to feel very proud of the Scots' reaction to Nigel Farage?

[HeadFairy]

Particularly the man who yelled at him "foreigners are welcome in Scotland, you're not!"

:o

If you believe that was a real protest, then you believe City of Edinburgh Council have never been involved in communal repairs scams, planning scams, tramways scams, and so on. No protests about that though. No protests about any left wing politicians such as Tommy Sheridan who end up in jail.

I don't even know that much about Nigel Farrage and what he stands for (beyond the rhetoric) but I do know that people in this country voted for him and that last time I looked, it was supposed to be a democracy.

How worrying that Scotland prides itself on picking out certain politicians and trying to silence them, while ignoring far worse in practice.

And the "bawbag" word seems to have particularly come back into use since the SNP started using it as their favourite insult, so my guess is at that mob weren't particularly self-motivated...

More appease the masses and make them forget the real issues than genuine protest.

Of course John Major has achieved more than Farage.

But if Farage wanted success only rather than belief in principles, then he could have joined the Tory party and he would have probably have ended up as leader. He is a great speaker, has a sense of humour and has the common touch with his pint and cigar and anti green credentials.

LessMissAbs. People in England may have voted for him, not so in Scotland.

Democracy also gives people the right of peaceful protest, which they did.

Bawbag, an SNP created insult. Seriously ?!

'How worrying that Scotland prides itself on picking out certain politicians and trying to silence them, while ignoring far worse in practice.'

It is because establishment parties are worried. They have seen the success that he had in England where the so-called "fruitcakes" turned out to be 25% of the voters.

They are worried about forthcoming European elections.

Students and rabbles suddenly appear to try to shout UKIP down and drown out their voices and the establishment media says that that is proof of how unpopular they are.

But Farage, the anti-establishment candidate, will not be cowed and he ends interviews with establishment media and faces mobs and future rent-a-crowds down.

Why didn't he go to university?

Because he didn't need to. To be successful in the City, you need to have good connections, be "clubbable", willing to start work very early in the morning, do a 14 hour day plus drinkies later, be numerate, and take risks.

You definitely don't need a degree.

Did you know he's married to a German, Kirsten Mehr - who runs his office.

Oh come off it Itsallgoingtobefine "bawbag" was a word that went out of use in Scotland with your grandparents, and has only been reserected recently, because its trendy in the Scottish Parliament to try and be as Scottish as possible, even when forced, and to think up as many old-fashioned "Scots" words that no-one uses much any more. Where did I say "SNP created insult? Or would that be your word?

I'm imaging life in an independent Scotland, when some political opposition to the usual agenda tries to raise its head one day only to be confronted by...rent-a-mobs, name-calling, cybernats, made up news stories...

I actually wonder whether they'll create a Scottish version of the Stasi or the KBG.

Just this phrase alone LessMissAbs. People in England may have voted for him, not so in Scotland makes me want to vote for him. Just so you can stuff that up your bahookie. Or will I be insulted to death, because Scotland is gearing up to become the most politically intolerant place on earth?

'Just this phrase alone LessMissAbs. People in England may have voted for him, not so in Scotland makes me want to vote for him.'

You are right, LesMis. The complacency of the establishment parties may backfire.

Rent-a-crowds and cries of tipping points and climate catastrophe will not cow the people.

They may end up voting for a real opposition to the establishment parties.

LessMiss be prepared to be told "Pog Ma Thoin" (pogue mahone).

My dad used to do magic tricks, disappearing pennies etc. His catchphrase was "Abracadabra! Pogue mahone!).

Of course none of us knew what it meant while he was still alive...

Still makes me smile to this day. The bastard gobshite.

The people are not as stupid as the policy twonks and stink tanks think.

Oh come off it Itsallgoingtobefine "bawbag" was a word that went out of use in Scotland with your grandparents

I certainly never heard my grandparents say that but it was popular during childhood, and with the young people I have worked extensively. Slightly less used, but also beautifully phrased is "fannyflaps" :)

UKIP got was it 25% of the vote in the council elections in england? With a 30% turnout. UKIP managed 2.something percent in the European elections in scotland, their best ever result here. So yes, I think it is reasonable to say that the English may vote for UKIP but the Scots dont.

So yes, I think it is reasonable to say that the English may vote for UKIP but the Scots don't

You are saying no-one in Scotland may vote for UKIP? As in it is banned to do so?

What if someone does? Will they be tagged and curfewed and forced to watch programmes like "10 Greatest Scottish Poets", "10 Greatest Scottish Views", "10 Greatest Scottish Gravediggers" et al, along the lines of what we have been fed at prime viewing time recently?

How terrible to have a diverse political spectrum!

Personally, I'd rather live in a slightly more tolerant country, and will move out if Scotland becomes independent. Cannot abide fervent nationalism or political intolerance. Or being told what to think by people more stupid than myself, which is pretty much all the politicians in Scotland.

I am living in Scotland at the moment. I have been told to my face that I will not be able to get a job in the local town because I am English.
Can someone please explain to me how that is not racist

Its more usually done on the basis that you're not a member or swear allegiance to a particular political party, or your father didn't know their father.

The political establishment support in Scotland are so stupid, as in having such an indoctrinated, herdlike mentality, it would probably be possible to invent a really Scottish sounding slang word, pretend to be SNP or whatever, start using it on their forums, and pretty soon it would make its way into the slightly fake, insert-a-Scottish-slang-word into a sentence Speak that SNP politicians use.

