https://thinkscotland.org/2023/01/th...cola-sturgeon/
New book out.
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https://thinkscotland.org/2023/01/th...cola-sturgeon/
New book out.
Looks riveting but think I’ll save my money.Quote:
Originally Posted by He's here!
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Looks dreadful. :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
Think he’s one of those guys who go on about North British and the like. Each to their own I guess.Quote:
Originally Posted by marinello59
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The only North British is a hotel. 😉Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
Been called the Balmoral for years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Moulin Yarns
For some, maybe, but it's the North British Hotel and its clock is permanently fast.Quote:
Originally Posted by Santa Cruz
SNP plan to ban alcohol logos on pint glasses as they step up war on booze.
https://twitter.com/ewmc1969/status/...Ho0C6Gy6s9snow
I gave up after "Barmy SNP bigwigs".Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveHFC
From a Scottish Sun article that doesn't contain a single quote from an SNP spokesperson to suggest anything that matches the article's claim. Not to mention that the article starts with "The nats....".Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveHFC
I swear, the media on this island. I notice the BBC are making absolutely no mention of Nadhim Zahawi's tax fraud, despite clearly being in the public interest. I'm sure Richard Sharp has absolutely nothing to do with that decision, no siree.
I love the different glasses, campervan, beaverton and vocation some of my favouriteQuote:
Originally Posted by SteveHFC
Mhairi Black:
https://twitter.com/MhairiBlack/stat...CXjXDM5ZQ-4XYA
Quote:
Ultimately, Trade Unions work and that is exactly why the Tories are going after them.
Chief whip quits 6 weeks into job.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dai...p-28974596.amp
So what?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7
Aggressive wierd post for an article being put up. It's political newsQuote:
Originally Posted by grunt
A bit strong. Is he not allowed to post story's about the SNP on the thread about the SNP?Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7
Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
A non story, he stepped down due to time commitments and not political reasons, hence it's a non story.
Thank you for your post. What do you infer from this announcement? Do you think it shows the SNP in a bad light, another example of SNP mismanagement, or is it simply that the person has discovered he doesn't have the time for these additional duties?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7
I doubt he stepped down due to time commitments, he knew roughly what it would take 6 weeks ago. But I wasn't making that point its political news who the Westminster chief whip is, it'll now be Brendan O'Hara. Don't know much about him apart from he called rangers huns, which I likeQuote:
Originally Posted by J-C
I admit it is possible to read this post as being aggressive although it was not intended as such. It was late so I cut to the essence of my response.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7
I'm not aware my post contained any suggestion he should not have posted, I merely enquired what he thought about the announcement.Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
Isn't it a shame that nowadays people's first reaction is to disbelieve the politician's explanation?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7
Don't really think much about it it's not huge news. I think the new whip is closer aligned to Stephen flynn. I think flynn and black can make a big impression. I think blackford and NS will look stale in 5 years or whenever the next referendum can be, I'd perhaps prefer the former two to front itQuote:
Originally Posted by grunt
That's not a nowadays thing. Most things that politicians have been spouting for decades are full of spin pr and untruths. Political class are worth the watchingQuote:
Originally Posted by grunt
So when Nadhim Zahawi says his tax affairs are up to date your first reaction is to believe him? Or when Boris Johnson said he never partied in Downing Street your first reaction was he was telling the truth?Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
Or is it only certain political parties where it's a shame people's first reaction is to disbelieve their explanation.
Perhaps you'd like to read this bit of the conversation again. You seem to have lost the plot.Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
So what did you mean when you said "Isn't it a shame that nowadays people's first reaction is to disbelieve the politician's explanation"Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
Were you referring to all politicans? Or you just happen to believe him for some unspecified reason?
I, and most people I know, would automatically assume Boris Johnson isn’t telling the truth given the form. I would naturally be more inclined to believe someone who I don’t know to be a proven serial liar, until I was given reason not to.Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
Is that wrong of me?
It was a general comment about my perception that the quality of integrity in modern day politicians has significantly diminished. I put a lot of this down to Johnson and his lying cheating self-serving fascist cronies, but my comment was about how it has affected our views of all politicians.Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
My views are pretty close to yours here, I think it has proliferated during the term of the current Nasty parties time in office and the acceleration of misconduct, increasing number of crooks and lies being the default position is down to Bozo surrounding himself, in the main, with people who to varying degrees are like him and would only stand up to him to save their own skin.Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
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This is surely worth a thread of its own.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7
Witty and insightful.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64323872
Hopefully the SG won't be entrusted with the construction ;-)
Another move towards direct rule from London. They have got rid of devolution in NI, Scotland is next.Quote:
Originally Posted by He's here!
