BBC Scotland, largely to advertise their own product, the often pathetic Disclosure Scotland, have recycled this old one: CMAL may have broken its own rules by allowing Ferguson to go ahead with its bid despite being unable to provide evidence of a builders refund guarantee, a mandatory financial safeguard. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-62986757 I looked at this in May 2022: The Ferry ‘scandal’ story runs on typically ill-informed. The Herald May 26 headlined supposed neglect in securing a contract refund guarantee or pledge as they put it. US corporate law firm Haynes Boone reveal the often worthless nature of these: The buyer’s position … Continue reading SNP Government used intelligence to protect Scottish jobs and Scotland’s commercial shipbuilding future

Today, BBC Scotland has a piece on the rebranding of the Balhousie Care Group as part of the multinational AcalisCare. Owner Tony Banks, above has sold his troubled firm for an ‘undisclosed sum.’ There’s no mention in the BBC Scotland piece of this from October 2020: Balhousie Care Group are by no means ‘leading ‘ when it comes to infection control at this time. Two of their homes had serious problems when inspected recently by the Care Inspectorate: North Inch House, Perth 16 June 2020 8 references to infection Staff were observed to move between units, lacked understanding of infection … Continue reading Why is BBC Scotland giving free advertising to private care provider with poor infection control record during pandemic?

Partner of the South Ayrshire Council leader, enabled into power by Labour despite SNP being the largest party, ‘list’ (ie not really elected by anyone) Con MSP, Sharon Dowey, is impressively present in the media these days as the face of the latest Conservative HQ attacks on the SNP. Her twitter feed is a marvel of ill-informed and shiny-necked claims. The above is the latest as a Tory, yes a Tory, tries to blame the SNP Government for falling life expectancy. Here are the facts, not of interest to Dowey: ‘The fall in life expectancy is proof that [Tory] austerity … Continue reading Falling life expectancy: Ayrshire List MSP (Con) wins brass neck award of year

This story will be everywhere as unionists hope to scare with a story based on SFA evidence. We’ve seen this before as the right-wing media try to undermine Scotland’s gradually improving, more progressive, tax regime. In 2015, the Telegraph predicted an exodus of the wealthy and young and 2017, Border Region Tories predicted an exodus to England. I can find no subsequent hard evidence that this ever happened. What is clear is this: Figure 3.1 shows estimates of net migration between Scotland and rUK over the period 1951-52 to 2017-18[3]. During this period, Scotland changed from being a nation that typically experienced a net outflow … Continue reading Factcheck: High earners rarely flee higher taxes

In the wake of Neil Oliver’s dumping, the National Trust for Scotland has appointed another well-nosed enthusiast for the Union, as president. Jackie Bird, much-not-missed, former host of Reporting Scotland Down and hospital pigeon fancier, seems to have been rejected for the obvious job at the RSPB. Longer-term readers may remember that one of my very few successful complaints about BBC bias was at Bird’s expense and, naturally, was about pigeons: On February 12th 2019, I wrote: Here’s my complaint on 24th January: ‘In a report on deaths at the QEU Hospital, Jackie Bird said: ‘[T]he deaths of two patients from a rare … Continue reading Bird denied obvious role as National Trust seems obliged once more to appoint Lesser-spotted, Long-haired Yoon

The story is now two days old and has been fully exposed as a lie but BBC Scotland are keeping it up prominently on their website today. Within hours of Ross confronting the FM with the supposed case, a relative had tweeted to debunk the whole thing. BBC Scotland will have seen this but it doesn’t fit their agenda to report it, correct the story or withdraw it. Details here: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2022/09/23/the-80-hours-in-an-ayrshire-ae-story-by-douglas-ross-is-exposed-as-fake-news/ Continue reading Debunked 84-hour Ayr A&E wait story still being pushed by BBC Scotland

From BBC Glasgow & West today: Firefighters have extinguished a blaze which broke out at a tower block in the south side of Glasgow. Emergency services were alerted to the incident in Shawhill Road, Shawlands, at about 21:00 on Saturday. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service dispatched eight fire engines. Large plumes of smoke were seen coming from windows on the block’s upper floors. The fire was reported as extinguished after 22:00. It is understood there were no reported casualties. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-63023916 Why did this fire not spread to other floors and with terrible consequences? Simple: Cavity Fire Barriers. What? These: … Continue reading Once more, proof that Scotland’s existing and better building standards will prevent any Grenfell here

I often just ignore Mackay’s ill-informed, hysterical and, of course, mercenary, reports in the Herald. Then, sometimes, I think I should correct them just in case someone is daft enough to believe them. Today he writes: Waiting times, ambulances delays, GP appointments – the NHS in both Scotland and England is on its knees. To work out just how bad it’s got, we spoke to the two frontline doctors leading the campaign to save the NHS. Neil Mackay reports THERE’S only one way to understand what has gone wrong with the NHS: sit down with the two doctors leading the campaign to … Continue reading Neil Mackay’s big heap of…NHS Scotland is NOT collapsing

Those earning £10 000 or less will still pay 0 tax. Those on £14 732, will still pay only £411 per year in tax. Those on £15 000 will pay, £2 more. Those on £20 000 will pay £52 per year and those on £25 000 will pay £118 more. Those on £1 million per year will pay £54 000 more than they would in England. But, all of us will live in better place where child poverty and rough sleeping is at half the level of England. All of our children can attend higher education free of charge. All … Continue reading So wrong, most in Scotland are still better off