There May Be Justice
In a little under three days, Phase 1 complete.
Wings readers: still the best. But what now?
A couple of people have asked about the “stretch target” on the website. That was something CrowdJustice asked for and the reason it’s so high is that that figure was our lawyers’ estimate of the total cost of pursuing the judicial review to a conclusion should our application for a Protected Expenses Order be refused, and in the worst-case scenario that we lost.
However, it’s a moot point – if we don’t secure the PEO we’ll almost certainly have to abandon the matter, as the fundraiser page initially said. Even at the peak of Wings’ fundraising powers we never came close to half of that sum, and those were the days before COVID and Operation Branchform, when SNP supporters were still interested in achieving independence and everyone was in a positive mood.
So please don’t donate any more money at this stage, unless you ARE one of said eccentric billionaires. We’ll never reach £400K and £30K should be plenty for what we need to do now. (If it isn’t, rest assured we’ll ask.)
From this point that’s largely in the hands of our legal team. Roddy, David and Lynn will now get to work, and we’ll keep you up to date with any important developments. If the integrity of the Scottish political and legal establishment is to be restored (and let’s all cross our fingers for that, eh?) it’ll be down to them, and to you.
Because this isn’t about independence. The 1,015 donors to the appeal covered the whole spectrum of Yessers, Unionists and those on neither side.
This is about being a country worthy of independence, whether its people ultimately choose that path or not. Scotland is not currently such a country. Let’s see what we can do about it.
This one’s for Moira.
Yes, that struck a cord. Justice has to be served for what was done to Alex Salmond. But as donors comments from across the political spectrum show, time needs to be called on the rotten burgh that is our SNP Scottish government.
Democracy is a fragile flower that in Scotland is being eradicated before our eyes. So let us all play our part.
We lose democracy at our utter peril.
Willie writes (5 Oct 2026 at 1:09 pm):
« This one’s for Moira…Democracy is a fragile flower »
—————-
Brings to mind…
THE LITTLE WHITE ROSE by HUGH MACDIARMID
The rose of all the world is not for me.
I want for my part
Only the little white rose of Scotland
That smells sharp and sweet—and breaks the heart.
link to youtube.com
Attempt at a Gaelic version of the above –
AN RÒS BEAG GEAL
Chan eil mo shùil air ròs an t-saoghail mhòir.
Fòghnaidh dhòmhsa
ròs beag geal na h-Alba
’s a chùbhrachd gheur mhilis—a bhriseas an cridhe.
Thank you for Moira x
Proud to be part of this – especially when I complained to the police about the donations I gave, got an incident number and then the police never contacted me again. I therefore chased them twice and got radio silence. To hell with corruption in Scotland. Go get ‘em, Stu!
There are two mindsets. The one that operates from the general to the particular and one that operates in the reverse. The latter tends to become embroiled in detail losing focus on the main idea and may accomplish, as a consequence, very little.
Native English speakers tend to belong to the latter methodology. English/American thought patterns. dominate the internet, social media, politics etc.
Scottish education in the European tradition used to be «generalist» belonging to the first category. The narrow specialism of the English system was not considered the basis for a good «universal» education.
Times have changed. The broad knowledge continuum is viewed as time wasting and costly so humanities are tossed in the trash. The university reduced to the narroversity.
This equally obtains in the domain of politics where knowing too much disturbs the middling muddling equilibrium of low level talent.
Not quite flat line dumb, yet.
“So please don’t donate any more money at this stage, unless you ARE one of said eccentric billionaires”
I’m not but know of one billionaire who is not a fan of the government once led by the destroyer of women’s rights. Paul McManus, who like JKR is a unionist but funding Alex’s case might be interested in chipping in if needs be??? Scotland has a lot of high rollers, none of whom are fans of the nuSNP. I’m not on X but surely someone can retweet in their directions?
This is a matter of principle, not politics. Scotland’s heading towards (arrived at?) banana monarchy status. It’s in everyone’s interests to sort this out surely.
Hopefully the PEO will be granted and it will all by academic…
“This is about being a country worthy of independence…”
It could be argued that Scotland is the mess it is because it isn’t independent
Don’t waste your time.
The list of independent, corrupt countries is longer than both your arms.
“Scotland is the mess it is because it isn’t independent”
Indeed so. Colonialism is ‘a Manichaean world’ (Fanon) where light and darkness is entangled and ‘reality obscured through assimilation’; much as we see in the Rev’s struggle with authorities that serve the oppressor, not the people, and the ‘mystifying’ behaviour of a national party elite ‘co-opted by colonialism’.
Like all forms of oppression this reality has to be ‘unveiled to the people’ for them to seek liberation (Freire).
Implying that the people must first understand their colonial reality, which is becoming increasingly obvious:
link to salvo.scot
Your selectively cropped quotation is blindingly obvious, Alf.
Not quite the best way for an academic to impress his peers. Probably only works here on, how shall I put it, the not very bright.
“The need to shift product and earn cash is at the root of much mischief” (Hatey)
That’s quite a meaningless diversion even for ‘an operator’ like you Hatey.
The obvious reality here is that Scotland is not what anyone would even remotely term a normal society; half the population urgently seek liberation while the other half continue to ‘crave dependence’ (Cesaire).
This is a country and people in deep psychological conflict. Given the abnormal ‘condition’ and (colonial) environment there is little doubt that “Scotland is the mess it is because it isn’t independent”.
