SCOTS SHOULD VOTE TORY TO STOP SNP MAJORITY
From the Guardian: The Scottish Tories could deny the Scottish National party a majority at Holyrood, Ruth Davidson has insisted and said that the SNP winning an overall majority in May’s Scottish parliament election was no longer the nailed-on near-certainty that polls had once predicted. To stop Sturgeon’s party winning that majority – and then using it to push for a second Scottish Independence Referendum – the Tory Holyrood leader urged all Scots opposed to breaking up the UK to back her party in the regional section of the vote, even if they had never voted Conservative before.
SCOTTISH SNP BID FOR EMBASSIES BIZARRE
The Express reports: SNP ministers are attempting to boost foreign presence with new “embassies” across several countries, but it has quickly been attacked by the UK Government. The Scottish Government admitted it was considering opening new “Scotland House” hubs across various countries as part of new foreign policy commitments. Ministers say they would “consider any future expansion” in line with wider government priorities stressing the Nordic countries were one option for investment including in Copenhagen, Denmark. Under the Scottish Government’s new plan, the Scottish Government said Copenhagen was one option for future investment” for a new Scotland House. But the UK Government have made clear that foreign relations were a reserved matter, with a senior Whitehall source adding: ‘Foreign affairs are a reserved matter for the UK Government and whilst Devolution permits the Scottish Government to undertake some foreign relations duties, the Scottish Government should not overstep the mark. This plan seems bizarre and ridiculous and seems to be an indirect way of wanting to break up the UK and achieving a goal of independence.’
BORIS FACES ROW OVER PALE MALE AND STALE MINISTERS
The Mail on Sunday reports: Boris Johnson faces a male Ministers revolt over fears they will lose their jobs in a ‘women first’ reshuffle this summer. The Tory men angrily accuse the Prime Minister of planning to favour tokenism over talent by promoting a raft of women MPs in the Government shake-up. One senior male Minister said : Boris should be picking people based on competence – not gender, but Tory women have accused the men of ‘sour grapes that the Prime Minister was about to recognise the abilities of female Tory MPs. Caroline Nokes said If male, pale and stale colleagues feel overlooked, perhaps it’s more to do with their ability than their gender.
BBC BREAKS ITS OWN DIVERSITY RULES
The Independent writes that staff members have criticised the organisation for continuing to break its own diversity rules one month after it sacked its top board member of colour. This comes as the broadcaster culled its news board while imposing cuts and job losses in the division and an £80m savings plan. Several posts including that of editorial director, held by Kamal Ahmed, were closed.This has left a white board with the two vacancies on the now eight-person board temporarily filled by white people. In 2019, the corporation established a policy that all senior leadership groups should have at least two staff members from black and minority ethnic backgrounds which means the current status is at odds with the BBC’s own diversity guidelines.
MORE PAY WHEN YOU ARE OFF SICK SAYS HANCOCK
The Times reports that Matt Hancock is pushing for an increase in statutory sick pay as Britain emerges from the lockdown in an effort to create a healthier nation. Hancock wants to raise the level of statutory sick pay from £95.85 a week to help people to take time off work if they are ill. During a meeting of the government’s Covid-operations committee this week he argued that the move would benefit the economy because it would reduce levels of sickness. But The Times has been told that the move is being resisted by the Treasury amid concerns about the cost to employers. The UK has some of the lowest levels of statutory sick pay among developed countries that offer mandatory schemes.
THE APPRENTICE WILL SEE YOU NEXT
The Times reports: Doctors could qualify after completing an apprenticeship rather than a medical degree under plans being drawn up by the NHS. It would allow them to earn money while training, and is likely to target those who had been in the workforce for some time according to officials at Health Education England. Professor Liz Hughes, deputy medical director of HEE, said: We are working with employers, the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, Medical Schools Council, the General Medical Council and a number of other stakeholders on developing a medical apprenticeship. A proposal is currently in the early stages of development and there will be significant opportunities to help shape and implement the plans.
