Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
2 Comments

Using Scotland’s revenue to build massively subsidised nuclear energy in England? I’d be more worried about the awful risks clearly identified in the World’s No 1 medical research journal

johnrobertson834

In the Herald yesterday, the above. They will, of course, do just what Keith Brown fears but I have to say, I’d be more worried about the health consequences than the theft of Scottish revenue. From the Lancet in July 2026: The Lancet is one of the world’s most highly respected and influential general medical journals. Latest Journal Impact Factor (JIF): 109.0 (2025 JCR, released June 2026, based on 2025 citation data). This is a significant increase from 88.5 the previous year. It ranks #1 in the “Medicine, General & Internal” category (Q1), ahead of competitors like the New England … Continue reading Using Scotland’s revenue to build massively subsidised nuclear energy in England? I’d be more worried about the awful risks clearly identified in the World’s No 1 medical research journal

5 Comments

‘England is getting to be more like a state of the United States. Scotland, interestingly, is moving towards being more like the Scandinavian countries which have incredibly good health outcomes’ – No MSM coverage at all is clear editor-level bias

johnrobertson834

The recent TuS reports on Professor Danny Dorling of Oxford University and the Child Payment reminded me of this By reader Scott on 27 February 2020: Tonight on BBC 4’s Beyond 100 days: ‘Infant mortality began to rise after 2015. More babies died at a higher rate each year in England. They didn’t in Scotland. And in Scotland they actually decided to spend more on infants and babies and there they have reduced the infant mortality rate.’ The presenters’ faces a second after he said that. They didn’t have a follow-up question on the Scottish situation but went quickly on … Continue reading ‘England is getting to be more like a state of the United States. Scotland, interestingly, is moving towards being more like the Scandinavian countries which have incredibly good health outcomes’ – No MSM coverage at all is clear editor-level bias

1 Comment

Storm Boelo today is further evidence that Scotland does not need cheap, unseaworthy, catamaran ferries – Why on earth do Liberation Scotland support them?

johnrobertson834

The combination, above, of adequate crew, decently paid, and the stability of employment needed to learn such skill, along with the superiority of well-built, at times ‘expensive’ mono-hulls over the cheap catamarans some would foist on us in a politicised media campaign against the SNP in government. Storm Boelo reminds us of this tragic event in August 2026: Widely broadcast this morning and from BBC Europe yesterday, the above and: At least eight people have died and 18 others are still missing after a passenger boat [a twin-hulled catamaran] capsized off northern Cyprus, the head of the Turkish administration there … Continue reading Storm Boelo today is further evidence that Scotland does not need cheap, unseaworthy, catamaran ferries – Why on earth do Liberation Scotland support them?

Leave a comment

Animal experimentation in Scotland – Ferret fact-finder plays same disgusting tabloid game adding up the numbers to get a big headline, using an exploitative tearful image of a dog breed never used and hiding the dramatic fall in the SNP era

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, University of the West of Scotland, to 2016. The Ferret, at times excellent then at others (author?) with a barely concealed Unionist agenda, is up to it again today with their piece on animal experiments. If you wanted to harm the reputation of the SNP in government, this is a good one for the Union, if the MSM pick it up: We now have a beautiful, rehomed, ‘failed’ gun dog. My ‘looming’ 5 feet 10 inches and deep male voice took her years to stop fearing. I’m really upset and angry as … Continue reading Animal experimentation in Scotland – Ferret fact-finder plays same disgusting tabloid game adding up the numbers to get a big headline, using an exploitative tearful image of a dog breed never used and hiding the dramatic fall in the SNP era

2 Comments

Rosyth councillor has good reason to be concerned as MoD plan nuclear sub decommissioning using more dangerous method than in USA

johnrobertson834

In the Dunfermline Press 19/10/26, the above, and: FRESH concerns have been raised about nuclear submarine dismantling plans at Rosyth Dockyard. Councillor Brian Goodall has voiced renewed opposition to the long-term storage of radioactive material in the town, following recent discussions at the SNP annual conference in Aberdeen. At the political party gathering he quizzed Gareth Hedicker, Babcock International’s Marine Chief Operations Officer, on the plans for radioactive waste that’s being removed from the first of seven old nuclear subs that are laid up at the West Fife yard. Cllr Goodall said: “I’ve still not had any response from Babcock … Continue reading Rosyth councillor has good reason to be concerned as MoD plan nuclear sub decommissioning using more dangerous method than in USA

