Lansdowne is one of the world’s leading alternative investment management organisations. Peter Davies joined Lansdowne in June 2001, he is a member of the Management Committee and is jointly responsible for the Developed Markets Strategy. Prior to joining Lansdowne, Peter was a Director at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM, previously Mercury Asset Management). He was best man for George Osborne when he got married . He made £36 million by selling off his Post Office shares.
Private health care firms with Tory links have been awarded NHS contracts worth nearly £1.5billion” by Carole Hawkins. This is frightening, but fore-armed is fore-warned. The NHS in England is no more. Scotland is next in line for the privatisation experiment. But we have the ability to stop them in their tracks. For yourself and your families future well-being vote, “Yes” in the referendum. http://www.labourleft.co.uk/private-health-care-firms-with-tory-links-have-been-awarded-nhs-contracts-worth-nearly-1-5billion
British care home scandal deepens. The Labour Party’s grubby paws all over this one. What a way to treat the elderly. Westminster politicians should be ashamed, but they are really only in it for what they can get. Patel was one of those individuals close to New Labour who personally profited from this process. He was involved in the development of the Labour government’s massive extension of the Conservatives’ Private Finance Initiative, which handed over chunks of the public sector to private capital and was awarded a CBE for “services to the development of social care policies” in 1999. He remains secretary to the pro-Labour Party think tank, the Institute for Public Policy.The only way to be sure our elderly are provided with the care they deserve is to vote, “Yes” in the referendum. A no vote will open our social services in Scotland to the leeches so desperate to gain control so they can make loadsa money for themselves. http://www.hc-one.co.uk/
The, “Yes” campaign faced the might of – The Abbotsford Team ( actively backed by the entire UK political system, the civil service, media barons, commercial and financial institutions, The City of London, Heads of State and senior politicians of countries world wide and just about anyone or anything that David Cameron and Sir Jeremy Heywood could muster in their mission to deny Scotland it’s rightful place in the world as an independent country.)
“The gathering.” At the beginning of 2012, (at his house in Edinburgh) former Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling, David McLetchie, late Scottish Conservative Leader, David Cameron’s, Director of Political Strategy, Andrew Cooper, Shadow Foreign Secretary, Douglas Alexander, Shadow Defence Secretary, Jim Murphy and special adviser to the Scottish Secretary, Euan Roddin. met in secret with the purpose of, “preparing a battle plan” which when enacted would, “kill off, once and for all time”, Alex Salmond and the Scottish National Party. The meeting lasted over 3 hours.
It was readily agreed that the only way to defeat Alex Salmond was to put their party political differences aside and to join forces so that he would be faced with the full might of the, “Union”. The, “Abbotsford Agreement” was born. It was agreed the campaign would be coordinated through the Prime Ministers Office in London, but Mr Cameron would be kept well clear of any overt campaign activities.
The Abbotsford Team – Better Together – The Strategic Directors
Alistair Darling. Moving on to the Lords June 2015.
Jim Murphy. Defeated Labour candidate 2015 General Election
Andrew Cooper. David Cameron’s, Director of Political Strategy. Elevated to the Lords June 2015
Euan Roddin. Special adviser to Alistair Carmichael, ex Scottish Secretary. Leaked the infamous “Frenchgate” memo the week before the 2015 General Election. Rehabilitated to another £75K SPAD post!!!!!!
Labour Party Team
Mr Darling, considered more than a match for Alex Salmond would front the tri-party campaign and it would be run by Scottish based politicians. It was further agreed each political party would be free to run their own pro-union campaign. The meeting was then briefed that former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, had declined an invitation to join the, “Better Together” campaign advising he would restrict his role to the Labour Party’s own anti-independence campaign being reluctant to share a platform with the Tories and Lib Dems. Finance Available. Approximately £4 million. includes significant donations from Tory backers, senior financiers and JK Rowling, (author).
Alistair Darling’s Better Together Team
Blair McDougall. Campaign Director. Went on to become Head of Policy and Strategy for the Labour Party in Scotland, (reporting to Jim Murphy). Jobless after the 2015 General Election debacle supposed to be licking his wounds and writing a book about Keir Hardie.
Treasurer-Peter Dunphy: Lib/Dem activist for over 20 years, served as a Councillor, Parliamentary Candidate and Chair of both the Parliamentary Candidates Association and the Party youth section. Member of the National Secular Society. CEO of an international recruitment business. lives in Westminster.
