No UK Government homelessness reduction initiative for England has ever stayed within budget so Scots taxpayers will pay for Burnham’s plan
We’ve already shown here that Scots taxpayers will end up funding steel nationalisation in England, illegal dump clear-ups and HS2 stopping well before the border, with no benefits and no Barnett compensation likely. Today, prompted by Kath Barr, we’re looking at whether Andy Burnham’s latest mission to end rough-sleeping by Christmas in England will cost us too. The official line is that it won’t because it will be funded from uncommitted budgets within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), with allocations based on English rough sleeping pressures. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-pm-says-government-can-bring-back-hope-to-britain-and-launches-drive-to-end-rough-sleeping-at-the-earliest-opportunity Uncommitted budgets are a real thing but what is … Continue reading No UK Government homelessness reduction initiative for England has ever stayed within budget so Scots taxpayers will pay for Burnham’s plan
England’s GCSE results reveal thousands of pupils betrayed after two years of Labour rule
The BBC above and the Guardian below are reacting favourably to the GCSE results with, for example: Almost one in four boys in England received top grades in maths while results in English improved across the board, helping to propel improved GCSE results for this year’s cohort of 16-year-olds. The stronger performances in maths helped pupils taking GCSEs in year 11 reach a record level for higher grades in England outside the Covid pandemic years, when exams were replaced by teacher assessments. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/aug/20/gcse-results-almost-one-in-four-boys-in-england-get-top-grades-in-maths Can we compare these results with comparable outcomes for 16 year-olds in Scotland? There are differences in methods but … Continue reading England’s GCSE results reveal thousands of pupils betrayed after two years of Labour rule
Twice as effective closing their own illegal dumps but Scots taxpayers to pay for Burnham’s clear-up of illegal dumps in West Yorkshire, Surrey and Kent and there will be no Barnett consequentials
In the Guardian today, the above, and: Illegal dumps in West Yorkshire, Surrey and Kent will be cleared up using taxpayer money, Andy Burnham has announced, as the prime minister promises a new drive to tackle toxic waste. Ministers have identified dumps in Bradford, Runnymede and the Isle of Sheppey, which collectively contain about 22,000 tonnes of illegal waste, to be cleared in the next phase of the government’s national clear-up effort. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/19/taxpayers-to-fund-clear-up-of-dumps-in-west-yorkshire-surrey-and-kent Why will this not be paid for by a waste management budget for England? The money comes from the UK Treasury’s pooled revenues, which include taxes raised across … Continue reading Twice as effective closing their own illegal dumps but Scots taxpayers to pay for Burnham’s clear-up of illegal dumps in West Yorkshire, Surrey and Kent and there will be no Barnett consequentials
Grenfell – England is letting companies pass the buck
In the Guardian today, the above and: There is something profoundly wrong when the company behind Grenfell Tower’s flammable cladding paid more compensation to its shareholders than to victims of the disaster. Of Arconic’s £86m in Grenfell-related settlements, all but £1.5m was covered by insurers. Hardly enough to make a multinational think again. The company whose product the inquiry found was the “primary cause” of the fire’s rapid spread has ended up paying only a fraction of the wider social cost, while the multibillion-pound bill for making hundreds of buildings safe falls largely on the state. In June 2017, 72 people – … Continue reading Grenfell – England is letting companies pass the buck
Despite media lies, Scots know things are better
Reposted in the popular counter-attack on BBC Scotland’s disgusting hatchet job on Glasgow
Last Post of the Poseur – BMA Scotland’s Dr Iain Kennedy gets over BMA UK’s fondness for SNP Government’s respectful dealings which meant NO NHS strikes to dishonestly attack the SNP as he is replaced as shop steward
Front page in the Herald today, the British Medical Associations’ branch convener, part-time GP and a man who used to have a Union Flag at the top of his x/twitter page, Dr Iain Kennedy leaves with this absurd claim: Just how privatised is NHS Scotland? Here are just a few comparisons with NHS England: Kennedy’s ‘forced to go private’ claim is also easily rebutted: This one? This one? This one? This one? Oh come on Iain. What don’t you like about these? Continue reading Last Post of the Poseur – BMA Scotland’s Dr Iain Kennedy gets over BMA UK’s fondness for SNP Government’s respectful dealings which meant NO NHS strikes to dishonestly attack the SNP as he is replaced as shop steward
Fantastic news as Scotsman predicts its readers with second homes WILL face tax rises of 300%
The Scotsman today, once more on the side of the little but well-off man, bleating in his behalf. Well actually, ‘some of whom’ will face an extra charge of ‘nearly £16 000.’ We saw, in April 2026, the second-home owners defended by the Telegraph and the answer is the same (below). In the Telegraph 7 April 2026, the above and: They were not wrong. Back in September last year, they had: Scotland plots uncapped council tax rises for second home owners – Green Party’s ‘pile on the costs’ proposal will be ‘gold standard’ for tackling homelessness. Councils in Scotland are poised to … Continue reading Fantastic news as Scotsman predicts its readers with second homes WILL face tax rises of 300%
Talking-up Scotland 