The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland


We agree with Ruth Davidson

Posted on October 09, 2013 by

That doesn’t happen terribly often.

ruthdavidsonwater

But on this matter, we simply can’t find fault with her logic.

“Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has urged people in the rest of the UK to speak up for the Union.” (BBC)

“In the months ahead we have a lot of work to do to hammer home to people just how much Scotland gains from being part of the UK and how much the United Kingdom benefits from Scotland as a member.

It is a fight. And I’m asking you to join me in it. 

While this is the most important decision in Scotland’s history – it also affects each and every one of you, no matter where you live.

I know that many of you living in other parts of the UK won’t have a vote – but we all have a stake in the result, and we can all play a part in securing our country for the future.”

(Our emphases, of course.) Those are some extracts from Davidson’s speech to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester a few days ago. It’s a strong point. If only we could think of anyone who was at that conference – perhaps someone who took to the platform just minutes after Ruth Davidson – who might follow her advice.

Any ideas, folks?

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

68 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
muttley79

“I know that many of you living in other parts of the UK won’t have a vote – but we all have a stake in the result, and we can all play a part in securing our country for the future.”
 
Our country to Ruth Davidson is Britain not Scotland.  It is now clear beyond doubt that Scotland is not a nation in these people’s eyes.  The “proud Scots” schtick is wearing more and more thin the closer we get to the referendum.

Mosstrooper

Errchh! Water– I thought that wiz vodka

Alba4Eva

Is she taking lessons on facial contortion from Wendy Alexander?

Seasick Dave

Sossidges!

Luigi

“Someone’s peed in ma drink!”

titchyboy85

Doing her best Rab De Niro impression there.

titchyboy85

“You talking to me….well there’s no one else here so you must be talking to me”

Papadocx

Bitter and twisted

MajorBloodnok

“If this is supposed to be Hendrick’s gin, where’s my bloody cucumber?”

Mosstrooper

Cucumbers? Steady Major.

Murray McCallum

“… and how much the United Kingdom benefits from Scotland as a member.”
 
This has been covered in the Daily Mail and several other papers. The answer is apparently nothing – Scotland takes from the union. Philip Hammond goes as far to suggest that Scots themselves couldn’t be bothered to physically defend Scotland. As Derek Bateman says in his latest blog:
“… we are such a basket case of a country that our own people won’t want to defend it. We are also such a backwater, it seems, with nothing worth defending, that no potential conscripts would bother to take part in a Dad’s Army and would prefer to join up to fight for Glorious Albion.”
 
If proud Scottish unionists will not themselves rise to state what Scotland contributes to the union why on earth would someone elsewhere?

Eddie

I think more lads would join up knowing they aren’t going to be sent to illegal wars.  For the first time in a long time Scotland would have a proper marine contingent protecting our waters and the rigs 
 
Lots of things to gain … if we vote ‘YES’ … and an awful lot to lose … if we vote ‘no’.

Barontorc

O/T but just heard that Spud Murphy the ex- ‘Defence Minister with Mondeo’ is to become very active in the BT campaign. Wooooeee – it just gets better and better. Carmichael, Darling, Murphy – some half-back line eh?
 

scotchwoman

Anyone have the graphics skills to fill that glass with a handful of spinach and give her a Popeye pipe?

muttley79

@Barontorc
 
Interesting that Murphy appears to be putting his head above the parapet.  He was keeping a low profile in terms of involvement in the referendum.  The No campaign must think they are home and dry, as Murphy is the personification of the careerist politician.  If they thought the result was in doubt then Murphy would not bother to get involved. 

JLT

This worries me not!

She can gibber the biggest load of mince about our wonderful time together, and all those delightful memories that we shared together.
 
At the end of the day, the Brit Unionists want to go in one direction, while Scotland wants to go down another path, and unless she can give us proper reasons as to why we should go down the Tory elitist path, I can only see more and more folk north of the border going ‘….nah! your all right. I think we’ll go this way.’
 
