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CAMPAIGNING FOR SCOTLAND
(Owned, Edited and Printed in Scotland since November
1926)
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Nationalism and all that is best in Scotland."
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[
Issue 314 - 9th June 2006] |
Compiled by Jim Lynch |
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A MISSING
PERSON
I feel a bit
guilty at my absence from the Flag; the last one I compiled was No 306 of 14th
April! Since then I have been gallivanting, but that was factored in to
the schedule, and more of that anon; I am now editing the Scots Independent
newspaper as well, so events coincide, and I am not able to handle the Flag
in the peak week for the paper. My turn last month was taken by Donald
Bain, who will now become a regular, all part of broadening the views.
At the end of
April, my wife and I went on a two week cruise to the Mediterranean and the
Adriatic, stopping at Nice, Civitavecchia, Naples, Dubrovnik, Venice, Split
and Messina; the place I really wanted to see was Venice, absolutely
fascinating – everything by boat – even the taxis- and while I had heard and
read about it you actually have to see it to appreciate it. We took a trip
on a gondola, but only got the first line of “O Solo Mio” – the result of
beating down the price – no singing with the cheaper version!
When we landed
at Nice, we had to get a taxi at the port gates, which was difficult as the
security staff did not speak any English; we were meeting my friend’s son in
Nice, and we commented how friendly and helpful we had found the
French staff, because we had expected otherwise. It was pointed out that as
I was wearing a baseball cap emblazoned “Scotland”, they knew we were not
English, but Scots; certainly the woman security officer pointed to my hat
and said: “James Bond!” – so something in that.
 Then
last week we went to the European Parliament in Brussels with Scotmid Co-op,
sponsored by a Labour MEP (Shock, horror, dismay) but we managed to fit in a
meeting with Ian and Lily Hudghton and Lachie Muir , so that was very
pleasant. We travelled on the Rosyth Ferry, something we had been meaning
to do for long enough; the journey out was a bit rough, because the North
Sea is the North Sea, but the journey back was very much smoother. The
cabins were very comfortable and it was an enjoyable trip.
And strangely,
when on a tram in Brussels, a man asked where I came from, and when I said
“Scotland”, he said “Sean Connery – Sir Sean Connery.” Very friendly, and
just shows that people in other countries do not now automatically think:
“Scotland – tartan, kilts, haggis” but now associate Scotland with Sean
Connery; no wonder our political enemies slag him!
THE WORLD CUP
What a lot
of absolute nonsense about whom we should be supporting in the World Cup; it
mainly springs from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, MP for
Kirkcaldy, stating that he was supporting England, followed by one of his
grovelling acolytes, MP for Paisley, saying the same. Jack McConnell,
Scotland’s First Minister, says he is supporting Trinidad and Tobago, and is
now getting stick because he is not supporting England!
This is not really about sport, it is all about politics;
Gordon Brown wants to be Prime Minister, and he is already suspect because
he is a Scot, so he has to wave the Union Jack, although correctly it should
be the St George’s Cross, so that he will be more acceptable to the
English. Jack McConnell knows that the Scottish election is due in less
than a year, so any truck with Auld Enemy will not go down well in Scotland,
and it is Scottish votes he has to get.
I cannot
make up my mind who to support, if any, in the absence of my own team; I
enjoy football, but am totally turned off by the tribal triumphalism which
used to be the prerogative of the masses, but is now also the domain of the
media. Two years ago we were in Greece, when they won Euro 2004, and it was
great to be there and share in the joy; however, if we had been in Portugal,
the other finalist, we would have been cheering on Portugal! As it is,
Greece did not make it to the World Cup, so I can’t support them, so maybe
Portugal this time?
I remember a
speech given by Gordon Wilson, at that time Chairman of the Scottish
National Party, during some World Cup or Euro Cup, where Scotland had not
made it, on attitudes in the “United ” Kingdom. He said:
“When
England plays Australia at cricket, Scotland supports the Australians;
when England plays New Zealand at rugby, Scotland supports the All
Blacks, and when England plays anybody at football, Scotland supports
the police.”
PACTS BRITANNICA
Some time ago I floated a theory that maybe we should be
looking again at the Tories; the voting system for the Scottish Parliament
was specifically designed to make it very difficult for the SNP ever to gain
full control (brainchild of the then Secretary of the Scottish Labour Party,
Jack McConnell). If coalition is inevitable, and the SNP remain thirled
against talking to the Tories, then we hand a blank cheque to the Liberals.
I cannot say that talking to the Tories arouses any enthusiasm in my breast;
I suppose it is akin to supporting England at the World Cup, but it is worth
at least some consideration, and the Scottish Tory leaderene hinted she
would be happy enough to go along with us on a range of issues. Her kite,
because it was that, was quickly shot down by Alex Salmond, and within a
week she was stating that she would be quite happy to support New Labour, to
keep the SNP out! New Labour reacted in much the same way as the SNP.
However, they can all cosy up to each other in local government; they tried
it in Perth & Kinross, with a Tory/Labour/Liberal administration although
the SNP was the largest party; this ended in chaos and we now have an
SNP/Liberal administration; Dundee is a Tory/Labour combine, again with the
SNP the largest party, and Dumfries and Galloway the same.
