The Scots Independent Newspaper Online

CAMPAIGNING FOR SCOTLAND
(Owned, Edited and Printed in Scotland since November 1926)
"Promoting all that is best in Scottish Nationalism and all that is best in Scotland."

Features: Scots Language | Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs | Notable Dates in History
Rebel Ceilidh Song Book | Sing A Sang At Least | Tartan Day, April 6th, USA & Canada

Compiled by Jim Lynch
[Issue 103 - 24th May 2002]

FLYING THE FLAG ABROAD

As indicated a fortnight ago I paid a visit to Strasbourg last week; we went by bus (and boat, of course) and while it was very enjoyable it was a long, long haul! We left Edinburgh on Sunday at 9.30 am, and arrived at our hotel on Monday at 8 pm; coming back we left the hotel on Thursday at 8.15 am, and arrived in Edinburgh on Friday at 3.30 pm. Deduct an hour going, and add one coming back - I think! When we told the family we were going on the P&O Ferry from Hull, my daughter-in-law said "You’re going on a mini cruise." We hadn’t thought of it like that but when we boarded the boat we realised we had been given a mini-cabin - so maybe she was right; the cabin on the way back was a lot bigger. However as the last time I stayed overnight on a ship was on a troop ship in 1953 things were better than then!

The Saltire was on the front window of the bus, so it went through England, Belgium, Luxembourg and France, flying the Flag; this was the first occasion I had been abroad since the euro became the official currency, and initially I found it a bit confusing - as with any different currency. In Belgium when we stopped at motorway service stations, you had to pay to use the toilets; in every one there was a big woman, and until you forked out 30 cents "You shall not pass!" - the woman - or anything else. As the euro was about 64 to the pound I convinced myself that we were paying 50p a time, and only later realised that I was doing the conversion the wrong way round, and that it was 20p; the perils of age. Once we got past that we found it relatively easy, and although we spent money in Belgium, Luxembourg and France only the prices changed, and not the currency.

Strasbourg itself is a beautiful city, and we went on one of the water tours, which was very informative; the Parliament building itself is stunning. Although we were there with the Co-op movement, as soon as we were "booked in" to the Parliament as part of the organised party, my wife and I met, as previously arranged, Ian Hudghton, SNP MEP, and his wife Lily and spent our time there in SNP company; we met Neil MacCormick and his wife, Flora, and were also joined by Neil Ferguson and Lachie Muir, the Parliamentary researchers. Neil McCormick commented that his father would have been delighted that the Flag in the Wind was visiting the Parliament (Neil’s father John, wrote the book "The Flag in the Wind", as we have attributed). Neil Ferguson, when introduced to my wife said he had not met her before but knew our son, Peter - all a very family type gathering. We met other MEPs, Catherine Stihler, Scottish Labour, joined us (she was the one the official party was meeting) and we also met Plaid Cymru MEP Eurig Wyn. In the afternoon we were joined by John Hume of the SDLP, a very pleasant man indeed; he was very friendly with Winnie Ewing and is still very friendly with the SNP although he sits with a different group.

The strangest episode for me was at a restaurant later, when we were introduced to an Asian Labour MEP from London, Claude Moraes; after chatting with him for few minutes I said "You’re Scots!" He came from Dundee - small world indeed - and Dundee connections everywhere. Being a person who is severely critical of other party politicians, I find it disconcerting when I actually like them, and so cannot say anything nasty about them, but I’ll just have to keep trying.

A CONFUSED SCEPTIC

Over the years I have been against the European Union, not out of a sense of isolationism, but because I could never see the logic of getting rid of one remote foreign government and replacing it with an even more remote foreign government.

My views were somewhat modified a few years ago after a long conversation with that doyen nationalist, James Halliday, when he pointed out that Scotland would have exactly the same level of independence as every other country in the European Union, and I suppose that this, in a sense made the inevitable a bit more acceptable. This was the view I had when approaching the Parliament, so how was it? Well, in only a few hours, you can only get the vaguest of impressions; first I was struck by the building itself, which as I said earlier, is stunning. Then we had also travelled through Belgium, Flanders, scene of carnage in 1914-1918, and into France, the Ardennes - where the Battle of the Bulge took place at the close of the 1939-1945 war - and all around was green pastures and apparent prosperity - but above all - peace.

The Parliament has 626 members, and meets each month in Strasbourg for a one week plenary session; the other three weeks they are in Brussels where most of the committee work is done. They have to keep an eye on the Commission and on the civil servants, whose name according to the tabloids, is legion; this is not quite the case, as there are more people working in local government in Fife Region than there are in the European Parliament, despite there being 13 countries to represent.

We attended at Question Time, and were fortunate that Ian Hudghton obtained the list of questions, so we knew what was going on; there was a degree of confusion at first as we tried to identify each speaker, and you might have an obese (no fat people in the EU Parliament) bearded chap speaking, but the voice in the headphones is a charming female one! This is due to simultaneous translation, with a hardly discernible pause, and it is quite amazing that there are twelve different translations going on at once, so everyone hears what is being said in their own language; the late Anthony J C Kerr, father of our current Andrew J T Kerr (the letter writer, not the Labour Finance Lackey) was a freelance translator at the European Parliament - family connections again. There are also committee meetings going on all over the place and translators are required for these also - a massive exercise in administration.

