Scotland's Weak or Unwilling Media

One of the greatest disappointments in this referendum campaign has been the unquestioning attitude of the mainstream media to challenge the propaganda from the Yes campaign.
I’ll be clear, that this means the BBC, STV, The Daily Record and The Sun, who command the largest audiences and circulation figures.

The BBC have been accused by both sides of being biased, when it’s probably more accurate to say that they are just weak, hopeless and wringing their hands of any controversy, despite a large percentage of them probably at risk of redundancy in an Independent Scotland, and working for a UK wide organisation. Glen Campbell’s weak performance during the BBC TV debate is a great representation of an organisation in Scotland that has no direction or idea how to conduct itself.

STV’s referendum coverage has been particularly slanted, with an appearance on Scotland Decides on Monday night by the notoriously extreme owner of Wings over Scotland. Legitimising his views is unacceptable, and one wonders if the management of STV are hoping that they can become the national broadcaster rather than the SBS, in the event of a Yes vote.

With the Sun being owned by right wing Rupert Murdoch, it’s a relationship that the SNP aren’t shouting from the rooftops about, given their recent overtures to the Scottish left

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/10799027/Alex-Salmond-Rupert-Murdoch-is-a-remarkable-man.html

http://www.sundaypost.com/news-views/scotland/independence-referendum/independence-on-trial/anger-over-salmond-s-secret-meeting-with-murdoch-1.328172

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/apr/25/alex-salmond-rupert-murdoch-ties

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/snp-leader-alex-salmond-faces-referendum-rethink-as-sun-sets-on-alliance-with-rupert-murdochs-news-international-8556199.html

It seems the refusal the Sun to back the Yes campaign outright is in tune with a historical tendency of the Sun to try and reflect public opinion rather than shape it. After all, it’s a commercial operation.

So, the Sun has remained neutral so far ,and hasn’t wished to rock the boat for either side

That leaves the Daily Record, who, as a traditional Labour newspaper would be expected to reflect the views of labour voters. Instead it comes across as confused and contradictory, with reasonable coverage from David Clegg countered by aggressive and provocative propaganda from disgraced SNP politician Joan McAlpine.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2568325/Alex-Salmond-aide-six-month-affair-axed-party-worker-used-public-money-pay-cheated-wife.html

While any Government or newspaper of integrity would have kicked her out after that affair, these two organisations continue to allow her a platform to abuse and denigrate non nationalists in this country.

Her rhetoric has previously accused non nationalists of being Anti Scottish and today’s column suggests that the No campaign is well named because it “has no plan..strategy..ambition”, before launching in to a load of waffle about how a Yes vote will generate 27,000 jobs, while deftly avoiding the fact that 600,000 jobs in Scotland depend on UK trade, or that the UK defence orders provide work for upwards of 12,000 skilled engineers and workers.

http://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/what-impact-would-independence-have-on-scotlands-defence-industry/


The Yes case is largely built on waffle, emotion and hatred, and those responsible for the campaign have probably set back the cause of Independence for a generation. Lessons have not been learned during this process with regards to tone, and the real need for solid promises and solid financial information. Dishonesty, aggression and ambiguity above all else have turned many voters off.

It is astonishing, but not unexpected, that such comment is unchallenged, from a media who have expressed mock anger over many years about “Old Firm” troubles, while deliberately stirring it up.

There are mixed messages from the No campaign suggesting that, while a No vote will guarantee further devolution, the Westminster government will have to assert at least some level of leadership in Scotland to try and build the bridges that have been burned by the extremists within the Yes camp ,while also reminding us that many key decisions are made at Westminster, such as defence and foreign policy.

The building of bridges will be very important, and one should not underestimate how dignified the No campaign have been, while the opposite has been true of the Yes campaign.