I’m dying to see this ‘fight’ they are going to put up. I thought it was meant to be a debate, but hey, what do we know …we’re ‘too stupid’ (well, that’s what they say…)
 
So, Stilring Council are going to ‘make a stand’ against this referendum by flying their Union Flag, and Ruth is going to fight for the reasons as to why we should remain in the cabal. So much for it being a debate, then.
 
As I said …’this worries me not!’
 

Jeannie

@Muttley 79
 
If they thought the result was in doubt then Murphy would not bother to get involved.
 
I suppose he’s got to get involved – if we vote Yes, he’s out of a well-paid job and might find himself in the same situation as some of his constituents – doing work experience at Poundland in return for his dole money.  You bet he’ll get involved – with people like Murphy, self-interest is the basis of all action.

muttley79

@Jeannie
 
If we vote Yes, and he has not really taken part in the campaign then he would put his name forward for a full fat Holyrood.  If he gets seriously involved in the No campaign, and there is a Yes vote then he is finished.  I agree entirely with the self interest bit though.     

Training Day

Murphy will become ‘involved’ in so far as the press release saying he’ll be involved extends. My guess is he’ll linger in the shadows of BT, waiting to see which way the campaign goes next year. As the ultimate unprincipled careerist, he has plenty practice in oily manouevering.

John Lyons

At the local elections last year she said the best kind of Government was where decisions were made locally. I agreed with her then. Lets make ALL decisions that affect Scotland in Scotland.

creigs1707repel

@John Lyons
“At the local elections last year she said the best kind of Government was where decisions were made locally. I agreed with her then. Lets make ALL decisions that affect Scotland in Scotland.”
 
Her real plan (backed by her Labour Unionist bed-fellows) is, at the first opportunity, to take the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament and devolve them to local council level, thereby ensuring the SP is well and truly neutered.

david

i think ruth davidson comes across as very subserviant and a tad dislikable

Brotyboy

Rev, can I take a guess at it?  Cameron was on the platform shortly after?  And yet he won’t debate with Salmond.  Some involvement.

handclapping

Typical long winded politician that it needs the Rev’s forensic skills to deconstruct.
“Man up Brave Dave” says it all.

Helpmaboab

If feels uncanny to give a compliment to Ruth Davidson but I’ll grit my teeth and do so. Her statement is an admirably concise summary of the independence debate.
 
Viz, “Should the phrase ‘your country’ mean Scotland or Britain?”
 
Is it too late to get that question substituted onto next year’s ballot paper?

Iain

@muttley79
‘Interesting that Murphy appears to be putting his head above the parapet.  He was keeping a low profile in terms of involvement in the referendum.  The No campaign must think they are home and dry, as Murphy is the personification of the careerist politician.  If they thought the result was in doubt then Murphy would not bother to get involved.’

Murphy’s career change/demotion is being portrayed by some as a cull of the Blairites by a teensy-weensy-bit-to-the left-of-New-Labour Miliband. If that is the case, what better siding in which to shunt Spud than a messy campaign, tainted by Coalition collaboration and with a fair chance of it being lost by whichever Unionist sect he chooses to join.

Brian Powell

It is not only Unionists that are putting forward strange arguments.

I just read an article on Bella Caledonia called Walking Together, in which the proIndependence writer states that Labour would be the greatest beneficiary of Independence  and that the reason for the existence of the SNP would disappear the day after the vote.

The writer then goes on to list the problems that would occur for Scotland that are put forward by the Together campaign to scare us into voting No.

However these problems are the ones that have been repeated over and over again by Together Labour in Westminster and in Holyrood to scare us into voting No.

The writer didn’t seem to see the disconnect.

HandandShrimp

Thought Murphy had refused to campaign with the Tories in Better Together. He is still in the Shadow Cabinet and he does have a job to do with International Aid. By rights he should actually be abroad more and getting up to speed with his brief. Then again he may simply bide his time to return to a high profile post.
 
