Little delight as brand-new Turkish-built ferry doors last only 15weeks and the other unfinished three vessels have to be paid for in full meaning they might need to be towed somewhere for finishing-off – How about the Clyde?
From BBC Scotland today: CalMac’s newest ship – the Turkish-built MV Isle of Islay – is to be withdrawn from service for repairs later this month, just 15 weeks after carrying its first passengers. The roll-on roll-off ferry entered service on 31 March, but six weeks later a hinge problem with its bow doors meant it has had to operate “single ended” ever since. The issue is understood to be the only “big ticket” item out of about 150 lesser problems that CalMac wants fixed under warranty. Separately, Scotland’s state-owned ferries body is trying to establish if three other CalMac … Continue reading Little delight as brand-new Turkish-built ferry doors last only 15weeks and the other unfinished three vessels have to be paid for in full meaning they might need to be towed somewhere for finishing-off – How about the Clyde?
David Lammy’s shocking incompetence to be tested again? Remember when he oversaw the release in error of 179, more than THREE times as many prisoners proportionally as in Scotland, 5
Prison security is a big story across UK media this morning, prompted by the above in the Telegraph, this morning. BBC Scotland have nothing on it but do have a piece on the QEUH not being able to report even one positive Ebola case. In April 2026, BBC Scotland were interested in the same story – prisoners released in error – as the UK media. As always, they failed to spot the main issue: Shocking incompetence as Lammy oversees the release in error of more than THREE times as many prisoners as Constance in Scotland Justice Secretaries in April 2026, … Continue reading David Lammy’s shocking incompetence to be tested again? Remember when he oversaw the release in error of 179, more than THREE times as many prisoners proportionally as in Scotland, 5
NHS Scotland has met the national drug and alcohol treatment waiting times standard for community services every year going back to 2011 when it was first set
From National drug and alcohol treatment waiting times 1 January 2026 to 31 March 2026 Accredited official statistics, published today: 7,034 referrals to community-based services started treatment, broadly similar to the previous quarter (7,009). Nationally, the Standard was met for referrals to community-based services, with 92.4% (6,501) of referrals starting treatment within three weeks, compared with 92.6% in the previous quarter. Across all substance types, the Standard was met for drugs (94.2%), problematic use of both alcohol and drugs (91.5%) and alcohol (91.4%). Source: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times-1-january-2026-to-31-march-2026/ Since 2021, when the current system of recording was put in place, NHS Scotland has … Continue reading NHS Scotland has met the national drug and alcohol treatment waiting times standard for community services every year going back to 2011 when it was first set
NHS England waiting list queue is 300 000 or 5% longer than Scotland’s
From Stage of treatment waiting times New outpatients, inpatients and day cases published today, the above graph and: At 31 May 2026, there were an estimated 579,814 individuals on at least one new outpatient, inpatient or day case waiting list. This is equivalent to around 1 in 10 of Scotland’s population (mid-2024 estimates).1 All things being equal, pro rata, the figure for England with 10 times the population should be 5.8m The equivalent figure for NHS England is estimated (!) at 6 .1.2 There are thus 300 000 people, 4.9% more, on the NHS England waiting list who would not … Continue reading NHS England waiting list queue is 300 000 or 5% longer than Scotland’s
NHS Scotland cancer treatment facing massive increase in referrals since pandemic yet performing better than then and saving thousands who would have been delayed in NHS England
From Cancer waiting times 1 January to 31 March 2026 published today: There were 4,668 eligible referrals where the 62-day standard applied, a decrease of 2.7% from the previous quarter, but an increase of 25.4% from the quarter ending 31 December 2019, the last full quarter pre‑pandemic. 72.2% of patients started treatment within 62 days, compared with 72.6% in the previous quarter. There were 7,225 eligible referrals where the 31-day standard applied, a decrease of 2.0% from the previous quarter, but an increase of 13.1% from the quarter ending 31 December 2019. 94.5% of patients started treatment within 31 days, … Continue reading NHS Scotland cancer treatment facing massive increase in referrals since pandemic yet performing better than then and saving thousands who would have been delayed in NHS England
