Tag: scotland

12 Comments

How Labour’s plan for small business has been at the heart of the SNP legislation for years

johnrobertson834

Not for the first Labour advisers reveal their ignorance of what is already happening in Scotland as they come up to tell us about their supah new ideas to find we already have the same or better. Here’s what they claim and what they plan, responded to one-by-one. “The Labour Party knows the value of small businesses; you are not just the lifeblood of our communities but essential to our economic success. That is why we have launched an ambitious plan to support small businesses.” “The Scottish Government regrets any delays in payments to suppliers and our performance in paying 98.8% … Continue reading How Labour’s plan for small business has been at the heart of the SNP legislation for years

6 Comments

English health expert on BBC 4 today – ‘Scotland has much better uptake of immunisation, better identification of children with complex needs and disabilities, better breast feeding rates’

johnrobertson834

On BBC 4 this morning but nowhere on BBC Scotland, this: 1 in 4 children in England was NOT seeing a health visitor by the time they turned one…..Alison Morton is the Chief Executive of the Institute of Health Visiting…..40% cut in workforce [in England]….Is it particularly an England problem in that Scotland provides 11 health visits and Wales 9?…. knock on consequences into other services…soaring rates of A&E attendances. The younger ones are the highest users of A&E. The rate has increased by 42% in the last 10 years in England, whereas in Scotland, they don’t have this problem because … Continue reading English health expert on BBC 4 today – ‘Scotland has much better uptake of immunisation, better identification of children with complex needs and disabilities, better breast feeding rates’

6 Comments

Deaths from heart disease FALL – another complete lie from the Herald’s health correspondent

johnrobertson834

From the National Records of Scotland, on 12 December 2023, the most recent data, the above reveals: Yet in the Herald today: The number of people on cardiology waiting lists is at the highest level on record in Scotland amid “chronic underinvestment” and a “worrying” increase in deaths from heart disease.   The British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland has warned that decades of progress in reducing mortality from cardiovascular causes is being lost, with hundreds of patients now waiting more than a year to see a cardiologist and over 23,000 people on outpatient lists. So, a charity tells us there’s an increase and a … Continue reading Deaths from heart disease FALL – another complete lie from the Herald’s health correspondent

Leave a comment

Expelled MP with Herald tries island famine scare story after only two days with no deliveries

johnrobertson834

In a stormy month, there have been a few cancellations of the Oban to Castlebay (Barra) sailings and the last two days have seen cancellations but for nearly every other day, reliability has been 100%. How wee are the coolers and fridges in the Barra shops that two days means a famine is imminent? Is this just a scare story from Angus Brenda MacNeil MP after his ejection from the SNP and the looming loss of his seat? Why was he ejected? Was it this? ‘Sleazebuster’ MP’s regret over three-in-a-bed romp with teenage girls: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-447550/Sleazebuster-MPs-regret-bed-romp-teenage-girls.html or this: Love rat SNP … Continue reading Expelled MP with Herald tries island famine scare story after only two days with no deliveries

6 Comments

Water bills reporting does not add up Scottish charges which are lower for better water

johnrobertson834

From BBC Business today: The average annual water and sewerage bill is expected to rise by 6% in England and Wales, up £27 to £473, says suppliers’ trade body Water UK. In Scotland, water and waste charges will go up by 8.8%, a rise of £36. From BBC Scotland yesterday: Water bills in Scotland will increase by 8.8% from April. Scottish Water said the rise was needed to provide “significant investment” in replacing ageing infrastructure and improving services. The publicly-owned company dismissed reports that it was already planning similar-sized increases for a further two years beyond 2024. This year’s increase … Continue reading Water bills reporting does not add up Scottish charges which are lower for better water

8 Comments

CalMac now significantly more reliable than both comparable North American ferry services

johnrobertson834

Today, we read in Global News (Canada) that BC Ferries are running at only 85% reliability, as they head in to the year, with 20 of 41 vessels due for major maintenance and stricken by a staffing and breakdown crisis. https://globalnews.ca/news/10263918/bc-ferries-repair-update/ BC Ferries and Washington State Ferries, serving archipelagos with around 30-40 vessels and 40-50 locations, in northern waters, are the most comparable with CalMac, though both operate at lower latitudes and in less stormy conditions. As several island reps have told BBC Scotland, we should learn from other ferry services. CalMac is running at around 99% reliability in the … Continue reading CalMac now significantly more reliable than both comparable North American ferry services

5 Comments

Edinburgh flats fire today – Gee, I wonder why the building did not have to be evacuated?

johnrobertson834

From BBC Scotland today: A man has died in a fire at a block of flats in Edinburgh. Four fire engines and a height appliance were dispatched to the blaze in Calder Gardens at about 00:45. Crews were able to extinguish the blaze, but a 56-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was injured in the incident and the building did not have to be evacuated. None of the media have sought to link this to Grenfell for obvious reasons. Why was there not a Grenfell incident? For any new readers and folk you might share … Continue reading Edinburgh flats fire today – Gee, I wonder why the building did not have to be evacuated?

3 Comments

117 bottles of Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs at your expense in Boris parties but ‘your’ media has SNP leaders swearing about him

johnrobertson834

From SNP Media today: Responding to the publication of the cost of drinks served at Boris Johnson’s Brexit party, the SNP’s Scotland spokesperson, Tommy Sheppard MP said: “It’s shameful that Boris Johnson’s boozy Brexit party cost the taxpayer £7,897. “While the disgraced former Prime Minister and his advisers guzzled wine from the taxpayer-funded government wine cellar, people across Scotland lamented the loss of their EU membership, their access to the world’s largest single market and customs union, and their ability to live and work in 27 countries. “For context, that means No.10 consumed 117 bottles of Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs … Continue reading 117 bottles of Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs at your expense in Boris parties but ‘your’ media has SNP leaders swearing about him

9 Comments

Bowel cancer ebbs after Sturgeon scheme started screening earlier than in rest of UK

johnrobertson834

So, facts, actual news, ‘bowel’, colorectal cancer cases fall by 20% in males and 10% in females over the last ten years, in Scotland. The Daily Record today? The Herald has the same story. Based on this: https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(23)05110-4/fulltext#%20 in March 2023, BBC Scotland did note: Public Health Scotland said the 2020 fall in numbers was “largely due to under-diagnosis caused by Covid restrictions”, including the temporary pause of screening programmes. Why have cases declined in Scotland longer term? Bowel cancer screening uptake in Scotland reaches a record high! Why might the UK researchers in the Record report be pessimistic? From … Continue reading Bowel cancer ebbs after Sturgeon scheme started screening earlier than in rest of UK

15 Comments

The Covid Inquiry evidence unreported by BBC Scotland – can ‘bias by omission’ get any worse? 

johnrobertson834

By stewartb ‘An important feature of the pandemic response of the Scottish Government was a pre-existing culture of professionalism, engagement, and collaboration, which, in the Covid-19 pandemic translated into a willingness to look outside of government for advice and expertise.’  On Scottish Government actions: ’Rather than divergence demonstrating political opportunism, it reflected better decision-making processes including more effective and meaningful consultation with others, and an appropriately precautionary approach to pandemic response.’ TUC/STUC submission to UK Covid 19 Inquiry (10 January 2024) By stewartb – a long read Already a lot of evidence concerning Scotland has been accumulated by the UK … Continue reading The Covid Inquiry evidence unreported by BBC Scotland – can ‘bias by omission’ get any worse?