All this is
reminiscent of what was once described as the most unifying influence in the
House of Commons – an SNP member on his, or her, feet; the one thing we can
be sure of is that the Unionist parties are worried. The Liberals are
trying to dissociate themselves from Labour, having now been in bed with
them for 7 years, not having much use for each other, it now looks more
like the 7 year itch. Certainly, Labour was affronted by the Liberal
tactics in the Dunfermline by election, where they mounted a campaign
against the Scottish Executive, disguising the fact that they were
responsible for the decisions. For instance, we had the Liberal Transport
Minister complaining about toll increases on the Forth Road Bridge when he
had already signed the contract for new tollbooths.
On our side,
the SNP had made a broad agreement in the Scottish Convention to work
alongside other independence minded parties; I do not use the capital “I”
for independence, as their commitment is marginal, to say the least. The
Greens want to save the planet, but would ditch Independence at the drop of
a vote; the Scottish Socialist Party, having shot themselves in the foot or
some other part of the anatomy, look as if they are bleeding to death. The
Convention is not a coalition as such, but a loose association, and perhaps
the strength may lie in the non political part of this organisation.
When I
consider my own attitudes, I remember one local election many years ago,
when there was no SNP candidate standing; I determined to use my vote,
agonised over the best use of it for tactical reasons and decided to vote
Tory, I think. I marched into the polling booth, looked at the voting
paper, and wrote: ”SNP” on it.
To sum up: I
do not like any of them. Our best bet is to work our socks off, get as many
seats and votes as we can, with the aim of forming a real government; if
we are the largest party but without a majority, we should go for minority
government, and put the pressure on the other parties to support us.
CHURCHILL
A bit of a
stushie in my home town, Dundee, over the reluctance of the Labour/Tory
Council to erect a statue to Winston Churchill, at one time Member of
Parliament for Dundee. They already have a statue of Desperate Dan.
 I
find Churchill fascinating, and even went the length of buying his biography
by Roy Jenkins; it only cost me £3.99 from the Banana Bookshop, and it took
me about 6 weeks or more to get through it. I was intrigued as to how
Churchill had ever managed to become MP for Dundee, and it happened thus:
Churchill was
MP for a Manchester seat, and in March 1908 he was appointed to the Cabinet;
at this time he was a Liberal, having left the Conservative Party. It was
the custom then that when an MP was appointed to the Cabinet, he (because it
was invariably he in those days) had to resign his seat, and fight it at a
by election, thus obtaining the approval of the electorate. (Imagine if that
rule was still extant, John Reid would never have time to sit in the House
of Commons.) Anyway, it was also usual, but not mandatory, for the Member
to be returned unopposed; Churchill was opposed, and lost his seat by 429
votes.
This was not a
great setback, as he was very popular in Liberal circles, and he thought
Dundee would let him show he could be British, although he always referred
to himself, and all affairs, as English; he won, although with less votes
than he had lost with in Manchester. He held the seat until 1922, when he
lost it to Ned Scrymgeour, who was for prohibition; the joke was that the
Dundee men staggered out of the pubs, and voted overwhelmingly to have them
shut. Of course he had also attacked the local newspaper publisher, D C
Thomson, which did not help him at all. (Desperate Dan is a character in
the Beano, a D C Thomson publication!)
On a personal
note, I do believe that Churchill was the greatest Englishman, probably
Briton, of the 20th century, and that without him we would have
been enslaved by the Nazi regime.
DR DUNCAN ROSS - SNP NATIONAL SECRETARY
SNP activist Dr
Duncan Ross has been elected as the SNP's new National Secretary.
Dr Ross was
elected from a ballot of delegates to the Party's National Council in Perth
this weekend to replace Alasdair Allan, who resigned from his post to
relocate to Lewis in order to fight the Western Isles seat for the Party at
the Scottish election next year.
 Dr
Ross joined the SNP in 1987 and has held numerous positions at Branch and
Constituency level. Currently he is a member of Glasgow West End branch and
he has recently been selected as the candidate for Cunninghame South
constituency in next year's election. He has also been a member of the SNP's
Standing Orders and Agenda Committee and of the Disciplinary Committee of
the Party.
He is currently
an academic based at Glasgow University, specialising in Economic and Social
History.
Speaking after
his announcement, Dr Ross said:
"I'm delighted
to have been chosen by party members to follow the good work undertaken by
Alasdair Allan over the last few years
"The next year
is an important one for the Party as we prepare to win the Scottish
Parliament election. I look forward to playing my part in the SNP's success
next year as National Secretary."
FOOT IN THE
MOUTH NOTES
The BBC History magazine carried out a survey among its readers to find out
the most appropriate date for a holiday to celebrate Britishness; this was
in response to a proposal from Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer and
aspiring heir apparent to the Prime Minister. The most favoured date was
the anniversary of Magna Carta, 15 June 1215, when the English nobles
limited the power of the crown.
