Blog | (Still) Yes Highlandhttps://yeshighland.net/blog/2024-03-28T06:56:53+00:00The blog is our main discussion forum with with an eclectic selection of authors and thought-provoking articles. Grab a cuppa and join the debate, your contribution is always welcome.Danny to unveil Union Flag2015-03-01T15:39:36+00:002024-03-26T02:45:53+00:00Editorhttps://yeshighland.net/blog/author/Editor/https://yeshighland.net/blog/2015/03/danny-to-unveil-union-flag/<h2>Yes lost and don't you forget it</h2>
<p>The Daily Mail is reporting that our old friend Danny Alexander will unveil a logo tomorrow which which will be placed onto any capital project funded by the UK government.</p>
<p>The logo will reportedly be used from "Cornwall to Caithness" which presumably means if you live on an island you either don't get the logo or no capital projects.</p>
<p>So, just when you were fed up of Union Flags on bags of carrots, packets of pork chops and driving licences you can look forward to them on a bridge or BT fibre cabinet near you soon. Thanks, Danny.</p>Ginger Rodent Stew2015-02-27T15:35:48+00:002024-03-26T02:34:11+00:00Editorhttps://yeshighland.net/blog/author/Editor/https://yeshighland.net/blog/2015/02/ginger-rodent-stew/<h2>"It's Danny or the Nationalists"</h2>
<p>It will be the Talk of the Glens all right but probably not for the reasons Danny would be hoping for.</p>
<p>Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has distributed a newsletter to his constituents in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey which must mean there is an election soon. The Talk of the Glens has, how can we put it, the design aesthetic of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smash_Hits" target="_blank">Smash Hits</a> magazine, the intellectual rigour of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_and_john" target="_blank">Janet & John</a> and a disregard for the truth that would embarrass <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comical_Ali" target="_blank">Comical Ali</a>.</p>
<p>Don't take our word for it though take a peek at <a href="https://archive.today/q59Ej" target="_blank">Talk of the Glens</a> online (but please wear protective eyewear).</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="text-muted">The stew is actually Sausage and Butternut Squash Stew (on page 2) and the Ginger Rodent is everywhere (until May 7th., anyway).</p>Money talks2015-02-20T14:00:23+00:002024-03-16T21:56:29+00:00Editorhttps://yeshighland.net/blog/author/Editor/https://yeshighland.net/blog/2015/02/money-talks/<h2>Latest political party donations report illustrates double standards</h2>
<p>Everyone involved in the referendum campaign (on either side) couldn't fail to remember the <a href="http://wingsoverscotland.com/this-that-and-the-other/" target="_blank">brouhaha</a> about the Weir's donations to the Yes Campaign and the SNP.</p>
<p>Well, the <a href="http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/journalist/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-donations/political-parties-latest-donations-and-borrowing-figures-published18" target="_blank">latest report from the Electoral Commission</a> puts the whole matter of donations into perspective. For example, in the <strong>last quarter</strong> of 2014 the Tories received nearly £8.4 million and the Labour Party werent far behind at nearly £7.2 million. During the same period the SNP received donations of £5,580 and the Scottish Greens £16,032. Granted the SNP and Scottish Greens may have pulled forward donations for the referendum campaign but the difference in scale is still marked.</p>
<p>Even the LibDems and UKIP managed to get £3 million and £1.5 million respectively (if not respectably) during the same October to December period.</p>
<p>The largest individual donors were the unions UNISON (£1.4m), Unite (£1.3m) and GMB (£1m) who all donated to the Labour party. Also of note was another donation to Labour from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (£400k) of whom MPs earlier this month had accused of "promoting tax avoidance on an industrial scale".</p>
<p>Let's just hope that the pro-Yes parties are able to mobilise their increased membership to help counteract the spending power of the Westminster parties.</p>Highland LibDem Wipeout?2015-02-01T13:46:15+00:002024-03-27T17:28:55+00:00Editorhttps://yeshighland.net/blog/author/Editor/https://yeshighland.net/blog/2015/02/highland-libdem-wipeout/<h2>Electoral Calculus predicts Kennedy, Alexander and Thurso to lose Westminster seats</h2>
<p>Election prediction specialists Electoral Calculus are predicting that all three Highland seats currently held by the Liberal Democrats will fall to the SNP in May's General Election.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/conlist_scot.html#RossSkyeandLochaber" target="_blank">Ross, Skye and Lochaber</a> (currently held by Charles Kennedy), <a href="http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/conlist_scot.html#InvernessNairnBadenochandStrathspey" target="_blank">Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey</a> (currently held by Danny Alexander) and <a href="http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/conlist_scot.html#CaithnessSutherlandandEasterRoss" target="_blank">Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross</a> (currently held by John Thurso) are predicted to become SNP gains.</p>
<p>Electoral Calculus are also predicting Labour winning the most seats (32 more than the Tories) but failing to get an overall majority (29 seats short). The SNP are predicted to win, an extraordinary, <strong>50 seats</strong>. Predictions are based on an aggregation of polls conducted from January 11th to 30th this year sampling 10,760 respondents.</p>
<p>We live in interesting times particularly if you are a LibDem MP.</p>Danny Alexander on his way out?2014-05-26T13:18:10+00:002024-03-28T06:56:53+00:00Editorhttps://yeshighland.net/blog/author/Editor/https://yeshighland.net/blog/2014/05/danny-alexander-on-his-way-out/<h2>According to the LibDems, Yes!</h2>
<p>As part of the media storm around Matthew Oakeshott's resignation from the Liberal Democrats it has transpired that he conducted polling research into Danny Alexander's Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey seat. The results of this LibDem internal poll have been leaked and it shows the SNP taking the seat on 32% and Alexander for the LibDems on just 16%.</p>
<p>It would seem one way or another we won't be seeing much of Danny Alexander as Chief Secretary to the Treasury for much longer.</p>
<p>For further information on this story see <a href="http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2014/05/28/collateral-damage-cable-hit-as-oakeshott-detonates-resignati" target="_blank">politics.co.uk</a></p>