“Security Intelligence Consultancy” SC Strategy Ltd has only three directors. One is the husband of the judge in yesterday’s Assange ruling. One is the former Head of MI6, Sir John Scarlett, who is synonymous with crooked security operations and personally wrote the notorious dossier of lies on Iraqi WMD, thus causing the subsequent deaths of millions of people. One is Lord Carlile, who was notably close to protected Establishment paedophiles Greville Janner and Cyril Smith. Is the British Establishment not endlessly fascinating?
The corporate media has published no information about “Lady” Arbuthnot’s background and sinister links at all, despite the fact it is uniformly carrying her jibes at Assange as a major story. There can be no clearer example of the fact that it is the corporate media which, deliberately and systematically, spreads fake news, while bloggers get out the actual facts via social media.
Directors of SC Strategy Ltd from Companies House Register
To anyone to whom British corruption is not axiomatic, it appears pretty rum that the judge in the Assange case is married to a government parliamentarian and close to the security services.
“Lady” Arbuthnot’s Husband
There is some interesting background in the Mirror here. The taxpayer paid £1,200 in restaurant bills for “Lady” Arbuthnot and her husband in one long weekend jaunt to Turkey alone.
If anybody thinks the Assange case had anything to do with justice, they are very mistaken. Please read my analysis of “Lady” Arbuthnot’s judgement here.
The Electoral commission is to probe into the Libdems spending on the 2016 election at Holyrood.
First we had the probe into Alex Cole-Hamilton, then Jo Swinson, now the Libdem branch office at Holyrood. Wee Willie Rennie, won’t be pleased I hope this isn’t another attention seeking stunt by Rennie.
https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2018/02/19/probe-into-liberal-democrats-holyrood-election-spending/
Just think how good a pro-independence Scottish Liberal Party would be, free of the hardline Lib Dem union jack brigade. Given the Holyrood voting system they’d probably hold the balance of power there more often than not in independent Scotland.
Craig’s friend Mr Dearlove hitting the headlines again. What a gent.
I’m sure Martinned will be along shortly to comment on the ‘checks and balances’ that make UK democracy and justice system the best in the world……………………
______________________________
”Extent of UK cooperation with Gaddafi revealed
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/19/extent-of-uk-cooperation-with-gaddafi-regime-libya-mi6-revealed
The Libyan files show that the then head of MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, flew to Tripoli in 2004 to discuss how to conduct a joint campaign against exiled Libyan jihadists, who were stigmatised as “heretics” by Gaddafi’s officials.
Three weeks later the LIFG leader, Abdel Hakim Belhaj, and his pregnant wife were detained in Bangkok and “rendered” to Tripoli.
This officer also told the Libyans about the location of a second LIFG leader, Sami al-Saadi, who was also kidnapped and “rendered” to Tripoli later that month, along with his wife and four children, aged six to 12.
_______________________________
Kids and pregnant women fair game in the eyes of MI6 apparently.
I wonder does 00Dearlove have any business interests in Libya? Maybe Craig can check the company register?
@ knuckles February 19, 2018 at 23:35
Indeed, and check out Kincora: ‘Richard Kerr: I was trafficked from Kincora boys home to be abused by a ring of VIPs in London’:
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/richard-kerr-i-was-trafficked-from-kincora-boys-home-to-be-abused-by-a-ring-of-vips-in-london-31122559.html
It’s known as ‘Masonry’, or Luciferianism, or Whitchraft, or, in plain English, selling their souls to the Devil.
Sure, it works. But:
‘What does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?’ (I won’t check out the source, other than to say it is New Testament stuff).
Our system is toxic, ‘Big Time’: ‘New Order of Barbarians’: http://biblicalscholarship.net/barbarians.htm#1
FYI
‘Sir Richard is a signatory of the Henry Jackson Society principles.[10] He is also a “senior advisor” to the Monitor Group – a consultancy and private equity firm which has been implicated in undertaking PR work for Libya and Muammar Gaddafi.[11][12] In April 2013, it was announced that Dearlove joined the advisory board of Ergo, an intelligence and advisory firm.[13][14]’
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dearlove
References below the text.
https://companycheck.co.uk/director/910625907/RICHARD-BILLING-DEARLOVE/companies
It’s quite obvious. It really has been from the start. But those of us who argued this were given dog’s abuse at the time, called “hero-rape apologists” and so on. You see, they effectively neutralised an oppositional figure and set an example for others. Meanwhile, war criminals ride high and are rewarded most handsomely.
OT . . Call KayE’s moan in topic . . Rubbishing the Scottish Government’s budget. . . . two expert guests . . . Struan Stevenson and Andy MacIver . . . .
Tories to the MAX. An example of Bias to come!
If Agent Corb has nothing to hide then surely he will be happy to agree to the release of his files from behind the former Iron Curtain?
@ Anon1 February 20, 2018 at 10:37
If Bliar & Co. have nothing to hide, then surely they would be more than happy to take a lie detector test (by credible operators)?
As for JC, I’m sure he is not in a position to stop files being released or leaked, even if he did not agree.
O/T This is what young school leavers have to put up with, not only are their bus payments taken away to go to college, apprenticeships levies charged ton businesses not being paid out, resulting in 59% less apprenticeships and a lose lose situation to those small and medium businesses that employ most people in the country.
Gresham is the school were the head teacher mauls the furits of his very own labour in public. One interviewed youngster said ‘why should I work for you?’ and on that basis he came out with this spur of genius remark to shoot himself in the foot.
What if the interviewee didn’t finish the sentence? and carried on asking ‘when you can’t keep your young teachers in order, when they have sexual dalliances with under age pupils?’
Gresham was known to have suspended a teacher last year who was having a relationship with an under age girl, only to them re employ the same teacher.
http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/education/greshams-headteacher-blog-1-5400846
Apparently the never directly elected Murdo Fraser has been RT-ing links to unsavoury things, well according to this he has.
Fraser, also refused to appear on Radio Scotland this morning, with Ivan McKee, claiming he shadows Derek Mackay. Fraser however in my opinion, isn’t known for his reticence.
https://mobile.twitter.com/gaponsonby?lang=en
Ros
The Tories know they are all out of arguments in Scotland. So their strategy now is to dodge serious interviews. Go on foreign trips, talk about Bake Off etc.
