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>>>16756045 (You), >>16756050 (You), >>16756055 (You), >>16756055 (You), >>16841213 (You) Former top Scots lawyer convicted of historical sex abuse against four children

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-62466734

Former prosecutor John Watt QC jailed for abusing children

9th August 2022.

A former Scottish prosecutor has been jailed for 10 years for sexually abusing four young children more than four decades ago.

John Watt QC, who was also a criminal defence lawyer, preyed on three young girls and a boy over a 14-year period.

The 72-year-old had been extradited from the United States to stand trial in July.

Judge Lord Braid told Watt he had committed "vile" crimes of the "utmost seriousness and depravity."

Watt was also put on the sex offenders register for an indeterminate period.

Former Scots QC guilty of abusing four children

Last month, Watt was found guilty of one charge of rape, one of indecent assault and three of indecent conduct committed at houses in the Edinburgh area between September 1973 and August 1987.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Braid said: "In each case the offences have had a profound and life-changing effect on the victims."

The judge said that Watt continued to maintain his innocence over the abuse and added that perhaps explained why he had not demonstrated any remorse or empathy for his victims.

Lord Braid said: "In your role as advocate depute (Crown Office prosecutor) you prosecuted the very type of offence of which you have now been convicted."

Abuse at gatherings

Watt raped a girl under the age of 12 at an address in the west end of Edinburgh.

Two other girls were later molested by him in their beds at a house in Edinburgh and a 10-year-old boy was subjected to sexual abuse at an address in Leith in 1987.

The court previously heard that a number of the victims had relatives who were also legal figures at the time.

During his trial, Watt pinned the blame on a now dead lawyer for attacks on one of the girls.

The female rape victim told the trial that her father, who was also a lawyer, took her to see Watt at a house in Edinburgh. The woman, now aged 55, said: "I did things to the man which he made me do."

Two sisters told the trial how their lawyer father often hosted gatherings at their home where Watt and others would be present.

One described waking up to find Watt at her bedside before he got in beside her and began touching her inappropriately.

Her sister saw him in the bed and recalled being "frightened", but the advocate then turned on her and subjected her to abuse.

The court heard that their father had subsequently reported Watt to a senior lawyer, who later became a judge, instead of going to police.

The male victim told the court: "I was raped by John Watt. I remember him coming in the room and I remember him telling me to turn over." Watt was meant to be looking after the boy while his parents were away.

>>17387002

August 7th 2022 The Sunday Times Scotland.

By Marcelo Mega.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ex-chief-prosecutor-lord-hardie-should-have-told-police-about-sex-abuse-mz0590j2f

ex chief prosecutor Lord Hardie should have told police about child abuse

Lord Hardie up to his neck in covering up child abuse. Yet another one of these Lordy type fucks with absolutely no integrity who should never have been allowed to judge others for in most cases far lesser crimes than child abuse or the covering up of it.

>>17387067

Just a reminder after watching this and the reference to an UNDERSPEND of £580 million and I was reminder of the 1.6 billion UNDERSPEND when in 2207 he was appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth from 2007-2014

https://www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk/news/national/18903911.salmond-holding-child-abuse-inquiry-says-deputy-first-minister/

Salmond was against holding child abuse inquiry, says Deputy First Minister

27th November 2020

Former First Minister Alex Salmond and other influential figures in the Scottish Government were against holding an inquiry into the abuse of children in care, John Swinney has said.

Speaking at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry on Friday, the Deputy First Minister said there was clear division between ministers on the decision to hold a public investigation.

He said an inquiry was authorised “after the change of First Minister had taken place”.

James Peoples QC, senior counsel to the inquiry, said that on Thursday Mike Russell told him “influential figures, including Alex Salmond, Kenny MacAskill and the then lord advocate Frank Mulholland were not persuaded” of the need for an inquiry.

Mike Russell engaged heavily with survivors, John Swinney told the inquiry (Fraser Bremner/Scottish Daily Mail/PA)

Mr Swinney agreed, saying: “In 2014, there was a difference of views in Cabinet in the summer of 2014 if there should be an inquiry.”

Mr Peoples said: “Mike Russell described it as ‘quite robust’.

“He said one school of thought was that the time taken, the cost involved, didn’t support the need for a public inquiry.

“Whereas Mike Russell was putting forward another view of what do survivors want?”

Mr Swinney responded: “There was a perfectly respectable debate among Cabinet but there were two opinions.

“One argument was that the inquiry would not address the issues and would not deliver the outcomes survivors hoped for.

“Mike Russell had engaged heavily with survivors and his view was we had to confront this issue as a country, to do justice for survivors to enable them to have their experiences documented, understood and reflected on, and for the state to accept responsibility for what happened to them.

“I supported him in that view in Cabinet.

“The inquiry was authorised in December after the change of First Minister had taken place.

“Without a doubt, there was a division of views in Cabinet.”

Mr Swinney also said the cost of an inquiry would not have been a deterrent, saying: “I’ve seen a lot of traffic about money in the papers and I was finance minister for nine years, so I controlled that money.

“Ironically, in the period after 2007, the financial issues were a lot less than in early 2014.

“When I came to office in 2007, I was pleasantly surprised there was £1.6 billion in an account in the treasury that hadn’t been spent.

“When I was going through the accounts in 2006 and saw that, I thought that would be quite handy to have that.We still had the block grant(however many billions given yearly by UK parliament)and there was £1.6 billion that had not been spent, which I found quite surprising.”

Mr Peoples asked: “Although you weren’t approached about finding money for an inquiry, there was money there?”

Mr Swinney said: “There was a hidden money tree at that point. So the idea that money was an issue – I had the ability to fund the financial priorities my colleagues found to be important.”

The latest phase of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, heard before judge Lady Smith, is exploring reasons why calls between August 2002 and December 2014 for a public inquiry to be held were resisted by ministers.

The current inquiry was set up in October 2015.

It is investigating abuse of children in care in Scotland or where their care was arranged in Scotland.

The inquiry continues.

All through the years from 2002 to 15 they were denying an inquiry to victims because of "cost".

CUNTS!

Can Anons confirm?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001b8qg

==Locked in the Hospital

Disclosure==

Series 5

Reporter Lucy Adams investigates why four young men have been locked in secure hospitals for years. She meets the families struggling to get their loved ones home and hears the stories of those with autism and learning disabilities desperate to get out of a system they don’t understand.

More than 20 years after it was agreed no one should be living in hospital, she looks at why hundreds of people are still stuck behind locked doors, sometimes for decades. Ministers have promised to get most people home by March 2024, but is that going to happen?

Apologies, I've no link to add. If anyone can find a working link please post it.

>>17387031

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/401185/cops-quiz-fraudster-who-forged-former-lord-advocate-andrew-hardies-signature-to-buy-a-car-20-years-ago/

MYSTERY PROBE Cops again quiz fraudster who forged former Lord Advocate Andrew Hardie’s signature to buy a car 20 years ago

Jamie Coltart questioned two decades after twice using the lawman's chequebook to pay £325 for the motor

BY DOUGLAS WALKER

8 Jan 2017

COPS have again quizzed a fraudster who forged a top judge’s signature to buy a car 20 years ago.

Jamie Coltart was questioned by detectives as part of a mystery probe two decades after twice using former Lord Advocate Andrew Hardie’s chequebook to pay £325 for the motor.

A police source said yesterday: “Numerous interviews have been conducted at various police stations including Linlithgow.

They added: “It’s all part of an ongoing inquiry.”

Coltart was 16 and living in a children’s home at the time of the fraud in May 1996.

He used the cheques to buy a car from James Hawthorn in North Berwick, East Lothian.

The crime came to light when cops in England needed to trace the motor’s owner and discovered dodgy cheques had bought it.

A court heard Lord Hardie — then Dean of the Faculty of Advocates — had never met Coltart or knew who he was.

He also said he hadn’t realised his cheques or card were missing.

Coltart claimed he got them from a mystery pal and denied faking the signature twice.

He changed his plea to guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in February 1997. But the fraudster dodged being jailed or fined by Sheriff Andrew Bell.

The Crown also accepted his denial to using Lord Hardie’s Visa card to buy £200 worth of goods from petrol stations.

Coltart’s lawyer Alex Lafferty said in court: “He is remorseful.”

Lord Hardie was due to be called as a witness but was not needed. He later said: “I understand it’s a guilty plea. I have no further comment.”

Lord Hardie, 70, was Scotland’s top law officer from 1997 to 2000.

He became a High Court judge known for dishing out harsh punishments to crooks. Over five years, 84 of his sentences were overturned for being too severe.

He retired in 2012 but ex-First Minister Alex Salmond appointed him to chair the inquiry into the shambolic £776million Edinburgh Trams project, above, in 2014.

His report is expected next year at the earliest.

The life peer from Edinburgh — known as Baron Hardie of Blackford — has been married to Catherine for 45 years. The couple have three children.

Police last night refused to discuss the current inquiry. They said: “This is not something we will be commenting on.”

Both Lord Hardie and Coltart declined to comment.

https://www.scottishlegal.com/articles/sheriff-alistair-duff-arrested

Sheriff Alistair Duff to appear in court

14 Jan 2022

A sheriff has been charged in connection with matters which will become public when he appears in court shortly.

Alistair Duff, 67, who once represented Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, retired on December 1 last year after a 45-year career.

He was appointed sheriff at Dundee in 2004 before being named director of the Judicial Institute for Scotland in 2014.

A Police Scotland spokesman told SLN: “Following a complaint and subsequent investigation, a 67-year-old man was charged and has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal.”

https://twitter.com/AdvocateHalley/status/1531341518040186881

I know Donald Trump said while president that he wanted the Locherbie bombing looked at again. I wonder if this is anything to do with the arrest of Sheriff Alistair Duff who once represented Abdelbaset al-Megrahi?

John Halley Advocate seems rather interested in this. John Halley as you may recall is the guy who was fired from the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) after sending a 17,500 word "note" to Lady Ann Smith, current chair of the inquiry detailing those within the Judiciary who were involved in child abuse, and was "sacked" from the inquiry by Smith, who as it turns out has as her personal secretary (personally picked by her, or by Lord Brian Gill on her behalf after he chose her to be the 2nd chair of that inquiry) none other than the daughter of Lord Cullen.

>>17432556

I wrote a Note in relation to trafficking of children in the UK. None of SCAI, Crown Office, Judicial Office for Scotland nor SG have investigated very serious concerns. One relevant investigation in Scotland was by the Met. Why was the Met investigating in Scotland in 1996?

https://twitter.com/AdvocateHalley/status/1539353031703154688

>>17432556

>I know Donald Trump said while president that he wanted the Locherbie bombing looked at again. I wonder if this is anything to do with the arrest of Sheriff Alistair Duff who once represented Abdelbaset al-Megrahi?

While commenting on an SNP attempt to cover up misconduct investigations in to their government as "not in the public interest" whether or not those complaints are upheld, John Halley again asking the question "What about Sheriff Duff?"

https://twitter.com/AdvocateHalley/status/1539239613562249216

John Halley pinned tweet:

https://twitter.com/AdvocateHalley/status/1124332294016262144/photo/1

>>17432608

>I wrote a Note in relation to trafficking of children in the UK. None of SCAI, Crown Office, Judicial Office for Scotland nor SG have investigated very serious concerns. One relevant investigation in Scotland was by the Met. Why was the Met investigating in Scotland in 1996?

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/world-news/anger-snp-gave-5m-taxpayers-27894826

Anger as SNP gave £5m of taxpayer's money to China's controversial 'spy school' in Glasgow

The Free Tibet campaign is furious that Scottish taxpayers are effectively backing an 'authoritarian government carrying out widespread abuses against Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hongkongers and Chinese citizens'

ByBen Borland Editor

2 SEP 2022

The Scottish Government has admitted giving £5.3million of public funds to the Confucius Institute for Scotland's Schools over the past eight years.

Based at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, it runs 22 learning hubs to promote Chinese languages and culture in schools. However, the organisation - which is controlled directly from Beijing - has come under fire recently amid accusations of espionage.

Confucius Institutes have been closed down in several Western countries and Rishi Sunak has vowed to do the same to the 30 operating in the UK if he becomes Prime Minister. These latest funding figures will only fuel claims that the SNP administration has been too naive in dealing with China.

Conservative MSP Oliver Mundell – shadow cabinet secretary for education and skills – told The Ferret investigative website: "While building cross-cultural links is important, taxpayers will rightly raise an eyebrow at the amount of money being provided by the SNP Government to these controversial institutions, heavily linked to the Chinese Government. Given the large sums involved, full transparency and accountability from ministers is essential."

Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, and Aberdeen universities also host Confucius institutes, but they do not receive grants from the Scottish Government.

Others to have previously questioned the organisation's presence on campuses include human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar and Anne Henderson, the former rectors of Glasgow and Edinburgh universities.

John Jones, of the human rights group Free Tibet, described the Confucius Institute for Scotland's Schools (CISS) an "instrument of soft power by a government that is carrying out widespread abuses against Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hongkongers and Chinese citizens".

He added: "While the study of the Chinese language and Chinese culture is fully worth supporting, there is no need for this to be carried out in collaboration with an authoritarian government.

"As the world wakes up to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) human rights abuses against Tibetans, Hongkongers and Uyghurs, it is no surprise that the global trend is one of governments and universities cutting ties with such institutes. It is our recommendation that the Scottish Government follows suit."

The funding figures were published on Thursday and also show the government holds more than 3,000 official documents relating to the Confucius Institute. However, officials refused to release any of these as it would take too long to retrieve them all.

CISS says it is an "award winning Confucius Institute working with schools across Scotland to engage pupils with Chinese language learning and culture". It runs classroom hubs in primary and secondary schools and scholarships are given for pupils to study in China for nine months.

Last year, the Ferret published claims by a former Chinese diplomat that Beijing tries to control its international students studying at Scottish universities through student associations.

The Chinese Embassy in London told the website that China has "never, and will never, exert any political influence on normal academic activities in British universities".

The Scottish Government said: “There is no interference in what is taught in Scottish schools. This is decided solely by Scottish councils, schools and our teachers. Schools are supported in delivering this by Scotland’s National Centre for Languages and its sister organisation Confucius Institute for Scotland’s Schools (CISS)."

A government spokesperson added: “Support provided by CISS, including access to native speaking language assistants and immersion trips to China, would not be possible without their partnerships with Chinese institutions. Educational materials and resources provided by CISS are prepared in line with the principles of Curriculum for Excellence.”

>>17550789

Made a cunt of that………these are the attachments that should have accompanied the previous post.

Bump

>>17432437

>>17387203

>>17387031

>>17387002

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/abuse-survivors-blast-snps-redress-28502699

Abuse survivors blast SNP's redress scheme as a cold, unfair and distressing ordeal

Lawyer acting for victims say the Redress Scotland scheme lets organisations that allowed abuse to 'hide from public accountability all while saving cash' as John Swinney is told to get it sorted

News

By Ben Borland Editor

Abuse survivors are turning their back on the SNP Government’s redress scheme amid a catalogue of delays, failures and broken promises.

The damning feedback comes one year after the controversial scheme was launched. The Redress Scotland quango is meant to provide one-off payments between £10k to £100k but victims face confusing paperwork, long delays and being made to feel “like a bullet-point on a to-do list”.

Recent data also shows victim applications have plummeted while appeals to low offers have spiked – all while lawyers see an increase in historic abuse claims.