MORE NHS HELP NEEDED FOR THOSE RECEIVING SOCIAL CARE
The Guardian writes that more than a quarter of people who receive social care from the NHS have seen their health deteriorate during the coronavirus pandemic, according to research. In a survey of more than 4,000 people with social care needs and carers from the Care and Support Alliance (CSA), 28% said their health had declined, and one in seven people required hospital treatment due to a lack of care. The CSA reported that older and disabled people had been left struggling with daily activities and were missing medical appointments, and a quarter of those who said they had trouble carrying out daily activities reported that they were not given help by authorities when they asked for it.
MORE TRADE DEALS IN THE PIPELINE
The Express reports: International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has raised hopes that the Commonwealth could become a trade platform as well as an organisation of friendly nations and allies. Speaking to the Sunday Express in the aftermath of the Queen leading celebrations of Commonwealth Day last week, Ms Truss has emphasised that the organisation is now a key part of her drive to agree trade deals around the world. She said: “The Commonwealth is home to some of the world’s biggest and fastest-growing economies. Deeper trade ties with our Commonwealth friends and allies will help deliver jobs and prosperity across all parts of the country and help us build back better from this awful pandemic. Negotiations are already under way with Australia and New Zealand, and we will start talks on a more advanced deal with Canada later this year.” Thanks to the work of Ms Truss and her department Britain already has 29 trade deals with Commonwealth member states in place. On top of the plans for comprehensive agreements with Australia, New Zealand and Canada, she has also opened talks with India.
MORE MONEY FOR BRANSON’S VIRGIN AIRLINE
The Times reports that Virgin Atlantic is finalising a fresh £160 million support package from shareholders and creditors as the airline scrambles to secure its post-pandemic future. The latest package comes six months after a £1.2 million deal was completed following failed talks about a government bailout. Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group owns 51 per cent of the airline, with the rest owned by US carrier Delta Air Lines. Virgin Group will provide a £100 million loan as part of the funding, while a further £60 million of deferrals from creditors will be granted, Sky News reported.Last summer, Branson, 70, was accused of hypocrisy when he asked for a £500 million government bailout for the airline despite being a tax exile. He lives on Necker, his Caribbean island.
WATCH OUT THERE’S A DOG THIEF ABOUT
The London Evening Standard reports that Nottingham’s police force has employed a specialist officer to investigate dog thefts as there is growing alarm in Nottinghamshire and nationally. Chief Insp Amy Styles-Jones who has been appointed the dog theft lead has three pet Chihuahuas called Tink, Jasper and Josie. The move comes as demand for puppies has developed during lockdown, resulting in a stark increase in the number of dogs stolen by criminals. Last month Home Secretary Priti Patel pledged to look at measures to tackle absolutely shocking pet thefts and to go after the thieves who are profiting from the crime. Speaking on LBC Radio, Ms Patel said she was looking into what kind of measures can be put in place to address dog theft. Her comments came after former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith called for tougher sentences for pet thieves amid a national spike in dog thefts.
AND FINALLY
From the Daily Mail: When choosing a wine, we might like to think we’re calling upon our knowledge of terroirs, grape varieties and the best vintages. But, according to a psychologist, we are just as likely to plump for a bottle simply because it has a simple name or a pretty picture of a giraffe on the label. Oxford University professor Charles Spence has written a review of the psychology of wine. In it he says shoppers faced with hundreds of bottles on a supermarket shelf may be so overawed that they opt for the one with the name that’s easiest to pronounce. If he is right, it could explain how the likes of the deeply unfashionable Blue Nun, Black Tower and even Piat d’Or remained best sellers for years.
The Scots should vote for anyone other than the mainstream parties. All crooks, all at the end of the political road and all completely out of touch with their voters.
No Anjela just for once surely even a vote Tory is better than vote SNP.
Why?
Advocating the scotch vote for anyone other than snp – good luck with that!
I don’t believe it!
Not your fault our News Correspondent but apparently, virtually the whole nation, has gone mad.
Having apprentice doctors learning on the job and making life and death decisions mistakes which will lead to unnecessary deaths. What utter cr*p. It is so typical of this ruddy useless government to introduce such a scheme, probably just to save money. Being a medical doctor takes years of training, and they should not be let loose on Hospital wards or in Accident and Emergency or in GP Surgeries until they have passed their exams, and that is all of them, simple as. Yes one can learn on the job to be a politician because no formal qualifications are required other than the ability to talk utter garbage as in the case of this issue, but a medical doctor definitely not. This dumbing down of standards has been going on for years now, and this learning on the job mentality found its way into policing some years ago, and the result of that stupid policy is all to plain to see on the streets today. If Johnson can’t govern this country properly then he should resign and allow somebody who ha bit of grey matter between the ears to take the reins. It never rains it just pours, so sick and tired of Johnson and everything he stands for. We need change and need it quick……..