1 Comment

Local concerns over ‘mini-Chernobyl’ radioactive site demolition in US echo UK MoD plans to decommission at least 7 nuclear subs in Fife, with houses less than 1 mile away and downwind, by methods 1 000 times more dangerous than US methods

johnrobertson834

From Inside Climate News, yesterday: Boeing has almost completed the demolition of five buildings at its infamous Santa Susana Field Laboratory in Southern California, even as concerns mount among nearby families about potential health harms. The buildings at the former Rocketdyne facility—where one of the worst nuclear meltdowns in U.S. history took place in 1959—were once used for Cold War-era nuclear energy research. Larry Yee, the former chair of the LA Regional Water Quality Control Board, on Wednesday called the site “a mini Chernobyl in our backyard.” Despite a groundswell of concerns about the process, the SSFL demolition at the … Continue reading Local concerns over ‘mini-Chernobyl’ radioactive site demolition in US echo UK MoD plans to decommission at least 7 nuclear subs in Fife, with houses less than 1 mile away and downwind, by methods 1 000 times more dangerous than US methods

2 Comments

Is this due to the Scottish Government’s decision to buy the airport?

johnrobertson834

Yes, the current cargo activity is a direct result of the Scottish Government’s decision to buy the airport. In 2013 the Scottish Government bought Glasgow Prestwick Airport from Infratil for a nominal £1 specifically to stop it closing. Without that intervention the airport would almost certainly have shut. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqxq8l3v984o⁠ Under public ownership it has been turned around and is now profitable. Cargo has become a major part of that recovery: volumes have risen sharply (the 5,548 tonnes reported for August is one example), driven by new daily services to China and other freighter operations. That growth has created jobs at … Continue reading Is this due to the Scottish Government’s decision to buy the airport?

Leave a comment

‘Child health in England at risk from sharp rise in NHS waiting times’ applies less here

johnrobertson834

In the Guardian today: Thousands of children in England are experiencing some of the sharpest rises in waiting times for healthcare in the history of the NHS, a report has revealed. While some adult waiting times have improved, children and young people are being “hit hardest” amid soaring demand and falling numbers of staff, according to the annual state of care report by the Care Quality Commission. In community health services alone, 80,000 children and young people have been waiting more than a year for an appointment – almost 11 times the number of adults, the report said. Experts said … Continue reading ‘Child health in England at risk from sharp rise in NHS waiting times’ applies less here

1 Comment

Is there any evidence before the arrival of County Lines drug gangs from cities in England of such horrors and what can we do about them? Easy!

johnrobertson834

Is there any evidence before the arrival of County Lines drug gangs in small-town Scotland from cities in England in the last ten years that Scottish drug gangs at street level pushing drugs, were involved in cuckooing the vulnerable, using child drug mules, using extreme violence, diversifying into sex trafficking and adopting the business model exploiting markets in smaller towns and even in villages, across all of Scotland? I can’t be fully trusted. I’m angry, deeply angry at how the media operating in Scotland hides the reality of this deadly invasion. Heavy, experienced and familiar with the prison system in … Continue reading Is there any evidence before the arrival of County Lines drug gangs from cities in England of such horrors and what can we do about them? Easy!

Leave a comment

As STV explore everything about ‘serious organised crime’ except the appalling things the English County Lines cultural variant does, a fearful reminder of what of that, from Police Scotland but ignored by ‘our’ supposed media

johnrobertson834

From Human Trafficking NRM referrals re county lines – 10yrs published by Police Scotland today, that ‘referrals made by Police Scotland to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) where county lines and suspected criminal exploitation was a factor‘ 26 September 2026: Under 16 year-olds – from 6 in 2020/2021 to 39 in 2025/2026, almost a seven-fold increase. 16-17 year-olds, from 16 to 65, a four-fold increase. Source: https://www.scotland.police.uk/access-to-information/freedom-of-information/disclosure-log/disclosure-log-2026/june/26-1022-human-trafficking-nrm-referrals-re-county-lines-10yrs/ What forms does that exploitation take? County lines refers to a violent, exploitative model of illegal drug distribution in the UK, where urban gangs and organised criminal networks export drugs (primarily heroin and … Continue reading As STV explore everything about ‘serious organised crime’ except the appalling things the English County Lines cultural variant does, a fearful reminder of what of that, from Police Scotland but ignored by ‘our’ supposed media