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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 15h

..party structure rather than a more uncertain coalition vulnerable to divide and rule tactics or policy divisions. That to me is the unacknowledged weakness of your strategy even while I can see the thrust of your arguments does make sense in a perfect world where we all proceed in total unity.

brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 15h

...strategy of linking Scot's right to decide, the precedent of 2011 and even just evidence of consistent support is our best chance of breaking the stalemate of now is not the time. It also lends JS the authority (the Scottish people have spoken) to forge ahead with indy plans within a united...

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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 15h

...is too high or too risky, would SNP support at the election hold up with this risk in mind? Would the Green party members work in tandem to support indy above all else even if it meant compromising some of their ideals? And as for the threat of WM refusing a further referendum I believe JSs...

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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 15h

..support. We have no guarantee that a similar scenario might happen again, after all the Greens are a different party with strong (idealistic?) views on transport, business and housing to name but a few. Some of us in the SNP feel the price of their support in 2026 for a majority coalition govt..

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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 15h

...many good policies not everyone in the SNP felt the same. The gender issues in particular divided support with at least 6 MSP/MPs objecting strongly to the direction taken. This probably means there was a sizeable proportion of the SNP membership who felt the same with some withdrawing their...

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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 15h

Colin, I respect your opinions and passion for independence, in the interest of unity can I explain why I don't agree with you on this point? The table showing how voting for another indy party might secure 30+ seats for the Greens makes me feel anxious. While in principle I feel the Greens have...

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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 1d

... Know that this is your home. And know that this home will always be big enough and broad minded enough to include you.

Stephen Flynn, SNP conference speech

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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 1d

So - to all those who work in our hospitals, build our homes, drive forward our local businesses, teach our kids, who look after our parents and our grandparents –
our neighbours, our friends. Know that this wonderful wee nation of ours belongs to all of us, equally...

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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 2d

www.bylinesupplement.com/p/nigel-fara...

Nigel Farage - From Russia with Love

As the Reform Party leader's support for Vladimir Putin draws the attention of the world, Peter Jukes' questions about his past become ever more pertinent

www.bylinesupplement.com

brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 2d

Another masterstroke in unionist media thinking? When you fail to stop support for indy growing despite consistent negativity axe the messenger instead and maybe offer only UK wide propoganda instead www.thenational.scot/news/2553235...

Good Morning Scotland could be scrapped by BBC in huge overhaul

GOOD Morning Scotland could be axed by BBC Radio Scotland as part of plan to overhaul the station’s programming.

www.thenational.scot

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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 2d

Sad though to see them copying UKIP/Reform tactic of repeating lines without analysis - NHS broken, education standards plummeting, drug deaths highest in Europe etc etc. I don't understand how they think glossing over UK/WM failings achieves anything but complacency and arrogance in UK parties

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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 2d

Yep, repeats all the usual nonsense eg "It would, though, signal a remarkable comeback from a period of eclipse, and from an often dismal record on public services" and then follows with this today www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Far cry from the Guardian as portrayed in The Hack

Senior SNP figures believe Holyrood majority ‘within reach’ at May’s election

As party gathers for conference, re-engaging independence supporters seen as way forward after trust in Scottish government hits record low

www.theguardian.com

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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 4d

We need to set Stephen Boyle on him, Boyle does such a good job picking up on Scotland failings that he might help Starmer understand where UK Labour is going wrong? If only England & Wales had critical overseers to keep them right, their politicians and policies would be the better for it

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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 4d

"governments use austerity to manufacture the argument for privatisation when they should expand public funding instead" Water, transport, housing, asylum seekers, children's homes, ASN children, health, education, why on earth do people especially in England vote to sabotage their own interests?

brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 7d

According to the researchers, the results challenge the theory that privatisation can improve the quality of healthcare through increased market competition, and by enabling a more flexible and patient-centred approach. (talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2025/10/03/d...)

www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-02....

New study links hospital privatisation to worse patient care |

A new review has concluded that hospitals that are privatised typically deliver worse quality care after converting from public ownership. The study, led by University of Oxford researchers, has been

www.ox.ac.uk

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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 7d

4) In some studies, higher levels of hospital privatisation corresponded with higher rates of avoidable deaths
5) However, in some cases, privatisation led to some benefits for patient access, through more precise appointments and new means of care delivery, such as out-of-hours telephone calls

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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 7d

2) Increases in privatisation generally corresponded with worse quality of care, no studies included in the review finding unequivocally positive effects on health outcomes.
3) Privatisation generally corresponded with fewer cleaning staff employed per patient, & higher rates of patient infections

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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 7d

Some findings from University of Oxford research
1) Hospitals converting from public to private ownership status tended to make higher profits. This was mainly achieved by reducing staff levels and reducing the proportion of patients with limited health insurance coverage.

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brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 7d

Some great stories from the walk on their website www.thenational.scot/news/2551708...

Land justice walking tour urges support as campaigners near end of route

CAMPAIGERS walking from Skye to Glasgow are urging people to join their efforts to highlight “land justice”.

www.thenational.scot

brobb @brobb.bsky.social · 9d

"Britain is not broken because of migration. Britain is broken because of inequality. Because of an economy that allows billionaires to hoard wealth while millions struggle to get by. Because of a political class that has lost its nerve and forgotten its purpose". Zack P in the Guardian today