Tuesday, December 27, 2022

England and the other islands, starring Ian Botham

I'm still feeling a bit lazy after Christmas, but in the meantime here's a thought from a Scot Goes Pop reader about Ian Botham - a man who earned his permanent unelected spot in the UK Parliament through sheer merit, because after all he can bat and bowl.  And making laws we have to obey isn't enough - it was only right and proper that the BBC handed over editorial control of the Today programme to him as well.

"Dear James, 

I don't have any online presence, but I do follow a lot of good folk, and so far I have seen no-one comment on the fact that in the oleaginously obsequious 'interview' with the stomach-churning bigot Botham at the end of that broadcast he edited, in the discussion of Brexit, Botham said straight out that 'England' would be fine, and the BBC interviewer did not pick him up on 'England' at all. It was a gift to an interviewer, and it was completely ignored. I once wrote to Radio 3 about such a mistake made by a Danish presenter of an archaeological documentary ('and England became an island') and goodness me, they wrote back very quickly and most apologetically; for as you know, BBC policy is push 'Britain' and GB and UK 113.0573 % round the clock. But for Bottom in Midwinter's Night Dwam, no rules apply. 

I cannot remember the exact words of the sentence, but it could doubtless be found on the i-player. I am not signed up, however."

This isn't the first time, of course - a few years ago, Botham famously said "remember, England is an island and we should be proud".  Really quite impressive stupidity from a man who once did a high-profile walk (not swim) from John O'Groats to Land's End, and who has a grandson who plays rugby for Wales.

33 comments:

  1. A good laugh I had once when correcting an English gent on holiday when he said England was an island he then said oh that's right sorry it's the UK that's an island isn't it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Even that isn't really true, because the UK is comprised of many islands, one of which is shared with the Republic of Ireland.

      Delete
    2. Correct James and that's why I had a good laugh.

      Delete
  2. A woman I met over 25 years ago on a train in England was extolling the virtues of her first visit to the timeshare her family had in Perthshire. She was almost poetic about the beauty of the scenery as viewed from the swimming pool: "I could hardly believe I was in England."
    "You weren't, " I corrected her.
    She was utterly baffled.
    "You were in Scotland, not England," I explained.
    After a moment she came back, "Yes, but it's ours now."

    ReplyDelete
  3. FWIW: Back in 1985 I was in the support vehicle for a friend who was on a charity cycle ride from John O’Groats to Lands End at the same time as Botham was doing one of his much publicised walks.

    We heard numerous accounts of Botham ‘struggling’ with his feet and having to use his support vehicle. This came to a head when he, while walking, still managed to ‘overtake’ us on the bikes.

    🤔🤔🤔🤔

    ReplyDelete
  4. It reminds me of a conversation I overheard, between an English and American couple in a hotel bar in Inverness a few years. "Do you think Scotland will become independent?", asked the American fella. "Oh no", says the Englishman. "They can't afford it. It costs English taxpayers a billion Pounds per month just to keep them going!"
    Perfect, I thought. It can't be long before there's a groundswell in England where they force WM to let us go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You almost have to marvel at the idiocy of English people who believe fairy-tales like that. It's one thing Scots having an inferiority complex, but do the English seriously believe their own government is "paying Scotland a billion pounds a month" out of sheer benevolence?

      Delete
    2. A lot of Scotland born Scottish unionists believe the same thing. Remember Johan Lamont's "Scottish people are not genetically programmed to run our own affairs"?

      Delete
    3. Anyone who seriously believes that the leader of the Scottish Labour Party would go on tv and say that really isn't genetically programmed to run their own affairs.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous does anyone seriously believe there is such an organisation as a Scottish Labour Party - as Lamont said - a branch office of the London controlled Labour Party.
      Lamont did go on TV and say Scots weren't able to run their own affairs. Britnats are confused people with colonised minds.

      Delete
    5. Even if she believes Scots are genetically incapable of running their affairs she wouldn't just come out and say it and if you think she did you're the most gullible person who ever lived. You'd also have to believe that Sturgeon, who was standing right next to her, would just have let it go without comment. I mean I know you think she's really a unionist but come on lol.

