Latest news with #CraigMurray
The Herald Scotland
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Keir Starmer's desperate Churchill act won't fool anyone
But the PM's proclaimed enemy isn't the Argentinian junta but a mighty Russian military machine which could wipe Britain off the face of the Earth in 10 minutes. The truth is the Russians are not our enemies; they after all lost 20 million people helping us to defeat Nazi Germany. They are in conflict with the Ukraine and with Nato over the treatment of the Russian areas of Ukraine and the fact that Nato has placed troops and missiles right up to the Russian border despite saying it wouldn't. The war in Ukraine could have been over two years ago at the talks in Istanbul. Craig Murray, our former ambassador who attended these talks, told me that a peace deal was blocked by the US and Britain. Now Keir Starmer has taken on his warlike role and is willing to spend money on warfare rather than welfare. I believe Scotland should be different and be a force for peace in the world rather than war, but for that we need our independence. Hugh Kerr (MEP 1994-99), Edinburgh. Don't fall for war hysteria Failing governments love war hysteria to distract the public from their incompetence. Arms companies love war hysteria since it is great for profits. The military establishment loves war hysteria since it strengthens their resource bargaining power. The rest of us should view war hysteria with both concern and scepticism. The proposal that the UK should proceed with a range of tactical nuclear weapons for which they would purchase American Lockheed 5-35A planes to deliver them should certainly be cause for concern. The theory is that the smaller tactical nuclear bombs are more "useable" and, therefore, a credible threat. This is an invitation to so many other states who have until now ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to decide that it would also be viable for them to go for small "useable" nuclear bombs. But so much in this Defence Review is also cause for scepticism. The current four nuclear-armed submarines at Faslane are in a serious substandard state and the Navy struggles to ensure that there is one constantly at sea. Their replacements are years overdue and hugely over-cost. By the time they are ready for service, it is questionable whether there will be a Trident missile system to lease from the US, certainly not for long since the US Navy is planning to have Trident 3 decommissioned in the next 20 years. So another huge amount of squandered money. Read more letters The other cause for scepticism is that the supposed "independent" British system is totally dependent on the US, which leases and services the missiles on the Clyde to the UK. Donald Trump could cancel that lease at any time. The proposal for the new tactical nuclear weapons again depends on the US for the delivery system. Who are the people who will lead us away from this constant war hysteria? Ironically George Robertson, who led the current review, did show some honesty in a radio interview in August 2022. He said that when he was Nato Secretary General they had developed quite a cooperative relationship with Vladimir Putin and had a Russia/Nato Council. But the US did not like this cooperation and stopped it. He also said it was a serious mistake for Nato to approve Nato membership in principle in 2008 for Ukraine and Georgia. We can't wind the clock back but we can as a first step change the tone of the rhetoric and work on a new vision. Isobel Lindsay, Biggar. Where is the anti-war left? Defence Secretary John Healey has announced that 'the UK would be ready for a fight' with hints that this is aimed at Russia, and that six new defence factories will be built in Britain. Funny, this was not in the Labour manifesto. Hitler and Napoleon were also ready for a fight with Russia and look at what happened to them. As both Russia and the UK have nuclear weapons it's odd that CND and similar groups are not protesting on the streets. What happened to the anti-war left? What happened to the anti-corporate left? Geoff Moore, Alness. We need to be pragmatic Peter Wright (Letters, May 31) makes some valid points in questioning the assignment of the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa to the Arran route and whether that represents 'good business'. With regard to his defence of the cost overruns and delays in the building of the aircraft carriers and Type 26 frigates he also makes some valid points, although notably is seemingly less forthcoming with such arguments when commenting on the building of the ferries. Steph Johnson (Letters, May 31) on the other hand attempts to have it both ways by including even estimated peripheral costs in her ferries budget excess comparison with the building of the frigates but omitting costs such as the initial £127 million Type 26 design contract and other ongoing MoD costs. While no doubt arguments will persist over the building and assignment of these ships, I think we can all agree that governments around the world have poor track records when it comes to major procurement projects, especially when these encompass innovative designs, and regrettably neither the Scottish nor the UK Government is an exception in this regard. Where we will perhaps continue to disagree is on the commitment of hundreds of billions of pounds to British imperialist global posturing. In an