FROM SUNDAY NOON.
It is Glasgow Fair weekend but there is no time off for the Prism crew!
This week the main topic was Angus Brendan McNeil and his decision to sit as an independent MP. We discuss the significance and possible repercussions that this decision may have on Angus, the SNP and most importantly, the independence movement. Angus has shown his colleagues his principles, and his bravery are there any more brave independinistas in that party?
He reveals that Nicola halted any discussion on independence strategy for 9 years! Will the faithful start to realise?
Mike Russell exposing the paucity of the SNP policy on EU as he is schooled on both this and the only sensible route back into Europe, EFTA. Seems the SNP President does not know the difference or the procedures for joining either. Is it any wonder we are, where we are?
Tory and Labour Parties trying to score cheap points on decriminalising of drugs. There are just some things that all politicians should work together on drug deaths is one of those things. Sadly we have foreign political parties in Scotland that only have one policy Protect England’s interests, not the interests of their nation of birth.
Edict from London Labour HQ telling Labour in Scotland and Wales that the days of them forming any policies or making any statements are over. Everything has to come from London. Joanna Lamont warned us back in the day that British Labour in Scotland is just a branch office and the likes of Sarwar is just a slave to London and its whims. As Rabbie said, “what a parcel of rogues..”
The BOE Governor and the Chancellor of the Exchequer still trying to push the narrative that the greed of workers and pensioners is causing inflation, high interest rates and recession. Don’t mention Brexit, Covid larceny, economic morons in control at Westminster. At all costs protect the elite!
Meanwhile, in the real world the UK officially has the lowest state pension in the developed world. Pensioners in Mexico, Albania, Chile, Latvia, Lithuiania and all the other developed nations protect their pensioners in a better manner, unlike corrupt Westminster. Remind me again why is being in the union so great?
In a recent survey, 20% of all UK adults admitted they could not afford to eat all week or restock their larders in between pay checks! Rule Britannia, GSTK!
All this and much much more on your favourite weekly Scottish Political podcast!
Excellent again, BB. Such a treat to listen to intelligent talk rather than the balloons’ chatter that passes for political thought in all parties’ circles these days.
Yes, AB MacNeil’s stand has undoubtedly dealt a body blow to the puffed-up leadership. I, too hope that his constituents will vote for him as an independent or as a candidate in another party, if it comes to it. I suspect this is just the first wee crack in the wall that will bring down the edifice because, like Lloyd, I do not think that the SNP can be saved now, and nor should it be, in actual fact. I cannot forget, and will never forgive Mhairi Blacks little ‘Jeremy Hunts’ jibe at older women who expressed misgivings about what is happening in our schools. Just heard recently that the Bad Law lot in England (we will always have some things in common even after independence) are to launch a class action on behalf of parents, based on the very deliberate breaching of existing laws around sexual conduct and materials. We should be doing the same here, because the laws that govern our educational establishments also prohibit such materials being disseminated in our classrooms. Mhairi Black is jumping before she’s pushed.
I simply cannot bear the lies and obfuscations around independence now that emanate from the SNP and its bad faith supporters. They are all trying to take us to hell in a handcart. There is no going back into Europe via the EU. That boat has sailed and has been holed below the water line, in any case, by stupid ideas about fast-tracking nations into it that will lead to conflict.
Much of what Corbyn advocated was sensible, but his ‘trans’ advocacy was a bad move and it did not help him against the real advocates of the hard left who do not want any compromise – not that there can be any compromise on the ‘trans’ issue – because their sole intention is to destroy, and, by attempting to destroy, they reactivate the right in response to their insanity. The right in the Labour party won the day and we have to fear the consequences of an alliance between the Labour right and the Tory right. The SNP/Greens have contributed in no small measure to this insanity, and to the putative return of totalitarianism.
Nothing can be done to fix anything in Scotland until independence, and, after that, to return to a form of ‘socialism’ that suits this country. The imported English conservatism is very different from our own home-grown variety and goes way beyond what Scotland was willing to tolerate in the past. We do need proper back-to-basics policies on a host of public service areas that worked well in the past before Thatcherism and which were uniquely Scottish in flavour. For example, Scots never had a thirst for private house ownership: most of our post war housing and occupancy was council-owned, but people lived happily in council houses until they were told that they really wanted to own their own place. Those who could afford it, bought their own home and they were mainly from the professions (teachers, lawyers, local businessmen, etc.) where a steady and reliable income made such purchases possible.