      Delete
    6. There's *actual TV footage* of her saying it. Are you suggesting that footage was doctored? Tinfoil hat stuff if you are.

      Delete
  5. The utter pish keeps on coming from the Sturgeonites about GRR.

    Liar Skier posts on WGD that there is no difference between the new GRR bill and the current GRA re self ID - both are self ID he says. Credit goes to Keaton for getting Skier to show himself up once again as a Sturgeon propagandist who is happy to lie.

    On WOS you have Angus Robertson equating the Sturgeonites who passed the GRR with Nelson Mandela and freedom. Robertson whose SNP party has members who tried their hardest, but failed, to take away Salmonds freedom. Robertson would know all about this plot to jail Salmond but he has the brass neck to talk about granting freedom. He is supposed to be delivering Scotlands freedom from London control not the freedom for perverts to invade female spaces. If Robertson was ever to replace Sturgeon it would be more of the same.

    Truly disgusting people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The law tried Alex Salmond and found him not innocent, the whole of Scotland knows it and why he's toxic and will remain such

      Delete
    2. That is a bare-faced lie. He was acquitted on all charges and is therefore entirely innocent in the eyes of the law. The fact that he was found not proven on one of the charges - which I presume is what you're getting at - makes not even a jot of difference. Not guilty and not proven are both acquittal verdicts with *identical* legal effects. Do some reading before spouting any more rubbish in future.

      Delete
    3. Sturgeon tried Salmond - tried to falsely put him in jail. There you go anonymous I've fixed that for you.

      Numpties cannae handed the truth.

      Ps ya numpty there is no such judgement as 'not innocent'. These Sturgeonites just lie. They are almost as bad as the Britnats for lying.

      Delete
    4. Patrick Grady now back in the the fold as an SNP MP after his time out in the cold as an independent.

      Funny how Sturgeon didn't insist Grady was charged by the Polis. Funny how Sturgeon wasn't on the news programmes telling us how awful Grady is doing that to a SNP staff member and how Grady is not fit to be a politician.
      Funny how Blackford told his gang of MPs to back Grady and isolate the complainer yet during the Inquiry into Salmonds persecution Murrell told a totally different story as to how the SNP treat such complaints.
      Anonymous you should get your own SNP house in order and stop being a hypocrite like Sturgeon, Murrell and Blackford.

      Sturgeonites - liars and hypocrites was always on their charge sheet. Pervert enablers can now be added to it.

      Delete
  6. But can we acquit Young James of the charges laid by Skier in the second paragraph?

    “I think 7/10 MSPs voting for a policy is very noteworthy, with 76% of women doing so also so.” Must be right up there with some of the most strongly backed policy in the history of our parliament as discussed, including by women MSPs.
    It’s certainly far more noteworthy than, e.g. the latest poll on the subject of 1000 people who know f’all about the subject, so you can get them to answer exactly how you like. You could get them to contradict themselves and all sorts of fun. I’ve also found it very disturbing during the GRA reform debate that some who claim to understand polling, have tried to pretend it is important and ultimately should guide policy. These were the sort of people that argued this kind of polling (from 2000) should be listened to back in the day”

    Even if we can I suppose we should at least respect our betters – like Karen Adam, Emma Roddick, Ross Greer, Joe FitzPatrick, Shirley-Anne Somerville and Maggie Chapman. And follow their advice of course.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do love it when Skier uses the phrase "some who claim to understand polling". If there's anyone who claims to understand polling, it's him - he's touted himself as some kind of polling expert on the three blogs he's used as homes over the last decade (first Wings, then Scot Goes Pop, and now WGD), but by God has he trotted out some nonsense at times. His pre-2014 stuff on Wings directly contradicts a lot of what he says these days.

      As far as GRR polling is concerned, I've repeatedly made the point that in a parliamentary democracy it is not illegitimate for lawmakers to act in defiance of public opinion. But what we are entitled to expect is that they will be honest when they do that, rather than lying through their teeth and claiming that polls shows they are doing exactly what the public want. In reality, the polls are crystal-clear: the people of Scotland overwhelmingly oppose gender self-ID. Skier may think that makes them clueless, but that's the opinion they hold.

