Show us Your Teeth

This isn’t just a collapse of political norms, it’s a failure of values.

Yesterday Tracy Brabin tried to make a few comments about Jo Cox at her acceptance speech. This was the result:

But we shouldn’t be surprised. The stench of fascism has been accommodated and explained for years in Britain. It was hinted at by Tebbit and we’ve been on a slippery descent ever since, from militarised police to militarised schools to extraordinary rendition to pleading for our soldiers to be above the law.

From the staggering surveillance revealed earlier this year by MI5, MI6, and GCHQ to the endless degenerate representation of ordinary people as scum in the routine language of daily tabloids. We ended up with Nick Griffin on Question Time and nazis shouting at someone off of Corrie as Tories argued we check people’s teeth whilst the Sun snarls and spits its lies.

britainBig data meets quietism.

This week the Sun vilified Gary Lineker for standing up for refugee children. It’s a weird world we live in and it’s getting weirder. Just after Fraser Nelson emerged as a champion of Scotland’s underclass, now Gary Lineker is England’s Che Guevara.

A smiling David Dimbleby curates Lisa Duffy and her tv mob booing a Polish women expressing what hundreds of thousands of people must feel.

The lack of any trace of empathy was shocking.

What a disgrace. What a shitty little country.

Do you know how many children we are even talking about? Just fourteen teenagers from countries such as Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan arrived in Britain from Calais on Monday.

Fourteen. Can you imagine if we were doing anything like what we actually should be doing in response to the refugee crisis?

At the time of our first referendum, there was a queue of people explaining that our sordid little parochialism was outshone by the generous benevolence of Britain and Britishness. It was all Mo Farah and multicultural multi-dimensional Britain, thrusting contemporary and internationalist against us as a tired little backwater.

The case for Scotland has to be re-made. And the draft bill for indyref2 seemed to be more of a regurgitation than a re-launch. The case for Scotland has to be made, but the case for Britain has collapsed. The idea that it was a bulwark for fairness, openness or wider democratic principles always seemed unlikely. Now it just seems laughable.

‘Britain First’ was shouted as Jo Cox was shot. Now they’re shouting at her replacement.

The delusional self-entitlement of Britain’s political class is being exposed every day as the rest of Europe begins to respond to the ridiculous pompous isolationism displayed by Britain’s finest. Who wants to be partner with a pariah?

Yes2 has some serious obstacles ahead, but so do does the Better Together to explain away the litany of lies and disinformation that poured out of the campaign and the resultant crisis we have staggered into. It’s not a pretty picture.

Britain is breaking up not out of the dynamism of Scottish self-determination but out of the toxicity of English nationalism and the reactionary forces it has unleashed.

Comments (69)

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  1. PaulinEd says:

    Where are the no voters when all this is going on? Where are their voices, their condemnation? Or are they too busy protecting their piles of cash like Scrooge McDuck?

    1. Les Wallace says:

      Disgusted and doing what we can to fight it, not casting ourselves adrift from it…what will that do? And please tell me where my stash of cash is I need it.

      1. Tam MacCowan says:

        Please elaborate on how you are fighting England’s move to the right and also what success you have had to date?

        Or as I suspect, you (& your ilk) have sat back and closed your collective eyes, like the left in England have done.

        The left in England have thrown immigrants under the bus for electoral reasons what is your excuse?

        Shame on you, who do you think the right in England will be taking aim at next!

        1. Yan says:

          The left threw its working class power base under the bus first, a mass sacrifice to the collective gods of political fantasy.

          In truth the actors and actresses bedecked in their red vestments mouthing scripted political sermons despised their uncouth working class disciples and sought to supplant that shameless class.

      2. Matt says:

        To be fair Les I’ve up voted you for the simple fact that you ARE disgusted by it but I fear that cutting ourselves adrift from it is the only answer unless be become infected by it.

        I like to think we in scotland are of a different mindset when it comes to these things although we do have our share of racial bigots but on a much reduced scale.

        His isn’t the union that was portrayed during the independence referendum and indeed for most of my working life.

        As a lifelong socialist I’ve come to the conclusion that the political spectrum isn’t about right and left but more of an up and down, or, a have and have not society. In other words in this day and age we should be talking about social conscience and justice. I’m afraid we are never going to strive to this utopia as part of this union.

  2. Craig Miller says:

    It needs a radical voice to cut thru the devolutionary muck that has gathered around the propeller of the good ship Independence… NATO? You want us to vote for that bunch of resource thieves, that warmongering gang of white thugs?…. The SNP has sold out…

    1. Craig Miller says:

      I got SEVEN thumbs down…. Hahaha… For not supporting the SNPs lack of principles regarding NATO… Hahaha… If it was ANY other party asking you to fall in behind these serial aggressors I suspect the dialogue would be slightly different…. tying yourselves in pretzel knots trying to reconcile your well intentioned internationalism with this violently imposed white hegemony…. I despair… supporting Independence should mean looking forward to a better decent future,…. have you all gone mad?

      1. Malcolm Kerr says:

        There was a bit of ambiguity there, Craig. Some of the ‘thumbs down’ may have been interpreting that the ‘white thugs’ were you referring to the SNP, not NATO.

  3. Swellington_Tog says:

    English nationalism isn’t toxic, Westminster and all their cronies are. The ills of this country lies solely at their feet.

  4. c rober says:

    We also have had on the news this week the diversionary tactics of May , in that she is now suggesting a rule for London to have a special EU status , keeping its euro passport , while conveniently ignoring the next single biggest economic area of the Uk in a similar manner – Scotland.

    The London special status is a ploy , of that I have no doubt , in that it would prevent any moving lock stock of the London Euro passport to Germany , France , Dublin , and even more importantly to Edinburgh – through Scotland’s Independence , or effectively ensuring it , and increasing Scotland’s GDP.

    Then we are filtered down on us that any indy ref part dos , will be a double super result needed – which means large turnout , and at least 55 percent voting to be independent to ensure it. And of course those still saying there is no mandate for any indy ref II.

    At least one of those scenarios can be achieved , the “no mandate to supply” argument being crushed is easy , but that takes balls from the SNP.

    To gain that mandate all they have to do next May , for every council election is to stand on one thing – a vote for the SNP as your councils through FPTP is a vote for INDY II mandate….. and unleash the dogs of war when its refused.

    If May wants to try subversive old British empire politics , of divide to conquer , of region against region , of wealth against austerity , then it must be countered in the way that works – and that dear friends is the SNP standing on one reason during the next council elections. Anything else is just more deliberate failure to supply by the SNP , with the near normality convenience of #WestminsterBlame that worked for Nulabour , Slab for long enough too.

    Of course there is the other option , to turn the secret service shit of May and her inter departments on its head , and push for a vote in England on its separation from the RUK , they are after all on a roll referendum wise….. and the very same anti immigration rhetoric of those voters is aligned with the sponging , whinging Scots fattened on Barnet views too.

    1. Bryan Weir says:

      You want them to leave and leave us with the debt they created? ;o)

  5. Crubag says:

    Big data and its temptations are a problem for all parties. The named person legislation was passed by parliament but struck down by the courts as it would mean information on your family would be accessible by individuals in a wide range of public organisations.

    But on indy2, I just don’t think the EU is the opportunity you think it is. The SNP’s preferred outcome seems to be in the UK but outside the EU (with suitable trade deal), with outside the UK and EU as a fallback.

