Friday, February 8, 2019

Whether we like it or not, the constitutional destinies of Scotland and Northern Ireland are entwined

Well, with a certain degree of trepidation, I'm going to make a few comments about the recent controversy relating to my fellow iScot columnist Jason Michael McCann.  My initial gut reaction to the tweet in which he was accused of branding British soldiers in Northern Ireland as "legitimate targets" was that it seemed considerably more clear-cut than the accusation of anti-semitism made against Grouse Beater.  Whereas Grouse Beater's comment had been extremely elliptical, and his detractors were having to make heroic efforts of interpretation to see in it what they were determined to see, Jason's comment did on face value appear to say exactly what it was alleged to say.  And yet his subsequent explanation (that he was simply quoting how republican paramilitaries would view the situation, and was warning about a return to violence that he did not wish to happen) was also more compelling than Grouse Beater's, because it was crystal-clear and fully backed up by reams of evidence from his own past writings.

It seems highly likely that the penny eventually dropped with the SNP leadership that they'd interpreted Jason's tweet incorrectly, and that they decided on the grounds of expediency to just let people carry on thinking that they viewed him as a monster.  That's not surprising but it is depressing, and it fits into a familiar pattern of 'little people' on the pro-independence side being ruthlessly thrown under the bus at the first sign of trouble.  I can remember way, way back when Jeff Breslin was the leading SNP blogger, and he innocently published some gossip about postal vote returns without realising he was technically breaking the law.  After he discovered his mistake, he did everything possible to make amends and even resigned his SNP membership, but that didn't stop a party spokesperson making a gratuitously disparaging comment about him in the press.  Some reward for him practically being the SNP's one-person alternative media presence during a crucial period in Scottish political history.  I know some will argue that these decisions are just hard-headed realpolitik, but there's also a case to be made that a lack of solidarity from the top, and a treating of foot-soldiers as instantly expendable, does eventually get noticed and can prove counter-productive.

Since Jason was hung out to dry, some Yes supporters who don't approve of him have seized the opportunity to really stick the boot in, castigating him for his membership of Sinn Féin and his decision to post a photo of himself with Gerry Adams.  One relatively well-known Yesser even cited her own supposed "opposition to sectarianism" as justification for her distaste towards the Adams photo - which rather eccentrically means she must think that the way to eradicate sectarianism is by treating the leaders of Northern Ireland's nationalist population as untouchable.  In a world where the Queen has long since shaken hands with the late Martin McGuinness, that's a destructive attitude that really belongs to another era.

It's worth recalling that the elected official within the SNP who played a key role in the campaign against Grouse Beater is known for her use of the slogan "Aabudy Welcome".  Some have laughed at the bitter irony of those words, because the ideology that underpins them all too often appears to be an authoritarian one of exclusion, and of censorship, and of silencing certain undesirable groups.  But actually one thing that she and her critics would surely agree on is that Scotland's Irish community is welcome in the Yes movement.  By the broadest definition, those of Irish descent are the largest ethnic minority in this country, and indeed I belong to that minority myself.  One of the key features of the SNP's civic nationalism is that we don't impose "Tebbit Tests" on people - we allow and encourage people to retain national identities other than Scottish.  People can be comfortably Pakistani and Scottish, or Italian and Scottish, or English and Scottish.  For someone who identifies as Irish, that means it's perfectly OK to have strong views on Ireland's political future, running in parallel with equally strong views about Scotland's political future.  No amount of waffle about the Old Firm can justify a lack of respect for Jason McCann's right to hold those parallel views, or indeed to hold Sinn Féin membership while he is also involved in Scotland's Yes movement.

In any case, whether we like it or not, the future of all of us in Scotland may be bound up with Sinn Féin's current strategy.  The more the SNP hold back from a definite commitment to a quick indyref, the more likely it is that the event that eventually makes the decisive difference will be Sinn Féin succeeding with the help of the Irish government in gaining a referendum on Irish unity. By that point, the pressure on the SNP to demand an immediate Section 30 order would be irresistible, and the Tories' "now is not the time" excuse for denying one would ring hopelessly hollow.  Scotland is not making decisions in isolation - we're all stuck in this "precious union" together, and that will become increasingly apparent as the months wear on.

*  *  *

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174 comments:

  1. Good post. Jason is something of a Marmite figure, but his views were twisted by the Tory councillor to attack the SNP, who retreated rather than correct him. Worth noting that numerous Unionist troll accounts are still followed by many Unionist MPs.

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  2. Sinn Fein IRA are a genocidal outfit. Any support for their policies is akin to supporting the Third Reich. Scots should not engage with fascists.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ultra-right-wing Cordelia, the faithful imperial servant, thinks it's an anti-fascist.
      Oh how we laughed.

      Delete
    2. Nice to see Cordelia forming an anti-fascist bulwark at quarter to two in the morning. I used to think bulwarks were solid rather than liquid.

      Delete
    3. Poor Cordelia will submit itself to any degradation and humiliation in defence of the precioussss, including exposing its own hypocrisy.

      Delete
  3. Given the recent (correct) decision to allow MPs to vote by proxy, is there any chance for Sinn Fein MPs to offer their votes by proxy to SNP MPs, or others? It would certainly change the current dynamics in Parliament.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, they would still have to take their oath to the Queen initally something they will not do

      Delete
  4. I agree with the majority of what you have said James, but on this point:

    "Sinn Féin succeeding with the help of the Irish government in gaining a referendum on Irish unity"

    Sinn Fein and Irish Goverment are both helped and hindered by the GFA. If polling post Brexit shows that the majort in NI want a border poll then the British Goverment has to hold one, if it don't then they litterally can say 'now is not the time'.

