Tory calls for Wishart to apologise
The SNP'S Pete Wishart was last night called on to apologise for alleging Scots in England were being "abused and berated" because of poisonous Metropolitan myths about public spending in Scotland and the West Lothian question.
Murdo Fraser MSP, the Scottish Tories' deputy leader, branded the Perth MP an "embarrassment to his constituents".
Mr Wishart, the Nationalists' constitutional spokesman at Westminster, had attacked what he termed the "hysterical and nonsensical campaign" by the Conservatives and their tabloid supporters.
As reported in The Herald yesterday, Mr Wishart claimed to have heard "reports of Scots being abused" on the back of "Metropolitan myths" about Scotland and recounted how he had heard of an English shopkeeper handing back change to a Scottish customer, saying: "I'm sick of handing money over to you Scots."
Last night, Mr Fraser said: "Pete Wishart just makes himself look foolish, making wild claims such as these, for which there is no foundation."
The Tory front bencher said if his Nationalist opponent had bothered to check his facts with the Equality and Human Rights Commission before "shooting his mouth off" he would have found that it had received not a single complaint of racism against Scots south of the border. Instead, argued Mr Fraser, he took one unsubstantiated anecdote and tried to spin it into a national phenomenon."
He added: "Pete Wishart has proved himself to be an embarrassment to his constituents in Perth & North Perthshire. He should withdraw his ridiculous comments and apologise for the offence caused."
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Posted by: TMcL on 1:43am Fri 2 Nov 07
Fooled by a headline. There was I wondering what Ruth had to apologise for now.
Fooled by a headline. There was I wondering what Ruth had to apologise for now.
Posted by: Diomedes Kane, Glasgow on 2:15am Fri 2 Nov 07
Just because no-one reports it to the Brit-Nat HRC (who, you may recall, asserted that speaking Gaelic was racist) doesn't mean that anti-Scottish racism is not endemic in England. I visit England very very often on business and to visit family and I experience low grade anti-Scottish racism on every single occasion, from the familiar "harmless banter" right up to sinister threats...
Just because no-one reports it to the Brit-Nat HRC (who, you may recall, asserted that speaking Gaelic was racist) doesn't mean that anti-Scottish racism is not endemic in England. I visit England very very often on business and to visit family and I experience low grade anti-Scottish racism on every single occasion, from the familiar "harmless banter" right up to sinister threats...
Posted by: Karenisabitch on 2:31am Fri 2 Nov 07
Murdo Fraser has stood three times in North Tayside (the Holyrood seat of Pete Wishart's seat).
He has lost three times.
Go figure...
Murdo Fraser has stood three times in North Tayside (the Holyrood seat of Pete Wishart's seat).
He has lost three times.
Go figure...
Posted by: Nutter Alert on 2:32am Fri 2 Nov 07
NatNutclaims "sinister threats" made on visits south. Also says Equality & Human Rights Commission which incorporates the old Disability, Racial Equality & Equal Opps bodies) is "Brit-Nat" (news to that anti-racist stalwart Trevor Phillips who heads it), accuses of them of saying speaking Gaelic is racist.
Conclusion: NatNuts having difficulty sleeping. lack of sleep distorts reality.
Prescription: Lie in darkened room with full shortbread tin and listen to old Andy Stewart tapes interspersed with Alex Salmond speeches.
NatNutclaims "sinister threats" made on visits south. Also says Equality & Human Rights Commission which incorporates the old Disability, Racial Equality & Equal Opps bodies) is "Brit-Nat" (news to that anti-racist stalwart Trevor Phillips who heads it), accuses of them of saying speaking Gaelic is racist.
Conclusion: NatNuts having difficulty sleeping. lack of sleep distorts reality.
Prescription: Lie in darkened room with full shortbread tin and listen to old Andy Stewart tapes interspersed with Alex Salmond speeches.
Posted by: keith hendry, Perth on 8:33am Fri 2 Nov 07
Pete Wishart is my MP & a good one at that, he has nothing to apologise for & that's a fact. Murdo Frazer is a perfidious lackie of the British establishment & all that goes with it. His party along with there pals in union Labour & Lib whatever they are have played the game of keeping Scotland marginalised, Scottish Nationalist's like myself & there a lot more than 23% do not take lecture's of these complicit wretches & all they stand for, Frazer & his ilk-700 years of treachery! That along with Frazer's party's disgraceful attacks on the working class in the 80"s & using the full force of the Crown's bastion's against working class people along with a disgraceful contrived war like the Falklands ( that was the island where a year prior to the conflict his party was in the process of removing the islanders British citizenship & that is a fact) any decent human being who stands back and amylases these people will see them for the gangsters they are!