    I’ve not seen any call from the SNP for reapplying for EU membership after indy. With a million Scots votes against they may be thinking it is not for us, and the EEA route may be better

    1. Maria F says:

      Crubag

      “But on indy2, I just don’t think the EU is the opportunity you think it is”

      Crubag, the time to campaign for Brexit was before the 23rd June 2016. That was 4 months ago. That campaign is now well over and it is now an undeniable fact that the majority of the electorate in Scotland didn’t fall for the pack of lies presented by the Leave campaign fronted by the likes of Boris, Farage or Gove. Of whom the last two couldn’t run fast enough after they throw the bombshell onto everybody else. But yet, somehow, you insist in refusing the democratic will of the people of Scotland. I wonder why.

      The only reason I can think of is that you are still attempting to peddle flip-flop Davidson and Mundell’s nonsense that, having asked us to vote remain, they are saying now that the best for Scotland is Brexit. Well it is not: the forecast is that Scotland could lose up to 80,000 jobs if leaving the EU, that is something Scotland cannot afford but far more importantly, Scotland didn’t vote for.

      Crubag, on the 23rd June 2016 an overwhelming 62% of those voting in Scotland did so to remain in the EU. In my opinion it is not now for you, for Mundell, for Davidson and even less from any other self-serving puppet from Westminster for that matter to come and say now that the 62% that voted to remain got it wrong because it is convenient for their party. On the 23rd of June, a 62% of those in Scotland democratically expressed their will of remaining in the EU and that should be respected, otherwise the democracy in this union is a farce.

      Before you jump of that old rusty wagon that ‘it is the UK and not Scotland what the vote was about’ let me ask you: Where in the ballot was the option for Scotland to leave/remain in the EU? So if it was not there, in what way other than voting for the UK remaining in the EU could the people of Scotland express their wish for Scotland to remain in the EU?

      1. Anti SNP says:

        it was a UK vote. not a Scottish vote.

        1. c rober says:

          Anti SNP
          “it was a UK vote. not a Scottish vote.”

          Then how does that explain Lodon in the same percentages , where both if counted as regions are the top 2 in the UK GDP – and thats excluding oil.

          Its would seem then that it reflects greed , the holder of oil , and the holder of the money. It kind of repeats the regional proportionality in the indy vote also , where those that voted in the same margins to remain in the UK voted for their pockets in Scotland. In Scotland Aberdeen , holder and benefitter of the oil jobs , and Edinburgh capital of Scottish banking.

          But still as we speak May is colluding with the banks , to give them special status , in order to keep the 66 billion of euro passport income – where its suggested now that a tarrif of 6b pa will secure it. But where is the same of Scotland in that scenario – off the table , the 2nd highest single region pc of gdp?

          Of course this is a non starter – to affirm any sort of increased income for Scotland , proving its viability for autonomy would be a bad thing – “McCrone report” , sound familiar?

        2. Craig Miller says:

          Are you all there? It was a Scottish vote if that’s what the democratically elected government says it is….. May I suggest that if you want a shot at interpreting Scottish opinion in the service of unionism.. You win more than ONE poxy seat each….. this… Ruth the savior of the Union schtik is only good down in engerland …. Up here we call you the ” diddy” parties

        3. Maria F says:

          Anti SNP

          “It was a UK vote, not an Scottish vote”

          If the vote was cast by the people living in Scotland with regards to a matter that will greatly affect the long term economy, prosperity, international relations and social fabric of Scotland, it was an Scottish vote. Scotland is not a colony of England, you know? So why on earth do you expect Scotland to walk the line over what England decides? The fact that this result is not what Ms Davidson and Mr Mundell wanted because it doesn’t suit their party’s destructive agenda for Scotland is completely irrelevant.

          I refer you to the last paragraph of my previous comment:

          “Where in the ballot was the option for Scotland to leave/remain in the EU?
          So if it was not there, in what way other than voting for the UK remaining in the EU could the people of Scotland express their wish for Scotland to remain in the EU?”

          62% of the electorate voting in Scotland on the 23rd June 2016 did so to remain in the EU and that result should be respected.

      2. Crubag says:

        I’m not following your argument. The UK as a whole votes to leave, and the other EU states have accepted that and seem to be increasingly freezing us out.

        But that despite a majority vote for remaining in the EU, neither I nor, more importantly, the SNP high command, can discern any enthusiasm for making an application post-indy.

        It may be like the British union itself has become, if in there is a lot of inertia to overcome to leave, but if out, very difficult to convince people to join.

        1. Maria F says:

          Crubag

          “The UK as a whole votes to leave”

          The UK is not a country. It is a state formed by the union of 4 countries: 2 of them voted to leave and 2 voted to remain, that is not ‘the uk as a whole voted to leave’. That is half of the UK voted to leave and half voted to remain. That of course, if the concept of ‘an equal and democratic union’ that the unionists sold us to win indiref1 was true at all. What do you think, where they blatantly lying on that as well?

          Now, the great difficulty here is that those 4 countries have very different populations. England for instance has an 85% of the population in the Union. Scotland has only a little over an 8%.

          While in an ideal world where the political, economic and social trajectories of the 4 countries were the same and each country voted in a similar fashion to the other 3 that would not be a problem, in the real world of 2016 UK that is not the case at all.

          It is obvious to anybody that wants to see that Scotland is following a political, economical and social trajectory that is rather different to that in England. So you cannot simply use the excuse of ‘the uk voted as a whole’ to impose on Scotland and NI the will of the English people. You cannot do that and still keep the pretence that the UK is a democratic, fair and and equal union.

          The reality Crubag is that on the 23rd of June 2016 the majority of the electorate voting in Scotland voted to remain in the EU. In fact, an staggering 62% of those who voted in Scotland in the EU referendum did so to remain in the EU. That is a much higher percentage than the minuscule 53.4% in favour of Brexit for England.

          Now, considering the difference in this vote and considering the differences in economical, social and political trajectories of Scotland and England, why on earth does Scotland have to suffer the loss of up to 80000 jobs and financial hardship just because England wants to leave the EU? Are you saying that the vote of the Scottish people in what future they want for their country is second rate and counts less than the one of the people in England, because England is the most populated country in the UK? Or are you implying that Scotland is just an English colony?
          Is this a ‘equal union’ Crubag or were the unionists lying to win indiref1?

          “and the other EU states have accepted that and seem to be increasingly freezing us out”

          In your unionist wishful thinking? sure! In my reality however the list with high profile EU politicians supporting Scotland to remain in the EU increases by the day. And that is thanks to the hard work of the Scottish politicians currently in Scottish government. The main two parties in the opposition of course did absolutely nothing.

          “But that despite a majority vote for remaining in the EU, neither I nor, more importantly, the SNP high command, can discern any enthusiasm for making an application post-indy”

          Are you sure about that Crubag? Or is again your wishful thinking that I-am-not-a-tory Davidson’s flip flop stance is going to stick? So why did the Scottish government prepare the new independence bill? just to give themselves extra work? just for a laugh?

          “It may be like the British union itself has become…”

          I think ‘obsolete’, ‘unfair’, and ‘undemocratic’ are the correct words to add here Crubag.

        2. Graeme Purves says:

          Whit dae ye mean “us”, kemosabe?

      3. Frank says:

        “The forecast is for 80,000 jobs to be lost if Scotland leaves the E.U.” I presume that was an economist that forecast that. I’ll tell you what another economist said – “The more certain an economist is that such and such will be the outcome the more you can be sure he doesn’t know what he is talking about.” And while we are talking about the loss of jobs, how do you intend to replace all the jobs that will be lost when we get rid of Trident, or is it just the jobs that might be lost if we leave the E.U. that you are concerned about?

