The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland


Quoted for truth #5

Posted on January 18, 2013 by

An unnamed SNP spokesman on STV News:

“We have no wish to comment on Cllr Matheson’s private life. The issues which are important to the city are Labour’s scandalous £500,000 pay-off to a supposed anti-poverty boss which has been condemned by the charity regulator, the closure of day centres for adults with learning disabilities without consultation, and their incompetence over plans to redevelop George Square.”

Still, we’re sure that free wi-fi will be along any day now.

29 to “Quoted for truth #5”

  1. redcliffe62 says:

    Had it been an SNP chappie I suspect the coverage might have been more extensive.
    Sorry for being caught is like an Armstrong apology. 

    Reply
  2. Doug Daniel says:

    Can anyone imagine Labour being able to resist such an easy opportunity for a dig if it had been an SNP council leader that had been exposed as having a good old “moment of madness”? If Matheson goes, it should be for the financial scandals (including selling off land for a fraction of its cost, apparently – no shock there, they did the exact same thing in Aberdeen), not because he was caught cheating on his partner in a public car park.

    Maybe we should wait for the full truth to come out though – maybe the guy he’s been having an affair with is an installation engineer from TalkTalk?

    “I can hook you up for free WiFi if you like…” 

    Reply
  3. Seasick Dave says:

    Well said, that unnamed SNP spokesman.

    Mr Matheson can deal with his partner when he gets home.

    Why do the people of Glasgow put up with the other crap; are they really that disinterested?

    Reply
  4. peter says:

    Off topic but I was offered a free Record today in the newsagent which I refused, is this a nationwide promotion and is it a sign of how bad the paper is that they cannot even give it away!!

    Reply
  5. Tris says:

    His “affairs” are between him and his partner.  They cost the taxpayer nothing.

    His misspending of public funds is our business. They cost millions.

    I, too, wonder if he’d been with the SNP would the Record or the Herald have printed such sympathetic reports? And would Labour have managed the restraint shown by the SNP spokesman?

    Reply
  6. Juteman says:

    As others have said, his sexuality should play no part in his vilification. He is simply not a nice person, and has shown that he shouldn’t be trusted in his private, as well as his public, life.

    Reply
  7. Elizabeth says:

    OT
    There’s a tweet from BBC’s Douglas Fraser a couple of minutes ago
    “I’ve just recorded a 30-min interview with Blair Jenkins of Yes Scotland, answering readers’ questions. Online within c 2 hours. 

    Reply
  8. tartanfever says:

    Thats interesting Elizabeth, I presume the interview must be about the economy otherwise the political editor should have been conducting the piece.

    I would expect a few ‘planted’ questions from Fraser’s pals at the Fraser of Allander Institute and John ‘Oh the burden of Oil !‘ MacLaren 

    Reply
  9. Triskelion says:

    People (including SNP supporters) try to pretend they think the SNP is an “ok” goverment so that Union supporters won’t think they are fanatics or braveheart nationalists. However when you read this (along with so many other examples), you realise they’re just they type of goverment almost any country in the world would wish for. It has nothing to do with the independence debate, they have done an excelent job (with some mistakes along the way like anyone) and there´s few evidence to rebuke that.

    Reply
  10. Davy says:

    I could’nt give a damn about his sexuality, but if you are leader of the majority party in power for the Glasgow Council, the largest city in Scotland and you are dumb enough to get caught doing a sexual act in a car in a public place with someone who is not your partner, then you will get everything you deserve.
    Because you are a complete numpty, and Glasgow deserves to have better as head of its council. 

    Reply
  11. robbie says:

    I would rather Matheson be removed from representing Glasgow on the world stage.
    Common Wealth Games ?
     
    His behavior in full view of the public was outrages and totally un acceptable for a high profile Public servant.
     
    He has to go.
     
     

    Reply
  12. robbie says:

    I hope the un named receiver of Mathesons full blown attention will do a Monika Lewenski.
     
     

    Reply
  13. Ysabelle says:

    I just wish they would stop referring to him ‘performing’ a sex act. It makes it sound like a piece of street theatre where there was an appreciative Glasgow audience. 

    Reply
  14. Pa Broon BA says:

    I don’t know, is juggling balls not a street performance?

    I’m not sure if his remaining in place is tenable, although what he gets up to in his private life should be just that, private.

    Annoyingly, if its this that he does end up resigning for, it paints a pretty poor picture of GCC and Scottish Labour more generally.

    So many jokes though… Perhaps he seen the light and is coming over to the yes, yes ,YES Scotland team?

    Reply
  15. Juteman says:

    Will folk start telling ‘black’ jokes next?

    Reply
  16. Betsy says:

    ‘Labour’s scandalous £500,000 pay-off‘
     
    It is worth noting that Labour’s generosity to Mr Saez doesn’t end there. Once Ronnie left GERA with just £500,000 to get him by he set up his own company. Can you guess which city council has it’s logo proudly displayed on his clients page? Also interesting to note that GRA (the successor to GERA) are also listed as a client.

    link to divercities.org.uk

    I feel that Freedom of Information urge coming on me again. Let’s find out just how much public money our Mr Saez has been pocketing at for what.   

