I’m afraid I won’t be doing my regular two or three blog posts this week as I am currently experiencing another bout of post stroke fatigue which is being exacerbated by the fact that I’m struggling with a flare up of psoriasis which is preventing me from sleeping properly. I will be back on Monday.
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Hope you feel better soon . We look forward to reading your next blog.
Take Care! Good people are precious.
I hope you’re feeling better soon, I enjoy your posts.
Take care Paul and have a rest. We are quite capable of debating amongst ourselves in the meantime. There is certainly plenty to talk about.
Get well soon paul
Aye, rest and be thankful, this blog is alive and well despite your personal travails and will continue to be so….
I’ve heard through the grapevine a yacht may be coming up for distressed auction soon which you and Peter might stretch the budget for, the good ship Barren Mone-y… Hot and cold running lavvies apparently….
😉
Get well soon Paul looking forward to your next blog.
Have a good break, Paul, we’ll be needing you fully ‘on-song’ in the coming months.
I’m still laughing at your perceptive turn of phrase in your recent National blog, when you said ” Kerr, the sour milk of human kindness……” , following his wally-rattling performance on the politic show at the weekend.
As always Paul, wishing you & Peter all the best!
As always Paul wishing you and Peter, all the best!
Take care and take the time you need to get better.
HI Paul, sorry to hear this. Take care.
Rest and recuperation is a hard-fought for thing, and for sure it’s well-deserved.
Palmer’s cocoa butter lotion works well with the skin. Worth a try?
All the best Paul. Take care of yourself. We’ll miss you but your health is most important right now so be kind to yourself and take things easy. We’ll see u back when you’re good and ready.
John of “Going gently” blog also has psoriasis flare ups…I am trying to remember what he said works…you could go over to his blog and ask? He is also a nurse
Hope you feel better soon, take good care of yourself as your health is more important than the blog
All good wishes from me, too.
And here’s something I’m sure will not be reported where you are – but is making news where we are:
https://nation.cymru/news/uk-ministers-were-afraid-of-nicola-sturgeon-during-pandemic-covid-inquiry-told/
UK ministers were afraid of Nicola Sturgeon during pandemic, Covid inquiry told
13 Mar 2024 3 minute read
UK Government ministers were “afraid of Nicola Sturgeon” during the pandemic, Mark Drakeford has said.
Addressing the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, the First Minister said: “I have the highest regard for the first minister of Scotland and first minister and deputy first minister in Northern Ireland, they were never anything but collegiate people, they took phone calls, they were involved in discussions.
“The UK Government was always anxious about their interactions with the FM of Scotland because she had a different underlying ambition for the future of Scotland and that coloured their attitude towards her.
“She’s also a formidable politician.
“Many UK ministers were afraid of her and would not like to be involved in a confrontational dialogue with her.”
[…]
Take all the time you need
Take care. R/R. Best wishes. Look forward to future blogs. X
Hae a guid rest big man!
Take care of yourself and feel better soon.
Look after yourself Paul, hope you feel better soon. Pam
Get well soon, Paul!
Sorry you are having a bad time, I hope you are much better soon. Margaret
Ballot Box Scotland tweeted yesterday that Redfield and Wilton were an inconsistent pollster. I think they maybe will ignore them in future.
Now Prof Robertson comments on this maverick pollster.
Not his first comment on “Redcoat” and Wilton. See this earlier reference where even the bookies think the pollster is oddly biased.
(add the https://)
talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2024/03/13/13-in-a-row-pollster-maintains-record-for-never-finding-a-yes-majority/
Aye, which is why the latest is so bad. R&W are finding Yes ‘tomorrow’ up, Yes parities up and Yousaf up, with unionism down on all measures. The only poll that had Starmer rated slightly positive, now has him negative.
I don’t know where to start this morning – there are so many news stories swirling around. For example, I missed Mark Drakeford’s evidence at the Covid inquiry but it certainly was revealing.
Mark Drakeford: Tory ministers afraid of Nicola Sturgeon during Covid
https://archive.is/7st22
Then there was the latest chaos at Westminster over the refusal of Rishi Sunak to return the £10 million donated by a despicable character called Hester.
Then the Speak refused to call Diane Abbott to speak even though she was the subject of debate.
Stephen Flynn tells Speaker to quit after Diane Abbott snub
https://archive.is/P1MOG
Let’s not miss Michael Gove’s mission to criminalise the vast majority of the population by labelling us all “extremists” although strangely exempting a Tory donor.
UK Government unveils new ‘potentially illegal’ extremism definition
https://archive.is/BRnY6
If anyone is trying to “undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal democracy and democratic rights” it must surely be the leaders of the Labour and Tory Parties and the Speaker of the HoC.
It’s not even time for FMQs yet.
Well done Mark Drakeford. We all know just how formidable NS is, hence why they/them/nastybastards continue to use their vile tactics to cause maximum disruption on a daily basis without even blinking.
Fact of the day, after adding the latest R&W which pushes Yes up a smidgen…
In the very worst polls for the SNP / best for Labour since Q1/2 2011*, Yes has been the settled will of Scots, on average, since Ipsos released their Late November 2023 poll. So approaching 4 months.
This is a total disaster for the union. Current response rates are favouring them, yet ‘baseline / trough’ Yes has moved into majority and is staying there. This is occurring because unionists are moving to Yes in record numbers.
—
*Yes, that’s correct, the last time the SNP were polling this low was ahead of their historic 2011 majority. Polls are much better for them now than they were right up to Q2 2011. Back then, Labour were well out in front and projected to win a potential majority. Right now, Labour consistently trail the SNP for both their own British elections and for Scotland’s parliament.
Today I received yet another glossy ‘magazine’ from LibDem HQ in London purporting to be from the local LibDem MP. Not a mention of Scotland and no longer any pretence of being the ‘Scottish’ LibDems. He is praising the NHS in general but, of course, it’s struggling due to the SNP. (No specific mention anywhere of NHS Scotland). He then begins to quote figures:
7,700,000 people on the NHS waiting list. Wot, in the Highlands? Surely not. No mention that those figures refer to NHS England. BUT there are ‘several’ people in the Highlands who have been waiting for over 30 weeks. ‘Several’ is quite a few less than 7 million plus. Whatever, it’s all the fault of the SNP.
It can take 45 minutes for an ambulance to arrive, on average. Is that in the Highlands or UK wide or what? If you live in the Highlands and in a remotish place 10, 15 or more miles from the nearest ambulance station, possibly on single track roads, it will take more than 8 minutes to reach you despite their best efforts, but he is not specific. People who live here know that. (There are, however, volunteer first responders in many areas.) But it’s all the fault of the SNP.
