As our politicians back 'assisted dying', beware the Codger Catchers

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s.purchaseID = conversion.termConversionId; s.pageName = '(www) /subscribe/complete/'; // wipe out errors s.eVar31 = ''; s.tl(); $.cookie('resourceConverted', conversion.rid, {path: '/', domain: window.data_layer.site.cookie_domain}); $.cookie('pianoConverted', '1', {path: '/', domain: window.data_layer.site.cookie_domain}); raiseLaunchEvent('checkoutComplete'); }]); tp.push(["addHandler", "checkoutPaymentError", function(errorData) { var s = window.s; s.pageName = '(www) /subscribe/error/'; s.eVar31 = errorData.message; s.tl(); raiseLaunchEvent('checkoutPaymentError'); }]); tp.push(["addHandler", "checkoutError", function(errorData) { var s = window.s; s.pageName = '(www) /subscribe/error/'; s.eVar31 = errorData.message; s.tl(); raiseLaunchEvent('checkoutError'); }]); tp.push(["addHandler", "startCheckout", function () { var s = window.s; s.pageName = '(www) /subscribe/payment/'; // wipe out errors s.eVar31 = ''; s.tl(); raiseLaunchEvent('startCheckout'); }]); tp.push(["addHandler", "checkoutClose", function(conversion) { raiseLaunchEvent('checkoutClose'); 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TODO 1 var bidders = ['a9', 'prebid', 'ias']; // create a requestManager to keep track of bidder state to determine when to send ad server // request and what apstagSlots to request from the ad server var requestManager = { adserverRequestSent: false, adSlots: [], }; //loop through bidder array and add the bidders to the request manager: bidders.forEach(function(bidder) { requestManager[bidder] = false; }) // a helper function that returns googletag objects corresponding to the slotIDs in the slot objects function _getGPTSlots(apstagSlots) { // get all of the slot IDs that were requested var slotIDs = apstagSlots.map(function(slot) { return slot.slotID; }); // return the slot objects corresponding to the slotIDs return googletag.pubads().getSlots().filter(function(slot) { // return true if the ID of the slot object is in the slotIDs array return slotIDs.indexOf(slot.getSlotElementId()) > -1; }); } function getPETRequest() { googletag.cmd.push(function() { // read the currently defined GPT ad slots for sending to the PET endpoint // defined all GPT ad slots before calling PET var gptSlots = googletag.pubads().getSlots(); var iasPETSlots = []; for (var i = 0; i < gptSlots.length; i++) { var sizes = gptSlots[i].getSizes().map(function(size) { if (size.getWidth && size.getHeight) return [size.getWidth(), size.getHeight()]; else return [1, 1]; }); iasPETSlots.push({ adSlotId: gptSlots[i].getSlotElementId(), //size: can either be a single size (for example, [728, 90]) // or an array of sizes (for example, [[728, 90], [970, 90]]) size: sizes, adUnitPath: gptSlots[i].getAdUnitPath() }); } // wait for IAS to return data var iasDataHandler = function(adSlotData) { headerBidderBack('ias'); }; // make the request to PET. if your page makes multiple ad requests to DFP // (for example, lazily loaded ads, infinite scrolling pages, etc.), make // a request to PET before every request to DFP __iasPET.queue.push({ adSlots: iasPETSlots, dataHandler: iasDataHandler }); }); } // return true if all bidders have returned function allBiddersBack() { var allBiddersBack = bidders // get the booleans from the object .map(function(bidder) { return requestManager[bidder]; }) // get rid of false values - indicates that the bidder has responded .filter(Boolean) // if length is equal to bidders, all bidders are back .length === bidders.length; return allBiddersBack; } // handler for header bidder responses function headerBidderBack(bidder) { // console.log("DFP: headerBidderBack called with", bidder); if (typeof bidder === 'object') { requestManager.adSlots = bidder; bidder = 'prebid'; } // return early if request to adserver is already sent if (requestManager.adserverRequestSent === true) { return; } // flip bidder back flag if (bidder === 'a9') { requestManager.a9 = true; } else if (bidder === 'prebid') { requestManager.prebid = true; } else if (bidder === 'ias') { requestManager.ias = true; } // if all bidders are back, send the request to the ad server if (allBiddersBack()) { sendAdserverRequest(); } } // actually get ads from DFP function sendAdserverRequest() { // console.log("DFP: All bidders back"); // return early if request already sent if (requestManager.adserverRequestSent === true) { return; } if (typeof window.prebidReady === 'undefined') { window.prebidReady = performance.now(); } if (window.googleReady) { // flip the boolean that keeps track of whether the adserver request was sent requestManager.adserverRequestSent = true; // flip pbjs boolean to signal to pbjs the ad server has already been called pbjs.adserverCalled = true; //flip boolean for adserver request to avoid duplicate requests requestManager.sendAdserverRequest = true; // make ad request to DFP googletag.cmd.push(function() { window.executionSet = performance.now(); apstag.setDisplayBids(); __iasPET.setTargetingForGPT(); // console.log("DFP: Refresh called, setting adslots to ", requestManager.adSlots); if (requestManager.adSlots.length > 0){ googletag.pubads().refresh(requestManager.adSlots); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh(); } setPerformanceCookie(); }); } else { window.setTimeout(function() { sendAdserverRequest(true); }, 200); } } function requestBids(apstagSlots, bidTimeout) { // fetch apstag bids, set bid targting, then call headerBidderBack // to get the ads for the first time apstag.fetchBids({ slots: apstagSlots, timeout: (bidTimeout - 200) }, function(bids) { headerBidderBack('a9'); }); var edktAudiences; // Here we fetch audiences which the user has been placed in. try { edktAudiences = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('edkt_matched_audience_ids') || '[]') .slice(0, 100) .map(String); } catch (e) { edktAudiences = []; } // request bids from prebid pbjs.que.push(function() { // console.log("DFP: PBJS request bids called"); pbjs.rp.requestBids({ callback: headerBidderBack, data: { airgrid: { perid: edktAudiences }, ozoneSettings, ozoneTargeting }, }); }); } //requestBids requestBids(apstagSlots, bidTimeout) // 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class="mar-article__timestamp"> <time datetime="2024-12-03 06:30:00" data-format="article-display" data-show-date="always" data-show-time="today-only" data-timestamp="1733207400" itemprop="datePublished" class="author-details__timestamp formatTimeStampEs6" full-date="02.12.2024">  </time> </div> <div class="mar-article__article-tags mar-mb-2 ">  <div class="article-tags"><a href="/topics/assisted-dying/">Assisted dying</a></div>  <div class="article-tags"><a href="/topics/family/">Family</a></div>  <div class="article-tags"><a href="/topics/national-government/">National government</a></div>  <div class="article-tags"><a href="/topics/politics/">Politics</a></div> </div>  </div> </div> <div class="article-row-container"> <div class="article-row-container--left"> <div class="article-row-container__spacing">  <div id="BlockArticleContent" class="block-article-content"> <div class="block-article-content__info-container"> <div class="block-article-content__author ">  <div class="author-details"> <a href="/author/profile/75685.Kevin_McKenna/" class="author-details__img"> <img src="/resources/images/16086061?type=thumb"> </a> <div class="author-details__name-container author-no-job "> <a href="/author/profile/75685.Kevin_McKenna/" class="author-name mar-mr-1 no-underline"> By Kevin McKenna </a> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/@kmckenna63" target="_blank" class="twitter-button no-underline"> <span class="iconify" data-icon="fa6-brands:x-twitter"></span> @kmckenna63 </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="article-sponsor-information__container hidden ">  </div> <div class="block-article-content__socialbar flex-end ">  <div class="social-bar "> <div class="social-bar__text">Share</div> <button class="social-bar__button social-bar__link social-bar__button--with-icon bg-fb" data-uses-js="custom-sharing" data-share-url="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=" 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</div> </div> </div> <div class="article-hero light-background">  <div id="43fde2db-c8a1-4b49-b65d-5d98efac3e5c" > </div> <div class="mar-article-image"> <img alt="Anti-assisted dying protesters say the Bill is the thin edge of the wedge <i>(Image: free)</i>" srcset="/resources/images/18833814.jpg?type=mds-article-575 575w, /resources/images/18833814.jpg?type=mds-article-962 962w, /resources/images/18833814.jpg?type=mds-article-642 642w, /resources/images/18833814.jpg?type=mds-article-620 620w" sizes="(min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 30px), (min-width: 992px) 642px, (min-width: 1401px) 620px, 100vw" style="aspect-ratio: 1200 / 800" /> <div class="mar-article-image__caption"> <span>Anti-assisted dying protesters say the Bill is the thin edge of the wedge <i>(Image: free)</i></span> </div> </div> </div> <div></div>  <div class="block-article-content__spacing"> <div class="article-body"> <div> <div id="po-inline-article-above"></div> <div id="po-inline-articlewall-fullarticle-closable"></div> <div id="po-inline-articlegate-fullarticle"><div id="subscription-above-article"></div><div id="subscription-replace-entire-article"><p class="article-first-paragraph"> <em>As plans for 'assisted dying' advance through Holyrood and Westminster, columnist Kevin McKenna looks into his crystal ball - and doesn't like what he sees</em> </p> <p> No one would have believed in the first half of the 21st century that the older generation was being watched keenly and closely by far lesser intelligences. </p> <div id="po-inline-articlewall-partialarticle-closable"></div> <div id="po-inline-articlegate-partialarticle"> <div id="po-overlay-articlegate-full-width-scroll-below"></div> <div id="subscription-content"> <p> A few years had elapsed since the introduction of the Assisted Dying legislation and, initially at least, all the previous suspicions about it had seemed unfounded. Only a few poor, chronically ill souls had taken the decision to end their lives and then only after the requisite checks and balances had been conducted. </p> <p> It was only after the 2029 financial crash that the problems began. This was when