Freedom of Information attempt and edited photies to put Sturgeon in police car

I don’t know if the above fake image is any better or worse than the one Princess Kate did of her own family but Nicola in a polis car clearly floats a few boats. Just last week, Police Scotland responded to this daftie: Your recent request for information is replicated below, together with our response. Under the Freedom of Information Scotland Act, I am interested to know if it was a Police Car that was used to take Nicola Sturgeon to the Covid Enquiry in Edinburgh this morning.   If so, why was this and also what was the cost involved … Continue reading Freedom of Information attempt and edited photies to put Sturgeon in police car

New SNP hate crime law – Tory prof and trade unionists have not a scooby

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ Both the Scotsman and the Herald are running with the notion that the implementation of the SNP’s new Hate Crime law will make extra work for, and confuse, already hard-pressed officers, leading to possible wrongful arrests. Says who? First, the SPF, the police officers trade union has concerns because of ‘cutbacks’. They’re a trade union, I understand. When management tries to make you do something new, you resist. I felt just the same at … Continue reading New SNP hate crime law – Tory prof and trade unionists have not a scooby

Third tower block fire in Scotland contained on one floor with no casualties proves no Grenfell risk here

The Scottish media is full of accusations that the SNP Government is failing to spend the ‘almost £100m from the UK government‘ on fireproof cladding to avert a Grenfell ‘towering inferno‘ here. From BBC Scotland this morning: Residents have been evacuated after a fire broke out at flats in Edinburgh in the early hours of the morning. Around 45 firefighters have been tackling the blaze in Breadalbane Street, Leith, with Police Scotland also in attendance. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said it sent nine fire engines and a height appliance to the scene after the alarm was raised … Continue reading Third tower block fire in Scotland contained on one floor with no casualties proves no Grenfell risk here

Suspected drug deaths stable at well below peak but STV cannot read data

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ STV is presenting this as: The number of suspected drug deaths in Scotland surged by 10% last year, police believe. There were 1,197 suspected drug deaths between January and December 2023. This was 10% (105) more than during the same period of 2022 (1,092). https://news.stv.tv/scotland/suspected-drug-deaths-surge-by-10-in-scotland The facts: First, the figure between January and December 2023 was 297 up only 2 on the same period in 2022, 295. Those which STV use above are the … Continue reading Suspected drug deaths stable at well below peak but STV cannot read data

Has anyone told these ‘journalists’ about the “Covid WhatsApp scandals” connected to both the Tory UK and Labour Welsh governments?

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ By NMRN Not so great minds who think alike: Tom Gordon The Herald tweeted “He knew the drill Jason Leitch quits as National Clinical Director following Covid WhatsApp scandal“ Paul Hutcheon The Daily Record tweeted “BREAKING: Jason Leitch to leave Scottish Government as national clinical adviser after covid WhatsApp scandal“ Andrew Learmonth The Herald tweeted ” Jason Leitch quits as National Clinical Director following Covid Whatsapp scandal“ Scottish (INO) Express Tweeted “Jason Leitch leaving role as National Clinical Director after … Continue reading Has anyone told these ‘journalists’ about the “Covid WhatsApp scandals” connected to both the Tory UK and Labour Welsh governments?

England’s railways pay out nearly SEVEN times more than ScotRail in compensation for cancellations and delays to flummox Graham Simpson

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ Not for the first time, helpfully thick, the Scottish Conservative’s Graham Simpson announces gleefully, after another freedom of information request we all paid for: ScotRail has paid out a staggering £1.5 million in compensation for cancelled and delayed trains since the SNP took over the rail service. Taxpayers are footing an enormous bill as a result of the SNP overpromising and underdelivering. https://twitter.com/ScotTories/status/1767528542101799226 In the Insider, Simpson, describes this as ‘absolutely staggering.’ Remember those … Continue reading England’s railways pay out nearly SEVEN times more than ScotRail in compensation for cancellations and delays to flummox Graham Simpson

The comedy time lag on Scotland’s violent past

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ Here’s an English comedian recently working the hard Scots stereotype. Comedians, Scottish ones too, have lived of this trope for decades. As recently as 2005, not quite 20 years ago, it was based on a degree of reality: In 2005, a United Nations report named Scotland as the most violent country in the developed world. You were 3x more likely to be a victim of assault in Glasgow than you were in America. Glasgow … Continue reading The comedy time lag on Scotland’s violent past

Covid Inquiry – BBC Wales protects Labour’s image once more

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ The Guardian, above, today, opens with: Bereaved families who lost loved ones to Covid have accused the former Welsh health minister of incompetence and arrogance after he revealed that all his WhatsApp messages from the time had been lost. Then, they have these damning words: Speaking outside the hearing, Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees, who leads Covid-19 Bereaved Families Cymru, said: “He makes [the former UK health minister] Matt Hancock look like a strategic planning pandemic genius. He … Continue reading Covid Inquiry – BBC Wales protects Labour’s image once more

NHS Scotland – the best performing A&E service measured by waiting times of any in the UK

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ By stewartb The Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s (RCEM) website has a section entitled ‘Devolved Performance Figures’ where it provides comparable A&E waiting times data for the NHS in the four UK nations. Presently these enables direct comparisons for the month of January 2024. Under a Tory government with all the powers of a nation-state: NHS England: ‘In January 2024, 177,805 patients waited 12 hours or more from their time of arrival. The MOST AMOUNT … Continue reading NHS Scotland – the best performing A&E service measured by waiting times of any in the UK

Scottish Labour – How noble….how righteous

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ By NMRN “Anas Sarwar has told BBC Scotland that hating your political opponents is dangerous and claimed he doesn’t hate any of them. In 2014 Sarwar boasted that he hated the Tories and also claimed that most people in Scotland did. He won’t be called out on his lying, he never is. How noble….how righteous….how duplicitous of him (Sarwar)….. Labour party examples of “hating your political opponents“ Emily Thornberry at a public meeting stated ” I hate the SNP…I … Continue reading Scottish Labour – How noble….how righteous