The Cost Of Truth
The Scottish Government just issued another response in the long-running Freedom Of Information battle with alert Wings reader Benjamin Harrop over its conspiracy to frame and imprison the late Alex Salmond on false charges. Here’s a genuine extract.
Yeah, definitely nothing to hide here.
The release came a couple of days after the Scottish Information Commissioner, who has been trying to improve the Scottish Government’s woeful FOI performance for the last seven years, had once again expressed his dismay at their conduct over the entire three-and-a-half-year affair of Ben’s request.
Which makes this paragraph somewhat ironic:
Let’s just spell that out. Having spent years and hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money, against the advice of their own lawyers, on a futile legal attempt – contemptuously thrown out by the Court Of Session in just 20 seconds last December – to resist handing over ANY of the information sought by the request, the Scottish Government is now refusing on the basis that doing so would cost more than £600.
It’s hard to find words, readers.
(The Scottish Government refuses to reveal exactly how much money it has thrown at trying to keep this information secret since April 2021, but we know that the half-day Court Of Session hearing a year ago cost taxpayers over £73,000 by itself.)
Incidentally, at the time of writing this article we’ve still been unable to locate the release on the Scottish Government’s infamously unreliable FOI website, which is why we’ve uploaded it at the first link at the top of the post. But among the barrage of documents filed on the site in the last couple of days we did stumble across this:
It shows that in the last six months there have, once again, been zero complaints made under the procedures which were initiated almost seven years ago with the specific intention of being used solely and exclusively against Alex Salmond. He remains the only person ever targeted by the process, despite a supposed widespread culture of such harassment at Holyrood.
Readers could ostensibly verify that fact by clicking the link at the bottom of the page which claims to lead to previous updates on the figures, but in fact it leads to a generic UK web archive (not, as suggested, a Scottish Government one), which is broken.
Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon continues to breeze gaily around the country attending drag queen galas and book festivals, although the BBC did remarkably manage to encounter her on one of her extremely rare visits to her place of work yesterday, where she told them how much she was enjoying her life.
She also toured the media studios audaciously explaining how everyone except her was responsible for the “toxic” environment of the transgender debate (while taking credit for equal-marriage legislation passed by Alex Salmond and remorselessly shilling her upcoming book) and boo-hooing about how much abuse she’d had over it.
But the arc of justice bends onwards.
And to be honest, readers, living to see the truth finally come to light is the main driver that’s keeping this website going. There is no hope of Scottish independence under the current SNP, because the SNP now exists solely to try to protect the perpetrators of the conspiracy against Salmond. It’s the only thing they truly care about, and today’s publications are just the latest in a vast dossier of evidence of that fact.
Whatever that truth ultimately costs, it’s a bill that must be paid, because nothing else can happen until it is. Justice is the price of independence.
“And to be honest, readers, living to see the truth finally come to light is the main thing that’s keeping this website in existence.”
This is a laudable goal and one I think all your readers can fully get behind.
2001 – correction – 2021!
“it’s a bill that must be paid, because nothing else can happen until it is. Justice is the price of independence”
Amen to that.
Hmm !
Looks like all your posts are being automatically down-voted by bots, Hatey.
Ah ken.
Like the doughty, formidable Scots heroes of yesteryear, the ones I well recall learning about as an impressionable schoolboy, I’m awa tae menstruate in hysterical quivering shame and horror at being downvoted 🙂
I tried to vote + on it but it says I have already voted which I have not.
The truth of what was done to The Hero and by whom is a fine cause to devote WOS to.
For not until the full account of the extent of the plot, the involvement of allegedly impartial civil servants and the conniving of corrupt and venal MSPs comes to public knowledge can anyone hope to see any degree of honesty and integrity return to Scots politics.
More power to your elbow.
I agree with all said and understand it will be May 2025 before next legal steps will be enacted by Alex Salmond’s executors.
Can the SIC lad not force the issue, seems he’s been laying the groundwork to me. Also, just saying, Current vacancies | Scottish Information Commissioner
“18 UN member states”
UH, Mike, the UN has over 190 member states. Not 18.
