Aye Right Radio Podcast: Recent Episodes
Opinions by Norrie Stewart, Jimmy Hutton, Stewart Lochhead, Phil Attridge
Mostly Scottish politics
Mostly opinions by Norrie Stewart, Jimmy Hutton, Stewart Lochhead, Phil Attridge
What Branch Manager?
Jimmy and Stewart review the Sunday TV politics shows, Ridge on SKY, Marr on BBC1 and Politics Scotland presented by Gary Robertson on BBC...Liz Truss, the Irish protocol, AstraZeneca, Alister Jack, Anas Sawar and Monica Lennon all feature…
We read Roddy McLeod on the problems of SNP leadership facing FM Nicola Sturgeon and predict…
We hear that Ken MacQuarrie has ‘left’ the BBC to get hired by the BBC at £325,000 a year to monitor/whitewash bias in the BBC...You figure?
Gove-’Go to Scotland Boris’
- A dull FMQs with Sturgeon, Davidson, Baillie and Rennie arguing about vaccine delivery and Covid testing, suddenly came alive when Patrick Harvie asked the FM if she had regrets about transphobia in the Scottish Government…Nicola passionately defended her government in the manner of her personal video posted yesterday…
- Changes to the wording of the Hate Crime Bill appeared to have triggered a social media attack on MP Joanna Cherry by trans-allies...
- The timing seems to be a distraction as it coincides with the court appearance of Craig Murray and his publishing of evidence which is damaging to the First Minister...
- PM Johnson’s Scottish visit gets supported by Keir Starmer (who knew?); ..roasted and then welcomed by the gang…
- Jimmy’s Indy strategy suggestion of deliberately collapsing an SNP government after the May election gets analysed and expect more debate on the idea…
- Someone suggested that a media mogul put up Michael Gove to persuade Boris Johnson to visit Scotland where he is despised...We wonder why.
- Colony Scotland or Equal Partner?
- Jimmy delivers the Covid briefing report which featured vaccination figures again...supplies, jag centres, delivery and a ScotGov row with the UKGov about secrecy…At the podium steady Jeane Freeman delivered steady Covid figures including an infection/test rate of 5.8% where the W.H.O. target is 5%...
- The former First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, has challenged the orthodoxy of the sovereignty of the Westminster parliament...He claims that that sovereignty breaches the conditions in the Treaty of Union between Scotland and England...His case names A V Dicey, Joanna Cherry MP and Lady Hale (prorogation of parliament) ...We discuss the relevance in Scotland today…
- We roast Prime Minister Johnson’s visit to Scotland while still speculating about the real reason he came...Channel4 News gets roasted for metrocentric coverage of it with Scottish expat Tory MP Alberto Costa interviewed...Is Scotland a colony or an equal partner?...
- Jimmy is seeking a Ghandi type leader for Scotland while still maintaining that most politicians are vain, venal creatures.
Would the SNP Collapse Parliament?
- Wee PMQs report…
- SGov Covid briefing on travel controls/quarantine hotels...Impact on tourism…
- Prof Curtice on polls...Backlash from England?...
- We’re the new Irish...Effectively causing a civil war...Surrounded by the EU…
- Twitter attack on Jo Cherry.
Son of the Manse
The news that the German government and the EU is in dispute with AstraZeneca about supplies of the Covid vaccine is our first topic...this issue has legs so expect more on it…
We roast the UKGov’s invisible Scottish Secretary for his article in the Irish Times…
We disagree with a well written London Times piece by Hugo Rifkind...and recall the friendly and excited atmosphere of Indyref1 and the AUOB marches…
The new owners of the Scotsman and Evening News may have abandoned the previous strong unionist support...we ruminate…
We offer our support to Craig Murray who faces political charges in an Edinburgh court this week…
We recommend an article ( England’s Scotland Panic – What is to be done & why a mature UK debate on the union & on Scottish independence is not on the horizon ) by Kirsty Hughes of the Scottish Centre on European Relations...more to follow. (link below).
https://www.scer.scot/database/ident-13005
Grounds for Cautious Optimism
- Maybe the Covid virus has peaked again in Scotland?...The figures have steadied...The hacks story will be that Scotland lags England in the vaccination race though…
- The BBC SNPbaad intro show had a London BBC reporter comparing with Scotland...apples and oranges…
- We comment about the SNP National Assembly stitch-up...We bitch about George Kerevan’s SNP leadership race...there’s a Bella ‘Lefty No to Yes’ story that gets memories going...Iain Lawson takes on the ‘blogger bullies’...Craig Murray says that the Crown Office still won't reveal the Murrell/Ruddick evidence that the Inquiry demands...and Kenny McAskill says Indyref2 in 2021 is impossible..
- .There’s no Sturgeon V Salmond stooshie today.
National Assembly Day
- We begin with three BBC shows;...
- The Andrew Marr show featured UK Health Minister Hancock and Scotland’s FM Sturgeon with Glenn Campbell opining...Then the Politics Scotland show anchored by Andrew Kerr which featured DFM John Swinney and had Glenn Campbell - again…Finally The Big Question presented by Nicky Campbell worried about social media…
- We then review Iain MacWhirter’s piece in the Herald exposing corruption at the Crown Office (prosecution service) led by Lord Advocate James Wolfe which Iain links to the Salmond V Sturgeon scandal…which we then discuss in depth…
- Also mentioned are;...Anas Sarwar, Rape Crisis Scotland, NHS health boards, Gordon Dangerfield and SKY’s James Mathews disappearing reports, Peter A Bell, the Real McKay and the Red Hand Commando.
£60 million Is Nothing
- BBC Politics;...Lynsey Bews, Graham Stewart, 70% of infected not self isolating, £500 Gov support?, Welsh FM accuses, lockdown till summer?, extend travel ban, keep schools closed, UKGov in denial, ‘vaccination a distraction’, kids NOT immune...
- Covid briefing review;...Covid case rate down to 7%, hospitals and ICU stable, daily deaths 71, FM stresses/details dangers in supermarkets...brushes off police care home deaths inquiry and building work at Bute House…
- Main review;...Spectator Royal Commission delay, Colonel Ruth Davidson, Lizzie Hoose, Nissan bribe, Channel Tunnel refilled, Watergate at Holyrood, the Scotsman/Johnston Press, nukes illegal, Holyrood list voting, Greens, ISP, Galloway, Brexit...
- Sturgeon scandal;...James Mathews SKY story vanishes, gagging orders, Lord Advocate and £60m loss, Craig Murray trial, Lady Dorian, Gordon Dangerfield, alphabet women, maybe I’m talking p**h...
Worst Excess Deaths in 129 yrs...
That’s fake news broadcast by BBC Scotland BTW…
- Deputy FM John Swinney held the Covid press briefing supported by NCD Jason Leitch...The game was ‘let's compare vaccinations with England” and make ScotGov look bad on the day the UK death rate reached another awful peak…
- From the past came a poll about a prosecution of former PM Tony Blair…
- Alex Salmond’s former Chief of Staff, Geoff Aberdein, has been barred from giving evidence of a conspiracy against his boss to the Holyrood inquiry…
- Nicola Sturgeon is England’s favourite political leader...Who knew?…
- Lesley Riddoch analyses the detail in the latest poll by Scot Goes Pop…
- We all have a go at the threat to free speech from the woke division.
Don’t Haste Ye Back
The FMQs review majors on the vaccine programme roll-out…
We discuss a new poll which shows 55% support for the May Holyrood election to be plebiscitary (viz. a referendum on independence)...
The news from Labour sees Monica Lennon officially as a leadership candidate... There’s also a Keir Starmer appointment of a ‘former’ Mossad agent to spy on the UK Labour Party…
The final main topic is the launch in the UK of two more foreign backed TV News stations (what’s new?)...
Also included are;...Devi Sridhar, Joanna Cherry + UK Supreme Court, George Osborne, Piers Morgan, Andrew Neil, Rupert Murdoch and Robin McAlpine out of Common Weal...
World Worst Death Rate
- The MSM (NB. BBC & SKY & foreign owned press) gets roasted for failing to alert the UK public in this most dangerous state in the pandemic...The UK has the highest death rate in the world and our media has let us all down by not headlining this so that we can all take extra care…
- The MSM focus on the international vaccination race is assessed…
- We then ask why the BBC Radio Scotland Kaye Adams show shut down discussion of the Israel vaccination programme when Palestinians were mentioned…
- In a blog by Barrhead Boy the issue of turning the May Holyrood election into a plebiscitory one (for or against independence) gets heated…
- We applaud the letter by Joanna Cherry challenging an article by Fintan O’Toole, both published in the Irish Times, about the SNP founders ant-fascist credentials and the omission of Alex Salmond from the SNP luminaries.
Look Down On The Serfs
It was a brief Covid briefing and only 14 journalists turned up...Perhaps they were warned that Covid only questions were allowed…The figures have plateaued so the focus was on the vaccination roll-out and comparisons with England…
The Review
- It’s an eclectic mix of topics as we cover;...
- The social media responses to Robin McAlpine and Craig Murray…
- The SNP re-launch of yet another plan to think about how to have a referendum…
- Charlotte St Partners, the House of Lords and Norries support for an unelected second chamber…
- Peter A Bell on a camel from George Kerevan…
- Denise Findlay’s history of Nicola Sturgeon as FM…
- Monica Lennon’s chance to lead Scottish Labour…
- Exiled Scot Gavin Esler’s lost view of Scotland…
- And Scottish fish lorries protesting in London.
Not Another One?
- The Marr, Ridge and Politics Scotland shows are all reviewed...Jack McConnel was Gary Roberson’s Unionist guest on the wee show ‘where you are’ so the fortunes of Labour in Scotland and Anas Sarwar in particular were roasted…
- In Holyrood Magazine Mandy Rhodes roasts both First Minister Sturgeon and Permanent Secretary Evans and others over the Salmond V Sturgeon affair…’What About the Women?’...
- The Sunday National headlines another call to Yessers to prepare for Indyref2…’Not Another One?’ How many calls to arms have we had and how many more before we revolt?...
- The former head of the FBI James Comey dubbed Donald Trump as a menacing mob boss and suggested Trump would love an impeachment trial live on TV from Washington spread over 3 years…
- Other topics included polls, fish business and ferries.
Vaccination Passports...
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman took the Covid press briefing...
She apologised for mistakes in her department and announced South American travel bans due to the Brazil new variant...
Also announced were testing for ‘care at home’ workers, a big expansion of mobile testing teams plus waste water testing at sewage works...
NCD Jason Leitch clarified the position on vaccination passports...
We discussed the Scottish Labour deposing of leader Richard Leonard at length and an article by MP Joanna Cherry about Europe was the final main topic...
A Lobster Rosette
- Our review is a Salmond V Sturgeon psychodrama-free zone but the press asked questions about it at the Covid press briefing which featured Dr. Nicola Steedman and Dr. Alisdair Cook supporting the FM.
- The figures revealed another peak in hospital capacity but otherwise levelling off.
- Issues included the Brazil variant and a vaccination plan spat with the UKGov.
- We discuss the seafood industry Brexit disaster.
- A new poll has the SNP looking very strong for the Holyrood election 2021 and support for independence is holding at 57%.
- Lesley Riddoch suggests the YES movement is a healthy demonstration of citizen democracy.
- John Curtice says the new Farage party, dubbed ‘REFUK’ , will damage Unionist parties at the election.
Royal Prerogative Powers
It’s a show of two halves beginning with a review of PMQs and FMQs including updates on stricter Covid lockdown restrictions in Scotland….
The second half (from 24mins approx) gets angry as we tear lumps out of each other reviewing the latest Salmond affair revelations... We watched the Independence Live show by Twa Auld Heids, the ‘Skullduggery’ episode featuring Denise Findlay and Mark Hirst.
Footy, Fish and Fascism....
The Covid briefing report is upbeat...Current figures for Scotland have plateaued...Future lockdown rules could include closing food take-aways plus click and collect...‘Stay at Home and don’t go out to socialise’ is the message from the FM...People are also going out to ‘promenade’ says Stewart.....
FM Sturgeon continues to receive support in the latest surveys...The food replacement for a £30 voucher gets roasted as does MSP Michelle Ballantyne who has abandoned the Tories for Nigel Farage’s latest fascist party...
Our latest opinions about the Salmond affair come at the end of the show.
Dubai Travel Ban
Today’s show is long on news and short on opinionators....
The Covid press briefing covered the latest figures including vaccinations for the first time....Hospitalised infections exceed the April peak and 1100 vaccination sites opened....
Other topics include;...
Court trials delayed...Dubai travel ban. Football inc Celtic FC stooshie. Stricter exercise rules. Vaccination supplies. Sturgeon V Salmond..truth? Covid rules enforcement. Covid deniers protest. Reform party launch. Online education delays. Kerevan article. BBC extended their briefing coverage to editorialise more.
Critical Response to Covid
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The Sunday morning political TV shows get reviewed...Linsey Bews hosted BBC’s Politics Scotland with guests Professor Steve Reicher and DFM John Swinney. We also cover Ridge and Marr as usual.
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We have a serious debate following the publication of evidence prepared by Alex Salmond for the James Hamilton inquiry. Hamilton is responding to FM Nicola Sturgeon after she ‘reported’ herself about whether she misled Parliament over meetings with Salmond in 2018.
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Possible delays to the Holyrood 2021 General Election come up and also Council elections in England.
Mark Hirst is Innocent...
It was a busy Friday Covid press briefing... In our review we cover the disturbing numbers in hospital and the high death rate.... We discover that it’s anti-Covid anti-bodies that matter and not who makes the vaccination....Teachers and police officers will not jump the vaccination queue....The FM is in total command as per usual.
We discuss another ill-informed piece in the New Statesman about Gordon Brown and DEVO, this time by Chris Deerin....
Joanna Cherry reminds us of historical precedent as the SNP head to a National Assembly that will discuss “the tactics and strategy on the route from here to Independence Day”....
Mark Hirst has been acquitted of the politically inspired charge in relation to the Alex Salmond affair.
Copy 070121 Events in Washington
Events in Washington and the consequences in Scotland dominate today.
Our views on some cross border skirmishing won by the SNP follows.
A Reliable Alternative Route
The upcoming SNP National Assembly is focussing minds and the May Holyrood election campaign has begun. Will the unionists get it delayed?
We debate the reasons for mistrust in the SNP leadership and include contributions/solutions from MP Kenny MacAskill, blogger Jason Michael and an Aye Right viewer.
The USA elections get mentioned and the Scottish media get roasted again.
Electrodes On Their Nipples...
President Trump joins the gang very briefly as does James O’Brien of LBC who can’t find Dido Harding or Operation Moonshot. What was that?
The rest of the show is mainly a review of a long and exhausting Covid press briefing where we roast the hyena pack of hacks and congratulate the FM on her delivery.
We manage to toast articles by Marina Hyde on Johnson and in particular Peter A Bell who has some manifesto advice for the new SNP President.
