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What an arsehole looks like

Posted on May 08, 2014 by

We’ve never met Chris and Colin Weir, but judging by their actions alone, they’re the sort of people we should all aspire to be more like. Caring, decent and hard-working people all their lives, fate bestowed a great slice of fortune on them when they won £161m on the EuroMillions lottery in 2011.

Unlike others, they didn’t embark on an orgy of ostentatious consumption, decadence and waste. Shunning publicity, they enjoyed their windfall but also quietly got on with doing untold good for their local community, helping out their friends and family and neighbours. It’s doubtful we’ll ever know the full extent of their generosity. They’ve never sought recognition or thanks for the millions they’ve given away.

But at the very least, as a bare-minimum standard of humanity, they deserve better than to be traduced in the press by sewer-dwelling vermin like this:

alexjohnstone

The worthless fat trougher above is Alex Johnstone, a staunch defender of the bedroom tax who’s never managed to actually win an election in his own right but is nevertheless the Tory list MSP for North East Scotland, sponging off the taxpayer in the name of a democratic proportional representation that his party doggedly refuses to extend to the rest of the UK.

And what he did today is going to be the biggest test of our self-restraint in the 30 months since we started this website.

Last month Johnstone played a prominent role in a vile piece of smearing from the Daily Mail. And today he appears in the Scottish press again, on the same subject.

The Mail’s piece, among other attacks, drove the normally reclusive Weirs to write a letter to some newspapers. Published in full in the Scotsman today, it’s a measured, calm, articulate call for respect on both sides in the independence debate. It refers to the obvious hurt they suffered when Johnstone accused them of being simple-witted fools duped by the dastardly SNP into donating to the Yes campaign:

“As lifelong supporters of independence, it would be strange if we did not support the Yes Scotland campaign. So that is what we have done, nothing more and nothing less. No one bullied or targeted us, as has been suggested in recent newspaper articles.

The only “targeting” has been by an MSP who chose to express his “concern” for us by implying we have been, at best, naïve, and, at worst, duped.
Would he, we wonder, have felt the same concern had our contribution supported his cause?”
Any decent human being would accept the rebuke – because who would know better than the Weirs whether they’d been targeted and duped or not? – and apologise (even insincerely), or at the very least simply keep their mouth shut. But not Alex Johnstone.
His response is quoted in today’s Herald:
Readers, by its nature our job makes us cynical. By and large very little truly surprises us in the independence debate, and far less still triggers genuine anger. While unashamedly partisan, we try to cover Scottish politics with a degree of journalistic detachment, deploying sarcasm and (we hope) wit rather than rage.
This disgusting, arrogant, patronising, condescending piece of toilet-scraping stretches our tolerance to the absolute limit. Not only does Johnstone refuse to retract the original despicable allegation that the Weirs – good, ordinary people, not fair-game politicians – are morons, he compounds it by asserting that they’re morons and liars.
Chris and Colin Weir are worth ten thousand of this repellent sack of filth in a suit. We’re going to stop now before we use the C-word, and we don’t mean “Conservative”.
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Vronsky

Maybe I’m special, but my arsehole looks better than that.

Tony Little

Hear, hear Rev. An appalling man. I hope he is consigned to obscurity after a YES vote.

Alex Smith

Well, if you won’t use it, I will -CLOWN!

handclapping

One of the nice things about moving to Scots constitutional law is the power of recall inherent in the Declaration of Arbroath. If you dont do as we want we’ll find someone else, to paraphrase. So even if you are a list MSP we’d be able to trade you in for a human being

gordoz

Surely that picture is of a ‘Lord of the Rings’ extra. (He’s more of a caber ‘Tosser’ than a cyberBrit)

David Smith

I hope he develops piles and shits hedgehogs thereafter…

Nana Smith

@ David Smith

Ooh David think of the poor hedgehogs!

Alfresco Dent

And so say all of us! How ironic that this moron owes his job to a system his party fought against. Thankless twat!

galamcennalath

A typical Tory letting his guard down and exposing his true self. This man symbolises everything about the Union we must cleanse away.

Dr Ew

Of course, now you’re the bad guy. Your cybernatism will be all over the Daily Mail before you can say c…

Bigbricks

Mr Johnstone sounds like a man completely lacking in awareness of others or empathy, and also not the sharpest tool in the box. He’s also going to be unemployed on May the 23rd, so perhaps this cloud has a silver lining after all.

Peter Macbeastie

Fat trougher appears to be a very mild description. I would suggest your restraint is better than you thought.

I would also suggest, however, that in Scotland the other c word is less of an insult than Conservative. In my personal view Tory politicians are only barely better than something I would scrape off my shoes. I also place anyone who thinks the bedroom tax is a good thing into that category.

The Weirs have the kind of self control that I admire. Had he been referring to me in those tones I would not have left him with a name to speak of.

Gordon Hunter (@GordonHunter11)

Hmmmmm C-word and Tit come to mind.

gordoz

It says so much about ‘NO MORE SCOTLAND’ campaign that such a list MSP will attempt to smear decent people, yet totally ignore Better Together funding ‘stench’ from dodgy entities like VITOL group and all the CBI stooges ‘gerrymandering’ including the BBC, STV etc.

Bigbricks

Strike the final sentence from my last post! I thought he was an MEP. Sadly, we’ll have to wait to get rid of him. Never mind, the electoral clock is ticking.

Gordon Hay

I can see it now – “MSP suffers vile cybernat abuse for expressing his genuine concern for the health and wellbeing of multi-millionaires”

Jim Marshall

I see his Scottish Parliament profile states he is active in his local parish church. Here was I thinking that Christians are meant to be caring people.

Grouse Beater

There are cockroaches in all societies.

Cockroaches live on crud and effluent.

Spraying with insecticide eliminates most.

Xander

Is it just me, or does this Better Together lot, and their creatures like Johnstone, remind anyone of the last days of the Major government. Rampant sleaze and ignorance.

Note well Mr Johnstone – if it’s a contest between the Weirs and your shower, I’ll stand with the Weirs every time. Go out and do some real investigative journalism and hard work you lazy establishment hack.

gordoz

@Jim Marshall

I’d check the Lead is still on the roof before it rains, if thats the case.

Bugger (the Panda)

Reptilian upstart

I wonder if Ruth Davidson will dissociate herself from these remarks?

I am not holding my breath, and of course his reply was printed in the Herald?

Truth and reconciliation, the Parliamentary side of my arse.

Greannach

I suppose, when your record in Parliament is an uninspiring as Mr Johnstone’s, you need to do whatever you can to get a bit of publicity and remind voters you exist. With so few Tory MSPs around, I’d have imagined he’d have a higher profile. He doesn’t.

Albert Herring

Given that the c word in question simply means a human in many parts of the country, I would suggest it’s use here is quite inappropriate.

galamcennalath

I note the MSM smears cybernat in abstract terms, never actually mentioning names and websites. Shame, if they did mention websites perhaps their readers might visit and be exposed to some real news!

The Man in the Jar

Alex Johnston somehow reminds me of the toilet scene in Trainspotting!

titchyboy85

“We’re going to stop now before we use the C-word, and we don’t mean “Conservative”.”

They mean the same thing anyway.

Drew

In his defence……….Um……..nope canny think o anything.

TheeForsakenOne

His reaction is true to his form in parliament. No matter how someone responds to one of his questions or interventions, his reply is always as if they never responded. Like certain other well-known MSPs, Alex Johnstone will stick to his script come hell or high water.

Of course, this time his usual lack of agile thinking has led him into the trap of coming across as a total… well I think others have explained what he’s made himself with his latest remarks.

squarego

These people cannot begin to understand how and why good people like the Weirs could simply give their money away to good causes, without expecting anything in return. Their patronising criticism says volumes about them and their vile world outlook.