independent Scotland no doubt the Scottish Government, whichever political party is effectively in power, will continue to make mistakes, but our naval spending will be much more in tune with our practical requirements and similar to that of our Scandinavian neighbours. A sensibly pragmatic approach to future defence spending, while still meeting common international obligations with our allies and within the United Nations, will release billions of pounds to invest in Scotland's infrastructure and public services to construct the genuinely democratic, prosperous and egalitarian country most people in Scotland desire for their children. Stan Grodynski, Longniddry. Fred Goodwin (Image: PA) Why must we pay RBS bill? It is surely wrong that we taxpayers have to accept £10 billion of loss on the sale of shares following the Government's rescue in 2008 of the bankrupt RBS (now NatWest) ("RBS owner Natwest returns to full private ownership after shares sell-off", The Herald, May 31). Why was our support not by a loan, refundable in full to the Treasury in stages as the bank returned to health, with interest at a fair historical rate? Does the present board not feel any moral obligation to pay the £10 billion incurred due to its culpable predecessor? This loss compounds at a far higher level the nonsense that the individuals concerned (some not even bankers in the true sense) were allowed to walk away with their previous bonuses intact, even though they were shown to have been paid from what transpired to be bogus 'profits'. Likewise, their pension 'entitlements' were considered sacrosanct (for example Fred Goodwin's £600,000 a year for life from age 50 which he reluctantly reduced under public pressure from £713,000) despite the fact that on other bankruptcies, unfunded defined-benefit pensions are taken over by the Government's Pension Protection Fund, whose compensation cap in 2008 for members of that age was £24,202 pa. The late Lord Myners, the City grandee Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling appointed to deal with RBS, could and should have demanded that Goodwin and the board accept that the most recent bonuses, at least those to the top brass, be repaid and that their pensions be capped at PPF limits – as a vital non-negotiable condition-precedent before any taxpayer bail-out could be considered, let alone granted. So whether or not they accepted it, either way such phone-number inflation-adjusted payments to the directors and senior staff would have been avoided, and a form of lawful 'justice' seen by the public to be done. But without that agreed condition, and with Fred Goodwin being just 50 in 2008 (among others much younger than normal retirement age) such largesse will have endured quite possibly for well over 40 years into the 2050s. And Fred 'the Shred' Goodwin had the nerve to call the Government's negotiations a 'drive-by shooting'! John Birkett, St Andrews.
Sky News
19-05-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Glasgow father 'feels robbed' after losing wife and son to same heart condition
A man has described the double heartbreak of losing his son and wife to the same heart condition in the space of seven years. Craig Murray, 59, from Glasgow, said he feels "robbed" following the deaths of Chris and Linda, both of whom had been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) - a heart condition which is often inherited. Chris was just 22 when he collapsed and died at work in 2017, having suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. Mrs Murray was admitted to hospital in May last year for treatment to relieve fluid retention she was suffering because of her medication, but her condition deteriorated and she later died. Mr Murray said the loss of his wife was made even harder by the fact she would have become a grandmother this year, with the couple's son Craig Jnr and his wife due to have a baby in the summer. He said: "She is due on what would have been Linda's 59th birthday, on 20 July. That's given us some comfort. It was like a message or a sign from her." Mr Murray added: "I feel robbed, having lost my wife and son to heart disease. I'm not the victim, Linda and Chris are, but they still had so much to do. "Linda would have loved to have been a grandma - she would have been the best grandparent. She'll never get to see her grandchild and that would have given her such a boost." Mr Murray said his wife had been diagnosed with HCM when she was 30 and their son was suspected of having it from the age of three, but they had not realised the "severity" of the condition. He said: "Linda's mum had the same condition as her and she died two years before her, having experienced the same difficult symptoms. "It also took Linda's granddad, and Chris. She knew she had a ticking time bomb and that we could lose her at any time. She had to be really brave." Following Chris's death, the Murray family became ardent supporters of the British Heart Foundation (BHF), raising thousands of pounds for the charity. Speaking ahead of the launch of the BHF's new 10-year strategy which aims to "revolutionise" the way heart disease and stroke are prevented and treated, Mr Murray said: "The research BHF funds can help other people to have a different outcome. "If that could be Linda and Chris's legacy, helping to inspire fundraising or some sort of breakthrough with these heart conditions, it would mean a lot."
