Author: johnrobertson834
Retired Professor of Media Politics
Not-for-profit independent political analysis
Reposted as the Great Scottish Ferry Inconvenience loses the plot and compares it to the Highland Clearances
As senior detectives, now passed, are conveniently being scapegoated, the Emma Caldwell Public Inquiry must also ask if the misogynist Scottish Labour Government of 20 years ago took its eye of the ball
Make that 72!
Canadian ferry misses rocks by only 1m in same place as another ferry ran aground 20 years earlier with the loss of two lives
From CBC in British Columbia on 3 April 2026: B.C. Ferries released details Thursday about a “rare operational incident” involving a vessel sailing in rough weather off the northern B.C. coast, almost a month after the vessel sailed close to a rock shoal – with only about a metre to spare. The Northern Adventure – a vessel that regularly sails between Port Hardy, Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii – hit bad weather, and deliberately changed course to navigate around the difficult conditions. According to B.C. Ferries, that’s when the ship – which was carrying 90 passengers and 55 crew – … Continue reading Canadian ferry misses rocks by only 1m in same place as another ferry ran aground 20 years earlier with the loss of two lives
Herald writer ‘admits’ to cycling a bike while under the affluence but wants to spoil the fun of the young and fit
In Kevin McKenna‘s piece yesterday in the Herald: In Scotland, in recent years, the Scottish Government, egged on by the Greens, has conferred sacred status on cycling lanes, turning them into a sort of luxury Caledonian camino for the middle-classes. ‘I’ve got nothing against cycle travel, but how many middle-aged, working-class women have you seen riding a bicycle into the city? The answer is none. The priority for Glasgow has to be buses.’ WTF’s a ‘camino’ Kev. Middle-Class or whit? Kevin, back in 2012, before he had to pretend being pro-independence as cover for slagging the SNP every day: So … Continue reading Herald writer ‘admits’ to cycling a bike while under the affluence but wants to spoil the fun of the young and fit
Everybody complains about their ferry service, from Norway to North America – short video
Sources at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/04/05/norways-superior-ferry-system-exposed-as-failing-to-consult-locals-in-time-to-prevent-unpopular-outcomes-like-service-cuts-route-adjustments-driven-by-budget-constraints-or-central-government-p/ and: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/04/05/nowhere-else-in-the-world-runs-their-ferry-networks-like-this-well-only-the-isle-of-wight-the-channel-islands-british-columbia-new-zealand-washington-state-usa/ Continue reading Everybody complains about their ferry service, from Norway to North America – short video
Norway’s ‘superior’ ferry system exposed as failing to consult locals in time to prevent unpopular outcomes like service cuts, route adjustments driven by budget constraints or central government policy goals
Norway’s ferry service has been recently portrayed as superior to Scotland’s. I suppose they have got $2 trillion in the bank and we’ve got SFA but, wait what’s this: In Norway there are also reports and criticisms of insufficient or ineffective community involvement in decisions affecting ferry (ferge) and fast ferry (hurtigbåt) services, which serve as vital lifelines for coastal, island, and fjord communities. https://www.nho.no/siteassets/nho-regioner-filer/nho-nordland/nf17-2025-samfunnsnytten-av-hurtigbattilbudet-i-nordland.pdf Norway operates one of the world’s largest and most subsidized ferry networks, with many routes under public service obligations (PSOs) managed at the county (fylkeskommune) level or nationally. These connections are essential for daily life, … Continue reading Norway’s ‘superior’ ferry system exposed as failing to consult locals in time to prevent unpopular outcomes like service cuts, route adjustments driven by budget constraints or central government policy goals
‘Nowhere else in the world runs their ferry networks like this?’ Well, only the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, British Columbia, New Zealand, Washington State USA…..
OK, I’m not going on about all the Scottish Government subsidies the ‘islanders’ get because, according to Lesley Riddoch, it upsets them to be told about them but I cannot, just cannot, ignore the above claims. Are there reports of government’s excluding the communities most affected from decisions which are crucial for their wellbeing in, for example, the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, British Columbia, New Zealand or Washington State USA? It seems there are. I’m shocked. Surely the Stornoway Gazette guy checked first. Yes, there are reports and public criticisms in several of these regions of governments or … Continue reading ‘Nowhere else in the world runs their ferry networks like this?’ Well, only the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, British Columbia, New Zealand, Washington State USA…..
Talking-up Scotland 