The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland


The parting shot

Posted on October 25, 2014 by

Our undercover agent inside Labour (whose identity we can’t reveal, other than their codename “Nasa Warsar”) just leaked us this internal security-camera footage from both the Scottish and UK party HQs at the time of Johann Lamont’s resignation.

We’re sure readers can work out who’s who.

1 Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. 25 10 14 12:41

    The parting shot - Speymouth

96 to “The parting shot”

  1. Proud Cybernat says:

    Lift for Lamont.

    Reply
  2. Shagpile says:

    Too easy, eyebrow and hair colour a dead give away.

    Reply
  3. Croompenstein says:

    Wired to the Moon II.. the Wrath of Johann…. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Peter Mirtitsch says:

    Uuurghh! Past me the Brain Bleach!!! I just had a flash image of Johann strutting about with a blonde mullet and a top slash cut to the waist, showing her manly chest!!!

    Reply
  5. After all his slippery positioning Murphy has to throw his hat in the ring.

    Oh what fun!

    link to commentisntfree.com

    Reply
  6. Mealer says:

    I think the one with frizzy hair and the red top is Jackie Bird.Is Scotty proud?

    Reply
  7. fred blogger says:

    she’ll likely see that as a lovebomb!

    Reply
  8. heedtracker says:

    “Scotty get us out of here, best possible speed” Aye Skipper. Who lost and who won 18th Sept again? Watching Alex Salmond on Question Time last week and now the vote No freak show disintegrates, its hard to tell.

    Reply
  9. Luigi says:

    Capt Ed Milliband says:

    “Beam me up another Scotty!”

    Reply
  10. Luigi says:

    Johann Lamont just couldn’t Klingon any longer.

    Reply
  11. No no no...Yes says:

    I think Wings should start a petition calling for Lamont to be reinstated.

    P.S. Don’t let Gordon Brown know about it

    Reply
  12. robbie says:

    Red Tory Dwarf!

    Reply
  13. ScottieDog says:

    Labour certainly need a genisis project

    Reply
  14. Kalmar says:

    “Get us out of here… Best possible speed”.

    Reply
  15. Croompenstein says:

    New sci-fi film about Labour in Scotland..

    2014: A Space (between the ears) Odyssey

    Reply
  16. Barontorc says:

    The fact that labour still has supporters and sponsors in Scotland – and people that each and everyone of us know well and who we live life with, is a mystery and its a condition that simply must have a psychological tag to describe it.

    For the love of the wee man! – Who in their right mind would support this shower of bampots – supporting past principles is one thing and quite understandable as a virtue – but to put your trust and affiliation in the hands of these cretins beggars belief.

    Reply
  17. Jim Watson says:

    Sorry Rev but you have been had by a spoof video here – at approx 1.35 into the clip the word “COMMIT” appears – obviously guff since labour are committed to nothing but themselves…

    Reply
  18. Cag-does-thinking says:

    Gosh who’d have thought it the BBC national news showing the “imperial masters” clip as the establishment realise that this is a big stick to beat Ed with while promoting UKIP. Can’t we get the Margomobile outside the Labour party dinner with a PA system and appropriate music?

    Reply
  19. Bugger (the Panda) says:

    The Final Frontier; Oblivion.

    Reply
  20. galamcennalath says:

    “Set phasers tae malky”

    Reply
  21. Dave McEwan Hill says:

    All of which merely confirms me in my doubt (if that is not a contradiction). I do not believe the result.

    However as I have said here many times before the SNP is not beating Labour in Scotland it is replacing it – in fact has by now probably replaced it. I will be surprised of Labour’s actual paid up membership in Scotland is above 5000 and it exists as a major political force on the back of residual elected membership,some vested interest and a huge generous press

    More important from Labour’s point of view is that fact that it is impossible to produce good leaders for a worthless cause -and that is where they are now.

    The referendum campaign was basically the Tories against Scotland. Labour in Scotland fronted that campaign and committed suicide in the process

    Reply
  22. Tam Jardine says:

    What a great day to be alive. I look forward to seeing how this is spun by the faithfull. A quick scan of Hothersall’s twitter account last night revealed an exceptional level of nervous confidence. Just wait until Kezia takes down Sturgeon… that kind of thing. What a load of shit.

    “Blow for Sturgeon (and Salmond) as Scottish Labour disintigrates in blizzard of recriminations”

    Have a great weekend team.