Tazer the Weans --
Don’t miss a five star rammy about Nicola Sturgeon in the second half of the show. --
We begin by reviewing the new Covid regulations outlined by FM Sturgeon. Few surprises. --
There’s a brief summary of the political headlines from a Scottish viewpoint including Assange and Trump. --
Iain Lawson, James Kelly and Peter A Bell all post thought provoking articles which we like.
Englishman Talking to a Scot
- We focus on the Andrew Marr show followed by two articles in the Sunday Times by Alex Massie.
- In interview by Marr, Northern Ireland FM Arlene Foster avoided the word ‘border’, reminding us that it's 100 years since the current United Kingdom union began and that the Brexit NI protocol can be ended by a Stormont vote in four years.
- Then in interview, PM Johnson failed to affect Stewart’s blood pressure and revealed little for a Monday tabloid headline though Marr challenged him over what democratic tools were left for a pro Scottish independence voter if a fresh indyref was refused.
- Alex Massie returns to assist us in dissecting topical independence issues.
We analyse the ten 2021 predictions of Richard Murphy, who blogs as ‘Tax Research UK’
- Covid
- Brexit
- Economic recovery
- Corruption
- Freeports
- Northern Ireland
- SNP landslide
- NHS crash
- COP26
- MSM fascists
- New businesses
- Disruption
We finish with an excellent piece by Marina Hyde in the Guardian unofficially titled ‘Boris the Podium Victim’ which strangely got Norrie and Stewart wondering about Nicola…
Foot on the Throat of Scotland
We begin with the Holyrood Brexit vote to refuse consent for Scotland to leave the EU. Mike Russell made a barnstorming speech winding up for the Scottish Government. There’s a clip at the end.
The rest of the show takes a familiar route linking topical issues/people as follows:-..
FT article offering advice to serious Unionists, Occupied Scotland, Trojan horse, transport infrastructure.. Borders Railway to Carlisle, direct European transport links, North Sea electricity inter-connector, Scottish water, Lesley Riddoch wins award, Stewart voted Tory, Sicilian Mafia think London is more corrupt, new gangster Lords, Joanna Cherry, wheesht for Nicola, drive for democracy, 100% Scot V 8% Brit.. you figure?, no UK election for 8 years, English foot on the throat of Scotland, taxi full of weapons, Holyrood campaign.. Nicola Sturgeon has no big idea, Welsh Labour shame SNP Government.
PARTITION
Today we begin with the Brexit votes in Holyrood and Westminster. After that we range across/mention in rough order...
Points of order, Ian Blackford, Ian Duncan Smith, Keir Starmer, Michael Gove, Mark Francois, disruption of Commons business, Kenny MacAskill, Labour leader in Scotland, Richard Leonard, Anas Sarwar, Jackie Baillie, Jenny Marra, drown in a car park, Neil Findlay, The Vow, Daily Record, wobbly nose, Jason Michael, Murray Foote, British spies, Auchtermuchty, 77th. Brigade, Scottish Press subsidy, free press, Leveson inquiry, SNP manifesto, UDI, PARTITION.
‘She’s No Got the Chuckies’
We begin with Jimmy’s report of last night’s Zoom Meeting on Plan B. MP Angus McNeil and Councillor Chris McEleny were in attendance. Susan Blackley and Neil Mackay of AUOB hosted the evening.
MP Pete Wishart blots his copybook with a rude reply to a letter from the Dr. Timothy Rideout of the SNP Policy Development Committee. We get excited over that.
Paul Goodman of Conservative Home gets roasted for his London Times opinion piece.
Jimmy coins some wonderful turns of phrase. Norrie is on his own not wearing socialist red. Stewart apologises (again) for a mix-up over assemblies and letters
Foxhunting Galloway
Phil Attridge rejoins the gang today.
We offer advice to the SNP on the Brexit Deal vote in Westminster this week.
Keir Starmer gets another roasting.
We wonder when the rows over the Brexit Deal facts will start.
Further developments are expected when Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon appear before the Harassment Inquiry next month.
We speculate on the political future of Andy Wightman and for the Greens in Scotland.
Foxhunting and George Galloway finish the show.
Boris Wins Brexit
We all agree that Boris Johnson is the winner of the Brexit Games. After that the show is all over the shop in this heated ‘Silly Season’ episode.
Featured;
Tony Blair, Erasmus, London Financial business, Fish and fishing parliamentary seats, AUOB/YESALBA versus the SNP, Can Sturgeon survive?, Angus Robertson, Joanna Cherry, Indyref plans and funding?
Legacy iScotland Panel Debate 2013
An ‘as live’ recording by ‘3 Men In A Blog’ Behind the camera Stewart Lochhead…
Featuring… Kevin Williamson ( Rebel Inc, Bella Caledonia, Neu Reekie ), Duncan Hothersall ( Labour Hame, New Statesman, Business) , Iain McGill ( Conservative Politician, Street Soccer, Business), Norrie Stewart ( Aye Right Radio, Leith FM, Artist/Cartoonist, Business).
Note the date and the balance on the panel between YES and NO.
Band of Brexiteers2
Seasons greetings and thanks to all our viewers and listeners, wherever you are.
It was the last FMQs at Holyrood before Xmas but apart from the obligatory thanks and best wishes there was little to cheer. Covid infections are still around 1000 a day. Care homes are still a ‘damned if you do and damned if you don’t’ issue and Willie Rennie almost starred in a low firmament.
Norrie and Stewart have another ‘debate’ about making progress towards an iScotland in the face of an anticipated refusal to negotiate from London.
Fresh light on the new Covid variant comes from a New York Times article.. Who knew?
Mutant Etonian Variant
Keir Starmer’s DEVO speech continues to attract ridicule especially his use of the terms separatist and secessionist. We range through reactions from Welsh Labour, The Canary and Peter A Bell whose article leads us to consider alternative routes to iScotland.
Brexit and the France - UK border closure is also covered.
Your ideas for our Aye Right Yearly Awards are welcome. Thanks for your ideas so far.
We expect to continue posting video and audio over the next few weeks except for 3 days at Xmas.
Hairbrush for Boris
Today’s fulsome press briefing expanded on the emergency one on Sunday. The senior hacks were back with some awkward questions and we ended up with a lot of important details about the new Covid restrictions.. The FM was supported by the Chief Constable and the Chief Medical Officer.
There’s more disagreement over the strength of the restrictions and police enforcement etc.
In the papers review Jimmy roasts Kevin McKenna and Stewart continues with more on the Keir Starmer planned DEVO speech.
Also mentioned are; Iain Lawson, Stuart Cosgrove, Jason Leitch, George Kerevan, JohnLe Carre and a hairbrush for Boris?
Canon Kenyon Wright was interviewed by Alex Grant of Aye Right on Black Diamond Radio in 2014.
Kenyon was Chair of the Scottish Constitutional Convention (1989-1999) and he explains the background which led to the return of the Scottish Parliament.
We publish this in light of the Keir Starmer announcement about devolution.
Xmas Dinghied
Stewart says ‘close the border’. Norrie says that FM Sturgeon doesn’t have the power. Jimmy says the new rules are a power grab. We have our say on a new Covid lockdown with Norrie mediating.
The Labour Party and Keir Starmer on ‘devolution’ get a roasting. We have a clip to promote an interview that Canon Kenyon Wright made on ‘DEVO’.
Andy Wightman dumped the Greens so we get wired into that.
Our ‘Aye Right Yearly Awards’ make an entrance.
The full Alex Grant interview with Kenyon Wright about devolution from 2014 is posted separately at https://ayerightradio.wordpress.com
Legacy FMQs Review 090513
Featuring the legendary Alex Grant plus Stewart Lochhead and Norrie Stewart reviewing a typical Alex Salmond FMQs with Joanna Lamont, Ruth Davidson, Willie Rennie and Patrick Harvie.
Neil Findlay, Margo McDonald and the un-named Presiding Officer also feature in a period when Sec 30 was under discussion and support for Independence was peaking around 30%+.
Conversion Campaign
Today’s show begins with Brexit and ends with a Conversion Campaign. We effectively segue neatly through the topics making it a single connected conversation.
On the way we mention issues raised in articles by Peter A Bell, Jo Cherry and Iain Lawson.
You can’t leave the club and keep the privileges;
making a U-turn may not be that painful;
Welsh Labour have shamed BLiS (viz Iain Murray) and led the way for a legal challenge of the Internal Market Bill which gives Lord Advocate James Wolfe a quandary in Scotland;
Iain Lawson challenges the SNP old guard especially those on wages and reminds us of the failure of the 2017 campaign.
Drug Deaths Capital
Drug deaths dominated FMQs. Ruth Davidson, Richard Leonard and Willie Rennie pressed FM Sturgeon about her responsibility for the scandal. The three of us had a proper barney about it.
Patrick Harvie raised the Supreme Court decision to approve a third runway at Heathrow and challenged the FM on her support for it. We also discovered that a Climate Change Plan was published yesterday. We will have to try harder.
A new Comres poll has support for independence at 58% again, meaning there’s now 17 polls in a row proving that ‘freedom’ is now the settled will of the Scottish electorate.
Starmer Forces a Stammer
- A busy day for news means a busy show for us.
- Norrie reports on a PMQs where Keir Starmer’s question about a pay rise for Cummings made Johnson stammer.
- Norrie and Stewart both get angry about the drugs death toll in Scotland, in particular at the hopeless official policies.
- The Covid press briefing was extensive and lit up by DCMO Nicola Steedman who quoted Martin Luther King. ( a future in politics?)
- Jimmy joins us late but he lights up our final section.
Xmas Coach Subsidy
The review of the Covid levels didn’t surprise Jimmy but it led us into a broader debate about the used/unused powers of the SNP Scottish Government.
The appearance of Michael Gove at a virtual Holyrood Committee about Brexit proved to be less exciting than we anticipated. Compared to Johnson, Gove comes across as competent. Norrie muses ‘next PM?’
We wind up talking about two independistas of very different stripes. There’s Colin Fox of the left wing SSP and Michael Fry, our tame right wing friend.
Why is the UK Government subsidising Xmas coach travel while telling people not to travel? You figure
A Scottish Maiden
A quiet review of the presser gets rowdy over the Edinburgh Covid level when Jimmy joins the show.
The FM says people are ‘scunnered and fed up’ and so is she.
We watch a George Monbiot video about Brexit and then have a row about that.
Also mentioned are…English exceptionalism, warlord capitalists, domesticated capitalists…
George Foulkes, Paul Hutcheon, John Le Carre, Prince Charles, Fettes and Eton schools and a Scottish Maiden.
A Late Arrival
Jimmy joins Norrie and Stewart very late in the show.
Norrie reports on the Brexit dominated Sunday morning TV shows plus an Elliot Bulmer article about devolution.
Stewart reports on the lines of lorries at ports and the likely supermarket shortages and on Peter A Bell’s despairs of any reason the Unionists will give in.
We discuss the new SNP policy convener Chris Hanlon piece in the National and then Jimmy joins in on his soapbox about Nicola Sturgeon being too authoritarian.
The Salmond Conspiracy
A fulsome press briefing was hosted by the FM and supported by the Chief Constable who revealed the changes in policing since he began on the streets. Lots of useful Covid information was also reviewed plus the London Times hack gave us a laugh.
Norrie and Stewart get a wee bit heated over the Salmond Conspiracy as outlined by Iain Lawson.
Boris Johnson in Brussels gets roasted and if a criminal banker is a ‘bankster’ what do you call a criminal brexiteer?
- A very busy FMQs review includes the Harassment Inquiry, Edinburgh Covid level and Brexit.
- A Royal Visit to Scotland reveals a London bubble of ignorance.
PMQ + SG Press Briefing
Only two brief reports today due to last minute staff shortages. PMQs with Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer. Scottish Government press briefing with FM Nicola Sturgeon and Chief Clinical Director Jason Leitch.
- Brexit troubles Norrie as does Stuart Campbell’s announcement that the FM has definitely broken the ministerial code and will have to resign.
- Craig Murray, newly elected to the YES ALBA leadership, highlights the reality of far-right control of the Tory Government and wonders why Labour still lags behind in the polls.
- Paul Kavanaugh says its the SNP senior politicians who need to ‘Wheesht for Indy’
- Roddy McLeod and Stewart discuss.....
- Brexit speculation
- SNP2020 Conference including SNP NEC revolution
- Who speaks for the SNP?
- Does Nicola need a break or should she delegate Covid?
- Should the Holyrood election next May also be a plebiscite on independence?
- It’s the eve of Vaccination Day, the first day of the end of the pandemic (we hope), and the Scottish Government top team appeared at today’s Covid press briefing. The First Minister, the Health Secretary and the Chief Medical Officer radiated a Xmas Eve spirit of expectation.
- The press wanted early details of any changes to the tiers of Covid restrictions and got none plus more on the roll-out of the vaccination programme, which they got.
- Our papers review include Stephen Paton in the National, James Foley in the Source, Stuart Campbell in Wings and Ruth Wishart in the National.
- We managed a remarkable amount of comment on the Sunday morning TV (and radio) which starred Gary Robertson, BBC Radio Scotland morning news anchor, and another useless Tory Minister, George Eustice.
- We rebut a London Times story about Scotland being too poor to be independent by David Smith (who?).
- Gerry Hassan gets some support and is exposed again as a chronic Labour supporter.
- Mike Russel tells us many times in the National to ‘Wheesht for Indy’.
DFM John Swinney took the podium at today’s press briefing.
Vaccinations, schools and travel freedom from quarantine / social isolation for elites dominated the presser and our commentary.
We also reviewed Joanna Cherry’s article in the National and even managed a bit about the new YES ALBA steering committee make-up.
Comment on Alyn Smith OK? Nicola Sturgeon at FMQs .. ‘Phew! Vaccination Questions. Easy peasy’. We learnt more about the Covid jab logistics than UK media have provided. Schools Xmas holidays, exams under Covid, taxi drivers and grouse shooting featured. We then went on to discuss the reaction to the petulant article by Alyn Smith MP and other implications of the SNP NEC changes (don’t call it a revolution) especially a very good article by Lesley Riddoch. And finally we view a BBC rebuttal of the Tory claim that only a Brexit UK could deliver the Pfizer vaccine so fast.
Band of Brexiteers The harassment inquiry, the SNP NEC revolution and the SNP Conference speech by FM Nicola Sturgeon kept us busy today.
St Andrews Day The shortest press briefing with the least controversy and the anticipated SNP Conference speech by FM Nicola Sturgeon still to come dominated our show today. No real clues were revealed about the Tuesday Covid levels review. Any date for a vaccination programme launch is speculative. Pilot testing of asymptomatic people has begun. Jason Leitch is not trying to kill off old folks but Mark McLaughlin of the London Times is still our top hack hyena. Will there be major changes to the SNP NEC? We await the results. MSM TV and radio get roasted for their Sturgeon coverage. More attacks on Joanna Cherry get aired and Stewart wonders if Unionists still celebrate St Andrews Day.
Sunday at Conference
The FM was ‘grilled’ on Marr, Martin Geissler had Mike Russel MSP and David Duguid MP on Politics Scotland plus Stewart watched the constitution debate at the SNP Conference.
Jimmy came and went and ended the show with trans issues on his mind.
