Saturday, December 5, 2015

The STV political correspondent who thinks that "Scottish nationalists need not concern themselves with the troubles of foreigners"

There can be little doubt that STV are delighted to have Stephen Daisley as an online correspondent, and in some ways that's perfectly understandable.  Few would deny that he's a finer prose stylist than most journalists twice his age.  His opinion pieces are so provocative that they function brilliantly as clickbait, driving lots of juicy traffic to the STV website.  No broadcasting regulations on impartiality are being breached, because (to the best of my knowledge) the regulations don't apply to websites.

And yet, and yet.  There comes a point where some of the things said by Daisley are so totally bloody outrageous that they must start to affect his employer's reputation for balance and fairness, particularly given that his political commentary is not clearly separated out from the "news" section of the STV website, and is labelled as "analysis" rather than "opinion".  ("Analysis" is the word the BBC website uses for commentary by the likes of Laura Kuenssberg, so the reader's expectation is that insight will be offered in a politically neutral way.)  Visitors to the STV website could be forgiven for thinking that this is a broadcaster with an official editorial view that the man elected as Labour leader only three months ago should be deposed as soon as possible by an elitist coup, that extra-judicial killings are commendable and should be carried out more often, that torture is a good thing as long as it's branded as enhanced interrogation, that Israel has the right to claim sovereignty over land seized by brute force, that Scottish nationalists don't care about foreigners, and that the way "internationalist socialists" should show they care about foreigners is by dropping bombs on them.  Even a small-print disclaimer at the bottom of each article that "this is a personal view and does not necessarily reflect the views of Scottish Television" would, I suspect, be a great comfort to concerned and often offended STV viewers who simply don't share Mr Daisley's simplistic "centre-right, Zionist" worldview (that's his own description), with its good guys who you must only ever speak of with "songful joy" in your heart (Blair), and bad guys who you must torture and kill (or at the very least expel from the Labour party). In fact, the most accurate disclaimer would be "please note that this article forms part of an extended audition for Fox News".

The 2% of the Scottish population who are card-carrying members of the SNP, and indeed the 50% of the Scottish electorate that voted SNP in May, have a particular right to feel deeply hurt at Daisley's suggestion in his latest article (his maddest to date) that "Scottish Nationalists need not concern themselves with the troubles of foreigners". In true Hothersallite fashion, he contrasts our insularity with the much-vaunted "internationalism" of Labour. But just hang on a minute here. Which party was it that put its total faith in the international system and the United Nations to certify Iraq as free of weapons of mass destruction in 2003? And which party was it that turned its back on both the international system and international law to invade that long-suffering country in pursuit of weapons that didn't even exist?

It shouldn't be any surprise to anyone that the SNP have proved time and again to be the true internationalists. They were co-founded by R. B. Cunninghame Graham, Britain's first socialist member of parliament, and a man who shrewdly noted that nationalism (by which he meant civic nationalism) was a necessary prerequisite for internationalism. To be fair, there are plenty of people within Labour who share the SNP's vision of genuine internationalism rooted in democracy and the rule of law, but they're not to be found in what you might call the "Ernest Bevin tendency", which Daisley zealously professes to be the one true faith. Bevin's idea of internationalism was nuclear blackmail by the strong against the weak, the neo-colonial system of veto-wielding powers on the Security Council, and industrial-scale violation of the sovereignty of others when it suited our own selfish interests.

By the way, the funniest line in Daisley's new article is this -

"When I talk to sensible Labour people, they despair but assure me things will be better when Corbyn is replaced by Dan Jarvis or Yvette Cooper or Chuka Umunna. I don’t have the heart to tell them they’re wrong."

I'm sure Labour right-wingers are suitably grateful for the kindness of an omniscient 29-year-old journalist who has elected to spare them the burden of too much knowledge.

52 comments:

  1. I no longer take that click bait and suggest the same to others. This is the only response that will get STV's attention.

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  2. You can find his old CV here.
    http://stephenjdaisley.wix.com/test

    Obvious to where loyalties lie.:

    Press Officer Annabel Goldie MSP Sept 2009April 2011
    Media adviser, Annabel Goldie campaign , April- May 2011
    Media monitoring, Conservative Party, 6 April - 6 May 2010
    Election night media liaison, Conservative Party, 6 May 2010

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    1. Glasgow Working ClassDecember 5, 2015 at 8:09 PM

      Oh Aye on his case are you! Personally I have never heard of him but you Nats do delve. No chance of him working in Scotland if independent. The witch hunt already being prepared.
      And James who are the Labour right wingers you refer to. Let us face it the SNP are doing what the Tories did in the past. Frozen council and allowed cuts in services. Refusing to tax the rich. Retaining Tory transport policy..
      Geeze a break James with the right wing crap. Private landlords are milking the cow in Scotland with ridiculous rents and the SNP have powers over housing.
      You cannot fool an old fool James I have been around too long.