the global <a href="/business_hq/markets_economy/" class="section-link">markets</a> had staked everything on crypto-currency futures only to find they’d all been hoodwinked by a giant Ponzi scam that made Sam Bankman-Fried’s 2022 FDX grift look like a case of double-dipping at the Bingo. </p> <p> As affluent western democracies began to make tough cost-cutting decisions, healthcare provision came under the gimlet-eyed scrutiny of the civil servants and policy-makers. Across the UK, mandatory annual <a href="/news/health/" class="section-link">health</a> MOTs for people over the age of 40 were introduced. Those with ailments found to have been caused by cigarettes, alcohol, pot noodles and Monster Munch were given six months to sort themselves out or be given lifetime bans from receiving treatment for future maladies. </p> <p> <span class="inline-image-caption">Actress Liz Carr (left) takes part in a demonstration at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, London, to oppose the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. A proposed law to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales has cleared its first parliamentary hurdle after MPs voted 330 to 275, majority 55, to approve it at second reading <em>(Image: free)</em></span> By a process of three-strikes-and-you’re-out, the persistently no’-weel began to be rounded up and held in special ‘health-farms’. Very few would ever see the light of day again with startled relatives often being told to appear at burials and cremations for the presumably departed. </p> <div id="piano-container-inside-article" style="display: none; margin-bottom: 20px; clear: both;"> <div id="po-inline-article-inside" style="display: none; margin-bottom: 20px; clear: both;"></div> </div> <p> It wasn’t long before the gaze of the state began to fall on the elderly as well as the infirm. Special tribunals were established, comprising hand-picked civic types, to apply the new National Quality of Life Index. Those exhibiting signs of decrepitude, infirmity or who looked a wee bit down were targeted and made to describe how content they were with their lot. </p> <p> Were they not a wee bit depressed about having to wheech about in a wheelchair? Surely it must be embarrassing to get assistance at your toilette? You haven’t had concupiscence recently: how does that make you feel? You’re looking a bit pre-occupied this morning: is life getting you down? </p> <p> If an individual’s score fell below 50 on the happiness assessment test they were advised to accept a quick end to their misery. Special savings schemes were introduced in Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities. These operated like the old money-off-your-next-shop stamps you used to get in the Co-op. If you collected enough of them you got to stay for up to a month in a five-star resort before you received your jag. Crucially, there were attractive dividend packages to friends and families for helping you make the right decision. </p> <p> An expensive advertisement campaign was launched with slogans such as: Don’t be a Burden, Be a Benefit; Tomorrow Doesn’t Belong to You and Make <a href="/news/homenews/" class="section-link">Scotland</a> Fit Again. </p> <hr> <p> <strong>Read more</strong> </p> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/viewpoint/24763685.fraser-nelson-britains-benefits-scandal-dispatches/">Fraser Nelson on the 'Glasgow effect' of ingrained poverty</a> </li> <li> <p> <a href="https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/viewpoint/24762039.snp-impossible-task-easyjet-jet2-fly-high/">Does SNP have an impossible Scottish Budget task? easyJet and Jet2 fly</a> </p> </li> <li> <p> <a href="https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/viewpoint/24763397.snp-advancing-idea-man-can-become-pregnant-embarrasses-us/">SNP advancing idea that a man can become pregnant embarrasses us all</a> </p> </li> <li> <p> <a href="https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/viewpoint/24761644.farage-using-trump-stab-britain-back-sniffs-power/">Farage is using Trump to stab Britain in the back as he sniffs power</a> </p> </li> </ul> <hr> <p> Online misinformation, chiefly disseminated by BlueSky, fed a daily supply of horror stories about the NHS collapsing under the strain of people who had clearly lived beyond their usefulness. All government departments had been forced to adopt the blogging site as the designated social media platform. It was far easier to cancel rogue opinions on BlueSky than it had been on Twitter/X. </p> <p> Rudimentary squads of climate activists – recognisable by their black, quasi-military uniforms - began to roam the streets picking out those looking a bit too old or suspiciously peely as well as wally. In one snatch of found footage one gang had filmed themselves surrounding an elderly chap emerging unsteadily from his local tavern and ordering him to “drop and give us 20”. When he’d failed to make it to his third press-up they’d unzipped their jackets and thrown packets of herbal food supplements at him. </p> <p> The old DWP was replaced by Compelled Usefulness Navigation Tribunals at which the jaded and the forlorn were forced to