There’s more but it’s all so contrived that anyone reading it should do so with caution.
So the message is, vote for him to keep flitting up and down to Westminster, the place the whole world looks up to as an example of how not to run a country, and all your problems will be solved. Simplz.
It’s bluntly geared for an England audience, but relies on continuing public ignorance of that which the Brexit campaign ‘engineers’ capitalised on, now faded a perma-angry fume over “but they promised”…
The UK’s political/media class are bricking it as the chickens come home to roost, in the case of the LibDems, accompanied by “Davey, Davey, give me an answer do…”….
If you lived in a but and ben 50 miles from anywhere on an island in the middle of a loch, the Lib Dems would promise to build you a helicopter pad on your tin roof, order the NHS to home visit you 3 times a week and promise the travelling shop would be at your door first thing every morning with freshly baked scones and churned butter, and the latest released video if you’ll only vote for them
Then they’d tell you it was nip and tuck between them and the SNP to win on your uninhabited except for you island because they’re winning everywhere else
ConDems cut NHS funding, stagnant since 2015. £125Billion. A decrease in real terms. Cut Education £6Billion. Betrayed the students who voted for them. The students were assured fees would not go up. Clegg now European rep for Facebook. Making £millions. Tax evaders.
ConDems cut Welfare £16Billion. A cut in real terms. £100 a month. Deduction. The Scottish Gov has to mitigate the cuts. £25 a week child benefit for low income families. Decreasing poverty.
The LibDem allowed the Tories cuts and a Tory victory. Austerity. Cameron then Johnston appalling lies were told. Resulting in Brexit. Another disaster. Now unelected Cameron is back. An unelected Lord. Back causing more trouble.
The Scottish Gov unable to grant a blanket reprieve for the innocent postmaster in Scotland. So maligned by Horizon scandal. The UK Gov managed bad, appalling situation.
Post Office counters is an organisation managed and run by Westminster administration. Illegal actions happening for years. Bankrupt systems and computer programmes. Despite being informed of the terrible, illegal actions by Horizon and the UK Gov. Nothing was done about it.
Scotland post masters not included in the Westminster Gov legislation. Another travesty of justice being committed by Westminster lying sycophants. Worse and still not sorted out or compensation given by the UK Gov. Just dilly and dallying. Many people have died.
Libdem Davy at the helm for years denies all knowledge. ConDems. They should all lose their ‘honours’. Defrauding taxpayers and causing havoc. One of the worst fraud ever. It should be sorted out. Tory unionist corruption, once again. The buck stops there. Another few months to go.
The lies being told by unionists of only 30 rehab beds. There are more than 30 beds at Castle Craig. The most advance rehab in the world. Acknowledge worldwide of the best facilities, practices and research of information.
Priory also have beds. Proper rehab facilities have opened in Dundee and the borders, with more to come over Scotland. The Scottish Gov have allocated £250Million of funding over five years. £50million a year.
Unionist councils do not fund proper total abstinence facilities. Instead people are being put on methadone for years. The councils are building too many shops and empty offices. Instead of building and funding proper, total abstinence, rehab facilities. Or affordable houses or schools. Poor, bad budget management for the local communities.
All drug deaths in Scotland are people prescribed methadone and taking other abusive substances. Or drinking. Alcohol deaths have fallen because of MUP and better healthcare information. Leading to a drop of alcohol consumption.
Consumption of alcohol was 25% higher than the rest of the UK. Now levelling out. For historic reasons. Thatcher. Higher unemployment in Scotland. Blair 24/7 drinking Laws introduced. Another disastrously, bad policy. Along with the illegal wars, tax evasion and financial fraud. Damaging the Scottish, UK, world economy.
Labour did not support MUP in Scotland. More people would continue to die younger. Then demanding SNP Gov did something about the fatal figures.
The unionists did not support MUP or smoking ban. They are being funded by the pub owners and the hospitality industry. Giving donations to unionist councillors/ parties to extend drinking, licensing hours. Often against the wishes of the local communities.
Tories voted for and facilitated Brexit. Fatally damaging the economy.
One more piece of news today that will surprise nobody. Oh, and Rishi Sunak has ruled out a May election.
MPs get inflation-busting pay rise as salaries to top £90,000
https://archive.is/fq6qy
It’s so noble and selfless of them to do this. Let us abandon cynicism and share in their dream that one day someone might become an MP without being the centimillionaire grandson of a slaver
That’ll be the “all walks of life” redefined to mean walks of life that are consistent with Eng Engl Engli “British values” now redefined as the values the Eng Engl Engli British government says they are, just as they have redefined democracy to be “what we say it is”
The crisis in Gaza has exposed the political chasm that exists between the countries constituting the British Isles.
Ireland and Scotland making it crystal clear in their abhorrance and opposition to the actions of the Israeli state in Gaza and the Anglo state,largely supporting what is being done.
The Anglo state is completely in hock to the USA and will blindly follow whatever direction they decide to go in.
If you want to know what UK future foreign policy on any issue is going to be,just ask the White House.
Latest Techne UK poll is 45% certain to vote. That puts Labour on 20(-2)% of those certain to vote compared to the 2019 election.
If such a low turnout happened, we’d be looking at boycott levels close to those of Iran (41%), where people are doing this to mass protest against the regime, complete with street marches etc.
Right now the public are not aware of this potential boycott, or specifically, that that so many others are angry and plan to boycott like them. Instead, the media is painting a picture of a stunning Labour victory like 1997.
That picture would fade rapidly when word on turnout gets out, which Tory / Reform etc backers will make absolutely sure of to undermine Starmer. He would have no popular democratic mandate for England never mind Scotland, and there’d be no hiding it. The BBC might try to gloss it over, but papers backing opposition parties would front page it relentlessly.
Now certain to vote levels may yet shoot up again. As a rule they do once campaigns begin if starting from low points (if they are overly high, they drop back). If that happens, incumbent parties as a rule benefit.
Pollsters always get it wrong. Time after time. Censored and fined so many times. Paid to gerrymander the vote. Hedge making £Billions betting on the result.
Public and private monies wasted pollster trying to manipulate the result. Poor methology. Bad statistical record. Illegally buying information to target voters. Breaking data protection. To try and manipulate the results.
