Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Far more Scots using pre-school childcare and far more satisfied with it

johnrobertson834

Before the crowdfunder finishes tomorrow, support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at:Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 From the Scottish Household Survey childcare results published two days ago: Results published today from the Scottish Household Survey 2025 show that 83% of households with a two to five year old child (not yet at school) used at least one form of childcare, similar to previous years. The most common forms of childcare used were local authority nurseries and private nurseries, used by 43% and 27% of households respectively. Around 4% … Continue reading Far more Scots using pre-school childcare and far more satisfied with it

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GB Grid ? Well if it pans out to be anything like Labour’s GB Energy, then we should not hold our breath

johnrobertson834

Before the crowdfunder finishes tomorrow, support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 By Liz S TuS yesterday: “Scotland heading for massive increase in renewables electricity generation in 2026 to generate 4 times more per head than England”. Burnham in his speech stated that “One of the biggest barriers to growth in the UK is the cost of energy. British businesses and billpayers pay some of the highest energy costs in Europe”. What about Scottish billpayers paying higher standing charges than the rest of … Continue reading GB Grid ? Well if it pans out to be anything like Labour’s GB Energy, then we should not hold our breath

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He says the triple lock on the state pension will go by 2030, ‘to help pay for a new national care service FOR ENGLAND.’ Will you support that, Scottish pensioners? ‘Barnett! Do you trust that?

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On Newsnight, last night, the above was clear with the implication that Scottish pensioners will be impoverished to pay a new national care service in England. Before the crowdfunder finishes tomorrow, support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at:Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Scotland got a mention only when Andy Crap, Prime Minister, had a wee moment telling us about John Swinney’s prediction that Andy would be the last UK PM on the very same day, THE SAME DAY, that Andy’s dad died. How could he? Does the man … Continue reading He says the triple lock on the state pension will go by 2030, ‘to help pay for a new national care service FOR ENGLAND.’ Will you support that, Scottish pensioners? ‘Barnett! Do you trust that?

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Scotland heading for massive increase in renewables electricity generation in 2026 to generate 4 times more per head than England

johnrobertson834

At the midway point, Scotland has already generated far more renewables electricity than in previous years. With only 1 day left, support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at:Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 From Energy Statistics for Scotland – Q2 2026 published yesterday, the above, and: In the first half of 2025, 22.6 TWh of electricity was generated from renewable sources. In the second quarter of 2025, 9.1 TWh of renewable electricity was generated in Scotland. This is the most renewable electricity generated in the second quarter of any … Continue reading Scotland heading for massive increase in renewables electricity generation in 2026 to generate 4 times more per head than England

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In just one three-month period, 3 784 (96%) of 3 993 referred drug-users began treatment within three weeks and one third of them in only one week

johnrobertson834

With only 1 day left, support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at:Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 From National drug and alcohol treatment waiting times 1 April 2026 to 30 June 2026, published today: 11,290 referrals were made to community-based specialist drug and alcohol treatment services – broadly similar to the previous quarter (11,408). Of these, 5,452 (48.3%) were for problematic use of alcohol, 3,993 (35.4%) for problematic use of drugs, and 1,845 (16.3%) for problematic use of both alcohol and drugs. Nationally, the Standard was met for referrals … Continue reading In just one three-month period, 3 784 (96%) of 3 993 referred drug-users began treatment within three weeks and one third of them in only one week

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Primary Care Walk In Centres traffic soars ten times in just first 6 months of pilot

johnrobertson834

With only 1 day left, support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at:Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 From GP led walk-in services monthly Month ending 31 August 2026 published today, the above table and this below: A case is used to identify a patient’s single encounter (service contact) with the Walk-In  service. 2. Note that a patient can have more than one case  at a centre in a month and will be counted on each occasion. 3. Clinics have been opened in a phased approach, so some have been … Continue reading Primary Care Walk In Centres traffic soars ten times in just first 6 months of pilot

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Scotland’s longer NHS waits plummet by three-quarters in last two years

johnrobertson834

With only 1 day left, support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at:Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 From Stage of treatment waiting times New outpatients, inpatients and day cases, published today, the above, and: At 31 August 2026, there were an estimated 588,073 individuals on at least one new outpatient, inpatient or day case waiting list. This is equivalent to around 1 in 9 of Scotland’s population (mid-2025 estimates). https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/stage-of-treatment-waiting-times/stage-of-treatment-waiting-times-new-outpatients-inpatients-and-day-cases-29-september-2026/ You can see from the line graphs above that, in just two years, out-patient waits of over 52 weeks … Continue reading Scotland’s longer NHS waits plummet by three-quarters in last two years

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In just three months more than 300 cancer patients treated on time in Scotland who would not have been had they lived in England

johnrobertson834

With only 1 day left, support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at:Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 From Cancer waiting times 1 April to 30 June 2026, published today: 73.6% of 4 492 referred patients started treatment within 62 days, compared with 72.2% in the previous quarter and 94.8% of 7 048 referred patients started treatment within 31 days, compared with 94.5% in the previous quarter.1 England’s data are monthly rather than quarterly but for June 2026, they were 69.9% and 92.2%, respectively.2 Small percentage differences of 3.7% and … Continue reading In just three months more than 300 cancer patients treated on time in Scotland who would not have been had they lived in England

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As Police Scotland send officers to help in Northern Ireland for the third time, how the Scottish Government has made them ‘formidable’ and the only UK force able to help with such ‘uncommon’ demands

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In the National two days ago, the above and: This is the third time in recent history. With only 1 day left, support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at:Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 From BBC UK July 2026: Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke praised officers for their “immense bravery and personal sacrifice” while protecting the public. But he warned it was “clear” that police had missed opportunities to prepare for widespread disorder, and that earlier incidents involving “extreme nationalist sentiment” had been underestimated. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpvn0dnnyj3o From BBC Scotland … Continue reading As Police Scotland send officers to help in Northern Ireland for the third time, how the Scottish Government has made them ‘formidable’ and the only UK force able to help with such ‘uncommon’ demands