    This then brings in an issue of time, you would need a couple of polls spread out over a period of time (say 6 months) to prove that one was not just a 'outliner'. This takes us to the Autumn of this year or even spring of next. Then if there is a border poll and the Scot Gov say we would like an Indy ref please, the UK Government could say sure, join the que. Don't think that you could ever have a border poll and Indy ref running at the same time, I think that the UK Government would agree (and probably win) that doing so would put them at an unfair advantage by having to split there resources and time between two campaigns. That could take any potential Indy ref to Autumn 2020, something that we can all agree is far from ideal.

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    Replies
    1. According to the UN charter, the UK Government has no role to play in either referendum, other than as facilitator.

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  5. Scottish Nat sis support the Sinn Fein IRA fascists who torture, murder and make their own go missing. Own up scum and pinpoint the mass graves.

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    Replies
    1. I don't support the IRA, but the IRA have never attacked Scotland; only British terrorists have done that.

      Could have killed family members who lived nearby at the time.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_pub_bombings

      Do you support the UVF terrorists? The UVF are actually British, while the IRA are not Scottish.

      Delete
    2. Your response is typical of those who pay lip service to fascist gangs like the IRA. You attempt to deviate and mention another bunch of mobsters. The IRA had at least two cells in Scotland who were intending to do damage but the security services caught up with them. The loyalists were all captured and jailed.

      Delete
    3. Cordelia's views are already carved in stone, like its DUP heroes'.
      It won't look at the link; it's already decided that being pro-independence is akin to fascism and terrorism, and that's that.

      Delete
    4. @Anti Fascist

      How does your comment counter my point that the IRA is Irish, not Scottish, so there's no obvious reason for Scots to support the IRA. The IRA are not fighting for an indy Scotland.

      By contrast, the UVF etc are British and fighting for Britain, so you would would expect Brits to sympathise with them more. The BBC/media did this by calling them 'loyalists' for example, rather than terrorists. Also, the UK government worked closely with these British terrorists cells; this is well documented.

      https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/britains-secret-terror-deals-truly-disturbing-bbc-panorama-allegations-of-collusion-must-be-fully-investigated-says-amnesty-international-31261593.html

      Britain's Secret Terror Deals: 'Truly disturbing' BBC Panorama allegations of collusion must be fully investigated, says Amnesty International
      'We’re not talking about a security policy we’re talking about a murder policy'

      I'm not aware of e.g. the Scottish Government or Scottish indy supporters working with the IRA like that.

      Delete
    5. One of the IRA Shankhill chippie bombers who blew himself up was Scottish. And you know the pubs in Glesga that allowed money collections.

      Delete
    6. Cordelia, there, screeching as if the Good Friday Agreement had never been signed.

      Delete
  6. I have never liked the IRA or Sinn Fein and it took a long time for me to forgive the Irish Government for its refusal to comply with extradition requests from Britain for those involved in terrorism - and I say that as someone from an Irish Catholic background. As far as I am concerned there is no excuse to take the life of another human being for a political end when there is the machinery in place for another route - ie. the ballot box. Once Gerrymandering was dealt with and one person one vote was introduced then the ballot box should have been sufficient for those wanting Irish unity. However, lets not make light of the fact that behaviour on both sides of the communities was 'not good' and that the behaviour of organisations on both sides including the UK government was not good. One man's history is another man's reason/ excuse for his actions. Irish politics like all countries can be coloured by where history begins and where it ends. One has to draw a line under the potato blight (I say blight as it was not a famine), and equally one has to draw a line under the period before Gerry Fitt. Now its time to draw a line under the period of the troubles and deal with year zero - now. If we live only in our history we become prisoners of it. Lets look to our independence movement in Scotland our Yes campaign as an example that doesn't look back but looks forward to a positive respectful future not an unfair and troublesome past.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter.

      Delete
    2. The irony of Cordelia screaming at anyone about perversion...

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  7. See absolutely nothing either wrong or undesirable about any involvement by SNP with Sinn Fein - as long as the UK Tory Govt are best pals with the DUP who definitely had, and probably STILL have, strong links to Loyalist Paramilitaries.

    And if Auld Bettie in Buckingham Palace can have tea and biccies with McGuinness, then it is perfectly fine for the Yes Movement and SNP to do the same.

    There were - and still are - murderous Scum on both sides of the divide in Ireland, but their political parties have all tried to move on and follow purely democratic lines, now.

    To isolate just ONE of those parties for special treatment is as futile as it is stupid and counterproductive.

    Having said all that.......the DUP really do appear to be remarkably backward, creationist planks.

    Sorry, couldn't resist....................

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the DUP are, historically, the political arm of the UDF terrorist group. The Tories are therefore in technical coalition with the UDF, with UDF being of course, very pro-brexit.

      Certainly, any UDF-DUP-Tory link (including through MI5) is as real and as old as the SF-IRA one.

      Delete
    2. Skier and Francis just say you are Sinn Fein PIRA supporters and cut the crap. Their victims mean f all to you....
      Actually people who are complicit with terror are targets. MI5 must have files on you.

      Delete
    3. Then that would equally apply to DUP/UDF sympathisers like you, sonny.

      Bet MI5 would have a field-day with you, pal

      Maybe they already have......................

      Delete
    4. Cordelia's file is probably in the ultra-right-wing filing cabinet...

      Delete
    5. Mr Francis I am a Labour Party member and have never heard of this UDF. Who are they?

      Delete
    6. You are about as "Labour" as Nigel Farage, pal.

