Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Good news you won’t hear today – ‘Bed-blocking’ falls for third time as nearly 2 000 fewer are waiting than one year ago

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Delayed discharges in NHS Scotland monthly Figures for April 2025, published by Public Health Scotland today: At the April 2025 census, there were 1,868 people delayed. Compared to the previous three census points, this is lower than March (1,925), February 2025 (1,986) and January 2025 (1,969). The average number of beds occupied per day due to people delayed in hospital was 1,854 in April 2025. Compared to the previous three months, this is less than March 2025 (1,940), February 2025 (1,946) and January 2025 (1,964). In April 2025, there were 55,620 days spent in hospital … Continue reading Good news you won’t hear today – ‘Bed-blocking’ falls for third time as nearly 2 000 fewer are waiting than one year ago

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More than 2 000 baby deaths and not a word against the English Health Secretary but in Scotland, one death, not even one, just a hospital delay, and the SNP in Government are accused

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Mrs Robertson and Dottie, for both alerting me to this. From BBC Nottinghamshire today: A corporate manslaughter investigation has been opened into failings that led to hundreds of babies dying or being injured at maternity units in Nottingham. Nottinghamshire Police said it was examining whether maternity care provided by the Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS trust had been grossly negligent. The trust is at the centre of the largest maternity inquiry in the history of the NHS, with about 2,500 cases of neonatal deaths, stillbirths and harm to mothers and babies being examined by independent … Continue reading More than 2 000 baby deaths and not a word against the English Health Secretary but in Scotland, one death, not even one, just a hospital delay, and the SNP in Government are accused

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There is a clear and consistent Yes lead of around 54/46 and improving, being hidden by some pollsters’ biased methods

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the last year, from the YouGov poll of 3-7 June 2024 until the Norstat poll of 27-30 May 2025, the average Yes or No lead: Norstat (6 polls) – Yes lead average 1.83; YouGov (5 polls) No lead average 10; Survation (5 polls) No lead average 4.2; Find out Now (4 polls) Yes lead average 3.5. So, all of these pollsters registered as following the same guidelines consistently, should not be discovering such wildly diverging populations. That YouGov should find, over the year, an average of a 10 point lead for No and Find Out … Continue reading There is a clear and consistent Yes lead of around 54/46 and improving, being hidden by some pollsters’ biased methods

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BBC Scotland hide from news, published by local press, that 23 year-old from Perth was used by drugs gang ‘from England’

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Professor John Robertson OBA From the Dundee Courier yesterday, the above and: Skye McElwee was caught with thousands of pounds worth of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia at her flat in the city’s Viewfield Place. The 23-year-old had been involved with a drugs gang from England who were using her home as a base for selling and packaging the class A substance. The members wore distinctive hi-viz jackets and were regularly seen under surveillance taking a dog called Boss for a walk. McElwee was heard asking after the dog when officers raided her home, inadvertently confirming her connection the drug … Continue reading BBC Scotland hide from news, published by local press, that 23 year-old from Perth was used by drugs gang ‘from England’

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How the great Professor Noam Chomsky (96!), whose work still fully explains the media bias we suffer today, was inspired by a Scottish philosopher

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Professor John Robertson OBA (PhD on the Propaganda Model (Chomsky) Thanks to JB for alerting me to this. Force and Opinion Noam Chomsky Z Magazine, July-August, 1991 In his study of the Scottish intellectual tradition, George Davie identifies its central theme as a recognition of the fundamental role of “natural beliefs or principles of common sense, such as the belief in an independent external world, the belief in causality, the belief in ideal standards, and the belief in the self of conscience as separate from the rest of one.” These principles are sometimes considered to have a regulative character; though never … Continue reading How the great Professor Noam Chomsky (96!), whose work still fully explains the media bias we suffer today, was inspired by a Scottish philosopher

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British Ultra-nationalism and how the Scottish Unionists Are Morally Complicit

