Tag: scotland

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

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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

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

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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

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

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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

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

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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

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

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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?

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

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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

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

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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

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

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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? 

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“Protective effect of devolved policies” – Child poverty rates in Scotland (24%) remain much lower than those in England (31%) and Wales (28%)“The Protective effect of devolved policies” 

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Joseph Rowntree Foundation on the Scottish Government By stewartb The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) published (on 25 January) a report entitled ‘Constraints and trade-offs for the next government’. It paints a bleak picture of the present state of the UK, its public finances and services. Over the short to medium term, it offers no cheer for the future. The IFS notes: ’further tax rises and further cuts for most public services are built into current plans. But on official forecasts, this is only just enough to stabilise government debt as a fraction of national income.’  (my emphasis) And it … Continue reading “Protective effect of devolved policies” – Child poverty rates in Scotland (24%) remain much lower than those in England (31%) and Wales (28%)“The Protective effect of devolved policies” 

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Covid Inquiry – Scottish ministers closed schools and saved thousands contrary to Prof Woolhouse’s wrong views

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In the Herald today: The Scottish Government ignored its own scientific advice not to close schools during the second Covid wave of 2021, the UK inquiry into the pandemic has heard.   Mark Woolhouse, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, said that the decision to shut classrooms across Scotland was “not necessary” and did not contribute to halting the spread of the virus.   Woolhouse, as far as I can see, was only one of the 20 advisors on the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group. I’m not aware of this group advising against school closures. Prof Sridhar was … Continue reading Covid Inquiry – Scottish ministers closed schools and saved thousands contrary to Prof Woolhouse’s wrong views