Livingston FC: What the Papers are Saying

I was flicking through the sport's pages this morning to see what the papers say about the imminent liquidation of Livingston.

The Grauniad fail when they say:

'Presumably the number of people reading this column who care, or even know about, the probable demise of Livingston FC can be counted on the fingers of an oven glove.'

Personally I find such presumptions about Scots first and Livingston fans secondly a disgrace. An oven glove has one finger. Other than myself I can think of several other readers of that paper in the support. I may have to confine them to the level of the unmentionable red top.

The Daily Telegraph mention that this is the fourth Scottish Team to go out of business in 7 years, Livingston, Gretna, Clydebank and Airdrieonians. Though on a minor technicality Clydebank's position basically survived when the outfit moved to Airdrie.

The Scotsman has been matter of factly updating its story since early yesterday morning and says the fate lies in the SFL meeting this morning. But as the Daily Mail reports that would require a change in the SFLs rules over insolvency. Basically as Massone's company still technically owns the club as registered with the SFL which he is not prepared to give up voluntarily they may severe those links and offer Neil Rankine and Gordon McDougall, waiting in the wings with a joint rescue bid, the rights to the identity.

The small hope is rule 76 which says:

"Any club who goes in for an insolvency procedure are in breach of SFL rules. The committee then have full power to deal with it as it thinks fit."

The Herald reports that though the deadline for Massone to hand over his shares to McGruther acting for the Administrators to hand over his shares yesterday, is willing to wait until he walks into the meeting at Hampden this afternoon at 2pm for a change of heart. But he will need the shares in his hand and the interested parties by his side or else all looks doomed.

The unmentionable paper do publish a plea from Chris Innes* the team captain to the SFL to give a stay of execution. He of course went through this all last summer with Gretna.

All in all not a pleasant mornings reading, with only the thinnest glimmer of hope. Angelo you have seen only a small part of how upset the community is as many of us had to be at work yesterday. You appear to be the only person left who thinks you are able to save this club by holding unto your shares. Wake up! Smell the espresso and do the right thing.

*Hey after yesterday's horrible headline they gave a decent story today. But I still remember Hillsborough.

Scotsman Backs Down

Earlier today the Scotsman's David Maddox posted on the Steamie the paper's blog an article which included unfounded allegations about Jo Swinson's expenses. Indeed this was the same day that the Grauniad had to apologise for printing those falsehoods.

Caron's article alerted me to the latest bit of sloppy and lazy journalism over this whole affair. After correcting the blog a David, possibly Maddox himself, left an apology on Caron's blog stating he had 'checked with the Telegraph who said they had not retracted anything on the original story'. Herein lies the rub, the Telegraph, as James Graham pointed out, are treading a thin line between fact, innuendo, sexism and fiction.

A superficial reading of the article would lead the casual reader to assume that the record of Jo Swinson MP’s expenses claims demonstrate that she had claimed for makeup and dusters. However, a more careful reading reveals the following information:

1 – that although receipts containing those items had been submitted, there is no actual evidence that these specific items had been claimed for. Indeed, this claim is explicitly denied by Jo Swinson herself and no evidence has been brought forward to give us cause to doubt this whatsoever.

2 – furthermore, that in at least one case the items which had been claimed for were clearly marked by an asterisk. In the case of the eyeliner and dusters this was not the case.

3 – the claim that Jo Swinson is "known in Westminster for the attention she pays to her appearance" is entirely unsubstantiated and innuendo-laden. There is nothing remarkable about a Member of Parliament not wishing to look unkempt; indeed they would be open to criticism if they did so.

4 – the headline epithet "makeover queen" is equally unsubstantiated. No-one appears to have called Jo Swinson this apart from the article’s author, Rosa Prince, herself.

5 – the page design is clearly intended to convey the idea that Jo Swinson has had numerous "makeovers" - yet the photographs provided are merely
pictures of her looking slightly different over a period of eight years.

