British Citizenship did nothing for Gary McKinnon

A Scots computer hacker, Gary McKinnon is being deported to the US. McKinnon who suffers from Asbergers syndrome is likely to receive 70 years for 'terrorism' offences.

In actual fact all he did was expose some lapses in US security in his search for cover-ups on alien encounters. As a British citizen you would expect McKinnon would receive some support from his home Government.

No, Britain decided that it couldn't care less about the Scot. The US was much more important to them and they couldn't care less if his rights to a fair trial were breached.

Sadly that attitude was also shared by the European Court of Human Rights.

It's clear that in McKinnon's case British citizenship was worth nothing.

Perhaps it's time to give Scotland a shot at representing Scots abroad.

Chris Hoy: Proud to be part of a Scottish Olympic Team

Exclusive: Scotland can stand alone at Olympics.. with enough investment, says Chris Hoy

Aug 27 2008 By Joanne Curran (Daily Record)

TRIPLE gold medal hero Chris Hoy last night said he'd be proud to be part of a Scottish Olympic team. The Edinburgh cyclist rubbished reports that he thought the idea was "ridiculous".

Speaking exclusively to the Record, he told of his pride in his home country. And he said he believes Scotland could form a world-class team - with the right investment in sports.

Chris was given a hero's welcome when he landed back in Britain on Monday after winning three golds in Beijing. But the 32-year-old said: "I feel a bit upset that I have been quoted as saying the idea of a Scottish Olympic team is ridiculous.

"If and when a Scottish team was put together, I would be delighted to represent Scotland in the Olympic Games. But before that happens, so much needs to be done for the athletes to be able to compete at the highest level. As a cyclist, there isn't a facility in Scotland where I can train throughout the year and that's why I have to base myself outside Scotland."

"I am proud to be Scottish, but at the same time it's not feasible to think we can compete as a nation without the right facilities."

Chris - on his way home to an emotional reunion in Edinburgh with lawyer girlfriend Sarra - said major investment would be needed to make a Scottish team successful. He said: "Right now, around £20million a year is being invested in British cycling so there would be a huge investment required in Scotland."

He backed the campaign to save Edinburgh's Meadowbank stadium, where he trained as a young athlete. Today, crowds will line Edinburgh's Royal Mile to salute Chris and Scotland's other medal-winners - cyclist Ross Edgar, 25, rower Katherine Grainger, 32, and canoeist David Florence, 26.

A proud moment from political Olympic history

At the 1906 Athens Games, the Irish Gaelic Athletic Association sent a national Irish team, including Peter O'Connor, whose world record in the long jump stood for 20 years. But when they got to Athens, the British objected to having separate Irish representation and the party were allowed to compete only as part of the British team.

However, O'Connor, an Irish patriot, got his own back. At the medal ceremony for the long jump, he scaled the flag pole, pulled down the Union flag, and hoisted the green flag of Eire. Officials who tried to stop him were held off by Irish and Irish-American athletes and supporters.

This is from an interesting article from George Kerevan it was up in full but sadly the people at the Scotsman are now excluding it from public view.