Tag: scottish-government

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Unless Labour further attack the poor, Scotland could hit its 2030 child poverty target in a unique demonstration of compassion and understanding of why child poverty must be eradicated, in the interests of all of us

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By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS The above prediction, from Achieving the 2030 Child Poverty Target published today by the IPPR Scotland, suggests that with the Scottish Child Payment and with compensation for the UK Universal Benefit, two child limit, Scotland could hit its fist child poverty target of 18%. The authors however, make clear that this might be sabotaged by wider UK Government economic policies including benefit cuts, increasing poverty across the UK. Why, need I remind you, does this matter to all of us? Here’s why: From Turning the tide What it will take to reduce child … Continue reading Unless Labour further attack the poor, Scotland could hit its 2030 child poverty target in a unique demonstration of compassion and understanding of why child poverty must be eradicated, in the interests of all of us

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As Labour government cuts millions from funding for victims’ services, SNP increase it by 12% in one year

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By Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today: The [UK] government has cut millions of pounds in funding for victims’ services, prompting warnings that “criminals will go unpunished” unless it urgently changes its position. The Victims’ Commissioner has written a letter to chancellor Rachel Reeves, shared exclusively with the Observer, saying a combination of funding reductions and the upcoming employers’ national insurance increase was creating an “existential crisis” for charities. The commissioner and charities in the sector are calling for an urgent funding increase in the next spending review, which concludes this spring. “These crucial services ensure victims have the … Continue reading As Labour government cuts millions from funding for victims’ services, SNP increase it by 12% in one year

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Will Audit Scotland ever get real and fully acknowledge the UK context in which Scotland is governed?

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By stewartb – a long read In recent times leading, broadly centrist, London-based think tanks and others have been arguing that the fiscal practices of Westminster/Whitehall governments have long been dysfunctional. Their damning consensus raises a crucial question: how do ‘dependent’ governments in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh – constrained to operate within devolved settlements – manage their nations’ public finances and the resourcing of devolved public services in an optimal manner to meet national needs and wants? The relevance of this is brought to mind by the recent Audit Scotland report on the state of Scotland’s public finances in which … Continue reading Will Audit Scotland ever get real and fully acknowledge the UK context in which Scotland is governed?

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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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The Cartunionist again with a Laboured joke

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As Labour fake generosity toward Scotland in the wake of their attacks on the poor, the Herald cartoonist offers another of his anti-SNP ‘humorous’ takes. Here’s a reminder of his previous: The Herald’s Steven Camley’s interpretation of the SNP leader’s performance in the House of Commons on Wednesday. Like the English cartoonists, he attempts to conceal the fact that the SNP had a substantive, serious, motion, on one of their only 3 days, based on years of consistent support for the human rights of the Palestinian people, hijacked by a bullied Labour Party speaker and his pro-Israel leader, to prevent … Continue reading The Cartunionist again with a Laboured joke

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BBC Scotland develops ‘fishy’ sense of humour reporting on ‘charity’ headed up by former UK Government advisor

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BBC Scotland this morning tell is that a ‘main sustainability charity’ (Open Seas) has a accused the Scottish Government of ‘floundering@ (really) because of a simple delay in getting a policy on sustainable fishing in plaice (my word) and properly developed to be effective. They’re just a Scottish charity so it’s not like Greenpeace accusing the Scottish Government. Hugh Raven, above, is the chair of the Open Seas board. Draw your own conclusions about his agenda. Draw your own conclusions as to why a simple delay like this is big news for BBC Scotland’s Reporting Scotland team when it’s not … Continue reading BBC Scotland develops ‘fishy’ sense of humour reporting on ‘charity’ headed up by former UK Government advisor

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STV is 7 times more likely to report on County Lines from English cities terrorising small-town, Scotland in the public interest.

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In response to my follow-up complaint showing objectively that BBC Scotland has only ever mentioned the term ‘County Lines’, in the headline to a story, twice, in 2019 and 2021 and never mentions that the flow of drugs is from English cities into Scotland. A BBC UK report in March 2024, mentions Scottish towns but does not use the term nor does it locate the gangs in English cities, as is the case, exclusively. BBC Complaints wrote to me yesterday: We raised your complaint with senior news editors at BBC Scotland. They have little to add to the response you’ve … Continue reading STV is 7 times more likely to report on County Lines from English cities terrorising small-town, Scotland in the public interest.

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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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So simple and effective but Scottish – The SNP Child Payment scares other UK child poverty activists and experts into deathly silence

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The omission by a leading poverty charity on BBC Woman’s Hour  – it’s hard to conceive of a discussion of the ‘two-child benefit cap’ in which reference to the Scottish Child Payment could have been more apposite!  Inexplicable or what? By stewartb – a long read I listened to a lengthy piece on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour (11 July) on the ‘two-child benefit cap’. This is arguably a ‘flagship’ BBC programme with a UK-wide target audience: it is a valuable platform for advocacy groups. The item was prompted by a new Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)  report on … Continue reading So simple and effective but Scottish – The SNP Child Payment scares other UK child poverty activists and experts into deathly silence

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The Cringe Cartoonist

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The Herald’s Steven Camley has a long track record of cringy comments on the communities he lives among. Not for him, the wit, not the courage, to satirise the powerful who keep us down. Today he sneers at Scotland’s GPs and housing supply to reinforce that kind of ill-informed personal experience-based moaning that Reporting Scotland can always find. Never mind the facts when a cheap laugh at yer ain folk is what you love. Never mind: From the Scottish Government on 28 May 2024: 84% of people who needed to see or speak to a doctor / nurse quite urgently were … Continue reading The Cringe Cartoonist