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Hague whisky threat backfires as British Embassy charges reveal double standards

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Thursday, 26 January 2012 20:04
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By G.A.Ponsonby
 
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague’s threat that Scotch whisky would no longer be promoted overseas has backfired after it emerged that the UK Government actually charges Scottish organisations for use of British Embassy facilities.
 
First Minister Alex Salmond today revealed that the Scottish Development body are charged £3000 every time they hold a reception aimed at promoting the iconic drink.

In contrast, when UK trade and Investment groups hold similar events they are allowed to use the facilities for free.

The two tier situation emerged at First Ministers Questions at Holyrood when Mr Salmond was asked about Mr Hague’s comments.

Answering a question from SNP MSP John Finnie, Mr Salmond said that he didn’t believe the Tory Minister’s threat would damage the international whisky industry.

However Mr Salmond went on to reveal the situation that sees charges levied against the Scottish Development body:

“But looking into this I discovered some interesting details." said the First Minister.

“Currently when Scottish Development International, judged one of the most successful international development agencies in the world and recorded as Scotland having the best record for international investment by channel 4 fact-check among many other observers , when they hold receptions promoting whisky in international embassies were charged up to £3000 a time for the privilege.

“UK trade and investment hold receptions are charged nothing at all.

Mr Salmond lamented the fact that he had not realised this and then went on to gently mock the Tory Minister, saying:

“I really do think we should remind William Hague of that old ditty from Andy Stewart:

“How nice it would be if the whisky was free and the embassies full up to the brim”

SNP MSP John Finnie responded to Mr Salmond’s answer and said:

“Despite the £3,000 charge by UK embassies to host receptions promoting Scotch whisky, it remains Scotland’s most iconic product and Mr Hague should be ashamed of his petty and inaccurate scare-mongering.

“Worldwide whisky exports reached £3.54billion in 2010. It is simply one of our finest exports that are appreciated globally.

“Mr Hague needs to learn it is unacceptable to embark on a smears campaign like this. Westminster Ministers haven’t learned their lesson following David Cameron’s meddling in our affairs by trying to put strings on Scotland’s future.

“This ridiculous claim has backfired badly for Mr Hague as Scotland’s whisky industry is going from strength to strength.”

Scotch whisky was recently granted geographical indication protection by China after Mr Salmond visited the country, it is the first international product to receive such legal protection,

During his last visit in December the First Minister personally launched the Scotland food and drinks strategy for Asia.

China is an emerging Scotch whisky market with massive growth potential, direct exports soared to £62.3million in the twelve month to November 11.

Worldwide exports of Scotch whisky reached £3.54 billion in 2010.  The industry is worth £4 billion a year in added value to the UK economy, supporting 35,000 jobs.

Comments  

 
# mato21 2012-01-26 20:33
I sincerely hope their complaint is in the post
 
 
# Auld Bob 2012-01-26 22:23
Hopefully we can claim this disgraceful example of discrimination. There can be no excuse for this afront to Scotland. It really shows the United Kingdom's mindset to Scotland, we are, in their eyes both second class and viewd as a cash cow.
 
 
# Diabloandco 2012-01-26 20:34
What a bloody cheek!
Yet another union dividend!
 
 
# call me dave 2012-01-26 20:34
He wont have any room in his mouth for a whisky now that he has put his foot in it!

What a another chancer.

Hey! and they are in charge of running the UK
DOUBLE whisky standards anyone. You could not make this up that Scottish industry marketing is charged and the English ones aren't.

I may have a small Macallan to celebrate another kamikaze unionist failure when I catch up on today's happenings.
 
 
# Alba4Eva 2012-01-26 20:39
I have just poured a nice 12 y.o. Glenlivet. *;0)
 
 
# clootie 2012-01-26 20:51
Just one now!
Since it is a home measure that was probably a pointless suggestion.

O/T Blubber reporting on Reporting Scotland tonight - FMQ was a score draw today.
Now that is blatant bias. What an idiot.
 