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'Too many people are dealing with heart failure'
Scotland has seen the first sustained rise in deaths from heart disease in a generation, new analysis shows. The rate of working-age adults dying from cardiovascular disease has jumped from 60 per 100,000 in 2019 to 68 deaths per 100,000 in Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland said this trend risks reversing decades of "hard-won progress" to nearly halve annual deaths from conditions like heart attacks since the charity called for a renewed focus on cardiovascular disease and the Scottish government said it had given a record funding settlement to the NHS this year. Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death and disability in the by BHF Scotland shows that cardiovascular deaths in working age adults aged 20 to 64 in Scotland rose by 14% from 2,032 in 2019, to 2,324 in Scotland said the reasons for Scotland's worsening heart health are complex but claimed there had been a "lack of meaningful action" by the Scottish Government over the last decade to address issues like Scottish government has a heart disease action plan and will shortly launch a population health framework which is focused on prevention. 'Something needs to change' Craig Murray, 59, from Glasgow, lost his son, Chris, and wife, Linda, to a heart condition. They both had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and Chris was just 22-years-old when he collapsed and died at work in 2017 after a sudden cardiac was taken into hospital in May last year for treatment related to her HCM but her condition deteriorated and she later died. "When Linda was first diagnosed with HCM she was 30 and our son Chris was suspected to have it from age three. We didn't realise the severity of it at first," explained Craig."They were both on beta blockers for at least 19 years. After we lost Chris, Linda's case was reviewed, they re-looked at her symptoms like breathing difficulties. "She managed her heart condition well for a long time but everything became more difficult in the last years of her life." Craig said Scotland "needs to have difficult conversations" about heart disease. He added: "It's important we're highlighting these issues – the statistics for heart patients going backwards, the management issues with NHS. "Too many people are dealing with heart failure. "Something needs to change and heart disease needs to be made more of a priority. We need more money, more research and much more awareness." BHF Scotland said the ongoing strain on the NHS was part of the reason behind the rise in heart disease pointed to big increases in the number of people waiting for heart-related out patient appointments and record rates of obesity. Prof Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the BHF, said it has been the worst start to a decade for heart health for half a added: "Research-driven innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases has been one of the great success stories of modern medicine. "However, these diseases remain one of the biggest yet most preventable causes of premature death and ill health. "We need to act now to prevent the hard-won progress of recent decades being lost for future generations." 'Record funding' Public health minister Jenni Minto said the Scottish government would shortly launch a population health framework which is focused on said: "We strongly share the ambition to improve Scotland's heart health and help people live longer, happier lives. "A key part of this is ensuring that we create an environment which helps people to make healthier choices about their health which are critical to maintaining heart health – including stopping smoking, exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet. "Through our heart disease action plan we are working to ensure timely and equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, and care for people with heart disease in Scotland."The minister added the Scottish budget would ensure a "record funding settlement for the NHS" and said it would be invested in bringing down waiting times and making it easier to see a GP.
Scotsman
19-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Progress on cardiovascular health at risk as deaths rise
First sustained increase among working-age adults 'in a generation' Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox 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... Deaths from cardiovascular disease have risen among working-age Scots for the first time 'in at least a generation', the British Heart Foundation has warned. The charity said 'hard-won progress' risks being lost as figures revealed Scottish heart health has declined since the start of the 2020s. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The cardiovascular death rate stood at 68 per 100,000 in 2023, compared with 60 deaths per 100,000 in 2019, according to analysis by the BHF Scotland. In all, 2,324 adults aged 20 and 64 died from cardiovascular disease in 2023 compared with 2,032 in 2019 - an increase of 14 per cent. Craig Murray, who has described the double heartbreak of losing his son and his wife to the same heart condition in the space of seven years | PA This means an average of 45 working-age adults died each week from the disease in 2023 compared to 39 in 2019. 'First sustained increase in at least a generation' The charity said the figures represented 'the first sustained increase in at least a generation'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The increase comes after successive decades of progress, which have seen deaths each year from conditions such as heart attack and stroke "nearly halve" since the 1960s. The BHF has launched a new strategy calling for a bold "reimagining" of the way the country prevents and treats heart disease and stroke, which it says could save "countless" lives. David McColgan, head of BHF Scotland, said: "It's been the worst start to a decade for heart health for half a century, but we're entering an era of immense scientific opportunity that can turn this tide. "By driving a research revolution, we can reverse this worrying trend and save more lives than ever before. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "The BHF's new strategy will be key to this, and the next step for us as we aim to save many more families the heartbreak of losing loved ones far too soon." The figures highlight a range of areas pointing to Scotland's declining heart health since 2020. These include a 140 per cent increase in the number of people waiting for a cardiology appointment, and a doubling of the number of people waiting for an echocardiogram. Obesity rates have also reached record levels, with an estimated 32 per cent of adults (1.4 million) having weight defined as obese, up from 29 per cent in 2019. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There are also record numbers of people living with diabetes - a major factor for cardiovascular disease - and with atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rhythm). The reasons for the worsening picture, the charity said, include an increasingly unhealthy population; widening health inequalities; the impact of Covid-19; pressure on the NHS; and a lack of "meaningful action" by the Scottish Government on issues such as obesity. Charity calls for heart disease prevention to be 'reimagined' In launching its new strategy the charity has set out three "priorities" it said could help address the challenges. It is calling for heart disease prevention to be "reimagined" through areas like data science and AI; increased investment in cardiovascular research; and support for the health service to improve care for people with heart conditions. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the BHF, said: "Research-driven innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases has been one of the great success stories of modern medicine. "However, these diseases remain one of the biggest yet most preventable causes of premature death and ill health. "We need to act now to prevent the hard-won progress of recent decades being lost for future generations. "Reimagining how we prevent and treat heart disease and stroke is key to transforming the nation's health. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Research and innovation are how we'll achieve this, and the rapid advances in AI, data science, technology and advanced therapies offer us a glimpse into what's possible if we capitalise on this era of scientific opportunity. "We can't do this alone, so support from governments and partners will be critical to unleash the potential of the UK's life sciences sector to help unlock the lifesaving treatments and cures millions are still waiting for." The BHF is the biggest independent funder of cardiovascular research in the UK, committing around £100 million of new research awards every year. Scottish public health minister Jenni Minto said: "We strongly share the ambition to improve Scotland's heart health and help people live longer, happier lives. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "A key part of this is ensuring that we create an environment which helps people to make healthier choices about their health which are critical to maintaining heart health - including stopping smoking, exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet." To help with this, she said the Scottish Government, together with the council body Cosla, would soon publish a Population Health Framework "which is focused on prevention". Ms Minto added: "Through our Heart Disease Action Plan we are working to ensure timely and equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, and care for people with heart disease in Scotland . "We were pleased that Parliament approved this year's Scottish budget which ensures a record funding settlement for the NHS, allowing us to invest in bringing down waiting times and making it easier to see a GP." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Father and husband feels 'robbed' of both his son and wife Craig Murray described the double heartbreak of losing his son and his wife to the same heart condition in the space of seven years. Mr Murray, 59, said he feels 'robbed' following the deaths of his son Chris and wife Linda, both of whom had been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart condition which is often inherited. Chris Murray was just 22 when he collapsed and died at work in 2017, having suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. Mrs Murray had been taken to hospital in May 2024 where doctors tried to relieve fluid retention she was suffering because of her medication, but her condition deteriorated and she died on May 30. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad READ MORE: New figure for cost of ferries fiasco revealed by SNP Government Mr Murray, from Glasgow, said the loss of his wife was made even harder by the fact she would have become a grandmother this year, with the couple's son Craig Jnr and his wife due to have a baby in the summer. 'She is due on what would have been Linda's 59th birthday, on July 20,' Mr Murray said. 'That's given us some comfort. It was like a message or a sign from her.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Craig Murray with his wife Linda | PA He went on: 'I feel robbed, having lost my wife and son to heart disease. 'I'm not the victim, Linda and Chris are, but they still had so much to do. 'Linda would have loved to have been a grandma; she would have been the best grandparent. She'll never get to see her grandchild and that would have given her such a boost.' Mr Murray said his wife had been diagnosed with HCM when she was 30 and their son was suspected of having it from the age of three, but they had not realised the 'severity' of the condition. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He added: 'Linda's mum had the same condition as her and she died two years before her, having experienced the same difficult symptoms. 'It also took Linda's granddad, and Chris. She knew she had a ticking time bomb and that we could lose her at any time. She had to be really brave.' Following their son's death, the Murray family became ardent supporters of the British Heart Foundation (BHF), raising thousands of pounds for the charity. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Murray said: 'The research BHF funds can help other people to have a different outcome. 'If that could be Linda and Chris's legacy, helping to inspire fundraising or some sort of breakthrough with these heart conditions, it would mean a lot.' Mr Murray was speaking ahead of the launch of the BHF's new 10-year strategy which aims to 'revolutionise' the way heart disease and stroke are prevented and treated. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Analysis by the BHF has found rising UK deaths among working-age adults from cardiovascular disease, increasing heart failure and growing risks from obesity and diabetes. Craig Murray with his son Chris | PA Cardiovascular deaths in working age adults have risen by 18 per cent since 2019, from 18,693 to 21,975 in 2023, averaging 420 a week. The BHF said the shift follows decades of progress to nearly halve annual deaths from conditions such as heart attack and stroke since the 1960s.
Times
19-05-2025
- Health
- Times
I lost my wife and son to ‘ticking time bomb' heart disease
A grieving husband has described his agony at losing both his wife and son to a 'ticking time bomb' heart condition within seven years. Craig Murray, 59, said he felt 'robbed' after the deaths of his spouse, Linda, and their son Chris, both of whom had been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition that is often inherited. Chris Murray was 22 when he collapsed and died at work in 2017 after a cardiac arrest. His mother was taken to hospital in May last year, where doctors tried to relieve fluid retention she was experiencing due to medication. Her condition deteriorated and she died on May 30. Murray, from Glasgow, said the loss of his wife was made even harder by the fact that she
