Energy Minister shanks hails Scots having to clean up after a French-owned nuclear power station where some of the remaining radioactive isotopes in the soil will last in excess of 13 billion years and which caused the highest cancer level in Europe
In the Irvine Times on 10 April 2020: Energy minister Michael Shanks on Hunterston takeover – ENERGY Minister Michael Shanks MP has hailed the UK Government’s takeover of Hunterson B as “a very significant moment” in the site’s long history. In an exclusive interview, Mr Shanks – who was born in Irvine and attended school in Prestwick – said returning to Hunterston brought back memories of visiting the site as a child. He said: “I was here on a school trip in primary school, so it was great to stand in the reactor hall again and see it in its … Continue reading Energy Minister shanks hails Scots having to clean up after a French-owned nuclear power station where some of the remaining radioactive isotopes in the soil will last in excess of 13 billion years and which caused the highest cancer level in Europe
Scots to meet £400 million cost of their share of £5 billion to nationalise British, sorry English and Welsh Steel
BBC Lincolnshire today has: British Steel ‘needs nationalising by the summer’ – British Steel needs to be brought into public ownership by the summer if a deal between its Chinese owner and the government fails, an MP has said. Labour MP Nic Dakin told the BBC that was “the best outcome” for the business to move forward and get investment while talks with firm Jingye are ongoing, as the tenure remains unresolved a year on. The government took control of the Scunthorpe plant, which employs 2,700 staff – about three-quarters of the company’s workforce – on 12 April 2025 to … Continue reading Scots to meet £400 million cost of their share of £5 billion to nationalise British, sorry English and Welsh Steel
NHS Scotland trains nearly TWICE as many nurses, per capita, as NHS England every year yet the Royal College of Nursing is only campaigning against the SNP in Scotland in an election run-up
The Herald and other press operating in Scotland today have this story from the Royal College of Nursing: Scotland is currently missing the equivalent of an entire year’s cohort of nursing students, with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) warning that rapid action is necessary to address the declining number of people applying to study nursing. The RCN has stated that more than 3,500 fewer students have started nursing degrees over the last four years than the Scottish Government said were needed, leaving a gap that equals an entire annual intake. This “missing cohort” will impact hospitals, community services, and care settings for years to come. The RCN has urged politicians to take decisive action to promote nursing careers and support individuals who choose to study nursing, including providing clear pathways for career progression and stronger financial support for students. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/26009297.nurses-stark-warning-parties-entire-years-cohort-missing/ It’s not on the BBC Scotland News website but I’m guessing that Reporting Scotland Down and Good Mourning Scotland broadcasts will be all over it. The RCN has nothing about nurse recruitment in England and yet: The Scotsman in February 2025 was front-paging Alarm over fresh drop in applicants for nurses course based on a 2% reduction in applications, from 4 650 to 4 560, six months before ‘clearing’ processes in the week and months before courses start, can fill the missing places. The ‘alarm’ was from a … Continue reading NHS Scotland trains nearly TWICE as many nurses, per capita, as NHS England every year yet the Royal College of Nursing is only campaigning against the SNP in Scotland in an election run-up
Barnardo’s find 7 in 10 ‘UK’ parents want the SNP Baby Box which may have stemmed a surge in infant mortality due to Tory austerity in Scotland
In the Guardian today: Four in 10 UK [sic] parents struggle to afford essentials for newborns, study says – Exclusive: Survey of 2,000 people by Barnardo’s also finds almost half feel their child has missed opportunities due to cost and four paragraphs down well away from the ‘UK’ headline: In Scotland, all parents are eligible for a box of baby essentials that includes clothes, books, a changing mat and a bath towel. Since the scheme was launched by the Scottish government in 2017, more than 360,000 baby boxes have been distributed. However, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, provision is inconsistent. Barnardo’s … Continue reading Barnardo’s find 7 in 10 ‘UK’ parents want the SNP Baby Box which may have stemmed a surge in infant mortality due to Tory austerity in Scotland
Why would there be an explosion at ‘a dockyard in Fife’ where the local Labour council recently agreed to just the storage of cut-up metal from a nuclear sub?
