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SNP policies continue to push worst form of poverty downward despite UK trends

johnrobertson834

From the Scottish Government yesterday, but getting no MSM coverage: Between 2018 and 2022, 10% of people in Scotland were in persistent poverty after housing costs. These rates have changed very little over time. Persistent poverty identifies individuals who live in relative poverty for three or more of the last survey periods. It therefore identifies people who have been living in poverty for a significant period of time, which is more damaging than brief periods spent with a low income. The impacts can affect an individual throughout their lifetime. Persistent poverty in both Wales, after forever Labour control, and in England, … Continue reading SNP policies continue to push worst form of poverty downward despite UK trends

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Violent Wolverhampton drugs gang arrests in Edinburgh not in public interest here apparently

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From PA Scotland yesterday (the above is a Wolverhampton-based gang; perhaps the same one but there are several): Six men have been arrested as part of a day of action targeting “county lines” drug supplies into Edinburgh. Detectives said the men, aged 38, 30, 29, 24, 22 and 21, were arrested in Edinburgh and Wolverhampton on Wednesday and charged in connection with various drug offences. Police said small quantities of crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis, along with a four-figure sum of cash, were recovered during the operation. Detectives from Edinburgh have made a number of arrests in a day of action aimed … Continue reading Violent Wolverhampton drugs gang arrests in Edinburgh not in public interest here apparently

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Two new Romania-built ferries still not in service more than two years after delivery

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In yet another example of the false economy of having ferries built in countries with lower labour costs and more relaxed regulations, Ontario’s transport minister has further delayed the use of two ferries built in Romania’s Damen shipyards which arrived in late 2021. The reasons are not being revealed but are to do with safety after the Wolfe Islander IV ran aground. Readers remember one of the Vietnam-built Orkney catamaran, the only 15 year-old MV Pentalina, running aground last April, only weeks after some time in dry-dock. Returning to the two Romanian ferries, last November we wrote: Amherst and Wolfe … Continue reading Two new Romania-built ferries still not in service more than two years after delivery

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Even a Tory MP can see what privatised ferry services become – think carefully Scottish islanders

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From On the Wight, today: Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, has this week released an in-depth study into cross-Solent ferry services. My research has led me to believe that, using a web of offshore companies, Wightlink and Red Funnel’s owners and lenders have taken large profits out of the firms for years. To drive efficiency and take even more profits, directors have cut timetables; introduced surge pricing, which penalises Islanders for making essential journeys at peak times; and limited investment in ferries, some of which are now 34 years old. Islanders are tired of ‘technical’ and ‘mechanical’ issues. The … Continue reading Even a Tory MP can see what privatised ferry services become – think carefully Scottish islanders

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‘Scotland is no longer a free country’ admits former Labour minister and Tory adviser

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One of a clutch of unloved and embittered old gammons employed by the Times, Telegraph and Spectator, to malign the old country for English readers, ‘Uncle’ Tom Harris, former  Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department for Transport in 2006, then in 2021, adviser to the Conservative government on Scottish issues, trots out the above tabloid rubbish for Telegraph readers and to thus inform Fiona Bruce for her next QT interruptions of the SNP panellist. The facts, not leaks, from Police Scotland, issued a day before the Harris report: Harris used to be a journalist. Daily Mail? Continue reading ‘Scotland is no longer a free country’ admits former Labour minister and Tory adviser

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Scotland’s extraordinary fiscal contribution to UK economy revealed and that’s before Oil and gas revenue!

johnrobertson834

Many thanks to Andrew for spotting this From The London Economic yesterday but largely ignored elsewhere: Scotland’s annual tax contributions to the UK have increased by £14.2 billion over the last decade, with income tax, capital gains tax and taxes on productions such as environmental levies driving this increased contribution. New analysis shows that the Scottish public sector generated an annual revenue of £73.3 billion during the last financial year, a 24 per cent increase versus a decade ago, equating to an increased contribution of £14.2 billion to the UK economy. As a result, Scotland now accounts for 8 per … Continue reading Scotland’s extraordinary fiscal contribution to UK economy revealed and that’s before Oil and gas revenue!

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Hospital waiting time lists in England 12 times longer than in Scotland!

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The Scotsman and the Mail are making much of a Royal Colleges report into waiting time lists for under-18s being more than 100% longer, more than twice as long. I can’t find directly comparable data for England but I can find it for all age groups and it’s large hard-boiled sweet-stopping. From NHS England Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times Data for all age groups: In October 2012, 156 461 waited longer than 18 weeks. In September 2023, 3 222 357 waited longer than 18 weeks, 21 times as long. From Public Health Scotland 18 weeks referral to Treatment (RTT) … Continue reading Hospital waiting time lists in England 12 times longer than in Scotland!

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Here’s why today’s ‘Child NHS wait scandal’ stories omit mental health

johnrobertson834

The Scotsman and the Mail are headlining the 114.6%, just over doubling’ of waiting time lists for more than 12 weeks, among under 18 year-olds. Comparisons with other parts of the UK are not always possible, but I’m working on that and will report soon. Just over doubling in 10 years? I suspect there is even worse to be found elsewhere. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health research seems to focus only on Scotland and carefully avoids mention of the crucial area of mental health. You can see why as, in Scotland, performance is steadily improving and, most … Continue reading Here’s why today’s ‘Child NHS wait scandal’ stories omit mental health

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Beauty treatment – BBC ecstatic to report ‘Scotland worst in Europe’ again as Fife woman dies in Türkiye

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beauticians providing customers with cosmetic injections, according to healthcare professionals. Close thing there with that claim. Türkiye is in the Eurovision Song Contest and many go there for cosmetic surgery. BBC Scotland, first thing and throughout the day has another ‘expert’ to damn the Scottish Government for lack of action. Yesterday, it was a London-based climate change rep. The ‘healthcare professionals?’ Frances Turner Traill of the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses. The evidence? From the longer website report: Jackie Partridge of the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses said: “Colleagues across the rest of the world are shocked and in disbelief … Continue reading Beauty treatment – BBC ecstatic to report ‘Scotland worst in Europe’ again as Fife woman dies in Türkiye

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Alcohol-related hospitalisation rates continue to plummet after Labour mismanagement ends

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In the years of Labour government at Holyrood, alcohol-related hospital admissions to general acute hospitals, climbed steadily and worryingly, to peak in 2006/2007. From then on as the SNP in government began their push toward a more equal society with enhanced benefits, more progressive taxation, lower rent and rates and more affordable housing than elsewhere in the UK, they have fallen steadily. In addition, the SNP Minimum Unit Pricing scheme has now been running for six years. Some researchers have been keen to suggest it has not been effective but have no other explanation for the continued and accelerating fall since … Continue reading Alcohol-related hospitalisation rates continue to plummet after Labour mismanagement ends