The Scottish Parliament Does Have the Right to Withdraw from the Act of Union 437

 in Uncategorized by

The London Supreme Court last week not only confirmed that the Westminster Parliament could overrule at will any Scottish Government legislation, irrespective of the Scotland Act and the Sewell Convention, but it also ruled that Westminster had already successfully done so, by retrospectively passing provisions in the EU (Withdrawal) Act that overruled the Bill on the same subject, within the competence of the Scottish Parliament, that had already been passed by Holyrood.

Not content with that, the London Supreme Court confirmed that London ministers may, by secondary legislation, under the Scotland Act decree laws for Scotland that are not even passed through the Westminster parliament.

Which leaves Scotland in this extraordinary situation. English MPs or English ministers in their London Parliament can, at any time, impose any legislation they choose on Scotland, overriding Scotland’s parliament and Scotland’s representation in the London parliament. Yet, under the English Votes for English Laws rules of the London Parliament introduced by the Tories in 2015, Scottish MPs cannot vote at all on matters solely affecting England.

That is plainly a situation of colonial subservience.

I am firmly of the view that the Scottish government should now move to withdraw from the Treaty of Union. Scotland’s right to self determination is inalienable. It cannot be signed away forever or restricted by past decisions.

The Independence of a country is not a matter of domestic law it is a matter of international law. The right of the Scottish Parliament to declare Independence may not be restricted by UK domestic law or by purported limitations on the powers of the Scottish Parliament. The legal position is set out very clearly here:

5.5 Consistent with this general approach, international law has not treated the legality of
the act of secession under the internal law of the predecessor State as determining the effect
of that act on the international plane. In most cases of secession, of course, the predecessor
State‟s law will not have been complied with: that is true almost as a matter of definition.

5.6 Nor is compliance with the law of the predecessor State a condition for the declaration
of independence to be recognised by third States, if other conditions for recognition are
fulfilled. The conditions do not include compliance with the internal legal requirements of
the predecessor State. Otherwise the international legality of a secession would be
predetermined by the very system of internal law called in question by the circumstances in
which the secession is occurring.

5.7 For the same reason, the constitutional authority of the seceding entity to proclaim
independence within the predecessor State is not determinative as a matter of international
law. In most if not all cases, provincial or regional authorities will lack the constitutional
authority to secede. The act of secession is not thereby excluded. Moreover, representative
institutions may legitimately act, and seek to reflect the views of their constituents, beyond
the scope of already conferred power.

That is a commendably concise and accurate description of the legal position. Of major relevance, it is the legal opinion of the Government of the United Kingdom, as submitted to the International Court of Justice in the Kosovo case. The International Court of Justice endorsed this view, so it is both established law and the opinion of the British Government that the Scottish Government has the right to declare Independence without the agreement or permission of London and completely irrespective of the London Supreme Court.

I have continually explained on this site that the legality of a Declaration of Independence is in no sense determined by the law of the metropolitan state, but is purely a matter of recognition by other countries and thus acceptance into the United Nations. The UK Government set this out plainly in response to a question from a judge in the Kosovo case:

2. As the United Kingdom stated in oral argument, international law contains no
prohibition against declarations of independence as such. 1 Whether a declaration of
independence leads to the creation of a new State by separation or secession depends
not on the fact of the declaration but on subsequent developments, notably recognition
by other States. As a general matter, an act not prohibited by international law needs
no authorization. This position holds with respect to States. It holds also with respect
to acts of individuals or groups, for international law prohibits conduct of non-State
entities only exceptionally and where expressly indicated.

As I have stressed, the SNP should now be making a massive effort to prepare other countries, especially in the EU and in the developing world, to recognise Scotland when the moment comes. There is no task more important. There is a worrying lack of activity in this area. It may currently not be possible to spend government money on sending out envoys for this task, but if personal envoys were endorsed by the First Minister they would get access and could easily be crowd funded by the Independence Movement. I am one of a number of former senior British diplomats who would happily undertake this work without pay. We should be lobbying not just the EU but every country in Africa, Asia and South America.

My preferred route to Independence is this. The Scottish Parliament should immediately legislate for a new Independence referendum. The London Government will attempt to block it. The Scottish Parliament should then convene a National Assembly of all nationally elected Scottish representatives – MSPs, MPs and MEPs. That National Assembly should declare Independence, appeal to other countries for recognition, reach agreements with the rump UK and organise a confirmatory plebiscite. That is legal, democratic and consistent with normal international practice.

There will never be a better time than now for Scotland to become an Independent, normal, nation once again. It is no time for faint hearts or haverers; we must seize the moment.

