Year: 2025

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Unless Labour further attack the poor, Scotland could hit its 2030 child poverty target in a unique demonstration of compassion and understanding of why child poverty must be eradicated, in the interests of all of us

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By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS The above prediction, from Achieving the 2030 Child Poverty Target published today by the IPPR Scotland, suggests that with the Scottish Child Payment and with compensation for the UK Universal Benefit, two child limit, Scotland could hit its fist child poverty target of 18%. The authors however, make clear that this might be sabotaged by wider UK Government economic policies including benefit cuts, increasing poverty across the UK. Why, need I remind you, does this matter to all of us? Here’s why: From Turning the tide What it will take to reduce child … Continue reading Unless Labour further attack the poor, Scotland could hit its 2030 child poverty target in a unique demonstration of compassion and understanding of why child poverty must be eradicated, in the interests of all of us

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Taxation – It’s also almost as if Labour HQ do not know what they are doing

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By Liz S Talking of Business…… Scottish Labour tweeted this on 21 February this year as stated by Anas Sarwar: “I will act to reinvigorate our high streets and town centres by making online giants pay their fair share. To do that a Scottish Labour government will introduce an Amazon Tax, delivering equality between our high streets and the online giants.” However it is now being reported that Keir Starmer is considering cutting the levy that Amazon pays in tax in the UK . (and also for other large tech companies too). MSM Monitor tweeted this yesterday : “Keir Starmer is planning … Continue reading Taxation – It’s also almost as if Labour HQ do not know what they are doing

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Businesses recognise SNP leading support for business but ‘Scottish’ media are silent

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Professor John Robertson OBA The Times above, often publishes ill-informed negative reports on Scotland but is not monolithic in this regard. Two days ago, like good journalists, they were prepared to report the above, and: BBC Scotland’s Business section has nothing on this and I see no sign elsewhere in other ‘Scottish’ media other than in the Moray local, The Northern Scot: Health boards, councils and other public bodies could be required to act to help boost local economies under first-of-its-kind legislation. The Scottish Government has introduced a “unique” Bill at Holyrood which if passed would require public bodies to … Continue reading Businesses recognise SNP leading support for business but ‘Scottish’ media are silent

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‘Britain’s most hazardous building’ positioned perfectly to contaminate Scotland and make it the ‘cancer capital of Europe’

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Frances McKie for alerting me to this. From BBC Cumbria, two days ago, the above and: A longstanding leak at “Britain’s most hazardous building” is a nuclear plant’s “single biggest environmental issue”, a select committee has heard. The leak in the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo (MSSS) – built more than 50 years ago at Sellafield in Cumbria – started in 2019 after first occurring in the 1970s. Labour MP Luke Charters told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday that every three years the silo leaked enough material to fill an “Olympic-sized swimming pool”. A … Continue reading ‘Britain’s most hazardous building’ positioned perfectly to contaminate Scotland and make it the ‘cancer capital of Europe’

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Ripping-off the poor is a Sarwar family tradition in Scotland too

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Sunday National today, the above, and: The German Doner Kebab empire – which has family links to Anas Sarwar – has been advertising jobs at below the minimum wage, the Sunday National can reveal. In April 2024, before the full horror of Labour’s betrayal would be exposed, I wrote: I fear Labour in Scotland are going to campaign as if they’re kind of leftist. The media are going to cover the tracks between them and their London HQ and some voters are going to swallow it. I don’t think I’ve seen words so detached … Continue reading Ripping-off the poor is a Sarwar family tradition in Scotland too

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How badly maintained media reports casually and lazily damage CalMac’s reputation

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Professor John Robertson OBA, Master of Education As of 18:53 today, 22 March 2025, CalMac’s service status is clear above. All sailings, every 30 minutes, are running normally between Largs and Cumbrae. In excess of 20 sailings each way were planned today. Around 12 noon today, the Largs and Millport News had: They have not bothered to update as claimed, based on CalMac’s official information and have left the now inaccurate headline to irresponsibly deter travellers. ‘Briefly?’ From when to when? I guess it’s it not newsworthy. Continue reading How badly maintained media reports casually and lazily damage CalMac’s reputation

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A sustainable pharmacy network that increases patient access to essential NHS care – Now that is a news story that will never be touched

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By Liz S Brexit has had many negative impacts in the UK. Unfortunately the two main UK parties were and still are more focused on trying to out Brexit each other to care about it’s damaging consequences, hence why Reeves, Kendall, Starmer are currently punishing the “many” to protect the “few”. “Scotland’s model for pharmacy offers lessons for England’s future“ Now that is a news story that will never be touched by the BBC Reporting Scotland news team as they are way too consumed in trying to convince us that Scotland should follow England, in everything, especially all of the … Continue reading A sustainable pharmacy network that increases patient access to essential NHS care – Now that is a news story that will never be touched

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A Professor, 11 years after BBC Scotland told Deacon Blue his research was ‘poor quality’, supposed CalMac supporters say his work is ‘not to be taken seriously’ but when challenged cannot offer any evidence

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Professor John Robertson OBA, former teacher, education lecturer, Associate Dean for Quality Assurance and Faculty Research Ethics Chair – why the F would I lie about anything when I don’t need to? First They Ignore You, Then They Laugh at You, Then They Attack You, Then….. In 2014, BBC Scotland accused me of bringing my employer, the University of the West of Scotland, AND the BBC, into disrepute. They copied in my boss, the Principal and vice Chancellor. For two weeks I feared for my job and if I’d worked in an ‘ancient’ university, might well have been reprimanded, even … Continue reading A Professor, 11 years after BBC Scotland told Deacon Blue his research was ‘poor quality’, supposed CalMac supporters say his work is ‘not to be taken seriously’ but when challenged cannot offer any evidence

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A clear causal connection between Liverpool drug gangs, the flood of cheap, more powerful, drugs into Scotland and our still far too high drug deaths. Why are Scotland’s media ignoring that?

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Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC England yesterday, the above and: Five members of a county lines drug gang known as the Scouse Dave Line have been jailed. A total of seven members of the organised crime group, which peddled crack cocaine and heroin between Liverpool, Gosport and Plymouth, were sentenced during the two-day hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd92w0klwy8o When I saw the word ‘scouse‘, I was reminded of this: My Google Alert on 14 February 2025, offered Operation Apollo continues crackdown on County Lines with over 300 years in jail time secured [by the above members] from Cheshire Constabulary. There’s no mention … Continue reading A clear causal connection between Liverpool drug gangs, the flood of cheap, more powerful, drugs into Scotland and our still far too high drug deaths. Why are Scotland’s media ignoring that?

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Medicine shortages after Brexit – Scotland’s model for pharmacy offers lessons for England’s future

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today, the above and: Drug companies notified the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) about disruptions to supply 1,938 times during last year – the highest number since the 1,967 seen in 2021. Medications to treat epilepsy and cystic fibrosis are among those that pharmacists are finding it hard or impossible to get hold of, creating risks for patients’ health. The figures have emerged in a new report by the Nuffield Trust health thinktank, which obtained them under freedom of information laws from the DHSC, which oversees the availability of drugs UK-wide. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/22/brexit-key-factor-worst-uk-drug-shortages-in-four-years The … Continue reading Medicine shortages after Brexit – Scotland’s model for pharmacy offers lessons for England’s future