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The swing shift

Posted on May 03, 2017 by

Earlier this morning an alert reader directed us to an article in the Daily Express which seemed to make an eye-catchingly remarkable claim. It turned out to be one actually made by Ruth Davidson on Saturday (which had already been reported in the Express that day), when she appeared on Iain Dale’s radio show on LBC.

A 27% swing? From the SNP to the Tories? Putting the Tories AHEAD in the polls? That would be such a stupendously Earth-shattering development in Scottish politics that you’d think the media would have made more of it than a couple of mentions in an embarrassing low-circulation comic like the Express.

So we thought we’d better check.

It took a bit of hunting, but we found the show eventually.

And sure enough, she said it:

“We’re seeing in Scotland now a big shift in the polls. I think the last poll for the Times just yesterday showed a 27% swing between the election of 2015 and now, between the SNP and the Conservatives.”

In the 2015 election the SNP got 50% of the vote to the Tories’ 14.9%. The definition of “swing” in political terms is a clear-cut one: it means the sum of the differences in each party’s vote shares at the two points of comparison, divided by two. By way of example, here’s the Glasgow North East result at that election and in 2010.

You can see that the SNP vote share increased by 44 points (14.1 to 58.1), while the Labour share decreased by 34.6 points (68.3 to 33.7). So we add those two numbers together to get 78.6 (which is the margin change), then halve it to get to the figure of 39.3% that’s the actual swing from Labour to the SNP.

For the 2015 general election result to undergo a 27% swing would mean the SNP lead of 35.1 points in 2015 having to become a Tory lead of 18.9 points today. (Because for the swing to be 27 the margin change has to be 27×2, which is 54.)

But despite the bewilderingly insane headline in the Express, that quite plainly hasn’t happened. So we had a look in Friday’s Times, and what it actually reported was a poll that put the Tories on 28% and the SNP on 41%. That’s an SNP lead of 13 points, which is a 22-point margin change, and therefore a swing of just 11% rather than the 27% claimed by Davidson.

We can find no combination of figures anywhere in the poll findings which produce the number 27 in any context at all. (The SNP are down by nine points, which you could also express as 18% of their 2015 vote share. The Tory vote, meanwhile, is up by 13 points, which is an 87% improvement. The points margin is down by 63%. We banged all those numbers together pretty hard but couldn’t get them to form a 27.)

There are no detectable routes by which Davidson could have arrived at that figure, so far as we can tell. She hasn’t mistaken/mis-spoken a margin shift for a swing. She’s simply exaggerated the reality by a rather impressive 145% for the sheer heck of it, confident that nobody would challenge her.

We’d have done it sooner, but we try not to read the Express if we can help it.

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  1. 03 05 17 14:57

    The swing shift | speymouth
    Ignored

305 to “The swing shift”

  1. annemarie
    Ignored
    says:

    Doesn’t matter what the swing is, there should be no-one in Scotland voting for the Torys. Sometimes my fellow countrymen amaze and sadden me. I’m hoping the polls are way out, but bring it on.

  2. Richardinho
    Ignored
    says:

    She might have made a mistake. Or she might have just calculated that a predominantly English audience wouldn’t bother to question the claim.

  3. louis.b.argyll
    Ignored
    says:

    Can anyone find an Express headline that doesn’t contain aggressive language..

    ‘Davidson tears into Sturgeon’….REALLY?

  4. Richardinho
    Ignored
    says:

    You have to laugh at the Express though: Given that a 27% swing would put the Tories in the lead in Scotland, rather than going back and checking the figures they conclude that they are!

  5. Swami Backverandah
    Ignored
    says:

    It was a take-away chinese menu, and Ruth just ticked the box for a number 27, and signed it.

    She’s ever so nuanced.

  6. Free Scotland
    Ignored
    says:

    Freudian slip, no doubt. She’s probably fantasizing about having a 27 inch waist, or straddling a 27-inch gun barrel.

  7. HandandShrimp
    Ignored
    says:

    Davidson is just a sad, bare faced liar. She represents everything that is wrong with UK politics. No substance and no class.

  8. louis.b.argyll
    Ignored
    says:

    Tears into, slapped down, crushed, fatal blow..?

    Yet NICOLA STILL STANDS TALL, above these wannabe brownshirts of Fleet Street.

  9. Proud Cybernat
    Ignored
    says:

    Real Tories = Fake News.

  10. Morgatron
    Ignored
    says:

    tRuth is a one trick pony , sorry Pantomime Horse (rear end).
    Take any of her spin with a Siberian salt mine. Shes a Liar.

  11. Proud Cybernat
    Ignored
    says:

    “‘Davidson tears into Sturgeon’….REALLY?”

    I stopped reading at “Davidson tears…”

    Will be very appropriate when she gets gubbed in Scotland on 4th & 8th.

  12. Macart
    Ignored
    says:

    And THAT is the problem in a nutshell.

    “She’s simply exaggerated the reality by a rather impressive 145% for the sheer heck of it, confident that nobody would challenge her”

    They don’t get challenged anywhere near often enough by our media. When it comes to Scottish politics, the media have a real blind spot where party and constitutional politics is concerned.

  13. Sharey Dubs
    Ignored
    says:

    When the truth does not suite, just make something up. Desperate or what?

    Smile and wave, smile and wave 🙂

  14. HandandShrimp
    Ignored
    says:

    PS who is Perring?

    Do the Express have a revolving door of would be churnalist propaganda writers or is it some sort of Youth Opportunity Programme? What happened to previous warmer whose name escapes me?

  15. Brian
    Ignored
    says:

    Ian Dale on LBC prides himself on always being factual and fair, and often cites inaccurate MSM ‘facts’ and figures against the Scottish independence movement. He usually preferences each utterance by saying he has sympathy with the movement, but he took great glee recently in the fatuous claim tha Theresa May was more popular in Scotland than First Minister Stugeon. The station then used that snippet as an advert for the station so it was repeated frequently for a number of days. The condescending tone of his voice doesn’t help matters when he calls upon such ‘facts’ to use against any unfortunate caller.

  16. Greannach
    Ignored
    says:

    And some Labour character in Dumfries is making staggering claims about the monumental shift from Yes to No.

    I think it’s all called whistling in the dark.

  17. Karen Busher
    Ignored
    says:

    Phew… been anxiously waiting on your analysis while on holiday in Izmir. I saw the headline and thought…surely not!! What could have happened in the last week to change so much??? Should have known…. Rooth the Mooth strikes again!

  18. Arbroath1320
    Ignored
    says:

    When Davidson talks about a 27% swing from the SNP to the Tories she is obviously confused.

    What she means is she intends to go for a wee shottie of the kids swings after the interview. The figure 27 came from the ball she had just pulled at the Crathes Kiddies party bingo game. 😀

  19. Proud Cybernat
    Ignored
    says:

    It’s like they think just by SAYING something will make it real.

    Extraordinary.

  20. izzie
    Ignored
    says:

    In the past Radio 5 has done phone ins with the leaders of all the parties I wonder if a we can Theresa May will take part

  21. Richard MacKinnon
    Ignored
    says:

    Hold the front page!

    ‘Davidson exaggerates polling figures. Rev. Campbell calls it ‘incredibly unfair’.

  22. manandboy
    Ignored
    says:

    THE EU DONT DO SWINGS TO THE TORIES

    “”I don’t see the position of the 27 changing very much, there is very little room for maneuver,” said Fabian Zuleeg, chief executive at the Brussels-based European Policy Centre, adding a breakdown in the talks is the likeliest outcome. ”

    Bloomberg Brexit Bulletin

  23. HUGH KIRK
    Ignored
    says:

    I won’t read The Express ‘cos I have a brain what works. The Beano is more informed reading anyway……..But has anyone had the thought that the Tank commander might just be lying? …Just saying.

  24. Jockanese Wind Talker
    Ignored
    says:

    Maybe the 27% swing from SNP to the Tories is in the Postal Votes
    tRuthless has already seen???? 🙂

  25. Walter Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Just finished watching FMQ’s. Kim Jong Ruth immediately got up and left with a gaggle of toadies in her wake. Sturgeon left the chamber alone. Is this how she’s treated by her colleagues ? Grown men falling over themselves to smile, grovel & lick her boots? When are they going to follow her around with notebooks writing down her every utterance & maniacally nodding

  26. manandboy
    Ignored
    says:

    You have to hand it to the Express, they certainly know their readership.

    For everyone else, vote Independence – no longer a choice, it’s a necessity.

  27. Proud Cybernat
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Dick

    “‘Davidson exaggerates polling figures. Rev. Campbell calls it ‘incredibly unfair’.”

    Still you don’t get how this works. Had this been any SNP MP then, in the batshit crazy and mental as anything colonial media up here, it would have been front page news for days claiming the SNP were lying about polls. That’s how fucked up the colonial media is up here.

  28. Blair Paterson
    Ignored
    says:

    Lbc are the worst twisters of the news on air their phone ins are a joke their reporters think they are the font of all knowledge that proves how big headed they are and then you get the callers thanking them for taking their call it should be the other way round without the callers they would not have a job they puta ban on my phone calls to them by not answering my calls while still asking you to phone in they like many others can’t handle or accept the truth or democracy

  29. starlaw
    Ignored
    says:

    No wonder she is the Heroine of the English Tories. If the MSM are blind eyeing all this, rubbish can you blame them for believing it.
    She may have some explaining to do in the very near future, especially if the English electorate waken up.

  30. Brian Fleming
    Ignored
    says:

    Jockanese Wind Talker: “Maybe the 27% swing from SNP to the Tories is in the Postal Votes
    tRuthless has already seen????”

    Or personally filled in while down in London?

  31. Camz
    Ignored
    says:

    She has the mind of a 27 year old. 😀

  32. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    These figures are 100% accurate they were collated by both Murdo Fraser and Jackie Baillie so defo right!

    Murdo Fraser also said in Holyrood FMQs that more people are coming to live in Scotland and he can’t understand why because Scotland’s a shit country (methinks he’s in a mood coz the Queens 11 did not do well at the footy) #stillgrumpy

    If you didn’t see it, catch up and watch the FM rip a hole in him

  33. crisiscult
    Ignored
    says:

    what’s the Express readership’s ‘swing’ to reading something/anything else?

    I imagine (and dearly hope) that the only people still reading it in Scotland are some rather elderly folk who just read it out of habit or for Calvin and Hobbes (if indeed they still have C&H cos I haven’t leafed through a copy of the express since the mid 80s when I was about 10).

  34. Thomas William Dunlop
    Ignored
    says:

    I see dyscalcula has spread from red tories to the blue tories and the unionist media

  35. pool9
    Ignored
    says:

    As Proud cybernat says, they do think that by saying something enough times they can make it true.

    Or at least plausible.

    Or at least plausible enough as a pretext for rigging the elction and then be able to say – “there were reports of a 27% swing pre-election – this result was predicted.”

    Doesn’t matter if it was their own side doing the predicting, they just need to pull the wool over enough eyes to let them get away with it with a minimum of fuss.

    Yes. I’m wearing a stylish tinfoil hat this morning.

    I just won’t put anything past them.

    They cannot afford to lose Scotland.

    SNP/Indy people to conduct our own exit polls at these elections.

    Vote in the council election everyone!!

  36. chocolass
    Ignored
    says:

    Trying very hard not to but find myself judging
    people by the daily paper under their arm.

  37. orri
    Ignored
    says:

    Surely a swing from SNP on 50% would put them on 4%?

    Do you go to the polling station and they vote for you rather than the other way round?

  38. Robert Graham
    Ignored
    says:

    I noticed a few comments on language , Does anyone else notice the real nastiness and venom used by the Tory mob in Hollyrood, questions take on the guise of verbal clubs , always ready to beat the opponent into submission . These Tory placements most of them have a brass neck entering Hollyrood never mind warming their arses on our chairs , under the rabid Ruthie appear to believe it’s their parliament and they are in charge , a party who the Red Cross – Oxfam – the UN , and have 30 MPs and their agents facing a possible prison term, and is still under investigation by the electoral commission, doesn’t have a right to have a place in society never mind our parliament.

  39. Jack Murphy
    Ignored
    says:

    The Express Newspapers are owned by Richard Desmond.
    From Wikipedia:

    “….In December 2014, during the run up the 2015 general election, Desmond was reported to have agreed to donate £300,000 to the UK Independence Party.

    There was speculation at the time that a further donation could follow,and in April 2015 it was announced that he had given an additional £1 million to the party……” 🙁

  40. katherine hamilton
    Ignored
    says:

    This is just so much b******s. If the Tories think they are taking over, well, I don’t know what planet they are on. If they hit 20% I’ll be surprised. Labour eedjits will return to Labour tomorrow and on 8th June. SNP will wipe the floor with lot of them.

    Also Murdo Fraser got his a**e well skelpt at FMQ’s today. Long overdue.

  41. scunner
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Proud Cybernat 2.35
    Dick MacKinnon is the same as the roasters on Twitter whose comments are jarringly at odds with the flow of debate.

    The wife is fed up with me as I can never resist checking out their profiles to see which Yoon mentalists they retweet/follow.

    99% of the time it’ll be AgentP, Spanner, Jim Bond, batshit Jill etc. My least favourite being Jeremy Chilcott trying to “educate” us with his right-wing thinktank “facts”.

  42. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    The Tories and their supporters are resorting to outright lies, and as in the case of btl on Salmond’s article in The National, dragging up Salmond’s so-called relationship with “Sir” Rupert Murdoch, which was very thoroughly debunked and destroyed below the line in the Grun in – 2012 – 5 years ago.

    They’re desperate, and perhaps their internal polling shows that 28%, let alone 33%, was “peak Tory” – or an outlier.

    Did I forget to say today? Well, nevermind.

    #toriesout

  43. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    That reminds me. There seems to be a regular band of maybe 20 unionists (or multiple signons) now upvote anti-indy or anti-snp postings in the Herald, but today were doing the same in the National. For the Herald a lot of pro-indy people packed it up, understandable, but it would help if there were more pro-indy and pro-SNP (and pro-Green) people got a sign-on and did the upvotes for us – at the moment we’re outnumbered – not something that happened the first time in 2014! You can clear cookies and get the free articles muliple times (try ccleaner).

  44. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    @Richard MacKinnon says: “‘Davidson exaggerates polling figures. Rev. Campbell calls it ‘incredibly unfair’“.

    No Richard, Davidson LIES. Yet again.

    She’s desperate.

  45. Doug
    Ignored
    says:

    O/T – Just checking for tomorrow in the Vote till you boak arguement – do I have to put in a preference for the last place Tory? Or is it ok if I rank everyone else and leave that one blank?

    It just feels wrong to put any preference at all for a Tory.

