Does Scotland Need Nuclear Power? BBC Landward

Afghanistan - The Rising Toll of an Unwinnable War

Three more of our soldiers were killed yesterday and one seriously injured when their patrol came under attack in southern Afghanistan. The soldiers were all from the Parachute Regiment and were all members of the Special Forces Support Group (SFSG) which was formed to add extra firepower and assault capability to the SAS and Special Boat Service (SBS).

This takes the fatality toll in Afghanistan to 195, of whom 163 died in action.

The loss of three members of the SFSG will be a hugh blow to the British Task Force in Helmand.

More unnecessary suffering for their families and friends. This unwinnable war is destablising the UK not protecting it. Future generations will pay because terrorists like the Taliban will never forget those involved and will seek revenge.

Source: The Times

Labour Attacks Salmond Again

Labour just won't give up trying to land one on Alex Salmond. Today we're informed that Alex Salmond has been cleared for a second time of misleading Parliament and the panel of former presiding officers set up to examine such complaints have criticised opposition leaders for the way they have used (or more accurately miss-used) the system.

No process existed under the first two terms of Holyrood to hold the First Minister to account, but after an initial complaint against Mr Salmond over his handling of the Donald Trump planning application, he established a system whereby former presiding officers would examine specific complaints.

Does this mean there was never any reason for any MSP to question previous First Ministers? I doubt that. It's more likely that the opposition are looking for a scalp, preferably Alex Salmond's scalp.

The labour party aren't happy being told off by the former presiding officers, they're not happy at all. In fact they're so unhappy they now have a former deputy Presiding Officer accusing Mr Salmond of using public funds to campaign. Ms Ferguson (above) has lodged the complaint after it emerged that Mr Salmond is to hold a government-funded meeting on Scotland's constitutional future in a part of Glasgow soon to be the venue of a crucial by-election. The 'national conversation' event is to be held on September 1 in Molendinar Community Centre, in Glasgow North-East and is part of the Scottish Cabinet's summer tour of Scotland.

Patricia Ferguson, the labour MSP for Glasgow Maryhill, said she had written to Mr Elvidge and claimed the SNP had been "caught red handed abusing taxpayers money to campaign in the by-election".

A spokesman for Mr Salmond denied Ms Ferguson's allegations, saying the decision to take the Cabinet to Glasgow as part of the summer tour had been taken months ago. The spokesman added that the location for the Cabinet and National Conversation event was recommended by officials. "Labour seems to be judging the SNP Government according to their own standards of conduct," he said.

I know people who have attended these Cabinet and national conversation meetings (only one an SNP member) and they considered them to be far more about current policy and the operations of the Scottish government than about independence.

Didn't the Calman Commission travel the country asking the public their opinions on how to make Scottish government better, but pedaled the unionist line? Didn't Calman refuse to invite the SNP on board because he refused to even acknowledge that a third of the country's voters wish independence? Eventually Calman was pushed into consulting with the SNP but he was most reluctant to take this step.

As yet the cost of the Calman Commission's jaunts have not been declared, but I should think it will be far in excess of the £500,000 quoted as the cost of the Cabinet and national conversations meetings. Some brave journalist may submit an FOI regarding the price of this roadshow.

It's obvious these meetings have to be arranged many months in advance and to suggest this was suddenly arranged because of the forthcoming by-election, is a nonsense. If labour hadn't decided to leave the good people of Glasgow NE without an MP until November, the by-election could have been over and done with by 1 September. The people of Glasgow, whether it be north, south, east or west, deserve the same attention as other places in the country. The Calman Commission could have visited Glasgow North East but it decided not to do so. Maybe they thought, after considering the neighbouring MP is SNP, there would be too many voices calling for a discussion on independence.

Footnote 08.56: Stephen's Linlithgow Journal has posted on the same subject. The tone is rather acerbic as you would expect from a Libdem, but it's also witty and deserves a mention.

NHS Food and Baby Care

An NHS Tayside roadshow highlighting the importance of food, drink and nutrition to clinical care was launched at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee this week. It is estimated that between 15% and 40% of patients who are admitted to UK hospitals are at risk of malnutrition. Ninewells is playing a significant role.

