A pro-independence blog by James Kelly - voted one of Scotland's top 10 political websites.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Has the Reeves Budget produced anything that would stand in the way of an SNP win in 2026?
Just a quick note to let you know that I have an article at The National about whether Rachel Reeves' first Budget today will help to arrest Labour's tumble in popularity. You can read it HERE.
We've also got a better performing SNHS; free prescriptions; free university tuition; free personal care; mitigation of the appalling 2 child benefit cap; no bedroom tax.......and so on.
It's all UK debt. All £2.3 trillion. England would be bankrupt if it didnae rip off Scotland. Across the North Sea Norway regularly runs a surplus and has a wealth fund of £1 trillion. That could have easily been Scotland but House Jocks in Scotland prefer to bend over and get shafted by their English masters. They seem to like it as well.
IfS mentioned the Barnett consequentials increasing Scotland's block grant. (Woo, more pocket money, thanks dad!) By enough to reverse the Winter Fuel Allowance howler and gain a lot of Scots relief?
It's an open goal for Scotgov to do the right thing, which is also the popular thing. If they can afford it, it's absolutely what Salmond would have done, like reversing prescription charges.
I seem to recall the WFP being in the order of a few hundred million pounds, plus the £500 million in other cuts that were announced of late. Either way, the sum of the two comes to less than the extra £3.6 Bn.
Last December over 900 people over 50 years of age were hospitalised with hypothermia. Just in one month in Scotland. Ignorant Britnat comments at 8.30pm 8.23pm 8.02pm - probably all by KC. Not surprising the guy disnae care who dies - burning alive Palestinian children or freezing pensioners to death all the same for him as long as he has his precious union.
There is no money being given. It is our tax revenue, raised in Scotland, and we only get back a portion of it. WFS should be targeted at those in need, and that is what the S G is now doing. I already have my letter setting out the process and eligibility criteria. Fairly straightforward.
Anon at 8.03am - says " and that is what the S G is now doing" - so you are guaranteeing that every pensioner in need will get the WFP? No I don't think you are because it is well known that is not what happens in means tested benefits. The cost of doing it often outweighs the cost of universality.
Anon troll at 12.53pm is incapable of reading properly or he just ignores what I actually posted so he can post an abusive comment. I say it's the latter. That's troll for you. Just lie and abuse.
Just watched the BBCs ( the home for paedophiles ), hopefully, final instalment of the three part hit job on Salmond.
The only decent thing about it was that there was nothing directly from the selfie Queen or her charged with embezzlement husband. Not that the BBC mentioned this. Yousaf was also thankfully missing this time.
Offsetting that was the appearance of a load of Britnats. The worse being Libby Brooks, Kenny Farquarson, Blackford. Lord hee haw McConnell, FM of cover ups John REDACTOR MAN Swinney and a clip of Sturgeon the Great Betrayer playing the victim at the Parliament Inquiry known as the Fabiani farce. The BBC, the Britnat media and the named above all hounded Salmond to an early death. I am sure they are proud of themselves. Many others contributed to this conniving ( as McAskill described it ) and other cowards remained silent.
Mc Askill also said that those who inflicted it should be held to account.
Others like Brooks/Farquarson ignored that the alphabetties were proven liars and seemed to think they were victims - wee innocent lassies. Aye right, there was probably at least one MI5 agent among them. The BBC and Brooks/Farquarson also forgot to mention that one of the betties is currently being investigated for perjury and a senior Scotgov official is also being investigated by the polis for perjury.
Most disappointing was Elaine C Smith sticking the boot in at the end.
In Sturgeon's Britnat Scotland you win two court cases but you are still guilty.
Anonymous troll at 12.45am - I don't go on Britnat TV unlike those mentioned in my post. So it's not like me. You troll are obsessed with me - weirdo. You reply to Felix and refer to me - weirdo stalker. No wonder Felix rarely posts these days with cowardly weirdo trolls like you about.
So the anon troll at 10.14am is threatening me now. In case you haven't noticed ya dummy Sturgeon disnae post on SGP so I cannae be stalking her. I very much doubt she has ever read SGP. Unlike trolls on here who turn everything in to personal abuse of me and then say I make SGP all about me.
What a psycho troll.
Since you mentioned criminals Sturgeon and Beattie must be setting some sort of record for being the longest ever people being formally investigated for embezzlement.
Just where is the missing Ring Fenced money? Did it just jump over the fence all by itself and do a runner?
everyone should watch that program on iplayer, very slowly; hit the pause button when you see something interesting. Lots of interesting people in the background, here and there. You can also see their micro expressions clearly.
We wonder if Independence for Scotland (the Unionist poster, not the political aim) dreams in an excited way about Nicola Sturgeon. He/She is obsessed with the lady. Was she/he once rebuffed by Ms Sturgeon after making unwanted advances in a lewd and crass manner. We find IfS weird and creepy, and don't want to be in a train compartment with him/her late at night with no other passengers around. Especially tonight... spoooookyyyy!
A serious question. Is Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh's husband Zulfikar a card-carrying member of the Alba Party? If he's a member, he's surely in breach of the party code of conduct, which requires members to treat both fellow members and non-members with respect. He posted this shameful tweet today about John Swinney, simply because Swinney had offered his condolences about Alex Salmond's death:
"This man has no shame no compassion for the man that he talks about, without Alex, swinney & his wee gang would be nobody’s. We haven’t forgotten what you & your pals try to do to him, just will be done very very soon. It will take centuries to have another GREAT MAN like Alex"
Note the "wee gang" reference yet again.
It's a joke that someone like James who is generally known for his courtesy is suspended by Alba while Sheikh can constantly post this highly offensive material with impunity, because of who he is or who his wife is.
Anon at 8.59pm - I disagree with that tweet. It is not a WEE gang it's a bloody great big gang. Sturgeon Swinney et al working with the Britnat media and British state. The greatest betrayers of Scotland since that last Parliament of betrayers.