Allowed HTML - you can use: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

437 thoughts on “The Scottish Parliament Does Have the Right to Withdraw from the Act of Union”

1 … 3 4 5 6
  • Johny Conspiranoid

    Clark

    “Probably they just have more ego than sense. “I can see what the sheeple dare not think! I have seen through the puppetmasters’ deceptions!””

    Prhaps they just enjoy stating the obvious.

  • Trougher

    The ECB has lent over three trillion euros including billions to PIGS,Poland and Eastern Europe. UK 20% guarantee will expire with Brexit or will it? This government is too incompetent to be left to clear out all such issues.

  • Republicofscotland

    The shape of things to come.

    The UK government will have 3,500 troops on standby in the event of a no-deal Brexit, defence secretary Gavin Williamson has announced.
    Williamson says that 3,500 soldiers would be “at readiness” in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

    https://www.businessinsider.com/theresa-may-to-deploy-3500-soldiers-to-handle-no-deal-brexit-chaos-2018-12?r=US&IR=T

    Followed by a state of martial laws, where those seeking vital medicines or food will be shot for looting.

    • nevermind

      No they wont be, because this is to assist services and emergencies with.these services, not with any violence resulting from a UDI declaration and or negotiations with Europe? That would be scandalous.

  • Harry Douthwaite

    Craig, whilst I recognise you have a breadth of experience related to international affairs I really must challenge this article regarding the potential for Scotland to essentially, declare UDI.

    Whilst any country can do as you say, the practicalities and consequences of such actions have not been highlighted in this article

    I doubt very much that any country of note would recognise Scotland’s withdrawal without a westminster manifesto pledge which delivered a majority or a referendum victory.

    It doesn’t matter how many countries recognise Scotland … if the G7 doesn’t then Scotland’s buggered..

    Look at palestine.. 137 countries recognise Palestine.. even a few european countries… even Russia… but none of the big boys

    You draw a comparison with Kosovo but you fail to point out that their becoming an independent country was brought about because of the civil war that engulfed the region and was facilitated by several G7 Countries including the U.K. and the US.

    I would also sight the problems encountered by the Catalonians who held an illegal referendum (at least in the eyes of the Spanish Government) and then declared independence – since then, not one country has recognised their Declaration of Independence and their fight for recognition goes on.

    I am sure you are also aware that the Spanish Government have never recognised Kosovo’s existence as an independent country – obviously for fear of how such recognition may influence Catalan thinking!

    In conclusion, the FM has made it clear to everyone that they have looked at all possibilities and a referendum via agreement with WM (section 30) is the only way that Scotland will be recognised as an independent nation by the EU and rest of world.

    As such I believe you should correct your article as it is very misleading and can only create confusion, doubts and friction in the minds of many supporters of independence

    • Ian

      True. It is an intellectual exercise, and quite interesting about the legal status of declaring independence. But as a practical, political agenda it is pie in the sky.

    • Shatnersrug

      If Blair and Mandelson had done to you what they did to Craig you probably would feel passionate about escaping them I guess, I know I would. Unfortunately the British establish deliberately alienate Scots To promote this discontent. They have no intention of allowing Scotland to secede and they’ve done a pretty good job of nobbling the snp now.

      As long as Scottish folk keep behaving as if they are some how different than the rest of Britain then they will be open to abuse from the British establishment – the only way to overthrow them is with solidarity and the truth. That won’t come if the people are divided.

    • Merkin Scot

      “Craig, whilst I recognise you have a breadth of experience related to international affairs I really must challenge this article regarding the potential for Scotland to essentially, declare UDI.

      Whilst any country can do as you say, the practicalities and consequences of such actions have not been highlighted in this article”
      .
      Nonsense.
      The article links to another where these points are addressed.
      In fact, most countries gain independence that way.
      We will too.

  • Republicofscotland

    Electoral Comm UK has found the Scottish LibDems guilty of cheating on their election expenses in the 2016 Scottish elections and fined them (wait for it…) £500.

    What a waste of time, it sends out the message cheat all you want you won’t get into big trouble, unless of course you’re the SNP.

    Meanwhile in the den of iniquity aka Westminster. Ian Blackford told “go back to the Isle of Skye” in the Commons by Tory Nicholas Soames.

    Come on Nicola get us out of here.

  • robert galloway

    If the Westminster government can take Britain/England with no deal,the same applies with Scotland removing itself from the U.K.(whatever that is) Scottish LAW stands within its own rights.It would wrong and hypocritical to deny Scotland the same rights that they have taken upon themselves,to leave the E.U. But the world and international law should take precedent, a law for the benefit of both countries.We should let England go its own way,likewise we are entitled to do the same.

  • Vivian O'Blivion

    Craig has no doubt that the SNP have been infiltrated by MI5. I concur and would add that outwith the SNP, the broader Indy movement will have agents in prominent positions.
    How to ferret them out? I propose a points based system.
    The Intelligence agencies will not naturally stray far from their self designated “officer class”. Think private education. Think establishment Universities, Edinburgh; Glasgow; St Andrews (big points for the latter).
    Think a degree in Politics (a career politician, from money, establishment and not beyond playing the game if advancement is accelerated).
    Must operate from Head office (not much to be gained from a local branch treasurer).
    Pay special attention to rising young stars.

    Sadly at least one candidate fits the bill. Selected to participate in the US State Department’s, International Visitor Leadership Program, into the bargain! Alumni of IVLP include Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher and Ted Heath.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Visitor_Leadership_Program

    WTF was a future SNP Cabinet Minister doing on the IVLP?

    • kathy

      WTF was a future SNP Cabinet Minister doing on the IVLP?

      Who are you referring to? It was not clear from the link you provided.

      • Sharp Ears

        Humza Yousaf ??

        ‘Yousaf worked as a Parliamentary assistant for Bashir Ahmad, from Ahmad’s election as Scotland’s first Muslim MSP in 2007 until Ahmad’s death two years later. Ahmad was a personal influence. Yousaf then worked as Parliamentary assistant for a few other MSPs including: Anne McLaughlin, Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond who was the-then First Minister. In 2008, whilst working as an aide, Yousaf took part in the IVLP programme, an exchange that is run by the US State Department. He was awarded the “Future Force of Politics” at the Young Scottish Minority Ethnic Awards in 2009, which was presented to him in Glasgow City Chambers.’

    • uncle tungsten

      Thank you VO’B, Way to go:
      I can see the graph now with a wee icon of a guillotine for those at the top of the list. Some weighted score for predecessor proximity to the “permanent state” would be informative. Plus a score on Cabinet or caucus position on progressive and regressive issues.

      I did work with a group who assembled a standard charter of performance evaluation to apply to our political class. They were mighty unimpressed when it was broadcast to every branch with a cover statement about accountability recording against each performance indicator (web site provided to record results). It sure started an immense debate and the air was thick with recriminations.

  • Contrary

    The SNP have been making a huge effort to visit other countries and get them onside, Nicola Sturgeon is very well received abroad, we just don’t get to hear about it. I haven’t heard of many visits to Africa, but certainly the SNP have been upping the global awareness of Scotland being a distinct country over the past few years. I am sure Craig’s option isn’t the preferred option of the SNP, but I doubt they would rule it out – if there was a known majority opinion to have independence. Big on democracy, the SNP. Unlike the feudal UK wide parties.

    The main problem isn’t the SNP, it’s the misinformation, the missing bits of news, the trolling etc that means we are unlikely to get a large majority in favour of independence at any one time. Why would anyone want to be ruled by another country? It doesn’t make sense. People need to give up with the cognitive dissonance, it isn’t good for their health, the U.K. isn’t good for our health, anyone’s health.

    To my mind, the attacks on Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP, the dissatisfaction that’s being spread and shared, is down to MI6 doing their job. They are trying to push the SNP into holding a referendum at the wrong time – enough public pressure and dissatisfaction and they might do it. Good tactics. What makes everyone think they aren’t going to hold an independence vote of some kind? Who is it that is actually frustrated and desperate to know when it’ll be, or what form it’ll take? The unionist parties and supporters perhaps?

    Do you really believe that the SNP are playing party politics, or could it be that they are acting in the best interests of Scottish people, as they do in nearly all their actions? Why would the current actions be so far away from their norm? Whose beliefs are you holding? The SNP might not always get it right, but their principles have stood the test of time, and I for one don’t believe they are suddenly throwing that away for seats in the lords. They might not get this one right either, it’s a cesspit of political manoeuvring after all, but I’d personally prefer the democratic political option in the first place.

    See how the EU did not interfere or influence the EU referendum? I want the English politicians to take note, the broadcasting media, and the other non-Scottish parts of the U.K., and stay out of it this next Scottish referendum campaign. Stay very far away out of it.

    • BrianFujisan

      Well said Contrary..

      But we really do need some more robust measures when dealing with the bbC, msm Bias.. No more cowing to the talking heads.

      And as Craig advised the SNP for the 2014 Indy Ref.. Have the OSCE monitors involved. Every little helps.

      • Contrary

        Thank you Brian. The interference was relentless and infuriating, it was so refreshing to see the EU stepping back and not giving an opinion on the EU Ref.

        Think BBC documentary peddled as news on a non-existent grass roots British nationalist movement

        Think Vow. Breaking purdah rules.

