Tag: politics

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Massive fall in children’s exposure to deadly second-hand smoke in their own home since 2012 as a range of SNP policies begin to bite

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By Professor John Robertson, OBA From The Scottish Health Survey 2023 – volume 1: main report, published today, the above graph reveals a marked fall in the percentage of children exposed to second-hand smoke in their own homes.1 In 2016,  the SNP Government, made it illegal to smoke in a vehicle carrying anyone under 18.2 In 2022, the SNP Government made it an offence to smoke with in 15 meters of an NHS hospital building.3 In 2022, only 15% of Scots smoked compare to 28% in 2003.4 The above and other initiatives over the last 17 years will have contributed to this … Continue reading Massive fall in children’s exposure to deadly second-hand smoke in their own home since 2012 as a range of SNP policies begin to bite

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Latest – Alcohol consumption plummets in last 17 years

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From The Scottish Health Survey 2023 – volume 1: main report, published today, the above, graph showing a steady but limited fall in average alcohol consumption in the early years of the devolved Scottish Government (Labour/Lib Dem) then a sharper fall under the SNP from 2008.1 The Minimum Unit Pricing legislation came into effect from May 2018. Research by Newcastle University published in May 2021 found that alcohol sales dropped by 7.7% in Scotland following the introduction of a minimum price, when compared to north-east England. A study published in 2021 found reductions in overall purchases of alcohol, largely … Continue reading Latest – Alcohol consumption plummets in last 17 years

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NHS hospitals, staffing and strike avoidance lead to 1 600 fewer deaths, last year

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By Professor John Robertson, OBA From Public Health Scotland today: Unadjusted hospital mortality remained relatively stable at between 2.6% and 3.3% over the majority of the five-year period from July 2019 to June 2024. The relatively small variation shows clear seasonal patterns with increases in mortality during the winter months. However, larger increases occurred during the COVID-19 epidemic in Scotland, with unadjusted hospital mortality reaching 5.4% during the first wave, 4.4% during the second wave. Since the quarter April to June 2021, the crude mortality rate has been between 3.2% to 4.0%, showing seasonal variation.1 NHS England chooses not to publish … Continue reading NHS hospitals, staffing and strike avoidance lead to 1 600 fewer deaths, last year

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NHS England spending EIGHT TIMES more per head on private consultants than ‘SNP’ NHS

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By Professor John Robertson, OBA The Scotsman yesterday, headlined: Anger as SNP consultants bill hits £42m Mr Robertson begins class on using maths with the above story – ‘Seems a big number doesn’t it boys and girls?’ Tommy (11) ‘Yeh, but it might not be, like that 40 000 extra NHS appointments Keir Starmer announced. That was only 0.5% more.’ Mr Robertson – ‘So, what other information do we need to be sure if it’s important or not?’ Nicola – ‘Is it bigger than last year or ten years ago?’ Maggie – ‘What was it in England?’ Mr Robertson – ‘Great, … Continue reading NHS England spending EIGHT TIMES more per head on private consultants than ‘SNP’ NHS

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Devolution offers little protection for Scotland’s democratic choices – sobering assessment of the Sewel Convention and Westminster power by the Institute for Government

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By stewartb The Institute for Government (IfG) – the London-based think tank close to the Westminster/Whitehall establishment – has published an assessment of the operation of the Sewel Convention. It explains the convention is ‘designed to give the devolved institutions a degree of certainty that their powers will not be overridden, and enables the UK and devolved governments to work together on legislation where their policy objectives are aligned.’ Source: Allen et al (November 7, 2024) The Sewel convention in practice – five case studies from the 2019–24 parliament. Institute for Government, London (https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-11/Sewel-convention-in-practice.pdf ) The IfG reports that the … Continue reading Devolution offers little protection for Scotland’s democratic choices – sobering assessment of the Sewel Convention and Westminster power by the Institute for Government

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Herald and GMB attack SNP’s well-meaning employment rights ‘guidance’ conveniently ignoring the fact that it’s a reserved matter and that Scottish Labour betrayed Scots on it

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The Herald today, has: SNP workers’ rights policy is no more than feel good fluff Employment law is, of course, reserved to the UK Government1 and Scottish Labour, in 2023, under a Tory government, with no interest in improving employment rights, would not support a motion calling for the devolution of employment law – despite a manifesto pledge to back the policy.2 Readers will remember that Scottish Labour Leader, Anas Sarwar, has previous on this: Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has confirmed that not all workers at his family’s wholesale business are currently paid the real living wage. His party … Continue reading Herald and GMB attack SNP’s well-meaning employment rights ‘guidance’ conveniently ignoring the fact that it’s a reserved matter and that Scottish Labour betrayed Scots on it

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Little evidence SNP is financially silencing charities

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By Professor John Robertson, OBA According to the Herald today: Charities reluctant to condemn SNP decisions in fear of being ‘financially silenced’ Typically, the headline is based on one source – Clare MacGillivray, director of Making Rights Real (MRR). I share her concerns about the SNP leadership on this matter: but see little sign of the phenomenon she describes. Indeed, just this year, these three charities have attacked the Scottish Government/SNP revealing signs of and agenda: Read in full at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=charity+ And, Shelter, serial attacks. See in particular: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2024/08/10/do-the-national-branch-offices-of-campaigning-charities-not-understand-devolution/ Source: Support Scots Independent, Scotland’s oldest pro-independence newspaper and host of the OBA (Oliver Brown … Continue reading Little evidence SNP is financially silencing charities

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County Lines gangs from cities in England ‘swamping’ police forces and linked to Scotland’s high drug death rates 

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From the Press & Journal, three days ago: Cops say Inverness flooded with ‘endless supply of drug foot soldiers’ from Birmingham, Liverpool and London – Police are battling with drug gangs “every week” – and that trying to chase them is like a game of “whack-a-mole”. Detective Constable Duncan Birse laid out the extent of the problem. He said: “Being born and bred in the Highlands I assume most folk associate Inverness with the Loch Ness Monster and whisky. “Probably most folk are unaware that actually we have a massive issue here with county lines drug dealing gangs. “We are … Continue reading County Lines gangs from cities in England ‘swamping’ police forces and linked to Scotland’s high drug death rates 

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U-turning on Trump – Why was John Swinney singled out by the BBC in this manner?

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By Anonymous Yesterday MSM Monitor tweeted this observation that he saw on the BBC website via various headlines by the BBC upon Labour & also on the FM John Swinney in response to Trump winning. MSM Monitor Tweeted this: “Why was John Swinney singled out by the BBC in this manner”? “Welsh FM Eluned Morgan once described Trump as “off the wall crazy”. Not mentioned in her headline” “Keir Starmer once called Trump’s comments “absolutely repugnant”. Not mentioned in his headline” “Starmer and Morgan are also referred to by their title. Our FM is referred to by his surname” Then … Continue reading U-turning on Trump – Why was John Swinney singled out by the BBC in this manner?

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Winter Fuel Allowance – Unite Union legal action against UK Government is kept on BBC Scotland website to misinform

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By Anonymous BBC Website Scotland Business page. Headline article on this page “Unite union may bring legal action over winter fuel payments” it is 6th article on this Scotland Business page. Click on the article then it shows it to be in UK Politics page ? But not on the Scotland Politics page but the UK Politics page. However if you click on UK Politics page this story is not on there ????? The article’s content is clearly relating to the UK government as it refers to Rachel Reeves and Labour , however the first paragraph is ambiguous as to which government it is that Unite Union are considering legal action against at it … Continue reading Winter Fuel Allowance – Unite Union legal action against UK Government is kept on BBC Scotland website to misinform