appear following referrals by neighbourhood 0800 anonymous tip-off lines. There they were assessed on their future wage-earning prospects and the projected costs of their future healthcare. If they were deemed to be Beyond Usefulness it was straight down to the ‘Health Farms’ for them. </p> <p> Palliative medicine products were soon taxed beyond the reach of most hospices which were forced to shut down. A brisk black market in these products soon emerged with treatments being delivered in pizza boxes along with the cocaine orders in pubs up and down the land. </p> <p> A state-run task force attached to Police Scotland was given special powers to apprehend elderly types suspected of having avoided their summons to appear at the Quality of Life tribunals. They came to be known as the Codger Catchers and developed a fierce reputation for their methods as well as their 100% success rate. </p> <p> <img srcset="https://www.heraldscotland.com/resources/images/18824409/?type=mds-article-575 575w, https://www.heraldscotland.com/resources/images/18824409/?type=mds-article-962 962w, https://www.heraldscotland.com/resources/images/18824409/?type=mds-article-642 1400w, https://www.heraldscotland.com/resources/images/18824409/?type=mds-article-620 1401w" sizes="(max-width: 575px) 575px, (max-width: 992px) 962px, (max-width: 1400px) 1400px, (min-width: 1401px) 1401px" alt="MPs in Westminster debate the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill" style="width: 100%;"><span class="inline-image-caption">MPs in Westminster debate the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill <em>(Image: free)</em></span> Some families took to building hidden granny rooms in their homes to evade scrutiny by the authorities and the dreaded 2am knock at the door. Sometimes, if the Codger Catchers were noticed early enough at the end of the street friends would beat their pots and pans to sound the alarm. </p> <p> A grim national state lottery was introduced under the pretence of raising money for good causes. Like the old National Lottery it was merely a way of taxing poor people to pay for things that the government used to fund. The new Lotto offered players the chance to win lifetime access to expensive pain-relieving drugs and exemption from scrutiny by the forces of the state. </p> <p> The Scottish Government in association with the BBC established a nationwide Hunger Games style game show. Local communities would send their village bampots and drunkards to a week-long series of brutal challenges in the Cairngorms. </p> <p> There they would be treated to all-you-can-drink nights out and then picked off one-by-one by falling into swollen rivers or being devoured by wild beasts who had been reintroduced for the purpose. The winner would be given six months of free treatment at a rehab centre where they would be nursed back into state usefulness. </p> <p> This decade of the Grand Terror (as it came to be known) only ceased when it was revealed that Holyrood and UK ministers had been sending their elderly relatives to an illegal luxury retirement resort on an uninhabited island off the north-west coast of Scotland. </p> <hr> <p> <strong>Kevin McKenna is a Herald writer and columnist. When his time draws near please leave the switches alone. But he’s always fancied having a go at the way the First Nation American OAPs check out.</strong> </p> </div> </div></div><div id="subscription-below-article" style="clear:both"></div></div> <div id="po-inline-article-below" style="clear:both"></div> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> <div class="block-article-content__bottom-tags mar-mb-4">  <div class="article-tags"><a href="/topics/assisted-dying/">Assisted dying</a></div>  <div class="article-tags"><a href="/topics/family/">Family</a></div>  <div class="article-tags"><a href="/topics/national-government/">National government</a></div>  <div class="article-tags"><a href="/topics/politics/">Politics</a></div> </div>  <section class="article-comments"> <div class="article-comments__wrapper article-comments--inline ">  <div class="social-bar social-bar--bottom "> <div class="social-bar__text">Share</div> <button class="social-bar__button social-bar__link social-bar__button--with-icon bg-fb" data-uses-js="custom-sharing" data-share-url="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=" data-share-path="https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/viewpoint/24766444.politicians-back-assisted-dying-beware-codger-catchers/?ref=fbshr"> <span class="iconify" data-icon="brandico:facebook"></span> </button> <button class="social-bar__button social-bar__link button-with-icon social-bar__button--with-icon bg-twitter" data-uses-js="custom-sharing" data-share-url="https://twitter.com/share?url=" data-share-path="https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/viewpoint/24766444.politicians-back-assisted-dying-beware-codger-catchers/?ref=twtrec" data-share-headline="Imagine a future where the Codger Catchers stalk the streets - it's easy if you try"> <span class="iconify" data-icon="fa6-brands:x-twitter"></span> </button> <a