Who do you love?
Amazingly, it’s now been a whole year (plus two days) since we unexpectedly found ourselves top of a poll of most-read Scottish political blogs conducted by Scot Goes Pop. As we’ve now got a pretty sizeable readership, we thought it might be interesting to pick up the baton and conduct a similar survey for ourselves this year.
Below is a list of all the active Scottish political blogs we could think of. (We’ve been fairly liberal with the definition of “active”, hence the inclusion of LabourHame.) The criteria were pretty simple – the content of each site had to be chiefly about Scottish politics, and it had to be a proper website/blog (so we’ve excluded writers who are exclusively newspaper columnists with no site of their own, which knocked out the likes of Ian Bell, Alan Cochrane and Kevin McKenna). Facebook doesn’t cut it.
(We’ve included as many Unionist blogs/sites as we could find, but they’re remarkably thin on the ground, as we noted around the turn of the year. Even the once-tireless Councillor Alex “Braveheart” Gallagher has given up since last October.)
If you’re unfamiliar with any of the sites listed, you’ll find most of them in our links column over to the right. In the first poll (about which blogs you actually read on a regular basis in 2013) you can tick as many boxes as you like, and in the second we’d like you to choose your single favourite. Both polls close at midnight on Sunday.
Which Scottish political websites do you visit regularly (at least once a week)?
- Newsnet Scotland (16%, 666 Votes)
- Bella Caledonia (14%, 569 Votes)
- National Collective (12%, 492 Votes)
- Lallands Peat Worrier (7%, 285 Votes)
- Iain Macwhirter (5%, 189 Votes)
- (The) Jimmy Reid Foundation (4%, 169 Votes)
- Peter A. Bell (4%, 168 Votes)
- Munguin's Republic (4%, 162 Votes)
- Moridura (4%, 157 Votes)
- Scot Goes Pop! (4%, 155 Votes)
- Labour For Independence (3%, 129 Votes)
- Business For Scotland (3%, 113 Votes)
- Referendum 2014 (3%, 111 Votes)
- Better Nation (3%, 111 Votes)
- A Burdz Eye View (3%, 110 Votes)
- Gerry Hassan (2%, 86 Votes)
- Witterings Of A Weegiewarbler (2%, 82 Votes)
- Subrosa (2%, 70 Votes)
- Alex Massie (Spectator) (1%, 61 Votes)
- Thoughtland (Pat Kane) (1%, 45 Votes)
- Holyrood Magazine (1%, 45 Votes)
- A Sair Fecht (1%, 40 Votes)
- A Scottish Liberal (1%, 25 Votes)
- ThinkScotland (0%, 18 Votes)
- Ian S Smart (0%, 13 Votes)
- LabourHame (0%, 13 Votes)
- Caron's Musings (0%, 5 Votes)
- Open Unionism (0%, 3 Votes)
Total Voters: 805
Loading ...Which is your FAVOURITE Scottish political site (apart from this one, obv)?
- Newsnet Scotland (50%, 428 Votes)
- Bella Caledonia (13%, 114 Votes)
- National Collective (13%, 109 Votes)
- Lallands Peat Worrier (4%, 31 Votes)
- Munguin's Republic (3%, 26 Votes)
- Iain Macwhirter (3%, 22 Votes)
- Referendum 2014 (2%, 20 Votes)
- Scot Goes Pop! (2%, 18 Votes)
- (The) Jimmy Reid Foundation (2%, 15 Votes)
- Peter A. Bell (2%, 13 Votes)
- Moridura (1%, 11 Votes)
- Witterings Of A Weegiewarbler (1%, 10 Votes)
- Better Nation (1%, 8 Votes)
- A Burdz Eye View (1%, 6 Votes)
- Business For Scotland (1%, 5 Votes)
- Gerry Hassan (0%, 4 Votes)
- Labour For Independence (0%, 3 Votes)
- ThinkScotland (0%, 2 Votes)
- Subrosa (0%, 2 Votes)
- Alex Massie (Spectator) (0%, 2 Votes)
- A Sair Fecht (0%, 1 Votes)
- Ian S Smart (0%, 1 Votes)
- Thoughtland (Pat Kane) (0%, 1 Votes)
- Open Unionism (0%, 0 Votes)
- Caron's Musings (0%, 0 Votes)
- A Scottish Liberal (0%, 0 Votes)
- Holyrood Magazine (0%, 0 Votes)
- LabourHame (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 852
Loading ...
Well I have many more to visit it seems as I have only visited 3. Notice the “Torygraph” is spamming articles out about the monetary zone rubbish from Osborne. Sometimes I think he is actually Ozzy in drag.
It does not allow multiple choices on first poll, Rev.
Doh. Stupid thing reset itself when I took out one entry. Should work now, ta.
Hmmm not sure this is going to tell you much. The first question doesn’t take into account how people read blogs. Many of us will click through to new articles when they appear because we’re notified via Twitter or RSS – we don’t ‘visit’ them at all unless there’s a new post.