The sight of Jim Murphy MP being shouted down and abused on his 100 Streets campaign by nationalist rent a mobs opposed to democratic free speech has been shocking, and should have been front page news to shame the nationalists to reign the mob in. Instead the hatred of the mob is there for all to see, and the Yes campaign are not discouraging it, or the people involved.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/jim-murphy-negative-campaigning-kicking-in-1-3520001

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3LeeGx1baU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJmWOLlI--E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVM0Rllhw2A

Until we have someone in the mainstream with the kahunas to ridicule this kind of small minded paranoia in Scotland, the 19th of September will not be the end of the division, but just another date in the calendar.

http://www.newsnetscotland.com/index.php/scottish-news/8744-massive-increase-in-british-themed-tv-shows-on-bbc-since-snp-came-to-power

That is not a parody, or satire. That is real.

There needs to be a shift in mindset after the referendum, no matter what way the vote goes, as the lack of control and the irresponsible rhetoric of some is stirring something quite distasteful here that may well evolve in to something akin to civil unrest, from both sides.

The elephant in the room that no one wants to discuss is the presence of Irish Republicanism within the Yes campaign. Those that deny it or dismiss it are either misleading us, grossly naïve over what is going on, or in denial.

The support of many associated to Celtic’s Green Brigade, aswell as prominent republicans like Angela Haggerty and Jeanette Findlay, should indicate that the Yes campaign has, at the very least, been infiltrated by IRA Supporters wishing to destroy the union.

Support for Yes is also being shown within IRA pub “The Rock” in Belfast https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BwDCseCIUAA1lbA.jpg:large

I don’t believe that the conduct of the Yes activists over the last few months, and the support of Irish republicans, is a coincidence.

It is the responsibility of our political leaders to step in and remind all that this is a civilised country not a rabble, and they should look to the agitators first, unless they actually wish Scotland to be divided.

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I note that Celtic fans’ depression today after being knocked out of the Champions League for the second time in a month is being lifted by HMRC announcing that they will lodge another appeal against the Upper Tier Tribunal judgement on the EBT scheme operated by David Murray on behalf of Rangers’ former holding company.

I’m sure it’s just a coincidence.

Bill.

Canny Scots to say NO

Last night’s televised debate between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling, was very illuminating, despite the big questions remaining unanswered.

After the previous debate, where Salmond’s tactic was to appear statesmanlike, this one revealed the true Salmond, the man of anger who doesn’t respect the right to reply.

While the bullish performance may have saved his position as First Minister and leader of the SNP, and surprised Alastair Darling, his comments will be scrutinised and analysed in the cold light of day, and cause him more damage.

Answering questions with questions, lying, shouting over Darling, and interrupting were just few of the tactics used last night.

After a fairly predictable debate two weeks ago on STV, where the big hitter topic of currency left him flummoxed, Salmond attacked the man rather than the ball on several occasions, rebuking Darling’s personal record while in office.

You’d be forgiven for actually forgetting the purpose of these debates was to inform voters of their options in the referendum; what a Yes vote will do, and what a No vote will do, as Salmond attacked Labour, and the coalition government about poverty, in a clear attempt to appeal to the left, and to tug at the heartstrings, despite him offering no tangible and costed way to address the issue.

While we’ve come to expect less than courteous dialogue in this debate, Salmond’s approach to threaten the rUK to default on our share of the country’s debt unless we get a currency union will not have endeared him to those he would expect to engage with, should he succeed in getting a Yes vote.

Essentially he has threatened to hold the rUK government to ransom over debt to maintain a formal currency union with the UK. It is clear he is confident that the rUK would come to that table, in order that an iScotland pays it’s share.

Despite Darling asking what the other options were, and Ed Balls stating last night that there would be no currency union, Salmond continued to steamroller the question, with emphasis on forcing a currency union, and trying to bully rUK with a Yes vote being seen as a mandate of the Scottish people that should not be ignored.

Despite their being 57.8M people in the rest of the UK, to 5.3M in Scotland, he failed to recognise that the needs and desires of that 57.8M cannot be ignored by the Westminster government because that’s the way Salmond wants it.

When Darling pressed him on his Plan B if no currency union was agreed Salmond wittered about the “mandate” again, and brazenly stated that he was getting 3 plan Bs for the price of one, despite his options actually being 2 variations of one plan (currency union and sterlingisation), and a plan B that he didn’t want to call a Plan B, which is using sterling until either creating a new currency or joining the Euro. The long term Plan B in the event of there being no currency union was still never answered.