Maybe just to the current UNSC?
Not true, either. the UNSC has 15 members.
A gentle suggestion: Perhaps instead of asking a question about an easily-looked-up fact, you should look up the fact.
Only 18 needed for recognition
Stu why did you remove Mike Fenwicks comment on Sovereign Scot at the UN?
Only 18? More Nonsense, Andy.
To be recognized as a member of the United Nations (UN), a state must go through the following process:
Can the application be made on behalf of the state by a campaign group with half a dozen members? For example, could a local scout group in Dundee decide to take on this brave task?
There’s nothing to prevent a local Scout group, the Alba Party, the Monster Raving Loony Party, or any group with half-a-dozen members, from contacting the UN about Indy for Scotland, Indy for Lossiemouth, or whatever.
The UN would die laughing if any of the four actually applied.
Maybe James and his local dogging circle can step forward into the breach, the little rascal.
Hi … the 18 were chosen because of an important common characteristic – all 18 gained their own independence from the UK.
But that’s not what you wrote, Mike.
And you should be copying it to all nations, not just 18.
If you make such basic mistakes on your declaration (and I’m not even mentioning the misspelled words) why should anyone take you (or your cause) seriously?
Also there was the WhatsApp scandal – of which oor Mayor Swinney has added this.
“John Swinney has banned the use of WhatsApp on Scottish Government-issued phones following a furious backlash over the deletion of messages sent during the Covid pandemic.
SNP ministers will no longer be able to use mobile messaging apps on official devices from April 2025 following an external review.”
In other news Humza is retiring from frontline politics – is this linked ?
How can someone retire if they haven’t started to work?
A sign of gravy getting scarce at SNP Central, perhaps?
“The ancient Greeks were wrong:
Narcissus didn’t become a flower at all,
but a vampire.” (The Midge)
“Bha na seann Ghreugaich ceàrr:
cha d’ rinneadh Nairciseas na fhlùr idir
ach na vàimpir.” (A’ Mheanbhchuileag)
“Bhí dul amú ar na Sean-Ghréagaigh:
Ní dheineadh bláth de Nairciseas
ach vaimpír.” (An Corrmhíol)
There are lots of folk currently shitin# themselves right now which is the karma we will all enjoy so much when the day comes
Is there any mechanism for SNP members to force compliance by the parliamentary party, or even to debate it, given that fact that it needs resolved before the movement can move on.
I was talking about Sturgeon in work this afternoon. I cannot wait to see her have her comeuppance, and I think it’ll unite many people across the various political divides in Scotland. That day cannot come soon enough.
I couldn’t agree more strongly, Stu, and with your last two paragraphs above all. The truth must be revealed and the lying tractors exposed.
“…Whatever that truth ultimately costs, it’s a bill that must be paid, because nothing else can happen until it is.”
Sadly, I fear the enemies of Scotland know this only too well. Indeed, they positively thrive on it, as a long held philosophy.
In what walk of life would such an obnoxious and cynical reply to a legitimate FOI enquiry not be a sackable offence? Haa! Who am I kidding? Any politician, lawyer or Ombudsman in the country would be proud of it.
Contempt of Court will put you behind bars, while these wa*!ers are free to indulge their sheer and utter contempt for the public who pay their wages.
These arrogant c*!%ts need a brutal reminder that they serve the public. I’m sure it will come as quite a shock to most of them.
“Woe to you, hypocrites! For you have shut the door in people’s faces! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves do not enter, and you don’t let those get in who are trying to.”
“Is mairg dhuibhse, a chealgairean! Oir tha sibh a’ dùnadh an dorais ann an aghaidhean dhaoine! Thug sibh air falbh iuchair an eòlais. Cha deach sib’ fhèin a?steach agus bhac sibh an fheadhainn a bha a’ dol a?steach.”
