The pitch
Posted on
June 08, 2017 by
Chris Cairns
The world's most-read Scottish politics website
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About
Wings Over Scotland is a (mainly) Scottish political media digest and monitor, which also offers its own commentary. (More)
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Recent Comments
- on Unhinged Malady: “” I am ahead. I am advanced. I am the first mammal to wear pants. I am at peace with…” Apr 24, 20:08
- on Unhinged Malady: “@Lorn – I’m afraid the Salvo case has no chance, there have been innumerable cases on the U.K. constitution in…” Apr 24, 19:55
- on Unhinged Malady: “Ah c’moan now, Mark. If they’re mostly called Navid, it’s all going to be grand. Never forget that for some…” Apr 24, 19:51
- on Unhinged Malady: ““the very establishment of a supreme court should have had our legal profession outraged and riotous as they have been…” Apr 24, 19:35
- on Some People Try To Fuck With You: ““tick numerous red flags – Histrionics, Narcissism, Authoritarian, Grandiose, Anti Social, obsessive & Compulsive. They think they’re the smartest person…” Apr 24, 19:27
- on Some People Try To Fuck With You: “Absolutely shocking that a single individual can waste so much valuable judicial time on vindictive attacks and not suffer any…” Apr 24, 18:51
- on Unhinged Malady: “Lorn I don’t believe anyone posting here would call you stupid or otherwise in relation to the Scottish judges or…” Apr 24, 18:09
- on Unhinged Malady: “I agree with everything you say, but will any of this happen? I doubt it..sadly.” Apr 24, 17:47
- on Unhinged Malady: “Why do the Greens not remove her (or he if that’s how the cookie crumbles) from the list for 2026…” Apr 24, 17:15
- on Unhinged Malady: “Just passed a few Transvestites on the street. They have lost that “we are taking over the world” look on…” Apr 24, 17:11
- on Unhinged Malady: “Admittedly, RefUK friendly polling company Find Out Now, has the Faragists with a 8% lead. Eight percent! Westminster voting intention,…” Apr 24, 16:38
- on Unhinged Malady: “Having said the above, that doesn’t mean that the lady isn’t as deranged as … well… a man who thinks…” Apr 24, 15:35
- on Unhinged Malady: “GERI: at the risk of being repetitive, you have to bring a case to court. Before SALVO/Liberation, no one had…” Apr 24, 15:10
- on Unhinged Malady: “She has already served two three year terms as Rector of Aberdeen University.It is part of the strategy to capture…” Apr 24, 14:59
- on Unhinged Malady: “No, it’s not just you, diablo. This is precisely the tack they have taken. It’s all about the ‘trans’ men…” Apr 24, 14:38
- on Unhinged Malady: “Get Swinney to say Woman, Woman yes Swinney W O M A N. Say it Swinney.” Apr 24, 14:18
- on Unhinged Malady: ““Multicultural and multiracial” You don’t need to walk to far to see this is another Teletubby fantasy. In fact if…” Apr 24, 13:59
- on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: ““Alexander Gavin” No such thing as the “English Supreme Court” ! The Supreme Court is a UK institution ! Poor…” Apr 24, 13:37
- on Unhinged Malady: ““But we can safely extrapolate a couple of facts from Wings BTL to the voting public as a whole..” Actually,…” Apr 24, 13:22
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- on Unhinged Malady: “Frame it in the context of Be Kind/discriminated minority facing further victimisation. The news media likes every other part of…” Apr 24, 11:54
- on Unhinged Malady: “This idea of free speech that McKay talks about in the article has never existed here in the UK, anybody…” Apr 24, 11:27
- on Unhinged Malady: “Is it me or are news programmes continuing the promotion of trans individuals? I have watched several he, she or…” Apr 24, 11:26
- on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “Well fuck what the English Supreme Court has decided! If we’ve got shit going on in our country we’ll deal…” Apr 24, 10:53
- on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: ““a wee snippet of joy” Careful there, Barbs, it sounds like you’re getting in touch with your inner trans
” Apr 24, 10:38 - on Unhinged Malady: “I see that the free speech card is being churned out now: https://archive.is/9zBFf Of course free speech only works for…” Apr 24, 10:19
- on The Disgrace Of Holyrood: “To be fair, Jay, posters demanding this and that on Wings BTL doesn’t even amount to a hill of beans…” Apr 24, 10:11
- on Unhinged Malady: “Major Swinney convenes a forum of the great and good from Scottish civic society (read; comfortably sinecured, middle class, humanities…” Apr 24, 10:08
A tall tale
Wee Books
Video
Probably a robbery
Transphobia
SNP have won Scotland,
33 seats up to now,
leaner but hopefully a lot fricken meaner,
maybe we can shoehorn a few of the big names that have lost their seat into Holyrood or Councils,
sad few days for Mr Salmond,a great patriot,like Wallace betrayed by his ain folk.
