Tag: labour-party

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Social housing complaints in England between 40% and 155% higher than in Scotland

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Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC England today, the above and: Complaints about substandard living conditions in social housing in England are more than five times higher than five years ago, according to the housing watchdog. Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway told the BBC an “imbalance of power” in the tenant-landlord relationship was leading to “simmering anger” among those living in social housing. He warned without change England risked the “managed decline” of social housing. Asbestos, electrical and fire safety issues, pest control and leaks, damp and mould are among the complaints, the watchdog receives. According to the ombudsman’s report, there … Continue reading Social housing complaints in England between 40% and 155% higher than in Scotland

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What is this strange ‘Reforming’ collective epiphany that Tory councillors often have

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By Liz S Vote Reform and chances are you are then voting Tory. How many ‘Scottish’ but really ‘UK’ Tory Councillors is that now who have defected to Reform UK ? What is this strange collective epiphany that they, as Tory Councillors, have all had, that as party defections , have far exceeded any other party also having their own politicians similarly defecting in large numbers to Reform UK as well ? Is anyone in the media investigating or speculating why this is ? Is the downward spiral of the Tory party and the reported ascension of Reform UK in … Continue reading What is this strange ‘Reforming’ collective epiphany that Tory councillors often have

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Scotland in Union means Poverty in Union?

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stewartb Scotland in Union means Poverty in Union? The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has this on its web site: ‘Poverty: facts and figures’. It notes: ‘Poverty risk also varies across UK nations and regions, with the highest rates in the West Midlands, inner London and North West England, and considerably lower rates in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eastern England.’ On May 21, responding to the UK Work and Pensions Secretary’s speech that day, the Chief Executive of CPAG said: ‘The elephant in the room today was the two-child limit which is pushing child poverty to a new high on this government’s watch and leaving … Continue reading Scotland in Union means Poverty in Union?

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Baronesses Mone and Harding – the Tory PPE ‘fast and loose lane’ scandal

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Liz S BBC Scotland and BBC2 are broadcasting a two part documentary on Michelle Mone that was made by Rogan Scotland production. The first part is on Monday 26 May and the second part is on Wednesday 28 May. These programmes are being shown on two separate channels , the 1st on Channel Scotland (channel 9) and the second is being broadcast on BBC2. The programme is called “The Rise and Fall of Michelle Mone”. Looking at the online written preview of this programme on the BBC’s Media Centre it states: “This two-part documentary series tells the extraordinary story of … Continue reading Baronesses Mone and Harding – the Tory PPE ‘fast and loose lane’ scandal

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The blatant hypocrisy of lecturing the Scottish FM on serious assaults in Scotland while serious assaults and knife crime have tragically led to far far more young people’s deaths in England

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https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/mapped-knife-crime-is-rising-how-many-attacks-in-your-area-and-why-is-it-increasing/ar-AA1EX0cG?ocid=BingNewsSerp Liz S Today’s Daily Record: “How many more kids have to die” Teenage Knife crime epidemic“ This is now apparently something the Daily Record (Paul Hutcheon) have taken up and they say that “John Swinney has pledged to act on youth violence in response to the Daily Record’s plea“. So basically someone, checks notes, Paul Hutcheon has ambushed the FM, after FMQ’s, and asked him what he is going to do about this and obviously he has responded in a positive manner. The Daily Record now see this as a political weapon to help Sarwar next year and so it is … Continue reading The blatant hypocrisy of lecturing the Scottish FM on serious assaults in Scotland while serious assaults and knife crime have tragically led to far far more young people’s deaths in England

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The Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election – That’s your answer as to why we see yet again the Daily Record’s sickening and repeated exploitation of knife crime tragedy

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By Liz S The Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election. That’s your answer as to why we see, yet again, the “Daily Record’s sickening and repeated exploitation of tragedy and failure to inform their readers as murder by knife and possession of knives plummet in Scotland, only”. “Failure of government” ? The Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan , was Knighted in the 2025 New Years Honours list for political and public service. He is the first Mayor to be awarded a Knighthood. “London experiences a high incidence of knife crime, with nearly a third of all knife-related offenses in England and Wales occurring within the capital“. “In 2024, the … Continue reading The Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election – That’s your answer as to why we see yet again the Daily Record’s sickening and repeated exploitation of knife crime tragedy

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Scotland gets first Patient Safety Commissioner three years after England and 18 years after a leading European expert said it was already ‘at the very top pillar with regards to patient safety’ 

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Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Scotland today: Scotland’s first ever Patient Safety Commissioner is set to be appointed. Experienced healthcare executive Karen Titchener will take up the role after two previous recruitment drives for the £93,094-a-year role failed. There has been a patient safety commissioner in England since 2022. The BBC Scotland report misses something quite important that the above Scottish Health Secretary put in place – see below. Never mind the facts on the ground in hospitals these 18 years, what does it look like to the media? You have to wonder just WTF England’s commissioner has been up … Continue reading Scotland gets first Patient Safety Commissioner three years after England and 18 years after a leading European expert said it was already ‘at the very top pillar with regards to patient safety’ 

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Scottish Labour is led by someone who has been repeatedly rejected as a constituency candidate in every Holyrood election

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By Liz S Paul Hutcheon the Daily Record’s political Editor for the Labour party in Scotland tweeted this on ‘X’ on 6 May. “Reading that SNP list of Holyrood candidates, it’s like a revolving door of Westminster rejects” MSM Monitor in a tweet yesterday on ‘X’ then responded to Paul’s tweet in reminding us all about Anas Sarwar (as in his political career thus far). “Scottish Labour is not only led by a Westminster reject who lost his seat to Alison Thewliss in 2015. It is led by someone who has been repeatedly rejected as a constituency candidate in every Holyrood election … Continue reading Scottish Labour is led by someone who has been repeatedly rejected as a constituency candidate in every Holyrood election

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As Welsh Labour call out Starmer’s cruelty, Scottish Labour hide behind BBC Scotland

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By stewartb The British Labour Party is under pressure in Wales with the Senedd elections upcoming in 2026. It seems that having British Labour Party colleagues in government in Westminster is being seen as an electoral handicap. The party leaders in Wales – unlike those of the British Labour Party in Scotland – are now seeking to differentiate themselves from LINO (the Labour In Name Only party) that dominates Westminster with its MPs from England and Scotland. A BBC Wales analysis offers an insight into how Labour’s First Minister Eluned Morgan intends to promote voting for Labour in 2026. It … Continue reading As Welsh Labour call out Starmer’s cruelty, Scottish Labour hide behind BBC Scotland

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90% of local authorities in England ‘failed to submit reliable data’ to their national ‘watchdog’ but it’s not covered by media – Imagine that happened in Scotland?

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By stewartb A notable statement has been published today from the National Audit Office. The NAO performs a similar role to Audit Scotland but has a quite different public profile: whereas BBC Scotland and others in the mainstream media crawl through every line of every report published by Audit Scotland searching for ‘juicy’ negatives, the NAO’s output gets little mainstream news coverage in England or UK-wide, even when reporting significant negative findings. Today’s NAO report is clearly a major ‘negative’ – and the first of its kind ever – but at the time of writing this comment, there is nothing about it … Continue reading 90% of local authorities in England ‘failed to submit reliable data’ to their national ‘watchdog’ but it’s not covered by media – Imagine that happened in Scotland?