The Politics Thread

Carlisle used to be in Scotland so you probably have. I am pleased i only lived in Carlisle for 7 days ?

If you're Carlisle born and bred there is every chance that you have a lot of Scottish ancestry.

I think it was Charles Dickens who visited Carlisle in the mid 19th century and remarked upon the number of Scottish inhabitants of Carlisle at that time.

By the latest maneuvers, it looks like the SNP are hanging on by their finger nails in the fight to save any chance of an Independence movement. Very Trumpesque........

Aye, they’re ramping up their efforts...

Have a read of this

https://wingsoverscotland.com/an-open-letter-to-nicola-sturgeon/

Excellent read too:

If this skeleton get's put in the wardrobe, then it's unlikely London will allow an Independence vote. However, I think Knickerless knows that.

She is fryed, as it's not going away, the old letch will make sure of that.

Rumours of this line-up now?

Friday - Salmond

Monday- Lord Advocate

Wednesday- Sturgeon

She's already made her gambit, "where's the proof" and those wonderfull words " i don't remember "

Erm it's in the hands of the The Crown Office, but they won't release it.....

So, without the release he has no political immunity protection at the hearing, so if he ploughs on regardless, he opens himself up for prosecution. which in my view, is what he may do, let's wait and see.

One thing is for sure, Independence is well and truly down the toilet now.

I suppose it all depends what the deal makers are doing behind the scene's.

12.30pm

https://www.scottishparliament.tv/

Silentone that explains why folk turn on each other on here after poor results . Its the historical dna !!

Just waiting for mine to come back from that Ancestry lot. If there's any Jock in me, it's Wetheral Viaduct next stop

That DNA malarky is a load of tosh, it tells me I'm nearly 60% Jock !!!

Need to join the SNP then, yer ken the noo - FREEDOM !!!

You're all a bunch of Sasanach's............

Fantastic viewing in Scotland today, it’s amazing how poor wee Nic’s memory is, and astonishing how unsure she is so many vital parts of this inquiry!

She’s floundering. Unfortunately her demise does not necessarily finish off the independence movement. Knocks it well back though!

HANS-JÖRG VEHLEWALD, ALBERT LINK AND KARINA MÖSSBAUER published on
03.03.2025 - 12:06 pm

Europe is rehearsing the uprising!

More and more EU states are rebelling against the snail's pace at which the vaccines are arriving because the EU Commission sluggishly placed the order.
Yesterday Austria and Denmark announced that they would enter into a vaccination alliance with Israel in order to produce faster and better vaccines. The EU authorities were working “too slowly with the approval of vaccines”, said Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in BILD. One should "no longer only be dependent on the EU for the production of second-generation vaccinations."

More and more EU countries see it that way. Last week five countries sent a fire letter to EU Council President Charles Michel (45), complaining about "production problems and late deliveries" that "endanger Europe's path to recovery and back to normal life".

The letter was signed by the heads of government from Poland, Spain, Denmark, Lithuania and Belgium.

THE EU IS CRUMBLING!

https://www.bild.de/politik/inland/politik-inland/impf-debakel-so-zerbroeselt-die-eu-75599436.bild.html

Meanwhile in Northern Ireland.

"Loyalist paramilitary groups have told the British and Irish governments they are withdrawing support for the Good Friday agreement in protest at Northern Ireland’s Irish Sea trade border with the rest of the UK.

The Loyalist Communities Council, an umbrella group that represents the views of the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando, wrote a letter to Boris Johnson and Ireland’s taoiseach, Micheál Martin, warning of “permanent destruction” of the 1998 peace agreement without changes to post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland.

The letter said unionist opposition to the Northern Ireland protocol – the part of the Brexit deal that keeps Northern Ireland a part of the EU’s single market for goods – should remain “peaceful and democratic”. However, the decision to withdraw support for a peace deal that underpins power-sharing in Northern Ireland seems designed to sound alarm bells in Dublin, London and Brussels.

The warning came hours after the British government was accused of breaking international law for a second time by the European commission after ministers said the UK would unilaterally act to give Northern Ireland businesses time to adapt to post-Brexit rules."

Another one bites the dust.

"SNP chief whip steps aside following harassment complaint"


and

John Swinney: No minutes of Sturgeon legal meetings in Alex Salmond case


"RECORDS of meetings between Nicola Sturgeon, Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans and the Scottish Government's legal counsel about the investigation into Alex Salmond cannot be found, John Swinney has confirmed.

The Deputy First Minister told the Holyrood inquiry into the Government's unlawful investigation of Mr Salmond that he is unable to provide details that the committee had asked for."


