Skene will stand for SNP in Scottish elections
Danus Skene has been selected as Holyrood candidate for the SNP in next year’s Scottish elections.
Mr Skene has described himself as “both humbled and flattered” after he was selected in the SNP ballot.
His losing opponent was Highlands and Islands list MSP, Mike Mackenzie.
“I think that the support of the membership can be fairly interpreted as a recognition by them of the progress that we made in the 2015 UK General Election, in which I was the isles candidate,” Mr Skene said.
“With a candidate in place, the SNP in Shetland can now embark on an organised campaign leading up to next May. We will seek to ensure that Shetland is represented by an MSP who supports and influences an SNP Scottish government committed to delivering fairness and efficiency.”
Robin Stevenson
I’d like to wish Danus the very best of luck in the upcoming Scottish elections in 2016, having “just” lost out in the general election by a mere 817 votes [down from 10,000] Danus is well placed to put himself forward to contest this seat.
It is most unfortunate that Alistair Carmichael decided not to do the honourable thing and resign over his admitted lie during the “Frenchgate” affair and allow the voters a second chance to vote him back in, [had they so chosen] However, at least the electorate are now fully aware how the Lib/Dems regard sleaze and lies as the “Norm” according to Ex-Lib Dem deputy leader Sir Malcolm Bruce.
Steven Jarmson
Robin, you keep whining about others going over old territory.
Any reference to Slimy Salmonds lies or Sturgeons’ claims that others aren’t living up to the spirit of the Smith Comminsion whilst she herself has surgically (or should that be “Sturgically”) ignored the commission and you’re up in arms.
Oh, old story, that’s all in the past.
So is an independent Scotland.
That’s the oldest of all the stories dredged up.
You might be paid by the SNP, but you need to come up with a different line than their centralised head office orders.
Robin Stevenson
Steven
I was merely pointing out that Peter’s misinformed gibberish, was just that, an msm fabrication of the facts, repeated endlessly by those that can’t be bothered looking beyond the Daily Mail et al, and therefore has to repudiated endlessly.
The “Smith commission” is probably best ignored [imo] a pointless few baubles to try to appease us at best. Certainly nothing substantial that we could actually use to grow our economy? Basically “the least” they could get away with.
I’m afraid independence will Never be off the agenda [until it’s achieved] So it’s NOT an old story, it is merely the continuation of the Scottish political awakening in Sept 2014, and it isn’t too easy to put the genie back in the bottle? 🙂
ian tinkler
So Danus will have another go, maybe 4th time lucky! Interesting to think he may just be the first Old Etonian to sit in Holyrood. Good to see the Etonian traditions of Cameron and Osborne are not dead in Scotland. Good to see Robin Stevenson being first to embark in a bit of negative campaigning, extraordinary how somethings never change!. I will break the mould and wish Danus well, quite frankly with “on the fence Tavis” as the principal opposition I think I may sleep this one out, will hardly alter the balance of power in Holyrood on iota either way. Shetland needs something a bit more dynamic, now a Shetland for Crown Dependency, or something of that ilke, that would and could make a real difference for us all.
Robin Stevenson
Good gracious Ian, am I reading your post correctly? You w – w – wish Danus well?…Well I never!!!
Frankly, it’s kinda hard to say something positive about ANY of the Lib/Dems after their ridiculous stance when THEY were in power? “Could have, should have, and didn’t”. [being their new moto] However very sporting of you I must say 🙂
ian tinkler
Robin, you making a positive statement about anything but your CULT of SNP/ Independence adoration? Now come on, get real and a view beyond isolationism and division.
peter smith
Hm, now remind me, Did Mr Salmond ever apologise for lying about the legal advice on EU membership and the waste of public money trying to cover it up? Interested to hear what Mr Skene has to say>
Robin Stevenson
Oh No!!!!….Not this nonsense again Peter? We dealt with this piece of fiction a few weeks ago on this forum, please don’t tell me I have to go dig it out to dispel this MSM myth because you [somehow] managed to miss it? [or indeed, looked beyond the Telegraph]….sigh/
The most obviously pertinent fact about the issue is that Salmond REFERRED HIMSELF to an independent inquiry panel over the matter and was CLEARED of any wrongdoing
The inquiry’s findings had come as no surprise to anyone who’d actually looked into the incident for 30 seconds with a fair mind. The “infamous” exchange in a TV interview with Andrew Neil went like this:
NEIL: Have you sought advice from your own Scottish law officers in this matter?
SALMOND: We have, yes, “In terms of the debate”.
NEIL: And what do they say?