The United
Kingdom came into being with the Union of the Crowns in 1603, and was
followed by the Union of the Parliaments in 1707; it would appear that BBC
History readers are not very knowledgable about history.
Interesting
comment in the Sunday Herald this week from a Turkish delegate at the
International Press Institute Congress in Edinburgh: “Who is this Scottish
Executive sponsoring the dinner? It is an insurance company, yes?”
We do not
recommend you buy any policies from this company under its current
management. (Note for any intellectually challenged who might read this:
the Scottish Executive is the Scottish government that dares not speak its
name.)
 And
speaking of insurance companies, I continually get glossy literature
addressed to me personally from Royal & Sun Alliance; it invites me to sort
out my van insurance. I do not have a van, I have never had a van, and I
have no need of a van.
I think I
might send them a request to let me sort out their subscription list, thus
helping to reduce global warming as they destroy yet another Brazilian rain
forest with unnecessary and unwanted bumff.
And on the
subject of glossy literature, and the massive debt crisis in Scotland, I
received a letter from the Bank of Scotland, telling me they have a “Loan
Sale”; I can borrow up to £25,000 repayable over 7 years at a favourable
rate of interest. The kind of “Buy now, while stocks last” offer.
As I have been
a customer for over 30 years, they must know I am over 70….so?
A Liberal
councillor in the Borders has gone public accusing Christine Grahame MSP
(SNP) of making 41 requests under the Freedom of Information Act (which the
Liberals claimed credit for), whereas the local Liberal MSP had only made 2
– being very frugal with public money.
Well, his lot
has been busily hiding the information, but I am not sure if the Liberal MSP
appreciates being praised for neglecting his job.
The Working Life of Linda
Fabiani MSP
Click here to read SNP MSP Linda Fabiani's working diary.
SYNOPSIS
Tuesday 6 Jun 06
The House of Commons has today (Tuesday) given a first reading to SNP Leader Alex Salmond's Bill to repatriate oil and gas resources to the Scottish Parliament. The Bill will now have its second reading in the Commons in October.
 In a speech in the Chamber Mr Salmond debunked the myth about subsidized Scotland pointing out that this year Scotland is in relative surplus compared to the rest of the UK - to the tune of £800 for every man, woman and child in the country.
Commenting Mr Salmond said:
"I am delighted that this Bill to repatriate Scottish oil and gas resources has passed its first Commons hurdle. Bringing oil home would return an asset worth £170,000 for every person living in Scotland.
"The massed ranks of Tory and Labour MPs blinked first. They failed to muster a single argument against Scotland's claim to our nation's precious oil and gas resources.
"Thirty years ago Labour and Tory politicians tried to cheat Scotland out of its oil wealth, but they have now been rumbled.
"Today we are at a half-way point for Scotland's oil and gas. It is a resource that can and will transform our nation."
Tuesday 6th June
The SNP's Shadow Enterprise Minister Jim Mather today called for the Office of Fair Trading to investigate Scottish Water for overcharging of Scottish businesses for water and sewerage services.
 Mr Mather has written to the Director General of fair Trading setting out his case for an investigation under the Competition Act. The letter states that:
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Business charges in Scotland are materially higher that those charged elsewhere in the UK
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Revenue is running at a rate that is 40 to 50% higher than operating costs
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86.6p in every pound of capital expenditure in the three years to 31st March 2005 has been paid by current water charge payers
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The chairman of the Scottish Water Commission refuses to discuss the Strategic Review of Charges 2002-06 that is at the root of the over-charging regime.
The demand follows an SNP campaign on the issue, including the hosting of a parliamentary debate at Holyrood on the subject.
Monday 5th June 2006
SNP Shadow Minister for Trade & Industry, Mike Weir MP, has today (Monday) written to the Scottish Enterprise Minister Nicol Stephen - the leader of the LibDems in Scotland – asking why he could not give a commitment to support the Scottish Low Pay Unit's (SLPU) Scottish National Minimum Wage Helpline which has had funding withdrawn by the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI).
The DTI acknowledge the Helpline is a success but told the SLPU to secure Scottish Executive funding to allow the project to continue despite the matter being a reserved issue and not catered for in the Scottish funding block. However when the SLPU sought funding from the LibDem Enterprise Minister, Nicol Stephen, no commitment was forthcoming.
 Commenting Mr Weir said:
"I fully support the SLPU's campaign to seek such funding from the Executive and have written to both the DTI and the Treasury asking why such a recommendation has been made without consideration of the present funding arrangements.
"However it also remains to be said that the Labour/LibDem Government in Edinburgh could provide interim funding to allow it to continue. The DTI may be abrogating responsibility but they should be called to account for their actions.
"I am therefore calling on the Scottish LibDem leader to explain why he has given no such commitment to keep this important and successful helpline. I would also be interested to know what action he is taking to make the DTI explain why they are passing the buck.
"I'd be quite happy for Scotland to take on those reserved functions of the DTI but in the meantime Nicol Stephen has a duty to explain his lack of commitment to the helpline. With a £50 million hole being found in the Scottish Enterprise budget his effectiveness is already being questioned."