 
# Pictavia 2012-01-26 21:31
Heard the "score draw" comment but no longer can get annoyed at that particular buffoon. As a "political editor" he is a waste of space and rather a large amount of it at that. We have Bateman/Riddoch/Fraser but have to suffer Taylor/Adams/Campbell - Asininity in action at Pacific Quay
 
 
# Alba4Eva 2012-01-26 21:40
Aye Clootie... I have a cold, so its purely medicinal of course. *;0)

Also, Can someone PLEEEEAAAZZZE get that FMQ's on YouTube for posterity... it is simply one of the best ever.

A certain football manager once said... "There's a buzz Aroon' the place."

*:0)
 
 
# Barbazenzero 2012-01-26 22:34
Quoting Alba4Eva:
Also, Can someone PLEEEEAAAZZZE get that FMQ's on YouTube for posterity... it is simply one of the best ever.


I'll be watching it on BBC Parliament at 23:30 with a Bowmore to hand but tomorrow it will be available to download uncut from scottish.parliament.uk/.../...
 
 
# Alba4Eva 2012-01-26 23:02
Thanks BBZ... I will do it myself from that link.

Slangevar *;0)
 
 
# Auld Bob 2012-01-26 22:35
My wise old Grand father used claim a dram was the best medicine for any ill or injury. When asked, "Will that help it Grandad"? he would reply, "Naw laddie bit ye maun bi happy tae hae it"
 
 
# Alba4Eva 2012-01-26 22:55
Your Grandfather = Scottish Yoda. *;0)
 
 
# doctor_zaius 2012-01-26 23:28
Scottish Yoda, Your Grandfather equals :-)
 
 
# bigbuachaille 2012-01-27 01:56
Quoting Auld Bob:
My wise old Grand father used claim a dram was the best medicine for any ill or injury. When asked, "Will that help it Grandad"? he would reply, "Naw laddie bit ye maun bi happy tae hae it"

Adam Watson (Mr Cairngorms) tells of Bob Scott's, stalker in Glenluibeg, cure for the cold: "3 gills o fusky an awa tae yer bed".
 
 
# Robabody 2012-01-27 18:23
"Naw laddie bit ye maun bi happy tae hae it"

Aye Bob, and it probably cost your grand dad about a weeks wage to get it. Hence the remark.
 
 
# Holebender 2012-01-27 17:42
They're all archived on holyrood.tv
 
 
# Auld Bob 2012-01-26 22:32
I said it already. That FMQ was the worst example of totally inept opposition party leaders I can ever remember. It was not that they were just inept, it was that they were totally ignorant on the subjects they chose to question. They just could not have done any research at all or they would have known how wrong they were. If any one of them had been my MSP I would have been telling them they would ever ever get my vote.
 
 
# Alba4Eva 2012-01-26 23:11
I agree, but we are enjoying things going well for our revolution & having some fun for the time being... and remember that it is not the destination that counts, but the journey taken in order to get there... and independence will not signal the end of the Scotland story... it will begin the start. *;0)
 
 
# Auld Bob 2012-01-26 22:26
Wait up, call me dave, you slipped up there. It is the United Kingdom that is free. Is this the English admitting that Scotland is not part of the Union?
 
 
# call me dave 2012-01-26 22:38
Quoting Auld Bob:
Wait up, call me dave, you slipped up there. It is the United Kingdom that is free. Is this the English admitting that Scotland is not part of the Union?


I think that,in private, they just assume that Scotland is really a subdivision of England but do not in the public domain.

But their actions, (as you rightly point out ),betray them to those, like you, who see beyond the obvious.
 
 
# J Wil 2012-01-26 20:36
Mr Hague being vague?
 
 
# chicmac 2012-01-27 02:06
Nice one.

Old whisky joke:

Jaikie walking down Perth High St using two whisky barrels as platform shoes.

A policeman tries to remove them.

Jaikie says "Whit are ye dae'n?"

Policeman says "I'm trying to remove this Dewar's whisky barrel from your left leg before you injure yourself or someone else!"

Jaikie says "Pull the other one, its got Bells on."

Boom Boom.
 