Hamish MacPherson’s National Sunday quiz shows us just how many Scots invented things, and it is quite staggering. So many every-day things we take for granted and which make our lives better were invented by Scots. We really are an incredible people. This SNP/Green government has made fools of us all by its constant, useless and embarrassing virtue-signalling nonsense. We have adolescent brats in government instead of adults.
Eva is right: our world-famed manufacturing is gone, and we are being turned, day-by-day, into a teat from which others feed voraciously, as well as a playground for the rich. Financial capitalism, as Phil says, is the exit to nowhere, and wholesale privatization, at bargain basement prices, has ruined us. If you cannot feed yourself or manufacture for both domestic needs and for moderate export, you are in a mess. The present-day gluttonous calls for more and more growth are unsustainable, so we have to lower expectations first and foremost, while, gradually, replacing our self-defeating and ridiculous economic policies, to a level that is sustainable for the vast majority of the population.
Allowing unregulated – more or less – siphoning off of monies out of the economy and into off-shore tax havens has to stop or, at least, be severely reduced; huge CEO bonuses have to be curtailed; and shareholders should understand that, if a corporate business fails, they bear the cost. That is real capitalism. Investment must always be a priority, but, again, if the state invests, the profits cannot be allowed to be siphoned off by the few, and state subsidies must be backed up by a ‘return to payer’ clause, if it is not used properly. Leave SMEs alone and help them where necessary to get back to to a healthy footing because this is the only type of capitalism that actually works properly, it is generally grounded in the communities and is the life-blood of those communities, along with safe hands in councils, where decisions are taken for the good of local people first and foremost.
The immediate post war period up till the early 1970s worked extremely well until inefficiency set in, in the public sector, and that will require to be dealt with ruthlessly to avoid another massive privatization of resources (because most of that which has been privatized in the Thatcher and post Thatcher eras will have to return to state ownership eventually, probably sooner rather than later, because of almost criminal mismanagement and profiteering). Lessons will need to be learned – and learned well – to avoid the pitfalls that have dogged our society for over fifty years now, and we must have it written into our constitution that all public utilities and public resources are managed by the state on behalf of the people and cannot be sold off to corporate pirates. This is not ‘socialism’ per se, or ‘communism’, but sheer common sense. Ask the Norwegians if their Oil Fund is communism.
Why aren’t any of you talking about Salvo or Liberation. scot?
Why would I?
Roddy love your show, especially kow Lloyd has been a regular.
But why wouldn’t you?
Surely all avenues to our goal should he discussed, yet you never discuss Salvo in either the positive or negative, have I missed something? Is it personal? Do you have reservations? C’mon spit it out?
I don’t have to spit out anything. I also never discuss the mating habits of the Amazonian bullfrog because it too will not get us Scottish independence. I deal in realities. No nation has ever won or ever will win its independence in a courtroom, especially one controlled by US/UN same thing really. The only answer is the ballot box or the barrel of the gun.There are no other alternatives to gaining our freedom. I dont do the violence thing and I certainly do not do the fantasy,magic bullet pish.
Not wanting to get into an argument with you , Roddy : I have a lot of time for you personally and for your regular guests on Prism , and for the programme itself . But …..haven’t you shared platforms with Sara Salyers , had her on Prism and – from appearances anyway , appeared to be in agreement with the work she/Salvo are doing ; now that work is ” fantasy magic bullet pish ” . What changed ?
As far as I can tell – correct me if I’m wrong – ALBA also follows the S30-seeking route , albeit the Party doesn’t confer on it the mystic ” Gold Standard ” status Our Lady of the Kicked Can and her ( equally hopeless ) successor did/does ? Expecting any English Gov to * grant * a S30 is as much ” fantasy ” as what you impute to Salvo .
As it goes , I share your scepticism re the UN as an impartial arbiter of inter/national disputes , it’s recent record on this is hardly a model of sagacious judgement – often it seems to have advocated cleaving the disputed child in two ; but there are instances of it making the right decision , though the problem then turns on implementing those decisions in the face of recalcitrant vested interests/bad faith from the usual suspects – guess who they might be ? Must be worth trying anyway , surely ?
My understanding was the approach/work of Salvo would work in tandem with the – overtly – Political approach of ALBA ( and , if it ever returns to it’s historic mission , SNP ) . That seems to me to be the optimum strategy . I honestly believe either one on their own will not be sufficient
Sara has been on this show on several occasions. On those occasions I did ask how this ‘we can sack the government’ we can get an ICJ ruling were practically going to work, the answer I am sorry to say was confused waffle everytime! As I have set out previously I see SALVO as an interesting academic study, not a road to independence. The information from Sara’s work is invaluable and will increase the knowledge of the Independence movement however, imho it is not the solution it is being potrayed by some.
