August 7 2012; Labour MP Ian Davidson attempts to bully BBC Scotland’s Isabel Fraser. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ6CO-dnttU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnUuwIgqWO4
Scottish Labour MP Ian Davidson, being interviewed by BBC Scotland’s Isabel Fraser, repeatedly harangues the female presenter and accuses her of political bias.
Comments;
hoochy229; The very notion that the British Broadcasting Corporation, the organization which Greg Dyke described as “the glue that binds the nation”, is biased TOWARD the SNP could only come from the paranoid, incoherent and downright stupid mind of of Ian Davidson. Mind you he is not alone, that other pillar of British unionism, Michael Kelly, wrote in the Scotsman defending Davidson over this nonsense. Now there’s a pair who really deserve each other.
chancergordy; Here is the man, the Labour MP for Govan, supposedly elected by the People of his constituency to fight their case. The man who told the Defense minister Philip Hammond to make sure that if Scotland votes for independence then he must withdraw all MOD jobs to England. What kind of person would adopt this stance? What kind of people would vote for him? A little rat who puts himself, Labour and Westminster before Scotland.?
MsBooboo26; What an ignorant, charmless, political pygmy. Ms Fraser dealt with him beautifully.?
February 19 2012; Alistair Darling — naive, disingenuous, or just woefully unprepared for Isabel Fraser? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fg9STsV4zc
Alistair Darling has been an MP for 25 years. He served in the Labour Cabinet continuously from 19997 to 2010, and was Chancellor of the Exchequer for three years. Among the other post he has held are Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Sec. of State for Work and Pensions, Sec. of State for Transport, Sec. of State for Scotland and Sec. of State for Trade and Industry.
March 5 2012; Nick Clegg and Isabel Fraser – Sunday Politics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJI9msHb7y8
This is an edit from a 12m clip to 9m or so. The essence of Clegg is maintained, but since he is guilty of the ‘torrent of words’ approach that many politicians adopt to bury the message – combined in his case with a soporific, monotonous delivery – I have cut some of the gooey filling.
Comments;
Neep Whisperer; As a Highlander and an ex Lib-Dem voter I don’t appreciate their “humour” or their turncoat antics. They are neither liberal nor democratic just a lighter shade of Tory blue another set of over-privileged con artists!
KillTheStranger; Isabel Fraser is a shining light in this sh**storm
Cybopath; Nick Clegg, I think if you cut him he’d bleed beige. The man is the essence of vague
May 13 2012; Local elections and coalitions – Isabel Fraser, Anas Sarwar, Kenneth Gibson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-yClwx6Ivs
tyrthedisipliner; But Labour fought most of their campaign on the basis of keeping the Tories out, I think only in places like Glasgow did that kind of campaigning go on with the SNP. Labour are allowed to go into coalitions just as much as any other parties but they need to drop their “Vote Labour to keep out the Tories” Campaigning because it’s just plain lies.
MrZambology; Westminster have saddled the UK with over a trillion pounds of debt and are still borrowing, we can do better without them, they’re “austerity” measures aren’t working, they’re enslaving the working man/women at the expense of private business.
tyrthedisipliner; Labour may be allowed to form coalitions with the Tories but they need to be honest with voters and admit their happy to put the Tories into power whenever they can get power. Dishonest politics by a party hoping people will suffer some kind of mass amnesia.Also calling Glasgow “a ditch” is insulting.
June 24 2012; YES or NO? – Isabel Fraser, Michael Moore MP, Stewart Hosie MP – Sunday Politics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVD3jGl326I
‘Nuff said on Michael Moore. Stewart Hosie was his usual competent self. At the end, Martin Sime of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organizations (SCVO) expresses his now familiar distrust of the political process
March 25 2012; Isabel Fraser and Theresa May – security, borders and immigration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-Gs68TOu04
Old scare story – Independent Scotland will put up borders, checkpoints, police on trains, etc. New scare story – England after independence will put up borders, checkpoints, police on trains, etc.
Comments;
bommmmmmmm; So T May warns that Scottish independence would cause mass immigration. For once I agree with her. I’m sure I and many of my fellow Englishmen will see it as a chance to escape her vile government by heading for the Scottish border.
Peter Curran; As an SNP supporter, I’ve made that point repeatedly on my blog. But the unionist parties can’t consider the possibility because of an irrational fear that even considering it might bring it about.
Daniel O’Brien; There’s only one party in Scotland that is trustworthy, level headed, forward thinking, and knows what they’re doing – that party being the SNP. You unionists want the referendum now when you don’t even know what it would imply!? It’s worrying to think these people are running 3 of the 4 countries in the UK… Oh, and just to inform you Theresa: I heard a lot of words, yet nothing was actually said! TAofMoridura is right, you should think about a new career choice!
wee jimmy kranky; rUK will be fully entitled to do as they see fit, it’s kinda the point of independence. Given that one of the biggest arguments against independence is that we’ll be abandoning the English to an eternity of Tories I’d suggest that we’ll need border controls to limit the flow of refugees fleeing Tory rule in England.
ian; Just another Tory scare story if it was up the Tories we would have independence when the oil and gas runs out, and just shows what the Tories think about Scotland and the Scottish people roll on independence when we can run our own affairs without listening to all these negative points about our own country.
akoustixx; There’s no need for NATO if you have no enemies in the World! or maybe the hostility is nearer than we bargain…
frasersg; Someone must make the point that an independent Scotland may not be under an SNP Govt. What is the immigration policy in an independent Scotland from Lamont, Davidson et al? They need to be prepared. Or do they have so little faith in their political prospects that they feel that the SNP will be perpetually in power? And as far as this new scare story is concerned, once again, I doth my hat to the creativity of the unionists…
May 28 2012; The Big Debate 1 and 2 Isabel Fraser BBC1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj-Z1nkC8Xc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFBa_1d5PP0
Comments;
John F; every time Nicola speaks she is talked over by anus Sarwar and Davidson.. not a fair debate.. getting used to this now.. Mr Harvey is very good?
Reply
MrZambology; This wasn’t a debate it was a rammy, these people need to stop talking over each other, the Green representative came across very well the other three were like a bunch of school kids. Anas Sarwar should hand his head in shame, a Muslim that backs Labour, the same Labour party that started illegal wars in Muslim countries, the guy’s sick.
James McL; What a terrible debate with a terrible facilitator and terrible questions. We need better quality debate, not another Parliament mud throwing session.
Leegreen3y; At least this presenter treats all the representatives fairly; most others just instantly hostile to SNP *BBC cough – cough – cough* … For half the price of Trident, we could buy a massive air superiority fighter jet fleet (Buy Russian-T50 Stealth jets for half the price of a Eurojet or f-22 raptor).
PatchesRips; I hate to admit it, but Ruth’s got a point. The EU made it clear a long time ago that they were drawing the line and no one was acceding to the EU in the future without committing to adopt the euro. For Nicola to say Scotland’s not in the exchange mechanism isn’t an argument; of course it isn’t. It’s in the UK and it’s not a separate country yet. But once it is, to join the EU, Scotland will have to join that exchange mechanism. Scotland doesn’t set the rules for EU admission. The EU does.
MrZambology; I can remember when the EU was called “the common market” that’s what it should be, what’s happening in Greece just now’s heartbreaking, no country shouldn’t have the option of printing it’s own money, Iceland had the right idea regarding bank failures, they’re private businesses that should never have been bailed out from the public purse.. As for the Euro, if members of the EU don’t get their acts together we’ll be trading in Chinese currency before too long
Peter Curran; When Scotland become independent, it becomes a separate country. So does the UK, which becomes rUK. There is no doubt whatsoever that both will be accepted as EU members. However the UK at moment has doubts about membership and has not endeared itself to the EU. rUK make take the opportunity to leave. The EU could be forgiven for taking the opportunity to kick them out – but it won’t. An EU without England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland in inconceivable.
Daniel O’Brien; Scotland is already in the EU. If Scotland were to leave the UK and become Independent, it wouldn’t really make much sense for a country which is already part of the EU to re-apply for an already existing membership? Surely if that were the case wouldn’t the rest of the UK also have to re-enter the exchange mechanism when it’s already part of it?? Doesn’t make any sense if you ask me.
mgardiner2725; Scotland is part of the EU as part of the UK. So the UK is an EU country. If Scotland separates from the UK, they also separate from the EU.
PatchesRips; .And the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson. And speaking of mythical creatures, here’s a unicorn!
July 1 2012; Isabel Fraser with Blair Jenkins and Richard Baker – YES and NO to Scotland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc6c5PiSmkI
The open, positive message of the new Scotland – and the other one …
BLAIR JENKINS: “The very important thing to realize here is that the day after the referendum in 2014 – and I believe people in Scotland will vote for an independent Scotland – all the people who’ve been involved in the NO campaign immediately become citizens of the new Scotland, and will be as determined as the rest of us to make Scotland the country it could be, and it should be.”
And that is perhaps the most vital thing that every YES campaigner – and every NO campaigner – must bear in mind for the next two years or so.
