tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38253849763086479772011-07-30T18:21:33.183-07:00newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.comBlogger241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-31338431442669631802010-03-12T12:27:00.000-08:002011-07-07T09:27:37.995-07:00

The Newsnet Scotland website is currently showing a message informing readers of a breach of security and the site is apparently being moved to a new .net domain. This message is misleading and I would urge regular visitors to Newsnet Scotland to continue to visit the site at the .com address. SCOTTISH NEWS All the very best from Online Ed.

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-16504623645292557472010-03-06T09:38:00.000-08:002010-03-06T09:40:51.568-08:00

On Friday 6th March just after the 1:00 PM news Radio Scotland broadcast it's weekly 'Brian's Big Debate' programme, a news and current affairs debate show.  The programme featured Roseanna Cunningham for the SNP, Murdo Fraser for the Conservatives, Alistair Carmichael for the Lib Dems and Michael Connarty for Labour - Magnus Linklater of The Times was also present. One section of the show

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-91347460270431777962010-03-01T13:29:00.000-08:002010-03-01T13:29:14.698-08:00

In an extraordinary attack on Labour’s Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy the leader of Scotland’s Episcopal Church has called the Labour MP's attempts at trying to introduce religion into the forthcoming general election campaign as “flatfooted” and “regressive”. The Right Rev David Chillingworth accused Murphy of doing a “grave disservice” to religion by trying to “shrinkwrap” it to

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-56878108879051581042010-02-08T13:17:00.000-08:002010-02-08T13:38:24.870-08:00

Most of you by now will be aware that Alex Salmond has suspended plans to have lunch in the Holyrood restaurant with guests who had donated funds to the SNP. The donations were made at a fundraising dinner held in a Glasgow restaurant by Scottish Asians for Independence. Politicians have for decades been dining with donors, supporters and of course lobbyists in canteens and restaurants at both

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-74457242671948618022010-02-06T02:33:00.000-08:002010-02-06T02:44:25.646-08:00

In the classic movie ‘On The Waterfront’ Marlon Brando’s character utters the immortal line “I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody” Brando’s character was lamenting the fact that he’d thrown away the chance to pit himself against the best, the chance to prove himself. Last week (Jan 28th) saw quite the most bizarre Newsnight Scotland I can recall for some time.

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-19194206505035712512010-01-22T14:34:00.000-08:002010-01-24T10:13:23.678-08:00

It’s been quite a week for political news coverage in Scotland; Buckfast, Maldives the NHS and Balmoral - all featured this week in the Scottish main stream media. However, what of balance, factual accuracy, objectivity and informed analysis? Let’s take a look shall we .................... Monday 18th Jan: BBC - ‘British Buckfast Corporation’ BBC Scotland brought us the investigative gem

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-498308416787981852010-01-04T08:08:00.000-08:002010-01-05T13:08:24.247-08:00

It seems that every few years, humanity is warned by doom-and-gloom merchants that a planetary alignment will take place in the near future and cause chaos on Earth. Of course, it is not astronomers that give these warnings, but instead, zealots (cults, psychics and assorted charlatans) who have very limited knowledge of the night sky or the solar system in general and who may have another

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-61304643288172833162009-12-19T15:17:00.000-08:002009-12-20T11:46:22.833-08:00

It’s been an interesting last couple of weeks: Alex Salmond visited Copenhagen in order to try to raise awareness of Scotland’s valuable contribution to climate change. Ireland is reported to have come out of recession in September whilst the UK still languishes in the economic mire. The Iraq inquiry highlights startling revelations regarding Tony Blair’s thought processes leading up to the

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-81865974237181831062009-12-16T13:43:00.000-08:002009-12-19T15:18:45.075-08:00

The leader of Labour run Glasgow Council Steven Purcell has been accused of a ‘juvenile’ use of language after a leaked email indicated that council communications should now use the term ‘Scottish Executive’ instead of the widely accepted ‘Scottish Government’. The internal email, sent on 25 November, informed staff that “all future communications should now refer to the Scottish Executive and

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-73344023058804545902009-12-13T15:58:00.000-08:002009-12-16T13:48:12.272-08:00

Paul McBride, prominent QC and an advisor to the Conservative party, launched an astonishing tirade including serious allegations against SNP Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill on the BBC’s Politics Show Scotland which was broadcast on Sunday 13th December McBride’s comments followed a discussion on the release of Al Megrahi on compassionate grounds earlier this year. McBride was asked his views

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-60048772927461272742009-12-04T12:34:00.000-08:002009-12-16T13:47:53.760-08:00

Fiona Hyslop was demoted this week, a Scottish Government cabinet re-shuffle saw her take over the culture portfolio and Mike Russell take on the responsibility for education. When the announcement was made the opposition leaders at Holyrood nearly tripped over themselves in a scramble to claim credit for the move. Tavish Scott appeared to have won that particular race and promptly declared that

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-57713141287646278542009-11-28T09:14:00.000-08:002009-12-04T12:34:39.086-08:00

This week saw Jim Murphy stand on Scotland’s doorstep, open up his suitcase and reveal Labour’s all new devolutionary vacuum cleaner – guaranteed to remove all signs of independence The ‘suitcase’ held the implementation of the Calman proposals, or to be more accurate those parts of Calman that Labour had decided to adopt ... or was that adapt? Airgun law, speed limits and drink driving limits