With one day before postal ballots get delivered, there is still no clear Plan B for the very foundation of everything we would do in an iScotland.

With Nationalist assertions also that rUK will order warships from Scotland, one can only deduce that Salmond also thinks Westminster will fold on this also.

It’s clear that he just wishes to steamroller all in Westminster to roll over and accept his demands, and then stir up resentment and anger when it doesn’t happen. It’s a dangerous game, to stir up tensions and engineer division, but that would only be an escalation of what is already happening in Scotland.

Any mandate that Salmond is seeking is built on false promises that have no substance, and a steadfast belief that the rUK government will ignore the wishes of 90% of its population, in the event of a Yes vote.

The NHS lies got an airing again last night, and Darling quite rightly pointed out that this political opportunism, preying on the fears of voters was not a priority of the SNP until last week, when they believed it would shift hearts and minds towards them.

Salmond also failed to clarify the position clearly on pensions (and how they could be funded long term), the set up costs of an iScotland, how much it would affect Scotland leaving the EU, or the public funding gap, not to mention how the country would deal with a refusal to be accepted to the EU, or NATO.

Salmond was on comfortable ground with strong soundbytes in areas of interest but very light on detail, and while Darling failed to capitalise on this, Salmond also failed to make a positive compelling case for Independence, nor tackling Salmond on the Better Together’s promises for further devolution.

All in all, it appeared that Salmond’s strength of personality, and his decision to shake off previous attempts to appear statesmanlike have deflected from the areas of concern, and I doubt if any undecideds will have now chosen Yes, on the basis of an aggressive performance that told us nothing.

My belief is that canny Scots will see past the superficiality of the TV debate, and deduce that they have not been given enough confidence that Independence will make any of us better off in any sense, in the short, medium or long term.


Bill

Big Bad “Westminster”

Day after day a historic “fact” will be brought up by a yesser near you.

Today’s fact being promoted by seperatists is that the MOD cherish English lives more than Scottish ones, harking back to an article by Joan McAlpine in January 2013.
In her Daily Record column, McAlpine ranted about a freedom of information request by SCND, stating that the MOD had a disregard of Scottish life

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scottish-lives-considered-cheap-by-uk-1523923

“Why then does the MoD insist it’s fine to keep these killers anchored just 40 miles from Scotland’s biggest city and centre of population? Put starkly, Scots lives are worth less. Back in 2000 the MoD envisaged a hypothetical accident involving Trident in Faslane. It concluded “societal contamination” resulting from such a disaster was OK.”


In her haste to cherry pick the FOI request to further her own agenda, she ignored the crucial factor in to the MOD’s finding that Devonport was not a viable option to re-house Trident

The FOI request response quoted advice from the Defence Nuclear Safety regulator that moving to Devonport was not feasible, and also a previous report in 2000 that is misquoted by McAlpine, where it is very clear in stating that Faslane presents far less of a risk to the public in the worst case scenario than Devonport.

It states: “There are about 166,000 people living within five kilometres of the Devonport base, compared with about 5,200 within that distance of Faslane.”

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/jan/04/mod-nuclear-submarines-scotland-plymouth

With Alastair Darling and Alex Salmond debate the future of the nation on television tonight, one can only hope that Salmond sticks to the facts if this subject comes up, because the rhetoric from McAlpine that is being pushed by supporters today is disingenuous at best, and downright dishonest at worst.

Big Bad Bill

The City Council - Glasgow's Shame

Over many years, labour run Glasgow City Council (GCC) has been an authority that does not serve its people, but serves itself, and serves the interests of a minority of close associates.
It’s just a coincidence that so many of them have sympathies for Celtic Football Club, and for causes close to the heart of the extremist element of the Celtic Support.

