Tag: news

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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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Does the public not see it as unfair that Labour are punishing the weak and vulnerable in order to protect the financial interests of many millionaires?

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Liz S I saw online today that in last night’s BBC QT that a Labour MP and Minister ,Nick Thomas-Symonds , said in response to a Q on the Labour PM’s partial and not full U-Turn on WFP: “I don’t think anyone thinks it is a good use of public money to be paying the winter fuel payment to millionaires”. Really ? Though surely then it is also correct to surmise that most ‘ordinary’ people would also think that with Labour, as a UK party, receiving substantial amounts as political financial donations from millionaires , that is then seen as something that is grossly unfair , distasteful … Continue reading Does the public not see it as unfair that Labour are punishing the weak and vulnerable in order to protect the financial interests of many millionaires?

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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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In the wake of the Daily Record front page today – The Media’s Alarming Influence on Knife Crime Perception

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stewartb From a UK charity with a mission to reduce knife crime and improve community safety – https://knives4lives.co.uk ‘The Media’s Alarming Influence on Knife Crime Perception’ (November 15, 2024) – ‘The media holds significant power in shaping public perception and policy around knife crime in the UK. ‘While its role in raising awareness is vital, media outlets need to offer balanced reporting. Their reporting should be nuanced and precise. By doing so, they can help foster informed public discourse. This approach can also reduce fear and stigmatisation.’ And on what media influence could facilitate: ‘Furthermore, it supports the development of effective, long-term solutions to this pressing … Continue reading In the wake of the Daily Record front page today – The Media’s Alarming Influence on Knife Crime Perception

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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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Does the Herald think that police numbers should go up as crime falls more than twice as fast as staffing?

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Professor John Robertson OBA Taking a break from ferry fraudulence to policing propaganda, Martin Williams (Herald sole staff member on Wednesday?), has this today: Scotland has lost nearly 800 police officers since it became a unified national force 12 years ago leading to concerns about how it is able to cope, it can be revealed. The policing strength of Police Scotland has dropped from 17,324 in April 2013, when it was formed to just 16,553 this year – despite past promises to put an extra 1,000 officers on the beat. Based on the above statistics, crime has fallen by around 10% … Continue reading Does the Herald think that police numbers should go up as crime falls more than twice as fast as staffing?

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How the ‘Scottish’ media have singularly failed to investigate and fully report on the true state of the ferry services

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By stewartb: The level of mainstream media ‘interest’ in CalMac ferry services has been ramped up and highly politicised over recent years. However, in sharp distinction to coverage by the highly resourced-constrained TuS, the highly resource-rich BBC Scotland and others in the mainstream media – those supposedly serving Scotland – have singularly failed to investigate and fully report on the true state of these ferry services. This failure is despite pointing out the economic and social importance of the ferries to the communities served. As best as I can recall (and do correct me if I’ve missed something substantive): And … Continue reading How the ‘Scottish’ media have singularly failed to investigate and fully report on the true state of the ferry services

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New US hybrid ferries look like costing much more than the new CalMac vessels

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From EUUSATODAY, today: Bids to build new plug-in Washington state ferries come in high It’s raising doubts about the state’s plans to construct up to five new hybrid-electric vessels with the $1.3 billion [£1 billion] lawmakers have set aside. Ferry system managers and state budget writers in Washington took a cold wave over the bow Monday upon opening the bids to construct up to five new hybrid electric ferries. “I don’t see how you get to five. There’s money for three [160 car vessels] on a good day,” said state House Transportation Committee Chair Jake Fey, D-Tacoma. The Washington Legislature … Continue reading New US hybrid ferries look like costing much more than the new CalMac vessels

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Reform UK can learn from low crime Scotland not Dubai or UAE

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The international drugs cartel made at home in Dubai. Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Politics, two days ago: Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has said the UK could learn from Dubai’s national pride and low crime levels. In a BBC interview, he said the UK should “aspire to” the kind of safety seen in the Emirati city – where he claimed people leave belongings unattended and return to find them untouched. Tice splits his time between Westminster, his Skegness constituency and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which he said he visits “once every six to eight weeks” to … Continue reading Reform UK can learn from low crime Scotland not Dubai or UAE