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
Significantly fewer Scots dissatisfied with social care services but Royal College of Nursing lies to deny Scottish Government any possible satisfaction
Treat negativity about Scotland’s NHS and social care services with healthy scepticism: evidence of the Royal College of Nursing being plain wrong and opting to omit relevant positives. My apologies to stewartb but I’ve used my perhaps unattractive unilateral editorial powers to replace his more mature header above with my more combative version at the top! By stewartb When political advocacy in advance of a parliamentary election takes by its own admission, a ‘gloves off‘ tone, it seems reasonable to point out a clear error in case-making. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) recently published this report: ‘The Nursing Workforce … Continue reading Significantly fewer Scots dissatisfied with social care services but Royal College of Nursing lies to deny Scottish Government any possible satisfaction
Massive fall in violent crime in Scotland especially among younger adults as lead pollution disappears
There is a clear positive trend revealed in the data above from Re-conviction statistics for male offenders: FOI release published today. Violent crimes over the eight year period from 2012/13 to 2020/21, among under 21s fell from 181 to 44, more than three-quartered! For 21 to 30 year-olds from 492 to 231, it more than halved! Then, however, for all of the over 30 years groups, there were much more modest improvements. What might explain this? On 1 January 2000, lead in petrol was banned in the UK, when Scotland’s under 21s and 21s to 30s were still very young … Continue reading Massive fall in violent crime in Scotland especially among younger adults as lead pollution disappears
Restore Britain’s position – You live in England, you speak English
By Liz S Rupert Lowe , an English Nationalist , has now created a new party that he has called ‘Restore Britain‘. Reading his many daily posts on ‘X’ you will see how often he sees England and English as the same as Britain and Britishness , as for him there seems to be no distinction between the two. Yesterday he wrote (yet another) long post about Councils , Reform UK ones, “spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on foreign language translation” He concluded his post in stating this: “Let me be clear about Restore Britain’s position. We would scrap ALL foreign language … Continue reading Restore Britain’s position – You live in England, you speak English
Top History Professor says ‘All of my students must use AI’ – Me too!
Regulars will have noted that TuS has been making increased use of AI in the last year or so and getting some criticism of that. I understand why many are concerned but my view is that this is another technology, like those before, we must master, a ‘tiger we must ride.’ Famous last words perhaps but we humans didn’t get where we are, on top because we are the meanest SOBs on the planet, just to let our own technology replace us. If we, crucially, educate or young to use it carefully, it can massively enhance their lives but when … Continue reading Top History Professor says ‘All of my students must use AI’ – Me too!
Nurses fight for band 7 status after missing out on £9,000 pay rise in NHS Wales but are they treated any better in Scotland?
From Nursing Standard on 7 May 2026, the above and: A group of 100 health visitors are taking to picket lines for two more months after their NHS employer ‘refused to acknowledge’ a job evaluation appeal that would see them get a pay increase of up to £9,000. The specialist nurses, who work at the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB ) in south Wales, are fighting for their Agenda for Change (AfC) pay band to be increased from a 6 to a 7 after a job evaluation outcome found in their favour. 1 You know what’s coming? Does he never … Continue reading Nurses fight for band 7 status after missing out on £9,000 pay rise in NHS Wales but are they treated any better in Scotland?
Talking-up Scotland 