Tag: snp

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Othering is a constant tactic Labour choose to deploy,

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Anonymous It is unfortunate for both her and her party that she, Ms Baillie, as one who is ‘afflicted’ by excess weight , is then , in her role as Labour’s Health spokesperson, the one who communicates the message of: “Weight-loss jabs, alongside changes to diet and exercise, have the potential to be a game-changer in the fight against diabetes and cardiovascular disease“ Physician heal thyself or being a Labour MSP and Labour’s Health spokesperson keep telling others to do that which you yourself are obviously both failing to do or even attempting to do. Baillie delivering this message on weight is like an existing chain smoker being … Continue reading Othering is a constant tactic Labour choose to deploy,

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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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Desperately promoting Sarwar

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By Anonymous All part of the media establishment’s quest to try and get Labour elected as the next Scottish (INO) government. The Herald knows full well that those people in Scotland who voted Labour in the GE did not vote FOR Labour but instead they voted AGAINST the Tories remaining as the UK government. So his , Sarwar’s, supposed ‘achievement’ in 37 Labour MP’s being elected in Scotland in the GE , was not anything to do with him ‘Changing’ the minds of many within Scotland , but instead it was some of the Scottish public making a wrong decision, in them allowing themselves to (yet … Continue reading Desperately promoting Sarwar

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Fifth Health Secretary in a row averts deadly health strikes

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Today in the National: JUNIOR doctors in Scotland have accepted an 11% pay rise, totalling £64.1 million, the Scottish Government has said. Resident doctors – the new preferred moniker for junior medics – and dentists in training will see an 8.5% increase backdated to April of this year and a further 2.3% rise effective from October 1, a cumulative rise of 11%.  Health Secretary Neil Gray (above) said: “I am very pleased that resident doctors and dentists in training have voted to accept the Scottish Government’s pay offer. This demonstrates how much we value them and ensures that … Continue reading Fifth Health Secretary in a row averts deadly health strikes

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Anas Sarwar gets ‘Herald Scottish Politician of the Year’ despite his favourability rating falling 20 points to well below John Swinney and after taking Labour down 14 points to below the SNP

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From the Herald today: Anas Sarwar has been named The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year in recognition of his work securing Scottish Labour’s stunning result at the General Election. The party returned 37 MPs, a huge jump on the one won in 2019. How are things going with that? In the short time since the General Election in July 2024, support for Scottish Labour has plummeted from as high as 37% just before it, to 23% in October. This suggests that Anas Sarwar has diddly chance of becoming the next First Minister. According to YouGov, he is currently popular with only … Continue reading Anas Sarwar gets ‘Herald Scottish Politician of the Year’ despite his favourability rating falling 20 points to well below John Swinney and after taking Labour down 14 points to below the SNP

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School suspensions – When bad things are happening in England they’re NOT always ‘happening across the UK’ too

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Today, I just happened to catch Chanel 5‘s Scottish presenter Storm Huntley talking about Primary School suspensions in England and adding, based on her lack of knowledge of what happens in Scotland, the above. From April 2024: From the Scotsman, no friend of the SNP Government, on 25 March 2024: Across Scotland, there were 11,675 cases of temporary exclusion of any length of time, with just one pupil being expelled, as previously revealed by The Scotsman. The figures compare to 39,553 temporary exclusions and 164 permanent in 2007, when the SNP came to power.1 So, with 10 times the population, … Continue reading School suspensions – When bad things are happening in England they’re NOT always ‘happening across the UK’ too

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Based on what they did in Wales, a Labour Government in Scotland would add half a million to Scotland’s NHS waiting lists! Pay attention. Do not vote for these numpties without checking this out

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By Professor John Robertson OBA, Primary 7 Maths teacher till 1981. Scottish Labour have always had trouble with numbers and Scottish Labour Leader, Anas Sarwar is no exception as he walks into an embarrassing gaff in the Daily Record today, with this: Almost 1 in 6 Scots are on an NHS waiting list. The combined waiting lists total 824,725 people.1 The Scottish Con’s, Sandy Gullane, similarly no that bright, says: Around one in seven Scots is on a waiting list for NHS treatment.2 Make up your mind lads. That’s a big difference, hundreds of thousands. Never mind the sums then, what’s the … Continue reading Based on what they did in Wales, a Labour Government in Scotland would add half a million to Scotland’s NHS waiting lists! Pay attention. Do not vote for these numpties without checking this out

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With the Scottish Conservatives finished, BBC Scotland attempts to push the already fading Scottish Labour party horse over the line in 2026

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By Professor John Robertson OBA To discuss the problem of derelict buildings being left up too long, BBC Scotland choose, Colin Smyth, a Labour regional (list) MSP (not actually elected by locals) in a region (Scotland South) where there are no Labour constituency MSPs (6 SNP and 3 Cons). The above factory location is not named but there is a local MSP actually elected by the locals. Why were they not asked? Colin grew up in Dumfries. Why did BBC Scotland not approach Oliver Mundell the actual MSP for the area? As with many other recent examples, including Anas Sarwar arriving by … Continue reading With the Scottish Conservatives finished, BBC Scotland attempts to push the already fading Scottish Labour party horse over the line in 2026

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Reverse Trojan Horse – Why the SNP and Labour should do a coalition deal in 2026 for independence by 2030

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When I first saw the above, my first reaction was: ‘DAFT, DAFT and…….DAFT.’ Then something flashed from the nether regions into the front of my brain, while walking the dog. First, some facts you’ll need: From a FindOutNow poll for the Alba Party on 16-23 October, 25% of Labour voters would vote YES in a second independence referendum. From a YouGov poll on 29 August to 3 September a majority of Labour voters 47%/40% would vote YES if independence meant re-joining the EU. Leaving aside their leadership, most Labour voters share similar positions with the SNP, on taxation, benefits, health, … Continue reading Reverse Trojan Horse – Why the SNP and Labour should do a coalition deal in 2026 for independence by 2030

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Yet another reason why British Labour Party leaders hope Scotland’s voters will NEVER ask the question: ‘How has Wales fared with Labour governing in Cardiff with devolved powers?’

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Since 2007/08, poverty rates among children in England, Scotland and Wales have been consistently lowest in Scotland and often highest in Labour-run Wales according to the Social Metrics Commission. By stewartb This blog post is a follow on from the recent TuS blog post – ‘Eradicating child poverty costs nothing in the long term because everything depends on it’ – prompted by the Guardian’s coverage of the Social Metrics Commission’s latest report. Source: Social Metrics Commission (2024) Measuring Poverty 2024( https://socialmetricscommission.org.uk/ ) Comparing rates of povertyThe table below summarises data on the percentage of the population in England, Scotland andWales … Continue reading Yet another reason why British Labour Party leaders hope Scotland’s voters will NEVER ask the question: ‘How has Wales fared with Labour governing in Cardiff with devolved powers?’