Facebook etc selling people’s details, without permission. Corruption and manipulation. They always get it wrong but get away with the loot. Paying no taxes. They buy and get honours by getting it wrong and manipulating the result. Unionist corruption wasting public monies. Controlling Governments to tax evade. Hedge funds ripping the public off. Unequal and unfair.
Take the information with a piece of salt. The Bookies are better at getting it right. They make money from the Odds. Tax evade vast profits. Ripping people off.
A mugs game. Trying to create excitement manipulating the facts. To make more illegal gains. No one goes to jail for corruption and fraud on a grand scale. Against all odds. An affordable fine from vast profits made.
People can learn from the past but cannot predict the future. Impossible. Even with a crystal ball. Just as accurate. Malthus and birth control. The pill. 1960’s. Medical science influences the world. Not the Polls. Getting it wrong
all the time.
Little appropriate regulation from the UK Gov or the electoral rules. The piper pays the tune. Get what they paid for. Totally biased. Depends on the secret vote for good reason.
Just vote SNP. Donate even non members. Get Independence from corrupt Westminster. Change the rules to make the world a better place. Get out and vote. A better turnout.
Use the Ballot Box for conclusion. Universal Suffrage 1928. Westminster lies and tries to get away with it. Liars always get found out.
The big England politics:
Both Labour and Tories between them certainly have been successful at one thing, and that’s crushing the life out of any interest in voting for either one of them
It’s a strange thing that’s happening right across the UK too, as right now there’s never been so much interest in what the major parties are doing and saying, yet for the most part the public despises the both of them
So the interest in politics has never been so high but the desire to vote for the actual politicians has never been so low, making the job of the media much more fun for them as they twist and turn the viewer and listener towards whatever pleases them on any given day of the week
Vote for us “The British media party” coming soon, are you watching us? we’ll keep you informed
That right Mr Rupert Murdoch isn’t it
In Scotland we have a choice:
Ignore the whole shebang in England, ignore the TV, ignore the radio, vote SNP and set about taking our country back from these shysters, you know they’ll never change
There was a by-election for a Council down in England yesterday. The Green candidate walked it with over 60% of the vote to Labour’s 25%. Don’t know the turnout but this result together with how well the Green’s did in the last local elections in England suggests that with a fair wind and reasonable media exposure they might take a few seats in the GE which could lead to an interesting situation.
Penny finally beginning to drop in little England then
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-definition-of-extremism-2024/new-definition-of-extremism-2024#the-definition
“Aim 2 (undermine, overturn or replace liberal democracy): Attempts to undermine, overturn, or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights. Including:
Advocating that the UK’s parliamentary democracy and democratic values and rights are not compatible with their ideology, and seeking to challenge, overthrow, or change our political system outside of lawful means.
…
Subverting the way public or state institutions exercise their powers, in order to further ideological goals, for example through entryism, or by misusing powers or encouraging others to do so.
…
Establishing parallel governance structures which, whether or not they have formal legal underpinning, seek to supersede the lawful powers of existing institutions of state.”
Well, that’s monarchists and the Royalty telt, then.
It also looks like a clear message to anyone thinking about UDI as a solution to solving Scotland’s democratic deficit.
Well, it does say “outside of lawful means” and the ICJ ruled back several years ago that UDI wasn’t illegal in international law, so, good, that would be a very tasty can of worms for them to open. And as it says at the top of the page, pointed out by PABell which is how I knew “Applies to England “.
My initial reading is that it does very little as far as we’re concerned, and in the way these things work, could be used in our favour 🙂
An example – in terms of the state (UK) denying a People (Scotland) the right to self-determination internally, one more hostile action by that state (the UK). Which can be argued in some external court like the ICJ (or at the UN General Assembly by a friendly Nation).
I’ve been listening to Norrie Hunter talking to Sara Salyers on the Norrie Hunter show streamed on 14th Feb. It’s a long listen and I’ve taken several nights to listen to it all. Annoyingly, no matter how far along you were it always seems to reset at 22 minutes when you come back to it for some reason.
However, it is a very interesting podcast and well worth devoting the time. It covers Scottish sovereignty, Claim of Right, colonialism, Scotland’s historic constitution, Salvo, and many more observations on our uniquely Scottish culture and world view. Time to reclaim it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVPG4BuJHgY&t=1340s
I’ve deliberately not read it because from what I saw about it, her work is as sound as a pound. Must be – Leask called her “fringe”.
It’s an audio upload. If you click on the “more” drop down link in the description box you do get a link to the transcript if you like to read along.
I mean the website itself.
https://salvo.scot/
Still staying clear so any thoughts are my own! I had enough of a look to find no mistakes to my knowledge, so left it at that.
Ironically, those blood and soil nationalists who’d only give the vote to people born in Scotland, would exclude her amongst others, as she was born in the US.
I have only glanced at the website too and agree, it looks sound to me. I also like Prof Alexander Brodie’s lecture “The Past as Propaganda in The Declaration of Arbroath” which I’ve linked to more than once.
We have a very different cultural and legal inheritance in Scotland which Westminster tries to deny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdd1NlunAiU
Thanks Capella, I haven’t listened to this yet, cup of tea and biscuit this afternoon I think.
Thanks
Golfnut
It took me several sittings to get through it all. Plenty food for thought and biscuits may help! I think I will listen again.
Thanks for this, Capella.
I’m away for the weekend but will read it on Sunday evening. Tea & Biscuits? Prosecco and Cheese? Both if it’s a long read?! 😀
Hi IUTBE it’s a podcast so you’ll need to take your headphones to listen in peace – it’s a loooong listen!
I wonder if any government anywhere can redefine the meanings of words to suit whatever agenda they have, and if they can, why not the Scottish government? can they redefine words? can anyone just decide to redefine words to mean something other than they originally were designed to mean? do we have to ask Countdown’s Susie Dent or the Oxford English dictionary?
The UK English government is famous for their reinterpretation of meanings, it’s how the wangle themselves out of keeping their word on contracts and deals throughout the world, meaning no matter what they say they said, it doesn’t mean that after a certain period of time, or wasn’t meant to mean that two minutes after signing a contract or agreement (the Sewel convention) (Brexit means Brexit) (The Smith commission) to name just a few
The UK English government have reneged on every deal and contract they have ever signed in the history of the world, citing the use of language more often than not
Perhaps the Scottish government could redefine the word redefine, and just call this what it is
” The English Putin strategy ” after all he takes nor asks any consultation or opinion on a single thing he ever does from anybody let alone the people
I reckon Putin learned this from England just as 1930s Germany learned it from English history too, you think I exaggerate? ask the 65 countries that are no longer under the control of the British empire, not one single one of them wishes to return to English control, even if they redefined that contract 100 times over with bells knobs and whistles on
Looks like Penny Mordor is about to pitch for the Tory leadership. Sunak out, October election and new manager bounce to save Tory seats. Headache for Starmer and boost for the SNP
This would be an interesting development.
