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The art of the filibuster

Posted on January 10, 2016 by

This is what a man who REALLY doesn’t want to answer a question looks like.

Just a couple of small points.

1. Murray never does get round to telling us why Scottish Labour have decided to divert money they were originally going to spend on the poorest people in society towards relatively wealthy couples with tens of thousands of pounds in savings.

2. The APD money is NOT “available to be reallocated”, because it DOESN’T EXIST. After two failed attempts, Gordon Brewer appears to have given up on trying to point that out, which is a shame, as it’s always entertaining.

3. We’re not sure why just handing people £6000 of free money they never have to pay back, in the hope that they’ll vote for you, “isn’t a bung”.

bung

We may need a new dictionary.

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249 to “The art of the filibuster”

  1. paul
    Ignored
    says:

    “We’ll do double Tory in Scotland.” LOL!

  2. MajorBloodnok
    Ignored
    says:

    Interesting assertion that “there is no better way of putting money into the economy than having people spend it on their first home”. I would have thought investing it in infrastructure and jobs would be far more effective. Scottish Labour is beyond redemption now.

  3. Itchybiscuit
    Ignored
    says:

    Surely Labour in Scotland don’t believe the Scottish electorate is stupid?

    No wait, they really do.

    SNPx2…

  4. One_Scot
    Ignored
    says:

    You can promise anything when you know you will never have to deliver.

  5. gordoz
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian has a great track record for waffle and bluster on regurgitated matters and nonsense.

  6. Richardinho
    Ignored
    says:

    Another obvious point is that this is likely to just inflate property prices, which will defeat the purpose of the whole enterprise.

  7. HandandShrimp
    Ignored
    says:

    I am perplexed by the notion that nothing stimulates an economy like first time buyers buying a house. This is exactly the sort of Tory economic mince that has had us in a spate of property bubbles since the 80s.

    Pumping money into the demand side without increasing supply will simply increase property prices. The first time buyers will have the same debt as before and the only immediate winner is the seller.

    Spend money on increasing the supply of affordable homes to rent and buy will balance the equation and allow for a more balanced and sustainable housing market.

  8. NiallD
    Ignored
    says:

    Let me get this straight.
    The NO money saving from not doing anything with APD is now being re-allocated .
    The No money that is being re-allocated is going to couples who can afford to save £200 a month.
    This will generate economic growth by causing house prices to rise making first time buying more expensive than it currently is ( probably by about £9k a house)

    …and labour wonder why supporters are leaving in droves!

    ( as an aside, if this was an SNP policy, do you think Gordon would have let it go so easily, or worried at it like a terrier with a rat?)

  9. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Liar, liar. May 2016

  10. Richardinho
    Ignored
    says:

    Think about it for a moment: There’s something very strange if people can’t afford to buy houses in their own country. Presumably these houses are not just lying empty-the market would simply adjust the price downwards in order to find buyers.
    So if you have the same amount of houses but a greater number of buyers, this policy is surely just going to result in prices rising?

    It’s such a bad idea I suspect it’s not intended to be implemented: Labour’s strategy is more one of damage restriction and they hope that enough people will be won over by this one. Problem is there’s no point in voting for a bribe that you’re not going to get so if Labour don’t look like winning it’s hard to see how this one would work.

  11. G. P. Walrus
    Ignored
    says:

    Labour need policies like this to shore up their Morningside heartland.

  12. gordoz
    Ignored
    says:

    There was also a rumour going round Labour branches (Aka MSM) that Ian was to be ‘punted’ from the Shaddow cabinet in a reshuffle by Corbyn, with a selection from Douglas Alexander, Margaret Curren, Jim Murphy, Ian Davidson & Anas Sarwar but then it was spotted by a Corbyn researcher during the process that no other Labour big hitting dinosaurs exist anymore in North Britain so his position looks pretty safe for now … phew!

  13. joe macfarlane
    Ignored
    says:

    Anyone know how many first time buyers in Scotland there are who are on this gov. saving scheme , cant be many couples saving 200 smackeroonies a month.

  14. Iain
    Ignored
    says:

    Ah Labour, the party of Don Quixote politics.

  15. bobajock
    Ignored
    says:

    He used the word ‘aspirational’ – he is the Tory Parties wet dream.

    Is the Labour party really this? This? OH FFS.

  16. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    More power to Kezia, long may she reign with her innovative thinking, driving “Scottish” Labour at even greater speeds towards their destiny

    Third Place?

    If she’s lucky, (Too Harsh?) Naah!!

  17. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Surprise,surprise no SNP person on the show Murray must be talking about the increase tax his friends the tories put on APD to pay for Dug bung oh its not a bung just a bribe.

  18. Dinnatouch
    Ignored
    says:

    I’m trying to decide whether Labour thinks the Scottish electorate is irredeemably stupid, or is simply irredeemably stupid itself. Fortunately, neither works in Labour’s favour.

  19. HandandShrimp
    Ignored
    says:

    I do wonder if conversations behind the scenes run along the lines of “Oh dear Jesus, you can’t seriously expect me to go out and try and sell this policy?”

  20. findlay farquaharson
    Ignored
    says:

    theres just nothin likeable about that guy

  21. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Just annoys people.Labour/Unionists caused the 2007 banking crash, the illegal Wars, tax evasion, sanctions the vulnerable and starves people. Built six houses. Just another pozzi scheme. Some people never learn. Just keep on making the same mistake over and over again. Useless. May 2016.

  22. gordoz
    Ignored
    says:

    Does show that Blairite Neo Liberal ideas quickly resurface from Labours ‘We Thunk it first’ bunker.

    All is alive and well in the North Branch, only too keen to bite at the heels of the ‘Scotsman/Herald’ reading Tory vote in Scotchland via such key targeted policies.

  23. Calum McKay
    Ignored
    says:

    labour are against free meals for school kids as they believe this is a subsidy for middle classes, YET they wish to give £6 000 to people who are about to buy a house and the £6 000 on offer is basically a present with no strings!

    “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free who have a an ISA and labour will give them £6 000 and set them free”

    As has been said often enough, you could not make this stuff up about labour in Scotland!

  24. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Police Scotland investigate Labour councillor corruption allegations

    Who is this person that the Herald will not name if SNP councillor would be all over the press and Brewer would certainly brought it up today

  25. Scot Finlayson
    Ignored
    says:

    The immigrants and settlers that inhabit Morningside and The Grange who in their wisdom decided this was the man to represent their right wing Tory beliefs must be chuffed to bits Murray is helping their well off progeny get more free cash to buy their first home.

  26. Effijy
    Ignored
    says:

    There we have it, Labour are more fucused on inflating house prices by taking money from the poorest and giving it to those with a minimum £9.000 in the bank.

    They have this vote winning give away that will allow the builder to increase their profits by increasing their prices.

    This seems to be a priority above removing the need for Food Banks, Helping those affected by floods, those losing their civil service jobs that are being sent to London, etc, etc.

    Would never consider voting Labour for all the Tea in China,

  27. Neil Cook
    Ignored
    says:

    Andrew Marr with the statement to DC today that people have the highest debt ratio now greater than before the credit crash !!! And we have a Labour dumpling wanting to increase the debt even higher.

    What do these idiots not understand that people actually need jobs to buy houses, building houses creates jobs in the construction industry but they cant buy all the houses.

    We have been told that Manufacturing jobs are at the lowest point but we get the same old crap Saying that its Chinas fault now as there economy is slowing down!!

    Personally i think we are heading for another crash but these idiots are telling you a pack of lies. The books on the economy are certainly getting fiddled but without proper audit who knows!!

    Labour are being the Tories still pigeons yet they cant see it as the elected Labour Mps are of the poorest quality and only a Primark version of them who will say anything for a vote but willing to do nothing for the voter in reality!

  28. Fred
    Ignored
    says:

    Echoes of Lammont’s “Somethin fur nuthin society”.

  29. DerekM
    Ignored
    says:

    Its astonishing,did they come up with this after the Labour party booze up or something,its a back of a fag box policy and is indicative of what we now see of a political party that has lost its principles and are out of touch with reality.

    Whats next Labour free parking on the moon ?

  30. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @NiallD says: 10 January, 2016 at 12:36 pm:

    ” … do you think Gordon would have let it go so easily, or worried at it like a terrier with a rat?”

    In Brewer’s case it is more like a terrier being worried by a rat. Watched the interviews today and thought to myself, “you can see a worried and frightened look in their eyes now”.

  31. David McCann
    Ignored
    says:

    Why oh why do interviewers not press the point?

    THE MONEY DOES NOT EXIST!

  32. Golfnut
    Ignored
    says:

    Obviously Labour still have the same policy guru in place from the days of mad murph. That worked so well last time, did it not.
    It is interesting though, watching the media trying to make some sort of sense out of the nonsense spoken by the likes of Murray, silk purse, sows ear and all that.

  33. No no no...Yes
    Ignored
    says:

    It’s quite clear that the Labour Party in Scotland is continuing it’s mission to try and hoodwink voters with this non-existent money. However, aside from the flawed maths, I’m not sure the left wing hardcore like Neil Findlay will welcome this half baked Tory policy with open arms. Can anyone imagine him selling this on the campaign trail?

    Whilst Labour has a compliant MSM, the SNP has the advantage of many campaigners on the ground. Check out social media from yesterday, it was a successful day of action across the country. This scares the opposition and MSM as the SNP can bypass their SNPBad rhetoric and get out the positive message of voting SNP 1 and 2. The personal one to one conversations also affords the opportunity to debunk opposition parties guff, such as this. Happy days ahead.

  34. Macart
    Ignored
    says:

    I’m sure his constituents are delighted with him…

    Wonder what else they’ll allocate non existent funds towards? APD appears to be the cure all for what ails you, so far as Labour is concerned.

    What we’d like to know is what they’ll do with the super duper tax powers (fiscal settlement pending), the borrowing powers, the Aggregates Levy, oh and lest we forget Road Signage?

    Could it be they’re aware that the Scotland bill is a load of bollox? A constitutional and fiscal clusterfudge? That would be the VOW they (LABOUR) signed everyone up for. The most significant transfer of powers in the UKs history, giving Scotland the potential to become the fairest democracy in these islands and one of the most powerful devolved (?) in the world.

    That VOW.

    And the answer to everything is APD.

  35. Dave Robb
    Ignored
    says:

    Quote from loud voiced Tory Morningside woman talking confidentially to group of friends in a voice loud enough to be heard across the entire tent at “Question Time” from Ingliston -“We all voted for that horrible little Labour man to keep out the SNP – but Labour didn’t play fair in East Lothian and we lost poor John”.

    Ian obviously feels he owes his new Tory constituency a bung for favours given – no need for brown envelopes, all above board, just like Giddy’s tax breaks for the already wealthy.

  36. Lanarkist
    Ignored
    says:

    It’s “FundilyaBungally”!

  37. Grouse Beater
    Ignored
    says:

    The ‘something for nothing’ party wish to give people deposit money for a first time house because it will ‘be recycled back into the economy’ unlike giving them welfare which will only get … recycled back into the economy.

  38. panda paws
    Ignored
    says:

    So Labour think that sick people should pay for the medicine that will make them better or indeed might even save their lives because free prescriptions are a middle class freebie. But it’s okay to BUNG £6k at a couple buying a house. Paying for it from APD…

    Labour haven’t so much jumped the shark as leapt over a school of them (where there are no free meals because they’re a middle class subsidy)!

  39. Rob James
    Ignored
    says:

    Having analysed this policy in detail for 10 seconds, I envisage the bankers standing off camera giving him the thumbs up. After all, they are the only benefactors of this ridiculous scheme. Why doesn’t Murray just wear his hideous Union Jack-et. Even Brewer must be wondering how long he can cover their arses for them.

