The Bankfoot Apparition

This is a true story except the names have been changed at the author's request. It is also the first time it has been published.

Last week I met some friends from Inverness. Marion and Martin are my generation and we remember the 'old days' when the A9 wasn't the fast road it is today. For those of you who don't know the A9 it is the main route to the Highlands from the south. The conversation turned to the recent improvements which have been made and how maybe one day it would be all dual-carriageway from Perth to Inverness.

Martin then asked me if I had ever heard of the Bankfoot Apparition (because he knew I used to travel that part of the road daily) and once the two of them started their story, I was completely intrigued. It certainly deserves an audience and I said there is no better than my blog readers.

Martin sent the following by email at my request: (Bankfoot is a village about 8 miles north of Perth)

The Bankfoot Apparition

In November 1984, my 3 year old son, my wife, who was 8 months pregnant, and I were driving north on the A9 when, at a point about one mile north of Bankfoot, roughly about one hundred yards north of where the well known speed camera is presently situated, I noticed, through the heavy fog which had alighted on the area, a car emerging towards us and flashing its headlights, presumably as some kind of a warning signal.

Shortly thereafter, I was horrified to see what appeared to be the figure of a man suddenly lurch into view straddling the centerline of the road. I immediately swerved violently to the left, trying to avoid the figure and, as I did so, my wife screamed – I remember thinking that I should stop, then thought the better of it, as stopping on any carriageway in thick fog was asking for trouble.

We then continued north, soon emerging from the mist as the Dunkeld lights loomed into view as we approached the village where we stopped in a layby to recover our composure. We have had many a discussion over the years as to what it was which had startled us, and my wife, who has always had an eye for detail which I sadly lack, has recently done a line drawing of her impression of the figure.

I certainly agree with her recollection as to the overall profile, but she appears to have captured aspects of detail which escaped me at the time, presumably as I was preoccupied with steering the car out of danger. I append her sketch of the figure for your scrutiny, but what immediately strikes me is the remarkable resemblance to a Covenanter, who were prominent in the area in the mid 17^th century. Further, a little Google research reveals that two important battles involving them were fought fairly locally, near Pitlochry and Dunkeld during this period.

My conclusions are as follows :-

The apparition must have been seen by others, as witness the flashing of lights by other vehicles.

I have often wondered if the fact of my wife’s pregnancy, or the presence of an infant in the car at the time led, in some mysterious way, to our being more receptive to viewing these type of paranormal events? I recall reading somewhere that the presence of young children and infants appears to cause these phonomena to reveal themselves more readily.

It would be interesting to know if anyone has had a similar experience when driving. Do tell us about it.

Tweet

Joe Morrow - Additional Biography

Click to enlarge if you dare (or care)

With reference to my last post in which I stated Dr Joe Morrow is the president of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland and Kenneth Royle, the journalist, said he'd had difficulties finding his biography, my 'sharp as a tack' reader Clarinda sent me this from a Camperdown Lodge newsletter (along with that splendid photograph) and I wondered if it would be helpful to Mr Royle in his research on Mr Morrow:

Note: Camperdown is an area of Dundee, Scotland

Bro The Rev'd Canon J J Morrow

On November 25th, Bro Rev Canon J J Morrow entered the Grand Lodge of Scotland Hall of Fame when he became The Most Worshipful The Grand Master Mason of Scotland at the Installation in George Street, Edinburgh.

When'Joe' joined Lodge Camperdown almost 25 years ago, it was immediately clear that he was destined for stardom. Some brethren even felt he may eventually become 317's first Provincial Grand Master. Little did we expect all those years ago, that our 'Joe' would ascend to the highest station in Scottish Freemasonry.

The Rev’d Canon Joseph John Morrow, J.P., O.St.J., joined Lodge Camperdown in 1981. During the course of his early Masonic career, Joe became very popular throughout the Province, being invited regularly to speak at various Installations and Burns Suppers. I remember sitting at a Lodge committee meeting at Lodge Camperdown, then in Dura Street, back in 1987 when Joe asked the permission of the Lodge to affiliate to Lodge Caledonian no. 254 where he would eventually become Master. Joe humbly said that, although he could do it without the ‘permission’ of the Lodge, he would not do so if it would upset the brethren in any way. The committee had no hesitation in granting Joe this wish and promptly wished him well in his Masonic Career.