And down at Westminster the very next day:
SNP Westminster Shadow Minister for Trade & Industry, Mike Weir MP, charged the Scottish Secretary, Douglas Alexander, with showing a contemptuous attitude towards protecting a vital Scottish Minimum Wage Helpline at today's Scottish Question time.
On being asked by Mr Weir if he would support the Scottish Low Pay Unit's (SLPU) Scottish National Minimum Wage Helpline, the Scottish Secretary launched into a hysterical and erroneous attack on the SNP.
The DTI even acknowledge the Helpline is a success but told the SLPU to approach the Scottish Executive to secure the £36,000 funding so the project could continue. However when the SLPU sought funding from the LibDem Enterprise Minister, Nicol Stephen, no commitment was forthcoming.
Commenting Mr Weir said:
"This was a contemptuous response from a Government Minister on an issue of major importance to those on the minimum wage in Scotland. His response was a hysterical party political attack based on an untruth.
"I fully support the SLPU's campaign to seek funding from the Executive and have already written to the DTI, the Treasury and the Executive to save what is a vital and successful service to Scotland's low wage earners.
"The Scottish Secretary could have done them a service by defending them. Instead he exposed himself as more concerned with partisan spin."
Sunday 4th June 2006
SNP Leader Alex Salmond MP today (Sunday) announced that the SNP's 2007 Election Campaign will be headed by Angus Robertson MP. Angus' appointment comes after he successfully headed the Moray by-election campaign that saw the SNP's biggest ever majority with the Labour vote halved and the Tories and Lib Dems at a standstill. The announcement was made to SNP Candidates for the forthcoming election at a meeting in Perth.
 Speaking at the meeting, SNP Leader Alex Salmond said:
"The election next year is a two horse race between the SNP and Labour.
"There is growing evidence from both Scottish by-election results and polling results that there is strong support for both an SNP led Government and Scottish Independence, and so I believe that we are currently neck and neck with Labour with only eleven months to polling.
"We aim to capitalise on this momentum to win the additional twenty first-past-the-post seats we need to secure victory for the SNP, and Angus Robertson has the skills and experience to do just that. Angus has played a key role for the SNP as Defence and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, and was instrumental to our stunning success in the Moray by-election.
"Angus' winning track record is just what the SNP needs to secure victory next year."
In his speech to SNP candidates in Perth, Angus Robertson MP said:
"I am delighted to be given this opportunity to lead the SNP's campaign in the run up to the 2007 election.
"All the available evidence shows that the SNP are the only party capable of beating the Labour Party at the polls next year, and my job is to work with the party to ensure that this happens.
"Scots will have a straight choice between a better future under an SNP Government led by Alex Salmond or more of the same with Jack McConnell's complacent Labour Party.
"The SNP enter this fight from an increasingly strong position. We have the best electoral record in Scotland in the past year, winning local and parliamentary by-elections up and down Scotland, often against strong campaigns in traditional Labour heartlands such as Glasgow, Fife and Midlothian. Given that we are second to Labour in 36 of their 40 first-past-the-post seats, we are the only party that can break their stranglehold on Scotland's central belt and emerge from the election as Scotland's largest party.
"The SNP are also equipped with the best known leadership team in Scottish politics, and people know that they will be better off with the SNP because of our strong, principled Scottish polices designed to make a difference to their lives. Scots know we stand for Independence, for a fair alternative to Council Tax, and against unneeded and unwanted nuclear power.
"With this momentum behind us, I'm confident that Scots will vote for a better life in Scotland's Independent future under Alex Salmond's SNP."
Thursday 1st June 2006
SNP Holyrood Leader Nicola Sturgeon MSP today (Thursday) welcomed the call by the Justice 1 Committee for the Lord Advocate and the Justice Minister to release key reports on the Shirley McKie case.
 The Justice 1 Committee today unanimously voted for the release of the James MacKay report in the matter of the Scottish Finger Print Bureau. The Committee also resolved that the Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson must release the two reports by John MacLeod and the report by Michael Pass.
Ms Sturgeon MSP said:
"It's about time the Labour and Lib Dem Government came clean on this matter and released these vital reports to the committee so that they can conduct a proper investigation. Without these reports, the parliament's enquiry into the Shirley McKie case will be hamstrung.
"We need the full evidence to be made available so that the committee can undertake as detailed an investigation as possible."
Thursday 1st June 2006
Central Scotland SNP MSP Alex Neil has seized upon figures released by the leading financial and business advisory organisation Grant Thornton that indicates Scotland continues to have the poorest level of business survival beyond the first three years of operation in the United Kingdom to call for greater control over the economy to be given to the Scottish Parliament.
 According to the firm the three year survival rate for all VAT registered businesses from the period 1994 till 2001 indicates that whilst the picture is better than it was previously in Scotland much still requires to be done. Whilst the UK average for business survival beyond the first three years of operation is 68.9% the rate in Scotland lags behind at 68.5%.
