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We are the 99.982%

Posted on March 25, 2015 by

An alert reader pointed us to this edition of Newsnight we’d missed earlier this month, featuring the renowned Conservative Party chairman and liar Grant Shapps MP.

The population of the UK, according to the 2011 census, is 63,128,000. Shapps just told us he only cares about 11,200 of them (or 0.018%), because apparently those are all the votes the Tories need to turn round to secure an absolute majority in May’s general election. We very much doubt that any of the 23 target constituences he mentions, across which the required 11,200 votes are spread, are in Scotland.

And that, readers, is what the Tories (and, for that matter, Labour) really think of “the democratic will of the British people”. You may want to keep it in mind when you vote.

2 Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. 25 03 15 18:06

    We are the 99.982% | Politics Scotland | Scoop...

  2. 25 03 15 18:40

    We are the 99.982% | Speymouth

50 to “We are the 99.982%”

  1. steveasaneilean says:

    Shameful

    Reply
  2. Capella says:

    I watched the first half of this programme after someone posted the link in the previous thread. What was striking to someone who hasn’t watched Newsnight for years, was the central map of “Britain” with the top of Scotland cut off and England framed largely as the background to the discussion. I think that summarises the attitude in London.

    Reply
  3. Luigi says:

    Listen up, Jocks!

    Democracy is our ball. So, it’s our game and you ain’t allowed to play. Get it?

    Reply
  4. Stoker says:

    The Rev wrote:
    ” renowned Conservative Party chairman and liar Grant Shapps MP.”

    And that, folks, says all you need to know.

    Reply
  5. terry says:

    sorry OT but Murphy spurting on LBC!!!!

    Reply
  6. jim heraghty says:

    First, get elected.

    Consequences of treating 99.982% as unimportant? Worry about that later.

    Reply
  7. Macart says:

    FFS!

    We voted for this?

    So that arrogant, condescending pricks like this can dictate what democracy means? So that they can call us barbarians at the gate?

    WAKE UP!

    That is Westminster reality right there.

    Reply
  8. frogesque says:

    For every opinion there is an equal and opposite opinion.

    I feel the same about the Tories – red, blue or yellow

    Reply
  9. bjsalba says:

    Thee feeling is mutual.

    Reply
  10. Pam McMahon says:

    If I thought the Tory party had any designs on me or my vote, I would shoot myself.

    Reply
  11. GM_Dundonian says:

    Is he actually not considering the Torys may lose some seats in the process? Either way it just shows you how extremely undemocratic FPP is. The U.k has brass baws to go around lecturing any other state on democratic will, that’s for sure.

    Reply
  12. Macart says:

    Not so much a prick as an entire cactus.

    Reply
  13. Bugger (the Panda) says:

    “The population of the UK, according to the 2011 census, is 63,128,000. Shapps just told us he only cares about 11,200 of them (or 0.018%), because apparently those are all the votes the Tories need to turn round to secure an absolute majority in May’s general election. We very much doubt that any of the 23 target constituencies he mentions, across which the required 11,200 votes are spread, are in Scotland.”

    And that is the ultimate salami slicing of the political firmament of the UK. Something that Thatcher started several decades ago by abandoning Scotland and concentrating on the SE of England only.

    Tony Blair inherited that and moved Labour across the political line to inherit Thatcher’s fiefdom thus forcing the Tories this way and that to identify their Unique Selling Point.

    It took the Tories several attempts to come to the conclusion that they had to had to abandon their one nation meme, helped of course by the appearance of the loony EDL, BNP and UKIP.

    Enter Ed the Policy Wonk without a clue how to connect with the base politic of the Labour Party. Has the man actually been on a bus or an Easyjet flight?

    Shapps and the imported Yank just drilled down and defined how to win but they have no clue how to govern, except by analysing and throwing scraps of lucre to people whose votes matter, election by election.

    All smoke and mirrors.

    They must be shitting bricks now as the SNP has become their Black Swan.

    I am pissing myself laughing,

    Reply
  14. Pentland Firth says:

    Labour were solely focused on a very similar number of voters and “marginal” constituencies (mainly in the English Midlands). Their policies were, and still are, designed to reassure and win over those voters. As for the rest of the electorate, they were expected to vote as in 2010.