Quote Cesaire until the cows come home, Alf, it won’t undo the fact you selectively cropped Northy’s post to change its meaning.
As I wrote, it’s not a good look for an academic. Even allowing for the late Professor Arday’s lowering of the bar.
See those Scots who turn out at election after election to keep voting the SNP back in? Are they the ones urgently seeking liberation, or the ones craving dependence?
Q- Why do I always end up agreeing with Rev Campbell ??
A- Turns out he is pretty much the concience of movement if not the people …. Observers wonder why the British media ignore ? ….
Its about right & wrong you see.
Establishment v the citizens (of all creeds)
The Scottish people owe yourself, Roddy, David and Lynne and no doubt a few more ‘good men’, a huge debt of gratitude; let’s hope we’re worthy of your efforts and your faith in us.
For those interested, a Scottish judicial review typically takes 6–18 months from lodging the petition to a final decision, depending on complexity, court scheduling, and whether permission is contested.
A realistic timeline for a Scottish JR is:
– fastest plausible: approx. 6 months
– typical: 9-12 months
– and if delayed or complex: 12-18 months
Of course, edge-cases are possible and might expediate the process, but the timelines given above are typical, I believe.
As ever, folk should verify for themselves.
JR is very expensive.
The JR process is interesting – well, it is to me – and this guide (link below) provides a handy procedural overview:
Guide to Judicial Review in Scotland
Well done Rev. Hopefully history being made.
The SNP’s entire raison d’être and defining mission should have always been about just one thing: independence for Scotland. However, that clearly remains an objective for which there is no realistic route.
Now we’re told that, instead, the SNP government’s defining mission is eradicating child poverty, and today the evidence suggests they are also falling well short of that target. With around 21% of children still living in poverty and anti-poverty groups warning that Scotland is on course to miss the 2030/31 target by a wide margin, it’s fair to ask how many times the SNP can move the goalposts before they actually hit one. If independence isn’t achievable under the SNP, and the alternative defining mission isn’t being achieved either, what exactly is the end goal? *(see below)
To quote Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest: “To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”
SNP government: “To miss one target may be regarded as a misfortune; to miss two looks like policy.”
Hopefully a few SNP high heid yins will be sweatin’ aboot this Wings fundraiser, and the prospect that one day, some more o’ them might be lookin’ oot o’ wee windaes in a big hoose.
* Answer (as if there was ever any doubt): Snouts in the trough, riding the gravy train for as long as possible.
The goal of SNP politicians is to stay in power: to keep their jobs.
As is the goal for other politicians.
The goal of actually using that power to improve people’s lives is secondary. The goal of actually enacting the party manifesto is even lower on the list of priorities.
.
The whimpering sound of something curled up in a mingin, damp, dirty corner is wee James Kelly crying himself to sleep, because his efforts to fundraise for opinion polls (and free holidays that he doesn’t mention upfront) would and could never get above £31,000 in 31 years, never mind just over 3 days!
On topic, on this thread…
Oh what a happy day when truth talks to power.
Well done Stuart and your wonderful KC & The Sunshine Band.
For far too long, Scotland has hung its head in shame, because a few rotten apples in the establishment are bringing the whole edifice into utter contempt.
Seeing posts like this one on WoS just lift the heart and spirit… especially when all good people from across the entire range of politics and Indy/Unionist movements come together because TRUTH, DECENCY and PRINCIPLES are so very important to the sense of society and collegiate honesty in which we live.
Ever considered contacting Paul McManus?
I’m in touch with Paul, but he’s not an ATM. He’s been supportive and we’ll see where we are if push comes to shove.
Who can blame him, I wish him well and thank Bruce for all he’s done.
grumpyscottishman.wordpress.com is no longer available.
The authors have deleted this site.
Thank you and the legal Eagles supporting you and us on this challenge to corruption and lies within the legal establishment, who are DESTROYING the credibility and respect that Scotland’s judiciary and legal establishment were world renowned for , every western nation drew on the experience and honesty of our legal system often incorporating policies and laws that were beneficial and proven within their own systems
It exemplifies the honesty and integrity of Mr Dunlop when he agrees to represent this challenge on a pro bono basis, it highlights that he feels correctly that the legal establishment is NOT maintaining its reputation of impartiality , fairness and honesty ,if only our investigative reporters had the same honesty and integrity instead of being PRESSTITUTES this aberration of justice would have worldwide attention
The reporters are supposed to hold governments to account and expose wrongdoing ,instead uk reporters defile their profession by aiding the suppression of TRUTH
If it’s true that Scotland’s judiciary and legal establishment were world renowned, it can only have been during Scotland’s most “assimilated and colonised” times.
So don’t tell Alf.
I’ll tell you what Scotland was world renowned for. Science, engineering, universal education, medicine, literature, and the utmost personal honour and probity that still makes a Scottish accent a boon to any enterprise requiring trust to this day.
But again, this was all during Scotland’s most “assimilated and colonised” times, so I see no need to bother Alf about it.
“the credibility and respect that Scotland’s judiciary and legal establishment were world renowned for”
No judiciary or legal establishment has ever been about justice for the plebs, and it is a mirage that the Scottish one ever cared for the plebs.
The mirage of the “Scots being sovereign” was nothing more than protecting the rights and privileges of the elite.
Have the plebs ever benefited from fighting and dying for the elites? Has there ever been justice for them?
