Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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The deep irony of BBC Scotland talking about ‘hidden’ waiting lists when they routinely hide target-beating and lists much shorter than elsewhere in the UK

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Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Scotland today, based on a feed from one psychiatrist and no actual figures, the above tasteless image and unsubstantiated headline. Let me be clear, as always, I’m not doubting the opinion of the medic here, but challenging the politicising of the unconfirmed data by BBC Scotland with a view to, always, implying failure by the Scottish, SNP, Government. In this report, BBC Scotland do credit the meeting of targets for children and adolescent’s mental heath care last month but when the data were first published on 4 March 2025, were quick to move on … Continue reading The deep irony of BBC Scotland talking about ‘hidden’ waiting lists when they routinely hide target-beating and lists much shorter than elsewhere in the UK

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Westminster MP report and BBC UK suggests ‘unprepared police’ and summer riots ‘across the country’, hiding the Scottish data and why they are different

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Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC UK today: Police forces were in several cases unprepared for the level of violence that broke out in riots after the murder of three children in Southport last summer, a report by MPs has found. Acknowledging this was the worst disorder the country had seen since 2011, MPs said police forces should have “better anticipated the risk of disorder in general” following an initial instance of disorder in Southport. Officers across the country worked “tirelessly”, the report said, but forces being unable to act proactively left them exposed. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20zrjr5n4ro In the full House of … Continue reading Westminster MP report and BBC UK suggests ‘unprepared police’ and summer riots ‘across the country’, hiding the Scottish data and why they are different

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SNP 1 and 2? A bold and bald campaign

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Professor John Robertson OBA How and why did we manage to get an overall majority in 2011? How might we shape future campaigns to recreate this result? Some ideas for debate: The campaign Research by the London School of Economics (LSE), in 2011, concluded that this was ‘an extraordinary result in an ‘ordinary’ election.’ By this, they mean that the data from 4 000 eligible voters in the Scottish Election Study did not reflect a surge in support for independence but, rather a desire to reward the SNP for effective government from 2007 to 2011. This is echoed today in … Continue reading SNP 1 and 2? A bold and bald campaign

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The other reason to favour Troon over Ardrossan for the Arran ferry crossing – corruption on grand scale

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There is little to choose in overall travelling time from Brodick in Arran to Glasgow, via Ardrossan or Troon. For the detail worked out, See: There is however a bloody good reason to prefer Troon based on the nature of their owners compared with the owners of Ardrossan, currently trying to screw the Scottish taxpayer for improvements they should have carried out themselves. Ardrossan harbour is owned by Peel Group. They have a frankly sickening reputation. For example: Controversies Hunterston Parc Campaigners objected to an LNG terminal Peel proposed for Hunterston Parc, Largs. The scheme included a combined cycle gas turbine power station; deep … Continue reading The other reason to favour Troon over Ardrossan for the Arran ferry crossing – corruption on grand scale

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I take it back – the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald has/had a real investigative reporter who exposed the rapacious nature of the English owner expecting us to pay to upgrade his harbour for the new bigger ferry, last year

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Professor John Robertson OBA The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald seems to be currently following the party line that the Scottish Government has failed to upgrade the Ardrossan harbour which they don’t own and is keeping quiet about the decades-long neglect of the harbour by the Manchester billionaire and tax evading owner of Peel Ports. Last year however, James Walker had a piece in the local paper which exposes the same company of outrageous plans to charge everyone sailing on the Clyde, including those with boats as small as 6 metres.. Source: https://www.ardrossanherald.com/news/24672077.outrage-firms-proposal-charge-scots-sail-clyde/ Footnote – I see Troon, sticking out on … Continue reading I take it back – the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald has/had a real investigative reporter who exposed the rapacious nature of the English owner expecting us to pay to upgrade his harbour for the new bigger ferry, last year