While there are blogs out there that allege State Aid to Celtic, or allege corruption it seems that there is little shame or accountability within the City Chambers as evidence mounts up of what some would say is morally wrong, and without a shred of integrity.

http://www.corruptglasgow2014.com

http://powerincommunity.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/following-publication-of-our-community.html

http://footballtaxhavens.wordpress.com/2013/12/13/celtics-option-on-primary-school-had-lapsed-or-glasgow-city-council-extended-it-as-favour/

http://www.scotsman.com/news/council-threatens-to-throw-the-book-at-author-1-1434097

This council apparently has no shame, and either stalls and avoids answering questions via Freedom of information requests, or sends lawyer’s letters to intimidate those challenging the council.

Understandably, much of the criticism of the GCC group comes from those with the closest links to them, with inside knowledge of the people and practices they have issues with, and also a sizeable nationalist presence in Glasgow, that are ignored by their own party leadership who appear to have very little desire to act or to do anything in Glasgow.

Because the Labour run city council treat the people of Glasgow with contempt, and the SNP don’t care about Glasgow, it appears to be left to bloggers and activists to challenge the council.
For their part, Scottish Labour is also run by many MSPs and MPs who share roots, offices and donors with the councillors, aswell as an affiliation to Celtic, so they too are uninterested.

While I count myself as a proud unionist for a number of reasons, that should not be interpreted as a support for Glasgow’s Labour group, or indeed, the further devolution that appears to be part of the sweetener that the Better Together campaign believe is required to achieve a No vote.

GCC, coincidentally, are in “solidarity” with the people of Gaza, and will fly the flag of HAMAS tomorrow.

"In solidarity with Bethlehem and Palestine, Glasgow City Council will raise the Palestinian flag on Friday 8th August. We hope that peace can be found to ensure the human rights for the people of Palestine."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-28682483

While the killing of children, and apparently indiscriminate bombing in Gaza by the IDF is indefensible, both from the tactics of Isreal and Hamas allegedly using children as human shields, it is not the place of Glasgow City Council to “take sides” in the matter, particularly when that side is one of terrorism. I’d be just as disgusted if they commented approval of IDF action.

Neither side seems to be participating in a particularly humane way, but choosing the side of terror gangs trained and supported by the Provisional IRA, and supported in Scotland by extremist republican groups is not an acceptable standpoint, no matter how they dress it up. Flying the flag of terrorism should see heads roll, and begs the question what other flags they will fly high above the City Chambers, if they decide it’s appropriate.

For some time the overly tolerant Jewish communities in greater Glasgow have stayed silent, and turned the other cheek, while extremists set up pasting tables on city centre streets, and preach their distasteful invective at anyone within earshot. At last it appears the Jewish community have had enough, with the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council president Paul Morron stating it was "angered and hurt" by the council's decision.

He said: "Flying the flag is the worst kind of gesture politics."
He also said such a move "does nothing to alleviate the suffering on either side of the conflict, nor does it bring peace closer by one single minute".

Just two weeks after Gordon Matheson embarrassed Glasgow on the world stage by conducting himself like Rab C Nesbitt at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, you’d think the city council hierarchy would have been advised that they are not cut out for the world stage. They have no class, no dignity and no shame, and it’s high time that Glasgow residents forced them out of office, no matter what political views they may have.

Bill

Nationalist Agitators Terrorise Scots

As Alistair Darling was stating in the Scotsman that the Nationalists would become increasingly desperate in the weeks leading up to the referendum, he wasn’t joking, although it is probably worth expanding on the type of desperate measures that they will take to bully their way to a Yes vote.

While the more streetwise unionist may be able to read between the lines, I’d say that the upcoming referendum is far too important to dance around the edges of what needs said, so here’s my plain English interpretation of Darling’s message, with the added bonus of my own warnings from personal experience, and experiences of other unionists.

-You will be lied to. OK, many of you will say that’s nothing new, but you should take absolutely everything with a pinch of salt, and double check any assertion made by any nationalist.