Dozie – was thinking the same thing myself.
However – STV reporting. SNP sources saying Indyref2 is ‘dead’ WTF?
Alec Massay hits below the belt. McPortillo on steroids #salmond. This is what we have to listen now.
I suppose the the only saving grace is Cruella de vil is finished
Gloves off now?
Maybe not. Let’s hold. HOLD.
Whites of their eyes and all that.
HOLD now,
I think Nicola now has be both bold and creative.
Brexit, Scotland’s future in Europe, is too important an issue to be molested and distorted by the hateful BritNat Media.
There has to be some devolution of broadcasting, not necessarily to silence the BBC, (we can dream), but just to coexist beside it. Nothing less is good enough. If it is denied us, then we must kick up such acrimony and anger that the BBC is wholly discredited and reviled as a hostile mouthpiece.
I’ve said before, the Scot Gov should get summits arranged to invite a host EU Leaders to Scotland to discuss everything and anything from the weather, through Brexit and beyond to Far Right Extremism, but get them here, in Scotland, with a pan European Press pack in tow, which we treat like royalty. Get a Euro “Brexit Special” Network broadcasting “home” to Europe, which wouldn’t you know it? Scotland can tune into it too! Go figure!
Get a bunch of students sponsored to do a live broadcasting PhD course, everything from a TV anchor person to the guy who drives the van to an outside broadcast location. Use the training mechanics to “shadow” the mainstream news and current affairs, only do it better. Do it honestly. Interview the same people the real new channels do. Broadcast it or live feed it, podcast it, radio transmit it. Get “something” Scottish into Scotland’s ether, something that that your Gran can access with TVs and Radios.
When a story breaks or something needs to be said or denied, give people a choice. Give them somewhere to go to watch and listen to the “Free Scottish” perspective.
If we want to be an Independent country, we need to find a way to confound the BritNat Propaganda which makes fools of us all.
Maybe this setback in SNP momentum can be turned into a good thing if it inspires two years of fresh innovation and progressive vitality. No room for stale complacency or hubris, instead we raise ourselves to greater heights to bring home our precious self respect and independence.
The SNP is doing so much that is right and correct, but at the same time it seems like a dumb old beast that cannot outthink its predators with their ever evolving cunning, guile and malevolence. The SNP always act as if there is hope for the BBC, that BBC might be persuaded to appreciate the finer points of Independence. That is never, never ever, going to happen. Ever.
bugsbunny says:
9 June, 2017 at 4:46 am
Alec Massay
Aye Bugsb
He’s a wee scroat that massey
Shinty @ 04:44,
Some reflection and “licking of wounds” needed for sure, but tomorrow is another day.
There is now going to be an almighty UK omnishambles over Brexit, and that could change everything before very long, whoever is in power in London. This is a long game, and it’s not over by any means.
@Jim
I tend to agree with you. Since 2014 support for Indy has increased by at most 3%, meanwhile we’ve had 56/54 SNP MPs at Westminster and an overall majority in Holyrood until last year. As someone pointed out on BBC (possibly commonspace), support for Indy still mid-40s, now outweighs support for the SNP at 37-38%.
Which means perhaps we’re where we’re supposed to be to move on – which is reaching out to Labour, LibDems, and even the Conservatives who going to Westminster, might learn something. And for that still too tight association of Independence with the SNP to diminish. Which might allow both to move on.