  40. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    SLabour also want Scots to pay tuition fees like what England have.

    If SLab really do want to inject £6000 per adult into their Scottish region economics of Kez, pay students a bursary, out of the APD golden goose. Its pretty easy to means test too.

    Probably not though.

  41. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    The ‘Fund’ to alleviate the £400Million ‘bedroom tax’ in England was £25Milion. Disabled people are being bathed in paddling pools. Vulnerable people are being being sanctioned and starved to death. Cameron/Osborne are the most despicable, coarse, incompetent, inexperienced and despicable.

  42. smallaxe
    Ignored
    says:

    @Neil Cook

    I think you meant STOOL pigeons,emphasis on STOOL.

    Cheers.

  43. ronnie anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    Am in need of a holiday, am gonny save up that APD an put it tae a rite good holiday next year.

  44. Tam Jardine
    Ignored
    says:

    Does this signal that slab have given up trying to outflank the SNP on the left and are now trying to outflank the tories on the right?

    Wonder what Jeremy makes of the new policy.

    Does anyone know how this would even work? Define first time buyer- thats easy but define struggling first time buyer and you are getting into difficult territory.

    I can see bairns with rich parents putting their kids through uni buying them their first flat. Not too tricky to get 2 mates to call themselves a couple, save on the ISA for 3 years and bingo: £6k from the bank of Kez.

    Or unscrupulous parents buying a flat in their kid’s name saving money on the ISA and then getting £3k on a buy to let. Why not bung your mate’s daughter a monkey or whatever to sign up and you have an unmarried couple: £6k from the bank of Kez.

    Meanwhile the real targets who are struggling; they are fucked because the rents are through the roof and saving £100 per month is easy if you can but impossible if you canny, if you know what I mean.

    To avoid this being open to abuse the vetting process would have to be surely as rigorous as a mortgage has become. What would the cost of the vetting process be?

    I have yet to hear any slab politician being asked how many people are expected to sign up? How would you prevent this being abused? How much would the vetting process cost? What would you cut, CUT mind to pay for it… and “the same as the SNP hypothetically would” is no answer.

    Here’s another good question: if dropping APD costs £250 million in lost revenues, what do slab estimate the benefit to the Scottish economy would be? They must have a figure for this otherwise how can they possibly be qualified to make a pronouncement?

  45. Croompenstein
    Ignored
    says:

    I think it could be the answer to Ian Gray’s oil fund 🙂

  46. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    Disabled people are being bathed in paddling pools.

    The worst off in Scotland are being savaged by UKOK hard core red or blue toryboys.

    eg.

    Electric and gas from Pay as you go home energy metering is at least 25% more expensive than pay monthly or quarterly. So the poorest pay the most and the directors of energy co’s pay themselves more money than god.

    Who set this up, red toryboys like Crash Gordon and Lord Darling of Mayfair.

    “Yesterday British Gas owner Centrica said its top team shared a pool worth £7.1?million last year. Chief executive Sam Laidlaw received £2.2?million during 2013 – and would have got significantly more if the company’s share price had not collapsed in the last six months.
    The previous year he collected a raft of pay and perks worth a total of £5.7?million.”

    Price hikes, price fixing, threaten black outs etc UKOK etc

    Its a UKOK toryboy world.

  47. Effijy
    Ignored
    says:

    O/T

    I saw Saturdays copy of the Telegraph is running short of regurgitated SNP Bad stories.
    So they attack Scotland’s First Minister for visiting, and supporting, the flood victims of the North East,
    while wearing a Barbour Jacket and Hunter wellingtons, that cost over £300. ( if you shop in the most expensive places available).

    Of course they go on to compare Nicola with the Saintly Cameron of David going through the motions of “caring” about the English flood victims, In Chinese Made Wellingtons that cost £12.95 from Asda.

    Just how petty and incredulous can these so called journalists sink.
    Are they using junior private school boys to come up with SNP Bad stories?

    The tone of the story seems to say that Cameron is a man of the people and buys the type of clothing that the working class would buy, and there is this woman who claims to have the interests of the majority at heart wearing good quality clothing that will last for years.

    I found the Hunter Made in Britain Wellingtons that they “think ”Nicola wore on line at £67.96 and not the £130.00 that they propose, but no sense in letting Facts get in the way of a good exaggeration. ( Do you know this woman even has her own coffee making machine at home?)

    I am left wondering if the paper thinks Cameron is going to give the wellies cost difference to the flood difference?
    Trust me, I had more chance in last night’s lottery than of Cameron giving anything other than stinging cuts to these people.
    He hasn’t yet paid out money proposed for the victims of last year’s floods, but has the temerity to propose that Nicola
    Should have already doled out money after a couple of days notice to support the Scots.

    For the Torygraph’s benefit, here is my slant on this:
    Cameron is a cheapskate who bought an Asda/Walmart product from the American retailer, who holds several
    Remote US communities to ransom, after forcing the closure of any nearby competitors, and who came to his aid
    During the referendum to lie about price increases in an independent Scotland.

    Cameron doesn’t need durable wellingtons as he won’t be mixing with commoners too often.
    He can throw this pair away and buy cheap crap again if he has to exploit another photo opportunity a little later.

    Cameron knows the importance of wearing the Eton School Uniform and the £3,000 Bullingdon Drinking suit
    At Oxford, but doesn’t know to bring a waterproof jacket with him to an area bombarded with heavy rainfall.
    (Maybe his Butler’s fault?)

    Nicola is to be tagged as a filthy rich imposter while she lives in a Circa £250,000 home that she and her
    Husband have worked hard to buy.
    The Blessed Dave boy has inherited 10’s of £Millions from his dear old Dad’s Tax Haven/Off Shore Trust.

    Cameron is estimated to be worth £35,000,000, but he could soon be just as rich as fake socialist Tony Blair,
    When his in-laws shrug off their gold plated mortal coils.

    Our Dave has a nice little £2,000,000 plus home in Kensington, and another wee country home in Chipping Norton worth another
    £2,000,000 plus.
    He is the first Prime Minister to claim for free road Tax, the first PM to ever rent out his main home, while he has use of No 10 without charge, and did you see his face when asked if he would give his latest inflation busting pay rise to charity, like the SNP- MPs?
    He didn’t answer the question in words, but that tormented visage would assure any group of do gooders to look elsewhere.

    Last thought on putting the Torygraph Propaganda Pamphlet straight, if we are All equal and there is only one UK, and he loves Scotland,
    Why hasn’t he ever visited a Scottish Flood victim?
    Why hasn’t his Westminster government made any compensation awards to Scots from the UK central Fund that London is forever securing for themselves, and Why do we have a UK Prime Minister who doesn’t dare walk on any Scottish Street.

    On Count Cameron’s pre referendum visits to Scotland, he had to surround himself with Police escorts while he makes a Dash to a Tory Supporter’s works canteen where employees would be told to attend, keep quiet, and smile for the cameras.
    (Greeting & Meeting the Scots?)

    Has anyone noticed the leader of the North British Accounting Unit attending as leader of the opposition?
    Her absence may not be because she is out of her depth, but could be due one of 3 other things :

    1, Dippity Dug cannot Doggie Paddle.

    2, Her Party are worried that she puts her wellies on the wrong feet, not knowing where Left and Right of Politics sit.

    3, The vast majority of people that she would meet would welcome her as much as more rainfall.

    Tomorrow’s Headlines:

    First Minster accused of taking a bath in the same liquid that caused Scottish Flooding!
    An un-named source advises that she was seen drinking the stuff by the cup full.

    Demands made by Labour for a public Enquiry!

  48. HandandShrimp
    Ignored
    says:

    The Telegraph message is clear. We should not buy British products.

    If we evil cybernats suggested such a thing they would be foaming at the mouth 🙂

  49. Effijy
    Ignored
    says:

    Did anyone notice Brewer interviewing a Tory Farmer from Aberdeen?

    He informs us that all Scottish Farms are in crisis due to the weather conditions and economic climate and not just the Farmers
    in the flood hit areas.

    He goes on to say that an EU funding package received by Westminster has now been subjected to the Barnett formula and Scottish Farmers will now receive some remuneration.

    He seems to have missed the issue that the RU funds were awarded to Scottish Farmers, however Westminster has decided to pool and share it/steal the funds and look after themselves and subservient colonies.

    I can still see the majority of Farmers with their vote No Banners attached to their hay bales by the side of the road.
    Are they exceptionally wealthy through Tory policy or is it that they can’t use social media?

  50. Onwards
    Ignored
    says:

    says:
    10 January, 2016 at 12:29 pm
    Interesting assertion that “there is no better way of putting money into the economy than having people spend it on their first home”. I would have thought investing it in infrastructure and jobs would be far more effective. Scottish Labour is beyond redemption now.

    Yeah, it is effectively giving the money straight to the banks.
    And as mentioned in the comments above, it will inevitably be abused.
    Everyone leaving college will be buying a house to flip with their ‘partner’, and we will see an artificial price rise neutralising the policy.

    If the money was put into extra housing we would have a large multiplier effect with all the salaries and subcontracts involved in construction projects.

  51. ronniw anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    Oh Zippy Bung le,fell at the 1st hurdle (6 inch wans) £100 each a Month to save, where ur they kinds of jobs. Chuntering for the sake of Chuntering he,s a CHUNTERER.

  52. @Marx-ist
    Ignored
    says:

    A Scottish Labour policy that would actually push house prices up for those lucky enough to already own one.
    There are more needy causes.

  53. Marco McGinty
    Ignored
    says:

    I’m probably going against the grain here, but I happen to like Gordon Brewer as an interviewer, and I do believe he tries to be impartial when tackling politicians.

  54. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    While the Labour Branch Office are offering bribes to first time home owners David Cameron is planning on bulldozing housing estates which he claims will solve problems with drugs & bad parenting.

    ‘So regeneration will work best in areas where land values are high, because new private homes, built attractively and at a higher density, will fund the regeneration of the rest of the estate.’ Times

    What I’m wondering is if this is a plan to remove all council estates from prime real estate areas of London.

  55. theMadMurph
    Ignored
    says:

    oh god noooo! don’t go messing about with a new dictionary!

    We all know what happened the last time the separatists got the OED to change the definition of a word!!! 😛

  56. Rob
    Ignored
    says:

    Do you ever wonder if Labour’s just wants to be supported by a better class of voter? Well-heeled Tory voters, for instance.

  57. Rob
    Ignored
    says:

    Marco McGinty says:
    10 January, 2016 at 2:01 pm
    I’m probably going against the grain here, but I happen to like Gordon Brewer as an interviewer, and I do believe he tries to be impartial when tackling politicians.

    I tend to agree with you – as far as he’s not the worst. Can’t blame him for running out of time, or the will to live sometimes.

  58. Brian Doonthetoon
    Ignored
    says:

    Here’s my take on it – am I up the wrang dreel wie nae luggie?

    APD is to be devolved to Hollyrood. Holyrood and Westminster will agree what this is worth, say £250 Million.

    When it is devolved, the block grant to Hollyrood will be reduced by that £250 Million. That sum, then raised in Scotland, will go into the Scottish budget.

    If the Scottish Government decide to abolish APD, savings of £250 Million will have to be made from elsewhere within the Scottish budget, to balance the books.

    If APD is not abolished, then the budget remains balanced. Therefore, there is NO extra money to be spent on ANYTHING.

    The upside is that removal of APD may be economically beneficial to the tourism trade.

  59. Chic McGregor
    Ignored
    says:

    No lightning bolt.
    No trap door to Hell opening up.

    Is God still in post Christmas convalescence?

  60. Anagach
    Ignored
    says:

    Labour have been selling the, quite silly, line that without means testing everything the SNP are supporting the middle classes.

    Now they are offering substantial free money to the slightly better off first time home owners.