Pete Wishart is my MP & a good one at that, he has nothing to apologise for & that's a fact. Murdo Frazer is a perfidious lackie of the British establishment & all that goes with it. His party along with there pals in union Labour & Lib whatever they are have played the game of keeping Scotland marginalised, Scottish Nationalist's like myself & there a lot more than 23% do not take lecture's of these complicit wretches & all they stand for, Frazer & his ilk-700 years of treachery! That along with Frazer's party's disgraceful attacks on the working class in the 80"s & using the full force of the Crown's bastion's against working class people along with a disgraceful contrived war like the Falklands ( that was the island where a year prior to the conflict his party was in the process of removing the islanders British citizenship & that is a fact) any decent human being who stands back and amylases these people will see them for the gangsters they are!
Posted by: SW on 9:11am Fri 2 Nov 07
More salt for that imaginary chip on your shoulder, keith hendry?
More salt for that imaginary chip on your shoulder, keith hendry?
Posted by: keith hendry, Perth on 9:22am Fri 2 Nov 07
Ah the old chip on the shoulder routine! Whatever ! Anyway who's that SW you know me so come clean or I'll Morris dance out side yer Gaff when your exposed! Bob MacPheeeeeeeeeeeeeee
!
Ah the old chip on the shoulder routine! Whatever ! Anyway who's that SW you know me so come clean or I'll Morris dance out side yer Gaff when your exposed! Bob MacPheeeeeeeeeeeeeee
!
Posted by: DW, Perthshire on 9:52am Fri 2 Nov 07
I am one of Pete Wishart's constituents and far from being embarrassed I am actually very satisfied. In fact, I'm glad that at least he and the SNP are speaking up for Scotland.
Murdo Fraser on the other hand has been consistently rejected by the people of this constituency, and on the evidence of this neither he nor his party are going to improve matters in future.
I am one of Pete Wishart's constituents and far from being embarrassed I am actually very satisfied. In fact, I'm glad that at least he and the SNP are speaking up for Scotland.
Murdo Fraser on the other hand has been consistently rejected by the people of this constituency, and on the evidence of this neither he nor his party are going to improve matters in future.
Posted by: Diomedes Kane, Glasgow on 10:22am Fri 2 Nov 07
The HRC is a British Nationalist organisation, a situation the previous man in charge, Gurdux Singh, was not happy about. Then he got kicked out for being a bit obstreporous.
The HRC is a British Nationalist organisation, a situation the previous man in charge, Gurdux Singh, was not happy about. Then he got kicked out for being a bit obstreporous.
Posted by: Alastair, Aberdeen on 10:58am Fri 2 Nov 07
Murdo Fraser claims Pete Wishart is just acting on one anecdotal case. Funny how an awful lot of Scots have "just one" (or maybe more) anecdotal cases. After a while it adds up to a pattern. Even when said in jest, and taken in jest at first, it starts to wear a bit thin after a while. Sorry Murdo, but you'll have to do an awful lot better than that. Given the Tory party's strident "Daily Mail"-esque anti Scottish tones in England, and the series starting today about Scotching the Myth (I remember by the way the Hootsman running a similar series [bold]15 years ago[/bold] , so the facts have always been in the public domain) is it any wonder that Scots are sick to the back teeth of Westminster/the London media? The "Union" (sic) is on its last legs, independence is coming. Get your heads round the fact all you Unionistas, because there's nothing surer. If, no when, Alex Salmond negotiates fiscal autonomy, I defy NuLab to surrender it again! Ditto any international representation the Scottish Government achieves despite the worst meddling of London Labour, London LibDems and the English Conservative Party to keep us in our place.
Murdo Fraser claims Pete Wishart is just acting on one anecdotal case. Funny how an awful lot of Scots have "just one" (or maybe more) anecdotal cases. After a while it adds up to a pattern. Even when said in jest, and taken in jest at first, it starts to wear a bit thin after a while. Sorry Murdo, but you'll have to do an awful lot better than that. Given the Tory party's strident "Daily Mail"-esque anti Scottish tones in England, and the series starting today about Scotching the Myth (I remember by the way the Hootsman running a similar series
15 years ago , so the facts have always been in the public domain) is it any wonder that Scots are sick to the back teeth of Westminster/the London media? The "Union" (sic) is on its last legs, independence is coming. Get your heads round the fact all you Unionistas, because there's nothing surer. If, no when, Alex Salmond negotiates fiscal autonomy, I defy NuLab to surrender it again! Ditto any international representation the Scottish Government achieves despite the worst meddling of London Labour, London LibDems and the English Conservative Party to keep us in our place.
Posted by: Diomedes Kane, Glasgow on 11:24am Fri 2 Nov 07
Brit-Nat in the same way you are, NutterAlert. Do you need a wee glossary to participate in this debate, or do you think you will manage to get by with your unreconstructed 70's socialist lexicon in your magnificent smugness?
Brit-Nat in the same way you are, NutterAlert. Do you need a wee glossary to participate in this debate, or do you think you will manage to get by with your unreconstructed 70's socialist lexicon in your magnificent smugness?
