No other blog can do this 🙂
There is a one minute cut in the middle. This may have been an accident, but it excludes the bit where I say that the Labour Party in Dundee was telling people not to vote Independence or the SNP would let all the black people in. If this was cut deliberately as it repeats a racist comment, I think that is a mistake. To fight racism you need to face it squarely, and the extreme shame of Labour should be exposed as widely in possible.
Whatever the Labour party was saying here in Dundee didn’t work. Not only was Dundee the most Yes city in Scotland but the Yes vote was larger in Jim McGovern’s Labour Dundee West than in SNP held Dundee East. Which means we will have our revenge in May. Campaigning starts this week for RIC.
Muscleguy
What is RIC doing this week in Dundee? More canvassing? Let me know and I’ll be there.
Your point about Dundee east is important. I think that the SNP were over influenced by their desire to hang on to the blue rinse SNP vote in Broughty Ferry, and that was the origin of Independence Lite. But that right wing SNP vote in Dundee East and throughout Angus did not vote for Independence anyway. Indeed the 20% of SNP voters who vote No were crucial. That is why I want a full-blooded “No NATO, No Pound Sterling, No Monarchy” strategy.
1.2 million life patterns displayed through their credit cards, transit passes and phone records – the web of metadata that shows their associations and choices which, out of context, can make them look suspicious.
Anyone engaging in modern communications has unsuspectingly provided the GCHQ with valuable information.
Is the SECOND considerable whistle-blower actually working in GCHQ? Maybe she can tell us whether the Scottish Independence vote was rigged.
I hope so.
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/oct/11/second-leaker-in-us-intelligence-says-glenn-greenwald
‘Catalonia to hold unofficial poll instead of independence referendum’
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/14/catalonia-calls-off-november-independence-referendum
From 1976
http://coffee.jamesclay.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/heineken1-500×257.jpg
Brilliant speech Craig, your passion is inspiring.
Thank you.
Thought I read that Dundee will be holding a rally similar to the George Square one, I hope they do.
Catalonia to hold unofficial poll instead of independence referendum’
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Ishmael
Sound like they’ve had to change the format due to legalities, but in essence its an independence vote by another name. I really hope yes gets a majority, but what does that say about Scotland and it timid Lion Rampant.
This material could not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Craig, a question that may have been asked before, but I cannot find the answer.
You describe a “full-blooded.. No NATO, No Pound Sterling, No Monarchy.. strategy” as the way forward. No pound sterling I get. No NATO is admirable, and would be a key test for the willpower and integrity of any new government to deliver, resisting the doom-mongers and national-security lobbyists and interest groups.
What I don’t get is the No Monarchy card. Why do you consider it merits inclusion as a key point of strategy, when it could also prove divisive and alienate much of the electorate. For example, the assumption could be the monarchy remains in a purely ceremonial role. In any case, not a key point of strategy. Your thoughts please.
Scott
Now to add to the ultimate blog, it has something for the pockets of its punters too! A sure bet is the return of Cameron in 2015, just as the NO vote was for MI5 insiders. Clearly the PM cannot have been referring to the Queen in “that manner” to 911 fellow tribesman Bloomberg without some inkling of his prospects in May 2015.
O/T But fairly interesting.
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Newspaper Sales tumble, in Scotland.
