Burns had no connection to the slave trade and wrote the most powerful words against it
The Times titillates with a headline today designed to cast doubt on the basis for Scots’ love for Robert Burns. There is nothing there. In short, direct or indirect economic benefit from Caribbean slavery was widespread among the artistic, collecting, and intellectual classes of the period. Burns’ case—an abandoned plan in period of despair with no material outcome is nothing of substance by comparison with the documented ownership, inheritance, investment, and patronage links of figures such as Beckford, Turner, Raeburn, and Reynolds. Many of us will look back with sadness, perhaps shame, at episodes in our lives or of those … Continue reading Burns had no connection to the slave trade and wrote the most powerful words against it
Why does the Royal College of Emergency Medicine avoid comparisons with Scotland when they reveal England to be the ‘Capital of Deadly Long Waits?’
In the Herald today: More than 30,000 NHS waits are still longer than a year despite a Scottish Government pledge to eradicate them by March. Last year, First Minister John Swinney set a target of March 2026 for no patient to wait longer than a year for their treatment. Important I’m sure but: Why A&E should take priority if resources force a choice Mortality evidence is clearer and more immediate for A&E delays. Excess deaths in the low tens of thousands annually are estimated from long emergency waits; equivalent quantified mortality impact is not shown for the current scale of … Continue reading Why does the Royal College of Emergency Medicine avoid comparisons with Scotland when they reveal England to be the ‘Capital of Deadly Long Waits?’
Aren’t billionaires who tried to ‘help remove the SNP from power at Holyrood’ by using their money the undemocratic dictators?
By Liz S BBC Website headline: “McGill’s accuse Swinney of behaving like dictator over bus plans” Surely the real headline should be “Labour donors , who own McGill’s, accuse Swinney of behaving like dictator over bus plans”. I mean let’s get some context here. Prior to the Scottish elections in May Sandy & James Easdale , owners of the McGill Bud Group, pledged a conditional six-figure donation to Anas Sarwar and the Scottish Labour Party ahead of the May 2026 Holyrood elections. The brothers stated their goal is to “help remove the SNP from power at Holyrood”. In this latest … Continue reading Aren’t billionaires who tried to ‘help remove the SNP from power at Holyrood’ by using their money the undemocratic dictators?
Even with hands-tied Scotland fights the housing crisis better than most
From the Guardian today: The housing crisis is now global. It shows just how undemocratic our nations have become. When we can’t even afford to rent or buy somewhere to live, we have to ask: did we give the financial sector too much power? https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/19/housing-crisis-global-democracy-nations-financial-sector How does England compare with this? In short, England exemplifies Farha’s core argument. The financial sector’s growing power over housing has produced an affordability crisis that democratic mechanisms have only partially addressed, while also showing local policy responses and a still-evolving ownership structure. The direction of travel (more institutional capital, persistent high price-to-income ratios, generational … Continue reading Even with hands-tied Scotland fights the housing crisis better than most
London’s Labour Mayor fails to remedy it’s all-too-real fears of towering infernos as Scotland’s sixth tower block fire is contained on one floor due to tighter regulations
In the Guardian today: ‘We’re living in darkness’: six years of scaffolding, still no post-Grenfell cladding’ Building safety regulator delays leave London tower block beset by security and vandalism problems. The block’s residents are among thousands of people across the country bearing the cost of delays by the building safety regulator (BSR) to approve construction works required by post-Grenfell building safety rules. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/oct/19/london-tower-residents-fear-disaster-post-grenfell-scaffolding Ironically, Scottish Labour have ‘blasted the SNP for ‘dragging their heels’ over dangerous cladding programme. https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-blasted-dragging-heels-over-29368512 Here’s why Scotland’s tower blocks do not require new cladding to avoid a Grenfell event. From BBC Scotland, 7 March 2026, … Continue reading London’s Labour Mayor fails to remedy it’s all-too-real fears of towering infernos as Scotland’s sixth tower block fire is contained on one floor due to tighter regulations
There are no plans to shut any of Scotland’s maternity units but 20 may have to shut in England’s deeply troubled service
From the Guardian today, the above and: Up to 20 maternity units in England will have to shut to ensure mothers and babies receive safe care amid shortages of doctors and rising caesarean section rates, an NHS leader has warned. Matthew Hopkins, the NHS Alliance’s director for acute care, said centralising childbirth services into fewer hospitals was “inevitable” and the “right thing”, but would lead to a political backlash against unpopular changes. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/oct/19/up-to-20-maternity-units-england-shut-nhs-warning-matthew-hopkins There are no recent public comments from an NHS Scotland leader warning that specific maternity units face permanent closure, comparable to Matthew Hopkins’ statement about up to … Continue reading There are no plans to shut any of Scotland’s maternity units but 20 may have to shut in England’s deeply troubled service
Andy can only dream of English Neets working at Scotland’s level where 60% fewer of them are unemployed and we know why too
As Andy Burnham joins the panic over NEETs, not in employment, education or in training in Englandwith a columnin the Times, there is, of course, no way he will be looking ‘north’ for guidance where, after nearly 20 years the SNP has achieved something he could only dream of. BBC Breakfast in May 2026, in an extended piece on the number not in work or in education – NEETS – seems to have confused that group – all 16-24 year-olds including economically inactive (not looking, e.g. due to illness, caring, discouraged) – with the unemployed, looking for work and available … Continue reading Andy can only dream of English Neets working at Scotland’s level where 60% fewer of them are unemployed and we know why too
Pisa – gamed by England, loved by only one, ‘not a teacher’, Scottish prof but in some parts not visited by him or by media, a real glow
Engaging respectfully with Pisa in the way that the Scottish Education Minister seems to be doing, above, strikes me as a mistake. It needs more direct, harder critique, as in these three TuS reports: Read them and others in full, at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=Pisa Continue reading Pisa – gamed by England, loved by only one, ‘not a teacher’, Scottish prof but in some parts not visited by him or by media, a real glow
No public building contract in Scotland has ever required such remedial work
Thanks to K McEwan for alerting us to this. From BBC Tyne on 14 October 2026, the above and: The NHS has confirmed work on a new hospital will have to be redone. Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust said the new Berwick Community Hospital will need to be stripped back to its structural steelwork after inspections found building work carried out so far was not up to standard. New contractors Robertson have been working with the trust to determine what will need to be done for the scheme to progress – additional costs to the £35m project are currently unknown. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr1ex6pl3pn7o … Continue reading No public building contract in Scotland has ever required such remedial work
Bus nationalisation emerges as ‘Der gefestigte Wille des Volkes’ after owners compare John Swinney to only two dictators compared to Salmond’s gang of four – progress?
They say when you compare your opponent to ‘Hitler’, you’ve lost the argument. Is it the same with billionaire bus owners, The McGill Bros, calling John Swinney ‘Amin or Mugabe?’ It’s easy rebutted. How can it be dictatorial when, based on a 2024 YouGov poll, 66% support the nationalisation of bus companies? That was up from 50% in 2017. Two other polls in the last 5 years say the same thing. Savanta in 2023, had 67% and even 61% of Tories. YouGov in 2026, had the same 66%, across all the parties. That’ll be a clear case of the settled … Continue reading Bus nationalisation emerges as ‘Der gefestigte Wille des Volkes’ after owners compare John Swinney to only two dictators compared to Salmond’s gang of four – progress?
