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This week a new survey for NSPCC ChildLine has found that one in five of nearly 700 youngsters said they had seen pornographic images that had shocked or upset them.  The findings of this survey tie into the campaign by Scottish Women’s Aid against revenge porn. This issue was debated in the Scottish Parliament in September 2013.  In bringing the motion and leading the debate, Christina McKelvie MSP said; “Decades ago, domestic abuse was not talked about or recognised—women walked into doors or fell downstairs. Things have moved on, although sadly there are still people in abusive relationships who are too frightened to come forward.Read More →

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This week we have also seen an intervention from businessman Jim McColl, who has called for Holyrood to have full control over its finances by 2020. In an interview with the BBC, Mr McColl said; “If you have capacity to raise your own bonds – like a tartan bond or a Caledonian bond – that’s to smooth over the downturns, when you raise government finance. “And then when it’s running well that’s when you fix the roof and you tuck the money away – you don’t waste it”Read More →

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From today, 1st April, the Scottish Government new agency comes into effect.  For the first time in 300 year the Scottish parliament has the authority to set taxes which will be administered by Revenues Scotland. The two new taxes which will be collected are Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, which replaces Stamp Duty, and Scottish Landfill Tax which replaces the UK Landfill Tax.  The powers to set and collect these taxes follow the passing of the Scotland Act 2012 Deputy First Minister John Swinney MSP said of the launch of Revenues Scotland; “Today is historic.  For the first time in 300 years, with the launchRead More →

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Due to the large numbers of delegates to campaign conference this year we were decamped to the barn that is the S.E.C.C. in Glasgow. It certainly had space for the delegates but the very big downside was the layout. The stalls were separated from the speaking hall by a curtain. The delegates in the arena complained of noise from the stall space and then they complained about not being able to speak easily in the stall space because of the noise from the arena. I know I used a lot of paracetamol. The purpose of a campaign conference is to rally the troops and sendRead More →

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For those interested in the SNP phenomenon and the impact of the referendum on Scotland, the UK itself and the Party, it is essential reading. Available in the shop https://scotsindependent.scot/ocart2/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=125Read More →

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PARTY WELCOMES THREE WINS ON EVE OF BIGGEST CONFERENCE EVER On the eve of the party’s biggest ever conference, the SNP is today celebrating a by-election hat trick with wins in council by-elections in Fife, the North East and West Lothian. The SNP gained Glenrothes West and Kinglassie – an area considered Labour heartland – as candidate Craig Walker won 55.3 per cent of the vote. This is a 12 per cent increase in the SNP vote since 2012 and the second by-election win in Fife this year. In January, Marie Penman was elected as councillor for the Kirkcaldy East ward with 47 per centRead More →

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Car all packed with shop stock ready to travel to Glasgow tomorrow for the SNP conference over the weekend. You will find us in the exhibitor area. We hope our regulars will stop by for the usual banter. For new delegates, you really won’t get a better class of ‘abuse’ at any other stallRead More →

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In: Margaret Hamilton

Thank goodness that this week has seen the last of Prime Minister’s Questions, for the next few weeks at least. I heard William Hague being asked what it was like each Wednesday before going into the chamber. What got me (apart from all the stupid public school nonsense they insist on) was the amount of time that government employees spent preparing for a half hour slanging match in which virtually nothing is achieved. All time that I am sure could be put to much better use doing something constructive for the people of the United Kingdom’s of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.   AllRead More →

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Is politics a complicated business? I was listening with my usual scepticism to the revamped Call Kaye/Morning Call/phone-in-your-rant show on Radio Scotland. Kaye Adams was doing her utmost to sound the very model of the “patronising Better Together lady”, confused by all this talk of coalitions and back room deals. Oh, but it’s so difficult for the ordinary voter to get their head around. Really? Not for the vast majority of the voters I’ve been speaking to on the doorsteps. The referendum’s gift has been the most well informed electorate Scotland has ever had. People know there’s an election on. They want to make sureRead More →

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In: Margaret Hamilton

Absolutely loving the social media response to the offensive, personal comments made about Nicola Sturgeon at the one day Scottish Labour conference in Edinburgh last Saturday. Our women, men and children dug out the colanders and tin pots from the kitchen cupboards, took pictures and posted them all over the social media sites. I even saw one by a new facebook friend where she made a tin hat for her cat from tin foil. This is what the unionists are missing. HUMOUR! The type of comments made about Scotland, SNP members and voters, and our politicians are perhaps one of the reasons why many peopleRead More →