Cerv posted:

do you really believe that there was no reason?

if this was his first warning from Twitter he doesn't seem to be taking it on board; instead crowing to his followers. which makes me think a permanent ban is inevitable. like Milo Yiannopolous got eventually

Coohoolin posted:

I mean he wasn't given a reason by Twitter.

Jedit posted:

You missed the P&J again. They're reporting on how the SNP are introducing Council tax raises that disproportionately hit the North East to fund projects in other areas of Scotland. They don't appear to have noticed that the oil industry has collapsed.

Pissflaps posted:

I thought there'd be a jump for Yes support in the polls but it just hasn't happened.

I can't see another referendum happening any time soon.

mehall posted:

Regarding the P&J story:

The tax increase is to council tax at Band E or higher (band E is pretty loving high, you gotta have a nice house for that poo poo).

Jedit posted:

Yeah, let's look at an example of a really nice house in Band E:



There are four flats in that block. The first floor corner flat above the office is Band E.

Jedit posted:

Yeah, let's look at an example of a really nice house in Band E:



There are four flats in that block. The first floor corner flat above the office is Band E.

jre posted:

What's the rent / valuation of the flat ?

mehall posted:

Jeez. They really need to update the evaluations.

Coohoolin posted:

That's Great Western Road, you're heading into the west end there, which is by far the wealthiest part of town.



See the big chunk of blue in the southwest part of the city? It's the richest part of town and just picking a picture of a small looking flat is disingenuous.

quote:

Nicola Sturgeon has suggested thatindependence may offer an alternative to a "lost decade" of "uncertainty and turmoil" facing the UK following Brexit, reports The Herald.

The Scotsman also quotes the first minister, who said the reality of Brexitmeant Scots should be ready to consider independence to avoid this "lost decade".

The National reports on Ms Sturgeon's warning that damage to the "economy and other areas of our society and lives [from quitting Europe] would be deep and severe."

The first minister painted the "dire scenario" to MSPs, says The Times of Scotland, which also quotes her warning that it could take years to establish a new working relationships between the UK and the EU following Brexit.

The Scottish Daily Mail claims that the BBC's plans to replace its flagship six o'clock news programme with a Scottish bulletin are "dead in the water" after being rejected by UK ministers.

Scottish football chiefs have been "blasted" by police unions and politicians, writes the Scottish Daily Express, after confirming the next Old Firm match will be played on Hogmanay. [N.B. this doesn't seem to match the express's front page]

On the same story, The Scottish Sun says furious frontline "bobbies" have accused top brass of exposing them to a "frenzy of booze-fuelled mayhem" ahead of the planned game between Celtic and Rangers.

The Daily Star of Scotland also leads with the story and says the police union and politicians have labelled the SPFL's decision to stage the match at Ibrox on 31 December as "unbelievable".

The Daily Record takes up the cause of a mother, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Anne Maclean-Chan from Moray has made a "heartbreaking plea" to the first minister to be given the expensive drugs she needs to stay alive so she can have more time with her young sons.

Hundreds of passengers had their travel plans thrown into chaos last night after a hole was spotted on Aberdeen Airport's only runway, according to the Press and Journal.

quote:

Ruth Davidson now has highest satisfaction ratings of any party leader

Jedit posted:

I don't know, I did a street name search on the City Council website. The point is that Aberdeen will be disproportionately hit by a council tax rise because the oil economy drove up our rents and valuations before the freeze. What would be a band D or even C in Glasgow or Edinburgh is a band E here.

Cerv posted:

Shocked that people stop supporting redistribution of wealth as soon as it hits their pocket

jre posted:

Is it not reasonable for people who can afford to pay £700-800 a month in a rent for a city center flat to contribute to the most deprived areas of Scotland ?

Extreme0 posted:

Just going to say gently caress morrision utility group, BT openreach and Plusnet for my ongoing problem of not having functioning broadband for 3 weeks which is still ongoing.


It's why they prefer to donate money instead of paying a daily bigger tax. They can come off feeling good when they have their little sympathy drive and give money to the folks worse off when they feel like it.

Jedit posted:

Ahahahahahahahaha, look at this person who thinks rents are affordable.

jre posted:

That's not an answer, is it wrong to ask people earning considerably above the national average to pay more to help people in a deprived area ?

Coohoolin posted:

It is if the SNP do it, since as we know, everything they do is a secret plot to gain power.

By claiming they are going to abolish council tax for the best part of decade , but actually only freezing it leading to the near collapse of many councils

jre posted:

That's not an answer, is it wrong to ask people earning considerably above the national average to pay more to help people in a deprived area ?

