He wasn’t the only one: But in Energy Voice today: BP’s UK offshore business remains “vital” to the group, its North Sea boss said at the end of a momentous week for the supermajor, which set out ambitious emissions goals. Ariel Flores, regional president at BP, said the UK continental shelf (UKCS) was one of the firm’s “top provinces” and predicted the company would still be producing North Sea oil in 2050, albeit at lower rates. He stressed that the firm’s North Sea oil business would have to keep performing strongly if BP is to achieve its newer, greener objectives. … Continue reading Sir Ian Wood only 21 years out as BP predict North Sea Oil until 2050

Reporting Scotland was able to tell us: ‘High winds have led to further disruption across Scotland after storm Dennis saw many areas hit by flooding. Last night both the Forth and Tay road bridges were closed to all traffic for a time with winds gusting up to 65 mph in the Firth of Forth. Residents of Hawick and the village of Newcastleton contended with flood damage and more rainfall.’ Many areas ‘hit’? I’ve only seen evidence of flooded fields in the Borders and one wee village where some folk were evacuated. No number given so was it in single figures? … Continue reading Scotland largely unaffected by Storm Dennis as new flood defences HOLD and unmentioned Forth crossing is NOT closed by high winds

Image: AFP/GETTY We heard from various commentators around 9 or 10 days ago that the Derek Mackay case combined with the Salmond case coming to court would damage the SNP. Reporting Scotland’s Brian Taylor referred to the Mackay case as a ‘calamity’ for the party. A sub-poll published today based on fieldwork only 5 days later suggests that, as before, the errors of single politicians do not materially change the opinions of a mass movement. The Opinium survey on 12th February does not have a Scottish breakdown but has support as a share of the overall UK-wide survey at 6% … Continue reading Poll shows SNP support UP despite supposed sex scandal ‘calamities’

But if they are SNP politicians? Search for ‘Alex Salmond witch hunt’ and ‘Derek Mackay witch hunt’ – zero hits. Mind you, it’s not just Tories: Continue reading Why it is a witch hunt only when the offender is a Tory or a Lib Dem?

In recent years, we’ve often seen evidence of the feeder role played by Scotland’s serious press in the content dominating Reporting Scotland. Many of their staff live within that same ‘Commentariat’ bubble, educated together and with their first jobs in media environments utterly dominated by the Labour Party. More recently, however, I detect signs of a drift away from a consistent Unionist agenda in the Herald and the Scotsman, toward a more pragmatic, commercial strategy. I’m basing this suggestion on the online editions. Perhaps, the paper versions remain more ideological – anti-SNP? Neither could be considered in any way, pro-Independence … Continue reading In the Herald this morning but will BBC Scotland pick up these two ‘scare the Tories’ stories?

From reader velofello, responding to my flabbier critique of Glen Campbell lying about the Scottish Government: So A&E England have a “cuts and bruises” only category of clinic, and these are included in the waiting time stats. for general A&E stats? Does help shield the reality. Drugs-related deaths in Scotland include any deceased person who has been taking prescribed medicinal drugs, by their doctor? Pretty well most over 60’s take some form of medication I’d wager. Me too. Business contract agreements: A fully defined scope and design? Negotiate a lump sum contract. In a hurry? Design not fully completed, but … Continue reading He’s done it! BBC Scotland’s propaganda summed up in a few well-chosen words

This tweet has had more than 11 000 impressions. Posted here for readers who don’t tweet. Comments: Continue reading BBC unable to say ‘Conservative’ in 400 words about a Conservative child rapist

Most read reports, below with, perhaps, useful guidance for headline writing? Not shared with FB or Twitter. Continue reading Site Stats for January

As a panicking Johnson administration in Westminster, thinks of turning to the Chinese to push through the troubled HS2, how will the new Branch Manager in Scotland deal with justified accusations of double-standards. He’ll have sold the odd fast car I’m sure but is he ready for the global political and ethical problems of defending his boss working with the Chinese? The Scottish Conservatives have tried to paint themselves as a different, more caring, kind of Conservative. We’ve had Miles Briggs asking endless parliamentary questions to show his concern for various disadvantaged groups and Annie Wells fighting to reduce drug … Continue reading Jackson’s first hard sell?

Oh aye, £12 billion coming in is a’ very well but whae’s going tae pay tae repair this path? Tell me that! And, they’ve stolen some of the shortbread! That’s £2.99 we’ll no see again! BBC Scotland’s report today does, of course, tell us about the boom in tourism but, true to their miserabilist agenda, they’ve found things to worry us with. They seem to prefer Prof John Lennon’s Help!ful research to any official statistics telling us how astonishingly much and fast-growing it is, such as: Spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion of economic activity for the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes … Continue reading Just path repairs? I thought you meant support for the SNP would go up.