I was at primary school during the 1979 devolution referendum. It’s fair to say many in the Celtic community were suspicious of the SNP due to the hostile attitudes some of the party leadership had to the Irish diaspora in their midst.
Fresh blood brought change to the SNP in the 1980s, there were even overtures to Irish nationalism. Alex Salmond cemented these changes, broadened the appeal of the party towards new and multi-generation immigrants, and asserted the SNP’s multi-faith credentials. He also became close friends with disgraced Cardinal O’Brien (which is no reflection on Mr Salmond).
At the height of his political powers Salmond appears to have overreached. Something would be done about men shouting at football games. From now on only certain flavours of nationalism would be favoured, acceptable, perhaps even legal. MSP Christine Graham let the Scottish Parliament know, the problem was that Celtic fans were not acting illegally, so the law had to change.
The Axe the Act candidate in today’s Glasgow City Council, Govan, by-election, Thomas Rannachan has brought the consequences of Salmond’s largess to his door. The SNP are defending the seat but one year out from the battle Salmond really needs to win, his shoddy attack on football fans is set to undermine him. As an independent Rannachan may not win, but he has put the First Minister on the back foot.
George Ryan’s funeral will take place at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow, at 10:00 on Monday. All are welcome.
Sean’s book’s here, fill your boots:
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Alasdair MacLean
13:35 on 10 October, 2013
‘Democratic vote this time maybe?’
###
Well we’ve had universal suffrage for about 100 years so if the Scots wanted to leave the UK we could have done so any time in the last century. We haven’t.
Regarding the contemporaneous demonstrations against the Union, as I understand it the crowds had two concerns 1. that it would lead to a rise in taxes and 2. it would threaten the independence of the Kirk.
It’s interesting and informative to compare and contrast the treatment of the popular religions of the people in Scotland and Ireland under the Union. Catholics were persecuted in Ireland. In Scotland the Kirk had all number of privileges.
Those nats struggling to understand why support for Irish independence does not require support for Scottish independence would do well to reflect on the contrast.
Anyone
TBB –
Hey you, what’s wrong with our weather? ;-)
I agree with JJ that Kojo is having a bad day. Particularly when he utters shite like SNP being communists. I know many SNP members and I can assure you neither them or me are communists. Some, unfortunately, are tories but thankfully most of us have a leaning towards socialism. How any Scot can consider voting either Tory or the party of Bambi Blair, Darling and the rest of warmongers defeats me. There is a helluva lot of spite on this site towards SNP and I wonder why. Is it full off umionist huns?
Kojo,
I however don’t see Salmond as a communist but as an opportunist. He wants a one party state , with one Police Force ( Police Scotland ) , one school system etc . In a way he wants One Scotland with will be run from Edinburgh.
When you compare the investment in the Edinburgh trams fiasco to the denial of £300m for a train link between Glasgow Airport and the City Centre for the commonwealth games , you start to understand that there will be One Centre Edinburgh for Scotland.
Salmond has been clever though like any opportunist and got people like Cardinal O’ Brien on board. There are other prominent tic fans who he has brought close (eg University Leaders who need to play the funding game ).
However the base element is still there with Salmond. Just like an Edinburgh Jury or Christine Graham they cannot hide their underlying anti Catholic tendencies. I have not had time to check, but I was told Salmond has never had a Catholic Minister ( surprised as even the former Ibrox club had a token Tim ).
Anyways just arrived in the Renaissance hotel in Paris and dinner awaits , so need to go.
However as I said last nite I want a No vote as I detest Salmond and Graham targeting innocent young Celtic fans.
On Catholic schools, I would expect Salmond to do this within first year of an independent Scotland. The ease with which he hit Fans and especially Celtic fans would encourage him.
He has plenty who think like Christine Graham.
Salmond can ruin what should be a great country. He is a chancer.
jobo balde
good evening to you
Correct Me If I’m Wrong……
But Wasn’t Salmond’s “Offensive Behaviour” Bill…..
Vehemently Opposed To The Death….
Even In Its Amended Form….
By BOTH The Church Of Scotland…
And The Catholic Church….?
Jobo-how’s Turnberry looking weather wise tomorrow?
Proof that Scotland is a mere, unimportant region of England was when various ministers trumpeted on about the benefits for the ‘nation’ from the new high speed railway.
Yes, the one that stops at Leeds, what possible benefit is there to Scotland?
The deafening silence from Labour tells me all I need to know about them, not a cheep, no protest, nothing.
A YES vote will allow the people of Scotland to put in place a government that reflects the wishes of the Scottish people, it is not a vote for Salmond, the number of thickos that think the YES vote means electing Salmond worries me.
A No vote will leave Scots at the mercy of a right wing Tory government that appeases the EDL and BNP.
The Tories and Labour are war mongering, right wingers, you can barely pass a fag paper between them on policies.
