Author: johnrobertson834

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

As UK Labour extend life of cracked Torness reactor near Edinburgh, ‘Where is the ‘mature debate’ about the health impacts of nuclear power?’

johnrobertson834

From Dr Margaret Beavis, Australian academic and former GP, today: When it comes to nuclear radiation, there is a clear disconnect between the medical evidence and the views of the Coalition. Since the 1950s we have known there is a link between X-rays in pregnant women and leukemia and other cancers in their children. It is not for nothing there are signs in every radiology department asking if you are pregnant. The current shrill denunciations of potential health risks associated with nuclear power plants as a “scare campaign” may yet prove to be an own goal, as it has drawn … Continue reading As UK Labour extend life of cracked Torness reactor near Edinburgh, ‘Where is the ‘mature debate’ about the health impacts of nuclear power?’

4 Comments

As Meta drops factcheckers, thick Millennial accuses us Scots Boomers of Generation X-type gullibility, only in England

johnrobertson834

Ben Quinn, Guardian writer, age 40ish (?), today: Fears for UK boomer radicalisation on Facebook after Meta drops factcheckers – For middle-aged users, it will be ‘even harder to discern the truth’ among extremist content, expert says. Experts fear the decision by Meta to drop professional factcheckers from Facebook will exacerbate so-called boomer radicalisation in the UK. Even before what Keir Starmer described as “far-right riots” in England last summer, alarm bells were ringing amid fears older people were even more susceptible to misinformation and radicalisation than younger “digital natives”. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/12/fears-for-uk-boomer-radicalisation-on-facebook-after-meta-drops-factcheckers Boomers, middle-aged, what? Boomers, post-war Baby Boomers, born 1946 to 1964, … Continue reading As Meta drops factcheckers, thick Millennial accuses us Scots Boomers of Generation X-type gullibility, only in England

2 Comments

Independent UK policy and research organisation praises Scotland’s high-achieving, leading and inclusive education system

johnrobertson834

I’m grateful to Linda at Broadcasting Scotland for alerting me to this. From Worlds apart: skills and learning inequalities in the UK published by the Learning and Work Institute, ‘an independent policy and research organisation focused on lifelong learning and better work‘, in December 2024, the above graph and: The proportion of 16–19-year-olds qualified to level 3 in Scotland (30%, though noting the qualification system is different to England) and West England (28%) is almost double that in Tees Valley (16%), Northern Ireland (18%) and Greater Manchester (19%). and: The proportion of people with high qualifications is on track to rise everywhere, but … Continue reading Independent UK policy and research organisation praises Scotland’s high-achieving, leading and inclusive education system

5 Comments

BBC England reveals that ScotRail had fewer cancellations, often far fewer, than any other other UK rail company in 2024

johnrobertson834

I’m grateful to my old friend, workmate, dry humourist* and sandwich stealer, from events he hadn’t been invited to attend, Prof Mike Danson of UWS, for alerting me to this. Never to my knowledge reported by BBC Scotland, STV, the Scotsman or the Herald, this BBC England report from December 2024, reveals ScotRail, in 2024, to have had the lowest rate of cancellations of any UK train company, at 2.9%. You can check yourself with the link below but even those in the affluent South-East had 3.3%, everywhere else had around 4% and the North West had a shocking 6.5% … Continue reading BBC England reveals that ScotRail had fewer cancellations, often far fewer, than any other other UK rail company in 2024

3 Comments

More than THREE TIMES as many Scots would prefer US statehood to staying as a UK colony

johnrobertson834

US President Elect, Donald Trump’s recent comments on the importance of controlling Panama, Greenland and even Canada, for US national security, prompted the often insightful Professor Richard Murphy to wonder if Scotland might be next. Watch his explanation (6 min 21 secs only) at: I found it hard to take the notion seriously but thought then, why not see how a sample of Scots would respond to it. I feel sure Murphy would expect we’d all be horrified. I would but, for some reason, felt sure some Scots might prefer it to continuing the current colonial situation. Is Scotland currently … Continue reading More than THREE TIMES as many Scots would prefer US statehood to staying as a UK colony

5 Comments

English financiers says ‘Scotland ‘subsidises’ London energy bills’ and it’s ‘better for Scots to pay over the odds than those living in the English capital’

johnrobertson834

I missed this back in October 2024: Households in Scotland are paying higher energy bills than they ought to keep prices down south of the Border, according to experts at the Fuller Treacy Money investment strategy firm. In a newsletter arguing against zonal pricing, the firm’s owner Eoin Treacy [above] says it is better for Scots to pay over the odds than those living in the English capital. Zonal pricing, which has been considered by the UK Government in the past, would see places like Scotland – where lots of energy is produced but there is lower demand – pay cheaper … Continue reading English financiers says ‘Scotland ‘subsidises’ London energy bills’ and it’s ‘better for Scots to pay over the odds than those living in the English capital’

12 Comments

‘SNP’s roasters and bangers’ who ‘loathe the poor and vulnerable?’ With such blatant lies would Kevin McKenna even get a job at the Daily Express or Mail?

johnrobertson834

I’d kind of given up on reacting to Kevin McKenna, in the Herald, for the good of my mental health, but he’s got me going again today with: Human zoo drug rooms are win-win for SNP’s roasters and bangers – IS there no end to the SNP’s loathing of Scotland’s poor and vulnerable people, especially in Glasgow? If Scotland’s party of government isn’t threatening to imprison working-class people for speaking out of turn in their own homes they can be found trying to curb their drinking and inspecting the contents of their bins for signs of delinquent household waste practices. WTF … Continue reading ‘SNP’s roasters and bangers’ who ‘loathe the poor and vulnerable?’ With such blatant lies would Kevin McKenna even get a job at the Daily Express or Mail?

12 Comments

Bowel cancer screening is already offered earlier in Scotland but you’ll need to read on a bit to find that out under Herald’s ridiculous propagandist SNP-bad headline

johnrobertson834

The Herald today, has the above ridiculous, propagandist, SNP-bad, headline, and: Senior MSPs have urged ministers to extend the national bowel screening programme to the under 50s after an alarming rise in the disease among younger Scots. Conservative MSP Edward Mountain, a survivor of bowel cancer, and Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie made the plea to health secretary Neil Gray. Absolutely, fully behind that but also behind more transparent reporting. Why does the Herald take 8 paragraphs to reveal this? A minor point, many will tell me, but we know that only around 40% of readers go beyond the … Continue reading Bowel cancer screening is already offered earlier in Scotland but you’ll need to read on a bit to find that out under Herald’s ridiculous propagandist SNP-bad headline

2 Comments

Valuing ‘culture’ and public funding – how Wales with a Labour government in Cardiff fares!

johnrobertson834

By stewartb There will be a Scottish Government debate in Holyrood on January 14 on ‘Valuing Culture: Scotland’s Support to the Culture Sector’. Will it generate heat or light? It will be worth observing how British Labour Party politicians in Scotland approach this debate. Will they acknowledge longstanding stresses and strains on Scottish Government finances due to Westminster austerity and inflation? Or will we hear the usual carping? And how will BBC Scotland and the rest of the mainstream media ‘serving’ Scotland report: devoid of context and perspective as usual? As we assess the various contributions, it will be worth … Continue reading Valuing ‘culture’ and public funding – how Wales with a Labour government in Cardiff fares!