In November 2021, the cumulative Covid death rate in Scotland was 168 deaths per 100 000 population while in England it was 218, 30% higher. By November the rates were 226 and 302, 34% higher and growing. Only in Scotland, is the rate declining while in England the increase is notable and disturbing. Why is this not being researched? Why is it not happening in Scotland? A better NHS? Continue reading UK Covid death-rate gap widening

Despite all they have done and only weeks after replacing the previous PM, Conservative voters look like coming home and threatening another election victory in two years. Based on data collected on the 3rd November, less than two weeks since Sunak was anointed, we see a convincing majority for him as preferred PM, over Keir Starmer, in a full poll of 1 500. We know that many voters do not vote for the Cons but against Labour so it takes little for them to flop back after a wee protest. Note, that the story in Scotland is different but, as … Continue reading UK Tories return to the fold after only 10 days in doubt

Update: I’ve been corrected. Only 5 of the 6 destroyers are still being repaired. https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2022/march/25/220325-hms-diamond-joins-snmg2 In May 2022, the latest Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin spoke at the Combined Naval Event 2022 in Farnborough. He mentions our destroyers but not the fact that ALL are still in harbour. He said: One need only look at our response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to see how frigates and destroyers are helping to shore up security in the eastern Mediterranean. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/defence-procurement-minister-speech-at-the-combined-naval-event Someone should tell Mr Quin, that our destroyers cannot be shoring up anything other that the economy of Portsmouth because 5 … Continue reading Update: UK Defence Minister cannot tell a frigate from a destroyer

So, six multibillion pound destroyers are stuck in harbour, billions over price and years late, and a massive aircraft carrier is back in for repairs again, as Russia accuses the UK of covert action against it in the Black Sea? There have been three PMs involved with these MoD contracts – Cameron, May, Johnson. We can excuse the more recent temps. I challenge you! Find me a single news report linking, in any way, any UK PM or minister with any of these contractual catastrophes and I’ll post it. In May 2022, the latest Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin spoke … Continue reading Why does Sturgeon face a Ferry Feeding Frenzy in Scotland but no UK PM has had to face a Destroyer Delirium or a Carrier Craze?

You can see above, the indignation of a tabloid journalist denied blood. A highly-qualified and experienced senior civil servant and a politician well-known for her principles, act in the interests of all of their colleagues in the building yet accused of ‘collusion‘ with a ‘shamed‘ former MSP and minister. Oooh, remind me. What did he do again? On 5 February 2020, the Scottish Sun alerted the office of Nicola Sturgeon about a story they were planning to run revealing Mackay had sent a 16-year-old boy messages via Facebook and Instagram in which he described the boy as “cute” and offered to meet up with the boy … Continue reading Should officials collude with journalists to continually harass man not charged with any offence?

The UK’s best-performing Health Secretary? From BBC UK (and headlining in the Guardian), today: Extreme disruption to NHS services has been driving a sharp spike in heart disease deaths since the start of the pandemic, a charity has warned. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) said ambulance delays, inaccessible care and waits for surgery are linked to 30,000 excess cardiac deaths in England. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-63486547 There is no equivalent report in the Scottish MSM. That, in itself, tells you something. Had they any such evidence of a spike, you can be sure opposition MSPs would have fed BBC Scotland and the papers … Continue reading Why has there been no spike in heart deaths in Scotland?

Today at 1:01pm, this popped up in my inbox squeezed between Matt Hancock (yeuch) alerts: It said: We’ve not been able to reply to your complaint within the time period we aim for. Although we manage this for most complaints, we regret it’s not been possible so far because we have been dealing with a higher than normal number of cases? When did I first make the complaint about Reporting Scotland misrepresenting baby deaths figures fed to them by the creepy ACH? 5 January 2022 – almost exactly 10 months ago: What’s their published target for a response – 2 … Continue reading BBC Complaints takes 10 months to respond to my simple complaint about ACH adding baby death numbers up to get a bigger one and hide the improving trend

Image: Glasgow Times Poll after poll has Labour UK soaring above the Cons and with support typically twice that of Labour Scotland. SNP support is firm in the mid 40 to low 50s. For 31 October, Deltapoll have UK Labour at 51%, UK Cons at 26% but Scottish Labour at only 26% with the SNP at 44%. It’s only a sub-poll of 137 Scots but on October 27 with 157 Scots, Survation had UK Labour at 51%, Scottish Labour at 28% and SNP at 54% On 26 October, with 99, People Polling had UK Labour at 51%, Scottish Labour at … Continue reading And another – Labour Scotland half as popular as Labour UK

I’ve always thought that Camley’s cartoons were a bit crap but this one stinks of political bias. The idea that Scotland’s waiting times figures are being ‘massaged’ comes from the opposition parties. Here are the facts again: From Public Health Scotland today, for September 2022: 69% of attendances at A&E services were seen and resulted in a subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within 4 hours. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/ae-activity-and-waiting-times/ae-activity-and-waiting-times-month-ending-30-september-2022 For the same month in England, the figure was 56.9%. https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2022-23/ NHS Scotland has thus performed 21.3% better. Remember, it’s not just 21.3%. That means thousands more seen within 4 hours in Scotland than … Continue reading The Cartunionist?

The complainer: Image: BBC Scotland While walking the dog, I’ve had further thoughts on my previous post. Here’s what BBC Scotland’s Disclosure team claim: Almost a quarter of Scotland’s public charging points for electric vehicles (EVs) were faulty when BBC Disclosure did spot-checks on the network. A snapshot over a six-week period of the state of the 2,200 chargers installed using Scottish government grants uncovered issues at 535 units. Faults ranged from broken plugs and screens to the system being offline. Transport Scotland said it would review the data but its own measurements suggested only a 2% fault rate. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-63371759 To do … Continue reading EV charging points update: Has BBC Scotland made a howler?