It’s clear from rare Scottish mainstream media coverage such as the Sunday Post report above, nearly 5 years ago, and a few mentions in Daily Record, Courier and Evening Standard since then, that ‘County Lines’ or ‘Top Boys’ drug gangs based in larger English cities have penetrated most of Scotland’s small towns, increasing access to illegal drugs at low cost and terrorising locals with a level of violence beyond that of any local groups. See more on this at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2023/06/30/why-are-scotlands-national-media-not-reporting-the-terror-of-english-county-lines-gangs-in-scotland/ Yet, in the last few days, the riots following the burning of two selected houses in Auchinleck and Cumnock, have … Continue reading British ‘Top Boy’ gangs are a cancerous but secret presence terrorising small town Scotland

British Columbia Ferries’ 16 year-old, German-built MV Coastal Renaissance has broken down for the second time to put further pressure on a service which enables large numbers of Canadians to return to family on the many islands around Vancouver, at the busiest time of the year. The relatively young vessel suffered engine failure in August 2023 and had been expected to return to service in October. The withdrawal caused lengthy waits for travellers throughout the summer period [above]. However, a new engine problem means the Renaissance is out again and the MV Coastal Celebration will be required to help at … Continue reading One of newest ferries breaks down again to cause chaos at Christmas in Canada already over-charged by corporations

By Leah Gunn Barrett In today’s conflict-ridden world, an advantage of an independent Scotland would be the ability to control its foreign policy. As part of the failing UK, not only is Scotland out of the Single Market, but it’s part of an expansionist, war-mongering NATO, is forced to pay for and keep the UK’s nuclear arsenal on its soil, and is contributing to the UK’s funding of the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts.  The UK’s imperial mentality spawned this disastrous situation. The first rule of empire is to divide and conquer because you assume your neighbour is your enemy. Scotland … Continue reading The UK’s imperial mentality

Polling for elections is inevitably subjective but a look at sampling often reveals underlying biases. I’m grateful to Independent Voices (https://t.co/JI3hr4wNKa) for confirming my suspicions. The most recent Ipsos MORI polls gives yes a 54% to 46% lead. Independent Voices has already noted that polls that use the 2014 referendum suppress the Yes vote consistently. The recent Ipsos MORI poll bases its sample, in the light of demographic change including more young Yes voters entering the electorate and dying out older No voters, on 402 Yes voters, 370 No voters and 193 new voters. Contrast this with Savanta for the … Continue reading Why the latest poll giving a Yes lead is more accurate

Since my previous report on this, I’ve had numerous contacts telling me the Ayrshire riots were against drug gangs based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, Britain. Calling them ‘English’ seems to have offended some. One wrote: I live in Cumnock, next town along, about a mile from Auchinleck. The protests were local communities rallying against drug dealing gangs “cuckooing” in the houses of people in the area. Auchinleck, Cumnock and Catrine I have heard specifically. These gangs are purported to be from the Bradford area. Some of the things they are alleged to have done are, giving young girls drugs then … Continue reading Locals confirm Ayrshire riots were against British drug gangs who abused under-age girls

Skeptics and those determined to deny the SNP Government any credit have looked at the plummeting graph of crimes reported by the police in Scotland and responded with suggestions that the fall is due to a reduced police presence or fakery by the statisticians. Crime figures based only on police reporting do understate the actual level of crime and so we need to find out what people will report to independent researchers about their own experience of crime in their communities. The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) is based on 5 600 face-to-face interviews. This is a very large … Continue reading Confirmed – police reporting AND public opinion both reveal massive fall in crime since SNP came to power

From the Seattle Times yesterday: When I became a San Juan Islander in the late 1970s, the Washington ferries were a world marvel. Countless magazine articles extolled the ships. I remember a National Geographic piece describing people flying kites off a ferry stern. Seeing a green-and-white ferry pull into the dock took your breath away. Today the ships are rust-streaked and embarrassing. The metal deck plates on some boats creak and wobble underfoot. Who knows what the girders hidden beneath look like, much less the engines. The galleys are closed as often as not, and dispensing machines have handwritten out-of-order signs taped … Continue reading Rust-streaked and embarrassing ferries, decks creak and wobble underfoot in world’s richest economy

Thanks to cuckooshoe for this. Above from Spice (Scottish Parliament) today. Council tax reminder: Continue reading What has the SNP ever done for us – Free prescriptions and tuition fees and lowest council tax plus the highest wages in the UK

Look at that middle column and admire the success of the Scottish Government in handling potentially live-threatening labour disputes in the health sector. Many lives saved. Look at that middle column and admire the success of the Scottish Government in handling potentially career-threatening labour disputes in the education sector. Many futures saved. You’d think BBC Scotland researchers and Conor Matchett at the Scotsman, would have this on their favourites list. Doesn’t look like it does it? Continue reading Scotland – An impressive but invisible in the media industrial action backwater

Again, thanks to Dorothy for alerting me to this: While, I’m sure the BMA Scotland and the BBC would love to just conclude ‘Police Scotland are investigating 10 cases..’ using that fine grasp of sums and zero grasp of statistics they regularly reveal, how many cases in Scotland can I actually find? Zero, zilch, diddly. No one is reporting this. Of course, I may be missing one. Do tell if I have but searches of Police scotland medical negligence cases just gets my Lucy Letby and Sussex! Wait! Those Glasgow hospital baby deaths, surely. Well Police Scotland did launch an … Continue reading 105 police investigations of negligence in one English hospital and none at all in Scotland