The West of Scotland fares particularly poorly, with only 63.6% of Lanarkshire businesses lasting longer than three years, and the corresponding figures for Renfrewshire being 63.3%, whilst Glasgow has the poorest level in the whole of Scotland, with only 60.4% of businesses outliving the three year mark. Mr Neil believes these figures indicate the desperate need for the levers of power over the economy to be transferred from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament, including those over interest rates and value added tax.
Thursday 1st June 2006
SNP Shadow Health Minister Shona Robison MSP today (Thursday) called on the Lib-Lab Executive to investigate the 50 per cent per cent increase in people in Scotland being admitted to hospital for adverse drug reactions. The figures were revealed in an written answer from the Scottish Parliament and showed that in 1997, 4123 people were admitted to hospital which increased to 6156 in 2005.
 Ms Robison said:
"This is a huge increase since 1997, and so we must consider these figures carefully.
"We need to know the underlying causes of this increase so that we can act to ensure that patients and those who buy over the counter medicines are not at an increased risk. For example, we need to establish why there are such large regional disparities in the figures, with areas like Glasgow showing a decrease in the number of adverse drug reactions, while the instance of these cases in areas such as Lothian's, Fife and the Borders have almost doubled.
"We also need to double check all existing procedures in the NHS for administering drugs, to ensure that they are adequate and consistently applied across the country to minimise chances of human error.
"Patient safety should be paramount within our NHS, and so I hope that this new information will all be used to review procedures to ensure that the risk to patients is minimised."
Wednesday May 31st, 2006
Responding today (Wednesday) on the announcement that the new BBC Trust representatives will enjoy pay increases of up to 167% SNP MP Pete Wishart has asked the BBC's Director General, Mark Thompson, to say where the public clamour for such pay rises comes from in light of his ruling out a 'Scottish Six'.
 According to adverts for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) the BBC chairman is to receive a pay increase of more than 70% when his pay will go up by £60,000 to £140,000, plus expenses; the new vice-chairman will get £75,000 a year - twice the £28,060 paid to the current vice-chairman of the board of governors; trust representatives from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will get £40,000 for two days a week, up from £28,060 for a day and a half; and the remaining trust members will each receive £35,000 for two days, up from £15,963 for a day and a half.
These increases follow yesterday's comments by the BBC director-general who ruled out a "Scottish Six" news bulletin to replace that produced from London. The BBC DG Mark Thompson said: "I don't detect any public clamour for it."
Commenting Mr Wishart, the SNP's Shadow Westminster Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said:
"I hope Mr Thompson spends some more time in Scotland as he may detect some comments by a significant number about World Cup news coverage. Such coverage is, quite rightly, appropriate for south of the border but hardly reflective or proportionate for the audience in Scotland.
"He may also be able to detect a news story on BBC Scotland's own news web pages showing a Scottish Consumers Council's poll which revealed 7 out of 10 people in Scotland support a 'Scottish Six'.
"It is a bit audacious to make such claims the day before the DCMS announces huge pay increases for the BBC Trust. I would be interested to know if he detects a public clamour for such increases?
"It is most ironic that his statement also comes as BBC Radio Scotland is about to announce changes to its authoritative news programmes. If we are capable of running our own radio news does he not think his own staff are also capable of doing so on television?"
Leirsinn ann an Alba.
‘S dòcha nuair a thig seo a-mach gum bi co-dhùnadh againn air rannsachadh poblach air tàilleabh an SCRO. Ma bhios sinn ann da-rìreadh fortanach bidh Cathy Jamieson a-mach às a dreuch, ach cuin a bha neo-chomas na adhbhar neach sam bith a chur a-mach ann an saoghal na poileataics? Cuideachd nam biodh Cathy na h-aonar ann an neo-chomas cha bhiodh a leithid dragh ann, ach cha b’ urrainn do neach sam bith le eanchainn a bhith toilichte leis an dealbh a tha sinn faotainn de na tha cudromach san là an-diugh. Chan e leirsinn, ach rud sam bith a fhreagras gus am faigh sibh à staing; agus ma nì sin cron dè bhios ceàrr air fhad ‘s a dh’fhuilingeas cuideigin eile?
 Bha sgeulachdan daonnan a’ tighinn à Seirbheis na Slàinte mu na mearachdan a bha iad air dèanamh, ach leis na trioblaidean a tha tighinn gu bàrr a-nis bhiodh eagal bhur beatha oirbh a dhol faisg air dotair. Tha an riaghaltas an Lunnainn a’ cumail a-mach gu bheil am Fast Track aca ag obair gu math. Tha àireamh nan daoine a tha air a bhith a’ fantail son obair-lannsa air a dhol sìos gu mòr, tha iad co-obrachadh leis na h-ospadalan prìbheideach, tha iad a’ sàbhaladh airgead agus bidh euslaintich a-mach nas clise. Bhiodh e doirbh a thuigsinn carson nach d’ rinn sinn seo o chionn bliadhnachan, mura biodh eòlas againn a-nis air na trioblaidean a tha air a bhith ann on a thòisich an sgeama. Chan e dotair a th’ annam ach tha e soilleir dhomhsa nach urrainn dhut dìreach dotair a thogail bho thìr-mòr an Roinn Eòrpa, agus a chur no cur sìos ann an dùthaich eile le cainnt eile, dòighean obrach eile agus luchd-obrach le trèanadh eadar-dhealaichte, gun a bhith a’ toirt seachad cuideachadh dha no dhi gus fàs cleachdte air an àite.