I take it Ruth’s you can all help call was “give us your money, Better together is skint”

Linda's back

I chocked at the eulogies for soon to be Lord Menzies Campbell who instructed Scottish Lib Dems not to form a political alliance with those dreadful Scot Nats in 2007 as he was opposed to a democratic referendum on independence  and according to recent Channel 4 programme ignored warnings about MP Cyril Smith’s activities with young boys. 

The Man in the Jar

I look forward to Naestanes Cameron adding his contribution however as usual I am not holding my breath.

scotchwoman

“….just how much Scotland gains from the UK….”
We ain’t gaining from coverage of the Commonwealth Games – the start of the baton relay has slipped off the BBC News website’s top stories and now resides down below in “Also in the News”. Ach well, it’s only the third largest multi-sports event in the world….
Meanwhile on the BBC Sport page, the story is tucked down under news that Cardiff football club has given a recruitment job to a 23 year old.
It’s one gain after another….

handclapping

Rev, surely the picture caption should be “See I can do gottle of gear and I’ll do it drinking the glass of water soon.”
 
And on another tack completely, how long do you last after publicly criticising your boss?

john king

scotchwoman says
“Anyone have the graphics skills to fill that glass with a handful of spinach and give her a Popeye pipe?”
Aaacacacacacaca
  

HandandShrimp

Saw Alex on the one Show tonight with baton in hand, he really has lost a lot of weight.

david

never mind popeye, she looks absolutely bluto

James Morton

Is this the same Ruth Davidson who only last year declared before an audience of English Tories that 88% of Scots contributed absolutely 0 to the UK? Now she wants those self same English Tories to do her campaigning for her? The English Tories have been telling themselves, their voters and the rest of the UK that the reason we booted them out, is that we are subsidy junkies. They’ve done such a good job of this that most English people believe this horse shit. But it does bear on a trend I have been seeing on twitter, & various forums. Odd little BT trolls appearing all of a sudden bemoaning our poor state of affairs from starvation to defence. The extolling the benefits of dependency as a boon of Union.
 
We cannot let these people win

Cankert Callan

@scotchwoman
It’s a little crude but here you go.
link to s1168.photobucket.com
 

The Rough Bounds

STV this evening. ”Fire services in Scotland have decided not to go on strike. However in other parts of the country…..”
 
STV. Shite Television.

Stuart Black

(Posted in error on an old thread, copied here)
 
Impulse post, off topic I know, but I have been sitting here, alone in Norway, (aw, bless) fixating on ‘Lord’ Robertson’s fanny about our lack of kulchur.
 
Well, out of the myriad of sources to call on, here’s just one, and it’s a good one…
 



 
John Martyn, sadly missed, and there’s a few weel-kent faces in the background.
 
Enjoy.
  

The Rough Bounds

Aw naw! Ah’ve just drank ma urine sample.

Jeannie

O/T Just noticed over on Newsnet that one of the posters has said there’s a public event on at Aberdeen Uni on Friday on an independent Scotland’s relationship with the EU.  Here’s the link in case anybody wants to go:
 
link to abdn.ac.uk
 
 

Stuart Black

And here’s another, dramatically different in style, but equally a part of our very own distinctive Scottish music culture, and with the added bonus of being dedicated to one of very own posters.
(hi there, TMITJ).



patronsaintofcats

Sorry O/T but Daily Record reporting that Bannockburn 700th Anniversary has been cancelled. Don’t know how to do the archive links, just saw it on Twitter. WTF? 

Les Wilson

O/T I feel that I should know this guy, unfortunately I cannot remember when I saw him, but by jings, I wish we had more like him, he is brilliant.
Rev, please allow the link.
link to youtube.com S3RjilBzg

Lobeydosser

@Stuart Black.What a nice OT. Have you hacked my brain, was just thinking about Alex H after you mentioned the fabulous John Martin. Saw a lot of John when I worked in the Third Eye in the late 70’s. Glad we can still see and hear them. Cheers.
 

