Tag: fiction

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From “If you don’t know, vote NO!” To becoming an author

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By Mark E. Saunders of “The Scottish Minuteman” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61575625542197 Okay. Cards on the table. In 2014, I wasn’t some lifelong dyed-in-the-wool independence campaigner who had spent years on the streets criticising the Union. I was just one of millions who had ‘forever’ accepted the political status quo. That is, until one political slogan challenged me to think differently. “If you don’t know, vote no!” I suppose I could have shrugged my shoulders and accepted that as reasonable advice. Instead, I didn’t just take it on board. I took it as a challenge. If I don’t know, then I’ll find out. And that curiosity became … Continue reading From “If you don’t know, vote NO!” To becoming an author

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Legal aid for abused women – available in all UK nations but most generous in Scotland and strictest means-testing in England

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Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 The above comment pops up regularly and I’ve never thought to check. I have now: Do abused women get legal aid in England but not in Scotland? No. Abused women (and other victims of domestic abuse) can get legal aid in both England/Wales and Scotland, but the rules, evidence requirements, financial tests, and practical access differ because the two jurisdictions have separate legal aid systems. https://www.gov.uk/legal-aid/print England – You normally need specified evidence (police reports, court orders, letters from support services, health professionals, etc.), … Continue reading Legal aid for abused women – available in all UK nations but most generous in Scotland and strictest means-testing in England

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The real purpose behind this so-called House of Lord’s ‘inquiry’ into Peter Murrell

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By Liz S According to the not so ‘Scottish’ Daily Mail “The Peter Murrell scandal is set to be investigated by peers in the House of Lords, the Mail can reveal”. That’s an investigation by Peers who are not members of the SNP party, who are all mostly non Scottish Peers or House Jocks and so are, by a majority , pro UK Peers and so then they all are (except the 2 Green Peers) anti Scottish independence unelected bureaucrats within the HOL’s. So what or rather who prompted this ? Well Jack McConnell had initially called for a joint inquiry between a Scottish Parliament committee and its counterpart in Westminster. So I suspect that he is (heavily) involved in … Continue reading The real purpose behind this so-called House of Lord’s ‘inquiry’ into Peter Murrell

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Only tiny 2% of terror referrals are in Scotland because….

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The Scotsman today trying suggest terror referrals in Scotland are a serious problem just like in other parts of the UK. It’s not true. Even if we accept their claim of higher ‘preliminary’ figures up from 162 in 2024/2025 to 227 in 2025/2026, these remain tiny compared with those in other parts of the UK: So, quickly, 11 times the population, if Scotland was just as troubled by this as England & Wales, and they’d have 1 782 referrals but they had 8 778, MORE THAN FOUR times as many, 98% of the total. If we accept the Scotsman’s figure … Continue reading Only tiny 2% of terror referrals are in Scotland because….

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Herald writer’s suggestion of a ‘risk to life in 10 buildings as ScotGov post-Grenfell repairs stall’ is frankly stupid, dishonest and irresponsible tabloid scare mongering as…

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In the Herald today, Martin Williams has: 10 buildings in Scotland have had emergency safety measures put in place after being judged an “immediate risk to human life” — yet not a single block has been declared fully repaired under the national cladding programme, nearly nine years after the Grenfell Tower Fire. The intervention means some residents are relying on temporary protections such as additional fire safety systems, on-site monitoring and changes to evacuation plans while ‘dangerous’ cladding remains on their homes. What official, responsible, qualified body has ‘judged’ these 10 buildings to be ‘an immediate risk to human life?’ … Continue reading Herald writer’s suggestion of a ‘risk to life in 10 buildings as ScotGov post-Grenfell repairs stall’ is frankly stupid, dishonest and irresponsible tabloid scare mongering as…

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Hell hath no fury like an MP scorned

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By Liz S Here’s something that the UK MSM will make a big thing about, indeed they have already started. It is a book , soon to be released , that will not be given such a negative and critical reception as Ms Sturgeon’s book was given, that’s for sure. Indeed, I anticipate a media and political feeding frenzy…..with Sarwar and others rubbing their hands in glee, so job done then Ms Cherry. Joanna Cherry’s new book is to be released next week. Already some anti independence newspapers have done some #SNPBAD articles based upon her book, that includes this … Continue reading Hell hath no fury like an MP scorned

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Anas tried to be a real big tough guy – a folk rock song on lament (not) of Labour

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. Youtube version – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-hvsbZdngk Lyrics: Anas tried to be a real big tough guy But London Labour gives no more For him than they do for any of us He’s back in his box and it’s shrinking Well, it’s goodbye to Labour now Well, it’s goodbye to Labour now They’ve sold their soul to London Now they’re no bloody use to us Richard Leonard seemed alright And he had a lefty feel to him too But the Woman of Mass Destruction Sitting fast on Dumbarton Rock Had her pals push him … Continue reading Anas tried to be a real big tough guy – a folk rock song on lament (not) of Labour

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Why did the SNP ‘fraud’ case attract offers of help from other agencies yet no help can be found to investigate Labour’s failures in the Emma Caldwell inquiry?

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Support Talking-up Scotland to keep rebutting the lies almost every day of the year, at https://t.co/xFcIcegHTy From BBC Scotland today: An investigation into the original inquiry into the murder of Emma Caldwell has stalled because prosecutors cannot find a police force from outside Scotland to take on the task. Scotland’s top law officer, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain, announced two years ago she wanted an independent inquiry into potential criminality by officers involved in the case. However, the Crown Office has told BBC Scotland News that it has been unable to get an English or Welsh force to do the job because … Continue reading Why did the SNP ‘fraud’ case attract offers of help from other agencies yet no help can be found to investigate Labour’s failures in the Emma Caldwell inquiry?

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From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery

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John Robertson (not a prof of music) For those of you who refuse to xtwitter, fly bluesky or even facebook, click here: https://suno.com/s/NNGdtEiMzMfIpp7A From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery It was the winter of nineteen thirty-nine When we arrived at France’s Maginot Line We were more than fifteen thousand strong Ready to stand our ground against the hun From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery The panzers dashing to the coast were soon upon us We paid a bloody price on Winston Churchill’s say Marched ten thousand strong to years behind the wire … Continue reading From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery

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The ‘creepy’ use of their own children to make political points is still with us

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Professor John Robertson OBA In October 2025, a Lib Dem EdinburghCity Councillor, Sanne Dijksta-Downie, used her 6-year-old daughter’s cancer diagnosis and recovery to suggest some sort of crisis in NHS Scotland under the heading ‘COST-CUTTING EVERYWHERE’. Bizarrely, her first example of cost-cutting was that there were never enough pillows for parents staying over on the ward! She went on then to bemoan the quality of pizzas given to patients and cups of tea and biscuits requiring to be provided by charities. She then complains about having to help with feeding, washing and toileting. Isn’t that a good thing for the … Continue reading The ‘creepy’ use of their own children to make political points is still with us