Ferry fiasco as electric hydrofoil ferry contract awarded by UK Government and Orkney Council is ‘beset by issues’ and lasts only one year before ‘latest delay’ and safety concerns means return to builder for ‘upgrades’ to ‘alarm systems’
Needless to say the BBC Scotland report on this plays the whole thing down and makes no accusations at all: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgpj13p5x1o The Orcadian is less restrained, with: Electric hydrofoil vessel to return to Belfast in latest blow to £15m project. Just over a year since electric hydrofoil ferry, Zevi 1, arrived in Orkney, the vessel is now to return to Belfast in the latest delay to the £15 million project to cut maritime carbon emissions. It has emerged this week that Zevi 1 will undergo a “system upgrade” at a facility in Belfast owned by its developers, Artemis Technologies. It is unclear when … Continue reading Ferry fiasco as electric hydrofoil ferry contract awarded by UK Government and Orkney Council is ‘beset by issues’ and lasts only one year before ‘latest delay’ and safety concerns means return to builder for ‘upgrades’ to ‘alarm systems’
‘Scottish taxpayers and billpayers are likely to share the cost and risk of Sizewell C even though the plant is being built in England’
Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this. In the Guardian today, the above and: The cost of the government’s £38bn nuclear plant in Suffolk is subject to “significant uncertainty” and may outweigh the benefits for UK households until at least 2064, according to the government’s spending watchdog. The National Audit Office (NAO) has warned that although the potential benefits of the Sizewell C nuclear plant are considerable, they remain uncertain. The risks, however, are “immediate, substantial and borne by the public”. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/20/spending-watchdog-warns-38bn-cost-of-sizewell-c-nuclear-plant-is-risky Which ‘public?’ Surely not Scots, 400 miles away in the midst of renewable power surpluses? Dear chatgpt, will taxpayers … Continue reading ‘Scottish taxpayers and billpayers are likely to share the cost and risk of Sizewell C even though the plant is being built in England’
Scotland’s essential historian for these times publishes the one modestly priced and most concise yet best History of Scotland you need to read and to buy for all those that matter to you
From Columba to The Corries, the Picts to Paisley, Doggerland to Devolution – here is the unmissable story of Scotland. Scotland is one of the oldest nations in Europe. Its territory remains fundamentally unchanged since the fifteenth century, and its southern border with England has barely altered since 1237.And yet Scotland – a country with its own law, education and church – is not a state at all. In The Shortest History of Scotland, Murray Pittock argues that this very ambiguity has helped make the nation a central part of the global story.From first tribes to Scotland’s multicultural present, Pittock unpicks … Continue reading Scotland’s essential historian for these times publishes the one modestly priced and most concise yet best History of Scotland you need to read and to buy for all those that matter to you
BBC UK reveals how Labour have copied the SNP
BBC Breakfast this morning revealing BBC Scotland‘s deep drive to undermine anything the SNP do in Scotland. It’s a different culture in the BBC UK HQ. They’re not, I’m sure sympathisers with the SNP but, crucially, Scotland’s constitutional issues are not on their mind all the time and they still cling to some simple notions of journalistic honesty and accuracy so they just said the above without thinking. How has BBC Scotland reported the same initiative in Scotland? SNP leader John Swinney has denied his food prices policy is an attempt to force a fight with the UK government. Speaking … Continue reading BBC UK reveals how Labour have copied the SNP
NHS Highland director reveals child poverty in her previous Wales responsibility is predicted to be a shocking nearly 60% higher
are living in poverty. BBC Scotland’s wee insert in BBC Breakfast this morning is announcing the above and, on their website: Public health director Jennifer Davies said that of its 12,834 under-fives, almost 22% lived in relative poverty. In a new report, Davies said the “sheer geographic scale” of the area – which covers the Highlands and Argyll and Bute – posed challenges in reaching health services for some families. She said they could benefit from greater availability of housing, improved transport links and investment in play spaces. Davies said support for families should also be strengthened to maximise access … Continue reading NHS Highland director reveals child poverty in her previous Wales responsibility is predicted to be a shocking nearly 60% higher
Swinney praised by all right-thinking folk ie not James Cook for his compassionate policy on essential food prices
By Liz S BBC website top story Scottish politics page: “Swinney defends food prices policy ahead of first minister vote” “SNP leader John Swinney has denied his food prices policy is an attempt to force a fight with the UK government” “defends” and “attempt to force a fight with the UK government” ? So we are still in a cost of living crisis where it seems that the Labour UK government are not willing to do anything to help relieve the pressure on those families who are feeling the squeeze. Yet somehow the BBC (James Cook) thinks that Mr Swinney’s position in trying “to legally cap the price … Continue reading Swinney praised by all right-thinking folk ie not James Cook for his compassionate policy on essential food prices
After nearly 20 years of SNP Governments most Scots no longer so desperate for a fag as they were under Jack McConnell
From Smoking attributable hospital admissions and deaths Scotland 2024 published today: There were an estimated 1,107 smoking‑attributable hospital admissions per 100,000 population (38,675 admissions). This is a 36% decrease since 2008 (1,735 per 100,000). There were an estimated 204 smoking‑attributable deaths per 100,000 population (7,085 deaths). This is a 39% decrease since 2008 (334 per 100,000). https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/smoking-attributable-hospital-admissions-and-deaths/smoking-attributable-hospital-admissions-and-deaths-scotland-2024/ These are massive improvements which must be thanks to the SNP because if more folk were smoking and dying it would be widely blamed on them. Continue reading After nearly 20 years of SNP Governments most Scots no longer so desperate for a fag as they were under Jack McConnell
Youth unemployment 17% higher in UK average than in Scotland
From BBC Business, based on the latest ONS data, today: The UK unemployment rate has unexpectedly gone up while the number of job vacancies has fallen to its lowest level in five years as the initial impact of the Iran war on firms starts to be felt. The unemployment rate rose slightly to 5% in the three months to March from 4.9% in the three months to February. Analysts said the figures show the first effects of the Middle East war on the jobs market, and warned demand for workers would likely continue to weaken the longer the conflict goes … Continue reading Youth unemployment 17% higher in UK average than in Scotland
How BBC Scotland tried to shift the blame for a Labour council’s ‘litany of failures’ in the Edinburgh Tram Project onto the SNP
Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this: From BBC Scotland yesterday: Edinburgh council reaches settlement after suing tram law firm – The City of Edinburgh Council has settled its multi-million pound damages claim against a law firm that advised it over the first tram project. The local authority was seeking more than £200m in compensation, claiming DLA Piper failed to give adequate warnings that the price of the tram line would escalate. and way down the page: The £13m inquiry concluded in 2023 that failings by the City of Edinburgh Council and its arms-length companies were to blame for the delays … Continue reading How BBC Scotland tried to shift the blame for a Labour council’s ‘litany of failures’ in the Edinburgh Tram Project onto the SNP
Only BBC Scotland reports on racism in the NHS yet on their own figures it is more than TWICE as common in other parts of the UK
in Scotland last year. BBC Scotland‘s short insert in BBC Breakfast show this morning reports on a survey by the Royal College of Nursing on racist incidents in the NHS and suggests the above figures for NHS Scotland. It’s not covered by BBC Breakfast or on the websites of BBC Wales, Northern Ireland, nor for that matter, BBC Scotland with the implication then that it must be worse here. The Guardian this morning helped with context and prompted our response: Nurses across the UK reported 6,812 incidents last year in which they suffered racist abuse, NHS figures show, a big … Continue reading Only BBC Scotland reports on racism in the NHS yet on their own figures it is more than TWICE as common in other parts of the UK
Talking-up Scotland 