Politics

Stuff to be getting on with.

No Comments

by C.C.Hamilton

 

It has been hilarious the last 24 hours watching opposition politicians and media types tie themselves in knots after the First Ministers announcement yesterday. It was, essentially, a non-story but they got they ended up frothing wildly again anyway. Brillaint entertainment for those of us quite relaxed about the Country’s ability to govern itself and indeed it’s ability to go and put a cross in a box sometime in the future without the country descending into anarchy because of it. Indeed, you only have to look at themother of all parliaments in Westminster to see what political chaos looks like.

 

So for those of us who are quietly going about our daily business there are a few easy things we can do in the YES movement to keep the momentum going through the summer.

 

  • Buy The National and the Sunday Herald. I know people have issues with the content, but they are all we have and both are a decent read. If you can afford them, please buy them. When you are finished why not pass it on to a neighbour, friend or leave in a cafe/waiting room/train. Might help to drive sales.
  • Subscribe to iScot magazine if you can, it’s a terrific read and valuable to our movement.

 

  • Try to stop arguing with people on social media who clearly cannot be convinced. Block or mute, we don’t have time to waste for that, life is too short. I know some people are by nature arguementative and that is healthy but let’s pick our battles better. About 30% of Scotland will never be convinced so leave them to it. Their position is no less valid than ours.

 

  • Block or mute the worst of the right wing media on social media. Ignore peole like Daisley, Torrance etc. Let them talk and bitch amongst themselves. Retweeting and arguing with them gives them oxygen fuels headlines, becuase inevitably someone will say something stupid in anger.

 

  • Try to stop arguing with ourselves on social media. Try to be nicer. We are going to disagree on loads of things,but sometimes we are going round and round in circles for days and getting nowhere. There is a real danger we are just talking to one another in a wee 140. character bubble.

 

  • Take a break from politics on social media altogether if you can. The weather is nice. Scotland is in fine trim. Enjoy it. Take a breather. Recharge.

 

  • Engage with the mobilise.scot site. Spew out your ideas to them. Let’s see what they come up with.

 

  • Get active locally with Yes Groups, face to face is much better than behind a keyboard especially when the weather is nice. If you dont have one, start one. Put up a poster, have people over for coffee. Keep it light, fun. This doesn’t need to be hard. It’s actually an easy sell.We are saying to people “Yes You Can.” We are reinforcing their own beliefs that the people of Scotland are energetic, fun, vibrant and capable. Try to get out of halls and meeting rooms though and into public spaces. Especially in the Summer. We need to open this thing out.

 

  • Let Westminster eat itself. Dont browbeat people, stop shouting, stop being angry (at least in public.) Let the Unionist press and commentators be angry and shouty and crazy. Patiently point out the many flaws as they come through and listen to people then move on. Most of Scotland knows Westminster is fucked but they are scared that our system is no better. It is. We know that and after independence we will own that. Have a laugh with people, lighten the mood. Grab the moral high ground if we can.

 

  • If you can contribute financially to projects then do so, but our best resource is our people. Only by engaging people will we win. Online is important but face to face and through creating something interesting for people to come and see is vital too. People are, by nature, curious, if we are different and welcoming then people will have a look. Scotland wants to be inspired, our people want to see light. The UK is a dark place for a lot of people just now. Our wee movement can be a beacon of light. Let’s try to be that light.

 

  • If you are good with words write a wee letter to a newspaper, inviting people to have a fresh look at independence. Be concilliatory, no finger pointing, just generally talk things up.

 

You guys will have better ideas than me that suit your livestyle, work committments and local area. What I think we all agree is that Independence is about more than BREXIT, it’s about more than Political Parties and we either pick up the ball in run wih it or we wait for someone else to do it,but when we are this close, and we are closer than we have ever been. It would be daft to back away now.

 

 

Continue Reading

Politics

Reset

No Comments

by C.C Hamilton

I liked the tone of the speech from the First Minister today. I agreed with much of what she said. Indeed, as someone committed to the idea of Independence even I am exhausted, not so much by the campaigning but more by the grinding down of the movement by the media. I also can’t really afford it the now. It feels like everwhere I turn another pro indy blogger/project is looking for money. All great projects by the way but exhausting all the same. I have long since felt that it is time for the SNP to step back and let the movement grow organically, in much the same way it did in 2014. I would like to see a figurehead emerge for the movement and some resources from the party to pay a couple of media savvy salaries and a premises for a couple of years but only to sit on top of it and to help it NOT own it. The Independence movement has to belong to the people. These guys and girls though, should be energetic, patient and committed. This should be a Labour of Love, there should be no huge expense accounts or anything like that and it should all be totally transparent. It will be attacked. It needs to be squeaky clean and value for money. And it needs to work with the existing registry’s/groups already out there. Bringing everything together but not taking over. If anything today the FM gave us the chance to draw breath and reset the Yes Movement.