Linda's back

Highland Shrimp
Unionists must have choked on their Port when Alex Salmond was awarded a Gold Medal on One Show for his knowledge of the Commonwealth.
 

patronsaintofcats

Apologies about the DR article re Bannockburn, it’s from last year.  Anybody know the current status?  I wouldnt put anything past that bunch of numpties.

Stuart Black

@Lobeydosser, nice user-name by the way, I used to post with that name on the old Herald thread years ago, when it was as bonkers as the Hootsmon is now. I’m so glad you enjoyed both the links, John Martyn and the SAHB are long time heroes of mine, and I was delighted to find footage of the marvellous Alex donning his trenchcoat under his street lamp, it brought back cherished memories of the Apollo days,
 
John Martyn though, what a sad loss, absolutely wonderful music that I think doesn’t reach as wide an audience as it should, sad.

Ron Burgundy

Well said Stuart but taking her point at face value I think the more English people voice opinions on the Independence debate the better.

I know that it is dangerous to generalise English opinion from the reader comments of the Daily Mail and Telegraph but it seems reasonable to say that there is little enthusiasm among the English for Scotland continuing as part of the Union.

Nationalism is on the rise in England – fair enough – some manifestations of it not perhaps as open hearted and open minded as that in Scotland but some definitely is. People down south seem to see themselves more and more as English as opposed to British in the same way they do in Scotland.

I have always said that if the English had a vote next September YES would be home and dry.

Bugger (the Panda)

Hopelessly OT or am I?
link to world.time.com
You tell me, anytime where the word Tory is mentioned.

Dramfineday

Photo put me in mind of something by a different Reverend – it went kind of like this “This is rare waater” Where do you get your waater?

Bugger (the Panda)

Welcome back Lobbydosser
 
B t P
 

theycan'tbeserious

She’s doing her Michael McIntyre stand-up routine!….I’ll get my coat!

john love

I think she has just drunk someones urine sample thinking it was irn bru

Bill C

Bannockburn event going ahead:
“The National Trust for Scotland’s three day spectacular takes place on Saturday 28, Sunday 29 and Monday 30 June 2014 and, as well as a brutally realistic re-enactment of the battle, features an array of themed villages, where visitors can enjoy everything from Scottish food and drink to sports, crafts and literature, exciting outdoor activities, an action packed children’s programme, a main contemporary music stage and more.!

Paula Rose

@ Ron Burgundy
Us of English origin up here are doing our damnedest to get Independence, it’s our fellow scots that seem to be the problem.

JLT

James Morton
 
You are spot on, mate. This is the Tory conundrum, and hopefully (…or rather, I’m getting on my knees, and begging to God) that this just doesn’t come back to bite the Tories on the @rse; I hope it absolutely f****** savages them! Here’s my dream scenario…
As James points out, the Tories have told the whole of England (and the rest of the UK for that matter) that Scotland is a complete basket-case. That the people north of the border are only interested in being on the dole, and that they are only interested in, in grabbing as much benefit money as they possibly can, off the wonderful UK state.
Now …as James rightly points out, the Tories now expect the rest of the UK to turn around to these northern benefit-scrounging subsidy junkies and ‘literally beg’ them to stay in the union. Many people down south are going to be a tad confused and upset if the truth is finally revealed to them.
 
I hope when the moment comes, it is on something live such as Question Time. I hope it’s a major edition of the show, and the reason they are having it is because some daft piece of legislation is about to be passed, and it has upset the folk of the south-East.
To answer questions, the show invites some major UK political figures to explain what can be done (imagine something like Theresa May, Harriet Harman, Vince Cable and Nigel Farage on the show …you know …something on those lines).
I hope half the nation is tuned in as this is deadly serious. It is at this point, that we get that ‘key moment in time’. The topic of conversation leads to ideas of ‘how can we save money to solve this problem’, and it is at that moment, that an audience member suggests that ‘one way that the UK could save money is to cut Scotland loose as it is a financial basket-case anyway, and let’s not forget, these ungrateful Scots want away anyway because they are having this referendum. Let’s help them out of the UK state!’
 