And perhaps we should too. No more infighting between SNP / Green / Commonspace. Different political policies, same target of Independence.
Shinty Its not really up to STV though is it? They report rubbish every day. Id rather have Alec Salmond working here plus he’s just lost his Dad so a rest from being in London is good. Having all that talent away from home hasnt done indy much good or we’d be there already. It’s a long game.
See this is what we’re up against wae this lot. That Annie Wells can’t see past her blue specs- fecking nit wit that wumen.
May is toast ya dafty Wells
Looks like the WM establishment has achieved its aim. The Union has been saved. 11 Con MPs in Scotland. Possible biggest number of Con MPs (11) since 1983.
Alex Salmond and Angus Robertson both lose to the Tories. Two of Scotland’s top politicians at WM.
I despair for Scotland and its future.
yesindyref2 says:
9 June, 2017 at 5:02 am
@Jim
“I tend to agree with you. Since 2014 support for Indy has increased by at most 3%, meanwhile we’ve had 56/54 SNP MPs at Westminster and an overall majority in Holyrood until last year. As someone pointed out on BBC (possibly commonspace), support for Indy still mid-40s, now outweighs support for the SNP at 37-38%.”
More importantly, nobody is currently making the case for Independence. It’s almost a passive preoccupation rather than an active campaign. But that has to change from here on.
Brexit is a disaster which is heading right for us and Independence is the only thing that can save us. The message has to be that stark. It is virtually a state of emergency.
Maybe Alex and Angus will have to set up the independence alliance?
Training Day @ 4.50 am = )
‘HOLD. Whites of their eye and all that!’
Yes! Keep the faith folks.
It IS sad that we have lost (for now) some excellent MPs but in the grand scheme of things,the SNP have WON AGAIN!
Because they know what they are doing even in the face of a twisted and dishonest Establishment-serving media over which the Scottish Government have no power.
All our SNP MPs and MSPs HAVE handled that toxic medium deftly and the internet with great skill and humour.
We are, as ever, on our Road to Independence.
And we will win out in the end = )
@Breeks: “It is virtually a state of emergency”
Pretty much as Macart would say.
Again looking on the bright side, Brexit affects Scotland regardless of political party affiliation, and perhaps some of the Unionist MPs will come to realise that, and change their tune – and maybe take their party in Scotland with them. All the parties in Scotland were pro-remain during the EU Ref, and perhaps now “the SNP has peaked” as they are saying, there can be some common cause made in the near future.
Actualy, Alex and Angus on the loose on their home turf without the constraints of being well-behaved MPs could now be enormous fun = )
Alex returning to Westminster after stepping aside for Nicola was certainly an unexpected and joyously annoying thorn in the side of the UK Government!
Clouds can have lovely golden linings = )
We got the last seat by 2 after 3 counts lmao
hehe, majority 2
Angus Robertson, a most respected politician as the BBC said, now without portfolio, head of the new Independence Campaign, which starts in about, oh, 6 hours after a bit of sleep and brunch.
yesindyref2 @ 6.37 am
Angus Robertson, head of the new Independence Campaign = )
Now that would be smashing
Jesus Christ.
@Ghillie
I think he’d be great, but he couldn’t have been it before, because he was a politician. He’d need some cross-party deputes though.
Been thinking about it, and the SNP are no longer a “one-party state”, which few people like. They’re “just” the party with the most MSPs and MPs, and just won the elections like any normal party does – someone has to win.
And this could be a good thing.
Oh, and Nicola needs to be less combatative now the elections are over, I don’t think the general population like it – “angry woman”. But I think they still respect her though, and generally like her when they’re not hating her. She needs to calm down.
I know what I mean!
yesindyref2 @ 07:09:
I honestly don’t know what you mean by that. As far as I can see, she’s the epitome of cool. And in comparison with Ruthie the Megaphone Muppet…?
Some would actually say the reverse, Nicola should stop being so reasonable and challenge more firmly all these disgraceful attacks perpetrated on her by the Unionists (media & politicians), eg. this whole irrelevant devolved-mattters sideshow.
