Add the DUP to the history of the Tories, Liberals and Labour in covering-up systematic child abuse by MPs that underlies the more recent inaction by government and by police on grooming gangs
The astonishing apathy of the MSM in reacting to the above sexual abuse of children contrasts with their frothing pile-on of a man clearly with a mental health problem relating to spending but it’s part of wider historical pattern. By JB Independent Inquiry Child Sex Abuse From the 2012 investigation ‘Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse Linked to Westminster’. “This investigation concerns institutional responses to allegations of child sexual abuse and exploitation involving persons of public prominence who were associated with Westminster. Westminster is defined in this report as the centre of the United Kingdom’s government, government ministers and officials, as … Continue reading Add the DUP to the history of the Tories, Liberals and Labour in covering-up systematic child abuse by MPs that underlies the more recent inaction by government and by police on grooming gangs
Multiple academic research studies suggest sexual crimes in Scotland are far less common than in 1971 and half the current level in England & Wales so BBC Scotland report today is tasteless, uneducated, dishonest and frankly wrong
No tasteless, titillating for some, exploitative Getty images of tearful young women victims of sexual violence here, unlike in BBC Scotland reporting. From BBC Scotland today: Sexual crimes in Scotland hit record high levels. Sexual crimes recorded by Police Scotland increased by 10% last year and are now at their highest level since 1971, official figures show. The message here is wrong, so wrong. Why? The weight of evidence (stable survey prevalence despite exploding recorded figures, increased reporting, societal improvements in women’s rights/consent norms, and parallel declines in other violence) strongly suggests actual rates for many equivalent traditional/contact sexual crimes … Continue reading Multiple academic research studies suggest sexual crimes in Scotland are far less common than in 1971 and half the current level in England & Wales so BBC Scotland report today is tasteless, uneducated, dishonest and frankly wrong
Edinburgh TV Festival had become costly, exclusive, elitist and in decline so will not be missed
The Edinburgh TV Festival has become notoriously expensive for hotels and venues. Critics argue this prices out freelancers, emerging talent, working-class voices, and a broader range of attendees, making the event feel elitist or inaccessible. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/nov/20/edinburgh-tv-festival-could-move-cost-working-class-voices Long-time observers claim it has declined from its early intellectual ambitions focusing on ‘big’ debates about the medium, more “waffling” by commissioning editors and networking for work. The MacTaggart Lecture has drawn specific complaints about lacking the provocative edge of past years. https://deadline.com/2025/11/edinburgh-television-festival-could-relocate-bidding-process-1236624486/ Continue reading Edinburgh TV Festival had become costly, exclusive, elitist and in decline so will not be missed
‘Woman dies after being hit by HGV in Glasgow’ but pedestrian deaths fall by a third in one year and are halved in the SNP era
From BBC Scotland today in BBC Breakfast this morning: Woman dies after being hit by HGV in Glasgow The woman was crossing Saracen Street in Possilpark about 11:10 on Tuesday morning when when she was struck by an HGV being driven by a 58-year-old man. Emergency services attended but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have asked for anyone with information to come forward. Sgt Chris McColm of the road policing unit in Glasgow said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the woman who died. Our inquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing. “We urge … Continue reading ‘Woman dies after being hit by HGV in Glasgow’ but pedestrian deaths fall by a third in one year and are halved in the SNP era
A reminder of NHS Scotland’s target-busting 95% drug and alcohol treatment in three weeks or less is required today
As BBC Scotland today note a local scheme to improve the treatment of drug abusers in Aberdeen, they, of course, offer no context. Such as? This: NHS Scotland’s target-busting 95% drug and alcohol treatment in three weeks or less From Public Health Scotland National drug and alcohol treatment waiting times 1 October 2025 to 31 December 2025 today, the above and: Nationally, the Standard was met for referrals to community-based services across all substances: drugs (95.3%), alcohol and drugs (92.6%) and alcohol (90.8%). https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times-1-october-2025-to-31-december-2025/ Continue reading A reminder of NHS Scotland’s target-busting 95% drug and alcohol treatment in three weeks or less is required today
