Early this morning, BBC 1 were out in Winchester, 135 cases per 100 000, to ask: What’s the reaction [to the full lockdown] been in towns where infection rates have been relatively low? The reaction was mixed, from a sense of injustice to a weary acceptance. The readers of the Daily Mail there are unlikely to be encouraged to be compliant: North Lanarkshire had 144 cases in the last 24 hours and with a population of 340 000, that’s 34 per 100 000. Only a few days ago, we heard that Lanarkshire just missed going into Level 4. I’m not … Continue reading ‘Low’ in Winchester but ‘high’ in Wishaw?

It couldn’t be more clear. The Glasgow and surrounding counties restrictions on movement and hospitality, begun 6 weeks ago, even with the campus surges (what happened to those?), are working. In just over a week the infection rate per 1 million has fallen from 265 to 217 and it’s clearly still falling unlike that in England. The increase in the level of infection in the other three nations is between 60% and nearly 100% higher. Surely this is the moment to show what we can do, to reject association with a Tory crisis and thus further the cause of independence? … Continue reading Is the furlough money enough to justify another lockdown in Scotland

Nicola Sturgeon’s approval rating among young women is higher than among young men but is lowest among older women, lower than among older men. I can’t find the poll telling this, but I have seen it. The vitriolic hatred of some women for other women seems to surpass that of men for other men (source below). What is certain is than one woman, Susan Dalgety of the Scotsman, will attack the First Minister in a more visceral way than any male writer I can remember. Former Adviser to Jack McConnell and Labour Councillor, Susan Dalgety. is one the Scotsman’s attack … Continue reading Former Jack McConnell aide goes too far in attack on Nicola Sturgeon

In the Herald: SCOTTISH Conservative leader Douglas Ross will call on the UK Government to commit to restarting furlough if a Scottish national lockdown becomes necessary. In a speech tomorrow, Mr Ross will also say that the handling of the coronavirus pandemic has put devolution to the test and “exposed its weakest points.” He will insist the UK Government “must treat Scotland the same way as England”. In the Daily Record yesterday (31st): The Government will extend furlough payments at 80% for the duration of the new national lockdown measures in England, Boris Johnson has said. The Prime Minister said, during a Downing Street press conference, that he … Continue reading Ross to ask Sunak to confirm furlough for Scots which he already did yesterdAY!

From the Herald of Doom‘s own Health Crisis Correspondent: DENTAL leaders have questioned why routine NHS treatment is being restarted amid a spike in coronavirus, as they warned that patients should not expect a return to normality. Dentists told the Herald on Sunday that NHS waiting times are “going to shoot through the roof” amid a cap on patient numbers, and that six-monthly check ups are unlikely to ever return. Who are these dental leaders? Well it’s Phil Taylor, ‘Dean’ of the Royal College of Surgeons and David McColl, ‘chair’ of the British Dental Association’s (BDA) Scottish Dental Committee. Wow! I … Continue reading Sick to the back teeth of the ‘Herald of Doom’ and ‘Dental Leaders?’

This year’s virtual Lib Dem conference had a big increase in ‘attendance‘ up from virtually a handful last year. Using this year’s new counting algorithm from Cambuslang Analytics, a figure of 28 was achieved by counting any device just left on and estimating 3 family members for each, who may have caught a few seconds of Rennie, in passing. A survey by YouGub for The Tusker found that the most common question asked by those family members was ‘Who?‘ The researchers also found that when participants were asked which party leader said ‘Put education at heart of Covid recovery‘, 99% … Continue reading Larger than usual Lib Dem conference backs SNP policy on Schools

From the Construction Index yesterday: The findings of the new Workload Trends Survey conducted by CECA Scotland were in sharp contrast to the rest of Great Britain, where activity has continued to fall in the post lockdown period. Workloads rose in Q3, according to 39% of Scottish firms, on balance, following a decline (-35%) in Q2. More at: https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/civils-workloads-rebound-in-scotland No explanation is offered. Perhaps a reader in this area knows? Continue reading Civil engineering projects up only in Scotland

The Herald announces: A further 24 coronavirus deaths have been confirmed in the last 24 hours in Scotland. Daily figures released from the Scottish government revealed the deaths from the virus, pushing the death toll to 2,843 ​​​​​. In the last day, 1101 people tested positive for the virus. Of the new cases, 374 were in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 317 in Lanarkshire, 121 in Lothian and 84 in Ayrshire and Arran. As of midnight last night, 1149 were in hospital, with 80 in intensive care. The Herald never tires of telling us: There’s little quality in the above. What’s happening? Are things … Continue reading Yes but what does it mean?

As England, let down again by political hesitancy, moves toward a fulllockdown, the Scottish Government seems to have the steered the ship into calmer waters. The infection rate has been falling consistently since the 26th October. Any fall in the death rate tends to lag several weeks behind falls in the infection rate. Hospital admissions tend to lag up to a week behind positive tests and have been climbing fast since the end of September, then slowing from mid October, before plateauing. The trend suggests a fall in a few days or weeks. ICU cases had also been climbing fast … Continue reading Steady as we go

Should I have better things to do? Probably. Any, what’s the evidence for Rennie’s optimism? Is it this? Clear in 4th place and losing support over the last year’s polls, from 9-12%, in September 2019 to 6-8% today. Is it their supporters approving of Nicola Sturgeon so much? From Opinium, based on responses from 5th May: To what extent do you approve or disapprove of …The way Nicola Sturgeon is handling her job as Leader of the SNP: Con 22% (20%) Lab 52% (46%) Lib Dem 55% (56%) SNP 86% (83%) https://www.opinium.co.uk/public-opinion-on-coronavirus-5th-may/ What is it then? Continue reading Oh Leave Him Alone!