Infection rates for this variant of Covid were as great here as in any other part of the UK. As Scotland’s Covid infection level fell again to the lowest in the UK, the Conservatives are allowed to repeat inaccurate statistics, lies really, by BBC Scotland, unchallenged. In a trail going back to early in the month, the confirmed recorded data are ignored. You can see that after a period of lower infections in Scotland from October 2021, the Scottish Government, in mid-December, could see that the level was climbing sharply and put in place stricter measures than in England. They … Continue reading Clear proof that Scottish Government’s Covid measures worked

The National understandably enthusing but sort of ignoring a 50/50 result despite Partygate. However, looking at the polls going back to the beginning of 2021, Savanta Com Res often with the Scotsman stand out. They report 1 Yes win, 9 No wins and 2 ties after the Ipsos MORI 9% win for Yes in November. No other pollster is so good at finding NO wins. In the same period, Panelbase had 4 Yes and 6 NO. Ipsos MORI had 3 Yes, 0 No and 1 Tie. What’s going on? Sampling biases? Continue reading 50/50 from Savanta/Scotsman is good

80 miles for treatment after the area’s health board didn’t manage to recruit a specialist medic. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0013pwn/reporting-scotland-lunchtime-news-21012022 80 miles? Dundee to Edinburgh is 61 miles and Dundee to Aberdeen is 66. They’ve had to work hard with Google to get some longer ones. There are, I feel sure, many who travel further and longer. Regular readers will know that NHS Tayside’s breast cancer mortality rate is lower than most in Scotland and that it has the best performing A&E service (98% in 4 hours) in the UK, possibly in the world but, hey, they don’t want you knowing that do … Continue reading Reporting Scotland: A cancerous presence in Scottish media?

Hundreds of women at high risk of breast cancer may have missed screening appointments due to an error by NHS Lothian. Death, cancer, disease, always jumps perkily to the front of the Reporting Scotland agenda even if it’s a ‘may not have been informed’ story at this stage. Readers may remember when they accused NHS Tayside’s oncology department of being dysfunctional but were then shown to have more so themselves, by a St Andrews professor and the data. Here are some facts the Reporting Scotland team did not fancy using: Using the EASR age standardised mortality rate per 100 000 … Continue reading NHS Lothian breast cancer mortality amongst lowest in Scotland

On 7th January, wrote to BBC Complaints: 14 days later, today, I received this astonishing exaplanation: We carried an item lasting just over a minute about official figures relating to neonatal abstinence syndrome. We accurately reported the numbers of such infants notified to the authorities over the previous five years. We also carried what the Scottish Government had to say on the issue, namely that it was investing a further £250M in drug treatment and recovery services and that it was providing support to families to tackle drug use. We also carried a short clip of Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, the … Continue reading Reporting Scotland editor’s feeble excuses and lack of understanding amazes

The PM does not seem to be a sex offender in the strictest sense, maybe a bit of a pest, but for numerous other reasons he should be ejected. The UK Cons seem to be backing off as I write. But in Scotland, those courageous Con MSPs led by their leader, the hybrid MP/MSD, Douglas Ross are charging ahead with their bill to unseat MSPs convicted of a crime or who do not take part in their parliamentary duties. Readers may remember that Derek Mackay was not charged with any crime and that Ruth Davidson was renowned for never fulfilling … Continue reading Irony and inaccuracy overload as Scottish Cons lead campaign to remove offending politicians

BBC Scotland STV Scotland both headline the supposed pressure on the Scottish Government to intervene with a Canadian company to reverse its mandatory vaccine requirement. You have to read to the end of both reports to read this: “Employment law is a reserved matter and the Scottish Government has no direct power to intervene in contractual issues between companies and their employees.” https://news.stv.tv/north/union-brands-offshore-companys-mandatory-vaccine-policy-draconian Continue reading Offshore jags: Employment law is reserved to UK Government

Reporting Scotland’s Westminster Political Correspondent, David Porter, must be part-time given his 2-3 minutes per day, but still doesn’t know that civil servants are by very definition not independent. Ms Sue Gray, second permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office, 40 years in Westminster, charged with telling Boris if he was at a party, is most definitely in with the bricks. Despite that, David Porter tried to tell us she was independent. Words fail. Continue reading Not independent

So the ‘by the end of this session‘ missed from the Herald headline and, of course, a grasp of reality missing from the rest. In August 2021: Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has confirmed discussions with local government are underway to deliver the ambitious commitment, which will benefit 700,000 children. https://www.gov.scot/news/devices-for-700-000-children/ Discussions with local government? Discussions within local government departments? Orders go out? Suppliers deliver? After 40 years in education, I’m pleasantly surprised to hear they’ve actually got some to deliver by this stage. Seven months to go, all discussions done and orders placed. It’s all deliveries now and no real … Continue reading Free computers for schoolkids programme on track

There are, on average, 15 Primary pupils per teacher and 12.5 Secondary pupils per teacher in Scottish schools. In England, there are 21 Primary pupils per teacher and 16 for every Secondary teacher. So, the workload in England is around 33% higher. That’ll be a real ‘crisis?’ Anyhow, a four day week is the preferred choice by workers, and the bairns too. Who’d have thought? BBC Scotland and the Herald will be ignoring the above data and empathising with the teachers. Then before you know it, they’ll have a hard-pressed mum and Tory activist (not mentioned) shrieking about how impossible … Continue reading A Unionist dilemma