Tag: travel

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South Uist Business Impact Group appears to be inventing problems that, in reality, are not there

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By stewartb Media coverage of ‘ferries’ news has left a lot to be desired. This is true of local press coverage as well as national. In the run up to the Holyrood election there was local press coverage in the Western Isles that seems to exemplify the problem. From Hebrides News online (April 3, 2026): ‘Island economy struggles ‘turning into a nightmare’ due to CalMac ferry crisis’. Firstly readers are told this: ‘South Uist Business Impact Group (SUBIG) have raised concerns over reduced animal welfare as a result of CalMac’s cuts to ferry services’ and ‘The ferry action group said: “CalMac’s cuts mean … Continue reading South Uist Business Impact Group appears to be inventing problems that, in reality, are not there

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Shock as absence of ‘ferry fixation’ revealed

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From Transport Scotland – Information regarding fixated correspondents: FOI release published today: Information requested Information on what topics fixated correspondents have written about and how many times, including copies of emails from and to the individuals. Response To provide some context, the terms fixated and persistent are used interchangeably. Both terms are used to describe a correspondent who writes in on the same topic(s) in a repetitive manner despite their query receiving a full and complete response. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have … Continue reading Shock as absence of ‘ferry fixation’ revealed

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How can the Guardian claim to be a member of the free press when it supports colonialism in Scotland and its editor won’t even acknowledge a polite letter asking why?

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The Guardian continues to locate itself among the ‘free press’: The Guardian has something many news organisations today don’t: guaranteed independence. With no billionaire or large corporate owner, our journalists are free to report without interference. Our role is to hold power to account, not answer to it. We value whatever you can spare, but a monthly subscription makes the most impact, enabling greater investment in our most crucial, fearless journalism. Thank you. Those of us ‘up here’ know that the Guardian, to this day, reports events in Scotland biased in favour of the Scottish Labour Branch’s interests. For many examples, … Continue reading How can the Guardian claim to be a member of the free press when it supports colonialism in Scotland and its editor won’t even acknowledge a polite letter asking why?

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Newborn health at real risk near nuclear plants but Scottish Labour double down on new plants in Scotland

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The Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) is located near Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California, on approximately 1,000 acres along the Pacific coast. It is the state’s largest single power station and the only operational nuclear plant in California following the 2013 closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. From the Santa Barbara Independent, yesterday: Just weeks after the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved a 20-year license extension for the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, scrutiny surrounding the human health impacts from radiation have emerged from both academia and Diablo opponents. A recent Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analysis found higher cancer mortality rates in U.S. counties located closer to nuclear plants, while a nonprofit-led report questioned whether decades of Diablo Canyon’s operation may be tied to worsening infant health in surrounding San Luis Obispo County. Federal regulators and health officials, however, maintain that radiation exposure from the plant … Continue reading Newborn health at real risk near nuclear plants but Scottish Labour double down on new plants in Scotland

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Interfering with democratic principles just before an election – BBC Scotland repeats ‘too-soon’ evaluation of new GP walk-in clinics just to let opposition, with no evidence on these presented, campaign free-of-charge

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BBC Scotland’s Andrew Picken, yesterday, had: One of the new flagship GP walk-in clinics has seen just 183 patients in its first five weeks, latest figures shows. The facility at Lochee Health Centre in Dundee is part of a network of clinics planned by the Scottish government where patients have access to GP-led care without an appointment. Data released to the BBC under freedom of information laws shows that in the five weeks to 30 April, the Dundee clinic – which is open every day between 12:00 and 20:00 – had 183 people attend. then only 5 paragraphs later: But the walk-in … Continue reading Interfering with democratic principles just before an election – BBC Scotland repeats ‘too-soon’ evaluation of new GP walk-in clinics just to let opposition, with no evidence on these presented, campaign free-of-charge

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The Great Scottish Ferry Inconvenience Media War