Nosheena Mobarik: Formerly, Chair of CBI Scotland, Director of Better Together. Co-founder of Glasgow software company M Computer Technologies stirred up a considerable hornets’ nest for the then Labour-controlled Scottish Government when she, along with others, publicly criticized its procurement processes in a speech at a Business in Parliament conference. Got her reward. Elevated to the Lords as Baroness of Mearns
Craig Harrow; Convener and Vice President of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Bags of lobbing experience. His P.R. company hit the headlines in Scotland when it emerged the Coalition government had handed a £30,000 contract to it for “communications support” on the referendum.
Richard Baker: Labour member of the Scottish Parliament (List – MSP) for the North East Scotland region. Labour Party in Scotland losing candidate in the 2015 General Election. Advanced his name for the vacant post of Deputy leader of the labour party in Scotland. This chappie is an unmitigated disaster and his election t the post of deputy would be a gift to the SNP. See my article on him at:
Jackie Baillie. Has been a Labour party in Scotland MSP from the date Parliament first convened in 1999. An opportunist who sits in the background until an opening provides her an opportunity to claim other peoples work as her own. Not a nice person. See my article on her: https://caltonjock.com/2014/09/16/jackie-ballie-labour-msp-consummate-liar-exposed/
The Media Campaign Strategy
BLUE STATE DIGITAL – Official Obama and Blair campaigns contractors, awarded, “Better Together” exclusive media strategy contract. Blue State Digital is a USA media strategy and technology company specializing in online fundraising, social networking and constituency development. The Company provided digital strategy and technology services for the Barack Obama presidential and a number of Blair campaigns. directed by co-founders, Joe Rospars and Jascha Franklin-Hodge. The mission statement of the Company is;
“A full-service new media agency, Blue State Digital develops and executes multi-platform digital marketing and online engagement campaigns for non-profit and advocacy organizations, political candidates, causes, brands and businesses. Our work inspires and mobilizes people, increases revenue, and cements lasting support and loyalty.”
A Company insider quote; “Future elections will be won not because the candidate was anointed by a powerful party, but because he or she was best at using a Web and new-media strategy to rally the masses.”
Blue State Digital-Better Together strategy – About Gregor Poynton – UK Director of Blue state Digital. Poynton, a former Labour party election strategy manager and Scottish Labour party organiser who is married to the MP Gemma Doyle, is from Falkirk and his parents still live in the town. One of those recruited last July, who asked to remain anonymous, joined because of a long standing friendship with the Poynton family. “I wanted to help them and ensure the town is represented by someone local,”
Former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, declined the invitation to join the, “Better Together” campaign advising he would restrict his role to the Labour Party’s own anti-independence campaign being unwilling to share a platform with the Tories and Lib Dems. Retired from Westminster politics at the 2015 General Election. Reputed to have turned down, for now an elevation to the Lords. Might be waiting for the Chilcott report.
In the final days of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum the pendulum finally swung in favour of a “Yes” vote.
Just as it appeared that the Westminster state funded campaign of media manipulation, disinformation, frighteners, celebrity love bombing, world political leaders support and the “ace in the pack” intervention of the Queen had failed.
The Westminster establishment illegally promised a “Devomax” sweetener through a National newspaper.
Further aiding “Better Together” the studiously impartial BBC provided Gordon Brown with an unprecedented four hours of blanket media exposure allowing him to deliver a long and rambling speech to a captive Scottish television viewing public.
Brown’s widely promoted rhetoric proved to be successful when, a few days later, faced with the reality of a vote a number of Scots expressed a preference to retain the Status Quo.
Events since have exposed the cynical behaviour of politicians who conspired together across the political spectrum agreeing a promise of “Devomax” withe the knowledge it would not be delivered.
Yet again the political maxim of “delay is the most invidious form of denial” was successfully applied and Westminster prevailed.
The 2016 US Presidential election and Donald Trump’s unexpected victory over media promoted and establishment preference candidate, Hilary Clinton.
The Democratic Party campaign was largely organised and delivered by the same Obama supporting electoral team that had assisted the Westminster “Better Together” campaign in the 2014 Scottish referendum.
Same tactics. disinformation, character assassination, lies, massive state-financed expenditure, Celebrity love bombing etc. yet “David beat Goliath.”
The differing outcomes of the two campaigns is best explained by the influence of a fast-maturing “social media” driven by internet users who exposed the hypocrisy of the US political elite.
In doing so disenfranchised voters added another dimension to the mainstream media, questioning its honesty and integrity.
