Even More SNP Nonsense

[Arnold Rothstein]

Will you concede that there is also a percentage of Scots who would willingly see the country suffer as long as independence was gained?

 

Got an answer to this yet? 

 

Nope.  He's capable of debate whereas your contribution is to only throw around insults.

 

No he's not ffs but i'm astonished that you're sticking up for hm, astonished.

[Arnold Rothstein]

My opinion is not valued, I stay in Belgium.

 

I disagree. Is that a yes?

 

Btw, if you stayed in Swindon your opinion would not be valued. JSYK

[SwindonJambo]

I disagree. Is that a yes?

 

Btw, if you stayed in Swindon your opinion would not be valued. JSYK

Ta

[Space Mackerel]

But but but...

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Doogz]

But but but...

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

Did you read the article ? http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/general-election/nicola-sturgeon-calls-brexit-repeal-bill-a-naked-power-grab-1-4502924

 

The powers have to come back to Westminster before they can be transferred to devolved administrations - just because it can't happen automatically doesn't mean it isn't going to happen.

[frankblack]

WTF is Sturgone doing talking to the other side when the UK is trying to get the best deal - get her tar feck

Also she was just on news - can she not get through an interview without laughing sneering and generally coming across as a nippy sweetie - for the good of Scotland just go Sturgone

 

I think its quite clear that the SNP are now trying to distance themselves from Indy Ref 2 as they can't win it, so their next target is to try to wreck the UK's Brexit deal.

 

Sturgeon is coming across as a torn face bitter loser - a child trying at a party trying to wreck it for everyone else.

 

Its just as well Scotland is doing so well under her stewardship that she feels she doesn't need to do the job she was elected to do at Holyrood.

 

[deesidejambo]

I think its quite clear that the SNP are now trying to distance themselves from Indy Ref 2 as they can't win it, so their next target is to try to wreck the UK's Brexit deal.

 

Sturgeon is coming across as a torn face bitter loser - a child trying at a party trying to wreck it for everyone else.

 

Its just as well Scotland is doing so well under her stewardship that she feels she doesn't need to do the job she was elected to do at Holyrood.

 

It's in Nicolas best interests for Brexit to fail as that may increase support for Indy. She will try to wreck it.

[Doogz]

How dare Sturgeon seek to protect Scottish interests! However, nice to see that you believe Scotland is thriving under the SNP.

It's in Nicolas best interests for Brexit to fail as that may increase support for Indy. She will try to wreck it.

So you want Brexit to fail even though that will harm the whole UK including Scotland - not sure how that is protecting Scottish interests !

[Space Mackerel]

So you want Brexit to fail even though that will harm the whole UK including Scotland - not sure how that is protecting Scottish interests !

Brexit is going to fail. I don't think NS has anything to worry about.

[frankblack]

How dare Sturgeon seek to protect Scottish interests! However, nice to see that you believe Scotland is thriving under the SNP.

Sturgeon should be negotiating the repeal bill terms with David Davis. That is within her electoral mandate.

 

She isn't a head of state and has no business trying to wreck our economy. The more damage she causes the more she hopes her Indy 2 chances get boosted.

 

Perhaps she was there to offer reassurance that she will sell our fishermen down the river to let Scotland stay in the EU? That worked well for Angus Robertson and Salmond in northern constituencies,didn't it?

 

However people are beginning to see that the SNP are a cancer with a negative approach to dealing with its neighbours. It's just a shame the next Holyrood elections are years away to take their power away.

[Doogz]

Every single post from a unionist is filled with negative language. What a depressing bunch you are.

Your the one that wants Brexit to fail in the hope that this will make things worse in Scotland and this will somehow make independence more likely - that's hardly a positive argument.

FWIW - I've repeatedly suggest that the SNP need to use their existing powers to continually improve the situation in Scotland, use these successes to argue for more powers and finally independence. That is surely a more positive argument than hoping Brexit fails and we all suffer.

[Space Mackerel]

Your the one that wants Brexit to fail in the hope that this will make things worse in Scotland and this will somehow make independence more likely - that's hardly a positive argument.

FWIW - I've repeatedly suggest that the SNP need to use their existing powers to continually improve the situation in Scotland, use these successes to argue for more powers and finally independence. That is surely a more positive argument than hoping Brexit fails and we all suffer.

The list of SNP government achievements is long and wide-ranging. After a decade of Westminster cuts, the SNP government is working harder than ever to protect the most vulnerable in our society and deliver the best public services anywhere in the UK.

 

* Record health funding - over ?13 billion in 2017, ?3.6 billion more than when we took office.

* Higher exam passes up by a third since 2007, and we?re investing record amounts in schools to close the attainment gap. ?120 million will go direct to schools this year alone.

* Free tuition protected, saving students in Scotland up to ?27,000 compared to the cost of studying in England.

* Free, high quality childcare has been increased to 16 hours a week for all 3 and 4 year olds ? up from 12.5 hours in 2007 ? and extended to 2 year olds from low income households, saving families up to ?2,500 per child per year in total.

* We exceeded our world-leading target to reduce emissions by 42 per cent by 2020 ? six years early. 

* More people in employment in Scotland than the pre-recession high point, outperforming the UK on female employment and inactivity rates.

* We?ve kept Council Tax down. Bills are lower in Scotland than in England - by between ?300 and ?400.

* Prescription charges abolished. In England, patients are forced to pay ?8.40 per item.

* We?re leading the way on fair pay. Scotland has the highest proportion of employees in the UK paid at least the Living Wage.

* Over 60,000 affordable homes completed, with a further 22,000 households supported into homeownership.

* 16 and 17 year olds now have the right to vote in Scottish Parliament and local government elections.

* To help protect jobs and businesses through the recession, we?ve slashed or abolished business rates for 100,000 premises ? saving small businesses ?1.2 billion to date.

* Recorded crime in Scotland has reached its lowest level in 42 years.

* Scotland, with one of the most progressive equal marriage laws in the world, has been rated the best country in Europe for LGBTI equality and human rights for the second year running.

* We?re standing up for Scottish industry. We have secured a future for Scottish steel, the last remaining aluminium smelter at Lochaber, and Ferguson shipyard too. ? 

A healthier Scotland 

* The number of nurses, doctors and dentists working in Scotland?s NHS has increased. Staffing is at record high levels, up more than 12,200 in the last ten years.

* Patient satisfaction continues to increase with 90 per cent of NHS Scotland patients rating their care and treatment as good or excellent.

* Scotland?s A&E services are the best performing in the UK.

* We have brought forward plans for a ?5 million expansion of the Golden Jubilee Hospital - the first part of our plan to invest ?200 million in a network of elective and diagnostic treatment centres to help meet the needs of an ageing population.

* Over ?5 billion has been invested in Scotland?s health infrastructure since 2007, including the South Glasgow Hospitals and Emergency Care Centre in Aberdeen.

* We?ve kept healthcare local. That means A&E units have been saved, children?s cancer services and neurosurgery units protected, and maternity units kept open.

* Nurses in Scotland are better paid than anywhere else in the UK. A nurse in Scotland, at Band 5, is paid between ?225 and ?309 more than their English counterparts.

* We?re supporting the lowest paid workers in our NHS by delivering the real Living Wage. Entry level pay for NHS support staff, Band 1, in Scotland is ?881 higher than England, and over ?1,300 higher than Northern Ireland.

* We?re recruiting more GPs by increasing the number of training places from 300 to 400 each year.

* We?re training more paramedics, with a commitment to train 1,000 more by the end of this Scottish Parliament term.

* IVF is being expanded to more families ? making access in Scotland the fairest and most generous in the UK.

* Our hospitals are cleaner and safer. In over 65s cases of C.Diff are down 86 per cent, and cases of MRSA are down 93 per cent.

* Almost ?40 million has been invested to raise public awareness of cancer, and catch it sooner, driving earlier diagnosis in a range of cancers.

* The risk from cervical cancer for the next generation of young women has been cut by providing the HPV vaccine for girls in second year of secondary school.

* Scrapping parking charges at all NHS-run hospital car parks has saved patients and staff around ?27 million.

* Scotland has the highest number of GPs per head of population in the UK, and we?ve made sure more practices are now open in the evenings and at weekends.

* Scotland was the first country in the UK to have a mental health waiting times target, and spending on mental health services in Scotland will exceed ?1 billion for the first time in 2017-18.

* A record nine in ten people are now registered with an NHS dentist ? up from just 52 per cent when we took office.

* More funding than ever before is being provided to support carers and young carers, with investment of over ?122 million in a range of programmes since 2007.

* Irresponsible alcohol discounts in supermarkets and off-licences are now banned, and we?ve raised the legal age for buying tobacco to 18.

* We?ve banned smoking in any vehicle carrying anyone under 18.

* Everyone who uses social care services can now control their individual care budget through the Self-directed Support Act.

* We?ve provided extra funding for Scotland?s veteran charities, and ensured our ex-service men and women receive priority treatment in the NHS and other services.??

A smarter Scotland

* All children in primaries 1 to 3 ? around 135,000 pupils ? are now benefiting from free school meals, saving families around ?380 per child per year.

* We have launched the Scottish Attainment Challenge, and investment in that programme will be ?750 million over the life of this Parliament.

* Total revenue spending on schools has risen by at least ?220 million since 2006-07, and spending per pupil is higher in Scotland than England.

* More school pupils are now in well-designed, accessible and inclusive learning environments. Between 2007 and 2015, 607 schools were built or refurbished - twice as many as the previous Labour/LibDem administrations.

* Since the introduction of the Gaelic Schools Capital Fund in 2008, the number of young people in Gaelic Medium Education has increased nationally by 32 per cent.

* The percentage of pupils leaving school with at least one Higher level or equivalent qualification has increased by almost 45 per cent under the SNP.

* The First Minister?s Reading Challenge, which aims to encourage children to read for pleasure, has been opened to all primary school pupils after the success of the initial scheme for primaries 4 to 7.

* The Disabled Students Allowance has been protected and bursaries for students have been maintained in Scotland, while the Tories have abolished both elsewhere in the UK.

*  We?ve expanded the Education Maintenance Allowance in Scotland ? now scrapped south of the border ? to support even more school pupils and college students from low income families.

* Over 117,000 full-time equivalent Scottish Government-funded college places are now being provided ? exceeding our 2011 manifesto commitment to maintain 116,000 places.

* We have invested over ?550 million in college estates between 2007 and 2015, ?250 million more than the previous Labour/Lib Dem administrations.

* We?re supporting a further ?300 million of investment to deliver new campuses at City of Glasgow, Inverness and Ayrshire Colleges. And Forth Valley and Fife Colleges will share ?140 million for new campuses too.

