Like you, I too wish Bosnia and Herzegovina all the very best after gaining independence from the oppressive Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. I’m not suggesting for a minute that Scotland’s recent experience of domination by a neighbour compares with the horrors inflicted on Bosnia in recent times but independence from any union has to be a right. Conservative MP for Rutland and Melton, Alicia Kearns, doesn’t seem to agree: Adding to the irony, Rutland too has had a struggle for independence: In 1060 Edward the Confessor bequeathed Rutland to his wife Edith. Rutland is the smallest county in England, approximately … Continue reading Conservative MP for independent Rutland applauds one breakaway republic but not Scotland

This is not the news. The BBC Scotland website does not cover it, because there is not enough to bother with. It’s just another feed for Reporting Scotland from a friend of Pacific Quay, representing a partisan trade union position, based on no actual statistical evidence, to undermine the SNP in government. Regulars here know this but as always, just in case you’re new here. He’s not a ‘leading medic’, like someone managing a cutting edge team in a hospital or a researcher in a university medical school, he’s jus the depute convenor of a trade union. Patient safety? I’m … Continue reading The most nurses, doctors and beds and the fastest ambulances, yet BBC Scotland report this today:

I’ve never liked the Flooers o the Forest either – not chippy enough to my mind. Anyhoo, here’s my intensively researched proposal. My nomination is…..wait for it……. McFadden and Whitehead’s ‘Ain’t no stopping us now.’ McFadden? Whitehead? Scottish ancestry clearly. The words fit and the tune is uplifting. Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now!We’re on the move!Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now!We’ve got the groove!There’s been so many things that’s held us downBut now it looks like things are finally comin’ aroundI know we’ve got, a long long way to goAnd where we’ll end up, I don’t know. But we won’t let nothin’ … Continue reading ‘Ain’t no stopping us now!’ A positive anthem for Scotland and Lord McConnell?

In the often otherwise very good Conversation on 13 January 2023, we read: Over the past decade, an average of 5% of the country’s electricity has been imported, helping to reduce the amount it needed to generate itself. However, net imports swung to net exports in 2022 for the first time in 44 years. https://theconversation.com/britain-is-a-net-electricity-exporter-for-first-time-in-44-years-197506 They illustrate with this graph: I can’t see what the surplus for export is precisely but it looks like 3 or 4 TWh. Where might that have come from? The word Scotland only appears once in: ‘To put 24 TWh in context, this is broadly … Continue reading Britain’s ‘first time’ electricity surplus to export is almost ALL due to Scotland

In their 770 word report Scottish NHS strikes on hold while pay offer negotiated BBC Scotland finds no reason to mention the Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon’s role in averting once more a damaging NHS strike. Note that no health service strikes have taken place in Scotland, in contrast with several including nurses and ambulance staff, in England& Wales. The First Minister and the Health Secretary have repeatedly met with unions. How do I know this? The Herald has not reported it as yet. Well, the Wyndham and Attleborough Mercury seems sure today: The Royal College of Nursing Scotland has … Continue reading Why does BBC Scotland hide Nicola Sturgeon’s role in averting another dangerous health strike?

Between 2000 and 2014, life expectancy in Scotland increased by 16.2 weeks per year for males and 9.9 weeks per year for females, but between 2017 and 2021, life expectancy fell by 14.6 weeks per year for males and 7.9 weeks per year for females. This was the first fall since records began, in the 1950s. Researchers at the National Records for Scotland (NRS) were in little doubt, in September 2022, based on evidence of a much lower life expectancy in more deprived areas, that deprivation was the single major contributor to this tragic fact. In May 2022, researchers from … Continue reading Why has Scotland’s life expectancy fallen for the first time since records began?

From the Scottish Government today: Opportunity Cromarty Firth and Firth of Forth Green Freeport have been selected jointly by the Scottish Government and UK Government as the locations for Scotland’s first Green Freeports. Green Freeports are designed to boost innovation and inclusive growth within communities, while supporting Fair Work First practices, creating new green jobs, upholding the highest environmental protections and supporting economic transformation. Working in partnership with the UK Government, we have adapted the UK Government’s freeport model to develop a sustainable and fair Green Freeport model that fits the Scottish context.  https://www.gov.scot/policies/cities-regions/green-ports/ Hmmm….the Greens disagree. I’m going to … Continue reading Freeports, Green or otherwise, bad?

People Polling reported, for 21 December 2022, of those selecting a Party, SNP at 55%, Scottish Labour at 24% and UK Labour at 46%. Today, for January 11 2023, it’s SNP at 50%, Scottish Labour at 22% and UK Labour at 48%. The Cons? Disappearing up…. Some recovery, Anas. Sources: https://peoplepolling.org/tables/202212_GBN_W51_full.pdf#subsection*.12 https://peoplepolling.org/tables/202212_GBN_W51_full.pdf#subsection*.12 Continue reading Second sub-poll this year has SNP at 50% or more and Scottish Labour lagging far behind UK Labour

Based entirely on a report from Alex Cole-Hamilton, this story of a Ukrainian refugee ‘fleeing’ NHS Scotland, is one of the daftest for some time time but, sadly, some folk will believe it. To be fair, BBC Scotland clearly sense that it’s a bit too daft for them but, of course, include the above front pages in their review of today’s newspapers. We will, no doubt, meet the source and get the real story in the next few days but by then the damage is done. So, the sad truth about health care in the Ukraine: In 2018, even before the … Continue reading Mail and Express recommend ‘weakest post-communist health service’

According to the BBC NHS checker 41% of NHS England patients waited longer than the target time of 18 weeks for routine treatments in November 2022 In Scotland, based on September 2022 data, the figure was only 29%. 12% (the difference) is coincidently 41% more than 29%. Sources: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64254249 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59549800 Continue reading 41% more patients wait longer in NHS England