The Scots Independent Newspaper Online

MACNEIL LAUNCHES HONOURS (PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION) BILL

Angus MacNeil, SNP MP for Na h-Eileanan and Iar has published a draft Bill to regulate the award of honours to individuals and companies who have donated money to political parties, received government contracts or sponsored government programmes. The Honours (Prevention of Corruption) Bill is designed to fill the gaps in the government’s own proposals in the Electoral Administration Bill, which are to be debated in the Commons on Tuesday.

Mr MacNeil’s anti-corruption bill will create:

new limits on donations where an honour has been awarded
a two year quarantine period between the award of an honour and donations to political parties and
an Honours and Appointments Commission with the power to veto nominations for honours.

Angus MacNeil The government has introduced a series of changes to the Electoral Administration Bill in the House of Lords as a partial response to recent controversies over loans to political parties by nominees for honours. As a result elected MPs have had no opportunity to amend the detail of the proposals or add to the Bill.

Mr MacNeil said:

“There is a real sense across the country that having a financial relationship with a political party, or financially supporting government programmes, eases the path to certain honours. The cash for peerages scandal has cast a big shadow over our democracy. It is my view that the people who are embroiled in that scandal shouldn’t be the ones deciding the new rules.

This Bill tackles the problem head on. It is an attempt to provide a real route out of the mire. Politics and the honours system can recover from the serious blows to their credibility over the past few months, but only if politicians start to take responsibility.

As a new MP I am aware that this draft Bill is not perfect, but the current system is far from perfect. It is a Bill designed to start a debate. I hope it means we can come closer to identifying and closing down any loopholes that allow corruption in the honours system.

I have been motivated in particular by the government’s decision to introduce amendments to the Electoral Administration Bill in the House of Lords, which means that un-elected peers – indeed perhaps even some dodgy donors – have had a bigger say on these proposals than elected MPs.

The House of Commons will have no opportunity to amend or add to the government’s plans - that is totally unacceptable in a democracy. We have to take or leave what is on offer. That is not good enough.

I want to see tighter regulation of the honours system and so the Bill proposes the creation of an Honours and Appointments Commission with the new power to block nomination. It also sets out clear rules to define a proper relationship between the honours system and donations to political parties, the awarding of government contracts and sponsorship of government programmes. It suggests limits on donations from those in receipt of an honour and would create a quarantine period of two years so that an honour cannot directly follow a donation.

As a draft proposal, I believe it takes us in the right direction. With parliamentary scrutiny and debate it can become good law.”

IT’S AN E-COUNT

Voting at next year's Scottish elections is to be counted electronically. The decision to use e-counting in the 2007 Scottish Parliament and Council elections was taken jointly by Scottish ministers and the Secretary of State for Scotland. It was prompted by the introduction of the Single Transferable Vote system for the Council elections. Trials of the e-counting system have proved successful and seem to indicate a quick, accurate, reliable result. The STV system for the Council means that voters express their preferences by marking 1 for their first choice candidate, 2 for their second, 3 for the third etc. The ballot papers are scanned and then fed into a computer system for counting. It will dramatically reduce the amount of time to complete the count in comparison to a manual count.

As far as the Scottish Parliament elections are concerned a single ballot paper is planned, instead of one ballot paper for the constituency and one for the regional vote, as in 1999 and 2003. This measure was a recommendation of the Arbuthnott Commission report on boundary differences and voting systems published earlier this year.

When the time comes the parliamentary count will be declared first, followed by the local government results. Hopefully the new e-counting system will enable the local government results to be delivered no later than the day after the election.

NO NEED FOR NEW NUCLEAR

A report from the Scottish Renewables Forum shows that renewables could supply over half of Scotland’s electricity by 2020. This is in line with current SNP policy and far more ambitious that the Labour-Lib Dem Coalition's current target.

