Tag: writing

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Scotland’s drug deaths crisis IS a human rights scandal but it is also a fundamental consequence of our subjection still within a dying, dysfunctional but still dominant and brutal empire

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From Third Force yesterday, the above, and: The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) chair has challenged ministers over their response to the continuing drugs’ death toll, insisting the loss of life is neither acceptable nor inevitable. Professor Angela O’Hagan’s intervention follows figures showing 1,133 people died from drugs in Scotland during 2025 – an increase of 116 on the previous year and the sixth-highest annual total on record. The figures expose a devastating divide between Scotland’s richest and poorest communities, with people living in the most deprived areas 15 times more likely to die from drugs than those in the … Continue reading Scotland’s drug deaths crisis IS a human rights scandal but it is also a fundamental consequence of our subjection still within a dying, dysfunctional but still dominant and brutal empire

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As twice as many wait more than 12 hours in NHS England’s A&E, Jackie Baillie rides the Scotsman off its readership cliff again

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Scottish Labour’s unhealthy spokesperson seem to be a columnist at the Unhealthy Scotsman these days. Today, further riding the Scotsman off its readership cliff, she has: The shocking figures that reveal how bad Scotland’s A&E crisis has got under SNP – Jackie Baillie Emergency departments in two flagship hospitals can sometimes be forced to deal with more than double or triple the number of patients they are designed to treat And then this sickly rib-tickler Candour is so important in politics. Voters deserve to hear the truth from those in power and to know they understand their duty to get … Continue reading As twice as many wait more than 12 hours in NHS England’s A&E, Jackie Baillie rides the Scotsman off its readership cliff again

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There has been a massive but unreported reduction in the number of children on the child protection register in Scotland and a widening gap with the other 3 nations despite the plague of English drug gangs using them as ‘mules’

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In the Herald, today, the above and: and: Nowhere in this report is the question ‘Why is there an increase?’ even considered never mind answered. The answer is in existing MSM reports: First, there is a huge surge in child exploitation – carrying drugs in body cavities and sexual abuse – by English county lines drug gangs in Scotland From Human Trafficking NRM referrals re county lines – 10yrs published by Police Scotland today, that ‘referrals made by Police Scotland to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) where county lines and suspected criminal exploitation was a factor‘ was: Under 16 year-olds … Continue reading There has been a massive but unreported reduction in the number of children on the child protection register in Scotland and a widening gap with the other 3 nations despite the plague of English drug gangs using them as ‘mules’

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Half the recorded rape offence rate but more funding in Scotland – THE News?

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because of a funding shortage. Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis has launched an urgent appeal to raise more money in the next four weeks. It comes amid a series of protests about cuts to similar services across the country when the number of sexual crimes recorded here reached its highest since the 1970s. BBC Scotland leading off today, as often before, with a story not fully worked out on its webpage so we cannot check its accuracy and sources. There is, of course, no rape story across the other BBC broadcasts or websites, despite higher rape offences reported in each … Continue reading Half the recorded rape offence rate but more funding in Scotland – THE News?

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BBC Scotland trumpet one of those rare ‘Scotland worse than England’ stories but they’re not the same in a key way they will have known of but hid from you

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to move has had her request for special measures turned down by Scotland’s exam body. Romi Loffler, who communicates by blinking, asked Qualifications Scotland if she could sit her Nat 5 history exam question at a time over weeks. It said no, despite exam boards in England making similar accommodations. Headlining on BBC Scotland’s insert in BBC Breakfast today, one of the latter’s common attempts to portray Scotland in a less favourable light than England. This time, it’s in the emotive context of disabled access to exams. It’s dishonest. First and less of a concern, the exam ‘boards‘ plural. Qualifications … Continue reading BBC Scotland trumpet one of those rare ‘Scotland worse than England’ stories but they’re not the same in a key way they will have known of but hid from you

