Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Infant and neo-natal mortality significantly lower in Scotland to save hundreds every year

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to one of the TuS Anons for alerting me to this. In the Guardian today, the above and: At the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week, we should remember that the number of tragedies remains heartbreaking. Including stillbirths, there are 4870 baby deaths every year in the UK [sic]– around 13 every day. Some of these would have happened with the best of care, but many more could have been avoided. And every single one leaves behind devastated parents who must do what no human being should ever have to do – bury their own child. If … Continue reading Infant and neo-natal mortality significantly lower in Scotland to save hundreds every year

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Private schools intake drop welcomed by education experts but clearly worries BBC Scotland, Herald, Scotsman and Reform UK

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From Alasdair Macdonald [former Head Teacher] this morning: The Herod and the Scotsperson both headline the fall in the number of children attending private schools in Scotland since the introduction of VAT on school fees. Both papers call the decision to charge VAT ‘vindictive’ and present the fall as a bad thing. Over 95% of children in Scotland attend local authority schools and this has been the level since education became compulsory in 1873. The monies raised by VAT are hypothecated to public education. This, according to two of our ‘papers of record’, is a bad thing for Scottish education. … Continue reading Private schools intake drop welcomed by education experts but clearly worries BBC Scotland, Herald, Scotsman and Reform UK

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SHOCK – More than TWICE as many Scots trust the SNP Government in Edinburgh as trust the UK (Con or Lab) Government!

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in trust in the Scottish Government since the start of devolution, with less than half of respondents saying it acts in the country’s best interests. Professor John Robertson OBA What were the actual numbers and is there a figure for the UK Government? There are, and even Lord Ashcroft’s Holyrood mag has them: Just 47 per cent of respondents said they trust the SNP administration to work in the country’s best interests. That compares with a pre-pandemic score of 61 per cent, which was recorded in 2019, and 81 per cent at the onset of devolution in 1999. It is also … Continue reading SHOCK – More than TWICE as many Scots trust the SNP Government in Edinburgh as trust the UK (Con or Lab) Government!

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BBC Reporting Scotland celebrate their construction of reality actually overcoming the evidence and reducing trust in devolved government

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Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland broadcasts this morning, but not their website, are celebrating their achievement in pushing down trust in the Scottish Government [only 47%] by years of lying about it. When I first taught about media effects, 30 years ago, there were few good examples that media could actually cause significant effects in people’s behaviour. The popular idea then that young people watching violent TV would then behave more violently had been blown out of the water by research studies showing that violent offenders watched little or no violent films/TV and far less than those whom did not offend! … Continue reading BBC Reporting Scotland celebrate their construction of reality actually overcoming the evidence and reducing trust in devolved government

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Very little evidence of young children taking knives into schools in Scotland

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Professor John Robertson OBA There’s not one reference to Scotland in this 1 500 word report yet the broadcast on BBC Breakfast this morning explicitly includes it in the problem and the call for ‘knife arches’ to be installed in every school: Incidents of very young children taking knives into primary schools have been revealed by a BBC investigation. Police in Kent recorded an assault involving a four-year-old pupil, while officers in the West Midlands reported that a six-year-old had taken a flick knife into class. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c77d06vde4po I am not aware of directly comparable figures for Scotland and neither are BBC UK‘s … Continue reading Very little evidence of young children taking knives into schools in Scotland

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‘Teachers to vote on strike action over workload’ despite Scotland maintaining the lowest PTRs overall, reflecting higher per-pupil spending and policy priorities on smaller classes

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Professor John Robertson OBA It’s impossible to escape the conclusion that if teacher workload is the issue in Scottish schools then there is a failure here of management in schools to apply the clearly superior funding made available by the Scottish Government and maintained over decades now. The facts from Grok AI with sources below are above and: Sources: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-and-training-statistics-for-the-uk/2024 https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-and-training-statistics-for-the-uk/2023 There’s more: By JB The headline above is from Teachers Education Supplement magazine 2019 in an article about a teacher from England who came to work in Scotland. “Teachers have a far better time of it north of the border, says … Continue reading ‘Teachers to vote on strike action over workload’ despite Scotland maintaining the lowest PTRs overall, reflecting higher per-pupil spending and policy priorities on smaller classes

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SNP bill passed to help prevent domestic homicides and suicides

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Professor John Robertson OBA Legislation to help reduce the number of domestic abuse-related homicides and suicides in Scotland has been passed unanimously by Parliament. The Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill will legally require a new robust review process following the death of a partner, ex-partner, or child where abuse is known or suspected. The reviews, which are expected to start next spring, will mean that where there has been a death of this nature, justice, health, social care, local government and third sector agencies must work together to identify and agree any areas for change and improvement … Continue reading SNP bill passed to help prevent domestic homicides and suicides

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News you won’t hear – Support for struggling households from SNP Government

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Scottish Government News today with only the Daily Record covering it: A record £99 million will be invested in Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) this financial year to help thousands of households struggling to afford housing costs in Scotland. During Challenge Poverty Week, Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan highlighted the payments as a ‘lifeline’ for thousands of families and individuals. Funded by the Scottish Government and paid out by local authorities, the DHP scheme is designed to provide financial support to low-income households, delivering vital action to reduce poverty, safeguard tenancies and prevent homelessness. The Scottish Government has budgeted … Continue reading News you won’t hear – Support for struggling households from SNP Government

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63 years of regular and repeated nuclear incidents at Dounreay safely 509 miles downwind of London

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By stewartb The public record of incidents at Dounreay from CHATGPT: ‘Here is a chronological timeline of known official / media‑reported pollution, health & safety, and regulatory incidents or concerns at the Dounreay nuclear site, from commissioning to the present, based on the sources I located. Some entries are major events; others are smaller leaks or findings. This is not guaranteed exhaustive, but covers all incidents I could verify. I include dates, description, and sources.’ (Sources have been omitted here for brevity. They could be found readily by asking CHATGPT again – for free. Otherwise what follows is as provided by CHATGPT.) 1963‑1975: … Continue reading 63 years of regular and repeated nuclear incidents at Dounreay safely 509 miles downwind of London

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The one-way flow of drugs and XL Bully dogs from England into Scotland

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Professor John Robertson OBA It’s probably best to check my facts first so, with Grok AI: Are there any media reports in 2025 of cocaine being smuggled from Scotland into England? Based on a review of news sources from 2025, there are no media reports of cocaine being smuggled from Scotland into England. Most cocaine smuggling incidents reported involve drugs entering the UK from abroad (e.g., South America or Europe) via ports, sea drops, or airports, often landing in England first before potential distribution northward. The other way? Yes, there are media reports from 2025 detailing incidents of cocaine smuggling … Continue reading The one-way flow of drugs and XL Bully dogs from England into Scotland