The Good the Bad and the Wokey
The ‘SNP Goodguys’ and the woke contingent make an entrance today after a short Covid press briefing report.
The SNP Conference dominates the show plus a fringe event-- The ‘Scottish Currency Group Conference’ which will discuss popular motions pushed aside by the SNP organisers.
Also mentioned are Matt Hancock, Nicola Sturgeon, Alex Salmond, Joanna Cherry, Iain Lawson, Robin McAlpine, Boris Johnson.
Tears for Tiers
UK Health Minister Matt Hancock announced the new Covid rules for England to follow the end of lockdown by revealing where the tiers would apply and the impact the rules would have in each tier.
At FMQs FM Sturgeon was under attack by Ruth Davidson over the Harassment Inquiry and by Richard Leonard over the care home covid deaths tragedy.
The SNP internal spat between the establishment represented by Pete Wishart and Alyn Smith and the opposition gets discussed,
We finish with a heated argument about the role of Nicola Sturgeon in the Harassment Inquiry.
Pete Wishart is the News...
PM Johnson can’t even make a success of a virtual PMQs from the security of his cupboard, gets censured by the speaker and even admits the corruption of his ministers to Keir Starmer.
At her daily presser FM Sturgeon revealed the details of the Xmas Covid ‘holiday’ break which she then told us not to take..‘Bide in’ Norrie reports on Rishi Sunak’s spending plans then Jimmy and Stewart join in to discuss...Peter Wishart, Stuart Campbell, Henry McLeish, Eddie Barnes, Dani Garavelli, Suzanne Moore…
...and we recommend https://peterabell.scot ‘BLOG’ where Peter argues with his blog.
Let’s Kill Granny
“The Vindicationists were no enthusiasts for independence any more than were those who subscribed to build the Wallace monument.” wrote Alex Massie who could be writing a plan for D,Ross,
We find our way into a long discussion about the prospects for Indy and the SNP in May2021.
Stewart gets controversial about Xmas but don’t call him the Grinch.
Taxi for Jimmy Care Homes, Schools and Xmas were the hacks obsessions today at the Covid Briefing. ‘I’m not going to speculate’ ‘I’m not going to comment on an email I haven’t read’ said the FM, as the hyenas (sorry cream of the Scottish press) attempted to put words in her mouth. The suicide of Labour in Scotland gets discussed plus an excellent Ruth Wishart article roasting the Unionists.
SNP2020 - Preview With the SNP annual conference next weekend Norrie and Stewart discuss the run-up. Joanna Cherry fronts a group associated with Common Weal proposing a slate of new NEC members. The rest of the show, on a quiet day, has us ranging over connected issues including… The Lockerbie bombing, Iain Lawson, Alex Salmond, Peter A Bell, Kevin McKenna, Rishi Sunak, Iain MacWhirter, MMT, CRG, Dross, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove…..
Peter Curran – Devolution Attack
- On the telephone Stewart interviews writer Peter Curran @Moridura about his response to the attack on Scottish devolution.
- The SNP doesn’t come out well and also is mentioned… GERS, the economy, @George_Osborne @AlexSalmond @NeilMacKay @SluggerOToole and the 77th.Brigade
Is Sturgeon a Devolutionist? At today’s press briefing there was some comforting news from Chief Scientific Officer Jason Leitch and FM Nicola Sturgeon about vaccines, the virus management in schools and hospitals and also the limited places where transmission takes place. Norry and Stewart then discuss further fall-out from Johnson’s ‘devolution is a disaster north of the border’ outburst. Gordon Brown plus the London commentariat have their go at it and it turns out that Nicola Sturgeon supports the ‘devolusionist’ Andrew Wilson. Who knew?
Legal Travel Ban
It was noisy at the back of the Holyrood chamber during FMQs today but the Presiding Officer was lenient.
The consequences of the legal travel ban and the definition of an ‘essential journey’ were highlights and the FM enjoyed quoting the First Minister of Wales back to Richard Leonard @LabourRichard .
The fall-out from last Saturday's AUOB Assembly continues with our view of the reactions of @GeorgeKerevan , Mike Small and Peter A Bell @BerthanPete
@RichardJMurphy entertains us with a description of a Scottish ‘Young Fabians’ meeting which he attended with Jackie Ballie @jackiebmsp and Kevin Hague @kevverage
“I then told them that since the quality of political and economic debate on The Bake Off was bound to be of a higher calibre than that in this meeting that was what I was going to watch, and left the meeting.”
Mike Stevenson Thinktastic At FMQs the FM was keen to highlight the report from Public Health Scotland about Covid and schools. Extra details of the new Level4 restrictions were also clarified. Some sort of UK wide Xmas relaxation is coming but exactly what is not yet clear. Norry reports on the virtual PMQs which allowed the PM to use a hidden autocue (made that up). A Mike Stevenson interview follows after the PM announcement that ‘Scottish devolution is a disaster’.
Level 4 Speculation
Jimmy has strong opinions on the FM today as he joins Stewart and Norry to discuss the pandemic restrictions then we have Peter A Bell reporting on the AUOB Assembly.
We finish with more from Jimmy about the upcoming SNP Conference and next May’s Holyrood election.
AUOB Assembly
Reports on the AUOB Assembly to map the future of the YES movement and to form an organising structure dominate today’s show followed by the usual reports on the Sunday morning politics TV shows.
Then a final view on the future of PM Johnson following the removal of Dominic Cummings from No10.
Celebrating a Scotland Win
The Deputy FM, John Swinney, took the podium to answer for the Scottish Government and NOT the SNP as he scolded a tabloid hack at the press briefing.
Lockdown level restrictions might be coming for some areas of Scotland. Changes of testing and quarantine periods were mentioned. The impact of Covid in Winter and especially over Xmas upon the NHS is a concern.
An article by Joanna Cherry in the National where she challenges Alan Smyth’s position leads to a rammie between Norry and Stewart.
There’s another poll with good news for independence.
John Nicholson roasts Tory toady Ben Bradley on TV.
Celebrating a Scotland win upsets Unionists. Who knew?
Boris Puppet Masters We discuss In no particular order today, with Jimmy, Stewart and Norry all present….. Test & Protect, Long Covid, Hospitality, Beer, No.10 puppet masters, Spycops, Excess Covid deaths, John Major, Martin Bashir, Lady Diana, INEOS Grangemouth, Trump…… And mine’s a Double Referendum.
Vaccine Excitement
Two days of Covid reports plus a PMQs, SNP bitchin and a bit of Trump sums up today's show.
Cummings Whitty Row As we await the announcement of any Protection Level changes by the First Minister, the world continues to turn. A new poll supports an SNP/Green coalition majority as sufficient mandate for Indyref2. Former PM John Major suggests a double Indyref2 model and upsets Norry, There’s about 50 days left until final Brexit Day so we cover that. A huge row has broken out between Dominic Cummings and Chris Whitty over tests and self-isolation periods. Russia and China are ‘making hay’ out of Trump failing to concede that Biden has won.
Todays press briefing trailed tomorrow’s review of the protection levels, but all we got was ‘wait and see’.
We have an interview with Peter A Bell. It’s about his article ( https://peterabell.scot/2020/11/08/for-the-sake-of-scotland/ ) on the AUOB online Assembly coming up on Saturday 14th. ( https://auob.org/assemblyregistration )
Three different treatments of the same spy story get covered and we finish with a delightful advert for a calendar.
Biden and Holyrood 2021
We range through the Biden win and it’s consequences. Then the Sophie Ridge show covers the impact on the UK plus the impending Brexit deadline and the delayed UK budget/spending plans.
We wind up by discussing the timetable running backwards from the Holyrood May 2021 election focussing on a useful article by Peter A Bell today.
Citizen Assebly
The FM presented the Friday presser, not John Swinney as anticipated, probably because she was at work anyway presiding over the British Irish Council.
The pandemic figures were quite good with a plateau level reached, probably allowing some relaxation of rules.
We were assured that social distancing would still be practiced during the May 2021 Holyrood election.
Norry and Stewart disagreed about the Robin McAlpine proposals for a Citizen Assembly.
We examined another poll with positive results for Indy and the SNP but negative for the Tories who drop into 3rd. place.
We mock the failed efforts of Labour to perform a leadership coup as outlined by Liam Kirkcaldy in Holyrood Magazine.
Up in Smoke
It’s Norry, Stewart and Jimmy today.
Was the FM unprepared to respond to an NHS report by the Royal Colleges?
Maybe she was just showing signs of stress or anxiety at FMQs? She probably needs a break.
Rishi Sunak bowed to the inevitable and U-turned again so that his Furlough Policy went ‘up in smoke’.
SNP internal shenanigans get a decent outing.
A unionist extremist may have revealed the SNP gradualists ‘secret plan’.
American Election Day
The FM faced a cosy Holyrood committee on Covid before meeting the press today...Mass testing, regional issues and travel restrictions dominated both.
The release by lawyers for Alex Salmond of 150 pages of crucial documents to the Holyrood Inquiry gets Stewart going.
Norry completes the show with an in depth analysis of the US presidential election….
“Only a fool rules out anything in a pandemic” FM Sturgeon.
At least half the questions at the press briefing were about the uncertainty surrounding the furlough scheme as we go to publish.
An on-air BBC Radio Scotland News could face an Ofcom inquiry after ambushing the FM while she was broadcasting live and then asking an unanswerable question.
The Holyrood inquiry into the Salmond affair revealed Paul Cackette to be a nervous legal officer every time the Lord Advocate was mentioned. We also discovered that the ‘harassment complaints’ are still not ‘at rest’.
Prof John Curtice has published an annual survey of Scottish voters’ attitudes to the constitution revealing a strong movement towards independence.
Flexible Furlough
Will Rishi Sunak make furlough flexible? Will he say YES to the FMs of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland or diss them all?Has Stuart Cosgrove gone Off The Ball and upset too many Scottish hacks?Is DRoss electioneering? (of course he is).Are elections in the UK fair and is the Electoral Commission toothless?
Phil Attridge Interview Sunday politics TV shows get discussed after the ramifications of the England Covid lockdown.
Topics covered include furlough, DRoss, Gove, Starmer, Corbyn, FIFA, Indypoll, AUOB, Trump.
We finish with a Labourite Phil Attridge phone interview.
Transit With a Sofa in the Back
Stewart Lochhead and Norry Stewart discuss……. DFM John Swinney delivered the Covid press briefing and a few junior reporters turned up…. Incubation, Immunity and Mutation were all explained by Jason Leitch…. The Starmer suspension of Corbyn from the Labour party over anti-semetism gets a roasting…. A new Indy poll headlines 56% for YES and we drill down into the interesting details as does Stuart Campbell who links to the awful SNP decision to ban any debate about a Plan B at the upcoming Conference.
Radge in the Cheap Seats
It’s a big magazine show today with Jimmy , Stewart and Norry…..
The care homes report dominated FMQs...The new Covid management system of levels announced by the FM gets analysed/roasted….Then the gormless Oliver Mundell asked the radge question from the cheap seats about the Salmond Inquiry (or is that the Sturgeon Inquiry now?) and lies to the inquiry by senior civil servants get covered….
Gordon Brewers’s last BBC show gained personal tributes and an exclusive reveal by James Cusick about chaos in No.10 about the SNPBaad ‘attack dog’ civil servants hired by Gove….
The suspension of Jeremy Corbyn by Starmer gets Jimmy annoyed and Labour gets roasted….
Then sewage comes up..We close with the news that the UK Government knows a lot more about us than it likes to admit by testing our waste water which does at least supply early indicators of the presence of Covid
Care Homes Report. The press briefing was bad tempered and focussed on the Public Health Scotland report into discharges from hospitals to care homes….The report failed to blame anyone and the hacks had already decided the FM was guilty…. Norry defends care homes at length…. We also touch on the details of the new Covid restriction levels, SNP troubles and a positive case for independence made by Iain Lawson.
She says you are so Aye Right Studio Episode The Salmond Inquiry gets a forensic review and even Jackie Baillie is praised. The unbelievable invisible witness Judith MacKinnon, who has no social media presence, gets special treatment to protect her from harassment on social media. The other witness Barbara Allison got gasps of doubt trying to explain why she can find every text message she wants except the one about ‘losing the battle but …still winning the war’ from Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans. We also discuss Tory Unleader in Scotland Dross on free school meals, press culpability for Covid deaths, how strict and better funded virus regulations are in Australia plus a useful video clip at the end comparing the pandemic across Europe.
Brewer’s SwansongThe shape of the pandemic management system in hello good timing Scotland is almost clear. After a debate at Holyrood on Tuesday the content of the levels and where they will apply will be revealed by the FM…. At today’s presser the hacks were after blood and some had already written their headlines….We say goodbye to Gordon Brewer who got frustrated with Alister Union Jack “Not your greatest hits again”….Ben McPherson MSP has been ignored seven times by Priti Patel over migrant care worker shortages….We finish by dissing the James Cook Indyref2 TV documentary on BBC Jockland.
Five Levels Not Tiers The strategic framework was outlined by the FM today and crucially it’s different from England with five levels of increasing restrictions..... Tory Chancellor Sunak has denied parity of financial support to business in Scotland compared to England..... The Scottish journalist community got upset at scrutiny by the public over their tabloid hack habits in particular for publishing a false quote by a senior civil servant..... The open debates in the SNP party supplies lots of stories at the moment and the National Foreign Correspondent David Pratt weighs in as does MP Joanna Cherry.
“He Hates the English.
Rishi Sunak ‘revised’ his Covid support and we review that plus the reaction of Labour rising star Anneliese Dodds.
Norry fails to see what’s wrong with Angela Rayner calling a Tory MP ‘SCUM’ as it’s an acronym for Scottish Conservative Unionist Mp.
DRoss gets roasted (again) for hypocrisy after proudly using his dinner lady mum to support free school meals in Scotland yet failing to vote for them in England. Norry reckons he must “Hate the English”
Lesley Riddoch on the English North gets a mention and according to the FM Jason Leitch needs a Grinch costume for Xmas.
Act Early and Firmer PMQs ...The PM matched Starmer today arguing about the money for business and job support. Presser...The FM outlined her 5 level strategic framework (like Ireland) after revealing desperately worrying Covid figures including the highest death rate since May 2nd. We then range across a variety of connected topics including;...Tory power grabs from Councils AND devolved nations...a spoiler referendum on DEVO...a Covid study about human compliance and risk...UK more corrupt than USA...SNP electioneering on Facebook.
Seminars for Hacks. At the presser we learned a lot about Scottish Government thinking behind the pandemic management today. A self-aware FM said they were providing seminars not just answers for the journalists. Norry roasts DRoss and Tricky Leonard’s attacks on the ScotGov. We highlight Oliver Mundell’s farming problems and the ‘war-gaming’ Tories reaction to a 58% YES poll. We have three video clips; a Gove/May ‘lovein’; very senior Judge Lord Hope savaging the Internal Market Bill; and oor Jimmy Hutton on the effect of current restrictions.