March 4 2012; Johann Lamont and Isabel Fraser Sunday Politics 4 Mar 2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r8XX6j1uvw
Over-promoted, economically and fiscally inadequate, and way out of her depth. Scottish Labour should not have put a decent, hard-working politician in this unenviable position. I like her, I believe she cares – but she should not have put herself forward for this job. And, since she does care about Scotland and Scots, she’s in the wrong party …
July 2 2012; Isabel Fraser with Richard Baker – NO to Scotland’s independence; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu7NQCmJda8
I thought Richard Baker should be heard alone (the full interview incl. Blair Jenkins is up separately) in all his double talking, defensive glory – just the man to say NO to his country’s independence on behalf of Labour.
April 18 2011; Richard Baker falls to bits on News- night Scotland 18/04/11; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixJunZe5l7M
Labour’s cynical dog-whistle knife crime policy is exposed for the fantasy land pish it is. Isobel Fraser reduces The Boy Baker to a simpering wreck as she expertly fisks his la-la numbers.
Comments;
mortoag; This why Labour had Isobel Fraser removed from her interviewing position.?
Sam Leo; This is a good example of how Labour wasted 13 years in Scotland , Scottish Labour could not even have an opinion unless London gave it the nod , and here lies the problem , Why cant the Labour party in Scotland not see the sense of Scotland being independent and then they can concentrate on getting elected in Scotland and only being accountable to the people living in Scotland .?
independenceshop; What have the BBC done with Isobel Fraser and why? Was she too good at her job??
spinozacelt; exactly.Where is she??
redstrat1234; Baker, yur a lying bawbag?.
clachanyill; english hauf wit, what kind of lunatics voted for this clown. Get a grip.?
bneon; I can’t believe this guy is trying to defend this amount even when he has been told over and over again his figures can’t,won’t,will never add up it’s probably the same ones they used on the Edinburgh tram f/up . The Glasgow rail link f/up .the Scottish parliament building f/up ?
Richard Hunter; How on earth would a bunch of medics know about what the economic cost of knife crime was?
Wallace1297; Baker what a smug prick.
Kane Almsivi; What a little snake Baker is – weasley little knob-head.
supernumery; She let the little creep off lightly.
mattob11; Why do people vote for these cynical, snidy snakes?
mark76944; How can people vote for Labour in Scotland after seeing this?
rolandsausage; What did north British Labour do in the near decade it ran Holyrood? I honestly can’t remember very much at all. This guy gives politicians a bad name and that’s saying something. Sounds like he would have been the school clipe.
clachanyill; This clown has just got to be English enough said.
Mike Nelson; What a nasty odious bare faced lying piece of pond life. Why didn’t he make it to the leadership of Liebour in Scotland?
kargwain187; what n a***hole baker is. well done Isobel Fraser for sticking to your guns.
Rocco Silverstar; just like Liebour in Westminster the numbers don’t add up.
September 7 2013; The Falkirk Fallout and Labour: GMS – Tom Walker, Peter Murray, Gerry Hassan, Isobel Fraser https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3uEsb3bJI4
May 7 2012; Johann Lamont and Isabel Fraser 6 May 2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51M7D79N21c
c4hsr; The new Maggie Thatcher within Liebour the new Tory party in Scotland .why can’t she listen to the people that support independence within the liebour party ? check out Liebour for independence
March 902013; Oil and Scotland’s Independence – BBC Good Morning Scotland – Isabel Fraser and Derek Bateman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpIDGUxxDlw
Comments;
Peter Curran; I have a long perspective of Scotland’s history and its relationship to the UK, Europe and the world. I was a Labour supporter most of my life, despite being increasingly aware of the depth of their betrayal of their supporters, especially in the east end of Glasgow. Iraq was the last straw for me – that and the fact that I am totally opposed to nuclear weapons and nuclear power. The only way for Scotland is out. If you haven’t yet seen ‘Diomhair’ you can view it on YouTube – a must. Vote YES!
Chrysalis M; It would be interesting to know your opinion on this subject, in looking at your videos I think you might have a more informed perspective on it. I am from the West coast of Scotland myself and am not entirely convinced either way though I would say my instinct is for independence due to the inefficacy of our votes in the last election and the subsequent farce of a Tory government that we now have. After working in London for some years I have to say we seem to have a lot going for us comparatively.
e ritchie; I was referring to John Kay. Unashamedly pretending the oil reserves arent that important… 1.5 trillion and more in oil is massive..
