Well down the page: ‘Jim Thewliss, from teachers’ group School Leaders Scotland says schools did not know the change was coming until it was announced at Holyrood last week and that it had been an enormous logistical task.’ School Leaders Scotland is a pressure group representing head teachers. Mr Thewliss seems remarkably insensitive to the challenges of dealing with a pandemic. The Scottish Government could not make this decision until they saw the data on infection level drops. Schools have two full weeks to plan a small scale return for only some of their pupils as part of phased induction, … Continue reading What are we paying this guy for?

Mark Eadie’s thesis here is that we think there’s a conspiracy, a plot, behind Sarah Smith’s serial ‘mistakes.’ Few believe such a thing. Few imagine her in a circle with Glen Campbell and the new Director plotting what she will say next to distort the truth. It’s long past that. Smith has been in a Unionist, New Labour bubble forever. She thinks that way. She can’t think any other way. No one needs to tell her what to do. She keeps doing it habitually. The ‘mistakes’ are always one-way, pro-Union. She makes them then, if caught, apologises. After a safe … Continue reading Duuh! We know it’s not a plot. She’s just doing what comes naturally

I appreciate that this evidence of recovery in NHS Scotland’s non-Covid activity still leaves many waiting for treatment but signs of recovery are not to be found in the MSM. From NHS Scotland: In the quarter ending 31 December 2020, 3,879 patients were referred to a chronic pain clinic. This compares to 3,168 patients in the quarter ending 30 September 2020, an increase of 22.4% In the quarter ending 31 December 2020, 2,108 patients were seen at a chronic pain clinic. This compares to 1,397 patients in the quarter ending 30 September 2020, an increase of 50.9%. Of the 2,108 … Continue reading 51% increase in number of chronic pain patients treated

Fresh from adding Brian Taylor and Lord Dunlop, Architect of the Poll Tax, to their roster, the Herald appoint a new Farming Correspondent, who grew up on a farm outside Ayr: Here she is recently grinning at Ruth Davidson, not an easy thing to do: More importantly Taylor launches with reporting we have little to smile about. First, the headline. The SNP has politicised the pandemic. Did she miss Boris starting off with suggestions that NHS Scotland was not resilient before offering to send in the troops while Scotland did the right thing by its care home residents or suggesting … Continue reading Herald’s youth policy lacks promise

News from the Scottish Government: Cross-party support for Scottish Budget A further £20 million is being allocated in the Scottish Budget 2021-22 to help disadvantaged children and young people improve their educational attainment. The additional Pupil Equity Fund premium was announced by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes following the successful conclusion of talks with the Scottish Liberal Democrats, who have agreed to support the budget in parliament tomorrow. The package also includes £15 million support for skills and training to back economic recovery in the north east, and confirmation that £90 million provided this year to support a national council tax … Continue reading SHOCK: Lib Dems do something useful

The Scottish Government has begun a phased re-opening of schools with intervals in which to gather the data on infection levels and make scientific assessments of how to proceed. Is there an expert who disagrees with this approach? The Scottish strategy, as with its care home vaccination prioritising, is supported by independent experts. Professor John Edmunds of SAGE has suggested that one reason for not easing too quickly is the risk of further mutations:  It is certainly a risk if we allow high risks of infections in certain parts of the community, among younger individuals, then we do run the … Continue reading Douglas Ross suggests ignoring SAGE advice on schools re-opening

Stephen Dedalus (@StFilansDream), drew my attention to this example of how establishment journalists adapt to new political circumstances by adapting their language to conform with powerful narratives. At the moment UK government figures are attempting to deflect criticism of their failures onto the EU’s supposed obstructive behaviour. Lord Frost’s piece in the Telegraph is one of the clearest examples of this blame-shifting and demonising of the EU: Lord Frost says the EU should “shake off any remaining ill will towards us for leaving, and instead build a friendly relationship, between sovereign equals”. Last week the Prime Minister infuriated Brussels when … Continue reading The EU mutates into threatening ‘bloc’

From Patrick Harvie today: Pandemic relief payments worth £130 for 500,000 households and £330 for the families most in need, free school lunches for all primary school children, free bus travel for everyone under 22, a pay rise for the public sector workers who have got us through the last 12 months and £40 million worth of funding to promote walking, cycling and green projects. This morning my colleagues and I were delighted to agree to a Scottish budget that included all of these great Green wins and more. It is a very positive budget that will start to sow … Continue reading Scottish Greens doing what they should be doing

Press Release from the Scottish Government: Scotland’s ability to legislate in areas such as food, health and environmental standards is being undermined in a “systematic attack” on devolution, Constitution Secretary Michael Russell has said. A report published today by the Scottish Government shows the extent to which the Scottish Parliament’s devolved powers are being eroded by the UK Government following the 2016 Brexit vote. AFTER BREXIT: The UK Internal Market Act & Devolution sets out how:the Scottish Parliament’s views on Brexit have been ignored by the UK Governmentterms of reference designed to agree Brexit negotiating objectives among the UK’s four … Continue reading UK Government taking control from the Scottish Parliament, says new report

Hanging on for a third day on the BBC Scotland website, the laughable Lib Dem claims, and in second place on Scotland Politics: Have they had a surge in the opinion polls to justify this attention? Well Survation had them at 9% on 13th of January and 7% on the 25th February. Panelbase had them at 6% on the 22nd January and 7% on the 5th of March. In between, Savanta and Ipsos MORI both had them at 5%. What did that former Lib Dem leader say? Go home and prepare for government? Stop it, my sides hurt. Continue reading Three days free advertising for a stagnating minority party