Tag: scotland

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Alcohol-related hospitalisation rates continue to plummet after Labour mismanagement ends

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In the years of Labour government at Holyrood, alcohol-related hospital admissions to general acute hospitals, climbed steadily and worryingly, to peak in 2006/2007. From then on as the SNP in government began their push toward a more equal society with enhanced benefits, more progressive taxation, lower rent and rates and more affordable housing than elsewhere in the UK, they have fallen steadily. In addition, the SNP Minimum Unit Pricing scheme has now been running for six years. Some researchers have been keen to suggest it has not been effective but have no other explanation for the continued and accelerating fall since … Continue reading Alcohol-related hospitalisation rates continue to plummet after Labour mismanagement ends

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Climate change – ‘Why don’t they do it as well as the Scots?’

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there is a target that can’t be met, so it is a shame we have to give that message to the Scottish Government but what is behind it is behind it is a lack of progress all round. The above comments follow on from the opening headline claim by BBC Scotland that: Climate experts say a target for a 75% emissions cut by 2030 is out of reach and make much of its ‘legally-binding’ nature. Chris Stark above is the Chief Executive of the CCC, just about to leave them, so must be well-informed of progress or otherwise made by … Continue reading Climate change – ‘Why don’t they do it as well as the Scots?’

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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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‘Only seven countries meet WHO air quality standard, research finds’….plus Scotland

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According to the Guardian today, Scotland is not a country and by implication falls with the UK into the failed group. The latest WHO level for the deadly PM2.5 particles is 5 micrograms per cubic metre. Though no Scottish average seems available, you can, I find, go to the IQAir site and find the level of PM2.5 where you live. How about Glasgow High Street? 3.1, well under the WHO level. https://www.iqair.com/gb/uk/scotland/glasgow/glasgow-high-street To my surprise the partly-pedestrianised Ayr High Street – 5.7, just over. Aberdeen Anderson Drive – 4.5 Edinburgh Tower Street – 1.5! Busy Queensferry Road – 1.9 Bainsford … Continue reading ‘Only seven countries meet WHO air quality standard, research finds’….plus Scotland

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Islay ferries – Massively subsidised by the rest of us and seriously under-used yet still not good enough – Go tell Shakespeare?

johnrobertson834

STV today has this: Islanders say Scotland’s ferry service is stumbling from crisis to crisis due to a lack of resilience in the system. Breakdowns and cancellations are causing disruption to businesses as well as missed hospital appointments. A new ferry for the Islay route was launched in Turkey at the weekend. It is due to be in service by the end of this year, with another due next year. While a welcome addition, residents there claim they have been dealing with a second-rate service while they are built and are facing another summer of disruption. https://news.stv.tv/west-central/tough-summer-looms-for-islay-businesses-suffering-from-second-rate-service-despite-promise-of-new-calmac-ferries There’s more, much … Continue reading Islay ferries – Massively subsidised by the rest of us and seriously under-used yet still not good enough – Go tell Shakespeare?

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Why does only Scotland need to hear of national grid problems it does not actually have?

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Included in Reporting Scotland’s very short insert in BBC Breakfast and the main story on the BBC Scotland website (below), ‘The National Grid’ and its need for massive investment to make sure it can provide the flow of electricity to ‘homes and businesses’, makes no mention of the key fact that Scotland does not ‘need’ this at all; the rest of the UK does. Scotland is currently transferring 1.69TWh of electricity per month to England, more than 20TWh in 2023 and on some days (above graph) pushing 30TWh. https://news.duke-energy.com/releases/duke-energy-customers-surpass-1-terawatt-of-energy-savings-through-my-home-energy-report-program 1TWh would sell globally for about $120 000 per hour, so … Continue reading Why does only Scotland need to hear of national grid problems it does not actually have?

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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

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‘Police Scotland acts to protect young people from County Lines drug dealers’ – how long can BBC Scotland stem the tide of local media coverage?

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Even BBC Scotland’s ‘local’ website for the Midlothian area has nothing on the serious matter of County Lines drug gangs from large cities in England terrorising small town Scotland. To be fair they have covered the arrest of a ‘beer bike’ to stem the flow of that crime wave also terrorising small town Scotland. In my local area, you can’t cross the street for ‘beer bikes’ hurtling by. Back to the point. Why Midlothian? This: The lads at the Midlothian View Reporter are on the ball but perhaps we’re being unfair to that ancient defender, the Scotsman? Drug gangs from … Continue reading ‘Police Scotland acts to protect young people from County Lines drug dealers’ – how long can BBC Scotland stem the tide of local media coverage?

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Will Scottish Labour donor call for Matheson to be shot?

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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 BBC Scotland website Politics page third story….a continuing saga…..on… Michael Mathieson…..who is… The former Health Secretary……as he…. Resigned. The End.…no….that cannot be allowed to be….as To aggravate matters on this situation even further……now he has ….via BBC article…. “been found to have breached the MSPs code of conduct“…and thus…. “The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) published its findings on Thursday”. “Holyrood’s standards committee will now decide if he should be sanctioned”…..and… Of course in this story on BBC Scotland’s politics page we … Continue reading Will Scottish Labour donor call for Matheson to be shot?

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BBC Scotland Business covers Scotland’s economy thriving under SNP leadership despite the limits

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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/ From the Scottish Government yesterday: BBC Scotland’s coverage today: Ferries! Remember the ferry quota! Is the above from the SNP Government not just a freaky statistical exception? From the ONS in June 2023: Freaky stats? Nope, a purple patch for Scotland going back decades. ‘From 2016 to 2021, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all had a trade surplus?’ Well, for two of those, not so much you’d be rolling out the capital investment on … Continue reading BBC Scotland Business covers Scotland’s economy thriving under SNP leadership despite the limits