Think the above is daft? Think BBC Scotland would never do anything so low-brow so gutter-press? Here’s what they did today: Continue reading Sarwar hasn’t spoken to Baillie since he was ennobled because he ‘doesn’t give a toss’ about her or anyone in Scotland
At last! Free of the reins of power and responsibility, former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon has said just what we’ve been saying here at Talking-up Scotland, for so many times. How many times, is that now? So, 1 381 posts rebutting lies or revealing positive facts, just this year alone so far, around 200 a month, 6-7 a day, since 2014 and increasing our output in recent years, we’d need a younger editor than her. At 75, I’m staying in the chair. Is that enough effort, Nicola? No senior SNP figure has ever openly praised Talking-up Scotland. I understand. The … Continue reading Talking-up Scotland editor denies Sturgeon to take his job and calls for her to come out for him
Thanks to Derek Scott for alerting us to this. Lewis is, of course, correct in outlining an emerging housing crisis across the UK but way out on the last near 20 years. In February 2026, aspiring Labour PM, Andy Burnham had this ambition for the UK: Significantly, it is social rent, rather than affordable homes, that Burnham appears keen on building. In February of this year, speaking at the Resolution Foundation conference, he said he would like to see the government commit to building 500,000 such homes by the end of the decade (2030). https://www.bdonline.co.uk/briefing/what-would-prime-minister-burnham-look-like-for-housing-and-construction/5142820.article Blissfully unaware, the Daily Mail in April … Continue reading Nearly 20 years since ending Thatcher’s right-to-buy, Scotland has built nearly three times as many really affordable houses as Andy Burnham might promise for 2030
In the Guardian today, the above and: The amount of wasted medicines thrown away in England in one year could fill 75 swimming pools, according to a pharmacy group. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) estimated that 3,400 tonnes of partly used medicines were disposed of in England in 2024-25. The organisation, which analysed data from regional health bodies, also estimated that the problem costs the NHS at least £480m annually. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/08/wasted-medicine-in-england-could-fill-75-swimming-pools-a-year-pharmacy-group-says Has the Scottish Government done anything to prevent or reduce this? Yes, the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland have taken multiple steps focused on preventing and reducing medicines waste, through policy guidance, medication … Continue reading Scotland has already begun to tackle wasted medicine problem
By Liz S Daily Record 28 September 2025. “A senior Labour MSP has told wannabe party leader Andy Burnham to “shut up” amid speculation he plans to launch a bid to topple Keir Starmer” Guess who the ‘senior’ Labour MSP was? None other than one of the contenders for the Labour Branch office manager’s post i.e. Michael Marra. Embarrassing now is it not . That is , it would be embarrassing for any decent politician . However for a Labour politician , who now stands in the (supposed) ‘leadership’ contest for Labour in Scotland, it will be be no more than yet another self … Continue reading Does Michael Marra still think Andy Burnham should ‘shut up?’
Some younger followers may wonder why I have such a go, especially at BBC Scotland, day after day? Here’s a reason: https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/i-was-bullied-bbc-over-academic-report-indyref-bias-scottish-media-blackout-must Continue reading Why do I have such a go, especially at BBC Scotland, day after day?
From the Guardian today, the above, and: Millions of adults and children in England face being forced to wait longer for mental health care, with more than two-thirds of NHS providers planning to cut services and half expected to axe jobs, the Guardian can reveal. With mental health services already under extraordinary pressure amid soaring demand for support, experts warned the proposed cuts – drawn up by trusts to plug holes in their finances – would also have “significant” consequences for the wider NHS, the economy and public services. Key services such as child and adolescent mental health care, talking therapies, addiction support, … Continue reading NHS England plans further cuts to mental health care for children to further widen the gap with ‘substantially’ better NHS Scotland but no media report it
HMS Daring, a Type 45 destroyer’s mission was to replace the aging Type 42 destroyers after lessons learned during the Falklands War. She was laid down in the BAE Systems yard on the Clyde , 28 March 2003, launched in 2006, commissioned in 2009 and entered active service in 2010 – 7 years later. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Daring_(D32) Leaving aside the 21-year delay between the Falklands war ‘lessons’ of 1982 and the laying down in 2003, those 7 years did not lead to a ship that could do what she was designed to do because, take a breath, her engines failed in warmer … Continue reading ‘Destroyer Disaster’ as Royal Navy destroyer still not in service after 23 years, takes three times as long as as Scotland’s ‘Fiasco Ferries’
Details – https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/08/07/scottish-governments-reluctance-to-support-and-caution-on-e-bike-trials-will-have-massively-reduced-traumatic-brain-injuries/ Continue reading How Scottish Government caution on government-backed e-scooter rental schemes has saved uncounted traumatic brain injuries
You won’t be surprised to hear how in May 2024, campaigning for Labour, there was not a word, from Gordon Brown, this Labour Party elder, of Scotland’s far lower child poverty nor of how the SNP’s child payment is leading to its disappearance in Scotland, nor of Labour’s refusal to end the cruel two-child benefit cap, if elected. Maybe the Archbishop would mention poverty in Scotland and the Child Benefit? Not a word. It turns out the Bishop of Leicester too had a piece in the Guardian. He doesn’t know about Scotland either, it seems, but does mention Labour, if … Continue reading Just as Burnham would never come to Dunsinane – In 2024, the Bishop, the thinktank Chief Exec, the editor and Gordon Brown all avoided looking north for help with child poverty
