Tag: history

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There is no trusted journalism that matters in Scotland

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The Herald is owned by a corporation and serves the interests of that corporation including its preference for the stability of the UK within NATO. The empirical evidence is clear and can be trusted far more than the Herald’s unconvincing claims: Substantial empirical evidence from case studies, content analyses, and comparative work on these topics aligns with and supports the core predictions of Herman and Chomsky’s propaganda model. The model holds that structural filters (ownership, advertising, elite sourcing, flak, and ideology) systematically shape mainstream media performance to favor elite/state/corporate interests when those interests are relatively unified, limiting the range of … Continue reading There is no trusted journalism that matters in Scotland

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A ‘Box of Frogs’ plan for Scottish Independence

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By Mark E. Saunders of “The Scottish Minuteman” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61575625542197 And Now For Something Completely Different A number of the anti-Scottish Independence media outlets have started reporting on a recent ‘proposal’ by former UK ambassador and Scottish independence campaigner Craig Murray.  Murray’s plan, described by some political pundits as “sinister”, suggests that the Scottish Government should simply declare an independence date without Westminster’s consent. Among his more controversial proposals are; the requiring civil servants to swear an oath of allegiance to a new Scottish state or face dismissal, encouraging Scottish citizens to occupy UK Government buildings and blockade military bases as part of a national … Continue reading A ‘Box of Frogs’ plan for Scottish Independence

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27% more officers help Police Scotland cope with fewer, far smaller and far less violent anti-immigration protests than in England

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is placing significant pressure on its officers. Another one of these stories that only appear in Reporting Scotland broadcasts and are not fully presented with evidence on the website – different editors? This one is based entirely on the opinion of a trade union leader. Anyhow, while not wishing to understate the importance and the pressures involved in dealing with anti-immigration protests in Scotland, there are some facts our taxpayer-funded public service broadcaster should be telling us. First, Scotland has the highest ratio of police officers per 100 000 population – 295. England and Wales forces have a lower combined ratio 235–241. … Continue reading 27% more officers help Police Scotland cope with fewer, far smaller and far less violent anti-immigration protests than in England

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Scottish Government to end risks to vulnerable by requiring social workers from other parts of the UK to be fully registered in Scotland before working here.

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From Community Care yesterday: Scottish Government proposals would end provision allowing social workers registered with other UK regulators to practise in Scotland, while it also is seeking views on whether social work assistants should be required to register. The Scottish Government proposal would end provisions allowing social workers practising in the country to be registered with another UK regulator, but not SSSC. Under section 52 of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001, no one may call themselves a social worker or work as one in Scotland without being registered as one with the SSSC or with Social Work England, Social Care … Continue reading Scottish Government to end risks to vulnerable by requiring social workers from other parts of the UK to be fully registered in Scotland before working here.

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Scotland’s fairer system means they have less reason to ‘tussle over inheritance’

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In The Economist, this week, the above, and: When there’s a will, there’s a war. Or so they say in the courts of England and Wales, which are growing busier with fights over the dead’s estates. The number of probate claims listed at the High Court has grown by over 400% over the past decade, according to Solomonic, a legal-analytics company. https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/07/23/britons-are-increasingly-tussling-over-inheritance If you’re a regular here, you will have spotted the problem above with ‘Britons’ and ‘England and Wales.’ Not for the first time, Scotland has been disappeared. Reader Derek Scott alerted us yesterday to this and noted: An article … Continue reading Scotland’s fairer system means they have less reason to ‘tussle over inheritance’

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SNP Government accused of not predicting which way the wind blows as local shouts ‘Theatre!!!’

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By Alasdair Macdonald BBC ‘Scotland’, some unionist politicians, most of the ‘Scottish’ newspapers, and other UK media, probably via the Press Association have given the Cairngorms wildfire extensive coverage, but as well as than reporting on tackling the fire they have used vox pops from two people in the Nethy Bridge area to ‘slam’ the Scottish Government and Scottish Fire and Rescue. The chair of the local community council is a retired photographer who worked for the P&J in Aberdeen and it is likely that he has used contacts in the media to get his political point across. BBC ‘Scotland’, … Continue reading SNP Government accused of not predicting which way the wind blows as local shouts ‘Theatre!!!’

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Tell Andrew Bowie, Shadowy Secretary of State for Scotland – No fire service in the UK has direct access to helicopters and the Scottish Government cannot just ‘call-in’ the Army but it has thousands of firefighter not as yet called upon

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As the Cairngorm wildfire faces heavy rain tomorrow, local MP and Shadowy Secretary of State for Scotland said: Increasing numbers of constituents had been getting in touch to express concern. In a letter, external to Scottish government minister Gillian Martin he claimed the SNP-led administration had “failed to treat the situation with the seriousness and attention that it deserves”. He singled out the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) lack of direct access to helicopter support. Currently it calls in private companies with helicopters and specialist equipment when needed. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2k7g15v3epo Do any of the UK’s fire service boards have their own helicopters? No. UK … Continue reading Tell Andrew Bowie, Shadowy Secretary of State for Scotland – No fire service in the UK has direct access to helicopters and the Scottish Government cannot just ‘call-in’ the Army but it has thousands of firefighter not as yet called upon

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The Edinburgh Tourist Levy to raise £50m a year, to build 472 new houses for locals and more city centre police officers

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Reader Arty Hetty has been hearing rumours from elements stirring against the Tourist Levy: ‘Far as I know Edinburgh council are introducing a tourist tax, with the proceeds apparently going to be used to build houses for workers from outwith Scotland, not for services for the residents that are impacted by tourism…needs more investigation but that’s what I saw reported recently.’  stewartb (with added comment below from Legerwood) responding to these rumours: How does it stack up against what the Council is stating? There is an abundance of information on the Levy and what has already been agreed in terms of its … Continue reading The Edinburgh Tourist Levy to raise £50m a year, to build 472 new houses for locals and more city centre police officers

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BBC Scotland’s Mark Daly incoherently tries to give Scotland its own ‘Wayne Couzens Moment’ on the way to hopefully blaming the SNP but STV and Sky don’t see it

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case in London are inevitable, and that is because the picture emerging is of an extremely violent sex offender, who targeted vulnerable women, who abused his power undetected for many years. In reporting the case of Alan Greer ‘a police officer who took his own life in May was a violent rapist who carried out attacks and attempted murders of women over at least 14 years, BBC Reporting Scotland reported last night that comparisons with the Met officer Wayne Couzens ,who raped and murdered Sarah Everard in in 2021, were ‘emerging‘ and were ‘inevitable.’ Neither Sky nor STV see the … Continue reading BBC Scotland’s Mark Daly incoherently tries to give Scotland its own ‘Wayne Couzens Moment’ on the way to hopefully blaming the SNP but STV and Sky don’t see it

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A tale of two dentists – Anas Sarwar and ‘Odious’ Lord Offord’s Brother

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Three months ago, angered by Lord Offord of Reform’s claim that he had ‘bounced up to him’ seeking to collaborate against the SNP, Anas had some harsh words for Lord Offord. Did he know then that Lord Offord’s wee brother would be inviting him to speak at a a do on dentistry? How will that go? A surprise inclusion in the website of Vermilion, a private dental company owned by Dr David Offord, who I think, both born in Greenock. might be the brother of Baron Malcolm Offord of Garvel (and Reform UK). Vermilion hold a symposium every two years … Continue reading A tale of two dentists – Anas Sarwar and ‘Odious’ Lord Offord’s Brother