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The National
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Scottish politicians unfollow Unionist group after 'bomb Holyrood' Twitter/X post
The Majority, an ultra-Unionist group which campaigns for the abolition of the Scottish Parliament, was also followed by political leaders such as the LibDems' Alex Cole-Hamilton and Scottish Labour depute leader Jackie Baillie before questions were asked about the posts by The National. The Scottish Tories' leader Russell Findlay continues to follow the group – along with a swathe of his MSPs – and the party did not respond to this paper's approach. On June 14, days after Israel had bombed Iran in a major escalation of conflict in the Middle East, The Majority posted: 'Dear Israel, while you're at it, can you hit this target? 55.9523° N, 3.1749° W. Thanks!' The co-ordinates in question are those of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. Elsewhere, The Majority posted on July 30: 'Out of around 100 people we walked past in Argyle Street in Glasgow last night, only two were white. Everyone else was Middle Eastern, Indian or black. What is going on?' READ MORE: St Andrews rector to make discrimination claim against university after Gaza row It added: 'Walk down a city centre street, take a bus, go to a park: there are masses of black, Indian and Middle Eastern immigrants. Is it any surprise that people think that it's out of control?' In March, the account had written: 'Immigrants from other cultures shouldn't be wearing their national dress as daily wear in the UK. You don't see Japanese immigrants to the UK wearing kimonos every day. If you want to integrate here, wear proper clothes. If you don't, go back home and wear them there.' The Majority then added: "Special occasions: fine. Going to get the milk: not fine." Immigrants from other cultures shouldn't be wearing their national dress as daily wear in the UK. You don't see Japanese immigrants to the UK wearing kimonos every day. If you want to integrate here, wear proper clothes. If you don't, go back home and wear them there. — The Majority #AbolishHolyrood (@themajorityscot) March 26, 2025 In April, the account called Humza Yousaf a "Muslim propagandist", and during his time as first minister shared a video of him praying in Bute House saying: "This really feels like a Muslim takeover of our civic institutions." The Majority is run by Mark Devlin and his partner Mary, who despite the anti-migrant rhetoric lived as immigrants in Japan for 18 years, and then in the US for eight. After the posts were raised with the Scotland Office, Murray took action to unfollow the account. Scottish Labour's depute leader Baillie did the same. READ MORE: Scottish Government challenged to explain 'critical friendship' with Israel The Scottish LibDems said that Cole-Hamilton had not been using Twitter/X due to its affiliations with Musk, but his account has since also unfollowed The Majority. "These are obviously appalling posts. We have absolutely zero interest in hateful accounts,' a spokesperson for the party said. Attempts to contact The Majority through the contact form on its website were unsuccessful. An example of one of the many Vietnamese-language self-help articles on The Majority's website (Image: Web) The most recent article on the website was 11 months ago, with most of the posts on its homepage being Vietnamese-language self-help articles apparently written to appeal to search engines. In 2021, a self-professed 'expert" and "university lecturer" who had written extensively for The Majority mysteriously disappeared from the internet when The National asked for proof of his existence. The group had made headlines after crowdfunding a series of anti-Nicola Sturgeon stunts ahead of the 2021 Holyrood elections.
