The Scottish media has been operating at what former BBC journalist Paul Mason once called “full propaganda strength” for the last few weeks, trying to inflate some pretty standard seasonal fluctuations into a “WINTER NHS CRISIS”.
One of the more egregious examples came yesterday when the state broadcaster’s Scotland editor Sarah Smith announced to the nation that 100,000 patients had waited more than four hours at A&E departments last week – a pretty impressive feat since in reality only a quarter of that number actually visited A&Es in Scotland last week, and four-fifths of those were seen in under four hours.
The 100,000 figure in fact refers to an entire year, not a week. Depending on how you look at it, Smith misrepresented the reality by either 2,000% or 5,200%. Yet at the time of writing we’re not aware of the BBC having issued any correction or apology for this, well, let’s be generous and say “error”.
The stats record the time taken for patients presenting at A&E to be dealt with (that doesn’t just mean “seen”, but seen, assessed, and then either treated, admitted or sent home). For the whole of 2017 the figures for Scotland were:
Patients dealt with in four hours or less: 93.1%
In eight hours or less: 99.2%
In 12 hours or less: 99.9%
Which doesn’t sound like too much of a crisis.
Alert observers will of course be aware that this is all entry-level basic operating mode for the media. Even if they weren’t trying to whip up politically-motivated “SNP BAD” material – and most of them are – it’s a deep journalistic instinct to exaggerate and hyperbolise everything into the worst news possible in order to drive traffic and clicks.
The gigantic-clown-shoed bunglemuppet that is Scottish Tory MP Ross Thomson was galumphing around social media yesterday, quoting a notoriously dim-witted Yoon troll to the effect that the Scottish Government could (and therefore presumably should) use its own money to compensate the “WASPI women” – a group who’ve been robbed of years of rightful pension payments by the UK government changing the rules after they’d already qualified for their pensions.
Our favourite thing was her quote on the nomination:
“I’m very pleased to be Labour’s nominee for the SPCB. Having argued for gender balance, I’m glad that at least two of the five positions will now be held be women.”
…which suggested that she was unhappy exact gender balance hadn’t been achieved by placing two-and-a-half women on the board. (Unless she was getting at some sort of alternative solution, we suppose.)
But since the Herald raised the subject, it seemed a good time to take a look at voters’ opinions as to whether she might be a fit and proper person for such a role.
I was as pleased as a big fat walrus with a free bucket of haddock today to be able to contribute to the week-long one-off revival celebrating the 25th anniversary of the start of the majestic Digitiser.
Especially when I got a lovely new Panel 4 picture from Mr Biffo (instead of money). But I got a bit distracted in the column, and forgot to talk about the thing I meant to talk about, so I’m going to talk about it now.
This is the well-known hardcore Corbynite commentator John McTernan on the radio yesterday, detailing how outrageous it would be for politicians to attempt to block a second referendum on a divisive but important issue.
As if we hadn’t had enough controversy this week, it’s time to tackle the big issues.
The Scottish Sun’s been running stories for the last couple of days about the heresy that’s shortly going to be committed against Scotland’s most legendary iconic brand.
On a number of previous occasions we’ve highlighted the weird discrepancy between the undivided loathing of the Offensive Behaviour (Football) Act in the Scottish media and the Act’s overwhelming popularity with the Scottish public.
You will struggle to ever hear a voice anywhere in the media in favour of it, yet there has never been a law in the history of the Holyrood parliament that is as universally backed by the electorate as the OBFA. Support for it crosses party lines, unites men and women, the old and the young, the rich and the poor, Yes voters and No voters, Celtic fans and “Rangers” fans, football lovers and football haters, and pretty much any other groups you can think of.
Despite their own voters wanting to retain it, however, the combined opposition parties may well succeed in having the Act repealed this year, for reasons of their own that we can’t begin to rationally explain.
Meanwhile, every party at Holyrood – this time including the SNP – looks as though they may be preparing to come together and implement the LEAST-wanted legislation (in terms of public opinion) that the Parliament will have ever seen.
Almost 30% of No voters still believe the decision on whether Scotland should vote on independence again should be a matter for the Scottish Government (which already, as we know, has a Parliamentary mandate for it), not the UK government in London.
And among demographic groups, men divided a pretty close but still clear 54/46 in favour of the Scottish Government, with women a much stronger 61/39. Young people were an overwhelming 75/25 for Holyrood, with middle-aged and over-55s cancelling each other out by splitting 56/44 and 44/56 respectively on the issue. The wealthier ABC1 demographic were 50/50 and less well-off C2DEs a thumping 65/35.
