Chaos in Scotland.

[Boac]

Don't further confuse BM. He knows, you know, though he cannot tell us. He probably thinks it is from loo seats................

[OFSO]

"No evidence that lockdown works." The first very severe lockdown in Spain reduced the spread: the current less severe lockdown-to-municipality plus curfew is having little effect. No action is being taken to understand why this is so. I don't know. I don't have any theory. But Lockdown Part Deux certainly isn't working.

[Karearea]

Quoting a quote in BM's post #578:

... Put simply, there is no evidence that lockdown works to prevent the spread of a virus.

We know the Government told us this in March and it was correct. Lockdown and the quarantine of the healthy is a bizarre experiment – never tried before but not treated as the experiment it is. We talk as if we have always dealt with viruses this way. ...

Quarantine was practised for healthy contacts of people with infectious diseases - measles, mumps, whooping cough, polio, and others.

Restrictions on travel, assembly, and contact were usual in epidemics. e.g. Polio, influenza

If Covid-19 is being transmitted in the community I would not care to stipulate who is healthy or who has the bug and is asymptomatic but capable of passing it on.

[barkingmad]

Seems like a fun time approaching in UK politics squabbling over the Union as was;




Relax, it’s only 4 minutes long, roughly how long “Gorgeous George’s “ new party will last.

[Undried Plum]

FR24 currently showing 32 Sqn 146 ZE708 Ascot 99 departed Aberdeen at 17:04, currently approaching Northolt.

Now I wonder who might be driving a golden coach and horses through the Scottish no-travel Covid regulations.

One rule for the German tribe, other rules for us, eh?

[barkingmad]

https://www.thenational.scot/politics/1 ... eaky-move/

Another headache for wee Krankie and the nationalists in Jockistan?

Probably their outrage is triggered by her letter to the peasants outlining the new Party's policies which represent "a clear and present danger" to the 'established' parties who have become smug and complacent.

UKIP was lambasted and initially laughed at but look at the seismic shifts caused by such a small party with apparently genuine appeal to the peasants ignored and overlooked by the incumbents?

[FD2]

Yet another mess they've made of procurement and supervision? Mr 'Wheelhouse' very appropriate! Too late to ring down full astern now sir.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/20 ... es-fiasco/


Anger after SNP rubbishes damning report into ferries fiasco

Minister dismisses claim there was "catastrophic failure" for ferries that will cost twice original price and are expected four years late
By Daniel Sanderson, Scottish Correspondent 26 January 2021 • 7:06pm


The SNP’s islands minister has been accused of arrogance and complacency after he rejected the findings of a major investigation which branded the building of two new super-ferries a “catastrophic failure”.

Opposition MSPs said that ministers “had their hands over their eyes and their fingers in their ears” and branded Paul Wheelhouse’s response to a Holyrood rural affairs committee report, unanimously agreed by its members, “appalling”.

In damning findings published last month, a catalogue of failures was highlighted in the process for building two new CalMac ferries, which are to serve Arran and the Hebrides on Scotland's publicly-owned ferry network. The ferries are four years late and will cost twice the original price of £97m.

However, in his response to the probe, the findings of which were agreed by the committee's SNP members, Mr Wheelhouse insisted a procurement process found to be "not fit for purpose" was in fact completed “fastidiously, in good faith and following appropriate due diligence.”

SNP ferry fiasco:
First due to sail 2018, still incomplete
Island communities failed
£97m budget more than doubles to £200m
SNP deny ‘catastrophic failure’https://t.co/eke0pcb74m
— Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) January 26, 2021

He added that he was “disappointed” that the MSPs had not placed more blame on the contractor for problems in building the ferries, adding: “we do not accept the committee’s description of a 'catastrophic failure'."

Mr Wheelhouse added: “There are some conclusions in the report with which we do not agree, and some instances where it is not clear to us how the conclusion or recommendation made reflect the evidence presented to inquiry."

The report had said the procurement of the boats from the Ferguson Marine yard in Port Glasgow was "a catastrophic failure".

Throughout the probe, witnesses spoke of a project fraught with problems, including a breakdown in the relationship between Ferguson and Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), the Scottish Government-backed procurement body.

In a 129-page report, the committee said the Scottish Government was too willing to press ahead with the project despite the risks involved and that due diligence was "inadequate".

The committee also found "strong evidence" to suggest Ferguson Marine continued to build the ships incorrectly to ensure it would receive "milestone payments" that CMAL was legally obliged to give it after completion of certain stages of the project.

Mike Rumbles, a LibDem MSP and a member of the committee, described Mr Wheelhouse’s letter as “the worst government response to a committee report I have ever seen”.

"This is an appalling government response to the committee's unanimous report,” he said. “The failure to accept that there was a catastrophic failure in the procurement process suggests ministers have their hands over their eyes and their fingers in their ears.

"Meanwhile the government's response criticising the committee’s report for not blaming the contractor enough, suggests that complacency is well entrenched in the Scottish government.

"To top it off the Scottish government does not even mention in their response the millions of pounds lost to the taxpayer. The minister must immediately appear before the committee to answer for this dereliction of duty."

The SNP @Scotgov has announced it is nationalising Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow, saving hundreds of jobs.

The ferries for the Clyde and Hebrides service can be completed, and a future for the workforce and yard is secured.

Read more: https://t.co/qVAznlBfad
— The SNP (@theSNP) August 16, 2019

Ferguson Marine was supposed to deliver two ferries to be used on CalMac's west coast routes by 2018, but the vessels are not now expected to be completed untill 2022 and 2023 respectively.