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By JB British Ultranationalism and how the Scottish Unionists Are Morally Complicit. The vacuous and politically impotent Sarwar and his side kick, the deceitful dyscalculic Baillie with their combined mendacity and their relentless obsession of him becoming First Minister of Scotland, without any desire to serve the public good, are either completely apathetic or too stupid in their empleomania to realise that they are, like their boss in England, complicit in the rise of the far right-wing highbinder opportunist Farage. When left-wing British Labour in Scotland leader Richard Leonard contradicted swindler Starmer’s decision to back the Tory government’s Brexit ‘deal’ … Continue reading British Ultra-nationalism and how the Scottish Unionists Are Morally Complicit

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Isle of Wight ferry users have been paying far more than Scots for 75 years now!

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Professor John Robertson OBA, Honest Ferry Correspondent From Isle of Wight County Press, yesterday: 75 years ago, in May 1950: The cost of ferry fares were a source of grievance. Mr. H. Frohock, of St. Alban’s guest house, Shanklin, sent a letter to the County Press asking why it cost £3 to cross the Solent, when it only cost 5s (25p) to cross the Firth of Forth. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/news/island-ferries-a-source-of-grievance-50-years-ago/ar-AA1FRdHy?ocid=BingNewsVerp 12 times more expensive! Things have actually improved relatively for the folk travelling to the Isle of Wight. It’s only 4 times more expensive these days. See: ‘Ferry cost stopped us booking a holiday to … Continue reading Isle of Wight ferry users have been paying far more than Scots for 75 years now!

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Polish academic knows thsat Scotland is leading the way in East Asian boom but ‘Scottish’ media to busy with other trivia

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Professor John Robertson OBA In East Asia Forum, by Tomasz Kominski of the University of Lodz, in July 2024, but nowhere in the ‘Scottish’ media at the time, I feel sure, the above, and: As the epicentre of global business shifts decisively toward East Asia, small sub-national European governments are increasingly drawn to engage more robustly with this dynamic region. Scotland, stressing the importance of its links with Asian partners in its strategic documents, is at the forefront of this movement. The motivations are clear — economic opportuni , ambitions to tackle global problems and strategic positioning. Attracting foreign investors … Continue reading Polish academic knows thsat Scotland is leading the way in East Asian boom but ‘Scottish’ media to busy with other trivia

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Glenn Campbell only wants the SNP to be seen as #Bad

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Liz S In the above, Glenn Campbell: “The SNP leader John Swinney has certainly acknowledged a third, red rosette wearing Horse in this race”. “My sense is that his comment came as something of a relief to Scottish Labour, who came second last time and expect to be regarded as the principal challenger to the SNP, who are defending the seat”. Labour could certainly do with a win here“. Glenn for Labour. Why he, Campbell, then also had to add this into this article on the website: “The arithmetic already takes into account a series of SNP controversies over independence strategy, gender self-identification, a police investigation into party … Continue reading Glenn Campbell only wants the SNP to be seen as #Bad

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BBC UK report a crucial new drug for children, available across Scotland, thanks to SNP Health Secretary, but it’s still in a heart-breaking ‘postcode lottery’ in England – BBC Scotland? It’s not nightmarish enough for their agenda

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because of the intervention of the Health Secretary, Neil Gray, did offer Givinostat. Unfortunately in England…. Professor John Robertson OBA On BBC Breakfast this morning, a Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy activist gave credit to the Scottsish Health Secretary for ensuring the speedy adoption of a new drug, across all the health boards, while in England it remains a postcode lottery, deeply upsetting to parents. BBC Scotland must surely cover that in the public interest, in accordance with their royal charter and editorial standards? Nope. Just this nightmare world: STV and the Record have reported the story. The word ‘nightmares’ bottom right … Continue reading BBC UK report a crucial new drug for children, available across Scotland, thanks to SNP Health Secretary, but it’s still in a heart-breaking ‘postcode lottery’ in England – BBC Scotland? It’s not nightmarish enough for their agenda