As with most issues, Scotland’s media has platformed the opposition party attempts to turn the serious matter of proper safety regulation and taxation of short-let, self-catering, businesses, based on internet-based booking, into another SNPbad narrative. Note that ‘only two thirds have now applied?’ That’s gone up quite a bit since the early howls of complaint. The facts are being ignored for political gain, they hope. So, quickly, from the US Economic Policy Institute in 2019 on ‘internet based service firms’: Economic policy discussions about IBSFs have become quite heated and are too often engaged at high levels of abstraction. To … Continue reading Yousaf acts supported by 88% majority to protect local economy and people from Airbnb tax and safety regulations avoidance

Thanks to Dorothy for alerting me to this. From the Science Media Centre and getting some media attention: Dr Doug Brown, Chief Executive of the British Society for Immunology, said: “England continues to miss key targets on uptake for vaccinations for children and no routine vaccination reaches the World Health Organization’s (WHO) coverage target of 95% uptake at the correct time point, according to this year’s report on NHS Childhood Vaccination Coverage Statistics. “It is particularly worrying that today’s statistics show that only 84.5% of children receive the second MMR vaccine dose by age 5 – well below the 95% … Continue reading Fears of deadly measles spread into Scotland as Tory Government fails to ensure vaccine levels meet WHO target

Have I read the full article in the Herald’s Scottish Ferries newsletter? Don’t be daft. I have a life….well sort of. I think these explain: Who is responsible for maritime policy in the UK? Reserved powers In general, civilian maritime transport policy is reserved to the UK Parliament, and is managed by the UK Government where there is a need for consistent provision across the UK. UK-wide maritime transport policy is managed by the Department for Transport (DfT). The main legislation which provides for UK shipping, including ship registration, safety, pollution and liability applies UK-wide, along with the relevant provisions relating to … Continue reading Scottish Government cannot fail on international ferries

The ferry fiasco in British Columbia has led to threats of ‘taking a gun’ to staff. Today from the Times Colonist: B.C. Ferries is moving its advisory committee meetings online and postponing drop-in sessions after an incident where it said an individual made a threat to “take a gun” to everyone. The company has paused all in-person events while it implements a safety and security plan for community engagement activities, Brian Anderson, B.C. Ferries vice-president of strategy and community engagement, said in a letter to ferries advisory committees. https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/bc-ferries-moves-public-consultation-online-after-threats-of-violence-7611413 The latest source of frustration reported at the same time in … Continue reading Frustrated ferry passenger threatens violence, in Canada

In the Guardian today: Criminals in England and Wales spared jail sentences because of overcrowding Judges and magistrates told to consider high prison population opting for suspended sentences instead of immediate jail terms https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/28/criminals-in-england-and-wales-spared-jail-sentences-because-of-overcrowding In the Scotsman in October 2020: A leaked document urges the abolition of jail sentences of 12 months or less. Mr Ross said: “The SNP Government could end up meddling with the independence of the judiciary by removing their discretion to impose appropriate sentences. This would be a tawdry betrayal of victims while allowing dangerous and violent offenders to escape meaningful punishment.” https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/leaked-report-calls-for-community-service-for-scots-criminals-to-be-cancelled-3014595 Continue reading Tory civil war over betrayal of victims of crime

From BBC Scotland this morning Research from the RSPB and other nature organisations say we’re now one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. This is a lie. The report does say on page 3: The UK is now one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth. Nowhere is Scotland given that title and with good reason when you dig deeper. On the basis of a 30 minute look at a 200 plus page report: While there are clear and disturbing reductions especially in seabirds and harbour seals (page 5), but also in plant and other species, the rest … Continue reading ‘We’re’ not one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.

The public spending watchdog says the Government can’t afford it’s £26 billion plans to build things like roads, prisons and hospitals. He’s on first thing today with another of his worrisome reports suggesting Scotland just can’t make it in the world. Have you ever seen the Auditor General for England on the BBC first thing, with similar messages? Indeed who is the AG for England? It’s Gareth Davies! Try searching for ‘BBC England Gareth Davies’ and you’ll not get the AG, you’ll get a Welsh Scrum Half! Try searching for ‘BBC England Auditor General’ and all you’ll get is how … Continue reading Does Scotland’s Auditor General have a contract at BBC Scotland?

The MV Alfred, leased to CalMac by Pentland Ferries, currently tied up for gearbox problems in Ardrossan, is the cause of multiple cancellations on the Arran crossing. The MV Alfred was cheap. Only £14.5 million in 2019. It’s not clear what either the Communist Government subsidy, the wages rate or the death rate of workers in the Strategic Marine Shipyard was. It is also not clear just how much is lost to the Scottish economy by failing to build ferries here. On 5 July 2022, the Alfred grounded on the uninhabited island of Swona while enroute from Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope. It … Continue reading The false and immoral economy of cheap ferries from Communist Vietnam

The relative lack of full Scottish polls as we approach the by-election day makes it difficult to assess the relative support for the SNP and Labour. Sub-polls of 200 or so Scots from larger UK polls have obvious limitations as a substitute. However, a sequence of sub-poll data from the same pollster might offer some insight. From 2 August to 21 September 2023, YouGov have carried out 6 polls with Scottish subsets of around 200. On 2 August, they had: UK Labour 45, Labour in Scotland (LIS) 36 and SNP 38. On 17 August, they had: UK Labour 44, Labour … Continue reading Six YouGov sub-polls of around 1 000 Scots suggest Labour in Scotland have shot their bolt

From the Scottish Government today but not making it onto BBC Scotland or any front pages: More than 38,000 payments have been paid to families to help with the costs of early learning and starting school. Families who qualify for Scottish Child Payment are now automatically awarded Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment when their child becomes eligible, without them having to apply separately. Figures showed that since Social Security Scotland introduced automation of the payments in November last year, 14,825 Early Learning Payments and 23,810 School Age Payments have been made, up to the end … Continue reading More news you might never hear – More than 38,000 automatic payments help families with the costs of early learning and starting school