Murdo Fraser, the list vote system’s best customer, isn’t showing contempt for Ivan McKee there. He’s showing contempt for the people of Scotland.
A spot on open letter to Ruth Davidson from Christian Allard SNP MSP. Whom Davidson party has questioned on two occasions his French origins, when he’s expressed concerns over Tory incompetence.
Allard put reasoned and logical points to Davidson on Twitter, she blocked him.
http://www.thenational.scot/news/16033602.Letter__Don___t_be_fooled_____the_UK___s_EU_citizens_remain_in_limbo/?ref=fbshr
She blocked him on Twitter? LOL.
The North British Tories really are in la la la I’m not hearing you mode.
Meanwhile the police chief of the Catalan region who refused to beat up women and children for voting, has been charged with sedition.
Disloyalty to the Spanish state is no crime in Catalonia.
http://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/night-of-heroes-lord-sacks-presented-with-lifetime-achievement-award-by-tony-blair/
The former premier, who has just returned from his 190th visit to Israel, says Lord Sacks was the first person to explain to him that the country [ Israel ] was ” not just a state, but an idea, and not only a notion, but the homeland of the people ”.
blair surpassing himself once more in sounding like a dumbass.
Didn’t spot him in Israel…details?
He’s just returned (19th Feb) from Abu Dhabi following a trip to solicit business in various African countries. See also:
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2015/02/an-apology/comment-page-46/#comment-718567
Fullest available details on Tony’s activities are regularly updated here.
Hilariously:
Aboard a private jet belonging to Egyptian oligarch Naguib Sawiris,* Tony began his exegesis in Ethiopia and enjoyed a photocall with President Dessalegn before flying on to Kenya, Rwanda, Mozambique and Senegal (where he also waved his begging bowl at the president of Liberia.) The day after Tony left, amid widespread rioting, Dessalegn was forced to step down, and a state of emergency is now in effect. The fate of the suits Blair’s company planted in Addis to meddle in Ethiopian affairs is unknown, but their governance expertise must surely be in doubt…
*same arrangement as three African trips last year, at least one with Sawiris aboard as well…
Forsyth, ex Save the Children now at UNICEF as Dep Exec Director Partnerships? faced complaints when he headed the charity. What a stink
Former Save the Children boss ‘faced three complaints’ – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43134265
https://wikispooks.com/wiki/Justin_Forsyth
I’m sure Craig wouldn’t answer if he knew (wisely, IMO), but there are still rumours surrounding Assange. It is said he’s already in Switzerland. He was extracted not long ago. I’m always sceptical about Assange rumours, but I could believe this one. There appear to be a lot of very curious things happening in the US, though it’s all complex and subterranean. You don’t hear much about paeodo’s being rounded up, which they surely are, on the BBC. Why might that be, one doesn’t wonder at all.
Basically EVERY SINGLE legal judgement will continue to go against Assange, regardless of its’ merits. He’s a prisoner of our own deep-state, and until an un-elected senior cog says he can go, it stays that way. For the record, I doubt May could let him go if she wanted to (she doesn’t of course). Could PM Corbyn? Doubt it, but it’s worth a shot. Risky mind.
Oxfam has now been used for close to a week to divert the troubles of this Government on to other agencies.
That said when will we see Government ministers answering to an inquiry or select committee on the paedophiles still at large in Westminster?
Whatever is the truth about Julian Assange whereabouts, we will probably hear the MSM version of events long before we’ll find out How this Government is extracting itself from the legal morass they have created for themselves.
@ Brian what do you know about dragon ships? and their volatile cargo, shipping up the Fyrth and Clyde?
I’m thinking of Puting up a new Facebook Page – the Hillel Neuer Disgusting Lies Page..
Three Scottish Tory MPs, Colin Clark, Alister Jack and Stephen Kerr have joined dozens of Rees-Mogg’s MP supporters and signed a letter to May calling for an extreme Brexit. Does the fact that 62% of Scots voted against leaving the EU not register properly with them? Evidently not. They live on Planet Westminster Toryboy and not in Scotland.
Meanwhile Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee convened in Kircaldy to hear evidence from immigrants to Scotland as part of the committee’s research into the problems that this group of people face. The 3 SNP MPs on the committee, the Chair Pete Wishart, Deirdre Brock and Tommy Shepperd were the only members to turn up. The 4 Tories, 3 Labour and 1 Lib Dem were no shows.
There’s no excuse for such a total unionist snub, although it’s understandable that Labour were nervous about having committee member Hugh Gaffney speak to immigrants in a public setting until his diversity training takes effect.
Your sympathy for immigrants does you credit. Would you like some of ours?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/9792392/White-Britons-a-minority-in-Leicester-Luton-and-Slough.html
81% of them identify themselves as British, if you managed to read your own link you’d know that.
Somehow though I think you still have a problem with that.
A bit rich from people who have a problem with a pack of tomatoes identifying itself as British in a Scottish supermarket.
On the contrary Fred. I’d be very impressed with a self-identifying pack of tomatoes.
But Marks & Spencer label Scotch whisky as British whisky yet label English made whisky as English whisky.
Fred asks Republic Of Meanwhile a question, yet ReelGuid answers! Impressive how closely aligned the R&R show is these days.
Glenn, stop bitching, if you’re so sure I’m sockpuppeting then ask the mods to check it out, otherwise belt up.
Fred.
I’ll take that as a compliment, especially when the British state is in the middle of a Union Jackery campaign, smearing everything from Scottish beef to haggis in the Union Jack.
I don’t think you’re sock-puppeting, RoS, it’s just a bit nauseating to see people slapping each other on the back dozens of times every day for months on end. Sure, you agree with each other – wonderful, we can take that as read. But I thought boards like this were for a bit of debate, not mutual appreciation and personal nattering.
I’m sure they can be persuaded to identify themselves as anything you like when you fling open your homes to them. I’m sure you’d like to make them more welcome than we do. Mind you, you’ll need a bit more infrastructure.
Ah Baal, I see your mask slipping, lets hope you don’t become ill and need to see a doctor or specialist who’s an immigrant. I’m sure you’d wait longer to see a white British doctor.
Not far to go for the youth/OAP’s of Watton to help with food crops in the Fenlands, they need 8000 eager workers who can get their arse out of bed.
10/1 that they don’t find them here.
I absolutely agree, Nevermind. However since half the youths in Watton by now have at least one Polish or Port parent your argument is somewhat diluted.
RoS. Mask? I have never claimed to be other than a nationalist. My interest is in retaining the integrity and cohesion of a formerly functional state. And you?
“RoS. Mask? I have never claimed to be other than a nationalist. My interest is in retaining the integrity and cohesion of a formerly functional state. And you?”
Baal
Yeah right, at least Anon1 has the balls to to admit his position, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at your pussy footing around.
Are you saying that British men prefer Portuguese or polish woman? Baa’l . Most of Watton’s Polish or Portuguese already are working in the agri sector, building and packing sectors, so where do these workers come from? When good Brexiteers such as yourself and others in Norfolk don’t want to see any jobs going to immigrants anymore, who will power this new won economy? who will be taking back control? and of what?
work houses, where our young can sleep eat and be merry as long as the work a ten hour day. Cause they’ll have to pay for everything but there might just be something left at the end of the week to spend on Norfolk day.
You may want to recheck my record* on that one RoS. My nation is currently the UK, as it stands, and I support its interests – increasingly, as they are more threatened now than I can remember. I voted for its independence from the EU. At least by the standards of CM that makes me a nationalist.
Some years ago I lived in Scotland. Although I am not a Scot, I joined and supported the SNP. I was then by any definition a Scottish nationalist. If the SCots obtain their independence I shall perforce become a rUK nationalist. Because that is where I live and pay tax.
You want Scotland to be subject to the EU. My nationalist credentials would seem to be better than yours
Speaking of addressing the issue, I would still be interested in a free Scotland’s economic strategy. Are we relying on fish, tourism, the remains of the oil, or a continuation of the Barnett formula? Do tell. Rational minds want to know.
* You won’t. of course. That would be ‘creepy’, wouldn’t it?
@Nevermind
Not far to go for the youth/OAP’s of Watton to help with food crops in the Fenlands, they need 8000 eager workers who can get their arse out of bed. 10/1 that they don’t find them here.
What terms and conditions are they offered? What terms and conditions do you enjoy?
Yes reel guid, I’ve read both articles Ruthie and 13 fakers are a disgrace, those who have sided with Moggasaurus are worse if thats even possible.
As for the unionist parties failing to attend the committie meeting, that as well is an absolutely disgraceful thing to do. Immigrants pick our veg and fruits, work in our catering sectors, building sectors, our hospitals would suffer greatly without their labour, as would our communities without their tax input.
The unionist politicians are steadly dropping any pretence that they care, and their ugly empire dream and their me, me, me agenda is being laid bare for all to see.
Lets get out of this union.
You’ve changed your tune.
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2016/06/moderation-rules-commenters/comment-page-1/#comment-604392
Specsavers (Scotland) must have an offer on rose-tinted spectacles.
Mass immigration Fred, is quite different.
On the subject Fred, I find it very creepy that you troll Craigs blog looking for my previous comments.
That’s several occasions now, oh Jesus I’ve got a web stalker, now I’m really creeped out.
Oh don’t worry Ros. Fred’s harmless……although charmless.
reel guid.
Don’t you think it’s creepy? I mean the links Fred puts up are not recent, which means he’s trolling through Craigs threads, god knows how long into the night to find and save my comments.?
Yeah, it can’t be pleasant Ros. But I think it’s that Fred can’t deliver a telling comment and can’t really debate. So he resorts to trawling through old comments in the hopes of being able to get the better of you. And of course that doesn’t work either.
Your tag team act is a bloody sight creepier than someone righteously backing up his assertions. Yes, you have changed your tune, RoS. And attempted to change the subject.
Ba’al
Naw, the Labour and Tory tag team to try and trash democracy in Scotland. That’s creepy.
reel guid.
Exactly, the Britnat government are in the process of dragging us into a economic abyss, and all the Britnats in here can squabble about is blame the immigrants.
And the Scotnats try and overturn democracy in the UK. Also creepy.
That’s was beautifully put, Ba’al. I agree with everything you say.
“Does the fact that 62% of Scots voted against leaving the EU not register properly with them?”
Does the fact that Scotland voted to remain in the UK and that the EU referendum was UK-wide and not confined to Scotland alone not register properly with you?
Yeah, the No vote in 2014 registered. But it took place in the context of Scotland’s place in the EU being secure. It also took place in the context of Scotland’s devolution settlement being secure. Now with enforced Brexit for Scotland and the Westminster devo powers grab the 2014 vote is thoroughly obsolete and therefore has become invalid as a settlement.
Write to your MP and explain it to him or her. In the meantime, while you’re waiting for the entire political apparatus to recognise the blinding truth of this and just turn Scotland into an independent state of the EU without the need for any further ballots, are you going to accept the result of two democratic referendums that have already taken place?
Perhaps you just want a referendum again and again, until you get the result you want. Upon which, of course, no further ballots or discussion on the matter will be necessary (or even permitted).
The 2014 referendum would only have endured as a legitimate settlement if Scotland’s democratic rights had been upheld.
Scotland never voted for an EU referendum. Scotland never voted to agree to have no veto on the UK leaving the EU. But Scotland did vote to remain in the EU. Scotland never voted to give May a mandate to grab devo powers.
Scotland voted in a majority of MSPs in 2016 that stood for a second indyref in the event of an enforced Scottish departure from the EU.
And it’s the British nationalists who think that since 2014 gave them the result they wanted that no further ballots on the matter will be necessary (or even permitted).
So you are simply projecting British nationalist anti-democratic attitudes onto pro-independence people.
“Scotland never voted for an EU referendum”
No, parliament did.
“Scotland never voted to agree to have no veto on the UK leaving the EU”
Nor did any UK region.
“Scotland did vote to remain in the EU”
It wasn’t a Scottish vote. It was UK-wide.
RG: Scotland voted to remain part of the UK. That means whatever happens to the UK, also happens to Scotland – the latter doesn’t get to pick and choose, no more than the Welsh get to pick and choose when it comes to the government elected by the UK as a whole.
I don’t like being under Tory rule. Neither do the majority of those in Wales. But that’s the deal we’ve got, because we are part of the UK. Whining – oh, this and that wasn’t the case at the time! – doesn’t cut it. There wasn’t a little X to check on the Scottish referendum with which one could make clear that this referendum wasn’t binding if the UK left the EU.
Everyone knew that a Brexit referendum was on the cards in 2014 when your lot voted to stay with the UK. If you’d been that concerned, all Scottish nationalists would have pushed to delay the Scottish vote until after the Brexit vote – funny you didn’t want to do that! Perhaps – as now – you wanted it both ways?
Far from being a British nationalist, I’m more concerned with democracy – something you appear to have little time for, being an ultra nationalist yourself who’s unconcerned about the expressed wish of at least 60% of your own people!
“Perhaps you just want a referendum again and again, until you get the result you want. ”
Yup, keep going until we cut loose the ball and chain that is Westminster.
Rep.Of.Breaking.News: “Yup, keep going until we cut loose the ball and chain that is Westminster.”
Good of you to admit it – it’s not really about Brexit or anything else. Any excuse will do. Kind of cheapens that Brexit line though, you have to admit 😉
Not so good to hear that you’re not even slightly interested in democracy, only the result you want.
Glenn.
Brexit only exacerbates the position, we need to keep going because Westminster cannot be trusted.
We were told vote remain in the EU, now the xenophobic hard right of the Tory party is dragging us out of the EU.
Westminster can never be trusted again, so we keep going until we’re out.
reel guid
The – please feel sorry for us for our causing mass civilian casualties – Syrian rebels have changed their pretext from fighting in God’s cause, which has proven to be untrue, unless God is USUKIS, which He isn’t, to fighting against the conservative middle classes who back the government of Syria.
Well boys, we in the UK have plenty of conservative middle classes who back unfair and unjust rulers right here in the US, UK and Israel. but we don’t make war against them because we know that that would be much more harmful to civilians than talking and arguing with them.
The failed insurgency pretends that only Syria or Libya have evil dictators supported by the conservative middle classes. No, the whole world is organised of conservative , rich people supporting dictators. Get real. only two things can result from fighting 1/ The insurgency members will replace the existing powerful and become more unjust and more violent than the status quo, because they have already proved themselves unwilling to make progress by negotiation or 2/ the existing unjust leaders will increase their violence against their citizens in order to exterminate the rebels.
There is no third possibility that those who abandon negotiation will ever achieve a negotiation in favour of themselves or their cause, because they abandoned politics in favour of war. I ask myself what benefit will ever come about by foreigners fighting the middle classes of Syria for the benefit of the middle classes of USUKIS. Yes I can see why Boris Johnson supports the violence of Al Qaida and Daesh, because they do the fighting and Syria drops like a ripe plum into to colonial powers.
Bonkers. When can we despatch these colonial shite and have a just and modern Jeremy Corbyn in power in the UK. It’s long overdue that imperialists life the foaming Tories were got rid of for ever. They created the whole terror threat by themselves by creating violent proxy jihadists to do their colonial fighting for them. They are a scourge on the peace of the world.
As Punch used to say ‘That’s the way to do it!’ This is how they plant the poison. It is almost choreographed.
Today in the HoC
12:25
PM asked about response to Syrian ‘genocide’
The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford asks about Eastern Ghouta in Syria.
He says the bombing is “relentless” and asks the PM to call for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council in response to the “horrific genocide”.
The PM says Britain will be talking to UN partners but also calls out Russia as a backer of the Syria regime.’
___
Adam BoultonVerified account
@adamboultonSKY
48m
@IanBlackfordMP raises Syrian govt’s bloody assault. TM doing all we can on humanitarian front.
_____
Yesterday in the HoC
Volume 636
John Woodcock (Barrow and Furness) (Lab/Co-op)
6. What evidence his Department has received on the recent use of chemical weapons in Syria. [903894]
The Minister for the Middle East (Alistair Burt)
We are deeply concerned by recent reports of chemical weapons use in Syria. UK officials are in contact with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which is investigating. We condemn all use of chemical weapons and are working with international partners to identify and hold to account those responsible.
John Woodcock
I thank the Minister for that answer. Anyone who seeks to draw a false equivalence in relation to Syria’s grotesque gassing of its own citizens risks aiding and abetting that gruesome activity. The Government’s concern is not enough, and words are not enough. What is the UK actually going to do to take action to stop this activity? This was supposed to be a red line for the international community, but it has been walked over time and again.
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-02-20/debates/FF4E69E5-3502-4B20-945F-B8AD23737B46/SyriaChemicalWeapons
Woodcock was chair of LFoI and Burt a vice chair of CFoI.
Woodcock is an obvious Neocon but Blackford is more surprising. I know very little about his politics beyond his being a Scottish Nationalist.
It’s remarkable that the media can moralise over Ghouta while Raqqa and Mosul lie in utter ruins.
“Woodcock is an obvious Neocon but Blackford is more surprising. I know very little about his politics beyond his being a Scottish Nationalist.”
And that he voted against military intervention against Assad in Syria.
SNP MPs and MSPs aren’t allowed to rebel so there is no reason to assume that their votes reflect their beliefs.
Really Stu, I’d like to see evidence of that-current SNP MP’s and MSP’s.
A blog that analyses Westminster revolts.
http://revolts.co.uk/?p=923
I can’t find a link but a motion was passed at an SNP conference a few years ago which bars elected SNP members from voting against the party line.
Stu.
Did you read your link, it notes on quite a few occasions when SNP MP’s voted differently from other SNP MP’s.
On other occasion they voted the same, of course a Labour MP in your link, resorted to the usual Labour filled dross, and called them robots.
Stu
SNP MSPs Jean Urquhart, John Wilson and John Finnie all resigned from the party over NATO policy. Urquhart and Finnie in 2012. Wilson in 2014.
So there goes your theory that SNP parliamentarians are simply party automatons.
I don’t think that is what it says. Occasionally only one SNP MP votes and there was a free vote where the majority abstained.
The only SNP rebellion in the current Parliament has been due to Mairi Black acting as a Teller so in all 117 votes since the GE not a single SNP MP has broken ranks.
From your link Stu.