The response from victims is the latest in a 12-month saga of issues with previous concerns raised on a legal waiver, few payments being made and a lack of scheme contributors.

Campaigners fear the scheme is still not fit for purpose and have called on officials to make drastic improvements to avoid worsening the trauma of survivors.

One victim, who was abused by foster parents in East Lothian, gave up on Redress after initially hoping to get recognition after battling with the trauma in secret for decades.

The woman, who gave evidence at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) under the name ‘Rosie’, said: “I was taken in by the assurances but I couldn’t believe the utter mess of the process after I applied.

“I was sent away to fill out huge forms and given no guidance and when I did speak to someone I was met with exasperation like I was a bullet-point on their to do list.

“I was sexually abused as a teenager by a family that was meant to care for me. It took me years to come to terms with things and all I hoped for at this stage was some sense of recognition but Redress turned it into an ordeal of its own. The whole process is cold.”

Applications to scheme fell from 402 to just 83

Redress Scotland was launched on 8 December 2021 by the Scottish Government but it was more than six months later than pledged and without appropriate staffing in place.

It works by organisations like religious groups or local councils contributing to a giant pot. Victims abused in a childhood care setting can apply for a payment of £10k but if they feel they deserve more a panel may consider payments of £20k, £40k, £60k, £80k or a maximum of £100k.

Before receiving any money a survivor must sign a legal waiver to never take a scheme contributor to court in the future.

Have tried several times prior to post this but boards have been fucked up. From 5th October 2022.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/scottish-covid-inquiry-thrown-chaos-28156865

Scottish covid inquiry thrown into chaos as top lawyers resign just months after launch

Four lawyers working on the inquiry quit last week but their resignations were only made public yesterday.

News

By Chris McCall Deputy Political Editor

A public inquiry into Scotland's handling of the covid pandemic was thrown into chaos last night after it was revealed four members of its legal team had quit.

It comes just days after the top judge appointed to chair the inquiry quit for "personal reasons".

Douglas Ross KC and three junior counsel sent their resignations to Lady Poole, the inquiry chairwoman, last Thursday.

Poole quit the next day but her departure was not announced until Monday by Deputy First Minister John Swinney.

The public inquiry was launched in February and has already cost taxpayers almost £1 million with no estimate of the final cost.

Families who lost loved ones to covid have now demanded the Scottish Government offers an explanation.

Peter Watson, who represents some families whose relatives died in care homes, told The Times : "What we need to know is who is to be appointed as core participants, who they think would be useful to give evidence, if they are going to break it up into modules, as they have in the English inquiry.

"We need timings. We haven't even got premises. The families have had no answers."

The public inquiry into the UK Government's response to the covid pandemic held its first session yesterday. There is no date for when the same will happen in Scotland.

A spokesman for the Scottish Covid-19 inquiry said: "We can confirm that four members of the counsel team have left the inquiry.

"We are immensely grateful for their contribution to the inquiry’s progress and wish them every success."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "A public inquiry operates independently of ministers. As a result, the procedure, conduct and operation of the inquiry, including staffing and counsel appointments, are matters for the chair.

"The Scottish Government is keen to help ensure the excellent progress made so far by the inquiry is continued. Consequently, work to appoint a new chair is being progressed at pace.

They quit because of Government interference…..Just like the previous chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) Susan O'Brien and her deputy Professor Lamb both citing "Government interference" by none other than John Swinney.

https://www.scottishlegal.com/articles/susan-obrien-qc-resigns-as-chair-of-scottish-child-abuse-inquiry

>>17787406

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scots-child-abuse-survivors-slam-24810162

Scots child abuse survivors slam £10,000 payout plan from government

They say the huge amount of victims means many will receive payments as low as £10,000 or £20,000 – making it meaningless.

By Marcello Mega

22 AUG 2021

Survivors of child abuse in Scottish institutions have warned that £400million Government compensation won’t be enough.

They say the huge amount of victims means many will receive payments as low as £10,000 or £20,000 – making it meaningless.

One survivor, now in his 60s, said: “It will be remembered as a callous and ineffectual system if people who lost their entire childhood while in care, and are affected by it still, are told their lifetime of suffering is worth £20,000.

“Abuse in childhood, especially sexual abuse and violence and the fear that comes with that, affects your entire life.”

The Scottish Government has set up its Redress Scotland scheme to set levels of compensation, with a maximum award of £100,000, and is committed to making payments to all known survivors.

The most likely number of ­survivors is currently estimated at 8000 but could be as high as 10,400 and half of those ­compensated are expected to receive just £10,000 or £20,000.

Survivors believe the final figures should be higher if they are to provide meaningful redress.

There is also growing dismay among survivors that those evaluating their suffering will be paid at levels higher than the figures they can pay out.

The chair, retired deputy chief constable of Police Scotland Johnny Gwynne, will be paid £560 a day to sit, while panel members will receive £390 a day. Redress Scotland’s work is expected to last five years.

The chair is expected to work only six days a month for most of that time, yet that will take his earnings to over £200,000, more than twice the highest award for survivors.

This has caused anger and survivors say the pay levels are “an insult” to them when their awards will be capped at £100,000.

Dave Sharp, a survivor and campaigner on child abuse, said: “Six years into the inquiry, the Government appears not to know how many people will receive awards.

“Yet, while the chair and panel members pick up hundreds of thousands of pounds for judging survivors, half of those who suffered will be sent away with £10,000 or £20,000.

"It’s clear they have not thought this through.”

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry was established in 2015 and has so far heard of appalling abuse of children at institutions run by charities, religious orders and private schools.

Its running costs are set to reach the £50million mark in a few weeks.

Jamie Greene, Scottish Tory justice spokesman, said: “Survivors must have full confidence in the independence of the awards panel and know that claims will be processed fairly without influence.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Survivors can have confidence their applications will be looked at with the care and sensitivity which their circumstances so fully deserve.”

This article is more than a year old, the bill is well over £50 million now

Imagine they just paid out all the victims with that and didn't spend it on legal advice, lawyers fees, consultations, 13 years of delay, talking shops, new start businesses (for profit) conveniently in time for the gravy train? This whole system is rotten to the core.

>>17787452

Up to her neck in all sorts of corruption this one, her and her pal Swinney who continue to groom our children in Scotland from primary school onwards. Sick CUNTS!

A few years old but still relevant.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16122837.us-cracks-confucius-institutes-mushrooming-scotland/

==US cracks down on Confucius Institutes mushrooming in Scotland

29th March 2018==

By David Leask

AMERICAN lawmakers are moving to force Chinese-funded language schools to register as “foreign agents” in a row raising new doubts about Scotland’s controversial Confucius Institutes.

US politicians want universities to declare donations and other financial ties with the Communist authorities behind the hubs, which are now monitored by the FBI, amid growing concerns over academic freedom and censorship.

Their proposed crackdown comes as universities in America and elsewhere pull out of funding arrangements with the Chinese body behind the institutes, Hanban.

Scotland has the world’s highest concentration of Confucius Institutes at universities and Confucius Classrooms at schools, language and cultural education facilities with Chinese-trained and supplied teachers.

Edinburgh Zoo earlier this month announced Scotland’s latest Confucius Classroom as part of its wider relationship with China, from which it rents two pandas.

The expansion of Confucius Institutes north of the border has come despite withdrawals from the scheme elsewhere and on-the-record remarks from Hanban that it would expected its teachers to toe the party line on issues like Taiwan.

Analysis: the soft power of language learning

Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt and Aberdeen universities have Confucius Institutes. Strathclyde University hosts a specialist Confucius Institute which provides teachers to schools.

American Congressman Joe Wilson, discussing proposed legislation on Confucius Institutes, told Foreign Policy magazine he wanted details of deals with US universities out in the open.

He said: “The goal is transparency by the foreign agents themselves and also by the universities. The American people need to know that they are being provided propaganda.”

Scottish universities say they have not had problems which prompted similar organisation overseas to break off ties.

Linda Fabiani MSP, of the Scottish Parliament's cross-party group on Tibet has quizzed some academic institutions on their links.

She said: "I know that there has been concern expressed about Confucius Institutes. Our group wrote to our participating Universities here in Scotland. They were very clear that academic freedom was paramount and that they would not accept any censorship of topics."

Linda Fabiani

A University of Edinburgh spokesman this month said there had been “no loss of academic freedom nor inhibition of academic debate at the University of Edinburgh as a consequence of Hanban’s support for the Confucius Institute”.

Edinburgh is also under fire for awarding an honorary degree to an ally of Vladimir Putin as it obtained funding from the Russian equivalent of Hanban, Russkiy Mir.

John MacDonald, editor of Cable Magazine, Scotland’s specialist foreign policy publication, stressed states had always sought to use soft power in the way Russkiy Mir or Hanban do now. But he added: “The context of this is the increasing confidence with which Russia and China doing so.”

Campaign group Free Tibet has led calls for a rethink of Scotland’s Confucius Institutes.

A campaign spokesman said the US action was “timely and necessary” and stressed there was “little scrutiny” in Scotland. He added: “As Confucius Institutes in US are being urged to disclose their funding as well as the scope of their activities, we urge Scottish educational authorities to be cautious about accepting injections of cash from China given its human rights track record.”

A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman previously said the institutes help mutual understanding and boosted friendship. She told a news agency criticism was outdated ‘noise” .

>>17806059

As I said, still relevant….everything is, including this one from 2016.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/733140/Nicola-Sturgeon-SNP-foreign-China-deal-farce-exposed

==Black Friday early deals

REVEALED: 'English magic' expert was behind Sturgeon's £10bn failed China deal==

UNDER-FIRE Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon sought advice from an author of a book on “English magic” before her controversial trip to China, it can be revealed.

By Siobhan McFadyen

The First Minister, who was last week left embarrassed by the collapse of a £10bn trade deal with the country, pleaded for help to find Scottish people to attend events in the Asian country.

And expenses of the trip which took place in July 2015, have still not been released - which is believed to breach the Ministerial code.

To date the up to date costs of the trips have not been published online and the Scottish Government has not responded to a request for the costs.

Now it shown - from a series of emails released - Ms Sturgeon took advice from the author Sir Richard Heygate, who was also a Director of Sino Fortune, the firm behind the £10bn deal, before she flew to the Asian country for the 'top level' diplomatic trade mission that has since been exposed as a sham.

And Sir Richard who had meetings with Ms Sturgeon predicted that China's yuan would "replace the Dollar as international currency" and told her that she should talk about “visions” and “dreams” during her five day junket.

In a series of bizarre emails released by both the Scottish and UK governments under Freedom of Information requests, it can be revealed just how shoddy the trip was. 

Papers show how Ms Sturgeon was asked to rewrite her speech by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office after she tried to mention Hillary Clinton during one of her addresses.

Communications between the SNP led administration and the British Foreign Office also show Ms Sturgeon's officials needed help to find Scots in China to make up the numbers at an event.

In May 2015, just after the General Election, Ms Sturgeon's officials had been in communication with the FCO to discuss the trip.

Ms Sturgeon's special advisors had been asking for help to promote the First Minister during the trip to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong in which she was to make a number of addresses to "promote Scottish businesses”.

One email on May 27 stated: "We want to make sure we getting things right from a First Minister but also Leader of SNP perspective."

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9888899/Scotland-let-pupils-aged-FOUR-change-gender.html

Scotland will let pupils change gender aged FOUR without their parents' consent - and tells teachers not to question a child's request to choose a new name or use a different toilet

By Michael Blackley

12 August 2021

Children as young as four will be able to change their gender at school without their parents’ consent under guidance introduced in Scotland.

Any pupil who decides they want to switch gender must be supported and listened to in school following the Scottish Government advice.

The guidance applies in primary schools, where the youngest children are only four or five, because ‘recognition and development of gender identity can occur at a young age’.

It also tells teachers not to question a child who says they want to transition to live as a boy or a girl - and instead ask for their new name and pronouns. 

Primary and secondary schools have also been told to put books featuring transgender people on the curriculum, allow pupils to choose which changing room or toilets to use, and consider introducing a gender neutral uniform.

But the guidance was branded ‘shocking’ and led to concerns that children are being allowed to make life-changing decisions at too young an age.

The advice says: ‘Some young people are exploring their gender identity in primary school settings. Primary schools need to be able to meet the needs of these young people to ensure they have a safe, inclusive and respectful environment in which to learn.’

A section on ‘changing name and recorded sex’ says children simply need to tell others informally that they want to use a different name, and that they don’t need to record this formally on their official school record. Advice to school staff on what to do if a child wants to discuss their gender includes asking ‘what name and pronoun you should use to address them’.

It also says that they should ask if their family are aware they are considering their gender identity – but does not suggest the teacher should contact them.

The guidance document also states that no Scottish law compels people to use the toilets that correspond to the gender they were assigned at birth.

Marion Calder, director of the For Women Scotland campaign group, said: ‘To be transgender you have to have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. What are they thinking? Parents will be very concerned to be reading this document.’

Scottish education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: ‘This guidance outlines how schools can support transgender young people while ensuring that the rights of all pupils are fully respected.

‘It provides schools with practical suggestions. The guidance is not prescriptive and does not promote transitioning.’

Nearly 1,600 children have type 2 diabetes as a result of England’s obesity epidemic.

NHS figures show that 122,780 people under the age of 40 have the condition. Of these, 1,570 are children aged 18 or under, including 105 under the age of 12 and 545 aged 12 to 15.

Type 2 diabetes was traditionally seen only in the over-40s. But soaring obesity levels mean cases in children are on the rise.

The Young People With Type 2 Diabetes report, published yesterday by NHS Digital, found that under-40s now comprise about 4 per cent of all those with type 2 diabetes. It is more common in young women, Asian people, and those from poorer backgrounds.

The figures show that around nine in ten under-18s with the condition are classified as obese or overweight.

The report said: ‘Obesity is the dominant category of people with type 2 diabetes at all ages up to 60 years but especially so in younger people.’

It can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks and strokes and is more aggressive in younger adults. Charities said the figures were a ‘worrying wake-up call’.

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-ministers-using-chauffeur-driven-28579597

SNP ministers using chauffeur-driven limos for trips between first and second homes

Exclusive: The Scottish Express has found ministers are using their chauffeur-driven cars to shuttle back and forth even when no engagements appear to be taking place.

News

ByBen Borland

Richard Percival

27 NOV 2022

SNP ministers who live in the north have been accused of taking advantage of their lavish limo service by taking long journeys between their first and second homes.

The Scottish Government says the taxpayer-funded car service "provides a secure environment to conduct government business while travelling to and from ministerial engagements".

Ministers can also travel to or from a personal address at the start or the end of the working day.

READ MORE: SNP spent almost £1m of taxpayer cash on chauffeur-driven ministerial car journeys last year

However, the Scottish Express has found that several ministers whose constituencies are in the Highlands – and therefore qualify for an Edinburgh second home – are also using their chauffeur-driven cars to shuttle back and forth on days when no engagements appear to be taking place.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, Rural Economy Secretary Mairi Gougeon, public health minister Maree Todd, mental wellbeing minister Kevin Stewart and just transition minister Richard Lochhead are among those to take advantage of the loophole this year alone.

Ms Forbes – who is currently on maternity leave – has made nine 170-mile journeys between her second home in Edinburgh and her main home in Dingwall.

On each occasion, the chauffeur presumably had to make a two-way trip as the car service is based in the capital.