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    2. If you know this blog, you'll know Daisley's on STV. Come off it. :)

      A lot of his writing is actually good, he's a good writer. Just went a bit off with the Corbyn stuff as of late.

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    3. I think you will find that the SNP have a delicate balancing act, they have to govern for all the people in Scotland. Middle Class but with an particular thought for the working class and those who are disabled, unemployed and poor. I doubt Scottish Labour have the answers as there is a dearth of talent there at present. Scottish Labour demand X,Y and Z which is easy when you are not in Government and balancing a reducing Block Grant.

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    4. Never let your ignorance of the facts hold you back from parading the fact of your ignorance in public eh, Glasgow Working Class?

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    5. Glasgow Working ClassDecember 5, 2015 at 9:00 PM

      Graham & Unknown. I have heard of Daisley from this blog but have never read anything he has written. The point I am making is there is no point in slaggin the Tories if you apply their traditional poicies. And of course a government has to look after all especially the elderly and disabled. The Lab/Lab did introduce care for the elderly. And I do agree Labour need a character! but not the kind of spin given to Sturgeon. Dont worry and everthing will be alright during the referendum debate was a loser for the Nats. Substance, fact and truth and is required.

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    6. Eat your cereal.

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  3. Stv the std of Scottish television.m

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  4. He's dropped all pretence of serious insight and seems content mewling at the feet of Mccolm, Deerin and Massie now. It's a shame as he genuinely nurtured debate pre-referendum and managed better at keeping one foot in each camp than anyone else I can think of. He would poke fun at the more ranty pro-indies but didn't have the brass-neck not to call out the absurdity of much of the unionist drivel.
    He's now just trolling in a bid to join the pack of *established* SMSM lovies.

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  5. He's dropped all pretence of serious insight and seems content mewling at the feet of Mccolm, Deerin and Massie now. It's a shame as he genuinely nurtured debate pre-referendum and managed better at keeping one foot in each camp than anyone else I can think of. He would poke fun at the more ranty pro-indies but didn't have the brass-neck not to call out the absurdity of much of the unionist drivel.
    He's now just trolling in a bid to join the pack of *established* SMSM lovies.

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  6. Followed him on twitter for a while but got twitchy with some stuff as wasnt sure how serious he was. As someone who is part jewish i get particularly sensitive to those who are known 'christians' banging the drum for zionism as if they are conscious that they wont be the ones above the parapet when their action leads to reaction. For a while I thought he was actually jim murphy's twitter alter ego.

    As for jim/stephen's attitude to 'nationalists' i get the feeling there's too much emotion for it to be purely political disagreement but rather something deep rooted from childhood and/or identity. Both seem personally threatened.

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    1. Glasgow Working ClassDecember 5, 2015 at 10:24 PM

      Jew and Zionism being mentioned, strange! What is part Jewish?

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    2. Dont mean to be rude but is that a serious question. Was tweeting a guy today who's part scottish, and yesterday a guy who was half ukrainian.

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    3. Ah. I guess if u view jewish just as religion then your question makes sense. In that sense, i'm not really anything.

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    4. Glasgow Working ClassDecember 6, 2015 at 12:24 AM

      Hey Neil, It is the nookie and sperm. No boudaries. Yer maw draps the wean wherever she happens tae be under the circumstances. It could have been a sailor visiting. Get real Neil.

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    5. Eat your cereal.

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  7. James,

    You don't exactly miss, do you?

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  8. When his blog was on Wings I always thought it strange it wasn't in the Zany Comedy Relief section along with that other well-known comedian,Councillor Terry Kelly

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  9. GWC. You were funnier when you weren't on the wagon. Cold turkey makes you whine.

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  10. Glasgow Working ClassDecember 5, 2015 at 11:07 PM

    Strange comment November are you avoiding something. Must surely be my last comment. You know Jews and Zionism!

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  11. When "Daisley Mail" was listed on Wings, I always left it for last. I bet myself every time that he would have "peaked" in the "Zoomery stakes", but he constantly surprised me. He is definitely up there with Allan Massie - in fact, I would suggest that his moon howlings are superior to Massie's. Brilliant writer whose logic makes a corkscrew look like a straight edge.

