The one hundred and ten
Alert readers will have noticed that the Conservatives and most of the right-wing press have recently embarked on a hyperbolic campaign against the Scottish Government’s “named person” child-protection legislation. The latest assault is in today’s Daily Mail:
The shriekingly furious lead article thunders in outrage that “nearly two thirds of Scots have condemned the SNP’s state guardian scheme as an ‘unacceptable intrusion’ into family life”, which sounds like a pretty damning verdict.
It’s not until you look a little deeper that it all falls to pieces.
Before we get into anything else, it’s worth seeing the question preamble.
That’s nearly unreadable, so we’ve transcribed it below. Make a sandwich, you might need a break halfway through it:
“The Scottish Government is introducing the ‘Named Person Scheme’, where every child will be assigned a health visitor or teacher tasked with monitoring that child’s ‘wellbeing’.
The external Named Person is expected to look at various aspects of family life, including whether parents argue, whether the child misses GP or dental appointments, whether they enjoy spending time with their parents and whether the child is consulted before major family decisions are made.
The Scottish Government claims that the scheme will’work with children, young people and their families to get the help they need, when they need it’.
However, opponents of the scheme, including the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, argue that the Named Person represents an unwelcome intrusion which effectively turns the State into a co-parent. Somebelieve that aspects of the Scottish scheme may eventually be rolled out across the whole of the UK.
Taking the information that you have read on the previous screen into account, do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about the ‘Named Person Scheme’?”
So that’s not a biased, leading question at all. But it gets much worse.
Again that’s hard to read, so to save you clicking we’ll blow part of it up:
So what the Mail describes as “nearly two-thirds of Scots” is in fact ONE HUNDRED AND TEN PEOPLE, taken from an unweighted Scottish sub-sample of just 181.
(“Unweighted” in this context means that unlike in a proper Scotland-wide poll there’s been no attempt made to have the sub-sample form a representative balance of the Scottish population. Every single one of those 181 people could be a male Tory-voting pensioner from Kirkcudbright.)
The number who object to the imposition of a “named person” is even lower: 91.
And the number of the 181 Scottish respondents who were actually parents? 44.
Yet at the very end of the article the Mail claims that “ComRes polled 523 adults in Scotland”. As far as we can make out that’s a flat-out lie. The poll was UK-wide and sampled 2030 people in total, so over a quarter being from Scotland would have been absurdly unrepresentative, and the actual ComRes tables say 181 all the way through.
Even if it had been 523, that’d be a very suspect poll – a properly weighted 1000 is generally considered the minimum halfway-reliable figure for polling. 523 unweighted (as subsamples nearly always are) would be basically worthless. But an unweighted subsample of barely a third that many is some way beneath the level of “farcical joke”.
(The only occurrence of the figure 523 we can find in the poll is the number of women in the UK who, on a scale of 1-10 for how much nurses should be responsible for the general wellbeing of children, gave a score of between 4 and 7.)
When this site polled a properly weighted, full-sized sample of Scots about Named Person a few months ago, the results were somewhat different.
The unholy alliance of Tories, right-wing hacks and mad fundamentalist religious loonies ranged against the legislation aren’t going to let minor things like the truth get in the way of their latest “SNPBAD” witch-hunt. But readers can decide for themselves which data looks the more trustworthy.
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I’ve been writing a post on Named Person, and boy am I glad you took this “poll” to pieces. I knew there was something really wrong with the 2/3 verdict.
Overheard a gruff sounding buffoon on BBC Radio Shortbread’s lunchtime program today (no idea who he is) discussing smoking (again).
It’s like the media isn’t even operating in the same country. And the Mail is just one more print version of the same screeching hyperbolic rubbish.
The distance between what the Scottish public thinks & what the BritNat media claims to know what we think, is as wide as the ankles of a porn star.
I didn’t notice the word ‘voluntary’ anywhere.
The wording as is does make it sound terribly authoritarian, draconian almost.
Wonder if that helped the small readership to make up their minds?
Since the survey covers the UK, could this question be tacked onto others asked at the same time? Which some might regard as a cheapskate approach.
Firstly, the Mail tells lies routinely. So when they say anything, it’s highly unlikely to be accurate.
“The unholy alliance of Tories, right-wing hacks and mad fundamentalist religious loonies ranged against the legislation aren’t going to let minor things like the truth get in the way of their latest “SNPBAD” witch-hunt.”
It is interesting that as ‘moderate Unionism’ disappears, we are left with the Union in Scotland being defended by a bunch of seriously right wing nutters who wouldn’t be out of place at a White Supremists gathering in Alabama.
The LoonyYoonyRight seems to be rising as the main opposition to Indy, which is not a bad thing. It will concentrate the minds of the undecided! We may not have liked Brown, Darling etc but they had wider appeal that the Union’s emerging champions.
I was a Named Person for years in ASN schools. It is a brilliant system designed to support children in time of need. It is in no way intrusive & is only ever activated if a child or their family need support. I would be very happy for my children to have a Named Person if they were still of school age.
Aw there you go again Rev getting WOS ah bad rep,ah kin hear the chantywrastlers the noo WOS BAAD,keep up the good work.
I don’t really care what the poll is, I’m totally opposed to this legislation. It’s treating all of Scotland like a sink estate. I’ve always voted SNP and helped campaign for independence. I am anti-religious and find cruel Tory policies abhorrent.
Back to the gist.
There is no State Guardian scheme being proposed.
Those being proposed as Named Persons are amongst the many already in contact with children.
This is simply a potential reduction in workload given in many cases there’s a duplication of effort of this diligently keeping track. Although without coordination there’s a risk that said duplication in some areas is at the cost of missing others.
Taking this to extremes the mentioning of pre natal monitoring with all it’s nasty implications should also ring alarm bells. Which roles in NHS Scotland, social work and education might be cut if enough of a storm is whiped up against state interference into our childrens lives.
Brilliant!
“It’s time to scrap this ‘deeply sinister’ newspaper”
@G H Graham
Have you got a graph of that ankle thingy! 🙂
The Mail. On mission as usual then.
I seriously think the attack on the Named Person legislation is irresponsible, and disgusting.
You can argue lots of SNP bad garbage is just part of the game/propaganda.
Who opposes child protection?
@Elaine, ” It’s treating all of Scotland like a sink estate.”
It’s this level of hyperbole which I expect from the Corporate Gutter Media. This legislation does NO SUCH THING, as I am sure you would know if you had read the legislation and the background research.
The main organisations whose principle aim is the protection of children agree with it. I would rather take their opinion and advice that the rabbid Unionist political posturers or a biased Media
There are a number of people who say that it is unnecessary anyway. To them, I post simply this;
link to heraldscotland.com
@Elaine 3.06
Good for you, and way to go labelling children and parents from sink estates.
Doing the Tories work for them.
If you do vote SNP, then educate yourself about this policy, or alternatively, read Bill Cruickshank, above at 3.02pm
There is a Facebook page called NO2NP. I have been trying to explain the reasoning behind it and I posted some other people’s views on it being a good thing.
It’s a typical unionist page with a lot of very aggressive people on it, especially when you don’t agree with them.
I posted the good story from the Herald on it today and all has gone quiet. We,ll see!
Not having any children of my own I have to admit I haven’t paid the greatest amount of attention to the “named person” scheme, but AIUI the aim is to avoid things like”Baby P” occurring where social services, the school, the police, the NHS (and any other organisations the child interacts with) each have a piece of the pictures but no-one has the entire picture?
In which case, there’s nothing new to see other than the fact that any and all reports will be directed to a single individual who can thus see the entire picture?
I must reluctantly confess that I would oppose the version of the legislation as described by the Mail.
I’d be taking a long hard look at anyone opposing or using child protection for political gain.
All the UKOK mail sees is:
Scottish Named Person. Bhaaad bhaaad
Actually this campaign against the named person scheme, makes me very angry indeed. This is pure politics, make no mistake, of the gutter variety.
This scheme has already been trialled with success. All the major children’s and welfare charities support it, and it has been legally tested to the nth degree, including at the court of session (Scotland’s highest court) in Edinburgh. It is a fine sound policy aimed squarely at protecting children, no more, no less.
Shame on the Tories for this mendacious campaign, but even greater shame on those so-called’ Christians, who appear to use their cloak of religious pseudo respectability to hide their own petty, politically motivated, and frankly shameful opposition to this policy.
This is NOT an intrusive spy scheme, and those who suggest it is, are bare faced liars of the very, very lowest kind.
Given that a very large number of alleged child abusers over the years have been members of “The Establishment” it’s hardly surprising that the right wing gutter press should try to protect them.
Better that one child’s dignity or even their life is protected than a few Tory feathers ruffled.
Auld Rock
Another excellent WoS explanation of how far right attack propaganda works.
“Stay out of family life” from the Heil, tory lechers and pervs at the Heil?
Part of the UKOK media life is Daily Heil style creep show relentless monstering single mum’s, for decades and for everything that they decide is wrong with teamGB.
Even UKOK Rowling sued them!
I don’t have any children so don’t really have a vested interest in the Named Person scheme however it’s an interesting piece of legislation so I did a little reading up on it.
Honestly though I can see both sides in this argument, and to be truthful I don’t think it is a brilliantly written piece of legislation. I would say that the whole issue of “Well-being’ hasn’t been brilliantly defined and could be open to abuse and I also think that perhaps long term this is something that could easily be lost when the next ‘initiative’ comes along. I also am not sure that I think teachers should be involved in this, but that I suppose is more of a personal gripe with Education being increasingly confused with childcare than a real objection to the legislation.
On the plus side if the scheme is properly resourced and all NP’s and parents receive plenty of support and information and roles and boundaries are clearly defined for NP’s and all agencies invest in this scheme then it really could make a difference to child welfare in Scotland, which really should be the primary concern of everyone involved.
The one thing that I think the Scottish Government has gotten completely wrong however is the way they have publicized and informed the public over the Named Person scheme. There hasn’t been nearly enough good information put out and I’m afraid that I don’t think ‘but all the child welfare agencies like it’ is nearly good enough as a response to the genuine concerns that a lot of people have. The bottom line is NP will only work if parents, agencies and professionals work together, and at present they all seem to be talking at each other rather than listening and communicating.
Why anyone would be against the named person policy baffles me. The protection of children should be given our highest priority.
I have highlighted many times links to the ongoing CSA enquiry and the many cover ups over the years. One such enquiry is being held here is Scotland. Perhaps if this legislation had been available before now the victims of abuse would have been spared.
Here is Mike Russell’s statement debunking the nonsense written by fools.
link to cl.ly
The Mail and the truth are strangers whose paths seldom cross.
To project 181 returns into 2/3 of Scots is truly amazing!
Elaine – you do know that having a named person is voluntary? Nobody is being forced into having one.
I think most people here will agree that you are unlikely to get anything truthful or sensible on this matter from the Mail. However, the fact that the Mail dislikes something and uses it to bash the SNP, doesn’t make it good. You can be pro-Indy and an SNP voter and have some serious reservations about this legislation. For a discussion of some reasonable concerns, see, for example, Macwhirter’s recent column in the Hearld.
Robert Louis @ 3.36
Completely agree.
I taught in Glasgow schools for 17 years until my retirement and in almost all instances where a pupil had to be referred to Guidance/Pastoral Care because of a change in behaviour was because of family illness/bereavement.
For example when a parent is worried about a family member their instinct is to protect their child but unfortunately that usually meant the child was excluded from the facts and that worry can manifest itself in other ways out of character for that child.
Most often the child needed reassurance and the parent alerted to the ‘problem’ and can then address it with or without further support.
I was totally against the Named Person scheme until I found 3 or 4 days ago it was voluntary.
The preamble makes it look compuslory. Yes, there’s a Named Person for every child, but parents and children aren’t forced to use them. That in itself if made clear would get a very different result, even with 181 respondents. Most people don’t want a “nanny state”, interfering in our daily lives, but this isn’t it.
Have a look at the questions preceding the main NP question, and then remember the Yoon squawking and roaring when Panelbase had the temerity not to ask the Indy question first.
‘Q.3 Do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
The Government seems to want to interfere too much in family life these days
The Government’s child protection resources should be focused on identifying and helping those most at risk, rather than monitoring every child
I am concerned that social services sometimes are too quick to take action against parents who have done nothing wrong
The Government does a good job of balancing the need to protect children at risk while not penalising ordinary parents
I know other parents who are reluctant to take their children to A&E or the GP because of concerns it might trigger an unwarranted investigation by child protection staff’
Should be interesting watching Paciifc quay gits pile on next week
Back when rancid The Graun wasn’t just another rag for wet farts that dont really want people to know they’re tories
link to archive.is
The danger of the single woman and the threat she poses to civilisation is an ancient narrative
The rightwing press and politicians have pondered the burning of Poundland and delivered their verdict. They have found the cause of chaos, and will punish the guilty for shaking the foundations of Footlocker. Who brought us here, to this terrible place? Single mothers, yah.
The rhetoric is inspired by The Exorcist. In the Daily Mail Melanie Phillips wrote: “Most of these children come from lone-mother households … Successive generations are being brought up only by mothers, through whose houses pass transitory males by whom these women have yet more children.” This is a scene of sexuality depravity.”
Setting aside the snpbad motivation for a lot of the criticism –
I suspect this is a case of wait and see how it works in practice
Does anyone have any links to info about the trial schemes for this?
For example, it would be interesting to know what happened where people did not volunteer in, so to speak.
Stu: “The poll was UK-wide and sampled 2030 people in total.” (fieldwork 2nd-3rd March)
STV News: “A total of 6120 adults, including 532 in Scotland, completed the online survey by ComRes between March 2 and 13.”
Looks like Comres continued the fieldwork after the 3rd. The new (or updated) survey won’t be up on the Comres site because it’s a holiday.
That seems the most likely explanation.
SNP member and long term supporter, but I am deeply opposed to the named person scheme. I am neither right-wing nor a rabid Christian (being atheist), but I really wish people would look into the implications of this properly, instead of dismissing the objections as just another “SNP bad” story (which makes you sound just as bad – automatically opposing something based on who it’s coming from, instead of looking into it).
Opposition to this scheme and all the data harvesting has been going on for some time – it is just convenient that in the run up to the elections the papers have seized an ideal opportunity for an SNP Bad story – they conveniently ignored it for long enough.
On peper it sounds like a harmless piece of legislation, but the implications are huge. Have a real look at how parents and their child’s “wellbeing” will now be assessed. I have heard so many stories from the pilot schemes of parents and families being harrassed by over-zealous “named persons”.
Ironically this will do nothing to help overworked & understaffed social work depts, instead now every child is deemed automatically at risk until proven otherwise, instead of focusing resources on those who actually need them. It just provides a convenient “named person” scapegoat for when it all goes wrong.
To those who say “well, if you’re a good parent you’ve got nothing to fear or hide”, “if it saves one child?”; it’s the same argument against ID cards and the govt surveillance proposals. So why because it’s the SNP is it suddenly OK? It’s the principle behind it which is wrong.
Zinoviev Letter No.123,888
Apart from the numbers, I knew this was squidgy when I read that the poll was commissioned by the Christian Institute part of the No2NP campaign group. (I buy the Daily whatsit and the National – one for a laugh and the other to get nearer the truth).
Maybe if this system had been running poor Bailey Gwynne would still be with us.
Alan @3.51
I stupidly clicked the link. It’s complete garbage, not enhanced by referring to ‘soviet type’s.
But hey, it’s MacWhirter, who like his portly friend McKenna, blows hot and cold, on reporting in a balanced manner about SNP.
The yoon hack Roden is paid by a fascist rag that supports all the abuses of power by the establishment,
him and his band of Scottish hacks have no interest in education and truth,
they advocate `Post Truth Journalism` where their `message` is more important than any semblance of truth.