    I wonder if they actually believe the mince they spout and that why they end up with such silly and absurd policies.

  61. Capella
    Ignored
    says:

    UK governments in the last century used house construction to dig the country out of recession. By stimulating the building trade they drew thousands off the unemployment register and invested millions in infrastructure, mostly through the expansion of council housing.

    At least that was better than using the arms trade and wars.

    Ian Murray is confusing that with this Labour policy of bunging a few thousand to middle class couples. It will not stimulate house building. It will push up house prices. It will inflate the housing bubble. Then the bubble will burst.

    Wouldn’t it be great to get off this treadmill?

  62. Muscleguy
    Ignored
    says:

    @PandaPaws

    That is an excellent point re prescription charges and this. I am going to steal that for further dissemination.

  63. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Brian Doonthetoon says:

    If the Scottish Government decide to abolish APD, savings of £250 Million will have to be made from elsewhere within the Scottish budget, to balance the books.

    Ruby replies

    That is the way I see it.

    It seems as if Labour are waiting for John Swinney to write their budget for them. Whatever cuts John Swinney makes to compensate for cutting APD Labour will make the same cuts but keep APD.

    It could end up with Labour cutting the education budget in order to fund their First Time buyers bung!
    They have no idea what John Swinney will cut but I suppose like the rest of us they have full confidence in John Swinney.

    If I were John Swinney I would be tempted to have fun at Labour’s expense!

  64. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Is there any reason why people claiming Housing Benefit couldn’t use that money to pay a mortgage?

    Those who buy to rent are able to pay their mortgage with housing benefit money!

    What happens when people with a mortgage become unemployed?

  65. Peter Mirtitsch
    Ignored
    says:

    AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    Foly Huck!!

    So poorer folk buy houses less than a quarter of a million smackeroonies? lol

    I am curious; this APD which is “now available” for this “not a bung”…is this the same APD which we DON’T get, and that was also earmarked for EDUCATION (at the same time as the tax credits)?

  66. Ruby
    Ignored
    says:

    Ruth Davidson will be on the list for a £6k handout from Labour.

    https://archive.is/e4baz

  67. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    What happens when people with a mortgage become unemployed?

    Usually they clear out the furniture, lock the door, pop the keys through the letter box, phone the bank, parents, council.

  68. Marco McGinty
    Ignored
    says:

    @Effijy

    All the Telegraph had to do was to delve into their own archive, and just going back to 28 Dec 2015, they have an article on the different pairs of wellington boots that he has worn – it would appear that for every flood visit, it’s a different pair!
    https://archive.is/O9S9X

    So, Mr Cameron also has a pair of Hunter boots, there is the Dunlop pair from 2014, a Countrywide pair from 2015, a Lowther pair from 2007, and this new pair from Asda (there are, most probably, many other pairs of wellingtons owned by the Camerons, all at the expense of the taxpayer, with many of them being discarded after infrequent use).

    However, if the Telegraph had gone a touch further back in their archive, this time to Sep 2015, they would have discovered that they published an article about Hunter boots being “plain naff”.
    https://archive.is/2nZLw

    And that sums up UK mainstream media, with large dollops of hypocrisy and downright lies being the standard.

  69. JGedd
    Ignored
    says:

    I am reminded of Thatcherism and how policies in favour of narrow and greedy interests were presented either as defence of individual freedoms or even purely for the public good.

    An instance that comes to mind is when, in the 80s, organisations such as MIND were lobbying for the closing down of the large, Victorian mental institutions as being oppressive and inappropriate places for the treatment of the mentally ill. Their campaign for mentally ill people being treated in the community seemed a justified plea for more humane treatment and these often grim, Victorian institutions had among their inmates people who had been confined for decades for simply having had epilepsy or having had a teenage pregnancy.

    Therefore, documentaries showing scandals like these, drew public condemnation of what had been out-of-date attitudes. Concerned people it seemed, were being alerted to the neglect and inadequate care for the mentally ill. MIND’s campaign was at last receiving sympathetic attention, but surprisingly, gained the great support of the Tory government who put themselves firmly behind the movement to close down these large hospitals which stood in many locations throughout the country.

    It didn’t take that long to discover that many of these old buildings stood in prime real estate and once closed down, passed into the hands of real estate entrepreneurs, many of them connected to the Tory party, who made a lot of money after having snapped up this land for a song.

    Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? But I remember it as perhaps the first time I was introduced to the quite shameless and cynical Tory hypocrisy of putting on a caring countenance and actually presenting themselves as concerned for the neglected and overlooked, while behind the mask was calculating opportunism. The media continued to go along with the pretence though with one or two honourable and lonely commentators.

    These institutions were often Dickensian and many perhaps needed to be closed and the care of the mentally ill did need to be modernised, but I also recall how Dickensian was the Tory greed behind what was a moral campaign. The right wing can always spot an opportunity to make money while posing as benefactors of the public good.

    And so it is with the right-to-buy schemes.

  70. Clydebuilt
    Ignored
    says:

    My take on GB’s show today was

    Two Blue Tories + One Red Tory = Three Tories

    Zero SNP

  71. Fran
    Ignored
    says:

    So, Slab being a socialist party would rather give non-existing money to private property developers than spend the non-existing monies on social housing?

    They have shot themselves in both feet this time.

    Do you think they have a rota or draw straws to see whos turn it is to defend the indefensible?

  72. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    If people are buying a house, they are usually paying a mortgage. People paying a mortgage do not get housing benefit. People get housing benefit based on their income. Those who buy to rent, pay a higher mortgage rate and use the rent money to pay the mortgage for the term of the mortgage. Osbourne has Just put up tax on second homes from £1K to £7K.

    No Prescriptions charges help sick people. It helps the elderly sick the most. 80% of the NHS is used by 20% of the pop. The elderly. Social care funding helps the elderly. It is the long term/sick who are more likely to be unemployed. Elderly women, students and the vulnerable are poorer. Women have less pension rights.

    The Labour/Unionists were stopping students from going to University by means- testing Loans. Students of households of average earning could not get a full loan but get get £3000? unemployed a year.

    Abolishing APD raises enough to cover loss of tax and tax credits. It raises double in increased economic activities. Tourism, direct flights etc.

  73. ClanDonald
    Ignored
    says:

    So SLab complain about the unaffordable price of property then launch a flagship policy that will increase the price of property. Genius.

    Why don’t journalists ask Labour why they blocked devolution of powers that would have enabled the Scottish Government to increase taxes on the income of private landlords?

  74. Clootie
    Ignored
    says:

    Murray lies with such conviction…a natural Labour politician.

    Politics Scotland
    The “set up SNPbad question” for Tory Alex Johnston …you are a farmer, tell us how Scottish farmers are doing after the floods…SNPbad/Scottish Gov bad rant followed ( uninterrupted by Brewer, you will have noticed the absence of balance at this point)

  75. Chitterinlicht
    Ignored
    says:

    Actually listening to that you can see why SLAB keep wheeling out Gordon Brown.

    Its like they want to lose.

  76. Hamish100
    Ignored
    says:

    Worked all my life. The house I reside in courtesy is no where near £250000. No where near £90000. Have the received advise from baroness Moan!

    I take it labour believes my starter home fo my children is not aspirational. Can my wife and I get a top up to £250000

    Somehow education to our young folk supported by the Scottish Governmet is not.

    He talks of couples ! Is this the new norm in labour land? What if the person is uncoupled!

  77. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Thatcher’s care in the community. Prison. There are too many people with mental health issues in prison. Cold, hungry, worried people get sick. Stressed out people get sick. Westminster/Unionist policies make people sick. Half of Britain are on drugs.

  78. No Cheese Here
    Ignored
    says:

    Obviously the proposal is to help bakers constituents in Edinburgh. No idea of life outwith his wee bubble.

  79. Kenny
    Ignored
    says:

    This is just the reverse side of Project Fear: tell lies, any lies, with the sole aim of either frightening YES voters or pulling in votes at election time.

    Labour modus operandi = open your mouth and let your belly rumble…. Who cares if it is mince? They can rely on Jackie Bird and the rest of the “one-media state” to do all the rest, presenting it to BBC viewers as a reason to vote Labour and not subject to ANY close questioning (before moving on quickly to an SNPBad story).

    I don’t think it will happen, but I would love for the Tories to come a close second to Labour in third place, because that might cause the “I’m only here for the Britnat beer” side of the Labour Party to just cross over to the Cons as the best way of keeping the butcher’s apron flying in Jockistan, while the more “left-wing” types just throw in the towel and decide to go with the SNP and the YES movement… We need another good 10% *solidly* behind indy and it either has to come from small-c conservatives or, more likely, half of Rump Labour.

  80. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    David Cameron is an alcoholic. Pig episode. Red face. Psychotic, controlling, arrogant. Alcoholics make bad decisions without proper counselling help and total abstinence. Osbourne is a drug taken among other things.

  81. Sinky
    Ignored
    says:

    We should remember that Labour in 2007 opposed the proposed SNP grants for first time buyers.

    Nothing like a housing bubble to over inflate the economy.

    Friend who lives in Murray’s constituency says that he jumps on every NIMBY housing development project to STOP more houses being built in South Edinburgh.

    Where are all the affordable houses coming from?

  82. Doug McG
    Ignored
    says:

    Murray MP and Johnston MSP , separated at birth? They don’t even have to take their masks off to be lizards.

  83. Valerie
    Ignored
    says:

    There will be no APD when we get our jet packs!

    Labour take another lurch to the Right – clue is in ‘aspirational’. They have figured out finally, supporters that left them, have no intention coming back, so they have to make a play for Tory voters in May, 2016.

    Just an observation from this weekend’s Farcebook wanderings. Folk down south are mighty sick at the moment. They are waking up to the BBC, and there are petitions out for Brillo and his harem.

    They are sick of the medical profession being painted as demons, and sick of spin on the flood monies.

    I consider my time is best spent being ’empathetic’ in various forums south of the Border, as they awaken from their slumber.

  84. Joemcg
    Ignored
    says:

    Certainly was car crash telly. It’s not a Tory policy? Aye? Something about this guys pus,you would never get tired of punching it. Thoroughly unlikeable.

  85. schrodingers cat
    Ignored
    says:

    25% of the electorate voted labour in 2015

    I think slab know that a lot of their remaining support are on the right of the political spectrum and it is their traditional support from the left who have abandoned them.

    Corbyn is attempting to woo back the left but slab know they are fighting for 2nd place and to stop what remains of their support moving over to the tories.

    hence their first policy of this election campaign, and many more to come, is aimed at the more right wing. the actual details are irrelevant, they can promise the moon as they know they wont be in a position to enact any of their policies.

    as a tactic, it is probably the right one. expect more of the “something for nothing” mantra in the next 4 months from kezia.

    slab abandoned their core support in 1997, we knew that, they denied it, now everyone knows it and slab are no longer denying it.

  86. Valerie
    Ignored
    says:

    Angry Salmond says:

    Sturgeon’s out on the campaign trail wearing a second hand Pikachu onesie with an umbrella she found in a dustbin

  87. carjamtic
    Ignored
    says:

    @joemcg

    Spot on,a wee fly man on a soap box peddling snake oils…..brilliant expose rev. , once again we are indebted.

    @smallaxe,@fred,@the man in the jar

    Re: previous thread SSAHB rock and roll 🙂

  88. Sassenach
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Joemcg:- “Something about this guys pus,you would never get tired of punching it”

    Agree completely with that analysis, and I would expect he could get his ‘slapping’ from McDonnel quite shortly!

    Grab the popcorn, SLab is going down.

    SNPX2

  89. Bill Hume
    Ignored
    says:

    Question….completely off topic.

    Will the SNP (indeed anyone who wants independence) be working with the Keep Britain in the EU mob? Will there be a Keep Scotland in the EU organisation?

