Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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‘They didn’t know their backyard creek carried nuclear waste. Now, they’re dying of cancer’ – new evidence from the USA of how similar Sellafield waste and Scotland’s higher cancer deaths are likely to be connected

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Professor John Robertson OBA From CBS News and other US media yesterday: When Linda Morice and her family first moved to St. Louis in 1957, they had no idea they had anything to fear. Then, people started getting sick. “It was a slow, insidious process,” Morice said. After the death of Morice’s mother, her physician uncle took her aside and gave her a stark warning: “Linda, I don’t believe St. Louis is a very healthy place to live. Everyone on this street has a tumor.” Their neighborhood was bordered by Coldwater Creek, a 19-mile tributary of the Missouri River. It … Continue reading ‘They didn’t know their backyard creek carried nuclear waste. Now, they’re dying of cancer’ – new evidence from the USA of how similar Sellafield waste and Scotland’s higher cancer deaths are likely to be connected

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Starmer’s celebratory video for his (real) country’s patron saint, that is England

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By Liz S Well here we are again , another St George’s day and another yearly ‘special’ celebratory video from the now, checks notes, UK PM , Sir Keir Starmer. Prior to him becoming the new UK PM, as in when he was merely the official opposition UK leader , Keir used to also do a ‘special’ celebratory video for his (real) country’s Patron saint, that is England. Scotland & Wales are not given the same ‘special’ celebratory video from Sir Keir the UK PM as that job is delegated to the minions (understudies) in the respective two English colonies, i.e. Scotland & Wales via the respective Labour branch office managers. … Continue reading Starmer’s celebratory video for his (real) country’s patron saint, that is England

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How Starmer, backed by Sarwar, want new mini nuclear power stations in Scotland that cause more cancer, more waste, depend on Russian fuel, cost more and now cannot be protected against terrorism

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the i in April 2025, the above and: Sometimes he would patrol rural lanes on foot, carrying his assault rifle, looking out for any terrorists hiding in the countryside. On other assignments he would man machine guns mounted on armoured ships, watching for any sign of hostile vessels coming his way. Or he would drive in weapons-laden road convoys, monitoring potential threats from vehicles. While serving as an armed officer with the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC), Matt Okuhara saw every aspect of how the UK’s nuclear power stations and their radioactive fuel are protected from … Continue reading How Starmer, backed by Sarwar, want new mini nuclear power stations in Scotland that cause more cancer, more waste, depend on Russian fuel, cost more and now cannot be protected against terrorism

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Has the Scottish Child Payment reduced shoplifting for ‘cost-of-living’ food and clothes?

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Shoplifting cases recorded in Scotland since 2019: FOI release, published yesterday, the number of cases reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has fallen from 19 225 to 16 426 and the number proceeded against in Courts has fallen from 12 104 to 8 601: https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202500454372/ In July 2023, BBC Business reported: In March, police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland recorded nearly 33,000 incidents of shoplifting – a significant 30.9% increase compared with March last year. What might be different? The Scottish Child Payment was launched in February 2021. It is … Continue reading Has the Scottish Child Payment reduced shoplifting for ‘cost-of-living’ food and clothes?

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As UK Labour plan big cuts and more face-to-face assessments of the kind which increased suicide rates, SNP introduces new humanely-assessed benefit for elderly and disabled to media silence

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Professor John Robertson OBA Getting little media coverage today – the National, the Record, the Mirror, some locals, but not BBC Scotland or STV: ‘Milestone’ as SNP launch new disability benefit across Scotland That’s the Ardrossan Herald, above, recognising the headline-worthy, you’d think, nature of this announcement. From Econostratum today: A new benefit has been introduced for older people in Scotland, offering monthly payments of up to £441 for individuals with disabilities or long-term health conditions. The Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) is designed to replace Attendance Allowance for new claimants, starting on April 22, 2025. This measure aims to enhance financial … Continue reading As UK Labour plan big cuts and more face-to-face assessments of the kind which increased suicide rates, SNP introduces new humanely-assessed benefit for elderly and disabled to media silence

