stewartb Having read the BBC article I conclude that Mr Adamson has malign intentions: this is a reasonable conclusion to draw when on such a complex, intractable subject a professional answers a journalist’s loaded question – ‘Are you saying she’s failed?’ – with the answer ‘Absolutely!’. As Mr Adamson is leaving his post what is his motivation for such ‘absolute’ negativity – to seek to mitigate his own failings in post, to do a final favour for his preferred political party, or some other reason? His statement has clearly been gleefully received by BBC Scotland which in turn provided a … Continue reading ‘As Mr Adamson is leaving his post what is his motivation for such ‘absolute’ negativity – to seek to mitigate his own failings in post, to do a final favour for his preferred political party, or some other reason?’

From the Reporting Scotland team first thing this morning and no doubt all day on TV and radio: The Royal College of Nursing is warning that patient safety is being compromised as patients are increasingly being treated in inappropriate areas such as corridors. A survey of its members who are meeting in Brighton today found more than 9 in 10 have raised concerns that patients may be receiving unsafe care. The Scottish Government says patient safety is paramount and is investing in frontline services. This is not being reported by BBC UK, England or even on the BBC Scotland website. … Continue reading BBC Scotland put patient safety at risk with a survey including only 33 of Scotland’s 5 000 nurses

From Reporting Scotland tonight: The man whose role it is to safeguard the rights of children and young people here, Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner, attacked Nicola Sturgeon over child poverty and mental health. Bruce Adamson is about to leave the job after six years. Leaving aside the obvious inaccuracy in the above description of an adviser, BBC Scotland’s Martin Guiser prompted him this morning with: ‘Are you saying she’s failed?’ ‘Ebsolutely!’ Adamson seems most concerned about the effects of the pandemic lockdowns. A Labour and Conservative spokesperson are then allowed to join in with accusations of spin and failure. There’s so … Continue reading Outgoing Commissioner forgets to mention Scotland was first to legislate to bring the UN Conventions of the Rights of the Child into law

When I see the words ‘Kevin, McKenna, Catholic’, I think there’s an SNP or Scotland ‘bad’ thing coming. Often I move on but today, I see the possibility of a quick easy piece of enlightening and balancing and putting in perspective or is it proportion, the treatment of the many thousands of Irish refugees arriving in Glasgow in the 19th Century? In 2016, I wrote this: The in the wake of the Rangers riots of May 2021, I wrote: There’s a great deal I agree with, strongly, in this piece by James Foley [https://sourcenews.scot/source-direct-scotlands-real-shame/]. There were repeated incidents of horrific abuse of … Continue reading Scotland’s relatively civilised response to 100 000 refugees

Above, the Record tries to help us feel less contented and more anxious than we need to with a survey of overall crime in Scotland’s towns and cities. Glasgow and Dundee come out worst. Given that they only have data for all crime, the choice of the word ‘dangerous’ is at best misleading. Shoplifting and fraud tend not to make me too fearful. There are however, better data but they make Scotland look good, so are not too useful for ‘our’ media. In March 2023, the Complete University Guide published How safe is your city? Feeling safe and secure is … Continue reading Everywhere in the UK is more ‘dangerous’

From A path out of the gas crisis in September 2022 and missed by everybody: In the future, power generation will concentrate in the north of England and in Scotland, with the vast majority of onshore and offshore wind projects planned in Scotland. This provides a vast opportunity for employment and economic growth in regions that need it most. However, it also puts a lot of strain on the north-south power grid, requiring accelerated investments in the transmission network. The UK’s electricity demand concentrates in the south, with London and the South East regions alone responsible for almost 30% of … Continue reading Scotland set to make fortune exporting power!

BBC Scotland is reporting this today as: Green minister Lorna Slater criticised for using private ferry The report leads off with an extended set of 12 statements from the Tories and Labour before the locals in the form of a representative of the Community Trust getting a 4 statement edited word in and, only at the end of quite a long report, does the Scottish Government spokesperson explain why it was a sensible thing to do. The BBC Scotland section on the Community Trust statement is: Steve Robertson from the island’s community trust described the row as “a storm in … Continue reading Lorna Slater: BBC Scotland and Tories/Labour ally to unbalance essential local private ferry business

The BBC and other news outlets are making much of this headline: Wind is main source of UK electricity for first time None of the reports is offering any breakdown such as that above from the Scottish Government on April 26 which was, of course, not reported by MSM and thus missed by me. It’s been a while since the last 8% meme, so here’s a reminder (some needing updating I know): Return of the Meme! 8% of the population but 100% of the aluminium smelters 8% of the population but 62% of the fish landings: How will we survive? Scotland: 8% … Continue reading 8% of the population, 42% of the wind energy electricity production

In the Survation poll, Table 16 has the data for the claim above that a third of Scots were likely to agree with this statement: How likely or unlikely, would an increase to income tax in Scotland make you consider relocating elsewhere in the UK? Data table at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_on_Scottish_independence I cannot find Table 16 listed. Perhaps a reader can help? If we had access to the full data with a breakdown on voting, age, Yes/No position and household income, what might we find out about that third? None of them folk who would ever vote SNP/Green or Yes? Also, what … Continue reading Only Tories and Starmerites threatening to leave after higher taxes?