Perhaps another/different question could ask which we subscribe to?
“Perhaps another/different question could ask which we subscribe to?”
I don’t understand RSS or “subscribing” to blogs, so I wouldn’t know what I was talking about.
Thought maybe Ian Hamilton QC might have been included as I visit his blog often, not been as prolific in his writing recently right enough.
Well, taking your definition of “regularly” as being around once a week, I’ve ticked far fewer than I would have a year or so ago. I think this is due to the fact we’ve now got a referendum to focus our minds on, so I’m less inclined to bother with the blogs that are little more than talking shops for political nerds to pontificate certain scenarios (I even culled a few recently from Google Reader list, like Gerry Hassan), and more inclined to go towards the websites that are trying to make an effort to be active parts of the campaigning. With the exception of Lallands Peat Worrier, I’ve pretty much relegated all “personal” blogs to occasional reading, and in the cases of ones like Better Nation and Burdzeyeview, I now only bother with them if I know there’s a stushie going on and I’m in the mood for an argument.
Interestingly, I’ve donated money to every one of the four that I’ve ticked – National Collective, Jimmy Reid Foundation, Bella Caledonia and Lallands Peat Worrier (although that was really a donation towards the For A’ That podcast).
The best? Tough choice between Bella and NC, but I reckon I read more Bella articles.
(There is of course only one site where I read every single article…)
Sad not to see BBC Scotlandshire in there, humour is a direct line to the truth. Anyway I’m looking forward to independence when I can stop reading the lot o’ yiz and have some free time again!
Stu, I don’t want you to read too much into this but there is only you! I don’t read any of the other blogs unless you link an article to them. Would it have been better to add a box saying “None of the above” to get a truer picture?
Alan
There’s that many? I’ve spent my life worrying about how ill-read I was literature-wise, now I have to cope with being ill-read Scottish politics-wise an’ a’.
Still, there is a life out there. I often wonder how you lot find the time to change your pants.
Bella, Newsnet, National and you are the key ones. Sadly, Kate and Gerry have lost their sparkle.
If it’s not out of place here, I’d like to point out that I’ve got a pro-independence blog, too: Arc of Prosperity (link to arcofprosperity.org)
I’m another one who doesn’t necessarily visit any of these blogs on a weekly basis but would consider myself a regular reader. Internet content isn’t delivered like your grannies People’s Friend.
“Sad not to see BBC Scotlandshire in there”
Gah! I knew I’d forget at least one. It’s on my own bloody links column, too.
Yup, BBC Scotlandshire is up there for me, an oasis in the desert of shite written by most of the MSM and the leading public funded culprit EBC Scotland.
I think I am Doug Daniel. What he said.
Personally speaking, I think thee is too much writing on many blogs. Sounds daft I know, but unless you are a complete nerd (which I’m not, obv) most folk don’t want to read screeds.
What about that new one for the Truth team?
I’ve been on there every day since I discovered it. Much better than Labourshame.
Tom Hogg: “I think I am Doug Daniel.”
I’m sorry to disappoint Tom, but there’s only one Doug Daniel.
Actually, that’s a lie – there is at least one other Doug Daniel in Aberdeen alone. We used to regularly get phonecalls from folk wanting to speak to him when I was about 10 years old.
@Thomas Widmann
I visit your site every now and again as I like to see a Danes views on Scottish Independence. Keep up the good work and I recommend your site to WoS readers.
Bella is the best blog in Scotland but you’re a close second, Rev (in my eyes at least). Unfortunately, Bella’s blogroll seems to have disappeared since the recent revamp, not sure why. That’s a shame as it was a good one. Newsnet is the only one I’ve chosen where I strictly read articles only.
I think there needs to be some consolidation, I’ve long since stopped reading most of the other blogs. I read NNS and have done right from the start, as I prefer its more “newsy” style (if you know what I mean), I keep an eye on Bella and NC, and I get my opinion pieces from here.
I’d like to see some of the other bloggers perhaps contributing regular columns to Newsnet, rather than the current fragmentation.
@ Thomas Widmann
Your piece on All ‘Danes are nationalists in the Scottish sense of the word’ rang particularly true for me. I find (as a generisation) that Scandinavians have a much more cohesive social outlook than the Scots – its strong amongst the Danes in particular, but there is strong threads of it in Sweden and Finland also. I haven’t travelled to Norway as yet, so not able to comment directly.
link to arcofprosperity.org
I voted about 30 minutes ago, and I can’t think why I did not pick up on the omission of
link to arcofprosperity.org
This is one i look at regularly, and which I recommend.
“I’d like to see some of the other bloggers perhaps contributing regular columns to Newsnet, rather than the current fragmentation.”
I don’t think Newsnet’s pathological refusal to engage with the rest of the blogosphere would be very conducive to that happening. They could probably single-handedly double the traffic of most blogs with a simple links column, but prefer to remain aloof.