 
# wee e 2012-01-26 20:42
I wish I'd seen FMQ! Will they be getting a refund, then?
 
 
# Teri 2012-01-26 20:42
Dear, oh dear, when will they learn that scaremongering backfires every time. If the CoLaDems doubt that they just need to reflect on what caused Labour to lose big style in the Holyrood elections.

Please, please,please CoLaDems start giving us the positive case for the union.
Lord Foulkes, as you are a unionist who reads this worthy online newspaper, maybe you could lead the way or point your colleagues in the right direction?
 
 
# Auld Bob 2012-01-26 22:42
Have you not seen the latest one?
The UK Government's Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander has questioned the date for the Scottish referendum He asks why voters need to wait , "Another 1,000 days before going to the polls". Will these numpties never learn?
 
 
# Embradon 2012-01-26 23:48
Foulkes was warmly endorsing Michael Forsyth's latest mischief in the House of ermine jaickets today during the committee stage of the Scotland Bill. Sic a parcel o' rogues.
 
 
# Ken500 2012-01-26 20:45
These Embassies are supported extravagantly by all UK taxpayers
 
 
# Auld Bob 2012-01-26 22:45
Indeed, but the English have always made such silly claims as, "What will Scotland do for embassies, Embassadors and Diplomats when they go independent. It is one of the standard questions met on door knocking electioneering.
 
 
# snowthistle 2012-01-26 22:56
not just the English who make these claims
 
 
# Old Smokey 2012-01-27 01:08
When that happens, we should turn the statement on its head and retort with 'What will the English do for Embassies when Scotland takes some for herself?'
 
 
# Arraniki 2012-01-26 20:48
Pace J Wil 2012-01-26 19:36
Mr Hague being vague?

Nice take on an old advert.
 
 
# J Wil 2012-01-27 00:44
Yip I'm not very original.
 
 
# weetee 2012-01-26 20:56
Oh dear this just keeps getting better! What next? They gony come take all our Haggis and shortbread away?
 
 
# Auld Bob 2012-01-26 22:46
I think the Neeps are safe. What we call neeps they call swedes. To them turnips are thone wee wite anes wi purple taps.
 
 
# Embradon 2012-01-26 23:51
I would hide my bottle if Foulkes was about.
 
 
# weetee 2012-01-26 20:58
Where is this positive argument for staying in the union? The suspense is killing me!
 
 
# Siôn Jones 2012-01-26 20:59
Brilliant! Every time the unionists bring out another 'killer' argument FOR the union, the do exactly the opposite, and drive more undecided voters into the arms of the SNP.
 
 
# rai1869 2012-01-26 21:00
brilliant aren't they, i'm having some glenmorangie but in all truth this just goes to show how we are nothing more than a cash cow for westmiddenster.

Terri, i have been asking for months for any unionist to give a posative reson to stay in the union and i'm still waiting.
 
 
# call me dave 2012-01-26 21:09
Were stronger together and ..er! .. er! weaker apart.. . . I've got many Scotch friends and er. . I love the bagpipes and the haggis . . .er Yes! Scotland wouldn't survive on her own and there are historic links through the regiments, bonnie fighters and the Queen! Yes that's it.

Lets just keep the union.

Now that's as good as it gets.
 
 
# Auld Bob 2012-01-26 22:49
Good innit, Sion Jones?
Months!!! Is that all? I've been asking that for over 65 years.
 
 
# Louperdowg 2012-01-26 21:10
Well, there was that woman last night on the Wallace & Lamont Show that said she was skint and couldn't afford £60 for a Scottish passport.

BTW, I did think that wee Glen was quick off the mark producing his passport out his jaicket in response to the passport question.

It couldn't have been a set up could it?
 
 
# mato21 2012-01-26 21:21
Naw maybe he was just ready for a quick getaway if things went wrong Considering his previous jaunts into chairing debates and no doubt aware how many felt at his pathetic performances he was being a good scout be prepared
 
 
# nchanter 2012-01-26 23:13
Quoting Louperdowg:
Well, there was that woman last night on the Wallace & Lamont Show that said she was skint and couldn't afford £60 for a Scottish passport.

BTW, I did think that wee Glen was quick off the mark producing his passport out his jaicket in response to the passport question.

