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Since 2007 SNP Government has built 73% more affordable homes than Labour Wales and 47% more than England

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From Housing shortages, targets and delays in delivery information: EIR release published yesterday: Information requested 1) Internal communications, briefing notes or guidance relating to how housing shortages, housing targets, or delays in delivery should be presented or communicated publicly. 2) Any records discussing media handling, messaging, or reputational risks relating to housing supply or development delays. From the period 1 January 2023 to present (19 March 2026). https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202600511694/ On pages 21/22 of the attached appendices: Continue reading Since 2007 SNP Government has built 73% more affordable homes than Labour Wales and 47% more than England

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The blind spot in researchers’ apocalyptic water shortages predictions – the 90% of the UK supply in Scotland

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In the Guardian today, the above and: Rainwater harvesting, the use of grey water in homes and an urgent campaign to reduce water usage across society are vital to prevent water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, the government has been told. Without intervention, England will face severe water shortages in the coming decades, as climate change-induced weather patterns, population growth and the expansion of industries such as water-intensive datacentres put excessive demand on supplies and endanger life, according to a House of Lords report published on Thursday. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/21/england-harvest-rainfall-water-usage-shortages-house-of-lords-report There’s no mention of Scotland in the report and media operating … Continue reading The blind spot in researchers’ apocalyptic water shortages predictions – the 90% of the UK supply in Scotland

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Carole Ford again – some maths teacher, some educationist

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On Debate Night, Reform UK’s Thomas Kerr claimed that nearly 400 000 ‘voted for us.’ It was only 365 000, not so near. Then, ‘educationist’ and former head and maths teacher but a former parliamentary Lib Dem candidate too, Carole Ford, converted that 400 000 into ‘three quarters of a million‘ (750 000)! Rusty? Earlier Ford had repeated her trust in the OECD/Pisa tests which some suggest reveal a decline in standards in Scotland. which are sat right across developed countries, the OECD countries. Scotland’s standards have been on the slide since about 2004. Ford was a Heidie in Kilmarnock … Continue reading Carole Ford again – some maths teacher, some educationist

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Ferry fiasco as electric hydrofoil ferry contract awarded by UK Government and Orkney Council is ‘beset by issues’ and lasts only one year before ‘latest delay’ and safety concerns means return to builder for ‘upgrades’ to ‘alarm systems’

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Needless to say the BBC Scotland report on this plays the whole thing down and makes no accusations at all: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgpj13p5x1o The Orcadian is less restrained, with: Electric hydrofoil vessel to return to Belfast in latest blow to £15m project. Just over a year since electric hydrofoil ferry, Zevi 1, arrived in Orkney, the vessel is now to return to Belfast in the latest delay to the £15 million project to cut maritime carbon emissions. It has emerged this week that Zevi 1 will undergo a “system upgrade” at a facility in Belfast owned by its developers, Artemis Technologies. It is unclear when … Continue reading Ferry fiasco as electric hydrofoil ferry contract awarded by UK Government and Orkney Council is ‘beset by issues’ and lasts only one year before ‘latest delay’ and safety concerns means return to builder for ‘upgrades’ to ‘alarm systems’

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‘Scottish taxpayers and billpayers are likely to share the cost and risk of Sizewell C even though the plant is being built in England’

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Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this. In the Guardian today, the above and: The cost of the government’s £38bn nuclear plant in Suffolk is subject to “significant uncertainty” and may outweigh the benefits for UK households until at least 2064, according to the government’s spending watchdog. The National Audit Office (NAO) has warned that although the potential benefits of the Sizewell C nuclear plant are considerable, they remain uncertain. The risks, however, are “immediate, substantial and borne by the public”. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/20/spending-watchdog-warns-38bn-cost-of-sizewell-c-nuclear-plant-is-risky Which ‘public?’ Surely not Scots, 400 miles away in the midst of renewable power surpluses? Dear chatgpt, will taxpayers … Continue reading ‘Scottish taxpayers and billpayers are likely to share the cost and risk of Sizewell C even though the plant is being built in England’

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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