Training Day

Anyone witnessing Johnstone’s contribution to the debate on ‘Scottish Studies’ in Holyrood in October 2011, in which he wholly ascribed Scottish people’s ability to crawl out of caves far less develop a culture to ‘our glorious Union’ will know that he is both a grandstanding mountebank and an ignoramus of the lowest order.

He’s so bad he could be a Labour MP. Honestly.

Bill Dunblane

I wholeheartedly agree with you Stu.

Lower than a snake’s belly.

Bigbricks

“Jim Marshall says:

8 May, 2014 at 10:25 am

I see his Scottish Parliament profile states he is active in his local parish church. Here was I thinking that Christians are meant to be caring people.”

Christians should be caring people. However, churches do seem to attract more than their fair share of hypocrites. I imagine regular churchgoing is helpful for a career as a Tory politician. His main church activity is probably restricted to troughing at coffee mornings, rather than any pastoral tasks.

kendomacaroonbar

I wonder if Ruth agrees with his sentiments ? We should be told…yes ?

christine

Small minded people like this are to be forgiven for there lives are not happy ..so to justify there place in society they lash out at people that are good………..

steviecosmic

It’s very difficult to fathom the motivations of folks like him, and the depths they sink too. I understand that there may be a certain amount of ladder climbing informing his ‘opinions’, but even so, Scottish conservatives must realise that career is highly unlikely to be stratospheric this side of the 22nd century.

Compounding matters further is the simple fact that only a few months out from the vote, it looks likely that Yes will indeed prevail (and even if it doesn’t, he’s still toast), so any betting man might be watching what he says in public very closely if he’s to assure a future career in Scottish politics.

Johnstone thinks he’s smarter than the average bear but ironically he’s quite the opposite, this lying sack of shit is actually a complete imbecile who’s infantile name calling and innuendo does his side no favours whatsoever.

Gillie

Then there is this Scotsman cartoon;

link to scotsman.com

Project Smear continues unabated.

Alt Clut

Human dross like Johnstone gathers around any full trough. The only democratic way, in our proportional system, to punish a rat like this is to punish his party. Not all Tories are without honour – talk to any that you know and squeeze the political life out of this tick.

Albert Herring

“active in his local parish church”

That’ll be the Church of the Whited Sepulchre.

dynamine

I normally wouldn’t bother, but this story annoyed me so much I wrote an email to Mr Johnstone.

Dear Mr Johnstone,

I was saddened to read of your involvement in what can only be described as a “smear campaign” against Mr and Mrs Weir who had the good fortune to win a rather large sum of money and then donated some of it to the Yes campaign.

I too have donated money, in rather more modest amounts, not only to the Yes campaign but also to the SNP. I hope and trust that you will refrain from attempting to “smear” my name in the national press by alleging that I am naive or have been duped.

Kindest regards,

Nobby Power

My dad always said ‘When you’re in a hole, stop digging’: salient advice Mr Johnstone would do well to heed. His lack of humility speaks volumes.

bunter

Understandable Rev that you have to vent your anger at this scum bag. Our side is meant to soak up all sort of bile and smears and then get attacked if we dare say boo.

Time to hit back.

The Tree of Liberty

Does he not realise that from now on he will forever be known as “Arsehole Johnstone”?

MJ

Keep up the good work Weirs!

gordoz

Rev :

See for a quiet time (if there are any ?) could a piece be done on all the money Scandals and bad stuff that has happened since Holyroods inception (from all parties) and list them in a timeline.

Labour
Tory
SNP
(The others)

Pretty sure SNP would come out looking pretty good compared to the rest – what do you think

Im thinking of –
Dewer
McLeish
McConnell
Alexander
McLetchie
Lord Wallace of Tankerness
etc.

Could even include Glasgow & Edinburgh council shenanigans

Just for some balance and reminders on the doorsteps.

Bill McLean

For sure this guy is an “arsehole”! We should never let him forget either. People like him don’t understand charity far less principle. O/T how do I subscribe to the Sunday Herald but not the daily version?

faolie

He’s got nothing else to do anyway. He found a route to publicity and took it. Typical of a person who will return to deserved obscurity after their 15 minutes.

Doug Daniel

He’s a despicable turd, it’s as simple as that. Everything people hate about Tories is embodied in that poor excuse for a human being.

Bob Waugh

What was it Nye Bevan said – “lower than vermin”?
Get apologising Davidson.

galamcennalath

Gillie says:
Then there is this Scotsman cartoon;

Saying ….

“Fear not, my friends, their campaigns of smear. For our great promised land is coming evermore near!”

Is that an admission by the Scotsman that YES are winning?

call me dave

You certainly tore him a new one there!

He deserved it too.

Macart

What a disgrace this man is.

He embodies everything that’s wrong with our politics.

Vile.

gordoz

@Gillie says:

Then there is this Scotsman cartoon

Aye … the Scotchman, pwoud…vewy, vewy, pwoud

peter

I am sure Mr & Mrs Weirsrs are strong enough to ride the storm, not long now and it will all be over, stay strong ,
and always remember that there is a shit load of good people
that are for ever and ever in you’r debt. remember the more
bile this despicable man sprouts the more his head will hang in shame after the 18th.

Papadox

Yes Mr Johnstne the old Tory MO “Don’t do as I do, do as I say”. You were obviously one of the better conservative selection candidates, enough said!

Bigdrone

Rev, you insult arseholes by comparing Alex Johnstone with one, especially mine, which, I find comforting and a great source of relief from time to time!

The said Mr Johnstone, you fail to realise is very fortunate! He has two!

Sadly, he has not mastered the technique of speaking out the correct one!

Gillie

Daily Record’s take on things

link to dailyrecord.co.uk

“Euromillions lottery winners who scooped £161 million defend their decision to donate funds to the pro-independence campaign”

Project Fear still in full swing.

Nigel

Wow! And this guy represents the Union we are being asked to save by voting No? Are they really that out of step? When it does not go their way, look at the barely concealed rage and anger. They are like spoiled brats.

This should be a warning to us all – that’s what the Union is about. Not fairness, equality and proper democracy.

I think the Rev was very restrained in his comments.

http://nairnyes.wordpress.com

Bigdrone

David Smith …………. you forgot to mention you hope the poor hedgehogs come out backwards!

Proud Cybernat

Surely this is an insult to arseholes?

Cath

This does appear to be one of the NO camp’s new tactics. With nothing worth saying they’re now basically saying anyone on the no side has been “duped” by the evil Salmond. We’re all idiots who can’t see through all the terrible lies of the Yes campaign. Incredibly patronising and arrogant.

The trouble for those on the NO side, as adequately demonstrated by the only people they can find to make videos for them, is that they’re the ones who’ve fallen for their own propaganda. They can’t see past the media spin and lies, so in their closed little minds, we’re the ones who’re not seeing the obvious truth as fed to us all by the Daily Mail, Telegraph and Daily Record. Some of them appear to be becoming incredibly frustrated by the unwillingness of those on the Yes side to believe without question whatever George Orsborne and Ed Balls say, and whatever is reported as “the establishment’s truth”.

They’re the dupes and they don’t see it. I’d wager this eejit honestly can’t think in any other way; can’t imagine how any sane person could support their country’s independence. Poor old, duped, brainwashed, unionist troll.

iheartscotland

Well done sphincter features,more votes for Yes. Keep it coming.

Robert Kerr

What has gone wrong with the Tory Party when this appalling person is an MSP for them?

How can this person be selected? Surely there are better?

Does Dave Cameron know about any of this?

