Standard Life’s Far Right Board needs exposing:
Keith Skeoch, Executive Director of Standard Life, is on the Board of Reform Scotland, the neo-conservative lobby group which wants to abolish the minimum wage, privatize the NHS and pensions, and still further restrict trade unions.
It is difficult for Tories openly to campaign against Scottish Independence as everyone in Scotland hates them, so they do it with their corporate hats on. This is most of the board of Standard Life:
Garry Grimstone, Chairman, “lead non-executive” at the Ministry of Defence, London
Keith Skeoch, Executive Director, right wing political lobbyist
Crawford Gillies, Non Executive Director, Chairman of Control Risk Group, of London, the “security consultancy” of choice for ex MI5 and MI6 officers
Noel Harwerth, non-executive Director, Director of “London First” – [Honestly, I am not making this up]
David Nish – Chief Executive, Member of the “UK Strategy Committee” of “TheCity UK”. “TheCity UK” being a body of the City of London.
John Paynter, non-executive Director, was vice chairman of JP Morgan Cazenove until the 2008 crash
Amazing that lot oppose independence, huh?
Standard Life also threatened to leave at the time of the devolution referendum and gave out No campaign materials to staff. “Leave” of course is a relative concept – the above bunch just pop up from London from time to time to check on how the serfs are doing.
I published this information on 27 February when they last tried to influence the independence debate. Standard Life is again trying today to influence the referendum campaign by a press release claiming it will move key departments to London in the event of independence, enthusiastically amplified by the BBC, Guardian and all the other reactionary media.
Well, here is an opposing press release, from me. If anybody thinks that an Independent Scotland will be a place where major strategic companies can still be controlled by swivel-eyed right wing ideologues, they may get a very nasty shock from the people of Scotland.
Of course, Alex Salmond is correct that Westminster has mounted a conspiracy to defeat the Yes campaign in the coming referendum, but he does his cause no good by claiming so.
Quote:
of course this is a truth followed by a mis-truth, Human Science Operations rely on the attacked population not-knowing that they are being attacked.
When they are aware of the Online Covert Action, Persona management and related campaigns, it serves to defuse much of the doom laden messages. Honesty is the first victim in wars, Scotland voting (in which I am neutral) is another of 2014’s information wars
I see a vile old bigot has passed away, no not Netenyahu or Queen Lizzie, mores the pity, but a one Ian Paisley, though to the devils disciple some credit, he did help broker peace with McGuinness. No doubt Cameron could do with such a agent provocateur, in Scotland at the moment.
Syria Next on Hit List
ISIS is a side issue at best
by John V. Walsh / September 11th, 2014
Obama took to the airwaves yesterday, oh so coincidentally, on the eve of September 11, to roll out his latest “smart war.” And it comes, oh so coincidentally, just before Congressional midterms when every member of Congress fears like the plague to be painted as a dove, just as happened in 2002 before Bush II took us to war.
Whatever role ISIS plays in this, Syria is certainly the target. It is telling that when it comes to money, Obama is asking Congress only for funding to train the Syrian “moderate rebels” in that bastion of Sunni moderation, Saudi Arabia.
The rationales that Obama is peddling make no sense. If the barbarity of beheading were the actual trigger of this latest onslaught on the Middle East, then the U.S. would not be sending our “moderate” trainees to Saudi Arabia where beheading is a well respected national past time – far more popular than allowing women to drive automobiles.
/..
http://dissidentvoice.org/2014/09/syria-next-on-hit-list/
I see Scotland is in the mist of a nasty infection, of Westminster politicians, and BBC broadcasters, it could be seen as an equivalent, to the Ebola virus, as once you encounter any of them you go into a nasty decline (Well economically anyway).But the Ricin of UK politics has only found its way to Scotland today under the alias of Nigel Farage, who will try and spread his morally defunct mantra, as far and wide in Scotland as depleted uranium is in Iraq.
I see wee bald Willie Hague,is in Glasgow preaching to the already converted handpicked acolytes, about how Scottish independence would be a “Tragic Mistake” Wee bald Willie once said he was “A man of the people” and that he drank upwards of 10 pints a night.
Others have also tried the “Man of the people” approach, most recently we had Ed Miliband eating chips from a McDonalds type carton, a most reassuring act, that would instantly change any undecided vote to vote Team Miliband.
Anon1
11 Sep, 2014 – 6:31 pm
“So obsessed about Israel she finds the most tenuous of excuses to get it in to a post about Scottish independence.”
—————————————–
Nothing tenuous about this Anon1:
Scottish Zionists in Better Together camp:
“And yet, things have become gradually darker for Scotland’s Jews in the last 30 years and Alex Salmond’s Scottish National Party (SNP) , which has precipitated the current move towards independence, has not filled the community with confidence.”
