Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Kevin McKenna, Colonist of the Year makes the Herald a hostile place for Scotland’s decent democrats with up to 150 cheap hatchet jobs since 2019

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The Herald’s Colonist of the Year, Kevin McKenna has been in hyperdrive recently with explicit but moronic attacks on the SNP. The one above and six below are only recent examples from a set of more than a hundred going back to before 2014. A man once admired at the Guardian is now a figure of disgust among those decent democrats, now more than 50% of the electorate, and presumably at least that of those who used to take the Herald. Their business model, allowing McKenna and others such as Williams a regular slot and with occasional appearances by the … Continue reading Kevin McKenna, Colonist of the Year makes the Herald a hostile place for Scotland’s decent democrats with up to 150 cheap hatchet jobs since 2019

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Scotsman under fire for misleading reporting on alcohol deaths as treatment within only 3 weeks beats 90% target for years on end and Swinney adds another £37 million new this year

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The Scotsman, confused on alcohol deaths – against this week or for last week? From the Scotsman’s David Bol today: Exclusive: SNP under fire for lack of action to tackle alcohol deaths as focus on tackling drug fatalities. John Swinney has been warned grieving families “deserve the same urgency” in tackling Scotland’s alcohol death crisis as the nation’s drug-related fatalities amid criticism over a lack of action. Two leading charities have told The Scotsman it was “deeply disappointing” the First Minister’s programme for government “contained nothing new” to tackle alcohol harm. https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/snp-under-fire-for-lack-of-action-to-tackle-alcohol-deaths-as-focus-heaped-on-tackling-drug-fatalities-9308257 First on action ie treatment, from National drug … Continue reading Scotsman under fire for misleading reporting on alcohol deaths as treatment within only 3 weeks beats 90% target for years on end and Swinney adds another £37 million new this year

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As anti-social offenders face town centre bans and curfews under Labour’s new “Asbos”, will Scotland’s plummeting anti-social behaviour figures cause a problem for media operating in ‘SNP soft touch on crime’ Scotland?

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The above story is trending across media in England today. On April 1 2026: In the Telegraph and other media today, the above story and: Another day, another mini-riot, as gangs of marauding youths run amok – this time in Clapham, south London. A few days ago social media was full of footage of what seemed to be teenagers (they were all in hoodies so one can’t be sure how old they were) causing chaos in Wolverhampton, throwing eggs at anyone they could find. Video then emerged of hundreds of young men and women rushing a streetwear pop-up shop in … Continue reading As anti-social offenders face town centre bans and curfews under Labour’s new “Asbos”, will Scotland’s plummeting anti-social behaviour figures cause a problem for media operating in ‘SNP soft touch on crime’ Scotland?

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Not mentioned by BBC Scotland, of course, there is real news on BBC England about real action by doctors of a kind Lisa Summers can only dream

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next month in a dispute over pay and pensions. The walk-out will begin on 25th November just before 7am, with consultants providing emergency cover only, similar to how hospitals are staffed on Christmas Day. On BBC UK at 1pm today, the above ‘news’. NHS England consultants last went on strike in 2023. The UK Health Secretary has warned against ‘irresponsible action.’ Regulars will be aware that BBC Scotland have got in early to worry viewers that consultants in NHS Scotland might decide to go on strike and will decide by 7 November but were careful to avoid referring to the … Continue reading Not mentioned by BBC Scotland, of course, there is real news on BBC England about real action by doctors of a kind Lisa Summers can only dream

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This weekend’s storms seem to confirm that few Scottish homes will have to be abandoned as climate crisis reshapes UK’s flood risk

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In the Guardian 31 January 2026: ‘Homes may have to be abandoned’: how climate crisis has reshaped Britain’s flood risk https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2026/jan/31/climate-crisis-flood-risk-britain There’s only one mention of Scotland: But it is not just the south-west facing ever more floods as the climate crisis bites. Environment Agency data estimates 6.3m properties in England are at risk of flooding, rising to 8m by 2050, with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland also hit hard. Wow, impressive ‘hard-hitting’ research there…not. In the Guardian 14 October 2025, the above maps showing only two wee bits of Scotland with a 25% risk and the Highland and Borders … Continue reading This weekend’s storms seem to confirm that few Scottish homes will have to be abandoned as climate crisis reshapes UK’s flood risk

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Not even one one report of a flooded home for the second year in a row – I wonder why? Surely not Scottish Government investment in flood defences?

