In the Guardian today, the above and a report which, of course, does not tell you how well, relatively, Scotland is doing with restoring the natural environment. In Scotland: At present, only 18% of Scotland’s landmass met the 30% restoration target that the Scottish and UK governments agreed to in the Kunming declaration on tackling the biodiversity crisis in 2021. 1 In England, for example? Government draft 30×30 criteria and mapping published in December 2023 concluded 8.5% of English land counted towards the 30% target. 2 Not in the (our) public interest? Sources: Continue reading Scotland ‘only’ restores TWICE as much of natural environment as England does but we’re ‘resting on our laurels?’

Headlining in the Herald and with Con MSP Brian Whittle to comment, has today: Price of children’s swimming lessons jumps 24 per cent in six years – Councils across Scotland have increased the cost of swimming lessons in recent years, with cash-strapped authorities desperate to find savings. One MSP warned that the price hike could stop children from getting access to pools and ultimately impact the mental and physical health of the nation. They never tire of adding up do they? They should have tried 70 years. Under a Tory government, me an my pals (12-14) could go to ‘the Baths’ … Continue reading Herald and Brian Whittle reveal fury as cost of swimming lessons go up by less than inflation….eh what…less….Brian?

Most recent 3 polls from 4 December 2024 to 13 January 2025, average SNP lead is 15%. Previous 3 polls from 10 September 2024 to 15 November 2024, SNP lead is 5%. Previous 3 polls from 20 August 2024 to 5 September 2024, SNP lead is 3.7%. Previous 3 polls from 21 June 2024 to 26 June 2024, Labour lead is 1%. Previous 3 polls from 3 June 2024 to 14 June 2024, Labour lead is 0.7%. Clusters of polls are more reliable than single polls often with quite small samples so these five 3-poll clusters offer a clearer picture … Continue reading Holyrood 2026 – SNP’s lead widening steadily

From Affordable Housing Supply Programme: out-turn report – 2022 to 2023, published today, in 2022/2023, there were 8 081 social rent completions, new builds, funded by the Scottish Government, in Scotland, up from 1 048, the previous year.1 Social rent is usually less than what you’d pay a private landlord for a similar property. It is typically about 50% of the local market rent. Affordable rent, on the other hand, can be up to 80% of what a private landlord normally charges Sources: Continue reading More news you won’t hear – 800% increase in social rent completions in one year

Professor John Robertson OBA From Minister for Housing correspondence and empty homes statistics: FOI release published today, we can see that in 2024, there were 65 144 empty second homes, down 7 % from 70 278 in 2023 and 43 538 properties empty for 6 months, down 7% from 46 217 in 2023. This change is largely due to: Powers enabling Councils in Scotland to apply either, a 50% Council Tax discount, the standard rate, or an up to 100% council tax premium (double the rate) on second homes came into force in April 2024. 30 local authorities have introduced the premium in … Continue reading News you won’t hear – SNP legislation slashes second home ownership and empty properties in just one year

Professor John Robertson OBA From Threats and Extortion recorded crime statistics: FOI release, published today, we see that crimes of ‘threats and extortion’ have fallen dramatically in Scotland, from 2 612 in the year ending September 2023, to 1 869 in the year ending September 2024, a 28.4% fall in only one year. Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202400442643/ Support Scots Independent, Scotland’s oldest pro-independence newspaper and host of the OBA (Oliver Brown Award) at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/shop/ The Oliver Brown Award for advancing the cause of Scotland’s self respect, previously awarded to Dr Philippa Whitford, Alex Salmond and Sean Connery: https://scotsindependent.scot/?page_id=116 About Oliver Brown, the first Scottish National Party candidate to save his deposit in a Parliamentary … Continue reading News you won’t hear – Threats and Extortion crimes plummet by 28% in 2024