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By Liz S
JK Rowling has now written another loooooooooooong post on ‘X’ today in response to a tweet by, checks notes, Wings Over Scotland.
The last paragraph of her post includes this….
“Lots of us were persuadable, but if the knee jerk response to common sense questions is ‘you’re a unionist traitor, a scaremonger and no true Scot’, don’t be surprised if the questioner becomes sceptical about the inclusive, egalitarian, welcoming utopia independence activists swore we’d be living in once they were in charge”…..(was that not exactly similar to what Anas Sarwar once aid , as in that he was referred to as being “a unionist traitor, a scaremonger and no true Scot”….so then it’s straight out of the Labour (weak) argument Bingo card…Ha Ha)
Really ?
However ….did the statement that she wrote , pre the 2014 Independence Referendum, not suggest that, for Scotland , the UK would be akin to a “welcoming utopia” once we , within Scotland, voted NO to independence ?
So then the British Nationalist activists, like JKR, “swore we’d be living in” an “inclusive” and “egalitarian” UK State….that has not happened , in fact the opposite has unfolded , so people like her should not “be surprised” if we who support independence “become sceptical” when she, and those various UK political parties, like Labour, try to, yet again, paint us who support independence as being the liars and so the baddies in the constitutional argument.
In JKR’s 2014 statement it is mostly only a snippet that is often referred to, but in actual fact it was quite a long statement that also included these following phrases , sentences etc ….like….for example when she wrote….
“ I came to the question of independence with an open mind” yet in the same paragraph she then states why she “wanted to write this because I always prefer to explain in my own words why I am supporting a cause and it will be made public shortly that I’ve made a substantial donation to the Better Together Campaign, which advocates keeping Scotland part of the United Kingdom“.
Surely then a contradiction in respect to her stating she came to the Q of independence with an open mind….. as with her having already given a donation to the NO side, then surely her mind was obviously already closed to the idea of Scottish independence ?
Also she stated in her 2014 statement “I’m mindful of the fact that when RBS needed to be bailed out, membership of the union saved us from economic catastrophe and I worry about whether North Sea oil can, as we are told by the ‘Yes’ campaign, sustain and even improve Scotland’s standard of living” ……
These were all BT Project Fear arguments made by the NO side…so was it really her being ‘Mindful’……on RBS – “During the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, the “No” campaign argued that an independent Scotland might not be able to afford to bail out major banks like RBS (now NatWest) in a financial crisis, potentially leading to the bank’s collapse or relocation. This contrasted with the “Yes” campaign’s assertion that Scotland, with its strong financial sector and potential oil fund, could have managed such a bailout.”
Then…….
“the union saved us from economic catastrophe” really ? Has she never read the McCrone Report….and when the UK was once itself, as a State, on it’s knees, as the Treasury coffers were almost empty, and Tony Benn, the then Labour government Energy Minister, conceded that the finding of (Scottish) Oil saved the UK from going T*** up…..#Bankrupt
As to her “worrying” about “whether North Sea oil can, as we are told by the ‘Yes’ campaign, sustain and even improve Scotland’s standard of living” then surely she knows that the UK government’s Treasury has gained a lot of financial revenue from Oil for their UK’s (mostly the South of England) benefit, it helped to totally transform London as a city (have you seen pictures of London before Oil was discovered) and also helped “sustain” and “improve” the UK government’s finances……..the same Oil that we were told was “running out” (the BBC tweeted that an expert- Sir Ian Wood- said it would run out in 2019) but the current Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves now says that we will need to rely upon it, Oil, “for decades”……
She , JKR in her statement, then also said she was “hesitant” about Scotland’s ability to “compete in the same global markets” and “defend itself from the same threats and navigate what still feels like a fragile economic recovery” as of course, in history no other country that left the British Empire has managed without Britain….said no one but British Nationalists. Is it then a case of Scotland being #TooWee #TooPoor and #TooStupid
She also said she “worried about its (Yes Movement) minimisation and even denial of risks. Whenever the big issues are raised – our heavy reliance on oil revenue if we become independent, what currency we’ll use, whether we’ll get back into the EU“…..does the UK as a State not “rely heavily on Oil revenue” ?