    Reply
  17. Rod Macfarlane says:

    I had caught onto this story when It broke last evening, and decided to have a bit of fun with it..

    link to auldacquaintance.wordpress.com

    Reply
  18. pictishbeastie says:

    To be honest I was gobsmacked that the sleazy little tosspot was getting any sex at all………………………..

    Reply
  19. An Duine Gruamach says:

    It’s stupid that in Glasgow you get in more political bother for going on your knees in a car than for going on your knees begging the Orange Order for votes.

    Reply
  20. Dcanmore says:

    BBC Scotlandshire has went straight to the jugular over the Matheson affair lol! 

    Reply
  21. Elizabeth says:

    @tartanfever
    re Douglas Fraser interview with Blair Jenkins. Looking for it on the BBC website (not there yet), I came across a page (politics page) dated 14th January “Put your Referendum questions to Blair Jenkins”….it says “Mr Jenkins will be grilled on these issues and more during the half-hour interview, which will be published on BBC Scotland’s politics website” 
    Presumably this is the same interview.  . 

    Reply
  22. Macart says:

    I’d far rather he’d got done for the corruption running amok in Glasgow chambers. How much of an embarrassing disaster he makes of his private life is down to him.

    Reply
  23. douglas clark says:

    I do not care for Mathieson, but if the only people who saw this incident were cops patrolling with entrapment in mind, well, do we really need them doing that? You can get into a hell of a lot of trouble for having a piss in a public place too. Ever been caught up a lane having a piss by a cop? It is a henious crime to give into bodily necessities, so it is.

    Not that that has happened to me, oh no, honest guv.
     
     

    Reply
  24. The Rough Bounds. says:

    There’s no doubt that this was a bad blow for Labour.
    Matheson must be really fed up that it’s all over the papers and probably all over the broad sheets as well.
    What is it with Glasgow Labour that they are so keen on having homosexual council leaders? And when will they get to the bottom of it?

    Reply
  25. Cameron says:

    Where’s Finbarr Saunders when you need him?
     
    Seriously though, if he’s been caught with his hand in his mum’s purse, so to speak, I hope the full weight of the law comes down on him, without any outside considerations being taken in to account.

    Reply
  26. Stevie Cosmic says:

    Had Mr Matheson been straight and was doing his own missus in a car park in the south side, he would, quite probably, STILL have been arrested and charged with the same offence. Remember Gillain Taylforth from Eastenders and the way the press hounded her? Worth bearing in mind. He broke the law, and that is always a serious indictment for a public official.
    As has been said, his cosy alliance with the orange order is of far more concern to the folks of Glasgow than his boring, if not inconsequential sexual escapades.

    Reply
  27. Christian Wright says:

    Ysabelle says:

    “I just wish they would stop referring to him ‘performing’ a sex act. It makes it sound like a piece of street theatre where there was an appreciative Glasgow audience.”

    Trust me, Ysabelle, for many of us any sex act IS a piece of street theatre, especially as one ages.

     

    Reply
  28. Christian Wright says:

    Playing devil’s advocate here for a minute . . .

    Would it be too crass to suggest that the unnamed SNP spokesman should be sacked along with whoever else had a hand in this announcement? 

    When your enemy hands you a bat, hit him over the head with it! Exploit every weakness he has. If he presents no weaknesses – invent some.

    This is how Labour, the Tories, the Liberals, the press, and broadcast media, think when targeting the First Minister and others in the Scottish Government. 

    What do you think would have happened had Salmond been the one in that car? He would be toast. 

    By all means, profess your disdain for the publicity this sordid peccadillo has generated, then use surrogates to do the dirty.
     

    Reply
  29. Cameron says:

    @ Christian Wright
     
    I wouldn’t like to meet you in a dark alley. I still think there is plenty of opportunity to let the Unionists hoist themselves on their own petard. Then put the boot in, gouge the eyes, etc.

    Reply


Comment - please read this page for comment rules. HTML tags like <i> and <b> are permitted. Use paragraph breaks in long comments. DO NOT SIGN YOUR COMMENTS, either with a name or a slogan. If your comment does not appear immediately, DO NOT REPOST IT. Ignore these rules and I WILL KILL YOU WITH HAMMERS.


  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a thing that exists.

