‘Independent Scotland as foreign country could get no Royal Navy work’ argument is ‘blown out of the water’ as deadly enemy in two world wars buys UK company essential for Type 26 frigates
Many thanks to reader rptscott for alerting me to this: From the UK Defence Journal, yesterday, only two years after the one above: German propulsion specialist RENK Group has entered into a binding agreement to acquire David Brown Defence, the Huddersfield-based manufacturer of gearboxes for the Type 26 frigate and other major naval programmes, from private equity firm Stellex Capital Management, the UK Defence Journal understands. The transaction, announced in London on 3 July, gives the Augsburg-headquartered group access to what it describes as high-value naval programmes across the Five Eyes nations. David Brown Defence supplies main propulsion transmission systems … Continue reading ‘Independent Scotland as foreign country could get no Royal Navy work’ argument is ‘blown out of the water’ as deadly enemy in two world wars buys UK company essential for Type 26 frigates
Scotland’s Ross Kemp spots Blackshirts ‘on our streets’
In the place where you can trust it to provide fake news, The Herald, another of Neil Mackay’s ‘Horrible Hyperbole‘ series, yesterday. I take the laughable graphic was done by the same guy who delights in wee girls in red running down dangerous alleyways clearly in Rochdale and sad wee rough-sleepers to represent weans in temporary accomodation. Neil writes: ‘It’s been a while now since the myth that Scotland was immune to racist and fascist extremism melted away. Once, we thought we were above all that; neo-Nazi thugs on the street was an English phenomenon, we naively believed So, around … Continue reading Scotland’s Ross Kemp spots Blackshirts ‘on our streets’
When illegal drugs have been flooding across your border for more than 20 years you need to really toughen it up
From Memorandum submitted by the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (CS 1) submitted to the UK Parliament in May 2003! The great majority of Class A drugs enter Scotland across the English border, either as a result of secondary distribution in England or drugs destined for Scotland but smuggled through English ports. Crime groups make extensive use of the UK infrastructure, particularly the motorway networks. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmsctech/911-i/3070102.htm From Police Scotland yesterday: From BBC Scotland in July 2020: Routes like the M74 (a key northbound motorway from England) are practically significant for enforcement. Police Scotland’s Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit frequently conducts … Continue reading When illegal drugs have been flooding across your border for more than 20 years you need to really toughen it up
How have we known for at least a decade that Scotland’s maternity services were not troubled like those in NHS England? More than three times per head, the cost of settling negligence lawsuits in NHS England
In the Guardian 19 February 2026, the above and: The NHS will have to spend more money settling lawsuits involving negligence during childbirth after a supreme court ruling that lawyers said puts right a “historic injustice”. The court ruled on Wednesday that children in England who suffer catastrophic injuries while they are being born can claim damages for future earnings they would otherwise have had. The ruling on “lost years damages” means that children whose life expectancy is shortened can recover compensation for being unable to work. It comes amid mounting concern at the rising cost of medical negligence to the NHS in England – its liabilities have … Continue reading How have we known for at least a decade that Scotland’s maternity services were not troubled like those in NHS England? More than three times per head, the cost of settling negligence lawsuits in NHS England
Patient sexually assaulted and killed in her bed, six staff jailed including surgeon for sexually assaulting five colleagues and a culture of systemic bullying and harassment in Blackpool hospital but neither health secretary nor government blamed and BBC ignore it – imagine that had been in Inverness?
You could be forgiven for thinking that NHS England’s worries were confined to maternity services and to NHS Nottingham with its criminal police investigation labelled perversely ‘Operation Perth.’ After decades of centre-right, cost-cutting, government and unprotected by a centre-left SNP government, protecting public services from the worst of austerity politics, all public services in England are struggling badly and to a greater extent than, as TuS reveals on a daily basis, their equivalents in Scotland. The above claim can be checked by searching here: Just type in ‘NHS’ or ‘waiting’ or ‘crime’ or…………… On 4 December 2025, we reported an … Continue reading Patient sexually assaulted and killed in her bed, six staff jailed including surgeon for sexually assaulting five colleagues and a culture of systemic bullying and harassment in Blackpool hospital but neither health secretary nor government blamed and BBC ignore it – imagine that had been in Inverness?
