If you were to ask any of the Pro Independence Media why they began in the first place you will tend to get the same answer from most. Because they were not happy that our political beliefs were being ignored by the Anti-Scottish MSM and Broadcasters. We were sick of the bias and the lies. We were sick and fed up with The SNP being ignored and rubbished. We were sick of seeing three Unionists attacking a single SNP representative on TV and radio debates. We decided to become the media instead. We became the Pro-Scottish Media. Most of us that have stayed true to the independence cause did not begin this as a way of making a living. Believe me that notion is just a nonsense. Nor was/is it an ego trip as suggested by many of our detractors. If the motive was to make a living out of it or to soothe our fragile egos we would not tell you the truth, we would lie to you or at least not tell you the truth. We would write fluff pieces extolling the virtues of the SNP and its leader. We would not tell you the truth no matter how uncomfortable that truth may be. We would take the cool aid and the plaudits and get devoted comments and replies.We would amass followers not lose them by the bucket full.
I have listened to many pro independence supporters over the years complaining about the MSM coverage of the SNP and Independence Movement. They would say things like ‘we don’t want or expect a bias pro independence Media, we just want a media that tells us the truth.’
I am sure many of you have heard this too. The reality is though that most of the people who said that didn’t actually mean it. They actually do want a biased media. They want us to be the writers I describe above. They want us to lie to them. They want us being just as one sided as the Anti-Scottish Media just pro SNP and to hell with the reality and truth. They want us to tell them that everything is perfect with the SNP and the YES Movement. They do not want to hear that the ring fenced money they donated has gone missing along with the ring fence! They didn’t want us telling them that three of the Audit Committee resigned because Peter Murrell wouldn’t give them access to the financial accounts. They don’t want to hear that the present leader has not once had a debate or campaign on Independence since she became leader. They don’t want to hear that the NEC was forbidden for years from discussing independence. They don’t want reminded that Chris McEleney got booed at SNP National Conference for trying to debate a Plan B. They do not want to hear that although they as members voted off the gender fanatics from the NEC, Nicola Sturgeon reappointed them as affiliate representatives. They do not want to hear that the same NEC gerrymandered the Regional List placings putting these biology deniers at the top of the lists. Everyone of these people at the top of the SNP Lists were rejected by the ordinary membership. They do not want to hear that it was SNP members and employees all closely linked to the Leader that conspired to have an innocent man imprisoned. They do not want to hear that the SNP Scottish Government gave a £3,000,000 financial stimulus to the Anti-Scottish Media while simultaneously setting the attack dogs onto the pro independence Media. They don’t want you being reminded this all coincided with Nicola Sturgeon appointing the author of the Vow and Ex-Managing Editor of the Daily Record as her Head of Communications.
They don’t want us pointing out that Ms Sturgeon and her fellow SNP MPs use this same anti-Scottish independence Media to attack and traduce the same man they tried to falsely imprison and the only other true independence party in this election, The Alba Party. They don’t want reminding that The SNP now use this Anti-Scottish Media to attack the very notion of independence.
Nicola Sturgeon sits quietly by while people like the member for Perth & Perthshire makes common cause with an arch unionist journalist to attack the pro independence Media. This is the reason why now that BBC are able to prevent you hearing anything from the Alba Party or Alex Salmond. It is not just that they wrongly refuse Alba access to the leaders debates. It is in the nightly news bulletins where you are also being ignored.The MSM and Broadcasters know that The Alba Party and Alex Salmond are a clear and present danger to the British Union. They do not want you the public hearing their positive message about Scottish independence They don’t want you hearing how we can begin Independence negotiations on May 7th this year!
The British Media and establishment are laughing at you. They know you won’t complain. They know the Leader of the biggest independence party won’t complain. They know the SNP MPs and MSPs won’t complain.For the next two weeks until the election is over they wont do their usual hatchet job on Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP. She does not present the same danger to the union that Alex Salmond and the Alba Party do. If they can contain that threat till after the election, they can return to business as usual attacking the SNP and Scottish independence.
You have been fed a lie that a vote for the Alba Party is somehow to the detriment of the SNP. That is never truly explained just implied.12 Greens standing in Constituency seats against SNP and standing on the List is never referred to as a danger to independence or the SNP. Ask yourself this why do you think BBC, STV and MSM ignore Alba? If as you have been told Alba is a danger to independence and The SNP why is the pro-British, Anti-Scottish Media not promoting Alba everywhere? Why is Alba not on every news bulletin and debate? Why are thousands not writing to Ofcom and BBC complaining? I know the answer, do you want to know the truth or do you want me just to wheesht?
Well said!
All the above, superb!
🐼🐼
Totally Agree well said ..
It is a truly shocking state of affairs.