      Even Labour would vomit on your views.

      Try again

      Delete
    7. Unlike yourself Farage is not a Nat si and he is certainly not Labour. And you are not Labour but simply a Tartan Tory. Farage has done a good job in getting the British out of the fascist EU. He has seen first hand this mafia criminal outfit in action. The thing is Mr Francis you know the EU is a criminal self serving bunch of mobsters yet you support it. Says a lot about your so called politics.

      Delete
    8. Farage is a lying, spineless, two-faced Slug.

      No great surprise that you are his fanboy, sonny.

      You both leave the same slime-trail behind you - the only difference is, his leads to Trump's erse whilst yours ends in Rees Moggie's litter tray.

      Delete
    9. Poor old muppet Francis throwing silly allegations as Nazis do. You are the fan of the EU fascist regime. You will stoop to any level to aid your hatred of the English. Farage was just another sensible leaver. And you silly old fud mention Trump. I think everything leads to your erse Mr Francis and you like it.

      Delete
    10. Cordelia, there, sharing entirely too much of its inner fantasy life once again.
      It needs help.

      Delete
    11. I wonder why GWC thinks liking it up the ass is a thing to be ashamed of?

      Delete
    12. Poor Cordelia has many issues.

      Delete
    13. Cordelia tweeting at night means she's been on the bottle for hours and letting her fantasies spill out into the public domain. About a week or so ago she was claiming to be a lesbian married to another woman.
      When she gets enough booze inside her, it's more like random verbal freefall than coherent thought.

      Delete
    14. Absolutely. Like the recent post where it gibbered about invoking "marital law" as a means of control in the event of no deal.

      Delete
  8. I joined the SNP to support independence but now wonder if I would be more effective if I had stayed a member of no party.

    The stresses and compromises that are inevitable for any party of government are sometimes a distraction from the main prize.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I see Corybn is offering to go into a Grand Brexit Labour-Tory Coalition with May. A English nationalist unity government.

    I'm sure this was just what Scots Remain Labour voters wanted when they voted for him in 2017.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Scots remain voters are just EU crawlers and have no national pride.

      Delete
    2. No matter how low they get, they will NEVER reach your level.

      Seen fat snakes with more ground-clearance than you.

      Delete
    3. How true.
      There is no degradation and humiliation that Cordelia wouldn't gladly accept in the name of the Preciousss...

      Delete
    4. Absolutely spot on that I don't have any pride in the UK. How could I; I'm not British in identity.

      I get that some are, but I was born Scottish and have never identified as anything else.

      This is absolutely normal. Most people only have a single national identity; that of their country.

      I don't feel ashamed of the UK either as I'm not British. I can't be ashamed of Britain because I don't identify as British. Nothing Britain has done has ever been in my name. I've voted SNP from day one.

      I am getting an Irish passport however as I'd rather folk didn't think I was British at the moment. Wasn't so bothered before, but now that brits told everyone not British to 'fuck of back to where they came from', I'd rather not hand over the leather bound picture of farage giving furriners the two fingers on landing in foreign places.

      Delete
    5. Indeed Mr Francis and you could crawl under the snakes with a top hat on your bunnet.

      Delete
    6. You had better get your paddy passport skier because if you EU crawlers do not stop your fascist nonsense you may end up stuck in your wonderful little Papist State.

      Delete
    7. Unelected English bishops making Scottish laws...

      Abortion still illegal in areas of Britain due to UK government coalition extremist religious fundamentalism...

      https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-reveals-how-her-faith-in-god-makes-her-certain-she-is-doing-the-right-thing-a7442616.html

      UK PM leading brexit claims to govern through god...

      I'll take my chances in a secular republic.

      Delete
    8. Some people are entitled to say abortion is the murder of the innocent in the womb. Your Catholic Church is against abortion Mr skier. Stop pretending you are some kind of secularist.

      Delete
    9. Cordelia neglected to mention what's made it so shrill.
      It's in love.
      Here's the lucky guy:
      https://wingsoverscotland.com/aunties-favourite/

      Delete
    10. OK GWC: At what point in development does abortion become murder?

      Delete
    11. Anonymous. But Cordelia's already married to another woman. One who voted Remain allegedly.

      Delete
    12. Poor Cordelia gets so confused about that aspect of its sorry excuse for a life. I try not to read too much into it.

      Delete
  10. I see the UK government are now talking about a border poll being an outcome of a hard brexit. Comments from various cabinet ministers to this effect being discussed on BBC R4 on the way home.

    As I've been saying for ages, a hard brexit basically guarantees reunification via a border poll under the terms of the GFA. The international community would accept nothing but a border poll in such a situation.

    Britain is legally bound to the GFA under international law on pain of sanctions, even military action.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Britain is not legally bound to the Belfast Agreement. Agreements can end moreso when a nation is being blackmailed by a neighbour who are assisted by other foreign protagonists.I look forward to leaving the EU and the ROI placing troops on our border. Perhaps the ROI will invite their fascist friends to the put troops on our border.

      Delete
    2. The Good Friday Agreement has legal status within international law as a peace treaty lodged with the United Nations.

      https://peacemaker.un.org/uk-ireland-good-friday98

      Delete
    3. The UK are not threatening the agreement however the ROI/EU alliance are. They are threatening to have a hard border. I hope they do.

      Delete
    4. The international community decides this, not the UK.

      The backstop is there as a safeguard. The fact the UK is trying to get out of the backstop is evidence it was to welch on the agreement. This makes the backstop even more crucial to the international community.