One of the questions asked was about immigration into the European Union, and how it was to be tackled, and this had added relevance for us because the night before, in a village called Barr, we had seen women in headscarves, and children, wandering disconsolately through the empty streets, and these were asylum seekers. As this region, rural Alsace, had voted heavily for Jean-Marie le Pen, we could understand the concerns. There was another question about what they should do with the unspent budget money, some Eur 11 billion for the year 2000; the rules say that the money should be returned to the member states, but the point was being made that the EU needed money for enlargement, or to fight poverty, with a degree of logic to that argument. Another question about a North East Asia Development Bank fell, because the questioner, Glyn Ford, an English Labour MEP, I think, was not there to put it. We left before the question on the Common Fisheries Policy came up; this was from the Scottish Tory MEP Struan Stevenson, as the Spanish, who form the Council of Ministers at present, are dragging their feet, hoping to let their fishermen into British waters by default. The Basques had a go at the Spanish, and were slapped down by the Vice President, who ruled that he should not have allowed the question in the first place, and a merry time was had by all, in thirteen different languages. Each questioner gets two supplementaries, and the session lasts for an hour and a half; I liked it.

I have to admit I was impressed by the Parliament, and by Strasbourg itself, which has been French, then German, then French, then German a number of times; the Parliament meets there because it is in France, but very close to Germany, and within a couple of hours from Switzerland (not a member) Luxembourg and Belgium. It is called the Crossroads of Europe, and it is definitely my intention to visit it again, and also Brussels, but perhaps not by bus, unless we use the Rosyth Ferry.

AMBIVALENT FLAGPOLES

And while I was in Europe flying the Flag, back at the ranch the Scottish Executive was busily putting out instructions that the Saltire, the Flag of St Andrew, our nation’s flag, was not to be flown on public buildings on St Andrew’s Day, but that the Union Flag had to be flown!

The instruction originally came from the department of culture, media and sport in Westminster, and should have applied to Executive buildings, but Historic Scotland also chose to follow them. Apparently the Union Flag has to be flown on such royal occasions as the Countess of Wessex’s birthday - who? Oh, Sophie of the PR disaster, married to Prince Andrew, or is it Edward? Does it matter? According to the rules, where there is only one flagpole, the Union flag must be flown, and if two flagpoles, the Union flag and the Saltire, and where there are three flagpoles, the aforenamed two plus the organisation’s own flag, eg Historic Scotland. Someone asked, "Hey, what about the European Flag?" but this is a flag too far. It reminds me of the visit by Bertie Ahern, the Irish Taoiseach to our Parliament, where they rushed out to get a Union flag to appear on the platform alongside the Saltire and the Tricolour, and seemed quite oblivious to the fact that this was offensive to the Irish.

The matter was brought to the attention of the First Minister, who had issued the instructions, by Mike Russell, SNP shadow culture minister, and the First Minister smartly backtracked, but what a cringe! They are now busily having flagpoles erected all over the place to cover every eventuality, and soon all ancient buildings will be groaning under the weight of the flagpoles; having been in Strasbourg where the nations proudly fly their flags, I was very conscious that our one was not there.

Oddest comment of the week, if not the year, came from a Tory MSP, Ben Wallace, who said "Most people in Scotland want to talk about health and education. The SNP want to talk about flags. How very childish." Mr Wallace, a former soldier, born in Farnborough, and educated in Somerset and at Sandhurst, spent at least a part of his life saluting a flag, but for him the Saltire is obviously the wrong flag, and he wants to be a Westminster MP anyway. His comment puts him at odds with another piece of Tory idiocy a week or two back from Phil Gallie; he wanted the Queen to pardon Sir William Wallace, executed for treason in 1305. Wallace - Treason! Gallie has never heard the song "How can it be treason, cried Wallace, when England is foreign to me!" Wallace did not commit treason and does not need a pardon, and it is patronising ignorance to even suggest such a thing. Gallie’s suggestion reminds me of Michael Forsyth’s ploy in that he thought that returning the Stone of Destiny to Scotland would find favour with the electorate, and lead to a revival of Tory fortunes; he was also ignorant of the legend that where the Stone was then that was where Scotland would be ruled from. It’s coming yet, for a’that.

TALKING INDEPENDENCE

This week we are on to the argument as to whether Scotland pays her own way, in the world; the Thatcher years were proof that Scotland does. The Tories sold everything that they thought made a loss, and if we did not pay our way they would have dumped us years ago.

Scotland pays her way - and more

Can Scotland stand on her own two feet?

