From Douglas Fraser of the BBC, two days ago: Unemployment in Scotland is down, while it has risen in the rest of the UK. The monthly figures on the jobs market tell us the share of the adult population in Scotland searching for a job between March and May was down to 3.7%, while it was up to 4.7% across the UK. Now I now that it’s only 1% higher, crudely, but that’s 1% of around 4 000 000 adults in Scotland, 40 000 people. 1 as a percentage of 3.7 is 27%. What’s the stuff about employment figures not … Continue reading After 18 years, unemployment in UK 27% higher than in Scotland

By stewartb The Mull cafe owner who won’t be able to bid for between £3k and £35k of taxpayer-funded business support grant, seems to be questioning the analysis of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in setting eligibility criteria for the Scottish Government’s new £4.4m business support scheme, the Island Resilience Fund. For more on the Island Resilience Fund (30 June 2025): – see https://www.gov.scot/news/island-resilience-fund-opens/ This explains: ‘‘A funding package developed to support island businesses affected by ferry disruption is now ready to accept applications. … Eligible sectors include those that rely on tourism and those that are engaged in the manufacture or movement … Continue reading The Mull cafe owner and the Scottish Government’s Island Resilience Fund criteria

Professor John Robertson OBA From the Scotsman, six days ago, the above and: A protest will be held this weekend on the Isle of Mull over the state of the lifeline ferry service, with Scottish ministers accused of not “listening”. The Mull and Iona Ferry Committee announced it is planning a mass demonstration protesting the state of the ferry service to Mull and Iona. The demonstration will take place on Sunday at Craignure on the Isle of Mull The protest is the initiative of local businesswoman [cafe owner] Michelle Devlin. She said the “final straw” before staging the protest was the Scottish … Continue reading Mull cafe owner’s mass protest turnout threatened by nearly 90% of 2 800 locals being satisfied with their CalMac ferry service and the conveniently under-used car decks

Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Science & Environment today, the above and: Serious pollution incidents by water companies have risen 60% in a year, according to the Environment Agency. In total there were 2,801 pollution incidents in England in 2024, the highest on record, compared with 2,174 in 2023. Of these, 75 were considered to pose “serious or persistent” harm to fisheries, drinking water and human health – up from 47 last year. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg5zl75dmm0o ‘Serious’ incidents such as these in Scotland are apparent from the imposition of fines on Scottish Water or other users, by the regulator Sepa. In … Continue reading English water boards typically release harmful pollution between 47 (4.7 pro rata) and 76 (7.6 pro rata) times as frequently as Scottish Water

Professor John Robertson OBA John Boothman, was moved aside from BBC Scotland Head of News in 2015, after bullying Zoe MacDonald, a BBC Scotland camerawoman, the daughter of Margo MacDonald SNP MSP and icon. He was/is married to Susan Deacon, a former Labour MSP and Health Minister at Holyrood and is said to have offered media training to Labour Party wannabe politicians.  Now a regular gammon with the Times, kind of like Macwhirter at the Spectator, here he is today: It’s an astonishing piece which equates the ability to spend more than your competitors because they, unlike you, depend upon the relatively small … Continue reading Disgraced former BBC Scotland chief reveals anti-democratic sentiments in line with Labour family