    Reply
  23. galamcennalath says:

    “It’s like hee haw wuv ever seen afore captain, ken?”

    Sorry, I’m wearing the joke thin, but can’t resist.

    Reply
  24. Truth: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Scottish Labour. Its five-year mission: to exploit strange new laws, to seek out lowlifes with no civilization, to badly go where no party has gone before.

    Reply
  25. One_Scot says:

    When a leader of the winning ‘No’ team does a runner, that is when you know Scotland is seriously f’cked.

    With every day that passes it becomes clearer that Scotland has been shafted. We need another vote within five years with a straight Yes / No question and no pissing about with what a No actually means.

    This whole thing is a farcical injustice which has to be put right.

    Reply
  26. caz-m says:

    And talk of replacing her with Douglas Alexander have also got to be pie in the sky.

    If ever there was a Red Tory in Scotland, it is Douglas Alexander. That guy definitely joined the wrong Party.

    He wants to be as far away from Scotland and it’s politics as possible. That is why he put in for the Shadow Foreign Secretary’s job. It means he’s always flying AWAY from Scotland when he is at his work.

    And also talks endless shit about nothing. He is my local MP and my number one target for May 2015 GE.

    Reply
  27. Lanarkist says:

    The Astonishing Journey! Announced, first movie to be made in new Scottish Film Studio project is a remake of sci-Fi classic!

    Reply
  28. ronnie anderson says:

    Rev its no offen ah git Pedantic, but you,ve sleiled the 1st part of that name wrang its NUSA,let me know if you need any more help, always happy to oblidge.

    Reply
  29. Helena Brown says:

    Can you just see Gordon Brown getting a doing from Nicola at FMQ’s, seriously. Now I would actually pay big bucks to watch that.

    Reply
  30. ronnie anderson says:

    & the word meant is ( Speiled) before any pedants get on to me lol.

    Reply
  31. EdinScot says:

    Beam her up Scotty and take her far away from the lever of powers. I cant think of one redeeming feature of her term as opposition leader. She was full of spite and hatred. Her slurs of ‘virus’ and ‘something for nothing’ jibes will live long in the memory. A thoroughly unlikeable person.

    Her realisation of London control is like a sick joke 5 weeks too late. It proves the adage true about Labour that party first before country and its citizens and for that she wont be forgiven.

    I have to actually remind myself what side won on september 18 with the incredible membership surge for the pro indy parties, the smashing of the vow and her resigning. It proves that the vote hasnt killed independence off. Far from it. Our dream of an independent Scotland is still alive its the nightmare of Lamont as our First Minister is over. Good riddance to her.

    Reply
  32. ronnie anderson says:

    Oh what a Glorious week weil see weil be busy as ah busy busy Bee Cmon Arthur sing along.

    Reply
  33. ronald alexander mcdonald says:

    It’s completely inaccurate to say that London controls the Scottish Labour party. I mean they gave her a choice. Resign or be sacked!

    Now we have the crocodile tears. What a load of croc that is.

    Reply
  34. kestral says:

    just can’t stop shakin ma head and laffin – few noers at work are getting an email on monday

    Reply
  35. Dr Ew says:

    I’m not up on Star Trek but I’m guessing Kirk is Miliband, Sulu is Sarwar, Spock is Murphy and wasn’t Kirsty Alley nicer before she got into Scientology?

    Reply
  36. heedtracker says:

    Online Labour says Lamont is a really nice lady. She just talked shite then.

    link to wingsoverscotland.com

    Cosmic girl.

    Reply
  37. muttley79 says:

    From Alan Cochrane in the Daily Telegraph:

    She has been especially incensed that her former friend and colleague, Margaret Curran, now Shadow Scottish Secretary and a member of Mr Miliband’s inner circle, has been, according to Labour sources, canvassing members of the party’s ruling executive – urging them to persuade Ms Lamont to resign. Claims that she had been lobbying for Ms Lamont’s resignation have been denied by Ms Curran.

    Ms Lamont has also been on the receiving end of continued sniping from Scottish Labour MPs, many of whom fear that they’d lose their seats unless there was a change of leadership north of the border. Thousands of voters in normally rock-solid Labour areas such as Glasgow and North Lanarkshire switched to the SNP-dominated Yes campaign in the referendum battle.