The Lockerbie injustice revealed what Scottish justice has always been, at least since the start of the union.
“Have the plebs ever benefited from fighting and dying for the elites?”
I guess not you, Angus. Shame.
The rest of us have been enjoying free health care, free education, free school meals, free university tuition, benefits, hand outs, pensions, subsidies for all sorts of things, such as winter fuel, or new heating systems, subsidised rent, free money during Covid, etc.
And believe it or not, few of us even had to fight, let alone die. Been hardly any dying since our grandparent’s time. All those freebies, starting the day we were born and continuing in a steady stream for our entire lives.
Imagine that. But not for you, Angus. “They” must hate you personally and deeply.
Eh?
You mean this “national insurance contributions” thing which I’ve been paying is actually some kind of sophisticated foreign scam job?
Oh man…how did I fall for that? 🙄
Good point, MH, and approximately 43.8% true.
Have a word with one of the New Scots who arrived last week (if they speak English), or perhaps the offspring of somebody who arrived 10 years ago.
You’ll perhaps find they’re getting the same or even more than you, despite the fact you may have been paying in for a lifetime, your parents and grandparents too.
But we’re getting off the subject. The Welfare State was set up by our ancestors precisely because they had fought and died in two world wars and they weren’t gonna take any more shit from our elites once peace broke out. That was social justice, and it worked well for many decades. It started to fall apart around the time the NHS morphed into the WHS – ‘W’ standing for World.
The people fighting and dying today are the rubber dinghy crews who want nothing more than to clamp their teeth onto the teats of our ever generous state for life, with a side order of sexual violence and jihad, courtesy of our progressive sickness.
That “pull factor” seems to have passed Angus by, as he complains about benefiting from nothing.
“No judiciary or legal establishment has ever been about justice for the plebs”
Valid point, Angus. However the reality might be expected to be even worse for colonized plebs, as the Rev has discovered, and as confirmed by Scotland having the highest prison population per capita in NW Europe, as well as the highest level of non-custodial sentences imposed.
Here we are reminded that a colonial society contains ‘two cultural and psychical realms’ (Fanon), one inhabited by the dominant culture, assimilated elites and dubious values, the other by the dominated culture and people.
Professor Baird demonstrating correct use of the royal “we” there.
I’ve noticed its increasing use by many, these days. Always at its most amusing when employed by self-identifying republicans.
I hasten to add I’m not putting Professor Baird in that category. His recent posts suggest he may be more comfortable in a tsarist regime. Tsar being Orcish for Caesar, i.e. an imperial setup. One man – one vote. Millions of men and women – zero votes.
Correct. I’ve not long finished reading Dr Jim Swire’s book on Lockerbie and his efforts to seek justice for the death of his daughter Flora. Truly heartbreaking to read not only of the indifference and insensitivity of the authorities in the early stages of the investigation but to add insult to injury the failure to investigate information relevant to the investigation, important evidence ignored or dismissed and then for him to witness the jailing of what he came to realise was an innocent man for the crime. Plebeian indeed we are. Fight for them? Never.
You make it sound like you’re gonna be depriving “them” of some invincible, merciless, super-fit, highly efficient, killing machine.
Somehoo ah hae ma doots.
Great to see this issue transcending politics and uniting people, just goes to show people do still care for integrity and truth above all in governance, 180 degrees out of phase with the political establishment.
Wishing you all the best Stu.
How does it go ………..”When good men do nothing”. Well good men and women are doing something. Respect and thanks to you Rev and all at Wings and the great legal team.
If we ever achieve independence I hope there will be a roll of dishonour for all those MSP/MPs who have remained silent on this Orwellian assault on our justice system.
Shame on you.
Ah so this will be why the Standards Commission destroyed all the case records.
In the light of Lord Sandison’s ruling of illegality the desperation of the SCS to burn down the court house becomes a big issue. I mean what country in the world allows it’s courts and tribunals to destroy it’s records.
Something to hide perchance. Malfeasance, criminality, its no wonder that parliamentarians are calling for a public enquiry.
And, believe it or not, there were calls for the Standards Commission to have the powers of the Supreme Court to compel witnesses and respondents to attend hearings or respond timeously to providing response failing which the ESC would certify them to be in contempt of court.
There was even proposals that in investigating complaints of an allegation of a breach of the code of conduct, the investigation was to be kept secret.
Nacht und Nebel springs to mind, and a Standard commission with Supreme Court powers – and destroyed records, you could not make this up.
Anyway, here’s an article today on the matter.
link to archive.ph
PAUL ST-PIERRE PLAMANDON du PARTI QUÉBÉCOIS (PQ) présente ses priorités | Élections Québec 2026
« Le Parti québécois (PQ) a remporté 59 sièges aux élections provinciales de 2026, selon les projections de Radio-Canada. Regardez son point de presse au lendemain du vote. »
link to youtube.com
Transcription of part of Q&A exchange translated into English by app…
QUESTION FROM AUDIENCE:
You’ve spoken again about the Lieutenant Governor—saying you don’t understand why a foreign king comes to meddle in our affairs, in a sense. But what would your proposed structure look like? Because right now, when we pass a law—or make a decision—we have it validated by the Lieutenant Governor; she gives her assent, and then the law comes into effect. In your proposed structure, who would ultimately decide that the law applies? Would we eliminate that—how should I put it—that step? Would it come into force as soon as it was passed by the National Assembly? How would it work?