Scotland is very well placed to be a powerhouse economy. We already have a larger economy than many other countries like Norway, Finland, Ireland, and New Zealand. Not many countries in Europe can rival our wealth of natural resources and our educated workforce. Scotland:

has the EU's 4th biggest financial centre
has three quarters of the EU's oil reserves
provides the UK Treasury with one of its biggest single sources of revenue - whisky duty
produces 30% of branded PCs in Europe
is number 4 internationally for fund management
has almost half of its young people in full time post-school education (compared with only a third in the UK)

And that’s just for starters. We have some of the finest food and drink products and universities to rival the best in the world. We also have a globally recognised brand and identity and a worldwide reputation for integrity – key to our success in the 21st century knowledge economy.

Scotland’s problem is not a lack of resources, but that we are controlled by a London Government whose whole economic policy is designed for the needs of the south east of England economy, not focussed on the needs of Scotland.

Scotland is a wealthy country, but not a wealthy society. That’s because the wealth of Scotland is not used for the people of Scotland. And because we don’t control what happens to our own taxes.

As a result we are tied to the long-term relative economic decline of the UK. From 1st in the world wealth league at the turn of the 20th century, the UK is now only 19th and falling.

Scotland can more than afford Independence. Peter Woods, Senior Economist at Pieda said on 23-8-97, "There is no doubt that Scotland could be a relatively prosperous independent country". And Alf Young, Economics Editor of The Herald said on 18-1-97, "Personally I have never had any doubt that Scotland could survive and indeed prosper as an independent economy".

Indeed, the late Donald Dewar, Labour’s former First Minister, acknowledged Scotland’s potential: "Quite simply, I accept entirely that Scotland could sustain Independence. I accept entirely that Scotland can have Independence if it wants it." (BBC TV's Panorama 17-2-92)

What about claims Scotland would be in deficit?

New Labour’s claim that an independent Scotland would be in serious deficit are undermined by the fact that Scotland had a fiscal surplus in twelve of the last twenty years, whereas, on those same Government figures, the UK has only had a surplus in four of those twenty years. By their own logic this would mean the London parties should argue the UK can’t afford to be independent.

This is not a serious argument, it is a cynical attempt to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt.

If you take away the politics and anti-SNP propaganda and look at the bare economic facts, the black hole is in the UK’s fiscal position, not Scotland’s. Even if we look at the Government's own biased figures it is clear that Scotland will be in surplus by 2003. And Scotland’s surplus is just the starting point. It is economic growth that matters. More economic growth means more wealth creation and more revenue for Scottish public services.

But to do all that we need a Government responsive to the needs of the Scottish economy, with the economic powers to act in Scotland’s interests.

One of the most depressing things about the arguments used by the opponents of Independence is that they base their case on the outcomes of their own failed record and offer this as evidence that Scotland should not move on.

For example, Scotland’s non-oil growth rate between 1968 and 1998 averaged 2.1%, compared to 2.4% for the UK. If that gap had been filled our economy would be worth £6 billion more this year delivering £2.5 billion more tax revenues. The Republic of Ireland in recent years has averaged 10% a year. If Ireland can achieve this without the natural resources of Scotland, think what Scotland could achieve with Independence. We need policies to place us at a competitive advantage to the rest of the UK and the powers to deliver these policies lies only with Westminster at present. Scotland has it all in terms of potential, what we lack is the power to deliver.

Is Scotland subsidised by the UK?

The unionist argument that Scotland is subsidised is an odd one. Firstly, if it were true, it would hardly be an advert for the UK’s management of Scotland’s economy. This argument is essentially saying that Scotland has been made poor by London management so cannot afford to be independent. The logic of this suggests that we can’t afford not to be independent.

At any rate, the claim is a false one, and always has been. Throughout the 1990’s the Tory Government produced GERS figures - Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland figures - supposedly "proving" that Scotland was subsidised, - a Tory tactic Labour have embraced and kept since 1997 - and claimed that these were objective civil service assessments, made without the political interference of Ministers.

That claim was rather undermined in 1995, when a letter came to light from Conservative Scottish Secretary of State Ian Lang to the Prime Minister John Major and Chancellor Kenneth Clarke which stated, "The booklet I have had prepared and printed, setting out the details of the Government’s expenditure and revenue in Scotland, I judge that it is just what is needed at present in our campaign to maintain our initiative and undermine the other parties."

Scotland more than pays her way in the UK – in fact we are net contributors to the UK economy.

By the UK Government's own famous admission in 1997, Scotland paid £27 billion more in taxes to the UK between 1979 and 1995 than it received in Government expenditure.

And, in the period between 2000 and 2002, Scotland will have sent another £7.7 billion surplus to Westminster - almost another £1,500 for every man woman and child.

"The SNP has done all of us a service by scotching the Tory myth that we are subsidy junkies." (Daily Record Editorial 8-4-97).

"The SNP claims that the Scottish Office figures are distorted. The Party has a point". (The Economist Editorial 26-10-96)

"The Government provokes it [the subsidy argument] by the ill-considered way in which it tries to combat the case for devolution and independence by insisting that the financial cost of standing on our own two feet could not be borne because of the advantages provided by the UK Treasury. This line of argument is counter-productive and ought to be dropped." (The Herald Editorial 18-1-97)

However the Unionists will always try to say that Scotland is subsidised by the rest of the UK and that Independence means increased taxes or spending cuts. But that is the usual anti-Scottish argument that we will always hear from parties who try to tell Scots they are too poor and too stupid to run their own country.

