Tag: gender

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“Scotland has proudly led the way in many areas concerning women’s rights and violence against women” but Kevin McKenna has other ideas, dark, smelly ones

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I’ve been looking the other way, embarrassed as I can be when confronted with a loud mental health problem in the aisles of a supermarket, by the latest string of fake news from Kevin McKenna, greasing the pages of the Herald, this last few months but, such is my lack of inner peace, today’s utterly fantastic ‘John Swinney and the Scottish Greens have, in effect, given a free pass to pimps’ pushed me over. Why is it, like all of his stuff these days, fake? First, in the year-ending June 2025, there were 72 804 cases of rape and attempted rape, 211 225 sexual … Continue reading “Scotland has proudly led the way in many areas concerning women’s rights and violence against women” but Kevin McKenna has other ideas, dark, smelly ones

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Domestic abuse is twice as common in England & Wales but care should be taken in interpreting this

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From Domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland, 2024-25 published today: The police recorded 64,967 incidents of domestic abuse in 2024-25, an increase of 2% compared to the previous year. Despite increasing over the latest two years, this figure remains below the peak in 2020-21. https://www.gov.scot/news/domestic-abuse-recorded-by-the-police-in-scotland-2024-25/ The introduction of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 and greater recognition of coercive and controlling behaviour have likely improved identification and recording of some forms of abuse that previously might not have been recorded as such. The statistics show offences under that Act now make up a measurable share of recorded domestic-abuse-related … Continue reading Domestic abuse is twice as common in England & Wales but care should be taken in interpreting this

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When Labour’s Helena Kennedy said “Scotland has proudly led the way in many areas concerning women’s rights and violence against women” – Nicola Sturgeon had played the major part in that

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The horrific story of Gisele Pelicot dominates discussion of the abuse of women and girls. The comment below may trigger faux rage and deliberate misrepresentation in a few comments. However, to deal with a problem, which Scotland still has ‘in spades’, we have know how we are progressing, if at all. Helena Ann Kennedy, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws, is a Scottish barrister, broadcaster, and Labour member of the House of Lords, is no supporter of the SNP in Government, so what she said nearly two years ago is still important. By stewartb In the light of the above BBC Newsnight report of failures by two English police forces, to protect women, from ‘Misogyny – … Continue reading When Labour’s Helena Kennedy said “Scotland has proudly led the way in many areas concerning women’s rights and violence against women” – Nicola Sturgeon had played the major part in that

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One third of English patients using private dentists because they have only half the level of access to NHS dentists in Scotland

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON In the Guardian today: Almost a third of people in England now use private dentistry, with a sharp rise in the number of poorer households forced to pay for fillings and extractions. The scarcity of NHS care means the proportion of people turning to private dental services jumped from 22% in 2023 to 32% late last year, the health service’s patient watchdog found. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/mar/09/nhs-dental-crisis-private-dentist-patient-incease-england We’re hearing nothing even vaguely similar from the media in Scotland and you can be sure … Continue reading One third of English patients using private dentists because they have only half the level of access to NHS dentists in Scotland

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As the Queen speaks again on the topic, according to Labour’s then Dame Helena Kennedy “Scotland has proudly led the way in many areas concerning women’s rights and violence against women”

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON The horrific story of Gisele Pelicot dominates BBC News this morning, understandably, and the Talking-up Scotland comment below will trigger faux rage and deliberate misrepresentation in a few comments. However, to deal with a problem, which Scotland still has ‘in spades’, we have know how we are progressing, if at all. Helena Ann Kennedy, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws, is a Scottish barrister, broadcaster, and Labour member of the House of Lords, is no supporter of the SNP in Government, so what … Continue reading As the Queen speaks again on the topic, according to Labour’s then Dame Helena Kennedy “Scotland has proudly led the way in many areas concerning women’s rights and violence against women”

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Did you know that ‘For Women Scotland’ are now far more angry with Sarwar’s boss and with Labour than with the SNP, as we approach Holyrood 2026 election?

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On 16 April 2025, the Herald was delighted to report: The First Minister is facing increasing pressure from opposition parties and women’s groups to update guidance for public bodies following a landmark ruling on the legal definition of a woman.   The calls come after a long-running legal battle between For Women Scotland (FWS) [above] and the Scottish Government reached its conclusion on Wednesday morning, with the Supreme Court ruling in favour of the women’s group .  https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25096078.women-scotland-calls-new-guidance-historic-ruling/ Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, who had of course voted with the SNP on the gender recognition act, quickly shifted to welcome the Supreme Court decision as providing clarity, … Continue reading Did you know that ‘For Women Scotland’ are now far more angry with Sarwar’s boss and with Labour than with the SNP, as we approach Holyrood 2026 election?

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The Emma Caldwell Public Inquiry must ask if the Scottish Labour Government of 20 years ago took its eye of the ball

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From Emma Caldwell Public Inquiry begins work, published yesterday: The independent Public Inquiry into the investigation of Emma Caldwell’s murder in April 2005 has been formally set-up and begins its work today (9 Dec). Justice Secretary Angela Constance informed Parliament on the formal setting-up date and on the Inquiry’s terms of reference through a Government Initiated Question today. The statutory inquiry will examine what went wrong in the investigation carried out by Strathclyde Police into the murder of Emma Caldwell, including the direction given by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. It will examine what steps which could reasonably … Continue reading The Emma Caldwell Public Inquiry must ask if the Scottish Labour Government of 20 years ago took its eye of the ball

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Why was NHS Fife nurse tribunal reported more than twice as much as Darlington County Durham equivalent?

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Professor John Robertson OBA We all, right across Scotland, know the name of nurse Sandie Peggie in NHS Fife but did you know the names of the eight nurses in Darlington, County Durham pursuing an identical case regarding a trans colleague? Do you think the folk in County Durham know their names just as we know Peggie? It seems less likely. Why? Here’s an AI report. Has the Fife case had more media attention in Scotland than the Darlington case has had in England and if so by how much? To address your query directly, yes, the NHS Fife case … Continue reading Why was NHS Fife nurse tribunal reported more than twice as much as Darlington County Durham equivalent?

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There is NO evidence that NHS Scotland directed pregnant women to controversial Free Birth Society via a charity nor is there credible evidence that a single Scot was influenced by them

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today, the above and: The NHS has been directing pregnant women to a website that connected them to the Free Birth Society, an organisation that has been linked to baby deaths around the world after promoting labour without medical support. A number of NHS trusts are directing women who are contemplating a “free birth” to a charity website that until Monday referred to FBS podcasts as a source of “empowering stories” that can help British women “preparing for their own birth”. I’ve searched manually the Guardian’s four recent reports on the Free Birth Society and … Continue reading There is NO evidence that NHS Scotland directed pregnant women to controversial Free Birth Society via a charity nor is there credible evidence that a single Scot was influenced by them

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The Darlington ‘trans tribunal’ is focused on the Nurses and the Trust

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By Liz S BBC website article added on today 11 October. On main England page, it is now the third story, and local news page for Tees, now the second story….article only added on today 11 October ! It is on the BBC Home page , added today as an article, and already it is the ninth article but it is not on either the BBC UK main page nor is it on the UK Politics page……. The story ? “Nurses penalised for trans complaint, says lawyer” Yet again , on the ball , MSM Monitor posted this today: “The Darlington NHS trans tribunal heard closing submissions today. What did we learn? That the BBC operates two different policies north and south of the border with respect … Continue reading The Darlington ‘trans tribunal’ is focused on the Nurses and the Trust