It couldn't have been a set up could it?

As in here is one I made erlier.
 
 
# Old Smokey 2012-01-27 01:09
He always carries his passport on him in case he has to make a run for it
 
 
# Holebender 2012-01-27 17:51
The questions are vetted so he knew it was coming and had a suitable prop ready.
 
 
# jjmac 2012-01-26 21:12
The unionists are coming out with all sorts of scaremongering crap and obviously very little research has been carried out beforehand. The truth keeps coming back to bite them in the backside.
If i had voted for any of these idiots i would be very worried,not only about them, but more so about my own judgement.
Thank god, i am happily not in that unenviable position.
 
 
# RJBH 2012-01-26 21:17
.. Tragic that this A** Hole .. thinks that hes in a position to tell us what we can and cant do...the same usless t*sser that wants Scotland to wage war on Iran
 
 
# D_A_N 2012-01-26 21:23
o/t and probably kinda pointless. but... the guardian poll guardian.co.uk/.../... that has been run recently. I decided to do a wee calculation.

I zoomed in as much as possible and put the map into photoshop.. I then did a colour count technique which determines the amount of pixels of each colour. Not exactly accurate, as there is a lot of overlapping and also the more rural areas seem to have more pro-independence which wud in this test be an advantage as the colours are unobstructed (more widely spaced). Not to mention it's the guardian running the poll. But anyhow..

In terms of pixels of each colour..

the map is 76.6% blue (pro)
and 23.4% red (anti).

I'd say this looks a bit steep for actual number of votes because of the reason I stated above, but even from just observing it, it looks probably at least about 60% mark for independence.

And since there seems to be thousands of votes on here (more than most polls) it's still quite nice to see.

edit: only done in Scotland
 
 
# jasp303 2012-01-26 21:57
Good work. I wondered what happened to that Guardian map. I don't think they mentioned any results on it. They mentioned the earlier nationality about one week later.

William Haig (brand of whisky)

Who gets the £3,000? How many £3,000s have been paid? Who thought of this? etc.
 
 
# D_A_N 2012-01-26 22:04
I'm pretty sure the result will be forgotten about and not mentioned because it does not meet their agenda.
 
 
# jjmac 2012-01-26 21:23
Does he do voice-overs in the Simpsons?
 
 
# Electric Hermit 2012-01-26 21:25
We won't be hearing from Mr Hague for a while. It'll take some time to get his foot out of his mouth.
 
 
# Arraniki 2012-01-26 21:25
Pace Louperdowg:

BTW, I did think that wee Glen was quick off the mark producing his passport out his jaicket in response to the passport question.

Probably just flown in from his London job.

So yes, you will always need a passport to travel between Scotland and England, by plane.

Not to mention passing through border control.

Jeez, who put up these barriers, dim Jim?
 
 
# Soixante-neuf 2012-01-27 01:06
Not with BA you don't.
 
 
# jjmac 2012-01-26 21:30
All British Embassies are part owned by Scotland.
After all, if we are to take 8.5% of the British debt we will also be entitled to 8.5% of it's assets.
And the Embassies are just for starters.
 
 
# Old Smokey 2012-01-27 01:11
We should take the best ones, such as Washington, Beijing and Moscow
The English can have Tehran
 
 
# fittie 2012-01-26 21:37
Here`s a little gem from todays press and journal---------"A Tory MP has urged the UK Government not to forget the “enormous” economic importance of North Sea oil and gas.

Nicholas Soames, a grandson of wartime prime minister Winston Churchill, will put the industry back on the political agenda today after securing a debate on offshore taxation at Westminster.

He believes it is as crucial to the economy as the City of London – describing it as “a goose that lays a golden egg”."
 
 
# snowthistle 2012-01-26 21:46
very interesting fittie, you wouldn't have a link to that would you?
 
 
# xyz 2012-01-26 22:07
It's behind a paywall at the p and J .. but go here:
www.nicholassoames.org.uk/.../
 
 
# snowthistle 2012-01-26 22:12
Thanks : )
 
 
# jafurn 2012-01-26 23:21
Quoting xyz:
It's behind a paywall at the p and J .. but go here:
www.nicholassoames.org.uk/.../


That's a very interesting debate going on there

an extract....