____
ANSWER (from Paul St-Pierre Plamondon du Parti québécois):
….a quick refresher on the fundamentals of our democracy. There are democracies truly founded on the sovereignty of the people and the Republic—established after casting off the monarchy.
Within the British tradition, however, Parliament was essentially made an extension of the King or Queen. It was a compromise that avoided revolution, resulting in the persistence of institutions that serve to confirm that the people’s actions are permitted by the King. That is the essence of the British tradition—one imposed on us historically by force of arms. Being part of this system wasn’t our democratic choice, yet it is the system we have.
So, to answer your question: do we really need someone to come along and apply the King’s seal for the people’s voice to count? The answer is no. I mean, the people are sovereign; that is what a parliament is for.
And once the people have spoken through their elected representatives, a law exists. Alternatively, for the sake of a smoother transition, we could decide to retain an approval step handled by a “guardian of the people”—an entity yet to be reinvented, but one that does not symbolize the monarchy. All of this will be in the hands of legal experts tasked with evaluating the various scenarios.
Personally, I have always felt uneasy about the tens of millions of dollars spent every year to remind us that it is the King of England who initiates our proceedings and holds the ultimate decision-making power. It is something I have never been able to wrap my head around or accept.
So, my aim is to reallocate—symbolically—any funds that can be redirected toward the fight against homelessness, and also to insist that parliamentary proceedings be respected and that the King of England show a little restraint.
Thank you very much. Next question.
Guardian of the people.
Lord protector.
Supreme leader.
Head of state.
There’s always one. All the arguments, and wars, ultimately boil down to settling the question of who gets to be the one.
I don’t believe anybody ever proposes that the names of every eligible and willing citizen be entered into a draw, and the randomly picked winner becomes Supreme Leader for 10 years. An admirable, democratic and entirely feasible solution to appointing what should be a symbolic role.
Ideal, too, because NO faction then gets their man in place. The Supreme Leader will be detested by all, equally.
But that is never suggested. Because as I said, it’s ALWAYS about the different sides trying to get a partisan incumbent. Fighting against homelessness? Aye, right!
Yet another spectacular pic in the MSM this morning. An oil tanker ablaze on the Black Sea. If the sea wasn’t black before, it sure is now!
A million years worth of my carbon footprint and nobody even gets to be comfortably warm or energy rich from it.
Is it just me starting to wonder if ultimately it’s the greens behind all this? One way or another, those cants are gonna stop us from getting any oil or gas.
The CEO of Equinor was on the radio this morning. The usual kind of calm, rational, sane, grown up Norwegian. Pointing out that our “green transition” requires decades to complete. Stating that if we’re too ideologically blinkered to develop our own oil and gas, Norway will happily sell us there’s at market rates.
Memorably summarising our ludicrous policies by saying that you shouldn’t demolish your only house before you’ve built its replacement.
Anybody got any idea what’s happening with the Alex Salmond case? Not heard anything for a while. Thanks in advance.
The £3 million civil misfeasance lawsuit is currently in the pre-trial “adjustment stage,” with a court-approved 12-week postponement pushing the final deadline for written legal arguments to 9 December 2026.
No Trial Date Yet: Because written arguments are still being finalised ahead of the 9 December deadline, no specific date for a full court hearing or proof has been scheduled yet. The action is expected to move toward a court hearing format once the final record closes.
Thank you.
mind and keep your hatred pure
link to archive.ph
madame thatch created an “economic boom” by PUMPING OUR OIL LIKE FUCK
– then saying we were all richer due to her policies of CITY DEREGULATION, the big bang, an orgy of scamming, and speculation, the country having given up on actual capitalism
– fuelled an asset bubble in the south east while resetting the rest of the country to an economic year zero pol pot would have been proud of
– the main one being making sure all the lickle englanders houses went up in value; houses now became an asset class and higher prices seen as making us wealthier – elsewhere in the world housing is a cost and you want it cheap
– created all sorts of niches for unproductive weasels and “rentiers” like landlords
– tipped the wink so all the world’s dirty money could find a home in London; much of this ended up in their football league
its a shame the IRA missed; also if the skyhawk pilots bombs didn’t have such dud fuses another 3 or 4 ships would have gone down in the south atlantic and that war would have failed; flying too low, they did not arm, did not explode. A bad war she would have been done; the war against the miners would not have been attempted and – things are different – dirty old shite that coal is, we had enough for 200 years, and when we went off it we became energy dependent.
I see nig gerianonian illegal immigrant currently fronting the tory is attempting to win over the lobby by pledging 10B to buy iron dome.
as for farage, we are all getting into crypto and being all ayn rand and that …
“the war against the miners would not have been attempted”
Anither gloaming, anither wee daunder doon Memory Lane, this time wi Confused holdin oor haunds while we struggle tae avoid breathing in his halitosis.
I mind fine the nineties and the noughties. All those TV programmes aboot the ex-miners (many of whom never did a day’s work again in their lives after the redundancy dosh came through and the benefits stream came on line).
And I used to wonder, after 3 consecutive Labour terms, 13 years in power, dripping in North Sea cash, just why they never re-opened any pits. Fuck Thatcher – reward the miners – workers of the world unite, etc. etc.
Sure, some pits were irreparably flooded as soon as the pumps were turned off. Others collapsed, etc. etc.
But all that coal was still there. All those unemployed miners were just itching to get back down’t pit. Seemingly.