    Reply
  38. Vronsky says:

    I just hope she doesn’t go back to being a schoolteacher. I know it’s Halloween and all, but seriously – letting your kids near that kind of thing is way the hell too scary.

    Reply
  39. link to youtube.com

    Reply
  40. heedtracker says:

    Rancid old Graun’s fighting back for their girl now!

    “Brown has not commented on Connarty’s call but issued a statement in which he said he was sorry to hear of the resignation of Lamont who, he said, “brought determination, compassion and a down-to-earth approach to the leadership”.

    But Libby Carrell also sez

    “Miliband barred Lamont from attacking bedroom tax for 12 months
    Glasgow Pollok MSP, who quit as head of Scottish Labour, was told to stay mute on topic while party leader decided on policy”

    Crash Gordon also silent on his Bedroom tax too. Funny that.

    Reply
  41. twenty14 says:

    Will celebrate this glorious event with 4 pints of Guinness to remember the 4 Scottish labour leaders that our First Minister has seen off while in office – followed by 4 Balvennies – for the sheer fucking hell of it :)- Happy days

    Reply
    • donald anderson says:

      She was only a crofter daughter but she thought the Clearances were a bag sale.

      Reply
  42. Luigi says:

    muttley79 says:
    25 October, 2014 at 1:31 pm

    From Alan Cochrane in the Daily Telegraph:

    She has been especially incensed that her former friend and colleague, Margaret Curran, now Shadow Scottish Secretary and a member of Mr Miliband’s inner circle, has been, according to Labour sources, canvassing members of the party’s ruling executive – urging them to persuade Ms Lamont to resign. Claims that she had been lobbying for Ms Lamont’s resignation have been denied by Ms Curran.

    Ms Lamont has also been on the receiving end of continued sniping from Scottish Labour MPs, many of whom fear that they’d lose their seats unless there was a change of leadership north of the border. Thousands of voters in normally rock-solid Labour areas such as Glasgow and North Lanarkshire switched to the SNP-dominated Yes campaign in the referendum battle.,

    John Mason MSP could easily knock out Curran at the GE, if he could be persuaded to stand for Glasgow NE again. If Curran defies the odds and scrapes it, then JM remains an MSP. What’s to lose?

    Reply
  43. muttley79 says:

    Is anyone surprised/shocked by events since the early hours of the 19th of September? What a low that was, we got as close as we have ever been to independence, the British establishment was visibly shaken in the last week of campaigning. Then Salmond resigned as FM, it looked like another massive loss. Yet, tens of thousands of people then joined pro-independence parties. Lamont has now resigned as the supposed leader of SLAB, although she never was in fact that.

    With the hindsight of little over a month, the resignation of Salmond looks like a masterstroke. It marked the lowest moment for the Yes campaign. However, it successfully set the agenda for what followed. It gave Sturgeon the chance to take over as FM and leader of the SNP. She will bring her own ideas and had an excellent referendum campaign. Salmond looks like he is going to stand for Westminster, which gives the SNP’s campaign for the general election a massive boost, and much needed profile. He is going to be relieved of the burden of office very shortly, and can get fired into the unionists. All in all, I do not think we could possibly have had a better month since the referendum, given the result and the bitter disappointment involved.

    Reply
  44. ticktock says:

    Donald Anderson

    Hope you didn’t actually buy that DR you were talking about.

    If you did then report to Paula Rose for correctional training and discipline.

    “Shiny shiny,
    shiny boots of leather…”

    Reply
  45. Democracy Reborn says:

    I’m reminded of the Chicken Song circa 1986 (younger readers can YouTube it):-

    “There’s Murphy on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow,
    There’s Sarwar on the starboard bow, Erchie beam me up!”….

    Reply
  46. ronnie anderson says:

    Johanns lament.

    link to youtube.com

    Reply
  47. Ken500 says:

    BBC Curtice lying for the Union. P45

    Public servant insulting Scottish taxpayers.

    Reply
  48. ronnie anderson says:

    & anither wan.

    link to youtube.com

    Reply
  49. X_Sticks says:

    Sorry, sorry, O/T again *grovels*

    @liveIndyScot Broadcasting @The_SSP_ Party Conference

    LIVE

    link to tinyurl.com

    Afternoon interviews about to start.