I can’t see how Sunak can hold on until October with the knives already being sharpened for him. There’s nothing he can do to improve Tory fortunes (the budget was his forlorn hope), so it would make sense for them to try and last gasp change of leader.
But folks should keep in mind this key fact:
UK poll changes on Labour post mini-budget peak, October 20th, 2022:
+8% Ref
+2% Con
+1% Grn
nc Lib
-9% Lab
Labour has been the loser since that peak. Everyone else is up or has stood still. Con have not been losing to Reform, Labour have.
Labour definitely down to the low 40’s 2024, and that’s with low certain to vote levels favouring them.
They’ve lost all the voters that came to them post mini-budget to Reform, net. Seem to be now losing all that’s left after this, i.e. their 2019 base.
A worst case scenario would be that they’ve actually already lost a lot of their 2019 base to ‘don’t think I’ll vote as there’s no centre-left party to vote for’, and are being propped up by Tory 2019 voters who are still hanging around post mini-budget, specifically those that have not moved on to Reform.
Mordant steadying the Tory ship might see these return home. As Starmer shifted even more right to try and stop this, he’d ensure no 2019 left liberal base came back, and would be very exposed. Could see absolute support down on 2019, not just standing still net as is.
I will keep saying that this election is going to be full of surprises and will trigger a constitutional crisis. UK is a political tinderbox across all borders.
In the NoI we have unionism smelling the coffee and accepting a republican FM, with a harder border down the Irish Sea than with the republic. In Scotland, Yes now the settled will of Scots in polls that are heavily favouring the union due to low SNP 2019/21 response rates (data suggests for the latter).
Good article from Roz Foyer on the Tories’ attempts to criminalise the public. Reveals who the culprits were last week when FMQs was interrupted 9 times.
Roz Foyer: New extremism definition is the deception of the century
https://archive.is/m5f0r
Aberdeenshire Council has refused permission for an Orange Order march in Stonehaven today. Their decision was upheld by the Aberdeen Sherriff Court yesterday. Expect criticism about freedom of speech to come from an unusual quarter.
October election? Change the unelected leader again. A disaster waiting to happen for the Tories. No policies and no escape. They have to face the voters now. To settle their fate. Incompetent, uncaring, bigotted, racist, misogynist, elitist. Their fate awaits them. If they do not resign first.
The Orange Lodge & masons. Racist, bigoted, secretive, unequal, misogynist. They blackball people, illegally.
There are no Orange marches in the NE and many places. Or separate schools. Banned. People do not put up with these policies. Separation of religion and State. Equality.
Glasgow does not ban them. There are too many.
UK Gov lame duck. No time to introduce much. It can be challenged in the Courts. Just trying to waste tax payers public funds and money. Total useless, wasters. Off with the loot. Total incompetence.
Predictably this morning the British news media report on Vaughn Gething being elected as Wales FM with all their usual anti Labour anti Wales digs about Mr Gething being “openly” gay (what the hell does that mean? well we know don’t we, and who cares anyway) and the dire state of the Welsh NHS and look what you’ll get if you vote Labour in England folks
It’s all so predictable from the English British news to kid the English on that no matter who’s in charge everywhere else it’s much worse than good old England so stick with what we tell you and vote Tory to avoid being the same as the dreaded colonies of Wales or Scotland, because those people are just uncivilised backwoods people
The other story (and I’m luvvin this) is the possible probable crowning of Penny Mordaunt as new PM to save the Tory party, and how she’s more left wing than what the Tories in Westminster really want (that’s the wee selling point slipped in right there) as they try to pick up the voters that might be thinking of voting Labour at the general election
Regular readers of WGD will remember when the Tory leadership contest originally took place and I predicted Mordaunt for leader and it turned out the Tory party ordinary members wanted her too until during the contest she was stitched up to lose and her voters disappeared and they installed Truss (big success) then went on to compound their stupidity when they threw her out and replaced her with the guy who lost to her, Sunak (nobody actually voted for him in any numbers at all)
Now it looks like they’ve seen the error of their ways and are going to stick good old Miss Brittannia the sword holder to the King of England into the top job
If the Tories do it it’ll be brilliant for the Tories in England and even more Brilliant for the SNP in Scotland, Penny Mordaunt is a sure fire winning goddess in England and simultaneously the devil in a frock in Scotland
England will think they’ve got a prettier Margaret Thatcher and Scotland will reel in horror, because you’d have to be blind as a bat not to see that Penny Mordaunt would never be content with being PM she won’t stop until she’s “QUEEN OF THE WORLD”
I typed that bit in big so it looks shouty
Would Mordaunt really want the Prime Ministers job for what can be little more than a few months at best? She might decide it would be better to see Sunak take the flak for the upcoming election drubbing rather than her having anything to do with it.
‘I typed that bit in big so it looks shouty’ 😂
Trying to get my head round this – I don’t follow MSM:
“Predictably this morning the British news media report on Vaughn Gething being elected as Wales FM with all their usual anti Labour anti Wales digs about Mr Gething being “openly” gay …”
Gething’s opponent – Jeremy Miles – was the “openly gay” candidate. Gething is a married (to a woman) man: Gething and his wife Michelle live in Penarth, where he has lived since 2011.
I guess MSM are just highlighting their ignorance of anything outwith the M25, yet again.
They do their homework, don’t they
First Black leader of a European country set to be elected in my home country.
https://nation.cymru/news/vaughan-gething-elected-as-welsh-labour-leader/
Vaughan Gething elected as Welsh Labour leader
16 Mar 2024 7 minute read
Vaughan Gething has been elected as the next Welsh Labour leader and is set to be elected as the First Minister of Wales.
He will become the first black leader of any European country.
Welsh Labour members have chosen Mr Gething, 49, to be their next party leader, succeeding Mark Drakeford, who has held the position since 2018.
Mr Gething beat his only rival, the education minister Jeremy Miles.
Welsh Labour said Vaughan Gething achieved 51.7% of the vote compared to rival Jeremy Miles with 48.3%.
In total, 57.8% of members voted and 9.4% of affiliates, giving an overall turnout of 16.1%.
