Tag: politics

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Do the national branch offices of campaigning charities not understand devolution

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By stewartb Do third sector organisations with missions that extend across the UK feel unable to make statements that (in terms) state the following truth and if so WHY? ‘The situation in (a UK nation with a government with only limited, devolved powers) may be bad but – based on statistical analysis – not nearly so bad as in England, the nation with a government with EVERY power to have avoided this bad in the first place and with EVERY power now to deliver the necessary solution. ‘It is the government of England in Westminster – the one with ALL … Continue reading Do the national branch offices of campaigning charities not understand devolution

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Despite lowest reported anti-semitism, only Scotland must be warned about it

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By Anonymous BBC Website On the Scottish Politics page 7th story “Big rise in antisemitic incidents in UK – charity” Click on story and it comes up as part of the ‘UK’ page. Go to UK page to see article and I cannot see this story as an article on there. Story also not on UK politics page Story also not on Welsh politics page. So if the headline is “Big rise in antisemitic incidents in UK – charity” then why is this story only currently showing as a main article on the Scottish politics page ? So I checked the content of this article to see where they noted these incidents were happening within the UK as … Continue reading Despite lowest reported anti-semitism, only Scotland must be warned about it

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BBC Scotland to launch new board game called ‘Corpse Shortage!’

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On 30 July 2024, with not a trace of a cheeky grin, BBC Scotland reported: A rise in the number of students studying medicine in Scotland has resulted in a shortage of cadavers, according to a report. Prof Gordon Findlater, who is HM Inspector of Anatomy for Scotland, found that surgical colleges were having to cancel university training courses because the demand for bodies was so high. So, in response to an increase in the number of students studying medicine, previously called for by those Labour figures, Baillie and Sarwar, in BBC Scotland reports, the senior news editor who claims … Continue reading BBC Scotland to launch new board game called ‘Corpse Shortage!’

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BBC England reports on brutal County Lines drugs gang travelling into Scotland, Police Scotland News reports on these gangs 17 times in 2024 alone but BBC Scotland? Well you know….

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In the above BBC England report, the word Scotland does not appear but in every other report by West Midlands news outlets on the same day, they refer to their police teams working with Police Scotland. Why would Police Scotland do that? Because, English County Lines gangs, based on Police Scotland estimates, have for at least five years now, brought a wave of terror into at least 60 Scottish small towns and villages. They bring with them cheap drug supplies, extreme violence, the use of child drug carriers on the rail lines, people trafficking, prostitution, the exploitation (cuckooing) of vulnerable … Continue reading BBC England reports on brutal County Lines drugs gang travelling into Scotland, Police Scotland News reports on these gangs 17 times in 2024 alone but BBC Scotland? Well you know….

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Four weeks in and Labour Work and Pensions Secretary doing nothing for BBC Scotland’s struggling carer

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From BBC Scotland today: Brian Closs is a full-time carer for his two autistic teenagers and has been receiving income support with child benefit, carers allowance and child tax credits. But these benefits are being phased out by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) as part of a “managed migration” to universal credit payments. Money is already tight for Brian, 55, but in order to receive his new benefit he has to claim and then wait more than a month for his new payment. The controversial “five-week wait” means he will fall further into debt unless he asks for … Continue reading Four weeks in and Labour Work and Pensions Secretary doing nothing for BBC Scotland’s struggling carer

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Child poverty: why is BBC hiding its article on poorer families in Scotland being ‘more fortunate’ than those in England due to Scottish Government action?

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No cheap tabloid images of sad wee weans here. And why is a Fraser of Allander economist so grudging? – “So it’s POSSIBLE the rate of child poverty would have been higher in the absence of the Scottish Child Payment”. Only just “possible” that £26.70 per week for each and every child in poorer families reduces poverty – really? By stewartb There is yet another example of strange editorial decisions taken by those that run the BBC News website. An article appeared (at c. 1 am on July 28) on the website entitled: ‘Tale of two nations: Meeting families with … Continue reading Child poverty: why is BBC hiding its article on poorer families in Scotland being ‘more fortunate’ than those in England due to Scottish Government action?

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How many SNP health secretaries have to avert an NHS strike before they get credit for saving many lives?

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There have been no health service strikes by doctors, junior doctors, GPs, consultants, nurses, midwives, ambulance paramedics or radiologists in Scotland. Almost all have taken action in England and some in Wales. Only the radioactive GMB has managed to trick its porter and cleaner members to take action. Millions of appointments and procedures have been cancelled with the inevitable loss of uncounted lives. Through a willingness to keep talking and the adoption of respect for professionals, SNP health secretaries, backed up by the SNP Government, have saved hundreds of thousands of appointments and procedures. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives, have … Continue reading How many SNP health secretaries have to avert an NHS strike before they get credit for saving many lives?

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Who constitutes the country? Surely, families in poverty are part of that?

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By Alasdair Macdonald ’Country before Party’ is what the Labour manifesto pledged. Setting aside for the moment what ‘country’ connotes, how does Ms McNeill and other Labour MPs justify their decision to support the continuation of the ‘two-child benefit cap’? Their argument is that ‘the country(?) cannot afford it at present. But, who constitutes the country? Surely, families in poverty are part of that? And, why are they in poverty? Because they have not got enough money even though, in most cases, at least one member of the family is in paid employment, and wages are low, hours are few … Continue reading Who constitutes the country? Surely, families in poverty are part of that?

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BBC Scotland’s avoidance of English County Lines gang terror complaint – their odd response and my follow-up complaint

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On July 23rd, I wrote to BBC Complaints: 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 County Lines gang activities in Scotland using children to carry the drugs … Continue reading BBC Scotland’s avoidance of English County Lines gang terror complaint – their odd response and my follow-up complaint

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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?