Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Reform UK’s manifesto ‘the sums do not add up’ and ‘would require substantial cuts to the quantity or quality of public services’ in Scotland

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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 In June 2024, the IFS had a look at the Reform UK manifesto. Even this rightist think tank was less than impressed and concluded: Even with the extremely optimistic assumptions about how much economic … Continue reading Reform UK’s manifesto ‘the sums do not add up’ and ‘would require substantial cuts to the quantity or quality of public services’ in Scotland

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Reform UK to offer 20% tax relief for school fees

johnrobertson834

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 11 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 Fettes College in Edinburgh with nine-hole golf course, an ice-skating rink used in winter for ice hockey and in summer as an outdoor swimming pool, a cross-country running track and a rifle shooting … Continue reading Reform UK to offer 20% tax relief for school fees

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Reform UK – A clear and present danger for the SNP

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 11 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 Mostly by Reader JB Yesterday, in the wake of the Norstat poll for the Times suggesting 77% of Scots are opposed to the SNP’s immigration policy and evidence from other polls of Reform UK moving into second … Continue reading Reform UK – A clear and present danger for the SNP

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Jackie Baillie unable to travel to Wales for fear of arrest

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 14 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 By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS In the Guardian yesterday: Elected politicians who deliberately lie could be forced from office under proposals designed to put Wales at the forefront of the “global challenge” to restore trust … Continue reading Jackie Baillie unable to travel to Wales for fear of arrest

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Tory-induced life expectancy declines worse in England due to no SNP policies or cheap ferry travel there

johnrobertson834

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 14 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 By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS In the Guardian yesterday: Life expectancy improvement is stalling across Europe with England experiencing the biggest slowdown. Experts are blaming this on an alarming mix of poor diet, mass inactivity … Continue reading Tory-induced life expectancy declines worse in England due to no SNP policies or cheap ferry travel there

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BBC Scotland’s nostalgia for Scottish drug gangs 35 years ago

johnrobertson834

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 14 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 By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS BBC Scotland’s top story on their website today: Thirty-five years ago, one drug dealer believed he had a foolproof plan to smuggle uncut Colombian cocaine directly into Scotland. … Continue reading BBC Scotland’s nostalgia for Scottish drug gangs 35 years ago

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NHS Scotland saving hundreds of lives with better cancer care performance

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily 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 By Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Health is headlining today problems and delays in cancer care in England & Wales. BBC Scotland has nothing similar. Here’s why: In the Guardian on 3 February 2025: More than half a million people in England have had to … Continue reading NHS Scotland saving hundreds of lives with better cancer care performance

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Knife crimes plummet in Scotland to only half the level under Labour and 90 times as many, per head, ‘Zombie’ knives mentioned in crime reports in England & Wales

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restrict the purchase of knives online, in an attempt to reduce the number of attacks involving young people. The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser [closing tomorrow at 2pm] primarily 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 By Professor John Robertson OBA BBC 1, first thing today, headlining the above issue. BBC Scotland do not follow up … Continue reading Knife crimes plummet in Scotland to only half the level under Labour and 90 times as many, per head, ‘Zombie’ knives mentioned in crime reports in England & Wales

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As Labour and Cons fade, I smell danger – Scots, immigration and Reform UK – what can we do?

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing on 28 February, 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 By Professor John Robertson OBA In the Daily Record, late last night, and everywhere in the media in Scotland today: Most Scottish voters are against John Swinney’s plans to boost immigration, a poll has suggested. More than three quarters … Continue reading As Labour and Cons fade, I smell danger – Scots, immigration and Reform UK – what can we do?

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Shocking 75% of house purchases in Arran are by cash to deny locals homes and push them off-island

johnrobertson834

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing on 28 February, 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 By JB From the Registers of Scotland report on Residential property sales in Scottish Islands Regions: Cash and mortgage sales Looking at differences in the number of cash and mortgage sales, across mainland Scotland 63% of residential sales … Continue reading Shocking 75% of house purchases in Arran are by cash to deny locals homes and push them off-island