All those TUC funds to the government for 13 long years.
But naw, forget all that. Thatcher did it. End of.
The mines closed because the coal was not economic against oil so the miners lost thier jobs due to economics. Now the oil workers are losing thier jobs as the North Sea no longer has any oil that is economic to produce so they are the new miners. Lucky for them the SNP will save them with thier JUST Transition policy!?!?
“the North Sea no longer has any oil that is economic to produce”
It’s a fact not widely understood that whether or not a resource is economic to produce depends on what that resource is worth.
There’s plenty of oil and gas remaining in the UK sector of the North Sea well worth extracting at current prices. Plus most indications aren’t predicting a great fall in prices any time soon, nor a sudden nose dive in demand for oil and gas for industry, transport and heating.
The calm, sane, rational CEO of Equinor, who was interviewed on the radio just the other day, was pointing out that in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, which is a part of the same geological formations, they continue to exploit and develop new fields. They don’t even need it themselves, having weaned a far higher percentage of the Norwegian economy off fossil fuels than we have. But they are very happy indeed to sell the stuff to the likes of us who are too fucking daft to make the best use of what we have.
As he observed, a wise man doesn’t tear down his only house before he has built its replacement.
Your response is actually factually incorrect. Large oil Companies invest based on RONCE which is return on net capital employed. If thier division in the UK comes up with a developmemt plan they present it to the corporation and its RONCE is compared to all othe potential developments across the world. Since around 2008 the UK sector was never given any money to invest as its RONCE was normally bottom of the list. If you look none of the major oil companies are left in Aberdeen as they have sold all thier installations to smaller companies owned by Hedge Funds who wring as much profit that is left out of it but have no plans to 8nvest back into it.Equinor in Norway is an oil company owned by thier government but run at arms length. All the mobe to green energy in Norway is paid for by the oil and gas profits they make selling oil and gas to the rest of Europe.
I worked in the industry above for 41 years so the above is how it all works.
@ Alan Austin says: 9 October, 2026 at 8:30 am
“Your response is actually factually incorrect”
Hmmm.
I believe the companies owning the licenses for Rosebank and Jackdaw are both keen to proceed. Presumably they see something in it for them.
I don’t doubt your assertion that compared to most other opportunities, the UK is a poor option for multinational oil and gas companies to invest in. Yet that is a purely political situation that can be rectified at the stroke of a pen. Given the desperate enough need, which I believe we now have.
As the Equinor CEO said, if it’s profitable on the Norwegian side of the basin, it’s potentially profitable on the UK side too. Same basin, same geology, same resolvable technical difficulties, much the same oil and gas.
Just different political and fiscal regimes, either side of the dividing line.
the anglo always doubles down
link to archive.ph
– their own water is full of shit, their biggest water company is 20B in the red, privatisation of critical infrastructure is provably stupid and hedge funds are trying to extort the taxpayer, refusing to move, unless they get a payoff (let it go bust, buy its assets for £1)
but here they square the circle and try to make out scottish water, the purest on earth, and very soft, is somehow inferior to shitty english water and that puttting critical public utlitiies into the hands of financial vultures is a “good thing” …
But you know, that guy who sells the “highland spring” is just taking it out the pipe it is so clean.
Anglos, always lying.
english water, even when not shitty, is still undrinkable due to the amount of carbonates – hard water – it contains; ironically, when I lived in england I couldn’t even tolerate a cup of their tea it tasted so bad.
scottish water, not 20B in debt. Obviously a failure – you see english water is determined by the free market and that invisible hand has decided that the best water as demanded by market forces has shit in it – this is water created by freedom and liberty
– scots water is nationally owned, with a socialist government i.e. it is national socialist water being forced down the throats of scots as opposed to free market water as beloved by england – YOU CAN KEEP YOUR NAZI WATER YOU JOCKS!
this is what we fought hitler for, for the right to drink shitty water and be free
You say you lived in England for a while, where were you? Frankland or Durham?
Broadmoor, most likely!
“when I lived in england I couldn’t even tolerate a cup of their tea it tasted so bad”
Assuming you now live in Scotland, what’s your new excuse for never drinking anything that could have water in it?
Summed up well, Confused.
To be fair to Confused, he’s right about the water privitisation shitshow and its aftermath, as yet unconcluded.
Source is BBC and UK government
“England’s surface waters face significant chemical pollution challenges, with legacy substances like heavy metals and “forever chemicals” (PFAS) accumulating because they do not easily break down. Only about one in seven rivers and lakes are classed as being in good ecological condition, and no single waterway passed a chemical pollution test, according to a 2026 assessment by the Environment Agency.”
link to archive.is
I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about these scientists who “engage in civic action” particularly they are the same type who doesn’t even know what a woman is.
“Scientists who believe technology will largely solve the problems caused by the climate crisis are less likely to engage in civic action on the issue”
Rationalists who live in small, ineffectual, broke countries (such as Scotland, or even the UK), who believe it’s up to huge countries, such as the Covids, the Yanks, the Cow Worshipers and the Orcs to do the lion’s share of solving the problems caused by the climate crisis, are less likely to see any point in bothering as long as these unapologetic mega polluters don’t give a toss.
“This is about being a country that is worthy of independence… Scotland is not currently such a country.”
It’s not often that I disagree with your thinking, Rev, but this is one occasion. How many countries are “worthy”? The governments and justiciary of most countries, if not all, have fallen from the ideal at one time or another. Are we saying that they should be taken over by another country until they are judged worthy again?
