By stewartb I’ve just heard an ill-informed BBC 1 interviewer suggest to the FM that using a General Election as a democratic event to test the will of the people of Scotland regarding independence is somehow illegitimate or unworkable. So it seems timely to remind ourselves of what follows. Like many I suspect, I am aware of what Margaret Thatcher is supposed to have said about the constitutional significance of a majority of independence-supporting MPs from Scotland being elected to the House of Commons. I’ve never seen an authoritative reference to this.  Anyone? The same issue was raised in the … Continue reading Democracy in this Union and the convenient fluidity of Tory Party ‘principles’

The 70s and All That By Gordon Gibson It was hardly remarkable that the right wing press (and other Unionist commentators) rushed, at the first whiff of industrial action, to drag out comparisons between the present state of the UK and the way things were in the 1970s. At the same time, I could not help but wonder how many of these self appointed guardians of Common Sense and Economic Probity were actually around at the time.             Being suitably long in the tooth, I can remember those days very well. I was a newly qualified teacher. My family struggled … Continue reading ‘An Albatross! Cut the rope!’

Scottish BMA branch convenor Lewis Morrison features all day today on BBC Scotland telling us: NHS staff are increasingly having to apologise for “system-wide failings” which are letting patients down, a leading doctor claims. The outgoing chairman of BMA Scotland, Dr Lewis Morrison, will highlight the burden on health care staff during his farewell address [in Brighton] later. He will urge ministers to “stop asking doctors to say sorry and give them the tools to make things better”. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-61972190 Morrison is a BBC Scotland regular, described as ‘a leading doctor’ when he is not even a leading trade unionist like … Continue reading Going to Brighton to talk Scotland down

From stewartb Apologies for commenting here without reading the full Reform Scotland (RF) report. I have read the summary with Chris Deerin’s related comments on the RF’s website. Candidly, I’m surprised at the negativity of reactions being expressed here. My take is that the report focuses on: (i) Scotland’s demographic challenge – is that at all controversial?; (ii) need for higher tax revenue – let’s frame that as higher public spending for better public services and a better social security system; (iii) need for tax reform – arguing for wholesale, root and branch reform of Scotland’s tax system. The implications … Continue reading ‘Looking’ doesn’t magically deliver the powers to change anything

Leaving aside the fact that ‘Sturgeon’ is neither the responsible head of a health board nor is she the Health Secretary, the Herald report by Tom Gordon, headlines the 62-day target from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to first cancer treatment being met for only 76.9% of patients. The above is correct but selective, in that the other target of 31 days from decision to treat to first cancer treatment was met for 96.3%. Note that in the case of the first target, some will not have required treatment where, for example, there turns out to be no cancer or … Continue reading Tom Gordon under fire as other SNP cancer waiting time target is met for 96% of patients with confirmed cancers

From Public Health Scotland today: Quarterly uptake rates remained high in Scotland; around 96% of children had received each routine immunisation by the time they were 12 months old, with the exception of rotavirus vaccine, which had 94.5% uptake. 94.4% 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://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/page/3/?s=emergency Of concern, NHS England does not publish 12 months data but MMR coverage at 24 months was only 90.3% and in London it has now fallen to only 75%, well below any herd immunity … Continue reading NHS Scotland vaccinates 96% of children as London threatens deadly measles outbreaks

Nowhere in Scotland’s MSM coverage today, this fantastic news: Of the 8,202 referrals to community-based specialist drug and alcohol treatment services completed in this quarter [January to March 2022], 92% involved a wait of three weeks or less. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times-1-january-2022-to-31-march-2022/ The target is 90%. When targets are missed, even though performance is the best in the UK, it’s headline news: Continue reading NHS Scotland smashes drug and alcohol waiting times targets

In the Herald today, by Tom Gordon: The ‘think-tank’ in question, presented as independent, is headed up by former Labour leader, Lord Jack MacConnell, regular media critic of the SNP and Scottish Government, journalist Chris Deerin and, as research director, by Alison Payne. There are no credible researchers at that level nor on the wider team. We were here in February 2022 when I wrote: Reform Scotland, like most right-wing, unionist, so-called think tanks is keen to project itself as somehow independent or non-partisan. Any social science student will tell you there’s no such thing but Reform Scotland is an easier target … Continue reading With Lord McConnell, Chris Deerin and that Reporting Scotland ‘mum’, this tank does not think

European collaboration and the Scottish research base – scares in 2014 and risks in 2022. By stewartb – a long read The fall-out from Brexit, including the UK government’s position on the NI Protocol, is impacting research and innovation in the UK. Presently, UK-based scientists are unable to  join the EU’s €95 billion Horizon Europe research programme because of the dispute over trade in Northern Ireland. ‘Associate membership’ of Horizon Europe – a formal status available to non-EU member states – was agreed in principle during negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU: this is now on hold. The … Continue reading Scotland’s research-base at risk of exclusion from Horizon Europe

That’s what this charity rep seems to be telling Reporting Scotland’ Connor Gillies. Gillies is already a master of reporting tales of economic hardship with diddley in the way of facts or context. There is no mention of Brexit and the claims then of Conservatives that it would mean cheaper food. Crucially there is no mention of Scottish Government efforts to moderate this crisis and the facts that demonstrate some success in that. I repeat myself I know but just in case, see these: Child poverty in Scotland is at half the rate of England. Why? Two reasons. More affordable … Continue reading Are teachers really struggling to put food on the table?