Sunday, November 29, 2020

It's hard to defend the BBC on a day like today

The BBC always innocently claim to be scrupulously impartial on the Scottish political debate and independence in particular, but they really do make it hard for themselves to hold that line when they attempt stunts like the one we've seen today.  An article on the BBC news website is titled "Sturgeon defends handling of the pandemic", framing her from the start as being on the back foot and having something to defend.  The opening paragraph states that Scotland's death rate is higher than England's - but then we discover that what is being referred to is not the overall duration of the pandemic (which has of course seen a much worse outcome in England than in Scotland), but "the week to 15 November", in which the per capita death toll was slightly higher in Scotland.  Such figures are scarcely surprising, given that England went into a nationwide lockdown when Scotland did not - which was made possible by the fact that Scotland has had the virus under better control in preceding months.  And we know from past experience that the BBC would have been the first to hammer Nicola Sturgeon if she had imposed extra restrictions any earlier than she did.

The rather pathetic impression is given of a state broadcaster just eagerly waiting for months until the first opportunity came along to claim on a thin technical basis that Scotland is performing worse than England, and then pouncing in a less than subtle manner.

58 comments:

  1. No surprise - the BBC don't always tell the truth.

    No surprise - the BBC pump out anti Scotland propaganda.

    No surprise - the BBC are against Scottish independence.

    No surprise - the BBC have no known independence supporting journalists.

    No surprise - the BBC only spend a reduced percentage of the money raised in Scotland in Scotland.

    No surprise - the BBC are Britnat scumbags.

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  2. A surprise - the Scotgov give millions of money to the MSM that pumps out anti independence propaganda and not a penny to any independence supporting media organisations.

    No doubt the Skier who thinks he is a demon Unionist hunter will be along to call me a Unionist ( so so out of date and 2014). They ain't unionists they are British Nationalists who see Britain as a unitary state and not a Union. They are colonialists not unionists. Know the Britnats by their actions not how they describe themselves.

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    1. Yes, the Scottish government funds the MSM. They've fooled everyone, apart from those who fund anti-indy party English political blogs that didn't oppose brexit.

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    2. "Yes the Scottish Government funds the MSM" - that's a fact - the question is why do they give media that is owned by billionaires and is anti independence public money.

      Any SNP members want to explain why? Any SNP members bold enough to ask their leadership?

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    3. Any reason why you spend all your time attacking the Scottish SNP but not the UK/British Tories?

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    4. Skier like the Britnats is a stranger to the truth.

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  3. Unionism is revolting. I've said plenty of times that it's unionists that make the comparison. Whether it's unemployment, NHS waiting times, covid cases... it's unionism that constantly compares.

    It's why if you go on the Scottish government site, there are just the covid numbers for Scotland. There is no mention of numbers for the rUK and certainly no in depth comparison to try and show who is doing best. If you want a competition on death numbers, visit the BBC.

    Of course if you go to the UK government site, they are reporting that deaths in the rUK over the course of the pandemic were 30% higher per capita than Scotland. 10% higher in wave 2 so far, and that's with full lockdown in England. Pretty miraculous for 'one of the least powerful national parliaments in the world', aka a UK regional 'parish council'.

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    1. "It's only revolting Unionists who want to compare death numbers. Anyway, let's compare death numbers."

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    2. Yes, generally, the only time independence supporters bring up comparisons is to correct the lies of unionist when they bring these up. Like me here in response to the BBC / Marr.

      If the BBC / Marr want to lie about the figures, I will quote the facts from the UK government in response. I do the same when our mate Poppy appears.

      Otherwise, I just discuss Scottish figures.

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  4. I'm holding judgment on who did 'better' until this crisis is over, which is still some ways off. Northern Ireland did very well in keeping its case numbers low during the first wave in the first half of the year. Sadly this second wave has seen the opposite happen and it now has the highest case numbers per capita for the pandemic as a whole and is in its second national lockdown, so past form is no indication of what will happen in the future.

    Scotland has done well in not having a lockdown in the same way that England, Northern Ireland and Wales have, hopefully a full lockdown will not be needed for any of the UK Countries as we head through winter but far to early to say.

    Also agree that should not compare Scotland to England as that is comparing apples to oranges. In the inevitable public enquires that will most likely start in the middle to latter half of next year I would imagine the comparisons will be made between Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales as they all have the same powers so are comparing like for like.

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  5. Thank you James for sharing your opinion on these combustible issues and your analysis of the Perth local elections spot on. Thankfully you are keepin the heid while others around are losing thiers!!

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  6. The next meeting of the Scot Parliament Harrassment Committee will take place on Tuesday of next week. Included in the 4 people due to appear is John Somers, Prinipal Private Secretary to Nicola Sturgeon First Minister of Scotland.

