Mark Irvine - Blogger, Campaigner, Organiser

When I first read this tweet from Kevin Stewart I assumed he was just another MSP, but I was wrong - incredibly Kevin is a highly paid Minister (for Local Government, Housing and Planning) in the Scottish Government. Now at one level Kevin's tweet is just an embarrassing act of sycophancy which demonstrates how desperate SNP politicians are to hero worship and suck up to the party leader, Nicola Sturgeon. But at another level Kevin's behaviour is completely unacceptable because the Minister/MSP published personal information about a school pupil who could be identified easily via the teacher's twitter handle and details provided regarding the child's school in Aberdeen. Now the teacher involved has since had the good sense to realise that using a school pupil for party politicking was absolutely inappropriate and soon afterwards she deleted the tweet, otherwise her behaviour would surely have been reported to the General Teaching Council for Scotland (of which I used to...

Marjorie Taylor Greene is a much bigger problem than the Republican Party realized https://t.co/W9ls6OF3bc — The Independent (@Independent) January 28, 2021 Donald Trump is no longer setting the political agenda in America, but some of his MAGA supporters are as nauseating and objectionable as ever. Take Majorie Taylor Greene, a Republican senator, whose social media activity has shown support for reckless and dangerous comments about executing prominent Democrats.      

I had to cancel Christmas with my daughter because the Scottish Government's advice was to stay at home and that 'Christmas bubbles' (i.e. meeting with family) applied only on Christmas Day itself.  Here's an extract of the official advice from the ScotGov website (see full details via the link below):  https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-festive-period/: "Guidance covering Christmas and New Year "Christmas bubbles applied on Christmas day only. They will not apply at Hogmanay and New Year. All of mainland Scotland will be in Level 4 over Hogmanay and New Year... "As part of the Level 4 and 3 restrictions you are legally required to remain within your local authority area, except for essential purposes such as caring responsibilities." Yet Kenny MacAskill traveled out of his local authority area of East Lothian all the way to Speyside - and according to the East Lothian Courier the cheeky beggar's still there!   ...

I enjoyed this Morten Morland cartoon in the Times poking fun at the fight to the death between Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. Seems to me Scotland's politicians get off very lightly when it comes to being mocked and satirised compared to the likes of Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, Theresa May, David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, etc etc.     I imagine only po-faced nationalists will refuse to laugh at  the wonderful sense of humour which has Alex Salmond devouring his own progeny.  

Glasgow looked very pretty in pink as the sun went down last night.     

Nicola Sturgeon's £692k Alex Salmond case snub as FM ignored legal warning https://t.co/Cu5HoGjZoI — Paul Hutcheon (@paulhutcheon) January 31, 2021 In the good old bad old days of Scottish local government elected politicians were warned of the risks of surcharge (ie being held personally liable) if they recklessly or foolishly ignored legal advice they were given, over a particular course of action.  While Nicola Sturgeon has been an MSP since 1999 she was, of course, a lawyer in her previous life.     

I had to cancel Christmas with my daughter because the Scottish Government's advice was to stay at home and that 'Christmas bubbles' (i.e. meeting with family) applied only on Christmas Day itself. Here's an extract of the official advice from the ScotGov website (see full details via the link below):  https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-festive-period/: "Guidance covering Christmas and New Year "Christmas bubbles applied on Christmas day only. They will not apply at Hogmanay and New Year. All of mainland Scotland will be in Level 4 over Hogmanay and New Year... "As part of the Level 4 and 3 restrictions you are legally required to remain within your local authority area, except for essential purposes such as caring responsibilities." Yet Kenny MacAskill traveled out of his local authority area of East Lothian all the way to Speyside - and according to the East Lothian Courier the cheeky beggar's still there! ...

A lovely healthy dish seasoned with rice vinegar and full of tasty raw ingredients including: red onion, peppers, radishes, cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas, cucumber, fresh herbs and just about any crunchy vegetable that suits your fancy. Substitute some grilled asparagus for the tuna and you have a plant-based version for the veggies and vegans. Recipe to follow.     

I enjoyed this Morten Morland cartoon in the Times poking fun at the fight to the death between Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. Seems to me Scotland's politicians get off very lightly when it comes to being mocked and satirised compared to the likes of Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, Theresa May, David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, etc etc.     I imagine only po-faced nationalists will refuse to laugh at  the wonderful sense of humour which has Alex Salmond devouring his own progeny.  

