Ministers under fire? By whom? It’s just the one guy again! A Labour-still-friendly GMB rep. Logan has clearly forgotten this: Political attacks on Ferguson Marine are putting the future of the shipyard in doubt, a trade union has warned. The GMB hit out at Labour for using its members at the Port Glasgow business as a “political football”. The union said it was right the Scottish Government was held to account over the massive delays in completing two new ferries for Caledonian MacBrayne – but warned the fall-out could permanently damage Ferguson’s reputation. The shipyard was nationalised in 2019 after huge cost overruns on the … Continue reading GMB Ferguson Marine rep forgets what Labour did to them

STV is passively reporting this survey of a hospital league table, the kind of thing that ignores everyone’s need, regardless of where they live, to have a hospital they can trust: The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh all ranked among the top 40 hospitals in the UK. Glasgow Royal Infirmary came in 26th place, with an overall score of 73.17%, while the QUEH improved its position from last year to 38th place, with a score of 71.36%. The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh came in at 34, with a score of 71.75%. … Continue reading Factcheck: Unlike elsewhere, ALL of Scotland’s hospitals can be trusted

BBC Scotland is back on the deposit return scheme’s supposed controversial status based on the notion that ‘many’ businesses in Scotland have expressed concerns. There is no mention of these great big facts, contradicting the ‘controversial’ claim: Continue reading Conservatives and media humiliated as 95% of drink sales enter SNP deposit return scheme on day one

BBC Scotland are headlining another Audit Scotland report claiming flaws in SNP Government performance. Regulars here will remember: Why does Audit Scotland tend to accuse when the UK National Audit Office tends to praise? The differences in messaging are sharp. The UK NAO is all progress, support (three times) and recovery. Audit Scotland is all government needs to improve, challenges and risks. Two quite different cultures revealing, in Audit Scotland, an underlying culture of opposition to the SNP in government. https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2023/02/24/why-does-audit-scotland-tend-to-accuse-when-the-uk-national-audit-office-tends-to-praise/ Today we hear that better protection from flooding is required. In November 2022, we reported: Despite 30 flood warnings … Continue reading BBC/Audit Scotland ignoring the facts again to attack SNP Government

Alasdair Galloway Some may remember I posted my reaction to the Westminster response to the well supported ‘gie’s a section 45 order”. This response can be found below.   However the petitions people were unhappy with that response as it failed to directly address the petition’s proposition. You can have a look at their second attempt here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/628746?reveal_response=yes Not much point in going into much depth here. For one thing the response has as much depth as a puddle after a few drops of rain. However, essentially their case is ‘we believe in the Union’, though this claim is never … Continue reading Section 45: Parallels with 18th Century Scotland

Today, BBC UK and Northamptonshire report: The safety of a ward accused of failing children has been rated as inadequate by inspectors. The care regulator warned Kettering General Hospital (KGH) in Northamptonshire over its children’s and young people’s services. Inspectors‘ worries include sepsis treatment, staff numbers, dirt levels and not having an “open culture” where concerns can be raised without fear. The trust’s chief executive apologised to those who felt let down. Since the BBC’s first report in February highlighting the concerns of parents with children who died or became seriously ill at KGH, dozens more families have come forward, … Continue reading How only Scottish Labour/Tories will exploit child death for political purposes

The above report and headline was posted today (19 April) based on comments made by Forbes in March, three weeks ago or more ago, ‘in March‘, before the First Minister announced his priority policies for action which have been described as ‘bold’ and ‘progressive’ (see link below). The above fact is entirely concealed from the reader with only the misleading indication that it will be broadcast tonight (19 April). Forbes has today criticised the BBC but to no avail: https://twitter.com/KateForbes/status/1648612320585695232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1648612320585695232%7Ctwgr%5Ef28616d5455345db7c2917b58a81ec1457a43365%7Ctwcon%5Es1&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.scot%2Fnews%2F23465478.snps-kate-forbes-lays-important-caveat-bbc-interview%2F Continue reading BBC Scotland’s dishonest reporting of Kate Forbes to undermine First Minister

From SNP Media today: The First Minister’s Scottish Government’s new policy prospectus has been welcomed by key stakeholders including: Scottish Empty Homes Partnership: This makes the First Minister’s announcement…a positive step to help to address the housing emergency by freeing up more housing stock” and “It is to be welcomed that proposals are being brought forward that recognise how empty homes can be part of solutions, rather than simply being seen as problems, for communities. Reform Scotland: A welcomed policy change which the Commission on School Reform has long called for & was included in our recent report setting our priorities for the next First Minister. … Continue reading Not so ‘Poor Humza’ as multiple groups welcome his prospectus

With their usual approach to statistics, the Herald adds ups up the figures from a new experimental approach to estimation, to get more than 520 homeless deaths over three years. In the middle, we see: There’s some determined wee effort there, with the 18 month period rather than the usual year, to get a increase of some kind, then the admission that the trend is downward. Also, ONS (England & Wales) not NRS (Scotland) numbers? Does the Museum of Homelessness (MoH) know where they are? I’ve had a quick look at the ONS but see no sign of Scottish figures. Continue reading Homeless deaths fall?

From the Fire Brigades Union two days ago but studiously ignored by all mainstream media: Speaking at today’s Scottish TUC Congress in Dundee, Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf promised not to issue work notices under the Westminster Government’s proposed new anti-union laws. Humza Yousaf said: “Be in no doubt, the Scottish Government will never issue or enforce a single work notice, we will continue to do everything we can to oppose this disgraceful legislation.” The Minimum Service Levels Bill could force workers in six sectors (Health, Fire, Transport, Education, Border Security and Nuclear Decommissioning) to work on strike days despite … Continue reading Scottish TUC praise Humza Yousaf but it’s ignored by all media