Did you think for even a second or two that headline might refer to Scotland. BBC Wales today: There is “no question” the public will feel the impact of cuts on the NHS in Wales, the country’s [Labour] health minister has warned. Eluned Morgan [Labour] said health boards are going to find it “very difficult” to make the savings they need to. The Welsh government has told them they need to find the savings to counter overspending. https://wordpress.com/post/talkingupscotlandtwo.com/60415 There is not a word from His Majesty’s opposition (Conservative) in the BBC Wales report. Imagine, just imagine, that was in Scotland? … Continue reading Shadow Health Secretary accepts Health Secretary’s right to pass the buck for complete failure

My post on the exam results of the school in which the Rutherglen and Hamilton West, UK Labour candidate works has drawn the predictable response from Labour and their media chums. I’m in the gutter now but it’s not lonely here. Notably, I seem to be the only one not sniffing around noisily. Three things quickly. I’m an SNP member and supporter but the SNP has no responsibility for what I post any more than Labour is responsible for what appears in the Daily Record. Second, I clearly did not attack the school pupils but rather the school’s failure to … Continue reading Why can Labour weaponize exam results?

I should be honoured I suppose as the Herald’s Tom Gordon accuses Clair Haughey MSP of sharing my post pointing out the failure of the Modern Studies department in which the Labour candidate for the Rutherglen and Hamilton West works. According to Jackie Baillie: Hmmn. The attack was actually on behalf of the schoolchildren, and on the teachers including the UK Labour candidate, who seem to have let them down badly based on the 2023 exam results. The UK Labour candidate for Rutherglen and Hamilton West seems to have spent more time running the streets of Glasgow and on getting … Continue reading Scottish Labour accused of putting their interests ahead of school pupils

..the EU. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/scottish-labour-election-candidate-not-30662998?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar In an interview yesterday of impressive wriggling and re-defining, Labour candidate for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, told a whopping great fib (above). What’s actual evidence? SCOTLAND would “easily fulfil the criteria for joining the European Union”, according to a leading MEP who said he would “love” to see the country become a new member state. https://www.thenational.scot/news/19273900.independent-scotland-easily-join-eu-love-mep-says/ VP of the Green group in the European Parliament, German MEP Terry Reintke visited Scotland earlier this month to participate in discussions about Scotland’s continued cooperation with the EU. She said: “If Scotland were to become an independent country, an accession … Continue reading UK Labour candidate for Scottish by-election lies about EU membership

‘Yes! Eat my dust, losers! Michael Shanks (Image: Colin Mearns) By Not-My-Real-Name yesterday: “I’m not sure then how the Labour candidate can be presented as the kind of ambitious, energetic and demanding person, the folk of Rutherglen and Hamilton West deserve as their MP” : https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2023/08/10/rutherglen-labour-candidates-underperforming-modern-studies-department-does-not-encourage/ Anyone who is in opposition to the SNP will be THE ones whose prior history , where any failures and too decisions that contradict their current position, is largely ignored by the media….all because their opposition to both the SNP and independence is enough for the media to create and present a false image that … Continue reading Just another example of Labour , via this candidate, making promises and pledges that will never be fulfilled?

As junior doctors in England begin their fifth round of industrial action and BBC Scotland tell the old and vulnerable to ‘Just pay attention grandad! You’re not in England! Yes, your appointment is still on!’, we read today in the Guardian: Strike could push number of appointments cancelled due to NHS industrial action over a million. More than 830,000 appointments have already been postponed as a result of industrial action since December, which is estimated to have cost the NHS about £1bn. Sir Julian Hartley, the chief executive of NHS Providers, said cancellations could hit a million after strikes by junior doctors … Continue reading Scottish Government actions have saved 100 000 health appointments

Some of you won’t like this and I’m ready for some indignant flak but the Rutherglen & Hamilton West by-election is already pretty dirty and will no doubt get more so as we approach the day of the vote. Already, we see the media in Scotland essentially campaigning for Labour, demonising the recalled former SNP MP, framing the election in terms of a supposed crisis of corruption in the SNP and shielding the Labour candidate from honest exposure of the deep fissures in that party and its intended betrayal of many of the electorate. So, the candidate has taught Modern … Continue reading Rutherglen Labour candidate’s underperforming Modern Studies Department does not encourage

Published yesterday but not making it yet to BBC Scotland’s Business website or broadcasts: The latest Scottish Annual Business Statistics data are for the calendar year 2021, with data provided back to 2008.  in 2021, approximate Gross Value Added at basic prices (aGVA) of the non-financial business economy was estimated to be £99.3 billion. This is an increase of 21.9% compared with 2020 between 2020 and 2021, aGVA increased for all four of the main sectors of the non-financial business economy. Services aGVA was up by 15.3%, Primary Industries up by 47.1%, Manufacturing up by 17.5% and Construction up by … Continue reading Massive increases in value of Scottish businesses under business-friendly SNP

Published today but not making it into any of the media operating in Scotland: Ipsos were appointed by the Scottish Government to undertake an implementation evaluation of the development and early delivery of No One Left Behind and the Young Person’s Guarantee. The evaluation explored how effectively No One Left Behind and the Young Person’s Guarantee had been implemented, the experiences of service providers and service users, and lessons from early delivery. https://www.gov.scot/publications/implementation-evaluation-no-one-left-behind-young-persons-guarantee/pages/2/ The initiatives were launched in September 2020 with these words: We are committed to supporting young people transition successfully into the labour market and recognise the challenges … Continue reading Ipsos praises Scottish Government on No One Left Behind & the Young Person’s Guarantee initiatives

According to the Herald today, based on a feed from the Labour Party in Scotland, there has been a drop of 160 fewer bus routes in Scotland in the last year. From BBC Politics, yesterday, fed by Labour too, 2 160 bus routes were lost in England last year. All things being equal, with 10 times the population, the figure for England might have been expected to be around 1 600 but is, in fact, 2 160, 35% higher. In what way might the SNP have protected bus companies and passengers better? Free bus passes for all over 60. Free … Continue reading Labour find SNP Government aid means bus routes falling 35% faster in England than in Scotland