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Police staff confidence hits new low

22 Mar 2017

Douglas Ross

Police officer confidence throughout Scotland has hit a new low, an internal survey conducted by Police Scotland has revealed.

The shocking statistics show that just one in 10 police officers believe that Police Scotland has a “positive future.”

It was reported this morning that the questionnaire asked all staff their thoughts on the statement: “I feel positive about the future within Police Scotland.”

Results revealed that only 10 per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement – while 71 per cent suggested they either disagreed or strongly disagreed.

The severe confidence crisis looks set to continue over the next few years with the force facing huge budget pressures on the SNP’s watch.

Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Douglas Ross said: 

“This survey puts a spotlight on just how little confidence there is within the police for the single force.

“Officers and staff need to have full confidence in Police Scotland if they are to work to the best of their abilities and keep Scotland’s communities safe.

“It’s extremely worrying that almost four years on from the SNP centralising our police forces, morale within the organisiation remains at rock bottom.”


For a copy of The Sun’s exclusive article regarding the survey click here: https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/756737/shock-stats-reveal-police-morale-has-hit-new-low-as-just-one-in-10-cops-back-the-forces-future/

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David Hodge’s resignation makes the need for full disclosure from the Government more pressing – Teresa Pearce

Teresa Pearce, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, commenting on the news that Surrey County Council Leader David Hodge is standing down as the Local Government Association’s Conservative group leader, said: 

“It appears that the row around the Tory sweetheart deal for Surrey Council has claimed a victim with the resignation of David Hodge as the man responsible for standing up for all Tory councils. Perhaps that’s unsurprising given the accusations he colluded with the Government over a favourable deal not available to other councils.

“This doesn’t put the matter to bed however. Theresa May has failed to come clean about the terms of the deal offered to Surrey, failed to apologise for her Government’s misleading suggestion that there had been no such deal and would not give the assurance that other local councils will get the same treatment.

“David Hodge’s resignation makes the need for full disclosure from the Government more pressing.  What we need from the Tories is a long term sustainable plan for funding social care, rather than cosy deals for Tories councils.”

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Jonathan Ashworth responds to news that three more trusts have been put into financial special measures

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on news that three more trusts have been put into financial special measures by NHS Improvement, said:

“The Government’s inept mismanagement of the NHS is pushing hospital finances to the brink. NHS Providers have already warned this week that delivering services within the current financial settlement is “mission impossible”. The news today that another three hospital trusts have been forced into financial special measures just illustrates the deepening financial challenge facing the health service.

“Theresa May can’t keep on forcing hospitals to choose between balancing the books and providing safe patient care. By underfunding the NHS for so long, the Prime Minister is putting patients at risk. The Government needs to set out a long-term, sustainable financial settlement for the NHS which allows hospitals to provide the top quality health services which Britain’s patients expect.”

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MacAskill describes SNP’s currency plans as ‘not just lamentable, but laughable’

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  • MacAskill describes SNP’s currency plans as ‘not just lamentable, but laughable’

22 Mar 2017

dean-choice

A former SNP frontbencher has described his party’s plans for the currency of a separate Scotland as “not just lamentable, but laughable”.

Writing in today’s Herald, ex justice secretary Kenny MacAskill said that criticism of the nationalists will “turn to scorn” unless they can come up with a proper plan for the finances under independence.

The remarks come as Nicola Sturgeon gears up for the second of a two-day Holyrood debate on whether or not there should be another independence referendum.

But as the First Minister prepares a new break-up bid, she has repeatedly failed to address questions such as which currency an independent Scotland would use and how it would cope with huge debts, deficits and a massive shortfall in North Sea oil revenues.

Mr MacAskill said: “The fundamental issues that lost the first referendum and undermine the case for a second – the currency and the economy – remain.

“Failure to address the currency issue is becoming not just lamentable, but laughable. Action needs taken before criticism turns to scorn.”

Scottish Conservative shadow economy secretary Dean Lockhart said:

“This is a cutting intervention from someone who, not that long ago, was at the heart of the SNP’s separation campaign.

“If even Kenny MacAskill feels the nationalists’ currency plans are laughable, you can imagine what the voters think.

“The SNP is rushing into this second campaign, and in the process is making all the same mistakes which lost the vote last time.

“The First Minister has recently changed the SNP’s position from flirting with adopting the Euro to possibly using the pound, while other senior SNP ministers want to use a new currency altogether.

“With so much SNP confusion over a fundamental issue, how can voters be asked to make an informed decision in an independence referendum?”


To see the original remarks, visit: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15173328.MacAskill__SNP_failure_over_currency_issue_becoming__quot_laughable_quot_/

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The astonishing amounts paid by NHS for locum doctors is another example of woeful workforce planning by Conservatives – Justin Madders

Justin Madders MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, commenting on new figures which show that hospitals have flouted caps on locum pay, said:

“The astonishing amounts paid by the NHS for locum doctors is yet another example of the woeful workforce planning by the Conservative Government. There isn’t just a shortage of permanent medical staff, there’s now a shortage of available locums to plug the gaps.

“Patients want to know that taxpayers’ money is being spent on patient care, not padding out the profits of employment agencies. Jeremy Hunt needs to explain what he’s going to do to deliver a long term, sustainable workforce plan for the NHS.”

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