        Think of the news filled with English people holding up ‘we love you scotland’ placards.

        Think of the BBC weirdo version of balance, if there were only 5 unionists out and about, they’d make sure to only show 5 independence supporters.

        Think of the gang of English Labour MPs bussed up to save the day.

        Think of dark money.

        Try not to think about Broonterventions.

        It was an onslaught, and tiring. And sent me from ‘nice to have’ attitude to an ‘absolutely must have’ one.

        All the MSM already hates the SNP, and with broadcasting being a reserved matter, I’m not sure taking the hardline and pissing off the BBC is going to be that fruitful – the media is a closed bubble. It would be nice to see the SNP with more backbone, but what you’d get as a result I doubt would be pretty. How do they get any air time? Rock and a hard place. Walking the line. It’s a hostile environment for the SNP and they hold their own in interviews pretty well despite that. If our own guys can’t give them a break, well, they’ve got no chance. They are politicians, and the SNP is a political party, THEY have to play by the rules. The rest of us don’t.

        None of the criticism I hear quite stacks up. (‘Get them doubting. Get them suspicious and distrusting. Get them riled up and panicking. That’ll push the SNP to make a move and we can slam them.’ Is how I imagine the tactic session going). If they’d tried to UDI back during the famous walk out? I doubt they’d have had enough backing. Now, Apparently a LibDem MP came out in favour of an independence referendum this week, saying it in the HoC. That’s a change.

        It would be cheaper, quicker, easier to have England at least in the customs union, come independence – so why shouldn’t the SNP campaign for it? I’ve no argument against a hard border mind you, and indeed if it’s going to be a wall, I have some ideas on the architecture – might as well make it a tourist attraction too – and it would be great as an infrastructure project to boost the economy & a ton of jobs.

        Every day that passes there is a boost to support of independence, starting the campaign too early would be detrimental, and not kowtowing to unionist demands to do it now shows backbone. Alex was pushed into doing the first referendum by the unionists, badgered, and my my they got a surprise, he certainly rose to the challenge. All bets are off after Brexit, Westminster has to show its hand, so the clamouring will get louder up til them I should think.

  • BrianFujisan

    An Uplifting Post from Craig, I have never seen so many shares of Craig Among the Various Independence Pages out there.
    I Don’t like the word Hope when it comes to Independence, Because we shall need something far more certain than Hope.

    I see Mention of the Isle of Skye got arogantly thrown around the House of Commons today.

    I hope you don’t mind a wee bit Andy Stewart –

    Andy Stewart – Donald Where’s Your Troosers?

    I’ve just come down
    From the Isle of Skye
    I’m not very big and I’m awful shy
    And the lassies shout when I go by
    Donald, where’s your troosers

    [Chorus:]
    Let the wind blow high
    Let the wind blow low
    Through the streets
    In my kilt, I’ll go
    All the lassies say hello
    Donald, where’s your troosers

    The Grandson of a War Criminal ( n. soames ) in the house of Commons today – told our Ian Blacford M.P, Just as Ian got to his feet ” to go back to the Isle of Skye “.. GRRR.. Fkn Cretin.

    https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/video-tory-mp-sir-nicholas-soames-tells-snp-westminster-leader-ian-blackford-to-go-back-to-skye/

    And of course we don’t need A War Criminal to tell us of the worldly achivements of Scots..
    But Churchill did say it –

    “Of all the small nations of this earth, perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind.”

  • Sharp Ears

    Met Police lose FOIA appeal over documents on WikiLeaks journalists
    18 Dec, 2018 17:21

    In a win for WikiLeaks, a journalist has won a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) appeal with the Met Police to defend press freedom and reveal the existence of communications, between UK & US authorities, about WikiLeaks editors.

    Stefania Maurizi, a La Repubblica journalist and longtime media partner on WikiLeaks releases, has been pursuing various multi-jurisdictional FOIA requests about WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange over the past few years, and secured a victory against the Met at a first-tier Tribunal appeal.

    /..
    https://www.rt.com/uk/446797-wikileaks-foia-maurizi-appeal/

    Right on Stephania!

  • Finlina Macdonald

    I could not agree more. The contempt for Scotland in Westminster has reached unacceptable levels. Dissolve the Union, take back our independence, and get out from a poisonous relationship

    • Paul Greenwood

      The contempt for Scotland in Westminster has reached unacceptable levels.

      You surely don’t mean the utterly meaningless interventions by Scottish MPs making themselves look really Backwoodsmen. At least with John Smith and Charles Kennedy and others there was a quality sadly absent in the current batch

  • Sharp Ears

    Soames, once referred to as Fatty Soames but now slimmer, is a bloody Tory oik. How dare he.