I am delighted to read that the Scottish Government will outline a bold, radical agenda in the new Parliamentary term. Sure battle on with Brexit thing but try to do things differently in Scotland. Leave Westminster to its backward looking, insular approach. Lets see the SNP and the Greens work together to really make Holyrood bold, outward looking and a Parliament fit for purpose.

In the meantime there are a few things we could do to reset the movement…

Big voices

I would like to see someone brave enough to bring together our prominent pro indy voices to discuss a joined up media approach. Leave the ego’s at the door and get the likes of Paul Kavanagh, James Kelly, Stuart Campbell, Mike Small together with the likes of Derek Bateman, Neil MacKay, Tom Morton and throw ideas around. We have to form a concilliatory, grown up plan going forward. Throwing shit around on Social media just isn’t going to cut it. We are not going to agree on everything but we can surely agree to disagree in an adult manner and be less grumpy! We are trying to engage people but there is a huge danger we are just arguing amongst ourselves. I include myself in that. I write this wee blog and in the grand scheme of things it matters not a lot but I could do better to understand other points of view in the movement and outside of it.

Get creative

Is there theopportunity to bring our creatives together? There is such a huge range of artists receptive to the idea of independence. Can we look again at the National Collective idea? Such potential in an ideas based environment for what we want an Independent Scotland should look like. I remember away back we had a group called Artists for an Independent Scotland but it didnt really go anywhere. While we are resetting the movement let’s look at that. Can we put together gigs, shows, artwork to encourage poeple to have a fresh look at independence but in a less strained, more comfortable environment. Not forced on from above but affordable or free events where all of Scotland is encouraged to come along and see where we want to go.

Sort out the dull stuff

I am really looking forward to reading further work from Common Weal and the Independence Convention which I think is due later in the year. We should all get behind that if we can. These think tanks should produce the economic arguements for an Independent Scotland (the boring stuff!) but we should get involved and have our say on currency, taxation etc. We know next time around where the attacks will be focused. These guys can give our movement the tools to answer clearly and with confidence. We know we have the people and the resources to be a successful independent nation. But the attacks will be relentless. We need to be ready and these guys are vital.

Fresh faces

We need a few fresh faces at the front of the movement. Could that be Mhairi Black along with someone like Angela Haggerty? Or some of the Journey to Yes folks that PhantomPower has uncovered in the last few months. I’m just throwing names about but we need a freshness.

Smile

And we need to lighten up. The last year has felt like a war of attritian and it has had to be but people also want to have fun and enjoy themselves. Let them. My God,  Life can be shit sometimes but our movement is such a positive thing. Celebrate it. Have fun. Leave Westminster to their shambles. Let’s party…albeit on the edge of a fucking volcano but if we are going to hit the reset button lets go the whole hog. Lets laugh at ourselves and be different. Westminster is boring, Tories are boring. Let’s at least be interesting. Make people want to come over and see what all the fuss is about.

Fly yer flag if you want

And do you know what, lets get the fucking Saltires out if we want. Lets be proud of our achievements as a country in the past, be proud on the inclusiveness of our movement and come together whenever we can to have fun, trade ideas and work towards a brighter future for everyone. To borrow from Hawaiian culture “Ohana” the Yes movement is a family. Let’s reach out to everyone. Lets build a Scotland where no one gets left behind or forgotten. If we do this now and build belief in the country we will win the Referendum whenever it is.

 

Continue Reading

Politics

The Truth

No Comments

by C.C. Hamilton

The truth about Ruth

 

The images over the weekend of Ruth Davidson in military uniform gave me the dry boak. There is something very uncomfortable about a politician in military uniform. The “Lesbian kick boxer” as she was lovingly referred to in the English press at the weekend is just a parody figure in my eyes now. I cant wait to see her joining in with the party tunes at the next Armed Forces day at Ibrox. I am sure brother Adam and brother Murdo will teach her the words.

It was interesting to see the response from Keith Brown MSP, who actually served, on the subject. Dignified and considered. Such a contrast to what we have come to expect from this batch of Tories.

 

Gordon Wilson

 

As I write this, the news is coming through of Gordon Wilson’s passing. Gordon led the SNP through turbulent times and was, for me, a frustrating figure in recent years. I met him a couple of times as a young man as I fell in and out of love with the party, and found him courteous, patient and engaging. In contrast to people like Jack McConnell and Margaret Curran who I met around the same time but found rude and almost arrogant when discussing Scottish politics. I understand Gordon has a big family and he will be sorely missed. As far as the YES movement is concerned, like Jim Sillars, he was an important voice in recent years, a frustrating one at times as I said before, but an important one. He will be sorely missed by all of us who believe in self determination but we will carry on. A true patriot. RIP.

