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Wings Over Scotland



Think of the country first 143

Posted on June 11, 2017 by

Simon Pia, former Scottish Labour spin doctor.

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The voice of sanity 199

Posted on June 04, 2017 by

Hilary and Carey, South Lanark.

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The right way to go for Scotland 91

Posted on May 27, 2017 by

No.13: James, Aberdeenshire.

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A way of protecting people 66

Posted on May 21, 2017 by

No.12: Sophie, Dundee.

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A creeping feeling 100

Posted on May 17, 2017 by

No.11: Kathi, from Bernburg, Germany.

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The Decency Charter 374

Posted on April 23, 2017 by

This site has spoken a few times, usually in jest, about forming its own political party and contesting elections. But as the UK heads for the biggest democratic trainwreck in its history – a vote which, depending on where you live, is really either a proxy Brexit referendum, a proxy independence referendum, a judgement on the personal character of Jeremy Corbyn or any of half-a-dozen other things – we found ourselves thinking again about what, on the fundamental ideological level, we’d stand for.

It’s a question that existing parties find it remarkably hard to answer. Labour used to define it clearly in its key “Clause IV” – a clear statement of commitment to socialist principles like public ownership and wealth redistribution – before Tony Blair junked it in the 1990s for some woolly neoliberal rubbish from an aspirational Facebook meme.

For the SNP, clearly its primary defining goal is always the democratic pursuit of independence for Scotland. What you might call its day-to-day policies have, like most parties, varied and evolved over time, but it’s always had that one clear unifying and overriding aim. It may have won electoral success through decent governance, but its purpose was never merely competent administration for its own sake.

In the case of the Conservative Party, the turn-of-the-20th-century US economist John Kenneth Galbraith summed up their position pithily and accurately:

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.”

(And lest an offended Tory should seek to instantly dismiss him as some flavour of pinko tree-hugging bleeding-heart lefty, he also said: “Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it’s just the opposite.”.)

The Liberal Democrats, of course, stand for being in the middle of Labour and the Conservatives, whatever that means on any given day. (They did briefly experiment in the 2000s with being to the left of Labour, partly because it was hard NOT to be, but the coalition scuppered that and now they’re basically Tory wets.)

But what about us?

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The sense of welcome 259

Posted on March 25, 2017 by

No.10: Jackie Kemp, journalist.

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To keep links with the world 84

Posted on March 19, 2017 by

No 9: Mark, until recently from London.

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A unique opportunity to escape 76

Posted on March 15, 2017 by

No 8: Elizabeth, from Bonnybridge.

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A great form of empowerment 94

Posted on March 09, 2017 by

No.7: Erin, 15, from Gullane.

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Something deep in the gut 347

Posted on March 06, 2017 by

No.6: Christopher, from Stirling, biker.

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The morality of nationalism 118

Posted on February 26, 2017 by

No.5: Tom Morton, former BBC broadcaster and No campaigner.

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  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a (mainly) Scottish political media digest and monitor, which also offers its own commentary. (More)

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    • Captain Caveman on The Joker: “See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_history_of_ScotlandFeb 8, 13:24
    • Hatey McHateface on The smirking scorpion: “Maybe the true owner/occupiers of the Crimea, the Tatars, should be brought back in, and the more recent colonisers shipped…Feb 8, 13:22
    • Mia on The Joker: “Goodness me! I must get an appointment for an eye sight test ASAP. I thought the juggling balls were Swinney,…Feb 8, 13:21
    • Captain Caveman on The Joker: “One of your many issues, Alf, is your point blank refusal to be even remotely objective, which for a supposed…Feb 8, 13:20
    • Alf Baird on The Joker: “Aye, the independence wars, evictions, clearances and transportations of the 1700s; followed by the poverty, deprivation and England’s colonial wars…Feb 8, 13:14
    • Cuilean on The Joker: “Just got it! Starmer! Duh!Feb 8, 13:06
    • Cuilean on The Joker: “The wee juggling balls are Swinney, Trump and Lammy? But who is the 4th ball? I recognise the chubby coupon…Feb 8, 13:05
    • gregor on Seeding the briar patch: “Joe Rogan: DOGE’S WORK IS FAR FROM OVER—THEY’VE JUST BEGUN TO EXPOSE USAID: “They haven’t even got to the Medicaid…Feb 8, 13:01
    • Andy Ellis on The smirking scorpion: “Since when have they bothered with that? Do tell! They ignored devolution for decades & they’ve ignored so called legitimate…Feb 8, 13:01
    • Frank Gillougley on The Joker: “Terrifying cartoon, Chris.Feb 8, 12:57
    • Captain Caveman on The Joker: “Once again, I’m in total agreement with your sentiments, Hatey. Scotland’s “traditional” perma-left wing sentiments do present a specific danger,…Feb 8, 12:55
    • Mark Beggan on The Joker: “Mea Culpa for the Woke and the horse it rode in on.Feb 8, 12:54
    • gregor on The Joker: “The National Snake is a disgrace:Feb 8, 12:48
    • Hatey McHateface on The Joker: “Be interesting to see the prognosis for a country in which the football team you support is significant. It’s truly…Feb 8, 12:46
    • gregor on Seeding the briar patch: “Hey @YourAnonCentral I’m gonna crush your giant NWO butt-plug for all to see (promise) – What are you going to…Feb 8, 12:37
    • Hatey McHateface on The smirking scorpion: ““The colonisers in London are shitting themselves Scotland is exiting the union” Jeezo, nae cant ever tells me onything! ?Feb 8, 12:32
    • Hatey McHateface on The Joker: ““because they can pump out whatever views they feel are held by the majority of none woke, “left behind” disillusioned…Feb 8, 12:28
    • 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 #DEMonymuousFeb 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/1887945825676091613Feb 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
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