Tag: snp

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As the fight for Scotland in May 2026 looms where are Wings Off Scotland and Scot Goes Poop?

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Back in 2014, the Wings Over Scotland and Scot Goes Pop blogs played a big part in the campaign that, in the end, pushed the Union to the brink. I often praised and shared their work. Only 10 years later, all seems lost. Wings today has a cartoon of John Swinney in a dress, some poll analysis more interested in Reform than anything else, two anxious wee pieces on what it means to be a woman and a swipe at Kezia Dugdale who, you may remember years ago, accused the author of homophobia. That’s quite a long grudge there though, … Continue reading As the fight for Scotland in May 2026 looms where are Wings Off Scotland and Scot Goes Poop?

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Two sub-polls in December now saying same thing – SNP pulling away from Labour with 18% and 15% leads

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Two days ago, I noted: From Find Out Now on 4 December 2024, the UK figures put Labour in third place with 23%, behind Reform at 24% and the Cons at 26%. The Scottish sub-set of only 118, has SNPv39%, Labour 21%, Cons 13%, Reform, Greens and Lib Dems at 8%. If repeated in May 2026, this could give SNP an overall majority. Early days I know but still good to get this kind of wee boost. https://findoutnow.co.uk/blog/voting-intention-4th-dec-2024/ The above 18% lead is much larger than previous sub-polls and, more so, than in ‘full’ Scottish polls. However, the latter, while having … Continue reading Two sub-polls in December now saying same thing – SNP pulling away from Labour with 18% and 15% leads

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Glenn Campbell and the ‘significant underperformance in key public services like the NHS’ that does not survive a collision with the evidence

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Professor John Robertson OBA Glenn Campbell’s opinion piece on the SNP, after its budget, is the lead story on its website today, titled: SNP rediscovers its political confidence with wily Budget Hah! We know what to expect and, within one line, we get: In the last couple of years its independence strategy has hit a brick wall, the party has tied itself in knots over gender reform, and it has fallen in and out of love with the Scottish Greens. There have been three first ministers during that period and one of those remains under police investigation as the Branchform … Continue reading Glenn Campbell and the ‘significant underperformance in key public services like the NHS’ that does not survive a collision with the evidence

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Cap on UK political donations to limit foreign influence would help SNP limit ‘foreign’ influence too

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From the Guardian today: Caps on political donations are being considered by ministers as part of sweeping reforms to the UK electoral system. Labour is examining proposals to limit how much individuals and companies can donate to political parties as part of an effort to tighten the rules around money in UK politics. In a report to be published in the coming weeks, the Institute for Public Policy Research will recommend that ministers limit individual and corporate donations to political parties to £100,000 a year. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/dec/02/government-may-cap-uk-political-donations-to-limit-foreign-influence If implemented, the above move would be driven by Labour, Con and Lib Dem anxiety … Continue reading Cap on UK political donations to limit foreign influence would help SNP limit ‘foreign’ influence too

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Six sub-polls suggest modest SNP recovery, growing Reform threat and ongoing crisis for the others leading to good result in the constituencies for the SNP

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From Opinium with sub-polls of around 160 Scots 18+years of age, on 29 and 13 (in brackets) November, 31 and 18 October (in brackets) support is (was): This suggests ongoing crises for Scottish Labour and Cons, LD and Greens with steady modest recovery of the SNP and growing support for Reform eating away at Cons and Labour. Polls a few days earlier by More in Common and Find our Now tell a similar, if worse story for Labour and slightly better one for the Cons. All six polls put the Greens in danger of serious loss post their split with … Continue reading Six sub-polls suggest modest SNP recovery, growing Reform threat and ongoing crisis for the others leading to good result in the constituencies for the SNP

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Even with the predicted council tax increase Scots will still pay far less than in other parts of UK as they have done for the last 17 years

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In July 2024, from the Scottish Government: Council Tax rates are regularly quoted as being lower in Scotland than in England. However, does a simple numerical comparison tell you everything you need to know? At face value, the official statistics show that the average Council Tax bill per dwelling in Scotland is over £350 per year lower. 1 The full report does go on to explain why direct comparisons are problematic but you can be sure that were this the other way round, MSM would not hesitate to shout: SNP Council Tax bills £350 higher! In November 2023, from Policy Mogul, … Continue reading Even with the predicted council tax increase Scots will still pay far less than in other parts of UK as they have done for the last 17 years

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Labour should rethink this one, and give money directly to the devolved Scottish Government for them to allocate to Scottish councils

johnrobertson834

Anonymous The National (England) Audit Office stated yesterday that “Just one in 10 local authorities submitted reliable formal accounts of their spending in 2022-23. Of the remaining 90%, half failed to submit any financial data at all and half submitted accounts that had not been audited“ Remember Labour’s big plan for Scotland is to bypass the Scottish government and allow Ian Murray, as Labour’s new SOS for Scotland ,to allocate funds directly to Scottish councils so hopefully they, the Scottish councils, are more diligent and careful with their accounting. This BTW is a carbon copy of what the Tories were going to do … Continue reading Labour should rethink this one, and give money directly to the devolved Scottish Government for them to allocate to Scottish councils

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Scotland to take no lessons from Labour on saving lives by cutting smoking

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By Professor John Robertson, OBA In the Herald, today: The Secretary of State for Scotland has said UK Government proposals to gradually increase the age at which people can buy tobacco “will save lives” in Scotland.  Speaking ahead of the Tobacco and Vapes bill being debated at Westminster tomorrow, Ian Murray said the plans offer a chance to show how a “reset in relationships” between the UK and Scottish Governments can make a difference to peoples lives in Scotland.  https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24746978.tobacco-restriction-plans-will-save-lives-scotland/ Not being mentioned, of course: From The Scottish Health Survey 2023 – volume 1: main report, published today, the above graph reveals a marked … Continue reading Scotland to take no lessons from Labour on saving lives by cutting smoking

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Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under ‘t.” Neil Mackay on Stephen Flynn

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In the Herald last week but only noticed by me after a retweet: Stephen Flynn – the SNP’s Macbeth, a man of ambition unfit to lead by Neil Mackay (above), then nailed by John Nicolson MP: Almost comically personal & vindictive in tone. Worse, unbriefed. SNP MPs at Westminster wanted Ian to stand down. There was a vacancy. Then an election which Stephen comfortably won. His leadership media & PMQ performances thereafter were impressive. A year ago, I could write this, below, and it stands: It’s been some time since I’ve read Neil Mackay, ‘Large Writer’ at the Herald. Clearly … Continue reading Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under ‘t.” Neil Mackay on Stephen Flynn

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What’s been happening to the performance of A&E waiting times in NHS Wales after decades of Labour?

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By stewartb November 24, 2024 at 10:18 pm Edit THIS is the British Labour Party – here are more insights into its track record in government and into how low it will stoop nowadays to win power. It seems reasonable before ‘buying’ what the British Labour Party is likely to offer the Scottish electorate in 2026 to ask: ‘what’s been happening to the performance of A&E waiting times in NHS Wales?’ And what’s happening now that the long time British Labour Party government in Cardiff has been joined by colleagues in power in Westminster? The analysis of official statistics by the Royal … Continue reading What’s been happening to the performance of A&E waiting times in NHS Wales after decades of Labour?