“I can only find divisions in the SNP MPs in seven of these, and of these, one is a free vote. The remainder see just a lone individual MP deviating from the pack ”
So on six occasions we see a SNP MP vote against the majority.
And.
“serious example of a split in the parliamentary party – came on the Second Reading of Assisted Dying Bill. It was an issue which divided all of larger parties, and the SNP was no different: 14 MPs voting yes, 11 no, and the rest absent or abstaining.”
I don’t know why I bother sometimes.
“I can only find divisions in the SNP MPs in seven of these, and of these, one is a free vote. The remainder see just a lone individual MP deviating from the pack ”
For the assisted dying bill the SNP allowed them a free vote (ie vote as your Priest/Minister/Imam tells you) so that can’t be counted as a rebellion.
On the other six occasions only one MP bothered to vote so again that’s not a rebellion.
There have been no SNP rebellions.
The PM says Britain will be talking to UN partners but also calls out Russia as a backer of the Syria regime.’
Much Russia cares. That’s the way it has always done war, as brutally and terrifyingly as it possibly can. Not all the denials of its sympathisers can alter that, or mitigate it. There’s absolutely no basis for protesting that it’s in some way more moral than the West. It’s a lot less moral. It will kill unrestrictedly to keep its base on the Med and a potential chokehold on Western oil routes.
Woodcock’s LFoI position is irrelevant. Granted, demonisation of Iran suits the Is. agenda, but Is. isn’t going to take on the Russians either. And he very well knows what the UK can and will do to stop ‘ this activity’ Sod-all.
So let’s just carry on virtue-signalling. Too late to regret destabilising Syria in the first place, but let’s at least not promote the Russians as selfless heroes riding to the rescue. The cure is even worse than the disease.
You say that Russia is less moral than the West . I doubt that; Russian foreign policy, of recent years, has strongly
supported national independence and state sovereignty. The Wests record of invasion destruction and occupation
speaks for its self.
as to the Russian way of doing war do you suggest that it is uniquely barbarous given Dresden and Hiroshima?
Depends how you define morality, as always. However, my personal belief is that going balls-out to achieve an objective without worrying about the death and desolation you impose on the defenceless people caught in the middle, might be considered a tad less moral than going for a similar objective with that consideration at least at the back of your mind. See also Grozny.
And I wonder whose construction industry will be ( actually is being) positioned to rebuild the target zones? War can be so profitable.
@ Sharp Ears February 21, 2018 at 14:36
‘Breaking: 3 trucks loaded with ‘tons’ of chlorine enter Syria’s Idlib from Turkey – reports’:
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-3-trucks-loaded-tons-chlorine-enter-syrias-idlib-turkey-reports/
‘Three trucks loaded with chlorine (often used for false-flag chemical weapons attacks by rebel groups) have entered into militant-held areas of Syria’s Idlib province, so reports a source linked to the Al-Alam new group.
The report from the Al-Alam correspondent says that the trucks from Turkey brought with them ‘several tons’ of chlorine.
Al-Masdar News cannot verify the claim.
In the past, rebel groups (including Al-Qaeda affiliate factions) have used chlorine gas to stage attacks against civilian targets which are then blamed on government forces in the hope of provoking a Western military response.
Moreover, militant groups have also been caught red-handed in the use of chlorine gas as a tactical weapon against government troops – the most recent example of this being in very late October 2016 during a second offensive by Turkish-backed insurgents to break the siege on east Aleppo.
As a weapon in the arsenal of rebel groups, chlorine gas is delivered via artillery shells.’
And the infamous ‘White Helmets’ will play their part:
‘Trucks Carrying Chemical Materials Cross Turkish Border into Syria’:
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961202000852
‘…In the meantime, well-informed sources in Eastern Damascus said that the terrorist groups, backed up by the certain western states’ intelligence services, are producing a fake film in coordination with the White Helmets group to show the conditions after the false-flag operation that entails a chemical attack on the civilian population by chlorine gas.
The sources went on to say that the terrorists are to carry out the attack by mid March, when a meeting on chemical weapons ban is scheduled….’
Anybody got a decent MP who would bring this alternative info up in Parliament? My ‘Labour’ MP has refused to bring up Syria info many times in the past, so it’s no use me trying my MP.
The Turkish army has attacked pro-Syrian government forces that had earlier arrived in the Kurdish-held Afrin region in northwestern Syria to defend the Syrian Kurds against Turkey’s offensive. It’s a credit to Assad that he’s decided to defend not only the Kurds but Syrian territory.
Meanwhile the UN sit back and turns a blind eye on the infringements of Syrian sovereign territory, by Turkey, Israel, and western backed proxy fighters.
Alister Jack of the Fakers Dozen is asked by the BBC if he is not at odds with Ruth Davidson after he signed the Rees-Mogg crews’ letter to May calling for hardline Brexit. He says that she doesn’t tell the Fakers how to think and vote.
“…..we vote with our consciences…” says Mr. Alister Union Jack.
Right. So he wasn’t voting against his conscience by helping defeat the Commons amendments about devo powers to the EU Withdrawal Bill recently?
Even though his own government’s assessment shows a hardline Brexit will cost the Scottish economy billions per annum, he signs Rees-Mogg’s disgraceful letter. That doesn’t trouble his conscience any?
reel guid.
I bet you not one news channel or newspaper, will pose difficult questions to Colonel Rape Clause Ruth Davidson over those Scots Tories who back a hard Brexit and Moggasaurus.
It’s as if Ruthie and the Tories can be as bigoted and xenophobic as they like and the media will just bypass it, with a SNP bad story.
We really need to dissolve this crumbling union.
Reading through the flurry of comments today, concerning the merits of the UK, reminded me of our National anthem, albeit reworded. The faces may be dated but the situation is unchanged.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7QFXFTQZhw
JOML.
Nice one just about sums it up. ?
JOML
Scotland’s anthem for the Commonwealth Games.
When the Tories aren’t persecuting immigrants or frightening EU citizens, their usually focused on hurting the disabled and terminally ill.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/boy-no-arms-legs-told-7391220
https://evolvepolitics.com/heartless-tories-to-remove-disability-vehicle-from-utterly-immobile-man-with-advanced-motor-neurone-disease/
Longtime List MSP Tory Murdo Fraser tweets to ask people what he should watch next on Netflix.
