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Unlike in Trumpish Labour’s England, the Responsible SNP Government actively worked with resident doctors to negotiate a deal that averted strikes in Scotland

johnrobertson834

Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this: From the BMJ 2 April 2026: A thousand extra training places for resident doctors in England will no longer be available this April, the government has said. The axing of the posts came after the government issued an ultimatum to the doctors’ union the BMA as part of the ongoing dispute over pay and jobs. The prime minister, Keir Starmer, wrote in the Times1 on 30 March that 1000 training places promised by the government for this month would be axed if the union continued to refuse to put the government’s latest offer—which was … Continue reading Unlike in Trumpish Labour’s England, the Responsible SNP Government actively worked with resident doctors to negotiate a deal that averted strikes in Scotland

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Canadian ferry misses rocks by only 1m in same place as another ferry ran aground 20 years earlier with the loss of two lives

johnrobertson834

From CBC in British Columbia on 3 April 2026: B.C. Ferries released details Thursday about a “rare operational incident” involving a vessel sailing in rough weather off the northern B.C. coast, almost a month after the vessel sailed close to a rock shoal – with only about a metre to spare. The Northern Adventure – a vessel that regularly sails between Port Hardy, Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii – hit bad weather, and deliberately changed course to navigate around the difficult conditions. According to B.C. Ferries, that’s when the ship – which was carrying 90 passengers and 55 crew – … Continue reading Canadian ferry misses rocks by only 1m in same place as another ferry ran aground 20 years earlier with the loss of two lives

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Herald writer ‘admits’ to cycling a bike while under the affluence but wants to spoil the fun of the young and fit

johnrobertson834

In Kevin McKenna‘s piece yesterday in the Herald: In Scot­land, in recent years, the Scot­tish Gov­ern­ment, egged on by the Greens, has con­ferred sac­red status on cyc­ling lanes, turn­ing them into a sort of lux­ury Cale­do­nian cam­ino for the middle-classes. ‘I’ve got noth­ing against cycle travel, but how many middle-aged, work­ing-class women have you seen rid­ing a bicycle into the city? The answer is none. The pri­or­ity for Glas­gow has to be buses.’ WTF’s a ‘camino’ Kev. Middle-Class or whit? Kevin, back in 2012, before he had to pretend being pro-independence as cover for slagging the SNP every day: So … Continue reading Herald writer ‘admits’ to cycling a bike while under the affluence but wants to spoil the fun of the young and fit

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Everybody complains about their ferry service, from Norway to North America – short video

johnrobertson834

Sources at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/04/05/norways-superior-ferry-system-exposed-as-failing-to-consult-locals-in-time-to-prevent-unpopular-outcomes-like-service-cuts-route-adjustments-driven-by-budget-constraints-or-central-government-p/ and: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/04/05/nowhere-else-in-the-world-runs-their-ferry-networks-like-this-well-only-the-isle-of-wight-the-channel-islands-british-columbia-new-zealand-washington-state-usa/ Continue reading Everybody complains about their ferry service, from Norway to North America – short video

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Norway’s ‘superior’ ferry system exposed as failing to consult locals in time to prevent unpopular outcomes like service cuts, route adjustments driven by budget constraints or central government policy goals

johnrobertson834

Norway’s ferry service has been recently portrayed as superior to Scotland’s. I suppose they have got $2 trillion in the bank and we’ve got SFA but, wait what’s this: In Norway there are also reports and criticisms of insufficient or ineffective community involvement in decisions affecting ferry (ferge) and fast ferry (hurtigbåt) services, which serve as vital lifelines for coastal, island, and fjord communities. https://www.nho.no/siteassets/nho-regioner-filer/nho-nordland/nf17-2025-samfunnsnytten-av-hurtigbattilbudet-i-nordland.pdf Norway operates one of the world’s largest and most subsidized ferry networks, with many routes under public service obligations (PSOs) managed at the county (fylkeskommune) level or nationally. These connections are essential for daily life, … Continue reading Norway’s ‘superior’ ferry system exposed as failing to consult locals in time to prevent unpopular outcomes like service cuts, route adjustments driven by budget constraints or central government policy goals

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‘Nowhere else in the world runs their ferry networks like this?’ Well, only the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, British Columbia, New Zealand, Washington State USA…..

johnrobertson834

OK, I’m not going on about all the Scottish Government subsidies the ‘islanders’ get because, according to Lesley Riddoch, it upsets them to be told about them but I cannot, just cannot, ignore the above claims. Are there reports of government’s excluding the communities most affected from decisions which are crucial for their wellbeing in, for example, the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, British Columbia, New Zealand or Washington State USA? It seems there are. I’m shocked. Surely the Stornoway Gazette guy checked first. Yes, there are reports and public criticisms in several of these regions of governments or … Continue reading ‘Nowhere else in the world runs their ferry networks like this?’ Well, only the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, British Columbia, New Zealand, Washington State USA…..