The tragic news of another death by stabbing of a 16 year-old in London on New Year’s Eve is not being reported comparatively in the way that drug deaths are.
Regardless of falling drug deaths in Scotland, Scottish and UK media and opposition politicians continue to feast greedily on comparisons with the rest of the UK or Europe.
In the last few months:
Drug-related deaths in Scotland lie squarely at the feet of Nicola Sturgeon Labour List
Scotland drug deaths decrease – but rate still higher than rest of Europe Sky News
Scottish Labour demands SNP take action on drug deaths Morning Star
Scotland records largest fall in drug deaths but rate still 2.7 times UK average Guardian
So, comparing the rUK or Europe with Scotland is a useful thing to do it seems?
So, we’ll want to know how death by stabbing compares with Con-run England and Labour-run Wales?
According to Public Health Scotland but not being covered in ‘our’ media, there were 21 homicides as a result of an assault with a sharp object in 2021/2022.
In the same period, there were 282 cases in England & Wales.
All things being equal, with 11 times the population, England & Wales might have been expected to have had 231 cases but had 51, or 22%, more.
Sources:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/978830/knife-homicides-in-england-and-wales/
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
I have thought for some time that this should be pointed out each time Scotland is slated for drug deaths but I guess we would then be accused of whataboutery. Noone wants to seem gleeful about the grief and loss of young lives to stabbing, pity the same doesn’t apply to drug deaths
On the plus side the guardian had a mostly positive article by severin Carroll yesterday on community buyouts. The more other parts of the UK can see the good stuff that can happen with political will and support the more they should look at what’s happening in their areas and maybe start rethink their votes at the next election
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