        1. Maria F says:

          Frank
          “The more certain an economist is that such and such will be the outcome the more you can be sure he doesn’t know what he is talking about.”

          80,000 jobs was the figure presented by the First Minister in the Scottish Parliament a couple of weeks ago and I do not remember anybody in the chamber saying anything against that figure, not even Ruth.

          What is the matter Frank? Forecasts are only trustworthy if they are presented by Unionists to keep the Jocks thinking their country is a basket case? Mind you, a basket case that has been filling up the coffers of Westminster for decades with the revenues from the oil and that even now could be providing the mighty England with some electricity. What are they building that big fat under sea water cable for Frank?

          “And while we are talking about the loss of jobs, how do you intend to replace all the jobs that will be lost when we get rid of Trident”

          Frank, would you care to tell us exactly how many people are going to lose their jobs in Scotland if trident gets chucked out from Scotland? I read it is only around 520. In 2013 The Daily Record published an article saying that in only 3 years of the Coalition being in power, a staggering figure of 49000 jobs in public services were lost in Scotland (“Scotland loses 49,000 public sector jobs in two years with 10,000 more set to go this week”, Keith McLeod, The daily Record, February 2013). The total figure in the whole UK was an eye-watering 620,000, and that is only public services. That kind of puts the amount of jobs created by Trident in perspective, don’t you agree?

          Anyway, how much has Scotland contributed to the cost of Trident, Frank? And what is the difference between what Scotland has paid for this thing and the total amount it has got back in the form of salaries and revenues put back into the Scottish economy for having to endure the darn things here? To which coffers does that vast difference that is not kept in Scotland go? If all that money remained in Scotland Frank, it could be used it to invest into infrastructure and into the creation of jobs for Scotland.

          Also you should not forget the additional bonus of the possibility of developing and exploit the resources in the area only stalled because those atrocities are there. Moving those things away from Scotland will would allow the creation of more jobs.

          Now, how about an independent Scottish Broadcaster, Frank? One that is controlled and operated exclusively from Scotland, by people working and living in Scotland, thinking for Scotland and focusing in producing material to entertain the people living in Scotland. If Scotland keeps all the money risen in TV licences here in Scotland and invests it back here, that could help to create many jobs as well, don’t you agree, Frank? What is the current difference between what the BBC takes away from Scotland in TV licences and what it invests back?

          Well, and of course an independent Scotland may choose not to have a replica of the ‘lords’ in Westminster. Unelected as they are, they still charge the public purse the eye-watering figure of £300 a day. How much is Scotland paying for this chamber at the moment, Frank? Well, how many apprenticeships for Scottish school-leavers could be set up with that amount of money?

          “or is it just the jobs that might be lost if we leave the E.U. that you are concerned about?”
          Absolutely not Frank. I am concerned by all jobs. I am shocked and disgusted with the shockingly high number of jobs lost since the Tories got to power in 2010 and after the promises of unionists to get a a NO vote were gone with the wind.

          As a matter of fact, Frank, how many HMRC jobs have been lost? Other public services? How many people lost/will lose their jobs because the promise of the 13 frigates to be built in Scotland was yet another lie of the unionists? How many people in Scotland lost their jobs because under the watch of the Tories some well known bank moved their headquarters down south, even when it was trumpeted on the MSM that this would only happen if Scotland voted for independence? How many people lost their job in the financial industry due to the cuts and closure of branches? Closure of Post-Offices? BHS jobs? GAP jobs? Woolworths jobs? MFI jobs? Rosebys jobs? Adams jobs? La Senza jobs? Clinton Cards jobs?Game jobs? Blockbusters jobs? TJ Hughes jobs? MCEwans jobs? Brantano jobs? HMV jobs? City Link jobs? Comet jobs? etc, etc.

          So, Frank, when are you going to demand from Ruth Davidson and Mr Mundell an answer as to how they are going to replace not only all those jobs lost in Scotland thanks to the catastrophic austerity politics and policies hazardous to Scotland enthusiastically followed by her colleagues in the Tory party at Westminster, but also the additional 80,000 that will be lost thanks to Cameron’s casino politics that ended up in Brexit?

    2. Muscleguy says:

      The Named Person legislation was not ‘struck down’ by the courts. The appellants lost on the substantial parts of their case. All that happened was the government agreed to redraft the guidance to better satisfy human rights law.

      When that is done it will be back and roaring on all cylinders, though I doubt you will notice, unless your children come to the notice of social services. So if you wish to avoid it be a good solid, well behaved and fairly sober parent.

      We managed to raise our kids without such attentions, so do the vast majority of people. Beyond the obvious most will never have to consider the issue. The point is to better protect those children who are vulnerable or being abused. There was yet another case in England this week where multiple voices from multiple agencies raised concerns yet there was nobody in overall control or responsible for collating and considering the full picture. Victoria Climbé, Baby P, both would have been helped by such a scheme.

      That is why ALL the charities and agencies working in the area are fully behind the bill, ALL of them.

      1. Frank says:

        “So if you wish to avoid it be a good solid, well behaved and fairly sober parent.” And there is the crux of the matter, who is to decide if you are, by what PC yardstick will “They” judge you by? Don’t overlook the fact that the SNP government, like Labour before them, are busy introducing laws with the intention of changing people’s values and outlook on life.

        As for the multiple voices from multiple agencies I suspect their main concern is protecting their jobs. If successive governments run a society for the benefit of all then there would be minimal need for child protection services – but once you pass laws in an attempt to change attitudes all you do is create more “offences.”

        1. c rober says:

          Frank , while I cant agree with much you have said , I do have to question where Holyrood is creating legislation that leads to further court work for lawyers. You said…

          “As for the multiple voices from multiple agencies I suspect their main concern is protecting their jobs. If successive governments run a society for the benefit of all then there would be minimal need for child protection services – but once you pass laws in an attempt to change attitudes all you do is create more “offences.””

          You can add child protection , which is a good thing on paper , to the long list of new or amended laws meaning increased income for Lawyers in Scotland. Including cyclist law meaning driver guilt is presumed. Removal of double jep , a system to make our law enforcement more accountable for failure on taxpayer funded supply today – as well as protecting from harassment to bankruptcies by lords on the poor an tenant in history . Claires law , again like child protection good on paper but via removing the rights and liberties of the accused – straight to guilt without trial. Lastly the proposed removal of not proven – as well as juries themselves.

          The law is being geared towards wealth creation of the few , the only job where you get paid for failure repeatedly , well outside of politics anyway.

          On top of that you can add where communities cannot object to planning and LDP , and where it is now to be even further removed from community objection if the review is to be adopted – this while the SNP and Holyrood scream from the rooftops about community empowerment.

          This is not under a tory watch , from Westminster , this is from a party in power in Scotland.

          I will however still vote for them , and indy , and at the first chance have them in the village stocks soon after. So perhaps it is in their interest to fail , to keep the blinkered nat voter just out of reach of the promised land , because I doubt I am in a small minority in my thinking.

          So come indy II failure , which it will given the half arsed job on the economy first time around , there needs to be another option than NuAuldLabourNorthernBranchOfffice , Tory , or Liedem – but it sure as hell isnt anything on the horizon yet…. as long as it remains that way then the SNP will still occupy seats , still rewarded for failure , still creating jobs and income for the boys like those they once called out for the same.

