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Scotland gave England two million face masks despite UK Government departments funded by Scottish tax-payers being told not to help Scottish PPE buyers

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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

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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

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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

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To back or not to back England? Only 1 in 3 Scots want them to lose

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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

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Boris Johnson’s government failed to anticipate and to react to pandemic threat but Nicola Sturgeon’s government made up for his incompetence

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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

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Burnham’s Manchester is the worst for homelessness in the north west

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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

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Protecting politicians – do the Widdecombe lessons not apply to Nicola Sturgeon too?

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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?

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Risk of dying from cancer in Scotland has plummeted in last ten years 

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From Cancer mortality Annual update to 2024 planned revision, published today: In 2024 the European Age Standardised Rate (EASR), or risk of dying from cancer in Scotland, decreased by 12.1% compared to 2015 (from 328.5 to 288.9 per 100,000 population respectively). However, despite this reduction, the number of deaths due to cancer has increased by 2.1% (to 16,352 from 16,011 in 2015). This largely reflects an increase in the proportion of older age groups within the population, and the fact that cancer is more common among older people. Two-thirds (70%) of all cancer deaths occurred in people aged seventy and … Continue reading Risk of dying from cancer in Scotland has plummeted in last ten years 

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Six unique steps the SNP Government is taking to avert the claim that ‘children will be one of the unhealthiest generations in decades’

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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’

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Disability benefits – Burnham only has to ask as Scotland already offers a large majority of what is proposed for a ‘truly progressive system’

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In the Guardian today, once more, complete Anglocentrism as a writer does not think to ask if any other part of the UK has already done what she wants Andy Burnham to do. There’s not a mention of Scotland in the above but to what extent does the Scottish system already offer what is suggested? Scotland’s Adult Disability Payment (ADP) system already delivers a substantial portion of what the article advocates, particularly in shifting away from the most criticised elements of the current PIP system in England and Wales. It provides a more humane, less intrusive process and greater security … Continue reading Disability benefits – Burnham only has to ask as Scotland already offers a large majority of what is proposed for a ‘truly progressive system’

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UK Home Office ‘regularly’ leaking confidential medical information to lawyers – imagine the media frenzy in Scotland

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Thanks to Dottie for this: From the FT today: UK immigration lawyers say that they regularly receive confidential medical information meant for individuals whose work visa applications they handled, in an apparent breach of privacy rules that stretches back years.  The lawyers have received emails and text messages ranging from notifications of hospital appointments to messages about vaccinations and diagnostic tests, they said. In one recent case, cancer test results were shared. The lawyers suggest that this is occurring because the people in question have given their details to UK Visas & Immigration, part of the Home Office, as the … Continue reading UK Home Office ‘regularly’ leaking confidential medical information to lawyers – imagine the media frenzy in Scotland