The Herald Scotland
7 days ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Lib Dems accuse Neil Gray of stealing credit for Hospice funding
The funding is intended to help facilities caring for people at the end of their lives increase wages to be in line with staff in the NHS. Responding to the announcement, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader has said the government may wish to claim the credit for this move, however, he commented that it was his party who pushed the First Minister to commit to the £5 million funding during budget talks. Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: "More money to support hospices was a key Scottish Liberal Democrat demand in budget negotiations so I am glad than an additional £5m for the hospice sector is being delivered. "Neil Gray may be keen to claim the credit but this is an area that we forced on to the agenda because from visiting hospices and speaking with staff and residents, we recognised the huge demands being placed on the sector." Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton (Image: Ken Jack) Mr Cole-Hamilton added: "The work they do week-in week-out to help those with life shortening conditions and their families is incredibly challenging but so important. "I hope that these additional funds can immediately be put to work to support service users by recruiting skilled staff. That's the difference that Liberal Democrat MSPs can make.' The SNP has been contacted for comment. READ MORE: Hospice CEOs warn that sector is 'struggling enormously' Scotland's first children's hospice set for £17m revamp The budget was passed earlier this year, and, since then, Scottish Labour have called for the cash to be released by ministers. Speaking ahead of a visit to a hospice on Friday, Health Secretary Neil Gray said: 'Independent hospices provide vital care and support to people and families across Scotland at the most difficult times in their lives. 'I am pleased we are able to support these organisations in supporting pay parity for their clinical staff. 'This funding recognises the skilled, compassionate care that hospice staff deliver every day, and helps ensure their pay reflects the immense value of their work.' Jacki Smart, chairwoman of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group, said: 'This is a welcome first step in recognising the needs of the hospice sector, which plays a key role in delivering specialist palliative care for Scotland. 'It is right for patients and staff that hospices can pay skilled professionals fairly and in line with NHS colleagues, and we need to keep pace on this.' Marie Curie has welcomed the funding but said that "one-off" investments like this will not address long-term funding challenges. The charity is pushing the Scottish Government to deliver a sustainable funding plan for hospices for the future. Amy Dalrymple, Associate Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Marie Curie Scotland said: 'As Scotland's largest palliative and end of life care provider caring for people at our two Scottish hospices and in people's homes, Marie Curie Scotland welcomes the Scottish Government's announcement about how the £5 million for Scotland's hospice sector, announced in the Budget in December, will be provided. 'But one-off funding like this will not address the long-term funding challenges or tackle the inequalities that exist in end of life care. Alongside increased support for community services, we're calling on the Scottish Government to deliver a sustainable, long-term funding plan, that includes ways to future-proof the workforce, so that wherever you live, whatever your illness, you'll be able to rely on good care right to the end. 'It is shocking that the public purse spends four times more on hospital inpatients in their last year of life than on primary, community health, and hospice care combined for this group. This doesn't need to be the case, and means that we need to radically transform care of dying people. 'Investment in hospice staff is essential. There is only one chance to get end of life care right. However, we are concerned that this £5 million will not touch the sides given the recent changes to employer National Insurance contributions which are expected to cost Marie Curie Scotland close to half a million pounds in 2025/26 alone. 'Death is one of two certainties in life. The Scottish Government must prioritise palliative care to ease the strain on the already overburdened and underfunded NHS and create a system that works for everyone now and in the future.' Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: 'After months of dither and delay, it is welcome that the SNP is finally allocating the funding it promised in its budget – but this is funding promised for last year's pay rise. There is nothing on the table for this year. 'Hospices are still being short-changed by the SNP, and staff and services will continue to pay the price. 'A Scottish Labour government will properly support hospices and the crucial work they do, and fully fund a fair deal for staff.'