  90. Grouse Beater
    Ignored
    says:

    A year old: topical then, more significant now: http://wp.me/p4fd9j-Jw

  91. Gary45%
    Ignored
    says:

    Interesting wee clip of Bungadin.
    Hell mend the voters who elected this useless little twat.

    I am thinking about becoming the earth leader of intergalactic planetary peace.(No such thing, but if I say it enough the BBC will buy into it along with the rest of the suckers)
    If you vote for me I will give everyone 1 million pounds tax free, I will also cut tax completely, so nobody will pay it.
    Don’t ask me how I will pay for this but you must trust me, because I say so.
    Just about to watch Brewery on the I-player, should be SHITE.
    SNP x Twa

  92. schrodingers cat
    Ignored
    says:

    snap Valerie

    except they are not trying to attract tory voters, they are attempting to hold on to their remaining supporters, stop them moving over to tory

  93. thomaspotter2014
    Ignored
    says:

    First they ignore you,

    then they laugh at you,

    then they fight you,

    then you win.

    So said Mahatma Gandhi.

    I think we’re now at the ‘then they come to fight you’stage.

    That horrible wee creepy lying bastard Murray is up there with Slimeball Jim Murphy as a plausible lying toad.

    As someone previously posted-perfect for a Labour politician.

  94. schrodingers cat
    Ignored
    says:

    @Bill Hume

    no, snp campaign will be

    “Independence in Europe”

    cant see the yoons wanting to share a platform

  95. Bill Hume
    Ignored
    says:

    schrodingers cat says:
    10 January, 2016 at 4:44 pm

    @Bill Hume

    no, snp campaign will be

    “Independence in Europe”

    cant see the yoons wanting to share a platform

    Thank you. It’s funny the things that wake you in the middle of the night. I woke up worried I’d see the SNP sharing a platform with the multi-coloured Tories.

    Took ages to get back to sleep.

  96. Donald Jaocbs
    Ignored
    says:

    Subsidising house prices doesn’t help first time buyers it raises house prices. Either these politicians are stupid or they think we’re stupid.

  97. John
    Ignored
    says:

    Brewer doing a great job once again for Unionist parties , tiptoeing around Murray and Johnstone today .When he has someone from the SNP in the chair the fangs are out .Andrew Neil does the same .When Brewster has a straightforward question to ask either Labour , Lib-Dems , or Tories he allows them to tell us a great big story before answering . SNP not so lucky , interviews are always interrupted countless times so nobody gets a proper handle on the reply.

  98. BJ
    Ignored
    says:

    schrodingers cat says:

    I wondered about that as well after reading that Frank Roy is heading the Scottish campaign for staying in Europe?

  99. Smallaxe
    Ignored
    says:

    @ carjamtic

    as Alex would have said..NEXT!:-)

  100. Dcanmore
    Ignored
    says:

    Murray has admitted today that he’s a member of PROGRESS, the right-wing clique of the Labour party. The largest donator to the group is Lord Sainsbury who has given up to £3million. It is listed as a private company with a board of directors made up of various MPs and Lords. Previous vice-chairman have included Douglas Alexander, Liz Kendall, Rachel Reeves, Tristam Hunt, Stephen Doughty, Peter Mandelson, Caroline Flint.

    http://www.progressonline.org.uk/

  101. Grouse Beater
    Ignored
    says:

    The moral rebirth of a nation

    “The SNP unites many social trends and associated people, adhering to various ideologies, with various political and religious convictions, irrespective of their nationality. We have united in protest against social and economic injustice, the abuse of power and against Westminster’s monopolised right to determine and to express the aspirations of the Scottish nation. The SNP is a grass-roots, mass social movement, that has radically changed the situation in the country”.

    ‘SNP’ replaces ‘Solidarity’ and ‘Westminster’ replaces ‘Moscow’ in this extract from Solidarity’s 1981 statement of intent.

  102. caledonia
    Ignored
    says:

    So basically John Swinney will decide where labour get the money for their bung to first time buyers.

    Just shows what a good job John Swinney is doing that labour also have complete trust in him

    just vote snp/snp and cut out the middle man and get swinneys budget direct from the snp

  103. Giving Goose
    Ignored
    says:

    Regarding the Telegraph non story about the wellies; I’ve got a pair of chest waders that I wear whenever I’m in the presence of a Unionist supporter, appratchik or politician; wading through the lakes of bullshit isn’t easy. Drowning in all that shit is a real risk! And the smell….

  104. Davy
    Ignored
    says:

    Labours solo scottish MP put on a dazzling show of simplicity today. No surprise there.

    But the really good display today was the Prime Minster David Cameron explain his housing policy on the Andrew Marr show.

    With yes we are going to build 50,000 affordable houses, oh and we will build council houses as well maybe? but first we will knock down the council houses so we can build the affordable houses first, no that won’t disadvantage those in the council houses as they will be able to buy the affordable houses, maybe.

    For fucksake Andrew stop asking difficult questions, its simple as soon as the poor can raise 250,000 to 1 million quid they can buy a fucking house in london, maybe.

    Now where’s my fucking wellies I’m leaving.

    It may not be an exact interpretation of what he said, but thats how it sounded to me.

  105. Brian Powell
    Ignored
    says:

    On the Scottish campaign for EU In/Out referendum, I saw a misleading headline the There would be Pro and Anti Indy working directly together.

    It was misleading in that the way it was worded it suggested that SNP and antiIndependence would be sharing a platform.

    It was the former Press Officer for the SNP who was the proIndy rep for that, he is often used by antiIndependence commentators to attack the SNP.

    Dis-information tactics.

  106. Andrew Morton
    Ignored
    says:

    I am slack jawed in admiration at Ian Murray’s ability to pretend that what he’s saying is the opposite of what it means. It’s the equivalent of a bank robber saying to the cops, “No really, I was placing money in the vault to save the tellers some time. Really, I was doing a favour to the bank.”

  107. Dave McEwan Hill
    Ignored
    says:

    O/T

    If you want to throw the paper away it’s still worth running out before all the shops close to buy the Sunday Herald for the great Celtic Connections CD in it

  108. Marco McGinty
    Ignored
    says:

    @John
    “Brewer doing a great job once again for Unionist parties , tiptoeing around Murray and Johnstone today .When he has someone from the SNP in the chair the fangs are out .Andrew Neil does the same .When Brewster has a straightforward question to ask either Labour , Lib-Dems , or Tories he allows them to tell us a great big story before answering . SNP not so lucky , interviews are always interrupted countless times so nobody gets a proper handle on the reply.”

    In my opinion, from a non-party stance, Brewer was in attack mode from the start, not full-on, but attacking nonetheless. Mentioning Murray’s membership of a right-wing organisation, stating on more than one occasion that Labour were guilty of adopting Tory policies, using the word “bung”, questioning why the Labour Party were going to favour the middle classes over the poor.

    Then, when interviewing the Tory politicians, he was sowing seeds of uncertainty amongst Tory voters by repeatedly asking who is going to represent those Tories that will be seeking a EU exit (and to an extent Labour supporters seeking the same outcome when interviewing the journalists).

    I still believe that Brewer is impartial, and will allow politicians to dig holes for themselves, and if need be, he will tear them apart. And let’s remember that Brewer has ripped many unionist politicians to shreds before.

  109. robertknight
    Ignored
    says:

    Snake oil salesman!

  110. Andrew Morton
    Ignored
    says:

    I agree with Marco.

  111. Clydebuilt
    Ignored
    says:

    Valerie at 3.25pm I’ve moved on from Jet packs, they’re so 1960’s ….. It’s a Moller Skycar for me.

  112. JamesCaithness
    Ignored
    says:

    Filibustering is what Labour have been doing for awhile now. So does the LibDums and Tories, I wish the SNP would not allow the interviewer to interupt their answers a bit more.

  113. John
    Ignored
    says:

    Afraid I cannot agree with you Marco , I have watched and listened to Brewer on numerous occasions and I am always left breathless by how biased he is .

  114. Fran
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Chitterinlicht 3.18

    Aye they want tae lose, they are not capable to govern. Those that are put in place within the unionist parties are there for a reason, Scots “are not genetically programmed to run their own affairs”. Saying that, those unionist leaders don’t want to be seen as failures either, bad for their ego, even though theirs masters have put them there to fail.

  115. Ealasaid
    Ignored
    says:

    @Bill Hume
    I am sure I heard on Today R4 before Xmas that the SNP had been asked to join the ‘stay in EU’ campaign by DaveCam but NicSturg had declined saying they would do it their own way. Having seen what happened to SLAB after campaigning with the Cons they are not likely to make that mistake.

    @Valerie 3:52 Re English awaking down south
    Friend from London got in touch raging about the reporting of Corbyn’s reshuffle. I sent her down the Scottish take from Weegingerdug and she came back laughing. So I sent her the ‘Wage Inequality’ video someone on here posted and she was disgusted with the greed. Then sent the link to the free online GA Ponsonby book about BBC bias telling her they will use the same tricks against Corbyn.

    Next will tell her how to contact her MP representative so she can tell them her views for important votes like bombing Syria. Then how to check how they did vote.

    All saying please share. We can get them up to speed in no time and Scotland will be the least of WM worries. 🙂

  116. Effijy
    Ignored
    says:

    I’m Sincerely hoping that the comments at the foot of the post, from the BBC web site, is a Hoax.

    SNP Cannot seriously be thinking of letting a useless, deposed
    Labour MP Lead their campaign to remain in the EU, a referendum that may give them good reason to have a second independence referendum.

    SNP are to be lead by Labour’s Frank Roy and they are to supply support staff to him. I’m very curious about whether we are giving SNP funding to this guy?

    Not in my name, with my party, and my funds, do I want the corrupt, lying, incompetent Red Tories taking control of our objectives. A party that always puts Scotland last.

    What message does this send out to Roy’s former constituents who
    dispatched him and his party at the polls?

    Don’t the SNP leaders see that they would be taking the place of the Blue Tories who stood to the Right of Labour in our referendum. By even standing next to them you give them credibility that they don’t deserve which may auger well for them in May’s elections:

    “Key figures from both sides of the Scottish independence referendum are to work together in the main pro-EU campaign’s Scottish operation.
    Former Motherwell and Wishaw Labour MP Frank Roy has been appointed Britain Stronger in Europe’s campaign director in Scotland.
    Former SNP media director and senior special advisor Kevin Pringle has been recruited to provide communications”.

    Kevin Pringle! Your first and last communication should be to tell SLab to go an take a F*** to themselves in the halls of Westminster.

    Is anyone on this site happy to collaborate with these Tories?

  117. Valerie
    Ignored
    says:

    @Elasaid 6.49

    Those are my thoughts too!

    For anyone interested in following a very good Yorkshire, left wing blogger on FB – Another Angry Voice is a great guy debunking a lot of stuff on the gov’t. He has a huge following, and was very supportive of our stance for independence. He called out a lot of unionist bull.

    I find its a barometer reading the comments, and interjecting how our gov’t prioritises things like free Uni, bedroom tax.

    The Left down there need a voice and encouragement. They are just now experiencing how the media works. I still have to often post articles to shut up those chatting shit about the SNP, so I see it as a tiny shot to educate.

    For the moment, with how things are moving, I just see my time that I have, better spent doing this, rather than argue with nasty trolls on Indy pages.

  118. HandandShrimp
    Ignored
    says:

    After the Greg Moodie cartoon I always expect Murray to say “I still hae a joab”

    Kind of disappointed when he doesn’t 🙂

  119. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    @Dave McEwan Hill –

    Cheers for the heads-up about the Celtic Connections CD – managed to get one half an hour ago, and it’s also just had a plug on Radio North Britain.

