A grand day greeted the ‘Yes’ marchers from all over Scotland as they gathered in Edinburgh for the first of three planned annual rallies.
The Meadows gradually filled to the sound of Capital disco playing all the favourites from their special double decker bus. The march set off to the sound of the pipes and drums playing Scotland the Brave. What else.
The 30 strong Oban contingent massed at the front and set off to Princess St Gardens via the mound. The snake was well over a mile long as the march passed the original parliament offices on the Royal mile.
Greeted in the gardens by host for the day ..singer and writer Pat Kane of Hue and Cry then entertained and enriched by speakers including First Minister Alex Salmond, Margo MacDonald MSP, writer and broadcaster, Ruth Wishart, a recent convert, and Patrick Harvie MSP from the Green Party.
Music and speeches were well recieved by the large crowd….probably a little less than the 10,000 hoped for…but not by much…and the campaign has begun for real!
Campbell Cameron
Accompanying photographs by Campbell Cameron
We’re on our way to independence. Great day! so many foreign tourists engaged with us and very supportive.
Throughout the day the sentiment which shone through was ambition for our country. Who dares undermine that noble challenge?
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Police estimated the number present at only five thousand , half the figure claimed by Campbell Cameron .
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Radio Independence Scotland report a clicker at Greyfriars yesterday logged 11,984 marchers on the March and Rally – I was being conservative (with a small c) in estimating numbers – but it was busy in Princess St gardens!
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Nice to hear that everyone had a good time but how many could actually vote?
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5,000?? – That’ll put the fear o’ death intae ‘Better Together’ camp.
There wiz nearly double that at the Hibs v ICT game later on in the day – and they had tae pay to get in!!
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Listening to Radio Scotland this morning I was astounded to hear one of the commentators state, without any contradiction from the rest of the panel, that perhaps one of the reasons why the Scottish print media was in such a dire state was that the entire Scottish Press was Unionist and consistently and unselectively opposed to any alternative.In this it clearly fails to represent a considerable body of Scottish opinion. My surprise was not at the obvious truth of the statement but that it was the first time I had heard the view officially aired.
I was on the march yesterday and as a veteran of such events can guarantee that the police estimate, as usual,was on the low side. I note that IFE and Simon along with Patricia Ferguson MSP and David McLetchie MSP, are scathing about the attendance. I wait with interest the corresponding Better Together demonstration although I am sure it will not take place! .
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see above – so more than the match….but growing!
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Nationalist poison was drip fed to the media pre Olympics to the effect that Hampden Park would be practically empty for the football matches being played there , as there was no interest in Scotland etc etc .
I attended the Honduras V Morocco game and there were 38,000 people in the crowd many having payed £40 each to attend . That is almost EIGHT TIMES the turnout of yesterday .
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It serves no one, unionist or nationalist to ‘debate’ without respect for other views or the right of other people to hold them, or to use phrases like nationalist poison or indeed unionist poison. For Argyll, the onus is on you to prevent the blogs from turning poisonous themselves, you have a responsibility. Perhaps a start is to make all bloggers accountable by using their real names.
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I agree accountability is the way forward and For Argyll has come a long way in a short time. In my opinion further success will follow them. Far more dynamic than the Oban Times, BUT creditability will diminish on the blog side, the key part of this site, unless all bloggers become accountable by using their real names.
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JS – there are surely occasions when bloggers could be the victims of vindictive behaviour if they are, in effect, ‘whistleblowers’, and can be identified.
Having said that, some people do seem to see their anonymity as freeing them from any need to be couth.
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It is certainly noticable that the more outspoken and ruder commentators are more likely to be pseudonyms. As RW says, the anonymity seems to be a mask they can hide behind and throw insults at other contributors without worrying about any repercussions. Think of the more outrageous comments over the last year and think of how few of these people were brave enough to put their real name to them. However, if it was necessary to use your real name, how could it be verified that the name given was real?
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We agree.