    PLEASE support their fundraiser link to tinyurl.com

    Reply
  50. @ twenty14

    Balvenie distillery is owned by William Grant & Sons who” have donated £100,000 to the campaign to keep Scotland in the UK.”
    They are on `Boycott the Traitors` list.

    Reply
  51. heedtracker says:

    “to the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee. Sink all coffins and all hearses to one common pool! and since neither can be mine, let me then tow to pieces, while still chasing thee, though tied to thee, thou damned whale! Thus, I give up the spear!”

    Who’s Moby Dick though? Yes Scotland. Completely relevant here but Melville Street’s in the heart of Nicola Sturgeon’s Pollokshields constituency.

    Reply
  52. Taranaich says:

    Frankly, I find the comparison between Lamont & Khan offensive: Khan actually WAS genetically programmed, after all!

    The less said about the implication that Ed Milliband is New Labour’s Kirk, the better – he’s their Archer, at best.

    Reply
  53. ronnie anderson says:

    link to youtube.com

    Reply
  54. A.N.Surgent says:

    With the official acknowledgement by the branch office(Scotland) that they are merely puppets of the WM labour party, maybe they should appoint a sock puppet as their new manager.

    Misquoting Spock- “Die quickly and poverty stricken”.

    Reply
  55. Grouse Beater says:

    How the hell can Gordon Brown contemplate becoming Labour Group leader?

    The only way he could function in the job is locking out all public and media from FM Question Time, bus in a bunch of gaga pensioners terrified of losing their teeth and wits, harangue waffle at them for an hour, and then refuse to answer to the press.

    Reply
  56. laukat says:

    If Murphy, Brown or Alexander are going to stand surely their first step has to be finding a safe Scottish parliamentary seat?

    Even if they could manipulate a by election which seat would they feel confident standing in? If they leave it until 2016 it would arguably be an even harder task.

    None of the ‘big’ hitters can take the risk of standing for a seat and loosing it would be career suicide for them and an absolute embarrassment for the Labour party. If they choose to get them in via the regional list this would just confirm they are political also runs on a similar standing to the Tories.

    Reply
  57. Democracy Reborn says:

    Some golden nuggets from the MSM:-

    The Guardian, quoting Johann : “…Scotland is an equal partner in the UK. Scotland has chosen home rule – not London rule”.

    Fraser Nelson, the Spectator : Murphy deserves a “knighthood” for his battle to save the Union. Wm Hill have odds on 8 people succeeding Johann (Ken MacIntosh isn’t one of them). Evens favourite is Anas Sarwar. Fraser thinks Anas is suitably qualified to judge the state of Scottish state education since devolution, by virtue of Anas choosing to send his kids to private school.

    On the Star Trek theme, do these people inhabit some parallel universe?…

    Reply
  58. galamcennalath says:

    Perhaps now that they are being a bit more open, it should now be possible for someone from SLab media wing, EBCScotland, to take charge of the political department!

    Reply
  59. john king says:

    galamcennalath says

    “Set phasers tae malky”

    Set phasers tae severe malky,
    there fixed that for you. 🙂

    Reply
  60. fred blogger says:

    Democracy Reborn
    she’s ‘avin a laugh an’ trying to reinvent herself as a democrat.

    Reply
  61. Helena Brown says:

    May I suggest that twenty 14 ditch the Balvenie for a bottle of Edradour, Grant’s once owned this little gem of a distillery but sold it on and is now privately owned. Only problem is that they used to send it to the house of lords and commons, I omit the capitals as they are not important enough.

    Reply
  62. manandboy says:

    From now on, and only in so far as it survives at all,
    Labour in Scotland will be a Unionist brand
    with the sole purpose of undermining the Independence movement.

    Time now to get serious about the BBC and Messrs. McQuarrie & Boothman in particular.

    Reply
  63. AuldA says:

    Congrats Stu’.
    Star Trek II is THE best Star Trek film ever.

    Reply
  64. Andy-B says:

    Looks like the Klingon’s on the starboard bow, I’m sure you can get a cream or something like that for it.

    Reply
  65. Wee Jonny says:

    (from “Do a feel lucky punk” about Jim Murphy)
    “If someone snapped a pencil in the same room as him he’d probably have to change his trousers and cover the smell”.

    Belter.

    Reply
  66. Brotyboy says:

    Ricardo Montalban and Patrick Swayze.

    Quality.

