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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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