Future Shape of Scotland A short press briefing had hacks trolling for headlines. ‘Your F.A.C.T.S message is too complex” says Jack Frost. ‘Only coz you lot aren’t doing your job’ says the FM. ‘Your stuck with a failed UK test system aren’t you?’ says Conor Matchet. ‘Are you going to shut the schools?’ ‘Will the Police get info about people self isolationing. Then we follow with a bad tempered ‘debate’ about Andrew Wilson, Ben Wray, Mike Small, George Kerevan and Ruth Wishart about what an Indy Scotland could/should be like.
Brewer Fails Marr Too Gove attracts Norry’s exasperation on Marr and the anodyne Brewer show annoys Stewart. Gerry Hassan gets a forensic attack by both for his Sunday National article. Iain MacWhirter gets a sore bottom again as his equivocal Sunday Herald article reveals the difference since Paul Hutcheon left.
A virtual FMQs because it’s ‘recess’ at Holyrood began badly for Ruth.. Her virtual link was faulty.. None of the party leaders seriously challenged the FM who began with a lot of detail in respect of what to expect about the pandemic over the next months. Our other topics today included:- Covid travel bans.. Union Jackery.. ‘Wet pubs’ and what a Level4 might include.. The impact of the 58% YES poll in England.. BBC running an SNPBaad Blackpool story undermining the public health messages.. Free Old Firm TV match.. And finally we discuss the Dani Garavelli article about the Salmond Inquiry.
YES Reaches 58%
PMQs….Keir and Boris spar over the ‘circuit break’ ‘he’s been an opportunist all his life’ ‘he wants to close down business and the country’ ‘the PM will back a circuit break in 2 weeks’ Result - Score draw
Press Briefing….The pandemic accelerates Travel restrictions are major issue The FM would ban Old Firm fans on coaches to Blackpool A UK4 agreement on travel wanted
POLL….YES for Indy reaches 58% , the FM avoids a comment BUT says ‘people want leadership, firm decisions, tough decisions, frankness about mistakes’ ‘I’d trade approval ratings to get rid of Covid’
SNP grandee Iain Lawson reveals a ‘WokeFix’ plot to control candidate choice.
Finally Laura Kuenssberg really needs to stop referring to herself as a 'senior government source'
Commission of Diligence
Today’s presser focussed on the impact of the 3 tiers England system on Scotland and hacks still unhappy about Covid testing and hospitality restrictions.
We also cover the comparison between the management of the pandemic in Scotland and England.
We touch on the effect of Brexit and other Tory government plans upon the professions eg. Legal, medical, financial.
We finish with the effect of recent Salmond inquiry revelations on the future prospects for independence.
Showing Elevated Stress
Press Briefing After a UK4 COBRA meeting a 3 tier alert system seems likely to align with Scotland. Covid will become endemic, coach travel is a transmission risk, the hacks are still obsessed with a cafe V restaurant distinction, don’t make Xmas plans yet BUT if you take your medicine now Santa Nicola might bring you a present. Asked about Salmond inquiry questions on TV and displaying ‘elevated stress’ the FM said ‘I can't control TV questions’.
George Kerevan’s article in the National about Salmond leading a pro-indy unity party gets short shrift especially from Jimmy who is also unhappy about the treatment of the hospitality business. The BBC gets attacked by 4 SNP MPs plus Peter A Bell and the National prints another impressive front page.
Nicola on Sophie Ridge
The Lord Advocate, James Wolfe, may have taken on Twitter by his latest attack on Craig Murray.
The FM had a dreadful interview with Sophie Ridge on SKY News.
Even Tory leaders in the North of England are challenging the UK Government.
The latest Survation poll of Scottish intentions gets roasted,
The SNP careerists and carpetbaggers issue has an airing and the upcoming conference is highlighted.
New Restrictions - Cafe V Restaraunt
PRESS BRIEFING We got details of the Central Belt ‘local lockdown-lite’ and the Scotland wide restrictions from the FM and a chorus of hacks wanting a definition of a cafe. What about BYOB? Norry clarifies licences.
Details of business support depends on the Chancellor.
There was some light-hearted banter ‘define a Jaffa cake’ , ‘will you cancel the Old Firm match?’
Having heart failure is the highest risk if you catch Covid. Compliance is better in Scotland,
The Faculty of Advocates is VERY angry with Boris, Pretty Petal and the Dom.
Football, rugby and Trump squeeze in.
FMQs: Virus and Inquiry Ruth wanted to avoid talking about the virus and Nicola wanted to avoid talking about the inquiry. So Ruth attacked the FM’s veracity but Nicola retorted “One minute you suggest I’m in a conspiracy against Alex then the next I'm colluding with him” Mentioned by us were; Lesley Evans, Geof Aberdein, Paul Hutcheon, Neil McKay, Kate Forbes, Alex Burnett, Patrick Harvie, Pauline McNeil, Anas Sarwar.
Covid Statement – Sturgeon – Salmond Inquiry It’s not a lockdown but it’s brutal and give up the booze. Salmond inquiry revelations get Norry and Jimmy going – at length. And a little bit of Prime Minister’s questions.
We Are Not Going Back to March
The FM kept us waiting a bit more, probably waiting for Treasury cash, to announce the new pandemic restrictions due to be in force from Friday. She told us that ‘we are not going back to March’ so that it’s not going to be a return to lockdown, there won’t be a travel ban, the schools will stay open and the NHS will cope without cancellations of routines. The SUN hack, Christine Lavelle, got skelped again for LYING. Listen in for that.
Other issues included; a Boris speech, this one to the Tory conference. DRoss makes a 2nd.conference speech and we discuss our reactions to that plus the columns by Wee Ginger Dug and Iain Lawson who also react.
The Spectator podcast trailed on yesterday’s show gets a mention or two and Peter A Bell reacts to the inclusion of a PlanB motion at the upcoming SNP conference in November.
Wait and See Monday
Resolution was short at today’s press press briefing. The temporal reset, AKA ‘Circuit Breaker’ measures, as she doesn’t like to call it, decisions depend on firstly the clinicians report due at a meeting this afternoon, secondly a UK four nations meeting (presumably about financial support for any lockdown) also today and then tomorrow morning a Scottish Cabinet meeting before a statement at Holyrood.
Interesting briefing topics included, quarantining in Wales for travellers from England hotspots, the missing thousands of Covid cases in England and capital punishment for Margaret Ferrier.
Simon Johnson of the Telegraph and Michael Blakeley of the Mail were sent to the naughty step and Mark Francois featured too.
The BBC1 SNPbaad show featured Jackie Baillie.
We also cover Ireland, North and South., Iain Lawson’s suggestion that the FM should split her roles to permit scrutiny of the Tory government and George Kerevan’s interesting ideas about digital currency in reference to an independent Scotland.
DRoss and Responsibility
We cover Boris on Marr and ‘regional’ TV (it’s the Tory Conference you didn’t know). Margaret Ferrier gets roasted. The motives of Douglas Ross get examined and Peter A Bell has a theory about that. There’s a worry about Covid cases not fessing up about contacts. The Salmond affair gets an airing again. Huge subsidy for biomass electricity comes up too.
Margaret Ferrier Press Briefing
Today’s Coronavirus briefing was dominated by the hyena press pack baying about Margaret Ferrier MP who has the Covid virus. Not one hack expressed sympathy to the new sufferer.
775 new positive cases were reported which suggests that the 806 on Monday and the 714 last Saturday are not outliers.
Back to the baying mob; London hacks joined the Scooish based regulars so it must be a crisis though not one raised the case of Dominic Cummings. I wonder why?
The FM was firm and clearly angry. She outlined her decisive action and took the opportunity to press her concern that no-one is above the ‘law’. She did accuse others of ‘rank political opportunism’ and skelped the Daily Mail hack saying ‘whatever I say will never be enough for the Daily Mail’.
On apps, she advised the installation of other UK ‘track and trace ones for use in other jurisdictions.
We also ranged widely across a magazine of topics including; the SNPBaad programme on BBC1, ‘positive Donald Trump’ and speculate if he were to die, Joanna Cherry and Peter A Bell proposals, a Scottish currency and the collapse of Sterling, a rosy future for an England without its colonies, fishing rights, Priti Patel and concentration camps on Scottish islands, Kenny MacAskill raising questions about SNP accounts, when the Internal market bill will be law, why Peter Murrell ‘knifed’ Alex Salmond?, why the SNP have engaged top lawyers and finally the secrets of the Aye Right Radio WhatsApp board.
Twilight of the UnionFMQs at Holyrood began with Part2 of a stunt cooked up by the Tories. Part1 was the Oliver Mundell ‘point of order’ in the chamber accusing the FM of lying to Parliament about documents for the Salmond Inquiry. For Part2 Ruth Davidson used all her questions to challenge the FM about the ‘missing documents’ and it got heated.Norry and Stewart also get heated about the issue. Listen in. Other FMQ issues included students, test lab closure, job losses and parliamentary scrutiny of Covid measures.Also reviewed was Boris at PMQs by John Crace in the Guardian, Gerry Hassan on the Tory power grab and Professor Colin Kidd on the ‘Twilight of the Union’
Gold in the Braes
We start with the Commons Speaker, Lyndsey Hoyle, reprimanding the Prime Minister over the Government’s misuse of decrees (AKA statutory instruments) to a Starmer win over Johnson at the main part of PMQs.
The FM then announced some very poor pandemic figures.
We go on to cover some useful commentary about the SNP including an incisive perspective of the state of the party by Kevin McKenna, a defence of the ‘wait and see’ policy of the management by Paul Kavanagh and the expected riposte by Peter A Bell.
Iain Lawson proposes that an internal group led by Tricia Marwick should investigate the SNP CEO Peter Murrell, and Kathleen Nutt advies us that any SNP conference faces delay.
Finally. There’s gold in them thar braes and ALL devolved powers have been removed from Holyrood.
MSM Roast Some Tories
At the presser; Students and the virus dominated proceedings, The high virus figures from the weekend are not so bad when a daily average is examined, The FM gets annoyed and a bit political with the Mail, the Times and the Courier hacks. Is this a change since the BBC politicised the broadcast?
Elsewhere; we cover the cost of tests, who pays for them?, Scottish water to England, problems facing the FM, the Crown Office and Lord Advocate James Wolfe.
Clips of DRoss and Gary Robertson on BBC radio plus Matt Hancock on Channel 4 news with Jon Snow entertaining us.
Political Battles Ahead Press briefing report----Students, restrictions, schools, circuit breaker?, whose fault? Holyrood election delay, plan B motion for SNP conference, when is it?, BBC SNPBaad show report, SNP candidate battles, Peter Murrell, Rhiannon Spear, Peter A Bell, Ruth Wishart, TRUMP.
1,000 Students in Quarantine Press Briefing Students stay out of the pub, students don’t go home to mummy, bars, curfews, house parties. FLU Vax, FLU & Covid, Police motto ‘Engage,Explain,Enforce’ Chancellor Sunak, Joanna Cherry, SNP NEC, Murrell, Salmond, Whiteford, Barrhead Boy Times Radio Focus Groups It’s a knockout for Nicola over Boris.
Full Business Session at FMQs
The best FMQs for months had Ruth in gentle mode and Richard, Patrick and Willie all a bit pushy. It was students and their accommodation that had them all excited. Like cruise ships, said Patrick, giving me visions of shared booze, casual sex and virus. What a cocktail.
Testing capacity was challenged and got FM push back. Negative tests and human behaviour was also disputed.
Social housing, the 80s miners strike, BiFab, FairStart, football and soft play also featured.
The new Sunak job support plan gets detailed, Geo Galloway gets roasted and you need a passport to visit Kent.
After the Second Lockdown
PMQs.
Starmer was quite gentle with Johnson who had two planted/easy questions to begin with.
The PM was shown-up as a hypocrite over testing and made a silly speech as his final reply to Starmer. He thinks it’s only an ‘epidemic’ and that the NHS runs the Test & Trace system not Deloitte, Serco et al.
SG Press Briefing.
The highest days new Covid infections of 486 barely bothered the hyena hacks looking for red meat. Will the FM shut the pubs?, Why is it tougher in Scotland?, Where is the virus transmission happening?, Should I cancel my foreign holiday in October?
Also featured are; Robin McAlpine, Devi Sridhar, Monica Lennon, Mike Pompeo, DRoss, Peter A Bell, Stormont.
It’s Not Lockdown
The UK is united in a return to stricter pandemic restrictions; or not. The PM delivered the already trailed news that Xmas and maybe even Easter is cancelled by new rules. The FM explained the science;. imposed stricter rules in Scotland, and supported open schools, colleges and full NHS services. Keir Starmer made a virtual Labour ‘convention’ speech waving his Union Jack shouting ‘Britain First’ and offending half of Scotland.
New BBC Politics Show - Coronavirus Update
The new BBC SNPBaad show launched with a glitch. Watching on BBC Scotland, the only place to see the entire briefing, we missed the awkward contribution from DRoss, broadcast only on BBC 1 Scotland, who clearly hadn’t seen or heard the FM live.
After checking the recording it was pity time for Douglas.
Now that the briefing is inside a politics show there is nothing to stop the FM ‘being political’. Thanks BBC.
The important Covid briefing alerted us to new restrictions/measures to be announced within 48 hours by the FM.
We cover Stuart Campbell’s accusation of Dani Garavelli lying in her Sunday article as she claimed Alex Salmond had tried to stop vital documents being revealed.
Ruth Wishart tells the young to back Indy to secure the freedoms her/our generation enjoyed.
Dr Elliot Bulmer suggests a constitutional solution to the independence referendum impasse.
Reviews of Marr and Brewer then articles by Dani Garavelli and Mike Small have us ranging far and wide. Lockdowns in England and maybe Scotland, fines, furlough, DRoss, Jeanne Freeman, missing lockdowns in London?. Reviewing Garavelli brings up the Salmond Inquiry and all that covers; Sue Ruddick, COPFS, James Wolffe, Peter Murrell. Finishing with Bella’s article which oddly appears to be based on our topics this last week. Trivia mentioned includes Mrs Gove AKA Sarah Vine, Francis Urquhart, Carry On Boris.
Indyref1 Anniversary
Shona Craven…Peter A Bell
Press briefing
2nd.Wave Alert…COBRA?..Fire-break Lockdown?
Salmond Scandal
Kenny MacAskill…Stuart Campbell…Iain Lawson…Peter Murrell…Sue Ruddick…Craig Murray…Mark Hirst…Alan Bisset
PowerGrab
Joanna Cherry…Lord Keen..
Uneventful FMQs.
Ruth played safe, asked about a crime victim and avoided embarrassing her London boss.
Testing failures across the UK came up and the FM skillfully fielded awkward questions.
The FT gets a gold star for accuracy reporting on the threat to the Union. Who knew? Alex Cole-Hamilton gets roasted for his community protest meeting. Angus Brendan McNeil upsets Boris. Alister Union Jack confesses he is a Unionist. Kenny MacAskill gets a shout as does Peter A Bell.