-Do not assume that “cybernats” are an out of control minority of extremists that the SNP have zero connection to. While the most offensive of the apparently full time agitators are a small number, a surprising number of SNP MSPs and councillors have little or no decorum online (including John Mason and John Menzies), and the party itself does little to distance itself from agitators such as Wings over Scotland’s Stuart Campbell, or Chris Darroch.

-If you have a paid job, and are openly unionist and pro active in debate and discussion on social media, such as Facebook or Twitter, some of the more hate filled nationalists are trolling personal information, and will have no issues with threatening yourself or your family. They are contacting employers. Just last night one well known Unionist on Twitter was thrown to the wolves by a nationalist who published said unionist’s employment information, with a plea for his twitter followers to contact the employer
You will probably find that those cyber bullies either do not have obvious employment, and are either “self employed”, or are mysteriously funded. You should be very careful with your personal data across all social media and networking websites. Don’t let any bully try and force you out of employment.

-As seen in the protest against the BBC on Sunday, the bullies and agitators have moved on from unionists to neutrals or undecideds. Apparently, because the BBC has the audacity to use some English presenters on its network coverage of the Commonwealth Games, and hasn’t fully jumped in to the Yes camp it is biased. Normal people will see that the BBC is a British organisation, with hundreds of Clyde based employees at risk from an iScotland, and it’s presenters and guests on the Games showcasing Glasgow to the world in a manner we should all be proud of. So, the agitators will try and bully broadcasters to be less neutral and less likely to tell you the truth. Heaven forbid the BBC make Glasgow look welcoming and progressive. Perhaps the extremist bullies would rather the event be held in a nationalist stronghold* and broadcast by STV to 3 men and a dug.

-While you may play along with the spirit of not politicising Commonwealth events, don’t be surprised when numbers of attendees are mysteriously seen circulating around events wearing not just Yes attire, but Saltires adorned by Yes.

If you do find yourself the victim of cyberbullying, real bullying and intimidation, or vandalism, please do not suffer in silence. Shout it from the rooftops.
If you don’t know how, contact me, and I will assist.

*I would name a stronghold, but there isn’t one. The nats have a real hatred for Glasgow as it is seen as a Unionist stronghold, but cities such as Aberdeen and Edinburgh are not nationalist hotspots either. Notably, the three cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen are Scotland’s most diverse, and Scotland’s financial powerhouses.

Bill

#Glasgow2014

I never thought I would find myself writing about the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony at Celtic Park, but the spectacle last night was one of the most bizarre pieces of both “entertainment” and broadcasting I’ve ever seen.

The aerial shots of Celtic Park by an over excited BBC team, offered a stark reminder that Glasgow City Council have demolished thousands of people’s perfectly good homes over the last 20 years, bringing us to the point that they can enable a vision of a Celtic Village to become reality.

I was half expecting a commentary of “That’s where London Road School use to be, that’s where Janefield Street used to be, that’s where Rangers legend Ian Ferguson was brought up, and that’s where London Road and Springfield Road used to have tenements. They were fully renovated in the 80s, and mysteriously demolished less than a decade later”


Then I woke up, and realised that it was the BBC, so instead we got treated to a helicopter flyover with the BBC’s Chris McLaughlin, who proceeded to fly over all games venues except Ibrox, and tell watching millions that the East End of Glasgow was where millions of Irish famine refugees settled.

Chris, who spent the best part of his sports reporter role in front of Ibrox while reporting on “sectarianism”, somehow couldn’t find Ibrox, despite the helipad being approximately 10 seconds away from the south side home of Scotland’s most successful football team.

Then we had the spectacle of the baton arriving up the Clyde, to the BBC just 5 minutes from Ibrox, and mysteriously appearing at Celtic park at the other end of the city.

Make no mistake, Ibrox was never going to feature on this BBC broadcast

When the actual ceremony started, chins dropped across Scotland as we realised that BBC Scotland must surely have been involved in it too, as Z list BBC celeb Karen Dunbar proved that not only can she not act, she can’t sing either. Perhaps John Barrowman chose her to try and make him look better.