  120. Lenny Hartley
    Ignored
    says:

    Effigy @7.10

    The organisation ” Britain Stronger in Europe” has nothing to do with the SNP.

  121. Effijy
    Ignored
    says:

    Lenny Hartley says:
    10 January, 2016 at 7:42 pm
    Effigy @7.10

    Thanks for confirming this Lenny!
    I had one more window to barricade as your post came in.

  122. Hamish
    Ignored
    says:

    The extra 6 grand will not find its way back into the economy. It may however,find its way into a restaurant on an Italian ski slope.

  123. BJ
    Ignored
    says:

    The reason I asked was because of something I read.on BBC Scottish Polotics. Just wondered at the wording.

    “Key figures from both sides of the Scottish independence referendum are to work together in the main pro-EU campaign’s Scottish operation.
    Former Motherwell and Wishaw Labour MP Frank Roy has been appointed Britain Stronger in Europe’s campaign director in Scotland.
    Former SNP media director and senior special advisor Kevin Pringle has been recruited to provide communications.”

  124. ronnie anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Effigy {SNP to share a Platform with Labour on the EU referendum} according to Murray . Labour are already on that platform its called a Scaffold Jist waiting oan the Lang Drap,but they,re dain it theirselves.

  125. schrodingers cat
    Ignored
    says:

    re labour mps in the pro eu camp

    I wonder, how many labour supporters or activists who support the eu, would be willing to support an independent ref for Scotland if England pulls us out against scotlands wishes

    I think I have seen mcleese saying we should pull out of the uk if this happens, I know Gordon brown is against this idea, but there has been a lack of questioning of all the unionists wrt this exact point. I wonder how divisive it will be. too bad kennedy is gone, im pretty sure he would have back scots indy if we voted in and England voted out.

    I know not all indy supporters are pro eu, but I wonder what the 25% who voted labour in may think? some will be pro eu, enough to call for scots indy if we get pulled out by Westminster?

    this would make an interesting opinion poll

  126. Tackety Beets
    Ignored
    says:

    BDTT & Ruby , that’s my understanding too.

    So the APD non money is being spent 3 or 4 times , I loose count.

    Every time I hear Labour spouting APD , I always think Mmm …… So apart from APD Labour are going to do everything exactly the same as SNP ?

    Except Labour would make an ar$e of it !

  127. ronnie anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    Cam n Co distaction technique.

    Give the plebs a EU referendum.They know they can manipulate any referendem result, anybody remember the 19th Sept2014. The last thing the Bankers/Corperations would want is being outside the EU market place.

  128. Marco McGinty
    Ignored
    says:

    @John
    If you watch the episode from December, when Kenny Gibson and Jackie Baillie were in the studio, he gave them both a hard time, frequently interrupting and haranguing them.

    He doesn’t get it right all of the time, and I’m sure there are unionists out there saying that gives the SNP an easy time, but as far as mainstream media politics go, and especially as he works for the BBC, I think he is quite fair and doesn’t take sides.

    He is about the only one in that organisation, though.

    We’ll just have to agree to disagree on the subject.

  129. Kenny
    Ignored
    says:

    O/T I have been following the developments among our Catalan friends, now that the Junts pel Si and the Popular Unity Candidacy parties have come to an agreement. The situation is a little like in Scotland, because the pro-indy group is now in power in Catalonia.

    I was reading in Bloomsbury that they are talking of the need for Catalonia to sets its own security and defense plan, have its own central bank (!) and expand its own tax agency. That is the way to go: start building the structures and then, hey presto, you have de facto independence anyway.

    Scotland has its own private banks which issue money already (and that is 97% of money in circulation), but I would like to see the indy-minded people* start promoting a digital Scotcoin… or there should be more use of local currencies as a way to get economic activity going in communities…

    It is not enough even to be independent in our hearts, we have to be independent in our daily lives as much as we can… Beind independent is so healthy I am suprised it is not advocated by the NHS, so will probably help you live longer as well!

    [* Did Robert McAlpine’s people not come up with a rather good idea along these lines?]

  130. shug
    Ignored
    says:

    to be fair to Brewer I think he is as gobsmacked as the rest of us as to how stupid they sound. Having said that I think if an SNP person had been as stupid he would have been all over him.

    Again to be fair to Brewer it is the BBC – if he pressed on the stupidity the screen would have been replaced with the test card and he would have his jotters

  131. robert graham
    Ignored
    says:

    well there we have it same shit different day , when even your pals at the BBC more or less tell you your taking the piss , thats when you know you really are deep trouble .

  132. Brian Doonthetoon
    Ignored
    says:

    Hi Kenny.

    You typed,
    “but I would like to see the indy-minded people* start promoting a digital Scotcoin…”

    I regard myself as relatively IT/Techy savvy but I have seen no ‘layman’s terms’ explanation of how a digital currency, like a ‘Scotcoin’, would work, either online, on TV or in the papers. Thus I don’t have a clue.

    For example, who maintains its reserve? How is it earned? And so on…

    My own thoughts are that, no matter how much online banking we do – bank transfers, paying bills, etc – we always have the reassurance of the presence in our pockets and wallets of what we are actually dealing with; the physical manifestation of cash, if you like.

    I feel a Holyrood-owned central bank would be the way forward, rather than a digital currency (of which a LOT of people are totally ignorant).

    Perhaps a co-op of the Clydesdale, Bank of Scotland and RBS to be equal partners in a central bank? I don’t know – I’m just crunching ideas.

  133. Andrew
    Ignored
    says:

    British labour in Scotland have announced a senseless policy based on appealing to the wealthy and the Tories have announced a senseless policy based on appealing to the poor. I can only conclude that both parties believe their best chance of increasing their votes in May is to convert from each other. They do not feel able to compete with the SNP. As the old adage goes I don’t have to out run the lion, I only have to out run my mate!

  134. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    FFS, check the state of him.

    No, seriously, even if you’ve watched the clip, please watch it again without sound and ask yourself what you’d do if you opened your front door to find him standing there? He has the eyes of a corpse.

    It’s so weird to think that Muzza, Fozzy and Fundellymundelly are the only three non-SNP Scottish MPs left.

    Strangers in a Strange Land…

  135. ArtyHetty
    Ignored
    says:

    Re;Hamish@8.13pm

    You have a point there, these type of benefits are also, if not exclusively designed, to pander to the
    pretendy struggling, of course who have very good accountants. I see this idea as a benefit for many with rich mummies and daddies who will jump at the chance of a freebie for their already not so struggling offspring.

    Kenny, great stuff. I think the Scotgov have been trying quietly to steer things that way. Let’s hope it may be stepped up a pace after May, because years more of tory rule is looking disaster in the face for Scotland.

  136. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    And here’s ‘Too-Good-To-Hurry’ Murray doing what he does best on GMS a few months back, over Corbyn’s misinformed statements about Scotrail and Cal-Mac.

    Not sure if the interviewer is Gary Robertson or the other RS dude who sounds very like him, but at least he had a bit of a go…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJA5ic4r4rE

  137. ScottieDog
    Ignored
    says:

    So labour’s logic is – get the population more into debt to stimulate the economy.?
    Wtf!

  138. ScottieDog
    Ignored
    says:

    UK sovereign debt to GDP ratio = 80%
    UK total private debt to GDP ratio > 550%

  139. ScottieDog
    Ignored
    says:

    Isn’t joe stiglitz advising labour now? Does he still advise SNP?

    I think it’s time the SNP moved on from from prof stiglitz who still doesn’t seem to understand the role banks in the economy…
    http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevekeen/2016/01/06/note-to-joe-stiglitz-banks-originate-not-intermediate-and-thats-why-aggregate-demand-is-stuffed/

  140. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    Here’s a wee gem from YT, courtesy of Peter Curran (for my money, one of the unsung heroes of the whole indyref campaign) and it shows Murray/Brewer doing the same as happened above, but over a longer period.

    This was recorded almost two months to the day before last year’s GE, and is well worth a watch, even to refresh memories of what discussions sounded like when Miliband was still in the frame.

    (If you don’t have time to watch it all, please go straight to Brewer’s mocking laughter at approx 7 mins, but he has a proper go at Murray from 5.30 onwards.)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqHcyLIMMj8

  141. Dorothy Bruce
    Ignored
    says:

    Kevin Pringle no longer works for the SNP. He now works in the private sector with the communications consultancy Charlotte Street Partners, which is based in Edinburgh and London. Although the item referred to did not make this clear, I assume Kevin Pringle will be providing communication to the campaign on a paid basis i.e. that Britain Stronger in Europe will be a client of Charlotte Street Partners.

    The SNP does not come into it, and presumably it will run its own EU referendum campaign.

  142. Edmund
    Ignored
    says:

    Brewer’s right when he says this is a Tory policy.

    The OBR’s projections which have ‘austerity’ balancing the budget all depend on a massive expansion in personal debt.

    Giving the victims of the housing crisis a free 6k is just going to bid up house prices by 30k or so, increase the amount of mortgage lending, and ensure that everyone remains under the thumb of the bankers their entire working lives.

    As mortgage debt expands more money is pumped into the economy. GDP ‘increases’ and the government can claim that austerity ‘balanced the books’, but it’s not real wealth. The only people who benefit are the already rich, who might have a spare house they can cash in.

    Didn’t Labour learn anything from the run up to 2008? Yet higher house prices and yet more dodgy lending is the absolute worst way to invest in a country’s economy.

    Even if it doesn’t end in another economic crisis the people ‘given’ the 6k will find that ultimately all it got them was the same house for more debt – hardly an attractive offer.

  143. Tam Jardine
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Brotherhood

    Brilliant Ian. Love the bit 9 mins in when Murray says of Jim Murphy:

    “He said he will make educational disadvantage a personal pledge, a personal mission to deliver.”

    Vintage stuff.

  144. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    SNP EU Campaign isn’t x Party

    Labour Tory is mibbees aye mibbees naw they don’t know for sure but if it is it will be distinctive and different and better then the SNPs because they’re Baad and they’ll be plotting about something because that’s what the Separatists do and if Britain votes to leave it will be the SNPs fault because that’s what they wanted the whole time and we hate them

    Says spokesgit for everybody else that’s a Yoonyonist

    Gordon Brewer Impartial?
    He works for the BBC, You don’t get to work for the BBC and be impartial, it’s not in the rules

    Line, Toe, or out, bye bye

  145. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    Here’s Murray & Mundell (for it is they…) being interviewed back-to-back by Gary Robertson on GMS, only five days after the last GE, and appearing in their new roles.

    No-one can or should be expected to listen to all of this, but it is a handy link to pass to those who wonder why so many Scots talk about ‘democratic deficit’.

    First up, Scotland’s only Labour MP, who has become ‘The Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland’, followed by the only Scottish Tory MP, now ‘The Secretary of State for Scotland’.

    ??? 🙁 🙁 😉 ???

    It’s a total joke. But hats-off to Gary Robertson – we who are about to be bored to death salute you…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElBIM03c0OA

  146. Moleskin Joe
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Murray- soaring on ever higher up-draughts of obfuscation, waffle and pish.If he only knew what it meant, he micht even try a wee bit ae sophistry. Then again.. mibbe naw.

  147. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    The Sunday Herald has published an article totally decimating SLabs Tory ‘Bung’ proposal and highlighted how hypocritical they are. The SNP made a similar proposal in 2007 that was quashed by individuals such as Lamont and the Labour controlled Councils. They pointed out at the time that it wouldn’t help those who need it at all and would push up house prices. The SNP then dropped the proposal.

    Kezia Dugdale says her big, bold plan ”is different from the old SNP one …….. her scheme is ”to reward savings”. Eh!

    People without jobs, working in low paid jobs and on zero hour contracts who can’t save, can hardly feed themselves, sit on the other side of the pale (with head in hands) especially as most of their relatives are on the same boat. The party that professes to care for the poor has just leap-frogged right over their heads.