Also we are now OUT of the EU thanks to the UK government and every region in Scotland voted to Remain in the EU in the UK EU referendum in 2016, as in we said NO Thanks to their Brexit but we had to leave the EU as it was a UK vote…..and we could have initially still used the pound after we became independent, that is until we either may have decided to use Euros or until we had a new currency for Scotland.
Then she wrote that apparently for an independent Scotland “worrying about our economic prospects is poor-spirited , I’m afraid that’s a form of ‘patriotism’ that I will never understand. It places higher importance on ‘sticking it’ to David Cameron, who will be long gone before the full consequences of independence are felt, than to looking after your own. It prefers the grand ‘up yours’ gesture to considering what you might be doing to the prospects of future generations“
So why would Scotland be a impoverished basket case as an independent country but England minus Scotland would thrive ……yet out of all nations within the UK it is only England, via it’s politicians and media , who never ever state that England should seek it’s independence from the UK state as it would be far far better off ( a conundrum surely) .
Also guess what , that same David Cameron, on the 19 September 2014, as in the day after the Scottish independence Referendum, even before the ink was dry on the result of the Independence Ref vote, was surely “sticking it” to Scotland and also giving us an ‘up yours’ gesture in him announcing EVEL….superb timing No ?
As to the “future generations prospects” well they may now indeed have to suffer the consequences of that NO result back in 2014, because it is now predicted that an even more right wing UK government than Labour and the Tories, come 2029 , may become the next UK government based on recent polling (well that was not in JKR’s 2014 statement to Scotland, that’s for sure).
Then she added “Alex Salmond has underestimated the long-term impact of our ageing population and the fact that oil and gas reserves are being depleted…..so why then is the current UK government, the Tories and also Reform UK stating that they will still use , for the benefit of the UK (England , rich investors and rich energy companies) , fossil fuels, which they say will still exist and so be relied upon for decades to come for their UK State ?
Also is no one “ageing” in the other Nation’s populations within the UK and also within other countries in the world too….so how do they intend to cope….or will Scotland be , yet again, so unique as one that will constantly fail at this as well as failing in all other things as a future independent country….where somehow other countries within the would somehow manage to cope….#ProjectFear
She also notes that she has fears, that with an independent Scotland that “Scottish medical research” will be impacted ….. I have one word to state on that…BREXIT.
She also states “Scotland will be very much the smaller partner seeking arrangements from the UK to meet its own needs, and may not be in a very powerful negotiating position” so basically the UK will play dirty and unfair….so what’s new about that ?…..it’s almost like blackmail….vote NO or take the consequences where they , as a very much English government masquerading as a UK government, will yet again get to decide what they will allow us, Scotland, to have and also not have…..charming….such a winning argument….so negative and aggressive and so very much a UK State hostile position.
Does she even read what she writes and then, if she does, not then see that she is telling us, Scotland, that those who run the UK in England will (still) be B******* (which we knew anyway).
Her last sentence in her statement that she wrote in 2014 , prior to the Independence Referendum, and written to dissuade us from voting YES ,was actually a particularly poignant remark, when she wrote this:
“I just hope with all my heart that we never have cause to look back and feel that we made a historically bad mistake“
Oh yes, I think that many who voted NO in 2014 and who have since then had to endure, suffer and so had to tolerate a succession of S*** UK governments making terrible policies and also terrible decisions that have negatively impacted us in Scotland, now as former NO voters , very much “have cause to look back and feel that they had (not we as in us who voted YES) made a historically bad mistake“.
Hopefully next time they, as former NO voters will make the correct decision and also make the right decision for them and also for future generations and so vote YES, so that they need never again “look back and feel that they made a historically bad mistake“.
Perhaps not taking any notice of JKR’s future written and verbal attempts to persuade them to stay in her UK would also help……….Ha Ha
Liz S
Footnote – when I tried to read her first book to my then 4 year-old son, he asked me to stop because it was boring – PJR
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Jaikie Rowling presents:
Unionist plotters and the half-arsed lies.
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I remember JK comparing Scotland to a fleeing wife who, hesitating at the door, suitcase in hand, turns back and decides to give the marriage another chance. How valued and respected Scotland would be once the cheating lying spouse realised the doormat was about to walk out. (I paraphrase).