    Reply
  67. Jim Thomson says:

    O/T

    Just to repeat @X-Sticks plea at 2:11pm

    Livestream of SSP conference on now (see X-Sticks post for link) and please consider supporting the IndyLive team’s fundraiser (also in X-Sticks post at 2:11pm)

    Reply
  68. Stoker says:

    Folks, it matters not one iota who Slabbers next leader will be.

    At the end of the day you simply cannot polish a turd.

    They are what they are – Red Tory Traitors – one and all.

    Reply
  69. Schrödinger's cat says:

    Am I missing something here

    Labour will need someone to lead in holyrood and ask the fm questions, that by definition means some other slab msp

    Since sarwar is deputy thingy anyways, he can have the empty title

    Reply
  70. Nigel says:

    Sit in at pathetic quay?

    With 10k supporters camped outside, the fuzzx wouldnt hàve a hope of stopping it!

    Scots daily dose of unionist shit drying up would make london shit its breeks!

    Reply
  71. stewart bc says:

    GE 2015. We don’t want Alex to stand IN Gordon.

    We want Alex to stand AGAINST Gordon

    Reply
  72. Valerie says:

    Not sure wee Dougie Alexander has a shot at the golden ring, cos apparently the London HQ nicknamed him Rainman, for his inability to look at anyone or connect with people during the referendum.

    Scraping the barrel = potential Slabbers leader in Holyrood

    Reply
  73. Capella says:

    Evan Davies struggles to herd Russell Brand into more acceptable soundbitey mode.
    link to youtube.com
    “I don’t trust politicians or corporations in this country.” 15 min.
    Good observation on the BBCs “shameful” role in Scottish referendum.

    Reply
  74. Lenny Hartley says:

    twenty 14

    Try the Arran Malt anything from 12 years on is great to fantastic. Neutral stance in referendum, although most of the staff I know at the Distillery are strong Yessers.

    If you fancy something to go with Coffee, you cant beat Arran Gold, blows Baileys et al out of the water.

    End of commercial, in the interests of fairness I should confess that I have a relation that works at the Distillery.

    Reply
  75. Murray McCallum says:

    There’s something quite telling if Anas Sarwar’s views are to be beamed from Westminster into Holyrood for FM questions.

    Elected MP Anas Sarwar would have the golden opportunity to directly quiz Ms. Sturgeon and her SNP dictatorship.

    Labour’s contact with the people of Scotland starts right there.

    Reply
  76. twenty14 says:

    I’ll miss out the Balvennie till I’ve had 10 Guinness to celebrate this wonderful day – then I’ll forget and have a Balvennie – simples

    Reply
  77. wingman 2020 says:

    Milliband’s Muppets (Lamont, Curran, Murphy, Alexander, Dogdale, Ballie)

    Who knew? (Except 1.6 million people)

    Reply
  78. Doug says:

    Taranaich – I had JoLa and her ilk as being like Broca, the puppet Cardassian leader in late DS9.

    link to en.memory-alpha.org

    Reply
  79. Wee Jonny says:

    I love this every time I read it –
    Alex Massie on Johann Lamont
    “What you see is the intellectual incoherence and bankruptcy of the Scottish Labour Party. A party that hasn’t had a meaningful idea in at least a dozen years. …Labour haven’t really recovered from losing in 2007 let alone 2011. Yi know this is a party that had the sort of arrogance and complacency that swanked around the place speaking as the voice of the people, it turns out that the people don’t think that the Labour Party represents them”

    Reply
  80. yesindyref2 says:

    What the media and Ed Miliband really want to know is:

    What does Labour magnate Professor John Curtice think?

    Reply
  81. The Man in the Jar says:

    The Labour collective has so many drones to chose from. The trouble is that they are all the same. Useless unthinking automatons!

    Reply
  82. manandboy says:

    Sit in at Pacific Quay? Great!

    But if done IN ADDITION to cancelling the TV LICENCE
    then it is going to be MUCH more effective.

    Ken McQuarrie and John Boothman don’t give a shit about protesters outside BBC Scotland, no matter how many, ‘cos on a Sunday afternoon they’re not there.

    During IndyRef, if the 1.6 million Yes voters had, in addition, cancelled their TV Licence, we might have got a different result.

    Sure, it’s not easy if you are addicted to TV and can’t live without live soaps or whatever. But it’s only for a little while, and while you are minus your Licence you will feel really good about it because you will be doing something which is really effective.