  46. Andy Anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    Lying b*****ds

  47. K1
    Ignored
    says:

    Doug, watch this, it will help clarify coated till ye boak:

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NrNejaszSE4

  48. Albert Herring
    Ignored
    says:

    @Doug
    Leave them blank – it amounts to the same thing as putting them last.

  49. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    Here’s a nice tune Leither, the late Alex Welsh, dedicated to Ruth the mooth.

    http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x17fhk_it-don-t-mean-a-thing-alex-welsh_music

  50. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    If the Tories get 27% in Scotland, I’d be surprised. Never mind a swing of that.

    Ok, some polling puts them that high, but the Tories have the spotlight in them now and what shows isn’t nice. It’s a long time till polling day.

  51. K1
    Ignored
    says:

    Obvs not ‘coated’, vote, vote till ye boak.

  52. starlaw
    Ignored
    says:

    Leave nothing blank, these papers will be stored overnight in a council hall no doubt. Leave no room for the work of the ‘little people’.

  53. Robert Graham
    Ignored
    says:

    The great Union on show in case anyone is missing it , full Ariel shots of buck house and a podium outside number 10 , I don’t think that there is anyone home in number 10 let’s hope Mayhem has her access denied after the election vote, oh well we can always hope . The BBC are in their glory doing what they do best spout pish , I guess nothing of importance is happening across the channel

  54. K1
    Ignored
    says:

    Doug, watch the Stephen Paton video and decide for yourself:

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NrNejaszSE4

  55. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    Ruth Davidson deluding herself again, talking up the Tory chance in Scotland in the hope of increasing the Tory vote.

    They claim to be targeting 10 SNP seats, I think they will be lucky to win 4. I’d hate them to win even one but it won’t be seen as a disaster for the SNP if they lost 4 seats, rather the opposite as 2015 was exceptional and nobody seriously expects a repeat of that result though I’d welcome it if it was too happen.

    As far as I know just one bookie is offering odds just now on the number of SNP seats, it’s Corals spread betting where both outcomes are believed to be equally likely.

    They go 5/6 +/- for 53.5 seats for the SNP implying that they are just as likely to get more than 53.5 seats as they are not too. It’s a gamble but my hunch is that this is the correct ballpark figure. The liar Carmichael will probably win his seat so a maximum of 4 Tories is what I’m hoping for with the SNP sweeping up the rest.

    Labour No More will be devastating for them, hopefully the Tories believe they can unseat Ian Murray and that will split the vote. he should have lost last time but for some dodgy smearing of the SNP candidate. Also I’d like nothing better than to see Mundell go as well, though this is probably less likely.

    Who’s to worry the real poll is just 5 weeks away tomorrow. I can wait.

  56. K1
    Ignored
    says:

    Don’t leave the last preference blank. Watch the video if you clearly have not understood this well enough to be advising others what to do. Let people decide for themselves after they look at the information and Payton’s video at 5 minutes long nails why you must vote till ye boak:

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NrNejaszSE4

  57. Robbo
    Ignored
    says:

    Aw naw that wumen oan the telly again and I couldn’t suffer another strong and stable comment. I’ve just booted a whole right through it. Off to Asda fur me fur new telly.

  58. Proud Cybernat
    Ignored
    says:

    Some light relief…

    http://imgur.com/a/oTvU6

  59. Bradford Millar
    Ignored
    says:

    the simple truth is both Davidson (twin of Kim Jong Un) and Express are vile liars … their desperation is a joy to watch as we head for the exit from the UK

  60. K1
    Ignored
    says:

    Rev’s just retweeted another approx 1 minute vid about the cooncil elections:

    ‘If they leave you aghast, vote them last.’

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mQpxV_Fhhjg

  61. Jack Murphy
    Ignored
    says:

    Off Topic.
    Today’s First Minister’s Questions now Archived and uploaded on
    YouTube by Scottish Parliament TV:

    http://tinyurl.com/n7b3zzf

  62. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    @K1

    Hahaha That was enjoyable.

  63. Arbroath1320
    Ignored
    says:

    Sorry for O/T here but some folks may find this “interesting.”

    https://twitter.com/thoughtland/status/859720416356700160

  64. Foonurt
    Ignored
    says:

    Aye, Arbroath1320. Furst oan yoan Banana Boat, foallit wae thoan Fryin Pan, in endit wae ah shoat oan ah Roon-ah-boot. Ah, luk ower yoannurr, Wullie Rennie hingin aboot anaw.

    Last week oan John Beattie (Radio Scotland), discussing GERS wae ah foarmurr coampilurr – noo Fraser of Allander, thae yins pullt oot [physically] yoan plug, iz wurr ‘factual’ coampilurr wiz aboot tae ahnoonce thoan estimaetit numurrs yaizt. Shair anuff, oanit returnt, whin yoan yin fuull ah factual estimates, hid feeneesht.

    Thank fuck, wae huv Wings Over Scotland, The National, Scot Goes Pop! in ithurrs, tae haud back thurr tide ah fibs. Gie iz richt, pauchullt numurrs, oan 4th Meiy.

  65. scunner
    Ignored
    says:

    I’m leaving nothing blank – rank them all.

    Tories suggested no.1 pref goes last, their number 2, 2nd last.

    Then working up, Labour, Libs, Greens and finally SNP top dog.
    No Independents, Kippers in sheep’s clothing etc. in our ward.

  66. Robert Graham
    Ignored
    says:

    Question for the brain boxes here, is Hollyrood in recess while Mayhems election is going on ?
    If they are not in recess are they bound by the purdah period ? .
    If purdah doesn’t apply to speakers in the chamber, will this stop a bit of mischief to damage Mayhems quest for world domination , just asking ,Because of a Tory dope I don’t know or care what his name was, anyway he was trying and failing to make a point of order at the end of FMQs , he said with great authority, Nicolas gang did something his gang didny like .

  67. orri
    Ignored
    says:

    Apparently Purdah is merely a convention according to something on the new recently. Think it had the government refusing to release a plan about clean air before it dissolved itself.

    Also thanks to STV’s reasoning for excluding Patrick Harvie we have a precedent for excluding the SNP if any leaders debates go ahead in the UK.

  68. frogesque
    Ignored
    says:

    In Fife, Ward 13, not sure whether to rank Tory or SLab last. Desperately want shot of the SLabbers and Tories have nae chance of getting control of the Cooncil.

    What to , what to do?

  69. Bill McDermott
    Ignored
    says:

    Apologies to those who already know this but after reading the btl comments on Labour Hame, I noticed that one Richard MacKinnon comes out as a Tory no less. He is encouraging people to vote for the Ruth party.

  70. Graeme
    Ignored
    says:

    I’m gonna have to stop reading this blog, I swear to god it’s making me fucking ill,

    I know the Rev is informing us and doing a fantastic job but honestly how much lies, deceit, corruption, fraud etc from these unionist politicians, journalists or some arsehole with an axe to grind against Scottish democracy, can we be expected to take,

    in the space of 2 days we’ve had Nicola deliberately misquoted in all the newspapers, Diane Abbot making up figures on the hoof and today Ruth Davidson making up polling figures all in an attempt to mislead and deceive us and it’s being taken as read, they’re lying with impunity and no one is taking then to task.

    wtf is going on in this country

    Graeme

  71. Robert Graham
    Ignored
    says:

    Mayhems Tory lot really taking the piss by accusing the EU of threatening actions designed to interfere with her quest for world domination, brass neck doesn’t come close Ha Ha , strong and stable aye you keep saying it if it comforts you Mrs . It’s really bloody annoying to the rest of us but as long as it makes you happy why should we complain .Mayhem has been on every news channel all day doesn’t that constitute a party political broadcast ? .

  72. Bob Mack
    Ignored
    says:

    The usual media cesspit is what is going on in this country.
    Lies, distortion, misrepresentation. Nice to see Mrs may cracking under the pressure. She and Donald Trump have more in common than I imagine. She feels the EU are deliberately trying to sabotage the Tories in the upcoming General Election.
    She reeks of paranoia. How could anyone try to intervene in a democratic process ? Just ask any Scot Mrs May. Just ask any Scot.

  73. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    “I’m gonna have to stop reading this blog, I swear to god it’s making me fucking ill”

    Chin up Grahame, I’ve often felt like that but what can you do? If we feel bad then just imagine how those that are exposed feel. Hopefully worse!

    The constant lies are meant to grind you down we just don’t let them.

    The Rev must have the constitution of a Ox, he has to have 🙂

  74. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    You honestly w0uld not believe it if it wasn’t on the BBC text service news.

    Theresa May has accused European politicians of making, “threats”, against Britain, (sic), to try to influence the General Election results.

    What the hell does the daft bat imagine her main Tory representative in Scotland, strongly abetted by their Westminster Establishment sidekicks in Labour and LibDem parties are doing in regard to both the council and the General Election by having the whole pigsty of unionists making these elections some kind of referendum to have a referendum?

    The ignorant woman, and her Tory, LibDem and Labour acolytes are outrageously delusional. It was obvious from the moment that Cameron was attempting a stupid bluff when he threatened to take the UK out of the European Union.

    The fact that he had made no plans for a UK exit afterwards and was shocked at how it eventually turned out and resigned is proof enough of what his real game was.

    Yet when that daft woman gained the power and continued with the farce and quite obviously has made on plans either would be beyond belief if we couldn’t see from the outset how it was going to play out.

    The whole thing is a total farce. It won’t be a Brexit it will be a Brexicution. The unionists from May to sensibledave are delusional. Westminster hasn’t a single card to even bluff with. There isn’t even ab ace in her hand. the EU could beat her with a simple flush that wasn’t even ace high.

    With Ireland looking like unifying, Scotland independent and out of the Union but in Europe. The Channel Islands and Man probably applying to stay in Europe, (they are associate Members), England and Wales will be surrounded by EU states all with hard borders and very few other World states their friends.

  75. Proud Cybernat
    Ignored
    says:

    “Brexicution” – am nicking that wan, Rab.

  76. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    The origin and object of Purdah was to segregate women so no wonder the Britnats adopted the practice to segregate opposition to their practices

    One of the favourite practices is to have the BBC do all the party political broadcasts you didn’t do before the election
    Another is to have the BBC investigators “uncover” something important about the opposition just when your party is slipping in the polls or you’re having a bad day because the opposition’s discovered something about you
    A nice one employed by the BBC on behalf of the ruling party is to announce the tragic death of someone, a celebrity’s always good if they can get one, if not a lesser known mortal will do if they can create a sad story around it
    Or indeed a sex scandal involving someone you never heard of who was on a reality show in Indonesia once but has a British granny, that always throws the punters off the scent of the ruling parties badness

    Basically prepare for a month of invented crap to attempt to make Theresa May look strong and stable instead of brittle and weak, and now of course she’s gone full Trump paranoid telling us all everybody’s against her

    That one might be true though

  77. Macart
    Ignored
    says:

    WTAF!?!

    I go out to do some shopping with Mrs M and come back to find the PM has gone off the deep end.

    https://archive.is/pPsb7

  78. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    A hunner pound says they’ll accuse cliff Richard

    Again!

  79. shiregirl
    Ignored
    says:

    Robert Peffers@1700

    I totally agree.

    ‘Theresa May accuses European politicians and officials of using threats to try to influence UK election’ says the BBC.

    Oh my. How to win friends and influence people!

    Our first minister suggests TM is trying to poison the atmosphere. I agree.

    I wonder if the EU are (even) more sympathetic towards Scotland?

    TM has the makings of a sociopath. It’s really quite scary. The control-freakery that she omits… wow.

    It’s a gorgeous evening up here 🙂

  80. Breeks
    Ignored
    says:

    Theresa May’s speech.

    Where TF do you begin???

    Britain’s bargaining position has been misrepresented by the European Press? Well boo-hoo. Speaking for every YES voter in Scotland who has to put up with the BBC daily shite stealing our referendum, at least now you know how it feels to get a dose of your own medicine Mrs May.

    Threats have made against Britain by European politicians eh? Says the Prime Minister who was threatening to go to war with Spain just last month.

    Europe’s position has hardened has it? Well, not really, that’s a wee fib isn’t it? They are largely standing firm on the protocols of the Lisbon Treaty which you seem not to have read. And even if the Europeans have hardened their attitudes toward Britain, obviously that has nothing to do with you refusing to respect the interests of EU Nationals living here and treat them all as bargaining chips.

    Still, while it seems you are finally beginning to pay attention Mrs May, you might want to have a wee read through all that constitutional stuff that Nicola Sturgeon has been kind enough to send you. Especially the bits on Scottish sovereignty.

  81. Capella
    Ignored
    says:

    Late to this thread so apologies if this has been posted already. Here’s James Kelly’s 13 min video of advice on voting tomorrow. Made by Phantom Films and excellent quality. Worth a watch:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4bgVmmHBs8

    Good luck tomorrow Paula Rose! Fingers and toes crossed.

  82. Stoker
    Ignored
    says:

    WOS archive links for November 2013 now over on O/T.

    Or do a bit of shopping and promote the cause 😉
    https://www.ayemail.scot/store/

  83. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    @Macart

    “I go out to do some shopping with Mrs M and come back to find the PM has gone off the deep end.”

    LOL I did express the same opinion in a post yesterday after her “Bloody difficult woman” moment in the Kuenssberg interview for the BBC.

    She’s totally lost it and is an embarrassment as a PM. Just who are her advisers? They are gambling everything on Brexit means Brexit. Might be a few twists and turns to observe before we reach polling day yet on 8th June.

    I’m just hoping this can work in our favour. Who would want to vote for a party led by the idiot Theresa May and the angry shouty buffoon Ruth Harrison in comparison to Nicola Sturgeon?

    Only another idiot or greedy bastard I guess. Wake up Scotland.

  84. meg merrilees
    Ignored
    says:

    O/T
    Only 14 hours left in this fundraiser and only achieved 28%.

    Ayemail.scot needs your help to have Indy ref2 products available.
    Stoker (above) recommends you to browse the site but they NEED funding.

    Please rake though your pockets and down the side of the sofa – and if you can, give something to this appeal.

    THeresa May has completely lost it – if you have a different opinion from her you are trying to influence the election… eh? does she mean stop her winning her unopposed coronation.

    What a pile of dangerous rubbish.

  85. shiregirl
    Ignored
    says:

    Macart says:
    3 May, 2017 at 5:12 pm
    WTAF!?!

    I go out to do some shopping with Mrs M and come back to find the PM has gone off the deep end.

    See?!

    That’s what happens when you go shopping!

  86. Robert J. Sutherland
    Ignored
    says:

    K1 @ 13:45,

    It’s not true and the vid doesn’t, good as it is – I just watched it to check. Strictly, you can leave one last pref out and it doesn’t make any difference whatever. Sometimes you can leave out even more than one, depending critically on the particular local circumstances.

    However I’m not wishing to quibble and muddy any waters here, the general message is dead right: it is essential to vote all the way down the list, and well beyond your favourites.