October 2011: Alex Salmond and Isabel Fraser – Independence and Question(s) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3SdYZj5hrc
One of the many classic Isabel Fraser interviews with Alex Salmond. The Nationalist BBC bashers tend to ignore the vital contribution of the BBC to democracy by giving regular exposure to the FM and the nationalist viewpoint.
Alex Salmond-Isabel Fraser – Fiscal Policy and Murdoch Mar 2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sduHeINTsJk
weegit99; Wrong, he is not anti English, Scottish independence would be better for the Britain as a whole
Alex Salmond and Isabel Fraser – Sunday Politics Scotland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nchvxcSACxs
Chanley Muir; The irony of people complaining that Alex Salmond got an easy interview here, when the BBC (which is meant to be unbiased and fair) has for the past 2 years done all they can to derail pro-independence arguments. Looking at further interviews, the Indy reps are bombarded with questions, and demands for answers, yet the unionists declare that they don’t need to give answers until after the vote!!! Yeah, the bias is owned by the unionist media!
March 2 2014; Isabel Fraser, Kate Devlin, Kevin McKenna on Radio Scotland: more powers, dam busters and more! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP9zvX5_8MY#t=11
December 2 2012; Alex Salmond on Leveson with Isabel Fraser 2nd Dec 2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPkUVcFk7VU
March 29 2014; Guardian: Currency Union – Isabel Fraser and Nicolas Watt on GMS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS774LSewgk
January 5 2013 Peter Curran on negotiation and politics – BBC Radio Scotland Isabel Fraser https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQkyteimSgM
January 29 2014; Isabel Fraser’s questions NATO the SNP, Angus Robertson, Isabel Fraser https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SYmT2x1dAw
February 19 2012; Kenny MacAskill on Cameron’s offer – to Isabel Fraser https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGSUxJMQNKo
Peter Curran; Isabel Fraser is one of the finest media interviewers on television.
September 25 2012; SNP care for Scots – can Scotland afford it? YES – but Johann and Labour can’t! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH1cDb1R0qo
June 19 2012; Independence polls – Isabel Fraser and John Curtice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pbOWYuQViQ
Welcoming the publication of a poll from IPSOS/MORI in the Times and Sun putting support for independence at 35 per cent — up two points since the last poll published at the end of May — Scottish National Party Campaign Director Angus Robertson said:
“Compared to the poll commissioned by Alistair Darling on the eve of the Yes campaign launch, support for independence is up by two points to 35 per cent and opposition is down two points — and a MORI poll last December had independence at 29 per cent, or six points less than in this poll. Things are moving in the right direction, and we are very confident of achieving a Yes vote for an independent Scotland in the autumn 2014 referendum.
“When people are asked if they want Scotland’s Parliament to have job-creating economic powers and control of welfare policy — so that we can build prosperity and social justice in place of Tory cuts and recession — or whether they believe that Holyrood should have the powers to get rid of Trident from Scottish waters, the answer is a resounding Yes. And we believe that the positive case for an independent Scotland will overcome the negativity of the Tory-led anti-independence campaign.
“As the campaign moves forward, we will reach out to every community in Scotland with the message that it is fundamentally better for all of us if decisions affecting Scotland are taken by the people who care about Scotland most — that is, the people of Scotland.”
On the leadership rating figures, Mr Robertson said:
“These are fantastic leadership ratings for Alex Salmond — any political leader in the western world would give their eye teeth to have such strongly positive ratings after more than five years in office — and they confirm that he is far and away the most popular political leader in Scotland and the UK. The First Minister’s net approval ratings are double now what they were two years ago.”
Comments;
MrZambology; I have to agree with you the BBC do whoever’s in Westminster’s bidding. They’re anti-independence and their coverage of world events is skewed, if this report is “balanced” it’s one of the very few. We should all stop paying our licence fees, the BBC is sadly a media manipulation and propaganda tool.
Peter Curran; I’m an SNP supporter, and SNP party member, and I spend a lot of time blogging, tweeting and clipping relevant media. You are just plain wrong, and so are all the Nat’s who look for bias in every BBC broadcast. This was a poll by a reputable polling organization, IpsosMORI. The comment on it was objective by Prof. Curtice as was the questioning by Isabel Fraser. You may not like the analysis, but it was an entirely reasonable one. I have shown the SNP response in the text. Focus on facts!
kargwain187; The BBC article focused only on the negatives of Scottish independence, and did not attempt to give unbiased reporting at all. There was a single man present who analyzed only a single poll for its relevance. Scottish independence means nothing to me, I’m Irish , I have no stake in it. I simply do not like the BBC for its practice of intellectual bias on some news stories. How you can be a SNP supporter and think the BBC is non biased is beyond me to be honest, but best of luck with everything
new2aspergers; Remember the BBC is an official government broadcaster. It’s run by a trust formed of political appointees. Such organizations are by their nature biased. All other broadcasters are “licensed” by the broadcasting authority and so are effectively also under government control. They are all allowed to run freely and are only interfered with over important issues. It gives the appearance of a free press making distortions and lies easier to swallow. The poison in the jam strategy.