(Figures for 2011 show that around £16 billion was spent by the oil and gas industry on exploration, development and operations. This included £8 billion in new capital investment, an increase of 25% over 2010. I know that the Economic Secretary will agree that in anyone’s terms these are massive numbers, and thus once again make the oil and gas sector the single largest investor of all the industrial sectors in the United Kingdom.


The positive benefits of this remarkable industry are not confined to Scotland. They extend throughout the United Kingdom, supporting employment for more than 400,000 people, and those jobs are widely distributed throughout the whole country. Unsurprisingly, of course, a substantial proportion-45% in fact-are in Scotland, but that means that 55% of the jobs, which is the majority, directly benefit employment throughout the rest of the UK.


The taxes forecast to be raised from the industry in 2011-12 include some £6 billion in income tax, national insurance contributions and corporation tax paid by the supply chain companies, with an additional £11 billion from taxes on production itself. That amounts to 25% of all the corporation tax received by the Exchequer. The production of indigenous oil and gas improved the balance of payments by £35 billion in 2011, thus halving the trade deficit, and the supply chain added another £5 billion to £6 billion with exports of oilfield goods and services. Incidentally, that is an aspect of the industry that is doing extremely well here and overseas, and it is flying the flag for Britain effectively.
25 Jan 2012 : Column 378 )

As usual it all comes down to OIL (and gas) in the end...
 
 
# xyz 2012-01-27 01:02
How long can the unionists keep spouting out the bare faced lie that an independent Scotland would be poorer. ... and how long before the majority of people in Scotland realise the truth. .... The main stream media are allowing this lie to go unchallenged ..
 
 
# fittie 2012-01-27 12:05
snowthistle 2012-01-26 20:46
very interesting fittie, you wouldn't have a link to that would you?----------------On the P@j site search Nicolas Soames
 
 
# Old Smokey 2012-01-27 01:16
So basically , in an oblique way this is the real reason why they are trying to cling on to Scotland
More paople should be made aware of this that they want to hang on to Scotlands Oil
 
 
# Angus 2012-01-26 21:45
Quoting jjmac:
All British Embassies are part owned by Scotland.
After all, if we are to take 8.5% of the British debt we will also be entitled to 8.5% of it's assets.
And the Embassies are just for starters.

This really is the problem, they dont see us as a partner but a sub nation dependant on England.
Bullys is the word that comes to mind. Think I ll have a nip of my Glenmorangie!
 
 
# Legerwood 2012-01-26 22:10
Bullies would be an even better word.
 
 
# ramstam 2012-01-26 21:47
Nae doot Ruth Davidson will be complaining to London that Hague is undermining her campaign to save the union. Aye right! Brit Embassies are of course part Scots and will be part of our assets on Independence. Seems some Brit polititians think Scotland is a possesion of "England's" Empire. Lucky we've still got the receipt in the form of the treaty of union!
 
 
# jjmac 2012-01-26 22:03
We keep getting reminded about the RBS problem as being a Scottish problem but
if the good old city of London would care to divulge how much tax the said institution has put into their coffers, i think we would not be bothered by that 'old chestnut' again.
 
 
# scotus 2012-01-26 22:18
Quoting jjmac:
We keep getting reminded about the RBS problem as being a Scottish problem but
if the good old city of London would care to divulge how much tax the said institution has put into their coffers, i think we would not be bothered by that 'old chestnut' again.


Yes - the BBC Scottish News website has this story as the top headline - as if it was a particularly Scottish story!
 
 
# D_A_N 2012-01-26 23:42
good point.. Well it's free to comment, so you should make ur point on the page :)
 
 
# Auld Bob 2012-01-26 23:02
Well some of them think the Queen is just the Queen of England.
 
 
# Auld Bob 2012-01-26 23:07
The RBS, and HBOS, are neither Scottish or English. Both are Public Limited Companies. As such they belong to their scareholders. They are, though, registered to pay tax to the United Kingdom Treasury, VAT, all busness tax, rates proits tax and so on. The sad fact is that when Wastemonster does the books these taxes are credited as City Of London revenues. That is just as all other business' with London Head offices, even if they do business in Scotland.
 