    And everyone remember: 1 is your highest preference and higher numbers are increasingly lower preferences. Don’t make any gaps either: 1-2-3-6-7 will likely be treated as 1-2-3 only.

  87. Macart
    Ignored
    says:

    @Thepnr

    Well it was pretty obvious for quite some time they were angling for a position to either bully a deal or walk out in a manufactured strop, but jeez!?!

    To actually accuse the EU of not only misrepresentation, but actively seeking to undermine a UK ballot?

    International relations may be somewhat strained for the foreseeable future… (as in see under fecked).

  88. Robert J. Sutherland
    Ignored
    says:

    Breeks @ 17:14:

    Theresa May’s speech … Britain’s bargaining position has been misrepresented by the European Press? Well boo-hoo.

    I echo that sentiment.

    A good dose of transparency, truth and reality is precisely what we do need, not this vacuous but creepy neo-fascist “strong and stable” claptrap.

  89. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @Bill McDermott says: 3 May, 2017 at 4:40 pm:

    “Apologies to those who already know this but after reading the btl comments on Labour Hame, I noticed that one Richard MacKinnon comes out as a Tory no less. He is encouraging people to vote for the Ruth party.”

    Didn’t know he was on Labour Hame but from his posts on Wings I thought everyone would have known he was a Tory.

  90. Meg merrilees
    Ignored
    says:

    Wonder what it’s like for British nationals living in the EU just now as TM ranks up the aggro?

    The woman has gone mad – I know it’s a full moon but michty me, she is delusional!
    “The European Commission’s negotiating stance has hardened. Threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials.
    “All of these acts have been deliberately timed to affect the result of the general election that will take place on 8 June.”

    She then goes on to tell ordinary working people that their opportunities, economic prosperity and financial security would be put at risk by Brussels bureaucrats and
    “we will lose the chance to build a fairer society with real opportunity for all.”

    Mrs May was criticised by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who tweeted: “UK needs best possible Brexit deal and has limited leverage, so for PM to poison atmosphere for partisan reasons is deeply irresponsible…. Having called election for reasons of party not national interest, PM now seems intent on fighting campaign in same way.”
    The Lib Dems accused her of “creating a row for her own political ends”, and UKIP’s Patrick O’Flynn said millions of his party’s voters remained worried the UK would leave the EU “with the worst possible terms”.

  91. Capella
    Ignored
    says:

    Again – this may already have been posted.
    The Crowdfunder for Andy Wightman’s defence against defamation has a stretch target. Looks like he will have to pay a vast amount of money even if he wins. But he is forced to defend himself. All contributions help.

    http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/awdefamation

    The sooner Scottish defamation law is revised the better.

  92. Meg merrilees
    Ignored
    says:

    Forgot the link to the Ayemail.scot fundraiser!!! Sorry.

    https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/scotref-express-europe#/

  93. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @Graeme says: 3 May, 2017 at 4:41 pm:

    ” … they’re lying with impunity and no one is taking then to task. wtf is going on in this country”.

    Would you believe me, Graeme, if I told you that to the best of my knowledge it has been like that since as long as I can remember and I’m in my eighties now?

    It is just that yer average Scottish Person was just not politically aware. As the average Scot began to get interested in political matters then the SNP began to make headway. It has been a long hard slog with lots of setbacks and disappointments.

    You get quite used to it after the first 60 years.
    ;-))

  94. Shinty
    Ignored
    says:

    Brexicution – Love you Robert P.(big smiley thing)

  95. Andrew
    Ignored
    says:

    Maybe she borrowed Jackie Baillie’s calculator?

  96. RogueCoder
    Ignored
    says:

    Last call for #indyref2 campaign materials to be delivered to Yes groups all over Scotland! Just a few hours left. Can you help?

    https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/scotref-express-europe/x/6905220#/

    Thanks!

  97. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    @Thepnr
    Did you say something about that (bloody difficult woman)?

    I must have read it. It shows the value of these postings, they don’t always make an immediate effect but sink in, by which time you totally forget who or where the origin came from, so nobody gets the credit they deserve, including you!

    But on the basis of that “Bloody difficult woman” by the time I’d thought it over, I made a strong posting in the Herald about it, on the “PM warns” article. A bit far down the thread, but I daresay I’ll be repeating it before June 🙂

  98. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Remember Willie Bain

    Hope the SNP get a majority in Holyrood and change the electoral system to FPTP. That would get rid of most of the troughers. How good would that be. No more nonsense to brief. No more vacant coupons. What would the MSM do. They would have to invent fake news. Or invent even more fake news. The unionist are speaking nonsense. Brexit could finish the Tories in England/Wales. The Tories will probably pay more for a worst deal. Typical. They really have no clue. Scotland will go Independent in the EU. What will Ms Davidson do? End up like Willie Bain.

    Even people interested in politics do not know to list in order of worst preference. One man put a cross on a postal vote. So had to have it back to mark 1 & 2 SNP supported. He was well clued up with what was going on re Brexit etc, but does not’t know to vote the Tory last in order in the constituency. One small mercy. There were no Green candidate on the list. The leafletting is passed for now. Next the GE.

  99. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @Proud Cybernat says: 3 May, 2017 at 5:05 pm:

    “Brexicution” – am nicking that wan, Rab.

    You are very welcome to it. I’d hoped some others might also appreciate it.

    Another comical though was that if 10 years of SNP Holyrood government was 10 years of disaster I’d really not like to contemplate what the last 10 years of Westminster rule Ruthie though was.

  100. lumilumi
    Ignored
    says:

    @ K1 above.

    Good factual but also humorous videos trying to explain the voting system. Maybe too little, too late. People need to grasp what it means to leave all but their preferred party’s candidates blank.

    It means the tories will have an easier time to gain councillors. Ranking the tories IS NOT “voting for them”. If you rank them last, it’s saying they’re the ones you LEAST want in your local council.

    NI voters, probably more used to and knowledgeable about the STV system (it’s used in the Republic of Ireland) and more savvy, used the “vote till you boak” tactic in their recent election to dislodge the DUP from their majority by placing even crackpot fringe parties before the DUP.

    In the Scottish context, that would mean ranking the tories last, even after all the bampots and UKIP – because the bampots and UKIP do not have have a real chance of gaining councillors. The tories have, if anti-tory voters stop ranking after the candidates of their preferred party/ies.

    In my country, all elections except the presidential one (which is multi-candidate, then a run off between the two candidates with most votes) are open-list d’Hondt PR (the voters, not the party, rank the candidates on any party list – party favourites might not do well against people’s choice), and a couple of weeks ago my little brother and I were talking about the benefits of STV. In our system you can only vote FOR a candidate and his/her party. With STV, if you’re savvy enough, you can actually vote AGAINST your least preferred candidate/party.

    Think of it as a scale of one to ten, with 1 being “I want this great person representing me in the council” and 10 “absolutely not, never!”

    Then vote for all the guys you WANT representing you, 1, 2, 3, whatever. Next rank the meh-candidates of your choice, then the bampot fringe no-hopers, last the big party you DO NOT want (e.g. the tories).

    The way STV works, if you rank ALL the candidates, with the tories last (or not at all, if there’s only one tory candidate in your ward) you are actually VOTING AGAINST THE TORIES. You’re, in effect, saying ANYBODY BUT THEM to control my local council. The bampots have no real chance, enough people vote tory, labour or SNP, even Greens and SSP in places. In an STV system, ranking tories last is an active vote AGAINST them.

    I wish more Scots voters realised this, but the MSM seem to obfuscate the issue and perpetuate the old FPTP political culture – it benefits Westminster elites and their brand of pseudo-democracy.

    It’s probably no accident that all possible elections in Scotland use a different system (European, Westminter, Holyrood, local councils + possible indyrefs). It’s to confuse voters and make them buy the word from the highers-up and the papers and the BBC. Pure propaganda. Thwarting democracy.

    That’s why Scotland needs sites like WoS. To try and counter the propaganda and try to educate the people in their small way.

    I’m still impressed my little brother, who’s never voted in any elections but in our country (d’Hondt PR), immediately grasped the beauty of PR STV voting and the opportunity to actually actively vote AGAINST somebody – when will the supposedly politically savvy Scots see it? Grow out of their brainwashed FPTP obsessions?

    I predict the council elections will be a disaster for the SNP because the party advocates only giving votes to their candidates. That will let plenty of tory councillors to slither in. Then the tories will be on a high, just in time for the GE, so will win as many as a half-dozen, even a dozen, and we all know how that will be spun.

    Don’t ever tell me the electoral system doesn’t change the result or the political culture.

    Sorry for the overly long and dismal post.

  101. jim watson
    Ignored
    says:

    As an ex video games blogger I am disappointed Rev that you did not make the connection earlier – under ASCII, 27 is the code for the ESC key. Ergo a 27% swing is what Rooth the Mooth needs to avoid everyone taking the pish out of her for a miserable and failed tory revival…simples!

  102. RogueCoder
    Ignored
    says:

    Also, thanks to everyone who has donated, and has posted links to the fundraiser. Thank you so, so much, we REALLY appreciate it.

    We were very ambitious with our ask, and then Toxic Tory Theresa May called the snap election which meant everybody has been looking for funds for re-election, so we’re very, very grateful to everybody who has dug deep and given us the funding to start work on IndyKit 2.0.

    ayeMail is also funded for the next 6-12 months, so we can continue to push out pro-indy badges, T-shirts, stickers and leaflets at the lowest possible prices. You guys made that possible.

    Again, thank you. We couldn’t do it without you. *tips hat*

    Lindsay

  103. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    @ RogueCoder

    More money will be raised when IndyRef2 date is announced . Put a a/c no and sorting code. That will bring in more money.

    Alex Salmond is good on LCB. He keeps the guy right. Sometimes it doesn’t go too well. The interviewer looks a bit dejected. Serves him right.

    The MSM is in overdrive now. Just a waste of time. Clueless. It gets more hysterical. Puts people off. Exaggerated claim after exaggerated claim.

  104. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    Awful crooks the tories. Oh look Mayhem gets her excuses out there, after she’s conducted probably the worst campaigning week ever seen before, even in England.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39787353

    “Theresa May has accused European politicians of making “threats” against Britain to try to influence the general election result.

    The PM launched a stinging attack on the “bureaucrats of Brussels” in a speech outside 10 Downing Street after meeting the Queen.
    She said some in Brussels wanted Brexit talks to fail.”

    BBC r4 is basically one Conservative and Unionist party broadcast now. They must be crapping their pants.

  105. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    @yesindyref2

    I did indeed say something about that (bloody difficult woman). Don’t mind repeating either, it shows the state of the Tories and the pressure May is under.

    If she doesn’t feel ill then she certainly acts it. Mentally ill. A “psycho bastard” in fact as one Tory member described others in his party according to Ken500 LOL

    The Tory vote can only drop as this charade carries on, can’t wait until May doesn’t turn up for her place in the speakers debate. They won’t let her talk because she is an idiot.

    We can’t have an idiot or lunatic run the country now can we?

    Grahame, hope your feeling better I am. Make them feel ill.

    Thepnr says:
    2 May, 2017 at 5:21 pm
    I think Theresa May is going off the deep end.

    Speaking to BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, Mrs May said there were a lot of similarities and common ground in the two sides’ positions.
    She added: “But look, I think what we’ve seen recently is that at times these negotiations are going to be tough.
    “During the Conservative Party leadership campaign I was described by one of my colleagues as a bloody difficult woman. And I said at the time the next person to find that out will be Jean-Claude Juncker.”

    https://archive.is/BUp21

    Bloody difficult woman is not how I’d describe her. Bloody fool more like.

  106. Rock
    Ignored
    says:

    Don’t forget the Rev. Stuart Campbell’ s advice:

    SNP 1st

    Tories Last

    Maximum vote for the SNP to send a clear message to Saint Theresa of England and Wales.

  107. HandandShrimp
    Ignored
    says:

    Yup vote till you boak and put the Tories last.

  108. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    May’s outburst is just posturing.

    “Threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials.”, she claims.

    Bollocks. As far as I can see they have been consistently saying the same for months. She doesn’t like what they’ve been saying because it is at odds with what she and her media running digs have been saying.

    She is trying to appeal to English patriots – the xenophobic, sub fascist, blood and soil nationalists who have been the backbone of Brexit.

    I sincerely hope her outburst has a negative impact on her fortunes in Scotland.

  109. Rock
    Ignored
    says:

    yesindyref2,

    “That reminds me. There seems to be a regular band of maybe 20 unionists (or multiple signons) now upvote anti-indy or anti-snp postings in the Herald, but today were doing the same in the National.”

    And the “independence supporting” The National allowed them, on the day before the election?

  110. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    Me postal vote, SNP 1, Cons 8, SLab 7, with fair few indy’s in there

    But Aberdeen could still be run by Olympic level catastrofuck, Sir Wullie Young OBE. Wullie “Don’t Call Me Stupid” Young’s only legacies are , horrific white elephants despoiling Aberdeen, banning Alex Salmond and the Saltire, holding a referendum to let Aberdonians decide on Sir Ian Wood’s offer to destroy Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen said YES, Wullie said no, but most of all, as ACC finance convener, Wullie’s run up a one thousand, two hundred million quid debt, for Aberdeen, pissed away on absolute fcuk all.

    Its only fackin money, is the SLabour motto.

    £1,200,000,000 buys a lot of fcuk all right enough.

  111. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    C4 teatime news, Teresa’s monstering of EU leaks, not one tory has the stones to be interviewed.

  112. HandandShrimp
    Ignored
    says:

    I have reached the point that I burst out laughing each time May says “strong and stable”.

    This is 1950s Americana advertising repetition. It is deranged and awkward…bit like May I suppose.

  113. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    @galamcennalath

    Exactly, because the story of the dinner was leaked to a German newspaper then the UK MSM had no choice other than to cover it and she and her three Brexiteers have been made to look like the idiots they are.

    Bumbling fools making an embarrassment of the UK never mind Scotland. Just think of Boris Johnson, Fox, Davis or Gove. Not only is May herself an idiot she has surrounded herself with them and they are calling the shots. Calling them wrongly of course as like Harrison they too are delusional. Idiots.

    The real truth all along is that the EU are calling the shots and always have been, nothing has changed in their stance yet the British public have been fed manure from our own lying MSM.

    Not only fed it but swallowed it, they’re idiots as well who believe this crap.

    No rose tinted glasses can keep this looking pretty for much longer. Tories in the descendancy, how’d you like those apples Ruthie babe? You’ll get squashed in Scotland in both elections you R@pe Clause supporting, tank straddling, buffalo riding angry shouty buffoon.

  114. starlaw
    Ignored
    says:

    The England and St George flag is starting to be waved We shall see of that Johnny foreigner and all that. Rule Britainia and the rest of the rubbish. Excuses at the ready let the talks begin ….