    The ‘reward savings’ comment is totally patronising and nonsensical. The vast majority of those saving in such a situation would be the parents or relatives of family youngsters and in some cases just ‘using’ them to buy homes to let. Labour who bleat on about Universalism not working ….. means test, means test …… seem to be quite prepared to hand tax-payers money over, my money, willy-nilly.

    Thank God Labour have no chance of winning anything at all. Just listening to Murray reminds you of how scheming they are. He knows the APD money (eyes rolling) has to be used for education as per Kezia (eyes rolling again). He also had the brass neck to say that Labour had saved the day re. working tax credit cuts when it was the HoLs and no mention of course that Labour had united with the Tories to block them being devolved to Scotland.

    As we move on any mention of Miliband proposing to support the Tory austerity policy and Labour abstaining more recently rather than voting against it will be lied about or suppressed too. No mention that SLab made sure that as little as possible was devolved to Scotland. Powers, such as employment, that would have made a massive difference to the quality of life of many Scots enabling them to buy a home of their own, if they wanted too, without having to get a Bung. The expression ‘cudnay run a ménage’ comes to mind and on reflection, with more information at our disposal, this has been normal practise for them over many decades now.

  148. Marco McGinty
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ian Brotherhood
    Great stuff!

    @Tam Jardine
    Also loved Murray’s quote that went “Most Yes voters that I speak to on the doorstep, and most Yes voters tell me exactly what they want to see, and they tell me exactly the kind of Scotland they want to see, they don’t want another Tory government. They want a Labour government.”

    And therein lies the problem with these dim-witted Labour politicians, as it clearly shows their inability to understand that 50% of the population has a completely different political view.

    Yes voters wanted an independent Scotland, not the corrupt, dysfunctional Westminster system so treasured by Tories of all colours.

  149. Fred
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Marco McGinty, must say I agree with John, Brewer should have slaughtered Murray, then he was saved by the bell.

  150. Dave Robb
    Ignored
    says:

    @kenny@brian doonthetoon

    O/T Re: alternative/electronic currency

    Robert MacAlpine DOES have stuff on this. So do others. It has been raised and well explained before on this and other indy sites. It’s quite normal in the USA and EU. There are existing alternative currencies in use in local areas in ENGLAND!

    Electronic currency as a Scotland-wide idea is possible, but is not a straightforward swap for sterling. It would increase economic activity and retain wealth in Scotland. It would be outwith Westminster’s direct control.

    The existing cash issued by banks ( and backed by £4.5 billion?) in Scotland would be a great start for a classic currency, but these banks are uber-Unionist, and would rather declare bankruptcy than help the cause of independence.

    There is a difference between a local currency to boost economic activity and retain economic power within a given community, which lessens central control, and a tradeable currency which can store wealth and trade across international boundaries.

    None of this is insoluble. It’s solved everyday throughout the world with varying degrees of success. Just not enough people believe it possible politically or economically.

  151. Fireproofjim
    Ignored
    says:

    Effijay
    Don’t worry. The appointment of a “communications director” by BtitainStronger in Europe, who just happens to have been employed in the past by the SNP, does not mean any sort of cooperation with SLAB. However the media will attempt to portray it as some sort of alliance in order to accuse the SNP of being in bed with SLAB.
    No chance of that.

  152. Graf Midgehunter
    Ignored
    says:

    It has to be an SNP / SNP vote in May.

    WHY? Read this from Peter A Bell’s Scoop.It site:

    http://www.yeswecan.scot/index.php/5-the-scottish-voting-system

    It’s a great explanation of how the D’Hondt system works and has a very clear example of use.

    This should be spread far and wide – get on with it..!

  153. Chic McGregor
    Ignored
    says:

    @Marco

    Seriously? I mean seriously!?

  154. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    Murray is creepily unflappable.

    It’s not natural and it’s not right.

    Interviewer: ‘Ah shagged yer maw!’

    Muzza: ‘I’m in no position to confirm that, as you well know.’

  155. ScottieDog
    Ignored
    says:

    @Dave Robb
    It’s not just about stimulating the local economy, it’s about demonstrating to people that money doesn’t have to be issued usuriously by private companies (banks).
    Once people realise this they might ask why 97% of our money is issued as debt. This is the main reason for our economic malaise.

  156. Dave McEwan Hill
    Ignored
    says:

    Graf Midgehunter at 11.18

    Yes. Peter’s exposition is very well done and useful. However the same process could have been done by counting together all the FPTP votes in any region and the result would be just as proportional, or perhaps rather more so.

    The second or list vote confuses some people who think it is for them to put their second choice which is not its purpose at all.
    I also think the list system offers a cheap and easy option to the Greens for instance who don’t do the work, don’t deliver the leaflets, don’t knock the doors as they would have to if they contested FPTP seats and, as a consequence, don’t get the voting support they expect.
    I expect them to be disappointed in May again.

    Of course the system was designed to make sure the SNP didn’t ever get a majority. The only way to be sure of the SNP getting a decent majority is for the SNP to hugely dominate the list vote. And I mean hugely.

    I feel it is very important for the SNP to get a majority in the total vote in both FPTP and list. SNP 1 and SNP 2.

  157. Dave Robb
    Ignored
    says:

    @ScottieDog

    Totally agree!

  158. Dave McEwan Hill
    Ignored
    says:

    I am just about to order a range of car stickers – SNP car stickers and Indy and YES car stickers.

    As a matter of interest what design should the SNP car sticker have

    Both
    Votes
    SNP

    or

    SNP
    1 and 2

    or something else

    They will be the normal square ones

    Ideas for Indy car stickers as well if anybody has any idea

  159. Marco McGinty
    Ignored
    says:

    @Fred
    So, you’re agreeing with John in his assertion that Gordon Brewer gives unionist politicians a free rein, leaving his severe attacks and interruptions only for SNP politicians?

    As I’ve already mentioned, Brewer was in attack mode from the start, albeit not full-on, and he mentioned Murray’s right-wing credentials (he didn’t have to), accused Labour of adopting Tory policy to favour the middle classes over the poor, and criticised Labour for attempting to bribe voters.

    Perhaps Brewer could have gone further, but he didn’t give Murray an easy time, as John has suggested, and he regularly rips into politicians of all persuasions if they deserve it.

    Many of us on here have hammered the BBC for not acting in a fair and impartial manner, yet there are some that are only too happy to criticise the one man that does operate as he should.

    I find that incredibly hypocritical.

  160. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    Seriously, right –

    If you can be very careful, and arrange it just-so that the video is mute and you can’t see the title of the snippet, please watch this half-minute of Murray and select which of the following seems the likeliest prompt for his gum-bumping:

    a/ Reaction to the news that Jeremy Corbyn has become the new Labour leader.

    b/ A statement of support for Alistair Carmichael.

    c/ An appeal to Scots to support Labour.

    (CLUE: It was published via YT, by ‘ScottishLabourParty’ in late July 2015.)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5sIVos7Olg

  161. Graeme Doig
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian @ 11.30

    Hilarious but disturbingly potentially true ?

  162. Marco McGinty
    Ignored
    says:

    @Chic McGregor
    “Seriously? I mean seriously!?”

    Which of my comments are you referring to, Chic?

  163. Graeme Doig
    Ignored
    says:

    ? = giruy ya creepy lying con artist smiley face (technology – pah!)

  164. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    …and for anyone who missed it, here’s Scottish Labour’s Christmas message to us all…

    Starring Kez and Muzza. Properly tear-jerking stuff.

    ‘children in care are more likely to go to jail than university…’

    It’s even got a pure totally hilarious out-take at the end!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi70AiRXf94

  165. Graf Midgehunter
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Dave M Hill

    I agree with you regarding the Greens etc.

    The reason why I posted it was educational.

    We’ve been hearing a fair bit about how RISE and the other Indy “Pals” are planning to raid the second list SNP vote. A lot of folk are just simply ignorant of how the system works and the repercussions effecting the list vote.

    This is a simple and easy way of getting the info into the heads of people and would be ideal to be printed for general distribution.

    Every possible first vote helps the second vote get over the line – and every second vote brings us nearer to an SNP Indy Mandate.

  166. Brian Doonthetoon
    Ignored
    says:

    Hi Dave McEwan Hill.

    Stickers…

    Constituency..Vote SNP
    Region………Vote SNP

    —————————————————–

    I posted this on 23 December, 2015 at 4:00 pm

    I prefer to use the terms “Constituency Vote” and “Regional Vote”. That’s what they are.

    The various “lists” are put together by individual parties, to rank their candidates for the regional vote.

    So, vote SNP for your constituency and SNP for your region.

    HOWZAT!

  167. Marco McGinty
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ian Brotherhood
    “…and for anyone who missed it, here’s Scottish Labour’s Christmas message to us all…”

    For some strange reason, the video reminds me of the My Lovely Horse video on Father Ted. The only difference being that one was intentionally produced to look crap for comic effect.

  168. Mags
    Ignored
    says:

    Stating the obvious perhaps but…………….

    if Labour councils properly enforced the planning rules regarding affordable housing on private developers, and had built a few more than 6 houses themselves during their tenure using the unused funds they handed back to Westminster, we wouldn’t need their whacky “policy”

  169. Bill Hume
    Ignored
    says:

    Re…car stickers
    Howzabout “Are we feeling better together yet?”

  170. Chic McGregor
    Ignored
    says:

    @Bill Hume

    “feeling better together yet?”

    Like that, up there with

    “Don’t blame me I voted Yes.”

  171. Jock Scot
    Ignored
    says:

    Hi

    If anyone is still up and posting..just finished this one..It is O/T

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBBc0cMnVhY

  172. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    @Jock Scot –

    🙂

    Hoots mon!

  173. Dave McEwan Hill
    Ignored
    says:

    Marco McGinty at 11.56

    With you entirely. Brewer generally does his job well and rips into everybody if he thinks they are open for it.

  174. Jock Scot
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ian Brotherhood

    And a Happy New Year to you, sir. 🙂

  175. Brian Doonthetoon
    Ignored
    says:

    Jock Scot – Sand Holmes is asking how you are. See ‘off-topic’, a couple of days ago.

  176. Brian Doonthetoon
    Ignored
    says:

    Jock Scot – Here’s the link:-

    http://wingsoverscotland.com/off-topic/comment-page-31/#comment-2101564

  177. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Ian Brotherhood at 10:56pm ….. video

    I just watched the video and one thing stood out or me. Murray is being questioned about the stance he has taken in relation to Trident renewal (against it). He’s asked repeatedly what he’ll do if Labour at Westminster plan to vote for renewal. He doesn’t answer of course because he knows he’ll toe the party line. Sure enough when they had a vote recently he was told to abstain, by Corbyn, and did so.

    Now if I was totally against Trident renewal, lived in Edinburgh South and voted for ‘non-renewal’ Murray I would be livid about this. He holds the position he has now due to false pretences. Say (lie) what it takes to generate support and then do what you like / what your English boss tells you to do. Westminster, England in other words, will ALWAYS come first, to the detriment of Scotland, as has been the case since day one.

    The new ‘A Better Britain – Unionist Party’ states that politics in Scotland have changed forever. It’s no longer about left and right rather Nationalists versus Unionists and they’ve got a point. Voting for the Unionist stooges based at Labour, Tory and Libdem branch offices is a waste of time and money especially as they’ve morphed into one entity. It’s an utter sham in fact. The Unionist Party make clear where they stand. They don’t want anything devolved to Scotland and so on. It would make more sense to close the branch offices and let their supporters decide … Nationalist or Unionist …. take your pick.

  178. Capella
    Ignored
    says:

    OT Catalonia marches on with a new leader.

