From SNP Media: The SNP has said the food bank figures released today by the Trussell Trust should serve as a wake up call to the UK government, as they lay bare how Tory cuts and policies have pushed families and disabled people into poverty and destitution. The Trussell Trust’s report, ‘State of Hunger’, revealed that 95% of food bank users were destitute and 62% of working-age people referred to food banks in early 2020 were disabled – more than three times the rate in the working age population. Just last month, it was revealed that there had been a 63% … Continue reading FOOD BANK FIGURES LAY BARE IMPACT OF CRUEL TORY WELFARE CUTS

In NHS Scotland, in April 2021, 87.15% of patients were treated within 4 hours from arrival in A&E. https://beta.isdscotland.org/find-publications-and-data/health-services/hospital-care/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics/ In NHS England, in April 2021, 77.1% of patients were treated within 4 hours. The results are carefully presented as ‘from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge’ for admissions but just as ‘percentage of attendance within 4 hours.’ This allows the latter to conceal the fact that they restart the clock after patients have been admitted to a department for treatment even though they may have waited for some time in A&E before that – sneaky. https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2020-21/ So, 10% better means … Continue reading April 2021: 10 000 emergency cases seen on target only because they live in Scotland

From NHS Scotland today: 2 (0.1%) were reported as probable hospital onset (first positive specimen on days 8 to 14 of admission to NHS board). In the previous week (week ending 11 April 2021) there were 3 (0.2%). 0 (0.0%) were reported as definite hospital onset (first positive specimen date was 15 or more days after admission to NHS board). In the previous week (week ending 11 April 2021) there were 3 (0.2%). So, 0 or 0% of Covid cases in Scottish hospitals were definitely caught there. Unlike NHS Scotland, NHS England does not publish regular hospital onset data. However, … Continue reading Risk of catching Covid in English hospitals still infinitely higher than in Scotland

I may be getting on a bit but I smell an opportunity here. A few years back, Talking-up Scotland came in 5th in a survey of pro-Independence blogs. I was chuffed. Tonight, the chart-topper, Wings over Scotland, has withdrawn to spend more time with his collection of sweeties. Tragically, Craig Murray is out of action. The Wee Ginger Dug is recuperating. James Kelly seems robust despite some bruising exchanges and Bella Caledonia remains the brainy one. The rest don’t register in web traffic apps. So, 70 in a few weeks, I’m stirring in my bones. Watch out for even more … Continue reading Will Talking-up Scotland take Wings?

From The Costs of War to United States Allies Since 9/11 by Jason W. Davidson, Brown University, May 12, 2021: While the U.S. had the largest total number of fatalities, the allies were not mere bystanders, as some believe. Some U.S. military service members, for instance, joked that ISAF stood for “I Saw Americans Fight” because of all the caveats and limits on when and how some allies could engage the enemy. Yet hundreds of allied troops died. The United Kingdom lost 455 service members, Canada lost 158, andFrance, Germany, and Italy each lost dozens. When we look at numbers … Continue reading US study confirms UK fatalities in Afghanistan twice those of US

From a survey not being reported anywhere else in BBC Scotland and unmentioned by BBC England or Wales, Reporting Scotland have chosen to use this unreliable wee poll suggesting that ‘more than half of nurses have considered quitting their job this year.’ There is no sign of the actual report with methods and data we can consider. So, just knowing it’s a trade union survey, we’re left with three obvious concerns. First, there are 63 178 nursing and midwifery staff in Scotland. The Unison sample of 500 is only 0.8% or less than 1 in a 100. 56% of those … Continue reading Reporting Scotland: Less than 1 in 200 nurses consider quitting

On hearing the Queen’s Speech, SNP leader at Westminster, Ian Blackford, responded: Boris Johnson has completely failed to deliver the investment and change required to build a strong, fair and equal recovery. Instead the Tories are imposing the long-term damage of austerity cuts, Brexit and a power grab against Scotland’s will. The Tories are repeating the same mistakes they made after the last economic crisis, by forcing through damaging cuts that are threatening Scotland’s recovery. Instead of building a fairer society, the Tories are entrenching inequality and pushing people into poverty by imposing a public sector pay freeze, cuts to … Continue reading ‘Forcing people to starve because they were late to a Job Centre did not appear in a Tory manifesto’

From SNP Media: The SNP has criticised Boris Johnson’s plans to disenfranchise thousands of voters by imposing new ‘Trump-like’ voter suppression measures – including requiring voters to show photo ID at Westminster elections – labelling it “blatant Tory voter suppression”. Following today’s Queen Speech, SNP Westminster Deputy Leader, Kirsten Oswald MP, condemned the proposal which the SNP believe will deter lower income, ethnic minority, and younger people from voting – groups that are less likely to vote Tory. The SNP has pledged it will reject any such measures for Scottish elections and referendums. Instead, the SNP government is focused on measures to extend the … Continue reading There will be no voter-suppressing ID scheme in Scotland

From SNP Media: The SNP has said the Tory Queen’s Speech “completely failed” to deliver the investment and fundamental change required to build a strong, fair and equal recovery – instead imposing the long-term damage of Tory cuts, Brexit and a power grab against Scotland’s will. Responding to the plans, Ian Blackford MP said “damaging Tory austerity cuts are threatening Scotland’s recovery” with the Tory government “repeating the same mistakes of the last economic crisis” by imposing a public sector pay freeze, cuts to Universal Credit and a “savings and efficiency review” of public services – instead of delivering an … Continue reading Queen’s Speech failed to deliver investment and fundamental change required to build recovery

From SNP Media: Boris Johnson is facing a growing backlash from the SNP, trade unions and charities – after failing to announce any plans whatsoever to improve the rights and conditions of millions of workers in the Tory Queen’s Speech. David Linden MP described the absence of any Employment Bill as a “glaring omission”, which shows the Tories have “no recovery plan for millions of workers and absolutely no intention of building a fairer society after the pandemic”. The SNP Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary said the omission underlined the reality that Scotland needs the full powers of independence to secure a … Continue reading New working-class Tory voters rewarded with worse employment conditions