 

More Toxic Tories

 

I see the Tories in Scotland are in more trouble. The new MP for Stirling Stephen Kerr was picked apart by people on Social Media and picked up by the Sunday Herald for holding, shall we say, questionable views on Gay Marriage etc. He was, of course, pictured with “Lesbian Kick Boxer Ruth Davidson.” Amazing how beliefs can change when you get a whiff of power. We also had the incredible news that Ian Duncan, loser in Perth, is to be parachuted into the Lords and to get a top job in the Scottish office ahead of the other 12 useful idiots who actually won a seat ( with help from Scottish Labour of course!) Ruth’s Party is now being taken to court by a European list candidate who has been passed over for Ian Duncan’s MEP job in favour of one of Ruth’s pals, Iain McGill, who lost in Edinburgh . You couldn’t make this up. There is very little noise from the Timid Twelve (discounting snackbeard as he does have a kinda bigboy job) as the 35 SNP MP’s get back to business. It was always this way though, we know in Scotland if we send MP’s down to Westminster, either Labour or Tory, they are merely Lobby fodder with big expense accounts. The Tories in Scotland are actually a shambolic disgrace and the media (even the left leaning side like the Daily Record) gives them a free pass. No wonder the latest poll on trust in the media is an absolute shocker.

 

Labour

 

This week we had Owen Jones in Scotland to visit his sick father and to campaign for the Scottish Labour candidate in Leith. Most of Labour are wetting their knickers at the prospect of another election this year (the third in 2 years) because Jeremy has momentum behind him and he may win this one. Owen took the opportunity to attack the SNP, not the Tories but the SNP and campaign in a seat where the sitting MP is a very good SNP MP. Owen,of course, not so long ago was campaigning for Jeremy Corbyn to stand down, but now there is a whiff of power all is good with the dandy Socialist and Corbyn is his man again. Now, I like Owen Jones and I like Jeremy Corbyn and I have no problem with Owen coming to Scotland to campaign but surely his fire would be better used on The Tories in Scotland. The party of the benefits cap, Rape Clause and mired in allegations of Sectarianism, Racism and Homophobia. Remember even if Labour had swept Scotland Jeremy would still have been short of a majority, that’s how far behind labour had fallen in the UK. Now, of course, they made great strides at the Election but still fell well short of winning the Election against the worst campaign in history. I think, we all have to accept too that the Tories will NOT be that bad again. They will regroup to a degree and won’t make the same mistakes again.

 There is also the hypocricy of Kezia Dugdale driving for another election, the third in two years, but campigning to deny a referendum, already voted through Holyrood, a second in 5-6 years if it takes place as seems most likey in 2019-2020. So I would respectfully ask Owen Jones, to look at the bigger picture here in Scotland. The SNP is not the enemy of Jeremy Corbyn, in fact the wider YES movement are some of the biggest friends he has in Scotland. And certainly MORE supportive of Jeremy and his socialist ideals than Scottish Labour.

Continue Reading

Politics

An Object Remains at Rest

No Comments

by Jason Michael McCann

Right now it has become obvious that we in the Scottish independence movement have a decision to make. We must decide whether or not we want independence. This, however absurd it may sound, is the most pressing and the most important decision we have to make, and we must make it soon. Each of us must look deep inside ourselves, think long and hard, and decide. At the end of September 2014 those of us who chose to continue knew that from that point on – emerging from the mouth of defeat – it would be a longer, harder road. We were kidding ourselves on if we thought otherwise.

This general election has proven to be the second speedbump, and perhaps more than the 2014 No vote it has slowed us down. It has ground us to a halt. Now is the time, if you are so inclined, to lower your flag and head on away home. I’m not going to blame you. We’re exhausted. I’m exhausted.

Are we willing to get back up and dust ourselves down and get back on the move? If this is what you want, then let’s think it through. The last election cost us some dearly loved MPs. It was a bitter pill and a high price. We’ll lose others. Ask yourself, can you take that happening again – and again after that? Have we got the stomach to go through this a third time and a fourth time? Friends, we’re not getting any younger. Our fight is against an empire with resources and energies we cannot begin to even comprehend. Is your answer still Yes? Then let’s think about this.

Some of us are saying, “Yes, but not yet.” The wisdom here is that we should get Brexit out of the way, give the Westminster government all the rope it needs to hang itself. When the London Conservatives have, as inevitably they will, made this mess as bad as it can possibly get we will be rested enough to lift up our banners again and walk through some fairy tale open door. The tired little boy inside me thinks this a brilliant idea. He, like so many of us, wants to curl up and sleep.

Do you know what the problem with this idea is? It assumes that our foe is a mannequin, a motionless, changeless statue that will wait perfectly still until we are better rested. Can you see how dangerous this idea is? Westminster is not this pathetic Theresa May or even the collective incompetence of her parliamentary party’s privately educated murder of toffs. Westminster is an apparatus of an imperialist police state, the bureaucratic structure of intelligent plotters and schemers whose longer-term strategic view of the future is five, six, seven moves ahead of us; whose plans are tuned and reactive to our every move.

Do we think that wheels are not turning within wheels all the while we wait, continually conspiring against us; plotting our downfall – our destruction? Do we really believe Great Britain became what it is by happy accident? Was this once globe-spanning empire, this vicious nuclear state the product of luck? If we think this then we truly lack the wherewithal to be struggling against it.