Chan eil an aon trioblaid air a bhith againn an seo, ach dè mu dheidhinn fhiaclairean? Tha rudan ann an Alba air fàs cunnartach. ‘S ann againn a tha na fiaclan as miosa anns an Roinn Eòrpa agus tha fiaclairean a-nis cho pailt sa tha ceapairean muicfheoil aig cuirm-cnuic Rabbi. Chan e droch smuain a th’ ann daoine a thoirt a-staigh bho thall-thairis, ach am faigh iad trèanadh mus tòisich iad? Agus dè thachras nuair a thilleas iad dhachaigh? Ach fhad’ s a fhreagras e an ceartuair. . . Leirsinn? Cò bhiodh feumach oirre ann an Alba?
Vision in Scotland.
Maybe when this comes out we will have a decision on a public enquiry in respect of the SCRO. If we are really lucky Cathy Jamieson will be out of her job, but when was incompetence a reason for putting anyone out of a job in the world of politics? Also if Cathy was alone in incompetence there wouldn’t be the same cause for concern, but no-one with a brain could be pleased with the picture that we are getting of what is important in today’s world. It’s not vision, but anything which will do in order to get you out of a difficulty; and if that causes harm what’s wrong with it as long as someone else suffers?
Stories were always coming out from the Health Service about the mistakes they had made, but with the stories that are coming out now going near a doctor would put the fear of God on you. The London government maintain that their Fast Track is working well. The number of people waiting for surgery has gone down greatly, they are working in partnership with the private sector, they are saving money and patients are out quicker. It would be hard to understand why we didn’t do this years ago, if we didn’t know now about the problems there have been since the scheme started. I amn’t a doctor but it’s plain to me that you can’t just lift a doctor from mainland Europe and put him or her down in another country with another language, different ways of working and other employees who have received a different training, without giving him or her assistance in getting acclimatised to the place.
We haven’t had the same trouble here, but what about dentists? Things in Scotland are becoming dangerous. It’s we who have the worst teeth in Europe and dentists today are about as common as pork sandwiches at a Rabbi’s picnic. It’s not a bad idea to bring people in from abroad, but will they get training before they start? And what happens when they return home? But as long as it’ll do the now. . . Vision? Who would need it in Scotland?
Youth and Students take a bite of the Bannock-burn!
Saturday 24th June 2006
This year Bannockburn will be a little bit different. Taking charge will be the SNP’s youth and student wing who are hoping for a large turnout, good weather and lots of fun as revellers commemorate the battle and recognise the 700th anniversary of Bruce’s coronation.
 It is hoped that Dr Ted Cowan will speak at the annual McCartney lecture which this year will be held at Stirling University before the march. Afterwards, keen marchers are urged to make their way to Stirling town centre in order for the procession to the battlefield to commence.
National Convenor, Alex Salmond has been asked to address the rally.
Nationalists are urged to bring their branch banners, penny-whistles, drums, fiddles, friends and family to make this year’s event even bigger and better than the last.
Commenting on the YSI’s involvement, YSI National Convenor Aileen Campbell said: “The YSI are delighted to be taking some of the organisational duties of this special march. However, we have had our ups and downs – I just hope we can pull it off. I urge everyone to tell their friends about this event to make it the biggest yet
Gareth Finn, FSN National Convenor added: “We hope that this year’s event proves to be a success and nationalists from all over Scotland can make it down to Stirling. In the run up to 2007, we should use this chance to gee up the activists!”
For further information visit www.bannockburnday.com or contact Aileen or Gareth via SNP HQ
Gordon & Carmen Wright
Second-hand, Fine & Rare
Scottish Books.
Regular
catalogues issued by email.
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Gordon.Wright11@btopenworld.com
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Wright’s Scottish Photo
Library
Spanning forty-five years
and featuring a wide variety
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all aspects of Scottish life
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Images for reproduction.
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DATES IN
HISTORY
10 June
1296
Comyn Castle at Kirkintilloch surrendered to King Edward 1 of England.
The surrender was accepted on his behalf by James Stewart, who had
surrendered sixteen days after Dunbar in order to protect the Stewart
family dominance in western Scotland.
10 June
1903
The first floral clock in the world was set in motion in Princes Street
Gardens, Edinburgh.
11 June
1423
A Scots and French army was heavily defeated at Crevant by an English
and Burgundian force led by the Earl of Salisbury.
 11
June 2005
Buckhaven welterweight Kevin Anderson topped the bill in the first
professional boxing promotion in Fife for 53 years. He outpointed
Vladimir Bourovski, Ukraine, in a ten round international welterweight
contest in front of 1,500 fight fans at the Fife Ice Arena, Kirkcaldy.
12 June
1940
Following the Dunkirk evacuation, the 51st Highland Division
surrendered to the Germans at St Valery, France.