It is a shame bbc scotlandshire is not in either of the lists above. It is the first site I check everyday, life would be boring without good satire!
xbasslichtie – “I think there needs to be some consolidation, I’ve long since stopped reading most of the other blogs […] I’d like to see some of the other bloggers perhaps contributing regular columns to Newsnet, rather than the current fragmentation.”
It depends what you’re using your blog for really. I’ve got a personal blog which I use when I just feel like writing something or to air some grievance that I’m not sure is particularly relevant to other folk. But if I’ve got something that I think others will find relevant, I’ll punt it to Stu or Mike Small to put on WOS or Bella. It would certainly be good if some of the better bloggers punted more articles to the bigger sites to receive a wider readership, but on the other hand, publishing o your own blog gives you editorial control. Depends what your motivation is, I suppose.
Angus just had a go at Cameron @ PMQs re his cosy No 10 dinner parties with Mr Taylor, and read out a long list of serious allegations.
Needless to say Cameron sidestepped the question.
Shame athousandflowers.net doesn’t get a mention. Not all of its articles are on the national question but it’s a Scottish political blog nonetheless and there’s some interesting stuff on it.
I can’t tell you how upset mines not on the list, mackisimul.wordpress.com. Though to be fair I write about one article to the Revs 20. Just wish I had more time.
O/T: Angus Robertson just asked David Cameron about Ian Taylor’s “dirty money” donation at PMQ’s – good to see it being kept alive. And no, he did not get a reply.
I think we should leave Newsnet be. They chose to report/comment on news items in their own style. They have arrived at this editorial manner in their own way and have good readership figures. They do not proport to being a blog, hence their style of moderation.
Wings is the only site which was prepared to take on the recent legal action – without outside legal advice – many comments were made about this being a stupid thing to do from both sides of the Indy internet. Wings didn’t back down and calmly got on with the reporting.
I think many are now re-evaluating that decision – many may have seen the decision as risky – some may still think that, but it showed that along with the Herald and Guardian that suppressing the press was undesirable. I hope some in the wider press have taken a different view on wings because of that.
I see that you don’t have A Cybernat writes on your list Stu. I know he doesn’t update his site everyday but it is updated once a week. Is this too little an update record to be included?
link to cybernats.com
“I don’t think Newsnet’s pathological refusal to engage with the rest of the blogosphere would be very conducive to that happening. They could probably single-handedly double the traffic of most blogs with a simple links column, but prefer to remain aloof.”
Fair enough, I don’t tend to get involved in the background politics, I’m a consumer, not a producer, so I had no idea of what is going on with that sort of thing. Bit of a shame that, as it would be nice to see them helping to consolidate things and their design and template seems ideal. If I get asked about a decent link, I tend to link people to NNS as they present themselves more as a news site and less of an opinion site like (say) here.
I’m a recent convert to this site to be honest, I used to find it to be far too opinionated and unsubstantiated when I first came across it, so either you’ve improved massively, or my opinions have shifted over time (likely), because I keep regular tabs on here now!
I read Craig Murray regularly. He’s pro-independence but also has a wider view of world affairs. I think it helps in maintaining sanity to see that the BBC spews black propaganda about everything, not just Scotland. Also for wider context I’d recommend Golem XIV – a running commentary on the collapse of western economies and the increasingly sinister role of the EU.
Did anyone else notice the braying mass appeared unusually quiet today when Angus asked his question?
Wings is by far the best in my opinion. I used to read NNS a lot more than now; it seems a tad arrogant these days. I commented on a Rangers “story” and I suspect it didn’t go down well and I’m now unable to log-on, lol. No matter, it’s they’re loss.
Keep up the good work Rev.
Hail Alba!
For me the BIG FOUR are Wings, NNS, Bella and NC in that order, and those are ones I donate to. Then I’ll go to Pop, Manguin, Subrosa and Lallans once a week. The rest, mostly on Rev’s blog roll, I visit once every two or three weeks in relation to when they’ve been updated. I never go to LabourHame or any of the loons (one visit was enough). But I do visit Craig Murray’s blog and BBC Scotlandshire regularly.
Two that I visit regularly aren’t there. I visit BBC Scotlandshire daily, and link to cybernats.com every week (usually a new post every weekend).
I think I must have failed on the “predominantly about Scottish politics” part.
Oh well, shameless self-promotion anyway.
I probably would follow newsnet scotland if i could work out where their article RSS feed is, or if they even have one. It is all tweeter, facebook, and other such new fangled rubbish over there.Just let me follow the articles, not some corporate social media SEO nonsense.
@ xbasslichtie,
I think for many Newsnet Scotland is a right of passage, before becoming more season wings viewers. I think that for many sites like Newsnet open up peoples minds, once you read a little bit and you want more information/views confidence has grown. Not everyone will make comments here as anywhere else, but they certainly read
I started out reading Better Nation. I am disappointed with the route that Jeff Breslin has chosen to pusue. There is quirky and then there is downright daft.