“Beyond September 18, if the vote goes in the Scottish Nationalists’ favour, is the great unknown. Besides the currency issue, will there be a border? Will there be passports? Will those, like me, who were born in Scotland, require such a document if they want to go and visit their family?”
[Stupid questions]
“Nobody knows. Scotland’s Jews are keeping the lowest of low profiles, nervous of putting their heads above the parapet. Some of the events of the last few years have left them twitchy and uncomfortable, no longer sure of their automatic welcome.”
[playing the victimhood card]
“The latest fighting in Gaza in the summer months only emphasized the difficulties: Glasgow City Council’s decision to fly a Palestinian flag of solidarity above the City Chambers, the endless rows over Israeli cultural participation in the annual Edinburgh Festival arts jamboree.”
[criticism of Israel is anti-Semitism]
“It doesn’t exactly help that one of the most vociferous of anti-Israel MPs, George Galloway, although he sits for an English constituency, is a fiercely out and proud Scot.”
[The author sidesteps the fact that George Galloway is a resolute NO supporter but she presumably mentions him because Zionists regard him as being anti-Semitic]
“Nor does it help that much of the direction of the anti-Zionist “debate” is run by active Scottish trade unionists; that the boycott campaign is alive and flourishing throughout the country.”
“In August the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities called on public bodies to recognise the growing number of incidents of anti-Semitism in Scotland. And Alex Salmond, who has made several avuncular visits to the country’s only Jewish school, Calderwood Lodge, and who is said privately to be on good terms with many of Scotland’s Jewish leaders, has kept relatively quiet.”
“This is the man who is on track to become Scotland’s prime minister should the referendum go his way.”
“…if Scotland leaves the United Kingdom, it’s a safe bet that many more of the community will head south, where they know their rights will be taken seriously by a Westminster government of whatever political complexion.”
“I am really sad that the same cannot still be said with any certainty of the future of Jews in Scotland.”
http://www.jewishjournal.com/opinion/article/why_scottish_jews_are_nervous_over_the_independence_referendum
The author conflates, as do all Zionists, criticism of Israel, support for Palestinians, BDS and PSC demonstrations with anti-Semitism. Very sad people.
The Orange Orders drums will beat louder for the Rev Ian Paisley tomorrow in Edinburgh.
My memories of him during the troubles are not good ones.He was war mongering,Catholic hating and the one person who is synonymous with the Protestant Mantra “No surrender”
I cant imagine that they are making space for him up the way.
David Cameron pressed, supermarket bosses, behind closed doors yesterday, to go public with claims that an independent Scotland would face price hikes. Surprisingly this unionist clanger was reported by none other than the BBC’s economics editor, Robert Peston.
Of course you wouldn’t get that beady eyed Nick Robinson committing himself to anything that represented proper journalism. Anyway the one to one, cosy chat between supermarket bosses, and David Cameron, seems to have backfired in spectacular fashion.
Though ASDA and John Lewis have said prices may have to rise in an independent Scotland, that’s fine by the average consumer as there’s plenty more competitive stores to shop in. Strangely it would appear that ASDA and John Lewis have done their businesses more harm than good, and both could suffer a boycott by disgruntled shoppers, I do hope so.
Seems to me, YouKnowMyName, that the defusion stops when one calls something a political conspiracy, even if true, rather than “…they are just ganging up on me.”
The Orange Orders drums will beat louder for the Rev Ian Paisley tomorrow in Edinburgh.
Good potential for violence there, and I hope to anyone’s God that it doesn’t kick off. If the OO had proposed to march for Yes (lol), they wouldn’t have been allowed to, for sure.
Forget Mons Meg, for just a minute, the YES camp rolled out their own Blunderbuss, in the shape of Canon Kenyon Wright yesterday. Canon Wright is one of the founding members of the Scottish Parliament.
Canon Wright said in an emotional speech yesterday, ” I know the powerful will say no, I believe the people will say yes.”
I couldn’t have put it better myself.
Head of UK’s biggest private healthcare company backs No
By Martin Kelly
The chairman of Britain’s private healthcare giant BUPA has given his backing to the No campaign it has emerged.
Lord Leitch declared his backing for Better Together in a communication signed by other pro-Union businesspeople that will be published by the Better Together campaign.
More –
http://members5.boardhost.com/medialens/thread/1410423300.html
Lord Leitch (Leech?)
