Last week, Aslef’s Kevin Lindsay is quoted as saying: Aslef entered these talks in good faith. We have negotiated a pay offer of 4.2%, a three-year, no compulsory redundancy deal and a number of other improvements. These will now be put to our members for their consideration. https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/train-drivers-scotland-new-pay-24075384 Today, they’ve done a u-turn and won’t let the members decide. Why? They fear the drivers might accept? This? ASLEF delegates have rejected a motion to disaffiliate from Labour by 74 votes to nine after general secretary Mick Whelan told the train drivers’ union that staying in the party is “the only … Continue reading What does Aslef executive fear? Upsetting their UK bosses and Scottish Labour?

Down at the bottom there, a story of how one gas field, Jackdaw, in Scottish waters and unlocked due to the war in Ukraine, can produce 6.5% of all of the UK’s output. I wondered, what is the total percentage now? There must be something more recent than the 50% suggested in this 2015, but still striking, graphic. Nevertheless, putting the 50% together with this new announcement, we might reasonably be looking at 60% or more? On the 8% theme, see more at: Continue reading 8% of the population 60% of the gas production?

Additional funding for A&E departments quickly becomes and excuse to repeat the ‘record’ waiting times which, to be accurate, haven’t been record since March and to remind viewers that the target (95%) hasn’t been hit since 2020. Context is important and Reporting Scotland do seem to like the time context for this one. But, they don’t like the geographical context for some reason. Could this be it? In March 2022, NHS Scotland saw 71.6% in 4 hours. NHS England only saw 58.7%. NHS Scotland’s performance was thus 21.9% better (71.6 – 58.7 as a % of 58.7) https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/ae-activity-and-waiting-times/ae-activity-and-waiting-times-month-ending-31-march-2022/ https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2021-22/ Continue reading Ah but? Ah but 22% better than NHS England?

Continue reading May 2022 Site Traffic

By stewartb It probably should not come as a surprise that a journalist employed in an organisation with little practice in providing context and perspective when reporting Scotland sometimes reveals a blindspot. Or perhaps engages in unintended irony? Yesterday BBC Scotland’s Business and Economy Editor wrote an article for the BBC News website under the headline: ’Difficult decisions’ for Kate Forbes. Tucked away in the midst of a lengthy piece I spotted something a bit odd which I share for mild amusement. Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-61643444 Bear with me to get the context! The Editor tells us this: ‘A growing gulf between … Continue reading This is a fine pretence!

From Brenda Robb I have been reading Fintan O’Toole’s book Three Years in Hell: The Brexit Chronicles. As I am originally from N Ireland I have an interest in the political situation there as well as in Scotland and of course with the focus on Brexit here there are issues discussed that  affect us all. However there was one part in particular that caught my attention which I feel might be a useful topic for all of us hoping for an independent Scotland to consider. It is also quite timely now that different factions are either criticising the Scottish Government’s intention to … Continue reading 50% plus 1 is not what democracy is about?

Yesterday, the Scottish Commissioner for Fair Access said: Scotland is continuing to “set the pace” when it comes to students from deprived areas getting into university, the Commissioner for Fair Access has said. The Commissioner’s latest annual report said the Scottish Government’s approach has been an “unambiguous success” and that “all the fair access indicators are flashing green”, despite the impact of COVID-19. It marks Sir Peter Scott’s last report as Commissioner for Fair Access before stepping down. A record 16.7% of students from Scotland’s most deprived 20% of communities were entrants on full-time first-year degree courses in 2020/21, an … Continue reading Scotland leads UK on access to universities for those from deprived areas. Meanwhile in England…..

opened up its doors, offering homes and hope to Ukranian refugees. Just before Reporting Scotland make no reference to it, BBC UK has an extensive piece on Scotland’s welcome for refugees. The website finds no place for the story either: BBC Scotland prefer this kind of story: Ukrainian families in Livingston felt threatened over relocation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-61626107 Continue reading BBC UK sneaks by Reporting Scotland to tell a good news story

From stewartb This is a remarkable performance but only the latest in a long line of positive annual assessments of Scotland’s track record in attracting foreign direct investment (fyi). The source document is well worth a look: EY Attractiveness Survey Scotland 2022 (https://www.ey.com/en_uk/attractiveness/22/scotland-leads-the-way-for-fdi-investment ) Congratulations are due to Scottish Development International (SDI), Scotland’s own trade and inward investment agency:(https://www.sdi.co.uk ) Some indicative extracts from the EY report: ‘With a double-digit increase in terms of market share for UK projects, Scotland recorded its highest ever level of the past decade — FAR OUTPACING THE GROWTH AND RECOVERY OF THE REST OF THE UK … Continue reading Shock as BBC Scotland reports good news!

Included at least but not quite foregrounded, the SNP Government’s role, in Scotland attracting 12.3% of all inward investment to the UK with only 8% of the population can be found, down the page: Trade Minister Ivan McKee commented: “These results indicate that our values-led approach to investment, set out in our Inward Investment Plan, is delivering and underline the important ongoing contribution of inward investment to the recently-published National Strategy for Economic Transformation. “It is critically important that we continue to work closely with inward investors by offering our unique Team Scotland approach to support an inclusive and wellbeing economy, … Continue reading SNP Government’s ‘joined-up approach’ to inward investment pays dividends