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Protests erupt in beautiful Scottish ‘ghost town’ as Manchester billionaire harbour owner charges millions for decades of neglect and refuses to make it fit desperately needed bigger ferry

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Professor John Robertson OBA, Sadly at 73 and weakening, ‘a better investigative reporter than any of the young toadies working in ‘Scotland’s’ MSM’ The rest of this first reported in February 2025 at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2025/02/11/why-should-we-the-scottish-taxpayer-pay-for-the-upgrade-to-ardrossan-dock-fully-owned-and-neglected-by-a-manchester-billionaire-tax-exile/ Front page in the Herald today, 18 paragraphs putting responsibility for the maintenance of the Ardrossan dock, one of the two hubs for Arran crossings, onto the First Minister, based on the prompting of Katy Clark, MSP and Baroness of Kilwinning: After reading those 18 paragraphs, would any reader wonder who owns the dock? CalMac? Scottish Government? North Ayrshire Council? Nope, it’s James Whittaker, a Manchester billionaire. Read … Continue reading Protests erupt in beautiful Scottish ‘ghost town’ as Manchester billionaire harbour owner charges millions for decades of neglect and refuses to make it fit desperately needed bigger ferry

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Supposed Labour ‘rebel’ MP knows that his party betrayed his constituents in Grangemouth

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By Liz S Alloa & Grangemouth Labour MP Brian Leishman is a Fraud ! This supposed Labour ‘rebel’ MP knows, and indeed has even said as much, that his party betrayed and lied to his constituents in Grangemouth , yet still today he campaigns on their , Labour’s , behalf. 5 Days ago on 7 April Brian Leishman tweeted this: “Both the Tory and SNP governments knew about the planned refinery closure 5 years ago. Both the Tory and SNP governments did nothing to save the refinery in that time. Both the Tory and SNP governments let Scotland down by choosing to do … Continue reading Supposed Labour ‘rebel’ MP knows that his party betrayed his constituents in Grangemouth

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How BBC Scotland and BBC UK are coordinating their misrepresentation of Scotland’s nurses pay deal

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By Bob Lamont BBC Scotland’s Lisa Summers, Health Correspondent, sees all through the lens of Westminster, the usual anal aspect of her analysis, but she is far from alone in projecting that perspective.  In their report for BBC Health, Graeme Ogston of BBC Scotland News and Hugh Pym BBC Health Editor introduce the UK pay offer by the 4th paragraph, the impact on Scottish Governments budget by the 5th, Wes Streeting by the 11th, the “The pay review body” absent the usual nonsense adjective of “independent” by the 12th, and so it goes on. Were a poll to be conducted … Continue reading How BBC Scotland and BBC UK are coordinating their misrepresentation of Scotland’s nurses pay deal

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BBC Scotland’s Lisa Summers exposes the sham – and the trap – of devolution

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By stewartb Lisa Summers’ ‘Analysis’ of the Scottish Nurses 8% pay deal: The gamble here is that it doesn’t know what deal will be offered to NHS staff elsewhere in the UK as negotiations are ongoing. However, the UK government has so far said it would recommend a 2.8% increase, a move described as “offensive” by unions. If the pay deal is significantly higher for Scotland, the government will have to find the money to pay for it with no additional money coming from Westminster … Ms Summers exposes the sham – and the trap – of devolution. The NHS is the responsibility of the … Continue reading BBC Scotland’s Lisa Summers exposes the sham – and the trap – of devolution

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Another story you won’t hear on BBC Scotland – ‘Thousands of additional procedures’ for Highlands thanks to £2.6 million SNP Government boost

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to rtpscott for alerting me to the above. Not a word on BBC Scotland nor on BBC Highland and Islands, on this story nor, of course, on one of the reasons such enhancement is desperately needed: Also, the UK Labour mistakes that have made life more difficult for Highland GPs: Continue reading Another story you won’t hear on BBC Scotland – ‘Thousands of additional procedures’ for Highlands thanks to £2.6 million SNP Government boost