Angela Rayner challenges the Prime Minister PMQs followed the standard pattern of the PM not answering any opposition questions. Angela Rayner, sitting in for self-isolating Keith Starmer, delivered an accomplished performance focussing on the 80% failure of the privatised Covid testing scheme. Johnson answered a question he wasn’t asked...again. And apparently they are NOW building four new labs to process the tests. (Why only now?)... Testing also dominated the First Minister’s press briefing but she avoided criticising the UK Government for the failure. (Will she be so shy in Holyrood tomorrow?)... The rest of the show we get animated about the Internal Market Bill (AKA as Emasculate Holyrood)...
A new route to indy?
Jimmy Hutton, Stewart Lochhead & Norry Stewart featured.
Press briefing…
FM Sturgeon fielded testing questions about testing from the hack pack. With a solution three week delayed announced by Hancock, look for answers from London TV news, not the FM or us.
The method of counting Covid hospital patients has changed and today’s old number was 262 and the new one is 48. Expect accusations of fiddling from the hacks.
An Alternative Route to Indyref2…
This paper, authored by Iain Lawson, Kenny MacAskill MP, Prof Allan MacInnes, Cllr. Chris McEleny and Dot Jessiman, is intended to “kickstart the process of examining alternative methods of holding a second referendum..” listen carefully. We’ll discuss it again.
Tipping points and the fear of a fascist government
Covid is back; infections are rising but testing isn’t keeping up so we don’t know how bad it is.
FM Sturgeon has transformed the independence debate, confidence in an independent Scotland is now high and women now exceed men in support.
Kevin McKenna has completed his journey from unionist to backing a plan B and supporting the SNP “to oppose and defeat the mafia that has subverted Westminster”.
The actions of the “mafia” running the UK have finally attracted powerful opposition including three former Prime Ministers so we discuss the danger to our democracy, how we got here and what might happen next.
The Frothy Rogue Nation Episode.
The major issues, virus, law-breaking and power grabs by the Tories etc., facing us all this week, were largely missed by Andrew Marr and Gordon Brewer.
Gordon, with a bout of ‘chlorinated chicken’ Tourettes faced Steven Barclay, the nominated Government ‘blocker’ for Scotland, but got nowhere.
We mostly reviewed 2 important essays on the state of ‘Rogue UK’ by Gerry Hassan and Peter A Bell and then a London Times article by Alex Massie.(It’s frothy man!).
The BBC excuse for silencing the First Minister was delivered by a slimy guy called Ian Small. We show the clip with John Beattie on The NINE.
Finally some good news. Ewan McGregor now supports independence and we close with a clip which ends well.
The last live BBC Covid press briefing on TV?
We heard details about the new Covid proximity app called Protect Scotland.
The need for clear Covid messaging explains why the live BBC TV coverage is essential said the FM. The elderly, the poor and the shielding especially benefit.
There’s no saving ‘taxpayers money’ by shortening the furlough scheme.
There’s some optimism about treatments and vaccines.
It’s too early to cancel Xmas.
The Brexit Burach continues and Britain’s reputation is in tatters. Cummings and Gove always planned to dump the Irish backstop.(Northern Ireland Protocol).
Government corruption gets a roasting. The Treaty of Union gets into the mix.
A Survation poll reports 53% for YES and 53% for the SNP.
FMQs was back to Thursday and today was the 3 weekly review of the Covid regulations. It was an anticipated roll-back of the numbers allowed to meet in homes and outdoors plus an extension of face-covering rules. Phase 4 is paused.
Most questions were measured and noteworthy was a restrained Baroness Davidson.
Testing and quarantine were the main issues.
The power grab via the Internal Market (Brexit) bill got us going though London media commentators ignored it. The threat to the Northern Irish protocol could just be a negotiation ploy but looking at the wide scope of powers being taken in the bill, the term ‘dictatorial’ isn’t out of place.
Professor Linda Bauld was in the news having suggested that ‘social unrest’ might result from continuing lockdowns but Professor John Robertson disagrees.
Professor Richard Murphy says “It’s not credible for the SNP to demand independence without a sovereign currency” and Yanis Varoufakis, the former Greek Finance Minister, said on BBC News “Of course Scotland could be viable in the EU, but they need monetary independence too”
Take your pick of Profs
Today’s drama began with Scottish Questions from Westminster to the Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack with 5 planted questions from English Tory MPs reading their scripts.
Second on the bill was PMQs featuring Sir Keir Starmer testing PM Johnson about testing. Red Tory Keir said “We support the Government call for a return to work”
Third was a brief FM Sturgeon Covid press briefing? Mixed messaging, furlough, excess deaths and further warnings about more infections and regulations.
Your reviewers then roamed around Brexit, internal market, power grab, breaking international law, Irish Sea border, TTIP trade, USA trade and mentioned in dispatches were Baroness Davidson, DRoss, Bernard Jenkin, Arlene Foster, Tony Blair, Dominic Cummings, Macron and Uncle Tom Cobley.
Covid is back and spreading so the press briefing was a serious influencing event with Jason Leitch backing Nicola Sturgeon….Two hacks asked non Covid questions and got skelped….Also disciplined were anti-Covid protesters and an Aberdeen unionist politician?….The Brexit bourach is also back and we decide that maybe Boris breaking international treaties suits the campaign for an iScotland….On indyref2 we cover leadership and project management which leads us to the Salmond Inquiry where disgraced Lord Chancellor James Wolfe nervously faced the committee and was obliged to agree to release more vital documents….and finally the Tories are “burning the union in a bonfire of their vanity” according tae the Dug.
At the press briefing the FM stressed and re-assured us that the rise in Covid infections is important. The restrictions review due this week could see stricter rules.
The story about the Johnson government prepared to break the EU Withdrawal Agreement and trash the Brexit Treaty gets coverage.
The potential of other trade deals especially with the USA comes up.
The ignorance of respected journalist Will Hutton reveals the paucity of understanding Scottish politics in London.
Ruth Wishart roasts the London based Scottish dinosaurs and their blood & soil referendum franchise.
Extinction Rebellion impact, Sturgeon serious?, Covid, Brexit XR really upset the right-wing papers; will YES activist copy XR?; media ignore far right Dover protest. Indyref2 situation, Nick Clegg, New Street Lubyanka, UKGov sponsored FB ads, Trump and NATO, Novichok, Covid, Back to the Office, Brexit, Macron.
We cover Johnson refusing a legal Indyref2 plus the creeping-coup background in London and the unsustainable SNP economic position. Davidson “Don’t call me Baroness Ruth” gets roasted. (Hint Yes do) “Don’t upset the Catholics” says Kevin McKenna. Dinnae fash! British Labour in Scotland leadership battle. Who cares? Police bust addicts support van Johnson forces civil servants into work Effie Deans can’t find Inverloch
No Government press briefing today so it's mostly a media review;
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Ian Murray, the ONLY Labour MP in Scotland and accused of planning to leave the party has defended his position. British Labour in Scotland in-fighting continues.
………………….
BBC Newsnight; Prof John Curtice opined that the Supreme Court might allow a second legal Indyref in the face of a Johnson refusal of a Section 30 order.
Phillipa Whiteford MP suggested there is a secret Plan B while besting Jamie Green MSP.
………………….
Sam Coates has a wee headline based package on SKY News covering the ‘UNION of the UNITED KINGDOM’ (It’s a new Unionist organisation) and it’s future. Prepare to be disappointed.
………………...
George Kerevan suggests that an SNP iScotland government might ‘hand the Scottish economy over to foreign capital’
………………….
Activity on the ‘Believe in Scotland’ Facebook group gets us to consider the future shape of an iScotland constitution.
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And @SophiaPangloss gets a shout at the close.
It’s mostly about the best press briefing for informed content for ages. Go and watch/listen to the recording.
Fish & chips and Andrew Bowie trending, Kevin Hague gets the hump with Iain MacWhirter, GERS gets a roasting, James Forsyth reveals the current Unionist thinking on ‘allowing’ Indyref2 which leads to a rammie at the close. A rammie which you will not hear as Norrie has edited it out.
Johnson was useless, Starmer was effective, Blackford challenged the end of furlough as did most MPs including Tories & DUP. The Speaker forced the PM to answer the questions but Boris couldn’t.
Davidson failed again, no Leonard bounce with his job under attack, Harvie & Rennie on Covid, Glasgow cluster details.
Mercy Baguma, D.ross MP, Programme for Government, Indyref2, Jo Cherry, Wings, Craig Murray, Peter A Bell, Tipping point yet?, YES at 60%?, Civil Service union plot against Salmond?
Limited press briefing coverage of a relaxed FM Sturgeon but an intense connected discussion covering;
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Ruth Wishart on the dark forces promoting the March on Holyrood/Saving Scotland rallies in Edinburgh and Glasgow Green on Saturday 5th. with David Icke reptiles, Covid deniers, anti-5g and fascists…..
Iain Lawson on the economic collapse of our city centres. SKY poll reveals footfall in August only 17% of normal and predict 80% non return of home workers. Invest in Fife?
Merkel’s refugee gamble pays off in Germany but the BBC wont tell you that.
Geo Kerevan cautions us about Geo Galloway the indefatigable disrupter allied with Gove and Cummings spending money from Steve Bannon.
ScotTory Douglas Ross gets grilled and toasted by BBCs Gary Robertson.Who knew?
“GERS should be renamed TWITS: too wee; too poor; too stupid” Iain MacWhirter
=============================================================It’s a papers review covering…All things GERS, is the economy now a strong card for iScotland? Cummings attack on Parliament, Civil Service & Justiciary leads us to Martin Hannan on the ‘Lawgrab’, ..then long kilts, SNP & working class, English regions & GERS, UK £2 trillion deficit.
A strong press briefing covering walk-thru tests, police powers, threats to office workers, is the virus weaker?
Poll shows 70% confidence in Scots run economy.
Also the state of Indy online media, is the Crown Office "bent"? and danger to the Act and Treaty of Union by threat to Scots Law
Featured today;…
The Covid press briefing and then the Gordon Brewer show starring Finance Secretary Kate Forbes.
No deaths, 30,000 tests comleted yesterday, 80% success in contact tracing and quarantine compliance, Daily Heil skelped, TES skelped and a satisfied FM.
GERS dominated the Brewer show and Kate Forbes sorted out Peter McMahon from ITV.
“GERS is a picture of Scotland IN THE UK not an iScotland”
Douglas Fraser unusually was sitting on the indy fence and even Brewer interrupted the Unionist MSPs bawling “Too wee, too poor”
Lesley Riddoch suggested that post Brexit day, Hogmany 2020, Scotland could be a target for seduction. The EU, EFTA and the UK all bidding for an iScotland to join their club.
“Lionel Messi is going to HIBS” says Andy Murray.
The Scuttlebut episode… A heavy duty episode today including the FMQs review, the Salmond inquiry, the jailing of Manny Singh and the trials of Craig Murray. Also mentioned are Alex Cole-Hamilton,Geo Galloway, Richard Leonard and Ruthie got ignored.
Testing and face coverings dominated the press briefing today. Details of new testing capacity were revealed and the hacks tried to get an argument going about face coverings in schools but failed.
We enjoyed Hugo Rifkind's London Times article where he swithered about indy and compared Gove and Galloway to the Blues Brothers.
Then we started examining today's Salmond inquiry session. All of it more fun than it sounds.
The Allegedly Episode: Nothing we said today is true;
Mentioned---
Johnson in a tent, Gove & Galloway are just friends, Murdoch isn't starting a News TV channel, Alex Neil isn't a rebel anymore, Andrew Neil didn't noise up the cybernats, Geo Kerevan still loves Red Rose, nobody shouted peadophile at Buck House, Tony Benn did sell off our oil, everybody is spying, the Greens & Lib-Dems pop up and Ruth & Dougie are still missing.
It’s mostly a press review today as Norry, Stewart and Jimmy cover —
Iain MacWhirter, Stewart Cosgrove, Andrew Tickell and Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp in the Sundays.
Topics included —
Civil Service Salmond inquiry, Wark TV show, best/worst outcomes for Sturgeon/Independence, impact of polls, Forward as One legal challenge and an Indy Scotland of ‘progressive’ politics V Unionists legacy.
BBC Scotland News presenter delivers biased Scottish Government Baad intro to press briefing.
Also at the presser…Coupar Angus factory outbreak “thousands in home isolation”.
Elsewhere;…
‘Alliance for Unity’ allies Geo Galloway, Andrew Neil & Michael Gove;
Murdoch, Sarah Vine, Barclay Bros, Trump, Bannon, Peat Worrier, Scottish Fabians;
Jason Michael on Progressive Politics & Indy;
James Kelly on polls.
Norrie, Jimmy and Stewart blether around a mixed bag starting with;
FMQs ... New powers for councils and police ... highest new infections
for 3 months;
Then..........
Riddoch on Wark;
Brewer SNPBaad;
Hassan on Wark;
MPs on NEC;
Peter A Bell on Wishart on legal challenge;
Dougie the ref on Perm Sec;
Believe in Scotland;
SNPGood on polls;
Blood & soil from Galloway, Gove & Neil;
The 'Majority' block oor Jimmy..who knew?
Tory panic;
55% YES for Indy;
Union Jacks;
Scottish identity;
Historical sex harrassment only in Scotland;
Co-ordinated SNP baad attacks;
Power grab;
Trident;
Scottish Ports.
The FM Sturgeon press briefing plus the Salmond scandal daily report filled the show.
At the presser the FM said "I could be going on too much" and asked the CMO to rescue her. 'Boring' might be going too far. Only 3 briefings weekly from now.
The Kirsty Wark Show/Salmond hatchet job gets chewed up and the Holyrood inquiry into the failed Salmond legal case/s gets started with a nervous Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans.
Much fuddery about in today’s show and apart from care homes starring at the Scottish Government press briefing and the Salmond hatchet job TV show due tonight on the State Broadcaster BBC the following people got a mention;
Kirsty Wark, Alex Salmond, Jack McConnell, Leslie Evans, Dani Garavelli, Craig Murray, Stu Campbell, Mark Hirst, Alison Di Rollo, Joanna Cherry and the SNP NEC.
Trains, planes and exams;
Public Health England blamed & sold off;
Dildo Grayling;
Didn't Swinney do well?
Tories are ...............bloody awful & corrupt.
We cover Nicholas Sturgeon's press conference, the press as usual push for a headline. Jimmy has a pop at the BBC reporting, Westminster's power grab in the English shires and lots of other stuff.
All go today for Jimmy and Norrie, Ruth Davidson and the Lords, and more of the Lords followed by Nicola Sturgeon's press conference, exams in England, John Swinney and Jimmy has a flourish at the end.
Stewat still absent away in the Highlands, so it’s left to Jimmy and Norrie to scrutinise first Minister’s questions today. Ruth day with back fronting for the Tories I think it’s fair to say that Nicola got the better of their exchanges. Education top of the agenda, Patrick Harvey going on evictions and Richard Leonard following Ruth, hunting for John Swinney’s head. A new poll out today good news for the SNP and independence and we chat about how much the Holyrood enquiry into the Salmond affair is beginning to look like a second court trial.
Norrie and Jimmy have a chat about today's sturgeon press conference, John Swinney, football and the employment figures. Looking forward to tomorrow's headlines of Swinney goes and what possible answers he could have to sort out the exam problems.