Something "gurrittarvity", as in "yer a gurrittarvity bawbag".

I'd just like to clarify something about the voting figures which are being bandied about.

UKIP polled 2% of the vote in the last 2009 Euro elections in Scotland. The turnout was 28.5%.

That means UKIP polled 5.7% of the Scottish electorate.

UKIP polled 25% of the vote in the last council elections in England and Wales. The turnout was 30%.

That means UKIP polled 7.5% of the England & Wales electorate.

So UKIP in Scotland 2009 polled just 1.8% less in Scotland than in England and Wales 2013.

Cba reading the whole thread. Sometimes it is embarrassing to be Scottish and its a shame but that's the reality of all this shite.

Olgaga, that's not a straight comparison, and you know it. That's what happens when you extrapolate a the outcome of a 28.5 and 30% turn out when England accounts for 83.9% of the UK's population and Scotland 8.4%.

The real difference is 2% of voters vs 25% of voters, and you know it.

Plus, I think you meant 0.57% which doesn't sound nearly as 'impressive'

Of course Scots won't vote for UKIP. First, there is an undercurrent of anti-Englishness in Scotland and always has been, and Farage is almost a caricature of Englishness.

Second, the Scots have a perfectly good bunch of separatists of their own. Why desert them for UKIP?

FWIW, I've seen no evidence that UKIP are anything more than a repository for protest votes. Council elections and by-elections do not determine who gets to form a government. I doubt UKIP will poll anything like 16% when the general election comes around. Also, I don't see them as evidence that England is more racist than Scotland. In my experience, they are the same. However, England being far more populous than Scotland, it is easier for a group with broad appeal to reach critical mass. In any event, nationalism in Scotland is absorbed by the SNP, which has the beneficial effect of neutering its nastier elements to some extent.

Olgaga,

The better comparison is UKIP's Euro results in Scotland to other areas of the UK.

Here they are.

It is fair to say that the UKIP vote in Scotland was far, far lower than elsewhere.

YANBU I thought it was a good example of the Scot's renowned hospitality! We welcome any colour, creed or culture - AS LONG as they also welcome others of different ilk. Not every immigrant or refugee is a trouble maker; everybody has something to offer until they break the law.

The posters above who say the protestors were being racist are grasping futily at straws to turn this into a Scotland V England thread.
Sadly, racism against Scots happens in England just as much. It's a stupid argument that no side will ever win and it should stop.

To those posters who are choosing to ignore that fact, have a read of the comments section of the DM during the next Scottish political article where all green arrowed comments are of the 'Get rid of the Westminster stealing Scots' variety. It is depressing reading.

If ALL Scots are racist, as some posters are insinuating (read, 'I met 2 Scots who were racist so therefore the entire country is'), then at least we are smart enough to verbalise it and not put it in print on a global website.

It is just as much of a generalisation to say that Scots welcome any colour, creed or culture. Furthermore, I don't think anyone's arguing that Scotland is more racist than England. It seems overly defensive to raise that point.

It is rather myopic not to think that telling an Englishman to "get back to England" doesn't at least have the flavour of bigotry. It is just that someone like Farage can't really claim the moral high ground if the comment is aimed at him.

I didn't say Scotland was more - or less - racist than England at all. My point is that it is equal on both sides and that it is a daft argument. It seems rather desperate assumptive of my point to say that.

Bigotry?

Ok - picture this then. A guy at work has some rather close to the bone views in a multi-cultural company and is offending people left right and centre who do not share his views. Yet he keeps forcing them on people who are not interested.

You either A. Allow him his opinion as that is his right.

Or B. You tell him his attitude against others is not welcome in your office as your company - as a whole - welcomes anybody to join as long as they can be of positive benefit for the whole of the business.

I'm of the B train of thought.

That's not bigotry, that's having common decency towards humanity.

I thought the Scottish behaviour was appalling. You don't like something so you silence it,how is that democratic,what happened to debate?And posters are proud of that behaviour.

Having said that I grew up on a Scottish RAF camp,went to school with local children and experienced a lot of anti English racism.There were places you didn't go if English so it wasn't a surprise.

Had to snigger at the hoo ha when said camp was at danger of closure- oh the hypocrisy.

Stop being ridiculous; you can't be racist against English because it's not a race. At worst you can be prejudiced or in more general terms a xenophobe.

To imply that people haven't the right to peacefully demonstrate against UKIP's discriminatory policies is laughable. He came, he spoke in that pub, people didn't like what he stands for and told him so.

He made a fool of himself in subsequent interviews and grasping at straws decides to accuse an entire nation (and the BBC) of racism and hatred.

The only comfort is that he's too stupid to be dangerous.

"Sadly, racism against Scots happens in England just as much. It's a stupid argument that no side will ever win and it should stop."

No one in England would be told, like a poster said above, that they couldn't get a job in an English town because they were Scottish or had a Scottish accent. There is no resentment towards Scottish people in England. The English people are not like that at all, and if you don't realise that then you have never lived in England.

In England, we have Burns' night celebrations in our pubs and English people go along. Are there St George's Day celeberations in Scottish pubs and do Scottish people go along?

In England, we like Scottish people, and we like their accents, and we like traditional Scottish folk music and we like Scottish history and we treat Scottish people exactly the same as everyone else.

And even though the elite and establishment parties are against Scotland becoming independent, ordinary English people don't care if Scotland wants to go independent. We believe that the Scottish people should decide what they want to do, unlike the establishment parties.