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Hilarious.Quote:
Originally Posted by He's here!
Meanwhile here's the estimated cost of one of the options for the restoration and rebuild of the Palace of Westminster.
£22 billion and up to 76 years to complete.
£22 billion.
https://assets.ctfassets.net/vuylkhq...society.org.uk
Levelling up.[emoji6]Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The cost control around the palace of westminster fiasco makes the Nasty party's PPE payola for their pals look like shrewd financial management.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
They were talking about the latest estimated completion costs being 12bn in Nov 21.
Good to see so many hefty donators to the nasties in this trough as well.
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Any links to the aircraft carriers progress at sea or Ajax armoured vehicles project progress?Quote:
Originally Posted by He's here!
Westminster/UK Government was responsible for building the Scottish Parliament £40m estimate to over £400m final cost.Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
All you’ve done is highlight the money wasted tarting up WestminsterQuote:
Originally Posted by Jack
No one ever remembers that the £40m figure so often cast up was made by the Scottish Office (so, yes, Westminster) before any location had been identified and before any plans drawn up for the building. A figure almost literally plucked from the air. But it was useful as a stick to hit Scotland with ... and it still is, as posters on here demonstrate.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack
Any old angle will do, doesn't have to be accurate or even remotely factual. Nothing in the UK works properly, there is a lot more wrecking and wastefulness coming this year with the "bonfire of EU regulations" but the parochial vendettas must be adhered to.Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-64337970Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
Fair Isle residents seem pretty chuffed.
And in further good news for the islands...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-64330367
I'm sure they are.Quote:
Originally Posted by He's here!
Are you happy with the settled will of the Scottish people being undermined?
Second one is like the city deals where they are jointly funded and delivered by both governments, which is how it should be. The first one bypassing the Scottish Parliament is not how things should happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by He's here!
Indeed it is another example of ignoring democracy. We voted for the Scottish parliament to deal with devolved areas but it is being taken away from us without a vote.Quote:
Originally Posted by Moulin Yarns
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
perhaps I’ve got the wrong end of the stick, I’m sure Jack can clarify, I thought he was criticising WM rather than holyrood/Scotland in what he said…
Maybe what we should be doing is questioning why the funding was not made available sooner for the Fair Isle ferry, the islanders have been asking for long enough. Politics is supposed to be about delivering for people, something that seems to be completely forgotten about as people concentrate on supporting their own political favourites. (See the ongoing ferry build saga, the islanders who have had their lives blighted by a second rate service are rarely given a thought. I may have mentioned this several times before. :greengrin )Quote:
Originally Posted by Moulin Yarns
If you have travelled to Fair Isle by sea you will know that it requires a specialised and therefore much more expensive vessel capable of making the sea passage from Shetland and servicing their small harbour. . There was a fair bit spent on infrastructure in the early 90s improving the jetties etc but what was really needed, even back then , is a proper Ro Ro service. I’m glad they are finally going to get one. I’d love to be there to join in the celebrations. :greengrin
I saw the pictures of a car being lifted on or off the boat and flashed back to the early 1970s, going to Lewis and that's how they were loaded back then. Seems crazy nowadays. Don't suppose most goods go by plane?Quote:
Originally Posted by marinello59
Let’s wait and see if they ever get it.Quote:
Originally Posted by marinello59
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Leader of Glasgow City Council not happy with levelling up funds allocation / process:
Quote:
We’ve been analysing today’s so-called Levelling Up outcomes. In short, it’s nothing of the sort. It takes money away from deprived urban areas to give to wealthy towns. It blatantly targets resources away from some of the most socially & economically challenged communities
The value of Levelling Up projects in Scotland is £348m of which Glasgow has been awarded 3.7%. Based on our population share it should have been 3 times that. Based on the proportion of people living in Scotland’s most deprived communities it should be 15 times as much
This has turned out not to be the open bidding process we were told it would be. It has actually *cost* Glasgow money. Based on the evidence of these outcomes, we’ve major concerns the process has been seriously skewed & I’ve raised this with Michael Gove today
Nowhere offers a greater opportunity to level up than Glasgow. Yet some of the wealthiest areas of the country have been supported at the expense of areas with the greatest need. On every metric, the UK government has failed to level up and has failed Glasgow.
That's a surprise.Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
While the leader of Shetland council is delighted, sounds like it will really change people's life's for the better. What's not to like.
