Scottish Tories attempt laughable political smear attack on REVIVE, the coalition for grouse moor reform

In an ‘exclusive’ in today’s Scottish Daily Express (because no-one else would think this newsworthy), the Scottish Tories demonstrate the most pathetic, but hilarious, example of manufactured outrage for the purpose of political smearing that I’ve seen for a while.

Their target is REVIVE, the coalition for grouse moor reform. REVIVE hosted its annual conference in Perth last November, which was recorded and you can watch the event here.

During one of the panel sessions on land reform, a member of the audience asked the following question:

“How do we make sure that taxes are paid on land, what about the Royal Family? What about the land that they own? I’ve heard many times that the Royal Family seem to evade being treated in employment issues the same as anyone else in this country“.

Another audience member then shouted out, “Off with their heads!“, resulting in clapping and laughing.

Yes, that’s right folks, clapping and laughing. These were clearly dangerous radical extremists that need reporting to the Prevent programme.

According to Scottish Conservative MSP Annie Wells, who was quoted in the Scottish Daily Express:

“Scots will be appalled at the sickening remark that was made about the Royal Family at REVIVE’s conference.

“While it’s no secret that a number of Labour MSPs hold anti-monarchist views, even they will surely agree that these comments were completely beyond the pale.

“People across Scotland admire the Royal Family and all that they do for our country. Anas Sarwar should do the right thing and cancel this controversial group’s fringe event at his party’s conference“. [She’s referring to REVIVE’s fringe event on land reform at the Scottish Labour conference this weekend].

Here’s the headline:

And here’s the link to read the full article, just in case you think this story is so ridiculous that I must have made it up as some kind of spoof.

REVIVE responded to the Tories’ attempts to cancel it with the following statement:

“We are pleased that the Scottish Conservative Party watched The Big Land Question conference. By doing so they saw around seven hundred people engage with five hours of debates and talks about why land reform in Scotland matters. Faux outrage at stray audience comments does no one any favours on a topic of such importance“.

I’ve got another few ‘sickening’ quotes at which Annie Wells and her sycophantic Tory royalists can feign offence:

1. ‘Awa an bile yer heid‘ (Scottish). Go away and boil your head (English). Translation: Go away and stop your nonsense.
2. ‘Yer bum’s oot the windae‘ (Scottish). Your bum is out the window (English). Translation: You’re literally talking rubbish.

*Disclaimer – it should be blindingly obvious to any sane, rational reader but for the avoidance of doubt, these are not literal suggestions that Annie Wells should ‘boil her head’ or that her ‘bum is out the window’.