Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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400-600 English patients have been sent to Scotland for treatment

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Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald today has: The revelation that children in Glasgow have been taken to England for vital heart surgery due to staff shortages at the Royal Hospital for Children has been branded an ‘appalling indictment’ of the management of NHS Scotland. It’s understood that due to a number of anaesthetists leaving the health centre, as well as some shorter notice absences in the wider staff, heart surgery has been suspended. Who says it’s an appalling indictment? You know: How many children? A ‘small number’ with no media outlet offering a figure so 2? Is there much of a flow the other … Continue reading 400-600 English patients have been sent to Scotland for treatment

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Four times as many, per head, waiting for a social care assessment or package in England than in Scotland yet the latter is ‘struggling?’

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the amount of funding for struggling social care services. Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland in their BBC Breakfast insert this morning has the above, essentially just councils doing what they do, ask for more money from central government. Context? Nope and certainly not this: From People requiring a social care assessment and care at home services published today by Public Health Scotland: The number of people estimated to be waiting on a social care assessment for a package of care to enable them to live independently at home or in the community was 6,461 on 7 April 2025. The estimated number of people assessed … Continue reading Four times as many, per head, waiting for a social care assessment or package in England than in Scotland yet the latter is ‘struggling?’

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BBC Scotland desperately predict firework violence again calling the 2023 events ‘last year’ because last year (2024), only one police officer was injured, down from 62 the year before

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the skies across Scotland, emergency services are outlining their plans for coping with disorder on bonfire night. Last year, 61 arrests were made and several police officers and firefighters were injured. Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland in their BBC Breakfast insert seem to be using the 2023 figures for ‘last year‘, rather than those for 2024, the actual last year. Wonder why? Here’s what they had to report on 6 November 2024: Overall, the force said the incidents of serious disorder had fallen this year. As part of Operation Moonbeam, a police operation launched in 2020 to deal with … Continue reading BBC Scotland desperately predict firework violence again calling the 2023 events ‘last year’ because last year (2024), only one police officer was injured, down from 62 the year before

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Health Secretary need not apologise over Glasgow drug room briefing

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Herald today, the above and: Health Secretary Neil Gray is under pressure to apologise after an official briefing prepared for him included claims that residents in Glasgow’s East End have spread misinformation about the city’s drug consumption room. The internal paper — released under Freedom of Information laws to the Scottish Conservatives — was drawn up by Scottish Government officials ahead of Mr Gray’s appearance before the Westminster Scottish Affairs Committee in June, as part of its inquiry into “Problem Drug Use in Scotland” and the Thistle pilot facility in Calton. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25566391.neil-gray-urged-apologise-glasgow-drug-room-briefing/ Who is urging the apology? You won’t be surprised: What … Continue reading Health Secretary need not apologise over Glasgow drug room briefing

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A ferry service funded by all of us to run even at only 20% capacity, cannot stand a 7% reduction in service without risking its ‘lifeline’ status? Bollards!

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Professor John Robertson OBA, Island Cycling Correspondent of the Year In the Herald today: Residents of Cumbrae have reacted to plans by state-owned operator CalMac which they say will “further damage fragile island communities”. The Cumbrae Ferry Committee, which represents residents in Millport – the only town on Cumbrae – say CalMac’s proposal to introduce scheduled maintenance windows during normal working hours of the Cumbrae ferry — either six hours each week or a full 24-hour period each month – would reduce vital lifeline services that the island depends on. CalMac‘s Largs to Cumbrae (pop 1 500) and back service, 52 crossings, peak, and 33 off peak, … Continue reading A ferry service funded by all of us to run even at only 20% capacity, cannot stand a 7% reduction in service without risking its ‘lifeline’ status? Bollards!

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There is now no distracting from Labour’s record

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By Liz S Talking of Labour….and another scandal and disgrace……re their HQ’s unfair, undignified and undemocratic position relating to Scotland. Keir Starmer was recently quoted as saying that: “We’re not having an independence referendum. It is a distraction. It won’t happen. It is a distraction from the record of the SNP.” The context of this statement from Starmer was in relation to the SNP achieving a majority in next years Scottish elections, that would then be seen as a a mandate for a second independence referendum. “It is a distraction from the record of the SNP.”….. Ironic when there exists so many “distractions” from much of the … Continue reading There is now no distracting from Labour’s record

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Nuclear energy in Ayrshire – How many more avoidable cases of childhood leukaemia do the Monstrous Ed Milliband and Anas Sarwar think is acceptable for us?

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Professor John Robertson OBA UK Labour‘s electricity-demanding creature Ed Milliband has clearly seen this: Roughly half of the SNP’s voters believe nuclear power should be part of Scotland’s mix of clean energy generation, a poll suggests, despite the party’s longstanding opposition to it. Polling for the campaign group Britain Remade, founded by a former energy and climate adviser to Boris Johnson, found 52% of those who voted for the party in 2021 believe nuclear power should be included in Scotland’s energy mix to meet the 2045 net zero target. Meanwhile, 57% of those who voted for the party in last year’s general election felt the same way, … Continue reading Nuclear energy in Ayrshire – How many more avoidable cases of childhood leukaemia do the Monstrous Ed Milliband and Anas Sarwar think is acceptable for us?

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NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has one of the lowest operation cancellation rates in Scotland with nearly 99% completion rates

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Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald has the above today and: A small number? Two? It’s never mentioned but Sandesh Gulhane is. Also, never mentioned, ever, this kind of thing: From Public Health Scotland Cancelled planned operations Month Ending 31 August 2025, we can see The Herald has never reported this. Source: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/media/35318/2025-10-07_cancellations.xlsx You can still support Talking-up Scotland at any time at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Bernadette/John Robertson, Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Continue reading NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has one of the lowest operation cancellation rates in Scotland with nearly 99% completion rates

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If you didn’t already have enough reasons NOT to vote for Scottish Labour how about this cancerous threat?

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Telegraph today, the above and: Ed Miliband has pledged to start immediate work on building new nuclear power stations in Scotland if the SNP is kicked out of office in next year’s Holyrood election. That’s a clear threat then. To what? First, increased child leukaemia: I asked the Elicit AI for scientific research which claims to help researchers be 10x more evidence-based: How dangerous is it to live 5km from a nuclear power station? After more than 5 minutes, it responded: Studies show mixed results on living within 5km of nuclear power plants, with some European research finding … Continue reading If you didn’t already have enough reasons NOT to vote for Scottish Labour how about this cancerous threat?

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Scotland spends 17% more on culture and leisure

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as libraries and gyms isn’t keeping up with rising costs, according to the public spending watchdog. It’s up to each council to decide what to spend and what to provide and services vary significantly across the country. According to research by the Accounts Commission, the value of their spending nationally is down 3% since 2018. Professor John Robertson OBA 3% over 7 years? Is that not pretty much sustained funding? Anyhow, how much does Scotland spend, per head on this kind of thing? £140. England? £120. Scotland thus spends 16% more, £20 more per person, per year That’s quite a … Continue reading Scotland spends 17% more on culture and leisure