      Delete
    2. Also from Skier: "I totally back what you say, as do my wife and daughter."

      Is this blessed wife of his ever going to emerge from the shadows and speak for herself? She can do it in French if she wants, we all have Goodle Translate. Remarkably convenient how she apparently always agrees with whatever her husband thinks.

      Delete
    3. Believe me if you hear from Skier, you hear from Mme Skier. I'm expecting him to turn up as Fifi La Fan on Ru Paul's Drag Race any day now!



      The

      Delete
    4. Deprogrammer it is a scandal that someone like Somerville is in charge of the education of Scotland's children. Loyalty to Sturgeon is more important in the SNP than ability and integrity.

      Delete
  7. The mad as a bucket of frogs British/Irish liar Skier is obviously now the oracle of all things GRA as he has a French niece/nephew who is trans.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Skier's French wife, daughter, niece et al are all figments of his imagination as is his multiplicity of careers and areas of expertise. He's more to be pitied than laughed at really (although he kept me in hysterics when he was in here!)

      Felix

      Delete
  8. "In a poll carried out on behalf of the party by Panelbase, only 45% of those responding after don’t knows were excluded said they wanted to keep King Charles as Scotland’s Head of State. In contrast 55% say they want to see an independent Scotland become a republic with an elected Head of State."

    ReplyDelete
  9. I don't know why Dr Jim says that this site is mindless and full of misogynistic content. OK, I can be a bit ditzy at times but...

    And Hamster100 has miscalculated when he says
    “I see the saddos on SGP ganging up on skier. Sad to see bullies at work. You would think they would turn their energies to increasing their polls beyond 2% or attack the tories and labour instead of siding with them. “

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dr Jim is the misogynist if he hasn't clocked that Random Totty (the real one, not the shameless imposter I'm currently replying to) is an actual woman posting for herself. It may or may not be fair to say that she's invariably rather tipsy when she chooses to do so, but that still gives her the edge on Madame Skier, who seems to only be allowed to speak through her husband's mouth.

      (For the avoidance of doubt, Random Totty has voluntarily embraced her title in ironic post-modern fashion.)

      Delete
    2. Nasty WGD numpty Dr Jim posts non stop nasty posts but is secretly in love with his Nicola and if anyone criticises his darling Nicola he condemns them as being a misogynist based on that alone. Hey Jimbo you are too old to have adolescent crushes. Get a grip.

      Delete
    3. I'm going to leave things there.

      But it's wrong of them to say that James is a poundshop Wings.

      And Hamster has small wheel energy.

      Delete
  10. The WGD numpty thicko Hamish100 thinks we're ganging up on poor Skier. This is the same Skier who thinks it's pointless consulting people because they know f'all, obviously unlike Skier who is a GRR expert, because he has a French niece.

    Maybe we should abandon elections altogether and Skier could just consult his family members on policy, we could live in a Skicocracy.

    WGD numpty thicko Hamish is also a bit obsessed with the number 2 as in indyref2, when is that happening again Hamish?

    ReplyDelete
  11. All the dafties on WGD like 'Jumpin' Jack Collatin and Hamish100 should have red faces due to embarrassing themselves by posting year after year that Indyref2 is next year and we should trust in Sturgeon. The truth is their faces are more likely to be turning orange due to all the carrots they have been fed over these years. The irony of it is that WGD is the new ORANGE ORDER.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The bizarre (predictive?) algorithm that generates the best fit curve for Westminster voting intention on the dedicated Wiki page has Reform UK finishing 2022 in third place ahead of the LibDems.
    This is odd as Reform UK only polled ahead of the LibDems twice out of 25 polls conducted in December.
    The graph also has the Greens neck and neck with the LibDems.
    The LibDems fifth place also-rans in UK politics? Possibly given current trends but not before Spring 2023.

    ReplyDelete