Comments on SNP Tactical Voting: Dismantling Evening Standard on Megrahi

Sorry, i lost the will to live when it started sne...

2010-08-23T22:58:26.268+01:00

Sorry, i lost the will to live when it started sneering at Devolution. After all, it's not as if big countries like Germany or Spain are saddled with having to hand over powers to "toy town" polititians.

Oh, thats right they do have Devolution don't they.

But what do you expect from people who think the world ends at the outside lane of the M25.

lol Jeff, is that you? All these months of studie...

2010-08-23T16:31:32.061+01:00

lol Jeff, is that you?

All these months of studied carefulness and outrageous even handedness and you unleash your inner Scot. Just brilliant.

I can just hear Kezia telling George "Isn't it ghastly? Jeff Breslin's gone rogue"

I moved to London three weeks ago and am a little ...

2010-08-23T13:53:43.854+01:00

I moved to London three weeks ago and am a little surpised at the level of ignorance about Scotland. To Londoners, Scotland's a wet, backward land where nobody goes except written-out Eastenders characters. I guess they don't benefit from learning about the culture, history and politics of the whole of the British Isles like we do.

Even my Arabic-Turkish partner - who never had time for my SNP sympathies - says she feels 'Scottish' now (and also says the NHS is far better organised in Scotland - so well done NS and co!)

Time we stopped expecting London to care and ran our own affairs. If not, the UK ministers will just continue to make bad decisions and embarrass us on the world stage (Iraq, anyone?)

I enjoyed this post thoroughly, particularly becau...

2010-08-23T10:33:13.522+01:00

I enjoyed this post thoroughly, particularly because it is also a rebuttal to remarks made on the 'Any Questions' show on Friday. I listen a lot to Radio 4 and its output is cultured and balanced in the main. However, every so often a veil slips and a broadcast gives sight of the narrowest form of English nationalism. Douglas Murray and Baroness Deech really worry me because they are not yobs off the street. Deech in particular has a CV which I would have thought needed a more temperate and intelligent approach than she actually displayed. During the programme both Murray and Deech moved on from giving gratuitous offence to Muslims to giving gratuitous offence to Scots. They confirm my impression that much stupidity lurks in high places in England.

When I lived in London and people enquired what I ...

2010-08-22T14:21:56.143+01:00

When I lived in London and people enquired what I as a Scot was doing there I used to reply 'Missionary Work'. I feel another crusade coming on..

Having listened to the R4 programme we must feel sorry for these members of the chattering classes none of whom would have been fit to lick Jimmy Reid's boots.

But also remember as 'voiceofourown' said they are 'the privileged metropolitan elite (who) shape, to a totally disproportionate extent, the actions of every UK Govt'

Well said Jeff but I don't think too many peop...

2010-08-22T14:02:51.689+01:00

Well said Jeff but I don't think too many people with an IQ over 15 would take what the Evening Standard says seriously.

From what I can gather it tends to be the thicker readership who reads that sort of junk.

Anyway the poll results you were on about are available.

http://www.snp.org/node/17245

Spot on Jeff. A classic. Michael

2010-08-21T17:54:45.238+01:00

Spot on Jeff. A classic. Michael

'...while Cameron is within his rights to disa...

2010-08-21T15:06:49.987+01:00

'...while Cameron is within his rights to disagree with MacAskill's decision, which was taken in good faith and for the right reasons, he does not have the right to unequivocally label a meticulously undertaken decision something that that it patently is not.'

Eh?

Cameron can disagree with the decision to release Megrahi, but not actually articulate that by saying it's a mistake?

Not really with you there. You see, there's quite a lot of people - including the majority of Scots, if polls are to be believed - that think that the release was indeed a 'mistake'.

As for 'taken in good faith': That phrase is being used more and more when someone's made a mistake and can't man up and admit it - instead seeking to blame the info at hand rather than their own judgement.

Couldn't be bothered to read the rest of your post. Frankly, it started off like one of the cyber-nat rants of old, and should really have been posted in green text.

But I undersatnd you've got a bit of a bee in your bonnet about the way the Scots' Gov is being treated?

Given the way the whole thing got dumped on Brown's lap at the time, I'd say it's the SNPs turn tbh.

Listened to the offending prog CH. I'm appalle...

2010-08-21T14:55:28.000+01:00

Listened to the offending prog CH.
I'm appalled BUT unionists in Scotland (apparently the vast majority) will not be.

The name-calling and wilfull ignorance, of themsel...

2010-08-21T13:54:50.537+01:00

The name-calling and wilfull ignorance, of themselves, are merely an irritant.
It's what they are indicative of that chills me to the core.

That these views seem prevalent in London,the seat of our Government, doesn't surprise me - what does, however, is the legitimizing of them. No longer to be said out of the side of the mouth but to be blasted from the roof-tops.

The views of this priviliged metropolitan elite shape, to a totally disproportionate extent, the actions of every UK Govt.
Is it any wonder then, that generally, the further away (politically and geographically) you are from this 'motherland', the poorer your circumstances become?
Govt and Bank of England economic policy is made with little reference to anywhere furth of the M25 and the further you are away from this nourishing 'mother London', the fewer and fewer the drips of comfort become.

This is why Scotland will never realise its potential within the union.

Scotland doesn't suffer alone of course - but we have an 'out'. We have much of the infrastructure of an independent country already in place.

Scotland ran a fiscal surplus last year, you know. An independent Scotland would NOT require the multi-generational draconian cutbacks being put in place by the UK Govt.

P.S. Like many an 'umble and genial Scot Jeff, it won't be too long before you look soberly at this piece and start to let the 'inner cringe' eat at its substance.

Lest we forget, Baroness Deech was a Governor of t...