    Go on! Do it! and get a grip on Independence. The don’t let go till we have it all.

    Reply
  83. yesindyref2 says:

    From Kevin McKenna Observer May 14: “Many of those claiming that Scotland has become perilously divided against itself because of the referendum on independence are from the Unionist side of the argument and, specifically, Labour. Nor should we be surprised. For such a narrative helps to mask the underlying reality of a grievously divided Scottish Labour party.”

    I know people don’t like post-mortems on the indy campaign, doesn’t stop me thinking how I could have done better in Herald postings. I went easy on Labour to not antagonise Labour readers, or particularly the Herald itself. Perhaps I should have gone for the jugular, and exploited that division.

    Reply
  84. William Duguid says:

    O/T slightly, because I know how much Rev Stu loathes and detests verse, but I’ve been working with Dolly Parton on a wee farewell tribute to Johann and here are the results.

    link to williamduguid.blogspot.co.uk

    Reply
  85. paul gerard mccormack says:

    Funny that no mention of captain Davros Darling stepping into the breech (sp?)I wonder why?. Gordon Brown? Nah. He’s Flash remember, he saves universes when stars collide and all that. He’s way beyond Tamany hall squabbling at Holyrood, he needs a stage far far bigger than that.they couldn’t afford him.

    Reply
  86. msean says:

    She canny dae it, Jim! She’ll blow before we reach warp speed.

    Reply
  87. Betty Craney says:

    @ William 5.13

    Brilliant !

    Reply
  88. Robert Louis says:

    It would be to give Johan Lamont a credibility she doesn’t possess, to suggest her actions in resigning demonstrate a degree of political foresight, yet it is possible she has highlighted an uncomfortable truth for ALL Westminster.

    In one of the bitterest political leadership resignations for many decades, Lamont has drawn attention to the dramatic way in which Scotland’s politics have changed post referendum, and that running Labour as a branch office is no longer adequate for Scotland.

    Running Scotland as a ‘branch office’ of the UK, is also no longer adequate.

    If we think back to the Labour defeat in 2011 at the Scottish general election, Johan Lamont was appointed with the strict understanding that SHE was in charge of Labour in Scotland – a ‘proper’ Scottish Labour leader at last. At least this is what the party told us, and it would seem, Johan Lamont actually believed. Of course, it has been clear for several years, that London Labour never intended honouring such a commitment, and as soon as Johan was in place, her decisions were given no attention in London. She became, in any sense, a NON-leader of Labour in Scotland. So far as Jim Murphy and his ilk were concerned, it was business as usual, party decisions continued to be made in London, where the ‘important’ Labour people were. Scotland and its people, once again, became a side issue, an irrelevancy to Labour in London.

    Maybe Johan hung on during the referendum campaign, because she believed that the implicit threat of a YES victory would serve as a wake up call to the Scottish Labour MP’s in London. For a while, it seemed like it worked, with many of them desperately running around TV studios fighting to save their own lucrative westminster careers, with their noses firmly in London’s trough. With the NO result of the referendum, they all went back to London, and very quickly, forgot the scare they had just had and how close they came to losing it all. It was/is once again, business as usual for Labour’s Westminster’ MP’s. Scotland once again became a side issue, an irrelevancy.

    Clearly that was the final push for Lamont.

    Now, following her resignation, for a few days, maybe a week, Labour MP’s from Scotland will once again wring their hands in public, promising change. promises that will never be delivered.

    Out of all of this, however, one thing now seems clear, and that is simply this, the political demands of Scots, have changed radically, to the extent that the policies of London Labour seem irrelevant to Scots.

    We now have had a left of centre (further left than Labour) progressive Scottish SNP Government for seven and a half years. In London we have had 4 years of one of the most extreme right wing Governments the UK has seen, opposed by one of the weakest right wing Labour party front benches in history. Neither of them matches where Scotland is at present, culturally or politically. There is a real disconnect, not just within the Labour party, but between Westminster and Scotland in general, and it really isn’t all about the SNP or independence.

    Westminster and rUK policies are at odds with Scotland, and with each passing day, the gulf becomes larger. It isn’t just Labour affected in this way, it actually affects ALL the main Westminster parties. The overall effect of this, is to now make it impossible for a political party espousing policies which meet voters needs in Southern England, to present those same policies credibly in Scotland. This was first seen with the Tories many years ago, but now it is also true of Labour and the Libdems.

