Talking-up Scotland

One of only 5 letters apparently seen by ‘Scotsman’

*SCALP is copyright Ron Culley 2019

In the ‘Scotsman’ today:

‘Teachers in Scotland’s schools have told Nicola Sturgeon they are “struggling to the brink of breakdown” due to increasing workloads and a lack of frontline staff. In a series of letters to the First Minister, teachers described the profession as being “at crisis point” and warned classrooms were likely to be hit by strikes unless action was taken on pay.’

The ‘Scotsman’ report does not tell us exactly how many letters were actually received but careful, highly-skilled textual analysis of their use of the words ‘one’ (1 time) and ‘another’ (3 times), suggests that only four were received, from, only, ‘additional support teachers’ with presumably no whole-class responsibilities, and all in October 2018.

Now confirmed as 5! See: https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-18-03398/

There were 51 513 teachers in Scottish schools at the end of 2017.

https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/teachcenssuppdata

The letters were sent directly to the FM, in October, after she encouraged teachers to come forward with any concerns they had about their schools. 0.007% seem to have responded. TuS Research Consultant, Professor Robertson, has declared the results ‘insignificant or whit?’

The Scottish Anonymous Letters Panel (SCALP) chair, Prof Robertson, has written to the ‘Scotsman’ to insist that they withdraw this frankly laughable headline and toss the text Forthwith:

During November 2018, 91.3% of attendances at A&E services were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours.

https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Emergency-Care/Publications/2019-01-03/Summary/index.asp

In NHS England, only 81.1% were seen in 4 hours, in Type 1 departments, in November 2018.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2018-19/

 

Note: This graph is drawn, looking only at cancellations, ignoring more than 90% of operations and so, exaggerates the peaks and troughs. Look at how tightly packed the two scales are to enable changes of only 0.5% to be visible. If the left-hand scale had to include 0 to 100% and/or if the bottom scale had to only cover say, one year, these peaks and troughs would be stretched out and visually flattened so that much that you might look at them and think that the same data suggests only very minor changes.

Here’s what Reporting Scotland had to say:

‘Almost 3 000 planned operations were cancelled last November according to new health figures. That’s a rise of 6.8% compared to the same period in 2017/18. More than a third of the call-offs were made for non-clinical reasons.’

1. Note that almost two-thirds (996) of the 2 907 (‘almost 3 000’) operations were cancelled by patients themselves or by doctors because, in the latter case, they were no longer considered a good idea for the health of the patient.
2. Note the rounding-up to get the headline ‘3 000’ figure and the potential confusion when we see that 996 is ‘less than a third’ of the headline figure
3. Note the use of ‘more than a third’ despite the tiny statistical difference between 3.4% (‘more than’) and 3.333% (‘one third’).

https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Waiting-Times/Publications/2019-01-03/2019-01-03-Cancellations-Summary.pdf?45895022154

 

BBC Scotland’s fearless investigative reporters with a ‘wee guy’ from the Scotsman, have used that Freedom of Information act so not-loved by their bosses, to expose the flagrant and fragrant waste of public money on criminals. In their repeated reporting, they have headlined the costs before letting one of the prison governors claim that it’s a good thing. The NHS ‘landmark’, longitudinal (goooood) study, published nearly two years ago, was ignored despite its peer-reviewed rigour and dramatic headline claim:

Here is more from the study summary:

‘E-cigarettes contain nicotine but not many of the harmful substances produced by smoking tobacco, such as tar or carbon monoxide. However, there has been debate about exactly how safe their long-term use is. The study, involving 181 smokers or ex-smokers, has been described as “landmark” as it is thought to be the first (or at least one of the first) looking at long-term vaping outcomes in “real world” users. Previous studies of this kind have mainly relied on laboratory equipment, or animal research, to estimate the long-term effects of e-cigarettes. This study provides evidence that e-cigarettes and NRT can reduce harm to smokers by reducing exposure to toxic chemicals. The evidence would also seem to support Public Health England’s 2015 report that “E-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than tobacco”.’

https://www.nhs.uk/news/heart-and-lungs/long-term-vaping-far-safer-than-smoking-says-landmark-study/

I suppose if they had given space to the research that might have undermined their agenda to enrage the public with the subliminal message:

‘SNP blamed for massive cost of free vapes for convicted prisoners!’