As I pointed out earlier today just because the Tell-lie-graph has exclusive exposure to these expenses claim the fact that many of their points about MPs are merely leading questions, unsubstantiated, unchecked, unresearched, unjournalised if you will. Far from reporting public opinion they are leading it and don't care what half or even untruths they can spread in the telling.

The Tell-lie-graph should carry a health warning at present.

Somethings you read here should be done so with a pinch of salt. Read every word, our lawyers have carefully inserted some so as to keep us legal but to make you miss the meaning. By the way as salt is the root for the word salary we'll be looking for MPs who have mixed up salt and salary with expenses, we're still looking.

It doesn't which is more the point. Look into the facts yourself. Read carefully and look at the reaction and indeed history of your MP's quotes on expenses, transparency etc.

Scotsman's Non-News Story of the Day

Well I can't believe the sensationalism in this headline in today's Scotsman:

Now it would appear that this is a sensation. A novelty. That for the first time we are being denied the right to know the results of our votes until Sunday 7th June. Actually back in 2004 on the Sunday after polling in the last European election I hopped on a bus and turned up at Bathgate Academy for the counting of the West Lothian ballots in the European Election.

It's not news!

It has happened at least for the last two Euro Elections and that is just from memory. The reason is that some of our European neighbours either have one or two days of weekend voting. It means that all the votes are being counted simultaneously across Europe and the shape of the new parliament becomes known.

Hardly delayed in my book, but right on schedule.

Update: I have to say that the oversenstaionalism is showing up one thing the ignorance of the Cybernats* who post on the Scotsman's forums. Here is a brief Q&A for their rants, as I'd hate them to remain in ignorance.

Q 1. Postal voting again

Like all elections the postal votes will as ever be dealt with opened and verified with the same scrutiny as opening of other boxes. They will then on count night be mixed with another box and counted as normal.

2. Losing votes

Boxes will have been sealed with numbered cable tags at close of polling in the precence of that party polling station agents present. The unbroken tags will be witnessed being cut at the other end. In the interim the boxes will have be locked up in either a bank safe or police cell to avoid interference.

3. Labour to win all seats even were not standing candidates.

Well unless they mess up their list paperwork they will have their list in for the 7 seats across the one Scottish constituency for 7 seats. These are then elected by PR.

6. The Glenrothes Counting Team

In fairness I was there at the Glenrothes count and for most of it was stood next to Tricia Marwick, SNP MSP for Central Fife. We even discussed the performance of the counting team as it was going on. She had no issue with them, there was a snide comment about a little incident but it did not affect the effectiveness of the vote. What happened afterwards to the marked register has nothing to do with the counting team as this was never in the count hall. The ballots and the registers went to different locations after the close of polls.

8. More time to count postal ballots

See above. These are counted on the day after being resealed upon verification of the offical mark at times determined by the Returning Officer.

*At least the Nat Bloggers tend to be clued up than this lot, and if they aren't will take correction from fellow bloggers as a lesson learnt.

Help the Steamie is Stymied

Just landed at the Scotsman's Steamie blog there appears to be an error. Not sure whether to call for a plumber, coder, or just dig up the back up file. The Scotsman do do daily backups I trust?

It may have something to do with the fact that Caron sent an email to Kenny Farquharson saying she was surprised at my ommission on the blogroll. Kenny replied that he would get the Techies unto it. Look like something Techie has gone wrong so I guess you can all blame me.

Go Andy Go - Live Blogging on Murray v Nadal

ANDY Takes First two sets 6-2 7-6 2-3 rain delay

Ok Andy Murray and Rafa Nadal are on Louis Armstrong Stadium while Federer and Novak Djokovic are on Arthur Ashe.

The Scot breaks Rafa in the third game of the first set before holding his own serve and breaking the world number 1 again in the seventh game. Then he takes the set with a little bit of Wimbledon-esque serve volleying. As David Ferrer the only person to beat Rafa in a five set match also took the first set this is looking good for the Scotsman.

