Nicola Sturgeon’s decision to delete her WhatsApp messages during the Covid crisis, despite having promised not to, has been the central story of the Inquiry this week. There are plenty of pertinent questions around that which remain hanging. But while the personal fate of Nicola Sturgeon has occupied most of our attention, it should not blind us to some of the wider themes and … [Read more...] about Britain’s governance problem laid bare by Covid
Covid19
GERS 2023: uptick in oil revenues narrows the budget deficit
These statistics form the backdrop to a key battleground in the constitutional debate, particularly when it is focussed on the fiscal sustainability of an independent Scotland and what different choices Scotland could make in terms of taxation and spending. So what do the latest statistics show? The latest figures show that the net fiscal balance for 2022-23 was £19.1bn, which … [Read more...] about GERS 2023: uptick in oil revenues narrows the budget deficit
Biggest increase in alcohol-related deaths for 20 years
Deaths from alcohol in 2020 were up almost 19% compared with the previous year, according to the latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In total, 8,974 deaths resulting from alcohol misuse were recorded in the UK in 2020. This is the largest single-year increase since the ONS started collecting this data in 2001. As in previous years, there were … [Read more...] about Biggest increase in alcohol-related deaths for 20 years
Blow winds…rage, sing, make music
Breathe in. And out. Here, as Storm Arwen begins to blow over, comes a sonorous distraction from the airborne pestilence of Covid19 and its constantly evolving attacks. httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmMVHFLXAVE&t=115s The sound of the storm makes a strangely haunting music – the wind whispers, whistles and shrieks above a deep but tuneful humming bass – broadcast … [Read more...] about Blow winds…rage, sing, make music
Covid, conspiracy theories and ‘truthpapers’
A consistent feature of the pandemic has been the presence of a relatively small but vocal number of conspiracy theorists who resist attempts to tackle COVID-19. Their views might seem marginal and extreme but recent research suggests that we should take them seriously. Survey data shows that belief in conspiracy theories is associated with a lack of confidence in steps aimed … [Read more...] about Covid, conspiracy theories and ‘truthpapers’