    The Catalan 18-month roadmap to independence suggests the approval of its own constitution and the building of necessary institutions, such as a central bank, judicial system and army.

    Catalonia parliament elects new ‘separatist’ leader https://www.rt.com/news/328467-catalonia-president-spain-independence/

  179. Kevin Evans
    Ignored
    says:

    Do you think he knows he is lying?

    Imagine how scary it would be if he believed his own bull.

  180. Mark James MacDonald
    Ignored
    says:

    Aye, thur’ll be jam t’morra in that bung buttie. For those o’ ye no filtup on thon pie in the sky.

  181. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Catalonia is an entirely different situation. Catalonia is not voting for Independence. 2.4Million out of 4.4 Million who voted (80% turn out). Electorate 5.5Million. Out of a population of 7.5Million. That was just a vote on whether to have a Referendum. EU citizens resident in Catalonia (Spain?) are not allowed to vote in Regional/National elections. They are only allowed to vote in local and EU elections. Spain is breaking EU Law as resident EU citizens are not allowed to vote. EU citizens are not being treated equally. 1 million? resident people do not get to vote.

    The Press made the story up to try and discredit the Scottish Independence Movement. Catalonia/Spainish government is corrupt. The whole system is corrupt. A total shambles. They have cheated EU citizens out of £Millions/Billions with their pozzi housing schemes, false guaranteed rental schemes etc. on the Costas. No proper regulation. The Banks are corrupt. Catalonia is just as responsible for the collapse of the economy as the rest of Spain. The Spanish administration are just a bunch of crooks, regionally and nationally. Catalonia has more autonomy (than Scotland – a country). Makes it’s own Laws. Raises and collects it’s own taxes. Much more autonomy than Scotland. A Federal system. Less central control. That is a problem for unified Laws. Legal system a total shambles. Economy a total shambles.

    They have four months of holidays a year. A month off at Christmas/Easter. Two months in the summer. A large, alternative ‘black’ economy, which collects no taxes. The wealthy pay no taxes, everyone cheats. So there is not enough money for public services etc, higher official unemployment. Even members of the ‘Royal’ family have been charged with corruption. Spain has only been a Constitutionally Monarchy since 1975. The weather and food is nice, less stress.

    In Scotland a much higher % voted YES. Scotland has a much stronger Independence Movement.
    Out of the whole electorate, including those who didn’t vote, 47.5% voted NO. In Scotland there was a bigger turnout 85%. It just needs a 5% swing of the whole electorate and support is increasing. Scotland has a bigger, stronger, better Independence Movement.

  182. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Spain does not take part in illegal wars against the majority wishes and the public interest, although corrupt politicians secretly facilitate them. Bush/Brown meeting in Portugal. Spain does not facilitate nuclear weapons nor spend £Billions on them or plant them 30 mins from Barcelona.

  183. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Spanish Doping scandal (10 years). ‘Operation Puerto’ Eufemiano Fuentes – Dr Blood. Footballers (whole teams), cyclists, tennis players. etc. Massive cover up. Repercussions for Betting industry. Madrid verdict expected soon, whether the samples will be destroyed. Djokovic is on drugs? Pointers – Eye movement, aggression, body co-ordination, stamina. .

  184. jdman
    Ignored
    says:

    Anybody else hearing this?
    David Bowie has died!

  185. Iain
    Ignored
    says:

    The BBC has confirmed that Howie is dead.

  186. Iain
    Ignored
    says:

    For Howie read Howie.

  187. Iain
    Ignored
    says:

    My kindle has gone nuts read Bowie.

  188. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Aye the spaced oot auld man has gone to the star in the sky, After inviting everyone to come and visit. New record released. .

  189. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Could have been worse? Rowie or Jobbie. Must have been diagnosed and on drugs before the Ref or just after it. Hope many folk last until the next one. Lifelong Dream for many.

  190. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    Aye, I called a virtual server “ziggy” years ago.

  191. Tackety Beets
    Ignored
    says:

    Just watched the full IM interview.

    What a complete squirmer ! Can barely answer or be Truthfull.

    Having established he wants UK to stay in Europe he fails to explain what his thoughts are should UK be voting out of EU …… Ah yes still BT UKOK

    So for him in or out of EU disnae matter as long as the Union holds firm.

    My worry watching his body language etc is that he knows the Full Establishment Machine is already operational behind the UK staying in Europe , regardless of what Hameron gets during his negotiating in the next month or so.

    In the 70s we would have described Murray as a “$hit£ Bag” Still fits today !

  192. Grouse Beater
    Ignored
    says:

    Bowie invested his royalties and made countless millions, once touted as wealthiest pop star ever. Didn’t guarantee him a long life.

    Why do multi-millionaires feel compelled to tell Scotland to remain servile?

  193. Smallaxe
    Ignored
    says:

    Bowie had the excuse of being ill,the rest of UKOK are just

    plain sick and sickening!

  194. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    A tax exile and did not live in the UK. Interferred in the Referendum. He didn’t live in Britain or pay British taxes etc but benefited from UK sales. Didn’t live under Westminster rule/lies/corruption but wanted/expected Scotland to ‘stay’. ‘Don’t do as I do but but do what I say’. Stopped folk in Scotland dying happy. £3000 for a Funeral. Scottish Gov gives a Grant for that, instead of a pauper’s grave.

  195. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @Graf Midgehunter says: 11 January, 2016 at 12:13 am:

    “We’ve been hearing a fair bit about how RISE and the other Indy “Pals” are planning to raid the second list SNP vote. A lot of folk are just simply ignorant of how the system works and the repercussions effecting the list vote.”

    I believe the most telling fact that would affect the voters is the simple fact that the Scottish voting system was designed with the main object of preventing the SNP ever getting a majority.

    There is only one way to neutralise the main inbuilt design of the system – only vote SNP and nothing else until the system is changed.

    You can bet that no changes will ever be made to a system designed to curb the SNP as long as the system is succeeding in its designed purpose. It will only be redesigned when it fails in its designed purpose.

    Same goes for the MSM and Broadcasters – they will only change when they fail in their designed purpose and the recent signs are that both are suffering big loses in public support in Scotland.

  196. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    I expect some of the dumber cybernats will be all over twitter for this giving Indy supporters a bad name and feeding the unionist media. Well hell mend them as they say, his music was fucking excellent and still is, whatever his politics.

    Bowie RIP

  197. ronnie anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    Bowie . Please stay with us Scotland , then the fucker cashes in, anither month of distraction TV / Newsprint reporting.Will BamCam declare a Day of Mourning ????.

  198. Skooshcase
    Ignored
    says:

    Yes, Bowie did the UKOK thing, but for me it didn’t matter, just background noise.

    Bowie’s music influenced my life and career. He was an absolute musical genius. Such a unique talent.

    When he was Ziggy Stardust he really was like an alien to me at that time he was so otherworldly, even before he was the ‘man’ who fell to Earth…

    His songbook will resonate as long as humans like music.

    “Nothing will keep us together
    We can beat them for ever and ever
    We can be heroes, just for one day”

    Heroes

    Lyrics that can, somewhat ironically regarding Bowie’s stance, be said of all of us who oppose Westminster rule. And that day will come when, we can all be heroes… by voting Yes in IndyRef2… just for one day…

  199. Smallaxe
    Ignored
    says:

    @yessindyref2

    I agree wholeheartedly.

  200. The Isolator
    Ignored
    says:

    My sentiments exactly Yesindyref2 @8.36.

    Remember his intervention was probably payback for filing some earlier drugs indiscretion under drawdown.

    John Lennon wasn’t quite so lucky though.

    RIP Mr Jones

  201. Smallaxe
    Ignored
    says:

    @ indyref2 & Skooshcase.

    Agreed wholeheartedly.

  202. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    O/T:

    WWF Scotland has just published figures for Scottish Renewable Energy production 2015.

    They claim that Scottish wind power produced 97% of Scotland’s household electricity needs. The contribution of wind power is calculated 16% on the previous year.

    Those figures are for wind power only. They do not include wave motion, tidal flow, sea current, biomass nor hydro.

    This rather sinks those who claim wind power is only good for when the wind blows strong and that wind turbines are inefficient. You don’t need to be an Einstein to work out that the fuel to turn a wind turbine is free, gets itself to the turbine and leaves behind no tocsins as waste to be disposed of.

  203. Another Union Dividend
    Ignored
    says:

    I have many of Bowie’s albums and as Frankie Boyle said “I’m as interested in what David Bowie thinks about Scottish Independence as I am in Iggy Pop’s views on the CERN particle accelerator!”

    However he did flirt with fascism and sent his son to Gordonstoun as well as being a tax exile

    http://www.muhistory.com/from-the-archive-2-mu-response-to-david-bowies-nazi-salute/

  204. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Sum of the dumber cybernats go on the Herald arguing with the Unionist ignoramuses keeping it going. Anyone can write a few tunes. Loonytunes. No one can stop an unstoppable movement, even if they die. Crawler.

    There is no money missing from WFI accounts the Herald made it up. Just add up the figures. It is a complete lie. Money missing from ‘Missing blank cheques’. What a total lot of nonsense. Some dunces giving it energy. Some members of WFI bringing women’s issues into disrepute and slandering folk, trying to damaging the SNP and Independence Movement. They have form already. They put Tommy Sheridan in jail. Colluding with the corrupt Press for money. Paid imformers. Cutting off their nose to spite their face.

    They should watch who they slander or they might end up in court for telling lies and wasting police time. Same with Boswell. How can anyone declare an interest in a firm that has been wound up? When will a front page apology be printed?

    Another total load of lies from the lying Herald with misguided comments giving it oxygen. Lie, lies and more lies. No wonder they are losing business faster than a sieve loses water. They are a disgrace. GCC is corrupt. The Press cover it up. Criminal activities left, right and centre and not a peep reported. Embezzlement covered up. Criminal activities not investigated but covered up. Thatcher ‘Revelations’ not a peep reported. It should be front page News,

  205. macnakamura
    Ignored
    says:

    yesindyref2 says:
    11 January, 2016 at 8:36 am
    I expect some of the dumber cybernats will be all over twitter for this giving Indy supporters a bad name and feeding the unionist media. Well hell mend them as they say, his music was fucking excellent and still is, whatever his politics.

    Bowie RIP
    ===================
    well said !

  206. Ghillie
    Ignored
    says:

    Oh that is so sad and a shock.

    My sons and I love David Bowie’s music. Even if he did say daft things about Scotland’s efforts to regain independence.

    He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

    Stardust.

  207. Grouse Beater
    Ignored
    says:

    …expect some of the dumber cybernats…

    Hypocrisy lies is being mean and nasty about a person when he’s alive and only praising him when he’s dead.

  208. Skooshcase
    Ignored
    says:

    Life on Mars; Let’s Dance; Young Americans; Heroes; Suffragette City; Ashes to Ashes; The Jean Genie; Five Years; Starman; Fashion; Rebel Rebel; Rock and Roll Suicide; Sound and Vision; Changes; China Girl; Golden Years; Sound and Vision; Up the Hill Backwards; Oh You Pretty Things; Ziggy Stardust; The Man Who Sold the World; Space Oddity; Aladdin Sane; Time; All the Young Dudes; Amasterdam; Diamond Dogs; Drive in Saturday; Fame; John I’m Only Dancing; Modern Love; Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)… and many, many more.

    Absolute fucking genius.

    Respect.

    Legend.

  209. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Renewables is definately the way to go. Cameron has banned wind turbines in England. Stopped coal production and CSS. Coal is plentiful and cheaper all over the UK. Now it will have to be imported putting up the balance of payments and the rest of the UK debt. Oil & Gas UK Gov take 60%. Cutting production and jobs. More Oil & Gas has to be imported putting up the balance of payment deficit and the rest of the UK debt.