The miserable yoon hack says two thirds of Scots oppose the protection of children,which would be 1,782,533 citizens of Scotland,
it turns out two thirds of Scotland, according to the hack ,is 110 which gives Scotland the population of 330 citizens,
the hack calls itself a Journalist,it is a hack.
@nana
That piece from Russell still doesn’t cut it. “The named person role absolutely does not supplant or replace parental concern, love, affection, support, responsibility or guidance.”
still doesn’t make the point that it’s voluntary. To make it more clear to those like me that don’t like a “nanny state”, those many like me who object to being penalised or even my own children put MORE at risk by such a scheme because of the minority, I would need something like:
“If parents and children don’t want to have any contact at all with the Named Person, THEY DON’T HAVE TO“.
I think that’s correct, but because even having read up I still haven’t seen that unequivocal statement, I’m not completely sure.
We were quite paranoid with our kids, I did random checks on regular out of house activities and took action twice, probably unneccesasary, and for baby-sitters we only ever used my wife’s sisters, or one baby-sitter when away in Holland recommended by friends who we interviewed in her own house, with her parents present. She was a treasure.
More dishonest garbage from the Daily Heil then. I am not surprised. What is more of a surprise is that there are folk here who have fallen for the ultra right wing Brit Nat lies again.
It is after all voluntary and not compulsory. However the more the Brit Nat right wing Press and Media rain against it the more in favour of it actually becoming compulsory I become.
What do you expect from the ‘Daily Hitler’?
Is it compulsory or is it not compulsory ?
Mmmm. I wonder if this system, had it been in place in the past, would have flushed out the Savilles of this world, earlier in their child molesting “careers”?
The darkness and abuse that some children have to put up with is intolerable. If this proposal helps lift them out of harms way, then let’s have it ASAP and to hell with the Daily Mail and its championship of “family life”.
After all, they are usually keen to tell us “if you’ve nothing to hide, you’ve nothing to fear”. So what’s different about this DM? Oops, do forgive me, I forgot, it’s not to do with child protection it’s to do with the usual bleat…..SNP baaad
I’veNeverSeenBraveheart says:
28 March, 2016 at 4:04 pm
SNP member and long term supporter, but
So all that to say
“It just provides a convenient “named person” scapegoat for when it all goes wrong”
Come on dude/dudess, try a little bit harder please.
I wonder if the BBC will support this legislation? Perhaps they don’t think there is any need for such a measure because the BBC can’t think of anyone youngsters should be protected from.
Far far better having a named person a sort of extra friend for child support to the child and its parents than all the Pedophile rings that are all around South of the Border especially when the house of Parliament sweep all there under the carpet.
Anything that we do for the benefit of us Scots is bound to be hammered by the English controlled GUTTER PRESS the goes for all Newspapers except one The National.
Vote SNP
The negativity does work – a friend put a link to a “No2NP” petition on Facebook.
I gently described how our family would have benefited (we are not in Highland sadly) from a single coordinator for our son’s support.
I was as gentle as I can be, because a lot of people feel threatened by any hint someone might be judging their parenting in any way. Even when that is not what this is all about.
A lot of poison being put in the debate.
It’s a lovely early spring day where we are. My everlovin’ and I are enjoying quality time together.
You see we no longer have youngsters under our feet, needing clothed, educated, reared, and most of all love and respected.
It is our turn, as I keep reminding everybody. (Aye, so he thinks: Mrs C.)
Not all homes are/were like that.
Some with whom I pass my leisure time, had fathers who summarily beat them as a ‘normal’ punishment, or who were drinkers, and kept the family in constant penury because of their vices, or mothers who were ‘bingo addicts’, or less than diligent in matters of cleanliness, housework and so on, (I know the foregoing is gender stereotypical, but this was the norm 40/50 years ago).
Most seem to have ‘come out the other end’ as functioning hard working adults, and seem to have used their own harsh childhoods as a spur to make sure that their kids were better treated that they were.
I am aware of the ‘vicious cycle’ syndrome, the abused becomes an abuser, and Lord knows, I witness plenty of this on a Saturday night; young men and women, too young, out of their heads on drugs and drink, as well as many forty and fifty-somethings the worse for wear and spoiling for a fight.
It is argued that the destruction of our industries, manufacturing, and frankly hope for the future (q.v., McCrone), coupled with rise and rise of the corner shop Off Sales, and chip shop, right next to the betting shop, beside the charity shop, and the ATM machine that charges the poor £2.00 to get their money out, and the whole wretched Desolation Row that is prevalent in city life in Scotland’s erstwhile Industrial complexes, and poverty, cheap booze, Drugs R Us, and cheaper than fags, oblivion, is today’s real world for too many of our citizens and families.
Of course this nasty little Imperialist English Establishment Rag is going to print junk like this.
They covered up paedophile Lords, MP’s and Government Ministers for decades, if not centuries.
As I say, we personally have no direct involvement in the welfare of kids these days.
But given the ‘keep them poor, drunk, and ignorant’ policies of Labour Councils over the past 4 decades, I can see nothing but positives in investing more time , money, and expertise, in protecting at risk children.
Is anybody Up Here actually reading this Fascist Rag anyway?
Happy Easter, everybody of all faiths, and none.
This system is already operating in Edinburgh & the Highlands & has been for the last year.
“Now then! Now then!” Jimmy Saville would be right behind the Daily Mail on this.
@yesindyref2
I have no doubts you were a great parent, but until we get to the stage where every parent is doing what they should, the state has a role to play in preventing and limiting harm, to every child.
There are times when very good parents need some support, bullying, bereavement, dyslexia, physical accidents, unemployment.
Wouldn’t any caring parent want a call to say I’ve noticed your child falling asleep in class, or crying in class? It can be as minor as that, or as serious as it gets. If the parent steps up, and child is restored – drama over.
However, many of us know, it’s not that simple.
If one child falls through the net, it’s one too many.
Good parents have to stop saying, nanny state, snooping etc., because it’s not about them. It’s about innocent children that need someone looking out for them.
I think we better get the scope of the problem into some perspective here rather than focusing on English paedophile in the Commons or the Lords.
Research only a few years ago revealed that in the Greater East of Glasgow area, one girl in five would experience sexual abuse before 14 years of age. I am pretty sure other similar areas would return similar figures.
Make your decision based on fact rather than what you think.
So, no problem eh?
Actually, now I’ve spent some time, I can see the problem. The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 supposedly enacts UNCRC, but the only good guide I found on that is about England.
But I did scan the Act itself and the first Part 1 title “Rights of Children” is all about the Duties of Minsters or Public Authorities, and nothing about the Rights of the Child.
The only part about parents or guardians is “Corporate Parenting”.
So it’s not about Children’s rights, nor is it about their legal parents or guardians, it’s all about State and Authorities.
I’m afraid I’ve come full circle back to opposing this, because it’s a very poorly set out Act, designed to alarm parents – and young people too.
For a ridiculous virtually unreadable leaflet from ScotGov aimed at young people look at this patronising piece of junk:
link to gov.scot
I think the Act should be suspended and Parts put in about the actual flaming rights of Children and Young People, not about how the state executes it if it decides to interfere.
And they might just want to consider Parents and Guardians while they’re at it.
link to legislation.gov.uk
Put me down as one of the 62%, and as a future supporter of some sort of second chamber at Holyrood to throw back poor legislation like this. And thank God my kids are too old now.
Why would members of the British establishment and their friends in the tory press spend so much time and effort opposing legislation designed to protect children?
It’s a bit creepy.
Just in from an afternoon canvassing, and going out again shortly.
With this message for the M.S.M. Your lies ain’t working. Locally, support for the S, N, P running even higher than at the same time last year, So there, put that in your pipe and smoke it.
@Valerie
The point of my first posting was that as a responsible parent, one of the 95% – 99% who are, my duty was to safeguard my children as much as possible, while letting them develop, and if this Act introduces another risk for my child, a Named Person who has the right let’s say to force them into a room unaccompanied and subject them to sexual or other abuse, then I’m dead against it.
Sorry to be so brutal but it seems I have to be to get my point across.
Contributions since my wondering about info on the trial schemes (4.03)
have just reinforced my feeling that we really need to have some access to what has happened on them.
Anybody know anything beyond the anecdotal?
OT
An interesting contribution to the slow death of newspapers.
link to medialens.org
I first joined the SNP in the 1960s. I am not happy with this Named Persons Scheme.
We also need teachers to spot those children who are young carers because they need support both in their caring role & so that they don’t lose out on their education. Too many children sip through the net because no-one noticed the frequent absences, falling asleep in class, unkempt appearance etc or just put it down to them not being interested in school or just lazy.
There’s umpteen thousands of invisible young carers throughout the UK-no-one knows the true figure but support is there for them if they can be identified.
The Care Act 2014 requires that social workers refer young carers to support services but I’m not sure that it’s working that well after almost a year in operation in England.
Oh lookie lookie the anti Scotland Scottish Daily Mail telling porkies …AGAIN!
Well who’d have thunk it … the Daily Mail, be it Scottish or otherwise (Scottish in this case), telling outright LIES about the Scottish Government!
I have come to a conclusion about the Daily Mail (Scottish or otherwise) here … they do not like the S.N.P. very much! DOH! 😀
@Yesindyref2,
Do you think your child would tell you anyway? I have dealt with hundreds of adult a ,abused in childhood ,who told nobody. They felt it would create problems with their parents. This legislation is not about your parenting skills. It is offering another outlet for a VERY,VERY real problem for young people.
Britnat newspapers continue to self-destruct. Great to see.
@yesindyref2
Not sure how you get to that particular dangerous scenario. Unless, you suspect teachers, guidance teachers, social workers are in the habit of doing this?
A parent has the right to be informed, be present in any situation, so how do you envisage your scenario happening?
The named person, most likely a teacher, who is background checked, takes the child off site to meet a paedophile??? How do they get off site, without you knowing?
Almost every school has strict checking routines even on Tradesmen visiting, and children are kept away, or work done out with hours.
@Bob Mack “This legislation is not about your parenting skills.”
And neither are my postings. If people choosed to have children their prime responsibility to their children is all those good things mentioned in the UNCRC and the Act.
It’s not for the state to get in the way of that, or reduce it.
The Act itself needs to make it very clear that it is an addition, an optional service to parents and children, and is voluntary.
As far as the “voluntary” part is concerned, even Sturgeon’s word on the Politics Show is not good enough, ministers move on, it’s the Act itself that needs to make that clear.
It doesn’t.
The question on that poll must have been one of the longest I have seen. You would be exhausted reading it before you respond.
o/t Perhaps they should bring in an intelligence test for voters. At the pensioners club today one man said to me, (he had watched the Ireland Celebrations yesterday), ‘I didn’t know that Ireland had an Army… and an Air Force too…..’ I made it a treble when I said they also had a Navy.
[…] At best, it’s considered unnecessary and unwelcome: at worst, it’s Stalinist-Orwellian-authoritarian-totalitarian nanny-state at its worst. While meaningful and reasonable debate is welcome in regards to the bill, that can only happen if the debate is informed. It does no-one any good to work on false premises. […]
What is it that folk don’t get about this?
For children that present no issues, the Named Person doesn’t kick in. Nothing! Exactly as it is now now.
The Named Person only kicks in, when there is a concern for the child’s well being.
Do opponents honestly think professionals are in the game of creating problems where there are none? Aren’t there enough poor souls out there for them to contend with?
This ‘named person’ is already unofficially in place. Every teacher is trained to be observant and has a duty of care to their pupils, in that , if they think a child is being neglected/abused etc, they MUST report this to their line manager (the Head Teacher) who then reports to Social Work. The same is true of many volunteers who work with children and young people. They undergo training which also emphasises their duty of care and that they, too, must report anything they see as neglect/abuse to Social Work.
What the Scottish Government is doing is merely formalising what is already there.
@Marcia
Nice one… not vast but sufficient.
link to armedforces.co.uk
I will just pose this question:
When do lies and misinformation by the mainstream media cross the line and become an abuse of the democratic process, in fact more than just abuse, become foot soldiers for the overthrow of the democratic process and become the agents of the new dictatorship, for despots to rise the first thing that must go is the truth;
Excerpts from some articles I read today…
“The mass media that pervades the UK and other countries is holding back human cultural evolution. Most news is unchecked, and most of it derives from commercial public-relations departments, even in quality newspapers. Entire social panics and worries have been founded on nothing more than newspaper exaggeration. Politics and democracy itself is endangered by the mass delusion fostered by some papers, as politicians are pressurized into taking measures that don’t make sense, because the populace has been misled by popular tabloids.”
“The warnings of media students about the bias of Murdoch’s news outlets are longstanding, and in the USA, a University study from 2011 found that those who watched Murdoch’s Fox News channel were less knowledgeable about current events even than those who watched no news at all”
Above quotes from Vexen Crabtree
link to humantruth.info
From the master of lies and misinformation to usurp democracy;
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”
Joseph Goebbels
link to jewishvirtuallibrary.org
“News is not just a product: the press is the fourth estate, a pillar of the polity. Journalists investigate and criticize governments, thus helping voters decide whether to keep them or sack them. Autocracies can function perfectly well without news, but democracies cannot. Will the death of the daily newspaper […] damage democracy?”
The Economist (2009)
Makes you think what they (Journalists) think the end result will be?
You’re interfering in the way the Media runs Scotland Stuart
They’ll be printing the “TRUTH” about you next and then rephrasing it in a teeny weeny little apology where nobody will ever see it but by then you will have been found
GUILTY!!!!
of being Sturgeons Cybernat General from his hideaway lair in BATH
Which is not even near Scotland and is far away so makes it even WORSER you Devil worshiping Tractor and N word Sympathiser
@yesindyref2
It’s pretty simple. If the Named Person has cause evidence for concern, then the parents can cooperate. If the cause for concern is major and the parents don’t want to cooperate, a Social Worker will be called in to discuss severity, and if appropriate, go to the Sheriff for a court order.
That’s what happens now, and its what will happen, post legislation. Plenty of parents are in front of the Children’s Panel, and object strongly, but I don’t give a shit, when their child is at risk.
The NP hysteria being cooked up by the far-right is typical: it drowns out any reasonable criticisms of the NP in a tide of petulant screams of HANS ORF AH FAHMLEEZ & hyperbolic accusations of snooping.
So, I thought it would be helpful to collect a few quotes from supporters of the Named Person service, as there is a lot of misinformation about:
link to wildernessofpeace.wordpress.com
Groups like the NSPCC, Save the Children, Children 1st, and so forth were involved in consultations, as were MSPs from multiple parties, and actively shaped the resulting Children & Young People (Scotland) Bill.
Also, let it not be forgotten that not a single MSP voted against the Children & Young People (Scotland) Bill. The Tories merely abstained. Labour, Lib Dems, Greens, independents – all voted with the SNP. Which makes criticisms from people like Ken McIntosh & Willie Rennie all the more nauseating, given that they voted for it.
@Valarie
And who is going to protect people from the state? There’s a long, sad history of children and families harmed by overzealous accusations of state-backed do-gooders. People worry about this sort of legislation because there are zealots out there are who say things like “until we get to the stage where every parent is doing what they should”.
@Valerie
I’m sure in 99% or even 99.9% of the cases there’d be no problem, my daughter is a teacher. If it’s voluntary I would have done some background checks of my own, sussed out the suggested “Named Person”, and encouraged the kids to go to them if there was any problem they didn’t want to discuss with us. In fact with a son I suggested someone for that very reason, when he was older.
I’m talking about it being compulsory, rather than voluntary, and I repeat what I said, the State should not force otherwise safe children, into situations where they might be in more danger, no matter how small.
All the Act needs is a proper secion on the “Rights of the Child”, e.g. to refuse to have contact with a Named Person attempting to act in that capacity, or to be able to have that person changed. And similar for the parents.