I read, with some enthusiasm, the likes of bella and the Jimmy Reid thingumyjig. Scot says pop is also, well, different. And Lallands Peat Worrier is an act of genius.
I tend to read this site morning, noon and night.
It is simply the best.
BTW I had a minor monetisation idea for this blog. It sure would be nice if the RSS feed for this place had the full content – such as blogspot and so forth do by default. Saves all that tedious clicking through, lets you read more easily in your phone, and so on.
Except webmasters hate that because they imagine it affecting their stats, ad-clickthroughs, and so on.
But suppose you had a paid option for the full feed? A tenner gets you access to the full feed for a whole year, say. Beyond people giving money merely for charity this would provide some good selfish, thatcherite motivation for folk following your blog via crufty old RSS.
Here is the RSS feed
link to newsnetscotland.com
—–
I probably would follow newsnet scotland if i could work out where their article RSS feed is, or if they even have one
I started out reading Better Nation. I am disappointed with the route that Jeff Breslin has chosen to pusue. There is quirky and then there is downright daft.
I read, with some enthusiasm, the likes of bella and the Jimmy Reid thingumyjig. Scot says pop is also, well, different. And Lallands Peat Worrier is an act of genius.
I tend to read this site morning, noon and night.
It is simply the best.
Better Nation used to be my choice of reading. Jeff, James and Aidan managed to do that with their quite frankly partisan mod policy.
Stuff em
[plaintive grammar nazi whine]
It ought to be “Whom do you love?”
[/plaintive grammar nazi whine]
“It ought to be “Whom do you love?””
I’m quoting the Bo Diddley song. TAKE IT UP WITH HIM.
It is amazing such a simple and useful technology is not as popular as it once was. When you have all the articles from all the blogs you want to read in one place, with links clicking through to the main article, it’s convenient. Especially if you want to scan many articles across many sites without fully reading them all. The Feedly App is great.
—
I don’t understand RSS or “subscribing” to blogs, so I wouldn’t know what I was talking about.
Wings over Scotland, BBC Scotlandshire and Newsnet in that order are my personal faves! First thing I look for in my newsfeed on Facebook is BBC Scotlandshire.
@creag an tuirc: Thanks! To be honest, I’m not sure how Danish my perspective is after 11 years in Scotland (I definitely don’t understand Danish politics any more!)… I’ve been thinking about changing the subtitle from “Scottish Independence from a Scandinavian Perspective” to “Trying to make Scotland a boring, prosperous, Nordic country” or something like that. What do you think?
@Adrian B: Thanks. I’m not sure it’s limited to Scandinavia — I’m sure almost everybody in most independent countries believe their countries can stand on their own rather than having to be part of a bigger unit, which is pretty much what nationalism means in Scotland. This is one things many people abroad (incl. England) don’t get — they assume Scottish nationalism must be of the BNP variety.
@James 2612: Cheers!
My favourites are Wings, National Collective (even though I have had no reply from them over the fund raising), and Bella Caledonia.
Well, Better Nation doesn’t like me, and the feeling is mutual. I am not at all impressed with Aidan’s contribution here:
link to betternation.org
Which seems a tad wrong-headed. Or completely wrong-headed, take your pick.
Jeff had an opportunity to run the independent, nationalist site. It is a shame that he blew it. Who goes there anymore?
@ muttlet79
Did you try contacting via Aamer Anwar?
link to glasgow-lawyer.co.uk
Angus Robertson in PMQs tells the House of Commons that David Cameron hosted “private dinners at Downing Street” for Ian ‘dirty money’ Taylor. This should provide a wonderful opportunity for Scottish Labour’s ‘Truth’ Team to spring into action. We know how anxious they are to be “honest in everything we say and do”.
Might it be that the reason for the ‘Truth’ Team’s silence here is because Ian Taylor has also contributed dirty money to the Labour Party/Better Together? Surely not.
I like NNS. Horses for courses, but I like their format. Setting aside opinions, I have learned an awful lot since I started to drop in there. It’s been said, but I agree NNS isn’t a blog. I use it as my main alternative source of news distinct from the mainstream media. Fact is, the world would be a grim place without a daily dose of NNS.
I’m also quite keen on Michael Greenwell’s Independence podcast. I confess it made me chuckle in the beginning when visitors sounded like they were interviewed in lavatories or shut in a cupboard or outside the hall, but he’s stuck with it, and it’s always a good listen.
Know what I think is missing? An online reference for Independence issues – Non partisan, concise but thorough information neutrally presented so the undecided voter can tour the map of Scotland area by area and see what independence means for the various parts of the country both locally and nationally. Oil, fishing, defense jobs, renewables etc. A kind of business plan for Scotland; indicating where a YES vote takes us compared to where a NO vote takes us. There isn’t anywhere neutral for education on the issues, and I think that would be helpful we to recruit believers, but its best if the information was apolitical.