Joe affiliated to Lodge Caledonian No. 254 in 1988 and became Master thereof from 1988 to 1989.

Although Joe had been a member of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Forfarshire since 1985 in the capacity of Senior Grand Chaplain, he would have had to be a Past Master to fuel his undoubted desire to progress further within the Craft. The great honour conferred on him by Lodge Caledonian allowed him to take his undoubted talents to the Grand Lodge of Scotland and for this, we at Lodge Camperdown will be eternally grateful. Joe held the position of Provincial Grand Chaplain until 2002.

Joe was elected to Grand Committee in 1990, a position he would hold until 1993. He was re-elected to that Committee in 1996. Joe was also a member of the Petitions, Complaints and Appeals Committee, the Masonic Homes Committee and the Benevolence and Care Committee. Joe was also a Representative from the Danish Order of Freemasons, Grand Lodge of Denmark.

During his career, Joe was instrumental in forming the Robert Burns Lodge of Dundee No 1788. He had noted that many cities and towns throughout the World had Lodges named after our National Bard and felt that it was about time that we in Dundee formed our own Lodge dedicated to his memory. I remember Joe approaching me one night to discuss the subject, suggesting that he would like PM Ally Gowans Senior to be its first RWM.

After many months attending Steering Committee meetings at Joe’s house in Dudhope Street in Dundee and with Joe’s assistance at Grand Lodge, his dream came to fruition at the Lodge’s Consecration in the Bonar Hall, Dundee on November 10^th 1990, when the Gavel of the Robert Burns Lodge of Dundee was presented to Bro Ally Gowans Senior, Past Master of Lodge Camperdown No. 317 by the Most Worshipful The Grand Master Mason Bro, Sir Gregor McGregor of McGregor. It must be noted that Bro Joe was the undoubted inspiration behind the formation of the Lodge. The Lodge’s Charter was granted on 2^nd August, 1990. The Lodge Sponsors were Lodge Camperdown No. 317, Lodge Thistle Operative No. 158, and Lodge Forfar & Kincardine No. 225.

Bro Joe is also an affiliate member of Sir Robert Moray, No. 1641 and of Lodge Discovery, No. 1789.

Bro Rev’d Canon Joseph John Morrow reached the pinnacle of his Masonic Career on the 25^th November 2004, when he was installed as the Most Worshipful The Grand Master Mason of Scotland at the Installation Ceremony in Freemasons’ Hall,

96 George Street, Edinburgh.

At the Installation Dinner in the Sheraton Hotel, Dundee’s Lord Provost, Bro John Letford, also a Master Mason of Lodge Camperdown 317, accompanied Joe at the top table. It was also fitting that Joe honored Past Master Ally Gowans Sen. the 1st Master of the Burns Lodge of Dundee and Past Master of Lodge Camperdown 317, by inviting him to Address the Haggis prior to the meal.

Joe’s first visit as The Most Worshipful The Grand Master Mason was to attend the Installation Ceremony at Lodge Camperdown where he witnessed Bro Albert Clark being installed into the Chair of King Solomon for the 2^nd time. During the course of the day, Bro Joe spent a great deal of time mixing with the Brethren being photographed in proportions usually associated with Royalty. The brethren were most appreciative. Click here to see some of these shots.

On behalf of all at Lodge Camperdown, may we offer you our sincere congratulations on your accession to the high station you now fill. We at Lodge Camperdown are very proud to have one of our own in such an exalted position.

Good Luck and Best Wishes from all at Lodge Camperdown.

Tweet

Scotland's Hidden Judges

Joe Morrow

Do you know someone who has ever had mental health problems? I should think every one of us does or perhaps we've even had a time when our own wasn't in too great a shape.

It's not always necessary to commit a crime before you are compulsory detained against your will. If you are considered to be so mentally ill that you require to be kept in hospital, often for a long period, and to have drugs administered to you without your permission, then you may become the subject of a 'Compulsory Treatment Order' or as it is known you may be sectioned.