This was particularly dishonest in JK Rowling’s case. She herself fled a violent partner in Spain and was given shelter and assistance in Scotland. IIRC she had to get a court order to prevent her Ex from pursuing her.
Having worked in Women’s Aid I am well aware of the Oscar winning performances a dishonest partner will stage in order to prevent a victim’s escape.
So, as we now see, the decision to leave was the right one and no amount of wheedling false promises should sap our resolve.
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Is JKR still resident in Scotland ? I ask this as , based on what she writes , she obviously fears an Independent Scotland with all its manifest problems , which her crystal ball has clearly identified . ( was this one used in Harry Potter ? )
If I was her and had her abundant resources and was fearful of the future in her present location I would undoubtedly have F8cked off somewhere less Scottish !
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“Lots of us were persuadable, but if the knee jerk response to common sense questions is ‘you’re a unionist traitor, a scaremonger and no true Scot’, don’t be surprised if the questioner becomes sceptical about the inclusive, egalitarian, welcoming utopia independence activists swore we’d be living in once they were in charge”
At one level I’m bored by the likes of this from Ms Rowling and want to move on. But this wishing to occupy some sort of moral high ground grinds the gears!
I’m too busy enjoying a fine glass of red tonight to delve and compose personally so here is a question and response (unedited) to/from ChatGPT;
Question: ‘There is a point of view that the 2014 Scottish independence referendum triggered extreme, divisive inputs to the political discourse. What were the more extreme ones put forward by the ‘no’ side – from supporters of pro-Union Better Together campaign?
ChatGPT said (with my emphasis): ‘Yes, the 2014 Scottish independence referendum did provoke some extreme and divisive rhetoric from both sides, but the “No” side—represented primarily by the Better Together campaign—was particularly vocal in using certain lines of attack. While Better Together largely framed its argument around unity, economic stability, and risk aversion, some of its supporters resorted to more extreme and inflammatory rhetoric to try to convince voters to stay in the UK. Some of the more extreme and divisive arguments included:
Fear-Mongering About the Economy
“Economic Armageddon”: There were frequent warnings from senior political figures, including prominent figures from the Better Together campaign like Alistair Darling, about an economic disaster if Scotland voted to leave the Union. The campaign painted an apocalyptic picture of soaring unemployment, businesses fleeing Scotland, and rising prices, implying that Scotland would be economically crippled and a pariah state.
Pension Fear: The future of pensions in an independent Scotland was portrayed as precarious. Some on the No side made exaggerated claims that pensions would be at risk if Scotland voted to leave the UK.
Anti-Scottish Nationalism Rhetoric:
“Nationalist Extremism”: The rhetoric around Scottish nationalism often veered into the idea that those advocating for independence were being driven by a dangerous form of nationalism, akin to the far-right, xenophobic strains seen in other parts of Europe. This portrayed the independence movement as irrational or even hostile to diversity, with some Better Together figures suggesting that independence was a form of political extremism.
“You Don’t Speak for Us”: The idea that independence would divide Scottish people into “true Scots” and “traitors” was part of the narrative, accusing independence supporters of alienating those who felt a strong British identity or a connection to the Union. This division was used to stoke fear that Scotland would become less tolerant or even culturally isolated.
Scotland Would Become a “Poorer” and “Weaker” State
“Scotland Is Too Small”: There was a persistent argument that Scotland was economically and politically too small to survive as an independent country. This included exaggerated claims about Scotland being too dependent on the UK for trade, security, and social welfare. The idea of Scotland being a “wee country” and incapable of thriving without the UK was a common, patronizing trope used by some Unionists to disparage the idea of independence.
Defence and Security: Unionist figures like former Prime Minister Gordon Brown suggested that Scotland would be exposed to security risks if it left the UK. A key part of this argument was that Scotland would be left without a full military capability and dependent on NATO or other powers for defense. Some of the language implied that Scotland would be left vulnerable and weak without the support of the UK’s military.
Divisive Language Around “Identity”
“Unpatriotic” Labeling: Supporters of the Union often went as far as labeling independence supporters as unpatriotic or disloyal to the British state. This rhetorical device sought to delegitimize the desire for independence by questioning the loyalty of those advocating for it, even suggesting that they were somehow less “British” or less deserving of the shared identity with the UK.