I think we should be told!

proudscot

Johnstone’s a Tory politician. When have you ever experienced either reason or empathy from a Tory politician? However comparing him to a sack of shit is not fair, the latter can be spread on a farmer’s field to grow crops. Spreading Johnstone on a field would poison it.

smithie

He is after all a Conservative,Unionist,No voting,Tory.

ronnie anderson

Weil if naebody’s gonnamention the Cword, ah will,

Johnstones A CLOSET HUMAN, lets put him back in his BOX.

If you want a stupid question asked in Scottish Parliament

he’s yer man.

Sandy

Winning the lottery and donating (some of it) to a political cause is wrong ?

The Tory party is funded by people who have won the “Inheritance lottery”, silver spoons and landed gentry.

Or people who have won the “business lottery” landing prime jobs through the Tory “Old Boy” network.

How about inventors whose chance talents and circumstances let them be in the right place at the right time to come up with ideas worth millions ?

Life IS a lottery.

The hypocrasy of this man whose claim to fame is that he has won a political lottery, defies words.

Jimbo

Johnstone proves the point that any barrel scraping, moronic arsehole can become a politician.

heedtracker

Saw the headline and tried to guess who the UKOK arsehole of the day would be as there is a lot of them around.

G H Graham

Alex Johnstone has been called out by the Weirs & he knows it. But rather than recognise his puerile taunts have been counterproductive, he sticks to his message that the Weirs are stupid, simple people who have been taken advantage of, by a manipulative Alex Salmond.

Now, Alex Salmond should expect the full wrath of journalists & the electorate who disapprove of his performance or disagree with his policies. While press standards across the UK are dire, it’s nevertheless, part of the job that elected officials have to deal with.

The Weirs on the other hand are not elected by anyone. They are a couple entitled to privacy & respect. They have done nothing wrong, have to the best of our knowledge, never broken the law & by all accounts, are a kind, generous, philanthropic family. They are decent people.

On the other hand, if we use Alex Johnstone’s copy in The Mail & in The Herald as evidentiary barometers of his character, then he is is a worthless gob shite, derelict of any sense of decency.

Contrast & compare.

GrahamB

Perhaps Johnstone should be reminded that public smearing of individuals in newspapers is not protected by Parliamentary Privilege and the Weirs have enough dosh to employ a very good lawyer. Of course if they did sue him it would be spun as petty whingeing …

john gallagher

I had to phone in twice to the BBC inane complaints dept this morning You have a minute they don’t want your name there is no feed back its a joke But anyway just before the weekend and political news blackout We had James Naughty This guy was drafted in last year from London where he lives He is so pro union And anti yes its embarrassing All about the Largs couple donating and a balanced newspaper coverage the Telegraph and the Scotsman of course both reports were the same anti yes I was raging the whole programme was the same I switched off

Edulis

Alex Johnstone is one of those types that doesn’t see the mote in his own eye. I have no doubt that he has deployed good accountants to minimise his tax liabilities, being a beef and sheep farmer largely supported by the public purse. I daresay he even maximised his single farm payment whereby he boosted his stock numbers in the early noughties so that he could leave the farm income to look after itself while he went on to higher troughing in the political field.

Stones and casting is another biblical phrase which comes to mind.

gerry parker

Thick necked bag of pus.

benarmine

I actually think the Scotsman cartoon is just as bad as Johnstone’s statement, compounding and magnifying it. And it takes a bit of twisted hate to sit down and draw that stuff. Some sick unionists there…

Stew

Id like to see the Weirs getting angry and demanding a public apology from this bucket of slop. Turn it into a major issue he cant brush aside with a blind comment in a newspaper. Throw it right back at him, make him either come out and repeat it to their faces or go on national television with a humble apology. They arent politicians who expect to get some mud thrown at them from the other side, theyre decent upstanding members of the public and model examples of communty spirited and charitable human beings. Few enough of them without having to suffer that kind of abuse from a scumbag like him. One with a relatively high public profile. Especially after all the noise we’ve heard from them about their supporters being monstered.

heraldnomore

I see the BBC is on to the story now, failing of course to mention Johnstone’s final riposte.

Tories, don’t you just love ’em – red or blue

I G

…and by the way Alex, never wear a shirt that’s darker than the colour of your tie. You look like a used car salesman of the most desperate variety.

Truth

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

When people like this show a glaring lack of judgement, you have to question all of their judgement. Including their constitutional preferences.

Given that he doesn’t seem to realise this indeed qualifies him for moron status.

James Sneddon

I imagine in any arse kicking contest the Weirs would knock johnstone into orbit. Never, ,ever give people the means to hire a team of QC’s the reason to do so, Stupid tory baw bag. The Weirs display a dignity that is alien to the likes of johnstone.

faolie

Slightly O/T, here’s a Daily Mail story, front page no less, about a Tory that’s really quite interesting, especially their aside about the polls closing.

Archived here: Cameron won’t resign on Yes vote

Bill Elliot

Suppose the positive to this is that every time tubes like this moron open their mouths and spout forth, more folk decide to vote “Yes”. Suppose he can’t get his head around the fact that the Weirs are millionaires who actually donate to worthy causes, instead of wasting a set as a member of the Con Dem cabinet

Clootie

Johnstone must make all those Tory voters so proud. That this vile wretch was the outcome of a party selection process says much about that party and it’s members.

This is why Tories are despised in Scotland.

Peter Macbeastie

Just clicked on the link to the Scotsman; predictable Hootsmon commenters, in the main. One suggesting that if they’d been interested in a fair debate they’d have donated the same values to Better Together (as though Better Together can’t draw on more backing and get free propaganda through the ever compliant media) and another ‘wit’ commenting with nothing more than ‘Copyright SNP 2014.’

Not one genius unionist in all the comments commenting that in fact their rebuttal of the supposed concern of the fat Tory git was justified, polite, and complete. Indeed, not one of them even acknowledging that this was the whole point of the article.

Roddy Macdonald

I think this Fuck-knuckle is fully deserving of this rant which caught my eye this morning, penned by a Facebook friend yesterday. As fine a piece of demotic Scots as I’ve read in a while:

“Here’s a novel idea for the fud who thinks he is untouchable and demanded respect today. Try earning it you cunt. Try doing a days work and not being a total flange. Being a fucking childish, shit-stirring fud will only end badly for you and your ilk.”

Bob Costello

If this guy is “active in the Church ” I would be very inclined to keep a careful check on the collection boxes

The Rough Bounds

I recall Alick Buchanan Smith the Scottish Conservative MP who supported a Scottish Parliament in the referendum back in 1979.

I wonder what he would have made of having his Party being represented by people like Alex Johnstone. I suspect that he would have moved along the bench so as not to have to sit beside him.

Bugger (the Panda)

I hope that he self-pollenates.

Tartan Tory

He’s not a Conservative. He’s just a unionist half-wit. Also, not worth the column inches being provided.

Rab Alexander

I Have friends who attended Mackie Academy In Stonehaven with this bloated fascist pig of a man.He was known as the big farmer cheile who could not wate to leave the school fo the ferm. He never had any text books with him as the teachers had given up trying as he was destined to be a farm loon and any effort to educate would be casting pearls before swine. He used to carry a big leather bag with him and most of his class wondered what he could possibly need this bag for. when they eventually got a look inside it was filled with a rugby kit and dozens of miniature toy tractors,combine harvesters and any farm implements made in miniature. This is how his head works.The guy is a sub specious and will disappear come Independence Day .

yerkitbreeks

Just happened to be reviewing a bit of the Chomsky stuff about East Timor massacres and how the “revered” New York Times, while aware, decided ” not fit to print “.

So the press can skew a story. However today, a bit like the social media’s pressure on a misogynist Nigerian government’s failure to take the kidnapping of 200 + girls seriously, we of the alternative media can disperse information and offset this vile man’s utterances.

Bugger (the Panda)

I don’t think even Thatcher would have used such a tactic, language and smear.