Scotland is unworthy under Westminster rule. Scotland’s supposed champions for regaining independence, the SNP leadership, are also unworthy of running anything.
The only chance of restoring proper standards is to remove one set of shackles – Westminster. This will be done by the efforts of people who are not the current SNP leaders.
Sarah your opinion is one more and more people are taken.
“Scotland’s supposed champions for regaining independence, the SNP leadership, are also unworthy”
“The only chance of restoring proper standards is to remove one set of shackles – Westminster”
So you identify two unworthy sources holding Scotland down, but then propose to remove one. You’re not thinking straight, to put it charitably.
Your entire post is imbued with the usual magical thinking. Just become independent, and everything will come right – have faith.
It’s just another instance of the some big, bad, englush bursturts in WM are making our wee, pretendy parly act like a bunch of incompetent, grifting, woke, anti-democratic, criminal chancers, then running away to leave our Scottish representatives on the hook for it all. But still enjoying the support of the Scottish majority, who don’t seem to care one way or another.
Naw, sarah, not buying it.
So we have two bad governors, one in Westminster and one in Holyrood.
Removing Westminster, which on balance does less direct harm that Holyrood is not a solution.
The only way forward has to be Holyrood becomes a government that could be trusted and could manage scotlands affairs. Then maybe we can separate from westminster which at the moment is actually a brake on some of the stupidity Holyrood tries to implement.
Holyrood is now far from an institution I would trust to represent me or even tie its own shoelaces and has to be fixed before any move to independence and putting them in sole charge!
Exactly, Rob.
We’ve had a number of examples since 2014 when it’s the WM government and the UK Supreme Court that has saved Scotland from the worst lunacies of the fantasists in HR.
Yet it never started out that way. Under Salmond, HR showed what a Scottish government could do, enacting good legislation and living within the means of the Scottish taxpayers. As Salmond well understood, that was the sure fire route to growing Indy support to the solid, sustained majority that couldn’t be denied.
Proving to Scotland, and the world, that Scots have what it takes to run their own country.
Instead of which, under Sturgeon, Yousaf and Swinney, and the kind of second rate no hopers they like to surround themselves with, it has been an object lesson in proving that we don’t.
The idea that we’re now gonna jump straight to Indy BEFORE clearing out the dregs and the dross from HR is strictly for the birds. But flushing them out requires the hard graft, the detailing of new policy platforms, and the establishment of new popular, democratic political parties that no Scot so far is showing any appetite for getting stuck into.
“In the year to March 2026, central government spent nearly £100bn on debt interest alone, nearly 80% per cent of the £123bn it borrowed.”
“we are mostly borrowing to pay the interest on what we’ve already borrowed”
See the article “Britain needs a gilts crisis, It would end the inertia”:
link to unherd.com
It’s intensely interesting to consider what all this means for Scottish independence, but you can’t have a rational debate about it with people claiming that the Union is a hoax, or that an iScotland can successfully commence its time on the world stage having just repudiated all responsibility for its share of the UK’s debts.
Still though, it would be comforting to know, as benefits are slashed, living standards decline, and services deteriorate under the direction of both WM and HR, that some Scottish bright sparks might have some ideas for getting us out of this mess.
What am ah like, eh? Why no just wang oan and oan aboot G@za?
It’s hard to know where all this is going to end – but end it most certainly will, sadly. “We” have been living vastly beyond our means, especially post-2008, following the “Great Recession”. The UK (and most especially Scotland with its decimated Banking Sector) has never recovered, and “we” have been kicking the can down the road ever since then.
Things are even worse across the Channel; I think France will be the epicentre of the financial contagion that will surely follow. Maybe we can all bumble along for another year or two, but after that it’s going to get unpleasant. Scotland will be no more immune than the rest of the UK.
Is this what the Fabians wanted all along? Possibly, I’d say.
You Britnats dinna appear tae notice how its the larger former imperial countries that are aye in financial freefall and socio-economic crises, having lost many of their cash cow colonies (now decolonized) and yet still trying to finance wars and conflicts all over the place.
And its the smaller independent nations in NW Europe doing much better with double the GDP and hence far higher public spending per capita.
The obvious lesson is that colonized Scots need to ditch Anglo imperial rule here asap.
“The obvious lesson is that colonized Scots need to ditch Anglo imperial rule here asap”
Sadly, just saying “we’re colonised” on repeat won’t do it, Alf.
We’ll need plausible policies, practical plans and competent personnel.
But then you already know that. Which is why, lacking these three, you’re performatively wasting time looking for handouts from the UN.
Not to mention pathetically currying favour with the Orcish imperial regime.
“Things are even worse across the Channel”
There’s the usual tensions between the “yoof” and the wealthy wrinklies. The French demand the right to retire early and then live off the sweat of their younger workers even more than we do.
The starving of funds to the educational sector is just another symptom of what happens when the older generation decides to pull up the drawbridge behind it.
But there’s another aspect to the unrest that the MSM isn’t prepared to be honest about. Behind the masks, and away from the photogenic young lassies complaining about their truncated ed educations, the usual minority agitators are hard at work, setting the revolutionary immigrants against the true owners of France – the indigenous, white, Christian heritage French people.
It’s all playing into the hands of Le Pen by increasing support for her and her party as the scales fall from the eyes of the “just be nice”, progressive dupes.