The 2016 European Community referendum also produced a surprise result exposing a wide political difference in the views of the electorates of England and Scotland.
Scotland preferred retention of EU membership but Scotland was forced to conform to the wishes of the English electorate and the Westminster establishment.
The “Brexit” notification was served on the EU by Westminster in March 2017 with a formal withdrawal expected to be completed within two-three years, (March 2019-2020).
But the Westminster government proposals for Brexit are not acceptable to the EU leaning Scots electorate and it is expected the proposals, if forced upon Scots may trigger another Scottish Independence Referendum.
Preparing in advance for a Scottish challenge the Tory government in Westminster created a “Constitutional Civil Service Team”.
The team is fully financed with Scottish Grant money purloined by the Secretary of State for Scotland to whom it reports.
Its remit, carried over from the 2014 independence referendum when it was credited with winning the referendum for the Tory’s is to nullify any challenges to the retention of the United Kingdom.
The team, as it was in the 2014 Independence Referendum will be enabled in its campaigns of disinformation by the BBC and UK press.
A pseudo-Scottish government is based in London at present but is scheduled to be relocated to Edinburgh early in 2020, after the Tory Party is re-elected to government.
The impact of internet driven social media is fast increasing providing balance between political agendas
In 2015 media bloggers identified and exposed a mind bending policy (designed to manipulate women voters).
Developed by President Obama’s election team the tactic had been widely used by “Better Together” in the 2014 Scottish Referendum and in the US 2016 Presidential election.
Crucial to the outcome of any future Scottish Independence Referendum the unsavoury practices need to be revealed to the Scottish electorate and women in particular
The attached video (above) provides visual and oral evidence of the practices operated and should be widely distributed and viewed by young women voters in Scotland.
Love-Bombing – A study of the conduct of “Better Together” in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum
Just about every time Cameron made speeches extolling the virtues of Britishness and his love for Scotland he, extracted his information from the Canadian Love-bomb handbook compiled by Canadian government media advisors and widely used at the time of the now notorious Montreal, “Unity Rally” when an estimated 100,000 Canadians gathered in Montreal to “love-bomb” Quebec.
The late introduction of the “below the line” anti-Scottish independence campaign “Lets Stay Together” launched in the last 6 months of the 2014 campaign.
Fronted by a number of, London based, Labour Party celebs the tactic mirrored the previously mentioned, “Montreal Love-Bomb” tactic.
The final frame of the video tells viewers to “call family and friends in Scotland and tell them they’re our ‘best friend'”.
The sickly celeb plea can be directly linked to Cameron’s infamous speech at the Olympic Park in East London in February 2014 (nationwide television broadcast) when he urged “every Briton with a friend or family member in Scotland” to persuade them to vote against independence.
A spokesman blustered that the costly campaign “Let’s Stay Together” was entirely unrelated to, “Better Together” and had no connection to any of the main pro-UK parties in Westminster. Just people wishing to express the english view.
But later investigation revealed the “Let’s Stay Together” campaign was funded by the Labour Party and was set up by three senior advertising industry figures. Namely:
John Braggins: Director of media company B.B.M. who worked closely with the Labour party on elections and planning campaigns and proudly claimed the credit for Labour not losing a single by-election in the period between Blair’s anointing as Labour leader and the 1997 General Election.
Andrew McGuinness: Who contributed financially to Tony Blair’s Election campaigns. He continues to work closely with the Labour Party.
MT Rainey: Probably the most powerful woman in British advertising who is on record defending the media’s right to create false images.
“Better Together” worked closely with Cameron’s former strategy director Andrew Cooper
M&C Saatchi, with a long relationship with the Conservative Party, advised and delivered the campaign’s advertising, marketing and message development.
They worked with a number of other media image agencies, including the “Grey” and “BD” Networks.
TBWA UK, which works with the Labour Party, was also involved in the opening pitch process
Probably the most powerful woman in Scottish/ British advertising Scot MT Rainey is on record defending the media’s right to create false images. Her links with the Labour Party in Scotland are well established.
MT Rainey is the chair of digital advertising agency TH_NK.
TH_NK, is pronounced “thunk”, the noise that the “Let’s Stay Together” campaign made as it landed in the middle of the 2014 independence debate.
It has a large portfolio of high profile clients, including, JK Rowling, the BBC, Channel 4, and the TV Licencing Authority.