Well, I don't do social media, but if that's the tweet then I think you'll find it has more to do with Swinney's recent statement on the FOI revelations - that is that he will not act on it. He's fine with the duplicity and his actions on redaction to mislead the public. Don't forget the public is you and I no matter what side we come from. There's more than just Sturgeonites and Salmondites - there's everyone else and our government purposefully misled us - it's not healthy in a so called democracy. And it was Swinney's hand that redacted and his government that was duplicitous - so that's maybe why.
No, you're quite wrong, Sheikh was quote-tweeting Swinney's condolences for Salmond's death. Nothing to do with FOI. A really horrible juxtaposition, and you won't be getting him off the hook for it.
Anon 10.14pm - was Swinney invited to the funeral yesterday - no. There was a reason for that - he and the rest of Sturgeon's gang tried to send him to prison. They failed but they continued to hound him to an early death. Despicable Britnats that's what they are and Swinney the First Minister for cover ups deserves to be called out.
Look, rant all you want, but my point is that Skeikh's tweet is in breach of the Alba code of conduct. That point stands, and your bluster makes no difference to it.
Assuming he's a member wouldn't the usual practice be for a formal complaint to be made and then an investigation to determine whether or not it's in breach of the code and if so what action to be taken?
Anon at 10.33pm - I’m not a member of Alba so I ain't that bothered about your point. But I do want independence and I do want to see people held responsible for their wrongdoing. Are you a " card-carrying member of the Alba party"?
You have to laugh at people like anon at 10.33pm. He is all exercised sbout a tweet but an attempt to send an innocent man to prison on false charges is not even worthy of a breaching an SNP code of conduct mention. Not surprised mind you, this is the party that sent Sturgeon flowers for being arrested by the polis. Are they going to chip in and buy her a holiday home if she is convicted of a crime.
The above exchange started with me pointing out that Sheikh has broken Alba's code of conduct. The only person who has deflected from that original topic, at enormous and tedious length, is yourself.
Does it seem particularly likely to you that the husband of Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh and the producer of 'Scotland Speaks With Alex Salmond' is not an Alba member? Come on now.
Now we have Dr Jim at 9.14pm back on the Salmond trolling again. I thought you had moved on to Cherry Jimbo. I bet you want to grab Cherry by the neck Jimbo.
So the tax thing isn't that much of a disincentive. However, there's a lot of movement up here, where I live in Sutherland it's like living in England. All my friends and neighbours are English - none are YES voters, all are retired.
Most moved here for abetter life and love it. But they don't want the UK broken up - mostly for sentimental reasons. Devolution' suits them - and like the elderly, they worry about their pensions if the UK broke up. We have a lot of work to do and we've got to do it quickly
Indeed. Pensions are one of the very important issues that have never been addressed in a positive way by the independence movement. Currency and border with England being another two, of course.
So obviously if you want to promote independence amongst pensioners you pay the Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland. £150 million. Additional Barnett consequentials on its way from the budget numbered in billions. So will the Scotgov do it? If not why not!
Anon at 11.09pm - I'll let Alba members speak for their own party but in the SNP Independence disnae even come in third. In fact not sure if it is on a priority list at all. Not an acceptable situation for the only vehicle for independence.
There's a lot of propaganda going about just now about the young needing 'it' more than the elderly. This is absolute nonsence you are repeating crap put into your mouth by politicos and some in the media. Have a think, how does that work? Physiologically it is nonsense. health wise it is nonsense. The pension is £153 a week for the poorest who top up with pension credit, and £220 for the new pension. The minimum wage is £434 per week. Try and think before you repeat the rubbish out there.
Why do people constantly allow themselves to be duped by the Establishment? In Scotland we are ALL being hammered by Westminster, young, middle-aged and old alike. Stop carping and sniping at each other and take on the real enemy. Grouser
Anon at 10:14 PM I can't believe you are equating some guy breaking the rules of a party with a minister misleading the country! You say yourself you don't know if Zulfikar is a member of ALBA neither do I. Man, you need to loosen up a bit.
Do you or do you not think the disciplinary action against the owner of this blog should be dropped? If you do, then maaaaan, it's Chris McEleny that needs to loosen up, not me. If you don't, you would appear to be a raging hyoocrite. It's one or the other.
Different Anon here: why is WT repeatedly pushing the bogus line that the other Anon is drawing a comparison between Zulfikar Sheikh and John Swinney "misleading the country"? Anon didn't even mention the latter, let alone draw that comparison.
A cynical but transparent debating tactic, WT. Pack it in.
Anon 1:09 I've been in support of James since the whole thing started, so I don't understand your point. Anon 1:18 "repeatedly?" Said once and referred to later. Try reading and counting. As to the Zulfikar Sheikh thing, I think you are getting it out of proportion, and I couldn't care less whether he is a member of a party or not. Just because he is married to Tasmina Sheikh doesn't mean anything, he has a right to free speech just as he has to deal with the consequences resulting from what he says. However, Zulfikar and Tasmina are allowed to be autonomous human beings just as Mr. and Mrs. Murrell are too - the actions of a husband does not reflect on the actions of the wife, surely? I just don't understand why you're getting so uptight. Chill out man.
Anon at 8.15am and anon at 9.08am - the SNP/Scotgov just waste public funds on lawyer fees trying to cover up their wrongdoings. And there has been a lot of wrongdoings to be covered up over the years.
Public funds. Party finances. Different things. And to date absolutely no credible evidence of wrongdoing. Any thoughts on the budget and its implications for Scotland?
Anon at 11.36am - says no credible evidence - laughable gaslighting. There was only a court case where the Scotgov threw in the towel after misleading and withholding information from both their own solicitors and the Court of Session judge. The judge awarding the highest level of expenses possible due to the Scotgov 's actions. Oh and the Parliament Inquiry in to the actions of Sturgeon, her Scotgov and her special advisers.