    Has Somers or Swinney written to the committee explaining why his meetings with a complainer in Nov 2017 during the creation of the new process have been kept hidden? Were Somers and the complainer old pals who met up for a coffee and she said by the way John have I ever told you the story about that horrible Alex Salmond assaulting me. Or did it happen differently? Where did the meeting take place? Who instigated it? Was it a formal meeting on Scotgov premises?

    Yes the Committee do call Somers Principal Private Secretary in their paperwork/correspondence because that is who he is. Now the demon Unionist hunter calling himself a Skier may again try and claim otherwise but Skier like Britnats is not familiar with the truth.

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    1. Shame they're still not asking the correct questions. Why don't they ask Mrs Murrell when she first arranged for her friend and lovers to make their false, made up, fictional complaints?
      Asking when she first knew of complaints being made just gives her a chance to weasel her way out, since she was there at the beginning but wasn't aware of the actual complaints as they were first made until after the fact.

      I hate, loathe and despise that woman.

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    2. You should try getting a life of your own. It may help with the impotent rage.

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    3. I can't help but detect a lot of hate for Sturgeon in the 'we hate Sturgeon' camp specifically because she's a woman.

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    4. Skier like Britnats is a stranger to the truth.

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    5. Says the man who uses right-wing insults ('woke, transfans') to attack minority groups.

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    6. Skier like Britnats is a stranger to the truth.

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  7. A mere taste of what is to come. The negative spin will be relentless over the next 6 months!

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  8. So who is still paying the English TV TAX? I wont wait for the day the BBC paints Boris Johnson and the Brit Nats as mass murderers.

    The SNP should close the border to English Tory Plague carriers. We have enough problems of our own.

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    1. Its is. It's currently illegal to travel in or out of Scotland except for essential reasons from any other part of the UK.

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    2. Unfortunately, there is less respect for the Scottish border than there is for other international borders.

      A lot of people in England see Scotland as part of their country (and some vice versa) in a way the e.g. French would never see Italy (even though they are also in union with full free movement). Ergo, folks are more likely not respect it and even break the law by crossing it in a way they would never do with a full international border. We saw this with the campervan flood and prince Charles bringing us covid.

      It may well be coincidental, but I can't help but wonder if the rapidly falling case numbers in Scotland are tied to the complete lockdown in England. The events are almost perfectly aligned. Certainly, with infection rates in England nearly double that of Scotland a couple of weeks back (ONS), cutting off cross-border travel should have had some effect here.

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    3. To describe any nation as 'plague carriers' is blatantly xenophobic.

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    4. I agree, although technically he was quite specific about it being Tories that were plague carriers and not English people in general.

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    5. You twist my post for dark slurs Bruce. Yoon troll are you?

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  9. Andrew Marr is growing into his role as the new Andrew Neill

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  10. The Scottish government/SNP - relentless positivity.
    Most of the media - relentless negativity.
    Stay strong Nicola. The people are with you.

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  11. Happy St Andrews day Ramstam.

    Any positive St Andrews days celebrations from the SNP/Scotgov.

    Nothing positive about persecuting Alex Salmond for 3 years is there.

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    Replies
    1. As far as I'm aware, Salmond has never complained about being persecuted by the SNP, just the UK civil service.

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    2. Skier like Britnats is a stranger to the truth.

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    3. I'm a member of the SNP and have never persecuted Salmond. Ergo, he hasn't been persecuted by the SNP. Maybe some individuals within it, but not he party as a whole, which includes all members. Not even the cabinet, as when I've asked you to list how each cabinet member persecuted him, you have been unable to do so. Here they all are again for you to provide evidence against

      https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/

      Your claims are very much like Trump and is election fraud thing.

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    4. Let's keep this simple and start with Fergus Ewing MSP, son of veteran indy supporter Winnie Ewing.

      Please tell us all how he has persecuted Salmond for 3 years. You've claimed the cabinet are secretly pro-union to. Does this include him? If it doesn't, are you saying he as stupid idiot that hasn't noticed?

      Genuine questions. We need answers here if people are to believe you.

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    5. Skier says -"you've claimed the Cabinet are secretly pro Union to." Nope just another Skier lie.

      Skier like Britnats is a stranger to the truth.

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    6. Ok, so the SNP cabinet are not pro-union, but pushing for independence. Sorry if I misunderstood you and that's great news. People can safely vote SNP 1 + 2 now.

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    7. Skier like Britnats is a stranger to the truth.

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    8. NHS and care home workers to get a well deserved £500 payment.
      On the negative side the London treasury are licking their lips at the extra tax grab from Scotland. It should be tax free but London only sees pound sign when they think of Scotland.
      That's negativity from London to stymie the good news in Scotland.

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  12. Fabiani has now written to Angus Robertson asking for a reply by 9th Dec. Are the Committee homing in on the truth. Wonder why they are writing to Robertson?

