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Scotland’s essential historian for these times publishes the one modestly priced and most concise yet best History of Scotland you need to read and to buy for all those that matter to you

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From Columba to The Corries, the Picts to Paisley, Doggerland to Devolution – here is the unmissable story of Scotland. Scotland is one of the oldest nations in Europe. Its territory remains fundamentally unchanged since the fifteenth century, and its southern border with England has barely altered since 1237.And yet Scotland – a country with its own law, education and church – is not a state at all. In The Shortest History of Scotland, Murray Pittock argues that this very ambiguity has helped make the nation a central part of the global story.From first tribes to Scotland’s multicultural present, Pittock unpicks … Continue reading Scotland’s essential historian for these times publishes the one modestly priced and most concise yet best History of Scotland you need to read and to buy for all those that matter to you

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BBC UK reveals how Labour have copied the SNP

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BBC Breakfast this morning revealing BBC Scotland‘s deep drive to undermine anything the SNP do in Scotland. It’s a different culture in the BBC UK HQ. They’re not, I’m sure sympathisers with the SNP but, crucially, Scotland’s constitutional issues are not on their mind all the time and they still cling to some simple notions of journalistic honesty and accuracy so they just said the above without thinking. How has BBC Scotland reported the same initiative in Scotland? SNP leader John Swinney has denied his food prices policy is an attempt to force a fight with the UK government. Speaking … Continue reading BBC UK reveals how Labour have copied the SNP

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NHS Highland director reveals child poverty in her previous Wales responsibility is predicted to be a shocking nearly 60% higher

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are living in poverty. BBC Scotland’s wee insert in BBC Breakfast this morning is announcing the above and, on their website: Public health director Jennifer Davies said that of its 12,834 under-fives, almost 22% lived in relative poverty. In a new report, Davies said the “sheer geographic scale” of the area – which covers the Highlands and Argyll and Bute – posed challenges in reaching health services for some families. She said they could benefit from greater availability of housing, improved transport links and investment in play spaces. Davies said support for families should also be strengthened to maximise access … Continue reading NHS Highland director reveals child poverty in her previous Wales responsibility is predicted to be a shocking nearly 60% higher

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Swinney praised by all right-thinking folk ie not James Cook for his compassionate policy on essential food prices

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By Liz S BBC website top story Scottish politics page: “Swinney defends food prices policy ahead of first minister vote” “SNP leader John Swinney has denied his food prices policy is an attempt to force a fight with the UK government” “defends” and “attempt to force a fight with the UK government” ? So we are still in a cost of living crisis where it seems that the Labour UK government are not willing to do anything to help relieve the pressure on those families who are feeling the squeeze. Yet somehow the BBC (James Cook) thinks that Mr Swinney’s position in trying “to legally cap the price … Continue reading Swinney praised by all right-thinking folk ie not James Cook for his compassionate policy on essential food prices

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After nearly 20 years of SNP Governments most Scots no longer so desperate for a fag as they were under Jack McConnell

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From Smoking attributable hospital admissions and deaths Scotland 2024 published today: There were an estimated 1,107 smoking‑attributable hospital admissions per 100,000 population (38,675 admissions). This is a 36% decrease since 2008 (1,735 per 100,000). There were an estimated 204 smoking‑attributable deaths per 100,000 population (7,085 deaths). This is a 39% decrease since 2008 (334 per 100,000). https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/smoking-attributable-hospital-admissions-and-deaths/smoking-attributable-hospital-admissions-and-deaths-scotland-2024/ These are massive improvements which must be thanks to the SNP because if more folk were smoking and dying it would be widely blamed on them. Continue reading After nearly 20 years of SNP Governments most Scots no longer so desperate for a fag as they were under Jack McConnell

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Youth unemployment 17% higher in UK average than in Scotland

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From BBC Business, based on the latest ONS data, today: The UK unemployment rate has unexpectedly gone up while the number of job vacancies has fallen to its lowest level in five years as the initial impact of the Iran war on firms starts to be felt. The unemployment rate rose slightly to 5% in the three months to March from 4.9% in the three months to February. Analysts said the figures show the first effects of the Middle East war on the jobs market, and warned demand for workers would likely continue to weaken the longer the conflict goes … Continue reading Youth unemployment 17% higher in UK average than in Scotland

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How BBC Scotland tried to shift the blame for a Labour council’s ‘litany of failures’ in the Edinburgh Tram Project onto the SNP

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Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this: From BBC Scotland yesterday: Edinburgh council reaches settlement after suing tram law firm – The City of Edinburgh Council has settled its multi-million pound damages claim against a law firm that advised it over the first tram project. The local authority was seeking more than £200m in compensation, claiming DLA Piper failed to give adequate warnings that the price of the tram line would escalate. and way down the page: The £13m inquiry concluded in 2023 that failings by the City of Edinburgh Council and its arms-length companies were to blame for the delays … Continue reading How BBC Scotland tried to shift the blame for a Labour council’s ‘litany of failures’ in the Edinburgh Tram Project onto the SNP

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Only BBC Scotland reports on racism in the NHS yet on their own figures it is more than TWICE as common in other parts of the UK

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in Scotland last year. BBC Scotland‘s short insert in BBC Breakfast show this morning reports on a survey by the Royal College of Nursing on racist incidents in the NHS and suggests the above figures for NHS Scotland. It’s not covered by BBC Breakfast or on the websites of BBC Wales, Northern Ireland, nor for that matter, BBC Scotland with the implication then that it must be worse here. The Guardian this morning helped with context and prompted our response: Nurses across the UK reported 6,812 incidents last year in which they suffered racist abuse, NHS figures show, a big … Continue reading Only BBC Scotland reports on racism in the NHS yet on their own figures it is more than TWICE as common in other parts of the UK

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Significantly fewer Scots dissatisfied with social care services but Royal College of Nursing lies to deny Scottish Government any possible satisfaction

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Treat negativity about Scotland’s NHS and social care services with healthy scepticism: evidence of the Royal College of Nursing being plain wrong and opting to omit relevant positives. My apologies to stewartb but I’ve used my perhaps unattractive unilateral editorial powers to replace his more mature header above with my more combative version at the top! By stewartb When political advocacy in advance of a parliamentary election takes by its own admission, a ‘gloves off‘ tone, it seems reasonable to point out a clear error in case-making. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) recently published this report: ‘The Nursing Workforce … Continue reading Significantly fewer Scots dissatisfied with social care services but Royal College of Nursing lies to deny Scottish Government any possible satisfaction

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Massive fall in violent crime in Scotland especially among younger adults as lead pollution disappears

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There is a clear positive trend revealed in the data above from Re-conviction statistics for male offenders: FOI release published today. Violent crimes over the eight year period from 2012/13 to 2020/21, among under 21s fell from 181 to 44, more than three-quartered! For 21 to 30 year-olds from 492 to 231, it more than halved! Then, however, for all of the over 30 years groups, there were much more modest improvements. What might explain this? On 1 January 2000, lead in petrol was banned in the UK, when Scotland’s under 21s and 21s to 30s were still very young … Continue reading Massive fall in violent crime in Scotland especially among younger adults as lead pollution disappears