These days, when I look at and listen to the SNP leadership together with the mainstream media, I feel like I am one of those farmyard animals at the end of one of George Orwell’s masterpieces peering through the windows of, and into, the farmhouse and not being able to detect the difference between the humans and the pigs (walking on their hind legs and dressed in suits).
You’ve hit the nail on the head there. I hope Alex gets satisfaction today with OFCOM re ALBA being barred from the political debates on the BBC
I asked Martin Geisler , why Alba and Alex salmond were not on the leaders debate on bbc Scotland .
Guess what?
NO REPLY
Whatever success (if any) the Alba Party achieve next month will be in spite of a vicious, coordinated onslaught by the British and Scottish establishments. I do worry that Alex Salmond may have left it a bit too late to make an impact, but the element of surprise also limits the MSM’s ability to plot effectively and strangle the party at birth (and boy were they surprised). The MSM’s daily dose of shunning, mixed with the odd vicious, personal attack on AS, is barely concealed – this blatant “in-your-face” unfairness is a sure sign of panic. Many people are fully aware of what is going on, maybe enough, maybe not (in time for May 6th). So who knows? We will find out soon enough I guess. Whatever happens, the important thing is that we do not give up. Just by existing, the YES movement is causing untold, long-term damage to the union. If we keep on fighting, if we love Scotland and dream of independence enough to keep going, we will win eventually. Sooner or later the establishment(s) will mess up big time (they always do) and when this happens, we need to be ready.
Totally Agree well said ..we are and stronger for the truths..ALBA2 thereafter Alba only.❤️🏴
Alba only will put us back in the same place that the SNP have always been in and they will be unable to get that majority. That’s the way it’s designed. So 5 years time let’s look at Alba1, ISP (or any other indy party)2.
Unless of course the SNP have drastic change of management. Then it can be Alba1 SNP2.
I like your thinking Willie John.
Well said Roddy, got it in one.
If there is any justice OFCOM will find in Alex / Alba’s favour.
Are they able to issue sanctions? Be great if they ordered double exposure to Alba for the next two weeks.
I know – dream on, absolutely no chance.
Nailed it, Roddy.
We know all about the MSM in Scotland, but I just wonder how devoted to independence the people you refer to really are? those who refuse to hear the truth and defend the very blatantly indefensible? We’ve all crossed swords with them on Twitter, the ‘fan-club’, the ignorants who attack – whilst also being afraid of – those who have a stronger Party of Independence. I honestly don’t know why the hell these people are even on Indy Twitter when they continue to deny what’s right in front of their noses? I think many of them are their just to post pictures of their dug, then retweet Nicla? No, they’re not all unionists, of course not, but I reckon these zombies never really left Sturgeon’s first conference as SNP party leader, so mesmerised were they, they refuse to be snapped out of the stupor.
Having said that, I continue to see clear shoots of hope amongst the wee cluster of stubborn weeds, and there’s now many more conceding, perhaps privately, that a Regional Alba vote is a vote for independence. To illustrate that point, I see such a poll posted, just yesterday, by Zulfikar Sheikh, and I have to say it’s the first poll I’ve seen where the very handsome majority are now voting Alba Party on the List. This same poll’s been posted on a number of occasions by various Twitters since the launch of Alba – and previous to that when it was ISP – but this poll by Sheikh shows our message is finally getting through – well of course it is.
For your information, Sheikh’s poll* as at 10.40am today, and with about 2 weeks to go, is showing 43% Alba on the List as opposed to 32% SNP, with a total of 2256 votes cast: no, not scientific, but being mindful of the exposure of such polls and how many take part, that is a sizable chunk of Indy Twitter – a weathervane of the mood of the movement – and a current standing that the lumbering SNP would kill for (or stitch someone up for?)
*https://twitter.com/zulfikar_sheikh/status/1385297786577510401?s=20
As you’ve laid-out above, Roddy, I’ve also to thank our running-scared MSM for the sudden spike in Alba popularity, for Scots aren’t stupid, and the instant they see an attack on oor ain, they rally round and defend them.
(Hopefully posters going up this weekend, btw, having contacted John earlier)
Excellent piece! You made the sun shine. Thank you.
A very bright light has been shone on our cosy sham of democracy and devolved power. NS brought this on herself by getting too comfortable with the charade. We the people want more and after surviving everything they could throw at him, our man appears and stirs the lot of them up. What do you do when threatened? Circle the wagons of course, and right at the centre, protected by the British media and state, sits Nicola Sturgeon.
Of course every fact you list is absolutely true. It just makes very depressing reading when laid bare like this. Scotland deserves better.
Without you and the other bloggers, imagine the state of ignorance we would be in now. Thank you all so, so much.
