Category: Uncategorized
As 2 700 die in heatwave in England & Wales, Scottish Government actions ‘ahead of game’ despite lower temperatures here
Thanks to Dottie, once more for alerting me to this: In the Guardian today: England risks constructing a new generation of “death trap” buildings that can fatally overheat unless the government tightens standards and prioritises climate safeguards, planning experts have said. Fears are growing about the plight of vulnerable people in heatwaves, with research this week suggesting that 2,700 people had died in the May and June heatwaves in England and Wales. Yet only about half of local plans being drawn up by councils and local authorities require new buildings to have a cooling or ventilation strategy to prevent overheating, according to … Continue reading As 2 700 die in heatwave in England & Wales, Scottish Government actions ‘ahead of game’ despite lower temperatures here
Scotland gave England two million face masks despite UK Government departments funded by Scottish tax-payers being told not to help Scottish PPE buyers
From the Holyrood Health Committee on 7th May 2020, we heard that two UK departments, funded by the Scottish taxpayer, with extensive overseas trade links have been told not to support Scottish attempts to buy PPE: We have raised a specific issue with the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, about a decision that was taken with respect to the Department for International Trade overseas network and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issuing advice not to support new procurement requests from devolved administrations. The Department forInternational Trade’s overseas networks should be supporting the devolved Administrations, as parts of the … Continue reading Scotland gave England two million face masks despite UK Government departments funded by Scottish tax-payers being told not to help Scottish PPE buyers
How Nick Hancock ordered PPE manufacturers not to send supplies to Scottish care homes for the elderly in 2020 – The pandemic exposed the Union for what it is
Yesterday, BBC Health had: The lives of NHS staff and patients were put at risk in the pandemic because of a lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), with almost £10bn of taxpayers’ money wasted in a scramble to buy more, the Covid inquiry has said. The chair Baroness Hallett criticised the “vast” waste in procurement, put at £9.9bn – two-thirds of the £14.9bn the government spent on PPE. The UK entered the pandemic with its stockpile of masks, gowns and gloves in a perilous state and was unprepared for the global race to secure supplies, she added. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czrxrlydyzzo BBC … Continue reading How Nick Hancock ordered PPE manufacturers not to send supplies to Scottish care homes for the elderly in 2020 – The pandemic exposed the Union for what it is
To back or not to back England? Only 1 in 3 Scots want them to lose
For some reason, the media operating in Scotland love this issue so much they tend to ignore the somewhat undramatic facts. YouGov have done polls in 2022 and 2026 which give clear but not very exciting answers. In 2022, 26% of Scots wanted England to do badly in the World Cup. Only 9% actively supported England, with another 18% wishing them well. https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/44444-quarter-scots-want-england-do-badly-world-cup In 2026, it 32% hoped they fail but 27% hoped they will win. https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/9786037/scotland-fans-supporting-england-world-cup/ Not much to write about there is there? Why? Answers to this key question are thin on the ground, not polled, but across … Continue reading To back or not to back England? Only 1 in 3 Scots want them to lose
Boris Johnson’s government failed to anticipate and to react to pandemic threat but Nicola Sturgeon’s government made up for his incompetence
This from last year has popped up across social media, where it’s being seen in greater numbers than the Herald does, these days. So, it needs rebutting. First, How Boris Johnson’s top civil servant credited Nicola Sturgeon for showing them how to do it One more reason to be utterly disgusted by the current witch-hunt: From the National in May 2024: NICOLA Sturgeon was showing the Tory government “how to do it” during the Covid pandemic, according to WhatsApp messages sent by the UK’s most senior civil servant. Simon Case, who as cabinet secretary oversees the work of the UK’s entire civil … Continue reading Boris Johnson’s government failed to anticipate and to react to pandemic threat but Nicola Sturgeon’s government made up for his incompetence
Burnham’s Manchester is the worst for homelessness in the north west
By stewartb Ah but what about the supposed economic miracle that is Manchester? From the Manchester Evening News (December 11, 2025): ‘Manchester is the worst for homelessness in the north west – One in every 61 people in Manchester are homeless, according to the latest data. There are 4,678 children and a total of 9,589 people without a home in the Manchester city council area – the most out of any other area in the north west.’ Homelessness across Greater Manchester by borough: Manchester – 9,589 (one in every 61 people) Salford – 2,327 (one in every 126 people) Oldham – 1,347 (One … Continue reading Burnham’s Manchester is the worst for homelessness in the north west
Protecting politicians – do the Widdecombe lessons not apply to Nicola Sturgeon too?
By Liz S In Talking-up Scotland yesterday? BBC Scotland today, surprisingly, given the Widdicombe murder obsession of all the press… However on the BBC website headline today is this: “Investigation into Widdecombe’s death rekindles debate over how to protect politicians” Also today on the BBC website is this headline: “Sturgeon’s police statement on SNP finances won’t be released, says lawyer” This is a long article that also includes “How the Peter Murrell case unfolded” which includes a timeline and a breakdown of yet another regurgitated BBC report on this past case , that as a criminal case has now been concluded , as the … Continue reading Protecting politicians – do the Widdecombe lessons not apply to Nicola Sturgeon too?
Risk of dying from cancer in Scotland has plummeted in last ten years
From Cancer mortality Annual update to 2024 planned revision, published today: Let’s be clear what this means. Slightly more people died from cancer in 2024 than in 2015 but that is simply because there are more older people in the overall population. What really matters here, as a measure of how well NHS Scotland is performing, is the ratio of those dying, of the overall population – the risk you face. That has improved dramatically, falling 12.1%, from 328,5 per 100 000 to 288.9 per 100 000. Source: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/cancer-mortality/cancer-mortality-in-scotland-annual-update-to-2024-planned-revision/ Continue reading Risk of dying from cancer in Scotland has plummeted in last ten years
Six unique steps the SNP Government is taking to avert the claim that ‘children will be one of the unhealthiest generations in decades’
You know what I’m going to say. Yes, no mention of Scotland in this, from the Guardian‘s Health Correspondent, Tobi Thomas. Do you think that means Tobi has done the research and knows that doomy claim applies equally to Scotland? Has s/he flip! The Scottish Government has taken several targeted actions on child nutrition, obesity, and related health issues, which could help mitigate aspects of the UK-wide problems highlighted in the RCPCH report upon which the Guardian report is based. Such as? Here are a selected six of them. Expansion of free school meals to tackle child poverty and improve … Continue reading Six unique steps the SNP Government is taking to avert the claim that ‘children will be one of the unhealthiest generations in decades’
The 'Unstoppable' Talking-up Scotland 