For a year now, this story has been pushed into eyes and ears. It’s headlining today on all BBC Scotland platforms. At every turn, evidence has emerged that the discharges into care homes did not cause outbreaks and that they were the result of a combination of the over-use of agency staff, over-capacity, under-staffing and failed infection control in the homes. The science is ignored and now we hear the discharges have triggered ‘legal concerns.’ Note the wording. Read carefully: The Mental Welfare Commission studied a sample of discharges when someone did not have the capacity to decide for themselves. … Continue reading Like a dog with a very small bone: Scotland’s media and care home deaths, again

The sinking-man’s Brian Wilson, Blairite minister, visiting (no qualifications) professor of FA at Strathclyde University and director at Celtic FC, Brian Wilson CBE of the Herald/Scotsman union, leads the charge to blame the SNP for the riots at the weekend. In this, Wilson joins those earlier unholy alliances – Aberdeen’s Labour/Tory Council, and the GMB/Care home owners His piece in the Herald today? Mince, rancid mince. Here’s why they controlled the reopening of hospitality in Glasgow: The announcement to keep hospitality closed was made on the 14th, after it became clear the outbreak was more than a blip – data … Continue reading Is this Celtic director excusing the rioters to get at SNP?

In the Guardian today with usual misuse of ‘UK’: Hospitals have been accused of burying the results of dozens of secret reports written by expert groups of doctors asked to investigate patient safety problems. NHS trusts have been criticised for “disgraceful secrecy” for not publishing the reports, and often not even sharing them with regulators charged with overseeing standards of care. While trusts have asked medical royal colleges to undertake 111 “invited reviews” over the last five years, they have put only 16 in the public domain, BBC One’s Panorama will reveal on Wednesday. In addition, just 26 of the … Continue reading Hancock not responsible for hospitals burying dozens of patient safety reports

I’ve been very impressed by Lorna Slater. The combination of my confidence in the local constituency SNP candidate to take the seat (phew!), the transphobes joining Alba and Slater’s performances on TV, pushed me into voting for them on the regional vote. I’ve done this before but some of their antics, especially running with the pack on the repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act (that’s worked out well?) have caused me to doubt them. Now we have the co-leader writing: Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater has called for the re-elected First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to work across the … Continue reading I gave the Greens my 2nd vote but….

The above in the Herald has quickly fallen down the page from the headline slot early this morning. Did the day editor think that appearing to side with the rioters might be a step too far? Before any more on the coverage and contrary to BBC Scotland editorial guidelines, at the top of this page, here’s what a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “At a time when people have missed funerals, not seen loved ones in care homes and postponed weddings, it is not right that we make an exception to the rules for football fans. We also received advice that … Continue reading Are Media losing confidence in attempt to blame SNP for Unionist riot?

Experts have warned that Tory plans to lift the current cap on Trident nuclear weapons based on the Clyde by over 40 per cent, from 180 to 260, could breach international law.  Academics at the London School of Economics have concluded that the plans are inconsistent with the UK Government’s support for the Treaty on Non-Proliferation, which is intended to limit the increase of nuclear warheads around the world. The review by Professor Christine Chinkin, a long-time consultant for the UN, and Dr Louise Arimatsu, a former fellow at the NATO Cyber Defence Centre, concludes that the proposals constitute a … Continue reading Tory plans to spend billions on weapons of mass destruction both immoral and illegal

From SNP Media: The SNP has said Tory cuts are “threatening Scotland’s recovery” – as new figures revealed Tory plans to slash Universal Credit could hit nearly half a million people in Scotland. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) quarterly Universal Credit statistics, published today, reveal the number of people on Universal Credit in Scotland has increased by 86% in the past year – rising from 264,117 in March 2020 to 490,426 in April 2021. David Linden MP said Tory plans to slash payments by £20 a week from October would leave thousands of families in Scotland worse off … Continue reading DWP figures reveal Tory cuts are threatening Scotland’s recovery

From SNP Media: New Scottish Labour MSP Carol Mochan has accused her own party of having a ‘muddled’ policy on independence and risked having its vote fall even further in future elections in Scotland. Ms Mochan also warned that Scottish Labour could have faced ‘Liberal Democrat levels of annihilation’ were it not for the proportional voting system in place for Holyrood elections. The South Scotland MSP also panned the party’s doomed federalism policy, admitting that there is little public support for it and that it is ‘impossible for my own party to claim there is not an appetite… for another … Continue reading Labour MSP accuses own party of ‘muddled’ policy on independence

Form SNP Media: A new poll shows that people across the UK believe that people in Scotland must have the democratic right to choose our own future in an independence referendum. The Savanta ComRes poll for Left Foot Forward shows that a plurality – 39 percent – of voters across Britain believe Scots have the right to an independence referendum following the Holyrood election results, to just 34 percent who believe they do not. 46 percent of voters in Scotland back the right to another vote, compared to just 32 percent against. The SNP has said that Boris Johnson’s undemocratic attempts to deny the democratic … Continue reading Brits support second referendum

Desperate, just desperate. Professor Sir John Curtice, 67 year-old psephologist (bean-counter), has not had his second jag and the helpline didn’t help him, he says, and that is the Herald’s front-page screamer. Nothing based on nothing of no real news value to anyone, anywhere. I’ve heard more than one person praise the helpline but did not feel the need to tell the Herald about it. Journalism? Only if you have the lowest standards possible. Some real news? We’re in the middle but better than Wales, Northern Ireland or London. Wait: ‘SHOCK: South-West of England’s vaccination rate leaves Scotland behind! I … Continue reading Ooooh, how many are angry? Just one but he is a Sir Professor so…..