* We?re providing our further education students with record levels of support of ?106 million - up 34 per cent under the SNP.

* The number of full-time college students completing recognised higher education qualifications is at an all time high.

* Full-time college students in Scotland can now benefit from the highest bursary of anywhere in the UK. A record number of Scots have been supported into university, and young people from the most deprived areas are now more likely to study at university.

* The number of graduates from Scottish universities going into work or further study is among the highest in the UK.

* Graduates from Scottish universities are earning more than their counterparts in other UK nations.

* The poorest university students who are living at home are benefiting from a minimum income guarantee of ?7,625 per year ? the highest in the UK.

* Since 2007, the number of female entrants in STEM subjects at Scottish universities has increased by 26 per cent in first degree courses and 47 per cent in postgraduate courses. ??

A wealthier Scotland

* Youth unemployment has hit its lowest rate since records began, and is the second lowest in the EU.

* Scotland is the top destination, outside of London, for foreign direct investment.

* Today Scotland has the highest pay anywhere in the UK outside of London and the South East.

* Productivity growth in Scotland is four times as fast as the UK ? as measured by output per hour worked. Since the SNP came to office, productivity has increased by 9.4 per cent, while stagnating for the UK as a whole.

* Around 200,000 young people have had the opportunity to undertake a Modern Apprenticeship since 2007. And by 2020, a further 30,000 opportunities will be available every year.

* Scotland has the highest house-building rate in the UK. Since 2007, we have built 41,000 more homes than if we?d matched the lower rate in England - that?s the equivalent of a new town the size of Paisley.

* Councils have been enabled to build new homes for the first time in years ? with 7,169 new council homes delivered.

* 15,500 social houses for rent have been safeguarded by ending Right to Buy.

* We?re taking action to stimulate Scotland?s economy following the result of the EU referendum. This includes bringing forward ?100 million of government spending on infrastructure, and a ?500 million Scottish Growth Scheme to support businesses - particularly start-up companies - with the potential to grow and export more.

* ?500 million has been committed to stimulate and support economic growth in Glasgow and the Clyde Valley.

* ?125 million has been allocated through the Aberdeen City Region Deal to stimulate and support economic growth in the city, alongside an additional ?254 million for infrastructure projects in the North-east.

* We are investing ?135 million in the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal ? two and a half times the UK Government investment.

* By the end of 2021 we will have committed ?1 billion to tackling fuel poverty, and over one million energy efficiency measures have already been installed in almost one million households across Scotland.

* We?ve helped people into homeownership through the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, which has lifted 15,000 households out of tax compared to Stamp Duty in the rest of the UK.

* Public sector procurement has been simplified, with more small and medium-sized enterprises now competing for and winning public sector contracts.

* The number of registered businesses in Scotland has reached 173,995, the highest number on record.

* Scotland?s international exports - valued at ?28.7 billion in 2015 - are up 41 per cent under the SNP.

* Scotland?s tourism industry is going from strength to strength ? with 14 million tourists visiting Scotland in 2015.

* Enterprise and development spending per head in Scotland is almost double that of the UK.

* We won new powers over tax and social security, and protected Scotland?s budget from a ?7 billion cut by the Treasury over the financial arrangements enabling new powers.??

A fairer Scotland

* From summer 2017, all babies in Scotland are to be provided with a Nordic-style ?baby box? in a bid to reduce infant mortality and help families at the start of a child?s life.

* In 2011, we became the first government in the UK to pay the Living Wage to our staff.

* We have already ensured that nobody in Scotland has to pay the Bedroom Tax. And we will use new powers to effectively abolish it once and for all, protecting over 70,000 households.

* Over 230,000 low income households in crisis have been helped to buy essentials such as nappies, food and cookers through our Scottish Welfare Fund since it was established in 2013.

* 1.3 million older and disabled people have benefited from free public transport through the National Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme.

* Around 77,000 older people in Scotland benefit from access to a wide range of personal care tasks without being charged.

* Over half a million vulnerable households in Scotland ? including around 190,000 pensioners and over 80,000 single parents ? have been protected from UK Government cuts to Council Tax benefit.

* We have introduced a Child Poverty Bill which will set targets to end child poverty by 2030, and established a new ?29 million fund to tackle poverty at a grassroots level.

* We have already safeguarded the rights of 2,800 of the most severely disabled by establishing the Scottish Independent Living Fund.

* We?ve kept Scottish Water in public hands. Customers are now paying less for a better service ? charges for the average household bill in Scotland are ?38 lower than in England and Wales.

* Our new employment support programmes will be on a voluntary basis and will not interact with the UK government?s punitive benefit sanctions system.

* Over 300 companies have signed the Scottish Business Pledge - a voluntary code for companies to commit to policies that boost productivity, recognise fairness and increase diversity.

* We are piloting a Returners programme to help women who have had career breaks back into the workplace.

* We are leading a 50:50 campaign to encourage public, third and private sector companies to commit to boardroom gender equality by 2020.

* We now have Scotland?s first cabinet with an equal number of women and men.

* We have launched a ?300,000 Sports Equality Fund with the aim of increasing women?s engagement in sport.? 

A safer Scotland

* Since we took office, violent crime is down by 52 per cent, homicides are down by 52 per cent and handling offensive weapons is down by 69 per cent.

* The new Scottish Crime Campus provides a focal point for excellence in intelligence-sharing, evidence gathering and forensic science to tackle serious organised crime.

* Automatic early release has been ended, meaning that long-term prisoners who pose an unacceptable risk to public safety will serve their sentence in full.

* The reconviction rate has been reduced to its lowest level in 18 years, thanks to tough community sentences.

* ?75 million has been seized from criminals and has been reinvested in community projects for young people across Scotland.

* HMP Low Moss opened in March 2012 and HMP Grampian opened in March 2014, two major parts of our prison building programme.

* Access to air weapons has been tightened to improve public safety.

* Tackling sectarianism has been backed up with record investment.

* The new Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has been created. 

* Scotland has the UK?s first national action plan on human rights, showing our ambition to be an example of how to realise human rights and tackle injustice at home and abroad.??

 Investing for the future

* We?re investing ?1 billion annually in public and sustainable transport to encourage people out of cars.

* We are delivering the ?1.35 billion Queensferry Crossing.

* Commuters have saved around ?2,000 since bridge tolls on the Forth Road Bridge and Tay Bridge were scrapped by the SNP.

* We have invested twice as much per head in the rail network in Scotland than the UK Government ?  ?7 billion in rail since 2007.

* The Borders Railway, the longest new domestic railway to be built in Britain in over 100 years, has reopened and welcomed over 1 million passengers in its first year.

* A ?5 billion investment programme in Scotland?s railways up to 2019 will deliver longer, greener trains, new stations, new track upgrades, more seats, and more services.

* ?3 billion to dual 80 miles of carriageway on the A9 Perth-Inverness, ?745 million for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, plus M8, M73 and M74 motorway improvements.

* Contracts worth ?97 million will protect the 150-strong workforce and create 100 new jobs at the last commercial shipyard on the Clyde.

* We?ve exceeded the 2016 target to provide broadband access to 85 per cent of premises, and we?ll reach 100 per cent by 2021.??

Empowering communities

* Scotland?s independence referendum was the biggest democratic exercise in Scotland?s history.

* We?ve launched a ?200,000 Access to Politics Fund to help disabled people stand for the 2017 local government elections. And we will continue the fund for the Scottish Parliament elections in 2021.

* Local communities have been given a voice in the planning and delivery of local services - backed up by ?20 million of funding - through the Community Empowerment Act.

* The Scottish Land Fund has already helped 52 communities across the country to purchase land, with over 500,000 acres now in community ownership. And the Fund has been increased to ?10 million per year.

* The radical and ambitious Land Reform Act has been passed to transform rules around the ownership, accessibility and benefits of land in Scotland.??

A greener Scotland

* Scotland has exceeded its target to produce 50 per cent of its electricity from renewables by 2015 - with almost 60 per cent of Scotland?s electricity needs met from renewable sources.

* Scotland is outperforming the UK and all but one of the EU-15 countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

* With the support of the SNP Scottish Government, low carbon industries in Scotland and their supply chains generated almost ?11 billion for the economy in 2014.

* We have blocked underground coal gasification and a moratorium means fracking cannot take place in Scotland.

* Scotland?s household recycling rate was 44.2 per cent in 2015 ? up from around 32 per cent for municipal waste in 2007.

* Carrier bag use has been reduced by 80 per cent - the equivalent of 650 million bags - in the first year of the carrier bag charge.

* We?ve helped make our communities safer from flooding with investment in flood defences and new measures in the Flooding Act. And we?ve agreed a new 10 year funding strategy for flood protection, consisting of ?42 million a year, aiming to protect 10,000 families across Scotland.??

Supporting rural communities 

* A record ?1 billion has been invested in vessels, ports and ferry services since 2007 as part of our commitment to our islands and remote communities, with six ferries added to CalMac?s fleet and two new ferries due for delivery in 2018.

* Road Equivalent Tariff has been rolled out to all ferry routes in the Clyde and Hebrides network, delivering significantly reduced ferry fares and the highest passenger numbers since 1997.

* Residents of Caithness and north-west Sutherland, Colonsay, Islay, Jura, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles are eligible for a 50 per cent discount on air fares. 

* With produce output worth around ?2.3 billion a year and around 65,000 people directly employed, we work tirelessly to get the best deal for Scotland?s farmers, crofters and growers. 

* We played a key role in reforming EU fisheries policy to bring an end to the wasteful discarding of fish at sea.

* With food and drink exports valued over ?4.5 billion and 14,000 new jobs estimated to be created in the sector by 2020, we strive to promote Scotland?s top quality produce.

* Fares on lifeline ferry services have been frozen for 2017 for passengers, cars and commercial vehicles.

* The clean, green status of our valuable food and drink sector has been protected by opting out of the cultivation of genetically modified crops in Scotland.

* Scotland?s first National Marine Plan aims to achieve the sustainable development of our seas.? 

Enabling creativity and sport

* Free access has been maintained to museums and galleries, with over 27 million visits to Scotland?s world class national collections since 2007.

* In government we provided vital support for Scotland to welcome the world in 2014, with the staging of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. 

* Since the SNP government backed the 'Daily Mile' challenge 180,000 children in over 1,000 of Scotland's primary schools now walk or run a mile each day.

* 98 per cent of primary and secondary schools across Scotland are now providing two hours of physical education a week ? up from 10 per cent in 2005.

* Over ?162 million has been pumped into Scotland?s screen sector since 2007.