GIRFEC operates without the Named Person, with safeguards in palce the NP scheme is a good one – one single popint of contact.
But the legislation needs urgent changing to put in those safeguards.
Valerie
I agree 100%.
On 21st March the First Minister faced an audience of young Scots. An open Q & A session with no questions barred. Many were pleased with the NP system & there were major concerns from them about bullying & child protection.
Some were brave enough to speak openly about their own situations. The consensus was that NP was to be welcomed.
See for yourself here
link to firstminister.gov.scot
Alan said:
” People worry about this sort of legislation because there are zealots out there are who say things like “until we get to the stage where every parent is doing what they should”.
Just wow! Happy to be called a zealot then. I’ve been pretty clear about the types of things,minor or major, where the NP might act.
If you have a problem with that, then you have a problem.
O/T
I have been a keen reader and sometime commenter on WOS for several years.
My admiration for the effort put in and the quality of the articles by Rev Stu is boundless.
Additionally I cannot praise too highly the quality of the input from those who comment (apart from the trolls).
The combination of the articles and comments show that with Stu and those who comment we have at the disposal of the Campaign For Independence a tremendous asset which I feel could be further exploited in the Campaign.
The following is a proposal which could be either an add-on facility to WOS or a separate associated web site:-
As a means of producing possible policies to be followed by The Scottish Government using only its current powers or as policies for an Independent Government which could be used as campaign tools when Ref2 comes along allow individuals to submit detailed policy suggestions or just bare suggestions which could be built on.
I accept that Stu is kept very busy but submitted suggestions would have to be subject to a degree of moderation.
Once a submission has been made (preferably as a Word Document)and moderated it would be classified and indexed in either a separate part of WOS using the r.h. side of the screen as per the current clickable links to other sites.
Anybody interested could then join in with their own views on the submission debating the merits and demerits of the proposal hopefully in a constructive manner.
After a while the original submission would be amended to include any relevant changes and additions with the aim of arriving at a policy which could be submitted to government for consideration. I would suggest that a submission should be kept up and available for comment for 6 months.
We already have the SG Petitions Facility and The SNP recently invited suggestions but severely limited the length thereof and they had to be submitted directly and not as a Word Document..
Neither of these provides a facility where the man in the street can join in an on-line debate on an individual policy proposal and I would suggest that what I propose above would be a step in the direction of citizens producing policy instead of just politicians and think tanks.
While WOS and those who comment thereon do a magnificent job of demolishing the antics of The Guys In The Black Hats we have in the form of Rev STU and the legion of WOS followers a massive reservoir of informed individuals who must have in the back of their minds ideas to put forward which would make Scotland a better place both now and after Independence has been won. Let us tap and exploit this vast reservoir of talent.
I would be interested to hear what fellow WOSers think of the above.
@Valerie
You’re not helping. Like others who strongly defend the Act, you’re all about the children “at risk”.
The problem isn’t that, it’s not that at all, not in the slightest.
It’s the vast majority of children that aren’t at risk – and their parents.
@Alan
Yes, and there’s a long history of children being harmed while in state charge, as well. All anyone has to do for example is search for “orphanage child abuse” and check that out.
It’s a parent’s duty to protect their children against the state, if neccessary – and possible.
named person sounds like a bad idea. Less government tends to be better than more and it is usually cheaper. During these times of austerity it is hard to justify this scheme when health visitors are already accesible to any parent or child who has a question to ask.
The problem with the SNP is that they’re nice, and good, and well-meaning. But they don’t think outside those their legislation is designed for, they don’t look at the people who don’t need it. The look at a problem they think needs solving, and don’t look at problems they can create by the “solution”. They’re too nice, too good, too well-meaning.
I blame it on the LibDems. They used to be there for such as Civil Liberties, then they got to chasing after Cabinet posts at Westminster instead, power-grabbing. And the lot in Scotland got to hate the SNP.
The Liberals stopped being the Liberals, that we could all take for granted because they would speak up for – us. Even if people like me didn’t ever vote for them.
@yesindyref2
Gee thanks for putting me right.
Maybe I should just cut and paste from your hysterical post about exposure to paedos, and tell you you how great you are?
Would that help, or make you feel better?
It’s hellish that I’m focused on the ‘ at risk’ children, and I’m not taking into account the clairvoyance of professionals, where they could just pinpoint the kids of the 5% that will need support at some unknown point over their school life.
Guess what, I don’t think you are helping.
Meanwhile, one of the (alleged) biggest and incomprehensibly vile paedophile rings consisting of Westminster MPs (allegedly), Lords (allegedly), connections to royalty (allegedly), visiting foreign dignitaries (allegedly), MI5 and MI6 operatives all the way to the top (allegedly), judiciary (allegedly), police officers and commanders (allegedly), top military brass (allegedly), lawmakers from many fields (allegedly), celebrities from the world of entertainment (allegedly) and various sundry others (allegedly) is on its way to being the beneficiary of an investigation that will find against the complainants for being ‘untrustworthy’ and ‘prone to story-telling’ and other such terms, and will, in due course be found ‘not guilty’.
It is an utter fucking disgrace. All those dirty monstrous bastards will just continue on, unhindered and without a care in the world, free to go on living as they choose.
Some of the most unimaginable crimes were perpetrated against children in various addresses in London (allegedly) and in other parts of the UK (allegedly). Not only rape, but torture and murder, done to satisfy the sexual depravities of the criminals. The bodies of those murdered during the sex crimes were disposed of. Others were murdered to stop them exposing the criminality. Others have taken their own lives. Survivors have been left traumatised and mentally damaged.
And those that find the courage to blow the whistle on this most heinous of crimes are demonised and derided as liars and nutters. Yet others stay silent because they know they will receive the same level of derision.
And the criminals will die-off one by one, never to face the justice they so very much deserve, FFS.
And then here we have the likes of the far-rightwing Daily Mail lying and pissing in their pants about the fucking audacity of the SNP and the Scottish Government to even think about introducing the “named person” child-protection legislation….
Meanwhile, there are raped, tortured and murdered children lying in unmarked graves dumped there by monsters of the type we are led to believe we are better together with……. (allegedly).
@Valerie: “of the 5% that will need support at some unknown point over their school life”
Gee thanks, you made my point.
What about the 95% that don’t?
The Daily Mail telling lies and trying to deceive people. This seems to be their modus operandi.
May 5th cannot come quick enough. Let’s make sure we kick these knuckle dragging Yoons square in the nuts. SNP x 2.
“It’s the vast majority of children that aren’t at risk…”
Do the children have “At Risk” / “Not at Risk” labels on their foreheads?
This is merely formalising what is already being done informally all over the country and has been for generations.
“Hey Mary. Keep an eye on the weans while I nip oot tae the shoaps, will yae?”
“Aye, nae borra.”
Mary – Named Person. God Parent – Named Person. Social Worker – Named Person. CommEd Worker – Named Person. Head Teacher – Named Person. It’s a collective responsibility we’ve had in place for yonks but we know from experience that some kids can fall through the cracks because a particular kid’s issue(s) may have been handled perhaps by multiple agencies, “So-and-so will handle it.” But so-and-so didn’t bother their arse or was otherwise busy dealing with other cases.
The Named Person will go some way to ensuring no more kids fall through the cracks. It won’t be perfect but I reckon it’s better than the ‘no-ma-joab’ disarray that can sometimes arise between various well-meaning people/agencies.
And, despite the protests, no parent will be compelled to name anyone as the Named Person.
No, yesindyref2, I didn’t make your point.
You missed the sarcasm in my post. The clue was in the word ‘clairvoyance’.
Obviously, it was too subtle for the person who posts their daughter is a teacher, and as a possible named person, could be forcing a child into a room with a sex offender.
Did it ever occur to you critics, that if GIRFEC was a great success, it wouldn’t require a NP?
I’m a great parent, so any measures to help vulnerable kids, can just fck off.
Nice.
@Valerie:
“Did it ever occur to you critics, that if GIRFEC was a great success, it wouldn’t require a NP?
I’m a great parent, so any measures to help vulnerable kids, can just fck off.”
Try reading my postings before misrepresenting them.
I’m out.
Becoming a parent is an act of abuse in itself.
There you go; blame me.
Interesting to read the figures from the poll to the question
” How much responsibility for the welfare of children should the following people have, where 1 is no responsibility, and 10 is maximum responsibility”
Teachers, head teachers, midwives, nurses, health visitors, social workers,and parents.
Leaving out parents which obviously came out top,
without fail, every single category had an overwhelming majority of people who thought they should have some degree of responsibility ( 6 and above).
The editor of a newspaper decides on what is to be the main story of the day, or what issues his paper should follow that will make up an article later.
At what point did Alan Rodin, political editor, suddenly decide there existed overwhelming public protest to turn the issue into a national debate?
A flaky poll composed by a small partisan group doesn’t fit anybody’s criteria of incontrovertible proof.
“Two-thirds of Scots” against the policy? When? How did they voice that disagreement? No one asked me. No one came down my street with a clipboard, knocking on doors to ask relevant questions. No one phoned.
Was anybody aware the policy was controversial?
We are subjected to another right-wing press concocted campaign to discredit an elected government. I’ve met these bastards. They talk openly of killing respect for the SNP. They denounce, and swagger, and hide behind their flimsy rationale as a ‘people’s paper. They hate the SNP.
But what is it that compels them to hate a huge section of society? Why bend truth, and fake argument?
What do the pitiful sods get out of it?
Dramfineday
“Mmmm. I wonder if this system, had it been in place in the past, would have flushed out the Savilles of this world, earlier in their child molesting “careers”?”
Think about that for a minute folks and consider WHY are establishment mouthpieces like the Daily Mail SO against it, what are they SO afraid of?
I was speaking to someone from one of those christian organisations today and was surprised to discover that the group in question don’t vote.
Anyone know if you lose certain rights if you don’t vote?
Interesting that it takes the right wing press to finally get a debate going about this subject. I’ve been writing about it for eighteen months and have been surprised that so few SNP members – and others – have actually read the documentation, as opposed to the headlines.
I’m an atheist, left winger, yesser and SNP voter. I have four children and I’m a lecturer. Both professionally and personally, I’m against the Named Person legislation. It’s the sole reason I haven’t – and won’t – join the SNP.
The Named Person is only voluntary if you have to ask for one to be appointed. If it is imposed,it becomes a state guardian. Take a look at the legislation and the guidelines for professionals: a parent who is non compliant – as I will be – will raise their child’s ‘at risk’ profile. Saying ‘no thanks’ raises a red flag. With the legislation in it’s current form, parents have nowhere to go.
The language surrounding this issue is interesting. One thing the MSM has managed to do is raise hysteria surrounding child protection. Who would be against this legislation that, after all, is only trying to protect innocent children?
Well me, for one. A few quick reasons:
The state works for us and they shouldn’t have a hand that reaches into family life.
The new legislation shifts concern from ‘welfare’ to ‘well-being’. A semantic and legislative minefield just waiting to blow up.
You don’t find a needle in a haystack by adding more hay and the addition of thousands of children onto professional workloads may cause real cases – where welfare is an issue – to be overlooked.
Professionals are not infallible – indeed, from personal experience, some are downright ill informed.
And all this before we even touch on the data protection issues.
I’m not SNPBAD and I want to see an SNP majority returned in May. It’s just that in this case I believe they’re misguided and I think they know it. Whatever some daft poll says, anecdotally I know there are many who are unhappy with this legislation and leaving it in its current form supplies an open goal for critics.
I’d be happy to write more about this for Wings. If nothing else, hearing the other side of the argument might tease out some of these complexities.
Over to you Stu.
You are genius Rev..
Exposing not just another
politically motivated headline-
but a disgusting insult to
everyone’s intelligence.
The big lies are invisible no more..
Skooschase well said sir I agree with every word you said like the children you refer to the truth will be hidden in an unmarked grave ., we can only hope that some brave heart will come forward to expose the truth and bring justice to the innocents who were murdered and abused May gods curse be on the so far unexposed guilty parties
The parents of a child who was concussed by another youngster complained to a Green Councillor nothing was done, They complained to a Labour MP doing was done. The youngster went on to kill. Would a named person have been more responsible. Or would the Daily Mail rather it was sweep under the carpet or kept secret by Westminster MP’s. Abuse of vulnerable youngster was covered up by Westminster MP’s. Hague and Ken Clarke kept abuse by Janner, Cyril Smith and other MP’s secret..They should be charged. Thatcher said, ‘Boys will be boys’, when told of abuse. It just beggars belief.
Yet people are complaining about a ‘named person’ to stop children suffering. If it helps one child it is worth it.
@ nothing was done.
“Take a look at the legislation and the guidelines for professionals: a parent who is non compliant – as I will be – will raise their child’s ‘at risk’ profile. Saying ‘no thanks’ raises a red flag. With the legislation in it’s current form, parents have nowhere to go.”
I think that’s a fear mongers tacit Lynn.
You make it seem as if we go through this life “unknown” to the state and this is current scheme is some kind of appalling and out of the blue aberration to our invisibility, which is complete and utter claptrap.,
As soon as your born you’re assessed medically, as a toddler at nursery, academically from the moment you start school, through out school, college or uni, at work employer’s are watching you, the cops are, your medical records, all businesses are watching you, the dole office if your unemployed, your bank certainly is, over drafts, your mortgage lender, the tax man, aliens, travel abroad, the states you go to know about it, and on and on it goes.
So why you’re freaked out by a scheme clearly intended to at least try and tackle serious societal problems, is very illogical.
Or may even be an SNP bad political thing?
A report of this poll was also in today’s Herald but for once they actually gave the numbers behind the percentages and ended the article by pointing out that a survey carried out in Scotland had shown majority support for the Act.
As to those who insist against all evidence to the contrary then I suggest that you read Lord Pentland’s judgement from the judicial review of the Act brought by various Christian groups. Paragraphs 25 – 36 or thereabouts set out the background to the genesis of the Act. You will find it here:
link to scotcourts.gov.uk
I strongly suggest that some of you read it then perhaps you will be able to make more informed and measured comment than you have displayed to date.
A few nasty comments by the Britnats on social media about Nicola’s pout for Paige. Wonder if that will be reported in the MSM. Aye right.
Since 2005 there has been an interagency framework for working with children called Getting It Right For Every Child, which every local authority area in Scotland was expected to adopt. The leading lights were Highland but not every authority were as progressive, so after many attempts, initiatives, banging of heads off Strategy documents, the SG decided to incorporate GIRFEC into the 2014 Act – along with lots of other legislation. The rights of the child come under the 1995 legislation which is how Scotland complies with UNCRC.
If local authorities had adopted GIRFEC after 2005 Named Person would not be an issue because children would already have one. Some children will already have one under GIRFEC.
Named Person is not a Stasi Spy. They are someone who puts the “welfare of your child as paramount” (paraphrase 1995 Act)
Baby P might be alive because of a NP. Daniel Pelka also.
Isn’t that something worth having ?
Hi gus1940.
I like the general idea put forward in your post at 6.07pm.
However, I have one observation. You suggested,
“(preferably as a Word Document)”
Word documents (.doc, .docx) are a proprietary Microsoft format. they are NOT uniformly accessible if you don’t have the appropriate version of Microsoft Word installed.
.pdf or .rtf would increase cross-platform compatibility. Somebody would have to edit agreed changes and .rtf would simplify this for whoever gets the short stick.
One thing for sure no child abuse would be covered up by an SNP Government. The ‘named person’ scheme is to stop children suffering. The Dunblane tragedy is under a 100 years cover up rule. To protect politicians? The BBC Saville cover up. The Chilcot Report 5 years late.
Pedos and child abusers will hate the Named Person scheme because their more likely to be caught and children protected from them.
I live in Highland. Some of the initial trialling of the system was done here and it has been in place for quite a while. The Named Person changes depending on the age of the child, depending on age. That person is not appointed per se, it is a function of their job.