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    1. Glasgow Working ClassDecember 5, 2015 at 11:19 PM

      That comment must make sense tae you. Mibbie.

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    2. Eat your cereal.

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  12. Daisley is making a name for himself as Scotland's very own arch-zionist.

    He masks his more controversial viewpoints with humour, but they are still there and I agree it is starting to reflect badly on STV.

    I think he sees himself more as an 'opinion former' rather than a political commentator.

    There is a joke on his twitter handle about being on the payroll of mossad, which is rather amusing when Israel actually has an official 'Hasbara' program of paid propaganda.

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/08/14/israel-students-social-media/2651715/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_diplomacy_(Israel)

    It seems like every opinion from STV's Daisley is first put to the question:
    "What would Israel want?"
    Or more precisely, "What would Netanyahu want?"

    Corbyn is a hate figure to him because of his past support for the Palestinians more than anything else.

    And in the case of Syria, I suspect a permanently destabilised, bombed out and carved-up Syria is just fine, especially when it comes to Israel getting away with extracting oil in the occupied Golan Heights.

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    1. Glasgow Working ClassDecember 6, 2015 at 1:06 AM

      It has not evaded me that when going into Glesga oan a Seturday that the Palestinian supporters wear SNP badges.
      I spoke to one yesterday who had a CND badge cluttering her lapel. I mentioned if she was aware that Hamas insisted women had to cover their faces. The reply was after a long pause is who is Hamas. But you have to be considerate to young people. They have to find their way. Unfortunately fundamentalists get to them!






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    2. Eat your cereal.

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  13. Glasgow Working ClassDecember 6, 2015 at 12:06 AM

    Here we have it fron Anon the little hard working Jewish community being an issue. Not that many Jews left in Scotland that fled Adolf and still having tae keep their heids doon and get on with life. Ach well Anon nae point in any mair discussion is there! How dis yer Lederhosen fit, tight is it. You should wear it round yer waist not yer heid,

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  14. Of the 24 comments above so far, 14 are by the troll or are in response to the troll. He is destroying the flow here.

    http://scotland.stv.tv/302163-social-media-prosecution-guidelines-set-out-by-lord-advocate/

    Any legal experts in the readership out there? Is what gwc does not akin to stalking? I don't read any of the posts but from replies suspect antisemtism - which is a hate crime - would also apply in his case.

    I would be happy to contribute to the crowdsource appeal to fund seeking an injunction against him/her/it posting.

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    1. I long since gave up any attempt to engage with the troll. Being called a Nazi (and I am well aware of the troll's attachment to semantics in this) grew wearying. Now, I merely remind the troll about cereal.

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    2. Probably not anti-semitic. Just on the wind up. I didnt notice to start with so i wasnt helping. Apologies. Dont feed

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  15. Glasgow Working ClassDecember 6, 2015 at 12:27 PM

    Serial is your kop out. Avoiding the issue. You go temporarily braindead. Are you the mug that always seems to mention Jews and Zionist on another blog!

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  16. Daisley is a strange combination of pragnatism and convictions, but I think it's fairly simple to explain.

    During the referendum campaign I had no idea of his background or previous work and simply took his STV column at face value. I loved it. Barbed, but apparently without malice, and springing from a genuine knowledge of what both campaigns were doing on social media. It was often hilarious, providing a much-needed belly-laugh after a hard day's campaigning.

    His apparent relationship with Stuart Campbell was also a point in his favour. The two sparred like old friends and I got the impression Stuart actually knew him and knew what sort of a person he was. (Whatever Stuart's faults, two-facedness isn't one of them, and he doesn't seem to be able to help wearing his heart on his sleeve. One tends to imagine people he's friendly with are similar.) All in all Daisley came over as someone sympathetic to Yes and possibly to the SNP. There were passages which hinted fairly strongly at a Yes, vote, and maybe even an SNP vote.

    It seems all to have been a sham. I asked Stuart where the bantering relationship had arisen and he said he didn't really know. I think Daisley engaged him on Twitter and Stuart responded in the same spirit and tone. The Daisley Mail columns at the time certainly seemed designed to cultivate the good opinions of Yessers, and being on good terms with Wings would have been a good place to be post-Yes.