* Over ?130 million has been invested in our cultural infrastructure - including the revamped National Museum of Scotland, National Portrait Gallery, and homes for our performing companies including National Theatre of Scotland and The Royal Scottish National Orchestra. 

* More than ?19 million of direct investment in Edinburgh?s major festivals since 2008.

* ?25 million for the Victoria and Albert Museum of Design in Dundee.

* 1.5 million opportunities have been created for young people to take part in music and youth arts in 2015.

?but there?s still much more we want to do. Together, we will continue to shape a fairer, more successful Scotland.

[Boris]

Isn't the leader of the Welsh assembly also meeting eu people too? Last I knew they weren't wanting independence.

[Doogz]

Show me once where I've indicated I want Brexit to fail.

Apologies, got your post confused with one of Spaceys, however-

 

I didn't want Brexit full-stop.

Fair enough, I didn't want it either but given it is happening would you prefer it to succeed or fail ?

[Space Mackerel]

Cross Party love. Kezia about to see the light.

 

https://stv.tv/news/scotland/1393594-scottish-labour-leader-kezia-dugdale-dating-snp-msp/

[maroonlegions]

 

 

[JamboX2]

Corbyn as well.

 

I'm not convinced in the merits of it to be honest as I don't think it probably benefits the U.K. Negotiation position.

 

Not sure exactly can be gained from the meetings. Can offer their view and says 'we don't want to leave' or 'this is how we would do brexit' etc but the reality it will be the govt of the day that does the negotiations etc.

 

Whilst EU are not going to agree anything with these parties.

 

For me would be more fruitful having the discussions with each other and try to form a concensis position over this.

 

Just politicking I guess.

Within hours of the result a cross-party group of MPs, MSP, AMs, local government leaders and MEPs should've been formed to reach a common position.

 

Then invole article 50.

 

This has been a shambles.

[robroy1874]

The list of SNP government achievements is long and wide-ranging. After a decade of Westminster cuts, the SNP government is working harder than ever to protect the most vulnerable in our society and deliver the best public services anywhere in the UK.

 

* Record health funding - over ?13 billion in 2017, ?3.6 billion more than when we took office.

* Higher exam passes up by a third since 2007, and we?re investing record amounts in schools to close the attainment gap. ?120 million will go direct to schools this year alone.

* Free tuition protected, saving students in Scotland up to ?27,000 compared to the cost of studying in England.

* Free, high quality childcare has been increased to 16 hours a week for all 3 and 4 year olds ? up from 12.5 hours in 2007 ? and extended to 2 year olds from low income households, saving families up to ?2,500 per child per year in total.

* We exceeded our world-leading target to reduce emissions by 42 per cent by 2020 ? six years early. 

* More people in employment in Scotland than the pre-recession high point, outperforming the UK on female employment and inactivity rates.

* We?ve kept Council Tax down. Bills are lower in Scotland than in England - by between ?300 and ?400.

* Prescription charges abolished. In England, patients are forced to pay ?8.40 per item.

* We?re leading the way on fair pay. Scotland has the highest proportion of employees in the UK paid at least the Living Wage.

* Over 60,000 affordable homes completed, with a further 22,000 households supported into homeownership.

* 16 and 17 year olds now have the right to vote in Scottish Parliament and local government elections.

* To help protect jobs and businesses through the recession, we?ve slashed or abolished business rates for 100,000 premises ? saving small businesses ?1.2 billion to date.

* Recorded crime in Scotland has reached its lowest level in 42 years.

* Scotland, with one of the most progressive equal marriage laws in the world, has been rated the best country in Europe for LGBTI equality and human rights for the second year running.

* We?re standing up for Scottish industry. We have secured a future for Scottish steel, the last remaining aluminium smelter at Lochaber, and Ferguson shipyard too. ? 

A healthier Scotland 

* The number of nurses, doctors and dentists working in Scotland?s NHS has increased. Staffing is at record high levels, up more than 12,200 in the last ten years.

* Patient satisfaction continues to increase with 90 per cent of NHS Scotland patients rating their care and treatment as good or excellent.

* Scotland?s A&E services are the best performing in the UK.

* We have brought forward plans for a ?5 million expansion of the Golden Jubilee Hospital - the first part of our plan to invest ?200 million in a network of elective and diagnostic treatment centres to help meet the needs of an ageing population.

* Over ?5 billion has been invested in Scotland?s health infrastructure since 2007, including the South Glasgow Hospitals and Emergency Care Centre in Aberdeen.

* We?ve kept healthcare local. That means A&E units have been saved, children?s cancer services and neurosurgery units protected, and maternity units kept open.

* Nurses in Scotland are better paid than anywhere else in the UK. A nurse in Scotland, at Band 5, is paid between ?225 and ?309 more than their English counterparts.

* We?re supporting the lowest paid workers in our NHS by delivering the real Living Wage. Entry level pay for NHS support staff, Band 1, in Scotland is ?881 higher than England, and over ?1,300 higher than Northern Ireland.

* We?re recruiting more GPs by increasing the number of training places from 300 to 400 each year.

* We?re training more paramedics, with a commitment to train 1,000 more by the end of this Scottish Parliament term.

* IVF is being expanded to more families ? making access in Scotland the fairest and most generous in the UK.

* Our hospitals are cleaner and safer. In over 65s cases of C.Diff are down 86 per cent, and cases of MRSA are down 93 per cent.

* Almost ?40 million has been invested to raise public awareness of cancer, and catch it sooner, driving earlier diagnosis in a range of cancers.

* The risk from cervical cancer for the next generation of young women has been cut by providing the HPV vaccine for girls in second year of secondary school.

* Scrapping parking charges at all NHS-run hospital car parks has saved patients and staff around ?27 million.

* Scotland has the highest number of GPs per head of population in the UK, and we?ve made sure more practices are now open in the evenings and at weekends.

* Scotland was the first country in the UK to have a mental health waiting times target, and spending on mental health services in Scotland will exceed ?1 billion for the first time in 2017-18.

* A record nine in ten people are now registered with an NHS dentist ? up from just 52 per cent when we took office.

* More funding than ever before is being provided to support carers and young carers, with investment of over ?122 million in a range of programmes since 2007.

* Irresponsible alcohol discounts in supermarkets and off-licences are now banned, and we?ve raised the legal age for buying tobacco to 18.

* We?ve banned smoking in any vehicle carrying anyone under 18.

* Everyone who uses social care services can now control their individual care budget through the Self-directed Support Act.

* We?ve provided extra funding for Scotland?s veteran charities, and ensured our ex-service men and women receive priority treatment in the NHS and other services.??

A smarter Scotland

* All children in primaries 1 to 3 ? around 135,000 pupils ? are now benefiting from free school meals, saving families around ?380 per child per year.

* We have launched the Scottish Attainment Challenge, and investment in that programme will be ?750 million over the life of this Parliament.

* Total revenue spending on schools has risen by at least ?220 million since 2006-07, and spending per pupil is higher in Scotland than England.

* More school pupils are now in well-designed, accessible and inclusive learning environments. Between 2007 and 2015, 607 schools were built or refurbished - twice as many as the previous Labour/LibDem administrations.

* Since the introduction of the Gaelic Schools Capital Fund in 2008, the number of young people in Gaelic Medium Education has increased nationally by 32 per cent.

* The percentage of pupils leaving school with at least one Higher level or equivalent qualification has increased by almost 45 per cent under the SNP.

* The First Minister?s Reading Challenge, which aims to encourage children to read for pleasure, has been opened to all primary school pupils after the success of the initial scheme for primaries 4 to 7.

* The Disabled Students Allowance has been protected and bursaries for students have been maintained in Scotland, while the Tories have abolished both elsewhere in the UK.

*  We?ve expanded the Education Maintenance Allowance in Scotland ? now scrapped south of the border ? to support even more school pupils and college students from low income families.

* Over 117,000 full-time equivalent Scottish Government-funded college places are now being provided ? exceeding our 2011 manifesto commitment to maintain 116,000 places.

* We have invested over ?550 million in college estates between 2007 and 2015, ?250 million more than the previous Labour/Lib Dem administrations.

* We?re supporting a further ?300 million of investment to deliver new campuses at City of Glasgow, Inverness and Ayrshire Colleges. And Forth Valley and Fife Colleges will share ?140 million for new campuses too.

* We?re providing our further education students with record levels of support of ?106 million - up 34 per cent under the SNP.

* The number of full-time college students completing recognised higher education qualifications is at an all time high.

* Full-time college students in Scotland can now benefit from the highest bursary of anywhere in the UK. A record number of Scots have been supported into university, and young people from the most deprived areas are now more likely to study at university.

* The number of graduates from Scottish universities going into work or further study is among the highest in the UK.

* Graduates from Scottish universities are earning more than their counterparts in other UK nations.

* The poorest university students who are living at home are benefiting from a minimum income guarantee of ?7,625 per year ? the highest in the UK.

* Since 2007, the number of female entrants in STEM subjects at Scottish universities has increased by 26 per cent in first degree courses and 47 per cent in postgraduate courses. ??

A wealthier Scotland

* Youth unemployment has hit its lowest rate since records began, and is the second lowest in the EU.

* Scotland is the top destination, outside of London, for foreign direct investment.

* Today Scotland has the highest pay anywhere in the UK outside of London and the South East.

* Productivity growth in Scotland is four times as fast as the UK ? as measured by output per hour worked. Since the SNP came to office, productivity has increased by 9.4 per cent, while stagnating for the UK as a whole.

* Around 200,000 young people have had the opportunity to undertake a Modern Apprenticeship since 2007. And by 2020, a further 30,000 opportunities will be available every year.

* Scotland has the highest house-building rate in the UK. Since 2007, we have built 41,000 more homes than if we?d matched the lower rate in England - that?s the equivalent of a new town the size of Paisley.

* Councils have been enabled to build new homes for the first time in years ? with 7,169 new council homes delivered.

* 15,500 social houses for rent have been safeguarded by ending Right to Buy.

* We?re taking action to stimulate Scotland?s economy following the result of the EU referendum. This includes bringing forward ?100 million of government spending on infrastructure, and a ?500 million Scottish Growth Scheme to support businesses - particularly start-up companies - with the potential to grow and export more.

* ?500 million has been committed to stimulate and support economic growth in Glasgow and the Clyde Valley.

* ?125 million has been allocated through the Aberdeen City Region Deal to stimulate and support economic growth in the city, alongside an additional ?254 million for infrastructure projects in the North-east.

* We are investing ?135 million in the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal ? two and a half times the UK Government investment.