Colin. Apparently this is something being discussed within the N.H.S. Or that’s how I read it. The N.H.S. has been going downhill for many years. Can’t really blame Boris for that. Mind you, Boris and Hancock are in charge at the moment. Perhaps you are right. They might introduce that cr*p.
I understand your concerns Colin. They are justified . Allowing civil servants or politicians near medicine is uncomfortable
, cause putting the Politics and the civil service any where near is not good..
However the Medical profession shows no sign of wanting to change in spite of pressures ( This is a sign of the Guild mentality. ). I see no problem of conflict with the seperation of different expertises. EG eye doctor,Leg and foot doctor. Digestion doctor Lungs etc as a qualificationand protection for the patient..
I think we have sort of got this already but it could with advantage be regularised and more..
Don’t know details yet, but someone said on radio ( I was told last night), that one or two people who bought and paid for e books for their kindle readers , from Amazon, have recently had one or two them removed. Vanished. Eg someone had their Orwell’s 1984 removed from their Cloud. or so they said.
This hasn’t happen yet with ebooks downloaded to the device, the Kindle reader. so are they safer there?
Anyone know anything about this? Is this the start of a CCP style cultural purge? The start of “You won’t own anything and we’ll be happy” (quote; Klaus Schwab) ? In future will stuff like that not be sold but leased to us, even if we pay for it?
I’m glad I kept my hard copy books although I cant read them as I can’t enlarge the text like you can on a E Book. I could read them if I bought spectacles but at about £200 a time blow that!
PS Reported by Bloomberg News, I am told.
Mary, you have two things there.
The so called cloud is touted as being impregnible to outsiders getting into your account.
A couple or three years ago, many pictures of actresses, naked and semi naked appeared on the www. They had been downloaded from the cloud. I cannot comment on books disappearing as reported, but with the high handed tactics of various outfits (twits and faceexpose) running these sorts of things, anything is possible.
As to spectacles, ‘which’ magazine has a list of reported as good suppliers. Following that info I got three pairs from asda – reading, puter, and driving for under two hundred pounds. Yes very happy thanks.
Optician’s advice was not to get cheap specs but he would say that wouldn’t he? I suppose you could get away with it if you don’t read much.
Anyway there were other factors why I bought a kindle; I’ve never regretted it. Including I got some classics (entire works of about 8 authors) for 1p each !! Had to index it but it was worth it.
But I do wonder: Marxists are constantly trying to defile and destroy everything of value in Western culture; they’d love to see all the works of classical antiquity and European literature wiped out of existence. Which could be done if it was all in “virtual” form. Which is why keeping old hard copy books is important.
mary. Biscotte has just reminded me of something re. specs.
Soon after first lockdown started my close work specs broke. I bought some very cheap, from Amazon. All they did was magnify X4. Kept me going until I could get some ‘proper’ prescription ones made up.
We are all different of course but I can’t see how simply magnifying print can do any harm and they really were VERY cheap.
mary. I’ve never used the Cloud facility as it does not fit my routine. Glad if what is downloaded into my kindle library is not threatened. There is a lot there, I’ve paid for and not read.
I’ve had a few problems with Amazon deliveries lately and I’ve noticed the Amazon UK site keeps changing slightly. Hopefully it is all a question of incompetence. Left hand not knowing what right hand is doing.
‘Male, pale and stale’ just about sums up Johnson himself.
Have you noticed he looks very much older all of a sudden?
It’s the dreaded ‘Long Covid’ Biscotte. I still have half a hope he may be persuaded to resign.
And he’s losing his hair!
Liz Truss for Prime Minister! She certainly gets things done!
Don’t know about that Sonya but I noticed it was just about the only ‘not mad’ report in the news. She does seem to have carried on with her job and getting things done while all around her succumb to one panic after another.