From BBC Scotland: Edinburgh, Fife & East today: Firefighters tackling scrap metal blaze at Rosyth dockyard – Firefighters are tackling a scrap metal fire at a dockyard in Fife. The Scottish Fire Rescue service (SFRS) were called to the scene at the Port of Rosyth at about 03:00. Locals reported hearing an “explosion” and “loud bang” in the early hours of the morning on social media. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly7d4311v1o Why would scrap metal burn? From the Dunfermline Press 24 March 2026: Fife Council have given the green light to Babcock for a new warehouse between docks two and three for “decommissioning operations”. The large industrial building – … Continue reading Why would there be an explosion at ‘a dockyard in Fife’ where the local Labour council recently agreed to just the storage of cut-up metal from a nuclear sub?
CalMac ferries problems definitely not dominating real election campaign as they are of little interest to voters despite MSM efforts
BBC Scotland today and yesterday: CalMac ferries problems dominate election campaigning – Ferries and the problems besetting CalMac’s services have dominated many of the day’s exchanges on the election campaign. First Minister John Swinney travelled to Stornoway, where he announced a new SNP government would set up a £10m resilience fund to help communities and businesses affected by the recent ferry disruption. His political opponents claimed it was a problem of the SNP’s own making, and Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said Swinney should be “ashamed” of the “ferry fiasco”. and: Labour promised to fix the “broken” ferries system with … Continue reading CalMac ferries problems definitely not dominating real election campaign as they are of little interest to voters despite MSM efforts
Why do only 202 out of more than 5 423 Scottish GPs , 3.7% (!) ‘fear patients are at risk?’ Is it because Scotland has far more GPs per patient?
Sometimes I can’t believe they’d do it then they do. The Herald today has the above and: How many GPs are there in Scotland? 5 423. So, this survey has the responses of 285 or 5%. 5%! Was the sample constructed scientifically to be representative, as the pollsters do? No, is was self-selecting, ‘squeaky wheel’. Only those who could be bothered and 95% could not. 71% of the 285 said patient safety being affected. 202 of them, 3.7%. FFS. A 16 year-old doing a Modern Studies project would make no claims for a survey of such naked weakness. Is this … Continue reading Why do only 202 out of more than 5 423 Scottish GPs , 3.7% (!) ‘fear patients are at risk?’ Is it because Scotland has far more GPs per patient?
2 out of 30 ferry services cancelled, one for a day – The Great Scottish Ferry Inconvenience of 2026 as we sail up to the Election
So, above and below, this is what BBC Scotland correctly calls ‘widespread disruption across the West coast network‘ but which many call a ‘crisis’ and one ‘newspaper’ has compared to the Highland Clearances! Here’s the key to the symbols: The Oban-Colonsay cancellation is only for Thursday. The Mallaig-Lochboisdale-Oban cancellation is until Friday 17 April. The other 28 services, despite, according to BBC Scotland a quarter of CalMac vessels being out-of-service, are operating normally or just inconveniently. This won’t last, as vessels return but the ‘ferry fiasco’ frenzied narrative looks like sailing on to Election day on 7 May. Luckily 95% of … Continue reading 2 out of 30 ferry services cancelled, one for a day – The Great Scottish Ferry Inconvenience of 2026 as we sail up to the Election
A resident of Islay is frustrated despite services running normally because…they gave Barra a loan of his new boat!
it’s redeploying the island’s new ferry to a different route, amid widespread disruption across the West coast network. The MV Isle of Islay only started serving the island’s route last week, but today it will be redeployed to Barra to restore a normal service there. The ferry operator says the MV Alfred will move to cover Islay as a second vessel alongside the MV Finlaggan from tomorrow afternoon. The above is in Reporting Scotland’s wee half-hourly inserts in BBC Breakfast (6-9am) this morning but not, so far, in full on their website, so I cannot see who all these ‘resident’s … Continue reading A resident of Islay is frustrated despite services running normally because…they gave Barra a loan of his new boat!
CalMac ‘concerns’ predicted to have almost no effect on Holyrood election result despite media carpet bombing
The Ipsos poll published today has Public transport/roads 10th, with 18%, in the list of issues respondents say will affect their vote. Perhaps surprisingly, given the MSM obsession with them, no poll ever asks about ferries explicitly. An AI estimate, based on media coverage, of the breakdown is Potholes up to 50% of the 18% or 9%; CalMac 25-35% or 6%, A9 dualing 10-20% or 4% and others 10-15% or 2%. So, at worst, only 94% of voters will not consider the ferries when voting. Footnote – OCD prof predicted to keep wasting his time, despite the above, defending CalMac, … Continue reading CalMac ‘concerns’ predicted to have almost no effect on Holyrood election result despite media carpet bombing
Talking-up Scotland 