Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Friday, 6.45pm : I'll be debating Tommy Sheridan on live-stream

Just a quick note to let you know that if everything goes according to plan (and obviously I'll let you know if it doesn't), you'll be able to watch a live-stream of an Independence Live debate between myself and Tommy Sheridan on Friday at 6.45pm.  The topic, you won't be surprised to hear, will be so-called "tactical voting" on the Holyrood regional list.

I've attempted to embed the live-stream below, but if that doesn't work it'll be available to watch HERE.



55 comments:

  1. Glasgow Working Class 2February 24, 2016 at 10:26 PM

    Is that honest Tam who was fitted up by the establishment and who never shagged any women or never attended a swingers club in Manchester. If it is can you ask him why he has turned his back on International Socialism for petty nationalism and can being a petty national socialist influence class struggle in the world.

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    1. Mibbies you should have a debate wi Tommy. Aw, naw, that's right, ye dinnae do debate. Ye jist screech n rant like yer new pals, contributin nowt.

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    2. GWC has given up international socialism and is backing the petty nationalism of Farage / the Tories in June's EUref.

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    3. International socialism? I got news. Trotsky's dead.

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  2. Debating with T SHeridan one would hope?

    Or are you having a debate about T SHeridan?

    Down with Americanisms! Leave them to Hillary Trump.

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    1. In my humble opinion, Americanisms are absolutely fine when they make the title of a blogpost marginally snappier. (Although I would maybe draw the line at 'I could care less'.)

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    2. Whatever his reason for backing Leave, I'm guessing "British nationalism" isn't it.

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    3. That should be a reply to another comment. I hate blogspot.

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    4. Probably responding to my comment! I stick by it. A 'leave' vote in June is a vote for British/English nationalism. The EUref was born in England (only nation that voted for it) and is England's vote which the other 3 nations are caught up in.

      I'm fine with Scotland having it's own EU discussion, but I'll not be voting for Farage / the right-wing Tories and 'Rule Britannia' in June.

      After all, the ballot will not say "Should Scotland remain a member of the European Union?"

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  3. Glasgow Working Class 2February 25, 2016 at 12:28 AM

    James, I went to see the play Tommy in the Pavilion and it was hilarious. Rosie Kane played herself. Although I am not into all that leftie dictatorship thing about putting people against the wall I think Rosie and the SSP have retained their personal integrity. It is sad there are not any incumbent socialists in Holyrood adding a sense of humour while the poor are being screwed by the Tartan Tories.

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    1. Whit wid you ken aboot integrity? Ye support the Kippers n Tories on Brexit then screech some variant on "shurrup n vote for the Labour man". Aw yer consistent on is yer hatred ay the SNP n yer nae fussed whit kind ay hypocritical state that twists ye intae. It's sad n desperate.

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    2. Glasgow Working Class 2February 25, 2016 at 11:16 AM

      It is difficult to like Tartan Tory hypocrites.

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    3. It's even harder tae like hypocritical Yoon drones. Noo git back oot there wi Boris n Nigel's leaflets.

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    4. Glasgow Working Class 2February 25, 2016 at 6:31 PM

      So you have admitted the Nat sis are hypocrites. Well a step forward at last.

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    5. Omission isnae admission. Ye've made common cause wi Kippers n Tories - noo git back oot there wi Tank Commander's leaflets, ya toom tabard.

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    6. Glasgow Working Class 2February 25, 2016 at 9:41 PM

      Omission says it all. And that party political broadcast tonight by the Nat sis with the Paisley Slapper and aw wis hilarious even Go balls would have been proud.

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    7. Ye fail to deny common cause wi Kippers n Tories. Ye've taen this perspective for the same reason as Boris n Galloway - yer ego.

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  4. I see Tommy is backing a vote to Leave the EU. Would be really interesting if you could ask him what his campaign plans are in the break, please.

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    1. I think the plan is that we're going to briefly talk about the EU referendum at the end.

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    2. Tommy's for British nationalism eh?

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  5. Off this topic, but on previous ones: v interested in your take on this: the bold Curtice "authoring" this survey which seems to claim Scots as Eurosceptic as the rest of UK. Was he commissioned by Boris?

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/feb/24/euroscepticism-scotland-record-high

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    1. I think, to be fair, it's necessary to differentiate between what Curtice says in his report and the totally misleading spin that the author of that Guardian article puts on it. Public opinion on the EU is clearly radically different in Scotland to the rest of the UK, otherwise the Remain vote wouldn't be so much higher here. Scots may very well want a looser relationship with Europe, but they overwhelmingly want that relationship to be negotiated from within the EU and not from outside it.

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    2. UK skepticism in Scotland is like 94% by the same measure. Only about 6% want direct Westminster rule after all.

      Anyway, 'Remain' was 80% in that survey.

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    3. It's the difference between voting intention and attitudes. People can have identical attitudes but choose to vote in a completely different way due to the framing effect of other factors: e.g. personalities, the stance taken by political parties they support, media coverage.

      For instance, do we really think that if the SNP did an about turn tomorrow and claimed we should all vote to leave it wouldn't have an effect on public opinion? That's a framing effect and it's one reason why you can see fairly large differences between what Scottish/British attitudes tell you about the distinctiveness of Scottish views and what voting intention tells you about the same subject.

      Curtice has in the past pointed out that there's a very large difference in voting intentions between Scotland and the rest of the UK, but not in terms of attitudes (he previously did a big piece on this concerning how left-wing Scottish voters are in comparison to rUK, concluding that they were slightly more left-wing but not to the degree you'd expect). It's not about pushing an agenda, it's simply two different ways to measure what people think about politics.

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    4. Yes, in term of socio-economic attitudes, the gap isn't very big. Scotland is also quite like Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, Spain, Italy...just as England is too.

      England is basically a little right of centre, and Scotland a little left. You see similar patterns in countries across Europe. All very similar because they are all populated by humans.

      The biggest difference between Scotland and England is that one contains Scots (identifying) and the other contains English (identifying) people. It's similar to the way France is full of French people and e.g. Australia full of Australians.

      Countries form not due to economic reasons, more socio-democratic ones, i.e. a group of people in a geographic area agree collectively they are a people, and that they're best placed to govern the bit of land they live on.

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  6. Oh good that's my Friday evening sorted. 😺

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  7. According to the Guardian 100% of Scotland's MPs are set to vote Remain:

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2016/feb/23/how-will-your-mp-vote-in-the-eu-referendum

    However, it would be good to know what percentage of English, Welsh and NI MPs will vote Remain. Obviously, I could spend an hour or two working it out myself, but I was just wondering if anyone had already done the sums?

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  8. It must be murder for the SNP to campaign for a particular outcome when they actually want the opposite to happen.

    Aldo

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    1. Not really; why do you think Sturgeon is campaigning south of the border enthusiastically? Are the SNP popular in the shires?

      Think David Cameron in Scotland effect ;-)

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    2. Could backfire though! 11% of English people would vote SNP, given the chance. Half the people in Scotland worship them (oddly). It is just conceivable that the SNP could swing the vote in favour of "in" - the outcome they say they want but not really.

      Aldo

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  9. A debate with Tommy Sheridan. How does that go, exactly? Do you just shout SOCIALISM! and FREEDUMB!! really, really loud?

    Of course, the conversation will eventually end up being about 'burds'.

    Aldo

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    1. Glasgow Working Class 2February 25, 2016 at 6:55 PM

      Nah Aldo, it iz am innocent and wiz fitted up by the establishment, my traitorous colleagues and well just about everbody else when I was on the verge of creating revolution.

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    2. Tommy Sheridan will be the first President of the Peoples Independent and Democratic (honest!) Socialist Republic of Scotland within 5 years. And if he isn't, I'll eat my hat!

      My hat is made of chocolate.

      Aldo

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  10. Why debate a convicted liar?

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    1. Glasgow Working Class 2February 26, 2016 at 6:49 PM

      He has done his time for the lies. Some people lie and are never convicted!

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    2. including Glasgow Working Class 2.

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  11. Scottish Lib Dem conference positively buzzing.

    Looks like about 9 people there.

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  12. Anon : Comment deleted. Please understand that this blog does have a moderation policy. It's a very, very generous one compared to most blogs, but I am well past the point of allowing people to abuse my indulgence in the way that you have been attempting over recent days and weeks. Please note that any further comments of that sort will not be welcome here, and will be deleted as soon as I see them. Thank you.

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  13. James

    Bad timing when there is a Eurovision programme on BBC4 voting for the UK entry.

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    1. You're telling me! I'm off to watch it now.