Ms Todd has used a government limo for 19 journeys of 175 miles between Strathpeffer and Edinburgh, while Ms Gougeon has taken 13 journeys of 88 miles between Brechin and Edinburgh.

Mr Stewart has taken six journeys between Aberdeen and Edinburgh (128 miles) and Mr Lochhead took a limo between Elgin and Edinburgh on one occasion this year (172 miles).

All five take advantage of the Edinburgh Second Home Allowance, which allows MSPs who live up north or down south to rent a home in the capital with all expenses paid.

There are regular trains between Edinburgh and Aberdeen and Brechin, while Elgin and Dingwall are also on the rail network.

The MSPs could also drive themselves and claim back the mileage, saving the chauffeur a two-way journey.

Critics called for the practice to stop immediately and branded it an ‘insult’ to Scots suffering from a growing cost of living crisis.

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Chauffeur perks for politicians drive taxpayers round the bend.

"Some travel will be required in government roles, but ministerial cars are only meant to be used when necessary.

"With the cost of living crisis biting, ministers must not make excessive use of these luxury limos."

Scottish Conservative Transport spokesman, Graham Simpson, said: "This will stick in the throat of hard-pressed Scots. Government limos aren't there for the private use of SNP ministers. It's fair enough to use them for Government business but not to get to and from private addresses, so this kind of practice needs to stop immediately."

Scottish Labour Finance spokesman Daniel Johnson, added: "Taxpayers are footing an eye-watering bill for SNP Ministers to be chauffeured around from one house to another. This is an insult when ordinary people are struggling with the cost of living crisis and the SNP are cutting services to the bone. Next time the SNP are deciding which budget to raid, they should take a look at their own bloated government operation."

Earlier this year, the Scottish Government defended the spend of almost £1million on the ministerial cars in 2021/22 – and made it clear how they are supposed to be used. They said: "Travel is an essential part of official government business and with the recent easing of Covid restrictions more ministerial business has been conducted in person.

"The Government Car Service provides a secure environment to conduct government business while travelling to and from ministerial engagements. We continually look for ways to ensure the Government Car Service is delivered in the most cost-effective manner, offering the best deal to the taxpayer."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Travel is an essential part of official Government business and Ministerial cars are used for business purposes only. Ministers take their responsibility to travel sustainably very seriously and aim to use more sustainable forms of transport wherever possible."

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1702406/NHS-hospital-rape-sex-assault-figures-patients-visitors-staff-Wes-Streeting

4,000 raped or sexually assaulted in UK hospitals over 4 years, horrifying figures reveal

Shocking figures uncovered in an investigation show a reported 4,000 rape or sexual assaults took place in UK hospitals over the past four years.

By Francesca Edwards

Mon, Nov 28, 2022

The NHS must "urgently investigate" rape and sexual assault in hospitals, the Shadow Health and Social Care secretary said after an investigation uncovered "disturbing" figures. Byline Times unearthed shocking figures claiming 4,100 patients, visitors, and NHS staff who were raped, or sexually assaulted between January 2019 and September 2022.

Labour’s Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Hospitals ought to be safe places for patients and staff, but these disturbing findings show that is not the case for far too many people. The NHS should urgently investigate why these disgusting crimes are allowed to happen and on such a widespread scale.”

Data collected from 3 police forces across the country revealed the scale of the issue which included at least three incidents against a female child under the age of 13.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson Daisy Cooper said the figures are "horrifying", demanding an "urgent and comprehensive response" from the Government.

“Hospitals should be safe havens for vulnerable patients, visitors and staff and not somewhere where such abhorrent attacks can ever take place," she added

Navina Evans, chief workforce officer at NHS England said: “The health service must be a safe space for patients, the public and our staff. The NHS does not tolerate any form of sexual misconduct, assault, harassment or abuse in any setting and we are clear that all NHS trusts and organisations must have robust security measures in place to keep everyone who uses their sites safe - ensuring immediate action is taken in any cases reported to them.

“We take all complaints very seriously and I would strongly encourage anyone who has concerns about any form of sexual assault while on an NHS site to come forward, report it and seek support.”

Of he reported allegations, just 5.21 percent resulted in a charge of summons. 

The report added: "One police force, which recorded 161 sexual assault and rapes across hospital estates, shared with Byline Times the reasons why charges were never brought following a reported sexual assault. Concerningly, in 26 rapes and 11 sexual assaults, no suspect was able to be identified. 

"Although most police forces did not provide data on the sex of perpetrators and victims, women are overwhelmingly likely to be the victims of sexual assault, with men most likely to be suspects. Women made up 87.1% of alleged victims in North Wales, and 88% of reports to West Mercia were made by women. "

>>17830210

https://news.sky.com/story/shame-on-you-nicola-sturgeon-heckled-over-scottish-government-gender-reforms-12758613

'Shame on you!': Nicola Sturgeon heckled over Scottish government gender reforms

Scotland's first minister was speaking at an anti-violence against women and girls event in Edinburgh.

By Guy Birchall, news reporter

Wednesday 30 November 2022

Nicola Sturgeon has been heckled over her government's plans to reform the Gender Recognition Act.

Speaking at an event hosted by Zero Tolerance Scotland on Tuesday, one attendee shouted "shame on you" at the Scottish first minister.

In a video posted online, the heckler could be seen yelling: "You are allowing paedophiles, sex offenders and rapists to self-ID in Scotland and put women at risk.

"Women campaigning for women's rights is not against trans people.

"Shame on you, you're letting down vulnerable women in Scotland, not allowed to have their own spaces away from any male."

She claimed women have been raped by trans women - although she didn't cite specific cases.

In response, Ms Sturgeon warned against further stigmatising trans people.

After the clip went viral, the heckler was praised by JK Rowling, who has been an outspoken critic of the reforms, with the author tweeting she would like to send the woman "a crate of her favourite tipple".

The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill proposes to remove the requirement for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria as a condition of acquiring a gender recognition certificate.

The bill would also drop the minimum age of applicants from 18 to 16, as well as dropping the amount of time most applicants need to live in their acquired gender to three months, with a further three-month reflection period, from two years.

Amendments to the bill at stage two mean the time limit for 16 and 17-year-olds is increased to six months, while another provision was inserted to say the bill would have no impact on the Equality Act.

Concerns have been raised about the impact the bill could have on single-sex spaces, with some critics saying it could put women at risk - a charge Ms Sturgeon and the Scottish government have repeatedly denied.

Under the 2010 Equality Act, people who have undergone gender reassignment can be legally refused entry to single-sex spaces for certain reasons, such as a women's refuge or changing area.

Last week, the Scottish government backed an amendment to the bill which said it would not impact on the Equality Act, put forward by Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy.

'Important voices are heard'

The heckler also hit out at event organisers, who had asked attendees to refrain from talking about the gender reforms.

After the woman appeared to be removed from the room, the Ms Sturgeon apologised if her being there had sparked the confrontation.

"I do not, as I know this organisation does not, seek to close down anyone's freedom of speech," she added.

"It's important that voices are heard, but it is important that all of us get the opportunity to speak freely about these issues.

"What we shouldn't do is further stigmatise a group of women who are too stigmatised already."

see video on link below…

https://news.sky.com/story/shame-on-you-nicola-sturgeon-heckled-over-scottish-government-gender-reforms-12758613

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-63821836

Ian Blackford to stand down as SNP leader at Westminster

Ian Blackford is to stand down as leader of the SNP group at Westminster, it has been confirmed.

Mr Blackford said he believed it was time for "fresh leadership" after five years in the role.

He said he would formally stand down at the group's annual general meeting next week.

There has been speculation in recent weeks that some SNP MPs were plotting to replace Mr Blackford as group leader.

In a statement, he said he would continue in his role as the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber and had also accepted a new role at the centre of the SNP's independence campaign.

Mr Blackford said: "After more than five years in the role, now is the right time for fresh leadership at Westminster as we head towards a general election and the next steps in winning Scotland's independence.

"During my time as leader, the SNP won a landslide victory in the 2019 general election, with an increased share of the vote and MPs, and support for independence has continued to grow with polling this week showing a majority in favour."

Mr Blackford has become as well-known figure in the House of Commons through his weekly appearance at Prime Minister's Questions and is seen as being a close ally of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader.

He faced calls to resign from political opponents after the Daily Mail reported in June that it had obtained a recording of Mr Blackford urging fellow MPs to give "absolute full support" to SNP MP Patrick Grady, who was suspended for sexual misconduct.

Mr Grady, a former SNP chief whip, was suspended from Parliament for two days over a sexual advance towards a colleague in 2016, and also suspended from the SNP's Westminster group for a week.

Ms Sturgeon subsequently said that the support expressed for Mr Grady had been "unacceptable".

There have been reports that some SNP MPs were also unhappy at Mr Blackford's handling of the case, with Aberdeen South MP Stephen Flynn recently dismissing suggestions that he was "on manoeuvres" with a view to replacing him as group leader.

At the time, Mr Blackford made clear that he intended to stand for re-election to the post at the upcoming AGM.

He also denied rumours in March that he was considering resigning amid further reports of party infighting.

SNP sources have told BBC Scotland that they expect Mr Flynn to stand for the leadership, and that he has broad support among their MPs and may be the only candidate to succeed Mr Blackford.

The Westminster group's AGM will be held next Tuesday, with the leader being selected by the 44 MPs who currently hold the SNP whip.

It means the new leader will be in place to face Rishi Sunak at Prime Minister's Questions the next day,

Mr Blackford defeated former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy to become the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber in 2015, with his campaign being mired in controversy over online abuse aimed at Mr Kennedy and his long-running battle with alcoholism.

Brian Smith, who was convenor of the SNP's Skye and Lochalsh branch, later resigned after it was reported that he had called Mr Kennedy a "drunken slob" and "quisling-in-chief" in a series of more than 130 tweets.

https://www.ardrossanherald.com/news/23166864.north-ayrshire-two-men-guilty-sexual-abuse-kerlaw-school/

High court

Kerelaw: John Muldoon and Matthew George guilty of sexual abuse

TWO men who worked at a Stevenston school for troubled children have been found guilty of the horror abuse of almost 30 pupils.

Former art teacher Matthew George, 73, and care worker John Muldoon, 69, were convicted after a fresh probe into how youngsters were treated at Kerelaw residential school.

Jurors heard how physical and sexual attacks were "rife" with children too scared to report their ordeals at the time.

George, of Largs, was today convicted of a total of 39 charges involving 21 boys and girls.

Muldoon, of Irvine, was found guilty of 16 of the charges he faced. These listed nine children including the rape of two girls.

Two of the victims were abused by both.

The pair had previously been jailed in 2006 for abuse at Kerelaw.

George was locked up for 10 years and Muldoon two-and-a-half years.

But they were hauled back into the dock in 2017 amid new allegations.

This led to a two-month trial at the High Court in Glasgow, which saw jurors convict them again today.

The pair had been on bail but were remanded in custody as a judge warned them they face "significant" sentences in the New Year. 

The crimes occurred between 1975 and 2000.

George had been a teacher at Kerelaw for 29 years.

The school - run by Strathclyde Regional Council and then Glasgow City Council - closed in 2006.

Victims - with much of the evidence recorded and played before jurors - spoke of being abused by George there and at his home in Largs.

As well as horrific sexual abuse, the court heard of physical violence which included children being put down holes while also being punched and hit.

Putting allegations to George, prosecutor Paul Kearney KC said: "A picture of routine violence and it being ignored?"

George: "That is the picture some are painting."

Terrified victims were scared to complain as they feared "repercussions".

https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/23166045.amp/

Service launched for children not attending school in Glasgow

By Lauren Brownlie

Senior reporter

2 December 22

A first-of-its-kind service has been launched to provide support to Glasgow primary and secondary school children who are finding it difficult to attend school.

Quarriers has been awarded the contract for Glasgow’s first Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance service which will be available to all primary schools and secondary schools to help children and their families develop a plan towards positive steps back into education.

Within Glasgow City Council schools, the number of children with under 80% attendance has increased from 12.30% to 14.70% between August to December 2020 and the same period last year.

REACH (Respond, Engage, Ask, Connect, Hope), has been launched in association with Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership and will provide targeted support to children who have prolonged non-attendance or are starting to show signs of developing a non-attendance profile at school.

The service aims to promote the well-being of every child to ensure they can be supported to reach their full potential.

There are many complex reasons why children don’t attend school including poor mental health, anxiety, language and communication difficulties or other concerns.

Colin Simpson, service co-ordinator of Quarriers REACH service, said: "What is different about this service is that we are able to go into the community and spend time with the children and their families at home to overcome some of their anxieties and mental health challenges.

“We will provide a supportive relationship in the home and help the young people on a journey back towards their learning.”

Barry Syme, Glasgow City Council's principal educational psychologist, said the aim was to intervene early to support young people and help divert them from the adult mental health system and much worse outcomes and more expensive interventions.

He added: "Covid prevented a lot of young people experiencing opportunities because they were at home and that is going to be a real challenge and we probably haven't seen what the impact of that has been."

REACH has specially trained staff who can offer one-to-one, child-centred support to help build the strengths of each child and discover what works best for them.

Workers can help act as a bridge between the school, help the child gain access to support already available within the school, or where appropriate will refer to services out with, for example, social work or health and educational psychologists.

The team will also help parents understand the pressures on children and help them support their child toward positive destinations.

A request for a referral can be emailed to reachservice@quarriers.org.uk or contact the service on the REACH Team Leader’s direct contact number - 07827 042202.

For more details, go to quarriers.org.uk/reach-service

>>17866591

>All from those Lockdowns against a virus with a 99.9% Recovery Rate in kids. Nice job SNP

Just like any other cold.

I'm still convinced it was no coincidence they used the coronavirus as the vehicle for their jabs…the virus seems to be taking out a few royals along the way; will it usher in a new one? I don't know. I do know that those that for generations have presided in the gutting of personal freedoms for the people should never be considered for a moment.

If that's the way we go once wrongs have been righted it better be someone who knows their place is of subservience to the rest of us and not one of dominance.

>>17872657

>Any idea why Blackford is really stepping down?

Honestly? No.

I'd not be in the least surprised to find it was in connection to John Watt QC and the wider circle of people that were/are involved in child abuse. I don't know though. I do know that the SNP for what must be approaching the end of their 4th (?) term in office and for all of it they have done everything they could to sweep it all under the carpet.

There is so much corruption on so many levels that it could be a number of them.

I do know that there is a change most demonstrable in the arrest and conviction of John Watt QC and it is having a knock on effect. Grindingly slow are the wheels of justice but they do seem to be turning in the right direction.

Have you any idea yourself?

>>17800067

>Is there a Scottish word for "boondoggle?"

I thought it "was" a Scottish word, it sounds like a word a Scot might make up.

According to this..

https://www.history.com/news/where-did-the-word-boondoggle-come-from

the word origninates in New York and appears to relate to "neckerchief slides" which in the Boy Scouts is known as a "woggle". Could it be a NY attempt at something like "rhyming slang" common in the UK particularly among east enders from London? The cockney is a dying breed in London. It seems we Brits are being disposed of by our own government and replaced.

>>17417338

>Can Anons confirm?

