I’m guessing, I’ve revealed the BBC Wales/BBC Scotland gap, 20 to 30 times now. I’ve complained but BBC Scotland didn’t understand what I was trying to suggest. Today, on the matter of how long we self-isolate, BBC Scotland had the above headline placing the Scottish Government on the defensive when it is following expert advice to save lives: Nicola Sturgeon is being “too cautious” with isolation rules leaving essential services short-staffed, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has said. In Scotland, households contacts of someone testing positive for Covid-19 must isolate for 10 days. Mr Ross wants this to change to … Continue reading BBC Wales and Welsh Tory leader appear to support life-saving measures

Though still climbing quite steeply, the infection rate in Scotland, due to the new more infectious variant, is now the lowest in the UK at 97.1 cases per 100K, compared to 105.6 in Wales, 116.7 in N Ireland and, as they head into the new year on a wing and a prayer, 144.1 cases per 100K in England. Smarter decision making by the Scottish Government and greater voluntary compliance with measures such as mask-wearing in public spaces, seem likely to explain this. Regional variations are telling too with Lambeth in London at a staggering 2 757 per 100K, 30 times … Continue reading Scotland has fewest new Covid cases in UK

Again, I think ‘No. Leave it. E’s not warf it’ but I don’t. Mark Smith, a professional journalist writing for a corporation, writes something hopefully provocative, preferably critical of the SNP/Nicola, in the hope you’ll click or turn a page and keep him in a job. That’s what it’s all about. Talk of professionalism, skills, values, standards is just mythology. Those who care about things that matter such as accuracy, truth, compassion, write freely across social media, for nothing. That’s why professionals desperately scrabble for evidence of those, common in social media, I know, and scream of how they, unlike … Continue reading ‘Money doesn’t talk. It swears’

As you know BBC Wales loves to praise Wales when they hit a nice milestone whereas BBC Scotland prefer a more gravestone-like achievement in death. Widely ignored today, Scotland has jagged 80% overall and 50% have been boosted. This puts Scotland 4th in the world: Continue reading Scotland smashes 50% booster and 80% overall jags target!

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has released a new Interim Report covering their findings of the Stonehaven rail crash. Back on the 12th August 2020, a ScotRail HST collided with washed-up debris near Carmont following heavy rainfall, resulting in the death of three people (the driver, conductor and a passenger), as well as causing injury to six other people. Data from 1T08 showed that it was travelling at 73mph, less than the permitted 75mph. https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/04/stonehaven-rail-crash-raib-release-new-report-into-fatal-accident-caused-by-stones-on-the-line.html The following night on BBC Scotland’s The Nine, 14 viewers saw James Cook, repeatedly interrupted the Scottish Transport Secretary, Michael Matheson to say: Well, exactly! … Continue reading Rail infrastructure, inspection and maintenance, is reserved to Westminster

From: cuckooshoe How much support will businesses actually receive? The information is readily available on the Scottish government website. http://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-december-and-january-business-support-top-up-hospitality-information-for-businesses/ “The December and January Business Support Top Up – Hospitality is a Scottish Government fund administered by local authorities. What you can getThe grant is a one-off payment at the rate of: £4,500 for premises which have a rateable value of up to and including £51,000, or £6,800 for premises have a rateable value of £51,001 or above” A bit more digging is required on the UK government’s website to find out how much businesses in England will receive. http://www.gov.uk/government/news/1-billion-in-support-for-businesses-most-impacted-by-omicron-across-the-uk … Continue reading Scottish Government’s one-off grant for hospitality industry is more generous.

Not a word on the comparative figures for the 4 nations in the above BBC UK report and, of course nothing in the BBC Scotland reporting. BBC NI tell us that 3 231 are theirs and BBC Wales that 4 500 are theirs. The Scottish Government have announced only 2 434 with an asterisk to warn that an update may be needed. However, the record figures for England alone are there on sites such as: https://twitter.com/UKCovid19Stats/status/1473687537277362180 The rate of new cases today in England is thus, pro rata, up to 4 times higher than in England and, at least, after … Continue reading Hiding Johnson regime’s pandemic failure

Other than the Scotsman’s residue of unionist trolls, that front page must disgust most. In opinion poll after opinion poll, the most popular, the most trusted political leader in the UK, presented as the hard, ruthless face of damage to part of the economy, as that is who she is. Trusted by well over twice the percentage who trust Johnson or, in Scotland, Ross or Sarwar. Following the advice of scientists, supported by a massive majority and with the courage to implement it in the interests of the people, Scotland’s first minister deserves better from the media she hesitates to … Continue reading Demonization of the most effective political leader in the UK

A friend, double-jagged with the AZ, became very, very, ill with Covid, a few months ago and was hospitalised twice, around 5 to 6 months after his second jag. Today, we read of an Edinburgh University study based on 2 million in Scotland and 42 million in Brazil suggesting the level of protection waned after only 3 months. Readers will remember problems with approval for the AZ in the EU and in the US. Anecdotally, older friends who got the Pfizer, told me they had read worrying accounts of the AZ and were relieved to have got, to their minds, … Continue reading Damning evidence that Oxford AZ vaccine quickly loses effect

On BBC 1 this morning, Rupert Clevely, owner of a 12 pub chain in London, does worry about the cost of new pandemic measures, but twice praises the Chancellor for all he’s done for him. There are no accusations levelled at the PM, no talk of ruin and closure. BBC Scotland never find that kind of guy. They find this kind of guy: Who are his two friends? I’ve seen them before. He prefers not to thank the FM for all she’s done. This is more his style: According to Alan Ferrier: Stephen Montgomery, voluntary and unpaid spokesman of the … Continue reading ‘Thank you Rishi Sunak for all your help and everything you have done!’ London Bar Owner on BBC 1