A BBC reporter asked taxpayers in St Andrews’ and most said:

‘I hope the fuckin SNP leader gets lung cancer!

 

From news.gov.scot yesterday:

‘The number of people using online feedback website Care Opinion to share their experiences of the health service has reached a record high, with positive feedback increasing by 25%. Since March 2015 there has been a cumulative rise of 345% in the number of stories shared on Care Opinion, which provides people with the opportunity to thank staff and highlight what was good and what could be improved about the health service. In 2018 a total of 3,529 stories were shared on the website, with positive feedback from the public increasing from 47% in 2015 to 72% in 2018. To date almost 200 changes have been planned or made across health services because of stories shared.’

https://news.gov.scot/news/increase-in-positive-feedback-about-scottish-nhs

Footnote: In BBC Scotland’s editorial guidelines, any improvement greater than 50% can be described as ‘whopping’ unless to do so would annoy the Conservative or Labour parties.

Footnote 2: In BBC Scotland’s editorial guidelines, getting as big a percentage drop in popularity as possible is recommended as long as the SNP is in government. For the headline, I have calculated that the 25% increase is also 53% of the 2015 figure of 47%.

Footnote 3: In BBC Scotland’s editorial guidelines, any annoying or contradicting factors weakening the report should be ignored. I have not mentioned that the increase may be in part due to greater familiarity with the system in the wider public. Using my editorial judgement, I have decided that this is not relevant because nobody in the Scottish media establishment has mentioned it, in my hearing.

 

 

Scottish Conservative chief whip Maurice ‘Handshake’ Golden has criticised NHS Scotland’s use of private security companies. Several of his colleagues have gone home with headaches and general dizziness. Speaking also in his role as Scotsman and/or Herald Transport Correspondent, he said:

‘The SNP never stops talking about how it despises the use of private companies when it comes to our NHS. Yet here we see, under its watch, spiralling costs when it comes to private security firms. From the party that warned a No vote in 2014 would lead to the collapse of the NHS in Scotland because of privatisation, this is quite the hypocrisy. It’s another example of the SNP saying one thing to please its supporters but doing quite another in government.’

Golden was unable to provide a list of statements proving that the SNP ‘never stop talking about the use of private companies’ or to prove that the costs were ‘spiralling.’ At FM Questions, the FM is expected to make much of his ‘quite the hypocrisy’ statement.

Asked if he had used BBC Editorial Guidelines in his decision to add up the percentage increases, over five years, to get a big headline, he allegedly said: ‘BBC!? Bloody Broadcasting Commies!!’ 

When asked for the full figures, to see if there had actually been any significant growth in the trend, the Scotsman’s Unionist Support Officer, Wilhelmina Orangery, said she had misplaced them and sniggered that she would get back to us.

On the ‘bright’ side, working-class Conservative MSP, Ann ‘Eh’ Thingy, suffered a bit of a ‘moment’, listening to the Chief Whip. She naturally took his comments to mean that she should approach Richard Leonard with the offer of some kind of coming together to fight those SNP capitalist lackeys. However, Anne may now be leaving the Conservatives altogether after some vicious bullying by those scary posh ladies who sit behind her and sneer when she speaks.

Even better, just out of the Bar L, Billy ‘Fingers’ Thomson III, has offered to advise NHS Scotland on setting up a national security union and taxi business, funded by health boards. Thomson has no cars or staff and has never run a security company before but has been advised by a Tory grandee that this should not be a barrier. A former car salesman and now Tory MSP is allegedly furious that he has not been given a consultancy.