    Hansard Online
    2.09 pm

    Ian Blackford (Ross, Skye and Lochaber) (SNP)
    I beg to move,
    That this House has considered the outcome of the Prime Minister’s recent discussions with the European Commission and European Heads of Government regarding the Withdrawal Agreement, and potential ways forward.

    Sir Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con)
    Go back to Skye.

    Ian Blackford
    Well, there we are. I do not know whether that was picked up by the microphone, but “Go back to Skye,” has just been chuntered from a sedentary position. There is the message to the people of Scotland from the Conservative Benches, and the people of Scotland will reflect on the ignorance and arrogance shown by so-called hon. Members. Thank you, Mr Speaker, for granting this debate on this specific and important matter. Not I nor anybody else will be going back to the Isle of Skye, because we will be in this place standing up for our constituents.

    I recognise that the Prime Minister made a statement to the House yesterday, but this matter requires further discussion and examination. It is disappointing in the least that the Prime Minister is not here to listen and to respond to this debate. This debate has been won by the leader of the third party in the House of Commons. Where is the respect from the Prime Minister? Why is the Prime Minister not in her place to defend the inaction of her Government? It is an outrage that the Prime Minister does not have the gall to come to this House to debate such important matters. It is an insult to the people of Scotland and to the people of this House.

    /..
    https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-12-18/debates/8F7FC7B7-315F-481C-AD53-630E6C09AEA1/EUWithdrawalAgreement

    He appears to have an exaggerated sense of superiority and entitlement. Eton and the 11th Hussars. Equerry to P Charles and he bullied P Diana. Fiddled expenses until challenged -see the claim for a piece of furniture.
    Sexist -see the entry ref Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh.

    A blaggard.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Soames

    • Rob Royston

      I’m sure Winston would have spun in his grave at such a comment by his grandson to anyone from the Scottish Isles. My grandfather was at the relief of the Siege of Ladysmith. Churchill was allocated a village neighbour of my grandfather’s to help him. Churchill never forgot to send him and his family a Christmas card every year until he died. Churchill outlived him by many years.

  • nevermind

    Some confusion between ‘is and was’. We are now being told that the referendum was all about immigration and the rubberoid substance that is ‘taking back control’.

    Fudging the ‘was’ above with the facts of today which mean that voters/polls choose much improved services, better wages and employment security, before this sole BiBiCe introductory propaganda on Newshite tonight was trying to fudge the past with the present.

    It is a fact that immigration is not people’s main concern today, however many windbags sound off at each other.

  • Tol

    As I read your argument, this is purely a legal and sovereignty issue for Scotland.

    Hence, it is no longer the case that “There will never be a better time”. Isn’t the position of your argument that: now the time and the circumstances demands it.

  • Tony M

    I do not think the England-people are ready for self-governance, for any kind of independence, yet, without our benign oversight. Let’s wring the last out the old union, have some fun tweaking it, get some payback.

    Scotland’s parliament, Holyrood, is by far the superior instrument for control of the shotgun-wed hitched-kingdoms; the parliament of the united countries as one artificial ‘nation’, while that lasts. Westminster seemed an odd choice, for London at that time pre-union was still a fire-and-plague ravaged open sewer, and though the still-smoldering cellars and corpse-wagons are mostly gone, the plumbing improved, still a stench emanates from that rotting centre. Being a partnership of equals, the population disparity then far less, Edinburgh then would have been by far the better choice in the first place. Sinking, sunk in a pit of hypocrisy and vice, of serial criminality, as a contra-example of good-governance, I suggest Westminster be condemned (in every sense possible).

    As for troubling to look for a new ‘parliament’ (that term being far too grand for what it will be, and might give them ideas), in England to sit, a little place where they can talk, a room, to be found and populated, they in time being collectively made responsible for some few token ‘powers’ – just trivial stuff they can be safely trusted with –well, it might be necessary to put on such a show for a while, till being so fickle a people it all cyclically fizzles out again as it’s bound to.

    Holyrood then by default must become the parent-state parliament for a time, as an adjunct to its Scottish public service it provides. With a sprinkling of interested Welsh and Irish, and one, just the one member from England, elected most democratically from short-lists ‘English’-branches of Scotland-based Scottish-run parties would issue. That ought to would work well, shouldn’t it; is it so dissimilar to the present situation, if so, how could it too not alike last for hundreds of years?

    • Paul Greenwood

      Why not Yorkshire ? There are as many people in Yorkshire as in Scotland and it has the second capital in York with an Archbishop and a decent cathedral. Time to create a Party of the North and bring some of that Barnett Formula Largesse to Northern England where 15 million people live.