Conspicuous by it’s absence in the list is the YES website. It doesn’t seen very animated in the online discussion, but perhaps it doesn’t have to be. It has a bigger footprint in the real world and it’s time is still to come.
How about Craig Murray former British Ambassador and former Rector of Dundee University occasionally writes on Scottish matters but is well worth reading for an alternative view on international affairs.
His comments on George Osborne’s safari to Scotland can be read here.
link to craigmurray.org.uk
Re Angus Robertson at the Commons.
Better Together are now displaying a contempt for Scotland that is breathtaking in it’s arrogance.
So a few thoughts on the recent threats from Osborne and his Danny the Fanny familiar.
It struck me that the Unionists have upped their game (looking at it from their perspective), as we have gone from scare stories to something more sinister.
When you make a threat, you usually expect an outcome, in this case a blip in the polls for the Yes camp or perhaps a backing off from the Scottish Government and/or the Yes campaign.
Now imagine a scenario where the threats are continued for a period of time and there is no result from the perspective of the Unionists, i.e. the Yes camp doesn’t budge.
Well I can certainly imagine the Unionist then moving into a position where they can portray their threats as benevolent, then, with further benevolence, withdrawing the ability for the referendum to be carried out.
“We warned you, no one listened to us and so, in the best interests of Scotland, we are cancelling the referendum”
@Adrian B
Both times I tried to contact them was before and after the time they were off the internet. I used the contact page on their website, and have got no reply.
O/T Link to Iain Banks’ reaction to messages. link to guardian.co.uk
Craig M,
The referendum will happen. There is no way it is not going to happen.
Douglas Clark – I’ve never been a fan of Aidan’s, and I find his articles on BN tend to read awkwardly, often seeming to just stop abruptly rather than reaching a conclusion. But that article you link to was just pathetic, and merely serves to highlight that he’s not the non-partisan commentator I think he’d like to pretend he is.
By the way Stu, I see someone has voted Ian Smart’s blog as their favourite. Either someone’s having a wee joke, or the ranting lunatic himself is a WOS fan!
@ Breeks,
Here is one to get you started off. Lots of good renewables information here:
link to scottishrenewables.com
@ Muttley79,
They are probably snowed under – would suggest that you send it via Aamer Anwar with a covering letter. They will forward it on to National Collective straight away.
@Craig M,
I think even Ian Smart now acknowledges that the referendum will happen, so we’re fairly safe there (for now).
On the subject of our breath being taken away, don’t forget that we’re all waiting with bated breath for the outcome of London Labour’s ‘policy review’. Maybe not as much as ‘Scottish’ Labour is waiting for it – the poor things don’t know what to think until they receive their orders from down south.
Mind you, the Labour Party’s ‘policy reviews’ remind me of those poor, unfortunate ‘cosmetically-enhanced’ women you see who look as if they have two footballs stuck to their chests. Before the event, all the hype is that the operation will be life-affirming, it will improve self-esteem, public standing and will lead people to look at you in a completely different way. After the event, the hapless victim discovers that her life is ruined, she becomes an object of ridicule, people yearn for the return of the ‘old’ you and, too late, she discovers that there is more than one way to interpret the meaning of the term ‘boob job’. Having said that, not many page 3 models manage to completely fuck up the economy while they’re at it, so the analogy isn’t watertight.
Of course you know very well who’s been left out (other than the blogs mentioned already) don’t you? No, not mine because its a bit crap – the political colossus that is George Laird!
I mean come on, how can you not include him? Not only does he refer to himself in the third person but does it by paying himself a compliment. I’d say he’s up their with Terry Kelly.
(I don’t even visit GL’s site for a laugh any more, it just doesn’t deserve the hit.)
I still like Newsnet Scotland, I think people misunderstand it. Its not a blog, the BBC or Sky don’t allow comments on all their stories so NNS isn’t set up that way either (although people do comment.) I always got the impression they thought the commentary sometimes detracted from the story.
NNS is like a staid spinster Aunt to WOS’s wilder Uncle. (I know this is a shit comparison, phrases like this are why my blog is also shit.) That said, NNS published a piece on Thatcher by Paul T Cavanagh which took no prisoners.
It would be good to read a WOS/NNS mash up, a podcast or something.
Angus Robertson question to David Cameron at PMQ today courtesy of National Collective
Doug Daniel,
I have no idea who Aiden is. He appears to me to have half baked ideas, but that could just be me.
The other thing is that I am moderated on there. That hardly seems a sensible policy, nor necessary. There is a huge authorial right going on there and it demeans debate. Just like anewspaper, really. You’ll have noticed that they tend to close comments early?
I am, mostly, polite. Except when someone treats me as a fool. I do not take kindly to that.
It is that sort of pretendy superiority that has put me off both NNS and BN. Still, horses for courses, eh?
Perhaps they speak for the BA (Hons), practical experience zero, demographic that also want to ‘play’ politics.
Sad, in’t it?