  6. john young says:

    Hers a thumbs up Craig Millar,NATO is a tool of and for the madmen that now rule the western world,all baying for blood for Russian blood not mentioning that we will be cinders no mention of that eh! where will they be? where are they are they? are they in the front line in Syria/Iraq/Libya/Afghanistan? are their sons and daughters in the front line? not effin likely,we should leave all of these warmongering factions to get on with their war games,they are mad and dangerously so.

    1. c rober says:

      One look at nato tells you its a protection unit , from each formed word of the mandate – but the hidden subtext , the wealth created and protected for the few with the war machine funding by the taxpayer to do so , well thats a different subject.

      The west are creating the Russian problem , the blockade and/or siege on Russia has never worked , all it does is to enable their wealthy politicians to shift that income blaming on the masses.

      Thus the 3 meals scenario happens , but if you fill the masses with enough crap that its out of your hands , similar to the SNP on Holyrood failure , or Westminster with the brexit result , then they deflect anger and blame to the farting dog under the table…. that dog is the west , never their own political leaders eating beans.

  7. bringiton says:

    Xenophobia and a sense of self importance is not a recent aspect of English culture and has been around for as long as I can remember.
    However,when the political establishment and it’s press pack combine to use this as a cover for their abject failures,then the cat is truly out of the bag.
    It is taking a very long time for the London establishment to come to terms with the fact that they are no longer a world power and cannot continue to expend resources supporting that position.
    This view was tolerated by the international community as being an “eccentricty” attributed to mad dogs and Englishmen but now they see it as just plain mad and are increasingly wary in their dealings with Westminster.
    England is becoming an asylum for extreme political views and will become increasingly isolated in the global community unless they radically change their attitudes and realise that they need to cooperate with others in order to survive.
    Not optimistic.

    1. Jim Bennett says:

      I assume that Jo Cox’s replacement who is lauded in this article is a unionist. I’ve campaigned for independence since the mid 70s but do have the sense to recognise that not all no voters are monsters.

      1. Jim Bennett says:

        Sorry, the above comment was meant as a reply to the very first comment on the article but ended up here by accident.

      2. She’s not really lauded Jim, I know nothing about her. I was more focusing on the chaps showing such disrespect for a murdered MP and this being broadcast – people shouting abuse at someone giving a tribute to an MP murdered by a fascist

  8. Maemac says:

    I am a Scot, married to an Englishman, who has lived in England for 40 years. I have always thought of England as a largely moderate, tolerant place, especially while living in London. I moved to the countryside 6 years ago and in that time I have seen an ugliness seep through cracks in the veneer. A form of nationalism so brutish and ugly is coming to the fore. During Indyref1, comments such as “Why don’t the Scots f*** off back to Scotland” were made loudly within my earshot by people who had previously been friendly towards me, and I have heard names for black people that I thought had disappeared by the 1980s. I now feel there is a clash of cultures and would return to Scotland if independence could be gained. Scotland must insulate and inoculate itself from this regressive contagion which is sweeping Westminster and many, though not all, of the English people. Our position and reputation on the world stage depends on it.

    1. c rober says:

      the convenience of blame hounds.

      The London finance district of banking controls the WHOLE state unelected , the wealthy own the media , as seen with indy ref shot down at every opportunity.

      During indy it was “sponging subsidized scots are taking money away from little England” , during brexit the same but towards immigrants and the EU.

      But still the electorate remain uneducated , unemployed , unhoused , they only voted in a way that the wealthy had been directing them towards all along – for their short term gains , but long term it has back fired.

      Those personal gains weren’t created over the short term , they were created from 1979 to 1997 , and have doubled during austerity , conveiently amiss from the media they own. Where every single step enabled further wealth creation for the few….at the expense of the masses , importantly a blame hound was needed , and that was EU membership.

      The true reasons for Brexit though have been lack of wage increases , house price increases for the few that see housing not as a home but as an investment (further funding the banks that created austerity) , the Westminster lack of spending on infrastructure including housing , schools and the NHS – This in conjunction with nationalized taxpayer funded industry and utils sell offs , where the lions share of which went to the private sector on extreme discounts , and where foreign states will now own the energy grid – has all led to Brexit.

      No amount of “Cool or Rule” Britiania will change this , it needs to be reversed. At least in Scotland we can hopefully reject its continuation in an Indy ref II , as for England well it will not be able to vote to leave “itself” to get independence from its wealthy and elected masters.

      The money is not there to do retro investment to counteract generational under investment and sell offs . England has through voting , both for brexit and tory , created a perfect storm . There simply is not enough money in the pot to reverse it , to re invest , to renationalise , to show it was along the EU membership at fault. And to put a cherry on the cake has created another storm in that wake , a population drop that will fail to fund pensions without immigration.

      However on the Scottish level things may be better with proportions being smaller , and thus the problem being smaller , even if you exclude oil , or where Westminsters financials may be courted to Scotland instead…. but being a bonus only. But that single stumbling block for Scotland is the lack of a State Bank , yet this needs to be addressed asap , long before any indy II drive , a proper state bank – not a privately owned central one.

      As a nation in Europe , without said oil and London banking relocation , Scotland already is above its weight.

      As a potential EU member , it would sit something like 12th with GDP , and Globally 22nd. Where this is important is that Scotland and London are in a similar percentage in UK GDP , London 24 percent based on 11m people , and Scotland around 10 percent excl oil. So in any perfect storm scenarion , Scottish Indy , and the State of London indy , the UK loses nearly a third of its GDP.

      But these are not its only option , special status in EU from Westminster for remaining in the UK works on two levels courting London Banking north , where the talks for London to also remain in special status by Westminster has become in order to prevent it locating to Scotland , or Scotland through being independent of both the EU and UK , and perhaps becoming part of a Nordic Trade unit.

      The Nordic unit which already have similar economic models to Scotland , is perhaps better than EU ascension – more so in that A) London doesnt want this , B) the EU have showed just what it thinks of Scotland joining during Indy , ie putting hurdles at every corner.

      Then we also have the Spanish situation and Catalonia , and where France/Germany would be keen on the EU passport being prevented from becoming Edinburghs – and their own instead. Importantly by Scotland keeping/creating its own currency and levers , with other Nordic states keeping their own currency and levers too , being the important all round agreed premise and their preferred option.

      So in effect its hard for the SNP just now to offer an EU membership and indy mandate , or even a third option by approaching the Nordics towards an EU II lite. Personally I would like to see the Nordic model , where there would be further weight in EU negotiations on trade as a result , and where importantly economic levers remain.

      So if Indy failed with unanswered questions , then Scotland are now in Donald Rumsfeld land.

  9. Kitty Brewster says:

    This article perfectly encapsulate how this site and the whole YES movement has given up on attempting to advance it’s cause by using rational arguments or logic or facts.

    It is now wholly reliant on identity politics and living out a bizarre fantasy in which Scotland, whose people are uniquely enlightened and compassionate and progressive, is being oppressed and exploited by a Westminster government which has been inflicted upon us by the rest of the UK whose people are racist, greedy, ignorant etc.

    Please keep up the good work Mike. The increasingly delusional and bigoted ramblings of the likes of yourself, Rev Stuart Campbell and assorted other Cybernats are achieving more than I could ever hope to do to preserve the Union.

    For the avoidance of doubt here are some examples of delusional ramblings with my rebuttals:

    “the stench of fascism has been accommodated and explained for years in Britain”

    I can only assume that you regard anyone who expresses the mildest concerns about immigration as a fascist. Perhaps if, like me, your children had been taught in a primary school class where native English speakers were in a minority you might have some concerns. You will be aware that UKIP excludes from membership anyone who was ever a member of the BNP or National Front. The only party which stood at the last General Election which could possibly be described as fascist and it polled a grand total of 1,667 votes.