Scottish Renewables Forum logo The Scottish Renewables Forum is made up of 190 organisations and companies and their report entitled 'Delivering the New Generation of Energy' uses independent research to show the potential of renewable electricity generation in Scotland. The report states that renewables are capable of providing 33% of electricity in Scotland by 2010 and 54% by 2020. The report also showed 76% of Scots felt it was important that the national grid accommodates new renewable schemes.

This report is another to extol the virtues of renewables and spell out Scotland's unrivalled potential to harness green energy. Is it now time for it to be accepted that renewables, and not unneeded nuclear power, are the future for Scotland?

While waiting for the result of his own energy review Tony Blair, has tried to tell us that nuclear is the way forward,. He too should digest the contents of the report before trying to foist new nuclear power stations on Scotland. The Westminster government lied to Scotland about the potential for North Sea oil. Are they now trying the same game with Scotland's energy future?

This report demonstrates that we don't need expensive dangerous and dirty nuclear power as we have huge potential in wind, wave, tidal, biomass and solar renewables. We need to focus on developing clean technologies and plan our energy infrastructure accordingly. This is what Scots want, and what our country needs.

MSPs AND SCOTTISH CHURCH LEADERS TO CHALLENGE ALDERMASTON

On Monday 12^th June a delegation from Scotland will question why more than a billion pounds is being spent on new facilities at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston. The delegation includes MSPs from four parties, the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, a former Lord Advocate and a leading representative of Scotland’s Islamic community.

detail from fence The delegation will travel to Aldermaston, near Reading, where they have asked to meet with a senior representative of AWE. They intend to raise concerns that AWE are preparing to build new nuclear weapons which are likely to be based in Scotland.

After their visit they will meet Hans Blix in Westminster. The former UN weapons inspector is in London to present a new report from the UN Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission.

Scottish CND has produced a new briefing showing how Aldermaston is jumping the gun before a decision on Trident replacement has been made.

Delegation

Bill Butler MSP (Labour), Colin Fox MSP (Leader SSP), Rev Kath Galloway (Leader Iona Community), Robin Harper MSP (Co-Leader Greens), Isobel Lindsay (Vice President Scottish CND), Dr Bashir Maan (Scottish representative, Muslim Council for Britain), Mary Alice Mansell (Scottish Quaker General Meeting), Dr Richard McCready (Justice and Peace Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Catholic Church), Rt Rev Alan McDonald (Moderator, Church of Scotland), Lord Murray (former Lord Advocate), Matt Smith (Scottish Secretary UNISON), Sandra White MSP (SNP). The Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, Anglican Bishop of Reading, will accompany the group in Aldermaston.

The visit was arranged by Scottish CND, Greenpeace and the Nuclear Information Service.

SYNOPSIS

Monday, 12th June 2006

SNP URGE SCOTTISH TO GO FOR IT

Pete Wishart MP has written today (Monday) to Andrew Flanagan, Chief Executive of the newly branded STV, calling on him to grasp the thistle and offer the viewers of Scotland a full national and international 6 O’clock news service.

The BBC’s London-based Director General, Mark Thompson, once again refused the case for a ‘Scottish Six’ citing a lack of interest for such a service – despite a number of polls showing public support for the service.

Pete Wishart Mr Wishart MP, the SNP’s Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Minister, said

“Here is a real opportunity for the re-branded STV to steal a march on the BBC’s metropolitan Director General and offer the publicly popular option of a Scottish Six. It is also an opportunity to allay concerns about STV’s merger on regional programming and the service rural and isolated communities will receive.

STV have the experience and the talent to offer a national and international Scottish news service which could accurately reflect the cultural and political life of Scotland. This is a service whose time has come. How much longer will Scottish viewers have to be pay for irrelevant or disproportionate news coverage which has little or nothing to do with everyday life in Scotland?

It is ironic that the BBC’s metropolitan governors deny this since BBC Radio Scotland already offers an authoritative news service. If we are capable of running our own radio news, why do they not think their own staff are also capable of doing so on television? I am absolutely certain that a Scottish Six would quickly become the leader and dominate early evening news in Scotland. STV have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I hope they go for it.”