Give her due she had an IQ higher than her age.

What does Ms Goldie think of him?

galamcennalath

From Parliament ….

“Motion S4M-08270.3: Alex Johnstone, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12/11/2013

Modernising Scotland’s Transport Infrastructure, Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century
As an amendment to motion S4M-08270 in the name of Keith Brown (Modernising Scotland’s Transport Infrastructure, Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century), insert at end “; recognises that this level of investment shows that Scottish Government assertions about the lack of a significant capital budget are unfounded, and welcomes the UK Government’s commitment to modernising transport as evidenced by the commitment to delivering high speed rail.”

And exactly when does Johnstone think the UK government will deliver High Speed Rail to North East Scotland? In the 22nd Century!? His constituents will only pay for England’s HSR, never benefit from it. Vote YES and move on!

Peter Macbeastie

Bugger (The Panda) – I would suggest Ms Goldie, as just about the only remaining Tory I have any respect for, wishes slime like this would just crawl back to the village that wants their idiot back. If Rab Alexander is right about the guy I think that village must be desperate for an idiot of the same calibre.

Davidson, I would imagine, will have nothing whatsoever to say about it, and the compliant media will not push her very hard, if at all, for a response.

call me dave

The said Mr Johnstone can be seen here asking Ms Sturgeon a question (2nd) one after Ms Baillie here on bedroom tax.

PS
You thought the bedroom tax was fully mitigated and a done deal, think again, Westminster still has to make the SG jump through more hoops before the last £15M to be passed to the councils.

link to bbc.co.uk

call me dave
David Wardrope

The only pressure the Weirs were under to have to write such a letter came from this tolley in the first place!

magicpants

@Vronsky 10.14 am (first post)

LOL Brilliant

Rikki Duncan

As much as I agree with aforementioned comments, I think/feel the we should echo the response of the Weirs, polite mannerly calm, being mannerly where manners aren’t warranted, we should rise above the name calling, if we want to draw the undecided towards a YES vote, then we need to shine our light above the darkness of the better together,so let us be seen to be a movement that seeks the best for the people of Scotland, by voting the best way for the people of Scotland by voting YES for an independent Scotland, let us not be drawn into cat fights, or go into the gutter like responses. let us keep above the level better together have sunk to. Let the people decide who is showing dignity and who is mud slinging.

call me dave

FMQ’s in 5mins (no interruptions from commentators) here

link to bbc.co.uk

TartanZen

Hot off the press! The Yes campaign’s answer tae Flowers of Union…

link to youtube.com

Credit to Wee Ginger Dug for the lyrics weegingerdug.wordpress.com

liz

This smear will work against him and any media outlet that doesn’t criticise it heavily.

The Weirs have probably done a lot for folk that we don’t hear about and they will be ‘ordinary people’ who may have no interest in the referendum who will be outraged on their behalf.

Just when did this country become such a shit-hole that f***wits like him feel free enough to spout such shit and not feel ashamed?

How can any one feel proud of the UK anymore – I honestly believe that the Indy Ref campaign has exposed this state for what it truly is and it will be noticed worldwide.

Make no mistake the UK will have a difficult time to recover from the reputation it now has.

TartanZen

I would say you’re past your tolerance limit already… responding to this kind of disgusting behaviour by resorting to name calling isn’t exactly in keeping with the Weir’s response.

Coolheads Prevail

Appalling little man. The body part which best describes him is the appendix – useless and full of poison.

bunter

O/T

Greens have launched a wee fundraiser to keep Scotland UKIP free in the EURO elections.

Seems a good cause and they are on our side.

msean

Tory. Enough said.

heedtracker

This kind of UKOK attack looks like all there is left now for teamGB, realy nasty insult and very stern voteNO command over and over from the BBC. ITV are a bit more subtle so they can keeping selling air time but this is a classic hide away though link to bbc.co.uk
It got a tiny column in the arsehole’s Press and Journal yesterday but today it’s all about “Nordic-style services” will lead to higher taxes says a n other vote NO Professor. You have got to see the P&J’s saviour of the union and the Tories Cameron Brooks in action, to really understand why this arsehole thinks he can be as insulting as he likes.

Lochside

The Weirs are kind and decent people with incredibly generous natures…look at all the good works and donations they have made to local people and organisations in the Largs area.

Alex Johnstone is a nematode…this is a parasite that eats shite and sucks the good out of its human host. It has no brain, no conscience and is simply full of shite.

It should be surgically removed and flushed down the toilet into nematode nirvana…the sewer… where it belongs.

Col

Apology to all arseholes now please.

seoc

My resect and thanks to the Weirs, whom I don’t know, for their kindness for and to others.
If you can, please try to rise above the inevitable sniping and attention-seeking of a really true (blue) minion.

Jim mcallister

You have hit the nail on the head as usual , but worthless fat trougher , has got to be the best description ever

Tattie-bogle

Balloon knot , Rusty Sherrifs Badge or even Brown Star Fish are all apt for this Scumbag. I prefer balloon knot.

Tartan Tory

msean says: Tory. Enough said.

Don’t use the same tar-brush for all please…… 😉

Juteman

This is the No camp getting their attack in first.
Get ready for the No camp receiving a big donation from a dodgy source in the next few days.

Vestas

They should use a couple of million to tie this odious fuckwit (& his co-conspirators – ie the “news”papers) up in legal knots for the rest of his/their lives.

Les Wilson

I think these would sum up Johnstone

link to dudeiwantthat.com

Colin Mccartney

his email address is Alex.Johnstone.msp@scottish.parliament.uk.
Just in case he hasn’t yet found out what most decent caring people think of him. Keep it clean please.

G H Graham

Top Tip: No need to post links to corrupt BBC to access FMQ’s. The Scottish Government broadcasts the sessions at …

link to scottishparliament.tv

HandandShrimp

Johnstone is a buffoon and ably demonstrates why the Conservatives are a profoundly unpopular party in Scotland. That isn’t going to change.

Helena Brown

I caught your remark on Twitter this morning but obviously did not know the background. May I say I have always supported PR for our Parliament but in this erse’s case I could be persuaded not to.
The Weirs are decent people who deserve everyone’s support, I will not go as far as expect decency from those of the Unionist persuasion but silence would be preferable.

rab_the_doubter

You realise of course that this odious little man will probably be citing this thread as ‘evidence’ of an orchestrated Cybernat Campaign to discredit him.

Dont know why he’d bother though, he’s already comprehensively discredited himself like the vile mediatroll that he is.

I wouldnt normally wish an unfortunate accident on anyone, but in his case i’ll make an exception.

Helena Brown

May I also say our First Minister was on top form this lunch time and put the appalling Lamont firmly in her box. I have said constantly why the three opposition ahem “leaders” do not put up one question considering they all ask the same stuff, not a separate brain cell between them.

Ted

Vote NO……………get imbeciles like this telling you what to do!

Gillie

I see JoLa fell flat on her face at FMQs with her “worst ever” claim.

On how Wee Eck enjoyed shooting that down.

msean

@ Tartan Tory
No offence intended to our fellow indy supporters.

CameronB Brodie

I’ve always found rigorous application of a straight bat, is the best way to deal with googlies like this one.

Is this what professional trolling looks like?

Morag

It’s a pity people have to be so foul-mouthed about this guy, even though the provocation is extreme. It’ll only be taken out of context for the next round of “abusive cybernats” smearing.

What I want to know is how on earth would it be possible for either the SNP or Yes Scotland to put the Weirs under any pressure either to donate money or to deny being pressurised? I mean, it’s ludicrous. What do they have – compromising photos of Colin and Chris with a poodle or something?