Just Jimmy and Norrie today discussing the daily Sturgeon press conference, John Swinney's vote of no confidence. How will the press react to " the U-turn". Business for Scotland has a publication on the Scots economy available and Andrew Tickell has archived all his writing in a new blog site. We also touch on the dreaded landlord.
Jimmy and Norrie discuss Richard Murphy's problems with Benny Higgins. Can we use the Treaty of Union to renegotiate a path to independence. Scottish Fabian society suggests a path to close down any chance of a referendum in the future.
Aberdeen outbreak catches Dons…FM skelps Aberdeen FC and yellow cards go to the Club and players;
SQA stooshie gets short shrift and hacks get skelped by FM;
Peter A Bell uneasy about the Unionist mini-panic;
BLiS rubbished…Murray & Findlay scorned…old guard admired;
Joyce McMillan, Peter Oborne mentioned;
Gorgeous George ridiculed.
SQA stooshie Part2…FM gives details;
Aberdeen outbreak…Pub crawls at risk…FM “personal responsibility not police matter”;
Johnson Government…PPE contract corruption;
BCIS…New leader Ref Ross blunders…plotter Baroness Porkypie blunders;
Weak Unionist opposition…SNP invents some;
Bomber Baillie…Gets Smart foot shot;
Lesley Riddoch…”Douglas Ross is new Jum Murphy”
Mostly about the Aberdeen pub outbreak
Then SQA appeals, credibility, classism, ill informed attacks
Iain MacWhirter, strange federalism article..rubbished
Labour Hame, Red Tory Duncan Hothersall
Jum Murphy, Lard McConnell.
Not exam results stooshie… SQA insider reaction “Humpty Dumpty English exam boards”;
Tory leaders Ruthie and Dougie are liars..prospects;
SNP NEC blunders…”I apologise to all those Labour professional back stabbers”
t’s a magazine of content today. Started with George Kerevan, Kenny MacAskill, Wings, Peter A Bell, SNP NEC, a savvy FM Sturgeon, Peter Murrell, Ruth Wishart, no SNP mutiny, more Unionist dirty tricks, UDI, renegotiate the Union and a wee rammie.. Dig in guys. Oh! And chaos.
Firstly the Dani Garavelli article about the latest round of SNP wars, aka NEC Blunder, drew out most of the topical issues.
Second Douglas Ross the "don't you wish Ruth Davidson didn't resign" candidate was lampooned by Peat Worrier and we covered the rest there.
Nae rammie but maybe tomorrow.
Ruth Davidson, Douglas Ross, Jackson Carlaw, Annie Wells, Joanna Cherry, Angus Robertson, Peter Murrell, SNP NEC, Humza Yousaf, Iain MacWhirter, Boris Johnson, Nicola Sturgeon…Dirty tricks and a wee rammie too.
Today the boys talk about Nicola Sturgeon’s statement to Holyrood and what fun Jackson Carlaw Jackson gives us all along with his straight man Richard Leonard. We move on to discuss Richard Murphy (the Economist) latest blog video and peace in the national regarding Scotland’s possible debt to our UK should we become independent. Finishing with a wee chat between Norrie and Jimmy about the latest proposal to oversee the disagreements that will be inevitable within the context of a UK common market.
Press briefing==
Covid dashboard launched
Tourist economy support
Hacks attacks
Go abroad at your risk
BBC Scottish Care Homes Docudrama==
BBC agenda driven programme
Only private homes
Limited issues, dramatised
Is Ruth coming back?
It's a massive show and everyone gets a mention--FM; I would not go abroad--Glasgow taxi driver stuck in Spain is a MUG--No. You can't come back via Gib--SUN, Mail, Express, Herald, Scotsman, Telegraph; MUGS--BBC; Disclosure trailer, Sarah Smith FM attack whitewash--Craig Murray, Assange, Ian McCann, Stu Campbell, Humza, Foulkes, Baillie, Pennington, Salmond, Murdo, Garavelli, Lord Advocate. et al.
Jimmy reports on the EU money that Scotland won't get--
We cover the SNP Civil War part 99 in depth; are you mentioned in dispatches?--
Norry coins a new phrase "Tory Bedspread"; Listen in to discover the meaning.
Brits stuck in Spain--Mugs in quarantine...
Gerry Hassan--excuses for voting NO...
List Parties--no latest news...
Angus Robertson & Jo Cherry--Who knew?...
AUOB--lobbying?...
Ruth the Mooth...
Jackson Carlaw...
Trident--Faslane...
Willie Miller's Moustache
Kenny MacAskill in Wings shocker… Boris Grand Tour; selling soup… Sympathetic London hacks; still ignorant… Rammie; “Dissolve the Union” List wars; latest… Greens; what for?
Boris goes to Orkney…”Save the Union”
FM “Covid questions only” but “Boris is crowing & campaigning through the pandemic”
“You want me to match England?…match their virus stats?”
Barnier…”Brexit No deal blockage”…
Singapore on Thames?
Will England vote for Indy?
PMQs…
“Starmer is a commie”…”he flip flops”
“Johnson writes 2 versions of everything”
Russia Report..
“credible open source reporting”
Look…there’s a dead cat!
Press Briefing
/.Lanarkshire virus outbreak...FM "25,000 tests over weekend".
/.Schools...DFM "All kids go back 11th. August IF it's safe".."surveillance testing planned"
Russia Report
/. A deep and penetrating Aye Right review(sic)..only a wee rammie.
/. Russian effect on 2014 Indyref? FM "Wisnae me"
The boys enthused about Boris Johnson’s proposed trip to Scotland speculating on which warehouse he will hide in. We then move on to the power grab and its possible ramifications for Holyrood, finishing with a chat about George Kerevan’s piece in the national discussing recent polls and how events could have affected them.
Marr makes foreign policy…interrogates Russian AND Chinese envoys. Brewer reveals blatant Unionist scheduling…again. London hacks invent “Sturgeon stories” for First Minister’s birthday. Who knew?
In a heated debate the boys cover the Boris Johnson press conference a unionist article in the Spectator and the possible strategies to battle Westminster’s power grab and reach a second independence referendum. Warning gets very heated.
Scottish schools return dominated the press briefing.
London power grab white paper got us excited.
The intelligence committee blunder gave us a laugh.
ALSO new Ireland pub lockdown…offshore multinationals..Putin…Singapore…
Cummings chaos…high pay immigrants.
Today the boys cover Nicola Sturgeon's press conference picking out the best bits for you and of course Prime Minister's questions which seems to be turning into questions to the leader of the opposition. We also have a wee episode to ourselves about indy list parties.
Commander-in-chief Sturgeon gave a masterclass in press briefing. “I dont want to be the wet blanket” “keep the heid”. The rest of the hour was a huge rammie about the Holyrood power grab by the Cummings gang. Enjoy.
At the press briefing…
A Glasgow care home Covid outbreak got the hacks excited and private dentists are apparently doing work that NHS ones aren’t allowed to. Who knew?
Brexit…
EU & UK talks must complete in 2 weeks. Carnage expected.
Power grab..
We trail some issues due in Tuesday’s special.
Packed show so..it’s a list. Marr/Sturgeon..care home deaths England Vs Scotland..quarantine English residents..no indyref till Covid over. Marr/Gove..”No mandatory masks”..”No Northern Ireland Border posts” Brewer..Testing..aerosol infecting Toby Young..Owen Jones..freedom of speech …and more
Mask Friday
FM Sturgeon reminded us to wear masks while summing up the features of Phase3 lockdown exiting. Phase4 could be delayed.
The Scottish media got another bashing.
The main rammie was all about independence/dissolve the union, power corrupts, list parties and on….
Phase 3 of lockdown exiting details were announced.
Face coverings law from Friday, lovers can go physiscal, family gatherings indoors again.
Contact sports now OK and shoppings malls re-open on Monday.
Wednesday is pub opening, tourism restarts and childcare too.
Worship services plus funerals and wedddings partially re=start.
Jackson Carlaw suggested that different parts of a country could vary restrictions. Did he mean the UK? Maybe not.The FM thought so.
Richard Leonard got a big hug from the FM. "We both want to save jobs" she said."but I can't solve a global problem.
Jimmy delivered his reaction to the Sunak mini-budget.
PM Johnson bests Starmer. Who knew?
Blackford fails. Again.
FM Sturgeon bests Barrhead Travel, puts Spain off the holiday list.
"Foreign holidays are risky".." no rubber stamp of England plan"
Sunak...basic points
Pro-Indy List parties ..to be continued.
“Tories are English nationalists like Farage” says EU official.
British or English nationalists?” Aye Right answers.
“Quarantine checks were 4 weeks late” claims hack.
“Quarantine was 4 months late” says Aye Right.
Gretna border outbreak contained.
“I’m cautious, look at Florida, Melbourne 2nd peaks etc” said the FM.
Berwick border rammie, Humza condemned.
“Air bridges late, save Barrhead Travel” claims hack.
“Save Scottish tourism, not Spanish hotels and bump the Barrhead gang” Aye Right says.
Did Johnson award care home staff extra money? The FM did.
We cover the quarantine checks and border issues that bothered the Scottish press at today’s low key Government briefing. Didn’t she do well.”You can come to Scotland and feel safe here” I wonder where it’s not safe? Johnson government power grabs worry us and so we cover the threats to the Scottish CAP replacement and the proposed “UK market leveller” legislation which emasculates Holyrood. Rise up! Scottish Labour slips in somehow. Why? Weekend polls get an airing, especially an idea that a Salmond “list” party might do well. Some heat in that debate… Brexit rears up. It still matters. Doom!
That was wide ranging today... Gordon Brewer featured; on tests, skelped by Jeanne Freeman, on border quarantine, skelped by Stewart and ridiculed by all for producing another party political broadcast for Jackson Carlaw. New promising poll figures from PanelBase in the Sunday Times had a 99 point confidence gap between FM Sturgeon & PM Johnson. Independence was also solid at 54% and got approval. The International Covid comparisons were illuminating. Jason McCann says it's not a journey but a siege to break that’s how to gain independence. Finally hopes and fears for the immediate future for Scotland and the UK and our expectations fired us off into an excellent low key rammie. (always popular).
Stewart, Jimmy and Norrie chat about today’s Bute House press conference mostly about borders we think they may have been a question about money in there somewhere. Our friend Peter a Bell Pixar interest once again and finally there has been a MURDO apparently the Tories don’t want to hide from the press any more.
Boys have a wee bit roam about today we cover Nicola Sturgeon’s daily press conference as usual have a wee word about Westminster’s attacks on the SNP and a wide discussion on the pandemic’s progress north and south of the border.
Today the lads discuss Prime Minister's questions with Boris John Ian Blackford doesn't get too much of a vote. Nicola Sturgeon's press conference, where she bites back and a wee word about the fact we are past the point of no return for a Brexit extension, so only a few short months to get an agreement.
Today we mostly concentrate on Boris Johnson’s government which seems to be led by Dominic Cummings based in Westminster Henry VIII powers and all that. We also touch briefly on Nicola Sturgeon’s daily press conference.
The boys cover a lot of ground today starting with Nicola Sturgeon's press conference with contributions from Kate Forbes, yes we were impressed. We cover Dominic Cummings sacking of prominent civil servants Mr Trump's latest tweeting fiasco, Israel and finally some Scottish politics, Ruth Wishart's piece in the national and Peter Bell's retort.
Norrie, Jimmy and Stewart discuss today’s political programmes, Mark and Brewster what does it tell us about what’s going on in Scotland and the UK and what does it tell us about the BBC’s reporting. We also discuss the incident in the asylum seekers hotel in Glasgow and how badly wrong did the various journalists get it in the beginning. Ed Miliband and Priti Patel get a mention.
The boys today cover Nicola Sturgeon’s press conference what’s Jackson Carlaw been up to and quite a lot on the international state of the corona virus pandemic. And we have a think about the state of our press and politics when it comes to a less than honest approach.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart discussed today's Nicola Sturgeon's press conference Peter A Bell's blog covering Joanna Cherry's article and we finish off with what Jimmy thinks may be a data mining exercise on social media. We also mention the number of organisations which are getting into the marching profession.
It’s Wednesday so it must be Prime Minister’s questions and First Minister’s questions the boys discuss both. We also discuss the Scottish government’s ‘U-turn’on education opening up in August and the complicated new strategy for coming out of lockdown finally we discussed Priti Patel and her offhand manner with questions in the House of Commons.
The lads discuss Boris Johnson's Westminster's statement Nichola Sturgeon's press conference today and what has happened to the Russian report.
The boys discuss what looks very like first Minister's questions but is a simple statement, not, of Scotland's move into phase 2 of the move out of lockdown. Jackson Carlaw is ripped to pieces as is Richard Leonard as Nicola goes on the offensive. The Unionist riots in Glasgow and Dominic Rab's inability to read relevant documents are also discussed.
Well today is the mismash of Prime Minister’s questions and first Minister’s questions, we also discuss Ruth Davidson’s lack of good advice at the moment, cover the Devi Sridhar pile on and once again visit the quality of the present Westminster government cabinet.
Today's Stewart interviews Deirdre Brock MP for Edinburgh North and Leith covers the proposed trade deal with America, the new young guns in the SNP and quite a lot of issues surrounding American bases/Nicola bases in Scotland and the UK.
Just Jimmy and Norrie today, discussing the nonsense in George Square at the weekend, the competence of the individuals present in the Cabinet these days and why can't the mainstream media understand the 2m rule or that the policy on schools during the coronavirus pandemic hasn't been decided yet.
The boys , the economy the anti-anti-fascist demonstrations down in London and we chat about what constitutes an elite and the Scottish political sphere
The guys chat about the front cover of the sun a difficult subject for us, what's the R figure up to and what does it mean for future easing of lockdown and finally we talk about the Tories going into full political party mode in Scotland and at the Scottish affairs committee.
The lads discuss today’s press conference with Nicola’s turn in and get a bit heated and bitchy about Stewarts conspiracy theories. As nickel of the person to lead us into the second independence referendum with reference to Peter a Bell’s blog piece and Lesley Riddoch’s article in the National. Boris’s bonking bubble is also discussed.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart discuss First Minister’s questions and Prime ministers questions we also touch on the independence movement and the need for a confrontation with Westminster, the move from a pleasant form of politics back to party politics. Has the Westminster government decided the economy comes before everything else.
Today we have Peter A Bell on the show to discuss his new project White Rose Rising which you can find on Facebook. The main thrust of Peter’s project is to turn the discussion from what will Independence look like to why are we in the union. He makes clear that we need to take a new direction and we need to pressure the SNP hierarchy to heed the Yes movement and hopefully the new direction it finds.
Today the lads discuss Ruth Wishart’s piece on the Labour Party’s confusing message, Peter A Bell’s new Facebook group White Rose rising and the latest seat predictions from the Scot goes pop panelbase poll of the weekend. We end up discussing all things statuesque and the meaning of slaver in Bristol and when applied as an adjective to Jackson Carlaw.
Norrie and Stewart discuss today’s Brewer show and comment on Jean Freeman’s responses, testing, testing, testing. The Labour Party’s new confusion over Scottish independence, devolutio,n home rule and democracy and finish on a discussion of the latest Scott goes pop poll on Scottish independence tendencies in the electorate.