Until recently it was a sheriff who approved such orders. The name of the sheriff was public knowledge. There was a certain comfort in this knowledge.

In October 2005 Scotland introduced a 'pioneering approach' to mental illness. Instead of a sheriff sitting along, the tribunal came into being: a three-person panel consisting of a legal person, a medical person and a lay person. Such was the volume of cases, the weight of mental illness afflicting our society, many such panels were required.

A new publicly funded organisation, the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland, with its own executive agency, was set up by the Scottish Government at a cost of almost £10m a year. The tribunal, in its onw words, 'makes decision, and issues orders, regarding the long-term compulsory care and treatment of people with mental disorders.' It has the status of a judicial body: it is regarded as a court.

Presumably in an attempt to appear less intimidating, the tribunal's website offers several definitions of mental illness. Under the heading 'Learning Disability', we are assured: 'In its milder form, an individual might have a bout of depression and be "fed up" but can manage to lift their spirits and go on with their day to day lives.' What being fed up has to do with learning disability only the tribunal can say.

the first president of the Tribunal resigned her post several years before the expiry date of her term of office. (Dr) Joe Morrow, another tribunal member, was appointed interim president, an appointment confirmed in October 2008.

Who is Dr Morrow? There is no biography for him on the tribunal's website. It was discovered at the time of his appointment Dr Morrow was a labour councillor in Dundee. He's a solicitor by profession and his appointment is part-time: the commitment expected by his employers is between 10 and 15 days a month.

How much is he paid? His daily rate is £620. If he works 10 days a month he earns £74,400. Ten days a month would make him the second highest-paid part-time chairman in Scottish public life; 15 days a month would make him easily the highest. No record can be found of how much he has actually received so far and in the public interest the Scottish Government should tell us.

The above is part of a comprehensive article written by Kenneth Royle for the Scottish Review. Please do read the rest of it as it is most concerning, not least these people could well take control of someone you love. Read how they handle their finances and administration. Be aware how certain cases have not been picked up by the MSM. Are we being robbed of our freedoms even more? Are those who are perhaps temporarily unable to speak for themselves being put under state control without proper and thorough investigation? I certainly think so and this tribunal needs to be investigated as it seems to work without any public accountability.

Tweet

Free Taxis for Drunks

If the above young woman lived in Norfolk the police would bundle her into a taxi and send her home - all paid for by the taxpayer.

The taxis will be provided late on Friday and Saturday nights in a bid to cut anti-social behaviour.

Councillors in Watton, Norfolk agreed a £350 grant for a three-month trial of the plan, devised by Norfolk Police Safer Neighbourhood Team. Police have asked town taxi firm Ann's Cars to do three runs a night from 11.30pm to 2am, but admit they have no idea how much it will cost.

Sgt Lance Ogbourne said :"The aim is to catch people who would normally walk home. These people can cause criminal damage."

A Taxpayers' Alliance spokesman said: "This is not policing. It's molly-coddling at the expense of the taxpayers. If someone gets drunk it is their responsibility to find their own way home."

I firmly agree with the Taxpayers' Alliance. Also I can foresee many problems, one being what the taxi driver does when they arrive at the drunk's home. Is it their responsibility to ensure the drunk is safely inside or is leaving them lying on the pavement acceptable? This whole idea is fraught with dangers for the taxi drivers and I'm surprised any is prepared to take part in this ludicrous scheme.

The solution is to bundle them into the black maria, take them to the nearest police station and lock them in a cell overnight - for their own safety you understand.

That is the type of policing we expect, not washing their hands of the problem and pushing it onto private businesses.

Let's hope Ann's Cars think again.

Source: Media Coverage

Tweet

Not Such a Bright Idea

Tweet

Iraq Service of Remembrance

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will attend a service of remembrance in St Paul's Cathedral, to mark the end of combat operations in Iraq, this Friday.

The service will be an opportunity to honour the members of the UK forces and civil servants who served in Iraq and to remember those who gave their lives over the six year operation.

Attendance at the service will be by invitation only and the majority of the congregation will consist of serving and ex-serving veterans of the conflict, along with their commanders, the injured and families of those who died.

John Swinney, the Scottish Finance Secretary, will represent the Scottish government.