    “what a shitty little country”

    Not even attempting to hide your bigotry now.

    “Who wants to be a partner with a pariah?”

    Are you seriously suggesting that UK is seen as a pariah on the international stage ? Would you prefer that Scotland partnered with other progressive, anti-austerity nations such as Greece, North Korea and Venezuela ?

    “Britain First was shouted as Jo Cox was shot”.

    Despicable attempt to equate the tragic death of Ms Cox to a political assassination. Fairly standard tactic of leftists who never have anything to say about the mass murders committed in the name of progressive politics by Stalin. Mao, Pol Pot etc.

    “the litany of lies and disinformation that poured out of the (Better Together) campaign”

    Typically, you are unable to cite any specific lies or disinformation. Are you just doing this to stir up grievances ? Can I ask your opinion on one specific lie in the White Paper which promised tax revenue from North Sea oil of £7.5 billion per annum ? The actual revenue in the last fiscal year was £60 million – a shortfall of £3,000 for every household in Scotland.

    “the dynamism of Scottish self determination”

    Lovely words but utterly meaningless. Have you any specific practical suggestions about how this dynamism would reduce Scotland’s deficit/GDP from it’s current level of 9.5% to the 3% required to join the EU without massive cuts in public spending on health, education and welfare. I would point out that if an independent Scotland did not spend a single penny on defence the annual deficit would still be 6%.

    1. Thanks Kitty, I didn’t mention Scotland in terms of being enlightened or progressive once in this article.

      You say: “I can only assume that you regard anyone who expresses the mildest concerns about immigration as a fascist.”

      No I regard anyone who acts as a fascist to be a fascist. You can listen to them on the Channel 4 clip. I regard the states actions as outlined in the piece to be the cumulative steps towards a neo-fascism. None of this is really controversial.

      And if you can’t tell the difference between Bella and Wings then I can’t really help you any further.

    2. bringiton says:

      £60m collected by the Scottish government would be £60m more than we do at present.
      Strange how Westminster has always denied us the ability to raise all our own income.
      Anyone with a brain will not buy the generosity bit punted by Tory Unionists.

    3. c rober says:

      Kitty.

      Simple – Scotland indy means independent economic levers.

      It means all taxes raised in Scotland kept in Scotland.

      I could fall into you baited trap here about NSO , so I will.

      The UK would have been bankrupt without taking Scottish NSO – theres your fact , a historical fact when compared to the Mccrone report, and of course where Norway created a sovereign wealth fund from oil found at the same time – Where Norway is now gearing for a post oil economy , sitting on what 660 billion instead ?

      Compare that to the Uk , spent it all , removed industry instead of invested , and went to services and banking , enriching one region of the UK over the rest including the North of England , and of course geared further wealth for the few with Scottish RTB monies treated in the same manner as those from NSO.

      Lastly the comparing the death of a socialist to communist atrocities , shows you dont know the difference between them , and where an Englishman killed a woman purely because of racism… well it makes the commentators valid in their descriptions , more so when others of the same mindset scream over the acceptance speech mentioning her.

    4. Willie says:

      What a load of rabid unionist drivel. It just oozes out. Keep it up Kitty, yer good for a laff.

    5. Maria F says:

      Kitty

      “This article perfectly encapsulate how this site and the whole YES movement has given up on attempting to advance it’s cause by using rational arguments or logic or facts”
      -I thought however that it was a great article that highlighted beautifully the great dangers of flirting with xenophobia to hide the inadequacies and mismanagement of an incompetent government and more importantly, how different political and social trajectories England and Scotland are following.

      “It is now wholly reliant on identity politics and living out a bizarre fantasy in which Scotland, whose people are uniquely enlightened and compassionate and progressive, is being oppressed and exploited by a Westminster government which has been inflicted upon us by the rest of the UK whose people are racist, greedy, ignorant etc”
      -I am however very grateful to Bella for offering to people like me a good alternative and a different perspective to the outrageous unionist bias that we are continuously bombarded with in the MSM. It is a breath of fresh air to come to Bella and read relevant and thought provoking articles without the unionist ‘censorship’ and ‘airbrushing’ that are now a permanent feature in the MSM. I am also grateful for being allowed to express an opinion and read, contest or discuss the different points of views that intelligent and civilised people make in their comment section, without ended up upset, disgusted or being called a cybernat simply for expressing my views.

      “Please keep up the good work Mike”
      -Yes Mike, please do!

      “The increasingly delusional and bigoted ramblings of the likes of yourself, Rev Stuart Campbell and assorted other Cybernats…”
      -Are nothing compared to the arrogance, sense of entitlement, lack of ethics and integrity shown by the unionist parties in Scotland who dare to think it was okay to deceive the electorate of Scotland, cheat and offer a myriad of promises to win a vote, so the promises could be then been broken one by one soon if not immediately after the NO vote was acquired.

      “are achieving more than I could ever hope to do to preserve the Union”
      -Then why do you whine about it, Kitty? You should be ecstatic.

      “I can only assume that you regard anyone who expresses the mildest concerns about immigration as a fascist”
      -You can assume what you wish, but at the end of the day Kitty it is just your assumption, nothing else. Presuming that your assumptions hold any true is, quite frankly, as arrogant as presuming that riding a tank turret will make you look brave.

      “Perhaps if, like me, your children had been taught in a primary school class where native English speakers were in a minority you might have some concerns”
      -What concerns exactly Kitty?

      “You will be aware that UKIP excludes from membership anyone who was ever a member of the BNP or National Front”
      -Oh well, now we can only breath deep in relief!
      What about the Tory party members flirting with xenophobia during their speeches in the Tory conference? What about the ‘lists of immigrants’ proposed by a member of the Tory party at that conference? What about the complete lack of humanity by the Tory party treating the EU citizens as bargaining chips? What about the last QT program where a Polish lady was booed by the audience? What about the booing against the two teachers? And what about the comments of that young girl asking why she should feel threaten for speaking her mind about rejecting brexit? care to elaborate the stance of UKIP and more importantly for Scotland, the Tory party currently in government when an 85% of the electorate voting in Scotland during the GE rejected them at the polls?

      “what a shitty little country”
      -Sadly, thanks to the absolute incompetence and complete lack of moral compass of those in power, and regrettably for all the honest people living in England, this is the way it is looking. By the way, how is the investigation into the Tory party electoral funding fraud going? Any advancement on that?

      “Not even attempting to hide your bigotry now”
      -Bigotry you said Kitty? Well, have you been to sections of comments within the MSM in the last three years, even that beacon of political correctness that is our national broadcaster? Well I have and I stopped reading any of those because I ended up sick to the stomach an at the verge of tears with the number of times Scotland and the Scottish people were portrayed as a country of English haters, benefit scroungers, only able to survive thanks to the crumbs that the rest of the UK gives us via the Barnett formula. Things that are completely untrue. I never saw any attempt by the moderators or editors of those rags to make any effort to hide the hatred for anything that could put Scotland under a successful light.

      Talking about bigotry, Kitty, what do you have to say about the rejection of the Turing bill by those MPs representing the establishment? And what about the constant attacks to the Scottish Government by unionists, the demeaning of the SNP in the MSM and by connection, of all the electorate in Scotland who democratically elected that party to represent them?

