Tag: scotland

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Why is Amnesty International UK, in London, having a go at Scotland when there’s so much more support for human rights abuse right next door in Westminster?

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON I used to be an Amnesty International activist in a small way, 20 years ago, writing to authoritarian governments on behalf of political prisoners until thoroughly pissed of by the chair’s support for Israel and on discovering that most of these political prisoners had utterly unacceptable and hypocritical views on women’s rights. Under a TuS post on Reform UK, long-time and much valued, commentator, ArtyHetty wrote: I have some recent emails from ‘Amnesty international UK’ in Lonodn, and … Continue reading Why is Amnesty International UK, in London, having a go at Scotland when there’s so much more support for human rights abuse right next door in Westminster?

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15 years of SNP government and significant increases in employment across almost every sector

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From Industry statistics published today: https://www.gov.scot/publications/industry-statistics/ You’ll see in the table above there have been fairly large increases in employment across almost every sector of the Scottish economy in these last 15 years as SNP policies have become embedded. There have been minor falls in only three. This is reflected in recent news on employment in Scotland in 2026: Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. BBC Breakfast this morning with an extended piece on unemployment not … Continue reading 15 years of SNP government and significant increases in employment across almost every sector

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Astonishing attempt to cover up Glasgow Labour’s decades of betrayal and abuse of women workers’ rights for 50 years and more

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON In the Herald today: SNP ministers have been accused of ‘betraying’ women as the public sector equal pay row continues with thousands of claims facing ‘indefensible delays’. Leading trade union GMB Scotland has warned the Scottish Government must now intervene to demand councils involved in disputes settle instead of taking cases through lengthy employment tribunal processes. It goes on to say: I have been taken aback by this. Even the Herald, I thought, would try this. There is no mention of the fact … Continue reading Astonishing attempt to cover up Glasgow Labour’s decades of betrayal and abuse of women workers’ rights for 50 years and more

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12 hour A&E waits – TWICE as common in NHS Wales than in NHS Scotland and not far short of that in NHS England

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON This was researched by stewartb. I’ve just framed it a bit. Here’s what stewartb sent me: Dr Fiona Hunter, RCEM Vice President for Scotland is quoted in a press statement (March 3) headed: ‘Scottish A&E 12-hour waits hit ‘grim milestone’ of 10,000 in worst month on record’. It is commenting on ED performance figures for January 2026. Commenting on ED waits, she states: “Just because the situation here is better than in other UK nations does not mean the status … Continue reading 12 hour A&E waits – TWICE as common in NHS Wales than in NHS Scotland and not far short of that in NHS England

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Golf-based therapy for veterans is latest addition to Scotland’s greater care for them through directness and universal benefits

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From Help for veterans and families published yesterday: A scheme to help wounded or sick veterans recover their confidence through golf is among 30 projects to receive backing from the Scottish Veterans Fund. Veterans Minister Graeme Dey announced successful applicants to the £600,000 Scottish Veterans Fund on a visit to the On Course Foundation at Drumoig Golf Hotel in Fife. The fund, which the Scottish Government had committed to maintaining for the rest of the parliament was in … Continue reading Golf-based therapy for veterans is latest addition to Scotland’s greater care for them through directness and universal benefits

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As the deal is done to buy Ardrossan harbour, how these Tory ministers sold it to enable shareholders to milk rather than to maintain it, how Labour then did nothing and now the SNP Government is blamed for not buying it back and repairing it quick enough?

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From STV yesterday: Negotiations to bring Ardrossan Harbour into public ownership have been completed, the Transport Secretary has said.The facility is currently owned by Peel Ports, but has been sought by the Scottish Government’s ferry procurement arm Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) since it became clear two new ferries serving the route between the mainland and the Isle of Arran would not be able to dock there. The Glen Sannox entered service last year with its sister ship, … Continue reading As the deal is done to buy Ardrossan harbour, how these Tory ministers sold it to enable shareholders to milk rather than to maintain it, how Labour then did nothing and now the SNP Government is blamed for not buying it back and repairing it quick enough?

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UK unemployment to worsen from 40% higher than in Scotland but Scotland’s far lower unemployment level still a secret as election looms

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON The Guardian today, has: Unemployment set to hit 5.3% this year amid ‘worrying’ rise in young jobless. OBR raises forecast from 4.9% and downgrades UK’s growth prospects for 2026 – while also warning of war uncertainty There’s no mention of Scotland and ‘Scotland’s media is offering no such detail. Here’s why: The unemployment rate in Scotland at the end of 2025, was 3.7%, down from 3.8% in 2024.  In crude terms 5.1 is 1.4 greater than 3.7 but … Continue reading UK unemployment to worsen from 40% higher than in Scotland but Scotland’s far lower unemployment level still a secret as election looms

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Disappointment in BBC News as Scotland not even half way to being ‘rape capital’ of the UK

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON BBC Reporting Scotland flying solo again to hit you with a dose of early morning anxiety, headlining with a story mysteriously and entirely absent, from their website: Why would they pull this one out for the early morning short reports where they feel they have an excuse having no context, as below? See this: Would a bit of context have been useful for readers? This kind of thing? On 25 June 2025, I wrote: The media in Scotland are … Continue reading Disappointment in BBC News as Scotland not even half way to being ‘rape capital’ of the UK

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How can there be an affordable housing ‘crisis’ in Scotland when we beat the building target that Labour just gave up on in England?

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON As the Herald, today, frontpages the Scottish Conservatives, soon to face a near-extinction event and become only the 5th party in Scotland, to ‘blast’ the SNP Government and suggest once more an affordable homes crisis, there’s no space, it seems for these: For 2025, the SNP Government has funded 5 313 new affordable home starts to a level down from a peak of 11 158 in 2021 but above the level before 2014 and still almost twice that … Continue reading How can there be an affordable housing ‘crisis’ in Scotland when we beat the building target that Labour just gave up on in England?

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Only 20 years after ‘Scotland was one of the most unsafe countries to live in’, polls reveal Scots worry less about crime than in any other part of Europe

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON Today, pollster Ipsos are reporting that across Europe, people worry more about crime and violence than anything else, climbing above other concerns from early 2025. Here’s the trend. It may be that for some of the above 30 countries crime and violence is not the number one concern but I can see no data to explore, for that. In Ipsos Scotland‘s most recent poll, December 2025, Crime and anti-social behaviour/law and order was eighth, at 20% and had … Continue reading Only 20 years after ‘Scotland was one of the most unsafe countries to live in’, polls reveal Scots worry less about crime than in any other part of Europe