The current minister for the economy, Mr Gething is expected to be declared the country’s fifth leader since the National Assembly for Wales, now called the Senedd, was established in 1999.
His appointment as Welsh Labour leader was announced on Saturday morning in a lecture hall at Cardiff University.
However, he will not take over as first minister until Wednesday – when a vote will be held in the Senedd.
[…]
Note to Scotland.
I’m of the opinion that Gething is a Starmerite and unlikely to be his own man (or for Sir Keir to allow him to be).
Does this remind you of a certain Sarwar in your neck of the woods?
Quelle Surprise !
The Governor General of Scotland aka Union Jack has declared , after a nano second of thought , that NOTHING has been improved in his fiefdom ( Scotland ) since the SNP came to power in 2007 .
Speaking to that neutral media outlet , The Times , he explained that despite squillions of English monies being shipped to the barren wasteland of Scotland , the SNP has done nothing to improve life here .
He confessed that he turned down other Cabinet sinecures in order to maintain his Governor General status as his mission was to strengthen The Union !
His mission fulfilled , he will now be targeting ”the ermine” and his rightful place in the House of Horrors where he can continue his life’s work of playing The Toff !
It’s like every five minutes somebody from the Tories or Labour insults every voter in Scotland by telling them they’re stupidly always voting for the wrong party, and what makes it worse is there are still some folk in Scotland who haven’t noticed that’s what they’re doing
Of course when it comes to general elections in Scotland both Tories and Labour are the best of chums and reveal their true identity as the one England party when both of them tell us the same thing, “vote for either one of us just not the SNP” thereby giving the game away that they are “The England party”
I forgot to mention the Liberal Democrats there, but then again what’s to remember?
Erm, aye. Return it. I helped pay for it, and want my donation back from Police Scotland, who are holding this against my permission, potentially damaging the campaign prospects of the party I support.
https://archive.is/I5zvk
Senior SNP figures want back the controversial £100,000 motorhome which was seized by police nearly a year ago.
The campervan was first taken by officers from former party chief Peter Murrell’s mother’s home in Dunfermline last April.
It came shortly after Mr Murrell, husband of Nicola Sturgeon, was arrested and later released without charge as part of the police investigation into SNP finances.
STV reported on Friday that the SNP has made inquiries to police to find out when the motorhome might be returned.
The party purchased the luxury campervan to be used as a campaign bus ahead of the 2021 Holyrood election campaign due to Covid..
But this plan was later ditched as pandemic restrictions were gradually eased by Ms Sturgeon in the run-up to the vote.
” It came shortly after Mr Murrell… ” – Ehm, no it wasn’t Justin Bowie, you’re attempting to rewrite history…. Again…
*heart* Scotland
This isn’t looking good for unionists.
https://archive.is/sFjjq
Stephen Flynn jokes SNP campervan should be used by Tartan Army
STEPHEN Flynn has joked that the SNP’s impounded campervan should be used by the Tartan Army during this summer’s Euros…
…Flynn, the SNP’s leader at Westminster, was then asked by journalists during an SNP event in Perth whether he would like to see the campervan back in the hands of the party.
“Look, hotels in Germany for the Euros are going to be really expensive,” said Flynn.
“So, if there’s a campervan that I and thousands of other Scotland fans can crash in that’s available, then I’m sure that will be a delight for the Tartan Army.”
I might suggest this is kind of joke you make if the police are holding a campervan that was bought using party funds for party purposes, with egg flying towards some non-party faces.
Well I can tell you they’re not getting the helicopter, that’s mine and parked up in my garden
You know what makes me laugh? the news media calling a campervan *controversial*
How does a van do that then? drive a wee bit wonky on the road and no care a jot?
Does it have a racist sounding horn? Is it not dressed appropriately? Ah! it’ll be flirty, that’s what it is, a naughty wee flirt of a campervan that hangs out in seedy places
Nope, can’t be that, it was in an elderly lady’s driveway with a mask on through Covid
Ah! of course, that’s it, it tried to disguise itself as not a campervan
The polis in our country must feel like a right bunch of Pri*ks taking orders from England like this, and they are
As Cilla might have said of the BB/UK page today, “Ye gorra laff…” – The first five headlines are :
” Councils told to consider residents’ support of LTNs ” – Transport Secretary Mark Harper said it showed the government was “on the side of drivers”. – AKA Tories, let’s see if we can improve our chances of political survival…
” Shapps abandoned Ukraine trip over security – MoD ” – According to the Sunday Times, which had a reporter travelling with his delegation, the trip was called off after an intelligence update revealed the Kremlin’s knowledge of it – It was an internal trip for a photo-op in Odessa
” ‘I got my first death threat before I was elected’ ” – “I had people saying things like ‘you’re scum’, ‘you should be shot’,” Mrs Williams, 35, remembered – Let’s divert attention from the Hester debacle over Diane Abbott to talk about local elections…
” Ed Davey calls for ‘once-in-a-generation’ election ” – 5 million Scots are in shock over the hypocrisy…
” Ireland beats Scotland to retain Six Nations title ” – Let’s not mention England eh, and make sure James promotes it in top spot on Scotland’s main page…
The SNP asking for their YES bus campervan back might also be an indicator of how close we are to Branchform reaching its conclusions.
You never know, Sturgeon might be on the campaign trail again soon.
This must be anti-English somehow right?
I think real left leaning Labour supporters in other parts of the UK might even start to sympathise with the direction those that support Independence want to take Scotland.
They should get behind Independence for Scotland and let us show the way for a fairer and better future that could be possible for the majority in England too with a genuine left of centre government in charge.
We have polls showing that 40% of ‘Welsh’ Labour supporters are in favour of indy for Wales. (One presumes that there are similar figures if you ask them about indy. for Scotland.)
I don’t think Gething will be able to change those figures in a downwardly direction. Indeed, I even believe that should he try, and cuddle up to Starmer too much, he’ll actually find the numbers of ‘Welsh’ Labour for indy increasing.
See also: https://nation.cymru/opinion/labour-leadership-lost/
They have been for almost 8 years since Brexit and not only do they remain of that persuasion Alex but have increased in numbers – None want to see Scotland separate from what was the uk but abide by a profound belief that democracy must prevail.
It was a Labour blogger who drew my attention to the ” Ed Davey calls for ‘once-in-a-generation’ election ” piece observed earlier with “The Scots will be fn furious, and rightly so…” – It was one of a selection of pieces us ‘foreigners’ could view on the export version of the BBC applying to all 4 nations – Cogitate on that one for a moment.. The BBC are running two sets of websites, one presenting “the truth” to the public of the UK and quite another to the rest of the world.