The old assumption that Scotland is subsidised, which was once accepted as fact, is now discredited. There is every reason to believe that an independent Scotland would flourish; indeed the question is, can we afford not to be independent?

Subsidised or not the real economic question is whether policy made in Scotland for Scotland will be better for our economy than policy made in London without any focus on Scottish conditions.

Doesn’t the Barnett formula mean Scots get more than their fair share of UK spending?

Anti-Independence commentators often talk about the Barnett formula, by which public spending is allocated to different parts of the UK, as evidence that Scotland gets a good deal.

In fact, the Barnett formula is designed to ensure that public spending goes up by less in Scotland than it does in the UK as a whole. For instance, a 10% increase in public expenditure on relevant English programmes will yield, via Barnett, only an 8.1% increase in the money which the Scottish Parliament is allocated to spend in those areas. That’s what is meant by the "Barnett Squeeze". Over the next three years, the Barnett Squeeze will mean that Scotland loses out on £2 billion in government spending increases. Devolution, which aimed to allow for divergence between the way government operates in Scotland and the rest of the UK, is in fact constrained by a formula which is designed to ensure a convergence in government spending.

Though the unionist parties are keen to talk about spending in Scotland, they are less keen to admit to what Scotland pays the UK Treasury every year. That’s why the Scottish Parliament should control all taxes raised in Scotland.

Next week we will be looking at Scotland’s Oil, but not how the SNP lost its nerve in the Seventies and backed off from trumpeting about the wealth that could have been spent in this country, but was left to be squandered by the Tories.

FOOT IN THE MOUTH NOTES

Speaking at the unveiling of Donald Dewar’s statue in Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Wendy Alexander said "I am so delighted it is in Glasgow"; I agree wholeheartedly.

I live in Edinburgh.

For the Scottish Parliament Elections next year, Labour will be bringing in activists from England, because they do not have the volunteers to canvass and deliver leaflets.

Do I not recollect the current Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr John Reid, being found guilty of using his parliamentary staff to work for Labour at the last Scottish Election, being paid with public (our) money? Who will fund this lot?

Labour Ministers sent a letter of thanks to Wendy Alexander following her resignation; it is very unusual for Ministers collectively to thank a Minister who has resigned.

They must have been glad to see the back of her.

The "North Briton" (aka The Scotsman) made a big splash about benefit fraud among building workers at the new Scottish Parliament, as if this was the fault of the Parliament itself, and not something common to all building projects.

The new offices of the "North Briton", across the road from the Parliament, were finished on schedule and on budget, as they publicly boasted; they did not report their benefit fraudsters, or did they? Or was it a case of "Nothing to do with me, guv."

A Tory MSP asked if wind tunnel tests had been carried out on the new Parliament building to avoid whistling when the wind blows; he was told no.

Obviously another item of cost they want to complain about.

The Tories are already floating the idea that they could go in to a coalition with the SNP after the next election; they have not asked the SNP yet.

The Tories are no strangers to pragmatism; they are in coalition with Labour in Perth and Kinross to keep the largest party (SNP) out.

I received a letter this week, marked "Important News: Please Open". It said "Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Yes) will undertake her planned tour of Edinburgh on 24 May 2002".

See inaccurate junk mail!

Next month the G8 summit will be held in the Canadian Rockies, and the Canadian authorities are presently hunting, tranquilising and radio tagging grizzly bears so that they can track any possible threat to the world’s leaders.

They should try that with England football supporters.

SYNOPSIS

A selection of items from the SNP Daily News over the past week:

BRUCE CRAWFORD LITTER BILL AIMS TO CREATE "PRIDE IN SCOTLAND"
(Wednesday 22 May 2002)

The Shadow Environment Minister Bruce Crawford MSP today announced that there is backing for stronger penalties for litterlouts. Mr Crawford who made the announcement at the publication of the consultation results on his Private Members Bill on litter with Mr Ivan Broussine, Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourism Forum, said, "When I launched my consultation process I highlighted that I wanted to create a 'Pride in Scotland' culture and to take a zero tolerance attitude by hitting litter louts hard in their pockets. There was also a clear sense of frustration from local authorities that they felt almost powerless in their attempts to deal with the menace of litter." Mr Crawford who earlier in the day visited Inverkeithing Station, the main rail point for the new Rosyth Ferry, with SNP Leader John Swinney MSP to highlight the appalling litter problem that will greet visitors, said "As we enter the tourist season in Scotland it has never been more important to keep our streets and countryside free of litter. It is essential that people visiting Scotland are able to enjoy their visit in an environment that is litter free. The last thing that our tourist industry needs is for people to return home from their visit with negative memories of a litter-strewn landscape. Sadly, however, in too many parts of Scotland this is still the case." Mr Crawford who is not allowed to use Parliamentary resources in drawing up his Bill added, "Since the launch of my consultation process on the Litter Bill the Executive have been shaken from their stupor in regard to tackling the litter menace and have now launched their own copy cat campaign and consultation process.

