According to the ONS, the UK has lost 993 000 days to strikes in the public sector, mainly in health and education, since Labour came to power in July 2024.1 In the same period, Scotland had no public sector strikes other than in HE/FE2, thus almost all of the above were lost in England & Wales. Why? In summary, Scotland avoided major disruptions in core public services like health and schools, with no national strikes occurring—all were negotiated away. However, the university sector saw repeated localized strikes (e.g., 9+ days at Edinburgh in 2025, 26+ at Dundee), affecting public-sector staff … Continue reading Swinney beats Starmer by 100 to 1 on days not lost to public sector strikes

In the Guardian today: Longer sentences, overcrowding and inexperienced staff cited as factors in ‘rising tensions’ in prisons Notorious prisoners such as the Soham killer Ian Huntley are facing increasingly violent attacks from inmates with “nothing to lose”, the head of the Prison Governors’ Association has said. Tom Wheatley, the president of the PGA, which represents governors in England and Wales, said those serving lengthy sentences or whole-life tariffs in high-security institutions had “no fear” of being given additional time in prison, and could earn status by singling out famous child murderers and paedophiles. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/13/governors-warn-of-increasing-violence-of-nothing-to-lose-inmates-attacking-notorious-prisoners The Daily Record in July … Continue reading As English prison governors warn of increasing violence of ‘nothing-to-lose’ inmates attacking notorious prisoners why assaults on prison officers in England & Wales are nearly THREE times as frequent as in Scotland

By Liz S In more news to disappoint Labour in Scotland and Labour HQ, including Daniel J , Anas S and Sir Keir Starmer……….. BBC website : Second story (for now) on Scotland main page Top story (for now) on Scottish Politics page. “Teachers’ union calls off strikes after workload deal” “Strike action planned for schools in six Scottish council areas next week has been called off after a deal on teacher workload was agreed” “Scotland’s largest teaching union, the EIS, had planned walkouts across two days at schools in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, Dundee, Fife, Perth and Kinross and Moray”. … Continue reading Despair for BBC Scotland and Labour as Scottish Government avoids yet another strike to keep ‘clean sheet’ unique in the UK

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON This will get me more than the usual level of whitabootery complaints and, of course, I agree that any violence against NHS staff is utterly unacceptable but voters are entitled to know which party has reduced it most. Some, too, will say, that’s nothing to do with the SNP but if they do ask them ‘What if it had gone up, who’d be to blame then?’ Anyhow, the Guardian today has: The health service’s 2025 staff survey found that one … Continue reading Voters are entitled to know which party has reduced violence against NHS staff the most before they vote – 30% in Scotland after nearly two decades of….