    A Nuclear Plant is bring built, Hinkley Point, near the sea £25Billion of borrowed money, which will put up the balance of payments deficit and the rest of the UK debt. It will be years over time and over budget. 7 years. Less could be spent on renewable energy for higher production.e.g. A Humber tidal barrage would cost £9Billion and produce more. It was cancelled by Labour.

    There is a Junior Doctor’s strike on Tuesday in England. How much will that cost?

  210. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    Farewell to the brilliant rock and pop legend David Bowie. Condolences to his family, especially 14 year old Lexi, and friends.

    RIP David.

    A couple of favourites. China Girl and Let’s Dance.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_8IXx4tsus

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyVjdQXNs9s

  211. Anagach
    Ignored
    says:

    Ghillie says: Bowie

    Last rock concert I ever went to was Bowie (showing my age and ‘taste’). And although I liked the music I have to say that in the last year when I hear his songs what comes to mind is no longer my youth but his ill judged comments on Scotland.

    Ah well.

  212. dakk
    Ignored
    says:

    Lost all respect for Bowie after his bizarre interventions in Scotland’s democratic affairs.

    Did like some of his music however,far superior to hyped up crap like the Beatles.

  213. One_Scot
    Ignored
    says:

    ‘Lost all respect for Bowie after his bizarre interventions in Scotland’s democratic affairs.’

    That pretty much hits the nail smack on the head.

  214. Wulls
    Ignored
    says:

    so……let me see if I’ve got this right.
    Slab are going to “reallocate” money the SNP are planning on sacrificing in the hope of economic development.
    Money that only a party in government can affect in any way whatsoever.
    I’ll just file that one under Unicorn for every child.
    Just suppose Slab win the election……..
    No seriously.
    They keep APD and give it all away……. House prices inevitably go up so the value of the £6k is vastly reduced. Who wins??????

  215. indigo
    Ignored
    says:

    Had a conversation about Bowie just last week about whether in fact he initiated that ‘Scotland stay with us’ comment.

    It was Kate Moss who said it, attributed to him, but given what we know about the UK propaganda machine and given how detatched he was from politics I wouldn’t be at all suprised if it was a proposition put to him, to which he said ‘whatever’.

    One of my fondest memories of him is how much he gushed about Scotland at his Glasgow concert, so much that he promised to come and play T in the Park live onstage. Sadly he had to cancel that appearance, but there was a lot of warmth in his words towards Scotland. I’m glad I got to see him.

  216. Marko
    Ignored
    says:

    The u-turn that Labour won in the House of Lords and the chancellor reversed. Does he mean the bill that Labour abstained on which was eventually rejected by the House of Lords? It’s quite a loose definition of “won”.

  217. Marko
    Ignored
    says:

    @dakk
    You really could do with listening to the Beatles.

  218. Capella
    Ignored
    says:

    I was never a Bowie fan – much preferred the “hyped up crap like the Beatles” (dakk) – though “Heroes” was good.
    To me, he symbolised the “revolt of the dandy” to what had been a rich and vibrant decade of musical genius in the 60s. From his early flirtation with fascism to his tax exile lifestyle he was a very typical English dandy.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandy

    I thought his intervention in the Indyref was pointless and probably backfired. Nevertheless, he was entitled to his views like everyone else. Unlike everyone else, he had a very public platform to air his views. All over now.

    RIP Bowie.

  219. heraldnomore
    Ignored
    says:

    Just paid Friday’s parking ticket, sodding £30. So I’ve got another £30 to spend as it would have been more if I’d waited.

    Using SLAB budget policy I’ll put that £30 into any number of schemes. It’s great realising you have so much more to spend on Monday morning – never been so happy to get a parking ticket….

  220. Petra
    Ignored
    says:

    What’s RISE playing at? Reported in the Sunday Herald yesterday:

    ‘RI (Independence) SE Party aims to ’cause a ruckus’ in Holyrood elections with occupations, flash mobs, protests, stunts, direct action and pop-up politics to get itself noticed.’

    I’ve considered voting for a left wing party following Independence. A party like RISE. However if they thwart or delay our chances of getting our Independence they’ll have lost potential supporters before they can even get their Party off the ground ….. renamed FALL …… never to be forgiven.

  221. Clapper57
    Ignored
    says:

    Bowie an amazing song writer and artist .

    Thoughts with his family and friends.

    So many brilliant songs .

    So very sad to hear the news today.

    RIP Bowie.

  222. dakk
    Ignored
    says:

    Marko

    ‘You really could do with listening to the Beatles’

    OK I admit I did like the psychedelic Indian album and other bits and pieces,but hate the most played famous songs like She Loves You.Yeah Yeah Yeah Ooooh indeed !

  223. Flower of Scotland
    Ignored
    says:

    I didn’t and don’t like David Bowie,s music. To me it was all background annoyance!

    But I’m always sad when someone dies!

    Ian Murray is a hero to slab followers on Facebook.

    They believe everything that he says! Even when he reports that he voted when it’s pointed out that he abstained in Parliament. They cling on to their last one Scottish MP!

  224. Socrates MacSporran
    Ignored
    says:

    Terribly sad that David Bowie has died – fantastic talent, RIP.

    As regards his comments before the Referendum, these were I feel part of the ridiculous, and sad to say ultimately successful, black arts PR exercise run by the BUMS in support of Better Together.

    We have all said the wrong thing at the wrong time, let it be.

    Ken500 Careful with the tax exile stuff, remember, Sean Connery is a tax exile too.

    The new Yew Choob video – absolutely brilliant.

  225. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    David Bowie, stay with us.

  226. Effijy
    Ignored
    says:

    Oh No Not He, The Man Who Sold The World.

    I was a massive Bowie Fan and even had the hairdo, when I had hair

    But:

    I’m at the funeral, but “It’s a God awful small affair”
    I asked if it was a burial, but its “Ashes to Ashes”.

    Family and friends are invited back to the “Little China Grill”

    At least we know the music will be good on the other side.

    RIP

  227. Peter Mcculloch
    Ignored
    says:

    The claim in the Sunday herald from RISE that it intends to cause a ruckus in the Holyrood elections with occupations, flash mobs, protests, stunts, direct action and pop-up politics.

    Is another reason why I have real concerns about RISE in the year’s elections, their antic will be used by the unionists to attack the Scottish Government.

  228. Brian Doonthetoon
    Ignored
    says:

    Hi Skooshcase.

    You mentioned “The Jean Genie”.

    Yes, Mr Bowie recognised a good tune when he heard it.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHjEvIFQ7zk

  229. gardennat
    Ignored
    says:

    O/T
    It seems we have a new party fighting the election in May.The Ruth Davidson Party.
    I have just received a leaflet through the door which mentions her three times.
    Ruth Davidson MSP. Cast your regional vote for Ruth Davidson.(She won’t be on the list in my region). Only Ruth Davidson and her party are 100% committed to defending our place in the UK.Photo on the front of her wagging her finger and looking crabbit.
    The only mention of the Tories is a website address at the bottom.
    They obviously think they have found their answer to Nicola.

  230. Dorothy Devine
    Ignored
    says:

    The Herald has announced the sudden death of the Scots architect involved in the new hotel in Edinburgh.

    Gareth Hoskins was only 48 years old.

    Unhappy news all round.

  231. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Sad Bowie’s dead he was uniquely interesting and inventive

    Sadder that I never got to tell him my opinions on his country because I’m not interesting and well known enough to count

    (Sour)

  232. Glamaig
    Ignored
    says:

    @Petra 9:59

    They would be causing a ‘ruckus’ in the wrong place. They should do that at Westminster, instead of targeting Holyrood which is doing its best to protect us from the Tory cuts.

  233. Big Jock
    Ignored
    says:

    Gary Robertson on radio Scotland said BO E all morning. When in Scotland it is pronounced Bow E. It was doing my nut in. The name is Scottish and just because the rest of the world can’t pronounce it doesn’t mean Scotland should. It wasn’t even his name he took it as a stage name so no excuses Gary.

    Lamont …Lah mont same thing utter anglicisation.

  234. Grouse Beater
    Ignored
    says:

    Good post, Dr Jim. Diplomacy is one thing, self-censorship is another.

  235. Almannysbunnet
    Ignored
    says:

    David Bowie was diagnosed with cancer 18 months ago, June/July 2014. Anything he said in the months after that are meaningless. I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and remember him for his music. RIP.

  236. Linda McFarlane
    Ignored
    says:

    My first vinyl single I bought with my pocket money was “Rebel, Rebel”

  237. call me dave
    Ignored
    says:

    Another MSP has seen the runes but wishes Kezia all the best as he avoids the door hitting his arse on the way out.

    Especially pleasing news.

    https://archive.is/OhDQV

  238. Skooshcase
    Ignored
    says:

    @Brian Doonthetoon at 10:41 am

    Hadn’t heard that one before! Thanks for pointing it out.

    And, by Christ, The Jean Genie playing style, chord progression and riffs are pretty damn, um, ‘similar’, shall we say, are they not?!

    Back in the day, blues tunes/songs were getting ripped-off left right and centre. Maybe they didn’t view it as plagiarism as we do now? Maybe they thought that it was okay to hear their stuff being ‘copied’ as it meant that others liked it, and so they saw it as a complement, I don’t know. Changed days indeed!

  239. Marko
    Ignored
    says:

    @dakk
    Fair enough, it just struck me that someone who was willing to write off the Beatles entire body of work as “hyped up crap” probably hadn’t spent nearly enough time listening to them.

  240. Fred
    Ignored
    says:

    Death can be fatal!

  241. Fred
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Marco McGinty, you’ve a very short memory anent Brewer who was as bad as any of BBC’s interviewers at the time of the referendum. There was one decent filly in that stable and her name wasn’t Brewer, I think she was sent off to make the tea while the other scoundrels set about getting the result the BBC wanted. At the Pacific Quay demo’ an appearance by Brewer in person would have resulted in himself as a reluctant customer of George Parsonage. He may well have moderated his approach since but the leopard doesn’t change his spots.

  242. Greannach
    Ignored
    says:

    The Chieftain o’ the Puddin’ Race mumbles his way through an interview again.

  243. Marco McGinty
    Ignored
    says:

    @Fred
    There’s nothing wrong with my memory, and what you are referring to is your opinion, which you are entitled to. I have my own opinion, which differs from your own, my recollections of Brewer’s many interviews during the referendum, was that he didn’t tale sides.

    There is a wealth of evidence (not opinion pieces) to be found online supporting my belief, with video evidence of him tearing into unionist politicians, some of which can be located in the WoS archive.

    Just because he has attacked SNP politicians (and will do so again), doesn’t make him impartial.

  244. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Isabel Fraser was impartial and well briefed. Davidson’s attitude was deplorable. Davidson now does ‘Reports’ for the BBC. Brewer has mellowed – knows the game is up? but still can’t be trusted. To many people have been let down and given up on the BBC

  245. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Connery donates to the SNP/Independence to make Scotland a better place. He left to make pictures. His work place was Hollywood not Holyrood. Devolution only came in 2000 by that time Connery was settled abroad.

  246. rabthecab
    Ignored
    says:

    Are we forgetting the fact that Dippity Dug already allocated the non-existent APD money to education? You can’t spend money that doesn’t exist on anything even once, let alone twice.

  247. Marco McGinty
    Ignored
    says:

    That last sentence of mine should have ended “doesn’t make him biased”.

  248. John
    Ignored
    says:

    Marco as you said , we will agree to differ , and that is fine .Can I suggest to you that the next time Brewer is on either Daily Politics OR Sunday Politics or his radio show on a Friday , you have a good watch or listen .See how long he gives Unionist to speak without interrupting , then see how long it is before he does his usual , but, but , but , when it is the SNP’s turn .



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