    I forecast Robertson like Peter Murrell will say I know nothing it wisnae me guv. These people like Skier are strangers to the truth.

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  13. I am considering putting together a top ten of Skier lies and demon Unionist hunting farcical claim list

    eg at No. 1 Skier claimed that only unionists would use the term British Nationalist. Now as Wee Ginger Dug published a few articles comprehensively explaining why the term British Nationalist should be used instead of Unionist then Skier is calling WGD a Unionist.

    There are so many to consider it may be difficult condensing them down to only 10.

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    1. No, I said using the term 'britnat' all the time was not something your average Scottish indy supporter does. I know loads of indy supporters and they rarely if ever use that term.

      I had a look at the WGD blog and found about 3 incidences of the term in his blogs in as many months, confirming that he doesn't use much either, even as an active indy blogger.

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    2. Also, you are pretty much the only poster who uses the term on this blog, again proving my point.

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    3. Skier like Britnats is a stranger to the truth.

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    4. On Nov 8th 2020 Wee Ginger Dugs article is entitled:

      BRITISH NATIONALIST TRUMPERY

      the thing about liers like Skier is when proven wrong they just lie even more.

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    5. Yes, but I said 'britnat', not 'British nationalist'.

      The latter is a technical description, the former pejorative slang term. My posts stands; the term 'Britnat' only appears very infrequently on the WGD blog.

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    6. Skier like Britnats is a stranger to the truth.

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  14. This is also covered over at, https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/
    There is a link to complain, though they usually fobb people off, ( and probably laugh into their champagne at the same time) BBC the England based state run propaganda project is in full swing.

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  15. Good to see that the Scotgov are planning to feed Scotlands hungry children. Nothing worse than children at school with empty stomachs. They can use some of the carrots that they feed donkeys like Skier every time an election comes along.

    So Skier after the conference have you still not got the courage to commit to when the fantasy referendum is taking place. Or is it still the - it will happen when we can win it or is it it will happen when the people of Scotland want it to happen. There has been a majority in the polls all year for independence..

    A party of independence would put a mandate for ACTUAL independence in its manifesto for May.

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  16. Iona Paton on Wings today claiming she doesn't lie. Clearly, a pal of Skier.

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  17. All the SNP/Scotgov liars ( sorry complainers ) at Salmonds political (sorry sexual assault ) trial had all their costs paid by the public purse. It didn't cost them a penny. Salmond had to fund his own lawyers. A free political shot at Salmond hiding behind legal anonymity.

    The winner Salmond has to pay his lawyer fees. The losers (liars) pay not a penny of their own money.

    Now the Harrassment Committee want Salmond to pay for his lawyers to sift through large amounts of documents to ensure they do not breach the courts contempt of court order and any other legal restrictions to then be in a position to agree for documents to be delivered to the Committee. Now that really is taking the piss.

    The people persecuting Salmond are misusing public funds - I don't pay my taxes for this sort of crap.

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    1. So you are against the current investigation into the UK civil services handling of the Salomd case now? You don't think Whitehall's Leslie Evans should get her comeuppance?

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    2. Skier like Britnats is a stranger to the truth.

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  18. I note that Sturgeon is promising a LEGAL referendum. Any SNP members want to clarify what exactly she means by legal? What law could possibly be broken in asking the people of Scotland how they want to be governed?

    Anyone want to explain why she didn't just say a referendum?

    How many years can an SNP FM go on for promising but not delivering a referendum?

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    Replies
    1. Getting kinda worried now huh? What with Yes ahead, SNP super popular and preparations for iref2 underway.

      The Scots now want indy it seems, so the SNP will move to give it to them.

      Taken a few years longer than the SNP hoped, but now it does seem Scots are ready.

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    2. I am worried - worried that I will never get to vote for independence as long as the current leadership are in charge and donkeys like you keep chewing the carrots.

      "Preparations for iref2 underway" - pray tell or are these preparations part of the secret plan held secretly in Sturgeons handbag.

      The thing about you demon Unionist hunter Skier is you ignore the points in the original post post because you have no answer.

      So Skier when is this referendum going to take place - name the date.

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  19. Evans in writing to the Harrassment Committee confirms she has deleted the first of the series of messages from Allison to Evans that included the infamous "we lost the battle but we will win the war" message from Evans to Allison. So Allison and Evans both deleted the same old text. Who deletes a specific years old text message that just happens to the same one deleted by the sender? People hiding things that's who.

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  20. It looks like a lot of the SNP members have woken up. Well done.

    Focus on independence SNP.

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  21. Strong rumour.
    Biden has approached Mitch McConnell to concede the fraudulent election in exchange for a pardon for his family and himself.

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  22. This story is not on US news channels as it has been embargoed by a US judge.

    https://www.conservativebeaver.com/2020/11/28/former-president-barack-obama-arrested-for-espionage/

    ReplyDelete