    It’s great to upset their applecart.

    Reply
  15. So you get a liar spouting crap on one screen and and incomplete map on the right.

    Western Isles, North Skye, Sutherland, Wester Ross, Caithness, Orkney and Shetland all missing. It’s strange how they do that but never miss out Kent.

    Is it piss poor graphic design or attitudinal?

    Reply
  16. Clootie says:

    Well you should be careful when you chase new voters.

    Labour has won middle England and lost Scotland (and their soul!)

    Reply
  17. Mealer says:

    I don’t like that man.

    Reply
  18. Mealer says:

    O/T
    The link from here to Bella Caledonia seems to have disappeared.

    Reply
  19. jimnarlene says:

    Twat.

    Reply
  20. Scott says:

    I hate to be the reasonable person here but his wording didn’t seem all that damming.

    Reply
  21. Dr Ew says:

    Such is the sophistication of party machines these days they could quite possibly name 30-odd thousand folk across those 23 constituencies and go to their doors offering whatever blandishments they could get away with. It would be worth it to them just to get their hands on the levers of the gate that opens the trough.

    Strange how these guys are never described in headlines as attempting to “sabotage the will of the British people”. I expect Alex & Nicola to be branded with that and much over the next 6 weeks.

    Reply
  22. galamcennalath says:

    The unofficial English NationalIST Party at its finest.

    What hurts them is they believe they can win rUK, but then us Jocks might get in the way and screw it all up for them.

    Welcome to the UK with Scotland still in it, suckers. You shouldn’t have lied and cheated your way to winning our referendum!

    Reply
  23. icyspark says:

    The Rev Stu gets to ask Jim Murphy directly the BIG question live on air. 22mins 30secs

    link to youtube.com

    Reply
  24. GM_Dundonian says:

    @ Mealer

    Yeah I noticed that too, thought it was my browsers fault. Did Bella fall out with his site?

    Reply
  25. Bugger (the Panda) says:

    The medium has become the message.

    Reply
  26. ronnie anderson says:

    @ Rev Alexander M is on LBC & raised the question ,what would Labour do if they werent the largest party.Ian Dale has asked her to phone again during the election campain, she done good that woman.

    Reply
  27. Archie [not Erchie] says:

    @ Macart – I chuckled at that barbed remark.

    @ Dr Ew – Perhaps a bean to coffee maker would be appropriate, then I could be the the same as FM Nicola?

    On my return from hotter climes last week I had a 2 day stay in London and I ventured into the lion’s den to see where the tartan seat covers would be in the HOC. Visitors gallery was interesting and as Russel Brown [D and G] spoke I was almost sick and careful not to swear. However the word TOSH escaped while those around me nodded in agreement.

    On the steps of the Great Hall was an inset brass plaque denoting the place where Sir William Wallace stood in August 1309 at his trial. I smiled and just said a wee prayer…We will be here soon William, rest assured.

    Reply
  28. indigo says:

    He didn’t seem to twig who ‘Stuart from Bath’ was, which is pretty astonishing in itself

    Reply
  29. Rigmac7 says:

    Mealer, GM_Dundonian, it would appear so, or perhaps this site fell out with Bella

    Reply
  30. DerekM says:

    why does he remind me of Tony Blair ???

    Reply
  31. heraldnomore says:

    Listened to Murphy on the LBC interview; still campaigning for WM on matters devolved to Holyrood – has he given up on WM and started his 2016 campaign, or does he assume that we are still he gullible bunch who followed the red rosetted monkeys all these years?

    Reply
  32. call me dave says:

    Well swipe me! After posting yesterday that I had not seen any labour materials or reps. Two labour foot soldiers at my door urging me to vote for labour in tomorrows by-election for Kinglassie & Glenrothes West.

    We had words!! SNP not bad..etc etc you know the story. They looked startled but resigned.. I was polite.

    Just as I was bidding them both farewell my next door neighbour walks up his path and tells them ‘ditto’. 🙂

    They looked like it was a message they had been getting already on their travels. Strange days for labour in Fife.

    Fingers crossed for that vacant seat.

    PS:
    Footie link later Scotland: if it’s not on BBC or ITV

    link to crichd.tv or

    link to myp2p.ec

    Reply
  33. caz-m says:

    Ed Miliband is Alex Salmond’s poodle.