Daily Mirror – 11 per cent drop = from 19,689 on average during September last year, to 17,529 last month;
Daily Record – 8.8 per cent drop = from 222,382 on average during September last year, to 202,831 last month;
Daily Star of Scotland – 17.4 per cent drop = 50,295 to 41,519;
The Scottish Sun – 8.9 per cent drop = 262,089 to 238,823;
Scottish Daily Express – 12.6 per cent drop = 54,442 to 47,570;
Scottish Daily Mail – 2.1 per cent drop = 96,068 to 94,028;
Daily Telegraph – 7.2 per cent drop = 19,603 to 18,192;
Financial Times – 4.4 per cent drop = 2,536 to 2,425;
The Guardian – 7.9 per cent drop = 11,066 to 10,189;
i – 0.3 per cent drop = 18,934 to 18,870;
Independent – 0.1 per cent drop = 3,005 to 3,001; and
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Meanwhile, the Sunday titles’ sales figures in Scotland were as follows:
Daily Star of Scotland – Sunday – 21.9 per cent down = 29,079 to 22,723;
The Scottish Sun – Sunday – 10.4 per cent down = 192,699 to 172,652;
Sunday Mail – 11.7 per cent down = 257,222 to 227,160;
Sunday Mirror – 17.8 per cent down = 21,168 to 17,398;
The People – 9.7 per cent down = 10,273 to 9,274;
Scottish Mail on Sunday – 5.8 per cent down = 86,203 to 81,237;
Scottish Sunday Express – 16.6 per cent down = 32,329 to 26,951;
The Sunday Post – 11.9 per cent drop = 163,877 to 144,345;
Independent on Sunday – 2.6 per cent up = 5,401 to 5,548;
The Observer – 7.2 per cent down = 14,777 to 13,706;
Sunday Telegraph – 8.6 per cent down = 17,135 to 15,667; and
Sunday Times – 1.8 per cent down = 46,301 to 45,473.
Source: ABC, October 10 2014. Please note: The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday, The Herald and the Sunday Herald now appear in the twice-yearly ABC regional newspapers report.
RoS
No Herald/Sunday Herald figures?
RoS
sorry, just noticed last line of your post
Craig,
I would be grateful for a reply to Scott’s point about the monarchy. Thanks.
“What I don’t get is the No Monarchy card. Why do you consider it merits inclusion as a key point of strategy, when it could also prove divisive and alienate much of the electorate. For example, the assumption could be the monarchy remains in a purely ceremonial role. In any case, not a key point of strategy. Your thoughts please.
Scott”
Hi Scott, is it really the case that a highly dishevelled monarchy, getting away with anything they want, has much to give to Scotland, or England for that matter?
Why do they still have a standing, as you say? Would it not be easier to share their estates with the Scottish people, I’m sure someone will come up with some new games to play, or tourists to entertain.
Have you ever looked into the 18 century enclosures acts and what has been given away? the Highland clearances, Fuadach nan Gàidheal, don’t pull me up on the spelling please, now these lands ended up in who’s pockets?
And on who’s behest? and for what services rendered?
If you just want to keep them as an Independent country, as part of a Commonwealth, good theatre so to speak, how would that be possible. Would it be not much better to send them back to Hanover all together, including the hangers on?
sorry forgot to add the link to the common weal, Scott
http://scottishcommons.org/docs/commonweal_1.pdf
How could I forget. Sorry Craig for answering a question addressed to you,
I owe you a pint, next time your nearest.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond today compared Iraq’s war-ravaged Kurdish breakaway region fighting ISIS – to Scotland.
Mr Hammond, speaking in Baghdad after meeting the country’s new Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, said he hoped Scotland’s decision to reject independence would inspire Iraq to stay united.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, Mr Hammond said: ‘I hope that the experience of Scotland will be a useful model for Iraq.
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What next, from the gaff prone Foreign Secretary, Scotland compared to North Korea, or Somalia, or Iran.
Mind you Hammond is nothing compared,to that senile sponging poncing old gaff proned fool know as Prince Philip.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney cautioned on Sunday that the next attack on the homeland will be ‘far deadlier’ than the last one.
‘We’re in a very dangerous period,’ Cheney told the Weekly Standard’s Bill Kristol in a video interview released on Sunday. ‘I think it’s more threatening than the period before 9/11.
‘I think 9/11 will turn out to be not nearly as bad as the next mass casualty attack against the United States, which, if and when it comes, will be with something far deadlier than airline tickets and box cutters,
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Looks like the US may be in for a false flag disaster, more ferocious than 9/11.
“Would it be not much better to send them back to Hanover all together, including the hangers on?”
If we’re having a referendum on it you can have my vote. Why should we be paying for all the outings to Ascot and shooting holidays in the stately homes of Scotland (and elsewhere).