 
# Alx1 2012-01-26 22:07
I hear William Hague is going to take punitive action against Iran by banning the use of Persian carpets in British embassies.
That's done the trick, the Iranians will have no choice, but to stop their nuclear weapons manufacturing.

What a tumshie!!!!
 
 
# Arraniki 2012-01-26 22:17
Did William Hague not wear a pith helmet as Private Jimmy Widdle in Carry On Up The Khyber?
 
 
# Auld Bob 2012-01-26 23:11
No Arraniki, that was his usual heid pented.
 
 
# Angus 2012-01-26 22:33
Quoting Legerwood:
Bullies would be an even better word.

Bullies, sorry, my spelling isnt the best
 
 
# Legerwood 2012-01-26 23:36
Thats OK but you know the way the arguments are going against Independence you cannot be too careful because that may be their next argument against Independence. We cannot spell!
 
 
# cjmjr 2012-01-26 22:44
Westminster bailed out the banks,Westminst er own 83 percent off the Shares of The Royal Bank Of Scotland.Scotland own it's percentage share 8.6.That leaves Westminster holding 74.4 percent after Independence. I can live with that,like a lot of other people Westminster are simply shareholder's.
 
 
# jjmac 2012-01-26 22:51
I don't get this myth of "taxpayer owns".
I am a taxpayer and i am pretty damned sure if i claimed my rightful share as a taxpayer i would be told where to go.
 
 
# Auld Bob 2012-01-26 23:19
Had a laugh with an English guy today. (He is a resident in Scotland and an SNP supporter). I was pulling his leg and he was giving as good as he got. During the conversation I asked him what he did for a living. He said he was a carpenter. I kept a straight face and started to talk about thinners and spray guns. He was kind of puzzled. Eventually I had to laugh and tell him I though he had said he was a car-penter.
 
 
# J Wil 2012-01-27 02:17
On the distortion of language.

I heard a rendition of Tam o'Shanter on the radio the other day by Jonathan Watson of, 'Only an excuse' fame.

His Glasgow accent came through in the lines.

This truth found honest Tam o'Shanter,
As he frae Err ae nicht did canter;

Auld Err wham ne'er a town surpasses...etc.
 
 
# Nautilus 2012-01-26 23:20
I don’t know how that little crawler ever manages to get anything right. Hague is the only one I know who can out-Sellers Sellers as the politician in his recording (Peter Seller’s ‘Party Political Speech 1958’, You Tube), inasmuch as he manages to convey not a cogent thought when he gets up on his hind legs and drones in his pompous Tory voice.

Listen to his next speech on UK foreign policy and you’ll see what I mean.

As a matter of interest, isn’t Scotch whisky duty and tax revenues credited to GERL, the London expenditure/revenue account because all the head offices for the whisky companies are based down there?
 
 
# red kite 2012-01-26 23:21
The "banks bailout" was nothing more than a poorly disguised transfer of funds to nameless entities, through the anonymity of the banking faternity and the City of London. And the debt for that being legally landed on the taxpaying public of the UK. Does any "average person" realise just how much that was ?
Anyway, if some banks were insolvent, they should have been put into Administration, same as any other business. Any consumer protection could have been done quite readily, and for a fraction of the price paid.
 
 
# millie 2012-01-26 23:43
I still can’t fathom why the Labour government ‘gave’ £1.6billion… (Billion!).. to the Nationwide B/S- to take over the- ‘profitable’- parts of the Dunfermline B/S?
 
 
# jjmac 2012-01-26 23:30
London is being kept alive by speculative money, ie money that doesn't exist except in the eyes of the speculator. If you have nothing of substantive value to back up your speculation then it is just pie in the sky..yeah great if it works and if it doesn't everybody suffers.
 
