Tag: politics

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Labour ditches reforms designed to placate Scotland and secure the Union

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– to win the next General Election in England, Labour is discarding radical House of Lords reform and federalism proposed by its own, Gordon Brown-led Commission. By stewartb – a long read The Labour Party seems to be working a new wheeze to bamboozle the electorate and yes, even political journalists. This is how it works: it announces a new radical, progressive policy to gain media and voter attention. Later – in various ways and at various times – Party spokespersons indicate a softening – a rowing back – on the prior radical policy position. Crucially, and in the weeks … Continue reading Labour ditches reforms designed to placate Scotland and secure the Union

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How Labour’s plan for small business has been at the heart of the SNP legislation for years

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Not for the first Labour advisers reveal their ignorance of what is already happening in Scotland as they come up to tell us about their supah new ideas to find we already have the same or better. Here’s what they claim and what they plan, responded to one-by-one. “The Labour Party knows the value of small businesses; you are not just the lifeblood of our communities but essential to our economic success. That is why we have launched an ambitious plan to support small businesses.” “The Scottish Government regrets any delays in payments to suppliers and our performance in paying 98.8% … Continue reading How Labour’s plan for small business has been at the heart of the SNP legislation for years

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Can anyone recall any interrogation of witnesses or any media assessment around the ACTUAL content of key Cabinet papers?

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stewartb ‘Could the Covid inquiry reshape the UK?’ – this is the headline above a piece by James Cook on the BBC News website today. Mr Cook is of course BBC Scotland’s political editor whose team of journalists has been working hard to amplify the alleged ‘significance’ of WhatsApp messaging more than anything else in news reports on the Covid Inquiry’s Edinburgh sessions. Having feasted on the Inquiry’s references to WhatsApps, Mr Cook seems to have belatedly become aware of the journalistic relevance of ‘perspective’. He writes today: ‘ Not so many years ago many of the conversations now under … Continue reading Can anyone recall any interrogation of witnesses or any media assessment around the ACTUAL content of key Cabinet papers?

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Expelled MP with Herald tries island famine scare story after only two days with no deliveries

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In a stormy month, there have been a few cancellations of the Oban to Castlebay (Barra) sailings and the last two days have seen cancellations but for nearly every other day, reliability has been 100%. How wee are the coolers and fridges in the Barra shops that two days means a famine is imminent? Is this just a scare story from Angus Brenda MacNeil MP after his ejection from the SNP and the looming loss of his seat? Why was he ejected? Was it this? ‘Sleazebuster’ MP’s regret over three-in-a-bed romp with teenage girls: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-447550/Sleazebuster-MPs-regret-bed-romp-teenage-girls.html or this: Love rat SNP … Continue reading Expelled MP with Herald tries island famine scare story after only two days with no deliveries

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GDP – Does any other country have to ignore its offshore activity to make it seem to be in trouble?

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From the Scottish Government (!) today: Scotland’s onshore GDP is estimated to have fallen by 0.1% in November. This follows a contraction of 0.6% in October (revised from -0.5%). In the three months to November, GDP is estimated to have contracted by 0.2% compared to the previous three month period. This indicates a slowing of growth, relative to the increase of 0.4% in 2023 Quarter 3 (July to September). Try searching for the word ‘offshore’ in the full report. Not a mention. But what, I hear you say about those booming energy revenues from oil, gas and renewables? You know, … Continue reading GDP – Does any other country have to ignore its offshore activity to make it seem to be in trouble?

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117 bottles of Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs at your expense in Boris parties but ‘your’ media has SNP leaders swearing about him

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From SNP Media today: Responding to the publication of the cost of drinks served at Boris Johnson’s Brexit party, the SNP’s Scotland spokesperson, Tommy Sheppard MP said: “It’s shameful that Boris Johnson’s boozy Brexit party cost the taxpayer £7,897. “While the disgraced former Prime Minister and his advisers guzzled wine from the taxpayer-funded government wine cellar, people across Scotland lamented the loss of their EU membership, their access to the world’s largest single market and customs union, and their ability to live and work in 27 countries. “For context, that means No.10 consumed 117 bottles of Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs … Continue reading 117 bottles of Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs at your expense in Boris parties but ‘your’ media has SNP leaders swearing about him

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The Covid Inquiry evidence unreported by BBC Scotland – can ‘bias by omission’ get any worse? 

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By stewartb ‘An important feature of the pandemic response of the Scottish Government was a pre-existing culture of professionalism, engagement, and collaboration, which, in the Covid-19 pandemic translated into a willingness to look outside of government for advice and expertise.’  On Scottish Government actions: ’Rather than divergence demonstrating political opportunism, it reflected better decision-making processes including more effective and meaningful consultation with others, and an appropriately precautionary approach to pandemic response.’ TUC/STUC submission to UK Covid 19 Inquiry (10 January 2024) By stewartb – a long read Already a lot of evidence concerning Scotland has been accumulated by the UK … Continue reading The Covid Inquiry evidence unreported by BBC Scotland – can ‘bias by omission’ get any worse? 

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“Protective effect of devolved policies” – Child poverty rates in Scotland (24%) remain much lower than those in England (31%) and Wales (28%)“The Protective effect of devolved policies” 

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Joseph Rowntree Foundation on the Scottish Government By stewartb The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) published (on 25 January) a report entitled ‘Constraints and trade-offs for the next government’. It paints a bleak picture of the present state of the UK, its public finances and services. Over the short to medium term, it offers no cheer for the future. The IFS notes: ’further tax rises and further cuts for most public services are built into current plans. But on official forecasts, this is only just enough to stabilise government debt as a fraction of national income.’  (my emphasis) And it … Continue reading “Protective effect of devolved policies” – Child poverty rates in Scotland (24%) remain much lower than those in England (31%) and Wales (28%)“The Protective effect of devolved policies” 

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What will a Labour government do? More austerity, no public investment, increasing privatisation, no curbs on corporate profiteering and remaining outside the UK’s largest market.   

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Leah Gunn Barrett English Labour says the UK economy is growing at the slowest rate for two centuries.[1] Could it have to do with austerity, Brexit, chronic underinvestment, rampant corporate profiteering and high interest rates? And if so, what will a Labour government do?  Fresh from Davos, Rachel Reeves told a meeting in the City of London “every day, every month and every year of a Labour government, Labour will maintain its credibility with the markets and relationship with the City.”[2] Labour has made clear that it will coddle and appease financial markets which means austerity, no public investment, increasing privatisation, no … Continue reading What will a Labour government do? More austerity, no public investment, increasing privatisation, no curbs on corporate profiteering and remaining outside the UK’s largest market.   

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Conscription to defend against Russian hypersonic missiles? Aye, for lads like these

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The Guardian and others are full of images like these: and comments from the likes of ex-Army Tory MP Tobias Ellwood: Sky News then reports: British citizens should be “trained and equipped” to fight in a potential war with Russia – as Moscow plans on “defeating our system and way of life”, the head of the British Army has said. General Sir Patrick Sanders, the outgoing Chief of the General Staff (CGS), said increasing army numbers in preparation for a potential conflict would need to be a “whole-of-nation undertaking”. The comments, first reported by the Daily Telegraph, are being read … Continue reading Conscription to defend against Russian hypersonic missiles? Aye, for lads like these