    Now look. I unfollowed him on Twitter some time ago. I moaned to Stuart that the Wings twitter account kept throwing him into my timeline and I was fed up with it. But that's stopped too. I haven't seen a "YOUR FACE" for months, and the other day I saw Stuart tweet that "we don't speak any more".

    I think the ultra-Zionist right-wing fervour has to be the real guy. But 18 months ago I'd scarcely have believed any of that if you'd told me. I think he's just a consummate opportunist. I think he saw a real possibility that Yes would win last year, and was positioning himself from a journalistic perspective to be on the "good side" of the winning side. Given the virulent, vitriolic anti-Yes writings of so many mainstream journalists he could have been sitting pretty with regard to career opportunities as Scotland moved towards independence.

    But that didn't work out. Yes lost. So he's reverted to type and is allowing his true convictions to show. I don't know why Fox News would want a journalist from Scotland, haven't they got plenty ultra-Zionist right-wingers of their own? But he'd fit right in.

    I'd hate to have thought that a snake in the grass like that might have positioned himself to prosper after independence by pure posturing. But he might have pulled it off. He's actually very dangerous, because his undoubted writing skills allow him to put on a mask of someone he isn't, and it's absolutely believable.

    Hell mend him, basically.

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    1. Glasgow Working ClassDecember 6, 2015 at 8:42 PM

      I assume you have a dislike for Zionists.

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    2. Eat your cereal.

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    3. Glasgow Working ClassDecember 7, 2015 at 5:04 PM

      I forgot tae put a question mark at the end. Maybe you can give a concise answer.

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    4. Eat your cereal.

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  17. UK poll support for air strikes is totally tanking.

    Big crash before the vote:

    https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/12/02/analysis-sharp-fall-support-air-strikes-syria/

    Latest figures just days later show the trend continuing:
    44(-4)% Approve
    36(+5)% Disapprove

    That's an epic crash going on in approval.

    Scotland (subsample) disapproves:
    39% Approve
    45% Disprove

    Labour voters:
    29% Approve
    51% Disapprove

    As usual, SNP in tune with the electorate, Lab, Con and Lib not.

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    1. Glasgow Working ClassDecember 6, 2015 at 8:38 PM

      Just shows Scots are as thick as mince.


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    2. Eat your cereal.

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  18. I've never read Daisley. Never will.

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  19. The People Versus Carmichael needs our help. Please give what you can.

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  20. Why only Daisy with his opinion on there? Oh sorry, I mean analysis. Daisy's stuff is like something I'd find on CrapX - not from a national broadcaster. His opinion means nothing. It's masquerading as news / STV's own stance. Which it isn't.

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    1. Glasgow Working ClassDecember 7, 2015 at 9:09 PM

      You seem tae be obcessed with Daisy. Just eat yer crisps and read the Scottish Sun. Ye never did answer my question aboot Zionists. Ur ye feart tae expose yerself as an anti semite?

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    2. Eat your cereal

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    3. Glasgow Working ClassDecember 7, 2015 at 9:26 PM

      Ye could hiv said naw but didnae. So you have answered.

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    4. Eat your cereal.

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  21. From my experience, a fair chunk of SNP activists (as opposed to supporters) use internationalism as a stick to beat the UK with rather than for its own sake. The euro is a classic example: it was supported by the SNP as a way to emphasise the party's international credentials, but when it became politically toxic to support euro membership the policy was abandoned. If the SNP actually believed in the euro in the first place they would have maintained a commitment to it, as many other parties across Europe do, even if it proved unpopular. Instead it was embraced to try and boost their popularity, not because of a coherent pro-European/internationalist ideology, and promptly dropped at the first sign of trouble.

    Which is ultimately how you could describe most of the SNP's platform - a populist agenda built around securing the temporary levels of support required to achieve what they really care about (independence). That's the key difference with RISE, which is a policy oriented movement that happens to support independence. Whereas the SNP are intent on shutting down every discussion about policy on the grounds that it's a distraction from the end goal of independence (a convenient line if you're a party in government given it essentially makes you immune from criticism); RISE is based on the same concept as Podemos - circles of local activists producing policies from the bottom up.

    That's where genuine internationalism comes from and it's something neither the SNP nor Labour can offer.

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    1. Glasgow Working ClassDecember 8, 2015 at 11:00 PM

      The problem is is that most people have to go out and work for a living get tired go home and some have children to look after. The SNP have jumped into the vavumn and offered the World to people and some have swallowed their crap and lies.This SNP need to be exposed and the opposition seem incapable of doing so but it has to be done.

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