      Bigotry you say Kitty? Scotland has had to endure it for 300 years and counting.

      “Who wants to be a partner with a pariah?”
      Who indeed Kitty?

      “Are you seriously suggesting that UK is seen as a pariah on the international stage ?
      You ought to ask that question to the rest of the world, actually. May I suggest you start with some of those EU leaders that are a bit fed up with the current uppity attitude of the British government? You could perhaps continue with all those in the ME that have suffered the consequences of British military intervention.

      “Would you prefer that Scotland partnered with other progressive, anti-austerity nations such as Greece, North Korea and Venezuela ?”
      My preferred option Kitty is Scotland to stand as a sovereign and independent country, in full control of its own affairs and natural resources and remaining in the EU with countries that share a similar progressive view. Why that option is not included in your question Kitty? To deceive into making believe you have given a choice? Too late. That con trick was worn thin by unionist politicians. The best example of it being the removal of the option of Devo Max from the ballot in indiref1. Remember?

      “Britain First was shouted as Jo Cox was shot”.
      broadcasters and the MSM said that. Are you saying that we should not trust the MSM and the broadcasters? I think we may well agree on that.

      “Despicable attempt to equate the tragic death of Ms Cox to a political assassination”
      Well, an embarrassing performance of this was made by the MSM Kitty. Are you considering directing your comment at them too?

      “F2airly standard tactic of leftists who never have anything to say about the mass murders committed in the name of progressive politics by Stalin. Mao, Pol Pot etc”
      Leftists you say? Well, I will be damned. I thought the SNP was portrayed as ‘the Tartan Tories’, Nats… is that no what the Unionists say? Och well, who is going to believe anything they say now after all them porkies on the way to indiref1 and all the broken promises they churned.

      “the litany of lies and disinformation that poured out of the (Better Together) campaign”
      Well, you don’t say Kitty. Wasn’t that disgusting?

      “Typically, you are unable to cite any specific lies or disinformation”
      Are you able to cite any specific truth at all that they said during the campaign? I can’t.

      “the dynamism of Scottish self determination”
      Sounds beautiful, doesn’t it?

      “Lovely words but utterly meaningless”
      That is exactly how I have felt since 18th September 2014 about Brown’s Devo Max to the Max and since 23rd June 2016 about the words ‘In fact the opposite is true’ (Davidson implying that voting NO would secure Scotland in the EU). In fact, this is how I feel about any words that come now from unionist politician’s mouths.

      “Have you any specific practical suggestions about how this dynamism would reduce Scotland’s deficit/GDP from it’s current level of 9.5% to the 3% required to join the EU without massive cuts in public spending on health, education and welfare”

      By taking control of our economy, ports, external exports, food industry jobs, transport, resources, VAT etc so they can be used for the betterment of Scotland and not to cover the eye-watering 120bn deficit of external trade that England currently has.

      The tories decided to cut the subventions for the renewables industry in Scotland, possibly because Scotland cannot be seen as a prosper country, otherwise the peddling of the ‘basket case’ lie would not stick with the jocks. But don’t you think it is incredibly hypocritical that a massive cable under sea water is being now built to transfer electricity to England from the wind turbines in Scotland? The basket case providing electricity to the main engine of the Union? How does that work?

      ” I would point out that if an independent Scotland did not spend a single penny on defence the annual deficit would still be 6%”
      Right, and if Scotland didn’t spend a penny on defence (including the monstruosity of Trident), what would be the total deficit in the rUK?
      How much would be the deficit of the rUK if all the taxes risen in Scotland were used in Scotland?
      How much would be the deficit of the rUK if all the revenue from the oil was kept in Scotland?
      How would the rUK deficit be affected if all those jobs currently packing and preparing Scottish food in England were done in Scotland so Scotland doesn’t have to import them back to put them in the shelves of the Scottish supermarkets?
      how would the rUK deficit be affected if most travelers from Scottish airports didn’t have to make transfer in England airports at all?
      How would the rUK deficit be affected if in an independent Scotland the HQ of some of those businesses and banks currently in London were moved to Scotland?
      How would be the rUK deficit if all the money that Scotland pays for infrastructure in the rUK (vanity projects in London) is invested exclusively in Scotland?
      How would be the rUK deficit if all Scottish produce currently exported from English ports was exported directly from Scotland?
      How would the rUK deficit be affected if all the TV licence money risen in Scotland remained in Scotland?

      Now think in how all those changes together with a Scottish national bank could impact your 6% deficit in an independent Scotland. How does that look?

      Well, that is my plan. Could we hear yours now, please?

    6. Graeme Purves says:

      Is there a strong enough pickling agent to preserve the Union?

      1. Maria F says:

        Graeme Purves

        Embalming fluid?

    7. wul says:

      Kitty,

      You said: “Can I ask your opinion on one specific lie in the White Paper which promised tax revenue from North Sea oil of £7.5 billion per annum”

      This is factually incorrect. The White Paper gave an “Estimate of Scotland’s financial position (2016/17)”

      An projected estimate, based on the current price of a commodity, is not a “promise”. There was no promise, there was no lie.

      PS: My daughter goes to a Scottish university where 90% of her classmates are non-natives (born in a different country, beginning with “E”). Doesn’t bother her, doesn’t bother me.

  10. Alf Baird says:

    The Tory/Right domination of UK politics implies one of two constitutional outcomes for Scotland: either (1) we are cast off, or (2) we are dissolved. The latter is probably a slight favourite.

  11. florian albert says:

    ‘the stench of fascism’

    George Orwell commented, over 70 years ago, on the left’s pointless denunciation of everything they disagreed with as fascism.

    ‘The Sun vilified Gary Lineker’

    When Bella Caledonia gives a platform to Phil Mac Giolla Bhain, banned by The Sun for bigotry, the phrase about pots and kettles comes to mind.

    ‘What a shitty little country.’ I assume you refer to England. That comment tells us much about Mike Small and nothing about England.

    1. Thanks ‘Florian Albert’. If you hate me and my site and my views so much why are you here?

      I think you’ll find I’m not alone in finding the present political culture repulsive.

      Here’s Adam Bienkov:
      http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2016/10/21/vilification-of-child-refugees-makes-me-fear-for-my-country

      Here’s Ian Jack:
      https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/22/english-nationalism-belonging-britain-scottish-independence?CMP=share_btn_tw

      Neither are nationalists or even Yes voters.

      There’s millions of people who find these developments disturbing and no I wasn’t denouncing ‘everything I disagreed with as fascists’ I was denouncing fascists as fascists. You do know who was heckling o the C4 clip don’t you?

      But I do love your idea that someone being ‘banned by The Sun’ is somehow some mark of shame. Being banned by the Sun should be an honour.

      In your world the Sun is some kind of metric of decency.

      There is a stench of fascism in the air. If you can’t smell it

      1. Craig Miller says:

        The grim poverty and politically toxic nuckledragging culture of the ex mill towns of NW England… Burnley.. Blackburn.. Bury… would easily qualify for the epithet “shitey little country” BNP / UKIP views held from the middle class Wimpy laagers to the broken window sink estates…uuuugh….

      2. Willie says:

        What rannygazzoo is this progressive cul de sac you speak of Yan. A large dose of the mumbo jumbo me thinks. Are you real or an ideological fraud.

      3. florian albert says:

        Mike Small

        I find it troubling that you jump from me criticizing you to me hating you.

        You make no attempt to defend your comment about calling England a ‘shitty little country.’
        Similarly, you fail to defend giving a platform to somebody – de facto – banned from mainstream radio, TV and newspapers in Scotland.