Extreme0 posted:

Just going to say gently caress morrision utility group, BT openreach and Plusnet for my ongoing problem of not having functioning broadband for 3 weeks which is still ongoing.

forkboy84 posted:

The biggest failure of the last 9 years of SNP government is undoubtedly their miserable failure at replacing the terrible council tax with a more progressive system of local taxation.

At the very least there needs to be a revaluation because it's been 25 years. Might actually start to deflate the insanity of the housing bubble, though god forbid a politician actually comes out and does anything that might lower house prices. But yes, a local income tax would be a much fairer system.

Jedit posted:

Why do you assume they're earning considerably above the national average wage? Aberdeen rents are high for everyone, not just the oil people. Landlords can't charge less without bankrupting themselves and they can't sell up now without taking a big loss, but they can sure as poo poo keep charging high rents to the people who have to rent from them.

So far as raising the money for deprived areas goes, I'd rather it were done by increasing income tax or better yet, corporation tax.

quote:

The head of Glasgow's lifeline service for rape victims has called for more funding after demand has soared by almost 300 per cent.

Isabell Kerr, centre manager for Rape Crisis in Glasgow, penned a letter to Glasgow City Council leader Frank McAveety this week.

In the last year, the vital service has helped thousands of people and plays a huge part in the recovery of rape survivors following their attacks.

In 2015/16, they spent 3541 hours in 3139 appointments, held more than 200 group sessions and handled 779 cases.

They have also had one-off contact with almost 700 survivors of rape, and say in the last three years demand for their some parts of their service has increased by almost 300 per cent.

Demand for support and advocacy related calls, texts and emails have increased by 286 per cent, while overall demand for the service has risen by 58 per cent.

They assist with everything from counselling and referrals to other services, to taking survivors through the court process if they choose to seek a conviction against their attackers.

Isabelle told the Evening Times: "For the past 13 years our grant from the city council has been frozen but the number of survivors and family members seeking support from the Rape Crisis Centre has grown.

"Every year we are told that we have to work within existing budgets.

"We actively raise money to fund our services with many supporters giving up their time and energy for the service.

"But for the past three years we’ve operated at a deficit in order to meet the growing demand on our service.

"There are numerous studies that show the disproportionate number of sexual abuse survivors in addiction and mental health services, so as well as making economic sense to adequately fund the rape crisis centre it makes moral sense to support survivors in Glasgow. The value of our service is well known and accepted across the city so why doesn’t the funding follow?"

According to their records, around 65 per cent of those they help are from the city, yet only 12 per cent of their funding comes from Glasgow City Council.

In the letter, Ms Kerr wrote: " We have acquired a body of expertise over 40 years and we continue to build upon it.

"The training all of our workers must undertake is not only intensive but is also now accredited.

"We are no ‘tea and sympathy outfit.

"We are a body of highly skilled, trained experts in the field of sexual violence and abuse and we should be recognised as such."

The organisation is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and have held numerous fundraising events to generate cash.

A spokesman from Glasgow City said: “Glasgow Rape Crisis Centre has an very important role in supporting those affected by sexual violence against women.

“Despite a huge reduction in the council’s overall budget in recent years, we have continued to fund the centre at previous levels.

“The centre is able to draw upon other sources of funding and is one of the many providers supported by the council that address violence against women.

“The council remains fully committed to tackling gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation.

“In 2015 Glasgow was named a White Ribbon City in recognition of the work it does to tackle violence against women.

“Our work includes the End Prostitution Now campaign, Sixteen Days of Action, the Routes Out of Prostitution project, the Trafficking Alliance Raising Awareness (TARA) project and ASSIST, the support project linked to Glasgow’s domestic abuse court.”

Niric posted:

Oh, hey, look at this story from today, and note the absence of the words "Scottish" "Government" "cuts" - the SNP, like the Tories, realise that local government (which still has a strong Labour influence) takes the blame, even when central government takes their money:

Demand for Glasgow rape services soar as boss calls for more council funding

forkboy84 posted:

I've just found out that one of the Highland Tory MSPs is their Land Reform spokesman. And obviously he is a landlord (& 4th Baronet). For all that Ruth Davidson does well, you have to say that making a member of the landed gentry your land reform spokesman is a mite tone deaf.

Semprini posted:

It's not the best question, asking how satisfied people are with the person's performance as leader of their party.

I'm not a Tory, but I'm very happy with Ruth Davidson's leadership of the party, as she continually advocates policy positions that show the electorate that the Conservatives are still a shower of cunts.

I doubt the poll had room to explain that though.

Alertrelic posted:

You must have missed this little exchange.

Jedit posted:

I'm honestly more concerned about the apparent 300% rise in rapes in Glasgow.

Zalakwe posted:

as our system becomes more presidential

Angepain posted: