danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
Those of you familiar with the pro independence movement in Scotland will be aware of this website. It is my view that its chief blogger, Stuart Campbell, isn't a benign influence on the debate.
This week a Labour leaflet came through our doors in Scotland. It included claims that if elected in May, Labour would increase spending on the NHS in Scotland and would pay for an additional 1000 nurses. Except, of course, they won't, because the NHS in Scotland is devolved. The election in May is for Westminster, so even if Labour wins (my bet is they will form a minority government), then they won't be doing anything to the NHS in Scotland (except indirectly, eg. by taking decisions which may influence Barnet consequentials). So that was at best a misleading claim, at worse an inept failure to understand the constitutional set up in the UK.
So Wings, being a campaigning blog, could have attacked that claim.
Also, you may remember that Scottish Labour said that "The NHS is safe with a No vote" during the referendum campaign. They said it on leaflets, in the press, on social media.
Now the leaflet was saying the NHS isn't safe. So soon after Scotland saving it with a No vote.
So, again, Wings could have attacked that line in the leaflet.
What did they go for? A tweet asking whether a nurse depicted on the leaflet was the same woman as an actor he'd found a photo of.
He's being cautious. He isn't saying it is the same woman; he's wondering aloud.
No doubt partly because he was wrong before about a woman being the granddaughter of Pat Lally.
However, cue the deluge of misogyny from his acolytes (whom I accept he doesn't control). Social media is awash with opinions about this woman being a "bitch" and a "cunt". Charming, and sadly predicable. Which is the point - predictable.
And what if she is an actor? Why is that the thing to home in on?
It turns out that she isn't the same person as he wondered, but she is actually an actor. And a nurse. She's both. Again, so what? Yup, she may well have got the gig because she's an actor, but all parties produce leaflets, even the pro independence parties. They never use professionals to make their points? And why is that the thing to home in on? Some unknown woman - who is a nurse - depicts nurses on a leaflet.
But, not that's not enough. Now he goes for whether nurses should be appearing on leaflets.
Now I'm angry. Very angry. We're now saying that we're on the side of bosses about when and whether staff can express their political views? Well, I'm not on your side there, pal. You snivelling little vermin.
And again, he's careful about how he puts it. But his fanboys aren't. They're all over it like a rash. "We're paying for her to tell lies about the NHS" is one comment.
Listen up. Attack what she says by all means, but don't say she has no right to say it. Even if she actually doesn't, she should. Or what are we saying? That NHS for Yes should STFU? That nurses shouldn't protest against cuts unless they pretend they aren't nurses? You picked the wrong side. You are the enemy on this. Yes, that's right, the enemy.
Of course, the Daily Record - the vile, racist, homophobic rag that supports Labour and the Union in Scotland - is down on all this with glee. Of course; it's a gift, why wouldn't they? Campbell's fans are moaning "but this is only because the press complaint he started against the Record was upheld". Yes, probably. So didn't that tell you anything?
Here's what the Record said:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/record-view-wings-over-scotland-5232240
Yup, it's over the top. But it's the Record. However, it's hard not to come to the same conclusion in essence. "With friends like these, no nationalist needs to make up enemies".
Now, if you try to say any of this to any of the Wings acolytes, you get a torrent of huffy, hilarious, paranoid abuse. You are a "Britnat dupe".
Which kind of proves the Record's point. So well done guys. For making the Daily Racist Homophobe appear reasonable.
Idiots.
This week a Labour leaflet came through our doors in Scotland. It included claims that if elected in May, Labour would increase spending on the NHS in Scotland and would pay for an additional 1000 nurses. Except, of course, they won't, because the NHS in Scotland is devolved. The election in May is for Westminster, so even if Labour wins (my bet is they will form a minority government), then they won't be doing anything to the NHS in Scotland (except indirectly, eg. by taking decisions which may influence Barnet consequentials). So that was at best a misleading claim, at worse an inept failure to understand the constitutional set up in the UK.
So Wings, being a campaigning blog, could have attacked that claim.
Also, you may remember that Scottish Labour said that "The NHS is safe with a No vote" during the referendum campaign. They said it on leaflets, in the press, on social media.
Now the leaflet was saying the NHS isn't safe. So soon after Scotland saving it with a No vote.
So, again, Wings could have attacked that line in the leaflet.
What did they go for? A tweet asking whether a nurse depicted on the leaflet was the same woman as an actor he'd found a photo of.
He's being cautious. He isn't saying it is the same woman; he's wondering aloud.
No doubt partly because he was wrong before about a woman being the granddaughter of Pat Lally.
However, cue the deluge of misogyny from his acolytes (whom I accept he doesn't control). Social media is awash with opinions about this woman being a "bitch" and a "cunt". Charming, and sadly predicable. Which is the point - predictable.
And what if she is an actor? Why is that the thing to home in on?
It turns out that she isn't the same person as he wondered, but she is actually an actor. And a nurse. She's both. Again, so what? Yup, she may well have got the gig because she's an actor, but all parties produce leaflets, even the pro independence parties. They never use professionals to make their points? And why is that the thing to home in on? Some unknown woman - who is a nurse - depicts nurses on a leaflet.
But, not that's not enough. Now he goes for whether nurses should be appearing on leaflets.
Now I'm angry. Very angry. We're now saying that we're on the side of bosses about when and whether staff can express their political views? Well, I'm not on your side there, pal. You snivelling little vermin.
And again, he's careful about how he puts it. But his fanboys aren't. They're all over it like a rash. "We're paying for her to tell lies about the NHS" is one comment.
Listen up. Attack what she says by all means, but don't say she has no right to say it. Even if she actually doesn't, she should. Or what are we saying? That NHS for Yes should STFU? That nurses shouldn't protest against cuts unless they pretend they aren't nurses? You picked the wrong side. You are the enemy on this. Yes, that's right, the enemy.
Of course, the Daily Record - the vile, racist, homophobic rag that supports Labour and the Union in Scotland - is down on all this with glee. Of course; it's a gift, why wouldn't they? Campbell's fans are moaning "but this is only because the press complaint he started against the Record was upheld". Yes, probably. So didn't that tell you anything?
Here's what the Record said:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/record-view-wings-over-scotland-5232240
Yup, it's over the top. But it's the Record. However, it's hard not to come to the same conclusion in essence. "With friends like these, no nationalist needs to make up enemies".
Now, if you try to say any of this to any of the Wings acolytes, you get a torrent of huffy, hilarious, paranoid abuse. You are a "Britnat dupe".
Which kind of proves the Record's point. So well done guys. For making the Daily Racist Homophobe appear reasonable.
Idiots.
