Reporting Scotland ploughing its own narrow nationalist furrow
The BBC Scotland Business website, with some readers I feel sure, did headline the dramatic letter from Scotland’s food and drink sector, criticising the UK/Australia trade deal but Reporting Scotland last night, on the very day the letter is published, as often before, ignores a story that does not fit their hardcore loyalism and the nurturing of their uniquely elderly and conservative audience, essential to the No vote. It’s hard to see the inconsistency between the website and broadcasts as anything other than political. Imagine the same group had criticised the Scottish Government and the opposition parties were then able … Continue reading Reporting Scotland ploughing its own narrow nationalist furrow
‘If Scotland became independent, it would be the richest country ever to do so’
That is a winning line. Speaking on BBC Scotland’s Debate Night, last Wednesday, Andrew Wilson, not everyone’s favourite economy adviser to Nicola, did punch home a really clear response to doubters: “If Scotland becomes independent in the next year – it won’t but let’s say it did – it would be the richest country ever to become an independent country. “Scotland’s taxation that it raises itself is enough to pay for all of the Scottish Government’s policy responsibilities, plus all of social security and all of pensions – absent Covid, in a normal year.” “Right now is a great time … Continue reading ‘If Scotland became independent, it would be the richest country ever to do so’
BBC tries to hide Biden’s warning for Johnson over Northern Ireland
Twenty paragraphs on Russia and this frankly ludicrous, fawning, attempt to paint Johnson as his hero, Churchill: President Biden arrived in the UK on Wednesday. He will meet PM Boris Johnson to agree a new “Atlantic Charter”. The pact will be a modern version of the one agreed between Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt in 1941, with a focus on challenges including climate change and security. before this carefully worded avoidance of the truth of Johnson’s responsibilities for the crisis in Northern Ireland: Mr Biden is expected to warn that the UK-EU trade row could endanger peace in Northern Ireland. He will … Continue reading BBC tries to hide Biden’s warning for Johnson over Northern Ireland
Fightback in Scottish history teaching!
A ‘Unionist fightback?’ What, have we finished correcting all the mythological accounts of how good a thing the British Empire was? Do they want a fightback against accuracy? Do they want the weans and bairns to hear more on the positives in mass slavery, genocidal military campaigns, organised famines in India and Ireland, the theft of resources, my ancestors role in terrorising the good folk of Ireland, India, Aden and god knows how many other parts, and the many many other horrors typical of empires? I left school in 1969 with a Higher History, knowing all about Wellington’s campaigns and … Continue reading Fightback in Scottish history teaching!
SHOCK: UK infection rate now as high as in India
Despite much dwelt-upon shortages of infrastructure and of PPE, the infection rate, currently 8.2 per 100K, in both countries, looks like falling below that of the UK in the next few days. Though fascinated with the deaths, the apparent hospital chaos and the massed funeral pyres, only a few weeks ago, UK media have turned their gaze away from India now that she is clearly on top on the pandemic. Only CBS News has ‘India eases COVID restrictions as infections hit 2-month low.’ Important news for the UK’s many citizens with family there? No, instead the ‘Black Fungus‘ infecting some … Continue reading SHOCK: UK infection rate now as high as in India
‘A catalogue of cronyism’
(Image: Daily Mirror) From SNP Westminster Press Office: The SNP has condemned the cronyism at the core of Boris Johnson’s government, following a damning High Court ruling that the Tory government acted unlawfully when handing out lucrative Covid contracts to those with close links to senior Tory figures. Mrs Justice O’Farrell, who issued the ruling on the Cabinet Office contract with Public First, stated today that: “The decision of 5 June 2020 to award the contract to Public First gave rise to apparent bias and was unlawful.” The firm is owned by friends of Boris Johnson’s disgraced former adviser Dominic Cummings. … Continue reading ‘A catalogue of cronyism’
UK ‘Research’ group accuses only Scots of believing in a myth
On page 6 of this report by the British Foreign Policy Group: The Britons who fall into the Isolationists tribe are most concentrated in the North of Englandand least concentrated in London. But they are also over-represented in Scotland – emphasisingthe degree of mythology underpinning the concept of a homogeneously progressive,internationalist vision for an independent Scotland. The report claims: This report presents the findings of an ongoing partnership between the BFPG and Opiniumto investigate the complex, evolving nature of UK public opinion on foreign affairs. Opiniumconducts the fieldwork for the BFPG’s Annual Survey of Public Opinion on Foreign Policy andGlobal … Continue reading UK ‘Research’ group accuses only Scots of believing in a myth
Scotland’s resilient attractiveness to foreign investors – but how many in Scotland know how others see us?
By stewartb Here on TuS, on 7June, 2021 there was an article entitled ‘Indyref2 not a discouragement to foreign investors as Scotland surges 18% ahead of UK’. It was prompted by the release of the latest annual report – its 2021 Attractiveness Survey Scotland report – on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Scotland by EY (formerly Ernst & Young). Source: https://www.ey.com/en_uk/attractiveness/21/scotlands-share-of-uk-fdi-projects-has-risen The TuS article provides this quote from a BBC Scotland journalist on the subject: “The Scottish figures also suggest the prospect of another independence referendum is NOT A SIGNIFICANT DISCOURAGEMENT to foreign investors. Scotland has consistently outperformed other parts … Continue reading Scotland’s resilient attractiveness to foreign investors – but how many in Scotland know how others see us?
Brown’s sleight of hand on poll results revealing strong support for independence
Raaar!!! From SNP Media: A poll commissioned by Gordon Brown in the two days after the Scottish Parliament elections buried information showing that 55% of Scots verged to favouring independence on a scale of 0 to 10. The poll – conducted by James Kanagasooriam’s Stack Data, a trading brand of Hanbury Strategy which has conducted unpublished polling for the UK government and who regularly meet with Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove – showed that the accumulated percentage for those verging favourable to independence – 6 to 10 – was 55% in total whilst those verging against – 0 to 4 – was only 38%. Those opting … Continue reading Brown’s sleight of hand on poll results revealing strong support for independence
NHS Scotland Accident and Emergency departments even faster than NHS England
Health Secretary Humza Yousef In February 2021, NHS Scotland’s A&E departments saw and treated 86.2% within 4 hours while NHS England could only manage 77.4%, an 8.8% gap, and even then they were cheating, see below. By April 2021, NHS England could still only manage 77.1%. https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ In April 2021, in Scotland, 87.4% were seen and treated within 4 hours, a 10.3% gap. https://beta.isdscotland.org/find-publications-and-data/health-services/hospital-care/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics/ The gap is probably even greater because. BBC Scotland has accused NHS England of fiddling the figures by selection which departments are included: https://fullfact.org/health/fiddled-accident-emergency-statistics/ NHS England starts the clock again after patients are admitted while NHS Scotland counts … Continue reading NHS Scotland Accident and Emergency departments even faster than NHS England