Posted by: Melly, Sussex on 1:53pm Fri 2 Nov 07
I have been down here for 7 1/2 years and get the "Jocks" bit at least once a week. In fact it has increased quite a bit in recent weeks. I am a professional engineer who keeps pretty well to myself politically, yet at work and in some pubs I just need to speak to set off some derogatory remark. It is not as rare occurance as Murdo Fraser thinks !! Our house is up for sale and we`ll be "home" early next year
I have been down here for 7 1/2 years and get the "Jocks" bit at least once a week. In fact it has increased quite a bit in recent weeks. I am a professional engineer who keeps pretty well to myself politically, yet at work and in some pubs I just need to speak to set off some derogatory remark. It is not as rare occurance as Murdo Fraser thinks !! Our house is up for sale and we`ll be "home" early next year
Posted by: Economic Migrant, Darkest Oxfordshire on 2:21pm Fri 2 Nov 07
Murdo Fraser is the one who should apologise for taking complete nonsense. The openly racist bigots in his party are deliberately spreading lies about Scotland to gain support. I've repeatedly heard claims that all prescriptions are free in Scotland etc. from Tory politicians.
Murdo Fraser is the one who should apologise for taking complete nonsense. The openly racist bigots in his party are deliberately spreading lies about Scotland to gain support. I've repeatedly heard claims that all prescriptions are free in Scotland etc. from Tory politicians.
Posted by: Rank Bajin, Houston on 2:53pm Fri 2 Nov 07
I lived in England for 6 years - three in Liverpool and three in Loughborough. Liverpool was great - what they gave out they expected back - they were Englands whipping boys just like us - in fact I have more in common with them than with a lot of scots. However, head south or just into the country and you are subjected to racism. It goes from ignorance about accents, snidy comments about jocks, being last to get served at bars/restuarants - to all the usual innuendos about deep fried mars bars and short bread tins.
I often viewed england as being institutionally insecure - its starts with foriegners (french - greedy, germans - humerlous, americans uncultured), then into the home nations (irish-thick, scots-mean), but they even do it to their own (Scousers - theiving, somerset - country yokels, cockneys - wide boys). When it comes down to it the hard core that peddle these myths about everyone else are the middle to lower middle class who need to feel better than anyone to make up for their own insecurities.
The problem is that its been so institutionalised for years that its seen as the norm.
I lived in England for 6 years - three in Liverpool and three in Loughborough. Liverpool was great - what they gave out they expected back - they were Englands whipping boys just like us - in fact I have more in common with them than with a lot of scots. However, head south or just into the country and you are subjected to racism. It goes from ignorance about accents, snidy comments about jocks, being last to get served at bars/restuarants - to all the usual innuendos about deep fried mars bars and short bread tins.
I often viewed england as being institutionally insecure - its starts with foriegners (french - greedy, germans - humerlous, americans uncultured), then into the home nations (irish-thick, scots-mean), but they even do it to their own (Scousers - theiving, somerset - country yokels, cockneys - wide boys). When it comes down to it the hard core that peddle these myths about everyone else are the middle to lower middle class who need to feel better than anyone to make up for their own insecurities.
The problem is that its been so institutionalised for years that its seen as the norm.
Posted by: Tyndrum09, east kilbride on 11:17am Sat 3 Nov 07
[quote][bold]Nutter Alert[/bold] wrote:
NatNutclaims \"sinister threats\" made on visits south. Also says Equality & Human Rights Commission which incorporates the old Disability, Racial Equality & Equal Opps bodies) is \"Brit-Nat\" (news to that anti-racist stalwart Trevor Phillips who heads it), accuses of them of saying speaking Gaelic is racist. Conclusion: NatNuts having difficulty sleeping. lack of sleep distorts reality. Prescription: Lie in darkened room with full shortbread tin and listen to old Andy Stewart tapes interspersed with Alex Salmond speeches. [/quote] Nutter alert posts at 2:32. Who else is having difficulty sleeping then. His scatter-gun approach, combined with peddling of cliches provides nothing and proves nothing. He should try sleeping pills. And give us all peace.
Nutter Alert wrote:
NatNutclaims \"sinister threats\" made on visits south. Also says Equality & Human Rights Commission which incorporates the old Disability, Racial Equality & Equal Opps bodies) is \"Brit-Nat\" (news to that anti-racist stalwart Trevor Phillips who heads it), accuses of them of saying speaking Gaelic is racist. Conclusion: NatNuts having difficulty sleeping. lack of sleep distorts reality. Prescription: Lie in darkened room with full shortbread tin and listen to old Andy Stewart tapes interspersed with Alex Salmond speeches.
Nutter alert posts at 2:32. Who else is having difficulty sleeping then. His scatter-gun approach, combined with peddling of cliches provides nothing and proves nothing. He should try sleeping pills. And give us all peace.
Posted by: Jaggy on 2:03am Mon 5 Nov 07
I lived in England for 6 years and never really experienced any anti-Scots incidents and certainly nothing worse than the constant drip-feed of anti-Englishness which is prevalent in Scotland.
We Scots need to get this chip off our shoulder and stop worrying about England and the English.
I lived in England for 6 years and never really experienced any anti-Scots incidents and certainly nothing worse than the constant drip-feed of anti-Englishness which is prevalent in Scotland.
We Scots need to get this chip off our shoulder and stop worrying about England and the English.
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