Ayrshire MP backs leader candidate who pompously refused us a referendum, is closest to private healthcare and to Lord Mandelson
In his local Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald today, the above and: He insists the former health secretary already has the support of more than 81 Labour MPs – the number needed to back a single candidate to trigger a leadership contest against PM Keir Starmer. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s World at One, Mr Gemmell said: “It’s clear in conversations with MPs and with the unions that the party wants a discussion, a battle of ideas, an open contest, a broad contest for the direction that we should take and how we fix the problems that we’re in. “I hope … Continue reading Ayrshire MP backs leader candidate who pompously refused us a referendum, is closest to private healthcare and to Lord Mandelson
Pothole damage pay-outs in Scotland – researchers hide trend but Highland Council paid out far less last year than in the previous 5
for pothole damage over the last five years, a BBC investigation has found. Between 2020 and 2025, local authorities received more than 18 6000 claims but only around a quarter were successful. Highland Council paid out the most at almost £600 000, followed by Dumfries and Galloway with just over half a million pounds. Cosla which represents Scotland’s councils says intense funding pressure is impacted road maintenance. The Scottish Government says it’s for councils to allocate funding. Regulars here, and their children of at least 10 years, will wonder why we’re not seeing the yearly figures. Are they falling or … Continue reading Pothole damage pay-outs in Scotland – researchers hide trend but Highland Council paid out far less last year than in the previous 5
BBC Scotland mislead on the mental health waiting list for children and young people and suggest we might learn from services in Uganda and India where stigma and horrific violence is more common than any clinical care
mental health services. The scheme led by the University of Glasgow – is inspired by services in India and Uganda where members of the community are trained and supported by expert clinicians to provide assessments and treatments. It’s hoped the five-year project will highlight new and quicker ways to diagnose and treat mental health illnesses in young people. Public Health Scotland figures show that, as of December last year – more than 4 000 children and young people were on a waiting list to start treatment. This is another story fed to BBC Reporting Scotland but not featuring on the … Continue reading BBC Scotland mislead on the mental health waiting list for children and young people and suggest we might learn from services in Uganda and India where stigma and horrific violence is more common than any clinical care
‘This is disturbingly similar to what Donald Trump did earlier this year when he gutted the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the US Environmental Protection Agency.’
Thanks to Jim Draper alerting me to this. From the Canary factchecker today: The nuclear industry will become “more dangerous” and regulation of the sector has been captured by “vested interests,” campaigners and experts have told the Canary, after the Nuclear Regulation Bill was put forward in the 2026 King’s Speech. From CND: When you think of nuclear accidents like at Windscale in 1957, Chernobyl in 1986, or Fukushima in 2011, it’s easy to see that Britain’s current nuclear regulatory procedures and rules are in place for a simple reason – that nuclear power is inherently dangerous. Rather than acknowledge these risks or legacy issues – like tackling the … Continue reading ‘This is disturbingly similar to what Donald Trump did earlier this year when he gutted the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the US Environmental Protection Agency.’
County Lines – National Police Chiefs’ Council confirms exports of deadly drugs and violence FROM England INTO Scotland
Rt Hon Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale’s thinktank tries to hide entirely English culture of County Lines drug gang ‘cuckooing’ plague in Scotland
Regulars here will recognise the rarely enlightening thinktank headed up by Lord McConnell, Chris Deerin and their totally non-academic, guide-leader, BBC average housewife interviewee, Research Director, Alison Payne. Today, they have the above and: The recent passage of a new criminal offence of cuckooing within the Crime and Policing Act marks a significant milestone after years of sustained advocacy by the Centre for Social Justice and Justice and Care. It is a reform grounded not in theory, but in the lived experience of some of the most vulnerable individuals across the UK. Cuckooing, sometimes described as “forced home invasion”, occurs … Continue reading Rt Hon Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale’s thinktank tries to hide entirely English culture of County Lines drug gang ‘cuckooing’ plague in Scotland
Repeated as Guardian today typically misses an independent Scotland’s unique ability to handle and to make money from AI data centres
Anas tried to be a real big tough guy – Hard Rock version
In 2026 almost every poll not owned by Tories DOES show a surge for independence and now 52% to 43% – 9%!
John Power does have a decent head of hair (right) but clearly imagines an even more powerful bouffant ‘bearskin’ (left) to top his superiority mug. Yesterday, from the deep South, he announced to us: He doesn’t seem to have had a wee look at the polls. In 2026: A Purple Patch – Even skewed by still adjusting the sample to suit the 55% NO 2014 Referendum, 12 years ago (!), support is very strong and would be almost 100% if you take out the YouGov outliers. YouGov has not found a YES lead since September 2022! Two years ago: Looks … Continue reading In 2026 almost every poll not owned by Tories DOES show a surge for independence and now 52% to 43% – 9%!
South Uist Business Impact Group appears to be inventing problems that, in reality, are not there
By stewartb Media coverage of ‘ferries’ news has left a lot to be desired. This is true of local press coverage as well as national. In the run up to the Holyrood election there was local press coverage in the Western Isles that seems to exemplify the problem. From Hebrides News online (April 3, 2026): ‘Island economy struggles ‘turning into a nightmare’ due to CalMac ferry crisis’. Firstly readers are told this: ‘South Uist Business Impact Group (SUBIG) have raised concerns over reduced animal welfare as a result of CalMac’s cuts to ferry services’ and ‘The ferry action group said: “CalMac’s cuts mean … Continue reading South Uist Business Impact Group appears to be inventing problems that, in reality, are not there
Talking-up Scotland 