My February 2025 column in Scots Independent
The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland - a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson
Professor John Robertson OBA
Before the rise of the SNP, trade unions had very little presence in the media other than in being presented as hate figures whose industrial actions spoiled or risked lives and damaged the economy. Once the SNP came to power and the threat of independence began to loom, these UK state or corporation-owned media found common ground with the unions and in their industrial action, useful sources in mounting attacks on the SNP in government.
We’ve become used now to the GMB, the EIS and the BMA, for example, platformed to suggest incompetence by Scottish Government ministers. Often totally inadequate member surveys will be presented uncritically as fact by presenters who 20 years earlier would have ignored them or found fatal methodological flaws in them.
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Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Glad to read this. I thought it was all in my head.
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Go back to the BEEBs Scottish talking head shows of the 60’s/70’s/80’s. Cast was the Labour and Tory parties, STUC and “Scottish” CBI ( now disappeared). There was ALWAYS agreement on the take-over of Scottish companies/industry, even when precedent showed the consequences were ALWAYS the closure of the Scottish end of the business.
Scotland has always been at the mercy of these political stooges (how many were controlled by MI5?) who sell out their country (and the workers) for a wee pat on the heid, ermine scarves and backhanders. Oh, and platformed by our distinguished (by its vacuousness) colonial media.
gavinochiltree
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I’ve never met a shop steward that I have trusted in my current employment.
I’ve known half a dozen.
I’ve found more often than not, people are self-motivated and not in the good way
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Of course I’m biased groaver, because my eldest son is a union rep, at, believe or not, Grangemouth. He volunteered for the job some years ago because nobody else wanted the position, and I think he does it as well as possible. A thankless task in view of the present situation. And yes, he votes S.N.P and was a Yes in 2014.
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We’re all biased Alex but some try to keep it secret. Best wishes to you and your son. I grew up in Grangemouth 1960-80 and worked in ICI before late entry to Stirling Uni in 1975. My dad worked in BXL. John
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O/T
There’s trouble at t’mill.
It has been reported that Labour as the new UK government “has toughened up rules making it almost impossible for a refugee who arrives in the UK on a small boat to become a British citizen”.
Ian Dunt, an alleged political correspondent or commentator, take your pick, stated on his Blue Sky Social account:
“Writing this with a heavy heart: the refugee citizenship ban is the single most unconscionable policy Labour has proposed since it entered power. It’s the moment that I felt my support for this administration begin to crumble”.
Ian is a big Labour fanboy, but only with a Starmer kind of leader though.
Though TBH I would question Ian Dunt stating that this was “the single most unconscionable policy” from Labour as I reckon there has been quite a few “unconscionable policies” from them since they came to power last year.
Plus of course there has also been a few betrayals , some U Turns and also not forgetting some scandals connected to both Labour UK and also Labour in Scotland as well.
Things are not going that well for either Labour UK or Labour in Scotland .
Oh dear, what a shame.
Now some are calling this, and other actions by Labour UK , as being Reform-Lite where as I think it is more a case of it being Reform Heavy.
A hard political lesson that Labour may eventually learn is that when they begin to both endorse and legitimise the words and the policies of Nigel Farage and the Reform UK party , then Labour may find that, just like the Tory party, voters will then both decide to vote for and also continue to vote for the Reform UK party as opposed to your party (be it Labour or Tory) in subsequent elections.
Unfortunately Labour still seem to be a party that refuses to either listen to people like us or learn from their own past mistakes.
In Scotland that hopefully will result in a SNP government being re-elected in 2026.
Liz S
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Some Trade unions give large donations to the Labour Party to keep it going. UK Trade Unions do not support Independence for Scotland. They support the Labour Party. The can plant political candidates. They can be misogynist, racist and unfair. They support Labour policies. Illegal wars, financial fraud and tax evasion.
They can support employers not their members. Books have been written about the collusion. They support a system from which they and their members have the most to gain. Some trade unionists do not respect their mother’s and father’s. Pensioners. Winter fuel allowance cut. Labour policies. Child poverty.
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As i wrote previously, my eldest son is a union rep, but is a staunch supporter of Independence. The only thing he can do as far as I am aware, is to opt out of the political donation to the Labour Party, which he did many years ago.
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An alternative View for balance:
https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2022/05/22/scottish-nationalisms-trade-union-problem/
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