Ruth Davidson tweets back to recommend TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race and includes the hashtag ‘#SashayAway’.
SASHayAway? A wee semi-private joke between the two sectarian Tories? Yes I reckon so.
Knowing Fraser, who tweets RFC as the Queens eleven, you’re probably right reel guid.
When Hazel Irvine says let’s take a look at the medals table she sounds genuinely pleased for Norway when she notes that they’re at the top.
When Balding says it there’s a distinct note of resentment which she can’t entirely disguise.
nice One reel guid
And also Very guid to see that a film Craig features in, along with Wee Ginger Dug and some others –
is up for a Possible award
I first seen the film whith Invercldye for independence Group, GA Ponsonby was present and gave a talk on the Night.
BBC ‘Indyref Bias’ documentary nominated for prestigious awards
‘London Calling: How the BBC stole the Referendum‘ by GA Ponsonby –
http://indyref2.scot/bbc-indyref-bias-documentary-nominated-for-prestigious-awards
Good Luck All involved
@ Nevermind
Interesting that you should ask about ‘ Dragon, or Ghost ships ‘ on the Clyde..
I was reading something about some criminal activity ( cos it concerns Arms and Libya )..
The ship Naja arrived on the Clyde around the End of January, and Anchored in Brodick Bay, Arran, for a few days.
Then it sailed north up Loch Long and docked at the Glen Mallan jetty, Which is linked to a nearby munitions base, Glen Douglas…Glen Douglas is an undreground home to vast stores of ‘ coventional ‘ Bombs / explosives..
So certainly something Em, Fishy going on
I can see Faslane From my House…
but I have Been up all of the Arrochar Alps, when I had no Idea some of that Land I was Gazing at Was Like a Frigging Bees Hive of Weapons…
A couple of My Favourite winter Fotos were taken just off the top of A’ Crois – a Corbett near Ben Narnain, and Ben Ime.. You and the Missus are practically on Ben Ime..when you go Up the ‘ Rest and be Thanful ‘
Ill try dig up some more.
“The ship Naja arrived on the Clyde around the End of January, and Anchored in Brodick Bay, Arran, for a few days.
Then it sailed north up Loch Long and docked at the Glen Mallan jetty, Which is linked to a nearby munitions base, Glen Douglas…Glen Douglas is an undreground home to vast stores of ‘ coventional ‘ Bombs / explosives..
So certainly something Em, Fishy going on”
Brian.
It wouldn’t surprise me one little bit, if that ship and others like it are bringing nuclear waste to be stored deep underground in Scotland.
We don’t have any say on the nukes at Faslane, nor would we if Westminster saw fit to take other countries radio-active waste.
@ Republicofscotland February 21, 2018 at 19:50
Here’s info re the ‘Naja’, if someone knows how to use the site:
http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:360660/mmsi:304256000/vessel:NAJA
Meanwhile, more skulduggery by US & Co.:
‘US helicopters spotted in Al-Hasakah allegedly evacuating Daesh members (video)’:
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us-helicopters-spotted-al-hasakah-allegedly-evacuating-daesh-members-video/
Our government, or at least key elements, will be completely aware of the filthy ‘game’ the US is playing with Syria, and with which the UK and other slimeball cronies are assisting.
Ros…and Nevermind.. and Paul
I found some more on Ghost Ships.. Another was in Hebridean waters –
Windward analysts tracked one ship that had 12 days of questionable manoeuvres while sailing to Gibraltar, as it drifted off course and deactivated its tracking systems.
Later it “went dark” for 28 hours inside the area of the Port of Oran in Algeria, a region notorious for the trading of arms, drugs and people.
The data firm said it was extremely dangerous to turn off AIS in the middle of such a busy shipping strait.
Next, it spent 11 hours off the coast of Islay, the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, where there are no major ports.
Another vessel, an oil tanker, made two unusual stops, sailing untracked for seven and 15 hours respectively, while voyaging from Libya to Greece.
Such unscheduled and seemingly random stops suggest they were meeting other ships to make an illicit exchange.
Windward’s data showed that 2,850 ships disappeared off the radar before entering European waters in January and February alone, and while some may have had technical difficulties, most are thought to have been engaged in illegal activity
Many of the dubious stops are centred on terrorism hotspots such as Libya and Syria, sparking fears terror groups such as Islamic State and al-Qaeda are among those exploiting the loopholes in maritime security.
https://news.sky.com/story/questions-over-ghost-ships-sailing-under-the-radar-10797433
I Agree though RoS That the Naja in Glen Douglas..Is Extremly Unsettling
@ BrianFujisan February 21, 2018 at 21:25
I would guess the great majority of these ‘dark’ ships are indeed up to no good, but also that they are up to the West’s ‘Intel Agencies’ ‘no good’. There is no way they would not be aware of the ship’s going ‘Dark’, and unless they knew what they were up to, they would investigate. They can tell a vessel’s location without the ship’s tracking system.
Otherwise, what’s to stop a North Korean sub from meeting up with a neutral flagged ship, and selling nukes to who-knows-who?
i Know this Paul…
It’s a Mighty Worry
One likely explanation is that some of the tankers are illegal oil shipments – oil stolen in industrial quantities either by tapping the producer’s pipelines, or simply using corrupt contacts to acquire it cheaply. Both are endemic in, eg, Nigeria. Another scam involves parking loaded tankers offshore awaiting an oil price rise.
Had a look for Naja – a general cargo ship – and it looks like she’s been to Glen Mallen before. Although sites differ on this. Last recorded positions, Al-Khums, Libya (! but she’d got there from Italy), 9th Jan; Arran, 29th Jan; W of Lewis, 31st. Alleged destination was Vopnafjordur (NE Iceland) ETA 2nd Feb, but no records I can find since 31 January. Looks like they just turn off AIS at random.
That was a wonderful contribution, Sock. How I wish I had your research skills and dedication to the facts! Thank you, thank you. Etc.
Tony
The comments to the link you gave are hilarious, comparing the social connections of Arbuthnot and Assange. The point is that toff Arbuthnot has to work, sweat in the Palestinian sun, de-hydrate, and pretend to look happy doing it in order to retain his credentials by digging his fingernails into febrile cliff of Zionist approval, while Assange was born and brainwashed into the Australian Zionist diaspora.