Quite a coincidence that it should be happening as the same pivotal shifts in understanding are taking hold here.
There are only two countries in the world with double or more GDP than the U.K. – USA 7.7x and China 5x, neither are in NW Europe.
Ever heard of the expression “non sequitur?”
Small NW European nations prosper (relatively) because of high productivity, low population density, good levels and standards of education, specialized exports, and tight fiscal governance – not because they pass some arbitrary “non-imperial” purity test.
There are scores of small, former colonies around the world struggling under crippling debt, just as there are non-imperial states managing large-scale growth. Attributing modern global economic pressures – energy costs, demographic decline, productivity deficits etc. entirely to a 19th-century post-imperial hangover isn’t analysis, it’s just you and your one-track hobby horse/childish nonsense (again). Change the record (ha! vain hope)
If the independence movement wants to convince undecided voters, it needs real economics, not convenient slogans. As oft stated (and oft ignored by one track simpletons).
Stay in the false union until we find better local administration? What a very strange position to take.
o.k. sarah!
Spill the beans!
Who are these honest,trustworthy,capable,inspiring leaders who will magically appear if Scotland becomes independent ?
Where are they hiding?
Why are they hiding?
Go on then, give us a clue!
If you listen to Sam, insider, one of them could be our very own Alf Baird!
The Scots diaspora is likely to be a big help to a newly independent Scotland just as the Irish diaspora aided newly independent Ireland (and before independence). They helped to shape a strong sense of identity at home and abroad and gave large sums of money, providing 3% of national income in the 1950s.
2009 data from the US Census Bureau showed more than 9 million Americans identified themselves as having Scottish or ‘Scotch-Irish’ ancestry, and in the 2011 Census, 4.7 million Canadians identified themselves as having Scottish ancestry.
The Globalscot network was designed specifically to identify people from outside Scotland who are of Scottish descent, or who have another connection with Scotland, and who are willing to share their skills and expertise to help develop Scottish industries.
GlobalScot has more than 1,000 members across 62 countries (in 2021) supporting Scottish businesses in international markets and attracting inward investment. It is recognized by the World Bank as an exemplar in leveraging diaspora networks for economic growth.
Professor Baird has knowledge of Scottish political issues, academic qualifications and long experience of maritime business. His involvement in the ferry industry for over 30 years means he could deal with aspects of Scottish transport issues. His expertise in shipping economics and strategic management could help improve Scotland’s ferry policies and infrastructure.
“GlobalScot has more than 1,000 members across 62 countries (in 2021) supporting Scottish businesses in international markets and attracting inward investment. It is recognized by the World Bank as an exemplar in leveraging diaspora networks for economic growth”
I rarely see any evidence from the usual BTL suspects that they have any interest whatsoever in establishing a climate favourable to business, investment, profitability and economic growth in Scotland.
Quite the opposite, in fact. Benefits, freebies and pensions growth is about the sum total of it, as is to be expected from bred-in-the-bone socialists.
Still, If I’m wrong, the SNP, which still commands the allegiance and votes of the majority of Scots, will be doing its utmost to develop Scotland’s resources, create jobs, and deploy its tax varying powers to encourage companies creating employment opportunities to headquarter in Scotland.
Maxxing exploitation of our oil and gas. Supporting onshore wind on Scotland’s plentiful wet deserts, allowing Highland communities to become self-sufficient in electricity, without the overheads of thousands of miles of new, high-capacity distribution lines forcing costs through the roof.
Monetising one of our only two genuine, plentiful, increasingly in demand resources – potable water (the other being lebensraum – we don’t want to monetise that until The War and Climate Change has really upped the demand for it).
Laying off on the ever-increasing draconian legislation grinding down ordinary Scots.
Uh oh. Looks like I’m right, then.
😀
Imagine thinking Alf Baird is the answer to Scotland’s manifold woes – and is a shoe-in for leading the country to a new Golden Era.
Good grief. The mind truly boggles. These people are nutcases.
“Professor Baird has knowledge of Scottish political issues, academic qualifications and long experience of maritime business. His involvement in the ferry industry for over 30 years means he could deal with aspects of Scottish transport issues. His expertise in shipping economics and strategic management could help improve Scotland’s ferry policies and infrastructure”
It’s true – but recently he’s gone off the rails and started banging on endlessly about colonialism. Friends and family are very worried.
sarah says:
8 October, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Stay in the false union until we find better local administration? What a very strange position to take.
I don’t think so. It is what you correctly describe as a local administration (ie the Holyrood government) that will take the lead in all the negotiations regarding the terms under which we will become independent.
So personally, I think it is vital to our future that we have a competent administration in place first. rUK will undoubtedly play hardball – think the EU and Brexit – so we will need talented people at the top of their game before the negotiations start.
Sarah is right. The idea that you have to set up a perfect administration before you thrown off the shackles is, ummm, what’s the expression? Total unmitigated nonsense. Yes, that’s it. Show me any country which ever became independent that ever did that. You grab independence so you have all the levers to make things better; then if your own government doesn’t actually use them properly, you vote the useless shower out. We simply can’t do that to Westminster, the more alert of you may have noticed.
“You grab independence so you have all the levers to make things better”
Indeed so.
A colonized people have no power over key economic levers and are prevented from accessing their own resources.
In addition, a colonial administration serves only the colonizers interest.
