The Scotsman and Mail headlines today reveal a deeply entertaining tragi-comedy coming to an end as their desperate attempt to undermine the SNP in Government fails to survive a collision with the evidence. From BBC Scotland: Scotland’s biggest drinks producers have signed up to the controversial deposit return scheme by the deadline, the Scottish government has confirmed. The 664 companies that have registered are responsible for 95% of drinks sold in single-use containers in Scotland. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64814105 Further adding to the laughs, BBC Scotland then give us a Gold standard ‘ah but’ of supreme dumbness: However critics say they cover only … Continue reading Conservatives and media humiliated as 95% of drink sales enter SNP deposit return scheme on day one

Who is telling the Scottish Government ministers to resign? Liam Kerr of the Cons, part-time MSP and often-times lawyer, is the one calling. Neither he nor Conor Matchett cares to consider these facts: FACTCHECK: With only 2.7% of the population Scotland will have 47% of the wind power in all of North Sea basin Europe’s projected offshore wind power First, from a European Parliament report in 2020: Market forces, technological advances and price developments will continue to drive offshore renewable energy growth over the coming years. Nonetheless, such a change in pace requires overcoming a number of obstacles and ensuring that throughout … Continue reading Journalist and Con told to keep up on wind statistics

The above Inyourarea graphic reveals the varying levels of violent crime per 1 000 population, based on ONS data published on 26 January 2023, across England & Wales. Below, from Statista, for the same period, the data, per 10 000, for Scotland. Don’t be offended if I remind you to divide the Scottish figures by 10 before comparing with those for England and Wales. So, Dundee, with the highest level in Scotland of 80.7 violent crimes per 1 000 comes in 24th equal with Cambridge. Notably the average for England & Wales, 92.6 per 1 000, is approaching twice that … Continue reading Violent crime in England & Wales at almost TWICE the level in Scotland

Published today, Hope Not Hate’s poll, aimed primarily at measuring support for right-wing extremism, has inadvertently revealed broad support for Scottish independence across the UK. I should, as always, note a lack of any detail on research methods, especially sampling. Source: Continue reading UK poll of 20 000 puts support for Scottish independence ahead with massive 19% lead

In their otherwise interesting and useful survey of 20 000, Hope Not Hate, describer a tiny number of right-wing and violent extremists operating in Scotland. Most are also extreme Unionists yet mainstream, democratic and socially progressive support for Scottish independence is right in the centre of this graphic, next to an array of violent, racist, holocaust denial and misogynist sentiments. Disgraceful Anglocentrism, even on the supposedly educated left. Full text at: https://hopenothate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/state-of-hate-2023-v7-1.pdf Continue reading UK campaign group puts support for Scottish independence alongside racism, misogyny, violence and holocaust denial

From Public Health Scotland in December 2022: The Scottish Government set a Standard that 90% of people referred for help with problematic drug or alcohol use will wait no longer than three weeks for specialist treatment that supports their recovery. Nationally, the Standard was met for referrals starting treatment across all substances: problematic use of drugs (94%), alcohol (91%) and co-dependency (93%). https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times-1-july-2022-to-30-september-2022 Today, attracting of course, zero coverage, this: Three organisations supporting people with problem drug use will receive more than £14 million to increase the number of residential rehabilitation placements. The funding will create an extra 225 placements each year … Continue reading SNP Government allocates further £14 million for already target-busting drugs treatment service