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18270734.14m-trees-cut-scotland-make-way-wind-farms/

>>17830210

>>17864400

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-two-speechwriters-costing-28624268

Nicola Sturgeon has two speechwriters costing taxpayers up to £125,000 a year for 'hot air'

Exclusive: The Scottish Government employees 'mainly' work for the First Minister although they also provide 'speaking notes' for John Swinney and Humza Yousaf

News

ByJohn Glover

The SNP Government has revealed that it is paying up to £124,825 a year for two scribes to write speeches for Nicola Sturgeon as well as "speaking notes" for John Swinney and Humza Yousaf.

Both wordsmiths also occasionally help train policy officials about speechwriting on top of their usual services. Over the past five financial years, they have cost the taxpayer up to £600,000.

The Scottish Government also spent an additional £8,000 on external speechwriting services for ministers during the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. This is despite the Nats ALREADY spending £4million-a-year on an army of 176 spin doctors.

The figures were revealed following Freedom of Information request by the Scottish Conservatives, who suggested Ms Sturgeon and her administration were suffering from "delusions of grandeur"

MSP Russell Findlay said: “Taxpayers are being hit with the gargantuan bill for SNP hot air. Nicola Sturgeon, John Swinney and Humza Yousaf speak a lot of words but rarely say anything of substance.

“During the cost-of-living crisis, Scots might wonder why ministers are splurging this six-figure amount to spin SNP lines. It’s out of touch and smacks of delusions of grandeur.

“Rather than waste money on speechwriters, why not save public cash by getting one of the many party spinners to do the job instead?”

In 2021, police launched a fraud investigation after a publisher received £295,000 in grants and loans before publishing a collection of Ms Sturgeon's speeches called 'Women Hold Up Half the Sky: Selected Speeches of Nicola Sturgeon'.

A rival publisher even claimed he was "vilified" after writing directly to the First Minister to raise concerns about Sandstone Press of Inverness, run by SNP supporter Robert Davidson.

The Scottish Government also maintains an online library of Ms Sturgeon's speeches including all her Covid-19 daily statements and other public pronouncements.

The FOI said: "In the last five financial years, there have been two posts in the Scottish Government, which are primarily dedicated to speechwriting. These speechwriters mainly write for the First Minister, but they have also provided speaking notes for the Deputy First Minister, and the Cabinet Secretary for Health.

"They also on occasion help to train policy officials about speechwriting. One post is currently graded at C2 level, and the other is currently graded at B3 level."

B3 level staff are paid between £39,659-£47,485 a year while a C2 level salary grade earns between £65,275-£75,341.

It adds: "The Scottish Government also spent £8,000 during the 2021-22 financial year on external speechwriting services, as a result of the high volume of ministerial speeches and remarks during COP26. It did not spend anything on external speechwriting services during the other four financial years."

A government spokesman told us: “Ministerial speeches are an important way to inform the public of the action the government is taking to improve the lives of those who live in Scotland. This includes providing vital public health messages, promoting vaccination campaigns and giving advice to help people with the current cost of living crisis.”

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-walks-away-after-28740737

Nicola Sturgeon walks away after questions on husband's £107,000 'cashflow' loan to SNP

The First Minister walked into a lift, then up a flight of stairs, after being quizzed on the loan by reporters.

News

ByPaul Hutcheon

15 DEC 2022

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon walked away from questions over why her husband loaned the SNP over £100,000.

She twice said SNP chief executive Peter Murrell had made a “personal contribution” before quickly walking up the stairs to her office. According to the Electoral Commission, the £107,620 loan was made on June 20th last year.

Nearly £50,000 has been paid back, with £60,000 remaining outstanding, and opposition parties at Holyrood have demanded answers.

Asked about the loan by reporters after First Minister’s Questions, she said: “Look, he made a personal contribution as a supporter of the party and that is the position.”

She then left the media scrum before walking into a lift and leaving it again. She repeated her answer about a “personal contribution” before heading for the stairs.

Following the revelation Labour MSP Neil Bibby called for transparency, he said: “This is highly irregular and the First Minister’s part if any in providing these secret loans needs further investigation.

“The saga surrounding the SNP’s finances just keeps getting murkier, from the questions around the notorious £600k to the unexplained resignation of the party’s finance committee.

“The SNP operate under a veil of secrecy and cover-up by default, but the public deserve transparency about the dealings going on in the party of government.”

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/9864860/police-scotland-controversial-deputy-chief-constable/

NEW BEAT Police Scotland appoint controversial cop who led Number 10 lockdown parties probe as new Deputy Chief Constable

Paul Rodger

2 Dec 2022

POLICE Scotland has appointed a controversial cop as its new Deputy Chief Constable.

Jane Connors, who headed the probe into lockdown parties at Number 10, has taken up the £190,390 per year role as she joins the force's top brass.

Tonight Police Scotland confirmed Ms Connors was chosen after a recruitment campaign was launched on October 13.

She is leaving her role as temporary Deputy Assistant Commissioner for professionalism at the Metropolitan Police and replaces Will Kerr, who was appointed Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police.

Ms Connors led the Met's probe into Downing Street bashes during lockdown.

The investigation concluded that then Prime Minister Boris Johnson hadn't breached Covid regulations more than once.

She was also embroiled in a row over the policing of the Sarah Everard vigil.

Ms Everard was abducted, raped and killed by ex-Met firearms officer Wayne Couzens in March last year.

People gathered in Clapham Common in London to pay their respects to the murdered marketing executive.

But heavy-handed cops broke up the vigil and some mourners were pinned to the ground, arrested and dragged away by officers.

The shocking scenes led to a backlash against the force.

Just a few months later, Ms Connors defended the Met's policing strategy after Wembley Stadium security was overwhelmed by ticketless fans at the Euro 2020 final last year.

The force faced sustained criticism over a vigil in Clapham held for the 33-year-old marketing executive after she was abducted and murdered by Scotland Yard firearms officer Wayne Couzens.

Police Scotland has described Ms Connors as a "highly experienced police leader" with a "wealth of complementary skills".

The appointment selection panel was chaired by Martyn Evans, chair of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA).

It also included Sir Iain Livingstone, Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Professor Fiona McQueen, an SPA board member, and Angela Leitch, chief executive of Public Health Scotland.

Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, was an advisor to the panel.

Chief Constable Livingstone said: “Jane is an outstanding police leader who will add further experience and skills to our senior team.

“I am grateful to all the high-quality candidates who stepped-forward for what has been a demanding and competitive process.”

Mr Evans said: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Jane Connors QPM as Deputy Chief Constable to Police Scotland.

"Jane is a highly experienced police leader who brings a wealth of complementary skills to strengthen and support the Chief Constable and wider leadership team.”

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: "DAC Jane Connors has made a massive contribution to policing London, from leading on tackling violence to commanding public order operations of great scale and complexity.

"She will be sadly missed but I know what an asset she will be to Police Scotland."

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/gender-law-could-lure-sex-28760928

Gender law could lure sex offenders to Scotland, claims former First Minister

Lord McConnell said a summit should be staged to bring together different parties.

ByPaul Hutcheon

18 DEC 2022

A former Labour First Minister has claimed new gender recognition proposals could lure sex offenders to Scotland.

Lord McConnell also called for a three month pause on the Bill so that a summit could address concerns.

The SNP/Green Government’s Bill aims to simplify the process for a person to obtain a certificate for changing their gender.

Provisions include removing the requirement for a medical diagnosis and replacing it with a system of so-called “self-ID”.

Critics believe the Bill, which will have its final vote on Wednesday, could allow predatory males to access single sex spaces like women’s refuges and rape crisis clinics.

McConnell, First Minister between 2001 and 2007, wrote in the Sunday Times: “There are really serious concerns about safe spaces for women, especially those facing and dealing with the trauma of abuse, violence and rape.”

He also claimed there could be an “incentive” for predatory male sex offenders to come to Scotland, identify as female, and access female only spaces.

He added: “I support reform of gender self-identification to help those facing real difficulties in their personal lives , but the Scottish parliament must pause the final decisions on this bill.

“There should be a summit with open debate that engages those with genuine worries, and makes appropriate changes to make sure women are safe in Scotland.”

Defenders of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill counter by saying the new system would not impact on single sex services and accuse the critics of alarmism.

An initial vote on the Bill in October led to 9 SNP MSPs failing to support the Government.

Holyrood sources expect the Bill to pass, but accept divisions in the SNP and Labour are inevitable.

>>17621912

>Scottish Government Orders Investigation Into Recent Spike in New Born Baby Deaths

Scottish government won’t investigate vaccination status of women who lost babies for fear of truth

By

Derek Knauss -

November 16, 2022

From conservativereview .com:

Imagine a government openly telling its citizens that officials are refusing to study the effects of a dangerous therapeutic because if the results show it’s indeed harmful, it might cause people to lose confidence in the product. Sound genocidal? Well, that’s exactly what Public Health Scotland is doing.

Back in the good old days, when science and public health abided by the Nuremberg Code, the public health establishment would embrace the opportunity to scrutinize the safety of a medical product in order to discover any potential harms to the public so that the public would be forewarned against consuming that product. This was doubly true after sudden deaths and complications correlated directly during the time of the inception of that product. Now, they are openly admitting they are avoiding all studies of negative consequences, including neonatal deaths, because such discoveries might make people not want to take the product. Welcome to the new religion of “biomedical Baal,” where lives must be sacrificed for the religious sacrament.

Last year, we reported that Public Health Scotland identified a disturbing trend of neonatal deaths more than doubling in the fall of 2021, which triggered an investigation by the health authorities. Bizarrely, they never studied the vaccines as a potential culprit, never affirmed what was the cause, but did rule out COVID itself. Fast-forward to this year, when the safety signals began blaring red again in March, and they launched another preliminary investigation. This time they quickly ruled out the vaccines, but bizarrely never studied the vaccination status of the women who suffered infant deaths! Now, emails released via public information requests by the Scotland Herald reveal that Public Health Scotland refused to study vaccination status because officials openly admitted they didn’t want the public to find out potential harms about the shots.

On October 9, the Scotland Herald published an article titled, “Covid Scotland: Vaccines ruled out in neonatal deaths spike.” Naturally, I was intrigued to find out how the health authorities studied this and how they ruled out the vaccines as a cause. Well, it turns out they studied it by not studying it! They refused to study the vaccination status of the mothers and just opted to conclude on their own that there was no “plausible” link between the shots and the shocking rise in neonatal deaths that cannot be attributed to chance. Why would they do this? According to the Herald:

Public Health Scotland (PHS) said its consultants had given “careful consideration” to the “potential benefits and harms” of carrying out such an analysis as part of its probe into the tragic deaths of 39 infants, but concluded against doing so because “it was not possible to identify a scenario that would have resulted in a change to public health policy or practice” given that vaccination policy was already “appropriately informed by good-quality population-level evidence and safety data.”

I had to read this several times to make sure there weren’t typos or my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me. They are essentially saying that no matter what is discovered about the safety of the shots, they will never, ever terminate this vaccination program. That is a given – a fixed variable. As such, they feel there is no benefit to finding out the harm if there are no plans to change policy.

>>17433061

Back to Advocate John Halley.

Somehow I'm unable to go back further than July 11th on John's twitter feed, unsure why or if this is the same for others visiting his twitter account? The last I posted on John's twitter account was from his June 21st post….restating his inquiry "What about Sheriff Duff".

>>17432437

>>17387203

>>17387031

>>17387002

https://news.sky.com/story/army-could-be-deployed-to-help-limit-christmas-strike-disruption-12761258

Military could be deployed to help limit Christmas strike disruption

Around 2,000 military personnel, civil servants and volunteers are being trained to support a range of services, including Border Force at airports and ports, the government says.

Samuel Osborne

News reporter

Sunday 4 December 2022

Military personnel could be drafted in to limit disruption caused by planned strikes in the run-up to Christmas.

Military personnel could be deployed as ambulance drivers and firefighters, the government said.

It said around 2,000 military personnel, civil servants and volunteers are being trained to support a range of services, including Border Force at airports and ports.

It said the decision on deploying troops was yet to be taken, but the troops "are part of the range of options available should strike action in these areas go ahead as planned".

The UK faces a wave of strikes this winter, which will affect services including transport, the NHS, education and delivery drivers.

Tens of thousands are expected to take industrial action as the UK is gripped by recession and the cost of living crisis.

"Multiple unions have taken the decision to strike over the coming weeks, leaving millions of people facing disruption over the Christmas period," the government said.

"Many unions are asking for uplifts in line with inflation or even more - despite comparable uplifts in the private sector averaging between four and six per cent so far this year.

"The government recognises these are very challenging economic times. That's why it is focused on getting inflation under control as the best way to help everyone's money go further and avoid soaring inflation rates being embedded in the UK economy."

The government added: "There is still time to call off planned strikes and ministers have repeatedly called for unions and employers to keep talking and come to an agreement, rather than take pre-emptive industrial action."

Well we are here now, strikes etc.

Let's see what transpires.

>>18003976

In the comments on the 5th attached screenshot in the previous post there is a link to this article on the bbc…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-38922239.amp

Paedophile self-help site Stop It Now used 1,530 times

More than 1,500 people in Scotland visited a self-help website last year designed to stop them viewing sexual images of children.

Sexual abuse prevention campaign Stop It Now also said 78 men from Scotland had called their helpline in 2016.

The service offers "anonymous, effective support" to those worried about their online sexual behaviour.

It also provides information and support to those worried about the behaviour of friends or family.

Stop It Now, a UK-wide campaign which is run by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation charity, said it had received 28 calls from people in Scotland who were concerned about another adult.

Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins said child sex abuse was preventable and encouraged people who had sexual thoughts about children to use the service.

"Police Scotland is determined to work with our statutory partners, with support services and importantly with our communities to do all we can to eliminate child sexual abuse," he said.

"Changing offender behaviour is a vitally important element of this work. Stop It Now provides abusers and potential abusers troubled by their sexual thoughts regarding children access to support. In turn this can help them to manage their thoughts and behaviour."

line break

Stop It Now Scotland figures for 2016

1,530 people Scotland accessing web help

78 calls from men worried about their behaviour

28 calls from adult worried about a friend or family member

line break

The service also supports the partners and friends of people arrested for - or suspected of - looking at child abuse images online.

Stuart Allardyce, the director for Stop it Now in Scotland, said the campaign had worked with hundreds of men arrested for viewing sexual images of children.

He said: "We make sure these men understand the harm they have caused the children in these images, and also the serious consequences for them and their families if they don't get to grips with their online behaviour.

"Once they understand this, they become far less likely to reoffend. But there are thousands of men out there viewing sexual images of under-18s.

"We need to get to them too, to help them understand what they are doing is illegal and incredibly harmful to the children and young people in the images - and to get them to stop."

>>18003976

>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-38976269

Concern over child abuse review chairman

A charity which supports survivors of sex abuse is asking the Scottish FA to think again about the man they have appointed to chair their review of child abuse in football.

The SFA announced earlier this month that Martin Henry would take on the role.

The charity, Open Secret, says concerns have been raised about his suitability for the role

The Scottish FA said Mr Henry had "amassed unrivalled experience in many facets of child protection in a 40-year career, including his role as vice-convenor to the Scottish Parliament cross-party group on Survivors of Sexual Abuse."

Published

14 February 2017

Section

BBC News

Subsection

Scotland

The video here shows the "concerns" regarding the appointment to an inquiry of Martin Henry. A must watch to connect the dots.

Would really be helpful if someone could find a way to embed the included video at ....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-38976269

...here on this board.

