Scotland need not be ashamed as colonialism explains world cup success
Thanks to Kath for prompting this. There is a correlation between national football team success and countries with imperial/colonial pasts, especially those involved in the transatlantic slave trade and exploitation of West Africa. Recent research directly quantifies this. A University of Zurich AI study in 2026 simulated the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 1,500 times and found that colonial history continues to shape outcomes on the pitch. Former European colonial powers benefit significantly from players with family roots in former colonies, especially in Africa and in the Caribbean. Source: https://www.news.uzh.ch/en/articles/media/2026/colonial-legacies-soccer.html Top FIFA-ranked teams as of June 2026, often align with this … Continue reading Scotland need not be ashamed as colonialism explains world cup success
In the whole world only Norway has a murder rate just lower than Scotland after 19 years of evidence-based and joined up policy initiatives back by funding from a government that listens to professional and academic opinion
From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report June 2026 released today, the above chart and: There were 45 homicide victims recorded by the police in Scotland in 2024-25, a 21% decrease from 2023-24 and a 24% decrease from 2015-16. https://www.gov.scot/publications/safer-communities-and-justice-statistics-monthly-data-june-2026/pages/statistics-on-crime-in-general/ That’s 0.81 per 100 000 people. How does it compare? In England and Wales the ratio was 0.95 but that’s a bigger difference than it looks. It’s 17.3% higher and if the rates were similar, based on population, they’d have around 11 times as many or 500 but an extra 22 died last year.1Also the trend there is … Continue reading In the whole world only Norway has a murder rate just lower than Scotland after 19 years of evidence-based and joined up policy initiatives back by funding from a government that listens to professional and academic opinion
A one-year increase is pounced on by the media but overall crime in Scotland has been flat for ten years after almost halving in the SNP era and who knew – drug possession down 27%, car theft down 60%, vandalism down 31%, burglary down 57% and prostitution down 74%!!???
From Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2025-26 published two days ago, the above line graph and: The total number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland in 2025-26 was 315,357. This is 16,246 crimes (or 5%) higher than the level recorded in 2024-25. Over the past 10 years, total recorded crime in Scotland has increased by 6%. This represents a more stable period than the previous 10 years (2006-07 to 2015-16), when total recorded crime fell by 38%. Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/recorded-crime-scotland-2025-26/pages/total-recorded-crime/ You can extract what you like from statistics like these to make a point you really wanted to make before … Continue reading A one-year increase is pounced on by the media but overall crime in Scotland has been flat for ten years after almost halving in the SNP era and who knew – drug possession down 27%, car theft down 60%, vandalism down 31%, burglary down 57% and prostitution down 74%!!???
As the Guardian today says: ‘Horrific’ maternity care failings at Nottingham NHS trust prompt calls for public inquiry’
Three fungal infections among thousands of cancer patients treated and no proof of harm whatsoever
The Times today reporting cases of fungal infections in a QEUH cancer ward apparently declared safe by John Swinney. He’s a busy man. There’s no mention of a direct connection between these infections and deaths but a death with no mention of an infection is mentioned. What are the chances of anyone actually having been seriously harmed by these fungal infections? Near zero but it’s a popular media pursuit. Is it possible for any large hospital to be 100% free of any water ingress and mould growth and consequent fungal infections, at all, in at least one of its hundreds … Continue reading Three fungal infections among thousands of cancer patients treated and no proof of harm whatsoever
Murrell purchases map onto established features of a mental health disorder more readily than ‘strategic’ criminality and the harms were limited
The judge clearly knows little of mental health conditions judging by his statement reported by the Scotsman, above. Looking at the purchases made by Peter Murrell over 12 years, the low-utility or barely-used nature of many of his purchases strengthens the case for significant compulsive or impulse-driven elements more than a purely rational, strategic “deliberate crime” model. In classic deliberate embezzlement or fraud for instrumental gain, funds are often deployed strategically: gifts/patronage to build loyalty or alliances, investments in assets/shares for laundering or growth, offshore accounts, property, or other mechanisms that sustain power, provide ongoing cover, or generate further illicit … Continue reading Murrell purchases map onto established features of a mental health disorder more readily than ‘strategic’ criminality and the harms were limited
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
Talking-up Scotland 