Tag: scotland

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‘Reports of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated’ and ‘Burnham putting Scotland back in its box’

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By Mark E. Saunders of “The Scottish Minuteman” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61575625542197 While the band strikes up Hail to the Chief in Makerfield and the Prime Minister spends a nervous weekend contemplating his future at Chequers, sections of the Scottish press are once again falling over themselves to predict the death of the Scottish independence movement. The instrument of execution this time? Andy Burnham. According to Herald columnist and occasional prophet Neil Mackay, Burnham represents the SNP’s nightmare: a popular Labour leader who restores faith in Westminster and pulls the political rug from beneath the feet of the Scottish National Party and its supporters. It is an … Continue reading ‘Reports of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated’ and ‘Burnham putting Scotland back in its box’

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As effectiveness of the new UK Labour government plan to protect victims from released prisoners is revealed to be failing, a former Scottish MP and former senior police officer explained the more effective Scottish system more than two years ago

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From the Western Mail 12 May 2026, the above image and: A MAN punched his fists through the kit­chen win­dow of his former part­ner’s house and threatened to murder her before tak­ing her by the throat and squeez­ing, a court has heard. Alex Thomas had only been out of prison for a mat­ter of days when he attacked the woman in her own home. Source: https://www.pressreader.com/uk/western-mail/20260512/281754160949044?srsltid=AfmBOoqFwQYiCXNV8WvWaCzWS66IFxf79j9_SJdB7fRphldnxLtOEm8t In August 2025, the UK Labour Government set out plants to prevent this kind of thing> Today’s latest ‘back-of-a-cigarette-packet‘ plan by the UK Labour Government to protect victims from released violent offenders has been … Continue reading As effectiveness of the new UK Labour government plan to protect victims from released prisoners is revealed to be failing, a former Scottish MP and former senior police officer explained the more effective Scottish system more than two years ago

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Why does BBC UK report an English drug gang terrorising Aberdeen but BBC Scotland hide it?

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From the Scottish Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service yesterday: Victor Kihu, 24, recruited men from deprived areas in England to sell and supply Class A drugs from several properties in a cross-border county lines illicit practice known as cuckooing.  Prosecutors from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) gathered evidence which showed Kihu exercised control over multiple addresses to oversee the drug-trafficking scheme.  He directed others to purchase and sell cocaine and heroin while using the homes of susceptible individuals as a base for his criminal conduct.  He was a member of an organised crime group known as Harlem which operated between Aberdeen, Glasgow and Inverness.   and: “Victor Kihu deliberately targeted people … Continue reading Why does BBC UK report an English drug gang terrorising Aberdeen but BBC Scotland hide it?

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UK Labour deny England’s under-22’s the ‘transformative benefit’ of Scotland’s free bus scheme as it hits more than 300 million journeys

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From Transport Scotland yesterday, the above and: Children and young people in Scotland have now made over 300 million free bus journeys since the Scottish Government introduced free travel for under-22s. Since January 2022, the scheme continues to transform how young people are traveling by bus, saving people money, supporting greener travel, and boosting the economy by opening up access to education, jobs, and leisure. Over 80% of eligible young people have access to the scheme through a National Entitlement Card or Young Scot National Entitlement Card. Source: https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/over-300-million-free-bus-trips-made-by-young-people-across-scotland/ What’s happening in England, Sir Keir? Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to … Continue reading UK Labour deny England’s under-22’s the ‘transformative benefit’ of Scotland’s free bus scheme as it hits more than 300 million journeys

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Major increases in school-leaver employment and university access in SNP years

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From Summary Statistics for Follow-up Leaver Destinations, No. 8: 2026 edition, published today, the above table extract and: This statistical publication provides information on the follow-up destinations, nine months after the end of the school year, of 2024-25 school leavers from publicly funded secondary schools in Scotland. https://www.gov.scot/publications/summary-statistics-for-follow-up-leaver-destinations-no-8-2026-edition/documents/ This table shows that as the SNP Government, first elected in 2007, ‘got behind the wheel’ it began to take steps to improve school-leaver employment and HE access and fifteen years alter the results are impressive with 15% improvements in both by 2024/2025. For any who refuse to allow the SNP credit … Continue reading Major increases in school-leaver employment and university access in SNP years

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Scottish media accept that Israeli interference against the SNP may be true and accurate in 2026 while that from Russia on referendum irregularities in 2014 was clearly ‘fake and ‘inaccurate’

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Covered fairly widely in the Scottish MSM and by BBC Scotland last week: Scotland’s first minister was targeted by an Israeli firm spreading online disinformation before the Holyrood election, a French government agency has claimed. John Swinney and the SNP were allegedly targeted in accounts linked to BlackCore – a tech company claiming to “shape narratives” who French authorities accused of trying to smear pro-Palestine election candidates. Disinformation detection service Viginum said hundreds of fake accounts would leave co-ordinated comments on Swinney’s social media posts.Swinney had described the conflict in Gaza as a “man-made humanitarian catastrophe” and said a genocide by … Continue reading Scottish media accept that Israeli interference against the SNP may be true and accurate in 2026 while that from Russia on referendum irregularities in 2014 was clearly ‘fake and ‘inaccurate’

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My Party, My Choice – SNP Donors Speak Out

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By Jim Mennie Following Peter Murrell’s guilty plea for embezzling over £400,000 from SNP funds, opposition parties and sections of the media have called for a public inquiry and the “return of funds to donors”. A petition launched by SNP donors in 2024 made one clear point: donations to the SNP are voluntary, unrestricted gifts under UK law. Thousands of us who donated have already said publicly and privately that we do not want our money back. In fact, donations to the SNP have increased since the case concluded. This short ‘Have Your Say’ gives every member and donor the … Continue reading My Party, My Choice – SNP Donors Speak Out

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Scottish independence shouldn’t give you that sinking feeling

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This report will no doubt draw accusations of ‘whitabootery‘ being taken to its logical conclusion, complete daftness, but, if the facts told the opposite story, the media operating in Scotland would just love to give you a sinking feeling to store with all the other ‘Scotland is sh**te‘ narratives they feed you daily. How can the SNP run a country if they can’t stop your house sinking? Luckily, for us at least, it’s the South-east of England, the most affluent and effluent, it has to be said, part of the UK has serious problems. From the Guardian, still opposed to … Continue reading Scottish independence shouldn’t give you that sinking feeling

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Scots human rights group winning UN recognition again reflects nearly two decades of SNP values in action but no credit given again

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Perhaps predictably, TFN (Third force News) uses an image of the UK human rights legislation rather than an example of one of the more ambitious Scottish Government initiatives to promote human rights here. They open with: Top grades have been endowed upon the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) by the United Nations. It is the fourth time the body has received the accreditation.   This award of A Status from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights recognises the SHRC’s independence, authority, and broad statutory mandate … Continue reading Scots human rights group winning UN recognition again reflects nearly two decades of SNP values in action but no credit given again

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Only tiny 2% of terror referrals are in Scotland because….

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The Scotsman today trying suggest terror referrals in Scotland are a serious problem just like in other parts of the UK. It’s not true. Even if we accept their claim of higher ‘preliminary’ figures up from 162 in 2024/2025 to 227 in 2025/2026, these remain tiny compared with those in other parts of the UK: So, quickly, 11 times the population, if Scotland was just as troubled by this as England & Wales, and they’d have 1 782 referrals but they had 8 778, MORE THAN FOUR times as many, 98% of the total. If we accept the Scotsman’s figure … Continue reading Only tiny 2% of terror referrals are in Scotland because….