Tag: Build Yes

Tis the season to be deceitful…..

While everyone is celebrating this is the time of year Unionist parties have already prepared their press releases to take advantage of the lack of stories in the media, hoping that some of their ‘spin’ will make the headlines as fact.

In the case of Scotland that will not be a problem there is a willing press pack in radio, print and TV media eagerly awaiting stories which can help to undermine the Scottish Government, and the Scottish Parliament.

Like a broken record (remember those 12 ” bits of plastic you put on a record player) these press releases get stuck in the same message that the SNP are not doing enough to prevent austerity. They usually highlight issues that you would expect such as pensioner poverty , low pay and the increased use of food banks. All sounding quite normal ground for a political party to cover. But when you take a closer look you see them for what they are, thinly veiled lies and spin.

Take Richard Leonard for example, we do not know if he wrote this himself but his piece in The Scotsman on 21 st of December is a classic example of seasonal deceit. The headline screams at you:

Why are working Scots living in poverty? The SNP refuse to help

source here

He starts out talking historically and ends up talking hysterically.

‘I joined the party over 35 years ago’.

So that would be the 1980’s then just after two back to back Labour governments of Harold Wilson and James Callaghan heralded in 11 years of Margaret Thatcher. Another 13 years of Labour Governments were to come in the shape of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. We point this out as Richard seems to get all heated up about Labour and positive and practical things it could do to eradicate poverty. In the 24 years of Labour Governments since Wilson’s 1964 government they have had 5 chances in government to do something about it and little has changed. And they want us to vote Labour to let Jeremy Corbyn govern us.Assuming he would win if there was an election?

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave…when first we practice to deceive.”

Walter Scott,Marmion

So why are Scots living in poverty? Let us answer his question for him by using the well worn phrase , ‘It is the economy stupid’. Here is a standard overview of the UK economy right now and its recent history. A history Labour conveniently forgets when blaming others for their own continued failings.

UK Economy – overview:

In 2008, the global financial crisis hit the economy particularly hard, due to the importance of its financial sector. Falling home prices, high consumer debt, and the global economic slowdown compounded the UK’s economic problems, pushing the economy into recession in the latter half of 2008 and prompting the then BROWN (Labour) government to implement a number of measures to stimulate the economy and stabilize the financial markets. Facing burgeoning public deficits and debt levels, in 2010 the then CAMERON-led coalition government (between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats) initiated an austerity program, which has continued under the Conservative government. However, the deficit still remains one of the highest in the G7, standing at 3.6% of GDP as of 2017, and the UK has pledged to lower its corporation tax from 20% to 17% by 2020. The UK had a debt burden of 90.4% GDP at the end of 2017.

The UK economy has begun to slow since the referendum vote to leave the EU in June 2016. A sustained depreciation of the British pound has increased consumer and producer prices, weighing on consumer spending without spurring a meaningful increase in exports. The UK has an extensive trade relationship with other EU members through its single market membership, and economic observers have warned the exit will jeopardize its position as the central location for European financial services. Prime Minister MAY is seeking a new “deep and special” trade relationship with the EU following the UK’s exit. However, economists doubt that the UK will be able to preserve the benefits of EU membership without the obligations. The UK is expected to officially leave the EU by the end of March 2019.


In 2008 it was Labour’s Gordon Brown who presided over the banking crisis admitting he did not do enough to regulate the finance sector. What followed was Conservative imposed austerity starting with the Cameron government ( including an alliance with the Lib Dems).

Here is the rub.

Government programmes like austerity are set out at Westminster not Edinburgh and run for years.At the time it was Labour, in opposition at Westminster who abstained and did not not put up any kind of fight against the imposition of austerity.

That leaves us with two main conclusions, one Richard Leonard is lying to the Scottish public as the programme of austerity which sets the block grants for years to come were in effect supported by Labour.

Secondly, he disrespects the Scottish public because he thinks we are stupid enough to belief this rubbish.He consistently repeats it at every opportunity especially now at the end of the year when editors will be very willing to use any press releases they can get. Nothing but deceit and disrespect for the people of Scotland.