>>18003976

>https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/catholic-church-put-its-reputation-above-child-safety-0rp2p7zd8

>

>Latest attachments showing some connections to the Catholic church….

>

>If anyone can find the full article from the Times where these latest pics attached in John's tweets of Ratzinger, O'Brien and Martin Henry can you post it here please……I can't find the full article or anywhere else that may have published the article. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Catholic church ‘put its reputation above child safety’

Marc Horne

Wednesday July 13 2022

The Catholic church in Scotland put protecting its reputation above the safety of abused children as it covered up for paedophiles, its former safeguarding adviser has claimed.

Martin Henry advised the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh on child protection for 22 years and was a member of the Scottish Catholic bishops’ working party on child sexual abuse.

His testimony was cited after the Scottish child abuse inquiry found that sexual predators found it easier to target children in religious settings because of a culture of “habitual deference”.

“God was ‘weaponised’ in the sense that there was a habit of taking advantage of the subservience by others to the power of the religious; they could rely on routinely being held in high regard and that

>>18003976

>https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/john-watt-lawyer-sexual-abuse-27405821

Former top Scots lawyer convicted of historical sex abuse against four children

John Watt QC was hauled back to Scotland from America to face justice after preying on three girls and a boy over 14 years in the 1970s and '80s

Bookmark

News

ByConnor Gordon

Grant McCabe

5 JUL 2022

A former senior Scots lawyer has been convicted of historical sex abuse against four children.

John Watt QC was hauled back to Scotland from America to face justice after preying on three girls and a boy over 14 years in the 1970s and 80s. A number of the victims had relatives who were also legal figures at the time.

The attacks happened at different properties in Edinburgh's New Town and Leith, as well as another in the West End of the capital. Watt, now 72, was extradited in 2020 from Oklahoma in the United States, having moved there in the mid-90s with his wife.

He denied the crimes during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow pinning the blame on a now dead lawyer for attacks on one girl. But, Watt was today found guilty of a total of five charges spanning between 1973 and 1987.

He was convicted of raping one girl. Watt was further guilty of lewd and libidinous behaviour against the same victim, another girl and a boy. He was also guilty of indecently assaulting a third girl.

The shamed former advocate showed no emotion as he was remanded in custody pending sentencing next month. Watt often worked and mingled with a number of leading names in the Scottish legal world at the time.

The female rape victim told how her father - who was also a lawyer - took her to see Watt at a house in Edinburgh. Prosecutors said she was aged seven when the abuse began.

She recalled being given an "instruction" by her dad before being left alone with Watt. Prosecutor Kath Harper asked what then happened. The now 55 year-old replied: "I did things to the man which he made me do."

She told jurors how she was raped on two occasions and Watt told her she was a "good girl". Watt's legal team had lodged a special defence incriminating another lawyer for the crimes against this victim.

But, shown a photo of this man, the woman insisted he was not the person who attacked her. Two sisters - now in their 50s - told the trial how their lawyer father often hosted gathering at their home where Watt and others would turn up.

One recalled being in bed during a social event there and woke up to find Watt at her bedside. She said: “I think he said something about being cold or tired... and got into my bed."

This victim said she was facing away from the door when Watt inappropriately touched her. The witness added: “I have a lawyer in [my] bed, but you think something is happening which is not right.”

Her sister had saw Watt in the bed for around 10 minutes. She remembered being "frightened" and moved to turn away. But, the preying advocate then turned on her putting his hand under her bed clothes.

The woman sobbed as she described being molested for "what felt like 10 minutes." She claimed that she did not tell her parents what happened to her the next morning despite her sister speaking to them about her attack.

>>18003976

>https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/paedophile-network-leader-has-prison-sentence-1087225

Paedophile network leader has prison sentence cut by more than four years

JAMES RENNIE, once a prominent and respected youth worker, was originally told he must spend at least 13 years in jail before he could apply for parole.

ONE of the ringleaders of Scotland's biggest paedophile network has had his minimum jail term cut by four and a half years.

James Rennie was convicted in 2009 of molesting a young boy over more than four years, beginning when the child was aged three months.

Rennie, once a prominent and respected gay youth worker, was jailed for life and told he must spend at least 13 years in jail before he could apply for parole.

Today appeal judges cut that to eight and a half years.

Rennie, 38 at the time, was convicted of a string of child porn charges alongside seven other men.

At the time of sentencing, judge Lord Bannatyne told him the level of betrayal of his victim's parents was "truly appalling".

Rennie was formerly the chief executive of LGBT Youth Scotland.

His co-accused Neil Strachan was also jailed for life in October 2009 and ordered to serve 16 years before applying for parole.

Ross Webber, from North Berwick, Craig Boath, from Dundee, Colin Slaven, from Edinburgh, John Milligan, Neil Campbell and John Murphy all from Glasgow, were sentenced in June that year for their involvement in the paedophile ring.

They received sentences ranging from between two and 17 years.

No pictures on this article

>>18004195

BBC coverage of this.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-15790605

Abuse ringleader James Rennie has minimum sentence cut

One of the ringleaders of Scotland's biggest paedophile network has had his minimum prison sentence cut by four-and-a-half years by appeal judges.

James Rennie is serving a life sentence for sexually assaulting a three-month-old and for conspiring to get access to children in order to abuse them.

Rennie, from Edinburgh, was ordered to serve a minimum of 13 years in jail.

Appeal judges have reduced that to a minimum of eight-and-a-half years before he can apply for parole.

Judge Lord Clarke, sitting with Lord Philip, said: "We wish to make it clear that that does not mean he will be released after that period of time.

"All that has been done is fixing the period of time that must be spent by the appellant before any consideration can be given to his release."

Rennie was convicted in 2009 along with seven others on sex abuse charges.

Co-accused Neil Strachan from Edinburgh; Colin Slaven, from Edinburgh; Neil Campbell, John Milligan and John Murphy, 44, all from Glasgow; Ross Webber, from North Berwick in East Lothian; and Craig Boath, from Dundee, were all convicted of various offences.

At the time of sentence in October 2009, judge Lord Bannatyne said Rennie had also betrayed the trust of the parents of his victim to a "truly appalling" extent.

The judge said Rennie, a trained teacher who was found guilty of 14 charges, was at the heart of the conspiracy to abuse youngsters, and likened him to a spider weaving an electronic web to bring about his crime.

'Greater reality'

Rennie was the chief executive of LGBT Youth Scotland, which offers advice to young gay and lesbian people.

The mother of the boy who Rennie sexually assaulted said: "Previously we could factor in our son being a lot older when James Rennie is released and I just think it brings it closer for the potential for him to be released.

"It brings it into a greater reality for us to have to factor in as to how we deal with that.

"Not that he will have contact with our son but the fact he potentially might be out and our son is going to be younger and more vulnerable.

"That makes it more challenging to get our head around."

She added: "We think of our son, but these men are of great risk to the public in terms of what they have done and what they could do if they were ever released."

The boy's father said: "We have concerns that someone convicted of these offences will likely re-offend.

"It could be four-and-a-half-years sooner that Mr Rennie could now attempt to re-offend.

"It might be somebody else's child."

>>18003976

>>17986919

>>17433061

1st attached

retweet of a JrSpigot posing the following ...

"Director of Judicial Institute of Scotland A J M Duff was arrested and charged in December 2021 but yet to appear in court?

Just asking."

Alistair Duff, John Halley's interest reflected.

also..

Mandate now

"Scotland also lags the majority of jurisdictions in the rest of the world by not having mandatory reporting of known and suspected #CSA by professionals working with children."

2nd

Links this article...

https://scotlandtoday.online/a-very-judicial-silence

Above link seems incomplete...

and this one...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62127523

Children in care are being illegally placed in caravans and boats

2nd pic

Links this article...

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/paedophile-catholic-priest-review-finds-24541732?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

Damning review into paedophile Catholic priest finds 'institutional failures' at Brum Archdiocese

Brum is colloquial slang for Birmingham.

3rd

Links following...

Birmingham priest article and Mandate now ... calling for legislation on the mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse.

4th

should link to this article, but the link from the twitter feed does not direct you here.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/snp-hides-inaction-behind-almost-400-reviews-and-panels-qgrfjw32k

SNP ‘hides inaction’ behind almost 400 reviews and panels

John Halley tweeted on the 21st of July

"Excerpt from DM sent to me:

“So strange, still now every time I ‘like’ your pinned tweet it soon stubbornly and automatically ‘unlikes’ it…”"

It's been around 2 years since I was kicked off that platform and experienced the same issue when trying to "like" his pinned tweet....which I've repeatedly posted here on Qresearch board.

5th

Draws attention to...

"Many, perhaps most, Catholic parents had no idea that Henry and O'Brien were "Integrating Those Who Pose a Risk to Children" in "our Catholic Communities". Not investigated."

and...

"Apparent safeguarding concerns at the very top of the Scottish legal profession. What’s being done about it? It’s getting the silent treatment."

.......In response to his own tweets.

I'm starting to feel like John Halley in that I'm always replying to my own posts and trying to show connections. Like a long lost spiritual brother.

>>18005636

1st screen shot is trying to link to an article with the headline…

Article

Too well connected to be treated like others who are accused?

Unable to find this article. The link is broken as can be seen in ….

Screen shot 2…

Nick Whelan confirms dead link in reply to tweet.

3

Highlighting comments on Sheriff Duff again…

"Why wasn’t Sheriff Duff disciplined? Why was he apparently permitted to retire without disciplinary action? Similarities with cover ups of allegations of clerical abuse? Judicial pension now in payment, pending prosecution and trial? No questions being asked of those at top?"

4

July 22nd sees John reply to a tweet by @GracieDaz1 who says…..

"Interesting to look back to 1998:

‘Children #involved in prostitution’ -

« NEW GUIDELINES for the police, social services and courts »

“There is no excuse at all for a law that punishes abused children”"

Linking to this article in the independent….

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/children-in-prostitution-not-criminals-1194714.html

Children in prostitution `not criminals'

Linking to his own tweet he replies…

Replying to

@GracieDaz1

1999:

“children #involved in prostitution”

“children #falling into prostitution”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/464226.stm

5

JrSpigot and Auld Aussie respond to earlier tweet…

"Why wasn’t Sheriff Duff disciplined? Why was he apparently permitted to retire without disciplinary action? Similarities with cover ups of allegations of clerical abuse? Judicial pension now in payment, pending prosecution and trial? No questions being asked of those at top? twitter.com/AdvocateHalley…"

@AuldAussie

"Having experienced working in both the legal world in Australia and then Scotland I would say there is something very amiss in Scotland. Recommend to all to follow @AdvocateHalley

- @donturvLDR

some potential stories here for your journalist contacts."

JR_SPIGOT

@JrSpigot

·

Jul 24

Why does this sound so depressingly familiar ? @ScottishLegal

@BBCGraemeO

@mandatenow

@JakeKeith_

@HelenaKennedyQC

@Lawscot

>>18006172

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scottish-child-abuse-inquiry-accused-28684548

Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry accused of ignoring Operation Planet and evidence of establishment paedophile ring

EXCLUSIVE: Lawyer John Halley says there was "no excuse" for the inquiry to not include an investigation into the infamous Operation Planet scandal from the 1990s claiming the 'rent boys' involved were victims of child trafficking

ByJohn GloverTrainee reporter

28 DEC 2022

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has been accused of ignoring evidence of an establishment paedophile ring operating in the 1990s.

Advocate and part-time sheriff John Halley was appointed as a lead junior counsel to the public inquiry in 2015 by Scottish Government minister Angela Constance. He says his remit included the investigation of "child trafficking through prostitution of children in care in Scotland".

Mr Halley then battled cancer for several years before handing a detailed legal "Note" to chair Lady Smith on April 1, 2019. He says he was then told that he had strayed beyond his remit and had included material he "ought not to have been working on".

READ MORE: Jimmy Savile cop claims another famous paedophile is operating in UK

The Scottish Daily Express has seen his bombshell Note and it threatens to blow the lid off multiple child abuse scandals that could reach the very top of British society.

In it, Mr Halley calls on the inquiry to look at information that is already in the public domain about a police investigation from the 1990s called Operation Planet, claiming there is "no excuse" for choosing not too.

Operation Planet was launched after officers discovered a 16-year-old boy in a flat in central Edinburgh who had been held over a period of 10 days and drugged and repeatedly raped by a number of men, said to include some influential public figures.

The investigation initially resulted in 57 charges against 10 men, later reduced to 10 charges against five men whose not guilty pleas were accepted by a court in February 1991.

It led to claims of an establishment paedophile ring that is said to have operated over several decades and to have included, at one time or another, well-known TV personalities, judges, lawyers and senior police officers.

Mr Halley analysed a 1993 report written by Lord Nimmo Smith that looked into the Planet investigation and the events that followed called 'Allegations of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice'.

Controversially, by modern standards at least, it dismissed the young people involved – many of whom were children in care – as 'rent boys' and said they were not being abused because they were receiving payment.

Mr Halley said the young people were in fact part of a child trafficking network and called on the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry to re-investigate the Operation Planet probe.

He noted that the criminal cases were dropped after the Crown accepted that sex had been consensual between the complainers and the accused.

"However, that view may be open to question," Mr Halley states. "The extent of the real consent is likely to have been consent to payment. The circumstances appear to point to exploitation through prostitution. This may be trafficking of children in care.

"Thorough investigations should be carried out with or without applications to the SCAI, standing the insidious nature of the problem, and the systematic criminalisation of the victims."

>>18039348

......continued.....

'Crystal clear example of child trafficking in Scotland'

He goes on to discuss the 16-year-old boy – known as M – who was "taken from a care home by a group of men" and states: "M was drugged and raped. He was kidnapped for 10 days. This is a crystal clear, proved beyond reasonable doubt, example of child trafficking in Scotland."

M was held at a property Palmerston Place in Edinburgh's West End owned by Tam Paton, manager of the Bay City Rollers. Although Paton was already a convicted paedophile by the time the report was complied in 1993, the report does not mention his ownership of the property.

Mr Halley adds: "However, there is a striking and very concerning aspect of the material in the report, for present purposes. The concern is that there appears to be little or no active consideration given to the need to protect children in the care system who are at risk of exploitation through prostitution.

"In fact, the accepted views and policies highlighted in the report point to a contrary prevalent attitude which appears to have clearly fostered and encouraged exploitation of young people in care through prostitution. On a critical reading of the report, it appears to intentionally ignore blatant child trafficking."

He describes the original incident as the "clearest record of trafficking of a child in care" and argues that the "abuse of M, and the perpetrators of that abuse, whether or not they were convicted of offences at the time (i.e. even if they were acquitted), require to be investigated by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry".

Adding: "It is certain fact for the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry which has been investigated, prosecuted (to some extent) and reconsidered (albeit for different purposes) in a publicly available report commissioned by the Lord Advocate. There is no reason, and no excuse available, for the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry to decline to consider this.

"This publicly known and investigated case of child trafficking has apparently been ignored from the perspective of child welfare concerns. Prima facie, that may point to failures in various systems, including the legal system at the very highest level.

"But it is not just the procedures in the care system that require to be considered here. Crown Office procedures, the practice of lawyers and the operation of judges and the courts all feature. The failure to identify the problem and call it what it is – child trafficking - and to investigate and report from a welfare perspective appears as endemic as it is damning."