Dietetic consultant Joyce Thompson said "We're invested a lot of time in training staff to carry out assessments with patients. To begin with we have a discussion with the patient, then we weigh them and work out their body mass index to find out if they're already suffering from malnutrition, or if they're at risk. Patients are involved at every stage from menu to recipe development. There's been a lot of enthusiasm and positive vibes from the wards and the kitchen. At the end of the day, food and drink matters and it's something the patients talk about - they care."

To be honest, if you're in hospital food becomes the highlight of the day for most, or at least mealtime does. To think that between 15% and 40% of patients are at risk is a vast amount. A more interesting analysis would be to see how these percentages relate to age groups, although it is admitted the elderly are more vulnerable.

Now NHS Tayside is offering individual menus to patients, perhaps they can get around to ensuring every patient is able to feed themselves. Just the other week a friend mentioned when visiting her mother, she complained of hunger. It appears she couldn't reach her lunch tray and nobody offered help. Did my friend complain? No, she thought it would be a waste of time with endless letters going back and forth.

I wonder if this has extended to Scottish maternity units? In recent years Bounty, best known for providing "goodie bags" to mothers, have started to take photographs if newborn babies in increasing numbers of hospitals in England, signing separate contracts with trusts in which it agrees to pay out about £1.50 per picture taken.

It's staff - who are allowed to park free on hospital sites while patients and relatives are forced to pay - tour maternity wards with laptops and cameras and after a new mother arrives from the delivery suite they ask to take photos of the new child. If the mother signs up she is charged for the prints.

Surely this is an invasion of privacy - perhaps not legally but certainly morally. Childbirth is stressful enough without worrying about a complete stranger thrusting a camera into your baby's face then charging you for the privilege.

Do We Need a Nationalist Website?

SNP Tactical voting has been asking if a Scottish nationalist blog, in the vein of Labourlist, ConservativeHome and LibdemVoice is necessary to promote the case for Scottish independence. An interesting concept but, in my view too late and now unnecessary.

If members of the SNP had decided this was the way to go with the online promotion of the cause for independence and it must be remembered that only a very small percentage of voters would look online for opinions and information, they should have taken this step long ago. To start one now would seem to be following the three UK parties instead of being part of them.

The SNP is a mainstream political party but, because it is classed as 'regional', it is really between a rock and hard place.

Part of the problem is the official SNP website which if you do a google search for 'Scottish independence' brings it as top. As any reader will realise I don't have a clue about website design but I would have thought the PR department in the SNP would have some idea, although it seems they do not. Unfortunately it is perhaps the least user friendly party website in the whole of UK politics. So many of my readers have asked me why it is so out-dated and difficult to browse but I have no answer. It appears neglected and therefore, in the online world, 'old'. The SNP say they are a modern party but their website certainly doesn't convey that message.

Of course Scottish independence is most important to the people who live and vote here, but it is also of great interest to those who live outside 'the border'. The case for Scottish independence should be known to an international audience and not kept within the tight confines of a Scottish clique. The Gathering was a superb example of ensuring our culture, which includes our political situation, is recognised far and wide. As a supporter of independence the thoughts of others matters to me, whether they are eligible to vote here or not.

As I commented on SNP Tactical Voting, unless someone can come up with a very handsome cheque, plus some SNP MPs and MSPs who decide to give time to promoting the cause online, then there is no point in a Nationalist type of site. As Julie says online promotion is time consuming.

The cause for independence is well represented in the blogosphere in various styles, but the message is the same. Perhaps Jeff's thoughts run to a blog which supports Scottish nationalism and is part of the recognised UK blogosphere. It would certainly need to be free of party influences and allow open debate.

I've decided most of the UK blogosphere do not even consider Scottish blogs as a major players, we are just regarded, as in EU speak, 'regional'.

I will be proved wrong of course and be delighted.

A Flower of Scotland Remix

My thanks to Dazed N Confused

MacAskill visits Megrahi

Kenny MacAskill, Justice Secretary in the Scottish government, has visited Greenock prison this morning to speak to Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi. Mr Megrahi was convicted in 2001 of 270 counts of murder for his part in the bombing of the Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie on 21 December 1988. He has maintained his innocence.

