Grim. But I'm glad it's out in the open. Now not even hiding in plain sight. Those weasel words of denial won't wash any more. This open declaration of war against Zionism, a belief in Jewish self-determination, espoused by the vast majority of Jews in UK and all the Jews living in Israel, means WE SEE YOU. Clearly. “Sunlight is the best disinfectant”
@JohnSwinney Yes. My concern isyou are now playing a very familiar constitutional game with an appalling human tragedy.
We have just learned that 1,133 Scots died from drugs last year, an increase of 11 per cent. Scotland's drug-death rate remains vastly higher than England's despite both countries operating under the same Misuse of Drugs Act. Scottish Parliament
Yet almost immediately we are being pointed towards something Westminster will not currently permit: decriminalisation.
That is politically convenient because it moves the argument from “What has the Scottish Government done with the powers it has?” to “What powers won't Westminster give us?”
I don't accept that diversion.
Drug legislation may largely be reserved, but health, addiction treatment and the organisation of Scottish treatment services are devolved. Scotland has had more than a quarter of a century to build a treatment and recovery system capable of responding to addiction.
Indeed, Swinney himself told Parliament yesterday: “I accept full responsibility for everything that happens in the name of my Government.” Good. Then let's start there.
L
Decriminalisation deserves a serious debate, but it is not a detox bed. It is not residential rehabilitation. It is not same-day access to treatment. It is not continuity of care and it is not a recovery pathway.
Nor should Portugal be reduced to the slogan “they decriminalised and deaths fell”. Portugal combined legal reform with treatment, prevention, harm reduction and social reintegration. Oregon subsequently reversed its decriminalisation policy, while British Columbia has decided not to renew its pilot after concluding that it had not delivered the results hoped for.
On the Lord Advocate's 2021 guidance, I would support an independent review. Recorded Police Warnings are not decriminalisation, but after five years we should surely know what happens to people receiving them. How many reach treatment? How many remain engaged? What are their subsequent outcomes? If the approach works, demonstrate it. If it doesn't, change it.
What I object to is the suggestion that Scotland's catastrophic mortality can somehow be explained by the absence of another power at Westminster.
England operates under the same UK drugs legislation and does not have Scotland's mortality rate. That fact alone tells us that the Misuse of Drugs Act cannot possibly be the explanation.
The First Minister can argue for decriminalisation. He can argue for more powers. But he cannot use the powers he doesn't have as an alibi for the outcomes produced under the extensive powers his Government already exercises.
You can blame Westminster for refusing to change the law. You cannot blame Westminster for failing to build Scotland's treatment system.
After 1,133 deaths, Scotland needs accountability for what is happening now, not another constitutional argument about what might be possible if Westminster behaved differently.
Best, Annemarie
@WatpRFCTeadyBs 3-0...you couldn't score 3 at home against Hibs, Motherwell, Jablonec or any of the other teams you expect to beat. Your problem is you haven't faced a team like Celtic yet, quick, direct with lots of goals in them. If you get a zero today you have won a watch!!
@amalwaysskint@conor_matchett Tell ye something I seem to be the only cunt in Paisley paying on ffs, old dears, junkies, immigrants and the young team all batter on while I pay more than 6 quid for a wee run to the shops ffs
The creator of the trans flag, Robert Hogge (right) who goes by Monica Helms, used to steal their mother's underwear, then moved on to stealing random women's underwear for sexual reasons, and has written a story about an adult man marrying a teen girl who doesn't age.
@_lliesl_@littledarkhorse@joannaccherry We take it in turns to hide it in our own drives. The secret club code, to be uttered immediately before knocking three times on the door, is, ‘What is this campervan I don’t see before me?’ To which the correct response is, ‘It is not at your mother-in-law’s house.’