As we’re writing this, our YouTube channel remains dead. We’re still trying to navigate through YouTube’s awful maze of robotic guards to reach a human being, and while at least two newspapers – The National and the Scotsman – have asked the BBC for a comment, none has been forthcoming.
The mainstream media’s attacks on this site in the last couple of years have included getting our Twitter account shut down in 2016, getting me arrested, having all of Wings’ electronic equipment confiscated by the police and now killing our YouTube channel full of crucial documentary evidence, most of which isn’t available anywhere else. (On top of an endless catalogue of smear stories and hatchet jobs, of course.)
Now, we’re not planning on going anywhere, but in the face of such a concerted and increasingly sinister assault aimed at silencing us, we also can’t make any guarantees that Wings itself will continue to survive. WordPress may prove as fragile in the face of malice as Twitter and YouTube have.
So in case we fall victim to another unexpected technical/censorship catastrophe, or suddenly commit “suicide”, you might want to strengthen the rest of the team.
The new crowdfunding platform we used this year is a curious and arcane beast, and as a result the honest truth is that we’re still not quite 100% certain what the precise final total (including “offsite” donations and a few that squeezed in after the technical deadline) is. But as best as we can make out, including everything, it’s this:
(Fundraiser page here, or click here to donate directly.) .
The current total stands at a phenomenal £128,600 – already the second-highest ever by a five-figure margin, and just £11,447 short of the all-time record.
We’re at the halfway point of our 2018 fundraiser, and the all-sources total so far is a thumpingly impressive £103,266 in just two weeks. But while that’s a tremendous sum, it’s sobering too.
Firstly because with an average monthly readership of nearly 304,000 people it comes to an average contribution of slightly under 30p per reader. As with most crowdfunded ventures, fewer than 1% of the site’s users have actually backed it financially so far.
And secondly because for perspective, the average Scottish adult – independence supporters included – sends the BBC about £72 a year. (£323m from 4.5m adults.)
While obviously a minority of folk do boycott the licence fee, that still means that the average Wings reader gives the BBC 240 times as much money every year as they give Wings to fight it.
Just a quick one-week-on update: thanks to your incredible support, our fundraiser for legal action now stands at a phenomenal £14,683 including all sources. We’re well beyond the initial target of £5000, but since even a modestly-eminent QC costs slightly over £8 a minute, every extra penny helps.
The Yes movement, like almost all movements, is plagued with a small but incredibly loud faction of intolerant, destructive extremists. Alert readers will have noticed that this site has again been the victim of them this week, but we’re not alone. They’ve also gone after two print publications – The National and iScot – over their “transgressions” against the beliefs of these self-appointed arbiters of what people are allowed to think.
What those two outlets and Wings have in common is achievement.
Andy Ellis on The smirking scorpion: “I hear that nice Mr Macron has delivered the first Mirage 2000’s to our friends in the East too, and…” Feb 8, 12:22
Mark Beggan on The Joker: “” I almost don’t want to talk anymore about the extremists in the White House” These are the words of…” Feb 8, 12:21
Insider on The smirking scorpion: “Nah ! You’ve been caught out once again posting rubbish ! Rubbish about beavers ! Rubbish about solar panels !…” Feb 8, 12:21
gregor on Seeding the briar patch: “Elon Musk @elonmusk: “Fake anonymous”: https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1888181125639471106 #DEMonymuous” Feb 8, 12:17
gregor on Seeding the briar patch: “Anonymous @YourAnonCentral: “#Anonymous message to the people of the United States and Trump” Video statement: https://x.com/YourAnonCentral/status/1887945825676091613” Feb 8, 12:10
agent X on The Joker: “Front page of The National online COMMENT Photo of Trump. Mhari Black: The powerful are taking money from the poor…” Feb 8, 11:48
Captain Caveman on The smirking scorpion: “Being told “no one likes you” by you is beyond ironic, love. Imbecile.” Feb 8, 11:45
gregor on Seeding the briar patch: “BBC (07/02/25): Trump says he is revoking Biden’s security clearance: “JOE, YOU’RE FIRED,” the Republican added… He said Biden “could…” Feb 8, 11:40
Captain Caveman on The Joker: “Scotland seemed to do quite well for itself for very significant periods post-1707. I will concede, though, lately not so…” Feb 8, 11:39
Alf Baird on The Joker: “Woke is bad news for any people, but Scotland’s ruination started with its annexation and imposed colonial rule from 1707,…” Feb 8, 11:37
Hatey McHateface on The smirking scorpion: “MSM reporting the Baltic States have begun the 48-hour process of disconnecting from the BRELL electrical supply and distribution network.…” Feb 8, 11:33
Geri on The smirking scorpion: “Yer like parasites. Everything has to be yours while you devour the host then have to wonder why no one…” Feb 8, 11:26
Captain Caveman on The Joker: “I’m sure Farage is giving lefties everywhere VERY bad dreams, and rightly so. Time’s up.” Feb 8, 11:24
gregor on Seeding the briar patch: “BBC demon is always ‘at it’ fleecing the public, regardless. The beep is not worthy, nor is it capable of…” Feb 8, 11:22
Captain Caveman on The Joker: “Because both the SNP and Labour are a bunch of woke- obsessed, useless morons who’ve made an absolute mess of…” Feb 8, 11:20
Sven on The Joker: “I’d guess to a large extent because they can pump out whatever views they feel are held by the majority…” Feb 8, 11:20
gregor on Seeding the briar patch: “WikiLeaks @wikileaks: “Jeanne Bourgault at the World Economic Forum (2024) calling to develop “exclusion lists” to pressure advertisers to fund…” Feb 8, 11:16
gregor on Seeding the briar patch: “WikiLeaks @wikileaks: “USAID has pushed nearly half a billion dollars ($472.6m) through a secretive US government financed NGO, “Internews Network”…” Feb 8, 11:10
stonefree on The Joker: “You’re probabbly not wrong” Feb 8, 11:04
Hatey McHateface on Seeding the briar patch: “What an extraordinary choice for a ditch to die in, Xaracen. It’s Scotland. Scotland, Scotland, Scotland, Scotland the Brave, Scotland…” Feb 8, 11:02
stonefree on The Joker: “There are a few former SNP members signed up How many? Couldn’t guess. Small number due to a lack of…” Feb 8, 11:00
Ted on The Joker: “And Wales and England. It’s on its way to 200000 members maybe even by Sunday night. Phenomenal movement.” Feb 8, 10:58
Ronnie on The Joker: “That is pure genius, but so true.” Feb 8, 10:58
gregor on Seeding the briar patch: “Daily Express (07/02/25): Transgender doctor and allies in ‘battle of the badges’ with NHS Fife tribunal nurse Sandie Peggie: “Throughout…” Feb 8, 10:53
Geri on The smirking scorpion: “‘This isn’t rocket science. Non-recognition of the result of a democratic election is problematic for unionists. It’s immaterial whether the…” Feb 8, 10:49
Hatey McHateface on The Joker: “Fa’s Sturgeon?” Feb 8, 10:48
Hatey McHateface on The smirking scorpion: “Wow, Geri quoting Thatcher as a clear-sighted, pragmatic acceptor of Scotland’s right to Independence. It’s unlikely Geri’s right, but just…” Feb 8, 10:47
Mark Beggan on The Joker: “Oof! That’s a scary image.” Feb 8, 10:44
Hatey McHateface on The smirking scorpion: “A full and careful reading of the Declaration of Arbroath suggests to me, Andy, that our forebears would be willing…” Feb 8, 10:38