The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland



Weekend: The state of our union 9

Posted on May 19, 2012 by

As part of our continuing look at the people who haven’t yet their minds up about independence, we’re delighted to present this piece by Sue Lyons. If you’re a “Don’t know” too, we’d love to hear from you – why not drop us a line?

I am a mum and a wife. In point of fact, I’m an English wife married to a Scottish husband, with three English children from my first marriage and two Scottish children from my current marriage. Why would I even bother to mention that at all, you might wonder – surely it doesn’t matter where my children were born, surely I love them just the same? And you would be right.

What makes it worth mentioning is that my husband is a Scottish nationalist. In fact, he’s such a Scottish nationalist that were the UK government to say tomorrow “You can have independence for Scotland but you have to pay for it yourself”, he would say, “Where do I sign?”

He describes himself as “rabid” and he’s absolutely right – if you cut off his leg he would have a saltire running through it like a stick of rock (but not Blackpool rock, because that’s in England). Not for him the sitting on the fence that others might do, not for him the idea that you can vote for the SNP and yet still be undecided on independence. John is for an independent Scotland completely and absolutely. That sometimes causes fun and games in our own personal Union – our home.

Read the rest of this entry →

Weekend guest: View from the fence 57

Posted on May 06, 2012 by

Ray McRobbie has his own blog, but dropped us a line to ask whether we’d be interested in hearing from someone who used to be anti-independence but now resides in the “undecided” camp. We said we’d be delighted. Take it away, Ray.

I’ve written a wee bit on the issue of Scottish independence in the past, without explicitly outlining my own view. A couple of years ago I was quick to criticise the Scottish National Party, and I’m not exactly a fan of Alex Salmond. Since then I’ve seen a lot, heard a lot and read a lot. I’ve studied the issue in some depth for my dissertation at university, and I figure I’ll be reading and writing a bit more in the lead up to the 2014 referendum. So I decided at some point I should actually outline where I stand. At least for the moment.

As it happens, I’m not really a decisive person. I usually like to have all the facts on something before I make a choice. A yes/no question is not often easy for me as I might pick the “wrong” option. This is a strategy I cannot depend on when it comes to Scottish independence. The referendum will most likely boil down to a yes or a no, but in reality it’s much more than that.

Read the rest of this entry →

  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a thing that exists.

    Stats: 6,898 Posts, 1,240,383 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

  • Recent Comments

    • Young Lochinvar on Push The Button: “So wet wipe with a haircut Starmer currently hiding in a COBRA meeting is hoping C3 digs him out of…Apr 30, 02:36
    • Young Lochinvar on Push The Button: “Beggars Was that in his Democrat, or Republican mode, or in some other future “flexible” mode? Answers on the back…Apr 30, 02:10
    • Mark Beggan on Push The Button: “Senator John Kennedy says: Stramers polling in the United Kingdom “is up there with ghunarea”.Apr 30, 00:05
    • agentx on Push The Button: “Fabulous “Wizard of Wishaw” tonight. 🙂Apr 29, 23:07
    • James on Push The Button: “They’d all be gan roond wi bandages on their feet…..Apr 29, 22:51
    • Young Lochinvar on Push The Button: “Beggars Aye very good bumpkin.. Can just imagine Quality Polis Toshan tooled up in the Donut shop queue; “Excuse me…Apr 29, 22:26
    • Young Lochinvar on Push The Button: “Beggars “The Americans get overexcited”.. Have you seen “British” media recently? Now there is overexcited; “ooooh, special relationship, the Americans…Apr 29, 22:13
    • Mark Beggan on Push The Button: “I think all Scottish Police Officers should be armed. Thankyou for your attention.Apr 29, 21:53
    • Geri on Push The Button: “Nah, he’ll be over there grovelling to Trumpet to hurry up & call a truce. The UK is losing a…Apr 29, 21:42
    • Mark Beggan on Push The Button: “The Americans get overexcited. The idea is to let the King speak then clap. A knockout speech. A Big Bromance…Apr 29, 21:11
    • Iain More on Push The Button: “I guess Lord Six Houses Six Boats 5 Cars Haw Haw Offal will be an English/Brit Nat NAZI gift that…Apr 29, 21:06
    • TURABDIN on Push The Button: “the point i was trying to make concerned the title obsolete «king of England, there hasn’t officially been one since…Apr 29, 19:33
    • Young Lochinvar on Push The Button: “But.. Whit happens if you press both buttons?Apr 29, 18:59
    • Young Lochinvar on Push The Button: “Yikes! Just saw a close up facial of Melanoma Trump.. Scary stuff; Remove the wig, make up and fake tan…Apr 29, 18:57
    • Geri on Push The Button: ““but, if you compare 100 years ago with today, we were all better off, are we not?” No. Only the…Apr 29, 16:27
    • Geri on Push The Button: ““I think it’s possible I might, given you being called out explicitly by the site owner for this behavior (more…Apr 29, 16:05
    • Lorncal on Push The Button: “Northcode: capitalism – not the unregulated or global kind – has actually been the catalyst which has pulled the people…Apr 29, 15:57
    • Andrew F on Push The Button: “Same scenario… There are 2 buttons: If you push button 1, you will survive. If you push button 2, there…Apr 29, 15:12
    • James on Push The Button: “Still here then?Apr 29, 14:26
    • Aidan on Push The Button: “Thanks Geri – that’s really helpful, I’ll peruse the rules. BTW – when I’m doing that, do you think I’ll…Apr 29, 13:17
    • Aidan on Push The Button: ““I don’t have a spare 30 seconds right now” has got to be one of the weakest most pathetic reasons…Apr 29, 12:57
    • Geri on Push The Button: “AI Dan Stu is the owner of this site. Not you. He isn’t looking for a moderator either. It’s none…Apr 29, 12:55
    • Northcode on Push The Button: “” I can’t think of a single comment of yours…” Of course, you can’t… but I already knew that. I…Apr 29, 12:27
    • Captain Caveman on Push The Button: ““Why would a unionist do this, on an [sic] Scottish independence website? Are you being paid mebbies?” …. DUH. I…Apr 29, 12:07
    • Aidan on Push The Button: “@Northcode – I can’t think of a single comment of yours that: – is relevant to the blog post; -…Apr 29, 11:51
    • Northcode on Push The Button: “Thank you, James… your sentiment is greatly appreciated.Apr 29, 11:34
    • Northcode on Push The Button: ““Seems The Donald – bein the maist powerful (Scots)man in the warld – mebbe aspires tae be King o Scots?:”…Apr 29, 11:31
    • Northcode on Push The Button: “Read my comment again and you’ll see most of it is grammarcheck generated copy and paste. You compare my ability…Apr 29, 11:25
    • Aidan on Push The Button: “Yeah I bet you would, because at least half of my posts are embarrassing whatever incoherent, easily disprovable nonsense argument…Apr 29, 11:10
    • Southernbystander on Push The Button: “No, this isn’t a correct analysis and you give yourself away by saying blue voters are at best ‘stupid’ but…Apr 29, 11:05
  • A tall tale



↑ Top