I’m a newcomer to the world of blogging (both reading and writing), so there aren’t that many that I visit regularly, and in fact this one and Newsnet Scotland are the only ones I visit daily.
And, while I understand why you didn’t include this place in the list of options, it would be miles in front as my choice for my favourite, rather than the Newsnet Scotland option I ended up picking by default.
a newpaper, not anewspaper.
Bloody hell, ten minutes to correct errors and I still can’t manage it.
DC – yep, I think this has been talked of before, but I would say the decision to start closing comments so early was the single biggest factor in BN’s fall from the top of the blogging ladder, which is where it was two years ago. It had obviously declined a bit before the decision to close comments early, but that was the thing that really damaged it. People go on blogs to comment on the articles, and if you find comments have already closed because you’re a day late in reading it, then you lose interest pretty quickly.
And as you say, I think blogs that seem to see politics as more of a hobby perhaps don’t have the popularity they once did.
“I don’t understand RSS” Really Rev?
““I don’t understand RSS” Really Rev?”
Really.
Used to read Gerry Hassan but I read his article a couple of years ago, now that he’s got his point across I don’t need to read it again and again reworded in different ways.
Also liked Lallands, but I’ve gone off his affected style. Other sites I just stopped reading, Calum Cashley, Anne McLaughlin, Better Nation.
How fickle the internet reader is!
The highest quality of writing (Kate Higgins apart) is often on Bella, and Newsnet is for me the original cybernat news site and still one of the best, with occasional scoops, though their comment policy is infuriating.
Big fan of Scot Goes Pop’s fisking and Munguin’s images.
One final one I like is the occasionally paranoid but always compelling Craig Murray.
Wings is my favourite though!
Is Tattie scones missing from the list?
link to tattie-scones.blogspot.co.uk
Oh for the days when we could Blether with Brian even when he went off on his hols and we got up to 2000 posts in his absence!
DD – That’s fair enough to say, Doug. Although hopefully it’s being made with an acknowledgement that the majority of people are constrained by time and resources to see politics as more than a hobby.
How about a ‘none of the above’ option? I only visit other blogs when other commenters here on Wings link to articles, so I don’t visit the same blogs with any regularity (except this one).
benarmine says: Anyway I’m looking forward to independence when I can stop reading the lot o’ yiz and have some free time again!
I’m a big fan of this blog. It isn’t always updated regularly, and I have no idea who writes it, but I’ve genuinely learned a lot from it.
link to rueclementmarot.blogspot.co.uk
@Marcia (2.31)-
Many thanks for that link to Angus Robertson’s question to Cameron. I was looking out for it all afternoon but – surprise surprise – it wasn’t shown anywhere, not that I saw anyway.
What a complete and total body-swerve Cameron gave the question. Yet more proof of how toxic this matter is to anyone connected with Better Together.
As with all the other ‘gates’ over the years, it’s not the original offence, but the cover-up that’ll do for them. One has to wonder if Osborne riding north to wave his finger at folk, and Alistair Darling popping up all over the place, foaming at the mouth, is a desperate diversionary tactic.
If so, it ain’t working.
Ian Taylor. Vitol. Arkan.
Keep at them.
Ian,
Here is an article that Left Foot Forward put out earlier.
link to leftfootforward.org
You might find it handy for quotes/links?
I love WoS, for sure and I must have added a few thousand “pageviews” alone. It has become quite addictive, and I think most of us feel the same. Part of the rib-tickling pleasure surely derives from knowing that the vehemently anti-indy folk are reading it too!! And a HECKUVA lot of “don’t-knows”, who are slowly but surely having their eyes opened. We shouldn’t allow ourselves to get too uptight about the former, because they too are in “the minority” – and as we are seeing, the BT arguments are getting weaker and more desperate by the day. It’s the latter group who matter – the “don’t knows”. And they are definitely coming round to our way of thinking.
But much as I love WoS, I have a special place in my heart for the following two:
Newsnet Scotland – because they really were out there in the vanguard, at the beginning, before the blogosphere had really taken off in the way that it has now. Three years or so ago, NNS was an OASIS against the mainstream media’s arrogant and blatant bias. NNS were the pioneers, in my opinion – they were almost like a hidden secret – and they should be applauded for sticking at it despite many difficulties of their own in those early days. NNS was the first real site to become a “stick in the craw” of the Labour-biased MSM, particularly for the BBC Scotland establishment, who were unused to having their output forensically and critically monitored in that way, and being publicly “called to account” for their misreporting, and their daily drip-drip diet of anti-SNP slanting. Also, just their glaring and seemingly deliberate omissions of intelligent, alternative analysis of the stories of the day. BBC Scotland’s output now feels way behind the curve on most of the issues. Far, far more of the Scots public are seeing that misreporting for what it is now, than was the case three years ago, thanks to NNS and those who sprang up in its wake. It’s a shame for the Beeb, because BBC Scotland could have been right up there as an integral part of this historic process, had it only chosen to do what its charter requires, and stick to truly impartial reporting, and a healthy balance of different viewpoints and analyses. Still, as many of us have found, it is a big, powerful law unto itself and there seems little any of us can do about it other than expose its flaws and direct our friends and families to other, more enlightened coverage instead.