I have spoken to several people who work with the system – medical, teaching and social services. The general consensus is that it is as a pretty decent system. It covers a wide range from a child with ongoing special medical needs to a one time event like a bereavement – and lots of things in between.
They are usually Named Person for a lot of children in their locality. They are busy people. They do not go looking for extra work as they have plenty to do with dealing with the ones that currently have needs at any one time, and they keep an general eye on the others for any developing problems.
I understand that it has resulted in reduced work for Social Services because things are mostly now set up right at the beginning and many problems that arise are caught early on before they become crises.
The press do not want to know about a system that is not a problem and since they are anti-SNP, there is no way they are going to give one iota of publicity to help people understand how it works and made the best use of it.
Oh and for the person who was worried about children’s rights not being spelled out – I would suggest it isn’t here because this act is about the services children have rights to, and the government duty to provide. Acts of parliament and legislation is long winded enough expanding them to areas that are covered elsewhere.
@Lynn Blair
I’m not following your statement, that you are against NP, both professionally, and personally.
Is your profession in some type of child care/social care?
The link from your name takes me to your Blogspot, Making Clay, so I don’t want to make assumptions.
Hmm, a lot of waffle about not very much at all.
Maybe the title should be changed to
‘Trusted Person’..
Sounds like someone ‘already within the reach of given family, but no presumption of lisbility, unlike ‘named’.
Just saying like, as some folks seem to believe the sh#te in the papers.
Maybe those behind the campaign don’t want children to be protected, so that they remain vunerable in childhood and througout their lives.
That would suit them well.
Beware of Greens and Socialists pretending to support the SNP to dupe genuine SNP supporters into giving their list vote to their parties.
Left wingers would want to encroach into the lives of whole families and societies, let alone into the lives of children.
@Rock
A very valid point. There is reams of research on how not getting some, often simple, support in childhood, can just continue to roll up, and magnify into a person’s later years, affecting all sorts of life chances.
One very common issue. Alcoholic parent(s). Children are fiercely loyal, or too frightened to articulate how they are struggling. This type of case quite often manifests as truancy.
That child deserves every single piece of help available, and its not exaggerating to say, their life may be saved.
The issues are myriad and complex.
I would never compromise on child protection, but there are too many grinding their own axes, that would.
For those interested, Taranaich at 5.53pm has posted an extensive collection of quotes, on his Blog, from large and reputable organisations, commenting on their support for NP.
The one thing you can guarantee is that the moment there is an egregious case of child neglect the Daily Wail is on its high horse screaming for the head of some luckless social worker whose case load the child was missed on.
The Wail wants its cake and eat it. No child should be missed but no one should be looking.
The prime movers in much of the agitation about the NP are religious groups – not an area that has covered itself in glory on this front in the last 50 or more years.
I think Ms Sturgeon explained the positives of the NP policy very well in a response to Ms Davidson at FMQs on the 24th of March.
Then again the alleged amount of thuggery and buggery that goes on in boarding schools might just fall foul of this kind of interference. Obviously it’s character forming. It’s just that the kinds of character it forms might be in the Osborne, Cameron, Johnstone ilk.
The one lesson that those on the Better Together side of the debate took from the Referendum is that you can win when you LIE ……. It’s a constant stream now and as Hitlers mate worked out during WW2 …. The Bigger the Lie The Better…..
Independence first,
improved, pressure-based,
socio-political-inclusiveness,
after.
Forget other parties’
dividing-influences,
for now.
MAYBE join them later…
..but if they’ve scuppered,
and delayed our true will,
…maybe not.
Toryboy’s need to see a UKOK profit in “named person”
From
link to telegraph.co.uk
then
link to theguardian.com
Kerching, UKOK toryboy style
link to bbc.co.uk
As per, BBC gits leave out Lord Nash’s in charge of academy England and donated three hundred grand tory party wise.
What an investment. Toryboy’s dont give a flying UKOK fcuk now.
I am not sure that this will prove to be either an effective or a popular policy. Yes it is well intentioned but wait for the fall out when it delivers erroneous risk assessments on parents, guardians, their relationship circles, their economic and social status and much more. This formalised system will become a veritable Poll Tax for the SG and the party that promoted it.
Sorry, I haven’t read all the posts yet, just got home, but….
” It’s treating all of Scotland like a sink estate.”
WHAT!
You think children are only abused by poor people?
I met a lass when I was in my teens who was from a very wealthy family. She was pretty, clever, artistic and had an extraordinary imagination – she invented all sorts of pasts for herself.
Her two sisters went for nothing.
They had lavish birthday parties, she was not allowed to attend and had to stay in the nursery with her nanny. Outings, holidays, visiting friends, all the same. She was never seen in public with her parents.
Yes, she went to an expensive boarding school but a different one from her sisters. Her parents never visited the school.
What was her heinous crime?
She was born with infantile eczema. Which not unsurprisingly became nervous eczema.
Last I heard of her, some 40 years ago, she no longer had eczema but was sick, a junkie, reclusive and living in a squat on her own. She was not expected to live much longer.
Shame there wasn’t a Named Person for her but the ‘polite’ circles her parents moved in never questioned it and did nothing.
This thread is supposed to be about crass propaganda masquerading as fact, and being relentlessly foghorned full-blast by the usual MSM suspects.
Opinions about NP legislation are all very interesting, but they’re off-topic and have opened the floor to mischief-makers.
Just a relink to the Taranaich site collecting official responses about NP from those on the frontline.A must read.
link to wildernessofpeace.wordpress.com
And clarifying the issue shines a stronger light on the snpbadness of the “crass propaganda”.
And how often does any thread stay on topic anyway?!
cearc@9.57
Thanks for posting that.
Nice One.
The Yoonies can try and sway the vote with Skullduggery.
We won’t get fooled again.
SNPx2
In addition to my comments earlier, a couple of other things to think about, regarding how ill thought through this legislation is.
The legislation states that the NP is likely to be a health visitor if the child is under five, or a school/head/guidance teacher if the child is at school.
Firstly, I lecture in FE and am often teaching 15-18 year olds. There has been no comment from the government regarding who will take the NP role in FE. None. No training has been provided. Most staff I work with have never heard of it. Those that I have spoken too are fairly incredulous that this is being brought in in August, yet there is nothing in place.
Secondly, the NP is to be foisted on all children from birth to 18. It is feasible therefore for a married couple with a child, each to have their own Named Person. Three named people for one family.
More absurdly, it is possible for a someone signing up for the armed forces to have a Named Person too. I’d love to be a fly on the wall as the Named Person fills in the form regarding the ‘well-being’ of someone about to be trained in warfare.
When I was a child my mother suffered from a serious mental illness, eventually diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia. My stepfather was much older still struggling with full time farming and in poor physical health. Our only relatives lived many miles away. I was the eldest of three.
Our lives were entirely controlled by my mother’s illness. Things had to get very bad before there was any intervention. On more than one occasion one of us could have died. On many, many occasions I would have loved to have someone trusted to turn to who understood how best to help.
On the one occasion when I did try the Lady Advisor of our secondary school told me to pray.
The effect of growing up like this has resonated not just through our childhood but our adult lives as well. So even if you think yourself to be a good, responsible parent, remember that our mother did too. Think first of all those children from every sort of background who need help.
Lynn Blair says:
Firstly, I lecture in FE and am often teaching 15-18 year olds. There has been no comment from the government regarding who will take the NP role in FE. None. No training has been provided.
So is it work load increase concerns that’s made you a no?
Increased work load and too intrusive?
OK this has to be one of the worst comments I’ve ever read on WoS
Secondly, the NP is to be foisted on all children from birth to 18. It is feasible therefore for a married couple with a child, each to have their own Named Person. Three named people for one family
We are a married couple with a young child now you need to explain to me under what circumstance we will have a named person foisted upon us…
In your own time Lynn….
It’s not even just about abuse.
It is also about somebody offering support when a family needs it.
Parents/parent who have just answered the door to have the police tell them that a child has just been killed in an accident are really not in the best situation to help their other children.
They are having to cope themselves and trying to function normally in order to keep the home ticking over, go to work to put the food on the table etc. whilst not really in a fit state to do any of it.
Certainly in the past, such families who had not had prior contact with social services got absolutely zero support.
You think children are only abused by poor people?
Why wont anyone help the rich? Please everyone, think of the poor little rich children. Cinderella especially. In the real story, the ugly sisters chopped their toes off to fit in that shoe.
I support the NP scheme. Having sat in on school guidance councils hearing teacher, social worker, reporter, guidance staff and youth worker bandy around information about a child with nobody actually taking full responsibility for helping that child, I can easily understand how many serious problems could slip through the net.
It’s shameful that the press misrepresent the issues and the public support for this issue.
WoS on the ball as ever.
Dunno ’bout abody else, but the site seems to be doing that 15/20 min delay thing before publishing comments…
I’m subbing this at 23.28…
See!
Ah told ye’s!
(23.31)
cearc @ 11.04
It is seldom about abuse, sexual or otherwise but mainly as you suggest. Bereavement or serious family illness when parents find it difficult to cope as you describe.
In my final year of teaching I had a boy in S6 whose family fell into that category. Mum had died of cancer 2 years earlier and the dad fell apart but had to use all his energy to go to work to provide for his family. The boy, eldest of 4, was making sure his siblings got to school and did their homework, etc.
The boy was absent a lot and not doing homework and asked to speak to me at the end of the lesson. Turned out dad was coping better and the bereavement just hit the boy then. I was able to pass him on to Pastoral Care who could get him Bereavement Counselling and any other help he and the family needed.
That is the most common function of a named person. Helping families when disaster strikes.
@ ian Brotherhood
It timestamps your comment correctly even though it may not show up for 20 minutes.
Indy Live covered our Wings get together in Glasgow
They need less than £3000 to keep the show on the road with 3 days left.
link to indiegogo.com
Their appeal ran at the same time as the Revs and maybe got lost in the rush to send dosh to Wings
Folks Please note;
Indy Live covered our Wings get together in Glasgow. They need less than £3000 to keep the show on the road with 3 days left.
link to indiegogo.com
Their appeal ran at the same time as the Revs and maybe got lost in the rush to send dosh to Wings
re apparent ‘delay’ –
I was trying to send-on a message from Thistle/Kevin Indylive because he’s having bother getting anything to WOS right now because of some anti-spam machinery.
Basically, he was just trying to say that the Indylive appeal (as linked by Cadogan in previous comments) is at 62% and they have a couple of days left.
Merr pennies required…
🙂
Interesting comments regarding the named Person policy.
Anyone have need of it? Anyone?
I have. Or rather my daughter did. And we have a close and normal family without dramas, and we still needed help…
Help given, help gratefully accepted and the “disaster” averted.
So all those whining about “intrusion” and worrying about having your life viewed left right and centre, STFU and worry no more. My daughter, by herself, decided she was no longer in need of any help and that was it.
See that “95%”..they won’t be affected AT ALL…
There is also a phenomenon called “bystander apathy” whereby everyone assumes that someone else is dealing with a problem as they stand by and watch.
The original instance was the murder of Kitty Genovese in New York. It took half an hour for her to die. She screamed for help. People in an apartment block heard the screams and looked out and watched, assuming someone else was calling the police.
link to en.wikipedia.org
I’m 67years of age, when I was a child there was no named anything no help no support just deaf authorities except when it came to dishing out punishments for the benefit of making examples to others my old next door neighbours can recall my screams to this day but there was nothing to be done about it
I still bare the marks on my body from a parent teaching me lessons I refused to learn for my own good and still don’t seem to appreciate the need to “do what you’re told” and many of us will have the same story or similar to tell
Any assistance our children can get to help in their development and or guard against danger before it happens has got to be welcome and to the Naysayers I say this
Who or what do you think you are and what do you believe in
because if you think you’re smarter than everybody else then you’re exactly the kind of people who’s children need protection
Or if you’re the complaining “It husnae been thought oot” brigade, well perhaps nobody should even bother trying then “Idiots” you think it through, you help out they’re your kids or will be
Then there’s the other lot of Nutters the “We hate the SNP so it’s Baad” brigade, well tough shit your kids are going to get the use and access to help whether you like it or not, because you people have no excuse at all, you’re just loaded up with hate for the sake of it
Now I’m not basing my argument just because of something that happened to me when I was a child, because I got over it and grew up,, because there was no other choice
Today there is a choice just stop being an idiot stop screeching SNP Baad because you think you have to please your social circle of idiots and believe me when I tell you,
The SNP are the good guys
or Ive been wrong for 50 years, and I doubt that
O/T Apologies if this has already been posted. Here’s the Press and Journal’s list of 17 broken promises from the Better Togetherers?
Quite remarkable coming from the P&J.
link to archive.is
@Lynn Blair
Do I take it from your comments, that no one at your teaching establishment has anything to do with student welfare?
No one has trained ing to spot signs of say drug abuse? If students exhibit regular signs of physical abuse, no one is trained to CARE?
If no one in your management has discussed necessary training, what a poor show. Even poorer, if the picture as you paint it, is no one discusses or gives a shit about students welfare.
Someone signing up for the Armed Forces may or may not be used, as a type of Referee, but again, if that young person has never had any issues, it’s an irrelevant fantasy. As you must know, the Army do a lot of their own assessments.
As for two young people under the age of 18, with a baby, having 3 named people, so what? The baby is assigned a health visitor from day 1, and the parents would leave the NP scheme at age 18. Its not conceivable that young couple and child might need, and welcome support?
How many of you were up in arms when Labour tried to introduce ID cards? Or the Tory’s new snooping powers to access all e-mails, web history etc? “Ah, but if it stops a terrorist attack!” they argue, or “if you have nothing to hide then you don’t need to worry!”. But that’s not the point. It’s the principle, and I’m sure many of the people who quite rightly argued against these state invasions of privacy are the very same ones who are now saying “ah but if it saves just one child!”!
I’m actually really disappointed in Stuart and the arguments here. It all reads as blind acceptance of the SNPs proposals, and quite frankly I am beginning to see how some on the “other side” label us as a cult 🙁
No, I’ve not been scaremongered by a Daily Mail report. As I said earlier, there has been opposition to this for years. It’s only now that there is an election looming that the media have chosen to highlight these concerns for their own ulterior motives.
Don’t just blindly accept that it’s ok, or assume that because the right wing press is against it they’re wrong. Look into it properly and join the dots and see where it can lead. On paper it sounds a great idea, but it’s been badly hashed out and leaves the door open for all sorts of abuse by the powers that be, especially if you differ ever so slightly from what is deemed “normal”.
@I’veNeverSeenBraveheart
You lost me at – really disappointed in Stuart.
Disappointed at his exposure of crap polling, and misleading headlines?
Well, at least that’s an original line of attack on this thread!
“It all reads as blind acceptance of the SNPs proposals, and quite frankly I am beginning to see how some on the “other side” label us as a cult.”
What do you propose instead? Do nothing?
Anyone who has had any experience teaching will know that it’s the parents who need guidance and should be monitored, not the kids. And based on my experience here, I’d say the middle class kids suffer the most at the hands of irresponsible parents. I also blame television to a large extent, radio, and of course the Internet.
Most middle class kids by the age of 12, I’d say at least 75% of them, have been encouraged (by their parents!) to take part in baking. They tend to start off with cupcakes and cookies which inevitably leads on to harder stuff like sponge cakes and dumplings.
By the age of 15, in most cases, they’re irretrievably hooked on cooking. It’s hard to watch the humanity being drained out of children like that, over and over again. And you can do nothing to stop it.
I covered a modern studies class and thought this is my chance, get them talking and thinking about real issues like poverty and conflict, stuff like that. That’s when I realised it’s just pointless. One kid in particular I remember just sat reciting risotto recipes for 2 hours.