The service will be broadcast this Friday on BBC1, starting at 10.30am for those families and friends who did not receive an invitation, but wish to participate.

Tweet

1997 Labour Promises Pledge Card

Remember this?

1997 Labour Promises

Pledge Card

1. We will cut class sizes to 30 or under for 5, 6 and 7 year olds by using money saved from the assisted places scheme.

2. We will introduce a fast track punishment scheme for persistent young offenders by halving the time from arrest to sentencing.

3. We will cut NHS waiting lists by treating an extra 100,000 patients as a first step by releasing £100m saved from NHS red tape

.

4. We will get 250,000 under-25 years-olds off benefit and into work by using money from a windfall levy on the privatised utilities.

5. We will set tough rules for government spending and borrowing and ensure low inflation and strengthen the economy so that interest rates are as low as possible to make all families better off.

2001

1. Mortgages as low as possible, low inflation and sound public finances

2. 10,000 extra teachers and higher standards in secondary schools

3. 20,000 extra nurses and 10,000 extra doctors in a reformed NHS

4. 6,000 extra recruits to raise police numbers to their highest ever level

5. Pensioners' winter fuel payment retained, minimum wage rising to £4.20

By 2005, with lots of failures on display in Health care, Policing, Teaching, Public spending and taxation, the most bland, innocuous, unquantifiable pledges, released only because they had been done before and to escape the charge of abandonment appeared without fanfare.

1. Your family better off

2. Your family treated better and faster

3. Your child achieving more

4. Your country's borders protected

5. Your community safer

Post content kindly supplied by my reader Faux Cul

Tweet

Government Support? Don't Make Me Laugh

We have 9,000 of our armed forces on duty in Afghanistan. They have been sent there, supposedly to protect us citizens of the UK, by both ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair and the present Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

What are they doing in Afghanistan? Any plan that did exist is less coherent today than it was even a month ago, compounded by Bob Ainsworth admitting, during his photo opportunity visit with Alan Johnson to Helmand, that it would take time - and help from other Nato allies - to provide the extra troops called for by General McChrystal.

What's really happening is the government are keeping these men and women in this hostile country for prestige which has nothing to do with the safety of our islands. Because of Gordon Brown's obsession to be seen as the saviour of the world, he is happy to sacrifice the lives of many in the armed forces. His Defence Secretary admits the government's war chest is empty. Surely that is proof enough that our soldiers will not be receiving the equipment and supplies they need to survive. Ainsworth continues by saying Britain needs more support from Nato allies. Hasn't it yet occurred to him that other Nato countries are not prepared to offer more troops because they know their people will rebel?

We have soldiers pleading for extra support, senior British military officers warning of the risks of sending more troops without the equipment required to protect them, the US Commander insisting more personnel are essential because he does have a plan yet the leaders of Britain and the US refuse to make decisions and seem content to allow their military to continue to be killed. Life seems so cheap to those in power doesn't it.

Of course military bosses don't want to be seen as having failed either, but there's no honour in allowing the people under their command to be sitting ducks.

I cannot comment on how effective General McChrystal's strategy would be, but it seems President Obama doesn't like it.

To quote General McChrystal: "Waiting does not prolong a favourable outcome. This effort will not remain winnable indefinitely and nor will it win public support."

It is to be hoped this will waken Americans to the futility of this war. They respect their armed forces far more than the British. What it will take to waken us and demand these courageous people return home I leave that to you to decide

Update: Clarinda has provided me with this post. It gives basic and very underestimated costs of this war to America.

Tweet

Hootsmon Headlines

Click to enlarge

Gratitude to Pseudepigrapha

Tweet

The Highway Code is only for the Hoi Polloi

With my thanks to Gigits

Tweet

The Leaders' Live Debates

In error I initially entitled this post 'The Live Leaders' Debates' - perhaps that may have been more appropriate!

Gordon Brown has now stated he would condescend to brighten our screens and take part in live television debates with the other leaders. Of course the 'other leaders' are called Dave and Nick with no place reserved for Alex, who quite rightly, has taken umbrage.