“Is mairg daoibh, fhimínigh! Mar go ndúnann sibh an doras in éadan na ndaoine. Òir rug sibh libh eochair an eolais. Ní dheachaigh sibh féin isteach, agus iad seo a bhí ag dul isteach, chuir sibh cosc leo.”
Yawn… More futile piss-balling time wasting.
link to wingsoverscotland.com
What’s your game? Why would you have an issue with justice being achieved for Alex Salmond, especially when others appear to be willing to take the initiative and foot the bill? You appear to be trying to stir up division between independence supporters here. That’s the very last thing we need; we have far more than enough of that already. But perhaps you’re not really an independence supporter at all.
My game? Can you not read properly.
I’m jist a realist and clearly state the reasons in my comments which somehow you’ve twisted to make it look like I have an issue with Alex’s name obtaining justice which I do not.
So piss off, I could equally question whether you or anybody else is actually for Scotland returning to self-governance when stalling and going about stuff arse for tit.
The brave and bold Michael is not in favour of realism. It is a trait shared by many who post on Wings
Away and play with the beavers !
Michael , yr way off with that accusation : Dan’s posts over the years speak for themselves ; and he has a point .
Much as I agree with Stu’s comment that there will be no Independence without justice for A.S , I’m doubtful the realization of such justice ( if it ever comes ? ) will – necessarily – take us any nearer to Independence .
Though that doesn’t diminish the absolute necessity of obtaining that justice .
There are a whole lot more truths that need to be exposed to the Scottish People before Independence will be achievable : not least of which is the true nature of Scotland’s relation with England , ie Union .
Justice for Alex will be a good start ; but not the end
Independence supporters need to stop wasting their votes on imposters. Until the conspiracy to jail Salmond is exposed the imposters will continue to soak up votes that will be used against Scottish independence. It is an absolute necessity that the truth comes out and that can only happen in a court. You have a court case with evidence, which can be appealed and a verdict. That is as close to the truth as we get. Its all we have
Just out of curiosity, Rev, is it possible at all to know who authorised the release of the first document of your article in that disgraceful state, and who authorised the redaction of that document to that absurd and laughable extent?
Redacting and releasing from government a document like that is like displaying the uttermost contempt for the Scottish public and taking us for complete fools. It is completely unacceptable. That person should be sacked from public office immediately. If they do not have respect for the rights of the people of Scotland to full transparency of their government, if they do not serve the people of Scotland and instead serve the needs of some criminal, then they they do not belong in government or the civil service. They belong in jail.
It would be good to know who is the minister/high ranking civil servant that thinks our taxpayers money for their salary can be squandered in covering up the corrupt arse of some disgusting criminals.
Time to name and shame. If they show contempt for the people of Scotland in this fashion, then it is only proper that we respond them with contempt in equal measure. It is time we know who the criminals, the criminal apologists and the criminal gatekeepers hiding within our ministerial and civil service ranks are. That is the way we start pulling the curtain and let the light over this obscure and malodorous episode of Scotland’s history. By pushing away the useful idiots holding the lid down.
By the way, when on earth is Branchform going to actually make any progress and produce ANY results at all? Are we seriously expected to wait for decades until the criminals responsible die or move away to a tropical island somewhere? Is that what the police woman in charge is waiting for?
And then some here have the brass neck to claim Scotland is “a democracy”. One hell of a democracy. A kakistocracy more like.
On what basis are redactions allowed and who is the final arbiter on what is or isn’t allowed to be redacted? As it stands, all too often it’s just a blatant FU. Some legal teeth badly needed to stop the piss taking –
The Scottish National Party (SNP) is a member of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and has made a commitment to open government:
Scotland’s membership of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) supports our commitment to openness, transparency, and citizen participation across everything we do as a government.
When governments join the partnership they must endorse the Open Government Declaration and commit to the following principles:
link to gov.scot
@ Mia at 18.42 I was just about to say something along those lines. Oh what a laugh the civil servants and their “masters” must have had redacting absolutely everything apart from one name.
