Small turn-out for Yes rally
Adam GuestA rally organised by Yes Shetland a year on from the independence referendum saw a small gathering on Commercial Street today.
Ten people attended the event sporting flags and Yes signs and badges.
SNP candidate Danus Skene was among the group.
Mr Skene said it had been “a very remarkable and positive year” since the referendum.
“The referendum didn’t quite go over the hill, point taken, the May General Election did and there’s something that has fundamentally changed in the behaviour of the Scottish public,” said Mr Skene who noted progress at a Shetland level and that people realising there was an “alternative future available”.
Yes Shetland organiser Brian Nugent said despite the Yes side losing the referendum, with what had happened since, it felt like they had won it.
Mr Nugent said Yes supporting parties had increased their membership, nationally and locally, and cite the huge SNP victory in May’s General Election.
The No side don’t want another referendum and I can see their point of view but, if the SNP win a lot of seats [at Holyrood in May], then part of the manifesto I assume is that there will be another referendum.”
Mr Nugent admitted the rally was “a last minute thing” and there was by no means a huge turnout.
But he did not feel the lack of numbers reflected a lack of support locally.
SNP membership had increased to more than 300, he said, the Green Party was up, as were the Scottish Socialists.
“I think low turn-out, but we’ll regroup see what happens next May, and if necessary we’ll be ready to go,” Mr Nugent said.
iantinkler
All OF TEN People Including Dannus!!!. We unionists are doomed. Mabe, Dannus Skene could have helped if he had once mentioned Shetland in his “Times” article same as Brian in his “sounding off” . Mind you the old divisiveness was there for all to see. Go to it you devout ten, there is a highly successful union you want to destroy. Auspicious display, well done.
Robin Stevenson
10 people from a population of [roughly] 23,000, how does that compare to the 7 people that showed up in George Square Glasgow for the Pro-Union rally out of a population of 600,000?
iantinkler
Last Pro Union Rally was in 2014, Were these the 7 that beat up the wee lasses you spoke about Robin/ or just a few without bystanders blue painted faces, in George Square yesterday.?
Robin Stevenson
Wrong again Ian, much like the “Hope over Fear” rally, there was a “Union day” rally organised for last Friday, in the hope of spoiling the pro-independence rallies application, however, “Hope over Fear” changed their day to the Saturday, and the “Union day” went ahead which managed to gather together 7 people.
The Labour run Glasgow district council [who have their own political agenda] tried to create the illusion that the Yes rally was going to cause all kinds of trouble, which – of course – was not only rubbish, but has proved to be nonsense, only the gullible fell for the scaremongering, which – by now – I thought you’d be used to?
Gordon Harmer
Some rally! There were no Greens, no SSP/RISE/socialists who weren’t in Solidarity, no representatives from Women for Independence, even Robin McAlpine was under orders not to show his face after the furore following his last appearance alongside the suntanned superman. Come to think of it, there wasn’t a single SNP speaker either, at least not in an official capacity.” Most of the photos of the rally on social media are from last years rally, more smoke and mirrors from Mr Stevenson.
Robin Stevenson
You’re right Gordon, this event was created by “Hope over Fear” organiser Tommy Sheridan, it was not supported by all those that you mention [inc the SNP] I’m actually surprised he managed to gather the 4,000 he did? While I’m no fan of Mr Sheridan I appreciate anyone prepared to speak out against our ridiculous austerity measures.
For some obscure reason Mr Sheridan decided to ban ALL press, how he actually managed to do that – considering it’s a public square – is anyone’s guess? So i believe a number of newspapers used file photographs, however, there are various websites where you can see Saturdays pictures, [which I tried to link earlier but haven’t been shown?]
Brian Nugent
Read the Sounding Off article again, Ian, Shetland is mentioned four times.