 
# tartanfever 2012-01-26 23:39
What they should have done with the banks was to give every single account holder in the UK £1000.00 and deposited in each individual bank account.
Our money would have stayed with us, it would have given the banks capital as not everyone would spend it and those that may have spent it would be boosting retail figures and keeping people in jobs.
Taxpayers money stayed with the taxpayers.

Darling let the banks of the hook with keeping their bonuses.
 
 
# roboftheburnawn 2012-01-27 00:05
O/T- just watched the start of the bbc's newsnicht Scotland - If they'd asked I'd have let my wee yin do the graphics for the evolution of independence ( She's 7 )

They really must be skint !!!
 
 
# J Wil 2012-01-27 15:41
BBC graphics:
I was busy trying to see where the catch was, but it was so bad it will be of no help to anyone.

I must be getting over sensitive. When STVs politics prog came on last night they had reps from each side of the argument, but when it came to the SNP turn to speak there was a problem with sound and he could hardly be heard. This was sorted eventually.
 
 
# proudscot 2012-01-27 00:26
As Scotland is currently part of the United Kingdom, and as such sends MP's to Westminster, why is the SDI charged anything at all to use UK embassy facilities for the purpose of promoting Scotch Whisky - the export duty for which goes straight into the UK Treasury coffers?
 
 
# sneckedagain 2012-01-27 00:56
Auld Bob

The correct name for them is "swedes" That is because the seeds for them were brought to Scotland from Sweden by a guy called Miller who was friend of Robert Burns. The King of Sweden gave him these seeds after he designed some huge cannons for Sweden (that were made at the Carron Ironworks). This then revolutionised farming in Scotland as they allowed cattle and sheep to be overwintered on a diet of swede.
 
 
# Saltire Groppenslosh 2012-01-27 00:58
This double standard is easily remedied, simply get the invoices for these embassy charges together, add them up and send an invoice to the Foreign Office for payment stating "to correct Mr Hagues' statement of overcharge".

Give them 30 days to pay up and if they dont pay up by that time start by applying interest at 5% above base and then at the end of 120 days, petition the Court of Sessions in Edinburgh to start proceedings against the Foreign Office.

When the Foreign Office state that the Court of Session (a Scottish Court) has no jurisdiction to prosecute a case against the Foreign Office make sure it hits the papers worldwide. That would then open up the public and judicial debate about who has juridiction over who or what in a fair and reasonable manner (and I'm talking about the referendum here).
 
 
# Highland Tiger 2012-01-27 01:31
Thank goodness for this site, the revelations it makes that never get a mentioned in the mainstream media is shocking to say the least.

I urge anyone with a website to have a link back to this site so others can get an opportunity to see the truth.

We need to do everything possible to get the message out there as it is shocking the number of people that believe everything the mainstream media tells them.
 
 
# sneckedagain 2012-01-27 01:38
Worth a look if only to see what the Mail prints in its English edition

dailymail.co.uk/.../...
 
 
# Jimbo 2012-01-27 15:05
That's not the first time they've printed that piece of fiction, Snecked.

It first appeared shortly after the SNP won the 2007 Scottish election. It's a sop to the Brit Nats to boost their flagging sense of superiority.
 
 
# Stevie Cosmic 2012-01-27 02:34
O/T but...I have found very little, in fact no mention, of this anywhere here or on FB, but did anyone hear what Alan Cochrane said to AS at Edinburgh Castle last night?

www.youtube.com/.../

43:21

AC ' You also say that there's room for movement on their part over the age of the electorate which, and who knows you might well be right on that one,leaves only two conditions...'

AS 'Could you repeat that last bit..'

AC 'No No, you heard me'

AS 'Well you said I might be right on something'

AC ' Well you are occasionally'

Is that really any way to speak to the elected first minister of a country? 'No, you heard me.' Does anyone else think that this would be utterly unacceptable were it addressed to the highest ranking elected official of any other country in the world? Indeed, even lesser ranking elected officials at ANY press conference ANYWHERE?

I cringed for Scotland there. In a room packed with international journalists, and this excuse for a Scotsman treats an elected official with that kind of disrespect?

Shameful. Utterly shameful.
 
