The ‘Green minister spent our money wastefully‘ theme is being thoroughly milked as BBC Scotland keeps it going for another day, today. Well down the page after the Tories have had their platformed rant, they do tell some of the facts but by then the damage is done. The facts, clarified here THREE WEEKS AGO: BBC Scotland is reporting this today [May 13] as: Green minister Lorna Slater criticised for using private ferry The report leads off with an extended set of 12 statements from the Tories and Labour before the locals in the form of a representative of the … Continue reading Keeping the ferries foetid fact-free fourth-estate feeding frenzy narrative going forever folks

stewartb I understand that the present Welsh Government wishes to have police and justice devolved to Wales. I also understand that the two main parties in Westminster – those that take turns to rule over all of us – will NOT agree to this. On 5 December 2022, the BBC News website had this headline: ‘Westminster to keep Welsh police and justice powers under Labour plans.’ The BBC reported on the recommendations of Gordon Brown’s ‘commission’ on reforming the UK constitution: it ‘recommended youth justice and probation be handed to ministers in Cardiff’. The (no doubt selective) reporting in the … Continue reading ‘The slipperiness of Labour that we in Scotland know so well’

I didn’t think it was possible for the Scotsman to get under yesterday’s report on waiting times, focusing on those waiting two years with non-life-threatening conditions and ignoring Scotland’s far superior performance in treating, within 18 weeks, those at real risk of death. They have, with the above, done it. You can read the full data at: https://democratonline.net/2023/06/01/120444/ There are more people dying while still on waiting lists for treatment. Once more, this would be a good one for a P7 class project. There is no evidence that any of them died because they are still on a waiting list. … Continue reading Russia invaded Ukraine and my next door neighbour’s dog died ‘as I was waiting for treatment!’

Reporting Scotland first thing this morning acting like a public service broadcaster paid for by its viewers. I’d say it’s a first after a long time not telling us that nurse or rail strikes were England-only. On Wednesday 31 May, as the strikes were announced, they didn’t tell us and I did this: I doubt they follow TuS or would be affected by it, so what’s going on? On February 2023, on the much more serious matter of not informing the elderly and vulnerable that health strikes would not affect Scots, I wrote to BBC Complaints with: Since the beginning … Continue reading Why are we telling you about rail strikes not affecting you now?

On the 6th April, BBC Scotland had this: How many more difficult days for SNP’s Humza Yousaf? over a picture of the new FM looking troubled. Reports of his inability to lead were everywhere in a media feeding frenzy. Nearly two months later, it’s all quiet. In polls, support for independence has climbed back to a range from around 44% to over 50% as it was in early January and support for the SNP has climbed back to the low 40s, as it was before he was elected. In April, he was characterised by the Times as ‘incompetent and weak’ … Continue reading How many more difficult days were there for SNP’s Humza Yousaf?

More shameful reporting by the Scotsman. The UK Government and NHS England have been sneaky again, as they did when they began restarting the clock for A&E patients, after they had been triaged. They knew how the media feasted on stories of patients waiting more than two years for non-life-threatening treatment and regardless of the seriousness of the cases, threw money at them, rushing them through private hospitals and at the expense of other more important and shorter targets where conditions are life threatening. From the BMJ on February 10 2023: More than three million patients waited longer than 18 weeks for … Continue reading Where lives are at risk, NHS Scotland treats patients 14 times quicker

From SEPA today Scotland’s summers are known for both sunshine and showers – but whatever the weather the country’s environment regulator will be collecting and analysing water samples, predicting water quality and keeping beach users informed over the next three and a half months. The Scottish bathing water season begins on 1st June and runs until 15th September, with 1,500 water samples taken by Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) staff at bathing waters around the country. In 2023 locals and visitors have more options than ever to choose from – with one brand new beach joining the list, and the … Continue reading 98% of Scotland’s beaches are safe to swim off!