* By the end of 2021 we will have committed ?1 billion to tackling fuel poverty, and over one million energy efficiency measures have already been installed in almost one million households across Scotland.

* We?ve helped people into homeownership through the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, which has lifted 15,000 households out of tax compared to Stamp Duty in the rest of the UK.

* Public sector procurement has been simplified, with more small and medium-sized enterprises now competing for and winning public sector contracts.

* The number of registered businesses in Scotland has reached 173,995, the highest number on record.

* Scotland?s international exports - valued at ?28.7 billion in 2015 - are up 41 per cent under the SNP.

* Scotland?s tourism industry is going from strength to strength ? with 14 million tourists visiting Scotland in 2015.

* Enterprise and development spending per head in Scotland is almost double that of the UK.

* We won new powers over tax and social security, and protected Scotland?s budget from a ?7 billion cut by the Treasury over the financial arrangements enabling new powers.??

A fairer Scotland

* From summer 2017, all babies in Scotland are to be provided with a Nordic-style ?baby box? in a bid to reduce infant mortality and help families at the start of a child?s life.

* In 2011, we became the first government in the UK to pay the Living Wage to our staff.

* We have already ensured that nobody in Scotland has to pay the Bedroom Tax. And we will use new powers to effectively abolish it once and for all, protecting over 70,000 households.

* Over 230,000 low income households in crisis have been helped to buy essentials such as nappies, food and cookers through our Scottish Welfare Fund since it was established in 2013.

* 1.3 million older and disabled people have benefited from free public transport through the National Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme.

* Around 77,000 older people in Scotland benefit from access to a wide range of personal care tasks without being charged.

* Over half a million vulnerable households in Scotland ? including around 190,000 pensioners and over 80,000 single parents ? have been protected from UK Government cuts to Council Tax benefit.

* We have introduced a Child Poverty Bill which will set targets to end child poverty by 2030, and established a new ?29 million fund to tackle poverty at a grassroots level.

* We have already safeguarded the rights of 2,800 of the most severely disabled by establishing the Scottish Independent Living Fund.

* We?ve kept Scottish Water in public hands. Customers are now paying less for a better service ? charges for the average household bill in Scotland are ?38 lower than in England and Wales.

* Our new employment support programmes will be on a voluntary basis and will not interact with the UK government?s punitive benefit sanctions system.

* Over 300 companies have signed the Scottish Business Pledge - a voluntary code for companies to commit to policies that boost productivity, recognise fairness and increase diversity.

* We are piloting a Returners programme to help women who have had career breaks back into the workplace.

* We are leading a 50:50 campaign to encourage public, third and private sector companies to commit to boardroom gender equality by 2020.

* We now have Scotland?s first cabinet with an equal number of women and men.

* We have launched a ?300,000 Sports Equality Fund with the aim of increasing women?s engagement in sport.? 

A safer Scotland

* Since we took office, violent crime is down by 52 per cent, homicides are down by 52 per cent and handling offensive weapons is down by 69 per cent.

* The new Scottish Crime Campus provides a focal point for excellence in intelligence-sharing, evidence gathering and forensic science to tackle serious organised crime.

* Automatic early release has been ended, meaning that long-term prisoners who pose an unacceptable risk to public safety will serve their sentence in full.

* The reconviction rate has been reduced to its lowest level in 18 years, thanks to tough community sentences.

* ?75 million has been seized from criminals and has been reinvested in community projects for young people across Scotland.

* HMP Low Moss opened in March 2012 and HMP Grampian opened in March 2014, two major parts of our prison building programme.

* Access to air weapons has been tightened to improve public safety.

* Tackling sectarianism has been backed up with record investment.

* The new Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has been created. 

* Scotland has the UK?s first national action plan on human rights, showing our ambition to be an example of how to realise human rights and tackle injustice at home and abroad.??

 Investing for the future

* We?re investing ?1 billion annually in public and sustainable transport to encourage people out of cars.

* We are delivering the ?1.35 billion Queensferry Crossing.

* Commuters have saved around ?2,000 since bridge tolls on the Forth Road Bridge and Tay Bridge were scrapped by the SNP.

* We have invested twice as much per head in the rail network in Scotland than the UK Government ?  ?7 billion in rail since 2007.

* The Borders Railway, the longest new domestic railway to be built in Britain in over 100 years, has reopened and welcomed over 1 million passengers in its first year.

* A ?5 billion investment programme in Scotland?s railways up to 2019 will deliver longer, greener trains, new stations, new track upgrades, more seats, and more services.

* ?3 billion to dual 80 miles of carriageway on the A9 Perth-Inverness, ?745 million for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, plus M8, M73 and M74 motorway improvements.

* Contracts worth ?97 million will protect the 150-strong workforce and create 100 new jobs at the last commercial shipyard on the Clyde.

* We?ve exceeded the 2016 target to provide broadband access to 85 per cent of premises, and we?ll reach 100 per cent by 2021.??

Empowering communities

* Scotland?s independence referendum was the biggest democratic exercise in Scotland?s history.

* We?ve launched a ?200,000 Access to Politics Fund to help disabled people stand for the 2017 local government elections. And we will continue the fund for the Scottish Parliament elections in 2021.

* Local communities have been given a voice in the planning and delivery of local services - backed up by ?20 million of funding - through the Community Empowerment Act.

* The Scottish Land Fund has already helped 52 communities across the country to purchase land, with over 500,000 acres now in community ownership. And the Fund has been increased to ?10 million per year.

* The radical and ambitious Land Reform Act has been passed to transform rules around the ownership, accessibility and benefits of land in Scotland.??

A greener Scotland

* Scotland has exceeded its target to produce 50 per cent of its electricity from renewables by 2015 - with almost 60 per cent of Scotland?s electricity needs met from renewable sources.

* Scotland is outperforming the UK and all but one of the EU-15 countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

* With the support of the SNP Scottish Government, low carbon industries in Scotland and their supply chains generated almost ?11 billion for the economy in 2014.

* We have blocked underground coal gasification and a moratorium means fracking cannot take place in Scotland.

* Scotland?s household recycling rate was 44.2 per cent in 2015 ? up from around 32 per cent for municipal waste in 2007.

* Carrier bag use has been reduced by 80 per cent - the equivalent of 650 million bags - in the first year of the carrier bag charge.

* We?ve helped make our communities safer from flooding with investment in flood defences and new measures in the Flooding Act. And we?ve agreed a new 10 year funding strategy for flood protection, consisting of ?42 million a year, aiming to protect 10,000 families across Scotland.??

Supporting rural communities 

* A record ?1 billion has been invested in vessels, ports and ferry services since 2007 as part of our commitment to our islands and remote communities, with six ferries added to CalMac?s fleet and two new ferries due for delivery in 2018.

* Road Equivalent Tariff has been rolled out to all ferry routes in the Clyde and Hebrides network, delivering significantly reduced ferry fares and the highest passenger numbers since 1997.

* Residents of Caithness and north-west Sutherland, Colonsay, Islay, Jura, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles are eligible for a 50 per cent discount on air fares. 

* With produce output worth around ?2.3 billion a year and around 65,000 people directly employed, we work tirelessly to get the best deal for Scotland?s farmers, crofters and growers. 

* We played a key role in reforming EU fisheries policy to bring an end to the wasteful discarding of fish at sea.

* With food and drink exports valued over ?4.5 billion and 14,000 new jobs estimated to be created in the sector by 2020, we strive to promote Scotland?s top quality produce.

* Fares on lifeline ferry services have been frozen for 2017 for passengers, cars and commercial vehicles.

* The clean, green status of our valuable food and drink sector has been protected by opting out of the cultivation of genetically modified crops in Scotland.

* Scotland?s first National Marine Plan aims to achieve the sustainable development of our seas.? 

Enabling creativity and sport

* Free access has been maintained to museums and galleries, with over 27 million visits to Scotland?s world class national collections since 2007.

* In government we provided vital support for Scotland to welcome the world in 2014, with the staging of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. 

* Since the SNP government backed the 'Daily Mile' challenge 180,000 children in over 1,000 of Scotland's primary schools now walk or run a mile each day.

* 98 per cent of primary and secondary schools across Scotland are now providing two hours of physical education a week ? up from 10 per cent in 2005.

* Over ?162 million has been pumped into Scotland?s screen sector since 2007.

* Over ?130 million has been invested in our cultural infrastructure - including the revamped National Museum of Scotland, National Portrait Gallery, and homes for our performing companies including National Theatre of Scotland and The Royal Scottish National Orchestra. 

* More than ?19 million of direct investment in Edinburgh?s major festivals since 2008.

* ?25 million for the Victoria and Albert Museum of Design in Dundee.

* 1.5 million opportunities have been created for young people to take part in music and youth arts in 2015.

?but there?s still much more we want to do. Together, we will continue to shape a fairer, more successful Scotland.

Thanks for that, Nicola

[jb102]

Has the transport minister got his licence back yet and have we found out who he borrowed the uninsured car from?

[JamboX2]

The list of SNP government achievements is long and wide-ranging. After a decade of Westminster cuts, the SNP government is working harder than ever to protect the most vulnerable in our society and deliver the best public services anywhere in the UK.

 

* Record health funding - over ?13 billion in 2017, ?3.6 billion more than when we took office.

* Higher exam passes up by a third since 2007, and we?re investing record amounts in schools to close the attainment gap. ?120 million will go direct to schools this year alone.

* Free tuition protected, saving students in Scotland up to ?27,000 compared to the cost of studying in England.

* Free, high quality childcare has been increased to 16 hours a week for all 3 and 4 year olds ? up from 12.5 hours in 2007 ? and extended to 2 year olds from low income households, saving families up to ?2,500 per child per year in total.

* We exceeded our world-leading target to reduce emissions by 42 per cent by 2020 ? six years early.

* More people in employment in Scotland than the pre-recession high point, outperforming the UK on female employment and inactivity rates.

* We?ve kept Council Tax down. Bills are lower in Scotland than in England - by between ?300 and ?400.

* Prescription charges abolished. In England, patients are forced to pay ?8.40 per item.

* We?re leading the way on fair pay. Scotland has the highest proportion of employees in the UK paid at least the Living Wage.

* Over 60,000 affordable homes completed, with a further 22,000 households supported into homeownership.

* 16 and 17 year olds now have the right to vote in Scottish Parliament and local government elections.

* To help protect jobs and businesses through the recession, we?ve slashed or abolished business rates for 100,000 premises ? saving small businesses ?1.2 billion to date.

* Recorded crime in Scotland has reached its lowest level in 42 years.

* Scotland, with one of the most progressive equal marriage laws in the world, has been rated the best country in Europe for LGBTI equality and human rights for the second year running.