    In effect, Johan Lamont was right. Scottish Labour DOES need to be completely separate if it wants to have electoral success in Scotland, likewise for the Tories (Murdo Fraser did have the right idea), but NOBODY in London is listening, and so we have the mess as evidenced by Labour’s long slow lingering death in Scotland.

    This is not the end of it however, as it is clear as day to any sane Scot, that Westminster rule of Scotland is simply untenable. It is at present a fudge, to paper up the cracks in this dis-united kingdom. The UK as a single political entity in reality died many years ago, it’s just that Westminster still hasn’t noticed. Maybe, just maybe, the actions of Lamont will make London wake up, and realise that if they wish to keep Scotland even notionally as ‘part’ of the UK, then they need to introduce home rule (REAL devo max), ASAP, possibly making Scotland a crown dependency or similar.

    As things stand, we can all see that the UK as a single political entity is finished, and must wait to see the expected tepid half-measures to be proposed by the Smith commission.

    If Westminster was smart, they would rapidly make REAL Scottish home rule a priority, and Labour would make Labour in Scotland a REAL separate political entity – a genuine Scottish Labour party.

    I’ll not hold my breath waiting for either.

    Reply
  89. Capella says:

    William Duguid
    Loved the poem. May I suggest a small improvement?
    In the last verse replace cheer with jeer. To me it seems more in character:

    Your constant tinny little sneer
    Dismissing hope and spreading fear
    As Tories gathered round to jeer

    Reply
  90. john king says:

    William Duguid?
    Any relation to this guy?

    link to youtube.com

    Reply
  91. No no no...Yes says:

    Robert Louis 6:21pm
    Good analysis. I won’t be holding my breath either.

    Reply
  92. YESGUY says:

    Robert Louis

    Very well said Robert, sadly they will never change. It was evident the moment Cameron talked of more powers for Scotland at the same time as Englands . Barely hours past and the so called vow was chucked on the back burner.

    They will never give up on the resources of Scotland. It props up a bankrupted UK. We will be milked for everything we have first.

    England is still half asleep, blaming foreigners for everything, allowing their NHS to be privatised, and as we saw on QT, even though the northern cities like Liverpool etc are suffering horrific cuts , they do nothing about it other than voting in the UKIP.

    Why don’t they organise themselves ? They have the numbers to make drastic changes but blame others for their lot.

    We have shown what can be done when the people mobilise. We have given them plenty of examples to copy or improve but they do nothing.

    Sure some have protested but where was the public support ?

    Their apathy is appalling .

    We must do this ourselves. And we will .

    Scotland is different from the rUK . We know the value of our votes, sadly apathy and blame are easier than getting off their collective arses and doing something about the state of these Islands.

    Labour are finished here, The tory’s will win another term and Scotland will be robbed of it’s assets for another 5 Years.

    No voters – What have you done. 🙁

    Reply
  93. Dr JM Mackintosh says:

    Robert Louis,
    Good post and a very good summary.
    Labour will not change – not until they lose another couple of elections to the Tories down south.
    It is too late for SLab. Westminster is just too attractive for their MPs where they can sit in opposition and not have to do anything except work out how to claim more expenses. For many of them Holyrood is a 2nd tier parliament but Lamont finally realised that Holyrood is far more important to the Scottish people and gets far more media coverage up here.

    Scottish Labour MPs have become increasingly invisible over the last few years as they are pretty irrelevant. They have no power to do anything for Scotland outvoted by 10:1. That is why nobody notices if Gordon Brown is there or not.

    Reply
  94. Steve Bowers says:

    D’ya think she might end up in the house of lords, now wouldn’t that be a hoot, mind you , she hasn’t “returned” unwanted money to Westminster like Jack did, so probably not .

    “Um lady Lamont so ah pure dead um, awrite”

    Reply
  95. Charles Kearney says:

    For God’s Sake, you can’t leave us like this, did Enterprise get away????

    Reply


Comment - please read this page for comment rules. HTML tags like <i> and <b> are permitted. Use paragraph breaks in long comments. DO NOT SIGN YOUR COMMENTS, either with a name or a slogan. If your comment does not appear immediately, DO NOT REPOST IT. Ignore these rules and I WILL KILL YOU WITH HAMMERS.