Brian Nicholson

First we have the usual Project Fear, then the odious Project Smear, now it appears that BT and Westminster crowd have moved on the Project Sneer where the cast aspersions on the judgement and intelligence of any they see as too thick to understand they are to vote NO as told.

Tamson

Please don’t blame the voting system for pond life like this guy. It’s not like FPTP produces quality, is it? Exhibit A – Labour’s entire Scottish lineup at Westminster.

Craig Brown

In Scotland we often call our mates or other upstanding members of the community, good c..ts. If you called them a good conservative it would be the ultimate defamatory insult. Come to think of it, is that where the word ‘defamatory’ came from?

MajorBloodnok

I wonder if Alex Johnstone was duped into writing that article?

petr reid

Unionist tories think that they have the god given right to rule us and we are but children that need chastising when we get a bit upity,proof if any is needed that this man encapsulats that attitude.His type of upperclass twit belongs in a monty python sketch along with all the other friends of cameron

Mealer

Nobody claims our democracy is perfect.Sometimes it places arseholes in positions they shouldn’t really be in.

David Mulrine

How ironic that if Chris and Colin Weir had instead gifted a quarter of the money they gave the yes campaign to the Bitter together brigade, they would probably already be sitting in the house of lords, dripping in ermine and immune to criticism from all sides. Instead, they decided to share their good fortune with the people of Scotland in the hopes that BOTH sides of the argument could be heard evenly.

I have nothing but the utmost respect and pride in a couple that helped open the debate up to the wider audience, and therein lies the nub. Regardless of the result of the vote, their actions were a gift to Democracy, not just to the yes campaign and not just to the debate itself, but to Democracy.

What an incredible gift, what an admirable legacy.

Rev, I suggest a weekly ”Weir Award” to the funniest or most pertinent comments on the site, as some small measure of thanks and support for this couple.

As for Alex Johnstone, words (nearly) fail me. An UNELECTED member of the Parliament he OPPOSED, denigrating the generosity of spirit of two of the electorate. Well that’s just what we want from our MPs isn’t it?

He kinda reminds me of Sgt Shultz from Hogan’s Heroes, ”I Know Nothing”!!! (younger readers may have to look that one up on Youtube).

There…that was hard but I didn’t even call him a c@nt once!

geeo

£1m as a % of £161m = 0.62%

£2.48 as % of £400 = 0.62%

Ok, the 1st figure is of the Weir fortune and the 2nd figure is someone donating from a weekly wage of £400.

Do you think relativity means anything to the odious wee oik ?

Wonder how many BT donors hand over more than 0.62% of income or wealth ?

As we all know, nothing they say stands up to any scrutiny.

call me dave

Here is another orifice yesterday at the Chair Davidson’s Scottish Affairs Committee talking down Scotland on the currency union.

Aye Danny boy your still wanting plan ‘B’ and AS is all bullying, bluff(lying even), bluster.

Judge for yourselves 🙂

link to parliamentlive.tv

Elliot Bulmer

Without for a moment wishing to defend this man or his actions, it is unfair to say that he has “never managed to actually win an election in his own right” or that he is “sponging off the taxpayer in the name of a democratic proportional representation”.

A list MSP is an elected MSP, elected by a decent and sound electoral system. Proportional representation is one of Scotland’s achievements. We should be proud of it and defend it. Denigrating list-MSP as also-rans with a consolation prize not only shows a lack of understanding of the system, but also a lack of respect for the many good MSPs who are only in Parliament thanks to our proportional system (Jean Urquhart and Patrick Harvie come to mind).

Eddy Robertson

You commence this article by saying you have never met the Weirs, may I say as someone who knows Chris personally (she was my nurse manager) that I find this persons attack on them to be grossly unfair. Chris Weir is a highly intelligent and extremely compassionate woman, her stance on Scottish Independence is long held and it came as no surprise to myself that she and her husband Colin chose to help in the manner that they have.I have read the letter published today and found it to be a reasoned and admirable request for an adult debate something I am well aware that Chris would be totally in favour of

big jock

Correct absolutely outragious. Not content with making up stories which are largely fiction and presenting them as fact. They now make up conspiracy stories about individuals they have never met. They are now thinking for people who they believe are incapable of speaking for themselves. To lie that the Yes campaign have bullied an individual into donating money. Is tantamount to liebelous.This guy should be dragged through the courts for this blatant piece of brainwashing and distortion. Thick as mince and bigoted!I think they have been soft with him I would take him to the cleaners.

cynicalHighlander

No doubt his favourite minature farm implement is a muck spreader.

Craig Brown

Rev, have you spotted this tremendous vid as linked on Munguin’s?

link to munguinsrepublic.blogspot.co.uk

Amazing.

Ananurhing

The fact that Johnstone and his party see nothing wrong in his comments is a reflection of what a shallow pool of talent they have to draw on. They can’t afford to lose even this bottom feeding crustacean.

One of my hopes for a new Scotland is that we get a functioning opposition, rather than this tool and his like that we see each week at FMQs. All of them hoping and believing they’ll get that ticket to the Palace of Westminster, provided they grub, lie, and smear as instructed.

Alex. Walker

The Wit sparkles today and were Johns-tone anything other than vile we really would be surprised.

This Tory Muppet is allowed to associate himself with the Billionaire of Belize`s Funding of the Better Together Campaign and he(Johns-tone) is, by association, being protected by ALL their adherents via their silence.

Unionists refuse to defend the honest and decent Weirs.?
Pretending to be Democrats to protect the innocent.

For 64 of his 68 years the Tory Billionaire Lord of Belize (formerly British Honduras) paid little or ZERO TAX HERE, unlike our friends – the Weirs.

I try very hard not to be bad to people, but I hope Johnstone`s WEANS WALK backwards.

call me dave

@Craig Brown

Wasn’t she just superb? No notes and talking about what most Scot’s don’t really appreciate, the ENHS’s current downward spiral. Very sobering.

Sent the link to my swithering sister.

Jamie Arriere

Can we stop wasting any more time, energy and outrage on this wallidrag (ref The Twa Mariit Wemen & the Wedo – William Dunbar), get back to politics, and get the discussion back above the waistline.

Next post please.

Alex McArthur

Went to town on his twitter account. Don’t know if it’s really his but I feel better!

frazer allan whyte

I think the Rev was right in his restraint – people like this, people with no apparently useful function in the universe – are desperate for any kind of attention – it makes them feel as though they are actually important in some way. The best way of dealing with them is to ignore them so they just dry up and wither away.

Instead of giving this useless git the publicity he so desperately craves why not do something nice for the Weirs? Send them a card or flowers and just thank them for being helpful, considerate and principled people?

Lockie

Better together = Johnstone’s lips/cheeks.

Mon the Weir’s

Alex. Walker

I will volunteer to buy Alex. Johnstone a pint.
A pint of “Paraquat”.

Rev. Stu. are we allowed to advertise – rat poison.??

Desimond

Im surprised they let him sit so close to a pair of scissors, then again, maybe someones hoping for the best!

Craig Brown

@call me dave
Great init!

I’ve sent this to every NHS worker and young Mum that I know, how could anyone argue that a No vote is good for the future of our Health Service.

CameronB Brodie

liz said:
8 May, 2014 at 12:05 pm

…Make no mistake the UK will have a difficult time to recover from the reputation it now has.

Anyone got a number for Acanchi? 🙂

Alex. Walker

Re-previous post on my wish for Alex.Johnstone`s weans to be walking backwards.

InnaBible :-

SinzaRaFarraViziTitOanaWeans.

CameronB Brodie

Lochside
I’m going to have to stop posting links. 🙂

fairiefromtheearth

give me 5min with this bawbag and he will be begging me to put him out his misery HANG HIM HIGH.

Lesley-Anne

Sorry but I haven’t read all the posts on this thread yet but just wanted to put up my own before my computer meets the wall at 100 mph so I apologise if others have already said what I’m about to.