The blogosphere has plenty to say about our First Minister's demand to be included with Iain Dale saying 'Alex Salmond thinks he should be in the arena too. How strange. I thought the SNP wanted nothing to do with the Westminster Parliament.' Poor Iain, he doesn't do bitchy too well does he?

A full and equal partner is what another blogger writes and I would agree with that although I'm tempted to agree with the writer of A cunning plan.. too.

Iain MacWhirter has written the transcript suitable for any debate - to save us the inconvenience of tuning in.

There is a serious point here of course. The SNP have been sidelined for years both in the MSM and the UK broadcasting services, although a few of the dead tree press are now recognising the professional and efficient manner in which they are governing Scotland. One in particular springs to mind and that is the independently owned Dundee Courier but neither of the national Scottish papers report without bias (Robbie Dunwoodie excepted).

Therefore I support the SNP's actions because all they're asking for is a fair and equal say in the future of the UK which, in case Westminster politicians have forgotten, includes Scotland.

Tweet

Our Kingdom

I have been asked by one of my readers to tell you about the above site and I'm happy to do so.

The site, as the logo mentions, is about the future of the UK but it does include much about Scotland. You can read the latest post, written by Gerry Hassan, here.

There is also a section called the Iraq Inquiry Digest which may interest some readers. The contributors are:

Rose Gentle, mother of Gordon Gentle, killed in Iraq

Dr Christopher Lamb, freedom of information campaigner

Peter Oborne, journalist

Michael Smith, journalist

Dr Glen Rangwala, fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge University

John Baron MP, Conservative

Ed Davey MP, Liberal Democrat, Shadow Foreign Secretary

Andrew Mackinlay MP, Labour, member of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee

Jo Swinson MP, Liberal Democrat, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs

Tweet

The Oil Isn't Running Out

How often do we hear the Westminster government saying oil is running out in the waters round our shores? It's an argument used by the UK government to persuade Scots that their 'pot of liquid gold' will soon be no longer.

Therefore, it's little wonder this story hasn't received a mention in the Scottish or English dead tree press or from TV or radio broadcasters.

Faroe Petroleum, the independent oil and gas company focusing principally on exploration, appraisal and undeveloped field opportunities in the Atlantic margin, the North Sea and Norway, is pleased to announce the results of the side track appraisal well on the recent Glenlivet gas discovery, West of Shetland.

The side track was successfully drilled and confirmed the lateral extent of the high quality gas bearing reservoir. Based on the preliminary logging data, the results exceed the prognosed net gas column and reservoir quality.

The partnership has decided to drill a second side track appraisal well.

Graham Stewart, CE of Faroe Petroleum commented:

The Glenlivet well is the first of a firm five-well Atlantic Margin exploration drilling programme which Faroe is undertaking over the coming months. On Tuesday 29 September, Faroe announced the spud of the second well in the programme, operated by OMV, which will test the Tornado oil prospect, located close to BP's producing Schiehallion field. Following Tornado we are scheduled to drill three further high impact exploration wells, the Anne Marie oil prospect in the Faroes (operated by Eni), the Cardhu oil prospect in the UK (operated by BP) and the Lagavulin oil prospect in the UK (operated by Chevron).

Credit to Jeanne Tomlin for her astute observation.

Tweet

Why is This being Publicised?

The MSM is publicising the start of a massive 'simulated war' involving ships, aircraft and submarine to be staged off the west coast of Scotland as part of a Nato military exercise.

The Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious, will take the lead role in Exercise Joint Warrior.

Forces from the USA, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Turkey and Brazil are also taking part in the 21-day exercise which starts on Monday.

The scenario involves three nations fighting over disputed territory.

State-sponsored terrorism will also be introduced to the exercise, along with a period of built-up tension,, followed by simulated war fighting and open hostilities.

Ships have already begun to arriving at the Faslane Naval Base, which will host more than 100 British personnel and their allied counterparts.

HMS Illustrious will be the biggest ship involved and lead a nine strong task group. Her Harrier GR9 jets will be among 50 warplanes flying about 75 sorties a day. Type 23 frigates HMS Northumberland and HMS Portland are also taking part.

The United States Navy is sending four ships, as is Canada and there will be other ships from Denmark, France, Turkey along with the Brazilian frigate BNS Defensora.