We continue to hope that people will self- edit as we prefer not to be interventionist.
The independence issue – as the wind farm issue – is at the top of the list of topics likely to produce the lazy insult rather than the informed point.
The debate over Scotland or Team GB needs to be conducted on issues,facts and reasoned argument – and with respect for the contrary view.
It should not focus on dishing out abuse – which is nothing close to debate or to collective exploration.
In a way we are hoping that this prompt has some constructive effect – but we will keep an eye on this and if it crosses a line we hope responsible if impassioned folk will draw for themselves, we will edit out what we must.
Unreasoned passion is dangerous and it exists on both sides. Detached argument is a helpful contributor; and passionate reason can legitimately light bushfires. Fake facts are quickly sniffed out and blaming is tedious.
Whatever we decide to do on this issue, we have to take it seriously and to consider seriously the alternate view. Whichever that is for each of us – it might be right.
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Posters then start using alais’s!
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Who won the football games at Hampden or were there more than one?
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Jnr Tick – Honduras and Morocco drew 2-2, but the big surprise of the day was in the second match when Japan beat Spain 1-0
It was a great day out, though I’m not sure that it (or the Olympics generally) has much to do with the independence debate… IFE claims many paid £40 a ticket, but doesn’t say what he paid for his. I went with my family and we got free tickets on account of my son’s membership of an Oban football club – not sure how many tickets ended up being distributed this way, but for the women’s Olympic football the previous day the BBC report that four-fifths of the tickets were given away free.
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How many were at the “Better together” rally so we can compare?
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Last march I attended and feel vindicated in doing so was the ‘Stop the war’ coalision in Glasgow just before USA, Britain, (yes Scottish soldiers too) and allies bombed Baghdad murdering hundreds of thousands. Sadly due to commitments arranged a few months ago I could not attend the rally on Saturday much to my displeasure not to mention shame. Well done to the approximate 10,000 who spent money in these difficult times, travelled long distances and most of all showed a committment to what is absolutely imperative for our nation’s progression. Slowly but surely the myths, mistruths, brainwashing, the slurs on our character and so on are being redressed certainly not through traditional media such as newspapers but these new platforms.
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Fellow feeling here. I was a virgin marcher at the Anti Iraq War in Glasgow. And John Swinney was the big surprise. Tommy Sheridan did his usual autopilot rant which crowds uncritically love – but Swinney was deadly. I’ve not seen him speak as well, as lethally – and without any rhetorical screeching. Everyone listened to every word he said – and the PA was useless since the authorities had forbidden a proper system.
I won’t forget the age range, from students with saucepan lids and wooden spoons to determined elderly folk on zimmers, the banners, the cars hooting support and that stilling placard: ‘Not in my name’.
There’s also a link between this and For Argyll.
My sister and I walked back across the Clyde from the SECC afterwards to find our car – and were walking with a fellow marcher we’d met who was a salesman.
He asked where we stayed – and when we said ‘Argyll’ he had no idea where that was – yet he was a Glasgow guy, always on the road, with Loch Lomond on his doorstep and the A82 and A83 roads he must have been travelling regularly.
That was the moment when it was clear something needed to be done and some of us could have a go at contributing to it.
Actually, I do see a growing sense of an Argyll identity now. It would be good to think we’ve helped – but at least we’re working at it and the community of contributors here – wherever they’re from, play a huge part.
Lynda
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I too was on that march, I can remember workmen on a building site banging anything to make a noise to join in, all different communities joined in for one aim, Stop the War. The shameful walk of shame by some labour members doing a pathetic walk out of their conference to ease their conscious. It was the unity of the people, biggest march Scotland has witnessed, not led by any political party. Many lasting memory’s, the expression of a young guy face playing the drum on top of the lead open top bus at the start, an other memory when one of the speakers burst into song, sadly I believe he is no longer with us. The drumming was awesome. A very powerful day when the people marched and the government ignored us. Could that event have an effect on the vote in 2014.