No credible evidence says the gaslighter. Unbelievable.
I wonder how many of the enthusiastic dogfighters in the exchanges above have actually engaged recently n active interfaces with voters on the issues of independence. A few will but how many ?
Do something constructive for our future - bitching is cheap.
Can James rearrange his moderation policy to one that supports the growth of his own blog, rather than the current situation, which drives people away?
IfS would be a great moderator! I second that motion. Better than feeding the trolls, give him the power to delete numpty comments and not just reply to them.
Truth be told, there are regularly quite interesting comments and the occasional debate here, but the trolling is epidemic and stifles the rest of us out.
Trouble is IFS is not up for it. I am not in here every day just when I want to. When I'm not posting for weeks trolls just moan about me not posting. They are trolls - never happy one way or another.
Something wrong with you people - you are obsessed with me - try focussing on the discussion points and not me.
Every one of you post as an anon. Says it all. Give yourself a consistent moniker and let's see what you have to say. That's the problem isn't it you ain't got anything worthwhile to say.
Anon at 1.06pm - I know that and if you didn't realise that you are the diddy troll. I read your post at 12.42pm - good grief yourself ya numpty. You just demonstrate what I said in my post - you trolls ain't got anything worthwhile to say - the lowlifes of blogs.
Investment is needed to modernise the blog and strengthen its defences. We need to consider someone of strategic vision who might be able to rise to these challenges. [*cough*] (Please note that I am not referring to loose cannon IfS.)
So Nicola Sturgeon was paid £25,000 (plus £3000 for travel and accommodation) for her ITV appearance on election night. Of course this is deemed ok by nationalists. Yet in 2019, Ruth Davidson was paid £7,500 for a similar role, and nationalists were up in arms.
Took reduced salary from public funds in all her time as F M. What is it with you lot that you don’t understand the difference between public funds and private finances?
Personally I don't care what she got paid or what Truthless Davidson got paid. She shouldn't have been on the programme as she is someone under investigation for embezzlement. Yes I know innocent until proven guilty - didnae stop her pronouncing Salmond guilty on multiple occasions as FIrst Minister despite him actually being proven innocent. A person formally recorded as being under investigation should not have been on the programme - but that's Britnats for you they look after there own.
People would care less if it wasn't for the blatant hypocrisy.
Ruth Davidson was accused by the SNP's Rona Mackay of "picking up thousands in outside earnings while neglecting her actual job" when she was paid £7500 for a similar one night of work by ITV.
Mackay said: "Serving politicians who appear on election night broadcasts do so to represent their party - not to pick up a pay cheque. This payment is unprecedented – and she should now hand it back."
She should. She should also pay back the 600k she stole, and resign in disgrace from the party. But she will do none of these. And one day she'll bend down and Charlie will give her the honours she deserves for her service.
Salmond molested nobody (ask the jury who actually HEARD the case against him) and his RT show was an independent production. Try leaving your bigotry at the door next time.
It was obviously just a coincidence that the alphabet women who must not be named until the universe ends were known to Sturgeon. It was very convenient for Sturgeon that the judge created that anonymity order.
Before I posted on SGP I thought lowlifes like GWC were pretty appalling but this current crowd of lowlife trolls are something else. The British state hard at work giving them min wage jobs to post their crap.
The Scotgov has binned the policy of jury free trials for sex assaults. Not before time. Another stupid policy led by that judge Dorian and that Brindley women. What a waste of time again. Is it just a coincidence that Salmond has just died and this policy is no longer required?
Anon @ 5 19pm gave a straightforward answer to a QUESTION. Thank you for being civil.
Anon @ 6.15pm gave a typically aggressive answer of the trolls that post on SGP. You should grow up and get some manners. I posed a perfectly reasonable question. You sir need to behave better and be more civil to other posters.
Hi Dave I asked you earlier who this sonny is. There doesn’t seem to be a post from sonny. Is sonny your invisible friend that only you can see and talk to. You don’t seem to be very happy with him as you are saying he posts invisible pish. If it’s difficult for you to talk about it no problem.
Watched Swinney for the first time today at FM questions. Goodness gracious, Yousaf was more quick witted than Swinney. Swinney is like a middle manager in a council office. Apart from that independence was never featured. It’s all Better Together stuff with Swinney bending over saying he will cooperate like a good House Jock does every day of their sad life.
Golf is my game. Some say I am a golfnut. It’s Scotland’s game. It’s the Home of Golf. Thanks for showing an interest. What’s your game - hockey/tennis?
If YES was only at 48% then why would the UK government not be delighted and reveal the poll they keep refusing to reveal on the subject, they've hired expensive lawyers to go to their courts and been ordered to reveal the contents and still refuse They won't do it because it's not and never has been as low as 48% since before 2015 YES has been in the lead for years but the pollsters will never show it because like the media in Britain they're told what to do That's one of the great benefits of being an independent country like England, they control the vertical the horizontal and everything in between
If Nicola was in a throuple with Kezia and Jenny would she be on top, in the middle or in the bottom of the sandwich. I make serious documentaries for the BBC on important figures lifestyles.
Getting back to the original subject, the UK Budget announced by Labour is a disaster for all of the UK, including Scotland, as will become quickly evident as time goes by. In narrow political party terms, it hurts Labour and helps all of its enemies, including SNP but also Tories, Reform etc.
It's a pity she was not able to reduce the tax burden. Many Scottish people that i talk to feel over taxed.
ReplyDeleteAye, Scotland has the highest income tax rates in the UK!
DeleteCourtesy of the SNP SG!!
Poor little Tories.
DeleteWe've also got a better performing SNHS; free prescriptions; free university tuition; free personal care; mitigation of the appalling 2 child benefit cap; no bedroom tax.......and so on.
