Month: October 2025

8 Comments

Around 600 County Lines in operation in Scotland, 200 children exploited and 75% violence

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA From the National Police Chiefs Council published yesterday: An annual review of the threat posed by County Lines to UK communities has today been published by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC). Covering the period from April 2024 to March 2025, the latest County Lines Strategic Threat Assessment found that there are over 6,500 County Lines in operation across England, Scotland and Wales. However, the rise in internal lines (drug lines operating exclusively in one county) that was evident the previous year, has now stabilised, as has the number of County Lines … Continue reading Around 600 County Lines in operation in Scotland, 200 children exploited and 75% violence

7 Comments

Three years after a Liverpool newspaper warned that Liverpool drug gangs are focusing on Scotland and causing high drug deaths, nothing has changed and BBC Scotland still will not inform you of what is happening in your own country

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks, once more to Graham for alerting us to this. The above from the P&J, is just the latest in a trail of reports of English County Lines drug gangs bringing a plague of drug abuse, deaths and extreme violence, based on Police Scotland estimates, to around 50 locations in Scotland. In just one day in April 2025, Aberdeen’s P&J had two reports of English drug gangs occupying homes in the city to sell new more powerful low cost drugs and, in so doing keep drug deaths high, despite the efforts of the SNP Government which has oversight … Continue reading Three years after a Liverpool newspaper warned that Liverpool drug gangs are focusing on Scotland and causing high drug deaths, nothing has changed and BBC Scotland still will not inform you of what is happening in your own country

1 Comment

As number of schools in England facing structural building failure surges, 92% in Scotland are safe – rated good or satisfactory – after inspection, up from only 62% under Labour

johnrobertson834

By stewartb Evidence of Westminster governments allowing England’s deterioration, this time its school buildings. What follows comes in a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) published today, 21 October: ‘Departmental overview: Department for Education 2024-25’ (See https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Department-for-Education-Overview-2024-25.pdf ) It reports, in the ‘matter of fact style’ that is characteristic of the NAO, that: ‘DfE has reported the risk of school building failure resulting from structural safety issues as one of its top risks since 2021-22. Our 2025 report ‘Maintaining public service facilities’ identified a £13.8 billion maintenance backlog in schools – 28% of the government backlog. Cabinet Office estimated that deferring work to … Continue reading As number of schools in England facing structural building failure surges, 92% in Scotland are safe – rated good or satisfactory – after inspection, up from only 62% under Labour

Leave a comment

Lib Dem councillor uses her own daughter to try to undermine Scotland’s 95% plus target busting cancer care

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA I’m reminded of Alex Cole Hamilton rushing to the media after saving his daughter’s life with a Heimlich Manouevre and John Selwyn Gummer, Tory minister, making his daughter eat a burger for the cameras during the ‘Mad Cow Disease‘ scare back in the 80s. When politicians use their weans to defend their policies or attack the policies of other, I reach for my gun, well just the antacid then. We’re probably meant to know who that woman is. I don’t but what matters is this: NHS Scotland In Q2 2025 (April-June), 95.3% of 7 461 patients started treatment … Continue reading Lib Dem councillor uses her own daughter to try to undermine Scotland’s 95% plus target busting cancer care

8 Comments

Ferry sailings between Arran AND THE MAINLAND have NOT been cancelled – This is a disgraceful and damaging lie by the Daily Record

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA The Daily Record today has the above and: Ferry sailings between Arran and the mainland have been cancelled after an engine issue was discovered with a recently repaired vessel. A “technical issue” with the MV Caledonian Isles main starboard engine has forced operator CalMac to cancel services between Brodick and Ardrossan today, Tuesday, October 21, and tomorrow, Wednesday, October 22, while the issue is investigated. The headline is deliberately misleading and will confuse travellers and tourists but is not strictly inaccurate. The opening sentence is wholly inaccurate and can only have been deliberately designed to perpetuate the ferry fiasco narrative. Are all … Continue reading Ferry sailings between Arran AND THE MAINLAND have NOT been cancelled – This is a disgraceful and damaging lie by the Daily Record

6 Comments

SNP/Greens bottle return scheme was effectively sabotaged by the UK Government for political reasons

johnrobertson834

return scheme has claimed it was offered ‘unequivocal’ assurances that the plan would go ahead. Biffa Waste Services is seeking more than £166 million of reparations over the decision to delay the recycling initiative in 2023. Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland’s Reporting Scotland episode tonight, had the above. So, who was to blame for the delay? BBC Scotland‘s choice of the word ‘botched’ makes it clear what their view, predictably, is. While there may be legitimate criticisms that the Greens rushed the implementation and that large corporate business interests resisted a scheme little different to those they were already … Continue reading SNP/Greens bottle return scheme was effectively sabotaged by the UK Government for political reasons

2 Comments

Talking-up Scotland so much this certainly won’t get reported – US Library of Congress rewards the Scottish Government-supported Scottish Book Trust after it gives 700 000 books to children

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Brenda Robb for a great spot. In the P&J today: and: Also – https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/ You can still support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Bernadette/John Robertson, Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Continue reading Talking-up Scotland so much this certainly won’t get reported – US Library of Congress rewards the Scottish Government-supported Scottish Book Trust after it gives 700 000 books to children

1 Comment

British university in Scotland with only tiny number of working-class Scottish students or Scottish staff accused of ‘penny-pinching’ over free period products

johnrobertson834

From BBC Scotland, yesterday: Edinburgh University has been accused of “penny-pinching” after it reduced the availability of free period products at one of its busiest sites. The university has removed free sanitary products from a number of toilets at its main library on George Square, where they have been replaced with signs pointing users to places where they are available. The items are now available in toilets on just three of the building’s eight floors, whereas previously they were available on at least six. The university said it would remain in line with Scottish government guidelines, upholding its commitment to “equality, … Continue reading British university in Scotland with only tiny number of working-class Scottish students or Scottish staff accused of ‘penny-pinching’ over free period products

1 Comment

Despite already having far more affordable housing per head than England, Scotland plans to build more than three times as many new ones

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA According to the Herald today: A new report published today by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has calculated that £8.2bn would be needed to build the required number of homes to address the crisis. Yet it states ministers have only set aside £4.9bn failing to take account of the number of homes needed, the impact on inflation on building costs and new cost relating to standards it is introducing for the sector. The report comes just weeks after Ms McAllan, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, has announced a four-year £4.9bn plan for the affordable … Continue reading Despite already having far more affordable housing per head than England, Scotland plans to build more than three times as many new ones

2 Comments

Massive 37% hike in affordable house building funds for next year from Scottish Government to further increase the gap with England and Wales gets hypocritical response from Labour

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA From the Scottish Government today, news that funding for affordable housing supply for 2025/2026, will increase by a massive 37% in one year, from £510 782 000 to £700 065 000. The only MSM response I see, so far, is grudging whining from two Labour spokespersons above. The first, for Edinburgh, moans about a 30% increase in one year. The second, for Glasgow, moans about a massive 41% increase. Make you wonder what these two Labour politicians would have to say about affordable house building in Labour England or Labour Wales: Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/resource-planning-assumptions-data/ You can still … Continue reading Massive 37% hike in affordable house building funds for next year from Scottish Government to further increase the gap with England and Wales gets hypocritical response from Labour