* We?re standing up for Scottish industry. We have secured a future for Scottish steel, the last remaining aluminium smelter at Lochaber, and Ferguson shipyard too. ?

A healthier Scotland

* The number of nurses, doctors and dentists working in Scotland?s NHS has increased. Staffing is at record high levels, up more than 12,200 in the last ten years.

* Patient satisfaction continues to increase with 90 per cent of NHS Scotland patients rating their care and treatment as good or excellent.

* Scotland?s A&E services are the best performing in the UK.

* We have brought forward plans for a ?5 million expansion of the Golden Jubilee Hospital - the first part of our plan to invest ?200 million in a network of elective and diagnostic treatment centres to help meet the needs of an ageing population.

* Over ?5 billion has been invested in Scotland?s health infrastructure since 2007, including the South Glasgow Hospitals and Emergency Care Centre in Aberdeen.

* We?ve kept healthcare local. That means A&E units have been saved, children?s cancer services and neurosurgery units protected, and maternity units kept open.

* Nurses in Scotland are better paid than anywhere else in the UK. A nurse in Scotland, at Band 5, is paid between ?225 and ?309 more than their English counterparts.

* We?re supporting the lowest paid workers in our NHS by delivering the real Living Wage. Entry level pay for NHS support staff, Band 1, in Scotland is ?881 higher than England, and over ?1,300 higher than Northern Ireland.

* We?re recruiting more GPs by increasing the number of training places from 300 to 400 each year.

* We?re training more paramedics, with a commitment to train 1,000 more by the end of this Scottish Parliament term.

* IVF is being expanded to more families ? making access in Scotland the fairest and most generous in the UK.

* Our hospitals are cleaner and safer. In over 65s cases of C.Diff are down 86 per cent, and cases of MRSA are down 93 per cent.

* Almost ?40 million has been invested to raise public awareness of cancer, and catch it sooner, driving earlier diagnosis in a range of cancers.

* The risk from cervical cancer for the next generation of young women has been cut by providing the HPV vaccine for girls in second year of secondary school.

* Scrapping parking charges at all NHS-run hospital car parks has saved patients and staff around ?27 million.

* Scotland has the highest number of GPs per head of population in the UK, and we?ve made sure more practices are now open in the evenings and at weekends.

* Scotland was the first country in the UK to have a mental health waiting times target, and spending on mental health services in Scotland will exceed ?1 billion for the first time in 2017-18.

* A record nine in ten people are now registered with an NHS dentist ? up from just 52 per cent when we took office.

* More funding than ever before is being provided to support carers and young carers, with investment of over ?122 million in a range of programmes since 2007.

* Irresponsible alcohol discounts in supermarkets and off-licences are now banned, and we?ve raised the legal age for buying tobacco to 18.

* We?ve banned smoking in any vehicle carrying anyone under 18.

* Everyone who uses social care services can now control their individual care budget through the Self-directed Support Act.

* We?ve provided extra funding for Scotland?s veteran charities, and ensured our ex-service men and women receive priority treatment in the NHS and other services.??

A smarter Scotland

* All children in primaries 1 to 3 ? around 135,000 pupils ? are now benefiting from free school meals, saving families around ?380 per child per year.

* We have launched the Scottish Attainment Challenge, and investment in that programme will be ?750 million over the life of this Parliament.

* Total revenue spending on schools has risen by at least ?220 million since 2006-07, and spending per pupil is higher in Scotland than England.

* More school pupils are now in well-designed, accessible and inclusive learning environments. Between 2007 and 2015, 607 schools were built or refurbished - twice as many as the previous Labour/LibDem administrations.

* Since the introduction of the Gaelic Schools Capital Fund in 2008, the number of young people in Gaelic Medium Education has increased nationally by 32 per cent.

* The percentage of pupils leaving school with at least one Higher level or equivalent qualification has increased by almost 45 per cent under the SNP.

* The First Minister?s Reading Challenge, which aims to encourage children to read for pleasure, has been opened to all primary school pupils after the success of the initial scheme for primaries 4 to 7.

* The Disabled Students Allowance has been protected and bursaries for students have been maintained in Scotland, while the Tories have abolished both elsewhere in the UK.

* We?ve expanded the Education Maintenance Allowance in Scotland ? now scrapped south of the border ? to support even more school pupils and college students from low income families.

* Over 117,000 full-time equivalent Scottish Government-funded college places are now being provided ? exceeding our 2011 manifesto commitment to maintain 116,000 places.

* We have invested over ?550 million in college estates between 2007 and 2015, ?250 million more than the previous Labour/Lib Dem administrations.

* We?re supporting a further ?300 million of investment to deliver new campuses at City of Glasgow, Inverness and Ayrshire Colleges. And Forth Valley and Fife Colleges will share ?140 million for new campuses too.

* We?re providing our further education students with record levels of support of ?106 million - up 34 per cent under the SNP.

* The number of full-time college students completing recognised higher education qualifications is at an all time high.

* Full-time college students in Scotland can now benefit from the highest bursary of anywhere in the UK. A record number of Scots have been supported into university, and young people from the most deprived areas are now more likely to study at university.

* The number of graduates from Scottish universities going into work or further study is among the highest in the UK.

* Graduates from Scottish universities are earning more than their counterparts in other UK nations.

* The poorest university students who are living at home are benefiting from a minimum income guarantee of ?7,625 per year ? the highest in the UK.

* Since 2007, the number of female entrants in STEM subjects at Scottish universities has increased by 26 per cent in first degree courses and 47 per cent in postgraduate courses. ??

A wealthier Scotland

* Youth unemployment has hit its lowest rate since records began, and is the second lowest in the EU.

* Scotland is the top destination, outside of London, for foreign direct investment.

* Today Scotland has the highest pay anywhere in the UK outside of London and the South East.

* Productivity growth in Scotland is four times as fast as the UK ? as measured by output per hour worked. Since the SNP came to office, productivity has increased by 9.4 per cent, while stagnating for the UK as a whole.

* Around 200,000 young people have had the opportunity to undertake a Modern Apprenticeship since 2007. And by 2020, a further 30,000 opportunities will be available every year.

* Scotland has the highest house-building rate in the UK. Since 2007, we have built 41,000 more homes than if we?d matched the lower rate in England - that?s the equivalent of a new town the size of Paisley.

* Councils have been enabled to build new homes for the first time in years ? with 7,169 new council homes delivered.

* 15,500 social houses for rent have been safeguarded by ending Right to Buy.

* We?re taking action to stimulate Scotland?s economy following the result of the EU referendum. This includes bringing forward ?100 million of government spending on infrastructure, and a ?500 million Scottish Growth Scheme to support businesses - particularly start-up companies - with the potential to grow and export more.

* ?500 million has been committed to stimulate and support economic growth in Glasgow and the Clyde Valley.

* ?125 million has been allocated through the Aberdeen City Region Deal to stimulate and support economic growth in the city, alongside an additional ?254 million for infrastructure projects in the North-east.

* We are investing ?135 million in the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal ? two and a half times the UK Government investment.

* By the end of 2021 we will have committed ?1 billion to tackling fuel poverty, and over one million energy efficiency measures have already been installed in almost one million households across Scotland.

* We?ve helped people into homeownership through the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, which has lifted 15,000 households out of tax compared to Stamp Duty in the rest of the UK.

* Public sector procurement has been simplified, with more small and medium-sized enterprises now competing for and winning public sector contracts.

* The number of registered businesses in Scotland has reached 173,995, the highest number on record.

* Scotland?s international exports - valued at ?28.7 billion in 2015 - are up 41 per cent under the SNP.

* Scotland?s tourism industry is going from strength to strength ? with 14 million tourists visiting Scotland in 2015.

* Enterprise and development spending per head in Scotland is almost double that of the UK.

* We won new powers over tax and social security, and protected Scotland?s budget from a ?7 billion cut by the Treasury over the financial arrangements enabling new powers.??

A fairer Scotland

* From summer 2017, all babies in Scotland are to be provided with a Nordic-style ?baby box? in a bid to reduce infant mortality and help families at the start of a child?s life.

* In 2011, we became the first government in the UK to pay the Living Wage to our staff.

* We have already ensured that nobody in Scotland has to pay the Bedroom Tax. And we will use new powers to effectively abolish it once and for all, protecting over 70,000 households.

* Over 230,000 low income households in crisis have been helped to buy essentials such as nappies, food and cookers through our Scottish Welfare Fund since it was established in 2013.

* 1.3 million older and disabled people have benefited from free public transport through the National Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme.

* Around 77,000 older people in Scotland benefit from access to a wide range of personal care tasks without being charged.

* Over half a million vulnerable households in Scotland ? including around 190,000 pensioners and over 80,000 single parents ? have been protected from UK Government cuts to Council Tax benefit.

* We have introduced a Child Poverty Bill which will set targets to end child poverty by 2030, and established a new ?29 million fund to tackle poverty at a grassroots level.

* We have already safeguarded the rights of 2,800 of the most severely disabled by establishing the Scottish Independent Living Fund.

* We?ve kept Scottish Water in public hands. Customers are now paying less for a better service ? charges for the average household bill in Scotland are ?38 lower than in England and Wales.

* Our new employment support programmes will be on a voluntary basis and will not interact with the UK government?s punitive benefit sanctions system.

* Over 300 companies have signed the Scottish Business Pledge - a voluntary code for companies to commit to policies that boost productivity, recognise fairness and increase diversity.

* We are piloting a Returners programme to help women who have had career breaks back into the workplace.

* We are leading a 50:50 campaign to encourage public, third and private sector companies to commit to boardroom gender equality by 2020.

* We now have Scotland?s first cabinet with an equal number of women and men.

* We have launched a ?300,000 Sports Equality Fund with the aim of increasing women?s engagement in sport.?

A safer Scotland

* Since we took office, violent crime is down by 52 per cent, homicides are down by 52 per cent and handling offensive weapons is down by 69 per cent.

* The new Scottish Crime Campus provides a focal point for excellence in intelligence-sharing, evidence gathering and forensic science to tackle serious organised crime.

* Automatic early release has been ended, meaning that long-term prisoners who pose an unacceptable risk to public safety will serve their sentence in full.

* The reconviction rate has been reduced to its lowest level in 18 years, thanks to tough community sentences.

* ?75 million has been seized from criminals and has been reinvested in community projects for young people across Scotland.

* HMP Low Moss opened in March 2012 and HMP Grampian opened in March 2014, two major parts of our prison building programme.

* Access to air weapons has been tightened to improve public safety.

* Tackling sectarianism has been backed up with record investment.

