ONS confirms Scotland as ‘sticky asset’ rich

By stewartb There is merit in communicating the intrinsic – the ‘sticky’ – assets of Scotland. Demonstrating that Scotland has valuable assets in abundance is a necessary but not sufficient part of case making for independence – it’s also about giving confidence that such assets can be better sustained, used to better effect and renewed in future in an independent Scotland. I do still come across Unionists holding to the ‘too wee, too poor etc.’ nonsense! The UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) has in recent years been publishing accounts of ‘natural capital’ or ‘wealth’. It explains: ‘Natural wealth is reflected … Continue reading ONS confirms Scotland as ‘sticky asset’ rich

BBC Scotland Hate Crime Law coverage complaint rejected because facts ‘may depend on which parties choose to comment on specific issues and news events’

More than two weeks ago, I sent this complaint to BBC Complaints: Their answer: We have and continue to provide comprehensive coverage of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021. Throughout that morning our coverage correctly attributed the claims, that the hate crime legislation should be scrapped, to the Scottish Conservatives. We also provided the Scottish Government response, that ministers acknowledged communication could have been better but the law was required to protect the most vulnerable form those who stir up hatred. This followed our coverage the previous day (16 April) in which we reported a reduction in … Continue reading BBC Scotland Hate Crime Law coverage complaint rejected because facts ‘may depend on which parties choose to comment on specific issues and news events’

Scotland to power millions of homes in England, for no return, for the moment

From the Yorkshire Post in February 2024: Landowners in East Yorkshire have complained of feeling “pressurised” over an undersea electricity “superhighway” from Scotland to England which will cross their land. The £2.1bn link between Peterhead in north east Scotland and Drax in north Yorkshire, is expected to provide enough “green” electricity from Scottish offshore wind farms to power 2m homes in England. England. https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/people/the-yorkshire-beach-where-ps21bn-cable-carrying-electricity-from-scottish-windfarms-will-come-onshore-4039515?s=03 Bloody Scots, comin’ down ere, powering our homes and blighting our landscapes with their pylons? 2 million homes eh? Based on average electricity bills, around £2 billion in revenue, taxed by the UK Treasury and kept there for … Continue reading Scotland to power millions of homes in England, for no return, for the moment

Scotland 17 years later and getting more different from the UK – better support for young carers

By Professor John Robertson I don’t need to keep on reminding you, I’m sure, of the lower income tax most pay and the range of other indirect benefits of living in Scotland – lower council tax, free tuition, bus passes for the young, the Child Payment, Bedroom Tax compensation, massively subsidised thus cheap ferry travel….. The steady influx of settlers from elsewhere in the UK reinforces the evidence. Today, another Scottish (SNP) Government initiative, within the limits of the devolution settlement: Thousands more unpaid carers in Scotland will be eligible for a new benefit, if regulations laid this week in … Continue reading Scotland 17 years later and getting more different from the UK – better support for young carers

Updated – How the English cartunionists dehumanise Scots to make anything ‘just a joke’, even hanging and crucifixion

By Professor John Robertson Peter Brookes in the Times, gleefully shared by the slimy be-wigged lard-bucket that is Andrew Neil, the above. Imagine doing that with the leaders of any other country? Sadly, it’s not new. In February 2024, again from Peter Brookes in the Times, a snide and offensive take on the SNP’s supposed troubles. Brookes Last year, we had: Martin Rowson with another dim-witted stereotype of Scots to conceal the fact that the SNP had a substantive, serious, motion, on one of their only 3 days, based on years of consistent support for the human rights of the … Continue reading Updated – How the English cartunionists dehumanise Scots to make anything ‘just a joke’, even hanging and crucifixion

What does Scotland have? Look at this and try to keep your mouth shut

From one of the many Anonymouses at Talking-up Scotland: What does Scotland have? What does Scotland have? We are only 8.3% of the UK’s population, 8.3 %! Remember!! 32% of the land area 61% of the sea area 90% of the fresh water. (There is more fresh water in loch Ness than In England and Wales combined!) 65% of the natural gas production 96.5% of the crude oil production 47% of the open cast coal production 81% of the untapped coal reserves 62% of the timber production 46% of the total forest area 92% of the hydro electric production 40% … Continue reading What does Scotland have? Look at this and try to keep your mouth shut

The Largs-Cumbrae ferry is 6 years YOUNGER than a Clyde-built equivalent still in service in Ireland

By Professor John Robertson The Herald is desperately try to make money off their ‘scoop’ on the Largs to Cumbrae ferry being 48 years old and ’23 years past its sell by date.’ Any idiot knows that sell by dates are not eat by dates. 48 years for a wee crossing ferry is not old. The aging ferry myth – Ireland has twice the GDP growth but is still using 7 of CalMac’s 50 year-old ferries Readers will know that the supposed failure of the SNP Government to invest in new ferries, despite the highest subsidies in the known world, … Continue reading The Largs-Cumbrae ferry is 6 years YOUNGER than a Clyde-built equivalent still in service in Ireland

Canadian ferry service is 44% more expensive without the kind of massive £173 MILLION subsidy given by SNP Government for islanders in Scotland

By Professor John Robertson Washington State Ferries in the USA have just announced new prices for the popular 15 miles, 1 hour crossing of the sheltered Puget Sound, between Bremerton and Seattle – $54.35 or £43.30. https://mynorthwest.com/3959021/travel-alert-washington-ferry-prices-go-up-amid-waves-riders/ The popular 14.3 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes crossing of the, at times very stormy, Firth of Clyde, from Brodick, Arran to Ardrossan, is £30.20. How is this possible? In 2022/2023, the SNP Government ferry subsidy to keep prices down to affordable levels for hopefully grateful islanders, native or settler, was £173 MILLION! https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24276739.calmac-gets-63-real-terms-public-subsidy-rise-despite-drop/#:~:text=Then%20the%20grant%20to%20CalMac,space%20of%20just%20one%20year. There are many mainland villages in Scotland with far … Continue reading Canadian ferry service is 44% more expensive without the kind of massive £173 MILLION subsidy given by SNP Government for islanders in Scotland

13 000 WASPI women in Ayrshire should know that Labour and Conservative candidates do not support their claim – the SNP does

Ayrshire’s roughly 13 000 WASPI women who have been cheated out of their pension rights, forcing many to work on into older age, burned out, often caring for elderly and sick parents, denied time with grandchildren and becoming sick themselves, have for years now asked the UK Government to offer a little compensation for those losses. On 30th April 2024, in the Scottish Parliament, the First Minister, Humza Yousaf of the SNP, tabled a motion calling for the UK Government, which is responsible for pensions, to pay compensation in full. All of the 63 SNP and all of the Scottish … Continue reading 13 000 WASPI women in Ayrshire should know that Labour and Conservative candidates do not support their claim – the SNP does

BBC & ITV are orchestrating a pile on

By NMRN So BBC Debate night has included Ash Regan and Lorna Slater on their panel….of course they have. Preston tonight has the Labour branch office manager Anas Sarwar as a guest…of course it does. BBC QT tomorrow in Cambridge has an SNP MP on it’s panel…of course they do. Both the BBC & ITV are orchestrating a pile on during what is a time of mega over promoted troubled times for the SNP by the media….while we also see one of them, ITV, laying out the red carpet for Sarwar to do what he does best……playing politics…..to try and … Continue reading BBC & ITV are orchestrating a pile on