Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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There might be one elsewhere in the UK but there is no healthcare postcode lottery of any kind in Scotland

johnrobertson834

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA The above 100 000 refers of course to the whole of the UK and not just Scotland. I don’t have time to fully investigate another scare story like this, but quickly: First, overall, there is no postcode lottery in Scotland’s hospitals and Glasgow’s super hospital is actually safer than average From Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratios April 2024 to March 2025 published today, the above graph reveals that all of Scotland’s hospitals … Continue reading There might be one elsewhere in the UK but there is no healthcare postcode lottery of any kind in Scotland

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European Union Drugs Agency – drug deaths ‘must be understood as underestimations’ (as in England) proving that Scotland is only the ‘Drug Death Accurate Reporting’ capital of Europe

johnrobertson834

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 By JB We all saw the MSM headlines yesterday: “ although Scotland’s drug deaths fell they still ‘remain’ the highest in Europe”. Based on what comparable statistics? From AI…”Comparable statistics allow for systematic evaluation, hypothesis testing, and data-driven decision-making by identifying similarities and differences between groups or phenomena. To be comparable, data must either be collected with  standardised methods and definitions  or have undergone a thorough assessment of differences in methodology to … Continue reading European Union Drugs Agency – drug deaths ‘must be understood as underestimations’ (as in England) proving that Scotland is only the ‘Drug Death Accurate Reporting’ capital of Europe

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BBC Scotland reporter David Wallace Lockhart mis-reports Sir Prof John Curtice to protect Labour

johnrobertson834

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA In August 2025, BBC Scotland‘s Phil Sim in Does Reform pose an existential threat to the Scottish Conservatives?, wrote: Polling guru Prof Sir John Curtice has said the party “poses a significant threat to the Conservatives and Labour’s prospects at Holyrood too“. It feels a bit like the way Labour was pulled apart in the aftermath of the 2014 independence referendum, losing support at both ends of the spectrum.That could … Continue reading BBC Scotland reporter David Wallace Lockhart mis-reports Sir Prof John Curtice to protect Labour

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NHS Scotland target met – 90% or more of children and young people start treatment for mental health services for 3rd time in a row with 50% treated in only 5 weeks

johnrobertson834

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland, yesterday, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting times Quarter ending June 2025, the above graph and: This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) provides an update of how long children and young people waited to start treatment with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in NHSScotland for the quarter ending June 2025. 91.8% of people started treatment within 18 weeks of referral, which … Continue reading NHS Scotland target met – 90% or more of children and young people start treatment for mental health services for 3rd time in a row with 50% treated in only 5 weeks

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Yorkshire academics fail to read anything about Scotland or to discover that Scotland delivered 20 times as many affordable homes as Yorkshire in 2024 despite an almost identical population size

johnrobertson834

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA Shelter (Scotland) on BBC Scotland yesterday with the supposed research finding that Scotland needs 15 693 affordable homes per year compared with the 8 188 funded by the Scottish Government in 2024 is based on: Research carried out by academics at the University of Liverpool, and Sheffield Hallam University, jointly commissioned by SFHA, Shelter Scotland and the Chartered Institute for Housing So, two English universities commissioned by Shelter, HQ in London, … Continue reading Yorkshire academics fail to read anything about Scotland or to discover that Scotland delivered 20 times as many affordable homes as Yorkshire in 2024 despite an almost identical population size

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Anas Sarwar is not seeking to “prejudice a police investigation” if it involves Labour but if it’s the SNP…..

johnrobertson834

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 By Liz S Sarwar questioned last night on Scotland Tonight by Colin Mackay….and he was asked about Colin Smyth…Sarwar .said “I emphasise this is a ongoing Police investigation, I don’t want to be in any situation to prejudice that Police investigation and that investigation has to run it’s course” Really ? Is that his, Sarwar’s position, on not seeking to “prejudice a police investigation” as it, as an “investigation” , “has to run … Continue reading Anas Sarwar is not seeking to “prejudice a police investigation” if it involves Labour but if it’s the SNP…..

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Scotland’s drug deaths fall again to 25% below peak in 2020 and lowest since 2016 to reveal last year’s increase was the blip and to reveal the agenda of James Cook

johnrobertson834

‘Milk blood to keep from running out’ – James Cook pushes Scotland’s FALLING drug deaths on us day-after-day to try to keep us thinking if we can’t even stop this how can we run a country? Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA Yesterday and on through this morning, James Cook has been the top story. They’ve just updated: Yesterday, we had: Figures to be published on Tuesday are expected to show that Scotland remains the drugs … Continue reading Scotland’s drug deaths fall again to 25% below peak in 2020 and lowest since 2016 to reveal last year’s increase was the blip and to reveal the agenda of James Cook

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Scots police officers not suffering crushed testicles and back pain from ill-fitting uniforms like they do in England & Wales but BBC Scotland can reveal their trousers are not stretchy enough

johnrobertson834

are often forced to buy their own kit because of the poor quality of items offered…..several items are ill-fitting such as body armour that is too bulky Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Reporting Scotland have the above in their short BBC Breakfast inserts 4 or 5 time this morning. In the fuller online report: A review by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) found trousers worn by officers were insufficiently stretchy and faded … Continue reading Scots police officers not suffering crushed testicles and back pain from ill-fitting uniforms like they do in England & Wales but BBC Scotland can reveal their trousers are not stretchy enough

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Scotland builds far more affordable housing than England and far far more than Labour ever did but Shelter Scotland is back to suggest Scottish Government failure

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Professor John Robertson OBA How do Scotland and England compare in terms of affordable housing? Scotland generally provides more affordable housing per capita than England, particularly in terms of social housing and overall supply relative to population. Here’s a concise comparison based on available data: Supply of Affordable Housing: Scotland has consistently outperformed England in delivering affordable homes per head of population. Between 2007-08 and 2022-23, Scotland delivered an average of 14.2 affordable homes per 10,000 people annually, compared to 9.8 in England. In 2022-23, Scotland completed 10,458 affordable homes (19.1 per 10,000 people), while England’s rate was 11.3 per 10,000. https://www.gov.scot/publications/quarterly-housing-statistics-march-2024/pages/housing-supply-including-affordable-across-the-uk/ Social … Continue reading Scotland builds far more affordable housing than England and far far more than Labour ever did but Shelter Scotland is back to suggest Scottish Government failure

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Talking-up Scotland support – new direct bank transfer method for those unhappy giving bank details to Crowd funder

johnrobertson834

1 141 posts this year so far so likely to exceed last year 1 496 and previous years 1 390, by some way. I need help to keep this going and, on a daily basis, provide you with the ammo to fight back, as we approach Holyrood 2026. 2 450 363 views across the UK, 60 330 in the USA and, in third place 24 014 in Romania! Continue reading Talking-up Scotland support – new direct bank transfer method for those unhappy giving bank details to Crowd funder