Readers might remember BBC Scotland’s failure to cover the first Minister’s speech at the last SNP Conference. There has been similar neglect with regard to most of her speeches in Europe. This continues, with Glenn Campbell, last night, bundling a quick reference to it within an interview with the Cop26 chair, Alok Sharma. We saw none of her speech and BBC Scotland offers no link to it. I’m grateful to stewartb, who comments in a post: Apologies if you’ve already seen this reported by the mainstream media or BBC Scotland! This is a link to our FM’s speech at the … Continue reading Link to First Minister’s speech in USA

In 2017, there were 363 hospitals and clinics in England and Wales that carried out abortions. Through the review, we found that 36 hospitals and clinics have experienced anti-abortion demonstrations. Having considered the evidence of the review, I [Savid Javid, then Home Secretary] have therefore reached the conclusion that introducing national buffer zones would not be a proportionate response, considering the experiences of the majority of hospitals and clinics, and considering that the majority of activities are more passive in nature. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2018-09-13/HCWS958 I can’t easily find out how many such clinics there are in Scotland but, pro rata, you’d expect … Continue reading SNP action on abortion protests is proportionate

The Ferry ‘scandal’ story runs on typically ill-informed. The Herald today headlines supposed neglect in securing a contract refund guarantee or pledge as they put it. US corporate law firm Haynes Boone reveal the often worthless nature of these: The buyer’s position is made worse by the fact that many shipbuilding contracts provide that, where the buyer terminates the shipbuilding contract for delay, the buyer is entitled to a refund of the pre-delivery instalments of the contract price, plus interest, but the yard has no furtherliability to the buyer. In circumstances where, after cancellation of the shipbuilding contract, the buyer … Continue reading Ferries: SNP Minister knew refund guarantees would be “very limited protection in reality”

By stewartb In recent days TuS and its contributors have sought to make good some of BBC Scotland’s deficiencies in news coverage. Specifically, they have been addressing the problem of the public service broadcaster’s persistence in being a context- and perspective-free zone. This has included highlighting the UK government’s very major mess over procurement of the Ajax armoured vehicle and – this is hard to believe – its inability to avoid having all six of the Royal Navy’s high tech, high value destroyers out of action for renovation/upgrade at the very same time. Candidly, more examples of Westminster government procurement … Continue reading Heard enough gaslighting of Scotland – time for more talking-down Westminster?

From BBC UK: Some of the poorest households in England and Wales are struggling to access council tax rebates to help offset their soaring energy bills, a charity has warned. Councils were expected to start paying the £150 rebates from April, when the energy price cap went up by £693 for the average household, leaving many struggling to pay their bills. The BBC contacted 32 billing authorities in Scotland. 25 responded to confirm that the £150 is not rebated but instead credited onto the council tax bill, making monthly payments lower for the forthcoming financial year. Those exempt from paying … Continue reading Poorest households in Scotland getting £150 energy rebate

By stewartb The House of Commons Library serves MPs by providing them with briefing packs relevant to upcoming Commons’ debates. Today’s briefing pack raised a ‘smile’! First we learn: ‘On Monday 16 May 2022, there will be a debate in the Commons chamber, linked to the Queen’s Speech. The proposed subject for this debate is “Making Britain the best place to grow up and grow old”. ‘ Source: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2022-0089/ Then helpfully MPs are informed: ‘The following existing House of Commons Library briefing papers provide background for the debate’. The list of existing papers is reproduced below. Note anything in particular about … Continue reading Spot it?

As support for the monarchy falls to 45% in Scotland in a recent poll, the Guardian reports that there are 98 planned platinum jubilee events expected in Scotland out of a total 3 233 for the UK as a whole. They don’t do the arithmetic that occurs to me. That’s only 3% of the total. BBC Scotland have gone silent on the matter but I see Kirsty Young is to return the BBC for the celebration. Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/15/queen-platinum-jubilee-bank-holiday-weekend-thousands-of-events https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/15/scottish-support-for-monarchy-falls-to-45-poll-reveals Continue reading 8% of the population but only 3% of the planned Queen’s jubilee events

There were 3 285 charges relating to race reported in Scotland in 2020/21 and I’m sure many more incidents not reported. There is racism in Scotland, I’m ashamed to say. There is probably some institutional racism in, for example, parts of the police force but none of that makes Scotland an essentially racist country. A ‘racist country’ surely is one where racist violence is common and endemic and where the institutions of the state are based upon it. None of the above is true of Scotland. England & Wales with around 3 times, pro rata, the level of racially motivated … Continue reading Yes, Scotland has racism but far less than some others

The Mail’s rubbishy and ill-informed story reminded me to check up on the data which last year suggested that Scotland’s drug death figures were largely a product of the effects of Thatcherite economic polices in the 80s and that as that generation died tragic early deaths, as a result of overdoses and their ruined bodies, the rate would begin to fall. It has. Based on Police Scotland estimates in 2021, there were 8% (116) fewer drug deaths overall than in 2020. The NRS report in July 2020 had already revealed earlier signs with a small reduction, for the first time, … Continue reading Scotland’s drug deaths now falling fast as expected

I’ll stick with the Herald’s all-too-lame nautical theme as it continues to publish stories bursting out of it’s free-market, anything goes, ethics-free offices. The MP leaking the report is not named. There is no quote from the report offered to confirm the ‘may never sail‘ line. All the Herald manages to offer to confirm the seriousness of the situation are these: Is that all? I’m no expert but buy bigger pumps and better valves? The Herald: Abandon hope all ye who turn these pages? Continue reading The ‘Herald of Free Enterprise’