Some of you may have seen the letter by Professor Brian Wardle in last week’s Herald (17/12) https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23196988.letters-snp-replaced-economic-reasoning-wishful-thinking/ It reads THE pertinence of Brian Wilson’s commentary (“We need a root and branch review of how the SNP spends our money”, The Herald, December 13) on the recklessness of the SNP Government’s spending profile is exemplified by the character of the latest Budget (“Changes in key taxes on income and rates alter Scots funding position”, The Herald, December 16). Economists fear they are in a parallel universe, looking hopefully on the SNP’s declarations for some sign of over-riding rationale. Brian Wilson … Continue reading ‘Your goldfish doesn’t bark’: Developing a “comprehensive” economic strategy

In the clearest of examples of just how Scottish the UK press is, regardless of any banner heading ‘SCOTLAND’, the Times ignores the fact that, uniquely, the Scottish ambulance service is operating normally and grossly simplifies the message from one health board: Note this desperate attempt to make sure Scots feel included in England’s health crisis. Note also, this warning of increased attendances due to slipping on ice comes FIVE days after the West of Scotland began to thaw. The Express had the same: and the SUN: and the Herald: Continue reading Lives risked as Scots wrongly advised to stay away from A&E

With 10 times the population, NHS England has had 14 times as many admissions in the last 7 days. Shockingly, again with only 10 times the population, NHS England has 37 times as many patients in ventilation beds. Something is going badly wrong, especially with the more severe cases in communities. Lower vaccination levels due to less clear government guidance? Source: Continue reading Why is Covid hospitalisation not surging in Scotland?

In the last 7 days, prior to 15 December, there were 15 deaths in Scotland, within 28 days of a positive test (30 fewer than in the previous week) and a cumulative total thus of 12 389. In England with 10 times the population, there were 402 deaths (only 18 fewer than previous week), 2.7 times as many pro rata and cumulative total of 173 821, 40% higher than the Scottish figure, pro rata. Why are there still, and have there been so many fewer deaths in Scotland? Better hospitals, more nurses and doctors, more beds, better government….? Sources: Continue reading Why are Covid deaths far fewer and not surging in Scotland?

In the Scotsman today: We should be thankful for there being politicians like John Swinney. By his own actions the evidence that devolution is failing the Scottish people continues to mount, building a funeral pyre for the democratic experiment. John Swinney would not want it any other way, he does not and never has supported devolution as a democratic ideal that should be made to work. For Swinney, demonstrating devolution can never be enough is his political mission, for the collapsing public services and economic stagnation under his watch can be used to justify it should be replaced by secession. https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/brian-monteith-why-should-john-swinney-care-if-higher-taxes-ruin-scotlands-economy-3958279 … Continue reading Why should anyone read anything Brian Monteith writes

In just one year after the effects of the pandemic in increasing the risk, NHS Scotland and Government programmes, schools and children themselves have produced a sharp improvement in the number of children at risk of obesity. The graph suggests that further improvement can be expected in 2022/23. I’m not up-to-date on figures for a bit of whitabootery of the kind our MSM loves and hates depending on whether it’s bad for the SNP or not, but in 2020, we had this: What is the SNP Government doing to reduce obesity? You don’t know? You’re not really that interested? Oh, … Continue reading Dramatic fall in number of children at risk of obesity

Above how ‘our’ media report the world for us. Below, the actual facts, from Public Health Scotland today: The Scottish Government set a Standard that 90% of people referred for help with problematic drug or alcohol use will wait no longer than three weeks for specialist treatment that supports their recovery.Nationally, the Standard was met for referrals starting treatment across all substances: problematic use of drugs (94%), alcohol (91%) and co-dependency (93%). https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times-1-july-2022-to-30-september-2022 Continue reading Factcheck: NHS Scotland beats all drug and alcohol treatment targets

From Public Health Scotland today: Quarterly uptake rates remained high in Scotland; over 95% of children had received each routine immunisation by the time they were 12 months old, with the exception of rotavirus vaccine, which had 93.2% uptake.94.2% of children had the first dose of MMR vaccine by 24 months of age. This rose to 95.9% for children who had reached age 5. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/childhood-immunisation-statistics-scotland/childhood-immunisation-statistics-scotland-quarter-ending-30-september-2022/ From NHS England for 2021: No vaccines met the 95% target Coverage for the 5-in1 at 5 years decreased from 95.2% in 2020-21 to 94.4% in 2021-22. Particularly concerning, given the deadly nature of measles: … Continue reading Only Scotland meets deadly measles immunisation target

On BBC UK this morning, several times, the story above. From BBC Scotland, with no mention of the nursing strike or the First Minister’s role in averting it, this morning: The UK Government is suing a company that made personal protective equipment for £133 million. PPE MEd Pro won a contract to supply gowns but the Government wants its money back. The company was ‘referred’ to the Government by Scottish-born Baroness Mone. Referred? Doesn’t that sound like she was acting against the company on our behalf? On the BBC Politics site at the same time: PPE Medpro won contracts through … Continue reading As nurses strike everywhere else, Reporting Scotland protects Baroness Mone

BBC Scotland has more than 800 words today under the heading: Scottish school subjects could be axed due to cuts, union warns but not one word on the pupil-teacher ratio, that most important piece of information in assessing how well schools are resourced in Scotland. The piece opens with: Some school subjects will have to scrapped as a result of the Scottish government’s budget, a teaching union chief has said. The general secretary of School Leaders Scotland claimed the number of pupils per class would also rise, with teacher vacancies to remain unfilled. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64017092 We’ve been here before with police … Continue reading Better pupil-teacher ratio under SNP means Scotland has SIX THOUSAND EXTRA teachers!