SALMOND: You can read that in the documents that we’ve put forward, which argue the position that we’d be successor states.
Gordon Harmer
I wonder what Danus makes of these figures provided by UCAS which show that just 9.7 per cent of those from the most disadvantaged areas in Scotland have been accepted to university so far this summer.
That compares to 17 per cent in England, 13.9 per cent in Northern Ireland and 15.5 per cent in Wales, meaning Scotland is by far the worst performing part of the UK.
This is despite pledges by the SNP to close the attainment gap and ensure more pupils from the poorest backgrounds make it to university.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:
“Education is the key to improving your chances in life.
Yet we see from these UCAS figures that youngsters from poorer backgrounds are much less likely to get into university than their better off peers.
The issue is much worse in Scotland than in any other part of the UK.
This lands squarely at the SNPs door, as this Scottish Government has presided over falling school standards, a growing attainment gap and enormous cuts to college courses which can act as another route to university. It would be nice to what Danus has to say but I fear Robin will intervene.
Robin Stevenson
Gordon
Had you not mentioned my name I would have kept shtum….But Hey ho!! 🙂
4th Aug 2015 UCAS:
As of midnight, 24,800 Scottish applicants have been accepted into higher education through UCAS; an increase of 800 people, up 3% compared to SQA results day last year.
Almost all of these (24,000) have been placed at a Scottish university or college.
Overall recruitment to universities and colleges in Scotland totals 30,280; up 1%. Acceptances from the EU have decreased by 10% to 3,130.
https://www.ucas.com/corporate/news-and-key-documents/news/nearly-25000-scottish-applicants-placed-higher-education-3
While I accept that there does need to be more done for the most disadvantaged areas for 18 yr olds, you have to remember that Ucas figures for this year show a 50% increase in higher education applications from 18-year-olds in the most deprived areas of Scotland since 2006. You also have to ask, “what proportion of 18 yr olds from the most disadvantaged backgrounds even applied to University”? or indeed managed to attain 3 highers+ in order to be able to apply? Do these figures include college places too or is it just university?
ROBERT SIM
Why don’t you ask Danus, Gordon? I am sure you can either contact him direct or wait until there is a hustings. It sounds like you don’t really want to know what his opinion is.
ian tinkler
I wonder what Danus makes of not a single Scottish University featuring in the World Top Ten of science training. What a poor contrast against the rest of the UK. Scotland under the SNP is third world for Science teaching, no wonder the SG has such a primitive and backward concept of modern science and technology. Ban everything the SNP are collectively ignorant about, nuclear, shale, GM, the list goes on and on. Now Danus just could not have an educated view here, like most of the SNP, scientifically non educated and ignorant , arty type I believe. No doubt Robin, the all knowing,will be his mouthpiece.
Robin Stevenson
Ian
“Robin, the all knowing”?…lol…While very kind of you, [sadly] hardly the case [I wish]
April 2015 Glasgow Herald:
“SCOTLAND’s oldest university has been ranked the best in the country in the latest poll of UK institutions.
St Andrews University came first in Scotland and fifth in the UK after Cambridge, Oxford, the London School of Economics, Imperial College London and Durham in the latest edition of the Complete University Guide.
An analysis of the data used to compile the rankings over the past five years shows Scotland with the best performance of any UK country for graduate employment and the highest entry standards in every year.
The growth in the number of graduates achieving first or upper second class honours also increased, with Scotland the highest of all UK countries. Student satisfaction also improved”.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13211394.Scotland_to_the_fore_in_university_rankings/
Hmm…Not too shabby for a bunch of incompetents Ian? 🙂
Johan Adamson
Sorry Robin, not good enough. We need to get them all up there.
Robin Stevenson
I agree Johan, we most certainly DO “need to get them all up there”, however:
“The growth in the number of graduates achieving first or upper second class honours also increased, with Scotland the HIGHEST of all UK countries”.
Is a pretty good start, would you not agree?
Johan Adamson
Not sure if this is the way forward. Are they getting more 1sts because they have reduced the marks? When I was at uni only 1 person out of a class of 300 got a first. You really had to be exceptional. If the standard required to get a first nationwide is the same then yes, this is good.
Ali Inkster
Could it be that the bar in Scottish education is now set so low that you would need to be a particularly emaciated snake to slither under it. What value is there in a “first” if even those coming near last get one too?
Robin Stevenson
Ali
I think you’re being a little disingenuous here, when we consider that the standard of Scottish qualifications are run on a par with the rUK, which would explain why Scottish qualifications are portable and recognised throughout the world, and would also explain why so many people from all over the world come to Scotland to study?
