Innovative high capital cost projects commonly overrun in costs and time but only the ferries in Scotland can be exploited by the ruthless hypocrites
It’s been ages, two days, since the last ferry fiasco story, likely to affect the voting behaviour of almost no voters of course but you can be sure there will be a big one on Wednesday night, maybe even on the day of the vote? Look and laugh. What will you not hear? Well-known examples 1. Hinkley Point C (UK nuclear power) 2. Crossrail (London rail project) 3. Boeing 787 Dreamliner (aviation) 4. Airbus A380 (aviation) 5. Sydney Opera House (Australia) **6. California High-Speed Rail What about the MOD? UK Ministry of Defence examples Ajax reconnaissance vehicle 👉 A classic … Continue reading Innovative high capital cost projects commonly overrun in costs and time but only the ferries in Scotland can be exploited by the ruthless hypocrites
Youth unemployment far lower in Scotland – short video
Reposted as Anas Sarwar tries to save himself by blaming a whole health board for the tragic death of one child
19 years of the SNP in charge and UK youth unemployment is shocking 55% higher than in Scotland which has one of the lowest rates in Western Europe
The above, presented as applying to the UK as a whole, formed part of a BBC Breakfast report this morning including these comments: Being out of work or education between the ages of 16 and 24 can have serious long-term consequences for people’s health, employment and finances later in life. A new study suggests that nearly one million young people are currently not in education, employment or training across the UK (sic) The latest, January 2026, figure for Scotland is 10.2%. 15.8% is 54.9% higher. https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/l2qpgqbx/economy-people-and-skills-january-2026.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com In a wider European context, Scotland has one of the lowest rates in Western … Continue reading 19 years of the SNP in charge and UK youth unemployment is shocking 55% higher than in Scotland which has one of the lowest rates in Western Europe
The Scotch Whisky Association on US tariffs: ’Scotch Whisky and US Whiskey share a close and longstanding trade relationship, and industries on both sides welcome the First Minister’s leadership on this issue’.
By stewartb I’m pleased that independent whisky distillers in Scotland will benefit from the removal of trade tariffs on their exports to the USA. (As someone who greatly enjoys a single malt, I’ve long since shunned for the most part the brands of the big corporates in favour of Scotland’s burgeoning independent sector.) The role of FM Swinney in achieving this change in US policy seems to be ‘triggering’ Unionist politicians. Mr Swinney’s release of the text of the message he received from the US President is not going to help Unionist blood pressure! Here is some additional, background information … Continue reading The Scotch Whisky Association on US tariffs: ’Scotch Whisky and US Whiskey share a close and longstanding trade relationship, and industries on both sides welcome the First Minister’s leadership on this issue’.
I bet they didn’t say ‘administrative error’ when it was an administrative error
The Herald a week ago and today, milking the story of one single appointment at the same GP walk-in clinic with a healthy dose of demonising John Swinney. He’s a busy man if he’s managing the appointment system in a clinic as well as being FM! It’s the inverted commas or speech marks the Herald hasn’t used on the first story but has on the second that get’s ‘me.’ In the second, the NHS has said/written that the six-hour wait was an admin error. The use of ‘blames’ and putting the markers around, suggests that it can’t be trusted. If … Continue reading I bet they didn’t say ‘administrative error’ when it was an administrative error
Short video – Violent crime in Scotland has fallen by 27% since 2008-09 with 30 000 fewer Scots experiencing it every year after two decades with no service-cutting right-wing government and the SNP maintaining 24% more police officers
Sources at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/04/30/violent-crime-in-scotland-has-fallen-by-42-since-2008-09-with-30-000-fewer-scots-experiencing-it-every-year-after-two-decades-with-no-service-cutting-right-wing-government-and-the-snp-maintaining-24-m/ Continue reading Short video – Violent crime in Scotland has fallen by 27% since 2008-09 with 30 000 fewer Scots experiencing it every year after two decades with no service-cutting right-wing government and the SNP maintaining 24% more police officers
‘Hard-pressed Scots’ will be ‘sick of it’ if we distort the truth before they hear of it
The Herald today rehashing a story they got from the Scottish Cons in March. If you can’t be bothered reading all this below, here’s a short video covering the key points: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/03/13/short-video-on-are-hard-pressed-scots-sick-of-homeworking-hybrids/ Here’s the March 2026, response which still stands today The Herald today has: The Scottish Government faces a new transparency row over civil servants working from home as statistics are set to be withheld until after the Holyrood election. Pressure is mounting on SNP ministers to crack down on officials who refuse to work from the office as part of the Scottish Government’s hybrid working policy. Where is this ‘mounting pressure’ coming from? Anyone else? Nope, that’s it. Pathetic. Is … Continue reading ‘Hard-pressed Scots’ will be ‘sick of it’ if we distort the truth before they hear of it
Scotland’s model for pharmacy offers lessons for predicted ‘Iran war’ shortages
hours searching for stock of common medicines like antidepressants and HRT and government (UK) payments no longer cover the cost of some drugs. BBC Breakfast this morning has the above in a fuller report on the problem. Neither they nor the subsequent Reporting Scotland news, report what is happening in Scotland Here’s why. In the Guardian 29 March 2026: Britain [sic] is “a few weeks away” from medicine shortages ranging from painkillers to cancer treatment if the Iran war continues, according to experts, while drug prices could also rise. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/28/uk-weeks-away-medicine-shortages-iran-war-impacts-experts-warn The above makes no mention of Scotland. Searching for reports … Continue reading Scotland’s model for pharmacy offers lessons for predicted ‘Iran war’ shortages
The Great Scottish Ferry Inconvenience Media War
My latest column in Scots Independent: 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 … Continue reading The Great Scottish Ferry Inconvenience Media War
Talking-up Scotland 