THE media in Scotland does not have a sterling reputation – except perhaps among its own practitioners. However, there are growing signs that its modest performance is getting worse. Its preference to obsess over toilets rather than colossal fraud means it is heading for a new low.

(None of this, of course, applies to The National and Sunday National which have a matchless record in pursuit of the truth.)

This week, BBC Scotland News treated its rapidly diminishing audience to the inside of campervan toilets. At the same time, it little informed us that England’s rivers are full of sewage. The former is of little importance to anyone outside of a media clique with an agenda, yet the other seriously affects the health of thousands. It’s a question of priorities.

ESICers (Everything Scottish is Crap) see you as inferior and therefore have little interest in lauding Scottish achievements. Instead, the aim is to tell all that their low opinion of Scots is shared by others.

Want further evidence? Last week, the Curling World championship in Canada was won comprehensively by the Scottish team. The Scotsman even labelled the team “British” because ESICers cannot stomach Scottish triumphs. Many other media outlets also downplayed the achievement.

So, it comes as no surprise to learn that a senior BBC journalist, David Waddell, liked the tweet of a nobody saying they “can’t stand Humza Yousaf”.

Here’s a question: What could you do right now with £58? What about £580? Heat the house? Feed the kids? Or £58,000 to make your life better for the rest of the year? What about £58 million? Well, it could go a long way to pay everyone a living wage, improve schools – even support ferries.

Westminster just blew not £58m, but £58 BILLION through fraud.

Some of this, no doubt, went to pals and friends. This corruption has been well recorded, if not afforded justice or repaid. The rest is down to sheer incompetence. The Tories, the so-called party of business, are stuffed with useless business people.

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Imagine any business boss reporting such losses. They would be out on their ears. Instead, after every failure, the Tories appoint another bungler who, while being excessively careful with his money, is profligate with yours. The contrast is sharp – these folks go to enormous lengths to minimise their taxes. Worse, they are happy to collude with fictitious companies, few questions asked, to boost their already inflated pay and pensions.

If this were the extent of Tory abuse, that would be bad enough. However, they have signalled that much worse is in store. The Tories have ever been quick to blame others for the problems they cause. A bit like the Scottish media, in many ways. Polls have told them that they will lose any election based on care for the economy, even as Labour shy away from radical action to alleviate economic conditions.

Culture wars are now their preferred weapon of choice. And human rights are squarely in their sights. The inestimable Liz Truss, a former PM of this parish, has been to the United States. She told her US audience that the ECHR (European Court of Human Rights) and human rights generally might need to be ignored if not agreeable to Tory priorities. In light of the meeting of the present PM with the US president in Belfast this week, it would be interesting to know if they discussed the impact of this move on the Good Friday Agreement. And her attack on Joe Biden.

The National:

Of course, a progressive view of human rights has always bedevilled the British. At the coronation of Charles III on Saturday, May 6, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the new king will swear an oath in support of this statement: “… to maintain the Protestant religion established by law and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship, discipline and government thereof.”

On the face of it, this does not accord with the king’s much-trumpeted commitment to a multi-faith society. It’s also worth noting that when MPs, MSPs and others are swearing their commitment to His Maj, this is what they are agreeing to in principle. At any time, Westminster could have decided to abandon or at least amend this offensiveness. Maybe they were more exercised about campervan toilets.

You are not powerless. Call out the ESICers at every opportunity. When they amplify Scottish mistakes, hit back with comparable data. When they minimise Scots’ achievements, boost your compatriots.

There will be a surprise version of the TNT Show on Wednesday at 7pm on IndyLive