James on A Matter Of Declinature: “Scotch don’t like Tories generally, Inglis. But how could you be expected to know that.” Jul 17, 12:21
Southernbystander on A Matter Of Declinature: “O/T (mostly) I liked the use of therefor in the letter, a word I am only vaguely aware of, meaning,…” Jul 17, 12:07
sam on A Matter Of Declinature: “I agree with the initial sentiment. Not with anything else. Scottish government funding is most affected by the block grant#.…” Jul 17, 11:44
Willie on A Matter Of Declinature: “The question David Davis is so very clearly raising is where do you go when your Police and prosecution service…” Jul 17, 11:35
Northcode on A Matter Of Declinature: “Though both words suggest immaturity, intemperate speaks of excess and unruly extremes, while childish evokes innocence, playfulness, and a certain…” Jul 17, 11:21
Xaracen on A Matter Of Declinature: “All of the arguments above are redundant! The English half of the Union has absolutely no legitimate authority over the…” Jul 17, 11:11
Alf Baird on A Matter Of Declinature: ““I point out the fact that it does exist” Yes, and it is well established via the colonial mindset/condition that…” Jul 17, 10:45
Northcode on A Matter Of Declinature: ““…the kind of bold, fearless, patriotic Scot that could lead our charge to freedom…” There you go again… you’re never…” Jul 17, 10:41
James Che on A Matter Of Declinature: “Willie. The Crown office of England Wales, Due to the Act of Settlement passed by the parliament of England -…” Jul 17, 10:36
Hatey McHateface on A Matter Of Declinature: “Really, Cynicus? What is it you cannot say? You fearty fantasist, you. Not exactly a recruiting poster for the kind…” Jul 17, 10:20
James Che on A Matter Of Declinature: “The evidence that Scotland is and has been Colonised since 1707 lies in the parliament for England and Wales. As…” Jul 17, 10:17
Hatey McHateface on A Matter Of Declinature: “Odd that you think I’m flogging the union, Alf. I point out the fact that it does exist, to the…” Jul 17, 10:13
robertkknight on A Matter Of Declinature: “The Code of Conduct does not permit members of either House to refer to fellow members using dishonourable terms, including…” Jul 17, 09:33
Captain Caveman on A Matter Of Declinature: ““Never trust a Tory” Well, that’s the kind of blind, catch-all tribalism that is pretty much largely responsible for the…” Jul 17, 09:22
Willie on A Matter Of Declinature: “Utterly outrageous how the Crown Office decided to remove £60k of stolen goods from the charge sheet when these items…” Jul 17, 09:15
MaryB on A Matter Of Declinature: “I remember being surprised when David Davies appeared at Alex’s Glasgow Arena gig. But, in fact, they had become friends…” Jul 17, 09:00
Hatey McHateface on A Matter Of Declinature: “You reckon, Auld Lochnagar? Man, but you must have put the fear of death into the Orcs eyeballing you across…” Jul 17, 08:41
BLMac on A Matter Of Declinature: “Looks like we are about to find out whether our police work for Scotland or are a tool of a…” Jul 17, 08:34
Hatey McHateface on A Matter Of Declinature: “Ah, c’moan noo, Red. Have you learned nothing from the teachings of Professor Baird and oor ain dear, dear Northy?…” Jul 17, 08:27
Hatey McHateface on A Matter Of Declinature: “Getting out their what? Ooo err missus!” Jul 17, 08:10
diabloandco on A Matter Of Declinature: “David Davis defended Alex Salmond in the house before – didn’t know you could call someone a liar in the…” Jul 17, 08:07
diabloandco on A Matter Of Declinature: “Looks like the world and its mother blames the manager from what I see in the press.Don’t really get involved…” Jul 17, 07:51
Aidan on A Matter Of Declinature: “It’s an intemperate response Northcode, a childish response would be, for example, claiming you have won an argument you haven’t…” Jul 17, 06:13
Young Lochinvar on A Matter Of Declinature: “Powerful stuff. Quite illuminating that she calls him a “coward hiding behind Parliamentary Privilege” while she herself pays a lawyer…” Jul 17, 03:00
Cynicus on A Matter Of Declinature: ““her most evil act was stitching up Alex Salmond to hide the truth” about Murrell’s crimes.” Lying Nicola Sturgeon destroyed…” Jul 17, 01:07
Young Lochinvar on A Matter Of Declinature: “HMcH @ 6.03 Even by your standards “old boy” over in the Scotchland Office that is a particularly pointless, smug…” Jul 17, 01:01
Cynicus on A Matter Of Declinature: ““ Dug wi a bone…” ============== But NOT a Wee Ginger one” Jul 17, 00:40
James on A Matter Of Declinature: “Aw, Northy- dinna be too hard on Poor Adrian. He’s just trying to join in.” Jul 16, 22:33
James on A Matter Of Declinature: “Well said, Alf. Don’t let these plants grind you down. Their orders are divert, distract, and divide. All day, every…” Jul 16, 22:29