Monday 12th June

MATHER COMMENTING ON NEW INFORMATION GUIDE FOR POLISH

Commenting on the new information guide launched by the Finance Minister to try and attract more Fresh Talent from Poland and help Polish workers settle into life in Scotland, SNP Shadow Enterprise Minister Jim Mather MSP said:

"The SNP also welcomes the contribution of the many bright hard-working Poles who are currently in Scotland. They add materially to our economy and maintain our reputation as a welcoming nation. However, an information guide, though it may be useful, is not going to create the economic climate in Scotland needed to attract more immigrants and reverse our population decline.

Mr. McCabe therefore needs to join us in clamouring for the powers needed to create a better Scotland or he will risk losing this valuable input. Unless the Fresh Talent initiative is backed by higher economic growth then Scottish-trained, English-speaking and cash-rich Poles will head elsewhere and others will not replace them. "

Tuesday 13th June 2006

OVER 4000 ELDERLY SCOTS WAITING FOR ASSESSMENT FOR FREE PERSONAL CARE

SNP Shadow Health Minister Shona Robison MSP released figures obtained by the SNP which revealed that the total number of elderly Scots waiting for assessment for free personal care is 4005 and those waiting for services or payment for free personal care is 709, as of February this year. The figures were obtained by Ms Robison in response to a Parliamentary Question and shows that as of February this year:

Shona Robison *4005 elderly people in Scotland are waiting at home or in a care home for an assessment for free personal care

*709 elderly people in Scotland are waiting for services to be delivered and payments for free personal care

Ms Robison said:

"These figures are a damning indictment of this Executive's failure to deliver on its promises. The fact that care for the elderly has been turned in to a postcode lottery under this Lib-Lab Government is simply not acceptable and goes against the spirit of the legislation.

The Minister argues in his letter that that the numbers waiting do not necessarily mean waiting lists - this is a ridiculous assertion and he should try explaining this to the 4005 elderly people who have not even received home assessment. This Lib-Lab Government must stop passing the buck for their failures on the implementation of this policy and start showing some leadership by delivering the level of care that the elderly people of Scotland deserve."

Tuesday 13th June 2006

MORE CONFUSION AT HOME OFFICE

SNP Home Affairs spokesperson, Stewart Hosie MP, has expressed his shock after the Home Office said they could not provide figures for the number of illegal immigrants found at each UK main port in 2005. According to a Parliamentary Answer Mr Hosie received, the Government said they could not obtain figures on how many illegal immigrants were found at each main port of entry in 2005. Yet only last year the same Home Office detailed in a Parliamentary Answer the number of illegal immigrants being apprehended at the UK's main points of entry.

Stewart Hosie This revelation comes shortly after Mr Hosie received a Parliamentary Answer showing that as many as 34,000 UK passports have been lost by the UK Passport Service and the DVLA in the past five years.

Mr Hosie said:

"This latest information from the Home Office once again raises more questions and provides no answers. It does little to ease public concern or restore confidence in the ability of the Home Office to get a grip and deal with this crisis. Instead of operating on the basis of accurate information the Home Office is operating in a vacuum.

How can they provide figures for 1998 to 2004 yet suddenly be unable to do so for one year alone. Either they are becoming even more chaotic or the figures provided for the earlier years are suspect. If they do not have these figures, or the proper figures, this raises serious questions about how the Home Office can make operational decisions. Surely, those figures are important on deciding where to send Immigration and Nationality Officers?

All in all it does not inspire confidence in the way the Government is running the Home Office and only adds to the case for Scotland to take full responsibility of all Home Office functions.

Mr Hosie’s Parliamentary Question and Answer and the original Parliamentary Question and Answer he wanted updated are printed below.