We had Scotland’s top diplomat at the UN, DM Jack an independence supporter write an article early on, in it he pointed out that only national governments and UN Agencies have any standing at ICJ.That kind of slams the entire Salvo ‘theory’ stone dead.Papa New Guineau’ treatment at UN also destroys the Liberation argument. Then of course, we have the Chagos Islanders too!
https://www.barrheadboy.com/chasing-unicorns/ here is that article.
One of Scotland’s top KCs also leant his knowledge to this topic and he agreed with Daniel. At this juncture an outrageous pile on was directed at me by the self appointed Salvo El Presidente Lawson. Not only a social media pile on he attempted to have me removed from both the Alba NEC and the party itself for daring to have a contrary view to him. He went as far as to suggest he wouldn’t publish any more ALBA press releases if the party did not act against myself and Denise Findlay.Not the best way to convince people of your cunning plan!
The main flaw in this is the implication being that Salvo is somehow without any political buy in or support going to bring us independence via the UN, it is a nonsense! No nation has ever won its independence in a courtroom! Like the work of the SSRG,SALVO is educational and part of an overall campaign it is in no way a central plank to the cause, no matter how much some might wish, believe or tell people it is. Scotland’s fate will be decided by the sovereign people of Scotland at the ballot box. The only other alternative that God forbid never happens is, by the barrel of the gun. There is no other way than those two options. So no, I will not promote something I believe to be about as credible as Nicola Sturgeon’s famous secret plan/one more mandate guff. We have had enough of the false hopes!There are no shortcuts. Scotland United, SNP, Alba, ISP, SSP, SSRG, AUOB,Salvo, NOW Scotland, YES Scotland, BIS all campaigning as an integrated unit cannot be defeated and will win our independence. Individual groups working in isolation will never advance our cause. That is where my thoughts are at and I of course,have no desire to fall out with you either or any other pro independence supporter.Nor will I ever allow myself to be bullied or threatened into supporting something I disagree with.I of course, am not referring to you in that last sentence.
So I never mention Salvo at all unless asked directly about it as you have done.
Thanks for the reply , Roddy . I’m not on Twitter so was unaware of the ” pile-on ” and threats from that quarter .
I take onboard the points you make re the U.N etc but , personally , I wouldn’t be so emphatic in dismissing ANY alternative/complimentary routes to our goal : I don’t think we can afford to .
Also not clear in what way ALBA’s position differs significantly from the SNP.
Talking hypothetically , what happens if a pro-Independence entity wins at the ballot box ( forget another * sanctioned * Referendum, that’s never happening again ) and – as is almost certain – the Brit State refuses to accept the result as the end of Union . What then ?
The stated intention of ” bending the UK Gov ( more accurately , the English State ) to our will ” is as much ” fantasy ” as anything being proposed by others : in my opinion .
As is the idea that Independence will/can be realised without outright confrontation with our implacably hostile opponent .
Someone will have to * blink * first .
I have not dismissed it, I said it has a place in the overall cause, just not a central role. As to Alba their position is crystal clear and is nothing like SNP position. In effect every election henceforth is an Independence Plebiscite election and with victory it is then to negotiate independence not a Section 30. It has been rejected completely!
Fair enough . Though I’d suggest ” with victory ” Independence should be declared , not negotiated . Unless you mean simply the terms of the * divorce settlement * ..ie…who gets what negotiations .
Negotiate the terms of exit just as UK very unsuccessfully did with its exit from European Union. Unlike UK v EU in Scotland v RUK we hold all the aces we have everything they need and want and they have nothing we need or I suspect want!
why not pursue those people who promised track & trace, that did not work, the rubbish PPE crap, oh I forgot their tory’s so there is no chance of them being called to account.
What has this got to do with anything we discussed on today’s show?
Hi Roddy, like Robert I’m not in the Twitterati and had no idea about the acrimonious situation between Iain and yourself, apart from the Ukraine/NATO difference of opinion, where I agree with you.
I am a founder member of Alba but also a founder member of Salvo and Liberation.Scot. As I see it, all these routes are equally important to the Cause; Salvo, showing how knowing our past shapes the future, is the instruction guide, detailing, not just to our own people but to the international community, how we have been manipulated and colonized. For me the Ballot Box is equally important but we need the help of SALVO to get there.