Independence means we take our place at the table with other small countries that have fared well, Denmark, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Norway, New Zealand and others.
Q: How many independent countries that were under UK rule would today vote to become part of the UK again?
A: NONE.
I rest my case.
Let’s Get this Strait Folks..
Kojo ,is NO the “Heavy” oan Here
Ah hiv only reacted tae…
First of all. a Very Insulting and Childish Attack,on Me and Ma Contrary Opinions, against the Established wan( That is .,.The Wan oan Here!) by an
old Tormentor.
And Second of All. My reactive Reply was directed a Second subscriber,one,it seems,who only values whit HIS ain opinion is ..
and any other Person who deigns tae Offer a Contrary wan. is Automatically, denounced ..as tae Hiving a “Bad Day.”
Ah hiv done this . because..
Ah am A Firm Believer in
“IF .. You Slappa Ma Cheek… Then Ah Wull Damna Slappa YOUR Cheek!)
Maks sense tae Me.
Kojo
Still, Laughin
RRC
The Shetlands have been part of Scotland from the 1470’s, and part of Great Britain since 1707. They share Norse roots, as do Ireland, the West of Scotland, (including Ayrshire), the Western Isles, (including Skye), the Western Highlands and throughout the east coast of both Scotland and England. Celtic influences predate the Viking invasions by thousands of years. Norway has no claim to any part of present day Scotland. A poll conducted locally in April found only 8% in favour of a breakaway from Scotland, with 10% don’t knows, and with a population of only 23,000 there does not seem to be many votes there. There are plenty of good reason to vote No in next year’s Referendum, but the threat of Shetland declaring UDI is most certainly not one of them.
ernie lynch….
I can see no argument against Scotland behind Free .to make decisions that mirror what all/most decent people want ….I was brought up in South Angus ,where Jock Bruce Gardyne had the biggest Tory majority in the country …that has changed …
being
My Dear Kojo…..
Hiv Ye Noticed That Ye Can ALWAYS Pick Out The Folk….
Who In Their Tender Adolescence….
Were Exposed Tae The Subversive Marxist Text….
“How To Win Friends And Influence People” (sic)
Turned Them All Intae Irritatin’ “Controlling” SOBs….
As Far As Ah Kin See…
Pinkety..?
Wayne Rooney For Bertie Voghts’ Scotland !
Huh! Fat Sally has thrown his (considerable) weight behind Dave King’s return to “thems”.
Quelle surpris!!
I now make that, Murray, Whyte. Green, Mather and now King! How many horses is he going to jump on?
A@£e-licking wee runt!
….and yet, the knuckle-draggers still can’t see past him!
They deserve each other!
P.S. Winning Captains, thanks for my inclusion on the “list”, I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve it, but I’ll take it anyway!
HH
Winning Captains,
Include me in the YES gang for inclusion on the CQN list please.
Has there been an influx of nat posters since the sad and untimely death of St John Doyle?
as a greenockian how sad it is to see the local team sign such a horrible person
SFTB
Don’t get yourself worked up by Kojo the clown, and his alter ego, singing dick.
They claim to be Celtic fans, but all they do is promote dodgy right wing ideology on here.
I am no lover of the SNP but to label them communists is ridiculous, just like nearly all of his musings.
TSD is a hun troll with connections to Motherwell.
j67 – how polite, thank you!
!!Bada Bing!! – what on earth makes you think that I’d know anything about TOMORROW’S weather in far off TURNBERRY? ;-) Are you golfing on the Ailsa Course?
ernie
Despicable
That’s all.
Neustadt-Braw
18:17 on 10 October, 2013
What were once Tory strongholds are now SNP strongholds.
Hence Salmond’s ‘we didn’t mind the economic side so much’ summation of Thatcher.
Reblogged from earlier today
Both Scotland and Ireland have historically been dominated and ruled by their larger neighbour England. It is to Ireland’s credit that the people rose-up and overthrew the English ruling regime, to the extent of taking-up armed struggle when it was required.
The fact it has taken Scots much longer to reach the stage where we can overthrow London rule and re-take our independence is not something that should divide Scots and Irish, it should unite us.
Scots of Irish descent should fully embrace the move to Scottish independence as it reflects the journey taken by their Irish forefathers in pursuit of Irish independence.
It is illogical for anyone who supports the right of Ireland to exist as an independent nation to then deny the same right to Scotland.
ernie lynch
For your first head-scratcher, you assert that that, because Scots haven’t voted against the Union in the last 100 years, they shouldn’t be entitled to vote against it now.
re. religion. The Kirk in Scotland and the Catholic Church in Ireland are no longer the societal forces they once were, and using them as indicators for political leanings won’t work. I for one would be happy for that to continue to be the case.
That said, it is important to be aware of history, and to see where we’ve all come from, but not to the point where it constrains your ability to make a free choice in an election.
