Year: 2025

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Infected blood scandal – The mob who supposedly ‘report’ political news within Scotland are not exactly the same calibre of the Washington Post’s Carl Bernstein or Bob Woodward

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By Liz S People in Scotland need to realise that these UK political parties, whenever they achieve any power, they then have a tendency to hold the ‘purse strings very very tightly’ ……….to such an extent that they rarely want to open that public purse to provide , not just any compensation, but appropriate compensation to those negatively impacted …… As in impacted not through their own actions but through either a negligence of the UK State, or via an action taken by a part of the establishment that represents the UK State or a bad decision directly taken by the UK State. Newsnight on BBC2 once had , as guests, the “victims and campaigners seeking … Continue reading Infected blood scandal – The mob who supposedly ‘report’ political news within Scotland are not exactly the same calibre of the Washington Post’s Carl Bernstein or Bob Woodward

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It’s been a while since Andrew Bowie last sickened us. Then, it was the risk of radiation sickness

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Professor John Robertson OBA The National today has the above headline and: Andrew Bowie, the MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, embarked on an all expenses paid trip to Israel between August 25 and 29 this year. The trip was described as a “fact-finding political delegation” in Bowie’s MP register of interests, and was paid for by the Conservative Friends of Israel. Bowie registered air travel, accommodation and hospitality for the visit to Israel as costing £4200. He told The National that he met with senior members of the Israel Defence Force (IDF) during the trip. The shadow Scottish secretary was not … Continue reading It’s been a while since Andrew Bowie last sickened us. Then, it was the risk of radiation sickness

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Even before the Scottish Child Payment increase is felt, 90 places in England & Wales have worse child poverty than any part of Scotland

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Further down we see North Ayrshire 161, Clackmannanshire 162, Dundee City 179. Professor John Robertson OBA As almost every ‘Scottish’ media outlet this morning headlines the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report from 6 October 2025 (Why now?), some context you won’t hear: From End Child Poverty in June 2024, the above table based on 2022/2023 data, and: Note that the Scottish Child Payment, now £26.70 per child per week has only just begun to affect the above figures and ranking. By the end of 2024/2025 it and the end of the 2 child benefit cap will have further reduced child poverty in Scotland and widened … Continue reading Even before the Scottish Child Payment increase is felt, 90 places in England & Wales have worse child poverty than any part of Scotland

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As BBC Scotland revisit the scandal the still untold story of how Labour failed to protect Scots from infected blood!

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Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland is broadcasting tragic stories today of those infected by blood transfusions: Between 1970 and the early 1990s, more than 30,000 NHS patients were given blood transfusions, or treatments made using blood products, which were contaminated with hep C or HIV. Some of the blood was from abroad, but in Scotland, the majority came from Scottish donors which included prisoners and drug users. Nowhere in the extended reporting is it made clear which political parties were in Government, thus responsible for the tragedy. Here is the necessary clarification: On May 17th, the head of the Scottish … Continue reading As BBC Scotland revisit the scandal the still untold story of how Labour failed to protect Scots from infected blood!

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New US ferries though simpler to cost twice CalMac’s MV Glen Rosa

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Professor John Robertson OBA From the Washington State Standard in May 2025: Washington State Ferries said it would deploy its new electric ferries first on the Mukilteo-Clinton run. The short route is currently served by diesel ferries like the Tokitae, seen here approaching Whidbey Island. (Photo by Tom Banse) Ferry system managers and state budget writers in Washington took a cold wave over the bow Monday upon opening the bids to construct up to five new hybrid electric ferries. “I don’t see how you get to five. There’s money for three on a good day,” said state House Transportation Committee … Continue reading New US ferries though simpler to cost twice CalMac’s MV Glen Rosa

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Child poverty in ‘UK’ soars to almost 50% higher than in Scotland with gap only likely to widen and a resulting increase of dying young

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this: Published in Nursing Practice of 29 September 2025, One-third of UK children grow up in poverty with higher risk of dying young: In 2023/24, nearly a third [31%] of children in the UK (4.5 million) were living in relative poverty after housing costs, with one million of these children based in the North of England. In some constituencies, such as Birmingham Ladywood, the figures are higher, with 62 per cent of children living in poverty [32%in Glasgow] . This report highlights how the situation is worsening, with researchers … Continue reading Child poverty in ‘UK’ soars to almost 50% higher than in Scotland with gap only likely to widen and a resulting increase of dying young

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How Jim Murphy has made millions in Starmer era from his ‘lobbying behemoth’

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By Liz S Long comment but really crucial as something that really exposes the sheer hypocrisy and blatant double standards applied by the Labour party…and also those individuals still connected to them. You know most people in Scotland, and elsewhere, may not realise that one of the biggest political losers in Scottish politics and also a very unpopular Labour leader in Scotland , Jim Murphy , has apparently now been ‘winning’ since ‘losing’ Labour a majority of their Labour MP’s in the 2015 UK GE………where he lost Labour 40 MP’s in Scotland out of total of 41….which included him losing in his own constituency. Yesterday , The Times newspaper did a piece on him … Continue reading How Jim Murphy has made millions in Starmer era from his ‘lobbying behemoth’

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Ferret factchecker’s toxic dialogue suggests dramatically ebbing tide of racially-aggravated hate crime in Scotland threatening to just about disappear here, along with their far-right groups

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Bob Lamont for alerting us to this. The Ferret is in the National today with the above and: At least 20 incidents linked to anti-migrant protests, racism and the far right in the last two months have exposed rising political tensions across Scotland. They included attacks on mosques and asylum hotels, alleged assaults – and the jailing of a neo-Nazi for slashing a student in the face with a knife. The Ferret found there were at least 17 arrests linked to anti-migrant protests, and police are investigating a number of alleged hate crimes. Anti-racism … Continue reading Ferret factchecker’s toxic dialogue suggests dramatically ebbing tide of racially-aggravated hate crime in Scotland threatening to just about disappear here, along with their far-right groups

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‘Gangs of sinister, feral young men’ from England fuelling Scotland’s drug deaths, targeting vulnerable women and causing small town violence surges

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Professor John Robertson OBA The Scotsman last week had: Gangs of sinister, feral young men show why Police Scotland needs extra £140 million – Police Scotland’s Chief Constable Jo Farrell has sounded an alarm that politicians must heed Just who these young men are where they come from is left out so that readers might think they’re Scots but they’re not. As far back as 2018, the Liverpool Echo began a run of reports telling exactly where they’re from, with: How Liverpool’s drug criminals are fuelling Scotland’s gang wars In 2022: Liverpool drug gangs target Scots towns and cities as … Continue reading ‘Gangs of sinister, feral young men’ from England fuelling Scotland’s drug deaths, targeting vulnerable women and causing small town violence surges

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SNP and Swinney more favourably viewed than anything else in Scot’s political world

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Professor John Robertson OBA From the Ipsos Scotland Political Pulse survey, taken between 21st and 26th February 2025, these little-reported facts, at the time, in response to the question – To what extent, if at all, do you have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of the following politicians and political parties? Adding Very and Fairly Favourable scores: Source – https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/public-critical-scottish-governments-record-arent-convinced-labour-would-do-better-job#:~:text=A%20new%20Ipsos%20Scotland%20Political%20Pulse%20survey%2C%20taken,it%20has%20done%20a%20good%20job%20of%20this. This was some time ago but does anyone image any major improvements for any of the above apart from the SNP and Reform UK? Look at the recent polls: Talking-up Scotland’s special crowd funder has closed but you can support … Continue reading SNP and Swinney more favourably viewed than anything else in Scot’s political world