Given the result of the referendum was No, maybe, you can explain how or why the membership of Yes supporting parties has rocketed, how or why 56 out 59 MPs in Scotland are SNP and how or why the SNP opinion poll ratings are so high and have been for so long?
iantinkler
Simples Brian, The SNP is the only socialists show in town, an SNP vote is not a vote for independents but for a socialist manifesto. Off course getting Salmond out as first minister was a real boost. Did you see SNP vote would drop by about 30% if Nicola went for a new referendum? Even now Survation poll still shows the NO vote ahead. I seriously doubt if Nicola will be decisive one way or the other, full time job for her to keep the paint your face blue lunatics in check. I just wonder how George square is doing, quite a mob there by all accounts. sorry about miss reading your article, it was the Shetland News one read.The drone on about the Vow and Cameron.
Gordon Harmer
Come on then Brian tell us what is missing from the Vow, give us a comprehensive list. Not that you have any right to mump about it because you voted yes so you did not vote for it. No voters voted for it by default because it was a last minute addition therefore we have the right to mump about.
As a result of the Vow, the all-party Smith Commission thrashed out new powers for the Scottish Parliament. The Smith Commission report was sent to Westminster with John Swinney’s signature on it. What are the differences between what he signed for and what is on the table now?
Perma tan Sheridan’s loserfest in George Square attracted about 400 supporters Ian it filled less than Half of the square.
Robin Stevenson
4,000+ Gordon, when will unionist realise that when the BBC report a story about anything to do with the Yes campaign or the SNP they’ll always play the numbers down [If it’s in the pro-independence camps favour] Unless – ofc – the numbers are anti SNP in which case they’ll do the opposite. 1,500 in George Sq they said, forgetting to mention the other 2,500 in and around the Square, or using the bars, restaurants, or other parts of the city.
The Bill fell short on Universal Credit, benefits in devolved areas, top-up benefits, carers’ benefits, employment support and the Sewel convention, let us also not forget that further powers were open to discussion when Cameron flew up to Edinburgh after the GE. to which, nothing more has been mentioned.
Cameron thought that the Smith wording was so vague that Angus Robertson would have difficulty coming up with a concrete list, looks like – however – it’s come back to bite him.
Ali Inkster
By god du’s right Wrobin “forgetting to mention the other 2,500 in and around the Square, or using the bars, restaurants, or other parts of the city.” And there was hundreds (well maybe dozens) at da rally at a Cross. If du counts aa da folk in Flints, Da Peerie cafe, Da Thule, da Wine shop, Don Leslie’s an da chemist.(apologies ta da businesses I’m no mentioned ta get me point ower) Shame on da Times fir no reportin da true figure. A strong letter ta da press complaints commision is getting drafted right awa. 🙂
Goron Harmer
By how much did the bill fall short on anything? What was first offered and what is now offered?
Why are you moaning about something you did not vote for, in fact something you voted against? What ever is in the Vow as you call it, is a bonus because you voted for no Vow therefore is extra to requirements. Why does the Vow have not enough powers and FFA have too many? Why ask for FFA and then back down but still want the Vow something you don’t want? Why act like a petulant child who spat the dummy and says I don’t want anything for Christmas and then when receives nothing throws the toys out of the pram because its stocking is empty.
Robin Stevenson
Ali
The press weren’t invited, therefore they have taken their information from where? I wasn’t there, but for those I’ve spoken to that were, I’d rather rely on their word than the BBC, IF they say there was 4,000 rather than the BBCs 1,500, then, chances are they’ll be closer to the truth.
Gordon
What are you talking about?….. “Why are you moaning about something you did not vote for”,..Huh!… ALL parties signed up for the Smith commission recommendations, no-one voted against it??
We have always wanted FFA [full fiscal autonomy] and STILL do??
Please get back to me once you know what you’re talking about.
Gordon Harmer
Robin, The parties did not vote yes for independence, people like you voted yes thereby rejecting the Vow so how can you mump about something you voted against. Not only that the argument for yet another referendum is hypocritical. Nationalists insisted that the 2014 vote would be a “once in a generation” event, and a generation lasts an awful lot longer than 12 months. Nationalists say that a rematch has been necessitated by Westminster’s failure to deliver on “the Vow” that was made by the three main parties on further devolution. That would be the same vow that Alex Salmond, then leader of the SNP, described as a “desperate offer of nothing”. This “nothing” now, apparently, means everything. So how much nothing do you and yours actually want.