Helicopters will be deployed from the UK, Canada, Brazil the USA and Denmark, while planes will fly from the UK, Germany, France, Canada, Norway and the USA.

Ground forces will be provided by the UK, Belgium and the United States Marines.

Certain areas of Scotland are often used for military exercises but these are never given publicity. This one is different. Why? I understand the message but to whom is it directed? Iran, Russia, the middle east?

Source: BBC

Tweet

Thank You Eire

To the Dear Irish People

Thank you so much for making me King of Europe and of course increasing my bank balance by an even more vulgar sum.

Love and kisses

Tony

(No need to put my surname because if you don't know it now you'll certainly know it very soon. Dave's not going to be happy but I can cope with public schoolboys, I was one myself.)

Tweet

The Curse of Bute House

Bute House (photograph) is the First Minister's residence in Edinburgh, the place where the great and good are wined and dined, meetings are held and decisions about the future of Scotland are made.

Today's Sunday Post front page headline reads 'Salmond accused of staggering hypocrisy'. Now I have to admit I've never had the pleasure of seeing hypocrisy staggering but I have witnessed over the years a few hypocrites giving a very good impression of stotting (English translation - bouncing).

Mr Salmond is being accused of not paying the council tax on his official residence in Edinburgh. Three years ago the SNP (then in opposition), attacked Jack McConnell for failing to pay the estimated £2338 a year bill and last night the Tories revealed the current inhabitant hasn't stumped up either, unlike Gordon Brown who pays the charge for 10 Downing Street. So the matter of tax on Bute House has been rumbling on for years it would seem.

Annabel Goldie accused the First Minister of 'milking the system for his own personal gain.'

But an aide to the First Minister reacted angrily to the criticism, claiming Bute House is classified as business premises and so is subject to business rates. He said re-designating the building as a domestic property would deprive the local authority of £22,601 a year in business rates income and a sum 10 times the council tax.

There's something not quite right about this. Hasn't an assessor visited the premises and told the First Minister whether the property qualifies for council tax, business rates or a bit of both? Anyone can receive as much advice as they like but none of us can avoid the taxes we are required by law to pay; unless we are prepared to pay the penalty.

Perhaps the First Minister should sort this out like, erm, yesterday. All his office has to do is to produce the record showing the payments of the business rates to the local council.

The FM's spokesman's last words were: "The First Minister makes no claim from parliament under the Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance, unlike those Tory MSPs who claim their council tax payments back from the taxpayer. And he gives his entire gross Holyrood salary to charity."

Ouch! That should shut the opposition up!

Tweet

Grey Assembly

The Scottish Parliament

On Thursday Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon hosted a question and answer session with 300 of Scotland's older people in the Scottish Parliament.

Ms Sturgeon is reported as saying the event was a "one off but this could change if it proves to be successful and effective."

A consultative forum of older people's organisations was set up back on 2002 and was then chaired by the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care. Other than a first meeting on 12 February 2002 and notes of a meeting in June 2004, there has been little or no mention of this forum.

After yesterday surely this will change. Older people have a great deal to offer society and there must be an arena where their concerns can be heard and a facility for direct contact with our political representatives. There was a call at the meeting for a Seniors Parliament which is an excellent proposal.

Yesterday's event was formally opened by the Presiding Officer Alex Ferguson and included a panel discussion with Public Health Minister Shona Robison, president of the Irish Senior Citizen's Parliament Sylvia Meehan, the Welsh Older People's commissioner Ruth Marks and Labour Deputy leader Johan Lamont.

Tweet

No Place for Scotland round the Climate Change Table

The photograph shows Jack McConnell, then First Minister of Scotland, in his seat at the Earth Summit in Johannesburg in 2002.

In December there is to be another Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen but the Westminster government refuses to allow Scotland to be fully represented.

The SNP government, which first raised the issue nine months ago, has described the decision as 'disappointing' but an SNP spokesman insisted Scotland would be represented in Copenhagen. Alex Salmond has again written to Gordon Brown to demand a ministerial seat.