 
# Alba4Eva 2012-01-27 22:20
Cochrain's lack of respect highlighted to the world just how low the unionists have stooped.

But thankyou StevieC for the link.... And as far as the coverage went, the BBC would have done a better job by running this video than the shambles of the broadcast they provided.
 
 
# UpSpake 2012-01-27 09:03
UK = Double Standards. Hardly believable?
 
 
# admiral 2012-01-27 09:16
telegraph.co.uk/.../...

Today's Torygraph. Royal Navy chiefs have apparently decided (sic) that in the event of independence the nuclear weapons will have to stay in Scotland.

They just don't get it, do they?
 
 
# Jim1320 2012-01-27 12:34
I think the RN Chiefs do get it and know what the facilities are and how hard they would be to replicate. It is the press and some politicians in Westminster that don't get it. The Telegraph is right, Trident would be a strong card in a Scottish Government's hand in 2015 if it were a Yes vote. A card if played wisely could make the Scottish Government look friendly (as the rUK find an alternative) and also act as a bargaining chip over issues that might otherwise have been dragged out just for the sake of being bloodyminded in Westminster.
 
 
# Jimbo 2012-01-27 15:19
Maintaining the deterrent is the first priority for any UK government, so ministers in London would have to pay Salmond any price to ensure we kept access to [the Clyde bases],” said a source. “It would be an unbelievable nightmare.”


"...so ministers in London would have to pay Salmond..." There is an ongoing organised and unified campaign by the Brit Nat media to vilify and demonise Alex Salmond.

telegraph.co.uk/.../...
 
 
# Fungus 2012-01-27 10:07
They're no even British but hired from the US so why can't they send them back until they get their act in order?
 
 
# thomsor 2012-01-27 11:15
I reckon Barrow on Furness will be the new location for the nuclear subs come Independence. As far from Westminstir and the south of England as is possible.
 
 
# fittie 2012-01-27 11:55
snowthistle 2012-01-26 20:46
very interesting fittie, you wouldn't have a link to that would you?----------------On the P@j site search Nicolas Soames
 
 
# cokynutjoe 2012-01-27 12:39
The Telegraph readers "stiff upper lip" is quivering somewhat, what!
 
 
# J Wil 2012-01-27 15:32
I think it would be good for him if Hague did get off the amber nectar.

The point about the whisky industry being charged for accomoadation whilst other don't is probably the tip of the iceberg as far as bias against Scotland in the British English institutions are concerned. I wonder what other revelations will come to light?

Will Wales and N Ireland be feeling uncomfortable about how they are being represented too?
 
 
# EdinScot 2012-01-27 16:43
Good point J Wil. A bit of an eye opener even by their standards. Is there indeed unease in Wales and Northern Ireland too i wonder...?
 
 
# J Wil 2012-01-28 00:23
I think Salmond talks formally to the leaders often enough. I am sure they will be well aware of the situation.
 
 
# gerrydotp 2012-01-27 21:06
I thought it was worth taking up with my MP, asking what his views on it were, and what he intended doing about it.
( I won't be holding my breath waiting on a reply though)
 
 
# Evil Gazebo 2012-01-28 10:19
I'm sure that if the rest of the UK refused to take back all their WMD's after independence,we could find a friendly nation to take them off our hands.
How about Argentina starts the bidding?
 
 
# St Andrean 2012-01-28 15:42
I'm sorry but this whole story is outrageously misleading. Hague was foolish to say what he did. But, UKTI - which covers Scotland and England - pay nothing for using an Embassy because they are part of the Foreign Office. Embassies across the world are stuffed fill of their staff. They work to promote companies from across the UK, including Scotland. It would be odd to charge an employee to attend his office.

SDI have to pay for the service of an Embassy like any other body. In fact, just like their English equivalents, the Regional Development Agencies. Oh but wait, in a classic case of English bias in Westminster, the coalition axed them last year, leaving England without an equivalent.

The SDI even has its own network of offices overseas, future Scottish embassies perhaps. So unlike England, Scottish trade is promoted overseas twice - by the SDI and UKTI. But never let facts get in the way of small-minded parochialism.
 

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