Burnham’s 5.1 Million Dollar Question

By Mark E. Saunders of “The Scottish Minuteman” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61575625542197 If Westminster politicians have no problem telling the entire electorate of the UK that Scotland is “subsidised” by England, then there are a couple of very simple questions that they should answer. Official figures show that in England today, around 3.4 million children and 1.7 million pensioners live in relative poverty. That’s a combined total of approximately 5.1 million people. Scotland’s entire population is just under 5.5 million. If Scotland is really such a financial burden on the UK Treasury, why does it keep carrying that cost? Why is the welfare of Scotland so important … Continue reading Burnham’s 5.1 Million Dollar Question

The offending carer ‘no longer works there’ because Scotland’s scheme uniquely continuously updates and informs employers

BBC Scotland today, typically, have been making much of a single, unacceptable I know, case in a care home for the elderly: The daughter of an 85-year-old care home resident who was photographed while she was partially naked by a carer has called the incident a “violation”. Police are investigating a claim that “inappropriate images” were taken at the Kingsacre Care Home at Duntocher in Clydebank in March this year. The elderly woman’s daughter, Catherine, told the BBC her mother, who has dementia, would be “disgusted” if she knew the photo had been taken and shared with another person. The … Continue reading The offending carer ‘no longer works there’ because Scotland’s scheme uniquely continuously updates and informs employers

Domestic violence already twice as common spikes around England games but not those in Scotland

From BBC Sport yesterday: As the full-time whistle blew in Atlanta on Wednesday, signalling England’s exit from the World Cup, a wave of disappointment spread across the country. But for some, there was a very different emotion growing inside. Domestic abuse rises by 26% when England play and by 38% when they lose, according to research by Lancaster University. During a major football tournament such as the World Cup, some women and girls are constantly living in fear. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cwymljn8y10o In Scotland, there is no evidence of domestic violence spikes around football internationals. This aligns with the Tartan Army‘s developed culture … Continue reading Domestic violence already twice as common spikes around England games but not those in Scotland

However in England 

By Liz S Currently the UK government has the majority of the powers, the control and also the money within the UK State. I read this recent headline from The National newspaper: “Labour pledge £10 million for new Scottish colleges but only if the SNP pay the same”. The National states it is in relation to this: “The UK Government has pledged to invest £10 million creating two ‘defence technical excellence colleges’ in Scotland – but the money will only be delivered if it is matched by the SNP” However in England these types of colleges were to be fully funded by the UK Government. (Some of these English colleges were in areas that … Continue reading However in England 

500% increase in child victims of more brutal English county lines drug gangs operating in Scotland

No disturbing, exploitative images of child victims here. From Deadline News yesterday: A NATIONAL charity is urging the public to report signs of county lines exploitation as criminal gangs continue to target and manipulate vulnerable children. Crimestoppers has warned that young people are being coerced into transporting drugs, money, and weapons across the country, often facing violence, intimidation, and isolation far from their homes. According to police estimates, up to 11,600 children are currently at risk of county lines exploitation. In the past year alone, more than 2,600 children were officially identified as linked to county lines activity, although the true figure is believed to … Continue reading 500% increase in child victims of more brutal English county lines drug gangs operating in Scotland

Glasgow’s giant hospital is revealed as one of safest in Scotland and far safer than several of NHS England’s really ‘scandal-hit’ hospitals

The Times today is front-paging a story of a floor-cleaning fluid and the apparent lack of clear instructions on its use. Staff have been ‘offered the chance to speak to occupational health.’ Disturbing, I agree. Something should be done, I agree but front page on a major newspaper? Is it there, only because the hospital in question has been subject to repeated, ill-informed, hyperbolic, claims from Scottish Labour and associating it with the current SNP Government? Using real, important, data, just how good is the QEUH and compared to other hospitals across the UK not, it seems , ‘scandal -hit?’ … Continue reading Glasgow’s giant hospital is revealed as one of safest in Scotland and far safer than several of NHS England’s really ‘scandal-hit’ hospitals

That’s it settled – £50 from each of you to save jobs in Scunthorpe and don’t talk to us about Barnett

Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this. In the Guardian today: British Steel has formally been taken into public ownership 15 months after the government stepped in to prevent the closure of its steelworks in Scunthorpe and the loss of 4,000 jobs. Keir Starmer on Thursday said that it was in the national interest for the government to take over the factory from its Chinese owner, Jingye, in one of the last significant actions overseen by him as prime minister after the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Act received Royal Assent on Wednesday. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jul/16/british-steel-public-ownership-save-uk-supply-scunthorpe What will the upfront costs be? Around … Continue reading That’s it settled – £50 from each of you to save jobs in Scunthorpe and don’t talk to us about Barnett

BBC Crime show confuses ‘Two a week!’ femicide rate in England with ‘One a month’ in Scotland

In BBC Crime Files, broadcast two days ago, Professor David Wilson, after just hearing there were only 45 murders in Scotland last year, reflects: So in ten years’ time, could we ever get to the point where there will be no murders in Scotland at all? Or to get there, will we have to challenge misogyny so much that we will get rid of that appalling statistic that two women a week are murdered in this country? His interviewee, Karen McCluskey of the the Violence Reduction Unit, apparently accepting that claim then says: Oh wouldn’t that be wonderful. When I … Continue reading BBC Crime show confuses ‘Two a week!’ femicide rate in England with ‘One a month’ in Scotland

Pandemic Inquiry – ‘Disinterested in working with, or hearing the concerns of the Devolved Administrations’

By stewartb The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has just published its latest report, on Module 5: Procurement. (see https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/09094028/E03444965_Covid-Inquiry-M5-Inquiry_Web-Accessible.pdf ) The Inquiry’s overarching conclusions for this module focus on: (i) the UK’s unpreparedness in terms of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other clinical supplies for a pandemic, including below-target volumes and expired equipment in national pandemic stockpiles; and (ii) huge levels of waste amongst the PPE procured. A search of the document for references specific to ‘Scotland’ yields no especially or uniquely damning findings to ‘excite’ committed opponents of the SNP and the Scottish Government. Nevertheless, the search did throw up some references worthy … Continue reading Pandemic Inquiry – ‘Disinterested in working with, or hearing the concerns of the Devolved Administrations’

‘So no I will not support England’

By Liz S “If they win we’ll never hear the end of it” Indeed In fact every time they have a game in this world cup then every TV channel news programme and daytime trash TV programme cannot stop talking about it. In fact , as a Scot, you almost feel as if you are in a foreign country and watching foreign Television programmes. Then of course the , checks notes, UK PM posts constant motivation comments on ‘X’ to the England team and also if England win their game he then posts comments on ‘X’ praising them. However I did not … Continue reading ‘So no I will not support England’