Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Starmer v Saville – As head of the Crown Prosecution Service how did Starmer avoid scrutiny on the decision not to prosecute Saville on the grounds of “insufficient evidence?”

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By JB Answer: He passed the blame onto the police and a prosecuting lawyer who was actually working for Starmer, him obviously being the lawyer’s boss at the time. Our not then Prime Minister, but head of the CPS said: “These were errors of judgement by experienced and committed police officers and a prosecuting lawyer acting in good faith and attempting to apply the correct principles.” Oh! Nearly forgot A spokesperson for the CPS said:  “in line with the established data retention policy”, none of the records for the decision not to charge Savile in 2009 were kept.” Keir Starmer … Continue reading Starmer v Saville – As head of the Crown Prosecution Service how did Starmer avoid scrutiny on the decision not to prosecute Saville on the grounds of “insufficient evidence?”

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The history of the Tories, Liberals and Labour in covering-up systematic child abuse by MPs that underlies the more recent inaction by government and by police on grooming gangs

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By JB Independent Inquiry Child Sex Abuse From the 2012 investigation  ‘Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse Linked to Westminster’. “This investigation concerns institutional responses to allegations of child sexual abuse and exploitation involving persons of public prominence who were associated with Westminster. Westminster is defined in this report as the centre of the United Kingdom’s government, government ministers and officials, as well as Parliament, its members and the political parties represented there. Seven topics were covered in evidence. These were: police misconduct, political parties, whips’ offices, the Paedophile Information Exchange, prosecutorial decisions, the honours system, and current safeguarding policies in … Continue reading The history of the Tories, Liberals and Labour in covering-up systematic child abuse by MPs that underlies the more recent inaction by government and by police on grooming gangs

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Increase in school leavers finding positive destination after school to more than 93% and far better than in England at only 79%*

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Summary statistics for follow-up leaver destinations, no. 7: 2025 edition published today: This statistical publication provides information on the follow-up destinations, nine months after the end of the school year, of 2023-24 school leavers from publicly funded secondary schools in Scotland. Key points *There will no doubt be problems in comparing with England but the latest figures (2022/2023) published in February 2025 for Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment was only 79.6% https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/16-18-destination-measures/2022-23 *Regardless of details of data collection and classification which may be there, imagine this was the other way round? Continue reading Increase in school leavers finding positive destination after school to more than 93% and far better than in England at only 79%*

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Child abuse – Labour and Conservative history of neglect, even sickening collusion – As ‘Scottish’ Labour MPs now attempt to help Starmer by calling for a pointless grooming inquiry here how the SNP’s Named Person Scheme which they u-turned on could have saved thousands in England

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Sky News, 11 years ago: The former head of a paedophile group said Harriet Harman “didn’t even try” to stop his organisation’s involvement with the civil liberties council she worked for. Tom O’Carroll, who was chairman of the now defunct Paedophile Information Exchange, said neither Ms Harman or her Labour colleagues wanted to “rock the boat” for fear it might damage their careers.1 Many younger readers will wonder what on earth can this be. The Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE) was a British pro-paedophile activist group, founded in October 1974 and officially disbanded in 1984. The group campaigned for the abolition … Continue reading Child abuse – Labour and Conservative history of neglect, even sickening collusion – As ‘Scottish’ Labour MPs now attempt to help Starmer by calling for a pointless grooming inquiry here how the SNP’s Named Person Scheme which they u-turned on could have saved thousands in England

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England facing the ‘Jaws of Death’ as water runs out in only 20 years now and Scotland’s 30 000 freshwater lochs replace oil, gas and renewables in the struggle for independence

