Year: 2025

5 Comments

BBC England reveals that ScotRail had fewer cancellations, often far fewer, than any other other UK rail company in 2024

johnrobertson834

I’m grateful to my old friend, workmate, dry humourist* and sandwich stealer, from events he hadn’t been invited to attend, Prof Mike Danson of UWS, for alerting me to this. Never to my knowledge reported by BBC Scotland, STV, the Scotsman or the Herald, this BBC England report from December 2024, reveals ScotRail, in 2024, to have had the lowest rate of cancellations of any UK train company, at 2.9%. You can check yourself with the link below but even those in the affluent South-East had 3.3%, everywhere else had around 4% and the North West had a shocking 6.5% … Continue reading BBC England reveals that ScotRail had fewer cancellations, often far fewer, than any other other UK rail company in 2024

3 Comments

More than THREE TIMES as many Scots would prefer US statehood to staying as a UK colony

johnrobertson834

US President Elect, Donald Trump’s recent comments on the importance of controlling Panama, Greenland and even Canada, for US national security, prompted the often insightful Professor Richard Murphy to wonder if Scotland might be next. Watch his explanation (6 min 21 secs only) at: I found it hard to take the notion seriously but thought then, why not see how a sample of Scots would respond to it. I feel sure Murphy would expect we’d all be horrified. I would but, for some reason, felt sure some Scots might prefer it to continuing the current colonial situation. Is Scotland currently … Continue reading More than THREE TIMES as many Scots would prefer US statehood to staying as a UK colony

5 Comments

English financiers says ‘Scotland ‘subsidises’ London energy bills’ and it’s ‘better for Scots to pay over the odds than those living in the English capital’

johnrobertson834

I missed this back in October 2024: Households in Scotland are paying higher energy bills than they ought to keep prices down south of the Border, according to experts at the Fuller Treacy Money investment strategy firm. In a newsletter arguing against zonal pricing, the firm’s owner Eoin Treacy [above] says it is better for Scots to pay over the odds than those living in the English capital. Zonal pricing, which has been considered by the UK Government in the past, would see places like Scotland – where lots of energy is produced but there is lower demand – pay cheaper … Continue reading English financiers says ‘Scotland ‘subsidises’ London energy bills’ and it’s ‘better for Scots to pay over the odds than those living in the English capital’

12 Comments

‘SNP’s roasters and bangers’ who ‘loathe the poor and vulnerable?’ With such blatant lies would Kevin McKenna even get a job at the Daily Express or Mail?

johnrobertson834

I’d kind of given up on reacting to Kevin McKenna, in the Herald, for the good of my mental health, but he’s got me going again today with: Human zoo drug rooms are win-win for SNP’s roasters and bangers – IS there no end to the SNP’s loathing of Scotland’s poor and vulnerable people, especially in Glasgow? If Scotland’s party of government isn’t threatening to imprison working-class people for speaking out of turn in their own homes they can be found trying to curb their drinking and inspecting the contents of their bins for signs of delinquent household waste practices. WTF … Continue reading ‘SNP’s roasters and bangers’ who ‘loathe the poor and vulnerable?’ With such blatant lies would Kevin McKenna even get a job at the Daily Express or Mail?

12 Comments

Bowel cancer screening is already offered earlier in Scotland but you’ll need to read on a bit to find that out under Herald’s ridiculous propagandist SNP-bad headline

johnrobertson834

The Herald today, has the above ridiculous, propagandist, SNP-bad, headline, and: Senior MSPs have urged ministers to extend the national bowel screening programme to the under 50s after an alarming rise in the disease among younger Scots. Conservative MSP Edward Mountain, a survivor of bowel cancer, and Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie made the plea to health secretary Neil Gray. Absolutely, fully behind that but also behind more transparent reporting. Why does the Herald take 8 paragraphs to reveal this? A minor point, many will tell me, but we know that only around 40% of readers go beyond the … Continue reading Bowel cancer screening is already offered earlier in Scotland but you’ll need to read on a bit to find that out under Herald’s ridiculous propagandist SNP-bad headline

2 Comments

Valuing ‘culture’ and public funding – how Wales with a Labour government in Cardiff fares!

johnrobertson834

By stewartb There will be a Scottish Government debate in Holyrood on January 14 on ‘Valuing Culture: Scotland’s Support to the Culture Sector’. Will it generate heat or light? It will be worth observing how British Labour Party politicians in Scotland approach this debate. Will they acknowledge longstanding stresses and strains on Scottish Government finances due to Westminster austerity and inflation? Or will we hear the usual carping? And how will BBC Scotland and the rest of the mainstream media ‘serving’ Scotland report: devoid of context and perspective as usual? As we assess the various contributions, it will be worth … Continue reading Valuing ‘culture’ and public funding – how Wales with a Labour government in Cardiff fares!

2 Comments

Update – The sinking of the Solway Harvester – BBC Scotland fails to explore, even mention, the several unexplained factors including the nuclear submarine with the ‘distracted’ crew

johnrobertson834

On the BBC Scotland website today but written by BBC News Isle of Man: Solway Harvester tragedy ‘still felt’ 25 years on – The loss of seven fishermen in Manx waters “is still keenly felt” a quarter of a century after the Solway Harvester tragedy, the chief minister has said. The crewmen, from the Isle of Whithorn area of Dumfries and Galloway, died when the the scallop dredger sank off the coast of Douglas on 11 January 2000. Skipper Andrew Mills (known as Craig), 29, his brother Robin Mills, 33, their cousin David Mills, 17, Martin Milligan, 26, John Murphy, … Continue reading Update – The sinking of the Solway Harvester – BBC Scotland fails to explore, even mention, the several unexplained factors including the nuclear submarine with the ‘distracted’ crew

13 Comments

‘UK has enough gas says No 10 after storage warning’ – because Scotland produces 71% of the UK total production and 8 times the amount it consumes partly because we cannot afford it

johnrobertson834

From BBC Business, minutes ago: The UK has enough gas to meet winter demand, the government has said, after British Gas owner-Centrica warned about “concerningly low” storage. Centrica, which owns the country’s largest gas storage facility, said the UK “has less than a week of gas demand in store” due to the colder-than-usual weather. The government said it monitors energy levels and says it has “all tools” at its disposal “if needed to secure our supply”. In 2023, Scotland produced 23 million tonnes and 71% of the total UK gas production.1 23 million tonnes of gas = 332 TWh.2 In … Continue reading ‘UK has enough gas says No 10 after storage warning’ – because Scotland produces 71% of the UK total production and 8 times the amount it consumes partly because we cannot afford it

1 Comment

Maybe CalMac should call Trump and offer to take over the worst ferry service in the developed world

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson, International Ferry Correspondent Washington State has a population of 8 million, around 50% more than Scotland but it’s coastal islands off Seattle, sit in far milder and less stormy seas than on the West coast of Scotland. It’s GDP of around $680 billion is significantly higher than that of Scotland at $230bn (£187bn) but despite that Washington State Ferries (privately owned with dividend holders) may be the worst in the developed world. From King-TV Seattle, yesterday: Governor-elect Bob Ferguson boarded a state ferry Wednesday and sailed into uncharted waters on Wednesday. The state ferry system is sinking, with … Continue reading Maybe CalMac should call Trump and offer to take over the worst ferry service in the developed world