Tag Archives: Scotland

Maundy money reporting goes awry at the Beeb.

Once again, the BBC has equated the UK with England….

To mark her Diamond Jubilee, the Queen handed out money to people from all of the UK’s 44 Christian dioceses. – BBC News

I think that this should read,

from all of the Church of England’s 44 dioceses.

There are many more dioceses in the whole of the UK, listing only the Anglican ones you get 19 more:

Church of Ireland (Dioceses with territory in N. Ireland)
Armagh
Clogher
Connor
Derry
Down & Dromore
Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh

Scottish Episcopal Church
Aberdeen & Orkney
Argyll & the Isles
Brechin
Edinburgh
Glasgow & Galloway
Moray, Ross & Caithness
St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane

The Church in Wales
Bangor
Llandaff
Monmouth
St Asaph
St Davids
Swansea & Brecon

So perhaps the article should read,

To mark her Diamond Jubilee, The Queen handed out money to people from all of the UK’s 63 Anglican dioceses.

And all of this is before we get on to the Dioceses of the Catholic Church: England & Wales (22); Scotland (8) and N. Ireland (6) making another 36… and this is before we start to examine the many differing parts of the Orthodox Churches in the UK.

It really is about time that the BBC learnt the difference between the various parts of the United Kingdom. It is also about time that the BBC took some care about how it reports matters of faith.

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April 5, 2012 0 Comments Short URL , , , , , , , , , , , , , Anglican, christian, Media, news, Royal Family

Saving a Scottish Institution: what we all can do to save the Caledonian Sleeper

Charles Kennedy with the Caledonian Sleeper

Charles Kennedy with the Caledonian Sleeper (from libdemvoice.org)

There was a time when travelling from Northern Ireland to London you could travel by sleeper from Stranraer Harbour to Euston – and indeed in the same manner in the opposite direction. Even as late as 1990 this was possible. However, sadly, this is now no longer possible, you have to take a train up to Glasgow to be able to connect with the sleeper. I know that I have enjoyed travelling using the services of the Caledonian Sleeper when I have needed to be in London fresh-faced for a meeting in the morning. But it seems that we may not be able to use this in the future, as the Nationalist Government in Scotland is questioning the service at all.

The SNP Government in Holyrood has launched a consultation into the future of Scotland’s Railways. In particular the Caledonian Sleeper has some major questions asked about it.

I am with Charles Kennedy on this one

New trains could bring our sleeper services up to the standard of those on the continent, which can carry more passengers in greater comfort. This would not only improve the service, but bring it to a more sustainable position financially. Thankfully, the UK Government has made an offer of £50 million – half the cost of replacing the trains – to Holyrood, as long as the Scottish Government is willing to put up the rest of the funds. This gives us the opportunity to secure the future of the sleeper for decades ahead– it’s a chance we can’t afford to miss.

I’ll be fighting tooth and nail to save our sleeper, and I urge everyone to respond to the consultation before it closes on the 20th February…

(LibDemVoice.org)

To respond to the consultation you can do so either online (at www.transportscotland.gov.uk) or by writing to Transport Scotland, 58 Port Dundas Road, Glasgow G4 0HF.

I wonder what could be done in between the two Executives (at Stormont and at Holyrood) to improve rail services from Northern Ireland to London. Are we going to have to travel south from Belfast on the Enterprise and then south-east from Holyhead after the ferry there, to London? And there doesn’t appear to be a sleeper from there….

Previous campaigns to retain the Caledonian Sleeper service have been successful, but only with hard work and commitment from campaigners around the country.

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December 14, 2011 1 Comment Short URL , , , , , , , Lib Dems, news, Regional Development, Scotland, SNP

Please Sir, how do you define marriage?

The Rt Hon. Michael Gove MP

That’s the question we should all be asking of the man in charge of Education in England (and Cornwall), for according to Julie Henry, Education Correspondent for The Sunday Telegraph, HM Secretary of State for the Education, The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, has issued guidance that all Free Schools and Academies must teach the importance of marriage. (more…)

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December 3, 2011 0 Comments Short URL , , , , , Cornwall, Education, England, Law, LGBT

a mistake worthy of the Daily Fail…

According to a story on the Pink Paper‘s website, the North East of England has the largest proportion of straight people, with

almost 96% of those living in the North East [saying] they were homosexual in response to the Integrated Household Survey published by the Office for National Statistics.

I think that it is patently obvious that there is a missing ‘not’ in that sentence. Makes you think that it is always important to proof read though.

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October 2, 2011 1 Comment Short URL , , , , , , , Blogging, LGBT

police officers – remembering those who serve all of us

We often hear of the numbers of police being cut, and of what the police are being asked to do by the Government as well as the public.

But how often do we hear about it from the policeman’s own view. Minimum Cover is one way for us to do so. I’ve just read the latest post having been pointed there on Facebook by a Scouting friend.

He looked straight at me through the smoke….mouthing words that had no sound…and then there was silence.

So often our policemen and women face situations that most of us never want to see, let alone experience first hand.

It was National Police Memorial Day on Sunday past. This year it was commemorated in Scotland. Amongst those remembered this year was Constable Ronan Kerr, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. His mother, Nuala Kerr lit a candle at the service in Glasgow which was also attended by Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister, David Ford MLA.

We should never forget those who put their lives in danger to serve society. We owe them all a great deal of gratitude. As David Ford said, The National Police Memorial Day Service

provides an opportunity for the whole police community throughout the UK to join with families, friends and colleagues to remember those officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Another way to remember police officers is to join the Police Roll of Honour Trust (Individual membership from £10).

And remember, next time you see a police officer out on the beat, why not smile and say hello. We must never forget that a simple smile and greeting may make a day seem a bit better.

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September 27, 2011 1 Comment Short URL , , , , , , , Blogging, Police, PSNI

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