Tory infrastructure spokesman Graham Simpson said: "The SNP are in total denial over their ferries fiasco. The minister responsible is effectively saying that there is nothing to see here and that nothing has gone wrong.

"The cost of these two ferries has spiralled out of control and they are still not even built yet, which has been a disgraceful failure for the communities which rely on them.

"It is yet another prime example of the SNP splashing the cash but failing to deliver the infrastructure on the ground."

[FD2]

An Edinburgh institution for so many years but lately more of a tourist trap selling tourist tat. I wonder what sort of monstrosity the Council will allow to be put in its place. The owner suggests half of it may be a hotel - more parking chaos perhaps?

Edinburgh's landmark department store Jenners to close after 183 years

Sad news:

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... e-on-3-may

[Undried Plum]

It's only the department store which is closing.

The building itself will basically be preserved, but will be repurposed to include a hotel and bars and restaurants and cafes.

[Undried Plum]

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives ... on-affair/

And Salmond himself has got an unused keg of dry powder too.

Interesting times!

[om15]

Touched on here by Mr Rees Mogg

[4mastacker]

...and there's more.





Time to get the pop-corn ready.

[4mastacker]

Lifted off another forum.

krankie.png (265.74 KiB) Viewed 472 times

[Pontius Navigator]

I see the Jock Party has a Vietnam Group. I wonder if they realise that there are nicknames of VietShet and VietTaff already that are accorded by the English posted often against their will to the outer islands.

Should they be known properly as VietJocks?

[FD2]

https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/ ... e=hs_email

Things have moved at lightning pace in Holyrood and only now have they started barking, but the caravan has moved on. It has taken a very long time for the penny to drop about the orange quiff's finances. Any due diligence carried out before Balmedie? Suspect just delighted to let Trump do what he pleased and he's not English either! And he has a Scottish mom


Scottish Parliament to hold vote on Unexplained Wealth Order into Donald Trump's finances
MSPs will be asked to vote this week on whether the Scottish Government should pursue an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) to investigate the source of financing for Donald Trump’s Scottish resorts.
By Martyn McLaughlin
Sunday, 31st January 2021, 10:00 pm


An opposition debate in the Scottish Parliament will set out the arguments for ministers to apply to the Court of Session and act on growing concerns over how the former US president’s holdings in Scotland were acquired.

While the issue has been discussed three times at Holyrood in the past 12 months, the coming debate is significant.

A vote by MSPs calling on ministers to seek an UWO would not be binding, but it would substantially increase pressure on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to act in line with Holyrood’s will.

Wednesday’s debate is being brought to the chamber by Patrick Harvie, co-convenor of the Scottish Greens, who has repeatedly pressed Ms Sturgeon to look into “serious and evidenced concerns” surrounding Mr Trump’s purchases of the Turnberry resort, and land for his inaugural Scottish property in Aberdeenshire. (Balmedie - watch the documentary of the skunk and his flunkies in action)

The Scotsman revealed last month how Aidan O’Neill QC, one of Scotland’s leading advocates, said Scottish ministers alone had responsibility for pursuing one of the so-called ‘McMafia’ orders, a legal mechanism designed to target suspected corrupt foreign officials who have potentially laundered stolen money through the UK.

Leading QC says Scottish ministers can seek 'McMafia' order into Donald Trump's ...

Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly said any decisions around applications for an UWO were the responsibility of the Lord Advocate.

But in his advice, prepared for the activism group Avaaz, Mr O’Neill said that even if the immediate departmental responsibility for seeking an UWO was allocated to the Lord Advocate or the Crown Office, it “does and cannot change the legal responsibilities” of ministers as the “relevant enforcement or competent authority” for the administration of the orders.

Mr Harvie told The Scotsman: “The Scottish Government has tried to avoid the question of investigating Donald Trump’s wealth for far too long. There are serious concerns about how he financed the cash purchases of his Scottish golf courses, but no investigation has ever taken place.

“Nicola Sturgeon’s claims that it has nothing to do with her have been shown to be untrue. It’s long past time the government demonstrated that Scotland cannot be a country where anyone with the money can buy whatever land and property they want, no questions asked.

“That’s why I’m bringing this vote to Parliament. The government must seek an unexplained wealth order to shine a light on Trump’s shadowy dealings.”

Questioned in Holyrood in January, Ms Sturgeon said she had not read Mr O’Neill’s advice ”in detail,” and the government had its own sources of legal advice.

It is understood she has since been sent Mr O’Neill’s advice in full. This week's debate is expected to challenge Ms Sturgeon to set out the government’s legal reasoning.

Nick Flynn, legal director at Avaaz, has said Ms Sturgeon has been “avoiding” questions around Mr Trump’s purchase of Turnberry for nearly two years.

Questions surrounding Mr Trump’s £35m cash acquisition of Turnberry – a four-time host of golf’s Open championship – predate his single term in office.

The Trump Organisation did not respond to a request for comment, but Mr Trump and his company have always denied they used outside financing for their Scottish properties, which are yet to turn a profit under his ownership.

[Pontius Navigator]

FD2, I love the idea of UWO.
I was in India over 20 years ago when a civil servant was sentenced to 2 years rigorous incarceration for that. I loved the phraseology. I also loved his excuse, it was his wife's. His defence failed when she said it wasn't.

[4mastacker]

rigorous incarceration

Now that's a sentence I would like to see introduced for our convicted scrotes. Never happen though cos it's probably against their 'uman rights to force them to get off their pits.

[Undried Plum]

watch the documentary of the skunk and his flunkies in action

Linky?

[Woody]

[FD2]

It should be on YouTube under ‘You’ve been Trumped’