Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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A ‘front door’ A&E innovation in the NHS to benefit the frail gains support across the UK:  Unionist politicians in Scotland call it ‘granny bouncers’!

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By stewartb Scotland’s FM gave a speech (January 27) on actions to relieve pressures on NHS Scotland to the benefit of patients. Among the measures proposed, he referenced this: ‘By this summer, we will have specialised staff in frailty teams, at the front door of every A&E department in Scotland. This will mean that frail patients, often older patients with complex needs, will bypass our busy A&Es, in order to receive the specialist care and support they need, whether in hospital or back at home. It will mean better care for these most vulnerable patients while reducing the pressure on … Continue reading A ‘front door’ A&E innovation in the NHS to benefit the frail gains support across the UK:  Unionist politicians in Scotland call it ‘granny bouncers’!

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Labour MP, Elaine Stewart, former boxing club treasurer, sits nervously on her hands and betrays the 7 000 Waspi women in Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock

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In the vote today in the House of Commons, to follow the Ombudsman’s recommendation and compensate the Waspi women, Elaine Stewart, MP for Ayr Carrick and Cumnock, did not vote, resulting in the betrayal of these women, many caring for elderly and vulnerable relatives, minding grandchildren so that their sons and daughters can work in this difficult cost-of-living crisis or seriously unwell themselves. 10 of her Labour colleagues did have the courage to vote. You have to wonder how a volunteer and the treasurer of Doon Valley amateur boxing club could be so chicken. 10 Labour MPs did have the … Continue reading Labour MP, Elaine Stewart, former boxing club treasurer, sits nervously on her hands and betrays the 7 000 Waspi women in Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock

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Privatised English ferry company has 30% of its fleet in dock, with no new replacements due

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From BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight, 26th January 2025: Ferry passengers will face journey disruption as two vessels undergo repair and maintenance work. Operator Red Funnel, which has a service between the Isle of Wight and Southampton, will run a one-boat timetable for at least three weeks from Sunday while the foot passenger ferries are out of action. The firm’s Red Jet 6 ferry has been sent to Wight Shipyard for a permanent repair to one of its water jet shaft seals, which was temporarily fixed in November. Red Jet 7 will begin its annual maintenance work once Red … Continue reading Privatised English ferry company has 30% of its fleet in dock, with no new replacements due

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Scottish Government call for closer energy links with Europe to cut bills is ignored by ‘Scottish’ media

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Posted just after midnight, this morning, and so in plenty of time for consideration and publication, but there is none, the Scottish Government has called for closer energy links with Europe: The Scottish Government is calling for closer co-operation with Europe to help lower energy bills and boost investment. Ahead of upcoming UK Government talks with the EU the Scottish Government has published a report, identifying  a number of opportunities to more closely align with the European Union on energy matters. These include: Estimates from the UK energy industry predict that unless the UK moves toward closer cooperation with the EU … Continue reading Scottish Government call for closer energy links with Europe to cut bills is ignored by ‘Scottish’ media

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Martin Geissler projects his vacuous cynicism onto Stephen Flynn

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By Liz S This is a long comment but it exposes BBC bias against the SNP and the BBC’s support For the Labour party. The BBC have another new radio and TV programme called “Scotcast” which they promote as being a ‘Scottish’ news podcast. It is broadcast Monday to Thursday on BBC Radio and also on the BBC Scotland TV channel 9 and later on BBC Scotland channel 1 . It is hosted by Martin Geissler. Last night they covered Waspi women. Martin said at the outset “The UK government has gone to war with the Nation’s grannies, surely on … Continue reading Martin Geissler projects his vacuous cynicism onto Stephen Flynn

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Research – school achievement higher and attainment gaps far smaller in Scotland than in rest of UK

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By Professor John Robertson OBA: From UK Poverty 2025 The essential guide to understanding poverty in the UK, published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, today: There are differences between the statistics on attainment in schools in the four UK nations which limit comparisons but the size of the gap between the most and least deprived at the ages of 11 and 16 can be usefully compared. First, 11 year-olds, percentage of most deprived and of least deprived achieving literacy and numeracy and size of gap: So, far more of both the least and the most deprived in Scotland achieve target literacy and numeracy levels … Continue reading Research – school achievement higher and attainment gaps far smaller in Scotland than in rest of UK

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Demand for emergency food parcels in parts of England surges to more than EIGHT times higher as unique Scottish Child Payment begins to reduce child poverty

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By Professor John Robertson OBA: From UK Poverty 2025 The essential guide to understanding poverty in the UK, published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, today: Food banks in the Trussell network distributed 3.1 million emergency parcels across the UK in 2023/24, more than one million of which were for children (Trussell, 2024). This was the largest number on record (topping last year’s previous record high) and represented a 94% increase since 2018/19. The magnitude of this change varied across regions of the UK. The increase in London was 171% and Yorkshire and the Humber 157%. In Scotland it was only 21%. Research … Continue reading Demand for emergency food parcels in parts of England surges to more than EIGHT times higher as unique Scottish Child Payment begins to reduce child poverty

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Suspected drug deaths fall dramatically by 30% in last 4 years as world-first SNP scheme bites

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By Professor John Robertson OBA: From Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ​reports with the most recent released today: That gives a total of 1 001, down from 1 200 in 2023 and a peak of 1 411 in 2020. Suspected drug deaths based on police assessment at the scene of death have now fallen 29% in 4 years and 17% in the last year. Possible explanation? After a pilot phase ending in 2018, the Scottish Government began to embed Naloxone opioid overdose reversal kits across NHS Scotland. Shortly after, the kits which can be administered by anyone, were adopted … Continue reading Suspected drug deaths fall dramatically by 30% in last 4 years as world-first SNP scheme bites

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Scotland’s progressive taxes, increasing tax base and inward migration – the Scottish Government statements the MSM are not telling you about.

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We’ve recently had Tom Hunter, City of London representatives and the IFS calling for reduced income taxes in Scotland. These have been widely reported but Scottish Government responses have seen little light. From Income tax and First Minister meeting with City of London Corporation correspondence: FOI release, published yesterday, selected responses from a very long set: Our tax policies are grounded in evidence and carefully balance the need to raise revenue with the impacts on taxpayers and the economy. The evidence continues to suggest that our policy approach raises significant additional revenue for investment in vital public services. Our tax … Continue reading Scotland’s progressive taxes, increasing tax base and inward migration – the Scottish Government statements the MSM are not telling you about.

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SNP will still win the Holyrood election even if Paul Hutcheon keeps telling them lies about NHS Scotland

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I know, I know, they have to keep coming up with excrement of the male bovine, but the Record’s Paul Hutcheon is special. Yesterday, he had: The SNP will lose the Holyrood election if the NHS is the top issue of voters That’s a big IF. First, opinion poll after opinion poll, recently is clear. The SNP will be the biggest party by far. Cons, Labour and Reform will fight it out for second place. The evidence is at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2025/01/14/averages-from-seven-2014-bias-free-polls-have-snp-15-points-ahead-labour-stuck-cons-in-trouble-reform-a-wee-worry-and-lib-dems-pleased-to-hang-on-to-5th-place/ and https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2024/11/23/westminster-polls-snp-recovering-labour-plummeting-cons-consolidating-in-heartlands-and-reform-still-too-wee/ Second, NHS Scotland is doing far better than the other NHS areas in the UK. Despite Paul’s best … Continue reading SNP will still win the Holyrood election even if Paul Hutcheon keeps telling them lies about NHS Scotland