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Do you remember the helicopter that came over Glasgpw Green before the march set off? Someone shouted ‘Tony Blair getting off early’ – because the plan of the march was to make a massive noise outside the SECC since Blair was scheduled to speak to the Labour Conference inside at the time of the arrival of the marchers.
He had boasted days earlier that he wouldn’t ‘run away’ but when we all got to the SECC it emerged that he had had the schedule changed, had spoken at 10.00am and was well away – so the helicopter may well have been Blair having a look at what he would have faced had he not ‘run away’.
Like you, I remember the very moving sense of the will of the people.
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Load of diversionary tripe going on here: the turn out, whether it was the higher and most optimistic (but still pathetically paltry) figure of 10,000, or the police figures of 5,000 is quite immaterial. Two years before a referendum if all that can bothered to turn out and demonstrate in the capital is somewhere between 5,000 and 10000 – that by any stretch of the imagination is not a ‘good’ turn out.
It certainly does not (to steal Newsie’s phrase) demonstrate “the very moving sense of the will of the people”.
To put it into some perspective the higher 10k figure only matches that attained by those who attended the Hibs game later in the day.
Or better still contrast the turn-out of this miserable motley crew with a similar independence demonstration in Barcelona a couple of weeks ago. That demonstration attracted 1.5 million people from a population of 7.5 million – ie 20% of the population turned-out.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/11/catalan-independence-rally-barcelona
For the SNP, their apparatchiks and other assorted hangers-on to achieve anything like a turn out comparable to Catalonia it would need to attract a similar one-fifth of our population, or just over 1 million people. Rather than the quite pathetic (and at best) 1% turn-out it claims to have achieved.
By any measure or contrast this miserable gathering of the ever-to-be-relied-on-hardy-zealots, laughingly called the Scottish Independence Demonstration, was nothing more than an embarrassing damp squib and clear evidence that once you strip away the SNP sound-bites there is, as yet, no great enthusiasm for an independent Scotland.
Let’s face it, the SNP claimed a membership of over 20,000 in 2011.( http://www.scottishtimes.com/snp_membership_rockets_libdems_crash ) The rampant apathy that greeted this independence demonstration was such that at best less than 50% of the claimed SNP membership could be bothered to get off their erchie on a Saturday for a such a well-publicised and important demonstration of nationalist fervour.
‘No great enthusiasm’ may well yet prove to be an understatement.
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Simon – oh dear, I think your honeymoon with Doc looks about to come to an abrupt end…
Large demonstrations are usually to try & persuade governments to change their mind. As far as I’m aware, the Catalonians have not been promised a referendum. Scots don’t need to change the SG’s mind, so apart from the fun of the jamboree, and perhaps a hope of buiding some momentum in public opinion, there’s not much to march for. I don’t remember any huge ‘Yes Yes’ demonstrations before the devolution referendum, yet it won by a huge margin.
Newsie’s ‘moving sense of the will of the people’ applied, I think, to the anti-war marches, not the independence one.
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I think Tim has put his finger on it.
I’m a firm supporter of independence but I wasn’t at the march as I already had a busy weekend and did not see attendance at the march as essential. I would have liked to have been there but more from a sense of occasion rather than a feeling I was contributing to change. I don’t think Saturday’s march tells us much about anything.
What matters will be the turnout and the voting preferences of Scots at the actual referendum in 2014. If in the meantime Unionists want to find comfort from attendances at marches then I’m happy to let them. The more complacency there is in the Unionist camp, the easier it will be for the Yes campaign to persuade a majority of Scots to vote for independence. Oh happy day.
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I have several Catalonian friends and I am happy to reassure the anonymous Simon that they all recognise that Scotland has made much more progress than they have in the actual mechanics of achieving independence.