Home Department
Illegal Immigration
Written Answer on 7 Jun 2006

Stewart Hosie (Dundee East, Scottish National Party): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants were found at each main port of entry in 2005.

Liam Byrne (Minister of State (Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality), Home Office): The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Wednesday 14th June 2006

SNP TAKE TORY FISHING SELL-OUT TO TASK

HAGUE CONFIRMS REVIEW OF POLICY

Speaking in today’s European debate in the House of Commons the SNP’s Shadow Europe Minister, Angus Robertson MP, criticised the Tory party for betraying Scottish fishing communities by reversing the party’s policy of withdrawal of the UK from the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

Angus Robertson Mr Robertson was challenging the Tory party’s foreign affairs spokesperson, William Hague, who attempted to deny briefings made in newspapers that David Cameron was abandoning the policy of withdrawal from the CFP. Mr Hague attempted to avoid the question but then confirmed that the policy was under review.

Mr Robertson said:

“Scotland’s fishing communities have been betrayed for decades by the anti-Scottish Tories. They took Scotland into the CFP and the discomfort of the Tories foreign affairs spokesperson to my question only exposed their latest betrayal. This latest volte-face just underscores how expendable Scottish fishing is to David Cameron and the Tories. That William Hague admitted there was a review only proves that their previous stance was simply opportunism.

Since we have the Tory party offering a pact with Labour we should not be surprised they are now adopting Labour’s policy. It is now a case of vote Tory and get Labour. The CFP has been a disaster for Scottish fishing communities and it is self-evident that the Tory party cannot be trusted to stand up for Scottish fishing communities.”

Youth and Students take a bite of the Bannock-burn!

Saturday 24^th 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

17 June 1497
Heavy taxes imposed by the English Parliament to sustain war against the Scots led to a Cornish rebellion. The Scots were supporting the pretender and imposter, Perkin Warbeck, against the Tudor Henry VII, King of England. The Cornish army led by blacksmith Michael Joseph, An Gof, from St Keverna and Bodmin lawyer Thomas Flamank were quickly defeated and scattered by an English army under King Henry VII at Blackheath, London. The two Cornish leaders were brutally executed shortly after the battle.

18 June 1661
Act passed appointing a Council of Trade.

“His Majestie with advice and consent of his Estates of Parliament, have thought it necessarie that a Councill of Trade be established with powers to… make and set down rules, acts, and ordinances for regulating, improveing and advanceing of trade, navigation, and manufactories, and to establish severall companies and impower them with such privileges, liberties, and immunities as shall be fittest for the good of the service.”

Acts of Parliament Scotland VII, 273.

18 June 2005
The first official humanist wedding was held in Scotland between Karen Watts and Martin Reijns. The ceremony was conducted at Edinburgh Zoo.

19 June 1633
Charles I was crowned king of Scots at Holyroodhouse, eight years after his accession.

21 June 1314
An English army, under King Edward II, occupied Edinburgh, en route to face the Scots led by Robert I, King of Scots, at Bannockburn.

21 June 1708
Death of John Hamilton, 2^nd Lord Belhaven, leading opponent of the 1707 incorporating Union between Scotland and England.

21 June 1751
Alexander Geddes from Kinnermony, Banffshire for the crime of bestiality at Aberdeen. He was half-strangled, cut down and burnt to ashes. He was the last felon in Scotland to be burnt following execution.

21 June 2005
18-year-old Andrew Murray, Dunblane, made an outstanding Wimbleton debut, outplaying Switzerland’s George Bastle in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, in an hour-and-a-half.

22 June 1402
At the Battle of Nesbit Moor, near Duns, an English army led by the Earl of March and Lord Percy of Northumberland defeated a small Scots force under Sir Patrick Hepburn of Hailes.

22 June 2005
Derek Brownlee was sworn in as Conservative MSP – he succeeded David Mundell, who had sat as a Conservative list MSP for the South of Scotland until he won the Westminster seat of Dumfriesshire, Clydeside and Tweedale in May 2005.