13 June
1683
Following the killing of a government soldier, two Covenanters, John
Wharry and James Smith, were executed and their bodies hung in chains
from Inchbelly Bridge over the River Kelvin.
14 June
1966
Burnbank’s Walter McGowan became the third Scot to win the world
flyweight title, defeating Salvatori Burrini, Italy, on points over 15
rounds at the Empire Pool, Wembley, London.
 15
June 1567
Mary Queen of Scots surrendered to the Protestant Lords at Carberry
Hill, near Musselburgh. She was imprisoned in Lochleven Castle but her
husband, James Boswell, escaped abroad.
“For
the laird of Grange was declairen unto the Quen how that they all
wald honour and sere hir, sa that sche wald abandon the Erle
Bodowell, wha was the mourtherer of hir awen husband; and culd not
be a husband unto hir, that had bot laitly married the Erle of
Huntleis sister. Then the Quen sent again for the laird of Grange
and said to him, that gin the lordis wald do as he had spoken to hir,
sche suld put away the Erle Bodowell and com unto them. Then he raid
up again and saw the Erle Bodowell part, and led Hir Maieste be the
brydill doun the bra unto the lordis, Hir Maieste was that nycht
convoyed to Edenbrough. As sche cam throw the toun, the common
people cryed out against her Maieste at the windowes and staires,
quhilk was a pitie to heir.”
Sir James Melville – memoirs
15 June
1930
Playwright Sir James M Barrie opened the cricket pavilion that he had
presented to his hometown of Kirriemuir. In his speech he recalled how,
as a boy in Kirriemuir, he enjoyed playing cricket with his friends
using bats made by a local joiner.
See Dates in History in our
Features Section
SCOTTISH QUOTATIONS
I like to have quotations ready for every occasions - they
give one's ideas so pat and save one the trouble of finding
expression adequate to one's feeling.
Robert Burns
We continue our new Feature in this section
of the Flag - Scottish Quotations - statements in prose and verse
which reflect all aspects of Scottish life and outlook
from
the 13th century to the present day.
New
quotes added every week. The
quotations are not restricted to native Scots but include observations
from abroad which help us, in the words of our National Bard, Robert
Burns, "To see oursels as others see us"
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)
The
greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none.
Daniel Defoe (born Daniel Foe) (1660-1731)
The
Scots hate the Union, but they hate each other more.
John Muir (1838-1914)
Wherever a Scotsman goes, there goes Burns.
 General
James Wolfe (1727-1759)
I
should imagine that two or three independent Highland companies
might be of use; they are hardy, intrepid, accustomed to a rough
country, and no great mischief if they fall. How better can you
employ a secret enemy than by making his end conducive to the common
good?
See
Scottish Quotations in our Features Section
SING
A SANG AT LEAST
(compiled by Peter D Wright)
"That I for poor auld
Scotland's sake
Some useful plan or book could make
Or sing a sang at least ........"
- Robert Burns
CAM' YE O'ER FRAE FRANCE
Traditional
Cam ye o'er
frae France? Cam ye down by Lunnon?
Saw ye Geordie Whelps, and his bonny woman?
Were ye at the place, ca'd the Kittle Hoosie?
Saw ye Geordie's grace, riding on a goosie?
Geordie he's the man, there is little doubt o't;
He's done a' he can, wha can do without it?
Down there came a blade, linkin' like my lordie;
He wad drive a trade, at the loom o' Geordie.
Though the claith were bad, blithely may we niffer;
Gin we get a wab, it mak's little differ.
We hae lost our plaid, bonnet, belt and swordie,
Ha's and mailins braid, but we hae a Geordie!
Jocky's gane to France, and Montgomery's lady;
There they'll learn to dance; Madam, are ye ready?
They'll be back belive, belted, brisk and lordly;
Brawly may they thrive, tae dance a jig wi' Geordie!
Hey for Sandy Don! Hey for Cock-a-Lorum!
Hey for Bobbin' John, and his Hieland Quorum!
Mony's the sword and lance, swings at Highland hurdie;
How they'll skip and dance, o'er the bum o' Geordie!
Footnote :
An almost incomprehensible Jacobite song using nicknames of the
political characters of the time. The accession of Hanoverian George !,
following the death of Queen Anne in 1714, was a godsend for Jacobite
songwriters and his group of German gentlewomen provided them with much
ribald material. As well as German Geordie, his favourite mistress also
features in the song – the lean and haggard Madam Schulemberg, later
Duchess of Kendal, who was known as ‘The Goose’ and is the goosie
mentioned in the song. The to-be-leader of the 1715 Jacobite Rising also
merits a mention – Bobbing John was John Erskine, Earl of Mar, who
turned from being a supporter of the Incorporating Union of 1707 to
become a Jacobite leader.
Scots are renown for being sweet-toothed!
This probably explains why Scottish housewives generally make more jam
than their English counterparts. Raspberry and strawberry being the most
popular varieties. Nine-tenths of Scotland's raspberry crop is grown in
the Strathmore area and along the coastal districts of Angus. The Carse
of Gowrie, a narrow plain stretching from Perth to Dundee is where the
most intensive production of raspberries, strawberries and peas takes
place. Low rainfall, freedom from Spring frosts, prolonged Summer
sunshine and rich soil all contribute to the success of this industry.
