From SNP Media: The SNP Scottish Government has supported businesses across Scotland with £3.6billion of funding throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Research from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) shows that the Scottish Government has made over £2.7bn available in support such as grants, with £965m being made available to businesses through business rates relief. The Scottish Government has made a wide range of support available to businesses, with some funding going over and above what the UK government has provided through Barnett Consequentials. Commenting, SNP MSP and deputy convener of the Economy and Fair Work committee Colin Beattie said: “Businesses … Continue reading ‘Even with one hand tied behind its back’

In the Record two days ago, the report of a tragic error. Without knowing the whole story, I hesitate but it does look like a mistake was made. However, the report had these features: Yesterday the man’s heartbroken family, who asked not to be identified, called for answers on the “despicable” delay in getting him emergency treatment. And Helena’s husband Graham, 67, called for government action to tackle ambulance waiting times. Last week the Daily Record told how there has been in increase in the number of urgent 999 calls not seeing an ambulance quickly – with about three in … Continue reading BBC Bias 14 virus is spread by ambulance-chasing journalists but only in Scotland

3,190 new cases of COVID-19 were reported for the previous 24 hours. That’s a fall of 274 from the previous day when it was 3 464 and a further 136 from the day before that. Can the Herald keep going with this theme when they fall below 3 000? More than 2 000 new Covid cases confirmed for fifth day in a row? Continue reading Covid cases fall for second day

The Sunday Post is not always rubbish but this headline story is. We all, nearly, agree that prosecuting and jailing addicts is a waste of time, money and lives. From BBC Glasgow & West only last month: It is now more than four years since Glasgow City Council first proposed allowing users to take their own drugs under the supervision of medical staff at a special facility in the city. The idea is to encourage users who inject heroin or cocaine on Glasgow’s streets to enter a safe and clean environment. It is hoped the special room would encourage addicts … Continue reading £750 million wasted, because the law on drugs is reserved to Westminster

So, modelled on the New Zealand ‘cooperation agreement‘, another of our grumpy borderline misogynists, finds only a tale of deceit and, after Billy Connolly, ‘a pretendy (wee?) coalition in the Scottish version. Along with his pack, Brian Wilson, Tom Gordon, Brian Monteith, John McLellan, Murdo Fraser, ACH, Douglas Ross and Kevin McKenna, he seems to have a real problem with strong intelligent women leaders. He has called her revealingly, ‘the headmistress‘, note not ‘headteacher‘, as has been the official title since just after Macwhirter left school, but ‘headmistress.’ In New Zealand, after nearly three years of their Labour/Green ‘cooperation agreement’, … Continue reading Meet Sturgeon’s obsessing ‘pretendy journalist’

In the Herald today: MINISTERS have lost over £60m in public money through trying to salvage the shipyard company at the centre of Scotland’s ferry-building fiasco, the Herald on Sunday can reveal. New financial papers have revealed that £36.1m of the £50.1m of public funds the Scottish Government has tried to reclaim after Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL) fell into administration in August, 2019 will not be recovered. https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19529636.revealed-ministers-lose-60m-public-funds-bailout-ferguson-marine/ Note the amount, note the intention to save jobs and remember the yard is still open. Two years ago in England, note the same factors: Labour has claimed transport secretary Chris Grayling‘s … Continue reading Scottish ministers try to save jobs but in England….

BBC Northern Ireland report on the disastrous surge in cases, 3 months after it begins, 1 month after they surpassed even England and 3 weeks after the latest steep climb began, taking then to almost twice the UK average: Notice that after a month well below that of England and Northern Ireland, the rate in Scotland has climbed fast to now equal that of England. BBC Wales continues to ignore their more recent surge and BBC UK/England rarely report their high levels. BBC Scotland is quiet but how long will it be, if Scotland surpasses England, before Reporting Scotland and … Continue reading Ready, Reporting Scotland?

In the last week, Scotland delivered 21% more vaccinations than England or Northern Ireland and twice as many as Wales. In May, when Wales was ahead, BBC Wales gave credit to their own folk: Tidy. When Scotland first surpassed Wales in July, to top the vaccination chart, BBC Scotland had other things they thought you need to know: Sad. Continue reading Scotland streaking ahead with jags

Not for the first time, I’ve had to modify the unnecessary gloom at the Herald. For the first time in 7 days, the number of new Covid cases has fallen, from 3 613 on Thursday, to 3 464 yesterday. There were three deaths, down from 9 on the previous day and the lowest for 5 days. Hospital admissions have now fallen every day since the end of July. I thought you might like to know. Continue reading Covid Scotland: Cases and deaths fall

My gub did drap. The Scottish Labour branch office sneering at an independent political party is a good one but it’s the notion that coalitions mean loss of principle that really tickles. What, like if a party committed to egalitarian values were to do a deal with one utterly opposed to them, like these ones? Or East Lothian? Or the Labour/Lib Dem coalition under Jack MacConell? Continue reading O, wad some power the giftie gie Labour to see themsels as others see them