DeleteIt’s lucky there is unlimited money with no debt for our children to inherit.
DeleteIt's all UK debt. All £2.3 trillion. England would be bankrupt if it didnae rip off Scotland. Across the North Sea Norway regularly runs a surplus and has a wealth fund of £1 trillion. That could have easily been Scotland but House Jocks in Scotland prefer to bend over and get shafted by their English masters. They seem to like it as well.
DeleteIfS mentioned the Barnett consequentials increasing Scotland's block grant. (Woo, more pocket money, thanks dad!) By enough to reverse the Winter Fuel Allowance howler and gain a lot of Scots relief?
ReplyDeleteHere's the link:
Deletehttps://scotgoespop.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-find-out-now-poll-showed-yes.html?showComment=1730303291982#c3054350202600369268
It's an open goal for Scotgov to do the right thing, which is also the popular thing. If they can afford it, it's absolutely what Salmond would have done, like reversing prescription charges.
Are pensioners the right group to spend on? With their triple lock?
DeleteI seem to recall the WFP being in the order of a few hundred million pounds, plus the £500 million in other cuts that were announced of late. Either way, the sum of the two comes to less than the extra £3.6 Bn.
DeleteAnon 8.02 I'll think about that, after I consider how much heating I can afford.
DeleteMoney is money - the triple-locked pension can be used for heating.
DeleteThe spending should go to other things not pensioners.
DeleteMoney into the NHS to get them heal etc pensioners suffering from hypothermia.
DeleteAgeists and Tories on this thread.
DeleteLast December over 900 people over 50 years of age were hospitalised with hypothermia. Just in one month in Scotland. Ignorant Britnat comments at 8.30pm 8.23pm 8.02pm - probably all by KC. Not surprising the guy disnae care who dies - burning alive Palestinian children or freezing pensioners to death all the same for him as long as he has his precious union.
DeleteYet another ridiculous post by IFS@9:08.
DeleteOh, and the posts you refer to weren’t KC, so wrong once again!
Aye fine KC at 9.27pm - ok maybe you are a different Britnat - happy now.
DeleteThere is no money being given. It is our tax revenue, raised in Scotland, and we only get back a portion of it. WFS should be targeted at those in need, and that is what the S G is now doing. I already have my letter setting out the process and eligibility criteria. Fairly straightforward.
DeleteBut the increased defence spending does affect consequentials and will probably be significantly more.
DeleteAnon at 8.03am - says " and that is what the S G is now doing" - so you are guaranteeing that every pensioner in need will get the WFP?
DeleteNo I don't think you are because it is well known that is not what happens in means tested benefits. The cost of doing it often outweighs the cost of universality.
Where do I guarantee anything you lying muppet?
DeleteAnon troll at 12.53pm is incapable of reading properly or he just ignores what I actually posted so he can post an abusive comment. I say it's the latter. That's troll for you. Just lie and abuse.
DeleteNo
ReplyDeleteOk Nicola we know you voted no. No need to rub it in.
DeleteI hate Nicola again. Boring and stupid comment
DeleteWhat! anon at 10.12am you think she voted yes. Get that tattoo on your hand : -
Delete" 19/10/23 I will be fooled again and again."
Just watched the BBCs ( the home for paedophiles ), hopefully, final instalment of the three part hit job on Salmond.
ReplyDeleteThe only decent thing about it was that there was nothing directly from the selfie Queen or her charged with embezzlement husband. Not that the BBC mentioned this. Yousaf was also thankfully missing this time.
Offsetting that was the appearance of a load of Britnats. The worse being Libby Brooks, Kenny Farquarson, Blackford. Lord hee haw McConnell, FM of cover ups John REDACTOR MAN Swinney and a clip of Sturgeon the Great Betrayer playing the victim at the Parliament Inquiry known as the Fabiani farce. The BBC, the Britnat media and the named above all hounded Salmond to an early death. I am sure they are proud of themselves. Many others contributed to this conniving ( as McAskill described it ) and other cowards remained silent.
Mc Askill also said that those who inflicted it should be held to account.
Others like Brooks/Farquarson ignored that the alphabetties were proven liars and seemed to think they were victims - wee innocent lassies. Aye right, there was probably at least one MI5 agent among them. The BBC and Brooks/Farquarson also forgot to mention that one of the betties is currently being investigated for perjury and a senior Scotgov official is also being investigated by the polis for perjury.
Most disappointing was Elaine C Smith sticking the boot in at the end.
In Sturgeon's Britnat Scotland you win two court cases but you are still guilty.
Libby Brooks? Probably the worse one there. She’s the most ignorant.
DeleteYes it was disappointing to see them allowed to put the boot in at the end - it seems their hatred of AS knows no limits.
DeleteLike IFS for NS and SNP?
DeleteAnonymous troll at 12.45am - I don't go on Britnat TV unlike those mentioned in my post. So it's not like me. You troll are obsessed with me - weirdo. You reply to Felix and refer to me - weirdo stalker. No wonder Felix rarely posts these days with cowardly weirdo trolls like you about.
DeleteYou are the stalker with your hatred of the former FM. You are aware there are criminals in jail following threats to her.?
DeleteSo the anon troll at 10.14am is threatening me now. In case you haven't noticed ya dummy Sturgeon disnae post on SGP so I cannae be stalking her. I very much doubt she has ever read SGP. Unlike trolls on here who turn everything in to personal abuse of me and then say I make SGP all about me.
DeleteWhat a psycho troll.
Since you mentioned criminals Sturgeon and Beattie must be setting some sort of record for being the longest ever people being formally investigated for embezzlement.
Just where is the missing Ring Fenced money? Did it just jump over the fence all by itself and do a runner?
everyone should watch that program on iplayer, very slowly; hit the pause button when you see something interesting. Lots of interesting people in the background, here and there. You can also see their micro expressions clearly.
