Newsnight for Laughs

I don't normally watch Newsnight Scotland for laughs.

But last night I nearly fell off my chair listening to Labour's justice spokesperson - Richard Baker - trying to defend his claim that 'knife crime' costs the NHS in Scotland £500 million every year.

Now 'knife crime' is a serious business, but making ridiculously exaggerated claims about its impact and cost - doesn't help anyone decide how to tackle the problem.

A chap from Straight Statistics - Nigel Hawkes, I think was his name - was interviewed before the Labour spokesperson.

Nigel proceeded to drive a coach and horses - followed by a double decker bus - through the claim that £500 million was an accurate cost to Scotland's NHS.

Nonsense said the straight talker from Straight Statistics, couldn't possibly - not even in your wildest dreams - be any more than £10 million a year. 

Still a lot of money - but 50 times less than the wild claims being bandied around by Labour's Richard Baker. 

Somehow I think we're going to hear more on this issue - as the boffins get to work.          

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