Why there will still be no Grenfell here
BBC Scotland is surprisingly restrained in the above reporting with no direct connection made to Grenfell. There are however, two ‘hot’ wee links in the report, to other stories about it. Regulars will know this already but I repeat it in the public interest: From BBC Glasgow & West today [25/9/22]: Firefighters have extinguished a blaze which broke out at a tower block in the south side of Glasgow. Emergency services were alerted to the incident in Shawhill Road, Shawlands, at about 21:00 on Saturday. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service dispatched eight fire engines. Large plumes of smoke were … Continue reading Why there will still be no Grenfell here
Scotland sees a huge reduction in serious fires and deaths but still retains more firefighters than England
Reporting Scotland headlines today with: The union representing firefighters is warning (note not ‘claimed’ as Scot Gov tends to get) proposed cost cutting measures will affect the safety of the public and its members….we can’t have anything other than a reduction in the safety of the public. Now, I fully understand why a trade union will fight tooth and nail for its members interests but a media outlet has a duty to inform its audience. Back in the 70s, a trade union ‘claim’ would be challenged rigorously, sometimes unfairly, but these days of the SNP in government, any trade union … Continue reading Scotland sees a huge reduction in serious fires and deaths but still retains more firefighters than England
New affordable housing: SNP Scotland 74% better than Labour Wales
Reporting Scotland is off and running first thing today with your daily dose of anxiety. ‘Scotland is facing a housing emergency!’ It’s about the supply of affordable housing but as always there’s no context. I’m not saying it’s ever good enough in Scotland and I can remember when my family waited 7 years in a tenement flat, above a pub, with a stinking close and an outside toilet, before we got a decent council house, in the 1960s, after decades of Labour looking after (doing little) for Scotland. Here’s some context: From the impartial Grampian Online in January 2023: Scotland has continued … Continue reading New affordable housing: SNP Scotland 74% better than Labour Wales
Scotland’s baby boxes may have stemmed a surge in infant mortality due to Tory austerity
No exploitative or titillating images for this one. I’ll leave that to the Express or the Mail. The MSM have gleefully jumped on the news: Researchers at the University of Glasgow found claims that handing expectant parents around £160 worth of baby products, in a box that can double as a makeshift crib, had not saved lives as SNP ministers had claimed it would. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/07/09/sturgeons-baby-box-policy-failed-to-improve-child-health/#:~:text=Researchers%20at%20the%20University%20of,ministers%20had%20claimed%20it%20would. Leaving aside a strong feeling that GU is a strongly Unionist and, indeed, Atlanticist institution, the above research, by Social Science staff, has a fundamental flaw, in that it simplifies a complex event with multiple causes and tries … Continue reading Scotland’s baby boxes may have stemmed a surge in infant mortality due to Tory austerity
NHS England maternity units 21 times more likely to be substandard the those in Scotland
Not being reported by BBC England, any of BBC England’s regions or even tucked away in BBC Health (above) this from the Observer today: Crisis in NHS maternity units revealed as 21 rated ‘substandard.’ Nearly half of all NHS hospital maternity services covered so far by a national inspection programme have been rated as substandard, the Observer can reveal. The Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates health and care providers in England, began its maternity inspection programme last August after the Ockenden review into the Shropshire maternity scandal, which saw 300 babies left dead or brain damaged by inadequate NHS care. An Observer analysis of the CQC inspection … Continue reading NHS England maternity units 21 times more likely to be substandard the those in Scotland
Our ‘political masters’ flex their muscles – instant dismissal of drugs proposal for Scotland!
By stewartb There are multiple reports of leading Labour politicians joining with the Tories to dismiss out of hand the Scottish Government’s proposals for the reform of drug laws. Candidly, it’s no longer a surprise: the Bain Principle – ‘Labour opposes anything proposed by the SNP, regardless of the merits of the thing in question’ – is in rude health. And at times the Labour leadership even seems intent on making mountains out of molehills of small differences with the SNP. Presumably this is to make their party even more attractive electorally in Scotland to erstwhile Tory supporting Unionists. The … Continue reading Our ‘political masters’ flex their muscles – instant dismissal of drugs proposal for Scotland!
CalMac ferries back at 99% reliability and 100% in 4 out of 5 regions
Yesterday on a busy Saturday, CalMac operated 100% of sailings in all but the Inner Hebrides where reliability was only 99% (98.6). Out of 523 sailings, only 3 were cancelled. The single sailing from Ardrossan to Campbelltown, on the mainland, was cancelled. One of the 21 Oban to Craignure sailings and 1 of 4 Oban to Colle/Tiree sailings were cancelled. Brittany Ferries are at 100% today but have cancelled 1 of only 7 sailings (Plymouth to Roscoff) for Tuesday and Wednesday. The people of the Brittany, dependent on tourism, will have no connections with the UK for at least two … Continue reading CalMac ferries back at 99% reliability and 100% in 4 out of 5 regions
Major increase in Scotland’s income tax revenues in just one year
Published two days ago: Final income tax outturn data for 2021-22 was published by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) today. The figures show Scottish income tax revenues were £13,724 million in 2021-22, growing by 14.9 per cent since 2020-21. This means the Scottish Government, having done so well, must hand £390 million of our allowance back in ‘reconciliation’, because: The Scottish Government must rely on forecasts when setting each Budget, and the UK Government also relies on forecasts when determining BGAs. When information about actual revenues and expenditure becomes available – known as ‘outturn data’ – subsequent Budgets are adjusted to account for … Continue reading Major increase in Scotland’s income tax revenues in just one year
Paul Hutcheon won’t do his sums as NHS England spend 74 times as much pro rata on private hospitals
From the Daily Record yesterday: The SNP has been accused of “shameless hypocrisy” after health boards spent nearly £130m sending patients to private hospitals. Humza Yousaf’s party this week urged Labour to rule out “privatisation” of the NHS. They hit out at the “expanded role” for the private sector and dismissed Labour leader Keir Starmer as a Blairite. But new figures released under FOI show the amount given to the private sector for treating NHS patients is on the rise under the SNP-led Government. In 2018/29, the total stood at £24.1m, before surging to £32.7m and falling to £15.4m in the first full year of … Continue reading Paul Hutcheon won’t do his sums as NHS England spend 74 times as much pro rata on private hospitals
Tories and Labour to block SNP Government’s evidence-based proposals for decriminalisation of drugs, for cynical political gain
From GB News yesterday: Tory MSP Russell Findlay told the Daily Record: “It is madness to try and solve Scotland’s drug death crisis, the worst in Europe, by essentially legalising heroin, crack and other class-A drugs. “This would put more drugs on our streets. It would put more lives at risk. What kind of message is the SNP sending to Scotland’s drug-ravaged communities?” Likewise, Labour also condemned the proposals with Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor saying: “I do not think this sounds like a good policy. “I find it quite stunning that this would be a priority for the Scottish … Continue reading Tories and Labour to block SNP Government’s evidence-based proposals for decriminalisation of drugs, for cynical political gain