'I was instructed and I did investigate'

Mr Halley continues: "It must be viewed as obviously wrong for the SCAI to ignore the sexual exploitation of rent boys who were in care because money had changed hands (i.e. because their consent was being paid for). The same attitude was and is unacceptable in respect of young women in care. Such situations must be investigated, identified and properly labelled as child trafficking through prostitution.

"It is right and proper, for the sake of public confidence in the interests of justice, that SCAI should fully and properly investigate matters in which the same Crown Office policy operated where there are factual allegations (not necessarily made by the complainers) and they fall within the [Terms of Reference]."

Mr Halley's role in investigating historic child abuse was defined by Lady Smith at a meeting in September 2016 and he was diagnosed with bowel cancer the following month, meaning that he has been unable to return to work.

Nevertheless, he was able to compile his 17,500 Note for Lady Smith. However, after submitting his report, she informed him through the secretary(Daughter of Lord Cullen of 100 year cover up fame)of the inquiry that it included material he "ought not to have been working on".

He said: "I refute that entirely. I was instructed and I did investigate and report. The Note sets out a summary of my remit, important facts, allegations inferences and sources for investigation by the SCAI."

A spokesman for the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry said: "The Inquiry is engaged in extensive investigations which are ongoing. All information we become aware of, related to the abuse of children in care, is considered as part of the work of the Inquiry."

>>18019548

>4.

>

>"This is the real issue that requires urgent attention: the proximity of relationships of key institutional decision makers."

>

>Lord Cullen's daughter as Personal Secret(ary) to the Chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) is one of these instances that need's URGENT attention. Pushed by Lord Brian Gill.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-64126110

Doctors ask health board to declare major incident

30 December 2022

A&E doctors have urged NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to declare a major incident amid "grave concerns" over patient safety, the BBC understands.

Staff working at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital said the A&E department continued to be overwhelmed.

NHS GGC, which declined the move, said it was taking action to support staff.

It comes as both NHS Borders and NHS Grampian issued a plea to staff on leave to come into work, due to "extreme pressure" at hospitals.

With an increase in flu and respiratory viruses across Scotland, health boards have asked the public only to attend A&E if it is urgent or life threatening.

Flu rates in Scotland at highest level since 2017

A series of messages seen by the BBC show a request from A&E consultants in Glasgow to declare a major incident was declined by NHS GGC on Thursday.

They asked for it to be called so extra resources could be diverted to the department.

A major incident is declared when the the health of the community is under serious threat.

Special measures would be put in place to assist the demand on the health service, such as extra resources to manage the volume of patients.

The messages said every space in the emergency department was occupied by patients waiting for a bed in the hospital, with no resuscitation beds and an eight-hour delay for ambulances offloading patients.

'Substandard care'

"We are now unable to provide safe critical care," read one of the messages.

Another read: "This is without any doubt the worst shift I've worked, and I've never been more convinced of real patient harm due to overcrowding and exit block."

Staff said a combination of issues meant critically-ill patients received "substandard care both clinically and from [a] humanitarian perspective".

The health board was later asked to reconsider calling a major incident, which it again declined.

A spokesperson for NHS GGC said: "We have an escalation policy that would allow us to declare any major incidents and we closely monitor the safety of our departments and patients at all times and keep this under close review.

"Our services, like the whole of Scotland, are facing major pressures including significant Covid, flu and norovirus cases and our staff are doing all they can to meet this demand."

Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Little France, Edinburgh

Both NHS Borders and NHS Grampian have put out an urgent call for any staff on leave to come into work.

NHS Grampian said it was facing "an extreme level of pressure" due to the number of acutely ill patients arriving at hospital and difficulties in discharging patients to the community .

NHS Borders also said its services were under "extreme pressure" and it had higher than normal staff sickness levels due to Covid and flu.

Meanwhile, NHS Lothian said the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, St John's Hospital, the Western General Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People were all at full capacity.

The health board said high levels of respiratory viruses in Lothian was heaping extra pressure on its hospitals

'Wear a mask'

Dona Milne, NHS Lothian director of public health, said: "We have now reached extraordinary levels of flu in Scotland that we haven't seen for many years.

"Although they can be mild infections for many, it can be extremely serious for some people causing them to require urgent hospital treatment.

"We are asking anyone who has cold or flu like symptoms to help limit the spread of infection. Stay at home if you feel unwell. And if you do have to go out, please wear a mask."

Scotland recorded its worst ever performance times at A&E in the week up to 18 December, with 55% of patients seen within the government target of 4 hours.

This is down 7.4% compared to the previous week.

At the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, just 45% of patients were seen within four hours.

A total 1,821 patients spent more than 12 hours in emergency departments across Scotland.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/legal-showdown-looms-over-snps-28849557

UK Government set to mount unprecedented legal challenge to block SNP's gender bill

The Tories are poised to lodge a Section 35 Order in an attempt to veto the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which passed in Holyrood by 86 to 39.

ByJohn Ferguson

1 JAN 2023

The UK Government is set to mount an unprecedented legal challenge to block Nicola Sturgeon’s controversial gender reforms. The Sunday Mail has learned that ministers will more likely than not lodge a Section 35 Order in an attempt to veto the legislation within weeks.

The mechanism has never been used but effectively gives the UK Government a right to block laws produced by the Scottish Parliament from gaining royal assent on the grounds they adversely affect UK statutes. The move would almost certainly result in a Supreme Court showdown between First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

A senior UK Government source said: “Ministers across the UK Government have very serious concerns about the SNP’s gender recognition bill. Lawyers and officials are still assessing the potential impact of the bill on the Equalities Act and other UK-wide legislation and considering the implications for prisons and schools.

“Obviously any action by the UK Government would have to be consistent with the devolution settlement but using a Section 35 Order, as set out in the Scotland Act, to prevent the Bill going for royal assent is absolutely on the table.”

Earlier this month the Scottish Parliament voted to make it possible for people to legally change their gender without a medical assessment, faster, and at the age of 16 rather than 18. While many MSPs say it advances the trans community, feminists fear for women’s rights and access to single sex spaces.

A UK Government challenge to the legislation revolves around how the new bill will impact women and girls’ rights in prisons and schools. The fear is that predatory men who claim to be trans to more easily gain a Gender Recognition Certificate in Scotland can then use it to exploit the Equalities Act in other parts of the UK.

The Scottish Parliament overwhelmingly voted in favour of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill by 86 to 39. But Scottish Secretary Alister Jack announced less than an hour later that the UK Government would consider using powers under the Scotland Act to prevent it becoming law.

The UK Government has a four-week period to review any bill agreed by MSPs before it moves to royal assent. A Section 35 allows the Scottish Secretary to lay an order essentially vetoing it.

It acknowledges the legislation is devolved but blocks its progress on the grounds it could have an adverse impact on legislation reserved to the UK.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman made clear any attempt to block the bill would be vigorously opposed.

https://twitter.com/AdvocateHalley

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-60496221

Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry judge had no power to ban media, court rules

Published

23 February 2022

By Andrew Picken

BBC Scotland News

A senior judge was acting beyond her powers to prevent the BBC from fully reporting a £2.6m legal claim against Scotland's child abuse inquiry, an appeal court has ruled.

Lady Smith, chairwoman of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), passed orders stopping detail of an employment tribunal claim being reported.

A judicial review of the orders brought by the BBC backed Lady Smith's move.

But the appeal court has now ruled she "had no power" to make the orders.

The SCAI said it was considering its position in light of the court's decision but added the restriction orders were issued to "prevent the imminent disclosure of confidential inquiry information into the public domain".

The £2.6m employment tribunal claim - alleging discrimination, harassment and victimisation - was brought against the SCAI and its chairwoman in July 2019 by the inquiry's former lead junior counsel, John Halley.

An order restricting reporting detail of the claim, which was later dropped by Mr Halley, was issued by the SCAI and then challenged by the BBC, first through a judicial review and then an appeal of that review decision.

The Court of Session appeal opinion, delivered by Lord Carloway, said Mr Halley's claim contained allegations of discrimination but did not relate to the proceedings of the inquiry so "it follows that the respondent had no power to make the restriction orders".

The appeal opinion also said the court "was not persuaded that any of the issues raised in the present proceedings are academic in the sense that it would be inappropriate for the court to address them".

It further states the BBC's petition "raises an important point about the powers of those chairing public inquiries to restrict publication of material which is the subject of other legal proceedings".

The appeal opinion rejected any suggestion of apparent bias on the part of Lady Smith, stating the restriction orders were made "in the context of the proper administration of the inquiry" and not "for the benefit of the respondent personally".

The opinion also pointed out it would have been open to the SCAI to make an application to the employment tribunal to restrict publication of Mr Halley's claim and response documents, rather than issuing its own media restriction orders.

'Considering our position'

A spokeswoman for the SCAI said the restriction orders were issued to "prevent the imminent disclosure of confidential inquiry information into the public domain and, importantly, protect the anonymity of vulnerable individuals who engage with the inquiry".

She added: "They were issued by the chair under statutory powers that, at the time, she understood were available to her.

"The allegations in the employment tribunal proceedings were withdrawn, and the claim was dismissed.

"We are carefully considering our position in light of the court's decision."

>>18076036

>The SCAI said it was considering its position in light of the court's decision but added the restriction orders were issued to "prevent the imminent disclosure of confidential inquiry information into the public domain".

To prevent the imminent disclosure of a raft of senior establishment figures involved in child abuse and the subsequent cover up of it. Remember this one "personally" requested the daughter of Lord Cullen as her personal secret-ary. Lord Cullen using his position on a previous inquiry to cover up all the evidence for 100 years.

>>18076036

>It further states the BBC's petition "raises an important point about the powers of those chairing public inquiries to restrict publication of material which is the subject of other legal proceedings".

But doesn't at all raise any important points about the "powers" of a chair of a public inquiry being able to retain information from the public about the inquiry itself.It's not a public inquiry if information is prevented from reaching the public.

>>18076036

>The appeal opinion rejected any suggestion of apparent bias on the part of Lady Smith, stating the restriction orders were made "in the context of the proper administration of the inquiry" and not "for the benefit of the respondent personally".

Your behaviour was unlawful but there's no wrong done here

Struggling to wrap my head round that one.

"in the context of the proper administration of the inquiry"so the proper administration of the inquiry is "unlawful"?

>>18076036

>she "had no power" to make the orders.

>>18076036

>The opinion also pointed out it would have been open to the SCAI to make an application to the employment tribunal to restrict publication of Mr Halley's claim and response documents, rather than issuing its own media restriction orders.

Translated means…

You can't do it that way but you can do it this way. A nod to Smith on how to "prevent the imminent disclosure of confidential inquiry information into the public domain".

It's not just a nod to tell her how to suppress John Halley's "note" to her pointing out the establishment villains…..more important than that it eats up time. They are using the same tactics to deal with Halley that they have used so successfully to silence victims; they are usingTIMEto contain him. I've said it many times……."Time is their greatest ally" waste enough of it and both plaintiff and respondent/defendant die off without a word spoken in truth.

>>18076036

>A spokeswoman for the SCAI said the restriction orders were issued to "prevent the imminent disclosure of confidential inquiry information into the public domain and, importantly, protect the anonymity of vulnerable individuals who engage with the inquiry".

We know that the "anonymity" they are trying to protect are senior figures in all the high places of government. We know the "vulnerable individuals who engage with the inquiry" are from among their own ranks, not the victims of abuse. They are protecting the abusers not the abused.

>>18076036

>"We are carefully considering our position in light of the court's decision."

Translation….

We'll take your advice on board and apply to the employment tribunal forthwith.

I really should have reviewed this stuff in real time.

1

Shame the link to the "US calls out Scotland over child slavery cases" story in the Times is not available. Here's one from the Scotsman

https://www.scotsman.com/news/crime/scottish-prosecutors-angered-by-us-criticism-of-record-on-child-slavery-3794204

"A spokesman for the Scottish government said: “Any form of human trafficking or exploitation is completely unacceptable and it is vital Scotland continues to play its part in helping victims." Lady Smith @SCAI

appears to have done nothing re my Note for SCAI, dated 1 April 2019.

Yeah, seems Lady Smith took it as an April Fool's prank. 2023 now and still no public Acknowledgement of it……..or is the jailing of John Watt QC evidence of movement here? I don't know.

2.

Replies. Auld yin bang on the money again.

Replying to

@AdvocateHalley

and

@SCAI

@ScottishCAI

when will Lady Smith address the issues raised in John Halley's note? Why is it being avoided?

3.

Love the hat John. Not just any old hat?

4.

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

·

Aug 6, 2022

Replying to @AdvocateHalley @BDevlin1 and 3 others

Here's a belter from 30.6.16:

"The first minister stands up at Holyrood and says ministers do not accept Prof Lamb's claims about the independence of the inquiry." Demonstrable lies. I was there, I have the documentation and I can, and will, prove it.

https://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla

Takes you to the bbc story here….

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-36713198

Timeline: Events leading to Susan O'Brien's resignation

5.

Replies to above are interesting.

as are the ones here prior to and leading to the tweet highlighted in 4. The origin of the tweet is in reply to a photo taken (supposedly by Sturgeon)…

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

·

Aug 6, 2022

Replying to

@janeymcd23

@BDevlin1

and

@spunsin

Wouldn’t even trust that @NicolaSturgeon

took the photo, without evidence, I’m afraid

Brian Devlin

@BDevlin1

·

Aug 6, 2022

Replying to

@AdvocateHalley

@janeymcd23

and 2 others

She didn’t claim she had

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

·

Aug 6, 2022

Replying to

@BDevlin1

@janeymcd23

and 2 others

You're right Brian. Apologies for loose language. The point remains however. Prevarication, concealing the truth and active lies are matters for which the FM has record.

All of that coming before this one..

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

Replying to

@AdvocateHalley

@BDevlin1

and 3 others

Here's a belter from 30.6.16:

"The first minister stands up at Holyrood and says ministers do not accept Prof Lamb's claims about the independence of the inquiry." Demonstrable lies. I was there, I have the documentation and I can, and will, prove it.

>>18077541

>Takes you to the bbc story here….

>

>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-36713198

>

>Timeline: Events leading to Susan O'Brien's resignation

>

The resignation of Susan O'Brien QC as head of a panel examining historical child abuse in Scotland is the latest in a series of controversies. Here is a timeline of events which led to the departure of Ms O'Brien.

line

December 2014 - Abuse inquiry announced

Following a series of disclosures of abuse in childcare institutions in Scotland, the Scottish government announced that it would be setting up an inquiry to examine the details. Ministers said panel members and a chairman would be appointed in due course.

line

May 2015 - Susan O'Brien appointed

Leading QC Susan O'Brien was appointed to chair the inquiry, which will have statutory powers to compel witnesses to give evidence.

The new head said she would give full details of how the inquiry would operate once panel members had been appointed by the Scottish government.

