Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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In England 0% of estuaries and coastal waters score ‘high’ for ecological condition compared to 100% in Scotland where 100% of rivers are also clean but only BBC Scotland has this smelly news to suggest otherwise

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Only BBC Scotland has the above headlining story. Four paragraphs down: Scottish Water said the vast majority of the spills were not harmful to the environment, and that increased monitoring had improved understanding of the sewer network. and then, unhelpfully, only 39 paragraphs down: He said the figures had showed there were almost daily discharges from the two overflows in the area – but it was not known if there was a link between discharges and water quality. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0re545l8jdo What is know and not mentioned in this very long report from BBC Scotland? This: In Scotland, only 1% of sewer … Continue reading In England 0% of estuaries and coastal waters score ‘high’ for ecological condition compared to 100% in Scotland where 100% of rivers are also clean but only BBC Scotland has this smelly news to suggest otherwise

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After 20 years of SNP government protecting NHS Scotland from the worst is it today not Scotland’s shining achievement?

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After almost 20 years of a centre-left SNP government protecting NHS Scotland from the worst of UK Government austerity policies, so with greater funding and staffing alongside better more respectful relations with unions, leading to no damaging strikes, but against the background pressures of privatisation trends in the UK, embedded in the UK Labour Party leaders often funded by powerful private sector medical corporations, against rocketing global prices for medicines, against the huge pressure from Pandemic backlog, an ageing population and one with historical health outcomes among the worst in Northern Europe, is NHS Scotland today not Scotland’s shining achievement? … Continue reading After 20 years of SNP government protecting NHS Scotland from the worst is it today not Scotland’s shining achievement?

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National Wealth Fund to support Scottish economy with £1bn boost for windfarm 270 miles off Berwick-on-Tweed but only 29 miles off Norfolk

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By Liz S This below is still not anywhere on the BBC website as of 16.55pm on 12/11/26: The National reported this morning that: “Andy Burnham has been accused of getting “basic facts” wrong after he hailed English investment in response to a question about Scottish “deindustrialisation” “The Prime Minister pointed to a £1 billion boost for wind farms off the coast of Norfolk in response to a question from SNP MP Graham Leadbitter in the Commons on Wednesday” On Facebook the Grasp The Thistle account wrote: “Andy Burnham has been accused of “telling fibs” after he claimed that £1 … Continue reading National Wealth Fund to support Scottish economy with £1bn boost for windfarm 270 miles off Berwick-on-Tweed but only 29 miles off Norfolk

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Sickening Ian Murray playing to his London audience about Scottish tightness when the facts say it’s they who are the tightest by far

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Watch them laugh, at him. ‘A cute wee Jock telling us what we want to hear.’ The facts? Boring I know, to them. From the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) UK Local Giving Report 2026 which maps generosity across UK nations, English regions, and parliamentary constituencies using a nationally representative online survey of 12,913 UK adults (aged 16+) for 2025 giving. Area % of income given % who donated/sponsored Northern Ireland 1.17% 61% Wales 0.92% 57% South West 0.91% 58% Scotland 0.90% 56% North West 0.87% 55% West Midlands 0.87% 53% East Midlands 0.87% 54% South East 0.86% 59% Yorkshire & … Continue reading Sickening Ian Murray playing to his London audience about Scottish tightness when the facts say it’s they who are the tightest by far

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Babies receiving some breastfeeding surges 26% from the last days of Labour in 2007 to improve the health of babies and mothers and reduce inequalities in health

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From Infant feeding statistics Financial year 2025 to 2026 published two days ago, the above and: Breastfeeding rates continue to rise and in 2025/26, 70% of babies in Scotland were breastfed for at least some time after their birth, compared with 63% in 2016/17. Over the past 10 years the proportion of babies receiving some breastfeeding has increased at both the first visit (63% in 2025/26 vs 49% in 2015/16) and 6-8 week review (54% in 2025/26 vs 38% in 2015/16). In 2007, for the first visit it was 37%. Breastfeeding is being maintained for longer. In 2025/26, among those … Continue reading Babies receiving some breastfeeding surges 26% from the last days of Labour in 2007 to improve the health of babies and mothers and reduce inequalities in health

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30% fewer heart-related deaths in 2025 than in 2007 despite 300 000 (36%) more over-65s today – where is the praise, even coverage for NHS Scotland?

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From Scottish heart disease statistics Hospital activity for the year ending 31 March 2026 and deaths for the year ending 31 December 2025 published two days ago: The rate at which new cases of coronary heart disease occur (the incidence) has fallen by 15% over the last decade (2016/17 to 2025/26). In 2025, there were 6,531 deaths in Scotland where coronary heart disease (CHD) was the underlying cause. The age-sex standardised mortality rate for coronary heart disease has continued to decline over the last decade, falling by 17% from 139.2 deaths per 100,000 population in 2016 to 116.2 per 100,000 … Continue reading 30% fewer heart-related deaths in 2025 than in 2007 despite 300 000 (36%) more over-65s today – where is the praise, even coverage for NHS Scotland?

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Who has ordered the branch manager to U-turn?

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By Liz S The BBC are promoting this: “Scottish Labour leader says the UK should re-join EU” Is it a mere coincidence that Marra is stating this now, as in when his new Labour leader at HQ , Andy Burnham, is also supposedly keen for the UK to get closer to the EU and eventually re-join ? No it is not. In September Micahel Marra was interviewed by Politico. In that interview he stated: “What we do need is a closer relationship because we know the economic cost that’s resulted from Brexit. I want to see us doing that on … Continue reading Who has ordered the branch manager to U-turn?

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Housing supply? Glasgow leaves Liverpool and Manchester in their dust

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From STV yesterday: Council moves ahead with £674m plan for thousands of affordable homes in Glasgow. The council’s ‘ambitious’ plans could see 12,000 additional homes and city centre commercial conversions if funding is made available Glasgow City Council is moving ahead with plans to build thousands of affordable homes across the city at a cost of £674m. According to council bosses, the “ambitious programme” will deliver 6,500 new homes, with another 12,000 to be delivered should funds be made available. It is part of the council’s strategic housing investment programme (SHIP) for 2027 to 2032, which addresses the city’s housing … Continue reading Housing supply? Glasgow leaves Liverpool and Manchester in their dust

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Scottish Labour MP fawns over PM despite e-bike injury and death being six times higher in England than in SNP Scotland

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Martin might be Glasgow MP but he clearly knows little of the city as he desperately tries to show it in a bad light it, based on the facts about e-bike ad e-scooter injuries and death. The Daily Record, 12 September 2026, put its finger on the underlying factor in the above surge of e-bike police confiscations: Beyond local anti-social behaviour, they have become the preferred transport for county lines drug-running and street robbery, offering escape for criminals.https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/take-back-control-e-bike-37654208 While many of the children riding these e-bikes to deliver drugs are local, the entire drug distribution operation in Scotland has been … Continue reading Scottish Labour MP fawns over PM despite e-bike injury and death being six times higher in England than in SNP Scotland