  115. Iain More
    Ignored
    says:

    Hold the front page, we have a new one “DICK CANT HELP BEING A DICK”

    Oh and what does Davidson know about the Scots, I don’t see a Scot when I look at her!

  116. Cadogan Enright
    Ignored
    says:

    Excellent job by National. Quite brilliant http://www.thenational.scot/news/15260192.Stephen_Paton__How_the_council_elections_work__and_why_you_have_to_vote_till_you_boak__VIDEO_/

    Anybody who dishes them from now on is a troll

  117. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    Should add for the balance, Sir Wullie Young, ACC Finance Convener has run up a £1.2 bn debt for Aberdeen, god knows how the debt will ever be paid back, but for the balance, Sir Wullie himself has become a very rich SLabour socialist worker indeed.

    Sir Wullie may not be not as rich as Slabour socialist workers like Tony Blair, Gordon Brown or Lord A Darling, board member of Morgan Stanley, but even so, Sir Wullie certainly has held his own against the greatest Labour socialist workers in living memory.

  118. schrodingers cat
    Ignored
    says:

    eu have consistently said, no trade deal until after you leave. all that has happened is the uk political media bubble has been burst.

    treeza will walk out in sept, then the shit will truely hit the fan

  119. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Big Treeza was overheard sayin tae Big Jinty an aw ri lassies
    See ray urrur poalatishins fae rat Yooyrup rur pure no playin ferr by ri way, thur a rite showur a gobshites but

    iss isnae whit ah wiz telt wiz gonnae happen, Bastirts so ray ur ahm pure rayjin so ah um

    BBC Translation: Mrs May was dismayed

  120. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    And the “independence supporting” The National allowed them, on the day before the election?

    What a cretinous thing to post.

  121. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Ruth Davidson on about education again. Does she ever learn? 20% of pupils have additional needs. Some children will never read or write with comprehension but they have other skills. Dyslexic children etc can still do well with the right support. Some are genius at maths. Some people can never pass a maths exam (because of the construction) but can be genius at maths at Uni level. Often they can get qualifications at college where they are well supported and go in to University. Some pupils with additional needs find it had to construct essays etc but can use computers and get extra time in exams. Some people can never do their times table but use calculators or computers.

    Ruth Davidson is so ignorant about education. It seems she has never been in a school and seen the good work that goes on. She is insulting half the voting public. The additional needs children and their family friends and relatives. Her no stop record of belittling their achievements and the good work that is done in schools. More is being done. Student teachers should have additional needs training. To help them understand. Simple methods and assistance which could be put in place. It helps all children learn. A quiet space in the classroom, computers as a visual aid, even a cushion on a chair. Schools with bases are a total necessity for inclusion.

    Scotland has one of the best education system in the world. 55% of the population go to University. 30% straight from school, 25% mature students. Life long learning. 15% reciprocal EU students. Many University courses include a year in another country. Especially professional courses. Law, Architecture, Medicine, Engineering, Arts etc. Foreign student who pay the full cost. Students from elsewhere getting a subsidised further eduction, There are college courses and an increase in aprenticeships. Skilled tradespeople can earn a good living. ‘A’ levels should not be taken as a higher qualification than ‘Highers’. It is a different system. The Scottish education is broader based for better choice. To extend the choices for pupils. Less curriculum time is spent on each subjects but there are more subjects. Others can be picked up later in sixth year. Giving a more rounded education with more final choice.

    Scotland has more Universities of anywhere else in the world, pro rata. 15 Universities some established in the 15thCentury. Scotland was one of the first countries in the world to have tertiary education. Now all students get a full loan. Labour/Unionists were means testing it on household income. More students with straight ‘A’s can get a full loan to go to University. Many students in Scotland stayed at home when attending University because it was cheaper.

    South Korea (100 million pop) has 200 Universities. 45? Free State ones. In South Korea 34% of pupils are out of education by the time they are fifteen. Not a good outcome. The pupils study from 8am until 12pm at night. Seven days a week. Some commmit suicide. Child abuse and cruelty. The children are traumatised. Not a very good outcome for high tests results. 40% of the population go to University.

    In Finland 40% go to University. Pop 5million. There are 10 Universities. More Colleges. Children start school later. They go to pre school nursery.
    In China 40% of the population got to University. 1.3Billion pop. 2020 Universities. Vast competition to get to University. Many students go to study abroad.

    Scotland could do better. More special needs provision is going to be provided. Testing for dyslexia etc in adults being improved and more comprehensively available. If people know the causes for some behavioural patterns. Strategies can be put in to help people cope and realise their full potential. Of just make people happier and less stressed and anxious. Some people are wrongly diagnosed with mental health problems when they have additional needs, There is a need for early, appropriate diagnosis. To stop them developing mental health problems, anxiety and stress. To give the best support. For happy contented children/people.

    Scottish invention because of the good education system shaped the world. Medicine, maternity care. Prof Baird. World famous. Telecommunications. Telephone, TV. Leading in to the internet. Engineering etc. Oil & Gas technology invention.

    The Tory are taxing the Oil & Gas sector at 40% since Jan 2016. Too high, illegal, Tory taxes have caused a downturn in the sector. Costing Scotland 120,000 jobs. There are 120,000 unemployed in Scotland Scotland could have had full employment.

    Brexit will be a disaster for England/Wales. The Tories will end up paying more for less. Scotland
    needs to be Independent in the EU. The EU is the best bargain any European country can get. That is why they all joined and more want to join. It is just Tory madness to try and leave. Or have an election to cover up their criminality. The EU Ref was illegitimate. It should not have been called. The Tories committed electoral fraud in 31 constituencies. They had a majority of 13. Unlucky for some. HSBC has been laundering illegal funds and giving the Tory Party £Millions in loans. May is
    Illegally soliciting for HSBC in the Saudia bail out and sell off of Oil shares. Saudi Arabia is feeling the pinch. After thieving from half the world and ill treating foreign workers. The most absolute despot monarchy in the world. Corporal punishment and no human rights for the people.

    David Davis supporting human rights and less surveillance in Britain backed up by EU/Internstional Law. Rights of self determination etc. He supports Brexit and no self determination or Referenfum for Scotland. Or separate deal. The illogical duplicity of the Tory Party.

  122. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    schrodingers cat says:

    all that has happened is the uk political media bubble has been burst.

    Since the beginning the EU been clear – three steps, divorce, transition deal, long term deal. Also no single market access without movement of people. And I’m fairly sure they’ve been saying no sector cherry picking too.

    Since the beginning the Brexiteers and their media chums have been pretending the exact opposite will happen.

    As you say, that bubble has gone splat!

    Solution, blame the foreigners, the outsiders. Text book fascists against the wall tactics.

    Tomorrow Scotland needs to send May her first message, with another in June, and the final message to end all messages with ScotRef!

  123. Rock
    Ignored
    says:

    Thepnr,

    “Bumbling fools making an embarrassment of the UK never mind Scotland. Just think of Boris Johnson, Fox, Davis or Gove. Not only is May herself an idiot she has surrounded herself with them and they are calling the shots. Calling them wrongly of course as like Harrison they too are delusional. Idiots.”

    They are neither fools nor idiots. They are some of the nastiest people around.

    As galamcennalath says:

    “She is trying to appeal to English patriots – the xenophobic, sub fascist, blood and soil nationalists who have been the backbone of Brexit.”

    She will almost certainly succeed.

    She has outsmarted Nicola Sturgeon by calling an election to avoid giving her response to an independence referendum.

    The Tories getting an increase in their vote and opinion polls suggesting no majority support for a referendum before Brexit has been completed will embolden her to refuse permission.

    As we have seen over the last 310 years and continue to see, “sovereign” Scots are big mouths without a spine.

    Calling the likes of May fools and idiots is extremely naive.

    You have no idea who we are dealing with.

    (Counter my points if you can without resorting to personal abuse).

  124. Hamish100
    Ignored
    says:

    Rock of ages. Unionist troll

  125. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    @Rock

    I wouldn’t piss on you if you were on fire. Apologies for the personal abuse but you can fuck right off toerag. LOL 🙂

  126. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    If Mrs May thinks the Europeans are ganging up on her now
    wait till she sees them queuing up outside Bute House for a wee visit with the the First Minister and Campaign Queen of Jockland

    Anyone for tea and a ginger biscuit?

  127. lumilumi
    Ignored
    says:

    I’ll just leave this here.

    https://rsf.org/en/ranking

    It’s the Reporters without Borders annual press freedom ranking. Admittedly, they have their own axe to grind, like opposing corporate bought media that won’t pay fair wages for fair work, or allow hard graft and proper investigations, over superficial “shock” headlines, rolling news and clickbait in the first world, contrasted with journalists actually being imprisoned or killed in the second or third world.

    The top 4 are Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark. Our 5th Nordic country, Iceland, is at 10, after the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Jamaica and Belgium, but they might be excused on account of a small population – around 300,000, I believe, so the criteria “concentration of press ownership” (in certain political hands) is quite understandable. Hey, and Iceland was the only country to NOT bail out the casino bankers, put them in jail instead and got on with things. HUH! HUH! (clap! clap!) The Icelandic football team at the Euro tournament showed us all what’s what. HUH!

    The UK is at 40 at this Press Freedom Index. Problems with concentrated media ownership and now worries about silencing opposing views. Scotland is not analysed separately, but if the verdict is this bad for the UK as a whole, how much worse it must be for Scotland, where nearly all mainstream media is against independence, against Scotland, employed to keep voters in the dark and fed shit.

    The “special relationship” buddy the US comes at 43. Makes all their noises of “free world” sound rather hollow… until they madly deploy their big dicks… sorry, weapons, at anybody who dares to question US supremacy (and their special lapdog UK’s).

    I live in a country with a thousand mile (1600 km for us Europeans) land border with Russia, we’ve got our nearly 100 years of independence (it was declared 6.12.1917), and I REALLY resent the distant cock-waving from distant, “world” politicians who know nothing about my country, who care nothing about my country. Theresa May wants Empire 2.0, Vladimir Putin wants Empire 2.0 and then you have the mad dog Trump in the US, who also apparently wants an empire. And we’re right here, physically in between. As if we didn’t matter.

    We do, and our – soon 100 year old – independent country will NEVER let anybody take our independece from us.

    Stupid Scots didn’t take theirs when it was on offer in 2014, easily. It will be harder next time around because ideas and positions will have hardened and the full weight and fury of the “British” machine will bear down on you.

    Sorry to sound so negative and dispirited.

  128. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39789915?SThisFB

    Banks moving out, never trust a City spiv. When Morgan Stanley move to Germany, will Lord Flipper go to?

  129. Richard MacKinnon
    Ignored
    says:

    yesindyref2
    3 May, 2017 at 3:17 pm
    I dont think so. All politician exaggerate. I think RD has got NS running scared.
    We shall see.

  130. K1
    Ignored
    says:

    The point is Richard JS, it is completely accurate in terms of explaining the concept, as you say no need to ‘quibble’. 😉

  131. Capella
    Ignored
    says:

    @ lumilumi – yes you’re absolutely right. But what Finland lacks is the British Broadcasting Corporation, The Daily Mail, the Daily Express, The Times, The Telegraph, The Scotsman, The Herald, The Record, The Mirror The Sun, have I missed any out?

    That’s why you have had 100 years of sanity!

  132. Richard MacKinnon
    Ignored
    says:

    Graeme
    3 May, 2017 at 4:41 pm

    You ask,
    “wtf is going on in this country”
    The answer to your question is, its swinging back to the union.

  133. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    She has outsmarted Nicola Sturgeon by calling an election to avoid giving her response to an independence referendum.

    Oh do shut up sensibledave, that’s garbage. GIGO!

  134. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    Richard MacKinnon says:
    3 May, 2017 at 8:22 pm
    yesindyref2
    3 May, 2017 at 3:17 pm
    I dont think so. All politician exaggerate. I think RD has got NS running scared.
    We shall see.

    But that’s a good thing. Scotland needs strong government and you only get that with strong opposition.

    The total dysfunctioning mess that is Scotland’s opposition, is probably the best we’re ever going to get until independence, all based in Pacific Quay, coordinating how all UK newsrooms are going to spin, lie and bullshit for the Conservative party. Used to be SLabour but they were sacrificed on the altar of UKOK rule, like lambs, well not lambs, genetically modified tory lambs, dyed red.

  135. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Richard MacKinnon says: “I dont think so. All politician exaggerate. I think RD has got NS running scared.

    You see that type of silliness below the line on the Express – and the Scotsman. It’s funny – they seem to really believe it, as perhaps does Ruth Harrison.

    We shall see.

    What I see is a very confident and articulate Nicola Sturgeon compared to a weak, petulant and clueless Theresa May, and her stumbling gauche and inhumane sidekick and ventriloquist’s dummy, Ruth Davidson,

  136. K1
    Ignored
    says:

    Richard Mackinnon? Are you so bereft of pals from your side that you have to come here to have some fun winding up Indy supporters? That’s one sad life you’re living. Go play wi yer ain pals…as in your opinion there’s such a turn aboot we’re aw expecting the launch o’ Wings Astride The Union’ any minute now…any. minute. now. Not.

  137. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    @yesindyref2

    Oh do shut up sensibledave

    lol Yes can be difficult at times to know who’s who. Not a typical Rock post for sure. Smells like sensibledave right enough.

    They both enjoy stirring the porridge that much is clear. Either one and the same or learning from each other.

    Not learning much in my opinion if the latter is true.

  138. heraldnomore
    Ignored
    says:

    Troll night is it, again. Some might think they’d get a life, but hey ho…

    Just do one, a-holes.

  139. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    The answer to your question is, its swinging back to the union.

    No chance of that. May is looking for a hard Brexit, and Corbyn who would get a much better deal from the EU because he’s a nice guy and they’d like him rather than May who they detest, will still take the UK out of the European Union.

    Which will be a disaster for Scotland – if we’re still swimming around in the sewage overflow of the UK at that stage.

    The Union between Scotland and England is dead, kept moving to appear to be alive only by desperate puppeteers.

  140. Mark Fletcher
    Ignored
    says:

    The Union was probably glorious once – if that kind of thing floats your imperialist boat – but it is now effectively dead.

    Shackle yourself to its steadily rotting corpse if you like, but anyone who is remotely forward thinking will choose to get away from the cling of its stench.

    The Union with England? No thanks

  141. Ghillie
    Ignored
    says:

    I am so proud of our Nicola Sturgeon = )

    Scotland’s FM goes from strength to strength and is a true stateswoman.

  142. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    @Thepnr
    I’m guessing the scriptwriter is still on holidays so they’re having to share. Probably on hoilday in Scotland somewhere, like Crathes!

  143. AndyH
    Ignored
    says:

    The Yoons are fair getting excited.