class="social-bar__whatsapp-link" href="whatsapp://send?text=Imagine%20a%20future%20where%20the%20Codger%20Catchers%20stalk%20the%20streets%20-%20it%27s%20easy%20if%20you%20try%0A%0Ahttps://www.heraldscotland.com%2Fpolitics%2Fviewpoint%2F24766444.politicians-back-assisted-dying-beware-codger-catchers%2F%3fref%3Dwa"> <button class="social-bar__button social-bar__link social-bar__button--with-icon bg-whatsapp"> <span class="iconify" data-icon="akar-icons:whatsapp-fill"></span> </button> </a> <button class="social-bar__button social-bar__link social-bar__button--with-icon bg-linkedin" data-uses-js="custom-sharing" data-share-url="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=" data-share-path="https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/viewpoint/24766444.politicians-back-assisted-dying-beware-codger-catchers/?ref=li"> <span class="iconify" data-icon="entypo-social:linkedin"></span> </button> </div> <div class="article-comments__text--inline mar-mt-0" data-uses-js="comments-button" data-comments-count="10"> </div> </div> <div id="comments-feedback-anchor"></div> <div id="article-comments__interrupt-modal-content" hidden> <h3> Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers? </h3> <p> It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse. </p> <p> heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment. </p> <p> We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. 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'1' : '0' ; function addToTargeting(targeting, data) { if (!data) { return targeting; } $.each(data, function (key, value) { if (!value) { return; } targeting[key] = value; }); return targeting; } var ref = document.referrer; var parser = document.createElement('a'); parser.href = ref; // values in the below MUST be strings var targeting = { 'context': 'Politics', 'al': 'l', 'domain': 'www.heraldscotland.com', 'isLanding': 'no', 'top_path': 'politics', 'weather': 'cloudy'.toLowerCase(), 'jbsjs': ''.toLowerCase(), 'site_search': '', 'bmd_cat': '', 'wt': '11-15', 'cmpid': qs.get('cmpid'), 'refdm': parser.hostname, 'k': known, 'g': 'u' , 'a': '0' , 'topic': 'Assisted dying', 'publication': '', 'primary_tag_future_use': 'Assisted dying', 'site': (isMobile()) ? 'mobile': 'desktop', 'r': data_layer.user.subscription_plan !== '' ? '2' // 2 = subscribed : data_layer.user.is_logged_in == 'yes' ? '1' // 1 = registered : '0', // 0 = anonymous }; if (!usePrebid) { targeting.adrq = 'adl'; } if (data_layer.video.exists === 'yes') { targeting.ptype = 'video'; } if ($.cookie('isMeterExpired') === 'yes' && window.data_layer.article.is_article) { var articleContentLevel = parseInt(window.data_layer.article.content_level, 10) || 0; // account for NaN if (articleContentLevel !== 0 && window.data_layer.article.content_level_open_access === 'no') { targeting.ao = 'y'; } } if ($.cookie('_sp_enable_dfp_personalized_ads') === 'true') { targeting.dfpcsnt = 'yes'; } else if ($.cookie('_sp_enable_dfp_personalized_ads') === 'false') { targeting.dfpcsnt = 'no'; } else { targeting.dfpcsnt = 'none'; } if (typeof MobileDetect !== "undefined") { targeting.canbb = (window.screen.width > 960) ? 'y' : 'n'; } if (typeof module_targeting === "object") { targeting = addToTargeting(targeting, module_targeting); } // $.each(apData, function (k, v) { // targeting[k] = v; // }); // if (typeof gs_channels !== 'undefined') { // targeting.gs_channels = gs_channels; // } targeting = addToTargeting(targeting, data_layer_helper.homesData); targeting.article_id = '24766444'; var googleSiteName = 'www.heraldscotland.com'; var googlePath = '/politics/viewpoint/'; var googleNetworkCode = 154725070; var googleChildNetworkCode = 22694024870; var googleId = '/'+googleNetworkCode + ',' + googleChildNetworkCode + '/' + googleSiteName+googlePath; if (googleId.charAt(googleId.length - 1) === '/') { googleId = googleId.slice(0, -1); } var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; googletag.cmd.push(function () { var _YB = _YB || { ab: function () { return _YB.dool ? "b" : "a" + Math.floor(Math.random() * 10); }, dool: Math.random() >= 0.1, }; var yb_ab; if (Math.random() <= 0.9) { yb_ab = _YB.ab(); } else { yb_ab = "c"; } googletag.pubads().setTargeting("yb_ab", yb_ab); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.pubads().set("adsense_background_color", "FFFFFF"); googletag.pubads().setTargeting('rfs', "0"); $.each(targeting, function (key, value) { // No real value so exclude if (value === 0 || value === '' || value === null) { return; } googletag.pubads().setTargeting(key, value); }); }); var adUnits = []; if (blackListAds.length > 0) { $.each(blackListAds, function(i, name) { $('#'+name).remove(); }); } $.each(unfilteredAdUnits, function (i, unit) { // VAST (video) ad units never get displayed in here. if (unit.isVast) { return; } // if we have an ad-light experience if (whiteList === true) { if (typeof whiteListAds[unit.positionName] === 'undefined') { $('#'+unit.domName).remove(); return; } } adUnits.push(unit); }); // set up a holder for all the adverts so we can do things with them later var dfpHolder = {}; // the set up code googletag.cmd.push(function() { $.each(adUnits, function(i, data) { // check if the dom exists if ($('#'+data.domName).length === 0) { return; } var dfp = null; if (data.slotType === 'standard') { // get the correct sizes, using the alternate_sizes if they exist and we are on a mobile site var sizes = data.sizes; if (data.alternate_mobile_size && isMobile()) { sizes = data.alternate_mobile_size; } // push this ad slot through dfp = googletag.defineSlot(googleId, sizes, data.domName) .addService(googletag.pubads()) .setTargeting("position", data.positionName) .setCollapseEmptyDiv(data.collapseContainer); // check if we have an array of targets, and assign them as a companion if we do if (data.targets instanceof Array && data.targets.length > 0 ) { dfp.setTargeting('companion', data.targets); } } else if (data.slotType === 'outofpage') { dfp = googletag.defineOutOfPageSlot(googleId, data.domName) .addService(googletag.pubads()) .setTargeting("position", data.positionName) .setCollapseEmptyDiv(data.collapseContainer); // check if we have an array of targets, and assign them as a companion if we do if (data.targets instanceof Array && data.targets.length > 0 ) { dfp.setTargeting('companion', data.targets); } } // store dfpHolder[data.domName] = dfp; }); if (adLight === true) { googletag.pubads().setCategoryExclusion('adlight'); // var adlightexplanation = '<div class="adlight-explanation">I\'m a subscriber <a href="#" class="adlight-explanation-link">Why am I seeing this advert?</a></div>'; // if ($('#DFP_premium_mpu').length > 0) { // $('#DFP_premium_mpu').before(adlightexplanation); // } // if ($('#DFP_standard_mpu_1').length > 0) { // $('#DFP_standard_mpu_1').before(adlightexplanation); // } // var imageIds = [11497497, 11497535, 11497536, 11497541, 11497542, 11497545, 11497546, 11497547]; // var imageId = imageIds[Math.floor(Math.random() * imageIds.length)]; // $('.adlight-explanation-link').click(function(e) { // e.preventDefault(); // $('#adlight-explanation-modal-image').attr('src', '/resources/images/' + imageId + '/').show(); // $('#adlight-explanation-modal').modal(); // }); } // send the request googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotVisibilityChanged', function(event) { if (event.slot.getResponseInformation().creativeTemplateId === 828288 || event.slot.getResponseInformation().creativeTemplateId === 12383216 ) { console.log('DFP: Magic template id detected, not refreshing'); return; } var slotName = ''; $.each(dfpHolder, function (a, e) { if (e == event.slot) { slotName = a; } }); if (typeof window.advertisingTimer !== 'undefined') { var perc = event.inViewPercentage; window.advertisingTimer.timer(slotName, perc); } }); }); // the display code $.each(adUnits, function(i, data) { // check if the dom exists if ($('#'+data.domName).length === 0) { return; } if (data.domName === 'DFP_interstitial_mpu') { if (!inter.checkVisit()) { return; } } // are we manually loading it? if ($('#'+data.domName).attr('data-manual-loading') === "yes") { return; } // for mobile, we check if the dom element has the data-delay-loading attribute set to "1" else if ($('#'+data.domName).attr('data-delay-loading') === "yes") { // load it $('#'+data.domName).appear(); $(document.body).on('appear', '#'+data.domName, function(e, allElement) { // don't call it many times if ($(this).attr('data-processed') === 'yes') { return; } $(this).attr('data-processed', 'yes'); // display the google ad googletag.display(data.domName); googletag.pubads().refresh([dfpHolder[data.domName]]); }); return; } googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(data.domName); }); }); window.googleComplete = performance.now(); window.googleReady = true; function addAdSlot(slotName, slot, initHidden) { console.log("Add ad slot called for %s %s", slotName, slot); // check if item already exists if (typeof window.dfpHolder[slotName] !== 'undefined') { return; } if (window.adLight === true) { return; } window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { var dfp = googletag.defineSlot(window.googleId, [[300,250]], slotName) .setTargeting('position', [slot]) .addService(googletag.pubads()); window.dfpHolder[slotName] = dfp; if (!initHidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([dfp]); return; } }); } </script>  <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <script src="/resources/responsive-static/build/mds/js/global.js?cb=uUAjmAdC"></script> <script src="/resources/responsive-static/build/mds/js/article.js?cb=uUAjmAdC"></script> <script src="/__siren/"></script>  <script type="text/javascript"> var s_account="newsquestgroupprod"; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/resources/responsive-static/vendor/adobe/VisitorAPI.js?cb=uUAjmAdC"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/resources/responsive-static/vendor/adobe/omniture.js?cb=uUAjmAdC"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> function getOmniturePath() { var path = ''; if ($('#gallery-base-url').length === 1) { path = $('#gallery-base-url').val(); } else { path = window.location.pathname; } return path; } function getPositionFromCookie() { var ref = $.cookie('tracking_block_index'); $.removeCookie('tracking_block_index', { path: '/', domain: window.data_layer.site.cookie_domain, }); return ref; } function getRefFromCookie() { var ref = $.cookie('tracking_block'); $.removeCookie('tracking_block', { path: '/', domain: window.data_layer.site.cookie_domain, }); return ref; } function getOmnitureTrackingFromCookie(key, preExistingValue) { var ref = $.cookie('o-' + key); if(typeof(ref) === 'undefined') { ref = preExistingValue } else { ref = decodeURIComponent(ref); $.removeCookie('o-' + key, { path: '/', domain: window.data_layer.site.cookie_domain, }); } return ref; } function getValidatedAPList() { var validList = [1100, 1101, 1002, 1006, 1010, 1014, 1018, 1022, 1200, 1202, 1205, 1300, 1602, 1605, 1608, 1612, 1616, 1500, 1503, 1507, 1509, 1512, 1402, 1406, 1409, 1412, 1416, 14331, 14333, 14335, 14336, 14339, 14342, 14344, 14345, 14346, 14350, 14351, 14353, 14359, 14366, 14370, 14371, 14377, 14388, 14394, 14396, 14399, 14407, 14221, 14423, 15679, 15681, 15682, 15683, 15684, 15686, 15687, 15688, 15975]; var data = getAudienceProjectTargetingData(); if (!data || !data.ap_x) { return ''; } validData = []; $.each(data.ap_x, function(i, td) { if ($.inArray(parseInt(td, 10), validList) !== -1) { validData.push(td); } }); return validData.join(','); } path = document.location.href.split("/"); var prop30 = qs.get('lp'); var prop43 = qs.get('ref'); var pType="BlockArticleModule" if (pType === 'BlockArticleModule' || pType === 'NationalNewsModule' || pType === 'BlockWhatsOnModule') { pType = 'ArticleModule'; } for(x=4; x<7; x++) { if (typeof path[x] == 'undefined') { path[x] = ''; } if(path[x] == "" || (pType == "ArticleModule" && path[x].match(/[0-9]+\./)) || (path[x].indexOf('?') > -1)) { path[x] = path[x-1]; } else { path[x] = path[x-1] + "/" + path[x]; } path[x] = path[x].replace(/\/undefined/g,""); } pathN= unescape(document.location.pathname.toString()); matches = pathN.match(/(\w+)\.(in|near|compare)\.([\,a-zA-Z0-9\ _-]+)[\/]?$/); detailMatches = pathN.match(/(\w+)\.detail\.(.*)$/); if (detailMatches !== null && detailMatches.length > 1) { matches = detailMatches; } if (matches !== null && matches.length > 1) { var subfolder = ''; path[3] = 'li'; path[4] = 'li/'+subfolder; path[5] = 'li/'+subfolder+'/'+matches[1]; path[6] = 'li/'+subfolder+'/'+matches[1]; } if (pathN === '/') { path[3] = 'homepage'; path[4] = 'homepage'; path[5] = 'homepage'; path[6] = 'homepage'; } /* You may give each page an identifying name, server, and channel on the next lines. */ s.pageName="(www) "+getOmniturePath(); s.pageName = s.pageName.toLowerCase(); s.server="dmh-martini-web3" s.channel="" s.pageType="" s.prop1= qs.get('search'); s.prop2="" s.prop3=document.title s.prop4="24766444" s.prop5="BlockArticleModule" /* get from Martini */ s.prop6=path[3].toLowerCase() s.prop7=path[4].toLowerCase() s.prop8=path[5].toLowerCase() s.prop9=path[6].toLowerCase() s.prop10="" s.prop15="Kevin McKenna".toLowerCase() s.prop16=path[2].toLowerCase() s.prop17="Herald and Times" s.prop18="Martini" s.prop19="1" s.prop20 = s.getPreviousValue(s.pageName, 'gpv_pn'); s.prop53 = 'standard'; s.prop54 = ''; s.prop55 = ''; s.prop56 = "BAM Standard Article"; s.prop57 = ($('[data-name="Feature Article Block A"]').length > 0) ? 'Enabled' : 'Disabled'; s.prop58 = $('[data-name="Feature Article Block B"]').data('variant'); s.prop59 = getRefFromCookie(); s.prop60 = getPositionFromCookie(); s.prop73 = $.cookie('adtiming'); var eVar67 = []; if ($.cookie('consentUUID')) { eVar67.push('yes'); } else { eVar67.push('no'); } if ($.cookie('_sp_enable_dfp_personalized_ads') === 'true') { eVar67.push('yes'); } else if ($.cookie('_sp_enable_dfp_personalized_ads') === 'false') { eVar67.push('no'); } else { eVar67.push('none'); } if ($.cookie('_sp_legitimate_interests') === 'true') { eVar67.push('yes'); } else if ($.cookie('_sp_legitimate_interests') === 'false') { eVar67.push('no'); } else { eVar67.push('none'); } //if ($.cookie('euconsent')) { // eVar67.push($.cookie('euconsent')); //} else { // eVar67.push('none'); //} s.eVar67 = eVar67.join(','); // console.log('ADB: setting eVar67 to %s', eVar67.join(',')); if ($.cookie('prev-tcf-v2')) { // console.log('ADB: Setting eVar68 to ', $.cookie('prev-tcf-v2')); s.eVar68 = $.cookie('prev-tcf-v2'); } if (typeof iabNames !== 'undefined') { s.prop29 = iabNames.join(','); } else if (typeof iabIds !== 'undefined') { s.prop29 = iabIds.join(','); } if (s.prop20 && s.prop20 !== 'no value') { s.prop21 = s.getPercentPageViewed(); } else { s.prop21 = ''; } if (typeof __siren !== 'undefined') { s.eVar27 = __siren; } s.prop22 = s.getDaysSinceLastVisit('s_lv'); s.prop43=getOmnitureTrackingFromCookie('ref', prop43); s.prop25 = 'Politics' s.prop27 = ''; s.prop28='7354' s.prop30 = getOmnitureTrackingFromCookie('prop30', prop30); s.linkInternalFilters="javascript:,heraldscotland.com,fish4.co.uk,adsys.newsquest.co.uk,www.exchangeandmart.co.uk,www.communigate.co.uk," s.eVar61=(new Date()).toLocaleDateString("en-GB"); s.eVar62=(new Date()).toLocaleDateString("en-GB"); s.eVar63 = "+1"; s.eVar64 = "+1"; s.eVar60 = "3,best,no"; s.prop61 = 'opinion'; s.prop62 = ''; s.prop63 = '49;16155;18824;21064'; s.prop64 = ''; s.prop66 = ''; s.prop66 += ($('#inArticleAd').length > 0) ? "y;" : "n;"; s.prop66 += ($('#inArticleAd-1').length > 0) ? "y;" : "n;"; s.prop66 += ($('#inArticleAd-2').length > 0) ? "y;" : "n;"; s.prop66 += ($('#inArticleAd-3').length > 0) ? "y;" : "n;"; s.prop66 += ($('#inArticleAd-4').length > 0) ? "y;" : "n;"; s.prop66 += ($('#inArticleAd-5').length > 0) ? "y" : "n"; s.eVar107 = '1'; s.eVar108 = '2377'; s.eVar104 = 'National government'; s.prop56 = "BAM Standard Article"; /* Article-site-cloning data */ s.eVar90 = window.data_layer.article.parent_originating_site_id; s.eVar91 = window.data_layer.article.originating_article_id; s.eVar92 = window.data_layer.article.is_original_to_site; s.eVar95 = window.data_layer.site.using_piano_id; s.eVar106 = 'No AI or automation'; /* Uber block article counts */ s.eVar93 = window.data_layer.page.top_stories_article_count + ':' + window.data_layer.page.interstitial_article_count + ':' + window.data_layer.page.news_stories_article_count; /* Conversion Variables */ s.campaign="" s.state="" s.zip="" s.events="" s.products="" s.purchaseID="" s.eVar14="" try { s.list3=getValidatedAPList(); } catch (e) { // do nothing } // Initial fotorama tracking. var moduleType = null; if (s.prop5 === 'ArticleModule' || s.prop5 == 'PropertyModuleReplacement' || s.prop5 === 'BlockArticleModule') { moduleType = 'article'; } else if (s.prop5 === 'PictureGalleryModule') { moduleType = 'gallery'; } if (moduleType === 'article' || moduleType === 'gallery') { var imagePath = ''; if ($('.fotorama').length > 0) { // Get the first Fotorama image. try { var el = $('.fotorama').data('fotorama').data[0].html; var url = $(el).find('div').css('background-image'); imagePath = url.replace('url(','').replace(')','').replace(/\"/gi, ""); } catch (e) { } } else { // If there's just one image (i.e. it's not a gallery), find its path. var imagePathSingle = $('#mainImage').attr('src'); if (typeof imagePathSingle !== 'undefined') { imagePath = imagePathSingle.split('.')[0] + '/'; } } var imageParts = imagePath.split('/'); if (imageParts.length > 1) { s.eVar37 = imageParts[imageParts.length - 2]; s.prop37 = imageParts[imageParts.length - 2]; s.events = s.apl(s.events, 'event7', ',', 2); } s.eVar36 = moduleType; s.prop36 = moduleType; } // Education pages. if (s.prop5 === 'ResponsiveEducationModule') { // School profile page. if ($('#eduOverview').length > 0) { s.eVar40 = $('#eduOverview').data('school-status'); s.prop40 = s.eVar40; s.prop41 = 'edu-' + $('#eduOverview').data('school-urn'); s.prop46 = $('#town').text(); } // Comparison page. if ($('#eduComparisonTable').length > 0) { s.list1 = ''; } // Results page. if ($('.school-results').length > 0) { s.list1 = ''; // Track the search criteria. s.prop44 = ''; s.prop45 = "".toLowerCase(); s.prop46 = "".toLowerCase(); s.prop49 = ''; s.prop50 = ''; s.prop51 = ''; s.eVar2 = s.prop50; var newSearch = false; if (newSearch) { s.events = s.apl(s.events, 'event17', ',', 1); } } } //New Property module if (s.prop5 === 'ResponsivePropertyModule') { /* Use prop42 for single and list pages, for list pages use hyphen separate lists of id's */ //Property's all over the place (homepage, searches etc - HOM-133 //Property Detail - HOM-131, HOM-134, HOM-130 //Contact us submissions - HOM-137 if($('#propertyModule.agent-details').length > 0) { //Add a click handler for a.contact-detail } } // is their a video tag on the page? if ($('.exco-embed').length > 0) { console.log('VID: setting tracking for event50'); s.events = s.apl(s.events, 'event50', ',', 1); } var foundAutoPlayVid = false; $('.jw-outer').each(function (a, domEle) { if ($(this).data('multimedia-block') === 'no' && !foundAutoPlayVid) { console.log('VID: setting tracking for event51'); s.events = s.apl(s.events, 'event51', ',', 1); foundAutoPlayVid = true; } }); s.eVar66 = 'Ad-Full-Herald'; // var eVar65Copy = s.getValOnce(s.eVar65, "ev65", 0); // if (eVar65Copy !== '' && s.prop20.indexOf("/my/subscription/activate/") > -1) { // s.events = s.apl(s.events, "event4", ",", 1); // Set the subscription counter event. // s.events = s.apl(s.events, "purchase", ",", 1); // Set the purchase event. // s.products = "Subscription : Metered Access;" + eVar65Copy + ";1;"; // s.purchaseID = ""; // } if(qs.get('action') === 'success' && (s.prop5 === 'ArticleModule' || s.prop5 === 'BMDModule' || s.prop5 === 'BlockArticleModule')) { s.events=s.apl(s.events,'event9',',',2) } /* Hierarchy Variables */ s.hier1="newsquest," + "Herald and Times" + ",www.heraldscotland.com," + path[6].replace(/\//,","); if (typeof MartiniFotorama !== 'undefined') { MartiniFotorama.loadOmniture(s); } s.prop39 = "0"; // Tracking usage of Bytecast audio embeds in articles. s.eVar82 = 'no'; s.eVar83 = ''; console.log('ADB: starting'); /************* DO NOT ALTER ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE ! **************/ if (qs.get('callback') !== 'in' && navigator.userAgent.toString().toLowerCase().indexOf('googlebot') === -1) { var s_code=s.t(); var backupAdobe = s; if(s_code)document.write(s_code) } //--></script>  <script src="//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script> <script src="//uatu.newsquestdigital.co.uk/collector.php?article_id=24766444&site_id=308"></script> <script src="//uatu.newsquestdigital.co.uk/recommender-json-2.php?article_id=24766444&site_id=308"></script> </html>

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As our politicians back 'assisted dying', beware the Codger Catchers | The Herald