In November 2013 at Labour’s Scottish conference in Inverness, Magrit Curran announced that Labour was to set up a new employment taskforce, to be headed by former Labour MP for Dumbarton John McFall ( who now rejoices in the silly made-up title Lord of Alcluith Tywysog of the Strathclyde Britons) and another former native of Dumbarton, a certain MT Rainey.
Not long after, Labour’s national leadership in England announced it was setting up a review of the Creative and Digital Industries.
A member of the review board was to be the busy Ms Rainey.
At the time of the Falkirk candidate selection debacle Johann Lamont, (supposed leader of the Scottish labour Party) was instructed to keep her silence, by the Labour Party in England. The difficulty was referred to Ed Miliband who undertook to direct the outcome. The Scottish branch of Labour, (for that is what it has been reduced to) is divided, demoralised and unable to agree a unified approach to any matter of consequence, witness the bedroom tax debacle.
It is the case that Westminster not Holyrood, (Johann Lamont) that retains the authority to remove wayward MSP’s. Confirmation that the Scottish Labour Party is no more. Vote, “Yes” in September. Free the Labour Party in Scotland from the dead hand that is Ed Miliband and his ilk.
JK Rowling walked away from, M.S. Society (Scotland) following a mass exodus of volunteers and course leaders from the society caused by inflexible London management. All funding for MSSS was ‘centralized’ in London and everything had to be approved by the management down there. MSSS had been running free ‘self-management’ courses in conjunction with Arthritis, (Scotland) for the benefit of anyone living with a long term condition. Funding was pulled from the classes by London management because the MSS’ remit was Multiple Sclerosis and these classes weren’t specifically for people with M.S.
JK Rowling attempted to mediate the charity’s conflict
JK Rowling has quit as patron of her favourite charity over a row between its English and Scottish leaders.
The Harry Potter author has supported the MS Society for nearly a decade.
But the millionairess has walked away over a conflict between the Scottish charity and management in London.
She said: ‘I have now reluctantly decided that I cannot, in good conscience, continue to be the public face of a charity that is changing beyond recognition from the one with which I have been so proud to be associated.’
The author’s mother died from the disease at the age of 45 in 1991.
She said she had taken the decision to stand down ‘with profound sadness and regret’ but added that her financial support of a research project at Edinburgh University would continue.
She said in a statement: ‘I also remain committed to financing future research into the treatment and causes of Multiple Sclerosis, and to campaigning for better care and treatment of people with MS in Scotland, which is the MS capital of the world.
‘This disease claimed my mother’s life at the age of 45, and I hope to continue giving both time and money to a cause which remains so close to my heart.
‘I have not taken the decision to quit my position as patron of MSSS lightly.
‘Late last year I initiated and attended a mediation session, in the hope of sorting out long-standing and escalating conflict between the Scottish Council and management in London, driven by the imposition of changes by London.
‘Unfortunately, this achieved very little. With mounting frustration and disappointment, I have witnessed resignations of immensely dedicated people within MSSS and the increasing demoralization of staff whom I have come to know and admire over the ten years of our association.’
It is understood that Rowling quit following the departure of director for the MS Society Scotland Mark Hazelwood. He left last December after nine years at the charity over differences with English management.
One of the issues was a ‘cash pooling’ system, approved by the board of trustees in England, whereby all branches of the charity were expected to put money into one UK scheme run by Barclays Bank. Mr Hazelwood wanted Scotland to use a Scottish bank.
She said her disappointment ‘cannot be overstated. Nevertheless, I hope to continue to play a part in combating the underfunding and misunderstandings surrounding MS for many years to come. I shall also continue to hope that the MS Society Scotland manages to resolve its difficulties.’
An MS Society spokesman said: ‘JK Rowling has been a great patron for the MS Society Scotland for many years. We are sorry she is stepping down and thank her for her good work, and for her continued support for the MS research centre in Edinburgh.
‘The Society is in the middle of a governance review to make sure we are properly organised to build on the excellent work we already do in Scotland and across the UK. We are a strong, democratic organisation and this review is being done in consultation with all of our 43,000 members.
‘We would have preferred to do this with JK Rowling’s involvement, but we appreciate that significant change can be difficult.
‘We would urge supporters of the MS Society to work with us now. The Board is confident that what we are doing is all about delivering the best possible support to over 10,000 people living with MS in Scotland.’
Seems to me JK Rowling got caught up in a power struggle between the English governors of the charity and the Scottish workers who simply wished to run their own affairs, (which she fully supported). This is just what the Scot’s wish in their bid for independence and she has set her face against a free Scotland. Doesn’t add up.
