Claadehol

Presumably Ted Heath's moneymen cronies in the 70s also made a fortune on us joining Europe, they certainly spent a fortune pushing the benefits of joining. Sending leaflets to every household in the country and campaigning for a better future in Europe. Was that done that time by the Tories, for the benefit of Britain or for themselves? Were the Tories much less self centred in those days?

Well folks, I got Spanish wine in the late 60s, and holidayed in Spain too long before the EU. I don't remember any bother with my passport, it was

Same old spiel all the time here. Boris and the leave campaign just looking after themselves, and the Remainers? Are they not looking after themselves? A couple of spells as an MEP and well looked after financially, never have to work again really. They all have their noses in the trough, they are all looking after themselves. We are going round in circles and at least Boris has tried to hammer things through to end the stalemate. The Commons rabble blocking progress as they did with Theresa May. The SNP looking for openings to pursue their own obsessive agenda, and Corbyn determined to block an election because the timing doesn't suit him. Politicians popping from one side to the other. Total unadulterated insanity.

We must ban any notion of a referendum on anything in the future, because the results mean nothing. No matter the topic. Politicians of all colours refuse to respect the vote because they know better.. We might have found a way ahead by having an election but Corbyn is going to block that it seems unless no deal is taken off the agenda. "Let's tie our hands behind our backs before we face the opponent." Duh!! An election might bring some progress, a way out of this painful and mind numbing stalemate. Are we facing another 3 years of pointless bickering, with no way forward at the end of it? It looks that way!

Check your facts here George. Alex Salmond won a judicial review because of the incompetence of Leslie Evans, permanent secretary to the Scottish government, and the behind the scenes meetings held by our Nicola and Leslie with Alex Salmond. This botched investigation by ministers is what has cost the taxpayer a fortune, total could be £630,000 it seems, so far! You say he has been found not guilty! His trial will only take place early in 2020 and he is facing multiple charges.

Now! Now! George! We can't do much about Cyril now can we? We can only hope he is feeling the heat where he wound up! I am more concerned with the present, and holding our leaders and officials to account when they're still in the land of the living. How many politicians facing serious charges have successfully persuaded the public to pay for their "top of the tree" lawyers? I was only suggesting that having screwed the SNP for half a million, maybe he could repay some money to his gullible and misguided followers. What's morally wrong with that George?

I was just raising a question of interest George, perhaps he'll read this and get in touch. Failing that I'll try not to let it prey on my mind. I'm happy to see you are unconcerned.

Maybe Salmond is innocent George, is he still crowdfunding? Now the has the half million I would have thought he could give some back.

Ok George, the hero Alex who was described as a legend not long ago, the man who brought the SNP in out of the wilderness. I accept not the founder but the hero nonetheless, well not considered so by Jim Sillars it seems. Alex will be making news for some time yet, though perhaps not beneficial news for the party he used to love. It's ok anyway we will keep them out of the isles.

Well BigMouth, I see you are determined to pin the blame for the desecration of the war memorial on the Lib Dems, and we all know that is fantasy stuff. As you say the Lib Dems joined the Tories in coalition and that was certainly a serious error of judgement but that hardly means they would indulge in vandalism such as this. It is obviously the work of a deranged, single figure IQ, fanatical follower of the SNP. This kind of nationalistic party always attracts people like this, it's been seen so often before. Now if we wish to condemn the Lib Dems for their coalition actions, whatever their motives, maybe we should be having a go at the legend and founder hero of the SNP who has happily got into bed with the russians. His previous admirers in government don't seem so keen on him these days, especially as he's just taken them for £500,000. This was primarily due to the incompetence of Nicola and her senior accomplice. Anyway the SNP may have gained a little after an astonishingly expensive campaign, carpet bombing the islands with leaflets, signs, badges and innumerable servile helpers, but they are still 1800 or so votes behind here. They need to lick their wounds and accept the fact the northern isles don't need them, or for that matter want them.

XAM7102 ... If you live anywhere near Stuart Hill you should be aware that his activities are not confined to writing books or sensible campaign activities. As Whalsa has said, "Right idea, wrong man" He has managed to make a public nuisance of himself repeatedly since washing up on these shores some years ago. These activities have included breaking into buildings and interfering in other people's business for purely malicious reasons. He may have written an interesting book, that doesn't make him a nice person or someone who has proved to be of any benefit to the community that welcomed him. In fact he has proved to be the opposite.

Yes Whalsa that would be interesting indeed, we need to keep clear of the SNP for future possibilities in this direction, because they will sink any autonomy hopes if given the power. They need Shetland for their independence dream to be fulfilled, the oil and the fishing, they are sunk without it. Faroe is doing very nicely.

Muckle Oxters, the major reason the Lib Dems have had a reduced majority is the huge number of candidates this time round. Lib Dem supporters may well decide to vote for an independent this time round. However the diehard SNP voter with that rabid eye fixed on independence will never vote for any other party. And anyone on this forum or elsewhere who really believes that it was a Lib Dem supporter who sprayed SNP on the war memorial, is really in cloud cuckoo land. Dear oh dear! Lets just keep an eye now on those plastic signs and try to ensure that the SNP helpers use the "green" Tom Wills method to remove the plastic ties. They must use a small screwdriver to open up the locking flap so that the tie can be used again. The Brae schoolkids have had this technique explained to them by Tom Wills so snips must not be used, even if the workers are in a hurry.

