Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today, the above, and: According to the report’s authors, the difference in earnings is down to a lack of funds in more deprived areas, as more is spent on resources. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/22/gps-deprived-areas-england-paid-less-than-wealthy Meanwhile in Scotland, announced in February 2025, to no coverage We incentivise GPs into taking up harder to fill posts, mainly those in rural and deprived areas, through our £10,000 ‘Golden Hello’ scheme. This scheme offers a bursary of up to £10,000 to every GP taking up an eligible post.  https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-governments-written-evidence-review-body-doctors-dentists-remuneration-ddrb-2025-26-pay-round/pages/7/ Anything else about GP supply not getting much media attention? Just this: Continue reading GPs in poor parts of England are paid £5,500 less a year than in wealthy areas but in Scotland get a £10 000 incentive

stewartb A Block Grant Transparency report was first devised and published by HMRC on behalf of the Westminster government in December 2017. This and subsequent documents in the series set out in detail how the block grants for the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive are calculated. These reports help ensure that the financial implications for the ‘block grants’ of key fiscal events in Westminster – Spending Reviews, annual Budget, other Financial Statements to the Westminster parliament and also end of financial year ‘Main Estimates’ – are documented in detail and made public. This provision of this breakdown … Continue reading Why is Labour hiding the Block Grant Transparency report – further cuts to impose austerity on Scotland?

From Bob Lamont, in the wake (sic) of our report yesterday on the Isle of Wight ferries fiasco – Two English ferry companies borrowed HALF A BILLION and still charged customers four times as much as CalMac so that they could pay shareholders and bonuses – https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2025/04/18/two-english-ferry-companies-borrowed-half-a-billion-and-still-charged-customers-four-times-as-much-as-calmac-so-that-they-could-pay-shareholders-and-bonuses/ Had listened to an interesting ‘conversation’ (part of the Scotonomics event on 22nd March in Dundee) between Andy Verity and Danny Dorling (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm6k6DptTWM) and Danny had made a wonderful contrast between how the rich live in Sweden and the UK, which this article reminded me of – The Swedes have long regulated rigorously to ensure … Continue reading Does so-called ferry consultant think CalMac should go private like Isle of Wight ferries and then let him be their consultant on how to exceed half a million debt and astronomic prices

Professor John Robertson OBA Many thanks to David Rushent for alerting me to this. From the Isle of Wight Observer today: The Isle of Wight’s ferry services are in the spotlight, as IW East MP, Joe Robertson, voices serious concern about Wightlink’s finances. The firm’s CEO, Katy Taylor, has sparked questions, after failing to deny claims that the company’s owners plan to take £30 million out of the business, leaving Islanders to wonder what impact it would have on already sky-high fares. The IW Observer asked Mrs Taylor this week about reports that Wightlink’s shareholders are close to finalising a deal that … Continue reading Two English ferry companies borrowed HALF A BILLION and still charged customers four times as much as CalMac so that they could pay shareholders and bonuses