Author: johnrobertson834

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

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No evidence that majority of Scotland’s ethnic minority doctors witness racism

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 BMA in Scotland have a terrible track record of totally useless surveys that are, nevertheless sucked up by the media. Today, the Herald claims Majority of Scotland’s ethnic minority doctors witness racism Needless … Continue reading No evidence that majority of Scotland’s ethnic minority doctors witness racism

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BBC Scotland’s James Cook wallows in one town’s drug deaths but does not tell you what is really happening there – the trend is down, the treatment is there and the new powerful drugs are pushed by English gangs

johnrobertson834

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 9 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 A cheap and sensationalist piece by James Cook, pushed up into UK news to shame us, claiming a lack of services for drug addicts in rural areas and repeating the endless ‘worst rate in … Continue reading BBC Scotland’s James Cook wallows in one town’s drug deaths but does not tell you what is really happening there – the trend is down, the treatment is there and the new powerful drugs are pushed by English gangs

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Latest Referendum/Holyrood poll distorts by pretending it’s still 2014 to hide 56% for Yes

johnrobertson834

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 9 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 11-14 February 2025 Holyrood poll of party preferences, above, and on independence, below, is based on a sample that has been adjusted, ‘weighted‘ to match the result of the 2014 referendum – a … Continue reading Latest Referendum/Holyrood poll distorts by pretending it’s still 2014 to hide 56% for Yes

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Contrary to the SNP, Reform UK gets its money from wealthy people or firms linked to tax havens and they will want something in return

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Professor John Robertson OBA Reform UK, contrary to what we thought only a few months ago, has traction in Scotland and is now moving into second place and replacing the other Unionist parties as the main challenger to the SNP. Reform UK has managed to persuade many working-class voters that it is no their side when the evidence is clear that it will serve, first and foremost, the interests of the rich and powerful even more than the Cons and Labour. From The Daily Mirror in September 2024: Nearly three quarters of registered donations to Reform UK come from wealthy people or companies linked … Continue reading Contrary to the SNP, Reform UK gets its money from wealthy people or firms linked to tax havens and they will want something in return

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Working-class Scottish voters beware – Reform UK is in the pocket of old Etonians, property moguls, the super-rich and will work to keep their taxes down

johnrobertson834

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 9 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 We had thought Scotland immune to the charms of Nigel Farage and Reform UK but recent polling suggests otherwise. Scots are just as bothered by immigration and just as cynical about the old parties. … Continue reading Working-class Scottish voters beware – Reform UK is in the pocket of old Etonians, property moguls, the super-rich and will work to keep their taxes down