 

Last night, Reporting Scotland got the new year off as they no doubt intend to continue, with a fine example of bias by omission, well-crafted to conceal the role of Conservative, Labour and Lab/Lib governments in the awful contaminated blood scandal of the 70s, 80s, 90s and naughties, and, if enough viewers were ‘unawoke’, to contaminate the SNP with some unattributable blood splatter patterns.

Here’s the actual report:

‘Scottish ministers were told in 2003 that the UK Health Department was investigating a claim that contaminated blood was being knowingly supplied. Newly released files show that the then Health Minister, Malcom Chisholm, informed the Scottish Executive of the allegation. Thousands of people were given blood products infected with Hepatitis and HIV in the 1970s and 1980s, but the allegation referred to by Mr Chisholm was made after the system was overhauled.

It’s an horrific and damning indictment. If only we knew who was responsible. That Chisholm guy seems to have done his bit.

Taking only a minute or two more, here’s how, in images and narrative, presenter Graham Stewart might have fulfilled the BBC’s obligation to inform:

 

‘Scottish ministers, in the Labour/Liberal coalition Scottish Government, were told in 2003 that the UK Health Department, in the Labour Government of Tony Blair, was investigating a claim that contaminated blood was being knowingly supplied. Newly released files show that the then Scottish Health Minister, Malcom Chisholm (Labour), informed the Scottish Executive, led by Jack MacConnell (Labour), of the allegation. Thousands of people were given blood products infected with Hepatitis and HIV in the 1970s and 1980s, under both Labour and Conservative governments, but the allegation referred to by Mr Chisholm (Labour) was made after the system was overhauled by the ?? government in ??’

Now, I know, I’ve pushed it a bit there, but the report given by BBC Scotland was completely devoid of any possible links back to the Labour or Conservative administrations which were clearly responsible for all of these shameful events.

Back in the day, I could have sent some eager students out, with the Stewart clip on their tablets, to ask folk which party should be blamed for this. Which party would’ve got the most ticks?

The BBC Scotland website has plenty space to for the undiluted bloody truth but, despite Reporting Scotland headlining it, had no space for it, preferring ‘ScotRail rip-off!’ I can’t bear to listen to Radio Gaga Morning Scotland. Some plucky reader will tell us.

Some weeks ago, Graham Stewart engaged with me on Twitter, indignantly defending Reporting Scotland. Will he want to try to wash their hands of bloodstains on this one?

‘We didn’t say the SNP were actually to blame!’

‘Prof thinks the viewers are thick!’

 

In the ‘Scotsman’ yesterday, we read:

‘Health Secretary Jeane Freeman is being urged to make good on the Scottish Government’s pledge to abolish bed blocking in hospitals, as new figures showed the problem has cost an estimated £500 million since Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister. Labour claimed the overall cost since November 2014 now amounted to £500,491,757 – stating this was the financial impact of the 2,164,928 hospital bed days lost since then because of patients who are medically ready to be discharged but are waiting for care arrangements to be made.’

(No link here. Find it yourself if you care enough)

Intriguingly, we then see this:

‘The overall number of bed days lost because of delayed discharge had been falling, from 567,853 in 2015-16 to 494,123 in 2017-18.’

So, in the official published yearly statistics, bed-blocking has actually fallen 13%. Ah, but, see this:

‘But in the six months between April and October 2018 a total of 307,027 bed days were lost, official NHS statistics showed.’

Isn’t this sad? Bed-blocking might be going up again in 2018/19 and so, twitchingly unable to wait, Labour’s Scotsman Correspondent, Jimmy ‘Rattus Norvegicus’ Macquizlan, wanted to double up the numbers and twitchingly go now with the headline. He is reported to have said:

‘So what if they go down in the second half of the year, we’ll have scared the auld-yins again by then!’

Jimmy wanted:

‘Hospitals in crisis as bed-blocking goes up 50%* under SNP!’

