From BBC Scotland today and headlining, with individual cases dwelt upon morbidly, across the media here: Thousands of extra cancer cases are linked to deprivation in Scotland, according to Cancer Research UK (CRUK). The charity has found that around 4,900 extra cancer cases a year are linked, which equates to 13 cases a day. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-63772255 Let’s be clear, I absolutely accept that deprivation and negative health outcomes correlate strongly and that tackling deprivation, inequality and poverty should be the highest priority for any government. It is, demonstrably, for the SNP. It is not, demonstrably for the Cons or Labour. After … Continue reading Why is Scotland, the nation with the lowest deprivation level and the shortest waiting times for treatment, the only one with a deprivation/cancer crisis?

stewartb More details of interest. First for background on the BBC’s internal editorial complaints process: ‘An editorial complaint may proceed through the following stages:Stage 1a – initial response.Stage 1b – if the complaint progresses further, a response from or on behalf of a BBC manager or a member of the editorial team.Stage 2 – if the complaint progresses further, a response from the Executive Complaints Unit (ECU). The ECU made 6 findings at Stage 2 between 7th – 20th November 2022. Two were upheld, both regarding Scotland-related matters including the one concerning the broadcast of Professor Sridhar’s book. See https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/sites/default/files/2022-11/7%20-%2020%20November%202022%20%28003%29.pdf Here … Continue reading More on BBC Scotland’s awful bias in favour of SNP

There’s deep irony in the First Minister being accused of fuelling violence with words. While all politicians get abuse on social media, it’s pretty clear that, in the main, women get far worse and, of course, face a far greater risk of that becoming real, physical. Nicola Sturgeon has faced more than most, including a Conservative party treasurer (3 above) mocking her miscarriage. Jane Lax, joked about Nicola Sturgeon’s miscarriage on Twitter, asked “Is that when she dropped a book?” in response to another Twitter user’s claim that the first minister’s miscarriage was “fictional”. Mrs Lax, who was treasurer of … Continue reading Accusing Nicola Sturgeon of ‘fuelling violence’ with words is pretty rich

‘Drug deaths, poor schools, a failing NHS?’ Tory Lord Simon Heffer makes the front page of the Telegraph with these claims, ironically under a report on staggering failure in NHS England’s A&E departments. So, let’s start with the 12-hour A&E waits. NHS England only publishes annual data on 12 hour waits in A&E. Emergency doctors in England have called for transparency on this. NHS Scotland does them weekly and the Scottish Cons love to feast on them. So, how do the Scottish 12 hour wait data compare with the same from NHS England? Well, thanks to Telegraph we can see: … Continue reading Tory Lord’s fibs on “Sturgeon’s legacy” fail to survive collision with evidence

stewartb Professor Sridhar’s book on the pandemic is informative and interestingly international in scope. It’s a ‘good’ and an ‘easy’ read – not overly scientific/technical. But in it the author makes a cardinal error (!): in one place she draws positive conclusions about the Scottish Government’s handling of the Covid pandemic relative to Westminster. From The Times today (?): ‘A complaint of pro-SNP bias has been upheld by the BBC watchdog after the broadcaster serialised a book by a Scottish government medical adviser a fortnight before an election.’ ‘One listener contacted the BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) to report what … Continue reading Professor Sridhar’s book and pro-SNP bias on BBC Scotland

Drax! Even the name triggers fear. Drax the Destroyer? I don’t know why energy giant Drax is sponsoring the Herald’s Scottish Politician of the Year award but it’s a bad, bad image. See this: A U.K. biomass power plant which received more than £800 million (C$1.36 billion) in government subsidies for renewable energy production last year has been pegged as the country’s largest source of CO2 in the country in a new analysis by the climate think tank, Ember.   The Drax plant, which generates electricity by burning wood pellets, is also one of the biggest sources of dangerous particulate … Continue reading Scottish Labour leader endorses UK’s biggest CO2 emitter and one of most dangerous polluters in Europe

From BBC Health today: Patients dying as ambulances face crippling delays in England : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-63743383 Read on and find not one reference to the Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, or to the PM at the time, and not one accusation from any opposition politician. In November 2021, BBC Scotland had: ‘Lives being lost’ due to Scottish ambulance waiting times: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-59250960 Read on and find 2 accusations by Douglas Ross, 2 by Anas Sarwar, 1 by Alex Cole-Hamilton, 3 by ‘opposition leaders’ and, of course, 6 times where Depute SNP leader, John Swinney is associated with the deaths or obliged to comment. … Continue reading Different ambulance-chasing styles reveal BBC Scotland’s clear bias once more

There were, sadly, 40 new Covid-related deaths in the week-ending 20 November, down from 47 in the previous week. This is the lowest level since early July 2021. The apparent dip in June 2022 and rise in July 2022, is a statistical blip cause by delayed recording of deaths. TuS has asked Conservative Shadow Health Secretary, Sandesh Gulhane, to comment but he was too busy saving lives in his new scrubs. Continue reading Covid deaths in Scotland fall to lowest level for more than a year*

From the Herald’s Tom Gordonstoun today: ANAS Sarwar has been named The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Award for reviving the electoral fortunes of Scottish Labour on the local and national stage. https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23148407.anas-sarwar-named-herald-scottish-politican-year/ Stop it! I heard you snigger and guffaw. That’s not nice. The man’s doing his best. The Herald must have had some evidence for that statement. Let’s see, support in the polls for Holyrood elections? So, really just attracting back socially and economically rightist, colonialist support from the Scottish Cons? In two years, after Rishi settles things down, they’ll go back if they think that’s once more … Continue reading Sarwar wins ‘Getting Nowhere Fast’ Award!

From the Guardian today: The RCN said it had confirmed the dates after the UK government turned down its offer of formal, detailed negotiations as an alternative to industrial action. “Ministers have had more than two weeks since we confirmed that our members felt such injustice that they would strike for the first time,” said the RCN general secretary, Pat Cullen. “My offer of formal negotiations was declined and, instead, ministers have chosen strike action. Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, said: “Why on earth is the health secretary refusing to negotiate with nurses? Patients already can’t get treated on … Continue reading Conservative Government ‘chooses strikes over patient health’ across some of UK