Unfortunately, some still are in ignorance and refuse to believe the honest bloggers. Apparently these bloggers are just out to scupper the SNP and independence. I despair. I’d always thought I’d want independence at any cost but when I see what the SNP are morphing into I think I’ll wait until we have a decent and honourable party in power first – one that will retain the sex based rights of women and which won’t make us deny science under threat of a police record.
As usual Iain, well said. This will be the very last time I vote SNP unless by some miracle Joanna Cherry becomes leader. However I don’t think that is likely. I rather despair that we might be in for another awful 5 years of NS. I’ve been thinking that she seems to be adopting the Biden plan, when she won’t appear on Question Time ie ‘stay out of the way in case you’re asked awkward questions.’ Biden also agrees with the GRA and is in favour of self ID, and men taking part in women’s sport. I do wonder when I will be expected to declare my pronouns to show that I am a good Scottish citizen. Where, oh where, has all of this come from and more worrying where is it going? I worry that we are sleepwalking into something truly worrying.
Well said. Folk tend to forget that they have a duty to hold their own government to account. They became too comfortable with blaming everything on a foreign country’s government that they stopped looking closer to home. The truth is uncomfortable but it better than a lie and those who truly want Scotland’s statehood reinstated will not had their wheesht. They welcome it. They know they must hold their own accountable and that a modern vibrant Scottish state must start as it means to go on – with integrity, honesty and honour.
Want you all to know I think ALBA will do well in the election on the list vote. Alex said in one of his interviews the other day the membership is at 5.000. “I expect it’s still growing” He also said the Tory’s had 6.000 members.
I recon if things go as they have done in the next two weeks ALBA could very well surpass the Tory membership.
Not bad for a newly formed party. Knowing how good a politician Alex is, he’ll get the numbers.
PS. Roddy you have me blocked for some reason. I have to put in my name & e-mail each time I post & I’m unable to follow. I’m not the person you blocked. She after her name on twitter has kiwilassie. After my name that I use here it’s kiwilassie1
There are no restrictions on this site.
What about a good story remember that old russian tale of peter and the wolf?
Yes, Roddy! JUST THIS! This is exactly the situation.
And many times more than once I asked myself if these were the same people who, up to Alba appearing, were along side me, fighting off MSM claims & demanding Indy. Now its a possibility, they’re blocking me. They’re opting for lies, smear & obfuscation. It’s sad. Really sad. Because now we have to fight against them & their ‘captors’ (St Nikla, Wishart & Robertson, etc) as well as unionists. I don’t like fighting them. They’re fellow Scots. Their hearts are good. But… they don’t want to see what is staring them in the face & I can’t tear the blinkers off them. They have to do that themselves.
Hopefully, those blinkers are falling off. I’m not really seeing that though I did see ONE person admit that their rose coloured glasses were streaming dye coloured water down their faces.. And they weren’t liking the picture that was revealed. They believe we need Indy NOW, not in the 5/6 yrs Sturgeon is talking. So perhaps it is happening & its simply a case of people don’t want to admit they’ve been blind fools. None of us like to admit that…
It may be that you bloggers are getting the message through. Breaking barriers is a hard process. But only the truth can do that. You are absolutely right that lying & coorying up to liars helps no one.
Hats off to the bloggers!
Brilliant well said column..totally agree..superb
It’s a conspiracy !
Thank you bloggers for bring some balance to the debate.
We needed your help badly in this fight.
In Scotland, what would you call a politician who works against the people of Scotland and denies them their democratic right to determine the form government best suited to their needs? What would you call a politician that abuses their position and power, break the law even, to silence any advocates of independence? What would you call a politician that looses donated funds that would help in the fight for independence? What would you call a politician that works hand in hand with the British establishment in Scotland to deny a new independence party the right to democracy with balanced and fair media exposure? What would you call a politician who chooses a route to independence that can be easily blocked and refuses to consider an alternative route (a plan B/Plebiscite election)? What would you call a politician that attacks the new media that advocates independence yet grants taxpayers money to fund an anti-independence British press? What would you call a politician that is happy with devolution, but no further, yet promises independence for your vote? The word I’m thinking of begins with a U and ends in T. Once you acknowledge this, everything that has happened over the past few years makes perfect sense. Scotland and the YES movement have been hijacked.
I don’t think the full yes movement has been hijacked as a recent departee from the Snp. I think they are terrified of a proper politician. None of whom are fit to la e his boots all of whom would not be where they are today without him. Oh I think the yes movement are alive and well and we’ll see their like on the count.
Another spot on post. The truth needs to be told.
If we can have an election in a pandemic we can have a referendum.
Sturgeon has a wardrobe full of excuses not to progress independence.
The “parcel of rogues” seem to be female (or ‘sort of’ female) now.