Nicola Sturgeon’s press conference today, the various mistakes and apologies made in the press over the last 24 hours in regard to the SNP and we discussion on the direction of travel for the yes movement.
Just Jimmy and Norrie today discussing Nicola storage and is press conference and where have we got to with Brexit. Fishing looms large in this discussion.
Try the Today we cover First Minister’s questions When you are Prime Minister’s questions and a bit of Brexit. Also discussed is the Rees Mogg conga at Westminster voting time.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart discuss the press at today’s press conference with Nicola star in what is Donald Trump up to in America and the shutting down of democracy at our own Westminster Parliament.
Main thrust of today’s chat with the boys is Nicola Sturgeon’s press conference which inevitably brings us on to care homes and the reaction to the easing of lockdown restrictions at the weekend. We chat about Jackson Carlaw’s accusation that Holyrood had been shut down due to the shenanigans of the SNP and Ross Greer of the Greens reaction to it.
On Sunday show the boys discuss Craig Murray’s international support for Delmer Cook’s article on Scotland’s place in Europe and some changes to the recently published facts about the Nike conference in Edinburgh. We finish up with a discussion about the direction of the UK government taking into account the various actions of ministers and what this indicates for future laws and policies.
Norrie, Jimmy and Stewart talk about the lack of journalistic coverage of the present government, that governments refusal to put up spokespersons for the main TV political programmes and what effect this will have on the politics of the UK. We also discussed the view of the U.K.’s political setup from overseas does affect all political parties will this lack of scrutiny continue to adversely affect the power dynamics of our democracy.
Today the guys discuss the new lockdown rules as outlined by the first Minister at her press conference. The financial Times piece on where on the international league table of deaths due to covert 19 the UK actually stands. We also touch on the BBC's apologies and support of their various journalists and of course Dominic Cummings gets a mention.
Norrie, Jimmy and Stewart today cover first Minister’s questions from Hollywood, which spends off inevitably into the £60 million in panic consequential is the West Minster government is no longer going to give to the Scottish government. And the 2020 vision of hindsight when it comes to the care home situation throughout this pandemic. Oh and yes Dominic Cummings does get a mention.
Inevitably the boys go with the Dominic Cummings press conference yesterday and the fallout from his statement we also give a few minutes to the announcements made today by Nichola Sturgeon at her press conference.
A quick discussion today about Nicola Sturgeon’s press conference and the low level of questioning from the press with a few thoughts on today’s 4 PM? Press conference from Dominic Cummings. We are planning to have a special on the Cummings press conference later this evening.
Mostly the boys chat about Dominic Cummings a wee word about Mr Brewer's interview technique and what happens if Dominic Cummings actually does go.
The boys discuss the recent revelations concerning Dominic Cummings and his inability to obey the law.
Today the boys mostly concentrate on the first ministers press conference and the fallout from Ruth Davidson’s round of the radio studios down south. Portobello beach gets a mention as does the rumour that Boris is heading off to visit his pal Donald Trump we speculate on whether or not Boris will be allowed in to the White House as he’s already had the virus.
Stewart, Jimmy and Norrie briefly discussed the first ministers statement at Hollywood today the proposed secrecy around the new American UK trade deal Rees Mogg's insistence that all MPs return to Westminster by doing away with virtual voting and questions and Craig Murray’s upcoming contempt of court case.
The boys discuss Prime Minister's questions, first Minister's questions and UK tips next foray into the Scottish Holyrood elections.
Stewart, Norrie and Jimmy discuss the BBC's Sarah Smith's comments regarding Nicholas Sturgeon, Priti Patel's latest legislation, what's happened to Boris Johnson in the last week and Wee Ginger Dug and Peter A Bell's most recent blogs.
The lads have a chat about the disappearance of Boris Johnson, a hit piece in the Times attacking Nichola Sturgeon, universal basic income and finally the new indicators of Covid 19 loss of taste and smell.
Today the guys discuss Today the guys discuss Brexit, yes do you remember Brexit still ongoing, with negotiations due to restart next week. Fishing farming and the border down the Irish Sea. Dark money in the Scottish Tories. And our teachers the Canary down the Tories employment mineshaft.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart discuss talking heads and their influence on what people think is going on. With the Tories now in full political party cry we talk about what’s being said and by whom.
The boys start today with Nicola Sturgeon’s press conference and the influence of the press questions on the public’s perception of what’s going on. Jimmy lays the sympathy on thick for an MP who recently lost his seat and we finish with a short clip of Gollum.
Just Norrie and Stewart today covering Prime Minister's questions and first Minister's questions and discussing the various issues raised in both parliaments.
Stewart, Jimmy and Norrie chat about the BBC’s disclosure program covering the Nike conference and the end of a nonpolitical approach to the various governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic. We also discuss who’s got the worst politicians in the world the UK or the USA.
Jimmy, Stewart and Norrie talk about the fallout from the Boris Johnson statement as England moves away from the rest of the UK with new lockdown rules and the possibility that the Boris may not survive as PM. We also ask will the press ever admit that England is deviating from the rest of the UK rather than Scotland.
The boys discuss the trailing of Boris Johnson is possible new slogan stay alert and the three devolved nations response to that.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart discuss the circulation of the national the chief Constable’s contribution to Nicola Sturgeon’s press conference and the first Minister of Wales pointing out to Boris Johnson he was only in charge of England during the lockdown.
The boys cover wings over Scotland vanishing from Twitter once again, what does the SMP have to do regarding new policies and will Nicola and Boris fall out over coming out of the lockdown. Honourable mentions include Scot goes pop.
Norrie and Stewart discuss Prime Minister’s questions and first Minister’s questions which were on back to back today.
All three of the lads with us today, covering the guardians piece on what the Tory government are giving away to their pals in the private sector, the foreign press reporting for the British press seems unable to cover, the UK government's failings. Finally we talk about the ONS figures for England and ask when we will get a true figure for the coronavirus deaths south of the border.
Just Jimmy and Norrie today everything developing in the chat from today’s Nicola Sturgeon press conference, care homes, testing and an interesting development with an alternative SAGE meeting on YouTube.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart discuss Stuart Cosgrove’s article in the National Danni Garavelli's article in the Scotland on Sunday and Gordon Brewer’s performance on Sundays Scottish political show.
Today’s show touches on football specifically the Premier league and its players, the Brexit talks which are under the radar because of coronavirus and today’s Nicholas Sturgeon press conference which was all about test test test.
The boys have a different take on today’s press conference with Nicola Sturgeon and Jean Freeman we also have a wee look at the presses attitude specifically the sun and its political editors to Scotland taking a different path to the other three nations of the UK. Jimmy suggests that Nigel Farage should be visited by the police after his recent visit to the seaside.
A heated discussion today around the Kevin McKenna and Peter A Bell articles covering the present SNP leadership and how the yes movement views it. We then move on to care homes and have mistakes been made.
Stewart Jimmy and Norrie discuss all the Ps today Nicholas Sturgeon’s press conference Hugh Pennington’s claims of the coronavirus spread in Scottish care homes and the BBC’s latest panorama documentary on the UK government’s failings when it comes to PPE.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart discuss today’s press conference with Nicola Sturgeon, the latest missive in the National from Jim Sellers and Frankie Boyle’s piece in the Guardian today.Plus a wee bit heat generated between Norrie and Stewart over the next steps for Scottish independence.
Today the team talk about Cobra meetings dry runs for pandemics Dominic Rabb and his performance and of course the return of the miraculously saved Boris.
Norrie, Jimmy and Stewart discuss the leader of the free world's medical advice, is Matt Hancock due for the high jump and a very informative first ministers press conference.
Stewart Jimmy and Norrie discuss today’s Nicholas Sturgeon press conference announcement about how we will come out of lockdown. They also touch on why were the London press in attendance Laura Kuenssberg led off the questions.
Norrie, Jimmy and Stewart discuss today’s virtual Prime Minister’s questions Nicholas Sturgeon’s press conference and a wee bit of Welsh questions from Westminster.
The lads discuss what’s gonna happen after lockdown the shenanigans from Westminster about the number of deaths from coronavirus and how incompetent can a government be before it resigns.
The boys discuss what has become a daily first ministers questions albeit without the MSPs doing the questioning, what questions are asked and why and what questions should be asked and aren't being asked. They would also very much like to know who this number 10 person is signing off on rebuttals from the Tory government.
Jimmy, Stewart and Norrie discuss the various articles in numerous papers covering the failings of the Westminster government on timing and procurement. Norrie finds himself in the unenviable position of having to defend the incompetence of the Tories. We also discuss whether coronavirus will have a detrimental or a positive effect on the fight for Scottish independence.
Jackson Carlaw on BBC SNP bias Unionists upset over short Culloden video and Ben Fogel upsets Twitter over happy birthday song
Stewart and Norrie and Jimmy discuss today's virtual first ministers questions, private business complaints about support and PPE and when and how do we come out of the locked down.
The boys discuss Donald Trump’s latest moves against WHO and some of today’s Scottish headlines, the Pope also gets a mention.
Donald Trump’s latest meltdown in front of the American and indeed international press. The boys also discuss the latest Scottish PPE stramash is the English NHS really being prioritised over Scottish care homes.
The boys cover the different kinds of questioning to be found at the Scottish government press conferences compared to the Westminster government press conferences. Why do Unionists only ever disparaged the Scottish government?
Does British exceptionalism really exist or are we all guilty. What dead cat or big fish would be big enough to distract from the coronavirus pandemic.
Jimmy and Norrie discussed today’s Nicholas Sturgeon press conference and the various questions that were asked. We also talk about when lockdown will finish and what the police had been up to with their new powers.
Today’s show has Peter A Bell as a guest along with the usual suspects. We discuss the Yes campaign’s history, leadership and future, has the SNP leadership lets us down and what should we be doing about it.
Just Jimmy and Norrie today discussing personal protective equipment, how do you count the figures for the coronavirus tally and what should the yes movement be doing during this crisis. Anything? We have a treat for you tomorrow with Peter A Bell to discuss all things Indy.
Norrie, Stewart and Jimmy discuss the appointment of the new shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, and his stance on Scottish independence. The boys also discuss clapping for Boris Johnson and Spain’s hints that it may go to a universal basic income, permanently.
Today we discuss Ruth Wishart's piece in the National what can the SNP learn from labour's civil wars. The resignation of the chief medical officer and how influential was the press in making it happen. Of course on the 700th anniversary of the declaration of Arbroath it gets a mention when we ask who were the people it refer to. Boris Johnson also gets a mention.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart today discuss the new leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Stamer appointment and of course Jackie Baillie’s new job as deputy leader of the Scottish Labour Party branch. We also have a brief discussion about Dr Calderwood Scotland’s chief medical officer and her wee trip to her second home.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart discuss Peter A Bell’s latest blog, does Nicholas Sturgeon have the right to tell the Yes campaign to stop campaigning? We then move on to Craig Murray’s blog which has a takedown of Dani Garavelli’s Tortoise piece. Finally we finish with a chat about what’s happening with coronavirus.
Today the boys discuss Robin McAlpine's piece on how society could change after the coronavirus pandemic is over, Richard Murphy publishes a piece by Ben Wray also of common weal which asks who is really benefiting from the government bailout. We also have a clip from Donald Trump's press conference that covers this from an America first angle. Finally we have a quick chat about Nicholas Sturgeon's update on the pandemic.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart discuss Lesley Riddoch's love of experts making up the opposition Nicola Sturgeon's daily press conference and airports.
The lads discuss the issues surrounding mainstream media journalists playing the ball not the man, in this instance Paul Hutchison's attack piece on Craig Murray's blog outlining his view of the Alex Salmond court case. We then move on to talk about Westminster apparently taking control of the procurement of tests for all four countries of the UK and what effect this may have on the devolved administrations/governments taking a different path to that of NHS England.
The lads discussed the information given out at today’s Scottish government coronavirus press conference and Craig Murray’s blog post regarding the Alex Salmond trial and the possible fallout for the SNP. We also have an attempt to understanding what the new feminism means for us old guys.
Norrie Jimmy and Stewart discuss the treatment of the Salmond verdict by the national press both north and south of the border, the Scottish government’s press conference today and Rangers and Aberdeen FC get an honourable mention.
The boys discuss the fallout from the Alex Salmond trial and what the information we are being given about coronavirus tells us when we compare it to other countries.
Stewart Norrie and Jimmy discuss the coverage of the coronavirus scare in Scotland on the BBC, STV and Channel 4. What differences do they notice and is it really relevant for those of us in Scotland.
The lads discuss Boris Johnson's coronavirus isolation, the latest press conference from Scotland's first Minister and Stewart is kind enough to give us a history lesson as a warning to Dominic Cummings to avoid Scottish churches.
The boys try very hard to stay focused on Scotland today with a wee side trip to New York and some questions about what the government intends to do with its draconian new policing powers.
The boys discuss Kevin McKenna's article in the National today, Prince Charles and are we all in this together.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart chat about the Alex Salmond court case and what will be the fall out for the SNP and of course Coranavirus and the latest moves. Final would you die for the economy, someone says they would.
Norrie and Jimmy have a wee chat about Piers Morgan taking on Hancock and whether government telling us the truth Jimmy gets a bit exercised about that subject. We finish with a wee bit on the Salmon trial pre-verdict.
Norrie Jimmy and Stewart discuss townies self isolating to the Highlands and Islands and today's Sunday Times piece discussing the government coronavirus timetable and herd immunity.
Jimmy and Norrie discuss the UK chancellors latest moves, 80% of wages to those in work, but who did he miss.
Our weekly review of first ministers questions from Holyrood, lots of nice things to say about everyone except maybe Jimmy got a bee in his bonnet about Jackson Carlaw. Which inevitably lead us into reactions to the coronavirus especially a discussion of who is classed as an essential worker in these trying times.
Coronavirus do we believe what we are being told and when will the UK government put money in pockets of the people? Brief mentions for Craig Murray's coverage of the Salmond trial.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stuart discuss Richey soon at the British chancellors plans to support business during the coronavirus pandemic. They also note that there is nothing to date in his pronouncements for renters, people on zero hours contracts, the gig economy or an uplift in statutory sick pay.
Stewart, Norrie and Jimmy discuss the latest surrounding coronavirus and the slant of the various news outlets on the Alex Salmond court case.
The boys discuss coronavirus what are they personally going to do about self isolation, what does the Bow group (a Tory think tank) want the government to do and some of our mainstream commentators in Scotland thoughts on this crisis and its effects on Scottish independence.
Three boys back in harness today, discussion all about coronavirus and the latest moves to try to hold the infection at bay. Is that really what the government wants or is some quick herd immunity their real strategy.
Stewart and Norrie review first ministers questions, mostly coronavirus, but as there is a COBRA scheduled to take place after first ministers questions not a lot of detail could be given by the first Minister. There were a few other questions on domestic violence, the cost of our railways, and perhaps most importantly Richard Leonard covered those who do not qualify for sick pay but unfortunately there were no definitive answers.