This man is an utter disgrace to humanity. How dare he take HIS jealousy and try and turn it into a personal attack on the Weirs. Like so many on here I have never met them but at the same time I was so proud of them when they won their £161 Million in 2011. I understand they have been to hell and back with personal health problems but they are now in a place in their lives where they are both happy and content and good for them I say.

Unlike other well publicised multi million lottery winners who have done nothing more than squandered their good fortune the Weirs have been careful with theirs and have ensured many thousands of people benefit from their win either directly or through the good causes they support indirectly.

As Colin and Chris Weir say in their letter they have always been supporters of Scottish independence. What part of “always been supporters of Scottish independence” does this Muppet Johnstone NOT understand?

Is this moron totally inept at understanding basic English?

Why do these two lovely people have to continue to endure his moronic personal attacks just because of HIS personal jealousy of THEIR good fortune. This imbecile MUST be made to apologise to Colin and Chris, and in my view he MUST do it on National television. Only by doing it in such a public fashion will he possibly get the fact that he has wronged a lovely couple who have done nothing wrong NOR have they been coerced, forced or duped into doing something they did not want to do!

Sorry Stu, but I just had to get this off my chest.

More power to your cheque book Chris and Colin you are doing Scotland proud, and we are all proud of you and what you are doing. 🙂

Rant over, for now. 😛

James m

As soon as it said daily mail I knew without reading it would be some vile right wing tory crap. Daily mail mouthpiece of the tory party, Can we block this rag on a yes vote as well?

domhnall ruadh

Tsk-tsk. There’s a narrative here that’s becoming clearer, and more desperate, by the day

Even when I was still, technically, an undecided, I felt nothing other than respect for the Weirs’ quietly redistributive approach to their good fortune. They have earned respect for that alone, and additionally and to their further credit, feel no need to have the detail of it acknowledged in the media. Compare and contrast with other do-gooding outfits that spend more on self promotion/admin/travel than on charitable renderings?

I came across the notion of reciprocal altruism many many moons ago. It’s the obvious key to the way any sustainably successful society, animal or human, can progress itself. We’ve a way to go yet…

The Weirs seem to me to be rather enlightened members of our society. (Others, sadly, do not measure up at all well in those terms. They do like making noises, though.)
In fact, one of the things that the Weirs have shown is that the conventional script – with greed as protagonist – doesn’t have to be the way it is at all.

Hats off to them. It’s their dosh, and they clearly want to do something tangible with it. Other than seed more interest, to swell some more capital, more interest, and so on. Bet you Thomas Pinetty – who published his Capital in the 21st Century last month – probably approves, even if this dribbling idiot ape doesn’t get it.

Davy

I think this shows the very nature of Alex Johnstone, a pile on the arse of Scotland.

The Weirs have conducted themselves above reproach and their letter shows this. If I was them (dream-wavylines, wavylines) I would be very tempted to drop another large donation very publicly to the independence campaign(s) and let everyone know they were doing it “very very publicly” due to the “Alex Johnstone” comments and smears.

That would rub the mouthy gits nose in it.

Findlay Farquaharson

this is more like it, if the guy is an arsehole the guy is an arsehole, it must be told.

Lesley-Anne

Thanks to Mr Mouthy git (Thanks for that one Davy 😉 ) I have now decided that when we win the hundreds of millions on the Euromillions *cough cough* we will make an announcement, during our one and only public acknowledgement of winning, that we will be endeavouring to follow in the footsteps of Chris and Colin Weir and to hell with ignorant and jealous Muppet MSP’s like Alex Johnstone. 😛

We would of course make sure to mention Johnstone’s name and his moronic attitude to the Weirs. 😉

john king

I hope he develops piles and shits hedgehogs thereafter…

Backwards!

Finnz

This chap Johnstone looks and sounds like a Gentlemans Sausage. We are occasionally subjected to his opinion in our local paper ‘The Deeside Piper’. Along with the musings of that other waste of space Sir Robert Smith. Thankfully, both should be deposed in the coming elections…

Truth

@galamcennalath

It’s worse then that, internal UK Govt reports show that Aberdeen’s economy will be damaged by HS2 to the tune of £200m EVERY YEAR.

How that is worked out, I don’t know, but that is the figures they have.

tinchick

hooo boy, remind me never to get you riled up Rev! I have always had a fair bit of respect for the Weirs, who seem to have done little but good deeds with their happy windfall. It’s a pity that this ‘person’ can only view such riches through his own greedy view and experience. Given he can only attribute his own uncharitable, dimwitted personality to everyone else is more a measure of him than anyone else.

I am rather happy to have been led to the Scotsman webby though, where I cheerfully filled out a survey after being asked whether I liked their site. Shoddy journalism and the members of any parliament using it as a personal blog/mouthpiece rubbishes the paper and it’s historical, once illustrious title.

I can totally see why you were incensed prior to writing this and commend you in being able to hold back the thoughts crowding your head, a little 😉 Some people just deserve a good cybernat 😉

orri

The general feeling here seems to be that Alex Johnstone has attacked the Weirs in some way. If a serving MP can be taken to court for suggesting a police officer is a liar then surely the same can be done for this repeated imputing of their character. Especially as the original version of the insult made some pretense at uncertainty whereas this version ignores the complete denial that any pressure was place upon them and implies that somehow they wave been pressured into making it. In effect he is saying they’re liars.

Vambomarbeleye

Co*ks,cu*ts and arse holes are all very important and useful parts of anatomy. Please do not denigrate them in this manner. Ti*ts are off limits as well. I would normally write the words in full but there may be DM readers around. They have to have nipples pixelated.

c4hsr

lets help this nice man get his p45 back vote yes

David McCann

Ditto all above, and for the avoidance of any doubt, this Cybergnat will donate a large donation to the Yes campaign, should I be lucky enough to win this week’s or any subsequent week’s winnings on Euromillions or Lotto.

This will of course, be in addition to the regular donations I make from my pension, to Yes, Wings,SNP, Bella, National Collective, and various other pro indy causes.

Daily Mail. Johnstone. Please copy.

dramfineday

Thank you (once again) to Colin and Chris for their kindness to strangers and the less well advantaged. If Mr Johnstone purports to be a Christian (as suggested by some), he’d better practise harder.

Oh, and a gentle reminder, it’s not your money the Weir’s are spending Mr Johnstone.

Andy-B

A despicable man,you are doing arsehole’s a disservice by comparing them to Alex Johnstone, an arsehole is a useful thing,unlike Mr Johnstone.

Eric Rollo

Rev, all I can say is an “arsehole” is a useful necessity for human life however I’m certain life will go on were this Tory Sh*t stirrer to disappear tomorrow. I concur with Vambomarbeleye’s comment anatomical references all have a use this lard tub has no use but to ensure more firmly that I will vote YES as will my English wife who is doing so without any coercion.

The Reiver

If Scotland needs an enema the tube will be inserted in Alex Johnstones mouth.

JimnArlene

F**k the twat. How the hell can he moan, about how others spend their good fortune. It’s up to the Weirs, how they spend, or not spend, THEIR money. Envious eyes, piggy little ones at that, with eyes firmly fixed on a trough lined in ermine (vermin).

The Man in the Jar

@Vambomarbleye

Are fannys awright? 😉

Ken500

Obnoxious Bully. How can people vote for these ? The most vile of comments.

The Weir’s should sue or buy up the Scotsman and sack the lot of them.

J. R. Tomlin

That is an insult to arseholes, a useful and functional part of the human anatomy. This person is lower than pond scum.

lumilumi

The DM smear/sneer campaign against the Weirs is despicable and it says a lot about Alex Johnstone that he’s willing to contribute and even extend it after the Weirs’ measured, reasonable rebuttal.

