Given that the absolute maximum share of the UK vote Labour might conceivably get is 36%, it is extraordinarily arrogant for Miliband to insist on the right to impose his full manifesto. Tactically, of course, he is trying to panic Scottish voters into supporting Labour lest they lose the chance to have him as PM. I can see no reason why this would suddenly become more successful than it has been so far.
Unionists have plainly twigged that next time we have a referendum, they will lose, even if it was next week. The near hysterical focus of unionists on not allowing another referendum, almost to the exclusion of all other argument, is very heartening. Independence is not only inevitable, it will be with us even sooner than the unionists fear.
RoS
If your definition of a ‘man’ is a privy councillor in tights, Miliband may be a man soon, but my definition he’s no more a man than Punch in a seaside Punch and Judy show. He doesn’t come across to me as a man who is desperate for anything, just a tool for Zionists to embark on extending the borders of Israel into the vacuum of Syria. Pfshshsh. Early peerage followed by years of Major-like boring silence Oh I recognise that voice who is it? oh now I remember, that Miserable Miliband who gave Syria to Israel.
Happy Birthday, John Spencer-Davis, Happy May Day, and Happy International Labour Day. You will be pleased to know that you share your birthday with the coots on a Birmingham millpond.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127161425@N07/16710243504/
“Fred is blaming the victim.”
Fuck off and die retard.
“If your definition of a ‘man’ is a privy councillor in tights, Miliband may be a man soon, but my definition he’s no more a man than Punch in a seaside Punch and Judy show. He doesn’t come across to me as a man who is desperate for anything, just a tool for Zionists to embark on extending the borders of Israel into the vacuum of Syria. Pfshshsh. Early peerage followed by years of Major-like boring silence Oh I recognise that voice who is it? oh now I remember, that Miserable Miliband who gave Syria to Israel.”
______________________________
Giyane.
Ed Miliband is of course like many MP’s a member of Friends of Israel, a prerequisite for unionist MP’s I imagine.
As for wanting to be PM of the UK,he fought his brother tooth and nail to be Labour leader,and the wounds have still not healed,like his brother David,Ed Miliband is a ruthless careerist.
Good piece today on Dissident Voice below which refers to this letter in the Times April 29th from defence and security types addressed to the incoming Prime Minister.
‘Senior figures in the military say it would be ‘irresponsible folly’ to abandon Britain’s independent nuclear deterrent. To do so could threaten ‘the survival of our nation’
An open letter to the incoming Prime Minister 2015
Dear Prime Minister
TRIDENT SUBMARINE RENEWAL
As you resume or take on office, you will recognise one of the heaviest and most important burdens on your desk will be your responsibility for Britain’s independent nuclear deterrent. That deterrent exists, as you will know, not as a military weapon but
a political one whose very purpose is for it never to be used in anger….’ paywall
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/letters/article4425219.ece
and http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/defence/article4425663.ece
Nato’s Lord Robertson is a signatory and Lord Hutton, ex defence secretary.
Scotland and the Trident Question
Breaking up the United Kingdom
by Lesley Docksey / May 1st, 2015
http://dissidentvoice.org/2015/05/scotland-and-the-trident-question/
‘Afterwards, talking to someone I had once thought would possibly vote Conservative, he said:
“Scotland has a parliament, Wales should have a full parliament, and England should have its own parliament…”
“No Westminster?” I asked.
“Definitely no Westminster!. And then we can become a federation of nations, a united federation.” A Federation of the British Isles, perhaps?
Because of what is happening in Scotland, a lot of England is waking up and looking a bright new future, one that doesn’t include the same old politics, but does include united cooperation with our neighbours.’
Thanks Mary, thanks John.
Baby coots awwwwwwwwww so cute!!
J
Lovely John., 4.20pm
‘I come from haunt of coot and hern,
I make a sudden sally.
And sparkle out among the fern
To bicker down the valley’
I learnt that by heart … years ago. Never knew what hern was or were.
Why did you move to Scotland Fred, if you are surrounded by all these nasty Scots?
Are you one of these white settlers, trying to create your own piece of England, away from all those horrible tanned folk down south?
Anon1: I’ve not read the Private Eye piece on SNP/Murdoch, though Ba’al has already mentioned that, on another thread. I am also uncomfortable with deals with News UK but short of redesigning the system as it stands in a heartbeat, I don’t know that there is another way to try to achieve social justice. As Ba’al says, a long spoon is required.
How much of the dirty dealing is necessary to achieve independence, and how much of it might harm good people in Labour at a grassroots level, is a very good question. But it’s also a hard one – Labour has made some small gains for social justice (e.g. the minimum wage) but they also have supported the privatisation of the NHS and other public services, and have been too light on the city, lobbying, etc. And, of course, Blair – no further comment required. Thus, I think they have had their go as a centre-left force (yeah, I know), and it is now the SNP’s turn.
I am sympathetic to Phil’s various interjections that dealing with the devil has become normalised; I am not thrilled with it either. But what other options are there, for those who wish to vote centre left?
Fred, I still don’t understand your problem with the SNP, and your language (stirring up hatred?) is still objectionable. My continuing view is that you do not wish to fully explain your problem with the SNP, though I don’t know why. “Because nationalists” is not an answer, and never has been.
“Why did you move to Scotland Fred, if you are surrounded by all these nasty Scots?”
Fuck off and die retard cunt.
Mary, Hern, is an archaic or local name for heron. Don’t you just love Tennyson’s ‘The Brook’.
I learnt all the idyll. Don’t know how much I’d remember now:
Here by this brook we parted, I to the east and he to Italy,
Too late, too late. One whom the stong men of the world despise . . . . .
