Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
Leave a comment

Scotland has clearer, more generous approach to adult social care than the chaotic system in England, an international outlier in using means-testing to exclude people entirely

johnrobertson834

In the Guardian today, the above and: Successive governments in England have been “asleep at the wheel” on social care, leaving the system to grow as a chaotic patchwork of local services with no clear vision, Louise Casey, the head of the social care commission, is to warn. Lady Casey, who is preparing proposals for a big review of adult social care, will say the result is that in effect “no one is in charge” of a system that provides vital services for millions of vulnerable people. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/nov/11/louise-casey-england-social-care-system Scotland has a clearer, more generous national approach to adult social care … Continue reading Scotland has clearer, more generous approach to adult social care than the chaotic system in England, an international outlier in using means-testing to exclude people entirely

1 Comment

Further evidence that the Clyde will build Royal Navy warships for many years after independence

johnrobertson834

In the Herald today, the above and: Scotland’s defence industry and military infrastructure are being highlighted at a major UK-Norway security summit in Oslo this week. Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander is attending the Atlantic Future Forum, held aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, which was built at Rosyth. Does this suggest that within NATO an independent Scotland would be able to build warships for the Royal Navy? No, it seems: From the UK Defence Journal in March 2024: The UK Government has refuted claims that an independent Scotland would continue to build ships for the Royal Navy. In … Continue reading Further evidence that the Clyde will build Royal Navy warships for many years after independence

3 Comments

The Western Link 2 from Ayrshire to Wales and the West Midlands – a colonial project with no sign of a full, completed independent expert impact assessment

johnrobertson834

In the Ayrshire Advertiser today, the above and: The next step has been taken in plans for the Western Link 2 electricity project linking Ayrshire with the west coast of Wales. Applicants are seeking a scoping opinion relating to the proposed high-voltage direct-current subsea cable. The project is being jointly developed by National Grid and Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN). The project involves a 13km underground cable linking a new converter station next to Kilmarnock South substation with a landfall point on the coast near Monkton. There will be a 30km marine HVDC cable between Monkton and Grangestone, north of … Continue reading The Western Link 2 from Ayrshire to Wales and the West Midlands – a colonial project with no sign of a full, completed independent expert impact assessment

10 Comments

A reminder of how Thatcher used Scotland’s oil wealth to pay for mass unemployment, tax cuts for the better off and to pay for the costs of destroying our industries

johnrobertson834

Thanks to rtpscott for sharing this with us. He asks – What has Scotland gained from all this wealth? He knows, we all know, we do not have the £1 trillion at least, invested, as Norway has. What have the UK Governments, Tory and Labour, done with the revenue from those billions of barrels of oil and gas over the last 50 years? The P&J tells us part of the answer: Output from the asset helped the UK through the 1979 oil crisis. Brent reached peak production capacity of 504,000 barrels of oil per day in 1982. This was enough … Continue reading A reminder of how Thatcher used Scotland’s oil wealth to pay for mass unemployment, tax cuts for the better off and to pay for the costs of destroying our industries

1 Comment

What would AJ Cronin make of the relocation of the Children’s and Maternity/Neonatal Hospitals from the bucolic site at Yorkhill to the sewage surrounded Shieldhall cesspit 101 years later? What novel would he write? ‘The Shitadel’?”

johnrobertson834

What on Earth would AJ make of the relocation of the Children’s and Maternity/Neonatal Hospitals from the relatively bucolic site at Yorkhill to the sewage surrounded Shieldhall cesspit 101 years later? What novel would he write? ‘The Shitadel’?” By Scunhur A J Cronin, best selling novelist and doctor, lived at 29 Esmond St Yorkhill during his latter school years and throughout University studies which were interrupted by WW1 service. Cowglen should have been the site of the new Glasgow Southside hospital campus but Cowglen is all lucrative housing now. Here’s where it ended up: My understanding is that Jones Lang … Continue reading What would AJ Cronin make of the relocation of the Children’s and Maternity/Neonatal Hospitals from the bucolic site at Yorkhill to the sewage surrounded Shieldhall cesspit 101 years later? What novel would he write? ‘The Shitadel’?”