However, I take issue with this idea of Alex Johnstone being somehow “unelected”. He’s a list MSP. Enough people in his electoral region voted Tory to have a Tory representing them in parliament. It’s PR democracy.

Newsflash!

All MPs in a full PR democracy are “list MPs”.

Holyrood is a hybrid with FPTP and then additional members (list MSPs) to reflect the popular vote, making it broadly PR.

Many here decry the Westminster FPTP system but then slate list MSPs as somehow “second rate”.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. FPTP and PR produce different political cultures, and it seems to me that many Scots are still very ingrained in the Westminster-style FPTP mindset and political culture. Even people who support indy and PR. It’s understandable, it takes time for a country’s political culture to change, especially if a part of it is still totally FPTP (Westminster).

However, it’s not helpful if indy-minded Scots denigrate the PR they have in Holyrood. I thought the whole idea of independence was to get away from Westminster-style politics, so make an effort to think of politics in a new way – an independent Scotland will need that so that it doesn’t become just a mini-me Westminster!

And to those who denigrate list MSPs. Margo was one, as is Patrick Harvie. Nobody would call those two “second raters”, yes?

On a lighter note, one of the links in Rev Stu’s article highlights how the Weirs funded an astroturf pitch for the local team that the local juniors can also use. Now, that’s a great astroturf campaign, unlike the NOBs! 😀

Jim

What a vile, vile man. The type of man who might support the theory that people visit food banks because they just want free food.

and a tongue well bitten Rev.

Domhnall Dods

I’ve met him, professionally. Seemed nice enough but, how shall I put it, didn’t seem the sharpest pencil in the box. I’d hate to think he’s been duped or used by Ruth Davidson.

lumilumi

😀 Rev Stu

I didn’t read all the comments above mine.

However, my point stands. In a true PR democracy, all MPs are “list” MPs.

It’s disingenous for Scots to berate the Westmister FPTP parliament and then disparage their PR list MPs.

Political culture, political culture… It moves slightly slower than a glacier… 😀

Vambomarbeleye

Man in the jar.
You know better than this. Fanny’s May only be used in relation to doughnuts.

Fairliered

Having met the Weirs, I can confirm that they are a lovely couple. I am pleased to have met them. I am equally pleased that I have never met the odious Alex Johnstone.

Jim Galt

They also kept that Clyde icon the Paddle Steamer Waverley afloat (pardon the pun) when her future was threatened by poor financial results – good people!

orri

On a more practical note. Perhaps in an independent Scotland we can tweak our electoral process so as to rank individual list members in order of preference so we can weed out these kind of non entities.

[…] Alex Johnstone’s disengaged his cavernous maw and yawped his complete and utter defiance in the face of human decency in respect to his hatchet job on the Weirs. This is to be expected, of […]

dadsarmy

Dear Site Owner,

We note your loose use of the word “arsehole” in connection with Alex Johnstone, and must protest about the colonic use of this word about someone who appears to be totally useless and obnoxious.

We will have you know that without arseholes people can become as full of [roses] as this abomination of an unknown species, and hence talk a load of absolute sausages.

We hope you will refrain from complimenting such worthless specimens in future by calling them arseholes.

Yours Sincerely

Anus Winterbottom
Cludgie Chairman
South East Ward European Representative for
Glorification of Arseholes Society

Taranaich

I’ve put up a few choice extracts of Mr Johnstone’s past remarks on my blog:

link to wildernessofpeace.wordpress.com

In short:

link to youtube.com

Anne Gorman

link to weircharitabletrust.com This is an example of the kind of good work these people do. They’re determined to help their local community and ensure that others benefit from their own good fortune. I’m sure that anyone who reads the vile comments made about them will see these comments for what they are! Disgusting!!

Bonny Bird

Stop using bits of my anatomy you guys, to describe this total PENIS.

Ian Brotherhood

Well, if Mr Johnstone has stumbled across this thread then he’s probably sitting at the kitchen table, his untouched dinner stone-cold, playing with his wee toy tractors, making ‘brrruhm-brrruhm’ noises as he negotiates his favourite combine-harvester around the near-empty vodka bottle.

Then again, he might not give a fuck what anyone says, and be perfectly happy to repeat his comments.

Who can tell how these people think? I’m starting to wonder if David Icke wasn’t right all along, and we really do have lizard-people in our midst.

Robert Peffers

Just where will numpties like this Alex Johnstone, (and much of the presnt state broadcaster and MSM), go after we Scots gain our independence?

Who in Scotland will employ them in a free Scotland? England will not be a refuge, nor want to know them,for them as the signs are the Extablishment are already bent upon revenge for those who do not kow tow to the Great God UK a.k.a The rUnited Kingdom of England.

As my old Granny used to say of wrongdoers, “Hell mend thaim, they kent whit thae wir aboot”

Robert Peffers

Well there is one thing about being an MSP. You have to have an open parliamentary email address and this numptie’s is –

Alex.Johnstone.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

Now please DO NOT lower the tone and give him an excuse to point his finger at the YES campaign or the SNP or other pro-independence organs.

lumilumi

orri @ 9.56pm

At the moment, for the Holyrood PR list vote, the parties rank the candidates (closed list), i.e. any one party’s favourite is placed first on their list and gets first shot at a seat if the party accumulates enough of the popular vote.

The way we do it in Finland, the voters rank the candidates (open list).

Say, there’s a 10-seat constituency. All political parties and groupings can put up 10 candidates. They’re then listed in alphabetical order within their party and assigned a running number.

Our “ballot paper” is actually a A5-sized thick paper thing with a groove down the middle to make folding (and thus hiding your vote) easier.

The ballot card has no writing on it, only a big circle on the right-hand side. That’s where you write the number of your preferred candidate.

Ballot booths have all the lists with candidate names and numbers so you can doublecheck before you write the number on the ballot card and fold it and take it to the officials to have it stamped before you drop it in the ballot box.

The ranking among any party’s list is decided by the voters. On any one list, the candidate who got the most votes ranks first and so on. Then all the votes across all lists are counted and parliament seats allocated according to the d’Hondt method. ( link to en.wikipedia.org )

Like I’ve said before, different political cultures, and glaciers… 😉

ronnie anderson

FMQs on Bbc Parliament programme 23.30foranyone who missed

it today.

Ian Brotherhood

@ronnie anderson –

Mister, I’ve been calling for you over on O/T.

You fancy doing a wee bit of ‘public speaking’?

Morag Frame

I trust the ‘c’ word meant ‘coward’ – I would hate that wings might be inferring to another ‘c’ word which as a committed radical feminist freedom fighter for Scotland I would find offensive. lets not loose the plot over these cowards.

David

Some people, like the Weirs, are “cans”, some are “cants”, and some are “total cants”.

Darren

I’d call him a c*nt, but he has neither the depth or the warmth!!!

geeo

Im guessing the latest £2.5 million present from the lovely Weir couple will encourage this “person” to haud his wheeesht ?

A beautifully crafted response to his abuse !

[…] he deletes abusive stuff. But our definitions of what constitutes abuse clearly differ. Last month he referred to Alex Johnstone MSP as “sewer dwelling vermin” and an “a***hole”. That might […]

[…] point here, scum is being nice to him. This is  man who supported the bedroom tax, who was in the the vanguard of the charge against the Weirs for their support of the Yes campaign impugning the motives of people who had […]

[…] get the chance to point out that our idiots are exclusively keyboard combatants, theirs are elected politicians, political wannabes, and the official head of the No […]

[…] of Colin and Christine Weir by Conservative MSP and all round stain on our national discourse Alex Johnstone writing in a mainstream […]

David Findlay

Hi Stuart

I wrote to Mr Johnstone after this kerfuffle pointing out that I had the pleasure of meeting the Weirs many times when Colin was the SNP candidate for Ayr constituency in 1987. In fact, I was his driver and we kept in touch for a few years. Lovely people. (Shame they don’t return my calls, emails, texts etc now but hey 😉

Anyway, Mr Johnstone wrote back to me saying that he “noted my comments” and then continued to slander the Weirs. Colin and Chris have shown admirable restraint under the circumstances.

