You won’t be surprised to hear how in May 2024, campaigning for Labour, there was not a word, from Gordon Brown, this Labour Party elder, of Scotland’s far lower child poverty nor of how the SNP’s child payment is leading to its disappearance in Scotland, nor of Labour’s refusal to end the cruel two-child benefit cap, if elected.
Maybe the Archbishop would mention poverty in Scotland and the Child Benefit? Not a word.
It turns out the Bishop of Leicester too had a piece in the Guardian. He doesn’t know about Scotland either, it seems, but does mention Labour, if only in the very last sentence:
This is a policy which, if the government, and indeed the Labour party which has avoided committing to reversing it [the cruel two-child cap], dared (or cared) to look, is as short-sighted as it is unfair. Ending it, and so immediately lifting half a million children above the breadline, should be a priority for any party wanting to be recognised for its reasonableness as well as its compassion in the upcoming election.
What about Torsten Bell, Chief Exec of the Resolution Foundation thinktank then? He’s a researcher. He must have had a look around. In his We can easily end child poverty in the UK. Here are five things to know you’d think he might have spotted the Child Payment.
Nope, not a word on Scotland and only romantic nostalgia about how the last Labour Government did.
The Observer view editorial? Not a word on Scotland. Just a bit of encouragement for Sir Keir.
For the facts on child poverty, see: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2024/01/26/protective-effect-of-devolved-policies-child-poverty-rates-in-scotland-24-remain-much-lower-than-those-in-england-31-and-wales-28the-protective-effect-of-devolv/
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/may/18/end-child-poverty-uk-five-things-to-know
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Talking-up Scotland 
Another one about Lab in Scotland.
Scottish Labour opposes the Scottish Government’s reliance on new GP walk-in clinics, arguing instead for strengthening core local services
I now read that the new PM is speaking about having them in England,what now Lab in Scotland.
Another one.
£5000 fee to stand as Scottish Labour leader blasted as ‘scam’
Maybe Sarwar could foot the bill.
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”The noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees , is the high road that leads him to to England !”
It would appear that Dr Johnson’s view of Scotland is alive and kicking among unionists of all political persuasions today . In their blinkered minds , nothing good can emerge from Scotland .
What sad people they are !
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Johnson is one of those Englishmen that Scots love to hate.
I can’t stand Boswell either though. Another cringeworthy suck up.
Incidentally, nothing above should suggest that I’m anti-English. It’s only ignorant people I have no time for.
not Anonymous. John Lawson
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The people in Scotland have noticed. They support the policy. They support SNP and Independence. Another quote, ‘Suffer the little children to come up to me’. Mr Brown must be aware of the Church of Scotland. Deliberately breaking the Commandments. Going to uni too soon. A career politician.
Unionists illegal wars bombing the world to bits. Causing poverty and destruction all around. Blair. Wasteful spending. Enough to end poverty, worldwide.
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’Come on to me’. The unionists who went to uni loan and grant free. Privileged education. Then closed the door so others could not follow. Labour means tested Education. So pupils of households of average earning could not get a loan.
The politicians who went to fee paying private schools. Then publicly funded university. Jumped the queue then pulled up the drawbridge. Thatcher, Blair etc. Privileged.
Oxbridge funded with public monies. 20 to 1 of all other universities. Full of out of touch privileged individuals, promoted above their capabilities. Destroying the world economy. Not decreasing poverty. The Gates, Murdoch, Zuckerberg etc illegal practices. Getting away with murder. You cannot take it with you. All wrapped up in a cardboard box. Hans Godling.
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Talking of Labour…
Daily Record 28 September 2025.
“A senior Labour MSP has told wannabe party leader Andy Burnham to “shut up” amid speculation he plans to launch a bid to topple Keir Starmer”
Guess who the ‘senior’ Labour MSP was?
None other than one of the contenders for the Labour Branch office manager’s post i.e. Michael Marra.
Embarrassing now is it not .
That is , it would be embarrassing for any decent politician .
However for a Labour politician , who now stands in the (supposed) ‘leadership’ contest for Labour in Scotland, it will be be no more than yet another self inflicted humiliating faux pas that will be swept under the (now bulging Labour) carpet.
So then , as a past incident, it will most likely never be referred to again (especially by the media).
However for us it will be hilarious if Marra does indeed win the Labour Branch office manager’s contest.
If that does happen then Burnham should ask Marra if he still wants him to “shut up” , now that he, Burnham, has indeed “toppled Keir Starmer” as the Labour HQ leader.
In fact if Marra does win and so becomes the branch office manager in Scotland then he will have to squirm and pledge allegiance to Burnham as Labour HQ’s new boss.
To make matters worse , that is WORSE FOR MARRA , he will also have to then say how great Burnham is as the new Labour HQ boss/PM .
This past situation where Marra had previously opened his big gob in 2025 to chastise Burnham tells you that he, just like Anas Sarwar, is completely useless as a politician.
No political savvy at all.
I mean surely with everything that was happening with Starmer, including his lack of popularity with the public, then any canny and insightful politician would have seen that the writing was on the wall as far as Starmer’s future leadership hopes being sustained.
So if Marra wins, then straight from the off , he will be seen as being in a really embarrassing position based on what he previously said to the now new PM , Andy Burnham , i.e. he told him to “Shut up”.
It would be even more delicious to get to hear his reasons for being so RUDE and DISMISSIVE (Ha Ha) to Burnham, just for him to try to save face.
Seems to me that Michael Marra did not like Andy Burnham, as why would Marra be so quick to call him out.
If Marra does win then I am sure Andy Burnham will be absolutely delighted Ha Ha.
We also hear that Jackie Baillie is behind Joe Fagan (scary) , as she thinks that we the public will assume that as he has no (supposed) political baggage as a ‘new face’ (new MSP) for Labour at Holyrood , so then she will (wrongly) assume that will then somehow make him seem like a better candidate.
Well I read Fagan’s Wikipedia page and some of it , for me, did not make comfortable reading, nor I am sure would it be comfortable for him to read either nor for the Labour party to read.
As it seems that he, Fagan, does indeed have some historical political baggage.
I mean of course he does , after all he is a Labour politician. (they all have political baggage , that is once you do some research on them).
Now I see that The National has a story on Joe Fagan (Jackie’s candidate), with a headline that states:
“Labour leadership hopeful presided over ‘severe bullying’ Councillor claims” (the Councillor who states this is a fellow Labour Councillor) – and this story backs up what was written on Fagan’s Wikipedia page.
So basically both Marra and Fagan are now somewhat tainted by their past, not surprised as that is what you always get with Labour.
(The clue with Fagan was the fact that Jackie Baillie was backing him, so that confirmed to me that there just had to be some (alleged) dodgy story to relate about him and his political past).
Labour are such an awful party, at all levels.
Liz S
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