Boris Johnson has to stick his neck out in the House of Commons and praise Al Qaida publicly in order to retain his very large arse on the seat of Westminster power. Social class my foot. If social class was something, do you think David Cameron would be banished to a gipsy caravan to ponder his umbilical knot? No, apparently in 2018 we cannot be conned into slavery by aristos. No, no , no.
Tony – your comment is on OffG right now
http://off-guardian.org/2018/02/21/interview-with-dr-marcus-papadopoulos-on-macedonias-future/comment-page-1/#comment-104457
Craig should say something about Brexit. After all, it’s the issue of the age.
That he doesn’t suggests to me that Brexit is no longer an issue where a civil servant has anything to say, the world he knows. All the competent civil servants have been sacked, and the Brexit negotiations are being entirely run by politicals, who have no experience.
‘Former CIA Director James Woolsey Admits CIA Interferes In Foreign Elections For A “Very Good Cause”:
https://www.activistpost.com/2018/02/former-cia-director-james-woolsey-admits-cia-interferes-in-foreign-elections-for-a-very-good-cause.html?
‘Former CIA director James Woolsey has admitted the U.S. interferes in foreign elections for a “very good cause.”
In an interview on Fox News, former CIA Director James Woolsey was asked whether the U.S. interferes in other countries’ elections, Woolsey responded, “Well, only for a very good cause in the interests of democracy.”
“Oh, probably, but it was for the good of the system in order to avoid communists taking over,” Woolsey told Laura Ingraham on her Fox News show laughing.
According to WikiLeaks, the U.S. government’s own data shows that its deep state in the CIA and the military-industrial complex has meddled in the elections of a whopping 81 foreign governments between 1946 and 2000, including Russia in the 1990s. That’s no laughing matter and frankly worrying…..’
And that’s without their military ‘Regime Change’ interventions!
I have read a few chapters more of Yanis Varoufakis
“And the Weak Suffer What They Must?: Europe, Austerity and the Threat to Global Stability Paperback – 2 Feb 2017”
I bought it in hardback. Its an excellent education of how the European European came to be…and more. For a socialist he seems to have a very high respect, for even Margaret Thatcher – not specifically about her policies, but more about her intelligence, understanding and warnings of how The EU was going to be. Varoufakis, effectively champions Thatcher (not about her political views) , but about The complete Opposite of what you might expect.
Margaret Thatcher – A big supporter of Democracy, Rather than Right Wing, Or Left Wing, Centralised Unelected Fascist/Communist Dictatorship
That really surprised me, but as Finance Minister for Greece, he has obviously done his research. He even phoned up Norman Lamont, and asked him for the truth – and he told him – its all in his book. It is not expensive, and it is written in perfect English.
Democracy originated in Greece, so I shouldn’t have been surprised he knew what he was writing about.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weak-Suffer-What-They-Must/dp/1784704113/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Tony
Tony,
Yanis Varoufrakis certainly speaks and writes well ,often spoke on Australian TV shows and ran an excellent blog that I followed regularly before the GFC(Round I).In the political cesspit, he could not make much progress.I will request his book from my library so that it gains wider readership, as my budget no longer extends far beyond charity shops and remainders.
Onthe EU, Christopher Story(aka Edwin Harle) did a lot of research as a financial analyst (also adviser to Thatcher) and his speeches on EU corruption and the EU collective are still up on You tube although the 30 year run of International Currency Review is hard to find.Bernard Connolly(‘s The Rotten Heart of Europe’) is also a good insider’s account of the shenanigans surrounding the creation of the euro. http://www.eureferendum.com has done a magnificent job over the years in criticizing and commentating on the case for leaving and much of the analysis of what seems to be a total lack of vision, informed debate,and ideas other than short-term profit-taking and political advantage on the part of the May regime.
As to democracy, the word and its analysis are certainly from Greece but the idea Ithink is much wider spread.
Glad you found that, Tony. I’ve recommended it to others myself. Barring a certain understandable bias in favour of Greece, it certainly dissects the behemoth of Western economics since the war, in very clear and readable language, and exposes the motivations of the financial participants. As you say, he makes a considerable effort to be objective, and I don’t think it’s comfortable reading for any political standpoint. Required reading for anyone who can see past their pet conspiracy theory and wants some genuine explanations, with informed criticism. I particularly liked his coinage of ‘Ponzi austerity’ – self-reinforcing misery in the service of inflexible doctrine.
Rather more concisely, Monbiot explores the centrality of “patrimonial wealth” ( check the footnote) to what afflicts us, here:
http://www.monbiot.com/2018/02/22/wheel-of-fortune/
Varoufakis describes the institutional consolidation of the principle Monbiot outlines: the same object viewed from different angles.
(It is very difficult to get into the matter without sounding like a Marxist social science graduate writing for Morning Star: apologies, but I think there’s some meaning in there somewhere…)
‘The Russian meddling fraud: Weapons of mass destruction revisited’:
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/02/20/pers-f20.html
‘…Fifteen years later, the script has been pulled from the closet and dusted off. This time, instead of “weapons of mass destruction,” it is “Russian meddling in the US elections.” Once again, assertions by US intelligence agencies and operatives are treated as fact. Once again, the media is braying for war. Once again, the cynicism and hypocrisy of the American government—which intervenes in the domestic politics of every state on the planet and has been relentlessly expanding its operations in Eastern Europe—are ignored.
The argument presented by the American media is that the alleged existence of a fly-by-night operation, employing a few hundred people, with a budget amounting to a minuscule fraction of total election spending in the US, constitutes a “a virtual war against the United States through 21st-century tools of disinformation and propaganda” (New York Times).
In the countless articles and media commentary along this vein, nowhere can one find a serious analysis of the Mueller indictment of the Russians itself, let alone an examination of the real motivations behind the US campaign against Russia. The fact that the indictment does not even involve the Russian government or state officials is treated as a nonissue…..’
Yep, ‘politicians’ and MSM are vociferously banging the war drums, both re ‘alleged meddling’ and re previous and planned ‘False Flag’ CW attacks in Syria, and the Coup result in Ukraine. Can’t the silly ass*s see where this is heading? Do they think low-grade presstitutes and low-grade ‘politicians’ are going to be protected by the Banksters and other PTB in their bunkers? Why should they expect that?