Can you imagine the horror and deathly silence from all of those political faces as they try to work out an answer to that one. ‘Eh no, that’s not a good idea. Scotland is major contributor to the UK state.’
 
I hope the audience explode in a fury of protestation, and once Dimbleby has finally calmed them down, we get one English gentleman in the audience, who politely says something on the lines of, ‘Excuse me, but that is not true. We have been told time and time again, that Scotland does not benefit to the UK at all; that it is a severe drain on our financial resources. Are you now saying this is not true, because if you are, what are you really saying? Are you saying that we have been lied to for decades? You’ve told us for years (waves a finger at the entire panel) …yes, the whole lot of you …that Scotland is broke, worthless, completely useless and does nothing except provide bodies for the army, and gives us oil. So, what’s the truth?’
 
I pray that something like this comes to pass. Seriously …how good would that be? Can you imagine the effect all over Scotland?

Lobeydosser

@Bugger the Panda. Thanks for the welcome back. Been in Italy for a couple of months. Tried to keep up with the news while I was there. This site is my go to site, the quality of information, comment and humour is the best, kept me outraged and laughing in equal measure.

call me dave

The ‘First Eck’ wins gold. Never knew what the One Show was anyhoo!
54 minutes in.  Just a bit of fun.
link to bbc.co.uk

Macandroid

Why have you used a photo of Mao Tse Tung’s daughter?

The Man in the Jar

@Stuart Black
Cheers Stuart thanks for the “plug” Aye nae culture, nae talent, nae f**k all! Here`s one back at you! “Although its true Im worried now, I wont be worried long”



 

Ronnie

@ Jeannie
 
Thanks for the link, I’ve just registered.

The Man in the Jar

@Ron Burgandy
“I know that it is dangerous to generalise English opinion from the reader comments of the Daily Mail and Telegraph but it seems reasonable to say that there is little enthusiasm among the English for Scotland continuing as part of the Union.”
 
Ron you are a master of the understatement!
 
I am not having a go at all English folk here but thats quite an understatement! I agree with Ruth Davidson (whew that was difficult to type!) I think that everyone in England should join in and take part in the debate. I think that everyone in Scotland should get to read the BTL comments in the likes of The Mail and Telegraph. 
 
I have realised that out of the comparatively large population of England there are bound to be a few nutters but the tone and volume of the comments are truly beyond belief. It is a pity that more of the people living in Scotland don’t get around to reading them very often.

Brian milligan

Well Ruth read the truth. If ye didnae ken then,ye ken noo. yer earse is oot the wndae.
 

desimond

O/T but sticking with wee Ruthie drink in hand stylie…was in SECC last night, guy next to me at the Bar asked “An Irn Bru please” only to be told “We sell everything else really, bar that!”.
 
Thats the SCOTTISH Exhibition Centre,

Atypical_Scot

“but we all have a stake in the result” says Ruth. First question from anyone listening should have been; “What? Better off you mean, because we are always told we subsidize Scotland?”
 
How can the rUK rationalize the obvious hypocrisy in that drivel? Either Scotland’s better off in the UK, or the rUK’s better off with Scotland surely? Unless Ruth was speaking emotively…,    …but she is a Tory, so not likely.
 
 

Muscleguy

@papadocx
“bitter and twisted”
What has one of my favourite beers got to do with anything?