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 13^th 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"

Robert Burns (1759-17

Ah! Gentle dames, it gars me greet,
To think how mony counsels sweet,
How mony lengthen’d sage advices
The husband frae the wife despises!

(Tam o’ Shanter 1790)

Professor Niall Ferguson

Devolution gives Scots the illusion of self-government but not the reality of it. The parliament cannot flourish while it acts as a mere channel for aid from Englamd. Independence would be preferable to this half-way house.

(The Scotsman 29 May 2006)

Hugh MacDiarmid (Christopher Murray Grieve) (1892-1978)

And yesterday, and to-day, and forever
The bagpipes commit to the winds of Heaven
The deepest emotions of the Scotsman’s heart
In joy and sorrow, in war and peace.

(Lament for the Great Music)

Tobias George Smollett (1721-1771)

I do not think I could enjoy Life with greater Relish in any part of the world than in Scotland among you and your Friends, and I often amuse my Imagination with schemes for attaining that Degree of Happiness, which, however, is altogether out of my Reach. I am heartily tired of this Land of Indifference [England] and Phlegm where the finer Sensations of the Soul are not felt, and Felicity is held to consist in stupefying Port and overgrown Buttocks of Beef, where Genius is lost, Learning undervalued, and Taste altogether extinguished, and Ignorance prevails to such a degree that one of our Chelsea Club asked me if the weather was good when I crossed the Sea from Scotland…

(Letter to Alexander Carlyle 1 March 1754)

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

FLODGARRY
George Weir

Flora MacDonald

Chorus:
Green is Flodgarry,
Blue is the sea,
Born here the lassie
tae guide oor Prince free

Westward the wild wind, high runs the sea,
Heaving the shallop by Broad Lea Eig Bay.
I have but one love; lass, trim the sail,
Ruin behind us, Loyalty as well.

Come ye young Raasay, hold fast the helm,
The Long Ship is heavin’ by Loch Scavaig Bay,
Come wi’ me lassie turn ye not hame,
Come where the west wind is kind tae its ane.

Pull hard my heroes the eagle tae flee,
Doon by Loch Yuma the Tall Ship runs free,
Flora was taken doon by Portree,
Bound for the tower and maybe tae dee.

Footnote: Like many of my fellow Scots I have always had an ambivalent attitude to Prince Charles Edward Stewart and his ill-prepared ‘adventure’ of 1745/46 but always admired the courage, stamina and resilience of his Jacobite followers, both men and women. One such was Flora MacDonald who 260 years ago this week (18 June 1746) met with Prince Charles in Skye and persuaded him to dress in woman’s clothing as part of an escape plan. Following helping the Prince, she was imprisoned for a year by the Hanoverians. In her honour we feature this fine song by Peebles baker George Weir who also composed ‘Liberty’.

See the SING A SANG AT LEAST in our features section

SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS

Balmoral Shortbread Since the early Sixteenth Century Queens of May have been recorded in Scotland. The practice of crowning a Summer Queen is still wide spread and basically the proceedings followed are similiar - the ceremonious arrival of the Queen and her attendants, crowning on a decorated dias, procession, sports and games. Many of the Summer Queens have distinctive names eg in Lanark last week, a Lanimar Queen, crowned on Lanimar Day which is essentially a children's Gala Day. Lanimar Day is one of the highlights of Lanark Lanimar Week which dates back to 1140 and arose from marking the Burgh's boundaries.

Whatever the title of your local Summer Queen, she will surely enjoy a "Royal" treat, Balmoral Shortbread. Queen Victoria was said to be very fond of this shortbread and regularly enjoyed it with a fly cup! To her credit, Victoria found the plain and simple delicacies of the Scottish baking tradition much to her taste.

Balmoral Shortbread

Ingredients: 12 oz ( 375 g ) plain flour; 4 oz ( 125 g ) sugar; 8 oz ( 225 g ) butter; pinch of salt.