The political/media class of the UK must be really worried the house of cards they’ve constructed is collapsing….
Well, in the last run of UK polls showing certain to vote levels, this has now dropped below 50%; just 49% on average.
This implies a potential turnout of less than half the electorate. It would be like the UK is becoming Iran, with the people protesting against the regime.
Good for the SNP, the stand up ovation for Diane Abbott. She’s an icon, agree or disagree with her. This Week used to be on for some odd reason as I was sitting catching up with emails or whatever, and it was a really good programme, considering I can’t normally be bothered with politics on TV , it’s usually too boring. Portillo’s railway programmes are also great – he managed to rehabilitate himself from being a politician!
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/the-staggers/2019/02/diane-abbott-bids-farewell-andrew-neil-s-flagship-programme-week
GB news says “Scotland wants *more* independence but they’ve already got all the powers they need to do that”
They never expanded on that statement, I can only guess maybe they think Scotland has actual and real devolution instead of a management system that says England will only interfere whenever it wants to stop anything they don’t like
And it’s also not *more* independence Scotland wants, it’s complete and total independence like normal people in normal countries
I think we fail to understand GB newspeak [sic.]:
“Scotland is more unique than other countries as it wants more independence than other countries – such as the Republic of Ireland. That country has mere independence; what Scotland wants is more than what the RoI has.”
English as she is spoke by some who profess to be native speakers.
Clearly Independence means something rather different to the weirdos who inhabit GB News ( Yes , I mean you , Neil Oliver ! ) .
It must be like watching a science experiment that has gone dreadfully wrong in a B-Movie from the 1950’s , where the cult of anti-Communism informed and perverted all logical debate -except worse !
( I say ”watching”, but I value the few working brain cells I have left to never watch this monstrosity of a TV channel . )
Great – let’s get the battlebus that SNP supporters paid for on the road. It’s safely ready and waiting outside Murrell’s maw’s hoose!
No wait, someone has stolen it and locked it up in their yard, taking the hard earned donations of 10’s of thousands of Scots in the middle of a cost of living crisis.
https://archive.is/YIEcV
Humza Yousaf vows to campaign in ‘every constituency’ in Scotland
Aye, so there there are member’s donations missing and we know who has them; Police Scotland & the UK Crown Office & PFS.
Give me my money back right f’n now thanks PS / COPFS. It is my money, not yours.
Perhaps the Polis , who have spent in excess of £1million ( we are told ) investigating the alleged mispending of £600k , will be seeking to raffle the Campervan to offset the cost of their Blue-tent fiasco .
Yes , I know it is NOT their property – but ”evidence ” has a habit of disappearing ( allegedly )from Polis custody at times .
Or , they may already have ”misplaced” the Campervan and are too embarrassed to admit this .
The ‘ State ‘, for want of a better term, were up to their oxters in shit already, but let’s call COPFS out for what it really is – An extension of HMG desperately in search of a red let alone smoked herring.
Flynn’s clever remark over the Tartan army making good use of a campervan was class…
The ‘State” have gone so deep to keep this gambit going it’s beyond embarrassing, even if it keeps the state of a secretary for Scotland ‘purring’ down the line…
The campervan was a registered asset, legal, on the books and not hidden, so how is it in anybody’s imagination evidence of missing money? it’s right there evidencing the exact opposite, and I’m absolutely 100% positive every single penny has been accounted for by now
I mean for goodness sake if the FBI can put away Al Capone in short order for 30 years of tax evasion at a time when they had no computers, no records, no nothing except guys with clicky pens, then either police Scotland are the most incompetent to the highest degree police service in the world, or what we all suspect to be the truth, they are ordered by the British state to just sit on their fat jam filled donut bums waiting to be told what and when to do something
Meanwhile FFM Nicola Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell might as well be under the same kind of public house arrest as Aung San Suu Kyi unable to move a muscle in or out of their home without the secret Scottish polis and or the great British press media following their every move
Since passing her driving test do we know whether the FFM is out driving around anywhere on personal or SNP business? I would guess not, because some crappy newspaper would leak her car type and number plate, dare she go anywhere alone? I bloody well hope not
The FFMs home might as well be in Myanmar
We don’t live in our own country, we exist in an English controlled enclave and now they’ve legally labeled us as their newly defined version of extremists
If I am not mistaken their “legally labelled, newly defined version of extremists” is only applicable in engerland, and unfortunately Wales. This new definition was or will be past into engerlish law. It’s a different kettle o’ fish north of the Sark and the Tweed. And oor government is not a westminster succubus. Nay doot Dross will squeal an huff an puff aboot gettin’ in line and full alinement. But that has never done onythin’ but show him up for an ejit when the kye kum hame.
“Yousaf ‘Tory free’ election strategy panned by SNP MP and ex-Sturgeon aide”
I totally agree with them, it’s mince, it’s enough to make SNP voters stay away, so negative is its message.
It reminds me of 2011 when Scottish Labour were so obsessively negative about the SNP – the result was a majority SNP Government, which was supposed to be impossible under AMS.
“Tory-free” is likely to make Westminster SNP-free. or at least, back to 6 or even 1 MP.
Madness in a Bubble.
I have to get this out of my system, it’s like a poison that’s eating away at me.
MAKE SCOTLAND TORY FREE is like some student protest, and a lunatic fringe student group at that. Like the Greens.
TORY TORY TORY – OUT OUT OUT
TORY TORY TORY – SCUM SCUM SCUM
Anyone remember how “popular” they photoshopped banners and chants were at AUOB marches? Not a lot.
Whoever at the SNP came up with that election slogan should be told to go back to the Unionist party he or she STILL BELONGS TO.
It’s a strange choice of slogan given the Tories are effectively on their way out anyway, it’s like Sunak’s ‘pledges’ over him bringing inflation down when it was always going to do so.
Agreed that it is an ill considered and negative message which the strategists advised, but it isn’t reasonable to compare the HR elections of 2011 to a GE in the current desperate climate of UK politics.
This makes me angry too. And very disappointed. We don’t just want rid of the tories, we want rid of all the english parties, so why not have a slogan along the lines of “Wesminster Free”. That is, after all, what independence would mean.
” “Westminster Free”. That is, after all, what independence would mean.”
Much more sensible, not to mention accurate.
It would also be a great starting point for discussing every policy point they wanted to make. “Westminster funding/overriding our laws etc affects everything Scotland needs to do. It means we can’t…”
Hope the SNP advisers read this.