Mr MacAskill has received a request from Libya for Mr Megrahi to be returned there to finish his sentence. He has spoken with the families of those who were killed and others connected with the case. The visit this morning was private and it is reported Mr MacAskill will not be giving interviews.

Mr Megrahi was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008.

Chris Patten - Available for Hire

Lord Patten, once commonly known as Chris Patten and current chancellor of Oxford University, has stated he would be interested in a senior position within the EU and has emerged as a potential candidate to become the EU's first foreign minister.

He said he would not lobby for the post but would be 'very positive' if asked.

Britain now has two political heavyweights who have signalled their availability for new high-profile jobs next January, if the Lisbon Treaty is finally ratified this autumn.

Tony Blair is being backed by the UK government to become the union's first president. If Mr Blair became president, it would dash any hopes Lord Patten may have of returning to frontline EU politics as nobody imagines two Britons holding the two new jobs.

Chris Patten's chances are not too good. It is said Britain will throw its support behind Tony Blair while some regard Mr Patten as yesterday's man. Some of his views do not play well in Paris. France blocked moves to install him as European Commission president in 2004. President Jacques Chirac did not want a Briton in the post, although diplomats claimed Mr Patten's French was not quite up to scratch.

It will be an interesting contest in October, not least because the Conservative party oppose the Lisbon Treaty.

Source: FT

Mischief Making Murdo

The Perthshire Tories claim that a poll conducted by Crosby/Textor/Pepper, for the campaign group Flying Matters, puts the conservatives well ahead of other parties and suggests the SNP will lose the Perth and North Perthshire seat.

Murdo Fraser, the tory MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, said that voters are 'switching away' from the SNP to the tories. He continued,"Whilst one poll can never predict the outcome of an election, this does suggest that Perth and North Perthshire will be a very close contest between the conservatives and the SNP and we will be fighting for every vote."

For those of you who don't know the history of this constituency the area was a conservative stronghold for many years and the one in which the late Sir Nicholas Fairbairn reigned. In recent years the seat was gained by the SNP and presently Pete Wishart represents the electorate at Westminster. It has always been a seat fought between the SNP and the tories and I do not foresee it any differently at the next general election.

What I do see is Murdo being a tad optimistic, but he's a politician and needs to keep positive. Pete Wishart is a highly respected, hard working MP and, along with the on-going success of the SNP government at Holyrood, he should have no problem holding the seat next year. To suggest otherwise, on the back of a wee poll, is just mischief-making, isn't it Murdo?

Source: Courier

Increase in Calls to NSPCC

There has been a 33% increase in calls to the NSPCC Helpline since the Baby Peter incident. Over 11,000 of these, in the year to March, were referred to police and/or social work departments.

I welcome this increase because it shows people are now more aware of their responsibility to report their concerns, rather than turning a blind eye.

Last week it was reported the number of boys phoning Childline has more than doubled in the past 5 years. Some 12,568 called about bullying, while 6,403 rang about physical abuse and 4.780 about sexual abuse. In total some 58,311 young males used the service last year.

It pleases me to hear boys are no longer afraid to ask for help. Long may it continue and then we may finally be rid of the 'big boys don't cry' myth.

Eric Joyce - Did He 'Break Ranks'?

Eric Joyce, the Labour representative for Falkirk and Britain's most expensive MP, expressed his views regarding the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) in the Scotland on Sunday.

As he is PPS to the Defence secretary Bob Ainsworth, he is fully aware of the inadequacies highlighted in the recent legal case. His view is that the appeal should be dropped.

'For our part, politicians have to recognise that while the public will give us a lot of rope at times, where we get the moral call profoundly wrong on a matter of how we treat our astonishingly brave service personnel, we'll find ourselves dangling at the end of it.'

Eric Joyce is known for being an ultra-loyal labourite who has never voted against the government in 8 years. What are his reasons behind this sudden attack on government policy? Could it be he is aware he has done nothing for his ex-colleagues in the army and his conscience has pushed him into speaking out? (He retired as a major in the Black Watch). Could it be he senses the public mood is very against this appeal continuing and he is looking to salvage votes at the next election?

