alanferrier

alanferrier, 1 month ago to random

Documents relating to the Royal household are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.

The UK Foreign Office said an exemption relating to communications with, or on the behalf of, the late Queen, was “absolute”.

One simple question: why?
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/prince-andrew-files-royal-family-b2404639.html

alanferrier, 1 month ago to random

The “Billy Boys” song originates with Billy Fullerton, leader of the Billy Boys of Brigton Cross, a Protestant street gang in the 1920s. Fullerton was awarded a medal for strike-breaking during the 1926 General Strike and formed a Glasgow branch of the British Union of Fascists.

video/mp4

alanferrier, 1 month ago to random

The laughable assertion from the Tories that "Britain is the Second Most Powerful Country in the World," (backed up by an article in the Daily Express, FFS) reminds me of this from Professor Nicholas Boyle, University of Cambridge. https://archive.is/6NC4N

alanferrier, 1 month ago to random

This letter is 10 years old. It was true then and remains true today. Regarding the recent murder of aid workers, I'd say we're at about stage 5.

alanferrier, 1 month ago to random

If you believe Twitter, it would appear that the Police Service of Scotland is simultaneously in the pockets of the SNP and also engaged in a grand conspiracy against the SNP.

alanferrier, 1 month ago to random

Ah, yes - Margaret Thatcher. Famously popular in Scotland. I'm afraid their "bid to widen UK electoral appeal" may stop short at Gretna Green.
https://www.ft.com/content/3c7554cd-b74e-4b24-8701-dc5a16134153

alanferrier, 1 month ago to random

Here's the inimitable Neil Young, incognito, busking outside Glasgow Central Station #OTD 48 years ago, 2nd April 1976. Neil Young and Crazy Horse played Glasgow Apollo later that evening as the last night of their European tour, and I was there.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdtv39

alanferrier, 1 month ago to random

Fixed that for you, Scotsman.

alanferrier, 2 months ago to random

Cracking story from Elaine C Smith. No idea if it's true, but I do hope so:
Apparently, when Pavarotti was doing his farewell world tour in 2005 there was only one venue where extra security was required - Glasgow. Not because of any trouble, but to stop the audience joining in.

alanferrier, 2 months ago to random

In the future, everyone will be the Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party for 15 minutes.

alanferrier, 2 months ago to random

The danger of ignoring atrocities, via Naomi Klein.
https://theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/14/the-zone-of-interest-auschwitz-gaza-genocide

alanferrier, 2 months ago to random

More concern and outrage expressed from all three UK political parties about the design of a football shirt than the fact that child poverty is now at record levels.

The Westminster political system is dysfunctional, anachronistic, embarrassing and unfit for purpose for a 21st Century democracy.

alanferrier, 2 months ago to random

On Thatcher's proposed state funeral - a view held fairly commonly in Scotland, but best expressed by Frankie Boyle: "For three million pounds you could buy everyone in Scotland a shovel and we could dig a hole so deep we could hand her over to Satan in person."

alanferrier, 2 months ago to random

Alex Salmond on BBC Question Time in 1987, immediately prior to Thatcher's 3rd term. Listen to the Labour arguments.

You'll also note that the chair, the late Robin Day, didn't interrupt once.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPNasRD_X0Q

alanferrier, 2 months ago to random

MPs have voted to reject the first Lords' amendment to the Rwanda bill by 328 to 250.

The amendment sought to ensure that the Bill complies with domestic and international law.

When a government decides to sidestep the rule of law it’s no longer a government - it’s a junta.

alanferrier, 2 months ago to random

An extraordinarily powerful protest as thousands line the seafront at San Sebastian in the Basque Country of Spain to denounce the ongoing massacre of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli state.

The sirens you can hear in the background are those of Guernica.

video/mp4

alanferrier, 2 months ago to random

A party that receives almost a third of its funding from an individual who's called for a member of the UK parliament to be shot shouldn't get to define what does and does not constitute extremism.

alanferrier, 2 months ago to random

Conservative spokesperson on Frank Hester's comments about Diane Abbott: "Mr Hester has made clear that while he was rude, his criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor the colour of her skin. He has since apologised."

So saying that a black woman makes you "want to hate all black women” and then calling for her to be shot, "has nothing to do with the colour of her skin."

Righto.

alanferrier, 2 months ago to random

The Conservative Party's largest donor, who has given £10 million to the party in the past year, said that looking at Diane Abbott makes you "want to hate all black women" and called for her to be shot, saying that "it would be much better if she died".

How much of that £10m makes its way to the Scottish Tories, Messrs. Ross & Kerr?
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/11/biggest-tory-donor-looking-diane-abbott-hate-all-black-women

alanferrier, 2 months ago to random

The Telegraph is cultivating the same relationship with the people of Scotland as the Sun has with the people of Liverpool.

alanferrier, 2 months ago to random

Don't let the door hit your arse, etc.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/non-doms-plot-exodus-wake-budget-crackdown/

alanferrier, 2 months ago to random

The word "hero" is thrown about too freely these days, but one place where it's absolutely due is for every person involved with the RNLI, which has it's 200th anniversary today. Thank you. #RNLI200

alanferrier, 2 months ago to random

Protesting about the machine-gunning of starving folk as they queue for food is what passes for extremism in the UK these days.