What chance do we have of turning them into productive, compassionate human beings when they go home to parents who fill their heads with nonsense about chicken cacciatore and asparagus pie? Then there’s all those TV programs and the Internet — all reinforcing the idea that nothing matters except cooking and cuisine.
On a deeper level, as I understand it, there’s a set of core values in play, key elements of which revolve around health and longevity, making money, and a quiet sort of “fuck you jack, I’m alright” attitude. It’s flagrantly sick and shallow but they somehow dress it up as supremacy and snobbery.
It’s quite bizarre when you analyse it objectively from a distance. Look at all the problems we face in the world — here in Scotland in terms of poverty, drugs, crime etc., and abroad with issues like malnutrition, war, not to mention natural disasters, and so much else — and all these middle class people seem to care about is stuffing their faces.
If any of you need any help and advice in terms of how to spot this sort of thing with your kids, what measures you might take to prevent it, etc., I’m happy to help. In general I’d say use common sense, keep a close eye on them (especially in the kitchen) and check their internet browsing history regularly. Might be worth investing in some software that allows you to block certain websites and I believe most cable TV providers allow you to also block certain TV channels.
Capella @ 12.17, the P & G, that’s weird????
I’veNeverSeenBraveheart says:
29 March, 2016 at 12:29 am
How many of you were up in arms when Labour tried to introduce ID cards?
Did they happen?
What problems were ID cards trying to solve?
Brown and Lab couldn’t afford the £12+bn costs for ID cards.
We’ve already got ID on us all time.
And as you know, ID cards were not optional.
“Look into it properly and join the dots and see where it can lead. On paper it sounds a great idea, but it’s been badly hashed out and leaves the door open for all sorts of abuse by the powers that be, especially if you differ ever so slightly from what is deemed “normal”.
What does “all sorts of abuse by the powers that be” mean?
Its less the policy and more these kinds of thick as mince, fact free, sneaky creepy red and blue tory pish, that’s rather a drag.
And the pointless clocks going forward rubbish:-(
Opponents seem to view the NP as governmental spying on children, in relation to parents and how they function in the role.
I would view the NP a bit differently. It should also be a mechanism for ensuring that kids thrive in other settings, as well as at home, in schools, after schools groups, scouts, or any other settings where adults are responsible for their care. The NP should act as a sort of advocate, if needed, supporting children and parents.
Majority of parents do a fantastic job in giving their kids the love and care they need, some need a bit of help and support, especially when things are tough. That is how the NP should function, as well as ensuring that children come to no harm, from any adult. Remember, children can suffer at the hands of other children too, by way of bullying, so the NP, would I hope make sure that a child is not suffering in any setting.
It is the legal responsibility of all of us to report any child or adult protection issues, should they be apparent, in fact.
@I’veNeverSeenBraveheart
It seems there are at least 4 or 5 of us opposed in some way to the Act, and from what I see we’re either SNP members or have considered it, we’re all Independence supporters, we don;t think we’re the best dad or mum in the world, none of us are mischief-makers, nor are we trolls, nor SNP baaaad, nor do we think we’re smarter than everybody else, nor do we blindly accept the SNPbad media.
We just have different opinions.
Don’t know about you, but when I do have a different opinion, I don’t intend to STFU either. Never have given in to a bully, don’t intend starting now. It would indeed be a shame if people with contra opinions were forced off Wings – as some have been already, not by the Rev.
It’s also not just an SNP Act, the Bill was passed in 2014 by 101 votes to 16, and had its origins in 2001. Doesn’t make it a sound and well put together Act, with adequate protection for all.
link to caltonjock.com
@ Dr Jim 12:08
I hear you. ‘Nuff said.
Well I don’t see anyone being “forced” off this blog.
I do see someone NOT getting how NP works…
@mogabee
What I see is very very few actually bothered to read the Act itself to check out if the “voluntary” bit is there, in that or any other words at all. It can be read here:
link to legislation.gov.uk
I recommend it.
As for people not posting here any more, I read other blogs as well as this one.
Well let’s just do away with seat belts then, or
Bring back smoking in public areas
Come to think of it what do we need Police for
NHS that’s just a waste of money isn’t it
None of the above were perfect when they were brought in, and still aren’t and might never be but what happens if you do nothing
Nothing!
OT
The National have an article about Carmichael and the JRRT. And also one about the Quakers, who are they. The article mentions companies founded by Quakers, but totally neglects to mention IBM “Big Blue” as it used to be known (Tom Watson). The article says despite the simple nature of Quakers they found they were good at making money. I don’t think it’s “despite”, I think it’s “because”. Changed days. Should change back again.
link to thenational.scot
The Outer House, Court of Session Judgement
link to scotcourts.gov.uk
“Judicial Review of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014”
The Army bully, abuse, kill youngsters and then cover it up. There are no proper Inquests. They use the Official Secrets Act to cover up criminal Acts. Illegal invasions.Trauma. Nothing is done about it. How many people were suffering from trauma after 11WW. Suffered from trauma and abused their children. Much abuse goes on within families.
A ‘named person’ means more help can be provided more efficiently. They should be listened to because chikdren were being placed in foster care of known abusers. The kinship payments can keep children within family care (grandparents etc) and are cost effective. A better outcome for the children. Some foster carers do it for the money and are not the best placed for vulnerable children. It can relieve tensions but long term can cause further harm, being transferred indefinitely. A children’s home can provide better care. Many foster carers are brilliant.
In the past some children were taken in by neighbours or friends on informal agreement. They were cared for adequately. Drink and drug abuse means children can be neglected. Taken into care or adopted. Proper total abstinence ‘one chance’ counselling should be available.
Many Doctors receive inadequate training in alcohol/drug abuse, without specialising. It can lead to death. Some Doctors prescribe tranquillisers for alcohol addiction. Instead of proper toal abstinence ‘one chance’ counselling/rehab. People have died because of inadequate treatment. Most drug related deaths are people being prescribed methadone (indefinitely) and taking other substances.
Many publicly funded programmes can advocate ‘drinking a glass of wine with a meal’. Or taking drugs for a ‘ special occasion’ Totally inconceiveable for addictive personalities. People have died because of bad advice or lack of proper treatment. Grampian Health Board is the only Health authority in Scotland which do not provide primary care for drink/drug abuse. It has to be funded privately. They have to fund follow up care which can be much more expensive. Liver transplants etc.
The Mail ‘Stay out of Famiy Life’ which supported illegal invasions, killing innocent people, supports sanctioning people and starving them to death. The cover up and abuse of children by Westminster politicians. Victim blamer. Owned by a Non Dom tax evader. UKIP crook, alcoholic supporter and funder.
To he that doesn’t go to the cinema much.
It’s not really the SNP who started NP, it hasn’t come from nowhere untested, it is supported by child care professionals, it was voted on unanimously by our elected representatives apart from the tories who had something better to do so didn’t press their buttons.
Big brother it’s not, voluntary IT is, complainants were humiliated in the court of session, show to be tin foil hat wearing nut jobs.
Egged on by their hate promoting vile excuse for a newspaper, the contemptible, scum bum. media who would not know the truth if their lives depended on it!
A tax on ‘loss leading’, cheap alcohol could reduce consumption and lead to better health outcomes.
IndyLive would get more donations if they put up bank a/c details and initials. Some people do not have Internet or connections to payment facilities.
I am a parent and the wife and I don’t have a problem with it.
Now, how is that case against the LabServativeDem child molesters in Westminster coming along?
Oops, forgot, they are too busy with a whole dept., of M15 watching and digging up dirt on the SNP, to bother about it.
Hmm. Obviously even if the number does turn out to be 500 odds, it’s still a tiny, unweighted sample. And it’s subset analysis (useless) and the question stinks.
However, I don’t doubt that people have concerns about names person. I’m weakly in favour but don’t have kids so sort of exclude myself as a valid opinion. It seems, on paper, to be a good idea but I’m not sure about the definitions, and how does it work with reluctant families?
I don’t think we should poo poo the genuine concerns people have, or write them off as nutjobs. These are the people who supporters should be trying to convince, not blindly mock. Let’s not become what the yoons want us to.
Braveheartphony: It all reads as blind acceptance of the SNPs proposals,
Who gives themselves that moniker and thinks it’s not provocative?
If you’ve never seen as much as five minutes of ‘Braveheart’ you must be dead. Either that or you live in a coal cellar without TV, radio, or newspapers.
The ‘named person’ proposal comes from professionals working in the filed. I’m a name person – a godfather, chosen by a friend as the best person to guide his son should his father never be around, or need assistance. Been a convention for generations.
We used to ‘belt’ our kids at school. Some where hit three or four times by that thick leather strap, justice handed out by a one-person jury. Children carried wields up their wrist. Some parents demand the right to hit their kids as a matter of respect. Some use them as sex objects.
If you think children are well cared for, safe, and free of predators or idiot alcoholic parents, well, quite frankly, you’re an idiot.
GMS flogging the 4000 drop in teacher numbers when any fool knows that the majority of these are in Labour run Glasgow City Council.
Re Brian —– @8.31pm
Agreed – pdf files would be better.
It has just occurred to me that a facility to convert Stu’s articles (and articles on any of the other pro-indy blogs)with or without comments to pdf format would be a good idea as it would enable us to spread the word either by e-mail to non-believers or to other sites/blogs.
Caring for the welfare of vulnerable children has nothing to do with the sensitivity or the political allegiance of me or anybody on this thread.
It’s solely about protecting children.
Full stop.
@ Gus1940
There is a pdf button at the end of each article. You can download them already.
O/T link
link to alexsalmond.scot
Oh dear
link to youtube.com
link to indyref2.scot
link to lallandspeatworrier.blogspot.co.uk
O/T links
Paedos at Faslane
link to archive.is
link to indyref2.scot
Tories plunder and loot
link to youtube.com
link to news.vice.com
@ Nana
Oh dear indeed! Well at least they’re trying. Very trying.
The point of the post is the cynical use of flawed data to demonize a political party. It has turned into a discussion on the rights and wrongs of the named person act. Fair enough we often go off up a side street and generate healthy debate.
There are only three countries in the entire WORLD with worse recorded figures of child abuse than the UK. South Africa, India and Zimbabwe. Think about that.
The legislation wasn’t forced upon Scotland. It was voted in by the majority of the political parties. Shamefully the Tories abstained. On child abuse they abstained!
It was unsuccessfully challenged in court. It’s not the perfect answer but surely we have to do a better job of protecting those that cannot protect themselves.
Do you want your children born into the fourth most abusive country on earth?
The Mail, along with some opposition worthies who voted for this legislation, see this as an opportunity to attack the SNP. The Scottish government try to help children, the newspapers see an opportunity. If they can’t come up with a reasoned argument they magic up some figures. How typically UKOKish of them.
O/T links
Bloody awful chancer
link to archive.is
Tory bites tory
link to archive.is
Horrific
link to archive.is
link to labour-uncut.co.uk
I think some of you should visit the Glasgow Forums Board and read some of the experiences of the former boys at St Mungo Academy ( of which I am one).
You may find it enlightening as to what can go on in a school undetected.
I will say no more.It is well documented by former pupils if you read. Most have gone on to have very successful careers,and are based all over the world.
Perhaps Lynn Blair did not read the legislation as well as she thinks. Perhaps she should also have read the Court of Session Judgment.
[13] Section 20 of the Act provides…The only children for whom a named person service does not have to be provided are those serving in any of the regular forces.
Grouse Beater says:
Who gives themselves that moniker and thinks it’s not provocative?
Well, every time I see your nom de plume I feel so sad for the poor Grouse murdered in their thousands in what is called a blood sport!
I always have the urge to shout “come on the Grouse”
Just Saying 😉
The right wing unionists and their media readily condemn the Scottish Government’s named persons child-protection legislation.
Yet these same unionists haven’t offered any credible alternative child protection legislation.
And lets not forget if the Scottish Government hadn’t put forward this legislation and another child was being sexually abused or died as result of neglect or domestic abuse.
We would have these same right wingers and their media condemning the Scottish Government for not bringing forward child-protection legislation.
McLean: “I always have the urge to shout “come on the Grouse””
Snap. I made sure to beat heather where no grouse hid. Then again, it’s a good moniker implying I swat right-wing grousers – and beat the stuffing out of them.
‘NeverseenBraveheart’ is a phony; his post cleverly composed to seem as if a disgruntled supporter. If you care about children you don’t couch your argument in party political terms. And if you are a party member you had your chance to debate the policy internally, and vote.
@Capella
A video showcasing Slab’s ineptitude, I wonder which clown ok’d that one. I’m surprised they haven’t taken it down yet.
@Grouse Beater
I didn’t think the Braveheart poster was genuine, but deserved a mention for attacking Stuart. Seems to have missed the role of WoS.
What I do see from opponents of the NP, is either not answering the points about child protection, or shouting another version of brainwashed cultist.
For me this is not about SNP, and I’ve made that point several times. Supporters here and elsewhere are very often speaking from personal or professional experience, but that goes for naught against ideology.
Grouse Beater: “I made sure to beat heather where no grouse hid.”
I’m sorry but I just want to put it on the record that at least one of us thinks the above makes no sense. Actually this just raised a bunch of new questions for me; i.e. how did you know “where no grouse hid”? Why beat heather at all, whether grouse hid there or not?
You’re starting to unravel.
Grousy
‘NeverseenBraveheart’ is a phony; his post incompetently composed to seem as if composed by a disgruntled supporter,
Fixed that for you!
🙂
Angra: “Why beat heather at all, whether grouse hid there or not?”
Why get involved in social politics? To make sure your side wins the argument. And on grouse moors in your backyard to reduce their kill quota. Next stupid question…
PS: The topic is protecting children, not birds.
Andrew: “his post incompetently composed”
Indeed. I hope the faker takes note. (Cue, anti cybernats rant)
Valerie:“this is not about SNP”
It would seem obvious to us but not to reflex Scotiaphobes.
Grousey,
I thought it was a play on words along the line of the very old joke;
Man goes into a bar and orders ‘Grouse and water, please’
Barman, ‘It’s been an awful day this happened, that happened and did you hear etc.. Oh, and the water’s in a jug over there.’
I’m a “she” actually (not that it matters), and been a long time (if infrequent) commenter, especially round about referendum time if you care to look. Haven’t commented for a long time, but had to add my point of view here.
As to the name, well, I thought it was obvious. The Yoons liked to dismiss us all as being wound up by watching Braveheart (which indeed I have never seen!)and being carried away by a romantic notion. I am not one of those, preferring to use my head not heart.
As to the Named Person being voluntary – if it was, then what would be the point?! Please look into the implications of this. Please do not dismiss me in a disgusting manner as some posters have by saying I must be an abuser if I am against this – really?! That just makes you sound as loony as some ranting Yoon!
Of course we wish abuse didn’t happen, but anyone who thinks this piece of badly thought out legislation is going to somehow stop child abuse, the same as the rent-seekers in the NSPCC have “stopped child abuse” (while making a comfy living for themselves) is sadly deluded.
It’s the principle of the matter. No-one has commented on the fact that GPs will now have to break patient confidence in regard to children with this. Consider for example, a 15 yr old girl going to see her GP for contraception, but her Named Person is her head teacher of the local Catholic school, who must now be informed! I can tell you, if that was me there would be no way I would be going to my GP!
So yeah, thanks for dismissing me as a phoney and a faker. I thought WOS commenters were better than the others 🙁
Forgive me, Grouse Beater, I was trying to make light.
On a serious note, if the NP legislation is voluntary then it probably doesn’t go far enough. Anyone here can imagine a kid being more comfortable sharing problems with a NP rather than their parents. If my kid has problems that she can’t share with myself or her mother, for whatever reason, I would be very reassured to know that someone else was there to listen and help. No truly caring parent could argue with that.