Anyway, suffice to say that I still think the NNS site is fab and when we get a Yes vote NNS will definitely have earned its place in history. Within the plethora of choice we have available to us now, it must be remembered what a desert it was only back in 2009/2010 – and in my opinion NNS started something which has now matured into a highly diverse and intelligent choice of blogs and sites which are truly giving the MSM a run for their money. Yes, we still need to reach the mainstream consumers, but social media sharing of our favourite sites and posts is really taking off! I am actually now being fed posts from my favourite indy blogs from FB friends I didn’t even know were interested in politics! Thank goodness we still have another 16 months to keep up the good fight and reach critical mass!
Secondly, for all of us who remember – who could possibly forget….Universality of Cheese?! Mark Maclachlan is a satirical genius and he too valiantly battled on despite getting pelters from several parties. His sites were hilarious, well-researched, and always on the money. If you happen to be reading this, Mark, please come back and entertain us!
Oh there is so much more I could write about the others but I will start another post and keep that one brief!
@Adrian B-
Cheers much for link – pretty concise, and seeing the whole affair reduced to a few paragraphs like that makes it appear even more powerful.
It takes some truly tortured logic to claim that Robertson was seeking to score a ‘cheap political point’ – this could yet prove to be the costliest mistake Cameron has made.
That dodgy dosh has to be returned, and the longer they leave it, the greater the stench.
Where is the money? Have they already been dipping into it? What’s happened to the interest? When BT do eventually give their half-mill back to Taylor, will the Tories then be forced to return the £555k of ‘donations’ received from him?
Munguin’s Republic – because Tris writes in a very gentlemanly, democratic way. And is humble and self-effacing. That makes me like him, hence I like to read what he writes.
Lallands PW – also a gentleman and a democrat – and is searingly clever and witty with it. But you do need a large mug of tea and a biscuit, and a good ten minutes available, to be able to understand and digest his posts. Usually have to read it twice, and then the penny drops.
BBC Scotlandshire – a wonderful new addition, and absolutely brilliant. Liking it more and more. Would LOVE to know how many people click on it by mistake, thinking it’s “the real thing”!
Scot goes Pop for his dogged tenacity in keeping the side up on some of the more outlandish Unionist blogs. And for making sense of polls and stuff, which I wouldn’t understand otherwise.
Moridura – for his genuine, heartfelt and sincere articulation of his journey from traditional Labour supporter, through the “lifting of the veil” and his observations of how he and thousands of other loyal supporters had been betrayed by the careerist and corrupt troughers at the top of the party, and his subsequent support of the SNP instead. A journey shared by many others now.
Labour for Independence – they are crucial, in my humble opinion. I have never voted Labour, and I don’t intend to post-indy either, as I am more than happy, personally, with the SNP and Alex Salmond in particular. However, I am enough of a realist and a democrat to realise that Labour for Indy is where it is going to be at, and that it is these brave souls who, in going against the grain of their leadership, will be the ones to swing it for us in the Labour heartlands. They are also an extremely welcome beacon of NON-TRIBAL light, who seem to be having quite a bit of fun getting stuck in at Yes stalls, mingling with their SNP-supporting counterparts, and engaging in friendly rivalry and interesting discussions, rather than the feather-spitting stuff we see “further up the chain”.
And finally a wee word for Conan the Librarian and his Pseudepigrapha! he hasn’t been able to post as much lately but his regular spoofs of the “Hootsman” and its chronically pitiful “SNP Accused” crap are a class act.
3 more suggestions:
link to scottishtimes.com
link to caledonianmercury.com
link to bbc.scotlandshire.co.uk
I’m somewhat humbled by the support for Munguin’s Republic.
I started the writing blog when I was sick after an operation some 4 years ago, just for something to do while I healed and with encouragement from the Spook of Leith and Subrosa. It sort of stuck.
I’ve never intended that is should be nor pretended that it is deep and probing, or intellectually demanding. It certainly conforms to none of the high standards of journalism on this blog. It aims mostly to amuse… tabloid style without tits on page 3.
Along with WoS, my first read every day is James Kelly’s most excellent Scot Goes Pop. It’s even managed to stir in me an passing interest in the Eurovision Song Contest! Way to go James.
Enough!
In conclusion, a humbled Tris says thank you.
I like it. Good posts, and the way you handle Niko in the comments is an education.
I really wish Pete Worrier would go back to blogging instead of creating those ponderous podcasts.