DeleteWe wonder if Independence for Scotland (the Unionist poster, not the political aim) dreams in an excited way about Nicola Sturgeon. He/She is obsessed with the lady. Was she/he once rebuffed by Ms Sturgeon after making unwanted advances in a lewd and crass manner. We find IfS weird and creepy, and don't want to be in a train compartment with him/her late at night with no other passengers around. Especially tonight... spoooookyyyy!
DeletePsycho troll at 11.48am - what a lowlife - it's like the gutter filled days of GWC on SGP these days.
DeleteA serious question. Is Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh's husband Zulfikar a card-carrying member of the Alba Party? If he's a member, he's surely in breach of the party code of conduct, which requires members to treat both fellow members and non-members with respect. He posted this shameful tweet today about John Swinney, simply because Swinney had offered his condolences about Alex Salmond's death:
ReplyDelete"This man has no shame no compassion for the man that he talks about, without Alex, swinney & his wee gang would be nobody’s. We haven’t forgotten what you & your pals try to do to him, just will be done very very soon. It will take centuries to have another GREAT MAN like Alex"
Note the "wee gang" reference yet again.
It's a joke that someone like James who is generally known for his courtesy is suspended by Alba while Sheikh can constantly post this highly offensive material with impunity, because of who he is or who his wife is.
Maybe Mr Ahmed-Sheikh is Independence for Scotland ?
DeleteAy some prick like you anon at 9.03pm also said previously I was Donald Trump. .
DeleteAnon at 8.59pm - I disagree with that tweet. It is not a WEE gang it's a bloody great big gang. Sturgeon Swinney et al working with the Britnat media and British state. The greatest betrayers of Scotland since that last Parliament of betrayers.
DeleteWell, I don't do social media, but if that's the tweet then I think you'll find it has more to do with Swinney's recent statement on the FOI revelations - that is that he will not act on it. He's fine with the duplicity and his actions on redaction to mislead the public. Don't forget the public is you and I no matter what side we come from. There's more than just Sturgeonites and Salmondites - there's everyone else and our government purposefully misled us - it's not healthy in a so called democracy. And it was Swinney's hand that redacted and his government that was duplicitous - so that's maybe why.
DeleteNo, you're quite wrong, Sheikh was quote-tweeting Swinney's condolences for Salmond's death. Nothing to do with FOI. A really horrible juxtaposition, and you won't be getting him off the hook for it.
DeleteAnon 10.14pm - was Swinney invited to the funeral yesterday - no. There was a reason for that - he and the rest of Sturgeon's gang tried to send him to prison. They failed but they continued to hound him to an early death. Despicable Britnats that's what they are and Swinney the First Minister for cover ups deserves to be called out.
DeleteLook, rant all you want, but my point is that Skeikh's tweet is in breach of the Alba code of conduct. That point stands, and your bluster makes no difference to it.
DeleteAssuming he's a member wouldn't the usual practice be for a formal complaint to be made and then an investigation to determine whether or not it's in breach of the code and if so what action to be taken?
DeleteYou seem to want a few steps to be skipped over.
Skeikh's tweet is not in breach of the Alba code of conduct. He's making an important point.
DeleteAnon at 10.33pm - I’m not a member of Alba so I ain't that bothered about your point. But I do want independence and I do want to see people held responsible for their wrongdoing. Are you a " card-carrying member of the Alba party"?
Delete"You seem to want a few steps to be skipped over."
DeleteThat's the norm, let's be honest.
"Skeikh's tweet is not in breach of the Alba code of conduct."
Don't be ridiculous, of course it is. My guess is you haven't even read the code of conduct.
You have to laugh at people like anon at 10.33pm. He is all exercised sbout a tweet but an attempt to send an innocent man to prison on false charges is not even worthy of a breaching an SNP code of conduct mention. Not surprised mind you, this is the party that sent Sturgeon flowers for being arrested by the polis. Are they going to chip in and buy her a holiday home if she is convicted of a crime.
DeleteAnd I suppose you're fine with what's happening to James, are you. You "have to laugh about that" too, do you?
DeleteNope but happy to laugh at you anon at 11.47pm and your pathetic attempt at deflection.
DeleteThe above exchange started with me pointing out that Sheikh has broken Alba's code of conduct. The only person who has deflected from that original topic, at enormous and tedious length, is yourself.
DeleteIsn't this whole conversation meaningless when we don't even know if he's an Alba member?
DeleteDoes it seem particularly likely to you that the husband of Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh and the producer of 'Scotland Speaks With Alex Salmond' is not an Alba member? Come on now.
DeleteHe is an Alba member.
DeleteIs ZS dyslexic?
DeleteNow we have Dr Jim at 9.14pm back on the Salmond trolling again. I thought you had moved on to Cherry Jimbo. I bet you want to grab Cherry by the neck Jimbo.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/why-thousands-are-fleeing-to-scotland-you-should-too/#:~:text=Scottish%20people%20benefit%20from%20lower,2%2C229%20more%20than%20in%20England.
ReplyDeleteSo the tax thing isn't that much of a disincentive. However, there's a lot of movement up here, where I live in Sutherland it's like living in England. All my friends and neighbours are English - none are YES voters, all are retired.
ReplyDeleteMost moved here for abetter life and love it. But they don't want the UK broken up - mostly for sentimental reasons. Devolution' suits them - and like the elderly, they worry about their pensions if the UK broke up. We have a lot of work to do and we've got to do it quickly
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Pensions are one of the very important issues that have never been addressed in a positive way by the independence movement.
DeleteCurrency and border with England being another two, of course.
Absolutely
DeleteSo obviously if you want to promote independence amongst pensioners you pay the Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland. £150 million. Additional Barnett consequentials on its way from the budget numbered in billions. So will the Scotgov do it? If not why not!
DeleteOld people don't need it as much as young.
