Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Newborn health at real risk near nuclear plants but Scottish Labour double down on new plants in Scotland

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The Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) is located near Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California, on approximately 1,000 acres along the Pacific coast. It is the state’s largest single power station and the only operational nuclear plant in California following the 2013 closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. From the Santa Barbara Independent, yesterday: Just weeks after the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved a 20-year license extension for the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, scrutiny surrounding the human health impacts from radiation have emerged from both academia and Diablo opponents. A recent Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analysis found higher cancer mortality rates in U.S. counties located closer to nuclear plants, while a nonprofit-led report questioned whether decades of Diablo Canyon’s operation may be tied to worsening infant health in surrounding San Luis Obispo County. Federal regulators and health officials, however, maintain that radiation exposure from the plant … Continue reading Newborn health at real risk near nuclear plants but Scottish Labour double down on new plants in Scotland

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‘The teen knife death massacre’ – Does the Daily Record actually have a ‘new low?’

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The evil that never sleeps – the Daily Record ignores the election (Do they know Anas is gubbed?) and repeats an old story thanks to an intervention in the national debate by ‘Kenzo’ (17), above to get started right away undermining the ‘new’ SNP Government. Why is it mince? Continue reading ‘The teen knife death massacre’ – Does the Daily Record actually have a ‘new low?’

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Latest poll today of only those likely to vote puts SNP up at 41% with massive lead

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From pollsters Find out Now, the above and: We ask respondents how likely they are to vote in the Scottish Parliament election on 7th May. For those who give a 7 or above, we then ask their vote choice If a respondent answers ‘Don’t know’ they see an additional question, prompting them again to give an answer. If they then give a valid vote choice they are included in the final calculation, but if they answer ‘Don’t know’ again (or ‘Would not vote’) they are excluded from the final headline calculation. Source: https://findoutnow.co.uk/blog/scotland-vi/ Find Out Now is registered with the … Continue reading Latest poll today of only those likely to vote puts SNP up at 41% with massive lead

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Public Health Professor’s message for Scottish Labour’s nuclear plans – ‘I personally would not live near a nuclear power plant’

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From Boston 25 News yesterday: All kinds of cancer’: New study will assess radiation risk from old nuclear plant in Plymouth – Seven years ago, the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station stopped generating electricity, but that doesn’t mean concerns about radiation exposure have gone away. A new study is about to get underway to determine just how great the cancer risk is along the South Shore and Cape Cod. The views along Priscilla Beach in Plymouth are beautiful, but residents believe there is something ugly in the air. Plymouth resident Joanne Geary said, “So many people have had health issues, all … Continue reading Public Health Professor’s message for Scottish Labour’s nuclear plans – ‘I personally would not live near a nuclear power plant’

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Play this to those hesitating to vote. Let them see the words too

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Lyrics: We’ll be singing, we’ll be singing If we get out and vote for our own We’ll be singing, we’ll be singing When we remember all we’ve sown Pulling thousands out of poverty Sending the same to learn for free Offering a hand to the weak and the sick We begin the path to the Scotland we want We’ll be singing, we’ll be singing If we get out and vote for our own We’ll be singing, we’ll be singing When we remember all we’ve sown To each according to their need From each according to our abilities Paying that wee … Continue reading Play this to those hesitating to vote. Let them see the words too

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Businessmen and wealthy donors ARE bankrolling Scottish politics but only the Unionist parties

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The Ferret has been good recently. I’ve shared their latest reports but this one smells a bit, like some of their earlier ones, of Scottish Labour residual loyalty and of Unionism. They offer us this: before going on to name Robin MacGeachy: Companies he owns or co-owns handed £910,000 to the Scottish Liberal Democrats and £700,000 to Scottish Labour. This represents nearly half of all of the Lib Dems’ donations, and nearly a quarter of Labour’s. and Sandy Easdale: The Easdale brothers, who are among Scotland’s richest men, gave £150,000 to Scottish Labour via one of their firms. The bus … Continue reading Businessmen and wealthy donors ARE bankrolling Scottish politics but only the Unionist parties

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Complaints to GPs shocking 45% less common in Scotland than in England meant 6 000 fewer unhappy with the service last year

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From the Daily Mail today: More than 134,000 written complaints about GPs were made to NHS England last year, with communication issues, staff attitudes and treatment errors driving the deluge. The data shows record numbers of patients are so unhappy with their experience of services that they have lodged their concerns – marking a 10 per cent rise since 2023-24. It comes after a damning survey revealed that GP surgeries are forcing the elderly to book appointments online, against NHS rules – which say there must be a range of booking methods. The data, published by NHS Digital, shows 134,501 complaints were made … Continue reading Complaints to GPs shocking 45% less common in Scotland than in England meant 6 000 fewer unhappy with the service last year

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With TWELVE times as many temporary school exclusions and ONE THOUSAND times as many permanent exclusions, PER HEAD, than Scotland, England’s schools are in a deep crisis fuelling County Lines gangs and street violence

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Thanks again to Dorothy for alerting me to this. From Channel 4 News last night, the above and: England’s schools have been described as being gripped by rising levels of violence against both teachers and pupils, leading to permanent exclusions. According to a new report, a record 3,320 pupils were permanently excluded last spring – which is about 21% higher than before the Covid pandemic. The report also found vulnerable children were affected most – with their exclusions from school almost 6% higher than other pupils. More than 300,000 were suspended last spring. https://www.channel4.com/news/permanent-exclusions-up-21-as-violence-in-schools-rise What are the comparable figures for … Continue reading With TWELVE times as many temporary school exclusions and ONE THOUSAND times as many permanent exclusions, PER HEAD, than Scotland, England’s schools are in a deep crisis fuelling County Lines gangs and street violence

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Let’s not vote to have Scotland changed to be more like Labour’s Wales!

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By stewartb British Labour Party politicians and the MSM in Scotland have been working hard (colluding?) to shield voters here from the overwhelming evidence that whatever improvements Scotland’s NHS needs, there is no reason to believe they will be delivered by electing a Labour government to Holyrood. The Party’s track record of governing with (just) devolved powers in Wales provides ample justification for this view. The authoritative health think tank, the Nuffield Trust lays out the state of NHS Wales under a Labour government in power for c.30 years. It compares NHS Wales to the NHS elsewhere in the UK. … Continue reading Let’s not vote to have Scotland changed to be more like Labour’s Wales!