Tag: china

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Why Labour and others are wrong in seeking to merge CalMac and CMAL, why Norway does not compare and how the current system protects the islanders from the harsh economies they would face

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The initial decision to separate ownership/procurement (CMAL) from operations (CalMac) in 2006, by Jack McConnell and Douglas Alexander, was based on the notion that it can create better incentives for efficiency and performance while allowing the public sector to retain strategic control over fares, service standards, routes, quality, and subsidies, to protect islanders. Contrary to the media frenzy driven largely by an inarticulate, evidence-free, media-constructed popular culture and/or explicit opposition party opportunism, it has worked to protect islanders. While some have insisted on comparison only with Norway, $2 trillion in the bank and full independence, while Scotland, one hand tied … Continue reading Why Labour and others are wrong in seeking to merge CalMac and CMAL, why Norway does not compare and how the current system protects the islanders from the harsh economies they would face

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UK Labour’s new ‘loose, spineless’ post-Grenfell laws reject Scotland’s twenty-years-old 100% safety measures and will not prevent towering infernos but only give your gran 15 minutes to get out

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Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC UK this morning: Government plans to turn post-Grenfell fire safety guidance into law have been strongly criticised by a leading voice in the construction industry. David Jones, president of the Institute of Construction Management, says the guidance for multi-storey residential buildings is “loose”, “spineless” and “open to interpretation”. He argues it permits too many “tolerable” risks – for example, allowing flammable materials in window systems and between floors to remain even if they could let fire spread. “It’s allowing developers to game the system,” the veteran of more than 50 years says, adding that … Continue reading UK Labour’s new ‘loose, spineless’ post-Grenfell laws reject Scotland’s twenty-years-old 100% safety measures and will not prevent towering infernos but only give your gran 15 minutes to get out

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So much worse together as Brexit hurt Scotland’s trade surplus economy and benefitted the UK’s deficit economy

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Professor John Robertson OBA With only a 1969 SCE Higher in Economics, bare C pass, I’m deferring entirely to Grok AI on this one. If you’re capable, please enlighten me on any problems with his (Grok) analysis. Grok – Was Brexit even more damaging for Scotland with its trade surplus than rest of UK? Conclusion Yes, Brexit was more damaging to Scotland’s trade surplus than to the rest of the UK’s deficit. The UK’s import-heavy profile turned barriers into a partial “benefit” (narrower deficit), while Scotland’s export reliance amplified losses—eroding potential surplus growth by £3-4bn annually and hitting GDP harder … Continue reading So much worse together as Brexit hurt Scotland’s trade surplus economy and benefitted the UK’s deficit economy

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The Scottish Government and trade with China – Chinese oppression or child abuse and serfdom in Tibet before that?

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Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details Professor John Robertson OBA Counterpunch yesterday had the above, and: Last month, on the Daily Beast podcast, journalists Joanna Coles and Michael Wolff took turns reeling off a list of famous people who Wolff met while visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan home. The recited names were a who’s who of rich, powerful, and perverted men, many of them recognized Friends of Jeffrey. But one name stood out as unusual: the Dalai Lama. https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/08/29/why-was-the-dalai-lama-at-jeffrey-epsteins-house/ Reading this, I was reminded of two things. First, the images of the Dalia Lama … Continue reading The Scottish Government and trade with China – Chinese oppression or child abuse and serfdom in Tibet before that?

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What about the ferries? Somerset nuclear power station takes 24 years, will be at least 14 years late and cost at least £46bn, nearly three times original cost, and the aircraft carriers, destroyers, the tanks and the fast trains….?