        Your defence of your use of the word fascism is weak. (You cite Ian Jack who does not use this word and whose article is, unlike yours, measured.)
        There are very, very few fascists in the UK. Fascism is not a problem.

        In the UK, there is huge concern about the level of immigration. The same applies to Sweden, Denmark, France, Germany, USA, Austria, Hungary, Italy and many other countries.
        In most of these countries, the left has slid towards oblivion because it is more concerned with the politics of denunciation than the concerns of ordinary people.

        Why am I here ? I assume that BC is a forum for discussion rather than an echo chamber.

        1. c rober says:

          Lithuania , Luxembourg and bears – oh my.

          While there is many heated discussions about immigration , eu into UK , I thought I would bring up these two countries. One having effectively banned EMIGRATION , the other banned immigrants in elections.

          Its true the EU isnt perfect , Germany keen to fill its job markets through Merkel , for funding future pensions , opened the door to 1m Syrian et all North African immigrants.

          When I was in Germany pre and post unification , they despised the Turks their largest minority , then the East Germans , in that they were taking jobs – Actually the former were only taking the crap jobs , not the educated jobs , and housed much like immigrants in Southern France in near no go zones , where all crime was blamed on nationally. And of course with the East Germans the honeymoon of reunification was short lived , but eventually after much purging of the communist entrenched it worked.

          Only today on the Euro news channels did I see there was , or is to be , an official referendum on preventing any more youth drain through Lituanias govt. The situation is dire , population under 60 has fallen off a cliff – and unexpected to return. This means no healthcare , no workers , and this is where it gets important – may well become an entry point for any Russian influence as a result , even from those that remember how bad it was back then , they simple may choose the rock over the hard place. However we have a situation where there is perhaps a solution for migrants and refugees here?

          Italy , a country also suffering similar demographic shifts are putting the refugrants to work , and repairing some of the decades of under worked lemon terraces and rebuilding long abandoned villages rurally. They are of course unofficially accepting Christian migrants as a preference , so not maybe as benevolent as it may seem , just like the German case.

          Luxembourg – only as recent as last year it decided to mandate that those not born in the country are prevented from running official office or indeed voting during elections. Which is of course against EU policy – but gaze averted , probably more so today given the many discussions from EU member states in wanting a membership referendum of their own. The EU passport for banking may also go there – where both France and Germany dont want each other to have it , which is probably the true reason why London got it in the first place.

          Greece – Other than Italy one of the major landing points for North African refugrants , is allowed to hurry them on. Another part of the treaty broken , in that refugees must claim asylum in point of entry. However given the state of the Greek economy , then this if enforced would probably by the final straw for its EU membership – and of course more a German problem due to the banks that loaned them so much rebranded marks.

          So what for Scotland then , it is facing a head wind , into a union , from possibly exiting another where the grass is greener only in the mind.

          So surely there should be another option , another kind of union being researched – and I reckon that is a Nordic one , perhaps widened with Canada , Iceland , Greenland , NI , also…. opening up many markets , and of course preventing those wanting a TTIP one. Those of you keen on the maths may want to research the combined GDP , its comparable to the EU one if not greater.

    2. Graeme Purves says:

      Interesting! I assumed Mike was referring to Britain.

    3. wul says:

      I assumed Mike was speaking about Britain. It didn’t strike me as a particularly controversial remark.

      “This place is a shithole” myself & my friends would often declare about our home town or indeed Scotland. It’s just a way of expressing disgust with the prevailing state of a place, town, country or workplace.

      In terms of the UK my take has been “what a shitty country, lets try to change it”….”oh my vote doesn’t count”…”oh my vote doesn’t count”…repeat ad nauseum.

      Eventually this became “what a shitty country, lets try to start a better one”

  12. Donnie MacLachlan says:

    ‘The case for Scotland has to be made, but the case for Britain has collapsed.’

    I would make this subtle change:

    ‘The case for Scotland has to be revised, the case for Britain has completely collapsed.’

    Within the space of two years, the ‘perceptions’ of Scotland has changed positively and the uk negatively, we need to make hay with this right now and right up to Indy ref 2!

    1. Well it has to be re-made and revised. I’m worried neither is really happening.

      And yes I think you’re right the significant pillars of the No argument: economic security, cultural pluralism, political solidity have all completely collapsed.

      1. c rober says:

        To achieve this indy II , it has to be on many fronts , not just political but economical. It wasnt the political argument that failed first time , but the economical one – sure it had drivers to ensure it though.

        GERS – needs destroyed and proven as a lie.

        The weighted measuring of the GERS reports means that a clear and calm head is needed to destroy it. IE where Scottish national debt is combined with London projects and of course Trident – two of which would be removed in the calculations. Actually I think that Holyrood should also be revising those results , and “adjusting” them – highlighting where those drains are on the Scottish economy , where it has no direct benefit from them.

        Creation of a state bank.

        Perhaps through a Scottish version of the NSandI , and through councils banks , seeing as how banks are disappearing from the High ST .

        This ensures councils become house builders and hold mortgages , not merely planners and council tax benefitters – This I cannot stress enough solves more than one problem, ie where Councils can use those mortgages as collateral for the open markets for funding gaps in extreme situations , and in returning RTB to where it can fund at least in part further social housing.

        But of course we also need to empower councils into being builders not instead using contractors , where reduced wages means reduced rent for employees , and tariffs on private landlords – freeing up market housing. However given that so many of our politicians are private land lords I think that would be a non starter.

        NHS – Pay to use , for those that want same day service , 12 hour opening , 6 day a week.

        Workers are the forgotten bunch when it comes to service supply , and importantly the drivers of GDP , a three week wait is becoming the norm for appointments.

        So the sooner workers see doctors , as I said with a “donation” cost for same day , the sooner they are returned to work and of course doctor wages , extra staffing , part funded in the process.

        There is recognized benefits here compared to the use of A and E services , becoming the norm , and the increased costs.

        This may have to ironically rely on immigration , unless we tackle it through part funding degrees with golden handcuffs. There is a secondary benefit here in that those newly qualified , and the cost of that degree being reduced through say a council bursary , thus extra gdp not simply loan repayments to international private banks , through local ones long left the local High St.

        AGR – Theres at least one or two that frequent here that can explain that in detail. Shifting the tax burden on those that own the most land , more so when it is unused.

        Nationalizing energy supply.

        This is achieved if we look at it generational , just like banks operate , where taxation is used to create the foundations.

        France still has a nationalised energy supply , as do regions in Germany , Norway too.

        I cannot stress how important securing energy supply is for any Govt , as has Westminster just began to find out with possible Chinese and French ownership of Nuclear generating power – where the South East can easily be held to ransom.

        Prisons and Unemployment.

        Crime and punishment , or rehabilitation of offenders?

        Sadly the majority of offenders in Scottish Jails is for offences committed on their own communities. Where the GREATER community is funding that imprisonment.

        Circa 25k a year plus per inmate.

        While Scotland has a relatively small prison population compared to America , a model from that country could work , ie using them to pay for their own upkeep , rather than to create profit for private companies on the back of tax payer funding.

        What I suggest then is that the current system is wrong , and can be enabled to empower the communities they have blighted , this is done through training and supply.

        Training and supply means that criminals are trained during their term for jobs on the outside , while this isnt new , the costs are increased and without any immediate return. There is another option.