The Titanic had a better chance of staying afloat.........

Have a look at the Gupta smelter story breaking -£600m

Looks like the coal mine isn’t going to happen

https://apple.news/A03Naj2OlRe6KHeVaO-40Tw

This country demonises coal yet in the EU, countries like Poland are still building new coal fired power stations. Our remaining coal fired power stations are due to close in 4 years time. The UK energy strategy seems to be to keep fingers crossed we don't have high pressure weather systems in winter with freezing cold temperatures at night and no wind. At least those people with smart meters can have their supply strictly limited as emergency bans on electric car charging are imposed.

The British public is now used to having lockdown measures imposed so we'll comply again when there isn't enough electricity to keep the country running.

This country demonises coal yet in the EU, countries like Poland are still building new coal fired power stations. Our remaining coal fired power stations are due to close in 4 years time. The UK energy strategy seems to be to keep fingers crossed we don't have high pressure weather systems in winter with freezing cold temperatures at night and no wind. At least those people with smart meters can have their supply strictly limited as emergency bans on electric car charging are imposed.

The British public is now used to having lockdown measures imposed so we'll comply again when there isn't enough electricity to keep the country running.

Think you forgot about gas, whether it be used for home consumption or power generation.

Isn't the argument that this coal mine was to produce coking coal for steelmaking, but there are greener (but more expensive) ways to make steel maturing - https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottcarpenter/2020/08/31/swedish-steelmaker-uses-hydrogen-instead-of-coal-to-make-fossil-free-steel/

I guess someone has to price the three options in term of pounds and carbon footprint, then make a decision
1. Mine coal here for steelmaking (middle price, middle carbony)
2. Mine coal in ukraine and ship it over here (cheapest, but most carbony)
3. Use greener tech for steelmaking (expensive, least carbony)

Course, number 1 is the only one that'll make jobs in West Cumbria so it'll have it's champions locally obviously

Isn't the argument that this coal mine was to produce coking coal for steelmaking, but there are greener (but more expensive) ways to make steel maturing - https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottcarpenter/2020/08/31/swedish-steelmaker-uses-hydrogen-instead-of-coal-to-make-fossil-free-steel/

I guess someone has to price the three options in term of pounds and carbon footprint, then make a decision
1. Mine coal here for steelmaking (middle price, middle carbony)
2. Mine coal in ukraine and ship it over here (cheapest, but most carbony)
3. Use greener tech for steelmaking (expensive, least carbony)

Course, number 1 is the only one that'll make jobs in West Cumbria so it'll have it's champions locally obviously

It would be fantastic for the economy of Cumbria and what with the new road out to the west under way less disruption for transporting it - another contract that will have a few sniffing round and haulage jobs, or if there is too much then stick it on a ship and flog it.

Coking coal has a great history in Cumbria. The Rail Bridge over the Solway was built specifically to get coking coal from West Cumbria to the arms factories in Scotland, as well as material to the munitions depot at Gretna. In a World economy we need to make sure the balance between reducing emissions or being left in the sidings is right.Unless we take the opposite attitude and regulate who/what the origin of the steel is, supplied to the manufacturers, which then of course leaves us vulnerable to Countries (like China and India) who are not as cooperative, and can produce at a fraction of our costs.

During F&M masses of coal was imported for the pyres, i can't remember where from exactly, I think Poland, anyway, once we had it here it was found that it did not comply with current EU emissions, some had already been used, however the pyres were stopped at a time there was a mountain of coal in H&H's yard at Rosehill. God knows what they did with it.

Isn't the argument that this coal mine was to produce coking coal for steelmaking, but there are greener (but more expensive) ways to make steel maturing - https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottcarpenter/2020/08/31/swedish-steelmaker-uses-hydrogen-instead-of-coal-to-make-fossil-free-steel/

I guess someone has to price the three options in term of pounds and carbon footprint, then make a decision
1. Mine coal here for steelmaking (middle price, middle carbony)
2. Mine coal in ukraine and ship it over here (cheapest, but most carbony)
3. Use greener tech for steelmaking (expensive, least carbony)

Course, number 1 is the only one that'll make jobs in West Cumbria so it'll have it's champions locally obviously

It would be fantastic for the economy of Cumbria and what with the new road out to the west under way less disruption for transporting it - another contract that will have a few sniffing round and haulage jobs, or if there is too much then stick it on a ship and flog it.

What's this new road out to the west?

Renewables are the way forward the west coast could be at the forefront and create sustainable long term jobs that would move away from environment harming processes.