Saturday’s march was a colourful, enjoyable,good natured, and outgoing experience. It was arranged by an individual, without party political input into its organisation, and brought together many of the strands that make up civic Scotland.It was a useful marker for the start of an extended campaign. No stones were thrown, no cars were burnt and spectators along the route, whether Scots or visitors, when not recording the event and doubtless reporting it more accurately than the Scottish media, often burst into spontaneous and supportive applause.
There was one potential incident at the back of the rally in Princes Street gardens, before the speeches, when two hooded representatives, allegedly from the BNP, had planted a Union flag and were shouting abuse but they were swiftly “huckled” by Lothian police.Perhaps that was the alternative rally – or then again could it have been the Tory chief whip?
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Marches and rallies can be profoundly deceptive in both directions. Who will forget the sense of genuine shock when John Major won the 1992 general election after Neil Kinnocks’s Sheffield rally? What happened was that many of those in public support later confessed to a last consideration of the potential impact on their wallets of a Labour government and with pencil poised over ballot paper, directed it away from the intentions they’d brought into the booth.
The worry about the general tenour of what you’re saying here is its incipient triumphalism and this is a feature of the SNPs failure to generate an inclusiveness in the process of decision taking.
There are unthinking partisans on both sides of this issue, there is complacency on both, there is reasoned argument on both.
Everyone has to understand the reasoned arguments of the contrary view so that, whatever the choice made in 2014, we can all see the logic and the strategic way forwards – because it will need everyone to make work whichever route is chosen.
We can’t be like the EU, making Denmark and Ireland vote and vote again until they come up with ‘the right answer’.
If we end up with ‘winners’ and losers’ we will all have lost; and frankly, if we can’t achieve better than that, there’s little point in change.
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Tim, thanks but yes I realised that I was mis-appropriating Newsie’s quote that’s why I said ‘to steal Newsie’s phrase’.
Staunch defence of such a miserable turn-out from the usual suspects on here – I suppose that is only to be expected. But seriously, if you can’t turn out even 50% of your own membership for such an event it truly is a bad day.
A demosntration for Independence? Be honest, in reality it was more a demonstration of abject apathy as the Nats failed to energise and enthuse even their own supporters.
Some of course ‘already had busy weekends’, others w-e-l-l they couldnae be ersed to be honest. Oh happy day indeed.
Three-line whip for the next one methinks as the Fat Controoller aka Wee Eck will be chapping at the door of “Doc” and others asking to see the sick line. After all “the SNP is a ‘totalitarian’ and ‘intellectually dumb’ party” ((c) Jim Sillars). And non-attendance will not tolerated regardless of how busy you are.
Have a nice day
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Newsie “incipient triumphalism and this is a feature of the SNPs failure to generate an inclusiveness in the process of decision taking”. Well at this demo the SNP failed even to generate more than 50% of its own members to attend. People like “Doc” were too busy…
For a party laying claim to a radical and dynmanic change in our system of government – this is a pathetic public failure to enthuse your own members far less the general public.
Will they go ahead with the other after this? We’ll see but my guess is that, as Jim Sillars said, most Scots prefer being 90 mins patriots.
ps If that photo at the top is of Campbell Cameron wie yon blue fleece on – he ain’t half aged….
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Not sure where the accusations of “incipient triumphalism” come from. This wasn’t an SNP organised rally. If it was, then “Simon” is quite right, the SNP membership would have been whipped into organised phalanxes our jack boots shiny, marching behind our glorious Leader, banners streaming.
Aye right. Simple fact is that this march was neither important or significant. I would say the same if the turnout had been twice what it was or even ten times. Let the Westminster Government declare the independence referendum illegal and they won’t abide by the result THEN judge the mood by the turnout at the inevitable march. (Not that this is going to happen).
No-one in the “yes” camp is sufficiently relaxed at the moment to be expressing “triumphalism”. The opinion polls show that we have an uphill struggle to persuade our fellow Scots of the wisdom of independence (though there is a quiet confidence that this will be achieved). I’m sure there will be celebrations if the Yes campaign wins and I’m also sure there will be sour grapes and cries of “doom, doom” from the No campaigners if that is the case but no more than that.