Ali Inkster
Wrobin it is a public square invites were and are not needed. Funny enough the yes camp were informed same as the better together camp that the rallies were not to go ahead only the better together camp obeyed the instruction. It is good to know that in your vision of a fairer scotland the press will only be able to report on events they are invited to. So yet again I will reiterate that we in Shetland will be far far better aff clear o da lot o you.
Robin Stevenson
Gordon
You seem confused? The “Vow” was created when one poll put the Yes camp in the lead, it was a desperate last minute attempt to offer further powers to the Scottish Government when the 3 leaders panicked and ran up to Scotland two days before the referendum. The “Vow” was never on the ballot sheet, there was no third choice, it was stitched together with a promise that it would make Scotland as “near to federalism” as could be, Basically it was a last minute bribe so those sitting on the fence would choose NO thinking that Scotland would become all but independent but remain within the United Kingdom……The sad part is, people actually fell for it.
We didn’t reject the Vow Gordon, it was never on offer in the first place, however, the 3 Amigos, having made their “Vow”, were duty bound to deliver, representatives of all parties were gathered and hurriedly thrashed out the Smith recommendations, as we’ve seen, these “recommendations” begin to come close to “near federalism”, voters were conned and the angriest of them all [funnily] are those that voted NO – at the last minute – having then realised that they’d been duped.
Gordon Harmer
You dodged the question again Robin how about you answer, how much of nothing do you want? All the aftermath polls show no one was convinced or duped by the Vow it made not a blind bit of difference to the outcome. This is typical sour grapes politics from you, blaming your loss on the Vow the BBC the bias media when it was your campaign made up of fiction which lost you the referendum. So how about facts now, how diluted is the Vow from when Swinney signed it to what it is now lets have facts and figures instead of SNP soundbites.
Gordon Harmer
Robin if anyone is confused it is you and the SNP, first you want FFA then you don’t because you will lose out on the Barnett Formula.
Let’s face it; the SNP is a tired, saggy old cloth, baggy and a bit loose at the seams, but Nicola loves them.
Mr Sillars says, “A second referendum will be “the first line” of 2016’s manifesto”. Ms Sturgeon says it won’t be.
Mr Salmond says, “Trident renewal will be a trigger for Indyref2”. Mr Stewart Hosie says it won’t be.
Ms Sturgeon says, “Scotland being dragged out of the EU against its will will be a trigger for another referendum”. Mr Alyn Smith says it won’t be.
Ms Mhairi Black said, “A bloc of 30+ SNP MPs is the lever needed to twist Westminster’s arm into giving us another referendum”. It isn’t.
Many SNP representatives still hopefully say, “Failure to deliver on “the vow” is a trigger for another referendum”. It isn’t, because it delivers exactly what it outlined.
Just what do you want? Independence is the answer and the only way you are going to get there is by sowing seeds of division which you are so good at, but you are so transparent it is not working.
Robin Stevenson
Gordon
In case you hadn’t noticed, it is YOU and other unionists that keep Banging on about another referendum, the tone of your posts becoming more and more rabid as you work yourself into a lather. Calm down man, there is no referendum in the offing.
If we have an election and choose a party, is that it then? the settled will of the people, never to be repeated, never to be changed, never to be questioned or brought up again for at least a generation?
I really don’t care which politician said what about when “they foresee” the next referendum will be, it is not up to ANY of them, it is not up to you or I, it IS – however – up to the people of Scotland.
When will that be?…. When we have the vast majority of Scots, consistently, in favour of independence.
Gordon Harmer
How about you answer some questions asked of you Robin, are you incapable of such a thing. Your spin is telling, no answers just the same old rhetoric. How much of nothing do you want?