  • About

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

    Stats: 6,744 Posts, 1,216,383 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

  • Recent Comments

    • Jimmock on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “An elected parliamentarian has a privilege of free speech. The real problem is the electoral system which allows list MSP’s…Apr 22, 22:17
    • Geri on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “Nope! Because it was unionists who introduced this shit to Holyrood. If we’d had Indy this would never have entered…Apr 22, 22:05
    • Mark Beggan on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “A poncy little pantomime of a man.Apr 22, 22:05
    • James Barr Gardner on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “Scotland is now running out of Petards……..Apr 22, 22:04
    • Young Lochinvar on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “Till his next televised Tranny awards hosting paycheck that is.. Then he comes out “handbag swinging” as the saying goes…Apr 22, 21:53
    • gm on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “I was slow on the uptake with this issue and the wider extreme and fake social justice theory that surrounds…Apr 22, 21:48
    • Geri on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “I see a pattern but it started before BoJo the clown. I wonder if my post will eventually show up…Apr 22, 21:33
    • Mia on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “I am sure I am not the only one who sees a pattern here. A pattern that started when Ms…Apr 22, 21:22
    • Mark Beggan on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “Powerful writing. Remind me never to argue with you Mia.Apr 22, 21:05
    • Tommo on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “It is perhaps the case that the people of Scotland should reflect on what a wise decision it was to…Apr 22, 20:51
    • Mia on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “Or is the article published by Aidan O’Neill, or indeed Aidan O’Neill himself, according to you “shite”? This is the…Apr 22, 20:47
    • PacMan on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “agent x says: 22 April, 2025 at 7:59 pm I am sure that is very important to you. It’s none…Apr 22, 20:46
    • Mia on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “What and where exactly is the “shite”? Is Scotland’s constitution, according to you, “shite”? Is trying to stop the bulldozing…Apr 22, 20:42
    • Mark Beggan on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “So David Tennant is shutting the fuck up now. Perhaps! or he could just Fuck off.Apr 22, 20:40
    • Lorn on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “No, twathater, that was Lady Haldane. The judiciary (the judges) have no way to affect or effect law. They may…Apr 22, 20:33
    • Chas on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “Wow. Even by your standards Mia that is an extraordinary length of shite. I wonder if anybody actually has the…Apr 22, 20:23
    • Mia on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: ““her comments sparked a storm of wholly justified outrage over her flagrant breach not only of Parliamentary rules but also…Apr 22, 20:12
    • Andrew scott on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “Has “mrs” murrell actually said ANYTHING about the Supreme Court judgement??? Silence is golden and auksApr 22, 20:02
    • agent x on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “I am sure that is very important to you. For me it is not.Apr 22, 19:59
    • Andrew scott on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “How in the name of the wee man has scotland got into to this utter revolting shamblesApr 22, 19:59
    • agent x on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: ““The Scottish government has “no plans” to return to its controversial bill on gender recognition, the high-water mark of Nicola…Apr 22, 19:45
    • Kit Bee on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “‘We are here, We are queer, We will never disappear’ Some of those around this angry man in a skirt…Apr 22, 19:40
    • Chris on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “I know you won’t like to hear this but there’s only one party which was, is and continues to be…Apr 22, 19:30
    • Michael Laing on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “@ David: There are two SEXES, not two genders. Why can’t people get this into their heads? Sex is binary…Apr 22, 19:07
    • Tenruh on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “You should only get one term on the list to show your skills thereafter transfer to the constituency opportunity. That…Apr 22, 19:03
    • Potace on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “Sadly, you’re incorrect. She had recently been elected Rector at Dundee Uni and is quite frankly unsuitable given the current…Apr 22, 18:59
    • PacMan on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “Starmer now says that a woman is a adult female. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/starmer-backtracks-on-trans-women-are-women-comment-following-court-ruling/ar-AA1DoLnd That is very different from the UK Supreme court…Apr 22, 18:39
    • Shug on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “I would say good fir the faculty had they only spoken up at the conspiracy against Salmond, the post case…Apr 22, 18:33
    • Yoon Scum on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “I’m sure that the UN is going to phone up Westminster any day now And will tell them that scotland…Apr 22, 18:22
    • twathater on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “Iorn I have consistently agreed with your opinions and comments re this perversion and deviance and I continue to do…Apr 22, 18:21
  • A tall tale



↑ Top