DeleteIt's not means tested so poorly targeted.
DeleteKC speaks again at 10.08pm and 10.08pm. Means testing is poorly targeted. Old people feel the cold more than young people.
DeleteOK boomer.
DeleteIFS@10:31pm once again wrongly accusing KC. Not having a good night are you!
DeleteOk you are a different Britnat troll at 11.08pm. Happy now.
DeleteIf the SNP/Scottish Government did not believe in the Winter Fuel Payment then why did they accept it being devolved to Holyrood?
DeleteI’ve already received my detailed letter from S G setting out what I do to claim WFA if I qualify. It’s a simple process and targets those in need.
DeleteAnon at 7.51am - " targets those in need " you missed out the word ALL as in targets all those in need.
DeleteNot needed.
DeleteNo and no
ReplyDeleteNone of this will be in the minds of voters by 2026
The SNP’s Fiona Hyslop says Labour’s Budget is a “step in the right direction”, but wants to see more certainty for future public sector investment.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see how SNP spend it. On universal payments to pensioners?
DeleteAlba’s desire for independence comes third
ReplyDelete1: Hatred of Nicola Sturgeon
2: Hatred of the SNP.
Proof?
DeleteAnon at 11.09pm - I'll let Alba members speak for their own party but in the SNP Independence disnae even come in third. In fact not sure if it is on a priority list at all. Not an acceptable situation for the only vehicle for independence.
DeleteSounds like they've got it right then.
DeleteAs in SGP's article in the National, Reeves gives more money for the Holocaust education but fails to condemn Gaza.
ReplyDeletePerhaps some of that extra holocaust funding could be spent on reeducating Labour MPs, starting with their stupid leader.
I think Starmer has been reeducated by his wife and all the freebies he gets.
DeleteThere's a lot of propaganda going about just now about the young needing 'it' more than the elderly. This is absolute nonsence you are repeating crap put into your mouth by politicos and some in the media. Have a think, how does that work? Physiologically it is nonsense. health wise it is nonsense. The pension is £153 a week for the poorest who top up with pension credit, and £220 for the new pension. The minimum wage is £434 per week. Try and think before you repeat the rubbish out there.
ReplyDeleteYoung people have more costs.
DeleteThe school system or infrastructure is better. Not universal (poorly targeted) payments to pensioners who already get protection from the triple lock.
DeleteWhy do people constantly allow themselves to be duped by the Establishment? In Scotland we are ALL being hammered by Westminster, young, middle-aged and old alike. Stop carping and sniping at each other and take on the real enemy.
DeleteGrouser
All additional cash should go to trans advocacy and re-education for terfs, obvs. ;-)
DeleteAnon at 10:14 PM I can't believe you are equating some guy breaking the rules of a party with a minister misleading the country! You say yourself you don't know if Zulfikar is a member of ALBA neither do I. Man, you need to loosen up a bit.
ReplyDeleteDo you or do you not think the disciplinary action against the owner of this blog should be dropped? If you do, then maaaaan, it's Chris McEleny that needs to loosen up, not me. If you don't, you would appear to be a raging hyoocrite. It's one or the other.
DeleteDifferent Anon here: why is WT repeatedly pushing the bogus line that the other Anon is drawing a comparison between Zulfikar Sheikh and John Swinney "misleading the country"? Anon didn't even mention the latter, let alone draw that comparison.
DeleteA cynical but transparent debating tactic, WT. Pack it in.
Chris McEleny has a microp… party to fondle with sureness of touch. Give the man some personal space, eh?
DeleteAnon 1:09 I've been in support of James since the whole thing started, so I don't understand your point.
DeleteAnon 1:18 "repeatedly?" Said once and referred to later. Try reading and counting.
As to the Zulfikar Sheikh thing, I think you are getting it out of proportion, and I couldn't care less whether he is a member of a party or not. Just because he is married to Tasmina Sheikh doesn't mean anything, he has a right to free speech just as he has to deal with the consequences resulting from what he says. However, Zulfikar and Tasmina are allowed to be autonomous human beings just as Mr. and Mrs. Murrell are too - the actions of a husband does not reflect on the actions of the wife, surely? I just don't understand why you're getting so uptight. Chill out man.
I don't think John Swinney has anything to fear from this budget. He has increasingly restored the SNPs reputation after a turbulent period.
ReplyDeleteSettling into the…
DeleteJust imagine the number of luxury campervans that can be bought with the extra money being sent!
DeleteLearn the difference between public funds and the finances of a political party.
DeleteAnon at 8.15am and anon at 9.08am - the SNP/Scotgov just waste public funds on lawyer fees trying to cover up their wrongdoings. And there has been a lot of wrongdoings to be covered up over the years.
DeletePublic funds. Party finances. Different things. And to date absolutely no credible evidence of wrongdoing. Any thoughts on the budget and its implications for Scotland?
DeleteAnon at 11.36am - says no credible evidence - laughable gaslighting. There was only a court case where the Scotgov threw in the towel after misleading and withholding information from both their own solicitors and the Court of Session judge. The judge
Deleteawarding the highest level of expenses possible due to the Scotgov 's actions. Oh and the Parliament Inquiry in to the actions of Sturgeon, her Scotgov and her special advisers.
No credible evidence says the gaslighter. Unbelievable.
That settles it. You are a troll. No one is that stupid.
DeleteI wonder how many of the enthusiastic dogfighters in the exchanges above have actually engaged recently n active interfaces with voters on the issues of independence. A few will but how many ?
ReplyDeleteDo something constructive for our future - bitching is cheap.
I gave up saying this Alt Clut. The response is abuse and vitriol.
ReplyDeleteThis now renamed as the IFS blogpost. Spoils any discussion on the topic which was about the budget supposedly.
ReplyDeleteAnonymousOctober 31, 2024 at 10:16 AM: Seconded.
