Tag: news

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CalMac averages 99.8% reliability over May weekend

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On Saturday 4th May, CalMac ferries made 508 sailings with 98.6% reliability. Only 2 out of the 10 Arran crossings were cancelled. Yesterday, Sunday 5th May, 100% of 360 sailings, were made on time, regardless of the late new ferries of the others in dock for planned maintenance. On these crossings, CalMac charged half the prices faced by passengers heading for the Isle of Wight, the Channel islands or the islands off Seattle or Vancouver where staff shortages meant cancellations. Sources: https://www.calmac.co.uk/calmac-performance-data-browser?date=05%2F05%2F2024 Continue reading CalMac averages 99.8% reliability over May weekend

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No sign that Scottish farmer confidence is low in contrast with all of Europe thanks to SNP Government actions

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By Professor John Robertson In the Guardian today: Farmer confidence at lowest in England and Wales since survey began, NFU says. Union cites extreme wet weather and post-Brexit phasing-out of EU subsidies as main reasons for slump There’s no mention of Scotland in the survey. I had a look and can find no equivalent survey for Scottish farmers but did spot this from the Scottish Farmer in March : NFU Scotland has stepped back from the protest movement sweeping across Europe by the agriculture sector. President Martin Kennedy spoke out after more than 100 vehicles, many flying the Union flag and … Continue reading No sign that Scottish farmer confidence is low in contrast with all of Europe thanks to SNP Government actions

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Infected blood scandal key files were shredded by panicked Labour Government – just another reason why Scots can never trust Labour again

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In the Guardian today: Revealed: key files shredded as UK government panic grew over infected blood deaths lawsuit. Lost documents prevented victims from finding out the truth, official inquiry told. Several batches of files involving the work of a blood safety advisory committee were shredded as the government faced the threat of legal action, documents show. Patients who were given contaminated blood when they were children have also told the infected blood inquiry how their hospital medical files were destroyed or initially withheld. The scheme to import blood from US prisoners was approved in the UK in August 1976. The UK Government … Continue reading Infected blood scandal key files were shredded by panicked Labour Government – just another reason why Scots can never trust Labour again

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Hello! A Royals-obsessed magazine journalist would walk more than 500 miles for a Scottish seat nobody else wants’ – Labour colonialism at its more pure

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By Professor John Robertson From the Dundee Courier, yesterday: Labour candidate in Angus is councillor for city over 500 miles away. A councillor from Canterbury in England has been selected as Labour’s candidate for Angus and Perthshire Glens, it can be revealed. Elizabeth Carr-Ellis is a Labour councillor for St Stephen’s in Canterbury – over 500 miles from Angus in the South East of England. But the party has given her its backing to standing for election in the newly formed Westminster constituency. Ms Carr-Ellis describes herself as a “Geordie journalist” who has lived around the UK and abroad. It is … Continue reading Hello! A Royals-obsessed magazine journalist would walk more than 500 miles for a Scottish seat nobody else wants’ – Labour colonialism at its more pure

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BBC Scotland Hate Crime Law coverage complaint rejected because facts ‘may depend on which parties choose to comment on specific issues and news events’

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More than two weeks ago, I sent this complaint to BBC Complaints: Their answer: We have and continue to provide comprehensive coverage of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021. Throughout that morning our coverage correctly attributed the claims, that the hate crime legislation should be scrapped, to the Scottish Conservatives. We also provided the Scottish Government response, that ministers acknowledged communication could have been better but the law was required to protect the most vulnerable form those who stir up hatred. This followed our coverage the previous day (16 April) in which we reported a reduction in … Continue reading BBC Scotland Hate Crime Law coverage complaint rejected because facts ‘may depend on which parties choose to comment on specific issues and news events’

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Andrew Neil, right-wing domination of the media, bullying, women, Epstein and Trump

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Andrew Neil in Lord of the Rings IV (?) Andrew Neil and his new wife in 2015. The above, being shared with no attribution on social media. This from 2018: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/nov/16/bbc-women-complain-andrew-neil-tweet-observer-journalist-carole-cadwalladr And the above: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/11/bbc-andrew-neil-media-politics And in 2020 TuS had: Andrew Neil breached broadcasting rules with false Scottish illiteracy claim The presenter was discussing education in Scotland with former SNP leader Alex Salmond. The BBC’s Sunday Politics breached broadcasting rules with misleading claims made by presenter Andrew Neil, a watchdog has found. The host claimed during an interview with former Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond that “after a decade … Continue reading Andrew Neil, right-wing domination of the media, bullying, women, Epstein and Trump

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What does Scotland have? Look at this and try to keep your mouth shut

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From one of the many Anonymouses at Talking-up Scotland: What does Scotland have? What does Scotland have? We are only 8.3% of the UK’s population, 8.3 %! Remember!! 32% of the land area 61% of the sea area 90% of the fresh water. (There is more fresh water in loch Ness than In England and Wales combined!) 65% of the natural gas production 96.5% of the crude oil production 47% of the open cast coal production 81% of the untapped coal reserves 62% of the timber production 46% of the total forest area 92% of the hydro electric production 40% … Continue reading What does Scotland have? Look at this and try to keep your mouth shut

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The SNP government’s survival did not depend on Green votes only on their refusal to vote with this unholy Blue alliance

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From BBC Scotland today: The SNP government’s survival depended on Green votes David Henderson BBC Scotland political correspondent The chamber of the Scottish Parliament is an impressive place. More so on a day like today. Noisy too. There was a full house of MSPs. Notable among them, former FM Nicola Sturgeon. The debate today – on Motion 13005 – was a matter of political life and death. A vote of no confidence, with the survival of this Scottish government at stake. So it was a bit odd to see Humza Yousaf as its principal defender. He’s already lost his job. … Continue reading The SNP government’s survival did not depend on Green votes only on their refusal to vote with this unholy Blue alliance

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Prescription charges up to nearly £10 per item in England and Scottish Labour will not protect Scots from that

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By Professor John Robertson Thanks again to Dottie for alerting me to this. in the Manchester Evening News tonight, the above table and: Millions of NHS patients in England will face higher medicinal costs from next week. The cost of a single NHS prescription will go up to almost £10, following an increase of 25p this year to £9.90. This is an increase of around 2.5 per cent, which is below the rate of inflation, but the increase could still make life more difficult for people on low fixed incomes. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/full-list-new-nhs-prescription-29064519 Never mind Labour will sort this out and protect the vulnerable … Continue reading Prescription charges up to nearly £10 per item in England and Scottish Labour will not protect Scots from that

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Janitor strikes can close schools in Scotland but not in England

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Thanks to Dottie again for alerting me to this, from the Observer today: Headteachers are being forced to mend desks and unblock toilets themselves after sacking school caretakers in the wake of budget cuts, the Guardian has been told. School leaders in England said they could not afford to employ caretakers, and were having to change lightbulbs and clear playgrounds of dead rats themselves. Amanda Richards, the headteacher of Sytchampton primary in Worcestershire, said her school “literally can’t afford” a permanent caretaker, leaving her and other staff to move heavy equipment and make emergency repairs to keep the school running. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/apr/28/headteachers-schools-england-caretakers-budget-cuts The … Continue reading Janitor strikes can close schools in Scotland but not in England