Second Set

At 1-1 in the second set Nadal is struggling when he fires a backhand out wide to Murray's forehand, but the Scot smashes back a forehand winner down the lime to make it 15-40 and two more break points for a third break for the Scot. Andy maybe getting a wee bit to excited at the possibility squanders them both but at Deuce Rafa fouls up a driven volley to give another break point. However hawkeye confirms the shot that may have caused Nadal problems early in the second set is wide. Nadal having clawed it back from the brink with the help of technology hangs on, for now, as the players return to their seats. Apparently Mr and Mrs Greg Norman (ie Chris Evert) have come over from the Arthur Ashe stadium for this one, we know the former Mrs Lloyd has a soft spot for Brits who do well in New York, she married one. Andy serves out game 4 to love, over to Rafa again.

Andy is doing a lot to make it hard for Rafa and takes it to 30-30 before Rafa puts a forehand wide for the Scots 4th break point in two games. But after Andy returns the first smash, Rafa makes sure to get this game to deuce on the second asking. However, a cross court backhand sees the Spaniard again facing breakpoint. Whoops first dodgy drop shot is swallowed up by Rafa, followed by a tame attempt at a lob. Another game of survival for Nadal, you'd think that Andy was the world number one at the moment though. Murray holds serve after a drop shot fails first point. But with two forehand winners and two aces takes it easily again to level at 3-3. A couple of error from Murray allows Nadal to ease to 30-15 having lost the first point. Then after a won point by Nadal Murray puts it into the net. Nadal has his first easy hold of the second set.

Murray comes to the net but is passed, but then scores an ace 15-15. Another ace takes the Scot to 40-15 before coming again to the net to put away a forehand volley into the open court, 4-4. Rafa puts a forehand out down the line, first point in game 9 to Andy. A cross court forehand down at Nadal's feet makes it 0-30 on Nadal's serve. But he responds with his third ace of the match, then forces Murray out wide to score an easy forehand winner. Murray goes for a big forehand winner down the line but just misses. After a great rally pummelling away Andy pulls it into deuce. But Andy puts it into the net on his forehand, then putting a service return wide. Points won so far Andy 61 Rafa 46 the winner will play Roger Federer who has just won 6-3 5-7 7-5 6-2 against Novak Djokovic.

Andy serving to stay in the set. Andy plays a drop shot which Nadal scrambles to get but a vollied lob gives Andy the start. Just wide from Rafa makes it 30-0. Nadal again errors going wide with his backhand, before another ace to round up the game to love. On Nadal's serve he is made to go left and right before ending the rally by netting. A slice backhand from Rafa forces Andy to lay the ball up on plate for Rafa to put it away. Clean service return winner cross court take it to 30-30. First serve misses, Andy crushes a return Murray break point. Nadal saves another break point at the net and does a double fist pump when Andy can't reach it. Murray again moves Nadal around and forces the Spaniard to go long from the baseline another breakpoint for the Scot his 8th in the match so far. Nadal almost puts away a clean winner but Andy reaches it but the defensive lob is easily put away by Nadal back to deuce. Murray puts it into the net advantage Nadal, but Nadal fails to take it deuce once more. A mishit forehand from Murray allows Nadal back in again, which he then takes with an ace. He's saved seven break points in this set alone, Murray has yet to face one in the entire match. Starts with his twelfth ace, but then crashes a forehand too long, then puts a forehand wide. Is Andy starting to try too hard? Then another crushing serve down the middle 30-30. Nadal puts it wide as Andy serve vollies of second serve and with another big serve takes it to a tiebreak.

