Nothing in Scotland looks anything like the mass child grooming rape gangs in England but Scottish Labour desperately need a national review for their Holyrood campaign and the Herald is trying to help
No tasteless, exploitative images here. Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. The Herald today: The SNP has been accused of dragging its feet on tackling grooming gangs, after watchdogs set out an 18-month timetable for a national review that would only then inform a decision on whether a full public inquiry is required. Critics said the timescale amounted to a further delay for survivors of group-based child sexual exploitation. Here’s why a careful approach to a national review is required, reasons which were already in a response to Labour MP Joani Reid, in November 2025. It’s had no MSM coverage. … Continue reading Nothing in Scotland looks anything like the mass child grooming rape gangs in England but Scottish Labour desperately need a national review for their Holyrood campaign and the Herald is trying to help
Spending on schools across Scotland has increased by more than £1 billion but in a media vacuum
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. Above the complete media coverage of a major Scottish Government announcement on school funding, 16 hours after it was first posted. They have no time as they feast on that unattractive figure, Anas Sarwar, who has just turned snarling and biting at the wounded figure of his former boss, Sir Keir Starmer. A classic head boy bully he’s so brave now. Of course, they have no time for this as they try once more to push Sarwar’s fourth place wheels out of the mud Spending on schools across Scotland has increased by … Continue reading Spending on schools across Scotland has increased by more than £1 billion but in a media vacuum
Since the crowdfunder started only 9 days ago, nearly 15 thousand distinct readers at Talking-up Scotland but fewer than 1 in a 100 felt it was worth a contribution?
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. Sobering feedback that? I know, TuS gets lots of kindly and encouraging words but only 1 in 100 rate it worth even £1. 14 937 discrete visitors in February 2026 but only 139 make a contribution to the crowd funder, 0.9%, less than 1 in a 100? I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t wonder, what I’m doing here. 7 days a weeks, 340 days, 1 700 hours, a year, 5-7 posts a day to earn, at 74 with all my qualies, less than £1 an hour. don’t tell my wife! If … Continue reading Since the crowdfunder started only 9 days ago, nearly 15 thousand distinct readers at Talking-up Scotland but fewer than 1 in a 100 felt it was worth a contribution?
Assisted dying – Rural hospice staff shortages for palliative care will be UK Labour Government’s responsibility but BBC Scotland try to pass it on to Holyrood
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. In BBC Scotland‘s short insert in BBC Breakfast, several times this morning: Hospice leaders say Scotland must must address a severe shortage of end-of-life care for those living with terminal illnesses in rural communities. Next month MSPs face a final vote on assisted dying legislation but the debate has raised concerns that those without access to good palliative care might instead choose assisted death. The Scottish Government has… For those of us regularly monitoring BBC Scotland, that linking of negative news to the Scottish Government is common and this is another of … Continue reading Assisted dying – Rural hospice staff shortages for palliative care will be UK Labour Government’s responsibility but BBC Scotland try to pass it on to Holyrood
Why giving your second vote to a small pro-independence party will not increase the overall number of pro-independence party MSPs in Scotland and risks even increasing number of unionist MSPs so ‘Both votes SNP’ – short video
Full version with working and sources – https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/02/09/why-giving-your-second-vote-to-a-small-pro-independence-party-will-not-increase-the-overall-number-of-pro-independence-parties-in-scotland-and-risks-even-increasing-number-of-unionist-msps-so-both-v/ Continue reading Why giving your second vote to a small pro-independence party will not increase the overall number of pro-independence party MSPs in Scotland and risks even increasing number of unionist MSPs so ‘Both votes SNP’ – short video
Why giving your second vote to one of the small pro-independence parties will not increase the overall number of pro-independence party MSPs in Scotland and risks even increasing number of unionist MSPs so ‘Both votes SNP’
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. This is an almost entirely AI report. I trust it more than I would any assessment by human beings with the unavoidable biases and predispositions we all possess [me too] and which, even unconsciously, direct what we think is our conscious thinking. Yes I know AI can be, and has been, taught to have such biases and predispositions and I would not trust any of them to be fair on issues of socialism, human rights, Gaza or Trump but, as far as I can see, they have, as yet, no ‘horse in … Continue reading Why giving your second vote to one of the small pro-independence parties will not increase the overall number of pro-independence party MSPs in Scotland and risks even increasing number of unionist MSPs so ‘Both votes SNP’
Charity says worst form of homelessness in Scotland is about half as high as in England thanks to Scottish ministers having the “right political will” to tackle the problem.
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. The Daily Record‘s Dan Vevers has been out in the streets of Glasgow finding out what it’s like for rough-sleepers. Ironically, the story is part of a long-running Labour campaign. Why would Labour, the party of the better-off for a few years now, be interested in rough-sleepers? Direct comparisons with the levels of rough-sleeping in SNP Scotland, Labour Wales (long-term) and Labour England (short-term) are not easily done with different methods of recording. However a 2022 study by Crisis found: The proportion of people suffering from the worst forms of homelessness in … Continue reading Charity says worst form of homelessness in Scotland is about half as high as in England thanks to Scottish ministers having the “right political will” to tackle the problem.
Social housing satisfaction levels 12% higher in Scotland as crisis strikes England
a basic decent standard, and the pace of improving them is far too slow, according to a group of MPs…….The Government said it was taking action to drive up… Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. BBC Breakfast today, on the condition of social housing in England. They don’t mention any survey results on tenant satisfaction which might help us grasp the scale of the problem. According to a 2025 survey by the UK Government, the overall service satisfaction is around 76%, with repairs at 74% and fairness/respect at 78%.1 According to a survey by the Scottish Government’s Housing … Continue reading Social housing satisfaction levels 12% higher in Scotland as crisis strikes England
‘Intelligence would have briefed No. 10 on vulnerabilities’ – It’s not just Starmer, Brown was the same – Arrogant Labour elites have always had different rules for their own no matter the offence or the risk for the rest of us
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. The Times in 2009 noting the closeness of PM Brown and his Business Minister. In comments reported by The Times, Brown stated: “Peter is doing an excellent job. He has shown it was a good decision to invite him to come back from Brussels and join the Government.” He added: “We are working together in a common cause.” https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/gordon-brown-praises-lord-mandelson-the-man-who-saved-his-skin-ljmnb7xz2xj The previous year, in the Guardian: Peter Mandelson yesterday buried the threat of a Blairite coup against Gordon Brown, declaring he was ‘joined at the hip’ to the Prime Minister, who would lead … Continue reading ‘Intelligence would have briefed No. 10 on vulnerabilities’ – It’s not just Starmer, Brown was the same – Arrogant Labour elites have always had different rules for their own no matter the offence or the risk for the rest of us
Selective media reading of research report to hide Scotland’s stronger support for unpaid carers
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. In the Guardian and other UK media today: UK’s ‘unsung army’ of full-time unpaid carers needs more support, report says – Resolution Foundation finds one in three carers from poorer families unable to work because of responsibilities. A growing “unsung army” of 1 million people with full-time caring responsibilities needs better support, according to a report that found one in three unpaid carers from poorer backgrounds were unable to work because of their duties. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/feb/08/full-time-unpaid-carers-support-resolution-foundation-report In the original report but getting no media coverage: Although Carer’s Allowance cannot compensate for the true … Continue reading Selective media reading of research report to hide Scotland’s stronger support for unpaid carers
Talking-up Scotland 