alanferrier

alanferrier, 5 days ago to random

“The Scottish Child Payment has seen the biggest reduction in inequality caused by a single policy change since the collapse of the Berlin Wall. It basically means that no child in Scotland should go cold or hungry. It’s a remarkable story and the second remarkable story is how it hasn’t been reported.”
—Professor Danny Dorling, University of Oxford.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/23802729.scottish-child-payment-impact-biggest-since-fall-berlin-wall/

alanferrier, 5 days ago to random

How a £25 payment is turning Scotland into a European pioneer in reducing child deprivation.

“I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve mentioned it to colleagues and friends based elsewhere in the UK . . . and been told they’ve never heard of it.”
https://www.ft.com/content/cf41b5d9-c714-40a2-b66d-251efde61504

alanferrier, 5 days ago to random

I'm starting to think that the Conservative Party's decision to hold the #Brexit referendum in order to resolve their internal civil war and neutralise the threat of Farage's far-right may not be working out as they'd hoped.

alanferrier, 6 days ago to random

Farage being, once again, the top story on the BBC News website provides an excuse to repost this little slice of Internet poetry from 2017:

alanferrier, 7 days ago to random

"Starmer’s Labour Party has been captured by a small, highly determined right-wing clique, one that is as insouciant of Labour’s magnificent history and democratic tradition as it is contemptuous of ethnic minorities.

A new clause has been added to the Labour Party rulebook, which reads: “Neither the principles of natural justice nor the provisions of fairness … shall apply to the termination of party membership.”
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/keir-starmer-drawing-terrifying-blueprint-uk

alanferrier, 11 days ago to random

This BBC puff-piece begins: "Nigel Farage is one of the most influential politicians of our time. Quite the achievement for a man who has never been an MP, despite trying to become one seven times."

Could his 35 (36, as of tomorrow) appearances on BBC Question Time have had anything to do with it?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxeevlxex1lo

alanferrier, 11 days ago to random

The UK is - supposedly - a multi-nation, multi-party democracy; four nations with different political cultures. There's every chance of a hung parliament. Folk need to hear from the various different parties on their ballot papers otherwise it's, quite simply, a stitch-up.

alanferrier, 11 days ago to random

Two MPs who represent English constituencies.

No voices to speak for Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Still - #BetterTogether, eh?
https://www.itv.com/news/2024-05-29/itv-to-host-first-head-to-head-general-election-debate-between-sunak-and-starmer

alanferrier, 13 days ago to random

A reminder that ten Labour frontbenchers, including eight shadow minsters, resigned their posts because Starmer threatened to sack them if they backed a ceasefire in Gaza.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67432393

alanferrier, 16 days ago to random

I hear the party with 2 Scottish MPs is refusing to take part in any televised debate which includes the small party with only 43 MPs.

alanferrier, 16 days ago to random

Rats leaving sinking ship at an accelerating rate, I see.

alanferrier, 16 days ago to random

There's a not-so-subtle difference between Labour's campaign posters in England and those used in Scotland. I wonder why that might be.

alanferrier, 17 days ago to random

Dutch evening TV news (NPO Journaal) is rather more informative about British history than the (dutifully curated) BBC: “As a former colony that long fought against British rule, Ireland recognises the Palestinian struggle against oppression.”

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alanferrier, 19 days ago to random

Fixed that for you, New Statesman.

Fun fact: England is the only country in the world to have fully privatised its water and sewerage systems.

Via the Financial Times: "Scotland—which has its own state-owned water company—massively outperformed its neighbours with water standards similar to much of Scandinavia."

alanferrier, 22 days ago to random

A typical nuclear reactor produces about 1 GW of electricity.

The Pentland Firth alone has the potential for about 4.2 GW of tidal stream power.

Waiting for the naysayers to ask me what we'll do when the moon no longer orbits the earth.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960148113005466

alanferrier, 23 days ago to random

Scotland neither wants nor needs a new nuclear power station. England needs a new nuclear power station, but they just don't want it in England.

alanferrier, 25 days ago to random

Pinched from the other place.

alanferrier, 25 days ago to random

Paul Kavanagh on how Sunak's "threats" speech was reported by our beloved State broadcaster.

alanferrier, 26 days ago to random

Rishi Sunak's Ethics Adviser sounds like something you'd get printed on t-shirts for lads on a stag night.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/rishi-sunak-reported-ethics-adviser-32805012

alanferrier, 26 days ago to random

I wonder how the newspapers and TV would have reacted had John Swinney called unionists an extremist threat to Scotland.

alanferrier, 26 days ago to random

Remember, folks:
British Nationalism: "proud, emotional, regal, joyous."
Scottish Nationalism: "provincial, divisive, reactionary, extremist."

alanferrier, 27 days ago to random

Imagine living in a world where you can be arrested or sacked for saying please don't kill children because it might hurt the feelings of the child killers.

alanferrier, 30 days ago to random

That'd be the Nelson Mandela who said in 1997 that the ANC's struggle was ongoing. “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

Tell me you don't know who Nelson Mandela was or what he stood for without telling me, etc... https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-labours-david-lammy-suggests-mandela-would-oppose-gaza-student-protests