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49 year-old Canadian ferry causes Easter Monday ferry fiasco stranding 300 passengers

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Professor John Robertson OBA From the Economic Times of Canada, today: Holiday travel plans took a frustrating turn for many on Easter Monday as a key BC Ferries vessel, the Queen of Coquitlam, suffered a mechanical breakdown, leading to disruptions on the busy Langdale-Horseshoe Bay route. The incident, occurring around 1 pm Vancouver time, stranded passengers for approximately three hours and resulted in the cancellation of multiple sailings. Passenger Rohana Rezel, who was onboard with his family, described the unexpected halt after a timely departure. “They said once the tugboat gets here, it’s going to be about another 40 minutes … Continue reading 49 year-old Canadian ferry causes Easter Monday ferry fiasco stranding 300 passengers

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Will Scottish Labour MPs vote against Starmer’s surrender of fishing rights for new EU arms deal?

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Sir Keir Starmer is close to striking a major deal with the EU that would let British arms companies sell billions of pounds of weapons to European allies, it has emerged.Under the agreement, UK companies would be able to bid for business under the bloc’s new €150 billion (£130 billion) defence fund. But the deal comes after the UK reportedly made major concessions to Brussels on EU access to Britain’s fishing waters, in what critics will likely see as a betrayal of Brexit. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/starmer-eu-brexit-reset-defence-fishing-b2737088.html Note the disinterested ‘critics will likely see’ from ‘liberal’, metropolitan media outlet. How much does this matter to Scotland? Above, the big picture of … Continue reading Will Scottish Labour MPs vote against Starmer’s surrender of fishing rights for new EU arms deal?

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Massive fall in number of children in care as progressive policies work to reduce poverty and as violent crime reduces

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Children’s Social Work Statistics: Looked After Children 2023/24 published today, we can see that the number of children requiring to be in the care of the local authority in Scotland has fallen from 15 600 in 2014 to 11 842 in 2024, a 24% fall. Looked after children are defined as those in the care of their local authority (Children Scotland Act 1995). There are many reasons children may become looked after including: facing abuse or neglect at home; having disabilities that require special care; unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, or illegally trafficked into the UK; … Continue reading Massive fall in number of children in care as progressive policies work to reduce poverty and as violent crime reduces

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GPs in poor parts of England are paid £5,500 less a year than in wealthy areas but in Scotland get a £10 000 incentive

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today, the above, and: According to the report’s authors, the difference in earnings is down to a lack of funds in more deprived areas, as more is spent on resources. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/22/gps-deprived-areas-england-paid-less-than-wealthy Meanwhile in Scotland, announced in February 2025, to no coverage We incentivise GPs into taking up harder to fill posts, mainly those in rural and deprived areas, through our £10,000 ‘Golden Hello’ scheme. This scheme offers a bursary of up to £10,000 to every GP taking up an eligible post.  https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-governments-written-evidence-review-body-doctors-dentists-remuneration-ddrb-2025-26-pay-round/pages/7/ Anything else about GP supply not getting much media attention? Just this: Continue reading GPs in poor parts of England are paid £5,500 less a year than in wealthy areas but in Scotland get a £10 000 incentive

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Who are Labour and what are they for ?

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Liz S Who are Labour and what are they for ? Well most of us in Scotland worked out the answers to those Q’s ages ago and now some in England are finally catching up to what we already knew. I mean think about who once were MP’s in the Labour party and who still are Labour MP’s in the Labour party and then think about who are some of the supposed new faces that were elected as Labour MP’s last year in the UK GE. (new faces ? Douglas Alexander ? Johanna Baxter ?, Blair McDougall ?, Scott Arthur ?, Martin McClusky ?, Torcuil Crichton ? , Pamela … Continue reading Who are Labour and what are they for ?