2010-08-21T13:36:15.167+01:00

Lest we forget, Baroness Deech was a Governor of the BBC, 2002-2006.

Way hay ,and heres me thinking you had gone native...

2010-08-21T13:10:29.695+01:00

Way hay ,and heres me thinking you had gone native and forgot your roots.

If you wish to listen to a bigotted panel 36mins i...

2010-08-21T12:44:08.860+01:00

If you wish to listen to a bigotted panel 36mins in.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00tdxpr/b00tdxf5/Any_Questions_20_08_2010/

Any lawyers out there.

(Ministers should, however, consider whether devol...

2010-08-21T11:14:06.373+01:00

(Ministers should, however, consider whether devolved powers as they now stand risk embarrassing and weakening the UK again in future.)i

Could you imagine Cameron trying to take back some powers? It would be our quickest route to independence :D

Thanks for posting the comment Tom, glad you think...

2010-08-21T10:37:36.174+01:00

Thanks for posting the comment Tom, glad you think along same lines.

I agree the snp appear a little sluggish at the moment, it'd be nice to see more communication of their achievements to date, but if they pull out a tiptop manifesto and Salmond is on top form then I think May may not be quite as bad as currently feared.

Jeff, I am a long time reader of your blog but thi...

2010-08-21T10:10:25.023+01:00

Jeff, I am a long time reader of your blog but this is the first time I have been prompted to post something. I just want to thank you for taking the effort to post your views, your anger and your passion for Scotland. It feels like a strange time just now in Scottish politics. We are eight or so months away from the general election and I feel the SNP needs to wake up. Labour have been active and campaigning in their target constituencies for months. Perhaps some of your anger and passion can help kickstart the SNP!
Best wishes to you and keep fighting.
Tom

Cassius, it definitely makes me question how peopl...

2010-08-21T08:33:23.125+01:00

Cassius, it definitely makes me question how people view Scotland and change the status quo. I find myself speaking up for the food we have available, the less known culinary skills and the sights to be seen. Also defending Holyrood an awful lot. I think living in London could definitely stir an inner Nat quite easily.

Funnily enough, I was chatting to a mate down here yesterday who said he joined the SNP for that very reason.

I've done a couple of stints in London, but it...

2010-08-21T08:05:56.004+01:00

I've done a couple of stints in London, but it isn't for me. The level of casual anti-Scottish racism is astonishing, at first, but eventually I just felt sorry for them. The pish you read in the Standard/Telegraph/Mail is the most irritating thing - replacing 'Scot' with 'black' or 'Jew' in their editorials would lead to instant outcry, but anti-Scottish racism passes without remark.

Of course, this sort of thing is seldom commented on by the Scottish media, so desperate are they to hang on to their beloved union....

Living in London cemented my long-standing belief in independence for Scotland - are you beginning to feel your inner Nat, Jeff?!

CC

G, sounds like a torrid hour you had there. It'...

2010-08-21T07:54:07.490+01:00

G, sounds like a torrid hour you had there. It'll be interesting to see if it continues over any other issue that arises. I'm sure my growing prickliness on the matter will spill over into a full blown rammy sooner or later.

Perhaps not on Westminster Hour though.

Here's a thought, Scotland needs a political representative on the UK stage and now that Brown has gone I would argue that it is Salmond who is the most influential figure and best placed to change negative perceptions. By all accounts he was very good on Sky News yesterday morning.

FOCs

2010-08-21T07:40:38.055+01:00

FOCs

Listen to this, first broadcast last night, Any Qu...

2010-08-21T07:40:20.445+01:00

Listen to this, first broadcast last night, Any Questions from Sutton Coldfield on Radio 4.

The IED is towrds the end concerning the release of Al Megrahi and the suicide bomber is Baroness Deech, who claims to be half Scottish.

This deserves to be circulated within Scottish Legal Circles and the SNP cabinet.

Utterly rabidly disgraceful and even ore so is Eddie Mair silence.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tdxpr

Totally agree Luke. I didn't realise that was ...

2010-08-21T07:34:16.223+01:00

Totally agree Luke. I didn't realise that was the background, just thought it was a common verb.

I can't say I'd like my surname being flung around in such s manner so I've amended to "dismantle" and will endeavour to fight the good fight from here on in.

Slightly off-topic, but I must stay I really hate ...

2010-08-21T04:43:26.112+01:00

Slightly off-topic, but I must stay I really hate the use of the word 'Fisking' (after Andrew Sullivan's line by line criticism of a Robert Fisk column)- it's one of the most annoying bits of internet slang.

Fisk is a decent and humane man, and a great writer, and the lazy use of his name for any criticism of a text, just because the reactionary Sullivan disagreed with him, is really annoying.

Anyway... I agree with everything you wrote, apart from that!

I have to admit I had a little chuckle to myself w...

2010-08-21T02:47:43.777+01:00

I have to admit I had a little chuckle to myself when I read the Toytown Politicians bit, but this isn't so much a London view of Scotland or Scots, as a metropolitan view of how they see anything from outside the M25.

I lived down in London for a couple of years and it was this, more than anything else in my life that made me come to the view that Scotland should be independent. I remember being called a "Sweaty" a lot when I was down there, an expression I had never even heard before moving down there and I've never heard anywhere in the North of England, the South West or the Midlands. The experience of living in London definitely made me appreciate Scotland much more than I did before.

Fuck me you should huv a bevvy mare often. Well sa...

2010-08-20T23:34:11.523+01:00

Fuck me you should huv a bevvy mare often. Well said!

The English are not the only ones good at condescension, however they do have a particular talent for it.

Regarding the glaring innacuracies of the piece and the fallibility of our erstwhile colonial masters in general, kinda shows up the idiots who actually believe, yep they do, that we need the English. What do we need them for exactly?