      Looking at the Referendum Results in Scotland 2014 it should be quite a little Ruritania based on support for Union and The Islands can stick with England

  • Sharp Ears

    Users of smartphones and other tech had better watch out for their general health and wellbeing.

    Veteran MD Drops Bombshell At 5G Hearing
    Published on 31 Oct 2018
    Dr. Sharon Goldberg, an internal medicine physician & professor gives her testimony regarding the dangers of electromagnetic radiation. She says: “Wireless radiation has biological effects. Period.”
    https://www.collective-evolution.com/2018/10/26/veteran-md-drops-bombshell-at-michigans-5g-small-cell-tower-legislation-hearing/

    • Deb O'Nair

      If you read the leaflet that comes with a modern phone it clearly says that the device must be kept at least 1cm away from the skin, which makes holding it rather difficult.

  • Sharp Ears

    Two messages from Mark Curtis.

    Mark Curtis
    @markcurtis30
    17 hours ago
    Here’s where the UK will waste £180 billion in military spending over the next 10 years – all to maintain the elite’s ‘great power’ status aided by the “Russia threat”: a key pillar of UK foreign policy since 1945, paid for by us. https://bit.ly/2QVTmgB

    https://twitter.com/markcurtis30/status/1075034802808606720
    ______

    Mark Curtis Retweeted David Cronin
    ‏@dvcronin
    10 hours ago
    NATO rolls out red carpet for Israel’s weapons industry. Nauseating.
    Israel at NATO
    Today, 11 defense companies from Israel visited the @NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) HQ in Luxembourg. The delegation was led by the International Defense Cooperation Directorate of the @Israel_MOD (SIBAT) and the Defense Attaché to NATO.

    https://twitter.com/dvcronin/status/1075150048915308544
    ________

    That weaponry as tested on the Palestinians, in Syria and elsewhere of course..

    • Molloy

      .

      SE, not only power and status!

      Money.
      Proceeds of aggress. Into bank accounts. Of war criminals (as yet unprosecuted).

      .

      Great work by you.

      .

  • Dungroanin

    A new Scripture from Andre Vltchek. I know the NuChindits will cry foul shortly and bite my heels.
    https://off-guardian.org/2018/12/19/in-syria-the-entire-nation-mobilized-and-won/

    I am looking forward to my hols in the cradle of civilisation once again, having been put off by my country, the UK’s, mindless destruction of ancient history and the current populations.

    On a slightly connected note Spider Boy Gavin of the MOD, has announced 3500 troops to deal with brexit! Wonder what some of them have been upto until needed for brexit?
    I assume they will be wearing high-vis white helmets, so as not to scare the children.
    I’m sure they will be earning £30k as declared by ‘i’m a grunt too’ Javid and have the essential skills this country so desperately needs: Making snuff movies, running around in smokey streets … picking vegetables in Lincolnshire.

    Trezzas last pmq i think, Santa has promised me a GE for xmas..

  • willyrobinson

    So the trial of Catalan political prisoners begun yesterday with strong legal arguments for the defence team claiming that the case should be heard in Catalonia because that’s where all of the events took place.

    These were met by the claim that this issue affects all of Spain. But you could argue that a footballer in Seville not paying taxes affects all of Spain. 200 kilos of cocaine smuggled into Galicia affects all of Spain, and an unauthorised air-traffic contol strike in Madrid would too. The practice is to try these crimes where the law-breaking is alleged to have occurred. What is very dangerous about this trial is how nebulous the court is on this point: It’s not about the Jordis standing on a cop car or Puigdemont proclaiming independence – events, we are told, should not be seen in isolation, but as part of a grand conspiracy. What they’re talking about though, is the conspiracy of two million people to use the pressure of voter numbers to try to force political change. Or politics as it’s better known.

    This is a dangerous path the Tribunal Constitucional is taking.

    • Molloy

      .

      Hmmm. . . . A Spanish court judging crimes committed by the Spanish ‘political’ ruling clique.

      An interesting exercise in bias?

      .

      .

  • Molloy

    .

    .
    Meanwhile. . . .
    The completely disgraceful obscenity that WMD’s and other aggressive/offensive weapons remain on Scottish land.

    .

    .

  • Molloy

    .

    Thank you, SE.

    Merits a frequent reminder. . . . .

    “
    Ian Blackford
    Well, there we are. I do not know whether that was picked up by the microphone, but “Go back to Skye,” has just been chuntered from a sedentary position. There is the message to the people of Scotland from the Conservative Benches, and the people of Scotland will reflect on the ignorance and arrogance shown by so-called hon. Members. Thank you, Mr Speaker, for granting this debate on this specific and important matter. Not I nor anybody else will be going back to the Isle of Skye, because we will be in this place standing up for our constituents.
    “

    .

