(c) Open Democracy
From the Guardian late on the 16th, picked up by Wings at 4am the next morning, then covered by the National today, there is an astonishing revelation of a calculated betrayal of Scotland. See, in particular, the last line, in the Guardian piece:
‘But according to what is described as a diplomatic note seen by the Times, the EU is struggling to convince the UK that it is significant that checks at a border could be avoided entirely for many companies through trusted trade schemes…The note says: “The biggest unsolved problem is Northern Ireland. There is a political mobilisation in the UK in this regard. Therefore, we are trying to clarify the EU position. The controls or checks only have to be organised in a way that would not endanger the EU single market. For the main part, these controls would not have to happen at a border. It is to be expected that the reach of the backstop would decrease anyway in case of an agreement about the future relationship … The solution is specifically phrased for Northern Ireland so that it is not applicable for Scotland, a UK concern.’
For Wings, it was both astonishing and deeply offensive:
‘The part of the UK which delivered the most resounding vote in the referendum would be the only one that DIDN’T get what it voted for.’
https://twitter.com/WingsScotland/status/1041645764752171008
For the National, it was an:
‘Appalling’ secret Tory plot to shut out Scotland in Brexit deal exposed by leak.’ The EU could be ‘secretly preparing’ a special deal for a frictionless Irish border. The Tories are plotting to undermine Scotland’s interests during negotiations with the EU, in what Brexit secretary Michael Russell described last night as a “massive insult”. ‘
I can’t think of a more dramatic Brexit-related piece of news for the people of Scotland to consider, yet it has been almost invisible across our mainstream media. In their three-hour show this morning, Good Morning Scotland didn’t find space to report on it. They had plenty of time for extended reports on the lack of preparation for Brexit by health boards and on the concern about staffing shortages deriving from it. The was no sign in the Scotsman or Herald with both focusing on the forecast, from pro-Union’s Scottish Business UK, a non-existent body, of independence being ‘eight times as costly as Brexit.’
This is an unmatched example of bias by omission which may leave a major part of the Scots electorate ignorant of a key, defining development, on the path to Brexit. As Wings points out, this is an attempt to deny that part of the UK which most strongly voted to stay in the EU, a special deal which they are nevertheless prepared to offer to a part which only narrowly voted to remain because that part, Northern Ireland, is on the same island as an EU member, Ireland, which has the power to veto the deal otherwise.
Though I argue that much day-to-day media bias results from unconscious loyalty to British institutions, this, in the public domain across social media and unavoidably known to the editors and writers at the BBC, STV, Scotsman and Herald, is being neglected deliberately either out of fear or because of conscious ideological alignment with the Unionist cause.
Talking-up Scotland 
If any of us have a morsel of regret about the long demise of the Scottish press, then this journalistic omission should be enough to harden our hearts.
A real story—doesn’t really matter which side of the constitutional debate journalists were on ( and they shouldn’t be on any)—this was a headline story which deserved to be aired, questions asked and conclusions reached.
And they missed it…………………………… Neues Deutschland anyone?
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Jawohl?
(All my German is from Combat comics)
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The newspaper of the East German State and Socialist Party. The main propaganda outlet and supporter of the Communist regime.
It showed the subjugated populous the “correct” way to think. Kind of what the Scotsman would like to do for us.
But hey, Combat German is all we need at times. As I enter my second childhood, I may soon revert to its idioms.
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“This is an attempt to deny that part of the UK which most strongly voted to stay in the EU, a special deal which they are nevertheless prepared to offer to a part which only narrowly voted to remain because that part, Northern Ireland, is on the same island as an EU member, Ireland”
Not entirely true John. NI’s protection against Brexit lies in the belfast /good Friday Agreement.
Which was ratified by referendums north and south of the Border.
Which involved the ROI Government making serious concessions over territrory and modifying its Constitution,
Which was lodged as a binding International treaty at the UN,
Which was the outcome of 30 years civil strife in NI against British rule .
Remember: it was set up to provide protection for the 50% of the population that want out of UK governance.
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True Ben. I should have included this information for a more accurate comment. I was in a rush to make the point about Scotland! I’m biased that way.
Hopefully readers will see your addition.
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No, John, you’re not biased – you have an openly stated set of views. True bias is what the Nomedian Naztards exhibit daily.
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