    Stats: 6,981 Posts, 1,251,840 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

  • Recent Comments

    • Captain Caveman on Cowering From Destiny: “So, there are no expat Scots resettling in Spain and/or Spanish islands, eh Alf? Like as if, pal. Isn’t being…” Sep 27, 10:19
    • willie on Cowering From Destiny: “9.08am says ” it not fair that people in England that unlike elsewhere people do not get free personal health…” Sep 27, 09:41
    • Alf Baird on Cowering From Destiny: “Spain’s housing crisis has the same root cause as Scotland’s, which is people from other countries (including ‘Brits’) being allowed…” Sep 27, 09:26
    • Hatey McHateface on Cowering From Destiny: “The scandal of housing un-affordability in Spain: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/27/eviction-of-87-year-old-puts-spains-deepening-housing-crisis-in-the-spotlight It’s the Guardian so all the usual reality-denying shibboleths are trotted out…” Sep 27, 07:53
    • Hatey McHateface on Cowering From Destiny: “I don’t have to pay. Perhaps “they” are limiting your access. You must have upset somebody.” Sep 27, 07:40
    • Willie on Cowering From Destiny: “An utterly apt critique quote by Yanis Varoufakis – ” Andy Burnham’s new government is a case in point. Having…” Sep 27, 06:33
    • Minceheid on Cowering From Destiny: “Mark, here’s an archived copy of that article: archive.is/I7Uhr” Sep 27, 04:31
    • James Barr Gardner on Cowering From Destiny: “1995 a wee bit before afore maist folk ?????” Sep 27, 02:36
    • Mark Beggan on Cowering From Destiny: “You have to pay to read it. Why don’t you just give us a summary.” Sep 26, 20:28
    • Hatey McHateface on Cowering From Destiny: “An interesting article on what’s wrong with the left: https://unherd.com/2026/09/the-centre-lefts-slow-suicide/” Sep 26, 19:31
    • Hatey McHateface on Cowering From Destiny: ““Saint Nicola now fled to London” Jeezo, Willie, but you need to get out more. It’s an hour or so…” Sep 26, 19:11
    • Mark Beggan on Cowering From Destiny: ““The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money” Margaret Thatcher.” Sep 26, 18:35
    • TURABDIN on Cowering From Destiny: “Mea culpa….the wrong Kennedy it would appear. It does however rest on the definition of socialism. «socialism is a noble…” Sep 26, 18:04
    • Mark Beggan on Cowering From Destiny: ““When they tore down the Berlin wall, what people went in which direction? Socialism is for morons.” Senator J Kennedy…” Sep 26, 16:49
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Cowering From Destiny: “Sorry. Forgot to add direct link to above-mentioned book: Ainmean Beanntan na h-Alba/ Scottish Hill Names: Meanings and Origins’ by…” Sep 26, 16:21
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Cowering From Destiny: “A couple of new books of Gaelic, Edinburgh, and Hillwalking interest: ‘A’ Ghàidhlig ann an Dùn Èideann tro na Linntean…” Sep 26, 16:01
    • James on Cowering From Destiny: “I often hear the question ‘was Surgeon a plant from the beginning, did they get something on her; or both’?…” Sep 26, 15:14
    • TURABDIN on Cowering From Destiny: “@Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh Tapadh leat!, i’ve experienced more nastiness in my life than most. It has made me, i conjecture, wise…” Sep 26, 14:25
    • Captain Caveman on Cowering From Destiny: “”i [sic] am not unwise as to ways of the world.” Well, I’ll be the judge of that, son. In…” Sep 26, 14:12
    • sam on Cowering From Destiny: “The funding model in Scottish universities is broke. Financially and structurally. The business model that relied on income from foreign…” Sep 26, 14:12
    • TURABDIN on Cowering From Destiny: “KENNEDY, the consummate coldwar fantasist who almost started a WW over Cuba and initiated the wars in Viet Nam, Laos…” Sep 26, 14:10
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Cowering From Destiny: “Hang on in there TURABDIN. Your experientially informed contributions are appreciated.” Sep 26, 14:10
    • Peter McAvoy on Cowering From Destiny: “Yet again the SNP government has failed Scotland BBC Scotland news website stated that Alexander Dennis did not meet the…” Sep 26, 14:09
    • Mark Beggan on Cowering From Destiny: “‘Socialism is the reason I believe in free speech. How else can you tell who the idiots are’ Senator J…” Sep 26, 13:49
    • TURABDIN on Cowering From Destiny: “@CAPTAIN CAVEMAN & HATEY. I come from a ethno cultural entity which lost its sovereignty some time ago. I know…” Sep 26, 13:47
    • Lorncal on Cowering From Destiny: “H McH: I respect your views, and everyone else’s, enough to actually read them. When have I ever said that…” Sep 26, 13:35
    • Willie on Cowering From Destiny: “The comment about convening a referendum on the wee pretend parliament very much reflects union fear about Scottish independence. We…” Sep 26, 13:04
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Cowering From Destiny: “Re Edinburgh University – a very engagingly readable autobiographical essay by Kevin MacNeill – ‘A Subject That Taught Me I…” Sep 26, 12:34
    • BH on Cowering From Destiny: “Look at Sweden’s death rate say 1950 to present. Pin a pandemic on it. Try next door with its rising…” Sep 26, 12:20
    • Northcode on Cowering From Destiny: “It’s worth remembering that Scottish universities have been international for decades. They actively recruit staff and students from all over…” Sep 26, 10:48
  • A tall tale



↑ Top