What had Ashleigh Gray done to deserve to be the only fact exposed to the public gaze? Did she perhaps murmur something about the duty of public servants to, shock horror, serve the public honestly?
That would be enough to render her liable to every punishment the rest of her colleagues could inflict on her. No doubt she has been ousted from the tea club as well.
Bravura writing/thinking , S.C .
” There is no hope of Scottish independence under the current SNP, because the SNP now exists solely to try to protect the perpetrators of the conspiracy against Salmond. It’s the only thing they truly care about, and today’s publications are just the latest in a vast dossier of evidence of that fact.”
Its astonishing that there are still so many pro-Independence supporters unable/willing to acknowledge the inescapable truth of that statement .
And this one ……” Whatever that truth ultimately costs, it’s a bill that must be paid, because nothing else can happen until it is. Justice is the price of independence.”
Absolutely
Googling Ashleigh Gray I find that she is “Deputy Director [Interim], Propriety and Ethics, Scottish Government”.
So the question remains. Why is her name the only unredacted piece of information?
A second question is “what does a director and their deputy do about propriety and ethics in the Scottish government?” On the face of it they haven’t been doing enough since November 2014.
“Why is her name the only unredacted piece of information?”
To send us all on a wild goose chase?
Or … so they can claim they did not redact ALL of it?
Cynical, Mia, but probably true! And what do you make of the gall of Swinney saying today that Whatsapp is not to be used on official phones? He, the master of redaction and obfuscation!
As I am indeed an unashamed and unrepented cynic, what Swinney said makes me think in the following:
It is remarkable that he says that whatsapp is not to be used. But what he does not say is that messages sent from and received on official phones should never be deleted. In other words, he EXPECTS compromising and sensitive messages to be deleted.
I wouldn’t expect any less of Mr Redacted
I’m afraid that I am growing cynical because I thought the same. It is just a pantomime performance he is giving of stopping wicked people using official means of communication to do wicked things. I’m sick of it.
I believe there is a rationale for the e-mail recipient and sender redactions. When the Holyrood Whitewash was at its slaisterous peak, I seem to recall someone making the point that staff below a certain grade had to have their names redacted. So presumably Ashleigh Gray is the only one senior enough to have her name published, which begs the question – where are the rest of the e-mails?
Several MSPs have spoken or hinted of a culture of abuse at Holyrood spread across all parties so nobody gets a pass. That may not be sexual abuse, but bullying. Certainly anyone who has watched FMQs will see examples of that. Patrick Harvie especially is clearly a toxic little man who especially has issues with women.
So for nobody to use a complaints system is telling. Of course it was designed purely for Salmond as Sturgeon wanted him destroyed. He knew where the bodies were buried after all.
The fact the Scottish Government, the SNP, and large parts of the Scottish establishment have all conspired to keep the facts secret from the public who pay their wages. My hope is that everything eventually becomes public. I suspect David Davies may well invoke parliamentary privilege next year and that Sturgeon faces a lot of questions.
As for Sturgeon, her attempts to rewrite history is astonishing but not altogether surprising. She was never a champion for LGB rights, her lavender marriage suggests much and her championing of trans issues is full of contradictions. History isn’t looking at her kindly now hence the attempt to change it. She’s killed independence as a political option for a generation. Women and girls rights, along with LGB rights are under threat from TRAs. The SNP aren’t interested in making lives better anymore and our cities are being reshaped in ways to exclude the disabled, working people and the poor.
She’ll carve herself a media career. I expect a podcast, maybe a column in The National. Owen Jones will prostrate himself at her feet. She thinks she’s got away with it. I hope she’s going to face what she did at some point.
“She’ll carve herself a media career”
I think it is more likely that she migrates to USA and joins the democrats there. Judging by her absurd policies and the way she idolised Clinton then Obama and then Biden, it seems to me this 2-faced woman and her sidekick Teflon Lloyd may have been working in collusion with them and USA’s deep state all along.
She is of no use to the Democratic party over here. People like her are ten a penny. She is a failed leader of a government less powerful than that of a US state.
