Education in Scotland is so much better than this wee inexperienced guy wants you to think as he pursues, fifty years too late, a career with the ‘papers’
Christ, James! Two teachers and fewer than 10 senior pupils. What made you choose that image for a supposed ‘lack of teachers?’ Regulars, anybody really, will know that Scotland has far more teachers than the other parts of the UK. If there’s ‘a lack’ here, dog knows what is happening in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Check this for the facts: So, that’s enough for James McAneny. Who is he? A ‘leading’ teacher, researcher, professor? No, you’re way out there. He’s one of a ‘terrible three’ favoured by the MSM on education despite their very limited understanding of it. MSM … Continue reading Education in Scotland is so much better than this wee inexperienced guy wants you to think as he pursues, fifty years too late, a career with the ‘papers’
Scotland has long held some of the answers to England’s child care home crisis
In the Guardian yesterday: In a quiet suburb on the outskirts of Copenhagen sits a large white house, set back from the road behind a purple-leaved plum tree. It looks much like the rest of the buildings on the street and there is little outward sign this is Josephine Schneider’s House, considered one of the best children’s homes in the world. Danish children’s homes are often cited as the gold standard of children’s residential care globally. They are now being studied by the British government as it tries to create a roadmap out of the crisis in which its own … Continue reading Scotland has long held some of the answers to England’s child care home crisis
‘The Scottish Government can be proud …’ of its record in modernising Scotland’s infrastructure – Centre for Cities compares rail electrification in Scotland and the rUK.
By stewartb A new Centre for Cities’ report provides welcome relief from sustained – and contrived – Unionist and especially Labour Party leadership negativity about governance and strategic economic development in Scotland. The Centre for Cities (CfC), founded in 2007, has long been a notable think tank with a distinctive mission ‘to help the UK’s largest cities and towns realise their economic potential.’ Given the current attention at Westminster on English devolution and on economic growth within city regions, the CfC’s research output is especially relevant. Moreover, its body of work has the potential to provide a much needed objective … Continue reading ‘The Scottish Government can be proud …’ of its record in modernising Scotland’s infrastructure – Centre for Cities compares rail electrification in Scotland and the rUK.
No officers injured, ‘outstanding behaviour and co-operation’ as Hallowe’en fireworks incidents fall
Apologies for my earlier confusion as to what day it is. I thought it was the day after Bonfire Night fireworks. I am now awake…..I hope A BBC Scotland Anonymouse (embarrassed?) reports under the above sad (I’ll explain below) headline: Police Scotland received 144 fireworks-related calls on Saturday night – down on 160 on 31 October last year. Fireworks were thrown at people, buildings and vehicles in some parts of Scotland on Halloween. Officers said in general there was “outstanding behaviour and co-operation” around the country but were working to identify to those responsible for disorder. Firework Control Zones (FCZs) … Continue reading No officers injured, ‘outstanding behaviour and co-operation’ as Hallowe’en fireworks incidents fall
How Scottish Government caution on rental schemes has limited e-bike/scooter chaos, injury and death in Scotland to only one sixth of the UK level
involving e-bikes and e-scooters. BBC Scotland this morning with their latest wee, life in Scotland is unpleasant, even dangerous, stories selected by the news editor but not being covered elsewhere There are ‘a million stories in the City tonight’, they say in some film and the ones you get to see are a small selection chosen by an editor who has and agenda. BBC Reporting Scotland lives to do us down, keep us anxious and hopefully think the SNP in government, has failed. The opposition parties today will do their worst to blame the Scottish Government for some imagined crisis … Continue reading How Scottish Government caution on rental schemes has limited e-bike/scooter chaos, injury and death in Scotland to only one sixth of the UK level
Near-Shore Underwater AI Data Centres with Waste Heat Recovery – A Uniquely Scottish approach with 3 thousand billion litres of water in our 31 thousand lochs
In September this year, we had: Near-Shore Underwater Data Centres with Waste Heat Recovery – A Distinctly Scottish Opportunity with 3 thousand billion litres of water in our 31 thousand lochs Today, the SNP announces in the Herald a ‘Uniquely Scottish approach.’ There’s no detail at all in the Herald report. I wonder if they’re read this? I’m torn. If, IF, an independent Scotland can properly tax the corporations that need these facilities, get the revenue for the surplus energy Scotland generates and from the vast quantities of water we have, then there is an obvious opportunity here. That opportunity … Continue reading Near-Shore Underwater AI Data Centres with Waste Heat Recovery – A Uniquely Scottish approach with 3 thousand billion litres of water in our 31 thousand lochs
Female homicide is falling steadily in the SNP era
I do not mean to be disrespectful here. 15 is 15 too many but readers need to know the truth. First, is this the worsening trend suggested? No: Female homicide in Scotland has been falling in the SNP era to just over half the rate in the last few years. How does this situation compare with England & Wales? How has progress been achieved? See: Continue reading Female homicide is falling steadily in the SNP era
CalMac has one of the youngest ferry fleets in the developed world
From the Herald (SoS) today, the above and: This is a new low for Maritime Williams, the Herald’s Captain Hogwash. ’15 of 33 vessels now at least 30 or over?’ There 37 CalMac ferries in service and there are 15 in that age range. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caledonian_MacBrayne_fleet Who to compare with? Washington State Ferries, operating out of Seattle to a comparable island archipelago in the USA and British Columbia Ferries, operating out of Vancouver to a comparable island archipelago in Canada, but both areas with a GDP far higher than in Scotland. Isle of Wight and Channel Island ferries are far too … Continue reading CalMac has one of the youngest ferry fleets in the developed world
UK Government ‘regeneration’ schemes slammed as ‘against spirit of devolution’, ‘not new money’ and ‘a drop in the ocean’
In the Express today, the above. It’s about two Westminster schemes that bypassed Holyrood and gave money directly to councils. It describes this as the Scottish Government “sulking.” The two schemes are: Local Growth Fund: £140m over three years (from 2026/27) to five areas — Glasgow City (£60.9m), Edinburgh & South East (£37.8m), Tay Cities (£19.5m), Ayrshire (£11.8m), and Forth Valley (£9.8m). Pride in Place: Up to £280m over 10 years to 14 neighbourhoods in 12 Scottish local authorities (£20m each), for targeted regeneration. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/140m-scottish-local-growth-fund-to-drive-economic-growth The Scottish Government’s position is that the programmes themselves were imposed without proper engagement and … Continue reading UK Government ‘regeneration’ schemes slammed as ‘against spirit of devolution’, ‘not new money’ and ‘a drop in the ocean’
Scotland’s schools still get 20% more per pupil than those in the rest of the UK and the P1 school bags came from a different budget
You have to say, why is this never reported in MSM? The Daily Record today, above. How many pennies do Scottish School get per pupil, then? From The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) for 2025/2026Key report: Public service spending and performance in Wales (March 2026).This gives the directly comparable figures: Wales ≈ £8,700 England ≈ £8,600 Scotland ≈ £10,400 (about 19% higher than Wales)Related IFS work on Scotland and England (including annual education spending reports and public-service comparisons) supports the same ranking and magnitudes. These aim for consistency by including early years and sixth-form elements where relevant. https://ifs.org.uk/publications/public-service-spending-and-performance-wales Nearly 20% … Continue reading Scotland’s schools still get 20% more per pupil than those in the rest of the UK and the P1 school bags came from a different budget
