All those many of us who were deeply involved in the referendum campaign of 2014 will never forget the experience. It appeared a moment of new hope and new joy. Bliss it was on that dawn to be alive, but to be knocking on a bit was even better, because you had been waiting decades for something like this to happen, and realised just how rare it was to feel on the cusp of an egalitarian revolution.
I was dashing all over Scotland from one speech or campaigning venue to another, and helping out with stall, canvassing or leafleting wherever, I was before moving on to the next venue and the next hotel in the next town. I spent an awful lot of money on travel and accommodation, and made several donations to local campaigns, or just gave cash to get something that was needed for a stall or get more flyers printed up. Over 90 per cent of the time I did not ask or receive any expenses for turning up to speak.
I was however in odd moments pursuing my researches into Alexander Burnes and visited Forfar and Montrose to look at manuscripts. I am therefore trying at the moment to sort out my expenditure in the period for my income tax return, and identify what I spent on the campaign and the much smaller amount which is legitimately an expense against income from the book.
And it is very, very difficult. When you are dashing around campaigning like mad, living from hotel to hotel and firmly focused on the campaign, record keeping is not on the top of your mind. Receipts are stuffed into trousers, shirts, jackets, suitcases, laptop bags. A lot of hotels now don’t give you a physical receipt but promise to email one on. I am only able to piece together a very partial account of what I spent during the white hot period of campaigning.
It is of course my own money. This site does not accept donations and it was all simply my own cash. I am therefore under no obligation to account for it. The smaller sum that might be attributable to Burnes research, I shall not be claiming as a tax expense where I can’t find the receipt.
But I have enormous sympathy for the trouble in which Nathalie McGarry finds herself. Accounting is not the top of your list when you are attempting to alter the destination of your entire nation, and Women For Indy was everywhere, doing stuff all over Scotland. From my own experience I can sympathise with why it can, in all innocence, be very difficult to account for everything undertaken in that hectic, breathtaking time. People should remember that before rushing to judgement.
True…but she was acting in an official capacity, which is different. And it’s seemingly tens of thousands that is unaccounted for. We’ll see what happens but it’s either incompetence or theft.
You are a generous man. A more logical conclusion, and one which you must be aware of, would be that in rejecting you and accepting McGarry and Thomson the SNP were obviously looking at the wrong things.
I know the site doesn’t ask for donations but you are saying it does not accept them either?
So if I offered you 100k right now you would decline?
Women Against Indy should be Women For Indy.
It is a large sum so investigation is warranted but it may well be an honest error along the lines suggested above. Seems a lot but could just be £10,000 and still be ‘5 figures’.
10,000 is not a huge amount over the time period. Only ~2000 a month. Train fares, hotels, meals, printing etc. I’d bet their budget was well into 6 figures for that time period.
I hope Ms McGarry gets fair treatment in court and in the media.
Anon1
Yes, exactly. You may recall that the obnoxious Quilliam Foundation decided to attempt to impugn my reputation by phoning up (under a false name) and offering a donation. I turned them down flat.
Craig you are so right. This will ‘come out in the wash’ I know from
being a member of Women for (not against) Indy that they had terrible problems with their website and online business and I am hopeful that it will all become clear through the course of the investigation. Natalie McGarry has been unfairly and very badly treated by the press and even other pro indy parties who should be ashamed.
By the way, that is a most lovely story you have put together. It almost brought a tear to my eye to learn how poor Natalie got herself in such a frightful muddle, dashing here and there, not knowing quite what ought to be declared to whom because of the overwhelming excitement of the momentum towards independence.
Such trivial oversight of tens of thousands of pounds is entirely understandable in these circumstances and if the poor thing were campaigning against independence, you’d be saying exactly the same thing.
AAMVN, Indycat, Craig
Were she actually Women against Indy, you’d be going for the jugular not giving us this sob story.
Craig
“People should remember that before rushing to judgement.”
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You are right.
But it would be good if many of the Eminences and Old Trolls on here were to show the same degree of tolerance before rushing to their keyboards to hurl around their thunderbolts.
Just think of the £millions and millions of income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, corporation tax and so on that is NEVER paid by non-doms, offshore operatives and multi nationals.
