Only months before the Portsmouth MP, Mordred’s ‘Rats with Rickets‘ Scotland campaign, the Portsmouth News had: MP Stephen Morgan criticises ‘Tory Sewage scandal’ as figures show 10 sewage spills per week in Portsmouth area 2022. Responding to data released by the Environment Agency which showed the extent of sewage spills last year, the Labour MP has asked for people to sign a pledge of support for his party’s plan to tackle the issue. Analysis of Environment Agency data shows that in 2022, raw sewage was discharged into Portsmouth’s waters for 1,809 hours, the equivalent of there being a continuous flow of sewage taking place for over … Continue reading Penny Mordaunt’s Portsmouth constituency’s Victorian sewers discharging more than her 450 000 rats can eat

B.C. Ferries passengers could face a jump in fares once the recent $500 million boost to the system runs out after four years unless fresh money comes in, says the B.C. Ferry Commission. Commisioner Eva Hage expects that without additional funds there will be a “very high price cap because fare revenues from users would have to make up for that money from the government.” https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/bc-ferries-fares-uncertain-after-500m-boost-runs-out-7525400 British Columbia is an affluent part of Canada with a population of just over 5 million compared to Scotland’s 5.4 million. BC’s GDP is $266 billion. Scotland’s is $205 billion. BC Ferries operate in … Continue reading Canadian ferries already far less subsidised than CalMac face a further ‘very high’ fare jump

From AP News last night: ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Travelers to Greece’s popular island destinations will face disruptions next week because of a 24-hour strike on Sept. 13 by ferry crews who cite safety and labor concerns. The PNO union said the decision was made Friday “on the occasion of the repulsive incident” this week in Greece’s main port of Piraeus, in which a tardy passenger drowned after being pushed into the sea by a ferry crew member. The union didn’t directly link the reasons for the strike with Tuesday’s drowning, which sparked anger and condemnation across Greece. A PNO statement deplored … Continue reading Greek ferry crews go on strike over conditions – Last CalMac strike was averted by Nicola Sturgeon

I’m a bit wary of league tables in education for the obvious reason than the wealthy always do better than the poor and you could probably change the order quite a bit if you foregrounded the level of inclusion based on the postcodes of disadvantage. However, remembering Talking-up Scotland’s purpose and the greater cause, it’s worth noting this success. Needless to say the media coverage in a very unequal society like the UK has focused on St Andrews triumph and missed the performance of 5 Scots universities making the top 20, more than twice the number had all things been … Continue reading 8% of the population but 20% of the top universities

Thanks to SB for alerting me to this: In the wake of her outburst on mike, suggesting she was the only one doing anything over RAAC in schools, BBC Scotland seems to have wind of her coming up to get things going on MacRAAC. Yesterday, they had: Earlier, during FMQs questioning by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Mr Yousaf said a list of affected schools should be made available by the end of the week, with a ministerial statement to follow. The first minister said the government was working with local authorities and that discussions would be held with the … Continue reading English Education Secretary to get Scottish ministers off their a**ses over RAAC?

In the UK Government’s latest renewable auction, seven tidal stream projects, which harness the power of the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun using floating or sea-bed mounted turbines, have secured contracts: Scotland SAE Renewables, secured 21.94MW of capacity (Pentland Firth, MeyGen) Orbital Marine Power, secured 7.2MW (Orkney, EMEC) Magallanes secured 1.5MW (Orkney, EMEC) Wales Hydrowing secured 10MW (Ynni’r Lleaud) Verdant secured 4.9MW (Anglesey, Morlais) MOR Energy secured 4.5MW (Anglesey, Morlais) Magallanes secured 3MW (Anglesey, Morlais) https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2023/sep/08/uk-renewable-auction-contracts-offshore-wind-energy-stock-market-business-live This builds on the London School of Economics report in June 2023, reported as: Scotland ‘has more tidal stream capacity than rest of world combined’, LSE … Continue reading The tides are with Scotland

From Trade Winds yesterday: The chief executive officer of Greece’s Attica Group and the port master of Piraeus lost their jobs after the callous treatment of a passenger that caused him to drown on Tuesday. Attica’s management board accepted the resignation of Spyridon Paschalis, the company said in a statement on Thursday. Just a few hours later, Greek shipping minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis — who has been in hot water over the incident that media have described as “cold-blooded murder” — announced the sacking of the port master of Piraeus and another senior coastguard official. In its statement, Attica acknowledged that … Continue reading Ferry News in the last 7 days: Ferry crew kill would-be passenger in Greece and Ferrymageddon in Seattle

Portsmouth North is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Penny Mordaunt, the current Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council. Today, Penny tells us: A SENIOR Tory has claimed Scots are suffering from “Victorian diseases” after a recent visit north of the Border. Penny Mordaunt, the House of Commons Leader, hit out at the SNP’s record in government as she claimed there were rat-infested streets in Scotland’s biggest city. https://www.thenational.scot/news/23774224.scottish-cities-full-rats-victorian-diseases-claims-senior-tory-mp/?ref=ebbn&nid=1457&u=373de6c7573215d01eab2a2993b269b0&date=070923 In May 2023, we could read: Portsmouth and Fareham councils called to more than 2,000 rodent infestations in 2022 … Continue reading Massive increase in rat infestations and rickets in Penny Mordaunt’s seat