BBC and STV News tonight report that Sepa has said the e-coli readings on Portobello beach are ‘likely’ due to gull-fouling rather than sewage spills of the kind being repeatedly championed by local Labour MP, Chris Murray. The Scottish Government is “missing in action” after bacteria pollution at an Edinburgh beach led to swimmers being warned to stay away from the water, an MP has claimed. Chris Murray, the new Labour MP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, said urgent action is needed to deal with sewage ending up in waters around the city. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/environment/edinburgh-scottish-government-labour-liberal-democrats-scottish-b1170407.html STV said that Sepa had told them that raised e-coli reading were … Continue reading Labour disappointed after SNP cleared of responsibility for seagulls pooping on Portobello beach

Just three front pages today not including the Herald and the Scotsman saying the same thing less directly. Corporate ‘journalism’ has been long dead, writing now zombie-like. Do they feel any responsibility not to inflame, to influence some of disturbed mind, like the recent murderers of MPs? Do they feel anything other than their wallets? Only a month ago, they were working to distort the reality, flaws and all, of what Nicola Sturgeon has done for Scotland. In the Herald 21 June 2026, this either unaware or dishonest claim, above. Journalism students know that much of what journalist do, rather than faithfully … Continue reading The sickening front pages on Nicola Sturgeon only days after the murder of Anne Widdicombe

On BBC Newsnight, last night, discussing police arrests in Oxford and the Pakistani government’s refusal to accept a rape grooming gang leader born there, a figure that just took my breathe away. According to the National Police Chief’s Council, the latest figures show 123 000 child sexual abuse offences in 2024, a 6% increase on the year before. I know, this is a topic we feel unhappy about exploring but you can be sure that were there a sniff of a higher rate per head in Scotland, the media and opposition politicians would not hesitate to milk it daily and … Continue reading Child sexual abuse offences in Scotland half as common as in England & Wales 19 years after Salmond’s minority government acted

Four months after two meningitis deaths in Kent, we can read from BBC Health, in the last few minutes: All teenagers should be offered a free vaccine against meningitis B (MenB) at around the age of 15, UK experts are now recommending – a change to previous advice. It follows concerns over the UK’s largest and fastest growing outbreak that happened in Kent earlier this year, in which two people died. As a precaution, a one-off vaccination campaign is already being launched around the UK this summer for young people heading off to university for the first time, among some others. Advisers, external are asking … Continue reading Four months after two die from meningitis NHS England does something to catch up with Scotland

From Mid-2025 population estimates published 14 July 2026 by the NRS: Migration was the main driver of population growth over the latest year. Net international migration was +9,300 in the year to mid-2025. Net migration between elsewhere in the UK and Scotland was +8,600. Together, these gave a total net migration of +17,900. This is lower than the recent peak of +83,300 in the year to mid-2023 and the level (+47,000) in the year to mid-2024. Net migration was positive in 25 of Scotland’s 32 council areas over the latest year. https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/publications/mid-2025-population-estimates/ Nearly 1 million people have moved from the rest … Continue reading Nearly a million mainly English migrants choose Scotland in two decades of SNP government