The SNP

[wetkingcanute]

"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."

Samuel Johnson

[perrykneeham]

I wonder how the investigation into Mr. Sturgeon's camper van is coming along.

[mids]

Useless motherfuckers.

"Scotland’s first census results have finally been released: just 444 days after England managed to publish theirs. The once-a-decade count of the population was disastrous at worst and botched at best. As the first deadline for returning the census loomed last April, some 700,000 households – a quarter of the country – were threatened with £1,000 fines for not completing it. It had taken over a month to reach a 74 per cent response rate. Eleven years ago it took just ten days. Now that the results are in, the final response rate was 89 per cent: well short of the official target of 94 and the 97 per cent achieved in England and Wales.



When the first deadline was extended, the SNP did not apologise. Instead they blamed the media and ‘anxiety’ caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the cost-of-living crisis and Covid. They are yet to explain why none of this put 97 per cent of English households off.

Something had to be done to boost the return rate. The census is the basis for a whole range of national statistics that guide policy and direct decision makers. Examples of these estimates failing include Scotland’s Covid vaccinations statistics. After ministers boasted impressive vaccination rates it emerged that, impressively, some 103 per cent of over-70s in Scotland had been vaccinated. The error had been caused by an underestimation of the headcount in certain age groups. It’s easy to laugh at, but it’s also worrying because it meant we didn’t know the true vaccine coverage among vulnerable groups. The lower return from this census will now lead to more uncertainty, meaning it will be harder to judge how many schools, hospitals and libraries should be built.



Yesterday the National Records of Scotland’s new chief Janet Egdell was put in front of cameras to tell us there are ‘lots of lessons to learn’. As to what went wrong, that was not what her organisation is currently ‘focusing on’. Was it embarrassing that England and Wales achieved 97 per cent compared with Scotland’s 89, a reporter asked. ‘We will certainly be looking at that.’ Quite. And on whether the next Scottish census should realign with the census across the UK? The woman in charge did not yet have a view.

Scotland’s low response rate was dreadful by international standards too. Canada managed 98 per cent, Australia 96 and the USA used a follow up programme of non-respondents to get to nearly 100 per cent."


www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-the-snp-botched-scotlands-census/

[mids]

I remember seeing this in the museum. I wonder why it's costing £300k to send it back? Seems a bit much.

"A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The return of the Ni’isjoohl memorial pole was a decision reached between the National Museum of Scotland and the Nisga’a delegation. In May, the Scottish Government made a one-off decision to cover the costs of its removal from the museum and its transfer to RAF Leuchars, which were approximately £300,000. This decision reflects the exceptional, complex logistics required to safely remove the pole from the National Museum of Scotland.”

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/17/return-totem-pole-canada-costs-taxpayer-300k-snp/

[perrykneeham]

Sept 18, 2023 14:39:37 GMT mids said:

I remember seeing this in the museum. I wonder why it's costing £300k to send it back? Seems a bit much.

"A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The return of the Ni’isjoohl memorial pole was a decision reached between the National Museum of Scotland and the Nisga’a delegation. In May, the Scottish Government made a one-off decision to cover the costs of its removal from the museum and its transfer to RAF Leuchars, which were approximately £300,000. This decision reflects the exceptional, complex logistics required to safely remove the pole from the National Museum of Scotland.”

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/17/return-totem-pole-canada-costs-taxpayer-300k-snp/

Given that it's been taken to RAF Leuchars, they'll be flying it, I guess.

[perrykneeham]

Unless they mean it's costing that much just to get to Leuchars. Apparently, they're going to strap in on the roof of a campervan, which they're renting at mates' rates.

[mids]

I think it's going on a Black and White Minstrel Airforce plane.

[perrykneeham]

Khrivens!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-67009605

[mids]

Good. Massive remainers defeated.

[moggyonspeed]

VERY good. The Conservatives lost their deposit.

[mids]

Remember the giggling glee that the remainers were overcome with when the SNP were (artificially) doing well? They could barely control their bladders at the thought of Scotland leaving the UK and rejoining. Oh how the tables have turned!

[moggyonspeed]

Oh, we'll all rejoin at some stage. Probably not in my lifetime, but I'm sanguine that eventually the penny will drop.

Losing one's deposit though? In the election of 2017, Labour didn't lose even one deposit (to the Tories' 7 and they, of course, won), so perhaps the Tory position is becoming increasingly untenable. Let's see what happens in Mid-Bedfordshire ("Boris-Felcher" Dorries' old seat) on the 19th, and we'll take it from there.

[mids]

Oct 6, 2023 10:13:05 GMT moggyonspeed said:

Oh, we'll all rejoin at some stage. 

<snigger>

[unclejunior]

Oct 6, 2023 11:28:08 GMT mids said:

Oct 6, 2023 10:13:05 GMT moggyonspeed said:

Oh, we'll all rejoin at some stage. 

<snigger>

I agree that we will re-join ....once the EU collapses and we re-join the Common Market.....

[perrykneeham]

I've always been in favour of re-joining the EU. Maybe when it becomes the EEC again.

[mids]

The European Steel and Coal Community.

[flatandy]

Ooh! Look at the "No Means No" community who've all quickly drifted to "No Mean Yes". All the Hard Brexit team now suddenly like the EU and just want reform and really just want the softest of soft Brexits.

[mids]

The relationship should be and always should have been an EU with us in charge in a benign and paternalistic relationship.

[perrykneeham]

Oct 6, 2023 14:19:20 GMT flatandy said:

Ooh! Look at the "No Means No" community who've all quickly drifted to "No Mean Yes". All the Hard Brexit team now suddenly like the EU and just want reform and really just want the softest of soft Brexits.

Bollocks. This has always been my position.

[flatandy]

So, your position is that we should have had a supersoft Iceland/Norway model EFTA-like Brexit, or not have Brexited at all but reformed from within? Funny how that never seemed to be articulated.