equal, and so the protection of fundamental human rights is of critical importance for democratic effectiveness. In many countries a statement of citizens’ rights forms part of the constitution, and is especially enshrined in law and enforced by the courts.

    This has not happened in the UK, which has no codified constitution. Instead, in an article from The UK’s Changing Democracy: the 2018 Democratic Audit, Colm O’Cinneide evaluates the more diffuse and eclectic ways in which the UK’s political system protects fundamental human rights through the Human Rights Act and other legislation, and the courts and Parliament.

    How must human rights and civil liberties be protected in a democracy?

    Liberal democratic states are now expected to respect a range of fundamental human rights set out in international human rights treaties such as the European Convention on Human Rights (‘the Convention’). These extend from freedom from torture, to the right to fair trial and freedom from discrimination.

    It is generally recognised that the functioning of any genuine democracy must be based on respect for these rights, without which individuals cannot participate freely or effectively in the political process….

    http://www.democraticaudit.com/2018/11/28/how-well-does-the-uks-democracy-protect-human-rights-and-civil-liberties/

  282. CameronB Brodie
    Ignored
    says:

    The full-English Brexit highlights the lack of legal protection the British constitution affords to those living outside England. This is no time for ambivalence, frankly.

    Human rights education: developing a theoretical understanding of teachers’ responsibilities

    Abstract:
    The purpose of this paper is to explore a capacity-building pedagogical approach to human rights education as a complement to the “declarationist” approach. The basic premise of this philosophical paper is the idea of human rights as justified claims and/or demands; as such, ethical and moral justification is presupposed in the very idea of rights itself.

    It is argued that a dialogical turn in moral and political philosophy, in particular theoretical justifications of principles of justice, such as rights, has taken place. Given that ethical and moral justification is central to the meaning of human rights, the significance of this dialogical turn for the idea of human rights and human rights education is explored from within the idea of the logical structure of disciplines of knowledge, a discipline’s fundamental ideas and forms of thought (methods of inquiry).

    From within this perspective, it is argued that the dialogical nature of justification central to rights should structure the pedagogy of human rights education. It is suggested that this pedagogy entails three forms of normative
    dialogue—ethical, moral, and critical – that can form the normative structure of a pedagogy of human rights education.

    It is concluded that while awareness and respect are necessary conditions to the realization of human rights, the development of the capacity of future citizens to make, to justify, and to critique human rights claims is also necessary for the realization of human rights.

    Keywords: human rights; human rights education; ethical and moral justification; political philosophy; dialogue; dialogical turn

    https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00131911.2018.1495182

  283. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    “Haste Ye Back”, says Nicola Sturgeon as EU lowers its flag in Edinburgh.

    If you’d “hasted” your defence of Scotland’s Constitutional Sovereignty, the EU wouldn’t be leaving in the first place.

  284. sassenach
    Ignored
    says:

    Breeks @8-03am

    Goodness you’re up early with your anti – SNP pish today!

  285. Abulhaq
    Ignored
    says:

    Unionism seems to be back…..with a vengeance.
    Back to the 18th century we go, those rebellious, verminous ‘Scotch’ to crush.
    Let England’s glory arise again.
    Get to it Ruth & Ross!

  286. Hamish100
    Ignored
    says:

    Breeks

    Drivel.

  287. Simon Curran
    Ignored
    says:

    There’s a danger in getting too fixated with Johnson. Neither he nor Hunt will be good for Scotland. Whoever wins this particular contest it will mean the imposition of a Prime Minister that Scots did not vote for and government by a party that Scots did not vote for.Whoever wins the beauty pageant that injustice will continue until Scotland has the wisdom and courage to say “Enough of this we’re going”

  288. Abulhaq
    Ignored
    says:

    @Simon Curran
    We all agree on the going, the method of the going is contentious.
    Maybe the re-emergence of an arrogant, gung-ho, imperialist nationalism in England will fix the latter. Scotland will inhabit a hostile environment.
    Johnson & Hunt tick many of the boxes appropriate to the New Order.

  289. Cubby
    Ignored
    says:

    Petra@1.59am

    Smith Commission Report para 18.

    I hope every MSP in the Scottish Parliament is aware of it not just Nicola Sturgeon. As the Britnat parties signed up to it then it highlights the deceitful approach the referendum deniers in the Scottish parliament are taking. Even when they agree to a legal document they just ignore its contents.

    It’s bad enough having Britnats saying you canny have your referendum but when independence supporters say the same – give me strength. It shows the power the MSM have over even Independence supporters.

    In summary you cannot trust the Britnats to be honest and do the right thing.

  290. bowanarrow
    Ignored
    says:

    “I prefer informed opinion” from robert the bruce,
    opps sorry….”robert the truth”,
    what a very clever use of the name lol so droll,
    so very droll.
    The green ink brigade, “are” a majority of the
    Independence supporters and do support a particular
    party (snp) and certainly do not have beliefs of
    convenience, unlike yourself.
    I believe that Scotland has to be Independent I
    believe it now, I have always believed it
    and I will NEVER change my opinion, unlike you,
    just waiting to see who will offer you the best
    deal before you will commit.



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