Farage

While France is still suffering the shock of Wednesday’s murders, most politicians uttered the usual statements of condolence etc., but none addressed the elephant in the room.

Most people love or loathe Nigel Farage. He was pilloried by all other UK political leaders on Wednesday for mentioning the presence of a fifth column within Western societies.  Why?  I too believe there is there is a small minority of people living in UK (and other Western countries) who are hell bent on destroying the culture and traditions of their host countries.  

They do this in the name of Islam and of course this reflects on the Islamic population. Rather unfairly all Muslims are tarred with the same brush - but the Muslim population cannot continue to stick their heads in the sand and neither can our political leaders. 'It’s nothing to do with me because I’m peace-loving’ isn’t good enough anymore. Every Muslim needs to become involved in rooting out the minority of radicals in their midst and reporting them to our authorities.

Some years ago Scotland’s football supporters gained a reputation for drunken and loutish behaviour.  They weren’t welcomed at matches overseas. Did the Scots who didn’t have an interest in football say ‘It’s nothing to do with me’?  No. They accepted responsibility as a nation/culture and pressurised politicians into action.  Today, because of intense action, supporters of Scotland’s football team are welcomed all over the world. 

Attitudes can be changed if our leaders accept there is a problem.  For too long we’ve been over-tolerant with those who abuse our country.  We’ve allowed the problem to be buried as we’re only too aware that if it was mentioned we would be labelled racist.  Strangely enough, since the exposure of the 1400 young girls who were groomed for sex in north of England towns, the racist labellers have been rather quiet.  No official heads have rolled as yet for that atrocity and that is, to say the least, shocking.

A change is attitude has to come from all peace and law abiding citizens, not just those directly or indirectly affected by this vile violence.

On the news last night I heard mention of our intelligence services and how poorly funded they are in comparison with other public services.  This needs to be addressed with immediate effect. They work hard, very hard, but with the threats of violence increasing rapidly more manpower has to be employed.  The Westminster government is happy to give the police service more funding to root out stupid remarks made by silly people on social networking websites but are failing to address our basic security.

I have no answers to this serious problem. Our freedoms have been gradually reduced in recent years to suit our reputation as being a tolerant society. Has our tolerance level reduced to soft-heartedness?  Many of my generation were brought up to believe in firmness and fairness. Maybe a return to such values are now impossible.

H/T to Frank for the video.

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Could UKIP Be A Threat To Scottish Independence?

On my Facebook page I have several requests a week to become 'friends' with various UKIP members.  I don't know these people from Adam or Eve so I often decline, but on occasion I say yes out of curiosity.

UKIP are certainly receiving a good press at present - possibly due to their success at the Eastleigh by-election, but will it continue and what's it to do with Scottish politics?

Whether its popularity has peaked or not is debatable, but it's certainly attracting 'forgotten' voters.  The Tories should be worried and I suspect there's quite a bit of anxiety behind the doors of party HQ.  Labour should be concerned too because a good chunk of their voters want out of the EU and may be prepared to support a party which agrees with them.

But are UKIP a threat to the Yes campaign for an independent Scotland?  Could Nigel Farage be the catalyst who swings the vote towards No?

The answer is yes to both questions.  UKIP has never been too interested in Scotland and vice versa, but if it was to put up a few candidates in selected areas, particularly cities such as Edinburgh and Aberdeen where there is still a strong Tory voting base, then those who want to leave the EU will have somewhere to place their cross. That would boost the No campaign because, of course, UKIP believes in a united kingdom.

The English local elections next month will be a test of UKIP's evolution, but can it be as relevant in the town halls as it can be in the European elections?  If it is successful in the English local elections then it may feel brave enough to venture into serious Scottish politics.

More and more I hear people say we should leave the EU yet every party in mainstream Scottish politics supports Brussels.  The SNP have shown in recent months that they're determined to be part of the European Union even though it's been suggested that they would have to join the Euro.

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Farage On Cameron's Actions

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Plain Speaking

Thanks to Sue

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GORDON BROWN'S 'PACKED' EU AUDIENCE

This is a photograph of the chamber in Strasbourg during Gordon Brown's speech to MEPs. It was published by the Daily Mail yesterday and the caption read 'An overview of the packed chamber during his speech: The Prime Minister took an uncharacteristically pro-European stance'

Packed chamber?  Surely a journalist's sense of humour or one desperately trying to keep to the media instruction of 'talking up' Gordon Brown and his incompetent party. I don't feel inclined to do a head count but I think it's possibly in the 5-10% bracket.  Of course it was shortly after this photograph was taken that Dan Hannan and Nigel Farage delivered their verdicts on Mr Brown's leadership of the UK and his handling of the economy during his chancellorship.  

No mention of the two gentlemen's eloquent speeches in today's papers either.  Quelle surprise. Maybe if Dan gets a million hits on Youtube they will start to take notice and he'd had well over 250,000 last time I heard.

Thanks to the Ranting Penguin 

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