From BBC Wales today: Labour Welsh government ministers and Plaid Cymru are in talks over a potential co-operation agreement in the Senedd. A statement from the two groups on Tuesday said they are looking at where they can work together. Labour won the Welsh Parliament election in May but did not win a majority. It means votes from opposition parties are needed to pass votes in the Senedd, such as for budgets and laws. The Welsh Conservatives dubbed the talks a “stitch-up”. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-58560721 When you see that, what do you think, straight away? Yes, Scottish Labour, sharing many of the … Continue reading Labour/Nat agreement……..in Wales

From the Herald today: More than 3,300 new cases of cornavirus (sic) have been identified in Scotland during the past 24 hours.  New statistics show that 3,375 fresh cases have been identified by the Scottish Government — a steep drop-off from yesterday’s figure of 4,241.   However, the number of people in hopital (sic) being treated for the virus has risen again, with 1,064 people currently occupying beds on wards. Yesterday’s total was 1,048. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/19579600.covid-scotland-number-new-cases-recorded-24-hours-falls-patient-numbers-rise/ On August 21st, we had 3 189 new cases. Yesterday we had 4 241, down from 5 903 but with a warning that due to a reporting issue the 4 … Continue reading Lowest number of Covid cases for three weeks but…

This is too good an SNPBad story to let go. For the first time in years, Scotland’s drug deaths fell but BBC Scotland could only say: There were 722 suspected drug deaths in the first half of 2021, the latest official figures show. That is a small decrease of nine deaths on the same period last year. The latest figures for drug overdoses come just two months after those for 2020 showed a record 1,339 deaths. The new report is an attempt to give more up-to-date data after criticism that figures lagged too far behind. The stats for 2019 were only … Continue reading Clinging on for grim death

Not for the first time, MSM Monitor spots something interesting before I properly wake up. This might be very revealing indeed. For the first time in years, the number of drug deaths in Scotland has not climbed. Indeed it has even fallen, if only by 1%. If this trend is repeated for the next six months, then we are almost certainly witnessing something I reflected on in July 2021. I agree fully that we should do all we can, now, to reduce drug deaths. But, this ‘crisis’ may be burning itself out. See these graphs: In a BBC Scotland report … Continue reading First signs Scotland’s drugs death crisis is coming to an end naturally?

A Guardian reader’s response to the above passed to us by reader, brobb: What an appalling editorial. Firstly, I hope that it was written by a man. It would be shameful indeed for any woman to fail to acknowledge that under the SNP, Scotland has become the first country in the world to make period products available free of charge to all women and girls who need them. There is the baby box given to all new mothers containing not just some essential products but even a book to let mother and baby bond over words and pictures. There is … Continue reading ‘What an appalling editorial’

I’m not denying that NHS staff are pushed, stressed, and that some patients, in some areas, are waiting longer but let’s have some data and some context so that folk know that it’s still OK to go if you’re worried. First, are hospitals at or near full capacity? See this: Busy, I’m sure, but total admissions at just half the level, and ICU just over that, in January and February 2021. The rise looks steep but remember it follows infection levels and those have now flattened, so admissions will also flatten soon, before falling. As for staff absences, yes, almost … Continue reading Is the Gary and Lisa Health Crisis risking lives?

Andrew, Baron Dunlop, remember him? People’s watchdog or government poodle, is a question some in the press used to insist, in their case, meant a tough wee terrier biting at the ankles of the powerful. Conrad Black, Dark Lord of the Telegraph was in little doubt when he said something like: ‘If the little man thinks the press is on his side, then the little man is in more trouble than I realised.’ The Herald used to keep tough wee terriers like Ian Bell and not all of the current pack are fully trimmed poodles but too many run to the hounds. Do poodles … Continue reading Sorry, Andrew, that’s an easy one. I guess you’re no brainbox

That’s an unusual tack. Which ones does she mean? Not these surely: Are we short of good songs, singers? Could she help? Probably not. Continue reading Spiteri shock: Scotland has no resources

Watching ITV (not STV) News tonight I was shocked to see Scotland’s senior politician being grilled over the well-intentioned issue of mobile phones to prisoners during the pandemic, because 728 out of 7 600, less than 10% were hacked so that they could be used for illegal activities. Hands up if you think anything electronic in this world is unhackable? No, me neither. That’s not the point, however. Here’s the point. Why is the FM being dragged in to this? Why not the head of the prison service or the minister directly involved in managing the scheme? Try googling: England … Continue reading Why is most senior politician interrogated over prison phones?

The Express, the Herald, the Scotsman, the Telegraph and the Metro, all gleefully siding with the UK Government’s cavalier dropping of the passport certification to try to undermine the Scottish Government strategy based on scientific advice, get a quick slap from YouGov’s poll today. Based on 3 230 UK adults, we see a strong majority for keeping the plan. BBC Scotland, of course, have no view on this other than to publish evidence: Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser welcomed the UK government’s decision to abandon vaccine passports and said Scotland should now follow suit. “The Scottish government have made a … Continue reading Vaccine passports: The people reject the press view