The hacks at the Mail know they’re writing mince. They have to be. Otherwise they have serious mental health issues. There is not a chance in hell of the First Minister being toppled after this but one or two senior civil servants and one chief executive need to be gone pronto. In the Times, Magnus Linklater, no friend of independence nor of the SNP, could see what had happened and wrote: Nicola Sturgeon has survived. Perhaps more than that, she will emerge from about six hours of interrogation with her reputation largely intact. There were weaknesses in her evidence, some … Continue reading Sturgeon on the brink of success

First posted on Reddit by HandeHoche (not real name): The SNP introduced the “CfE” exams in 2015, and – as someone who’s studied papers going back to 1997 – they’re undeniably the best in terms of layout, wording, reasonable difficulty levels, accuracy of results to ability, and marking structures. Of my five classes I’m currently sitting, two have class sizes of <15, and the others are around 20-25. Remember when that was a big issue? My teachers are extremely supportive and I’m honestly stunned by how dedicated they are, even giving their lunch time to talk small groups or even … Continue reading Teachers say Scottish education is ‘a triumph!’

Being reported widely: Nine out of 10 deaths from coronavirus have occurred in countries with high obesity levels, according to World Health Organization-backed research that sets out the stark correlation between excessive weight and lives lost to the disease. The scattergraph above shows how countries, even those with weak health infrastructure and mass poverty, like most in Africa or Bangladesh, have had fewer Covid deaths, due to low levels of obesity. The original graphic only featured the UK but when you take into account Scotland’s slightly higher obesity level, greater prevalence of limiting long-term conditions including cardiovascular disease and higher … Continue reading Against all the odds, NHS Scotland saves lives

The Herald headline today reads: How does Nicola Sturgeon’s evidence relate to the ministerial code? Legal expert shares analysis. How’s that for hiding the story? Anyhow, first, the author Doctor Nick McKerrell makes clear that the problems with the Scottish Government’s ‘catastrophic’ handling of the complaints against Alex Salmond was down to the involvement of the civil servant whom the First Minister, as is proper, did not instruct. Second, the legal advice did not suggest a ‘doomed case‘ at any point and was followed by the First Minister. McKerrell notes the First Minister correctly making the point that the Scottish … Continue reading Podcast: Charges under ministerial code difficult to stick

How’s that for hiding light under a bushel? Then we read: Salmond inquiry: Nicola Sturgeon’s evidence explained The writer, Dr Nick McKerrell had no part in the headlines, I feel sure. I wonder what he thinks as he reads them this morning? Before going on, some context on Dr McKerrell is useful: Scots law lecturer named in secret ‘do not employ’ dossier: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14464136.scots-law-lecturer-named-in-secret-do-not-employ-dossier/ Legal expert warns of barriers to indyref2 without Section 30: https://www.thenational.scot/news/19034593.legal-expert-warns-barriers-indyref2-without-section-30/ So neither an establishment figure nor an uncritical friend? Anyhow, first, McKerrell makes clear that the problems with the Scottish Government’s ‘catastrophic’ handling of the complaints … Continue reading Legal expert defends Sturgeon and says charges under ministerial code ‘difficult to stick!’

As BBC Scotland fussed over single cases with parents presented as the experts in how a vaccination programme should be run, a major scandal in English care homes was ignored. We now know that the death rate in these homes is twice as high as in Scottish care homes due to the UK Government’s failure to vaccinate care home residents first and before all other groups. Thousands have died unnecessarily. 3 700 UNNECESSARY CARE HOME DEATHS IN ENGLAND BECAUSE…? https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2021/03/03/3-700-unnecessary-care-home-deaths-in-england-because/ The only real attention to the Scottish Government’s success in this prioritising has come in First Minister’s briefings where following … Continue reading Care home vaccination and death: bias by omission works

Yesterday the chancellor froze personal tax thresholds. This is largely something of a stealth tax on those on low and middle incomes. In addition, he made no mention of pay increases for the public sector workers who have made such sacrifices and paid such heavy costs to protect us all in this time of crisis. Last year, between the 5th October and 23rd November, one in three police officers in England & Wales reported that they had been threatened by someone they believed had Covid-19 and who said they would breathe or cough on them. In Scotland, there is a … Continue reading SNP Government’s success in keeping crime down

From the 1st of January 2021 until the 26th February, 9 088 care home residents in England died from confirmed Covid-19. From the 1st of January 2021 until the 28th February, 532 care home residents in Scotland died from confirmed Covid-19. England has ten times the population so pro-rata might have been expected to have ten times as many deaths, 5 320, but had around 3 700 more. Had NHS England, followed the JCVI advice and vaccinated care home residents as a priority above all others, 3 700 lives might have been saved. Who told them not to follow the … Continue reading 3 700 unnecessary care home deaths in England because…?

The Herald’s trusted and reliable reporting helping to to make sense of the world you live in? Well maybe not that one. Try these: New cases down to only a fifth, deaths less than half, hospitals emptying, care homes protected! Yes, the 7 day average for new cases is 543 down from 2 649 at the beginning of 2021. 7 day average for deaths, inevitably lagging but down at 21 from 55 on January 12th. 750 in hospital, down from 2 053 on January 22nd. 69 in ICU, down from 161 on January 21st. 28 deaths in care homes in … Continue reading Will it never improve? What, it has?

I’ve set up my landline phone so that nuisance callers have to say who they are before getting through. They don’t seem bother any more. It’s great. However, nuisance callers remain a problem for those who follow the news. You could easily click on the above and be rewarded with an all-too-predictable line from the Scottish Conservatives. You can see why the headline doesn’t mention them. Even the foolhardy would know not to follow through with a click. I guess most of us know what to expect now and are not tempted but they’re still at it today, as they … Continue reading Nuisance callers