      Delete
    5. The backstop is a delaying tactic in an attempt to keep the UK in the EU. May should walk away and let the Irish/fascist EU alliance set up the hard border. The British will wave to their troops across the border just like we do in Gibralter with the Spaniards.

      Delete
    6. You propose leaving a fully open border which migrants can cross freely? What's the point of brexit of that's the case? I thought the idea was for Britain to 'control its borders'?

      Delete
    7. "I look forward to leaving the EU and the ROI placing troops on our border"

      Well, of course you look forward to it, Mr McGibbon. You'll be safely snuggled up in your bed hundreds of miles away, fantasising about the murder of your fellow Brits.

      Delete
    8. If brexiters want Britain to control its borders, leaving the only land one with the rest of the world wide open utterly defeats the point.

      Delete
    9. skier, migrants cannot freely cross this border as they should never arrive in ROI without registering in their EU point of entry according to your wonderful EU.

      Delete
    10. I'm talking about EU migrants who have free movement with Ireland. So Bulgarians, Romanians, Lithuanians... They can just walk right in to the UK if the border is open as you propose.

      Of course calais Migrants could come in via the ROI. If UK-Irish relations are not great, and the UK has opted out of EU migration pacts, then I don't see why the ROI should stress about non-EU migrants entering the UK via your open NI border.

      In the end, the UKoGB can only seriously take control of its borders if the EU border is down the Irish Sea.

      Delete
    11. I assume since the EU/ROI have stated they will set up a hard border then they will act in a responsible manner.

      Delete
    12. Poor Cordelia expects the Irish government and the EU to do what its British nationalist masters won't.

      Delete
  11. Looks like the old Caley Works in Springburn face imminent closure and work transfered to England. Trade Union Protesters were outside Glasgow Central Station today. No sign of Scottish Nat sis present in support. Protester confided in me that the Scottish Government have no interest in supporting the workers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wonder if the protester was really there.
      Cordelia may have been screaming at itself again.

      Delete
    2. I thought we were talking about the new railway through the Alps. What are all going on about? Stick to the point.

      Delete
    3. That makes no sense.

      Delete
    4. Apologies. My mistake. Wrong wet site but this looks jolly interesting.

      Delete
    5. No need to apologise. You still made more sense than poor Cordelia.

      Delete
  12. I look forward to being attacked by the so called international community. Maybe a Trident missile will deter them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cordelia loves weapons of mass destruction, of all kinds.

      Delete
    2. Does the international community bother attacking daft old lushes?

      Delete
  13. If JM's remarks require footnotes to avoid giving the impression that he's inciting violence, then unfortunately he's a liability. As independence supporters well know, most punters don't read beyond the headline.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Young James, I liked the Proddie monkeys with the orange sashes oan the twitter thing. Even the monkeys who like scatching their baws do not like it up the bum.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cordelia's love song for its new Question Time crush, everyone:
      https://youtu.be/xjDLc-8tW2I

      Delete
  15. Lest we forget exactly how far the British State will go, to silence those it doesn't like -

    "Loyalists told Charles Haughey MI5 ‘asked us to execute you’

    UVF wrote to Taoiseach saying it refused request from British intelligence officer"

    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/loyalists-told-charles-haughey-mi5-asked-us-to-execute-you-1.3339804

    The British State tried to get the UVF to Assassinate the Irish Prime Minister, just 34 years ago.

    So, they tried to do EXACTLY with Haughey, what the IRA tried to do with Thatcher.

    There are NO "good guys" any more - just different degrees of Scum.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Who are the UDF ya old muppet? Did you smile when you thought Thatcher had snuffed it?

      Delete
    2. Haughley was found not guilty of smuggling arms to the IRA. Depends on the Jury I suppose. Kind of like twelve white men on an Alabama Jury trying a white man that hung an innocent black man.

      Delete
    3. Talk about Scum - and along trots Glasgow Water Closet.

      Priceless.

      Delete
    4. Was it the Maris Brothers or the Jesuits David? You are certainly not a Trot.

      Delete
    5. Poor Cordelia will submit itself to any degradation and humiliation in defence of the precioussss, including exposing its own knuckle dragging bigotry.

      Delete
  16. James, do you think the Scottish Saltire will ever catch on at Parkheid. It looks like the Islamic fascist Palestinian flag could supercede the Irish Republican/French fascist flag.

    ReplyDelete
  17. David France, no relation to his Pope namesake must be on his second bottle of 365 lucky numbers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What does that mean in English?

      Delete
  18. Cordelia's unrequited love for Orange Jaikit Guy emboldened it before it passed out on the floor of its hovel. Its shrill screams of sectarian abuse only prove two things; it's terrified and we're winning.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm sure Cordelia is a fairly rational old lady when/if sober, but it's tragic to see lonely elderly women hitting the bottle every night and ending up gibbering like a monkey. Poor Cirdelia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We all know what you get up to with monkeys. When your not in a cream puff villa I mean.

      Delete
    2. Cordelia, there, sharing more of its bizarre lusts than should ever be discussed with anyone other than its therapist.

      Delete
  20. Scots clearly taking GWC's advice to not listen to the BBC when it comes to Scottish politics.

    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/200k-listeners-tune-out-of-radio-scotland-in-two-years-06mswhpnb?shareToken=7f3082eede26bc2109ae09d605a01dfa

    200k listeners tune out of Radio Scotland in two years

    That or they're sick of the UKIP nutter that's planted on every show.

    #lastdaysofRome

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Watch FOX or RT Alex Salmond Show for fair and balanced news.