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    2. Glasgow Working Class 2February 26, 2016 at 8:02 PM

      I did not know the Eurovision drivel was on. I did listen to the debate on the alternative Skype and although it broke up a bit it was enjoyable.
      I do live in Sheridans constituency and I can confirm I will not vote for him. His hypocrisy in mentioning blue, red and liberal Tories and forgetting the Tartan Tories who have cut the Glasgow budget for about eight years was very telling in what an opportunist he is by using nationalism to get an edge. Have to say James did very well.

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    3. "I live in Sheridan's constituency"

      Were you the guy picking up dug shite and eating it the other week? I hope you are getting treatment now and being nursed back to health by some kind people.

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  15. Glasgow Working Class 2February 26, 2016 at 8:13 PM

    James, tuned in myself great tae see aw ra Union Flags in the audience.

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  16. Tommy can't help hogging it.

    Torturous loquacity.

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  17. It was an excellent debate James, thanks for doing it. It takes a bit of balls to put yourself out there. I thought you both got your points across well. A good old fashioned crescendo of passion in the middle and good summaries at the end. Thoroughly enjoyed it and I think it emphasised well that people looking for the same end goal can have valid but differing opinions about the journey to get there. Well done. Indie soon.

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    1. Glasgow Working Class 2February 26, 2016 at 9:03 PM

      You will get gubbed again so just support the Union and the democratic will of the Scottish people.

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    2. We only know the democratic will of the Scottish people just after they've voted on something. That holds until they vote again / want to vote again.

      In between, we have polls as indicators. Right now, they show a solid 'Remain' for the EU. Your lot are in real trouble GWC. Looks like they are going to get totally gubbed. Will make 45% Yes in 2014 look like a landslide.

      You need to get out there. Make some effort. Where is 'Grassroots Leave'? I'm in fairly tory country here in the borders, but it's tumbleweed town for leave. Hopeless for them.

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    3. Glasgow Working Class 2February 26, 2016 at 9:45 PM

      Skier, the Unionists go about their business quietly without personal abuse then go to the polling station.

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    4. As someone who chanced upon George Square on the 19th you have a rather selective eye for personal abuse.

      Maybe someone screaming "fuck the Pope" at the top of their lungs is your idea going about your business quietly. In fact, I'm willing to bet it is.

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    5. Glasgow Working Class 2February 28, 2016 at 7:43 PM

      I am not into fn anyone except the occasional woman with permission granted. However it seems to me that tens of thousands of Catholics worldwide are saying F the papa.. And if the F ra papa had 2 million members in Scotland they would run Scotland. You are an idiot and bigot and a danger to what remains of your brain. Get a life a job and a haircut.

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  18. Ah now that is interesting James. You're blogs are entertaining (not that I subscribe to your view) but moving into making news rather than commentating upon it is very worthwhile. Congrats!

    goodgollymissmolly

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  19. Very good debate, James.

    I wrote a blog about a week after the Westminster election about how SNP supporters should approach the list in the Holyrood election. At the time I came to the conclusion: "If you are certain that the SNP will gain (or hold) your constituency and you support both parties, vote Green on the list. However if you're not certain - vote SNP on both. It's too early to tell now though."

    I don't agree with my view at the time now. I mentioned that it would require a sizeable proportion (about 25%) of SNP voters to move to the Greens on the list to make it worthwhile to change your vote on the list. Although, in the real world, 25% of SNP voters aren't going to switch their list vote to the Greens (or anyone else) to make 'tactical voting' relevant.

    The only thing that I still agree with is: "It's too early to tell". In March 2011, TNS put the SNP at 29%; Labour at 44%. In their final poll before the election, TNS had SNP 45%; Lab 27%. A 16.5% swing to the SNP from Labour. In the unlikely, in my view, event that this happens in reverse this time - Labour would be ahead of the SNP. It's far too early, even now, to tell what the polls will show in May - as the campaign will affect voting intention or even what the result will be - as Scottish Parliamentary polls, particularly the list votes, weren't very accurate in 2007 or 2011.

    ---

    In unrelated news, have you seen that they've changed the voting system for Eurovision this year? Each country gives two sets of points: one set from their jury, one set from their televoting.

    Full explanation of the system from Eurovision, themselves, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd_RHS3f5-4

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  20. That's a good point. It is way too early to consider tactical voting, even if you think it could work in some regions.

    The SNP could easily fall short on the constituency seats, and I think it would be a disaster if a few far-left MSPs got to hold them to ransom to enable a majority.

    IMO the extreme left parties are just going to split the vote amongst themselves.
    Realistically there is more chance of getting an extra few SNP MSPs on the list. That's what happened last time.

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