Mark Irvine - Blogger, Campaigner, Organiser

The First Minister is the sole arbiter, both judge and jury, as to whether other Scottish Ministers have broken the ministerial code - so it’s a nonsense procedure which lacks independence and integrity — Mark Irvine (@Mark1957) May 30, 2022 I complained to Nicola Sturgeon about the outrageous behaviour of one of her ministers (Christina McKelvie) who made a false and misleading claim on social media during a ScotGov consultation on gender recognition.   The answer I received was shocking because it is clearly absurd to argue that Scottish Ministers can say whatever they damn well please on social media, so long as they use a personal account. Yet that is the highly partisan stance of Scotland's First Minister who is judge and jury in her own cause when it comes to breaches of the ministerial code - there is no independent arbiter involved in the process.    Scottish Ministers - Abusing Social Media ( August 05, 2021 ) So the First Minister's response to my complaint...

She even has 50 replica models that sleep in her bed and she gets physical with https://t.co/OxAMD72bKs — The Daily Record (@Daily_Record) May 30, 2022 I don't doubt this woman really believes she's attracted to a Boeing 737 named 'Dicki', but that doesn't mean the rest of us have to play along with her make believe world.   

Scottish govt, which wants to make it possible for anyone over 16 to change their legal sex by filling in a form, doesn’t have an official definition of gender, let alone gender identity, yet has crafted life changing legislation on the premise of GI https://t.co/GH7ZGs8mKO pic.twitter.com/dzndISTQ0x — Susan Dalgety (@DalgetySusan) May 29, 2022 It's unlawful for under 18s to get a tattoo or drink alcohol. Yet Scottish Ministers are proposing that under 18s should have the right to make life-changing decisions and change their sex under the law just by filling out some paperwork.     Self-ID Is An Absurdity! ( May 23, 2022 ) Trans activists chant mindless slogans, demand access to life-changing medical treatment and surgery which is very expensive, of course.    Yet at the same time argue that this is effectively a lifestyle choice which has no need for medical oversight in terms of who can access these services.  Self-ID Is An Absurdity ( May 13, 2022 ) I ...

How can a pay review be properly 'independent' if Ministers have already announced the outcome they desire, i.e. a big increase in councillors' pay? SNP ministers and COSLA couldn't have picked a worse time for this review with much lower paid council workers being told to 'tighten their belts'. But how else do you read the following extract from a joint ScotGov/COSLA statement: "We have therefore jointly committed to undertaking an independent review of Councillor remuneration. This review will be undertaken at pace to examine the terms and conditions of the Councillor role, in particular the current rate of pay. The review will commence as soon as possible after the forthcoming Local Government elections to ensure that terms and conditions truly reflect the responsibilities of the 21st century Councillor." The SNP abolished the independent review body (SLARC) which advised ministers on councillors' pay up until 2013. So this latest announcement s...

SNP ministers have given council bosses a bumper 9.4% increase in the space of just 12 months. Meanwhile low paid council workers are denied the same generous treatment and are planning to go on strike. The 5.2% pay award this year (2022) is on top of a 4.2% pay award in 2021 - and SNP ministers have also agreed to a joint 'independent' review of councillors pay the purpose of which is to deliver another, even bigger pay rise in 2023. Now I don't see how a pay review can be properly independent if it is conducted jointly with COSLA. Because COSLA represents councillors' interests and its members are all - you guessed it - councillors . So who is looking out for the public interest - are they all just having a laugh at the taxpayers expense?  In any event if union members are looking for a good slogan for their pay campaign, I'd suggest something along the following lines: What Do We Want? 9.4% - and not a penny less!  Social justice, of course, demands this must be ...

The Scottish Government hands council bosses a handsome pay rise of 5.2% (on top of 4.2% last year) with the promise of more to come in 2023 after a review of councillors' pay. SNP ministers then have the cheek to lecture other council workers, and other public sector workers, about tightening their belts. Pay Bonanza For Scottish Council Bosses! ( May 22, 2022 ) SNP ministers have given council bosses a bumper 9.4% increase in the space of just 12 months. Meanwhile low paid council workers are denied the same generous treatment and are planning to go on strike. The 5.2% pay award this year (2022) is on top of a 4.2% pay award in 2021 - and SNP ministers have also agreed to a joint 'independent' review of councillors pay the purpose of which is to deliver another, even bigger pay rise in 2023. Now I don't see how a pay review can be properly independent if it is conducted jointly with COSLA. Because COSLA represents councillors' interests and its members are all - y...

Scotland could face a summer of strikes, with nearly 10,000 council workers considering a walkout. The GMB is going to ballot all school, early years, & waste & cleansing members next month, over a 2% pay offer they warn will turn the cost of living crisis into a catastrophe. pic.twitter.com/MDPfRIyDo7 — Go Radio (@thisisgoradio) May 30, 2022 SNP ministers have handed a 5.2% pay rise to Scotland's councillors, yet are providing only a 2% pay increase for all the workers who kept Glasgow's essential services going during the Covid pandemic.    No wonder council workers are planning to strike.