Daily Record
18-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway cancer patient waited nearly a year to start treatment
The length of the longest NHS Dumfries and Galloway wait for treatment to start has more than tripled in the past decade. A cancer patient in Dumfries and Galloway waited nearly a year to start treatment. And the length of the longest wait for treatment to start has more than tripled in the past decade. But the figures from NHS Dumfries and Galloway has one of the best rates for patients with an urgent suspicion of cancer starting treatment within 62 days, with the region performing above the Scottish average. The situation was outlined by the Scottish Liberal Democrats following analysis of data from Public Health Scotland. Party leader, Alex Cole-Hamilton, said: 'All across Scotland, the SNP government isn't giving cancer patients the best chance of survival.' The fact that SNP ministers are now admitting that their failures may have caused people to die shows just how badly they have got this wrong. 'Access to screening programmes, diagnoses and treatment is a postcode lottery across the country. 'Patients deserve better than an SNP government that keeps letting them down. Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats will bring a real vision and a real plan for delivering the care they need.' The Scottish Government has a target that 95 per cent of patients with an urgennt suspicion of cancer referral should receive their first treatment within 62 days. In the first three months of the year, that target was met for just 68.9 per cent of patients in Scotland – the lowest in the last decade. In NHS Dumfries and Galloway, the rate was 75 per cent – the second best among Scotland's health boards. There is also a target that 95 per cent of patients should start treatment within 31 days of diagnosis. That target was met for 99 per cent of patients in NHS Dumfries and Galloway and 94.1 per cent across Scotland. But the figures also show that one patient in Dumfries and Galloway waited 347 days – more than 11 months – for their treatment to begin. And analysis by the Lib Dems shows that is more than triple the longest wait of 99 days from the first three months of 2015. A healthboard spokesman said: 'NHS Dumfries and Galloway continually works to ensure patients receive diagnosis and any necessary treatment as promptly as possible, in line with national targets and in a way that best supports their individual needs. 'We are part of a wider national cancer treatment pathway, which requires close coordination across services and use of national specialist capacity. 'This means that, at times, the timing of treatment may be influenced by factors beyond the direct control of any single health board. 'Each patient's care is planned according to their clinical circumstances, in full consultation with them and their care team. 'In some cases, treatment may be delayed for valid reasons – such as the need to treat other urgent health issues, adopt a 'watchful waiting' approach, or accommodate a patient's informed decision to delay or decline treatment. 'We recognise the understandable anxiety any delay can cause for those awaiting diagnosis or treatment. Our priority remains to provide safe, timely, and effective care, based on the best available clinical evidence and within the resources available.' Health Secretary, Neil Gray, said: 'We know that some people are still waiting too long to begin their cancer treatment, and that is not acceptable. We are determined to improve waiting times and ensure everyone gets the timely care they deserve. 'We are treating more patients with cancer on time, within both standards, compared to the same quarter six years ago – 7.7 per cent more within the 31-day standard and 0.1 per cent more within the 62-day standard. 'We have directed £14.23 million of the £106 million in additional planned care funding for 2025/26 to cancer waiting times, with a focus on colorectal, urological and breast as our most challenged pathways.'
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Scots waiting up to a year for cancer treatment as patients 'not given best chance' by SNP Government
One patient living in the NHS Lothian health board area waited 393 days before beginning treatment in the first quarter of this year. Scots suffering from cancer are being made to wait up to a year before starting treatment, shock figures show. Analysis by the Scottish Liberal Democrats found that one patient living in the NHS Lothian health board area waited 393 days before beginning treatmen t in the first quarter of this year. Patients in Grampian, the Borders, and Dumfries and Galloway all waited 11 months for treatment in the same period. It comes after the SNP Government committed to spending a record £21 billion on the NHS in Scotland over the next year to try and reduce waiting times for patients. Alex Cole-Hamilton, the Lib Dems leader, warned that between March 2015 and March 2025 the longest wait in NHS Borders more than quadrupled, increasing from 76 days to 343 days. At the same time the longest wait in NHS Dumfries & Galloway more than trebled, from 99 days to 347 days. And since March 2015, the longest waits in NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland have more than doubled. It comes after official figures published last month found the percentage of Scottish cancer patients receiving treatment within the target time is the lowest since records began. Data released by Public Health Scotland found almost a third of patients referred to the NHS in Scotland with an urgent suspicion of cancer are waiting longer than the 62-day target to start treatment. The rate fell to 68.9 per cent in the first three months of 2025 - the lowest