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Lesley Riddoch in her early April 2026 podcast said on the ferries crisis (literally) I’ve got to say personally, I’m sick of hearing people on the mainland ‘attack islanders’ for simply expecting that they can be connected. Just to remind you we all live on an island, and it would be a bit like saying Scotland’s a bit too expensive to include in UK national systems so let’s just charge them more. We wouldnae, would we?’ Who are those ‘people’ attacking islanders then? Turns out it’s me! ‘I’m probably gonna lose some friends on this because I am absolutely sick … Continue reading The Great Scottish Ferry Inconvenience Media War

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Prioritising citizens over corporations – Scottish Government sets a precedent for other nations but you won’t hear of it

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According to Secret Glasgow on 24 April 2026, the above and: Global attention is currently fixed on the Scottish Government, which has successfully introduced an Act that sets a precedent most nations have yet to follow. Although it hasn’t dominated local headlines, international media and social platforms are praising the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act 2026 for its commitment to prioritising citizens over corporations. It’s official, the Community Wealth Building Bill has passed Royal Assent, and is now an Act.1 It’s getting, as pointed out, no media attention. What is Community Wealth Building? There are those on the left who would still undermine the SNP … Continue reading Prioritising citizens over corporations – Scottish Government sets a precedent for other nations but you won’t hear of it

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Herald writer’s suggestion of a ‘risk to life in 10 buildings as ScotGov post-Grenfell repairs stall’ is frankly stupid, dishonest and irresponsible tabloid scare mongering as…

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In the Herald today, Martin Williams has: 10 buildings in Scotland have had emergency safety measures put in place after being judged an “immediate risk to human life” — yet not a single block has been declared fully repaired under the national cladding programme, nearly nine years after the Grenfell Tower Fire. The intervention means some residents are relying on temporary protections such as additional fire safety systems, on-site monitoring and changes to evacuation plans while ‘dangerous’ cladding remains on their homes. What official, responsible, qualified body has ‘judged’ these 10 buildings to be ‘an immediate risk to human life?’ … Continue reading Herald writer’s suggestion of a ‘risk to life in 10 buildings as ScotGov post-Grenfell repairs stall’ is frankly stupid, dishonest and irresponsible tabloid scare mongering as…

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Starmer and Farage on St George’s Day – ‘Today, we fly OUR flag proudly’ to ‘be English’ but he’s poor Lebanon’s patron saint too

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By Liz S Saint George’s Day is the feast day of Saint George, celebrated by Christian churches, countries, regions, and cities from which he is the main patron saint, including England, Ethiopia, Georgia, Catalonia, Aragon, Palestine, Rio de Janeiro, Alcoi, and Genoa, and also where he is an important patron saint, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Syria, and Lebanon “Today, we fly our flag proudly and we’re reminded of the values it represents – service, generosity, and respect. When we stand together, united in our communities, we are stronger than any attempt to divide us. Happy St George’s Day”! (So “our flag“.and “our communities“, what about other communities in other nations within the UK State , as surely many of them are … Continue reading Starmer and Farage on St George’s Day – ‘Today, we fly OUR flag proudly’ to ‘be English’ but he’s poor Lebanon’s patron saint too

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How the ‘Scottish’ Daily Express made up a quote not actually in the Nuffield Trust report revealing NHS Scotland’s superiority

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Neither the word ‘deadly’ nor the word ‘domino’ appear in Health and care performance and promises: the track record for Scotland’s 2026 election published by the Nuffield Trust, yesterday: https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/health-and-care-performance-and-promises-the-track-record-for-scotland-s-2026-election While, I’d argue, with evidence, that there is much good about healthcare in Scotland which is missed by the Trust, far far more is missed by the Express, including the above hugely important evidence of superior GP numbers in Scotland, way above the level elsewhere in the UK. Also avoided by the Express: People in Scotland are much more likely than they were five years ago to spend more than … Continue reading How the ‘Scottish’ Daily Express made up a quote not actually in the Nuffield Trust report revealing NHS Scotland’s superiority