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.
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.