    A star.

    .

  • Sharp Ears

    The last PMQs before Christmas has descended into an acrimonious atmosphere. Multiple Tories are backing McLoughlin who said he saw and heard Corbyn say the words ‘Stupid woman’ about Theresa May. There almost a riot breaking out as the shouting goes on. Bercow will not rule against Corbyn as he says he didn’t hear Corbyn speak those words. The Tories are now shouting him down too. Generally a bad tempered session and quite irrelevant to the major problems facing us ahead on Brexit.

    The situation in Parliament there is indicative of the current dissent in the country.

    John Mann during the PMQ session raised the subject of many young British Jcws thinking of leaving the country because they don’t feel safe and there was massive support for his question from both sides. May concurred and even enlarged on the matter. Mann did not substantiate his statement. No opportunity is ever lost by Mann to stir the anti-Semitism pot.

        • nevermind

          Uncaring, heartless, threatening, propaganda bitch and outright stupid woman would be more to the point. Are we now arguing by videoing and interpreting from lip reading? why the microphones when you can read her lips?

          She is also very dangerous to the wealth creators in the UK, the workers who slave away on pittances and have to feed themselves from foodbank’s, real stupidity, cause she believes that we are believing her.

      • N_

        This is par for the course for the BBC, a deeply Tory institution.

        Jeremy Corbyn obviously said “stupid people”. The consonants beginning the two syllables of his second word are clearly the same, and they are “p” or “b”. So unless he said “stupid Pepe”, he clearly said “stupid people”.

        The Tories know they are lying. The “experts” who are whoring themselves to help the Tories, as if they were lying for the state in court or for big business in an academic journal, are also lying. The Tories are having such a good laugh into their alcohol behind the scenes, about how they’ve been trying to outdo each other in fake anger when telling lies about Jeremy Corbyn to obscure what a bunch of fucked-up, lying, moneygrabbing, bullshitting, phony, prole-hating sexist racist scum they themselves are. They’re certainly giving themselves a good Christmas. Mind you, every day is Christmas for them. They have a good ol’ laugh when they talk about “democracy” too. Like they think a single mother in social housing is worth the same as one of them.

        Tory scum – up against the wall.

        • Greg Dyke

          “what a bunch of fucked-up, lying, moneygrabbing, bullshitting, phony, prole-hating sexist racist scum they themselves are”
          Very well said!

      • Jude 93

        All these Neocon/Blairite hacks doing their fainting maiden aunt routine over Jez allegedly calling May a stupid woman is so ludicrous. Which ladies sewing circle journal do they write for? I thought the whole point of the drive for women in politics was that that it would shatter the stereotype of females as having too delicate emotional constitutions for the rough and tumble of parliamentary confrontation. When Thatcher was forced out in the early winter of 1990, Kinnock gloatingly called her an “evil woman” that very evening on the News. But Kinnock was a proto-Blairite, so no one objected. “Nice” John Major used to say the nastiest things imaginable about Paddy Ashdown at PMQs and Cameron was appalingly rude to Dennis Skinner amongst others (admittedly Skinner is no angel himself in this regard).

    • Vivian O'Blivion

      In case of emergency, smash glass and press the button labelled “Identity politics”.
      Obfuscation reigns.
      Anti-semitism revived. Did Corbyn call May a “stupid woman”? Did Bercow use the same epithet regards Loathsome some months back? Is the Speaker showing bias?
      We’re days removed from a Brexit clusterfuck turbocharged by an exceptionalist, nationalist, mass delusion and rather than face reality, they reach for the Identity politics canard.

  • bj

    I just read two great synopsis pieces, and an outstanding tweet on utterly reprehensible stuff with minors by the Institute for Statecraft:

    https://www.rt.com/op-ed/446851-russophobia-britain-may-corbyn/

    https://www.ukcolumn.org/article/integrity-initiative-ministry-defence-parliamentary-answer-now-doubt

    https://twitter.com/Liberty5380/status/1074426462248280066/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1074426462248280066&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Fnews%2F446809-integrity-initiative-third-leak-uk%2F

    • flatulence'

      yes, they’re already in our schools, link posted by Sylvia in the Statecraft article comments:
      https://www.sharedoutcomes.org/about. And I’ve seen a pic of them showing powerpoint to classroom to teach them how to spot the ‘true’ stories/tweets etc from the ‘false’. Their idea of true that is.

      Attack our children, expect bloody violence.

  • remember kronstadt

    Corbyn’s outrageous slander directed towards Theresa May – ‘stupid woman’! Is she not a woman?