Mr Miliband said: "However I recognise that your contribution to this international effort is important, so I would be happy to include one of your officials on the UK delegation, which has been an offer made - but not always taken up by the Scottish Government - in previous years."

He said it was also possible for Scottish ministers to go to Copenhagen with other organisations that had observer status.Inviting Mr Swinney to nominate an official, he said: "The whole delegation will of course be constrained to supporting the UK and EU negotiating line."

How much longer is Scotland, which is leading Europe on the climate change issue, going to tolerate being insulted by the London based government? Jack McConnell was a labour First Minister and deemed suitable to have a ministerial seat at one of these summits, so Alex Salmond must be afforded the same courtesy. Is this because the Scottish government intend to go down the renewables route while England takes the nuclear road, or is it a childish effort by Gordon Brown to 'do anything in my power to stop the SNP breaking up Britain'?

It's possibly a bit of both but it's certainly a bad move and will be viewed as such by many people concerned with climate change in Scotland.

Dr Richard Dixon, director of WWF Scotland and board member of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland:

"At a time when the world desperately needs good examples, it is clearly ridiculous that Scottish ministers will not be allowed to be part of the official UK delegation.

"The negotiations for Copenhagen are finely balanced and Scotland's excellent Climate Change Act could make a difference, but only if people actually get to hear about it."

Source: BBC

Tweet

Subrosa's Super Seven blogs

BellgroveBelle - A dreich, Gray speech

EU Referendum - An Elaborate Deception

Jess the Dog - Brown’s Speech

Key Bored Warrior - What We Ask

Sharpe’s Opinion - WTF

Stephen’s Linlithgow Journal - SNP want to fine you and keep your DNA

Wardog - Gray, Darling and Jim too

Chinese Takeaway of Your Choice to:

Letters from a Tory - Blue is the colour

The People’s Republic of Mortimer - Sarah Brown must be stopped or I will be ill

The Daily Politics - Shell Shock, The Empire Burlesque Continuum

13th Spitfire - Dirty Irish Eurocrats

Tweet

Day Out

Manuel De Los Santos, Franz Klammer, Aiden Quinn

Update 10am: Play has been abandoned today because of high winds. It is hoped it can continue tomorrow with the final on Monday.

11.10am: It has just been explained to me that the wind is so strong balls are oscillating on the greens. As it is against the rules to hit a moving ball, it was decided to postpone play. I learn something every day!

If you would like a day by the seaside and enjoy golf, think about joining the golf fans and celebrity spotters at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship which is being played at Carnoustie, St Andrews and Kingsbarns.

The third round will be played today and the final on Sunday will take place on the Old Course, St Andrews.

According to the BBC you should bring a raincoat and some stout shoes as it's going to be heavy rain in this area. I'm looking outside into rather pleasant sunshine right now, although it has been wet and windy overnight. I'm not saying the sunshine will last though.

Tomorrow is set to be a fine day and with a balmy sea breeze the Old Course will be at its best.

Now I'm off to phone the St Andrews Tourist Board to claim my advertising fee!

Source: Courier

Tweet

Afghanistan - The Plan

What plan you may well ask, there has been no plan, no strategy either. The politicians are making it up as they go along.

Yesterday General Stanley McChrystal, NATO's top commander in Afghanistan, gave a well-delivered presentation to the International Institute of Strategic Studies and blew Gordon Brown's excuses for this war out of the water.

The main points of his speech indicated that there was never a comprehensive plan for the Afghan war and there is no simple solution. Of course the politicians had their reasons for this war but the public are never going to hear them, because if they were voiced public support would disintegrate. They know that and we know they're lying to us. We have 9,000 troops involved in this political game - men and women who promised to protect us, the people of Britain, when they joined the armed services. Strategy is being decided on the hoof and our troops are pawns.

"It is complex difficult terrain, both the land and the people, it is a tribal society with a culture vastly different from what most of us are familiar with and it varies around the country, so you cannot assume what is true in one province is true in another."

The General was candid in his assessment and admitted the west is not winning this war and his forces will need to do things dramatically differently to stop the insurgency.

"We must gain the initiative by reversing the perceived momentum of the insurgents. We must seek rapid growth of Afghan national security forces and that is the army and the police, and we most improve their effectiveness and our own through closer partnering, and this means we must plan together, live together, operate together and take advantage of each other's strengths as we move forward," he said.