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BBC Scotland has not one report of a family flooded out of their home this morning, despite the severity of storms this last three days. A year ago, something similar happened: STV News, 14 December 2025: Scots homes ‘likely to be flooded’ as amber weather warning for ‘very heavy rain’ issued – The alert comes into effect from midnight on Sunday and remains in place until 11.59pm. The same hopeful claims were everywhere in Scotland’s media with the same optimism, on their part, we see when such NHS waiting times or drug deaths figures are anticipated. As of now (Sunday … Continue reading Not even one one report of a flooded home for the second year in a row – I wonder why? Surely not Scottish Government investment in flood defences?

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BBC Scotland desperate for their first ever NHS strike, in SIX weeks, put the effort in, to at least make you worried enough to miss an appointment

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on whether to take action…………….voting due to close on 7th December. In their tiny insert in BBC Breakfast, every half-four, the BBC Reporting Scotland team gave over most of the time allocation to this possibility of a strike, in more than 5 weeks. They cannot wait to have you start the process of thinking NHS Scotland is as troubled as NHS England and for old folk to wonder if it’s worth attending appointments. We’ve seen this over and over, this last four or five years, as NHS England unions go on strike and in Scotland they never, so far do, … Continue reading BBC Scotland desperate for their first ever NHS strike, in SIX weeks, put the effort in, to at least make you worried enough to miss an appointment

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New ‘heart-pumping’ BBC horror show set on a stricken ferry has to be moved to Isle of Wight location after CalMac ferry engine failure cannot be convincingly faked, wolf refuses to chase scary humans and has to be replaced by Staffie and only real horror is ‘heart-pumping’ English ticket prices

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From the Herald yesterday: and: Only hours later, the project has had to be moved to the Isle of Wight. First the CalMac engineers failed to produce a genuinely convincing breakdown and drifting, stricken. To be fair there has never been a Calmac ferry engine failure at sea leading it being ‘stricken.’ Luckily for the producers, there have been at least three incidents where Red Funnel and Wightlink vessels have had ‘catastrophic’ main engine failures requiring tug-towing into harbour. See: https://particle.news/story/red-funnel-cancels-sailings-following-red-eagle-engine-failure and https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/catastrophic-engine-failure-and-fire-on-board-ro-ro-passenger-ferry-wight-sky The producers have been advised that if they just wait about for a bit, something will go … Continue reading New ‘heart-pumping’ BBC horror show set on a stricken ferry has to be moved to Isle of Wight location after CalMac ferry engine failure cannot be convincingly faked, wolf refuses to chase scary humans and has to be replaced by Staffie and only real horror is ‘heart-pumping’ English ticket prices

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Chancellor proudly promises to build proportionally far fewer affordable council homes than Scotland has been doing for years!

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In The Mirror yesterday, the above and: Chancellor to unveil £1billion boost to build up to 10,000 new council homes in Budget EXCLUSIVE: The Chancellor is set to announce more than £1billion of new funding for social and affordable housing, taking the total capital investment to more than £40 billion over the next 10 years. The announcement next week by Chancellor John Healey will take the total capital ­investment in the Social and Affordable Homes Programme to more than £40bn over the next 10 years.1 So, 10 000 council houses in England per year, like 1 000 in Scotland, pro … Continue reading Chancellor proudly promises to build proportionally far fewer affordable council homes than Scotland has been doing for years!

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After centuries of doing what they’re told by London Labour, child poverty in Wales expected to be shocking 57% higher than in Scotland

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From BBC Wales today, the above and: “I was sleeping on the sofa, she had a bed that was propped up on books. One of the legs had fallen off completely.” Sarah Ruscoe, a single mum out of work because of a health condition, said she had worried her daughter’s bed would collapse in the night after finding herself in a “dire” financial situation. A food bank user, Ruscoe said “every year seems to be getting worse” as she struggled to make her benefits cover essentials. A charity eventually paid for a new bed for daughter Sabrina, 11. But MPs … Continue reading After centuries of doing what they’re told by London Labour, child poverty in Wales expected to be shocking 57% higher than in Scotland