Jimmy, Stewart and Norrie discuss today's budget and don't seem to be overly impressed by it. And as the third day of the Alex Salmond trial ends we discussed the ramifications for the SNP hierarchy.
The boys get into a heated discussion about a new question for indyref2, UDI and re-framing the argument for independence.
Just Jimmy and Norrie today discussing the Herald on Sundays coverage of the Alex Salmond case and the possibilities for another independence supporting party to stand on the list at the 2021 Holyrood elections.
The boys discuss splits in the SNP, GRA, and the problems successful political parties have with discipline. And of course corona virus and the joys of finding alternatives to toilet paper.
Just Norrie and Stuart today discussing the first week of the Brexit negotiations, remember Brexit? And then a few thoughts on the ups and downs of the committed activist.
Norrie, Jimmy and Stewart discuss Prime Minister's questions, Priti Patel, coronavirus and what the fashion conscious will be wearing as protective face masks during the pandemic.
Norrie, Jimmy and Stewart discuss Boris Johnson is coronavirus statement ably assisted by his two experts, the rumour that has surfaced that Kirsty Blackman may stand for next year's Holyrood election in Aberdeen. The WhatsApp leak authored by Joanna cherry regarding the candidates for Edinburgh Central for the selfsame Holyrood elections.
The lads compare the content and delivery of Nichola Sturgeon versus Boris Johnson after Monday's Cobra meeting. Should we be using McDonald's drive-ins to deliver testing? The Priti Patel saga drags on and limping along behind the Times reports on approximately two dozen Tory members being suspended over accusations of Islamaphobia.
Today the boys cover Sir Philip Rutnam's resignation and how much pressure will put on that nice woman Priti Patel's job. We also discuss whether the government is thinking about allowing Corona virus to cull the population to enable a quicker economic recovery.
Jimmy, Stewart and Norrie were all amazed when peace and love broke out on Politics Live today and discuss how that could possibly happen on a flagship BBC political programme with the guests split between the left and right of politics. Trump's son Eric's reaction to Patrick Harvey's comments at FMQs yesterday and what did Danny Dorling have to say about child mortality rates in England and Scotland.
Norrie, Jimmy and Stewart discussed the ramifications of a legal challenge to the Scottish government going ahead with a second independence referendum without a section 30 from Westminster. The discussion was initiated after a blog post from wee Ginger dug, Paul Kavanagh.
The boys review first ministers questions with mentions for all the party leaders and Jackie Baillie.
The lads have a look at Kevin McKenna's writing in the National today and Peter A Bell's blog. Worth noting Peter has put up three blog pieces in the last 24 hours. MI5 also gets a mention, what could that be about?
Neil Mackay of the Herald published an article today that led to heated discussion between Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart. I think it's fair to say that included in the article was a mention of every Unionist newspaper headline foretelling the demise of the SNP we have seen in the last six months. Needless to say the boys were not in total agreement with either the content of the article or each other.
The lads discuss Ruth Wishart's article in the National today, our SNP MPs too comfortable at Westminster and where does the yes movement go in regard to a second independence supporting party standing on the list.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart discuss Nicola Sturgeon's interview with Marr on Sunday and the lack of BBC Scotland coverage of Scottish politics whilst Westminster are on their holidays.
Stewart introduces us to Kevin McKenna's latest article discussing Labour's most famous dinosaur Gordon Brown and the These islands conference. Willie Rennie also gets a mention regarding his apparent change of stance on federalism, which leads us neatly into a discussion of Nicholas Sturgeon's position as leader of the SNP.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart discuss the 'These Islands' conference in Newcastle and their interesting advisory council members. And the Westminster Tories new immigration policy to have led to some consternation and confusion amongst the Tory MSPs at Holyrood.
Phil Attridge and Stewart Lochhead review an unexciting session from Holyrood.
The Police budget, GP surgeries and Edinburgh nursery teachers were the main party issues.
Back-benchers raised Mossmorron chemical plant,the PIP 20m rule, a near collision between a nuclear submarine and a car ferry, superfast broadband, crowded prisons, the Scottish Visa, FAI delays, GP access for the visually impaired, type2 diabetes, and the Corona flu virus preparations.
We discussed Business for Scotland's latest article on the manipulation of figures to make GERS look bad.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart discuss the future of the BBC both in Scotland and the UK. What are number 10s intentions with the state broadcaster?
The team discuss George Kerevan's report on the All Under One Banner conference this weekend and the mini reshuffle undertaken by the SNP at Holyrood.
Today Stewart, Jimmy and Norrie discuss an article written by Pat Kane in the National the Labour leadership hustings in Glasgow and how strange it is that both the Labour leadership and the Tory leadership want independence on all things Scottish from London.
After a slow week on the podcast front Jimmy, Stewart and Norrie get together to discuss Brexit Johnston's cabinet reshuffle, the CIA spying on over a hundred countries and the Royal Bank of Scotland rebranding as NatWest (an English bank)?
The lads are a bit unhappy with the way Gordon Brewer's Scottish politics Sunday is treating the present Scottish government. His Joanna Cherry comments in particular.
This podcast somehow became mostly about Derek Mackay and the scandal surrounding his actions. How it has become an attack on the SNP leadership, Jimmy, Stewart and Norrie go at it hammer and tongs it's fair to say there is some disagreement.
"First Minister Sturgeon faces an exhausting session under attack for the behaviour of her now former Finance Secretary Derek McKay and many NHS issues, principally mental health."
Jimmy, Stewart and Norrie ask if the Westminster elite are trying to cut out any comment from the first Minister or maybe it's just from all SNP MPs and MSPs. They then move on to discuss the last three polls showing a lead for the Scottish independence side.
A fiery episode of the podcast on Friday perhaps reflecting the wider Yes movement's attitudes to Nicola Sturgeon's speech on Friday. Brexit takes a backseat while Stewart, Jimmy and Norrie try to make sense of the SNP strategy to gain us an independence referendum.
The boys review first ministers questions taking particular delight in Richard Leonard's contribution and move on to yesterday's votes on flags and Scotlands right to decide its own future. We then discussed Nigel Farage's antics at the EU Parliament yesterday and close with the same Parliament's rendering of auld lang syne.
Norrie, Jimmy and Stewart discuss prime ministers questions, flags and will Labour vote for against or abstain on a second independence referendum at Holyrood.
Stewart, Norrie and Jimmy discuss George Kerevan article in today's national how "This is how much England’s changed and why the SNP must change too". This leads us into chat about the Home Office taking two hours to refuse the 94 page Scottish government argument for a separate Scottish Visa and the recently published progress Scotland poll showing 61% support for Holyrood making the decision on a second independence referendum.
Norrie Jimmy and Stewart chat about Sunday politics shows, Gordon Brewer in particular and Norrie apologises to Robin McAlpine. We range wide on Henry VIII powers Tory tactics in Scotland to undermine the SNP and a few other topics drop in.
Norrie, Jimmy and Stewart discuss Robin McAlpine's latest report on the route to a second independence referendum. No everyone agrees with what he says.
Todays FMQ topics were….
mushrooms and water in police stations,
a cliché meter,
a peroration,
student debt,
formula milk,
offshore jobs,
Edinburgh City Bypass,
police mental health,
toxicology service,
unpaid carers allowance
Jimmy, Norrie and Stuart discuss the Tory strategy of SMP bad at Prime Minister's questions. We then move on to the question of legal/illegal referendums in the hope that Nicola Sturgeon will be announcing one in the coming days.
What will Nicholas Sturgeon announce in approximately two weeks and what will Westminster do about it. Who should lead the next yes campaign. Spoiler not Patrick Harvey.
Ranting and controversy plus the usual incisive FMQs review...
Norry and Stewart and Phil bravely explain the shenanigans at Holyrood. Jackson Carlaw whispers about how awful education is. Richard Leonard gets tag twisted. Wille Rennie is ignored. Alison Johnstone tears into the evil Lisa Nandy. Our Phil explains trans/womens rights.
Finally FM Nicola Sturgeon slays all her foes.
PMQs and Ian Blackford path to a second Indyref all quite heated. Norrie, Jimmy and Stewart.
The aye right team discuss Boris Johnson's letter regarding his no to Indy ref two its implications for democracy and what routes are left to pursue a second independence referendum. The Labour leadership campaign gets a very small mention.
Stewart, Jimmy and Norrie today have another quick look at Alistair Jack's undemocratic position regarding what constitutes a mandate for a second independence referendum. Somehow we managed to forget all about the Labour leader ship PPL results from Westminster.
Today Jimmy, Norrie and Stuart discuss the suspension of democracy in Scotland after Alistair Jack the Tory Secretary of State for Scotland stated no mandate was attainable for a second independence referendum. Gerry Hassan's Sunday national article also led to some heated discussion.
Jimmy, Stewart and Norrie jump about a bit today a few jokes about the Royal household's predicament, Richard Leonard Scottish Labour leader (branch manager) on his proposed conference to decide on support or otherwise for Indy ref two.. We also dip our toe into White House press conferences and Michael Howard suggestion that our judges should come out of the House of Lords rather than the law courts themselves.
Mostly a review of first ministers questions from Holyrood today with a few comments on standards in international diplomacy and at Westminster.
Jimmy, Stewart and Norrie cover Prime Minister's questions, Scottish questions and Andrew Neil roasting Andrew Bowie plus a few bits and bobs of interest
Jimmy, Stewart and Norrie discuss Patrick Harvey's veiled threats to the Scottish budget process. Which ties in nicely with our discussion about the ramifications for Scottish councils and the Scottish government with the delayed date of 11th of March being announced by Savid Javid the Tory Chancellor. Last but not least we ask what the chances are of a second independence referendum for Scotland in 2020.
Would Donald Trump take you out with a drone strike if you beat him on the golf course? Or is he just fantasizing about being head of a Mafia family. How far will the present Tory government go to avoid press scrutiny, Jimmy, Stewart and Norrie try to shine a light on these questions.
Norrie Jimmy and Stewart wade through the second half of the decade 2015 to 2019 trying desperately to remember the good points but mostly finding the bad points. By God Scottish Labour had a lot of branch managers during the decade.
We look at the first half of the decade of 2010 to 2019, we found doing the whole decade in one sitting was gonna be a bit onerous so we've split into two separate podcasts. The first half you find here covers 2010 till 2015.
Jimmy Norrie and Stewart discuss president Trumps latest drone strike in the Middle East and its ramifications for world peace. And as if that wasn't enough we throw in 10 minutes of ranting about Edinburgh Council's organisation of the New Year festivities and Underbelly's abuse of the citizens of Edinburgh.
Norrie, Stewart and a tiny wee bit of Jimmy discuss what we can look forward to perhaps dread would be a better way to put it in 2020. Including Brexit, Putin, Turkey, Libya, Indy ref two and Brexit Boris.
Jimmy and Norrie discuss the Queen's speech, today's first ministers questions and the various bits of paper the First Minister has sent down to Boris for his perusal. There is a bit about the Labour Party in there to all crammed into half an hour.
Sarah Smith on radio four today claims that Queen’s speech will contain the statement that a promise was made that the 2014 independence referendum was once in a generation.
Norrie and Stewart discuss Nicola's statement to Holyrood delivered today what it means for Scotland what options do our Westminster MPs have to force a second referendum out of Boris Johnson. I segue into Freeport's and Ian Blackford's business interests.
Jimmy and Norrie discussed the recent Labour moves towards supporting an Indyref2 referendum. And a few observations on the Tories rolling back from election promises.
Jimmy and Norrie discussed the various dead cats that have been thrown about by the Tory party including non-existent fisticuffs and imaginary taxi pile ons.
PS under extreme pressure Norrie forgets what date it is.
Norrie and Stewart mostly discuss the problems being created within the SNP by factions whose first priority appears not to be independence.
The gentlemen discuss the head-to-head debate between Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson was anybody impressed? Can YouGov be trusted as a polling organisation and what does it all mean for Indyref 2 Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C.
More civil service leaked documents fall into Labour's hands. What does it mean for Northern Ireland and of course Scotland? Why is Boris Johnson hiding behind the sofa when ever Andrew Neil's name comes up? All these questions answered, sort of, by Jimmy Norrie and Stewart.
Phil joins Norrie and Stewart today to discuss the recent SMP suspensions and resignations from the party. How will it affect the future of the party.
The boys have a quick gallop through last nights STV Scottish leaders debate wherewith the Greens we ask. NATO is then on the agenda Trudeau needs to be more careful of what he says at these meetings. Finally Stewart drags us into a Chinese Russian alliance territory.
Norrie Jimmy and Stewart today discuss the new education figures and why do the SNP only get questioned on Holyrood items never on Westminster items. What will happen with the Scottish leaders debate on ITV tonight?
Just Norrie and Jimmy today we chat about Boris Johnson's interview with Ma how many seats do we think the SNP will get this general election and will the Tories ever tell the truth.
Today's podcast sweeps far and wide Nicola Sturgeon on a train bit of FM Q's, latest polls Boris Johnson's dad and of course the ice King himself, all and a little bit of SMP anti-Semitism or is it.
Jimmy, Norrie and Stewart dissect the latest NHS trade talks leaked document, how did Corbyn do in his head-to-head with Andrew Neil and anti-Semitism what anti-Semitism?
Andrew Neil, BBC fact checking, Jackson Carlaw and his 2050 independence referendum all covered by Jimmy and Norrie today.
A quick trawl through today's political programmes, will Labour really be allowed to implement the policies by the markets and Gordon Brewer forgets to include the SNP in his end of programme couch discussion.
We discussed the leaders debates from Thursday night on a Newsnight special. Who won who lost what are the ramifications of what was said.
Jimmy, Stewart and Norrie discussed the Labour manifesto today and a couple of the by-election results round the country. There is also a mention of the leaflet that the Brexit company have published as a people's contract.
Phil is back to rant about all and everything Stewart attempts to keep control and Norrie make sure everyone knows how Phil is going to vote in the general election
Jimmy and Norrie brave sleeping sickness to watch the leaders debate and attempt to draw conclusions from soundbites and attack lines.
Stuart Jimmy and Norrie today discuss the bias in media reporting mostly in favour of the Tory party, there is mention of squirrels and the Spanish Inquisition.
Stewart Norrie and Jimmy talk about the lack of integrity in Westminster politics and the possible Plan B for Indy ref two.
Stu and Norrie discuss the latest cladding omni-shambles and its effect on the general election and who knows what omanist means?
Today we discuss the SNP's anger at being admitted from the leaders debates on ITV and delve into the broadband offer from Labour. Leith gets a wee mention as well.
Labour needs to get on message what do they really mean about their position on freedom of movement
Is it safe for our politicians to go out amongst the electorate and who is running the Tory election campaign.
A podcast in which Stewart and Norrie discuss some ideas that the wee Ginger dug has put forward. Yes MI5 does come up.
Today’s Aye Right Radio podcast with Norrie Stewart Stewart Lochhead and Jimmy Hutton covering Nigel Farage’s Brexit parties 300 candidates, where will they be? The Scottish Tories start throwing about dead cats and do our SNP MPs have to have twice as much knowledge about the Parliaments south and north of the border as their English counterparts.