England’s first full investigation into maternity service failures publishing today will reveal such horror that their police investigation being labelled ‘Operation Perth’ shocks investigation-free NHS Scotland
Absent entirely from UK newspaper front pages today but featured in TV news broadcasts, the above story anticipates a report into maternity services in Nottingham which will be frankly horrific and which police locally have strangely labelled their investigation into criminality, ‘Operation Perth’: The largest maternity review in the history of the NHS – which is expected to detail widespread failings that led to the deaths of babies and avoidable harm – will be published later. About 2,500 families and more than 800 staff members have contributed to the review into Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust, which began in … Continue reading England’s first full investigation into maternity service failures publishing today will reveal such horror that their police investigation being labelled ‘Operation Perth’ shocks investigation-free NHS Scotland
After 20 years of centre-left government protecting services and the poorest crime in Scotland is everywhere lower than in rUK
From Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2025-26 published today, the above table of Total number of recorded crimes per 10,000 population, Scotland, 2025-26 in each council area. https://www.gov.scot/publications/recorded-crime-scotland-2025-26/pages/total-recorded-crime/ How do these compare with parts of England? Note the national average pushing 20% higher, the rates far higher than any in Scotland in several areas including Burnhamland (Greater Manchester) and the far lower rates in several parts of Scotland than in England’s ‘low-rate’ areas. Wales? Almost everywhere above the Scottish rate and several well above Scotland’s highest. What explains this? Lots of reasons no doubt but 20 years of centre-left government protecting … Continue reading After 20 years of centre-left government protecting services and the poorest crime in Scotland is everywhere lower than in rUK
Scottish Government funds Transport Scotland’s award-winning motorcycle safety initiative which is continuing to save lives and now being copied across UK
From the Road Safety Trust today, the above image and: A report recently published on The Road Safety Trust’s website has confirmed that Transport Scotland’s award-winning motorcycle safety initiative is continuing to save lives on Scotland’s trunk road network. Believed to be the largest motorcycle behaviour investigation of its kind, Project PRIME set out to improve rider safety through the use of special road markings and signs to help riders make better decisions when taking bends. Acting as gateways, the signs are designed to help riders reduce speed, reduce braking and improve road position when taking bends. Full report at: … Continue reading Scottish Government funds Transport Scotland’s award-winning motorcycle safety initiative which is continuing to save lives and now being copied across UK
Reconviction Rates in Scotland fall to tiny percentage per head of those in England and Wales due to twice as many ‘probation officers’
From Reconviction Rates in Scotland: 2022 to 2023 Offender Cohort, published today: Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/reconviction-rates-in-scotland-2022-2023-cohort/ What might account for this? There are currently 5 576 ‘band 4’ probation officers in England.2 Scotland does not have “probation officers” as a distinct role. The equivalent is Justice Social Workers (also called criminal justice social workers), who are qualified social workers employed mainly by the 32 local authorities. Per head of population, you might expect that Scotland would have around 560 of these but has 1 174 up from 950 the year before.3 Scotland has twice as many! How does this play out in terms of … Continue reading Reconviction Rates in Scotland fall to tiny percentage per head of those in England and Wales due to twice as many ‘probation officers’
Did the media get Murrell 5 years in jail? In 2019 a Labour councillor stole from a charity which then collapsed, causing great harm to locals, and did not plead guilty yet she still avoided jail
From BBC Scotland in 2019: A former [Labour] councillor has been convicted of taking more than £8,000 from a local charity where she worked. Yvonne Kucuk, 52, was the company secretary for the People’s Development Trust in Dalmarnock, Glasgow. The trust ran the £3.5m Commonwealth Games legacy hub in the area, which was launched by football legend Sir Kenny Dalglish in 2015. But, later financial concerns led to auditors looking over the organisation’s books. Kucuk – ex-Labour councillor for the city’s Calton area – and the trust’s project manager William Faulds, 55, were eventually held by police. A trial heard … Continue reading Did the media get Murrell 5 years in jail? In 2019 a Labour councillor stole from a charity which then collapsed, causing great harm to locals, and did not plead guilty yet she still avoided jail
Talking-up Scotland 