Alexander Park Leitch, Baron Leitch (b. Fife, Scotland 20 October 1947) is a British Labour peer and Chairman of Bupa and Intrinsic Financial Services. Having just stepped down as Deputy Chairman at Lloyds Banking Group plc and as Chairman of Scottish Widows plc, he is currently adviser to Lloyds Banking Group’s Chairman and to the CEO. He is also a Trustee of the Lloyds Banking Group Charitable Foundation. He is Chancellor of Carnegie College, Chairman of a new think tank called ‘The Centre for Modern Families’ and strategic adviser to a Prince of Wales charity called PRIME.
Lord Leitch’s previous experience includes:
Lloyds Banking Group plc (2005-2012) – a board member with a variety of roles including Chairman of Scottish Widows plc, LBG Risk Oversight Committee Chair, LBG Senior Independent Director and finally as LBG Deputy Chairman.
Paternoster UK Ltd (2006-2010) – Non-Executive Director for four years prior to selling the company to Goldman Sachs.
United Business Media plc (2005-2007) – Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director.
Medical Aid Films – just stepped down as Chairman of this infant and maternal mortality charity.
National Portrait Gallery of Scotland – chaired the raising of £17 million of funds to refurbish the gallery
..
2004 Blunkett scandal[
Leitch became involved in the 2004 scandal over the then Home Secretary’s extra-marital affairs. It was revealed by the British press that Leitch had had a relationship, during 1999, with Kimberley Quinn, the publisher who later had an affair with David Blunkett.
Relationship with Tony Blair and Gordon Brown
Lord Leitch is a close friend of Tony Blair and it is suspected that he helped Blair to gain work with Zurich following his retirement as Prime Minister. He became one of Blair’s “most trusted business advisers” during his tenure at No. 10. Leitch is also described as a “confidante” of Gordon Brown.
~~
Lovely man.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Leitch,_Baron_Leitch
Jesus, they finally pulled the plug on Paisley!
Why didn’t the wait until after the referendum?
Sounds like a conspiracy to me.
Even the Israelis waited to pull the plug on Ariel Sharon when they thought it was safe to do so.
Good potential for violence there, and I hope to anyone’s God that it doesn’t kick off. If the OO had proposed to march for Yes (lol), they wouldn’t have been allowed to, for sure.
———————–
On the contrary, I hope the Orange Order kick off, in spectacular fashion, and with the worlds press on hand, it would be a Coup De Grace, for the no camp.
The NO vote cannot lose whatever happens during the OO march.
Before going through features, provided by these services,
you need to know what Elo boosting service is all about.
S , 57 degrees centigrade, which was only just a couple
of degrees lower than the world record in Libya.
Over the process of introduction to my own colleagues two
empty desks were explained to be empty as “Snapper must always be pumping.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/hand_in_hand_with_kissinger_a_review_of_hillary_clintons_review_20140911
The political environment, especially the way we choose candidates, has to change. The lure for most is power for personal gain, whether ego driven, or money driven, leaves you with very few who have public service as their original intent, then it seems it invariably dives into the pool of humanity with poor motives.
In the early 90’s my wife and I had two businesses that tanked. Trying to outlast the recession, we were consigned to living on credit but light at the end of the tunnel never came. Filed for bankruptcy and got a lot of grief from the Trustee who oversees. The stalling on relief was finalized when we had to return to court with our lawyer because they claimed we didn’t show for a hearing, so the lawyer could testify correctly that we indeed were there. I wrote snail-mail to Hillary’s office in the WH, and never got a reply, but something very interesting happened a week after I sent letter.
The Trustee’s office called and politely asked us to come in the next day. The Trustee fell all over himself apologizing that he discovered a clerk was burying paperwork. Then he looked right at me puzzled, asking ‘Who do you know?’
Our debts were discharged that very day.
I only mention this because Hillary, seems to have been a decent person 20 years ago, but she, like almost all politicos, become corrupted by the very system they seek to change. They don’t change the system. The system changes them.
On the contrary, I hope the Orange Order kick off…
They won’t, until some enthusiast decides to have a go at them. Then they’ll either (a) play the victim card or (b) make sure lots of Yes placards are included in the melee. You can guess what the (majority) Unionist press will make of that, and the imaginative choice of camera angles, and the statements by the police on the news, can’t you? I mean, shit, it’s been wall-to -wall support of No by everyone except 50% of Scots voters the last few days. Fairness is off the agenda.
The wise fish avoids the bait. Truly.
I agree Trowbridge.Everyone is talking about how dismal the No / Better Together campaign have been..
This is a guy just fed up with Labour and gives his reasons. So much for walking into Independence blindly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP1IMpCtjOA&feature=youtu.be
Er, sorry I can’t be with you in person, guys, but I’m currently in transit between sanitising my lousy reputation by doing global education in Malaysia and bringing everlasting peace to Ukraine (Kiev, tomorrow). But I just thought you’d like, you know, to admire me paying tribute to my very good friend Ian (wossisname? Ta.) Paisley who my press agent in The Office Of Tony Blair just told me snuffed it. Good luck with the yes/no (sort this out Peter, I mean I did bring in devolution, How should I know which lot to back?)campaign.