Peter Curran; The BBC is a public service broadcaster. As such, it must be regulated. But the idea that it is institutionally biased or government-controlled is untenable, and contradicted by the facts that successive governments, of all political colours, have become excited over the years at what they perceived as anti-government bias. It has been accused by bias by just about every group in British society. It is regarded as a paradigm of public service broadcasting across the globe.
June 27 2012; Brian Taylor talks to one YES and two NO’s on independence and Isabel Fraser to John Curtice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLahZatXRgw
Comments
cjmastablasta; I`ve read your blog before but reserve the right of course to not agree with everything you say. The more views out there the better though and I hope to god the SG can pull it together in time for 2014 and achieve our independence. I`ll be putting in a few man hours myself. Have a nice day.
jimmy2k4o; if you’re so sure why does the ‘no’ side always try and rush it so the SNP don’t get the chance to make their case, to debate Cameron. you guys tried the vote back in the last term, why? b/c u know what an informed Scotland will vote, and you want them to vote before they can be informed.
cjmastablasta; The topic is about a yes or no decision and there are many who see the over representation of the no camp quite regularly and feel uneasy about it. Like I said before, there should have been someone else from the yes camp given the chance to put their views across and correct me if i`m wrong but this would fall in with your own argument? I`ve heard a lot from all the different unionist parties but very little from the range of groups from the yes side. I don`t see the balance at all
cjmastablasta; This is not about party politics it`s about the referendum and Scotland’s constitutional decision to be made where there are two sides. YES and NO. I think in this instance there should have been someone speaking from both sides and not two no`s against one yes where the no`s had twice the say to the yes. You put the video up so why do you point this out if you see no problem with it? Do you disagree that the BBC is bias?
cjmastablasta; So the majority government of Scotland is out numbered by two to one? Or should I say three to one judging by Brian Taylor’s past antics and strange interpretation of Labour’s supposed successes in the debating chamber for FM`s questions. I`m really sick of the BBC`s blatant bias in favour of the union. This is supposedly a democratic nation but I do wonder sometimes.
June 19 2012; Isabel Fraser explores the nuclear issue – Faslane, subs and jobs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCBjOUXOtpo
October 21 2012; Alex Salmond and Isabel Fraser on the wider economic arguments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF3Ed_kas-U
Comments;
Peter Curran; Interviewers are there to ask penetrating questions, to act as Devil’s Advocate – that their job, not to act as passive feeds for your favourite politicians. If Isabel Fraser hadn’t asked such questions on earlier part of the interview, on the SNP’s shameful decision to let WMD – carrying subs of another nations into Scottish waters without inspection, we certainly would not have had it volunteered by Alex Salmond. I support the SNP in general terms, I support independence, but not on NATO.
Noel Masson; Ah, that explains it! lol
Steve McKay; Alex’s sigh at 4min and 30seconds says it all. Please please please stop asking silly questions and make a blooming effort to understand what is being said….report the facts pre-interview for example… I like Isabel Fraser but the tone of voice is all wrong – relax and discuss – don’t stress to pretend your impartial. An intelligent discussion proves your impartial!
markieboy1983; The best interview I’ve seen for a while. Isabel asked all the right questions and Alex knew exactly what he was talking about. Too many interviewers these days just try to provoke the interviewee (a la Paxman), but Isabel knows the main purpose is to inform the viewer. It helped Alex get his message across too so everybody wins. I hope Ian Davidson was watching.
July 27 2013; Scotland’s Oil: David Bell, Robin McAlpine and Brian Wilson on GMS with Isabel Fraser https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UhYIkxlHYw
Prof. David Bell – the cool, dispassionate Scottish academic. Robin McAlpine, the young, passionate new voice of Scotland’s independence. And Brian Wilson, yesterday’s man: a tired, negative mix of the worst of the UK arguments, old Labour and the awful thing that supplanted it – Blair/Brown/Mandelson Labour. The great Scottish independence debate in an oddly representative trio …
Comment; Robin McAlpine is very correct in stating that renewable energy should be in collective ownership. After seeing oil cash squandered for years it’s about time it was put to a long term use.
caltonjock 