In a long report, headlining on BBC Breakfast and online:
An independent review launched after up to 15 babies died at a hospital trust will be published later. The report into maternity services at East Kent Hospitals, which is expected to be “harrowing”, examined up to 200 cases involving mothers and babies.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-62899900
A politician is mentioned. In the second-last paragraph, only this:
Nadine Dorries, the former minister for patient safety, announced in February 2020 that the review at East Kent would be held.
No opposition party criticism is allowed. Only the Trust is blamed.
BBC Wales also does not politicise health stories but concentrates criticism on those actually responsible – the trusts. See: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2022/08/14/once-again-bbc-wales-reveals-bbc-scotlands-institutional-bias-against-scotland/
In Scotland, the BBC does things differently and almost always politicises a story, calling of the Health Secretary to comment and giving the opposition parties space to criticise with unchecked assertions: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2021/09/20/as-the-proxy-war-on-the-snp-goes-for-the-health-tactic-again/
The images, unique here, are familiar to regulars here:
Talking-up Scotland 
Strangely so. Now imagine that was in Scotland.
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Exactly, and the same applies to the current shitshow in Westminster – if it was Holyrood the calls for the SNP govt to resign or be kicked out would be deafening.
Slightly off topic I followed up a link I spotted on Twitter today and selected the following quotes from the British ruling classes at the time of the Irish famine which they could have prevented. Not sure that the current Tory government is much better, certainly few signs of “compassionate conservatism” on display at the moment and the Charles Wood/Trevalyn comments would fit nicely into the Tufton St ideology
“Rotten potatoes and sea-weed, or even grass, properly mixed, afforded a very wholesome and nutritious food. All knew that Irishmen could live upon anything and there was plenty of grass in the field though the potato crop should fail.” – The Duke Of Cambridge, January 1846
“What has brought them, in great measure at least, to their present state of helplessness? Their habit of depending on government. What are we trying to do now? To force them upon their own resources. Of course they mismanage matters very much.” – Sir Charles Wood, December 1846
“It is my opinion that too much has been done for the people. Under such treatment the people have grown worse instead of better, and we must now try what independent exertion can do.” – Charles Trevelyan, 1847
“The land in Ireland is infinitely more peopled than in England; and to give full effect to the natural resources of the country, a great part of the population should be swept from the soil.” – Thomas Malthus
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These statements are eerily similar to the statements and actions/inactions of many Scottish landlords in 1846, particularly the owners of Hebridean Isles like Col. John Gordon of Cluny (who owned Barra, Benbecula and South Uist) when potato blight wiped out the staple food of the people. For anyone who is unaware of the 1846 Scottish famine Prof James Hunter’s book “Insurrection -Scotland’s Famine Winter” gives an amazing amount of information. It’s not an easy read but, for me, it filled in a huge gap in my 1950’s education.
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Sickening isn’t it? And sadly the same contempt for other nations or the poor are just as evident today whether it’s Jake Berry saying people should get a second job if they can’t make ends meet on one, or the outright scorn for SNP and trade union opinions and actions.
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In his first question at PMQT, Ian Blackford asked the PM to “commit to raising the state pension at the rate of inflation.”
Prior to PMQT there was speculation the PM would abandon the pension triple lock.
The BBC made her response their main headline.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-63309400
“Truss tells MPs she will raise pensions in line with inflation.”
Their article says (although the BBC might change it later)
“Prime Minister Liz Truss has faced MPs in her first Prime Minister’s Questions since being forced to ditch her flagship tax cuts from the mini-budget
At the end of her clash with Starmer, Truss said she was “completely committed” to raising pensions in line with inflation, per the “triple lock” guarantee
She did not make the same commitment for benefits when asked by a Tory MP if she could”
The BBC may not give Mr Blackford the credit for asking her the question, and in obtaining the commitment, but I will.
Well done Mr Blackford!
But, will the Tories keep their promise?
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From 12.15pm (BBC Live report on page 2)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-63309400/page/2
“The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford says it’s “not just pensioners feeling pain,” listing increases in inflation, mortgage rates and energy bills.
“Why does she expect anyone else to pay the price for her failure?”
In response, Truss says she does not think Blackford can take yes for an answer as she has been clear they are protecting the triple lock on pensions.
She then went on to criticise Blackford, accusing him of pushing for division between the union.”
The BBC has totally ignored the best question of the day, Mr Blackford’s first question and the PM’s response to it.
The PM’s response quoted above, was in response to Ian Blackford’s second question, when he raised the issue of an increase in pension in line with inflation amongst other things. Perhaps it was done so the PM repeat her answer so there could be no doubt.
It is thanks to Mr Blackford the Tories are committed to increasing pensions in line with inflation.
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Politics aside for a moment. The situation in maternity care in NHS England is horrendous. Multiple baby deaths going back years in Trust after Trust by and large ignored until recently. Think of the misery and pain of those families and that pain will never diminish. Something has gone very seriously wrong. Will it be addressed properly and fixed. There seems to be something in the mindset of the medics & midwives in charge that has contributed to this situation arising in the first place and continuing for so long. It may be the case that it is not just changes to hospital procedures that are required but changes to training too.
This today in the Guardian. The numbers of babies who died or were damaged in some way are horrific.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/oct/19/east-kent-nhs-trust-might-have-avoided-45-baby-deaths-with-better-care-inquiry-says
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