Scots Tory on Question Time borrows Scotland’s falling crime rate to use as cover for England’s soaring crimes
On Question Time, last night, Scots Tory MP, Andrew Bowie, claimed the above. Across the country, he was so wrong. From 2010, in England, crime has almost doubled. In Scotland, where his constituency is (WTF voted for this?), it has fallen by around 50%. I suppose no one with any great level of talent is going to work as a researcher for people like him. Continue reading Scots Tory on Question Time borrows Scotland’s falling crime rate to use as cover for England’s soaring crimes
Child poverty – has Welsh Labour also ‘squandered the legacy’ of a prior Labour government?
stewartb I note in the Daily Record article on poverty by Mr Hutcheon this (with my emphasis): ‘Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy said: “The SNP’s failure to tackle poverty is A SHAMEFUL BLIGHT on their record in government. “A single person in poverty is one too many and a single day spent in poverty is a day too many – but the SNP SEEM CONTENT to let things stall at these devastating levels. “It’s clear both of our governments have FAILED MISERABLY to protect people from the cost of living crisis, SQUANDERING THE LEGACY OF THE LAST LABOUR GOVERNMENT.” Now I … Continue reading Child poverty – has Welsh Labour also ‘squandered the legacy’ of a prior Labour government?
Latest Poll: SNP survives daily ferry feeding frenzy to leave Cons and Labour in its wake
In the absence of full polls, another sub-poll gives us at least an indication of the extent to which the recent media carpet-bombing of the SNP, is having any effect. No sign. People Polling based on data gathered only 2 days ago, has: SNP 44% Scottish Cons 9% Scottish Labour 21% UK Cons 22% UK Labour 43% It’s only small sample of 101 Scots so not statistically reliable but it tells the same story seen in many sub-polls before. SNP core support unmoved at 42-44%, well above the long period in the mid 30% range, in 2017 and 2018. Scottish … Continue reading Latest Poll: SNP survives daily ferry feeding frenzy to leave Cons and Labour in its wake
Stand-up Margaret?
Reacting to Keir Starmer saying ‘Thatcher was right’, Mhairi Black SNP MP said: “People in Scotland will be appalled that Keir Starmer is taking his lead from Margaret Thatcher, who left lasting scars on our communities. “Under Starmer, the pro-Brexit Labour Party has lurched to the right, and is now little more than a pound-shop Tory tribute act – copying Tory policies and quoting Tory Prime Ministers. “Whether it’s denying Scotland’s democracy, ruling out any return to the EU, backing Tory cuts to public sector pay and benefits, attacking migration, or signalling greater privatisation of the NHS – the Labour Party … Continue reading Stand-up Margaret?
Child poverty under the SNP: Paul Hutcheon probably not that stupid
You can see what he’s done there and why he’s done it. Playground point-scoring with some very selective use of statistics, at the two ends of a 16 year period, and concealing what happened in between – Tory austerity. Here is the detail Hutcheon doesn’t want you to be aware of: After only 7 years in power, within the limitations of devolved budgets, the SNP had reduced relative child poverty to 21% from 24% under Labour. Then as Tory austerity began to bite from 2010, and despite the efforts of the Scottish Government, relative poverty began to climb back to … Continue reading Child poverty under the SNP: Paul Hutcheon probably not that stupid
Covid ICU cases approaching zero as they climb elsewhere in UK
I’ve emailed Public Health Scotland’s media enquiries department, at last, on this. In the last few days in Scotland with figures, there have been only 3 or 4 Covid patients with symptoms serious enough to require intensive care while in England there have been between 167 and 188. Per head of population, Covid ICU cases are running at more than four times the rate in England. There must be a reason. I’ve explored a few before. See: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2023/03/19/nearly-5-times-as-many-icu-covid-cases-in-other-parts-of-uk/ If I get anything interesting from the media enquiry, I’ll let you know. Continue reading Covid ICU cases approaching zero as they climb elsewhere in UK
NHS Scotland’s eating disorder services fully fit and more
The Guardian today has: ‘I worry my young patients will die’: UK’s eating disorder services not fit, say GPs. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/mar/22/i-worry-my-young-patients-will-die-uk-eating-disorder-services-not-fit-say-gps Typically this ‘UK’ study has only references to England but in June 2022, they had: A shortage of beds for severely unwell eating-disorder patients has forced the NHS to send more than 100 women from England to hospitals in Scotland for treatment since 2017. The cost of relocating patients, which included under-18s, was more than £10m, with one patient staying more than a year in hospital, costing close to £250,000. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jun/03/patients-with-eating-disorders-sent-from-england-to-scotland-due-to-lack-of-beds Om March 11 2023, BBC Wales had this: Today, BBC Wales … Continue reading NHS Scotland’s eating disorder services fully fit and more
Enough reserves in UK [Scottish] North Sea for 30 years? Surely not, didn’t……
The above today but in 2019, from Professor Roy Thompson, of the University of Edinburgh, School of GeoSciences,: And in August 2014, conveniently just before the referendum: Did these earlier experts get the sack for being so wrong? Continue reading Enough reserves in UK [Scottish] North Sea for 30 years? Surely not, didn’t……
Scotland’s drug deaths as effects of Thatcher and Blair/Brown recede – the end?
While drug deaths overall, based on Police Scotland reports have been falling for two years now, deaths among those born under Thatcherite devastation in the 80s and 90s or New Labour neglect until 2007, the 35 to 54 year-olds (there are few of the 55 and over left now), have suddenly plummeted. While deaths among this age group continued to climb until 2021, the data for 2022 indicate a massive sudden drop of 17.6%in one year, from 873 to 719 cases. Also, and most encouraging for the situation, relative to the rest of Europe, which we hope to find ourselves … Continue reading Scotland’s drug deaths as effects of Thatcher and Blair/Brown recede – the end?
Suspected drug deaths fall again and by nearly a quarter in only two years
Though on the lookout for drug death figures, the media silence on good news in this area led me to miss a report on 14 March. The key points are: During 2022, there were 1,092 suspected drug deaths, 16% (203) fewer than during the same period of 2021 (1,295); a majority (66%) of suspected drug deaths were of people aged between 35 and 54. This is broadly in line with previous periods; there were 55 suspected drug deaths in the under 25 age group, 19% (13) fewer than between January and December 2021. https://www.gov.scot/publications/suspected-drug-deaths-scotland-october-december-2022/pages/3/ From the data tables, I can … Continue reading Suspected drug deaths fall again and by nearly a quarter in only two years