    Let’s see how much of a pasting they get tomorrow.

    Soar Alba!

  144. Macart
    Ignored
    says:

    Yoons in panic over Mayhem meltdown.

    Make a helluva headline. 🙂

  145. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ghillie
    Latest tweet from Ruth Davidson: “Ooh, my dogs are barking. Great couple of hours in Fairmilehead ahead of tomorrow’s vote. Time for tea & ubiquitous pre-polling day jitters.

    Latest tweet from Nicola Sturgeon: “Best of luck for tomorrow to all @theSNP #council17 candidates and campaign teams. Proud of all your hard work. #VoteSNP

    Ruth’s is all about herself, Nicola’s is all about her candidates and the teams.

    Says it all, really.

  146. Meg merrilees
    Ignored
    says:

    I’ve decided that The Dinner in No.10 was bad.
    News got out.
    Tories probably leaked it so that TM could then spend the day denying it.
    She got all the headlines; all the other leaders were asked their thoughts on that and not their plans for their own manifesto. (tRuthless stooped so low as to cast aspersions on Juncker because he likes a drink – wot a cow! Pot and kettle?)

    Now today’s plan is to come out ‘pretend tough’ accusing the EU of trying to influence the election – gets all the headlines and everyone talking about it instead of talking about their own plans and manifestos.

    Do you see how they work?

    It’s the same with the trolls on here – they commandeer the discussion and if we respond to the bait – they dictate the agenda.

    Don’t rise to the bait – ignore them and they will go away out of boredom!!!

    T May’s speeches are like listening to a Pantomime now.When will she say ‘S and S gov ‘and how many times can she accuse her opponents of ‘Kay-oss’. So childish!

    George Osbourne was right – her slogans are reducing this election to a parody.

    Give me Nicola any day and as for TRuthless – she flip-flops more times than a pancake on Shrove Tuesday!

    Decision time tomorrow although we won’t know till friday.
    Good luck to all our candidates and fingers crossed for a fair fight.

    ‘Set phasers to malky” – we might just be a big step closer by friday tea-time!!!

  147. Ghillie
    Ignored
    says:

    Mark Fletcher, I sense you were trying to be diplomatic, but in reality, the Union was never glorious.

    It should not have happened in the first place and has never been good or fair to the people of Scotland.

  148. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    I’ll dance to nobodies tune.

    Being baited with “Counter my points if you can” is exactly that, a worm on a hook.

    Those that troll are best ignored, blowing a fuse like I did encourages them. Let’s try not to do that, they really hate it if they are ignored. We know why they are here and it’s not to help Scotland gain her Independence, it’s to dishearten or goad you into an inappropriate response. Sadly I fell for it there.

    We will not be cowed or disuaded, not by illiterate trolls at least.

  149. Glamaig
    Ignored
    says:

    just catching up with the days news and heard a clip of Mayhem on the news- she has completely lost the plot! It’s a bit worrying to think this is a person in control of nuclear weapons.

    I’d expect the Tory vote share in England to be heading downwards – she is just too barking mad surely, a dreadful candidate and won’t stand up to scrutiny which is exactly why she’s avoiding it. Corbyn and Nicola are in their element campaigning. Theresa might regret calling this election.

  150. Ghillie
    Ignored
    says:

    Yesindyref2 = )

    There’s Ruth Davidson showing herself up again as an empty vessel. A latter day Toom Tabard.

    No indication of positive Tory policies.

    Just empty vacuous noises, except when she is belittling the suffering of rape victims and pinching mobility scooters.

  151. Ghillie
    Ignored
    says:

    Thepnr, ignore who? = )

  152. joannie
    Ignored
    says:

    Sadly I think May’s Erdogan style of grandstanding about foreigners trying to undermine her will work with a large section of the electorate.

  153. Meg merrilees
    Ignored
    says:

    We were mentioned in dispatches today folks!

    https://twitter.com/MrFurby (5th tweet on the page – Advocate general at the ECJ)

    Professor Maduro says that some UK citizens can remain part of the EU when others leave e.g. Scotland and N. Ireland can stay and the remainder can leave. There is a precedent with GreenLand.
    It will be complex but it will not be impossible.

  154. Richard MacKinnon
    Ignored
    says:

    K1
    3 May, 2017 at 8:37 pm
    I’ve got plenty of pals. I bet I’ve got more pals than you.
    I dont usually stoop to abuse but I’m going to make an exception with you, because you are so stupid.
    Tell me, what is the point of me commenting on unionist websites? They are all converted. Its much better fun, and far more productive inside the enemies tent, talking basic common sense.
    I know I annoy you. I annoy lots of people. It tells me I’m on to something. When I read comments like yours here, its a ‘gonae no say that’ response. I know I’m getting to you because you are not challenging me, you want me to shut up. Tough. I’m here for the duration.

  155. lumilumi
    Ignored
    says:

    Capella @ 8.25

    Ooft, your list of far-right to rabid far-right UK press owned by tax-dodging non-doms really tells a story.

    My country had topped the press freedom index list for five years past but we slipped to only 3rd place this year because the state broadcaster YLE was too soft with the new Prime Minister and his connections to business life. There was a general outrage among people and press about that.

    With Brexit looming, it’s instructive to read/watch/listen to news and analysis sources from various countries and sources. Most are reasonable and trying to analyse what Brexit means to Britain, Europe and the world. It’s only the British press that seems in mad jingoistic flag-waving mode, blind to realities and ready to play the wronged victim at every turn, ready to scapegoat the EU, EU citizens, foreigners, migrants, brown people, anybody but the actual politicians who make actual policy that hurts the majority of their own people.

    Welcome to nascent fascism, 2010s style.

  156. Robert J. Sutherland
    Ignored
    says:

    K1 @ 20:22,

    Oh horror of horrors, here it is again. I’m convinced that you have now merged me in your consciousness with that Tory Dick Mackinnon who has currently escaped from under his bridge. This is bad. Very bad. My reputation may never recover… =sigh=

    (Better stick to RJS from now on, then I’ll never be any the wiser… =grin=)

  157. Jockanese Wind Talker
    Ignored
    says:

    You are correct @ Thepnr says at 9:04 pm

    “Those that troll are best ignored”.

    I’ve taken K1s advice from a few days ago and am doing just that.

    Mackinnon of the 77th, is just angry his Toryness on Labourhame has been outed.

    Just like T May he’s no as clever as he likes to kid on.

  158. Mark Fletcher
    Ignored
    says:

    Hi Ghillie!

    Of course, the Union was never glorious for you but then you are not brainwashed or wedded to the past. What about the Unionist hard core in Scotland though? The 30% or so who don’t share your awareness? Their perception is quite different. They are in love with the ‘Great’ in Great Britain. We should understand our opponents.

    Unionists are surprisingly emotional and nostalgic about the Union – they are out-and-out Nationalists in a way that even I would be hard-pushed to be about Scotland.

    I find it inconceivable that anyone switched on to the stunning achievements of the SNP would ever casually swing back to the Union. There is certainly no going back for me.

    The Union is dead and I am getting angrier.

  159. Glamaig
    Ignored
    says:

    Ordinary people of Scotland who want the people who live here to decide how to run Scotland, are ‘the enemy’. How interesting.

  160. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    Ce soir, Emmanuel Macron et Marine Le Pen s’affronteront au cours d’un ultime débat présidentiel. Deux visions du monde s’opposeront – l’une, basée sur la tolérance et le progressisme; l’autre, sur la division de la société et le repli sur soi. Je soutiens totalement le projet de Macron, et je suis convaincu que les Français feront de même. L’avenir de la France et de l’Europe est en jeu! #EnMarche

    Tonight, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen will square up for the long-awaited final presidential debate. Two visions of the world will collide – one based on tolerance and a progressive vision; another pleading for internal division and international retreat. I fully support Macron’s project and I have faith French voters will too. France and Europe’s future are at stake! #EnMarche

    At least its fun listening to beeb’s finest tory sneaks and creeps, Jim Naughty in particular, all sliming over the French trying to get them to go fascist Le Pen.

    Fair enough beeb gimps like Naughty and Robinson are giving their swivel eyed loony tory listenerdom what they what to hear but even so, its still puke worthy hearing a bloated little yoon like Maughty huffing and puffing UKOK style in France.

    He’ll no doubt be back in his Scotland region for June 8, to kick vile sep arse into shape. Last time he came up in 2015 and took over Pacific Quay but it was like watching a shit team buying an expensive flop.

  161. Cactus
    Ignored
    says:

    And the positive message from the unionist parties / corporate media for Scotland is…

    Exactly, no answer was the non-existent reply.

    It’s not all about the (current) United Kingdom / England.
    It’s about our ever-present and ever-lasting Scotland.

    The Kingdom of Scotland, forever-ready Scotland.

    9 hours remaining to go until our polling stations open up again.

  162. Socrates MacSporran
    Ignored
    says:

    Watching and listening to Mother Theresa this past week, I almost expect the Orange Order and the other stormtroopers of the far right to be marching on Poland by the end of the summer.

  163. Robert J. Sutherland
    Ignored
    says:

    Glamaig @ 21:45,

    “Extremists” in fact. Even the MI5 spooks must be rolling their eyes by now. A country, 50% of whose population is supposedly “extremist”, is either completely beyond any kind of possible oversight or is the product of a seriously deluded mind. Neither is a happy place.

    Voters, you decide. But carefully. Too many idiots voting for someone who believes any disagreement with her automatically makes a person an “enemy of the state” may possibly be the last vote they ever get. (And the rest of us along with them.)

  164. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    @joannie
    Perhaps. With the hardcore certainly, I’d guess Express posters are cheering loudly, but there’s an in-between the Tories need to elect them, and hopefully they’re not too impressed. Brexit is one thing, but making an actual enemy of the EU-27 is completely another, and could affect ongoing relations even after Brexit.

  165. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    talking basic common sense

    I look forward to that. Will it start this year at all?

  166. Clootie
    Ignored
    says:

    …trying hard to avoid the unionist media for a few days. However I cannot avoid a comment on my fellow Scots voting Tory.

    I just cannot understand why their vote is holding up never mind increasing. (If it really is!)
    Regardless of your views on Independence why would you put an X against the selfish ruthless party?

    …sometimes I feel like giving up on these “Scots”…but that’s what they want. Remember it is about the generations to come.

  167. Effijy
    Ignored
    says:

    I recall that when PM David Cameron visited Scotland before Indy Ref 1, he got himself locked away safely in a friend’s works canteen in Edinburgh.

    He could lie away the day there in front of his various media outlets and some poor sods who worked that there were held captive and their tongues just held.

    Teresa May visited Scotland more recently, to meet with the Scottish people and to bring her message?

    Only problem was that they booked her into a Scout Hall in
    Forrest, with only hand picked Tories to listen to her lies
    on behalf of the ordinary people of Scotland.

    Neither of these insults can be contrived to be “meeting”
    the people of Scotland.
    The Tories know that Scots just don’t want anything to do with them, but maybe this pretence might encourage a few Labour Knuckle Draggers to Vote Tory as they have gone to the trouble of having the butcher’s flag tattooed on their Ar*e, and King Billy on their chest.

  168. Jockanese Wind Talker
    Ignored
    says:

    Another UKOK hypocrite on RT just now.

    Professor Kevin Dowd of ‘Economists for Brexit’ saying about EU’s 100 Billion Euro demand.

    “It is an unreasonable demand with the number being pulled out of thin air, there is no means the the EU has to force Britain to pay up and we should go through a proper process to determine what the bill might be because there should be a settlement of assets and liabilities”.

    But GERs and £15 Billions Scots Black whole is arbitrary and a fact of life?

    Prof Dowd also says this EU demand is an example of why no deal is better than a bad deal and we should just walk away.

    Think he could be a K***n H***e type Economist (unsure if he is a Pretendy Professor though).

  169. ronnie anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    Airdrieonians for Yes event last night & Wee Ginger Dug Paul Kavanah The National have now joined with Wee Ginger Dug events . I had a interesting conversation with Calum Baird the Editor re promotion Yes groups can ask for Nationals for they’re stalls . Wings Stall at Glasgow Green will get supplied with Nationals .

    I will keep you’s posted as & when . Dont tell the knockers .

  170. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @Richard MacKinnon says: 3 May, 2017 at 8:22 pm:

    3 May, 2017 at 3:17 pm: I dont think so. All politician exaggerate. I think RD has got NS running scared.

    Hillarious!

    We shall see.

    Thing is most of saw what was coming from the instant Cameron first threatened the EU. I said at the time he was on his way out and that there was no way the UK was going to get a deal.

    So, Richard the ones who will see will be seeing with hindsight and they won’t like what they are seeing.

  171. K1
    Ignored
    says:

    Oooh…struck a chord. Ye admit ye are in fact ‘trolling’. Ah rest ma case. 🙂

    Nae further use fur you Richard Mackinnon. Byeee.

  172. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @Richard MacKinnon says: 3 May, 2017 at 8:22 pm:

    3 May, 2017 at 3:17 pm: I dont think so. All politician exaggerate. I think RD has got NS running scared.

    Hilarious!

    We shall see.

    Thing is most of saw what was coming from the instant Cameron first threatened the EU. I said at the time he was on his way out and that there was no way the UK was going to get a deal.

    So, Richard the ones who will see will be seeing with hindsight and they won’t like what they are seeing.

  173. Davosa
    Ignored
    says:

    Now that batshit crazy Fuhrer May has developed quite advanced paranoia (some parallels with her German predecessor)we really need to pull up the drawbridge asap. Pse let it happen soon and we can live in a decent civilised country.

  174. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @Richard MacKinnon says: 3 May, 2017 at 8:28 pm:
    “You ask,
    “wtf is going on in this country”
    The answer to your question is, its swinging back to the union.”

    Here for you, Richard is a wee song:-

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep9Vzb6R_58

    You are a real wee ray of sunshine.

  175. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Vote for me and we’ll fight them on the beaches says the stupid bampot woman to whoever stupid bampot folk will fall for that pile of Brittanic Churchillian crap straight out of the year 18canteen

    Everybody with half a brain can see it’s electioneering but what’s more worrying is I think she thinks it’s real and any minute she’ll shout WAR on the Froggies and the Gerrys

    Either she is bonkers or she hopes the voters are and it’s a really stupid course of action if the BBC and Sky don’t back her up, coz if they do the right thing and take the mickey out of her, as they should, she’s shot her bolt, done, over, a dead parrot

    I can see them dragging her away from the microphone outside number ten as they’re fastening the straight jacket around her telling her it’s all going to be fine don’t worry we’re sending in the light horse and we’re seeing off those Frenchies with our very own Armada Captain Boris is at the helm Mrs May

  176. Capella
    Ignored
    says:

    @ lumilumi – not so nascent fascism. Full blown in yer face shut up and sit down and we give the orders now type of fascism. I hope it isn’t too late.
    To be honest, the British press have always been jingoistic propaganda peddlers. More investigative newspapers tend to close down.