* The new Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has been created.

* Scotland has the UK?s first national action plan on human rights, showing our ambition to be an example of how to realise human rights and tackle injustice at home and abroad.??

Investing for the future

* We?re investing ?1 billion annually in public and sustainable transport to encourage people out of cars.

* We are delivering the ?1.35 billion Queensferry Crossing.

* Commuters have saved around ?2,000 since bridge tolls on the Forth Road Bridge and Tay Bridge were scrapped by the SNP.

* We have invested twice as much per head in the rail network in Scotland than the UK Government ? ?7 billion in rail since 2007.

* The Borders Railway, the longest new domestic railway to be built in Britain in over 100 years, has reopened and welcomed over 1 million passengers in its first year.

* A ?5 billion investment programme in Scotland?s railways up to 2019 will deliver longer, greener trains, new stations, new track upgrades, more seats, and more services.

* ?3 billion to dual 80 miles of carriageway on the A9 Perth-Inverness, ?745 million for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, plus M8, M73 and M74 motorway improvements.

* Contracts worth ?97 million will protect the 150-strong workforce and create 100 new jobs at the last commercial shipyard on the Clyde.

* We?ve exceeded the 2016 target to provide broadband access to 85 per cent of premises, and we?ll reach 100 per cent by 2021.??

Empowering communities

* Scotland?s independence referendum was the biggest democratic exercise in Scotland?s history.

* We?ve launched a ?200,000 Access to Politics Fund to help disabled people stand for the 2017 local government elections. And we will continue the fund for the Scottish Parliament elections in 2021.

* Local communities have been given a voice in the planning and delivery of local services - backed up by ?20 million of funding - through the Community Empowerment Act.

* The Scottish Land Fund has already helped 52 communities across the country to purchase land, with over 500,000 acres now in community ownership. And the Fund has been increased to ?10 million per year.

* The radical and ambitious Land Reform Act has been passed to transform rules around the ownership, accessibility and benefits of land in Scotland.??

A greener Scotland

* Scotland has exceeded its target to produce 50 per cent of its electricity from renewables by 2015 - with almost 60 per cent of Scotland?s electricity needs met from renewable sources.

* Scotland is outperforming the UK and all but one of the EU-15 countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

* With the support of the SNP Scottish Government, low carbon industries in Scotland and their supply chains generated almost ?11 billion for the economy in 2014.

* We have blocked underground coal gasification and a moratorium means fracking cannot take place in Scotland.

* Scotland?s household recycling rate was 44.2 per cent in 2015 ? up from around 32 per cent for municipal waste in 2007.

* Carrier bag use has been reduced by 80 per cent - the equivalent of 650 million bags - in the first year of the carrier bag charge.

* We?ve helped make our communities safer from flooding with investment in flood defences and new measures in the Flooding Act. And we?ve agreed a new 10 year funding strategy for flood protection, consisting of ?42 million a year, aiming to protect 10,000 families across Scotland.??

Supporting rural communities

* A record ?1 billion has been invested in vessels, ports and ferry services since 2007 as part of our commitment to our islands and remote communities, with six ferries added to CalMac?s fleet and two new ferries due for delivery in 2018.

* Road Equivalent Tariff has been rolled out to all ferry routes in the Clyde and Hebrides network, delivering significantly reduced ferry fares and the highest passenger numbers since 1997.

* Residents of Caithness and north-west Sutherland, Colonsay, Islay, Jura, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles are eligible for a 50 per cent discount on air fares.

* With produce output worth around ?2.3 billion a year and around 65,000 people directly employed, we work tirelessly to get the best deal for Scotland?s farmers, crofters and growers.

* We played a key role in reforming EU fisheries policy to bring an end to the wasteful discarding of fish at sea.

* With food and drink exports valued over ?4.5 billion and 14,000 new jobs estimated to be created in the sector by 2020, we strive to promote Scotland?s top quality produce.

* Fares on lifeline ferry services have been frozen for 2017 for passengers, cars and commercial vehicles.

* The clean, green status of our valuable food and drink sector has been protected by opting out of the cultivation of genetically modified crops in Scotland.

* Scotland?s first National Marine Plan aims to achieve the sustainable development of our seas.?

Enabling creativity and sport

* Free access has been maintained to museums and galleries, with over 27 million visits to Scotland?s world class national collections since 2007.

* In government we provided vital support for Scotland to welcome the world in 2014, with the staging of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

* Since the SNP government backed the 'Daily Mile' challenge 180,000 children in over 1,000 of Scotland's primary schools now walk or run a mile each day.

* 98 per cent of primary and secondary schools across Scotland are now providing two hours of physical education a week ? up from 10 per cent in 2005.

* Over ?162 million has been pumped into Scotland?s screen sector since 2007.

* Over ?130 million has been invested in our cultural infrastructure - including the revamped National Museum of Scotland, National Portrait Gallery, and homes for our performing companies including National Theatre of Scotland and The Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

* More than ?19 million of direct investment in Edinburgh?s major festivals since 2008.

* ?25 million for the Victoria and Albert Museum of Design in Dundee.

* 1.5 million opportunities have been created for young people to take part in music and youth arts in 2015.

?but there?s still much more we want to do. Together, we will continue to shape a fairer, more successful Scotland.

Love how you quote the opener of the SNP manifesto repeatedly. It never ceases to amaze me.

[Space Mackerel]

Love how you quote the opener of the SNP manifesto repeatedly. It never ceases to amaze me.

STILL greeting about Tony Blair selling the working class short and taking the centre right ground?

 

It's like a left wing version of 1902 soon.

[JamboX2]

STILL greeting about Tony Blair selling the working class short and taking the centre right ground?

 

It's like a left wing version of 1902 soon.

Yes because National Minimum Wage, Tax Credits, year on year economic growth, halving pensioner poverty, increased spending on schools and the NHS did very little for the working classes.

 

At least though I can admit it all wasn't enough.

[deesidejambo]

Has the transport minister got his licence back yet and have we found out who he borrowed the uninsured car from?

All quiet on that.  Also why did the Police stop the car in the first place.

 

Its a conspiracy of course.

[Space Mackerel]

Yes because National Minimum Wage, Tax Credits, year on year economic growth, halving pensioner poverty, increased spending on schools and the NHS did very little for the working classes.

 

At least though I can admit it all wasn't enough.

I just had the complete misfortune to watch some new Labour MP voice her stuff in Scottish Questions in Westminster there.

 

And Ian Murray is still there harping pish from the terraces too. Is he left or right by the way?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[JamboX2]

I just had the complete misfortune to watch some new Labour MP voice her stuff in Scottish Questions in Westminster there.

 

And Ian Murray is still there harping pish from the terraces too. Is he left or right by the way?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Ah. I see we've changed topic again. Nice. Would that be 'super-majority' Murray, aye? Boy who horsed the SNP and Tories in Edinburgh South aye? Your seat no?

[Space Mackerel]

Aw naw.

 

http://www.scotsman.com/business/companies/scotland-s-economy-scotland-ranked-best-place-to-start-a-business-1-4507788

[reaths17]

gestapo Scotland, SNP at its best. the worst government we've had since maggie

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-40739804

 

Police Scotland's chief constable is facing calls to step aside while he is investigated over claims of misconduct.

Phil Gormley insists he "remains focused" on the job despite being the subject of a probe by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.

BBC Scotland understands the inquiry concerns an allegation about bullying.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said it would be "necessary" for Mr Gormley to take a leave of absence to ensure an effective investigation.

Other parties have called for "full transparency" in the investigation and want the full findings to be published.

 

'Cooperating fully'

The probe follows a referral from the Scottish Police Authority, which passed the matter to Pirc for investigation.

There has been no formal indication of the nature of the complaint made against Mr Gormley, or who submitted it. However, Pirc said that "the allegations, if proved, would amount to gross misconduct" - defined as a breach of professional standards under which "dismissal may be justified".

BBC Scotland understands the complaint was one of bullying, from a fellow Police Scotland officer.

Mr Gormley, who took up the post of chief constable in January 2016, said he was "cooperating fully with Pirc" and would provide "all necessary assistance".

But he added: "I would like to stress that I remain focused on leading Police Scotland, ensuring that we continue to serve and protect the people of this country."

Mr Rennie said the allegations were "incredibly serious" and needed "a thorough and prompt investigation".

He said: "You cannot have the chief constable, the boss of the organisation, in place while his office is being investigated.

"I think it would be appropriate for him to step to one side. I think it would be wise if he took that decision himself.

"This is a very serious allegation, about gross misconduct, so it wouldn't be appropriate for the chief constable to remain in position while that investigation is being conducted."

Niven Rennie, a former president of the Association of Police Superintendents, also said it might be best if Mr Gormley stepped aside for the duration of the inquiry.

He told BBC Scotland: "There is the potential that witnesses might not come forward because he's there, or might not say something they otherwise would have said.

"There's also a question about other members of the executive team - they'll be getting interviewed as well. Did they see such conduct? And if they did, why did they not step in to stop it? So the whole matter is very complicated."

 

 

Analysis by Reevel Alderson, BBC Scotland home affairs correspondent

BBC Scotland understands the allegations come from a senior officer at Police Scotland headquarters at Tulliallan Castle and are of bullying behaviour.

Normally these investigations would be investigated by the force's professional standards department, but because Mr Gormley is of such a senior rank, the regulations require that it's passed to the Scottish Police Authority.

They don't have any investigation capabilities so they have passed it to the Pirc - and that investigation is now under way.

Mr Gormley has said it is inappropriate to comment further while that is ongoing. In the meantime, he continues to work while he awaits the results of this inquiry.

 

 

There have also been calls for as much information as possible about the probe to be made public.

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said it was "essential" that there was "full transparency as to what exactly has happened"

He said: "This will do nothing to help the reputation of Police Scotland, and the public will need to be reassured that if there has been any wrongdoing it will be swiftly dealt with."

Scottish Labour's Claire Baker also urged Pirc to be "as transparent as possible", saying: "With the most senior police officer under investigation, it is vital that whatever the outcome the public maintains confidence in Police Scotland."

Scottish Green MSP John Finnie, himself a former policeman, said it was "vital that a thorough investigation is undertaken and the full findings are published".

The investigation is the latest in a string of controversies to hit the single police force since it was established in 2013.

Its first chief constable, Sir Stephen House, left the role in 2015 in the wake of criticism over armed officers being put on routine patrol, the force's policies on stopping and searching juveniles and the response to a fatal crash on the M9.

The Scottish Police Authority is looking for a new chairman after Andrew Flanagan announced he would quit amid sustained criticism from MSPs. He had also faced allegations of bullying behaviour.