There’s no comparison to be made here with the attempt to bring in ID cards — the ID card proposals had more to do with the free movement of people in the EU than any big brother nonsense. The reason Britain kept its border controls under Schengen was down to the failure here to bring in ID cards but that’s a whole other subject.
As for Big Brother, he’s watching very closely regardless.
The way the whole NP subject is being deliberately misconstrued and misrepresented in the media is much more interesting than what any of us here think of the policy itself. We should probably be outraged or something, but we are all too used to that sort of deceit to let it bother us any more.
@ Lyn Blair, some strange ideas, is that Bertie’s mother from Scotland Street by any chance? 🙂
The Phony Example: “her Named Person is her head teacher of the local Catholic school, who must now be informed! I can tell you, if that was me there would be no way I would be going to my GP!”
Are you suggesting a Named Person is incompetent, socially inept, though chosen for their strength of character? Or are you conjuring anxieties to bolster your argument?
What if? What if? What if the heavens fall in?
What if it the Name Person’s car tyre bursts on the way to the house and they don’t reach the child in time to help? Will Lassie respond to the panic whistle?
@Iveneverseenbraveheart,
Something that many posters forget,and that allows any type of abuse to take place, is that the concept of protection is a two way street. Although many parents know they will go to great lengths to protect the child, they forget that the converse is also true. The child will endure things to protect the parent from suffering and trauma.
This is why many types of abuse go unchallenged,and come as a total shock to families when it is revealed
I have witnessed this many ,many times.
Cearc: Barman, ‘It’s been an awful day this happened, that happened and did you hear etc.. Oh, and the water’s in a jug over there.’
Ha, ha! I’d forgotten about that one. The old yins are still the best.
Got some construction bastards who stole over £12,000 from me to face in a lawyer’s office this afternoon. Hope this topic is laid to rest soon.
@neverseenbraveheart –
Can you kindly answer the question I posted at 11:02 PM
And are you seriously suggesting that a GP will break their Hippocratic Oath ?
I don’t have any problem with the intent of the NP Act, especially given the voluntary nature and the safeguards from the trial run. Doubtless there will be rough edges and mistakes but if ultimately it helps and protects children then it is good.
My misgivings are for the future and how it might be ‘modified’ and ‘improved’ by others. Especially those screaming loudest and hardest at the moment in the likes of the DM (Scotch region edition).
I hope sufficient boilerplate can be constructed to prevent a well meaning act from having unintended consequences and becoming used in nefarious ways to gain intel about parents who may have political, religious or other views that may not be to any future Government’s liking.
Big can, lots of worms.
Croompenstein – yes, as far as I understand it, a GP will have a duty to inform the Named Person of details relating to the child, i.e. explicitly breaking their oath of confidentiality. This is what I mean by it all being a badly written mess – no-one has considered the full consequences of this.
Friends who are teachers and GPs are deeply uneasy about this.
GrouseBeater – I used to repect your postings. Don’t dismiss someone as “phony” just because they have a different point of view.
Frogesque – exactly! The intent is honorable. In practice, it is unworkable and will make things worse for those families that do need help. You don’t find a needle in a haystack by adding more hay!
I have heard troubling stories from the pilot schemes from families whose faces don’t fit, or who deviate from the “norm”. This whole piece of legislation gives scope for being used in nefarious ways, exactly a whole can of worms as you say.
At the end of the day folks, the article in question is either abysmal journalism or shoddy disinformation. Someone commented recently that Scotland’s democracy is under threat from this sort of crud. I personally agree.
SNP x 2 + public inquiry into the conduct of ‘Scotland’s’ press?
Newspapers only exist in return for the public’s interest in two key areas; scandal & football. Sure, there are titles that print mostly financial news but their circulations are small & appeal to a niche market. (e.g. the FT)
But the mainstream titles are in competition for sleaze. It’s a disappointing reflection of society that newspapers can elevate a daily print run by publishing for example, an exclusive story that hinges on a claim that someone famous has been found out to be shagging someone else in the Maldives while their own husband or wife is battling colon cancer back in dreary Motherwell.
If one of them has big tits, even better. Readers often get a chance to see them too but only after leafing through stories about weight loss surgery disasters, mortgage insurance scams or which colour of blouse Kate Middleton wore when she battled through a puddle in high heels made by someone who used to share a bed pan with a tramp, just to open a care home for sad, old donkeys.
Or that an elected official has chosen to descend the moral high ground & inflate their drinks expense claim after sniffing white powder while a hooker sat on their lap twirling their rugby club tie.
Or a TV personality has been photographed at night in a parked car with someone who’s called “Nigel” at work & “Nigella” when they aren’t.
Manufactured or faux public outrage is nothing new; the Romans built colosseums to partly satisfy lust for rectifying the attitudes & behaviours of uncultured savages & to distract the public from the corruption of the Senate. Here, medieval zealots burned people for having the inexplicable nerve to survive cholera or syphilis.
The right wing media in bankrupt Britain does basically the same thing; coordinate easy attacks on elected officials & famous people to provide a gruesome & repetitive diet of screaming hyperbole so that it might alter the general mood of the nation & maintain the status quo on behalf of the neocon Establishment.
Wings & its readers undermine this process by demolishing the inaccuracies, lies & industrial scale propaganda. This partly explains the frothing hatred of those who dare come here to get a sense of what is really going on; and to find some truth in a tidal wave of puerile gossip written by lazy hacks entirely reliant on AP news wires who have the nerve to claim that they are still journalists.
The effect of Wings & similar independent minded news gathering & comment pages, should not be underestimated. They question the very fabric & modus operandi of the British Establishment while demonstrating that the traditional media no longer entirely owns the mood of the nation or indeed the unflappable ability to alter public opinion in order to protect their own vested interests.
Meanwhile, you can hardly complain about the sorry state of the British print & broadcast news media if you continue to fund it.
I doubt if any piece of legislation has ever enjoyed the unanimous support of the people,but this piece has the support of most of those who know most about the issue.
GH Graham,
I stopped buying newspapers some time ago.Your post is tempting me back!
Faux outrage about the influene of the “state” on family life. When did Scotland become a “state” I must have missed something.
@ G2, a very good post!
Friends who are teachers and GPs are deeply uneasy about this.
Because?
You know we can get all this kind of empty freak out rhetoric in the Heil, I’veNeverSeenBraveheart says:?
Could you at least make some sense.
Braveheartthingy: “Don’t dismiss someone as “phony” just because they have a different point of view.”
Yes, good advice. I get on like a house on fire with Tories who say they have Scotland’s best interests at heart.
Look, it isn’t a matter if you feel the policy misguided. It’s an established, universal non-issue for people in Scotland. The ‘controversy’ is a wholly concocted MSM news item to knock bits of our elected government.
The idea fundamental ‘Christians’ (the clue’s in ‘mental’)are the most vociferous in condemnation of a scheme to protect children is, quite frankly, enough to tell any intelligent person the policy is a sound one.
I’m disgusted at the nastiness of some of the responses to iveneverseenbraveheart. If we go on like this, always patting each other on the back and reacting furiously to differing viewpoints, the independence movement will wither away into insignificance.
“and reacting furiously to differing viewpoints”
It’s not about “differing viewpoints”. It’s about people wanting to stand idly by and do nothing to protect abused and vulnerable children, over absurd fantasy objections.
@brave person
Where are you getting that nonsense about a GP telling a named person about contraception?
Can you quote or provide a link?
Is that happening now? No. So it won’t happen under the NP.
If a GP is telling you that, then I suspect his motives. There are a few fundamentalist Christian GPs that bang on about contraception.
They need weeded out, and put straight.
This is the kind of tripe the rags love.
Grouse,
You raise an important point there regarding the plaintiffs in this case, what I can’t work out is why a group or groups operating in England & Wales, who don’t vote in Scotland, could have had anything to do with a piece of legislation in/for Scotland.
FairFerfochen asked:
“what I can’t work out is why a group or groups operating in England & Wales, who don’t vote in Scotland, could have had anything to do with a piece of legislation in/for Scotland.”
Simples – because we are “Better Together” – they’re English, so think they are better, and, thanks to the UKOK mob, Scotland and England are still together.
FairFerfochan:
Worth repeating!
You raise an important point there regarding the plaintiffs in this case, what I can’t work out is why a group or groups operating in England & Wales, who don’t vote in Scotland, could have had anything to do with a piece of legislation in/for Scotland.
English votes for English laws.
English Christians for English cruelties.
English charities for corrupt Westminster MPs.
Last time I heard “the master race is entitled to interfere” came from a private security guard at Edinburgh airport with a cockney accent telling an already harassed me why I should move on.
You can guess the response he got. I never saw him again.
“WifeBeaterThingy” (I can misconstrue names too!) – opposition to this has been kicking about for years before the media (albeit with ulterior motives) picked it up and ran with it.
I am neither right-wing nor Christian, neither are the parents group I am with who are deeply opposed to this.
But you know, carry on in your little paranoid bubble dismissing anyone who shock, horror, doesn’t sing from the same sheet as somehow phoney or a plant. Beginning to see why I haven’t commented here in a long time.
@braveheart
Paranoia??? That’s rich, after accusing GPs poised to bandy about patient information!
I can see you and others just hate being answered back.
Today’s National has a great cover story regarding the Joseph Rowntree Trust which donated £50,000 to Lying Carmichael to help with his legal costs.
They also paid out £45,000 to Willie Rennie and £36,000 to his boss Tim Farron.
It seems the trust has been taken over by Lib Dems who have ousted the Quaker members of the board and use the funds as a Lib Dem “Honeypot”.
Great piece which I doubt any other papers or the BBC will mention.
BraveThingy: ” neither are the parents group I am with who are deeply opposed to this.”
Citing anecdotal evidence and unknown groups as evidence of the veracity of an opinion has no value whatsoever on a website!
Lost you tolerant attitude all of a sudden?
I wouldn’t want you a named person for my kids!
@I’veNeverSeenBraveheart
Welcome back. Always good to see folk returning back to the debate.
Grouse,
That was a bit of a curve ball, easy dude.
No I understand why SNP are reluctant to ‘yaise the pooers” – if every piece of legislation can be challenged by interst groups they’d never get out of the bit, no to mention the drain in resources.
It’s like a form of TTIP
Effectvely hamstrung 🙁
OT I like studying data, I hate reading the media’s interpretation of numbers.
link to survation.com
Depending on how raw you like your data, Table 15 is a fair indication of which party supporters, ages, genders, localities support Indy, or don’t.
For/against Indy where the difference is > 3%, ie the typical error. Others like gender are effectively evenly split.
The FORs – under 55, SNP voters, Glasgow, Mid Scot & Fife, NE, DE social grp
The Againsts – over 55, all Unionist party voters, Lothian, South, Central, West, AB & C2 social grp
The value is to know where best to focus persuasion efforts, not to criticise.
The two groups which stand out as NO rich territory to be targeted for conversion are 55+ and C2 social group.
On studying this, something stood out for me. The greatest correlation and biggest splits are with party support.
87% SNP are Yes, 86% Lab are No, 97% of Con and LibDem are NO.
Cons and LibDems seem a lost cause. The best hope is possibly firstly persuading more SNP voters to also back Indy, and then converting some Lab to SNP and Yes.
This entire phony argument reminds me of the protests against the introduction of seats belts. It went like this:
An infringement of personal freedom; too costly; will actually cause accidents; wholly unnecessary; a pain to install and put on; will raise the cost of buying a car …
… that and more BEFORE seat belts had become common use.
The Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill was passed without opposition; with the agreement of all people involved.MSPs had unanimously agreed to back his bill without opposition, with one accord, with one mind, to a man, as one, one and all, each and every one, bar none, without exception, we won’t count the 15 Tories because abstaining means you aren’t arsed either way,
This is the main supporters of the Bill.
Aberlour Scotland’s Children’s Charity Sally Ann Kelly, Chief Executive
Action for Children Scotland Paul Carberry,
Barnardo’s Scotland Martin Crewe, Director
Children in Scotland Jackie Brock, Chief Executive
Children 1st Alison Todd, Chief Executive
Alliance Scotland Colin Young, Senior Policy and Outcomes Officer,
NSPCC
Parenting Across Scotland Clare Simpson, Project Manager
Quarriers
Royal College of Nursing Scotland Theresa Fyffe, Director
Save the Children Claire Telfer, Policy & Advocacy Manager
Scottish Secondary Teachers Association Seamus Searson, General Secretary
Scottish Youth Parliament Education & Culture Committee
Social Work Scotland Alistair Gaw, president of
Together Scotland: Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights
One Parent Families Scotland Satwat Rahman Chief Executive of
The Scottish Child Minding Association Maggie Simpson Chief Executive of
Who Cares? Scotland
YouthLink Scotland
Against, the press, why, Because it sells newspapers. British tabloids sometimes featured 16- and 17-year-old girls as topless models. Samantha Fox, Maria Whittaker, Debee Ashby, and others began their topless modelling careers in The Sun when they were 16, while the Daily Sport was even known to count down the days until it would feature a girl topless on her 16th birthday, as it did with Linsey Dawn McKenzie in 1994.
@I’veNeverSeenBraveheart says: 28 March, 2016 at 4:04 pm:
This reply, from “I’veNeverSeenBraveheart”, is so much utter pish in so many ways and levels it beggars belief that the commenter is other than a troll.
BTW: I’ve never seen Braveheart either. The reason being I’m a Scottish history of independence buff and the motion picture was utter fiction.
Suffice to say there is no evidence of I’veNeverSeenBraveheart’s claimed data collection whatsoever.
Hippocratic oath – vague
“I will do my best to maintain confidentiality about all patients. If there are overriding reasons which prevent my keeping a patient’s confidentiality I will explain them.”
link to web.bma.org.uk
The article was not about the merits of the legislation. The article was to do with the Daily Mail lies and other deceits. They concocted an attack on the SNP Government on legislation initiated by Labour and Lib Dems.
The endeavour of the legislation is an honest attempt to safeguard children and avoid many recent tragedies where public agencies unwittingly allowed abuse to continue by poor information management.
There is no perfect legislation and statutory interpretation is for the courts and sorting out unintended consequences of legislation is for Amendment Acts.
It is no coincidence that the attack on this legislation is led by fundamentalist Christians and other faith groups.. As a survivor of the savage upbringing they favour I can well understand why they are squeeling.Do not get me wrong I have read the concerns above so let us address these and it would help if the once respected titles such as Scotsman and Herald made sincere critical analysis and not descend to the sewer level of the Daily Mail.
Scottish Parliament Rules, To Abstain: MSPs might abstain in a vote. This means that they are voting neither for nor against a motion.
Ruth Davidson Twitter post 10:47 27 March 2016 “Remember and let him know that the only party that didn’t back it was us. Dreadful scheme”
So Ruth if it was so dreadful and you had years debating it in parliament why could you not be arse voting against it? why did 15 of you in effect have no opinion either way.
Are you lying to us or do you struggle with English as a language?
BTW: I’ve never seen Braveheart either. The reason being I’m a Scottish history of independence buff and the motion picture was utter fiction.
See it Robert.
Its drama, not doc. Most countries have tons fictionalised dramatic retellings of their past. It just happens that the UKOK imperial masters brigade totally freaked out at this one, in their Scotland region. BBC Scotland were the most freaked out at the time.
Nice example of England is Britain, from this creep show that also successfully turned Holywood on Scottish democracy
“Our Britain” from the land of non nationalist Britnat nots
From
link to archive.is
To the ferocious bigots of The Guardian
link to wingsoverscotland.com
Andrew McLean at 12.41 – a very good post.
Let there be light …
Ta Grousy,
No match to yours though, mostly standing on the shoulders of giants i.e. cut and paste!
By the way “This is the main supporters” should be “These are”, I should proof read!
