Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Disappearing the Celts

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Professor John Robertson OBA Back in 1990, I did research into history teaching across the UK and Europe. You’ll not be surprised to know that the history curriculum in Croatia then was a bit blood and soil but across eastern and central Europe it was still pretty ethnic nationalist, uncritically lauding their own heroes and damning their neighbours. Only Germany looked to be really shaking off these darker aspects as they fought to recover from the horrors of World War II. In Britain including in Scotland, the victories against Napoleon, the Kaiser and Hitler were still dominant topics. While there … Continue reading Disappearing the Celts

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Scotland’s schools – better staffed, better funded and improving outcomes in a society where youth violence has plummeted

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Professor John Robertson OBA, former schoolteacher, education lecturer, Associate Dean I was only a classroom teacher for three years (11 year-olds) before moving into higher education, but 18-24 year-olds can be hard work, scary at times, too. I was a bit lucky as well. I ran a winning school football team (cynically based on the Catenaccio – look it up) so if they crossed me they were oot! I’m not, under any circumstances downplaying how awful the experience can be, at some times, for some teachers but I am, really, questioning the idea that things are now worse than they … Continue reading Scotland’s schools – better staffed, better funded and improving outcomes in a society where youth violence has plummeted

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New Zealand government’s incompetence on new ferry builds, to avert further repeated collisions, near things with rocks and running aground, already costs $300 million in cancellation costs and the need is now urgent to get new ferries built before any more failures occur

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Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details Professor John Robertson OBA, Global Ferry Correspondent From RNZ 24 March 2025: New documents reveal the coalition has set aside $300 million to cover broken infrastructure contracts and a break-fee with Hyundai, after the government ended a contract with the Korean company to build two new Interislander ferries. The contract, known as iRex, was cancelled with Hyundai shortly after the Coalition came to power [2024], citing a $3 billion cost blowout associated with the ferries and the required port upgrades. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/543699/government-s-irex-ferry-cancellation-costed-at-300-million-for-now Just how bad … Continue reading New Zealand government’s incompetence on new ferry builds, to avert further repeated collisions, near things with rocks and running aground, already costs $300 million in cancellation costs and the need is now urgent to get new ferries built before any more failures occur

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It’s not a scare story, it’s fact – essential PPE supplies during Covid were prioritised by UK Government for England and denied to care homes in Scotland yet, later, we helped them out

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks once again to AR for alerting me to this. Ignored, of course, by BBC Scotland and somewhat downplayed by STV in ‘Scotland didn’t have a Covid PPE VIP lane and we didn’t need one’ at https://news.stv.tv/politics/scotland-didnt-have-a-covid-ppe-vip-lane-and-we-didnt-need-one, this is a shocking revelation of how, when the going got tough, Scotland did not benefit from the Union but, rather, was actively harmed by it. The above short video is a must watch and share for any who doubt the true nature of Scotland’s position in the UK. Nearly 5 years ago we knew this but the ‘Scottish’ … Continue reading It’s not a scare story, it’s fact – essential PPE supplies during Covid were prioritised by UK Government for England and denied to care homes in Scotland yet, later, we helped them out

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Unless Labour further attack the poor, Scotland could hit its 2030 child poverty target in a unique demonstration of compassion and understanding of why child poverty must be eradicated, in the interests of all of us

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By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS The above prediction, from Achieving the 2030 Child Poverty Target published today by the IPPR Scotland, suggests that with the Scottish Child Payment and with compensation for the UK Universal Benefit, two child limit, Scotland could hit its fist child poverty target of 18%. The authors however, make clear that this might be sabotaged by wider UK Government economic policies including benefit cuts, increasing poverty across the UK. Why, need I remind you, does this matter to all of us? Here’s why: From Turning the tide What it will take to reduce child … Continue reading Unless Labour further attack the poor, Scotland could hit its 2030 child poverty target in a unique demonstration of compassion and understanding of why child poverty must be eradicated, in the interests of all of us

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Taxation – It’s also almost as if Labour HQ do not know what they are doing

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By Liz S Talking of Business…… Scottish Labour tweeted this on 21 February this year as stated by Anas Sarwar: “I will act to reinvigorate our high streets and town centres by making online giants pay their fair share. To do that a Scottish Labour government will introduce an Amazon Tax, delivering equality between our high streets and the online giants.” However it is now being reported that Keir Starmer is considering cutting the levy that Amazon pays in tax in the UK . (and also for other large tech companies too). MSM Monitor tweeted this yesterday : “Keir Starmer is planning … Continue reading Taxation – It’s also almost as if Labour HQ do not know what they are doing

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Businesses recognise SNP leading support for business but ‘Scottish’ media are silent

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Professor John Robertson OBA The Times above, often publishes ill-informed negative reports on Scotland but is not monolithic in this regard. Two days ago, like good journalists, they were prepared to report the above, and: BBC Scotland’s Business section has nothing on this and I see no sign elsewhere in other ‘Scottish’ media other than in the Moray local, The Northern Scot: Health boards, councils and other public bodies could be required to act to help boost local economies under first-of-its-kind legislation. The Scottish Government has introduced a “unique” Bill at Holyrood which if passed would require public bodies to … Continue reading Businesses recognise SNP leading support for business but ‘Scottish’ media are silent

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‘Britain’s most hazardous building’ positioned perfectly to contaminate Scotland and make it the ‘cancer capital of Europe’

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Frances McKie for alerting me to this. From BBC Cumbria, two days ago, the above and: A longstanding leak at “Britain’s most hazardous building” is a nuclear plant’s “single biggest environmental issue”, a select committee has heard. The leak in the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo (MSSS) – built more than 50 years ago at Sellafield in Cumbria – started in 2019 after first occurring in the 1970s. Labour MP Luke Charters told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday that every three years the silo leaked enough material to fill an “Olympic-sized swimming pool”. A … Continue reading ‘Britain’s most hazardous building’ positioned perfectly to contaminate Scotland and make it the ‘cancer capital of Europe’

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Ripping-off the poor is a Sarwar family tradition in Scotland too

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Sunday National today, the above, and: The German Doner Kebab empire – which has family links to Anas Sarwar – has been advertising jobs at below the minimum wage, the Sunday National can reveal. In April 2024, before the full horror of Labour’s betrayal would be exposed, I wrote: I fear Labour in Scotland are going to campaign as if they’re kind of leftist. The media are going to cover the tracks between them and their London HQ and some voters are going to swallow it. I don’t think I’ve seen words so detached … Continue reading Ripping-off the poor is a Sarwar family tradition in Scotland too

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How badly maintained media reports casually and lazily damage CalMac’s reputation

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Professor John Robertson OBA, Master of Education As of 18:53 today, 22 March 2025, CalMac’s service status is clear above. All sailings, every 30 minutes, are running normally between Largs and Cumbrae. In excess of 20 sailings each way were planned today. Around 12 noon today, the Largs and Millport News had: They have not bothered to update as claimed, based on CalMac’s official information and have left the now inaccurate headline to irresponsibly deter travellers. ‘Briefly?’ From when to when? I guess it’s it not newsworthy. Continue reading How badly maintained media reports casually and lazily damage CalMac’s reputation