DeleteStrange how much attention he needs. Maybe he's only 8.
DeleteAnon@10:31 I agree with myself. You're fooling nobody
DeleteAt least he managed to sleep from 00:40 to 10:00.
ReplyDeletePyscho troll stalker anon at 10.33am.
DeleteNot psycho. Just Human Resources!
DeleteThis now renamed as the ignorant anon troll blogpost who spoil all btl discussions by trolling.
ReplyDeleteCan you rearrange your words into a sentence?
DeleteNot for you troll at 11.40 am. If you want to do a puzzle away and look at your Britnat newspaper I'm sure there are plenty there.
DeleteSays it all really. Back to your room, and no supper for you.
DeleteCan James rearrange his moderation policy to one that supports the growth of his own blog, rather than the current situation, which drives people away?
ReplyDeleteEureka moment!
ReplyDeleteJames appoints IFS as moderator here, solves IFS-baiting clutter problem & general moderation (as neglected by James) problem all in one go.
IFS is in here a lot, ideal as a moderator.
Literacy and civility are surely essential requisites for a moderator? Rules IFS out completely.
DeleteIfS would be a great moderator! I second that motion. Better than feeding the trolls, give him the power to delete numpty comments and not just reply to them.
DeleteTruth be told, there are regularly quite interesting comments and the occasional debate here, but the trolling is epidemic and stifles the rest of us out.
You do know the suggestion is dripping in sarcasm? Apparently not. Good grief.
DeleteI honestly think it would be good as an experiment and potentially as a laugh. Win/win!
DeleteTrouble is IFS is not up for it. I am not in here every day just when I want to. When I'm not posting for weeks trolls just moan about me not posting. They are trolls - never happy one way or another.
DeleteSomething wrong with you people - you are obsessed with me - try focussing on the discussion points and not me.
Every one of you post as an anon. Says it all. Give yourself a consistent moniker and let's see what you have to say. That's the problem isn't it you ain't got anything worthwhile to say.
Every post on the suggestion that you be appointed moderator is soaked on sarcasm. You really are this stupid. Good grief.
DeleteAnon at 1.06pm - I know that and if you didn't realise that you are the diddy troll. I read your post at 12.42pm - good grief yourself ya numpty. You just demonstrate what I said in my post - you trolls ain't got anything worthwhile to say - the lowlifes of blogs.
DeleteAh the old I was fishing excuse. Stop digging dafty.
Delete+1 to adding additional Moderators!
ReplyDeleteInvestment is needed to modernise the blog and strengthen its defences.
DeleteWe need to consider someone of strategic vision who might be able to rise to these challenges. [*cough*]
(Please note that I am not referring to loose cannon IfS.)
So Nicola Sturgeon was paid £25,000 (plus £3000 for travel and accommodation) for her ITV appearance on election night.
ReplyDeleteOf course this is deemed ok by nationalists.
Yet in 2019, Ruth Davidson was paid £7,500 for a similar role, and nationalists were up in arms.
Nobody does hypocrisy like Nats.
Nicola Sturgeon is a nationalist?
DeleteTook reduced salary from public funds in all her time as F M. What is it with you lot that you don’t understand the difference between public funds and private finances?
DeleteWas the £620,000 ring fenced indyref2 fundraiser "private finances" in your world?
DeleteIn the context of public v private funds? Of course it was. Not the sharpest are you?
DeleteYou mean Baroness Lundin Links.
DeletePersonally I don't care what she got paid or what Truthless Davidson got paid. She shouldn't have been on the programme as she is someone under investigation for embezzlement. Yes I know innocent until proven guilty - didnae stop her pronouncing Salmond guilty on multiple occasions as FIrst Minister despite him actually being proven innocent. A person formally recorded as being under investigation should not have been on the programme - but that's Britnats for you they look after there own.
DeleteZzzzzzzzz
DeletePeople would care less if it wasn't for the blatant hypocrisy.
DeleteRuth Davidson was accused by the SNP's Rona Mackay of "picking up thousands in outside earnings while neglecting her actual job" when she was paid £7500 for a similar one night of work by ITV.
Mackay said: "Serving politicians who appear on election night broadcasts do so to represent their party - not to pick up a pay cheque. This payment is unprecedented – and she should now hand it back."
Will Nicola do that now?
She should. She should also pay back the 600k she stole, and resign in disgrace from the party. But she will do none of these. And one day she'll bend down and Charlie will give her the honours she deserves for her service.
DeleteIt's OK to accept Vladimir Putin's money for Russia today though
DeleteOr pay for your legal defense of molestation of women by crowdfunding the gullible
Salmond molested nobody (ask the jury who actually HEARD the case against him) and his RT show was an independent production. Try leaving your bigotry at the door next time.
DeleteIt was obviously just a coincidence that the alphabet women who
Deletemust not be named until the universe ends were known to Sturgeon.
It was very convenient for Sturgeon that the judge created that anonymity order.
███ █████ was even on the telly herself that night! Anonymity, my arse!
DeleteZzzzzzzz
Delete6.50pm are you a Russian soldier? If so get out of Ukraine.
DeleteBefore I posted on SGP I thought lowlifes like GWC were pretty appalling but this current crowd of lowlife trolls are something else. The British state hard at work giving them min wage jobs to post their crap.
ReplyDeleteAre you the neighborhood kook?
DeleteRight on cue a lowlife troll pops up.
DeleteMirror?
Delete6.10pm - try your local hardware store or B&Q. This is an independence blog not an online shop.
DeleteTo be fair Sturgeon was good on ITV and £25k not an outlandish sum.
ReplyDeleteClearly the psycho Britnat trolls that used to infest Wings over Scotland have migrated to SGP. The scum of the earth.
ReplyDeleteWe will!
