Tag: news

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Chickens uncaged but your news still trapped in one

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By Professor John Robertson BBC Scotland’s website above still milking the non-story of an attention-seeking celeb and serial whinger about anything the SNP might do to better the circumstances of the rest of us. This morning, BBC UK had an extended piece on Scotland becoming the first part of the UK to ban the caging of laying hens. As you would hope they let the Scottish Government minister have some credit for the actions. Minutes later BBC Reporting Scotland managed to push the story back, behind a tale of a flooded cemetery in Ayr without telling us the council responsible … Continue reading Chickens uncaged but your news still trapped in one

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Only 0.0008% of nearly a QUARTER OF A MILLION additional needs cases wait too long and there will be complex reasons for even those 2 but the Lib Dems care little for that

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By Professor John Robertson BBC Reporting Scotland today have a story not being covered by the BBC Scotland website: Long waits for diagnoses of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD ‘s ‘harmful’ particularly for children. That’s according to the Scottish Liberal Democrats who obtained wait list figures through a Freedom of Information request. The report goes on to ‘cherry pick’ extreme examples of the kind we all know there will be complex reasons for, over and above any supposed staff shortages, and require a Scottish Government response to a problem entirely the responsibility of a health board. The report does … Continue reading Only 0.0008% of nearly a QUARTER OF A MILLION additional needs cases wait too long and there will be complex reasons for even those 2 but the Lib Dems care little for that

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Only in Scotland would a service performing so well relative to its peers be the target of headline negativity

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By stewartb ‘STV is becoming as anti-Scottish as BBC Scotland’ – as evidenced by its practice of context and perspective-free reporting. It would be so easy and quick for STV better to inform its audience – and voters – but that would require different journalistic/editorial objectives. To further fill the void in STV’s reporting, what follows is from the Office of Road and Rail (7 March 2023) ‘Passenger rail performance, 1 October to 31 December 2023’. (https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/jkfh21zr/performance-stats-release-oct-dec-2023.pdf ) Scotrail – 11.8 percentage point increase on same period in 2022. Just seven out of 24 operators had a larger increase. Scotrail – … Continue reading Only in Scotland would a service performing so well relative to its peers be the target of headline negativity

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If it wasn’t the school or the photographers then the Tory council approved photos ‘erasing’ ASN pupils – where is the Council Leader?

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Yesterday, I suggested: If it wasn’t the Aberdeenshire school it was the Tory council that instructed or allowed the photographers to offer parents ‘selective’ class photos Today BBC Scotland has this: A photography firm has apologised after parents were offered a choice of whether they wanted class photos with or without pupils with complex needs. Parents at Aboyne Primary School in Aberdeenshire complained after being sent a link from Tempest Photography. The company said it deeply regretted any upset it had caused and “sincerely apologised” to affected families. It said it was “not standard procedure” and it was taking the … Continue reading If it wasn’t the school or the photographers then the Tory council approved photos ‘erasing’ ASN pupils – where is the Council Leader?

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Teachers in England may strike over 36% higher pupil workload than in Scotland

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BBC Breakfast, as with the junior doctors strikes, is NOT shielding the Conservative Government from criticism, but allowing union reps free reign to attack. Today’s threat of teacher strikes is headlining there but is nowhere on the BBC News websites. BBC Scotland? School photos scandal. A significant factor for the NASUWT is this: Class sizes, pupil teacher ratios, have gotten worse not better over the last decade. Strangely, neither the NASUWT nor the Government state the actual pupil/teacher ratio. Here they are, helpfully from gov.uk, across the 4 nations: Pupil to teacher ratios in maintained schools were lowest in Scotland … Continue reading Teachers in England may strike over 36% higher pupil workload than in Scotland

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Women in West Dunbartonshire must wonder what difference having a leading Labour in Scotland politician’s ‘support’ makes?

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BY stewartb Labour’s Jackie Baillie has made much of her support for the WASPI women. The official website of Labour in Scotland’s Deputy Leader still has this from 7 November 2018: ‘MP AND MSP CALL FOR WOMEN AFFECTED BY STATE PENSION CHANGES TO GET INVOLVED IN WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE WASPI GROUP’. ‘Jackie said: “I am delighted that local women are willing to take the WASPI campaign forward, to raise awareness and gather more support locally. WASPI women have been badly affected by the DWP’s State Pension Changes, they have been given little or no notice and no time to plan for … Continue reading Women in West Dunbartonshire must wonder what difference having a leading Labour in Scotland politician’s ‘support’ makes?

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Someone pass the sick bucket

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By NMRN 28 March Sir keir Starmer’s speech at launch of campaign for English local elections (snippets) Podium stated “Britain’s Future” speech launched in Dudley, England (also known as Britain…start of Labour’s campaign in English local elections) Starmer “A changed Labour Party ready to serve the interests of working people, or a Conservative Party that has forgotten how to serve anything other than itself”. So…… (Indeed the Labour party has ‘Changed’ so much tis bearably recognisable from the Labour party which were once assumed to be a left wing party) Starmer “Their (Tories) failure is visible in every community in Britain. The sewage in our rivers. The ambulances that don’t … Continue reading Someone pass the sick bucket

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If it wasn’t the Aberdeenshire school it was the Tory council that instructed or allowed the photographers to offer parents ‘selective’ class photos

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The Aboyne school where class photos could be had selected for with or without children with ‘complex needs’ is all over media including wider UK media today. There’s not a word from the council leader (above) nor any mention of which parties run Aberdeenshire. From the council in June 2023: Cllr Gillian Owen has been appointed as the Leader of Aberdeenshire Council, by her fellow councillors. The Council Administration comprises Scottish Conservatives & Unionists, Liberal Democrats and Independent councillors who adopt a collective approach to leadership. An amendment by the SNP, seconded by the Democratic Independent Group, to appoint Cllr Gwyneth … Continue reading If it wasn’t the Aberdeenshire school it was the Tory council that instructed or allowed the photographers to offer parents ‘selective’ class photos

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Betraying WASPI women – BBC Reporting Scotland protecting Scottish Labour from scrutiny

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Thanks to Andrew for alerting me to this: A UK minister has refused to confirm whether the government will pay compensation to women hit by the rise in the state pension age. An ombudsman has recommended that those affected receive an apology and pay-outs between one nearly three thousand pounds. What does Scottish Labour have to say, we wonder: Two weeks ago, they were right behind compensation and turning up at WASPI events. Labour Leader, Anas Sarwar, has removed all traces of his earlier support from his social media. Why? Anas Sarwar’s party have received instructions from the UK leadership … Continue reading Betraying WASPI women – BBC Reporting Scotland protecting Scottish Labour from scrutiny

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Everyone in Scotland now benefits from the progressive SNP national council tax freeze.

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All the rebel authorities have backed down to allow all of their constituents to benefit. While Labour, Tory and LibDem councils tried to impose big council tax hikes, it was an SNP government which has protected family budgets during this cost-of-living crisis. As well as showing a clear difference between the SNP and the Westminster parties, it also stands as an example to show voters how decisions made in Scotland prove better for the people of Scotland. It was the SNP that delivered a policy to protect people during a cost-of-living crisis. The above is from SNP Media. Progressive? Surely not? In December … Continue reading Everyone in Scotland now benefits from the progressive SNP national council tax freeze.