Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Is 70% big when it’s only 26 and really should be 0.2%? Shameful abuse of statistics by STV to demonise police officers

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This was a shameful abuse of statistics by STV yesterday: Nearly 70% of Police Scotland officers currently suspended while under criminal investigation are accused of offences relating to violence against women, according to figures obtained by STV News. The allegations include domestic abuse, sexual offences and stalking. The figures show that, out of 53 suspended officers facing criminal investigation, 26 officers are accused of domestic abuse-related offences, nine are accused of sexual offences and two are accused of stalking. https://news.stv.tv/scotland/nearly-70-of-suspended-police-scotland-officers-facing-criminal-investigation-accused-of-offences-linked-to-violence-against-women There are currently 16 402 FTE police officers in Scotland, 11 036 male. 26 of them, 0.2% are suspended facing … Continue reading Is 70% big when it’s only 26 and really should be 0.2%? Shameful abuse of statistics by STV to demonise police officers

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As attendance soars at GP walk-in clinics, Jackie Baillie rides the Scotsman off a readership cliff

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In the Ailing Scotsman today, Jackie Baillie turns up to lie about walk-in clinics. The facts: From the Scottish Government 26 August 2026: First Minister John Swinney has announced 24 more areas will benefit from new GP-led walk-in services across Scotland, bringing the number of centres planned or operational to 40. Work is underway with health boards to establish new walk-in services for communities including Angus, Dumbarton, East Kilbride, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, Inverness, North Ayrshire, Paisley, Shotts, Tweeddale and West Lothian. Many will be able to open within a year. Proposals are also in development for walk-in services … Continue reading As attendance soars at GP walk-in clinics, Jackie Baillie rides the Scotsman off a readership cliff

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Scotland is not having England’s maternity-litigation crisis – AI dismisses Scotsman’s crisis invention

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In the Scotsman yesterday, the above and: A long-awaited review aimed at identifying “systemic changes” to Scotland’s crisis-hit maternity services has begun. The nine month-long nationwide review will examine how care can be improved for women, babies, and families across the country. Many believe AI will tell you what you want to hear but that is only true on subjective matters relating to your life experience and choices. I often ask about stories like the one above and too often AI will uncritically accept the MSM framing and at first agree with the Scotsman that there is a crisis in … Continue reading Scotland is not having England’s maternity-litigation crisis – AI dismisses Scotsman’s crisis invention

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Child poverty – One picture that dramatically reveals how very different Scotland already is on the path to ‘Work as if you live in the early days of a better world’

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From UK research – Children in relative poverty before housing costs This indicator shows the percentage of children aged under 16 living in relative low income families Before Housing Costs (BHC), in the UK, for financial years ending 2022 to 2025. Data source: Department for Work and Pensions published 26 March 2026: https://www.ons.gov.uk/explore-local-statistics/indicators/children-in-relative-poverty-before-housing#map It also reveals the shocking contrast between Scotland after nearly two decades of determined efforts by the SNP in government in Scotland to resist Tory and Labour austerity policies, despite limited powers, and to Work as if you live in the early days of a better world. … Continue reading Child poverty – One picture that dramatically reveals how very different Scotland already is on the path to ‘Work as if you live in the early days of a better world’

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Hard facts on maternity care: Patient satisfaction at ‘Good’ or Excellent’ stable after 7 years at 90% in Scotland and far more getting care ‘when they needed it’ than in NHS England

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From Maternity Care Survey 2025: national report published today, the above and: Between 2018 and 2025, the percentage of women rating their overall care as “good” or “excellent” has remained stable for all stages of care except care during labour and birth where it has decreased slightly. Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/maternity-care-survey-2025-national-results/ This is the public service which the Scotsman has tried to say is in crisis. Comparisons with England are not straightforward as they ask different questions but there is one key aspect which may reflect the lower staffing levels in NHS England – only 57% were always able to get staff … Continue reading Hard facts on maternity care: Patient satisfaction at ‘Good’ or Excellent’ stable after 7 years at 90% in Scotland and far more getting care ‘when they needed it’ than in NHS England

