Tag: england

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Scottish Labour MP suggests following England’s failed strategies

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In the Scotsman today, above, Dr Zubir Ahmed, Labour, notes the crisis in A&E and and cancer care in England, then suggests Scotland might learn from there. He clearly does not know or does not want to know this: First, on A&E longer waiting times, by stewartb, from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine data: On the longest times spent in A&E i.e. 12 hours or more, the equivalent percentages during January 2024 are: England = 13.2%; Wales = 15.5%; Scotland = 8%. On more than 8 hour waits, the equivalent percentages during January 2024 are: Wales = 24%; Scotland = 16%. (NHS … Continue reading Scottish Labour MP suggests following England’s failed strategies

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English islanders shocked to find SNP Government-subsidised and even longer ferry crossing costs a fraction – one seventh – of their regular to the Isle of Wight. Thousands plan to move.

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In the Daily Mail today: Furious Isle of Wight locals have accused ferry companies of holding them to ransom and say they can’t wait to move after being charged £440 for a return ticket to the mainland.  Islanders say they cannot afford to cross the Channel due to soaring costs and unreliable services. ‘Ridiculous’ ferry prices, cancellations, and delays are blighting their lives with some now wishing they had never moved to the island who say it is making them feel ‘completely cut off from society’.   https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13722747/I-wish-never-moved-Furious-Isle-Wight-locals-held-ransom-ferry-companies-say-wait-charged-440-return-ticket-mainland.html The longest Isle of Wight crossing is 10 miles. Ardrossan to Arran is 17.3 … Continue reading English islanders shocked to find SNP Government-subsidised and even longer ferry crossing costs a fraction – one seventh – of their regular to the Isle of Wight. Thousands plan to move.

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Do the national branch offices of campaigning charities not understand devolution

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By stewartb Do third sector organisations with missions that extend across the UK feel unable to make statements that (in terms) state the following truth and if so WHY? ‘The situation in (a UK nation with a government with only limited, devolved powers) may be bad but – based on statistical analysis – not nearly so bad as in England, the nation with a government with EVERY power to have avoided this bad in the first place and with EVERY power now to deliver the necessary solution. ‘It is the government of England in Westminster – the one with ALL … Continue reading Do the national branch offices of campaigning charities not understand devolution

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Criminals from major cities such as London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham are expanding their drug networks into rural and suburban areas throughout Scotland

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Tarves (population 1 080) on 29 June 2024 react with shock to the above in the P&J local newspaper. BBC Scotland NE did not cover the story but STV NE did and mentioned County Lines in the headline. BBC Scotland has only covered County Lines drug gangs 3 times since 2019 with the last, naming them and their origins, in 2021. This plague is big news across Aberdeenshire: Police Scotland, whose activity in investigating supposed SNP fraud has been of endless fascination for BBC Scotland, are heavily involved: BBC Scotland’s clear aversion to covering this plague of violence and related … Continue reading Criminals from major cities such as London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham are expanding their drug networks into rural and suburban areas throughout Scotland

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The knock-on consequences for the size of the Block Grants to devolved administrations and the resourcing of the NHS in Scotland

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By stewartb The recent National Audit Office report entitled ‘NHS Financial Management and Sustainability’ makes substantive comments on the state of NHS England and the challenges it faces due to financial settlements over many years now from Westminster governments. Of course it makes ZERO reference to the knock-on consequences for the size of the Block Grants to devolved administrations and the resourcing of the NHS in NI, Scotland and Wales. See https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/nhs-financial-management-and-sustainability-2024/ Just a few extracts from the NAO report help to reinforce the point for anyone willing to acknowledge how the Barnet Formula operates: The NAO explains that ‘over the decade … Continue reading The knock-on consequences for the size of the Block Grants to devolved administrations and the resourcing of the NHS in Scotland

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Knowing the neighbour  – insights from high profile English patriots

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By stewartb The profile of English patriotism has been heightened by two notable endorsements recently. Many may recall the open letter – to ‘Dear England’ – written by the England men’s football team manager, Gareth Southgate before the European Championship in 2021. This gained such a status that in advance of the England team’s appearance in the recent final of the same competition, the flagship BBC Radio 4 ‘Today’ programme had the letter read out to the ‘nation’ once again. The full text of the letter can be found here: https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/dear-england-gareth-southgate-euros-soccer The other high profile statement on English patriotism came … Continue reading Knowing the neighbour  – insights from high profile English patriots

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Understanding ‘patriotism’  – insights from the Labour Party

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By stewartb – a long read In early July this year and following elections to the European Parliament, we learned of the formation of a new alliance of far-right MEPs. The group chose for its name ‘Patriots for Europe’. (See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp9vre72wpdo) ‘Patriotism’ has become a much favoured characteristic recently. In April this year, Keir Starmer (20 April 2024) wrote a piece for The Telegraph – long known as the Conservatives’ de facto house journal – below the headline: ‘Labour is now the true party of English patriotism’. Are we all ‘patriots’ now? It’s notable how much attention Labour Party-supporting organisations … Continue reading Understanding ‘patriotism’  – insights from the Labour Party

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Second independent fact checker (not TuS) confirms NHS Scotland has far shorter A&E and cancer waiting times and better GP access

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I’ve been comparing the performance of the NHS in Scotland, England and Wales for years now to illustrate the superior performance across many targets, of the former. From FULLFACT on 15 July 2024, corroboration of some of the above but reservations about the comparability of some where data collection methods differ. I agree with that reservation and often point to such but where the gaps are large, perhaps that matters less and, in terms of media coverage, the MSM will gaily compare the incomparable in, say, drug deaths. So, first on cancer care, this: Between October and December 2023, Scotland … Continue reading Second independent fact checker (not TuS) confirms NHS Scotland has far shorter A&E and cancer waiting times and better GP access

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England and Wales releasing prisoners early at nearly TWICE the rate of Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson In the Guardian today, the above and: Rishi Sunak’s government released more than 10,000 prisoners up to 70 days early, figures reveal, as the new justice secretary prepares to announce further emergency measures to ease another overcrowding crisis in jails. Ministry of Justice figures show that 10,083 prisoners were allowed to walk free under the end of custody supervised licence (ECSL) scheme between October 2023 and June 2024 in England and Wales. https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jul/12/over-10000-prisoners-freed-70-days-early-sunak-government There is no mention of criticism by opposition parties nor any estimate of how many the new Labour Government might now release. From BBC Scotland … Continue reading England and Wales releasing prisoners early at nearly TWICE the rate of Scotland

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Tentacles of English drug gangs using children to fuel Scotland’s drug deaths reaches into every corner, even wee towns like Tarves in Aberdeenshire

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I know Tarves. A small, just over one thousand population town/village, only half an hour bus journey away from Aberdeen’s railway station. Why the railway station? County Lines drug, child abuse and people trafficking, gangs send their young dealers and armed enforcers into the heart of smaller ‘county’ towns, by rail. In these towns they ‘cuckoo’ vulnerable adults, moving into their homes to deal drugs at lower cost than local dealers can, backed up by threats and attacks at a level of violence previously unseen. Children as young as 11 have been known to be bullied into working as dealers. … Continue reading Tentacles of English drug gangs using children to fuel Scotland’s drug deaths reaches into every corner, even wee towns like Tarves in Aberdeenshire