Robert. I agree with you
@yesindyref2 says:
==================
(Just up from bed and checking the result) Yes, first thing that hit me this morning is that someone on the telly saying a different campaign in Scotland: not exactly true – sure the Scottish unionists banged on about a referendum but everyone on Scotland gets the UK news and many watch the political programs. All are aware of what’s going on down south politically so the best they can claim is that there were two campaigns in Scotland and none of them can say which had the most effect.
However if we apply logic, there’s been big play that young voters had a big part in the swing to Labour (actually Corbyn). Since we know that a majority of youngsters are pro Indy then we can see where a good deal of the pro SNP vote went.
However! It looks like the Tories were the biggest gainers and this can only be from 1) Labour voters putting an anti SNP vote for the Tories and 2) those so-called SNP supporters who were pro SNP or rather pro Indy because they thought Independence would take us out of Europe and now voted for the pro-Brexit party. If you meet any of them say well done your votes got us another 5 years of the worst Tory government in history.
It’s disappointing the SNP didn’t get at least 40 but 35 is still 11 more seats than all the other parties combined in Scotland. It is c. 38% of the vote I think though that could go down slightly as I think there’s one more seat to come in. So still a comfortable “win” (quotes because it’s not a Scottish election) and the SNP should get out quickly with the message not just that it’s a win but that the election was a Westminster election and lots of voters, probably most would have voted based on the UK campaigns.
The one real disaster isn’t a drop in SNP support – many who voted Labour will still be pro-Indy – but that those who switched to Tory have given them enough MPs in Scotland to allow the UK party to from a government (in alliance with DUP which is extra sickening Davidson will be pleased with that no doubt).
Finally I see they are saying the biggest switch is from SNP to Tory – I’d really like to see more detailed figures as surely a big switch to Labour in certain seats could result in Tory wins?
What the fuck is the matter with some of these people? Why vote for the fucking Tories? Have they got a short a memory? Did they forget about the austerity? The closure of Scottish industry in favour of English industry? Or maybe they are not interested in their fellow human beings. Who the fuck wants to be in a fucking union with England. If they love England so much why don’t they fuck off and live there. They know where the fucking border is.
Mebbes time for Alex to return to Holyrood? Angus Robertson apparently decided to try something else?
‘Oh, and Nicola needs to be less combatative now the elections are over, I don’t think the general population like it – “angry woman’
What are you on about? One example, just one example yesindyref2?
Evidence free assertions we expect from our opponents, you’re a liability if this is how you really view Nicola Stugeon. You may well ‘know’ what you ‘mean’ but do let us all in on your superior knowledge and insight into what an ‘angry woman’ looks like?
Cause that description of Nicola Sturgeon is such an obvious lie yesindyref2, especially in light of the actual angry women in the form of most definitely Ruth Davidson and most assuredly Kezia Dugdale that we have as the ‘real’ examples of female politicians in Scotland who fit that description to a tee?
@Rab
What the fuck is the matter with some of these people? Why vote for the fucking Tories?
____
They are voting for the Tories because they have always been Tory supporters; they are new Labour A.K.A Tories who have been carving up elections between themselves.
For years they have perpetuated the lie that you actually have real choice, the LibDems being an added factor to this mythological democracy.
I have always surmised that this triumverate of deceitful shitbags are nothing more than two cheeks of the same arse with the LibDems being the arsehole and we have been living under what is little more than a Dictatorship by any other name.
Their MPs either vote for Tory policies or abstain, that is what they are there for, but now their precious Union is at stake they have had to crawl out of their lairs and vote for the real party of their beliefs.
The SNP to them are an anomaly that is encroaching on what they deem to be their rightful place taking turns ruling over us all and the MSM stop at nothing to vilify the SNP at every opportunity with even unproven accusations given page upon page of coverage and any wrong doing by other parties either not reported or given snap chat style reporting where a small story appears then it’s gone within the hour.
Hopefully now, this is the election where the lines have been drawn and we can get down to the serious business of getting our country out of this colonialist basket case of an apparent union.