Will the opposite happen if the “No” campaign wins? That I’m not so sure about and will crucially depend on what the Unionists parties deliver in terms of enhanced powers for Holyrood. A lot of nationalists (and apparently the clear majority of Scots) will be comforted by an expansion of the Parliament’s powers and view that as a superb consolation prize.
The position is much more stark for the Unionists but there may be silver linings as it may help their political fortunes (especially the Tories) when they are divorced from their London based compatriots.
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I am the bloke in the blue fleece and I am entitled to look older than Campbell Cameron for the simple reason that I am considerably older.
Campbell is as hale and hearty as ever.
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“Doc” – “Simple fact is that this march was neither important or significant*” Oh really?
Well forgive me for saying so but given the terrible turnout you would say that wouldn’t you?
*Betcha you wouldn’t have said that if 1 million had turned out
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“Simon” I would have been pleased if 1 million had turned out, but it would still be neither important or significant as it won’t change anything. We have the referendum and the (rough) date. What more can we pro-independence campaigners want (other than a positive result in 2014)?
Good to see that you and “Newsie” are now having a love in. I was never comfortable with the concept.
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The Doc’s right, whatever side of the fence one sits on, it’s the vote on the day that counts. The number of folk who turn up at a rally is not at all relevant especially as there’s a long way to go until the referendum – but a cheery occasion I’m sure.
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Well thanks for stating the blindingly bliddy obvious there “Doc” and Lowry.
Of course it’s the vote on the day that counts. But let’s get real here this ‘planned annual rally’ was supposed to kick off the ‘Yes’ campaign – as Campbell Cameron stated “and the campaign has begun for real!”
The turnout was pathetic and no amount of SNP spinning of ‘robust defence’ will change that. The turnout was pathetic.
Ken – apologies – didn’t think it was Campbell – no big hairy beard. Ken – you look great there mate.
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A couple of wee corrections Simon:
a) – the YES campaign was launched on May 25th, three months ago, so this rally can hardly be described as a ‘launch’
b) – the rally was staged under the banner Independence for Scotland and was not part of the official Yes Scotland campaign.
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So those in the photo’s with the YES banners/cards were at the wrong rally ? How stupid of them!
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Pot, kettle , black….responding to Gus mackay is rarely a productive exercise but could I suggest that while the march was in support of Independence for Scotland, those who carried placards stating “YES” were in support of that cause.
My family had a long tradition of active support for the Labour party in Argyll and I recall how my father used to explain to me when I was a child the importance of countries like India and Ireland gaining control over their own destiny. Mind you he also spoke about the obscenity of nuclear weapons and the massive importance of the NHS and the principle that care should be free at the point of delivery.At that time the abolition of the House of Lords was a stated aim of the party.As a working class boy who got to university he would have been appalled at the notion of the Labour Party introducing student fees. I suspect that he would not have been singularly unimpressed with either Blair or Brown.
Devolution, even in times of financial stricture, has mostly worked well for Scotland and it has worked best in those areas where services, like Health and Education are in our Holyrood’s control and our own priorities are able to be addressed – contrast those with the chaos under Westminster control! The progression to independence is part of the process started in 1999 and perhaps the most significant factors of Saturday’s rally were the contributions from Dennis Canavan, Ruth Wishart and the growing Scottish Labour for Independence movement.
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Scots Renewables – as far as a) is concenred – “and the campaign has begun for real!” so best you take that up with Campbell Cameron, and b) Who cares? But of courrse the heavy hitters were all there – “Alex Salmond, Margo MacDonald MSP, writer and broadcaster, Ruth Wishart, a recent convert, and Patrick Harvie MSP from the Green Party”.
Sir Sean would’ve been there but of course he is such a patriot that he’s a tax exile and can’t come back that often.
