It’s nearly 4 weeks now since Dr Calderwood warned us that our first case of Coronavirus would arrive in the ‘coming days.’ We’ve now had 404 negative tests. Dr Calderwood is, however, still expectant. Preview(opens in a new tab) Here’s a thought, ill-informed and tempting fate no doubt but, you know that saying about us? ‘Wha’s like us? Damn few and they’re a’ deid!’ After centuries of surviving grinding poverty, in damp tenements with polluted water and air, thanks to our Tory and Labour masters, are our immune systems just a bit too tough for that poncey Coronavirus? Footnote: I … Continue reading Scots too tough for Coronavirus?

‘But in the final two months of 2019 more than 1,300 people were sentenced to less than 12 months, down about 13% on the same period in 2018.’ Six paragraphs down in: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-51563288 More from Ludo Thierry Also early signs of good effects from the recently introduced presumption against short sentences (of 12 months or less). Link and snippets (from Scottish legal site) below: https://www.scottishlegal.com/article/custodial-sentences-for-periods-of-12-months-or-less-fall-to-new-low Custodial sentences for periods of 12 months or less have fallen to their lowest point since the introduction of a presumption against short sentences. The scheme – which the Scottish government has named ‘PASS’ – … Continue reading BBC Scotland accused of burying 13% fall in shorter sentences

Ludo Thierry Continued encouraging figures released by Chief Statistician today regarding the 95% of Scottish school-leavers achieving positive destinations. (Highest recorded rate since 2009 – 2010. Howd’ya like them green apples Jackson?). Link and snippet below: https://news.gov.scot/news/school-leaver-attainment-and-destinations-3 Scotland’s Chief Statistician today published statistics on the initial destinations and attainment of 2018-19 school leavers. The results also show that 95.0% of 2018-19 school leavers were in a positive destination three months after leaving school, the highest rate since 2009-10. Positive destinations include higher education, further education, employment, training, personal skills development and voluntary work. Compared to the previous year (2017-18) there … Continue reading Scottish school-leavers record highest rate of positive destinations ever

In the Herald this evening: ‘The NUMBER of pupils leaving schools in Scotland with at least one national qualification has declined, new figures have revealed.’ The actual figures: 95.9% of school leavers gained one pass or more at SCQF Level 4 (e.g. National 4) or better, (a decrease from 96.2% in 2017-18); the proportion of school leavers attaining one pass or more at SCQF Level 5 (e.g. National 5) or better decreased from 85.9% in 2017-18 to 85.1% in 2018-19 https://www.gov.scot/news/school-leaver-attainment-and-destinations-3/ You’ll see that these one-year change figures, for the levels at which the vast majority of pupils get qualifications, are tiny … Continue reading Attainment for Scotland’s school leavers far greater than in England

From YouGov today, based on 2 587 Scottish adults (18+?), on 7th to 14th February, but with a non-standard question, the result is once more too close to call. Of particular interest, however, is the large number of Labour supporters (31%), the fair number of Lib Dem supporters (14%) and even some Tory supporters (4%) who would vote for independence. The referendum question in 2014 was, “Should Scotland be an independent country?” The question used by YouGov, above, might be seen as having removed those in favour of independence in a year or more but not now. Support for this view can be found … Continue reading Many Labour, Lib Dem and even some Tory supporters would vote for independence

Fewer outpatients waiting longer for treatment in Scotland It was all there. They just needed to come at the data from a less negative direction. From the BBC Scotland report, today, but tweaked ever so slightly: Official figures show that in the final quarter of 2019, 71.9% of outpatients were admitted within 12 weeks, up from 71.3% in the previous quarter. As you might expect, they give Miles Briggs a platform to moan. We haven’t because we know what a mess he and his pals would make of NHS Scotland if they got the chance. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-51628959 They seem to have … Continue reading Media Studies student (18) helps BBC Scotland to report good news for NHS

‘More infections in the Queenie! Get a reporter down there quick! I want that story by 12!’ On Reporting Scotland at 1.30pm today, they return gleefully to their top story of 2019 – ‘SNP-built hospital killing our weans. Heads must roll!’ BBC 1 had thousands dying from coronavirus but, not to be outdone, RS had: ‘NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has confirmed that it’s investigating a further infection incident at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. Papers presented to the Board today show an increase in bacterial infections detected among children who’ve been treated at the paediatric intensive care unit. Health … Continue reading Some infections just won’t clear up, like Reporting Scotland’s bad case of recurring Qeuhitis

A report from the Economics Foundation, published today, predicts serious negative effects on the Scottish economy if the third runway at Heathrow goes ahead. Up to 1314 jobs could be lost by 2031: 1314? What does that remind me of? Up to 2 707 jobs could be lost in Glasgow by 2051: £1.6 BILLION lost to Scotland’s GDP: Click to access NEF_Baggage_Claim1.pdf Continue reading Heathrow third runway devastating for Glasgow and Scotland

In the Herald today, as they fight man and woman and other, to keep their leaky boat afloat, Neil ‘Really’ Mackay writes: ‘YOU’VE got to hand it to the SNP. It defies political gravity. Today, the party is like a unicyclist crossing a chasm between two mountains on a high-wire while juggling with both hands and balancing a beach ball on its nose. It should be plummeting to earth, screaming as it falls, but no, it just keeps going, defying the odds. The party is riven, splitting into factions. Its track record on key domestic issues like education is woeful, and there’s … Continue reading Is this the end of the beginning of the end for the Herald?

The above report focuses on England but makes reference to efforts by the Scottish Government to work against the tide of Tory austerity policies. On page 1: On page 48: On page 110: On page 134: Click to access marmot-review-10-years-on-full-report.pdf The report has, of course, missed much. For that, see: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2019/11/05/on-new-affordable-housing-boris-its-tories-nil-snp-thousands/ Scotland pushes further ahead of UK on affordable housing Is there less family debt in Scotland due to Scottish Government action? Reporting on child poverty in Scotland with one source and NO context again Continue reading As life expectancy stalls across Tory UK, Scottish Government tries to do something about it