33 Comments
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Denis Munro's avatar

What a great line “… she's nationalised the assets and privatised the blame.”

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Duncan Mclelland's avatar

Superb article as always

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Robert Dickson's avatar

Excellent article Stephen. I could not believe my ears when I heard Fiona Hyslop's loaded question. It really is an embarrassment that questions like these are allowed as they are only included to give FM grievance ammunition to Westminster bash as opposed to admit to other failures of their governance, of which there are many.

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Gordon Dudman's avatar

Of course the 'Tory' dispute with the railways is a call for Network Rail to reduce its overheads by reducing staff - this has, of course, infuriated the RMT Union. There are calls to reduce the numbers of stations which provide manned ticket offices - this has, of course, infuriated the TSSA Union and the RMT. ASLEF not threatening action elsewhere in the UK as at present!

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Doreen Edgar's avatar

Brilliant Stephen. Not really a laughing matter for the people of Scotland, but if you didnae laugh you would greet.

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Elaine's avatar

A highly entertaining read. Hyslop steaming in with an absolute doozy! 😂 The whole situation is farcical yet this useless bunch keep getting voted in.

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Ray's avatar

"The biggest mistake the SNP has made in, oh, the last 24 hours." LOL. Love it.

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Gordon Dudman's avatar

I suspect that ASLEF know that the Scottish Government are the ultimate paymasters and that with Abellio gone, they can push for significant increases. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out in the coming days.

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Dyceman's avatar

I see that another ferry has been taken out of service today after having struck a pier while berthing somewhere in the a Western Isles . The resultant hole was temporarily welded up and the ship was taken to the Clyde for repair . It will be out of service for some time . Why can’t the SG have a spare ferry on standby for situations such as this ? I bet sane governments all over the world do it . Transport shambles has become the norm .

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Dyceman's avatar

Matt , to be honest it was daft of the SG to think that they could nationalise Scotrail and make it work . The unions , to paraphrase Frankie Boyle , “will drive the SG into the ground like a tent peg “.

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Dyceman's avatar

I’ve noticed him on other sites coming out with the same misbegotten tripe using the same words and phrases . It would be best if we all ignored him .

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Dyceman's avatar

…..Andrew for the life of me I can’t understand what you’re on about ….perhaps you’re so bitter and full of rage that you are unable to express yourself properly …..now take a deep breath and start again .

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Dyceman's avatar

…..for those still with a sense of humour …..She needs to get a ‘tender behind’ .

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Andrea's avatar

Rail strike are the old normal here. You wouldn't expect to be able to travel at week ends, do you.

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Matt Armstrong's avatar

To be fair to SNP, the chalice they picked up is full of poison. ASLEF v the Government (any government) is a long-standing fixture.

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Laura Belle's avatar

Superb again Stephen, keep them coming!

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Andrew's avatar

Today’s propaganda from SNP Bad HQ and the tax dodging Daily Mail. As Rail services in Tory England torture the budgets of millions the Brit Nats attack anything that makes ordinary life better. At some point, people will wake up to the reality of right wrong propaganda.

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Doreen Edgar's avatar

Today’s deflection and whitabootery from the SNP Cult HQ.

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Andrew's avatar

Sure. What about the £37b the masters blew on covid? What about the worst death rate in Europe? What about the worst inflation? What about the highest energy bills imposed on Scotland when we have so much energy? What about allowing ourselves to be ruled from another country. Toryism is moral filth. And the usual guff propaganda here is bought and paid for by their billionaire tax dodging owner. They will never con me.

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Me's avatar

Now we know you're only here to troll, Andrew. All your points are demonstrably false, yet here you are again. You are pitiful.

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Matt Armstrong's avatar

Check expenditure and death rates. But I’m tempted to move to England if energy bills there are lower than in Scotland. And don’t worry. Nobody will try to con you.

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Matt Armstrong's avatar

“As Rail services in Tory England torture the budgets of millions”

Are you a journalist by trade, Andrew? Plain English is better.

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Andrew's avatar

Since you’ve decided to trade personalised insults over the internet I think I’ll just leave it there.

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Matt Armstrong's avatar

Andrew, I’m so, so sorry. I forgot you are a little bit fragile. Just as well I didn’t use words like “moral filth” “guff propaganda” or “tax dodging”.

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Me's avatar

Again, Andrew, you claim insults where none were given. It's all you have, cry that a big boy did it and ran away. Your responses here have always been nothing of value, only how offended you are about valid points others raise.

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Andrew's avatar

Suggest you reread what you’ve just written. Reflect on the gutlessness involved in writing as you do over the internet.

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Matt Armstrong's avatar

To help those not on your level of intellect, Andrew, where is the gutlessness?

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Andrew's avatar

When you want to insult a man, you do it face to face or not at all. To do so out of reach, is unworthy of anyone who would call himself a man.

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