Thank you for this Rev et al. I’m a newcomer to reading politics and found NNS first when I started looking around – I was feeling bilous every time I read the scotsman. I went there like a lamb to the slaughter only because I was completely mislead by its name. Reading that guff made me determined to educate myself ……you start to think you’re going mad and is it just you who’s thinking it cant be right? Thank goodness for finding Newsnet that sent me down the right path and on to here and now to all the other wonderful sites you’ve highlighted for us. I enjoy all the people who comment on here, the banter, and have had the odd wee foray masell. You’re helping me find my political legs and every single person who cares anything about auld Scotia needs them now more than at any other time in our history. Wonderful place, thank you all.
I didn’t notice if anyone else mentioned this, but I regularly visit (and like) Frankly. Good for the international dimension to the debate.
I’m in the same boat as others – a year or so ago I’d click on many more sites but I’ve cut down a lot. I enjoy reading different news pieces on the same story as well as blogs interpreting them, so Peter’s Referendum 2014 page and Newsnet are the pages I visit most after Wings. National Collective wasn’t, for me, a “political” blog but they’ve really stepped it up this year and, accidentally or not, are drifting that way. But it’s great to read the pieces from creative people or others whose views might not be seen without that platform.
BBC Scotlandshire is ridiculous but I’m glad somebody tapped into that market. It’s amusing how often real quotes from those in politics still work when a highly-exaggerated story is wrapped around them!
Extra mention to the indy podcasts, which I wasn’t too fond of at first but I can sit and listen to full editions now. It’s a worthy addition to the debate online.
Also, I have no idea how RSS works either. No clue.
Can’t believe I also forgot the Scottish Review! :smacks heid:
I would say it is broadly unionist in sympathies but also publishes plenty pro-independence articles. The quality is generally very good and they do a good job in being cynical about both sides, rather than cheerleading any particular idealogy. An artice from today slagging off the BBC for example:
link to scottishreview.net
Vapid twerp.
your fellow reverend Rod McFarlane had a most excellent blog too but seems to be posting fitfully at the moment – auldacquaintance wordpress
Rev. Stuart Campbell says:24 April, 2013 at 12:00 pm
I think Newsnet is aspiring to be a future ‘Scottish Huffington Post’. And it is a very good News site. It is also to be commended for its campaign against BBC bias. Personally I never have any problems posting on the site even though I can be very feisty at times.
Each day I go first to Peter’s Referendum 2014 page to see what articles are most controversial throughout the UK and his comments on them, and after visiting some of the sites mentioned I go to Wings, then NNS, but not always in that order. I do like Bella for very informative political and social comment but don’t visit every day.
Wings is now my site of choice because the Rev Stu’s trenchant articles and views on Independence match mine most closely. I believe we are in a ‘dirty war’ with the opposition and we should lawfully do everything necessary to win a YES vote. I don’t comment now as much as I used to, probably due to ‘campaign fatigue’ and the repetitiveness of the Bitter Mens’ arguments.
“Also, I have no idea how RSS works either. No clue.”
I work with it and other snazzy web things in my day job, so have perfected a studied veneer of understanding, while hoping no one ever asks me to actually do anything technical with them and running away when they do.
would say http://www.athousandflowers.net definitely worth a shout as well
Technically not a Scottish blog/site but Reykjavik Grapevine is a must read
Oh dear Rev, It seems that BBC Scotlandshire are threatening to “thcream, and we’ll thcream, and we’ll thcream until we’re thick.” because you omitted them from your poll ;-(
link to bbc.scotlandshire.co.uk
BBC Scotlandshire for me! That’s how I found this poll LOL.
I agree with what some have said above about fragmentation. It’s the main reason I’ve stopped updating my blog. There are generally others saying the same things, at least as well and often better, and I think it’s important that we have a small number of highly-visited sites that can be sustained, ensuring our message is heard. That is surely preferable to loads of blogs, irregularly updated and visited by a few dozen people.
With that in mind (and with all due respect to others) I feel there should be some consolidation around WoS, Bella, NC and Newsnet.
“I agree with what some have said above about fragmentation. It’s the main reason I’ve stopped updating my blog. There are generally others saying the same things, at least as well and often better, and I think it’s important that we have a small number of highly-visited sites that can be sustained, ensuring our message is heard. That is surely preferable to loads of blogs, irregularly updated and visited by a few dozen people.
With that in mind (and with all due respect to others) I feel there should be some consolidation around WoS, Bella, NC and Newsnet.”
Mm. I’d love for more people to submit articles here than scatter them all over the net, for exactly that reason, but I don’t feel it’s my place to tell people they should shut down their own blogs. Also, I can’t guarantee to publish stuff straight away, since sometimes with the best will in the world some of it needs quite a bit of work to bash it into the editorial standards I try to uphold here, and some of it – mostly some of the more intemperate ranty pieces – just isn’t the type of thing we run here at all.
So I totally understand when people want to just get their feelings out there, unfiltered by an editor and immediately. But all submissions are much appreciated even if I don’t end up using them, and I have no objections to running something that someone’s already had on their own site, but which might find a bigger audience here.
All we need now is a simple exposition of the relation between the results (above) and the post frequency of each site…
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Aslo , go Munguins!!!…