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Sir Ewan Brown, above, retired merchant banker and Church of Scotland Assembly member, currently writing for Sir Jack McConnel’s Enlighten think tank is in the Herald today with:

Scotland’s health service is a “colossal and complex behemoth” overseeing nearly £20 billion of public money without proper scrutiny, one of the country’s most senior business figures has warned.

https://talkingupscotlandtwo.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=115983&action=edit

The report is barely 2 A4, utterly devoid of evidence (not one source), an uncalled for opinion piece from a past-it non-academic, justifying an attack on key principles with unacceptable pro-Labour critique including:

should dental and ophthalmic services continue to operate free to all at the point of contact?  
should free prescriptions be continued for all and free access to consultative services offered under General Pharmaceutical Services through the Minor Ailments Service?

https://www.enlighten.scot/nhs2048/managing-reform-sir-ewan-brown/

This is an un-referenced hit job on behalf of Labour and offering nothing of use to policy makers in Scotland. and not the first time that McConnel’s no-thought-tank has sought to deceive us on behalf of his Union:

Rt Hon Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale’s thinktank tries to hide entirely English culture of County Lines drug gang ‘cuckooing’ plague in Scotland

Regulars here will recognise the rarely enlightening thinktank headed up by Lord McConnell, Chris Deerin and their totally non-academic, guide-leader, BBC average housewife interviewee, Research Director, Alison Payne.

Today, they have the above and:

The recent passage of a new criminal offence of cuckooing within the Crime and Policing Act marks a significant milestone after years of sustained advocacy by the Centre for Social Justice and Justice and Care. It is a reform grounded not in theory, but in the lived experience of some of the most vulnerable individuals across the UK.

Cuckooing, sometimes described as “forced home invasion”, occurs when criminals take over the home of a vulnerable person and use it for illegal activity, often drug dealing or exploitation. Victims are frequently targeted because of addiction, poor mental health, disability, or social isolation. What begins as manipulation or grooming can quickly escalate into coercion, intimidation and, in some cases, violence.

For Scotland, the implications are particularly important. While cuckooing has often been associated with urban “county lines” activity in England, evidence suggests it is a growing issue across all communities, including in Scotland. Its impact extends beyond individual victims to neighbours and local areas, bringing anti-social behaviour, intimidation and wider community harm. https://www.enlighten.scot/cuckooing-recognising-a-hidden-crime-and-the-challenge-for-scotland/

You might think this ‘growing issue’ is growing among Scots but it’s not. It’s a ‘spreading issue’ and English-born enforcers arrive in Scotland from cities in England to implement cuckooing culture here.

In the Inverness Courier in 2025 but with not a peep from the local BBC folk, far less those at Pacific Quay:

English drug gangs are targeting vulnerable Highlanders with increasing ruthlessness amid a rising tide of drug-related violence, exploitation and abuse. Latest figures in a 24-page Police Scotland performance report for the north division’s Highland area show a marked increase in drug supply offences for the year 2024/25.

The new data shows that in 2024/25 there were 178 offences, a rise of 34 on the previous year. Within the report, the human cost locally is highlighted with ‘cuckoo-ing’ – where criminals take over the home of a vulnerable person to store and deal drugs in county lines activity – highlighted as a favoured tactic.

The report highlights how Highland children, as well as vulnerable adults, were being used by the violent gangs.

https://mailchi.mp/c1c24e9b1f97/gangs-target-vulnerable-highlanders-amid-rise-in-drug-offences?e=ff16de8436

The County Lines gang plague is everywhere in Scotland from Caithness to Dumfriesshire. It’s entirely ‘based’ in England. It’s being reported by tabloids and local press but ignored by BBC Scotland, STV, the Herald and the Scotsman. It’s to blame for the stubbornly high drugs death rate in Scotland.

This is a clear agenda based on an editorial edict to avoid narratives damaging to the reputation of the Union.

Imagine drug gangs based in Scottish cities were active in this way across England, the media coverage and the political rants against us.

Finally, cuckooing (taking over vulnerable people’s homes) has roots in the mid-2000s in England, linked to crack house closures displacing dealers, who then targeted vulnerable locals. It became strongly tied to county lines post-2015. ¹ It built on earlier drug dealing patterns but scaled with mobile phone technology, exploitation of vulnerable people/children as runners, and tactics like cuckooing for bases. Major English hubs (London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, etc.) are frequently cited as sources. ²

Sources:

1. https://pure.manchester.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/345706436/Beyond_the_Line_Final_Report_-_White_Version_.pdf
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_lines_drug_trafficking

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Help Talking-up Scotland keep going

Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going

Or by Direct Bank Transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421