As we wait for the storm of Brexit to pass over us those wheels will roll out every conceivable underhand and devious weapon against us. Theresa May or the puppet masters behind her will fight their fictive terrorists by shutting down the internet, and when we finally wake up from our rest the only tool we have at our disposal will already be gone. You think this is paranoia? Did you read her manifesto? By waiting and resting we will do only two things. We will start to lose numbers and shrink, and we will hand the beast the gift of time. Waiting is death.

What we have is a movement that is now sluggish and tired. Our decision is this: Wake it up and fire it with new life or send it to sleep and sit by its side in tearful vigil as it breathes its last.

You want my opinion? Well here it is. Scotland is my home and I am here fighting for it. I am watching as the British state penalises my mother for being disabled. We are watching as it murders infants for being Syrian. We are looking on as it feasts on the suicides of the weak, the sick, the poor, the unemployed who have lost hope and given up. Now we have a front row seat to their rutting session with people in Northern Ireland who’d throw rocks at children for attending a Catholic school. How long can we wait and watch and rest? Can you sleep through any more of this? I can’t.

Britain is injustice. It is unjust that Scotland is unfree. There can be no peace without justice, and we sure can’t sleep without peace. So tired as I am, and I am exhausted, I am here to finish the job I came to do. We have set our hands to the plough. This is my opinion. I am not for giving up. I am not going to give this monster a moment’s rest, a moment’s peace, until this job is done. I can’t do it alone.

If now is the time then now is the time to wake everyone up. This movement will move only when we give it another push. It will succeed only when we keep on pushing, when we don’t give up. It is time for ideas and talking to be turned into action. We become an unstoppable force right now or this is the end of the road. If this is what you want then you had better get your boots on – we’re about to start moving again.

Continue Reading

Politics

Initial Thoughts on a crazy night.

No Comments

by C.C Hamilton

  1. If someone had offered the SNP 35 seats from a previous total of 6 in 2015, I think they would have been delighted. Last night, of course was a disappointment but it is still a BIG result. 3rd largest party at Westminster on the back of wins in the council elections and Holyrood elections is still very good after 10 years in Government in Scotland and against a brutally hostile media.
  2. That said it was a real blow to lose people like Angus Robertson, Eilidh Whiteford and Alex Salmond. However, it is now up to the Tories who suggested they can protect the North East (fishing in particular) to come through. They won’t.
  3. Never underestimate the power of the Sectarian vote in Central Scotland, especially when it tactically votes and in some places they got it right this time. When that tacks enmasse to any party’s base support it will do well. Good luck to them but I suggest in places like Rutherglen, where they lost the hardest working MP in Westminster, they cut off their nose to spite their face. In my constituency we only got postal stuff from the other candidates, the Tory nowhere to be seen, didn’t even turn up for some of the hustings but only narrowly lost with 32% of the vote. The Tory vote in Scotland has next to nothing to do with policy, because they don’t really have any.
  4. Labour vote share going up slightly had nothing to do with the Scottish Labour leadership and everything to do with Corbyn. Hell I would have voted Labour myself in England, but I never want to hear anyone in Scottish Labour go unchallenged if they use the “Tartan Tories” shite again. The Scottish Labour Leader suggested the Tories were better placed to beat the SNP in some places and news reports suggested they were working with the Tories to unseat the SNP candidate. Disgusting. As those 12 seats staying SNP could have led to a progressive alliance and Labour running the country. Kezia Dugdale should be hanging her head in shame today. All she had to say was “Vote Labour, and if you can’t vote Labour, vote anyone but the Fucking Tories!”
  5. Nicola Sturgeon completely fucked up with her attack on Kezia on Monday, I appreciate Kezia has attacked her all campaign and I get the impression Nicola was hurt at being attacked by someone she once regarded as a friend, but to do so as she did on Monday brought the debate level down even further and let RapeClauseRuth of the NoSurrender Party off the hook. Apologise Nicola and move on please.
  6. I dearly wanted some kind of alliance between LibDems, Labour and SNP but that seems to be unlikely with the Tories keen to work with the DUP to secure a slim majority. This is terrible news for progressives in the UK and has particular consequences for our friends in Northern Ireland I would suggest.
  7. Will Saint Theresa resign? early indications are no but she is weakened.
  8. Will Nicola Sturgeon resign? No but again she is weakened. A poor campaign, the result aside, where she spent most of it on the defensive. There seemed to be little or no strategy but I think she is still the outstanding political mind in Scotland. There has been a complacency around the party, though, and that has to change. Forget referendums for now, the Scottish Parliament has a mandate anyway, and get back amongst the people and engage again.
  9. Again Scotland, Sillars was right. We must face the paradox, what happens when Scotland votes one way and England another (paraphrasing) 2/3rd of us voted against the Tories and here we are again. A Tory Government but not just that this time. A Tory Government propped up by the DUP. And Ruth the Mooth thinks the yes movement is divisive. What a fuckin joke.
Continue Reading

Politics

Getting on with the Day Job

No Comments

 

So @kezdugdale has said all SNP MPs are doing in Westminster is fighting for independence. Let’s see shall we?