But never mind. It is illegal to evade paying tax but perfectly OK to avoid paying it if you have and can afford to pay good accountants.
“Just think of the £millions and millions of income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, corporation tax and so on that is NEVER paid by non-doms, offshore operatives and multi nationals.
But never mind. It is illegal to evade paying tax but perfectly OK to avoid paying it if you have and can afford to pay good accountants.”
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That’s a classic bit of what-aboutery, Mary.
Best stick to the cuting-and-pasting, eh?
Ah yes Craig those were the days, taking over Buchanan street in a sea of yes placards, or looking out at the huge crowds amassed at George Square.
Inspirational speeches could be heard on just about every street corner, the Scottish Enlightenment had returned. We of course lost, the battle but the war continues.
The GE showed that the lid would not be put back on the box, political awareness North of the border had awoken and is still very much awake.
As for Natalie McGarry, she must prove beyond doubt her innocence, hopefully she will.
“Ah yes Craig those were the days, taking over Buchanan street in a sea of yes placards, or looking out at the huge crowds amassed at George Square.
Inspirational speeches could be heard on just about every street corner, the Scottish Enlightenment had returned. We of course lost, the battle but the war continues.”
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But you’re an Englishman living in England???
Craig,
Stick a Paypal Donate button on your website…and link it to allow people to buy your books direct. Whilst it probably won’t make a great deal of difference, the chances are it will at least pay for you web hosting costs, and sell more of your books.
You might even allow some limited kind of advertising.
You will not be compromising yourself in any way.
It’s a harsh world, and we all have to pay our bills or go bust.
Tony
“But you’re an Englishman living in England???”
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Nope Im a Scotsman living in Scotland.
So Anon1 which country do you live in?
A Labour MP accused of kicking a “Yes” campaigner outside a polling station on the day of the Scottish independence referendum is to stand trial next year.
Marie Rimmer denies assaulting Patricia McLeish at Shettleston Community Centre, Glasgow, on 18 September 2014.
I suppose it makes a change from Eric Joyce.
As long as the “computer” does not get the blame for the missing money.
Those computers taken a bit of watching!
Money in politics is the root of all evil. Unless you are a Trump, it’s necessary to curry favor with all sorts of unsavory characters, permanently attaching yourself to their hip. Not only must you suck dick, you have to smile while you swallow. Of course that overflows the topic, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
This site is my first port of call every time I go online. Always informative – always thought provoking. I have one quibble, Craig. There is no need to post as anon1 to create comic tension. You sometimes go way OTT with “his” troll comments. The joke is getting old…:)
Alex Birnie,
Mary has nearly (but not quite) convinced me that Anon1’s avatar is a Selfie – taken on a long pole…As regards Habbuk(IS-insane)…well it can hardly be that Diplomat – that she suspects..cos he actually wrote something half decent in The Daily Telegraph today.
Whilst Craig has his ups and downs, he has never shown any signs of schizophrenia (Manic Depressive is different – its just a sign of high intelligence (probably British Intelligence))
Tony
Off topic, but also sort of on-topic: Nafeez Ahmed’s latest piece…
NATO is harbouring the Islamic State
Why France’s brave new war on ISIS is a sick joke, and an insult to the victims of the Paris attacks
https://medium.com/insurge-intelligence/europe-is-harbouring-the-islamic-state-s-backers-d24db3a24a40#.4s25b6q7v
And as for the trolls, I’ve probably mentioned before that they will meet justice.
“All those many of us who were deeply involved in the referendum campaign of 2014 will never forget the experience”
Except the result apparently.
O/T But rather interesting, as US senator Graham, questions Generals and Carter on the USA’s position on Syria.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MQwofJEQ6ng&time_continue=348
Why has my exhortation to Habbabkuk to f off been deleted? He is a repetitive bore and is wrecking this blog. Certainly a deterrent to anyone new wishing to post a comment.
Its that time of year when old people especially, are prone to all kinds of natural problems. I will simply not discuss all the rest but just one – GOUT – and related joint pains like Arthritis.