*figures subject to checking by Labour Scotland Twig, Sums Department, head, James Third-R Kelly:

However, the much-ridiculed department, keen to prove themselves have done some fancy work and added up all the bed-blocked days since the FM became the FM and multiplied that by something to get the headline used.

It’s thought that in the end, Kelly had to ask the British Labour HQ to do the sums for again for them having witnessed their success in NHS England with this headline and image:

‘Cost of Bed-blocking in NHS rises to fuckin’ trillion squillions under that Hunt!’

Prominent North Ayrshire Labour councillor, Alex Gallagher, Visiting Guest Letters Editor at the Herald seems to be using his position to foreground his own letters. Today, January 1^st we read his exciting proposal that the FM should apologise for the 2013 White Paper on independence. I haven’t read the letter. I refuse. Nobody can make me. I don’t need to, to know it’s just daft. Does he think it fooled some of the 45% into voting Yes? Don’t tell me. North Ayrshire Labour Twig* had been at it again earlier in December using the Herald Letters page to attack the SNP. Again, I haven’t read it etc.

*For information, Scottish Labour is a ‘branch’ of British Labour’s now much-thickened ‘trunk’ so North Ayrshire is a sub-branch or ‘twig.’ Some have suggested wittily ‘TWIG’ is also an acronym for ‘Tories When In Government.’

Perhaps justifying his appointment to the Herald, Gallagher has also shown the Leonard-like intelligence needed in leadership:

Using the classic ‘Triple D’ or ‘Dickie Dimwit Dodge’, Gallagher pretended not to know that nuclear waste disposal is a reserved matter before accusing the SNP of a conspiracy to dump nuclear waste Fairlie near to his North Ayrshire domain.

Less predictable in its effects on voters, has been Gallagher’s flirtation with matters sectarian. In the peer-reviewed ETims Online Fanzine, in June 2018:

‘A Labour councillor has been criticised for attacking a journalist as not a “real Scot” after he wrote a sympathetic article about the SNP . Alex Gallagher apologised for the comment he made about former Herald columnist Chris Deerin who penned a positive analysis piece in a London-based magazine. Deerin, who is also director of the think tank Reform Scotland in Edinburgh,  described the SNP pro-immigration and pro-Europe, and contrasted that favourably with the Tories and its Brexiteers such as Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg. Deerin was also critical of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s Euro-scepticism. “You don’t have to want Scottish independence to appreciate today’s SNP as an emblem of decency, progressiveness and social conscience,” he concluded in his article in the New Statesman. “Scottish nationalism has grown up and it has grown up well.” But North Ayrshire councillor Gallagher took umbrage at Deerin’s take on the political parties. He posted on Twitter. “As a 50-year reader and subscriber to the NS, this is total and utter bollocks.”

http://etims.net/?p=13088

The Etims condemnation may have been triggered by Gallagher’s surprising tweet blaming Cardinal O’Brien for ‘something else’:

Personally, I see something in this one. After all, the then-entirely-Catholic, medieval Church of Scotland leadership, were very influential in supporting the Scottish independence movement led by the Bruce, in the early years of the 14^th Century.

Finally, however, Gallagher seems to have done some damage to his own cause with, these typical ill-judged tweets.

I knew a few SNP English-haters back in the day, but I’d be hard pushed to identify one today. Are they all in North Ayrshire? Me? Don’t be daft. I have/had three English aunties (My grandad got around). Iris Murdoch helped me cheat at Uni. My first heroes and style icons were the Who, the Small Faces and the Kinks. I’m un-elected convenor of the ‘Decent English Folk for Indecent Yoons’ population swap initiative.

So, TuS calls on the Herald to cancel their agreement with North Ayrshire Labour Twig and return editorship of their letters page to the usual cub reporter team.

Some words, in addition to those of Burns, that inspired my personal political philosophy, especially in verse two, which sums up its primary anti-imperialist drive. Never mind what currency we’ll use or how long the oil will last, believe in something bigger:

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