With no proof whatsoever but with a liberal dose of cynicism, I suggest that the 'outburst' was planned and approved by his bosses. Somehow the heat had to be taken off Bob Ainsworth and this is rather a neat way of doing just that. Also, with Mr Joyce's military background, more credibility is given to his opinion on this issue and results in the public being much less sceptical. Some commentators suggested he should lose his job as PPS for 'breaking ranks' but it seems he is still in post. Of course he is, there was never any question he would be sacked.

One thing is certain though, Mr Joyce will be keeping a close eye on the AFCS review Bob Ainsworth called forward last week. After all, MoD funding also includes military pensions and Mr Joyce will be sure to want to protect his own.

Positive News Day - Can We Rid Ourselves of Airbrushed Children's Adverts?

Jo Swinton, the LibDem MP has brought airbrushing back into the public domain. Her main complaint is that children's advertisements should state any enhanced photograph should be marked as such.

I'm all for this and not only for children's advertisements. Nowadays the media airbrush to such an extent that they can reduce the shape of a 'normal' person into a shape that not even the subject of the photograph can recognise.

Jo Swinton isn't asking for airbrushed photographs to be banned but for them to be marked so as any viewer then knows the photograph is not completely genuine and in particular advertisements aimed at children.

We have a problem in this country with young people and adults being obsessed with the shape of their bodies and the obsession can lead to lifelong medical problems. It is not completely confined to females, males are known to have body imagine problems too.

This isn't the first time an MP has spoken out about this problem but I think Jo Swinton's solution is an excellent compromise. She doesn't wish to ban airbrushed photography, she wishes to make the publishers take responsibility for altering images. 'The camera never lies' will always be the truth, unless of course computer software is involved and I see no reason why a declaration should not be attached to a photograph in these cases.

If anyone watched Channel 4 news earlier this evening they would have seen an interview with Jo Swinton and the editor of a teenage magazine called Sugar. Ms Swinton put forward a good, clear argument, the magazine editor's comments were, to say the least, pathetic.

Positive News Day - More Tories Standing Down

I know many Tory supporters may say this isn't positive news, but surely the news that more Tory MPs are to quit because of the expenses scandal, must be greeted with relief.

Thirteen sitting MPs have already announced the will stand down at the next general election but another 17 are expected to follow, the party chairman, Eric Pickles told the Guardian.

Pop over to the Guardian to read the article for yourself and if you are a Tory supporter there's a nice wee bonus there for you too - you can hear your party chairman's dulcet tones as he spins the party line.

I just hope they don't fill the vacant seats with a class of 20-somethings. Bringing in young blood is always a good idea, but too many young people with little experience of the outside world won't do the Tory party much good. If I was an MP of say 30 years standing, I would be somewhat put out at 20+ year olds coming into my workplace on the same pay as myself. That's another story.

Positive News Day - Army Tests New Equipment

Positive News Day - Cue and Review

There are thousands of people in Scotland who have visual difficulties. Many are too embarrassed to ask for help and it can take a sharp-eyed member of the family or friend to notice things 'just aren't right'. Sometimes an older person needs to be assured there is help for them as many put changes down to 'old age'.

I was curious last week to see a Twitter message from MekQuarrie in which he mentioned Cue and Review. Now, I'd never heard of Cue and Review and maybe that's because I live in the east of Scotland as C & R are based in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow. The transcribing is performed by a band of 60 enthusiastic volunteers.

C & R Recording Service (Print Speaking to the Blind), in its 26th year, provide a range of audio titles for visually impaired people. The titles they supply include The Herald, Sunday Herald, Evening Times, Radio Times Scotland, Inside Soap, Earth Matters, SFX, Star Trek, Empire and more magazines or newspapers. Available on audio cassette, CD or as a podcast the membership fee is 70p a week. They send out 71,040 tapes each year to 1,050 visually and reading impaired people.

Funding is received via grants and donations, one of which last year was from the Souter Charitable Trust (founder Brian Souter of Stagecoach). The SCT donated £10,000 to the organisation.

