Small sub-polls but when they all say the same thing, there is something there. From People Polling with data collected on 29 March, has increased lead : Scottish Labour 20% Scottish Cons 14% SNP 48% Greens 4% UK Labour 42% UK Cons 24% People Polling on March 22, had: Scottish Labour 21% Scottish Cons 9% SNP 44% Greens 5% UK Labour 43% UK Cons 22% https://peoplepolling.org/tables/202303_GBN_W12_full.pdf#subsection*.12 People Polling on March 17, had: Scottish Labour 32% Scottish Cons 12% SNP 46% Greens 6% UK Labour 45% UK Cons 20% https://peoplepolling.org/tables/202303_GBN_W11_full.pdf#subsection*.12 Message? No worries. Continue reading First poll since Humza win has increased support for SNP

stewartb As many will be aware, there are mixed views amongst the public – some strongly held and I suspect for various reasons – on the case of Ms Ferrier’s breeches of lockdown rules. What has not been reported by the media is that there were mixed views within Westminster’s Committee on Standards too, not on the facts that she was wrong to do as she did but on the severity of the sanction that should be applied to her. Here is a link to the relevant Committee on Standards report: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/290/committee-on-standards/news/194555/committee-on-standards-publishes-report-on-the-conduct-of-margaret-ferrier-mp/ Whilst the Committee by a majority voted for Ms … Continue reading Further thoughts on the Ferrier case

The Herald, like Nazi Germany, is not a monolithic organisation, where everything is geared to attacking the SNP. It is mostly, and its Goering, Himmler and Goebbels-like figures, Monteith, Gordon and Wilson (I’m joking! A bit), dominate the narrative. Just as Hitler let them all fight it out to impress him, the Herald’s editor (who?) wants readers before anything else, so will allow dissenting voices at times. Ian McConnell is one, almost the only one admittedly, who regularly tells it like it is even if that might support the SNP. Today, he has SNP worse on business and economy than … Continue reading Sturgeon and business: Herald reporter knows what he’s talking about!

In an utterly self-unaware sneer and a disgusting slur against the country that has given him a job and a home, Prof Tomkins, one-time lefty anti-monarchist moved right, former list MSP, comments on the new SNP cabinet. Mediocrity? He should know all about that. Here he is, with that other talent, Annie Wells, coming in 3rd, voted for by no one, to win a big fat salary to just sit and sneer all day. Continue reading SHOCK: Glasgow Tory Prof knows what he’s talking about

Right off, I don’t think Margaret Ferrier should be forced to resign and I don’t think that, consequently, there should a by-election in Rutherglen and Hamilton West. Why not. This: If can stay, why can’t she? However, if there was to be one, the good folk of the constituency would have little reason to trust Labour again. While Margaret Ferrier’s predescessor, Gerard Killen seems to have done little or no harm in his two years from 2017 to 2019, those around him had barely had the time to get started again exploiting the ‘gravy boat’ situation they found themselves in … Continue reading Why the SNP would not fear Labour in a by-lection in Rutherglen and Hamilton West

This morning, Reporting Scotland, in an interview with a police trade union rep, tell us a tale of understaffing and increased pressure. The story is nowhere else. It’s not even on the BBC Scotland website (different editor?). It hasn’t been fed to the Herald and there are no reports of such pressure anywhere else in the UK. We don’t hear these, the facts, of course: Staffing: The chart below plots total police officer strength (FTEs) for Scotland from 1985 to 2020.  It shows long term, steady rise followed by a short period of rapid rise, and then by a period … Continue reading Crime plummets, staffing 50% higher than in England but Reporting Scotland peddle a different tale

This morning, the above happy professor Andrew Jahoda of Glasgow University, told BBC Scotland: “Services are finding it incredibly difficult to find workers, to resource services and we have the cost of living crisis. Although we have devolved governments and different polices, to a degree, the findings were consistent across all four countries of the UK.” I’ve now been able to read the research upon which his claim is based. It is qualitative research, using a legitimate methodology which helps researchers to understand the meaning events have for the subjects of the research. It consists of interviews with 354 adults with … Continue reading Glasgow prof has made up results to cast Scotland in a negative light

From the Scottish Government today but clearly not in the public interest judging by the BBC Scotland coverage: Up to £30 million will be made available through the Fuel Insecurity Fund next year to help households who are at risk of self-rationing or self-disconnecting their energy use, First Minister Humza Yousaf has announced. The funding will be made available to third sector organisations in the next financial year to support the most vulnerable households in Scotland. The Scottish Government had previously committed to doubling the Fuel Insecurity Fund, from £10 million to £20 million. https://www.gov.scot/news/more-funding-made-available-for-fuel-insecurity-fund/ Continue reading £30 million more funding made available for Fuel Insecurity Fund

Note the Herald’s Tom Gordonstoun refers to the dodgy pen provided by the legal bods as ‘his?’ Watch the video and note Humza’s patient smile and manner. Remember and contrast the above with this: Why has Tom Gordonstoun not written what I’ve written? Charlie is his darlin’? See this from 2020: Once again, we’ve had to sort out the Herald headline before they lose any more readers. Their Royal Correspondent, Tom Gordonstoun (good eh?) was going to accuse a former SNP MSP of something disloyal. I forget what. Does the Herald have some kind of collective death wish? Continue reading Herald’s Tom Gordonstoun tries to blame Yousaf as he copes with a pen malfunction far better than Charles III

Prof Andrew Jahoda of GU with BBC Scotland tell us this morning: Disabled people and their families are facing a crisis when accessing care. That’s according to a study seen by BBC Scotland. It says that since the pandemic, people with complex disabilities have faced reduced access to respite and day-care services, and staff shortages are exacerbating the situation. Services are finding it incredibly difficult to find workers, to resource services and we have the cost of living crisis. Although we have devolved governments and different polices, to a degree, the findings were consistent across all four countries of the … Continue reading Why is this smiling academic so pleased to claim that disabled care is just as bad in Scotland!