Kisses,
Tony, your chum.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/tony-blair-honours-peace-maker-paisley-1.1927107
They won’t, until some enthusiast decides to have a go at them. Then they’ll either (a) play the victim card or (b) make sure lots of Yes placards are included in the melee. You can guess what the (majority) Unionist press will make of that, and the imaginative choice of camera angles, and the statements by the police on the news, can’t you? I mean, shit, it’s been wall-to -wall support of No by everyone except 50% of Scots voters the last few days. Fairness is off the agenda.
The wise fish avoids the bait. Truly.
———————-
Like the fox who gave his word to the mouse, on his back, that he wouldn’t eat him, as they crossed the river,nevertheless the fox turned on the mouse and ate the mouse,in his dying breath the mouse asked why, the fox replied its in my nature.
As of course, it is in the nature of the Orange Order,to kick off with the slightest provocation. There are other likely scenario’s such as no votes acting as yes supporters, instigating trouble thus blackening the name of the yes cam. I’m reticent at reversing this scenario as overall the yes cap has been of a pretty good nature, thus far.
I totally agree with you on the latter point of the unionist press, being conveniently present if yes supporters are found to be culpable.
An excoriating condemnation of Israel by John Pilger.
Weekend Edition September 12-14, 2014
Breaking the Last Taboo
Gaza and the Threat of World War
by JOHN PILGER
“There is a taboo,” said the visionary Edward Said, “on telling the truth about Palestine and the great destructive force behind Israel. Only when this truth is out can any of us be free.”
For many people, the truth is out now. At last, they know. Those once intimidated into silence can’t look away now. Staring at them from their TV, laptop, phone, is proof of the barbarism of the Israeli state and the great destructive force of its mentor and provider, the United States, the cowardice of European governments, and the collusion of others, such as Canada and Australia, in this epic crime.
/..
http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/09/12/gaza-and-the-threat-of-world-war/
Tim Martin CEO of Weatherspoons very off message on the Today programme this morning (01:18) compares Scotland to New Zealand and Switzerland, why shouldn’t it work and a model to Eastern Europe? Well why not indeed ? He won’t be invited back again in a hurry !
Doug I would rather you didn’t repeat what a troll said about me. Thanks.
The Westminster version of Jean le Penn, Nigel Farage has urged the deviant, and immoral, royal family, and in particular old Queen Lizzie, to intervene, to thwart Scottish independence.
So far the closet old Lizzie has come to voicing her considerable opinion, is to privately berate David Cameron, I could picture the mood, Old Lizzie,
“Mr Cameron what is one doing about, Scotland”
David Cameron ” I’m doing everything I can mam to prevent those pesky Jock gaining independence.”
(OL) “Well Mr Cameron one has to do more,I don’t want to lose any revenue from Scotland.”
(DC) “Yes mam, I will lie my back teeth of to protect your assets.”
Self importance personified. Perhaps delusional.
Chancellor Cancels Trip Due to Yes Vote ‘Risks’
George Osborne and Bank of England Governor Mark Carney pull out of a G20 summit as polls show the Union hangs in the balance.
http://news.sky.com/story/1334870/chancellor-cancels-trip-due-to-yes-vote-risks
As it matters where they are.
The beady eyed and rodentesque, in features, Nick Robinson, an alleged BBC reporter, claimed on the 6 O’clock news, that Alex Salmond failed to answer his question. Robinson asked a specific question on RBS,and indeed Alex Salmond,spent a whole 3 minutes detailing his answer to Robinson,on the exact question he posed.
Yet come the 6 O’Clock news “Ratfaced Robinson” blatently prevaricated to millions of people watching the BBC version of tidings. I can only assume that Robinson, didn’t take to kindly at being virtually humiliated, with regards to leaked events the previous evening, which implicated the BBC.
==========================
http://wingsoverscotland.com/out-in-the-open/#more-61586
Just think of the difference in the voting if the Queen had up and died rather than just finally pulling the plug on Ian!
The stately gavotte continues……
From 05h12 this morning:
Mary
Mary
Mary
Mary
Mary
Mary (that’s a round half dozen)
Komodo
Komodo
…..slight pause (for shower and shave?)..
Komodo
RoS
Mary
RoS
RoS
RoS
Komodo
RoS
Mary
EoS
Ben (American Nazi) (clocking on time?)
Komodo
Komodo
RoS
Mary
Mary
RoS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time for the blog to be renamed?