Tag: news

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The two-child benefit cap:  will it prove an ethical dilemma for Kirsty McNeill MP, Labour’s new Under Secretary of State for Scotland and former Director of Save the Children?

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By stewartb One of the most conspicuous examples of a Labour MP shifting their stance on the urgency of reducing child poverty – specifically on the urgency of abolishing the two-child benefit cap – must surely be that of Kirsty McNeill, the new member of parliament for Midlothian and significantly, the Under Secretary of State for Scotland. Prior to being elected, Ms McNeill was Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns at Save the Children. In reading what follows, bear in mind Ms McNeill’s job title with this major charity operating in the UK and internationally – note ‘policy’, note … Continue reading The two-child benefit cap:  will it prove an ethical dilemma for Kirsty McNeill MP, Labour’s new Under Secretary of State for Scotland and former Director of Save the Children?

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Drink drive deaths in England soar to nearly three times those in Scotland halved after Scottish Government lowers limit

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By Professor John Robertson In the Guardian, typically Anglocentric, today: Deaths due to drinking and driving on UK roads have increased to 300 annually, a 13-year high, according to newly published government data. There were an estimated 300 deaths where at least one driver was over the legal blood-alcohol limit in 2022, the latest year for which official figures are available, the Department for Transport said. This is the highest annual figure since 2009, a toll motoring organisations described as “abhorrent” and concerning. The number is 16% higher than in 2021 and means drink-drive fatalities accounted for about 18% of all road deaths, … Continue reading Drink drive deaths in England soar to nearly three times those in Scotland halved after Scottish Government lowers limit

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The knock-on consequences for the size of the Block Grants to devolved administrations and the resourcing of the NHS in Scotland

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By stewartb The recent National Audit Office report entitled ‘NHS Financial Management and Sustainability’ makes substantive comments on the state of NHS England and the challenges it faces due to financial settlements over many years now from Westminster governments. Of course it makes ZERO reference to the knock-on consequences for the size of the Block Grants to devolved administrations and the resourcing of the NHS in NI, Scotland and Wales. See https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/nhs-financial-management-and-sustainability-2024/ Just a few extracts from the NAO report help to reinforce the point for anyone willing to acknowledge how the Barnet Formula operates: The NAO explains that ‘over the decade … Continue reading The knock-on consequences for the size of the Block Grants to devolved administrations and the resourcing of the NHS in Scotland

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Latest research – Crime down 53% since first SNP Government began but police numbers slightly up on last Labour Government!

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By Professor John Robertson From the Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report : July 2024 edition, today: Crime has fallen by 53% since 2008-09. Results from the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) show that around 1 in 10 adults were victims of crime in 2021-22 (10.0%) compared to 1 in 5 in 2008-09 (20.4%). The estimated number of crimes fell by 53% over the same period, and by 18% since 2017-18.  https://www.gov.scot/publications/safer-communities-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-july-2024-edition/pages/3/#page-top IMPORTANT – This is not based on police reporting which is known to understate the actual level of crime but on The Scottish Crime and Justice … Continue reading Latest research – Crime down 53% since first SNP Government began but police numbers slightly up on last Labour Government!

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A lesson for any tempted to vote Labour in Holyrood 2026 – Researchers reveal the policy supported by Scottish Labour causes children to go hungry

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Labour’s Westminster House Jock and North British branches celebrate English Labour’s election victory under their shared flag, before going on to vote to keep the Dead Conservative’s two-child benefit cap, shown by the IFS to increase child poverty levels. Not only has the Institute for Fiscal Studies proved that the two-child benefit cap is the main cause of child poverty in the UK but today, we read in the Guardian: Families hit by the two-child benefit cap are much more likely to go hungry, skip meals or be unable to afford to eat healthily, according to new data which shows … Continue reading A lesson for any tempted to vote Labour in Holyrood 2026 – Researchers reveal the policy supported by Scottish Labour causes children to go hungry

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New Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Labour MP betrays all she claims to stand for and votes to keep the cruel two child benefit cap and her £91K job

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Before the 2024 General Election in the local Ayrshire newspapers: Elaine Stewart, Labour candidate said: “As someone who works daily with children and young people in some of the affected communities, I can assure you that reason I am standing is to ensure that the child poverty is high on the agenda on a daily basis. “I run food banks and, to be perfectly honest, children and young people should not be eating from this form of support on a daily basis. “Addressing child poverty in Scotland requires a sustained, collaborative effort across various sectors and levels of government, with … Continue reading New Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Labour MP betrays all she claims to stand for and votes to keep the cruel two child benefit cap and her £91K job

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BBC Scotland’s avoidance of the County Lines gang plague – formal BBC complaint

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I’ve made the following complaint to the BBC. How will they deal with it this time? I’ll let you know. County Lines gangs, based in large English cities have been responsible for a spreading plague of extreme violence, more accessible and cheaper illegal drug supplies, child abuse, prostitution, people trafficking and the exploitation (cuckooing) of vulnerable adults in small-town UK, into places previously less affected by crime. Recent data reveal a surge in knife crime in rural and small-town areas in England and a recent surge in violent crime in similar areas in Scotland. Police Scotland estimates more than 50 … Continue reading BBC Scotland’s avoidance of the County Lines gang plague – formal BBC complaint

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Labour must give up on nuclear power in Scotland as Torness with 46 reactor cracks is to operate till 2028 yet its troubled French owners are required to investigate plant in France with only 1!

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By Professor John Robertson Many thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this. From the Ferret today: The number of cracks in the core of an ageing nuclear reactor at Torness in East Lothian has risen to 46, prompting warnings that prolonging its operation would be “gambling with public safety”. The UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) told The Ferret that the cracks were detected in April 2024 and were “at the upper end of expectations”. The first three cracks were discovered at Torness in February 2022. EDF, however, insisted that the cracks did not affect normal operations or the ability to shut down … Continue reading Labour must give up on nuclear power in Scotland as Torness with 46 reactor cracks is to operate till 2028 yet its troubled French owners are required to investigate plant in France with only 1!

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County Lines drug gangs from cities in England fuel major surge in violent crime in Scotland’s smaller towns

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In the Express yesterday, we read: Knife crime epidemic rising faster in market towns after spread of county lines drug gangs. Knife crime is rising more rapidly in rural counties and market towns than in cities, a study has found. Although most of the police forces in the top 10 included large inner city areas, the study found offences were soaring at an alarming rate outside of urban regions. According to Police Scotland, there are more than 50 County Lines drug and child-abusing groups active in Scotland, first identified in 2019, commonly in smaller towns where there is no existing … Continue reading County Lines drug gangs from cities in England fuel major surge in violent crime in Scotland’s smaller towns

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How the SNP might compensate the WASPI women and win the next election(s)

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By Professor John Robertson I came up with this idea several months ago and sent it to the new FM John Swinney but have had no response. It has been warmly welcomed by most SNP members I’ve spoken to and by leading local WASPI leaders. One or two, understandably, have rejected it on the grounds that the UK Government should pay the bill. I understand that but doing at least something before more WASPI women die and, of course, defeating Labour seemed and still seems a bit of a priority for us. Proposal: That the Scottish Government introduce a scheme, … Continue reading How the SNP might compensate the WASPI women and win the next election(s)