How many FOI requests for the same thing would have to be sent at once to completely overload and bring the Scot Gov to a halt until they release the darn information?
Unless the truth is revealed, you are in stasis and cannot move on, and, if it is revealed eventually, we are going to have to learn to forgive, no matter how hard that is. Of course the procedure was established precisely to bring down Alec Salmond, and nobody else. However, I think at least one or two of the women were also shafted. I am hoping that they might, in time, spill the beans.
You are right, Rev, the SNP is not interested in independence. Independence itself became the distraction, not the woke gibberish. The woke gibberish needed independence to be kicked into the long grass. It will be brought down eventually, but it might be far too late to gain our independence by the ballot box. This is what the fools have never understood.
Absolutely correct, unless the truth is revealed the roadblock inside the SNP will not be removed and Independence support will continue to be used against them.
As for the 2 women having been shafted, they weren’t shafted .They knew exactly what they were doing and they have long enough to make amends. They should face charges with the rest of them.
I don’t know why the 1st judge never charged them all with perjury despite knowing they were all lying under oath.
I don’t think there’ll ever be closure. It’s not in Perfidious Albion’s remit & it’s as plain as day this was their doing.
Forget the SNP. Let them sink to oblivion where they belong. None of them are worth saving & they’d be as welcome fronting any indy campaign as a severe dose of the trots.
Indy need to organise individual independent MSPs & MPs & forget voting for a single political party.
On reflection I reckon I wasted a couple of hours of my life last night (that I’ll never get back) watching “Operation Mincemeat” on the box.
The relevance?
It was about the fantasy lives of the spin doctor spooks played out in life as they dreamt up black op back stories during the Second World War.
So like SHE who must not be named as described by Blackburn..
Flynn made a big drunken mistake in trying to kick out a sitting MSP member.
I hope he sinks without trace the jumped up little shit.
So they’re banning WhatsApp from ScotGov devices.
Is that because they’re afraid they’ll be caught out?
What’s the alternative means by which our duplicitous SNP overlords will be able to scheme and plot? Telegram?
Personal phones not government issue phones.
The moment they publish the facts is the moment Salmond wins as it proves his case which is why they delay.
At the same time the unionists know they are guilty and if they pursue indy it will be leaked to the press and they lose.
The SNP must publish to resolve the Salmond case and to clear the air before 2026.
Swinney can’t release the info as it will show his involvement
Sturgeon thinks she might make a come back but the unionists have the messages she can achieve nothing but maintaining the union.
“Sturgeon thinks she might make a come back”
She will realise when her book fails that she is not the World Leader that she thought she was.
It is interesting watching the BBC. Recently i have seen Brindly, Sturgeon, Lloyd, Riduck. They are all being given a gentle airing
Why does the BBC support these people. Why woude the protector if the UK support them???
I know the answer BTW
MSPs back plans to end ‘double-jobbing’
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Government to ban WhatsApp for official business
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Humza Yousaf to step down as MSP at next election
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Rules tightened on chauffeur cars for ministers after ‘limogate’ scandal
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Sturgeon accused of rewriting history by denying ‘mass opposition’ to gender self-ID law
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Day 1,250: When will we get answers to the SNP finances scandal?
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Driverless bus service in Scotland to be withdrawn due to lack of interest
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Nicola Sturgeon rues descent into ‘toxic’ debate on topics such as equal marriage
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Recent headlines from various sources.
Not been a good week for the SNP has it?
Sturgeon’s demeanour all through this suggests she has been assured of protection at the highest levels. Her astounding notion of a 2026 return as First Minister signals her settled confidence that the comprehensive redactions are securely permanent. She feels invulnerable. Maybe she is.
The leadership at the Crown Office, Polis, Civil Service, commentariat all took part in the stitchup. Maybe she is immune from prosecution. There will certainly be resistance to it. Too much of the truth is out now for her to become chief admin. again? . Even the unionists, quiet at the time, are making noises that sound like demands for the truth, now that Alec Salmond is deid.