First point of the tiebreak is a mini break to Murray as Nadal puts it wide. But straight away take it back as Murray set the ball up to high. Another Murray ace! 13-4 on ace count. Nadal lazily puts a drop shot into the open court Andy chases it down and puts it away down the line. But big serve and Andy puts it wide, but the Scot still has the mini break. Andy double faults, his first, going for a big second serve. First serve long but Andy comes up with another forehand winner 4-3. Nadal puts his first serve into the tram lines but a backhand from Murray goes way too long. Murray nets his next service return. 5-4 Nadal. Second serve from Andy picks up and Nadal's return trickles along the net before landing on the Spaniards side, then another big serve for set point for Andy. Rafa serving to stay in, Andy punches a twohander down the line and then Rafa pushes his shot wide. Two set to love for Andy Murray.

Third Set

While Andy may be putting some shots just long he is going all out for this. But putting it into the net makes it 15-30 on Murray's serve at the start of what may be a very important set. Going for a big backhand Andy just puts a cross court wide, Nadal's first break points of the match. Murray puts it long and Nadal takes his first break on his first breakpoint of the match. Andy starts the next game with a big winner. Then goes long on his backhand next point. Rafa is getting pumped as Murary puts it into the net. Murray stops mid-rally to challenge the line judge and gets it right as Nadal has put it wide. Nadal punishes a Murray drop shot to take the second game of this set. Andy starts with a serve volly but is easily passed, but constructs a better rally to bring it back. An ace served out wide, followed by another. Andy comes in to serve volley but Nadal doesn't even make him have to play it, 1-2.

Andy gets back into the point but instead of going downline goes back across court and misses. Nadal goes long with a forehand. But on the next serve a Murray mishit goes wide and another wide shot makes it 40-15 Nadal. A strong Murray backhand only sees Nadal put it into the net. But a great serve down the Murray back hand forces the error and wins the game for Nadal. Another double fault at the start of the next Murray service game. Nadal mishits the second serve return on the next point but is let off when Andy nets his shot. Then Nadal returns the favour. Murray scoops it up cross court in a squash type shot, Nadal runs it down but misses down the line, another Murray two aces brings up another game and Andy shows that he can recover when under pressure now. Andy 2-3 down with the break to Nadal.

The umpire has come down from his chair to check the conditions on the court has the rain from Hannah arrived? They are going to wait for this little shower to stop and then see where we go.

Andy is not happy and goes out into the centre of the court saying he doesn't think it is slippery. They are finally taking the players off the court. Depending how long this takes I may pick up my blogging later.

Local Income Tax and the Scotsman

I'm surprised to be honest that the Scotsman can only find gripes from 25 people about LIT. As any Tax system that you'd want to introduce is far from perfect and what we must strive for is the best possible, fairest and most comprehensively inclusive system that we can. Some of the Nats Jeff and Richard Thompson have given some pretty clear rebuttal on most of the points so I'll not haver on to much. Some I don't agree with 100% and I may get around to some of them later, but by and large many of the gripes can be applied to more or less any change in the tax system, a few are specific to LIT but are things that can be ironed out if looked at properly.

However, Jeff makes one claringly obvious Nat mistake by dismissing article 9 of European charter of local self-government too glibbly. Councils have the right to raise the large part of their own finances, therefore the Scottish plan for LIT is not all fine and dandy. The EU covers all manner of styles and divisions of Government Federal systems to countries like Luxembourg small enough to have all government controlled at one level. But each branch, level etc have their own responsibilities for the money they collect at whatever level but only two National and the local level are presumed to have direct responsibility in every nation.

The Nats are currently proposing a local authority tax raising power. They are centralising one of the fundamental powers of you local authorities. If even Sarah Palin can claim to have power of the budget of 7000 inhabitants of Wallisa surely you local councillors have the same right, whether they are Lib Dems, Tory, Labour, Nats or whomever. They have to spend to meet local requirements and Holyrood is not going to be able to know the minutiae of every plan, need or emergency that may arise when the rate needs to be set for the forthcoming year. And yeah if the council get it wrong you can vote them out, not everyone in Scotland can do the same for the Finance or Local Government minister at Holyrood.