Robin Stevenson
Gordon
Going back to the start of this conversation I have already written: [scroll up]
“The Bill fell short on Universal Credit, benefits in devolved areas, top-up benefits, carers’ benefits, employment support and the Sewel convention, let us also not forget that further powers would be offered going ‘beyond’ Smith, when Cameron flew up to Edinburgh after the GE. -to which – nothing more has been mentioned”. With control over less than 20% of our welfare and less than 30% of our taxes, that’s not “Home rule”, that’s further Westminster rule.
Did you not bother reading it?
Let’s make it nice a simple , IF we liken Scotland’s necessary levers of power to,..Hmm..Let’s say a lawnmower? So we’re given a shiny chassis a set of wheels and a spark plug, it’s a start, but pretty useless on their own,…Can we use it for cutting the grass? Not very well..Therefore, we need other necessary parts in order to make the thing work,…Simple, I know, it’s just not very easy to try and get the other parts which are proving difficult?
Meanwhile, we have every other party screaming, “Cut the grass, you’ve got the tools”. Which ofc we don’t. [as yet]
Gordon Harmer
So its me banging on about another referendum Robin, well here is your best mate banging on about it again today.
http://scottishindependence.com/2015/09/alex-salmond-confirms-we-dont-need-a-referendum-for-scottish-independence/
Gordon Harmer
OK Robin, you have defended the council tax freeze in the past maybe you would like to spin your way out of this.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13775411.Report__SNP_s_council_tax_freeze_has_cost_Scottish_Government___2_5bn/
James Watt
Gordon, how about you spin your way out of your claims that the council tax freeze leaving councils underfunded.
http://m.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/scottish-government-council-tax-freeze-over-funded-1-3895177
Robin Stevenson
Ouch!…Gordon, an own goal there bud 🙂
The Scottish Government have OVERFUNDED councils since 2008 to present, to the tune of £70 Million pa, you can read my post on this on “Sandwick man selected by Conservatives”,
OR, [ignore the headline trying to put a negative spin on it] and read the article:
Poor Daily Record trying there best to pretend it’s a SNP BaaD thing.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/researchers-rubbish-claims-scottish-government-6494004
Gordon Harmer
Still avoiding Questions Robin!
So Robin the SNP give the Scottish people a council tax freeze and then fill the gap with £2.5 billion from cash we get from Westminster. Then they blame Westminster for the shortfall in cash for Scotland, nice one. Rob Peter to pay Paul and blame Peter for the mess, that £2.5 billion would go a long, long way to help those who are need in Scotland. Most of them in council rented accommodation whose rents have gone up over the past 8 years and by a greater margin than they needed to if the council tax had not been frozen. So as well as robbing Peter to pay Paul the SNP have been robbing the poor to put extra cash in the pockets of the rich.
Robin Stevenson
Gordon
Did no-one ever tell you that when you’re in a hole, the last thing you want to do is DIG?
The £2.5bn is part Scotland’s block grant, it isn’t “extra money”.
Now, because the Scottish government had frozen council tax across the whole of Scotland they made up each councils lost revenue by given each council an extra £70million pa, as it turns out this was an OVERFUNDING, so all these months we’ve been listening to how “Underfunded” SIC was, has turned out to be utter nonsense.
There is STILL a shortfall in Scotland’s overall budget btw, but as it turns out the Scottish Government have taken the hit biggest hit, the £2.5bn already does help the poorest in society by being distributed among our 32 councils, on top of, police and fire services being paid directly from the SG, thus passing on the savings to councils, to do with as they so please.
Statistics have already proved the council tax freeze benefits the poorest in society most, so all your moaning about, no salt for roads, bin collection etc, is debunked.
Bill Chapman
One has to laugh at the out-of-touch SNP. People already know that the is the only socialist show in town, is the Labour Party..
Robin Stevenson
I’ll tell you what’s funny Bill, 2015 Labour for S&O 1,624, down – 3.5% from 2010, youre “only socialist show in town”, has been as socialist as their carbon copy friends the tories.
