Tag: scotland

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Latest research – Crime down 53% since first SNP Government began but police numbers slightly up on last Labour Government!

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By Professor John Robertson From the Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report : July 2024 edition, today: Crime has fallen by 53% since 2008-09. Results from the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) show that around 1 in 10 adults were victims of crime in 2021-22 (10.0%) compared to 1 in 5 in 2008-09 (20.4%). The estimated number of crimes fell by 53% over the same period, and by 18% since 2017-18.  https://www.gov.scot/publications/safer-communities-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-july-2024-edition/pages/3/#page-top IMPORTANT – This is not based on police reporting which is known to understate the actual level of crime but on The Scottish Crime and Justice … Continue reading Latest research – Crime down 53% since first SNP Government began but police numbers slightly up on last Labour Government!

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NHS England at risk of ‘collapse’ but after 17 years of not-underfunding by SNP, NHS Scotland will not ‘keel over’ according to Lisa Summers

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By Professor John Robertson In the Guardian today: NHS finances so dire that whole service may collapse, says spending watchdog. National Audit Office says NHS in England too cash-strapped to treat patients quickly enough. Years of underfunding have left the NHS in England so cash-strapped that it cannot treat patients quickly enough, and the rising tide of ill-health will make matters worse, the National Audit Office (NAO) said. https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jul/23/nhs-finances-so-dire-that-whole-service-may-collapse-says-spending-watchdog On February 22 2024, Audit Scotland reported: “Without change, there is a risk Scotland’s NHS will take up an ever-growing chunk of the Scottish budget. And that means less money for other vital … Continue reading NHS England at risk of ‘collapse’ but after 17 years of not-underfunding by SNP, NHS Scotland will not ‘keel over’ according to Lisa Summers

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BBC Scotland’s avoidance of the County Lines gang plague – formal BBC complaint

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I’ve made the following complaint to the BBC. How will they deal with it this time? I’ll let you know. County Lines gangs, based in large English cities have been responsible for a spreading plague of extreme violence, more accessible and cheaper illegal drug supplies, child abuse, prostitution, people trafficking and the exploitation (cuckooing) of vulnerable adults in small-town UK, into places previously less affected by crime. Recent data reveal a surge in knife crime in rural and small-town areas in England and a recent surge in violent crime in similar areas in Scotland. Police Scotland estimates more than 50 … Continue reading BBC Scotland’s avoidance of the County Lines gang plague – formal BBC complaint

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County Lines drug gangs from cities in England fuel major surge in violent crime in Scotland’s smaller towns

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In the Express yesterday, we read: Knife crime epidemic rising faster in market towns after spread of county lines drug gangs. Knife crime is rising more rapidly in rural counties and market towns than in cities, a study has found. Although most of the police forces in the top 10 included large inner city areas, the study found offences were soaring at an alarming rate outside of urban regions. According to Police Scotland, there are more than 50 County Lines drug and child-abusing groups active in Scotland, first identified in 2019, commonly in smaller towns where there is no existing … Continue reading County Lines drug gangs from cities in England fuel major surge in violent crime in Scotland’s smaller towns

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How the SNP might compensate the WASPI women and win the next election(s)

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By Professor John Robertson I came up with this idea several months ago and sent it to the new FM John Swinney but have had no response. It has been warmly welcomed by most SNP members I’ve spoken to and by leading local WASPI leaders. One or two, understandably, have rejected it on the grounds that the UK Government should pay the bill. I understand that but doing at least something before more WASPI women die and, of course, defeating Labour seemed and still seems a bit of a priority for us. Proposal: That the Scottish Government introduce a scheme, … Continue reading How the SNP might compensate the WASPI women and win the next election(s)

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Second independent fact checker (not TuS) confirms NHS Scotland has far shorter A&E and cancer waiting times and better GP access

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I’ve been comparing the performance of the NHS in Scotland, England and Wales for years now to illustrate the superior performance across many targets, of the former. From FULLFACT on 15 July 2024, corroboration of some of the above but reservations about the comparability of some where data collection methods differ. I agree with that reservation and often point to such but where the gaps are large, perhaps that matters less and, in terms of media coverage, the MSM will gaily compare the incomparable in, say, drug deaths. So, first on cancer care, this: Between October and December 2023, Scotland … Continue reading Second independent fact checker (not TuS) confirms NHS Scotland has far shorter A&E and cancer waiting times and better GP access

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Scots not at risk as Scottish building regulations have made a Grenfell impossible here

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By Professor John Robertson In the Herald today, revealing as much grasp of towering infernos as he does of ferry services, the Herald’s Martin Williams suggest: Ministers have come under fire for spending just 9% of a special fund set up to deal with ‘dangerous’ cladding across Scotland seven years after the Grenfell tragedy. A total of 72 people lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017. Its cladding is believed to have contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. Where’s the fire coming from? Miles Briggs! Why is Briggs wrong? Regular readers here know why. These … Continue reading Scots not at risk as Scottish building regulations have made a Grenfell impossible here

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Asked repeatedly if he agreed that the two child benefit cap caused harm, Mr McFadden said it was “open to debate!”

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By stewartb The BBC News website has this headline on its Scotland and Scotland Politics pages: ‘Labour rules out GB Energy HQ announcement in King’s Speech’. We get insights into Labour’s current plans or absence of plans – from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden. He shares a few things with us via the BBC article and it’s notable which one BBC Scotland chooses to amplify in a headline! We’re told that further details about GB Energy, including the location of its HQ would be confirmed in “due course”. The BBC journalist gives us this: ‘Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer … Continue reading Asked repeatedly if he agreed that the two child benefit cap caused harm, Mr McFadden said it was “open to debate!”

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BBC Scotland and ‘County Lines’ drug gangs – now 5 years of silence to protect the Union

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I have an alert for ‘County Lines’ and every day I see reports from BBC UK, BBC England and from BBC regions across the country – BBC Devon (today), BBC Cumbria (last week). I never, ever, see anything from BBC Scotland despite regular reports in the ‘Scottish’ tabloids and on regional news media websites. In October 2019, pushing 5 years ago, BBC Scotland’s Connor Gillies reported under the explicit headline ‘County lines’: Aberdeenshire, Perthshire and Highlands targeted by drugs gangs, this: Rural communities in the Highlands, Aberdeenshire and Perthshire are being targeted by gangs using school children to sell class … Continue reading BBC Scotland and ‘County Lines’ drug gangs – now 5 years of silence to protect the Union

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BBC Scotland announce UK Labour to re-nationalise the railways….even though they’re already re-nationalised here

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the railways is expected. BBC Scotland this morning, tell us that around half of the draft bills in the King’s Speech will apply ‘here in some shape or form’ including re-nationalising the railways (mibbe). What, again, like you told us more than two years ago? They remember that all too well but are hoping you don’t so that they can suggest UK Labour will be doing this good thing for you. How’s that earlier re-nationalisation going in Scotland? Not so strangely, BBC Scotland don’t seem to have this: SCOTRAIL is one of the UK’s most reliable train operators, a new … Continue reading BBC Scotland announce UK Labour to re-nationalise the railways….even though they’re already re-nationalised here