So, no, you’re quite wrong, the bar in Scottish education is NOT set low in the slightest, as a matter of fact this years Mathematics exam was so difficult that the SQA even had to admit it was and adjust the marking accordingly.
file:///C:/Users/Robin/Downloads/UK%20qualifications%20comparison%20table%20(2).pdf
ROBERT SIM
You should ask Danus for his opinion, Ian. Then you’ll be able to tell him directly in how much contempt you hold him. I am sure you have no fear of doing that.
John Tulloch
That’s twice you’ve said that, Robert?
Is Danus going to be allowed to speak this time?
Has he “declared UDI” from Gordon Lamb House? 🙂
iantinkler
Robin, note I stated Science courses, meaning true sciences (STEM subjects). I did not mean the proverbial “Mickey Mouse” subjects which are seldom of use to man nor beast. Not much good having a degree in politics, economics, law or sociology when making decisions on Nuclear, Shale, GM or medical maters. Is there one SNP MP or MSP with a half decent degree in The Sciences, real science (STEM) not the creative type. Just out of interest just how and who do you poll to find the best University!!!? would not the results and caliber of graduates be a little more important than a Mickey Mouse poll!!!! What an idiotic statement (“SCOTLAND’s oldest university has been ranked the best in the country in the latest poll of UK institutions.)
Robin Stevenson
Ian
Is there really any point in me posting a link to an article if you’re not going to bother even reading it?
“Dr Bernard Kingston, principal author of The Complete University Guide, said: “The league tables, taken with the rankings for specific subjects, offer would-be students an accurate and independent guide to the UK university system.
An analysis of the data used to compile the rankings over the past five years shows Scotland with the best performance of any UK country for graduate employment and the highest entry standards in every year”.
Oh! and with regard to one of your sillier comments made earlier:
“like most of the SNP, scientifically non educated and ignorant , arty type I believe”.
I’m not sure if this guy would agree with you?
“I’m enough of an artist to draw freely on my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited; imagination encircles the world.”
Albert Einstein 🙂
ian tinkler
Now for a touch of reality and truth for you, Robin Stevenson, very sad for Scotland. The actual World rankings, not the Mikey mouse Club. A bit of Albert for you also, . “Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.”
Albert Einstein. (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alberteins107012.html)
https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2015/world-ranking#/sort/0/direction/asc
http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2014#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search
Robin Stevenson
Ian
I’m not really sure what your point is here? I’ve given you an example of Scotland’s University performances over the last “5 Years”, and you’ve given me contradictory snapshots of one year?
On one hand we have the Times – who employ 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators – claiming that the University of Edinburgh is at No 36 in the world, whereas we have QS -who employ – six individual indicators – claiming that Edinburgh are at No 17, for the same year?
Now, my [Mickey mouse Club] rankings seem to be pretty fair as they’re not only taking it over 5 years [rather than one] but they are also adopting 10 factors of excellence using HESA data [Higher Education Statistics Agency]
As far as Einsteins “Nationalism” is concerned, please see below.
JohnTulloch
In a way, I’m disappointed however, in fairness, I think SNP Shetland should be congratulated for “standing against them, “proud Michael’s army”, and sending them homeward, tae think again.”
And I think, campaign-wise, it’s probably a good decision, too – Mackenzie would have been routed and while I can find plenty of faults with Skene, he’s likely to put up a better show, especially, now that Mackenzie has gone.
iantinkler
Robert Sim, I have absolutely no problem in asking Danus his views, however I prefer to ask in writing in a public forum, that way he has the privilege of a considered response, sadly to date we have precious few answers from him, not even during the Westminster elections. With regard to my personal views about Danus Skene as a man , contemptuous or not, they are personal and of no public importance or interest. Danus’s views however are very important, as yet he has said very little about anything of any relevance! I ask him now about Scotland’s failing health service, energy policy in tatters, abysmal record in science education (STEM subjects), the SNPs Neolithic approach to scientific matters, shale, nuclear and GM.
iantinkler
“EU Commission suspends £45m funding from Scotland, due to ‘irregularities'” another question for Danus, just how much more incompetent can the SG under Sturgeons control get? £45 million of social fund withdrawn for now. I ask in writing as having heard Danus before, we usually only hear the preordained party waffle from him at the hustings. How about a written response from Danus, something all Shetland could see and consider.
ROBERT SIM
Well, you may be lucky and find that Danus reads your pearls of wisdom on here, Ian. Or you may prefer it that he doesn’t. I repeat, why don’t you find out his contact details and write to him?