Method: Preheat the oven to 350 deg F/ 180 deg C or gas mark 4

Sift the flour onto a board. Put the sugar into a separate pile and, using both hands, work all the sugar into the butter. Now start kneading in the flour a little at a time. When all the flour is worked in you should have a firm ball of dough. Sprinkle a little flour on the board and roll out very thinly 1/8 " - 1/4 " ( 3 - 5 mm ). Cut into circles about 2 1/2 " in diameter ( 6 1/2 cm ) and prick with a fork in domino fashion with three pricks. Bake on a greased tray in a moderate oven for 30 minutes.

Makes 36

See our Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs in our Features section

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)

dirl: clatter; pierce; reverberate; throb; blow; vibration

kebbuck: cheese

peevers: hopscotch

raip: rope

wae: woe

wittinsblad: newspaper

As bare as the birk at Yule Een: In absolute penuary

Paint Scotland greetan owre her thrissle,

Her mutchkin stowp as toom's a whissle;

An' damn'd Excise-men in a bussle,

Seizan a Stell,

Triumphant crushan't like a mussel

Or laimpet shell.

frae ' The Author's Earnest Cry and Prayer ' - Robert Burns

COMPLETE POEMS

THE BOY IN THE TRAIN
By Mrs M C Smith

Click here to listen to this in RealAudio read by Marilyn P Wright

M C Edgar was the daughter of the minister at Burn's one-time parish of Mauchline in Ayrshire. She was born in Kirkcudbrightshire, and moved to Dulwich in London when she married.

Whit wey does the engine say Toot-toot?
Is it feart to gang in the tunnel?
Whit wey is the furnace no pit oot
When the rain gangs doon the funnel?
What’ll I hae for my tea the nicht?
A herrin’, or maybe a haddie?
Has Gran’ma gotten electric licht?
Is the next stop Kirkcaddy?

There’s a hoodie-craw on yon turnip-raw!
An’ sea-gulls! — sax or seeven.
I’ll no fa’ oot o’ the windae, Maw,
It’s sneckit, as sure as I’m leevin’.
We’re into the tunnel! we’re a’ in the dark!
But dinna be frichtit, Daddy,
We’ll sune be comin’ to Beveridge Park,
And the next stop’s Kirkcaddy!

Is yon the mune I see in the sky?
It’s awfu’ wee an’ curly.
See! there’s a coo and a cauf ootbye,
An’ a lassie pu’in’ a hurly!
He’s chackit the tickets and gien them back,
Sae gie me my ain yin, Daddy.
Lift doon the bag frae the luggage rack,
For the next stop’s Kirkcaddy!

There’s a gey wheen boats at the harbour mou’,
And eh! dae ye see the cruisers?
The cinnamon drop I was sookin’ the noo
Has tummelt an’ stuck tae ma troosers
I’ll sune be ringin’ ma Gran’ma’s bell,
She’ll cry, ‘Come ben, my laddie.’
For I ken mysel’ by the queer-like smell
That the next stop’s Kirkcaddy!’

Kirkcaldy was famous for its linoleum factories which left a distinctive smell along the Fife coast. The locals were sensitive about it.

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

Dog Gone!

A young American oilman gets on the train at Aberdeen and finds every seat taken except one on which is seated a small lap dog belonging to a large middle-aged lady.

"Excuse me ma'am" he says politely " Would you mind moving your little dog?"

He is totally ignored by the woman, not once but three times she snootily disregards him. That is too much for the American who suddenly opens the carriage window and throws the hapless dog outside.

There are a few seconds of stunned silence then an Aberdonian sitting opposyte says "Ken is, you Yanks are funny. Ye drive on the wrang side o the road, ye ate wi yir fork i the wrang haun - an nou ye've thrown the wrang bitch oot o the winda."

Click here to listen to this joke

Read and listen to Jokes in our Scot Wit section

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.

The Working Life of Linda Fabiani MSP