 

1. Here’s @IBlackfordSNP fighting against the UK’s ridiculous immigration system that would have deported the Brains. http://www.thenational.sco/news/14902497.Ian_Blackford__MP__describes_the_deporting_of_people_like_the_Brain_family_as_a_modern_day_Highland_Clearance/

 

2. Here’s @EilidhWhiteford passing landmark domestic violence legislation. SNP MPs did that in Westminster.  https://www.holyrood.com/articles/news/snp-mp%E2%80%99s-bill-ratify-istanbul-convention-gets-backing-parliament

 

3. Here’s @alisonthewliss exposing the Tories repugnant #RapeClause and SNP’s fighting against it.  https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/03/exemption-clause-for-tax-credits-in-chaos-says-mp

 

4. Here’s @MhairiBlack fighting against the UK Govt’s absurd benefits sanctions regime which is hurting the vulnerable.  https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/video/2017/mar/22/mhairi-black-benefit-sanctions-dont-work-and-westminster-knows-it-video?CMP=twt_gu

 

5. Oh look. Here is @alisonthewliss again, campaigning for more protections on the marketing of baby formula milk.  https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/16/formula-milk-marketing-claims-mp-calls-for-fresh-curbs

 

6. Here’s @joannaccherry campaigning against the Tories inhumane decision to scrap the Dub’s amendment.  http://www.thenational.scot/politics/14892135.SNP_MP_Joanna_Cherry_calls_on_Theresa_May_to_give_support_to_vulnerable_child_refugees_after_French_camps_visit/

 

7. Here’s @kirstenoswald fighting for our veterans. Thanks to her, mesothelioma sufferers will get care they deserve  https://www.snp.org/doing_the_right_thing_by_our_veterans

 

8. Here’s @RogMull fighting against the SLP tax loophole that’s Westminster seems to not want to close. http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/14695858.Roger_Mullin_MP__Why_I_fear_Westminster_will_not_close_Scotland__39_s_tax_haven_loophole/

 

9. Yup it’s @MhairiBlack again. Fighting for @WASPI_Campaign & for fair treatment for women born in the 1950s #WASPI  https://www.sundaypost.com/news/political-news/mhairi-black-pledges-to-continue-pensions-fight/

 

10. Next it’s @StephenGethins standing up to Theresa May’s extreme Brexit obsession & protecting 80,000 Scottish jobs. https://inews.co.uk/opinion/comment/snps-stephen-gethins-wont-meekly-succumb-hard-brexit/

 

11. Here’s @AlexSalmond laying down 50 amendments to the Tories brexit bill & standing up for Scotland’s interests. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15043489.SNP_will_table_50_amendments_to_Brexit_bill__says_Alex_Salmond/

 

12. Here’s @AngusRobertson exposing the Tories plans to ditch the pensions #TripleLock at #PMQs  https://twitter.com/theSNP/status/857198729752981505

 

13. Here’s @EilidhWhiteford standing up for Scotland’s fishing communities that the Tories think are “expendable”. https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/9251/uk-government-fails-guarantee-support-scotland-s-fishing-community

 

14. Here’s @callum_mccaig standing up for Aberdeen’s Oil & Gas sector. Demanding the UK Govt support the industry https://www.energyvoice.com/opinion/103515/103515/

 

15. Here’s @CalumKerrSNP standing up to the UK Govt’s extreme Brexit that will hurt Scotland’s farming communities. https://www.fginsight.com/news/news/this-is-a-disgraceful-way-to-treat-the-sector—snp-slams-ministers-for-short-changing-farmers-20649

 

16. Here’s @joannaccherry again, standing up to the Theresa May’s illiberal snoopers charter. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/14/snoopers-charter-labour-threatens-to-hold-up-bill-over-privacy-fears

 

17. Here’s @HannahB4LiviMP fighting for her constituents & winning the fight for a new independent aviation body. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/west-lothian-mp-wins-battle-9837797

 

18. Here’s @KirstySNP reuniting with a young girl with her lost toy bunny. Because not everything has to be serious  https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/uk/westminster-bunny-reunited-child-lost-thanks-snp-mp-kirsty-blackman/

 

19. But if you think it does, here’s @KirstySNP fighting for a more family friendly parliament. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/26/kirsty-blackman-snp-mp-westminster-parliament-childcare-london

 

20. Here’s @PeteWishart holding the Tories feet to the fire over the election expenses investigation. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/scottish-national-party-call-for-met-police-to-investigate-tory-election-fraud-a7042396.html

 

21. Here’s @PGibsonSNP securing a victory in her campaign against nuisance calls. http://www.thenational.scot/news/14896609.Victory_for_MP_Patricia_Gibson_as_firm_chiefs_face_fines_of_up_to___500_000_for_nuisance_calls/