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Professor John Robertson OBA Today, England’s water deficit is exciting headlines across the UK media but we saw similar warnings more than five years ago: In 2019, I wrote: From @ArchbishopStua1 (Who could he be teasing there?) today, this: Without significant action, the National Audit Office (NAO) forecasts that the total water demand will start to exceed supply in England no later than 2034. Be under no illusion English Privatised Water Companies need access to the water in Scotland. https://x.com/ArchbishopStua1/status/1846584824129298790 and from the Guardian in June 2023: Drought is on the verge of becoming the next pandemic https://www.theguardian.com/news/2023/jun/15/drought-is-on-the-verge-of-becoming-the-next-pandemic#:~:text=Without%20significant%20action%2C%20the%20National,England%20no%20later%20than%202034 In the … Continue reading England facing the ‘Jaws of Death’ as water runs out in only 20 years now and Scotland’s 30 000 freshwater lochs replace oil, gas and renewables in the struggle for independence

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BBC Scotland’s Environment Correspondent misleads or misunderstands on the relative dangers of two greenhouse gases

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Bob Lamont for alerting me to this, today Up to 100 truckloads of Scotland’s waste will be moved each day to England once a landfill ban comes in at the end of the year, the BBC’s Disclosure has been told. The Scottish government is banning “black bag” waste from being buried in landfill from 31 December but acknowledges that there are not currently enough incinerators to meet the extra demand. Such biodegradable waste breaks down to produce methane, a greenhouse gas that is around 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide. You see what … Continue reading BBC Scotland’s Environment Correspondent misleads or misunderstands on the relative dangers of two greenhouse gases

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For the US party requesting the data on campus safety from Police Scotland – University students at far lower risk of violence in Scotland than in EVERY other campus in the UK

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Professor John Robertson OBA Police Scotland today, report: I refer to your recent request for crime data, made in accordance with the Clery Act. Unfortunately, Police Scotland is unable to assist with your request. Having reviewed the ‘Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting’ from the US Department of Education, it is noted that the Act has strict recording and counting criteria and we are unable to compile data that would be directly comparable or applicable to the requirements of the Act. https://www.scotland.police.uk/access-to-information/freedom-of-information/disclosure-log/disclosure-log-2025/april/25-0906-clery-act-request-usa-university/ This response is understandable but those making the request can, I feel sure, use this data to make the … Continue reading For the US party requesting the data on campus safety from Police Scotland – University students at far lower risk of violence in Scotland than in EVERY other campus in the UK

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Paul Hutcheon and Labour lie in Daily Record about ambulance performance (best) and hospital bed supplies (most) in Scotland

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Daily Record today, from Paul Hutcheon: More than half of ambulances have been stuck at hospitals this yea. The SNP Government have been criticised over a problems Labour say is caused by a shortage of beds. First, on ambulances: Second, on beds: Continue reading Paul Hutcheon and Labour lie in Daily Record about ambulance performance (best) and hospital bed supplies (most) in Scotland

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Every public service in Scotland is performing better than those in other parts of the UK but Reporting Scotland platform the opposition to claim the SNP cannot be trusted

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Herald today and on BBC Scotland: John Swinney will today pledge a “national project of renewal” to overhaul Scotland’s public services, warning that the status quo is no longer good enough. In what the Scottish Government has described as a “major speech”, the First Minister will tell leaders from across the NHS, education, local government, justice and the third sector that long-term reform is needed to meet the country’s looming demographic and economic challenges. Despite having only seconds to tell the story, Reporting Scotland, this morning, managed to fit in the opposition parties claiming that the SNP … Continue reading Every public service in Scotland is performing better than those in other parts of the UK but Reporting Scotland platform the opposition to claim the SNP cannot be trusted

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100 women prosecuted for suspected illegal abortion in England and Wales in last 10 years, none in Scotland for nearly 50 years

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today, the above and: You might have seen their faces. Every few months nowadays, another woman appears in a British newspaper charged with a suspected illegal abortion. Often the woman looks pale and gaunt. Sometimes she hides behind sunglasses as she bows her head. The photographs of these women walking into court feel akin to a public shaming, where the stocks are replaced by a breaking news banner, but the judgment remains the same. The urge for decriminalisation has increased as the risk of arrest has. It is estimated that more than 100 … Continue reading 100 women prosecuted for suspected illegal abortion in England and Wales in last 10 years, none in Scotland for nearly 50 years