Mark Smith of the Fall, well the Fallen Scotsman, is infuriated because Nicola suggested that Scotland might have a greater tendency toward certain democratic, collectivist, values of the kind currently far from evident in the dominant narrative of elite control and heartless disregard for the infirm and the poor or the just different, currently spewing out of England’s politicians, journalists and member of the public interviewed in the streets. The BBC documentary series exploring who we might allow to stay in Britain shows how far the rot has set in.
Well, I know we’re not absolutely different and that some of us Scots are right hunts but then 20% do vote Tory (nearly 40% in England). However, collectively there is evidence that enough of us share the kind of values that Big Eck said we could use to make a ‘better nation’. From many earlier posts here see:
Scottish values making oil and gas firms a tad different too?
Return to the Meme: Even our employers are a bit different?
Are Scotland’s employers also different – more willing to pay a decent wage?
Scientific evidence that Scots tend to be different from the other groups in rUK?
Another difference? Scottish charity bosses paid 9% less
Care spending in England falls under the Tories
Scots’ attitudes to the unemployed differ from those of UK
Is NHS Scotland NOT wrongly or ‘rightly’ fining the sick and elderly?
North American and English young people ‘significantly bigger bullshitters’ than Scots
Talking-up Scotland 
I started to read Mr Smith’s piece, but quickly realised it was a bit of cavilling. It is a variation on the ‘Scottish exceptionalism’ and ‘identity politics’ jibes which the Better Together side used to use back in 2014. Of course, they would trumpet British values and the exceptionalism of ‘Rule Britannia, but these things were, of course, axiomatically true, because it was at ‘Heaven’s command’. It is a variation of the American ‘Manifest Destiny’. Johan Lamont’s soor face used to pout such vacuities before she was sidelined by Labour in favour of THE COLONEL.
The unionist side has been dusting off the 2014 arguments (which were retreads from 1997 and 1979). They are not aimed at persuading YES voters, who have long seen through the unionist mendacity, but at trying to steady the potential switherers and prevent them from switching.
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100% with you, Alasdair. Smith also brackets Scots who want to run their own country, in along with “nationalists and Brexiteers”, as though these were not the horses driving the Tory and Labour bandwagon these days. The Tories in particular, have been dancing with the mannequin of populist English nationalism for three decades now (previously, English superiority was just implied), but they have now awakened a force they cannot control. The latest YouGov poll has Farage’s lot in the lead, with the Tories fourth on 17%. That should upset Ruth Davidson, and her “Scots are different” mandate argument, because when Boris gets the crown, 17% in Scotland for the Ruthie Party will seem like mission impossible. Mark Smith take note!
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Confess Mark Smith is unknown to me – Since The Hootsmon seem to be toiling for news can I direct the bold Mark to an uplifting piece of news carried on news.gov.scot confirming that pupils and students at Scottish schools, colleges and universities will continue to access free sanitary products at these locations? Link and snippets below:
https://news.gov.scot/news/free-sanitary-products-for-students
Additional £5.5 million funding.
Pupils and students will continue to receive free sanitary products in schools, colleges and universities through increased investment of up to £5.5 million.
Last year Scotland become the first country in the world to provide access to free sanitary products for school pupils, and college and university students.
Background
Local authorities will receive £2 million for the next financial year, while universities and colleges will receive up to £3.5 million to continue the provision of free sanitary products.
That dratted SNP Scottish Govt. STILL getting on with the Day Job.
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Here’s another good news story I’m passing on to Mark Smith and the Hootsmon for free – More fruit + veg and less processed red meat and sugar for Scotland’s bairns. From news.gov.scot. website. Link and snippets below:
https://news.gov.scot/news/making-school-food-healthier
More fruit and vegetables, less processed red meat and sugar on the menu.
Scotland will become the first part of the UK to set maximum limits for consumption of red processed meat over the course of the school week, which will also reduce exposure to harmful nitrites.
The move is part of a new initiative to make school food healthier which includes increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables served and significantly reducing the amount of sugar available throughout the school day.
The Scottish Government and local authorities are jointly committed to providing the healthiest food to children and young people. This commitment is underpinned by a duty to provide school meals that meet strict nutritional requirements, including encouraging the use of fresh, local and sustainable produce.
The change strengthens the Scottish Government and Local Government efforts to improve diet, halve childhood obesity by 2030 and strengthen children and young people’s healthy eating habits.
School food regulations will be amended to ensure:
• a minimum of two full portions of vegetables and a full portion of fruit are offered as part of a school lunch, with full portions of fruit and or vegetables also available in, for example, tuck shops
• a maximum amount of red and processed red meat provision – such as bacon, ham and pepperoni – in school lunches to help reduce exposure to nitrites
• removal of fruit juice and smoothies from primary and secondary schools to help reduce sugar intake
The measures follow extensive consultation and advice from a working group comprising health, nutrition and education experts.
The regulations will come into effect by autumn 2020 to allow councils time to plan their menus and supply chains.
Did someone mention Day Job?
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Here’s another story from news.gov.scot covering several hot topics – fuel poverty/energy efficiency, reducing carbon footprint and social housing – with GOOD NEWS on all fronts. Again I’m passing it free gratis to wee Mark Smith of The Hootsmon. For Heaven’s sake Mark – pull your socks up just a bit and do some actual news gathering for once in your pampered ‘Scottish’ msm existence: Link and snippets below:
https://news.gov.scot/news/energy-efficiency-grants-for-social-landlords
The Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing aims to encourage landlords to improve the energy efficiency of social housing in Scotland. It sets a single minimum Energy Efficiency rating for landlords to achieve which varies dependent upon the dwelling type and the fuel type used to heat it.
The funding is being provided for measures such as insulation and internal improvements to social rented accommodation.
To receive the funding projects must also include activity to reduce a building’s carbon footprint, such as ground source heat pumps, biomass energy from organic material and solar panels.
By the end of 2021, the Scottish Government will have allocated more than £1 billion since 2009 to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency – making homes warmer and cheaper to heat.
The Scottish Government is committed to delivering at least 50,000 affordable homes by 2021, with 35,000 of these for social rent.
More than £3.3 billion is being invested into the affordable housing programme – the single biggest investment in affordable housing since devolution.
Latest statistics show that since 2007 more than 86,000 affordable homes have been delivered, including more than 59,000 for social rent.
The Scottish Government’s Energy and Housing Directorates continue to work in partnership to deliver the Energy Efficient Scotland Route Map published last year. This £3.5 million in new funding comes from the Scottish Government’s Energy portfolio.
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