 

22. Here’s @TasminaSheikh holding the UK Govt to account over their failures in the #Concentrix scandal http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/perthshire-mp-tasmina-ahmed-sheikh-8849883

 

23. Here’s @AlanBrownSNP campaigning to secure audio & visual help for blind & deaf passengers on public transport. http://www.thenational.scot/news/14903358.MP_argues_for__talking_buses__to_help_deaf_and_blind_travellers/

 

24. Here’s @StewartMcDonald MPs fighting the Tories decision to close half of Glasgow’s job centres https://stv.tv/news/west-central/1375030-half-of-glasgow-job-centres-to-close-under-uk-government-plans/

 

25. Here’s @ChrisStephens constantly reminding Labour & Tories of the #IndyRef promises for jobs in Clyde shipyards  https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/union-fears-for-clyde-jobs-as-tories-back-bae-review/

 

26. Here’s @AngelaCrawley30 standing up for LGBT & Transgender equality and calling for more progress. https://stv.tv/news/politics/1374436-snp-make-2017-a-year-of-progress-for-transgender-rights/

 

27. Here’s @MrJohnNicolson exposing & fighting the Tories privatisation agenda – this time around @Channel4News http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/11/04/jon-snow-david-cameron-channel-4-privatisation_n_8474610.html

 

28. Here’s @Stuart_McDonald & @ronniecowan fighting against the Tories ludicrous immigration targets https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/communities/opinion/house-commons/82861/stuart-mcdonald-mp-and-ronnie-cowan-mp-ludicrous

 

29. Here’s @PeteWishart fighting against the ‘go home’ vans that Theresa May set up http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13116016.SNP_demands_answers_over_immigration__poster_vans_/

 

30. Here’s @GavNewlandsSNP campaigning for men to stand up against domestic violence.  http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/istanbul-convention-domestic-violence-male-mps-vote-a7477006.html

 

31. Here’s @BrendanOHaraSNP standing up to the Westminster parties obsession with spending £100bn on nuclear weapons. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/brendan-ohara/trident_b_11054406.html

 

32. Here’s @DeidreBrock bringing common sense to Westminster & fighting against the Tories desire for a new Royal yacht http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/government-rules-out-using-taxpayers-money-to-fund-new-royal-yacht-a7356426.html

 

SNP – Getting on with the Day Job.

(This is just an example of some of the things the SNP has been doing – if you have anymore suggestions please email defiayeonline@gmail.com with others)

(This article has been made possible by harvesting tweets from  @GrantDCostello – cheers Grant)

Continue Reading

Politics

Owning your vote

No Comments

by C.C.Hamilton

 

I think I have said before that I would never tell anyone how to vote but I think it is important that we all all own our vote. We have to be big enough to say “I voted for that party and for these reasons.” I am always, then, interested to read people voting Tory in this election based on the “No IndyRef” rhetoric. What they are of course voting for is to deny themselves a vote on Scotlands future. Voting to deny yourself your democratic right. Of course, people are buying into the Ruth Davidson line, parrotted on TV at the weekend that “NO ONE in Scotland wants another referendum” that is another lie from someone seeming to speak for Scotland while also saying that “The SNP is not Scotland.” In actual fact recent polling suggest 50% fancy another referendum in the near future and 58% think that it should be a matter for the Scottish Parliament where it has already passed with majority support. So to vote, simply on the referedum question is actually voting to deny the very democracy we claim to hold so dear. But there is a wider picture here. You don’t get to say I am voting Tory to deny another referendum and just ignore the rupugnant and divisive nature of THIS Conservative Party. Have a look at this shameful list:

  • Family cap (no child benefit for 3rd child)
  • The Rape Clause (exemption for a child born after being raped, as long as you fill in an 8 page form, relive the abuse and name the child!)
  • Cuts to winter fuel allowance for pensioners, which will be devolved but we dont know when. The Scottish Government has said it wont cut.
  • The bedroom tax, which, again, the Scottish Government mitigates.
  • Getting rid of the triple lock protecting pensions.
  • Awful benefit sanctions regime
  • Damage done to our industry by the Tories in the 80’s still felt today.
  • The sell out of our fishing industry as “expendable” in the 70’s
  • The bigotry, racism and homophobia exposed in a number of new councillors.
  • Dog Whistle Sectarian terms used by senior MSP’s on Social Media
  • Increased food bank usage.
  • Removing free school meals for infants. Scottish Government will protect.
  • And thats all before we get to the fact that both the PM and the Tory leader in Scotland told us all before the EU Referendum that BREXIT was a bad idea. Ruth even telling us we were being lied to and now telling us that we just have to suck it up and make the best of it. A PM refusing to debate her policies ahead of an election. An election she said 6 times (at least) wouldnt happen. The EU negotiators must be rubbing their hands at the prospect of facing her.