HIGHLAND LANDING CHARGES "DOUBLE WHAMMY" OF LIB-LAB COALITION
(Wednesday 22 May 2002)

Shadow Transport Minister Kenny MacAskill MSP and SNP Western Isles PPC Alasdair Nicholson today published a paper which highlights the failure of the Executive to adequately fund Public Service Orders (PSOs) for flights in the Highlands and Islands. Mr MacAskill said this was compounding the agony caused by Executive owned airports, having some of the highest landing charges in Europe and that his paper contrasted the position in Scotland with the position in Ireland where Loganair, who operate the three existing PSOs, are able to deliver a cheaper service between Derry and Dublin than they can on the Scottish routes due to the level of funding provided by the Irish Government. Speaking from Inverness at the publication Mr MacAskill said, "The high level of fares in the Highlands and Islands exposes the double whammy facing this region from the Lib/Lab Executive. They have imposed landing charges and high fares and have the ultimate say over whether there is to be a PSO and what is to be charged. The blame for excessive fares lies fairly and squarely at the door of the Executive. The Irish Government can deliver a cheaper service for a community not even within their borders. It shows that when it comes to aviation the Highland and Islands are paying a Lib/Lab premium. It is now time for action to get these fares down." Mr Alasdair Nicholson added, "People in the Highlands and Islands are fed up paying a premium for their geographic location. With alternative transport links being limited air links are even more vital to the area. However as well as being accessible they must also be affordable. It is now up to the Scottish Executive to deliver real change for this region as presently all they are delivering is excessive fares."

ARMY BARRACKS NO PLACE FOR ELDERLY PATIENTS - NICOLA STURGEON
(Wednesday 22 May 2002)

Shadow Health Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP today demanded Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm take action to deal with the crisis in Scotland's care homes after the NHS in Lothian was forced to consider the use of Army Barracks and to house elderly patients. Commenting on the situation Ms Sturgeon said, "The utter contempt in which Labour hold elderly Scots is breathtaking. Elderly Scots have paid for the health service all their lives and now when they need it to be there for them, they are being treated with contempt." Ms Sturgeon said army barracks were not suitable for vulnerable elderly patients and Mr Chisholm should "hold his head in shame". Ms Sturgeon accused Labour of on their hands for years while the crisis in care homes escalated. "The system has now reached breaking point yet there is still no sign that Malcolm will act to deliver more care home places. There is a strong suspicion that he will be happy to see elderly patients removed to barracks as it would potentially remove them from the official statistics ahead of the election. He must act now to guarantee that no patient is housed in inappropriate accommodation. His inactivity must end today and action taken to ensure that older Scots receive the care they need in appropriate accommodation."

BAREFACED CHEEK OF SPORTENGLAND AS SCOTTISH SPORT MISSES OUT AGAIN
(Wednesday 22 May 2002)

Shadow Sports Minister, Irene McGugan MSP, today said it was "absolutely astonishing" that the £40 million pounds being awarded to UK Athletics will only benefit England and not the other constituent parts of the UK. Mrs McGugan said, "This money is being given to UK Athletics as compensation for the failed British bid to host the 2005 World Championships, from which the whole of Britain would have benefited, yet only England will reap the rewards. We have seen money being thrown at English sport over the years, through failed bids for events such as the World Cup, infinite pots of cash being promised for a new 'Wembley', and state of the art facilities being built for this year's Commonwealth Games; whereas Scotland has had to plead for funding to complete Hampden's refurbishment - it seems Scottish sport continually misses out in comparison with that south of the border." Mrs McGugan said that Scotland's share of the £40 million would have been more than ten times what is currently received, "Scottish athletics is already undermined via its position within a UK context and this kick in the face from SportEngland, against the wishes of UK Athletics, merely serves to compound that. I will be seeking assurances from our Sports Minister here to ensure he is making vociferous representations to his counterpart in London over this latest fiasco".

WINNIE EWING WRITES TO QUEEN ON "CONSTITUTIONAL MISTAKE"
(Wednesday 22 May 2002)

SNP President Winnie Ewing MSP has written to the Queen to suggest that the year of her Golden Jubilee would be an "appropriate opportunity" for Her Majesty's title in Scotland to be formally changed from Elizabeth II to "Elizabeth I Queen of Scots". Winnie Ewing is being supported in her initiative by Professor Sir Neil MacCormick MEP, the son of John MacCormick, who with Ian Hamilton took out a famous legal case against the Lord Advocate in 1953, challenging the title of Elizabeth II in Scotland, since the first Elizabeth had been Queen of England only. Commenting on her letter Dr Ewing said, "I do believe that this would be an appropriate time for a past constitutional mistake to be reversed. So much has changed since the Coronation fifty years ago, not least the constitutional arrangements within these islands, that a reform of Her Majesty's title in Scotland to 'Elizabeth I Queen of Scots' would both reflect these changes, and I am sure be extremely well received by the people of Scotland." Dr Ewing MSP said, "This is a respectful request to the Queen to use the occasion of the Golden Jubilee to put to rights a bad mistake that her advisers made in 1952." Neil MacCormick MEP added, "I think that this is an excellent initiative by Winnie, and I hope that it gets a positive response. This was a huge issue in Scotland in 1952, and I well remember my father's famous case of MacCormick vs the Lord Advocate, and all the excitement it generated. It would be good to think that this wrong could be righted fifty years on in the Golden Jubilee Year."