reported since records began a decade ago. A target that 95 per cent of patients should start treatment within 31 days of diagnosis has also not been met. The 62-day standard is based on the time from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to first cancer treatment, while the 31-day standard measures the time from a decision to treat to the start of first treatment for newly-diagnosed primary cancers. Cole-Hamilton said: "All across Scotland, the SNP government isn't giving cancer patients the best chance of survival. These statistics show huge increases in waiting times to begin treatment after an urgent referral with suspicion of cancer, stretching up to a year. "International studies show Scotland falling behind. The fact that SNP ministers are now admitting that their failures may have caused people to die shows just how badly they have got this wrong. 'Access to screening programmes, diagnoses and treatment is a postcode lottery across the country. Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see ministers who will move mountains to bring down waits and get to grips with the gaps in tech and staff. 'Patients deserve better than an SNP government that keeps letting them down. Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats will bring a real vision and a real plan for delivering the care they need.' John Swinney said the NHS was treating a higher number of patients with cancer on time than six years ago but accepted the failure to meet the 62-day target was 'not acceptable'. Dr Iain Kennedy, chair of the BMA in Scotland said there was a split between people who could afford to go private and those forced to "languish" on NHS waiting lists. Neil Gray, the Health Secretary, said: "We know that some people are still waiting too long to begin their cancer treatment, and that is not acceptable. We are determined to improve waiting times and ensure everyone gets the timely care they deserve. "It's disappointing that the 31-day standard was narrowly missed this quarter. However, performance has remained steady at around 95% since the pandemic. The median wait for treatment is three days, and the median wait from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to treatment is 52 days, demonstrating the extensive work by staff across Scotland to treat people as quickly and effectively as possible. "We are treating more patients with cancer on time, within both standards, compared to the same quarter 6 years ago – 7.7% more within the 31-day standard & 0.1% more within the 62-day standard. "We have directed £14.23 million of the £106 million in additional planned care funding for 2025/26 to Cancer Waiting Times, with a focus on colorectal, urological and breast as our most challenged pathways."
Scotsman
13-07-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
NHS: Thousands of Scots going private for eye surgery as waiting lists soar to over three years
Thousands are forking out £2,500 for private cataract surgery. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Thousands of Scots are being forced to go private due to waits of more than three years for NHS cataract surgery. In 2024, around 8,500 people in Scotland went private for this treatment, which replaces a cloudy lens in the eye with an artificial lens, and costs approximately £2,500. This is double the number going private in 2019. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Around 19,000 Scots are currently stuck on an NHS waiting list for cataract surgery. Waiting lists for cataract surgery are soaring. New figures obtained by the Scottish Lib Dems also show one patient at NHS Grampian waited 1,253 days for this surgery - almost three and a half years. Other long waits included 869 days at NHS Shetland, 824 days at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 680 days at NHS Ayrshire and Arran, 644 days at NHS Borders, 548 days at NHS Fife, 532 days at NHS Lanarkshire, and 508 days at NHS Highland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The average expected waiting time at NHS Shetland for this surgery is 323 days, and in NHS Ayrshire and Arran it is 272 days - but one in 10 patients have been told to expect to wait 432 days. The longest waiting list is at NHS Ayrshire and Arran, where 3,207 patients have been referred and are now waiting for treatment. The second longest list is NHS Fife with 2,440 patients. Leader of the Scottish Lib Dems Alex Cole-Hamilton said: 'I can only imagine the panic and distress that these waits are causing for patients. 'I know that NHS staff are working hard to get waiting lists down but they are not getting the support they need from bosses and ministers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'With waits stretching into the months and years, it's clear that the SNP have no plan for tackling long waits for complex specialities. 'Ministers need to ensure that cataract surgery waits come down and people can get the care they need swiftly and close to home. Alex Cole-Hamilton speaking at Liberal Democrat conference 'I know from working closely with campaigners pressing for a replacement for the Edinburgh Eye Pavilion that staff can work more efficiently and effectively if they have the right facilities available. 'That's why it was so important to me to secure progress towards a new eye pavilion in our recent budget negotiations. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The SNP have repeatedly demonstrated that the NHS will never be their priority. 'My party has a track record of exposing scandalous long waits and delivering investment. 'That's why no matter where you live, anyone who is sick of long waits for healthcare should back the Scottish Liberal Democrats on their peach regional ballot at next year's election.'