Grousy
“Let there be light …” You in my Lodge 🙂
Inaccurate fiction or not Braveheart was one of, perhaps the only ‘movie’ that gave many Scots with no previous education of their own history a starting point with which to reflect on or investigate their actual history.
Whilst many commenters on Wings are steeped in historical factual history many thousands of Scots are still unaware of ‘how we got to where we are’, if Braveheart opens the eyes of just one person as a starting point to understanding the wars that shaped our country and the causes that underlie this unequal union, then it serves a useful and somewhat entertaining function.
Personally, I love Braveheart, it is actually a profound film that deals with the big themes in life: personal and political: betrayal, loyalty, integrity, unfairness and fighting for a just cause. In essence: Standing up to bullies and sacrificing self(the personal) for the sake of those who come after us(the collective).
People who are ashamed of Braveheart are those generally suffering a huge dose o’ the cringe: remedy wise, watch it as a testament to the eternal struggles of all people’s who have been subjugated by the forces of greed and racism, and have had their lands and cultures taken from them by those who think themselves ‘superior’, those bereft of humanity and shielded by their wealth and ‘position’ within their ’empire’ enclaves.
Good films are those that touch upon these enduring decidedly human themes.
I have watched Braveheart and I love it.
(Think, why didn’t they show Outlander in 2014…yeah that’s inaccurate fiction tae.)
Watched Khartoum the other day, totally inaccurate historically and the lead character was an American total nonsense
Thinking about watching the Ten Commandments again now with the same American in the title role
Let’s just see how accurate that movie is
Last time I saw it I nearly became an Israelite cult follower but I realised it was just a Feckin movie
Although if Mel Gibson had been in it I might have ….. Phew!!
Neverseenthemovie, dude, who gives a toss about something you haven’t seen or done.
Are you aware of the writer Wm Shakespeare?
Is every English viewer of Henry V, accused of mis-believing that as 100% accurate.
It’s BASED on real characters, all incidents are then adjusted to create a balanced ARTISTIC ENTERTAINMENT.
You are the phony.
Instructive example of group think in the comments on this thread.
“Instructive example of group think in the comments on this thread.”
I disagree.
Off Topic
Sometimes I hate being a 24/7 carer as I had to bite my lip again today as the Burd creature couldn’t resist a blatant SNP BAD dig as she asked a question well at least I think it was a question about Tax.
OT, For a wee giggle this is the Slab campaign video, the truth edit link to youtube.com Hope you don’t mind Rev 🙂
O/T
Just been speaking to a diehard nawbag a few minutes ago. Told me he was also voting “Leave” to the EU. He asked how I’d be voting.
“Stay,” I told him.
“Why?” he asked.
“Because I’m a Scottish Internationalist not a British Nationalist.”
Telt!
Thank you Rev, for demolishing the Daily Mail’s outright lies.
During the Scottish referendum the Daily Mail attacked nationalists and the independence movement with much gusto. It still does.
I’m guessing I’m pretty much like the vast majority of the population in that I don’t have the time or enthusiasm to look into the pros & cons of this ‘Named Person’ Act.
I’m happy to leave it up to the experts to come to the correct conclusion. It would seem the experts in this field are all happy with the legislation. That’s good enough for me.
I have read the comments on this thread and TBH I really don’t understand what the objections are.
Re historical fiction like Braveheart, Outlander etc. These films are probably not for history buffs but I find that they stimulate my interest in history.
So I would be giving then a big thumbs up!
I’m waiting for my dvd of ‘The Wind That Shakes The Barley’ to arrive and I supect after watching the film I will be doing research into Irish history.
I have downloaded the 1916 Easter Rising RT documentary which Capella posted links to and I am also waiting for the dvd ‘Oranges & Sunshine’
I am pretty busy keeping myself informed so I am going to have to give the ‘Named Person’ Act a miss.
I find I have been giving more & more of these stories a miss it could well be that certain political parties & the media are suffering from the ‘Cry Wolf Syndrome’
Capella thank you for the links to the RT Documentary I did thank you on the other thread but my post (which was quite long) disappeared into cyber space.
The UK establishment hate/hated Braveheart because they thought it would feed an upsurge in Scottish Independence,
so they tried to debunk it with their pet TV (Oliver) historians and the usual suspects the UK press/TV,
and it partially worked,especially with the Scot Cringers (Gray) and UK Nationalists,
outside the establishment controlled UK State everyone else in the world loved it and it also received five Oscars,
nobody knows the full facts of that timeline,historians are like journalists,they have to earn a crust and whoever pays them gets to write the bias of the stories,
if you do not write what you are told they will find someone who will and you will find employment at TV or Newspaper or University or Museum blocked.
For evidence of Groupthink, one need only spend a few minutes trawling the BBC’s website & its occasional comment threads to observe pervasive, jingoistic BritNat propaganda produced on a quite spectacular scale.
Then again, with over £5 billion pounds raised, much of it by threat of criminal prosecution, it can’t be hard to achieve such high levels of polished, convincing looking, evangelical, neocon agitprop.
And who better to act as ambassadors for this propaganda than the teams of over paid, well worn celebrities & luvvies to encourage Britain’s congregation to wear stupid noses while turning a blind eye to its chronic criminality & corruption.
Oh, how London’s foreign newspaper proprietors must look across the Thames with envy at this cosy instrument of finance, haughtily backed by titled cronies inside Westminster.
1. Before the ad hominem clique condemn any poster as a phony perhaps they should try searching for previous postings, and check them out: “Wings Scotland I’veNeverSeenBraveheart”
2. On UseNet regular posters to a group could disagree and vigorously, but when one resorted to ad hominems to try to win their argument, the rest on both sides would round on the poster who used ad hominems and tell them to withdraw them. Perhaps regulars on Wings would like to address the argument, rather than try to discredit the poster.
3. Being against the Act does not mean peopoe don’t care about children, or are abusers, or right-wing, or tory-lovers. During the stages of the Bill, there were several amendments designed to strengthen the Bill and provide more rights for children. The SNP used their Holyrood majority to vote them down. Does that make the SNP child abusers, right-wing or tory lovers – or phony? Well, does it? Why not? I know the answer, do you?
4. Sometimes the person who disagrees with you has actually done their own research. Perhaps they’ve done more than you.
5. Dissent on one issue doesn’t mean dissent on all issues. The SNP Conferences have been full of dissent. Think of the NATO debate back in 2012, that debate being hailed by even the Unionist media as one of the most vigorous and democratic seen at a party conference.
link to independent.co.uk
Salmond boost for the Independent, very generous. Just keep asking questions.
Rule Britannia types really love that:D
“Writing like that serves to educate and inform, not merely to administer a lazy adrenaline shot to opinions already formulated. The reader is left with the responsibility of drawing their own conclusions. And they deserve that responsibility.
Going back to the referendum, the public proved, spectacularly, that they were more than capable of processing the complex information which swirled around the independence argument. I’ve fielded tougher questions on the economy from taxi drivers and students than I ever have from any journalist.”
Also, if we had a good fourth estate, as opposed to historic perverts, liars and bullies at the Heil, BBC etc, there’d be no need for WoS.
@yesindyref2 –
I’ve had no luck getting an answer to the question I asked at 11:02 pm perhaps you could answer. It’s a serious question I just wish someone would answer… under what circumstance would my family have a named person foisted upon us…
@Croompenstein
The answer from me is I don’t know.
The legislation doesn’t specify the rights of children, or parents …
@ yesindyref2
Indeed. No need to attack the poster, no need for ad homs at all. All we need do when there’s a difference of opinion is simply agree to disagree.
Alas, though, the intolerant among us can’t even accept that position and insist that they are right and everyone else is wrong. That’s the real problem–intolerance of difference. It is generally, though not always, a trait of religious zealots. In their minds they are the only ones with the true truth. Such an intolerant mind can never be reasoned with which makes it all the more necessary for us to identify such and simply agree to disagree, then walk away.
@ Ruby Welcome! I find the Irish story very sad and yet ours is not really much better, although perhaps not quite so many deaths. But then we are still on the “gradualist” road.
Youtube removed part 3 of the series but it can be downloaded from MEGA, with a bit of bother. It’s worth it.
link to reddit.com
It was made by RTE which is the Irish broadcasting service. We have the BBC. Nuff said.
@Croomp
I have explained further up, that decisions are forcibly removed from a parent/guardian, when sufficient evidence is presented to a Sheriff.
A court order will detail the extent of power granted to Social Work. It could be to remove a child to a place of safety, and that is generally the most common, and serious.
It may be an order to attend a Panel Hearing, with failure to comply having legal consequences. Generally, this is a very final route, as the family are persuaded not to go down that route.
Every opportunity is given to cooperate, no one enjoys courts, or wasting time and money.
Capella thanks I got part three from Mega.
I did mention that in the post that disappeared.
I also thought it would be a good idea to download videos from YouTube that risk being removed.
I use
link to en.savefrom.net
I’m all set now to get informed about Irish history. The RT documentaries look great.
Just to add to my post on legalities.
It would be obvious if you read the judgement on the legal challenge made to NP, that all overarching legislation, such as Human Rights, Data Protection stands, and will be adhered to in the operation of NP.
Child Protection legislation emanates from 1968, and has been built on, improved, and refined up to the present day.
The judgement from the legal challenge demolishes any notion of infringements to rights, and recognises the thrust is only to provide a more efficient coordination of information, for children that require support.
@Proud Cybernat
Indeed. The problem is that on the one side are the organisations that represent the 5% of children who needed more protection and didn’t get it, and on the other are the 5% who would possibly resent any protection for children, andy interference or intrusion.
Between those two 5% blocks making the argument are the 90% who just want protection for themselves and the normal way of being parents, while being happy there’s extra protection.
Unfortunately if any of the 90% raise a voice on either side, they’re presumed to be one of the 5% at either end of the argument. Well, it isn’t so. Most people aren’t polarised on such issues.
OT
Seems the Falklands are actually in Argentinian waters.
Their Empire is shrinking by the day.
UN rules the Falkland Islands are located inside Argentine waters
link to newstalk.com
Gh Graham @ 1124
Excellent post
As a parent I am glad that named person legislation is being introduced. At present there is an implied duty of care placed on schools, doctors, health visitors etc. Any of these professionals can raise issues however in practice there is no specific responsibility on an individual outwith the family.
The NP legislation formalises the process and empowers the named person. No more will there be a question of who should raise concerns if (and only if)a problem arises. The named person is a safety net. I doubt they will go looking for issues where none exist but they will be held accountable if an incident occurs and they have missed the signs. To borrow a phrase we will have the best of both worlds.
I need never engage with the named person but should I ever neglect my duties as a parent I anticipate that the NP will engage with the authorities on my children’s behalf. I find this reassuring.
@Inverclyder
OT – thanks for that.
Curious and probably wrong decision from the UN. The Falklands are outside the Argentine 200 nm EEZ – or were.
Perhaps a factor is that the UN Decolonisation Committee is or was dominated by South American and African countries, Peru and Chile srping to mind. They probably had input to this surprising decision.
Off the top of my head I think the Falklands themselves would still have the right to self-determination and a 12 nm territorial waters, but might not get their own up to 200 nm EEZ. Which I guess might make some sense, but in that case the seas around should be International waters, not Argentina’s EEZ.
That’ll have some heads being scratched in the Foreign Office.
“Most people aren’t polarised on such issues.”
Indeed but those who are engaged in the discussion, where they can’t find agreement should simply agree to disagree and move on.
Just saying.
I wonder if BBC will report on this and Willie Rennie will admit he got it wrong.doubt it
Phil Boswell MP ?@PhilBoswellSNP · 2h2 hours ago
Full report from the Parliamentary Commissioner can be read here: link to parliament.uk …
@Proud Cybernat
Indeed.
OT – Falklands
The next logical step could be for the UK to agree to dropping a claim to the EEZ around the Falklands, in exchange for Argentina dropping any claim to “The Malvinas”. Dispute ended. There will be international pressure for that, probably from the US.
Implications for iScotland – perhaps not. Precedent is one thing, but economic claims are another for EEZ disputes, and even for Territorial Waters, such as in the Black Sea, fishing rights etc.
@ Scott, thanks for that, a shocking business, some malicious sod at the back of it, was his car not set on fire? A song & dance about nothing. A bit like objections to the Named Person proposal.
Have to say. If you have got nothing to hide, then what is there to be afraid of!
I don’t see any harm in someone else looking out for our children. Afterall a new set of eyes and ears can see different things from the norm that a close family member may not.
anyone confirm this 2011 Scottish Elections(labour party)
the ave percentage over all seats was 31.89% fpp
the ave percentage regional list 25%
bookie from hell says:
link to en.m.wikipedia.org
Wiki says 31.69% and 26.31%
SLab took quite a bashing then, it looks like being a lot worse this time.
@bookie
BBC has it as 31.7% constituency, 26.3% regional.
link to scottish.parliament.uk
From page 29, constituency works out at 31.69%, Region at 26.30%.
@galamcennalath
For some odd reason there were 1,678 more valid votes cast in the regional part, perhaps the wiki writer didn’t allow for that!
Read the reports about some of the worst child abuse cases and see how often professionals got it wrong by poor communication …someone thought someone else will pick it up and no one does …if a child is at risk of abuse then every thing should be done to stop it …..dealing with the abuse means we as a society have failed a child ..this is not acceptable we need to ensure it never gets to this stage
yesindyref2
@bookie
Looking at those figures.
Labour only actually dropped 0.45% and 2.85%
It was the collapse of the LibDem vote after cooperating with the Tories which was the biggest factor in the SNP’s success.
You would have thought this would have acted as a warning for IndyRef, anyone siding with the Tories will pay a big price!
When independent Scotland would own 9% of the Falklands, just keep that in mind.
JET JOCKEY says:
“When independent Scotland would own 9% of the Falklands, just keep that in mind.”
There are 14 UK overseas territories. On Indy, we should be due one perhaps. Bermuda sounds good.
Alternatively, like so many other joint assets, we could just trade them off against debt.
Good to see Fidel not taken in by the `sweetened words` of Obama,
60 years of threats and sanctions and Obama just turns up and thinks Cuba will just forgive and be thankful,
small nation standing up against the greatest power on earth.
link to tinyurl.com
@JET JOCKEY
Yes, if Scotland and rUK are both successor states, which is one of the basically three forms of our becoming Independent, the other two being secession or dissolution.
Scotland’s OK with both being successor states, advantages and disadvantages, for rUK there are only really disadvantages.
This, whatever the Unionist media might like to tell us, is what the UK Gov claim to being the Continuing UK was all about, and gives Scotland a huge negotiating advantage. Basically all 3 actual mechanisms don;t make a lot of difference to Scotland, but huge to the rUK.
My take is that after negotiations Scotland would support the rUK claim to being the cUK, but only for a lot of considerations – i.e. concessions. It’s very clear Salmond was very aware of all that, hence his claim of “bluster” from the UK Government. They were indeed, all bluster and no trousers.
I have to confess that I know very little about the named person and the issues surrounding it. However if the Daily Mail is against it then I say bring it on.
mike says:
29 March, 2016 at 4:06 pm
As a parent I am glad that named person legislation is being introduced. At present there is an implied duty of care placed on schools, doctors, health visitors etc. Any of these professionals can raise issues however in practice there is no specific responsibility on an individual outwith the family.
—–
Agreed. The way I see it is teachers and health visitors are already supposed to raise concerns. Would those who see it as interference REALLY want it any other way ?
Imagine a pupil starts coming to school constantly covered in bruises.
Should a teacher do nothing because some parents might get their feelings hurt ?
So the child protection aspect already exists. The main utility of the scheme will be to make it easier for parents who want to use a single point of contact during times of need.
@Onwards
Reluctant to get back into it, but I don’t think one single poster here, not one, has questioned the advantages of a Named Person, a single point of contact, for those that need it, those who are identified through existing mechanisms, but are left short at times because of a lack of co-ordination.
