To say thank fuck for Nicola Sturgeon

[Chippednailvarnish]

I can't stand her anti English stance, but at least one political leader is doing something for the refugees...

So... If you would rather see a socialist party in govournement in Scotland, who do you vote for except the SNP? You've just said Labour left themselves nothing to offer (agreed!) and the SNP have taken all their ideology. Who else is there? Let me know so I can tell my pals.

Cant vote for the SNP as they are gobshites

The difference is that labour were socialist because that what they believe in, SNP spout it because it's popular.... big difference imo

In the last 5 years of following politics my opinion is exactly the opposite haha! Having never been old enough to experience a Labour party that actually believed in socialism I guess we shall have to agree to disagree.

I am well old enough hamiltoes - i've lived through it all, thatcherism etc included.

I wish I wasn't bringing my children up under SNP rule but hey ho.

The Labour party haven't been a socialist party since 1997.

Except for Corbyn and a few others.

I'm very biased because I've known certain SNP members on a personal level since I was 3 years old but NS is lovely. Suffice to say when I last saw her, when she was still health secretary, had her lunch in Morrisons cafe as opposed to somewhere posh! She always comes across as being genuinely lovely and normal and there's no excuse in my opinion for personal attacks.
Can also vouch for AS being one of the nicest people I've ever known. Both genuinely have Scotland and it's people at the heart of their interests.

The SNP have done more for my family than DC ever has, the only party that matched them was Labour in the early 2000s in terms of what they did for us - unfortunately everything else Labour did sort of ruins that. People forget how difficult life is under a Tory rule for those with disabilities , in scotland if you're in that sort of situation the SNP pretty much ends up as one of your only options.

Oh and I'm completely AGAINST free prescriptions except for certain sectors, AGAINST free school meals and AGAINST council tax freezes.

I feel like public services are crumbling. My DD's school is literally falling apart and I feel like weeping when they all come out carrying their free pack lunch on a Friday, which, incidentally, is full of sugary shite.

Oh and I'm completely AGAINST free prescriptions except for certain sectors, AGAINST free school meals and AGAINST council tax freezes.

You sound like a bundle of joy at a party. Are you also against free bus passes?

Totally agree shouldnthavesaid. I also think the free school lunches are a good idea. My DD enjoys them and having sampled some of the food, it's not bad, better than what was available when I was at school. DD gets a roll/sandwich, fruit, yogurt and juice as a packed lunch. Just a basic lunch. I wouldn't be happy if it was full of sugar.

The SNP won 56 seats out of 59. There have been comments here indicating half of Scotland are against them. If that's the case we will see what happens at the next election.

Bus passes should be means tested. I know plenty of pensioners who have a couple of foreign holidays a year who regularly treat themselves to a free day out on the bus to Inverness.

Free school meals was a lib dem initiative that Westminster allocated extra funding to the Scottish govt (the Scottish govt could have chosen to spend it how they wished). No idea what the meals are like as my children are slightly to old. Lovely idea but, again, paying for a lot of rich people to feed their kids for free.

I favour free prescriptions and bus passes but am against council tx freezes. Our libraries schools and social services need more money

So what if a pensioner can afford a holiday. They have paid into the system and are entitled to their bus pass. If anything the richer ones have paid more tax so do deserve the busses. Means testing would be too expensive and too difficult.

Some pensioners are on humongous pensions - I know of couples on £40k. Means testing would be easy - receive pension credits and get a bus pass.

kimboc a party full of SNP supporters?

No, I'm not against free bus passes.

Have you got children in state education in Scotland? You might find you don't laugh much either

I've got children in state education in scotland. It's good.

Free pack lunch round here - sandwich, yogurt, juice, apple.
No houmous or hand-made pasta though.

Ubik - I take it that your children aren't currently doing their Nationals? It is an unmitigated disaster.

Also 34% is now considered a pass at higher maths.

Warning - Very Superficial Comments!
I took the train from Lanark to Glasgow yesterday. Hadn't done it for many years since I'm based in South East now. The trains were clean and cheap. No parking charges at the station. The stations were clean and had flower displays. This compared to the filthy dilapidated state of things years ago. Houses I could see out the window well kept.
Glasgow Buchanan Street was good but even better than before.

Under the surface though. The education system seems to be going down the pan.
There is no accountability at primary level. Much as I hate SATs they have kept schools accountable in England.
A lot of money is wasted building new schools but not employing staff. In England, most classes have a TA. Not in Scotland.

Literacy rates and numeracy rates have dropped in Scotland.

Teenagers from poor areas of England are more likely than teenagers from equivalent areas in Scotland to go to university.

I have a child doing Nationals this year, I really have no idea whether he is clever and will get 7 A's, or if he will struggle to pass any at all. That's not right surely? Information is like the crown jewels, closely guarded, you need to wait ages to see it and when you do it's underwhelming and not what you thought. I include my son in that issue too though.

I completely agree. I have no idea if my son is a child genius (unlikely), average or needs more support. The report cards are an exercise in futility.

DH and I are considering hiring a tutor just so we can have an honest assessment. This can't be right, surely?

BGE no longer includes a lot of things e.g home Ec, very few art lessons, no drama and a switch from Spanish to German in S3 as that's what teacher they have available. So BGE is not very broad and not very general unless all you want to study is English or Maths. Not really the schools fault as they can only work with the teachers they have. On the plus side I know my children can read and write, sadly there are children arriving in high schools that can't manage the basics, that's after 7 years in school under the SNP. Yes, we can judge NS on her record in education, I already am and find it wanting.....

What year is he in Queen?

3rd year.

He is enjoying his subjects (which is good) but enjoying and being successful are not the same thing.

Still have children at primary school and things really seem to be falling apart. Might be the new headteacher or symptomatic of more general problems in primary schools.

I am distinctly underwhelmed with the Curriculum for Excellence as are a lot of my teacher friends.