    Pamphleteers usually found themselves in prison or transported to Australia for sedition. The most recent press bill makes it a criminal offence for journalists to even hold leaked documents, even if they don’t publish.

    But now we have social media, and WoS, and that’s making all the difference. So the Establishment will be working on ways to curb it.

    I’m assuming in Finland you have real journalism.

  177. jfngw
    Ignored
    says:

    They called David Willetts ‘two brains’, to equalise the situation and return to a single brain he is considering teaming up with Murdo Fraser.

  178. Jockanese Wind Talker
    Ignored
    says:

    One for the Rock

    @Rock says at 6:39 pm

    “Don’t forget the Rev. Stuart Campbell’ s advice, SNP 1st, Tories Last”

    Looks like it is also your favourite targets advice now as well

    https://twitter.com/ScotNational?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwingsoverscotland.com%2F

  179. meg merrilees
    Ignored
    says:

    Heedtracker
    Isn’t it uncanny that the description of the french situation is perfectly fits Scotland /England just now:
    Two visions of the world will collide – one based on tolerance and a progressive vision; another pleading for internal division and international retreat.

    BBC R4 trying to convince us that there is a Tartan Tory tide and soon there may be more Tories that Giant Pandas in Scotland. 4th time that John Lamont has stood in the Roxburghshire seat. He’s asking for SLAB and SLib Dem to vote for him!!!!
    Oh, apparently it’s a normal thing to be a Conservative in Scotland now- some young chap speaking.
    Alex Massey speaking now – tRuthless is wonderful. It’s all because she is amazing!

    My goodness – they’ve found an SNP voter and he didn’t mention Independence. It would seem that the BBC reporter can’t believe that the SNP supporter didn’t mention indy and asks the SNP candidate why. He said that it’s the Tories talking about it instead of local issues but the BBC Reporter tries to tell the SNP candidate that it’s their fault that everyone is talking about Independence, even although we’ve just established that we’re not. In fact it’s Nicola’s fault and this is why we’re having an election

    And now they’re pushing Le Pen.

    BBC Impartial, my backside!!
    Who are they trying to kid!

    Maybe one day the BBC will tell us that there is another party in Scotland???

  180. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    @Meg merrilees

    I hope that response from the Advocate general at the ECJ was an indirect response to my email to the new President of the European parliament last Friday.

    Just kidding of course but I think we will hear of much more support in future from the EU.

    https://twitter.com/MrFurby/status/859705723588145152

    Dear Mr Tajani

    First I would like to congratulate you on becoming the new President of the European parliament.

    I was also extremely pleased to read today in The Times of London your view on protecting the rights of EU citizens in the event of the UK leaving the EU and that is something that I am in complete agreement with.

    You are quoted in the Times with saying this:

    “Technically it is the only possible solution,” he said. “If you want to continue to guarantee citizens’ rights you need to refer to the ECJ. The European parliament is very clear on this. Citizens’ rights is a red line.”

    As a citizen of the EU for over forty years and who is living in Scotland, a country that voted 62% to Remain a citizen of Europe will you announce that our continuing citizenship of the EU is also a “red line” and that we cannot be dragged out with the rest of the UK against our will?

    We will need the support of the EU in order to remain a part of it, I trust that you agree with the majority of the Scottish people and will lend us your support.

    Best wishes in your new role. I look forward to a statement from the EU supporting an Independent Scotland in the EU if such was to result from another referendum on Independence which will happen before the UK has officially left the EU. We in Scotland that wish to remain in the EU are depending on it.

    With best wishes for the future.

  181. Scot Finlayson
    Ignored
    says:

    Theresa May fabricating a political attack on the UK state to deflect from her absolute clusterfuck/trainwreck of a GE campaign,

    think her campaign manager Jim Messina knows all the tricks and machinations,with the help of a compliant BBC/MSM,in the devious world of UK elections.

  182. Capella
    Ignored
    says:

    The National front page tomorrow

    https://twitter.com/ScotNational/status/859861515050110976

  183. Jockanese Wind Talker
    Ignored
    says:

    Unfortunately @Dr Jim says at 10:31 pm T May is quoted as saying she make all her decisions after consulting with God.

    Also we supporters of Independence for Scotland are all up there with ISIS now.

    If T Mays “Extremists and Separatists” comment doesn’t wake a few undecided s or Soft Nos up to the dangers of voting Tory I fear nothing will.

  184. ronnie anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    Aw shame the English Grape growers hiv hud ah hard frost so nae Wine this year, they’ll need tae stock up oan the European stuff lol.

    Paula best wishes for tomorrow & a nice wee cheeky bottle of Bergerac Merlot waiting for you here.

  185. Meindevon
    Ignored
    says:

    Spare a thought for us down here in the sunny (but still a bit chilly) south.

    Yet another ballot paper to ponder with no SNP on it.

    I said never again to Labour, but they do ok in our council and I’m pretty sure the Tories would be a disaster. It was going to be Green. Can I risk it?

    The ballot paper may be a damn sight easier to fill in but the choices seem much more difficult. 🙁

    (Hope the polls are way off the mark and theTories get stuffed tomorrow in Scotland)

  186. Robert Louis
    Ignored
    says:

    Starting to think – especially after today’s behaviour- that mad Theresa is going to blow it. No wonder they are afraid to let her debate.

  187. Robert J. Sutherland
    Ignored
    says:

    Meindevon @ 22:43,

    Yes, commiserations about that. You don’t even get to exercise any nuances, its dumbass “winner takes all”. (As favoured by illiterate dumbasses.)

    Obviously I can’t advise you where best to place your vote. Whoever gets it will no doubt misrepresent what you really support anyway. =frown= If it’s utterly awful though, you could always write-in SNP. Though unlike some places in America (I think), that will merely count as a “spoiled ballot”.

    You might feel surprisingly good about it right afterwards though. (Then repent at leisure after you find out which bunch of chancers actually got elected instead.)

    All the best whatever you decide.

  188. Cactus
    Ignored
    says:

    Yeah, ye would think voting Green is the natural counter-vote for the people of England and Wales against ra tories. Bon chancé!

    We are Scotland.

    We are one.

  189. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Not a fan of Torcuil Crighton but he did come out with a good one when he said the Europeans will be unfriending Mrs May on Facebook

  190. Arbroath1320
    Ignored
    says:

    Sorry for O/T here.

    Guardian has front page reporting Feartie McFeartie is to declare war on Brussels. Nothing new there then. However, Nirror front page has report claiming she will call snap vote on Syria.

    She is bloody dangerous as HELL.

    To call her a WARMONGER does not even get close to the real description of her if Mirror story is true.

    apologies peeps I don’t have the links to these stories… just thanks to papers review.

  191. crazycat
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Jockanese Wind Talker at 10.16

    Kevin Dowd appears to be a “real” economist – a devotee of Milton Friedman, though, so laden with baggage:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Dowd (article flagged up as needing citations etc and possibly biased, but it gives a general idea)

    https://www.dur.ac.uk/research/directory/staff/?id=11168

  192. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    @Arbroath1320

    Hopefully these are what you are referring to though often front page news stories aren’t released until after midnight, at least in Scotland.

    From the Guardian https://archive.is/tGJyt

    From the Mirror https://archive.is/leI8o

  193. Chick McGregor
    Ignored
    says:

    Was that poll carried out by the Tories themselves (using Rent-A-Burly-Man Plc for polsters)?

  194. Meindevon
    Ignored
    says:

    RJS @10.57

    Thank you, your commiserations are greatly appreciated.

    Good idea about writing SNP on the ballot. If I thought it would get reported in the press I just might. I know a few down here that would vote for them if they could. As you say they would just be ‘spoilt’.

    I’ll probably end up holding my nose and voting Labour…as I told my Labour doorstepper the other day ‘only because I hate the Tories more’. (Poor woman got a talking to about all those Labour abstentions hehe)

    Definitely Green next time…

  195. HandandShrimp
    Ignored
    says:

    The Tory poster with No bombs for our Army is a cracker.

    I should think the Army would be saying “I should bloody well hope not – we are not carrying the fecking things onto the battlefield, give the sods to the RAF”.

    This has to be one of the worst election campaigns I have seen from the Tories and what is it with bombs? They do bombs every election. It is starting to look like a fetish.

  196. Cactus
    Ignored
    says:

    Aweright crazycat ~

    Aussi sur wiki-wiki Wednesday:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland

    X.

  197. Arbroath1320
    Ignored
    says:

    Thanks Thepnr I think they are. Headlines seem longer than I recall but articles are obviously about the right topics. What a bloody warmongering woman she is!

  198. Phronesis
    Ignored
    says:

    Scotland is a country throwing off the shackles of a political system that does not want Scotland to be a country.
    An educated electorate of civic patriots of all cultural backgrounds who understand what democracy looks and sounds like no longer belongs to the old order of unionist parties.
    We should keep voting for our parties of independence and that should be the primary aim tomorrow , and after that and after that. A peaceful,dignified evolution of thought and intent.

  199. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @Richard MacKinnon says: 3 May, 2017 at 9:29 pm:

    ” … I know I’m getting to you because you are not challenging me, you want me to shut up. Tough. I’m here for the duration.”

    God you’re thick! You aren’t, “getting to”, anyone. Everyone is getting AT you. The reason being it is rather bland in here today. No Wingers are at odds with other Wingers, (Rock doesn’t count as a Winger and we only bother with him when the topic get quiet and Wingers are broadly in agreement.

    Tomorrow you probably won’t get anyone bothering with you as there will be better things to do. Same goes for sensibledave. We tend to ignore troll on here and only poke them with wee pointy sticks when we get a bit bored.

  200. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    meg merrilees says:
    3 May, 2017 at 10:37 pm
    Heedtracker

    Horrible stuff but BBC r4 is the home of tory England and all its wonders. So they really are preaching to the converted, I hope to god. One of them was up in his Scotland region today, on top Queens Park south side Glasgow, and ofcourse the creep was all over Govanhill.

    He started OK, head of Glasgow MacVeety was pretty lazy and flaccid but then he got another the Labour guy on and it was all the Govanhill horror show, disease, rat infestation, bed lice infestation, immigration, Nicola Sturgeon, she’s the one… or just straight out of 30’s Nazi propaganda, really sleazy creepy stuff, with the SLab dude sounding as disgusted as any ham actor can be.

    We’re in a bitter struggle with some very nasty people indeed, in the beeb and in the old, dying Labour Scottish establishment.

    Or, it’s just me:D

  201. crazycat
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Cactus

    Merci bien 🙂 .

  202. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    @Heedtracker –

    It’s just you.

    🙂

  203. Robbo
    Ignored
    says:

    HandandShrimp says:
    3 May, 2017 at 11:15 pm
    The Tory poster with No bombs for our Army is a cracker.

    I should think the Army would be saying “I should bloody well hope not – we are not carrying the fecking things onto the battlefield, give the sods to the RAF”.

    This has to be one of the worst election campaigns I have seen from the Tories and what is it with bombs? They do bombs every election. It is starting to look like a fetish.

    Hmm yes I was thinking same thing.Why would the Army need bombs?
    RAF do bombs,Army do shells and bullets, they really are thick dimwitted twats and don’t understand the military roles of the armed services. I really wish some of those reporters had picked up on that and asked them about that big poster they two idiots were standing in front of promoting. Dodged a bullet there the twats!

  204. Cactus
    Ignored
    says:

    Scotland gets its next opportunity to sovereignly vote in its locals ra morra…

    @ra locals.

    3-2-1

  205. Robert J. Sutherland
    Ignored
    says:

    Was watching CNN a little earlier tonight, and they did a piece on Treeza’s spat with the EU. Then Nicola was quoted correctly in opposing her. That’s it. No inevitable BBC-style sideshow featuring the Rude Gal.

    Straight reportage without any twist. So refreshing.

    And thanks to Nicola, we are no longer hidden down in the depths of the BritNat basement, we’re out there on the world stage, peeps!

  206. Cactus
    Ignored
    says:

    It’s the 4th of May.

    Vote day Scotland.

    Welcome.

  207. Iain More
    Ignored
    says:

    Well it is Thursday now so good luck to my fellow Yessers and that we all get Councils stripped of Yoon control come Friday. To the Yoon trolls – I hope your team take a hell of a beating!

  208. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    @Phronesis

    I did this before tonight by the way and that was to look up the meaning of you name. I only did that because I enjoy your posts so much. A very sensible chap/chapess.

    Now in your case I believe the meaning is fully justified and thanks for coming on Wings to share your knowledge and views.

    Always worth reading and the name reflects the values of many who post on Wings. I though won’t be dancing to your tune either but I do enjoy the posts. Keep them coming. Ta.

    Phronesis (Ancient Greek: ????????, phron?sis) is a Greek word for a type of wisdom or intelligence. It is more specifically a type of wisdom relevant to practical things, requiring an ability to discern how or why to act virtuously and encourage practical virtue, excellence of character, in others.

  209. Ian Brotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    @Cactus –

    Have a guid yin the morra big man. Hope to see you soonish.

    Hoots abody!

  210. Cactus
    Ignored
    says:

    Cactus says calling…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP8A9rtg0iI

    Today.

  211. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    This is what Scotland should aspire to:

    “to act virtuously and encourage practical virtue, excellence of character, in others.”

    Phronesis has it right as far as I can tell. That is what building a country is all about not this miserable state of affairs we have within the UK.

    We can be better and do it right richer and stronger too. We don’t need halfwits like Theresa May governing us. What a breath of fresh air Nicola Sturgeon would be. I can’t be scared of an Independent Scotland. I’m very scared of a rampant Tory majority and a hard Brexit. For sure we’re all fucked then .

  212. Hamish100
    Ignored
    says:

    May upset by the “biased” EU press. What a complete hypocrite . Supported by the ultra right mail, express, times owned by tax avoiders and “foreigners”
    She’s doing a trump. Blaming everyone. No doubt Davidson will come on and blame the 3rd born for undermining her heroine.
    How scummy are the Tories. Vote to defeat them.

  213. Cactus
    Ignored
    says:

    @Ian Brotherhood ~

    Anna hoots tae ye too good bro!

    Let’s do this thang.

    Scotland.

    😉

  214. K1
    Ignored
    says:

    Anyone monitoring btl on the batshit crazy rags, what’s the ‘feel’? Are they falling for the ‘mayday mayday mayday, I’m a secret kipper wi mair bools lose than farage could ever compete wi’ schtick?

  215. Cactus
    Ignored
    says:

    Btw Scottish voters.

    Check and make sure there’s a unique voter reference number on the front and / or back of your ticket to Scotland.

    Cast your votes accordingly.