@yes2indyref2.
OK, just caught up on the comments here. What I don’t understand is how putting more child or parent protection into the bill would work in practicality.
Say a child constantly comes to school covered in bruises. And then refuses to speak to a teacher about it because he has that right and his parents have told him not to. Or threatened him not to.
What happens then ?
The way I see it, child protections already exist, and social services can get called in at the moment, regardless if a parent likes it or not.
They don’t have a opt-out in these cases, nor should they.
Is there a ploy going on to only hold Leaders Debates during Scotland football matches?
@Onwards
I think that’s right Onwards. As Valerie says some rights are already protected for parents and children by other legislation, but it should at least be cross-referenced in the Act, probably as part of the preamble. And as I said at the very beginning, the communication from the Scottish Government has been very poor on this, giving alarm where perhaps none is needed.
Oh now I’ve done it, I criticised the SG for communications! Again.
One might assume that at least some of the reasoning for no reference to other more general legislation is that some might not be devolved which might render the whole of the legislation null and void. Besides which inclusion of such would simply complicate matters when it came to modifying that other legislation.
On the other hand if the voluntary aspect of NP is true then it follows that any attempt from an NP to force themselves into a situation without evidence would break the law. So side effect is to provide protection from them.
‘.. the communication from the Scottish Government has been very poor on this, giving alarm where perhaps none is needed.’
‘giving alarm’?
More like ‘allowing others to..’
A grown-up opposition and media would not spread fear instead of trust.
Just coming back and reading comments and, wow! I never thought I would have to justify my username, and reasons for watching, or not, Braveheart! (I thought perhaps you would get the joke, but you seem to confirm the Unionist stereotype of Braveheart delusionals 🙁 )
I read here every day, have for years, but stopped commenting because I felt I didn’t really have anything to add. However, I had to add my comments to this post because I wanted it noted that there are some in the SNP who are opposed to this. I expected people to disagree with my viewpoint, but didn’t expect to be immediately jumped on and called a troll, a phoney, my username & reasons for it mocked.
Perhaps some commenters should think next time. I am always recommending this site to people. I love how Stu gets to the nitty gritty and does all the stuff we expect our media to do. I just happen to disagree with him on this. And as I pointed out since my initial post, I am not some numpty swayed by a Daily Mail campaign. As I said, we have been opposing this for years; it’s just convenient for the media at the moment to run with it (and I also acknowledged they had ulterior motives for doing so).
So as I say, I love this site, I especially loved the community feel of it, felt like I knew all the posters even though I’ve never managed along to a meet. So it is sad for me today to see how a poster with an alternate view is immediately jumped upon.
We made the mistake of being a paranoid echo chamber during the referendum. Attitudes like that will not convert those we need to win the next one. The SNP has lost me (and others) as a member over this.
@I’veNeverSeenBraveheart
There are some phony trolls here that jump on anyone who doesn’t automatically agree with everything, and jump on anyone who disagrees with them calling them a phony troll.
Don’t worry about it, and don’t let it put you off!
Hi ‘I’veNeverSeenBraveheart’.
You typed,
“I just happen to disagree with him on this.”
I don’t believe that Rev Stu actually offered an opinion on the proposed legislation, that you could, possibly, disagree with.
He offered a dissection of the reporting of the “survey”. Do you disagree with his analysis of the press coverage, or do you disagree with what you ASSUME he was putting forward?
It’s always worth reading Rev Stu’s posts two or three times, to ensure that one understands the content.
@BDTT “It’s always worth reading Rev Stu’s posts two or three times, to ensure that one understands the content.”
Yes BDTT, and that goes for posters here as well, replying to posts from others without understanding the content.
‘tinternet is not a write-only medium. it helps to read.
Amen to that, yesindyref2.
Include me out on the arguments / differences of opinions:
O/T
Try this footie fans. Pre match stuff on now:
link to neolive.net
Or this if you want to choose another match:
link to myp2p.ec
Personally I want independence, so even if there are aspects of SNP policy I disagree with, I tend to look at the big picture.
I am ok with this policy if, on balance, it helps to protect more kids that would otherwise slip through the net.
I’m sure there will be times when named persons get it wrong, err on the side of caution, and a few parents get their feelings hurt.
That’s fine with me. The same as how security cameras might make some more paranoid, but if they help to catch murderers like the guy who killed that Irish student, then its a price worth paying.
It seems like the more powers the Scottish Parliament gets, there are more opportunities for disagreements on day to day issues.
Tax right now for example.
The SNP will have lost members by not taking the Green approach and proposing to screw the rich, even if it drives away investment.
Even if was 100% proven that they would lose tax revenues, some people would disagree simply on the principle itself.
Anyway, Divide and Rule suits the Tories just fine.
The SNP and a second democratic referendum is the only practical way we will get independence.
Eyes on the prize.
call me dave says:
29 March, 2016 at 7:55 pm
Include me out on the arguments / differences of opinions:
Ruby replies
Agreed there is nothing more off putting & boring then people having silly arguments & and posting these ‘finger wagging’ posts telling other posters what they should & shouldn’t be doing.
This is the most boring thread I have ever read on Wings. I hope there is a new topic soon or perhaps I will follow in your footsteps and Off Topic although I will not be posting about Sport!
This post is about cookery
Does anyone have an air fryer? Do you like it? 🙂
‘The SNP has lost me (and others) as a member over this.’
Chin up, at least you and the others are still Independence supporters.
It was the equivalent Poll which claimed to show the relevant section of voters who vote YES or NO and in which categories. It would be impossible to achieve accurately with such a small sample.
Willie Rennie is such an arse, patronising little nyaff, I hope people working in Scottish NHS can see right through his concern trolling whilst politicising our health service.
And is anyone else noticing the constant interruptions when Nicola speaks, bar this little segment where she is getting to outline her position on this subject.
Excellent comment from that wumin in the audience! Labtories indeed!
Ruth’s just a ‘vote whore’, anything for votes, don’t think for a moment that there is a warm blooded beating heart that gives a fuck about our NHS. All she cares about is point scoring, always remember she’s just a branch manager too, she answers to the Tories and is directed by her boss behind the scenes.
I think the audience member invented a new hashtag, TheLabTorries lol
Sorry, @neverseenbraveheart..
Didn’t get the joke.
Besides, you yourself, and others, deride the movie too far.
It’s fiction, like your moniker.
Boy, just been reading the long tedious posts by some people on the named person thing. Most is ill informed rubbish, with a few honourable exceptions.
A lot of fuss over nothing, if you ask me. Seems like a good idea, all the major childrens and welfare bodies support it, and the courts have repeatedly said it does NOT infringe anybodies human rights etc..
There is an election looming, hence the sophisticated ‘concern’ trolling going on. Tedious, and we see right through it.
Even the REV writing another article about football, would be better than this (I mean the comments).
Angry Davidson. Looks like she’s ready to nut Nicola.
Kez dressed as a 1950’s nit nurse? Who is advising her???
V/O/T
Have you seen this wikileaks latest re Hillary Clinton:
“Overthrow Assad. Destroy Syria for Israel”
How can such imbeciles become political leaders?
link to inquisitr.com
We made the mistake of being a paranoid echo chamber during the referendum. Attitudes like that will not convert those we need to win the next one. The SNP has lost me (and others) as a member over this.”
Nasty slice of passive aggression there. Who’s your “We” anyway and why is it paranoia to keep on asking charmers like you to actually substantiate your stuff, which really is paranoid?
@Capella
Been reading that ‘re Clinton for a while. Well known as a warmonger.
She is the one whispering in Obama’s ear ‘re Syria, and the U.S. policy on Syria is disgusting, and will go down in history, as an atrocity.
Kezia just recycles the same tired rhetoric over and over and over again. I cannot take her seriously.
Labtories richt enough…there it is Kezia and Ruthie Better Together.
Ruth Davidson’s mask slips as she gets roasted during questioning. All in this together I think not.
One thing , regardless of your politics, it is abundantly clear that Kezia Dugdale is the weakest of the leaders including Willie Rennie. Totally out of her depth.
Can I ask what it is you are all watching?
Is it something on TV? Something you have to pay to watch?
Re STV debate.
Dugdale would stand side by side with Davidson again in a second referendum.
No doubt about it.
Stv debate Ruby. Started at 8pm.
Mince followed by more mince and Patrick Harvie being an opportunist doing everything bar putting on a red nose to please the crowd
Here’s hoping it gets better
I wonder what this tempestuous mother would have had to say about the NP policy – she brought up two kids almost single-handed:
link to wp.me
Just in case anyone at home gets the impression that Nicola comes out as a winner, we have a studio panel who will shape your opinion and help you think otherwise.
@Ruby
Yes we have an air fryer and we like it a lot. (That being the family, not the royal we).
Wee Ruthie fair dripping with hatred tonight. Plus ca change.
@ Ruby
I’ve just watched the final episode of “The Night Manager”. Cracking stuff!
The BBC is annoyed that we non-licence payers can watch stuff on the iPlayer and want to stop that. Tough.
Earlier, I watched RTE youtube videos about James Connolly and the Easter Rising. It is the 100th anniversary after all. It’s also very instructive for our current situation.
Cheers! I’ll have to wait until the debate is on Catch-UP. I don’t have a TV licence.
Perhaps I’ll just make do with your comments & give the actual debate a miss unless you tell me it’s a must see! 🙂
How dare Rennie mention the Police!!!!
@ Capella
The programmes about 1916 seem to have been deleted from the link you gave, so I’m not sure if this is the same programme from BBC Alba
(In gàidhlig but with enough english and subtitles).
Available for the next 5 days on iPlayer. The next episode highlights Connelly’s role.
link to bbc.co.uk
Labtorydems it is then, as Kezia and Willie bond over the penny income tax.
Valerie
I can smell the antiseptic disinfectant thinking about the 1950’s nit nurse.
Here we go…’respecting the no vote klaxon’ from the Tory.
‘Once-in-a-generation’ klaxon from the Tory.
Is STV only for viewers in Scotchland, like, can south britains watch it live, if they even want to!
We don’t watch tv, so looking forwards to further feedback on here!
@ Valerie
Yes, it suggests to me that control over foreign policy is more essential than I previously thought.
dunx
The links are still there.
They are in the comments. 2nd comment down
1916 – Ep1
1916 – Ep2
1916 – Ep3
TV debate
…getting a tad upset with unionist party leaders. Why do they have such a poor vision of their own nation to prosper.
@K1
It’s bullshit bingo. I’ve got two lines already.
@ dunx
The youtube videos are still there. Parts 1 an 2 anyway.
link to youtube.com
To see part 3 you have to go to
link to reddit.com
But there are more RTE videos on James Connolly and Michael Collins which are also worth watching. The issues are always the same.
@ArtyHetty
You can download Android app for the STV player.
Rennie’s like an episode of jackanory, every time he speaks he comes across as if he’s talking to an audience of children, reading to them in over enunciated tones from a picture book about ‘how things work’…*eye roll*
Put three windaes behind him and you have playschool, now which window is it going to be children *gesticulates* the shapes, arch, round or square…*mair eye rolling*
As far as I’m aware, British Labour has always put the interests of British nationalism before those of social justice, so no change there.
Not watching the debate, but getting the feeling the two hours can be summarised as –
‘Nicola – Scotland is good, Yoons – Scotland is shit’
That’s two hours I will get back!
Well I watched the footie on livestream. Scotland won again, I blame the SNP!
I called house three times at the end the Valerie.
Angry Ruth and her bedfellow Kezia (yeah yeah) absolutely raging against another referendum.
Yoons yooning.
That’s the thing about ‘Scottish’ Labour, because they stood shoulder to shoulder with the Tories during their ‘Better Together’ campaign, everyone knows they are not interested in standing up for Scotland.
It does beg the question, why would anyone still vote for them?
One_Scot @ 9.54
I agree, only Nicola was positive about Scotland. Willie Rennie was a disgrace basically saying wee cannae do it ourselves.
Regarding a second referendum, I just don’t see how the unionist parties think that denying democracy is a good argument.
That was a far better debate format from STV compared to the BBC snoozefest last week.
Shocking debate yet again.
Still waiting to hear how Labour, Tories or Lib Dems would do anything other than SNP Bad.
Lie Dems, Tories, Labour all against the will of the people of Scotland.
Harvie came across well again.
Dugdale filleted by Sturgeon.
Usual crap.
“Can’t fatten a pig by measuring it” Pure Rennie comedy gold!
Very bad night for the nawbags. Their leader Ruth gets pasted on telly, their team gets humped at Wembley and the country they despise wins! Happy days.
Much better than the State Broadcaster Mince but nevertheless Mince
Result: We win by about 10% which is a good result in a catchweight contest
I got the impression, considering the audience was probably pretty balanced compared to the State side that there was a bit more interest in the idea of Indy Ref 2
I’m biased though
Here’s my bestest bit from two hour debate.
Ponsonby –
“Kezia Dugdale, if Nicola Sturgeon gets a mandate from the people of Scotland for a second referendum, will you respect that?”
“No.”
Cheerio, Kez. Keep polishing that brass neck.
Scotland rejects the Tories year after year, it doesn’t stop wee Kim Jong Ruth trying to get elected
Why don’t they respect the wishes of the Scottish people and go away, stop having this argument
The majority of Scots don’t want Tories
TOries to nationalise Steel!
Strange OT,
Another mirror view of steel production in England Wales versus closing steel production in Scotland. Very small Scots Steel Prod Plants!
No mention of Ravenscraig & Lanarkshire Steel Works, best quality and savable steel production sold out, off and lock stock and barrel sent to an industrial competitor.
There should be outrage in Scottish Steel communities!
Jenny Marra got a prominent position in the spin room.I wonder if she’ll be able to avoid the poisoned chalice.
Aye..
..and it’s not our attitudes that matter,
..but the value we place on the truth,
..and the lengths we will go to protect it.
Question for Kezia (or) Ruthie the Tank Commander (or) Silly Willie: if independence has been good for Luxembourg, why do you think it would be so bad for Scotland?
Luxembourg has no oil, natural gas or coal reserves. It has no fishing industry, very little going for it in terms of renewable energy projects, and has no export figures which could even come close to matching what Scotland generates from exports of whisky, salmon, mineral water and the rest, and yet it is known for having one the lowest unemployment rates in Europe and enjoys one of the highest standards of living not only in Europe but among all developed countries.
Luxembourg’s quality of life, natural beauty, rich cultural heritage together with the highest income per capita coupled with a moderate cost of living, are highly appreciated by residents and visitors alike.
So, Scotland, stop listening to the pathetic ramblings of Dugdale, Davidson and Rennie. Get your act together, and take back your independence.
good news for the Steelworkers of Port Talbot (if true), bad news for the Public Purse & Tata to any profit from any future sell off,s remember RBS & Post office.
Luxembourg has no oil, natural gas or coal reserves. It has no fishing industry, very little going for it in terms of renewable energy projects, and has no export figures which could even come close to matching what Scotland generates from exports of whisky, salmon, mineral water and the rest, and yet it is known for having one the lowest unemployment rates in Europe and enjoys one of the highest standards of living not only in Europe but among all developed countries.
WoS twitter timeline’s RT’d an OECD chart with Scotland the worst deficit in the OECD and Norway with a massive surplus at the top.
How does one country with a huge oil reserves get to be at the bottom of this table and get monstered for having this OECD deficit?
We let our neighbour run our country into the dirt. Then they Project Fear us BBC style into keeping it that way.
“The OECD’s origins date back to 1960, when 18 European countries plus the United States and Canada joined forces to create an organisation dedicated to economic development. Today, our 34 Member countries span the globe, from North and South America to Europe and Asia-Pacific.”
@Capella and @Ruby
Many thanks,will eventually get my head round this 21st century technology.
As you say, those same issues remain…
…until our day.