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-74436861298030151032009-11-21T12:37:00.000-08:002009-11-28T09:20:52.062-08:00

Such has been the lamentable performance by Labour’s Iain Gray at the weekly First Ministers Questions session at Holyrood that some political hacks have given to describing the hapless Labour leader as the ‘Elmer Fudd’ of Scottish politics. This week’s FMQ’s did nothing to dispel these views as we saw yet another miserable performance by Gray who unwittingly decided to focus on the economy in a

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-51422597859445809822009-11-15T10:59:00.000-08:002009-11-21T12:49:27.772-08:00

Newsnet Scotland can reveal that the BBC have been forced to issue a personal apology to senior SNP MSP Alex Neil after an item broadcast on Sunday 18th October attributed views to the SNP Minister that he had not expressed. The BBC’s Catriona Renton, filming at the SNP conference in Inverness, had claimed on BBC Scotland’s Politics Show that Mr Neil had confirmed the SNP’s desire to see David

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-5462889129630075812009-11-10T13:51:00.000-08:002009-11-15T11:02:51.596-08:00

It’s intended to cause harm to the individual by painting him/her in a bad light. The underlying motive for the insidious practice is the political persuasion of the target. The smear is once again in the headlines after the mother of a soldier killed on active service in Afghanistan revealed to the media the contents of a hand written letter sent to her by Gordon Brown. Jacqui Janes, the

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-28880857438438531872009-11-06T09:28:00.000-08:002009-11-15T11:03:43.536-08:00

Newsnet Scotland can reveal that postal vote applications for the forthcoming Glasgow North East by-election have dramatically increased compared to 2005 figures. Figures released by Glasgow Council reveal the total number of postal vote applications granted for the by-election has reached 6,065 - an increase of 3646 on the 2005 figure of 2419. It has also emerged that in the month of October

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-9582438238716653742009-11-01T01:29:00.000-07:002009-11-15T11:04:10.043-08:00

Picture the scenario: A by-election campaign is underway in England, the Conservatives currently hold the seat with a healthy majority but Labour are gaining in popularity and there is an outside chance that they might just sneak it. In the midst of the election campaign David Dimbleby hosts that week’s Question Time from the city where the by-election is to be held. Panellists on the show

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-61288706040753963842009-10-25T13:36:00.000-07:002009-11-01T01:43:44.550-08:00

In a week that saw the appearance of Nick Griffin, leader of the BNP, appear on the BBC’s question time the media has been awash with pundits, commentators and journalists debating the merits or otherwise of allowing the appearance of the right wing party leader together with a critique of Griffin’s performance. It is generally agreed that Griffin did not handle the situation well and was pretty

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-35790202630553498432009-10-21T05:05:00.000-07:002009-11-01T01:44:13.910-08:00

As a young girl my sister used to believe that if she closed here eyes then she became invisible to others, her reasoning was that if she could not see anything then no-one could, the theory was dispelled after a few games of hide and seek. Recent behaviour from the BBC would appear to suggest that a similar theory has gained credence within the organisation; there is surely no other

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-72771484514497922502009-09-30T15:00:00.000-07:002009-10-21T05:06:03.332-07:00

On Monday 21st September BBC political correspondent Glenn Campbell began a series of broadcasts from the USA. The broadcasts were related to the visit to the UN of Colonel Gadaffi of Libya as well as the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh that same week. Glenn’s experiences were expected to form the basis for a web diary of that week, sadly though the diary abruptly ceased after just one day. Newsnet

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-73013625867579310172009-09-21T10:12:00.000-07:002009-09-30T15:27:20.182-07:00

In the week that will see Gordon Brown publicly meet Libya’s Col Gaddafi in New York we have the BBC in Scotland again running a story suggesting Scotland’s relationship with the USA has been harmed by the compassionate release of Al Megrahi. This conveniently timed story results from comments made by someone called Susan Stewart who, according to the BBC, was Scotland's former "ambassador" in

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-40625377229431878672009-09-18T05:34:00.000-07:002009-09-30T15:27:33.206-07:00

The news agenda has (once again) been set by a Labour soundbite, the Scottish budget is apparently proof that the SNP are biased against Glasgow. The BBC are pursuing this claim as though it had merit. There appears no analysis of any kind of the allegation, nor a requirement on anyone from Labour to define it. The budget has been ignored and in it’s place we have a wholely contrived ‘debate’ on

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-66621265511621889172009-09-15T04:47:00.000-07:002009-09-18T05:34:37.030-07:00

On Sunday 13th September The Sunday Telegraph ran a story stating that Harris Tweed Hebrides had decided to disassociate itself from Scotland in it’s promotional material due to a backlash they were experiencing in the USA - apparently caused by the release of Al Megrahi. The story was picked up by The Times as well as Scottish newspapers including The Scotsman and The Daily Record who ran it on

newsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17362514193964582435noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825384976308647977.post-79531070697326084742009-09-14T05:13:00.000-07:002009-09-15T04:51:48.449-07:00

The BBC first entered the fray proper when in quite dramatic fashion it confidently announced on 12th Aug, fully eight days before the actual announcement, what Kenny MacAskill’s decision would be and when it would be announced. This ‘leak’ signaled the beginning of a series of attacks by Unionist parties in Scotland on The Justice Minister. Incredibly, those attacks included allegations that it

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