TARGET DEATH EATERS; 18.09.14 HATE CRIME INQUIRY AFTER ONLINE ATTACK ON BEST–SELLER; Police to Hunt Trolls Who Hurled Poison at Rowling
15 June 2014: Last week, Rowling suggested some nationalists, obsessed with Scottishness, were “death eaterish”, referring to the Harry Potter baddies who sought to eliminate everyone who did not have true wizard blood. She predicted their online attacks after she backed the pro-union campaign but the hatemongers now face prosecution.
Rowling gave £1million to Better Together and also penned an essay on her website explaining her love of Scotland and why she has not been convinced by the case of for independence.
The trolls instantly flooded online. Police Scotland received a complaint about the posts. A spokesman said: “Police Scotland will consider any complaint about online abuse seriously and will investigate as appropriate.”
Rowling, who has lived in Scotland for more than 20 years, said one reason for her donation was her fear that independence would put at risk research into MS, a disease which led to the death of her mum.
Comment: But her alleged fears for research into MS do not fit the reasons she withdrew her sponsorship at the time London absorbed Scotland’s MS organisation. At that time she intimated England should butt out of Scotlands affairs. Cake and Eat it methinks.
George was employed for some time by the BBC. He likened it to working with gremlins in a lunatic asylum. The, “Ministry of Truth” in his book, “Nineteen Eighty Four” was modeled on his experiences with the BBC .
Well, nothing much has changed, only the faces. The bias and censorship that so frustrated George Orwell is still rife. The organization, has clearly decided upon a win for, “Bitter Together” and it will manipulate it’s entire media content to this end.
Blue State Digital, a USA media manipulation company planned campaign strategy for the Democratic Party nomination of Obama. His opponent was Hilary Clinton. The video, see attached was produced by them. It was later withdrawn after immense public protest, but damage had been done to Mrs Clinton.
Blue State Digital has been awarded the media campaign contract for, “Better Together”. It is only a matter of time until something similar in content surfaces seeking to discredit the, “Yes” campaigners.
Responding to the statement; An Independent Scotland can expect to start with healthier state finances than the rest of the UK. This person responded;
“There is no point in trying to keep Scotland inside the union, “through fear of economic consequences” of leaving. “Supporters of Independence will always be able to cite examples of small, independent and thriving economies across Europe such as Finland, Switzerland and Norway”. “It would be wrong to suggest that Scotland could not be another such successful independent country”.
Politicians might talk about reform or retribution of errant bankers when they are in opposition but once they are in power they invariably become pawns of the banking sector. This was true of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown – who frequently intervened on behalf of the bankers, for example, by heading off rules that would have impeded profit-making, kicking necessary reforms into the long grass and generally lowering the regulatory bar.
In November and December 2008, both David Cameron and George Osborne expressed a determination to jail criminal bankers, but have singularly softened their stance since entering Downing Street.
I conclude that, however badly high-level bankers behave, they have engineered a situation in which supposedly democratic governments will turn a largely blind eye, including management structures and record-keeping that make incrimination difficult. Our wonderful politicians have not just allowed banks to become too big to fail, they have also allowed them to become too big to prosecute. And too big to jail.
Shredded – Inside RBS: the Bank that Broke Britain Author; Ian Fraser
Warning ! Warning ! Warning ! Nothing much has changed and another burst bubble is just around the corner. Vote, “Yes” to independence so that Scotland will be able to properly our organize banking systems
1. A majority of MSP’s in Holyrood voted against a renewal of Trident.
2. The UK’s entire arsenal of nuclear weapons are secured in a store not 60 miles from Glasgow Scotland’s most densely populated area.
3. A Scottish court ruled that Trident was an illegal weapon. Westminster refused to recognize the jurisdiction of the court.
4. Trident is a criminal weapon of mass destruction which is in Scotland without the approval or consensus of the Scottish people.
5. The International Court of Justice, (July 1996) there is no higher court in the world. ruled that any threat or use of nuclear weapons would be contrary to international law.
6. Westminster has stated that in the event of hostilities breaking out, the UK nuclear fleet would be assigned to NATO. How does this fit with the Westminster claim that, “Trident is our independent nuclear deterrent”.
7. The UK’s arsenal of nuclear missiles is ever expanding, (1990 – 96 warheads) (1998 – 180 warheads) (2018 son of trident ?).
caltonjock 