    And in order of sanity.

    Vote wisely.

  216. Sandy
    Ignored
    says:

    May’s speech outside No 10 today.
    Sum up: Silly bitch. Are countries outside the EU now going to rush to make trade deals with a would be dictator? I reckon that they should close the La Manche tunnel now. Save France a fortune.

  217. Dr Jim
    Ignored
    says:

    Kezias wee paid Twitter Trolls have been working overtime today and Iv’e been wondering is the Labour party going to run out of money to keep paying them all the way up to the GE

    You’d think the amount of time they spend attacking the FM every day and getting nowhere they’d be giving it up as a bad strategy by now, and here was me thinking the Labour party was against zero hours contracts, these folk don’t even have contracts

    Well off tae baw baws up early to vote against the Tories tomorrow

    Aye, a blow for Davidson or Harrison or Rape clause as she’s now better known, I’ll be the one wavin my flag on the way to the polling station wae a happy wee look on my face as I’m whistling Scots wha hae which is the anthem I like and they hate

    Lovely!

  218. clan rossy
    Ignored
    says:

    Saour Alba Thig Ar Latha

    lets vote the unionist bastards out and
    never to return.

  219. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    @clan rossy

    Good call. Today’s the day get out and get your vote in. Mind and Vote till ye boak. It’s for the good of all. Dump the Unionists.

  220. Arbroath1320
    Ignored
    says:

    Damn it Cactus!

    TWO notes in and the hairs on the back of my neck all rose as one! 🙂

    *reaches for tissues.*

  221. Cactus
    Ignored
    says:

    Mind and drink yerself a guid pint of filtered water afore ye head out, early morning voters.. don’t want ye boaking and fainting at the same time.

    Vote for Scotland.

    Hi Chris Cairns.

  222. Arbroath1320
    Ignored
    says:

    In case everyone just thought we had Tory Election Fraud Mark I and HSBC Tory Funding Fraud to get our teeth into I’ll just leave this here.

    https://www.thecanary.co/2017/05/03/breaking-whistleblowers-come-forward-new-election-fraud-evidence-every-voter-needs-see/

  223. Sandy
    Ignored
    says:

    Anyone notice that during question time, Murdo Fraser appears to be seated further & further back in the Chamber. Is he trying to find his ideal (s)pot, ie, the toilets. Came close to it yesterday. It’s natural that excreta should, in normal people, be expelled through one orifice. Not our Murdo.
    Is that ‘Andrex’ he is wiping his mouth with?

  224. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    @Arbroath1320

    That’s just because your a real human being Lesley and not a Lizard person like the Tory representatives. Humans v Lizards.

    Next Referendum Scotland v Tories we’ll win that fight.

  225. Cactus
    Ignored
    says:

    The next chapter in Scotland’s journey to independence continues today…

    I ken what ye feel about Caledonia, Arbroath1320..

    Synchronised endorphins.

    Think of Scotland.

    Go Glasgow.
    😉

  226. Swami Backverandah
    Ignored
    says:

    Vote for everyone on the ballot paper.
    Put the Tories last.
    Vote SNP first.

    Vote for Scotland.

    May the fourth be with you.

  227. Arbroath1320
    Ignored
    says:

    Thanks Thepnr.

    I agree … we WILL win. 😀

    Oh is that what they call it Cactus … thanks! 😉

    Before I forget I don’t think I linked to this “nice” wee spreadsheet yesterday from a guy on Twitter called Mr. Ethical. He is standing against Amber Rudd apparently. That’s an aside the spreadsheet concerns “payments” between HSBC, IPGL and a certain Tory party.

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12YZBQhg37p11A9bvG4dF6_3jWXeAeBNZmlt7IvBFFHo/edit#gid=922338025

  228. Still Positive
    Ignored
    says:

    Just remember to ‘Vote until you boak’ later today.

    I will be doing just that SNP 1 2 and 3 in my ward and 2 Independents who look like decent guys. I have a huge problem with the 2 Labour and the ‘paper’ Tory. So I will boak at the last 3.

    Please vote until you boak later today.

    I will be voting SNP 1 2 and 3 in my ward and Independents, who seem like decent guys, 4 and 5. The boak will kick in with the 2 Labour and 1 paper Tory candidates.

    Still haven’t decided on the order of the Labour candidates but the Tory will definitely be last.

  229. yesindyref2
    Ignored
    says:

    Council elections today!

    I’ll send an SOS to Scotland
    I’ll send an SOS to Scotland
    I hope that someone gets my
    I hope that someone gets my
    I hope that someone gets my
    Message in a ballot
    Message in a ballot

    Tories last, last, last

    #stopthetories

  230. Fairliered
    Ignored
    says:

    Getting ready to stand outside the Polling Station.
    SNP SNP Ind Ind Lab Tory.
    Remember and vote till you book, everyone.

  231. schrodingers cat
    Ignored
    says:

    ONE THING ONLY

    GOTV

  232. frogesque
    Ignored
    says:

    Aye, vote ’till you boak!

    Let’s give the red, yellow and blue Tories a real good enema today!

  233. Ken500
    Ignored
    says:

    Some councils like Aberdeen City. There are hardly any Tories. It has to be Labour Last, last, last . No Green to prop them up. To get rid of Willie Young before he is done forvfraud, especially in the Bridge of Don.

    Bridge of Don. Willy Young. Last. Last. Last. Or not at all. Greens down the list.

    Wouldn’t it be great if the Torues lost the next election or had less of a majority. The police came for all the criminals. Just before the GE, The Torues are truly off their heads. Totally delusional. Labour/LibDem, Greens etc are no better. What is the SNP held the balance of power? . Independence right away. A better, more prosperous, equal fair country. Independent in the EU.

    The EU saves £Billions on Defence costs alone. It cost the UK €12Billiion. A complete bargain. The Tories are borrowing and spending £500Billion. On illegal Hinkley by the sea, HS2,
    Heathrow and squint Trident. All disasters waiting to happen. All a total waste of money. There are cheaper more credible alternative.

    Bombs and debt. The Tory/Unionist way. They are completely delusional. They are off their heads.

  234. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    Empires always collapse from within, re Mayhem. But in Scotland, we can also vote one into the history books.

    Its Polling Day!

  235. Sinky
    Ignored
    says:

    Good old new neutral Scotsman has front page picture of four main Scottish party leaders including Forrest Gump from the Lib Dems but not Patrick Harvie from the Greens who have more MSPs.

    Inside mention Tory candidate for Berwickshire MSP seat and all other candidates but not the SNP candidate.

  236. Hamish100
    Ignored
    says:

    If a Tory gets no votes they cant get a vote in round 2, 3, 4

  237. Jockanese Wind Talker
    Ignored
    says:

    Good Luck Paula Rose and any other Indy Minded Winger or Lurkers out there standing for election today.

    Just voted all the way down, Tories last and second last.

  238. Feel_loon
    Ignored
    says:

    That’s me just back from the polling station
    SNP 1&2 with willie young 9/9
    Boy that made my day
    Come on

  239. Jockanese Wind Talker
    Ignored
    says:

    Wullie Young 9/9. You’re nae that feel, loon 🙂

  240. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    Sinky says:

    Stinky old Scotland section Guardian’s hardly mentioned today’s poll at all throughout the run up. Christ only knows what they’d have done with ACC’s Sir Wullie Young’s latest £200 grand “mix up” if he was SNP.

    You see, high poll turn outs are really great for any progressive liberal democracy and THe Guardian is England’s progressive liberal newspaper.

    So Scotland’s 20% average council election poll turnouts are a really great progressive liberal UK thing because it means that old guard hard core yoon culture is the last great citadel of UK rule in Scotland, that almost no one votes for and at the not tory, progressive liberal The Guardian…

    UK media, in all its sleazy creepy tory glory, basically.

  241. jockmcx
    Ignored
    says:

    Done,
    1 snp
    2 snp
    3 snp
    4 green
    5 tommy sheridan
    6 yoon
    7 yoon
    8 yoon
    9 ukip yoon
    10 tory death cult yoon person
    phew..

  242. Tam Fae somewhere
    Ignored
    says:

    Completed my electoral duties.

    Very quiet – I was the only voter there at 07:30. Normal election I would expect 4 or 5 others at that time.

    Hope it isn’t just the older conservative/labour/liberal folks that end up voting today.

    Get out there and vote folks!

  243. jockmcx
    Ignored
    says:

    Done,
    1 snp
    2 snp
    3 snp
    4 green
    5 tommy sheridan
    6 yoon
    7 yoon
    8 yoon
    9 ukip yoon
    10 tory death cult yoon person
    phew..

  244. Macart
    Ignored
    says:

    Spring cleaning

    1. SNP
    2. SNP
    3. Green
    4. Ind good guy
    5. Ind good guy
    6. Ind newcomer
    7. SLAB
    8. Tory
    9. Tory

    Fill every box with a number.

    #votetillyouboak

  245. john young
    Ignored
    says:

    Davidson playing the Michelle Moan/A Darling card the ermine scarf,worked wonders in the past and to-day is no different,”what does it profit a man/woman if he gaineth the world and loses his/her soul”.

  246. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    Arbroath1320 says:
    at 12:59 am

    https://www.thecanary.co/2017/05/03/breaking-whistleblowers-come-forward-new-election-fraud-evidence-every-voter-needs-see/

    More alleged election fraud. This needs to get more exposure.

    What worries me is this shift to paying ‘manipulation experts’ to change the opinions of voters. In the above case it is done via fake telephone polling, and we know about the online activities during EURef.

    When things are close, like in EURef, they organisations can highjack the result, simple as that.

    When there are strict rules and laws governing voting, it seems ridiculous that this can all be bypassed by dodgy techniques.

    Legislative action needs to be taken against this. The Scottish government should outlaw such practices in Scotland.

  247. orri
    Ignored
    says:

    If a Tory gets no first preferences they might still be elected. That’s because the way STV works in Scotland is you elect as many people as possible before you start eliminating others. As long as there’s enough second preferences going their way any candidate can still get elected despite having no first preferences at all.

    The plus side is that once the electorate is educated enough then it’s safe enough to put all the first preferences on one candidate as their next preferences will safely go to the next if there’s a surplus.

    In theory though that might mean only that candidate gets elected as the second might be eliminated before receiving transfers from supporters of other parties.

    Another thing to watch out for is how votes get transferred. I’ve seen people recommending putting a Lib Dem ahead of Labour. The problem with that is that if by some miracle that results in the LD getting elected then there’s a slight bias towards the surplus going more towards a Conservative rather than Labour candidate if there are no other choices.

    If you do feel you have to list preferences for unionist candidates then the best bet is to simply do that. Don’t vote with some master plan that might backfire. If your vote does keep a Conservative out then fantastic. If it’s simply to make a point though, you can’t lose.

    Personally in my council we’ve a Labour mafia who are every bit as bad as the Conservatives. None of them are getting any preferences from me.

    A far worse strategy, if keeping tories out is the aim, though is someone who said they’d put a good conservative candidate ahead of a bad SNP one. All well and good unless they clear the quota at which point their surplus will almost inevitably head towards another conservative or failing that unionist.

  248. Fergus Green
    Ignored
    says:

    Tucking in to a second breakfast.

    Boaked up the first one 🙂

  249. HandandShrimp
    Ignored
    says:

    Voting done and dusted and the Yoons placed 5th and 6th (we only had 6 candidates) SNP, SNP, Indy, Indy, Lab and Tory.

    I wonder how many true blues will vote Labour and how many genuine socialist Labour voters will vote Tory? Actually if you are a genuine socialist you simply could not vote Tory but there you go.

  250. galamcennalath
    Ignored
    says:

    On duty outside our polling station later. A huge source of amusement are the friendly smiles and greetings from some and the nasty scowls with avoided eye contact from others.

    Message to Yoons – there’s no need to be so divisive about it all, and civility doesn’t hurt.

  251. Alistair Grapevine
    Ignored
    says:

    Also on polling duty. Unfortunately I have Neil Findlay MSP for company. Still waiting on him breaking breath to me. I won’t be holding mine.

  252. ronnie anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    One of the guardians of British Law in the 21st century

    http://archive.is/tUUMT

  253. Naina Tal
    Ignored
    says:

    No been oot yet tae vote but will be boakin. Nae independents but twa Labours. Ken na whit yin is worse than the ither so heeds or tails. Only 6 choices so that’s the only reason the tory isnae at 7.
    Jist had tae sign up tae Alibaba tae dae wi the work. It’s a Chinese commerce site if ye didnae ken. Bit here’s the thing: there’s the usual drop doon menu for your location. I ayewis check in the fond hope some day I’ll find Scotland. Ken whit? it wis there!! No only that when I selected it a wee saltire popped up at the side. Och ah felt thet prood.
    Awa noo tae vote feelin guid.

  254. Proud Cybernat
    Ignored
    says:

    The Brexicution

    http://imgur.com/a/O2j85

    (Doffs cap to Mr Peffers).

  255. DerekM
    Ignored
    says:

    Jings my wee band of yessers told me to remember and vote this morning since they had already voted every one of them.

    Beggars are on the wind up since i have been banging on about them remembering to vote for weeks lol

    1 SNP
    2 SNP
    3 Green
    4 Slab
    5 Slab
    6 tory filth

    Come on you bairns get out there and sack our damn council time for new management 😉

  256. Inkall
    Ignored
    says:

    1 SNP and 6 Unionists ranked in order of maybe least likely to mess things up but unlikely given previous performances.

  257. Stoker
    Ignored
    says:

    Folks, try avoid helping the Unionist cause by not clicking on the direct link to the BUM rag at 10:06am. Every click helps to pay towards the utter crap they write about Scottish matters.
    __________

    The Tories have cracked the art of the voter-free election campaign
    http://archive.is/CN74X

  258. Macart
    Ignored
    says:

    @ronnie anderson

    Ayup. A shining example of British aristocracy, British shared values and popular unity right there.

    Y’know, a criminal.

    Theresa would be so proud.

  259. mike cassidy
    Ignored
    says:

    Just heading out for a ‘voting/boaking session.

    https://lochgelly.org.uk/2017/03/candidates-announced-for-lochgelly-cardenden-and-benarty-ward/

    1SNP 2SNP 3GREEN 4INDEPENDENT 5LABOUR 6LABOUR 7****

    You know it makes sense.

  260. mike cassidy
    Ignored
    says:

    Herald article by McWhirter archived.

    http://archive.is/6IORC

  261. DerekM
    Ignored
    says:

    Well i suppose we will see if trying to play the constitutional question gives them this rise in votes that all their spin teams or electoral criminals as they should be called are saying they will.

    I think full scrutiny of this election is needed ASAP,with all the cases of electoral fraud starting to crawl out the woodwork i think it would be most wise.

    You know i never believed the 2014 result and what has happened since casts a dark shadow over the whole incidents validity.