Who are these clowns? I could do better than this…
👍
Yes, and it’s also a gift for Labour. You get an enthusiastic SNP activist with a placard “Make Scotland Tory Free”, and a Labour one stands on their left with “Vote Labour”. Kidnap!
Even if every Tory MP lost their seat in Scotland we wouldn’t be Tory free. If the the Tory party remains as the uk gov we would still have the likes of Offord and Jack quite literally lording it at the Scottish office, we would still have Tory MSP’s and councillors. Then we have the liblab Tory party, you couldn’t squeeze a fag paper between any of them in reality as far as there attitude to Scotland and their relationship with the truth is concerned.
It’s a stupid aspiration and as an objective, non deliverable, even as an independent state.
The question is, where did this come from?
Golfnut
A possibly confusing slogan. But then this is what happens when you talk about red and blue Tories as Yousaf did.
At least some people have noticed the elephant over in the corner of the room, although the size and implications of it still, I feel, are not being fully appreciated.
https://archive.is/TpPTq
Labour landslide will be much harder to achieve than in 1997, analysis shows
British voters will go into the election this year poorer, more pessimistic and less approving of politicians than they did in 1997, according to data showing how difficult it will be for Keir Starmer to replicate Tony Blair’s landslide victory.
An analysis of economic and polling data by the political consultancy Public First shows the country has lower wage growth, higher levels of debt and less affordable housing than it did when Labour last ousted the Conservatives from power. All five of Labour’s most senior shadow ministers are less popular than their 1997 counterparts, as are most of the top ministers in cabinet.
I note the article doesn’t not mention a potential historic low low turnout from a quick scan.
Getting the Tories/unionists out of Scotland will make Independence more likely. They will not be in a position to stop it. The more unionist politicians out of Scotland. The more likely to achieve Independence. Less opposition. Obviously.
Why people who support Independence vote for a unionist party in Scotland is a mystery. Cutting off their nose to spite their face. The unionist parties do not support Independence.
A majority of people in Scotland support Independence. Not voting will not get Independence. If people want Independence they need to go out and vote for it. Vote for a Party that supports Independence.
That slogan also counters the aim of making every vote for the SNP a vote for independence. Westminster can point out that people voted SNP to get rid of the Tories, not for independence.
Not if independence is on the ballot as planned. And also not if the electorate believes it voted for independence. In the end, you can’t tell voters what they voted for. For independence, we don’t need England to decide we voted Yes, but for Scots to decide this. When they decide that, then we become independent.
Politicians do not need to declare their parent’s income unless they are getting a benefit from it. Joint assets.
Politicans should not be giving or supporting contracts or influence that support family interests. Sunak supporting Gaza war. Father in Law benefiting from BP contracts in Gaza. Wife benefits. Shares in the company or trusts etc.
While its good to have a decent one, slogans are just not an important factor in how people vote. People won’t vote Labour for ‘change’ as evidenced by them not having won over a single voter since 2019 with this slogan.
So while the SNP seem to be targeting Labour voters with the ‘Tory free’ thing, it’s at most a waste of time. It won’t affect the outcome. Its only counterproductive in the sense a better one would be less open to criticism.
The problem with the Labour ‘change’ sloganeering is that in the next breath they’re pretty much saying ” plus ca change…”
Labour’s slogan in 2019:
https://labourlist.org/2019/11/its-time-for-real-change-labours-new-campaign-bus/
‘Plus ca change’ as you say.
Unionists are getting ever more frustrated with Branchform.
Meanwhile, the SNP are joking about it, asking for their ‘Battle bus’ back (see Labour’s 2019 massive one above) so Scots can leave the UK for Europe in it.
https://archive.is/Mv8eF
Humza Yousaf refuses to comment on Operation Branchform as activist calls for police update
Sean Clerkin has urged Chief Constable Jo Farrell to comment on the long-running police investigation into SNP finances.
Perhaps she ( Chief Constable ) is using it for her overnights in Scotland when she can’t drive back home to England ?
Was Clerkin outside Nicola’s house with a megaphone while he was urging?
The English nationalists are the biggest threat the union faces and he knows it.
Starmer is of course an England nationalist, hence Scotland not even getting a passing mention in Labour’s manifesto. Which is why him making PM with no democratic mandate (as polls point to) nor, potentially, majority, would see the rapid demise of the UK.
https://archive.is/N4NBG
‘They needn’t come to my door’: Kyle Paisley hits out at TUV-Reform alliance
The TUV should not be taking their lead from “English nationalists”, the brother of a prominent DUP politician has said.
It comes after TUV leader Jim Allister confirmed the party had struck up an alliance with the Nigel Farage-backed right-wing Reform UK ahead of the upcoming UK General Election…
…Posting on his X account, he said: “The amalgam TUV/Reform standing in England? They needn’t come to my door looking for a vote.
“Hard Brexiters pushed NI to the edge of the Union. Ulstermen should not take their lead from English nationalists.”
Pro-UK side is ever more badly divided long the (Scottish / Welsh / N of Ireland) unionist vs British nationalist vs English nationalist lines. These are three different groups and they do not agree. At all.
‘Tory free’ comments correctly reported.
https://news.stv.tv/politics/humza-yousaf-scotland-must-reject-tory-values-at-general-election-red-or-blue
Scotland’s First Minster will call on the country to “reject Tory policies, ideas and values” at the next general election.
In a jibe at Labour, Humza Yousaf is expected to say “that means rejecting them whether they’re delivered by someone in a blue rosette or a red one”.
Prior to the speech, in this case by STV.
I thought Humza made it perfectly clear, they’re all Tories, and if you’re Scottish you should already know that
In every Scottish election all English political parties become one party with one aim, which of them is best placed to defeat the SNP so vote for that one
If that were not so people like Jackie Baillie would not be sitting in our parliament right now, for she is there by the will of Tory voters in her constituency at the last election
Good news about GB news, but don’t shut them down we need their attitude shown for all to see what they are
GB news Eamonn Holmes wears a green tie and proudly talks about himself being Irish on St Patricks day, yet is a proud British unionist
We have the same ilk in Scotland born bred and brought up here but defend the right of England to rule us all
People like this are not talking about political decisions, they’re talking religion and monarchy which has always been the great British way of causing division in a population
Protestant Catholic Muslim Jew Hindu or any other religion on earth should have no influence in the fair and safe governance of a country for all people
ensure that Scotland is Tory-free
Not a single Tory MP left in Scotland. Delegates, that is a prize worth fighting for.