      Delete
    2. What gets my goat on radio Scotland is the so-called experts who are rarely scottish and patronise the natives, often from a position of ignorance.
      One even admitted they 'didn't know the position in Scotland'!
      Why the hell were they on then.
      We're expected to pay a bbc license to be patronised in our own country.
      Also just heard that orange jaiket Billy is in the audience on the new BBC TV channel programme on the 2014indyref.
      Whether this is the fault of the channel or the sleekit ongauns of the British state remains to be seen.
      Disnae look good though.

      Delete
    3. Question Time allows the plebs on the audience to let them think they can make a difference but in general all they do is shout at each other. They allow Diane Abbott on because they know she will make an arse of herself and on and on it goes week after week since Robin Day.

      Delete
    4. Cordelia's unrequited love for Orange Jaikit Guy means it'll be watching Question Time every week from now on.
      Maybe, just maybe, the Imperial Broadcast System will have its beloved Yaxley-Lennon on the panel soon...

      Delete
    5. Watched it today and it was a red jacket. It is on the front page of the Nat si National paper.

      Delete
    6. Cordelia's unrequited love for screeching gammons means it'll be watching Question Time every week from now on.
      Its tastes grow ever more bizarre.

      Delete
  21. You're wrong Kelly.
    The larges ethnic minority in Scotland is the English. And growing by 50-100,000 every single year. 95% of whom will vote no each and every time until the day they die.

    We are being turned into Wales where the Welsh are a minority in their own country.

    I don't agree that everybody is welcome in my country. I don't agree with my city being destroyed to house an endlessly expanding population.
    I don't agree with my country being destroyed to feed and house and endlessly expanding population.
    I don't agree with my planet being destroyed because of the endlessly expanding population.

    We should be working to reduce our population not increase it. The biggest single cause of the disaster facing our only home and even the so-called Greens are on the wrong side.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is too close to the blood and soil nationalism Flipper tried to tar us with in Indyref1. Pack that in.

      Delete
    2. Just to point out that migration is the movement of people, not their overall numbers.

      You could have e.g. full free movement and mass migration with a falling population, obviously.

      Simply reducing the number of people in the UK and/or Scotland would do absolutely nothing to alter the global population / population growth.

      Scotland during the 1980s under Thaterism had a falling population; 1 in 10 left in search of a better life.

      Delete
    3. Closed borders are a major hinderance to reducing the global population.

      The best way to reduce birth rates and equalise these with death rates (halt population growth) is to improve living standards / improve global equality in this aspect.

      Borders are the worse thing possible for this as they seriously hinder the equalisation process, restricting the redistribution of wealth/resources, keeping some countries poor while others get richer on the back of them.

      Full free movement would ultimately even out any wealth disparity geographically. It is doing this in Europe with the Eastern European countries rapidly for example.

      Global problems require global solutions.

      Delete
  22. Had to laugh at the English ex pat living in Spain who said on Chanel 4 that he had not SLEPT for 2 years since the referendum and WAKES up in a panic not knowing what is going to happen. The Chanel 4/BBC News propaganda is something to behold.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Poor Cordelia thinks the Imperial Broadcast System is Remainer propaganda.
      It must have been sleeping off the meths every time its beloved Farage was given a free political party broadcast on Question Time.

      Delete
    2. You mean English 'migrant'?

      Mass 'uncontrolled' migration of English people to Spain has certainly been notable feature of European free movement.

      Delete
    3. Ah, but the Britnat narrative doesn't consider them immigrants.
      Immigrants are not British but foreign, and therefore bad.
      Instead, immigrants from Britland to Spain are to be labelled expats.
      Britnat exceptionalism at work again...

      Delete
    4. GWC's comment is anti-English.

      Rather than mocking English people, I feel sorry for those concerned.

      Delete
    5. Cordelia's an equal opportunities misanthrope.
      It hates everyone except the snarling gammons on the Imperial Broadcast System.

      Delete
  23. Here we go.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47170711

    Brexit: 'Very real' chance of Irish unity poll if no deal

    Several cabinet ministers have told the BBC a no-deal Brexit could lead to a vote on Irish unification.

    One senior minister said the prospect is "very real" and very much on the prime minister's mind.

    A second cabinet minister warned the government risked "sleepwalking into a border poll".

    And a third cabinet minister said there was an understanding in government that a vote on unification would be a "realistic possibility" if the UK leaves the EU without a deal next month.



    There's no other realistic option in the case of deal. It's that or England tears up the GFA and literally re-occupies the province, becoming a pariahs state internationally, with all that entails, including crippling economic sanctions.

    A border down the Irish sea would make England's brexit so much easier. A formal one a Gretna and the Tories even have comfortable majority.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Honest question:

      Who, other than RoI and UK, are signatories for enforcement of the GFA?

      (Whose teeth are on the piece of paper as enforcing it?)

      Delete
    2. Normal international law on treaties applies. Various options for enforcement, all of which are separate to the 'no deal' response.

      EU of course backs Ireland and can say no deal forever, including threatening other countries with the same if they deal with a Britain which has broken the gfa.

      Other countries of course will also not sign deals with the UK if it openly breaks such deals. The UK would need to make concessions with insurance policies to win deals. It would be economically ruinous to break the gfa.

      And the ruin would go on as long as the deal was broken. There would be no way out.

      Delete
    3. You said sometime ago that other countries could take military action against the UK. Would they invade via ROI? Leaving the EU has nothing to do with the Belfast Agreement. It was chanel 4 that used the term xpats.

      Delete
    4. It was you mocking English immigrants in Spain in an anti-English way. You are like the DUP shafting/blackmailing the English for a billion; unionism is very anti-English/Scots/Welsh/Irish.

