An exposé of the UK’s failings is all the more compelling when the source is close to Westminster!
When an independent, London-based, Anglo-centric, establishment-endorsed, centrist think tank concludes the UK state is failing, those in Scotland not yet convinced about ending the Union should take heed! By stewartb – a long read Views I came across recently, expressed in two quite different places, triggered the writing of what follows. The first was an article by Martin Wolf in the FT (10 June) headlined ‘UK election draws a veil of silence over bitter economic truths – Neither major political party wants the debate that the country needs about taxes, spending and structural reform’. Wolf writes (with my emphasis): ‘Things … Continue reading An exposé of the UK’s failings is all the more compelling when the source is close to Westminster!
Do Scotland’s Labour candidates support their leader’s laughing at child poverty and leaving thousands of them in it?
Here’s Sir Keir, tin-eared and clearly complacent about poverty, laughing at a wee girl talking about her family’s fuel poverty: What kind of people are the Labour candidates in Scotland, if they can keep going behind this horrible man? And, do the Labour candidates in Scotland accept his views on the two child benefit cap? See this from the Canary, today: The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) estimates that the two child benefit cap impacts 1.5 million children, including 1.1 million children in poverty. Abolishing the cap, CPAG states, would lift 250,000 children out of poverty. And it would improve even worse poverty for … Continue reading Do Scotland’s Labour candidates support their leader’s laughing at child poverty and leaving thousands of them in it?
Will Central Ayrshire Labour candidate condemn his leader’s hypocritical use of a private jets funded by country where abuse of workers and women is rife?
From the Irvine Times, today: Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds joined his party’s candidate for Central Ayrshire on a visit to Prestwick’s GE Caledonian site at the weekend. Mr Reynolds and candidate Alan Gemmell [OBE] were exploring the potential for future investment and jobs in Prestwick’s aerospace sector. From the Guardian on 31st May:: Keir Starmer has admitted travelling via ‘efficient’ private jet to Scotland ‘in the middle of a very busy general election campaign’, despite Labour having previously criticised Rishi Sunak for using aircraft to get around the country. Starmer was in Glasgow to talk about the party’s Great … Continue reading Will Central Ayrshire Labour candidate condemn his leader’s hypocritical use of a private jets funded by country where abuse of workers and women is rife?
Latest sub-poll – Swinney turning things round?
Deltapoll’s most recent for 8 June, has the SNP ahead by 38 to 34 in a sub-poll of 173. Sub-polls are, of course, of limited value but when you look at a sequence by the same pollster, using the same sampling methods, a trend is of some interest. In their previous poll to 3rd June, it was 40/25 in favour of Labour. For 25 May it was 38/29 for Labour. For 7 May, 36/36 and for 29 April, 45/29 in favour of Labour. Continue reading Latest sub-poll – Swinney turning things round?
‘Ruling out tax rises undermines Sunak’s and Starmer’s credibility on public services’.
By stewartb “I think Rishi Sunak’s credibility is completely destroyed ….” – there is a lot of this ‘credibility destroying’ about! From the Institute for Government (6 June 2024): ‘Ruling out tax rises undermines Sunak’s and Starmer’s credibility on public services’. This London-based, establishment-endorsed, centrist think tank states (with my emphasis): ‘… the promises on tax (coupled with promises to limit borrowing and debt) imply tight limits on public spending. It is not plausible to think that the next government can address existing major problems in public services without spending more than is currently pencilled in – or announcing cuts to some … Continue reading ‘Ruling out tax rises undermines Sunak’s and Starmer’s credibility on public services’.
NHS England’s shocking cancer care as SIX trusts ‘drop into most challenged group’ and thousands of cancer patients wait more than 65 weeks
By Professor John Robertson From HSJ, the Health Service Journal, today: Six more trusts have dropped into the “tier 1” group for the most challenged providers for their elective or cancer performance. James Paget University Hospitals is now in tier 1 for both cancer and electives having previously been in tier 2 for both categories. Milton Keynes University Hospital, Lewisham and Greenwich and Portsmouth Hospitals University have been escalated to tier 1 for elective performance (See table 1: Trusts in tiers for 2024-25 quarter one). Liverpool Women’s Hospital and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole have been placed in tier 1 for cancer. … Continue reading NHS England’s shocking cancer care as SIX trusts ‘drop into most challenged group’ and thousands of cancer patients wait more than 65 weeks
Emma Caldwell – How Labour failed to scrutinise police complacency over 300 rapes and assaults in 2005
By Professor John Robertson From BBC Scotland, today: Nearly 300 rapes and sexual assaults reported by sex workers during the Emma Caldwell murder investigation were not dealt with by police at the time, a senior officer has confirmed. Police Scotland’s deputy chief constable said an operation had been launched to examine sex offences which were reported around 2005. She said a number of the offences were now being dealt with by the courts. A former detective told the BBC he had received multiple reports of rape when he worked on the murder inquiry. But he said they were “boxed” – … Continue reading Emma Caldwell – How Labour failed to scrutinise police complacency over 300 rapes and assaults in 2005
Will these Labour candidates in Ayrshire admit that they plan to support £18 billion in cuts to vital public services and to make child poverty even worse?
Both of the above have been happy recently to accuse the SNP of a failure to eradicate child poverty in Ayrshire, regardless of the unique Child Payment in Scotland and the significantly lower rate of child poverty in Scotland than in England or Wales. In February 2024, The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) reported: The Autumn Statement forecasts were predicated on a fresh round of spending cuts. Public sector investment is planned to be frozen in cash terms, whereas maintaining investment (net of depreciation) at its current share of national income in 2028–29 would require an additional £20 billion of spending. … Continue reading Will these Labour candidates in Ayrshire admit that they plan to support £18 billion in cuts to vital public services and to make child poverty even worse?
Will Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Reform candidate condemn his deputy leader’s liking and sharing of holocaust denial, Hitler admiration and the Royal Family are lizards theory?
Andrew Russell, Reform candidate for the Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock constituency. Today, the Ferret factchecker has revealed: This is not a spoof. Continue reading Will Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Reform candidate condemn his deputy leader’s liking and sharing of holocaust denial, Hitler admiration and the Royal Family are lizards theory?
Welsh Labour to increase student fees to £9 250 a year and oversee massive job cuts
From BBC Wales in April: Almost 200 jobs are being cut at Swansea University as a result of “financial challenges” in higher education. The institution confirmed 189 employees had volunteered for redundancy since a scheme opened in September. The cuts come as an academic called on the Welsh government to review higher education funding. Prof Dylan Jones-Evans said there was an over-reliance on recruiting foreign students, who pay higher fees. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-68745978 Earlier in February, we saw: The cap on university tuition fees in Wales is rising from £9,000 to £9,250 a year from September. Education Minister Jeremy Miles says he … Continue reading Welsh Labour to increase student fees to £9 250 a year and oversee massive job cuts