How heartening to know so many people are able to keep 'reading' their usual paper or magazine and also keep a little of their independence - all thanks to a group of volunteers who perhaps don't get mentioned nearly as much as they should. Well done the 60 strong C & R Recording team!

Convicts and Compensation

Almost £30m of taxpayer's money has been paid to convicted criminals who have been injured after getting caught up in other crimes.

A Sunday Post investigation discovered 49,709 people with unspent convictions received compensation over the past decade. The highest individual payment was £375,000. Anyone deemed a 'blameless' victim of crime can apply to the state for damages under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

The revelations have sparked calls for serious and serial offenders to be banned from qualifying for compensation. Last year the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority resolved 5,525 compensation claims for people with unspent convictions and the average payout was £1456, up 66% on a decade ago. A CICA spokesperson said it will refuse or reduce an award if someone has unspent convictions. He added, "The more recent and serious the offences are, the more we will take them into account."

Last month it emerged disclosed victims of crime are to have their compensation slashed if they have previously committed minor offences such as speeding.

Another example of the inappropriate use of taxpayers' money.

Positive News Day - Tomorrow

Calling England, a very popular English blogger, has persuaded me to take part in a Positive News Day tomorrow. The posts I make will contain positive news which is rather hard to find these days. Anyway I will give it a go -'nothing ventured, nothing gained'.

If anyone would like to take part, please copy the logo and post it on your blog. Go on - you know you want to!

Holiday Photo of the Year

Click to enlarge

The Home Secretary Replies

Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, explains the reasons he cannot stop Garry McKinnon's extradition. Writing in the Sunday Times, he emphasises the fact that it would be unlawful for the home secretary to intervene to prevent his extradition.

He also mentions that the court was clear Garry McKinnon should be tried in the United States because the crimes he is accused of committing - although they were conducted from a computer in his bedroom in the UK - did not remotely affect people in this country. They affected critical government security systems in America.

The article reveals no 'new' information which will be of help to the McKinnon campaign to have the case held in the UK. I should think they already know Mr Johnson's thoughts.

What Will This Woman Do Next?

Sarah Palin and her husband Todd are to divorce. A National Enquirer story exposing previous affairs on both sides led to a deterioration of their marriage and the stress from that led to Palin's resignation as governor of Alaska.

She has recently purchased land in Montana and is considering moving the family there.

Is this the end of Sarah Palin's bid for the White House or just the beginning?

Source: Alaska Report

Update: The divorce is denied on Facebook

Taypayers to Pay for Graduates' Gap Year

Gap year students working on a Raleigh project at San Lucas off Costa Rica

Taxpayers are to fund gap years for graduates to keep them off the dole queue. Hundreds of university leavers will get public money from Lord Mandelson's department to help them to travel to places such as Costa Rica, Borneo and India.

The number of graduates who are unemployed ix months after leaving university has reached its highest level since records began, with one in ten not in jobs or further study. Career experts say that 80,000 will hunt in vain for work this summer.

Critics say that the government was bribing graduates to go on gap years in order to massage the unemployment figures.

The government is giving £500,000 to Raleigh, the gap year company running the programme.

I am not a fan of gap years although I know many universities encourage them, but I do think if students want to have a trip abroad the taxpayer should not be paying for it. A much more sensible way of using our money would be to have a community service programme in this country. Many European countries make such programmes mandatory and I have yet to hear any European young person say it did not benefit them in some way.

Higher Education Minister David Lammy said volunteering would help new graduates develop "the communication and leadership skills that are so highly valued in the workplace." These skills could be learned here in the UK without financing 500 young people to travel abroad. No matter which way I view this, it is a blatant attempt to massage the unemployment figures right enough.

Source: BBC

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Dark Lochnagar - Forced immigrant migration to Scotland

Power and its minions - Dictatus Peterae - Idle Musings of a Megalomaniac

Sausage Suppers to:

Adam Smith Institute - Credit Rating Agencies

Joyce McMillan - Swine Flu Mania Acts as Substitute for Much More Serious Fears

Mark Wadsworth - Excellent free publicity