Few of us will ever agree wholeheartedly with the party we vote for. I will vote SNP this time but have voted many other ways in the past but this Tory party stands for some pretty abhorrant and vile policies and include some pretty vile characters at their core. Not to be trusted with Scotland Ever. Be careful with your vote.

 

Debates

What a contrast in the dabates this time around. The ITV one minus the PM and Corbyn was enjoyable, policy was debated in a decent manner, had ntelligent questions and chaired well. Matters raised which were devolved was pointed out to the viewers but the devolved administrations still had ample time to make a point. The Channel 4 debate this week, again benefitted from being well chaired and enjoyed intelligent contributions from the audience. I will come on to Paxman later. Compare that to the shambolic BBC Scotland attempt where Sarah Smith was dreadful,we had the awful spin room idea again (why are journalists interviewing journalists?!) and Kez and Ruth screaming away. Totally dominated by devolved issues after Ruth had a disaster trying to defend immigration. Either we just dont have the talent up here to produce decent debates where policy and ideas can be explored or it’s to do with who you know. But I find it hard to believe that Sarah Smith would be anywhere near a TV studio if it wasnt for who her father was. Grim stuff and shame on the BBC and most of the politicians involved. Also worth noting that Claire Austin’s claim that she was asked back on to this debate as she hadn’t been allowed to ask a question on question time has never been properly addressed by the BBC. Something smells around Pacific Quay and it ain’t the Clyde!

 

Angry Men

 

One good thing to come out of this campaign has been that it is now clear that the old boys network of Andrew Neil, Andrew Marr, Jeremy Paxman and David Dimbleby or yesterdays men. Some quite dreadful performances from all of them in recent weeks,capped off by Paxman the other night. I want to hear politcians allowed to speak, develop ideas and feel safe to speak off the cuff and be honest. As it is politicians resort to robotic answers in the face of bullying, hostile behaviour from these guys. I think in this campaign we have seen that people like Faisal Islam can do things differently and still be effective. In Scotland I am not so sure, our reliance on Ponsonby, Brewer Smith and Bird, leaves us well short of the quality required for grown up political debate.

 

Nicola Sturgeon

 

I think it says a lot for the FM in the face of a mostly hostile press that she fronts up for each debate and answers questions patiently while the others around her are shouting and bawling. Or avoiding the debates as the PM has.  Much like Corbyn, in that respect, she has refined her technique and become much more measured in her approach. Admiitedly her opposite numbers come across as just shouty bullies devoid of any actual policy but she has done well. As I have said before I am no SNP fanboy but I am particularly dismayed at Kezia’s performance because I genuinely think she is better than that. Ruth is a Tory and that’s what mostTories do: They shut down debate because they know that if the electorate get to their real policies they would never hold office. So they make a lot of noise and bully and bluster and the debate is over before you know it. If Ruth Davidson didn’t have the support of her former collegues in the media and the bigot vote in Scotland she would be gone long before now, because she just isn’t very good. Kezia is different and is capable of much better. My main critcism of the FM is that she becomes a bit robotic at times under pressure. I think she is an honest and decent, hardworking FM but there is only so many times we can hear slogans like “stronger for Scotland” before it starts to sound like a soundbite to avoid a question and she is tarnished with the “all politcians are the same” criticism. This is not the the land of milk and honey and this SNP Government is not perfect by any means but it is doing well and in many areas is doing better than others in the UK. It is good to hear her take responsibility for the education issues, in contrast, for example to Ruth Davidson’s avoidance of the Rape Clause debate and her lack of response to the Racist/Sectarian stuff from Councillors and activists in the last few weeks. The FM’s patience in defending devolved issues in a Westminster election campaign has shamed some in the  Media and Opposition parties who have tried to set the agenda of “SNP bad.”

 

Polls tightening

As the polls seemingly tighten. Wouldn’t it be bizarre if our rural and fishing communities voted for the Tory Party MP’s that has sold them out in the past, the Tories ended up out of power and it was Nicola Sturgeons SNP that held the balance of power!

 

A nice Tory

It was great to speak at length the other day with a local Conservative Councillor. He has been in office now for almost 20 years and has proven to be a fine local councillor regardless of party affiliations. He was dismayed by the number of, in his words,”rockets” who had been elected for his party in the recent council elections. He was also at pains to point out that council politics often is nasty when it doesn’t need to be because of party politics. He cited the Lib Dems and the Tories in his council who politicise every issue and admitted he has become frustrated that local issues are alwys framed around the national political climate and councillors being told to toe the Party line as directed by central office. It makes you wonder if local politics should be out of political party hands and back to Councillors serving their communities first and always. Just goes to show that there are decent Tories out there though folks! Be nice to them.

