Author: johnrobertson834

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

Why is Labour hiding the Block Grant Transparency report – further cuts to impose austerity on Scotland?

johnrobertson834

stewartb A Block Grant Transparency report was first devised and published by HMRC on behalf of the Westminster government in December 2017. This and subsequent documents in the series set out in detail how the block grants for the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive are calculated. These reports help ensure that the financial implications for the ‘block grants’ of key fiscal events in Westminster – Spending Reviews, annual Budget, other Financial Statements to the Westminster parliament and also end of financial year ‘Main Estimates’ – are documented in detail and made public. This provision of this breakdown … Continue reading Why is Labour hiding the Block Grant Transparency report – further cuts to impose austerity on Scotland?

4 Comments

A life-extending prostate cancer drug being available for two years in Scotland but not yet in England is not the kind of thing Jackie Baillie wants you to know of

johnrobertson834

The drug, abiraterone, has been available in Scotland and Wales for two years for high-risk patients whose cancer has not yet spread, but not in England and Northern Ireland. Liz S Jackie Baillie recent tweets: “A warm welcome from party members in Stornoway. If you want improved public services in our rural and island communities, we need a new direction with @scottishlabour“ “Thought-provoking conversation with the local community in Barra who are struggling to access healthcare. Next stop, Eriskay”. “The SNP’s stealth cuts have created a sinkhole under social care. It’s time for a new direction” “Our heroic ambulance workers are being failed. Scottish Labour will make fixing the NHS our number one priority” Then … Continue reading A life-extending prostate cancer drug being available for two years in Scotland but not yet in England is not the kind of thing Jackie Baillie wants you to know of

14 Comments

Scotland second most likely to survive climate change?

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA In the Herald today, a report from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society making the above claim but apparently suggesting the Scottish Government’s ‘scrapping’ (changing) its 2030 climate change target is key. So, 0.06% of the world’s population and 0.01% of the land mass area and we are key to climate change? What’s the wider, bigger picture? Which countries are most likely to survive climate change? To assess which countries are best prepared for climate change, we used data from the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative. Its ND-Gain Index measures the vulnerability and ability of a country to … Continue reading Scotland second most likely to survive climate change?

11 Comments

Does so-called ferry consultant think CalMac should go private like Isle of Wight ferries and then let him be their consultant on how to exceed half a million debt and astronomic prices

johnrobertson834

From Bob Lamont, in the wake (sic) of our report yesterday on the Isle of Wight ferries fiasco – Two English ferry companies borrowed HALF A BILLION and still charged customers four times as much as CalMac so that they could pay shareholders and bonuses – https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2025/04/18/two-english-ferry-companies-borrowed-half-a-billion-and-still-charged-customers-four-times-as-much-as-calmac-so-that-they-could-pay-shareholders-and-bonuses/ Had listened to an interesting ‘conversation’ (part of the Scotonomics event on 22nd March in Dundee) between Andy Verity and Danny Dorling (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm6k6DptTWM) and Danny had made a wonderful contrast between how the rich live in Sweden and the UK, which this article reminded me of – The Swedes have long regulated rigorously to ensure … Continue reading Does so-called ferry consultant think CalMac should go private like Isle of Wight ferries and then let him be their consultant on how to exceed half a million debt and astronomic prices

6 Comments

Two English ferry companies borrowed HALF A BILLION and still charged customers four times as much as CalMac so that they could pay shareholders and bonuses

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA Many thanks to David Rushent for alerting me to this. From the Isle of Wight Observer today: The Isle of Wight’s ferry services are in the spotlight, as IW East MP, Joe Robertson, voices serious concern about Wightlink’s finances. The firm’s CEO, Katy Taylor, has sparked questions, after failing to deny claims that the company’s owners plan to take £30 million out of the business, leaving Islanders to wonder what impact it would have on already sky-high fares. The IW Observer asked Mrs Taylor this week about reports that Wightlink’s shareholders are close to finalising a deal that … Continue reading Two English ferry companies borrowed HALF A BILLION and still charged customers four times as much as CalMac so that they could pay shareholders and bonuses

7 Comments

LATEST – The Bursary that Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Students get in Scotland, unmatched and, of course unreported

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA From the Scottish Government News site today but finding no place among the reports on what is a woman and what is a ferry? More detail at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/support-paramedic-nursing-midwifery-students-scotland-academic-year-2025-2026/pages/4/ Students in Scotland also pay no tuition fees. What happens in England? Students taking Healthcare degree courses including Nursing, Midwifery or Paramedic Science apply to Student Finance England for Tuition Fee Loans, Maintenance Loans and Grants for Dependants. https://www2.worc.ac.uk/moneyadvice/nursing-and-midwifery.html#:~:text=Students%20taking%20Healthcare%20degree%20courses%20including%20Nursing%2C%20Midwifery,%22Full-time%20Undergraduate%20Financial%20Support%22%20page%20on%20this%20website. So, Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Students in Scotland pay no tuition fees and get a free bursary. What happens in Wales? From AY 17/18 the availability of income assessed healthcare bursaries … Continue reading LATEST – The Bursary that Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Students get in Scotland, unmatched and, of course unreported

13 Comments

Yes, yes, but when you look at the facts globally, CalMac is the best deal for passengers in the world

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald today struggling to keep the flow of bad news on ferries going, ignores the wider facts: Has anyone in the Scottish media looked at any other ferry services in other parts which might be exemplars of how to do things? They haven’t? Thought so. Too tired? Here, I’ll do it. First, Calmac has 33 vessels in service, with 5 new ones imminent, for 5.3 million passengers and ticket prices kept low by the biggest government subsidies in the world. In sharp contrast: New Zealand – 4 cases of running aground, drifting toward rocks and hitting … Continue reading Yes, yes, but when you look at the facts globally, CalMac is the best deal for passengers in the world

10 Comments

Does Northern Scotland really have one of the highest rates of Huntington’s disease in the world?

johnrobertson834

Yesterday we had: BBC Scotland and STV today have short reports on the higher level of Huntington’s disease in the North of Scotland but with no useful content to inform and to educate readers in the manner they often claim to do, leaving readers with just another ‘Scotland is ****’ story that they can quietly associate with 18 years of SNP-rule. In response today from JB: The above is based on a new study by the University of Aberdeen who state that… “The study, published in Neuroepidemiology, confirmed that Northern Scotland has one of the highest rates of Huntington’s disease in the … Continue reading Does Northern Scotland really have one of the highest rates of Huntington’s disease in the world?

8 Comments

How BBC Scotland only report Unison when they cause trouble for the Scottish Government

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to rtpscott for alerting me to the above STV report yesterday, and: A union has urged NHS staff to accept a “guaranteed” 8% pay increase split over two years. Thousands of NHS staff represented by Unison have been urged to accept a 4.25% increase for this year and a further 3.75% for 2026-27. https://news.stv.tv/scotland/unison-urges-nhs-staff-to-accept-guaranteed-pay-offer-split-over-two-years#:~:text=A%20union%20has%20urged%20NHS,3.75%25%20for%202026%2D27 BBC Scotland have not reported this good news. Just a random, meaningless omission? Not an agenda? Well, in August 2023: School staff to strike in 24 Scottish council areas – Scotland’s biggest council union is planning strikes that could close schools … Continue reading How BBC Scotland only report Unison when they cause trouble for the Scottish Government