From the Stand-in Storm Barra arrived in north and north-east Scotland well after dark, last night, on Tuesday 7th, damaging the power supply at some point that night and yet not fixed by 8 the following morning. What do we pay these people for? For information, Northern Power has only just re-connected the last of homes affected by Storm Arwen after 12 days: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-59572300 SSEN finished reconnecting homes in Scotland on December 5th, 3 days ago: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-59538274 Continue reading Power cuts not fixed instantly!

From the Stand-in Thanks for your kind words and best wishes for ‘the prof’. He’s not ‘the prof’ round here. Today, this, based on his ‘rough outline’: In a report by BBC Scotland typically framed to suggest another imagined failure by the SNP Government’s exams agency the SQA, we read that 13 out 3 483 appeals resulted in downgrading because, we must presume, the moderators felt the work submitted did not come up to standard for the grade suggested by teachers in the submitting school. Again, typically, as in the regular reports of single hospital patients, out of hundreds of … Continue reading Scottish exam standards maintained as too-high grades by bullied teachers detected and reversed?

From the Stand-in Behind the ball here, once more, the Herald offers us the October A&E waiting time data, for Scotland, of 73.5% seen in 4 hours, only 18% better than NHS England at 61.9% After two weeks when the figure fell to around 70%, in October, the figures have climbed in November against the usual winter trend. The average for November is 74%, so far. A local bookie puts NHS England at 10/1 against staying above 60% when they release their November data. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/ae-activity-and-waiting-times/ae-activity-and-waiting-times-month-ending-31-october-2021/ https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics-week-ending-21-november-2021/ https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ Footnote: The editor is no weel but expects to recover soon. Continue reading NHS Scotland emergency services 18% better than England and improving for 4 weeks now after blip

By stewartb The House of Commons Library (HoCL) has just published a briefing document entitled ‘Consular support for British citizens’ (https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CDP-2021-0210/CDP-2021-0210.pdf ). It does so in advance of a Backbench Business Committee debate at Westminster on consular support for British citizens overseas which is scheduled for 9th December. The debate will be led by SNP MP Hannah Bardell. Triggered by her experiences from constituency work, Ms Bardell has for some time called for UK citizens to be given a LEGAL RIGHT to consular assistance and ENSHRINE a duty of care towards British nationals who face difficulties overseas. The Livingston MP … Continue reading Consular support overseas – the UK ‘right’ we lack and the EU ‘right’ we lost!

Tom Gordon, drooling at the prospect, but missing the obvious: The lowest infection rate in the UK, over the whole pandemic, by some way. The lowest current infection rate by an even bigger gap as the new variant arrives. The highest vaccination rate for all three vaccines but especially the booster jag. The second lowest death rate, 25% lower than England, saving more than 3 000 lives. From the WHO: England actually does relatively well coming 8th out the 31 surveyed but at only 68% of deaths averted by the vaccine programme, Scotland did 26.4% better. The lowest death rate … Continue reading First Minister to lecture opposition on how she did a far better job handling Covid than their bosses in England

In Inside Housing today and featuring across news media: In shocking opening statements delivered by lawyers acting for the bereaved and survivors today, governments stretching over a 30-year period were accused of repeated “deliberate cover ups” of the risks of dangerous cladding. Painting a picture of more than 40 years of failures to act on potential warnings, lawyers said that the fire came as a result of “an unintended consequence of a political ideology” where “deregulation… enabled industry to write its own rules”. https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/government-cover-up-of-dangerous-cladding-one-of-the-major-scandals-of-our-time-lawyers-tell-grenfell-inquiry-73592 In Scotland, there has been no Grenfell, nor will there be. We get the evidence for … Continue reading UK Government cover up of dangerous cladding ‘one of the major scandals of our time’ and further evidence of why we’re not better together

Thanks to Robert for sending me this. In the wake of Douglas Ross shouting on BBC Scotland, about one or two in Scotland being turned away from a booster jag, we hear from BBC UK that changes to the booster programme in England, trumpeted last week will not be introduced for at least another week and millions have been asked to be patient. The clip ends with Scotland’s clinical director explaining how it was done. Reporting Scotland’s Health Correspondent was unavailable for comment but was captured thinking about it: Continue reading UK Conservative Government told to ‘get a grip’ on booster rollout

Today, in the Herald, the kind of unsubstantiated rant you might hear in a pub: If you know a bit about anything, it’s hard not to laugh at this but remember it’s in a newspaper. Patrick Harvie may have over-stated the link between the supporting the oil industry and right-wing, but creepy? As for the rest, he has no quotes. I’ve never seen anything like them. The refuse collectors were prompted by Scottish Labour and the GMB’s support for Trident and fracking suggests that their marching with climate change activists was a bit…creepy? We’ve been here before with Kevin. In … Continue reading I think we know who is creepy

SMALL business leaders have issued an SOS to Holyrood ministers after figures revealed that 20,000 firms collapsed during the pandemic in Scotland. Analysis of Scottish Government data by the Federation of Small Businesses Scotland (FSB) shows the staggering toll of the health crisis on firms across the country. https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19763576.snp-finance-chief-kate-forbes-urged-step-20-000-small-firms-collapse-pandemic/ We read on to find these are estimates, probably not paying VAT, and ‘the stories‘ include ‘the tour guide who had to get a job (!) as he couldn’t run the business he loved.‘ Really? Socialism for the small business but austerity for the poor and vulnerable? Instead of some estimates, some facts? Insolvencies much lower … Continue reading Socialism for the self-employed?

According to BBC Scotland, 1 hour ago: The final few homes in Scotland left without power after Storm Arwen are being reconnected to the power grid. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said that as of 22:00 on Saturday about 30 homes were still without power. The firm said poor weather on Saturday prevented them reconnecting the homes but work would continue overnight. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-59538274 According to BBC Tyne & Wear, 9 minutes ago: Power cuts from Storm Arwen that have lasted more than a week are “completely unacceptable”, a minister said. As of 23:00 GMT on Saturday, some 3,900 homes in … Continue reading England lagging well behind Scotland on electricity reconnections