Tag: scotland

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Tell Andrew Bowie, Shadowy Secretary of State for Scotland – No fire service in the UK has direct access to helicopters and the Scottish Government cannot just ‘call-in’ the Army but it has thousands of firefighter not as yet called upon

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As the Cairngorm wildfire faces heavy rain tomorrow, local MP and Shadowy Secretary of State for Scotland said: Increasing numbers of constituents had been getting in touch to express concern. In a letter, external to Scottish government minister Gillian Martin he claimed the SNP-led administration had “failed to treat the situation with the seriousness and attention that it deserves”. He singled out the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) lack of direct access to helicopter support. Currently it calls in private companies with helicopters and specialist equipment when needed. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2k7g15v3epo Do any of the UK’s fire service boards have their own helicopters? No. UK … Continue reading Tell Andrew Bowie, Shadowy Secretary of State for Scotland – No fire service in the UK has direct access to helicopters and the Scottish Government cannot just ‘call-in’ the Army but it has thousands of firefighter not as yet called upon

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Anas protests reduced access to the First Minister but seems OK with no access to the new PM

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Above, one of the very few media outlets reporting the no media access for the new PM yesterday and below one of the many reporting the moderated access for the FM, on 29 January 2026: By Liz S Talking of Anas and his U turns, as in his seemingly conflicting opinions , opinions that are dependent on who they can most damage and who they can most protect. In June of this year the BBC reported this on their website: “Holyrood restricts media access to politicians after FMQs” “A row has broken out at Holyrood after it was announced journalists will have restricted access … Continue reading Anas protests reduced access to the First Minister but seems OK with no access to the new PM

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Scots had 5.5 million litres of water each recently so the reserves should have coped with this recent dry weather

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BBC Scotland this morning has A prolonged period of dry weather has left some river flows in the east of Scotland among the lowest on record. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said it meant a number of sites across the Borders, Angus, Aberdeenshire and Fife were expected to move into “significant scarcity” in the next few days. It would allow them to introduce “targeted and temporary restrictions” on water abstractions to protect rivers and wildlife. How much fresh water does Scotland have? Scotland’s Loch Ness alone contains 7,452 million cubic meters of water, which is more than the combined … Continue reading Scots had 5.5 million litres of water each recently so the reserves should have coped with this recent dry weather

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Just like Andy, Anas U-turns all the way to the top to fulfil his dad’s dreams

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By a friend of Talking-up Scotland Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar MP was almost the first Lord Sarwar, having been proposed by PM Gordon Brown for a life peerage in May 2010. Significant objections, notably including HMRC, led to Brown’s nomination being blocked (ref 1). Other controversies included allegations of vote-rigging (not substantiated in Court) and running up almost £200,000 in MP expenses in 2008-2009. He also had the third highest MP expenses in 2003-2004 (a mere £157,262). These figures included interest payments on his mortgage for his £600,000 South London apartment from a UK branch of the Swiss-based Habib Bank AG Zurich (ref 2). Then … Continue reading Just like Andy, Anas U-turns all the way to the top to fulfil his dad’s dreams

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Burnham’s 5.1 Million Dollar Question

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By Mark E. Saunders of “The Scottish Minuteman” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61575625542197 If Westminster politicians have no problem telling the entire electorate of the UK that Scotland is “subsidised” by England, then there are a couple of very simple questions that they should answer. Official figures show that in England today, around 3.4 million children and 1.7 million pensioners live in relative poverty. That’s a combined total of approximately 5.1 million people. Scotland’s entire population is just under 5.5 million. If Scotland is really such a financial burden on the UK Treasury, why does it keep carrying that cost? Why is the welfare of Scotland so important … Continue reading Burnham’s 5.1 Million Dollar Question

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The offending carer ‘no longer works there’ because Scotland’s scheme uniquely continuously updates and informs employers

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BBC Scotland today, typically, have been making much of a single, unacceptable I know, case in a care home for the elderly: The daughter of an 85-year-old care home resident who was photographed while she was partially naked by a carer has called the incident a “violation”. Police are investigating a claim that “inappropriate images” were taken at the Kingsacre Care Home at Duntocher in Clydebank in March this year. The elderly woman’s daughter, Catherine, told the BBC her mother, who has dementia, would be “disgusted” if she knew the photo had been taken and shared with another person. The … Continue reading The offending carer ‘no longer works there’ because Scotland’s scheme uniquely continuously updates and informs employers

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Domestic violence already twice as common spikes around England games but not those in Scotland

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From BBC Sport yesterday: As the full-time whistle blew in Atlanta on Wednesday, signalling England’s exit from the World Cup, a wave of disappointment spread across the country. But for some, there was a very different emotion growing inside. Domestic abuse rises by 26% when England play and by 38% when they lose, according to research by Lancaster University. During a major football tournament such as the World Cup, some women and girls are constantly living in fear. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cwymljn8y10o In Scotland, there is no evidence of domestic violence spikes around football internationals. This aligns with the Tartan Army‘s developed culture … Continue reading Domestic violence already twice as common spikes around England games but not those in Scotland

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500% increase in child victims of more brutal English county lines drug gangs operating in Scotland

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No disturbing, exploitative images of child victims here. From Deadline News yesterday: A NATIONAL charity is urging the public to report signs of county lines exploitation as criminal gangs continue to target and manipulate vulnerable children. Crimestoppers has warned that young people are being coerced into transporting drugs, money, and weapons across the country, often facing violence, intimidation, and isolation far from their homes. According to police estimates, up to 11,600 children are currently at risk of county lines exploitation. In the past year alone, more than 2,600 children were officially identified as linked to county lines activity, although the true figure is believed to … Continue reading 500% increase in child victims of more brutal English county lines drug gangs operating in Scotland

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Largs to Millport ferry, four times every hour, with capacity for 6 million passengers and three quarters of a million cars only used one eighth and one third of that capacity in 2024 – who pays for such generosity?

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Every year, thousands of drivers, often in SUV’s, try to get on to a tiny island which thousands of others walk and cycle round, their potentially lovely day spoiled by those same drivers. There’s a well-run bus service from the ferry slip to the town with hundreds of bicycles for hire and lots of wee cafes to relax in. I’ve been there more times than I can remember and never felt the need to take a car. These days, I’d struggle to get round the island on feet or wheels but there’s no way I’d be bullying my way round … Continue reading Largs to Millport ferry, four times every hour, with capacity for 6 million passengers and three quarters of a million cars only used one eighth and one third of that capacity in 2024 – who pays for such generosity?

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Glasgow’s giant hospital is revealed as one of safest in Scotland and far safer than several of NHS England’s really ‘scandal-hit’ hospitals

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The Times today is front-paging a story of a floor-cleaning fluid and the apparent lack of clear instructions on its use. Staff have been ‘offered the chance to speak to occupational health.’ Disturbing, I agree. Something should be done, I agree but front page on a major newspaper? Is it there, only because the hospital in question has been subject to repeated, ill-informed, hyperbolic, claims from Scottish Labour and associating it with the current SNP Government? Using real, important, data, just how good is the QEUH and compared to other hospitals across the UK not, it seems , ‘scandal -hit?’ … Continue reading Glasgow’s giant hospital is revealed as one of safest in Scotland and far safer than several of NHS England’s really ‘scandal-hit’ hospitals