Tag: scotland

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The Scotch Whisky Association is really, really unhappy with the British Labour government – how did BBC Scotland report its budget response?

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By stewartb The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) usually has little trouble in having its press statements amplified by BBC Scotland. And the SWA typically has something to say about the budgets of Westminster governments. Anyone seen references to the SWA’s response to the Labour Party government’s budget in a BBC news item: any analysis yet from a BBC business and economy editor? As far as I can see there is still nothing in the Scotland sections of the BBC News website days after the budget. Wonder why? Now it’s a struggle to avoid displaying a little schadenfreude when it comes … Continue reading The Scotch Whisky Association is really, really unhappy with the British Labour government – how did BBC Scotland report its budget response?

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Just a complaint, no charges but Alex Salmond has been the top story on the Politics page of BBC Scotland website since 3 November while the Labour council leader actually charges fades within hours

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By Anonymous Another BBC ‘Blink and you miss it’ headline at the top of their Scottish pages of their website when it is considered to be too #BAD a story connected to another political party who are in opposition to the SNP. While many headlines concocted by the BBC and so promoted as being connected to, as in linked to a #SNPBAD story, well as articles they stay (high) up on the BBC website for days on end, sometimes with different versions of the same story via a variety of articles in the Scottish pages of their BBC website. For example on their Scottish Politics page the top story is still a story connected to a … Continue reading Just a complaint, no charges but Alex Salmond has been the top story on the Politics page of BBC Scotland website since 3 November while the Labour council leader actually charges fades within hours

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Scotland’s emergency departments at least 10% better than in NHS England in September 2024 and probably more than that if the latter’s trickery is exposed

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland today, 65.9% of those attending full Emergency Departments, in September 2024 were seen within 4 hours.1 From NHS England, the equivalent figure was 59.8%.2 NHS Scotland’s ED’s are thus 10.4% more efficient. Sources: The gap is probably greater: NHS Scotland performance likely to be even further ahead as five examples of cover-up and distortion by NHS England managers is revealed We already know that, based on trusting the current published NHS England data, NHS Scotland’s A&E service is around 3 times better on the crucial 12 hour waits1 and twice as effective on cancer … Continue reading Scotland’s emergency departments at least 10% better than in NHS England in September 2024 and probably more than that if the latter’s trickery is exposed

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UK gender pay gap is more than THREE times greater than in Scotland – Herald ignores true facts of Scotland’s tiny and plummeting gender pay gap and headlines an unreliable non-transparent trade union figure

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Annual survey of hours and earnings: 2024, published only 6 days ago by the Scottish Government statisticians: The gender pay gap in Scotland has been narrower than in the UK since 2003. In 2024, the gender pay gap for full-time employees in Scotland widened from 1.4 per cent in 2023 to 2.2 per cent in 2024. This is due to men’s hourly earnings (excluding overtime) increasing at a faster rate than women’s hourly earnings (excluding overtime). In 2024, the gender pay gap for full-time employees in Scotland was 2.2 per cent and in the UK was 7.0 … Continue reading UK gender pay gap is more than THREE times greater than in Scotland – Herald ignores true facts of Scotland’s tiny and plummeting gender pay gap and headlines an unreliable non-transparent trade union figure

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44% more homeless children in England than in Scotland and increasing at THREE times the rate

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No exploitative, insensitive images here. By Professor John Robertson OBA From Shelter Scotland: As of March 2024, 10,110 children were living in temporary accommodation in Scotland, which is the highest number ever recorded. This is a 5% increase from March 2023, when 9,595 children were in temporary accommodation. https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/housing_policy/homelessness_in_scotland#:~:text=Key&text=In%202023/24%20there%20were,we%20plan%20to%20achieve%20this. So, unless the SNP Government is doing a better job in fighting poverty, England might be expected to have around 101 000. Does it? From Shelter England: As of April 30, 2024, 145,800 children are homeless and living in temporary accommodation in England, which is the highest number on record. This is a 15% increase from the previous … Continue reading 44% more homeless children in England than in Scotland and increasing at THREE times the rate

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Another reason to build new ferries close to home?