        Through the creation of new more open prisons , as work and training factories for flat pack housing , for both the social and private sector as affordable , then we see near immediate returns on investment. Housing supply increased , council land used rather than sold to private developers , and rents and sale income as that return on investment.

        Of course this also means at the end an offender returning to a community with a skill , as well as a home in an improved area , where social rented and affordable bought are in the same street.

        While this is only just tip of the iceberg for economical argument for indy , it is something that needs to be addressed in any manual arguing for it – long before the lids come off the bookies pens come the voting date.

  13. Craig Miller says:

    Anyone who opines ” you are doing more than I ever could to preserve the Union”….. Isn’t really keeping up with what’s actually happening….. not my party…. but the SNP are maintaining their share of the vote on the back of a resilient YES2 movement..winning Glasgow by elections.
    . england is a divided backstabbing accident waiting to happen by comparison

  14. Willie says:

    But will the chattering classes ever stand up to the fascism that is now so clearly extant in our land. Or will we, like in 1930s Germany stand idly by.

  15. Yan says:

    The SNP have hoodwinked the Scottish people into a progressive cul-de-sac, the independence movement never had the political depth to deliver as it was mostly in-group (social) navel-gazing and a selfie-op distribution network. In the name of good, Scottish totalitarianism can not be challenged – government named persons lists, the celebration of food banks and an unaccountable unitary police force.

    The progressive Scots chattering classes reduced to the politics of dentistry as they self righteously chew on a globalist immigration agenda while the teeth of Scottish children rot.

    There is no globalist third way to Scottish independence the progressive cabal of the independence movement has perpetrated an ideological fraud against a nation of people.

    Indyref2 … lol!

    1. Crubag says:

      I don’t know about that, but dentistry is an example of stealth privitisation and a possible portent for the rest of the NHS.

      I haven’t seen any political party willing to take dentistry fullyu back into the NHS and observe the principle of free at the point of use.

    2. Graeme Purves says:

      Havering blethers.

    3. Pilrig says:

      A regressive writes.

  16. Ed says:

    If Ms May can repeal the E.U. treaty, then Scotland can repeal the 1707 act of union !! we are the other half of that union, a sovereign nation joined in a sufocating aliance. End it as soon as possible.

    1. c rober says:

      The act of union could have been repealed many times during the time frame , from days after it was signed to even today – citing the breaking of the conditions , specifically the protection of Scots law which has been since been removed.

      However this contract was created when a handful of entitled and a church decided on Scotlands future , one group in debt due to personal greed , the other for nothing other than religious hate for preventing a Catholic monarchy in Scotland.The latter of course is a matter of blinkers and divisive , so is often rarely mentioned in any SNP rhetoric – for fear of division (nay dilution) on the unionist , royalist vote – lets say thats the political accountants in action.

      But when it comes to using and amending those laws , Holyrood do act- well for the lawyers income FIRST on the Scots , and so enriching the legal establishment seems to be the only conclusion. Hardly surprising really , one only needs to google the info on the party , and see that it has a history of Legals past and present.

      Where are those same legals on the act of union being broken , sitting absolutely silent , but where they to have UK law forced on Scotland seen on the horizon , decided in Westminster instead of by their own like in Holyrood , well I think they would be less silent.

      If the SNP and Holyrood TRULY want an independent Scotland , then they have to fight for it.

      But failing to use Scots law in recent history against Westminster , it proves they have no interest in anything other than comfy employment in middle management , ensured if not aided by the very establishment they are supposed to fight….. and where both Holyrood and Westminster are artists for supplying , like all politicians , the bare minimum in order to return once again next election….. thus mandating laws and legislation in their own pockets favour once more.

      They could have used the Westminster use of the English court of appeal as a reason for repealing the act , like the treatment of benefit claimants in having their rights denied forcing staff to break the law , or that the TV licence is indeed an unfair tax funding BBC England thus declared its collection illegal.

      If they want a different result for indy II , well they need bite , then they need to be the midge to Westminster might…. with that fight , losing or winning , comes the numbers needed.

      The blame game of “Westminster fault” only works for so long , even with blind generational voting as the likes have Slab still havent realised yet – after two elections. The SNP would do best to realise that with an INDY II failure its downhill from there.

      1. Alf Baird says:

        “If the SNP and Holyrood TRULY want an independent Scotland , then they have to fight for it.”

        Excellent post with interesting suggestions on how to end the Union. ‘Fighting’ for independence to the SNP leadership involves mere knocking on doors to get re-elected, as they diligently provide oor Westminster maisters with a placid, ‘competent’, devolved unionist lapdog administration. The 56 SNP MPs who represent 95% of Westminster seats throughout Scotland could call time on this unjust oppressive union any time they wanted. Mind you they would have to give up their unionist salary and perks!

      2. Yan says:

        Several years into destructive benefit sanctions and the SNP and the collective might of Scotland’s third sector social justice warriors can not even mitigate never mind stop benefit sanctions.

        The truth is that for the Scots aspirational class the poverty of other Scots is a lucrative social enterprise.

  17. Alf Baird says:

    The turnout of 84.6% in the 2014 Scottish referendum does seem historically and unbelievably extreme when compared with the 55.6% turnout at elections to the Scottish Parliament in May this year, only 20 months later, or the following month for the EU referendum, when the Scottish turnout was 67.2%. Some 20% of voters appear to have simply disappeared.

    1. Yan says:

      As dubious as Scotland’s un/employment statistics, both sides have a vested interest in tidy sums. Thousands of Scottish workers appear to have have disappeared into the oblivion of economic inactivity.

  18. Britannia, the sinking feeling says:

    Fool Britannia, Britannia cannot rule the waves. The Russian battle fleet sailing through the English Channel could make a left hand turn at the Thames, drop anchor, order pizza and vodka for an overnight party and leave in the morning without any interference from you pommy piss ants. greeting from not your Autralian cousins.

    1. c rober says:

      Russia is doing what the west banks are doing too , printing money.

      This is the only way their armies are paid , their pensioners fed , and as for russian military might , in machinery they would be better off with the reliability of Chinese made – haha. Still if you had old enemies in larger numbers on your door step you would want a big stick.

      The big bear has one big sabre to rattle , and that is nukes. Which is more than likely the reason why they dont want America to have a junk yard dog in Eastern Europe – as a missile defense shield – negating that fear for Americans mostly.

      If the west truly wants change then its needs to bite harder with sanctions and embargoes , this is probably where Putin is positioning in Syria – in order to have a market , and of course a supplier to aid in establishing the region as Russoohiles. This is quite ironic considering the West has done it for decades , and of course Britain for hundreds of years.

      With the gear up of the KURDS and the Iraqis , and the bringing in of Iran to the annoyance of the Saudis and Isreal whom seem awfully quiet , then we see why the region has began to fight back isis/isil. While the west is reluctant to send in any armies , merely offering training and bought war machine sundries , it is supplying air support in miniscule amounts to appear hands off – it isnt , its the old domino prevention taught in Schools… and one that shows again that foreign boots on the ground dont work.

      When it comes to isil , when the west had the mad dogs in control , those puppets they helped install the region was stable. Since then though how many millions dead or arriving on European shores?

      When it comes to further sanctions on Russia then the only real option left is embargoes on those that trade with it , China , North Korea and the projected rise of the likes of countries like Syria joining as America gets self dependent on oil and gas. Through Russian aid , in defeating not just isis but also their local rebels keen to dispose of their dictators , more like Syria will come to Putins table.

      Cia handbook in reverse , “create that vacuum” , but allow someone else to fill it.

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