Tag: politics

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Is the Labour-supporting GMB the dirtiest and most dangerous trade union in Scotland?

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Only last week, the GMB union leader was exposed as a bully and misogynist, after having campaigned to become leader, promising to eradicate the bullying and misogyny at the heart of the union. Today, in the Herald: The GMB has warned MSPs against the planned hike in minimum unit pricing (MUP) saying it will hurt lowest earning Scots hardest. The trade union, representing many drink industry workers, said ministers had “been too quick to accept the untested assurances of advisors and lobby groups.” So that’s a culture of bullying and misogyny plus promoting alcohol consumption? There’s a dangerous cocktail. Might we call it … Continue reading Is the Labour-supporting GMB the dirtiest and most dangerous trade union in Scotland?

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Scots drug gang are ‘Scots’ drug gangs but English drug gangs are never ‘English’ drug gangs

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In the Daily Mail on 11 December 2023: Sophisticated Scottish cocaine-smuggling gang face jail  and in the Sun on 21 March 2024: I was groomed by a major Scots crime gang – I was at their mercy out of fears of being murdered In February 2024, the Mail reported: The Scottish Mail on Sunday can reveal at least 55 gangs have been identified operating north of the Border – more than double the number in 2020. County lines is the phenomenon whereby drug dealers from cities expand their operation by crossing county borders into smaller towns and rural areas. Gangs … Continue reading Scots drug gang are ‘Scots’ drug gangs but English drug gangs are never ‘English’ drug gangs

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GMB – Scottish Labour’s favourite union is institutionally sexist

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By NMRN “Staff at one of Britain’s biggest trade unions, the GMB, have voted to strike over claims the organisation has failed to act on a report which branded it “institutionally sexist”. “Karon Monaghan KC was called in to investigate sexual harassment in the GMB in 2020”. “Employees in the North East say promised reforms have not materialised”. “The Monaghan investigation began after the abrupt resignation of the then-General Secretary Tim Roache”. “She concluded that “bullying, misogyny, cronyism, and sexual harassment were endemic” in the union. Her report found there was a “bully-boy atmosphere”, describing the union as a “hostile environment” … Continue reading GMB – Scottish Labour’s favourite union is institutionally sexist

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How SNP minister tried to show minister the way to reduced child poverty

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By stewartb On 4 March 2024 the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP wrote to the Secretary of State for Work, the Rt Hon Mel Stride MP on the subject of child poverty and support for the most vulnerable. What follows are extracts from her letter. Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/child-poverty-support-vulnerable-letter-uk-government/ ‘Ahead of the Spring Budget, I am writing to set out key actions which we are calling on the UK Government to take to tackle child poverty and support the most vulnerable in our society. In Scotland, we are doing everything within the scope of our powers and limited … Continue reading How SNP minister tried to show minister the way to reduced child poverty

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New SNP, Green rates relief cut is fair and yet another progressive move to the left of Labour

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You have to laugh at these two Herald headlines (above and below) today: SNP, Green government rates grab will ‘penalise’ Scots and this opening text: Owners of historic and business properties and even vacant land are facing a new rates bombshell with relief on empty buildings and development land about to be axed overnight. The first many will know about it will be the “heavy sound of the rates invoice on the mat” and the move threatens growth and investment as business owners with empty buildings and vacant land who currently don’t pay anything will face a bill of many thousands of … Continue reading New SNP, Green rates relief cut is fair and yet another progressive move to the left of Labour

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SNP policies continue to push worst form of poverty downward despite UK trends

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From the Scottish Government yesterday, but getting no MSM coverage: Between 2018 and 2022, 10% of people in Scotland were in persistent poverty after housing costs. These rates have changed very little over time. Persistent poverty identifies individuals who live in relative poverty for three or more of the last survey periods. It therefore identifies people who have been living in poverty for a significant period of time, which is more damaging than brief periods spent with a low income. The impacts can affect an individual throughout their lifetime. Persistent poverty in both Wales, after forever Labour control, and in England, … Continue reading SNP policies continue to push worst form of poverty downward despite UK trends

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Scotland’s extraordinary fiscal contribution to UK economy revealed and that’s before Oil and gas revenue!

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Many thanks to Andrew for spotting this From The London Economic yesterday but largely ignored elsewhere: Scotland’s annual tax contributions to the UK have increased by £14.2 billion over the last decade, with income tax, capital gains tax and taxes on productions such as environmental levies driving this increased contribution. New analysis shows that the Scottish public sector generated an annual revenue of £73.3 billion during the last financial year, a 24 per cent increase versus a decade ago, equating to an increased contribution of £14.2 billion to the UK economy. As a result, Scotland now accounts for 8 per … Continue reading Scotland’s extraordinary fiscal contribution to UK economy revealed and that’s before Oil and gas revenue!

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Beauty treatment – BBC ecstatic to report ‘Scotland worst in Europe’ again as Fife woman dies in Türkiye

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beauticians providing customers with cosmetic injections, according to healthcare professionals. Close thing there with that claim. Türkiye is in the Eurovision Song Contest and many go there for cosmetic surgery. BBC Scotland, first thing and throughout the day has another ‘expert’ to damn the Scottish Government for lack of action. Yesterday, it was a London-based climate change rep. The ‘healthcare professionals?’ Frances Turner Traill of the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses. The evidence? From the longer website report: Jackie Partridge of the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses said: “Colleagues across the rest of the world are shocked and in disbelief … Continue reading Beauty treatment – BBC ecstatic to report ‘Scotland worst in Europe’ again as Fife woman dies in Türkiye

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Disenfranchising Scottish Tory voters?

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Leah Gunn Barrett In today’s Scotsman, John McClellan claims that the First Minister’s wish to see all Tory MPs voted out in the general forthcoming general election is tantamount to disenfranchising Scottish voters. Nonsense. First, he doesn’t acknowledge the deep unpopularity of Sunak’s government and the concomitant decline in support for a party that has presided over a recession, falling living standards, rising inequality, increasing poverty and failing public services. Given this abysmal record, who in their right mind would vote Tory?  Second, the Scottish People haven’t voted for Tory since 1959 but have had to endure their execrable policies for half that time.  … Continue reading Disenfranchising Scottish Tory voters?

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Thanks to SNP policies Scots far less likely to have fallen behind on bill payments

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Media reports based on research by Debt Justice today have drawn attention to large numbers unable to keep up with debt payments after 14 years of Tory mismanagement of the economy, soaring costs and high taxation. The researchers kindly provided me with the breakdown across the 4 nations, not being covered in other media reporting. In South-east England, 21% had fallen behind or missed payments on any three months in the last year. In the North of England, it was 16% and in the Midlands, it was 14%. In sharp contrast, in Scotland the figure was 9%. These differences are … Continue reading Thanks to SNP policies Scots far less likely to have fallen behind on bill payments