      Military action to defend Irish (not British) people's homes, businesses and lives could be justified if England tears up the current UN peace deal and re-occupies the territory. The border must remain completely open for Irish people in N. Ireland; open to them, their families and friends, including EU citizens. This may been to be enforced militarily if the 'UKSSR' tried to put up a new barbed wire berlin/belfast wall along the border manned by its gestapo.

      N. Ireland isn't English / part of England. It's not up to England what happens to it. It's not up to Scotland or you either.

      Thankfully, it seems the UK government are acknowlegding that a N. Irish border poll (and therefore a Scottish referendum too) are very real prospects if brexit proceeds, particularly a 'hard' brexit (i.e. exiting the single market / free movement zone).

      Delete
    5. I hope the British do tear up the Belfast Agreement in retaliation for the ROI/EU threats. When we leave it will be up to the EU/ROI if they want to militarise the border. ROI is not a member of NATO so what nations in NATO would attack the UK who are the 2nd second largest funder of NATO?

      Delete
    6. Seems the British government plan is a border referendum on reunification.

      Polls have reunfication winning in the case of a hardish brexit (leaving the EEA).

      So this is all pretty academic.

      Delete
  24. Stormont would have to vote for this and ratified by Westminster. The ROI would just be kept informed. Britain can pull out of the Belfast Agreement anytime it suits them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure, but that will mean no trade deal with it's 27 neighbours and no trade deal with any country that has a deal with it's 27 neighbours. I mean Ireland could veto Australia's coming EU trade deal if Australia tries to deal with the UK.]

      Then we get to the WTO. Members can cause all sorts of problems for the UK here if the EU applies pressure on them.

      I think you need to understand that Eire is a trade block with 10x the population of the UK. That's the massive clout you get by being in a gang.

      UK by contrast is going to be a lonely little fish in a really big shark infested pond.

      Why not just respect the GFA and the will of the people of N. Ireland eh. It doesn't belong to you.

      Delete
    2. The Belfast Agreement was a treaty between the ROI and the UK. It has no significance in the UK EU brexit. It is a false excuse to keep the UK in the EU. Britain can play the same game and demand the ROI leaves the EU if it wants to keep the BA.

      Delete
    3. Poor Cordelia thinks the Empah can still bark orders at Johnny Foreigner and get away with it.

      Delete
  25. The northern Irish problem and the Scottish iref2 problem are 100% the fault of brexiters.

    They failed to persuade these two of the merits of brexit. As a result, the polls show Scots support indy if brexit goes ahead and the N Irish will likely opt for reunification.

    If the brexiters hadn't been total flops in Scotland + N. Ireland, their UK would look pretty secure.

    But they never take responsibility for anything do they, including international peace deals they signed up to.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Flirty Kittycut the Whimpley LadyFebruary 10, 2019 at 8:20 AM

      Dolly cabbage.

      Delete
    2. Poor Cordelia, doing random word association because it's still hammered from last night's turps.

      Delete
  26. More on the 'brexit bonus'.

    https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-netherlands-brexit/dutch-government-says-in-talks-with-250-companies-about-brexit-move-idUKKCN1PY06U

    Dutch government says in talks with 250 companies about Brexit move

    AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Dutch government said on Saturday it was in talks with 250 companies about moving operations to the Netherlands from Britain ahead of Britain’s exit from the European Union, scheduled for March 29.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All the more reason to leave. This is the EU bully boy tactics. The UK should ensure there is no asset stripping if they leave. Their bank accounts should be frozen and nationalisation considered if practible. If the EU want to do a Cuba on us then so be it. This war was expected.

      Delete
    2. I've been in Tenerife and I know how foreigners operate. Don't do it. It will end in disaster. Nobody's listening to me. I've been in Tenerife and I could tell your stories than would make your teeth turn blue. Tenerife. I"be been in bloody Tenerife.

      Delete
    3. "But I've never been to me."

      Delete
  27. There can only be one David Francis and no doubt it is he who is commenting in the Herald today. He should listen carefully to what Hyslop said about leaving the EU and the response from Mitchell. She made her own trap by speaking crap from her trap. At least you did not do your bigot routine Mr Francis and the guy did not wear an orange tap although he did do so on a previous occasion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Poor Cordelia doesn't like it when its crushes are mocked.

      Delete
  28. Any cunt invoking adolf hitler in order to highlight local political shite from the labour party is getting a bit carried away. get a gwip?

    ReplyDelete
  29. The UK breaking an international peace deal could alone earn Yes 5-10%, and that's before the economic ramifications of such a pariah state move hit the country.

    If your government is willing to make such moves, it means you absolutely can't trust them to maintain peace and democracy domestically. Breaking peace deals means they are moving to fascism.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's what pandering to the Dreary Heil and Daily Diana has brought us to.
      And after no deal, when food is short and people start to die from medicine shortages, it'll still be Johnny Foreigner's fault.

      Delete
    2. The Jocks will start dyin aff first due to their strange diet on deep fried Mars bars, smoking and large intake of alcohol.

      Delete
    3. What terrifies you skier is the ROI setting up the customs points on orders from the fascist EU. The baw will be in their court. The British will not break any agreements.

      Delete
    4. Poor Cordelia thinks that perfidious Albion won't break any agreements.
      Really doesn't have a clue, does it?
      Poor dear.

      Delete
    5. The British Gov will not break the Belfast Agreement. Sinn Fein IRA have and are breaking the agreement by causing the suspension of Stormont for no reason other than fundamentalist sectarian bigotry. All Britain needs now is the ROI to set up border posts and the agreement is finished.

      Delete
    6. Poor Cordelia and its DUP-style rages.
      So angry and confused.
      So very funny.