Holyrood justice committee convener Margaret Mitchell, a Conservative MSP, said the police service was "rudderless".

She said: "The chief constable is under investigation, the chair of the Scottish Police Authority is resigning. The service is rudderless.

"[Justice Secretary] Michael Matheson needs to take control of the situation. This shambolic situation can't be allowed to go on any longer."

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "We note the Pirc investigation and that they will provide a report to the Scottish Police Authority.

"It would not be appropriate to comment on any current investigation."

[Toggie88]

All quiet on that.  Also why did the Police stop the car in the first place.

 

Its a conspiracy of course.

 

This was all in the press a year ago. He was unknowingly taken off the policy when he split from his wife. Even the tories said it was clearly an honest mistake. 

 

But... big bad SNP. He was probably on his way to pick up some illegal immigrants and drop them off at their nice new government bought houses, eh? 

 

Beggars belief. Any straw though and all that. 

[Space Mackerel]

gestapo Scotland, SNP at its best. the worst government we've had since maggie

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-40739804

 

Police Scotland's chief constable is facing calls to step aside while he is investigated over claims of misconduct.

Phil Gormley insists he "remains focused" on the job despite being the subject of a probe by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.

BBC Scotland understands the inquiry concerns an allegation about bullying.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said it would be "necessary" for Mr Gormley to take a leave of absence to ensure an effective investigation.

Other parties have called for "full transparency" in the investigation and want the full findings to be published.

 

'Cooperating fully'

The probe follows a referral from the Scottish Police Authority, which passed the matter to Pirc for investigation.

There has been no formal indication of the nature of the complaint made against Mr Gormley, or who submitted it. However, Pirc said that "the allegations, if proved, would amount to gross misconduct" - defined as a breach of professional standards under which "dismissal may be justified".

BBC Scotland understands the complaint was one of bullying, from a fellow Police Scotland officer.

Mr Gormley, who took up the post of chief constable in January 2016, said he was "cooperating fully with Pirc" and would provide "all necessary assistance".

But he added: "I would like to stress that I remain focused on leading Police Scotland, ensuring that we continue to serve and protect the people of this country."

Mr Rennie said the allegations were "incredibly serious" and needed "a thorough and prompt investigation".

He said: "You cannot have the chief constable, the boss of the organisation, in place while his office is being investigated.

"I think it would be appropriate for him to step to one side. I think it would be wise if he took that decision himself.

"This is a very serious allegation, about gross misconduct, so it wouldn't be appropriate for the chief constable to remain in position while that investigation is being conducted."

Niven Rennie, a former president of the Association of Police Superintendents, also said it might be best if Mr Gormley stepped aside for the duration of the inquiry.

He told BBC Scotland: "There is the potential that witnesses might not come forward because he's there, or might not say something they otherwise would have said.

"There's also a question about other members of the executive team - they'll be getting interviewed as well. Did they see such conduct? And if they did, why did they not step in to stop it? So the whole matter is very complicated."

 

 

Analysis by Reevel Alderson, BBC Scotland home affairs correspondent

BBC Scotland understands the allegations come from a senior officer at Police Scotland headquarters at Tulliallan Castle and are of bullying behaviour.

Normally these investigations would be investigated by the force's professional standards department, but because Mr Gormley is of such a senior rank, the regulations require that it's passed to the Scottish Police Authority.

They don't have any investigation capabilities so they have passed it to the Pirc - and that investigation is now under way.

Mr Gormley has said it is inappropriate to comment further while that is ongoing. In the meantime, he continues to work while he awaits the results of this inquiry.

 

 

There have also been calls for as much information as possible about the probe to be made public.

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said it was "essential" that there was "full transparency as to what exactly has happened"

He said: "This will do nothing to help the reputation of Police Scotland, and the public will need to be reassured that if there has been any wrongdoing it will be swiftly dealt with."

Scottish Labour's Claire Baker also urged Pirc to be "as transparent as possible", saying: "With the most senior police officer under investigation, it is vital that whatever the outcome the public maintains confidence in Police Scotland."

Scottish Green MSP John Finnie, himself a former policeman, said it was "vital that a thorough investigation is undertaken and the full findings are published".

The investigation is the latest in a string of controversies to hit the single police force since it was established in 2013.

Its first chief constable, Sir Stephen House, left the role in 2015 in the wake of criticism over armed officers being put on routine patrol, the force's policies on stopping and searching juveniles and the response to a fatal crash on the M9.

The Scottish Police Authority is looking for a new chairman after Andrew Flanagan announced he would quit amid sustained criticism from MSPs. He had also faced allegations of bullying behaviour.

Holyrood justice committee convener Margaret Mitchell, a Conservative MSP, said the police service was "rudderless".

She said: "The chief constable is under investigation, the chair of the Scottish Police Authority is resigning. The service is rudderless.

"[Justice Secretary] Michael Matheson needs to take control of the situation. This shambolic situation can't be allowed to go on any longer."

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "We note the Pirc investigation and that they will provide a report to the Scottish Police Authority.

"It would not be appropriate to comment on any current investigation."

Is that the early SAD kicking in because of the rain and murky nights lately aye?

 

Feeling better now?

[Boris]

gestapo Scotland, SNP at its best. the worst government we've had since maggie

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-40739804

 

Police Scotland's chief constable is facing calls to step aside while he is investigated over claims of misconduct.

Phil Gormley insists he "remains focused" on the job despite being the subject of a probe by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.

BBC Scotland understands the inquiry concerns an allegation about bullying.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said it would be "necessary" for Mr Gormley to take a leave of absence to ensure an effective investigation.

Other parties have called for "full transparency" in the investigation and want the full findings to be published.

 

 

 

 

'Cooperating fully'

The probe follows a referral from the Scottish Police Authority, which passed the matter to Pirc for investigation.

There has been no formal indication of the nature of the complaint made against Mr Gormley, or who submitted it. However, Pirc said that "the allegations, if proved, would amount to gross misconduct" - defined as a breach of professional standards under which "dismissal may be justified".

BBC Scotland understands the complaint was one of bullying, from a fellow Police Scotland officer.

Mr Gormley, who took up the post of chief constable in January 2016, said he was "cooperating fully with Pirc" and would provide "all necessary assistance".

But he added: "I would like to stress that I remain focused on leading Police Scotland, ensuring that we continue to serve and protect the people of this country."

Mr Rennie said the allegations were "incredibly serious" and needed "a thorough and prompt investigation".

He said: "You cannot have the chief constable, the boss of the organisation, in place while his office is being investigated.

"I think it would be appropriate for him to step to one side. I think it would be wise if he took that decision himself.

"This is a very serious allegation, about gross misconduct, so it wouldn't be appropriate for the chief constable to remain in position while that investigation is being conducted."

Niven Rennie, a former president of the Association of Police Superintendents, also said it might be best if Mr Gormley stepped aside for the duration of the inquiry.

He told BBC Scotland: "There is the potential that witnesses might not come forward because he's there, or might not say something they otherwise would have said.

"There's also a question about other members of the executive team - they'll be getting interviewed as well. Did they see such conduct? And if they did, why did they not step in to stop it? So the whole matter is very complicated."

 

 

Analysis by Reevel Alderson, BBC Scotland home affairs correspondent

BBC Scotland understands the allegations come from a senior officer at Police Scotland headquarters at Tulliallan Castle and are of bullying behaviour.

Normally these investigations would be investigated by the force's professional standards department, but because Mr Gormley is of such a senior rank, the regulations require that it's passed to the Scottish Police Authority.

They don't have any investigation capabilities so they have passed it to the Pirc - and that investigation is now under way.

Mr Gormley has said it is inappropriate to comment further while that is ongoing. In the meantime, he continues to work while he awaits the results of this inquiry.

 

 

There have also been calls for as much information as possible about the probe to be made public.

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said it was "essential" that there was "full transparency as to what exactly has happened"

He said: "This will do nothing to help the reputation of Police Scotland, and the public will need to be reassured that if there has been any wrongdoing it will be swiftly dealt with."

Scottish Labour's Claire Baker also urged Pirc to be "as transparent as possible", saying: "With the most senior police officer under investigation, it is vital that whatever the outcome the public maintains confidence in Police Scotland."

Scottish Green MSP John Finnie, himself a former policeman, said it was "vital that a thorough investigation is undertaken and the full findings are published".

The investigation is the latest in a string of controversies to hit the single police force since it was established in 2013.

Its first chief constable, Sir Stephen House, left the role in 2015 in the wake of criticism over armed officers being put on routine patrol, the force's policies on stopping and searching juveniles and the response to a fatal crash on the M9.

The Scottish Police Authority is looking for a new chairman after Andrew Flanagan announced he would quit amid sustained criticism from MSPs. He had also faced allegations of bullying behaviour.

Holyrood justice committee convener Margaret Mitchell, a Conservative MSP, said the police service was "rudderless".

She said: "The chief constable is under investigation, the chair of the Scottish Police Authority is resigning. The service is rudderless.

"[Justice Secretary] Michael Matheson needs to take control of the situation. This shambolic situation can't be allowed to go on any longer."

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "We note the Pirc investigation and that they will provide a report to the Scottish Police Authority.

"It would not be appropriate to comment on any current investigation."

What do you mean by Gestapo Scotland? It would seem that the opposition parties are wanting the government to step in (see the Margaret Mitchell quote). So what's your point?

[Space Mackerel]

He has no point. He's just a slavering angry mess of a person.

[reaths17]

What do you mean by Gestapo Scotland? It would seem that the opposition parties are wanting the government to step in (see the Margaret Mitchell quote). So what's your point?

 

What do you mean by Gestapo Scotland? It would seem that the opposition parties are wanting the government to step in (see the Margaret Mitchell quote). So what's your point?

the black shirts/gestapo were hitlers enforcers/bullies of his regime, seemed pretty obvious analogy. of course they want the snp to step in, from the day they set them up they've been a nightmare, they're responsibility 

Edited July 27, 2017 by reaths17

[Space Mackerel]

Gestapo

 

Hitler

 

Regime

 

 

[emoji16]

[frankblack]

Gestapo

 

Hitler

 

Regime

 

 

[emoji16]

 

 

This is from someone who accuses others of being Nazis on a thread about Glastonbury Music Festival.

 

You are looking to be a bit unhinged mate, a bit like your antipodean pal (or are you the same person)?

[Space Mackerel]

 

This is from someone who accuses others of being Nazis on a thread about Glastonbury Music Festival.

 

You are looking to be a bit unhinged mate, a bit like your antipodean pal (or are you the same person)?

Unhinged?

