Today’s contribution to the national effort against the virus, from Scotland’s heidies, made my heart sink. It’s just endless ‘No, no, no….’ to anything the Scottish Government suggests. In minutes I dug up these foosty items: I used to be a teacher and teacher educator. On a daily basis, I’d meet several colleagues, apparently on the edge of a breakdown, really too busy to speak before at length telling me everything and then remembering to ask how I was coping . I started saying with a smile: ‘Good, good, reaping the benefits of former efficiencies!’ I was soon free-transferred to … Continue reading Today’s contribution to the national effort against the virus from Scotland’s heidies

In the Herald today: WESTMINSTER has a “very clear duty of care” to protect Scottish (sic) civil servants involved in the Salmond row and MPs must ensure Scottish Government officials operate in an impartial and appropriate way, Liam Fox, the former UK Cabinet, has insisted. Three thoughts occur: Westminster has a “very clear duty of care” because the Scottish Government’s chief civil servant had to be chosen by the FM from a very short list (of Ulster Unionists?) compiled by the UK Civil Service and, as always, approved by the PM and MI5? Westminster has a “very clear duty of … Continue reading Civil servants ‘placed in’ not ‘of’ or ‘for’ Scotland?

As with their call for the First Minister to resign over an alleged breach of the ministerial code, when Boris Johnson has breached five or six times, the Scottish Tories’ call for publication of the Hamilton Report before the election, reeks of the same rank hypocrisy. Remember this? Boris Johnson was on Monday night accused of presiding over a cover-up after it emerged that No 10 refused to clear the publication of a potentially incendiary report examining Russian infiltration in British politics, including the Conservative party. Downing Street indicated on Monday that it would not allow a 50-page dossier from … Continue reading Like your leader didn’t do before the last election?

After falling to the 7th of March, then levelling until the 9th, the number of new Covid cases in Scotland has begun to climb for the first time since the end of December 2020. From 466 new cases on the 9th March, we now have a sequence of 691, 591 and today, 682. It’s maybe a bit early to worry but it is worthy of attention. The average time before symptoms show is 4 to 5 days. Today, 392 of the 682 were in Greater Glasgow and Clyde and in Lanarkshire. Since the 7th March, the trend has been flat … Continue reading What could have caused infection levels to climb especially in Glasgow and surrounding areas?

In 2019/20, there were 14 female victims of homicide in Scotland and in England and Wales, 188.[i] [ii] England and Wales have 10.88 times the population of Scotland so, all things being equal, might be expected to have 152 female victims but have 188, 24% higher. Now, I am absolutely not saying that statistical significance, which 24% more is, means that there is anything at all to be content or complacent about. I agree, that this high profile murder is only the visible edge of an epidemic of abuse of women across the UK. I am saying that no facts … Continue reading Is the murder of women significantly lower in Scotland?

Looking at the YouGov poll for 4th – 8th March, which suggests a 2 point lead for NO and a 3 point fall in SNP support, I was browsing the M/F and age ratios to see they made sense. They do, but when I looked at the sample in terms of region, something struck me. It may or may not have been a worthwhile strike. One of you will know. Anyhow, here is the distribution and the Yes/No ratio: Region                                    Electors                  Sample                   Yes          No North East Scotland            ?                              164/164                 44           56 Highlands & Islands             … Continue reading Is Poll biased against Glasgow? I should probably ask an expert

In the latest attempt to get a scalp, the evil wee axis of Tories, Labour and Lib Dumbs, combined forces to try to get one of the more respected politicians around. It’s the sort of thing that has turned out well for us all before, like the repeal of the offensive behaviour at football legislation which was clearly misjudged. I mean, honestly, how often do football supporters ever cause trouble? In the 18th paragraph after the Tory case is repeated we get: Mr Swinney contended that the government had published the advice to counter “outlandish allegations” of conspiracy, and had … Continue reading BBC Scotland get help- with headline writing to tell truth

In The Scotsman today, Murdo Fraser writes: It was even announced that as many as 10 000- new members had joined the SNP following her appearance – a claim which is as unsubstantiated as it is incredible. Many parties provide party membership figures for the year ending 31 December in annual accounts submitted to the Electoral Commission, allowing this for December 2018: The Labour Party had 518,659 members, a fall from 564,443 in December 2017. The Scottish National Party had 125,534, a rise from the 118,162 reported in April 2018. The Liberal Democrat Party had around 95,000 members, a fall from the 97,403 members in December … Continue reading Huffy Boots?