GMB abusing its own members as cannon fodder for Labour again
After a sequence of images of 2021’s ‘bin crisis’ and a smiling presenter suggesting the Scottish Government should intervene in a dispute between a union and a local authority employer, Hardie-named Mr Greenaway repeats the call, telling us: That’s a huge impact that can be avoided if the Scottish Government come to the table wiv money to make an acceptable offer Here’s the evidence from 2021: In the last hour, we heard: Bin strikes during the COP26 climate summit will go ahead after part of a £48m offer was rejected by one union. The walk out by cleansing and refuse staff … Continue reading GMB abusing its own members as cannon fodder for Labour again
Trade union survey only tells us that 98% of nurses are not reporting understaffing
From Reporting Scotland only, not on the BBC website, so a Labour feed: Almost three-quarters of nurses are facing staff shortages on their ward every day. That’s the suggestion from a survey by Unison of 1 100 nurses across Scotland. 94% said they experienced understaffing, 72% saying this happened daily. 22% described it as a weekly problem. This is another typical, self-selecting, trade union survey. Not properly sampled but based on just who can be bothered to respond or who is angry about something – a ‘squeaky wheel’ sample. Totally unreliable and of no meaningful value at all, as any … Continue reading Trade union survey only tells us that 98% of nurses are not reporting understaffing
The Scottish Government did not tell this man to have this particular cavity wall insulation or to buy his flat cheap in the first place!
This shoddy wee story is being headlined and linked to a Scottish Government funding scheme in a deliberately misleading way. Here is what the funding scheme offers: This funding scheme does not tell you which to choose nor which is suitable for your home. Far less, should you choose to cavity wall insulation, it does not tell you which form to use. There are several types including beads and granules, foam and mineral wool. See: https://www.insulationsuperstore.co.uk/help-and-advice/product-guides/insulation/cavity-wall-insulation-buyers-guide/#:~:text=cost%2Deffective%20solution.-,Foam,in%20to%20make%20it%20work. The Scottish Government scheme does not restrict your choice. You should speak to an engineer or an architect or a contractor who will advise … Continue reading The Scottish Government did not tell this man to have this particular cavity wall insulation or to buy his flat cheap in the first place!
Three polls suggest strengthening support for independence under Yousaf
Over the last few weeks the lead for No has varied from 2% to 10% depending on the pollster. While it is unlikely that methods vary that dramatically between different pollsters, there is clear evidence that some find consistently more or less negative figures and trends. So, looking at Survation’s last three polls from 10 March to 3 May, we see, despite MSM suggesting decline under Yousaf: Yes support going from 40% to 42% on 3 April to 44% on 3 May. The No lead falling from 8% to 5% to 3%. SNP support flat from 40% to 40% to … Continue reading Three polls suggest strengthening support for independence under Yousaf
Ireland having a surplus is not necessarily a model to follow
From reader, George S Gordon Scotland and the rest of the UK have suffered austerity, largely due to an undue focus on that mysterious thing called fiscal sustainability – now adopted by Starmerite Labour! However, Ireland having a surplus is not necessarily a model to follow. Youth unemployment in Ireland has been stuck on 10% for years, whereas currently Scotland has about half that – and that’s with a lot less powerful economic levers than either Ireland or the UK. The issue is whether its a sustainable plan for Ireland to be a tax haven in order to run a … Continue reading Ireland having a surplus is not necessarily a model to follow
Ireland’s wealth – Scotland considers what might have been.
From Frances McKie: Ireland has just announced that it will establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund -using their currently huge Budget Surpluses- forecast to rise to over £16 Billion next year. In this way, Ireland will follow the example of Australia-another former British colony – and Norway- who have used oil revenues and other windfall wealth to build and renew their infrastructures and insure their future national needs against more difficult economic circumstances. Scotland- 50 years after North Sea Oil Revenues began flowing to Norway and- in Scotland’s case- to Westminster and the corrupt, hedge-fund, oligarch-ridden City of London- has no … Continue reading Ireland’s wealth – Scotland considers what might have been.
English councils do far worse than SNP did!
From the Guardian today: MPs have expressed concern that local authorities in England are failing to pass on government funding for free childcare places to nurseries, after research showed councils were holding back millions of pounds to offset deficits or add to reserves. Freedom of information requests submitted by the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) revealed that more than 90 of the 150 local education authorities that responded underspent to the tune of almost £46m in total last year. Fifteen LEAs underspent by at least £1m each, while five of those underspent by a similar amount in two of the previous three years. … Continue reading English councils do far worse than SNP did!
‘Lighting up the Nation?’
stewartb ‘Helping out across the Nations – People are joining the Big Help Out in every nation of the United Kingdom.’ To see such an establishment organisation refer explicitly to a UK with multiple nations is a relatively rare occurrence! Then there is the (niggling) contrast with the promotion of another of the showpiece initiatives for the coronation. On 3 May the BBC published this online ‘First locations for BBC’s Coronation Concert ‘Lighting up the Nation’ revealed’. We learn that: ‘The Coronation Concert’s ‘Lighting up the Nation’ live sequence will see the country unite in celebration, as the United Kingdom … Continue reading ‘Lighting up the Nation?’
Hospital performance – there is no postcode lottery in Scotland
After scatter graphs, I love a funnel plot! I know TuS followers are smarter than the average but, just in case, it’s easy once you know how. The dots are hospitals, with wee ones on the left and the new Glasgow Southern General, to the right. The closer a dot is to the blue line, the closer it is to the predicted mortality rate it should have had last year. The prediction is based on past performance and the demographic (age, affluence etc) profile of the area it serves. The ones below the blue line did a bit better than … Continue reading Hospital performance – there is no postcode lottery in Scotland
Europe Day – SNP spends £2 million to help EU citizens stay in Scotland – BBC staff say – ‘eh whit?’
From the Scottish Parliament today: Continued funding announced on Europe Day. More EU citizens will be supported to remain in Scotland, thanks to renewed funding for the Stay in Scotland campaign. In partnership with the Citizens’ Rights Project, COSLA and Settled – an independent charity helping EU citizens to stay in the UK – over £200,000 will help vulnerable people apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). The Stay in Scotland campaign was launched in 2019 to help EU citizens understand and secure their rights through the uncertainties presented by Brexit. Throughout the campaign, more than £2 million has been provided to community organisations … Continue reading Europe Day – SNP spends £2 million to help EU citizens stay in Scotland – BBC staff say – ‘eh whit?’