Poor Corbyn, while I admire him as a decent fellow, I’m afraid his time as Labours leader will be short lived, his biggest threat aren’t the Tories or their mouthpiece [the MSM] but the Labour party backbenchers themselves. IF you truly believe that the “SNP are out of touch”, you’d better ask Jeremy why he practically adopted their manifesto?
iantinkler
From oficial, “Hope over Fear Facebook page”. This lone flag will be flying high at 7.30am tomorrow morning at George Square. Bring your flags, banners, painted faces, weans in prams. Says it all “Paint your faces, weans in prams”. Must be a bit desperate when you have to display babs in nappies and still only make 1500 turnout ( Police figures). I suppose the babes were the only ones without narrow prejudice in their hearts, gives some kind of balance. A bit sad when after a police warning about possible aggressive confrontation, the organisers of this Rally ask specifically for ” weans in prams”. Are they looking for babies to be hurt?, or are the just soulless idiots who just do not care? ” painted faces, weans in prams” Talk about rabble rousing.
“Freedom over Fear” (Quite whom is not free, or for that matter living in fear illudes me) was a pathetic effort. Numbers less than a bottom division football club. lol
iantinkler
Red Tories no more, Scarlet Corbyns perhaps, the loonies really have taken over the asylum. Cameron must be heartbroken.,
iantinkler
Robbin. Corbyn is using the same arguments and nearly a carbon copy of Michael Foot’s beliefs of yesteryear (nov 1980). Now I know where Salmond got his ideas from, as i said “The loonatics are trying (unsuccessfully) to take over the asylum. On a far more unpleasant note, I must condemn absolutely the “Yes movement” encouraging people to take “Weans in prams” into George Square yesterday. The police had issued a warning that the rally may well promote a violent agitation from opposed factions. In that full knowledge Sheridan’s team, encouraged children into s Square. We have Robin’s previous rant (fictional?) about “Young Lasses” being beaten up by Unionists in previous George Square Rallies. Was the Yes campaign deliberately trying to promote a fight with children at risk? or were the organisers so callous as not to care? The whole of scotland new confrontation was a destinct possibility yet , to quote “. Bring your flags, banners, painted faces, weans in prams, bring yourself, bring you friends and family, http://www.thenational.scot/news/glasgow-city-council-rejects-bid-to-have-hope-over-fear-independence-rally-in-george-square.6220
HOPE OVER FEAR, ONE YEAR ON, STILL YES, ROAD TO FREEDOM FAMILY RALLY 2015 ‘We’re gonna do it anyway’
David Spence
I would like to ask everybody a question or two or more…..
a) What exactly is the role of a Government in a society where the Government is selling off what used to belong to the people for its own gain, and transferring their responsibility of looking after the country and the people within it to the minority well-ff and this of business?
Baring in mind, the principles of running a business is purely based on ones self, not the community, not the people and most definitely not the country.
b) How does, in the greater scheme of things, a Government take responsibility if this responsibility has been transferred to a system which has no moral responsibility towards the people and where selfishness is the dominant factor (paint any picture you want, but money does change a person, in most cases, for the worst. Hence aggression, brutal force, selfishness, look after number 1 and many other negatives aspects of human nature, money promotes, encourages and totally controls).
This is what the vile Tories would endorse.
c) Is a Governments position based on military might (due to the competitive nature of business) or economics or a combination of both?
Robin Stevenson
David
I can answer a), b), and c) in one word to cover them all…..Greed
iantinkler
Robin Stevenson, Even “The Herald” seem to agree with me!! was this a deliberate move to put children and weans into the heart of a confrontation for propaganda purposes.
Marall bankrupt, the “Yes movement” encouraging people to take “Weans in prams” into George Square yesterday. The police had issued a warning that the rally may well promote a violent agitation from opposed factions. In that full knowledge Sheridan’s team, encouraged children into George Square. We have previous “Yes Campaign” rants (fictional?) about “Young Lasses” being beaten up by Unionists in previous George Square Rallies. Was the Yes campaign deliberately trying to promote a fight with children at risk? or were the organisers so callous as not to care?
http://m.heraldscotland.com/news/13771677.Why_the_pro_independence_Sunday_Herald_was_turned_away_from_the_pro_independence_Hope_Over_Fear_rally/
Robin Stevenson
Ian
Please see my response to your nonsense on SN forum, I’ve posted twice on this here, neither of which have been shown?