“Economic Parasites”: Another divisive element came from certain sectors of the pro-Union camp accusing the Scottish National Party (SNP) and independence supporters of being economically irresponsible or reliant on UK taxpayers. The suggestion was that Scotland was a “net drain” on the UK economy and couldn’t survive independently without being a “burden” to the rest of the UK.
Personal Attacks on Key Figures: Alex Salmond and the “Out-of-Touch” Leader: Alex Salmond, the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), was frequently attacked personally. He was portrayed by some as an authoritarian, power-hungry figure who would lead Scotland into disaster. Some Unionist campaigners also accused him of being manipulative or dishonest in his presentation of an independent Scotland’s future, often attacking his character rather than engaging in substantive debate.
Nicola Sturgeon’s Leadership: After the referendum, Sturgeon also faced some of these personal attacks, with critics painting her as a dangerous and divisive leader. She was often framed as a radical who was out of touch with the majority of Scots.
Claims of an “Unholy Alliance” Between the SNP and Other Political Extremes: Linking the SNP to Extremism: There were attempts by some Better Together figures to link the SNP’s independence agenda to broader political movements they deemed extreme, like Scottish far-left groups, or even broader international movements. This implied that support for independence was a form of political extremism, equating it with populism or even xenophobia.
Scotland’s Relationship with Europe: There was also a fear-based narrative that if Scotland became independent, it would have to choose between being isolated or tied too closely to the European Union. The latter was framed as a sort of ideological extremism or an unwanted allegiance with “foreign” powers, which played into anti-EU sentiment that was growing at the time (ahead of the Brexit referendum).
Exaggerated Cultural Backlash: Anti-English Sentiment: Some Unionists claimed that the independence movement fostered an “anti-English” sentiment among Scots, despite this being a minority view within the independence movement itself. This exaggerated portrayal framed the independence campaign as being fueled by hostility or even hatred toward England, which was further perpetuated by fringe elements within the Yes campaign but was not representative of the majority.
While these arguments were not universally accepted, they were part of the narrative pushed by the Better Together campaign and its supporters, creating a climate of fear, division, and mistrust. It became a contest not only over Scotland’s political future but also over identity, loyalty, and the perceived risks of breaking from a centuries-old political union.
To repeat, an unedited response!
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Wow! Defensive, what?
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Wow! Meaning what?
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“ I came to the question of independence with an open mind”
Question to ChatGPT: ‘Please summarise the public statements in the press and online made by the famous author JK Rowling in 2014 and in prior years concerning the campaign for and referendum on Scotland’s independence. Please include her first public comment on the matter.’
ChatGPT said: in part: ‘J.K. Rowling’s comments on Scotland’s independence were a topic of much attention, especially during the campaign leading up to the 2014 referendum. Here’s a summary of her key public statements made in 2014 and the years leading up to the referendum:
‘First Public Comment (2012): J.K. Rowling’s first significant public comment on the issue of Scottish independence came in 2012, when she expressed her view that Scotland should remain part of the United Kingdom. Her statement came after a period of increasing political debate about Scotland’s future.
‘In 2012, she stated her opposition to independence in an article for The Guardian titled “The benefits of staying together”.
‘Rowling expressed concerns about Scotland’s future outside the UK, particularly about the economic uncertainties of independence. She argued that while Scotland had a strong identity and sense of community, leaving the UK would risk the benefits of being part of a larger, economically stable entity.
‘She wrote, “I’m in favour of Scotland remaining part of the UK because I believe it would be better for Scotland to remain in the union… I would hate to see Scotland diminish its influence in the world by breaking away from the UK.”
As I recall, whatever claims Ms Rowling might make about the statements of Yes supporters, statements that influenced her decision, the ‘white heat’ of rhetoric had hardly been reached in 2012! And it seems by then Ms Rowling had already made up her mind!
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Her books were bollocks, the films were bollocks and everything I’ve read of her opinions is bollocks. I’m hoping she’ll find peace and happiness in another country after independence. John
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I saw a picture yesterday on Blue Sky of a guy holding a placard that said “Kill ‘Em all” (Is ‘Em’ an abbreviated Scottish word for ‘them’…I do not think so ) .
