Labour-run Wales has by far the highest rate of the economically inactive due to long-term illness or disability in the UK

By stewartb The number of people economically inactive due to long term sickness or disability is a UK-wide ‘problem’ . From the Bevan Foundation on the situation in Wales where the Daily Record’s favoured political party, the British Labour Party has been in power for c.26 years (see https://www.bevanfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SoW-Get-Wales-Working-Feb-25.pdf ): The Foundation’s report adds: ‘Across the UK, around a quarter of people aged 16 to 64 have a long-term health condition that limits their day-to-day activities (which means that they are classed as disabled). In Wales the proportion of people who have a long-term health condition is higher, at 28% in September … Continue reading Labour-run Wales has by far the highest rate of the economically inactive due to long-term illness or disability in the UK

‘An intolerable reality where their authentic self cannot fully exist or be expressed’ – How the insights of a Scottish ‘anti-psychiatrist’ may predict a disturbing future for the mental state of Scottish Labour politicians and for its followers

Professor John Robertson OBA In 1975, in my first year at Stirling University, I was introduced to the revolutionary ideas of the Scottish ‘anti-psychiatrist’, R D Laing. I was struck by the clarity and coherence of Laing’s central thesis in ‘The Divided Self’: A central tenet of Laing’s thesis is the concept of the “divided self.” He proposed that individuals under severe duress, particularly within emotionally oppressive or manipulative family environments, might develop a profound split between their “true self” and a “false self.” The false self emerges as a protective mechanism, a way to conform to external expectations or … Continue reading ‘An intolerable reality where their authentic self cannot fully exist or be expressed’ – How the insights of a Scottish ‘anti-psychiatrist’ may predict a disturbing future for the mental state of Scottish Labour politicians and for its followers

Talking of water

Liz S Talking of water…..as in ‘uisge beatha’ the ‘water of life’……this below was on the UK Politics page but when you click onto the story it takes you to the Asia page of the BBC website. “India PM Modi in UK to sign ‘landmark’ trade deal with Starmer” “India and Britain are set to sign a free trade deal to cut tariffs on goods and increase market access for the two countries”. “India will lower tariffs on British whisky, gin and other drinks as well as cars. The UK in turn will import more of India’s textiles, gemstones and other goods”. At last someone has … Continue reading Talking of water

Labour’s hypocrisy about ordering from China

By Liz S Lies but also hypocrisy…….. Remember last week at PMQ’s the staged ‘performance’ between the then Labour MP Brian Leishman and his then Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in respect to Alexander Dennis Bus Manufacturers. Starmer stated that “The SNP should be backing Scottish workers” …….as he said that ” the SNP are ordering Buses from China“. Apparently that was hilarious for many of the MP’s in the HOC as so many burst out laughing at the ‘China connection’. Well it has now been reported that the big Labour flagship policy GB Energy has a connection to China…… So then would all of those same MP’s , especially … Continue reading Labour’s hypocrisy about ordering from China

So in England, Alexander Dennis does NOT have to ‘adhere to (such) advanced Fair Work standards’?

By stewartb Some further background on Labour and ‘buses’: From Hansard volume 760: Commons debate on Economic Growth, 21 January 2025 Rachel Reeves (Labour, Chancellor of the Exchequer): “A number of local authorities and, indeed, Labour mayors have raised with me bus procurement and the importance of buses for the local economy. I look forward to working with them, particularly David Skaith in York and North Yorkshire and Steve Rotheram in Liverpool, to boost bus services in communities, and particularly rural communities, to support jobs in the UK. At the Budget, I allocated more than £1 billion for local bus services, and that … Continue reading So in England, Alexander Dennis does NOT have to ‘adhere to (such) advanced Fair Work standards’?

Where political parties are open to accepting donations from various sources, the question is , what do those who donate large amounts expect in return?

Liz S Where political parties are open to accepting donations from various sources, the question is , what do those who donate large amounts to a political party expect in return ? Like say for example a Private Healthcare company ? As in one who donates to a Shadow Health Secretary , who is a member of the UK official opposition party , where it is , via polling, anticipated that they as the official opposition party are likely to win the next UK GE. Take a look at the UK Parliament website under various Labour MP’s names and see under their ‘Registered interests’ who has donated to … Continue reading Where political parties are open to accepting donations from various sources, the question is , what do those who donate large amounts expect in return?

Can the PM assure the workers that he believes bus manufacturing should have a future in Falkirk?

By Liz S So I am a tad confused or rather quite befuddled…….. Brian Leishman Labour MP for Alloa & Grangemouth is reported to now be suspended from the Labour party this afternoon “over breaching party discipline” Yet only earlier today Leishman posted a tweet, together with a linked video, that showed him feeding a line to his -then- leader Keir Starmer at today’s PMQ’s to then allow his -then – leader to spout #SNPBAD and also allow his – then – leader to give a Masterclass in hypocrisy……….(as did Leishman). I have again highlighted in bold both Leishman’s and Starmer’s brass … Continue reading Can the PM assure the workers that he believes bus manufacturing should have a future in Falkirk?

Access to NHS dentistry in Scotland – How trust in hypocritical Scottish Labour has ‘rotted away’

stewartb More on the state of dentistry in England. From The Mirror – traditionally a Labour-supporting newspaper (July 14, 2025): ‘Wes Streeting defends only paying for half the population to get an NHS dentist – Health Secretary Wes Streeting has been grilled by MPs about suggestions Labour will not substantially increase the NHS dentistry budget it inherited from the Tories’ ‘Health Secretary Wes Streeting has defended why the Government is only paying for half the population of England to get an NHS dentist. (my emphasis) ‘MPs on the Health Committee grilled Mr Streeting on whether he would “reconsider” a decision to stick with similar funding for … Continue reading Access to NHS dentistry in Scotland – How trust in hypocritical Scottish Labour has ‘rotted away’

Scotland’s economy has recently been outperforming the rest of the UK

By Liz S Labour are failing in what they promoted as being their main mission as the new UK government. Number one focus for them being “Growth” in the UK economy. On July 11th it was reported that: “Chancellor Rachel Reeves has called the economy’s recent performance “disappointing” after figures showed it shrank unexpectedly in May” Also………. “The economy contracted by 0.1%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, after also shrinking in April” Ian Murray, Labour’s so called ‘Scottish’ Secretary, declared in 2024 that Labour’s first budget as the new UK government would herald an era of “Growth” for Scotland. Yet his Labour party are … Continue reading Scotland’s economy has recently been outperforming the rest of the UK

Hell springs to mind as an apt description of that unwelcome scenario….but I believe the ball is in the court of voters in Scotland

By Liz S I am hopeful that somehow Reform UK will never emulate the same level of success in Scotland next year that they, as a (pretend) party, seem to have achieved in England. (and also via polls are anticipated as having even more success in the future via some subsequent UK elections). However they will, I am sure , gain some seats next year in the Scottish elections which I think will be both a disgrace and also very much a huge badge of shame for Scotland as a nation. Open Democracy wrote an article in June 2025 which … Continue reading Hell springs to mind as an apt description of that unwelcome scenario….but I believe the ball is in the court of voters in Scotland