    Did we actually win in 2014?

  262. ronnie anderson
    Ignored
    says:

    In 1953 Philip Mountbatten swore a oath to be Betty’s liege manny , has he retired fae that position tae.

    Another non story tae take the heat of TM’s government .

  263. David Caledonia
    Ignored
    says:

    Yes the lie machine has been well used this time, these people have no scruples they will say anything to get votes, Ruth the mooth said the SNP had went back on 51 manifesto pledges, circumstances can dictate that a party cannot keep all its pledges and she well knows that, but coming from a Tory westminster puppet it really is taking a brass neck a bit to far

  264. Big Jock
    Ignored
    says:

    SNP
    SNP
    Green
    Independent
    Independent
    Liberal
    Tory (scum)

  265. David
    Ignored
    says:

    Going back to the 2014 referendum, the tv cameras caught a guy putting yes votes on the no pile, and the guy was actually filling in blank voting papers with no votes, the television company reported this to the police as it was actually happeneing and the police ignored it, it seems this guy could have been working for british intelligence, go see it on youtube, its a right eye opener to what was going on at that time

  266. cearc
    Ignored
    says:

    To archive or not to archive? That is the question.

    Personally, I think that it would be more effective to link to positive articles and archive negative ones.

    That brings positive ones up the ‘most read’ lists and also sends a message to the editors.

  267. Big Jock
    Ignored
    says:

    Derek M What ward are in? I am upper Braes.

    There was a Tory rep and an SNP rep at the polling station. I gave the SNP one a thumbs up. I couldn’t bring myself to even make eye contact with a Tory!

  268. Marie Clark
    Ignored
    says:

    Well that’s the voting and the boaking done. It was not as bad as I thought, and I took great pleasure in putting, Lib Dums, Lab anf Tories 7, 8 and 9 on my paper.

    There are only three seats available in our ward, so, hopefully, I’ve done some good here.

  269. Stoker
    Ignored
    says:

    Today i go voting with a heavy heavy heart. On advice from several trusted sources i am going to put a rating beside names i normally wouldn’t even give the steam off my shite to.

    My voting for the Kelso & District (Ward 8) of Scottish Borders Council region will be as follows:

    Alison Lamond (SNP) : 1
    Colin Shaughnessy (Greens) : 2
    Colin McGrath (Independent) : 3
    *Ian H Aitchison (Independent) : 4
    Sally Prentice (Labour) : 5
    Euan Robson (Lib Dem) : 6
    Tom Weatherston (C & U) : 7
    Simon Mountford (C & U) : 8

    After the first 2 on my list it starts to get difficult and after the 3rd choice on my list it becomes unbearable. Blue Tories and Lie Dums are the biggest challengers to the SNP in my region, Labour are almost extinct.

    *Ian H Aitchison (“Independent”) is a Blue Tory UKipper BritNat type in disguise. Here’s some of what his leaflet states:

    “Having fought for my country, i seek your support to fight for the county i love.”

    “As an Independent i will always seek to work practically and constructively to deliver improvement and change. I will fight strongly to preserve the United Kingdom and to avoid divisive policies and behaviours, such as a second Independence Referendum.”

    “Son of a Kelso Farmer. 25 years in Royal Navy including Afghanistan. Formerly worked in London for one of the largest shipping companies in the world.”

    “Passionate about architecture, gardening, local history and off-road driving – in 2001 i led a team in my Massey Ferguson painted Range Rover from Perth to Persia. Rugby player turned athlete.”

    The above guff is accompanied with the obligatory posing pictures of him and his dog, in his military gear with helicopter in the background, beside a Massey Ferguson tractor and in his tweed jacket, military tie, blue pinstripe shirt and with a view of Kelso in the background.

    Independent my erse!

  270. starlaw
    Ignored
    says:

    Just the SNP at my polling station.

  271. Auld highlander
    Ignored
    says:

    Did my bit, snp one and two, etc etc and the fascist tory last.

  272. David Caledonia
    Ignored
    says:

    Go to youtube, put in, Best Video Scottish Vote Rigging By MI5
    and pass it on to all your friends and contacts, this needs to be investigated , it has been brushed under the carpet, lets get the scottish public angry about how we have been misled and cheated upon by westminster and its intelligence services

  273. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    Got up early to go to vote – and I’m still in the house.

    I’ll make it if I have to crawl on my hands and knees.

    I’ll just leave it until after lunch and when I have had my second dose of pain killers.

    I refuse my postal votes now after the referendum preview of Rooth the Mooth but nothing will stop me casting my vote today.

  274. fillofficer
    Ignored
    says:

    mon peff, you can do it

  275. heedtracker
    Ignored
    says:

    Aye aye. Something smelly going on? Daily Heil banner headline this morn, “Threats against Britain have been issued…with these electrifying words, Mrs May etc” front page. Tories have gone Crush the Saboteur psycho.

    Wings Over Scotland Retweeted
    Dean MacGregor? @PapaMacGregor 1h1 hour ago

    Replying to @domac2000 @WingsScotland
    Wife voted before work. Called to tell me she was told she didn’t have to number any more than her top 3. Strange.
    1 reply 4 retweets 2 likes
    Reply 1 Retweet 4
    Like 2

    Wings Over Scotland Retweeted
    Donnie MacAulay? @domac2000 3h3 hours ago

    Just back from polling station where despite having 10 candidates to chose from I was instructed to rank only 5. WRONG!!! #VoteTillYouBoak

  276. DerekM
    Ignored
    says:

    @ Big Jock

    I am doon in Bainsford Jock but get dragged into a Camelon ward with that wee git Goldie in it,but this time we have them i reckon,2 SNP 1 green 1 slab probably Bisset.

    If the slab vote does not hold up or shifts to the tory filth all the better for us,they need each other to win Falkirk.

  277. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    Easy-peasy vote for me. SNP SNP Ind Yellow Tory Blue Tory. Done!

  278. harry mcaye
    Ignored
    says:

    In Hamilton West & Earnock, myself and my Dad both voted:

    SNP 1
    SNP 2
    Green 3
    LD 4
    Lab 5
    Lab 6
    Dirty Feckin Scummies 7

  279. Big Jock
    Ignored
    says:

    I think it’s a stick on Derek. SNP should have overall control fingers crossed. They might actually tidy up Maddiston main street which Labour have neglected for years!

  280. Big Jock
    Ignored
    says:

    That’s the thing about independents, you don’t really know what you are voting for unless you research. However even if the independent was a bit of a Tory he doesn’t help the Tories, which works for me. I think the Tories are going to find out the power of the 45 tomorrow. We are much smarter than their knuckle draggers.

  281. Robert Peffers
    Ignored
    says:

    @fillofficer says: 4 May, 2017 at 11:21 am:

    “mon peff, you can do it.”

    Oh! I’ll make it up to the village all right. I’m just in more pain today than usual.

    I have the wee campervan and my electric buggy if I need them. I just want to walk up to the village and walk unaided into the poll.

  282. Roughian
    Ignored
    says:

    Voted with the Mrs. right up to boak level 10.
    That’s the first time we’ve put a preference against every candidate. This result is going to be interesting.

  283. dakk
    Ignored
    says:

    Done the deed this morn.

    No bile came up as I ranked the Tory fae Giffnock at 10.

    It felt quite gratifying in the end.

    Did feel bit queazy having to start voting for Yoons as early as number 6 though.

    Could’ve just been cos I mixed the grape and grain again last night.

  284. TheWasp
    Ignored
    says:

    1 SNP
    2 SNP
    3 Green
    4 liar party
    5 red tory no.2
    6 red tory no.1
    7 no,no,no Nazi party

  285. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    The power of Wings, Wee Ginger Dug and Scot Goes Pop might just make a difference here. It’s possible and I expect this to be the SNP and Greens best ever Council election results.

    Record numbers for both. Please make it true, please make it true 🙂

  286. DerekM
    Ignored
    says:

    Aye Jock i hope we do take Falkirk but it could take the SNP years to get anything done,if we were Indy they could just drop a spending package on us to get out the hole but with a budget that is getting squeezed from westminster cuts and now inflation and currency devaluation as well that probably will not be an option.

    Still they have somehow managed to do a good job with our “allowance” so might give us all a surprise because really Falkirk should be booming we have all the connections road rail in between two cities,i mean how can you make an arse of that?

  287. Jack Murphy
    Ignored
    says:

    heedtracker said at 8:18 pm last night:
    “….Banks moving out, never trust a City spiv. When Morgan Stanley move to Germany, will Lord Flipper go to? ”

    Here it is straight from the Financial Times:

    “Alistair Darling, the former British chancellor of the exchequer, is to join the board of Morgan Stanley,
    following his former boss Gordon Brown into a new career in international finance…..”.

    As Mrs Brown would say,”Aw,that’s nice”.

    http://archive.is/uvFPT

  288. Big Jock
    Ignored
    says:

    Didn’t May say:”Use the council elections to send the SNP a message”. Be interesting messages, as I think a few of their bags about to burst from the weight of their arrogance!

  289. Robbo
    Ignored
    says:

    Aw ffs get that wumen aff the telly. Every time she’s on and I hear her mooth i smash a telly!

  290. Meg merrilees
    Ignored
    says:

    Did my bit for Nicola and country early on today. Think I’m getting the hang of this: –
    SNP 1, 2, Green 3 but then I put Liars 4 (‘cos it used to be a Slab seat and they are in with a chance – felt quite crafty!) then Red Tories 5 and the “Raving-monster- Blue-loonies- ‘this is not the time’- UKIP-extra party 6.

    Walked out whistling!

    Off to knock on doors now and if needs be shuttle a few folk out to vote.

  291. Meg merrilees
    Ignored
    says:

    Well done Robert.

  292. Glamaig
    Ignored
    says:

    will be voting after work

    1. great guy
    2. another great guy
    3. good guy
    4. twat
    5. liar
    6. wank
    7. wank
    8. psycho bastard

  293. Meg merrilees
    Ignored
    says:

    Thepnr – great letter to the EU. I read a short report in the national today about Maduro’s statement yesterday although they report it as though ‘we could have been allowed to continue membership’ in the headline and ‘we wouldbe allowed’ in the article.

    Heedtracker that 10pm News bulletin on the radio last night was dreadful.
    Funny this morning listening to Nick ‘he didn’t answer my question’ Robinson trying not to talk about politics.
    Miuch more interesting programme – actually heard some news instead of being force fed Establishment opinion.

    Oil prices are perking up; Shell expectations quite high, $3million profit and are optimistic oil at 50-55 $ per barrel. Don’t think they would have told us that normally – especially not in the current ‘indy refusal climate’.
    Bit of a trend towards ‘anti’-social media – teenagers are ‘trending’ to move away from Facebook etc.
    Pension deficits are going down by£310 billion – although not necessarily a good thing, caused by the difference between value of schemes and long term assumptions.
    Builders have full order books – housing, rail, roads, infrastructure and commercial projects.
    mind you this was only revealed at 6.15am.

    Maybe I’m too cynical and there is just more news today!!

  294. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    @Glamaig

    ? ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `’F’¯””’L ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `
    ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `'[“…’¾“ “` “` “` “`
    ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `'[“`…?[` ` ` ` “` “` “`
    ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `#““ˆ[““ “` “` “` “
    ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `’#“…“'[`… ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `
    ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` #…““`’F“ ` ` ` “ “` “`
    ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ƒ¯“““`'[__` ` ` ` ` ` ` “` “
    ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ƒ¯““““?¯¯¯¯””””””¯¯¯¯¯¯™[ `
    gµµµµµµµµµµµµµµ_µ™““““““““““““`’# `
    ‘?????????????F¯…“““““““““““ ` ²q[¯ ` `
    ?????????????¾““““““““““““““?} … `
    ›????????????#““““““““““““`__µr… ` `
    ³?????????????…““““““““““““`¯[ … ` `
    `????????????$“““““““““““““_F … ` `
    `]???????????#““““““““““““?””[… … ` `
    `’???????F””’]?#___“““““““““““ ‘# … ` `
    …???????bµ????$¯””¹uuuuu?u?u?u?u?u?µ#¯ ` ` ` ` `
    …”””’™””™”’™””™™ … … ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` … … ` ` `
    ` … ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` … ` … ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` … ` ` ` ` `.

  295. Thepnr
    Ignored
    says:

    LOL well that came out well eh? Sorry 🙂

  296. Bill McLean
    Ignored
    says:

    Just voted in West Fife and Coastal Villages – 1 SNP, 2 SNP, 3 Green, 4 Independent ( independence supporting) 5 Lib Dem 6 Slab 7 Slab 8 Tory garbage. A wee thought that maybe someone could answer for me – If I had voted 1 SNP, 2 SNP, 3 Green and 4 Independent and left the last 4 blank – in a 3 seat ward how would the blanks have scored? Would the redistributed votes be shared equally between the 4?

  297. meg merrilees
    Ignored
    says:

    Bill Mc Lean

    More importantly, the person with least votes is soonest ejected from the count.

    My understanding is that the votes polled for each candidate are expressed as a percentage of the quota.
    All re-distributed votes are shared amongst all the candidates in proportion to how many votes they receive at each level of the count.
    e.g. if a candidates 2nd preference votes equal 12% of the quota they get 12% of the redistributed 2nd preference votes but might still not make the quota.
    They might then have polled 5% of 3rd preference votes and if still not enough to reach the quota could be eliminated.
    On the other hand, they could receive 5% of the redistributed 3rd preference votes as well and possibly be elected as a result.
    If they polled none at the 3rd level they may well be eliminated as the candidate with fewest votes at that level, thereby not receiving any redistributed votes.

    Don’t know if you saw this video -it might clarify things.
    http://www.thenational.scot/news/15260192.Stephen_Paton__How_the_council_elections_work__and_why_you_have_to_vote_till_you_boak__VIDEO_/

    just don’t expect results till tomorrow – the count will take a long time.

  298. Bill McLean
    Ignored
    says:

    Thanks very much Meg – God it’s complex!

  299. Undeadshuan
    Ignored
    says:

    Did polling station duty earlier today, turnout appeared higher than normally, not sure if this is good or bad.

  300. cynicalHighlander
    Ignored
    says:

    Did the deed earlier today SNP 1&2 iND/(suspect LD) @3 and last sick bag tory @4.

  301. meg merrilees
    Ignored
    says:

    Bill McLean

    Bill, I had a look at Wikipedia and they offer this explanation.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_transferable_vote

    Not sure I explained it correctly. Think it might be even more complex!

  302. Bill McLean
    Ignored
    says:

    Sorry Meg – just seen your post. Will have a look today after shopping and if the boss allows. Thanks again. Good luck!

  303. john
    Ignored
    says:

    meg, just thesame old shite, everything looks great when the tory /uk gov say it is lookin great under the the uk banner , why,, dont people see this?



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