By stewartb: There has been a lot of ‘negativity’ in the corporate media in Scotland and from opposition politicians in Holyrood concerning schooling during the coronavirus epidemic and the re-opening of schools in August. This is an attempt to redress the balance – to talk-up (and why not?) the resilience and the commitment of Scotland’s school staff and of parents and carers during these difficult times. Fortunately, the re-balancing doesn’t need to rely on the personal opinion of this blogger nor on Scottish Government pronouncements. It can be based directly on public statements made by leaders of the Educational Institute … Continue reading Re-balancing the ‘back to school’ discourse in Scotland – Part 1

By stewartb: I know – why do I pay the licence fee? I know – what do I expect?  I know – what’s new here? But really – this is Saturday night on BBC 1 in Scotland where many, many still pay the licence fee! This is ‘one-nationhood’ taken to … Forget that, they are now just taking the p-ss! Continue reading BBC Scotland really taking the pass

As England charges toward ever-greater relaxation of the their lock-down measures, the evidence does not seem to be there to back up the decision. First there are the death and infection rates. The 7 day average for Scotland is currently 2. whereas it is around 120 in England. Per capita, the rate in England is nearly 6 times higher. Infection rates are closer, with 26 yesterday in Scotland and 324 in England but that still makes the rate in England around 25% higher. https://www.iancampbell.co.uk/covid-19.php https://www.travellingtabby.com/scotland-coronavirus-tracker/ Add to these data the outbreaks in meat packing plants and the R number solid … Continue reading With death toll 6 times higher per capita than Scotland England is going too early

To: Iain Livingstone, Chief Constable, Police Scotland    iain.livingstone@scotland.pnn.police.uk   cc: Humza Yousaf, Justice Secretary   Humza.Yousaf.msp@parliament.scot From: Dr John Robertson, Professor of Media Politics and Chair of the University Research Ethics Committee, University of the West of Scotland (retired 2016) Dear Mr Livingstone, It is with great sadness that I write to you to complain of the inhumane treatment of peaceful anti-racist protesters in George Square today and the sharply contrasting failure to control the appalling racist riot by the National Defence League on Wednesday 17th June. I write as a long-term defender of Police Scotland against media distortions, inaccuracies and unfairness, by … Continue reading Open Letter to Chief Constable and Justice Secretary on discriminatory policing of racist and anti-racist protesters

By stewartb: With so much ‘negativity’ being pumped out by media outlets and opposition politicians concerning the Scottish Government’s cautious approach to ending lockdown for schools, it’s worthwhile keeping an eye on what’s happening now in other countries.  The TuSC has already highlighted recent examples of schools in South Korea, France and The Netherlands having to close shortly after re-opening because of new local outbreaks of coronavirus. See: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2020/06/18/why-carlaw-and-the-mums-in-his-inbox-are-all-wrong-on-school-opening/ News from England There are now media reports of individual cases of schools in England having to close due to a local outbreak shortly after re-opening. This is from the BBC: … Continue reading Why Carlaw’s ‘mums’ should not be listened to: Evidence from England and Wales

While the Labour-controlled Kirklees Council in Yorkshire colluded with Matt Hancock to delay informing locals for up to 10 days, of the mass outbreak in a meat-packing plant owned by Asda, the Plaid Cymru-led Anglesey Council acted quickly to postpone school reopening on the 29th June, after 61 workers tested positive in the 2 Sisters plant. The decision came immediately after Public Health Wales statistics showed a growing number of positive cases of Covid-19 on Anglesey, in recent days. These two cases seem to suggest a willingness in Labour politicians at all levels, to be tending toward going even beyond … Continue reading Unlike Labour in Yorkshire, Welsh Nationalist council acts quickly to protect community

According to the Independent today, testing of the 300 workers at the Asda-owned meat-packing plant, which supplies Asda stores across the UK, including Scotland, began after workers starting falling ill on the 8th June. The factory was closed for a few days then and mobile testing tents appeared in the car park. 60 workers tested positive and were told to isolate at home. The Labour-controlled Kirklees Council chose not to inform the community. Health Secretary Matt Hancock was called in to chair an emergency action meeting, date unknown, and on Thursday 18th June, ten days later, released the information in … Continue reading ‘UK’ Health Secretary and Labour council knew about mass covid outbreak in Yorkshire factory 10 days before locals found out

It’s gone too far now. We’re in a nightmare world of surrealist journalism where nothing is ever as it seems. To protect my own mental health, I’m saying no more about the New Southern General and pigeon poo. If anyone can be bothered, try searching for pigeon or infection or shite in the box over to your right. I may have written as many as 100 rebuttals of MSM lies about Scotland’s hospitals. I’ve done my bit. I’m off to walk the dog and look at the clouds. Update: I did. There were: Continue reading Health Correspondent accused of endangering mental health of thousands!

Immediately after the shocking scenes of Yes supporting ‘attack mobs’ shouting at and then egging Jim Murphy of the No campaign in 2014, SNP leader Alex Salmond, forgiving the confusion about who was actually leading the Yes campaign, was quick to condemn those whom the Scottish media were keen to present as the extreme wing of ‘his’ movement. Manfuly shrugging of the death threats and road rage he had experienced, Salmond said: People shouldn’t throw eggs at somebody full stop, that’s something that happens in elections. I remember John Prescott getting a bit energised about it in a UK election. It … Continue reading Will Scottish Tories follow Alex Salmond’s example in 2014 and condemn Loyalist violence?

In the Herald yesterday: AN SNP MSP has blasted the co-chairman of the Scottish Government’s education recovery group – insisting that controversial blended learning proposals are “absolutely unacceptable”. Who is the co-chairman? Stephen McCabe, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA), Children and Young People spokesperson (co-chair) Stephen McCabe is a Labour councillor. The blended learning proposals are the work of the Education Recovery Group. It is not a government department but around 20, mainly teachers and trade union leaders, and only 3 SNP politicians. https://www.gov.scot/groups/covid-19-education-recovery-group/ Continue reading This Herald headline on schools is just a barefaced lie