Hence everything that happens in a colony is due to colonialism, including a dubious ‘justice’ system.
“you vote the useless shower out. We simply can’t do that to Westminster, the more alert of you may have noticed”
The same more alert have also noticed that we seem to be unable/unwilling to do that to the SNP at HR, either.
But do check out the cognitive dissonance of the usual suspects:
1 The SNP are tractors.
2 The SNP have sold us out.
3 The SNP are criminals, liars, incompetents.
4 The SNP have fucked us over about the “free wind energy”.
5 The SNP have fucked us over about Trident, SNHS privatisation, data centres, etc.
But putting all of the above to one side:
6 The SNP will negotiate a humdinger of a severance package with those big, bad, blood-soaked, English, thieving, colonising barsturts. The poor saps at WM won’t know what’s hit them. I will almost feel sorry for them once they twig that the SNP’s dedicated, professional, smart, patriotic, Scottish negotiating team have run rings around them.
Have the more alert noticed the problem here?
“everything that happens in a colony is due to colonialism”
I’m starting to come around to your way of thinking, Alf.
I’m having beans on toast for ma denner and I hate beans on toast.
Why not pop into your nearest branch of Tesco (or Aldi – same product, different label) and then grab yourself a can of Taco Beans? They make a very nice alternative to plain auld baked beans and, as a bonus, they allow one to cheat ones way to a sort of ghetto pasta dish merely by adding some cooked vegetables, spices, meat and pasta. Trust me, it works 🙂
@ Minceheid says: 9 October, 2026 at 7:54 am
Thanks for the idea.
But I think you’re overlooking something.
When Alf writes “everything that happens in a colony is due to colonialism”, he means EVERYTHING.
Say I was to try your recipe, and it was good. That would mean that not all colonialism is bad.
Do you see what that would do to Alf’s theory?
Naw. I dare na pit it tae the test.
You would trust the current mob in any way at all, I think they make even Westminster look good and they are not very good either.
Not everything is because or “being a colony”* sometimes its just good old graft and incompetence.
* I wish I knew how to change that particular record !
Fair comment, I think, Rob
I can only see one way – vote the SNP out. Abstaining/spoiling a ballot paper will achieve nothing. The only way to reset the dire state of Scottish politics is to vote for any other party of your choice at the next election.
To those who say ‘yes, but they were just as bad’, the record of other parties around 20 years ago or more is irrelevant to today. We need a complete change. Fast.
I’m happy to hear other ideas that would ensure that change. And starting a new party from scratch is far from easy. Just ask Alba – even Alex Salmond couldn’t make it work.
@ sam at 8.18. GlobalScot sounds a great organisation. You are right – the Scottish diaspora will help. Every Canadian and American I speak to who has a connection with Scotland, is keen for us to regain independence.
Aye, sarah, it’s amazing hoo mony of us ken real colonisers. Ah hae a couple of rellies in Nova Scotia. Of course, that’s not what the indigenous people the Scottish colonisers stole it from called it. But who cares aboot that, eh?
There’s hardly a Scot in Scotland that isn’t still related to the descendants of the thieving, genocidal cants that are now all over the USA and Canada.
sarah,
The former Irish President, Michael Higgins said, “Our diaspora is one of Ireland’s greatest resources: through the contribution our people make to the nations they migrate to; through the bonds they forge with the peoples of those countries, our migrants have allowed Ireland to have global connections far beyond our size.”
“through the contribution our people make to the nations they migrate to; through the bonds they forge with the peoples of those countries”
I don’t believe I’ve ever encountered a better justification for colonialism.
You have to hand it to the Irish. No other race on Earth matches them for the gift of the gab. They’ll steal your ancestral homeland, kill you or ethnically cleanse you, and all whilst telling you they’re doing you a favour.
And you’ll be convinced!
At least we Scots are more circumspect. When some indigenous survivor starts asking awkward questions about the Scottish place names all over their maps, or why so many of their people are lighter skinned with Scottish surnames, we tell them that some big, bad, colonising, genocidal, rapist English barsturts did it, then ran away.
Are they convinced? Ah hae ma doots. But many on here have convinced themselves that’s what actually happened.
Now that Davey Paulden’s been put back in his box, the odds of an early WM GE have shortened. Plenty of pundits are predicting Spring next year.
I still favour November. By Spring, after floods, rocketing prices, and further escalation of The War, I don’t think the voters will still be getting much hope from Andeh. That’s before we consider the near daily outrages from the tea towel wearers, the dinghy invaders, and their Religion of Peace rapists and jihadists.
It’s good to think that even as I write, the wise, elder statesmen and elder stateswomen (plus those who don’t know which they are) of the SNP are quietly preparing for the coming GE.
Working out how to get the best deal for Scotland. Safeguarding Scotland’s fiscal position against raids from an increasingly broke UK exchequer. Practising thrift and seeking out value for money across the board to extract every last penny of value from the highest tax burden Scots have had to shoulder in their lifetimes.
Haha, I do crack me up sometimes.
Naw, the SNP will do what they always do. Exhort us not to judge them on their record, but just to imagine what it would be like if the other tribe won.
Hm, I think the general opinion is that Burnham’s victory was not decisive enough to warrant an early GE. Despite the loss, the Green vote went up a lot and Labour’s down a bit. Given everything it was a decent Labour win but also given the whole Zionism fiasco at the Green conference, not a bad result for the Greens.
We will see.