    There’s a wee sketch in there somewhere.

    woof woof!

    Reply
  34. Brian Doonthetoon says:

    Watched the LBC clip from Rev Stu’s question onward (watch the rest later).

    Murphy refused to answer and is still pushing the “largest party’ guff. And “expoititive zero hours contracts”, which he must have mentioned at least three times.

    We’re on our way…

    Reply
  35. frogesque says:

    @ call me Dave.

    The only communication I have had for the Glenrothes/Kinglasie council bye election has been from the SNP. Might have something to do with the poster in the window though.

    Well past time the Kirkcaldy Kremlin compost was turned over!

    Reply
  36. GM_Dundonian says:

    @ Brian Doonthetoon

    From misery to happiness… ? 😉

    Reply
  37. Macart says:

    @ Archie

    Saving it up for just the right occasion.

    Reply
  38. Brian Doonthetoon says:

    Spot on, GM_Dundonian.

    BTW: there’s gonna be a microbiologist from Ninewells on the minibus from Dundee on 1st May.

    Reply
  39. GM_Dundonian says:

    Two scientists in one Wings gathering? What would the English media think, we’re all supposed to be unemployed anarchists living on a oil cheque through our doors every Friday. :p

    Reply
  40. Brian Doonthetoon says:

    Hi GM_Dundonian.

    If you haven’t been to Wings get-together before, you’ll be surprised at the number of doctors (of all sorts) and so on, who sup from Rev Stu’s quaich.

    Reply
  41. Bugger (the Panda) says:

    Brian Doonthetoon says:
    25 March, 2015 at 6:55 pm

    Spot on, GM_Dundonian.

    BTW: there’s gonna be a microbiologist from Ninewells on the minibus from Dundee on 1st May.

    Dr Who?

    Reply
  42. GM_Dundonian says:

    @ Brian Doonthetoon

    It really sounds like quite the gathering 😉 thanks for letting me know about it.

    Also @ frogesque, I wish all involved in that by election the best, indeed it will be a pleasure to hear this Kirkcaldy Kremlin has fallen. Fingers crossed.

    Reply
  43. Paula Rose says:

    Nope BtP – a platoon of cybernats.

    Reply
  44. Defo says:

    11,200 ? A dawdle for MI5…

    And, 23 isn’t enough.

    Grant Shapps. The name of a fancy bevy, or a painful medical condition ?

    Reply
  45. BrianW says:

    Are interviewers/presenters on the telly becoming weaker and weaker in the art & craft of interviewing? (discuss)

    Day in day out I’m seeing/hearing interviewers being rode roughshod over by politicians who cannot and will not definitively answer a question posed to them with. They just plough on regardless with what ever ‘soundbite’ ‘lie’ or ‘message’ their Director of Communications has demanded that be pushed out.

    Is this new strategy? Just talk incessantly about nothing relating to a question posed, and hope the interviewer gets fed up and gives up?

    It’s worse than a Two Ronnies sketch but at least they answered the questions correctly – just in a set order, leading to some good comedy.

    Interviews like the Grant Shapps one above are comedic, but for alllll the wrong reasons.. well that and they are clowns (not the funny bunch of flower, big shoes kind)

    Reply
  46. Stu Magoo says:

    I love you, Rev Stu x

    Reply
  47. Ken500 says:

    Has Shapps (alias Green) not resigned yet? He made someone put up an apology for calling Shapps out for using an alias for a second job. Threatened them with legal action. The person, who was telling the truth, is now sueing Shapps. Tory Hypocrite.

    Reply
  48. Brian Doonthetoon says:

    Hi Brian W.

    “It’s worse than a Two Ronnies sketch but at least they answered the questions correctly – just in a set order, leading to some good comedy.”

    FUNEX?

    link to youtube.com

    Reply
  49. Ali says:

    Again, this is only true based on who is already voting Conservative. I think it’s OK to be picky with the truth even when it doesn’t serve your argument? Better, even.

    Reply
  50. BrianW says:

    @ Brian Doonthetoon..

    haha @ the Two Ronnies video.. think we could use the T.T for a few Labour pics..

    Full of T.T’s

    Reply


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