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‘England’s Atrocity’ hanging petty thieves and children – Scotland historically applied the death penalty far less often than England, pro rata half as many in the 20th Century, but Mark Smith of the Glasgow Herald knows SFA of that

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Mark Smith, today, once more revealing his little knowledge of Scotland, tries to drag us into the wider world of state brutality, as the US plans a public execution by firing squad, with ill-researched work on the history of capital punishment in Scotland and in the wider UK. He quickly tells us of Scotland’s last hanging in 1963: but ignores this key information: Scotland historically applied the death penalty far less often than England, mainly because of differences in legal tradition after the 1707 Act of Union. Scotland kept its own courts, criminal procedure, and much of its substantive law … Continue reading ‘England’s Atrocity’ hanging petty thieves and children – Scotland historically applied the death penalty far less often than England, pro rata half as many in the 20th Century, but Mark Smith of the Glasgow Herald knows SFA of that

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‘Troubled’, not so ‘ageing’ Arran ferry’s ‘faults’ started when the contract to build it was awarded by Scottish Conservatives to an inexperienced English yard on its last legs in a ‘troubled’ Conservative constituency

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In the Scotsman, two days ago, the above and: A CalMac ferry which returned to service a year ago after 20 months of repairs that cost £11 million is to be retired, the operator has announced. Caledonian Isles, which sails on one of CalMac’s busiest routes, is due to end its 34-year career in February as part of the replacement of three of ageing large ferries with brand new vessels. The 1,000-passenger ship’s departure from the Ardrossan to Brodick in Arran service will follow 31-year-old Barra ferry Isle of Lewis’s retiral in December and that of 42-year-old spare vessel Isle … Continue reading ‘Troubled’, not so ‘ageing’ Arran ferry’s ‘faults’ started when the contract to build it was awarded by Scottish Conservatives to an inexperienced English yard on its last legs in a ‘troubled’ Conservative constituency

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Public Health ‘disaster’ in England as hospital critical incidents run at 2 to 4 times the level in Scotland

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From BBC Scotland yesterday, the above and: Staff sickness was a major factor behind the critical incident declared by NHS Grampian last month, its chief executive has said. A board-level critical incident had been declared on Saturday 26 September, when A&Es at both Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) and Dr Gray’s in Elgin struggled to cope with demand. That was stood down on the Monday, and remained in place at hospital level at Dr Gray’s until the next day. NHS Grampian chief executive Laura Skaife-Knight told BBC Scotland News that staff sickness had been a “challenge”, and ensuring patient safety was … Continue reading Public Health ‘disaster’ in England as hospital critical incidents run at 2 to 4 times the level in Scotland

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The Shadowy Secretary of State Against Scotland

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Harriet Cross was born in Harrogate, North Yorkshire and grew up in West Cork, Ireland where her mother was from. She attended Bandon Grammar School in Bandon, County Cork before the family moved to Aberdeenshire, owing to her father’s work, when she was sixteen. She attended Gordonstoun School, after which she studied zoology at Imperial College London before earning a master’s degree in Rural Land and Business Management and from the University of Reading. In 2018, she returned to Aberdeenshire to work as a rural surveyor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Cross By Liz S The Tory Secretary of State for (against) Scotland, Harriet Cross, … Continue reading The Shadowy Secretary of State Against Scotland

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Scotland’s training support for parents is designed to prevent drop-out and to meet a child poverty target which England cares not to even have

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From Training support for up to 2,400 parents published today: Up to 2,400 parents will be able to access training at colleges across Scotland to enter or progress in work. As part of the Scottish Government’s mission to eradicate child poverty, a total of £10 million is being invested in the college sector through the Raising Income through Skills and Education (RISE) initiative. This helps families at the greatest risk of poverty to access the skills and education they need to enter, sustain and progress in work.  Alongside training courses, the project will unlock additional support with childcare and transport … Continue reading Scotland’s training support for parents is designed to prevent drop-out and to meet a child poverty target which England cares not to even have