She added at the time: "It would be helpful if all other interested parties made themselves known to the inquiry now, so that their views can also be taken into account."

line

01 October 2015 - Abuse inquiry formally set up

The inquiry formally begins its work to investigate allegations of child abuse at Scottish institutions.

line

22 February 2016 - Susan O'Brien QC makes comments

During a training session attended by 10 inquiry team members, she appeared to make light of the abuse suffered by an individual at a boarding school.

line

09 May 2016 - Scottish government informed of concerns

Psychologist Claire Fyvie, who attended training session, emails government to say that she has concerns about comments made by Ms O'Brien.

line

10 May 2016 - Susan O'Brien rejects criticism

The chair, other panel members and senior counsel to the inquiry, reject characterisation of Ms O'Brien as a "person whose attitudes, values and beliefs are incompatible with the post of chair of a public inquiry into child abuse".

line

16 May 2016 - Susan O'Brien asked to resign

The chair is asked to resign by Scottish government officials on the basis of the letter of complaint. She refuses.

line

20 May 2016 - Proceedings to remove Susan O'Brien begin

Susan O'Brien advised that Scottish ministers are "initiating proceedings" against her under reference section 12 of the Public Inquiries Act 2005.

line

25 May 2016 - Second panel member Michael Lamb supports Susan O'Brien

Prof Michael Lamb writes to John Swinney backing Susan O'Brien and says section 12 proceedings seem to be "predicated on the assumption that Scottish ministers, rather than the panel, should control the inquiry".

line

30 May 2016 - Third panel member Glenn Houston supports Susan O'Brien

John Swinney receives a letter from another panel member of the inquiry giving his support to Susan O'Brien. Mr Houston warns that there would be a "significant risk of loss of public trust and confidence in the integrity of the inquiry should the chair be removed from office".

line

31 May 2016 - John Swinney meets Lamb and Houston

Glenn Houston and Prof Michael Lamb meet with the deputy first minister. Prof Lamb warns that he will resign if Mr Swinney moves to dismiss Ms O'Brien.

line

22 June 2016 - Susan O'Brien meets John Swinney

Ms O'Brien insists that she does not underestimate the gravity of child abuse. The QC also states that the legal basis for the section 12 proceedings are "fundamentally flawed".

line

27 June 2016 - Prof Michael Lamb resigns

Prof Lamb writes to John Swinney resigning as one of three panel members in the child abuse inquiry, saying it is "doomed" by government interference.

line

30 June 2016 - Nicola Sturgeon rejects accusation of interference

The first minister stands up at Holyrood and says ministers do not accept Prof Lamb's claims about the independence of the inquiry.

line

4 July 2016 - Susan O'Brien QC resigns

The chairwoman of the inquiry writes to ministers tendering her resignation from the position with immediate effect.

>>18077710

>senior counsel to the inquiry

>>18077541

https://twitter.com/AdvocateHalley

1.

AuldAussie

@AuldAussie

·

Aug 6, 2022

Replying to @AdvocateHalley @BBCandrewpicken and @STVNews

Prof Lamb is a respected academic. The public should know the truth. Having followed the Australia Royal Commission and the Scottish Inquiry. Scottish Inquiry is political and corrupted in my view. Only politically weak get investigated. The Crown Office should be investigated.

John responded to the above tweet. The guy is absolutely correct, the Crown Office should be investigated. The whole system needs investigated. The public don't know the truth because everything is covered up from above. The chair of the SCAI tried to cover it up using her position on a supposedly "public" inquiry to block John's pursuit of justice for his sacking from the inquiry. Government secrecy is for covering up corruption. Since when did an employee get to withhold information from the employer?You're the employer, don't take this pish

Halley replied..

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

·

Aug 7, 2022

Prof Lamb was the only world authority figure ever associated with @scai

. Yet @NicolaSturgeon

simply swept away his concerns in a blatant pack of lies to parliament. Ask her civil servants,Donald Henderson, Andrea Summers and Julie-Anne Jamieson. Liars, one and all.

4 liars in total including Sturgeon…all of them blackening the name of Prof Lamb who John describes as "the only world authority figure ever associated with @scai"

He is later in the short thread corrected by his new auld pal from Austrailia who gives him the correct twitter handle for the SCAI which is, should anyone want to voice an opinion on their progress is …… .@ScottishCAI as the correct tag.

Times article on Lord Hardie…

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ex-chief-prosecutor-lord-hardie-should-have-told-police-about-sex-abuse-mz0590j2f

Ex-chief prosecutor Lord Hardie ‘should have told police about sex abuse’

A former head of Scotland’s prosecution service who went on to become a judge has been lambasted for not speaking to the police when he learnt that a colleague had molested the two daughters of another advocate.

The girls’ mother said Lord Hardie, previously Andrew Hardie QC, should have called the police when her former husband told him John Watt had sexually abused both his daughters while they were in bed. Hardie was leader, or dean, of the Faculty of Advocates from 1994 to 1997, before becoming lord advocate in Tony Blair’s Labour government in 1997, responsible for all prosecutions in Scotland.

…

2

Lord Hardie Times article..

3

Lord Hardie times article part 2

I note from the text John wrote to accompany the link to the times story and what else is still to unfold.

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

·

Aug 7, 2022

And much, much more…

>>18106357

https://twitter.com/AdvocateHalley

1

2nd Link to previously posted Times article with the following link..

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/401185/cops-quiz-fraudster-who-forged-former-lord-advocate-andrew-hardies-signature-to-buy-a-car-20-years-ago/

MYSTERY PROBE Cops again quiz fraudster who forged former Lord Advocate Andrew Hardie’s signature to buy a car 20 years ago

Jamie Coltart questioned two decades after twice using the lawman's chequebook to pay £325 for the motor

BY DOUGLAS WALKER

8 Jan 2017

COPS have again quizzed a fraudster who forged a top judge’s signature to buy a car 20 years ago.

Jamie Coltart was questioned by detectives as part of a mystery probe two decades after twice using former Lord Advocate Andrew Hardie’s chequebook to pay £325 for the motor.

A police source said yesterday: “Numerous interviews have been conducted at various police stations including Linlithgow.

They added: “It’s all part of an ongoing inquiry.”

Coltart was 16 and living in a children’s home at the time of the fraud in May 1996.

He used the cheques to buy a car from James Hawthorn in North Berwick, East Lothian.

The crime came to light when cops in England needed to trace the motor’s owner and discovered dodgy cheques had bought it.

A court heard Lord Hardie — then Dean of the Faculty of Advocates — had never met Coltart or knew who he was.

He also said he hadn’t realised his cheques or card were missing.

Coltart claimed he got them from a mystery pal and denied faking the signature twice.

He changed his plea to guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in February 1997. But the fraudster dodged being jailed or fined by Sheriff Andrew Bell.

The Crown also accepted his denial to using Lord Hardie’s Visa card to buy £200 worth of goods from petrol stations.

Coltart’s lawyer Alex Lafferty said in court: “He is remorseful.”

Lord Hardie was due to be called as a witness but was not needed. He later said: “I understand it’s a guilty plea. I have no further comment.”

Lord Hardie, 70, was Scotland’s top law officer from 1997 to 2000.

The life peer from Edinburgh — known as Baron Hardie of Blackford — has been married to Catherine for 45 years. The couple have three children.

Police last night refused to discuss the current inquiry. They said: “This is not something we will be commenting on.”

Both Lord Hardie and Coltart declined to comment.

>>18106525

1.

1st screenshot from above post with following tweet…

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

·

Aug 7, 2022

Look at this. @Unite4_change

is clearly saying that covering up of child sexual abuse allegations, and associated corruption, is ok by SG and Scottish institutions because its on a smaller scale that at Westminster. Unacceptable. Corrupt4_change.

2

Full exchange with @Unite4_change

In retort to this narcissistic prick who clearly feels he has a "more educated and … more developed political consciousness." he replies…

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

·

Aug 8, 2022

Replying to

@Unite4_change

and

@SCAI

Bullshit. There would be less corruption is those at the top were required to be less corrupt.

Yes John, but if you extrapolate on that thought … wouldn't there be "less corruption" if there wasmore punishment?

Think of how many people these miserable cunts have sentenced over their life times? Could some of them be overturned now? I don't know, but would assume a good possibility.

3

I'd have loved to have read the Times article referred to at the top, unfortunately it is not obtainable now.

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

·

Aug 8, 2022

The First Minister @NicolaSturgeon

told lies to the Scottish Parliament.

Nicola Sturgeon seems to lie every time she opens her mouth John.

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

·

Aug 8, 2022

Why would SG want to undermine an independent child abuse inquiry? Well, recent news stories might provide some explanation of the apparent desire to cover up. Shame on the Scottish Government.

Yes they do.There must be plenty of them with things to hide. The whole system is a festering sore.

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

Many, many questions to be asked about this. The Lord President of the Court of Session, the Lord Advocate (x2, Wolffe, QC, and Bain, QC), and the Dean of Faculty (x2, Jackson, QC, and Dunlop, QC), have had my Note for SCAI dated 1 April 2019, for in excess of three years each.*(see 4 for full thread)

4

https://twitter.com/AdvocateHalley/status/1556374159806144519

*

Yes it seems the dam is breaking with regard to Hardie.

The stories about Hardy are hitting the headlines the week in between the guilty verdict of John Watt QC and his sentencing to 10 years 2 weeks later on just this very day August 8th 2022.

I had posted the story of John Watt several times on earlier boards and as soon as it went up the boards filled up with shite/spam. I posted it on the Scottish midnight riders board after a couple of failures…eventually got them on later board.

5

In reply to his earlier tweet …

Scotland's First Minister @nicolasturgeon

lied to the Scottish Parliament.She knew that Scottish Government civil servants Donald Henderson, Julie-Anne Jamieson and Andrea Summers had been undermining the SCAI:

with the following link…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36650261

Panel member quits 'doomed' Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry

>>18039348

>>18039360

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scottish-child-abuse-inquiry-warned-28721801

Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry warned Scotland may have a 'problem' similar to the scale of Rotherham scandal

Exclusive: A detailed legal note to the inquiry explains that exploitation of young people in care in Scotland could be similar to what happened to the Rotherham scandal and the inquiry should try to find Scottish survivors.

News

ByJohn Glover

8 JAN 2023

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has been warned Scotland could hide similar "problems" to the Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal. It heard it would be "delusional" to think it did not "occur in Scotland" with the scale being unknown.

The comments were made by advocate and part-time sheriff John Halley, whho was appointed as a lead junior counsel to the public inquiry in 2015 by "Ministerial determination". He says his remit included the investigation of "child trafficking through prostitution of children in care in Scotland".

Mr Halley then battled cancer for several years before handing a detailed legal "note" to chair Lady Smith on April 1, 2019.

The Scottish Daily Express has seen his bombshell document, which we revealed earlier claimed the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry had 'ignored' evidence of an establishment paedophile ring operating in the 1990s.

In the note, Mr Halley calls on the inquiry to use its resources to call for a report into the scale of child trafficking by prostitution in Scotland as there has been "virtually no work done" that he was aware of to gather and assess meaningful data in relation to prostitution, or trafficking, of girls and young women in care in Scotland.

He added that the Rotherham experience "ought to inform that the problem is likely to be much more prevalent for girls in care than for boys".

He adds that a survivor claims she has details of Scottish cases of child trafficking by prostitution and ends the section stating that the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry "should be anxious to investigate".

The note says: "Sexual exploitation, through prostitution and child trafficking, of children and young people in care (up to age 18) is an issue that is self-evidently at the very most serious and worrying end of the spectrum of child abuse that this Inquiry ought to be dealing with, insofar as relevant to the Terms of Reference."

A children's safeguarding review in 1997 by Roger Kent voiced "great concerns" on the issue and estimated at the time there were about 10,000 young people being cared for away from home in Scotland with 5,000 thought to be accommodated at boarding schools, 2,500 in foster care and 2,500 in residential care.

The report notes that young people in care were able to get a Saturday job or do paper rounds noting that if they needed more money to cover a drug habit or to finance themselves when they ran away, "prostitution may appear superficially to be an easy option."

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham from 1997 - 2013 stated that there "has been relatively low reporting of sexual exploitation of young males, with the exception of the police operation and a criminal conviction in 2007 of an offender who abused over 80 boys and young men".

"Over the years, this was identified at inter-agency meetings and in child sexual exploitation plans as an issue that required attention in Rotherham. That continues to be the case today," it added.

Mr Halley analysed a 1993 report written by Lord Nimmo Smith that looked into the Planet investigation and the events that followed called 'Allegations of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice'.

He wrote in the note: "It is delusional to think that such problems do not occur in Scotland. The Nimmo Smith Report, among other materials, informs that such problems do occur in Scotland. The numbers and even the scale of the problems might be different.

"The Nimmo Smith Report was commissioned for purposes other than to identify children and young people in the care system who were at risk… A similar operation has not been embarked upon, for any purposes, in relation to girls. Yet the Rotherham experience ought to inform that the problem is likely to be much more prevalent for girls in care than for boys.

"There are likely to be cases of exploitation of young people and children in care who will not themselves make applications to the SCAI.

>>18116908

continued…..

"That is known from other inquiries such as that carried out in relation to the exploitation of children in Rotherham. Manifestly, that does not relieve the SCAI of the duty and responsibility to fearlessly and thoroughly search for and investigate these cases."

A survivor in care "asserts that she has details of Scottish cases of child trafficking by prostitution" in relation to women.

In 2014, Police Scotland launched a probe similar to the one in Rotherham investigating the sexual exploitation of vulnerable children in Scotland by men from ethnic minorities.

The advocate adds that "little research" has been done in Scotland into the involvement of children in care in prostitution, although some English studies have recently shown under-16s of both sexes going out from residential care units to work as prostitutes.

However, he notes the Scottish Government-funded research facility Centre for Excellence for Children's Care (CELCIS) at Strathclyde University could be asked by the SCAI to carry out the research to help with the inquiry or other academics.

Mr Halley claims the research appears to have "largely ignored" or "not followed up" adding that "the problem of trafficking of children in the care system through prostitution appears to have been ignored, as a genus of child abuse in Scotland which is worthy of thorough investigation, by the SCAI to date."

He adds: "The issue is never tackled head-on, as far as I have seen thus far, in a subsequent report or series of reports leading to the establishment of the present Inquiry. This is surprising given the acute nature of the subject within the context of any consideration of the care system or child abuse in general."

He concluded: "The detail set out above provides analysis and examples which point to a number of very grave problems in relation to the policy and practice of the courts, COPFS, social work services, the police, the Faculty of Advocates and every other part of the systems which ought to have been configured to protect children in care who have been trafficked through involvement in prostitution.

"The cases detailed above are mere examples of cases in which multiple failures by state and non-state institutions (including the courts) to protect children in care in Scotland can be seen. There are likely to be many, many more."

A spokesperson for the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry said: “The Inquiry is engaged in extensive investigations which are ongoing. All information we become aware of, related to the abuse of children in care, is considered as part of the work of the Inquiry."

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/popular-glasgow-mcdonalds-targeted-afghan-28909930

Popular Glasgow McDonald's targeted by Afghan men looking to exploit children, ex-cop claims

Exclusive: Police officers were asked to compile data of missing people who turned up with new items or with older men as part of the operation while looking out for any reference to the McDonald's in the Four Corners.

A popular Glasgow McDonald's was targeted by Afghan men looking to groom children, an ex-cop has claimed.

The former Police Scotland officer alleges that bobbies were told to "watch out for any reference" to the Jamaica Street McDonald's at the famous Four Corners as "intelligence from elsewhere" indicated that "males from Afghanistan" were "using it as a base" to exploit children in care.

The former cop told the Scottish Daily Express that they were based "primarily outside" and when it started to rain they would move to the Hielanman's Umbrella under Glasgow Central railway station. It is thought they would approach vulnerable-looking children with an aim of exploiting them.