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97% of Scotland’s housing free of penetrating damp and new legislation here covers private landlords who escape deadlines for action to protect children and the vulnerable in England

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if a tenant reports damp or mould. New legislation aims to hold those in the private and social sector accountable for carrying out necessary repairs within strict timescales. Awaab’s Law is named in memory of two-year-old Awaab Ishak who died of a severe respiratory condition caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his home in England. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/bbcone This is the Scottish version of the law and crucially, unlike the English version covers most private tenants in addition to social tenants. Awaab’s Law itself does not bind private landlords in England, so they are outside fixed deadlines.  A private landlord does … Continue reading 97% of Scotland’s housing free of penetrating damp and new legislation here covers private landlords who escape deadlines for action to protect children and the vulnerable in England

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BBC Scotland News team revealed as ignorantly using a statistically invalid child poverty comparison

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From BBC Scotland today: In 2017, MSPs passed a law requiring ministers to hit four targets, external, including pushing the share of children in relative poverty below 10% by 2030. But the JRF’s Poverty in Scotland report, external found the figure remained stubbornly high, averaging 21% from 2022 to 2025. The UK average is 28% Why is it wrong to compare the percentage of children in poverty in Scotland with a UK average that already includes the same Scottish data with those for England, Wales and Northern Ireland in it? Here’s why: Clear? I knew it was a wrong thing … Continue reading BBC Scotland News team revealed as ignorantly using a statistically invalid child poverty comparison

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BUY ONE ATTACK ON SCOTLAND, GET ONE FREE

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By Mark E. Saunders of “The Scottish Minuteman” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61575625542197 Here we go again! Apparently, the evil nasty Scottish Government Ministers are about to “hammer hard-up Scots” because certain multi-buy offers are being banned. However, as usual when these “SNP BAD” stories hit on our screens, a quick Google search explains what is actually happening. Price reductions aren’t being banned by the SNP. What’s being restricted is the incentive to buy more than one through certain multi-buy offers. A supermarket can still reduce a packet of crisps from £1.50 to £1. But what it can’t do is say “2 for £2” if the individual packets … Continue reading BUY ONE ATTACK ON SCOTLAND, GET ONE FREE

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After years of Conservative and Labour government, child poverty will entrap 1 million more in England and 70 000 more in Wales than would have been the case with SNP policies

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From the Joseph Rowntree Trust in 2025: Projected child poverty rates by January 2029: Nation Then-current rate used Projected by Jan 2029 Scotland 23.7% 21.8% England 30.8% 31.5% Wales 32.3% 34.4% Northern Ireland 25.5% 26.2% These are shocking gaps. The English and Welsh figures are 44% and 58% greater respectively. Also, remember, even the crude gaps of around 10% and 14% with England and with Wales are percentages of the tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of children entrapped in poverty. There are, in total, roughly 10 million and 500 000 children in England and Wales, respectively. So child … Continue reading After years of Conservative and Labour government, child poverty will entrap 1 million more in England and 70 000 more in Wales than would have been the case with SNP policies

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As the media in Scotland wallow in the mire just how impressive is the Scottish Government’s Child Payment policy in the UK and across Europe?

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It has attracted strong praise from respected poverty experts, with some describing it as exceptional even by European standards. These are among the strongest attributable statements: Figure Quote and context Professor Danny Dorling, University of Oxford The David Hume Institute reported in August 2023 that he described the payment as creating “the biggest fall in child poverty anywhere in Europe for at least 40 years.” This is the institute’s account of his remarks at its event. David Hume Institute Chris Birt, Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s associate director for Scotland On its expansion in November 2022: “a watershed moment for tackling poverty … Continue reading As the media in Scotland wallow in the mire just how impressive is the Scottish Government’s Child Payment policy in the UK and across Europe?