"It's no exaggeration to say that this funding from the UK government has saved Fair Isle as an inhabited island," she says.
"There would have been no other way for us to sustainably fund such a project.
"This is a truly great day for Fair Isle and for Shetland and we are grateful for the honest, open and productive dialogue we have had with the Scotland Office and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities throughout the process."
Yeah a Westminster fail.Quote:
Originally Posted by McD
Also it wasn't a Scottish Office failure. The people/staff responsible for the Holyrood project were parachuted in to Scottish Office open plan office space but didn't really mix with the locals, doing similar but smaller projects.
It was a time when there were smoking rooms in office buildings and I shared one with folk working on the other projects. We weren't kept short of gossip!
Voters in conservative seats got nearly £20 more per head than voters in similarly deprived non-tory constituencies in the latest round of hunger games UK.Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
I was in those smoking rooms too. Not all staff were interdepartmental transfers, a fair number were existing staff who had been redeployed. I learnt early in my working life you should never listen to gossips, what they don't know they make up. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack
"family left homeless after the government repossess home are delighted when given a tent"Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
One of the benefits of this funding has been the opportunity to set council against council, Scot against Scot. "What's not to like" indeed.Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
I am missing something, who had their home repossessed by the Government and what's that got to do with the story?Quote:
Originally Posted by Zambernardi1875
Funnily enough most people won't see it like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
Indeed.Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
And this is why we've got a Tory Government in the UK.Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
I am glad you too dislike the snp ignoring the settled will of the Scottish people in 2014 :thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Glory Lurker
Millions wasted in daft, expensive applications as well. Still some consultancy firms will have made healthy profits with nothing show for it, which the Tory Party loves.Quote:
Originally Posted by ronaldo7
Sent from my SM-A528B using Tapatalk
****ing wey hey, did we unilaterally leave the union and I mist it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Skol
Do you even get a vote in Scotland?Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg
They may certainly be waiting a long time if they let the SG anywhere near the tendering process.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
:greengrin Made me chuckleQuote:
Originally Posted by He's here!
One of the funniest things I've ever read on here. Been chuckling to myself about that one. 😉Quote:
Originally Posted by He's here!
Supporters of this UK Government levelling up allocation will no doubt be pleased that Edinburgh's King's Theatre was unsuccessful in its bid for funding and will likely close for good.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Berwickhibby
This must be the reason there are so few Tory comedians. Maybe have to call you the chuckle brothers from now on.Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
I've asked this if you before and you keep blanking it. Can you give us all some perspective on the aircraft carriers and Ajax armoured vehicles as you are such an expert on procurement and completion of public projects. I won't hold my breathQuote:
Originally Posted by He's here!
Why would anyone be pleased at that news?Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
My perspective is it's really poor, generally governments are really bad at this kind of thing and we all deserve better. Do you expect people to say anything other than that? Like what a great job the government is doing wasting millions of pounds?Quote:
Originally Posted by weecounty hibby
I think this response demonstrates why this is a humour free zone these days. It wasn’t the funniest joke ever but it was mildly amusing. That’s how points used to be made on here, with a bit of humour , often self deprecating.Quote:
Originally Posted by weecounty hibby
I’d love to see us return to that rather than the Twitter style aggression we are getting now. C’mon guys, we can all do better. :greengrin
The is not a dig at you weecounty, honest. I include myself in those who need to lighten up a bit more. Geez, the Tories give us plenty of material. :greengrin
I get it and often the written word just doesn't come across as its intended. But that particular poster only ever posts snp/sg bad links and doesn't even respond when asked about other areas. Still a struggle to laugh at anything that is being made out to be an improvement when the cold hard facts are that overall Scotland is worse off due to the European v levelling up grants. Tens of millions of pounds down and losing control. Hard to laugh really.Quote:
Originally Posted by marinello59
In answer to James, no I dont expect anyone to say it's good but a but of perspective is required when discussing how good or bad projects have been. It can't all be SG is pish but let's ignore the billions wasted by Westminster. And for me it's a new thing. As an independence supporter I was chuffed to buts when we got our own parliament. As an SNP supporters I campaigned for the party but when Labour were in power I was mostly very supportive of the sg. Now it appears that all the opposition parties have us to try to denigrate everything the SG does. Scotland isn't all bad and not everything we do is pish, but looking in on here and tye MSM you'd be forgiven for thinking it was. With the obvious exception of the SNP support. As a mid 50s politically active person I have never seen so many people so excited when things go wrong.
Rail strikes? SNP need to sort it! SNP sorted it, let's now ignore that. Health? Ditto. Prison Officers, same. It must be difficult being so negative about everything all the time.