The former officer was part of Operation Dash, a broader attempt to root out child sexual exploitation across the Strathclyde police area working in partnership with charity Barnardo's Scotland to gather intelligence.

Police have carried out two investigations into grooming gangs in and around Scotland's largest city, Operation Cotswold and Operation Dash.

Operation Cotswold was set up in 2011 and focused on a group of Middle Eastern asylum seekers in the north of the city. At least 26 potential victims were identified and files were sent to the procurator fiscal.

Police Scotland ended Operation Dash almost two years after it started with 27 offenders reported to the procurator fiscal. One culprit, 20-year-old Afghan asylum seeker Javaid Akhond, was jailed for six years for preying on young girls.

The officer was part of the team providing research for CID to investigate concentrating on children in care, which lasted about three or four months.

He told the Scottish Daily Express: "We concentrated on children in care. Each division had cops checking files for evidence of grooming, such as missing person reports which mentioned the missing person had returned home with new clothes, or other gifts, or any disclosures of being with older men, or being dropped off by older men.

"We found a report that mentioned a girl who had been in care, had invited some other girls from a Paisley care home to a party in Clydebank, where there were older men.

"There was no more detail than that, so we passed it on for further enquiry to the DCs who were part of the next phase, which was to make further enquiry into what we found. I did not find out what the result was.

"I also remember being told to watch out for any reference to the McDonald's in Glasgow at the junction of Argyle Street and Jamaica Street, as there was intelligence from elsewhere that males from Afghanistan were using it as a base.

"We did not find anything specific about that. The problem we ran into, was the lack of detail in the reports, which may just say 'traced in city centre', but did not say where or what the missing person was doing, or who she was with."

The information was then passed over to the CID team based out of the Baird Street police office and fed from a machine. The division would never hear back as it was "typical of CID operations". He added: "Any uniform cops brought in to assist were kept out of the loop as much as possible."

https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/scottish-news/23239857.msps-get-pay-rise-april-confirmed/

MSPs to get a pay rise in April it has been confirmed

10th January

MSPs are to get a pay rise, it has been confirmed.

The increase of 1.5% in April will give MSPs an extra £1000 a year, taking their annual salaries to £67,661.

Ministerial salaries will also increase by 1.5%.

READ MORE: Glasgow primary schools shut amid teacher strike

For a number of years, Scottish Government Ministers have declined to accept pay increases. 

Currently, cabinet secretaries are paid extra on top of their MSP pay.

Nicola Sturgeon, The First Minister is paid £96,567 on top of her MSP salary taking the total to £163,229.

If she takes the increase it would take her pay to £165,676.

Cabinet Secretaries are paid £50,097 on top of the MSP salary taking their total to £116,759.

If they accept the rise they will earn £118,510.

Holyrood annually increases MSP pay in accordance with the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) for the average of full-time public sector workers in Scotland. 

The Scottish Parliament said this means MSPs don’t vote on their pay rate, and the increase they receive reflects public sector pay rises in Scotland.

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/hundreds-scots-demand-nicola-sturgeon-28938421

Hundreds of Scots demand Nicola Sturgeon resign in protest outside Holyrood

The event, led by the Glasgow Cabbie, attracted at least 500 people as they demanded the First Minister resign and campaigned against the gender reform bill.

David Walker

12 JAN 2023

Hundreds of angry Scots made their point in a protest outside Holyrood on Thursday as they demanded that Nicola Sturgeon resign over a number of failings.

Organised by the Glasgow Cabbie, a well-known taxi driver in Scotland, two bus loads of protestors came in from Scotland's biggest city to make their feelings known.

They held up a number of placards, mostly in protest at the controversial gender reform recognition act which was passed by MSPs at the end of last year.

At least 500 people were in attendance as they drowned out a counter karaoke protest which was held by trans allies and activists to show their displeasure at the event.

The campaigning was named "Leave our women and kids alone" as it targeted both the gender reform act, and the sex surveys for kids which have been criticised due to asking leading questions about sexual activities in schools.

Stef Shaw, the Glasgow Cabbie, introduced a number of speakers who all talked about their distrust of the current Holyrood government amid a call for action.

He said: "We've had absolutely amazing support today for our campaign. I can't believe the amount of people here, you are here in your colours, suffragettes, union jacks, saltires, your posters and placards and everything else that you have brought.

"We are representing decent people of Scotland who want to crush the GRA which is appalling. This is a highly dangerous bill to both women and children. We are here to show our voice against the bill. We want the UK Government to use their powers to quash it.

"I am loving all these signs I see, the taxi for Sturgeon one, resign Sturgeon, yes please."

Other groups were also represented at the protest, including the Scottish Family Party, the Alba Party, the Women Won't Wheest movement and some Unionist Clubs of Scotland.

The Scotland Matters group also toured their van around the event as they protested against Ms Sturgeon and the SNP over their failures in Scottish Government.

Unionist protestor Niall Fraser was one of the speakers at the event as he pointed out the amount of failings the SNP have presided over, including the chaos which has engulfed the NHS in Scotland.

He said: "People are suffering deeply. A few days ago Sturgeon held a press conference because our NHS is dying right before our eyes. She doesn't care, our fellow Scots are dying needlessly due to the inaction of the people in that building {Holyrood}.

"Instead of Humza Yousaf taking responsibility, he chose to weigh up the bodies of our dead Scots and compare that to the rest of the UK."

The demonstration was peaceful with no violence or disturbances as the police watched on. There was a wall of noise coming from the protestors as they whistled, cheered and made noises with their pots and pans.

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/anger-eu-project-sees-police-28841534

Anger as EU project sees Police Scotland rebrand paedophiles as 'Minor-Attracted People'

The term – described as 'deeply disturbing' and 'baloney' – was included in the Chief Constable's year-end report as part of an EU project to tackle child abuse and exploitation

Mary Wright

George Mair

30 DEC 2022

A controversial move to label paedophiles as "Minor-Attracted People" in a top-level report has been defended by Police Scotland, with the force suggesting the EU was to blame.

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone's annual year end report refers to child abusers as Minor-Attracted People (MAPs). The move comes amid wider concerns by campaigners over what they see as attempts to rebrand paedophilia as a harmless sexual preference.

A spokesman for the force stressed that MAPs is not a term they routinely use to describe child abusers and said that its use in the report had to be understood in context.

READ MORE: UN official called out for describing trans woman's harassment of a Scottish MP as 'epic'

He explained that the reference to MAPs was in relation to the force's engagement with the European Union's Horizon Europe Project – Prevention of Child Sexual Exploitation.

The report states: "The project's main agenda is to develop understanding and approach to avoid the victimisation of children by engaging Minor-Attracted People (MAPs) and providing them with the necessary support, treatment and guidance to help prevent criminal activities."

A police spokesman said: "Police Scotland does not use the term Minor-Attracted Person. The reference in the Chief Constable's Assessment of Policing Performance 2021/22 was in the context of Police Scotland's engagement with the Horizon Project EU consortium to tackle Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation.

"The term was used in the commissioning documents for the consortium and is more commonly used on the continent. In September, Police Scotland representatives successfully lobbied for the MAP term not to be used by the consortium."

The term MAP is contentious because child abusers are trying to escape the stigma attached to paedophilia and maintain they should be regarded as a niche group alongside the LGBT community.

Kenny McAskill, the Alba Party MP for East Lothian and former SNP Justice Secretary, said any use of euphemisms in relation to child sex abusers was "baloney".

He said: "Spouting these euphemisms simply masks the reality and their danger.

"I very much welcome the common sense approach from Police Scotland, though even in commissioning documents these euphemisms should be avoided as they mask the reality and hide the horror. The term in whatever context is baloney."

'Most Scots will find this deeply disturbing and wrong'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11656145/Nicola-Sturgeons-SNP-plans-ask-children-male-female-transgender-survey.html

Now Nicola Sturgeon's SNP plans to ask SEVEN-year-olds if they are 'male, female, non-binary, transgender or other' in school survey branded 'disgraceful' and 'indoctrination'

A school survey in Scotland will ask seven-year-olds about their gender identity

SNP and Lib Dem-run Aberdeen City Council organised the survey for 59 schools

The gender options are: 'Male, Female, Non-binary, Transgender or Other' 

By Michael Blackley For The Scottish Daily Mail

20 January 2023

Pupils as young as seven are being asked if they identify as transgender or non-binary in a 'disgraceful' school survey.

Primary school children taking part in the sex and wellbeing study are told an answer to the question is 'required' to move on to the next page of the survey.

The pupils – who can select either 'male, female, non-binary, transgender or other' – are not required to have a parent present.

Furious parents last night hit out at the 'indoctrination' of young children who do not know 'if they want chicken nuggets or fish fingers for dinner'.

It comes days after Green MSP Maggie Chapman opened the door to children as young as eight being able to change gender.

The survey has been introduced by Aberdeen City Council – led by an SNP and Liberal Democrat coalition – to its 59 schools.

Douglas Lumsden, Tory MSP for North East Scotland and a former co-leader of Aberdeen City Council, said: 'It is disgraceful that the council are forcing children as young as seven to answer questions about their gender.

'We have heard from Maggie Chapman just this week that she would like children as young as eight to be able to change gender.

'These snooping questions from the council seem to be following the same agenda.'

The survey tells pupils it will ask questions about physical wellbeing 'and a small section on your relationships with others and the choices that you make'. It is the first local authority known to be asking the gender question of its P4 children.

The Scottish Government introduced a 'health and wellbeing' survey which has provoked outrage among many parents.

It has been branded 'creepy' and 'intrusive' following concerns about questions that senior pupils in secondary schools were asked.

Under the Government guidance, all pupils from P5 to S6 will be quizzed about issues including school, health, wellbeing, physical activity, sleep patterns, social media, body image and bullying in a 20 to 40-minute online survey to be completed in class.

Those in S2 and above will also be questioned about alcohol and tobacco, while pupils in S4 and above will be asked questions about relationships and sexual health.

These questions have caused controversy because they ask about experience of specific sexual acts.

n the Aberdeen survey, primary school pupils aged from seven to nine are being asked about their gender

Jo Bisset, organiser for the UFTScotland parents' group, said: 'What we are seeing is a huge growth in gender dysphoria among young people. It can look like it is being encouraged and I think the fact that schools transition children without their parents' knowledge is something our members find very disturbing.

'Outside of incredibly exceptional circumstances, parents are the right people to speak to children about these things. This idea that virtual strangers should be enabling transition is very worrying.

'It could easily be the case that parents have no idea about any of these issues and it is hidden from them.

'A seven to nine-year-old child doesn't know if they want chicken nuggets or fish fingers for dinner, and that is how it should be. They shouldn't be worrying about this sort of thing.

'It is indoctrination by adults looking to pursue their own ideology and impress it on children.'

…

Trying to go fast, have several breads to clean up, please forgive if I accidently deleted something important, re-post if able

BREAKING NEWS

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/crown-office-investigating-legal-figures-29024149

Crown Office investigating legal figures accused of historic child abuse linked to Operation Planet scandal

Scottish Conservative MSP Russell Findlay has asked for more details after Solicitor General Ruth Charteris KC revealed that 'investigations are ongoing'

ByJohn GloverTrainee reporter

23 JAN 2023

Senior members of the legal establishment linked to trafficking, sexual exploitation and abuse of children in care are being investigated in Scotland.

Scottish Conservative MSP Russell Findlay was told about the probe last year through a disclosure by Ruth Charteris KC, the solicitor-general for the SNP Government.

Four years ago part-time sheriff and advocate John Halley raised concerns about historic allegations involving senior Scottish legal figures in a bombshell Note to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

The Scottish Daily Express revealed exclusive details of Mr Halley's Note in December, which included well-founded claims of an establishment paedophile ring operating in the 1990s.

At the time, he says he was told that he had strayed beyond the bounds of his remit and claimed there was "no excuse" for choosing not to investigate the allegations. Now, however, it appears that an investigation IS taking place.

Mr Findlay said: "I was surprised to be told by the solicitor-general that some form of investigation is apparently taking place. This has only now been disclosed, four years after Mr Halley submitted his important and concerning note.

"However, [the solicitor general's] response raises far more questions than answers, which is why I've asked John Swinney for a full explanation about what exactly is going on."

The Conservative MSP tabled questions in parliament amid concerns about the apparent failure to act on Mr Halley's note. The solicitor-general responded that it would be "inappropriate to comment" as "investigations into this matter are ongoing".

I've found a bit of time to go back to review the twitter account of John Halley @AdvocateHalley and find myself unable on a suspended account to go beyone his August 8th tweets which is handy as that is the day that John Watt QC was jailed for 10 years for the abuse of children.

Probably worth noting I've scrolled all the way back as far as I can and working myself back from the past in the direction of the present.

1.

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

·

Aug 8, 2022

I am truly surprised tonight. My twitter account has come under attack by multiple, apparently bot, accounts expressing support for @NicolaSturgeon

’s right to tweet in a personal capacity. My response: real victims real crimes. Don’t cover up child sexual abuse allegations

I posted the article that day of John Watt QC being jailed for 10 years here on an earlier board…well I tried to….the boards went haywire as they did 2 weeks previous when I posted on his guilty verdict.

Perhaps some of those tweeting at John are sympathectic to the SNP's creepy interest in the sexualising of other people's children? Not saying they are of course but that there's a possibility of it.

>>18181643

>https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11656145/Nicola-Sturgeons-SNP-plans-ask-children-male-female-transgender-survey.html

>

>Now Nicola Sturgeon's SNP plans to ask SEVEN-year-olds if they are 'male, female, non-binary, transgender or other' in school survey branded 'disgraceful' and 'indoctrination'

2.

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

@JohnSwinney

initiated procedures to have Susan O'Brien QC removed as Chair of SCAI. No such procedures initiated for another Inquiry Chair interviewed under caution re allegations of child sexual abuse. Please confirm this is factually correct @JohnSwinney

.

Quote Tweet

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

·

Aug 8, 2022

@NicolaSturgeon @AuldAussie @ladymcbeth2

The treatment of Susan O'Brien QC, SCAI Chair in 2016, is nothing short of a public disgrace when compared with that of another Inquiry Chair, interviewed by police under caution re allegations of child sexual offences, and still in place twitter.com/AdvocateHalley…

3.

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

·

Aug 8, 2022

@JohnSwinney

initiated procedures to have Susan O'Brien QC removed as Chair of SCAI. No such procedures initiated for another Inquiry Chair interviewed under caution re allegations of child sexual abuse. Please confirm this is factually correct @JohnSwinney

.

Quote Tweet

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

·

Aug 8, 2022

@NicolaSturgeon @AuldAussie @ladymcbeth2

The treatment of Susan O'Brien QC, SCAI Chair in 2016, is nothing short of a public disgrace when compared with that of another Inquiry Chair, interviewed by police under caution re allegations of child sexual offences, and still in place twitter.com/AdvocateHalley…

Louise Slorance

@LouiseSlorance

·

Aug 8, 2022

Replying to

@AdvocateHalley

and

@JohnSwinney

Is that a case of not what you know but who you know?

John Halley Advocate

@AdvocateHalley

Replying to

@LouiseSlorance

and

@JohnSwinney

Appears to be an inconsistent approach to apparent reasons for justifying removal of public inquiry chairs. The inference you draw seems a reasonable one to me Louise.

9:20 PM · Aug 8, 2022