DeleteClearly the psycho Britnat troll that used to infest Wings over Scotland have migrated to SGP. The scum of the earth
DeleteYou're such a star that wherever you go to troll the rest of your kind follows
I usually find that I'm very influential in whatever blog I choose to patronise.
DeleteI've never posted on WoS.
DeletePresident Jamez will delete disrespectful and unsound posts under the intelligence darkness cover while he defends. He is a very great man.
DeleteYou realise that’s you you’ve just described? Comedy gold.
ReplyDeleteHullo playmates. I'm pivotal.
DeleteThe Scotgov has binned the policy of jury free trials for sex assaults. Not before time. Another stupid policy led by that judge Dorian and that Brindley women. What a waste of time again. Is it just a coincidence that Salmond has just died and this policy is no longer required?
ReplyDeleteYes.
DeleteAre you really that stupid that you even think that? Conspirators.com Grow up.
DeleteAnon @ 5 19pm gave a straightforward answer to a QUESTION. Thank you for being civil.
DeleteAnon @ 6.15pm gave a typically aggressive answer of the trolls that post on SGP. You should grow up and get some manners. I posed a perfectly reasonable question. You sir need to behave better and be more civil to other posters.
That’s the spirit IfS, you tell these disrespectful tosspots to show some decorum!
Delete😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🥲
DeleteProposal announced the day after AS is cleared by a jury. Proposal dropped the day after he is buried. Do the maths.
DeleteAn excellent point made by Felix. That’s what you call debating. Much more informative than just abusing people like 6.15pm.
DeleteIFS at 6:40 - so you're saying that you posed the question at 2:59 as an "Anonymous"?
DeleteFelix at el beginning to rival WOS for the standard of comments.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThat's 'et al' stupid. If you're going to be a smart arse, make sure you're just not an arse.
DeleteThat got you all excited - clown 🤡 at 9.25pm. I knew a Sherlock Holmes wannabe would turn up sooner or later.
DeleteMediocrity knows nothing higher than itself while talent immediately recognises genius.
Delete😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
ReplyDeleteGrousebeater says the lady in black is named after a bank. Is it Liz Santander? I’ve been to Santander in northern Spain it’s a nice place.
ReplyDeleteUtter pish, sonny.
ReplyDeleteSourced from the pre-eminent UK Psephologist Sir John Curtice's site, the average of all Indy Polls so far in 2024, is -
YES 48%
No 52%
(DKs Removed)
Try harder.
Ta.
Wrong.
DeleteFor an average of 48% over 3 dozen or so polls, means that there were many OVER 48% and indeed a few over 50%.
But nevertheless the average is 48%.
DeleteWho is this sonny and where can you find his pish??
DeleteHi Dave I asked you earlier who this sonny is. There doesn’t seem to be a post from sonny. Is sonny your invisible friend that only you can see and talk to. You don’t seem to be very happy with him as you are saying he posts invisible pish. If it’s difficult for you to talk about it no problem.
Deletemissed two bullets- fuel - single person council tax
ReplyDeleteI am British and I wear British trousers and a jacket with elbow pads. Oo la la.
DeleteWhat are British trousers?
DeleteBritish trousers are designed especially for the House Jocks in Scotland. They drop in an instant at the sight of an Englishman.
Delete“ Ping ChromoOctober 31, 2024 at 8:41 PM
ReplyDeleteI am British and I wear British trousers and a jacket with elbow pads. Oo la la.”
Fascinating.
If only the site had a moderator to delete comments of zero salience…… oh, wait, apparently that’s James?
Watched Swinney for the first time today at FM questions. Goodness gracious, Yousaf was more quick witted than Swinney. Swinney is like a middle manager in a council office. Apart from that independence was never featured. It’s all Better Together stuff with Swinney bending over saying he will cooperate like a good House Jock does every day of their sad life.
ReplyDeleteGoodness gracious, you are not all that convincing. What’s your game?
DeleteTo be fair John Swinney has hit the ground running.
DeleteGolf is my game. Some say I am a golfnut. It’s Scotland’s game. It’s the Home of Golf. Thanks for showing an interest. What’s your game - hockey/tennis?
Delete“Swinney has hit the ground running “ he should have pulled his trousers up first after meeting Starmer.
DeleteIf YES was only at 48% then why would the UK government not be delighted and reveal the poll they keep refusing to reveal on the subject, they've hired expensive lawyers to go to their courts and been ordered to reveal the contents and still refuse
ReplyDeleteThey won't do it because it's not and never has been as low as 48% since before 2015
YES has been in the lead for years but the pollsters will never show it because like the media in Britain they're told what to do
That's one of the great benefits of being an independent country like England, they control the vertical the horizontal and everything in between
I totally agree. Great post. Are you Dr Jim by the way and do you really assault women? Or is that just a nasty lie?
DeleteAnon @9.31 PM Didn't Tommy Shepherd win that court case against the UK courts?
DeleteTommy Shepherd did win in court but the government still refuses to show the poll
DeleteAnyone doing anything good for Halloween?
ReplyDeleteWell there are some devilish trolls on SGP that don’t need to dress up.
DeleteSince Yousaf sacked the Greens unceremoniously, Swinney has been quietly dumping the garbage put together by the Greens and Sturgeon.
ReplyDeleteNaw - Somerville is still there.
DeleteIf Nicola was in a throuple with Kezia and Jenny would she be on top, in the middle or in the bottom of the sandwich. I make
ReplyDeleteserious documentaries for the BBC on important figures lifestyles.
Inappropriate comment.
DeleteVery inappropriate. It's obvious she would be on top. She is the boss after all.
DeleteGetting back to the original subject, the UK Budget announced by Labour is a disaster for all of the UK, including Scotland, as will become quickly evident as time goes by. In narrow political party terms, it hurts Labour and helps all of its enemies, including SNP but also Tories, Reform etc.
ReplyDeleteIt would help if you actually stated some reasons for your viewpoint.
Delete