WEALTH GAP CONTINUING TO WIDEN SAYS ANDREW WILSON
(Wednesday 22 May 2002)

Commenting on a report published today by economic analysts, Business Strategies, which states that the Scottish economy would grow by 2.6% in 2003, with the UK forecast at 3.1%, Shadow Economy Minister Andrew Wilson MSP said, "I would love to share the optimism of Business Strategies for the Scottish economy however there is nothing in the performance of the economy that suggests that their forecast this year will be any more accurate than their forecast last year. Even their figures published today confirm that the UK economy is growing faster than the Scottish economy and that the wealth gap will widen not narrow." Mr Wilson said growth in 2001 was only 0.6% and although everyone wanted the Scottish economy to do well, it had to be accepted that there was a problem before a solution could be found. "The Scottish Parliament needs therefore to have the financial powers to place the economy at a competitive advantage compared to the rest of the UK.

SCOTTISH ROADS WORST IN THE UK - REPORT
(Tuesday 21 May 2002)

A report published today by the Asphalt Industry Alliance has stated Scotland's roads are the worst in the UK and that Scottish local authorities can only afford to resurface roads once every 120 years on average whilst in England it is ever 78 years. This is despite guidelines that recommend roads are resurfaced every ten to twenty years. The report also suggests that Scotland's pot holed roads have got worse under the Labour Executive and highlights the shortfall between how much is needed to repair roads and what is actually provided. SNP local government chief, West Lothian councillor Peter Johnston commented: "In Scotland, the deficit is 288 million pounds - an average of 9 million pounds for every Scottish authority - but the total road maintenance budget is only 82 million pounds, averaging 2.6 million pounds per council. Added to this, Scottish councils are now spending thousands of days and millions of pounds dealing with compensation claims which last year totalled 2.2 million pounds, or 70,000 pounds per council."

SCOTS FAG AD IS MADE IN PRAGUE
(Sunday 19 May 2002)

Michael Russell MSP A Scottish anti-smoking advert set in a nightclub was filmed 1000 miles away in Prague to save cash. And yesterday, home-grown film-makers and politicians slammed the decision to make the TV health promo in the Czech Republic. The pop-video style advert for the Health Education Board for Scotland cost 166,000 pounds to make in Prague. HEBS claims it would have cost 50,000 pounds more in Scotland. The saving came at the cost of Czech extras - who were paid only 1 pound 47 an hour. The 50-second commercial features two teenagers lured into the apparently exotic world of smoking, witnessing the horrors of the long-term medical consequences of smoking in a nightclub. Mike Russell, SNP culture spokesman, blasted: "It's appalling. If Government money is being spent on encouraging the Czech film industry, it's little wonder the Scottish film industry has such problems. I think it is outrageous and I hope they will make changes in their policy immediately. What we want to do is build talent in Scotland even if wages are cheaper over there."

JOHN SWINNEY CONDEMNS "IRRELEVANT" TORIES
(Saturday 18 May 2002)

John Swinney MSP "No-one would trust the Tories to run a tea-party never mind a country, "SNP leader John Swinney said today. Speaking at a regional launch of the SNP's Talking Independence campaign in the South of Scotland, Mr Swinney said: "We had to suffer eighteen years of damaging policies from the Tories that have contributed to the fragmentation of our society and led to an even greater number of vulnerable people in our communities." Mr Swinney told the audience: "As the Tories blether together about policies that they will never be in a position to introduce, I am launching the SNP's Talking Independence campaign in the South of Scotland. The SNP is engaging with and talking directly to the people of Scotland and selling our positive message of Independence and the policies that will genuinely improve the lives of Scots. Policies like doubling the number of secure places in Scotland for young offenders to tackle youth crime, reducing class sizes to 18 for primary one to three, tackling hospital cleanliness, increasing the numbers of nurses in our hospitals, and putting people before profit." Mr Swinney said the real contest for Scots at next year's local and Scottish parliamentary elections was between the SNP and Labour. "It is between the Labour party who continually run down Scotland and make policy on the hoof if they think it will get them headlines, and the SNP - a party with policies that will work for Scotland. The contest for First Minister will be between me and Jack McConnell. And unlike Jack I care about the future of Scotland Jack only cares about the future of the Labour party."

EXECUTIVE ACCUSED OF "BULLY-BOY PRESSURE" BY MSP
(Saturday 18 May 2002)

Fergus Ewing MSP The Scottish Executive and Holyrood authorities have undermined democracy over their handling of the Shirley McKie case, according to a SNP MSP. In a letter published today in The Herald, Fergus Ewing accuses the executive "bully-boy pressure" on David Steel, presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, to deny a debate because it was desperate to avoid discussing the case. Mr Ewing says the executive warned Lord Steel before the debate that ministers would refuse to take part in it, exerting improper influence and undermining the principles of democracy and accountability. Ms McKie, a former Strathclyde Police detective whose career was wrecked when her fingerprints were wrongly identified at a crime scene, was to have her case debated by MSPs on Thursday.