I sometimes get the impression that for you, it’s all about the construct of Scotland as hand in glove with big bad Britannia, and you’d hate to see that dynamic change.
TSDD:
Bloody condenscending!
ernie lynch…
The Battered Bunnet
18:31 on
10 October, 2013
ernie
Despicable
That’s all.
……………………………
think we should leave you to have a wee think …
Latchford @ 18.10- spot on. The targeting of the GB is merely the SNP testing the water- the real anti tim campaign is yet to commence
A wee prediction
Once D King is in situ at the hate factory C Ogilvie will walk away with his pension intact and his long plan mission accomplished.
Latchford
You seem tae go along with a Lotta Ma Views.. oan Whit the S.P.L. represents.
Fur example.. Ma belief that they are oot tae dae A Number oan the Catholic Church..
You have Disagreed with Ma Assumption that the S.P.L. Are Communist, Mainly
Ah.. Declare. fur the reason that Salmond. Seems tae be No A Communist.
However..
In Ma Studies concerning the Methods that wereEmployed ,in the Past , by Communist Usurpers.. Who hiv taken over..
One Particular Theme Emerges..
They Have many times takn over Unsuspecting countres . by Donning Sheeps Clothing..
In fact.. take Cuba. as an example..
Castro,presented himself as a Man of the People.. a Redeemer… A Guy who Wiz only oot tae Get rid of a Tyrant.
Castro, wiz Financed and Greatly helped by the .. AMERICAN GOVT. in carrying oot his Guerrilla War against Batista..
He could never have Accomplished the Downfall of Batista , without OUT SIDE HELP
and he Got it. From The U.S.
It was only when Castro had won..and Had Deposed the Tyrant..
That.. Castro dropped the Mask..
And Announced that He was in Fact a Communist..
Ah am not going tae Say that Salmond wull Emulate Castro..and should he win this Referendum, announce that He is a Communist..
Na
The S.P.L. wull gradually Impose thur Socialist Agenda.. Slowly, one step at a Time..
The Communists Know that they are not So Popular as they wur of yore.
So they wull Be careful, not tae Spill The Beans oan their True Colors,if or when ,
they take over ,in Scotland.
Whit Ah am saying is that Salmond at this time . .Is Wearing the Mask of NATIONALISM..
The very LAST thing that wan wid expect tae Encounter… in the Communist Manifesto …is NATIONALISM..
The Communists Preach.. the Opposite..
They call it
INTER NATIONALISM
Anyway , ah do not intend tae Go oan anymore , with this..
Ah only want tae finish with this… and this Only..
Ah Believe that the Scottish Nationalist Party is a Communist Front Organization..
Kojo
Still , Laughin’
Ernie ….you never told me how Trigger was ?
Has Dave King been given back his passport?
hahahahahahaha ffs Kojo …..6 minutes from the Death Star and he is still there ….braw!
ernie lynch
You are absolutely correct…I desperately wish to change the dynamic. Scotland as an independent nation state is my dearest wish. My children to group up in a country free of the rule of monarchy as citizens: not subjects, and as free from the hatefests and sectarianism as is possible.
Latchford
Cobblers…the SNP minority council inherited (from a lab/lib coalition i think) an already shambolic tram project in 2007, and were left to make the best of what was left of the project given the stage of completion and budget implications.
The decision to shelve the Glasgow link was made in September 2009 once the extent to which the condem funding cuts would bite were beginning to be understood.
Don’t try and pass these decisions off as being some sort of Edinburgh-centric agenda.
As for your anti-Catholic paranoia…double cobblers!
bbg
McGrain: I learned from the best
http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=4695
mea culpa
15:26 on 10 October, 2013
The SFA cannot allow king into this new club, since he was a Director of a Club / business which went bust in the past 5 years……RULES ARE RULES……oh, no, wait, this is Scotland..
Billy Bhoy 05
18:33 on 10 October, 2013
‘Reblogged from earlier today’
#####
Why?
setting free the bears supports Celtic’s best fighter- Wee Oscar Knox
16:05 on 10 October, 2013
JJ & Auldheid
I see that the Ibrox fans are getting similar treatment for a song called “Father’s advice”. It too seems, on cursory reading of the lyrics seen, a fairly harmless ditty, but references the YCV, a group later referenced by the UVF, seems enough to bring this into “praising terrorism”
*or Mibbees it’s the chant in the middle of “eff Booby sands he’s deid” that’s the point of contention.
Gerrybhoy
See!
Yer last Submission just Proves Ma Point.
It is full of Insults, Name Calling and Character Assassination.
Directed at those who Oppose whitevr Opinion which YOU Hold Dear..
Kid.. Grow up.
And learn how tae Conduct a Dispute with a Fellow subscriber.
In
A Grown Up and Sensible fashion.
Kojo
Still, Laughin’