This picture and post on Blue Sky had been reposted by a guy called Colin Dunn (worth a follow as his Blue Sky account is great),
The post also stated this………
“A woman was arrested in Glasgow today for wearing a T-shirt that said “Palestine – time for action” under terrorism legislation. Meanwhile this guy was allowed to stand outside an Asylum Seekers hostel today in Falkirk. Who’s terrorising who”?
Then someone else posted that they noticed this in that same picture….
“Can someone explain to me why this was not an offence, and why the policeman standing beside them made no arrest”?
There was the obligatory Union Jacks and one other placard had a “Stop the boats” message on it….and the Policeman that was referred to in that other post was standing right in front of the guy holding the placard that stated “Kill ’em all” (as in kill the Migrants)……..is that not considered extreme enough for an arrest ?
Also there are no “Boats” coming here and arriving at Scotland’s shorelines as all of the “Boats” are arriving on the English shoreline…..
So who were this bunch of sub human Idiots whose other mission was to once again shame Scotland……and who write English lingo , as in “‘Em”…..that’s ‘them’ to us in Scotland….on their placards in their aggressive protest.
Well the display of Union jacks told me that they were not those on the side of the YES movement……and the use of the word ‘Em’ on a placard made me also suspect not all were actually Scottish, were any ?……
The Daily Express aka gutter press refers to us as being the “Nasty CyberNats”……
‘Nasty’ being their specialised subject……..which you would know only too well, if , that is, you have ever read their ‘paper’….though why would you….unless you like propaganda and nasty media.
Funny how our peaceful protest and our peaceful movement is considered by the (Nasty) media as being “Nasty” while this bunch of Morons are considered “Patriots” who are merely ‘protesting’ to protect, checks notes, England’s borders ?????…….
This is the side of the No movement that is ignored by the media and some other infamous individuals who would prefer that we, Scotland, stay within the UK….but it is a side that we also saw on the day after the Scottish Independence Referendum in George Square in Glasgow……..the non peaceful protestors and a non peaceful part of the NO side….indeed the real “Nasty” ones , extremists even, who are really “Nasty Cyber BritNats” but they are allowed to behave that way as they are on the side of the UK.
(I believe the BBC did an article on the 20 September 2014 that stated “Police separate rival groups” on that particular incident , which was the kind of interpretation we have come to expect from the British television corporation who were and still are firmly on the side of the NO camp……it was unequivocally an organised non peaceful aka extremely aggressive event by the real “Extremists” within Scotland , as in the Nasty (hidden) part of the NO side that the media and others blank out when they speak of “divisiveness” that ‘we’ who support independence only supposdley create and so cause, that is according to the NO side).
I am old enough to remember the huge opposition to the Hate Crime and Public Order Act (2021) in Scotland by certain opposition politicians, individuals and the media , yet look now within the UK , at who is being arrested and for what and via what authority…well that’s Labour’s clamp down on (peaceful) protests that supports Palestine against what Israel are doing (Murdering men, women and children)…..as apparently one cannot protest that one is against actual Genocide…..that’s your UK State 2025 folks…..and apparently it will get worse…..well we dodged a you know what in some of us voting NO in 2014………said no one …..surely ?
It’s also where the BBC wrote an article “Hate crime law: Force for good or recipe for disaster?”…..really says it all as to what they wanted to communicate in that headline but really it was just another #SNPBAD by them ….as in yet again…..with #SNPBAD seemingly being the BBC’s specialised subject…..
Stop the UK as we, Scotland, need to get off , get out and so get away from it’s politics and it’s nasty , biased, partisan , compromised and useless media……and hopefully rid ourselves of the (No side) thugs who side with the UK politicians and the UK media and so who, as thugs, do their best to always try to shame Scotland….
However really, they only shame themselves as the sub human beings that they truly are …………..as in they do not in any way represent Scotland as a nation….and they may ‘protest with Hate’ …but they do so not in my name (or others like me).
Liz S
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Writer came to Scotland in 1994. Devolution 2000. Independence Referendum 2014. Brexit 2016. The majority now want Independence.
Writer donated £1million to the Labour Party. Labour are a disgrace.
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