Being called an ‘outright propagandist’ by James Kelly of Scot Goes Pop yesterday has reminded me to say something about him and the wee gang he has recently joined. What do Campbell of Wings, Kelly, Craig Murray and Robin McAlpine of Common Weal have in common? In 2014, I was a big fan of all as they played a significant part in the Yes campaign. Since then, many of their ideas have been ignored by the SNP in government and so they have all gone in the huff. Have a look at their social media today and compare it with … Continue reading The Huffragists

James Kelly (above), the independence movement’s best psephologist (bean counter) whom I’ve often praised, other than on his unwarranted gender reform anxieties, posted this yesterday: By the way, our anonymous troll informed me that I “must” have seen this poll because Professor John Robertson’s blog (which I have not read for several years) had covered it earlier today.  Having now checked Robertson’s piece, this helpfully gives me the opportunity to point out that it is factually inaccurate.  Robertson claims that the SNP lead over Labour has “surged to 12%”.  As you can see for yourself from the numbers above, the … Continue reading Talking-up Scotland’s leading academic accused of being outright propagandist

As Scotland’s pretty moderate taxation changes begin, the Telegraph launches into one more of the ‘brain drain’ stories we’ve heard for a decade now. Sometimes selfish bar stewards shout that they’re off but then later, never do. So-called experts predict an actual movement of large numbers of well-paid professionals but the evidence is never published in even the lowest impact academic journals. It’s just another classic moral panic, a teeny phenomenon amplified by media and ridden by a few journalist who care little for facts. The headline cries out ‘How Nicola drove’ but by the opening line of the text, … Continue reading It’s that old ‘brain drain’ myth again

I felt it in my bones as I watched. This heavy-handed theatrical assault on Chez Sturgeon was just going to piss off the SNP support and pull back any waverers. SNP supporters feel free to criticise the functioning of the party and do, but when they see a suspicious pile-on like this, orchestrated by dark forces in London and drooled over excitedly by the media and opposition, they get angry. I’ve not been alone in predicting, last night, a counter-offensive from the troops. The first wave is pushing its way into the field as I write. Last night, social media … Continue reading SNP supporters launch quick counter-offensive and surge to 12% lead over Labour in only one day’s fighting

Leah Gunn Barrett There has been pushback from Unionists denying Scotland is a de facto colony of England.  The history of Scottish ports illustrates our colonial status. Ports used to be owned by the Burghs (local councils) who owned thousands of hectares of prime waterfront land. Ports once supported the entire economy, creating much of the wealth of the town and sustaining the local population. They raised substantial revenues from local taxes on goods and ships, enabling the Burghs to re-invest in new port infrastructure.  In the 1960s, the UK government transferred port ownership from councils to private trusts which … Continue reading The history of Scottish ports illustrates our colonial status

I’m not going to comment on any of the many issues that readers may have with Alba and the SNP or with any of the ‘colourful’ characters who may be enthusing or annoying them. Let’s just stand back and consider what evidence this reasonably large but unavoidably selective and self-selecting sample of twitterati offers. I’d say there are four obvious signals. First, support for Alba here is considerably larger than it has been in opinions polls and elections recently – 3%? Second, my previous poll had SNP support at 90% without an Alba option (twitter poll limitations) but with an … Continue reading Will Alba benefit most from the SNP’s woes?

I don’t know how many police vehicles were in Fred West’s street but there were at least nine outside the home of the former First Minister and her husband the former CEO of the SNP today. Did the British Army refuse to lend them a tank to park on the lawn? Was there just no room for a tank because of the giant tent? What was the big tent for? Did a disgruntled SNP member say that the outgoing CEO ‘knew where all the bodies are buried’ and PC Westminster didn’t realise that’s just a figure of speech? It’s going … Continue reading This heavy hand and the stench of London will strengthen the SNP

Scotland’s so-called newspapers have followed quickly on from BBC Scotland to froth over a fall of 3.4% in those seen within 62 days from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to first cancer treatment, at the same time as referrals increased by 2.3%. Not good, I agree, but not, as ever, the full picture from these supposed information providers. They have not reported on the news, on the same day, that the target of 95% was almost met, with 94.1% treated within 31 days, from decision to treat to first cancer treatment. They have not reported the fall in cancelled operations … Continue reading Cancer waiting times – Scots suffer worst journalism on record

Fresh from sharing drugs with us via their county lines gangs, but with that ignored by BBC Reporting Scotland, we do get to hear about Liverpool sharing in other ways. First off: Health officials are warning that units sterilising surgical equipment in Scotland’s hospitals don’t have enough capacity to deal with major breakdowns. Support from a service in Liverpool was recently needed to maintain part (!) of NHS Scotland’s sterilisation service. And NHS Lothian has warned there isn’t enough contingency in the system. Reading the full report on their website, we see it’s only about one health board: Last year, … Continue reading BBC Scotland’s Liverpool Lie