Robert: I agree with you that every avenue has to be considered, but I also agree with BB that the work done by SALVO and the other constitutional units will not, per se, be enough to bring us the desired result – not the Claim of Right alone. To boot, the international players are always influenced by the power brokers, the bully boys and those with a vested interest in keeping the status quo. The US would not wish the UK to risk its Security Council seat, and neither would rUK. We have to bear in mind the international repercussions and play our cards with cunning, with pragmatism and with realism.
However, having said that, we will need the international community to underline our independence when, not if, it comes. I very much doubt that the international community would consider us to be a colony in the usual sense, the Treaty having been a bipartite agreement. My logic is that it is the Treaty that requires to be repudiated as the Treaty is the actual foundation of the Union. I agree that we will not acquire independence through the courts alone, but the courts certainly have a big role to play, running parallel to the ballot box. Most of the recent independent states have managed their independence through the ballot box, but only after huge disruption to the large state from which they seceded (The Soviet Union, the former Yugoslavia, etc.) and the form of ballot taken was that of a ratifying/confirmatory referendum AFTER the independence declaration. Repudiation of the Treaty (i.e, repudiation of the Union) based on a legal case challenging the continuation of the Union where the breaching of the Treaty by one side, in its own interests, nullifies it – in this instance, England as rUK.
If all the independence parties and organizations stood together on this issue, repudiation of the Treaty (and, therefore, the original Union) based on the bad faith of Westminster (with a legal case offering unassailable evidence, all contained in Hansard) and which has been to Scotland’s huge detriment, withdraw our MPs and start the process of creating a central bank, establishing a currency (both ‘oven-ready’ as someone once said) those actions alone would force Westminster to make its move, whatever form that would take. Meanwhile, our case would be lodged with the UN and, in time, with the ICJ, as we would be an independent state seeking international recognition. It will never happen if we wait for Westminster to make the first move. Basically, this is what AB MacNeil is doing with the SNP: forcing its hand to see what it is prepared to do.
We are not Ireland, and Ireland’s solutions are not ours, but they might well become ours if we tarry too long, dithering and dallying instead of grasping the thistle. Whatever happens, there is no way we can avoid entering, eventually, into negotiations with rUK (England). None of the British parties will let us go easily, and none of their independence factions (yes, they all exist) is strong enough to force the issue either, although they might come on board were the first moves made.
I think Salvos contribution to the cause lies in educating us and in particular exposing the lie that is the Treaty of Union and what constitutional rights we still have in spite of that treaty.
We have been lied to and conned for over 300 years and Saras work as been invaluable in exposing these lies, I also think that what she means by ”Sacking the government” is based on the principle of a Convention of the Estates which as far as I understand is still legally extant in Scotland it may be misty theory but I don’t see it as waffle.
I didn’t know about your falling out with Iain but I did suspect something was up, It was noticeable to me he suddenly stopped being a regular guest on the Prism which I put down to a wee spat he had with Phil Boswell over an aside Phil made but I might have read that wrong
I repeat for the last time NOTHING we have broadcast or written in any of my articles or podcasts appertain to Salvo.This programme made no reference to Salvo. My position has been made clear on Salvo. I am not going to keep repeating it. The ballot box is the only route to independence everything else is a distraction.All very interesting and educational but that is all it is.
The Treaty itself is not the lie, Graeme. Lies have come with the implementation of the Treaty, always in England’s (and, therefore, rUK’s) favour. Few Articles have not been breached by Westminster, and to the detriment of Scotland. Were it not for the consistent and persistent breaching of the Treaty in England’s favour, we would probably not be fighting for our independence now, but would be happily ensconced as an equal partner in an equal Union, or, perhaps, we would still be fighting for our independence, but for different reasons.
To my mind, there is absolutely no doubt that the inequality firmly embedded in the implementation of the Treaty (I would also say that this is ultra vires and illegal, and has been since 1707, but the Scots have not challenged, but acquiesced in, that blatant inequality and that bad faith in the courts where they should have been challenged years ago) has been the underlying and main reason for our desire for independence. Like a marriage that is grossly unequal, where one partner controls everything, the Union was bound to founder eventually, on the rocks of anger and discontent and lack of manoeuvrability in such circumstances.
The Union has become a cul-de-sac that cannot be tolerated for very much longer, and all those who are Unionists should be on a warning that this state of affairs cannot exist for much longer no matter how hard they resist independence. Sooner or later, something will give and the edifice will crumble. How that happens will be laid right at the door of recalcitrant Unionists who are too entrenched to see the reality of the situation. If they think that Westminster and Whitehall will hamstring Scotland, they have not been reading their history books or paying attention to their history lessons.