Andrew, Baron Dunlop, remember him? People’s watchdog or government poodle, is a question some in the press used to insist, in their case, meant a tough wee terrier biting at the ankles of the powerful. Conrad Black, Dark Lord of the Telegraph was in little doubt when he said something like: ‘If the little man thinks the press is on his side, then the little man is in more trouble than I realised.’ The Herald used to keep tough wee terriers like Ian Bell and not all of the current pack are fully trimmed poodles but too many run to the hounds. Do poodles … Continue reading Sorry, Andrew, that’s an easy one. I guess you’re no brainbox

That’s an unusual tack. Which ones does she mean? Not these surely: Are we short of good songs, singers? Could she help? Probably not. Continue reading Spiteri shock: Scotland has no resources

Watching ITV (not STV) News tonight I was shocked to see Scotland’s senior politician being grilled over the well-intentioned issue of mobile phones to prisoners during the pandemic, because 728 out of 7 600, less than 10% were hacked so that they could be used for illegal activities. Hands up if you think anything electronic in this world is unhackable? No, me neither. That’s not the point, however. Here’s the point. Why is the FM being dragged in to this? Why not the head of the prison service or the minister directly involved in managing the scheme? Try googling: England … Continue reading Why is most senior politician interrogated over prison phones?

The Express, the Herald, the Scotsman, the Telegraph and the Metro, all gleefully siding with the UK Government’s cavalier dropping of the passport certification to try to undermine the Scottish Government strategy based on scientific advice, get a quick slap from YouGov’s poll today. Based on 3 230 UK adults, we see a strong majority for keeping the plan. BBC Scotland, of course, have no view on this other than to publish evidence: Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser welcomed the UK government’s decision to abandon vaccine passports and said Scotland should now follow suit. “The Scottish government have made a … Continue reading Vaccine passports: The people reject the press view

By reader cuckooshoe ITN News documentary shown on STV last night called ‘Surviving Squalor: Britain’s Housing Shame’. However, it was only the housing situation in England that was reflected in the programme. An article on the programme had this statistic: “Around 1.1 million households are on the the social housing waiting list in England. Last year just one was built for every 175 families that are waiting for one.” This is another way of saying last year only 6,285 social housing homes were built in England I looked up the Scottish Government’s Housing Statistics Scotland Quarterly Update and came across … Continue reading England’s Housing Shame: A story of shocking conditions and tenants’ despair at a lack of action by Tory councils in England

From David Patrick God help us! Another Sunday, and yet another futile intervention from Gordon Brown. (Universal credit payment cut completely unacceptable says Gordon Brown, 5th September). I don’t doubt the sincerity of his motives, but what Mr Brown doesn’t recognise is that, while all recent Conservative governments in London have done their utmost to roll back the welfare state, Scots have already voted in a government in Holyrood committed to retaining and strengthening that welfare state.But, frankly, Mr Brown’s political problems are much bigger than this. It is impossible not to see how far the central axes of politics … Continue reading Gordon lonely!

The story at the beginning, with the source, a Labour-affiliated union, a rep close to Jackie Baillie, feeding BBC Scotland with an uber-Unionist story, devoid of evidence but meat and drink to them. The headline nearly accurate but, really, have the members been consulted? Before you get to see the mention of the union, the headline is shorter and implies perhaps an impartial source. It’s a two-liner so the word ‘Unite‘ would fit in neatly. Why take it out? The Reporting Scotland editor decides to pick it up and make it a big one. What, just a union rep? No, … Continue reading Calls for BBC accuracy

Based on no official data, just on what a trade union convener tells them anecdotally, Reporting Scotland announce: A health service feeling the pressure as Scotland reports almost 4 300 new Covid cases, with 985 patients now in hospital. The union that represents ambulance staff says we’re in a national crisis with their members regularly queuing for three hours at A&E departments. Only one man’s comments. A union leader understandably committed to his members interests, a union, Unite, affiliated to the Labour Party, and no figures at all. Only after all this drama do we get to hear NHS Scotland … Continue reading In a national crisis as cases fall?

Reporting Scotland tonight: There have been calls for the army to be drafted in to help deal with the current pressures on the health service. Ambulance union leaders say their crews are regularly queuing for hours at hospitals. Only one union leader (Jamie McNamee of Unite) appears to call for the army, followed by Gillian Evans of NHS Grampian, the new go-to-woman for BBC Scotland to forecast more doom. Was Prof Bauld getting too positive, too close to the Scot Gov. Where’s Prof Sridhar? Murdo Fraser ban? Unite is the Labour party’s biggest financial backer. Almost every time McNamee appears … Continue reading This is a gross exaggeration of a local problem as 99% are responded to in 30 minutes or less

On Reporting Scotland tonight: Police officers had to take more than 6 000 days off work after being assaulted during the pandemic, according to figures from Police Scotland. The Scottish Conservatives who obtained the figures from a freedom of information request, said the Scottish Government has failed to keep officers safe. The Scottish Government said assaults of police officers are completely unacceptable. The number of days off is up but we don’t get to hear how many officers were assaulted or how many assaults there were. Down? There are 17 283 police officers in Scotland for a population of 5.4 … Continue reading 0.18%