Whilst Alan Cumming and fellow Hollywood actor Brian Cox who actually took part in the official launch are both based in and live in the US and like the “doc” ‘were too busy’.
Regadless of who organised it – it was a very, very poor turnout and hopefully indicative of the rampant apathy Scots feel towards the SNP message.
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I am unsure whether marches/rallys actually persuade many whether to vote one way or the other however, what I believe they are successful in achieving is raising awareness, getting Scots talking about politics, especially the referendum. What we should all be hoping for is more than the usual 50% turnout for elections where apathy is rife so the more rallys whatever your persuasion the better. Unfortunately what is not helping this entire process is the cheap point scoring by highlighting attendances not just on here but the embarrassing pro-union bias in nearly all the tabliods, compromising truth and balanced reporting. Sadly, as far as I am concerned, most voters with a fleeting interest in politics take a look at the headlines and follow blindly. We need transparancy, honesty with cards placed firmly on the table at the death giving voters a clear and concise informed choice and whether that materialises I very much doubt.
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What you really don’t like is anyone who disagrees with you!
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Gus, I have friends, family members, colleagues etc. who disagree with me and have some very healthy debates with them regarding many issues I feel strongly about. The referendum on independence is one which I will add my contribution without abusing or disrepecting others contribution. If this constitutes not tolerating others opponions well you are entitled to yours. I am unsure what has given you the impression that I dislike people who oppose what I believe in. Using a favourite quote, ‘I may not agree with what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it’. I look forward to reading your pro union/anti independent Scotland argument.
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Jnr, I am sure you have friends, family etc. who disagree with you.
My pro union/ anti independence stance is based quite simply on my belief that Scotland is and will continue to be a stronger country as part of the UK.
The referendum will be the opportunity to finally put to bed the notion of an independent Scotland.
Being part of the UK is the best option for our future.
The Labour Party led the way in setting up the Scottish Parliament, this has given Scotland control over devolved issues while also remaining as part of the UK with the security and power that provides.
The situation we have at the moment means, I believe, we have the best of both worlds.Scotland is stronger in the UK, we are stronger together weaker apart.
I am also certain the majority of Scottish people will vote for “Better together”, as I also speak and more importantly listen, to family, friends, colleagues,and that is the message coming through.
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“The Labour Party led the way in setting up the Scottish Parliament, this has given Scotland control over devolved issues while also remaining as part of the UK with the security and power that provides.”
The setting up of the Scottish Parliament had absolutely nothing to do with giving Scotland control. It was about the Labour Party RETAINING control in Scotland by trying to stop the rise in support for the SNP. It was about their very survival and it has backfired on them big time. I have always been of the opinion that Scots needed a confidence boost after years of Labour/Tory governments telling them they couldn’t possibly survive on their own in this big bad world, that the UK would protect them. Well they have the confidence now and slowly they are finding out the truth about their own country. They are finding out about the lies they have been told about oil, Iraq, the economy, banks, the subsidy myth, Trident and much much more. Even the Labour Party in Scotland, Scots, have contributed to the lies to their fellow countrymen because they needed their votes to stay in power in Westminster so that they could strut about on the world stage with the big boys. They and the Tories know that if Scotland leaves the Union, the UK’s position in the world will change dramatically. They will have to accept that they no longer are at the centre of a huge empire spanning the globe and that they are just a little country on an island off Europe. Once they accept this everybody will be better off.
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Allan Grogan of Labour for Independence spoke very well at the rally and persuaded me that the Labour Party may still have the chance of finding its soul again. He got thunderous applause from the assembly and it was well deserved.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable day precisely because it was the coming together of disparate groups under the independence umbrella. The sense of fellowship was palpable and while I agree with Dr Dougie that it’s not hugely important, the sheer warmth of this disparate crowd was worth going for.
