In Scotland 29 charities benefit by more than £6 000 pa from funds recovered from crooks
From Proceeds of Crime and Asset Recovery data for 2025/26: FOI release published today data equivalent to that compiled in FOIs 202600505817 and 202600505933 for the years 2025/26. https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202600516318/ The funds raised in England & Wales are disproportionally higher, more than twice per head of population mainly due to the concentration of financial crime and its prosecution in the courts in London. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/asset-recovery-statistics-financial-years-ending-2020-to-2025/asset-recovery-statistics-financial-years-ending-2020-to-2025 Scotland uses the funds more directly and visibly for charities and preventative youth projects via a single flagship programme. England & Wales emphasises boosting law enforcement capacity first, giving the money to police forces, with a secondary … Continue reading In Scotland 29 charities benefit by more than £6 000 pa from funds recovered from crooks
This is a complete lie – SNP will NOT make your holiday flight more expensive but only the 12 000 private jet flights a year by the likes of Bill Gates, Donald Trump and footballers like Jens Hjertø-Dahl
The Express is pushing the above. It’s a complete misrepresentation of the facts. The Scottish Government is introducing Air Departure Tax (ADT) from April 2027 as Scotland’s replacement for UK Air Passenger Duty (APD). It will initially match UK APD rates for all flights, including commercial/holiday ones. Then, from April 2028, they’ll add a Private Jet Supplement that raises taxes specifically on private jets. https://www.gov.scot/publications/delivering-scotlands-air-departure-tax/pages/4/ Is this fair in terms of the environment? Yes, this is designed to make super-wealthy users “contribute fairly” under a “polluter pays” approach, as private jets emit far more CO₂ per passenger. Will it make … Continue reading This is a complete lie – SNP will NOT make your holiday flight more expensive but only the 12 000 private jet flights a year by the likes of Bill Gates, Donald Trump and footballers like Jens Hjertø-Dahl
How the Crown Estate raised funds in Scotland and bypassed devolution to invest the money in England to continue a practice going back decades before devolution
Posted last night in Facebook by Salvo, a link to this P&J article from June 2018: The UK’s Crown Estate has been accused of a “cash grab” that could cost Moray assets a share of a £167 million windfall. The agency has sold its multi-million stake in the Fort Kinnaird retail park in Edinburgh. However, despite the estate’s assets north of the border being devolved to Crown Estate Scotland – the money will instead be funnelled to a retail park in Cheltenham. Last night, Moray MSP Richard Lochhead branded the sale “a scandal” while the Auchenhalrig Farm on the Fochabers … Continue reading How the Crown Estate raised funds in Scotland and bypassed devolution to invest the money in England to continue a practice going back decades before devolution
Seven reports proving Scotland’s prison service’s superior performance and Low Moss is no less safe today
BBC Scotland today is platforming selectively an inspectors’ report on Low Moss prison in Glasgow which has 835 prisoners when it was designed for 784. They have not mentioned its ‘revised operational/safe capacity’ of 884 via Project 100. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-62043866 Inspectors did not find it had caused any measurable rises in in-prison offending or safety breakdowns. The prison maintained satisfactory safety standards amid the changes. https://prisonsinspectoratescotland.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publication_files/Report%20on%20HMP%20Low%20Moss%20Full%20Inspection%2031%20January-11%20February%202022.pdf The media operating in Scotland have not, however, covered the content of these seven reports by TuS revealing Scotland’s prisons to be operating with far better outcomes than you might expect and than is the … Continue reading Seven reports proving Scotland’s prison service’s superior performance and Low Moss is no less safe today
A tale of two dentists – Anas Sarwar and ‘Odious’ Lord Offord’s Brother
Three months ago, angered by Lord Offord of Reform’s claim that he had ‘bounced up to him’ seeking to collaborate against the SNP, Anas had some harsh words for Lord Offord. Did he know then that Lord Offord’s wee brother would be inviting him to speak at a a do on dentistry? How will that go? A surprise inclusion in the website of Vermilion, a private dental company owned by Dr David Offord, who I think, both born in Greenock. might be the brother of Baron Malcolm Offord of Garvel (and Reform UK). Vermilion hold a symposium every two years … Continue reading A tale of two dentists – Anas Sarwar and ‘Odious’ Lord Offord’s Brother
Burnham’s 5.1 Million Dollar Question
By Mark E. Saunders of “The Scottish Minuteman” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61575625542197 If Westminster politicians have no problem telling the entire electorate of the UK that Scotland is “subsidised” by England, then there are a couple of very simple questions that they should answer. Official figures show that in England today, around 3.4 million children and 1.7 million pensioners live in relative poverty. That’s a combined total of approximately 5.1 million people. Scotland’s entire population is just under 5.5 million. If Scotland is really such a financial burden on the UK Treasury, why does it keep carrying that cost? Why is the welfare of Scotland so important … Continue reading Burnham’s 5.1 Million Dollar Question
Researchers cast doubt on soaring depression and anxiety among young people – short video
Detail at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/07/19/research-reveals-increasing-mental-health-referrals-among-children-may-be-more-due-to-a-greater-readiness-to-come-forward-and-to-coding-changes-than-to-an-actual-increase-in-depression-and-anxiety-and/ Continue reading Researchers cast doubt on soaring depression and anxiety among young people – short video
If it were really the case that Starmer has made the country better why, after only two years, is he now being replaced ?
By Liz S Yesterday Keir Starmer posted this on ‘X’ “The test of any Prime Minister is: do you leave your country in a better place than you found it? I’m proud that the answer is yes”. Still delusional I see. I mean if it were really the case that he has made the country better via his premiership, then why, after only two years as the Labour UK PM , is he now being replaced ? Obviously his deluded observation is not supported by either his own MP’s nor indeed the public. I wonder if as a reward for … Continue reading If it were really the case that Starmer has made the country better why, after only two years, is he now being replaced ?
As another private care home is exposed how we disclosed Anas Sarwar backing a care home cash cow milking the tax-payer
Today BBC Scotland has this below, reminding us of the above: BBC Scotland, in June 2023 exposed a Care Home owner who seems not to be a Tory or Labour donor. It’s taken them three years to find one. Three years ago, we had this: By stewartb So the care home visited by Anas Sarwar MSP is being used to justify his claim of care homes at ‘breaking point’? If so, this company’s situation must have changed radically since 22 December 2022. This is the date Applecross Nursing Home Limited submitted its Annual Financial Statements for the year ending 31 March … Continue reading As another private care home is exposed how we disclosed Anas Sarwar backing a care home cash cow milking the tax-payer
The offending carer ‘no longer works there’ because Scotland’s scheme uniquely continuously updates and informs employers
BBC Scotland today, typically, have been making much of a single, unacceptable I know, case in a care home for the elderly: The daughter of an 85-year-old care home resident who was photographed while she was partially naked by a carer has called the incident a “violation”. Police are investigating a claim that “inappropriate images” were taken at the Kingsacre Care Home at Duntocher in Clydebank in March this year. The elderly woman’s daughter, Catherine, told the BBC her mother, who has dementia, would be “disgusted” if she knew the photo had been taken and shared with another person. The … Continue reading The offending carer ‘no longer works there’ because Scotland’s scheme uniquely continuously updates and informs employers
Talking-up Scotland 