Crossbill

I can't help but wonder whether there have been civil servants pulling all nighters to create a document they can release and claim as the full legal advice. Much like the David Davis 'planes have wings' Brexit impact assessment reports.

Labours attempt to weaponise the unequal pay dispute really is an own goal of epic proportions. The last shreds of credibility have been burned. As a little bonus, it looks like a very harsh light is about to be shone on the GMB, it's hand in negotiating unequal pay, advising members to accept settlements that were a fraction of what was due, and the role of Labour politicians in all of this. Into the bin you go, Labour. You're finished in Scotland.

Are Labour in Wales also delivering Tory austerity? In fact, are they delivering Tory Austerity Max?

I'm hoping that the midterm elections will be a watershed moment when 'decent' republicans will realise that they are burning down their house. Just over a month away now.

It's not entirely a joke though, is it.

'You, people of Britain, are our new low skilled workforce.'

I think you may be misunderstanding the purpose of that paragraph. All incidents that someone believes are homophobic need to be recorded as such so they can be investigated appropriately, and if deemed to be homophobic they can be treated as a hate crime. Just because an incident is recorded does not mean that there has been any actual homophobia - that is for the investigators and potentially the courts to determine. In Dugdale's case though she has an even greater challenge - she need's to prove that WOS is actually homophobic or she is guilty of defamation.

I hope Dugdale's lawyer has a better defence than 'It's homophobic because we think it it is' or it's going to be a very short hearing. Actually, no I don't - that would be hilarious.

Well, that's 10 minutes I'm not getting back. Oddly though it seems you've posted a blog that contains no explanation of how exactly the joke is homophobic. Maybe you could try again? FWIW, I can think of a couple of reasons why someone might genuinely believe the joke to be homophobic (rather than the faux outrage that I suspect is more prevalent). The first is that they have preconceived notions about WOS and are reading something that simply isn't there ; the second is that that they are imposing their own prejudices on the joke.

Can you please explain to me exactly how the joke is homophobic. I'm sure I'm just being stupid, but I can't understand how it is and I've yet to see an adequate explanation. Please make sure you explain how the joke conveys actual dislike or prejudice against homosexuals, beyond the fact that it uses homosexuality as a punchline (expressing, as it does, no negative connotation). Thanks in advance for your help.

Just been catching up on this sorry little saga today. Labour have got themselves into a right old state over it. Shame. It seems to me like Dugdale though she had been handed a blank cheque and had decided to rack up costs to the point where even the slight possibility losing would make WOS drop the case. If she lost, well no skin off her nose - the party can pick up the tab. But if she won, or got the case dropped, then that would be a massive scalp she could claim, and have the bonus of financially ruining one of the leading figures in the independence movement (and one who has not been shy in pointing our all her political inadequacies). Shame she looks to have been hoisted by her own petard, and her wailing about how unfair it all is, is frankly pathetic. I hope she gets an absolute doing in court for her mendacity. I bet she though attacking WOS during first ministers questions while protected by parliamentary privilege was quite the jape. God knows why she decided to it again in the Record. I can only guess that she's even stupider than she seems. I've not a shred of sympathy for her.

Is that an actual quote from Davidson? (I'm assuming it's not a quote from the BBC presenter, although you can never be sure).

You've got to admire the Tories, in a way - they know exactly how to manipulate the staunch demographic. I'm always reminded of this.

It's just a coincidence that the UK parliament has just launched a attack on 'Fake News' available via social media and other non-MSM sites. Nothing to worry about. I'm sure the state-approved media will be along shortly to tell us what to think about it.

Fair enough, the next PM may well be Labour, but the one after that will probably be Tory. The choice will always be binary while we stay in the UK, and neither of them could give a shite about Scotland.

Indeed - Labour, including Corbyn, are more than happy to use the only-too-willing MSM to punch down in Scotland. It's difficult to feel any sympathy when they are on the receiving end of the right wing press elsewhere.

They were only squandered if you consider that they should have been used for the good of the public. For the people in power, I imagine that does not even register on the scale.

I had the misfortune to catch a couple of minutes of Reporting Scotland earlier tonight. The story; the English NHS has decided to ban the use of mesh implants for women. The Scottish government put a moratorium on the use of mesh implants in 2014, but left it up to individual health boards to decide whether there were exceptional circumstances that required their use (there apparently are in some cases). Surprise, surprise, the story was SNPBAD! with the SNP apparently not doing enough to stop the use of mesh implants in the cases that health boards deem medically necessary, and for having the audacity to take credit for something they actually did. The BBC really is now a fucking joke. They aren't even pretending to be unbiased any more. Jakey Burd was smirking through the whole thing like it was the best joke ever. I think it might be time for me to bin the licence.

Didn't stop just enough of them to come trooping back in to vote with the government, despite their absence from the debate.

Reading the McCrone report is the only time I can recall actually crying with rage.

I honestly though my opinion of the tories couldn't get any lower, but the last 24 hours has completely blown that out of the water.

Oh no

Conservatives win Perth and Kinross Highland ward with 46% of first preference votes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI0MRyUFIXU