Latest news with #BrianWhittle
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Stop your nonsense! Dithering BBC told to agree deal to televise Glasgow 2026 or else it will have damaging ramifications for the Commonwealth Games and beyond
The BBC have been warned to 'stop their nonsense' - and secure a deal to televise the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Every Games since 1954 has been screened for UK viewers by the national broadcaster, but the corporation's role in next year's event is in doubt following news that a deal has not yet been struck. Mail Sport understands that, although talks are ongoing with different parties, the BBC are reluctant to proceed despite their long history with the Games. Former Scottish track star Brian Whittle, now a Conservative MSP, says if the BBC don't show the Games it will be 'another nail in the coffin' for sport in Scotland - and he is urging the UK Government to step in should the broadcaster not agree terms. 'They absolutely should be showing the Games,' he said. 'If I was to hazard a guess, I'd say this was the curse of the 'dancing around the handbags to do a deal'. 'The driving force behind this is probably the logistics and the money side of things and the amount of money it costs to host one of these things.' Whittle fears the future of the Games will be in jeopardy if the BBC are not involved. 'As we currently stand, the reason the Games are in Scotland is because the Games are struggling, and were struggling to become financially viable in Australia. So it's really important, even if it is a reduced (event), that this is successful and is seen by as many people and validated by as many organisatons as possible. 'If the host nation's broadcaster decided it wasn't big enough, how on earth can (other) countries be persuaded to host the Games? 'It's crucial that the BBC stop this nonsense.' Whittle competed in three Games during his athletics' career, winning silver in the 4x400m in 1990. He said it was 'massively important' as an athlete for the Games to be shown on television, and to obtain exposure to a much bigger audience. 'The 1986 Commonwealth Games (in Edinburgh) was my first major outdoor Games,' he said. 'It brought me to the homes of people across the country, and then two weeks later I won the European championship. 'As a home nation, you get to wear the Scotland vest, and it's a stepping stone to a much bigger arena. 'I was a fledgling UK athlete at the time, but it was about being able to compete alongside contemporaries and be seen. The Commonwealth Games is unbelievably important to our home athletes.' Asked if he felt there should be cross-party support for the BBC to remain the host broadcaster, Whittle said: 'Yes, definitely'. 'I think there would be cross-party support for this and, if there's political pressure to be put on the BBC, it should be done. 'I will be doing exactly that and speaking to the BBC and asking what they're playing at. 'I know outside broadcasters have already been subcontracted, so I just don't believe it. I do think it's a dancing around the handbags thing. 'It's vital that they keep the association with the Games. More and more key sports are not hosted on the BBC any more. It's really important, especially in a home Games, that the BBC are the host broadcaster. 'The ramifications - if it didn't happen - would be a massive blow to sport in this country, because these major Games are a shop window for physical activity and sport. If a big swathe of the population doesn't have access to that, the inevitability is that less people will see world class sport at that level, less kids will be enthused by that. 'My worry is that there is this continual decline in participation, in physical education, fitness, health, in sport, and that would just be another nail in the coffin.' The Department for Media, Sport and Culture told Mail Sport that the BBC's failure to commit so far is a matter for 'Commonwealth Sport and Glasgow 2026'. But a spokesperson added: 'The Commonwealth Games is an amazing sporting event, and the Government is keen that Glasgow 2026 provides another great opportunity to inspire millions by bringing elite sport into our living rooms.' Glasgow stepped in to save the day with a 'revamped' Games after Australia pulled out of the event in 2023, due to a significant rise in costs. The Games' future was immediately put in doubt, but a decision was agreed for Glasgow to host the competition on a scaled-down basis, with financial help from Commonwealth Games Australian, and the Commonwealth Games Federation. Organisers have made clear that no public money will be used to host the Games in Scotland, although the UK government will provide financial support should there be an increased security threat. The revised edition will feature ten sports and six para-sports, across four different venues - after securing £100m from the Australians to host. Though massively reduced in size, it's a model that organisers hope can be used in further iterations, so that a long-term future is secured.
