Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
7 Comments

Ferret attacks SNP based on work of ‘Luke de Pulford’ a Tory ‘human rights campaigner’ who only sees ‘atrocity crimes by both sides’ in Gaza

johnrobertson834

With only 3 days 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-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 The Ferret’s Paul Dobson, who ironically has previously attacked the ‘SNP Government’ on links between Scottish/UK energy firms and Israel during the Gaza war, seems comfortable with using de Pulford to attack them again today: Boss of SNP-backed wind firm named in bribery scandal Hey there, Paul here with a rare Ferret Saturday night broadcast. The Scottish Government is regularly hammered for failing to create more jobs from the renewable … Continue reading Ferret attacks SNP based on work of ‘Luke de Pulford’ a Tory ‘human rights campaigner’ who only sees ‘atrocity crimes by both sides’ in Gaza

2 Comments

History tells us that Burnham’s first-time buyers scheme will be funded by robbing from the poor

johnrobertson834

With only 3 days 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-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 From BBC Politics today, the above and: Prime Minister Andy Burnham is to introduce a new scheme to try to help people “who have given up hope of ever having a home to call their own” get on the property ladder. The “Your First Home” scheme would be open to first-time buyers in England with a deposit of 2.5%. It would provide them with a loan worth 20% of their … Continue reading History tells us that Burnham’s first-time buyers scheme will be funded by robbing from the poor

1 Comment

Fire and Water! CalMac ferry-user group thought to be safe

johnrobertson834

From the Sun today, the above, and: THIS is the jaw-dropping moment a huge inferno rips through a ferry off the coast of a British holiday hotspot sparking a frantic evacuation. Shocking footage showed towering plumes of smoke billowing from the flaming vessel north of Mykonos, Greece. With only 3 days 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-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 It is not known how many Scottish ‘islanders’ were on the above fiery ferry or on this Washington State ferry, below, last year, … Continue reading Fire and Water! CalMac ferry-user group thought to be safe

1 Comment

Drug related deaths among the young plummet in Scotland but climb in England & Wales to herald the end of Scotland’s dark reputation before long

johnrobertson834

With only 3 days 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-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Scotland’s drug-related deaths peaked in 2020 and the overall trend since then has been down, but within that trend there is some really positive, optimistic detail. Look at the under 25s more than halved and the under 35s, halved in just 5 years. This is a cultural change as younger people turn away from drugs and, indeed, alcohol, finding alternatives in, especially, social media. The 35 to 54 group, the … Continue reading Drug related deaths among the young plummet in Scotland but climb in England & Wales to herald the end of Scotland’s dark reputation before long

2 Comments

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

johnrobertson834

With only 3 days 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-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON 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 … Continue reading European Union Drugs Agency – drug deaths ‘must be understood as underestimations’ (as in England) proving that Scotland is the only ‘Drug Death Accurate Reporting’ capital of Europe

Leave a comment

Huge surge in child exploitation – carrying drugs in body cavities and sexual abuse – by English county lines drug gangs in Scotland

johnrobertson834

With only 3 days 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-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 From Human Trafficking NRM referrals re county lines – 10yrs published by Police Scotland today, that ‘referrals made by Police Scotland to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) where county lines and suspected criminal exploitation was a factor‘ was: Under 16 year-olds – from 6 in 2020/2021 to 39 in 2025/2026, almost a seven-fold increase. 16-17 year-olds, from 16 to 65, a four-fold increase. Source: https://www.scotland.police.uk/access-to-information/freedom-of-information/disclosure-log/disclosure-log-2026/june/26-1022-human-trafficking-nrm-referrals-re-county-lines-10yrs/ What forms does that exploitation … Continue reading Huge surge in child exploitation – carrying drugs in body cavities and sexual abuse – by English county lines drug gangs in Scotland

6 Comments

‘Thousands of opioid deaths missed off official figures’ in England & Wales thanks to errors ‘not present in Scotland’

johnrobertson834

With only 3 days 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-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON By Liz S Anas Sarwar now knows his election campaign in Scotland is crumbling , mainly because it was all built on a foundation of lies, that as a strategy , is one that was not sustainable as an ongoing plan that would generate support for him to … Continue reading ‘Thousands of opioid deaths missed off official figures’ in England & Wales thanks to errors ‘not present in Scotland’

1 Comment

Researchers prove that Scotland’s drug death surge was the simple and tragic consequence of the UK Conservative Government’s brutal austerity strategy from 2012 to 2019

johnrobertson834

With only 3 days 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-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Drug deaths have always been more prevalent in poorer communities. In Scotland, half of all drug deaths are from among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods.1 According to research recently published by David Walsh and Gerry McCartney2, of Glasgow University, drug deaths amongst the most deprived communities in Scotland had begun to climb from around 2003 to 2009, under New Labour and then again, but far more dramatically, from around 2012 … Continue reading Researchers prove that Scotland’s drug death surge was the simple and tragic consequence of the UK Conservative Government’s brutal austerity strategy from 2012 to 2019

1 Comment

Scotland has ring-fenced convicted sex offenders from emergency early release

johnrobertson834

Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder 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 Guardian today, the above and: More sexual predators in England and Wales could be freed instead of jailed because of the pressure on courts and prisons, police sources have told the Guardian. The warning comes after the Metropolitan police commissioner, Mark Rowley, on Thursday condemned the release on bail of a man after he admitted taking pictures of children and women, and then using AI to sexualise them. Zafer Dogan was bailed to his flat overlooking a children’s playground, from which he committed some of the offences … Continue reading Scotland has ring-fenced convicted sex offenders from emergency early release

14 Comments

Which is the most industrious, comprehensive and best sourced pro-Scottish independence blog? Awkk!! It’s certainly not your one Jock!

johnrobertson834

Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder 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 Grok – Which is the most industrious, comprehensive and best sourced pro-Scottish independence blog? Thought for 18s Wings Over Scotland (wingsoverscotland.com), run by Stuart Campbell since 2011, is the standout match for industriousness, data-driven comprehensiveness on the core political/media issues, and sourcing. Other notable options Bella Caledonia (bellacaledonia.org.uk, founded 2007): The longest-running prominent site. More magazine-like, with essays on culture, ideas, international issues, and politics from multiple contributors. Broader in scope than Wings but less relentless on daily statistical or media-watch grind. thenational.scot Wee Ginger Dug (Paul Kavanagh): Consistent, … Continue reading Which is the most industrious, comprehensive and best sourced pro-Scottish independence blog? Awkk!! It’s certainly not your one Jock!