. @KateForbesMSP was among the many politicians applauding our frontline heroes, now she is saying "thank you" with a rise that for most won't amount to more than a tenner a week. What message does that send to our key workers? #ScotBudget https://t.co/dDKfUViH55 — GMB Scotland (@GMBScotOrg) January 28, 2021 The latest Scottish budget  didn't do much for local government finance with councils placed in an impossible position over what they can raise in local taxes.    The Scottish Government has imposed a 3% cap on council tax increases which prevents local taxpayers being squeezed in an election year, but the SNP have done nothing to tackle the widely accepted underfunding of local  council services. Now was there any recognition of special circumstances such as the ongoing fight for equal pay in Glasgow  where the city council is still miles away from replacing its discriminatory, unfit for purpose WPBR pay arrangements. No wonder the trade un...

Michael Caine does a very funny and surprisingly good impersonation of himself in this interview with Michael Parkinson.   

😁😁😁 pic.twitter.com/qVfxktud3U — ❤ Sabine ❤🍀😘 (@SabineCzaska) January 28, 2021 One very satisfied customer, but what really matters is what works - Take Mask. Save Live.    Borat Says: "Wear Mask. Save Live." (24/10/20) Unlike some I could mention, including Trump's personal lawyer and mask denier Rudy 'Pants' Giuliani, Borat knows the importance of covering up to help beat Covid-19.    Rudy 'Pants' Giuliani (23/20/20) Young woman (Maria Bakalova):  "Shall we have a drink in the bedroom?" Rudy Giuliani:  (Donald Trump's personal lawyer): "You can give me your phone number and address" (While patting the young woman on the ass).   Rudy Giuliani:  lies on bed and puts his hand down his pants. Borat  (Sacha Baron Cohen) barges in and demands: '"Shut down your phone - she's 15!" Rudy Giuliani  (later): "I was just tucking in my shirt!".   Farcical Lack Of Leadership Over Face Masks (19/1020) I have been ...

Basil Brown was a brilliant man who left school at 12 then taught himself languages, astronomy and archaeology but was a victim of stinging class and intellectual snobbery. Thrilled he's resurrected from history. https://t.co/nEw5s2frcS — Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) January 29, 2021 I've put this programme on my Netflix watchlist - will let you know what I think, but I've always liked Ralph Fiennes.     

pic.twitter.com/ep3xbSJi4V — Tom (@djcopio) January 29, 2021 Twitter gets criticised for its angry, ill-tempered 'pile-ons' - but a good sense of humour is always the most effective way of putting idiots in their place, as is the case here as a sad group of nationalist morons discuss shooting English police officers.     

“On each occasion I followed the rules and guidance." https://t.co/CkKoZFobJd — East Lothian Courier (@elcourier) January 27, 2021 I have to say I can't see much, if any, difference between Kenny MacAskill and Dominic Cummings reasons for travelling when Covid restrictions have been in force. "At Christmas, my daughter was returning from Aberdeen University to what is her home and, before lockdown, I travelled north so my wife and I could spend Christmas with her. “Continued lockdown has seen me require to remain there, other than on two occasions when I've returned for medical-related appointments. “On each occasion I followed the rules and guidance. “I look forward to the lifting of restrictions when I'll be able to return to reside in Dunbar." As I recall, my own daughter was coming through to Glasgow for Christmas, but as she couldn't get here and back in the same day we had to cancel - as per the Scottish Government's advice.   

I enjoyed this Morten Morland cartoon in the Times poking fun at the fight to the death between Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. Seems to me Scotland's politicians get off very lightly when it comes to being mocked and satirised compared to the likes of Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, Theresa May, David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, etc etc.    I imagine only po-faced nationalists will refuse to laugh at  the wonderful sense of humour which has Alex Salmond devouring his own progeny.  

Dani Garavelli takes aim at the conspiracy theorists in the SNP and wider Yes movement who believe that Alex Salmond was the victim of a vindictive political stitch-up rather than someone whose behaviour fell far below the standard expected of an experienced politician. The online vitriol against Dani Garavelli for speaking out has been ugly and demented which only goes to show that the cult-like supporters who hold that Alex Salmond can do no wrong are every bit as blinkered as the followers of Jeremy Corbyn or Donald Trump.  Read the full piece via the link below to Scotland on Sunday.    https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/vitriol-after-salmond-trial-toxifying-yes-movement-dani-garavelli-2787310 Vitriol after the Salmond trial is toxifying the Yes movement - Dani Garavelli It is now almost five weeks since the end of the Alex Salmond trial, and the attempt to convince the world he was the victim of an orchestrated campaign by ...