McChrystal has reportedly requested thousands more troops to help him make Afghanistan a stable, secure country and eventually able to look after itself - his definition for success there.

But one of the preconditions being set by the British government, before it will commit to sending more troops, is a "new Afghan government being in place." There is no sign this happy state of affairs is any closer - in fact the reverse. Corruption is a way of life in the country.

Before Gordon Brown makes any decision about increasing troops he should read this opinion from Military World.

Military chiefs are prepared for “scores, if not hundreds” more British soldiers to die in a new troop surge to win the Afghan war.

They expect the British military death toll to rise sharply under the masterplan drawn up by General Stanley McChrystal, the US commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan, to defeat the Taliban.

But they believe that if there is a clear and convincing strategy for success, the British public could be persuaded to back the military campaign.

I don't back this military campaign and never will. During McChrystal's speech there was one remark he made which stuck in my mind all day yesterday. He said he was proud of all troops and on a recent visit to Afghanistan he met with British soldiers. "... their eyes were bloodshot from total exhaustion..." This one phrase ridicules Gordon Brown's claims that everything is being done for those out in that punishing environment. It is well known our soldiers are not getting suitable breaks and that their health is suffering. Many, if they survive this war, will have problems for the rest of their lives.

One plan that would receive my approval is a schedule of withdrawal, but Bob Ainsworth is so worried about us being seen as 'losers' he refuses to even examine such a strategy. Saving face is far more important than saving lives for this band of warmongers.

The Tories will be no better. They will increase troop numbers. David Cameron will continue allowing Britain to be dictated to by the US.

Such is the quality of our political representatives.

(You can see the video of McChrystal's Q & A session here.)

Tweet

Government Owned Banks - What They Do with Our Money

Are you a shareholder in either of the above banks? Perhaps not, but you may well be what is called a stakeholder, because each and every one of us who pays taxes has a majority stake in both Lloyds Banking Group (formerly known as Lloyds TSB) and the RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland).

Another question - would you be incensed if the money you had ploughed into either of these banks was used to bail out their branches in another country? I presume the answer would be yes.

That's exactly what's happening with Lloyds and the RBS. They have pumped almost £2.8 billion (yes billion) into their Irish branches over the past 10 months.

RBS's Ulster Bank (ROI) has received four capital injections totalling some £1.44 billion while Lloyds BoS (Ireland) has received two injections totally £1.32 billion.

The capital injections are largely needed to bail the Irish subsidiary banks out of bad loans made to Irish property developers at the height of the Celtic boom. Many of those loans have had to be written down heavily.

Brian Lucey, finance professor at Trinity College, Dublin said: "The scale of the figure is quite shocking. These are not leaders in the Irish market".

The taxpayer holds a 70% stake in RBS, which got a £20 billion bail-out and a 43% stake in Lloyds which received £17 billion.

RBS and Lloyds could not comment on whether the two banks expect to have to transfer further capital to their Irish businesses.

Meantime, Gordon Brown insists he will ensure British banks are better regulated and that publicly owned banks are safe in his hands.

The UK Treasury compounded the financial crisis in Iceland by initiating terrorism legislation. What is not so well known is that a few days beforehand the FSA permitted some UK-based banks to ask their off-shore branches (with so many UK taxpayers) to send them vast sums of money 'for safe keeping'. There are still thousands of British citizens living abroad and wishing to continue to save within the UK, who have seen their life savings vanish. The UK takes no responsibility for these people because they banked off-shore. It was the UK government's legislation which forced them to bank off-shore if they wanted to save with a British bank because, if they didn't have a permanent home in the UK, they were refused a UK- based bank account.

Surely anyone who pays taxes must be disturbed by this? The government insist they have control of these publicly funded banks but this is evidence that is untrue.

For government to allow £2.8bn of taxpayers' bail-out money to be used to prop up troubled branches in Ireland is insulting to many small businesses who are struggling to keep afloat - not because of poor productivity, but because vital overdraft facilities have been removed.

Source: London Evening Standard

Donkey work by Faux Cul

Tweet