Jimmy Shanks, Labour Councillor, has returned to campaign in Rutherglen, from a holiday in Washington State USA. While there, Jimmy had to be evacuated from the 50 year-old Walla Walla ferry, above, which ran aground due to “gross bacterial and fungal growth” in its fuel supply system, leading to severe fuel filter plugging and loss of power. You can read the full story here: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/fungal-growth-plugged-fuel-filters-on-wsf-ferry-causing-grounding Local media inferred that the vessel’s advanced age was a contributing factor to the fungal growth but the Walla Walla is by no means old in the Washington State Ferries fleet where the oldest, the … Continue reading Labour call for urgent fungal inspection of ferries in case of deadly spread from hospitals

By Alasdair Galloway On Thursday of last week, the Herald published this from well-known Better Together supporter and long-time Labour party member, Peter Russell Begins AMANDA Brown (Letters, September 27) asks for one single reason why anyone living in Scotland would not “want to cut from England and rejoin the EU”. She has surely not heard of the Scottish Government’s own GERS figures that give 10 billion such reasons: each of these one pound sterling in revenue which Scotland receives from the rest of the UK. These support the services we receive here and which she praises so fulsomely. (She … Continue reading The letters they won’t publish – why anyone living in Scotland WOULD “want to cut from England and rejoin the EU

From Kiro(7): SEATTLE — Our region’s ferry woes continued Wednesday when riders on several routes saw delays and cancellations. Washington State Ferries says there are six boats out of service and have informed lawmakers about the issues. The ferry Walla Walla was taken out of service on Friday when crews found damage to one of its propellers. Since then, officials say it has been a game of Tetris, reassigning fleets, which has impacted passengers who take the Edmonds-Kingston ferry. “State ferries face two big challenges. One of them is sort of short and medium-term, and that is due to staffing … Continue reading Ferrygeddon with SIX out of only 21 ferries out of service at the same time…..in Washington State

Every time I see another Labour MP bussed across the border to support the deeply-conflicted guardian of young Erskine morals, mgshanks, and Labour’s mysterious fresh start, I think: Should they be staying down there to work on problems worse than any Rutherglen and Hamilton West faces? This one should: Annual crime rate per 1 000 in Bradford – 66.6 and climbing. In Rutherglen and Hamilton West – 48 and 20% lower since SNP took over in 2007. Any other problems in Bradford needing his attention? Well there’s this: Bradford child sex abuse: MP calls for public inquiry https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-58486596 Continue reading Another English MP arrives in Rutherglen to find out how SNP has cut crime?

As with most issues, Scotland’s media has platformed the opposition party attempts to turn the serious matter of proper safety regulation and taxation of short-let, self-catering, businesses, based on internet-based booking, into another SNPbad narrative. Note that ‘only two thirds have now applied?’ That’s gone up quite a bit since the early howls of complaint. The facts are being ignored for political gain, they hope. So, quickly, from the US Economic Policy Institute in 2019 on ‘internet based service firms’: Economic policy discussions about IBSFs have become quite heated and are too often engaged at high levels of abstraction. To … Continue reading Yousaf acts supported by 88% majority to protect local economy and people from Airbnb tax and safety regulations avoidance

Thanks to Dorothy for alerting me to this. From the Science Media Centre and getting some media attention: Dr Doug Brown, Chief Executive of the British Society for Immunology, said: “England continues to miss key targets on uptake for vaccinations for children and no routine vaccination reaches the World Health Organization’s (WHO) coverage target of 95% uptake at the correct time point, according to this year’s report on NHS Childhood Vaccination Coverage Statistics. “It is particularly worrying that today’s statistics show that only 84.5% of children receive the second MMR vaccine dose by age 5 – well below the 95% … Continue reading Fears of deadly measles spread into Scotland as Tory Government fails to ensure vaccine levels meet WHO target

Have I read the full article in the Herald’s Scottish Ferries newsletter? Don’t be daft. I have a life….well sort of. I think these explain: Who is responsible for maritime policy in the UK? Reserved powers In general, civilian maritime transport policy is reserved to the UK Parliament, and is managed by the UK Government where there is a need for consistent provision across the UK. UK-wide maritime transport policy is managed by the Department for Transport (DfT). The main legislation which provides for UK shipping, including ship registration, safety, pollution and liability applies UK-wide, along with the relevant provisions relating to … Continue reading Scottish Government cannot fail on international ferries

The ferry fiasco in British Columbia has led to threats of ‘taking a gun’ to staff. Today from the Times Colonist: B.C. Ferries is moving its advisory committee meetings online and postponing drop-in sessions after an incident where it said an individual made a threat to “take a gun” to everyone. The company has paused all in-person events while it implements a safety and security plan for community engagement activities, Brian Anderson, B.C. Ferries vice-president of strategy and community engagement, said in a letter to ferries advisory committees. https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/bc-ferries-moves-public-consultation-online-after-threats-of-violence-7611413 The latest source of frustration reported at the same time in … Continue reading Frustrated ferry passenger threatens violence, in Canada

In the Guardian today: Criminals in England and Wales spared jail sentences because of overcrowding Judges and magistrates told to consider high prison population opting for suspended sentences instead of immediate jail terms https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/28/criminals-in-england-and-wales-spared-jail-sentences-because-of-overcrowding In the Scotsman in October 2020: A leaked document urges the abolition of jail sentences of 12 months or less. Mr Ross said: “The SNP Government could end up meddling with the independence of the judiciary by removing their discretion to impose appropriate sentences. This would be a tawdry betrayal of victims while allowing dangerous and violent offenders to escape meaningful punishment.” https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/leaked-report-calls-for-community-service-for-scots-criminals-to-be-cancelled-3014595 Continue reading Tory civil war over betrayal of victims of crime