Stephen Dedalus (@StFilansDream), drew my attention to this example of how establishment journalists adapt to new political circumstances by adapting their language to conform with powerful narratives. At the moment UK government figures are attempting to deflect criticism of their failures onto the EU’s supposed obstructive behaviour. Lord Frost’s piece in the Telegraph is one of the clearest examples of this blame-shifting and demonising of the EU: Lord Frost says the EU should “shake off any remaining ill will towards us for leaving, and instead build a friendly relationship, between sovereign equals”. Last week the Prime Minister infuriated Brussels when … Continue reading The EU mutates into threatening ‘bloc’

From Patrick Harvie today: Pandemic relief payments worth £130 for 500,000 households and £330 for the families most in need, free school lunches for all primary school children, free bus travel for everyone under 22, a pay rise for the public sector workers who have got us through the last 12 months and £40 million worth of funding to promote walking, cycling and green projects. This morning my colleagues and I were delighted to agree to a Scottish budget that included all of these great Green wins and more. It is a very positive budget that will start to sow … Continue reading Scottish Greens doing what they should be doing

Press Release from the Scottish Government: Scotland’s ability to legislate in areas such as food, health and environmental standards is being undermined in a “systematic attack” on devolution, Constitution Secretary Michael Russell has said. A report published today by the Scottish Government shows the extent to which the Scottish Parliament’s devolved powers are being eroded by the UK Government following the 2016 Brexit vote. AFTER BREXIT: The UK Internal Market Act & Devolution sets out how:the Scottish Parliament’s views on Brexit have been ignored by the UK Governmentterms of reference designed to agree Brexit negotiating objectives among the UK’s four … Continue reading UK Government taking control from the Scottish Parliament, says new report

Hanging on for a third day on the BBC Scotland website, the laughable Lib Dem claims, and in second place on Scotland Politics: Have they had a surge in the opinion polls to justify this attention? Well Survation had them at 9% on 13th of January and 7% on the 25th February. Panelbase had them at 6% on the 22nd January and 7% on the 5th of March. In between, Savanta and Ipsos MORI both had them at 5%. What did that former Lib Dem leader say? Go home and prepare for government? Stop it, my sides hurt. Continue reading Three days free advertising for a stagnating minority party

Donald Cameron, Scottish Tories health spokesperson has reported Professor Leitch to the UK Statistics authority for saying: ‘Nobody died of Covid between the 17th of July and the 18th of August, 28 days after a positive Covid test.’ Cameron is, of course, hoping for a newsworthy victory along the lines of Jackson Carlaw’s in July 2020 when the statistics authority didn’t actually contradict the First Minister’s claim that infection rates were five times lower in Scotland but only that she had used figures not yet peer-reviewed. At the end of July 2020, the ONS figures showed the infection rate in … Continue reading Scottish Conservatives dying ‘of’ desperation?

I always give 14% just for completing the task. Mark Smith, BA Journalism, Year 1, has chosen to base his answer on the First Minister. He’s failing her on his own personality test and, in particular, her lack of humility even borderline arrogance. This is the woman described even by people like Sarah Smith and Andrew Marr as ‘a world-class politician’ and an unimpressive wee man like Smith thinks himself able to judge her personality to be failing in some way. I did two years of pyschology, as recently as 1976 and I remember that personality theories were considered the … Continue reading Herald’s Mark Smith: Class Test on Personality Theory: 14% FAIL

I could’ve have just shared James Kelly’s demolition of the Scotsman/SoS shameless reporting of their poll, apparently showing a surge for the Union, after Nicola Sturgeon’s performance, but I want to spread it wider via the blog and take the opportunity to both applaud his work and to add one thing: They did it because they were desperate to back up their claims that Sturgeon had damaged the cause. They so wanted that and when they didn’t get it, they fiddled it. Of course, all of the MSM media, even the Guardian, and people like Sarah Smith (above) gobbled it … Continue reading Scotland on Sunday’s FAKE poll intended to conceal 5 point lead for YES AFTER Sturgeon show

Esteemed psephologist James Kelly, the thinking man’s James Kelly, has posted these comments on the Savanta Com Res poll for the Scotsman which purports to show a clear lead for NO, for the first time in more than a year: “these figures are not weighted for voter turnout, with further polling expected this week to show a clearer impact of the inquiry on Scottish independence voting intention..these figures on Scottish independence are not directly comparable with previous polls on the subject, due to this and the nature of the poll.” In other words this is not a standard poll, and … Continue reading Scotland on Sunday poll revealed as flawed and unreliable

After suggesting that Sturgeon and Salmond were ‘well-mashed’, Sarah Smith, on Marr this morning, could not hide a wee show of pleasure as she went on to talk about the three polls now showing an apparent small fall in support for independence. UPDATE: James Kelly reveals poll to be non-standard: https://scotgoespop.blogspot.com/2021/03/savanta-comres-poll-yes-48-no-52.html As well as the facial expression lifting, there was a wee handclap just on the edge of the screen. Sarah has previously given us ‘reveals’ in her choice of language and of course, her love of the Union which has given her so much, un-earned pay, is taken for … Continue reading Sarah Smith Drooling and clapping but it won’t last

Scotland’s favourite English newspaper and the 23rd best linesman in Scotland were in little doubt as to who should get a red card but they seem to have missed the repeated fouls by this podgy midfielder: He has quite a record: And he’s still at it: Where is Douglas? Continue reading 6 breaches of the ministerial code or similar offences but not out!