As another reply as well. I can be a right miserable ******* as well tho😀Quote:
Originally Posted by marinello59
:greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by weecounty hibby
When the Scottish Parliament was launched it was in the main a place of hope and potential, in the early years it did some really great things like the smoking ban, building the new Forth Road Bridge etc and there was talented politicians in the Parliament.Quote:
Originally Posted by weecounty hibby
Now all I see is constant fighting and petty constitutional point scoring from all parties, and the talent...well there is very little of it in any party. Most of the questions are planted or pre scripted and they repeat the same things over and over. It's stale and boring now.
Of course we have different views but I want both governments to work together, that's kind of what devolution was about for me, we get control of things more locally like health and education but we also benefit from being part of something larger as well and the benefits that brings.
We do however live in Scotland, pay our taxes in Scotland, and the vast majority of our services are managed by a Scottish Government so people will criticise the Scottish Government, why wouldn't they? That's healthy yes? I think part of that comes from the picture that some paint that Scotland is somehow different and better than everyone, Scottish exceptionalism is it called? So when something goes wrong people will point and go look see your just as bad as everyone else. If you (not you personally) are going to bang on about how we in Scotland are better and different then when things go wrong it will be amplified, see the Ferries.
We can criticise both governments though when we are being let down by them both.
All in my opinion of course...
Vast majority of taxes are paid to London. We get some of that sent back.Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We get more back than we send, or is the below wrong? Tell me how it's wrong if you believe that to be the case.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
https://theferret.scot/claim-scotlan...ts-back-false/
But you make my point for me, it's the same old stale arguments over and over. Next it will be tell us the benefits of the Union, someone will list some and they will be ignored and then someone will say something else that has been gone over thousands of times before.
Could be even funnier, in an ironically expensive to the taxpayer sort of way, if UK government just decided to do away with a properly controlled tendering process again and just had one of their Lord Deighton type payolas for the favoured few?Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
Surely Baroness Mone could give wee Gove another quick ring and promise to rustle up a couple of overpriced battleships and a couple of aircraft carriers?
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Your earlier posts appeared to be very happy that Westminster was allocating the levelling up funds in the way they were. So presumably you're happy that the King's didn't get any.Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
Is this your way of telling us that you're not going to post in future?Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
No, I am happy for the ones that did and sad for the ones that didn't. Why would anyone be happy, I don't get it?Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
Only if you do the same?Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
Really? If I stop posting you will too? (Wonder if I can get sponsorship for this ...)Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
You can do as you wish, it's a shame you don't like opposite views though, don't you think it's enough of an echo chamber already?Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
I do now. Even without one I still would have partied.Quote:
Originally Posted by Berwickhibby
Ahh Ex Pats could not vote at the last referendum…this could be a game changer if they get to vote if there is anotherQuote:
Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg
It's complicated.Quote:
Originally Posted by Berwickhibby
Not really either you’re a Scottish resident and you can or you are a German resident and you cannot. Anything else is electoral fraud. I was in Malta during the last referendum and was unable to vote.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg
This post says that you will stop posting if I do. Will you commit to that?Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
It's complicated.Quote:
Originally Posted by Berwickhibby
I’m picturing you both heading off to the hibs.net afterlife together. And spending all eternity arguing. :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by grunt
You do what you want, it was a bit tounge in cheek. We are grown ups aren't we?Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
But if it keeps you really happy if you don't post on the Tory thread I won't post on this thread. I think you would be more lost than me though. Or we can be grown up and keep posting what we want?
Whilst I would never want to see either poster from both sides of the debate leave and diminish the range of opinion and the place turn into an echo chamber, your lighthearted comment means I just can't get the Yellowbrick Road out my head now.[emoji16]Quote:
Originally Posted by marinello59
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It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.Quote:
Originally Posted by marinello59
I just wanted to be clear that you're going back on your commitment. Thought you would.Quote:
Originally Posted by James310
Chill out a bit, we are both adults and can surely post what we want within the site guidelines? You keep saying you have me on ignore but if you keep replying to me it would be rude to ignore you. Just don't reply, or put me on ignore.Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
Want my ticket for Sunday? 😁Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
(For anyone that doesn’t know and therefore won’t get the reference, we’re Hibernian FC fans on here)
Given your track record of the law as it applies in Scotland I'd suggest you're on shakey ground.Quote:
Originally Posted by Berwickhibby
I would sell you mine and you can have a wee gossip with Grunt? 😂Quote:
Originally Posted by WeeRussell