Tag: independence

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‘Alleged anti-Muslim attacks are ‘intolerance wake-up call’ but there are positives to be noted in Scotland

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From BBC Scotland yesterday: The first minister has said a series of alleged anti-Muslim attacks in Edinburgh should be a “wake-up call” to Scotland over intolerance towards others. John Swinney said he was “terrified” the incidents, which left five men injured in the north and west of the city on Friday, were the product of intolerance being “legitimised”. He accused Reform MSPs at the Scottish Parliament of using language which had caused “division” among communities. Reform said the attacks should not be “conflated” with a “genuine debate around mass migration”. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c75y44e9w9do All true, I fully agree but let’s not think … Continue reading ‘Alleged anti-Muslim attacks are ‘intolerance wake-up call’ but there are positives to be noted in Scotland

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Major increases in school-leaver employment and university access in SNP years

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From Summary Statistics for Follow-up Leaver Destinations, No. 8: 2026 edition, published today, the above table extract and: This statistical publication provides information on the follow-up destinations, nine months after the end of the school year, of 2024-25 school leavers from publicly funded secondary schools in Scotland. https://www.gov.scot/publications/summary-statistics-for-follow-up-leaver-destinations-no-8-2026-edition/documents/ This table shows that as the SNP Government, first elected in 2007, ‘got behind the wheel’ it began to take steps to improve school-leaver employment and HE access and fifteen years alter the results are impressive with 15% improvements in both by 2024/2025. For any who refuse to allow the SNP credit … Continue reading Major increases in school-leaver employment and university access in SNP years

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Scottish media accept that Israeli interference against the SNP may be true and accurate in 2026 while that from Russia on referendum irregularities in 2014 was clearly ‘fake and ‘inaccurate’

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Covered fairly widely in the Scottish MSM and by BBC Scotland last week: Scotland’s first minister was targeted by an Israeli firm spreading online disinformation before the Holyrood election, a French government agency has claimed. John Swinney and the SNP were allegedly targeted in accounts linked to BlackCore – a tech company claiming to “shape narratives” who French authorities accused of trying to smear pro-Palestine election candidates. Disinformation detection service Viginum said hundreds of fake accounts would leave co-ordinated comments on Swinney’s social media posts.Swinney had described the conflict in Gaza as a “man-made humanitarian catastrophe” and said a genocide by … Continue reading Scottish media accept that Israeli interference against the SNP may be true and accurate in 2026 while that from Russia on referendum irregularities in 2014 was clearly ‘fake and ‘inaccurate’

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How SNP donors were denied the right to testify and so COPFS/Police Scotland had no automatic right to assume misuse

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By Jim Mennie “DONORS RIGHTS TO TESTIFY ON SNP DONATIONS” Thursday 4th June 2026 As expected, there are many bad actors now looking to demand that Murrell return the funds stolen from the SNP coffers. It’s all smear and dirty politics of course intended to hurt the SNP but it’s already backfiring with increases in SNP membership and donations. Many SNP members and donors are already in print saying in effect “I gave away my money voluntarily, and I don’t want it back.” So this might be a bit of Déjà vu for some of you. My good friend Para … Continue reading How SNP donors were denied the right to testify and so COPFS/Police Scotland had no automatic right to assume misuse

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Alleged witness in Nicola Sturgeon’s alleged camper van denial was 14 at the time and is now Chair of Young Labour (Scotland) – another plant

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Above, the young man in the Daily Mail‘s: Local resident doubts Sturgeon’s claim she knew nothing about campervan bought with embezzled funds because he met her, he did, he said so, four years ago, when he was presumably 14. According to his own blog My name is Ryan-Thomas Quinn, I am 18, a journalism student, activist and avid enjoyer of wine (preferably rosé). My views are mine and mine alone however, I work regularly with and have friends across the political spectrum. Collaboration is key! https://ryanthomas.blog/about/ Across the political spectrum? In Scottish media reports of SNP or Scottish Government failures … Continue reading Alleged witness in Nicola Sturgeon’s alleged camper van denial was 14 at the time and is now Chair of Young Labour (Scotland) – another plant

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Not one SNP member has called for Swinney to go or to refund the money so ‘pressure not even starting never mind mounting’

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The Herald has today: John Swinney is facing mounting pressure over his leadership, to compensate SNP supporters and to answer “difficult questions” after Peter Murrell admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a 12-year period. Opposition politicians, former SNP figures and campaigners said the guilty plea had raised fresh questions for the First Minister and renewed calls for donors whose money was misused to be refunded. Grok – ‘Has any current member of the SNP been reported calling for John Swinney to resign or for the money referred to in the Murrell case to be refunded?‘ Easy, John, I only thought for 5 seconds: No, … Continue reading Not one SNP member has called for Swinney to go or to refund the money so ‘pressure not even starting never mind mounting’

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Morrell case – BBC Reporting Scotland show contempt for ‘public’ trust

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for the high public trust placed in him. BBC Reporting Scotland today suggesting contempt for ‘public‘ trust. Morrell was not a public official as in someone working for a tax-payer-funded local authority, a health board, the armed forces, the BBC or even a charity funded by government grants, but an employee of a private company funded by its members. He did betray the trust of SNP members but cannot be accurately accused of betraying ‘public’ trust because he did not work for the ‘public.’ We then see an unidentified police officer suggesting the same: but then crucially: Today, we hear … Continue reading Morrell case – BBC Reporting Scotland show contempt for ‘public’ trust

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Ad Hominem Attacks

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By TuS friend and helper, Frances McKie, from a letter to the Times she does not expect to see published: From football to politics, most of us eventually learn that targeting  the opponent- instead of the goal- is foul play. It is also the mark of fear, desperation and- most importantly- losers.  Scotland has been witnessing such behaviour since September 19th 2014  when, apparently, according to her loyal servant, David Cameron, Queen Elizabeth the First of the UK  “purred” with relief that  Westminster’s grip on what is more or less the ” last colony”  was still- just- intact.  However, in … Continue reading Ad Hominem Attacks

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‘The SNP’s childcare proposals build on a sustained, multi‑year expansion with measurable benefits for families’

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From BBC Scotland yesterday, the above and: The SNP’s plans to expand free childcare have been criticised by Scottish Labour and the Scottish Conservatives as a “gimmick” and lacking in detail. Is that true? Let’s ask an intelligent speedy independent source: Look at the actual proposals and the Scottish Government’s history of action on free childcare, including relative to England or Wales to assess whether this is just a gimmick or real plan with benefits for parents. From use.ai: Looking at the SNP’s actual proposals and track record on childcare, it would not be accurate to characterise the current plan as “just a gimmick.” … Continue reading ‘The SNP’s childcare proposals build on a sustained, multi‑year expansion with measurable benefits for families’

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CalMac ferries problems definitely not dominating real election campaign as they are of little interest to voters despite MSM efforts

johnrobertson834

BBC Scotland today and yesterday: CalMac ferries problems dominate election campaigning – Ferries and the problems besetting CalMac’s services have dominated many of the day’s exchanges on the election campaign. First Minister John Swinney travelled to Stornoway, where he announced a new SNP government would set up a £10m resilience fund to help communities and businesses affected by the recent ferry disruption. His political opponents claimed it was a problem of the SNP’s own making, and Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said Swinney should be “ashamed” of the “ferry fiasco”. and: Labour promised to fix the “broken” ferries system with … Continue reading CalMac ferries problems definitely not dominating real election campaign as they are of little interest to voters despite MSM efforts