Tom Wills has been impressing the school kids at Brae High School, I have been talking to a pupil. Tom has been explaining how green his credentials are. When asked why if he was so "green" were there such a huge number of single use plastic signs all over our lamp posts. He explained that they could be used again. When pressed about the fact that his photo is all over them he explained that it could be blanked out and replaced. He was then asked about the single use cable ties fastening them to the posts he said that you can use a small screwdriver and shove it in the locking system and release the tie. I am soooo impressed, he has everything covered. Now I feel it is a duty for all of us to check that the devoted snp guys who will be required to take down the signs are using the Tom Wills green technique to salvage the cable ties. I will be following this with interest, I am hoping that they will not be using snips or some other fast but wasteful technique in order to release the signs. After all we must try and ensure that these guys are not letting Tom and his impressionable young followers down here. I will forever be impressed when I see these guys, (or gals), perched on ladders while trying to utilise a small screwdriver in an awkward position all for the sake of the planet and a green future . I wonder if health and safety is being followed here, it can't be safe for one person surely, and even with two, one holding the ladder, and the other trying to hold on and manage with one hand to manoeuvre the screwdriver into position and release the tie at the same time. Perhaps Tom will be demonstrating the technique when he has a bit of time away from Nicola, the camera, or the microphone. Maybe a tower scaffold will be required if the ladder proves unsafe, one needs 3 points of contact remember. Anyway we'll see how our devoted SNP minions fare here, I do hope they don't let the kids down by using snips. Well they'll be letting Tom down too and his leader will be so displeased. Well, only if it hits the news I guess.

Covered that before Mikey boy re autonomy

Well Capeesh, stopping the SNP could well be vital for Shetland's future, that's just the way it is.

So Tom Wills is going to phone Nicola first thing on Friday if he wins and start the process to bring some of his promises to fruition. Now is there any doubt left here as regards the well thought out plan? "Hold back on the good stuff till they vote the right way, then we've got them." Been planned for a while this one.

(Sorry George), ...earlier age so that the kids can be pre programmed before they hit the high school, brainwashed at an even earlier age to vote for the nationalists. Maybe be able to bring the voting age down even more then. "Give me the child when he's 8 years old and I will show you the man"

Blaming Westminster again George.....This aint down to them is it? It's your good old SNP controlling the kids from an even ear

Would you believe it? The closure of the Sandwick nursery and the likely closure of one in Lerwick is not the fault of the extremely well thought out free nursery care provided by the SNP. Tom Wills informs us it is all the fault of the local council, and the problems parents in Sandwick are now facing is down to the SIC. I'm surprised he isn't blaming Westminster, that's the usual line whatever happens. Always someone else.

Please read John Tulloch's letter in Shetnews. (** mod edit - here's the link -> https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2019/08/26/election-letter-not-the-right-time-for-a-protest-vote/ **) It outlines the SNP's desperation to win Shetland, (just look at the number of their top politicians and minions who have been flown in lately), and explains the reason for that desperation. It is possible that we could in the future get autonomy and look after our own future, if the SNP get in that will be blocked. This is simply because the SNP desperately needs Shetland's maritime resources for its independence dream to have any chance of being fulfilled. We hold the cards here, keep them out, and leave the door open for Shetland to gain control over our resources, should we wish to. John Tulloch makes the point that he has faced flak for not living in Shetland, but then neither does Tom Wills. John Tulloch however has been involved in Shetland politics for a long time.

He's talking about the easily influenced and manipulated youngsters, who have little knowledge of the realities of life. Have no experience of income tax, council tax, household budgets, electricity costs, oil prices, insurance costs, etc. Of course the next generation as well as the present should be alarmed and frightened regarding the climate emergency, but this doesn't need to be cynically pursued as a means of securing votes for Scottish independence. And that is exactly what is happening.

And incidentally Capeesh, my neighbour who has been teaching in Shetland for the past 30 years, is refusing to consider voting for the SNP after what they have done to education.

I've already covered the new high school, it was built using the "private finance initiative" or PFI. We, the taxpayers, will be paying for that for the next 30 years, and paying an exorbitant sum many times more than the building costs. Someone is getting big bucks out of this and it aint us. Alex Salmond loved the PFI. Enough said.

And while we're on the subject, why can we not take some notice of Jim Sillars, (former deputy leader), and Alex Neil, (former cabinet minister), on their present day views on the SNP. They want to know why the views of the many "leave" SNP politicians have no voice in the Commons. Why should we have a nationalist party now that will not tolerate dissent. SNP politicians now have to toe the party line, otherwise they have to face the music. Many politicians of other colours swap sides now and again, that's democracy. Not in the SNP however. Ask Jim Sillars