Mark Irvine - Blogger, Campaigner, Organiser

I've written to Sir Drummond Bone, Chair of the National Library of Scotland (NLS) over the vindictive decision to withdraw 'The Women Who Wouldn't Wheesht' from the library's centenary exhibition. Public money should not be given to public institutions if they behave in this intolerant way - I've already drafted my FoI request to the NLS chief executive, Amina Shah. Dear Sir Drummond Bone National Library of Library and 'The Women Who Wouldn't Wheesht' I have been following events at the National Library of Scotland and the astonishing decision to withdraw 'The Women Who Wouldn't Wheesht' from the library's centenary exhibition. As you know, the book was originally included in the centenary exhibits after a public consultation exercise, but was subsequently pulled after pressure from 'stakeholders' reportedly to avoid a backlash from an internal LGBTQI+ network which threatened to withdraw its support for the event. To my min...

Iain Macwhirter with a scathing column on the largesse of SNP ministers who followed up an initial £300,000 of public money to bail out the Edinburgh Book Festival (EBF) from its own stupidity - only to follow this up with another £11.75 million weeks later The Edinburgh Book Festival of course excluded writers who disagree with the nonsense of self-ID and gender ideology - while inviting Nicola Sturgeon to plug her book and recruiting her former chief of staff, Liz Lloyd, as an EBF "As the Edinburgh festivals draw to a close this week, it is clear that they have been afflicted with a wasting disease. First diagnosed at the Edinburgh Book Festival two years ago, Baillie Gifford Syndrome is now running rampant across the cultural sector in Scotland.  "Symptoms include irrational behaviour, intolerance, the arbitrary demonisation of sponsors and a neurotic search for “safe spaces”. There is no cure for Baillie Gifford Syndrome. The application of large sums of public money only...

Great post from John Boyne and Grizelda Cartoons. If I remember correctly, this is what's called 'being hoist on your own petard - w hat a hoot!

An excellent cartoon from @markthehibby which sums up the dreadful state of Scottish politics today While Peter Murrell has been lending the SNP large sums of money and is now receiving legal aid receiving to defend charges of embezzling party funds, his estranged wife Nicola Sturgeon is cashing-in on her new book.

The Herald reports that Peter Murrell's £60,000 loan to the SNP could be written off and never repaid - even though the former chief executive of the SNP is receiving legal aid after being charged with embezzling party finances. In the meantime, Murrell's estranged wife, Nicola Sturgeon is on an extensive tour plugging her book.

  Here's a useful link for women trade union members - FiLiA, a women-led campaigning organisation. FiLiA held a conference in Glasgow last year which was 'picketed' by an angry male-led protest from the trans lobby Unbelievable, but true - see photo below.  "Like many union members, women’s relationship with their trade union largely operates on a service model, somewhere to go when you are in trouble. And unions have the structures, systems and knowledge to be able to provide vital support and advice. But too many women say that they are patronised or worse, given poor advice or treated badly." https://www.filia.org.uk/latest-news/2024/12/12/filia-trade-union-womens-network-join-us