I’ve even given you a step by step account because you seem to struggle with the facts, it’s a bit like Homer Simpson, when he says “I don’t like to learn anything new, because it pushes out old stuff”. 🙂
Regards
John Tulloch
Dig da picter! Dad’s Army, on manoevres in Shetland, hi-jack da Saltire!
Henry condy
Well here we go 10 people in the street on Saturday, I tell you this when it counts you will see the people on the street When it Matters, we will see who is crowing then. Once again, same as four years ago a World Cup match, Scotland v Germany, ( World Champions ) did we see it on terrestrial tv, nope but we did see live on TVs England v Switzerland , for about three hours then two days later live on STV yes STV England v Fiji in the Rugby World Cup. This arrogance and contempt the BBC has for the Scottish viewer is the very reason the English parties have been ostracised in Scotland, the people finally woke up to realise England ruled everything and we of the North were only a region, no more Gordon and Ian
iantinkler
Henry condy, good to see exactly where you fit here, anti English with a chip on your shoulder the size of a wild haggis. Really comes down to it when “The football Mentality takes” over. For your information I am every bit as Scottish as you, however I prefer a man’s game with an oval ball. Scotland plays that well and bravely, pity about the other lot, who knows one day the “footy boys” may qualify for something, must be BBC bias reporting and coverage that does it!!
Henry condy
Ian , I love rugby to and watch the national side regularly, ok we don’t win often, and it’s often the case as in football as long as we beat ” The Auld Enemy ” and I can see you roaring at your Tv for a victory true Scot for 80 minutes. As usual even after four years , the usual dodging the core of the question, you and the other guys with the usual diatribe, putting everyone down as stupid, if we differ in opinion we are dinosaurs, 65 million years later people love dinosaurs, my son then aged six had a table at school with all his Dinasaurs and gave talks to other children on the subjects, so by your insinuation we are well loved. Ian I do not find it funny saying people are useless fathers or mothers , or Nicola or Salmond not having children, it is none of your business, yes footie players are Prima Donnas and these shared by true fans, the Tartan Army has won awards as the Worlds best fans in the worlds Ian fairness in all , were there no rugby on tv u would have plenty to say.
Haydn Gear
Just a minute Henry, we in Wales have an old enemy too.It just so happens that the Welsh and the Scots have the same enemy!! As we say in Wales “we support Wales and anyone else playing England”. More importantly is the debate underway in regard to concussion and its long term ill effects on fit young men.Naturally, this has drawn to the fore our George North. If boxers become punch drunk as do helmeted footballers in the USA, there is clearly a need to modify the rules of rugby Union. The incidence of serious injury seems to be much less in rugby League and I’ve followed Huddersfield Giants for decades.
Henry condy
Haydn, couldn’t agree with you more, I am only pointing out Ians shortcomings and short sightedness , on one hand a staunch Unionist ( Tory ) but if Scotland’s playing rugby then he is an 80 minute true Scot, foaming at the mouth , shouting at the screen “Get intake them ” wonder what he would say if the Beeb banned all rugby in Scotland and showed only third division English league football matches think he would have plenty to say, even though our rugby is like our footie, in a word Garbage I agree anything making any sportsmen safe has to be applauded, peace brothers Keep the Faith
iantinkler
Now on a far more serious note, I quote Mr. Condy, “no more Gordon and Ian”. Now what is Henry exactly meaning by that? What does he mean by, “NO MORE Gordon and Ian,” purged, interred, executed, deported, censored? “Sillars day of reckoning” coming true? How very typical of “Nationalism”, a bit of ethnically cleansing of your opponents, sounds fascist and very nasty to me.
Haydn Gear
So Henry, Scottish rugby is garbage is it? !! Scotland 45 Japan10. Nothing to be ashamed of there. To beat a team that knocked South Africa about is not to be sniffed at. Well done Scotland. Just don’t try to do the same to Wales !!!