I first had gout when I was 47 years old in the middle of a hot summer – and I had no idea what it was. I was building the concrete base of my garden shed (its still there – as is the shed). It was very hard work and I was sweating like a pig…I wasn’t drinking enough water – and my wee was very thick green…
Don’t go to the doctor – He will find absolutely everything else wrong with you (like taking an old car in for an MOT)…High Blood Pressure – Pills – Cholesterol – Pills..Oh and Your Gout – Pills…
The solution is not any of that…just drink more water…and do Even More Exercise….
And you can’t – cos your Foot is so painful (Yes Craig I remember- about 4 years ago?? = I think I said – you’ve probably got gout) – push bike works fine – your feet don’t hurt – and your leg muscles do all the work – to suck the urea chrystals out of your joint.
I have never been to the doctor about this…and I have never taken any prescribed drugs…but I know its gout…cos some of the traditional solutions published on the internet actually work – without using any drugs…
More Water – so your wee is clear…less Beer – more whisky or vodka (drink it neat – and then have a pint of Water – in a traditional English pub a pint of tap water is free (old English custom which still works providing you don’t take the piss) water (don’t believe the pro – wine bollocks – cos port traditionally causes gout (hundreds of old wives tales since at least King Henry VIII) (but it might be true – stats say it is true (you can prove anything with stats)) (written in Æthelred))
You are a least a stone overweight (2 or 3 really) – lose one – eat less.
As for the food you eat …well less fish and meat …more rice, vegetables and beans
A little bit of cider vinegar in half pint glass of water a day and swill it down with a pint of water..
Or half teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda (Baking Powder – make sure it is sodium bicarbonate) – again dissolved in half a pint of water..followed by more water…
But the most important thing…is if you feel it coming on at 3:00 am – get up and walk – for 45 mins and have a pint of water…
Warning don’t drink too much water – that is dangerous too (has killed loads of dehydrated kids – on drugs at discos when they don’t drink alcohol) – its a matter of getting the balance right.)
You probably don’t need those drugs – but that’s up to you.
Got in my left knee..Walked 3 miles today in the countryside with my wife
Better go for another walk…got to keep fit…
Tony
Republicofscotland
“Nope Im a Scotsman living in Scotland.
So Anon1 which country do you live in?”
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So it’s a different story to when you once let slip that you lived in England and were English?
Ig memory serves, you let it slip during a discussion on who should be allowed to vote in the Scottish referendum.
On accountancy: McDonald suggests Osbourne studies Mao. A fee weeks ago I suggested on Craig’s post on people’s QE that our Gov link with some hedgies and hoover up cheap oil and metals for national infrastructure project.
Zerohedge has post today on China’s metals QE.
What is known about Zerohedge?
“So it’s a different story to when you once let slip that you lived in England and were English?
Ig memory serves, you let it slip during a discussion on who should be allowed to vote in the Scottish referendum.”
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Nice try old boy, I think you’d better get check your facts.
Can’t you get anything right, since we’re being candid, well I am, (I don’t know if you have it in you not to lie) where do you come from, and I don’t mean your mothers womb.
Thanks in advance.
I see Anon1 drops of the radar, when asked a legitimate question, unless of course his alter ego has taken up the reins.
I expect this was posted at the time but I am putting it up to show what the Tories are really made of. The word ‘HYPOCRISY’ appears as through a stick of Blackpool rock.
07 July 2015
George Osborne family business’ £6m offshore deal
Chancellor George Osborne’s family business made £6m in a property deal with a developer based in a tax haven,
Paul McNamara and Guy Basnett investigate.
http://www.channel4.com/news/george-osborne-family-business-6m-deal-with-offshore-firm
His side kick Greg Hands was on Ch 4 News and made a poor showing. Parrot like he would not say when he and Gideon knew that the OBR was coming out with news of larger reserves, facilitating the sudden abandonment of the tax credit cuts for now.
Hands went to Israel in 2011 under the auspices of European Friends of Israel. Usually see their name mentioned on EU sites so it’s strange to see it on the HoC register.
He also visited Israel in 2008 with the CFoI.
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?p=11610
Price Waterhouse donated the services of an assistant to the value of £22k+ . Similarly Deloitte. No arms’ lengths between politicians and these outfits who advise in NHS privatisation. The names of BG, Shell, HSBC, Vodafone and Finn Mechannica and the like appear amongst his donors.
Ashcroft gave him £42k for his election campaign in 2005 when he was first elected in Chelsea and Fulham.