The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland


To the National Secretary 382

Posted on March 31, 2021 by

Dear Secretary,

I have supported independence for Scotland for as long as I can remember. I was never a party political animal, but immediately after the 1992 general election – that of the failed “Free by ’93” slogan – I joined the SNP since it was the only independence movement we had and I wanted to do something, anything, to help.

I was then living in the south of England and so joined London Branch. I served on the executive committee of that branch in various capacities for a number of years, was a conference delegate and spoke at both conference and national assembly. I also used holiday entitlement to travel to Scotland to help with several election campaigns.

When I returned home to Scotland I joined Tweeddale Branch and again served on the executive committee, for a time as vice-convener. I took part in a great deal of campaigning both for elections and for the independence referendum, and in fact made myself ill during the summer of 2014, so hard was I working for a Yes vote. I also stood as the SNP candidate in the Tweeddale West council by-election in 2013.

During the first 25 years of my membership I made many friends and had many wonderful experiences. I never imagined for a moment that I would leave the party before independence day.

Read the rest of this entry →

Tags:
Category comment, scottish politics

The mushroom farm 162

Posted on April 12, 2014 by

Have you seen the film of the coronation? I’m not talking about the grand televised extravaganza in Westminster Abbey with the young Queen Elizabeth done up like a wedding cake – I mean the Scottish coronation, in Edinburgh, three weeks after the glamorous London ceremony of 2 June 1953.

It’s not easy to locate. You’ll struggle to find a picture of it, or even a documented reference – a brief casual mention squeezed in right at the end of this article on the monarchical website is the best we could do.

honours

Acting on the advice of her ministers, Elizabeth attended the ceremony dressed in an ordinary coat and hat. The honours of Scotland were presented to her, and she held them as if they were volatile explosive devices, standing stock-still until they were taken back again by be-gowned flunkies. 

There would be no actual official crowning. It might give the natives ideas.

Read the rest of this entry →

Tags:
Category comment, history, scottish politics

Adequately explained by stupidity? 250

Posted on January 03, 2013 by

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie should be commended for starting 2013 with a legitimate request rather than a party-political attack. The Herald today reports his renewed call for a public inquiry into the events of the Lockerbie disaster.

The call was prompted by the new Libyan government’s pledge to release documents relating to the incident “as soon as time, security and stability permitted”. But what will such documents reveal beyond what we already know?

Read the rest of this entry →

Tags:
Category analysis, disturbing, misc

A letter to the Herald 56

Posted on December 19, 2012 by

21st November 2012

Dear Sir,

The Herald was the daily newspaper in our house when I was a child. My parents took both it and the Evening Times. When I started to outgrow the Bunty I eschewed the Jackie and its like and graduated straight to the newspapers. My father cancelled his Evening Times subscription when I was coming up to my Highers because he thought reading two newspapers every evening was interfering with my homework.

Read the rest of this entry →

Tags:
Category comment, media

  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a thing that exists.

    Stats: 6,941 Posts, 1,246,034 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

    and finally and firstly arithmetic fail braveheart klaxon britnats captain darling cartoons Chris Cairns confused cringe crybabies dateline debates Devo Nano Federalists Unionists and Devolutionists flat-out lies foreigner watch from the archives fundraisers galleries Greg Moodie hamish hypocrisy liars light-hearted banter lizards memogate misinformation one nation perspectives poll project fear project feart qft Scott Minto smears snp accused soapbox the positive case for the union The Vow ticktock toldyouso too wee too poor too stupid unionist of the day vote no get nothing

