The Times titillates with a headline today designed to cast doubt on the basis for Scots’ love for Robert Burns. There is nothing there. In short, direct or indirect economic benefit from Caribbean slavery was widespread among the artistic, collecting, and intellectual classes of the period. Burns’ case—an abandoned plan in period of despair with no material outcome is nothing of substance by comparison with the documented ownership, inheritance, investment, and patronage links of figures such as Beckford, Turner, Raeburn, and Reynolds. Many of us will look back with sadness, perhaps shame, at episodes in our lives or of those … Continue reading Before some Scottish Labour MP does Burnham a service on it – Burns had no connection to the slave trade and wrote the most powerful words against it

On Have I Got News for You, last night, Ian Hislop suggested, regarding mummies, that the Glasgow museum curator said it’s disrespectful to have dead bodies lying a round a museum. Quick as you like , Paul Merton said the above to a wave of laughter from all panellists and from the audience, ‘In Glasgow?‘ I know, ‘Get over yourself Jock. It’s only a joke, Jock. Where’s your sense of humour Jock? Comedians including Scottish ones have been clinging to a now hopelessly dated 16 year-old image, ignoring the facts: Glasgow still has the highest level of violent crime in … Continue reading Cringe – How long is Paul Merton’s time lag on Glasgow’s former reputation for violence?

In the Guardian today, the above and: More people were recalled to jails in England and Wales in the first half of this year than were released, despite government efforts to reduce the prison population, according to figures released on Thursday. Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data shows that 12,338 people were recalled to custody between the beginning of April and the end of June, while 12,278 people were released. It continues a trend set between January and March, when 13,193 people were returned to prison and 12,977 released. A total of 52,716 prisoners were put back behind bars in the … Continue reading Prisoner recalls in England & Wales running at 15 to 25 the rate in Scotland in part due to higher background crime and half as many probation officers

Headlining on BBC Scotland today, the above. How common is this? It is at least the third time a woman has had to give birth at the side of the A96 since 2018, with two other cases reported by the Press and Journal, external in 2021 and 2022. Approximately 0.05% or less of all births to Moray families since the 2018 downgrade. In England? Office for National Statistics data for England and Wales show the category “elsewhere” (neither hospital nor planned home birth). In 2024 there were about 837 such live births, compared with roughly 583,600 in hospital. That is … Continue reading Percentage of babies born in ambulances ‘on the road’ in England & Wales is almost three times higher than in Moray?

Thanks once more to Frances McKie for alerting us to this In the Times yesterday, the above and these key points: The article (paywalled on The Times) critiques the Sizewell C nuclear project’s financing as a high-risk “terrible deal” for UK taxpayers and consumers, drawing on the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report Under the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model, consumers start paying via bill levies during construction. The government holds a 44.9% stake. Private investors are EDF 12.5%, Centrica 15%, La Caisse 20%, Amber Infrastructure 7.6% hold the majority equity. Most debt comes from government borrowing/loans, with … Continue reading House of Commons Public Accounts Committee condemns Sizewell C Nuclear project high-risk “terrible deal” for UK taxpayers and consumers in addition to breast cancer risks identified by independent researchers

From Scottish Household Survey 2025 findings: Cultural Engagement published today: In 2025, cultural engagement is high. Nine in ten respondents (90%) were culturally engaged through attendance at a cultural event or place, participation in a cultural activity, or both. This has increased from 88% in 2023. Cinema is the most commonly attended cultural event or place (53%). Reading books, poetry and graphic novels or comics for pleasure is the most common cultural activity (64%) to participate in. Libraries and museums recorded the largest increases in attendance between 2023 and 2025 (both around six percentage points), followed by live music events, … Continue reading Record 90% of Scots attend cultural events in 2025 but UK under Labour saw a fall to 85%

From Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2025 Published 29 October 2026 Scottish vessels landed 479 thousand tonnes of sea fish and shellfish in 2025. A decrease of 10 per cent compared to 2024 but an increase of nine per cent compared to 2021. Scottish vessels landed £885 million of sea fish and shellfish in 2025. Adjusted to 2025 prices, this is an increase of 16 per cent compared to 2024, and of 28 percent compared to 2021. https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-sea-fisheries-statistics-2025/ Double the good news? 16% more income for 10% less product? Well done lads! Other good news: The Scottish fleet is dominated by … Continue reading Scottish vessels made £885m in 2025, up 16% even though they landed 10% fewer sea fish and shellfish – good business?