The Scottish Government took positive and practical steps to mitigate the introduction of austerity measures as early as 2014. This was in response to the UK Government introduction of the ‘removal of the spare room subsidy’, more commonly known as the “bedroom tax”. The ‘mitigation’ continues and has come to the point using the limited powers of devolution the people on benefit have been involved in large scale consultations to help design a rights based Scottish Social Security system- but he says the SNP ‘refuse to help’. 

Note also at this point after the 2014 referendum the ‘Vow’ and the promises of ‘substantial new powers’ were made to the Scottish people, remember ‘as close to federalism as you can get?’

Being deceitful is a prerequisite for Labour Party leadership. You have to call out the lies every time you hear them repeated because they will just keep on saying them.

Gordon Brown being deceitful in 2014 by promising us things he could never deliver.

Indy Media Needs You

ProScottish Independence media relies on your support to communicate its message effectively. It is your engagement by liking, commenting and sharing YSF posts that spreads our message to a wider audience.

Remember to check in regularly with your Yes pages/groups at source and not simply wait for them to ‘perhaps’ appear in your social media (FB/Twitter/Instagram/MeWe) feeds. Likewise with other free media such as The Orkney News, Wee Ginger Dug, Independence Live etc take a proactive approach not a reactive one.

Across the Yes community it is a constant complaint that we do not have as broad a media reach as the unionist viewpoint and that is true. However if we want an effective media we must consistently support, develop and grow what we do have. And don’t think that you as an individual don’t have a role to play, we all do. I have no background or training in; social media, journalism, advertising or any sort of artwork so if I can do it SO CAN YOU
– Martin

Keeping it civil

Recent headlining news about allegations against former First Minister Alex Salmond raises a number of interesting points. At Yes Scotland’s Future we are glad to see him putting forward a robust defence and at the same time we uphold the right of an individual or individuals to raise issues in the workplace.

Firstly the statement made by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday was very clear and very welcome. Its important not to over react to these situations and some of the best advice I have heard is:

“A plea. Don’t rush to judgment. On anyone. Allow due process.
And read Nicola Sturgeon’s statement in full”

At one level that is all we need to say on this at this time no further comment is needed until due process has been completed including Alex Salmond’s court case.

There are other important events going on in the world as we know only too well. This week saw the publication of a massive stream of ‘technical notes’ on what would happen to a number of important sectors if there was a ‘No-deal’ Brexit, including raising a number of concerns about banking services for British people living abroad, increased credit card charges and potential shortages of medicines and medical supplies such as those used for cancer treatment.

Unfortunately none of that is on the front pages of the Scottish press. Just a day or two after their publication you would expect a fair press to have digested and analysed this mass of information and to be sharing it with people. But no, nothing of the sort.

In the case of Alex Salmond (AS) we see an all too typical rabid press pouring over what is to all purposes a leaked workplace grievance and subsequent investigative process.

That process has to run its course but it is the nature of these things that leaking it to the media not only damages the accused but the accuser. It’s extremely difficult for anyone in a workplace to report concerns to an employer if it is then leaked to the media. We have to ask who leaked this confidential information about a sexual harassment allegation and why?

That brings us to the second main point of this article. What is the role of the media and how are they responding? In the last few weeks and months there have been many stories about alleged misconduct among public figures but in the Scottish Government there is a clear internal process for dealing with such matters. From Nicola Sturgeon’s statement   “..I was informed by the Permanent Secretary earlier this week that she had completed her investigation”. The subsequent release of the fact that a complaint had been made and investigated led to AS refuting this and raising a legal challenge. This was seized upon by the media as AS suing the Scottish Government and almost by association some kind of internal struggle inside the SNP.

Looking at the facts of the matter and if you think of it without  Alex Salmond but as a complaint in a work setting it should never have got any exposure at all in the media. So why was it put out into the public domain ? We have seen frequently the BBC report on a subject then spin it out to include false or misleading information.In fact just this very week they were forced to apologise for misleading the viewing public about the economic figures relating to Scotland. This goes on regularly and it is by regularly repeating false information that important ‘minor’ details like Scotland can never have a deficit because it’s not fiscally allowed to, are ignored.Instead the media try to paint a picture of a reckless over spending Scottish Government when in fact nothing is further from the truth and all areas Scotland has complete control over are not in deficit.

