Andy Burnham fails to put out Manchester wildfire after two weeks but luckily, unlike the one the Cairngorms, it’s neither ‘apocalyptic’, the fault of any government nor is it due to the absence of helicopters
For a reader in Scotland there are quite a few things missing in the above BBC Manchester report two days ago: Wildfires across Greater Manchester are still burning a fortnight after they first started, the fire service has said. More than 100 firefighters and volunteers have been tackling the blaze on two fronts at Dove Stone, after the fire in Saddleworth merged with a fire at Tintwistle, and at Swineshaw. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said specialists from across the UK had been drafted in to control any remaining hotspots. The fires in Greater Manchester and Derbyshire have burned … Continue reading Andy Burnham fails to put out Manchester wildfire after two weeks but luckily, unlike the one the Cairngorms, it’s neither ‘apocalyptic’, the fault of any government nor is it due to the absence of helicopters
The BBC should be shut down solely on the basis of its TV licence enforcement policy
By a friend of Talking-up Scotland who received the above letter. Dear Louise, Thank you for your (redacted) letter above which will be recognised by millions around the UK, proportionately more so in Scotland. Thank you also for at least one preceding email which I noted deploys a surreptitious tracking pixel leading to my blocking any further emails from tv licensing (without prejudice to my wish to be compensated for every instance). TV licensing’s use of tracking pixels without informed consent is a clear breach of (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations) PECR Regulation 6 and I trust that many of those reading this … Continue reading The BBC should be shut down solely on the basis of its TV licence enforcement policy
Isle of Man ferry fiasco has not driven-off islanders it seems or encouraged BBC to blame Manx Parliament
By Liz S BBC website headline on main UK page: “Main ferry out of action until late September” “The Isle of Man main ferry will be out of action until late September for repairs, the operator has confirmed“. “The Manxman has been in drydock since 13 July, with back-up passenger vessel the Ben-my-Chree carrying out sailings between the island and Lancashire” “**The government-owned ferry operator ** said inspections of the affected components – which could only take place once disassembly process was underway – had enabled engineers to work out what needed to be done and how long it would take” … Continue reading Isle of Man ferry fiasco has not driven-off islanders it seems or encouraged BBC to blame Manx Parliament
Scottish Government to end risks to vulnerable by requiring social workers from other parts of the UK to be fully registered in Scotland before working here.
From Community Care yesterday: Scottish Government proposals would end provision allowing social workers registered with other UK regulators to practise in Scotland, while it also is seeking views on whether social work assistants should be required to register. The Scottish Government proposal would end provisions allowing social workers practising in the country to be registered with another UK regulator, but not SSSC. Under section 52 of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001, no one may call themselves a social worker or work as one in Scotland without being registered as one with the SSSC or with Social Work England, Social Care … Continue reading Scottish Government to end risks to vulnerable by requiring social workers from other parts of the UK to be fully registered in Scotland before working here.
SNP resilience in 2026 election in part explained as nearly 70% of Scots reject BBC Scotland as a news source
I did wonder if BBC Scotland’s relentless propaganda against the SNP in the months before the May 2026 Holyrood election would have an effect but, in the end, we saw the party support still relatively resilient and, by contrast, support for Scottish Labour collapse regardless of the channel’s efforts to protect them and their leader from scrutiny. The graph above shows the lack of impact of the BBC Scotland channel as a source for news. More widely, we see how BBC Scotland has declined relatively: The reach of broadcast TV in Scotland declined in 2025, and remains the lowest of … Continue reading SNP resilience in 2026 election in part explained as nearly 70% of Scots reject BBC Scotland as a news source
NHS Scotland waits of over 1 year plummet by 77% only one year after Swinney makes major investment but media ignore this dramatic newsworthy newsm
From page 19 of Stage of treatment waiting times – new outpatients, inpatients and day cases published yesterday, the above graph which I feel sure you will never see on the pages of the media operating in Scotland. How have these dramatic falls starting a year ago in mid 2025, been made possible? In early November 2025, First Minister, John Swinney announced an additional £25.5m ‘to be given to health boards this year to help cut NHS waiting lists‘ on top of an extra £135.5m already promised. A fall from 65% to 15% in waits >52 week waits is 76.9%. … Continue reading NHS Scotland waits of over 1 year plummet by 77% only one year after Swinney makes major investment but media ignore this dramatic newsworthy newsm
Scottish Conservatives ignore Public Health Scotland warning on how to read waiting times statistics in an effort to get a bigger number to fool you with – utterly dishonest
Posted here yesterday, an accurate reporting of the latest NHS waiting list figures for Scotland and England. On the same day, across social media, from Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr, this utterly misleading and dishonest claim: Here’s what the Public Health Scotland report said: At 30 June 2026, there were an estimated 580,545 individuals on at least one new outpatient, inpatient or day case waiting list. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/stage-of-treatment-waiting-times/stage-of-treatment-waiting-times-new-outpatients-inpatients-and-day-cases-28-july-2026 What have the Cons done to get the ‘Almost 800’ figure? They’ve ignored this on page 12 of the full report: Individual patients are counted more than once if they are waiting to attend … Continue reading Scottish Conservatives ignore Public Health Scotland warning on how to read waiting times statistics in an effort to get a bigger number to fool you with – utterly dishonest
Reposted as the media front pages launch a feeding frenzy on ‘SNP’ GP Walk-in centres using dishonest selection of statistics
BMA Scotland and BBC Scotland accused of barely undergraduate level of criticism of GP walk-in clinic scheme before project is fully underway and worthy only of ‘F – do not resubmit’ result and invitation to seek counselling on course change
BBC Scotland, Aimee Stanton, yesterday claimed, despite revealing the above graph in their own report: GP walk-in clinics see low attendance leading to accusations of failure – A series of walk-in GP clinics which the Scottish government said would end the “8am rush” for appointments have seen low attendance rates, first figures show. and: Dr Iain Morrison, chairman of the BMA’s Scottish GPs committee, said doctors had expressed reservations about the walk-in clinics when they were first announced – and it now looked like a case of “I told you so”. He told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast (RSB): “In terms … Continue reading BMA Scotland and BBC Scotland accused of barely undergraduate level of criticism of GP walk-in clinic scheme before project is fully underway and worthy only of ‘F – do not resubmit’ result and invitation to seek counselling on course change
Fantastic but hidden news as drug-related hospital admissions plummet to lowest level since records began after treatment service meets 90% target for last 15 years and world-first opioid overdose reversal programme enters 8th year
From Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly report July 2026 published today, the above revealing that Drug-related hospital admissions have dropped to around 75 in the last quarter. This is down from the previous lows of just over 100 and barely half of the March figures in 2024 and 2025. What has caused this very objective measure of Scotland’s drug problems, more reliable as a measure of the problem than either set of drug deaths? Continue reading Fantastic but hidden news as drug-related hospital admissions plummet to lowest level since records began after treatment service meets 90% target for last 15 years and world-first opioid overdose reversal programme enters 8th year
The 'Unstoppable' Talking-up Scotland 