OUR ADVERTISERS
Please support our Advertisers by visiting their web sites

Send a superb bouquet of flowers from Wild About Flowers to any UK address. Use our special login name and password to ensure you get your special price negotiated for you by the Flag!
Login Name: Scots Password: Independent

SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS
(if you have any suggestions on what you'd like us to include email peter@scotsindependent.org)

One of the most important exhibitions in Scotland during 2002 is entitled 'Facing the Light' which features 200 of the most striking images captured on calotype by the partnership of Hill and Adamson between 1843 and 1847. The exhibition, sponsored by TSB Lloyds Scotland, is part of the exhibitions and celebrations across Scotland in what has been designated the Year of Photography by the National Galleries of Scotland. It's centrepiece, in the bicentenary year of the birth of painter David Octavius Hill, is 'Facing the Light' at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, Edinburgh. It runs until 15 September 2002 and entry is free.

David Octavius Hill teamed up with fledging photographer Robert Adamson to form one of the most famous partnerships in the history of photography. Adamson died, tragically young at 27, but their output was prodigious. Between May 1843 and 1847 they produced more than 3000 portraits, city views and landscapes, using the calotype process developed by Henry Fox Talbot in England but never patented in Scotland. In 1843 they started on a project of recording the faces of the 450 ministers who had left the established kirk to set up the Free Church of Scotland. This was the basis of Hill's impressive painting of the 1843 Disruption. They captured forever the changing face of 1840's Edinburgh and immortalised amongst others the fishwives of Newhaven. These women traditionally walked from Newhaven on the Firth of Forth, south of Edinburgh, into the city to sell their fish, carrying their creels tied round their foreheads with a leather strap.

In honour of the pioneering work by Hill and Adamson, and their famous images of the fishwives, this week's recipe comes from Newhaven and the main ingredient is, of course, fish. The basis of Newhaven Cream is smoked haddock.

Newhaven Cream

Serves four

Ingredients : 1 lb filleted smoked haddock; 3 oz white breadcrumbs; 1 1/2 oz butter; 1/4 oz chopped parsley; 3 beaten eggs; 1/4 pint cream; salt and pepper

Cook the fish in some milk, strain and flake fish. Mix all ingredients together until well blended. Grease individual or one large mould and fill with the mixture. Cover with greaseproof paper and steam for half-an-hour. Serve hot with a parsley or mushroom sauce using as a base the milk in which the fish was cooked. The dish can also be served cold with salad.

See our Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs in our Features section

DATES IN HISTORY

24 May 1153
Death of David I, King of Scots ( 1124 - 1153 ), youngest son of Malcolm III and Margaret, at Carlisle. His founding of many religious houses led to him being discribed as 'A sair sanct for the Crown'.

28 May 1333
Army of King Edward III of England maintained a land blockage of Berwick dispite success of Scottish defenders in dispersing a seabourne attack.

24 May 1972
Glasgow Rangers became the first Scottish club to win the European Cup-Winners Cup by defeating Moscow Dynamo 3-2 in Barcelona.

See Dates in History in our Features Section

SING A SANG AT LEAST
(compiled by Peter D Wright)

"That I for poor auld Scotland's sake
Some useful plan or book could make
Or sing a sang at least ........"

- Robert Burns

WHAT DID YOU LEARN AT SCHOOL?
Tom Paxton

What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

I learned that Washington never told a lie;

I learned that soldiers seldom die;

I learned that everybody's free,

And that's what the teacher said to me,

And that's what I learned in school today,

That's what I learned in school.

What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

I learned that policemen are my friends,

I learned that justice never ends,

I learnt that mudderers die for their crimes

Even if we make mistakes some times,

And that's what I learned in school today

That's what I learned in school.

What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

I learned that war is not so bad,

I learned about the great ones we have had,

We fought in Germany and in France,

And some day I might get my chance,

And that's what I learned in school today

That's what I learned in school.

What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

I learned our government must be strong,

It's always right and never wrong,

Our leaders are the finest men

And we elect 'em again and again,

And that's what I learned in school today

That's what I learned in school.

Footnote : Contemporary song marched hand and hand with traditional song during the Scottish Folk Revival and the songs of American folksinger and songwriter featured regularly. This song appeared on his LP 'Ramblin Boy' in the mid 60's. Tom Paxton is still to the fore and regularly visits Scotland - he plays a concert in the Strathclyde Suite at The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall ( Box Office 0141 353 8000 - tickets £12.50 ) on Wednesday 29 May 2002. He will be joined by Anne Hills to perform tracks from their new duet album 'Under American Skies'.