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From the Guardian yesterday: Originally priced at £18bn, the cost of Hinkley has ballooned to £46bn and then there’s the delays. Back in 2007, the then EDF chief executive Vincent de Rivaz said that by Christmas 2017 we would be using electricity generated from atomic power at Hinkley. We’re now in Christmas 2024 and Hinkley isn’t due to be completed until 2031. Due to a novel funding method, a lengthy construction timeline for Sizewell will saddle consumers with higher bills long before it delivers a single unit of electricity at a time when there is clear evidence that we can … Continue reading What about the ferries? Somerset nuclear power station takes 24 years, will be at least 14 years late and cost at least £46bn, nearly three times original cost, and the aircraft carriers, destroyers, the tanks and the fast trains….?

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Canadian ferry service prices to rise 30% to cope with 16 aging vessels 30 decrepit terminals

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From the Vancouver Sun, yesterday: The CEO of B.C. Ferries is warning the company may need to increase fares by 30 per cent or more in 2028, when its current fare structure expires. Nicolas Jimenez says in a written statement the provincially owned corporation had forecast last year that such a price rise would be needed to keep up with operating and capital costs. But, he said costs since then have jumped, including a 40 per cent increase in shipbuilding expenses since 2020. The rising costs have created “a growing funding gap” that Jimenez says will require “a sustainable funding … Continue reading Canadian ferry service prices to rise 30% to cope with 16 aging vessels 30 decrepit terminals

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England’s national debt is on course to treble over the next half a century

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BBC Business yesterday, reported: UK [sic] national debt is on course to treble over the next half a century due to several pressures, according to the government’s official forecaster. Those pressures include an ageing population, climate change, and rising geopolitical tensions, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said in a report. Remarkably, the report does not mention the most important reason for the UK’s historical debt going back decades now, since the British Empire could no longer force its manufactured goods onto colonies and extract their raw materials free of charge. England does have a surplus of around £130 billion … Continue reading England’s national debt is on course to treble over the next half a century

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US ferry system in ‘severe turmoil’ as 38 lawmakers write to Congress ‘urgently’ requesting extra funds

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From the Seattle Medium today: The Washington State Ferry system (WSF) is currently facing severe turmoil, prompting 38 elected leaders to send a letter to Congress urgently requesting funding “at the highest level possible” to aid WSF in its operations. The agency is currently operating with just over half the number of boats it needs to effectively serve the region. Despite receiving over $140 million in federal grants over the past two years, WSF requires additional funding and time to address staffing and vessel availability crises. In an effort to restore full service as quickly as possible, lawmakers from seven … Continue reading US ferry system in ‘severe turmoil’ as 38 lawmakers write to Congress ‘urgently’ requesting extra funds

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Fury as taxpayers fork out BILLIONS on warships that have never fought but ferries, ferries, ferries………

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As you can see , our wee sniffling rodents are all over the story of the crew that had to be recruited for the new ferries before delays set in. THREE POINT FNNNN MILLION! They were less interested in these far greater tales of wasted BILLIONS. First, in 2018, from the Mail: The £6 billion Royal Navy fleet that hardly ever went to sea: Warships that can’t sail in the heat spent 80 per cent of the year in dock The British Royal Navy’s six Type 45 £1 billion destroyers barely ever leave their docks HMS Dauntless and HMS Defender, … Continue reading Fury as taxpayers fork out BILLIONS on warships that have never fought but ferries, ferries, ferries………

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Despite a failing ferry service, Canadian media support local shipyards over cheap, unsafe, unreliable, outdated, foreign vessels

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From the Times Colonist in British Columbia, yesterday: Editorial: B.C. Ferries’ vessels should be built in B.C. B.C. Ferries has decided to buy four more Island class boats to serve the Nanaimo-Gabriola Island and Campbell River-Quadra Island routes. Here’s the problem. All four boats will be built at a Romanian shipyard. And this makes no sense. So how can such a small economy beat out local yards here at home? No doubt part of the reason is wage rates. Romania is a poor country, and its workers earn less than ours. https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/editorial-bc-ferries-vessels-should-be-built-in-bc-8316651 Add to the above factor – low wages … Continue reading Despite a failing ferry service, Canadian media support local shipyards over cheap, unsafe, unreliable, outdated, foreign vessels