Labour rules out talks on ‘English votes for English laws’Comments (1075) Gordon Brown speaking in the House of Commons
The former prime minister warned that English-only votes at Westminster could undermine the union
Labour has said it will not take part in cross-party discussions about “English votes for English laws”.
As the Commons debated UK devolution, Labour said it would boycott a body set up by the Conservatives to examine the role of English MPs in Parliament.
The BBC’s Norman Smith said the party regarded it as “a political stitch-up”.
William Hague dismissed claims that “fairness for England was disruptive or dangerous” but Gordon Brown said the idea risked undermining the union.
Warning that “nations can collapse by accident”, the former prime minister said excluding MPs from non-English constituencies from some votes in the House of Commons would erode the “stability and harmony of the British constitution”.
William Hague tells MPs “the vow” on further devolved powers for Scotland “will be delivered whatever our deliberations about England”
The Commons is discussing last month’s 55% to 45% ‘No’ vote to independence and the three main Westminster parties’ pledge of more devolution to Scotland made in the final days of the campaign.
Prime Minister David Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg signed a pledge to devolve substantial new powers – including over taxation and welfare – to Scotland if there was a ‘No’ vote.
David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband all pledged support for more powers for Scotland
Following the referendum, Mr Cameron vowed to give tax-raising powers to the Scottish Parliament but also urged moves “in tandem” to restrict Scottish MPs from voting on English matters.
Labour is opposed to barring Scottish MPs at Westminster from voting on some legislation – instead favouring more devolution within England – and said such fundamental decisions should be delayed until after the 2015 election as part of a wide-ranging constitutional review.
The BBC’s assistant political editor Norman Smith said Labour – which has more than 40 Scottish MPs – felt the timetable was unrealistic and the process was designed to undermine them.
Independence campaigners Scotland voted ‘No’ to independence in the referendum
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Brown said there was “common ground” between the unionist parties on the extent of powers to be transferred to Scotland and the speed at which it would happen.
But he said the idea of English votes for English laws had been “imposed” by David Cameron after the referendum result and Scottish MPs must sit in the UK Parliament on “equal terms”.
“You cannot have unity within the UK if you have two separate classes of MP,” he said. “You cannot have representatives elected by the people who are half in and half out of the law making process.”
But Mr Hague said efforts to resolve what it known as the West Lothian Question had been talked about for nearly 20 years.
He told MPs that following the “clear decision” made by the Scottish people, there was a “palpable need for renewal” of the UK’s constitutional arrangements, and “dither and delay is not an option”.
While it was vitally important to “cement” Scotland within the UK, he said a “balanced settlement which is both fair and better to the whole of the UK” was just as necessary.
“The United Kingdom is in greater danger if the legitimate arguments and expectations of English decision making, on decisions effecting only England, are not responded to,” he said.
‘No confidence’
The Conservatives are preparing to stage a Commons vote on the issue before the end of the year.
Pete Wishart says English devolution is an “inconsequential issue” to Scottish voters
Backbencher John Redwood has suggested moves to give English MPs – the majority of which are currently Conservative – the final say over income tax rates in England could be passed without the support of either the Labour or Lib Dem leadership.
Labour MP Simon Danczuk and Tory MP John Redwood on plans for English devolution and an English Parliament
The Lib Dems have said they will take part in the cross-party discussions but any solution must “reflect the will of the voters” and not be “politically motivated”.
With no consensus in Westminster over the issue, the SNP has warned the commitment to agree, in principle, the parameters of further Scottish devolution before next May would not be met.
“Right now the initial judgement is that people have no confidence in Tory guarantees and are absolutely fizzing about a preparation for betrayal of a solemn commitment made,” Alex Salmond, who is standing down as Scottish First Minister next month, told BBC Radio 4’s Today.
‘No reneging’
The SNP dismissed the Command paper setting out the pro-Union parties’ plans for more financial responsibility for Holyrood – which will be drawn up by a commission led by Lord Smith of Kelvin – as a “bit of a cut-and-paste job”.
But Liberal Democrat Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said all parties were signed up to delivering a new constitutional settlement for Scotland.
“The Scottish people voted on September 18th for constitutional change and for a stronger Scottish Parliament in the UK,” he told the BBC News Channel.