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The media stated repeatedly that Alec Salmond was suing the Scottish Government and the Civil Servants involved in bringing the complaints forward. The message people are not getting explained to them is that the Civil Service is reserved to Westminster and staff are charged to work with the devolved administrations.They are not employed by Holyrood. So it is not true to state that a case is being brought against the Scottish Government and insinuate it is some kind of internal SNP struggle.

This article on the civil service outlines changes to staff numbers across the devolved administrations. The key point s that the devolved administrations have less staff working for them than other UK government departments. We do not intend to attack the civil service or its staff but point out that the presence of senior staff is more heavily weighted towards the 5 Westminster controlled departments than the devolved assemblies.

4-FTE-UKCS-and-devolveds

We can do without the media leading us up the garden path at a time when we are being led to the cliff edge over Brexit. The civil service is in charge of the internal investigative process not the ‘Scottish Government’. We shall see what transpires but we know how politics works. Civil servants are answerable to politicians and at times of crisis staff with skills in mass media are as useful to a government as weaponry is at a time of war.

Jeremy Corbyn has also seen his fair share of media misrepresentation recently although some of it is of his own making.

I will leave room to consider points by Craig Murray, someone with lived experience in this area of press activity.

Alex Salmond’s jeopardy has caused me a dreadful shudder of recognition and empathy. I too was accused of hideous offences under a civil service disciplinary code and barred from taking any action to defend myself. I was not allowed to speak to anybody at all about the charges, and particularly not allowed to know the identity of my accusers, or to organise witnesses in my defence – which appears the exact procedure which Alex Salmond now, with absolute justice, complains of. These Civil Service disciplinary investigations are contrary to all rules of natural justice, and designed to facilitate executive stitch-ups, not to uncover the truth.

It is also worth noting Alex Salmond’s recent unfettered access to the media on his RT talk showin which he has given free reign to a number of interesting subjects and guests whom you would never see on any other talk show. Recently he has intervened personally in the Wings Over Scotlandversus the BBC case involving the banning of the You Tube channel.

In conclusion it is worth repeating our earlier plea- 

Don’t rush to judgment. On anyone. Allow due process.

At the same time being realistic we need to be aware of the massive media games being played on the public over Brexit and Scottish independence just now. There is not a bus big enough to write all the lies that have been broken on the side of it.

Team YSF

 

 

 

That’s Why I’m Yes

‘Seeking a better future for Scotland, and one different to the Tories shrill and ugly Orwellian anti-foreigner and Victorian one for us is the most rationale behaviour I can think of. That’s why I’m YES.’

Mike Dailly (@mikedailly)

During the 2014 indyref Mike (a solicitor advocate) campaigned for the No side. He has since re-examined the evidence and now believes that Scotland would be better as an independent nation.

He’s not alone!

Relationship Advice

If Scotland was currently an independent nation there would be absolutely no desire whatsoever to join the UK. So given the treatment which our country has received under the governance of Westminster why should we consider for a moment remaining?

If Scotland and England were humans in a relationship where the former was lied to, ignored, overruled, robbed, abused & manipulated what advice would you offer? I’d suggest getting the hell out and going their own way. So if we wouldn’t recommend the relationship for one person why would we possibly consider it for 5.3 million of us!?

 

Let it Go

The days of the Great British empire are long since over and we should feel no sadness as it’s emaciated body draws its final wracking breaths. History will in time view its reign with disdain as it lists the many many wars and brutalities which GB has been responsible for (& party to) in its strive for power & wealth for an elite privileged few. It’s time to let it pass and bury it in an unmarked grave.

For Scotland it is a time to look toward the future and to aspire to being something better. We will, undoubtedly, make mistakes along the way but if we place decency & humanity at the heart of our new democracy then surely we can be assured of a better quality of life for our children and the future peoples of Scotland. Some would dismiss this notion as fantastical or utopian but here are three positives which will only mark the beginning of a truly iScotland;

1. No nuclear weapons sited in our country. This will also save us an 8% share of the £205bn trident renewal cost.

2. NHS Scotland will be safeguarded for future generations. No privatisation, proper investment & development, and   the continuation of its founding principle of free healthcare for all at the point of access.

3. An immediate and immutable ban on fracking anywhere in Scotland. Helping to save and preserve the beauty and environment of our country for future generations.

Now is the time to move forward together as a nation and build a better country, one of which we can be truly proud. Let this be our legacy, our gift to the future.