Of course, when the stick started to fly at the twee tartanfest from social media, it wasn’t the appalling Dunbar that took the brunt, but the openly unionist Barrowman. Perhaps that was just a coincidence. Just like someone forgot to put the Celtic FC lights off that kept appearing on the panoramic shots.

As Rod Stewart took to the stage, to be followed by Subo, I decided that perhaps miming isn’t so bad after all.
Rod should stick to Vegas. If they’ll have him.

With Primal Scream set to do the closing ceremony, perhaps the “big” acts all have to be Celtic supporters too.

So, with Rangers fans challenging Glasgow City council over a stunning set of questionable decisions and transactions, the organisers of the £600M games had the brass neck to ask viewers to donate to charity, from a football field being replaced at a cost of £1.8M after the games. You couldn’t make this up.

In any other country the locals would be rioting. In this country we meekly accept it and buy in to the hype. If James McAvoy isn’t ashamed to stand in Celtic Park asking us to put Children First, we should be embarrassed that no-one in this country will mention both the costs of the games, and the fact McAvoy is standing in a ground of a football club that covered up the sexual abuse of children for two decades

Then we have Alex Salmond grandstanding despite claiming the games were not to be politicised, claiming Glasgow will be Freedom City after September.
News for you Alex, we became free 324 years ago.

Straight after Salmond came Glasgow City Council’s favourite Linn Park dog walker Gordon Matheson, who did his best to sound like a Glaswegian Ned Dalek. Ed Milliband must have looked on and despaired at this performance, which included a veiled Irish Republican reference that “our day has come”.

We truly have the most vile politicians possible in Scotland.

So, with the low lights out of the way, it’s on to the highlights, with the Queen enjoying a rousing rendition of the national anthem, and the red Arrows billowing their trademark red, white and blue trails.

With the highlights out of the way, we find out today that numerous nationalists and republicans are incensed at the National Anthem getting an outing at Celtic Park, and that the Red Arrows ignored nationalist intervention to ditch the red smoke.

It is clear indeed that Scotland is at a crossroads. The vast majority of the good people of Scotland don’t deserve to have these people dictating everything in our lives.
Once the referendum is out of the way, and the Nationalists implode, it’s up to us, the majority, to ensure that this low place we find ourselves at is ground zero, and we start to change this country from the ground up.

Bill

“Spanish Banjo” Clarification

I am informed this morning I have my fifteen minutes of fame on Follow Follow, where a poster called “Spanish Banjo” has claimed that “Vanwigs campaigned against the RST and Mark Dingwall throughout Administration in the form of two blogs. William Poole and Wee Proclaimer”


Firstly, I blog for me and no one else, and I am not a member of any fans forums.
I also do not know who "The Wee Proclaimer" is.

The only fans forum I have ever applied to join was Follow Follow, and my application was refused.

You can draw your own conclusions from that.

I may blog irregularly, but I have blogged on a number of Rangers related issues, including exposes of The SFA, the SPL, “journalists” Alex Thomson and Roy Greenslade, and the SPFA.

Before today I had done 106 blog posts, and without trolling my own blog, my recollection is that I blogged about the RST’s doomed Save Rangers “scheme” once, and blogged about issues associated to the trust on one other occasion, with the other 100 or so blog posts being about general Rangers issues, and agendas against the club.

Whatever that number of RST posts may be it is miniscule, and absolutely not the raison d'etre of my blog

I have a simple philosophy, I write about issues that I believe need written about.

I gave up the blog for some time due to other committments and semi jokingly offered via my Twitter account to write for other Rangers websites. The only offer that came in was from the owner of the Copland Road blog, which I didn't refuse, but I didn't accept either.

I have never written for anyone else other than a guest blog for a unionist site.

I like having my own blog, and I like writing independently, and actually have no interest in writing for anyone else, or handing over editorial control to anyone else.

I will continue to blog irregeularly on topics that deserve to be written about.

I would prefer not to write ever about Rangers fans, which is evident in the archives of my blog.

Unfortunately, there are some in the Rangers support more interested in their own agendas than they are about the betterment of Rangers. When they put their own agenda ahead of that of the club they should be challenged.

Bill