      Delete
    7. The good thing about your nonsense is that you are a loser and thick as Irish shite in a thunderbox on a building site that had not been emptied during the Glesga Fair.

      Delete
    8. I think Cordelia's hoping for a big of girl on girl action with herself and Jolly Arlene.

      Delete
    9. Cordelia's dark money fantasy life...

      Delete
  30. So looks like there will be admendment this week to make sure May does not try her trick of putting off the vote again.

    So another vote end of Feb on May's deal which will fail, but this time Labour will prob table the amendment that they pulled at the last vote instructing the Goverment to negociate for a 'soft Brexit' if Mays deal does not pass.

    This will of course require an extension real question is for how long. This will deapend on how long the UK/EU can kick the can down the road. Certainly going to be past the EU elections. Both Junker and Tusk terms end by November of this year, so you would assume they would want Brexit done and dusted before then.

    What does this mean for a Second Indy Ref? Nothing suggests that the SNP's position has changed until it is clear what happens with Brexit is know the trigger will not be pulled.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Comparisons are particularly interesting when it comes to the timing of referenda. British legislation currently states that a referendum on Irish unity may not be held more often than once every seven years. The next time that a Unionist says that 2014 was a "once in a generation" vote, we should remind them of what the British Government has said with regard to Northern Ireland.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I dont understand why there continues to be an argument amongst members of the Yes movement over holding an Indyref2 when we are in such a deep political hole dug by Theresa May. Why are we concerned with timing, whether or not to request a Section 30 order, an independence mandate in an election, wait until there is a steady support of 60pc in the polls before holding another independence referendum. It's mad. Why would anyone fear the outcome of any vote put to the Scottish people? Is it fear of a Quebec 2? Is it unconsciously buying into the narrative set by others over the 'rules' of how and when it is acceptable to hold another independence referendum?

    The last independence referendum was stated to be a once in a generation opportunity – No voters constantly remind us that promises were made. We counter with the 'material change' argument in that we are now leaving the EU in spite of the wishes of the majority of the people of Scotland – Yes voters remember that promises were made. It is obvious that the SNP are waiting to see what will happen with regard to Brexit before holding an Indyref2 - or indeed not. But perhaps within the conflicting reality in which we now find ourselves an answer is materialising that can solve many of the conflicting views of those on the Yes side whilst not breaching the promises made to those on the No side. Maybe a Scotland only People's Vote can square the circle.

    A question such as "Do you agree that Scotland should remain as a member of the European Union even if that means leaving the United Kingdom?" might move the agenda forward without having to hold an Indyref2. The question would be about the EU not independence. It would provide a way for the SNP to address the material change head on. It would be difficult for those who want a People's Vote at Westminster to argue against such a vote. In the event of a Yes vote Scotland could argue its case - perhaps even remaining as the UK whilst England removes herself from the UK. In the event of a No vote it would allow any future SNP administration to refer only to the 2014 referendum as an independence referendum. Importantly, such a vote would allow Scotland a say in its future and would provide those voters involved in the 'voting churn' (eg. voted Yes to an independent Scotland and voted leave with regards to the EU) to make a decision over their preference for EU membership or continuity of Scotland's position in the United Kingdom.

    My own position is that Scotland should be able to press its case for independence at any time or in any way it wants. In the same way that any party presents its politics and policies to the electorate every day and particularly at election time. Independence as a political ideal is no different to any other whether socialist, capitalist, green or other. Lets not be afraid of our own convictions. But in the meantime in the absence of an Indyref2 what about a Scottish People's vote.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I think a corbyn-may Labour-tory English nationalist government of unity brexit deal is the only way forward

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nah the British will leave and let the ROI EU grovellers set up the border posts and break the Belfast Agreement. Gerry Adams can declare war on Britain (again) and lose again. The Irish Republicans/Nationalist in NI can move to the ROI and collect their benefits courtesy of the EU.

      Delete
    2. Corbyn backs reunification; labour & left always have. But then you are a right wing Britnat-sis 'Tartan Tory', hence holding the opposite view.

      https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-ireland-reunification-north-border-belfast-visit-labour-good-friday-agreement-a8366211.html

      Delete
    3. Wrong skier you must be young. Only the looney left who thought Sinn Fein fascist IRA were socialists supported them. Most of them woke up when Sinn Fein started slaughtering working class people. Corbyn is another thing and his time will pass.

      Delete
    4. The 'right' of Labour signed the GFA.

      Support for the peace process, the GFA and reunification spans the whole party.

      Unlike you, the left / Labour are also pro-devolution.

      It is the hard right wing conservatives who are against the peace process because it brings peace between the workers / creates cross community solidarity. No leftie could support dividing the workers in the way the belfast walls do.

      Delete
    5. Well if the Shankhill chippie bombers had stayed at home then the Protestants in the UK could be excused for thinking Catholic Post Reformation genocidal maniacs had gone away as Gerry Adams would say.

      Delete
    6. Snivelling sectarian halfwit, that's our Cordelia.

      Delete
  34. Just returning for a moment to my post about the Scotland only People's Vote in contrast to a 'Corbyn-May Labour-Tory English nationalist government of unity' I feel the Scotland only People's Vote would be better as the Scottish Government control it as a legitimate way to discern the Scottish people's views in the absence of any action to do so by the UK government. A 'Corbyn-May Labour-Tory English nationalist government of unity' might not happen and leaves the future of Scotland in the hands of the Westminster sphere.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I reckon you were tossing the future of Scotland away in a Glesga public toilet when you wrote that.

      Delete
    2. Cordelia would know more about, in explicit detail, than any of us...

