In a way unique to BBC Scotland, unseen in BBC Wales, N Ireland or England, we see today: The data was revealed through a freedom of information request by the Scottish Conservatives. Party justice spokesman, Jamie Greene, said the hours worked demonstrated the “dedication” of officers. He added: “This hard work is now being endangered by an SNP Government who have insulted police officers with a derisory pay offer.” “That has left officers with no choice but to withdraw their goodwill.” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-62270091 Missing, of course from the Scottish Tories, is the interesting fact that the Conservative Government in England is … Continue reading Scottish Tories write BBC headlines on police pay dispute

Two years after Scotland’s drug deaths peaked at ‘record’ levels, the MSM continue to ‘milk blood for fear of running out’ in an effort to keep this alleged SNP failure at the forefront of audience minds. What’s missing to properly inform the public, as they proudly claim they do? Police Scotland’s on-the-scene estimates are more accurate Scotland’s drug deaths have been falling for two years now Comparisons with other countries such as England are not valid Scotland’s drug deaths spike was largely the result of Tory economic policies in the 80s and 90s and a failure of New Labour policies … Continue reading Urgent call for for media clarity on Scotland’s falling drug deaths

Last week the MSM were full of reports of patients being treated on trolleys in corridors, fuelled by an RCN survey of 2 358 of its roughly 50 000 Scottish members (4.7%). 22% of those (1.2%) responded to a question to confirm that clinical care had taken place in a waiting room or corridor. First, from a self-selecting (squeaky wheel) and tiny sample these are not reliable findings. Second, I’ve been in touch with the ‘researchers‘ but they could not give one example of treatment on a trolley in a corridor, in Scotland. Typically, the Guardian did its best to … Continue reading No evidence Scottish patients treated in corridors on trolleys

A report on Scotland’s high number of drug deaths…’ Regulars will know that Scotland’s ‘record drug deaths’, a great favourite with our MSM and opposition politicians have been falling for some time but in a news vacuum many won’t have heard of it. I note a shift to ‘high number’ as BBC Scotland begin to adjust to the fact that the record is now three years old. Reporting Scotland today, all day no doubt, is perhaps getting a last one in before ‘we’ all notice the facts. So far, in 2021, suspected (Police Scotland data) drug deaths fell by 8%. … Continue reading Scotland’s plummeting drug deaths: One last time for the ‘record?’

From the SNP today: KEY ACHIEVEMENTS by the SNP in Government £18bn health funding – The 2022/23 Scottish Budget takes total health portfolio funding to £18bn, with resource funding up over 90% (£8.3bn) under the SNP (since 2006/07). Baby Box – Giving every baby born and resident in Scotland the best start in life by providing families with a Baby Box filled with essential items needed in the first six months of a child’s life. Free Tuition – Students in England face tuition fees up to £27,750. Since 2007 Scottish domiciled students have continued to receive free university tuition, unlike … Continue reading Wow! As the young folk say this is awesome!

– and condemned the Welsh Labour Government by implication? By stewartb There are notable features in a research report published recently (9 June 2022) by the health think tank, the Nuffield Trust. It’s entitled: ‘How well is the NHS in Wales performing?’ Source https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/how-well-is-the-nhs-in-wales-performing The first thing to note is the objective of the Trust’s work: ‘to review how waiting times in Wales compare with other UK countries and with historic trends.’  However, the more remarkable feature is this: ‘We (i.e. the Trust) were asked by the BBC to review how waiting times in Wales compare with other UK countries … Continue reading Has Scottish Labour ‘jumped the shark’ on Scotland’s NHS?

From BBC Scotland today, fed by a Scottish Labour Freedom of Information request: Nearly a quarter of Scotland’s NHS 24 calls are being abandoned before they are answered, new figures show. Between February and June, 23% of calls to the 111 helpline did not reach an operator before the caller cut off. A freedom of information request from Scottish Labour revealed that of the 785,456 calls made to the 111 service in the last five months, 180,940 were abandoned. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-62190497 From the Independent, also from Scottish Labour’s rodent team, but not mentioned above, in February 2022: So more calls yet … Continue reading NHS 24 improves with more calls yet fewer abandoned

By stewartb This recounts an evisceration of governance in the British state, not from some outlandish radical but from the outgoing director of the Institute for Government (IfG). The IfG is described as the UK’s ‘leading think tank working to make government more effective’. It is an institution close to the British establishment – check out its board of directors! For this reason its output is always ‘interesting’! The present director, Bronwen Maddox is leaving after six years to become director of Chatham House. Recently (11 July) she delivered her valedictory lecture entitled ‘What’s wrong with Britain’s government’. (The transcript … Continue reading ‘Cronyism; lying, bending the truth and self-delusion; lack of skill; lack of accountability’ – the characteristics of British governance!

Who has BBC Scotland ‘in the dock?’ Alistair Bonnington, their former legal adviser. Are they really in a ‘dock’ ie court? No, he’s just complained to the BBC and to Ofcom. I’ve done that many times. He’ll get nowhere. Back to Alistair, just another peely-wally Scottish ‘gammon?’ In 2020, he accused the OU of ‘Stalinism’ after it ‘removed a comment he made about transgender women.’ He was at the time a student of English Literature. Was Stalin sympathetic to trans women? Had he heard of them? Had he, would he have just ‘gulaged‘ them? Bonnington, who ‘taught Sturgeon‘ has a … Continue reading Funniest headline of the century?

By stewartb – long read In May 2022, with little or no media coverage in Scotland, the results of the UK-wide assessment of the quality and impact of research undertaken within universities – the ‘Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021’ – was published. In summary, this is what the representative body, Universities Scotland had to say: ‘Every one of Scotland’s 18 universities undertakes research judged to be of “world-leading” or 4* quality on the overall profile. ’86% of the research submitted by Scotland’s universities (to the REF assessment) has been judged to be world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) in its … Continue reading Research excellence in Scotland – musings on sustainability post-independence