For ‘O brook’ he says, ‘O babbling brook’ says Edmund in his rhyme,
‘Whence come you’ and the brook, why not, replies:
‘I come from haunt of coot and hern,
I make a sudden sally.
And sparkle out among the fern
To bicker down the valley’
Some lines stick forever:
‘I move the sweet forget-me-nots
that grow for happy lovers’
I might be misquoting slightly, but hey, that’s some poem.
I think ‘strong men’ should be ‘strong sons’.
What is the SNP position on press reform? Do they have an substantially different position on the Murdoch monopoly from Labour? I should like both of them to come down hard on News UK, even if they decide to meet with him at this juncture.
There are of course a variety of views on the left about press reform. Legal mechanisms to control the press are supported in some cases (to curb the propaganda power of the owners of the papers) and opposed in others (journalism should be free of legal regulation). It is a difficult call to make.
Private Eye has consistently opposed the reforms, and has regarded Hacked Off as meaning well, and possibly achieving some good short term goals (increased knowledge about media ownership entering the public domain, +some+ increased care over invasions of privacy) but ultimately causing damage in the long term.
http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2015/05/the-scottish-political-singula-1.html
“If we don’t see constitutional reform on the agenda within the lifetime of the next parliament [and we won’t], the UK as an entity will not make it to 2025.”
Goodness how sad.
“Fred, I still don’t understand your problem with the SNP, and your language (stirring up hatred?) is still objectionable. My continuing view is that you do not wish to fully explain your problem with the SNP, though I don’t know why. “Because nationalists” is not an answer, and never has been.”
Of course it’s an answer, look at the history of Nationalism in Europe, when did a rise in Nationalism ever benefit the people? There is a danger of turning Scotland into Northern Ireland if we carry on creating divisions.
My criticism is of the SNP, their tribalist beliefs, their policies. I do not approve of centralisation, I don’t approve of the named guardian, I don’t approve of the National Identity Database, I don’t approve of arming the police, I don’t approve of the attacks on individual liberties, I don’t approve of their policies which transfer wealth from the poor to the rich. I don’t approve of their policies like council tax freezes which hit the weakest and most vulnerable in society.
Are you starting to understand yet or would you rather not understand?
And could you explain why my criticism of the Scottish government is always met with personal abuse and attacks here? Doesn’t it worry you that people think the government should not be challenged? Shouldn’t all governments be challenged?
Private Eye is part of the establishment. When the state is threatened, as in last years referendum, their true beliefs were laid bare. Ian Hislop is one of the true blue Scotbuts.
According to Fred, Ireland, the USA, India, etc etc etc were all formed by ‘Nationalists’.
“Nationalism in Europe, when did a rise in Nationalism ever benefit the people?”
_____________________________
Im sure the people of the Republic of Ireland,would disagree with you.
Or the many countries that blossomed over the fall of the USSR.
Or are they as you call people who want independence for Scotland “nasty nats”
It would appear Fred like George Galloway,you think independence for everyone else is okay, just not Scotland.
Jon
“What is the SNP position on press reform?”
It appears they want their very own BBC Scotland. Press regulation is already devolved and the SNP are basically going along with Leveson.
http://votesnp.com/docs/manifesto.pdf
“According to Fred, Ireland, the USA, India, etc etc etc were all formed by ‘Nationalists’.”
America is a federation, each state has it’s autonomy they can raise their own taxes and handle their own internal affairs, pass their own laws but they have one federal government which handles things like currency, international relations and defence.
This system was challenged but it resulted in a civil war which killed more Americans than have died in all their conflicts since.
John Goss 4.20 pm
Great Photo of the coots – so sharp.
We live near a grand old railway bridge, six high stone arches, built in the 19th century. When you walk under the bridge you need to be careful what you say because your voice is amplified by the curved arch and projected a long way. Last week there was a chaffinch singing from the top of the street light under the arch. We could hear him from a hundred yards. I bet all the other chaffinches in the area are avoiding his territory for fear of meeting a barrel-chested monster.
A long answer about federalism, Fred.
What does that have to do with my original point?
Was the USA started by nasty nationalists?
“Or the many countries that blossomed over the fall of the USSR.”
Name one.
“Was the USA started by nasty nationalists?”
What was it about the USA you think turned out good? Their support of Israel? Those people who gained independence from Britain wiped out 90% of the indigenous population.
I know that Juteman and only occasionally buy it. Hislop is pants. Bits of it are funny though and In the Back and Medicine Balls give useful info. The latest issue has a photo of Cameron asleep.
I have a collection of P Eyes from the 60s and 70s. Bring back Paul Foot, Willie Rushton, Richard Ingrams. Logue, Scarfe et al.
Bevin 4.45 a.m. Well spotted. A huge majority for a whole bunch of Neocons. “Job done” for them. “Done for” as far as the rest of us are concerned.
Another answer to a question I never asked, Fred.
Was the USA started by nasty nationalists?
‘Red Tories Out!’ was the cry from the protesters as Miliband E arrived at the Glasgow venue.
Craig, I think that Miliband’s repeated statement that he won’t form a pact with the SNP (and you can argue about his wording) is a sign that there might be a Labour – Conservative coalition on 8th May (a ‘national government’) with a huge majority. Otherwise, from the point of view of the Establishment and corporate interests, a bunch of ‘lefty jocks’ will be calling the tune in Westminster.
In the 2010 general election the SNP took just 6 seats, whilst Labour took 41 seats. This time round the polls are saying that the SNP will win 50 or more seats. Some polls are even saying that the SNP will win all 59 seats in Scotland.
It’s breathtaking stuff; it really is.
“As I first mentioned the PE piece on Wednesday and have drawn three alternative sets of conclusions* from it since….”
Well so sorry for having missed your vital conclusions, but my post wasn’t aimed at Your Eminence. Self-important berk.