3 Comments

Smartphones are making our kids smarter – Dare to be different Scotland

johnrobertson834

Deep in Impacts of digital media use on children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing: evidence review published today: The review has identified important methodological limitations, particularly regarding causality and the direction of associations between digital media use and mental health and wellbeing. Yet in the same paragraph, this: Whilst these limitations warrant consideration, the literature suggests that there may be a role for policy interventions to reduce potential harms and support positive digital experiences among children and young people. https://www.gov.scot/publications/impacts-digital-media-use-children-young-peoples-mental-health-wellbeing-evidence-review/ For more than 50 years now, I’ve been interested in, taught about and researched media effects and found … Continue reading Smartphones are making our kids smarter – Dare to be different Scotland

Leave a comment

SNP praised as 38% fewer wait for key diagnostic tests than in NHS England

johnrobertson834

From NHS waiting times – diagnostics Waits for key diagnostic tests, published today: At 30 September 2026, the total waiting list size (number of ongoing waits) for the eight key diagnostic tests combined was 111,561. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-waiting-times-diagnostics/diagnostic-waiting-times-waits-for-key-diagnostic-tests-10-november-2026/ The statistics are not based on identical data but are broadly comparable and, of course, you can be sure that if that comparison were to turn out badly for Scotland, we’d hear all about it: ‘SNP accused of risking thousands with delayed testing!’ All things being equal with 10.5 times the population, NHS England might be expected to be delaying 1.1 million? From NHS … Continue reading SNP praised as 38% fewer wait for key diagnostic tests than in NHS England

1 Comment

Soft on crime!? Scotland has barely a third of the reported rape cases in England & Wales but still tries more than three times the percentage and then even convicts more!

johnrobertson834

From Conviction rate data for cases of rape and attempted rape, published today, the conviction rate for rape or attempted rape single charge has risen from 24% in 2020/2021 to 25.5% in 2022/2023, the most recent year for which figures are available, a 6.25% improvement. For a charge of at least one rape or attempted rape with other charges, the figures improved from 48.4% to 55.8%, a 15.3% improvement. Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/conviction-rate-data-for-rape/ The percentage conviction rate in England & Wales is often higher than in Scotland but this is where, as with drug deaths, you need your sceptical wits about you. … Continue reading Soft on crime!? Scotland has barely a third of the reported rape cases in England & Wales but still tries more than three times the percentage and then even convicts more!

5 Comments

This BBC senior manager who did not know about Jimmy Savile got four times the pension pot for less service than BBC Scotland’s 44 year-service NHS Scotland victim today

johnrobertson834

From BBC Scotland today, headlining, the above and: An NHS executive has received a near £400,000 redundancy pay-off after retiring from a health board, new figures show. Following a 44-year career in the health service, Mary Morgan retired as chief executive of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) in May. But it has now been revealed Morgan received a £378,000 payment “under contractual redundancy terms” as part of an exit that came after NHS NSS was merged into a new quango called Public Services Delivery (PSD) Scotland in April. A PSD Scotland spokesperson said Morgan retired after an “exceptional career” and … Continue reading This BBC senior manager who did not know about Jimmy Savile got four times the pension pot for less service than BBC Scotland’s 44 year-service NHS Scotland victim today

2 Comments

Six years later, The Times catches up with our observation that YouGov has been ‘gaslighting’ us for years

johnrobertson834

In December 2020, six years ago, I noted YouGov polls reporting small Yes leads of 1 and 5% while all around were reporting on average a 7.5% lead. https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2020/12/03/dont-fear-the-next-yougov-poll-on-indepedence/ I wrote: It’s all down to their sampling bias. and suggested this might be a factor in preferring that sampling bias over those six years: YouGov was founded in the UK in May 2000 by Stephan Shakespeare and future MP Nadhim Zahawi (above) at the time both active in the British Conservative Party. In 2001 they engaged BBC political analyst Peter Kellner, who became chairman, and then from 2007–2016, President. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouGov#:~:text=YouGov%20was%20founded%20in%20the,from%202007%E2%80%932016%2C%20President … Continue reading Six years later, The Times catches up with our observation that YouGov has been ‘gaslighting’ us for years