SNP Government builds 6 times as many and sells 18 500 times fewer council houses than England after two years of Labour
From Housing statistics quarterly update: new housebuilding and affordable housing supply published today, we see that Scotland’s local authorities built 1 707 council houses in 2025, down 17 from the previous year but up by nearly 600 on 1 123, ten years before, in 2016.1 All things being equal and now two years into a Labour government, you might expect England to be building around 17 00. Hmm, no, just 2 850, only a sixth of the level in Scotland.2 They have ‘beaten’ Scotland on one thing though. Scotland sold no council houses because Thatcher’s right to buy legislation is … Continue reading SNP Government builds 6 times as many and sells 18 500 times fewer council houses than England after two years of Labour
Scotland generates ‘huge amount ‘ of surplus renewables electricity to transfer over the border and enrich corporations with their pals in the UK Treasury
From Energy Statistics for Scotland – Q1 2026, published today, the above graph showing Scotland’s ever-increasing renewable electricity capacity and, of note, the levelling of on-shore and surging of off-shore capacity. Scotland’s capacity for electricity generation from renewable sources has increased substantially over the past 10 years and currently stands at 18.1 GW – a 3.2% increase compared to 17.6 GW at the end of the first quarter of 2025 (Figure 2). In terms of actual generation, this too is increasing fast: In 2026, 13.4 TWh of renewable electricity was generated in the first quarter in Scotland. This is a 22% increase from … Continue reading Scotland generates ‘huge amount ‘ of surplus renewables electricity to transfer over the border and enrich corporations with their pals in the UK Treasury
Glasgow becomes more lawful as youth violence falls amid anger over Scottish Conservative’s lies based on soft-touch research methods
The Daily Express yesterday, based on anecdotal evidence gathered by the Scottish Conservatives has the above and: Furious Glasgow residents have claimed they are being subjected to a wave of terror by youth gangs wielding weapons such as knives, saws and axes. Locals in the Southside area of the city voiced concerns around youngsters in the Pollok, Crookston and Paisley Road West area of the city reporting a severe increase in anti-social behaviour, involving kids as young as 11. From Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2025-26 published 23 June 2026, this table: Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/recorded-crime-scotland-2025-26/pages/total-recorded-crime/ One year variations are often unreliable indicators of trends but comparing … Continue reading Glasgow becomes more lawful as youth violence falls amid anger over Scottish Conservative’s lies based on soft-touch research methods
Scotland’s most rebutting – With greater resourcing Talking-up Scotland is surging – a third more rebutting lies and revealing hidden truths
Halfway through 2026, with increased resources kicking in, Talking-up Scotland is surging. We’re already, for the first six months of 2026, at more than one third more visitors and, crucially, one third more of our fully-researched reports posted, rebutting inaccuracy and revealing hidden truths, at a level (6 per day on average) and in the range of issues covered, way ahead, on this evidence, of any other comparable site in Scotland. We’ll have another crowdfunder in September. I hope you can support it. Recent [Just one week] examples of our work: The above are just since one week ago! Continue reading Scotland’s most rebutting – With greater resourcing Talking-up Scotland is surging – a third more rebutting lies and revealing hidden truths
Labour civil war will go ‘nuclear’ if Michael Shanks tries to push his small modular reactors on to new leader-favourite Monica Lennon as she leads the remains of the tribe away from Sarwar, Starmer and Mandelson to embrace policies that Scots voters actually like
Headlining on the Herald today, the above fantasy platforming the views of junior minister Michael Shanks (left) and of Ed Milliband. Troubled former Modern Studies teacher, Shanks is still tasked with promoting the building of new small modular reactors in Scotland, regardless of Scottish Labour’s near extinction event in the last Holyrood election and the clear signs of a civil war in the branch, as Monica Lennon, the last living leftie there, leads a move to the left and to support for another independence referendum. Support for nuclear energy will not be in her plans. Regulars will know that TuS … Continue reading Labour civil war will go ‘nuclear’ if Michael Shanks tries to push his small modular reactors on to new leader-favourite Monica Lennon as she leads the remains of the tribe away from Sarwar, Starmer and Mandelson to embrace policies that Scots voters actually like