GP Walrus

Caption: “This Scottish glass is half empty. If it was a British glass it would be half full. That is why we’re better together”


  • About

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

    Stats: 6,655 Posts, 1,198,798 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

  • Recent Comments

    • Zander Tait on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Even in death, the British main stream media continue to put the boot into the corpse of Alex Salmond. What…Oct 12, 21:57
    • Kit Bee on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “‘I smell a rat’ yep I am sniffing that too. Too damned convenient.!!Oct 12, 21:50
    • Tony on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Absolutely gutted RIP Alex, Scotland’s Future in Scotland’s Hands ??????????????????Oct 12, 21:49
    • Cynicus on The King And Queen Of Cringe: ““Alexander the Great dies in Macedonia.” ====== Brilliant, Breeks.Oct 12, 21:48
    • Glenn Boyd on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Lord Jack McConnell, Houmza Yousef and Nigel Farage are the latest “worthies” threatening to bring up our stomach contents…………..Oct 12, 21:46
    • Kit Bee on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “too too true- will we ever know??Oct 12, 21:43
    • John Young on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Like Mac this is so sad and terrible but like Mac I am fuckin angry … The people who steal…Oct 12, 21:41
    • Young Lochinvar on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “I worry that you are completely correct in your assessment. God help us one and all. Also, I agree; a…Oct 12, 21:40
    • Kit Bee on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Me too.Oct 12, 21:40
    • Ian Brotherhood on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Beautiful thought, and well executed too. 🙂Oct 12, 21:30
    • Effijy on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Craig Williams of BBC News produced a cover piece about Alex Salmond where he started out respectful but the as…Oct 12, 21:29
    • Young Lochinvar on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Amen to that, first thing my wife said was “it’ll have been a heart attack after all they’ve put him…Oct 12, 21:25
    • Mark M on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “The Andrew Neil who had lunch with him a few week ago?Oct 12, 21:25
    • Glenn Boyd on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “And here it is, a “tribute” from one Nicola Sturgeon: Former first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon has called Alex…Oct 12, 21:22
    • Andouilette on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Your thought re: David Davis is identical to mine. I truly hope he steps up. it was obvious, even to…Oct 12, 21:21
    • Mac on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “I feel so sad and so angry at the same time.Oct 12, 21:20
    • Mac on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “He did get us to the next level. They cheated us through the postal votes. That is why he is…Oct 12, 21:18
    • Confused on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “he almost got us to the next level, where we should always have been  when he was in charge, things…Oct 12, 21:11
    • John Young on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Thank you Robert for the wonderful words of McCaig, so apt for such a great man.Oct 12, 21:10
    • Mac on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Alex Salmond is Scotland’s first 21st Century martyr. First martyr in a long time. Look up the word, he fits…Oct 12, 21:08
    • Chic McGregor on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Gutted. I was going to send him a silver golf marker I had been sculpting. A personal gift of appreciation…Oct 12, 21:08
    • Robert Louis on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “And a great banner it will be. Scotland IS and always will be a country, not an English county. The…Oct 12, 21:07
    • Robert Louis on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Aye, the dream will NEVER die. I have a book signed by Alex, where I wasn’t sure what he should…Oct 12, 21:00
    • Pipinghot on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Fuck off dickhead.Oct 12, 20:40
    • Callum on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Never ever forget that Sturgeon, Swinney and Humza who are now praising Salmond after his untimely death are the ones…Oct 12, 20:40
    • Garavelli Princip on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “So true. My ‘Wings’ Moniker is a reverse ‘tribute’ to Ms Garavelli, Kirsty Wark et al and is a reference…Oct 12, 20:35
    • Robert Louis on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “When I heard it had happened, in Macedonia, I also thought, ‘how convenient’.Oct 12, 20:29
    • Robert Louis on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “What terrible news. Alex Salmond, a king among mere mortals. Mr. Salmond had it. He really had it. More than…Oct 12, 20:24
    • red sunset on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “Tonight’s news is a shock. Infinite numbed sadness. Thank you Alex for all you did for us, for our country,…Oct 12, 20:19
    • TURABDIN on The King And Queen Of Cringe: “May Alex Salmond have eternal rest. «Scotland» did not deserve him. But from his example let there come new lifeOct 12, 20:15
  • A tall tale



↑ Top
78
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x