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From the Maritime Executive yesterday: More Woes for Tasmania’s Ferries: Newbuild Goes Adrift in a Storm – Just days after it emerged that the brand-new Spirit of Tasmania IV will be transferred to Scotland and laid up, sister ship Spirit of Tasmania V broke loose from its outfitting quay at the Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) shipyard due to high winds. https://maritime-executive.com/article/more-woes-for-tasmania-s-ferries-newbuild-goes-adrift-in-a-storm This follows only one week after: A newly built Spirit of Tasmania ferry will be temporarily stored at a shipyard in Scotland while the Tasmanian government explores options to lease or charter the ship until a home berth can be completed. The vessel must … Continue reading Another reason to build new ferries close to home?

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Stephen McCabe’s previous abusive behaviour

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By Anonymous Someone online had bookmarked something else relating to Stephen McCabe. “Labour councillor Stephen McCabe last hit the headlines when he sent a letter to Michael Gove urging the Tory minister to bypass Holyrood” Is there no end to this guy doing both the wrong and the worse thing ? Rhetorical Q obviously. Seems he, McCabe, put country before party when he wrote to Michael Gove. However the only problem with that was that he put another country, UK/England, before his own country Scotland. (Also we know that with his party , Labour, they also put another country before Scotland , so I guess McCabe was also considering his own party too as well … Continue reading Stephen McCabe’s previous abusive behaviour

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‘Business will bear the brunt of Labour’s record tax raising UK budget’ says the Scottish Chamber of Commerce as it calls on the Scottish Government to help – even more spend on mitigating Westminster’s decisions?

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By stewartb The Scottish Chamber of Commerce (SCC) has published its response to the British Labour Party’s UK budget: ‘SCC Response to Autumn Statement – SCC call on Scottish Government to utilise consequential funding to support economic growth’. Source: https://www.scottishchambers.org.uk/press_policy/scc-response-to-autumn-statement-2/ In it we find this: ‘… Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) said: “We welcome the additional £3.4 billion of funding for Scotland but as always the devil is in the detail, and we need to see a full breakdown of how this will be utilised to support economic growth.” Adding: “As we look ahead to the … Continue reading ‘Business will bear the brunt of Labour’s record tax raising UK budget’ says the Scottish Chamber of Commerce as it calls on the Scottish Government to help – even more spend on mitigating Westminster’s decisions?

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Labour councillor charged with domestic abuse…by Wimbledon Guardian, Enfield Independent, Penarth Times but BBC Scotland still working on making the headline too long to include ‘Labour’

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Searched for BBC Stephen McCabe charged and got the above. The BBC Scotland site below: Struggling to catch up with the McCabe charge story but still hanging on to the Salmond not-a-charge, non-story? Scotland’s media long-standing double standards on sex offences: In 2021: SNP MP accused of sexual harassment makes news. BBC Scotland have him. The Herald has him twice: Tory MP actually sentenced following two assaults? BBC UK have him….no wait…..they’ve got the SNP MP again: Maybe the Tory MP story is fake news? The BBC has responsibilities you know? There’s no sign of a BBC report but the … Continue reading Labour councillor charged with domestic abuse…by Wimbledon Guardian, Enfield Independent, Penarth Times but BBC Scotland still working on making the headline too long to include ‘Labour’

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EXCLUSIVE – What will Rachel Reeves say as nearly 10 times as many per head wait for social care assessment in England than in Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald today has: EXCLUSIVE – Over 5,000 Scots waiting for NHS social care assessment Seems a lot doesn’t it? You know where I’m going; where the Herald never goes. All things being equal, per head, that’d be around 50 000 waiting in England but, oh no, shock horror, from the latest data, it’s As of March 2023, 430,000 people were waiting for an adult social care assessment, care, or direct payment in England. This was down from 542,000 in April 2022 https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/social-care-360-access#:~:text=a%20reduction%20in%20the%20number,the%20end%20of%20March%202023. A TEN times longer waiting list, per head, pro rate, proportionally. Wait, does that mean the … Continue reading EXCLUSIVE – What will Rachel Reeves say as nearly 10 times as many per head wait for social care assessment in England than in Scotland