Ali Inkster
He may read them but I doubt very much he will get into an open debate.
ian tinkler
Robert Sim , whatever makes you think I have not? many times perhaps .Why not ask Danus, for his responces and make them public, so all can read. Whoops, let’s better not all hold our breaths, may be terminal.
John Tulloch
Here, writ large, for all to see, is the energy policy of the contemporary “Bedlam” that is SNP Holyrood. I don’t always agree with Brian Wilson but in this case, his argument is “bombproof”:
http://www.scotsman.com/mobile/news/brian-wilson-broken-promises-over-longannet-1-3697206
This article is “must-read” for all concerned about SNP Scottish government energy policy.
The sooner Shetlamd is clear of this warren of “blackguards and fools”, the better.
ROBERT SIM
Interesting article, John. The main point that Wilson makes in the second half of the article is that we are not getting our money’s worth out of ScottishPower and SSE. I would heartily agree. It was of course under the Tories in the 80s that we had the advent of mass and disastrous privatisation. And when Labour got in in the 90s they did absolutely nothing to reverse that trend. Who was a leading light in Labour during that era? Brian Wilson. If you are looking for someone to blame, you should think about the fact that he and his like have helped to bring about the situation in which we now find ourselves.
That is not even to mention that energy is of course a reserved matter.
I also see you use this as an opportunity to make your usual plea for Shetland independence of some kind. However the recent trend in local government is for authorities to work more closely together. There are many good reasons for that and Shetland is no exception to the rule. That makes the vanishingly small possibility of any sensible local politician advocating separation from the Scottish Government even smaller.
ian tinkler
“any sensible local politician” Robert Sim, your a man of words, care for a definition here, not just a narrow view please?
ROBERT SIM
Certainly, Ian. Anyone standing for election in Shetland who has a realistic and intelligent understanding of local and national issues.
ian tinkler
Robin Stevenson, I like your unreferenced quote of Einstein how about something he actually wrote. “Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.”
Albert Einstein. (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alberteins107012.html)
Robin Stevenson
It always makes me smile when we get people that bang on about their particular interpretation of what “Nationalism” is? Let’s take one form for example [more than likely Einstein’s]
Risorgimento nationalism and Integral nationalism: radical extremism, and aggressive-expansionist militarism. Integral Nationalism often overlaps with fascism, Mussolini’s Italy and Nazi Germany.
Then of course we have Scottish Nationalism, which is quite the opposite of above:
Civic nationalism: Which is a non-xenophobic nationalism that is claimed to be compatible with liberal values of freedom, tolerance, equality, and individual rights. Civic nationalism lies within the traditions of rationalism and liberalism,
These are just two examples of many different forms of “Nationalism” but as you can see quite different? So, when we have people saying ALL Nationalists are evil, it’s a bit like saying ALL religions are evil, and very often espoused by the ignorant who haven’t taken the time – or indeed have the capacity – to ever find out for themselves.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalism
ian tinkler
ALL Nationalists are evil, it’s a bit like saying ALL religions are evil. Gets a little interesting when nationalism becomes a bit of a religion. A large leap of faith without an ounce of rationality. Such a pity so much division caused by little more than tribal zenophobia. Thank God for the 55%.. “Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.” what a great quote, from a man Robin Stevenson so admires..
Robin Stevenson
Ian
Please try to read what’s written and try not to “selectively” choose what suits your argument. No-one said that “nationalism becomes a bit of religion”, apart from you.
Einstein’s definition of “integral Nationalism” I couldn’t agree more, but [as I said above] that’s the opposite of what Scottish nationalism stands for.
IF you can’t work out the difference by now please choose a subject that you understand. OR at least make an effort to educate yourself?
ian tinkler
Robin Stevenson, you insult our intelligence with your comments “nationalism lies within the traditions of rationalism and liberalism,” A few SNP party stalwart members clearly demonstrate a creed closer to fascism, than civic nationalism. A few quotes; “This referendum is about power, and when we get a Yes majority, we will use that power for a day of reckoning” One time deputy SNP leader Jim Sillars.
“GIRFUY (Get it right f***ing up you) you drunken slob Kennedy. Lies, smears and deceit didn’t work. Bye bye.” Brian Smith SNP convener of the Skye and Lochalsh
Andrew Szwebs, convenor of the Stirling branch of the SNP, using Twitter “Labels a political opponents a ‘Quisling’ – or Nazi collaborators.” “
Neil Hay, SNP official candidate, two tweets on June 8, 2012, mocked some elderly voters for “barely knowing their own name”, and claimed: “The generation who vote the same way because they always have done are dying off.”” likened supporters of the UK to “Quislings” –