So, the message is simple, if you want rid of Tory MPs in Scotland, vote for the SNP.
to finally make Scotland Tory free
Most seats across Scotland are a straight fight between the SNP and the Tories. (actually wrong)
Let us resolve, here and now, to win each and every one of those Tory seats.
let’s rid this country of Tory MPs once and for all.
let the message from our party be heard loud and clear by every Tory MP in Scotland. Your time is up and the SNP is coming for you.
making Scotland Tory free is about more than kicking out the handful of hapless Tory MPs.
Making Scotland Tory free is about our values and our choices.
If we are to truly make Scotland Tory free, we need to reject not just Tory politicians, but Tory policies, Tory ideas and Tory values. And that’s whether they’re delivered by someone in a blue rosette or a red one.
https://www.snp.org/first-minister-humza-yousafs-address-to-the-national-campaign-council/
Snippets of Yousaf’s actual speech as reported by the SNP.
Speech and half. We all need to make it work.
Haven’t read the speech yet but if he includes Labour in “Tory” then that is better than just saying Tory-free.
The policies we want rid of would be better described as “neo-liberal”. If people wouldn’t understand that phrase then an education campaign to spell it out would be a good idea.
Inequality out
Austerity out
Nuclear weapons
Westminster corruption and vested interest out
Affront to democracy House of Lords out
etc
Nuclear weapons out obvs. In fact all weapons of mass destruction out.
Set Phasers tae stun and only use Malky if they’re really bad
Yes, them too – out,
The fuss being made about it isn’t going away soon, it was a very unwise speech. I didn’t include this quote from him: “From the Highlands to the Borders, let’s rid this country of Tory MPs once and for all.” but a letter in the National I agree with, did.
I read there’s talk of devolving broadcasting to Scotland again, let’s be clear
It’s never going to happen ever in anybody’s lifetime if they live to be a thousand years old
As long as England controls what Scotland and Wales sees and hears on *the news* they control everything, and they’re not going to give that up on pain of death
The only way broadcasting becomes *unBritish* in Scotland and Wales is for both of our countries not to be ruled by England
GB news was just found guilty of breeching impartiality rules by having Tory MPs presenting their version of the news, but what they weren’t found guilty of is the use of right wing Tory press journalists who present exactly the same thing, those people only escaped guilt because they’re not MPs
GB news is actually worse than RT, and that channel was cancelled altogether for the same thing because that was Russian owned and not good old English owned, well, or Australian or American, who knows these days? still could be Russian?
There’s always talk of more devo from the English parties ahead of elections.
Free Iru Bru for every household… reform of the house of lords, the moon on a stick etc too.
Kaye Adams has finally blown her tenuous cover as a rabid unionist and compared the SNPs Tory free slogan to “The Holocaust”
This is what happens when you rile up the British nationalists, they compare you to what they do themselves as though what they do is acceptable
Who knew Tories thought their political choice was a religion?
Kaye with an ‘E’ reading out texts on air which equate SNP slogan with Nazis !
Well , I always thought the ‘E’ in Kaye stood for EXTREMIST , now she has confirmed my view .
Hysteria setting in, whipped up by “extremists” like Kaye Adams. Michael Gove will be on her case immediately if not sooner.
The SNP taking seats from the Tories in a democratic election organised by the British state, is now being compared by the BBC to the former committing the same crime as the Nazis and the Holocaust.
That’s where the UK is now. Totally lost it’s mind. This will be the last UKGE Scotland sees methinks. All the signs are there.
Martin Geissler on the radio talking about how “I don’t need to tell you the catastrophic effect of Edinburgh council cutting funding for a pensioners free lunch club”
Catastrophic? really? Sad or a shame, yes, but catastrophic?
Everybody’s getting in on this redefining of meanings and words now
So it turns out you can get Elon Musk to fly six people to the edge of space cheaper than sending one asylum seeker to Rwanda MPs were told today
Also perhaps the British should keep their mouths shut when criticising Russia, because when the reply comes back from Russia, “British Imperialism” it’s very difficult for them to argue their case as any kind of democracy
FHS don’t tell the Tories this. They will announce a plan to have Musk dump asylum seekers on a barge in orbit next.
Eliminating all Tory MPs in Scotland is important for indy. It will show Tory politicians and voters that the only way they can get a say in the running of Scotland is under PR post-independence. While we remain in the UK, English politicians will keep them out of power by retaining good old Blighty’s first past the post system, with Scots voters doing that by not voting for them in sufficient numbers.
I’d venture to suggest that polling is currently over-predicting the Tory share in Scotland as it is Lab and Lib. Instead, if the linear correlation between Tory share in England and Scotland which goes back decades holds true, then they are lucky if they are 11-12%. This is why Ross was begging with his English overlords for these not to extend the English windfall tax on Scots. They laughed in his face then rubbed it in on live TV in response. It’s the sort of thing they’d do if they expect to be out of power for some time to come, and when they get back in, Scotland won’t be in the UK anymore, so who cares… might as well rile the Scots so it’s Labour that loses the union.
BBC Scotland should confirm the austerity of Westminster Gov policies on pensioners. Pension 1/4 of average UK income. Lowest in Europe.
BBCScotland should learn how the Barnett Formula works. UK Gov decides how £50Billion a year of Scottish revenues are spent.
Pensions +benefits . UK. £250Billion. Administration costs £Billions. Raising pensions would save on administration costs – means testing. Better remuneration for pensioners.
Scottish revenues pay for pensions/benefits in Scotland. £20Billion. Pensioners die younger in Scotland on average. Thatcher. Less housing benefit in Scotland. Accommodation is cheaper. Accommodation costs twice as much in London S/E. 8 million+ pop.
Scotland 5.4Billion = less housing benefit pro rata.
Pensioners in poverty. Especially women who worked PT. The majority. People who worked PT were denied pension rights. They were refused the right to join work pension schemes. Now retired. More women % started to work 1970/80’s. More work (p/t) became available. Lower paid. Discrimination. Unequal.
Women were told by the UK Gov to pay the lower NI stamp. To rely on their husband’s NI contribution. Or child raising credits. Often denied because of bureaucracy fails in the system.
Cherie Blair succeeded in preventing any back dated pay off for affected women. In Court. The feminist, Multimillionaire.
Women pensioners in poverty. Women outlive men 5 years on average. Worldwide.
10% of pensioners in Scotland work. 5% in the rest of the UK. (PT) 10% of pensioners in the UK pay tax. Income above £12,000. Tax allowance.