      Delete
  35. skier, just watching a programme about the 55k tramline along the Belgium coastline mainly for tourists. The Scottish Nat sis who are in the pocket of the bus lobby could not complete the Glasgow Airport Rail Line. Sad that the dinosaurs are extinct just to be replaced by the Scottish National Party.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Thanks for your comment GWC but your witty, pithy comment doesn't change facts. What's wrong with people having a say on whether we stay in the fascist EU or stay cowed as lackeys to maintain the wealth and power of the vested interests of our betters in the UK as you would like us to do? If we chose the latter then so be it - I don't fear it - why do you?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We had our say in a referendum. You must be the EU Irish, Jock Nat si watch keeper. Get some kip son. Dinnae worry when we leave you can still remain being a prick it is nothing to be ashamed of.

      Delete
    2. OK I agree you are sad and should be.

      Delete
    3. As opposed, of course, to Cordelia's drunken rage.

      Delete
  37. A certain Scottish Nat si newspaper rag is focusing on this proddy flute blawer Billy Mitchell. Is this newspaper rag a Papist promoting Nat si rag? Or a progressive Nat si rag?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers, Cordelia. Glad to see you're still living it up. Go on, treat yourself. Open that last bottle of Kwiksave sherry. Toodle pip, old girl.

      Delete
    2. It does love Flute Band Boy very much, doesn't it?

      Delete
  38. Ooooh Gemima runs the Scottish Gay Railways in Springburn due for closure.
    Well just sack the workers say the Scottish National Party we have tae just kep our anti English hatred at the forefront. Fuck the workers and the English.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, you've opened the sherry, Cordelia. Pints, is it? Cheers!

      Delete
    2. A wee Walls a Derry Sherry goes doon well when toasting the Queen. Cordelia is standing by to do her duty. Knees trembling in anticipation.

      Delete
    3. The queen's a bit old to give you a knee trembler Cordelia.

      Delete
  39. Can anybody explain why Tickell.A insists that The Treaty of Union 1707 has no legal status whatsoever, despite being the only basis for english rule over Scotland?

    He doesn't have any similar issues with Gibraltar, where the Treatu of Utrecht 1713 is apparently Holy Writ and still legally enforceable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laramie Lol far LarkieFebruary 11, 2019 at 7:44 AM

      A spoonful a sugar helps a medicine go down.

      Delete
  40. Another thing. N Lovatt and co are frotting at the mouth over the proof that Scotland is subsidising england. And always has done.

    Somebody who hasn't been blocked remind him that the english treasury is responsible for paying every single penny of current pensions, and every penny owed to people up to the day of independence. Scotland is only responsible for paying the share due after that glorious day.

    That sum can safely be removed from their beloved fiscal transfer and rammed sideways. Same as the debt interest.

    In case anybody doesn't trust the Good Reverend (despite the figures coming from Mr Wendy Alexander, a notorious yoon quisling) then we shall not forget that a certain A Salmond forced similar figures from the treasury.
    Back in 1997 W Waldegrave as treasury secretary admitted to Scotland having had a budget surplus of £27,000,000,000 over the previous 18 years.
    That is on their own crooked figures, not including our real share of oil, whisky, corporation tax, vat and the rest. Yet in every one of those years, and the 21 since then, we have been charged up to £4,000,000,000 in debt interest by england for england's debt which england ran up while we were pouring money down their throats.

    Scotland has no deficit and we have no share of england's debt. An inconvenient truth which the yoons have to keep buried, and which too many cringers deny.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely right, and indeed there's a strong case for reparation to be paid to Scotland after independence to ensure a smooth transition.
      That after all is why the UK pays overseas aid to former colonies. An admission of British guilt for centuries of theft on a grand scale.
      Think of all the capital sloshing around in the rich white countries, which is the result of Spanish, French and British exploitation of native lands and peoples.
      We owe the third world big time.
      Brexit may yet make England wake up to reality.

      Delete
  41. The proof of the pudding is if England was pouring funds over the border as they would have us believe they would offload us in the blink of an eye to facilitate Brexit.
    Most of the UK natural resources are North of the border.
    They're desperate to hang onto us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. England is pouring funds over the border! Look:

      https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-investment/brexit-referendum-spurs-british-companies-into-investing-in-eu-research-idUKKCN1Q003D

      Brexit referendum spurs British companies into investing in EU - research

      LONDON (Reuters) - The 2016 Brexit vote spurred British companies into increasing investment in European Union countries sharply, likely at the expense of spending at home, an academic study showed on Monday.

      Delete
  42. I remember 2012, that was the year of the 'double dip' which saw No start to fall from it's 70%+ peak.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47196387

    UK economic growth slowest since 2012

    Unionists need a major economic boom lasting for years to come if they are to have any confidence in winning #iref2.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seems the economy actually began to contract as of December 2018.

      We'll need to wait for Jan/Feb figures to see it it's an official contraction (quarter of contraction).

      Delete
    2. That is the thing about capitalism skier you get boom an bust. I suppose the Nat sis can manage it better.

      Delete
    3. Poor Cordelia thinks it understands capitalism.
      Oh how we laughed as it counted by banging its empty little head on the table.

      Delete
    4. The crash would not have happened in Scotland if she had been independent under the leadership of Alec Salmond ably helped by his pal Fred the Shred.

      Delete
    5. Cordelia once again confuses the economics of transnational corporations with alternate history.
      It really should stop drinking all day.

      Delete
    6. That was a mouthfull of jobby Anon. Your little imaginary friend at the bottom of the garden called Cordelia does not exist.

      Delete