“That is the business we are engaged in now… the SNP need to take part in it in good faith. Alex Salmond has never worked with people in the past and I hope he is not now reverting to type.”
14.10.14. 15.35
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29606220
Plus videos and photos.
The boss of an international airline company has said he believes missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 did not go down in the Indian Ocean,Emirates Airlines Sir Tim Clark.
Sir Tim added: “Our experience tells us that in water incidents, where the aircraft has gone down, there is always something.
“We have not seen a single thing that suggests categorically that this aircraft is where they say it is, apart from this so-called electronic satellite ‘handshake,’ which I question as well,” the airline boss said.
Sir Tim said it was the total disappearance of the aeroplane that ignited his suspicions and called for better transparency in the investigation. “I’m totally dissatisfied with what has been coming out of all of this,” he said.
In remarks likely to further inflame conspiracy theorists, Sir Tim added: “We need to know who was on the plane in the detail that obviously some people do know. We need to know what was in the hold of the aircraft.”
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MH370, probably suffered the same fate as MH17, in my opinion, shot down or brought down, by the west in order to blame another country and stir up unrest.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/mh370-airline-boss-claims-missing-flight-did-not-crash-into-indian-ocean-9790455.html
“MH370, probably suffered the same fate as MH17, in my opinion, shot down or brought down, by the west in order to blame another country and stir up unrest.”
Can’t agree with you there RoS. As Sir Tim Clark says there was nothing, not a scrap of wreckage, not a body, not an article of clothing, nothing. It was heading in the direction of Diego Garcia where the US has a naval base leased out by the UK. Why have the Americans not released their radar information on the plane’s fate? A naval base knows everything that is in the area to function properly as a defence unit. Who’s asking the question? Only me I think. I have speculated that the US is behind the disappearance from the start, and that no wreckage would be found.
RepublucOfIndependenceRavings
“Catalonia to hold unofficial poll instead of independence referendum’….Sound like they’ve had to change the format due to legalities,”
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Well done, ROIR, you’ve caught up with the rest of the world at last.
Yes, it would be illegal under the Spanish Constitution for Catalonia to hold a referendum on independence.
An unofficial poll is meaningless and not only because it has no status.
But I admit it’s good gesture politics.
Firefights continued along the Line of Control between Indian and Pakistani Kashmir tonight, with Pakistan reporting 12 civilians slain in cross-border firing so far this month, and urging the United Nations to stop the growing clashes.
Both sides are trading blame for the recent spate of firings, and both sides have seen their share of civilian deaths. The rhetoric seems to be picking up by leaders on both sides as well, particularly with respect to Indian Premier Narendra Modi.
India’s Home Ministry reported the latest orders from Modi are “to ensure that Pakistan suffers deep and heavy losses” in the cross-border fighting, following up on Modi’s bragging about firing 1,000 mortars into Pakistani territory.
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Looks like this situation could get out of hand, and a full scale war may ensue.
http://news.antiwar.com/2014/10/12/india-pm-orders-heavy-losses-in-pakistan/
“Craig,
I would be grateful for a reply to Scott’s point about the monarchy. Thanks.”
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Add my voice to that.
(Nevermind’s semi-literate little rant at 14h15 is no substitute)
£££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££
God save The Queen!
“Looks like this situation could get out of hand, and a full scale war may ensue.”
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Writes RepublicIfBloodthirstyLongings” with what appears to be a certain degree of hopeful anticipation.
Chump!
Can’t agree with you there RoS. As Sir Tim Clark says there was nothing, not a scrap of wreckage, not a body, not an article of clothing, nothing. It was heading in the direction of Diego Garcia where the US has a naval base leased out by the UK. Why have the Americans not released their radar information on the plane’s fate? A naval base knows everything that is in the area to function properly as a defence unit. Who’s asking the question? Only me I think. I have speculated that the US is behind the disappearance from the start, and that no wreckage would be found.
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Mr Goss
What I mean’t by my comment was that it was very unlikely that flight MH370, disappeared through mechanical failure, that’s why I added brought down.