 

Claire Austin

 

A final word on Claire Austin who was lauded by Kezia and the media after she (rightly) had a go at Nicola Sturgeon on TV over nurses pay. Its not been a good time for her. People commenting on her social media profiles, press doorstepping her and now reportedly a fine for a row with neighbours. But her story did make me think. My wife and I earn a fair bit less than Ms Austin, between us we have been made redundant (through no fault of our own) 3 times in the last 12 years, we have 2 children but thankfully we have never had to use foodbanks. Indeed when we shop we usually buy an extra bag of food to donate to the local foodbank. We may be just lucky, we have a fine family around us who helped in our hour of need, but we are careful with our money, try to save a bit for a rainy day. So when what felt like a disaster of redundancy happened we managed to tighten our belts, dip into our savings and fortunately picked up work wherever,doing whatever we could. None of this is really relative to Ms Austin, of course, as we do not know the circumstances of her referral to a foodbank and no one should be using foodbnks in 2017 anyway. But it does make it dificult for people like us who are on low income to fully understand the point she was making. By the way, we still do OK. We manage a family holiday every year, a special trip to Disneyland Paris every few years, weekends away, we have a decent car. We manage and we make choices every day on what we can afford. It doesn’t make us any better than anyone else. It is just how it is and how we choose to live our life. I hope we never have to use foodbanks but I am very grateful for the work they do particularly for those let down by the benefit system or those struggling to “just manage” as the PM put it. I truly hope Claire Austin never has to use one again either and I wish her well. The biggest sadness in this, though,  is that it was a fine question but asked for all the wrong reasons and used by people like Kezia Dugdale and sections of the media to score political points, therefore diluting the point.

 

 

Continue Reading

Politics

The many lies of Ruth Davidson

No Comments

(If there are any we’re missing – let us know in the comments and we’ll add it. Links for evidence would also help)

Ruth lied when she said 1/5 Scots children leave primary school ‘functionally illiterate’[1].

Ruth lied she said the rape clause only require victims to “tick a box” to receive exemption[2].

Ruth lied when she said Scotland attract only four per cent of the UK’s immigrants[3].

Ruth lied when she said child poverty and inequality has fallen since the Tory government came to office[4].

Ruth lied when she said that “No means we stay in, we are members of the European Union[5].”

Ruth lied when she said the SNP was obsessed with independence, when actually the opposite is true[6].

Ruth lied when she said that the SNP’s governance would deter investment[7].

Ruth lied  when she said the UK government was not taking disability vehicles away[8].

Ruth lied when she said the SNP don’t have a mandate for a #ScotRef. The people elected a pro-independence majority Scottish parliament[9].

Ruth lied when it came to college places[10].

 

[1] https://theferret.scot/one-in-five-children-dont-leave-primary-school-functionally-illiterate/

[2] https://theferret.scot/rape-victims-dont-just-tick-box-receive-tax-credit-exemption/

[3] https://theferret.scot/scotland-attracts-four-percent-uk-immigrants/

[4] The IFS and http://www.thenational.scot/politics/14891078.Ruth_Davidson_attacked_for_making_pledges_on_child_poverty/

[5]http://www.thenational.scot/politics/14894562.Ruth_Davidson_accused_of____enormous_U_Turn____on_Europe/

[6] https://weegingerdug.wordpress.com/2017/04/25/the-monomaniacal-single-obsession-party/

https://indyref2.scot/whos-really-obsessing-about-independence

https://stv.tv/news/politics/1387481-sturgeon-davidson-has-obsession-about-independence/

http://thenational.scot/news/15256624.Carolyn_Leckie__Ruth_Davidson_needs_to_stop_talking_about_independence_and_get_on_with_the_day_job/

[7] https://beta.gov.scot/news/record-breaking-year-for-foreign-direct-investment/

[8] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39575293

[9] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-32662333/snp-wins-landslide-general-election-victory-in-scotland

http://www.thenational.scot/politics/15231355.James_Kelly__SNP_will_struggle_to_keep_all_of_their_56_seats_but_another_sizeable_majority_looks_inevitable/

[10] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35323748

List was inspired by Tweets from

 

Continue Reading

Politics

Dear Older Voters

No Comments

by C.C Hamilton

Dear older voters. 

Please don’t vote vote for the party who have in the manifesto to cut your pension, cut your winter fuel payments and take away free school meals for kids.  

Please don’t vote for the party of benefit sanctions, tax credit cuts and the rape clause. Please don’t vote in Scotland for the party whose MSP’S think it is acceptable to use “we are the people” to troll people on the Internet opening old sectarian wounds. 

 Please don’t vote Tory because you don’t want to put a cross in a box in 2 years time if there is a referendum.  

YOUR generation, more than any other, know what the Tories did to Scotland under Thatcher. Don’t let them do it again. Vote for the party who works everyday for Scotland. They don’t always get it right but at least they fucking believe in Scotland and our people and our right to choose our own path.  

And in 2 years time just vote NO, if that’s your choice. But at least there is a party that are saying that it should be your choice.  Don’t vote for the party who thinks you are not capable of making that choice. 

Please think about it. Don’t vote to be poorer. Don’t vote to stop YOU having choice. 

Continue Reading