In many areas pick-your-own is now the order of the day. This weeks
recipe for Strawberry Sweet should satisfy the sweetest of tooths! A
delicious Summer sweet when strawberries and redcurrants are plentiful.
Ingredients: 1 lb ( 500 g ) strawberries; 1
lb ( 500 g ) red currants; 1 lb ( 500 g ) caster sugar; 1/2 pt ( 125 ml
) whipping cream
Method: Spread out the strawberries on a large plate
and sprinkle over them half the sugar. Leave in a cool place overnight.
Next day put the red currants into a pan with a little water and cook
gently till they are soft. Strain off juice and add the other half of
the sugar to it. Put in a pan and bring to the boil. Boil for 10-15
minutes until you have a thick syrup. Add the strawberries and their
syrup and leave to cool. Before serving pour into individual dishes,
chill and top with some whipped cream.
A KIST O
FERLIES
A Keek at the Guid Scots
Tung
By Peter & Marilyn Wright
(Note: All words underlined in
this section are RealAudio links)
jimp: shorter; close fitting; short;
slender; neat
perjink: nicety; fastidious person;
fastidious; precise; prim
staun: stand; last; afford; goods stall
No bein fit to write in Greek,
I wrote in Lallans,
Dear to my heart as the peat reek,
Auld as Tantallon.
A
RICHT GUID GIRN
By James S Adam
Click here to listen to this
in RealAudio read by Marilyn P Wright
Whan sleety rain stots cauld aff cheek an brou,
an
wind bites neb an lugs gey snell,
ye
wish ye'd steyed at hame in cosy warmth
wi
cheerin cup tae bide an pet yersel,
but haud a wee, conseeder this advice,
there's naethin heats sae weel's
a
richt guid girn.
The doctor's trade an skill can gie nae help,
his potions, pills an bottles leave alane,
gif gloom has grupp't yer lugs tae haud ye doon,
ye
needna book thon cauld cley bed an stane,
yer therapeutic cure lies richt tae haun,
juist treat yer thrapple wi
a
richt guid girn.
Syne look aroun an see hou things hae cheenged,
the clouds hae gane, the sun's oot, skinklan bricht,
yer hairt that wis sae dow has gat a heeze,
an
wechty fuit nou jink like feather licht.
Ye
ken the answer juist the same as me -
there's naethin cheers ye like
a
richt guid girn.
See Scots Language in
our Features Section
for other poems, stories, songs, sayings, jokes and words in the Scots language
SCOT WIT
Enjoy a Scottish Joke every week and
listen to it as well
Two Won't Do
A Sunday School teacher asked her class how
they thought Noah might have spent his time in the ark, when there was
no response, she asked "Do you suppose he did a lot of fishing?"
"Whit" piped up a little six-year-old
"wi anlie twa worms."
Click here to listen to this joke
AND
AS WE CONTINUE...
If you read our first issue of The Flag in the Wind you will know that
this is a weekly Internet commentary on the Scottish political scene; if you desire
further erudition click on Archives.
SOME OF OUR FEATURE
SECTIONS....
About Us
Our mission is to fight for an Independent Scotland and to promote its history,
heritage and culture. Learn all about us here.
The Scots Language
A great introduction to the Scots Language, produced by Peter and Marilyn Wright,
and added to each week both in text and RealAudio. Enjoy listening to words, poems and
stories told in a real Scots accent!
Scottish
Quotations
A variety of quotations in prose and verse
reflecting all aspects of Scottish life and outlook.
The Rebels Ceilidh Songbook
An excellent introduction to traditional songs from Scotland.
Sing A Sang At Least
Our collection of Scottish songs. A new song is added to the collection each week.
Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs
Enjoy our collections of recipes and our comments on them.
Notable
Dates in History
Each week we add three new notable dates in history building this into an historic
timeline for Scottish history.
Features
Lots more stories, recipes, historical articles and even whole books are added here on a
regular basis.
The Oliver Brown Award
An annual award given to an outstanding Scot(s) each year. Also included picture
galleries from the annual lunch.
THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY
The Scots Independent Newspaper is independent of the
Scottish National Party, but we support the Party in its drive for
Independence; while space precludes us commenting on all the issues raised
by the 27 MSPs, 5 MPS and 2 MEPs, also
the Party Office Bearers, we have provided a link to the
SNP Website.
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
The above was the title of a book written in the early Fifties by John
MacDonald MacCormick, one of the founder members of the Scottish National Party in 1934.
The sub-title was "The Story of the National Movement in Scotland". His comment
in the book said "It is perhaps in the symbols which men use that their deepest
sentiments are most readily expressed. Flags as well as straws show which way the wind is
blowing". A fuller account appears under
Features.
WE WOULD WELCOME YOUR
FEEDBACK
The Flag in the Wind would welcome your feedback on what you think of this
weekly service. Happy to receive any comments or suggestions. Simply email
webmaster@scotsindependent.org.
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