The Herald – Not trusted since 2013
Popping up in my inbox today, the above spoof, one of the funniest things you’ll see in a while. Why so funny? Well these: Full text for all of these and for the hundreds back to 2014, at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/page/5/?s=Herald Full text for all of the above and for the hundreds back to 2014, at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/page/5/?s=Herald Continue reading The Herald – Not trusted since 2013
Immigration crime crackdown was not ‘Scotland-wide’ with only 1%, only a tenth, per head, of the arrests
Glasgow Live today, above joining the others with a dramatic headline and: Businesses across Scotland have been raided by police amid a country-wide crackdown on immigration crime, which “exploits vulnerable people by facilitating illegal entry into the UK”. and: Agencies interacted with 109 people, identifying 10 irregular migrants, Police Scotland said. 43 business compliance checks were carried out and Trading Standards identified four premises without a licence to sell alcohol or tobacco. https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/police-raid-nail-salons-vape-34227577 STV help us get things in persepctive. First, the headline – Four arrested in Scotland in major organised immigration crime crackdown Just four, ‘businesses across Scotland?’ Then, under a … Continue reading Immigration crime crackdown was not ‘Scotland-wide’ with only 1%, only a tenth, per head, of the arrests
Extreme Right-Wing elements are almost three times more common in England & Wales than in Scotland
With little sense of irony regarding the messages in advertising, The Times tries to make sure Scots don’t start thinking they’re better, ie not Nazis or fascists, like the ones all over the MSM apparently lining up next to Glasgow Cathedral: It’s an undeniably unsettling image which therefore clearly needs a bit of context. How many far-right extremists are there in Scotland and how does that compare with England & Wales? Membership details are not available but referrals to Prevent are the best proxy. Prevent is the UK government’s early-intervention programme designed to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting … Continue reading Extreme Right-Wing elements are almost three times more common in England & Wales than in Scotland
If Andy Burnham and the Labour leadership truly believed that people should have control over their own lives, they would stop trying to block Scotland’s democratic right to choose its own future.
From the SNP on the 30th June 2026: Two years ago, Labour stood on the steps of Downing Street promising a new era of “change”. Fast forward to today, and the reality for families across Scotland is ongoing chaos: a soaring cost of living, rising unemployment, and a broken Brexit Britain that looks indistinguishable from the Tory austerity that preceded it. Now, with a new Westminster leadership race underway, frontrunner Andy Burnham has taken to the stage to pitch yet another “radical restructuring” of the UK through his brand of “Manchester-ism”. But beneath the shiny rhetoric of a “Number 10 … Continue reading If Andy Burnham and the Labour leadership truly believed that people should have control over their own lives, they would stop trying to block Scotland’s democratic right to choose its own future.
Scotland saw a 74% increase in the value of equity investment into smaller businesses in 2025, even as the overall UK market dipped by 4% – what it means, why it’s kind of good
From the Scotsman today, above. What is equity investment, some of you and I ask? Equity investment means putting money into a company in exchange for ownership shares (equity) in that business.Simple Breakdown: Is it a good thing? Yes, it is generally a very good thing for Scotland — though with some important context. Why It’s Positive Important Caveats (It’s Not All Upside) Overall verdict: Strongly positive signal. A 74% jump in equity investment is a clear win that highlights Scotland’s strengths in innovation and specific sectors. It’s the kind of news economic development agencies celebrate because it builds momentum. … Continue reading Scotland saw a 74% increase in the value of equity investment into smaller businesses in 2025, even as the overall UK market dipped by 4% – what it means, why it’s kind of good
Talking-up Scotland 