As Birmingham drug gangs now compete with Liverpool in Highland Region, the region’s 270% violent crime surge in just 5 years, more than 20 times Scotland’s average, could worsen
in possession of two large suitcases. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0033vn4/highland-cops-series-4-2-siege-in-the-highlands Inverness and the Highlands are a world away from BBC Scotland in Glasgow in terms of their coverage the illegal drug trade. Highland Cops commissioned by BBC 2 and BBC Scotland and produced by Firecrest Films is in its fourth series of frankly fascinating documentary style episodes on crime in the Scottish Highlands, with ravishing background, often foreground, scenery shots and increasingly impressive and likeable police officer characters. The production seems to have wriggled out from under the oppressive editorial control in Glasgow where the suggestion the the street-level, illegal drug trade with … Continue reading As Birmingham drug gangs now compete with Liverpool in Highland Region, the region’s 270% violent crime surge in just 5 years, more than 20 times Scotland’s average, could worsen
The Herald on CalMac – More balanced framing would likely improve both the journalism and its durability with readers.
In Scotland the Herald newspaper has mounted repeated attacks on Scottish CalMac ferries, always without any context in the form of the higher costs and other failures of other ferry companies in England and in North America. Given their high frequency and constant unvarying dramatic negativity is it likely that readers may tire of these reports and that they may come to be counter-productive for the newspaper as a business? Yes, it is plausible that the high volume and consistently dramatic negativity could eventually tire some readers and prove counter-productive for The Herald as a business. These problems are real … Continue reading The Herald on CalMac – More balanced framing would likely improve both the journalism and its durability with readers.
Why we have no A&E crisis but England does
In the Herald today, this: Here’s why we have no crisis but NHS England does From stewartb 5 March 2026 on NHS England manipulating stats again, researched by stewartb and just framed by me. RCEM press release (march 4): ‘NHS England corridor care definition interesting but meaningful change must follow’ ‘Dr Ian Higginson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine said: “.. we can already measure long waits and overcrowding. It remains to be seen whether trying to measure corridor care on top of this will prove more effective. “We have two main concerns about the complex definition. Firstly, … Continue reading Why we have no A&E crisis but England does
Major improvement in average NHS Scotland discharge delays offers reduced harm and strain for families
From Delayed discharges in NHS Scotland monthly Figures for September 2026 published today: The average (median) length of delay for people delayed at the September 2026 census was 29 days. This is less than as at the census point in August 2026 (33 days), the same as July 2026 (29 days) and less than June 2026 (30 days). https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/delayed-discharges-in-nhs-scotland-monthly/delayed-discharges-in-nhs-scotland-monthly-figures-for-september-2026/main-points/ This is a 12% imrpovement. How important is this statistic? Impacts on family and carers Families often remain involved in daily visiting, advocacy, and coordination with health and social care teams while the patient is delayed. This can involve repeated travel, … Continue reading Major improvement in average NHS Scotland discharge delays offers reduced harm and strain for families
Residential bed capacity for drug and alcohol rehabilitation in Scotland is up 46% in only 5 years as it plummets in England
From Residential rehabilitation bed capacity in Scotland, August 2026 today: The survey received responses from 30 residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities with bed capacity that meet the Residential Rehabilitation Development Working Group’s definition of residential rehabilitation. This is two more facilities than were identified in October 2025 (28 facilities). The 2026 survey found a total maximum residential rehabilitation capacity of 619 beds in Scotland. This was an increase of 45 beds (8%) compared to the October 2025 figure of 574 beds. Table 1 shows maximum reported residential rehabilitation bed capacity by facility in 2025 and 2026. https://www.gov.scot/publications/residential-rehabilitation-bed-capacity-in-scotland-august-2026/pages/findings/ The longer-term … Continue reading Residential bed capacity for drug and alcohol rehabilitation in Scotland is up 46% in only 5 years as it plummets in England
NHS Scotland now at 93% of pre-pandemic operations level
From Cancelled planned operations Month ending 30 September 2026 published today: There were 26,484 operations planned to take place across NHS Scotland. This is 4.6% more (+1,162) than the number planned in September 2025 (25,322). Over the course of the last 12 months, from October 2025 to September 2026 (309,720), there was a 5.4% increase (+15,744) compared to the previous 12 months (293,976). This is consistent with the trend of generally increasing numbers of planned operations since March 2021. The last 12 months of planned operations is 7.3% lower (-24,358) than the 12-month period immediately prior to March 2020 when … Continue reading NHS Scotland now at 93% of pre-pandemic operations level
More police officers to tackle 143 675 fewer crimes than under Labour
From Police officer quarterly strength statistics: 30 September 2026, published today: There were 16,553 full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers in Scotland on 30 September 2026 This is an increase of 152 FTE police officers (+0.9%) in the last quarter from 30 June 2026 This is an increase of 113 FTE police officers (+0.7%) in the last year from 30 September 2025 This is an increase of 319 FTE police officers (+2.0%) from the 16,234 FTE police officers recorded at 31 March 2007 Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/police-officer-quarterly-strength-statistics-30–september-2026/ So, overall crime in Scotland is 32% down, almost one third, down on 2007 when the … Continue reading More police officers to tackle 143 675 fewer crimes than under Labour
Slam Dunk! One page of hard evidence why Scotland does not need Labour’s nuclear energy
Print this out and keep it handy for the next time you meet somebody who believes the Labour myth that Scotland is being left behind on nuclear energy. Health Risks German research suppressed by Labour Government and media in 2008 revealed under 5’s living near nuclear plants more than twice as likely to develop leukaemia.[i] The Sellafield Nuclear re-processing plant responsible for levels of radioactivity in Maidens shellfish and in Troon Harbour Seals way above the safe level. [ii] Ayrshire Labour back new nuclear power stations that have made Scotland the ‘Cancer Capital of Europe’ [iii] Researchers revisit study of … Continue reading Slam Dunk! One page of hard evidence why Scotland does not need Labour’s nuclear energy
Education in Scotland is so much better than this wee inexperienced guy wants you to think as he pursues, fifty years too late, a career with the ‘papers’
Christ, James! Two teachers and fewer than 10 senior pupils. What made you choose that image for a supposed ‘lack of teachers?’ Regulars, anybody really, will know that Scotland has far more teachers than the other parts of the UK. If there’s ‘a lack’ here, dog knows what is happening in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Check this for the facts: So, that’s enough for James McAneny. Who is he? A ‘leading’ teacher, researcher, professor? No, you’re way out there. He’s one of a ‘terrible three’ favoured by the MSM on education despite their very limited understanding of it. MSM … Continue reading Education in Scotland is so much better than this wee inexperienced guy wants you to think as he pursues, fifty years too late, a career with the ‘papers’
Scotland has long held some of the answers to England’s child care home crisis
In the Guardian yesterday: In a quiet suburb on the outskirts of Copenhagen sits a large white house, set back from the road behind a purple-leaved plum tree. It looks much like the rest of the buildings on the street and there is little outward sign this is Josephine Schneider’s House, considered one of the best children’s homes in the world. Danish children’s homes are often cited as the gold standard of children’s residential care globally. They are now being studied by the British government as it tries to create a roadmap out of the crisis in which its own … Continue reading Scotland has long held some of the answers to England’s child care home crisis