Great site by the way. I’m now in exile down south but following the debate with great interest and excitement, doing what I can to persuade folks to say Yes to our future!

[…] such as the pro-independence Wings over Scotland, have come under fire for divisive commentary. One piece which attacked Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Alex Johnstone provoked outrage from the “No” […]

[…] such as the pro-independence Wings over Scotland, have come under fire for divisive commentary. One piece which attacked Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Alex Johnstone provoked outrage from the "No" […]

[…] such as the pro-independence Wings over Scotland[19], have come under fire for divisive commentary. One piece which attacked Scottish Conservative[20] Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Alex Johnstone[21] provoked outrage from the […]

[…] such as the pro-independence Wings over Scotland, have come under fire for divisive commentary. One piece which attacked Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Alex Johnstone provoked outrage from the “No” […]

[…] such as the pro-independence Wings over Scotland, have come under fire for divisive commentary. One piece which attacked Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Alex Johnstone provoked outrage from the “No” […]

[…] such as a pro-independence Wings over Scotland, have come underneath glow for divisive commentary. One square that pounded Scottish Conservative Member of a Scottish Parliament (MSP) Alex Johnstone annoyed snub from a “No” […]

[…] such as the pro-independence Wings over Scotland, have come under fire for divisive commentary. One piece which attacked Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Alex Johnstone provoked outrage from the “No” […]

[…] such as the pro-independence Wings over Scotland, have come under fire for divisive commentary. One piece which attacked Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Alex Johnstone provoked outrage from the “No” […]

[…] such as the pro-independence Wings over Scotland, have come under fire for divisive commentary. One piece which attacked Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Alex Johnstone provoked outrage from the “No” […]

[…] such as the pro-independence Wings over Scotland, have come under fire for divisive commentary. One piece which attacked Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Alex Johnstone provoked outrage from the “No” […]

[…] such as the pro-independence Wings over Scotland, have come under fire for divisive commentary. One piece which attacked Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Alex Johnstone provoked outrage from the “No” […]

[…] such as the pro-independence Wings over Scotland, have come under fire for divisive commentary. One piece which attacked Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Alex Johnstone provoked outrage from the “No” […]

Rookiescot

[…] Sciences, Deaf Awareness, and Renewable Energy. It is beyond depressing that his old rival Alex BLOODY Johnstone sneaked back in on the […]


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

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    • Jay on The People You Most Suspected: “Some but not all of this agreed. Geri. Do some call it ‘disaster capitalism’ where Blackrock and co. move in…Nov 14, 20:25
    • Hatey McHateface on The People You Most Suspected: “Ha. I had you pegged as the seedy sort who likes to look up ticks.Nov 14, 20:22
    • Hatey McHateface on The People You Most Suspected: ““ordinary people on both sides of the Atlantic remain fucked ( and possibly immolated ny thermonuclear war and/or climate disaster.”…Nov 14, 20:16
    • Hatey McHateface on The People You Most Suspected: ““Its a dark dark time for indy” Sure, Ros, and potty-mouthed ignoramuses like you, permanently fixated on the student politics…Nov 14, 19:59
    • James on The People You Most Suspected: “How’s your upticks looking? lol Prick.Nov 14, 19:58
    • Hatey McHateface on The People You Most Suspected: ““the SNP couldn’t build a ferry” Maybe naw. I bet though, if they painted the port of registration on the…Nov 14, 19:50
    • Hatey McHateface on The People You Most Suspected: “The “British establishment” is not closing down Grangemouth. It’s closing because of the SNP/Green government’s accelerated rush towards net zero…Nov 14, 19:46
    • Hatey McHateface on The People You Most Suspected: “Awwww. Fa’s this “scotland” ye keep banging oan aboot? Ah cannae find it oan ony map. Did ye jist mak…Nov 14, 19:43
    • willie on The People You Most Suspected: “Funny old world but the British establishment is not closing down our gas and oil extraction from the North Sea.…Nov 14, 19:15
    • Robert Hughes on The People You Most Suspected: “Excellent post , GP . You’ll have noticed how the ” Progressives ” are now getting EVERYTHING wrong . In…Nov 14, 19:10
    • Republicofscotland on The People You Most Suspected: “Piss-off you Chinthe tosser.Nov 14, 18:50
    • Republicofscotland on The People You Most Suspected: “And who could blame the voters – the left has sold the people out in many countries – at one…Nov 14, 18:49
    • Hatey McHateface on The People You Most Suspected: “Wow, my respect for Robin McAlpine just tanked. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for now, accepting that…Nov 14, 18:45
    • Republicofscotland on The People You Most Suspected: “The SNP don’t actually give a toss – though to fool the masses they use prepped speeches and sound bites…Nov 14, 18:42
    • wull on The People You Most Suspected: “Couldn’t the Scottish Government find a way to take the refinery over? Even by a compulsory purchase order. Not to…Nov 14, 18:35
    • Republicofscotland on The People You Most Suspected: “Thank F*ck the disastrous National Care Service will fail to pass in the Holyrood chamber even the Fifth Columnist parties…Nov 14, 18:34
    • Hatey McHateface on The People You Most Suspected: “Admit it Ros, you’re just narked he doesn’t support your side, so you never get offered a lift.Nov 14, 18:30
    • Mark Beggan on The People You Most Suspected: “He’s right about one thing the Left has done the Mea Culpa and the Right is on the rise everywhere…Nov 14, 18:29
    • Republicofscotland on The People You Most Suspected: “Meanwhile one of the Mayor of Scotland’s SNP sidekicks “Health Minister” Neil Gray has apologised for his jaunts in ministerial…Nov 14, 18:21
    • Republicofscotland on The People You Most Suspected: “So Grangemouth Refinery will close on May next year – Scotland – a country rich in oil and gas and…Nov 14, 18:12
    • Mark Beggan on The People You Most Suspected: “Paranoid! Who said I was paranoid?Nov 14, 18:08
    • Hatey McHateface on The People You Most Suspected: “Gaelic is not a real language. The Gaels are not a real people. Their culture is a myth and their…Nov 14, 17:54
    • Hatey McHateface on The People You Most Suspected: ““soon to be accelerated gen0cide and ethnic cleansing will make him irreversibly tarnished within his first 100 days but likely…Nov 14, 17:46
    • Hatey McHateface on The People You Most Suspected: “Geri says: “American made weapons that are out the Arc & don’t even work LOL” You tell it as it…Nov 14, 17:37
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The People You Most Suspected: “Your grievance is of course entirely valid. Your oft-repeated conspiracy theory however does require the question mark you here creditably give…Nov 14, 17:34
    • Garavelli Princip on The People You Most Suspected: “I’m with Trump on this (never thought I would write those words). Except for one thing: The ‘gender insanity’ as…Nov 14, 17:32
    • diabloandco on The People You Most Suspected: “I doubt Mr Musk found that pillock fascinating enough to hack into his e-mails.Nov 14, 17:22
    • Robert Matthews on The People You Most Suspected: “Pipe down, Prof. Alf can stand up for himself.Nov 14, 17:18
    • Chas on The People You Most Suspected: “I have a degree. Once obtained, I went out in the big bad world to earn a living. During my…Nov 14, 17:11
    • DougMcGregor on The People You Most Suspected: “As if Humza wasn’t ridiculous enough.Nov 14, 16:17
  • A tall tale



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