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Judging by the complete and utter trouncing of Scottish Labour at the last Scottish election their best chance of having a future say in any of Scotland’s political affairs surely must be in an Independent Scotland. Labour in Scotland for too long now have had it their way, taking voters for granted, became Londonised and slowly but surely morphed into something traditional Labour voters of old find completely unrecogniseable. If your politics lean towards the left Gus, as Scotland has historically, then surely the SNP is giving us something closer to this in these modern times. I used to vote Scottish Socialist many moons ago for the very reason mentioned regarding Labour’s desertion of proper socialist policies however ‘putting to bed the notion of an independent Scotland’ is wishful thinking in your part, this will never disappear. One of the main reasons thankfully is down to the British Labour party for as you say helping bring a Scottish parliament for the people of Scotland, a move believed at the time to put an end once and for all a free, prosperous and proud independent Scotland. One final point I’d like to ask is, as a Labour supporter, just about receiving more votes in Scotland than your supposed diametrically opposed opponents the Tories, how does it sit with you that they, a party Scotland has long since turned its back on in elections, make huge decisions such as defence, foreign policy, social security, yet Scotland didn’t vote them in? I know as a supporter of an independent Scotland, when it arrives our votes here in Scotland will finally count for something, proper democracy for Scotland’s voters at last.
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The positive outcome from the 2014 referendum could be the journey there with positive debate. So I will kick off:
In my view its not a yes or no issue and if the political parties are foolish enough to try and push a divide through then the people on this island will be the losers. Historically I have grown up in a country were every time we did well we were called British and when we did bad we were called Scottish. The majority of powerful government bodies are all centralised in one city along with the infer-structure. If this vote is just to transfer that model from London to Edinburgh then in my opinion its a dead end. The vision for me is to devolve power back to the people and this would be a positive step for the whole island. Its not about having a different flag or being better than your neighbour but working with your neighbour but having your own identity. This English and Scottish thing is a great stick for the powerful to beat the people into the different pens to divide and control them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPhlP6AfptY
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John, wanting an independent Scotland doesn’t derive from flag waving, watching Braveheart over and over again, were better than you attitudes etc. as some suggest. This journey which had a beginning and will have an end is a desire to have citizens of a country contribute taxes to be spent here for the greater good, to utilise its resources for the greater good instead of crossing our fingers Westminster decides to send us back a decent slice of Scotlands generated funds. Not much to ask surely? As things stand my extremely hard earned taxes contribute toward maintaining trident, bailout of banks pilfered by smash and grab fly by nights in London, embarrassing shameful wars in foreign lands just to hang on in there with the Americans at any cost, any of them Scottish goverments decisions I ask? The list just gets more difficult, wearysome, depressing to type, need I go on?
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just about receiving more votes in Scotland than your supposed diametrically opposed opponents the Tories, how does it sit with you that they, a party Scotland has long since turned its back on in elections, make huge decisions such as defence, foreign policy, social security, yet Scotland didn’t vote them in?
Junior Tic – what about the times Scottish Labour voters led to a Labour Government in the UK? The majority of the English did not vote for them. It cuts both ways.
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I’m sorry , in my mind , IT IS Mr Salmond and his band of nationalists that are the greatest threat to Scotland and it’s future…I certainly won’t be going down that avenue.
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Whatever avenue Alex Salmond is going down he certainly does not seem to be making himself very popular.
On September 14th in Glasgow’s George Square he was booed by a crowd that had come to celebrate British success in the Olympics -yes, with Scottish athletes, but mostly it was a British Olympic team supporting crowd.
The booing would have been in response to the SNP constantly complaining prior to the games about how much money was being spent on the LONDON Olympics,the SNP attitude generally to the games being awarded to London could have won them a gold medal for moaning.
The bold Alex, brass neck polished, then last week jaunts to Medinah in the USA for the Ryder Cup. Introduced as the First Minister of Scotland he was greeted by boos once again.
Just how are the cybernats dealing with their great leader being booed in Scotland’s biggest city and then in the USA?
This however is what happens when you take glory hunting to a new level.
An incredible own goal by Salmond!
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