 

Yet you scour the net for gifs like that?

 

[emoji16]

[reaths17]

 

This is from someone who accuses others of being Nazis on a thread about Glastonbury Music Festival.

 

You are looking to be a bit unhinged mate, a bit like your antipodean pal (or are you the same person)?

its better just to nod and say "aye ok sonny" he cant work out replies, bit simple i think

[Space Mackerel]

its better just to nod and say "aye ok sonny" he cant work out replies, bit simple i think

Is Frank your boyfriend? Or at least someone you go to home games with?

 

You seem quite willing to pair up with each other on here, it's all modern thinking. There's nearly 14,000 of us now.

[Gorgiewave]

Is Frank your boyfriend? Or at least someone you go to home games with?

 

You seem quite willing to pair up with each other on here, it's all modern thinking. There's nearly 14,000 of us now.

Scotland said No, pal. Everything else is first team to have floodlights shite.

[Boris]

the black shirts/gestapo were hitlers enforcers/bullies of his regime, seemed pretty obvious analogy. of course they want the snp to step in, from the day they set them up they've been a nightmare, they're responsibility 

 

So the Police are the Gestapo then?  Right on comwade!

 

 

I'm not sure how a single police force, or indeed the Government, is responsible for the Chief Constable being investigate for misconduct, but there you go.

[reaths17]

So the Police are the Gestapo then?  Right on comwade!

 

 

I'm not sure how a single police force, or indeed the Government, is responsible for the Chief Constable being investigate for misconduct, but there you go.

what ?

 

who created the beast ? who runs the beast ?

 

is it not our government who are responsible for our safety ?

 

it isn't just the chief constable thats being accused of bullying in the story. there is also chairman andrew flanagan in the mix.

 

the previous incumbent/chief constable "house" was also shown the door

 

who appoints these people, a committee formed by the government ? 

 

who else would you say is responsible for this ?

 

who do you think should be blamed for something formed by the government ?

[Seymour M Hersh]

Can I just remind folk that they (at Holyrood) are not a Government but a Devolved Executive. Just because Alex Salmond changed the name does not legitimise it as a Government.

[JamboX2]

Can I just remind folk that they (at Holyrood) are not a Government but a Devolved Executive. Just because Alex Salmond changed the name does not legitimise it as a Government.

The Scotland Act 2012 does as it amended the legal name to Scottish Government. Much the same as the Governance of Wales Act (2006?) established the legal basis of the term "Welsh Government".

 

In effect it's a devolved government.

 

NI is the only nation to retain the name "Executive".

[JamboX2]

what ?

 

who created the beast ? who runs the beast ?

 

is it not our government who are responsible for our safety ?

 

it isn't just the chief constable thats being accused of bullying in the story. there is also chairman andrew flanagan in the mix.

 

the previous incumbent/chief constable "house" was also shown the door

 

who appoints these people, a committee formed by the government ?

 

who else would you say is responsible for this ?

 

who do you think should be blamed for something formed by the government ?

Many issues exist with Police Scotland. I'd rather we still had 8 have forces but Parliament decided otherwise.

 

Best bet going forward is to abolish the SPA and transfer it's functions to a parliamentary standing committee on policing.

 

And until better and more democratic oversight is put in place we need to stop the merger or BTP into Police Scotland.

[frankblack]

Is Frank your boyfriend? Or at least someone you go to home games with?

 

You seem quite willing to pair up with each other on here, it's all modern thinking. There's nearly 14,000 of us now.

Oh Dear.

 

Homophobic name calling now. Truly desperate stuff.

[Space Mackerel]

Many issues exist with Police Scotland. I'd rather we still had 8 have forces but Parliament decided otherwise.

 

Best bet going forward is to abolish the SPA and transfer it's functions to a parliamentary standing committee on policing.

 

And until better and more democratic oversight is put in place we need to stop the merger or BTP into Police Scotland.

Why do you want 8 Police forces to cover 5 million people?

 

Maybe in the olden days of local districts and old wind up telephones it was a good thing, times have changed.

 

Folk are actually shopping others on Facebook now for minor thefts, things that would've got you battered 20 years ago.

[JamboX2]

Why do you want 8 Police forces to cover 5 million people?

 

Maybe in the olden days of local districts and old wind up telephones it was a good thing, times have changed.

 

Folk are actually shopping others on Facebook now for minor thefts, things that would've got you battered 20 years ago.

Because I think things like the police should have more local governance than national as needs and concerns vary massively from town to city to local area. 8 was adequate for that job as Councils alongside local chiefs could direct and better plan resources to meet local policy and needs.

 

I.e. Edonburgh's tolerance policy compared to the zero tolerance on brothels etc.

 

I'd also go for a more locally run NHS like they do in Scandinavian nations which have better health outcomes.

 

National co-ordination of services but locally run.

 

I'd add that the structures in place to administer and hold Police Scotland to account are weak and effectively a government quango. If it's a national force thn Holyrood should take over tge SPA role so that it is democratically accountable.

[Space Mackerel]

Because I think things like the police should have more local governance than national as needs and concerns vary massively from town to city to local area. 8 was adequate for that job as Councils alongside local chiefs could direct and better plan resources to meet local policy and needs.

 

I.e. Edonburgh's tolerance policy compared to the zero tolerance on brothels etc.

 

I'd also go for a more locally run NHS like they do in Scandinavian nations which have better health outcomes.

 

National co-ordination of services but locally run.

 

I'd add that the structures in place to administer and hold Police Scotland to account are weak and effectively a government quango. If it's a national force thn Holyrood should take over tge SPA role so that it is democratically accountable.

Almost like an essay back to the good old 70's, 80's and 90's...bless. When Labour were in power.

 

Any ideas about modern policing from the Nu Scot Labour?

 

What about Murray and his cronies getting him back in the Nu Scot Labour positions, wee lassie from Midlothian must be seek.

[JamboX2]

Almost like an essay back to the good old 70's, 80's and 90's...bless. When Labour were in power.

 

Any ideas about modern policing from the Nu Scot Labour?

 

What about Murray and his cronies getting him back in the Nu Scot Labour positions, wee lassie from Midlothian must be seek.

Eh?

 

I believe in local democracy. I've told you I'm basing this on Denmark, Norway and Swedish experience in running these services - which yes folk repeatedly point to as good examples of how an Indy Scotland could run.

 

The NHS has never been run in Scotland with huge local in put. In fact the last review of how it runs was in the 1970s. But it should. Health policies which apply national targets and standards can fail to address local public health concerns. Take the "death mile" in Glasgow were the life expectancy plummets from around 80 for men to nearer 60. In the poorer areas, as a number of social studies are showing UK wide, there is a greater prevalence of fast food, gambling and pubs/cheap alcohol stores. That's a major issue. So why not give Glasgow greater powers to combat that, more planning control, more public health powers to direct resource to combat obesity and heart disease?

 

Your solution is blind faith and adherence to what the SNP do. From reading things like Common Space, Common Weal and Bella Caledonia it's increasingly clear that many advocates of Independence do not believe the SNP (or Greens) are setting out a vision for a new Scotland come more devolution or independence to right these societal and generational wrongs.

 

Where power lies is part of the solution. Scotland has 32 local authorities. Many weak in what they can do. 32 for 5 million seems bizarre to me. Oversaturated. Make the big 6 cities (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Perth) mayor run. Then condense places the 3 Ayrshire councils into Ayrshire and so on. Give them real power to do real and meaningful things. Trust the people of those areas to make the decisions and spend the money as they see fit.

 

Like Denmark or Norway on many issues. The current system was designed to run services by 3 ministers under a Secretary of State for Scotland. Not an increasingly autonomous nation in the 21st century.

 

If we want to right the many wrongs of Scottish society we need to really look at Scotland objectively and make changes to systems which ignore too many of our poorest and reallocate power to allow these people to make the changes needed.

[jake]

Eh?

 

I believe in local democracy. I've told you I'm basing this on Denmark, Norway and Swedish experience in running these services - which yes folk repeatedly point to as good examples of how an Indy Scotland could run.

 

The NHS has never been run in Scotland with huge local in put. In fact the last review of how it runs was in the 1970s. But it should. Health policies which apply national targets and standards can fail to address local public health concerns. Take the "death mile" in Glasgow were the life expectancy plummets from around 80 for men to nearer 60. In the poorer areas, as a number of social studies are showing UK wide, there is a greater prevalence of fast food, gambling and pubs/cheap alcohol stores. That's a major issue. So why not give Glasgow greater powers to combat that, more planning control, more public health powers to direct resource to combat obesity and heart disease?

 

Your solution is blind faith and adherence to what the SNP do. From reading things like Common Space, Common Weal and Bella Caledonia it's increasingly clear that many advocates of Independence do not believe the SNP (or Greens) are setting out a vision for a new Scotland come more devolution or independence to right these societal and generational wrongs.

 

Where power lies is part of the solution. Scotland has 32 local authorities. Many weak in what they can do. 32 for 5 million seems bizarre to me. Oversaturated. Make the big 6 cities (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Perth) mayor run. Then condense places the 3 Ayrshire councils into Ayrshire and so on. Give them real power to do real and meaningful things. Trust the people of those areas to make the decisions and spend the money as they see fit.

 

Like Denmark or Norway on many issues. The current system was designed to run services by 3 ministers under a Secretary of State for Scotland. Not an increasingly autonomous nation in the 21st century.

 

If we want to right the many wrongs of Scottish society we need to really look at Scotland objectively and make changes to systems which ignore too many of our poorest and reallocate power to allow these people to make the changes needed.

 

Like this post.

Not sure about mayor run cities but im always in favour of reallocating power to make it less central.

 

Thats why im for independence and brexit but im not trying to trip you up with that.

 

And spacey people and indeed the police themselves rank and file are not best pleased with the recent set up.

[JamboX2]

Like this post.

Not sure about mayor run cities but im always in favour of reallocating power to make it less central.

 

Thats why im for independence and brexit but im not trying to trip you up with that.

 

And spacey people and indeed the police themselves rank and file are not best pleased with the recent set up.

Quite like the Mayor model. Gives cities a focal point in leadership. I mean without googling it, who is Edinburgh's Council Leader or Lord Provost?

 

I'd have an elected Mayor with an elected Council who scrutinise the Mayor and their appointees. Much like London, Berlin, Copenhagen etc.

 

I think the big Scottish cities stand to lose out to their English and continental competitors by not having clearer leadership and direction.

 

Plus, you'd attract better people to run for Mayor than Councillor. Imagine a few years back Margo MacDonald challenging Tommy Shepherd and Malcolm Chisholm for the Mayors post in Edinburgh.