The Herald Scotland
07-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish ambulance wait times increase across 32 councils
The most critically ill patients, classified in the 'purple' category, are those identified as likely to have a 10% or more chance of cardiac arrest. As such, the SAS prioritises immediate care for these individuals. However, access to efficient care has become increasingly difficult to secure. The number of Scottish ambulance staff have increased since 2019. In rural Aberdeenshire, for example, seriously ill patients have been forced to wait for nearly 14 minutes to receive life-saving treatment, up from 9 minutes, 41 seconds in 2019. Similarly, 'purple' case holders in Angus waited an average of 12 minutes, 12 seconds in 2024, up from 9 minutes, 30 seconds five years ago. While response times in Glasgow (6 minutes, 42 seconds) and Edinburgh (6 minutes, 26 seconds) remain low, they have risen by 58 seconds and 32 seconds from 2019, respectively. Across all local authorities, wait times increased by an average of 1 minute, 23 seconds over the six year period. The largest increases occurred in Aberdeenshire, where wait times rose by 4 minutes, and in North Ayrshire, by 2 minutes, 59 seconds. Furthermore, figures reveal that the average time from emergency call to arrival on scene has risen by at least one minute in 21 local authorities, and by at least 30 seconds in all councils other than Dundee and Stirling. Stirling was one of just two councils not to see an increase greater than 30 seconds. (Image: Stirling Council) A rising caseload could play a role in the delays. In 2019, 13,515 'purple' incidents were attended by the SAS across Scotland, according to internal data reviewed by The Herald. However, by 2024, this number had risen to 24,881 incidents, an increase of 84%. In the same time frame, the number of SAS employees increased from 5,094 to 6,496. SAS employed 1,641 ambulance paramedics in 2019, as well as 882 care assistants and 1,350 technicians. By 2024, these figures rose to 2,291 ambulance paramedics, 953 care assistants, and 1,606 technicians. A Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) spokesperson told The Herald: 'Our latest statistics show our median response time for our most serious calls across the country is currently 7 minutes 13 seconds. 'We measure response times from the moment a caller contacts us, and the longer response times often relate to incidents where the patient's condition was assessed at a lower call category, such as amber or yellow, and were then subsequently upgraded. 'We continually look for opportunities to improve our response times and are working closely with hospitals which experience delays in accepting ambulance patients.' Conservative MSP Brian Whittle. The Scottish Tories have slammed the SNP over the findings. Brian Whittle MSP, Shadow Minister for Public Health, Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport told The Herald: 'These alarming figures highlight how ambulance response times are spiralling out of control on the SNP's watch. 'Make no mistake, lives are being needlessly lost because nationalist ministers have failed to get on top of a crisis which has been worsening for years. Whittle added: 'We know response times are impacted by ambulances being stacked up outside emergency departments for hours, unable to hand over patients because of a shortage of hospital beds, which in turn stems from the SNP's broken promise to eradicate delayed discharge. 'Our dedicated ambulance crews and patients deserve better than this chronic SNP mismanagement.' In December 2024, SAS crews were placed on level four of the organisation's resource escalation action plan (REAP) - its highest level of emergency. At the time, the SAS said patients who were not critically ill may have to wait longer for treatment. Read more: Scottish community park could be leased for 150 years to new energy company 'An uphill battle': The Stirling Uni student who fought her way to graduation Scottish Water spend on sewage spills revealed amidst 'fat cat' bonus criticism The Herald previously revealed that nearly 9,000 patients died prior to arriving at hospital in 2024. Figures obtained via FOI showed that 8,870 people died before an ambulance arrived or paramedics were unable to resuscitate them, a jump of 82% from 2019, when 4,820 people died in the same circumstances. At the time, Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 'Ambulances are there to save lives rather than certify deaths, but too often, they are stuck on hospital forecourts rather than responding to calls. 'These figures show the true toll of the SNP's failure to reduce waiting times – thousands of patients are dying before they ever get a chance to enter a hospital ward. Our NHS needs a new direction and Scottish Labour is ready to deliver it.'
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Tory MSP hands SNP victory in knife-edge Holyrood vote – after hitting Yes button instead of No
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said it was "a genuine mistake". BUZZER GAFFE Tory MSP hands SNP victory in knife-edge Holyrood vote – after hitting Yes button instead of No Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TORY MSP Brian Whittle handed the SNP victory in a knife-edge Holyrood vote — after hitting the Yes button instead of No. The former Team GB relay runner's blunder saved Nats from defeat as MSPs debated a legal services shake-up. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Brian Whittle takes the baton from Kris Akabusi during his running days 3 The debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament. The SNP instead landed a 59-58 win — while experts claimed the amendment bungle could see home-buyers left high and dry if their solicitor goes bust. Last night, a Holyrood source said: 'Brian dropped the baton — and unfortunately it means the rules are now a complete mess.' Labour MSP Paul O'Kane hit out: 'The amendment was very clearly not in interests of consumers when undertaking what can be an extremely stressful action like buying a house. It shouldn't have been passed and it wouldn't have, had Brian Whittle read his whip sheet properly. 'It's very disappointing.' MSPs had been deciding if the profession's governing body could step in on behalf of clients to ensure work is completed if a solicitors' firm goes bust. Nats wanted to give flop companies the right to appeal. Nats justice minister Siobhan Brown said it was 'important such matters can be tested by the court'. But critics claimed that risked clients being left in limbo and could lead to homes sales falling through. Ex-Olympian Mr Whittle's Tory colleague Tess White told of legal experts' 'concerns' that the move would 'weaken public protections'. Jenny Gilruth accused of 'playing truant' after her parliament no-show But the South of Scotland MSP then failed to follow instructions from party whips and backed Nats' amendment. Further chaos came when he then voted as instructed on a linked measure. The Law Society of Scotland claimed the muddle could create a two-tier system, with larger firms able to appeal but not self-employed solicitors. A Tories spokesman said: 'This was a genuine mistake from Brian while voting on a vast number of amendments. 'He recognises concerns surrounding these proposals. This vote was made in error.'
