Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Council by-election result is mostly but not entirely good news for SNP and confirms ‘my’ theory

johnrobertson834

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 7 days, to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS The above results from last night leave me, as an SNP member, slightly reassured that my theory (and no doubt of others) mostly holds. Of course, it’s just a … Continue reading Council by-election result is mostly but not entirely good news for SNP and confirms ‘my’ theory

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Have Chinese scientists found a way for Scots to survive a nuclear war?

johnrobertson834

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 7 days, to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS My Google Alert today on ‘Nuclear cancer’ threw up this and other similar reports: From First Post: Have scientists found a way to survive a nuclear war? I immediately … Continue reading Have Chinese scientists found a way for Scots to survive a nuclear war?

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Update on More Herald lies – Generously subsidised and massively oversized Oban to Barra ferry is not sailing today because of adverse weather and it’s a completely different ferry getting extra rust treatment

johnrobertson834

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 8 days, to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS, Global Ferry Correspondent of the Year and Honest Man Update – Jamie Whiteford – Still Indy – They cannot even get their lies right. The vessel that normally plies this … Continue reading Update on More Herald lies – Generously subsidised and massively oversized Oban to Barra ferry is not sailing today because of adverse weather and it’s a completely different ferry getting extra rust treatment

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Scottish Labour to announce plans to make more use of private sector despite major Oxford University research review proving it will lead to ‘higher rates of avoidable death’

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The Scottish leader Anas Sarwar will announce plans to reduce health waiting lists by making greater use of the private sector. Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS BBC Scotland this morning, on the Scottish Labour conference today, tell us the above astonishing news. It’s now a full year since the Lancet reported on large scale research review by Oxford University telling us that this strategy is extremely ill-advised. From Oxford University researchers, reported in The Lancet, on 29 February 2024: A new review has concluded that hospitals that are privatised typically deliver worse quality care after converting from public ownership. … Continue reading Scottish Labour to announce plans to make more use of private sector despite major Oxford University research review proving it will lead to ‘higher rates of avoidable death’

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While BBC UK reported Starmer claiming the meeting of more appointments than in a period with 23 days of strikes, so probably fewer, BBC Scotland completely ignores Swinney actually exceeding his promise

johnrobertson834

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 8 days, to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson Professor John Robertson OBA On February 17th 2025, BBC Health and BBC 1 reported: The government has met a key election pledge to deliver two million extra NHS appointments in England in its first year, the prime minister has said. The target … Continue reading While BBC UK reported Starmer claiming the meeting of more appointments than in a period with 23 days of strikes, so probably fewer, BBC Scotland completely ignores Swinney actually exceeding his promise

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Five years late, BBC Scotland utter the words ‘County Lines drug gangs’ and ‘people trafficking’ but still cannot tell you which way the flow goes even though they seized control of the drugs trade’ FIVE YEARS AGO

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Two people have been arrested in Dundee as a result of an investigation into County Lines drug dealing and human trafficking. A man has also been arrested by police in the West Midlands following simultaneous raids there. The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 8 days, to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John … Continue reading Five years late, BBC Scotland utter the words ‘County Lines drug gangs’ and ‘people trafficking’ but still cannot tell you which way the flow goes even though they seized control of the drugs trade’ FIVE YEARS AGO

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Daft Post – As the owner of the San Francisco 49ers makes a takeover bid, will Rangers fans change cash card pin numbers to 1649, an even better year for them than 1690?

johnrobertson834

You may remember, from Trainspotting 2, how the stolen cash cards from a Rangers supporters club were all accessed by the pin number 1690, the year of the Protestant victory at the Battle of the Boyne. If the owner of the San Francisco 49ers takes over, they might want to adopt this even more memorable year for some them -1649. What happened then? This: Catholic King, Charles 1st, lost his head on January 30th 1649. And this, on September 11, 1649: Such was the violence displayed by Cromwell and his forces during the Siege of Drogheda and the subsequent Siege … Continue reading Daft Post – As the owner of the San Francisco 49ers makes a takeover bid, will Rangers fans change cash card pin numbers to 1649, an even better year for them than 1690?

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Glasgow’s SNP council to increase council tax by far less than Birmingham Labour council AND increase staff and free school meals while they impose ‘devastating cuts’

johnrobertson834

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 8 days, to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald today has: Biggest council tax rise in years for Glasgow as deal agreed – A Budget deal has been agreed between the SNP and Greens in Glasgow that will see a council … Continue reading Glasgow’s SNP council to increase council tax by far less than Birmingham Labour council AND increase staff and free school meals while they impose ‘devastating cuts’

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New Zealand taxpayers to pick up tab to replace outsourced risky rust-bucket service as four ferries come to grief!

johnrobertson834

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 8 days, to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson Professor John Robertson OBA From Newsroom, yesterday: As the New Zealand Government idly contemplates outsourcing the operation of the Interislander Cook Strait ferries, leaders around the Pacific are moving the opposite way with their passenger shipping fleets. As … Continue reading New Zealand taxpayers to pick up tab to replace outsourced risky rust-bucket service as four ferries come to grief!

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‘Ailing US state ferry system with 24% employee vacancy rate facing government cuts and freezes’ has three ferries over 60 years-old

johnrobertson834

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 8 days, to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson Professor John Robertson OBA In Scotland, CalMac‘s oldest large ferry, out of 34 vessels, the MV Isle of Arran is approaching 42 years of age. In the US state of Alaska, out of 11 vessels, they have 3 … Continue reading ‘Ailing US state ferry system with 24% employee vacancy rate facing government cuts and freezes’ has three ferries over 60 years-old