      • laguerre

        Quite striking that the Tories could only come up with the same accusation as they made against Bercow, some remark made under the breath, which was interpreted as “stupid woman”, because male chauvinism goes down well as an accusation. Bercow’s the enemy one day, Corbyn another.

    • N_

      Today’s EU press release on the measures the EU is taking is here. Much of the document is content-free cock. But the very first thing they say of any substance is that they will ensure there will be no “immediate disruption” in the “central clearing of derivatives”.

      Apparently they have adopted a “temporary and conditional equivalence decision” (TCED) to ensure that. I have no idea what a TCED is. Shoring up the derivatives market if it were about to collapse would surely cost far more than the EU have got or could borrow.

      They’ve also adopted a TCED to ensure “no disruption in central depositaries services for EU operators currently using UK operators.” Does that include gold? My understanding is that the EU’s central bank, based in Frankfurt, keeps a lot of its gold in a vault at the Bank of England in London.

      They’ve adopted another TCED too, to ensure there won’t be “full interruption of air traffic between the EU and the UK” and that there will be some “basic connectivity”. In other words some planes will keep flying, probably even some non-chartered ones too. It won’t surprise me if Spanish-owned Heathrow Airport goes bust.

      The actual document – not the press release – is here.

  • Jannie

    SNP – judging by today’s remarks from Sturgeon on the White Paper – wants nothing more than to flood Scotland with immigrants from around the world. How is that a “future” for Scotland and Scottish people? May as well be a characterless blob attached to Westminster.

    There is no point in Scottish independence unless the historic character, identity and heritage of the SCOTTISH nation is preserved. That means not flooding the country with Poles, Pakistanis, Nigerians, Colombians or whatever.

      • N_

        @Susan – First, if you’re as anti-racist as the day is long, why are you taking the side of @Jannie who was obviously posting racist muck? Turning a blind eye as the Sons of Bruce get their firelighters out, all in the collective cause of the nation’s glorious future?

        Second, how come most Scots who have settled in England consider themselves Scottish and not “New English”?

        Third, please consider the issue here: the matter of the wellbeing of national minorities in Scotland.

    • Vivian O'Blivion

      Tikka masala is Scottish. Away and haunt the comments section on the Mail, Express or Scotsman.

    • Tatyana

      Jannie, with all my respect, immigrans can keep to their traditional lifestyle. It is not relevant to preserving everything Scottish.
      Normal way is to ‘make’ them love your lifestyle so much, that they want to assimilate.

    • Dungroanin

      Jannie (et al).
      One of my good friends is a pakistani scotsman who is a fervent celtic supporter – you should hear what he thinks of Rangers fans.

      I should also say that Scots haven’t been innocent through the centuries in their agressive conquest and imperialist ambitions – many a slaver / sugar farmer / native killer / land grabber, amongst them. Do you really want to play ths game? Let me inow.

      Stones in glass houses friend! Stones in glass houses.

      (On a footballing note – good luck to Solsksjaer, a real special one, at his spiritual home, what would we do without immigrants?)

      • Blunderbuss

        I liked those Chinese girls with Scots accents. What were they advertising?

        I like Ayesha Hazarika too.

    • remember kronstadt

      Agree, but what’s holding them back? Weak leadership in Westminster, unfolding catastrophe full of crises and rife with party splits there’s not going to be a more opportune moment – are the representing mcprisoners comfortable in their chains?

  • flatulence'

    I don’t get it, was he supposed to refer to her as a stupid man? Or is referring to her as a woman offensive to other women. I mean it should be, so she should take it as a complement that she was referred to as a woman. Unless it’s just discrimination now to refer to a woman as a woman. This fucking world.

    • laguerre

      I see the BBC are headlining the “stupid woman” thing over all the news bulletins. It’s a diversion from the emergency debate.

      • remember kronstadt

        Keeping up Appearances while supping the last of the summer wine – good old beeb keep sucking on the license.

        • remember kronstadt

          The average age of a BBC One viewer is now in their 60s – meaning a large proportion of people who consume many of the corporation’s flagship services are not paying for it.

          Frontier Economics research commissioned by the BBC for its consultation concluded the number of households receiving a free TV licence will rise from 4.6m in 2022 to around 5.7m in 2030. It also found that the average over-75 was substantially wealthier nowadays than they were two decades ago when the subsidy was introduced.

      • D_Majestic

        Fake news central. Corbyn clearly said ‘Stupid people’. Referring to the excerpt from the worst pantomime ever seen anywhere on the planet. The Tory apparatchiks should be arraigned for bringing the House into disrepute. And BBC as the State broadcaster is all over this nonsense. Gawd ‘elp us all.

1 … 3 4 5 6

Comments are closed.