Presstitutes and ‘politicians’ are ten a penny; if anyone survives, they’ll probably be a hundred a penny.
They’ll rue their crimes, whether or not they survive.
‘Exposed: The Tory-Trump plan to kill food safety with Brexit chicken’:
https://medium.com/insurge-intelligence/the-tory-trump-plan-to-kill-food-safety-with-brexit-chicken-6faa9fbff0c1
‘A shady network of hard-right think-tanks and politicians with ties to Donald Trump and the UK Tory Party are agitating to sell the British public chlorinated chicken, hormone fed beef and GM foods…..’
‘…A trans-Atlantic network of Conservative and Libertarian think tanks were caught creating ‘shadow trade deals’ which deregulate in favour of food and drug lobbies during Brexit. In this investigation, Kam Sandhu exposes the long history of this trans-Atlantic network, and its efforts to drag us towards corporate freedom at the expense of public safety since the birth of neoliberalism. The network now sees an opportunity to enact significant changes during Brexit, aided by the duplicity of business interests in public discourse. The British public needs to get a grip on the future we want….’
‘False Flags’, ‘Regime Change’ wars, MSM and government lies, GMO’s, Fracking, ‘Surveillance States’, Internet manipulation – it’s difficult to not let it all drive you round the twist…
Paul,
The attempts to gain access for GM foods and other US agro-chemical delights did not begin with Brexit. Under Obama the PTB pressed ahead with the TTIP and the Canada -Eu FTA(a backdoor to the EU for US products), thrusts that the Trump regime has de-emphasized as unfavourable to US domestic interests. The Bayer-Monsanto merger does not bode well for consumers in view of the entity’s massive lobbying clout in Brussels and Berlin(not to mention the more covert approach London and Dublin). In other words in or out of the EU food safety is a secondary concern To my mind Putin’s idea of Russia as a major exporter of good quality organic foods and grains is much more appealing.
@ Kerch’ee Kerch’ee Coup February 22, 2018 at 09:25
Yes, I knew about TTIP, CETA and TPP, and have been on a number of Demos against them.
Trouble is, no matter what the Trumpeter says, when Brit politicians go across the pond dangling offers that US corporations ‘can’t refuse’, like access to the UK for their Frankenfoods and poisonous chlorine-drenched and hormone-stuffed animal products, they would soon get the Trumpeter on board.
thanks for that eye opener Paul, whilst we seem to be clueless as to what we want to see happening with our erstwhile partners in Europe, a trade deal or not, we seem to be very eager to suck up anything cheap and nasty from America.
I can see the development of NO GM retailers already. This will drive animal husbandry to ruin as consumers will be turned off meat altogether and vegans/vegetarianism becomes mainstream popular. But many on here seem to say ‘bring it on’.
Will Buxted pioneer chlorinated chickens here? as it has championed US style broiler raising in the past?
RoS: “Westminster can never be trusted again, so we keep going until we’re out.”
OK, let’s see if I understand this. You’ll push for 100 referendums if necessary, until you get the result you want. Then that stands for all time – right? Because you wouldn’t want to have any referendums after that to get back into the UK – tell me if I’m wrong.
So the only vote you’ll actually respect, the only one that will never be re-run, is the one that gives a result you agree with – and that will be the final say on the matter. Because there’ll be no more whining about exceptional circumstances invalidating the result you agree with, only those you don’t like.
This does not strike me as fair or democratic in the slightest. I entirely respect your opinion, but do not respect the way you’re pushing at it, with an “any excuse will do” approach. That way lies fanaticism.
Glenn, to get out, you only need a referendum in Scotland. To get back in would require a referendum across all countries involved. Given many posters believe England subsidises Scotland, it’s unlikely the initial ‘out’ referendum would be reversed, even if the Scottish voters were silly enough to throw away their independence in the ‘in’ referendum. All hypothetical at the moment but I’d be delighted in having your support for Scotland to leave the union that appears to serve none of the countries particularly well.
I remember when Britain joined the EEC, we had a referendum, the rest of Europe didn’t. I don’t recall ever having a referendum on whether to allow countries to join the EU. When Hawaii joined the United States Hawaii had a referendum, America didn’t.
That’s fantastic news, Fred. The way forward is now clear for Scotland… a referendum to leave the UK, quickly followed by another to join Norway. We’d be rich, tapping into their vast wealth, and they’d have no say in the matter!
PS. I think Hawaii’s ‘decision’ to join the US was more of an external military decision than an internal democratic decision. But that’s just my perception.
@ JOML February 22, 2018 at 17:11
‘..PS. I think Hawaii’s ‘decision’ to join the US was more of an external military decision than an internal democratic decision. But that’s just my perception.’
Mine an’ all…
O/T.
Those who are paid to keep the UK together are working to pile pressure on the Westmonster Tory government to pull back from a hard Brexit even to stay in the Single market.
Since the EU referendum the Herald has had pro Remain editorials. This week MacWhirter demonstrated how damaging any form of Brexit would would be to Scottish Fishing and Farming.
This morning at 8.10am Gary Robertson had on Kenny Farquharson + journalist from Press & Journal. KF didn’t mince his words, supporting the SNP’s version of events agreeing Westminster are trying for a “Power Grab” . . . “Not respecting the Devolution Settlement” , KF did say that Ruthless Davidson wants Scotland to remain in the Single Market
@ Brian
Thanks for that Brian, I was thinking of the dragon boats that carry highly volatile gas, as explosive and volatile as Nitro Glycerin, up the Fyrth to be delivered to Grangemouth refinery, gases used to make plastics and other chemical concoctions.
One spark and you have a a massive explosion that rivals a daisy cutter.
That said the arms dealing ghost ships passing you by are worth keeping a little diary, you are in the right spot there.
here in Norfolk, Richard Branson’s Virgin Care wants to run/is interested in running Norfolk county councils children’s mental healthcare services.
Norfolk has got a dire legacy of looking after problem children and mental health care is a national disgrace. To privatise will mean that these fly by night providers can sell it on to other mental health care providers, without taxpayers say.
How to get your hands on taxpayers money and privatise all of our services by stealth, we are halfway there.
http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health/virgin-care-mental-health-1-5404233