  • Recent Comments

    • Angus on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “You have proved beyond reasonable doubt that Police Scotland and the Crown Office have a case to answer for deliberating…” Jul 2, 04:38
    • Mark Beggan on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “Well done Harry Kane. Well done England. English team singing Wonderwall with the fans. Good luck in Mexico.” Jul 2, 01:27
    • Young Lochinvar on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “C That’s a genuinely interesting post. Can you elaborate as it’s peeked my interest, particularly the Congo crisis stuff? Thanks…” Jul 2, 00:53
    • Alf Baird on The Fast Track: “The empire’s doublethink surely lives on, in colonial Scotland.” Jul 2, 00:35
    • Confused on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “these cunts in the vids, you can summarise it down to an old comedy phrase : “badges … badges! ……” Jul 1, 22:57
    • cirsium on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “thanks for providing a transcript of the interview Rev. It is easier to deal with the “repetitive evasiveness” (AlMac) by…” Jul 1, 22:02
    • Karen on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “Some possibilities: a) Ach, it’s just indy supporting folks’ money b) a top COPFS person dropped the Clerkin ball,so chuckled…” Jul 1, 21:48
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Fast Track: “GCSE SPANISH GUIDE FOISTS TRANS IDEOLOGY PROPAGANDA ON TEENS One of the largest exam boards in England and Wales has…” Jul 1, 21:34
    • McDuff on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “The thing is rev will the police and Crown Office ever be put in a position where they would be…” Jul 1, 21:20
    • Hatey McHateface on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “No Mexico, no party! MSM reporting 3, maybe 4, dead celebrating their win over Ecuador. With such dedication, they deserve…” Jul 1, 19:58
    • Hatey McHateface on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “Seth MacFarlane is superb training for identifying and puncturing pretentious old farts.” Jul 1, 19:34
    • Hatey McHateface on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “Dunno Connie. I migrated to CD’s back in the day, and now even they are laughed to scorn. It’s all…” Jul 1, 19:27
    • Hatey McHateface on The Fast Track: “Thanks for clearing that up, Alf. “The root of colonialism is fascism” (Cesaire) “Helps us locate the origins of fascism…” Jul 1, 19:24
    • Connie Davidson on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “Seconded, Jay.” Jul 1, 18:27
    • Connie Davidson on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “Just where do you come in Hatey? And where do you get off? Is there some criminality involved here, of…” Jul 1, 18:24
    • Connie Davidson on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “No. Not just you. This is the state we are in. The “United Kingdom” and “the Crown” are imposed on…” Jul 1, 18:21
    • Jay on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “Campbell clansman, please name the party or parties to whom you refer by your first word “they” in your comment.…” Jul 1, 18:13
    • 100%Yes on ACC Houston, We Have A Problem: “When I watched the video John Logue I got the impression he was thinking a lot on how to answer…” Jul 1, 17:47
    • 100%Yes on ACC Houston, We Have A Problem: “Well done and thank you.” Jul 1, 17:20
    • Jack Thomson on ACC Houston, We Have A Problem: “There are also huge questions re potential unrecorded income. This doesn’t seem to have been addressed. The Manchester auditors qualified…” Jul 1, 16:46
    • Alf Baird on The Fast Track: “We should not confuse nationalism with fascist-imperialism. The imperial state tendency has been to portray Nazism as ‘nationalism’, which it…” Jul 1, 16:17
    • Northcode on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “Yummy… look at them pears.” Jul 1, 16:16
    • Northcode on ACC Houston, We Have A Problem: “Yummy… look at them apples.” Jul 1, 16:15
    • Cynicus on Strike A Pose, There’s Nothing To It: “AlMac says: 1 July, 2026 at 12:41 pm “……the 75-minute video is starting to look attractive when faced with 8000…” Jul 1, 15:59
    • Insider on The Fast Track: “Alf, Since you’ve made a complete fool of yourself trying to quote Orwell….how about trying Einstein next ? “Nationalism is…” Jul 1, 15:52
    • robertkknight on ACC Houston, We Have A Problem: ““ACC Houston, We Have Eh Problem” surely? Waiting staff in restaurants must love him…” Jul 1, 15:40
    • Cynicus on ACC Houston, We Have A Problem: “Incidentally, Peter Bell lavishly praises the Rev. in his piece, “ Solid Fog”, a few days ago. He is excoriated…” Jul 1, 15:13
    • sarah on ACC Houston, We Have A Problem: “I meant to say that the title gave me a chuckle. I daresay they are enjoying it at Police Scotland…” Jul 1, 15:10
    • lothianlad on ACC Houston, We Have A Problem: “Honestly STU, Your dilligence must be making them really nervous. Well done for your persistance.” Jul 1, 15:00
    • sarah on ACC Houston, We Have A Problem: “Many thanks, Rev – excellent work as usual.” Jul 1, 15:00

  • A tall tale



↑ Top