Year: 2025

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Glasgow’s growing productivity to leave all but one major English city behind

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Professor John Robertson OBA From We’re Scotland’s economic powerhouse. Why doesn’t it feel like it? – A data investigation into where Glasgow’s wealth ends up, published today by The Bell: There’s a bit of a perception around the city that Glasgow has no cash — especially not compared to wealthy Edinburgh next door. But the data shows Glasgow is the economic powerhouse of Scotland — and productivity is growing faster than the rate of many cities south of the border too.  From a crude Talking-up Scotland perspective, the above is good news but, not surprisingly, it’s tempered by the problem, … Continue reading Glasgow’s growing productivity to leave all but one major English city behind

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Why Talking-up Scotland cannot leave Facebook or X/Twitter

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From the above in the TuS Stats page for 2025 so far, you’ll see that far more folk still come to TuS posts from Facebook and from Twitter (X) than from any other platform. Bluesky, which friends urged me to join, is still very far behind. A particular thanks to Wee Ginger Dug for the strongest support of any other pro-independence blog. Continue reading Why Talking-up Scotland cannot leave Facebook or X/Twitter

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Where’s Anas? The BBC report on his sheepish support for savage disability cuts which will have damaging knock-on effects in health care, policing and education, may not see the day out

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Professor John Robertson OBA The BBC Scotland report on the Scottish Labour leader sheepishly going along with the PM’s welfare ‘reforms’ , well more savage cuts for the disabled, from only yesterday, looks likely to drop off the page soon. Maybe, when you read this, it already has. The actual report, get it quick before it disappears, finds it impossible to conceal the awfulness of the callousness in Starmer and Reeves’ plans, try as it might, so its presence has been diminished fast in the hope that no one sees it. What are the Labour plans? PIP pay Numerous individuals … Continue reading Where’s Anas? The BBC report on his sheepish support for savage disability cuts which will have damaging knock-on effects in health care, policing and education, may not see the day out

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‘Ten died of cancer after NHS England blunder meant they were not invited for screening’ but no politician is blamed

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Professor John Robertson OBA Tucked away on the BBC Health website today, with a small presence and a euphemistic headline, on BBC UK but nowhere else other than in the Guardian, which has the more accusatory headline I’ve quoted above. The BBC Health report makes no mention of the health secretary at the time of these events in early 2024. Even an out-of-government UK party gets no blame. Does the BBC fear their return at some time in the future? The deaths? Just this, in the 3rd paragraph: About 10 people are thought to have since died, but it is … Continue reading ‘Ten died of cancer after NHS England blunder meant they were not invited for screening’ but no politician is blamed

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Police Scotland – progression in reducing domestic abuse offences by officers

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Professor John Robertson OBA In May 2023, former Chief Constable, Sir Iain Livingston launched a campaign to reverse discrimination in the force, including that against women.1 Notably, three days ago, it was reported that Police Scotland had rejected 25 applicants with tattoos including terms such as ‘sex slave’, an image of a “decapitated geisha head gagged with a rope” and one with the “rear aspect of female in underwear”.2 While change often requires multiple pressures, there is evidence of progress in one closely-related area – domestic abuse offences by police officers. From Freedom of Information Request 24-2661 – PSD – Officer … Continue reading Police Scotland – progression in reducing domestic abuse offences by officers

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Suspected drug deaths fall again for 3rd quarter in a row to lowest since 2017 and plummet for younger abusers

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Suspected drug deaths in Scotland: October to December 2024, published today: During 2024 there were 1,065 suspected drug deaths, 11% (132) fewer than in 2023. This is one of the lowest numbers of suspected drug deaths recorded in a single calendar quarter since the start of the time series in 2017. https://www.gov.scot/publications/suspected-drug-deaths-scotland-october-december-2024/pages/3/ Of particular interest: A majority (64%) of suspected drug deaths were of people aged between 35 and 54 years. This is broadly in line with previous periods. There were 34 suspected drug deaths in the under 25 age group, 37% (20) fewer than … Continue reading Suspected drug deaths fall again for 3rd quarter in a row to lowest since 2017 and plummet for younger abusers

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The Galloway National Park No Campaign and their friends in high places

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Professor John Robertson OBA I knew the Galloway Hills well, oh so well, but sadly as I age, not at all anymore. I’ve been on top of every hill and some of them, multiple times. Solitude, I get it. Despite that, I’m not so well informed on the debate over the merits or otherwise of national parks. I’ve seen the media reports of human waste, litter, overcrowding, congested roads. I’ve been to the Lake District to see the extremes of that but I’ve also seen there, ordinary folk enjoying themselves responsibly and local businesses thriving. I’ve also read the reports … Continue reading The Galloway National Park No Campaign and their friends in high places

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Factcheck – School violence is in decline along with youth violence generally, in Scotland

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Professor John Robertson OBA I remember the constant threat of violence in my pupil days from 1956 to 1969. I wasn’t imagining it. All parts of Scottish society then were much more violent than they are now. I’m not doubting that a degree of violence persists, for pupils and teachers and that it remains a priority for all involved but facts matter and those facts tell us whether politicians are having any effect. The Mail, above, is platforming Miles Briggs MSP [Con] to blame the SNP directly for it. So, I accept that school violence persists and needs to be … Continue reading Factcheck – School violence is in decline along with youth violence generally, in Scotland

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UK Government’s dysfunctional Under-Secretary at the Scotland Office will clearly say anything, absolutely anything she’s told to say

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stewartb Should anyone book a holiday for their family on a Scottish island this summer? Should a bank or other investor support a business based on a Scottish island that relies on serving customers off island? Should anyone thinking of moving from the UK mainland or elsewhere to set up a family home or set up a business on a Scottish island? Should any resident of a Scottish island with the option of continuing to make a life there or moving to a mainland location choose the former? Should a business on the UK mainland or elsewhere enter into a … Continue reading UK Government’s dysfunctional Under-Secretary at the Scotland Office will clearly say anything, absolutely anything she’s told to say

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Assaults on police officers fall in Scotland but climb to 20% higher in England & Wales

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Freedom of Information request 25-0083 Officer/ Staff assault – related absence/ hospital treatment – 2022/23 TD – asking: In the financial years 2022/23, 23/24, and 24/25 (Up to 08.01.25), how many officers, PCSOs and support staff were physically assaulted by members of the public? Please provide a breakdown by role. we can see that the total fell from 4 670 to 4 328 and fell from 133 to 126 for Police Staff. The figures for Probationers and Special Constables were too small to be meaningful. For the question – Of those who were assaulted, how … Continue reading Assaults on police officers fall in Scotland but climb to 20% higher in England & Wales