See the SING A SANG AT LEAST in our features section

A KIST O FERLIES
A Keek at the Guid Scots Tung

By Peter & Marilyn Wright
(Note: All words underlined in this section are RealAudio links)

aye: always
forjeskit: exhausted
furr up: earth up, potatoes etc
lippen fou: full to the brim
norlan: northern
wee pickle: small amount

He's weill warth sorrow that coffs it wi his ain siller: He deserves all that is coming to him

I met wi' twa dink quines in particlar, ane o' them a sonsie, fine fodgel lass, baith braw and bonie; the tither was a clean-shankit, straught, tight, weel-far'd winch, as blythe's a lintwhite on a flowerie thorn, and as sweet and modest's a new blawn plumrose in a hazle shaw. - they were baith bred to mainners by the beuk, and onie ane o' them has a muckle smeddum and rumblegumption as the half o' some Presbyteries that you and I baith ken. - They play'd me sik a deevil o' a shavie that I daur say if my harigals were turn'd out, ye wad see twa nicks i' the heart o' me like the mark o' a kail-whittle in a castock.

frae 'A Skreed ti Willie Nicol' - Robert Burns. This extract is from the only surviving letter in Scots written by Robert Burns. He sent it to his friend William Nicol in Edinburgh from Carlisle towards the end of his Border tour in 1787.

Complete Poem

The Wild Geese
by Violet Jacob

See Scots Language in our Features Section
for other poems, stories, songs, sayings and words in the Scots language

THE MONTHLY PRIZE CROSSWORD

Each month the Scots Independent Newspaper offers a prize crossword and we're now offering this online in the Flag in the Wind as well. Should you complete the crossword by the deadline you can fax it over to the SI and the first correct one opened on the closing date will win a £10.00 book token.

SI Prize Crossword No. 29 MAY 2002
[Click here to bring up the crosswords]

AND AS WE CONTINUE...

If you read our first issue of The Flag in the Wind you will know that this is a weekly Internet commentary on the Scottish political scene; if you desire further erudition click on Archives.

SOME OF OUR FEATURE SECTIONS....

About Us
Our mission is to fight for an Independent Scotland and to promote its history, heritage and culture. Learn all about us here.
Events
A running event guide to what's on in Scotland.
The Scots Language
A great introduction to the Scots Language, produced by Peter and Marilyn Wright, and added to each week both in text and RealAudio. Enjoy listening to words, poems and stories told in a real Scots accent!
The Rebels Ceilidh Songbook
An excellent introduction to traditional songs from Scotland.
Sing A Sang At Least
Our collection of Scottish songs. A new song is added to the collection each week.
Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs
Enjoy our collections of recipes and our comments on them.
The Prize Crossword
Each month the newspaper edition produces the Prize Crossword and you can now try it for yourself with this online edition. We carry previous copies here as well.
Notable Dates in History
Each week we add three new notable dates in history building this into an historic timeline for Scottish history.
Features
Lots more stories, recipes, historical articles and even whole books are added here on a regular basis.
The Oliver Brown Award
An annual award given to an outstanding Scot(s) each year. Also included picture galleries from the annual lunch.

THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY

The Scots Independent Newspaper is independent of the Scottish National Party, but we support the Party in its drive for Independence; while space precludes us commenting on all the issues raised by the 35 MSPs, 5 MPS and 2 MEPs, also the Party Office Bearers, we have provided a link to the SNP Website.

THE FLAG IN THE WIND

The above was the title of a book written in the early Fifties by John MacDonald MacCormick, one of the founder members of the Scottish National Party in 1934. The sub-title was "The Story of the National Movement in Scotland". His comment in the book said "It is perhaps in the symbols which men use that their deepest sentiments are most readily expressed. Flags as well as straws show which way the wind is blowing". A fuller account appears under Features.

ADVERTISING IN THE FLAG IN THE WIND

Advertising in The Flag in the Wind has some unique advantages. Not only will you reach thousands of people every week but you'll note from the details below that when you advertise with us you also get a FREE advert in the Scots Independent Newspaper. Well you should know that the newspaper is considered to be an historical resource so all issues are archived by Aberdeen University and Edinburgh University for future generations to read and study. This means when you advertise with us you become part of Scotland's history and heritage! Of course free issues of the newspaper are sent to 400 Scottish secondary schools so that our youth can also learn from our excellent range of topics on Scottish politics, heritage and history. This means that your advert, while publicising your company, product, service, events, etc., is also helping to educate our children and helping us to extend the reach of our newspaper to promote all that is best in Scottish Nationalism and all that is best in Scotland. We have a powerful voice not only in Scotland but all over the world wherever Scots and Scots descendants are settled.

Button Advert
You can take out a 145 x 40 pixel Button Advert on this page for a full 12 months for only £995.00 and at the same time get a FREE 2 column classified advert in the Scots Independent Newspaper for the same 12 months, all for the same inclusive annual price of £995.00.

Banner Advert
One Banner advert, 468 x 60 pixels, is available on this index page under the Issue Date and before the first article. Cost is £695.00 per month and includes an optional FREE 2 column display advert in the Scots Independent Newspaper during the same month as you have the banner on the site.

WE WOULD WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK

The Flag in the Wind would welcome your feedback on what you think of this weekly service. Happy to receive any comments or suggestions. Simply email webmaster@scotsindependent.org.